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Good linings require the best attachment methods. Challenges exist, but developments are overcoming the challenges. By the 1970s, energy savings was a priority lor most Ihermal-processing industries. Lightweight ceramic fiber [...]

Graphical Abstract: Schematic showing that the Seebeck coefficient of PDPP-4T changes sign from positive to negative upon heavy doping with the small BF4−counterion, but no sign change is observed with the larger BArF−counterion

ABSTRACTLand change models are important tools for land systems analysis, but their potential for causal inference using a counterfactual approach remains underdeveloped. This paper reviews the state of counterfactual land change modeling with the intent of causal inference. All of the reviewed studies promoted the value of creating ‘counterfactual worlds’ via simulation modeling to untangle complex causation in land systems in order to assess the effects of specific interventions and/or historical events. Several models used counterfactual analysis to challenge prevailing assumptions motivating past policy interventions, while others isolated the spatial heterogeneity of policy effects. The review also highlights methodological limitations and proposes best practices specific to counterfactual land change modeling for causal inference, such as ensemble approaches and multiple calibration-validation iterations. Counterfactual modeling is still underdeveloped in land system science, but it holds promise for advancing causal inference for some of the most challenging to study land change phenomenon.

AbstractWe present results from direct measurements of the thick-target yield from laboratory incident energies 3 to 5 MeV, performed with the 3HeBF3Giant Barrel (HeBGB) neutron detector at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory. Our measurements have a small energy cadence in order to address discrepancies and sparseness of thick-target-yield data sets existing for this energy region. We find general agreement with existing data sets, including yields derived from cross-section data, while resolving a discrepancy between existing thick-target-yield data sets for  MeV. However, for  MeV, our results are substantially lower than previous thick-target-yield data and somewhat larger than yields calculated from existing cross-section data. Our data complete the energy range needed for estimates of the contribution to neutrino and dark matter detector backgrounds and result in increased viability of as a plasma diagnostic tool at fusion facilities such as the National Ignition Facility.

Industrial manufacturers that use high-temperature furnaces are focused on temperature uniformity, energy efficiency and low maintenance cost. It's difficult to achieve these ends simultaneously using insulating fiber and dense refractory [...]

Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressant drug, is effective for treating psoriasis (a chronic skin disorder with itchy, scaly patches), but one side effect is hypertriglyceridemia (elevated blood levels of triglycerides, a neutral fat). To learn more about the extent of this side effect, eight male patients with psoriasis were studied after receiving cyclosporine for one month. Their blood levels of triglycerides and cholesterol were evaluated before and after treatment. The drug reduced the average body surface area with psoriatic plaques from 70 percent to 30 percent. Seven of the patients had increased blood triglyceride levels after treatment; however, these levels peaked after about one month of treatment. When patients stopped taking the drug, their triglyceride levels fell. Blood cholesterol levels increased by only 6 percent during treatment. In four cases, the drug-induced elevations in triglyceride levels were at least two times as high as the baseline values. These four patients had undergone therapy with etretinate and had developed hypertriglyceridemia with that drug as well. It is likely that both drugs unmask a latent tendency to develop this condition. In the case of cyclosporine, the mechanism of action for increasing triglyceride levels is not known. Fasting triglyceride levels should be monitored in patients taking cyclosporine; because high levels of triglycerides may be risk factors for atherosclerosis (deposition of fatty plaque on the walls of blood vessels), the drug should be discontinued if levels rise above 1,000 milligrams per deciliter. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Fibroblasts in a confluent monolayer are known to adopt elongated morphologies in which cells are oriented parallel to their neighbors. We collected and analyzed new microscopy movies to show that confluent fibroblasts are motile and that neighboring cells often move in anti-parallel directions in a collective motion phenomenon we refer to as "fluidization" of the cell population. We used machine learning to perform cell tracking for each movie and then leveraged topological data analysis (TDA) to show that time-varying point-clouds generated by the tracks contain significant topological information content that is driven by fluidization, i.e., the anti-parallel movement of individual neighboring cells and neighboring groups of cells over long distances. We then utilized the TDA summaries extracted from each movie to perform Bayesian parameter estimation for the D'Orsgona model, an agent-based model (ABM) known to produce a wide array of different patterns, including patterns that are qualitatively similar to fluidization. Although the D'Orsgona ABM is a phenomenological model that only describes inter-cellular attraction and repulsion, the estimated region of D'Orsogna model parameter space was consistent across all movies, suggesting that a specific level of inter-cellular repulsion force at close range may be a mechanism that helps drive fluidization patterns in confluent mesenchymal cell populations. • Single cell tracking unveils anti-parallel movement in mesenchymal cells population. • Topological analysis quantifies collective motion in experimental data. • Topological information can be used to estimate parameters for an agent-based model. • An agent-based model recapitulates experimental collective motion. • A specific balance of inter-cellular forces drives the motion in experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telepharmacies, which dispense medications on-site under the supervision of an off-site pharmacist using telecommunication technologies, have been proposed as a means to ameliorate the impact of pharmacy closures and improve access to medications.

AbstractThe n-p scattering angular distribution was measured with 14.9 MeV incident neutrons produced at the neutron facility of Ohio University. The traditional time-of-flight technique with neutron-gamma discrimination was applied for the measurement of the number and energy of scattered neutrons. The scattering angle varied from 20 to 65 deg (laboratory system) in 5 deg incremental steps corresponding to an ejectile energy range from 13.16 to 2.66 MeV. The efficiency of the neutron detectors was measured in the energy range 2 to 9 MeV relative to the 252Cf standard and was calculated using Monte Carlo methods in the 2 to 14 MeV energy range. Two methods of analysis were applied for experimental and simulated data: a traditional approach with a fixed threshold ~0.1MeVee and a dynamic threshold approach. The efficiencies determined by both methods are in excellent agreement for simulated and experimental results within the energy interval 2 to 9 MeV. The experimental (<9 MeV) and calculated efficiencies (>9 MeV) were applied for evaluation of the n-p scattering experimental result. The corrections for neutron attenuation in the “scatter-detector” were calculated with analytical formulas and by the Monte Carlo method. Additional minor corrections for edge effect, C(n,n’)3α background and dead time were also included. The present data agree with recent evaluations for the n-p angular distribution within about 1.6%. The current state-of-the-art of experimental uncertainties that can be realized for a neutron counting experiment were reached in this investigation. An additional correlation analysis allows us to conclude that the standard deviation connected with existing correlations may be the main component of the total uncertainty.

Background Intranasal trigeminal function is important in detecting environmental stimuli. The impact of age-associated chemosensory dysfunction upon taste and olfaction is well described, but an understanding of trigeminal loss (chemesthesis) is lacking.Objective The goal of this study was to characterize trigeminal function in a cohort of older adults and explore potential impacts.Methods Twenty-eight participants over 50 years of age were recruited from the community as part of an aging cohort study. This nested cohort completed chemosensory questionnaires, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and psychophysical testing for taste (taste strips), olfaction (Sniffin’ Sticks), and trigeminal function (eucalyptol lateralization). Data were analyzed for associations between trigeminal function, olfactory, and taste psychophysical performance, patient-reported metrics, and demographic risk factors.Results Patient-reported trigeminal impairment is less severe than other chemosensory loss, with mean visual analog scores (VAS, rated 0-100 from least to most severe) for smell (32.9 ± 34.2), taste (20.6 ± 28.4), and trigeminal sensation (9.5 ± 12.8). Despite low VAS scores, psychophysical trigeminal dysfunction was present in 10 (35.7%) subjects. Psychophysical olfactory and taste dysfunction were present in 16 (57.1%) and eight (28.6%) participants respectively. Hypercholesterolemia was associated with psychophysical trigeminal dysfunction (mean lateralization performance in hypercholesterolemia 57.7% ± 17.1 vs. 74.1% ± 10.4, p= .008).Conclusion Intranasal trigeminal impairment is present in nearly one-third of aging adults when assessed by psychophysical methods but is under-recognized. Hyperlipidemia may be associated with trigeminal impairment. Future inquiries should better characterize these findings in larger and prospective cohorts.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare, hereditary skin disorder in which large and sometimes deep blisters develop at sites of trauma or rubbing. Since the upper layers of the skin can actually loosen and fall off, secondary infection often occurs, leading to slower healing and sometimes serious illness or death. Treatment may include antibiotics, debridement (removal of dead tissue), wound dressings, skin grafts, use of protective clothing, and diet supplementation. With the need for continuous treatment, the development of bacterial strains, especially Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), that are resistant to antibiotics is an important clinical problem. Mupirocin, an antibiotic with a novel structure and mode of action, has been effective in treating EB. The long-term consequences of mupirocin use were investigated in 47 EB patients, 38 of whom continued to use the drug for several years. In general, samples taken from wound areas in these patients revealed little evidence of bacterial growth. Cultures from five patients, however, contained S. aureus that was resistant to mupirocin. When four of these patients were given systemic antibiotics, their wounds did not grow pathological bacteria. Overall, use of mupirocin resulted in less pain and quicker healing than when conventional agents were used. The possibility that resistant organisms have developed must always be considered after long-term treatment, especially when patients are known to be compliant, thus making other reasons for failure to heal unlikely. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

In our 2001 Spring Management Conferences, we emphasize a 'Back to Basics' approach in our business management. While technology has made significant improvements in our lifestyles, there is still the [...]

Most industry insiders are familiar with the Motorcycle and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI), which has been training motorcycle service technicians for more than 25 years. But many people may not [...]

Setting people up for success is the business philosophy of 'Leadership At Its Best.' As a college student, your focus must be on setting yourself up for success. Someone asked [...]

In our NWSA Spring Management Conferences, we talked about having 'passion' for our industry, and the need to pass on the knowledge and skills we know to newcomers in our [...]

In this UK study, researchers looked at the attitudes and knowledge levels of staff who care for young people who have self-harmed, and the training needs for these staff. A [...]

Aims.Shells in Ellipticals are peculiar faint sharp edged features that are thought to be formed by galaxy mergers. We determine the shell and dust distributions, and colours of a well-resolved shell and the underlying galaxy in NGC 5982, and compare the spatial distributions of the dust and gas phases, in order to investigate the origin of shells and dust in NGC 5982.

Context.Shells in Elliptical Galaxies are faint, sharp-edged features, believed to provide evidence for a merger event. Accurate photometry at high spatial resolution is needed to learn on presence of inner shells, population properties of shells, and dust in shell galaxies.

Aims.We present our analysis of the multiwavelength photometric & spectroscopic observations of GRB 060210and discuss the results in the overall context of current GRB models.

Aims.We report a multi-wavelength analysis of the prompt emission and early afterglow of GRB 051111 and discuss its properties in the context of current fireball models.

Context.Shells in Elliptical Galaxies are faint, sharp-edged features, believed to provide evidence of a recent (${\sim} 0.5 {-} 2 \times 10^9$years ago) merger event. We analyse the Globular Cluster (GC) systems of six shell elliptical galaxies, to examine the effects of mergers upon the GC formation history.

Irrigationinduced erosion and subsequent sediment loss is a serious agricultural and environmental problem. Recent recognition of this problem has stimulated the development and evaluation of erosion and sedimentlosscontrol technology. Research results indicate that the application of the technology available today can reduce sediment loss by 70–100%. Important practices include irrigationwater management, sedimentretention basins, buriedpipe tailwatercontrol systems, vegetative filter strips, tailwaterrecovery systems, keeping crop residues on the soil surface and in furrows, and implementing conservation tillage practices.

Recent research efforts have shown that soil erosion decreases soil productivity. Erosioncaused crop production decreases of 15–40% are commonly reported with some values over 50%. Furrow erosion on irrigated land in Idaho decreases topsoil depth on the upslope approximately 33% of the field area and may increase topsoil depth on the downslope 50–55%. Crop yields are generally decreased where topsoil depths are decreased, but yields are not generally increased where topsoil depths are increased beyond a critical depth. Crops vary in their sensitivity to decreases in topsoil depth, but all crops studied exhibited lower yields on the eroded areas. Soil productivity potential of one area representing several million ha of furrow irrigated land was reduced at least 25% by furrow erosion over 80 irrigation seasons. Technology is not available to restore soil productivity potential to the level that would exist had there been no erosion except for returning topsoil to eroded areas. Research and technology applications are needed to reduce or eliminate topsoil loss and redistribution by irrigation erosion.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-invasive, geophysical tool that can be used for the identification of clandestine graves. GPR operates by detecting density differences in soil by the transmission of high frequency electromagnetic waves from an antenna. Domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) carcasses were clothed in 100% cotton t-shirts and 50% cotton/50% polyester briefs, and buried at a consistent depth at three field sites of contrasting soil texture (silty clay loam, fine sand and fine sandy loam) in southern Ontario. GPR was used to detect and monitor the graves for a period of 14 months post-burial. Analysis of collected data revealed that GPR had applicability in the identification of clandestine graves in silty clay loam and fine sandy loam soils, but was not suitable for detection in the fine sandy soil studied. The results of this research have applicability within forensic investigations involving decomposing remains by aiding in the location of clandestine graves in loam soils in southern Ontario through the use of GPR.

Density functional theory calculations have been performed on a range of magnesium and magnesium hydride nanoclusters to examine the 1 bar desorption temperatures. The vibrational entropies and enthalpies are calculated for each cluster, within the harmonic approximation, which permits calculation of the desorption Gibbs free energy of reaction. For the bulk system, good agreement is found with experiment for the desorption temperature and a range of structural and electronic properties. For the nanoparticulate systems, we report binding energies, along with desorption reaction entropies and enthalpies. The finite-temperature effects on the vibrational energies of all system sizes are examined, and the findings suggest that the harmonic approximation is too restricted to account for the experimentally observed reductions in the nanoparticulate reaction enthalpies.

ABSTRACTACHN-490 is an aminoglycoside with activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens, including those resistant to currently used aminoglycosides. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies investigated the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of ACHN-490 injection in healthy subjects. Study 1 used a parallel-group design with escalating single (SD) and multiple doses (MD). Study 2 explored a longer duration of the highest dose tolerated in the first study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either ACHN-490 injection or a placebo administered by a 10-min intravenous infusion. Study 1 enrolled 39 subjects (30 active and 9 placebo) and consisted of a single dose of 1 mg/kg body weight followed by ascending SD and MD cohorts of 4, 7, 11, and 15 mg/kg for 10, 10, 5, and 3 days, respectively. Study 2 enrolled 8 subjects (6 active and 2 placebo) who received 15 mg/kg for 5 days. Safety was assessed from adverse event (AE) reporting, standard clinical laboratory procedures, and testing for renal, cochlear, and vestibular function. ACHN-490 exhibited linear and dose-proportional PK, with agreement between the studies for PK parameters assessed. The 15-mg/kg dose did not accumulate with repeated dosing over 5 days. Mean steady-state (±standard deviation) area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24), maximum concentration of drug in serum (Cmax), half-life (t1/2), clearance, and volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) for the 15-mg/kg, day 5 dose were 239 ± 45 h·mg/liter, 113 ± 17 mg/liter, 3 ± 0.3 h, 1.1 ± 0.1 ml/min/kg, and 0.24 ± 0.04 liters/kg, respectively. AEs were mild to moderate and rapidly resolved. No evidence of nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity was observed.

Achieving perfect replication of micro- and nanostructured surfaces without creating sink marks in the parts is challenging. Therefore, gas assisted injection moulding (GAIM) was investigated as a method to enhance moulding quality in polypropylene, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) parts. For all three polymers, the GAIM did not improve replication (depth ratios) of low aspect ratio microfeatures moulded using tooling with positive features, but did significantly enhance replication of higher aspect ratio trenches and tapered holes. The enhanced replication was attributed to better filling, and with the semicrystalline polymer, significantly less shrinkage. GAIM sometimes enhanced the edge definition of the features, and as expected, reduced sink marks in the polypropylene surfaces.

AbstractThe use of an easily reproducible neutron source reaction that produces a well-known continuous spectrum of neutrons over a range of energies is an ideal solution for some neutron detector efficiency calibrations. Fission chamber measurements of the 27Al(d,n) reaction have proven valuable for detector calibration for energies between 0.2 and 14 MeV. To complement the aluminum data, measurements were made with a fission chamber at 60 deg of the neutron spectrum produced from the 7.5-MeV deuteron bombardment of a thick natural boron target. This should enable accurate and efficient calibration of neutron detectors for the energy range between 0.09 and 19.6 MeV. Tenth-order polynomial fits to the data are provided for the region with energies between 88 keV and 2.33 MeV and the region with energies between 1.76 and 19.6 MeV.

The 2 m Liverpool Telescope (LT), owned by Liverpool John Moores University, is located in La Palma (Canary Islands) and operates in fully robotic mode. In 2005, the LT began conducting an automatic gamma-ray burst (GRB) follow-up program. On receiving an automatic GRB alert from a gamma-ray observatory (Swift, INTEGRAL, HETE-2, or IPN), the LT initiates a special override mode that conducts follow-up observations within 2-3 minutes of the GRB onset. This follow-up procedure begins with an initial sequence of short (10 s) exposures acquired through an r'band filter. These images are reduced, analyzed, and interpreted automatically using pipeline software developed by our team, called LT-TRAP (Liverpool Telescope Transient Rapid Analysis Pipeline); the automatic detection and successful identification of an unknown and potentially fading optical transient triggers a subsequent multicolor imaging sequence. In the case of a candidate brighter than r'= 15, either a polarimetric (from 2006) or a spectroscopic observation (from 2007) will be triggered on the LT. If no candidate is identified, the telescope continues to obtain z', r', and i'band imaging with increasingly longer exposure times. Here we present a detailed description of the LT-TRAP and briefly discuss the illustrative case of the afterglow of GRB 050502a, whose automatic identification by the LT just 3 minutes after the GRB led to the acquisition of the first early-time (<1 hr) multicolor light curve of a GRB afterglow.

At the end of the final spin cycle of the laundry process, the residual moisture content (RMC) of fabric is directly related to the dynamic surface tension of the residual water in the fabric. The LaPlace equation for capillary rise predicts that the capillary rise of solutions in a capillary is proportional to the surface tension at the air−liquid interface. If fabric can be considered to be a large ensemble of capillaries due to interfiber spacing, then the RMC of fabrics will be directly related to the surface tension of residual solution in the fabric. The use of a tailored rinse additive has the potential to decrease the surface tension of solution significantly, thus leading to a decrease in the residual water content of the fabric. It is expected that as the surfactant concentration increases the surface tension decreases. Hence, the RMC of fabrics must decrease with increasing surfactant concentration. However, a peak is observed in the RMC of fabrics before the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is reached. Prior to the CMC, it is proposed that a sudden adsorption of surfactant is occurring on the fabric surface leading to a decrease in bulk monomer concentration. The decrease in free monomer concentration should result in an increase in the equilibrium surface tension of the residual solution leading to a concomitant increase in RMC. Because the dynamic surface tension is measured on a short time scale (on the order of milliseconds), there will be less adsorption of monomer onto the newly created air−liquid interface of the bubbles during the measurement process. This decrease in adsorption should lead to a pronounced increase in the dynamic surface tension. This indeed was observed. The RMC correlates very well with the dynamic surface tension of the residual solution.