Safety in Royal Filling Factories

DTIC Science & Technology

1950-10-01

cracks occur in the asphalt and above the level of the destroying solution, a channel of luting or other material should be built up and filled with...destroyed. If of asphalt , any cracks should be treated as recommended in the case of 18(b) above. The Dirty Side should be treated as recommended for...already exist owing to the presence of suitable buildings, could be made at comparatively small expense by mounds of earth about 3 feet thick revetted

Frequent non-storm washover of barrier islands, Pacific coast of Colombia

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morton, R.A.; Gonzalez, J.L.; Lopez, G.I.; Correa, I.D.

2000-01-01

Barrier islands of the Pacific coast of Colombia repeatedly experience severe washover even when breaking waves in the eastern Pacific are low and onshore winds are calm. On the barrier island of El Choncho, recent non-storm washover events have breached a new inlet, caused rapid beach retreat, destroyed a shoreline protection structure, and flooded a small village of indigenous people so frequently that it had to be relocated. Barrier washover may be augmented by lowered land elevations associated with earthquake-induced subsidence or long-term beach retreat, but temporally it is most closely associated with a 20 to 30 cm regional increase in sea level caused by El Nino. The contradiction of a tranquil tropical island scene simultaneously disturbed by hostile turbulent washover may be unique at present, but it exemplifies how coastal plains throughout the world would be affected if sea level were to rise rapidly as a result of global warming.

Hurricane impact and recovery shoreline change analysis of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, USA: 1855 to 2005

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fearnley, Sarah Mary; Miner, Michael D.; Kulp, Mark; Bohling, Carl; Penland, Shea

2009-12-01

Results from historical (1855-2005) shoreline change analysis conducted along the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana demonstrate that tropical cyclone frequency dominates the long-term evolution of this barrier island chain. Island area decreased at a rate of -0.16 km2/year for the relatively quiescent time period up until 1996, when an increase in tropical cyclone frequency accelerated this island area reduction to a rate of -1.01 km2/year. More frequent hurricanes also affected shoreline retreat rates, which increased from -11.4 m/year between 1922 and 1996 to -41.9 m/year between 1982 and 2005. The erosional impact caused by the passage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was unprecedented. Between 2004 and 2005, the shoreline of the northern islands retreated -201.5 m/year, compared with an average retreat rate of -38.4 m/year between 1922 and 2004. A linear regression analysis of shoreline change predicts that, as early as 2013, the backbarrier marsh that serves to stabilize the barrier island chain will be completely destroyed if storm frequency observed during the past decade persists. If storm frequency decreases to pre-1996 recurrence intervals, the backbarrier marsh is predicted to remain until 2037. Southern portions of the barrier island chain where backbarrier marsh is now absent behave as ephemeral islands that are destroyed after storm impacts and reemerge during extended periods of calm weather, a coastal behavior that will eventually characterize the entire island chain.

Hydrostatic pressure effect on PNIPAM cononsolvency in water-methanol solutions.

PubMed

Pica, Andrea; Graziano, Giuseppe

2017-12-01

When methanol is added to water at room temperature and 1atm, poly (N-isopropylacrylamide), PNIPAM, undergoes a coil-to-globule collapse transition. This intriguing phenomenon is called cononsolvency. Spectroscopic measurements have shown that application of high hydrostatic pressure destroys PNIPAM cononsolvency in water-methanol solutions. We have developed a theoretical approach that identifies the decrease in solvent-excluded volume effect as the driving force of PNIPAM collapse on increasing the temperature. The same approach indicates that cononsolvency, at room temperature and P=1atm, is caused by the inability of PNIPAM to make all the attractive energetic interactions that it could be engaged in, due to competition between water and methanol molecules. The present analysis suggests that high hydrostatic pressure destroys cononsolvency because the coil state becomes more compact, and the quantity measuring PNIPAM-solvent attractions increases in magnitude due to the solution density increase, and the ability of small water molecules to substitute methanol molecules on PNIPAM surface. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Overcoming Obstacles to Peace: Local Factors in Nation-Building

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

institutional barriers to private investment remained, and Bosnia had no commercial banking sector .15 The war largely destroyed the economy but not...World Bank worked to improve the management of state finances, reform the mining sector , and improve the civil service. Some bilateral assistance...present research findings and objective analysis that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors . All RAND reports undergo rigorous

Research to Develop Biomedical Applications of Free Electron Laser Technology

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-31

Wellman Center for Photomedicine/Massachusetts General Hospital ,55 Fruit St,Boston,MA,02114-2621 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER ; AFRL-OSR... affect soldiers. To achieve this broad goal, we have undertaken projects focused on novel treatments of infectious diseases and physical trauma...death. Burns destroy the cutaneous barrier, rendering the affected tissue non- perfused, and bacteria find the burn wound a highly nutritional environment

Postischemic dementia with Alzheimer phenotype: selectively vulnerable versus resistant areas of the brain and neurodegeneration versus β-amyloid peptide.

PubMed

Pluta, Ryszard; Jabłoński, Mirosław; Czuczwar, Stanisław J

2012-01-01

The road to clarity for postischemic dementia mechanisms has been one fraught with a wide range of complications and numerous revisions with a lack of a final solution. Importantly, brain ischemia is a leading cause of death and cognitive impairment worldwide. However, the mechanisms of progressive cognitive decline following brain ischemia are not yet certain. Data from animal models and clinical pioneering studies of brain ischemia have demonstrated an increase in expression and processing of amyloid precursor protein to a neurotoxin oligomeric β-amyloid peptide. Functional and memory brain restoration after ischemic brain injury is delayed and incomplete due to a lesion related increase in the amount of the neurotoxin amyloid protein. Moreover, ischemic injury is strongly accelerated by aging, too. In this review, we will present our current thinking about biogenesis of amyloid from the amyloid precursor protein in ischemic brain injury, and how this factor presents etiological, therapeutic and diagnostic targets that are now under consideration. Progressive injury of the ischemic brain parenchyma may be caused not only by degeneration of selectively vulnerable neurons destroyed during ischemia but also by acute and chronic damage of resistant areas of the brain and progressive damage in the blood-brain barrier. We propose that in postischemic dementia an initial ischemic injury precedes the cerebrovascular and brain parenchyma accumulation of Alzheimer disease related neurotoxin β-amyloid peptide, which in turn amplifies the neurovascular dysfunction triggering focal ischemic episodes as a vicious cycle preceding final neurodegenerative pathology. Persistent ischemic blood-brain barrier insufficiency with accumulation of neurotoxin β-amyloid protein in the brain tissue, especially in extracellular perivascular space and blood-brain barrier microvessels, may gradually, over a lifetime, progress to brain atrophy and to full-blown ischemic dementia with Alzheimer phenotype.

Virucidal activity of two Iodophors to salmonid viruses

USGS Publications Warehouse

Amend, Donald F.; Pietsch, John P.

1972-01-01

Wescodyne® and Betadine®, organic iodine complexes, were compared in vitro for virucidal activity against infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN), infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN), and viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) viruses. Both iodophors were about equally effective on all three viruses. Each iodophor completely destroyed IHN virus within 30 sec at 12 ppm iodine, and was not affected by water hardness. Virucidal activity, however, was reduced at pH levels above 8.0 and in the presence of organic matter. Wescodyne was also compared with seven disinfectants commonly used in fish hatcheries, for virucidal properties against IHN virus. Wescodyne and chlorine were the only disinfectants to completely destroy the virus. Either Wescodyne or Betadine would effectively destroy the salmonid viruses at less than 25 ppm iodine within 5 min in solutions near neutrality.

Phytosanitary Treatments Against Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae): Current Situation and Future Prospects.

PubMed

Dohino, Toshiyuki; Hallman, Guy J; Grout, Timothy G; Clarke, Anthony R; Follett, Peter A; Cugala, Domingos R; Minh Tu, Duong; Murdita, Wayan; Hernandez, Emilio; Pereira, Rui; Myers, Scott W

2017-02-01

Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is arguably the most important tephritid attacking fruits after Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). In 2003 it was found in Africa and quickly spread to most of the sub-Saharan part of the continent, destroying fruits and creating regulatory barriers to their export. The insect is causing new nutritional and economic losses across Africa, as well as the losses it has caused for decades in infested areas of Asia, New Guinea, and Hawaii. This new panorama represents a challenge for fruit exportation from Africa. Phytosanitary treatments are required to export quarantined commodities out of infested areas to areas where the pest does not exist and could become established. This paper describes current phytosanitary treatments against B. dorsalis and their use throughout the world, the development of new treatments based on existing research, and recommendations for further research to provide phytosanitary solutions to the problem. © The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Border Security: Barriers Along the U.S. International Border

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-21

Mexican Government Press Release, “Crecimiento con Calidad: El Presidente Vicente Fox encabezará la cena de gala de la XI Cumbre Anual Hemispheria San...international border with Mexico , and covers approximately 7,000 square miles of territory. Located north of Tijuana and Tecate, Mexican cities with a...The study concluded that aliens attempting to enter the United States from Mexico had shown remarkable resiliency in bypassing or destroying obstacles

Sterilization of medical equipment and contaminated articles by making use of a resistive barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uhm, Han S.; Kang, Jung G.; Choi, Eun H.; Cho, Guang S.

2012-08-01

Presented here is an apparatus consisting of an atmospheric resistive-barrier discharge for the sterilization of medical tools wrapped in typical hospital cloths, for the sterilization of manufactured drugs in typical packaging materials, and for the sterilization of biologically-contaminated articles. The sterilization apparatus consists of layers of the resistive-barrier discharge device operating at room temperature, a sterilization chamber, and an ozone destruction device. An electrical discharge in the resistive-barrier discharge system generates an atmospheric plasma in oxygen gas, generating ozone, which in turn efficiently sterilizes medical tools and biologically contaminated articles at room temperature. A sterilization experiment was carried out at an apparatus volume of 100 liters, with a sterilization chamber volume of 60 liters, and a discharge device volume of 40 liters. The sterilization in this experiment required 60 W of power for 5 hours of residence time. For a given sterilization time, the required electrical power was proportional to the apparatus volume. Ozone in the sterilization chamber was destroyed safely after sterilization.

Selective photodestruction of alpha-amino acids. [in carbonaceous chondrites and chemical evolution experiments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levi, N.; Lawless, J. G.

1978-01-01

A problem encountered in the analysis of amino acids in chemical evolution experiments and in extracts of meteorites is the large number present. A method for selectively destroying the alpha-amino acids, with only the beta- and gamma-amino acids remaining in the solution, is described. The amino acids used were racemic, with one milliliter of solution containing 0.0000025 mol of each acid irradiated in a 1-cm quartz cell having 254-nm monochromatic light in the presence of CuCl2. Excess H2S was added to precipitate the Cu (2+) as CuS. A gas chromatographic analysis was used to observe that irradiation with 254-nm light in the presence of Cu (2+) destroyed all the amino acids except the beta and the gamma types. It is concluded that with such a procedure, complex mixtures of amino acids can be simplified to make identification by GC mass spectrometry easier.

DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer (DDG 1000)

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

Missile Defense Radar is the most cost-effective solution to fleet air and missile defense requirements. The Secretary of the Navy notified Congress...not reach an affordable solution and deliveries of these components for DDG 1002 were becoming time-critical. The Navy concurrently pursued a steel...DD(X) Construction (Shared) (Sunk) 2464 DD(X) Sys Design, Dev & Integration (Shared) (Sunk) 2465 DC Survivability (Shared) (Sunk) 2466 MFR

IMPROVEMENT UPON THE CARRIER PRECIPITATION OF PLUTONIUM IONS FROM NITRIC ACID SOLUTIONS

DOEpatents

James, R.A.; Thompson, S.G.

1958-12-23

A process is reported for improving the removal of plutonlum by carrier precipitation by the addition of nitrite ions to a nitrlc acid solutlon of neutronirradiated unanium so as to destroy any hydrazine that may be present in the solution since the hydrazine tends to complex the tetravalent plutonium and prevents removal by the carrier precipltate, such as bismuth phospbate.

National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Southeast Atlantic Coast

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stockdon, Hilary F.; Doran, Kara S.; Thompson, David M.; Sopkin, Kristin L.; Plant, Nathaniel G.

2013-01-01

Beaches serve as a natural barrier between the ocean and inland communities, ecosystems, and natural resources. However, these dynamic environments move and change in response to winds, waves, and currents. During extreme storms, changes to beaches can be large, and the results are sometimes catastrophic. Lives may be lost, communities destroyed, and millions of dollars spent on rebuilding. During storms, large waves may erode beaches, and high storm surge shifts the erosive force of the waves higher on the beach. In some cases, the combined effects of waves and surge may cause overwash or flooding. Building and infrastructure on or near a dune can be undermined during wave attack and subsequent erosion. During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, a five-story condominium in Orange Beach, Alabama, collapsed after the sand dune supporting the foundation eroded. The September 1999 landfall of Hurricane Dennis caused erosion and undermining that destroyed roads, foundations, and septic systems. Waves overtopping a dune can transport sand inland, covering roads and blocking evacuation routes or emergency relief. If storm surge inundates barrier island dunes, currents flowing across the island can create a breach, or new inlet, completely severing evacuation routes. Waves and surge during the 2003 landfall of Hurricane Isabel left a 200-meter (m) wide breach that cut the only road to and from the village of Hatteras, N.C. Extreme coastal changes caused by hurricanes may increase the vulnerability of communities both during a storm and to future storms. For example, when sand dunes on a barrier island are eroded substantially, inland structures are exposed to storm surge and waves. Absent or low dunes also allow water to flow inland across the island, potentially increasing storm surge in the back bay, on the soundside of the barrier, and on the mainland. During Hurricane Isabel the protective sand dunes near the breach were completely eroded, increasing vulnerability to future storms.

The Quantification and Evolution of Resilience in Integrated Coastal Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-08-01

for natural protection when protective beaches and sand dunes are destroyed or overtopped. Protects a beach or sand dune that fronts backshore from...dredged material on a beach, dune , barrier island, or sand berm located in the near- shore zone. Stabilize the location of an eroding beach, dune ...waves will erode beaches and dunes . Table 5. Components and processes that are part of an ecosystem restoration subsystem defined by an oyster

Energy minibands degeneration induced by magnetic field effects in graphene superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reyes-Villagrana, R. A.; Carrera-Escobedo, V. H.; Suárez-López, J. R.; Madrigal-Melchor, J.; Rodríguez-Vargas, I.

2017-12-01

Energy minibands are a basic feature of practically any superlattice. In this regard graphene superlattices are not the exception and recently miniband transport has been reported through magneto-transport measurements. In this work, we compute the energy miniband and transport characteristics for graphene superlattices in which the energy barriers are generated by magnetic and electric fields. The transfer matrix approach and the Landauer-Büttiker formalism have been implemented to calculate the energy minibands and the linear-regime conductance. We find that energy minibands are very sensitive to the magnetic field and become degenerate by rising it. We were also able to correlate the evolution of the energy minibands as a function of the magnetic field with the transport characteristics, finding that miniband transport can be destroyed by magnetic field effects. Here, it is important to remark that although magnetic field effects have been a key element to unveil miniband transport, they can also destroy it.

Facilitators & Barriers to the Adoption of Ergonomic Solutions in Construction

PubMed Central

Dale, Ann Marie; Jaegers, Lisa; Welch, Laura; Barnidge, Ellen; Weaver, Nancy; Evanoff, Bradley A.

2017-01-01

Background Rates of musculoskeletal disorders in construction remain high. Few studies have described barriers and facilitators to the use of available ergonomic solutions. This paper describes these barriers and facilitators and their relationship to the level of adoption. Methods Three analysts rated 16 proposed ergonomic solutions from a participatory ergonomics study and assessed the level of adoption, six adoption characteristics, and identified the category of adoption from a theoretical model. Results Twelve solutions were always or intermittently used and were rated positively for characteristics of relative advantage, compatibility with existing work processes, and trialability. Locus of control (worker vs. contractor) was not related to adoption. Simple solutions faced fewer barriers to adoption than those rated as complex. Conclusions Specific adoption characteristics can help predict the use of new ergonomic solutions in construction. Adoption of complex solutions must involve multiple stakeholders, more time, and shifts in culture or work systems. PMID:28195660

TREATMENT OF AMMONIUM NITRATE SOLUTIONS

DOEpatents

Boyer, T.W.; MacHutchin, J.G.; Yaffe, L.

1958-06-10

The treatment of waste solutions obtained in the processing of neutron- irradiated uranium containing fission products and ammonium nitrate is described. The object of this process is to provide a method whereby the ammonium nitrate is destroyed and removed from the solution so as to permit subsequent concentration of the solution.. In accordance with the process the residual nitrate solutions are treated with an excess of alkyl acid anhydride, such as acetic anhydride. Preferably, the residual nitrate solution is added to an excess of the acetic anhydride at such a rate that external heat is not required. The result of this operation is that the ammonium nitrate and acetic anhydride react to form N/sub 2/ O and acetic acid.

THE INACTIVATION OF DILUTE SOLUTIONS OF CRYSTALLINE TRYPSIN BY X-RADIATION

PubMed Central

McDonald, Margaret R.

1954-01-01

The activity of dilute solutions of crystalline trypsin is destroyed by x-rays. The inactivation is an exponential function of the radiation dose. The reaction yield of inactivation is independent of the intensity at which the radiation is delivered or the quality of the x-rays. The reaction yield increases with increasing concentration of trypsin, varying from 0.06 to 0.7 micromoles per liter per 1000 r for trypsin solutions ranging from 1 x 10–7 to 2 x 10–4 M. PMID:13192318

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-22

two technologies previously identified as the most challenging — digital-beam-forming and transmit-receive modules—have been demonstrated in a...job of coming up with an affordable solution to a leap-ahead capability for the fleet.”31 In his presentation, Vandroff showed a slide comparing the...foreign ballistic missile data in support of international treaty verification. CJR represents an integrated mission solution : ship, radar suite, and

DEMONSTRATION BULLETIN: HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRON BEAM TECHNOLOGY - HIGH VOLTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL APPLICATIONS, INC.

EPA Science Inventory

The high energy electron beam irradiation technology is a low temperature method for destroying complex mixtures of hazardous organic chemicals in solutions containing solids. The system consists of a computer-automated, portable electron beam accelerator and a delivery system. T...

A Study on Fitts' Law Based Gait Symmetric Evaluation and It's Clinic Application.

PubMed

Rencheng, Wang; Meiqin, Zhang; Xiaonan, Deng; Dewen, Jin; Maobin, Wang; Guangqing, Li

2005-01-01

Symmetry, one of the prominent characters of normal human gait, could be destroyed by some special or abnormal factors such as barrier spanning, walking impediment, etc. Therefore, it becomes an important factor used to evaluate qualities and functions of walking. In this paper, the fitts' law based symmetry index calculation is introduced and its application in clinic test is also reported. The results show that the fitts' law based index is effective in clinic evaluation.

Less is More: Membrane Protein Digestion Beyond Urea-Trypsin Solution for Next-level Proteomics.

PubMed

Zhang, Xi

2015-09-01

The goal of next-level bottom-up membrane proteomics is protein function investigation, via high-coverage high-throughput peptide-centric quantitation of expression, modifications and dynamic structures at systems scale. Yet efficient digestion of mammalian membrane proteins presents a daunting barrier, and prevalent day-long urea-trypsin in-solution digestion proved insufficient to reach this goal. Many efforts contributed incremental advances over past years, but involved protein denaturation that disconnected measurement from functional states. Beyond denaturation, the recent discovery of structure/proteomics omni-compatible detergent n-dodecyl-β-d-maltopyranoside, combined with pepsin and PNGase F columns, enabled breakthroughs in membrane protein digestion: a 2010 DDM-low-TCEP (DLT) method for H/D-exchange (HDX) using human G protein-coupled receptor, and a 2015 flow/detergent-facilitated protease and de-PTM digestions (FDD) for integrative deep sequencing and quantitation using full-length human ion channel complex. Distinguishing protein solubilization from denaturation, protease digestion reliability from theoretical specificity, and reduction from alkylation, these methods shifted day(s)-long paradigms into minutes, and afforded fully automatable (HDX)-protein-peptide-(tandem mass tag)-HPLC pipelines to instantly measure functional proteins at deep coverage, high peptide reproducibility, low artifacts and minimal leakage. Promoting-not destroying-structures and activities harnessed membrane proteins for the next-level streamlined functional proteomics. This review analyzes recent advances in membrane protein digestion methods and highlights critical discoveries for future proteomics. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

MANIFESTATIONS OF INJURY IN YEAST CELLS EXPOSED TO SUBZERO TEMPERATURES II.

PubMed Central

Mazur, Peter

1961-01-01

Mazur, Peter (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.). Manifestations of injury in yeast cells exposed to subzero temperatures. II. Changes in specific gravity and in the concentration and quantity of cell solids. J. Bacteriol. 82:673–684. 1961.—It has previously been established that subjecting cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to rapid cooling to −30 C results in cell death and in certain morphological alterations. The alterations consisted of the loss of the central vacuole and a 50% decrease in volume. The present experiments were concerned with determining whether the volume decrease was the result of the loss of water alone or of water plus cellular solutes. The density of the “frozenthawed” cells was found to increase from 1.14 to 1.25 g/cm3 on the basis of measurements of the sedimentation rate of the cells. Interferometric and refractometric measurements indicated, furthermore, that the concentration of cell solids increased from 20 to 28%, whereas the total mass of cell solids decreased from 25 to 17 μμg/cell. The decrease in cell volume was thus shown to be the result of loss of solution from the cells, a solution containing 11 to 16% solids. Measurements of the rate of dialysis suggested that most or all of these solids had a molecular weight below 600. The findings are consistent with the view that low-temperature exposure destroyed the vacuolar membrane and sufficiently damaged the permeability barriers of the cell to permit escape of low molecular weight compounds. The damage was present a few seconds after thawing, and may, therefore, have been a direct result of intracellular ice crystals which, on the basis of previous studies, are believed to be responsible for death from low-temperature exposure. PMID:14471819

What Works: Air Pollution Solutions. Report No. 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malaspina, Mark; And Others

This report profiles 69 initiatives and programs from across the country that are effectively reducing smog, air toxics, and chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Problem solving strategies range from community pressure forcing reduction of industrial emissions, to municipal governments promoting transportation alternatives, to adoption of tough…

Classical biological control for the protection of native ecosystems

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Native ecosystems and their component species are undergoing catastrophic and irreparable change globally as habitat is destroyed for human use and invaded by species from other biogeographical areas (Simberloff et al., 1997; Cox, 1999; Lockwood et al., 2006). Political solutions may be devised to s...

Deactivation of Streptococcus mutans Biofilms on a Tooth Surface Using He Dielectric Barrier Discharge at Atmospheric Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imola, Molnar; Judit, Papp; Alpar, Simon; Sorin, Dan Anghel

2013-06-01

This paper presents a study of the effect of the low temperature atmospheric helium dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) on the Streptococcus mutans biofilms formed on tooth surface. Pig jaws were also treated by plasma to detect if there is any harmful effect on the gingiva. The plasma was characterized by using optical emission spectroscopy. Experimental data indicated that the discharge is very effective in deactivating Streptococcus mutans biofilms. It can destroy them with an average decimal reduction time (D-time) of 19 s and about 98% of them were killed after a treatment time of 30 s. According to the survival curve kinetic an overall 32 s treatment time would be necessary to perform a complete sterilization. The experimental results presented in this study indicated that the helium dielectric barrier discharge, in plan-parallel electrode configuration, could be a very effective tool for deactivation of oral bacteria and might be a promising technique in various dental clinical applications.

Barrier island vulnerability to breaching: a case study on Dauphin Island, Alabama

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hansen, Mark; Sallenger, Asbury H.

2007-01-01

Breaching of barrier islands can adversely impact society by severing infrastructure, destroying private properties, and altering water quality in back bays and estuaries. This study provides a scheme that assesses the relative vulnerability of a barrier island to breach during storms. Dauphin Island, Alabama was selected for this study because it has a well documented history of island breaches and extensive geological and geomorphic data. To assess the vulnerability of the island, we defined several variables contributing to the risk of breaching: island geology, breaching history, and island topography and geomorphology. These variables were combined to form a breaching index (BI) value for cross island computational bins, each bin every 50 m in the alongshore direction. Results suggest the eastern section of Dauphin Island has the lowest risk of breaching with the remaining portion of the island having a moderate to high risk of breaching. Two reaches in the western section of the island were found to be particularly vulnerable due primarily to their minimal cross-sectional dimensions.

Barriers to Banking - Towards an Inclusive Banking Environment in South Africa.

PubMed

Martinson, Estelle; Martinson, Johannes

2016-01-01

A recent study in South Africa on the barriers to banking which involved customers in three disability groups namely mobility, hearing and vision has highlighted that currently banking in South Africa is not accessible. Customers with a disability are unable to independently use banking services across a wide range of channels. Exclusion from something as fundamental as managing their own financial affairs raise serious human rights concerns and requires committed action from decision-makers to address this. The fact that solutions to all of the identified barriers have been successfully implemented in banks in other parts of the world for many years emphasize that this is not a technical challenge. While some solutions require complex or expensive changes such as removing physical access barriers and ensuring that digital channels meet internationally accepted standards of accessibility, there are many simple and low-cost solutions which can be implemented immediately and would make a world of difference to these customers and their experience of banking. One key barrier which emerged in all the focus groups and surveys is attitudinal barriers - staff who are unwilling to assist, impatient, interact with the customer's assistant instead of directly with them and lack basic skills on how to interact with someone who has a disability. A comprehensive framework of banking was used to identify a wide range of barriers. The barriers were classified as attitudinal, barriers to physical access, digital access barriers, barriers to information, communication barriers and some generic concerns such as safe evacuation during emergencies and alternative authentication. Both the barriers and the solutions where ranked by participants. From a theoretical perspective, the benefit of a customer-centric approach to understanding these barriers and the innovation potential of a Universal Design approach is affirmed by this study.

A Numerical Comparison of Barrier and Modified Barrier Methods for Large-Scale Bound-Constrained Optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nash, Stephen G.; Polyak, R.; Sofer, Ariela

1994-01-01

When a classical barrier method is applied to the solution of a nonlinear programming problem with inequality constraints, the Hessian matrix of the barrier function becomes increasingly ill-conditioned as the solution is approached. As a result, it may be desirable to consider alternative numerical algorithms. We compare the performance of two methods motivated by barrier functions. The first is a stabilized form of the classical barrier method, where a numerically stable approximation to the Newton direction is used when the barrier parameter is small. The second is a modified barrier method where a barrier function is applied to a shifted form of the problem, and the resulting barrier terms are scaled by estimates of the optimal Lagrange multipliers. The condition number of the Hessian matrix of the resulting modified barrier function remains bounded as the solution to the constrained optimization problem is approached. Both of these techniques can be used in the context of a truncated-Newton method, and hence can be applied to large problems, as well as on parallel computers. In this paper, both techniques are applied to problems with bound constraints and we compare their practical behavior.

A framework to overcome barriers to green innovation in SMEs using BWM and Fuzzy TOPSIS.

PubMed

Gupta, Himanshu; Barua, Mukesh Kumar

2018-08-15

Recent years have witnessed a significant rise in exploring the barriers which obstruct adoption of green practices by SMEs. There is a constant need to innovate in terms of products, processes, and management so that we can overcome these barriers to green practices adoption and implementation. This study employs a three-phase methodology to identify barriers and solutions to overcome these barriers to green innovation in SMEs. Through extensive literature review and the opinion of selective manager's, seven main category barriers, thirty-six sub-category barriers, and twenty solutions to overcome these barriers were identified. BWM is used to rank these barriers and Fuzzy TOPSIS is used to rank solutions to overcome these barriers. Four Indian SMEs are taken to exemplify the proposed three paged model. To check the robustness of the model, a sensitivity analysis was also performed. The results of the analysis can act as a stepping stone for SME managers to eliminate and overcome barriers to green innovation in their firm and compete healthily in the market. The paper sets a framework for future studies in this area of research-work. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time Sensitive Termination: Prompt Global Strike in the War on Terror

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-25

field both near and long term solutions to the problem of rapidly destroying fleeting targets halfway around the world when forces are not forward...endeavors to field the near term capability not later than 2015, with an initial fielding objective potentially as early as 2012. 5 The program will...patrolling ballistic missile submarines, the CSM took center stage in the effort to field a near -term solution to the problem. The CSM weapon system

METHOD FOR DECONTAMINATION OF REACTOR SOLUTIONS

DOEpatents

Maraman, W.J.; Baxman, H.R.; Baker, R.D.

1959-05-01

A process for U recovery from phosphate fuel solutions is described. To fuel solution drawn from the reactor is added Fe(NO/sub 3/)/sub 3/ which destroys the U complex and forms ferric phosphate complex. The UO/sub 2/(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ formed is extracted into TBP-kerosene in a countercurrent column. The TBP contalning UO/sub 2/(NO/sub 3/)/sub 2/ is further purified by an aqueous Al(NO/ sub 3/)/sub 3/ scrub solution. The pregnant solution then goes to an H/sub 3/PO/ sub 4/ stripping and kerosene washing column. The H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/--uranyl phosphate solution is separated at the bottom and boiled to remove HNO/sub 3/ then diluted to fuel solution make-up strength. (T.R.H.)

A CHEMICAL METHOD OF TREATING FISSIONABLE MATERIAL

DOEpatents

Olson, C.M.

1959-09-01

One step of a process for separating plutonium from uranium and fission products is presented. A nitric acid solution containing these constituents is treated with formic acid to reduce simultaneously the plutonium to a valence state of not greater than +4 and destroy and eliminate the excess nitric acid.

Clinical Implementation of Pharmacogenomics for Personalized Precision Medicine: Barriers and Solutions.

PubMed

Klein, Michelle E; Parvez, Md Masud; Shin, Jae-Gook

2017-09-01

Clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics (PGx) leads to personalized medicine, which improves the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of treatments. Although PGx-based research has been conducted for more than a decade, several barriers have slowed down its widespread implementation in clinical practice. Globally, there is an imbalance in programs and solutions required to empower the clinical implementation of PGx between countries. Therefore, we aimed to review these issues comprehensively, determine the major barriers, and find the best solutions. Through an extensive review of ongoing clinical implementation programs, scientific, educational, ethical, legal, and social issues, information technology, and reimbursement were identified as the key barriers. The pace of global implementation of genomic medicine coincided with the resource limitations of each country. The key solutions identified for the earlier mentioned barriers are as follows: building of secure and suitable information technology infrastructure with integrated clinical decision support systems along with increasing PGx evidence, more regulations, reimbursement strategies for stakeholder's acceptance, incorporation of PGx education in all institutions and clinics, and PGx promotion to all health care professionals and patients. In conclusion, this review will be helpful for the better understanding of common barriers and solutions pertaining to the clinical application of PGx. Copyright © 2017 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Barrier SiO2-like coatings for archaeological artefacts preservation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prochazka, M.; Blahova, L.; Krcma, F.

2016-10-01

Thin film chemical vapour deposition technique has been used for more than 50 years. Introducing organo-silicones as precursors, e.g. hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) or tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), brought new possibilities to this method. Barrier properties of thin films have become an important issue, especially for army and emergency services as well as for food and drink manufacturers. Our work is focused on protective HMDSO thin films for encapsulating cleaned archaeological artefacts, preventing the corrosion from destroying these historical items.Thin films are deposited via plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) technique using low pressure capacitively coupled pasma in flow regime. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) measurement was chosen as the most important one for characterization of barrier properties of deposited thin films. Lowest OTR reached for 50 nm thin film thickness was 120 cm3 m-2 atm-1 day-1. Samples were also analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry (FTIR) to determine their composition. Optical emission spectra and thin film thickness were measured during the deposition process. We optimized the deposition parameters for barrier layers by implementation of pulsed mode of plasma and argon plasma pre-treatment into the process.

Development studies for a novel wet oxidation process. Phase 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

1994-07-01

DETOX{sup SM} is a catalyzed wet oxidation process which destroys organic materials in an acidic water solution of iron at 373 to 473 K. The solution can be used repeatedly to destroy great amounts of organic materials. Since the process is conducted in a contained vessel, air emissions from the process can be well controlled. The solution is also capable of dissolving and concentrating many heavy and radioactive metals for eventual stabilization and disposal. The Phase 2 effort for this project is site selection and engineering design for a DETOX demonstration unit. Site selection was made using a set ofmore » site selection criteria and evaluation factors. A survey of mixed wastes at DOE sites was conducted using the Interim Mixed Waste Inventory Report. Sites with likely suitable waste types were identified. Potential demonstration sites were ranked based on waste types, interest, regulatory needs, scheduling, ability to provide support, and available facilities. Engineering design for the demonstration unit is in progress and is being performed by Jacobs Applied Technology. The engineering design proceeded through preliminary process flow diagrams (PFDs), calculation of mass and energy balances for representative waste types, process and instrumentation diagrams (P and IDs), preparation of component specifications, and a firm cost estimate for fabrication of the demonstration unit.« less

Liquid junction schottky barrier solar cell

DOEpatents

Williams, Richard

1980-01-01

A mixture of ceric ions (Ce.sup.+4) and cerous ions (Ce.sup.+3) in an aqueous electrolyte solution forms a Schottky barrier at the interface between an active region of silicon and the electrolyte solution. The barrier height obtained for hydrogenated amorphous silicon using the Ce.sup.+4 /Ce.sup.+3 redox couple is about 1.7 eV.

In situ retreival of contaminants or other substances using a barrier system and leaching solutions and components, processes and methods relating thereto

DOEpatents

Nickelson, Reva A.; Walsh, Stephanie; Richardson, John G.; Dick, John R.; Sloan, Paul A.

2005-06-28

Processes and methods relating to treating contaminants and collecting desired substances from a zone of interest using subterranean collection and containment barriers. Tubular casings having interlock structures are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The subterranean barrier includes an effluent collection system. Treatment solutions provided to the zone of interest pass therethrough and are collected by the barrier and treated or recovered, allowing on-site remediation. Barrier components may be used to in the treatment by collecting or removing contaminants or other materials from the zone of interest.

Method of in situ retrieval of contaminants or other substances using a barrier system and leaching solutions

DOEpatents

Nickelson, Reva A.; Walsh, Stephanie; Richardson, John G.; Dick, John R.; Sloan, Paul A.

2006-12-26

Processes and methods relating to treating contaminants and collecting desired substances from a zone of interest using subterranean collection and containment barriers. Tubular casings having interlock structures are used to create subterranean barriers for containing and treating buried waste and its effluents. The subterranean barrier includes an effluent collection system. Treatment solutions provided to the zone of interest pass therethrough and are collected by the barrier and treated or recovered, allowing on-site remediation. Barrier components may be used to in the treatment by collecting or removing contaminants or other materials from the zone of interest.

Clinical and Translational Science Awards: can they increase the efficiency and speed of clinical and translational research?

PubMed

Heller, Caren; de Melo-Martín, Inmaculada

2009-04-01

Most agree that the recent decades-long boom in biomedical research discoveries has not had a sufficient effect on the public's health. To overcome some of the barriers to speeding clinical and translational (C/T) research, the National Institutes of Health has established the Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). To explore whether the CTSA proposal addresses major C/T barriers and whether funded institutions offer adequate solutions, the authors reviewed the obstacles to C/T research described in the literature and examined the completeness of the solutions offered by the 12 initial CTSA awardees. Through an analysis of the literature, the authors categorized C/T barriers into three categories (research workforce, research operations, and organizational silos). They then analyzed each CTSA proposal regarding the types of programs offered to address these barriers. They found that, in general, institutions developed detailed programs to address research workforce and research operations barriers but had limited to no solutions for organizational silos. The authors suggest that differences in how barriers are addressed are consistent with the degree of control that CTSA centers have over these obstacles and solutions. They argue that although CTSA centers might have an important role in successfully addressing some of the barriers to C/T research, CTSA centers might ultimately have difficulties achieving their purported goal of facilitating and increasing the efficiency and speed of C/T research because of a lack of control over solutions to some important obstacles facing such research.

Mechanical interactions between ice crystals and red blood cells during directional solidification.

PubMed

Ishiguro, H; Rubinsky, B

1994-10-01

Experiments in which red blood cells were frozen on a directional solidification stage under a microscope show that there is a mechanical interaction between ice crystals and cells in which cells are pushed and deformed by the ice crystals. The mechanical interaction occurs during freezing of cells in physiological saline and is significantly inhibited by the addition of 20% v/v glycerol to the solution. The addition of osmotically insignificant quantities of antifreeze proteins from the winter flounder or ocean pout to the physiological saline with 20% v/v glycerol generates strong mechanical interactions between the ice and the cells. The cells were destroyed during freezing in physiological saline, survived freezing in physiological saline with glycerol, and were completely destroyed by the addition of antifreeze proteins to the solution with glycerol. The difference in cell survival through freezing and thawing appears to be related, in part, to the habit of ice crystal growing in the suspension of red blood cells and the nature of mechanical interaction between the ice crystal and the cells. This suggests that mechanical damage may be a factor during cryopreservation of cells.

Study of melanin bleaching after immunohistochemistry of melanin-containing tissues.

PubMed

Shen, Hongwu; Wu, Wenqiao

2015-04-01

Melanin may interfere with immunohistochemical staining. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) bleaching, potassium permanganate bleaching, and potassium dichromate bleaching on melanin, tissue antigen, and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) using melanin-containing and melanin-free tissue samples. Our results demonstrated that all 3 bleaching methods efficiently bleached melanin and partially destroyed tissue antigen. In addition, potassium permanganate bleaching and potassium dichromate bleaching clearly destroyed DAB, whereas TCCA bleaching had no significant effect on DAB. Therefore, neither potassium permanganate nor potassium dichromate is an ideal solution, whereas TCCA might be an ideal solution for melanin bleaching after the immunohistochemical staining of melanin-containing tissues. After immunostaining followed by TCCA bleaching, the melanin could be completely removed in all 120 malignant melanoma tissue sections. Compared with the control, the DAB intensity was clear, and the tissue structure and cellular nuclei were well maintained. It is worth noting that TCCA should be freshly prepared before each experiment, and used within 2 hours of its preparation. In addition, sections should not be incubated with TCCA for over 30 minutes.

National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Mid-Atlantic Coast

USGS Publications Warehouse

Doran, Kara S.; Stockdon, Hilary F.; Sopkin, Kristin L.; Thompson, David M.; Plant, Nathaniel G.

2013-01-01

Beaches serve as a natural buffer between the ocean and inland communities, ecosystems, and natural resources. However, these dynamic environments move and change in response to winds, waves, and currents. During extreme storms, changes to beaches can be large, and the results are sometimes catastrophic. Lives may be lost, communities destroyed, and millions of dollars spent on rebuilding. During storms, large waves may erode beaches, and high storm surge shifts the erosive force of the waves higher on the beach. In some cases, the combined effects of waves and surge may cause overwash (when waves and surge overtop the dune, transporting sand inland) or flooding. Building and infrastructure on or near a dune can be undermined during wave attack and subsequent erosion. During Hurricane Ivan in 2004, a five-story condominium in Orange Beach, Alabama, collapsed after the sand dune supporting the foundation eroded. Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall as an extra-tropical cyclone on October 29, 2012, caused erosion and undermining that destroyed roads, boardwalks, and foundations in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Waves overtopping a dune can transport sand inland, covering roads and blocking evacuation routes or emergency relief. If storm surge inundates barrier island dunes, currents flowing across the island can create a breach, or a new inlet, completely severing evacuation routes. Waves and surge during Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall on October 29, 2012, left a breach that cut the road and bridge to Mantoloking, N.J. Extreme coastal changes caused by hurricanes may increase the vulnerability of communities both during a storm and to future storms. For example, when sand dunes on a barrier island are eroded substantially, inland structures are exposed to storm surge and waves. Absent or low dunes also allow water to flow inland across the island, potentially increasing storm surge in the back bay, on the soundside of the barrier, and on the mainland.

E-Learning Barriers and Solutions to Knowledge Management and Transfer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oye, Nathaniel David; Salleh, Mazleena

2013-01-01

This paper present a systematic overview of barriers and solutions of e-learning in knowledge management (KM) and knowledge transfer (KT) with more focus on organizations. The paper also discusses KT in organizational settings and KT in the field of e-learning. Here, an e-learning initiative shows adaptive solutions to overcome knowledge transfer…

Proteases and the gut barrier.

PubMed

Biancheri, Paolo; Di Sabatino, Antonio; Corazza, Gino R; MacDonald, Thomas T

2013-02-01

Serine proteases, cysteine proteases, aspartic proteases and matrix metalloproteinases play an essential role in extracellular matrix remodeling and turnover through their proteolytic action on collagens, proteoglycans, fibronectin, elastin and laminin. Proteases can also act on chemokines, receptors and anti-microbial peptides, often potentiating their activity. The intestinal mucosa is the largest interface between the external environment and the tissues of the human body and is constantly exposed to proteolytic enzymes from many sources, including bacteria in the intestinal lumen, fibroblasts and immune cells in the lamina propria and enterocytes. Controlled proteolytic activity is crucial for the maintenance of gut immune homeostasis, for normal tissue turnover and for the integrity of the gut barrier. However, in intestinal immune-mediated disorders, pro-inflammatory cytokines induce the up-regulation of proteases, which become the end-stage effectors of mucosal damage by destroying the epithelium and basement membrane integrity and degrading the extracellular matrix of the lamina propria to produce ulcers. Protease-mediated barrier disruption in turn results in increased amounts of antigen crossing into the lamina propria, driving further immune responses and sustaining the inflammatory process.

Controlling rogue waves in inhomogeneous Bose-Einstein condensates.

PubMed

Loomba, Shally; Kaur, Harleen; Gupta, Rama; Kumar, C N; Raju, Thokala Soloman

2014-05-01

We present the exact rogue wave solutions of the quasi-one-dimensional inhomogeneous Gross-Pitaevskii equation by using similarity transformation. Then, by employing the exact analytical solutions we have studied the controllable behavior of rogue waves in the Bose-Einstein condensates context for the experimentally relevant systems. Additionally, we have also investigated the nonlinear tunneling of rogue waves through a conventional hyperbolic barrier and periodic barrier. We have found that, for the conventional nonlinearity barrier case, rogue waves are localized in space and time and get amplified near the barrier, while for the dispersion barrier case rogue waves are localized in space and propagating in time and their amplitude is reduced at the barrier location. In the case of the periodic barrier, the interesting dynamical features of rogue waves are obtained and analyzed analytically.

Ozone: What Would It Be Like to Live in a World Where the Sun Was Dangerous?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clearing, 1992

1992-01-01

Defines ozone layer and the meaning, evidence, causes, and significance of ozone depletion. Summarizes solutions to the problem of ozone depletion and government action concerning the issue. Graphically depicts ozone depletion, global ozone loss, and how ozone is destroyed. Provides a lesson plan and listing for additional educational resources.…

Instrumental Techniques in Archeological Research

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-09-01

and instruments borrowed from the fields of chemistry , physics, geology, metallurgy, and ceramic engineering yield quantitative data on archeological...artifacts. Early analyses relied primarily on wet chemistry techniques in which samples of artifacts were dissolved into liquid solutions, destroying...other organic and inorganic materials. Advantages and disadvantages are dis- cussed. Each technique is presented with attention to appropriate materials

Distributed Surface Force

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-01

guided missile destroyer DOD Department of Defense DoN Department of Navy DOE design of experiments DOTMLPF doctrine , organization, training...supportability refueling at 80% capacity. One solution to overcoming patrol endurance limitations of a small combatant is to change the doctrine that...shipwrecks, territorial waters, archipelagic lanes, straits, economic exclusion zones (EEZ), and internal waters make up an elaborate series of criteria

Components of released liquid from ultrasonic waste activated sludge disintegration.

PubMed

Wang, Fen; Lu, Shan; Ji, Min

2006-05-01

Ultrasound can be applied as a pretreatment to disintegrate sludge. In this paper, by observing the solution concentration of polysaccharide, protein, DNA, Ca and Mg before and after disintegration, the main components in the released liquid are analyzed. It has been found that the predominant component of the released liquid in this research is protein. Ultrasound can destroy the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which is important to the sludge flocs structure. Ca2+ and Mg2+, which play a key role in binding the EPS are released into the aqueous phase. As a result, the sludge flocs are loosened. Under the effect of the hydraulic shear force, the sludge is disintegrated. Then the hydraulic shear forces destroy the cell walls, the substances inside the cells are released into the aqueous phase.

Metastability of isoformyl ions in collisions with helium and hydrogen. [in interstellar molecular clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Green, S.

1984-01-01

The stability of HOC(+) ions under conditions in interstellar molecular clouds is considered. In particular, the possibility that collisions with helium or hydrogen will induce isomerization to the stable HCO(+) form is examined theoretically. Portions of the electronic potential energy surfaces for interaction with He and H atoms are obtained from standard quantum mechanical calculations. Collisions with He atoms are found to be totally ineffective for inducing isomerization. Collisions with H atoms are found to be ineffective at low interstellar temperatures owing to a small (about 500 K) barrier in the entrance channel; at higher temperatures where this barrier can be overcome, however, collisions with hydrogen atoms do result in conversion to the stable HCO(+) form. Although detailed calculations are not presented, it is argued that low-energy collisions with H2 molecules are also ineffective in destroying the metastable ion.

Stability of dendriplexes formed by anti-HIV genetic material and poly(propylene imine) dendrimers in the presence of glucosaminoglycans.

PubMed

Szewczyk, Michal; Drzewinska, Joanna; Dzmitruk, Volha; Shcharbin, Dzmitry; Klajnert, Barbara; Appelhans, Dietmar; Bryszewska, Maria

2012-12-20

There are several barriers to the application of dendriplexes formed by poly(propylene imine) dendrimers and genetic material for gene therapy. One limitation is their interaction with extracellular matrix components such as glucosaminoglycans. These can displace the genetic material from the dendriplexes, affecting their transfection activity. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between dendriplexes and the four main glucosaminoglycans (heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid) by fluorescence polarization and gel electrophoresis. Dendriplexes were formed by combining three anti-HIV antisense oligodeoxynucleotides with three poly(propylene imine) dendrimers of the fourth generation: unmodified and partially modified with maltose and maltotriose (open shell glycodendrimers). The data showed that the effect of glucosaminoglycans on dendriplexes depends on the glucosaminoglycan type and the oligosaccharide serving as the surface group of the dendrimer. Heparin at physiological concentrations destroys dendriplexes formed by open shell glycodendrimers, but dendriplexes based on unmodified poly(propylene imine) dendrimers are stable in its presence. The other glucosaminoglycans at physiological concentrations cannot destroy dendriplexes formed by any of the dendrimers studied.

California highway barrier aesthetics.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-06-01

This report will familiarize designers with current barrier design options, and encourage : appropriate aesthetic considerations to develop visually pleasing context sensitive solutions for : highway projects. The development of alternative barriers ...

Simulation of solute transport across low-permeability barrier walls

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harte, P.T.; Konikow, Leonard F.; Hornberger, G.Z.

2006-01-01

Low-permeability, non-reactive barrier walls are often used to contain contaminants in an aquifer. Rates of solute transport through such barriers are typically many orders of magnitude slower than rates through the aquifer. Nevertheless, the success of remedial actions may be sensitive to these low rates of transport. Two numerical simulation methods for representing low-permeability barriers in a finite-difference groundwater-flow and transport model were tested. In the first method, the hydraulic properties of the barrier were represented directly on grid cells and in the second method, the intercell hydraulic-conductance values were adjusted to approximate the reduction in horizontal flow, allowing use of a coarser and computationally efficient grid. The alternative methods were tested and evaluated on the basis of hypothetical test problems and a field case involving tetrachloroethylene (PCE) contamination at a Superfund site in New Hampshire. For all cases, advective transport across the barrier was negligible, but preexisting numerical approaches to calculate dispersion yielded dispersive fluxes that were greater than expected. A transport model (MODFLOW-GWT) was modified to (1) allow different dispersive and diffusive properties to be assigned to the barrier than the adjacent aquifer and (2) more accurately calculate dispersion from concentration gradients and solute fluxes near barriers. The new approach yields reasonable and accurate concentrations for the test cases. ?? 2006.

Local Barriers and Solutions to Improve Care-Seeking for Childhood Pneumonia, Diarrhoea and Malaria in Kenya, Nigeria and Niger: A Qualitative Study

PubMed Central

Bedford, K. Juliet A.; Sharkey, Alyssa B.

2014-01-01

We present qualitative research findings on care-seeking and treatment uptake for pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria among children under 5 in Kenya, Nigeria and Niger. The study aimed to determine the barriers caregivers face in accessing treatment for these conditions; to identify local solutions that facilitate more timely access to treatment; and to present these findings as a platform from which to develop context-specific strategies to improve care-seeking for childhood illness. Kenya, Nigeria and Niger are three high burden countries with low rates of related treatment coverage, particularly in underserved areas. Data were collected in Homa Bay County in Nyanza Province, Kenya; in Kebbi and Cross River States, Nigeria; and in the Maradi and Tillabéri regions of Niger. Primary caregivers of children under 5 who did not regularly engage with health services or present their child at a health facility during illness episodes were purposively selected for interview. Data underwent rigorous thematic analysis. We organise the identified barriers and related solutions by theme: financial barriers; distance/location of health facilities; socio-cultural barriers and gender dynamics; knowledge and information barriers; and health facility deterrents. The relative importance of each differed by locality. Participant suggested solutions ranged from community-level actions to facility-level and more policy-oriented actions, plus actions to change underlying problems such as social perceptions and practices and gender dynamics. We discuss the feasibility and implications of these suggested solutions. Given the high burden of childhood morbidity and mortality due to pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria in Kenya, Nigeria and Niger, this study provides important insights relating to demand-side barriers and locally proposed solutions. Significant advancements are possible when communities participate in both problem identification and resolution, and are engaged as important partners in improving child health and survival. PMID:24971642

Young Men, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Services: Exploring Barriers and Solutions.

PubMed

Lynch, Louise; Long, Maggie; Moorhead, Anne

2018-01-01

International research has identified young men as reluctant to seek help for mental health problems. This research explored barriers and solutions to professional help seeking for mental health problems among young men living in the North West of Ireland. A qualitative approach, using two focus groups with six participants each and five face-to-face interviews, was conducted with men aged 18 to 24 years (total N = 17). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven key themes of barriers to professional help seeking were identified: "acceptance from peers," "personal challenges," "cultural and environmental influences," "self-medicating with alcohol," "perspectives around seeking professional help," "fear of homophobic responses," and "traditional masculine ideals." Five key themes of solutions to these barriers included "tailored mental health advertising," "integrating mental health into formal education," "education through semiformal support services," "accessible mental health care," and "making new meaning." Interesting findings on barriers include fear of psychiatric medication, fear of homophobic responses from professionals, the legacy of Catholic attitudes, and the genuine need for care. This study offers an in-depth exploration of how young men experience barriers and uniquely offers solutions identified by participants themselves. Youth work settings were identified as a resource for engaging young men in mental health work. Young men can be encouraged to seek help if services and professionals actively address barriers, combining advertising, services, and education, with particular attention and respect to how and when young men seek help and with whom they want to share their problems.

Toxicity of 4,346 chemicals to larval lampreys and fishes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Applegate, Vernon C.; Howell, John H.; Hall, A.E.; Smith, Manning A.

1957-01-01

The problem of controlling the sea lamprey in the upper Great Lakes has received considerable attention in recent years and requires no review here (Applegate and Moffett. 1955). Electromechanical weirs and traps and electrical barriers have been developed which can be successfully employed to block and/or destroy spawning runs of adult sea lampreys. These devices. when installed in all known $pawning streams. provide an effective method of reducing the numbers of sea lampreys in each lake basin. Initial efforts at control of the lamprey have employed these devices (Applegate. Smith. and Nielsen. 1952; Erkkila. Smith. and McLain. 1956).

Recent applications of the the Trojan Horse method to nuclear astrophysics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Spitaleri, Claudio

2012-11-20

Light elements lithium, beryllium and boron (LiBeB) have been used in the last years as possible probes for stellar structure. They are mainly destroyed by (p,a) reactions and cross section measurements for such channels are then needed. The Trojan Horse Method (THM) allows one to extract the astrophysical S(E)-factor without the experience of tunneling through the Coulomb barrier. In this work a resume of the recent new results about the {sup 11}B(p,{alpha}{sub 0}){sup 8}Be and {sup 7}Li(p,{alpha}){sup 4}He reactions are shown.

Symmetry analysis of a model for the exercise of a barrier option

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Hara, J. G.; Sophocleous, C.; Leach, P. G. L.

2013-09-01

A barrier option takes into account the possibility of an unacceptable change in the price of the underlying stock. Such a change could carry considerable financial loss. We examine one model based upon the Black-Scholes-Merton Equation and determine the functional forms of the barrier function and rebate function which are consistent with a solution of the underlying evolution partial differential equation using the Lie Theory of Extended Groups. The solution is consistent with the possibility of no rebate and the barrier function is very similar to one adopted on an heuristic basis.

9 CFR 327.25 - Disposition procedures for product condemned or ordered destroyed under import inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... dipping it in a solution of 0.0625 percent tannic acid, followed by immersion in a water bath, then... tannic acid for 1 minute followed by immersion in a water bath, then immersing it for 1 minute in a... establishment: Crude carbolic acid; cresylic disinfectant; a formula consisting of 1 part FD&C green No. 3...

9 CFR 327.25 - Disposition procedures for product condemned or ordered destroyed under import inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... dipping it in a solution of 0.0625 percent tannic acid, followed by immersion in a water bath, then... tannic acid for 1 minute followed by immersion in a water bath, then immersing it for 1 minute in a... establishment: Crude carbolic acid; cresylic disinfectant; a formula consisting of 1 part FD&C green No. 3...

Solution Deposition Methods for Carbon Nanotube Field-Effect Transistors

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-01

authorized documents. Citation of manufacturer’s or trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use thereof. Destroy...processed into FETs using standard microelectronics processing techniques. The resulting devices were characterized using a semiconductor parameter...method will help to determine which conditions are useful for producing CNT devices for chemical sensing and electronic applications. 15. SUBJECT TERMS

9 CFR 327.25 - Disposition procedures for product condemned or ordered destroyed under import inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... coloring, 40 parts water, 40 parts liquid detergent, and 40 parts oil of citronella, or other proprietary... dipping it in a solution of 0.0625 percent tannic acid, followed by immersion in a water bath, then... tannic acid for 1 minute followed by immersion in a water bath, then immersing it for 1 minute in a...

9 CFR 327.25 - Disposition procedures for product condemned or ordered destroyed under import inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... coloring, 40 parts water, 40 parts liquid detergent, and 40 parts oil of citronella, or other proprietary... dipping it in a solution of 0.0625 percent tannic acid, followed by immersion in a water bath, then... tannic acid for 1 minute followed by immersion in a water bath, then immersing it for 1 minute in a...

9 CFR 327.25 - Disposition procedures for product condemned or ordered destroyed under import inspection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... coloring, 40 parts water, 40 parts liquid detergent, and 40 parts oil of citronella, or other proprietary... dipping it in a solution of 0.0625 percent tannic acid, followed by immersion in a water bath, then... tannic acid for 1 minute followed by immersion in a water bath, then immersing it for 1 minute in a...

Understanding Barriers and Solutions Affecting Preschool Attendance in Low-Income Families

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Susman-Stillman, Amy; Englund, Michelle M.; Storm, Karen J.; Bailey, Ann E.

2018-01-01

Preschool attendance problems negatively impact children's school readiness skills and future school attendance. Parents are critical to preschoolers' attendance. This study explored parental barriers and solutions to preschool attendance in low-income families. School-district administrative data from a racially/ethnically diverse sample of…

An infinite branching hierarchy of time-periodic solutions of the Benjamin-Ono equation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wilkening, Jon

2008-07-01

We present a new representation of solutions of the Benjamin-Ono equation that are periodic in space and time. Up to an additive constant and a Galilean transformation, each of these solutions is a previously known, multi-periodic solution; however, the new representation unifies the subset of such solutions with a fixed spatial period and a continuously varying temporal period into a single network of smooth manifolds connected together by an infinite hierarchy of bifurcations. Our representation explicitly describes the evolution of the Fourier modes of the solution as well as the particle trajectories in a meromorphic representation of these solutions; therefore,more » we have also solved the problem of finding periodic solutions of the ordinary differential equation governing these particles, including a description of a bifurcation mechanism for adding or removing particles without destroying periodicity. We illustrate the types of bifurcation that occur with several examples, including degenerate bifurcations not predicted by linearization about traveling waves.« less

Tacit Knowledge Barriers in Franchising: Practical Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cumberland, Denise; Githens, Rod

2012-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers that hinder tacit knowledge transfer in a franchise environment and offer a compendium of solutions that encourage franchisees and franchisors to leverage tacit knowledge as a resource for competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing from the research on franchise…

Enhanced removal of NAPL constituent from aquifer during surfactant flushing with aqueous hydraulic barriers of high viscosity.

PubMed

Ahn, Dayoung; Choi, Jae-Kyeong; Kim, Heonki

2017-06-07

This study examines the effect of controlled groundwater flow paths induced by hydraulic barriers on the removal of NAPL constituent. An aqueous solution of thickener [0.05% (w/v) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, SCMC] was continuously injected into a horizontally set two-dimensional physical model (sand-packed), forming aqueous plume(s) of high viscosity. The water flux at the down gradient of the model was measured using a flux tracer (n-octanol) and passive flux meter (PFM, packs of granular activated carbon). A non-reactive tracer (pentafluorobenzoic acid, PFBA) was used to identify the plume of high viscosity (hydraulic barrier) and ambient groundwater. When the barrier of high viscosity was formed, the plume was separated from the background water with little mixing, which was confirmed by the concentration profile of PFBA; whereas, the measured flux of ambient groundwater showed a distinctive distribution, due to the hydraulic barrier. When two barriers were set, the ambient water flux was enhanced in the middle, and the removal rate of PCE from the non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL), measured by PFM, was found to improve by 26% during three hours of water flushing. When an aqueous solution of surfactant [0.37% (w/v), sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS] was applied instead of water into the domain with two barriers set around the NAPL-contaminated spot, the removal of PCE from the NAPL increased by 101% for a three-hour time period. Based on the observations made in this study, hydraulic barriers formed by continuous injection of thickener solution change the flow direction of groundwater, and may increase the flux of groundwater (or aqueous solution of remediation agent) through a NAPL-contaminated region, improving the removal of NAPL.

Effects of topical application of aqueous solutions of hexoses on epidermal permeability barrier recovery rate after barrier disruption.

PubMed

Denda, Mitsuhiro

2011-11-01

Previous studies have suggested that hexose molecules influence the stability of phospholipid bilayers. Therefore, the effects of topical application of all 12 stereoisomers of dextro-hexose on the epidermal barrier recovery rate after barrier disruption were evaluated. Immediately after tape stripping, 0.1 m aqueous solution of each hexose was applied on hairless mouse skin. Among the eight dextro-aldohexoses, topical application of altose, idose, mannose and talose accelerated the barrier recovery, while allose, galactose, glucose and gulose had no effect. Among the four dextro-ketohexoses, psicose, fructose, sorbose and tagatose all accelerated the barrier recovery. As the effects of hexoses on the barrier recovery rate appeared within 1 h, the mechanism is unlikely to be genomic. Instead, these hexoses may influence phase transition of the lipid bilayers of lamellar bodies and cell membrane, a crucial step in epidermal permeability barrier homeostasis. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Planning and Implementing Immunization Billing Programs at State and Local Health Departments: Barriers and Possible Solutions.

PubMed

Corriero, Rosemary; Redmon, Ginger

Before participating in a project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most state and local health departments (LHDs) were not seeking reimbursement or being fully reimbursed by insurance plans for the cost of immunization services (including vaccine costs and administration fees) they provided to insured patients. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Billables Project was designed to enable state and LHDs to bill public and private insurance plans for immunization services provided to insured patients. Identify and describe key barriers state and LHDs may encounter while planning and implementing a billing program, as well as possible solutions for overcoming those barriers. This study used reports from Billables Project participants to explore barriers they encountered when planning and implementing a billing program and steps taken to address those barriers. Thirty-eight state immunization programs. Based on project participants' reports, barriers were noted in 7 categories: (1) funding and costs, (2) staff, (3) health department characteristics, (4) third-party payers and insurance plans, (5) software, (6) patient insurance status, and (7) other barriers. Possible solutions for overcoming those barriers included hiring or seeking external help, creating billing guides and training modules, streamlining workflows, and modifying existing software systems. Overcoming barriers during planning and implementation of a billing program can be challenging for state and LHDs, but the experiences and suggestions of past Billables Project participants can help guide future billing program efforts.

Destroying Gadofullerene Aggregates by Salt Addition in Aqueous Solution of Gd@C60(OH)x and Gd@C60[C(COOH2)]10

PubMed Central

Laus, Sabrina; Sitharaman, Balaji; Tóth, Éva; Bolskar, Robert D.; Helm, Lothar; Asokan, Subashini; Wong, Michael S.; Wilson, Lon J.

2008-01-01

A combined proton relaxivity and dynamic light scattering study has shown that aggregates formed in aqueous solution of water-soluble gadofullerenes can be disrupted by addition of salts. The salt content of fullerene-based materials will strongly influence properties related to aggregation phenomena, therefore their behavior in biological or medical applications. In particular, the relaxivity of gadofullerenes decreases dramatically with phosphate addition. Moreover, real biological fluids present a rather high salt concentration which will have consequences on fullerene aggregation and influence fullerene-based drug delivery. PMID:15984854

A feasibility study of methods for stopping the depletion of ozone over Antarctica

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

Ways of stopping the ozone depletion in the ozone hole over Antarctica were studied. The basic objectives were: (1) to define and understand the phenomenon of the ozone hole; (2) to determine possible methods of stopping the ozone depletion; (3) to identify unknowns about the hole and possible solutions. Two basic ways of attacking the problem were identified. First is replenishment of ozone as it is being depleted. Second is elimination of ozone destroying agents from the atmosphere. The second method is a more permanent form of the solution. Elimination and replenishment methods are discussed in detail.

A conservative approach to parallelizing the Sharks World simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nicol, David M.; Riffe, Scott E.

1990-01-01

Parallelizing a benchmark problem for parallel simulation, the Sharks World, is described. The described solution is conservative, in the sense that no state information is saved, and no 'rollbacks' occur. The used approach illustrates both the principal advantage and principal disadvantage of conservative parallel simulation. The advantage is that by exploiting lookahead an approach was found that dramatically improves the serial execution time, and also achieves excellent speedups. The disadvantage is that if the model rules are changed in such a way that the lookahead is destroyed, it is difficult to modify the solution to accommodate the changes.

Efficient option valuation of single and double barrier options

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kabaivanov, Stanimir; Milev, Mariyan; Koleva-Petkova, Dessislava; Vladev, Veselin

2017-12-01

In this paper we present an implementation of pricing algorithm for single and double barrier options using Mellin transformation with Maximum Entropy Inversion and its suitability for real-world applications. A detailed analysis of the applied algorithm is accompanied by implementation in C++ that is then compared to existing solutions in terms of efficiency and computational power. We then compare the applied method with existing closed-form solutions and well known methods of pricing barrier options that are based on finite differences.

Transcritical flow of a Bose-Einstein condensate through a penetrable barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leszczyszyn, A. M.; El, G. A.; Gladush, Yu. G.; Kamchatnov, A. M.

2009-06-01

The problem of the transcritical flow of a Bose-Einstein condensate through a wide repulsive penetrable barrier is studied analytically using the combination of the locally steady “hydraulic” solution of the one-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation and the solutions of the Whitham modulation equations describing the resolution of the upstream and downstream discontinuities through dispersive shocks. It is shown that within the physically reasonable range of parameters, the downstream dispersive shock is attached to the barrier and effectively represents the train of very slow dark solitons, which can be observed in experiments. The rate of the soliton emission, the amplitudes of the solitons in the train, and the drag force are determined in terms of the Bose-Einstein condensate oncoming flow velocity and the strength of the potential barrier. Good agreement with direct numerical solutions is demonstrated. Connection with recent experiments is discussed.

A Lagrange multiplier and Hopfield-type barrier function method for the traveling salesman problem.

PubMed

Dang, Chuangyin; Xu, Lei

2002-02-01

A Lagrange multiplier and Hopfield-type barrier function method is proposed for approximating a solution of the traveling salesman problem. The method is derived from applications of Lagrange multipliers and a Hopfield-type barrier function and attempts to produce a solution of high quality by generating a minimum point of a barrier problem for a sequence of descending values of the barrier parameter. For any given value of the barrier parameter, the method searches for a minimum point of the barrier problem in a feasible descent direction, which has a desired property that lower and upper bounds on variables are always satisfied automatically if the step length is a number between zero and one. At each iteration, the feasible descent direction is found by updating Lagrange multipliers with a globally convergent iterative procedure. For any given value of the barrier parameter, the method converges to a stationary point of the barrier problem without any condition on the objective function. Theoretical and numerical results show that the method seems more effective and efficient than the softassign algorithm.

A globally convergent Lagrange and barrier function iterative algorithm for the traveling salesman problem.

PubMed

Dang, C; Xu, L

2001-03-01

In this paper a globally convergent Lagrange and barrier function iterative algorithm is proposed for approximating a solution of the traveling salesman problem. The algorithm employs an entropy-type barrier function to deal with nonnegativity constraints and Lagrange multipliers to handle linear equality constraints, and attempts to produce a solution of high quality by generating a minimum point of a barrier problem for a sequence of descending values of the barrier parameter. For any given value of the barrier parameter, the algorithm searches for a minimum point of the barrier problem in a feasible descent direction, which has a desired property that the nonnegativity constraints are always satisfied automatically if the step length is a number between zero and one. At each iteration the feasible descent direction is found by updating Lagrange multipliers with a globally convergent iterative procedure. For any given value of the barrier parameter, the algorithm converges to a stationary point of the barrier problem without any condition on the objective function. Theoretical and numerical results show that the algorithm seems more effective and efficient than the softassign algorithm.

Effect of solute atoms on dislocation motion in Mg: An electronic structure perspective

PubMed Central

Tsuru, T.; Chrzan, D. C.

2015-01-01

Solution strengthening is a well-known approach to tailoring the mechanical properties of structural alloys. Ultimately, the properties of the dislocation/solute interaction are rooted in the electronic structure of the alloy. Accordingly, we compute the electronic structure associated with, and the energy barriers to dislocation cross-slip. The energy barriers so obtained can be used in the development of multiscale models for dislocation mediated plasticity. The computed electronic structure can be used to identify substitutional solutes likely to interact strongly with the dislocation. Using the example of a-type screw dislocations in Mg, we compute accurately the Peierls barrier to prismatic plane slip and argue that Y, Ca, Ti, and Zr should interact strongly with the studied dislocation, and thereby decrease the dislocation slip anisotropy in the alloy. PMID:25740411

A blood-testis barrier restricting passage from blood into rete testis fluid but not into lymph

PubMed Central

Setchell, B. P.; Voglmayr, J. K.; Waites, G. M. H.

1969-01-01

1. A permeability barrier in or around the seminiferous tubules of rams has been demonstrated by studying the rate of passage of a variety of substances from blood plasma into fluid collected from the rete testis and into testicular lymph. 2. All substances studied passed readily into testicular lymph. 3. Tritiated water, urea, ethanol and bicarbonate in rete testis fluid equilibrated with blood plasma within 3 hr; Na+, K+, Rb+, Cl-, I-, CNS-, creatinine and galactose entered slowly and p-aminohippurate (PAH), glutamate, iodinated albumin, inulin and [51Cr]EDTA did not appear in rete testis fluid at all. 4. Rubidium was excluded relative to iodoantipyrine from the testes of control and hypophysectomized rats and from rat testes heated to 37, 40, 43 and 45° C; no such exclusion was seen in testes of rats which had been given cadmium chloride 5 months earlier so as to destroy the seminiferous tubules. 5. It is suggested that this permeability barrier will regulate the access to the seminiferous epithelium of some constituents of blood plasma, isolate the germinal cells immunologically and help to maintain the concentration differences between rete testis fluid and lymph or blood plasma. PMID:4973530

Impact of humidity on functionality of on-paper printed electronics.

PubMed

Bollström, Roger; Pettersson, Fredrik; Dolietis, Peter; Preston, Janet; Osterbacka, Ronald; Toivakka, Martti

2014-03-07

A multilayer coated paper substrate, combining barrier and printability properties was manufactured utilizing a pilot-scale slide curtain coating technique. The coating structure consists of a thin mineral pigment layer coated on top of a barrier layer. The surface properties, i.e. smoothness and surface porosity, were adjusted by the choice of calendering parameters. The influence of surface properties on the fine line printability and conductivity of inkjet-printed silver lines was studied. Surface roughness played a significant role when printing narrow lines, increasing the risk of defects and discontinuities, whereas for wider lines the influence of surface roughness was less critical. A smooth, calendered surface resulted in finer line definition, i.e. less edge raggedness. Dimensional stability and its influence on substrate surface properties as well as on the functionality of conductive tracks and transistors were studied by exposure to high/low humidity cycles. The barrier layer of the multilayer coated paper reduced the dimensional changes and surface roughness increase caused by humidity and helped maintain the conductivity of the printed tracks. Functionality of a printed transistor during a short, one hour humidity cycle was maintained, but a longer exposure to humidity destroyed the non-encapsulated transistor.

Advanced Metalworking Solutions For Naval Systems That Go In Harm’s Way

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Preble (DDG 88) are underway in formation. U.S. Navy photo Front cover: Ingalls Shipbuilding welding photo...applies a variety of innovative welding technologies to address the challenges associated with joining weapon system components. Joining Technologies...friction stir welding process to manufacture edge-cooled naval electronic cold plate assemblies. The modular, high- performance, and scalable

Implementing clinical governance in Isfahan hospitals: Barriers and solutions, 2014.

PubMed

Ferdosi, Masoud; Ziyari, Farhad Bahman; Ollahi, Mehran Nemat; Salmani, Amaneh Rahim; Niknam, Noureddin

2016-01-01

In the new approach, all health care providers have been obligated to maintain and improve the quality and have been accountable for it. One of the ways is the implementation of clinical governance (CG). More accurate understanding of its challenges can help to improve its performance. In this study, barriers of CG implementation are investigated from the perspective of the hospitals involved. Besides, some solutions are suggested based on stakeholders' opinions. This study used combined method (qualitative content analysis and questionnaire) in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2014. First, experts, and stakeholders talked about CG implementation obstacles in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were confirmed by the interviewee (double check). After analyzing the interviews using reduction coding the questionnaire was drawn up. The questionnaire "validity was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (0/891)" and its reliability was obtained using experts confirmation. Data analyzing was performed using SPSS (18) software. According to results staffing and management factors were the main obstacles. After them, were factors related to organizational culture, infrastructure elements, information, sociocultural and then process factors. The learning barriers were in final rank. Thirty-four solutions was proposed by experts and divided into subset of eight major barriers. Most solutions were offered on modifying processes and minimal solutions about modifying of organizational culture, sociocultural, and educational factors. Removing the obstacles, especially management and human resource factors can be effective by facilitating and accelerating CG. Furthermore, use of experts and stakeholders opinions can help to remove CG barriers.

Deuterium microbomb rocket propulsion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winterberg, F.

2010-01-01

Large scale manned space flight within the solar system is still confronted with the solution of two problems: (1) A propulsion system to transport large payloads with short transit times between different planetary orbits. (2) A cost effective lifting of large payloads into earth orbit. For the solution of the first problem a deuterium fusion bomb propulsion system is proposed where a thermonuclear detonation wave is ignited in a small cylindrical assembly of deuterium with a gigavolt-multimegaampere proton beam, drawn from the magnetically insulated spacecraft acting in the ultrahigh vacuum of space as a gigavolt capacitor. For the solution of the second problem, the ignition is done by argon ion lasers driven by high explosives, with the lasers destroyed in the fusion explosion and becoming part of the exhaust.

Effective e-learning for health professionals and students--barriers and their solutions. A systematic review of the literature--findings from the HeXL project.

PubMed

Childs, Sue; Blenkinsopp, Elizabeth; Hall, Amanda; Walton, Graham

2005-12-01

In 2003/4 the Information Management Research Institute, Northumbria University, conducted a research project to identify the barriers to e-learning for health professionals and students. The project also established possible ways to overcome these barriers. The North of England Workforce Development Confederation funded the project. The project comprised a systematic review of the literature on barriers to and solutions/critical success factors for e-learning in the health field. Fifty-seven references were suitable for analysis. This review was supplemented by a questionnaire survey of learners and an interview study of learning providers to ensure that data identified from the literature were grounded in reality. The main barriers are: requirement for change; costs; poorly designed packages; inadequate technology; lack of skills; need for a component of face-to-face teaching; time intensive nature of e-learning; computer anxiety. A range of solutions can solve these barriers. The main solutions are: standardization; strategies; funding; integration of e-learning into the curriculum; blended teaching; user friendly packages; access to technology; skills training; support; employers paying e-learning costs; dedicated work time for e-learning. The authors argue that librarians can play an important role in e-learning: providing support and support materials; teaching information skills; managing and providing access to online information resources; producing their own e-learning packages; assisting in the development of other packages.

Autism and Overcoming Job Barriers: Comparing Job-Related Barriers and Possible Solutions in and outside of Autism-Specific Employment

PubMed Central

Lorenz, Timo; Frischling, Cora; Cuadros, Raphael; Heinitz, Kathrin

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to discover how individuals with autism succeed in entering the job market. We therefore sought to identify expected and occurred barriers, keeping them from taking up and staying in employment as well as to identify the solutions used to overcome these barriers. Sixty-six employed individuals with autism–17 of them with autism-specific employment–participated in an online survey. Results showed a variety of possible barriers. Individuals in autism-specific employment named formality problems–problems with organizational and practical process-related aspects of the job entry–most frequently while individuals in non-autism-specific employment mentioned social problems–obstacles concerning communication and human interaction–most. In terms of solutions, both groups used their own resources as much as external help, but differed in their specific strategies. In addition, correlations of an autism-specific employment with general and occupational self-efficacy as well as life and job satisfaction were examined. Possible implications of the results are discussed with regard to problem solving behavior and the use of strengths. PMID:26766183

Rebamipide ameliorates radiation-induced intestinal injury in a mouse model.

PubMed

Shim, Sehwan; Jang, Hyo-Sun; Myung, Hyun-Wook; Myung, Jae Kyung; Kang, Jin-Kyu; Kim, Min-Jung; Lee, Seung Bum; Jang, Won-Suk; Lee, Sun-Joo; Jin, Young-Woo; Lee, Seung-Sook; Park, Sunhoo

2017-08-15

Radiation-induced enteritis is a major side effect in cancer patients undergoing abdominopelvic radiotherapy. Radiation exposure produces an uncontrolled inflammatory cascade and epithelial cell loss leading to impaired epithelial barrier function. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of rebamipide on regeneration of the intestinal epithelia after radiation injury. The abdomens of C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 13Gy of irradiation (IR) and then the mice were treated with rebamipide. Upon IR, intestinal epithelia were destroyed structurally at the microscopic level and bacterial translocation was increased. The intestinal damage reached a maximum level on day 6 post-IR and intestinal regeneration occurred thereafter. We found that rebamipide significantly ameliorated radiation-induced intestinal injury. In mice treated with rebamipide after IR, intestinal barrier function recovered and expression of the tight junction components of the intestinal barrier were upregulated. Rebamipide administration reduced radiation-induced intestinal mucosal injury. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) were significantly reduced upon rebamipide administration. Intestinal cell proliferation and β-catenin expression also increased upon rebamipide administration. These data demonstrate that rebamipide reverses impairment of the intestinal barrier by increasing intestinal cell proliferation and attenuating the inflammatory response by inhibiting MMP9 and proinflammatory cytokine expression in a murine model of radiation-induced enteritis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enzyme decorated drug carriers: Targeted swords to cleave and overcome the mucus barrier.

PubMed

Menzel, Claudia; Bernkop-Schnürch, Andreas

2018-01-15

The use of mucus permeating drug carrier systems being able to overcome the mucus barrier can lead to a remarkable enhancement in bioavailability. One promising approach is the design of mucolytic enzyme decorated carrier systems (MECS). These systems include micro- and nanoparticles as well as self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) decorated with mucin cleaving enzymes such as papain (PAP) or bromelain (BRO). MECS are able to cross the mucus barrier in a comparatively efficient manner by cleaving mucus substructures in front of them on their way to the epithelium. Thereby these enzymes hydrolyze peptide bonds of mucus glycoproteins forming tiny holes or passages through the mucus. In various in vitro and in vivo studies MECS proved to be superior in their mucus permeating properties over nanocarriers without enzyme decoration. PAP decorated nanoparticles, for instance, remained 3h after oral administration to an even 2.5-fold higher extend in rat small intestine than the corresponding undecorated nanoparticles permeating the intestinal mucus gel layer to a much lower degree. As MECS break up the mucus network only locally without destroying its overall protective barrier function, even long term treatments with such systems seem feasible. Within this review article we address different drug carrier systems decorated with various types of enzymes, their particular pros and cons and potential applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Young Men, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Services: Exploring Barriers and Solutions

PubMed Central

Lynch, Louise; Long, Maggie; Moorhead, Anne

2016-01-01

International research has identified young men as reluctant to seek help for mental health problems. This research explored barriers and solutions to professional help seeking for mental health problems among young men living in the North West of Ireland. A qualitative approach, using two focus groups with six participants each and five face-to-face interviews, was conducted with men aged 18 to 24 years (total N = 17). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Seven key themes of barriers to professional help seeking were identified: “acceptance from peers,” “personal challenges,” “cultural and environmental influences,” “self-medicating with alcohol,” “perspectives around seeking professional help,” “fear of homophobic responses,” and “traditional masculine ideals.” Five key themes of solutions to these barriers included “tailored mental health advertising,” “integrating mental health into formal education,” “education through semiformal support services,” “accessible mental health care,” and “making new meaning.” Interesting findings on barriers include fear of psychiatric medication, fear of homophobic responses from professionals, the legacy of Catholic attitudes, and the genuine need for care. This study offers an in-depth exploration of how young men experience barriers and uniquely offers solutions identified by participants themselves. Youth work settings were identified as a resource for engaging young men in mental health work. Young men can be encouraged to seek help if services and professionals actively address barriers, combining advertising, services, and education, with particular attention and respect to how and when young men seek help and with whom they want to share their problems. PMID:27365212

Advances in Cell and Gene-based Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease

PubMed Central

Oakland, Mayumi; Sinn, Patrick L; McCray Jr, Paul B

2012-01-01

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease characterized by airway infection, inflammation, remodeling, and obstruction that gradually destroy the lungs. Direct delivery of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene to airway epithelia may offer advantages, as the tissue is accessible for topical delivery of vectors. Yet, physical and host immune barriers in the lung present challenges for successful gene transfer to the respiratory tract. Advances in gene transfer approaches, tissue engineering, and novel animal models are generating excitement within the CF research field. This review discusses current challenges and advancements in viral and nonviral vectors, cell-based therapies, and CF animal models. PMID:22371844

Exact static solutions for discrete phi4 models free of the Peierls-Nabarro barrier: discretized first-integral approach.

PubMed

Dmitriev, S V; Kevrekidis, P G; Yoshikawa, N; Frantzeskakis, D J

2006-10-01

We propose a generalization of the discrete Klein-Gordon models free of the Peierls-Nabarro barrier derived in Spreight [Nonlinearity 12, 1373 (1999)] and Barashenkov [Phys. Rev. E 72, 035602(R) (2005)], such that they support not only kinks but a one-parameter set of exact static solutions. These solutions can be obtained iteratively from a two-point nonlinear map whose role is played by the discretized first integral of the static Klein-Gordon field, as suggested by Dmitriev [J. Phys. A 38, 7617 (2005)]. We then discuss some discrete phi4 models free of the Peierls-Nabarro barrier and identify for them the full space of available static solutions, including those derived recently by Cooper [Phys. Rev. E 72, 036605 (2005)] but not limited to them. These findings are also relevant to standing wave solutions of discrete nonlinear Schrödinger models. We also study stability of the obtained solutions. As an interesting aside, we derive the list of solutions to the continuum phi4 equation that fill the entire two-dimensional space of parameters obtained as the continuum limit of the corresponding space of the discrete models.

Development of a new plasma reactor for propene removal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oukacine, Linda; Tatibouët, Jean-Michel

2008-10-01

The purpose of the study is to develop a new plasma reactor being applied to gas phase pollution abatement, involving a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) at atmospheric pressure. Propene was chosen as a model pollutant. The system can associate a SDBD with a volume dielectric barrier discharge (VDBD). A specific catalyst can be placed in post-plasma site in order to destroy the residual ozone after use it as a strong oxidant for total oxidation of propene and by-products formed by the plasma reactor. A comparative study has been established between the propene removal efficiency of these two plasma geometries. The results demonstrate that SDBD is a promising system for gas cleaning. The experiments show that ozone production depends on plasma system configuration and indicate the effectiveness of combining SDBD and VDBD. The NOx formation remains very low, whereas ozone formation is the highest for the SDBD. The influence of some materials on the propene removal and the ozone production were studied.

Phenomena and characteristics of barrier river reaches in the middle and lower Yangtze River, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

You, Xingying; Tang, Jinwu

2017-06-01

Alluvial river self-adjustment describes the mechanism whereby a river that was originally in an equilibrium state of sediment transport encounters some disturbance that destroys the balance and results in responses such as riverbed deformation. A systematic study of historical and recent aerial photographs and topographic maps in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River (MLYR) shows that river self-adjustment has the distinguishing feature of transferring from upstream to downstream, which may affect flood safety, waterway morphology, bank stability, and aquatic environmental safety over relatively long reaches downstream. As a result, it is necessary to take measures to control or block this transfer. Using the relationship of the occurrence time of channel adjustments between the upstream and downstream, 34 single-thread river reaches in the MLYR were classified into four types: corresponding, basically corresponding, basically not corresponding, not corresponding. The latter two types, because of their ability to prevent upstream channel adjustment from transferring downstream, are called barrier river reaches in this study. Statistics indicate that barrier river reaches are generally single thread and slightly curved, with a narrow and deep cross-sectional morphology, and without flow deflecting nodes in the upper and middle parts of reaches. Moreover, in the MLYR, barrier river reaches have a hydrogeometric coefficient of {<}{4}, a gradient {>}1.2‱, a silty clay content of the concave bank {>}{9.5}%, and a median diameter of the bed sediment {>}{0.158} mm. The barrier river reach mechanism lies in that can effectively centralise the planimetric position of the main stream from different upstream directions, meaning that no matter how the upper channel adjusts, the main stream shows little change, providing relatively stable inflow conditions for the lower reaches. Regarding river regulation, it is necessary to optimise the benefits of barrier river reaches; long river reaches without barrier properties should be systematically planned and regulated; drastic bank collapse and sandbar shrinking should be urgently controlled to prevent the loss of barrier effects.

Barrier Island Failure During Hurricane Katrina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sallenger, A.; Howd, P.; Stockdon, H.; Wright, C. W.; Fauver, L.; Guy, K.

2006-12-01

Classical models of barrier-island response to storms predict that wave runup can periodically overtop an island and transport sand from its seaside to its bayside, forcing the island to migrate landward. While this process can destroy fixed human developments, the island survives with little net change in form or dimensions. In contrast, we find that Louisiana's Chandeleur Islands during Hurricane Katrina were not periodically overtopped by waves, but were continuously inundated by storm surge. When such inundation occurs locally on a barrier island, it can force the erosion of a narrow breach that connects sea and bay. However, little is known about the response of a barrier island when it is entirely submerged. Here, we show that the Chandeleur Islands approached complete failure, losing 84% of their surface area. Their Gulf of Mexico shorelines retreated landward an average of 268 m, the largest retreat ever reported for a storm. Sand was stripped from the islands, reducing their peak elevation from >6 m to <3 m and exposing them to further degradation and potential failure by future hurricanes of less intensity than Katrina. Further, the islands that survived Katrina were marsh remnants composed of mud and vegetation that relatively small waves diminished following the storm. The Chandeleur Islands are prone to failure because of their location on the Mississippi delta where small sand supply and large sea-level rise (induced locally by land subsidence) limit natural rebuilding of the islands following a storm. The response of the delta's barrier islands during Hurricane Katrina provides a warning of how the world's barrier islands might respond to storm-surge inundation should predictions of accelerated global sea level rise prove accurate.

JBFA - buoyant flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohari, T.

1982-01-01

A method was developed whereby a balloon was used to carry lumber out of a forest in order to continue lumber production without destroying the natural environment and view of the forest. Emphasis was on the best shape for a logging balloon, development of a balloon logging system suitable for cutting lumber and safety plans, tests on balloon construction and development of netting, and weather of mountainous areas, especially solutions to problems caused by winds.

Naval Tactical Decision Aids

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-09-01

station the output. But a maneuvering board solution is based on instantaneous course and speed changes . One woni end up on station without taking the...instance I observed, the maneuvering destroyer was darkened on an ink-black night off Korea and both she and the guide were changing course simultaneously...correlation, tracking, targeting, and delivery of ordnance on the enemy and the avoidance of the same by the enemy. It will take a change of

A European Solution to Islamic Extremism in Western Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-04-14

Physically destroying terrorist organizations (“direct action”) is an effective tool. Where freedom of action and freedom of movement exist, there... effectiveness and sometimes duplicate effort. This paper will explain the growing Islamic extremist threat in Western Europe and present a case for why that...native-born youth franchise al-Qa’ida and execute a terrorist attack that effects a change in government. Terrorists executed a planned and deliberate

In vitro safety evaluation of human nasal epithelial cell monolayers exposed to carrageenan sinus wash.

PubMed

Ramezanpour, Mahnaz; Murphy, Jae; Smith, Jason L P; Vreugde, Sarah; Psaltis, Alkis James

2017-12-01

Carrageenans have shown to reduce the viral load in nasal secretions and lower the incidence of secondary infections in children with common cold. Despite the widespread use of carrageenans in topical applications, the effect of carrageenans on the sinonasal epithelial barrier has not been elucidated. We investigate the effect of different carrageenans on the sinonasal epithelial barrier and inflammatory response in vitro. Iota and Kappa carrageenan delivered in saline irrigation solutions applied to air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of primary human nasal epithelial cells from chronic rhinosinusitis patients and controls. Epithelial barrier structure was assessed by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and immunolocalization of F actin. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF), toxicity, and inflammatory response was studied. Kappa or Iota carrageenan in the different solutions was not toxic, did not have detrimental effects on epithelial barrier structure and CBF. Rather, application of Kappa carrageenan significantly increased TEER and suppressed interleukin 6 (IL-6) secretion in ALI cultures from CRS patients. Kappa or Iota carrageenan solution was safe and did not negatively affect epithelial barrier function. Kappa carrageenan increased TEER and decreased IL-6 production in CRS patients, indicating positive effects on epithelial barrier function in vitro. © 2017 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

GIS Based System for Post-Earthquake Crisis Managment Using Cellular Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raeesi, M.; Sadeghi-Niaraki, A.

2013-09-01

Earthquakes are among the most destructive natural disasters. Earthquakes happen mainly near the edges of tectonic plates, but they may happen just about anywhere. Earthquakes cannot be predicted. Quick response after disasters, like earthquake, decreases loss of life and costs. Massive earthquakes often cause structures to collapse, trapping victims under dense rubble for long periods of time. After the earthquake and destroyed some areas, several teams are sent to find the location of the destroyed areas. The search and rescue phase usually is maintained for many days. Time reduction for surviving people is very important. A Geographical Information System (GIS) can be used for decreasing response time and management in critical situations. Position estimation in short period of time time is important. This paper proposes a GIS based system for post-earthquake disaster management solution. This system relies on several mobile positioning methods such as cell-ID and TA method, signal strength method, angel of arrival method, time of arrival method and time difference of arrival method. For quick positioning, the system can be helped by any person who has a mobile device. After positioning and specifying the critical points, the points are sent to a central site for managing the procedure of quick response for helping. This solution establishes a quick way to manage the post-earthquake crisis.

Enzymatic Removal of Diacetyl from Beer

PubMed Central

Tolls, T. N.; Shovers, J.; Sandine, W. E.; Elliker, P. R.

1970-01-01

Diacetyl removal from beer was studied with whole cells and crude enzyme extracts of yeasts and bacteria. Cells of Streptococcus diacetilactis 18-16 destroyed diacetyl in solutions at a rate almost equal to that achieved by the addition of whole yeast cells. Yeast cells impregnated in a diatomaceous earth filter bed removed all diacetyl from solutions percolated through the bed. Undialyzed crude enzyme extracts from yeast cells removed diacetyl very slowly from beer at its normal pH (4.1); at a pH of 5.0 or higher, rapid diacetyl removal was achieved. Dialyzed crude enzyme extracts from yeast cells were found to destroy diacetyl in a manner quite similar to that of diacetyl reductase from Aerobacter aerogenes, and both the bacterial and the yeast extracts were stimulated significantly by the addition of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Diacetyl reductase activity of four strains of A. aerogenes was compared; three of the strains produced enzyme with approximately twice the specific activity of the other strain (8724). Gel electrophoresis results indicated that at least three different NADH-oxidizing enzymes were present in crude extracts of diacetyl reductase. Sephadex-gel chromotography separated NADH oxidase from diacetyl reductase. It was also noted that ethyl alcohol concentrations approximately equivalent to those found in beer were quite inhibitory to diacetyl reductase. PMID:4315861

The effect of pH on hydrolysis, cross-linking and barrier properties of starch barriers containing citric acid.

PubMed

Olsson, Erik; Menzel, Carolin; Johansson, Caisa; Andersson, Roger; Koch, Kristine; Järnström, Lars

2013-11-06

Citric acid cross-linking of starch for e.g. food packaging applications has been intensely studied during the last decade as a method of producing water-insensitive renewable barrier coatings. We managed to improve a starch formulation containing citric acid as cross-linking agent for industrial paper coating applications by adjusting the pH of the starch solution. The described starch formulations exhibited both cross-linking of starch by citric acid as well as satisfactory barrier properties, e.g. fairly low OTR values at 50% RH that are comparable with EVOH. Furthermore, it has been shown that barrier properties of coated papers with different solution pH were correlated to molecular changes in starch showing both hydrolysis and cross-linking of starch molecules in the presence of citric acid. Hydrolysis was shown to be almost completely hindered at solution pH≥4 at curing temperatures≤105 °C and at pH≥5 at curing temperatures≤150 °C, whereas cross-linking still occurred to some extent at pH≤6.5 and drying temperatures as low as 70 °C. Coated papers showed a minimum in water vapor transmission rate at pH 4 of the starch coating solution, corresponding to the point where hydrolysis was effectively hindered but where a significant degree of cross-linking still occurred. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of collision duration on the chaotic dynamics of a ball bouncing on a vertically vibrating plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Z. H.; Liang, Z. J.; Wu, A. C.; Zheng, R. H.

2018-03-01

Experiments have been performed to study the chaotic dynamics of a ball bouncing on a vertically vibrating plate. The velocity dependence of collision duration and coefficient of restitution is determined, and phase portraits of chaotic structures for the flight time and the relative collision velocities are obtained. Numerical calculations are carried out to examine the effects of velocity-dependent collision duration on the ball dynamics. It is revealed that when the collision is instantaneous, sticking solutions are always observed, whereas when the collision duration is taken into account, sticking solutions are destroyed and thereby chaos behaviors are induced.

Method for the recovery of silver from waste photographic fixer solutions

DOEpatents

Posey, F.A.; Palko, A.A.

The method of the present invention is directed to the recovery of silver from spent photographic fixer solutions and for providing an effluent essentially silver-free that is suitable for discharge into commercial sewage systems. The present method involves the steps of introducing the spent photographic fixer solution into an alkaline hypochlorite solution. The oxidizing conditions of the alkaline hypochlorite solution are maintained during the addition of the fixer solution so that the silver ion complexing agents of thiosulfate and sulfite ions are effectively destroyed. Hydrazine monohydrate is then added to the oxidizing solution to form a reducing solution to effect the formation of a precipitate of silver which can be readily removed by filtration of decanting. Experimental tests indicate that greater than 99.99% of the original silver in the spent photographic fixer can be efficiently removed by practicing the present method. Also, the chemical and biological oxygen demand of the remaining effluent is significantly reduced so as to permit the discharge thereof into sewage systems at levels in compliance with federal and state environmental standards.

Method for the recovery of silver from waste photographic fixer solutions

DOEpatents

Posey, Franz A.; Palko, Aloysius A.

1984-01-01

The method of the present invention is directed to the recovery of silver from spent photographic fixer solutions and for providing an effluent essentially silver-free that is suitable for discharge into commercial sewage systems. The present method involves the steps of introducing the spent photographic fixer solution into an alkaline hypochlorite solution. The oxidizing conditions of the alkaline hypochlorite solution are maintained during the addition of the fixer solution so that the silver ion complexing agents of thiosulfate and sulfite ions are effectively destroyed. Hydrazine monohydrate is then added to the oxidizing solution to form a reducing solution to effect the formation of a precipitate of silver which can be readily removed by filtration or decanting. Experimental tests indicate that greater than 99.99% of the original silver in the spent photographic fixer can be efficiently removed by practicing the present method. Also, the chemical and biological oxygen demand of the remaining effluent is significantly reduced so as to permit the discharge thereof into sewage systems at levels in compliance with federal and state environmental standards.

Some Wildfire Ignition Causes Pose More Risk of Destroying Houses than Others

PubMed Central

Penman, Trent D.; Price, Owen F.

2016-01-01

Many houses are at risk of being destroyed by wildfires. While previous studies have improved our understanding of how, when and why houses are destroyed by wildfires, little attention has been given to how these fires started. We compiled a dataset of wildfires that destroyed houses in New South Wales and Victoria and, by comparing against wildfires where no houses were destroyed, investigated the relationship between the distribution of ignition causes for wildfires that did and did not destroy houses. Powerlines, lightning and deliberate ignitions are the main causes of wildfires that destroyed houses. Powerlines were 6 times more common in the wildfires that destroyed houses data than in the wildfires where no houses were destroyed data and lightning was 2 times more common. For deliberate- and powerline-caused wildfires, temperature, wind speed, and forest fire danger index were all significantly higher and relative humidity significantly lower (P < 0.05) on the day of ignition for wildfires that destroyed houses compared with wildfires where no houses were destroyed. For all powerline-caused wildfires the first house destroyed always occurred on the day of ignition. In contrast, the first house destroyed was after the day of ignition for 78% of lightning-caused wildfires. Lightning-caused wildfires that destroyed houses were significantly larger (P < 0.001) in area than human-caused wildfires that destroyed houses. Our results suggest that targeting fire prevention strategies around ignition causes, such as improving powerline safety and targeted arson reduction programmes, and reducing fire spread may decrease the number of wildfires that destroy houses. PMID:27598325

Some Wildfire Ignition Causes Pose More Risk of Destroying Houses than Others.

PubMed

Collins, Kathryn M; Penman, Trent D; Price, Owen F

2016-01-01

Many houses are at risk of being destroyed by wildfires. While previous studies have improved our understanding of how, when and why houses are destroyed by wildfires, little attention has been given to how these fires started. We compiled a dataset of wildfires that destroyed houses in New South Wales and Victoria and, by comparing against wildfires where no houses were destroyed, investigated the relationship between the distribution of ignition causes for wildfires that did and did not destroy houses. Powerlines, lightning and deliberate ignitions are the main causes of wildfires that destroyed houses. Powerlines were 6 times more common in the wildfires that destroyed houses data than in the wildfires where no houses were destroyed data and lightning was 2 times more common. For deliberate- and powerline-caused wildfires, temperature, wind speed, and forest fire danger index were all significantly higher and relative humidity significantly lower (P < 0.05) on the day of ignition for wildfires that destroyed houses compared with wildfires where no houses were destroyed. For all powerline-caused wildfires the first house destroyed always occurred on the day of ignition. In contrast, the first house destroyed was after the day of ignition for 78% of lightning-caused wildfires. Lightning-caused wildfires that destroyed houses were significantly larger (P < 0.001) in area than human-caused wildfires that destroyed houses. Our results suggest that targeting fire prevention strategies around ignition causes, such as improving powerline safety and targeted arson reduction programmes, and reducing fire spread may decrease the number of wildfires that destroy houses.

Barriers and Solutions to Conducting Large International, Interdisciplinary Research Projects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pischke, Erin C.; Knowlton, Jessie L.; Phifer, Colin C.; Gutierrez Lopez, Jose; Propato, Tamara S.; Eastmond, Amarella; de Souza, Tatiana Martins; Kuhlberg, Mark; Picasso Risso, Valentin; Veron, Santiago R.; Garcia, Carlos; Chiappe, Marta; Halvorsen, Kathleen E.

2017-12-01

Global environmental problems such as climate change are not bounded by national borders or scientific disciplines, and therefore require international, interdisciplinary teamwork to develop understandings of their causes and solutions. Interdisciplinary scientific work is difficult enough, but these challenges are often magnified when teams also work across national boundaries. The literature on the challenges of interdisciplinary research is extensive. However, research on international, interdisciplinary teams is nearly non-existent. Our objective is to fill this gap by reporting on results from a study of a large interdisciplinary, international National Science Foundation Partnerships for International Research and Education (NSF-PIRE) research project across the Americas. We administered a structured questionnaire to team members about challenges they faced while working together across disciplines and outside of their home countries in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Analysis of the responses indicated five major types of barriers to conducting interdisciplinary, international research: integration, language, fieldwork logistics, personnel and relationships, and time commitment. We discuss the causes and recommended solutions to the most common barriers. Our findings can help other interdisciplinary, international research teams anticipate challenges, and develop effective solutions to minimize the negative impacts of these barriers to their research.

Barriers and Solutions to Conducting Large International, Interdisciplinary Research Projects.

PubMed

Pischke, Erin C; Knowlton, Jessie L; Phifer, Colin C; Gutierrez Lopez, Jose; Propato, Tamara S; Eastmond, Amarella; de Souza, Tatiana Martins; Kuhlberg, Mark; Picasso Risso, Valentin; Veron, Santiago R; Garcia, Carlos; Chiappe, Marta; Halvorsen, Kathleen E

2017-12-01

Global environmental problems such as climate change are not bounded by national borders or scientific disciplines, and therefore require international, interdisciplinary teamwork to develop understandings of their causes and solutions. Interdisciplinary scientific work is difficult enough, but these challenges are often magnified when teams also work across national boundaries. The literature on the challenges of interdisciplinary research is extensive. However, research on international, interdisciplinary teams is nearly non-existent. Our objective is to fill this gap by reporting on results from a study of a large interdisciplinary, international National Science Foundation Partnerships for International Research and Education (NSF-PIRE) research project across the Americas. We administered a structured questionnaire to team members about challenges they faced while working together across disciplines and outside of their home countries in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico. Analysis of the responses indicated five major types of barriers to conducting interdisciplinary, international research: integration, language, fieldwork logistics, personnel and relationships, and time commitment. We discuss the causes and recommended solutions to the most common barriers. Our findings can help other interdisciplinary, international research teams anticipate challenges, and develop effective solutions to minimize the negative impacts of these barriers to their research.

76 FR 38655 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-01

... Request: New collection; Title of Information Collection: Analysis of Transportation Barriers to... of the proposed study is to identify and analyze transportation barriers associated with the... analyze the health outcomes resulting from those barriers, and ultimately to identify potential solutions...

Processes, barriers and facilitators to implementation of a participatory ergonomics program among eldercare workers.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Charlotte Diana Nørregaard; Lindberg, Naja Klærke; Ravn, Marie Højbjerg; Jørgensen, Marie Birk; Søgaard, Karen; Holtermann, Andreas

2017-01-01

This study aimed to investigate the processes of a participatory ergonomics program among 594 eldercare workers with emphasis on identified risk factors for low back pain and solutions, and reveal barriers and facilitators for implementation. Sixty-nine per cent of the identified risk factors were physical ergonomic, 24% were organisational and 7% were psychosocial risk factors. Most solutions were organisational (55%), followed by physical (43%) and psychosocial solutions (2%). Internal factors (e.g. team or management) constituted 47% of the barriers and 75% of the facilitators. External factors (e.g. time, financial resources, collaboration with resident or relatives) constituted 53% of the barriers and 25% of the facilitators. This study revealed the processes and implementation of a participatory ergonomics program among eldercare workers. The findings can be transferred to workers, workplaces, health and safety professionals, and researchers to improve future participatory ergonomics programs. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Barriers, Facilitators, and Solutions to Optimal Patient Portal and Personal Health Record Use: A Systematic Review of the Literature

PubMed Central

Zhao, Jane Y.; Song, Buer; Anand, Edwin; Schwartz, Diane; Panesar, Mandip; Jackson, Gretchen P.; Elkin, Peter L.

2017-01-01

Patient portal and personal health record adoption and usage rates have been suboptimal. A systematic review of the literature was performed to capture all published studies that specifically addressed barriers, facilitators, and solutions to optimal patient portal and personal health record enrollment and use. Consistent themes emerged from the review. Patient attitudes were critical as either barrier or facilitator. Institutional buy-in, information technology support, and aggressive tailored marketing were important facilitators. Interface redesign was a popular solution. Quantitative studies identified many barriers to optimal patient portal and personal health record enrollment and use, and qualitative and mixed methods research revealed thoughtful explanations for why they existed. Our study demonstrated the value of qualitative and mixed research methodologies in understanding the adoption of consumer health technologies. Results from the systematic review should be used to guide the design and implementation of future patient portals and personal health records, and ultimately, close the digital divide. PMID:29854263

General practitioners' perceptions of the barriers and solutions to good-quality palliative care in dementia.

PubMed

Carter, Gillian; van der Steen, Jenny T; Galway, Karen; Brazil, Kevin

2015-04-16

The general practitioner (GP) is in a pivotal position to initiate and adapt care for their patients living with dementia. This study aimed to elicit GPs' perceptions of the potential barriers and solutions to the provision of good-quality palliative care in dementia in their practices. A postal survey of GPs across Northern Ireland was conducted with open-ended items soliciting for barriers in their practices and possible solutions; 40.6% (138/340) were returned completed. Barriers to palliative care in dementia were perceived to be a dementia knowledge deficit for healthcare staff and the public, a resource shortfall within the GP practice and community, poor team coordination alongside inappropriate dementia care provision, and disagreements from and within families. These findings have significant implications for educators and clinicians as enhanced dementia education and training were highlighted as a strong agenda for GPs with the suggestions of dementia awareness programmes for the public. © The Author(s) 2015 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Barriers that practitioners face when initiating insulin therapy in general practice settings and how they can be overcome

PubMed Central

Bin rsheed, Abdulaziz; Chenoweth, Ian

2017-01-01

AIM To explore primary care physicians’ perspectives on possible barriers to the use of insulin. METHODS This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Eight electronic databases were searched (between January 1, 1994 and August 31, 2014) for relevant studies. A search for grey literature and a review of the references in the retrieved studies were also conducted. Studies that focused on healthcare providers’ perspectives on possible barriers to insulin initiation with type 2 diabetic patients were included, as well as articles suggesting solutions for these barriers. Review articles and studies that only considered patients’ perspectives were excluded. RESULTS A total of 19 studies met the inclusion criteria and were therefore included in this study: 10 of these studies used qualitative methods, 8 used quantitative methods and 1 used mixed methods. Studies included a range of different health care settings. The findings are reported under four broad categories: The perceptions of primary care physicians about the barriers to initiate insulin therapy for type 2 diabetes patients, how primary care physicians assess patients prior to initiating insulin, professional roles and possible solutions to overcome these barriers. The barriers described were many and covered doctor, patient, system and technological aspects. Interventions that focused on doctor training and support, or IT-based decision support were few, and did not result in significant improvement. CONCLUSION Primary care physicians’ known delay in insulin initiation is multifactorial. Published reports of attempts to find solutions for these barriers were limited in number. PMID:28138362

Digital-transport model study of Diisopropylmethylphosphonate (DIMP) ground-water contamination at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Warner, James W.

1979-01-01

Diisopropylmethylphosphonate (DIMP) is an organic compound produced as a by-product of the manufacture and detoxification of GB nerve gas. Ground-water contamination by DIMP from the disposal of wastes into unlined surface ponds at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal occurred from 1952 to 1956. A digital-transport model was used to determine the effects on ground-water movement and on DIMP concentrations in the ground water of a bentonite barrier in the aquifer near the northern boundary of the arsenal. The transport model is based on an iterative-alternating-direction-implicit mathematical solution of the ground-water-flow equation coupled with a method-of-characteristics solution of the solute-transport equation. The model assumes conservative (nonreactive) transient transport of DIMP and steady-state ground-water flow. In the model simulations, a bentonite barrier was assumed that was impermeable and penetrated the entire saturated thickness of the aquifer. Ground water intercepted by the barrier was assumed to be pumped by wells located south (upgradient) of the barrier, to be treated to remove DIMP, and to be recharged by pits or wells to the aquifer north (downgradient) of the barrier. The amount of DIMP transported across the northern boundary of the arsenal was substantially reduced by a ground-water-barrier system of this type. For a 1,500-foot-long bentonite barrier located along the northern boundary of the arsenal near D Street, about 50 percent of the DIMP that would otherwise cross the boundary would be intercepted by the barrier. This barrier configuration and location were proposed by the U.S. Army. Of the ground water with DIMP concentrations greater than 500 micrograms per liter, the safe DIMP-concentration level determined by the U.S. Army, about 72 percent would be intercepted by the barrier system. The amount of DIMP underflow intercepted may be increased to 65 percent by doubling the pumpage, or to 73 percent by doubling the length of the barrier. (Kosco-USGS)

Dynamics and Stability of Rolling Viscoelastic Tires

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Potter, Trevor

2013-04-30

Current steady state rolling tire calculations often do not include treads because treads destroy the rotational symmetry of the tire. We describe two methodologies to compute time periodic solutions of a two-dimensional viscoelastic tire with treads: solving a minimization problem and solving a system of equations. We also expand on work by Oden and Lin on free spinning rolling elastic tires in which they disovered a hierachy of N-peak steady state standing wave solutions. In addition to discovering a two-dimensional hierarchy of standing wave solutions that includes their N-peak hiearchy, we consider the eects of viscoelasticity on the standing wavemore » solutions. Finally, a commonplace model of viscoelasticity used in our numerical experiments led to non-physical elastic energy growth for large tire speeds. We show that a viscoelastic model of Govindjee and Reese remedies the problem.« less

Antimalarial Cyclic Peroxide Lactones.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-05-31

a solution of 4 (573 mg) in acetone (10 mL, purified by addition of KMnO4 followed by distillation) was added dropwise Jones’ reagent at 50C. After...30 min. the mixture was further added dropwise with stirring at room temperature until the absence of the ornngish yellow color of the reagent ...Addition of small amount of water to dissolve the precipitate was needed. The unreacted reagent was destroyed by addition of isopropanol. The resulting

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-02

challenging ship redesign as well as a new power and cooling architecture coupled with the challenges to construct such a dense ship, will make...costs. Our prior work has shown that construction of lead ships is challenging , the risk of cost growth is high, and having sufficient construction...not include a thorough trade-off analysis that would compare the relative costs and benefits of different solutions under consideration or provide

Environmental Assessment for Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Upgrades at Beale Air Force Base, California

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-04-01

triple-awn grass, annual fescues, and foxtail barley . Intermixed with these dominant grasses are an assemblage of native and non-native forb species...as a wheat- stem rust (fungal disease) biological production test site. Chemicals associated with the wheat- stem rust program included freon, carbon...Carboxide treatment (using a solution of 10 percent ethylene oxide and 90 percent carbon dioxide) was used to destroy the rust fungus stocks. Residual

Tissue Engineered Testicular Prostheses With Prolonged Testosterone Release

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

inguinal lymph nodes from a leaking testicular prosthesis: a cause for chronic fatigue? BJU Int., 86, 1090. Ebert, T ., F. Jockenhovel, A. Morales, and R ...NaOH, hydroxyproline oxidation was initiated by adding 1 ml chloramine- T to the extract. After gentle mixing and incubation for 20 minutes, the...chloramine- T was destroyed by addition of 1 ml perchloric acid to each tube. Finally, 1 ml p- dimethylamino-benzaldehyde solution was added and

Formation mechanism of rectangular-ambulatory-plane TiO2 plates: an insight into the role of hydrofluoric acid.

PubMed

Zou, Yajun; Gao, Ge; Wang, Zhenyu; Shi, Jian-Wen; Wang, Hongkang; Ma, Dandan; Fan, Zhaoyang; Chen, Xin; Wang, Zeyan; Niu, Chunming

2018-06-13

A novel rectangular-ambulatory-plane TiO2 plate with exposed {001} facets was developed for the first time via a facile microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach in the presence of HF solution. Solid evidence demonstrated that HF plays dual roles in the hydrothermal process, both as a stabilizer for the {001} facet growth and as an etching reagent selectively destroying the {001} facets.

SOLUTIONS TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION OF TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES

EPA Science Inventory

To make treatment a viable option for remediation you must first identify the barriers to implementing treatment. The primary barrier is economics. Treatment options are relatively expensive and there is a lack of funds for treatment. The cost of technologies can be lowered by 1)...

Enhanced formation of aerenchyma and induction of a barrier to radial oxygen loss in adventitious roots of Zea nicaraguensis contribute to its waterlogging tolerance as compared with maize (Zea mays ssp. mays).

PubMed

Abiko, Tomomi; Kotula, Lukasz; Shiono, Katsuhiro; Malik, Al Imran; Colmer, Timothy David; Nakazono, Mikio

2012-09-01

Enhancement of oxygen transport from shoot to root tip by the formation of aerenchyma and also a barrier to radial oxygen loss (ROL) in roots is common in waterlogging-tolerant plants. Zea nicaraguensis (teosinte), a wild relative of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays), grows in waterlogged soils. We investigated the formation of aerenchyma and ROL barrier induction in roots of Z. nicaraguensis, in comparison with roots of maize (inbred line Mi29), in a pot soil system and in hydroponics. Furthermore, depositions of suberin in the exodermis/hypodermis and lignin in the epidermis of adventitious roots of Z. nicaraguensis and maize grown in aerated or stagnant deoxygenated nutrient solution were studied. Growth of maize was more adversely affected by low oxygen in the root zone (waterlogged soil or stagnant deoxygenated nutrient solution) compared with Z. nicaraguensis. In stagnant deoxygenated solution, Z. nicaraguensis was superior to maize in transporting oxygen from shoot base to root tip due to formation of larger aerenchyma and a stronger barrier to ROL in adventitious roots. The relationships between the ROL barrier formation and suberin and lignin depositions in roots are discussed. The ROL barrier, in addition to aerenchyma, would contribute to the waterlogging tolerance of Z. nicaraguensis. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Erlotinib promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated injury in the intestinal epithelium

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fan, Lu; Hu, Lingna; Yang, Baofang

Erlotinib, a popular drug for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), causes diarrhea in approximately 55% of patients receiving this drug. In the present study, we found that erlotinib induced barrier dysfunction in rat small intestine epithelial cells (IEC-6) by increasing epithelial permeability and down-regulating E-cadherin. The mRNA levels of various pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-6, Il-25 and Il-17f) were increased after erlotinib treatment in IEC-6 cells. Erlotinib concentration- and time-dependently induced apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in both IEC-6 and human colon epithelial cells (CCD 841 CoN). Intestinal epithelial injury was also observed in male C57BL/6J mice administrated with erlotinib.more » Knockdown of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) with small interference RNA partially reversed erlotinib-induced apoptosis, production of IL-6 and down-regulation of E-cadherin in cultured intestinal epithelial cells. In conclusion, erlotinib caused ER stress-mediated injury in the intestinal epithelium, contributing to its side effects of diarrhea in patients. - Highlights: • Erlotinib destroyed barrier integrity both in vitro and in vivo. • Erlotinib induced inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. • Erlotinib induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. • ER stress contributed to erlotinib-induced barrier dysfunction.« less

California highway barrier aesthetics

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-06-01

This report will familiarize designers with current barrier design options, and encourage appropriate aesthetic considerations to develop visually pleasing context sensitive solutions for highway projects. Technical guidelines allow integral color, p...

Use of evidence-based interventions in state health departments: a qualitative assessment of barriers and solutions.

PubMed

Dodson, Elizabeth A; Baker, Elizabeth A; Brownson, Ross C

2010-01-01

Existing knowledge on chronic disease prevention is not systematically disseminated and applied. State-level public health practitioners are in positions to implement programs and services related to chronic disease control. To advance dissemination science, this study sought to evaluate how and why evidence-based decision making (EBDM) is occurring. Specifically, it identified barriers to using EBDM commonly faced by state-level chronic disease practitioners and solutions for increasing the use of EBDM. Descriptive research using online survey methods. State health departments. Members of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Barriers to using EBDM and solutions to increase the use of EBDM. In total, 469 people completed the survey (64% response rate). More than 60% of respondents described their position as project managers or coordinators. Nearly 80% of respondents were women, and 39% reported at least a master's degree as their highest degree. The survey elicited responses from every US state and the District of Columbia. Commonly-cited barriers to using EBDM included lack of time, resources, funding, and data. Participants noted that promising solutions to increase the use of EBDM include improved leadership, training, and collaboration. These results identify several modifiable barriers to EBDM among state-level public health practitioners. This information may improve state health departments' abilities to facilitate and encourage EBDM. In turn, this may assist chronic disease practitioners in implementing chronic disease interventions that have been proven effective. The use of such interventions will improve public health through the prevention of chronic diseases.

Endothelial disruptive proinflammatory effects of nicotine and e-cigarette vapor exposures.

PubMed

Schweitzer, Kelly S; Chen, Steven X; Law, Sarah; Van Demark, Mary; Poirier, Christophe; Justice, Matthew J; Hubbard, Walter C; Kim, Elena S; Lai, Xianyin; Wang, Mu; Kranz, William D; Carroll, Clinton J; Ray, Bruce D; Bittman, Robert; Goodpaster, John; Petrache, Irina

2015-07-15

The increased use of inhaled nicotine via e-cigarettes has unknown risks to lung health. Having previously shown that cigarette smoke (CS) extract disrupts the lung microvasculature barrier function by endothelial cell activation and cytoskeletal rearrangement, we investigated the contribution of nicotine in CS or e-cigarettes (e-Cig) to lung endothelial injury. Primary lung microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to nicotine, e-Cig solution, or condensed e-Cig vapor (1-20 mM nicotine) or to nicotine-free CS extract or e-Cig solutions. Compared with nicotine-containing extract, nicotine free-CS extract (10-20%) caused significantly less endothelial permeability as measured with electric cell-substrate impedance sensing. Nicotine exposures triggered dose-dependent loss of endothelial barrier in cultured cell monolayers and rapidly increased lung inflammation and oxidative stress in mice. The endothelial barrier disruptive effects were associated with increased intracellular ceramides, p38 MAPK activation, and myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation, and was critically mediated by Rho-activated kinase via inhibition of MLC-phosphatase unit MYPT1. Although nicotine at sufficient concentrations to cause endothelial barrier loss did not trigger cell necrosis, it markedly inhibited cell proliferation. Augmentation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling via S1P1 improved both endothelial cell proliferation and barrier function during nicotine exposures. Nicotine-independent effects of e-Cig solutions were noted, which may be attributable to acrolein, detected along with propylene glycol, glycerol, and nicotine by NMR, mass spectrometry, and gas chromatography, in both e-Cig solutions and vapor. These results suggest that soluble components of e-Cig, including nicotine, cause dose-dependent loss of lung endothelial barrier function, which is associated with oxidative stress and brisk inflammation.

36 CFR 1192.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Between-car barriers. 1192.63... Rail Vehicles and Systems § 1192.63 Between-car barriers. (a) Requirement. Suitable devices or systems... between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates, chains, motion...

36 CFR § 1192.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2013-07-01 2012-07-01 true Between-car barriers. § 1192... Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 1192.63 Between-car barriers. (a) Requirement. Suitable devices or... platform between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates, chains...

49 CFR 38.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Between-car barriers. 38.63 Section 38.63... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 38.63 Between-car barriers. (a... inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to...

49 CFR 38.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Between-car barriers. 38.63 Section 38.63... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 38.63 Between-car barriers. (a... inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to...

36 CFR 1192.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Between-car barriers. 1192.63... Rail Vehicles and Systems § 1192.63 Between-car barriers. (a) Requirement. Suitable devices or systems... between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates, chains, motion...

36 CFR 1192.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Between-car barriers. 1192.63... Rail Vehicles and Systems § 1192.63 Between-car barriers. (a) Requirement. Suitable devices or systems... between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates, chains, motion...

49 CFR 38.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Between-car barriers. 38.63 Section 38.63... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 38.63 Between-car barriers. (a... inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to...

49 CFR 38.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Between-car barriers. 38.63 Section 38.63... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 38.63 Between-car barriers. (a... inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to...

36 CFR 1192.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Between-car barriers. 1192.63... Rail Vehicles and Systems § 1192.63 Between-car barriers. (a) Requirement. Suitable devices or systems... between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to, pantograph gates, chains, motion...

49 CFR 38.63 - Between-car barriers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 49 Transportation 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Between-car barriers. 38.63 Section 38.63... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 38.63 Between-car barriers. (a... inadvertently stepping off the platform between cars. Acceptable solutions include, but are not limited to...

The "real world" barriers and solutions to Candida vaccine patent prosecutions

PubMed Central

Wang, Shyh-Jen

2012-01-01

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) adopts recent patent courts’ opinions (such as KSR In re Fisher and Ariad v. Lilly) in patent examinations, which would certainly create barriers to biotech patent prosecution. To identify the barriers to Candida vaccine patent prosecution, we analyzed 99 US-granted patents from January 2001 to May 2012 related to Candida vaccines. The rejections were based on factors that included obviousness, novelty, indefiniteness, double patenting, enablement, written description and utility. Based on this investigation, we find that some of these rejections were actually avoidable, and then further provide workable solutions to avoid some of the barriers, especially those related to patentability. These principles recited in this study should also be applicable to other fields of vaccines and immunotherapeutics. PMID:22894949

Polyacrylamide sorption opportunity on interlayer and external pore surfaces of contaminant barrier clays.

PubMed

Inyang, Hilary I; Bae, Sunyoung

2005-01-01

Physico-chemical interactions among polymer molecules in aqueous solution and clay mineralogical/textural characteristics influence the sorption of polymer molecules on clay barrier minerals. Amendment of potentially unstable barrier clays with aqueous polymers can improve barrier material resistance to environmental stresses during service. In this research, the ability of molecular coils of polyacrylamide (PAM) to overlap in solution and to enter interlayer space in Na-montmorillonite (specific surface=31.82+/-0.22 m2 g(-1)) and kaolinite (specific surface=18+/-2 m2 g(-1)) were analyzed theoretically and experimentally, using solution viscosity measurements, and X-ray diffractometry. Experimental data on two theoretical indices: relative size ratio (RSR); and molecular availability (Ma) that are formulated to scale polymer molecular sorption on clay interlayer, indicate that the sorption of PAM A (Mw=4000000) and PAM B (Mw=7000000) does not produce any significant change in the d-spacing of both clay minerals. Although the negative Ma values of -3.51 g l(-1) for PAM A and -3.88 g l(-1) for PAM B indicate high levels of entanglement of polymer molecular coils in solution, sorption data confirm that the entangled coils are still able to sorb onto Na-montmorillonite highly and kaolinite to a lesser extent.

Conformational relaxation dynamics in the excited electronic states of benzil in solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Ajay K.; Palit, Dipak K.; Mittal, Jai P.

2002-07-01

Relaxation dynamics in the excited singlet (S1) state of benzil have been studied in solution using pico and subpicosecond transient absorption spectroscopic techniques. The triple exponential decay dynamics of the S1 state indicates that the process of conformational change from the cis-skewed to the trans-planar form takes place via the formation of a meta-stable intermediate conformer resulting the involvement of two consequent barrier crossing processes. The barrier crossing dynamics is governed by both the polarity of the solvent, which alters the barrier heights by `static' interactions, as well as the viscosity of the solvent via `dynamical' interactions.

Curcumin Loaded-PLGA Nanoparticles Conjugated with Tet-1 Peptide for Potential Use in Alzheimer's Disease

PubMed Central

Mathew, Anila; Fukuda, Takahiro; Nagaoka, Yutaka; Hasumura, Takashi; Morimoto, Hisao; Yoshida, Yasuhiko; Maekawa, Toru; Venugopal, Kizhikkilot; Kumar, D. Sakthi

2012-01-01

Alzheimer's disease is a growing concern in the modern world. As the currently available medications are not very promising, there is an increased need for the fabrication of newer drugs. Curcumin is a plant derived compound which has potential activities beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Anti-amyloid activity and anti-oxidant activity of curcumin is highly beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The insolubility of curcumin in water restricts its use to a great extend, which can be overcome by the synthesis of curcumin nanoparticles. In our work, we have successfully synthesized water-soluble PLGA coated- curcumin nanoparticles and characterized it using different techniques. As drug targeting to diseases of cerebral origin are difficult due to the stringency of blood-brain barrier, we have coupled the nanoparticle with Tet-1 peptide, which has the affinity to neurons and possess retrograde transportation properties. Our results suggest that curcumin encapsulated-PLGA nanoparticles are able to destroy amyloid aggregates, exhibit anti-oxidative property and are non-cytotoxic. The encapsulation of the curcumin in PLGA does not destroy its inherent properties and so, the PLGA-curcumin nanoparticles can be used as a drug with multiple functions in treating Alzheimer's disease proving it to be a potential therapeutic tool against this dreaded disease. PMID:22403681

Simulations of Low-q Disruptions in the Compact Toroidal Hybrid Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howell, E. C.; Hanson, J. D.; Ennis, D. A.; Hartwell, G. J.; Maurer, D. A.

2017-10-01

Resistive MHD simulations of low-q disruptions in the Compact Toroidal Hybrid Device (CTH) are performed using the NIMROD code. CTH is a current-carrying stellarator used to study the effects of 3D shaping on MHD stability. Experimentally, it is observed that the application of 3D vacuum fields allows CTH to operate with edge safety factor less than 2.0. However, these low-q discharges often disrupt after peak current if the applied 3D fields are too weak. Nonlinear simulations are initialized using model VMEC equilibria representative of low-q discharges with weak vacuum transform. Initially a series of symmetry preserving island chains are excited at the q=6/5, 7/5, 8/5, and 9/5 rational surfaces. These island chains act as transport barriers preventing stochastic magnetic fields in the edge from penetrating into the core. As the simulation progresses, predominately m/n=3/2 and 4/3 instabilities are destabilized. As these instabilities grow to large amplitude they destroy the symmetry preserving islands leading to large regions of stochastic fields. A current spike and loss of core thermal confinement occurs when the innermost island chain (6/5) is destroyed. Work Supported by US-DOE Grant #DE-FG02-03ER54692.

The effect of topical treatments for CRS on the sinonasal epithelial barrier.

PubMed

Ramezanpour, M; Rayan, A; Smith, J L P; Vreugde, S

2017-06-01

Several topical treatments are used in the management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS), some of which the safety and efficacy has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of commonly used topical treatments on the sinonasal epithelial barrier. Normal saline (0.9% Sodium Chloride), hypertonic saline (3% Sodium Chloride), FESS Sinu-Cleanse Hypertonic, FLO Sinus Care and Budesonide 1 mg/ 2 ml were applied to the apical side of air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) from CRS patients (n=3) and non-CRS controls (n=3) for 24 hours. Epithelial barrier structure and function was assessed using trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), measuring the passage of Fluorescein Isothiocyanate labelled Dextrans (FITC-Dextrans) and assessing the expression of the tight junction protein Zona Occludens-1 (ZO-1) using immunofluorescence. Toxicity was assessed using a Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Data was analysed using ANOVA, followed by Tukey HSD post hoc test. Hypertonic solution and budesonide significantly increased TEER values in CRS derived HNECs. In contrast, FESS Sinu-Cleanse Hypertonic significantly reduced TEER 5 minutes after application of the solution followed by an increase in paracellular permeability of FITC-Dextrans (30 minutes) and increased LDH levels 6 hours after application of the solution. Our findings confirm that isotonic and hypertonic saline solutions do not compromise epithelial barrier function in vitro but underscore the importance of examining safety and efficacy of over-the-counter wash solutions.

9 CFR 50.6 - Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... destroyed because of tuberculosis. 50.6 Section 50.6 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.6 Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis. (a) Livestock to be destroyed because of tuberculosis must be identified...

9 CFR 50.6 - Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... destroyed because of tuberculosis. 50.6 Section 50.6 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.6 Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis. (a) Livestock to be destroyed because of tuberculosis must be identified...

9 CFR 50.6 - Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... destroyed because of tuberculosis. 50.6 Section 50.6 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.6 Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis. (a) Livestock to be destroyed because of tuberculosis must be identified...

9 CFR 50.6 - Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... destroyed because of tuberculosis. 50.6 Section 50.6 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.6 Identification of animals to be destroyed because of tuberculosis. (a) Livestock to be destroyed because of tuberculosis must be identified...

FY13 Progress Report on the Phase I Mini-SHINE Water Irradiations and Micro-SHINE Irradiations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Youker, Amanda J.; Krebs, John F.; Kalensky, Michael

2014-02-19

The original goal of the micro-SHINE experiments was to confirm that precipitation of uranyl peroxide can be prevented by adding a catalyst such as FeSO 4 to destroy peroxide. After successfully demonstrating that FeSO 4 is an effective catalyst for peroxide destruction, subsequent micro-SHINE solutions were used as tracers to perform a Mo-separation and recovery column experiment, a sulfate-to-nitrate conversion, and iodine speciation experiments.

The Need for the United States Army to Possess a Landing Craft with Maneuver Capabilities

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-12

Personnel, Facilities and Policy FAA Functional Area Analysis FNA Functional Needs Analysis FSA Functional Solution Analysis HADR Humanitarian ...increase the options available to the JTFC.7 Within the last 25 years, the LCM-8 and other landing craft have been used numerous times for Humanitarian ...and coastal islands after the bridges were destroyed.8 The World Food Program (WFP) and other humanitarian aid providers perfected the use of military

The crisis in american archeology.

PubMed

Davis, H A

1972-01-21

The current crisis in American archeology has been brought about by a combination of the greatly increased rate of destruction of unique, irreplaceable archeological information and material, and the lack of adequate funding for salvage of what is being destroyed. Since World War II, land alteration has increased almost geometrically. Land leveling, urban development, inexperienced or ignorant diggers, commercial dealers in Indian relics-these and many other agents of destruction are obliterating traces of the past. Anything that disturbs the ground where people once lived destroys forever whatever information is left about them and their way of life. Interpretations of man's cultural development through time, of his ability to cope with and use the environment wisely, and of a long, fascinating, and irreplaceable heritage are only possible if the evidence left in the ground is undisturbed and is properly recorded when it is excavated. The problem of the destruction of archeological sites and information is a complex one, with no single solution. A combination of increased support for archeological research through increased funding, and development of a knowledgeable, interested public will go a long way toward assuring this country that a significant portion of the past will be available for the benefit of future generations. If solutions are not sought and found now, it will be too late-we will have committed ourselves, irretrievably and irreversibly, to the future, without benefit or knowledge of the mistakes and the lessons of the past.

Comparative Analysis: Potential Barriers to Career Participation by North American Physicians in Global Health

PubMed Central

Rhee, Daniel S.; Heckman, Jennifer E.

2014-01-01

Physician interest in global health, particularly among family physicians, is reflected by an increasing proliferation of field training and service experiences. However, translating initial training involvement into a defined and sustainable global health career remains difficult and beset by numerous barriers. Existing global health literature has largely examined training experiences and related ethical considerations while neglecting the role of career development in global health. To explore this, this paper extrapolates potential barriers to global health career involvement from existing literature and compares these to salary and skills requirements for archetypal physician positions in global health, presenting a framework of possible barriers to sustained physician participation in global health work. Notable barriers identified include financial limitations, scheduling conflicts, security/family concerns, skills limitations, limited awareness of opportunities, and specialty choice, with family practice often closely aligned with global health experience. Proposed solutions include financial support, protected time, family relocation support, and additional training. This framework delineates barriers to career involvement in global health by physicians. Further research regarding these barriers as well as potential solutions may help direct policy and initiatives to better utilize physicians, particularly family physicians, as a valuable global health human resource. PMID:25405030

Global positioning method based on polarized light compass system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jun; Yang, Jiangtao; Wang, Yubo; Tang, Jun; Shen, Chong

2018-05-01

This paper presents a global positioning method based on a polarized light compass system. A main limitation of polarization positioning is the environment such as weak and locally destroyed polarization environments, and the solution to the positioning problem is given in this paper which is polarization image de-noising and segmentation. Therefore, the pulse coupled neural network is employed for enhancing positioning performance. The prominent advantages of the present positioning technique are as follows: (i) compared to the existing position method based on polarized light, better sun tracking accuracy can be achieved and (ii) the robustness and accuracy of positioning under weak and locally destroyed polarization environments, such as cloudy or building shielding, are improved significantly. Finally, some field experiments are given to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed global positioning technique. The experiments have shown that our proposed method outperforms the conventional polarization positioning method, the real time longitude and latitude with accuracy up to 0.0461° and 0.0911°, respectively.

Observational signatures of self-destructive civilizations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevens, Adam; Forgan, Duncan; James, Jack O'malley

2016-10-01

We address the possibility that intelligent civilizations that destroy themselves could present signatures observable by humanity. Placing limits on the number of self-destroyed civilizations in the Milky Way has strong implications for the final three terms in Drake's Equation, and would allow us to identify which classes of solution to Fermi's Paradox fit with the evidence (or lack thereof). Using the Earth as an example, we consider a variety of scenarios in which humans could extinguish their own technological civilization. Each scenario presents some form of observable signature that could be probed by astronomical campaigns to detect and characterize extrasolar planetary systems. Some observables are unlikely to be detected at interstellar distances, but some scenarios are likely to produce significant changes in atmospheric composition that could be detected serendipitously with next-generation telescopes. In some cases, the timing of the observation would prove crucial to detection, as the decay of signatures is rapid compared with humanity's communication lifetime. In others, the signatures persist on far longer timescales.

A reaction-diffusion model of the Darien Gap Sterile Insect Release Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alford, John G.

2015-05-01

The Sterile Insect Release Method (SIRM) is used as a biological control for invasive insect species. SIRM involves introducing large quantities of sterilized male insects into a wild population of invading insects. A fertile/sterile mating produces offspring that are not viable and the wild insect population will eventually be eradicated. A U.S. government program maintains a permanent sterile fly barrier zone in the Darien Gap between Panama and Columbia to control the screwworm fly (Cochliomyia Hominivorax), an insect that feeds off of living tissue in mammals and has devastating effects on livestock. This barrier zone is maintained by regular releases of massive quantities of sterilized male screwworm flies from aircraft. We analyze a reaction-diffusion model of the Darien Gap barrier zone. Simulations of the model equations yield two types of spatially inhomogeneous steady-state solutions representing a sterile fly barrier that does not prevent invasion and a barrier that does prevent invasion. We investigate steady-state solutions using both phase plane methods and monotone iteration methods and describe how barrier width and the sterile fly release rate affects steady-state behavior.

Three-cable median barrier final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-07-01

Oregon public interest peaked regarding crossover highway safety following three fatalities from a crossover accident in August of 1996. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) conducted a review of possible barrier solutions for the interstat...

The "real world" barriers and solutions to Candida vaccine patent prosecutions: an analysis of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office actions on related applications.

PubMed

Wang, Shyh-Jen

2012-10-01

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) adopts recent patent courts' opinions (such as KSR In re Fisher and Ariad v. Lilly) in patent examinations, which would certainly create barriers to biotech patent prosecution. To identify the barriers to Candida vaccine patent prosecution, we analyzed 99 US-granted patents from January 2001 to May 2012 related to Candida vaccines. The rejections were based on factors that included obviousness, novelty, indefiniteness, double patenting, enablement, written description and utility. Based on this investigation, we find that some of these rejections were actually avoidable, and then further provide workable solutions to avoid some of the barriers, especially those related to patentability. These principles recited in this study should also be applicable to other fields of vaccines and immunotherapeutics.

Enhanced Conformational Sampling of N-Glycans in Solution with Replica State Exchange Metadynamics.

PubMed

Galvelis, Raimondas; Re, Suyong; Sugita, Yuji

2017-05-09

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of a N-glycan in solution is challenging because of high-energy barriers of the glycosidic linkages, functional group rotational barriers, and numerous intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In this study, we apply different enhanced conformational sampling approaches, namely, metadynamics (MTD), the replica-exchange MD (REMD), and the recently proposed replica state exchange MTD (RSE-MTD), to a N-glycan in solution and compare the conformational sampling efficiencies of the approaches. MTD helps to cross the high-energy barrier along the ω angle by utilizing a bias potential, but it cannot enhance sampling of the other degrees of freedom. REMD ensures moderate-energy barrier crossings by exchanging temperatures between replicas, while it hardly crosses the barriers along ω. In contrast, RSE-MTD succeeds to cross the high-energy barrier along ω as well as to enhance sampling of the other degrees of freedom. We tested two RSE-MTD schemes: in one scheme, 64 replicas were simulated with the bias potential along ω at different temperatures, while simulations of four replicas were performed with the bias potentials for different CVs at 300 K. In both schemes, one unbiased replica at 300 K was included to compute conformational properties of the glycan. The conformational sampling of the former is better than the other enhanced sampling methods, while the latter shows reasonable performance without spending large computational resources. The latter scheme is likely to be useful when a N-glycan-attached protein is simulated.

Improving occupational physicians' adherence to a practice guideline: feasibility and impact of a tailored implementation strategy.

PubMed

Joosen, Margot C W; van Beurden, Karlijn M; Terluin, Berend; van Weeghel, Jaap; Brouwers, Evelien P M; van der Klink, Jac J L

2015-04-24

Although practice guidelines are important tools to improve quality of care, implementation remains challenging. To improve adherence to an evidence-based guideline for the management of mental health problems, we developed a tailored implementation strategy targeting barriers perceived by occupational physicians (OPs). Feasibility and impact on OPs' barriers were evaluated. OPs received 8 training-sessions in small peer-learning groups, aimed at discussing the content of the guideline and their perceived barriers to adhere to guideline recommendations; finding solutions to overcome these barriers; and implementing solutions in practice. The training had a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) structure and was guided by a trainer. Protocol compliance and OPs' experiences were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. Using a questionnaire, impact on knowledge, attitude, and external barriers to guideline adherence was investigated before and after the training. The training protocol was successfully conducted; guideline recommendations and related barriers were discussed with peers, (innovative) solutions were found and implemented in practice. The participating 32 OPs were divided into 6 groups and all OPs attended 8 sessions. Of the OPs, 90% agreed that the peer-learning groups and the meetings spread over one year were highly effective training components. Significant improvements (p < .05) were found in knowledge, self-efficacy, motivation to use the guideline and its applicability to individual patients. After the training, OPs did not perceive any barriers related to knowledge and self-efficacy. Perceived adherence increased from 48.8% to 96.8% (p < .01). The results imply that an implementation strategy focusing on perceived barriers and tailor-made implementation interventions is a feasible method to enhance guideline adherence. Moreover, the strategy contributed to OPs' knowledge, attitudes, and skills in using the guideline. As a generic approach to overcome barriers perceived in specific situations, this strategy provides a useful method to guideline implementation for other health care professionals too.

Trench Safety–Using a Qualitative Approach to Understand Barriers and Develop Strategies to Improve Trenching Practices

PubMed Central

FLYNN, MICHAEL A.; SAMPSON, JULIE M.

2015-01-01

Despite efforts to ensure workplace safety and health, injuries and fatalities related to trenching and excavation remain alarmingly high in the construction industry. Because properly installed trenching protective systems can potentially reduce the significant number of trenching fatalities, there is clearly a need to identify the barriers to the use of these systems and to develop strategies to ensure these systems are utilized consistently. The current study reports on the results of focus groups with construction workers and safety management personnel to better understand these barriers and to identify solutions. The results suggest several factors, from poor planning to pressures from experienced workers and supervisors, which present barriers to safe trenching practices. Based on the results, it is recommended that safety trainings incorporate unique messages for new workers, experienced workers and management in an effort to motivate each group to work safely as well as provide them with solutions to overcome the identified barriers. PMID:26550006

Reactivity of clay minerals with acids and alkalies

USGS Publications Warehouse

Carroll, Dorothy; Starkey, Harry C.

1971-01-01

One-g samples of a montmorillonite, a metabentonite, an illite, two kaolinites, and three halloysites were treated with 50 ml of hydrochloric acid (6⋅45 N, 1:1), acetic acid (4⋅5 N, 1:3), sodium hydroxide (2⋅8 N), sodium chloride solution (pH 6⋅10; Na = 35‰; Cl = 21⋅5‰), and natural sea water (pH 7⋅85; Na = 35⋅5‰; Cl = 21⋅ 5‰) for a 10-day period in stoppered plastic vials. The supernatant solutions were removed from the clay minerals and analyzed for SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, MgO, Na2O, and K2O. All the solutions removed some SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 from the samples, but the quantities were small. Sodium hydroxide attacked the kaolin group minerals more strongly than it did montmorillonite, metabentonite, or illite. Halloysite was more strongly attacked by hydrochloric acid than was any of the other experimental minerals. Hydrochloric acid removed iron oxide coatings from soil clay minerals, but acetic acid did not remove them completely. The samples most strongly attacked by HCl and NaOH were examined by X-ray diffraction. Acid treatment did not destroy the structure of the clays, but the halloysite structure was partially destroyed. Sodium hydroxide attacked the halloysite structure, as shown by chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. These experiments show that treatment in dilute acids has no harmful effect in the preparation of clays for X-ray diffraction. Acetic acid is preferred to hydrochloric acid for this purpose. Hydrochloric acid cleans clay minerals by removing free iron oxide from the surface; acetic acid is less effective.

Infrastructure design integration to optimize structures and minimize groundwater impacts. Case of a bottom slab and groundwater by-pass integration in La Sagrera railway station, Spain.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serrano Juan, Alejandro; Vázquez-Suñè, Enric; Pujades, Estanislao; Velasco, Violeta; Criollo, Rotman; Jurado, Anna

2016-04-01

Underground constructions search the most efficient solutions to increase safety, reduce impacts in both underground construction (such as bottom slab water pressures) and groundwater (such as groundwater barrier effect), reduce future maintenance processes and ensure that everything is implemented by the minimum cost. Even being all the previous solutions directly related to groundwater, independent solutions are usually designed to independently deal with each problem. This paper shows how with a groundwater by-pass design that enables the groundwater flow through the structure it is possible to provide an homogeneous distribution of the water pressures under the bottom slab and reduce the barrier effect produced by the structure. The new integrated design has been applied to the largest infrastructure of Barcelona: La Sagrera railway station. Through a hydrogeological model has been possible to test the project and the integrated designs in three different scenarios. This new solution resolves the barrier effect produced by the structure and optimizes the bottom slab, reducing considerably the costs and increasing safety during the construction phase.

Overcoming Barriers to Shared Decision Making

MedlinePlus

... a social worker can help. Barrier: Language differences Solution: More than 13 million people in the U.S. age 5 and older speak little or no English, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Some hospitals ...

Total Quality Management (TQM): Group Dynamics Workshop

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-05-15

interactions with other OSD decision-making bodies. " Remove barriers /facilitate implementation. " Direct action on unresolved process problems referred...TQM leadership. - Total Quality Management FUNCTIONS: * Translate goals to tangible internal initiatives. " Remove barriers . " Establish and...Quality Management FUNCTIONS: • Identify and remove barriers . " Develop practical process improvements. " Install solutions and measurement systems for

Evaluating the Social Validity of Project "TEAM": A Problem-Solving Intervention to Teach Transition Age Youth with Developmental Disabilities to Resolve Environmental Barriers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kramer, Jessica M.; Hwang, I-Ting; Helfrich, Christine A.; Samuel, Preethy S.; Carrellas, Ann

2018-01-01

Project "TEAM" teaches transition-age youth with developmental disabilities (DD) to identify physical and social environmental barriers and supports, generate solutions to barriers, and request modifications to increase participation. Establishing the social validity of this environment focused intervention with youth and their parents…

9 CFR 51.28 - Moving goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.28 Moving goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed. Goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed because of brucellosis must be...

9 CFR 51.28 - Moving goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.28 Moving goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed. Goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed because of brucellosis must be...

9 CFR 51.28 - Moving goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.28 Moving goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed. Goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed because of brucellosis must be...

Barriers and Solutions to Fieldwork Education in Hand Therapy.

PubMed

Short, Nathan; Sample, Shelby; Murphy, Malachi; Austin, Brittany; Glass, Jillian

2017-08-09

Survey. Fieldwork education is a vital component of training the next generation of CHTs. Barriers and solutions to fieldwork rotations in hand therapy are examined, as well as proposed solutions, including recommendations for student preparation. This descriptive study examined barriers for certified hand therapist clinicians to accept students for clinical rotations and clinicians' preferences for student preparation before a rotation in a hand setting. A survey was developed, peer reviewed, and distributed using the electronic mailing list of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission via SurveyMonkey. Aggregate responses were analyzed to identify trends including barriers to student clinical rotations and recommendations for students to prepare for hand rotations. A total of 2080 participants responded to the survey, representing a 37% response rate. Common logistical barriers were identified for accepting students such as limited clinical time and space. Many clinicians (32% agree and 8% strongly agree) also felt that the students lack the clinical knowledge to be successful. Areas of knowledge, skill set, and experience were surveyed for development before a clinical rotation in a hand setting. Most respondents (74%) reported increased likelihood of accepting a student with the recommended preparation. Novel qualitative responses to improve clinical experiences are presented as well. Student preparation before a clinical rotation in a hand setting appears to be a significant barrier based on the survey results. Areas of recommended knowledge, skill set, and experience may serve to guide both formal and informal methods of student preparation before a hand-specific clinical rotation to facilitate knowledge translation from experienced certified hand therapists to the next generation. Although logistical barriers may be difficult to overcome, hand-specific preparation based on clinician' recommendations may facilitate student acceptance and success in hand specialty clinical rotations. N/A. Copyright © 2017 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Global Account of Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity Among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Adeniyi, Ade F; Anjana, Ranjit M; Weber, Mary B

2016-01-01

With diabetes rates escalating globally, there is the need for a better integration of all aspects of diabetes care for improved population outcomes. An understanding, not only of regional but global literature on physical activity barriers and its facilitators is important if healthcare providers and policy makers are to create programs tailored to their populations. Herein, we report the results of a narrative review of the global barriers and facilitators of physical activity for patients with diabetes mellitus. An in-depth literature search was conducted to identify English-language studies that examined physical activity barriers and associated facilitators among patients with diabetes mellitus. Major electronic literature databases that were searched included Google Scholar, PubMed, Hub-Med, and Highwire. Studies were available from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and, predominantly North America. A total of 34 predominantly internal barriers emerged globally. The most commonly reported were time constrains, fear of provoking additional disorders, exercise venue and weather related barriers. Facilitators of physical activity were reported for most of the internal barriers (e.g. time constraints, lack of knowledge etc) while the external barriers (e.g. weather, environmental pollution etc) received only a minimal attention. Globally, patients with diabetes are confronted with an enormous number of physical activity barriers. Unlike the robust solutions proffered for the internal barriers, the literature is largely silent about solutions to the external barriers, which though fewer, may be highly influential. Additional data is needed to better understand physical activity behaviors in populations outside of North America.

Determination of soluble bromine in an extra-high-pressure mercury discharge lamp by sodium hydroxide decomposition-suppressed ion chromatography.

PubMed

Mitsumata, Hiroshi; Mori, Toshio; Maeda, Tatsuo; Kita, Yoshiyuki; Kohatsu, Osamu

2006-02-01

We have established a simple method for assaying the quantity of soluble bromine in the discharge tubes of an extra-high-pressure mercury discharge lamp. Each discharge tube is destroyed in 5 ml of 10 mM sodium hydroxide, and the recovered sodium hydroxide solution is analyzed by suppressed-ion chromatography using gradient elution. We have clarified that this method can assay less than 1 microg of soluble bromine in a discharge tube.

Method of digesting an explosive nitro compound

DOEpatents

Shah, Manish M.

2000-01-01

The present invention is a process wherein bleaching oxidants are used to digest explosive nitro compounds. The process has an excellent reaction rate for digesting explosives and operates under multivariate conditions. Reaction solutions may be aqueous, non-aqueous or a combination thereof, and can also be any pH, but preferably have a pH between 2 and 9. The temperature may be ambient as well as any temperature above which freezing of the solution would occur and below which any degradation of the bleaching oxidant would occur or below which any explosive reaction would be initiated. The pressure may be any pressure, but is preferably ambient or atmospheric, or a pressure above a vapor pressure of the aqueous solution to avoid boiling of the solution. Because the bleaching oxidant molecules are small, much smaller than an enzyme molecule for example, they can penetrate the microstructure of plastic explosives faster. The bleaching oxidants generate reactive hydroxyl radicals, which can destroy other organic contaminants, if necessary, along with digesting the explosive nitro compound.

Manipulation of oligonucleotides immobilized on solid supports - DNA computations on surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Qinghua

The manipulation of DNA oligonucleotides immobilized on various solid supports has been studied intensively, especially in the area of surface hybridization. Recently, surface-based biotechnology has been applied to the area of molecular computing. These surface-based methods have advantages with regard to ease of handling, facile purification, and less interference when compared to solution methodologies. This dissertation describes the investigation of molecular approaches to DNA computing. The feasibility of encoding a bit (0 or 1) of information for DNA-based computations at the single nucleotide level was studied, particularly with regard to the efficiency and specificity of hybridization discrimination. Both gold and glass surfaces, with addressed arrays of 32 oligonucleotides, were employed with similar hybridization results. Although single-base discrimination may be achieved in the system, it is at the cost of a severe decrease in the efficiency of hybridization to perfectly matched sequences. This compromises the utility of single nucleotide encoding for DNA computing applications in the absence of some additional mechanism for increasing specificity. Several methods are suggested including a multiple-base encoding strategy. The multiple-base encoding strategy was employed to develop a prototype DNA computer. The approach was demonstrated by solving a small example of the Satisfiability (SAT) problem, an NP-complete problem in Boolean logic. 16 distinct DNA oligonucleotides, encoding all candidate solutions to the 4-variable-4-clause-3-SAT problem, were immobilized on a gold surface in the non-addressed format. Four cycles of MARK (hybridization), DESTROY (enzymatic destruction) and UNMARK (denaturation) were performed, which identified and eliminated members of the set which were not solutions to the problem. Determination of the answer was accomplished in the READOUT (sequence identification) operation by PCR amplification of the remaining molecules and hybridization to an addressed array. Four answers were determined and the S/N ratio between correct and incorrect solutions ranged from 10 to 777, making discrimination between correct and incorrect solutions to the problem straightforward. Additionally, studies of enzymatic manipulations of DNA molecules on surfaces suggested the use of E. coli Exonuclease I (Exo I) and perhaps EarI in the DESTROY operation.

Barrier Busting: Leapfrogging Zombie Science Arguments to Get to Solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hassol, S. J.

2015-12-01

Climate literacy certainly requires a basic understanding of the causes and impacts of climate change, and this has motivated our community to focus on ever better ways to communicate this knowledge. This has been very worthwhile. But continuing to dwell on refuting climate myths that seem impossible to put to rest has often kept us mired in the framing of those who reject the science and seek to stall action. Moving past misconceptions and barriers may require added emphasis on responses to climate change. Research focused on the American public has revealed a broader acceptance of the reality of climate change than many people think. In particular, there is broad support for solutions, such as clean energy, even among those who say they do not accept that human activity is the primary driver of climate change. This presents an opportunity to open a side door to understanding that avoids unproductive confrontation with ideological barriers. Research is also revealing effective models for behavioral change that tap into social norms. Leapfrogging basic science arguments and going straight to solutions that most agree on can help us clear some of the barriers to understanding and the hurdles to action.

Enhancing DNA electro-transformation efficiency on a clinical Staphylococcus capitis isolate.

PubMed

Cui, Bintao; Smooker, Peter M; Rouch, Duncan A; Deighton, Margaret A

2015-02-01

Clinical staphylococcus isolates possess a stronger restriction-modification (RM) barrier than laboratory strains. Clinical isolates are therefore more resistant to acceptance of foreign genetic material than laboratory strains, as their restriction systems more readily recognize and destroy foreign DNA. This stronger barrier consequently restricts genetic studies to a small number of domestic strains that are capable of accepting foreign DNA. In this study, an isolate of Staphylococcus capitis, obtained from the blood of a very low birth-weight baby, was transformed with a shuttle vector, pBT2. Optimal conditions for electro-transformation were as follows: cells were harvested at mid-log phase, electro-competent cells were prepared; cells were pre-treated at 55°C for 1min; 3μg of plasmid DNA was mixed with 70-80μL of competent cells (3-4×10(10)cells/mL) at 20°C in 0.5M sucrose, 10% glycerol; and electroporation was conducted using 2.1kV/cm field strength with a 0.1cm gap. Compared to the conventional method, which involves DNA electroporation of Staphylococcus aureus RN4220 as an intermediate strain to overcome the restriction barrier, our proposed approach exhibits a higher level (3 log10 units) of transformation efficiency. Heat treatment was used to temporarily inactivate the recipient RM barrier. Other important parameters contributing to improved electro-transformation efficiency were growth stage for cell harvesting, the quantity of DNA, the transformation temperature and field strength. The approach described here may facilitate genetic manipulations of this opportunistic pathogen. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dehydration process in NaCl solutions under various external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kadota, Kazunori; Shimosaka, Atsuko; Shirakawa, Yoshiyuki; Hidaka, Jusuke

2007-06-01

Ionic motions at solid-liquid interface in supersaturated NaCl solutions have been investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for understanding crystal growth processes. The density profile in the vicinity of the interfaces between NaCl(100) and the supersaturated NaCl solution was calculated. Diffusion coefficients of water molecules in the solution were estimated as a function of distance from the crystal interface. It turned out that the structure and dynamics of the solution in the interfaces was different from those of bulk solution owing to electric fields depending on the surface charge. Therefore, the electric field was applied to the supersaturated solutions and dehydration phenomenon occurring in the process of the crystal growth was discussed. As the electric field increased, it was observed that the Na+ keeping strongly hydration structure broke out by the electric force. In supersaturated concentration, the solution structure is significantly different from that of dilution and has a complicated structure with hydration ions and clusters of NaCl. If the electric fields were applied to the solutions, the breakout of hydration structure was not affected with increasing the supersaturated ratio. This reason is that the cluster structures are destroyed by the electric force. The situation depends on the electric field or crystal surface structure.

Barriers and solutions to online learning in medical education - an integrative review.

PubMed

O'Doherty, Diane; Dromey, Marie; Lougheed, Justan; Hannigan, Ailish; Last, Jason; McGrath, Deirdre

2018-06-07

The aim of this study is to review the literature on known barriers and solutions that face educators when developing and implementing online learning programs for medical students and postgraduate trainees. An integrative review was conducted over a three-month period by an inter-institutional research team. The search included ScienceDirect, Scopus, BioMedical, PubMed, Medline (EBSCO & Ovid), ERIC, LISA, EBSCO, Google Scholar, ProQuest A&I, ProQuest UK & Ireland, UL Institutional Repository (IR), UCDIR and the All Aboard Report. Search terms included online learning, medical educators, development, barriers, solutions and digital literacy. The search was carried out by two reviewers. Titles and abstracts were screened independently and reviewed with inclusion/exclusion criteria. A consensus was drawn on which articles were included. Data appraisal was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Research Checklist and NHMRC Appraisal Evidence Matrix. Data extraction was completed using the Cochrane Data Extraction Form and a modified extraction tool. Of the 3101 abstracts identified from the search, ten full-text papers met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction was completed on seven papers of high methodological quality and on three lower quality papers. Findings suggest that the key barriers which affect the development and implementation of online learning in medical education include time constraints, poor technical skills, inadequate infrastructure, absence of institutional strategies and support and negative attitudes of all involved. Solutions to these include improved educator skills, incentives and reward for the time involved with development and delivery of online content, improved institutional strategies and support and positive attitude amongst all those involved in the development and delivery of online content. This review has identified barriers and solutions amongst medical educators to the implementation of online learning in medical education. Results can be used to inform institutional and educator practice in the development of further online learning.

"Closing the Loop": Overcoming barriers to locally sourcing food in Fort Collins, Colorado

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

DeMets, C. M.

2012-12-01

Environmental sustainability has become a focal point for many communities in recent years, and restaurants are seeking creative ways to become more sustainable. As many chefs realize, sourcing food locally is an important step towards sustainability and towards building a healthy, resilient community. Review of literature on sustainability in restaurants and the local food movement revealed that chefs face many barriers to sourcing their food locally, but that there are also many solutions for overcoming these barriers that chefs are in the early stages of exploring. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify barriers to local sourcing and investigate how some restaurants are working to overcome those barriers in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado. To do this, interviews were conducted with four subjects who guide purchasing decisions for restaurants in Fort Collins. Two of these restaurants have created successful solutions and are able to source most of their food locally. The other two are interested in and working towards sourcing locally but have not yet been able to overcome barriers, and therefore only source a few local items. Findings show that there are four barriers and nine solutions commonly identified by each of the subjects. The research found differences between those who source most of their food locally and those who have not made as much progress in local sourcing. Based on these results, two solution flowcharts were created, one for primary barriers and one for secondary barriers, for restaurants to assess where they are in the local food chain and how they can more successfully source food locally. As there are few explicit connections between this research question and climate change, it is important to consider the implicit connections that motivate and justify this research. The question of whether or not greenhouse gas emissions are lower for locally sourced food is a topic of much debate, and while there are major developments for quantitatively determining a generalized answer, it is "currently impossible to state categorically whether or not local food systems emit fewer greenhouse gases than non-local food systems" (Edwards-Jones et al, 2008). Even so, numerous researchers have shown that "83 percent of emissions occur before food even leaves the farm gate" (Weber and Matthews, Garnett, cited in DeWeerdt, 2011); while this doesn't provide any information in terms of local vs. non-local, it is significant when viewed in light of the fact that local farmers tend to have much greater transparency and accountability in their agricultural practices. In other words, "a farmer who sells in the local food economy might be more likely to adopt or continue sustainable practices in order to meet…customer demand" (DeWeerdt, 2011), among other reasons such as environmental concern and desire to support the local economy (DeWeerdt, 2009). In identifying solutions to barriers to locally sourcing food, this research will enable restaurants to overcome these barriers and source their food locally, thereby supporting farmers and their ability to maintain sustainable practices.

Apparatus for the plasma destruction of hazardous gases

DOEpatents

Kang, M.

1995-02-07

A plasma cell for destroying hazardous gases is described. An electric-discharge cell having an electrically conducting electrode onto which an alternating high-voltage waveform is impressed and a dielectric barrier adjacent thereto, together forming a high-voltage electrode, generates self-terminating discharges throughout a volume formed between this electrode and a grounded conducting liquid electrode. The gas to be transformed is passed through this volume. The liquid may be flowed, generating thereby a renewable surface. Moreover, since hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids may be formed from destruction of various chlorofluorocarbons in the presence of water, a conducting liquid may be selected which will neutralize these corrosive compounds. The gases exiting the discharge region may be further scrubbed if additional purification is required. 4 figs.

Apparatus for the plasma destruction of hazardous gases

DOEpatents

Kang, Michael

1995-01-01

A plasma cell for destroying hazardous gases. An electric-discharge cell having an electrically conducting electrode onto which an alternating high-voltage waveform is impressed and a dielectric barrier adjacent thereto, together forming a high-voltage electrode, generates self-terminating discharges throughout a volume formed between this electrode and a grounded conducting liquid electrode. The gas to be transformed is passed through this volume. The liquid may be flowed, generating thereby a renewable surface. Moreover, since hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids may be formed from destruction of various chlorofluorocarbons in the presence of water, a conducting liquid may be selected which will neutralize these corrosive compounds. The gases exiting the discharge region may be further scrubbed if additional purification is required.

Social Justice Is in the Air: Teaching Climate Change and Air Pollution with Scientific and Social Inquiry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahnenberger, M.

2014-12-01

The intersection of environmental with social problems is a growing area of concern for scientists, policy makers, and citizens. Climate change and air pollution are two current environmental issues holding the public's attention which require collaboration of all stakeholders to create meaningful solutions. General education science courses are critical venues to engage students in the intersection of science with society. Effective teaching methods for these intersections include case studies, gallery walks, and town hall meetings. A case study from California explores how air quality has greatly improved in Los Angeles in the past 20 years, however residents of neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status are still exposed to high levels of air pollutants. Students analyze scientific and health data to develop understanding and expertise in the problem, and are then tasked with developing a cost-benefit analysis of solutions. Gallery walks can be used to connect natural phenomena, such as hurricanes and severe weather, with their human impacts. Students bring their personal experiences with disasters and recovery to analyze how societies should deal with the changing climate and weather risks in their region, the country, or across the world. Town hall meetings allow students to gain expertise and perspective while embodying a role as a particular stakeholder in a climate mitigation or adaptation issue. A successful application of this method is a discussion of whether a resort community should be rebuilt on a barrier island after being destroyed in a category 3 hurricane. Stakeholders which students take on as roles have included climate scientists, homeowners, emergency managers, meteorologists, and others. Including distinct connections to social issues in introductory science courses helps students to not only engage with the material in a deeper way, but also helps to create critical thinkers who will become better citizens for tomorrow.

Some Surprises and Paradoxes Revealed by Inverse Problem Approach and Notion about Qualitative Solutions of SCHRÖDINGER Equations “IN MIND”

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakhariev, B. N.; Chabanov, V. M.

It was an important examination to give a review talk at the previous Conference on Inverse Quantum Scattering (1996, Lake Balaton) about computer visualization of this science in front of its fathers — creators, B. M. Levitan and V. A. Marchenko. We have achieved a new understanding that the discovered main rules of transformations of a single wave function bump, e.g., for the ground bound states of one dimensional quantum systems are applicable to any state of any potential with arbitrary number of bumps from finite to unlimited ones as scattering states and bound states embedded into continuum. It appeared that we need only to repeat the rule mentally the necessary number of times. That uttermost simplification and unification of physical notion of spectral, scattering and decay control for any potential have got an obligatory praise from B. M. Levitan at the conference and was a mighty stimulus for our further research After that we have written both Russian (2002) and improved English editions of “Submissive Quantum Mechanics. New Status of the Theory in Inverse Problem Approach”1 (appeared at the very end of 2007). This book was written for correction of the present defect in quantum education throughout the world. Recently the quantum IP intuition helped us to discover a new concept of permanent wave resonance with potential spatial oscillations.2 This means the constant wave swinging frequency on the whole energy intervals of spectral forbidden zones destroying physical solutions and deepening the theory of waves in periodic potentials. It also shows the other side of strengthening the fundamentally important magic structures. A ‘new language’ of wave bending will be presented to enrich our quantum intuition, e.g., the paradoxical effective attraction of barriers and repulsion of wells in multichannel systems, etc.

Integrated approach to modeling long-term durability of concrete engineered barriers in LLRW disposal facility

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, J.H.; Roy, D.M.; Mann, B.

1995-12-31

This paper describes an integrated approach to developing a predictive computer model for long-term performance of concrete engineered barriers utilized in LLRW and ILRW disposal facilities. The model development concept consists of three major modeling schemes: hydration modeling of the binder phase, pore solution speciation, and transport modeling in the concrete barrier and service environment. Although still in its inception, the model development approach demonstrated that the chemical and physical properties of complex cementitious materials and their interactions with service environments can be described quantitatively. Applying the integrated model development approach to modeling alkali (Na and K) leaching from amore » concrete pad barrier in an above-grade tumulus disposal unit, it is predicted that, in a near-surface land disposal facility where water infiltration through the facility is normally minimal, the alkalis control the pore solution pH of the concrete barriers for much longer than most previous concrete barrier degradation studies assumed. The results also imply that a highly alkaline condition created by the alkali leaching will result in alteration of the soil mineralogy in the vicinity of the disposal facility.« less

A qualitative case study to identify possible barriers that limit effective elementary science education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foster, Donald Carey

The purpose of this case study was to identify barriers that limit the effectiveness of elementary teachers in the teaching of science. It is of the utmost urgency that barriers be first identified, so that possible solutions can be explored to bring about the improvement of elementary science education. This urgency has been imposed by the scheduled national testing of students in science by 2007, as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Using qualitative case study methods, the researcher conducted interviews with 8 elementary teachers from two schools within one school district who taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. These interviews were designed to gain insight into barriers these elementary teachers perceived as factors limiting their effectiveness in teaching science and preparing students for high-stakes testing. Barriers in the areas of teacher background, typical teaching day, curriculum, inservices, and legislative influences were explored. This study concluded that the barriers explored do have a substantial negative affect on the teaching and learning of science in the elementary grades. Specifically, the barriers revealed in this study include the limited science background of elementary teachers, inadequate class time devoted to science, non-comprehensive curriculum, ineffective or lack of inservice training, and pressures from legislated mandates. But it is also clear that these barriers are so intertwined that one cannot remove these barriers one at a time. It will take a collective effort from all involved, including legislators, administrators, teachers, parents, and students, to alleviate these barriers and discover effective solutions to improve elementary science education.

Visualizing Molecular Diffusion through Passive Permeability Barriers in Cells: Conventional and Novel Approaches

PubMed Central

Lin, Yu-Chun; Phua, Siew Cheng; Lin, Benjamin; Inoue, Takanari

2013-01-01

Diffusion barriers are universal solutions for cells to achieve distinct organizations, compositions, and activities within a limited space. The influence of diffusion barriers on the spatiotemporal dynamics of signaling molecules often determines cellular physiology and functions. Over the years, the passive permeability barriers in various subcellular locales have been characterized using elaborate analytical techniques. In this review, we will summarize the current state of knowledge on the various passive permeability barriers present in mammalian cells. We will conclude with a description of several conventional techniques and one new approach based on chemically-inducible diffusion trap (C-IDT) for probing permeable barriers. PMID:23731778

PROCESS OF ELECTROPLATING METALS WITH ALUMINUM

DOEpatents

Schickner, W.C.

1960-04-26

A process of electroplating aluminum on metals from a nonaqueous bath and a novel method of pretreating or conditioning the metal prior to electrodeposition of the aluminum are given. The process of this invention, as applied by way of example to the plating of uranium, comprises the steps of plating the uranium with the barrier inetal, immersing the barrier-coated uranium in fatty acid, and electrolyzing a water-free diethyl ether solution of aluminum chloride and lithium hydride while making the uranium the cathode until an aluminum deposit of the desired thickness has been formed. According to another preferred embodiment the barrier-coated uranium is immersed in an isopropyl alcohol solution of sterato chromic chloride prior to the fatty acid treatment of this invention.

Confronting Barriers, Creating Solutions: Parental Leave for Junior Colleagues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helfand, David J.

2013-01-01

Barriers to instituting parental leave policies for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows are present at the departmental, university/institute, and federal levels. Within departments, collegial persuasion involving both those affected and senior leadership can be successful in overcoming sociological resistance, although financial constraints may be harder to surmount. Universities are constrained by internal policies and the structure of their fringe benefits pools which are in turn limited by reimbursement rates that must be negotiated with their federal oversight agencies. Federal effort-reporting rules also complicate the situation. I will describe the type of creative solutions that can work at the departmental level, as well as discussing the actions the Society is pursuing in an attempt to lower the external barriers to local action.

Noble magnetic barriers in the ASDEX UG tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ali, Halima; Punjabi, Alkesh; Vazquez, Justin

2010-02-01

The second-order perturbation method of creating invariant tori inside chaos in Hamiltonian systems (Ali, H.; Punjabi, A. Plasma Phys. Contr. F. 2007, 49, 1565-1582) is applied to the axially symmetric divertor experiment upgrade (ASDEX UG) tokamak to build noble irrational magnetic barriers inside chaos created by resonant magnetic perturbations (m, n)=(3, 2)+(4, 3), with m and n the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers of the Fourier expansion of the magnetic perturbation. The radial dependence of the Fourier modes is ignored. The modes are considered to be locked and have the same amplitude δ. A symplectic mathematical mapping in magnetic coordinates is used to integrate magnetic field line trajectories in the ASDEX UG. Tori with noble irrational rotational transform are the last ones to be destroyed by perturbation in Hamiltonian systems. For this reason, noble irrational magnetic barriers are built inside chaos, and the strongest noble irrational barrier is identified. Three candidate locations for the strongest noble barrier in ASDEX UG are selected. All three candidate locations are chosen to be roughly midway between the resonant rational surfaces ψ32 and ψ43. ψ is the magnetic coordinate of the flux surface. The three candidate surfaces are the noble irrational surfaces close to the surface with q value that is a mediant of q=3/2 and 4/3, q value of the physical midpoint of the two resonant surfaces, and the q value of the surface where the islands of the two perturbing modes just overlap. These q values of the candidate surfaces are denoted by q MED, q MID, and q OVERLAP. The strongest noble barrier close to q MED has the continued fraction representation (CFR) [1;2,2,1∞] and exists for δ≤2.6599×10-4; the strongest noble barrier close to q MID has CFR [1;2,2,2,1∞] and exists for δ≤4.6311×10-4; and the strongest noble barrier close to q OVERLAP has CFR [1;2,2,6,2,1∞] and exists for δ≤1.367770×10-4. From these results, the strongest noble barrier is found to be close to the surface that is located physically exactly in the middle of the two resonant surfaces.

Vision, Education and Experimentation: Marine Corps Organizational Behavior and Innovation during the Interwar Period

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-13

Hepburn Attack Force, commanded by Rear Admiral A. W. Johnson. The Navy force included the New York, Arkansas, Wyoming, Atares , Destroyer Squadron...force included the New York, Arkansas, Wyoming, Atares , Destroyer Squadron Ten (8 destroyers), Cruiser Division Eight, Destroyer Division Four, five

Older Adults' Uptake and Adherence to Exercise Classes: Instructors' Perspectives.

PubMed

Hawley-Hague, Helen; Horne, Maria; Skelton, Dawn A; Todd, Chris

2016-01-01

Exercise classes provide a range of benefits for older adults, but adherence levels are poor. We know little of instructors' experiences of delivering exercise classes to older adults. Semistructured interviews, informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), were conducted with instructors (n = 19) delivering multicomponent exercise classes to establish their perspectives on older adults' uptake and adherence to exercise classes. Analysis revealed 'barriers' to uptake related to identity, choice/control, cost, and venue, and 'solutions' included providing choice/control, relating exercise to identity, a personal touch, and social support. Barriers to adherence included unrealistic expectations and social influences, and solutions identified were encouraging commitment, creating social cohesion, and an emphasis on achieving outcomes. Older adults' attitudes were an underlying theme, which related to all barriers and solutions. The instructor plays an important, but not isolated, role in older adults' uptake and adherence to classes. Instructors' perspectives help us to further understand how we can design successful exercise classes.

Impermeable flexible liquid barrier film for encapsulation of DSSC metal electrodes

PubMed Central

Yang, Junghee; Min, Misook; Yoon, Yeoheung; Kim, Won Jung; Kim, Sol; Lee, Hyoyoung

2016-01-01

Encapsulation of electronic devices such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is prone to degradation under normal atmospheric conditions, even with hermetic barriers on the metal electrodes. Overcoming this problem is crucial to increasing DSSC lifetimes and making them commercially viable. Herein, we report a new impermeable flexible liquid barrier film using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and partially reduced graphene oxide (PrGO), which dramatically enhances the lifetime of Ag metal electrodes (typically used in DSSCs) immersed in a highly acidic iodolyte solution. The Ag metal electrode encapsulated by the PVA/PrGO film survived for over 500 hrs, superior to existing barriers of glass frits, epoxy resins and polymers. The PVA/PrGO film strongly adheres to the Ag metal surface, and the resulting PVA/PrGO/Ag electrode is stable even on a curved substrate, with a sheet resistance nearly independent of curvature. These results give new insight for the design of high-performance and solution-processable flexible liquid barrier films for a wide range of applications, in particular for the encapsulation of electronic devices with liquid electrolytes. PMID:27263654

Barriers to global health development: An international quantitative survey.

PubMed

Weiss, Bahr; Pollack, Amie Alley

2017-01-01

Global health's goal of reducing low-and-middle-income country versus high-income country health disparities faces complex challenges. Although there have been discussions of barriers, there has not been a broad-based, quantitative survey of such barriers. 432 global health professionals were invited via email to participate in an online survey, with 268 (62%) participating. The survey assessed participants' (A) demographic and global health background, (B) perceptions regarding 66 barriers' seriousness, (C) detailed ratings of barriers designated most serious, (D) potential solutions. Thirty-four (of 66) barriers were seen as moderately or more serious, highlighting the widespread, significant challenges global health development faces. Perceived barrier seriousness differed significantly across domains: Resource Limitations mean = 2.47 (0-4 Likert scale), Priority Selection mean = 2.20, Corruption, Lack of Competence mean = 1.87, Social and Cultural Barriers mean = 1.68. Some system-level predictors showed significant but relatively limited relations. For instance, for Global Health Domain, HIV and Mental Health had higher levels of perceived Social and Cultural Barriers than other GH Domains. Individual-level global health experience predictors had small but significant effects, with seriousness of (a) Corruption, Lack of Competence, and (b) Priority Selection barriers positively correlated with respondents' level of LMIC-oriented (e.g., weeks/year spent in LMIC) but Academic Global Health Achievement (e.g., number of global health publications) negatively correlated with overall barrier seriousness. That comparatively few system-level predictors (e.g., Organization Type) were significant suggests these barriers may be relatively fundamental at the system-level. Individual-level and system-level effects do have policy implications; e.g., Priority Selection barriers were among the most serious, yet effects on seriousness of how LMIC-oriented a professional was versus level of academic global health achievement ran in opposite directions, suggesting increased discussion of priorities between LMIC-based and other professionals may be useful. It is hoped the 22 suggested solutions will provide useful ideas for addressing global health barriers.

Design, installation, and performance of a multi-layered permeable reactive barrier, Los Alamos National Laboratory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaszuba, J. P.; Longmire, P. A.; Strietelmeier, E. A.

2004-01-01

A multi-layered permeable reactive barrier (PRB) has been installed in Mortandad Canyon, on the Pajarito Plateau in the north-central part of LANL, to demonstrate in-situ treatment of a suite of contaminants with dissimilar geochemical properties. The PRB will also mitigate possible vulnerabilities from downgradient contaminant movement within alluvial and deeper perched groundwater. Mortandad Canyon was selected as the location for this demonstration project because the flow of alluvial groundwater is constrained by the geology of the canyon, a large network of monitoring wells already were installed along the canyon reach, and the hydrochemistry and contaminant history of the canyon ismore » well-documented. The PRB uses a funnel-and-gate system with a series of four reactive media cells to immobilize or destroy contaminants present in alluvial groundwater, including strontium-90, plutonium-238,239,240, americium-241, perchlorate, and nitrate. The four cells, ordered by sequence of contact with the groundwater, consist of gravel-sized scoria (for colloid removal); phosphate rock containing apatite (for metals and radionuclides); pecan shells and cotton seed admixed with gravel (bio-barrier, to deplete dissolved oxygen and destroy potential RCRA organic compounds, nitrate and perchlorate); and limestone (pH buffering and anion adsorption). Design elements of the PRB are based on laboratory-scale treatability studies and on a field investigation of hydrologic, geochemical, and geotechnical parameters. The PRB was designed with the following criteria: 1-day residence time within the biobarrier, 10-year lifetime, minimization of surface water infiltration and erosion, optimization of hydraulic capture, and minimization of excavated material requiring disposal. Each layer has been equipped with monitoring wells or ports to allow sampling of groundwater and reactive media, and monitor wells are located immediately adjacent to the up- and down-gradient perimeter of the engineered structure. Groundwater sampling upgradient, within, and downgradient of the PRB took place from May through August 2003. Concentrations of strontium-90 have diminished by 80% and 40% within the central portion of the phosphate rock (apatite) and bio-barrier cells, respectively. Higher concentrations of this radionuclide occur in groundwater near the north and south perimeters of the two cells. The non-uniform distribution of strontium-90 may result from varying residence time and saturated thickness of pore water. Initial concentrations of nitrate (8-12 parts per million or ppm as nitrate) and perchlorate (0.035 ppm) have been reduced in the phosphate rock and bio-barrier cells to concentrations that are less than method detection limits (0.01 and 0.002 ppm, respectively). Initial microbial analyses suggest the presence of both dissimilatory perchlorate- and nitrate-reducing bacterial populations, along with production of acetate and propionate, and decreasing dissolved oxygen and pH. The dominant group of perchlorate reducers consists of members of the previously described Dechloromonas genus, in the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria, which together with the Dechlorosoma genus are considered to be the dominant genera in circum-neutral mesophilic environments. Groundwater flow through the multiple PRB is taking place at a very slow rate based on similar concentrations of nitrate, perchlorate, chlorate, and chlorite in the upgradient well MCO-4B and downgradient well MCO-5. Concentrations of these constituents also increase within the limestone cell. Decreased precipitation due to extreme drought is probably responsible for decreasing saturated thickness within both the alluvium and PRB, resulting in stagnant conditions. Varying distributions of ammonium, nitrate, sulfate, iron, and manganese within the phosphate rock, bio-barrier, and limestone cells also support this hypothesis.« less

Method for the recovery of actinide elements from nuclear reactor waste

DOEpatents

Horwitz, E. Philip; Delphin, Walter H.; Mason, George W.

1979-01-01

A process for partitioning and recovering actinide values from acidic waste solutions resulting from reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels by adding hydroxylammonium nitrate and hydrazine to the waste solution to adjust the valence of the neptunium and plutonium values in the solution to the +4 oxidation state, thus forming a feed solution and contacting the feed solution with an extractant of dihexoxyethyl phosphoric acid in an organic diluent whereby the actinide values, most of the rare earth values and some fission product values are taken up by the extractant. Separation is achieved by contacting the loaded extractant with two aqueous strip solutions, a nitric acid solution to selectively strip the americium, curium and rare earth values and an oxalate solution of tetramethylammonium hydrogen oxalate and oxalic acid or trimethylammonium hydrogen oxalate to selectively strip the neptunium, plutonium and fission product values. Uranium values remain in the extractant and may be recovered with a phosphoric acid strip. The neptunium and plutonium values are recovered from the oxalate by adding sufficient nitric acid to destroy the complexing ability of the oxalate, forming a second feed, and contacting the second feed with a second extractant of tricaprylmethylammonium nitrate in an inert diluent whereby the neptunium and plutonium values are selectively extracted. The values are recovered from the extractant with formic acid.

Factors influencing the adoption of self-management solutions: an interpretive synthesis of the literature on stakeholder experiences.

PubMed

Harvey, J; Dopson, S; McManus, R J; Powell, J

2015-11-13

In a research context, self-management solutions, which may range from simple book diaries to complex telehealth packages, designed to facilitate patients in managing their long-term conditions, have often shown cost-effectiveness, but their implementation in practice has frequently been challenging. We conducted an interpretive qualitative synthesis of relevant articles identified through systematic searches of bibliographic databases in July 2014. We searched PubMed (Medline/NLM), Web of Science, LISTA (EBSCO), CINAHL, Embase and PsycINFO. Coding and analysis was inductive, using the framework method to code and to categorise themes. We took a sensemaking approach to the interpretation of findings. Fifty-eight articles were selected for synthesis. Results showed that during adoption, factors identified as facilitators by some were experienced as barriers by others, and facilitators could change to barriers for the same adopter, depending on how adopters rationalise the solutions within their context when making decisions about (retaining) adoption. Sometimes, when adopters saw and experienced benefits of a solution, they continued using the solution but changed their minds when they could no longer see the benefits. Thus, adopters placed a positive value on the solution if they could constructively rationalise it (which increased adoption) and attached a negative rationale (decreasing adoption) if the solution did not meet their expectations. Key factors that influenced the way adopters rationalised the solutions consisted of costs and the added value of the solution to them and moral, social, motivational and cultural factors. Considering 'barriers' and 'facilitators' for implementation may be too simplistic. Implementers could instead iteratively re-evaluate how potential facilitators and barriers are being experienced by adopters throughout the implementation process, to help adopters to retain constructive evaluations of the solution. Implementers need to pay attention to factors including (a) cost: how much resource will the intervention cost the patient or professional; (b) moral: to what extent will people adhere because they want to be 'good' patients and professionals; (c) social: the expectations of patients and professionals regarding the interactive support they will receive; (d) motivational: motivations to engage with the intervention and (e) cultural: how patients and professionals learn and integrate new skills into their daily routines, practices and cultures.

Reducing Transaction Costs for Energy Efficiency Investments and Analysis of Economic Risk Associated With Building Performance Uncertainties: Small Buildings and Small Portfolios Program

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Langner, R.; Hendron, B.; Bonnema, E.

2014-08-01

The small buildings and small portfolios (SBSP) sector face a number of barriers that inhibit SBSP owners from adopting energy efficiency solutions. This pilot project focused on overcoming two of the largest barriers to financing energy efficiency in small buildings: disproportionately high transaction costs and unknown or unacceptable risk. Solutions to these barriers can often be at odds, because inexpensive turnkey solutions are often not sufficiently tailored to the unique circumstances of each building, reducing confidence that the expected energy savings will be achieved. To address these barriers, NREL worked with two innovative, forward-thinking lead partners, Michigan Saves and Energi,more » to develop technical solutions that provide a quick and easy process to encourage energy efficiency investments while managing risk. The pilot project was broken into two stages: the first stage focused on reducing transaction costs, and the second stage focused on reducing performance risk. In the first stage, NREL worked with the non-profit organization, Michigan Saves, to analyze the effects of 8 energy efficiency measures (EEMs) on 81 different baseline small office building models in Holland, Michigan (climate zone 5A). The results of this analysis (totaling over 30,000 cases) are summarized in a simple spreadsheet tool that enables users to easily sort through the results and find appropriate small office EEM packages that meet a particular energy savings threshold and are likely to be cost-effective.« less

Perceived Online Education Barriers of Administrators and Faculty at a U.S. University in Lebanon

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El Turk, Sahar; Cherney, Isabelle D.

2016-01-01

The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify the perceived barriers obstructing the implementation of online education by administrators and faculty at the School of Arts and Sciences of a U.S. university located in Lebanon. The aim of this study was to offer a solution to the most important perceived barriers to online education that…

Increasing the Rate of Living Donor Kidney Transplantation in Ontario: Donor- and Recipient-Identified Barriers and Solutions

PubMed Central

Getchell, Leah E.; McKenzie, Susan Q.; Sontrop, Jessica M.; Hayward, Jade S.; McCallum, Megan K.; Garg, Amit X.

2017-01-01

Purpose of Review: To hear from living kidney donors and recipients about what they perceive are the barriers to living donor kidney transplantation, and how patients can develop and lead innovative solutions to increase the rate and enhance the experiences of living donor kidney transplantation in Ontario. Sources of Information: A one-day patient-led workshop on March 10th, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario. Methods: Participants who were previously engaged in priority-setting exercises were invited to the meeting by patient lead, Sue McKenzie. This included primarily past kidney donors, kidney transplant recipients, as well as researchers, and representatives from renal and transplant health care organizations across Ontario. Key Findings: Four main barriers were identified: lack of education for patients and families, lack of public awareness about living donor kidney transplantation, financial costs incurred by donors, and health care system-level inefficiencies. Several novel solutions were proposed, including the development of a peer network to support and educate patients and families with kidney failure to pursue living donor kidney transplantation; consistent reimbursement policies to cover donors’ out-of-pocket expenses; and partnering with the paramedical and insurance industry to improve the efficiency of the donor and recipient evaluation process. Limitations: While there was a diversity of experience in the room from both donors and recipients, it does not provide a complete picture of the living kidney donation process for all Ontario donors and recipients. The discussion was provincially focused, and as such, some of the solutions suggested may already be in practice or unfeasible in other provinces. Implications: The creation of a patient-led provincial council was suggested as an important next step to advance the development and implementation of solutions to overcome patient-identified barriers to living donor kidney transplantation. PMID:28491334

36 CFR 223.12 - Permission to cut, damage, or destroy trees without advertisement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... destroy trees without advertisement. 223.12 Section 223.12 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST... § 223.12 Permission to cut, damage, or destroy trees without advertisement. Permission may be granted to cut, damage, or destroy trees, portions of trees, or other forest products on National Forest System...

Barriers to Leisure-Time Physical Activities in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

PubMed

Hwang, Eric J; Groves, Mary D; Sanchez, Jacqueline N; Hudson, Cassandra E; Jao, Rachel G; Kroll, Meghan E

2016-07-01

This study investigated the personal, environmental, and activity barriers to leisure-time physical activities (LTPAs) among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). A survey instrument was administered to 85 participants with SCI. Personal barriers to LTPAs included issues involving motivation, pain, scheduling, and financial resources. Environmental barriers marked the issues regarding availability and accessibility to specialized programs, activities, and professional services. Activity barriers included limitations in equipment, training, and personal skills required by the selected activities. Significant negative correlations were found between these barriers and the levels of physical activity and satisfaction with physical activity. While working with clients with SCI, occupational therapists should identify those LTPA barriers and possible solutions in order to establish individualized action plans for enhancing participation in LTPAs.

Vision-based calibration of parallax barrier displays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranieri, Nicola; Gross, Markus

2014-03-01

Static and dynamic parallax barrier displays became very popular over the past years. Especially for single viewer applications like tablets, phones and other hand-held devices, parallax barriers provide a convenient solution to render stereoscopic content. In our work we present a computer vision based calibration approach to relate image layer and barrier layer of parallax barrier displays with unknown display geometry for static or dynamic viewer positions using homographies. We provide the math and methods to compose the required homographies on the fly and present a way to compute the barrier without the need of any iteration. Our GPU implementation is stable and general and can be used to reduce latency and increase refresh rate of existing and upcoming barrier methods.

Barriers to global health development: An international quantitative survey

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Background Global health’s goal of reducing low-and-middle-income country versus high-income country health disparities faces complex challenges. Although there have been discussions of barriers, there has not been a broad-based, quantitative survey of such barriers. Methods 432 global health professionals were invited via email to participate in an online survey, with 268 (62%) participating. The survey assessed participants’ (A) demographic and global health background, (B) perceptions regarding 66 barriers’ seriousness, (C) detailed ratings of barriers designated most serious, (D) potential solutions. Results Thirty-four (of 66) barriers were seen as moderately or more serious, highlighting the widespread, significant challenges global health development faces. Perceived barrier seriousness differed significantly across domains: Resource Limitations mean = 2.47 (0–4 Likert scale), Priority Selection mean = 2.20, Corruption, Lack of Competence mean = 1.87, Social and Cultural Barriers mean = 1.68. Some system-level predictors showed significant but relatively limited relations. For instance, for Global Health Domain, HIV and Mental Health had higher levels of perceived Social and Cultural Barriers than other GH Domains. Individual–level global health experience predictors had small but significant effects, with seriousness of (a) Corruption, Lack of Competence, and (b) Priority Selection barriers positively correlated with respondents’ level of LMIC-oriented (e.g., weeks/year spent in LMIC) but Academic Global Health Achievement (e.g., number of global health publications) negatively correlated with overall barrier seriousness. Conclusions That comparatively few system-level predictors (e.g., Organization Type) were significant suggests these barriers may be relatively fundamental at the system-level. Individual-level and system-level effects do have policy implications; e.g., Priority Selection barriers were among the most serious, yet effects on seriousness of how LMIC-oriented a professional was versus level of academic global health achievement ran in opposite directions, suggesting increased discussion of priorities between LMIC-based and other professionals may be useful. It is hoped the 22 suggested solutions will provide useful ideas for addressing global health barriers. PMID:28972971

Yellow phosphorus process to convert toxic chemicals to non-toxic products

DOEpatents

Chang, S.G.

1994-07-26

The present invention relates to a process for generating reactive species for destroying toxic chemicals. This process first contacts air or oxygen with aqueous emulsions of molten yellow phosphorus. This contact results in rapid production of abundant reactive species such as O, O[sub 3], PO, PO[sub 2], etc. A gaseous or liquid aqueous solution organic or inorganic chemicals is next contacted by these reactive species to reduce the concentration of toxic chemical and result in a non-toxic product. The final oxidation product of yellow phosphorus is phosphoric acid of a quality which can be recovered for commercial use. A process is developed such that the byproduct, phosphoric acid, is obtained without contamination of toxic species in liquids treated. A gas stream containing ozone without contamination of phosphorus containing species is also obtained in a simple and cost-effective manner. This process is demonstrated to be effective for destroying many types of toxic organic, or inorganic, compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), aromatic chlorides, amines, alcohols, acids, nitro aromatics, aliphatic chlorides, polynuclear aromatic compounds (PAH), dyes, pesticides, sulfides, hydroxyamines, ureas, dithionates and the like. 20 figs.

Yellow phosphorus process to convert toxic chemicals to non-toxic products

DOEpatents

Chang, Shih-Ger

1994-01-01

The present invention relates to a process for generating reactive species for destroying toxic chemicals. This process first contacts air or oxygen with aqueous emulsions of molten yellow phosphorus. This contact results in rapid production of abundant reactive species such as O, O.sub.3, PO, PO.sub.2, etc. A gaseous or liquid aqueous solution organic or inorganic chemicals is next contacted by these reactive species to reduce the concentration of toxic chemical and result in a non-toxic product. The final oxidation product of yellow phosphorus is phosphoric acid of a quality which can be recovered for commercial use. A process is developed such that the byproduct, phosphoric acid, is obtained without contamination of toxic species in liquids treated. A gas stream containing ozone without contamination of phosphorus containing species is also obtained in a simple and cost-effective manner. This process is demonstrated to be effective for destroying many types of toxic organic, or inorganic, compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), aromatic chlorides, amines, alcohols, acids, nitro aromatics, aliphatic chlorides, polynuclear aromatic compounds (PAH), dyes, pesticides, sulfides, hydroxyamines, ureas, dithionates and the like.

Composite Transport Model and Water and Solute Transport across Plant Roots: An Update.

PubMed

Kim, Yangmin X; Ranathunge, Kosala; Lee, Seulbi; Lee, Yejin; Lee, Deogbae; Sung, Jwakyung

2018-01-01

The present review examines recent experimental findings in root transport phenomena in terms of the composite transport model (CTM). It has been a well-accepted conceptual model to explain the complex water and solute flows across the root that has been related to the composite anatomical structure. There are three parallel pathways involved in the transport of water and solutes in roots - apoplast, symplast, and transcellular paths. The role of aquaporins (AQPs), which facilitate water flows through the transcellular path, and root apoplast is examined in terms of the CTM. The contribution of the plasma membrane bound AQPs for the overall water transport in the whole plant level was varying depending on the plant species, age of roots with varying developmental stages of apoplastic barriers, and driving forces (hydrostatic vs. osmotic). Many studies have demonstrated that the apoplastic barriers, such as Casparian bands in the primary anticlinal walls and suberin lamellae in the secondary cell walls, in the endo- and exodermis are not perfect barriers and unable to completely block the transport of water and some solute transport into the stele. Recent research on water and solute transport of roots with and without exodermis triggered the importance of the extension of conventional CTM adding resistances that arrange in series (epidermis, exodermis, mid-cortex, endodermis, and pericycle). The extension of the model may answer current questions about the applicability of CTM for composite water and solute transport of roots that contain complex anatomical structures with heterogeneous cell layers.

Visualizing molecular diffusion through passive permeability barriers in cells: conventional and novel approaches.

PubMed

Lin, Yu-Chun; Phua, Siew Cheng; Lin, Benjamin; Inoue, Takanari

2013-08-01

Diffusion barriers are universal solutions for cells to achieve distinct organizations, compositions, and activities within a limited space. The influence of diffusion barriers on the spatiotemporal dynamics of signaling molecules often determines cellular physiology and functions. Over the years, the passive permeability barriers in various subcellular locales have been characterized using elaborate analytical techniques. In this review, we will summarize the current state of knowledge on the various passive permeability barriers present in mammalian cells. We will conclude with a description of several conventional techniques and one new approach based on chemically inducible diffusion trap (CIDT) for probing permeable barriers. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The composite water and solute transport of barley (Hordeum vulgare) roots: effect of suberized barriers

PubMed Central

Ranathunge, Kosala; Kim, Yangmin X.; Wassmann, Friedrich; Kreszies, Tino; Zeisler, Viktoria

2017-01-01

Abstract Background and Aims Roots have complex anatomical structures, and certain localized cell layers develop suberized apoplastic barriers. The size and tightness of these barriers depend on the growth conditions and on the age of the root. Such complex anatomical structures result in a composite water and solute transport in roots. Methods Development of apoplastic barriers along barley seminal roots was detected using various staining methods, and the suberin amounts in the apical and basal zones were analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectometry (GC-MS). The hydraulic conductivity of roots (Lpr) and of cortical cells (Lpc) was measured using root and cell pressure probes. Key Results When grown in hydroponics, barley roots did not form an exodermis, even at their basal zones. However, they developed an endodermis. Endodermal Casparian bands first appeared as ‘dots’ as early as at 20 mm from the apex, whereas a patchy suberin lamellae appeared at 60 mm. The endodermal suberin accounted for the total suberin of the roots. The absolute amount in the basal zone was significantly higher than in the apical zone, which was inversely proportional to the Lpr. Comparison of Lpr and Lpc suggested that cell to cell pathways dominate for water transport in roots. However, the calculation of Lpr from Lpc showed that at least 26 % of water transport occurs through the apoplast. Roots had different solute permeabilities (Psr) and reflection coefficients (σsr) for the solutes used. The σsr was below unity for the solutes, which have virtually zero permeability for semi-permeable membranes. Conclusions Suberized endodermis significantly reduces Lpr of seminal roots. The water and solute transport across barley roots is composite in nature and they do not behave like ideal osmometers. The composite transport model should be extended by adding components arranged in series (cortex, endodermis) in addition to the currently included components arranged in parallel (apoplastic, cell to cell pathways). PMID:28065927

[Barriers to Digitalisation of Healthcare in Germany: A Survey of Experts].

PubMed

Nohl-Deryk, Pascal; Brinkmann, Jesaja Kenneth; Gerlach, Ferdinand Michael; Schreyögg, Jonas; Achelrod, Dmitrij

2018-01-04

Digital health is a growing area in healthcare with a huge potential. Nevertheless, the degree of digitalization in German healthcare is low when compared internationally and with other German industries. Despite political efforts, certain barriers seem to strongly impede the process of digitalization process in healthcare. We surveyed 18 representative healthcare experts from various sectors with semi-structured interviews on barriers and solutions for digital health. Thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke was used for interpretation. The interviewees identified barriers that were stakeholder-specific and across stakeholders. Self-regulatory bodies and the medical profession were found to lack willingness and organizational structure for digitalization. Lack of evidence and missing interoperability represented primary obstacles, while current legislation and financial regulations were rarely mentioned. In particular, infrastructure expansion and interoperability would require a coordinated, state intervention. Positive communication on possibilities and benefits of digital solutions was also considered important. A strong political will, an overarching strategy accompanied by a communication concept seems to be necessary in order for digital health to succeed. Regarding legislation, binding specifications, deadlines and sanctions may be needed for self-regulatory bodies, while also involving users in the development process at an early stage and creating positive incentives for using digital solutions. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Determination of High-Speed Multiple Threat Using Kalman Filter Analysis of Maritime Movement

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

Ownship, in the blue circle, has destroyed a threat Figure 9. ship, as represented with the red line... destroyed and still arriving when the ship is destroyed ...defenses of a given target. These kinds of attacks are typically used against High Value Assets (HVA), destroyers or larger. While it would be easy

Development of low cost contacts to silicon solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tanner, D. P.; Iles, P. A.

1980-01-01

A copper based contact system using plated Pd-Cr-Cu was developed. Good cells were made but cells degraded under low temperature (300 C) heat treatments. The degradation was identified as copper migration into the cells junction region. A paper study was conducted to find a proper barrier to the copper migration problem. Nickel was identified as the best candidate barrier and this was verified in a heat treatment study using evaporated metal layers. An electroless nickel solution was substituted for the electroless chromium solution in the original process.

Soliton tunneling in the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with variable coefficients and an external harmonic potential.

PubMed

Zhong, Wei-Ping; Belić, Milivoj R

2010-05-01

We report on the nonlinear tunneling effects of spatial solitons of the generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation with distributed coefficients in an external harmonic potential. By using the homogeneous balance principle and the F-expansion technique we find the spatial bright and dark soliton solutions. We then display tunneling effects of such solutions occurring under special conditions; specifically when the spatial solitons pass unchanged through the potential barriers and wells affected by special choices of the diffraction and/or the nonlinearity coefficients. Our results show that the solitons display tunneling effects not only when passing through the nonlinear potential barriers or wells but also when passing through the diffractive barriers or wells. During tunneling the solitons may also undergo a controllable compression.

High value of ecological information for river connectivity restoration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sethi, Suresh; O'Hanley, Jesse R.; Gerken, Jonathon; Ashline, Joshua; Bradley, Catherine

2017-01-01

ContextEfficient restoration of longitudinal river connectivity relies on barrier mitigation prioritization tools that incorporate stream network spatial structure to maximize ecological benefits given limited resources. Typically, ecological benefits of barrier mitigation are measured using proxies such as the amount of accessible riverine habitat.ObjectivesWe developed an optimization approach for barrier mitigation planning which directly incorporates the ecology of managed taxa, and applied it to an urbanizing salmon-bearing watershed in Alaska.MethodsA novel river connectivity metric that exploits information on the distribution and movement of managed taxon was embedded into a barrier prioritization framework to identify optimal mitigation actions given limited restoration budgets. The value of ecological information on managed taxa was estimated by comparing costs to achieve restoration targets across alternative barrier prioritization approaches.ResultsBarrier mitigation solutions informed by life history information outperformed those using only river connectivity proxies, demonstrating high value of ecological information for watershed restoration. In our study area, information on salmon ecology was typically valued at 0.8–1.2 M USD in costs savings to achieve a given benefit level relative to solutions derived only from stream network information, equating to 16–28% of the restoration budget.ConclusionsInvesting in ecological studies may achieve win–win outcomes of improved understanding of aquatic ecology and greater watershed restoration efficiency.

Solving satisfiability problems using a novel microarray-based DNA computer.

PubMed

Lin, Che-Hsin; Cheng, Hsiao-Ping; Yang, Chang-Biau; Yang, Chia-Ning

2007-01-01

An algorithm based on a modified sticker model accompanied with an advanced MEMS-based microarray technology is demonstrated to solve SAT problem, which has long served as a benchmark in DNA computing. Unlike conventional DNA computing algorithms needing an initial data pool to cover correct and incorrect answers and further executing a series of separation procedures to destroy the unwanted ones, we built solutions in parts to satisfy one clause in one step, and eventually solve the entire Boolean formula through steps. No time-consuming sample preparation procedures and delicate sample applying equipment were required for the computing process. Moreover, experimental results show the bound DNA sequences can sustain the chemical solutions during computing processes such that the proposed method shall be useful in dealing with large-scale problems.

Geochemistry and cosmochemistry of fullerenes 3: Reaction of C60 and C70 with ozone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heymann, D.; Chibante, L. P. F.

1993-01-01

C60 and C70 dissolved in toluene were treated with O2 gas containing 2.6 volume percent ozone and with O3-free oxygen. No reaction products were detected for 0.1 mole of O2 passed through the solution, but destruction of C60 was clearly detectable for a dose of 10(exp -6) moles of O3. C70 was destroyed more slowly than C60. Among the substances remaining in solution, we identified C60O, C70O, C60O2, C60O3, and C60O4. C60 crystals exposed to O3 at room temperature became less soluble in toluene in a matter of days, but oxides were apparently not formed.

Remediation of groundwater contaminated with the lead-phenol binary system by granular dead anaerobic sludge-permeable reactive barrier.

PubMed

Faisal, Ayad A H; Abd Ali, Ziad T

2017-10-01

Computer solutions (COMSOL) Multiphysics 3.5a software was used for simulating the one-dimensional equilibrium transport of the lead-phenol binary system including the sorption process through saturated sandy soil as the aquifer and granular dead anaerobic sludge (GDAS) as the permeable reactive barrier. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis proved that the carboxylic and alcohol groups are responsible for the bio-sorption of lead onto GDAS, while phosphines, aromatic and alkane are the functional groups responsible for the bio-sorption of phenol. Batch tests have been performed to characterize the equilibrium sorption properties of the GDAS and sandy soil in lead and/or phenol containing aqueous solutions. Numerical and experimental results proved that the barrier plays a potential role in the restriction of the contaminant plume migration and there is a linear relationship between longevity and thickness of the barrier. A good agreement between these results was recognized with root mean squared error not exceeding 0.04.

Anti-microbial and skin wound dressing application of molecular iodine nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viswanathan, Kaliyaperumal; Bharathi Babu, Divya; Jayakumar, Gomathi; Dhinakar Raj, Gopal

2017-10-01

In this study, iodine nanoparticles were synthesized without use of any stabilizer by a new co-precipitation process using polyvinyl pyrolidone, calcium lactate, disodium hydrogen phosphate and iodine solution as precursor and the reaction was catalyzed by sodium hydroxide. Ten mg of the synthesized nanoparticles killed 95% of bacteria and inhibited 90% of bio film formation. Assays on membrane disintegration activities of the nanoparticles indicated that these nanoparticles destroyed the extracellular membrane of the bacteria. The wound healing application evaluated using mice model showed that it was hastened by iodine nanoparticles.

Hyperthermia in low aspect-ratio magnetic nanotubes for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutierrez-Guzman, D. F.; Lizardi, L. I.; Otálora, J. A.; Landeros, P.

2017-03-01

A simple model for the magnetization reversal process of low aspect-ratio ferromagnetic nanotubes (MNTs) is presented. Because of advantages over other geometries, these structures are interesting for biomedical applications, such as magnetic hyperthermia cancer therapy, where the heat released during magnetic reversal is used to destroy tumors. For example, the tubular geometry provides two independent functional surfaces that may be selectively manipulated and also gives a storage cavity. Owing to their large surface to weight ratio and low mass density, MNTs are not decanted by gravity. We calculated magnetic phase diagrams, energy barriers, nucleation fields, and the amount of dissipated heat and specific absorption rate for magnetite nanotubes. The geometrical parameters were varied, and simple formulae were used to optimize the tube response under alternating excitation, as required for magnetic hyperthermia applications.

Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Interactions of Indolicidin with Model Membranes and DNA.

PubMed

Fojan, Peter; Gurevich, Leonid

2017-01-01

The cell membrane is the first barrier and quite often the primary target that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have to destroy or penetrate to fulfill their mission. Upon penetrating through the membrane, the peptides can further attack intracellular targets, in particular DNA. Studying the interaction of an antimicrobial peptide with a cell membrane and DNA holds keys to understanding its killing mechanisms. Commonly, these interactions are studied by using optical or scanning electron microscopy and appropriately labeled peptides. However, labeling can significantly affect the hydrophobicity, conformation, and size of the peptide, hence altering the interaction significantly. Here, we describe the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for a label-free study of the interactions of peptides with model membranes under physiological conditions and DNA as a possible intracellular target.

Inclusive deaf studies: barriers and pathways.

PubMed

Fernandes, Jane K; Myers, Shirley Shultz

2010-01-01

Joining scholars signaling the need for new directions in Deaf Studies, the authors recommend a more expansive, nuanced, and interdisciplinary approach that encompasses the many ways deaf people live today. Rather than destroy Deaf culture, this approach is the only realistic way to allow it and Deaf Studies to survive. Deaf Studies today continues the focus of founding scholarship on native White American Sign Language users, now head of a powerful hierarchy through which they receive privileged status at the expense of deaf people with different language backgrounds and races or ethnicities. This marginalization is unsustainable and impedes knowledge. A companion article (this issue), "Deaf Studies: A Critique of the Predominant U.S. Theoretical Direction," analyzes this reactive stance that is oriented by a focus on audism built on the concepts of phonocentrism and colonialism.

Effect of low-temperature plasma on the degradation of omethoate residue and quality of apple and spinach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xingmin, SHI; Jinren, LIU; Guimin, XU; Yueming, WU; Lingge, GAO; Xiaoyan, LI; Yang, YANG; Guanjun, ZHANG

2018-04-01

Dielectric barrier corona discharge was developed to generate low-temperature plasma (LTP) to treat apple and spinach samples contaminated with omethoate. Experimental results showed that, after 20 min exposure, the degradation rate of omethoate residue in apple and spinach was (94.55 ± 0.01)% and (95.55 ± 0.01)%, respectively. When the treatment time was shorter than 20 min, the contents of moisture, vitamin C and beta-carotene were not affected by LTP. Exploration of related mechanisms suggested that LTP might destroy unsaturated double bonds of omethoate and produce phosphate ion, eventually leading to omethoate destruction. It is concluded that appropriate dosage of LTP can effectively degrade omethoate residue in fruits and vegetables without affecting their quality.

On the cause of the flat-spot phenomenon observed in silicon solar cells at low temperatures and low intensities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weizer, V. G.; Broder, J. D.; Brandhorst, H. W., Jr.; Forestieri, A. F.

1982-01-01

A model is presented that explains the "flat-spot" (FS) power loss phenomenon observed in silicon solar cells operating deep space (low temperature, low intensity) conditions. Evidence is presented suggesting that the effect is due to localized metallurgical interactions between the silicon substrate and the contact metallization. These reactions are shown to result in localized regions in which the PN junction is destroyed and replaced with a metal-semiconductor-like interface. The effects of thermal treatment, crystallographic orientation, junction depth, and metallurization are presented along with a method of preventing the effect through the suppression of vacancy formation at the free surface of the contact metallization. Preliminary data indicating the effectiveness of a TiN diffusion barrier in preventing the effect are also given.

Modeling Wave Overtopping on the Chandeleur Islands during Hurricane Katrina using XBeach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindemer, C. A.; Plant, N.; Puleo, J.; Thompson, D.

2008-12-01

Tropical cyclones that enter or form in the Gulf of Mexico generate storm surge and large waves that impact low-lying coastlines of along the Gulf Coast. Much of the Gulf Coast is ringed with barrier islands that provide inland marshes and the mainland some protection from storm events. The Chandeleur Islands, are located 161 km east of New Orleans, Louisiana and are oriented from north to south, and act to dissipate some of this energy. After a series of major storm events between 2001 and 2005, Hurricane Katrina's devastation in the fall of 2005 was particularly violent, destroying two-thirds of the area associated with the island chain. We would like to evaluate the predictability of hurricane-induced barrier island erosion and accretion. We test the ability of a time-dependent hydrodynamic and morphodynamic model, XBeach, to predict the impact of Hurricane Katrina on portions of Chandeleur Islands. Pre-storm LIDAR-derived bathymetry/topography and surge and wave data were used to drive a number of XBeach simulations. Model-predicted morphology was compared to post-storm LIDAR data. The accuracy of these predictions, including model sensitivity tests with varying grid size and temporal resolutions, are presented.

Anomalous Transport in High Beta Poloidal DIII-D Discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pankin, A.; Garofalo, A.; Kritz, A.; Rafiq, T.; Weiland, J.

2016-10-01

Dominant instabilities that drive anomalous transport in high beta poloidal DIII-D discharges are investigated using the MMM7.1, and TGLF models in the predictive integrated modeling TRANSP code. The ion thermal transport is found to be strongly reduced in these discharges, but turbulence driven by the ITG modes along with the neoclassical transport still play a role in determining the ion temperature profiles. The electron thermal transport driven by the ETG modes impact the electron temperature profiles. The E × B flow shear is found to have a small effect in reducing the electron thermal transport. The Shafranov shift is found to strongly reduce the anomalous transport in the high beta poloidal DIII-D discharges. The reduction of Shafranov shift can destroy the ion internal transport barrier and can result in significantly lower core temperatures. The MMM7.1 model predicts electron and ion temperature profiles reasonably well, but it fails to accurately predict the properties of electron internal transport barrier, which indicates that the ETG model in MMM7.1 needs to be improved in the high beta poloidal operational regime. Research supported by the Office of Science, US DOE.

Needs and barriers to improve the collaboration in oral anticoagulant therapy: a qualitative study

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) involves many health care disciplines. Even though collaboration between care professionals is assumed to improve the quality of OAT, very little research has been done into the practice of OAT management to arrange and manage the collaboration. This study aims to identify the problems in collaboration experienced by the care professionals involved, the solutions they proposed to improve collaboration, and the barriers they encountered to the implementation of these solutions. Methods In the Netherlands, intensive follow-up of OAT is provided by specialized anticoagulant clinics (ACs). Sixty-eight semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 103 professionals working at an AC. These semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed inductively. Wagner's chronic care model (CCM) and Cabana's framework for improvement were used to categorize the results. Results AC professionals experienced three main bottlenecks in collaboration: lack of knowledge (mostly of other professionals), lack of consensus on OAT, and limited information exchange between professionals. They mentioned several solutions to improve collaboration, especially solutions of CCM's decision support component (i.e. education, regular meetings, and agreements and protocols). Education is considered a prerequisite for the successful implementation of other proposed solutions such as developing a multidisciplinary protocol and changing the allocation of tasks. The potential of the health care organization to improve collaboration seemed to be underestimated by professionals. They experienced several barriers to the successful implementation of the proposed solutions. Most important barriers were the lack motivation of non-AC professionals and lack of time to establish collaboration. Conclusions This study revealed that the collaboration in OAT is limited by a lack of knowledge, a lack of consensus, and a limited information exchange. Education was identified as the best way to improve collaboration and considered a prerequisite for a successful implementation of other proposed solutions. Hence, the implementation sequence is of importance in order to improve the collaboration successfully. First step is to establish alignment regarding collaboration with all involved professionals to encounter the lack of motivation of non-AC professionals and lack of time. PMID:22192088

Physical activity problem-solving inventory for adolescents: Development and initial validation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Youth encounter physical activity barriers, often called problems. The purpose of problem-solving is to generate solutions to overcome the barriers. Enhancing problem-solving ability may enable youth to be more physically active. Therefore, a method for reliably assessing physical activity problem-s...

Exploring Communication Technology Behaviour of Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy in Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

rasid, Nadia natasha binte mohamed; Nonis, Karen P.

2015-01-01

Communication among adolescents with cerebral palsy can be restricted with traditional Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device coupled with environmental and social barriers. The advance of communication technology offer solutions to reduce such barriers. Given that there is limited research in communication behaviours of…

Hawaiian cultural influences on support for lava flow hazard mitigation measures during the January 1960 eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Kapoho, Hawai‘i

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregg, C. E.; Houghton, B. F.; Paton, D.; Swanson, D. A.; Lachman, R.; Bonk, W. J.

2008-05-01

In 1960, Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii erupted, destroying most of the village of Kapoho and forcing evacuation of its approximately 300 residents. A large and unprecedented social science survey was undertaken during the eruption to develop an understanding of human behavior, beliefs, and coping strategies among the adult evacuees ( n = 160). Identical studies were also performed in three control towns located at varying distances from the eruption site ( n = 478). During these studies data were collected that characterized ethnic grouping and attitudes toward Hawaiian cultural issues such as belief in Pele and two lava flow mitigation measures—use of barriers and bombs to influence the flow of lava, but the data were never published. Using these forgotten data, we examined the relationship between Hawaiian cultural issues and attitudes toward the use of barriers and bombs as mitigation strategies to protect Kapoho. On average, 72% of respondents favored the construction of earthen barriers to hold back or divert lava and protect Kapoho, but far fewer agreed with the military's use of bombs (14%) to protect Kapoho. In contrast, about one-third of respondents conditionally agreed with the use of bombs. It is suggested that local participation in the bombing strategy may explain the increased conditional acceptance of bombs as a mitigation tool, although this can not be conclusively demonstrated. Belief in Pele and being of Hawaiian ethnicity did not reduce support for the use of barriers, but did reduce support for bombs in both bombing scenarios. The disparity in levels of acceptance of barriers versus bombing and of one bombing strategy versus another suggests that historically public attitudes toward lava flow hazard mitigation strategies were complex. A modern comparative study is needed before the next damaging eruption to inform debates and decisions about whether or not to interfere with the flow of lava. Recent changes in the current eruption of Kīlauea make this a timely topic.

Incorporating ITS solutions into the metropolitan transportation planning process : overcoming institutional barriers

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-11-01

There are three conditions that help bring ITS solutions into the metropolitan transportation planning process: Condition 1: Endorsement of ITS by Elected Officials and Transportation Managers Condition 2: Improved Communication and Coordination Acro...

Disease management in Canada: surmounting barriers to adoption.

PubMed

Gallant, Christopher R; MacKinnon, Neil J; Sprague, Denise A

2007-01-01

Disease Management (DM) programs are used to optimize economic outcomes and improve patient outcomes. Despite this, relative to the United States, Canadian health care organizations have been slow to adopt them. The objective of this article is to examine the concept of DM programs, the existing evidence to support their use and the barriers to their adoption in Canada. Several solutions aimed at overcoming the barriers to DM in Canada are proposed.

Barriers and dispersal surfaces in minimum-time interception

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rajan, N.; Ardema, M. D.

1982-01-01

Minimum time interception of a target moving in a horizontal plane is analyzed as a one-player differential game. Dispersal points and points on the barrier are located for a class of pursuit evasion and interception problems. These points are determined by constructing cross sections of the isochrones and hence obtaining the barrier, dispersal, and control level surfaces. The game solution maps the controls as a function of the state within the capture region.

Effect of the interfacial tension and ionic strength on the thermodynamic barrier associated to the benzocaine insertion into a cell membrane.

PubMed

López Cascales, J J; Oliveira Costa, S D

2013-02-01

The insertion of local anaesthetics into a cell membrane is a key aspect for explaining their activity at a molecular level. It has been described how the potency and response time of local anaesthetics is improved (for clinical applications) when they are dissolved in a solution of sodium bicarbonate. With the aim of gaining insight into the physico-chemical principles that govern the action mechanism of these drugs at a molecular level, simulations of benzocaine in binary lipid bilayers formed by DPPC/DPPS were carried out for different ionic strengths of the aqueous solution. From these molecular dynamic simulations, we observed how the thermodynamic barrier associated with benzocaine insertion into the lipid bilayers diminished exponentially as the fraction of DPPS in the bilayer increased, especially when the ionic strength of the aqueous solution increased. In line with these results, we also observed how this thermodynamic barrier diminished exponentially with the phospholipid/water interfacial tension. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interaction between blood-brain barrier and glymphatic system in solute clearance.

PubMed

Verheggen, I C M; Van Boxtel, M P J; Verhey, F R J; Jansen, J F A; Backes, W H

2018-03-30

Neurovascular pathology concurs with protein accumulation, as the brain vasculature is important for waste clearance. Interstitial solutes, such as amyloid-β, were previously thought to be primarily cleared from the brain by blood-brain barrier transport. Recently, the glymphatic system was discovered, in which cerebrospinal fluid is exchanged with interstitial fluid, facilitated by the aquaporin-4 water channels on the astroglial endfeet. Glymphatic flow can clear solutes from the interstitial space. Blood-brain barrier transport and glymphatic clearance likely serve complementary roles with partially overlapping mechanisms providing a well-conditioned neuronal environment. Disruption of these mechanisms can lead to protein accumulation and may initiate neurodegenerative disorders, for instance amyloid-β accumulation and Alzheimer's disease. Although both mechanisms seem to have a similar purpose, their interaction has not been clearly discussed previously. This review focusses on this interaction in healthy and pathological conditions. Future health initiatives improving waste clearance might delay or even prevent onset of neurodegenerative disorders. Defining glymphatic flow kinetics using imaging may become an alternative way to identify those at risk of Alzheimer's disease. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Retrofitting: The Thermal Upgrading of Buildings.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maine Audubon Society, Falmouth.

This publication is a compilation of talks delivered during the spring of 1977 by Charles Wing. Contents of the booklet include retrofitting old houses, condensation and vapor barriers, solutions to the vapor barrier problem, and how much of which insulation to use. The publication includes charts, drawings, and equations to illustrate the topics…

Knocking Down Barriers: How California Superintendents Are Implementing Blended Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horn, Michael B.; Gu, Anna; Evans, Meg

2014-01-01

School districts across the United States are implementing blended learning to boost student achievement. The authors convened several California school district superintendents to answer the questions: "What are the barriers, real or perceived, to implementing blended learning in your district?" and "Have you found solutions to or…

Barriers vs Creativity in Translator Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yazici, Mine

2016-01-01

This paper discusses translation problems awaiting Turkish students as well as the creative solutions they develop in overcoming them. It consists of two parts; The first part studies the barriers concerning translation procedures from the perspective of translation theory and Turkish translation history; The second parts analyses the impact of…

Optimal cost for strengthening or destroying a given network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patron, Amikam; Cohen, Reuven; Li, Daqing; Havlin, Shlomo

2017-05-01

Strengthening or destroying a network is a very important issue in designing resilient networks or in planning attacks against networks, including planning strategies to immunize a network against diseases, viruses, etc. Here we develop a method for strengthening or destroying a random network with a minimum cost. We assume a correlation between the cost required to strengthen or destroy a node and the degree of the node. Accordingly, we define a cost function c (k ) , which is the cost of strengthening or destroying a node with degree k . Using the degrees k in a network and the cost function c (k ) , we develop a method for defining a list of priorities of degrees and for choosing the right group of degrees to be strengthened or destroyed that minimizes the total price of strengthening or destroying the entire network. We find that the list of priorities of degrees is universal and independent of the network's degree distribution, for all kinds of random networks. The list of priorities is the same for both strengthening a network and for destroying a network with minimum cost. However, in spite of this similarity, there is a difference between their pc, the critical fraction of nodes that has to be functional to guarantee the existence of a giant component in the network.

Optimal cost for strengthening or destroying a given network.

PubMed

Patron, Amikam; Cohen, Reuven; Li, Daqing; Havlin, Shlomo

2017-05-01

Strengthening or destroying a network is a very important issue in designing resilient networks or in planning attacks against networks, including planning strategies to immunize a network against diseases, viruses, etc. Here we develop a method for strengthening or destroying a random network with a minimum cost. We assume a correlation between the cost required to strengthen or destroy a node and the degree of the node. Accordingly, we define a cost function c(k), which is the cost of strengthening or destroying a node with degree k. Using the degrees k in a network and the cost function c(k), we develop a method for defining a list of priorities of degrees and for choosing the right group of degrees to be strengthened or destroyed that minimizes the total price of strengthening or destroying the entire network. We find that the list of priorities of degrees is universal and independent of the network's degree distribution, for all kinds of random networks. The list of priorities is the same for both strengthening a network and for destroying a network with minimum cost. However, in spite of this similarity, there is a difference between their p_{c}, the critical fraction of nodes that has to be functional to guarantee the existence of a giant component in the network.

[Experimental investigation of the straw pre-treatment to enhance its high solid anaerobic digestion].

PubMed

Jiang, Jian-Guo; Zhao, Zhen-Zhen; Du, Xue-Juan; Sui, Ji-Chao; Wu, Shi-Yao

2007-04-01

The straw contains a high content of lignin, which cannot be well utilized by anaerobic bacteria in high solid anaerobic digestion process. This paper presents the experimental investigation of the straw pre-treatment, which aims to destroy the complex structure of the lignin to enhance its high solid anaerobic digestion. The straw is pre-treated in different solutions including NaOH, ammonia, H2SO4, and carbamide. The pre-treating effects are expressed by COD concentration dissolved in the solutions and the 14-day biogas generation in the enhanced aerogenic experiment. Different affecting factors, such as the concentration of the chemical solution, the species of the straw, the pre-treatment reaction time, the reaction temperature and the size of the straw, are investigated. The results show that NaOH solution is the most effective pre-treatment chemical among the four different solutions. The experimental results still indicate that the accumulative biogas production can be 1 500 mL (10 g straw) in 14 days after pre-treatment in 4 mg/L NaOH solution and the dissolved COD in the solution reaches 39 000 mg/L after 24 hours. In addition, the experiment shows that the lignin content in the straw is reduced from 28% to 19% after pre-treatment in 1.5% (in weight) NaOH solution, and it can improve the straw treatment efficiency using high solid anaerobic digestion process.

Evidence-based surgery: barriers, solutions, and the role of evidence synthesis.

PubMed

Garas, George; Ibrahim, Amel; Ashrafian, Hutan; Ahmed, Kamran; Patel, Vanash; Okabayashi, Koji; Skapinakis, Petros; Darzi, Ara; Athanasiou, Thanos

2012-08-01

Surgery is a rapidly evolving field, making the rigorous testing of emerging innovations vital. However, most surgical research fails to employ randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and has particularly been based on low-quality study designs. Subsequently, the analysis of data through meta-analysis and evidence synthesis is particularly difficult. Through a systematic review of the literature, this article explores the barriers to achieving a strong evidence base in surgery and offers potential solutions to overcome the barriers. Many barriers exist to evidence-based surgical research. They include enabling factors, such as funding, time, infrastructure, patient preference, ethical issues, and additionally barriers associated with specific attributes related to researchers, methodologies, or interventions. Novel evidence synthesis techniques in surgery are discussed, including graphics synthesis, treatment networks, and network meta-analyses that help overcome many of the limitations associated with existing techniques. They offer the opportunity to assess gaps and quantitatively present inconsistencies within the existing evidence of RCTs. Poorly or inadequately performed RCTs and meta-analyses can give rise to incorrect results and thus fail to inform clinical practice or revise policy. The above barriers can be overcome by providing academic leadership and good organizational support to ensure that adequate personnel, resources, and funding are allocated to the researcher. Training in research methodology and data interpretation can ensure that trials are conducted correctly and evidence is adequately synthesized and disseminated. The ultimate goal of overcoming the barriers to evidence-based surgery includes the improved quality of patient care in addition to enhanced patient outcomes.

A new stylolite classification scheme to estimate compaction and local permeability variations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koehn, D.; Rood, M. P.; Beaudoin, N.; Chung, P.; Bons, P. D.; Gomez-Rivas, E.

2016-12-01

We modeled the geometrical roughening of bedding-parallel, mainly layer-dominated stylolites in order to understand their structural evolution, to present an advanced classification of stylolite shapes and to relate this classification to chemical compaction and permeability variations at stylolites. Stylolites are rough dissolution seams that develop in sedimentary basins during chemical compaction. In the Zechstein 2 carbonate units, an important lean gas reservoir in the southern Permian Zechstein basin in Germany, stylolites influence local fluid flow, mineral replacement reactions and hence the permeability of the reservoir. Our simulations demonstrate that layer-dominated stylolites can grow in three distinct stages: an initial slow nucleation phase, a fast layer-pinning phase and a final freezing phase if the layer is completely dissolved during growth. Dissolution of the pinning layer and thus destruction of the stylolite's compaction tracking capabilities is a function of the background noise in the rock and the dissolution rate of the layer itself. Low background noise needs a slower dissolving layer for pinning to be successful but produces flatter teeth than higher background noise. We present an advanced classification based on our simulations and separate stylolites into four classes: (1) rectangular layer type, (2) seismogram pinning type, (3) suture/sharp peak type and (4) simple wave-like type. Rectangular layer type stylolites are the most appropriate for chemical compaction estimates because they grow linearly and record most of the actual compaction (up to 40 mm in the Zechstein example). Seismogram pinning type stylolites also provide good tracking capabilities, with the largest teeth tracking most of the compaction. Suture/sharp peak type stylolites grow in a non-linear fashion and thus do not record most of the actual compaction. However, when a non-linear growth law is used, the compaction estimates are similar to those making use of the rectangular layer type stylolites. Simple wave-like stylolites are not useful for compaction estimates, since their growth is highly non-linear with a very low growth exponent. In the case where sealing material is collected at the tooth during dissolution, stylolites can act as barriers for local fluid flow as they intensify sealing capabilities of pinning layers. However, the development of teeth and spikes offsets and thus destroys continuous stylolite seams so that the permeability across the stylolite becomes very heterogeneous and they are no continuous barriers. This behavior is best shown in rectangular layer and seismogram pinning type stylolites that develop efficient fluid barriers at teeth tips but destroy sealing capabilities of layers by offsetting them at the flank, leading to a permeability anisotropy along 2-D stylolite planes. Suture/sharp peak stylolites can create fluid barriers if they collect enough sealing material. However, if the collecting material does not seal or if spikes offset the sealing material the stylolite leaks. We propose that our classification can be used to realistically estimate chemical compaction in reservoirs and gives an indication on how heterogeneous the permeability of stylolites can be.

Size exclusion chromatography for analyses of fibroin in silk: optimization of sampling and separation conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawcenis, Dominika; Koperska, Monika A.; Milczarek, Jakub M.; Łojewski, Tomasz; Łojewska, Joanna

2014-02-01

A direct goal of this paper was to improve the methods of sample preparation and separation for analyses of fibroin polypeptide with the use of size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The motivation for the study arises from our interest in natural polymers included in historic textile and paper artifacts, and is a logical response to the urgent need for developing rationale-based methods for materials conservation. The first step is to develop a reliable analytical tool which would give insight into fibroin structure and its changes caused by both natural and artificial ageing. To investigate the influence of preparation conditions, two sets of artificially aged samples were prepared (with and without NaCl in sample solution) and measured by the means of SEC with multi angle laser light scattering detector. It was shown that dialysis of fibroin dissolved in LiBr solution allows removal of the salt which destroys stacks chromatographic columns and prevents reproducible analyses. Salt rich (NaCl) water solutions of fibroin improved the quality of chromatograms.

Monitoring and Assessment of Hydrological and Ecological Changes in Lake Manyas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curebal, Isa; Efe, Recep; Soykan, Abdullah; Sonmez, Suleyman

2014-05-01

Manyas Lake in the northwest of Turkey occupies an area of 165 square kilometers. The surface area of the lake is continuously changing due to human activities, hydrologic and climatic conditions. The objective of this study is to examine the changes in water level and the area of lake and the effects of these changes on the lake's ecosystem and human economic activities. In order to determine the changes lake level measurement data, 1/25000 scale topography maps, rainfall and temperature data and bathymetry maps were used and elevation models were made. During the study period the water level fluctuated between 14.0 and 17.8 meters, and surface area changed between 124,8 km2 and 170,6 km2 respectively. Prior to the construction of a flood barrier at the southern end of the lake in 1992 the maximum surface area of the lake was calculated at 209 km2. Lake Manyas is an important wetland on the route of migration of birds from/to Europe and Africa. 64 ha of the lake and its surroundings along with the entire National Park is a Ramsar site. Irrigated and dry farming is practiced around the lake and fishing is important economic activity. The changes in the water level as result of natural and human factors brought about negative effects on the lake's ecosystem in last ten years. Result of these effects, natural fluctuation of the lake changed and the marshes around the lake destroyed and the bird population decreased. Lowering the water level in the lake is also significantly reduced the number of fish and number of migratory birds. The construction of the flood barrier destroyed vegetation and bird life in about a 25% of area of the lake on the south. The natural ecosystem in this area has been adversely affected. Moreover, when the water level is low due to low rain fall and irrigation, vegetation on the lake's shore line dies and some areas turn to swamp. The fauna and flora are negatively affected by water level changes particularly in the protected National Park area.

Scanning electron microscopic and X-ray micro analysis on tooth enamel exposed to alkaline agents.

PubMed

Taubee, Fabian; Steiniger, Frank; Nietzsche, Sandor; Norén, Jörgen G

2010-01-01

The background of this study comprises two clinical cases, where patients exposed to aerosols of an alkaline and surface active cleaning agent developed loss of enamel substance on their teeth, further resulting in loss of teeth and partially destroyed soft tissues. The alkaline cleaning agent consisted of potassium hydroxide and various surfactants. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible changes in morphology and composition in human teeth enamel exposed to alkaline solutions, by means of X-ray micro analysis (XRMA), FTIR-spectroscopic analyses and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Extracted premolars, exposed to potassium hydroxide solutions and alkaline cleaning solution,were analyzed by means of XRMA and SEM. Enamel powder, exposed to cleaning solution, was analyzed by means of FTIR. The SEM analysis revealed an increased porosity of the enamel surface and partially loss of enamel substance after exposure to alkaline solutions. The XRMA analyses revealed a decrease in carbon concentration while phosphorous and calcium showed no marked changes. The FTIR analyses showed no significant changes in peak heights or peak positions for phosphate, carbonate or hydroxide. It was concluded that human teeth enamel exposed to alkaline solutions showed loss of organic substance, marked pores in enamel surface and loss of substance in the enamel surface.

Lateral tunneling through voltage-controlled barriers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Manion, S. J.; Bell, L. D.; Kaiser, W. J.; Maker, P. D.; Muller, R. E.

1991-01-01

The paper reports on a detailed experimental investigation of lateral tunneling between electrodes of a two-dimensional electron gas separated by the voltage-controlled barrier of a nanometer Schottky gate. The experimental data are modeled using the WKB method to calculate the tunneling probability of electrons through a barrier whose shape is determined from a solution of the two-dimensional Poisson equation. This model is in excellent agreement with the experimental data over a two order of magnitude range of current.

Radiolysis of paracetamol in dilute aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabó, László; Tóth, Tünde; Homlok, Renáta; Takács, Erzsébet; Wojnárovits, László

2012-09-01

Using radiolytic experiments hydroxyl radical (main reactant in advanced oxidation processes) was shown to effectively destroy paracetamol molecules. The basic reaction is attachment to the ring. The hydroxy-cyclohexadienyl radical produced in the further reactions may transform to hydroxylated paracetamol derivatives or to quinone type molecules and acetamide. The initial efficiency of aromatic ring destruction in the absence of dissolved O2 is c.a. 10%. The efficiency is 2-3 times higher in the presence of O2 due to its reaction with intermediate hydroxy-cyclohexadienyl radical and the subsequent ring destruction reactions through peroxi radical. Upon irradiation the toxicity of solutions at low doses increases with the dose and then at higher doses it decreases. This is due to formation of compounds with higher toxicity than paracetamol (e.g. acetamide, hidroquinone). These products, however, are highly sensitive to irradiation and degrade easily.

OPC Paste Samples Exposed To Aggressive Solutions. Cementitious Barriers Partnership

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Langton, C.

2014-11-01

The study presented in this report focused on a low-activity wasteform containing a high-pH pore solution with a significant level of sulfate. The purpose of the study was to improve understanding of the complex concrete/wasteform reactive transport problem, in particular, the role of pH in sulfate attack. Paste samples prepared at three different water-to-cement ratios were tested. The mixtures were prepared with ASTM Type I cement, without additional admixtures. The samples were exposed to two different sodium sulfate contact solutions. The first solution was prepared at 0.15M Na 2SO 4. The second solution also incorporated 0.5M NaOH, to mimic themore » high pH conditions found in Saltstone. The data collected indicated that, in Na 2SO 4 solution, damage occurs to the pastes. In the case of the high-pH sulfate solution (Na 2SO 4 + NaOH), no signs of damage were observed on any of the paste mixtures. These results indicate that the high sulfate content found in the wasteform pore solution will not necessarily lead to severe damage to concrete. Good-quality mixtures could thus prove durable over the long term, and act as an effective barrier to prevent radionuclides from reaching the environment.« less

Fairchild C-82 Packet Destroyed in NACA Crash Fire Tests

NASA Image and Video Library

1952-09-21

A Fairchild C-82 Packet is purposely destroyed by researchers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory. In response to an escalating number of transport aircraft crashes in the mid-1940s, the NACA researchers undertook a decade-long investigation into a number of issues surrounding low-altitude aircraft crashes. The tests were conducted at the Ravenna Arsenal, approximately 60 miles south of the Lewis laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. The aircraft were excess military transports from World War II. The aircraft was guided down the runway at speeds of 80 to 105 miles per hour. It came into contact with poles which tore open the 1500-gallon fuel tanks in the wings before reaching the barriers at the end of the runway. Fuel poured from the tanks and supply lines, resulting in the spread of both liquid fuel and a large cloud of spray. Solomon Weiss developed a method of dying the fuel red to improve its visibility during the crashes. This red fuel cloud trailed slightly behind the skidding aircraft, then rushed forward when the aircraft stopped. The nine-crash initial phase of testing used Lockheed C-56 Lodestar and C-82 transport aircraft to identify potential ignition sources and analyze the spread of flammable materials. The researchers were able to identify different classes of ignition sources, fuel disbursement patterns, the time when a particular ignition source might appear, rate of the fire spread, cabin survival times, and deceleration rates.

Translations on USSR Military Affairs. Number 1251

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-10-20

destroyers " Kotlin "-Class destroyers "Kruplin"-Class destroyers submarines, completion "M-XV"-Class submarines "Whiskey"-Class submarines "Quebec...leaders (with the exception of one prototype vessel) and some units of the even more modern " Kotlin " Class. Most hard-hit however was the submarine...first improvisation stage. They included primarily four " Kotlin " destroyer hulls which—equipped with an "SS-N-1" missile system— were completed as

A Comparative Study of AlGaN and InGaN Back-Barriers in Ultrathin-Barrier AlN/GaN Heterostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

All Abbas, J. M.; Atmaca, G.; Narin, P.; Kutlu, E.; Sarikavak-Lisesivdin, B.; Lisesivdin, S. B.

2017-08-01

Investigations of the effects of back-barrier introduction on the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) of ultrathin-barrier AlN/GaN heterostructures with AlGaN and InGaN back-barriers are carried out using self-consistent solutions of 1-dimensional Schrödinger-Poisson equations. Inserted AlGaN and InGaN back-barriers are used to provide a good 2DEG confinement thanks to raising the conduction band edge of GaN buffer with respect to GaN channel layer. Therefore, in this paper the influence of these back-barrier layers on sheet carrier density, 2DEG confinement, and mobility are systematically and comparatively investigated. As a result of calculations, although sheet carrier density is found to decrease with InGaN back-barrier layer, it is not changed with AlGaN back-barrier layer for suggested optimise heterostructures. Obtained results can give some insights for further experimental studies.

Determination of the Rotational Barrier in Ethane by Vibrational Spectroscopy and Statistical Thermodynamics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ercolani, Gianfranco

2005-01-01

The finite-difference boundary-value method is a numerical method suited for the solution of the one-dimensional Schrodinger equation encountered in problems of hindered rotation. Further, the application of the method, in combination with experimental results for the evaluation of the rotational energy barrier in ethane is presented.

Barriers of health news producers' empowerment: a qualitative study in iran.

PubMed

Ashoorkhani, Mahnaz; Taghdisi, Mohammad Hossein; Shahmoradi, Safoora; Haghjoo, Leila; Majdzadeh, Reza

2014-01-01

Studies show that raising news producers' knowledge and skills are influential and necessary for promoting the quality of health news. This study aimed to investigate the barriers to implementing empowerment programs for news producers and to identify their respective solutions. In this qualitative content analysis the opinion of 14 journalists, one translator, 10 editors or editors-in-chief of health news agencies were gathered through 12 in-depth interviews and 4 focus group discussions. Purposive sampling was done and interviews continued up to the point of saturation. Data were analyzed with Open Code software. The barriers to the implementation of empowerment programs were identified as: a) individual factors, b) deficiency of certain facilitators, and c) organizational and macro policymakings. Various solutions were suggested for the barriers respectively. The implementation of empowerment programs for news producers requires a system approach toward its determinant factors. This will be more likely if measures at other concerned levels are also taken. Creating incentives on behalf of the news-producing organizations can also contribute to this end and create a suitable context for news producers. Training and empowerment alone will not be sufficient.

Effect of stratum corneum heterogeneity, anisotropy, asymmetry and follicular pathway on transdermal penetration.

PubMed

Barbero, Ana M; Frasch, H Frederick

2017-08-28

The impact of the complex structure of the stratum corneum on transdermal penetration is not yet fully described by existing models. A quantitative and thorough study of skin permeation is essential for chemical exposure assessment and transdermal delivery of drugs. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of heterogeneity, anisotropy, asymmetry, follicular diffusion, and location of the main barrier of diffusion on percutaneous permeation. In the current study, the solution of the transient diffusion through a two-dimensional-anisotropic brick-and-mortar geometry of the stratum corneum is obtained using the commercial finite element program COMSOL Multiphysics. First, analytical solutions of an equivalent multilayer geometry are used to determine whether the lipids or corneocytes constitute the main permeation barrier. Also these analytical solutions are applied for validations of the finite element solutions. Three illustrative compounds are analyzed in these sections: diethyl phthalate, caffeine and nicotine. Then, asymmetry with depth and follicular diffusion are studied using caffeine as an illustrative compound. The following findings are drawn from this study: the main permeation barrier is located in the lipid layers; the flux and lag time of diffusion through a brick-and-mortar geometry are almost identical to the values corresponding to a multilayer geometry; the flux and lag time are affected when the lipid transbilayer diffusivity or the partition coefficients vary with depth, but are not affected by depth-dependent corneocyte diffusivity; and the follicular contribution has significance for low transbilayer lipid diffusivity, especially when flux between the follicle and the surrounding stratum corneum is involved. This study demonstrates that the diffusion is primarily transcellular and the main barrier is located in the lipid layers. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Spectacle Compliance among Adolescents: A Qualitative Study from Southern India.

PubMed

Narayanan, Anuradha; Kumar, Shuba; Ramani, Krishna Kumar

2017-05-01

To understand the perceptions of adolescents and their parents about spectacle compliance of adolescents in Southern India. Using a qualitative snapshot design, three focus group discussions were conducted each with parents and adolescents studying in schools located in and around Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of participants. Separate focus group guides were developed for parents and adolescents. All focus group discussions were conducted in the school premises and audio recorded. These audio files were then transcribed verbatim and then translated into English. A framework analytical approach was used for data analysis that involved gaining familiarity with the data to identify a thematic framework. Two major themes that emerged were (1) perceptions on barriers to spectacle compliance that was further subdivided into physical, psychological, and societal barriers; and (2) solutions to improve spectacle use. Barriers identified included scars on the nose, unattractive frames contributing to poor appeal, adolescents feeling discriminated and set apart, fears of injury to eyes, lack of parental involvement, and negative attitudes of society toward those wearing spectacles. Solutions given by the stakeholders included provision of lightweight, well-fitting, trendy frames of adolescents' choice, importance and need for periodical eye examinations, including teachers in encouraging spectacle use and preventing bullying and teasing by other adolescents, provision of free spectacles along with periodic replacement, and inclusion of awareness sessions on spectacle use for both parents and adolescents. The study has identified both barriers and solutions for improving spectacle compliance among school adolescents from the viewpoint of the stakeholders involved. Implementing the solutions suggested by the stakeholders through planned intervention programs could possibly help in ensuring better compliance of spectacle use among school adolescents.

Canadian Vehicle Protection Program (EO considerations)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-09

HFI); EO and Acoustic Sensing. – Situational Awareness Technologies Evaluation (SITUATE). – Urban Gated Laser Retro -reflection Scanner (UGLARES...llery Rockets Terminal Defeat of VSRBM 1 Destroy Soft Destroy Soft UAVs Destroy In-Flight Artillery Shells UAVs at at Long Range Short Range

The composite water and solute transport of barley (Hordeum vulgare) roots: effect of suberized barriers.

PubMed

Ranathunge, Kosala; Kim, Yangmin X; Wassmann, Friedrich; Kreszies, Tino; Zeisler, Viktoria; Schreiber, Lukas

2017-03-01

Roots have complex anatomical structures, and certain localized cell layers develop suberized apoplastic barriers. The size and tightness of these barriers depend on the growth conditions and on the age of the root. Such complex anatomical structures result in a composite water and solute transport in roots. Development of apoplastic barriers along barley seminal roots was detected using various staining methods, and the suberin amounts in the apical and basal zones were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectometry (GC-MS). The hydraulic conductivity of roots ( Lp r ) and of cortical cells ( Lp c ) was measured using root and cell pressure probes. When grown in hydroponics, barley roots did not form an exodermis, even at their basal zones. However, they developed an endodermis. Endodermal Casparian bands first appeared as 'dots' as early as at 20 mm from the apex, whereas a patchy suberin lamellae appeared at 60 mm. The endodermal suberin accounted for the total suberin of the roots. The absolute amount in the basal zone was significantly higher than in the apical zone, which was inversely proportional to the Lp r . Comparison of Lp r and Lp c suggested that cell to cell pathways dominate for water transport in roots. However, the calculation of Lp r from Lp c showed that at least 26 % of water transport occurs through the apoplast. Roots had different solute permeabilities ( P sr ) and reflection coefficients ( σ sr ) for the solutes used. The σ sr was below unity for the solutes, which have virtually zero permeability for semi-permeable membranes. Suberized endodermis significantly reduces Lp r of seminal roots. The water and solute transport across barley roots is composite in nature and they do not behave like ideal osmometers. The composite transport model should be extended by adding components arranged in series (cortex, endodermis) in addition to the currently included components arranged in parallel (apoplastic, cell to cell pathways). © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.

Solute Carriers in the Blood-Brain Barier: Safety in Abundance.

PubMed

Nałęcz, Katarzyna A

2017-03-01

Blood-brain barrier formed by brain capillary endothelial cells, being in contact with astrocytes endfeet and pericytes, separates extracellular fluid from plasma. Supply of necessary nutrients and removal of certain metabolites takes place due to the activity of transporting proteins from ABC (ATP binding cassette) and SLC (solute carrier) superfamilies. This review is focused on the SLC families involved in transport though the blood-brain barrier of energetic substrates (glucose, monocarboxylates, creatine), amino acids, neurotransmitters and their precursors, as well as organic ions. Members of SLC1, SLC2, SLC3/SLC7, SLC5, SLC6, SLC16, SLC22, SLC38, SLC44, SLC47 and SLCO (SLC21), whose presence in the blood-brain barriers has been demonstrated are characterized with a special emphasis put on polarity of transporters localization in a luminal (blood side) versus an abluminal (brain side) membrane.

Water-soluble nanocrystalline cellulose films with highly transparent and oxygen barrier properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Shaoling; Zhang, Yapei; Cha, Ruitao; Yang, Jinliang; Jiang, Xingyu

2015-12-01

By mixing a guar gum (GG) solution with a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) dispersion using a novel circular casting technology, we manufactured biodegradable films as packaging materials with improved optical and mechanical properties. These films could act as barriers for oxygen and could completely dissolve in water within 5 h. We also compared the effect of nanocomposite films and commercial food packaging materials on the preservation of food.By mixing a guar gum (GG) solution with a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) dispersion using a novel circular casting technology, we manufactured biodegradable films as packaging materials with improved optical and mechanical properties. These films could act as barriers for oxygen and could completely dissolve in water within 5 h. We also compared the effect of nanocomposite films and commercial food packaging materials on the preservation of food. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07647a

Osteoarthritis guidelines: Barriers to implementation and solutions.

PubMed

Ferreira de Meneses, Sarah; Rannou, Francois; Hunter, David J

2016-06-01

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed to facilitate improved OA management. Scientific communities worldwide have proposed CPGs for OA treatment. Despite the number of highly prominent guidelines available and their remarkable consistency, their uptake has been suboptimal. Possibly because of the multitude of barriers related to the implementation of CPGs. For example, different guidelines show contradictions, some lack evidence, and they lack a hierarchy or tools to facilitate their translation and application. Also, the guidelines do not acknowledge the effect of comorbidities on choosing the treatments. Finally, poor integration of multidisciplinary services within and across healthcare settings is a major barrier to the effective implementation of management guidelines. Here we describe the main problems related to the OA guidelines and some solutions so as to offer some guidance on the elaboration of future CPGs and their implementation in primary care. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Innovative approaches for converting a wood hydrolysate to high-quality barrier coatings.

PubMed

Ryberg, Yingzhi Zhu; Edlund, Ulrica; Albertsson, Ann-Christine

2013-08-28

An advanced approach for the efficient and controllable production of softwood hydrolysate-based coatings with excellent oxygen-barrier performance is presented. An innovative conversion of the spray-drying technique into a coating applicator process allowed for a fast and efficient coating process requiring solely aqueous solutions of softwood hydrolysate, even without additives. Compared to analogous coatings prepared by manual application, the spray-drying produced coatings were more homogeneous and smooth, and they adhered more strongly to the substrate. The addition of glyoxal to the aqueous softwood hydrolysate solutions prior to coating formation allowed for hemicellulose cross-linking, which improved both the mechanical integrity and the oxygen-barrier performance of the coatings. A real-time scanning electron microscopy imaging assessment of the tensile deformation of the coatings allowed for a deeper understanding of the ability of the coating layer itself to withstand stress as well as the coating-to-substrate adhesion.

Solid-State Ultracapacitor for Improved Energy Storage

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nabors, Sammy

2015-01-01

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a solid-state ultracapacitor using a novel nanocomposite, dielectric material. The material's design is based on the internal barrier layer capacitance (IBLC) concept, and it uses novel dielectric and metallic conductive ink formulations. Novel processing methods developed by NASA provide for unique dielectric properties at the grain level. Nanoscale raw material powders are tailored using a variety of techniques and then formulated into a special ink. This dielectric ink is used with novel metallic conductive ink to print a capacitor layer structure into any design necessary to meet a range of technical requirements. The innovation is intended to replace current range safety batteries that NASA uses to power the systems that destroy off-course space vehicles. A solid-state design provides the needed robustness and safety for this demanding application.

Challenges and Opportunities to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening Rates in US Health Centers through Patient-Centered Medical Home Transformation

PubMed Central

Makaroff, Laura; Chung, Michelle; Lin, Sue C.

2015-01-01

Over the last 50 years, the incidence of cervical cancer has dramatically decreased. However, health disparities in cervical cancer screening (CCS) persist for women from racial and ethnic minorities and those residing in rural and poor communities. For more than 45 years, federally funded health centers (HCs) have been providing comprehensive, culturally competent, and quality primary health care services to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations. To enhance the quality of care and to ensure more women served at HCs are screened for cervical cancer, over eight HCs received funding to support patient-centered medical home (PCMH) transformation with goals to increase CCS rates. The study conducted a qualitative analysis using Atlas.ti software to describe the barriers and challenges to CCS and PCMH transformation, to identify potential solutions and opportunities, and to examine patterns in barriers and solutions proposed by HCs. Interrater reliability was assessed using Cohen's Kappa. The findings indicated that HCs more frequently described patient-level barriers to CCS, including demographic, cultural, and health belief/behavior factors. System-level barriers were the next commonly cited, particularly failure to use the full capability of electronic medical records (EMRs) and problems coordinating with external labs or providers. Provider-level barriers were least frequently cited. PMID:25685561

Effects of Complex Structured Anodic Oxide Dielectric Layer Grown in Pore Matrix for Aluminum Capacitor.

PubMed

Shin, Jin-Ha; Yun, Sook Young; Lee, Chang Hyoung; Park, Hwa-Sun; Suh, Su-Jeong

2015-11-01

Anodization of aluminum is generally divided up into two types of anodic aluminum oxide structures depending on electrolyte type. In this study, an anodization process was carried out in two steps to obtain high dielectric strength and break down voltage. In the first step, evaporated high purity Al on Si wafer was anodized in oxalic acidic aqueous solution at various times at a constant temperature of 5 degrees C. In the second step, citric acidic aqueous solution was used to obtain a thickly grown sub-barrier layer. During the second anodization process, the anodizing potential of various ranges was applied at room temperature. An increased thickness of the sub-barrier layer in the porous matrix was obtained according to the increment of the applied anodizing potential. The microstructures and the growth of the sub-barrier layer were then observed with an increasing anodizing potential of 40 to 300 V by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). An impedance analyzer was used to observe the change of electrical properties, including the capacitance, dissipation factor, impedance, and equivalent series resistance (ESR) depending on the thickness increase of the sub-barrier layer. In addition, the breakdown voltage was measured. The results revealed that dielectric strength was improved with the increase of sub-barrier layer thickness.

A new shock wave assisted wood preservative injection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, K. S.; Ravikumar, G.; Lai, Ram; Jagadeesh, G.

Preservative treatment of many tropical hard woods and bamboo pose severe problem. A number of wood preservatives (chemical formulations toxic to wood decay/ destroying organisms like fungi, wood destroying termites, marine borers etc.) and wood impregnating techniques are currently in use for improving bio resistance of timber and bamboo and thereby enhancing service life for different end uses. How ever, some species of tropical hardwoods and many species of bamboo are difficult to treat, posing technical problems. In this paper we report preliminary results of treatment of bamboo with a novel Shockwave assisted injection treatment. Samples (30×2.5×1.00 cm) of an Indian species of bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus prepared from defect free culms of dry bamboo are placed in the driven section of a vertical shock tube filled with the 4Coppepr-Chrome-Arsenic(CCA) preservative solution.The bamboo samples are subjected to repeated shock wave loading (3 shots) with typical over pressures of 30 bar. The results from the study indicate excellent penetration and retention of CCA preservative in bamboo samples. The method itself is much faster compared to the conventional methods like pressure treatment or hot and cold process.

[International trends of applied ecology and its future development in China].

PubMed

Zhou, Qixing; Sun, Shunjiang

2002-07-01

Internationally applied ecology was born around 25-40 years ago in order to adapt and serve the needs of mitigating increasingly environmental pollution and ecological destroy in developed western countries at that time. All the times applied ecological principles thus underpin most efforts at solving increasingly deterioration of natural resources and serious eco-environmental problems as its keystone and researching kernel with the development of the subject. At the advent of the 21st century, human beings enter into the age of applied ecology. There are five international features of applied ecology, including more attention to many-sided applications, special emphasis on the intersection with engineering, strongly keeping on mutual links with basic ecology, omnidirectional adoption of new methods and new technology, and side-by-side trends of microcosmic mechanisms and macroscopical regulation. Although we must connect with international applied ecology and absorb distillates from the subject in developed western countries, development of applied ecology in China in the future, in particular, at the beginnings of the 21st century should not deviate from aiming at the solution of increasingly environmental pollution and ecological destroy that is one of the most important basic situations of the country.

Study on the failure temperature of Ti/Pt/Au and Pt5Si2-Ti/Pt/Au metallization systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jie; Han, Jianqiang; Yin, Yijun; Dong, Lizhen; Niu, Wenju

2017-09-01

The Ti/Pt/Au metallization system has an advantage of resisting KOH or TMAH solution etching. To form a good ohmic contact, the Ti/Pt/Au metallization system must be alloyed at 400 °C. However, the process temperatures of typical MEMS packaging technologies, such as anodic bonding, glass solder bonding and eutectic bonding, generally exceed 400 °C. It is puzzling if the Ti/Pt/Au system is destroyed during the subsequent packaging process. In the present work, the resistance of doped polysilicon resistors contacted by the Ti/Pt/Au metallization system that have undergone different temperatures and time are measured. The experimental results show that the ohmic contacts will be destroyed if heated to 500 °C. But if a 20 nm Pt film is sputtered on heavily doped polysilicon and alloyed at 700 °C before sputtering Ti/Pt/Au films, the Pt5Si2-Ti/Pt/Au metallization system has a higher service temperature of 500 °C, which exceeds process temperatures of most typical MEMS packaging technologies. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61376114).

Phase Equilibria and Ionic Solvation in the Lithium Tetrafluoroborate-Dimethylsulfoxide System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gafurov, M. M.; Kirillov, S. A.; Gorobets, M. I.; Rabadanov, K. Sh.; Ataev, M. B.; Tretyakov, D. O.; Aydemirov, K. M.

2015-01-01

The phase diagram and electrical conductivity isotherms for the lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4)-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) system and Raman spectra of DMSO and the LiBF4-DMSO solution were studied. Spectroscopic signatures of a H-bond between DMSO and BF4 - ions were found. The bonds of Li+ ions to the solvent were stronger than the bonds in DMSO dimers because formation of the solvate destroyed dimeric DMSO molecules. The τω values for DMSO molecules in the Li+-ion solvate shell of the LiBF4-DMSO system were similar to those for associated solvent molecules.

URANIUM RECOVERY PROCESS

DOEpatents

Kaufman, D.

1958-04-15

A process of recovering uranium from very low-grade ore residues is described. These low-grade uraniumcontaining hydroxide precipitates, which also contain hydrated silica and iron and aluminum hydroxides, are subjected to multiple leachings with aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate at a pH of at least 9. This leaching serves to selectively extract the uranium from the precipitate, but to leave the greater part of the silica, iron, and aluminum with the residue. The uranium is then separated from the leach liquor by the addition of an acid in sufficient amount to destroy the carbonate followed by the addition of ammonia to precipitate uranium as ammonium diuranate.

Cross-linked polyhemoglobin-superoxide dismutase-catalase supplies oxygen without causing blood-brain barrier disruption or brain edema in a rat model of transient global brain ischemia-reperfusion.

PubMed

Powanda, D Douglas; Chang, Thomas M S

2002-01-01

In strokes, myocardial infarctions, severe sustained hemorrhagic shock, and donor organs, inadequate blood supply results in lack of oxygen to the tissue (ischemia). If ischemia is sustained, reperfusion with the needed oxygen can result in tissue injury (ischemia-reperfusion injury) due to formation of reactive oxygen species. We are studying an oxygen-carrying solution with anitoxidant activity formed by cross-linking hemoglobin, superoxide dismutase, and catalase to form PolyHb-SOD-CAT. The present report studies its effect on the blood-brain barrier and cerebral edema when used in a transient global brain ischemia-reperfusion rat model. We compare this solution to sham-control, oxygenated saline, stroma-free hemoglobin (SF-Hb), polymerized hemoglobin (PolyHb), and a mixture of SF-Hb, SOD, and CAT in free solution. The results show that the cross-linked PolyHb-SOD-CAT solution, unlike the other solutions, can supply oxygen to ischemic tissues without causing reperfusion injury in the transient global brain ischemia-reperfusion model.

Status of the effectiveness of contact lens solutions against keratitis-causing pathogens.

PubMed

Siddiqui, Ruqaiyyah; Lakhundi, Sahreena; Khan, Naveed Ahmed

2015-02-01

The aim of this study was to assess the antimicrobial effects of marketed contact lens disinfecting solutions. Using ISO 14729 Stand-Alone Test for disinfecting solutions, bactericidal, fungicidal and amoebicidal assays of eight different contact lens solutions including: ReNu MultiPlus, DuraPlus, Ultimate Plus, OptiFree Express, Kontex Clean, Kontex Normal, Kontex Multisol extra(+), Kontex Soak were performed. The efficacy of contact lens solutions was determined against keratitis-causing microbes, namely: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Fusarium solani and Acanthamoeba castellanii. The results revealed that ReNu MultiPlus, DuraPlus and OptiFree Express were effective in killing bacterial and fungal pathogens as per manufacturer's minimum recommended disinfection time. Ultimate Plus was effective against F. solani and MRSA but ineffective against P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens and S. aureus. Of concern however, is that none of the locally formulated contact lens disinfecting solutions from Pakistan, i.e., Kontex Clean, Kontex Normal, Kontex Multisol extra(+) and Kontex Soak were effective against any of the keratitis-causing organisms tested. All eight contact lens disinfecting solutions were unable to destroy Acanthamoeba cysts. Because such ineffective contact lens disinfection solutions present a major risk to public health, these findings are of great concern to the health officials and to the manufacturers of the contact lens disinfection solutions and effective solutions are needed, along with emphasis on proper hygiene for contact lens care and special guidelines for developing countries regarding the manufacture and storage of contact lens disinfecting solutions. Copyright © 2014 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electro Spray Method for Flexible Display

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-12

conditions which expensive and complicated.8-9) Kim et al. reported the fabrication of IZO thin films via combustion processing and obtained mobility values...metal nitrates as metal sources in solutions. Through the high self-generated energies by the combustion of acetylacetone or urea in solution...barrier to increase the mobility of solution-process-derived TFTs. Therefore, we used H2O as the solvent in our precursor solution. The use of H2O

Transparent and robust siloxane-based hybrid lamella film as a water vapor barrier coating.

PubMed

Tokudome, Yasuaki; Hara, Takaaki; Abe, Risa; Takahashi, Masahide

2014-11-12

Water vapor barriers are important in various application fields, such as food packaging and sealants in electronic devices. Polymer/clay composites are well-studied water vapor barrier materials, but their transparency and mechanical strength degrade with increasing clay loading. Herein, we demonstrate films with good water vapor barrier properties, high transparency, and mechanical/thermal stability. Water vapor barrier films were prepared by the solution crystallization of siloxane hybrid lamellae. The films consist of highly crystallized organic/inorganic hybrid lamellae, which provide high transparency, hardness, and thermal stability and inhibit the permeation of water vapor. The water permeability of a 6 μm thick hybrid film is comparable to that of a 200 μm thick silicon rubber film.

Barriers to healthcare for transgender individuals.

PubMed

Safer, Joshua D; Coleman, Eli; Feldman, Jamie; Garofalo, Robert; Hembree, Wylie; Radix, Asa; Sevelius, Jae

2016-04-01

Transgender persons suffer significant health disparities and may require medical intervention as part of their care. The purpose of this manuscript is to briefly review the literature characterizing barriers to healthcare for transgender individuals and to propose research priorities to understand mechanisms of those barriers and interventions to overcome them. Current research emphasizes sexual minorities' self-report of barriers, rather than using direct methods. The biggest barrier to healthcare reported by transgender individuals is lack of access because of lack of providers who are sufficiently knowledgeable on the topic. Other barriers include: financial barriers, discrimination, lack of cultural competence by providers, health systems barriers, and socioeconomic barriers. National research priorities should include rigorous determination of the capacity of the US healthcare system to provide adequate care for transgender individuals. Studies should determine knowledge and biases of the medical workforce across the spectrum of medical training with regard to transgender medical care; adequacy of sufficient providers for the care required, larger social structural barriers, and status of a framework to pay for appropriate care. As well, studies should propose and validate potential solutions to address identified gaps.

Access to computer-based leisure for individuals with profound disabilities.

PubMed

Bache, Jane; Derwent, Gary

2008-01-01

Advances in computer technology and the Internet have meant that more and more occupations can be made available to disabled individuals, including occupations generally considered to be leisure. However, computers and the Internet also provide barriers to access for these individuals. This article discusses some of these barriers, solutions to them and highlights the complexities involved in the provision of a computer-based assistive technology solution for access to leisure for a profoundly disabled young lady. It also points out the need for the input of a highly skilled, multi-disciplinary team in the assessment for and provision of such a system.

Theoretical investigation of thermodynamic stability and mobility of the oxygen vacancy in ThO 2 –UO 2 solid solutions

DOE PAGES

Liu, B.; Aidhy, D. S.; Zhang, Y.; ...

2014-10-16

The thermodynamic stability and the migration energy barriers of oxygen vacancies in ThO 2 –UO 2 solid solutions are investigated by density functional theory calculations. In pure ThO 2, the formation energy of oxygen vacancy is 7.58 eV and 1.46 eV under O rich and O poor conditions, respectively, while its migration energy barrier is 1.97 eV. The addition of UO 2 into ThO 2 significantly decreases the energetics of formation and migration of the oxygen vacancy. Among the range of UO 2-ThO 2 solid solutions studied in this work, UO 2 exhibits the lowest formation energy (5.99 eV andmore » -0.13 eV under O rich and O poor conditions, respectively) and Th 0.25U0 .75O 2 exhibits the lowest migration energy barrier (~ 1 eV). Moreover, by considering chemical potential, the phase diagram of oxygen vacancy as a function of both temperature and oxygen partial pressure is shown, which could help to gain experimental control over oxygen vacancy concentration.« less

Soliton stability in some knot soliton models

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adam, C.; Sanchez-Guillen, J.; Wereszczynski, A.

2007-02-15

We study the issue of stability of static solitonlike solutions in some nonlinear field theories which allow for knotted field configurations. Concretely, we investigate the Aratyn-Ferreira-Zimerman model [Phys. Lett. B 456, 162 (1999); Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 1723 (1999)], based on a Lagrangian quartic in first derivatives with infinitely many conserved currents, for which infinitely many soliton solutions are known analytically. For this model we find that sectors with different (integer) topological charges (Hopf index) are not separated by an infinite energy barrier. Further, if variations which change the topological charge are allowed, then the static solutions are not evenmore » critical points of the energy functional. We also explain why soliton solutions can exist at all, in spite of these facts. In addition, we briefly discuss the Nicole model [J. Phys. G 4, 1363 (1978)], which is based on a sigma-model-type Lagrangian. For the Nicole model we find that different topological sectors are separated by an infinite energy barrier.« less

Thermal fluctuations enable rapid protein-protein associations in aqueous solution by lowering the reaction barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakaizawa, Honami; Watanabe, Hiroshi C.; Furuta, Tadaomi; Sakurai, Minoru

2016-01-01

In hydrophilic protein-protein associations, the dehydration penalty, which can cause the formation of a reaction barrier, must be canceled out; however, its mechanism has not been clarified. Here, we explored the possible mechanism through investigation of the dimerization of nucleotide binding domains (NBDs). We assessed the different dimerization processes by molecular dynamics simulations with and without thermal fluctuations in each NBD. Consequently, the reaction barriers of the former and latter were estimated to be ∼100 and ∼15 kcal/mol, respectively, suggesting that thermal fluctuations in the proteins facilitate the exclusion of water molecules from the interfacial region, thereby lowering the barrier.

The effects of combined liquid and membrane barriers in prevention of post-operative intra-abdominal adhesions after experimental jejunal anastomosis in dogs.

PubMed

el-Ghoul, W

2005-01-01

The study was carried out on 40 apparently clinical healthy dogs classified into 5 groups of 8 dogs each. Adhesion was experimentally induced by transsection and reanastomosis of jejunum. In the control group the site of anastomosis and abdominal cavity was lavaged with 250 ml saline solution. In group two lavage was done with 250 ml of a liquid barrier composed of a combination of high molecular weight solution (1% sodium carboxymethylcellulose) as a carrier, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (Piroxecam), broad spectrum antibiotic (Cephalosporin), anticoagulant (Heparin) and antioxidant (0.5% methylene blue). In group three the anastomosis site was covered with a sodium hyalouronate/carboxymethylcellulose bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm). In group four a natural biocompatible collagen sheet (VET BIO SIS T) was applied on the anastomosis site. In group five the abdominal cavity was lavaged with 250 ml liquid barrier and the anastomosis site was covered by either Seprafilm membrane or VET BIO SIS T sheet. At the fourteen day after operation, adhesion was assessed by ultrasonography after instillation of 1000 ml of physiological saline solution into the abdominal cavity. The dogs were sacrificed and an autopsy examination was carried out with the attention to the number, density and site of the adhesion formation. The results revealed that all the control dogs and some dogs in the treatment groups had positive ultrasonographic findings. Transabdominal sonogram clearly showed echogenic bands floating in the abdominal cavity and echogenic masses in more serious subjects. Necropsy examination showed that all the control dogs had intra-abdominal adhesions (8 of 8 dogs) and treatment with liquid barrier (4 of 8 dogs), seprafilm membrane barrier (3 of 8 dogs), VET BIO SIS T sheet barrier (4 of 8 dogs) and combination of fluid and membrane barrier groups (4 of 8 dogs) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the incidence of adhesion formation. The adhesion severity in the four treated groups was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased compared with the control group as shown by both ultrasonography and necropsy examination scores. In conclusion the suggested hypothesis is more or less positive and the combined liquid and membrane barriers might be an effective way to decrease intra-abdominal adhesion formation, and the ultrasonography is a useful tool to diagnose intra-abdominal adhesion, and their applications might be valuable to the clinical settings.

Designing Ships to the Natural Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-01

and Soviet Destroyer Seakeeping (Soviet Kotlin -Class Destroyer on Right, U.S. 710 Class on Left) .... 19 2 - Outline of Seakeeping Performance...SPRAY ON THE BRIDGE. THE SOVIET KOTLIN -CLASS DESTROYER OPERATING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CARRIER TASK GROUP APPEARED TO BE TAKING NO WAIER OVER THE

Evaluating the Accessibility of Web-Based Instruction for Students with Disabilities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hinn, D. Michelle

This paper presents the methods and results of a year-long evaluation study, conducted for the purpose of determining disability accessibility barriers and potential solutions for those barriers found in four World Wide Web-based learning environments. The primary questions used to frame the evaluation study were: (1) Are there any features of the…

Method and apparatus for determining minority carrier diffusion length in semiconductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moore, A.R.

1984-02-21

Method and apparatus are provided for determining the diffusion length of minority carriers in semiconductor material, particularly amorphous silicon, which has a significantly small minority carrier diffusion length using the constant magnitude surface-photovoltage (SPV) method. Steady or modulated illumination at several wavelengths provides the light excitation on the surface of the material to generate the SPV. A manually controlled or automatic servo system maintains a constant predetermined value of the SPB for each wavelength. A probe electrode immersed in an electrolyte solution containing redox couples (preferably quinhydrone) having an oxidation-reduction potential (E) in the order of +0.6 to -1.65 voltsmore » couples the SPV to a measurement system. The redox couple solution functions to create a liquid Schottky barrier at the surface of the material. The Schottky barrier is contacted by merely placing the probe in the solution. The redox solution is placed over and in contact with the material to be tested and light is passed through the solution to generate the SPV. To compensate for colored redox solutions a portion of the redox solution not over the material is also illuminated for determining the color compensated light intensity. Steady red light is also used as an optical bias to reduce deleterious space-charge effects that occur in amorphous silicon.« less

Method and apparatus for determining minority carrier diffusion length in semiconductors

DOEpatents

Moore, Arnold R.

1984-02-21

Method and apparatus are provided for determining the diffusion length of minority carriers in semiconductor material, particularly amorphous silicon, which has a significantly small minority carrier diffusion length using the constant magnitude surface-photovoltage (SPV) method. Steady or modulated illumination at several wavelengths provides the light excitation on the surface of the material to generate the SPV. A manually controlled or automatic servo system maintains a constant predetermined value of the SPV for each wavelength. A probe electrode immersed in an electrolyte solution containing redox couples (preferably quinhydrone) having an oxidation-reduction potential (E) in the order of +0.6 to -1.65 volts couples the SPV to a measurement system. The redox couple solution functions to create a liquid Schottky barrier at the surface of the material. The Schottky barrier is contacted by merely placing the probe in the solution. The redox solution is placed over and in contact with the material to be tested and light is passed through the solution to generate the SPV. To compensate for colored redox solutions a portion of the redox solution not over the material is also illuminated for determining the color compensated light intensity. Steady red light is also used as an optical bias to reduce deleterious space-charge effects that occur in amorphous silicon.

Etoposide-induced blood-brain barrier disruption. Effect of drug compared with that of solvents.

PubMed

Spigelman, M K; Zappulla, R A; Johnson, J; Goldsmith, S J; Malis, L I; Holland, J F

1984-10-01

The intracarotid infusion of the anti-neoplastic compound, etoposide, has been shown to exert a dose-dependent effect on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Etoposide, however, is formulated in a complex solvent solution containing alcohol, Tween 80, polyethylene glycol 300, and citric acid. To investigate the contribution of the solvent solution to BBB disruption, the authors studied Sprague-Dawley rats after the internal carotid artery infusion of the solvent solution with and without the addition of etoposide. Experiments were performed at four doses of drug and/or solvent. Disruption of the BBB was evaluated qualitatively by the appearance of the systemically administered dye, Evans blue, in the cerebral hemispheres and quantitatively by the ratio of gamma counts of the technetium-labeled chelate of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) in the ipsilateral:contralateral hemisphere. Significant barrier opening was obtained in all four groups of animals infused with solvent plus etoposide. In the corresponding groups of rats infused with the solvent solution alone, BBB disruption was markedly lower. Only in the group infused with the largest dose of solvent was the hemispheric ratio of 99mTc-DTPA significantly different from saline-infused animals. Each of the groups with solvent plus etoposide had 99mTc-DTPA ratios significantly different from the control group. Intracarotid infusion and subsequent BBB disruption were well tolerated by the animals receiving either solvent alone or solvent and etoposide. Disruption of the BBB secondary to the intracarotid infusion of etoposide is primarily caused by the drug itself and not by the solvent solution.

Ultrastructural investigations for reducing endothelial cell damage of vein grafts during CABG-operation and practical consequences.

PubMed

Hickethier, T; Dämmrich, J; Silber, R E; Finster, S; Elert, O

1999-02-01

In the present study the influence of different storage solutions on endothelial integrity or damage was investigated with direct methods particularly with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and immunohistochemistry. Saphenous vein segments of 10 cm in length were taken surgically from 6 male CABG-patients (aged 60-70) under standardized conditions. Each vein segment was cut into rings, which were incubated at room temperature for 45 minutes in different storage solutions, particularly in 0.9% sodium chloride solution and in buffered solution (M 199) with 5% human serum albumin respectively. Then, the vein segments were fixed in 3.5% glutaraldehyde and prepared for scanning and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the endothelial damage. In addition, immunohistochemical staining (CD34, PECAM and Factor VIII) was performed. When using 0.9% sodium chloride solution, the SEM-examination revealed that 55% of the cell population was destroyed. In comparison to these findings only 26% of the endothelial cell population was damaged when the venous segment was stored in buffered solution with 5% albumin (p<0.01). In immunohistochemistry (CD34, PECAM, Factor VIII) these findings were supported. This study demonstrates the importance of storage solutions in regard to endothelial integrity. For best preservation of endothelium it is necessary to modify conventional storage methods. So, storage in buffered solution with albumin has shown much better endothelial cell preservation compared with physiological saline which might reduce the obliteration rate of CABG in future.

9 CFR 50.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.3 Payment to owners for animals destroyed. (a) The... to tuberculosis; (2) Cattle, bison, or captive cervids that have been classified as suspect for tuberculosis, except that the payment of indemnity for the destruction of suspect cattle, bison, and captive...

36 CFR 223.12 - Permission to cut, damage, or destroy trees without advertisement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... destroy trees without advertisement. 223.12 Section 223.12 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST... trees without advertisement. Permission may be granted to cut, damage, or destroy trees, portions of trees, or other forest products on National Forest System lands without advertisement when necessary for...

36 CFR 223.12 - Permission to cut, damage, or destroy trees without advertisement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... destroy trees without advertisement. 223.12 Section 223.12 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST... trees without advertisement. Permission may be granted to cut, damage, or destroy trees, portions of trees, or other forest products on National Forest System lands without advertisement when necessary for...

36 CFR 223.12 - Permission to cut, damage, or destroy trees without advertisement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... destroy trees without advertisement. 223.12 Section 223.12 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST... trees without advertisement. Permission may be granted to cut, damage, or destroy trees, portions of trees, or other forest products on National Forest System lands without advertisement when necessary for...

36 CFR 223.12 - Permission to cut, damage, or destroy trees without advertisement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... destroy trees without advertisement. 223.12 Section 223.12 Parks, Forests, and Public Property FOREST... trees without advertisement. Permission may be granted to cut, damage, or destroy trees, portions of trees, or other forest products on National Forest System lands without advertisement when necessary for...

31 CFR 100.6 - Destroyed paper currency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Destroyed paper currency. 100.6 Section 100.6 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance EXCHANGE OF PAPER CURRENCY AND COIN Exchange of Mutilated Paper Currency § 100.6 Destroyed paper currency. No relief will be...

9 CFR 50.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.3 Payment to owners for animals destroyed. (a) The... to tuberculosis; (2) Cattle, bison, or captive cervids that have been classified as suspect for tuberculosis, except that the payment of indemnity for the destruction of suspect cattle, bison, and captive...

9 CFR 50.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.3 Payment to owners for animals destroyed. (a) The... to tuberculosis; (2) Cattle, bison, or captive cervids that have been classified as suspect for tuberculosis, except that the payment of indemnity for the destruction of suspect cattle, bison, and captive...

9 CFR 50.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.3 Payment to owners for animals destroyed. (a) The... to tuberculosis; (2) Cattle, bison, or captive cervids that have been classified as suspect for tuberculosis, except that the payment of indemnity for the destruction of suspect cattle, bison, and captive...

9 CFR 50.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS General Indemnity § 50.3 Payment to owners for animals destroyed. (a) The... to tuberculosis; (2) Cattle, bison, or captive cervids that have been classified as suspect for tuberculosis, except that the payment of indemnity for the destruction of suspect cattle, bison, and captive...

Effect of gold nanoparticle size on acoustic cavitation using chemical dosimetry method.

PubMed

Shanei, Ahmad; Shanei, Mohammad Mahdi

2017-01-01

When a liquid is irradiated with high intensities of ultrasound irradiation, acoustic cavitation occurs. Acoustic cavitation generates free radicals from the breakdown of water and other molecules. Cavitation can be fatal to cells and is utilized to destroy cancer tumors. The existence of particles in liquid provides nucleation sites for cavitation bubbles and leads to decrease the ultrasonic intensity threshold needed for cavitation onset. In the present investigation, the effect of gold nanoparticles with appropriate amount and size on the acoustic cavitation activity has been shown by determining hydroxyl radicals in terephthalic acid solutions containing 15, 20, 28 and 35nm gold nanoparticles sizes by using 1MHz low level ultrasound. The effect of sonication intensity in hydroxyl radical production was considered. The recorded fluorescence signal in terephthalic acid solutions containing gold nanoparticles was considerably higher than the terephthalic acid solutions without gold nanoparticles at different intensities of ultrasound irradiation. Also, the results showed that the recorded fluorescence signal intensity in terephthalic acid solution containing finer size of gold nanoparticles was lower than the terephthalic acid solutions containing larger size of gold nanoparticles. Acoustic cavitation in the presence of gold nanoparticles can be used as a way for improving therapeutic effects on the tumors. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PLUTONIUM PURIFICATION PROCESS EMPLOYING THORIUM PYROPHOSPHATE CARRIER

DOEpatents

King, E.L.

1959-04-28

The separation and purification of plutonium from the radioactive elements of lower atomic weight is described. The process of this invention comprises forming a 0.5 to 2 M aqueous acidffc solution containing plutonium fons in the tetravalent state and elements with which it is normally contaminated in neutron irradiated uranium, treating the solution with a double thorium compound and a soluble pyrophosphate compound (Na/sub 4/P/sub 2/O/sub 7/) whereby a carrier precipitate of thorium A method is presented of reducing neptunium and - trite is advantageous since it destroys any hydrazine f so that they can be removed from solutions in which they are contained is described. In the carrier precipitation process for the separation of plutonium from uranium and fission products including zirconium and columbium, the precipitated blsmuth phosphate carries some zirconium, columbium, and uranium impurities. According to the invention such impurities can be complexed and removed by dissolving the contaminated carrier precipitate in 10M nitric acid, followed by addition of fluosilicic acid to about 1M, diluting the solution to about 1M in nitric acid, and then adding phosphoric acid to re-precipitate bismuth phosphate carrying plutonium.

Financing and systems barriers to seasonal influenza vaccine delivery in community settings.

PubMed

Penfold, Robert B; Rusinak, Donna; Lieu, Tracy A; Shefer, Abigail; Messonnier, Mark; Lee, Grace M

2011-12-06

Recommendations for annual seasonal influenza vaccination have expanded to now include >300 million children and adults each year. Community settings have become increasingly important venues for influenza vaccination. We sought to identify barriers to and solutions for expanding influenza vaccination in community settings. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from 01/09 to 06/10 with a range of stakeholders involved in influenza vaccination, including health plans, medical services firms, retail based clinics, pharmacies, schools, and state and local public health immunization programs. Participants (n=65) were asked about barriers and feasible solutions to influenza vaccine delivery to children and adults in community settings. Key themes were identified through iterative coding using a grounded theory approach. Stakeholders identified specific financial barriers to influenza vaccine delivery in 3 major areas: purchase and distribution, delivery, and reimbursement. Limited purchasing power, the uncertain nature of public demand, and unpredictable timing of influenza vaccine supply were important barriers to enhance delivery in community settings. Barriers to delivery included complexities in running off-site clinics, especially in school settings, the need to manage publicly vs. privately purchased vaccines separately, and state-to-state variability in requirements for credentialing, physician oversight, and reporting. Reimbursement barriers included a protracted credentialing process, the need to determine insurance eligibility at point-of-service, and lack of a billing infrastructure in off-site clinics. Opportunities to mitigate financial barriers to influenza vaccine delivery in community settings focused on coordination across providers and the role of public health as a "trusted broker" to overcome existing challenges. Financial and systems barriers hamper the optimal use of community settings to effectively deliver influenza vaccines. Public health partners at the federal, state, and local levels are well-positioned to facilitate the engagement of all stakeholders in this important and complex vaccine delivery system. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multi-level Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Mechanics Study of Ring Opening Process of Guanine Damage by Hydroxyl Radical in Aqueous Solution.

PubMed

Liu, Peng; Wang, Qiong; Niu, Meixing; Wang, Dunyou

2017-08-10

Combining multi-level quantum mechanics theories and molecular mechanics with an explicit water model, we investigated the ring opening process of guanine damage by hydroxyl radical in aqueous solution. The detailed, atomic-level ring-opening mechanism along the reaction pathway was revealed in aqueous solution at the CCSD(T)/MM levels of theory. The potentials of mean force in aqueous solution were calculated at both the DFT/MM and CCSD(T)/MM levels of the theory. Our study found that the aqueous solution has a significant effect on this reaction in solution. In particular, by comparing the geometries of the stationary points between in gas phase and in aqueous solution, we found that the aqueous solution has a tremendous impact on the torsion angles much more than on the bond lengths and bending angles. Our calculated free-energy barrier height 31.6 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T)/MM level of theory agrees well with the one obtained based on gas-phase reaction profile and free energies of solvation. In addition, the reaction path in gas phase was also mapped using multi-level quantum mechanics theories, which shows a reaction barrier at 19.2 kcal/mol at the CCSD(T) level of theory, agreeing very well with a recent ab initio calculation result at 20.8 kcal/mol.

Constant-intensity waves and their modulation instability in non-Hermitian potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makris, K. G.; Musslimani, Z. H.; Christodoulides, D. N.; Rotter, S.

2015-07-01

In all of the diverse areas of science where waves play an important role, one of the most fundamental solutions of the corresponding wave equation is a stationary wave with constant intensity. The most familiar example is that of a plane wave propagating in free space. In the presence of any Hermitian potential, a wave's constant intensity is, however, immediately destroyed due to scattering. Here we show that this fundamental restriction is conveniently lifted when working with non-Hermitian potentials. In particular, we present a whole class of waves that have constant intensity in the presence of linear as well as of nonlinear inhomogeneous media with gain and loss. These solutions allow us to study the fundamental phenomenon of modulation instability in an inhomogeneous environment. Our results pose a new challenge for the experiments on non-Hermitian scattering that have recently been put forward.

Cardiotonic action of two tannins

PubMed Central

Broadbent, J. L.

1962-01-01

A tannin isolated from Paullinia pinnata Linn., and tannic acid, have cardiotonic actions on the isolated perfused frog heart. Paullinia tannin is more firmly “fixed” than tannic acid. Tannin solutions contain peroxide, but the cardiotonic action is not dependent on this, since drugs believed to prevent peroxide formation, and sodium pyruvate which destroys peroxides, do not prevent the cardiotonic action. Maximal stimulation by tannin greatly reduces subsequent stimulation by ouabain. If calcium is omitted from the Ringer solution tannins cannot stimulate the heart. In this respect they differ from ouabain. However, the ouabain stimulation can be prevented by prior perfusion with tannin. It is suggested that the antagonism between tannin and ouabain is due to the former preventing ouabain from reaching its receptor sites, and that tannin stimulation is dependent on the formation of a calcium-tannin complex at the heart surface. In the isolated perfused mammalian heart preparation tannins increase diastolic tonus and coronary flow. PMID:13873207

Colloidal silver fabrication using the spark discharge system and its antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus.

PubMed

Tien, Der-Chi; Tseng, Kuo-Hsiung; Liao, Chih-Yu; Tsung, Tsing-Tshih

2008-10-01

Nanoscale techniques for silver production may assist the resurgence of the medical use of silver, especially given that pathogens are showing increasing resistance to antibiotics. Traditional chemical synthesis methods for colloidal silver (CS) may lead to the presence of toxic chemical species or chemical residues, which may inhibit the effectiveness of CS as an antibacterial agent. To counter these problems a spark discharge system (SDS) was used to fabricate a suspension of colloidal silver in deionized water with no added chemical surfactants. SDS-CS contains both metallic silver nanoparticles (Ag(0)) and ionic silver forms (Ag(+)). The antimicrobial affect of SDS-CS on Staphylococcus aureus was studied. The results show that CS solutions with an ionic silver concentration of 30 ppm or higher are strong enough to destroy S. aureus. In addition, it was found that a solution's antimicrobial potency is directly related to its level of silver ion concentration.

Dark and antidark soliton interactions in the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the self-induced parity-time-symmetric potential.

PubMed

Li, Min; Xu, Tao

2015-03-01

Via the Nth Darboux transformation, a chain of nonsingular localized-wave solutions is derived for a nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the self-induced parity-time (PT) -symmetric potential. It is found that the Nth iterated solution in general exhibits a variety of elastic interactions among 2N solitons on a continuous-wave background and each interacting soliton could be the dark or antidark type. The interactions with an arbitrary odd number of solitons can also be obtained under different degenerate conditions. With N=1 and 2, the two-soliton and four-soliton interactions and their various degenerate cases are discussed in the asymptotic analysis. Numerical simulations are performed to support the analytical results, and the stability analysis indicates that the PT-symmetry breaking can also destroy the stability of the soliton interactions.

Soliton-impurity interaction in two Ablowitz-Ladik chains with different coupling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamburova, R. S.; Primatarowa, M. T.

2014-12-01

The interaction of solitons with point defects in a system of coupled Ablowitz- Ladik (AL) chains is studied numerically. The system is a discrete analog of coupled nonlinear Schrodinger equations. Two types of interchain coupling are investigated: one which admits reduction of the system to the standard integrable AL model (dispersive coupling) and one which couples opposite sites of the chains and does not admit reduction to the AL model (nondispersive coupling). The action of the two coupling types is additive and they can compensate each other in some cases. We have obtained that the single-peak bound soliton-defect solution (attractive impurity) is stable against perturbations, while the double-peak bound soliton-defect solution (repulsive impurity) is unstable and can be easily destroyed. Linear point defects do not influence the period of energy transfer and it is close to the period for the homogeneous case.

Standard Gibbs free energies of reactions of ozone with free radicals in aqueous solution: quantum-chemical calculations.

PubMed

Naumov, Sergej; von Sonntag, Clemens

2011-11-01

Free radicals are common intermediates in the chemistry of ozone in aqueous solution. Their reactions with ozone have been probed by calculating the standard Gibbs free energies of such reactions using density functional theory (Jaguar 7.6 program). O(2) reacts fast and irreversibly only with simple carbon-centered radicals. In contrast, ozone also reacts irreversibly with conjugated carbon-centered radicals such as bisallylic (hydroxycylohexadienyl) radicals, with conjugated carbon/oxygen-centered radicals such as phenoxyl radicals, and even with nitrogen- oxygen-, sulfur-, and halogen-centered radicals. In these reactions, further ozone-reactive radicals are generated. Chain reactions may destroy ozone without giving rise to products other than O(2). This may be of importance when ozonation is used in pollution control, and reactions of free radicals with ozone have to be taken into account in modeling such processes.

•OH and e-aq are yet good candidates for demolishing the β-lactam system of a penicillin eliminating the antimicrobial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szabó, László; Tóth, Tünde; Rácz, Gergely; Takács, Erzsébet; Wojnárovits, László

2016-07-01

Tracking the pharmacophore of a drug subjected to advanced oxidation is essential for evaluating the efficiency of the process in terms of wastewater treatment. From this standpoint, the •OH and eaq- induced deactivation mechanism of amoxicillin, a penicillin derivative was investigated in dilute aqueous solution using pulse- and gamma-radiolysis techniques. Based on IR measurements, •OH and eaq- destroys the β-lactam system of amoxicillin with ~55% and ~84% efficiency, respectively. In aerated solution the elimination of the pharmacophore was slightly impaired since the reaction pathway of the ring-opening was disturbed owing to the reactivity of O2 and O2• - toward the intermediates of sulfur oxidation. The high potency of eaq- for β-lactam deactivation is attributed to the enhanced electron deficiency of the carbonyl carbon inside the lactam ring.

Interaction of pepsin-[C16mim]Br system: interfacial dilational rheology and conformational studies.

PubMed

Huang, Tian; Cao, Chong; Liu, Zi-lin; Li, Yang; Du, Feng-pei

2014-09-21

The interfacial rheological property is closely related to the stabilities of foams and emulsions, yet there have been limited studies on the interaction between proteins with ionic liquid-type imidazolium surfactants at the decane-water interface as well as in the bulk. Herein, we investigated the interfacial and bulk properties of pepsin (PEP) and an ionic liquid (IL), 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide, [C(16)mim]Br. The interfacial pressure and dilational rheology studies were performed to describe the formation of [C(16)mim]Br-pepsin complexes. The influence of the oscillating frequency and the bulk concentration of [C(16)mim]Br on the dilational properties were explored. The conformational changes were studied by monitoring the fluorescence and far UV-CD spectra. The results reveal that the globular structure of pepsin is one of the decisive factors controlling the nature of the interfacial film. The monotonous increase in the dilational elastic modulus of pepsin-[C(16)mim]Br solutions with the surface age indicates that no loops and tails had formed. Interestingly, with an increase in the concentration of [C(16)mim]Br, the εd-c curve first passes through a plateau value due to steric hindrance and the electrostatic barrier of already absorbed tenacious pepsin-[C(16)mim]Br complexes. With the further addition of [C(16)mim]Br, the remarkable decrease in dilational elastic modulus indicates that the compact structure is destroyed gradually. The results of the fluorescence spectra and far UV-CD spectra confirm that [C(16)mim]Br did not produce perceptible changes in pepsin at the concentrations studied in the dilational experiment. Possible schematic programs of the pepsin-[C(16)mim]Br interaction model at the interface and in bulk phase are proposed.

Cost and Performance Assessment of In-situ Chemical Oxidation for Intermittent and Continuous Oxidant Injection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, U.; Parker, J.; Borden, R. C.

2015-12-01

In situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is a popular remediation technology that involves injection of chemical oxidant into groundwater to destroy dissolved and non-aqueous liquid phase contaminants. Depending on site conditions, oxidant can be injected into the contaminated subsurface periodically (intermittently) or continuously. A common approach is to intermittently inject oxidant into a network of wells over a period long enough to emplace oxidant over a target treatment volume (referred to ISCO-int). The injection phase is followed by a passive phase when the oxidant is allowed to react with contaminants and natural oxygen demand (NOD) and to migrate under natural hydraulic gradients. This process may be repeated multiple times until termination criteria are met. Recently, some practitioners have adopted an alternative approach in which oxidant is injected continuously with extraction wells recovering unreacted oxidant to recycle with additional makeup oxidant to maintain its constant concentration (referred to ISCO-cont). Each method has certain advantages and disadvantages. This study numerically evaluates those two ISCO practices in terms of remediation costs and performance based on multiple equi-probable parameter sets. Stochastic cost optimization toolbox (SCOToolkit) is used for this purpose. SCOToolkit is an integrated semi-analytical model for contaminant transport and remediation (e.g., thermal source treatment, ISCO, electron donor injections, permeable reactive barriers) enabling inverse solution and Monte Carlo simulations. Four different aquifer settings, slow and fast Darcy velocities combined with low and high NOD conditions, are used for the evaluation. Preliminary results showed that ISCO-cont is effective for a full scale application without large investment while ISCO-int is more efficient to utilize oxidant in well-characterized sites. Pros and cons of each approach are discussed for the practical use of ISCO for various site conditions.

Formation of protein/surfactant adsorption layer at the air/water interface as studied by dilational surface rheology.

PubMed

Mikhailovskaya, A A; Noskov, B A; Lin, S-Y; Loglio, G; Miller, R

2011-08-25

The dynamic dilatational surface elasticity of mixed solutions of globular proteins (β-lactoglobulin (BLG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)) with cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)) and anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)) surfactants was measured as a function of the surfactant concentration and surface age. If the cationic surfactant concentration exceeds a certain critical value, the kinetic dependencies of the dynamic surface elasticity of BLG/DTAB and BSA/DTAB solutions become nonmonotonous and resemble those of mixed solutions of proteins with guanidine hydrochloride. This result indicates not only the destruction of the protein tertiary structure in the surface layer of mixed solution but also a strong perturbation of the secondary structure. The corresponding kinetic dependencies for protein solutions with added anionic surfactants are always monotonous, thereby revealing a different mechanism of the adsorption layer formation. One can assume that the secondary structure is destroyed to a lesser extent in the latter case and hinders the formation of loops and tails at the interface. The increase of the solution's ionic strength by the addition of sodium chloride results in stronger changes of the protein conformations in the surface layer and the appearance of a local maximum in the kinetic dependencies of the dynamic surface elasticity in a relatively narrow range of SDS concentration. © 2011 American Chemical Society

Ionizing radiation induced degradation of salicylic acid in aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albarrán, Guadalupe; Mendoza, Edith

2018-06-01

The radiation-induced degradation of salicylic acid (SA-) in aqueous solutions (1.0 and 0.1 mmol dm-3) saturated with N2O or air or without oxygen were studied. Irradiation was carried out using a cobalt-60 source. With a 1 mmol dm-3 solution saturated with N2O a seemingly total degradation occurred at about 18 kGy, although small quantities of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, catechol and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid were present at that dose at concentrations of 67, 22 and 6 μmol dm-3 respectively. Under air and when free oxygen, the three radiolytic products were present at 18.54 kGy while SA- was destroyed only to 90% and 62%, respectively. In the case of 0.1 mmol dm-3 SA- solutions, the acid was degraded at 3.5 kGy if the solution contained N2O, at 5.8 kGy in air and at 7 kGy without oxygen. The concentration of the radiolytic products increased with increasing dose and after a maximum they decreased. The oxidation was followed by measuring the chemical oxygen demand; the slopes were 0.48 and 0.11, 0.21 and 0.07, 0.15 and 0.03 mmol dm-3 kGy-1 for 1.0 and 0.10 mmol dm-3 solutions saturated with N2O or air or without oxygen, respectively.

Evaluation of the flow properties of xanthan gum solution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Duda, J.L.; Klaus, E.E.; Leung, W.C.

1981-02-01

In this study, the solution properties of two forms of xanthan gum, a powder and a broth, which are commercially available were evaluated. As previous studies have shown, the solutions prepared from the broth do exhibit better injectivity properties. However, this investigation also shows that other properties of these solutions are not equivalent. In its natural state, xanthane gum exists as a multistranded helix. This ordered confirmation can be destroyed and in a denatured state, the xanthan gum exhibits a more random configuration and consequently higher viscosity. One of the major conclusions of this study is that the xanthan powdermore » is partially denatured when compared to the xanthan molecules which exist in the broth. This denaturing may occur during the drying process in which the xanthan solids are removed from the broth. Solutions prepared from the broth in the absence of the added salt show a transition in the viscosity-temperature relationship at approximately 40 to 50/sup 0/C. This is consistent with the behavior of native xanthan gum solutions. At approximately 50/sup 0/C, the molecules in solution go into a more random state and consequently, an abrupt rise in the viscosity is observed. However, solutions prepared from the polymer powder do not show any evidence of such a transition. The solutions prepared from the broth can be thermally denatured, and this denaturing results in viscosities which are equivalent to the viscosities realized with the powdered polymer. Before denaturing, the broth solution showed a lower viscosity. Further, intrinsic viscosity measurements indicate that the hydrodynamic volume of the polymer solutions prepared from the borth are smaller than the hydrodynamic volumes of solutions prepared from the powder.« less

9 CFR 51.5 - Identification of animals to be destroyed because of brucellosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Identification of animals to be destroyed because of brucellosis. 51.5 Section 51.5 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.5...

9 CFR 51.5 - Identification of animals to be destroyed because of brucellosis.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Identification of animals to be destroyed because of brucellosis. 51.5 Section 51.5 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.5...

Discussion

Treesearch

1991-01-01

What follows represents the minutes of the workshop on wood-destroying organisms held in Bend, Oregon, September 14, 1989. The theme of the workshop was the state-of-the art of control of wood destroying organisms and the needs for further research on wood-destroying organisms. The agenda for the session was organized by W. Wayne Wilcox and Michael I. Haverty.

36 CFR 1223.24 - When can vital records be destroyed?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 36 Parks, Forests, and Public Property 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false When can vital records be destroyed? 1223.24 Section 1223.24 Parks, Forests, and Public Property NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION RECORDS MANAGEMENT MANAGING VITAL RECORDS § 1223.24 When can vital records be destroyed? The...

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-17

Navy DDG- 51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress Ronald O’Rourke Specialist in Naval Affairs December 17......Congressional Research Service Summary The Navy has been procuring Arleigh Burke (DDG- 51 ) class Aegis destroyers since FY1985. The two DDG- 51 class

9 CFR 51.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.3 Payment to owners for animals... cattle. (b) Swine—(1) Brucellosis reactor swine. The Administrator may authorize 3 the payment of Federal indemnity by the United States Department of Agriculture to an owner whose breeding swine are destroyed as...

9 CFR 52.4 - Presentation of claims.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... AGRICULTURE COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES SWINE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF PSEUDORABIES § 52.4 Presentation of claims. (a) When swine have been destroyed under § 52.2(a), any claim for... veterinarian in charge on a form furnished by APHIS. (b) When swine have been destroyed under § 52.2(b), any...

9 CFR 51.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.3 Payment to owners for animals... cattle. (b) Swine—(1) Brucellosis reactor swine. The Administrator may authorize 3 the payment of Federal indemnity by the United States Department of Agriculture to an owner whose breeding swine are destroyed as...

9 CFR 51.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.3 Payment to owners for animals... cattle. (b) Swine—(1) Brucellosis reactor swine. The Administrator may authorize 3 the payment of Federal indemnity by the United States Department of Agriculture to an owner whose breeding swine are destroyed as...

9 CFR 51.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.3 Payment to owners for animals... cattle. (b) Swine—(1) Brucellosis reactor swine. The Administrator may authorize 3 the payment of Federal indemnity by the United States Department of Agriculture to an owner whose breeding swine are destroyed as...

9 CFR 51.3 - Payment to owners for animals destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Cattle, Bison, and Swine § 51.3 Payment to owners for animals... cattle. (b) Swine—(1) Brucellosis reactor swine. The Administrator may authorize 3 the payment of Federal indemnity by the United States Department of Agriculture to an owner whose breeding swine are destroyed as...

31 CFR 100.6 - Destroyed paper currency.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Destroyed paper currency. 100.6..., DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY EXCHANGE OF PAPER CURRENCY AND COIN Exchange of Mutilated Paper Currency § 100.6 Destroyed paper currency. No relief will be granted on account of lawfully held paper currency of the United...

Chemical solution deposition method of fabricating highly aligned MgO templates

DOEpatents

Paranthaman, Mariappan Parans [Knoxville, TN; Sathyamurthy, Srivatsan [Knoxville, TN; Aytug, Tolga [Knoxville, TN; Arendt, Paul N [Los Alamos, NM; Stan, Liliana [Los Alamos, NM; Foltyn, Stephen R [Los Alamos, NM

2012-01-03

A superconducting article includes a substrate having an untextured metal surface; an untextured barrier layer of La.sub.2Zr.sub.2O.sub.7 or Gd.sub.2Zr.sub.2O.sub.7 supported by and in contact with the surface of the substrate; a biaxially textured buffer layer supported by the untextured barrier layer; and a biaxially textured superconducting layer supported by the biaxially textured buffer layer. Moreover, a method of forming a buffer layer on a metal substrate includes the steps of: providing a substrate having an untextured metal surface; coating the surface of the substrate with a barrier layer precursor; converting the precursor to an untextured barrier layer; and depositing a biaxially textured buffer layer above and supported by the untextured barrier layer.

ADA access to passenger vessels : finding safety equivalence solutions for weathertight doors with coamings : Phase 2 : a risk management approach to reconfiguration design solutions

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-03-01

This report examines a risk management methodology to provide for both marine safety and disability access at weathertight doors into passenger accommodation spaces on U.S. passenger vessels. The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance B...

Do Social Work Students Assess and Address Economic Barriers to Clients Implementing Agreed Tasks?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eamon, Mary Keegan; Zhang, Sai-jun

2006-01-01

Identical vignettes except for a sentence describing a client's economic resources were randomly assigned to 129 MSW students. The vignettes described a social worker who agreed with a client's decision to relocate her residence as a partial solution to a presenting problem but did not assess or address economic barriers to the client's…

Understanding and Improving Blind Students' Access to Visual Information in Computer Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Catherine M.

2017-01-01

Teaching people with disabilities tech skills empowers them to create solutions to problems they encounter and prepares them for careers. However, computer science is typically taught in a highly visual manner which can present barriers for people who are blind. The goal of this dissertation is to understand and decrease those barriers. The first…

Beginning to Understand Why New Hampshire's Rural Educators Chose Not to Join New Hampshire's Newly Developed On-Line Professional Learning Communities: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Cheryl B.

2011-01-01

Rural educators face many barriers when trying to participate in high quality professional development, including isolation, funding issues, distance, and lack of temporary replacements. Technological solutions can assist rural educators in overcoming these barriers. Participating in on-line professional learning communities can provide New…

Breaking Down Cultural Barriers to Military Entry into Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hollis, Michael J.

2009-01-01

The purpose of this paper was to identify a problem in higher education that needed a new solution and draft a viable proposal for how to resolve it. I chose the problem of cultural barriers that veterans often face when attempting to return to many universities following military service. The method used was a combination of existing literature…

The Open Translation MOOC: Creating Online Communities to Transcend Linguistic Barriers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beaven, Tita; Comas-Quinn, Anna; Hauck, Mirjam; de los Arcos, Beatriz; Lewis, Timothy

2013-01-01

One of the main barriers to the reuse of Open Educational Resources (OER) is language (OLnet, 2009). OER may be available but in a language that users cannot access, so a preliminary step to reuse is their translation or localization. One of the obvious solutions to the vast effort required to translate OER is to crowd-source the translation, as…

Finite barrier corrections to the PGH solution of Kramers' turnover theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pollak, Eli; Ianconescu, Reuven

2014-04-01

Kramers [Physica 7, 284 (1940)], in his seminal paper, derived expressions for the rate of crossing a barrier in the underdamped limit of weak friction and the moderate to strong friction limit. The challenge of obtaining a uniform expression for the rate, valid for all damping strengths is known as Kramers turnover theory. Two different solutions have been presented. Mel'nikov and Meshkov [J. Chem. Phys. 85, 1018 (1986)] (MM) considered the motion of the particle, treating the friction as a perturbation parameter. Pollak, Grabert, and Hänggi [J. Chem. Phys. 91, 4073 (1989)] (PGH), considered the motion along the unstable mode which is separable from the bath in the barrier region. In practice, the two theories differ in the way an energy loss parameter is estimated. In this paper, we show that previous numerical attempts to resolve the quality of the two approaches were incomplete and that at least for a cubic potential with Ohmic friction, the quality of agreement of both expressions with numerical simulation is similar over a large range of friction strengths and temperatures. Mel'nikov [Phys. Rev. E 48, 3271 (1993)], in a later paper, improved his theory by introducing finite barrier corrections. In this paper we note that previous numerical tests of the finite barrier corrections were also incomplete. They did not employ the exact rate expression, but a harmonic approximation to it. The central part of this paper, is to include finite barrier corrections also within the PGH formalism. Tests on a cubic potential demonstrate that finite barrier corrections significantly improve the agreement of both MM and PGH theories when compared with numerical simulations.

Bladder surface glycosaminoglycans is a human epithelial permeability barrier.

PubMed

Lilly, J D; Parsons, C L

1990-12-01

Transitional epithelium of the bladder has been known to be impermeable. The data reported herein suggest the principal barrier to permeability may be glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of the surface of the bladder. We examined the ability of surface GAG to prevent a small molecule, urea, from moving across the epithelium in humans. It appears that GAG provide a physical barrier which prevents small molecules from reaching the underlying tight junctions and cell membranes and, hence, are a major permeability barrier. Normal volunteers (27) had 100 milliliters of a 200 grams per liter urea solution placed into their bladders for 45 minutes. Net flow of urea from the bladder lumen was 5.1 per cent. Volunteers who were capable of completing the study (19) had protamine sulfate (5 milligrams per milliliter) instilled in the bladder for 15 minutes, then removed and a second urea study done. Urea loss was significantly higher at 22 per cent (p less than 0.02). A solution of heparin (2,000 units per milliliter) was instilled for 15 minutes followed by a third urea study and urea loss was reversed to 9 per cent. All volunteers experienced significant urinary urgency and discomfort after protamine treatment which were reduced by heparin.

Decontamination systems information and research program. Quarterly report, April--June 1996

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

NONE

This report contains separate reports on the following subtasks: analysis of the Vortec cyclone melting system for remediation of PCB contaminated soils using CFD; drain enhanced soil flushing using prefabricated vertical drains; performance and characteristics evaluation of acrylates as grout barriers; development of standard test protocol barrier design models for desiccation barriers, and for in-situ formed barriers; in-situ bioremediation of chlorinated solvents at Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant; development of a decision support system and a prototype database for management of the EM50 technology development program; GIS-based infrastructure for site characterization and remediation; treatment of mixed wastes via fluidized bed steammore » reforming; use of centrifugal membrane technology to treat hazardous/radioactive waste; environmental pollution control devices based on novel forms of carbon; development of instrumental methods for analysis of nuclear wastes and environmental materials; production and testing of biosorbents and cleaning solutions for D and D; use of SpinTek centrifugal membrane and sorbents/cleaning solutions for D and D; West Virginia High Tech Consortium Foundation--Environmental support program; small business interaction opportunities; and approach for assessing potential voluntary environmental protection.« less

A finite difference analysis of the field present behind an acoustically impenetrable two-layer barrier.

PubMed

Hurrell, Andrew M

2008-06-01

The interaction of an incident sound wave with an acoustically impenetrable two-layer barrier is considered. Of particular interest is the presence of several acoustic wave components in the shadow region of this barrier. A finite difference model capable of simulating this geometry is validated by comparison to the analytical solution for an idealized, hard-soft barrier. A panel comprising a high air-content closed cell foam backed with an elastic (metal) back plate is then examined. The insertion loss of this panel was found to exceed the dynamic range of the measurement system and was thus acoustically impenetrable. Experimental results from such a panel are shown to contain artifacts not present in the diffraction solution, when acoustic waves are incident upon the soft surface. A finite difference analysis of this experimental configuration replicates the presence of the additional field components. Furthermore, the simulated results allow the additional components to be identified as arising from the S(0) and A(0) Lamb modes traveling in the elastic plate. These Lamb mode artifacts are not found to be present in the shadow region when the acoustic waves are incident upon the elastic surface.

Barriers to Patient Use of Control Solution for Glucose Meters: Surveys of Patients, Pharmacists, and Providers in a Metropolitan Area.

PubMed

Johnson, Jeremy L; O'Neal, Katherine S; Pack, Christopher C; Carter, Sandra M

2017-05-01

An important factor in controlling diabetes is self-monitoring of blood glucose. Manufacturers of glucose meters recommend routine use of control solution to ensure accuracy. Previous studies have demonstrated that glucose meters vary in accuracy and that patients are not using control solution as recommended. The purpose of this study is to identify potential barriers to control solution use from multiple perspectives including patient, pharmacist, and provider. This study was a prospective, observational survey design. First, 25 randomly selected chain and independent pharmacies in the Tulsa metropolitan area were audited for control solution accessibility. These pharmacies were then used to survey pharmacists, via telephone, regarding control solution inventory and perception of importance of use. Next, providers were electronically surveyed on their routine practice recommendations, while 60 patients with diabetes were randomly selected for telephone survey on use and perceptions of control solution. Twenty-five pharmacies were audited and 23 pharmacists, 60 patients, and 29 providers were surveyed. Only 39% of pharmacies stated they supplied control solution, however, only 1 pharmacy visibly stocked it. The only patient factor that appeared to have an impact on control solution usage was having type 1 versus type 2 diabetes (38% vs 15%). Providers are aware of what control solution is (62%), but only half felt it should be routine practice with 44% of those never recommending it. This study raises awareness for the need to educate patients, providers, and pharmacists about use of control solution to ensure glucose meter accuracy.

Early Failures Benefit Subsequent Task Performance.

PubMed

Igata, Hideyoshi; Sasaki, Takuya; Ikegaya, Yuji

2016-02-17

Animals navigate using cognitive maps. However, how they adaptively exploit these maps in changing environments is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the problem-solving behaviors of mice in a complicated maze in which multiple routes with different intersections were available (Test 1). Although all mice eventually settled on the shortest route, mice that initially exhibited more trial-and-error exploration solved the maze more rapidly. We then introduced one or two barriers that obstructed learned routes such that mice had to establish novel roundabout detours (Tests 2/3). Solutions varied among mice but were predictable based on individual early trial-and-error patterns observed in Test 1: mice that had initially explored more extensively found better solutions. Finally, when the barriers were removed (Test 4), all mice reverted to the best solution after active exploration. Thus, early active exploration helps mice to develop optimal strategies.

Opportunities and barriers to cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in English secondary schools.

PubMed

Lockey, Andrew S; Barton, Katherine; Yoxall, Heather

2016-10-01

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates and survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are poor in the UK compared with areas abroad that deliver mandatory training to all school children. We sought to identify barriers to training and develop a strategy to enable delivery of this training. Qualitative analysis, comprising semistructured interviews and group discussions, covering 14 schools in the metropolitan borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire. Only three schools out of 14 were delivering training to entire year groups. Barriers include lack of resources, lack of training for teachers and difficulty in initiating a programme. Strategies were developed to overcome these barriers with the result that four additional schools are now teaching a whole year group. There is no single solution and bespoke plans may be needed for each school. The establishment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in secondary schools in the UK is achievable. The commonly perceived barriers to establishment of training are all surmountable, but solving them does not necessarily ensure universal coverage. Support from healthcare professionals, in particular public health, is essential to ensure that the training is as widespread as possible. Mandatory inclusion of this training on the school curriculum, as seen in other countries, would result in significantly improved survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest. Solutions to improve training have been proposed, which could be used in other parts of Europe where such training is not a mandatory requirement.

Characteristics of gas-liquid diaphragm discharge and its application on decolorization of brilliant red B in aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qingsong, GAO; Yongjun, LIU; Bing, SUN

2017-11-01

A simple gas-liquid diaphragm discharge reactor was designed and characteristics of the discharge and its application on decolorization of brilliant red B in an aqueous solution were investigated. The results showed that strong oxidizing agents such as ·OH and ·O radicals were generated. Average electron temperature of the discharge was 0.72 eV, 1.15 eV and 0.83 eV with air, oxygen and argon as the discharge gas, respectively. Solution pH and conductivity changed little when oxygen or argon was used as the discharge gas; however, these two parameters changed significantly when the discharge was performed in air. During the discharge treatment, the characteristic absorption peaks of brilliant red B gradually decreased where the decolorization followed the first-order kinetics. With 10 min of discharge, the decolorization of brilliant red B (30 mg L-1) can reach 96%, 81% and 62% in the cases of oxygen, argon and air, respectively. The analysis of by-products showed that the brilliant red B molecule can be effectively destroyed in this discharge mode.

The Healthcare Needs of Latinos with Serious Mental Illness and the Potential of Peer Navigators.

PubMed

Corrigan, Patrick W; Torres, Alessandra; Lara, Juana L; Sheehan, Lindsay; Larson, Jonathon E

2017-07-01

Latinos with serious mental illness get sick and die much younger than other adults. In this paper, we review findings of a community based participatory research project meant to identify important healthcare needs, barriers to these needs, solutions to the barriers, and the promise of peer navigators as a solution. Findings from focus groups reflected general concerns of people with mental illness (e.g., insurance, engagement, accessibility) and Latinos with serious mental illness (e.g., immigration, language, and family). Feedback and analyses especially focused on the potential of peer navigators. Implications of these findings for integrated care of Latinos with serious mental illness are discussed.

[Why don't doctors use early insulinization therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2?: A qualitative approach in a Mexican city].

PubMed

Lagunes-Córdoba, Roberto; Galindo-Guevara, Isaac; Reyes, Atalia Castillo; Romero-Aparicio, Citlalli; Rosas-Santiago, Francisco Javier

2017-01-01

Early insulinization therapy is regarded as an efficient aid to improve long term control and quality of life in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Nevertheless, both patients and medical staff confront barriers in using this therapeutic tool. This study employs a qualitative approach to explore the barriers to early insulinization among medical staff from the public sector in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, México. Between 2015 and 2016, in-depth interviews were conducted with general and specialist physicians offering primary health care to patients with DM2. The transcribed interviews were analyzed to extract and organize categories and subcategories of barriers among medical staff. These barriers were then grouped into three categories and exemplified with interview excerpts: barriers coming from the medical staff itself, barriers emerging from the doctor-patient interaction, and institutional barriers. Uses for the classification obtained are discussed, as are some of the solutions proposed by study participants.

Understanding pH Effects on Trichloroethylene and Perchloroethylene Adsorption to Iron in Permeable Reactive Barriers for Groundwater Remediation.

PubMed

Luo, Jing; Farrell, James

2013-01-01

Metallic iron filings are becoming increasing used in permeable reactive barriers for remediating groundwater contaminated by chlorinated solvents. Understanding solution pH effects on rates of reductive dechlorination in permeable reactive barriers is essential for designing remediation systems that can meet treatment objectives under conditions of varying groundwater properties. The objective of this research was to investigate how the solution pH value affects adsorption of trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) on metallic iron surfaces. Because adsorption is first required before reductive dechlorination can occur, pH effects on halocarbon adsorption energies may explain pH effects on dechlorination rates. Adsorption energies for TCE and PCE were calculated via molecular mechanics simulations using the Universal force field and a self-consistent reaction field charge equilibration scheme. A range in solution pH values was simulated by varying the amount of atomic hydrogen adsorbed on the iron. The potential energies associated TCE and PCE complexes were dominated by electrostatic interactions, and complex formation with the surface was found to result in significant electron transfer from the iron to the adsorbed halocarbons. Adsorbed atomic hydrogen was found to lower the energies of TCE complexes more than those for PCE. Attractions between atomic hydrogen and iron atoms were more favorable when TCE versus PCE was adsorbed to the iron surface. These two findings are consistent with the experimental observation that changes in solution pH affect TCE reaction rates more than those for PCE.

Use of Naval Force in Crises: A Theory of Stratified Crisis Interaction. Volume 1

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-12-01

of other Western navies. On November 9, 1970, a Soviet Kotlin -class destroyer that had been harassing the British aircraft carrier Ark Royal and her...with the destroyer USS Lawe (DD 763) and the America. On March 31, 1972, a Soviet Kotlin -class destroyer harassed USS Sims (DE 1059) and USS Pratt

9 CFR 51.27 - Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Identification of goats, sheep, and... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.27 Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed. The claimant must ensure that any goats, sheep, and...

41 CFR 102-75.990 - May Federal agencies abandon, destroy, or donate to public bodies real property?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... abandon, destroy, or donate to public bodies real property? 102-75.990 Section 102-75.990 Public Contracts... REGULATION REAL PROPERTY 75-REAL PROPERTY DISPOSAL Abandonment, Destruction, or Donation to Public Bodies § 102-75.990 May Federal agencies abandon, destroy, or donate to public bodies real property? Yes...

9 CFR 51.27 - Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Identification of goats, sheep, and... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.27 Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed. The claimant must ensure that any goats, sheep, and...

41 CFR 102-75.990 - May Federal agencies abandon, destroy, or donate to public bodies real property?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... abandon, destroy, or donate to public bodies real property? 102-75.990 Section 102-75.990 Public Contracts... REGULATION REAL PROPERTY 75-REAL PROPERTY DISPOSAL Abandonment, Destruction, or Donation to Public Bodies § 102-75.990 May Federal agencies abandon, destroy, or donate to public bodies real property? Yes...

Nanoparticle Drones to Target Lung Cancer with Radiosensitizers and Cannabinoids.

PubMed

Ngwa, Wilfred; Kumar, Rajiv; Moreau, Michele; Dabney, Raymond; Herman, Allen

2017-01-01

Nanotechnology has opened up a new, previously unimaginable world in cancer diagnosis and therapy, leading to the emergence of cancer nanomedicine and nanoparticle-aided radiotherapy. Smart nanomaterials (nanoparticle drones) can now be constructed with capability to precisely target cancer cells and be remotely activated with radiation to emit micrometer-range missile-like electrons to destroy the tumor cells. These nanoparticle drones can also be programmed to deliver therapeutic payloads to tumor sites to achieve optimal therapeutic efficacy. In this article, we examine the state-of-the-art and potential of nanoparticle drones in targeting lung cancer. Inhalation (INH) (air) versus traditional intravenous ("sea") routes of navigating physiological barriers using such drones is assessed. Results and analysis suggest that INH route may offer more promise for targeting tumor cells with radiosensitizers and cannabinoids from the perspective of maximizing damage to lung tumors cells while minimizing any collateral damage or side effects.

Primer on the Immune System.

PubMed

Spiering, Martin J

2015-01-01

The human body regularly encounters and combats many pathogenic organisms and toxic molecules. Its ensuing responses to these disease-causing agents involve two interrelated systems: innate immunity and adaptive (or acquired) immunity. Innate immunity is active at several levels, both at potential points of entry and inside the body (see figure). For example, the skin represents a physical barrier preventing pathogens from invading internal tissues. Digestive enzymes destroy microbes that enter the stomach with food. Macrophages and lymphocytes, equipped with molecular detectors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which latch onto foreign structures and activate cellular defenses, patrol the inside of the body. These immune cells sense and devour microbes, damaged cells, and other foreign materials in the body. Certain proteins in the blood (such as proteins of the complement system and those released by natural killer cells, along with antimicrobial host-defense peptides) attach to foreign organisms and toxins to initiate their destruction.

Canal construction destroys the barrier between major European invasion lineages of the zebra mussel.

PubMed Central

Müller, Jakob C; Hidde, Dennis; Seitz, Alfred

2002-01-01

Since the mid-1980s the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, Pallas 1771, has become the protagonist of a spectacular freshwater invasion in North America due to its large economic and biological impact. Several genetic studies on American populations have failed to detect any large-scale geographical patterns. In western Europe, where D. polymorpha has been a classical invader from the Pontocaspian since the early 19th century, the situation is strikingly different. Here, we show with genetic markers that two major western European invasion lineages with lowered genetic variability within and among populations can be discriminated. These two invasion lineages correspond with two separate navigable waterways to western Europe. We found a rapid and asymmetrical genetic interchange of the two invasion lines after the construction of the Main-Danube canal in 1992, which interconnected the two waterways across the main watershed. PMID:12061957

Photothermal Effect Enhanced Cascade-Targeting Strategy for Improved Pancreatic Cancer Therapy by Gold Nanoshell@Mesoporous Silica Nanorod.

PubMed

Zhao, Ruifang; Han, Xuexiang; Li, Yiye; Wang, Hai; Ji, Tianjiao; Zhao, Yuliang; Nie, Guangjun

2017-08-22

Pancreatic cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, is characterized by desmoplasia and hypovascular cancerous tissue, with a 5 year survival rate of <8%. To overcome the severe resistance of pancreatic cancer to conventional therapies, we synthesized gold nanoshell-coated rod-like mesoporous silica (GNRS) nanoparticles which integrated cascade tumor targeting (mediated by photothermal effect and molecular receptor binding) and photothermal treatment-enhanced gemcitabine chemotherapy, under mild near-infrared laser irradiation condition. GNRS significantly improved gemcitabine penetration and accumulation in tumor tissues, thus destroying the dense stroma barrier of pancreatic cancer and reinforcing chemosensitivity in mice. Our current findings strongly support the notion that further development of this integrated plasmonic photothermal strategy may represent a promising translational nanoformulation for effective treatment of pancreatic cancer with integral cascade tumor targeting strategy and enhanced drug delivery efficacy.

Foe or friend? Janus-faces of the neurovascular unit in the formation of brain metastases.

PubMed

Wilhelm, Imola; Fazakas, Csilla; Molnár, Kinga; Végh, Attila G; Haskó, János; Krizbai, István A

2018-04-01

Despite the potential obstacle represented by the blood-brain barrier for extravasating malignant cells, metastases are more frequent than primary tumors in the central nervous system. Not only tightly interconnected endothelial cells can hinder metastasis formation, other cells of the brain microenvironment (like astrocytes and microglia) can also be very hostile, destroying the large majority of metastatic cells. However, malignant cells that are able to overcome these harmful mechanisms may benefit from the shielding and even support provided by cerebral endothelial cells, astrocytes and microglia, rendering the brain a sanctuary site against anti-tumor strategies. Thus, cells of the neurovascular unit have a Janus-faced attitude towards brain metastatic cells, being both destructive and protective. In this review, we present the main mechanisms of brain metastasis formation, including those involved in extravasation through the brain vasculature and survival in the cerebral environment.

Environmental implications of the use of sulfidic back-bay sediments for dune reconstruction — Lessons learned post Hurricane Sandy

USGS Publications Warehouse

Plumlee, Geoffrey S.; Benzel, William M.; Hoefen, Todd M.; Hageman, Philip L.; Morman, Suzette A.; Reilly, Timothy J.; Adams, Monique; Berry, Cyrus J.; Fischer, Jeffrey; Fisher, Irene

2016-01-01

Some barrier-island dunes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy's storm surges in October 2012 have been reconstructed using sediments dredged from back bays. These sand-, clay-, and iron sulfide-rich sediments were used to make berm-like cores for the reconstructed dunes, which were then covered by beach sand. In November 2013, we sampled and analyzed partially weathered materials collected from the cores of reconstructed dunes. There are generally low levels of metal toxicants in the reconstructed dune materials. However oxidation of reactive iron sulfides by percolating rainwater produces acid-sulfate pore waters, which evaporate during dry periods to produce efflorescent gypsum and sodium jarosite salts. The results suggest use of sulfidic sediments in dune reconstruction has both drawbacks (e.g., potential to generate acid runoff from dune cores following rainfall, enhanced corrosion of steel bulwarks) and possible benefits (e.g., efflorescent salts may enhance structural integrity).

Nanoparticle Drones to Target Lung Cancer with Radiosensitizers and Cannabinoids

PubMed Central

Ngwa, Wilfred; Kumar, Rajiv; Moreau, Michele; Dabney, Raymond; Herman, Allen

2017-01-01

Nanotechnology has opened up a new, previously unimaginable world in cancer diagnosis and therapy, leading to the emergence of cancer nanomedicine and nanoparticle-aided radiotherapy. Smart nanomaterials (nanoparticle drones) can now be constructed with capability to precisely target cancer cells and be remotely activated with radiation to emit micrometer-range missile-like electrons to destroy the tumor cells. These nanoparticle drones can also be programmed to deliver therapeutic payloads to tumor sites to achieve optimal therapeutic efficacy. In this article, we examine the state-of-the-art and potential of nanoparticle drones in targeting lung cancer. Inhalation (INH) (air) versus traditional intravenous (“sea”) routes of navigating physiological barriers using such drones is assessed. Results and analysis suggest that INH route may offer more promise for targeting tumor cells with radiosensitizers and cannabinoids from the perspective of maximizing damage to lung tumors cells while minimizing any collateral damage or side effects. PMID:28971063

Developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch physical therapy COPD clinical practice guideline.

PubMed

van der Wees, Philip J; Zagers, Cor A M; de Die, Sara E; Hendriks, Erik J M; Nijhuis-van der Sanden, Maria W G; de Bie, Rob A

2013-05-01

Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to assist healthcare practitioners in clinical decision making. Publication of clinical practice guidelines does not automatically lead to their uptake and barrier identification has been recognized as an important step in implementation planning. This study aimed at developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch COPD guideline for physical therapists and its recommended measurement instruments. An overall questionnaire, based on two existing questionnaires, was constructed to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The construct of the questionnaire was assessed in a cross-sectional study among 246 chest physical therapists. Factor analysis was conducted to explore underlying dimensions. Psychometric properties were analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. Barriers and facilitators were assessed using descriptive statistics. Some 139 physical therapists (57%) responded. Factor analysis revealed 4-factor and 5-factor solutions with an explained variance of 36% and 39% respectively. Cronbach's alpha of the overall questionnaire was 0.90, and varied from 0.66 to 0.92 for the different factors. Underlying domains of the 5-factor solution were characterized as: attitude towards using measurement instruments, knowledge and skills of the physical therapist, applicability of the COPD guideline, required investment of time & money, and patient characteristics. Physical therapists showed a positive attitude toward using the COPD guideline. Main barriers for implementation were required time investment and financial constraints. The construct of the questionnaire revealed relevant underlying domains for the identification of barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The questionnaire allowed for tailoring to the target group and may be used across health care professionals as basis for in-depth analysis of barriers to specific recommendations in guidelines. The results of the questionnaire alone do not provide sufficient information to inform the development of an implementation strategy. The infrastructure for developing the guideline can be used for addressing key barriers by the guideline development group, using the questionnaire as well as in-depth analysis such as focus group interviews. Further development of methods for prospective identification of barriers and consequent tailoring of implementation interventions is required.

Developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch physical therapy COPD clinical practice guideline

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Clinical practice guidelines have been developed to assist healthcare practitioners in clinical decision making. Publication of clinical practice guidelines does not automatically lead to their uptake and barrier identification has been recognized as an important step in implementation planning. This study aimed at developing a questionnaire to identify perceived barriers for implementing the Dutch COPD guideline for physical therapists and its recommended measurement instruments. Methods An overall questionnaire, based on two existing questionnaires, was constructed to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The construct of the questionnaire was assessed in a cross-sectional study among 246 chest physical therapists. Factor analysis was conducted to explore underlying dimensions. Psychometric properties were analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha. Barriers and facilitators were assessed using descriptive statistics. Results Some 139 physical therapists (57%) responded. Factor analysis revealed 4-factor and 5-factor solutions with an explained variance of 36% and 39% respectively. Cronbach’s alpha of the overall questionnaire was 0.90, and varied from 0.66 to 0.92 for the different factors. Underlying domains of the 5-factor solution were characterized as: attitude towards using measurement instruments, knowledge and skills of the physical therapist, applicability of the COPD guideline, required investment of time & money, and patient characteristics. Physical therapists showed a positive attitude toward using the COPD guideline. Main barriers for implementation were required time investment and financial constraints. Conclusions The construct of the questionnaire revealed relevant underlying domains for the identification of barriers and facilitators for implementing the COPD guideline. The questionnaire allowed for tailoring to the target group and may be used across health care professionals as basis for in-depth analysis of barriers to specific recommendations in guidelines. The results of the questionnaire alone do not provide sufficient information to inform the development of an implementation strategy. The infrastructure for developing the guideline can be used for addressing key barriers by the guideline development group, using the questionnaire as well as in-depth analysis such as focus group interviews. Further development of methods for prospective identification of barriers and consequent tailoring of implementation interventions is required. PMID:23631555

Nonlinear tunneling of optical soliton in 3 coupled NLS equation with symbolic computation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mani Rajan, M.S., E-mail: senthilmanirajanofc@gmail.com; Mahalingam, A.; Uthayakumar, A.

We investigated the soliton solution for N coupled nonlinear Schrödinger (CNLS) equations. These equations are coupled due to the cross-phase-modulation (CPM). Lax pair of this system is obtained via the Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur (AKNS) scheme and the corresponding Darboux transformation is constructed to derive the soliton solution. One and two soliton solutions are generated. Using two soliton solutions of 3 CNLS equation, nonlinear tunneling of soliton for both with and without exponential background has been discussed. Finally cascade compression of optical soliton through multi-nonlinear barrier has been discussed. The obtained results may have promising applications in all-optical devices based on optical solitons,more » study of soliton propagation in birefringence fiber systems and optical soliton with distributed dispersion and nonlinearity management. -- Highlights: •We consider the nonlinear tunneling of soliton in birefringence fiber. •3-coupled NLS (CNLS) equation with variable coefficients is considered. •Two soliton solutions are obtained via Darboux transformation using constructed Lax pair. •Soliton tunneling through dispersion barrier and well are investigated. •Finally, cascade compression of soliton has been achieved.« less

The Pharmacogenomics Research Network Translational Pharmacogenetics Program: Outcomes and Metrics of Pharmacogenetic Implementations Across Diverse Healthcare Systems.

PubMed

Luzum, J A; Pakyz, R E; Elsey, A R; Haidar, C E; Peterson, J F; Whirl-Carrillo, M; Handelman, S K; Palmer, K; Pulley, J M; Beller, M; Schildcrout, J S; Field, J R; Weitzel, K W; Cooper-DeHoff, R M; Cavallari, L H; O'Donnell, P H; Altman, R B; Pereira, N; Ratain, M J; Roden, D M; Embi, P J; Sadee, W; Klein, T E; Johnson, J A; Relling, M V; Wang, L; Weinshilboum, R M; Shuldiner, A R; Freimuth, R R

2017-09-01

Numerous pharmacogenetic clinical guidelines and recommendations have been published, but barriers have hindered the clinical implementation of pharmacogenetics. The Translational Pharmacogenetics Program (TPP) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pharmacogenomics Research Network was established in 2011 to catalog and contribute to the development of pharmacogenetic implementations at eight US healthcare systems, with the goal to disseminate real-world solutions for the barriers to clinical pharmacogenetic implementation. The TPP collected and normalized pharmacogenetic implementation metrics through June 2015, including gene-drug pairs implemented, interpretations of alleles and diplotypes, numbers of tests performed and actionable results, and workflow diagrams. TPP participant institutions developed diverse solutions to overcome many barriers, but the use of Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines provided some consistency among the institutions. The TPP also collected some pharmacogenetic implementation outcomes (scientific, educational, financial, and informatics), which may inform healthcare systems seeking to implement their own pharmacogenetic testing programs. © 2017, The American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Microfluidic devices with permeable polymer barriers for capture and transport of biomolecules and cells.

PubMed

Lee, Ho Suk; Chu, Wai Keung; Zhang, Kun; Huang, Xiaohua

2013-09-07

We report a method for fabricating permeable polymer microstructure barriers in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices and the use of the devices to capture and transport DNA and cells. The polymer microstructure in a desired location in a fluidic channel is formed in situ by the polymerization of acrylamide and polyethylene diacrylate cross-linker (PEG-DA) monomer in a solution which is trapped in the location using a pair of PDMS valves. The porous polymer microstructure provides a mechanical barrier to convective fluid flow in the channel or between two microfluidic chambers while it still conducts ions or small charged species under an electric field, allowing for the rapid capture and transport of biomolecules and cells by electrophoresis. We have demonstrated the application of the devices for the rapid capture and efficient release of bacteriophage λ genomic DNA, solution exchange and for the transport and capture of HeLa cells. Our devices will enable the multi-step processing of biomolecules and cells or individual cells within a single microfluidic chamber.

A manifold independent approach to understanding transport in stochastic dynamical systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bollt, Erik M.; Billings, Lora; Schwartz, Ira B.

2002-12-01

We develop a new collection of tools aimed at studying stochastically perturbed dynamical systems. Specifically, in the setting of bi-stability, that is a two-attractor system, it has previously been numerically observed that a small noise volume is sufficient to destroy would be zero-noise case barriers in the phase space (pseudo-barriers), thus creating a pre-heteroclinic tangency chaos-like behavior. The stochastic dynamical system has a corresponding Frobenius-Perron operator with a stochastic kernel, which describes how densities of initial conditions move under the noisy map. Thus in studying the action of the Frobenius-Perron operator, we learn about the transport of the map; we have employed a Galerkin-Ulam-like method to project the Frobenius-Perron operator onto a discrete basis set of characteristic functions to highlight this action localized in specified regions of the phase space. Graph theoretic methods allow us to re-order the resulting finite dimensional Markov operator approximation so as to highlight the regions of the original phase space which are particularly active pseudo-barriers of the stochastic dynamics. Our toolbox allows us to find: (1) regions of high activity of transport, (2) flux across pseudo-barriers, and also (3) expected time of escape from pseudo-basins. Some of these quantities are also possible via the manifold dependent stochastic Melnikov method, but Melnikov only applies to a very special class of models for which the unperturbed homoclinic orbit is available. Our methods are unique in that they can essentially be considered as a “black-box” of tools which can be applied to a wide range of stochastic dynamical systems in the absence of a priori knowledge of manifold structures. We use here a model of childhood diseases to showcase our methods. Our tools will allow us to make specific observations of: (1) loss of reducibility between basins with increasing noise, (2) identification in the phase space of active regions of stochastic transport, (3) stochastic flux which essentially completes the heteroclinic tangle.

Destruction of vasculogenic mimicry channels by targeting epirubicin plus celecoxib liposomes in treatment of brain glioma

PubMed Central

Ju, Rui-Jun; Zeng, Fan; Liu, Lei; Mu, Li-Min; Xie, Hong-Jun; Zhao, Yao; Yan, Yan; Wu, Jia-Shuan; Hu, Ying-Jie; Lu, Wan-Liang

2016-01-01

The efficacy of chemotherapy for brain glioma is restricted by the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and surgery or radiotherapy cannot eliminate the glioma cells because of their unique location. Residual brain glioma cells can form vasculogenic mimicry (VM) channels that can cause a recurrence of brain glioma. In the present study, targeting liposomes incorporating epirubicin and celecoxib were prepared and used for the treatment of brain glioma, along with the destruction of their VM channels. Evaluations were performed on the human brain glioma U87MG cells in vitro and on intracranial brain glioma-bearing nude mice. Targeting epirubicin plus celecoxib liposomes in the circulatory blood system were able to be transported across the BBB, and accumulated in the brain glioma region. Then, the liposomes were internalized by brain glioma cells and killed glioma cells by direct cytotoxic injury and the induction of apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis was related to the activation of caspase-8- and -3-signaling pathways, the activation of the proapoptotic protein Bax, and the suppression of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1. The destruction of brain glioma VM channels was related to the downregulation of VM channel-forming indictors, which consisted of MMP-2, MMP-9, FAK, VE-Cad, and VEGF. The results demonstrated that the targeting epirubicin plus celecoxib liposomes were able to effectively destroy the glioma VM channels and exhibited significant efficacy in the treatment of intracranial glioma-bearing nude mice. Therefore, targeting epirubicin plus celecoxib liposomes could be a potential nanostructured formulation to treat gliomas and destroy their VM channels. PMID:27042063

Assessment of microbial contamination of radiographic equipment and materials during intraoral imaging procedures.

PubMed

Pinheiro, S L; Martoni, S C; Ogera, R R

2012-05-01

Aim of the present study was to assess microbial contamination of radiology procedures. Patients who needed radiographic exams were selected and the bisecting technique was used: G1 - (control): absence of plastic barrier and overgloving or disinfectant solutions; G2 - alcohol spraying; G3 - protection of the film with a plastic barrier and alcohol spray; G4 - protection of film with plastic barrier, use of overgloving and alcohol spray. The following regions were assessed: trigger switch, X-ray tube, sleeve of the portable dark chamber, water, developer and fixer. The areas for microbiological sample collection were standardized with a label cut internally so that the hollow area was 5 cm long and 2 cm wide. One mL of the developer, water and fixer were also collected before and after developing the films. The samples were incubated under anaerobiosis and aerobiosis. The results were submitted to the Cochran's Q and Mann-Whitney tests. The sleeve of the developing chamber showed greater anaerobic contamination followed by the X-ray tube and only the use of alcohol associated with mechanical barriers was efficient to control this microbiota. The trigger showed higher aerobic microbial contamination and the use of alcohol or alcohol associated with mechanical barriers was efficient to control this microbiota. The developing solutions presented no significant growth of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria. The characteristic of an aerobic or anaerobic microbial strain influences microbial contamination while radiographic projections are being taken and the use of alcohol associated with a plastic barrier and overgloving is indicated to reduce this microbiota.

Managing barriers to empathy in the clinical encounter: a qualitative interview study with GPs.

PubMed

Derksen, Frans Awm; Olde Hartman, Tim C; Bensing, Jozien M; Lagro-Janssen, Antoine Lm

2016-12-01

Current daily general practice has become increasingly technical and somatically oriented (where attention to patients' feelings is decreased) due to an increase in protocol-based guidelines. Priorities in GP-patient communication have shifted from a focus on listening and empathy to task-oriented communication. To explore what barriers GPs experience when applying empathy in daily practice, and how these barriers are managed. Thirty Dutch GPs with sufficient heterogeneity in sex, age, type of practice, and rural or urban setting were interviewed. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were applied. The verbatim transcripts were then analysed. According to participating GPs, the current emphasis on protocol-driven care can be a significant barrier to genuineness in communication. Other potential barriers mentioned were time pressures and constraints, and dealing with patients displaying 'unruly behaviour' or those with personality disorders. GPs indicated that it can be difficult to balance emotional involvement and professional distance. Longer consulting times, smaller practice populations, and efficient practice organisation were described as practical solutions. In order to focus on a patient-as-person approach, GPs strongly suggested that deviating from guidelines should be possible when necessary as an element of good-quality care. Joining intercollegiate counselling groups was also discussed. In addition to practical solutions for barriers to behaving empathically, GPs indicated that they needed more freedom to balance working with protocols and guidelines, as well as a patient-as-person and patient-as-partner approach. This balance is necessary to remain connected with patients and to deliver care that is truly personal. © British Journal of General Practice 2016.

Perceived barriers to the regionalization of adult critical care in the United States: a qualitative preliminary study

PubMed Central

Kahn, Jeremy M; Asch, Rebecca J; Iwashyna, Theodore J; Rubenfeld, Gordon D; Angus, Derek C; Asch, David A

2008-01-01

Background Regionalization of adult critical care services may improve outcomes for critically ill patients. We sought to develop a framework for understanding clinician attitudes toward regionalization and potential barriers to developing a tiered, regionalized system of care in the United States. Methods We performed a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of critical care stakeholders in the United States, including physicians, nurses and hospital administrators. Stakeholders were identified from a stratified-random sample of United States general medical and surgical hospitals. Key barriers and potential solutions were identified by performing content analysis of the interview transcriptions. Results We interviewed 30 stakeholders from 24 different hospitals, representing a broad range of hospital locations and sizes. Key barriers to regionalization included personal and economic strain on families, loss of autonomy on the part of referring physicians and hospitals, loss of revenue on the part of referring physicians and hospitals, the potential to worsen outcomes at small hospitals by limiting services, and the potential to overwhelm large hospitals. Improving communication between destination and source hospitals, provider education, instituting voluntary objective criteria to become a designated referral center, and mechanisms to feed back patients and revenue to source hospitals were identified as potential solutions to some of these barriers. Conclusion Regionalization efforts will be met with significant conceptual and structural barriers. These data provide a foundation for future research and can be used to inform policy decisions regarding the design and implementation of a regionalized system of critical care. PMID:19014704

Evidence-based dentistry for planning restorative treatments: barriers and potential solutions.

PubMed

Afrashtehfar, K I; Eimar, H; Yassine, R; Abi-Nader, S; Tamimi, F

2017-11-01

Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) can help provide the best treatment option for every patient, however, its implementation in restorative dentistry is very limited. This study aimed at assessing the barriers preventing the implementation of EBD among dental undergraduate and graduate students in Montreal, and explore possible solutions to overcome these barriers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by means of a paper format self-administrated questionnaire distributed among dental students. The survey assessed the barriers and potential solutions for implementation of an evidence-based practice. Sixty-one students completed the questionnaire. Forty-one percent of respondents found evidence-based literature to be the most reliable source of information for restorative treatment planning, however, only 16% used it. They considered that finding reliable information was difficult and they sometimes encountered conflicting information when consulting different sources. Dental students had positive attitudes towards the need for better access to evidence-based literature to assist learning and decision making in restorative treatment planning and to improve treatment outcomes. Even for dentists trained in EBD, online searching takes too much time, and even though it can provide information of better quality than personal intuition, it might not be enough to identify the best available evidence. Even though dental students are aware of the importance of EBD in restorative dentistry they rarely apply the concept, mainly due to time constraints. For this reason, implementation of EBD would probably require faster access to evidence-based knowledge. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Analytical solutions of one-dimensional multispecies reactive transport in a permeable reactive barrier-aquifer system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mieles, John; Zhan, Hongbin

2012-06-01

The permeable reactive barrier (PRB) remediation technology has proven to be more cost-effective than conventional pump-and-treat systems, and has demonstrated the ability to rapidly reduce the concentrations of specific chemicals of concern (COCs) by up to several orders of magnitude in some scenarios. This study derives new steady-state analytical solutions to multispecies reactive transport in a PRB-aquifer (dual domain) system. The advantage of the dual domain model is that it can account for the potential existence of natural degradation in the aquifer, when designing the required PRB thickness. The study focuses primarily on the steady-state analytical solutions of the tetrachloroethene (PCE) serial degradation pathway and secondly on the analytical solutions of the parallel degradation pathway. The solutions in this study can also be applied to other types of dual domain systems with distinct flow and transport properties. The steady-state analytical solutions are shown to be accurate and the numerical program RT3D is selected for comparison. The results of this study are novel in that the solutions provide improved modeling flexibility including: 1) every species can have unique first-order reaction rates and unique retardation factors, and 2) daughter species can be modeled with their individual input concentrations or solely as byproducts of the parent species. The steady-state analytical solutions exhibit a limitation that occurs when interspecies reaction rate factors equal each other, which result in undefined solutions. Excel spreadsheet programs were created to facilitate prompt application of the steady-state analytical solutions, for both the serial and parallel degradation pathways.

Subscale Ship Airwake Studies Using Novel Vortex Flow Devices with Smoke, Laser-Vapor-Screen and Particle Image Velocimetry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lamar, John E.; Landman, Drew; Swift, Russell S.; Parikh, Paresh C.

2007-01-01

Ships produce vortices and air-wakes while either underway or stationary in a wind. These flow fields can be detrimental to the conduction of air operations in that they can adversely impact the air vehicles and flight crews. There are potential solutions to these problems for both frigates/destroyers and carriers through the use of novel vortex flow or flow control devices. This appendix highlights several devices which may have application and points out that traditional wind-tunnel testing using smoke, laser-vapor screen, and Particle Image Velocimetry can be useful in sorting out the effectiveness of different devices.

Antimicrobial peptide capsids of de novo design.

PubMed

De Santis, Emiliana; Alkassem, Hasan; Lamarre, Baptiste; Faruqui, Nilofar; Bella, Angelo; Noble, James E; Micale, Nicola; Ray, Santanu; Burns, Jonathan R; Yon, Alexander R; Hoogenboom, Bart W; Ryadnov, Maxim G

2017-12-22

The spread of bacterial resistance to antibiotics poses the need for antimicrobial discovery. With traditional search paradigms being exhausted, approaches that are altogether different from antibiotics may offer promising and creative solutions. Here, we introduce a de novo peptide topology that-by emulating the virus architecture-assembles into discrete antimicrobial capsids. Using the combination of high-resolution and real-time imaging, we demonstrate that these artificial capsids assemble as 20-nm hollow shells that attack bacterial membranes and upon landing on phospholipid bilayers instantaneously (seconds) convert into rapidly expanding pores causing membrane lysis (minutes). The designed capsids show broad antimicrobial activities, thus executing one primary function-they destroy bacteria on contact.

Extraction of three-dimensional silver nanostructures with supercritical fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taguchi, Natsuo; Takeyasu, Nobuyuki; Kawata, Satoshi

2018-02-01

In a previous report, a self-growing approach was proposed for fabricating complex silver nanostructures, where silver dendrites were grown at silver nanoseeds in silver ion solution owing to plasmonic heating with ultraviolet light. Structures were deformed or destroyed when they were extracted with acetone and dried in air. In this Letter, we discuss the use of supercritical carbon dioxide fluid for the nondestructive extraction of nanostructures. We show the experimental results and discuss the laser power dependence of resultant structures. Another experiment was performed for nanostructure growth inside an agarose gel as a matrix. Silver nanostructures were immobilized without damage in an agarose skeleton network.

Self-propulsion and interactions of catalytic particles in a chemically active medium.

PubMed

Banigan, Edward J; Marko, John F

2016-01-01

Enzymatic "machines," such as catalytic rods or colloids, can self-propel and interact by generating gradients of their substrates. We theoretically investigate the behaviors of such machines in a chemically active environment where their catalytic substrates are continuously synthesized and destroyed, as occurs in living cells. We show how the kinetic properties of the medium modulate self-propulsion and pairwise interactions between machines, with the latter controlled by a tunable characteristic interaction range analogous to the Debye screening length in an electrolytic solution. Finally, we discuss the effective force arising between interacting machines and possible biological applications, such as partitioning of bacterial plasmids.

Flowfield computations over the Space Shuttle Orbiter with a proposed canard at a Mach number of 5.8 and 50 degrees angle of attack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reuter, William H.; Buning, Pieter G.; Hobson, Garth V.

1993-01-01

An effective control canard design to provide enhanced controllability throughout the flight regime is described which uses a 3D, Navier-Stokes computational solution. The use of canard by the Space Shuttle Orbiter in both hypersonic and subsonic flight regimes can enhance its usefullness by expanding its payload carrying capability and improving its static stability. The canard produces an additional nose-up pitching moment to relax center-of-gravity constraint and alleviates the need for large, lift-destroying elevon deflections required to maintain the high angles of attack for effective hypersonic flight.

The Drosophila blood-brain barrier: development and function of a glial endothelium.

PubMed

Limmer, Stefanie; Weiler, Astrid; Volkenhoff, Anne; Babatz, Felix; Klämbt, Christian

2014-01-01

The efficacy of neuronal function requires a well-balanced extracellular ion homeostasis and a steady supply with nutrients and metabolites. Therefore, all organisms equipped with a complex nervous system developed a so-called blood-brain barrier, protecting it from an uncontrolled entry of solutes, metabolites or pathogens. In higher vertebrates, this diffusion barrier is established by polarized endothelial cells that form extensive tight junctions, whereas in lower vertebrates and invertebrates the blood-brain barrier is exclusively formed by glial cells. Here, we review the development and function of the glial blood-brain barrier of Drosophila melanogaster. In the Drosophila nervous system, at least seven morphologically distinct glial cell classes can be distinguished. Two of these glial classes form the blood-brain barrier. Perineurial glial cells participate in nutrient uptake and establish a first diffusion barrier. The subperineurial glial (SPG) cells form septate junctions, which block paracellular diffusion and thus seal the nervous system from the hemolymph. We summarize the molecular basis of septate junction formation and address the different transport systems expressed by the blood-brain barrier forming glial cells.

Barriers to development: pushing the boundaries

PubMed Central

Neirotti, Rodolfo A.

2015-01-01

Why some countries have failed to create democracy, wealth and happiness for their people is one of the great questions of our time. This essay encompasses a description of the multiple barriers to development that may have different characteristics, according to the context and the social structures that maintain these conditions. It would be arrogant to pretend to have all the solutions for these problems. PMID:25859874

14 CFR 61.29 - Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report. 61.29 Section 61.29 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL... certificate or knowledge test report. (a) A request for the replacement of a lost or destroyed airman...

14 CFR 61.29 - Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 14 Aeronautics and Space 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Replacement of a lost or destroyed airman or medical certificate or knowledge test report. 61.29 Section 61.29 Aeronautics and Space FEDERAL... certificate or knowledge test report. (a) A request for the replacement of a lost or destroyed airman...

The blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier: structure and functional significance.

PubMed

Johanson, Conrad E; Stopa, Edward G; McMillan, Paul N

2011-01-01

The choroid plexus (CP) of the blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB) displays fundamentally different properties than blood-brain barrier (BBB). With brisk blood flow (10 × brain) and highly permeable capillaries, the human CP provides the CNS with a high turnover rate of fluid (∼400,000 μL/day) containing micronutrients, peptides, and hormones for neuronal networks. Renal-like basement membranes in microvessel walls and underneath the epithelium filter large proteins such as ferritin and immunoglobulins. Type IV collagen (α3, α4, and α5) in the subepithelial basement membrane confers kidney-like permselectivity. As in the glomerulus, so also in CP, the basolateral membrane utrophin A and colocalized dystrophin impart structural stability, transmembrane signaling, and ion/water homeostasis. Extensive infoldings of the plasma-facing basal labyrinth together with lush microvilli at the CSF-facing membrane afford surface area, as great as that at BBB, for epithelial solute and water exchange. CSF formation occurs by basolateral carrier-mediated uptake of Na+, Cl-, and HCO3-, followed by apical release via ion channel conductance and osmotic flow of water through AQP1 channels. Transcellular epithelial active transport and secretion are energized and channeled via a highly dense organelle network of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi; bleb formation occurs at the CSF surface. Claudin-2 in tight junctions helps to modulate the lower electrical resistance and greater permeability in CP than at BBB. Still, ratio analyses of influx coefficients (Kin) for radiolabeled solutes indicate that paracellular diffusion of small nonelectrolytes (e.g., urea and mannitol) through tight junctions is restricted; molecular sieving is proportional to solute size. Protein/peptide movement across BCSFB is greatly limited, occurring by paracellular leaks through incomplete tight junctions and low-capacity transcellular pinocytosis/exocytosis. Steady-state concentration ratios, CSF/plasma, ranging from 0.003 for IgG to 0.80 for urea, provide insight on plasma solute penetrability, barrier permeability, and CSF sink action to clear substances from CNS.

Extended Ciprofloxacin Release Using Vitamin E Diffusion Barrier From Commercial Silicone-Based Soft Contact Lenses.

PubMed

Shayani Rad, Maryam; Mohajeri, Seyed Ahmad

2017-03-01

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is an antibiotic, widely used in form of ophthalmic drops (0.3%) for the treatment of eye infections. In this study, vitamin E was used as a hydrophobic barrier to improve and prolong the amount and time of Cipro release from silicone-based soft contact lenses. Three different commercial contact lenses (Air Optix, Biofinity, and Acuvue Oasys) were soaked in vitamin E solutions (0.1 and 0.2 g/mL). The effect of vitamin E on Cipro loading amount and drug releasing profile was evaluated in artificial tear. Swelling properties and diameter changes of the lenses were also investigated in aqueous media in presence and absence of vitamin E. The data indicated that vitamin E, as a hydrophobic barrier, significantly decreased the water content of silicone-based soft contact lenses. After vitamin E loading, a 5% to 18% increase was observed in lens diameter in the hydrated state, whereas the lens diameter increased by 11% to 23% in the dry state. In all commercial lenses, vitamin E loading in a 0.2-g/mL solution caused a 27.94% to 37.08% increase in Cipro binding. The results indicated that applying vitamin E loading solutions, with 0.1 and 0.2 g/mL concentrations, could effectively enhance Cipro release time from 2 hr (in a pure non-vitamin E-loaded lens) to 14 to 17 and 30 to 33 days, respectively. These values showed an increase by a factor of 168 to 204 and 360 to 396 in Cipro release time after using vitamin E loading solutions with 0.1 and 0.2 g/mL concentrations, respectively, compared with pure non-vitamin E-loaded soft contact lenses. This study indicated that vitamin E acts as an effective hydrophobic barrier, in increasing the Cipro loading capacity of silicone-based contact lenses and prolonging the drug release into the artificial tear.

DOE Voluntary Partnership Program with Utilities and Local Governments Supports the Design of New Data Access Solutions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shah, Monisha; Burr, Andrew; Schulte, Andrew

2016-08-26

The Better Buildings Energy Data Accelerator (BBEDA) is a unique effort that has supported 22 pairs of local governments and their utility companies to help building owners gain access to their whole-building energy data. Municipal and Utility BBEDA Partners committed to develop streamlined and easy-to-use solutions to provide whole-building energy data, especially for multitenant commercial buildings, by the end of 2015. As a result, building owners would be able to make data-driven decisions about their buildings by utilizing readily available energy consumption data for entire buildings. Traditionally, data access was difficult to implement due to technical barriers and the lackmore » of clear value propositions for the utilities. During the past two years, BBEDA has taken a hands-on approach to overcome these barriers by offering a platform for the partners to discuss their challenges and solutions. Customized support was also provided to Partners building their local strategies. Based on the lessons learned from the partners, BBEDA developed a final toolkit with guiding documents that addressed key barriers and served as a resource for the other cities and utilities attempting to establish whole-building data access, including an exploration of opportunities to apply the whole-building data to various aspects of utility demand-side management (DSM) programs. BBEDA has been a catalyst for market transformation by addressing the upstream (to efficiency implementation) barrier of data access, demonstrated through the success of the BBEDA partners to address policy, engagement, and technical hurdles and arrive at replicable solutions to make data access a standard practice nationwide. As a result of best practices identified by the BBEDA, 18 utilities serving more than 2.6 million commercial customers nationwide will provide whole-building energy data access to building owners by 2017. This historic expansion of data accessibility will increase building energy benchmarking, the first step many building owners take to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings.« less

Data dialogues: critical connections for designing and implementing future nanomaterial research

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Powers, Christina M.; Grieger, Khara D.; Beaudrie, Christian

2014-11-07

Individuals and organizations in the engineered nanomaterial (ENM) community have increasingly recognized two related but distinct concerns: 1) discordant data due to differences in experimental design (e.g., material characteristics, experimental model, exposure concentration) or reporting (e.g., dose metric, material characterization details), and 2) a lack of data to inform decisions about ENM environmental, health, and safety (EHS). As one way to help address these issues, this Commentary discusses the important role of “data dialogues” or structured discussions between ENM researchers in EHS fields (e.g., toxicology, exposure science, and industrial hygiene) and decision makers who use the data researchers collect. Themore » importance of these structured discussions is examined here in the context of barriers, solutions, and incentives: barriers to developing research relevant for human and ecological risk assessments; potential solutions to overcome such barriers; and incentives to help implement these or other solutions. These barriers, solutions, and incentives were identified by a group of expert stakeholders and ENM community members at the December 2013 Society for Risk Analysis panel discussion on research needed to support decision making for multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Key topics discussed by experts and ENM community members include: (1) the value of researchers collaborating with EHS decision makers (e.g., risk analysts, product developers, regulators) to design research that can inform ENM EHS-related decisions (e.g., occupational exposure limits, product safety determinations), (2) the importance of funding incentives for such collaborative research, (3) the need to improve mechanisms for data-sharing within and between sectors (e.g., academia, government, and industry), and (4) the critical need to educate the “next generation” of nanotechnology researchers in EHS topics (e.g., risk assessment, risk management). In presenting these outcomes, this Commentary is not intended to conclude the conversation that took place in December 2013 but rather to support a broader dialogue that helps ensure important risk assessment questions are answered for ENMs.« less

Crossover behavior of the thermal conductance and Kramers’ transition rate theory

DOE PAGES

Velizhanin, Kirill A.; Sahu, Subin; Chien, Chih -Chun; ...

2015-12-04

Kramers’ theory frames chemical reaction rates in solution as reactants overcoming a barrier in the presence of friction and noise. For weak coupling to the solution, the reaction rate is limited by the rate at which the solution can restore equilibrium after a subset of reactants have surmounted the barrier to become products. For strong coupling, there are always sufficiently energetic reactants. However, the solution returns many of the intermediate states back to the reactants before the product fully forms. Here, we demonstrate that the thermal conductance displays an analogous physical response to the friction and noise that drive themore » heat current through a material or structure. A crossover behavior emerges where the thermal reservoirs dominate the conductance at the extremes and only in the intermediate region are the intrinsic properties of the lattice manifest. Finally, not only does this shed new light on Kramers’ classic turnover problem, this result is significant for the design of devices for thermal management and other applications, as well as the proper simulation of transport at the nanoscale.« less

Au-nanoparticle-embedded cross-linked gelatin films synthesized on aqueous solution in contact with dielectric barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirafuji, Tatsuru; Nakamura, Yusuke; Azuma, Shiori; Sotoda, Naoya; Isshiki, Toshiyuki

2018-01-01

A wine-red free-standing thin film has been formed by irradiating dielectric barrier discharge plasma on an aqueous solution containing HAuCl4 and gelatin. The film has a fibrous structure with an inhomogeneous thickness profile and is composed of cross-linked gelatin, as confirmed by optical microscopy and infrared absorption spectroscopy. The film has embedded Au nanoparticles (GNPs), as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In the region with a relatively small film thickness, the number density of GNPs is relatively low, and the sizes of GNPs range from 5.3 to 34.3 nm. In the region with a relatively large film thickness, on the other hand, GNPs are highly accumulated, and the sizes of GNPs range from 10.0 to 26.7 nm. The aqueous solution remains transparent even after the film growth process, which indicates that the plasma-induced processes involving GNP formation and film growth are confined near the surface of the aqueous solution. A possible film growth mechanism is discussed on the basis of the experimental results of this study.

Method for Identifying Probable Archaeological Sites from Remotely Sensed Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tilton, James C.; Comer, Douglas C.; Priebe, Carey E.; Sussman, Daniel

2011-01-01

Archaeological sites are being compromised or destroyed at a catastrophic rate in most regions of the world. The best solution to this problem is for archaeologists to find and study these sites before they are compromised or destroyed. One way to facilitate the necessary rapid, wide area surveys needed to find these archaeological sites is through the generation of maps of probable archaeological sites from remotely sensed data. We describe an approach for identifying probable locations of archaeological sites over a wide area based on detecting subtle anomalies in vegetative cover through a statistically based analysis of remotely sensed data from multiple sources. We further developed this approach under a recent NASA ROSES Space Archaeology Program project. Under this project we refined and elaborated this statistical analysis to compensate for potential slight miss-registrations between the remote sensing data sources and the archaeological site location data. We also explored data quantization approaches (required by the statistical analysis approach), and we identified a superior data quantization approached based on a unique image segmentation approach. In our presentation we will summarize our refined approach and demonstrate the effectiveness of the overall approach with test data from Santa Catalina Island off the southern California coast. Finally, we discuss our future plans for further improving our approach.

Accounting for cyanide and its degradation products at three Nevada gold mines; constraints from stable C- and N-isotopes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, C.A.; Grimes, D.J.; Rye, R.O.

1998-01-01

An understanding of the fate of cyanide (CN-) in mine process waters is important for addressing environmental concerns and for taking steps to minimize reagent costs. The utility of stable isotope methods in identifying cyanide loss pathways has been investigated in case studies at three Nevada gold mines. Freshly prepared barren solutions at the mines have cyanide d15N and d13C values averaging -4 ? and -36 ?, respectively, reflecting the nitrogen and carbon sources used by commercial manufacturers, air and natural gas methane. Pregnant solutions returning from ore heaps display small isotopic shifts to lower d15N and d13C values. The shifts are similar to those observed in laboratory experiments where cyanide was progressively precipitated as a cyanometallic compound, and are opposite in sign and much smaller in magnitude than the shifts observed in experiments where HCN was offgassed. Offgassing is inferred to be a minor cyanide loss mechanism in the heap leach operations at the three mines, and precipitation as cyanometallic compounds, and possibly coprecipitation with ferric oxides, is inferred to be an important loss mechanism. Isotopic analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) shows that uptake of high d13C air CO2 has been important in many barren and pregnant solutions. However, DIC in reclaim pond waters at all three mines has low d13C values of -28 to -34 ? indicating cyanide breakdown either by hydrolysis or by other chemical pathways that break the C-N bond. Isotope mass balance calculations indicate that about 40 % of the DIC load in the ponds, at a minimum, was derived from cyanide breakdown. This level of cyanide hydrolysis accounts for 14-100 % of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species present in the ponds. Overall, isotope data provide quantitative evidence that only minor amounts of cyanide are lost via offgassing and that significant amounts are destroyed via hydrolysis and related pathways. The data also highlight the possibility that significant cyanide may be either retained in the ore heaps or destroyed via other chemical pathways.

Self-employment as a solution for attitudinal barriers: a case study.

PubMed

Quinton, Melanie C

2014-01-01

This paper uses a case study to examine attitudinal barriers to employment and underemployment. We follow the career path of PR, a woman with multiple physical impairments, as she seeks financial independence through several employment strategies. In these, she faced attitudinal barriers and employment situations without opportunity for advancement. Eventually, PR opens her own business, turning to an alternative loan program to acquire the funds necessary to purchase a ready-made vehicle that matches her needs for accessible transportation. Use of this vehicle to provide delivery services for her business has more than doubled her income.

High-throughput ab-initio dilute solute diffusion database.

PubMed

Wu, Henry; Mayeshiba, Tam; Morgan, Dane

2016-07-19

We demonstrate automated generation of diffusion databases from high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A total of more than 230 dilute solute diffusion systems in Mg, Al, Cu, Ni, Pd, and Pt host lattices have been determined using multi-frequency diffusion models. We apply a correction method for solute diffusion in alloys using experimental and simulated values of host self-diffusivity. We find good agreement with experimental solute diffusion data, obtaining a weighted activation barrier RMS error of 0.176 eV when excluding magnetic solutes in non-magnetic alloys. The compiled database is the largest collection of consistently calculated ab-initio solute diffusion data in the world.

Neuroscience: viable applications in education?

PubMed

Devonshire, Ian M; Dommett, Eleanor J

2010-08-01

As a relatively young science, neuroscience is still finding its feet in potential collaborations with other disciplines. One such discipline is education, with the field of neuroeducation being on the horizon since the 1960s. However, although its achievements are now growing, the partnership has not been as successful as first hopes suggested it should be. Here the authors discuss the theoretical barriers and potential solutions to this, which have been suggested previously, with particular focus on levels of research in neuroscience and their applicability to education. Moreover, they propose that these theoretical barriers are driven and maintained by practical barriers surrounding common language and research literacy. They propose that by overcoming these practical barriers through appropriate training and shared experience, neuroeducation can reach its full potential.

Nucleation of metastable aragonite CaCO3 in seawater.

PubMed

Sun, Wenhao; Jayaraman, Saivenkataraman; Chen, Wei; Persson, Kristin A; Ceder, Gerbrand

2015-03-17

Predicting the conditions in which a compound adopts a metastable structure when it crystallizes out of solution is an unsolved and fundamental problem in materials synthesis, and one which, if understood and harnessed, could enable the rational design of synthesis pathways toward or away from metastable structures. Crystallization of metastable phases is particularly accessible via low-temperature solution-based routes, such as chimie douce and hydrothermal synthesis, but although the chemistry of the solution plays a crucial role in governing which polymorph forms, how it does so is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an ab initio technique to quantify thermodynamic parameters of surfaces and bulks in equilibrium with an aqueous environment, enabling the calculation of nucleation barriers of competing polymorphs as a function of solution chemistry, thereby predicting the solution conditions governing polymorph selection. We apply this approach to resolve the long-standing "calcite-aragonite problem"--the observation that calcium carbonate precipitates as the metastable aragonite polymorph in marine environments, rather than the stable phase calcite--which is of tremendous relevance to biomineralization, carbon sequestration, paleogeochemistry, and the vulnerability of marine life to ocean acidification. We identify a direct relationship between the calcite surface energy and solution Mg:Ca [corrected] ion concentrations, showing that the calcite nucleation barrier surpasses that of metastable aragonite in solutions with Mg:Ca ratios consistent with modern seawater, allowing aragonite to dominate the kinetics of nucleation. Our ability to quantify how solution parameters distinguish between polymorphs marks an important step toward the ab initio prediction of materials synthesis pathways in solution.

Nucleation of metastable aragonite CaCO 3 in seawater

DOE PAGES

Sun, Wenhao; Jayaraman, Saivenkataraman; Chen, Wei; ...

2015-03-04

Predicting the conditions in which a compound adopts a metastable structure when it crystallizes out of solution is an unsolved and fundamental problem in materials synthesis, and one which, if understood and harnessed, could enable the rational design of synthesis pathways toward or away from metastable structures. Crystallization of metastable phases is particularly accessible via low-temperature solution-based routes, such as chimie douce and hydrothermal synthesis, but although the chemistry of the solution plays a crucial role in governing which polymorph forms, how it does so is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an ab initio technique to quantify thermodynamic parameters ofmore » surfaces and bulks in equilibrium with an aqueous environment, enabling the calculation of nucleation barriers of competing polymorphs as a function of solution chemistry, thereby predicting the solution conditions governing polymorph selection. We apply this approach to resolve the long-standing “calcite–aragonite problem”––the observation that calcium carbonate precipitates as the metastable aragonite polymorph in marine environments, rather than the stable phase calcite––which is of tremendous relevance to biomineralization, carbon sequestration, paleogeochemistry, and the vulnerability of marine life to ocean acidification. We identify a direct relationship between the calcite surface energy and solution Mg–Ca ion concentrations, showing that the calcite nucleation barrier surpasses that of metastable aragonite in solutions with Mg:Ca ratios consistent with modern seawater, allowing aragonite to dominate the kinetics of nucleation. The ability to quantify how solution parameters distinguish between polymorphs marks an important step toward the ab initio prediction of materials synthesis pathways in solution.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sun, Wenhao; Jayaraman, Saivenkataraman; Chen, Wei

Predicting the conditions in which a compound adopts a metastable structure when it crystallizes out of solution is an unsolved and fundamental problem in materials synthesis, and one which, if understood and harnessed, could enable the rational design of synthesis pathways toward or away from metastable structures. Crystallization of metastable phases is particularly accessible via low-temperature solution-based routes, such as chimie douce and hydrothermal synthesis, but although the chemistry of the solution plays a crucial role in governing which polymorph forms, how it does so is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate an ab initio technique to quantify thermodynamic parameters ofmore » surfaces and bulks in equilibrium with an aqueous environment, enabling the calculation of nucleation barriers of competing polymorphs as a function of solution chemistry, thereby predicting the solution conditions governing polymorph selection. We apply this approach to resolve the long-standing “calcite–aragonite problem”––the observation that calcium carbonate precipitates as the metastable aragonite polymorph in marine environments, rather than the stable phase calcite––which is of tremendous relevance to biomineralization, carbon sequestration, paleogeochemistry, and the vulnerability of marine life to ocean acidification. We identify a direct relationship between the calcite surface energy and solution Mg–Ca ion concentrations, showing that the calcite nucleation barrier surpasses that of metastable aragonite in solutions with Mg:Ca ratios consistent with modern seawater, allowing aragonite to dominate the kinetics of nucleation. The ability to quantify how solution parameters distinguish between polymorphs marks an important step toward the ab initio prediction of materials synthesis pathways in solution.« less

Enhanced Semiconductor Nanocrystal Conductance via Solution Grown Contacts

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sheldon, Matthew T.; Trudeau, Paul-Emile; Mokari, Taleb

We report a 100,000-fold increase in the conductance of individual CdSe nanorods when they are electrically contacted via direct solution phase growth of Au tips on the nanorod ends. Ensemble UV-Vis and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate this enhancement does not result from alloying of the nanorod. Rather, low temperature tunneling and high temperature (250-400 K) thermionic emission across the junction at the Au contact reveal a 75percent lower interface barrier to conduction compared to a control sample. We correlate this barrier lowering with the electronic structure at the Au-CdSe interface. Our results emphasize the importance of nanocrystal surface structure formore » robust device performance and the advantage of this contact method.« less

Supplemental planting of early successional tree species during bottomland hardwood afforestation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Twedt, D.J.; Wilson, R.R.; Outcalt, Kenneth W.

2002-01-01

Reforestation of former bottom land hardwood forests that have been cleared for agriculture (i.e., afforestation) has historically emphasized planting heavy-seeded oaks (Quercus spp.) and pecans (Carya spp.). These species are slow to develop vertical forest structure. However, vertical forest structure is key to colonization of afforested sites by forest birds. Although early-successional tree species often enhance vertical structure, few of these species invade afforested sites that are distant from seed sources. Furthermore, many land mangers are reluctant to establish and maintain stands of fast-growing plantation trees. Therefore, on 40 afforested bottomland sites, we supplemented heavy-seeded seedlings with 8 patches of fast-growing trees: 4 patches of 12 eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) stem cuttings and 4 patches of 12 American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) seedlings. To enhance survival and growth, tree patches were subjected to 4 weed control treatments: (1) physical weed barriers, (2) chemical herbicide, (3) both physical and chemical weed control, or (4) no weed control. Overall, first-year survival of cottonwood and sycamore was 25 percent and 47 percent, respectively. Second-year survival of extant trees was 52 percent for cottonwood and 77 percent for sycamore. Physical weed barriers increased survival of cottonwoods to 30 percent versus 18 percent survival with no weed control. Similarly, sycamore survival was increased from 49 percent without weed control to 64 percent with physical weed barriers. Chemical weed control adversely impacted sycamore and reduced survival to 35 percent. Tree heights did not differ between species or among weed control treatments. Girdling of trees by deer often destroyed saplings. Thus, little increase in vertical structure was detected between growing seasons. Application of fertilizer and protection via tree shelters did not improve survival or vertical development of sycamore or cottonwood.

Localization and elasticity in entangled polymer liquids as a mesoscopic glass transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schweizer, Kenneth

2010-03-01

The reptation-tube model is widely viewed as the correct zeroth order model for entangled linear polymer dynamics under quiescent conditions. Its key ansatz is the existence of a mesoscopic dynamical length scale that prohibits transverse chain motion beyond a tube diameter of order 3-10 nm. However, the theory is phenomenological and lacks a microscopic foundation, and many fundamental questions remain unanswered. These include: (i) where does the confining tube field come from and can it be derived from statistical mechanics? (ii) what is the microscopic origin of the magnitude, and power law scaling with concentration and packing length, of the plateau shear modulus? (iii) is the tube diameter time-dependent? (iv) does the confinement field contribute to elasticity ? (v) do entanglement constraints have a finite strength? Building on our new force-level theories for the dynamical crossover and activated barrier hopping in glassy colloidal suspensions and polymer melts, a first principles self-consistent theory has been developed for entangled polymers. Its basic physical elements, and initial results that address the questions posed above, will be presented. The key idea is that beyond a critical degree of polymerization, the chain connectivity and excluded volume induced intermolecular correlation hole drives temporary localization on an intermediate length scale resulting in a mesoscopic ``ideal kinetic glass transition.'' Large scale isotropic motion is effectively quenched due to the emergence of chain length dependent entropic barriers. However, the barrier height is not infinite, resulting in softening of harmonic localization at large displacements, temporal increase of the confining length scale, and a finite strength of entanglement constraints which can be destroyed by applied stress.

Cancer nanomedicine: a review of recent success in drug delivery.

PubMed

Tran, Stephanie; DeGiovanni, Peter-Joseph; Piel, Brandon; Rai, Prakash

2017-12-11

Cancer continues to be one of the most difficult global healthcare problems. Although there is a large library of drugs that can be used in cancer treatment, the problem is selectively killing all the cancer cells while reducing collateral toxicity to healthy cells. There are several biological barriers to effective drug delivery in cancer such as renal, hepatic, or immune clearance. Nanoparticles loaded with drugs can be designed to overcome these biological barriers to improve efficacy while reducing morbidity. Nanomedicine has ushered in a new era for drug delivery by improving the therapeutic indices of the active pharmaceutical ingredients engineered within nanoparticles. First generation nanomedicines have received widespread clinical approval over the past two decades, from Doxil ® (liposomal doxorubicin) in 1995 to Onivyde ® (liposomal irinotecan) in 2015. This review highlights the biological barriers to effective drug delivery in cancer, emphasizing the need for nanoparticles for improving therapeutic outcomes. A summary of different nanoparticles used for drug delivery applications in cancer are presented. The review summarizes recent successes in cancer nanomedicine in the clinic. The clinical trials of Onivyde leading to its approval in 2015 by the Food and Drug Adminstration are highlighted as a case study in the recent clinical success of nanomedicine against cancer. Next generation nanomedicines need to be better targeted to specifically destroy cancerous tissue, but face several obstacles in their clinical development, including identification of appropriate biomarkers to target, scale-up of synthesis, and reproducible characterization. These hurdles need to be overcome through multidisciplinary collaborations across academia, pharmaceutical industry, and regulatory agencies in order to achieve the goal of eradicating cancer. This review discusses the current use of clinically approved nanomedicines, the investigation of nanomedicines in clinical trials, and the challenges that may hinder development of the nanomedicines for cancer treatment.

Increasing Fe0-mediated HMX destruction in highly contaminated soil with didecyldimethylammonium bromide surfactant.

PubMed

Park, Jeong; Comfort, Steve D; Shea, Patrick J; Kim, Jong Sung

2005-12-15

Mixtures of energetic compounds pose a remediation problem for munitions-contaminated soil. Although treatment with zerovalent iron (Fe0) can be effective, RDX and TNT are more readily destroyed than HMX. Adding didecyldimethylammonium bromide (didecyl) at 2% w/v with 3% (w/v) Fe0 to a 20% slurry of Los Alamos National Laboratory soil containing solid-phase HMX (45 000 mg/kg) resulted in >80% destruction within 6 days. Because the HMX concentration did not increase in solution and the didecyl equilibrium concentration was well below the critical micelle concentration, we conclude thatthe solution primarily contained didecyl monomers. The adsorption isotherm for didecyl on iron is consistent with electrostatic adsorption of monomers and some hydrophobic partitioning at low equilibrium concentrations. Fe0 pretreated with didecyl was superior to Fe0 alone or mixed with didecyl in removing HMX from solution, but it was less effective than Fe0 + didecyl when solid-phase HMX was present. Reseeding HMX to mimic dissolution indicated an initial high reactivity of didecyl-pretreated Fe0, but the reaction slowed with each HMX addition. In contrast, reaction rates were lower but reactivity was maintained when Fe0 and didecyl were added together and didecyl was included in fresh HMX solutions. Destruction of solid-phase HMX requires low didecyl concentrations in solution so that hydrophobic patches are maintained on the iron surface.

Water-soluble nanocrystalline cellulose films with highly transparent and oxygen barrier properties.

PubMed

Cheng, Shaoling; Zhang, Yapei; Cha, Ruitao; Yang, Jinliang; Jiang, Xingyu

2016-01-14

By mixing a guar gum (GG) solution with a nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) dispersion using a novel circular casting technology, we manufactured biodegradable films as packaging materials with improved optical and mechanical properties. These films could act as barriers for oxygen and could completely dissolve in water within 5 h. We also compared the effect of nanocomposite films and commercial food packaging materials on the preservation of food.

A coupled THC model of the FEBEX in situ test with bentonite swelling and chemical and thermal osmosis.

PubMed

Zheng, Liange; Samper, Javier; Montenegro, Luis

2011-09-25

The performance assessment of a geological repository for radioactive waste requires quantifying the geochemical evolution of the bentonite engineered barrier. This barrier will be exposed to coupled thermal (T), hydrodynamic (H), mechanical (M) and chemical (C) processes. This paper presents a coupled THC model of the FEBEX (Full-scale Engineered Barrier EXperiment) in situ test which accounts for bentonite swelling and chemical and thermal osmosis. Model results attest the relevance of thermal osmosis and bentonite swelling for the geochemical evolution of the bentonite barrier while chemical osmosis is found to be almost irrelevant. The model has been tested with data collected after the dismantling of heater 1 of the in situ test. The model reproduces reasonably well the measured temperature, relative humidity, water content and inferred geochemical data. However, it fails to mimic the solute concentrations at the heater-bentonite and bentonite-granite interfaces because the model does not account for the volume change of bentonite, the CO(2)(g) degassing and the transport of vapor from the bentonite into the granite. The inferred HCO(3)(-) and pH data cannot be explained solely by solute transport, calcite dissolution and protonation/deprotonation by surface complexation, suggesting that such data may be affected also by other reactions. Published by Elsevier B.V.

What Rural Women Want the Public Health Community to Know About Access to Healthful Food: A Qualitative Study, 2011.

PubMed

Carnahan, Leslie R; Zimmermann, Kristine; Peacock, Nadine R

2016-04-28

Living in a rural food desert has been linked to poor dietary habits. Understanding community perspectives about available resources and feasible solutions may inform strategies to improve food access in rural food deserts. The objective of our study was to identify resources and solutions to the food access problems of women in rural, southernmost Illinois. Fourteen focus groups with women (n = 110 participants) in 4 age groups were conducted in a 7-county region as part of a community assessment focused on women's health. We used content analysis with inductive and deductive approaches to explore food access barriers and facilitators. Similar to participants in previous studies, participants in our study reported insufficient local food sources, which they believe contributed to poor dietary habits, high food prices, and the need to travel for healthful food. Participants identified existing local activities and resources that help to increase access, such as home and community gardens, food pantries, and public transportation, as well as local solutions, such as improving nutrition education and public transportation options. Multilevel and collaborative strategies and policies are needed to address food access barriers in rural communities. At the individual level, education may help residents navigate geographic and economic barriers. Community solutions include collaborative strategies to increase availability of healthful foods through traditional and nontraditional food sources. Policy change is needed to promote local agriculture and distribution of privately grown food. Understanding needs and strengths in rural communities will ensure responsive and effective strategies to improve the rural food environment.

A post Gurney quantum mechanical perspective on the electrolysis of water: ion neutralization in solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Enyi; McKenzie, David R.

2017-11-01

Electron fluxes crossing the interface between a metallic conductor and an aqueous environment are important in many fields; hydrogen production, environmental scanning tunnelling microscopy, scanning electrochemical microscopy being some of them. Gurney (Gurney 1931 Proc. R. Soc. Lond. 134, 137 (doi:10.1098/rspa.1931.0187)) provided in 1931 a scheme for tunnelling during electrolysis and outlined conditions for it to occur. We measure the low-voltage current flows between gold electrodes in pure water and use the time-dependent behaviour at voltage switch-on and switch-off to evaluate the relative contribution to the steady current arising from tunnelling of electrons between the electrodes and ions in solution and from the neutralization of ions adsorbed onto the electrode surface. We ascribe the larger current contribution to quantum tunnelling of electrons to and from ions in solution near the electrodes. We refine Gurney's barrier scheme to include solvated electron states and quantify energy differences using updated information. We show that Gurney's conditions would prevent the current flow at low voltages we observe but outline how the ideas of Marcus (Marcus 1956 J. Chem. Phys. 24, 966-978 (doi:10.1063/1.1742723)) concerning solvation fluctuations enable the condition to be relaxed. We derive an average barrier tunnelling model and a multiple pathways tunnelling model and compare predictions with measurements of the steady-state current-voltage relation. The tunnelling barrier was found to be wide and low in agreement with other experimental studies. Applications as a biosensing mechanism are discussed that exploit the fast tunnelling pathways along molecules in solution.

Distinct hydroxy-radical-induced damage of 3'-uridine monophosphate in RNA: a theoretical study.

PubMed

Zhang, Ru bo; Eriksson, Leif A

2009-01-01

RNA strand scission and base release in 3'-uridine monophosphate (UMP), induced by OH radical addition to uracil, is studied at the DFT B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level in the gas phase and in solution. In particular, the mechanism of hydrogen-atom transfer subsequent to radical formation, from C2' on the sugar to the C6 site on the base, is explored. The barriers of (C2'-)H2'(a) abstraction by the C6 radical site range from 11.2 to 20.0 kcal mol(-1) in the gas phase and 14.1 to 21.0 kcal mol(-1) in aqueous solution, indicating that the local surrounding governs the hydrogen-abstraction reaction in a stereoselective way. The calculated N1-C1' (N1-glycosidic bond) and beta-phosphate bond strengths show that homolytic and heterolytic bond-breaking processes are largely favored in each case, respectively. The barrier for beta-phosphate bond rupture is approximately 3.2-4.0 kcal mol(-1) and is preferred by 8-12 kcal mol(-1) over N1-glycosidic bond cleavage in both the gas phase and solution. The beta-phosphate bond-rupture reactions are exothermal in the gas phase and solution, whereas N1-C1' bond-rupture reactions require both solvation and thermal corrections at 298 K to be energetically favored. The presence of the ribose 2'-OH group and its formation of low-barrier hydrogen bonds with oxygen atoms of the 3'-phosphate linkage are highly important for hydrogen transfer and the subsequent bond-breakage reactions.

What Rural Women Want the Public Health Community to Know About Access to Healthful Food: A Qualitative Study, 2011

PubMed Central

Zimmermann, Kristine; Peacock, Nadine R.

2016-01-01

Introduction Living in a rural food desert has been linked to poor dietary habits. Understanding community perspectives about available resources and feasible solutions may inform strategies to improve food access in rural food deserts. The objective of our study was to identify resources and solutions to the food access problems of women in rural, southernmost Illinois. Methods Fourteen focus groups with women (n = 110 participants) in 4 age groups were conducted in a 7-county region as part of a community assessment focused on women’s health. We used content analysis with inductive and deductive approaches to explore food access barriers and facilitators. Results Similar to participants in previous studies, participants in our study reported insufficient local food sources, which they believe contributed to poor dietary habits, high food prices, and the need to travel for healthful food. Participants identified existing local activities and resources that help to increase access, such as home and community gardens, food pantries, and public transportation, as well as local solutions, such as improving nutrition education and public transportation options. Conclusion Multilevel and collaborative strategies and policies are needed to address food access barriers in rural communities. At the individual level, education may help residents navigate geographic and economic barriers. Community solutions include collaborative strategies to increase availability of healthful foods through traditional and nontraditional food sources. Policy change is needed to promote local agriculture and distribution of privately grown food. Understanding needs and strengths in rural communities will ensure responsive and effective strategies to improve the rural food environment. PMID:27126555

The Achilles' heel of prevention to mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Protocol implementation, uptake, and sustainability.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Violeta J; LaCabe, Richard P; Privette, C Kyle; Douglass, K Marie; Peltzer, Karl; Matseke, Gladys; Mathebula, Audrey; Ramlagan, Shandir; Sifunda, Sibusiso; Prado, Guillermo Willy; Horigian, Viviana; Weiss, Stephen M; Jones, Deborah L

2017-12-01

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS proposed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from ∼72,200 to ∼8300 newly infected children by 2015 in South Africa (SA). However, cultural, infrastructural, and socio-economic barriers hinder the implementation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) protocol, and research on potential solutions to address these barriers in rural areas is particularly limited. This study sought to identify challenges and solutions to the implementation, uptake, and sustainability of the PMTCT protocol in rural SA. Forty-eight qualitative interviews, 12 focus groups discussions (n = 75), and one two-day workshop (n = 32 participants) were conducted with district directors, clinic leaders, staff, and patients from 12 rural clinics. The delivery and uptake of the PMTCT protocol was evaluated using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR); 15 themes associated with challenges and solutions emerged. Intervention characteristics themes included PMTCT training and HIV serostatus disclosure. Outer-setting themes included facility space, health record management, and staff shortage; inner-setting themes included supply use and availability, staff-patient relationship, and transportation and scheduling. Themes related to characteristics of individuals included staff relationships, initial antenatal care visit, adherence, and culture and stigma. Implementation process themes included patient education, test results delivery, and male involvement. Significant gaps in care were identified in rural areas. Information obtained from participants using the CFIR framework provided valuable insights into solutions to barriers to PMTCT implementation. Continuously assessing and correcting PMTCT protocol implementation, uptake and sustainability appear merited to maximize HIV prevention.

The Achilles’ heel of prevention to mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Protocol implementation, uptake, and sustainability

PubMed Central

Rodriguez, Violeta J.; LaCabe, Richard P.; Privette, C. Kyle; Douglass, K. Marie; Peltzer, Karl; Matseke, Gladys; Mathebula, Audrey; Ramlagan, Shandir; Sifunda, Sibusiso; Prado, Guillermo “Willy”; Horigian, Viviana; Weiss, Stephen M.; Jones, Deborah L.

2017-01-01

Abstract The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS proposed to reduce the vertical transmission of HIV from ∼72,200 to ∼8300 newly infected children by 2015 in South Africa (SA). However, cultural, infrastructural, and socio-economic barriers hinder the implementation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) protocol, and research on potential solutions to address these barriers in rural areas is particularly limited. This study sought to identify challenges and solutions to the implementation, uptake, and sustainability of the PMTCT protocol in rural SA. Forty-eight qualitative interviews, 12 focus groups discussions (n = 75), and one two-day workshop (n = 32 participants) were conducted with district directors, clinic leaders, staff, and patients from 12 rural clinics. The delivery and uptake of the PMTCT protocol was evaluated using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR); 15 themes associated with challenges and solutions emerged. Intervention characteristics themes included PMTCT training and HIV serostatus disclosure. Outer-setting themes included facility space, health record management, and staff shortage; inner-setting themes included supply use and availability, staff–patient relationship, and transportation and scheduling. Themes related to characteristics of individuals included staff relationships, initial antenatal care visit, adherence, and culture and stigma. Implementation process themes included patient education, test results delivery, and male involvement. Significant gaps in care were identified in rural areas. Information obtained from participants using the CFIR framework provided valuable insights into solutions to barriers to PMTCT implementation. Continuously assessing and correcting PMTCT protocol implementation, uptake and sustainability appear merited to maximize HIV prevention. PMID:28922974

Unequal Burden of Disease, Unequal Participation in Clinical Trials: Solutions from African American and Latino Community Members

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, Marvella E.; Siminoff, Laura A.; Pickelsimer, Elisabeth; Mainous, Arch G.; Smith, Daniel W.; Diaz, Vanessa A.; Soderstrom, Lea H.; Jefferson, Melanie S.; Tilley, Barbara C.

2013-01-01

African Americans and Latinos are underrepresented in clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to elicit solutions to participation barriers from African Americans and Latinos. Fifty-seven adults (32 African Americans, 25 Latinos) ages 50 years and older participated. The Institute of Medicine's "Unequal Treatment" conceptual framework was…

Geochemical barriers for environment protection and recovery of nonferrous metals.

PubMed

Chanturiya, Valentine; Masloboev, Vladimir; Makarov, Dmitriy; Nesterov, Dmitriy; Bajurova, Julia; Svetlov, Anton; Men'shikov, Yuriy

2014-01-01

A study of natural minerals, ore tailings and their products as materials for artificial geochemical barriers is presented. In particular, it focuses on interaction between calcite and dolomite and sulfate solutions containing nickel, copper and iron under static conditions. Calcite of -0.1 mm fraction has been shown to perform well as a barrier when added to water phases of tailing dumps and natural reservoirs. Experiments under dynamic conditions have revealed a high potential of thermally activated copper-nickel tailings as barriers. After a 500-day precipitating period on a geochemical barrier, the contents of nickel and copper in ore dressing tailings were found to increase 12- and 28-fold, respectively. An effective sorbent of copper, iron and nickel ions is a brucite-based product of hydrochloric acid treatment of vermiculite ore tailings. Its sorption capacity can be essentially increased through thermal activation.

Local Variability of the Peierls Barrier of Screw Dislocations in Ta-10W.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Foiles, Stephen M.

2017-10-01

It is well know that the addition of substitutional elements changes the mechanical behavior of metals, a effect referred to solid solution hardening. For body-centered-cubic (BCC) metals, screw dislocation play a key role in the mechanical properties. Here the detailed modification of the Peierls barrier for screw dislocation motion in Ta with W substitutional atoms is computing using density functional theory (DFT). A reduced order model (ROM) of the influence of W substitution on the Peierls barrier is developed. The mean field change in the Peierls barrier for a Ta10W alloy is determined and shown to be larger than anticipatedmore » based on simple elasticity considerations. The ROM could be used in future calculations to determine the local variability of the Peierls barrier and the resultant influence on the motion of screw dislocation in this alloy.« less

Healthcare Access for Iraqi Refugee Children in Texas: Persistent Barriers, Potential Solutions, and Policy Implications.

PubMed

Vermette, David; Shetgiri, Rashmi; Al Zuheiri, Haidar; Flores, Glenn

2015-10-01

To identify access barriers to healthcare and potential interventions to improve access for Iraqi refugee children. Four focus groups were conducted using consecutive sampling of Iraqi refugee parents residing in the US for 8 months to 5 years. Eight key-informant interviews also were conducted with employees of organizations serving Iraqi refugee families, recruited using snowball sampling. Focus groups and interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using margin coding and grounded theory. Iraqi refugees identified provider availability, Medicaid maintenance and renewal, language issues, and inadequate recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder as barriers to care for their children. Interviewees cited loss of case-management services and difficulties in understanding the Medicaid renewal process as barriers. Potential interventions to improve access include community-oriented efforts to educate parents on Medicaid renewal, obtaining services, and accessing specialists. Given the enduring nature of language and Medicaid renewal barriers, policies addressing eligibility alone are insufficient.

Managing barriers to empathy in the clinical encounter: a qualitative interview study with GPs

PubMed Central

Derksen, Frans AWM; Hartman, Tim C olde; Bensing, Jozien M; Lagro-Janssen, Antoine LM

2016-01-01

Background Current daily general practice has become increasingly technical and somatically oriented (where attention to patients’ feelings is decreased) due to an increase in protocol-based guidelines. Priorities in GP–patient communication have shifted from a focus on listening and empathy to task-oriented communication. Aim To explore what barriers GPs experience when applying empathy in daily practice, and how these barriers are managed. Design and setting Thirty Dutch GPs with sufficient heterogeneity in sex, age, type of practice, and rural or urban setting were interviewed. Method The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) were applied. The verbatim transcripts were then analysed. Results According to participating GPs, the current emphasis on protocol-driven care can be a significant barrier to genuineness in communication. Other potential barriers mentioned were time pressures and constraints, and dealing with patients displaying ‘unruly behaviour’ or those with personality disorders. GPs indicated that it can be difficult to balance emotional involvement and professional distance. Longer consulting times, smaller practice populations, and efficient practice organisation were described as practical solutions. In order to focus on a patient-as-person approach, GPs strongly suggested that deviating from guidelines should be possible when necessary as an element of good-quality care. Joining intercollegiate counselling groups was also discussed. Conclusion In addition to practical solutions for barriers to behaving empathically, GPs indicated that they needed more freedom to balance working with protocols and guidelines, as well as a patient-as-person and patient-as-partner approach. This balance is necessary to remain connected with patients and to deliver care that is truly personal. PMID:27884917

To act or not to act: responses to electronic health record prompts by family medicine clinicians.

PubMed

Zazove, Philip; McKee, Michael; Schleicher, Lauren; Green, Lee; Kileny, Paul; Rapai, Mary; Mulhem, Elie

2017-03-01

A major focus of health care today is a strong emphasis on improving the health and quality of care for entire patient populations. One common approach utilizes electronic clinical alerts to prompt clinicians when certain interventions are due for individual patients being seen. However, these alerts have not been consistently effective, particularly for less visible (though important) conditions such as hearing loss (HL) screening. We conducted hour-long cognitive task analysis interviews to explore how family medicine clinicians view, perceive, and use electronic clinical alerts, and to utilize this information to design a more effective alert using HL identification and referral as a model diagnosis. Four key direct barriers were identified that impeded alert use: poor standardization and formatting, time pressures in primary care, clinic workflow variations, and mental models of the condition being prompted (in this case, HL). One indirect barrier was identified: electronic health record and institution/government regulations. We identified that clinicians' mental model of the condition being prompted was probably the major barrier, though this was often expressed as time pressure. We discuss solutions to each of the 5 identified barriers, such as addressing physicians' mental models, by focusing on physicians' expertise rather than knowledge to improve their comfort when caring for patients with the conditions being prompted. To unleash the potential of electronic clinical alerts, electronic health record and health care institutions need to address some key barriers. We outline these barriers and propose solutions. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Evaluation of possible reasons for the low phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in cellulose nitrate membrane microcapsules.

PubMed

Habibi-Moini, S; D'mello, A P

2001-03-14

Microencapsulated phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) exhibits a marked reduction in activity compared to the activity of the free enzyme in pH 8.5 Tris buffer. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the contribution of incomplete entrapment, the internal environment of cellulose nitrate membrane microcapsules, the diffusional barrier of the membrane and the microcapsulation process to the low activity of encapsulated PAL. A solution of PAL and 10% w/v hemoglobin was incorporated into cellulose nitrate membrane microcapsules. Hemoglobin incorporation was used as a surrogate marker of PAL entrapment. Using 14C hemoglobin, the encapsulation efficiency was determined to be 70% and suggested that incomplete entrapment might partially account for the low activity of encapsulated PAL. The effect of the internal environment of the microcapsule (10% hemoglobin solution) on PAL activity was evaluated by comparing enzyme activity in 10% w/v hemoglobin solution and pH 8.5 Tris buffer. Similar K(M) and V(max) values of PAL in the two media indicated that the internal environment of the microcapsule did not contribute to the reduction in activity of the encapsulated enzyme. The contribution of a membrane diffusional barrier was determined by breaking the putative barrier and measuring PAL activity in intact and broken microcapsules. Similar activity of PAL in these two conditions is evidence for the lack of a diffusional barrier. The effect of the microencapsulation process on PAL activity was evaluated by comparing K(M) and V(max) of free and encapsulated PAL. Similar K(M) values in these two media suggested that the process did not affect the conformation of PAL. However, encapsulated PAL had a 50% lower V(max) value compared to free PAL, which showed that the microencapsulation process deactivated a substantial proportion of the enzyme.

Concise Review: Tissue-Engineered Skin and Nerve Regeneration in Burn Treatment

PubMed Central

Blais, Mathieu; Parenteau-Bareil, Rémi; Cadau, Sébastien

2013-01-01

Burns not only destroy the barrier function of the skin but also alter the perceptions of pain, temperature, and touch. Different strategies have been developed over the years to cover deep and extensive burns with the ultimate goal of regenerating the barrier function of the epidermis while recovering an acceptable aesthetic aspect. However, patients often complain about a loss of skin sensation and even cutaneous chronic pain. Cutaneous nerve regeneration can occur from the nerve endings of the wound bed, but it is often compromised by scar formation or anarchic wound healing. Restoration of pain, temperature, and touch perceptions should now be a major challenge to solve in order to improve patients' quality of life. In addition, the cutaneous nerve network has been recently highlighted to play an important role in epidermal homeostasis and may be essential at least in the early phase of wound healing through the induction of neurogenic inflammation. Although the nerve regeneration process was studied largely in the context of nerve transections, very few studies have been aimed at developing strategies to improve it in the context of cutaneous wound healing. In this concise review, we provide a description of the characteristics of and current treatments for extensive burns, including tissue-engineered skin approaches to improve cutaneous nerve regeneration, and describe prospective uses for autologous skin-derived adult stem cells to enhance recovery of the skin's sense of touch. PMID:23734060

Barriers to GPs' use of evidence-based medicine: a systematic review

PubMed Central

Zwolsman, Sandra; te Pas, Ellen; Hooft, Lotty; Waard, Margreet Wieringa-de; van Dijk, Nynke

2012-01-01

Background GPs report various barriers to the use and practice of evidence-based medicine (EBM). A review of research on these barriers may help solve problems regarding the uptake of evidence in clinical outpatient practice. Aim To determine the barriers encountered by GPs in the practice of EBM and to come up with solutions to the barriers identified. Design A systematic review of the literature. Method The following databases were searched: MEDLINE® (PubMed®), Embase, CINAHL®, ERIC, and the Cochrane Library, until February 2011. Primary studies (all methods, all languages) that explore the barriers that GPs encounter in the practice of EBM were included. Results A total of 14 700 articles were identified, of which 22 fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Of the latter, nine concerned qualitative, 12 concerned quantitative, and one concerned both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The barriers described in the articles cover the categories: evidence (including the accompanying EBM steps), the GP’s preferences (experience, expertise, education), and the patient’s preferences. The particular GP setting also has important barriers to the use of EBM. Barriers found in this review, among others, include lack of time, EBM skills, and available evidence; patient-related factors; and the attitude of the GP. Conclusion Various barriers are encountered when using EBM in GP practice. Interventions that help GPs to overcome these barriers are needed, both within EBM education and in clinical practice. PMID:22781999

Cost-effectiveness Analysis on Measures to Improve China's Coal-fired Industrial Boiler

DOE PAGES

Liu, Manzhi; Shen, Bo; Han, Yafeng; ...

2015-08-01

Tackling coal-burning industrial boiler is becoming one of the key programs to solve the environmental problem in China. Assessing the economics of various options to address coal-fired boiler is essential to identify cost-effective solutions. This paper discusses our work in conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis on various types of improvement measures ranging from energy efficiency retrofits to switch from coal to other fuels in China. Sensitivity analysis was also performed in order to understand the impacts of some economic factors such as discount rate and energy price on the economics of boiler improvement options. The results show that nine out ofmore » 14 solutions are cost-effective, and a lower discount rate and higher energy price will result in more energy efficiency measures being cost-effective. Both monetary and non-monetary barriers to energy-efficiency improvement are discussed and policies to tackle these barriers are recommended. Our research aims at providing a methodology to assess cost-effective solutions to boiler problems.« less

A Conditionally Integrable Bi-confluent Heun Potential Involving Inverse Square Root and Centrifugal Barrier Terms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishkhanyan, Tigran A.; Krainov, Vladimir P.; Ishkhanyan, Artur M.

2018-05-01

We present a conditionally integrable potential, belonging to the bi-confluent Heun class, for which the Schrödinger equation is solved in terms of the confluent hypergeometric functions. The potential involves an attractive inverse square root term x-1/2 with arbitrary strength and a repulsive centrifugal barrier core x-2 with the strength fixed to a constant. This is a potential well defined on the half-axis. Each of the fundamental solutions composing the general solution of the Schrödinger equation is written as an irreducible linear combination, with non-constant coefficients, of two confluent hypergeometric functions. We present the explicit solution in terms of the non-integer order Hermite functions of scaled and shifted argument and discuss the bound states supported by the potential. We derive the exact equation for the energy spectrum and approximate that by a highly accurate transcendental equation involving trigonometric functions. Finally, we construct an accurate approximation for the bound-state energy levels.

Systematic barriers to the effective delivery of home dialysis in the United States: a report from the Public Policy/Advocacy Committee of the North American Chapter of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis.

PubMed

Golper, Thomas A; Saxena, Anjali B; Piraino, Beth; Teitelbaum, Isaac; Burkart, John; Finkelstein, Fredric O; Abu-Alfa, Ali

2011-12-01

Home dialysis, currently underused in the United States compared with other industrialized countries, likely will benefit from the newly implemented US prospective payment system. Not only is home dialysis less expensive from the standpoint of pure dialysis costs, but overall health system costs may be decreased by more subtle benefits, such as reduced transportation. However, many systematic barriers exist to the successful delivery of home dialysis. We organized these barriers into the categories of educational barriers (patient and providers), governmental/regulatory barriers (state and federal), and barriers specifically related to the philosophies and business practices of dialysis providers (eg, staffing, pharmacies, supplies, space, continuous quality improvement practices, and independence). All stakeholders share the goal of delivering home dialysis therapies in the most cost- and clinically effective and least problematic manner. Identification and recognition of such barriers is the first step. In addition, we have suggested action plans to stimulate the kidney community to find even better solutions so that collectively we may overcome these barriers. Copyright © 2011 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Achieving Crossed Strong Barrier Coverage in Wireless Sensor Network.

PubMed

Han, Ruisong; Yang, Wei; Zhang, Li

2018-02-10

Barrier coverage has been widely used to detect intrusions in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). It can fulfill the monitoring task while extending the lifetime of the network. Though barrier coverage in WSNs has been intensively studied in recent years, previous research failed to consider the problem of intrusion in transversal directions. If an intruder knows the deployment configuration of sensor nodes, then there is a high probability that it may traverse the whole target region from particular directions, without being detected. In this paper, we introduce the concept of crossed barrier coverage that can overcome this defect. We prove that the problem of finding the maximum number of crossed barriers is NP-hard and integer linear programming (ILP) is used to formulate the optimization problem. The branch-and-bound algorithm is adopted to determine the maximum number of crossed barriers. In addition, we also propose a multi-round shortest path algorithm (MSPA) to solve the optimization problem, which works heuristically to guarantee efficiency while maintaining near-optimal solutions. Several conventional algorithms for finding the maximum number of disjoint strong barriers are also modified to solve the crossed barrier problem and for the purpose of comparison. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate the effectiveness of MSPA.

Formula for the Removal and Remediation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Painted Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quinn, Jacqueline; Loftin, Kathleen; Geiger, Cherie

2010-01-01

An activated metal treatment system (AMTS) removes and destroys polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in painted structures or within the binding or caulking material on structures. It may be applied using a "paint-on and wipe-off" process that leaves the structure PCB-free and virtually unaltered in physical form. AMTS is used in conjunction with a solvent solution capable of donating hydrogen atoms. AMTS as a treatment technology has two functions: first, to extract PCBs from the material, and second, to degrade the extracted PCBs. The process for removing PCBs from structures is accomplished as an independent step to the degradation process. The goal is to extract the PCBs out of the paint, without destroying the paint, and to partition the PCBs into an environmentally friendly solvent. The research to date indicates this can be accomplished within the first 24 hours of AMTS contact with the paint. PCBs are extremely hydrophobic and prefer to be in the AMTS over the hardened paint or binder material. The solvent selected must be used to open, but not to destroy, the paint s polymeric lattice structure, allowing pathways for PCB movement out of the paint and into the solvent. A number of solvent systems were tested and are available for use within the AMTS. The second process of the AMTS is the degradation or dehalogenation of the PCBs. The solvent selection for this process is limited to solvents that are capable of donating a hydrogen atom to the PCB structure. Additional AMTS formulation properties that must be addressed for each site-specific application include viscosity and stability. The AMTS must be thick enough to remain where it is applied. Several thickening agents have been tested. Adding a stabilizing agent ensures that the AMTS will not evaporate and leave unprotected, activated metal exposed. During AMTS formulation testing, a number of reagents were evaluated to ensure the rate of dehalogenation was not inhibited by its addition to the system.

On concentrated solute sources in faulted aquifers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, N. I.; Werner, A. D.

2017-06-01

Finite aperture faults and fractures within aquifers (collectively called 'faults' hereafter) theoretically enable flowing water to move through them but with refractive displacement, both on entry and exit. When a 2D or 3D point source of solute concentration is located upstream of the fault, the plume emanating from the source relative to one in a fault-free aquifer is affected by the fault, both before it and after it. Previous attempts to analyze this situation using numerical methods faced challenges in overcoming computational constraints that accompany requisite fine mesh resolutions. To address these, an analytical solution of this problem is developed and interrogated using statistical evaluation of solute distributions. The method of solution is based on novel spatial integral representations of the source with axes rotated from the direction of uniform water flow and aligning with fault faces and normals. Numerical exemplification is given to the case of a 2D steady state source, using various parameter combinations. Statistical attributes of solute plumes show the relative impact of parameters, the most important being, fault rotation, aperture and conductivity ratio. New general observations of fault-affected solution plumes are offered, including: (a) the plume's mode (i.e. peak concentration) on the downstream face of the fault is less displaced than the refracted groundwater flowline, but at some distance downstream of the fault, these realign; (b) porosities have no influence in steady state calculations; (c) previous numerical modeling results of barrier faults show significant boundary effects. The current solution adds to available benchmark problems involving fractures, faults and layered aquifers, in which grid resolution effects are often barriers to accurate simulation.

Destroying God's Temple? Physical Inactivity, Poor Diet, Obesity, and Other "Sin" Behaviors.

PubMed

Faries, Mark D; McClendon, Megan; Jones, Eric J

2017-02-17

On average, our participants (N = 112), who self-proclaimed to be Christians, believed that physically inactive lifestyles, unhealthy eating, overeating, and being obese destroy the body, God's temple. However, these beliefs were less definitive, than those of other common "sin" behaviors, such as drug use, smoking, and excessive drinking of alcohol. In addition, destroying the body with physical inactivity or poor diet was not necessarily viewed as sinful. Subsequently, these beliefs did not relate to self-reported physical activity, dietary behavior, or body mass index. It is possible that inactivity, poor dietary habits, and obesity are not internalized into the spiritual perspective as destroying the body, God's temple, in the same way as other "sin" behaviors.

Overcoming barriers to investigating mother-infant interactions in the first two hours of life.

PubMed

Powers, Nancy G; Parham, Douglas F; Goldberg, Lynette R

2011-08-01

As a result of the unexpected delays experienced in a study designed to investigate mother-infant interactions and infant cry patterns in the first 2 hours following delivery, the study was assessed to identify the barriers that the investigators had encountered in its planning and conduct. These barriers can be categorized as issues with (1) institutional review board approval, (2) participant recruitment and retention, (3) requirements for study personnel, (4) instrumentation, (5) potential observer and participant bias, and (6) budgeting. Each barrier is detailed, along with suggested solutions. It is hoped that that these experiences will be of value to other researchers, particularly those working in non-research-intensive institutions, as they gather data to contribute to the understanding of mother-infant interactions in the immediate postpartum period.

High-throughput ab-initio dilute solute diffusion database

PubMed Central

Wu, Henry; Mayeshiba, Tam; Morgan, Dane

2016-01-01

We demonstrate automated generation of diffusion databases from high-throughput density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A total of more than 230 dilute solute diffusion systems in Mg, Al, Cu, Ni, Pd, and Pt host lattices have been determined using multi-frequency diffusion models. We apply a correction method for solute diffusion in alloys using experimental and simulated values of host self-diffusivity. We find good agreement with experimental solute diffusion data, obtaining a weighted activation barrier RMS error of 0.176 eV when excluding magnetic solutes in non-magnetic alloys. The compiled database is the largest collection of consistently calculated ab-initio solute diffusion data in the world. PMID:27434308

Standardized Patient Training Programs: an Efficient Solution to the Call for Quality Improvement in Oncologist Communication Skills.

PubMed

Ju, Melody; Berman, Abigail T; Vapiwala, Neha

2015-09-01

Several key medical and oncologic professional societies have endorsed the importance of physician communication as a quality improvement metric. Despite this clear message, there remain substantial barriers to communication skills training (CST) in oncologic specialties. Herein, we describe the major barriers to communications training and propose standardized patient (SP) programs as efficient and strategic starting points and as expansion opportunities for new and existing CSTs.

Modeling the long-term durability of concrete barriers in the context of low-activity waste storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Protière, Y.; Samson, E.; Henocq, P.

2013-07-01

The paper investigates the long-term durability of concrete barriers in contact with a cementitious wasteform designed to immobilize low-activity nuclear waste. The high-pH pore solution of the wasteform contains high concentration level of sulfate, nitrate, nitrite and alkalis. The multilayer concrete/wasteform system was modeled using a multiionic reactive transport model accounting for coupling between species, dissolution/ precipitation reactions, and feedback effect. One of the primary objectives was to investigate the risk associated with the presence of sulfate in the wasteform on the durability of concrete. Simulation results showed that formation of expansive phases, such as gypsum and ettringite, into the concrete barrier was not extensive. Based on those results, it was not possible to conclude that concrete would be severely damaged, even after 5,000 years. Lab work was performed to provide data to validate the modeling results. Paste samples were immersed in sulfate contact solutions and analyzed to measure the impact of the aggressive environment on the material. The results obtained so far tend to confirm the numerical simulations.

Enabling Energy Efficiency and Polarity Control in Germanium Nanowire Transistors by Individually Gated Nanojunctions.

PubMed

Trommer, Jens; Heinzig, André; Mühle, Uwe; Löffler, Markus; Winzer, Annett; Jordan, Paul M; Beister, Jürgen; Baldauf, Tim; Geidel, Marion; Adolphi, Barbara; Zschech, Ehrenfried; Mikolajick, Thomas; Weber, Walter M

2017-02-28

Germanium is a promising material for future very large scale integration transistors, due to its superior hole mobility. However, germanium-based devices typically suffer from high reverse junction leakage due to the low band-gap energy of 0.66 eV and therefore are characterized by high static power dissipation. In this paper, we experimentally demonstrate a solution to suppress the off-state leakage in germanium nanowire Schottky barrier transistors. Thereto, a device layout with two independent gates is used to induce an additional energy barrier to the channel that blocks the undesired carrier type. In addition, the polarity of the same doping-free device can be dynamically switched between p- and n-type. The shown germanium nanowire approach is able to outperform previous polarity-controllable device concepts on other material systems in terms of threshold voltages and normalized on-currents. The dielectric and Schottky barrier interface properties of the device are analyzed in detail. Finite-element drift-diffusion simulations reveal that both leakage current suppression and polarity control can also be achieved at highly scaled geometries, providing solutions for future energy-efficient systems.

Performance of two differently designed permeable reactive barriers with sulfate and zinc solutions.

PubMed

Pérez, Norma; Schwarz, Alex O; Barahona, Esteban; Sanhueza, Pamela; Diaz, Isabel; Urrutia, Homero

2018-06-18

For the first time, this laboratory-scale study evaluates the feasibility of incorporating diffusive exchange in permeable reactive barriers. In order to do this, the performance of two permeable reactive barriers (PRB) with different internal substrate arrangements were compared during the administration of a sulfate solution without metals (for 163 days) and with metals (for 60 days), simulating groundwater contaminated with acid mine drainage (AMD). In order to simulate a traditional PRB, a homogeneous distribution was implemented in the first reactor and the other PRB reactor utilized diffusion-active technology (DAPRB). In the DAPRB, the distribution of the reactive material was interspersed with the conductive material. The measurements in the internal ports showed that transverse gradients of sulfide formed in the DAPRB, causing the diffusion of sulfide from the substrate toward the layer interface, which is where the sulfide reacts by forming complexes with the metal. The DAPRB prevents the microorganisms from direct contact with AMD. This protection caused greater activity (sulfide production). Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Perceived barriers to healthy eating and physical activity among adolescents in seven Arab countries: a cross-cultural study.

PubMed

Musaiger, Abdulrahman O; Al-Mannai, Mariam; Tayyem, Reema; Al-Lalla, Osama; Ali, Essa Y A; Kalam, Faiza; Benhamed, Mofida M; Saghir, Sabri; Halahleh, Ismail; Djoudi, Zahra; Chirane, Manel

2013-01-01

To highlight the perceived personal, social, and environmental barriers to healthy eating and physical activity among Arab adolescents. A multistage stratified sampling method was used to select 4698 students aged 15-18 years (2240 males and 2458 females) from public schools. Seven Arab counties were included in the study, namely, Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Self-reported questionnaire was used to list the barriers to healthy eating and physical activity facing these adolescents. It was found that lack of information on healthy eating, lack of motivation to eat a healthy diet, and not having time to prepare or eat healthy food were the main barriers to healthy eating among both genders. For physical activity, the main barriers selected were lack of motivation to do physical activity, less support from teachers, and lack of time to do physical activity. In general, females faced more barriers to physical activity than males in all countries included. There were significant differences between males and females within each country and among countries for most barriers. Intervention programmes to combat obesity and other chronic noncommunicable diseases in the Arab world should include solutions to overcome the barriers to weight maintenance, particularly the sociocultural barriers to practising physical activity.

Phase portraits analysis of a barothropic system: The initial value problem

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuetche, Victor Kamgang, E-mail: vkuetche@yahoo.fr; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812, Yaounde; The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34014 Trieste

2014-05-15

In this paper, we investigate the phase portraits features of a barothropic relaxing medium under pressure perturbations. In the starting point, we show within a third-order of accuracy that the previous system is modeled by a “dissipative” cubic nonlinear evolution equation. Paying particular attention to high-frequency perturbations of the system, we solve the initial value problem of the system both analytically and numerically while unveiling the existence of localized multivalued waveguide channels. Accordingly, we find that the “dissipative” term with a “dissipative” parameter less than some limit value does not destroy the ambiguous solutions. We address some physical implications ofmore » the results obtained previously.« less

The nature of the virus receptors of red cells; evidence on the chemical nature of the virus receptors of red cells and of the existence of a closely analogous substance in normal serum.

PubMed

HIRST, G K

1948-04-01

THE INFLUENZA VIRUS RECEPTORS OF FOWL RED CELLS AND THE INFLUENZA VIRUS INHIBITOR OF NORMAL RABBIT SERUM HAVE THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES IN COMMON: They are stable at high temperatures and in solutions of pH as high as 10.0. They both resist destruction by a number of oxidizing agents but are readily destroyed by sodium periodate, trypsin, and influenza virus. These facts suggest that the red cell receptor and the normal serum inhibitor are either the same or analogous substances and that they may belong to the mucoprotein class of compounds.

Improved method of laser photovaporization for endometrium cases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, En-ju; Lu, Hua; Chen, En-ling; Wan, Hong-yue

1995-03-01

Endometrium was destroyed by Nd-YAG laser under B ultrasonic monitoring through direct application of a fibrous catheter specially designed by Dong-lin Lee (an optical engineer). Of the 12 patients 11 cases had dysfunctional uterine bleeding and one case had postmenopausal uterine bleeding. The mean time of laser treatment was 5' 45', the mean volume of irrigating solution was 850 ml, and the mean estimated blood loss was less than 9 ml. All patients showed neither evidence of infection nor uterine perforation. Follow-up examination for 3 - 16 months showed amenorrhea in 4 cases, spotting in 4 cases, and obviously reduced menstrual flow in 3 cases. One patient, partly treated, had normal menstruation.

Influence of high-pressure torsion on formation/destruction of nano-sized spinodal structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alhamidi, Ali; Edalati, Kaveh; Horita, Zenji

2018-04-01

The microstructures and hardness of Al - 30 mol.% Zn are investigated after processing by high-pressure torsion (HPT) for different numbers of revolutions, N = 1, 3, 10 or 25, as well as after post-HPT annealing at different temperatures, T = 373 K, 473 K, 573 K and 673 K. It was found that a work softening occurs by decreasing the grain size to the submicrometer level and increasing the fraction of high-angle boundaries. As a result of HPT processing, a complete decomposition of supersaturated solid solution of Zn in Al occurs and the spinodal structure is destroyed. This suggests that softening of the Al-Zn alloys after HPT is due to the decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution and destruction of spinodal decomposition. After post-HPT annealing, ultrafine-grained Al-Zn alloys show an unusual mechanical properties and its hardness increased to 187 HV. Microstructural analysis showed that the high hardness after post-HPT annealing is due to the formation of spinodal structures.

Photochemical oxidation: A solution for the mixed waste dilemma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prellberg, J.W.; Thornton, L.M.; Cheuvront, D.A.

1995-12-31

Numerous technologies are available to remove organic contamination from water or wastewater. A variety of techniques also exist that are used to neutralize radioactive waste. However, few technologies can satisfactorily address the treatment of mixed organic/radioactive waste without creating unacceptable secondary waste products or resulting in extremely high treatment costs. An innovative solution to the mixed waste problem is on-site photochemical oxidation. Liquid-phase photochemical oxidation has a long- standing history of successful application to the destruction of organic compounds. By using photochemical oxidation, the organic contaminants are destroyed on-site leaving the water, with radionuclides, that can be reused or disposedmore » of as appropriate. This technology offers advantages that include zero air emissions, no solid or liquid waste formation, and relatively low treatment cost. Discussion of the photochemical process will be described, and several case histories from recent design testing, including cost analyses for the resulting full-scale installations, will be presented as examples.« less

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes: today and tomorrow. A review.

PubMed

Sirés, Ignasi; Brillas, Enric; Oturan, Mehmet A; Rodrigo, Manuel A; Panizza, Marco

2014-01-01

In recent years, new advanced oxidation processes based on the electrochemical technology, the so-called electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), have been developed for the prevention and remediation of environmental pollution, especially focusing on water streams. These methods are based on the electrochemical generation of a very powerful oxidizing agent, such as the hydroxyl radical ((•)OH) in solution, which is then able to destroy organics up to their mineralization. EAOPs include heterogeneous processes like anodic oxidation and photoelectrocatalysis methods, in which (•)OH are generated at the anode surface either electrochemically or photochemically, and homogeneous processes like electro-Fenton, photoelectro-Fenton, and sonoelectrolysis, in which (•)OH are produced in the bulk solution. This paper presents a general overview of the application of EAOPs on the removal of aqueous organic pollutants, first reviewing the most recent works and then looking to the future. A global perspective on the fundamentals and experimental setups is offered, and laboratory-scale and pilot-scale experiments are examined and discussed.

Strong CP and SUZ2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Albaid, Abdelhamid; Dine, Michael; Draper, Patrick

2015-12-01

Solutions to the strong CP problem typically introduce new scales associated with the spontaneous breaking of symmetries. Absent any anthropic argument for small overline{θ} , these scales require stabilization against ultraviolet corrections. Supersymmetry offers a tempting stabilization mechanism, since it can solve the "big" electroweak hierarchy problem at the same time. One family of solutions to strong CP, including generalized parity models, heavy axion models, and heavy η' models, introduces {Z}_2 copies of (part of) the Standard Model and an associated scale of {Z}_2 -breaking. We review why, without additional structure such as supersymmetry, the {Z}_2 -breaking scale is unacceptably tuned. We then study "SUZ2" models, supersymmetric theories with {Z}_2 copies of the MSSM. We find that the addition of SUSY typically destroys the {Z}_2 protection of overline{θ}=0 , even at tree level, once SUSY and {Z}_2 are broken. In theories like supersymmetric completions of the twin Higgs, where {Z}_2 addresses the little hierarchy problem but not strong CP, two axions can be used to relax overline{θ}.

Femtosecond laser ablated durable superhydrophobic PTFE films with micro-through-holes for oil/water separation: Separating oil from water and corrosive solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yong, Jiale; Fang, Yao; Chen, Feng; Huo, Jinglan; Yang, Qing; Bian, Hao; Du, Guangqing; Hou, Xun

2016-12-01

Separating the mixture of water and oil by the superhydrophobic porous materials has attracted increasing research interests; however, the surface microstructures and chemical composition of those materials are easily destroyed in a harsh environment, resulting in materials losing the superhydrophobicity as well as the oil/water separation function. In this paper, a kind of rough microstructures was formed on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sheet by femtosecond laser treatment. The rough surfaces showed durable superhydrophobicity and ultralow water adhesion even after storing in various harsh environment for a long time, including strong acid, strong alkali, and high temperature. A micro-through-holes array was further generated on the rough superhydrophobic PTFE film by a subsequent mechanical drilling process. The resultant sample was successfully applied in the field of oil/water separation due to the inverse superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity. The designed separation system is also very efficient to separate the mixtures of oil and corrosive acid/alkali solutions, exhibiting the strong potential for practical application.

Naked singularity, firewall, and Hawking radiation.

PubMed

Zhang, Hongsheng

2017-06-21

Spacetime singularity has always been of interest since the proof of the Penrose-Hawking singularity theorem. Naked singularity naturally emerges from reasonable initial conditions in the collapsing process. A recent interesting approach in black hole information problem implies that we need a firewall to break the surplus entanglements among the Hawking photons. Classically, the firewall becomes a naked singularity. We find some vacuum analytical solutions in R n -gravity of the firewall-type and use these solutions as concrete models to study the naked singularities. By using standard quantum theory, we investigate the Hawking radiation emitted from the black holes with naked singularities. Here we show that the singularity itself does not destroy information. A unitary quantum theory works well around a firewall-type singularity. We discuss the validity of our result in general relativity. Further our result demonstrates that the temperature of the Hawking radiation still can be expressed in the form of the surface gravity divided by 2π. This indicates that a naked singularity may not compromise the Hakwing evaporation process.

Semimicrodetermination of combined tantalum and niobium with selenous acid

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grimaldi, F.S.; Schnepfe, M.

1959-01-01

Tantalum and niobium are separated and determined gravimetrically by precipitation with selenous acid from highly acidic solutions in the absence of complexing agents. Hydrogen peroxide is used in the preparation of the solution and later catalytically destroyed during digestion of the precipitate. From 0.2 to 30 mg., separately or in mixtures, of niobium or tantalum pentoxide can be separated from mixtures containing 100 mg. each of the oxides of scandium, yttrium, cerium, vanadium, molybdenum, iron, aluminum, tin, lead, and bismuth with a single precipitation; and from 30 mg. of titanium dioxide, and 50 mg. each of the oxides of antimony and thorium, when present separately, with three precipitations. At least 50 mg. of uranium(VI) oxide can be separated with a single precipitation when present alone; otherwise, three precipitations may be needed. Zirconium does not interfere when the tantalum and niobium contents of the sample are small, but in general, zirconium as well as tungsten interfere. The method is applied to the determination of the earth acids in tantaloniobate ores.

Facilitating 3D Virtual World Learning Environments Creation by Non-Technical End Users through Template-Based Virtual World Instantiation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Chang; Zhong, Ying; Ozercan, Sertac; Zhu, Qing

2013-01-01

This paper presents a template-based solution to overcome technical barriers non-technical computer end users face when developing functional learning environments in three-dimensional virtual worlds (3DVW). "iVirtualWorld," a prototype of a platform-independent 3DVW creation tool that implements the proposed solution, facilitates 3DVW…

From Walls to Windows: Using Barriers as Pathways to Insightful Solutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walinga, Jennifer

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to explore and develop a conceptual model for how individuals unlock insight. The concept of insight--the "out of the box" or "aha!" solution to a problem--offers a framework for exploring and understanding how best to enhance problem solving skills due to the cognitive shift insight requires. Creative problem solving…

Exploring Barriers and Solutions to Academic Writing: Perspectives from Students, Higher Education and Further Education Tutors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Itua, Imose; Coffey, Margaret; Merryweather, David; Norton, Lin; Foxcroft, Angela

2014-01-01

Staff and student perceptions of what constitutes good academic writing in both further and higher education often differ. This is reflected in written assignments which frequently fall below the expected standard. In seeking to develop the writing skills of students and propose potential solutions to writing difficulties, a study was conducted in…

One-dimensional models of quasi-neutral parallel electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, D. P.

1981-01-01

Parallel electric fields can exist in the magnetic mirror geometry of auroral field lines if they conform to the quasineutral equilibrium solutions. Results on quasi-neutral equilibria and on double layer discontinuities were reviewed and the effects on such equilibria due to non-unique solutions, potential barriers and field aligned current flows using as inputs monoenergetic isotropic distribution functions were examined.

Spores

MedlinePlus

... do not destroy their spores. A process called sterilization destroys spores and bacteria. It is done at ... and under high pressures. In health care settings, sterilization is usually done using a device called an ...

Socio-demographic and behavioral variation in barriers to leisure-time physical activity.

PubMed

Borodulin, Katja; Sipilä, Noora; Rahkonen, Ossi; Leino-Arjas, Päivi; Kestilä, Laura; Jousilahti, Pekka; Prättälä, Ritva

2016-02-01

We examined the socio-demographic and behavioral determinants of perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in a population-based sample of working-aged adults. Data comprised the National FINRISK 2002 Study, a population-based health examination study. Analyses were restricted to those aged 25-64 years and who perceived that their amount of LTPA did not reach sufficient levels. They reported barriers to LTPA, defined as a lack of time, motivation and lack of companionship to be active with, as well as high expenses. Age, education, household income, employment status, family type, physical activity, smoking and body mass index (BMI) were included as explanatory variables. Lack of time was the most frequent barrier. Each barrier was explained by a different set of factors that also varied between genders. The strongest and most systematic associations with the barriers were found for age, employment status and family type. Lack of time was less often reported as a barrier among the unemployed, singles without children and older people. Lacking motivation as a barrier was most common among singles without children. High expenses as a barrier was more often reported by the unemployed, and less often reported in the highest income group. When considering actions to promote LTPA, there is not one single solution, because the perceived barriers vary by population subgroups. © 2015 the Nordic Societies of Public Health.

Can test fields destroy the event horizon in the Kerr–Taub–NUT spacetime?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Düztaş, Koray

2018-02-01

In this work we investigate if the interaction of the Kerr–Taub–NUT spacetime with test scalar and neutrino fields can lead to the destruction of the event horizon. It turns out that both extremal and nearly extremal black holes can be destroyed by scalar and neutrino fields if the initial angular momentum of the spacetime is sufficiently large relative to its mass and NUT charge. This is the first example in which a classical field satisfying the null energy condition can actually destroy an extremal black hole. For scalar fields, the modes that can lead to the destruction of the horizon are restricted to a narrow range due to superradiance. Since superradiance does not occur for neutrino fields, the destruction of the horizon by neutrino fields is generic, and it cannot be fixed by backreaction effects. We also show that the extremal black holes that can be destroyed by scalar fields correspond to naked singularities in the Kerr limit, in accord with the previous results which imply that extremal Kerr black holes cannot be destroyed by scalar test fields.

The Perinatal Palliative Care Perceptions and Barriers Scale Instrument©: development and validation.

PubMed

Wool, Charlotte; Northam, Sally

2011-12-01

To devise and test an instrument measuring clinician perceptions of perinatal palliative care (PPC) and barriers to care delivery. PPC was theorized to involve the care of pregnant women and their families after prenatal testing resulted in a life-limiting fetal diagnosis. Both giving birth to a child with a life-limiting condition or termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly can be emotionally traumatic life events. Clinicians were thought to face ethical dilemmas that involved approaches to care for this population. The ethical dilemmas were measured on a perceptions scale using items about informed consent, justice, beneficence, and autonomy. Barriers were theorized as obstacles to delivering quality PPC and included insufficient education, personal discomfort, and difficulty garnering team or administrative support for care. Licensed clinicians practicing in the perinatal field. Stage 1 entailed instrument development and validation, which was achieved through a Delphi study involving 11 expert panelists. The devised instrument included 64 six-point Likert items. In stage 2, a computer survey gathered data from a multidisciplinary, clinician group. A total of 264 clinicians completed the survey. Exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to validate the instrument, evaluate the factors, and summarize the explained variance achieved by sum scores of the perceptions and barriers scales. The perceptions scale was reduced to 23 items with a 6-factor solution explaining 67% of the variance with a good internal consistency reliability of 0.77 (Cronbach α). The 22-item barriers scale had a 6-factor solution explaining 71% of the variance with an alpha reliability of 0.83. The Perinatal Palliative Care Perceptions and Practice Barriers Scale instrument is a valid and reliable measure of PPC perceptions and barriers for measuring the attitudes of physicians and nurses. Use of this instrument can foster educational programs and hospital planning for PPC teams that provide grieving families with the varied support they need. It is also a useful instrument for examining trends in the clinician perspectives and practice barriers as more genetic testing and subsequent terminal diagnoses occur.

Understanding and Improving Blind Students' Access to Visual Information in Computer Science Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, Catherine M.

Teaching people with disabilities tech skills empowers them to create solutions to problems they encounter and prepares them for careers. However, computer science is typically taught in a highly visual manner which can present barriers for people who are blind. The goal of this dissertation is to understand and decrease those barriers. The first projects I present looked at the barriers that blind students face. I first present the results of my survey and interviews with blind students with degrees in computer science or related fields. This work highlighted the many barriers that these blind students faced. I then followed-up on one of the barriers mentioned, access to technology, by doing a preliminary accessibility evaluation of six popular integrated development environments (IDEs) and code editors. I found that half were unusable and all had some inaccessible portions. As access to visual information is a barrier in computer science education, I present three projects I have done to decrease this barrier. The first project is Tactile Graphics with a Voice (TGV). This project investigated an alternative to Braille labels for those who do not know Braille and showed that TGV was a potential alternative. The next project was StructJumper, which created a modified abstract syntax tree that blind programmers could use to navigate through code with their screen reader. The evaluation showed that users could navigate more quickly and easily determine the relationships of lines of code when they were using StructJumper compared to when they were not. Finally, I present a tool for dynamic graphs (the type with nodes and edges) which had two different modes for handling focus changes when moving between graphs. I found that the modes support different approaches for exploring the graphs and therefore preferences are mixed based on the user's preferred approach. However, both modes had similar accuracy in completing the tasks. These projects are a first step towards the goal of making computer science education more accessible to blind students. By identifying the barriers that exist and creating solutions to overcome them, we can support increasing the number of blind students in computer science.

Loss of heterocyclic amine mutagens by insoluble hemicellulose fiber and high-molecular-weight soluble polyphenolics of coffee.

PubMed

Kato, T; Takahashi, S; Kikugawa, K

1991-01-01

The presence of 2 kinds of components in brewed and instant coffee that could remove and destroy heterocyclic amine mutagens was demonstrated. The component that could remove the mutagens was insoluble fiber composed of hemicellulose. The fiber could tightly adsorb the mutagens Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, Glu-P-1 and A alpha C, and those generated in roasted coffee beans. The component that could destroy the mutagens was high-molecular-weight soluble polyphenolics. They might be converted into quinone derivatives in the presence of molecular oxygen. The quinone derivatives might destroy the mutagens. The fibers and the polyphenolics in one cup of brewed or instant coffee had the capacity to remove and destroy a substantial amount of the mutagens in pyrolysates of foodstuffs.

Illitization of Potassium, Cesium, and Ammonium Exchanged Smectite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mills, M. M.; Wang, Y.; Payne, C.; Sanchez, A. C.; Boisvert, L.; Matteo, E. N.

2017-12-01

Bentonite clay is a primary choice for engineered barrier systems within geologic repositories for disposal of radioactive wastes due to its low permeability at saturated states, warranting diffusion as the dominant transport mechanism, and large swelling pressures that promote sealing. In order to predict how well the barrier will function over time at repository relevant temperatures, it is important to understand thermal alteration effects on montmorillonite, better known as smectite, a main constituent of bentonite. One type of thermal alteration is the conversion to illite, when exposed to elevated temperatures and a sufficient amount of potassium ions, thereby weakening barrier functions. To facilitate the conversion of smectite to illite and examine the influence of interlayer cations, illitization experiments on cation exchanged smectite were performed within hydrothermal reaction vessels over one week timescales. The <2um fraction of a Na-rich smectite clay was first exchanged with 1M Cs, K, and NH4 salt solutions and further exposed to hydrous pyrolysis using a 1M KCl solution with various solid to liquid ratios at 200°C. Multiple analysis techniques were used to characterize the altered clay and identify extent of conversion, such as XRD, cation exchange capacity, and morphology changes by SEM. The pore-water chemistry was also analyzed by ICP-OES to detect any dissolved products and silica content. Results suggest the conversion rate is relatively fast, occurring within days, and is dependent on not only the amount of K, but also dissolved silica concentration related to total solid in solution. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc. for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525. SAND2017-7856A

Approach to the vadose zone monitoring in hazardous and solid waste disposal facilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Twardowska, Irena

2004-03-01

In the solid waste (SW)disposal sites, in particular at the unlined facilities, at the remediated or newly-constructed units equipped with novel protective/reactive permeable barriers or at lined facilities with leachate collection systems that are prone to failure, the vadose zone monitoring should comprise besides the natural soil layer beneath the landfill, also the anthropogenic vadose zone, i.e. the waste layer and pore solutions in the landfill. The vadose zone screening along the vertical profile of SW facilities with use of direct invasive soil-core and soil-pore liquid techniques shows vertical downward redistribution of inorganic (macroconstituents and heavy metals) and organic (PAHs) contaminant loads in water infiltrating through the waste layer. These loads can make ground water down-gradient of the dump unfit for any use. To avoid damage of protective/reactive permeable barriers and liners, an installation of stationary monitoring systems along the waste layer profile during the construction of a landfill, which are amenable to generate accurate data and information in a near-real time should be considered including:(i) permanent samplers of pore solution, with a periodic pump-induced transport of collected solution to the surface, preferably with instant field measurements;(ii)chemical sensors with continuous registration of critical parameters. These techniques would definitely provide an early alert in case when the chemical composition of pore solution percolating downward the waste profile shows unfavorable transformations, which indicate an excessive contaminant load approaching ground water. The problems concerning invasive and stationary monitoring of the vadose zone in SW disposal facilities will be discussed at the background of results of monitoring data and properties of permeable protective/reactive barriers considered for use.

A multi-level quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics study of SN2 reaction at nitrogen: NH2Cl + OH(-) in aqueous solution.

PubMed

Lv, Jing; Zhang, Jingxue; Wang, Dunyou

2016-02-17

We employed a multi-level quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics approach to study the reaction NH2Cl + OH(-) in aqueous solution. The multi-level quantum method (including the DFT method with both the B3LYP and M06-2X exchange-correlation functionals and the CCSD(T) method, and both methods with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set) was used to treat the quantum reaction region in different stages of the calculation in order to obtain an accurate potential of mean force. The obtained free energy activation barriers at the DFT/MM level of theory yielded a big difference of 21.8 kcal mol(-1) with the B3LYP functional and 27.4 kcal mol(-1) with the M06-2X functional respectively. Nonetheless, the barrier heights become very close when shifted from DFT to CCSD(T): 22.4 kcal mol(-1) and 22.9 kcal mol(-1) at CCSD(T)(B3LYP)/MM and CCSD(T)(M06-2X)/MM levels of theory, respectively. The free reaction energy obtained using CCSD(T)(M06-2X)/MM shows an excellent agreement with the one calculated using the available gas-phase data. Aqueous solution plays a significant role in shaping the reaction profile. In total, the water solution contributes 13.3 kcal mol(-1) and 14.6 kcal mol(-1) to the free energy barrier heights at CCSD(T)(B3LYP)/MM and CCSD(T)(M06-2X)/MM respectively. The title reaction at nitrogen is a faster reaction than the corresponding reaction at carbon, CH3Cl + OH(-).

Medical Student Perceptions of Cost-Conscious Care in an Internal Medicine Clerkship: A Thematic Analysis.

PubMed

Tartaglia, Kimberly M; Kman, Nicholas; Ledford, Cynthia

2015-10-01

Although as much as 87 % of all healthcare spending is directed by physicians, studies have demonstrated that they lack knowledge about the costs of medical care. Similarly, learners have not traditionally received instruction on cost-conscious care. To examine medical students' perceptions of healthcare delivery as it relates to cost consciousness Retrospective qualitative analysis of medical student narratives Third-year medical students during their inpatient internal medicine clerkship Students completed a reflective exercise wherein they were asked to describe a scenario in which a patient experienced lack of attention to cost-conscious care, and were asked to identify solutions and barriers. We analyzed these reflections to learn more about students' awareness and perceptions regarding the practice of cost-conscious care within our medical center. Eighty students submitted the assignment between July and December 2012. The most common problems identified included unnecessary tests and treatments (n = 69) and duplicative tests and treatments (n = 20.) With regards to solutions, students described 82 scenarios, with 125 potential solutions identified. Students most commonly used discussion with the team (speak up, ask why) as the process they would use (n = 28) and most often wanted to focus lab testing (n = 38) as the intervention. The most common barriers to high-value care included increased time and effort (n = 19), ingrained practices (n = 17), and defensive medicine or fear of missing something (n = 18.) Even with minimal clinical experience, medical students were able to identify instances of lack of attention to cost-conscious care as well as potential solutions. Although students identified the hierarchy in healthcare teams as a potential barrier to improving high value care, most students stated they would feel comfortable engaging the team in discussion. Future efforts to empower learners at all levels to question value decisions and to develop and implement solutions may result in improved healthcare.

9 CFR 51.30 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS..., sheep, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis must be made using an indemnity claim form furnished...

9 CFR 51.30 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS..., sheep, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis must be made using an indemnity claim form furnished...

9 CFR 51.30 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS..., sheep, and horses destroyed because of brucellosis must be made using an indemnity claim form furnished...

Droplets on liquid surfaces: Dual equilibrium states and their energy barrier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shabani, Roxana; Kumar, Ranganathan; Cho, Hyoung J.

2013-05-01

Floating aqueous droplets were formed at oil-air interface, and two stable configurations of (i) non-coalescent droplet and (ii) cap/bead droplet were observed. General solutions for energy and force analysis were obtained for both configurations and were shown to be in good agreement with the experimental observations. The energy barrier obtained for transition from configuration (i) to configuration (ii) was correlated to the droplet release height and the probability of non-coalescent droplet formation.

Versatile fabrication of paper-based microfluidic devices with high chemical resistance using scholar glue and magnetic masks.

PubMed

Cardoso, Thiago M G; de Souza, Fabrício R; Garcia, Paulo T; Rabelo, Denilson; Henry, Charles S; Coltro, Wendell K T

2017-06-29

Simple methods have been developed for fabricating microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) but few of these devices can be used with organic solvents and/or aqueous solutions containing surfactants. This study describes a simple fabrication strategy for μPADs that uses readily available scholar glue to create the hydrophobic flow barriers that are resistant to surfactants and organic solvents. Microfluidic structures were defined by magnetic masks designed with either neodymium magnets or magnetic sheets to define the patter, and structures were created by spraying an aqueous solution of glue on the paper surface. The glue-coated paper was then exposed to UV/Vis light for cross-linking to maximize chemical resistance. Examples of microzone arrays and microfluidic devices are demonstrated. μPADs fabricated with scholar glue retained their barriers when used with surfactants, organic solvents, and strong/weak acids and bases unlike common wax-printed barriers. Paper microzones and microfluidic devices were successfully used for colorimetric assays of clinically relevant analytes commonly detected in urinalysis to demonstrate the low background of the barrier material and generally applicability to sensing. The proposed fabrication method is attractive for both its ability to be used with diverse chemistries and the low cost and simplicity of the materials and process. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Suberized transport barriers in Arabidopsis, barley and rice roots: From the model plant to crop species.

PubMed

Kreszies, Tino; Schreiber, Lukas; Ranathunge, Kosala

2018-02-07

Water is the most important prerequisite for life and plays a major role during uptake and transport of nutrients. Roots are the plant organs that take up the major part of water, from the surrounding soil. Water uptake is related to the root system architecture, root growth, age and species dependent complex developmental changes in the anatomical structures. The latter is mainly attributed to the deposition of suberized barriers in certain layers of cell walls, such as endo- and exodermis. With respect to water permeability, changes in the suberization of roots are most relevant. Water transport or hydraulic conductivity of roots (Lp r ) can be described by the composite transport model and is known to be very variable between plant species and growth conditions and root developmental states. In this review, we summarize how anatomical structures and apoplastic barriers of roots can diversely affect water transport, comparing the model plant Arabidopsis with crop plants, such as barley and rice. Results comparing the suberin amounts and water transport properties indicate that the common assumption that suberin amount negatively correlates with water and solute transport through roots may not always be true. The composition, microstructure and localization of suberin may also have a great impact on the formation of efficient barriers to water and solutes. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.

A coupled THC model of the FEBEX in situ test with bentonite swelling and chemical and thermal osmosis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zheng, L.; Samper, J.; Montenegro, L.

The performance assessment of a geological repository for radioactive waste requires quantifying the geochemical evolution of the bentonite engineered barrier. This barrier will be exposed to coupled thermal (T), hydrodynamic (H), mechanical (M) and chemical (C) processes. This paper presents a coupled THC model of the FEBEX (Full-scale Engineered Barrier EXperiment) in situ test which accounts for bentonite swelling and chemical and thermal osmosis. Model results attest the relevance of thermal osmosis and bentonite swelling for the geochemical evolution of the bentonite barrier while chemical osmosis is found to be almost irrelevant. The model has been tested with data collectedmore » after the dismantling of heater 1 of the in situ test. The model reproduces reasonably well the measured temperature, relative humidity, water content and inferred geochemical data. However, it fails to mimic the solute concentrations at the heater-bentonite and bentonite-granite interfaces because the model does not account for the volume change of bentonite, the CO{sub 2}(g) degassing and the transport of vapor from the bentonite into the granite. The inferred HCO{sub 3}{sup -} and pH data cannot be explained solely by solute transport, calcite dissolution and protonation/deprotonation by surface complexation, suggesting that such data may be affected also by other reactions.« less

Hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanics Study of the SN2 Reaction of CH3Cl+OH- in Water

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yin, Hongyun; Wang, Dunyou; Valiev, Marat

2011-11-03

The SN2 mechanism for the reaction of CH3Cl + OH- in aqueous solution was investigated using combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics methodology. We analyzed structures of reactant, transition and product states along the reaction pathway. The free energy profile was calculated using the multi-layered representation with the DFT and CCSD(T) level of theory for the quantum-mechanical description of the reactive region. Our results show that the aqueous environment has a significant impact on the reaction process. We find that solvation energy contribution raises the reaction barrier by ~18.9 kcal/mol and the reaction free energy by ~24.5 kcal/mol. The presencemore » of the solvent also induces perturbations in the electronic structure of the solute leading to an increase of 3.5 kcal/mol for the reaction barrier and a decrease of 5.6 kcal/mol for the reaction free energy respectively. Combining the results of two previous calculation results on CHCl3 + OH- and CH2Cl2 + OH- reactions in water, we demonstrate that increase in the chlorination of the methyl group (from CH3Cl to CHCl3) is accompanied by the decrease in the free energy reaction barrier, with the CH3Cl + OH- having the largest barrier among the three reactions.« less

The Maritime Security of the Baltic Approaches. NATO and the Warsaw Pact.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-06-01

the last of which was transferred in 1970 when Poland received a SAM Kotlin class destroyer. They have also received several coastal patrol craft...conscripts). 4 W-class submarines. I Kotlin destroyer with two Goa SAM. 13 Osa FAC(M) with Styx SSM. 17 FAC(T): 4 Pilica, 10 Wisla, 3 P-6. 23 large...cruisers CG (Kara, Kresta, Kynda) 2 2 - Light cruisers CL (Sverdlov, Chapaev 4 5 2 Guided missile destroyers DDG (Kashin, Kilden, Kanin, Kivak, Kotlin (SAM

Transporters at CNS Barrier Sites: Obstacles or Opportunities for Drug Delivery?

PubMed Central

Sanchez-Covarrubias, Lucy; Slosky, Lauren M.; Thompson, Brandon J.; Davis, Thomas P.; Ronaldson, Patrick T.

2014-01-01

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (BCSF) barriers are critical determinants of CNS homeostasis. Additionally, the BBB and BCSF barriers are formidable obstacles to effective CNS drug delivery. These brain barrier sites express putative influx and efflux transporters that precisely control permeation of circulating solutes including drugs. The study of transporters has enabled a shift away from “brute force” approaches to delivering drugs by physically circumventing brain barriers towards chemical approaches that can target specific compounds of the BBB and/or BCSF barrier. However, our understanding of transporters at the BBB and BCSF barriers has primarily focused on understanding efflux transporters that efficiently prevent drugs from attaining therapeutic concentrations in the CNS. Recently, through the characterization of multiple endogenously expressed uptake transporters, this paradigm has shifted to the study of brain transporter targets that can facilitate drug delivery (i.e., influx transporters). Additionally, signaling pathways and trafficking mechanisms have been identified for several endogenous BBB/BCSF transporters, thereby offering even more opportunities to understand how transporters can be exploited for optimization of CNS drug delivery. This review presents an overview of the BBB and BCSF barrier as well as the many families of transporters functionally expressed at these barrier sites. Furthermore, we present an overview of various strategies that have been designed and utilized to deliver therapeutic agents to the brain with a particular emphasis on those approaches that directly target endogenous BBB/BCSF barrier transporters. PMID:23789948

Hemolytic anemia

MedlinePlus

Anemia - hemolytic ... bones that helps form all blood cells. Hemolytic anemia occurs when the bone marrow isn't making ... destroyed. There are several possible causes of hemolytic anemia. Red blood cells may be destroyed due to: ...

9 CFR 51.7 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS... destroyed because of brucellosis shall be presented on indemnity claim forms furnished by APHIS on which the...

9 CFR 51.7 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS... destroyed because of brucellosis shall be presented on indemnity claim forms furnished by APHIS on which the...

9 CFR 51.7 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS... destroyed because of brucellosis shall be presented on indemnity claim forms furnished by APHIS on which the...

9 CFR 51.7 - Claims for indemnity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... COOPERATIVE CONTROL AND ERADICATION OF LIVESTOCK OR POULTRY DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS... destroyed because of brucellosis shall be presented on indemnity claim forms furnished by APHIS on which the...

Laser therapy for cancer

MedlinePlus

... a very narrow, focused beam of light to shrink or destroy cancer cells. It can be used ... be used to: Destroy tumors and precancerous growths Shrink tumors that are blocking the stomach, colon, or ...

Integrated control of wood destroying basidiomycetes combining Cu-based wood preservatives and Trichoderma spp.

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The production of new generation of wood preservatives (without addition of a co-biocide) in combination with an exchange of wood poles on identical sites with high fungal inoculum, has resulted in an increase of premature failures of wood utility poles in the last decades. Wood destroying basidiomycetes inhabiting sites where poles have been installed, have developed resistance against wood preservatives. The objective of the in vitro studies was to identify a Trichoderma spp. with a highly antagonistic potential against wood destroying basidiomycetes that is capable of colonizing Cu-rich environments. For this purpose, the activity of five Trichoderma spp. on Cu-rich medium was evaluated according to its growth and sporulation rates. The influence of the selected Trichoderma spp. on wood colonization and degradation by five wood destroying basidiomycetes was quantitatively analyzed by means of dry weight loss of wood specimens. Furthermore, the preventative effect of the selected Trichoderma spp. in combination with four Cu-based preservatives was also examined by mass loss and histological changes in the wood specimens. Trichoderma harzianum (T-720) was considered the biocontrol agent with higher antagonistic potential to colonize Cu-rich environments (up to 0.1% CuSO4 amended medium). T. harzianum demonstrated significant preventative effect on wood specimens against four wood destroying basidiomycetes. The combined effect of T. harzianum and Cu-based wood preservatives demonstrated that after 9 months incubation with two wood destroying basidiomycetes, wood specimens treated with 3.8 kg m-3 copper-chromium had weight losses between 55–65%, whereas containers previously treated with T. harzianum had significantly lower weight losses (0–25%). Histological studies on one of the wood destroying basidiomycetes revealed typical decomposition of wood cells by brown-rot fungi in Cu-impregnated samples, that were notably absent in wood specimens previously exposed to T. harzianum. It is concluded that carefully selected Trichoderma isolates can be used for integrated wood protection against a range of wood destroying basidiomycetes and may have potential for integrated wood protection in the field. PMID:28379978

Integrated control of wood destroying basidiomycetes combining Cu-based wood preservatives and Trichoderma spp.

PubMed

Ribera, Javier; Fink, Siegfried; Bas, Maria Del Carmen; Schwarze, Francis W M R

2017-01-01

The production of new generation of wood preservatives (without addition of a co-biocide) in combination with an exchange of wood poles on identical sites with high fungal inoculum, has resulted in an increase of premature failures of wood utility poles in the last decades. Wood destroying basidiomycetes inhabiting sites where poles have been installed, have developed resistance against wood preservatives. The objective of the in vitro studies was to identify a Trichoderma spp. with a highly antagonistic potential against wood destroying basidiomycetes that is capable of colonizing Cu-rich environments. For this purpose, the activity of five Trichoderma spp. on Cu-rich medium was evaluated according to its growth and sporulation rates. The influence of the selected Trichoderma spp. on wood colonization and degradation by five wood destroying basidiomycetes was quantitatively analyzed by means of dry weight loss of wood specimens. Furthermore, the preventative effect of the selected Trichoderma spp. in combination with four Cu-based preservatives was also examined by mass loss and histological changes in the wood specimens. Trichoderma harzianum (T-720) was considered the biocontrol agent with higher antagonistic potential to colonize Cu-rich environments (up to 0.1% CuSO4 amended medium). T. harzianum demonstrated significant preventative effect on wood specimens against four wood destroying basidiomycetes. The combined effect of T. harzianum and Cu-based wood preservatives demonstrated that after 9 months incubation with two wood destroying basidiomycetes, wood specimens treated with 3.8 kg m-3 copper-chromium had weight losses between 55-65%, whereas containers previously treated with T. harzianum had significantly lower weight losses (0-25%). Histological studies on one of the wood destroying basidiomycetes revealed typical decomposition of wood cells by brown-rot fungi in Cu-impregnated samples, that were notably absent in wood specimens previously exposed to T. harzianum. It is concluded that carefully selected Trichoderma isolates can be used for integrated wood protection against a range of wood destroying basidiomycetes and may have potential for integrated wood protection in the field.

Sensitization of TiO₂ nanosheets with Cu-biphenylamine frame work to enhance photocatalytic degradation performance of toxic organic contaminants: Synthesis, mechanism and kinetic studies.

PubMed

Khan, Muhammad Asim; Mutahir, Sadaf; Wang, Fengyun; Lei, Wu; Xia, Mingzhu

2018-06-25

TNS/Cu(X) composite materials were firstly synthesized via simple overnight stirring of TNS in the methanolic solution of Cu complexes. The developed TNS/Cu(X) composites having a well-designed nanostructure, in which TNS and Cu complexes were closely bounded with each other. Biphenylamine complexes fixed on TNS surface in form of Nano-capsules, which were confirmed by TEM and SEM, thus improving the surface area and subsequently charge separation. Innovatively merged photocatalysts of Cu complexes with TNS were successfully verified for photocatalytic mineralization of colored and colorless organic contaminants under the visible light degradation. As compared to original TNS, TNS/Cu(BA) showed prominent improvement in the catalytic actions. Kinetics i.e. t1/2 (half-life times period), Kapp, and R2 (linear regression co-efficient) were also studied. The amended materials created charge separation, by means of electrons gathering at the higher CB, and holes gathering at lower level VB of Cu complex, therefore improving mineralization efficiency of electrons and holes. TNS/Cu(BA) degrade 99% to 99.6% of MO & RhB dyes in 120 min, and 160 min, respectively, and 68 % of phenol and 53% of TCP were destroyed in 180 min. The resilient holes can directly destroy MO, RhB, phenol, and TCP. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Zealots tame oscillations in the spatial rock-paper-scissors game

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szolnoki, Attila; Perc, Matjaž

2016-06-01

The rock-paper-scissors game is a paradigmatic model for biodiversity, with applications ranging from microbial populations to human societies. Research has shown, however, that mobility jeopardizes biodiversity by promoting the formation of spiral waves, especially if there is no conservation law in place for the total number of competing players. First, we show that even if such a conservation law applies, mobility still jeopardizes biodiversity in the spatial rock-paper-scissors game if only a small fraction of links of the square lattice is randomly rewired. Secondly, we show that zealots are very effective in taming the amplitude of oscillations that emerge due to mobility and/or interaction randomness, and this regardless of whether the later is quenched or annealed. While even a tiny fraction of zealots brings significant benefits, at 5% occupancy zealots practically destroy all oscillations regardless of the intensity of mobility, and regardless of the type and strength of randomness in the interaction structure. Interestingly, by annealed randomness the impact of zealots is qualitatively the same as by mobility, which highlights that fast diffusion does not necessarily destroy the coexistence of species, and that zealotry thus helps to recover the stable mean-field solution. Our results strengthen the important role of zealots in models of cyclic dominance, and they reveal fascinating evolutionary outcomes in structured populations that are a unique consequence of such uncompromising behavior.

Decomposition of Amino Acids in 100 K Ice by UV Photolysis: Implications for Survival on Europa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goguen, Jay D.; Orzechowska, G.; Johnson, P.; Tsapin, A.; Kanik, I.; Smythe, W.

2006-09-01

We report the rate of decomposition by ultraviolet photolysis of 4 amino acids in a mm-thick crystalline water ice matrix at T=100K to constrain the survivability of these important organic molecules within ice lying near the surfaces of outer solar system bodies. We freeze our ice samples from liquid solution which results in mm-thick samples of crystalline phase hexagonal ice that appears "white” due to multiple scattering from internal microstructure. After irradiating an ice and amino acid mixture with an Argon mini-arc UV continuum light source, we used a derivatization technique based on a fluorescence reaction of amino acids to directly measure the remaining fraction of amino acid. We measured ice samples with 0.14, 0.28 and 1.6 mm thickness, prepared from 10-4 M solutions of glycine, D,L-aspartic, D,L-glutamic, and D,L-phenylalanine irradiated from 10 to 1020 minutes. We find that the half-life for decomposition of the amino acid - ice samples is linearly proportional to their thickness as is expected for a layer with strong multiple scattering. Glycine is the most resistant to destruction and phenylalanine is the most easily destroyed. For the 1.6 mm thick samples under lab conditions, the half-life of glycine was 57 hours, aspartic 21 hours, glutamic 23 hours, and phenylalanine 8 hours. These results can be expressed as a "penetration velocity", the depth to which half of the amino acids are destroyed in a year. We conclude that half of these amino acids in the upper meter of low latitude ice on Europa will be decomposed by solar UV on a 10 year timescale. Photons between 160 and 300 nm wavelength are responsible for this decomposition. Progress on identifying and quantifying the products of this decomposition, potential candidates for in-situ studies, will be discussed. This work was supported in part by JPL IR&TD funds.

Irradiation effects on electrical properties of DNA solution/Al Schottky diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Ta'ii, Hassan Maktuff Jaber; Periasamy, Vengadesh; Iwamoto, Mitsumasa

2018-04-01

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has emerged as one of the most exciting organic material and as such extensively studied as a smart electronic material since the last few decades. DNA molecules have been reported to be utilized in the fabrication of small-scaled sensors and devices. In this current work, the effect of alpha radiation on the electrical properties of an Al/DNA/Al device using DNA solution was studied. It was observed that the carrier transport was governed by electrical interface properties at the Al-DNA interface. Current ( I)-voltage ( V) curves were analyzed by employing the interface limited Schottky current equations, i.e., conventional and Cheung and Cheung's models. Schottky parameters such as ideality factor, barrier height and series resistance were also determined. The extracted barrier height of the Schottky contact before and after radiation was calculated as 0.7845, 0.7877, 0.7948 and 0.7874 eV for the non-radiated, 12, 24 and 36 mGy, respectively. Series resistance of the structure was found to decline with the increase in the irradiation, which was due to the increase in the free radical root effects in charge carriers in the DNA solution. Results pertaining to the electronic profiles obtained in this work may provide a better understanding for the development of precise and rapid radiation sensors using DNA solution.

Multi-level quantum mechanics theories and molecular mechanics study of the double-inversion mechanism of the F- + CH3I reaction in aqueous solution.

PubMed

Liu, Peng; Zhang, Jingxue; Wang, Dunyou

2017-06-07

A double-inversion mechanism of the F - + CH 3 I reaction was discovered in aqueous solution using combined multi-level quantum mechanics theories and molecular mechanics. The stationary points along the reaction path show very different structures to the ones in the gas phase due to the interactions between the solvent and solute, especially strong hydrogen bonds. An intermediate complex, a minimum on the potential of mean force, was found to serve as a connecting-link between the abstraction-induced inversion transition state and the Walden-inversion transition state. The potentials of mean force were calculated with both the DFT/MM and CCSD(T)/MM levels of theory. Our calculated free energy barrier of the abstraction-induced inversion is 69.5 kcal mol -1 at the CCSD(T)/MM level of theory, which agrees with the one at 72.9 kcal mol -1 calculated using the Born solvation model and gas-phase data; and our calculated free energy barrier of the Walden inversion is 24.2 kcal mol -1 , which agrees very well with the experimental value at 25.2 kcal mol -1 in aqueous solution. The calculations show that the aqueous solution makes significant contributions to the potentials of mean force and exerts a big impact on the molecular-level evolution along the reaction pathway.

Optimizing Barrier Removal to Restore Connectivity in Utah's Weber Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kraft, M.; Null, S. E.

2016-12-01

Instream barriers, such as dams, culverts and diversions are economically important for water supply, but negatively affect river ecosystems and disrupt hydrologic processes. Removal of uneconomical and aging in-stream barriers to improve habitat connectivity is increasingly used to restore river connectivity. Most past barrier removal projects focused on individual barriers using a score-and-rank technique, ignoring cumulative change from multiple, spatially-connected barrier removals. Similarly, most water supply models optimize either human water use or aquatic connectivity, failing to holistically represent human and environmental benefits. In this study, a dual objective optimization model identified in-stream barriers that impede aquatic habitat connectivity for trout, using streamflow, temperature, and channel gradient as indicators of aquatic habitat suitability. Water scarcity costs are minimized using agricultural and urban economic penalty functions to incorporate water supply benefits and a budget monetizes costs of removing small barriers like culverts and road crossings. The optimization model developed is applied to a case study in Utah's Weber basin to prioritize removal of the most environmentally harmful barriers, while maintaining human water uses. The dual objective solution basis was developed to quantify and graphically visualize tradeoffs between connected quality-weighted habitat for Bonneville cutthroat trout and economic water uses. Modeled results include a spectrum of barrier removal alternatives based on budget and quality-weighted reconnected habitat that can be communicated with local stakeholders. This research will help prioritize barrier removals and future restoration decisions. The modeling approach expands current barrier removal optimization methods by explicitly including economic and environmental water uses.

FUNGIBLE AND COMPATIBLE BIOFUELS: LITERATURE SEARCH, SUMMARY, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bunting, Bruce G; Bunce, Michael; Barone, Teresa L

2011-04-01

The purpose of the study described in this report is to summarize the various barriers to more widespread distribution of bio-fuels through our common carrier fuel distribution system, which includes pipelines, barges and rail, fuel tankage, and distribution terminals. Addressing these barriers is necessary to allow the more widespread utilization and distribution of bio-fuels, in support of a renewable fuels standard and possible future low-carbon fuel standards. These barriers can be classified into several categories, including operating practice, regulatory, technical, and acceptability barriers. Possible solutions to these issues are discussed; including compatibility evaluation, changes to bio-fuels, regulatory changes, and changesmore » in the distribution system or distribution practices. No actual experimental research has been conducted in the writing of this report, but results are used to develop recommendations for future research and additional study as appropriate. This project addresses recognized barriers to the wider use of bio-fuels in the areas of development of codes and standards, industrial and consumer awareness, and materials compatibility issues.« less

Thermal barrier coatings application in diesel engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fairbanks, J. W.

1995-01-01

Commercial use of thermal barrier coatings in diesel engines began in the mid 70's by Dr,. Ingard Kvernes at the Central Institute for Industrial Research in Oslo, Norway. Dr. Kvernes attributed attack on diesel engine valves and piston crowns encountered in marine diesel engines in Norwegian ships as hot-corrosion attributed to a reduced quality of residual fuel. His solution was to coat these components to reduce metal temperature below the threshold of aggressive hot-corrosion and also to provide protection. The Department of Energy has supported thermal barrier coating development for diesel engine applications. In the Clean Diesel - 50 Percent Efficient (CD-50) engine for the year 2000, thermal barrier coatings will be used on piston crowns and possibly other components. The primary purpose of the thermal barrier coatings will be to reduce thermal fatigue as the engine peak cylinder pressure will nearly be doubled. As the coatings result in higher available energy in the exhaust gas, efficiency gains are achieved through use of this energy by turbochargers, turbocompounding or thermoelectric generators.

9 CFR 51.27 - Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.27... Charge determines that the extension will not adversely affect the brucellosis eradication program...

9 CFR 51.27 - Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.27... Charge determines that the extension will not adversely affect the brucellosis eradication program...

9 CFR 51.27 - Identification of goats, sheep, and horses to be destroyed.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... DISEASES ANIMALS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF BRUCELLOSIS Indemnity for Sheep, Goats, and Horses § 51.27... Charge determines that the extension will not adversely affect the brucellosis eradication program...

19 CFR 191.152 - Merchandise released from Customs custody.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; or (c) When articles entered under bond are destroyed... destroyed within the bonded period by death, accidental fire, or other casualty, and satisfactory evidence...

19 CFR 191.152 - Merchandise released from Customs custody.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; or (c) When articles entered under bond are destroyed... destroyed within the bonded period by death, accidental fire, or other casualty, and satisfactory evidence...

19 CFR 191.152 - Merchandise released from Customs custody.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; or (c) When articles entered under bond are destroyed... destroyed within the bonded period by death, accidental fire, or other casualty, and satisfactory evidence...

19 CFR 191.152 - Merchandise released from Customs custody.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; or (c) When articles entered under bond are destroyed... destroyed within the bonded period by death, accidental fire, or other casualty, and satisfactory evidence...

A home monitoring program including real-time wireless home spirometry in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a pilot study on experiences and barriers.

PubMed

Moor, C C; Wapenaar, M; Miedema, J R; Geelhoed, J J M; Chandoesing, P P; Wijsenbeek, M S

2018-05-29

In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), home monitoring experiences are limited, not yet real-time available nor implemented in daily care. We evaluated feasibility and potential barriers of a new home monitoring program with real-time wireless home spirometry in IPF. Ten patients with IPF were asked to test this home monitoring program, including daily home spirometry, for four weeks. Measurements of home and hospital spirometry showed good agreement. All patients considered real-time wireless spirometry useful and highly feasible. Both patients and researchers suggested relatively easy solutions for the identified potential barriers regarding real-time home monitoring in IPF.