Kaolins and clays are important raw materials for production of supplementary cementitious materials and geopolymer precursors through thermal activation by calcination beyond dehydroxylation (DHX). Both types of clay contain different polytypes and disordered structures of kaolinite but little is known about the impact of the layer stacking of dioctahedral 1:1 layer silicates on optimum thermal activation conditions and following reactivity with alkaline solutions. The objective of the present study was to improve understanding of the impact of layer stacking in dioctahedral 1:1 layer silicates on the thermal activation by investigating the atomic structure after dehydroxylation. Heating experiments by simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) followed by characterization of the dehydroxylated materials by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with first-principles calculations were performed. Density functional theory (DFT) was utilized for correlation of geometry-optimized structures to thermodynamic stability. The resulting volumes of unit cells were compared with data from dilatometry studies. The local structure changes were correlated with experimental results of increasing DHX temperature in the following order: disordered kaolinite, kaolinite, and dickite, whereupon dickite showed two dehydroxylation steps. Intermediate structures were found that were thermodynamically stable and partially dehydroxylated to a degree of DHX of 75% for kaolinite, 25% for disordered kaolinite, and 50% for dickite. These thermodynamically stable, partially dehydroxylated intermediates contained AlV while metakaolinite and metadickite contained only AlIV with a strongly distorted coordination shell. These results indicate strongly the necessity for characterization of the structure of dioctahedral 1:1 layer silicates in kaolins and clays as a key parameter to predict optimized calcination conditions and resulting reactivity.

In engineering and architecture, different approaches have been developed that share the use of graph transformation to automate design processes or to search for design solutions by means of computational design synthesis. In order to give an overview of these approaches, we provide a review of articles published in the last decade. Forty-eight articles were reviewed to determine similarities and differences of these approaches. Research fields in method development for the representation of design problems and the processing of graph transformations, as well as the application of graph transformations in engineering, architecture, and shape grammars were identified. Different approaches for the documentation of the vocabulary and the rules were examined. Finally, different approaches for rule applications were analyzed. Based on found limitations, future research directions are suggested.

Mass loss is a key property to understand stellar evolution and in particular for low-metallicity environments. Our knowledge has improved dramatically over the last decades both for single and binary evolutionary models. However, episodic mass loss although definitely present observationally, is not included in the models, while its role is currently undetermined. A major hindrance is the lack of large enough samples of classified stars. We attempted to address this by applying an ensemble machine-learning approach using color indices (from IR/Spitzer and optical/Pan-STARRS photometry) as features and combining the probabilities from three different algorithms. We trained on M31 and M33 sources with known spectral classification, which we grouped into Blue/Yellow/Red/B[e] Supergiants, Luminous Blue Variables, classical Wolf-Rayet and background galaxies/AGNs. We then applied the classifier to about one million Spitzer point sources from 25 nearby galaxies, spanning a range of metallicites (). Equipped with spectral classifications we investigated the occurrence of these populations with metallicity.

To mitigate the risk of wake vortex encounters during final approach, so-called plate lines have been developed. Data collected during a six-month measurement campaign at Vienna International Airport are used to assess the potential for reducing minimum aircraft separations facilitated by plate lines during approach and landing following the re-categorisation (RECAT-EU) methodology for revised wake turbulence categorisation. To ensure that no other parameters controlling wake vortex decay bias the analysis, it is verified that wind speed, atmospheric turbulence, thermal stratification and flight altitude reside in similar ranges with and without the plates. The analysis follows the steps of the RECAT-EU method to generate non-dimensional so-called reasonable worst-case circulation decay curves; one as a reference for nominal operations without plates and one representing the accelerated wake vortex decay brought about by the plate lines. The difference between the two circulation decay curves corresponds to the non-dimensional time-based aircraft separation reduction potential that can be translated into distance-based separation gains. Depending on the particular RECAT-EU category combination, the attained aircraft separation reduction potential ranges between 12% and 15%. Constricting the analysis to wake vortices generated by one aircraft type representing the Upper Heavy RECAT-EU category, the separation reduction potential amounts up to 24%.

While converging evidence suggests that both environmental and genetic factors underlie variations in diurnal cortisol, the extent to which these sources of influence vary according to socioeconomic status (SES) has seldom been investigated, particularly in adolescence. To investigate whether a distinct genetic and environmental contribution to youth’s diurnal cortisol secretion emerges according to family SES and whether the timing of these experiences matters. Participants were 592 twin pairs, who mostly came from middle-income and intact families and for whom SES was measured in childhood and adolescence. Diurnal cortisol was assessed at age 14 at awakening, 30 min later, in the afternoon and evening over four nonconsecutive days. SES–cortisol phenotypic associations were specific to the adolescence period. Specifically, higher awakening cortisol levels were detected in wealthier backgrounds, whereas higher cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal changes were present at both ends of the SES continuum. Moreover, smaller genetic contributions emerged for awakening cortisol in youth from poorer compared to wealthier backgrounds. The results suggest that the relative contribution of inherited factors to awakening cortisol secretion may be enhanced or suppressed depending on the socio-family context, which may help to decipher the mechanisms underlying later adjustment.

Introduction: Postpartum weight management is difficult for many mothers due to the demands of parenthood. Women have highlighted a need for support but experience barriers to engaging with lifestyle interventions hence more adaptable approaches are required. This work examined participants’ engagement with a 12-month, theory-based, automated, text message (SMS) delivered, intervention supporting postpartum weight management.

Methods: SMS content was informed by: 1) the ‘Health Action Process Approach’ (HAPA)1; 2) behaviour change techniques associated with effectiveness in weight management interventions2; 3) women's accounts of postpartum weight-related experiences; and 4) personal and public involvement. A two-arm pilot RCT recruited women within two years postpartum, with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2, through community sources and social media. Women were randomised via a secure remote system to receive the intervention or an active control delivering child development messages. Participants received 353 messages during the 12 month intervention. Two-way messages were used to assess engagement: 50 messages prompted women to respond with their weight; 36 interactive messages requested participants’ to respond ‘Yes/No’ to a question which then triggered a feedback message. Participant engagement with two-way messages was calculated as a percentage of replies sent by women and was categorised as ‘high’ or ‘low’ according to the median number of replies sent. Weight was measured at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.

Results: 51 of 100 women recruited were randomised to receive the intervention. In months 0–6, (47%) and (95%) of participants responded to the weight messages and the ‘Yes/No’ messages respectively. In months 7–12, the responses were (77%) and (86%) respectively. Participants who were high engagers with weight messages had greater mean weight loss compared with low engagers at all time points: at 12 months high engagers (n = 18) lost -2.66 kg and had a reduction in waist circumference at 12 months of -8.9 cm, compared to changes in low engagers (n = 18) of -0.84 kg and -3.6 cm. Likewise, high engagers with ‘Yes/No’ messages had greater mean weight loss compared with low engagers at all time points: at 12 months high engagers (n = 16) lost -2.87 kg and had a reduction in waist circumference of -9.4 cm, compared to changes in low engagers (n = 20) of -0.86 kg and -3.6 cm.

Discussion: The use of two-way text messages was a useful way to encourage engagement with this SMS-delivered intervention. Higher engagement resulted in more weight loss compared to low engagement.

Waterfall Bluff is a rock shelter in eastern Pondoland, South Africa, adjacent to a narrow continental shelf that limited coastline movements across glacial/interglacial cycles. The archaeological deposits are characterized by well-preserved stratigraphy, faunal, and botanical remains alongside abundant stone artifacts and other materials. A comprehensive dating protocol consisting of 5 optically stimulated luminescence ages and 51 accelerator mass spectrometry 14C ages shows that the record of hunter-gatherer occupations at Waterfall Bluff persisted from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene, spanning the last glacial maximum and the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene. Here, we provide detailed descriptions about the sedimentary sequence, chronology, and characteristics of the archaeological deposits at Waterfall Bluff. Remains of marine mollusks and marine fish also show, for the first time, that coastal foraging was a component of some hunter-gatherer groups’ subsistence practices during glacial phases in the late Pleistocene. The presence of marine fish and shellfish further demonstrates that hunter-gatherers selectively targeted coastal resources from intertidal and estuarine habitats. Our results therefore underscore the idea that Pondoland's coastline remained a stable and predictable point on the landscape over the last glacial/interglacial transition being well positioned for hunter-gatherers to access resources from the nearby coastline, narrow continental shelf, and inland areas.

We prove that the continuous function${\rm{\hat \Omega }}:2^\omega \to $ that is defined via$X \mapsto \mathop \sum \limits_n 2^{ - K\left( {Xn} \right)} $ for all $X \in {2^\omega }$ is differentiable exactly at the Martin-Löf random reals with the derivative having value 0; that it is nowhere monotonic; and that $\mathop \smallint \nolimits _0^1{\rm{\hat{\Omega }}}\left( X \right)\,{\rm{d}}X$ is a left-c.e. $wtt$-complete real having effective Hausdorff dimension ${1 / 2}$.

We further investigate the algorithmic properties of ${\rm{\hat{\Omega }}}$. For example, we show that the maximal value of ${\rm{\hat{\Omega }}}$ must be random, the minimal value must be Turing complete, and that ${\rm{\hat{\Omega }}}\left( X \right) \oplus X{ \ge _T}\emptyset \prime$ for every X. We also obtain some machine-dependent results, including that for every $\varepsilon > 0$, there is a universal machine V such that ${{\rm{\hat{\Omega }}}_V}$ maps every real X having effective Hausdorff dimension greater than ε to a real of effective Hausdorff dimension 0 with the property that $X{ \le _{tt}}{{\rm{\hat{\Omega }}}_V}\left( X \right)$; and that there is a real X and a universal machine V such that ${{\rm{\Omega }}_V}\left( X \right)$ is rational.

Two laboratory emission spectrometers have been designed and described previously. Here, we present a follow-up study with special focus on absolute intensity calibration of the new SURFER-spectrometer (SUbmillimeter Receiver For Emission spectroscopy of Rotational transitions), operational between 300 and 400 GHz and coincident with ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) Band 7.

Furthermore, we present a feasibility study to extend the detection frequencies up to 2 THz. First results have been obtained using the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for IR Astronomy) upGREAT laboratory setup which is located at the University of Cologne. Pure rotational spectra of the complex molecule vinyl cyanide have been obtained and are used to give an estimate on the sensitivity to record ro-vibrational transitions of molecules with astrophysical importance at 2 THz.

Background: Based on the vulnerability model, several studies indicate that low self-esteem seems to contribute to depressive symptoms. Aims: The aim of this study was to treat depressive symptoms in a cognitive behavioural group therapy, focusing on the enhancement of self-esteem, and to explore co-variation in depressive symptoms and the level of self-esteem. Method: The Multidimensional Self-esteem Scale (MSWS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to 147 psychiatric in-patients with current depressive symptoms due to an affective disorder (major depression, bipolar I, dysthymia). Self-esteem was measured pre-treatment (t0) and post-treatment (t4, after 5 weeks of eight group sessions); the BDI was applied weekly. A linear mixed growth analysis was conducted to estimate the change in depressive symptoms including interactions with self-esteem. Results: Within the 5 weeks of group therapy, depressive symptoms showed a linear decline, which was stronger for patients with higher gains in self-esteem between t0 and t4. Self-esteem at t0 was unrelated to the change in depression but predicted self-esteem at t4. Conclusions: Treating depressive symptoms in a cognitive behavioural group therapy in a naturalistic setting might have a positive effect on the process of recovery. Moreover, depressive symptoms and level of self-esteem seemed to co-vary.