Clavicles and interclavicles are plesiomorphically present in Reptilia. However, several groups show reduction or even loss of these elements. Crocodylimorpha, e.g., lost the clavicles, whereas dinosaurs are generally interpreted to only preserve the clavicles, the theropod furcula representing an unique case of fused clavicles. In sauropods, reports of clavicles are relatively frequent in non-titanosauriforms. These elements are elongated, curved, and rather stout bones with a spatulate and a bifurcate end. However, they were always found as single bones, and differ from the relatively short and unbifurcated clavicles found articulated with the scapulae of basal sauropodomorphs. Elements from the Howe Quarry (Late Jurassic; Wyoming, USA) shed new light on these interpretations. Besides the elongated, curved bones (herein named morphotype A), also pairs of symmetric, L-shaped bones were recovered (morphotype B), associated with diplodocid dorsal and cervical vertebrae. Elements resembling morphotype B - articulated between the scapulae - have recently been reported from a diplodocid found near Tensleep, Wyoming. Taphonomic evidence, as well as the fact that they were preserved in symmetrical pairs, therefore implies that morphotype B represents the true sauropod clavicles. Contrary to earlier reports, morphotype A elements from the Howe Quarry, as well as of previously reported specimens show a symmetry plane following the long axis of the elements. It is thus possible that the morphotype A elements were single bones from the body midline. The only such element present in the pectoral girdle of tetrapods are the interclavicle and the furcula. Comparison with crocodilian and lacertiform interclavicles indicates that the bifurcate end of the sauropod elements might represent the reduced transverse processes of the anterior end, and the spatulate end would have covered the coracoids or sternal plates ventrally. The presence of both clavicles and interclavicles in the pectoral girdle stiffens the anterior trunk, and enhances considerably its stability. Such an enforcement might have been needed in diplodocids due to the strong lateral forces induced to the fore-limbs by the posteriorly placed center of mass (due to shorter fore- than hind-limbs), as well as lateral movements of the enormously elongated necks and tails. The absence of clavicles and interclavicles in titanosauriforms coincides with the development of wide-gauge locomotion style. The presence of interclavicles in sauropods supports the recently proposed homology of the furcula with the interclavicle, instead of representing fused clavicles. Interclavicles were thus not lost, but may have remained cartilaginous or have yet to be found in basal dinosauriforms.

There have been many and very significant advances in the Wireless Power Transfer, resulting up to now in flexible and safe battery charging eliminating the necessity of power cables. The relatively low frequencies (tens of kilohertz) applied for those {"}classical{"} chargers are already well developed. A {"}new{"} technology appeared now that makes possible to apply a strong magnetic resonant coupling. Similar experiments were applied by N. Tesla more than a hundred years ago but now the researchers are capable to reach much higher frequencies. To achieve the necessary high level of magnetic field coupling it is essential to allow high levels of electric current intensity inside the resonant loops. In this article the achievement of highest magnetic field is analysed and experimented. Some results are discussed based on the choice of the resonant loop type and construction. The applications in the on-line energy supply for the EV are one of the aimed goals. The other goal may be the future more efficient induction machine.

Although nonavian theropod have received considerable interest in the last years, their ontogeny still remains poorly understood, especially the ontogenetical changes affecting their skull (Rauhutand Fechner, 2005). The quadrate, for instance, is preserved in several embryos and juvenile specimens belonging to many clades of theropods such as the Tyrannosauridae (Carr, 1999), Compsognathidae (Dal Sasso and Maganuco, 2011), Therizinosauroidea (Kúndrat et al., 2007), Oviraptoridae (Norell et al., 1994; Norell et al., 2001; Weishampel et al., 2008) and Troodontidae (Varrichio et al., 2002) but very little is usually said about the anatomy of this bone and no one has ever investigated ontogenetical variation in the nonavian theropod quadrate. The discovery of two quadrates belonging to embryos of the sinraptorid Lourinhanosaurus antunesi from Portugal and five isolated quadrates pertaining to juvenile, subadult and adult specimens of Spinosauridae from Morocco fills this gap and allows some ontogenetic information to be drawn for this bone in these two specific clades of Theropoda.

The basal part of the Triassic-Jurassic (Rhaetian-Sinemurian) Kap Stewart Formation, exposed at Jameson Land, East Greenland, yields an extensive coprolite collection from black, parallel-laminated mudstone (“paper shale”), representing an open lacustrine system. Preliminary investigations show three different types of coprolites: elongated cylindrical masses, composed of irregularly wrapped layers; elongated cylindrical masses with constriction marks; and spirally-coiled specimens.

The research on the solar concentrating equipment is intensified in the recent years in many scientific and industry groups and institutions. This growing interest is based mainly on the higher efficiency and lower investment in material that is typical for this solar technology. This work started not to answer a market problem but with the idea of development a new application for an domestic size collector of line-focussing Fresnel collector. Which is will be a important step for the renewable energy. If successful, in a few years a common person will be ready to produce solar thermoelectricity at home with the double benefit of producing electricity and hot steam. The paper presents a design methodology and heat transfer calculation for an concentrating system based on the Linear Fresnel Reflector (LFR) concept. The basic absorber design is an trapezoidal inverted air cavity without glass cover. The absorber is covered with a selective surface and is oriented north- south. This arrangement has shown good optical and thermal performance results validated by measurements during outdoor tests.

n/a

In the last time many research works were devoted to the electrical drive train with induction motors due to its robust construction and low cost in comparison with its competitor, PM synchronous motor. The construction of the induction motor is simple but its efficient control needs more sophisticated algorithms and appropriate inverters in order to obtain the highest technical and economical performance. In this paper we present a review of the last research results on the induction motor topologies dedicated to EV, on the architecture of inverters and of the efficient control strategies. There will be presented many promising solutions which are analysed and compared in order to offer to the EV electrical drive train designers the necessary information for a selection to be done.

Since its invention, paper has become one of the main carriers of our cultural, scientific, political, economic and historical information. Given the importance of this material, its preservation is a matter of great interest. Paper can be deteriorated due to physical, chemical and biological agents. Within microorganisms, fungi are the major paper biodeteriogens. Throughout history, several methods have been used to prevent and stop fungal deterioration on paper based materials. In this work we present a review of the main chemical and physical methods used to avoid fungal paper biodeterioration until nowadays and also of some new approaches tested recently. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are discussed as well as their health effects. Studies regarding antifungal compositions, methods of application, performance and effects on the treated materials are also presented with the aim of providing a clear set of conclusions on the topic. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this paper we consider the problem of finding the smallest number such that any graph G of order n admits a decomposition into edge disjoint copies of C_4 and single edges with at most elements. We solve this problem for n sufficiently large.

For the last decade, interior-point methods that use barrier functions induced by some real univariate kernel functions have been studied. In these interior-point methods, the algorithm stops when a solution is found such that it is close (in the barrier function sense) to a point in the central path with the desired accuracy. However, this does not directly imply that the algorithm generates a solution with prescribed accuracy. Until now, this had not been appropriately addressed. In this paper, we analyze the accuracy of the solution produced by the aforementioned algorithm.

In this work a two-stage scenario-based modeling approach is proposed in order to simultaneously deal with the design and planning decisions in supply chain networks, where both forward and reverse flows are considered (closed-loop supply chains) subject to uncertain conditions. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) approach is developed with the underlying objective of profit maximization. Planning takes into account raw material acquisition and processing, storage and distribution of several products flowing through the network. Uncertainty is associated to the quantity and quality of the flow of products of the reverse network, which are directly affected by customers and sorting centers, respectively. The approach considers, by means of scenarios, the simultaneous integration of two important uncertainty sources, thus presenting an important modeling advantage, i.e. that of providing a better understanding of the CLSCs. The applicability of the formulation is tested with a real sized example of a Portuguese glass company.

n/a