Financing intersectoral health promotion programmes: some reasons why collaborators are collaborating as indicated by cost-effectiveness analyses.

PubMed

Johansson, Pia; Tillgren, Per

2011-03-01

Intersectoral collaboration is an important part of many health promotion programmes. The reasons for the local organisations to collaborate, i.e. to finance programmes, are presumably based on benefits they derive from the collaboration. The aim of this study is to discuss whether subsector financial analyses based on data from cost-effectiveness analyses reflect incentives of collaborating organisations in two intersectoral health promotion programmes. Within economics, financial incentives are important reasons for actions. The financial incentives of collaborators are exemplified with two subsector financial analyses containing avoided disease-related costs as estimated in two cost-effectiveness analyses, on an elderly safety promotion programme (Safe Seniors in Sundbyberg) and on a diabetes prevention programme (Stockholm Diabetes Prevention Program, SDPP) from Stockholm, Sweden. The subsector financial analyses indicate that there are financial incentives for the key local community organisation, i.e. the local authority, to collaborate in one of the programmes but not the other. There are no financial benefits for other important community organisations, such as non-governmental organisations. The reasons for collaborating organisations to collaborate within intersectoral health promotion programmes extend beyond financial benefits from averted disease. Thus, the reported subsector financial analyses are only partial reflections of the incentives of collaborators, but they might be used as a starting point for discussions on cost sharing among potential intersectoral collaborators.

Evaluation of a Telephone-Delivered, Community-Based Collaborative Care Management Program for Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia.

PubMed

Mavandadi, Shahrzad; Wray, Laura O; DiFilippo, Suzanne; Streim, Joel; Oslin, David

2017-09-01

To evaluate whether a community-based, telephone-delivered, brief patient/caregiver-centered collaborative dementia care management intervention is associated with improved caregiver and care recipient (CR) outcomes. Longitudinal program evaluation of a clinical intervention; assessments at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. General community. Caregivers (N = 440) of older, community-dwelling, low-income CRs prescribed a psychotropic medication by a primary care provider who met criteria for dementia and were enrolled in the SUpporting Seniors Receiving Treatment And INtervention (SUSTAIN) program for older adults. Dementia care management versus clinical evaluation only. Perceived caregiving burden and caregiver general health (primary outcomes); CR neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver distress in response to CRs' challenging dementia-related behaviors (secondary outcomes). Caregivers were, on average, 64.0 (SD: 11.8) years old and 62.6% provided care for the CR for 20 or more hours per week. The majority of the sample was female (73.2%), non-Hispanic White (90.2%), and spousal caregivers (72.5%). Adjusted longitudinal models of baseline and 3- and 6-month data suggest that compared with caregivers receiving clinical evaluation only, caregivers receiving care management reported greater reductions in burden over time. Subgroup analyses also showed statistically significant reductions in caregiver-reported frequency of CR dementia-related behaviors and caregiver distress in response to those symptoms at 3-month follow-up. A community-based, telephone-delivered care management program for caregivers of individuals with dementia is associated with favorable caregiver and CR-related outcomes. Findings support replication and further research in the impact of tailored, collaborative dementia care management programs that address barriers to access and engagement. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Collaborative Reasoning in China and Korea

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dong, Ting; Anderson, Richard C.; Kim, Il-Hee; Li, Yuan

2008-01-01

Students at two sites in China and one site in Korea engaged in Collaborative Reasoning, an approach to discussion that requires self-management, free participation, and critical thinking. The discontinuity between the usual adult-dominated discourse of Chinese and Korean homes and classrooms and the expected discourse of Collaborative Reasoning…

Cultural Reciprocity in Sociocultural Perspective: Adapting the Normalization Principle for Family Collaboration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harry, Beth; Rueda, Robert; Kalyanpur, Maya

1999-01-01

Findings from a collaborative action research project involving seven culturally diverse families with children with disabilities are used to illustrate how professionals can provide assistance in a family's zone of proximal development, rather than targeting goals that are normative for the mainstream, but not for the family. (Author/CR)

Child Sexual Abuse: A Case Study in Community Collaboration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Faller, Kathleen Coulborn; Henry, James

2000-01-01

A study investigated the effectiveness of a collaborative approach to the case management of child sexual abuse. Data from 323 criminal court files found a sex offense confession rate of 64 percent and plea rate of 70 percent. Fifteen cases went to trial and in six the offender was convicted. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Mechanisms for the Reduction of Actinides and Tc(VII) in Geobacter sulfurreducens

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

Lloyd, Jonathan R.

2004-06-01

The mechanism of the reduction of U(VI) and Cr(VI) has now been studied in detail. Cr(VI) is reduced by one-electron transfer reactions to Cr(III), via a cell-bound Cr(V) intermediate identified by EPR spectroscopy. Studies with a cytochrome c7 mutant demonstrate that the electron transfer chain includes this protein which may be the terminal reductase for Cr(VI). Potential mechanisms of inhibition of Cr(III) precipitation, involving complex formation with organic acids commonly used as electron donors for metal reduction in the subsurface have also been identified. We have also initiated a collaboration with computational chemists led by Prof Ian Hillier in Manchester,more » to model metal binding to cytochrome c7, and subsequent electron transfer from the enzyme to the metal quantum mechanically.« less

A task-invariant cognitive reserve network.

PubMed

Stern, Yaakov; Gazes, Yunglin; Razlighi, Qolomreza; Steffener, Jason; Habeck, Christian

2018-05-14

The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) can explain individual differences in susceptibility to cognitive or functional impairment in the presence of age or disease-related brain changes. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that CR helps maintain performance in the face of pathology across multiple cognitive domains. We therefore tried to identify a single, "task-invariant" CR network that is active during the performance of many disparate tasks. In imaging data acquired from 255 individuals age 20-80 while performing 12 different cognitive tasks, we used an iterative approach to derive a multivariate network that was expressed during the performance of all tasks, and whose degree of expression correlated with IQ, a proxy for CR. When applied to held out data or forward applied to fMRI data from an entirely different activation task, network expression correlated with IQ. Expression of the CR pattern accounted for additional variance in fluid reasoning performance over and above the influence of cortical thickness, and also moderated between cortical thickness and reasoning performance, consistent with the behavior of a CR network. The identification of a task-invariant CR network supports the idea that life experiences may result in brain processing differences that might provide reserve against age- or disease-related changes across multiple tasks. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Results from CrIS/ATMS Obtained Using an "AIRS Version-6 Like" Retrieval Algorithm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Susskind, Joel; Kouvaris, Louis; Iredell, Lena; Blaisdell, John

2015-01-01

AIRS and CrIS Version-6.22 O3(p) and q(p) products are both superior to those of AIRS Version-6.Monthly mean August 2014 Version-6.22 AIRS and CrIS products agree reasonably well with OMPS, CERES, and witheach other. JPL plans to process AIRS and CrIS for many months and compare interannual differences. Updates to thecalibration of both CrIS and ATMS are still being finalized. We are also working with JPL to develop a joint AIRS/CrISlevel-1 to level-3 processing system using a still to be finalized Version-7 retrieval algorithm. The NASA Goddard DISCwill eventually use this system to reprocess all AIRS and recalibrated CrIS/ATMS. .

Fracture Analysis of 40Cr Steel Pin Roll

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yong; Jia, Youlu; Xie, Xianjiao

2018-01-01

Fracture of 40Cr steel pin roll happened along the cross-section at the spot of filling aperture. By the use of analysis of optical microscopy and microhardness, it can be known that filling aperture and its nitration case (ε phase) and large amounts of non-metal inclusions (bulk obscure inclusions) in steel were the main reasons which led to the facture of 40Cr steel pin roll.

Creep behavior and in-depth microstructural characterization of dissimilar joints

PubMed Central

Kauffmann, F; Klein, T; Klenk, A; Maile, K

2013-01-01

The 700 °C power plants currently under development will utilize Ni-base alloys such as alloy 617 for components to be operated at temperatures >650 °C. Due to economic reasons for components or parts of components which are subjected to temperatures <650 °C, 2% Cr or 9–12% Cr steels is used, depending on the required mechanical properties. This makes the dissimilar joining of Ni-base alloys and Cr steels a necessity in these plants. Experimental investigations show that these joints have to be identified as weak points with regard to damage development under creep and creep-fatigue loading. The present investigation focuses on welds between the alloy 617 and 2% Cr steel. Under creep load the fracture occurs near the fusion line between the 2% Cr steel base metal and alloy 617 weld metal. To explain the reasons for this fracture location, the microstructure of this fusion line was investigated using TEM and FIB techniques after welding and after creep loading. The TEM investigations have shown a small zone in the weld metal near the fusion line exhibiting chromium depletion and clearly reduced amounts of chromium carbides, leading to a weakening of this zone. PMID:27877551

A Study of Creative Reasoning Opportunities in Assessments in Undergraduate Calculus Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mac an Bhaird, Ciarán; Nolan, Brien C.; O'Shea, Ann; Pfeiffer, Kirsten

2017-01-01

In this article we present the findings of a research study which investigated the opportunities for creative reasoning (CR) made available to first year undergraduate students in assessments. We compared three first year calculus courses across two Irish universities using Lithner's framework. This framework sets apart imitative reasoning (IR)…

Vacancy-induced spin-glass behavior of Prussian blue analogue Fe II1.1Cr IIx[Cr III (CN) 6] 0.6- x· nH 2O nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Bo; Yao, Jinli; Xue, Desheng

2010-09-01

Prussian blue analogue Fe II1.1Cr IIx[Cr III(CN) 6] 0.6- x· nH 2O nanowires were synthesized by electrodeposition. The magnetic properties investigation indicates that the nanowires exhibit cluster spin-glass behavior, which undergoes a magnetic transition to a frozen state below about 62 K. Spin disorder arising from reduced coordination and broken exchange bonds between spin centers due to the structural defects may be the reason that causes the spin-glass freezing behavior. The negative magnetization observed at temperature lower than the compensation temperature ( Tcomp˜43 K) at a field of 10 Oe may be due to the different temperature dependences of the ferromagnetic site Fe-Cr and antiferromagnetic site Cr-Cr.

Study of TLIPSS formation on different metals and alloys and their selective etching

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dostovalov, Alexandr V.; Korolkov, Victor P.; Terentiev, Vadim S.; Okotrub, Konstantin A.; Dultsev, Fedor N.; Nemykin, Anton; Babin, Sergey A.

2017-02-01

Experimental investigation of thermochemical laser-induced periodic surface structures (TLIPSS) formation on metal films (Ti, Cr, Ni, NiCr) at different processing conditions is presented. The hypothesis that the TLIPSS formation depends significantly on parabolic rate constant for oxide thin film growth is discussed. Evidently, low value of this parameter for Ni is the reason of TLIPSS absence on Ni and NiCr film with low Cr content. The effect of simultaneous ablative (with period ≍λ) and thermochemical (with period ≍λ) LIPSS formation was observed. The formation of structures after TLIPSS selective etching was demonstrated.

Effect of NiFeCr seed and capping layers on exchange bias and planar Hall voltage response of NiFe/Au/IrMn trilayer structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Talantsev, Artem; Elzwawy, Amir; Kim, CheolGi

2018-05-01

Thin films and cross junctions, based on NiFe/Au/IrMn structures, were grown on Ta and NiFeCr seed layers by magnetron sputtering. The effects of substitution of Ta with NiFeCr in seed and capping layers on an exchange bias field are studied. A threefold improvement of the exchange bias value in the structures, grown with NiFeCr seed and capping layers, is demonstrated. The reasons for this effect are discussed. Formation of clusters in the NiFeCr capping layer is proved by atomic force microscopy technique. Ta replacement on NiFeCr in the capping layer results in the enhancement of magnetoresistive response and a reduction of noise.

A critical analysis of unplanned ICU transfer within 48 hours from ED admission as a quality measure.

PubMed

Dahn, Cassidy M; Manasco, A Travis; Breaud, Alan H; Kim, Samuel; Rumas, Natalia; Moin, Omer; Mitchell, Patricia M; Nelson, Kerrie P; Baker, William; Feldman, James A

2016-08-01

Unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) transfer (UIT) within 48 hours of emergency department (ED) admission increases morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that a majority of UITs do not have critical interventions (CrIs) and that CrI is associated with worse outcomes. The objective of the study is to characterize all UITs (including patients who died before ICU transfer), the proportion with CrI, and the effect of having CrI on mortality. This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study of UITs within 48 hours from 2008 to 2013 at an urban academic medical center and included patients 18 years or older without advanced directives (ADs). Critical intervention was defined by modified Delphi process. Data included demographics, comorbidities, reasons for UIT, length of stay, CrIs, and mortality. We calculated descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 837 (0.76%) of 108 732 floor admissions from the ED had a UIT within 48 hours; 86 admitted patients died before ICU. We excluded 23 ADs, 117 postoperative transfers, 177 planned ICU transfers, and 4 with missing data. Of the 516 remaining, 65% (95% CI, 61%-69%) received a CrI. Unplanned ICU transfer reasons are as follows: 33 medical errors, 90 disease processes not present on arrival, and 393 clinical deteriorations. Mortality was 10.5% (95% CI, 8%-14%), and mean length of stay was 258 hours (95% CI, 233-283) for those with CrI, whereas the mortality was 2.8% (95% CI, 1%-6%) and mean length of stay was 177 hours (95% CI, 157-197) for those without CrI. Unplanned ICU transfer is rare, and only 65% had a CrI. Those with CrI had increased morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of Chromium, Selenium, and Molybdenum in Infant Formula and Adult Nutritional Products by Inductively Coupled Plasma/Mass Spectrometry: Collaborative Study, Final Action 2011.19.

PubMed

Pacquette, Lawrence H; Thompson, Joseph J

2015-01-01

AOAC First Action Method 2011.19: Chromium, Selenium, and Molybdenum in Infant Formula and Adult Nutritional Products, was collaboratively studied. This method uses microwave digestion of samples with nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and internal standard followed by simultaneous detection of the elements by an inductively coupled plasma (ICP)/MS instrument equipped with a collision/reaction cell. During this collaborative study, nine laboratories from four different countries, using seven different models of ICP/MS instruments, analyzed blind duplicates of seven infant, pediatric, and adult nutritional formulas. One laboratory's set of data was rejected in its entirety. The method demonstrated acceptable repeatability and reproducibility and met the AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPRs®) for almost all of the matrixes analyzed. The Cr, Mo, and Se SPIFAN requirement for repeatability was ≤5% RSD. The SMPR called for a reproducibility of ≤15% RSD for products with ultratrace element concentrations above the targeted LOQ of 20 μg/kg Cr/Mo and 10 μg/kg Se (as ready-to-feed). During this collaborative study, RSDr ranged from 1.0 to 7.0% and RSDR ranged from 2.5 to 13.4% across all three ultratrace elements.

Bringing part of the lab to the field: On-site chromium speciation in seawater by electrodeposition of Cr(III)/Cr(VI) on portable coiled-filament assemblies and measurement in the lab by electrothermal, near-torch vaporization sample introduction and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Badiei, Hamid R.; McEnaney, Jennifer; Karanassios, Vassili

2012-12-01

A field-deployable electrochemical approach to preconcentration, matrix clean up and selective electrodeposition of Cr(III) and Cr(III) + Cr(VI) in seawater is described. Using portable, battery-operated electrochemical instrumentation, Cr species in seawater were electrodeposited in the field on portable coiled-filament assemblies made from Re. Assemblies with dried residues of Cr(III) or Cr(III) + Cr(VI) on them were transported to the lab for concentration determination by electrothermal, near-torch vaporization (NTV) sample introduction and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Electrodeposition offers selective species deposition, preconcentration and matrix clean up from seawater samples. For selective deposition, free Cr(VI) was electrodeposited at - 0.3 V and Cr(III) + Cr(VI) at - 1.6 V (both vs Ag/AgCl). Interestingly, at 0 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and in the absence of an electrodeposition potential only Cr(VI) was spontaneously and selectively adsorbed on the coil and reasons for this are given. Due to preconcentration afforded by electrodeposition, the detection limits obtained after a 60 s electrodeposition at the voltages stated above using buffered (pH = 4.7) artificial seawater spiked with either Cr(III) or Cr(VI) were 20 pg/mL for Cr(III) and 10 pg/mL for Cr(VI). For comparison, the detection limit for Cr obtained by pipetting directly on the coil 5 μL of diluted standard solution was 500 pg/mL, thus it was concluded that electrodeposition offered 40 to 60 fold improvements. Matrix clean up is required due to the high salt content of seawater and this was addressed by simply rinsing the coil with 18.2 MΩ water without any loss of Cr species. Reasons for this are provided. The method was validated in the lab using buffered artificial seawater and it was used in the field for the first time by sampling seawater, buffering it and immediately electrodepositing Cr species on portable assemblies on-site. Electrodeposition in the field addressed species transformation during sample pre-treatment. Such transformations occur due to sample acidification and may take place during transport and possibly storage prior to analysis. Thus, electrodeposition in the field is more reflective of Cr species concentration at the environmental conditions (e.g., temperature) at the time of sampling. It also opens up the possibility for shipping to the lab portable assemblies with Cr species on them rather than shipping large volumes of sample to the lab, thus also reducing shipping, handling and storage costs.

Behavior of helium gas atoms and bubbles in low activation 9Cr martensitic steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasegawa, Akira; Shiraishi, Haruki; Matsui, Hideki; Abe, Katsunori

1994-09-01

The behavior of helium-gas release from helium-implanted 9Cr martensitic steels (500 appm implanted at 873 K) during tensile testing at 873 K was studied. Modified 9Cr-1Mo, low-activation 9Cr-2W and 9Cr-0.5V were investigated. Cold-worked AISI 316 austenitic stainless steel was also investigated as a reference which was susceptible helium embrittlement at high temperature. A helium release peak was observed at the moment of rupture in all the specimens. The total quantity of helium released from these 9Cr steels was in the same range but smaller than that of 316CW steel. Helium gas in the 9Cr steels should be considered to remain in the matrix at their lath-packets even if deformed at 873 K. This is the reason why the martensitic steels have high resistance to helium embrittlement.

Electronic properties of excess Cr at Fe site in FeCr{sub 0.02}Se alloy

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

Kumar, Sandeep, E-mail: sandeepk.iitb@gmail.com; Singh, Prabhakar P.

2015-06-24

We have studied the effect of substitution of transition-metal chromium (Cr) in excess on Fe sub-lattice in the electronic structure of iron-selenide alloys, FeCr{sub 0.02}Se. In our calculations, we used Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent potential approximation method in the atomic sphere approximation (KKR-ASA-CPA). We obtained different band structure of this alloy with respect to the parent FeSe and this may be reason of changing their superconducting properties. We did unpolarized calculations for FeCr{sub 0.02}Se alloy in terms of density of states (DOS) and Fermi surfaces. The local density approximation (LDA) is used in terms of exchange correlation potential.

Canadian Forces Education and Training for Interagency Operational Contexts (Education et Instruction des Forces Canadiennes Pour les Contextes Operationnels Interorganisationnels)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-11-01

organismes gouvernementaux dans le processus de planification opérationnelle (PPO) des FC. Le rapport se termine par des recommandations de travaux...B.D., THOMSON, M.H., BROWN, A.L., SARTORI, J.A., TAYLOR, T.E., WALDHERR, S.U. 2008. Organizational trust in the Canadian Forces. DRDC T No. CR2008...enablers for distributed team collaboration. DRDC T No. CR2007-137. Toronto, ON: Defence Research and Development Canada. FUGLESTAD, P.T., SNYDER

In-Home Cognitive Training with Older Married Couples: Individual versus Collaborative Learning

PubMed Central

Margrett, Jennifer A.; Willis, Sherry L.

2005-01-01

Research has demonstrated that older adults’ cognitive performance can be enhanced via formal intervention (e.g., Gratzinger, Sheikh, & Friedman, 1990; Kliegl, Smith, & Baltes, 1990; Willis & Schaie,1986) as well as more informal intervention including collaboration, or working with a partner (e.g., Dixon & Gould, 1996; Margrett & Marsiske, 2002; Staudinger & Baltes, 1996).The current study investigated the effects of an inductive reasoning training program adapted for in-home use (Willis & Schaie, 1986, 1994) among older adults assigned to individual training (n = 30), collaborative training (n = 34), or a no-treatment control group (n = 34). The training consisted of ten sessions, and all participants completed a pretest followed by a posttest six weeks later. Findings suggest that older adults could effectively “train themselves” without the guidance of a formal instructor. The results, however, did not indicate immediate added benefit in reasoning performance for collaborative versus individual training using the current reasoning program. PMID:16807197

CuCrZr alloy microstructure and mechanical properties after hot isostatic pressing bonding cycles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frayssines, P.-E.; Gentzbittel, J.-M.; Guilloud, A.; Bucci, P.; Soreau, T.; Francois, N.; Primaux, F.; Heikkinen, S.; Zacchia, F.; Eaton, R.; Barabash, V.; Mitteau, R.

2014-04-01

ITER first wall (FW) panels are a layered structure made of the three following materials: 316L(N) austenitic stainless steel, CuCrZr alloy and beryllium. Two hot isostatic pressing (HIP) cycles are included in the reference fabrication route to bond these materials together for the normal heat flux design supplied by the European Union (EU). This reference fabrication route ensures sufficiently good mechanical properties for the materials and joints, which fulfil the ITER mechanical specifications, but often results in a coarse grain size for the CuCrZr alloy, which is not favourable, especially, for the thermal creep properties of the FW panels. To limit the abnormal grain growth of CuCrZr and make the ITER FW fabrication route more reliable, a study began in 2010 in the EU in the frame of an ITER task agreement. Two material fabrication approaches have been investigated. The first one was dedicated to the fabrication of solid CuCrZr alloy in close collaboration with an industrial copper alloys manufacturer. The second approach investigated was the manufacturing of CuCrZr alloy using the powder metallurgy (PM) route and HIP consolidation. This paper presents the main mechanical and microstructural results associated with the two CuCrZr approaches mentioned above. The mechanical properties of solid CuCrZr, PM CuCrZr and joints (solid CuCrZr/solid CuCrZr and solid CuCrZr/316L(N) and PM CuCrZr/316L(N)) are also presented.

Visual analytics for aviation safety: A collaborative approach to sensemaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wade, Andrew

Visual analytics, the "science of analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces", is more than just visualization. Understanding the human reasoning process is essential for designing effective visualization tools and providing correct analyses. This thesis describes the evolution, application and evaluation of a new method for studying analytical reasoning that we have labeled paired analysis. Paired analysis combines subject matter experts (SMEs) and tool experts (TE) in an analytic dyad, here used to investigate aircraft maintenance and safety data. The method was developed and evaluated using interviews, pilot studies and analytic sessions during an internship at the Boeing Company. By enabling a collaborative approach to sensemaking that can be captured by researchers, paired analysis yielded rich data on human analytical reasoning that can be used to support analytic tool development and analyst training. Keywords: visual analytics, paired analysis, sensemaking, boeing, collaborative analysis.

Ab initio prediction of half-metallic properties for the ferromagnetic Heusler alloys Co2MSi (M=Ti,V,Cr)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xing-Qiu; Podloucky, R.; Rogl, P.

2006-12-01

By means of density functional calculations, the magnetic and electronic properties and phase stabilities of the Heusler compounds Co2MSi (with M =Ti,V,Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni) were investigated. Based on the calculated results, we predict the ferromagnetic phases of the compounds Co2TiSi, Co2VSi, and Co2CrSi to be half metals. Of particular interest is Co2CrSi because of its high density of majority-spin states at Fermi energy in combination with a reasonably high estimated Curie temperature of 747K. The compounds Co2TiSi and Co2VSi are thermodynamically stable, whereas Co2CrSi is of a metastable phase which might be stabilized by suitable experimental techniques.

Antiproton Production by CR on Air Nuclei

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maskalenko, I. V.; Mashnik, S. G.

2003-01-01

Recent measurements of the cosmic ray (CR) antiproton flux have been shown to challenge existing CR propagation models. In particular, the conventional reacceleration model designed to match secondary/primary nuclei ratios produces too few antiprotons. Recently there appear some indications that the atmospheric contribution to antiproton production is considerably underestimated, which implies that antiproton CR flux might be lower. This may be the primary reason of the discrepancy discovered in CR propagation. We use the Los Alamos version of the Quark-Gluon String Model code LAQGSM together with available data on antiproton production on nuclei to analyse the accuracy of existing parameterizations of antiproton production cross section. The LAQGSM model has been shown to reproduce well nuclear reactions and hadronic data in the range 0.01-800 GeV/nucleon.

Porous CrN thin films by selectively etching CrCuN for symmetric supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Binbin; Mei, Gui; Liang, Hanfeng; Qi, Zhengbing; Zhang, Dongfang; Shen, Hao; Wang, Zhoucheng

2018-05-01

Transition metal nitrides are regarded as a new class of excellent electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors due to their superior chemical stability and excellent electrical conductivity. We synthesize successfully the porous CrN thin films for binder-free supercapacitor electrodes by reactive magnetron co-sputtering and selective chemical etching. The porous CrN thin film electrodes exhibit high-capacitance performance (31.3 mF cm-2 at 1.0 mA cm-2) and reasonable cycling stability (94% retention after 20000 cycles). Moreover, the specific capacitance is more than two-fold higher than that of the CrN thin film electrodes in previous work. In addition, a symmetric supercapacitor device with a maximum energy density of 14.4 mWh cm-3 and a maximum power density of 6.6 W cm-3 is achieved. These findings demonstrate that the porous CrN thin films will have potential applications in supercapacitors.

Developmental Changes in Children's Normative Reasoning across Learning Contexts and Collaborative Roles

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riggs, Anne E.; Young, Andrew G.

2016-01-01

What influences children's normative judgments of conventional rules at different points in development? The current study explored the effects of two contextual factors on children's normative reasoning: the way in which the rules were learned and whether the rules apply to the self or others. Peer dyads practiced a novel collaborative board game…

Collaborative Online Inquiry: Exploring Students' Skills in Locating, Reading, and Communicating Information

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sekeres, Diane Carver; Castek, Jill

2016-01-01

This study examines third, fourth, and fifth grade students' reasoning that was captured as they engaged collaboratively in a teacher designed inquiry task. This task focused on choosing eco-friendly toys for a fictitious local toy store. Results indicated that students were more expressive with reasoning when they shared their ideas orally, but…

Patterns of Physics Reasoning in Face-to-Face and Online Forum Collaboration around a Digital Game

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Eaton, Grant; Clark, Douglas B.; Smith, Blaine E.

2015-01-01

Students playing digital learning games in the classroom rarely play alone, even in digital games that are ostensibly "single-player" games. This study explores the patterns of physics reasoning that emerge in face-to-face and online forum collaboration while students play a physics-focused educational game in their classroom. We…

Collaboration-Type Identification in Educational Datasets

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waters, Andrew; Studer, Christoph; Baraniuk, Richard

2014-01-01

Identifying collaboration between learners in a course is an important challenge in education for two reasons: First, depending on the courses rules, collaboration can be considered a form of cheating. Second, it helps one to more accurately evaluate each learners competence. While such collaboration identification is already challenging in…

How to improve the teaching of clinical reasoning: a narrative review and a proposal.

PubMed

Schmidt, Henk G; Mamede, Sílvia

2015-10-01

The development of clinical reasoning (CR) in students has traditionally been left to clinical rotations, which, however, often offer limited practice and suboptimal supervision. Medical schools begin to address these limitations by organising pre-clinical CR courses. The purpose of this paper is to review the variety of approaches employed in the teaching of CR and to present a proposal to improve these practices. We conducted a narrative review of the literature on teaching CR. To that end, we searched PubMed and Web of Science for papers published until June 2014. Additional publications were identified in the references cited in the initial papers. We used theoretical considerations to characterise approaches and noted empirical findings, when available. Of the 48 reviewed papers, only 24 reported empirical findings. The approaches to teaching CR were shown to vary on two dimensions. The first pertains to the way the case information is presented. The case is either unfolded to students gradually - the 'serial-cue' approach - or is presented in a 'whole-case' format. The second dimension concerns the purpose of the exercise: is its aim to help students acquire or apply knowledge, or is its purpose to teach students a way of thinking? The most prevalent approach is the serial-cue approach, perhaps because it tries to directly simulate the diagnostic activities of doctors. Evidence supporting its effectiveness is, however, lacking. There is some empirical evidence that whole-case, knowledge-oriented approaches contribute to the improvement of students' CR. However, thinking process-oriented approaches were shown to be largely ineffective. Based on research on how expertise develops in medicine, we argue that students in different phases of their training may benefit from different approaches to the teaching of CR. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Arts and Talent Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Seeley, Ken

1996-01-01

Discusses the role of creative arts in developing talent among gifted students. Talent development strategies using the arts are identified. Also describes ways that teachers can support collaboration among the arts and that parents can advocate and foster arts programs. (CR)

Condensation Resistance (CR) | Efficient Windows Collaborative

Science.gov Websites

Foundry Foundry New Construction Windows Window Selection Tool Selection Process Design Guidance Installation Replacement Windows Window Selection Tool Assessing Options Selection Process Design Guidance Installation Understanding Windows Benefits Design Considerations Measuring Performance Performance Standards

Participation, Interaction and Social Presence: An Exploratory Study of Collaboration in Online Peer Review Groups

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zhao, Huahui; Sullivan, Kirk P. H.; Mellenius, Ingmarie

2014-01-01

A key reason for using asynchronous computer conferencing in instruction is its potential for supporting collaborative learning. However, few studies have examined collaboration in computer conferencing. This study examined collaboration in six peer review groups within an asynchronous computer conferencing. Eighteen tertiary students participated…

Analysis of CrIS ATMS and AIRS AMSU Data Using Scientifically Equivalent Retrieval Algorithms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Susskind, Joel; Kouvaris, Louis; Iredell, Lena; Blaisdell, John

2016-01-01

Monthly mean August 2014 Version-6.28 AIRS and CrIS products agree well with OMPS and CERES, and reasonably well with each other. Version-6.28 CrIS total precipitable water is biased dry compared to AIRS. AIRS and CrIS Version-6.36 water vapor products are both improved compared to Version-6.28. Version-6.36 AIRS and CrIS total precipitable water also shows improved agreement with each other. AIRS Version-6.36 total ozone agrees even better with OMPS than does AIRS Version-6.28, and gives reasonable results during polar winter where OMPS does not generate products. CrIS and ATMS are high spectral resolution IR and Microwave atmospheric sounders currently flying on the SNPP satellite, and are also scheduled for flight on future NPOESS satellites. CrIS/ATMS have similar sounding capabilities to those of the AIRS/AMSU sounder suite flying on EOS Aqua. The objective of this research is to develop and implement scientifically equivalent AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS retrieval algorithms with the goal of generating a continuous data record of AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS level-3 data products with a seamless transition between them in time. To achieve this, monthly mean AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS retrieved products, and more importantly their interannual differences, should show excellent agreement with each other. The currently operational AIRS Science Team Version-6 retrieval algorithm has generated 14 years of level-3 data products. A scientifically improved AIRS Version-7 retrieval algorithm is expected to become operational in 2017. We see significant improvements in water vapor and ozone in Version-7 retrieval methodology compared to Version-6.We are working toward finalization and implementation of scientifically equivalent AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS Version-7 retrieval algorithms to be used for the eventual processing of all AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS data. The latest version of our retrieval algorithm is Verison-6.36, which includes almost all the improvements we want in Version-7. Version-6.28 has been used to process both AIRS and CrIS data for August 2014. This poster compares August 2014 monthly mean Version-6.28 AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS products with each other, and also with monthly mean products obtained using AIRS Version-6. AIRS and CrIS results using Version-6.36 are presented for April 15, 2016. These demonstrate further improvements since Version-6.28. The new results also show improved agreement of Version-6.36 AIRS and CrIS products with each other. Version-6.36 is not yet optimized for CrIS ozone products.

Back to Basics: Is There a Good Reason to Not Systematically Measure Urine Creatinine in Acute Kidney Injury Monitoring?

PubMed

Maciel, Alexandre Toledo

2016-01-01

Regardless of the recent advancements in the understanding of the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury (AKI), its diagnosis remains fundamentally dependent on the serum creatinine (sCr) level and urine output (UO), both of which are considered late markers of AKI, offering only a vague idea of the actual creatinine clearance (CrCl). Although not ideal, CrCl is still the most common alternative of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in clinical practice. It is generally accepted that early diagnosis of AKI must reveal kidney impairment before sCr increases. Much effort has been made to find tubular and glomerular markers of injury which increase (in blood and/or in urine) before the 'official' diagnosis of AKI. Most of these markers are expensive and not widely available, especially in developing countries. Urine creatinine (CrU), the major link between sCr and UO, has been systematically ignored and clinicians are usually unaware of its value. The reasons for this are unclear, but it may be related to the lack of a reference range, dependence of its concentration value on the urine flow (which in turn is only adequately assessed with an indwelling urinary catheter) and the clinical unavailability of its counterbalance part - creatinine production. Changes in urine tend to precede changes in blood in the course of AKI development and recovery. Hence, it is important to bear in mind that changes in sCr signal renal dysfunction with a significant delay. The search for a more dynamic, 'real-time' but pragmatic assessment of renal function, especially in patients at risk of abrupt decrease in GFR is certainly one of the most relevant focus of research in the field of AKI monitoring. Systematic CrU assessment may be highly relevant in this case. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

IN31A-1734 Development and Evaluation of a Gridded CrIS/ATMS Visualization for Operational Forecasting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zavodsky, Bradley; Smith, Nadia; Dostalek, Jack; Stevens, Eric; Nelson, Kristine; Weisz, Elisabeth; Berndt, Emily; Line, Bill; Barnet, Chris; Gambacorta, Antonia;

Effects of alloy composition on cyclic flame hot-corrosion attack of cast nickel-base superalloys at 900 deg C

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deadmore, D. L.

1984-01-01

The effects of Cr, Al, Ti, Mo, Ta, Nb, and W content on the hot corrosion of nickel base alloys were investigated. The alloys were tested in a Mach 0.3 flame with 0.5 ppmw sodium at a temperature of 900 C. One nondestructive and three destructive tests were conducted. The best corrosion resistance was achieved when the Cr content was 12 wt %. However, some lower-Cr-content alloys ( 10 wt%) exhibited reasonable resistance provided that the Al content alloys ( 10 wt %) exhibited reasonable resistance provided that the Al content was 2.5 wt % and the Ti content was Aa wt %. The effect of W, Ta, Mo, and Nb contents on the hot-corrosion resistance varied depending on the Al and Ti contents. Several commercial alloy compositions were also tested and the corrosion attack was measured. Predicted attack was calculated for these alloys from derived regression equations and was in reasonable agreement with that experimentally measured. The regression equations were derived from measurements made on alloys in a one-quarter replicate of a 2(7) statistical design alloy composition experiment. These regression equations represent a simple linear model and are only a very preliminary analysis of the data needed to provide insights into the experimental method.

Dynamic Testing of Analogical Reasoning in 5- to 6-Year-Olds: Multiple-Choice versus Constructed-Response Training Items

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stevenson, Claire E.; Heiser, Willem J.; Resing, Wilma C. M.

2016-01-01

Multiple-choice (MC) analogy items are often used in cognitive assessment. However, in dynamic testing, where the aim is to provide insight into potential for learning and the learning process, constructed-response (CR) items may be of benefit. This study investigated whether training with CR or MC items leads to differences in the strategy…

Does the Medium Matter in Collaboration? Using Visually Supported Collaboration Technology in an Interior Design Studio

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cho, Ji Young; Cho, Moon-Heum; Kozinets, Nadya

2016-01-01

With the recognition of the importance of collaboration in a design studio and the advancement of technology, increasing numbers of design students collaborate with others in a technology-mediated learning environment (TMLE); however, not all students have positive experiences in TMLEs. One possible reason for unsatisfactory collaboration…

Nanostructured and Conventional Cr2O3, TiO2, and TiO2-Cr2O3 Thermal-Sprayed Coatings for Metal-Seated Ball Valve Applications in Hydrometallurgy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vernhes, Luc; Bekins, Craig; Lourdel, Nicolas; Poirier, Dominique; Lima, Rogerio S.; Li, Duanjie; Klemberg-Sapieha, Jolanta E.

2016-06-01

A detailed characterization project was undertaken by Velan, an international industrial valve designer and manufacturer, in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, Boucherville, and Polytechnique Montréal. The purpose was to assess the mechanical and tribological resistances of promising ceramic coatings for hydrometallurgy applications, including a novel n-TiO2-Cr2O3 blend. Hardness and shear strength were determined using microhardness indentation testers and universal tensile testing equipment. Wear resistance of the coatings under sliding wear, abrasion, and galling conditions were measured by standard pin-on-disk tests, abrasion tests, and custom-designed galling tests. The main result is that the synergy between Cr2O3 and n-TiO2 produced abrasion performance exceeding that of these materials alone. Also, an optimized balance between the hard and brittle Cr2O3 phases and the soft and ductile n-TiO2 phases resulted in higher abrasion, sliding, and galling resistance. The novel n-TiO2-Cr2O3 blend is therefore considered as a promising evolution of the current TiO2-Cr2O3 blend.

Effects of collaboration and inquiry on reasoning and achievement in biology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jensen, Jamie Lee

The primary purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of two collaborative grouping strategies and two instructional methods in terms of gains in reasoning ability and achievement in college biology. In order to do so, a quasi-experimental study was performed in which students were placed in one of four treatment conditions: heterogeneous grouping within inquiry instruction, homogeneous grouping within inquiry instruction, heterogeneous grouping within non-inquiry instruction, and homogeneous grouping within non-inquiry instruction. Students were placed in groups based on initial reasoning level. Reasoning levels and achievement gains were assessed at the end of the study. Results showed that within non-inquiry instruction, heterogeneous mean group scores were higher in both reasoning and achievement than homogeneous groups. In contrast, within inquiry instruction, homogeneous mean group scores were higher in both reasoning and achievement. Inquiry instruction, as a whole, significantly outperformed non-inquiry instruction in the development of reasoning ability. Within inquiry instruction, low-ability students had significantly greater reasoning gains when grouped homogeneously. These results support Piaget's developmental theory and contradict Vygotsky's developmental theory. These results also suggest that the success of one grouping strategy over another is highly dependent upon the nature of instruction, which may be a cause for such conflicting views on grouping strategies within the educational literature. In addition, inquiry instruction led to students having greater confidence in their reasoning ability as well as a more positive attitude toward collaboration. Instructional implications are discussed.

Microstructure, mechanical and tribological characterization of CrN/DLC/Cr-DLC multilayer coating with improved adhesive wear resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sui, Xudong; Liu, Jinyu; Zhang, Shuaituo; Yang, Jun; Hao, Junying

2018-05-01

Adhesive wear is one of the major reasons for the failure of components during various tribological application, especially for rubbing with viscous materials. This study presents CrN/DLC/Cr-DLC multilayer composite coatings prepared on a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) device with the close field unbalanced magnetron sputtering ion plating (CFUBMSIP) technique. SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy were used to determine the structure of multilayer coatings. It was found that the multilayer coatings are composed by the alternating CrN and DLC layers. Compared with the single CrN coatings, the friction coefficient of the CrN/DLC/Cr-DLC multilayer coating decreases about more than seven times after sliding a distance of 500 m. This helps to reduce the adhesive wear of multilayer coatings. Compared with the single CrN and DLC coating, the wear rate of the CrN/DLC/Cr-DLC multilayer coating is reduced by an order of magnitude to 7.10 × 10-17 (sliding with AISI 440C) and 2.64 × 10-17 (sliding with TC4) m3/(N m). The improved tribological performance of multilayer coatings mainly attributes to the introduction of lubricant DLC and hard support CrN layers, the enhancement of crack propagation inhibition, and the increment of elastic recovery value We (71.49%) by multilayer design method.

Development and impact of exercise self-efficacy types during and after cardiac rehabilitation.

PubMed

Rodgers, Wendy M; Murray, Terra C; Selzler, Anne-Marie; Norman, Paul

2013-05-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the developed world. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive treatment program centered on structured exercise that has been demonstrated to achieve significant decreases in mortality and morbidity in cardiac patients, yet few patients adhere to exercise post-CR and so fail to maintain any health benefits accrued during rehabilitation. One reason for the lack of adherence might be that CR fails to address the challenges to adherence faced by patients when they no longer have the resources and structure of CR to support them. Self-efficacy (SE) is a robust predictor of behavioral persistence. This study therefore focuses on changes in different types of SE during CR and the relationship of SE to subsequent levels of physical activity. A sample of 63 CR patients completed assessments of task, scheduling and coping SE at baseline and the end of CR, as well as self-reported exercise behavior at the end of CR and 1-month post-CR. Task SE (for performing elemental aspects of the behavior) was found to be most changed type of SE during CR and was strongly related to self-reported exercise at the end of CR. However, scheduling SE (for performing the behavior regularly) was most strongly related to self-reported exercise post-CR. These results are theoretically consistent and suggest that scheduling SE should be targeted during CR to improve post-CR exercise adherence.

Accelerated redox reaction between chromate and phenolic pollutants during freezing.

PubMed

Ju, Jinjung; Kim, Jaesung; Vetráková, Ľubica; Seo, Jiwon; Heger, Dominik; Lee, Changha; Yoon, Ho-Il; Kim, Kitae; Kim, Jungwon

2017-05-05

The redox reaction between 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and chromate (Cr(VI)) (i.e., the simultaneous oxidation of 4-CP by Cr(VI) and reduction of Cr(VI) by 4-CP) in ice (i.e., at -20°C) was compared with the corresponding reaction in water (i.e., at 25°C). The redox conversion of 4-CP/Cr(VI), which was negligible in water, was significantly accelerated in ice. This accelerated redox conversion of 4-CP/Cr(VI) in ice is ascribed to the freeze concentration effect occurring during freezing, which excludes solutes (i.e., 4-CP and Cr(VI)) and protons from the ice crystals and subsequently concentrates them in the liquid brine. The concentrations of Cr(VI) and protons in the liquid brine were confirmed by measuring the optical image and the UV-vis absorption spectra of cresol red (CR) as a pH indicator of frozen solution. The redox conversion of 4-CP/Cr(VI) was observed in water when the concentrations of 4-CP/protons or Cr(VI)/protons increased by 100/1000-fold. These results corroborate the freeze concentration effect as the reason for the accelerated redox conversion of 4-CP/Cr(VI) in ice. The redox conversion of various phenolic pollutants/Cr(VI) and 4-CP/Cr(VI) in real wastewater was successfully achieved in ice, which verifies the environmental relevance and importance of freezing-accelerated redox conversion of phenolic pollutants/Cr(VI) in cold regions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Creatinine Clearance and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate--When are they Interchangeable.

PubMed

Simetić, Lucija; Zibar, Lada; Drmić, Sandra; Begić, Ivana; Serić, Vatroslav

2015-09-01

Study goal was to examine which of glomerular rate equations is most suitable for prediction of creatinine clearance (CrCl). Using a retrospective review of data from 500 hospital patients we calculated glomerular filtration rate according to Cockcroft-Gault equation (C-G), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD-EPI). We determined if results of these equations were compatible with CrCl, and does stage of kidney disease, body-mass index (BMI), diabetes or old age have an impact on their ability to predict creatinine clearance. All of the equations showed high correlations with CrCl, regardless of diabetes, overweight or old age. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between diagnostic accuracy when comparing ROC plots for MDRD and CKD-EPIat CrCl cut offs of 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 90 ml/min/1.73 m2 when analyzing data for all patients, older patients (>65 years) and diabetics. The percentage of overweight patients (BMI > or = 25) in patients with normal CrCl and decreased GFR was 64.81% for C-G, 92.04% for MDRD and 91.36% for CKD-EPI. Large number of overweight patients with normal CrCl and decreased GFR would indicate that CrCl overestimates GFR in overweight patients. The simple correction in CrCl for obese subjects is purposed. Passing-Bablok regression showed agreement between CrCl and MDRD and CrCl and CKD-EPI only in cases of severely decreased GFR (G4 and G5 stage of chronic kidney disease). Only in these stages of chronic kidney disease can CrCl and MDRD or CrCl and CKD-EPI be used simultaneously.

Multi-channel EEG-based sleep stage classification with joint collaborative representation and multiple kernel learning.

PubMed

Shi, Jun; Liu, Xiao; Li, Yan; Zhang, Qi; Li, Yingjie; Ying, Shihui

2015-10-30

Electroencephalography (EEG) based sleep staging is commonly used in clinical routine. Feature extraction and representation plays a crucial role in EEG-based automatic classification of sleep stages. Sparse representation (SR) is a state-of-the-art unsupervised feature learning method suitable for EEG feature representation. Collaborative representation (CR) is an effective data coding method used as a classifier. Here we use CR as a data representation method to learn features from the EEG signal. A joint collaboration model is established to develop a multi-view learning algorithm, and generate joint CR (JCR) codes to fuse and represent multi-channel EEG signals. A two-stage multi-view learning-based sleep staging framework is then constructed, in which JCR and joint sparse representation (JSR) algorithms first fuse and learning the feature representation from multi-channel EEG signals, respectively. Multi-view JCR and JSR features are then integrated and sleep stages recognized by a multiple kernel extreme learning machine (MK-ELM) algorithm with grid search. The proposed two-stage multi-view learning algorithm achieves superior performance for sleep staging. With a K-means clustering based dictionary, the mean classification accuracy, sensitivity and specificity are 81.10 ± 0.15%, 71.42 ± 0.66% and 94.57 ± 0.07%, respectively; while with the dictionary learned using the submodular optimization method, they are 80.29 ± 0.22%, 71.26 ± 0.78% and 94.38 ± 0.10%, respectively. The two-stage multi-view learning based sleep staging framework outperforms all other classification methods compared in this work, while JCR is superior to JSR. The proposed multi-view learning framework has the potential for sleep staging based on multi-channel or multi-modality polysomnography signals. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Microstructure of Vacuum-Brazed Joints of Super-Ni/NiCr Laminated Composite Using Nickel-Based Amorphous Filler Metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Qunshuang; Li, Yajiang; Wu, Na; Wang, Juan

2013-06-01

Vacuum brazing of super-Ni/NiCr laminated composite and Cr18-Ni8 stainless steel was carried out using Ni-Cr-Si-B amorphous filler metal at 1060, 1080, and 1100 °C, respectively. Microstructure and phase constitution were investigated by means of optical and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and micro-hardness tester. When brazed at 1060-1080 °C, the brazed region can be divided into two distinct zones: isothermally solidified zone (ISZ) consisting of γ-Ni solid solution and athermally solidified zone (ASZ) consisting of Cr-rich borides. Micro-hardness of the Cr-rich borides formed in the ASZ was as high as 809 HV50 g. ASZ decreased with increase of the brazing temperature. Isothermal solidification occurred sufficiently at 1100 °C and an excellent joint composed of γ-Ni solid solution formed. The segregation of boron from ISZ to residual liquid phase is the reason of Cr-rich borides formed in ASZ. The formation of secondary precipitates in diffusion-affected zone is mainly controlled by diffusion of B.

42 CFR § 512.110 - Access to records and retention.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2017-10-01

... SERVICES (CONTINUED) HEALTH CARE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MODEL PROGRAMS EPISODE PAYMENT MODEL Episode Payment Model Participants § 512.110 Access to records and retention. EPM participants, EPM collaborators... requirements and, if applicable, the individual's or entity's compliance with CR incentive payment model...

Characteristics of Eutectic α(Cr,Fe)-(Cr,Fe)23C6 in the Eutectic Fe-Cr-C Hardfacing Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Hsuan-Han; Hsieh, Chih-Chun; Lin, Chi-Ming; Wu, Weite

2017-01-01

A specific eutectic (Cr,Fe)-(Cr,Fe)23C6 structure had been previously reported in the research studies of Fe-Cr-C hardfacing alloys. In this study, a close observation and discussion of the eutectic (Cr,Fe)-(Cr,Fe)23C6 were conducted. The eutectic solidification occurred when the chromium content of the alloy exceeded 35 wt pct. The eutectic structure showed a triaxial radial fishbone structure which was the so called "complex regular structure." Lamellar costa plates showed local asymmetry at two sides of a spine. Individual costae were able to combine as one, and spines showed extra branches. Costae that were nearly parallel to the heat flow direction were longer than those that were vertical to the heat flow direction. The triaxial spines preferred to intersect at 120 deg, while the costae preferred to intersect the spine at 90 deg and 35.26 deg due to the lattice relationships. The solidified metal near the fusion boundary showed an irregular structure instead of a complex regular structure. The reason for the irregular morphology was the high growth rate near the fusion boundary.

Contributing factors of elective surgical case cancellation: a retrospective cross-sectional study at a single-site hospital.

PubMed

Yu, Kaiye; Xie, Xiaolei; Luo, Li; Gong, Renrong

2017-09-11

Case cancellation (CC) has significant impact on the efficiency of operating room (OR) management, which can be mitigated by taking preventive measures. In this study, using the data of the West China Hospital (WCH), we identified the effect of contributing factors and recommended hospital interventions to facilitate CC prevention. We conducted a retrospective review of 11,331 elective surgical cases from January 1 to December 31, 2014. CC reasons were grouped into six categories. The methods of descriptive statistics and hypothesis test were used to identify the effect of factors. CC reasons (746) were divided into six broad categories: workup related (preoperative diagnostic assessment issues or sudden medical condition changes) (25.8%), non-specified reasons (25.8%), coordination issues (15.1%), patient related (13.0%), support system issues (11.8%), and doctor related (8.5%). The types of the most frequently performed operations are identified, as well as their CRs. The cancellation rate (CR) of males was lower than that of females (16.7% to 18.3%). A large difference in the CRs existed among doctors. The CR on Monday was significantly higher than the other four weekdays. Workup related issues, the types of procedures, the menstrual cycle of females, highly imbalanced CRs among doctors, and tendency of cancellation on Monday are the major identified factors, which account for a significant amount of preventable cancellations. It is suggested that corresponding hospital interventions can reduce CR and improve OR efficiency, including maintaining effective coordination, good communication and well-designed preoperative assessment processes, focusing on the type of procedures which are more time-consuming and complex, paying special attention to the physiology of females during surgery planning, taking measures to reduce CR of top eight doctors, and improving surgery scheduling on Monday.

Fuels planning: science synthesis and integration; social issues fact sheet 09: Benefits of collaboration

Treesearch

Christine Esposito

2006-01-01

Wildland fire professionals at the Federal, State, and local levels have a long tradition of collaborating across agencies and jurisdictions to achieve goals that they could not achieve independently. This fact sheet discusses the reasons and resources for collaboration.Other...

Response of timepix detector with GaAs:Cr and Si sensor to heavy ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abu Al Azm, S. M.; Chelkov, G.; Kozhevnikov, D.; Guskov, A.; Lapkin, A.; Leyva Fabelo, A.; Smolyanskiy, P.; Zhemchugov, A.

2016-05-01

The response of the Timepix detector to neon ions with kinetic energy 77 and 158.4 MeV has been studied at the cyclotron U-400M of the JINR Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reaction. Sensors produced from gallium arsenide compensated by chromium and from silicon are used for these measurements. While in Timepix detector with Si sensor the well-known so-called "volcano effect" observed, in Timepix detector with GaAs:Cr sensor such effect was completely absent. In the work the behavior of the Timepix detector with GaAs:Cr sensor under irradiation with heavy ions is described in comparison with the detector based on Si sensor. Also the possible reason for absence of "volcano" effect in GaAs:Cr detector is proposed.

Building Migratory Bridges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roy, Michael; Doss, Laurie K.

2007-01-01

The Building Migratory Bridges (BOMB) program--a collaboration between the Marvel wood School and Audubon Sharon in Connecticut and Conservation Research Education Action (CR EA), a U.S. not-for-profit in Panama--uses nontropical migratory bird research in the United States and Panama to demonstrate how negative environmental impacts in one…

Job Migration: A Collaborative Effort

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagoner, Cynthia L.

2012-01-01

Music teachers often change jobs several times during their careers. Reasons for job changes vary, but regardless, these changes bring a different set of challenges. Sharing knowledge and learning are part and parcel of collaboration. So what if, as education professionals, music teachers decided to collaborate during job migrations? For all music…

US-UK Collaboration on Fossil Energy Advanced Materials: Task 1—Steam Oxidation

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

Holcomb, Gordon R.; Tylczak, Joseph; Carney, Casey

This presentation goes over the following from the US-UK collaboration on Fossil Energy Advanced Materials: Task 1, Steam Oxidation: US-led or co-led deliverables, Phase II products (US), 2011-present, Phase III products, Phase III Plan, an explanation of sCO 2 compared with sH 2O, an explanation of Ni-base Alloys, an explanation of 300 Series (18Cr-8Ni)/E-Brite, an explanation of the typical Microchannel HX Fabrication process, and an explanation of diffusion bonded Ni-base superalloys.

Occurrence of Cr(VI) in drinking water of Greece and relation to the geological background.

PubMed

Kaprara, E; Kazakis, N; Simeonidis, K; Coles, S; Zouboulis, A I; Samaras, P; Mitrakas, M

2015-01-08

This study provides a survey on potential Cr(VI) exposure attributed to drinking water in Greece. For this reason, a wide sampling and chemical analysis of tap waters from around 600 sites, supplied by groundwater resources, was conducted focusing on areas in which the geological substrate is predominated by ultramafic minerals. Results indicate that although violations of the current chromium regulation limit in tap water are very rare, 25% of cases showed Cr(VI) concentrations above 10 μg/L, whereas Cr(VI) was detectable in 70% of the samples (>2 μg/L). Mineralogy and conditions of groundwater reservoirs were correlated to suggest a possible Cr(VI) leaching mechanism. Higher Cr(VI) values are observed in aquifers in alluvial and neogene sediments of serpentine and amphibolite, originating from the erosion of ophiolithic and metamorphic rocks. In contrast, Cr(VI) concentration in samples from ophiolithic and metamorphic rocks was always below 10 μg/L due to both low contact time and surface area, as verified by low conductivity and salt concentration values. These findings indicate that under specific conditions, pollution of water by Cr(VI) is favorable by a slow MnO2-catalyzed oxidation of soluble Cr(III) to Cr(VI) in which manganese products [Mn(III)/Mn(II)] are probably re-oxidized by oxygen. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Removal of chromium(III) from tannery wastewater using activated carbon from sugar industrial waste.

PubMed

Fahim, N F; Barsoum, B N; Eid, A E; Khalil, M S

2006-08-21

Chromium is commonly found in huge quantities in tannery wastewaters. For this reason, the removal and recovery of the chromium content of tannery wastewaters is crucial for environmental protection and economic reasons. Removal and recovery of chromium were carried out by using low-cost potential adsorbents. For this purpose three types of activated carbon; C1, the waste generated from sugar industry as waste products and the others (C2, C3) are commercial granular activated carbon, were used. The adsorption process and extent of adsorption are dependent on the physical and chemical characteristics of the adsorbent, adsorbate and experimental condition. The effect of pH, particle size and different adsorbent on the adsorption isotherm of Cr(III) was studied in batch system. The sorption data fitted well with Langmuir adsorption model. The efficiencies of activated carbon for the removal of Cr(III) were found to be 98.86, 98.6 and 93 % for C1, C2 and C3, respectively. The order of selectivity is C1>C2>C3 for removal of Cr(III) from tannery wastewater. Carbon "C1" of the highest surface area (520.66 m(2)/g) and calcium content (333.3 mg/l) has the highest adsorptive capacity for removal of Cr(III). The results revealed that the trivalent chromium is significantly adsorbed on activated carbon collected from sugar industry as waste products and the method could be used economically as an efficient technique for removal of Cr(III) and purification of tannery wastewaters.

Enstatite Meteorites and the Original Heterogeneity of Mn-53 Distribution in the Solar Nebula

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lugmair, Guenter W.

1999-01-01

We have shown earlier that the relative abundance of radiogenic Cr-53 in bulk ordinary chondrites (approximately 0.48 epsilon) is clearly different from that in the earth-moon system (0 epsilon). The SNC parent body (Mars) is characterized by an intermediate Cr-53 excess (approximately 0.23 epsilon). We have also shown that the Mn-Cr systematics of the howardite-eucrite-diogenite parent body (HED PB, the asteroid Vesta) is consistent with the chondritic Mn/Cr ratio in the bulk HED PB and that it has a Cr-53 excess of approximately 0.5 epsilon units which is within error the same as that of chondrites. It appears that the excesses of Cr-53 in these planets are a function of their present heliocentric distance. The study of some other meteorite classes (angrites, pallasites, primitive achondrites) has shown that their Mn-CR systematics is consistent with that of the ordinary chondrites. The observed gradient in the radiogenic Cr-53 abundances can be explained by a). an early volatility controlled radial Mn/Cr fractionation in the nebula or b). an original heterogeneity of Mn-53. The first assumption, however, requires the Mn/Cr ratios of the bulk Earth and Mars to be considerably lower than the inferred model Mn/Cr ratios for these two planets. For this reason, we suggested that the observed gradient is due to an original radial Mn-53 heterogeneity in the late nebula.

Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D) III Task Order 0077: Fundamental Studies of Plasticity, Interfacial Boundaries and Liquid Metals

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

Interfacial Boundaries and Liquid Metals Dallas Trinkle Independent Contractor JUNE 2013 Final Report Approved for public...SIGNATURE//_________________ CHRISTOPHER WOODWARD, Project Engineer DANIEL EVANS, Chief Metals Branch Metals Branch Structural ...Materials Division Structural Materials Division ____//SIGNATURE//___________________ ROBERT T. MARSHALL, Deputy Chief

Adult Gesture in Collaborative Mathematics Reasoning in Different Ages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noto, M. S.; Harisman, Y.; Harun, L.; Amam, A.; Maarif, S.

2017-09-01

This article describes the case study on postgraduate students by using descriptive method. A problem is designed to facilitate the reasoning in the topic of Chi-Square test. The problem was given to two male students with different ages to investigate the gesture pattern and it will be related to their reasoning process. The indicators in reasoning problem can obtain the conclusion of analogy and generalization, and arrange the conjectures. This study refers to some questions—whether unique gesture is for every individual or to identify the pattern of the gesture used by the students with different ages. Reasoning problem was employed to collect the data. Two students were asked to collaborate to reason the problem. The discussion process recorded in using video tape to observe the gestures. The video recorded are explained clearly in this writing. Prosodic cues such as time, conversation text, gesture that appears, might help in understanding the gesture. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether different ages influences the maturity in collaboration observed from gesture perspective. The finding of this study shows that age is not a primary factor that influences the gesture in that reasoning process. In this case, adult gesture or gesture performed by order student does not show that he achieves, maintains, and focuses on the problem earlier on. Adult gesture also does not strengthen and expand the meaning if the student’s words or the language used in reasoning is not familiar for younger student. Adult gesture also does not affect cognitive uncertainty in mathematics reasoning. The future research is suggested to take more samples to find the consistency from that statement.

Collaborating To Enhance Student Reasoning: Frances' Account of Her Reflections While Teaching Chemical Equilibrium.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomas, Gregory P.; McRobbie, Campbell J.

2002-01-01

Reports on a teacher's changing perceptions during a collaborative, two-year interpretive research project involving two researchers, herself, and her students. Uses the collaborative approach between teacher and researchers to promote students' theory-evidence coordination and use of word explanations with an emphasis on developing and critiquing…

Forty years of collaborative computational crystallography.

PubMed

Agirre, Jon; Dodson, Eleanor

2018-01-01

A brief overview is provided of the history of collaborative computational crystallography, with an emphasis on the Collaborative Computational Project No. 4. The key steps in its development are outlined, with consideration also given to the underlying reasons which contributed, and ultimately led to, the unprecedented success of this venture. © 2017 The Protein Society.

The oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) in the environment by atmospheric oxygen during the bush fires.

PubMed

Panichev, N; Mabasa, W; Ngobeni, P; Mandiwana, K; Panicheva, S

2008-05-30

The presence of Cr(VI) in soils and plants of remote unpolluted areas can be explained by partial oxidation of Cr(III) with atmospheric oxygen during seasonable bush fires, which are rather frequent event in South Africa. Experiments with thermal treatment of a veld grass, Hyperthelia dissoluta, in muffle furnace at high temperature, followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) determination of chromium, show a remarkable increase in Cr(VI) concentration from initial 2.5 to 23.2% after the treatment of grass ash at 500 degrees C and to 58.1% at 900 degrees C. Before ETAAS determination, the two chromium species of interest were separated by the treatment of samples with 0.1M Na2CO3. Thermodynamic calculations confirm the possibility of Cr(III) to Cr(VI) oxidation with atmospheric oxygen at high temperature in alkaline media, which is typical for vegetation ash. Analysis of field samples show that percent of Cr(VI), in respect to the total amount of chromium increased from initial 2.5% in grass to 9.3% in ash of grass. Without oxidation the percent of Cr(VI) in grass and ash of grass should be a constant value. After the fire Cr(VI) concentration in top soil (0-3 cm) increased from 0.3+/-0.05 to 1.8+/-0.5 microg g(-1) and the total Cr from 26+/-9 to 69+/-14 microg g(-1). The reason for the appearance of additional amount of Cr on top soil can be explained by condensation of chromium species from flame and shouldering ash on a soil surface. The results of studies demonstrate that Cr(VI) is formed by Cr(III) oxidation with atmospheric oxygen at high temperature during bush fires.

Understanding the differences between the wear of metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-metal total hip replacements.

PubMed

Figueiredo-Pina, C G; Yan, Y; Neville, A; Fisher, J

2008-04-01

Hip simulator studies have been carried out extensively to understand and test artificial hip implants in vitro as an efficient alternative to obtaining long-term results in vivo. Recent studies have shown that a ceramic-on-metal material combination lowers the wear by up to 100 times in comparison with a typical metal-on-metal design. The reason for this reduction remains unclear and for this reason this study has undertaken simple tribometer tests to understand the fundamental material loss mechanisms in two material combinations: metal-on-metal and ceramic-on-ceramic. A simple-configuration reciprocating pin-on-plate wear study was performed under open-circuit potential (OCP) and with applied cathodic protection (CP) in a serum solution using two tribological couples: firstly, cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) pins against Co-Cr plates; secondly, Co-Cr pins against alumina (Al2O3) plates. The pin and plate surfaces prior to and after testing were examined by profilometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed a marked reduction in wear when CP was applied, indicating that total material degradation under the OCP condition was attributed to corrosion processes. The substitution of the Co-Cr pin with an Al2O3 plate also resulted in a dramatic reduction in wear, probably due to the reduction in the corrosion-wear interactions between the tribological pair.

Effect of Microstructure on Creep in Directionally Solidified NiAl-31Cr-3Mo

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whittenberger, J. Daniel; Raj, S. V.; Locci, I. E.

2001-01-01

The 1200 to 1400 K slow strain rate characteristics of the directionally solidified (DS) eutectic Ni-33Al-31Cr-3 Mo have been determined as a function of growth rate. While differences in the light optical level microstructure were observed in alloys grown at rates ranging from 7.6 to 508 mm/h, compression testing indicated that all had essentially the same strength. The exception was Ni-33 Al-31Cr-3Mo DS at 25.4 mm/h which was slightly stronger than the other growth velocities; no microstructural reason could be found for this improvement. Comparison of the approximately 1300 K properties revealed that four different DS NiAl-34(Cr,Mo) alloys have a similar creep resistance which suggests that there is a common, but yet unknown, strengthening mechanism.

Effect of Microstructure on Creep in Directionally Solidified NiAl-31Cr-3Mo

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whittenberger, J. D.; Raj, S. V.; Locci, I. E.

2001-01-01

The 1200 to 1400 K slow strain rate characteristics of the directionally solidified (DS) eutectic Ni-33Al-31Cr-3 Mo have been determined as a function of growth rate. While differences in the light optical level microstructure were observed in alloys grown at rates ranging from 7.6 to 508 mm/h, compression testing indicated that all had essentially the same strength. The exception was Ni-33Al-31Cr-3Mo DS at 25.4 mm/h which was slightly stronger than the other growth velocities; no microstructural reason could be found for this improvement. Comparison of the approx. 1300 K properties revealed that four different DS NiAl-34(Cr,Mo) alloys have a similar creep resistance which suggests that there is a common, but yet unknown, strengthening mechanism.

Expanding Teachers' Technological Pedagogical Reasoning with a Systems Pedagogical Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Niess, Margaret L.; Gillow-Wiles, Henry

2017-01-01

A systems approach provides insight for expanding teachers' pedagogical reasoning for integrating multiple technologies in inquiry, communication, and collaboration. An online learning trajectory supports the integration of a systems pedagogical approach for guiding teachers in developing their technological pedagogical thinking and reasoning so…

Degradation of phenol and Cr (VI) wastewater with contact glow discharge electrolysis method and the addition of Fe2+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurniawan, Raden Ridzki Aditya; Saksono, Nelson

2017-11-01

Phenol and Cr (VI) are an organic waste and dangerous heavy metals which generated from a wide variety of industrial processes such as textiles, paints, dyes, and others. For that reason, we need effective waste treatment technologies, one of them is Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis (CGDE). This method produce reactive species such as radical hidroxyl so as to be able to degradate phenol and Cr(VI) wastewater effectively. This research aims to obtain the effect of Fe 2+ and air bubbles in degradation of phenol and Cr (VI) waste simultaneously. Waste degradation is measured its absorbance with UV-Vis spectrophotometer. In the conditions of 600 Volt voltage, Na2SO4 0.02 M, anode depth of 1.5 cm, the addition of Fe2+ 40 ppm and the addition of air bubbles for 30 minutes was obtained a percentage degradation of phenol 99.47%, Cr (VI) 76.75% and specific energy of 344.473 kJ / mmol.

Phase Stability of the Fe-Cr-Mn System and the Problem of Development of Stainless Steels on its Basis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grikurov, G.; Antropov, N.; Baratashvili, I.; Skibina, L.; Chernik, M.; Yushchenko, K.

2004-06-01

The Fe-Cr-Mn system with 2 - 15 % Cr and 20 - 50 % Mn, ⩽ 0.03 % C, ⩽ 0.05 % N was investigated after quenching from 1273 K and after quenching and subsequent one-hour tempering at 973 K. Phase diagrams are plotted for the Fe-Cr-Mn alloys after cooling and deformation at 20 K. Also, the diagrams of their mechanical properties are constructed. A closed, earlier unknown region of concentrations has been revealed, where the alloys have extraordinarily high plasticity and impact strength at 20 K exceeding the corresponding room temperature values. The analysis of the diagrams shows that the high plasticity is due both to the martensitic transformation and to the pre-martensite state. To improve the anticorrosive effect in cryogenic and special engineering applications, it is reasonable to use alloys containing Cr up to 14 % and Mn up to 24 - 30 %. Such alloys have quite high plasticity and strength.

High β effects on cosmic ray streaming in galaxy clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiener, Joshua; Zweibel, Ellen G.; Oh, S. Peng

2018-01-01

Diffuse, extended radio emission in galaxy clusters, commonly referred to as radio haloes, indicate the presence of high energy cosmic ray (CR) electrons and cluster-wide magnetic fields. We can predict from theory the expected surface brightness of a radio halo, given magnetic field and CR density profiles. Previous studies have shown that the nature of CR transport can radically effect the expected radio halo emission from clusters (Wiener, Oh & Guo 2013). Reasonable levels of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave damping can lead to significant CR streaming speeds. But a careful treatment of MHD waves in a high β plasma, as expected in cluster environments, reveals damping rates may be enhanced by a factor of β1/2. This leads to faster CR streaming and lower surface brightnesses than without this effect. In this work, we re-examine the simplified, 1D Coma cluster simulations (with radial magnetic fields) of Wiener et al. (2013) and discuss observable consequences of this high β damping. Future work is required to study this effect in more realistic simulations.

Synthesis and magnetotransport studies of CrO2 films grown on TiO2 nanotube arrays by chemical vapor deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xiaoling; Zhang, Caiping; Wang, Lu; Lin, Tao; Wen, Gehui

2018-04-01

The CrO2 films have been prepared on the TiO2 nanotube array template via atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition method. And the growth procedure was studied. In the beginning of the deposition process, the CrO2 grows on the cross section of the TiO2 nanotubes wall, forms a nanonet-like layer. And the grain size of CrO2 is very small. With the increase of the deposition time, the grain size of CrO2 also increases, and the nanonet-like layer changes into porous film. With the further increase of the deposition time, all the nanotubes are covered by CrO2 grains and the surface structure becomes polycrystalline film. The average grain size on the surface of the CrO2 films deposited for 1 h, 2 h and 5 h is about 190 nm, 300 nm and 470 nm. The X-ray diffraction pattern reveals that the rutile CrO2 film has been synthesized on the TiO2 nanotube array template. The CrO2 films show large magnetoresistance (MR) at low temperature, which should originate from spin-dependent tunneling through grain boundaries between CrO2 grains. And the tunneling mechanism of the CrO2 films can be well described by the fluctuation-induced tunneling (FIT) model. The CrO2 film deposited for 2 h shows insulator behavior from 5 k to 300 K, but the CrO2 film deposited for 5 h shows insulator-metal transition around 140 K. The reason is briefly discussed.

The Bayesian Cramér-Rao lower bound in Astrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mendez, R. A.; Echeverria, A.; Silva, J.; Orchard, M.

2017-07-01

A determination of the highest precision that can be achieved in the measurement of the location of a stellar-like object has been a topic of permanent interest by the astrometric community. The so-called (parametric, or non-Bayesian) Cramér-Rao (CR hereafter) bound provides a lower bound for the variance with which one could estimate the position of a point source. This has been studied recently by Mendez and collaborators (2014, 2015). In this work we present a different approach to the same problem (Echeverria et al. 2016), using a Bayesian CR setting which has a number of advantages over the parametric scenario.

Retrieving Atmospheric Temperature and Moisture Profiles from NPP CRIS/ATMS Sensors Using Crimss EDR Algorithm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, X.; Kizer, S.; Barnet, C.; Dvakarla, M.; Zhou, D. K.; Larar, A. M.

2012-01-01

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is a U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) mission in collaboration with the U.S. National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) and international partners. The NPP Cross-track Infrared Microwave Sounding Suite (CrIMSS) consists of the infrared (IR) Crosstrack Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the microwave (MW) Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). The CrIS instrument is hyperspectral interferometer, which measures high spectral and spatial resolution upwelling infrared radiances. The ATMS is a 22-channel radiometer similar to Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSU) A and B. It measures top of atmosphere MW upwelling radiation and provides capability of sounding below clouds. The CrIMSS Environmental Data Record (EDR) algorithm provides three EDRs, namely the atmospheric vertical temperature, moisture and pressure profiles (AVTP, AVMP and AVPP, respectively), with the lower tropospheric AVTP and the AVMP being JPSS Key Performance Parameters (KPPs). The operational CrIMSS EDR an algorithm was originally designed to run on large IBM computers with dedicated data management subsystem (DMS). We have ported the operational code to simple Linux systems by replacing DMS with appropriate interfaces. We also changed the interface of the operational code so that we can read data from both the CrIMSS science code and the operational code and be able to compare lookup tables, parameter files, and output results. The detail of the CrIMSS EDR algorithm is described in reference [1]. We will present results of testing the CrIMSS EDR operational algorithm using proxy data generated from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) satellite data and from the NPP CrIS/ATMS data.

Cardiac rehabilitation attendance and outcomes in coronary artery disease patients.

PubMed

Martin, Billie-Jean; Hauer, Trina; Arena, Ross; Austford, Leslie D; Galbraith, P Diane; Lewin, Adriane M; Knudtson, Merril L; Ghali, William A; Stone, James A; Aggarwal, Sandeep G

2012-08-07

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an efficacious yet underused treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. The objective of this study was to determine the association between CR completion and mortality and resource use. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 5886 subjects (20.8% female; mean age, 60.6 years) who had undergone angiography and were referred for CR in Calgary, AB, Canada, between 1996 and 2009. Outcomes of interest included freedom from emergency room visits, hospitalization, and survival in CR completers versus noncompleters, adjusted for clinical covariates, treatment strategy, and coronary anatomy. Hazard ratios for events for CR completers versus noncompleters were also constructed. A propensity model was used to match completers to noncompleters on baseline characteristics, and each outcome was compared between propensity-matched groups. Of the subjects referred for CR, 2900 (49.3%) completed the program, and an additional 554 subjects started but did not complete CR. CR completion was associated with a lower risk of death, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.70). CR completion was also associated with a decreased risk of all-cause hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.84) and cardiac hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.83) but not with emergency room visits. Propensity-matched analysis demonstrated a persistent association between CR completion and reduced mortality. Among those coronary artery disease patients referred, CR completion is associated with improved survival and decreased hospitalization. There is a need to explore reasons for nonattendance and to test interventions to improve attendance after referral.

Application of advanced structure to multi-tone mask for FPD process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Jin-Han; Jeong, Jin-Woong; Kim, Kyu-Sik; Jeong, Woo-Gun; Yun, Sang-Pil; Lee, Dong-Heok; Choi, Sang-Soo

2017-07-01

In accordance with improvement of FPD technology, masks such as phase shift mask (PSM) and multi-tone mask (MTM) for a particular purpose also have been developed. Above all, the MTM consisted of more than tri-tone transmittance has a substantial advantage which enables to reduce the number of mask demand in FPD fabrication process contrast to normal mask of two-tone transmittance.[1,2] A chromium (Cr)-based MTM (Typically top type) is being widely employed because of convenience of etch process caused by its only Cr-based structure consisted of Cr absorber layer and Cr half-tone layer. However, the top type of Cr-based MTM demands two Cr sputtering processes after each layer etching process and writing process. For this reason, a different material from the Cr-based MTM is required for reduction of mask fabrication time and cost. In this study, we evaluate a MTM which has a structure combined Cr with molybdenum silicide (MoSi) to resolve the issues mentioned above. The MoSi which is demonstrated by integrated circuit (IC) process is a suitable material for MTM evaluation. This structure could realize multi-transmittance in common with the Cr-based MTM. Moreover, it enables to reduce the number of sputtering process. We investigate a optimized structure upon consideration of productivity along with performance such as critical dimension (CD) variation and transmittance range of each structure. The transmittance is targeted at h-line wavelength (405 nm) in the evaluation. Compared with Cr-based MTM, the performances of all Cr-/MoSi-based MTMs are considered.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0064: Advanced Computational Dynamics Simulation of Protective Structures Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

Livermore, California. 32. Martini, K. (1996a). “Research in the out-of-plane behavior of unreinforced masonry.” Ancient Reconstruction of the Pompeii Forum...plane behavior of unreinforced masonry,” Ancient Reconstruction of the Pompeii Forum. School of Architecture, University of Virginia

Reasoning and Sense Making Begins with the Teacher

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keazer, Lindsay M.; Menon, Rahul S.

2015-01-01

This article argues that the practices of reasoning and sense making are critical for developing students' mathematical literacy. Seven mathematics teachers collaborated throughout a school year to discuss the ideas proposed in Reasoning and Sense Making (NCTM 2009) and put them into practice through action research. Conducting action research,…

Learning to Reason from Samples: Commentary from the Perspectives of Task Design and the Emergence of "Big Data"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ainley, Janet; Gould, Robert; Pratt, Dave

2015-01-01

This paper is in the form of a reflective discussion of the collection of papers in this Special Issue on "Statistical reasoning: learning to reason from samples" drawing on deliberations arising at the Seventh International Collaboration for Research on Statistical Reasoning, Thinking, and Literacy (SRTL7). It is an important part of…

Coexisting exchange bias effect and ferroelectricity in geometrically frustrated ZnCr2O4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dey, J. K.; Majumdar, S.; Giri, S.

2018-06-01

Concomitant occurrence of exchange bias effect and ferroelectric order is revealed in antiferromagnetic spinel ZnCr2O4. The exchange bias effect is observed below antiferromagnetic Neél temperature (T N) with a reasonable value of exchange bias field ( Oe at 2 K). Intriguingly, the ratio is found unusually high as  ∼2.2, where H C is the coercivity. This indicates that large H C is not always primary for obtaining large exchange bias effect. Ferroelectric order is observed at T N, where non-centrosymmetric magnetic structure with space group associated with the magnetoelectric coupling correlates the ferroelectric order, proposing that, ZnCr2O4 is an improper multiferroic material. Rare occurrence of exchange bias effect and ferroelectric order in ZnCr2O4 attracts the community for fundamental interest and draws special attention in designing new materials for possible electric field control of exchange bias effect.

Characterization of commercial off-the shelf regenerable sorbent to scrub carbon dioxide in a portable life support system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arai, Tatsuya; Fricker, John

2018-06-01

A resin bead Mitsubishi DIAION™ CR20 was identified and characterized as a first commercial off-the shelf regenerable carbon dioxide (CO2) sorbent candidate for space life support system applications at room temperature. The CO2 adsorption rates and capacities of CR20 at varying CO2 partial pressures were obtained. The data were used to numerically simulate CO2 adsorption by a swingbed, a pair of two sorbent beds that alternately adsorb and desorb CO2 in a space suit portable life support system (PLSS). The result demonstrated that a reasonable volume of CR20 would be able to continuously adsorb CO2 with bed-swing interval of 4 min at 300-W metabolic rate, and that commercial off-the shelf CR20 would have similar performance of CO2 adsorption to the proprietary swingbed sorbent SA9T for PLSS applications.

Work disability negotiations: supervisors' view of work disability and collaboration with occupational health services.

PubMed

Lappalainen, Liisa; Liira, Juha; Lamminpää, Anne; Rokkanen, Tanja

2018-03-28

To introduce the Finnish practice of collaboration aiming to enhance work participation, to ask supervisors about its reasons and usefulness, to study supervisors' needs when they face work disability, and to compare the experiences of supervisors whose profiles differ. An online questionnaire based on the Finnish practice of collaboration between supervisor and occupational health services (OHS) went to supervisors in six public and private organizations. A total of 254 supervisors responded, of whom, 133 (52%) had collaborated in work disability negotiations, representing a wide variety with differing professional profiles. In their role of managing work disability, supervisors appeared to benefit from three factors: an explicit company disability management (DM) policy, supervisors' training in DM, and collaboration with OHS. Reasons for work disability negotiations were long or repeated sick-leaves and reduced work performance. Expectations for occupational health consultations focused on finding vocational solutions and on obtaining information. Supervisors assessed the outcomes of collaboration as both vocational and medical. Supervisors with differing professional profiles prioritized slightly different aspects in collaboration. Collaboration with OHS is an important option for supervisors to enhance work modifications and the work participation of employees with work disability. Implications for Rehabilitation Work disability negotiation between supervisor, employee, and occupational health services (OHS) is an effective method to enhance work participation. Collaboration with occupational health can advance work modifications and also lead to medical procedures to improve work performance. Supervisor training, companies' explicit disability management policy, and collaboration with OHSs all advance employee's work participation. Collaboration with OHSs may serve as training for supervisors in their responsibility to support work participation.

Erosion Coatings for High-Temperature Polymer Composites: A Collaborative Project With Allison Advanced Development Company

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutter, James K.

2000-01-01

The advantages of replacing metals in aircraft turbine engines with high-temperature polymer matrix composites (PMC's) include weight savings accompanied by strength improvements, reduced part count, and lower manufacturing costs. Successfully integrating high-temperature PMC's into turbine engines requires several long-term characteristics. Resistance to surface erosion is one rarely reported property of PMC's in engine applications because PMC's are generally softer than metals and their erosion resistance suffers. Airflow rates in stationary turbine engine components typically exceed 2.3 kg/sec at elevated temperatures and pressures. In engine applications, as shown in the following photos, the survivability of PMC components is clearly a concern, especially when engine and component life-cycle requirements become longer. Although very few publications regarding the performance of erosion coatings on PMC's are available particularly in high-temperature applications the use of erosion-resistant coatings to significantly reduce wear on metallic substrates is well documented. In this study initiated by the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, a low-cost (less than $140/kg) graphite-fiber-reinforced T650 35/PMR 15 sheet-molding compound was investigated with various coatings. This sheet-molding compound has been compression molded into many structurally complicated components, such as shrouds for gas turbine inlet housings and gearboxes. Erosion coatings developed for PMC s in this study consisted of a two-layered system: a bondcoat sprayed onto a cleaned PMC surface, followed by an erosion-resistant, hard topcoat sprayed onto the bondcoat as shown in following photomicrograph. Six erosion coating systems were evaluated for their ability to withstand harsh thermal cycles, erosion resistance (ASTM G76 83 "Standard Practice for Conducting Erosion Tests by Solid Particle Impingement Using Gas Jets") using Al2O3, and adhesion to the graphite fiber polyimide composite (ASTM D 4541 95 "Pull Off Strength of Coatings"). Glenn and Allison Advanced Development Company collaborated to optimize erosion coatings for gas turbine fan and compressor applications. All the coating systems survived aggressive thermal cycling without spalling. During erosion tests (see the final photo), the most promising coating systems tested had Cr3C2-NiCr and WC-Co as the hard topcoats. In all cases, these coating systems performed significantly better than that with a TiN hard topcoat. When material depth (thickness) loss is considered, the Cr3C2-NiCr and WC-Co coating systems provided, on average, an erosion resistance 8.5 times greater than that for the uncoated PMR 15/T650 35 composite. Similarly, Cr3C2-NiCr and WC-Co coating systems adhered to the PMC substrate during tensile tests significantly better than systems containing a TiN topcoat. Differences in topcoats of Cr3C2-NiCr and WC-Co were determined by considering issues such as cost and environmental impact. The preferred erosion-resistant coating system for PMR 15/T650 35 has WC-Co as the hard topcoat. This system provides the following benefits in comparison to the coating system with Cr3C2-NiCr topcoat: lower powder material cost (15 to 20 percent), environmentally friendly materials (Cr3C2-NiCr is hazardous), and higher deposition yield (10 to 15 percent), which results in less waste.

Precursor preparation for Ca-Al layered double hydroxide to remove hexavalent chromium coexisting with calcium and magnesium chlorides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Lihua; He, Xiaoman; Qu, Jun; Li, Xuewei; Lei, Zhiwu; Zhang, Qiwu; Liu, Xinzhong

2017-01-01

Al(OH)3 and Ca(OH)2 powders are co-ground to prepare a precursor which hydrates into a layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase by agitation in aqueous solution with target hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) at room temperature, to achieve an obvious improvement in removal efficiency of Cr(VI) through an easy incorporation into the structure. Although the prepared precursor transforms into LDH phases also when agitated in the solutions of calcium and magnesium chlorides, it incorporates Cr(VI) preferentially to the chloride salts when they coexist. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies show that the phenomena occurring on the Al-Ca precursor fit a pseudo-second-order kinetics with a Langmuir adsorption capacity of 59.45 mg/g. Besides, characterizations of the prepared precursor and the samples after adsorption are also performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) to understand the reason of the preferential incorporation of Cr(VI) to the coexisting chloride salts during the LDH phase formation. Ca-Al precursor (C3A) was agitated in a hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) solution to form Al-Ca-CrO4 LDH product. Ca-Al-CrO4 LDH phase occurred preferentially to Ca-Al-MCl2 LDH phases in the solutions of calcium and magnesium chlorides, it incorporates Cr(VI) preferentially to the chloride salts when they coexist.

Hexavalent chromium damages chamomile plants by alteration of antioxidants and its uptake is prevented by calcium.

PubMed

Kováčik, Jozef; Babula, Petr; Hedbavny, Josef; Klejdus, Bořivoj

2014-05-30

Toxicity of low (3μM) and high (60 and 120μM) concentrations of hexavalent chromium/Cr(VI) in chamomile plants was studied. Fluorescence staining confirmed reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Cr was mainly accumulated in the roots with translocation factor <0.007. Notwithstanding this, both shoots and roots revealed increase in oxidative stress and depletion of glutathione, total thiols, ascorbic acid and activities of glutathione reductase and partially ascorbate peroxidase mainly at 120μM Cr. Though some protective mechanisms were detected (elevation of nitric oxide, enhancement of GPX activity and increase in phenols and lignin), this was not sufficient to counteract the oxidative damage. Consequently, soluble proteins, tissue water content and biomass production were considerably depleted. Surprising increase in some mineral nutrients in roots (Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu) was also detected. Subsequent experiment confirmed that exogenous calcium suppressed oxidative symptoms and Cr uptake but growth of chamomile seedlings was not improved. Alteration of naturally present reductants could be a reason for Cr(III) signal detected using specific fluorescence reagent: in vitro assay confirmed disappearance of ascorbic acid in equimolar mixture with dichromate (>96% at pH 4 and 7) while such response of glutathione was substantially less visible. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NiCrNx interlayer thickness dependence of spectral performance and environmental durability of protected-silver mirrors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Xu; Li, Bincheng; He, Wenyan; Wang, Changjun; Wei, Ming

2018-04-01

Gemini-style protected-silver mirror (Sub / NiCrNx / Ag / NiCrNx / SiNx / Air) is a suitable choice for optical instruments requiring both long-term environmental durability and high broadband reflectance. Three Gemini-style protected-silver mirrors with NiCrNx interlayer thicknesses between 0.1 and 0.6 nm were prepared by magnetron sputtering, and the dependences of spectral properties and environmental durability of these protected-silver mirrors on the thickness of NiCrNx interlayer between the silver layer and SiNx layer were investigated in-depth. The reflectance, transmittance and total scattering loss measurements, optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope imaging were employed to characterize the spectral properties and surface morphology, and accelerated environmental tests, including humidity test and salt fog test, were applied to investigate the environmental durability. The experimental results showed that both optical and corrosion-resistant properties of protected-silver mirrors were NiCrNx interlayer thickness dependent, and an optimum NiCrNx interlayer thickness should be ˜0.3 nm for Gemini-style protected-silver mirrors to have reasonably both high reflectance in a broadband spectral range from visible to far infrared and good corrosion resistance for long-lifetime applications in harsh environments.

Chromium recovery from exhausted baths generated in plating processes and its reuse in the tanning industry.

PubMed

Torras, Josep; Buj, Irene; Rovira, Miquel; de Pablo, Joan

2012-03-30

Chromium plating used for functional purposes provides an extremely hard, wear and corrosion resistant layer by means of electrolytic deposition. Typical layer thicknesses range between 2.5 and 500 μm. Chromium electroplating baths contain high concentrations of Cr(VI) with chromium trioxide (CrO(3)) as the chromium source. When because of technical or economic reasons a bath gets exhausted, a waste containing mainly chromium as dichromate as well as other heavy metals is generated. Chromium may then be purified for use in other industrial processes with different requirements. In this work, a sustainable system for using galvanic wastes as reagents in the leather tanning industry, thus reducing quantity of wastes to be treated, is presented. Metal cations present in the chromium exhausted bath were precipitated with NaOH. Then, the solution containing mainly soluble Cr(VI) was separated. By means of sodium sulphite in acidic conditions, Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) as chromium (III) sulphate. From chromium (III) sulphate a basic Cr(III) sulphate may be obtained, which is one of most used compounds in the tanning industry. Cr(III) concentration in the final solution allows its reuse without concentration, but with a slight dilution. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

G-R-O-U-P W-O-R-K Doesn't Spell Collaboration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Quinn, Timothy

2012-01-01

Commonly included in any list of 21st century skills is collaboration--and for good reason. Technology now offers more people the opportunity to work together without geographical restraint. And so collaboration should become a greater part of school curricula at all levels. But most of the work done by students in a traditional K-12 school is…

Strategic Moments: IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE CLIENTS IN ATTENDING CARDIAC REHABILITATION AND MAINTAINING LIFESTYLE CHANGES.

PubMed

Fletcher, Susan Marilyn; McBurney, Helen

2016-01-01

There has been extensive investigation of attendance rates at cardiac rehabilitation (CR) but little attention to client reasoning around attendance. This study explored decision-making drivers for attendance or nonattendance at CR programs in rural Victoria, Australia. All new patients referred to the CR programs at either the local hospital or community health service over a 6-month period were invited to participate and were interviewed before, after, and at 6 months post-CR. Content analysis was used to identify and group common themes that emerged from the semistructured interviews. Eighty-four of the 114 patients referred agreed to participate in the study. Multiple barriers or facilitators affected the decisions of all clients. Three themes were identified that reflected the participant decision-making experience: (1) invitation and information about participation in CR; (2) person-centered approach to CR provision; and (3) ongoing support needs. Significant decision-making points identified were after the cardiac event; before and after hospital-based CR; before and after community-based CR; and at 6 months after the cardiac event. At any time there is a risk that the client can become lost or disengaged in the service system, but providing contact at these points can allow them to reengage. This study provided the opportunity to hear participant voices, describing their decisions around CR attendance after a cardiac event. They highlighted the complexity of issues confronting them and suggested improvements to optimize their attendance and to maintain lifestyle changes.

Upregulation of P2RX7 in Cx3cr1-Deficient Mononuclear Phagocytes Leads to Increased Interleukin-1β Secretion and Photoreceptor Neurodegeneration.

PubMed

Hu, Shulong J; Calippe, Bertrand; Lavalette, Sophie; Roubeix, Christophe; Montassar, Fadoua; Housset, Michael; Levy, Olivier; Delarasse, Cecile; Paques, Michel; Sahel, José-Alain; Sennlaub, Florian; Guillonneau, Xavier

2015-05-06

Photoreceptor degeneration in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is associated with an infiltration and chronic accumulation of mononuclear phagocytes (MPs). We have previously shown that Cx3cr1-deficient mice develop age- and stress- related subretinal accumulation of MPs, which is associated with photoreceptor degeneration. Cx3cr1-deficient MPs have been shown to increase neuronal apoptosis through IL-1β in neuroinflammation of the brain. The reason for increased IL-1β secretion from Cx3cr1-deficient MPs, and whether IL-1β is responsible for increased photoreceptor apoptosis in Cx3cr1-deficient mice, has not been elucidated. Here we show that Cx3cr1-deficient MPs express increased surface P2X7 receptor (P2RX7), which stimulates IL-1β maturation and secretion. P2RX7 and IL-1β inhibition efficiently blunted Cx3cr1-MP-dependent photoreceptor apoptosis in a monocyte/retina coculture system and in light-induced subretinal inflammation of Cx3cr1-deficient mice in vivo. Our results provide an explanation for increased CX3CR1-dependent IL-1β secretion and suggest that IL-1β or P2RX7 inhibition can help inhibit the inflammation-associated photoreceptor cell loss in late AMD, including geographic atrophy, for which no efficient treatment currently exists. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/356987-10$15.00/0.

Magnetic susceptibilities of liquid Cr-Au, Mn-Au and Fe-Au alloys

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

Ohno, S.; Shimakura, H.; Tahara, S.

The magnetic susceptibility of liquid Cr-Au, Mn-Au, Fe-Au and Cu-Au alloys was investigated as a function of temperature and composition. Liquid Cr{sub 1-c}Au{sub c} with 0.5 ≤ c and Mn{sub 1-c}Au{sub c} with 0.3≤c obeyed the Curie-Weiss law with regard to their dependence of χ on temperature. The magnetic susceptibilities of liquid Fe-Au alloys also exhibited Curie-Weiss behavior with a reasonable value for the effective number of Bohr magneton. On the Au-rich side, the composition dependence of χ for liquid TM-Au (TM=Cr, Mn, Fe) alloys increased rapidly with increasing TM content, respectively. Additionally, the composition dependences of χ for liquidmore » Cr-Au, Mn-Au, and Fe-Au alloys had maxima at compositions of 50 at% Cr, 70 at% Mn, and 85 at% Fe, respectively. We compared the composition dependences of χ{sub 3d} due to 3d electrons for liquid binary TM-M (M=Au, Al, Si, Sb), and investigated the relationship between χ{sub 3d} and E{sub F} in liquid binary TM-M alloys at a composition of 50 at% TM.« less

An Exploratory Analysis of Network Characteristics and Quality of Interactions among Public Health Collaboratives

PubMed Central

Varda, Danielle M.; Retrum, Jessica H.

2012-01-01

While the benefits of collaboration have become widely accepted and the practice of collaboration is growing within the public health system, a paucity of research exists that examines factors and mechanisms related to effective collaboration between public health and their partner organizations. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by exploring the structural and organizational characteristics of public health collaboratives. Design and Methods. Using both social network analysis and traditional statistical methods, we conduct an exploratory secondary data analysis of 11 public health collaboratives chosen from across the United States. All collaboratives are part of the PARTNER (www.partnertool.net) database. We analyze data to identify relational patterns by exploring the structure (the way that organizations connect and exchange relationships), in relation to perceptions of value and trust, explanations for varying reports of success, and factors related to outcomes. We describe the characteristics of the collaboratives, types of resource contributions, outcomes of the collaboratives, perceptions of success, and reasons for success. We found high variation and significant differences within and between these collaboratives including perceptions of success. There were significant relationships among various factors such as resource contributions, reasons cited for success, and trust and value perceived by organizations. We find that although the unique structure of each collaborative makes it challenging to identify a specific set of factors to determine when a collaborative will be successful, the organizational characteristics and interorganizational dynamics do appear to impact outcomes. We recommend a quality improvement process that suggests matching assessment to goals and developing action steps for performance improvement. Acknowledgements the authors would like to thank the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Public Health Program for funding for this research. PMID:25170462

An Exploratory Analysis of Network Characteristics and Quality of Interactions among Public Health Collaboratives.

PubMed

Varda, Danielle M; Retrum, Jessica H

2012-06-15

While the benefits of collaboration have become widely accepted and the practice of collaboration is growing within the public health system, a paucity of research exists that examines factors and mechanisms related to effective collaboration between public health and their partner organizations. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by exploring the structural and organizational characteristics of public health collaboratives. Design and Methods. Using both social network analysis and traditional statistical methods, we conduct an exploratory secondary data analysis of 11 public health collaboratives chosen from across the United States. All collaboratives are part of the PARTNER (www.partnertool.net) database. We analyze data to identify relational patterns by exploring the structure (the way that organizations connect and exchange relationships), in relation to perceptions of value and trust, explanations for varying reports of success, and factors related to outcomes. We describe the characteristics of the collaboratives, types of resource contributions, outcomes of the collaboratives, perceptions of success, and reasons for success. We found high variation and significant differences within and between these collaboratives including perceptions of success. There were significant relationships among various factors such as resource contributions, reasons cited for success, and trust and value perceived by organizations. We find that although the unique structure of each collaborative makes it challenging to identify a specific set of factors to determine when a collaborative will be successful, the organizational characteristics and interorganizational dynamics do appear to impact outcomes. We recommend a quality improvement process that suggests matching assessment to goals and developing action steps for performance improvement. the authors would like to thank the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Public Health Program for funding for this research.

Novel rabies virus-neutralizing epitope recognized by human monoclonal antibody: fine mapping and escape mutant analysis.

PubMed

Marissen, Wilfred E; Kramer, R Arjen; Rice, Amy; Weldon, William C; Niezgoda, Michael; Faber, Milosz; Slootstra, Jerry W; Meloen, Rob H; Clijsters-van der Horst, Marieke; Visser, Therese J; Jongeneelen, Mandy; Thijsse, Sandra; Throsby, Mark; de Kruif, John; Rupprecht, Charles E; Dietzschold, Bernhard; Goudsmit, Jaap; Bakker, Alexander B H

2005-04-01

Anti-rabies virus immunoglobulin combined with rabies vaccine protects humans from lethal rabies infections. For cost and safety reasons, replacement of the human or equine polyclonal immunoglobulin is advocated, and the use of rabies virus-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) is recommended. We produced two previously described potent rabies virus-neutralizing human MAbs, CR57 and CRJB, in human PER.C6 cells. The two MAbs competed for binding to rabies virus glycoprotein. Using CR57 and a set of 15-mer overlapping peptides covering the glycoprotein ectodomain, a neutralization domain was identified between amino acids (aa) 218 and 240. The minimal binding region was identified as KLCGVL (aa 226 to 231), with key residues K-CGV- identified by alanine replacement scanning. The critical binding region of this novel nonconformational rabies virus epitope is highly conserved within rabies viruses of genotype 1. Subsequently, we generated six rabies virus variants escaping neutralization by CR57 and six variants escaping CRJB. The CR57 escape mutants were only partially covered by CRJB, and all CRJB-resistant variants completely escaped neutralization by CR57. Without exception, the CR57-resistant variants showed a mutation at key residues within the defined minimal binding region, while the CRJB escape viruses showed a single mutation distant from the CR57 epitope (N182D) combined with mutations in the CR57 epitope. The competition between CR57 and CRJB, the in vitro escape profile, and the apparent overlap between the recognized epitopes argues against including both CR57 and CRJB in a MAb cocktail aimed at replacing classical immunoglobulin preparations.

DERMA: A Melanoma Diagnosis Platform Based on Collaborative Multilabel Analog Reasoning

PubMed Central

Golobardes, Elisabet; Corral, Guiomar; Puig, Susana; Malvehy, Josep

2014-01-01

The number of melanoma cancer-related death has increased over the last few years due to the new solar habits. Early diagnosis has become the best prevention method. This work presents a melanoma diagnosis architecture based on the collaboration of several multilabel case-based reasoning subsystems called DERMA. The system has to face up several challenges that include data characterization, pattern matching, reliable diagnosis, and self-explanation capabilities. Experiments using subsystems specialized in confocal and dermoscopy images have provided promising results for helping experts to assess melanoma diagnosis. PMID:24578629

Combining Cystatin C and Creatinine Yields a Reliable Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation in Older Adults in Contrast to β-Trace Protein and β2-Microglobulin.

PubMed

Werner, Karin; Pihlsgård, Mats; Elmståhl, Sölve; Legrand, Helen; Nyman, Ulf; Christensson, Anders

2017-01-01

The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the most important measure of kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to validate commonly used equations for estimated GFR (eGFR) based on creatinine (cr), cystatin C (cys), β-trace protein (BTP), and β2-microglobulin (B2M) in older adults. We conducted a validation study with 126 participants aged between 72 and 98 with a mean measured GFR (mGFR) by iohexol clearance of 54 mL/min/1.73 m2. The eGFR equations (CKD-Epidemiology collaboration [CKD-EPI], Berlin Initiative Study [BIS], Full Age Spectrum [FAS], Modification of Diet in Renal Disease [MDRD]cr, Caucasian-Asian-Pediatric-Adult [CAPA]cys, Lund-Malmö Revised [LM-REV]cr, and MEAN-LM-CAPAcr-cys), were assessed in terms of bias (median difference: eGFR-mGFR), precision (interquartile range of the differences), and accuracy (P30: percentage of estimates ±30% of mGFR). The equations were compared to a benchmark equation: CKD-EPIcr-cys. All cystatin C-based equations underestimated the GFR compared to mGFR, whereas bias was mixed for the equations based only on creatinine. Accuracy was the highest for CKD-EPIcr-cys (98%) and lowest for MDRD (82%). Below mGFR 45 mL/min/1.73 m2 only equations incorporating cystatin C reached P30 accuracy >90%. CKD-EPIcr-cys was not significantly more accurate than the other cystatin C-based equations. In contrast, CKD-EPIcr-cys was significantly more accurate than all creatinine-based equations except LM-REVcr. This study confirms that it is reasonable to use equations incorporating cystatin C and creatinine in older patients across a wide spectrum of GFR. However, the results call into question the use of creatinine alone below mGFR 45 mL/min/1.73 m2. B2M and BTP do not demonstrate additional value in eGFR determination in older adults. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Walking to Medjugorje: Serving Children Who Are Deaf and Hard-of- Hearing in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Kevin J.

2002-01-01

This article discusses the experiences of an American team who worked with the Bosnia Speech and Hearing Project. The team collaborated with Bosnian teachers of children with deafness and speech-language pathologists in to share therapy ideas and model strategies that parents could utilize to promote speech and language development. (Author/CR)

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0059: Molecular Dynamics Modeling Support

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-01

Molecular Dynamics Simulations 5 Theory: Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations 6 Theory: Non...Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics Simulations 8 Carbon Nanotube Simulations : Approach and results from equilibrium and non-equilibrium molecular dynamics ...touched from the perspective of molecular dynamics simulations . However, ordered systems such as “Carbon Nanotubes” have been investigated in terms

Coming to terms: a case study of hospice collaboration challenges.

PubMed

Pietroburgo, Julie; Bush, Richard

Recent research has focused on the growing phenomenon of mergers, collaborations, and alliances among nonprofit organizations and what makes such arrangements work. Examination of failed collaborative efforts is perhaps just as instructive. This case study examines recent attempts at collaboration between 2 nonprofit hospice organizations. The study finds that despite compelling reasons for and significant commonalities on which to base collaboration, the organizations were initially unable to forge any ongoing and substantive collaborative arrangement because of insurmountable cultural factors and past history. Furthermore, without imminent external pressures to collaborate, these organizations had insufficient motivation to attempt to move beyond their differences. The case also reviews the changed circumstances and factors that later facilitated partnering attempts.

Cardiac Rehabilitation Following Acute Coronary Syndrome in Women.

PubMed

Bennett, Amanda L; Lavie, Carl J; Grace, Sherry L

2017-08-01

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is among the leading burdens of disease among women. It is a significant driver of morbidity and chronically undermines their quality of life. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is indicated for ACS patients in clinical practice guidelines, including those specifically for women. CR is a multi-component model of care, proven to reduce mortality and morbidity, including in women. However, women are significantly less likely to be referred to CR by providers, and if they are referred, to enroll and adhere to programs. Reasons include lack of physician encouragement, preference not to feel fatigue and pain, transportation barriers, comorbidities and caregiving obligations. Strategies to mitigate this under-use include systematic early inpatient referral, tailoring programs to meet women's needs and preferences (e.g., offering dance, opportunities for social interaction), and offering non-supervised delivery models. Unfortunately, these strategies are not widely available to women. Given the greater longevity seen in women, the critical role CR plays in augmenting quality of life in this population must be recognized and care providers must do more to facilitate referral to and encourage participating in CR programs.

Reflections on Developing Collaborative Research in Pediatric Psychology: Implications and Future Directions

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Objectives Collaborative research with pediatric colleagues has become increasingly important in the professional agenda of pediatric psychology, and there is a continuing need to articulate the challenges of such research. To address this need, this article describes types of collaborative research, reasons for collaboration, collaborative process, challenges, and strategies to facilitate collaborative research. Methods Experiences and lessons learned over the course of a career in collaborative research are described. Results Challenges in collaborative research can be overcome by effective strategies of engagement and communication. Useful methods of training researchers in collaborative research include modeling and supervised mentored experiences in research initiated by trainees. Conclusion Data are needed to identify the characteristics of successful collaborative research, strategies to promote effective research, and methods of training and career development. PMID:23671060

Collaborative human-machine analysis using a controlled natural language

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mott, David H.; Shemanski, Donald R.; Giammanco, Cheryl; Braines, Dave

2015-05-01

A key aspect of an analyst's task in providing relevant information from data is the reasoning about the implications of that data, in order to build a picture of the real world situation. This requires human cognition, based upon domain knowledge about individuals, events and environmental conditions. For a computer system to collaborate with an analyst, it must be capable of following a similar reasoning process to that of the analyst. We describe ITA Controlled English (CE), a subset of English to represent analyst's domain knowledge and reasoning, in a form that it is understandable by both analyst and machine. CE can be used to express domain rules, background data, assumptions and inferred conclusions, thus supporting human-machine interaction. A CE reasoning and modeling system can perform inferences from the data and provide the user with conclusions together with their rationale. We present a logical problem called the "Analysis Game", used for training analysts, which presents "analytic pitfalls" inherent in many problems. We explore an iterative approach to its representation in CE, where a person can develop an understanding of the problem solution by incremental construction of relevant concepts and rules. We discuss how such interactions might occur, and propose that such techniques could lead to better collaborative tools to assist the analyst and avoid the "pitfalls".

Understanding Gaps in Research Networks: Using "Spatial Reasoning" as a Window into the Importance of Networked Educational Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bruce, Catherine D.; Davis, Brent; Sinclair, Nathalie; McGarvey, Lynn; Hallowell, David; Drefs, Michelle; Francis, Krista; Hawes, Zachary; Moss, Joan; Mulligan, Joanne; Okamoto, Yukari; Whiteley, Walter; Woolcott, Geoff

2017-01-01

This paper finds its origins in a multidisciplinary research group's efforts to assemble a review of research in order to better appreciate how "spatial reasoning" is understood and investigated across academic disciplines. We first collaborated to create a historical map of the development of spatial reasoning across key disciplines…

Breaking New Ground

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jost, Bob; Peatross, Dita; Bullock, Kenneth L.

2006-01-01

Why do construction projects fail? Ineffective communication and collaboration, and poor pre-planning processes are among the reasons given by building owners in a recent survey. To avoid those pitfalls, colleges and universities need to take a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to preplanning, financing and carrying out their master plans…

Barriers for Nonparticipation and Dropout of Women in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Resurrección, Davinia M; Motrico, Emma; Rigabert, Alina; Rubio-Valera, Maria; Conejo-Cerón, Sonia; Pastor, Luis; Moreno-Peral, Patricia

2017-08-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health problem worldwide. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs are effective in reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of patients with CVD. Women are under-represented in CR and have a higher dropout rate than men. We aimed to systematically review the literature on barriers perceived by women with CVD affecting their nonparticipation in and/or dropping out from CR programs. Systematic review was done using MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Open Grey, and Cochrane Database from inception to September 2016. Search terms included (1) heart disease and other cardiac conditions, (2) CR and secondary prevention, and (3) nonparticipation in and/or dropout. Databases were searched following the "participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design" method. A total of 24 studies (17 descriptive, 6 qualitative, and 1 randomized controlled trial) reporting several barriers were grouped into five broad categories: intrapersonal barriers (self-reported health, health beliefs, lack of time, motivation, and religious reasons); interpersonal barriers (lack of family/social support and work conflicts); logistical barriers (transport, distance, and availability of personal/community resources); CR program barriers (services offered, group format, exercise component, and CR sessions); and health system barriers (lack of referral, cost, negative experiences with the health system, and language). We found differences between the barriers related to nonparticipation in and dropout from CR programs. Women reported multilevel barriers for nonparticipation in and dropout from CR programs. Future clinical guidelines should evaluate and eliminate these barriers to improve adherence to CR programs in women. In addition, understanding the barriers for nonparticipation and dropout may be beneficial for future intervention trials.

Development of low-chromium, chromium-tungsten steels for fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klueh, R. L.; Alexander, D. J.; Kenik, E. A.

1995-12-01

High-chromium (9-12% Cr) CrMo and CrW ferritic steels are favored as candidates for fusion applications. In early work to develop reduced-activation steels, an Fe2.25Cr2W-0.25V-O.1C steel (designated 2.25Cr-2WV) had better strength than an Fe9Cr2W-0.25V-0.07Tra-0.1C (9Cr-2WVTa) steel (compositions are in weight percent). However, the 2.25Cr-2WV had poor impact properties, as determined by the ductile-brittle transition temperature and upper-shelf energy of subsize Charpy impact specimens. Because low-chromium steels have some advantages over high-chromium steels, a program to develop low-chromium steels is in progress. Microstructural analysis indicated that the reason for the inferior impact toughness of the 2.25Cr-2WV was the granular bainite obtained when the steel was normalized. Properties can be improved by developing an acicular bainite microstructure by increasing the cooling rate after austenitization. Alternatively, acicular bainite can be promoted by increasing the hardenability. Hardenability was changed by adding small amounts of boron and additional chromium to the 2.250-2WV composition. A combination of B, Cr, and Ta additions resulted in low-chromium reduced-activation steels with mechanical properties comparable to those of 9Cr-2WVTa.

High-Power Diode Laser-Treated 13Cr4Ni Stainless Steel for Hydro Turbines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, B. S.

2014-06-01

The cast martensitic chromium nickel stainless steels such as 13Cr4Ni, 16Cr5Ni, and 17Cr4Ni PH have found wide application in hydro turbines. These steels have adequate corrosion resistance with good mechanical properties because of chromium content of more than 12%. The 13Cr4Ni stainless steel is most widely used among these steels; however, lacks silt, cavitation, and water impingement erosion resistances (SER, CER, and WIER). This article deals with characterizing 13Cr4Ni stainless steel for silt, cavitation, and water impingement erosion; and studying its improved SER, CER, and WIER behavior after high-power diode laser (HPDL) surface treatment. The WIER and CER have improved significantly after laser treatment, whereas there is a marginal improvement in SER. The main reason for improved WIER and CER is due to its increased surface hardness and formation of fine-grained microstructure after HPDL surface treatment. CER and WIER of HPDL-treated 13Cr4Ni stainless steel samples have been evaluated as per ASTM G32-2003 and ASTM G73-1978, respectively; and these were correlated with microstructure and mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength, modified ultimate resilience, and microhardness. The erosion damage mechanism, compared on the basis of scanning electron micrographs and mechanical properties, is discussed and reported in this article.

Novel Rabies Virus-Neutralizing Epitope Recognized by Human Monoclonal Antibody: Fine Mapping and Escape Mutant Analysis†

PubMed Central

Marissen, Wilfred E.; Kramer, R. Arjen; Rice, Amy; Weldon, William C.; Niezgoda, Michael; Faber, Milosz; Slootstra, Jerry W.; Meloen, Rob H.; Clijsters-van der Horst, Marieke; Visser, Therese J.; Jongeneelen, Mandy; Thijsse, Sandra; Throsby, Mark; de Kruif, John; Rupprecht, Charles E.; Dietzschold, Bernhard; Goudsmit, Jaap; Bakker, Alexander B. H.

2005-01-01

Anti-rabies virus immunoglobulin combined with rabies vaccine protects humans from lethal rabies infections. For cost and safety reasons, replacement of the human or equine polyclonal immunoglobulin is advocated, and the use of rabies virus-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) is recommended. We produced two previously described potent rabies virus-neutralizing human MAbs, CR57 and CRJB, in human PER.C6 cells. The two MAbs competed for binding to rabies virus glycoprotein. Using CR57 and a set of 15-mer overlapping peptides covering the glycoprotein ectodomain, a neutralization domain was identified between amino acids (aa) 218 and 240. The minimal binding region was identified as KLCGVL (aa 226 to 231), with key residues K-CGV- identified by alanine replacement scanning. The critical binding region of this novel nonconformational rabies virus epitope is highly conserved within rabies viruses of genotype 1. Subsequently, we generated six rabies virus variants escaping neutralization by CR57 and six variants escaping CRJB. The CR57 escape mutants were only partially covered by CRJB, and all CRJB-resistant variants completely escaped neutralization by CR57. Without exception, the CR57-resistant variants showed a mutation at key residues within the defined minimal binding region, while the CRJB escape viruses showed a single mutation distant from the CR57 epitope (N182D) combined with mutations in the CR57 epitope. The competition between CR57 and CRJB, the in vitro escape profile, and the apparent overlap between the recognized epitopes argues against including both CR57 and CRJB in a MAb cocktail aimed at replacing classical immunoglobulin preparations. PMID:15795253

Structural, magnetic and transport studies of Mn0.8Cr0.2CoGe alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, S. C.; Dutta, P.; Pramanick, S.; Chatterjee, S.

2018-04-01

Different physical and functional properties of Mn0.8Cr0.2CoGe alloy has been investigated through structural, magnetic and electrical transport measurements. Substitution of Cr for Mn results significant decrease in both structural and magnetic transition temperature and brings them well below the room temperature. A reasonable amount of conventional magnetocaloric effect (ΔS˜ - 2.22 J/kg-K for magnetic field (H) changing from 0 to 50 kOe) with large relative cooling power (251.7 J/kg for H changing from 0 to 50 kOe) has also been observed around the region of transition. On thermal cycling through the structural transition, noticeable training effect is found to be associated with the resistivity of the alloy.

Expert system for web based collaborative CAE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Liang; Lin, Zusheng

2006-11-01

An expert system for web based collaborative CAE was developed based on knowledge engineering, relational database and commercial FEA (Finite element analysis) software. The architecture of the system was illustrated. In this system, the experts' experiences, theories and typical examples and other related knowledge, which will be used in the stage of pre-process in FEA, were categorized into analysis process and object knowledge. Then, the integrated knowledge model based on object-oriented method and rule based method was described. The integrated reasoning process based on CBR (case based reasoning) and rule based reasoning was presented. Finally, the analysis process of this expert system in web based CAE application was illustrated, and an analysis example of a machine tool's column was illustrated to prove the validity of the system.

Development of a Vsible-Light-Active Film for Direct Solar Energy Storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salazar, Audrey

We conceived of a two-compartment photocatalytic assembly for direct storage of solar energy as chemical potential. Our approach was to maintain reductant and oxidant in separate compartments and develop a visible light (wavelength >400nm) photo-active film to effect an uphill photoreaction between compartments. A proton exchange membrane was included in the assembly to complete the electrical circuit. Towards obtaining a working prototype of the assembly, we developed a freeze-drying method to adhere visible-light photoactive nanoparticles to a self- standing, non-porous and conductive indium tin oxide-polyvinylidene difluoride (ITO-PVDF) support film, developed in-house. We explored the possibility of employing an iron-rich metal oxide as the photocatalytic component of the film and several were explored utilizing the sodium tartrate-assisted photoreduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Although the Fe2O3-coated TiO2 nanoparticles were active for photoreduction, the initial reaction rate was modest and was slowed by substantial deactivation, making it unsuitable as a photo-active material for the composite film. A complete, two-compartment assembly was prepared using cadmium sulfide (CdS) and preliminarily examined for the Cr(VI) probe reaction, however, no catalytic activity was observed. To identify the reason(s) for this observation, further testing of the apparatus and the composite film is required.

Application of Precipitate Free Zone Growth Kinetics to the β-Phase Depletion Behavior in a CoNiCrAlY Coating Alloy: An Analytical Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, H.

2018-06-01

This paper concerns the β-phase depletion kinetics of a thermally sprayed free-standing CoNiCrAlY (Co-31.7 pct Ni-20.8 pct Cr-8.1 pct Al-0.5 pct Y, all in wt pct) coating alloy. An analytical β-phase depletion model based on the precipitate free zone growth kinetics was developed to calculate the β-phase depletion kinetics during isothermal oxidation. This approach, which accounts for the molar volume of the alloy, the interfacial energy of the γ/ β interface, and the Al concentration at γ/ γ + β boundary, requires the Al concentrations in the β-phase depletion zone as the input rather than the oxidation kinetics at the oxide/coating interface. The calculated β-phase depletion zones derived from the current model were compared with experimental results. It is shown that the calculated β-phase depletion zones using the current model are in reasonable agreement with those obtained experimentally. The constant compositional terms used in the model are likely to cause the discrepancies between the model predictions and experimental results. This analytical approach, which shows a reasonable correlation with experimental results, demonstrates a good reliability in the fast evaluation on lifetime prediction of MCrAlY coatings.

Application of Precipitate Free Zone Growth Kinetics to the β-Phase Depletion Behavior in a CoNiCrAlY Coating Alloy: An Analytical Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, H.

2018-03-01

This paper concerns the β-phase depletion kinetics of a thermally sprayed free-standing CoNiCrAlY (Co-31.7 pct Ni-20.8 pct Cr-8.1 pct Al-0.5 pct Y, all in wt pct) coating alloy. An analytical β-phase depletion model based on the precipitate free zone growth kinetics was developed to calculate the β-phase depletion kinetics during isothermal oxidation. This approach, which accounts for the molar volume of the alloy, the interfacial energy of the γ/β interface, and the Al concentration at γ/γ + β boundary, requires the Al concentrations in the β-phase depletion zone as the input rather than the oxidation kinetics at the oxide/coating interface. The calculated β-phase depletion zones derived from the current model were compared with experimental results. It is shown that the calculated β-phase depletion zones using the current model are in reasonable agreement with those obtained experimentally. The constant compositional terms used in the model are likely to cause the discrepancies between the model predictions and experimental results. This analytical approach, which shows a reasonable correlation with experimental results, demonstrates a good reliability in the fast evaluation on lifetime prediction of MCrAlY coatings.

School-University Partnerships in Action: Concepts, Cases,

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sirotnik, Kenneth A., Ed.; Goodlad, John I., Ed.

A general paradigm for ideal collaboration between schools and universities is proposed. It is based on a mutually collaborative arrangement between equal partners working together to meet self-interests while solving common problems. It is suggested that reasonable approximations to this ideal have great potential to effect significant…

Older Adults' Strategic Behavior: Effects of Individual versus Collaborative Cognitive Training

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saczynski, Jane; Margrett, Jennifer; Willis, Sherry

2004-01-01

Changes in strategic behavior were examined in older married couples participating in a cognitive intervention study. Participants were randomly assigned to: Questionnaire Control, Individual Training, or Collaborative Training. Trained participants completed inductive reasoning training sessions at home individually or as a couple. Participants…

Collaboration between nurses and physicians: no longer a choice.

PubMed

Fagin, C M

1992-05-01

Collaboration, a relationship of interdependence, requires the recognition of complementary roles. Traditionally, physicians generally have not demonstrated collaboration in their work with nurses; nurses, on the other hand, have more often sought a collaborative relationship. But the rapidly changing, increasingly complex and constraining world of health care requires that doctors, nurses, and the institutions that educate and employ them reevaluate the doctor-nurse relationship and assess the value of making it a more collaborative one. This essay deals with the phenomenon of collaboration, why there are compelling reasons to promote it, the barriers that exist between nurses and physicians in achieving collaborative relationships, and strategies to promote change. Comments of experienced observers and summaries of the pertinent research literature are presented.

Recommendations for standardized pathological characterization of residual disease for neoadjuvant clinical trials of breast cancer by the BIG-NABCG collaboration

PubMed Central

Bossuyt, V.; Provenzano, E.; Symmans, W. F.; Boughey, J. C.; Coles, C.; Curigliano, G.; Dixon, J. M.; Esserman, L. J.; Fastner, G.; Kuehn, T.; Peintinger, F.; von Minckwitz, G.; White, J.; Yang, W.; Badve, S.; Denkert, C.; MacGrogan, G.; Penault-Llorca, F.; Viale, G.; Cameron, D.; Earl, Helena; Alba, Emilio; Lluch, Ana; Albanell, Joan; Amos, Keith; Biernat, Wojciech; Bonnefoi, Hervé; Buzdar, Aman; Cane, Paul; Pinder, Sarah; Carson, Lesley; Dickson-Witmer, Diana; Gong, Gyungyub; Green, Jimmy; Hsu, Chih-Yi; Tseng, Ling-Ming; Kroep, Judith; Leitch, A. Marilyn; Sarode, Venetia; Mamounas, Eleftherios; Marcom, Paul Kelly; Nuciforo, Paolo; Paik, Soonmyung; Peg, Vicente; Peston, David; Pierga, Jean-Yves; Quintela-Fandino, Miguel; Salgado, Roberto; Sikov, William; Thomas, Jeremy; Unzeitig, Gary; Wesseling, Jelle

2015-01-01

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) provides the unique opportunity to assess response to treatment after months rather than years of follow-up. However, significant variability exists in methods of pathologic assessment of response to NAST, and thus its interpretation for subsequent clinical decisions. Our international multidisciplinary working group was convened by the Breast International Group-North American Breast Cancer Group (BIG-NABCG) collaboration and tasked to recommend practical methods for standardized evaluation of the post-NAST surgical breast cancer specimen for clinical trials that promote accurate and reliable designation of pathologic complete response (pCR) and meaningful characterization of residual disease. Recommendations include multidisciplinary communication; clinical marking of the tumor site (clips); and radiologic, photographic, or pictorial imaging of the sliced specimen, to map the tissue sections and reconcile macroscopic and microscopic findings. The information required to define pCR (ypT0/is ypN0 or ypT0 yp N0), residual ypT and ypN stage using the current AJCC/UICC system, and the Residual Cancer Burden system were recommended for quantification of residual disease in clinical trials. PMID:26019189

Yttria catalyzed microstructural modifications in oxide dispersion strengthened V-4Cr-4Ti alloys synthesized by field assisted sintering technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishnan, Vinoadh Kumar; Sinnaeruvadi, Kumaran; Verma, Shailendra Kumar; Dash, Biswaranjan; Agrawal, Priyanka; Subramanian, Karthikeyan

2017-08-01

The present work deals with synthesis, characterisation and elevated temperature mechanical property evaluation of V-4Cr-4Ti and oxide (yttria = 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 at%) dispersion strengthened V-4Cr-4Ti alloy processed by mechanical alloying and field-assisted sintering, under optimal conditions. Microstructural parameters of both powder and sintered samples were deduced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and further confirmed with high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Powder diffraction and electron microscopy study show that ball milling of starting elemental powders (V-4Cr-4Ti) with and without yttria addition has resulted in single phase α-V (V-4Cr-4Ti) alloy. Wherein, XRD and electron microscopy images of sintered samples have revealed phase separation (viz., Cr-V and Ti-V) and domain size reduction, with yttria addition. The reasons behind phase separation and domain size reduction with yttria addition during sintering are extensively discussed. Microhardness and high temperature compression tests were done on sintered samples. Yttria addition (0.3 and 0.6 at.%) increases the elevated temperature compressive strength and strain hardening exponent of α-V alloys. High temperature compression test of 0.9 at% yttria dispersed α-V alloy reveals a glassy behaviour.

Facilitating Autonomy and Creativity in Second Language Learning through Cyber-Tasks, Hyperlinks and Net-Surfing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akinwamide, T. K.; Adedara, O. G.

2012-01-01

The digitalization of academic interactions and collaborations in this present technologically conscious world is making collaborations between technology and pedagogy in the teaching and learning processes to display logical and systematic reasoning rather than the usual stereotyped informed decisions. This simply means, pedagogically, learning…

International Collaboration in Mental Health.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Bertram S., Ed.; Torrey, E. Fuller, Ed.

Presented in five parts on research, services, training, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse are 31 reports of mental health studies and programs supported by the U.S. and other countries. Explained in the introduction are reasons the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has supported international collaboration. The following are among subjects…

Successfully Carrying out Complex Learning-Tasks through Guiding Teams' Qualitative and Quantitative Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Slof, B.; Erkens, G.; Kirschner, P. A.; Janssen, J.; Jaspers, J. G. M.

2012-01-01

This study investigated whether and how scripting learners' use of representational tools in a computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL)-environment fostered their collaborative performance on a complex business-economics task. Scripting the problem-solving process sequenced and made its phase-related part-task demands explicit, namely…

Pedagogical Reasoning and Action: Affordances of Practice-Based Teacher Professional Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pella, Shannon

2015-01-01

A common theme has been consistently woven through the literature on teacher professional development: that practice-based designs and collaboration are two components of effective teacher learning models. In addition to collaboration and practice-based designs, inquiry cycles have been long recognized as catalysts for teacher professional…

Approaches to Collaboration: A Handbook of Strategies for Serving Special Needs Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Massachusetts Advisory Council on Education, Boston.

The handbook provides guidelines for implementing the Massachusetts right to education law (Chapter 766) through the development of regional collaboratives to deliver educational services to low incidence handicapped and severely handicapped children. Chapter 1 includes instructions on the use of the handbook, reasons for considering…

Fracture Toughness and Strength in a New Class of Bainitic Chromium-Tungsten Steels

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

Mao, S. X.; Sikka, V. K.

This project dealt with developing an understanding of the toughening and stengthening mechanisms for a new class of Fe-3Cr-W(V) steels developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in collaboration with Nooter Corporation and other industrial partners. The new steele had 50% higher tensile strength up to 650 degrees Celsius than currently used steels and the potential for not requiring any postweld heat treatment (PWHT) and for reducing equipment weight by 25%. This project was closely related to the Nooter project described in the report Development of a New Class of Fe-3Cr-W(V) Ferritic steels for Industrial Process Applications (ORNL/TM-2005/82). The projectmore » was carried out jointly by the University of Pittsburgh and ORNL. The University of Pittsburgh carried out fracture toughness measurements and microstructural analysis on base metal and welded plates prepared at ORNL. The project focused on three areas. The first dealt with detailed microstructural analysis of base compositions of 3Cr-3WV and 3Cr-3WBV(Ta) in both normalized (N) and normalized and tempered (NT) conditions. The second aspect of the prject dealt with determining tensile properties and fracture toughness values of K{subIC} at room temperature for both 3Cr-3Wv and 3Cr-3WV(Ta) compositions. The third focus of the project was to measure the fracture toughness values of the base metal and the heat-affectged zone (HAZ) of a plate of Fe-3Cr-W(Mo)V steel plate welded by the gas tungsten are (GTA) process. The HAZ toughness was measured in both the as-welded and the PWHT condition.« less

NOAA Unique CrIS/ATMS Processing System (NUCAPS) Environmental Data Record and Validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Q.; Nalli, N. R.; Gambacorta, A.; Iturbide, F.; Tan, C.; Zhang, K.; Wilson, M.; Reale, A.; Sun, B.; Mollner, A.

2015-12-01

This presentation introduces the NOAA sounding products to AGU community. The NOAA Unique CrIS/ATMS Processing System (NUCAPS) operationally generates vertical profiles of atmospheric temperature (AVTP), moisture (AVMP), carbonate products (CO, CO2, and CH4) and other trace gases as well as outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR). These products have been publicly released through NOAA CLASS from April 8, 2014 to present. This paper presents the validation of these products. For AVTP and AVMP are validated by comparing against ECMWF analysis data and dedicated radiosondes. The dedicated radiosondes achieve higher quality and reach higher altitudes than conventional radiosondes. In addition, the launch times of dedicated radiosondes specifically fit Suomi NPP overpass times within 1 hour generally. We also use ground based lidar data provided by collaborators (The Aerospace Corporation) to validate the retrieved temperature profiles above 100 hPa up to 1 hPa. Both NOAA VALAR and NPROVS validation systems are applied. The Suomi NPP FM5-Ed1A OLR from CERES prior to the end of May 2012 is available now for us to validate real-time CrIS OLR environmental data records (EDRs) for NOAA/CPC operational precipitation verification. However, the quality of CrIS sensor data records (SDRs) for this time frame on CLASS is suboptimal and many granules (more than three-quarters) are invalid. Using the current offline ADL reprocessed CrIS SDR data from NOAA/STAR AIT, which includes all CrIS SDR improvements to date, we have subsequently obtained a well-distributed OLR EDR. This paper will also discuss the validation of the CrIS infrared ozone profile.

Integrated Case Learning: Teaching Clinical Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Radomski, Natalie; Russell, John

2010-01-01

Learning how to "think like doctors" can be difficult for undergraduate medical students in their early clinical years. Our model of collaborative Integrated Case Learning (ICL) and simulated clinical reasoning aims to address these issues. Taking a socio-cultural perspective, this study investigates the reflective learning interactions…

The Value of Debts and Credits

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akyuz, Didem

2012-01-01

Research has shown that students should be given the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts by building on their knowledge and focusing on mathematical reasoning. When students represent ideas, make conjectures, collaborate with others, and give explanations and arguments, they are using mathematical reasoning (NCTM 2000). Certain teaching…

Using Data-Collection Sensors to Improve Reasoning About Experiment Design and Hypothesis Testing: An Undergraduate Course for Underrepresented Minorities Pursuing Careers Astrophysics Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robbins, Dennis M.; Ford, K. E. Saavik

2015-01-01

Strategies to improve the retention of underrepresented students in STEM fields include directly targeted programs and specialized courses. The NSF-supported 'AstroCom NYC' program, a collaboration of the City University of New York, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), and Columbia University is one example of such a program with the explicit goal of increasing the participation of underrepresented minorities in astronomy and astrophysics through pedagogical mentoring and research experiences for undergraduate students. In addition, 'AstroCom NYC' provides students with a semester-long specialized course emphasizing scientific reasoning and mathematical modeling. The course curriculum uses computers and interfaced digital probeware (sensors) in a laboratory environment that encourages collaborative and active learning.We share course materials on preparing students to reason about control of variable experiment design and hypothesis testing and provide course data on student understanding of scientific reasoning, mathematical modeling and views about science.

Thermophysical Properties of Cold and Vacuum Plasma Sprayed Cu-Cr-X Alloys, NiAl and NiCrAlY Coatings. Part 1; Electrical and Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity, and Total Hemispherical Emissivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raj, S. V.

2017-01-01

This two-part paper reports the thermophysical properties of several cold and vacuum plasma sprayed monolithic Cu and Ni-based alloy coatings. Part I presents the electrical and thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and total hemispherical emissivity data while Part II reports the specific heat capacity data for these coatings. Metallic copper alloys, stoichiometric NiAl and NiCrAlY coatings were fabricated by either the cold sprayed or the vacuum plasma spray deposition processes for thermal property measurements between 77 and 1223 K. The temperature dependencies of the thermal conductivities, thermal diffusivities, electrical conductivities and total hemispherical emissivities of these cold and vacuum sprayed monolithic coatings are reported in this paper. The electrical and thermal conductivity data correlate reasonably well for Cu-8%Cr-1%Al, Cu-23%Cr-5%Al and NiAl in accordance with the Wiedemann-Franz (WF) law although a better fit is obtained using the Smith-Palmer relationship. The Lorentz numbers determined from the WF law are close to the theoretical value.

Matrix Transformation in Boron Containing High-Temperature Co-Re-Cr Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strunz, Pavel; Mukherji, Debashis; Beran, Přemysl; Gilles, Ralph; Karge, Lukas; Hofmann, Michael; Hoelzel, Markus; Rösler, Joachim; Farkas, Gergely

2018-03-01

An addition of boron largely increases the ductility in polycrystalline high-temperature Co-Re alloys. Therefore, the effect of boron on the alloy structural characteristics is of high importance for the stability of the matrix at operational temperatures. Volume fractions of ɛ (hexagonal close-packed—hcp), γ (face-centered cubic—fcc) and σ (Cr2Re3 type) phases were measured at ambient and high temperatures (up to 1500 °C) for a boron-containing Co-17Re-23Cr alloy using neutron diffraction. The matrix phase undergoes an allotropic transformation from ɛ to γ structure at high temperatures, similar to pure cobalt and to the previously investigated, more complex Co-17Re-23Cr-1.2Ta-2.6C alloy. It was determined in this study that the transformation temperature depends on the boron content (0-1000 wt. ppm). Nevertheless, the transformation temperature did not change monotonically with the increase in the boron content but reached a minimum at approximately 200 ppm of boron. A probable reason is the interplay between the amount of boron in the matrix and the amount of σ phase, which binds hcp-stabilizing elements (Cr and Re). Moreover, borides were identified in alloys with high boron content.

Thermophysical Properties of Cold- and Vacuum Plasma-Sprayed Cu-Cr-X Alloys, NiAl and NiCrAlY Coatings I: Electrical and Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity, and Total Hemispherical Emissivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raj, S. V.

2017-11-01

This two-part paper reports the thermophysical properties of several cold- and vacuum plasma-sprayed monolithic Cu- and Ni-based alloy coatings. Part I presents the electrical and thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and total hemispherical emissivity data, while Part II reports the specific heat capacity data for these coatings. Metallic copper alloys and stoichiometric NiAl and NiCrAlY coatings were fabricated by either the cold spray or the vacuum plasma spray deposition processes for thermal property measurements between 77 and 1223 K. The temperature dependencies of the thermal conductivities, thermal diffusivities, electrical conductivities, and total hemispherical emissivities of these cold- and vacuum-sprayed monolithic coatings are reported in this paper. The electrical and thermal conductivity data correlate reasonably well for Cu-8%Cr-1%Al, Cu-23%Cr-5%Al, and NiAl in accordance with the Wiedemann-Franz (WF) law although a better fit is obtained using the Smith-Palmer relationship. The Lorentz numbers determined from the WF law are close to the theoretical value.

The finite element simulation analysis research of 38CrSi cylindrical power spinning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Wei; Lv, Qiongying; Zhao, Yujuan; Lv, Yunxia

2018-01-01

In order to grope for the influence of the main cylindrical spinning process parameters on the spinning process, this paper combines with real tube power spinning process and uses ABAQUS finite element analysis software to simulate the tube power spinning process of 38CrSi steel materials, through the analysis of the stress, strain of the part forming process, analyzes the influence of the thickness reduction and the feed rate to the forming process, and analyzes the variation of the spinning force, finally determines the reasonable main spinning process parameters combination.

Effect of dopant distribution on aging of catalytic Cr-doped transition aluminas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borisevich, Albina; Rashkeev, Sergey; Wang, Sanwu; Glazoff, Michael; Sohlberg, Karl; Pennycook, Stephen; Pantelides, Sokrates

2004-03-01

Metastable (transition) aluminas, in particular γ -Al_2O3 and η -Al_2O_3, are widely used as catalysts as well as supports for different transition metals. When doped with Cr, the two modifications exhibit remarkably different aging behavior: γ -Al_2O_3-supported catalysts degrade two orders of magnitude faster than those based on η -Al_2O_3. Here we use a combination of Z-contrast aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies with first-principles calculations to determine the origin of this disparity. EXAFS data reveal that the coordination environments of Cr in the two forms are significantly different. STEM and EELS observations demonstrate that on γ -Al_2O3 Cr tends to segregate and form Cr_2O_3, while on η -Al_2O3 Cr is uniformly distributed. The reason for the dissimilarity, as shown by first-principles calculations, lies in the different reconstruction of the preferentially exposed 110 surface. In γ -Al_2O_3, it serves to destabilize the catalytically active Cr sites, at the same time inducing the formation of Cr_2O_3, while in η -Al_2O3 Cr atoms stay dispersed on the surface and catalytically active. This work provides interesting insights in the aging behavior of transition-metal based catalysts. Authors thank Dr. Saeed Alerasool (Engelhard Corp., Beechwood, OH) for providing samples and DOE (Grants DE-AC05-00OR22725 and DE-FC02-01CH11085) and NSF (Grant DMR-0111841) for financial support.

Chromium removal from electroplating wastewater by coir pith.

PubMed

Suksabye, Parinda; Thiravetyan, Paitip; Nakbanpote, Woranan; Chayabutra, Supanee

2007-03-22

Coir pith is a by-product from padding used in mattress factories. It contains a high amount of lignin. Therefore, this study investigated the use of coir pith in the removal of hexavalent chromium from electroplating wastewater by varying the parameters, such as the system pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The maximum removal (99.99%) was obtained at 2% (w/v) dosage, particle size <75microm, at initial Cr(VI) 1647mgl(-1), system pH 2, and an equilibrium time of 18h. The adsorption isotherm of coir pith fitted reasonably well with the Langmuir model. The maximum Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of coir pith at 15, 30, 45 and 60 degrees C was 138.04, 197.23, 262.89 and 317.65mgCr(VI)g(-1) coir pith, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters indicated an endothermic process and the adsorption process was favored at high temperature. Desorption studies of Cr(VI) on coir pith and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) suggested that most of the chromium bound on the coir pith was in Cr(III) form due to the fact that the toxic Cr(VI) adsorbed on the coir pith by electrostatic attraction was easily reduced to less toxic Cr(III). Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry analysis indicated that the carbonyl (CO) groups and methoxy (O-CH(3)) groups from the lignin structure in coir pith may be involved in the mechanism of chromium adsorption. The reduced Cr(III) on the coir pith surface may be bound with CO groups and O-CH(3) groups through coordinate covalent bonding in which a lone pair of electrons in the oxygen atoms of the methoxy and carbonyl groups can be donated to form a shared bond with Cr(III).

High-resolution Surface Analysis by Microarea Auger Spectroscopy: Computerization and Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Browning, R.

1986-01-01

A custom scanning Auger electron microscope (SAM) capable of introducing a 3-5 keV electron beam of several nA into a 30 nm diameter sample area was fitted with a sample introduction system and was fully computerized to be used for materials science research. The method of multispectral Auger imaging was devised and implemented. The instrument was applied to various problems in materials science, including the study of the fiber/matrix interface in a SiC reinforced titanium alloy, the study of SiC whiskers in Al alloy 2124 (in cooperation with NASA-Langley), the study of NiCrAl superalloys (in collaboration with NASA-Lewis), the study of zircalloy specimens (in collaboration with Stanford University), and the microstructure of sintered SiC specimens (in collaboration with NASA-Lewis). The report contains a number of manuscripts submitted for publication on these subjects.

Effectiveness and safety of nitrofurantoin in outpatient male veterans.

PubMed

Ingalsbe, Michelle L; Wojciechowski, Amy L; Smith, Kelly A; Mergenhagen, Kari A

2015-08-01

The aim of the study was to assess both the safety and the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin in male veterans treated for urinary tract infections (UTIs) with varying degrees of renal impairment in the outpatient setting. Nitrofurantoin is an important oral option for treating UTIs given increasing resistance to commonly used agents. Nitrofurantoin is currently contraindicated in patients with a creatinine clearance (CrCl) of < 60 ml/min, but the reason for this threshold has not been well documented. Data were collected through a retrospective chart review from January 2004 to July 2013 of men who had received nitrofurantoin. Bivariate analyses followed by multivariate analyses were performed between patients experiencing clinical cure and those who did not, to determine factors significantly impacting effectiveness. The Gram stain of the organism causing the UTI and CrCl were significant factors impacting effectiveness. For every 1 ml/min increase in CrCl, the odds of clinical cure increased by 1.3%. Patients with Gram-negative UTIs predictably had 80% cure rates with CrCl around 60 ml/min. Patients with Gram-positive UTIs required higher CrCl, nearing 100 ml/min, to establish an 80% cure rate. Adverse effects did not vary with CrCl. The odds of clinical cure varied with CrCl and with the type of organism causing the UTI, while adverse events did not differ based on renal function. A minimum CrCl of 60 ml/min is suggested for men to achieve an 80% cure rate for UTIs with the most common urinary pathogens.

Enhancing Neuroplasticity to Augment Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Jahshan, Carol; Rassovsky, Yuri; Green, Michael F

2017-01-01

There is a burgeoning need for innovative treatment strategies to improve the cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Cognitive remediation (CR) is effective at the group level, but the variability in treatment response is large. Given that CR may depend on intact neuroplasticity to produce cognitive gains, it is reasonable to combine it with strategies that harness patients' neuroplastic potential. In this review, we discuss two non-pharmacological approaches that can enhance neuroplasticity and possibly augment the effects of CR in schizophrenia: physical exercise and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Substantial body of evidence supports the beneficial effect of physical exercise on cognition, and a handful of studies in schizophrenia have shown that physical exercise in conjunction with CR has a larger impact on cognition than CR alone. Physical exercise is thought to stimulate neuroplasticity through the regulation of central growth factors, and current evidence points to brain-derived neurotrophic factor as the potential underlying mechanism through which physical exercise might enhance the effectiveness of CR. tDCS has emerged as a potential tool for cognitive enhancement and seems to affect the cellular mechanisms involved in long-term potentiation (LTP). A few reports have demonstrated the feasibility of integrating tDCS with CR in schizophrenia, but there are insufficient data to determine if this multimodal approach leads to incremental performance gain in patients. Larger randomized controlled trials are necessary to understand the mechanisms of the combined tDCS-CR intervention. Future research should take advantage of new developments in neuroplasticity paradigms to examine the effects of these interventions on LTP.

Facile preparation of magnetic mesoporous MnFe2O4@SiO2-CTAB composites for Cr(VI) adsorption and reduction.

PubMed

Li, Na; Fu, Fenglian; Lu, Jianwei; Ding, Zecong; Tang, Bing; Pang, Jiabin

2017-01-01

Chromium-contaminated water is regarded as one of the biggest threats to human health. In this study, a novel magnetic mesoporous MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB composite was prepared by a facile one-step modification method and applied to remove Cr(VI). X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, specific surface area, and vibrating sample magnetometer were used to characterize MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB composites. The morphology analysis showed that the composites displayed a core-shell structure. The outer shell was mesoporous silica with CTAB and the core was MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles, which ensured the easy separation by an external magnetic field. The performance of MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB composites in Cr(VI) removal was far better than that of bare MnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. There were two reasons for the effective removal of Cr(VI) by MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB composites: (1) mesoporous silica shell with abundant CTA + significantly enhanced the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of the composites; (2) a portion of Cr(VI) was reduced to less toxic Cr(III) by MnFe 2 O 4 , followed by Cr(III) immobilized on MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB composites, which had been demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB followed the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order model. Tests on the regeneration and reuse of the composites were performed. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) still retained 92.4% in the sixth cycle. MnFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 -CTAB composites exhibited a great potential for the removal of Cr(VI) from water. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NASA and ESA Collaboration on Hexavalent Chrome Alternatives: Pretreatments Only Final Test Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kessel, Kurt R.

2015-01-01

Hexavalent chromium (hex chrome or CR(VI)) is a widely used element within applied coating systems because of its self-healing and corrosion-resistant properties. The replacement of hex chrome in the processing of aluminum for aviation and aerospace applications remains a goal of great significance. Aluminum is the major manufacturing material of structures and components in the space flight arena. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) are engaged in a collaborative effort to test and evaluate alternatives to hexavalent chromium containing corrosion coating systems. NASA and ESA share common risks related to material obsolescence associated with hexavalent chromium used in corrosion-resistant coatings.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration in the Choice of an Adapted Mobility Device for a Child with Cerebral Palsy and Visual Impairment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glanzman, Allan; Ducret, Walter

2003-01-01

To select an adapted mobility device for a 5-year-old boy with blindness and spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, a multidisciplinary team used 8-millimeter videography to evaluate the subject's joint angle during ambulation with one of three canes and with no cane. The I-style cane provided optimal posture and gait pattern. (Contains references.) (CR)

Estimation of residual glomerular filtration rate in peritoneal dialysis patients using cystatin C: comparison with 51Cr-EDTA clearance.

PubMed

Carter, Joanne L; Lane, Catherine E; Fan, Stanley L; Lamb, Edmund J

2011-11-01

Measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is an important assessment in peritoneal dialysis patients. In clinical practice, it is commonly measured by calculating the mean of the urinary clearance of urea and creatinine (GFR(UrCl)) but this process is time consuming and unreliable. We wished to compare several estimates of GFR including residual GFR estimated from cystatin C (GFR(CysC)) using a published equation (Hoek), GFR(UrCl) and (51)Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) clearance, in peritoneal dialysis patients. GFR(CysC), GFR(UrCl) and (51)Cr-EDTA clearance were measured in 28 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis in a single dialysis unit. GFR(CysC) was related to GFR(UrCl) (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r(s) = 0.44; P = 0.0185) and to (51)Cr-EDTA clearance (r(s) = 0.48; P = 0.0099). GFR(CysC) values were significantly (P = 0.0077) lower than (51)Cr-EDTA clearance results (mean bias -19.7%). However, GFR(CysC) did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) from GFR(UrCl). GFR(CysC) is related to GFR(UrCl) but has a significant negative bias against (51)Cr-EDTA. Given the known limitations of (51)Cr-EDTA in estimating GFR in renal failure, this study provides additional validation suggesting that cystatin C-estimated rGFR (GFR(CysC)) gives a reasonable estimation of GFR without the clinical problems associated with 24 h urine collections.

Assessment of parental decision-making in neonatal cardiac research: a pilot study.

PubMed

Nathan, Aruna T; Hoehn, K Sarah; Ittenbach, Richard F; Gaynor, J William; Nicolson, Susan; Wernovsky, Gil; Nelson, Robert M

2010-02-01

To assess parental permission for a neonate's research participation using the MacArthur competence assessment tool for clinical research (MacCAT-CR), specifically testing the components of understanding, appreciation, reasoning and choice. Quantitative interviews using study-specific MacCAT-CR tools. Parents of critically ill newborns would produce comparable MacCAT-CR scores to healthy adult controls despite the emotional stress of an infant with critical heart disease or the urgency of surgery. Parents of infants diagnosed prenatally would have higher MacCAT-CR scores than parents of infants diagnosed postnatally. There would be no difference in MacCAT-CR scores between parents with respect to gender or whether they did or did not permit research participation. Parents of neonates undergoing cardiac surgery who had made decisions about research participation before their neonate's surgery. The MacCAT-CR. 35 parents (18 mothers; 17 fathers) of 24 neonates completed 55 interviews for one or more of three studies. Total scores: magnetic resonance imaging (mean 36.6, SD 7.71), genetics (mean 38.8, SD 3.44), heart rate variability (mean 37.7, SD 3.30). Parents generally scored higher than published subject populations and were comparable to published control populations with some exceptions. The MacCAT-CR can be used to assess parental permission for neonatal research participation. Despite the stress of a critically ill neonate requiring surgery, parents were able to understand study-specific information and make informed decisions to permit their neonate's participation.

Assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury - true GFR versus urinary creatinine clearance and estimating equations

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Introduction Estimation of kidney function in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), is important for appropriate dosing of drugs and adjustment of therapeutic strategies, but challenging due to fluctuations in kidney function, creatinine metabolism and fluid balance. Data on the agreement between estimating and gold standard methods to assess glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in early AKI are lacking. We evaluated the agreement of urinary creatinine clearance (CrCl) and three commonly used estimating equations, the Cockcroft Gault (CG), the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations, in comparison to GFR measured by the infusion clearance of chromium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA), in critically ill patients with early AKI after complicated cardiac surgery. Methods Thirty patients with early AKI were studied in the intensive care unit, 2 to 12 days after complicated cardiac surgery. The infusion clearance for 51Cr-EDTA obtained as a measure of GFR (GFR51Cr-EDTA) was calculated from the formula: GFR (mL/min/1.73m2) = (51Cr-EDTA infusion rate × 1.73)/(arterial 51Cr-EDTA × body surface area) and compared with the urinary CrCl and the estimated GFR (eGFR) from the three estimating equations. Urine was collected in two 30-minute periods to measure urine flow and urine creatinine. Urinary CrCl was calculated from the formula: CrCl (mL/min/1.73m2) = (urine volume × urine creatinine × 1.73)/(serum creatinine × 30 min × body surface area). Results The within-group error was lower for GFR51Cr-EDTA than the urinary CrCl method, 7.2% versus 55.0%. The between-method bias was 2.6, 11.6, 11.1 and 7.39 ml/min for eGFRCrCl, eGFRMDRD, eGFRCKD-EPI and eGFRCG, respectively, when compared to GFR51Cr-EDTA. The error was 103%, 68.7%, 67.7% and 68.0% for eGFRCrCl, eGFRMDRD, eGFRCKD-EPI and eGFRCG, respectively, when compared to GFR51Cr-EDTA. Conclusions The study demonstrated poor precision of the commonly utilized urinary CrCl method for assessment of GFR in critically ill patients with early AKI, suggesting that this should not be used as a reference method when validating new methods for assessing kidney function in this patient population. The commonly used estimating equations perform poorly when estimating GFR, with high biases and unacceptably high errors. PMID:23767877

The 4C framework for making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities.

PubMed

Marsden, Daniel; Giles, Rachel

2017-01-18

Background People with learning disabilities experience significant inequalities in accessing healthcare. Legal frameworks, such as the Equality Act 2010, are intended to reduce such disparities in care, and require organisations to make 'reasonable adjustments' for people with disabilities, including learning disabilities. However, reasonable adjustments are often not clearly defined or adequately implemented in clinical practice. Aim To examine and synthesise the challenges in caring for people with learning disabilities to develop a framework for making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities in hospital. This framework would assist ward staff in identifying and managing the challenges of delivering person-centred, safe and effective healthcare to people with learning disabilities in this setting. Method Fourth-generation evaluation, collaborative thematic analysis, reflection and a secondary analysis were used to develop a framework for making reasonable adjustments in the hospital setting. The authors attended ward manager and matron group meetings to collect their claims, concerns and issues, then conducted a collaborative thematic analysis with the group members to identify the main themes. Findings Four main themes were identified from the ward manager and matron group meetings: communication, choice-making, collaboration and coordination. These were used to develop the 4C framework for making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities in hospital. Discussion The 4C framework has provided a basis for delivering person-centred care for people with learning disabilities. It has been used to inform training needs analyses, develop audit tools to review delivery of care that is adjusted appropriately to the individual patient; and to develop competencies for learning disability champions. The most significant benefit of the 4C framework has been in helping to evaluate and resolve practice-based scenarios. Conclusion Use of the 4C framework may enhance the care of people with learning disabilities in hospital, by enabling reasonable adjustments to be made in these settings.

Leveraging Successful Collaborative Processes to Improve Performance Outcomes in Large-Scale Event Planning: Super Bowl, A Planned Homeland Security Event

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

are turning out to be counterproductive because they are culturally anathema (Wollman, 2009). A consideration of psychological tenets by Sigmund ... Freud suggests a principle aspect of dysfunction in collaboration. He reasoned that An Ego governed by social convention and a Superego governed by

Combining Interaction and Context Design to Support Collaborative Argumentation Using a Tool for Synchronous CMC

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mcalister, Simon; Ravenscroft, Andrew; Scanlon, Eileen

2004-01-01

Empirical studies and theory suggest that educational dialogue can be used to support learners in the development of reasoning, critical thinking and argumentation. This paper presents an educational design for synchronous online peer discussion that guides student dialogue in ways that lead to improved argumentation and collaborative knowledge…

Competitive Research Grants and Industry Collaboration: A Challenge for Universities in the 1990s.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Peter

1993-01-01

The reasons for increased collaboration between Australian universities and industry are examined, focusing on competitive research grant programs developed by the government in the last decade. University and industry response to these opportunities and to issues such as intellectual property rights and publication rights are discussed. (MSE)

Collaborative Learning: Group Interaction in an Intelligent Mobile-Assisted Multiple Language Learning System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Troussas, Christos; Virvou, Maria; Alepis, Efthimios

2014-01-01

This paper proposes a student-oriented approach tailored to effective collaboration between students using mobile phones for language learning within the life cycle of an intelligent tutoring system. For this reason, in this research, a prototype mobile application has been developed for multiple language learning that incorporates intelligence in…

Material Mediation: Tools and Representations Supporting Collaborative Problem-Solving Discourse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katic, Elvira K.; Hmelo-Silver, Cindy E.; Weber, Keith H.

2009-01-01

This study investigates how a variety of resources mediated collaborative problem solving for a group of preservice teachers. The participants in this study completed mathematical, combinatorial tasks and then watched a video of a sixth grader as he exhibited sophisticated reasoning to recognize the isomorphic structure of these problems. The…

Mathematical Language Development and Talk Types in Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Symons, Duncan; Pierce, Robyn

2015-01-01

In this study we examine the use of cumulative and exploratory talk types in a year 5 computer supported collaborative learning environment. The focus for students in this environment was to participate in mathematical problem solving, with the intention of developing the proficiencies of problem solving and reasoning. Findings suggest that…

Collaborative Writing in a Statistics and Research Methods Course.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, Dana S.

1996-01-01

Describes a collaborative writing project in which students must identify key variables, search and read relevant literature, and reason through a research idea by working closely with a partner. The end result is a polished laboratory report in the APA style. The class includes a peer review workshop prior to final editing. (MJP)

A memory and organizational aid improves Alzheimer disease research consent capacity: results of a randomized, controlled trial.

PubMed

Rubright, Jonathan; Sankar, Pamela; Casarett, David J; Gur, Ruben; Xie, Sharon X; Karlawish, Jason

2010-12-01

Early and progressive cognitive impairments of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) hinder their capacity to provide informed consent. Unfortunately, the limited research on techniques to improve capacity has shown mixed results. Therefore, the authors tested whether a memory and organizational aid improves the performance of patients with AD on measures of capacity and competency to give informed consent. Patients with AD randomly assigned to standard consent or standard plus a memory and organizational aid. Memory and organizational aid summarized the content of information mandated under the informed consent disclosure requirements of the Common Rule at a sixth grade reading level. Three psychiatrists without access to patient data independently reviewed MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR) interview transcripts to judge whether the patient was capable of providing informed consent. The agreement of at least two of the three experts defined a participant as capable of providing informed consent. Secondary outcomes are MacCAT-CR measures of understanding, appreciation and reasoning, and comparison with cognitively normal older adult norms. AD intervention and control groups were similar in terms of age, education, and cognitive status. The intervention group was more likely to be judged competent than control group and had higher scores on MacCAT-CR measure of understanding. The intervention had no effect on the measures of appreciation or reasoning. A consent process that addresses the deficits in memory and attention of a patient with AD can improve capacity to give informed consent for early phase AD research. The results also validate the MacCAT-CR as an instrument to measure capacity, especially the understanding subscale. ClinicalTrials.Gov#NCT00105612, http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00105612.

A memory and organizational aid improves AD research consent capacity: Results of a randomized, controlled trial

PubMed Central

Rubright, Jonathan; Sankar, Pamela; Casarett, David J; Gur, Ruben; Xie, Sharon X; Karlawish, Jason

2010-01-01

Objectives AD patients' early and progressive cognitive impairments hinder their capacity to provide informed consent. Unfortunately, the limited research on techniques to improve capacity has shown mixed results. Therefore, we tested whether a memory and organizational aid improves AD patient performance on measures of capacity and competency to give informed consent. Design, Setting, and Participants AD patients randomly assigned to standard consent, or standard plus a memory and organizational aid. Intervention Memory and organizational aid summarized at a 6th grade reading level the content of information mandated under the Common Rule's informed consent disclosure requirements. Measurements Three psychiatrists without access to patient data independently reviewed MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR) interview transcripts to judge whether the patient was capable of providing informed consent. The agreement of at least two of three experts defined a participant as capable of providing informed consent. Secondary outcomes are MacCAT-CR measures of understanding, appreciation and reasoning, and comparison to cognitively normal older adult norms. Results AD intervention and control groups were similar in terms of age, education, and cognitive status. The intervention group was more likely to be judged competent than control group and had higher scores on MacCAT-CR measure of understanding. The intervention had no effect on measures of appreciation or reasoning. Conclusions A consent process that addresses an AD patients' deficits in memory and attention can improve capacity to give informed consent for early phase AD research. The results also validate the MacCAT-CR as an instrument to measure capacity, especially the understanding subscale. PMID:20808101

The Tribological Difference between Biomedical Steels and CoCrMo-Alloys

PubMed Central

Fischer, Alfons; Weiß, Sabine; Wimmer, Markus A.

2012-01-01

In orthopedic surgery different self-mating metal couples are used for sliding wear applications. Despite the fact that in mechanical engineering self-mating austenitic alloys often lead to adhesion and seizure in biomedical engineering the different grades of Co-base alloys show good clinical results e.g. as hip joints. The reason stems from the fact that they generate a so-called tribomaterial during articulation, which consists of a mixture of nanometer small metallic grains and organic substances from the interfacial medium, which act as boundary lubricant. Even though stainless steels also generate such a tribomaterial they were ruled out from the beginning already in the 1950 as “inappropriate”. On the basis of materials with a clinical track record this contribution shows that the cyclic creep characteristics within the shear zone underneath the tribomaterial are another important criterion for a sufficient wear behavior. By means of sliding wear and torsional fatigue tests followed by electron microscopy it is shown, that austenitic materials generate wear particles of either nano- or of microsize. The latter are produced by crack initiation and propagation within the shear fatigue zone which is related to the formation of subsurface dislocation cells and, therefore, by the fact that a Ni-containing CrNiMo solid solution allows for wavy-slip. In contrast to this a Ni-free CrMnMo solid solution with further additions of C and N only shows planar slip. This leads to the formation of nanosize wear particles and distinctly improves the wear behavior. Still the latter does not fully achieve that of CoCrMo, which also shows solely planar-slip behavior. This explains why for metallurgical reasons the Ni-containing 316L-type of steels had to fail in such boundary lubricated sliding wear tribosystems. PMID:22498283

Small Groups' Ecological Reasoning While Making an Environmental Management Decision.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hogan, Kathleen

2002-01-01

Explores the ideas and reasoning students use to make a collaborative environmental management decision. Compares students' discussions with scientists' guidelines for making environmental management decisions. Finds that whereas across groups students touched on all of the themes that scientists consider to be important for making environmental…

Virtual Patient Simulations for Medical Education: Increasing Clinical Reasoning Skills through Deliberate Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCoy, Lise

2014-01-01

Virtual Patient Simulations (VPS) are web-based exercises involving simulated patients in virtual environments. This study investigates the utility of VPS for increasing medical student clinical reasoning skills, collaboration, and engagement. Many studies indicate that VPS provide medical students with essential practice in clinical decision…

Children's Use of Analogy during Collaborative Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Tzu-Jung; Anderson, Richard C.; Hummel, John E.; Jadallah, May; Miller, Brian W.; Nguyen-Jahiel, Kim; Morris, Joshua A.; Kuo, Li-Jen; Kim, Il-Hee; Wu, Xiaoying; Dong, Ting

2012-01-01

This microgenetic study examined social influences on children's development of analogical reasoning during peer-led small-group discussions of stories about controversial issues. A total of 277 analogies were identified among 7,215 child turns for speaking during 54 discussions from 18 discussion groups in 6 fourth-grade classrooms (N = 120; age…

Promoting Teachers' Moral Reasoning and Collaborative Inquiry Performance: A Developmental Role-Taking and Guided Inquiry Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reiman, Alan J.; Peace, Sandra DeAngelis

2002-01-01

Discusses a study involving experienced teachers that illustrates a developmental methodology for promoting technical performance dimensions and moral and conceptual reasoning. Argues this learning-teaching framework (LTF) uses role taking, guided inquiry, balance, support and challenge, continuity and instructional coaching in educational…

Wavelengths, f-Values, and Cross Sections in the UV Spectra of Astrophysical, Atoms, Ions, and Molecules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raymond, John C.

2005-01-01

Data analysis for Fe III was completed in 2004. The new spectra give wavelengths and some energy levels for Fe III that are at least an order of magnitude more accurate than values in the literature. However, the data set is missing - because they are outside the wavelength range that we can study at Imperial College or with ancillary FT spectroscopy measurements at NIST - important transitions that would allow all energy levels to be determined with improved accuracy. We are assessing collaborations at other labs. We have made test runs with a number of cathodes (pure metals and alloys) in the Penning discharge source and selected four iron group (3d) elements, Cr, Mn, Co, and Ni, for further measurements. Cathodes of pure Cr and Co and an alloy of Ni were found to be best. Mn has not nm stably yet, and other cathode geometries or alloys may need to be assessed. Optimum Penning discharge (PD) lamp conditions (buffer gas, gas pressure, and current/voltage) were established for Co, and investigations are underway for Cr and Ni. Definitive measurements for Co await purchase of new mirrors and photomultiplier tubes that will improve signal to noise ratio. Our plan for the next year is to continue evaluating cathodes and operating conditions through March 05, and then to begin definitive measurements. The UV wavelength measurements made at Imperial College with the unique UV FT spectrometer will be complemented by visible and near IR range measurements at NIST in June and/or July. Approximately one year from now, we intend to visit Lund University to collaborate on lifetime measurements that will allow our branching ration data to be used to determine f-values.

Cardiac Rehabilitation: Unraveling the Complexity of Referral and Current Models of Delivery.

PubMed

Astley, Carolyn M; Neubeck, Lis; Gallagher, Robyn; Berry, Narelle; Du, Huiyun; Hill, Martha N; Clark, Robyn A

Evidence-based guidelines recommend strategies for reducing risk factors for secondary prevention of acute coronary syndromes, yet referral to and completion of programs to deliver this advice are poor. In this article we describe the complexity of factors that influence referral and delivery of evidence-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs through an Australian context and provide direction for solutions for clinicians and policy makers to consider. The Ecological Approach is used as a framework to synthesize evidence. The approach has 5 categories, the characteristics of which may act as barriers and enablers to the promotion and adoption of health behaviors and includes (a) interpersonal factors, (b) interpersonal factors, (c) institutional factors, (d) community networks, and (e) public policy. Despite the context of strong evidence for efficacy, this review highlights systematic flaws in the implementation of CR, an important intervention that has been shown to improve patient outcomes and prevent cardiac events. Recommendations from this review include standardization of program delivery, improvement of data capture, use of technological innovations and social networks to facilitate delivery of information and support, and establishment of a cohesive, consistent message through interorganizational collaboration involved in CR. These avenues provide direction for potential solutions to improve the uptake of CR and secondary prevention.

Precursor preparation for Ca-Al layered double hydroxide to remove hexavalent chromium coexisting with calcium and magnesium chlorides

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

Zhong, Lihua; He, Xiaoman; Qu, Jun

Al(OH){sub 3} and Ca(OH){sub 2} powders are co-ground to prepare a precursor which hydrates into a layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase by agitation in aqueous solution with target hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) at room temperature, to achieve an obvious improvement in removal efficiency of Cr(VI) through an easy incorporation into the structure. Although the prepared precursor transforms into LDH phases also when agitated in the solutions of calcium and magnesium chlorides, it incorporates Cr(VI) preferentially to the chloride salts when they coexist. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies show that the phenomena occurring on the Al-Ca precursor fit a pseudo-second-order kineticsmore » with a Langmuir adsorption capacity of 59.45 mg/g. Besides, characterizations of the prepared precursor and the samples after adsorption are also performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) to understand the reason of the preferential incorporation of Cr(VI) to the coexisting chloride salts during the LDH phase formation. - Graphical abstract: Activated Ca-Al hydroxides (C{sub 3}A) transformed into Ca-Al-OH compound when agitated in water. Ca-Al precursor (C{sub 3}A) was agitated in a hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) solution to form Al-Ca-CrO{sub 4} LDH product. Ca-Al-CrO{sub 4} LDH phase occurred preferentially to Ca-Al-MCl{sub 2} LDH phases in the solutions of calcium and magnesium chlorides, it incorporates Cr(VI) preferentially to the chloride salts when they coexist. - Highlights: • Activated Ca-Al hydroxides transformed into LDH when agitated in water with some inorganic substances. • Hexavalent Cr was incorporated in the LDH structure at high adsorption capacity. • Ca-Al-Cr LDH phase occurred preferentially to Ca-Al-MCl{sub 2} LDH phases with coexistence. • The prepared Ca-Al hydroxides had high performance as adsorbent even with high salinity of the solution.« less

Processing and Mechanical Properties of NiAl-Based In-Situ Composites. Ph.D. Thesis Final Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, David Ray

1994-01-01

In-situ composites based on the NiAl-Cr eutectic system were successfully produced by containerless processing and evaluated. The NiAl-Cr alloys had a fibrous microstructure while the NiAl-(Cr,Mo) alloys containing 1 at. percent or more molybdenum exhibited a lamellar structure. The NiAl-28Cr-6Mo eutectic displays promising high temperature strength while still maintaining a reasonable room temperature fracture toughness when compared to other NiAl-based materials. The Laves phase NiAlTa was used to strengthen NiAl and very promising creep strengths were found for the directionally solidified NiAl-NiAlTa eutectic. The eutectic composition was found to be near NiAl-15.5Ta (at. percent) and well aligned microstructures were produced at this composition. An off-eutectic composition of NiAl-14.5Ta was also processed, consisting of NiAl dendrites surrounded by aligned eutectic regions. The room temperature toughness of these two phase alloys was similar to that of polycrystalline NiAl even with the presence of the brittle Laves phase NiAlTa. Polyphase in-situ composites were generated by directional solidification of ternary eutectics. The systems investigated were the Ni-Al-Ta-X (X=Cr, Mo, or V) alloys. Ternary eutectics were found in each of these systems and both the eutectic composition and temperature were determined. Of these ternary eutectics, the one in the NiAl-Ta-Cr system was found to be the most promising. The fracture toughness of the NiAl-(Cr,Al)NiTa-Cr eutectic was intermediate between those of the NiAl-NiAlTa eutectic and the NiAl-Cr eutectic. The creep strength of this ternary eutectic was similar to or greater than that of the NiAl-Cr eutectic.

Water Droplet Erosion Behavior of High-Power Diode Laser Treated 17Cr4Ni PH Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mann, B. S.

2014-05-01

This article deals with water droplet erosion (WDE) behavior of high-power diode laser (HPDL) treated 17Cr4Ni PH stainless steel. After HPDL treatment, the water droplet erosion resistance (WDER) of 17Cr4Ni PH stainless steel has not improved. The main reason is the surface hardness, which has not improved after HPDL treatment though the microstructure has become much finer. On the other hand, precipitation hardening of the alloy at 490°C for 3 h has resulted in improved WDER more than twice. This is because of its increased microhardness and improved modified ultimate resilience (MUR), and formation of fine grained microstructure. The WDER has been correlated with MUR, a single mechanical property, based upon microhardness, ultimate tensile strength, and Young's modulus. WDERs of HPDL treated, untreated, and precipitation hardened 17Cr4Ni PH stainless steel samples were determined using a WDE test facility as per ASTM G73-1978. The WDE damage mechanism, compared on the basis of MUR and scanning electron micrographs, is discussed and reported in this article.

Pitting Corrosion Behaviour of New Corrosion-Resistant Reinforcement Bars in Chloride-Containing Concrete Pore Solution

PubMed Central

Liu, Yao; Chu, Hong-yan; Wang, Danqian; Ma, Han; Sun, Wei

2017-01-01

In this study, the pitting behaviour of a new corrosion-resistant alloy steel (CR) is compared to that of low-carbon steel (LC) in a simulated concrete pore solution with a chloride concentration of 5 mol/L. The electrochemical behaviour of the bars was characterised using linear polarisation resistance (LPR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The pitting profiles were detected by reflective digital holographic microscopy (DHM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the chemical components produced in the pitting process were analysed by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The results show that the CR bars have a higher resistance to pitting corrosion than the LC bars. This is primarily because of the periodic occurrence of metastable pitting during pitting development. Compared to the pitting process in the LC bars, the pitting depth grows slowly in the CR bars, which greatly reduces the risk of pitting. The possible reason for this result is that the capability of the CR bars to heal the passivation film helps to restore the metastable pits to the passivation state. PMID:28777327

Heisenberg model of a {Cr8}-cubane magnetic molecule

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luban, Marshall; Kögerler, Paul; Miller, Lance L.; Winpenny, Richard E. P.

2003-05-01

A Heisenberg model of eight CrIII paramagnetic centers (spins s=3/2) at the vertices of a cube with four distinct exchange interactions is found to provide a reasonably accurate description of the magnetic susceptibility of the cubane-type magnetic molecule [Cr8O4(O2CC6H5)16]={Cr8} from 2-290 K for an external field of 0.5 T. We find that two exchange bonds are antiferromagnetic (13, 24 K) and two are ferromagnetic (5, 13.5 K), with an accuracy of approximately 1 K. The determination of the four exchange constants is greatly facilitated using the exact high-temperature expansion of the weak-field susceptibility, effectively reducing the number of unknown parameters to two. We have calculated the thermodynamic properties of the system and these can be compared with the results of future experiments. At temperatures below 0.5 K sharp increases are expected in the magnetization versus external magnetic field at approximately 6 and 12 T and higher fields due to level crossings. Inelastic neutron scattering could check our predictions for the low-lying magnetic energy levels.

Collaboration in health services research: on developing relationships between VA researchers and those in other institutions.

PubMed Central

Greenlick, M R; Freeborn, D K

1986-01-01

This article explores the potential for collaboration between investigators in institutions outside of the VA and those engaged in research within the VA. The focus is on the potential for collaborative work in health services research; our perspective is that of researchers in a freestanding HMO research center affiliated with the Veterans Administration's Northwest Health Services Research and Development Field Program. The paper begins with a review of the reasons that make collaboration between VA researchers and other health services researchers so appropriate at this time. An example of collaboration is presented, drawing on the experience of the Northwest Field Program and the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research. Finally, some difficulties inherent in collaboration between VA and other health services researchers are discussed. PMID:3512485

A Survey of Perceptions and Practice: Interagency Collaboration and Rehabilitation of Persons with Long-Term Mental Illness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz, Lynda J.; And Others

1990-01-01

As part of a federal training initiative to facilitate interagency collaboration between mental health (MH) and vocational health (VH) agencies, pretraining surveys were conducted with VR, MH, and provider agency staff (N=640). Found insufficient resources, understaffing, and financial constraints were listed as reasons for intra-agency problems.…

Fostering Students' Science Inquiry through App Affordances of Multimodality, Collaboration, Interactivity, and Connectivity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beach, Richard; O'Brien, David

2015-01-01

This study examined 6th graders' use of the VoiceThread app as part of a science inquiry project on photosynthesis and carbon dioxide emissions in terms of their ability to engage in causal reasoning and their use of the affordances of multimodality, collaboration, interactivity, and connectivity. Students employed multimodal production using…

Constructing Knowledge: An Experience of Active and Collaborative Learning in ICT Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pinheiro, Margarida M.; Simoes, Dora

2012-01-01

This paper reports on the impact of the implementation of active and collaborative practices in ICT (information and communication technologies) classrooms. Both of these approaches convey a lot of responsibility from the teacher to the students and the hoping, as backed up by the literature, is to promote deeper learning and reasoning skills at a…

Evaluative Thinking: Using Results-Oriented Reasoning to Strengthen Collaboration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Malloy, Courtney L.; Lee, Janet S.; Cawthon, Stephanie W.

2016-01-01

In today's world, much of what used to be individual work has become collaborative. Moreover, complex change initiatives often require individuals within and across organizations to team up to set and achieve meaningful goals. The role of researchers and evaluators is to offer support that can be used to strengthen the work of organizations and…

Assessing Student Peer Dialogue in Collaborative Settings: A Window into Student Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stone, Antoinette

2013-01-01

The use of science classroom discourse analysis as a way to gain a better understanding of various student cognitive outcomes has a rich history in Science Education in general and Physics Education Research (PER) in particular. When students talk to each other in a collaborative peer instruction environment, such as in the CLASP classes…

Tweet vs. Status Update: Exploring Ways to Promote Collaborative Argumentation in an Online Classroom Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Owens, Marissa Christina

2015-01-01

The focus of this study was to answer the following overarching question: How does a Twitter discussion format compare to a Facebook discussion format in terms of promoting collaborative argumentative discourse? Data analysis focused on the difference in amount of arguments, counter-arguments, reasons, and elaborations generated by participants…

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0067: Molecular Simulations for Hydrated Polymer Fuel Membranes

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-11-01

proton transfer. 1. INTRODUCTION While polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells ( PEMFCs ) hold out the possibility for providing several important...Among the broader aims of the research is to develop PEMFC systems which can operate at higher temperatures than presently achievable while still...efforts have provided insight into the mechanisms which enable proton conduction in PEMFCs . Hydrated membranes are two-phase systems, an

Recommendations for standardized pathological characterization of residual disease for neoadjuvant clinical trials of breast cancer by the BIG-NABCG collaboration.

PubMed

Bossuyt, V; Provenzano, E; Symmans, W F; Boughey, J C; Coles, C; Curigliano, G; Dixon, J M; Esserman, L J; Fastner, G; Kuehn, T; Peintinger, F; von Minckwitz, G; White, J; Yang, W; Badve, S; Denkert, C; MacGrogan, G; Penault-Llorca, F; Viale, G; Cameron, D

2015-07-01

Neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) provides the unique opportunity to assess response to treatment after months rather than years of follow-up. However, significant variability exists in methods of pathologic assessment of response to NAST, and thus its interpretation for subsequent clinical decisions. Our international multidisciplinary working group was convened by the Breast International Group-North American Breast Cancer Group (BIG-NABCG) collaboration and tasked to recommend practical methods for standardized evaluation of the post-NAST surgical breast cancer specimen for clinical trials that promote accurate and reliable designation of pathologic complete response (pCR) and meaningful characterization of residual disease. Recommendations include multidisciplinary communication; clinical marking of the tumor site (clips); and radiologic, photographic, or pictorial imaging of the sliced specimen, to map the tissue sections and reconcile macroscopic and microscopic findings. The information required to define pCR (ypT0/is ypN0 or ypT0 yp N0), residual ypT and ypN stage using the current AJCC/UICC system, and the Residual Cancer Burden system were recommended for quantification of residual disease in clinical trials. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Heavy metal contamination in the muscle of Aegean chub (Squalius fellowesii) and potential risk assessment.

PubMed

Şaşi, Hüseyin; Yozukmaz, Aykut; Yabanli, Murat

2018-03-01

Especially after the industrial revolution, the amount of contaminants released in aquatic ecosystems has considerably increased. For this reason, the necessity to carry on research on the existence of contaminants, specifically heavy metals, has emerged. In this study, heavy metal concentrations in muscle tissues of Aegean chub, which was an endemic species of south western part of Turkey, gathered from Tersakan River were examined. Heavy metal concentrations of the samples were analyzed with ICP-MS. Estimated daily intakes (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) of elements were calculated. The heavy metals detected in muscle tissues were Zn > Cu > Cr > Mn > Pb > Cd, consecutively. According to the results of the applied health risk assessment (EDI, THQ and CR) for heavy metal exposure from fish consumption in children and adults, it was determined that there was no any significant threat to human health.

Corrosion Fatigue Characteristics of 12Cr Alloy Steel in Na2SO4 Solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bae, D. H.; Cho, S. Y.

In order to estimate reliability of 12Cr alloy steel using as the turbine blade material of the steam power plant, its corrosion fatigue characteristics in Na2SO4 solution considering its percentage and temperature that were determined from the polarization test results were investigated, and compared with the results in air. The corrosion characteristic of 12Cr alloy steel was remarkably susceptible in 12.7wt.% (IM) Na2SO4 solution, and its susceptibility increased with the solution temperature increase. The corrosion fatigue characteristics in 12.7wt.% Na2SO4 solution were similar to that of in air at 25°C. The crack growth rate was however increased with the temperature of solution increase. The reasons showing such results are due to the difference of the crack growth mechanism according to the electro-chemical activity of the corrosion factors.

Identification of delamination failure of boride layer on common Cr-based steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taktak, Sukru; Tasgetiren, Suleyman

2006-10-01

Adhesion is an important aspect in the reliability of coated components. With low-adhesion of interfaces, different crack paths may develop depending on the local stress field at the interface and the fracture toughness of the coating, substrate, and interface. In the current study, an attempt has been made to identify the delamination failure of coated Cr-based steels by boronizing. For this reason, two commonly used steels (AISI H13, AISI 304) are considered. The steels contain 5.3 and 18.3 wt.% Cr, respectively. Boriding treatment is carried out in a slurry salt bath consisting of borax, boric acid, and ferrosilicon at a temperature range of 800 950 °C for 3, 5, and 7 h. The general properties of the boron coating are obtained by mechanical and metallographic characterization tests. For identification of coating layer failure, some fracture toughness tests and the Daimler-Benz Rockwell-C adhesion test are used.

A novel approach to assessing technical competence of colorectal surgery residents: the development and evaluation of the Colorectal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (COSATS).

PubMed

de Montbrun, Sandra L; Roberts, Patricia L; Lowry, Ann C; Ault, Glenn T; Burnstein, Marcus J; Cataldo, Peter A; Dozois, Eric J; Dunn, Gary D; Fleshman, James; Isenberg, Gerald A; Mahmoud, Najjia N; Reznick, Richard K; Satterthwaite, Lisa; Schoetz, David; Trudel, Judith L; Weiss, Eric G; Wexner, Steven D; MacRae, Helen

2013-12-01

To develop and evaluate an objective method of technical skills assessment for graduating subspecialists in colorectal (CR) surgery-the Colorectal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill (COSATS). It may be reasonable for the public to assume that surgeons certified as competent have had their technical skills assessed. However, technical skill, despite being the hallmark of a surgeon, is not directly assessed at the time of certification by surgical boards. A procedure-based, multistation technical skills examination was developed to reflect a sample of the range of skills necessary for CR surgical practice. These consisted of bench, virtual reality, and cadaveric models. Reliability and construct validity were evaluated by comparing 10 graduating CR residents with 10 graduating general surgery (GS) residents from across North America. Expert CR surgeons, blinded to level of training, evaluated performance using a task-specific checklist and a global rating scale. The mean global rating score was used as the overall examination score and a passing score was set at "borderline competent for CR practice." The global rating scale demonstrated acceptable interstation reliability (0.69) for a homogeneous group of examinees. Both the overall checklist and global rating scores effectively discriminated between CR and GS residents (P < 0.01), with 27% of the variance attributed to level of training. Nine CR residents but only 3 GS residents were deemed competent. The Colorectal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill effectively discriminated between CR and GS residents. With further validation, the Colorectal Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill could be incorporated into the colorectal board examination where it would be the first attempt of a surgical specialty to formally assess technical skill at the time of certification.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Tibetan red fox (Vulpes vulpes montana).

PubMed

Zhang, Jin; Zhang, Honghai; Zhao, Chao; Chen, Lei; Sha, Weilai; Liu, Guangshuai

2015-01-01

In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of the Tibetan red fox (Vulpes Vulpes montana) was sequenced for the first time using blood samples obtained from a wild female red fox captured from Lhasa in Tibet, China. Qinghai--Tibet Plateau is the highest plateau in the world with an average elevation above 3500 m. Sequence analysis showed it contains 12S rRNA gene, 16S rRNA gene, 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes and 1 control region (CR). The variable tandem repeats in CR is the main reason of the length variability of mitochondrial genome among canide animals.

Mutations Altering Chloroplast Ribosome Phenotype in Chlamydomonas, II. A New Mendelian Mutation*

PubMed Central

Boynton, John E.; Gillham, Nicholas W.; Burkholder, Barbara

1970-01-01

A new mutation of Chlamydomonas reinhardi, cr-1, is characterized. The mutation exhibits Mendelian inheritance and affects the sedimentation velocity and formation of intact chloroplast ribosomes. The mutant grows reasonably well when supplied with sodium acetate as a carbon source, but poorly when forced to grow photosynthetically using carbon dioxide. Since the mutant cr-1 accumulates large subunits of the chloroplast ribosome, we postulate that it is blocked in the formation of the small subunit. A tentative model explaining the behavior of the several mutants in Chlamydomonas now known to have altered chloroplast ribosomal phenotypes is presented. Images PMID:16591885

Spin correlated dielectric memory and rejuvenation in multiferroic CuCrS{sub 2}

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

Karmakar, A.; Dey, K.; Majumdar, S.

We report a rare consequence of memory effect in dielectric response (ϵ) and magnetic field induced rejuvenation in a relaxor-type multiferroic chalcogenide, CuCrS{sub 2}. Despite reasonably high conductivity, we are able to detect significant spontaneous polarization using an improvised technique verifying ferroelectric (FE) order. Concomitant appearance of both FE and antiferromagnetic orders authenticates multiferroicity. A smeared out FE transition and strong frequency dependence of the broadened peak in ϵ obeying Dynamical scaling law signify relaxor properties. We discuss the role of geometrical frustration in the antiferromagnetically coupled layered triangular lattice and metal ligand hybridization for these unusual properties.

NPOESS Preparatory Project Validation Program for the Cross-track Infrared Sounder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnet, C.; Gu, D.; Nalli, N. R.

2009-12-01

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Program, in partnership with National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA), will launch the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP), a risk reduction and data continuity mission, prior to the first operational NPOESS launch. The NPOESS Program, in partnership with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, will execute the NPP Calibration and Validation (Cal/Val) program to ensure the data products comply with the requirements of the sponsoring agencies. The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) and the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) are two of the instruments that make up the suite of sensors on NPP. Together, CrIS and ATMS will produce three Environmental Data Records (EDRs) including the Atmospheric Vertical Temperature Profile (AVTP), Atmospheric Vertical Moisture Profile (AVMP), and the Atmospheric Vertical Pressure Profile (AVPP). The AVTP and the AVMP are both NPOESS Key Performance Parameters (KPPs). The validation plans establish science and user community leadership and participation, and demonstrated, cost-effective Cal/Val approaches. This presentation will provide an overview of the collaborative data, techniques, and schedule for the validation of the NPP CrIS and ATMS environmental data products.

Performance of three glomerular filtration rate estimation equations in a population of sub-Saharan Africans with Type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Agoons, D D; Balti, E V; Kaze, F F; Azabji-Kenfack, M; Ashuntantang, G; Kengne, A P; Sobngwi, E; Mbanya, J C

2016-09-01

We evaluated the performance of the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Cockcroft-Gault (CG) equations against creatinine clearance (CrCl) to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in 51 patients with Type 2 diabetes. The CrCl value was obtained from the average of two consecutive 24-h urine samples. Results were adjusted for body surface area using the Dubois formula. Serum creatinine was measured using the kinetic Jaffe method and was calibrated to standardized levels. Bland-Altman analysis and kappa statistic were used to examine agreement between measured and estimated GFR. Estimates of GFR from the CrCl, MDRD, CKD-EPI and CG equations were similar (overall P = 0.298), and MDRD (r = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.36-0.74), CKD-EPI (r = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33-0.72) and CG (r = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39-0.75) showed modest correlation with CrCl (all P < 0.001). Bias was -0.3 for MDRD, 1.7 for CKD-EPI and -5.4 for CG. All three equations showed fair-to-moderate agreement with CrCl (kappa: 0.38-0.51). The c-statistic for all three equations ranged between 0.75 and 0.77 with no significant difference (P = 0.639 for c-statistic comparison). The MDRD equation seems to have a modest advantage over CKD-EPI and CG in estimating GFR and detecting impaired renal function in sub-Saharan African patients with Type 2 diabetes. The overall relatively modest correlation with CrCl, however, suggests the need for context-specific estimators of GFR or context adaptation of existing estimators. © 2015 Diabetes UK.

Staff perspectives on the provision of end-of-life care in a community residence for older adults with developmental disabilities.

PubMed

Kirkendall, Abbie M; Waldrop, Deborah

2013-09-01

The purpose of the study was to describe the perceptions of community residence (CR) staff who have cared for older adults with developmental disabilities (ADDs) that are at the end of life. This exploratory, descriptive study utilized qualitative methods that involved semistructured interviews with CR staff members. The setting was a CR that was also an intermediate care facility (ICF) that provided 24-hour residential treatment for medical and/or behavioral needs. At least one registered nurse was present at all times. A CR with at least one resident who was over the age of 40 and had a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness was chosen. Participants included three frontline workers, four managers, and one registered nurse. In-person interviews included open-ended questions about end-of-life care for older ADDs. Demographics such as age, length of time working with ADDs, and education were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographics such as age, and length of time working with ADDs. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using grounded theory techniques. Four themes illuminated unique elements of the provision of end-of-life care in a CR: (1) influence of relationships, (2) expression of individuality, (3) contribution of hospice, (4) grief and bereavement, and (5) challenges to end-of-life care. The results provided insight into the unique needs of older ADDs at the end of life and how this influences their care. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of specialized care that involved collaborations with hospice for older ADDs who remain in a CR at the end of life.

Creep modeling for life evaluation and strengthening mechanism of tungsten alloyed 9-12% Cr steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Kyu-Seop; Bae, Dong-Sik; Lee, Sung-Keun; Lee, Goo-Hyun; Kim, Jung-Ho; Endo, Takao

2006-10-01

Recently, high strength tungsten (W) alloyed steels have been developed for use in power plants with higher steam conditions for environmental reasons as well as the improvement of thermal efficiency resulting in lower fuel costs. In order to establish a creep modeling of high strength martensitic steel and to understand the basic role of W in tungsten alloyed 9-12Cr steels, conventional martensitic steels (X20CrMoV121, X20CrMoWV121, and Mod9Cr-1Mo) and tungsten alloyed steels (NF616 and HCM12A) were employed for creep tests and creep behavior analyses by the Ω method. The proposed creep model, which takes into account both primary and tertiary creep, satisfactorily described the creep curves and accurately predicted creep life, as martensitic steel undergoes a relatively large amount of primary creep, up to nearly 30%, over its normal life. The tungsten alloyed steels exhibited a smaller minimum creep rate and a larger stress exponent compared to the conventional steels. In addition, in tungsten alloyed steel, the Ω value features strong stress dependence such that creep life is prolonged at lower stresses due to high Ω values. The importance of the Ω value from the standpoint of creep strengthening in primary and tertiary creep is discussed.

Design of alumina forming FeCrAl steels for lead or lead-bismuth cooled fast reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Jun; Hwang, Il Soon; Kim, Ji Hyun

2013-10-01

Iron-chromium-aluminum alloys containing 15-20 wt.% Cr and 4-6 wt.% Al have shown excellent corrosion resistance in the temperature range up to 600 °C or higher in liquid lead and lead-bismuth eutectic environments by the formation of protective Al2O3 layers. However, the higher Cr and Al concentrations in ferritic alloys could be problematic because of severe embrittlement in the manufacturing process as well as in service, caused by the formation of brittle phases. For this reason, efforts worldwide have so far mainly focused on the development of aluminizing surface treatments. However, aluminizing surface treatments have major disadvantages of cost, processing difficulties and reliability issues. In this study, a new FeCrAl alloy is proposed for structural materials in lead and lead-bismuth cooled nuclear applications. The alloy design relied on corrosion experiments in high temperature lead and lead-bismuth eutectic environments and computational thermodynamic calculations using the commercial software, JMatPro. The design of new alloys has focused on the optimization of Cr and Al levels for the formation of an external Al2O3 layer which can provide excellent oxidation and corrosion resistance in liquid lead alloys in the temperature range 300-600 °C while still retaining workable mechanical properties.

Comprehensive Analysis of Semantic Web Reasoners and Tools: A Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khamparia, Aditya; Pandey, Babita

2017-01-01

Ontologies are emerging as best representation techniques for knowledge based context domains. The continuing need for interoperation, collaboration and effective information retrieval has lead to the creation of semantic web with the help of tools and reasoners which manages personalized information. The future of semantic web lies in an ontology…

Peering Into an Early Galaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohler, Susanna

2018-04-01

Thirteen billion years ago, early galaxies ionized the gas around them, producing some of the first light that brought our universe out of its dark ages. Now the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has provided one of the first detailed looks into the interior of one of these early, distant galaxies.Sources of LightArtists illustration of the reionization of the universe (time progresses left to right), in which ionized bubbles that form around the first sources of light eventually overlap to form the fully ionized universe we observe today. [Avi Loeb/Scientific American]For the first roughly hundred million years of its existence, our universe expanded in relative darkness there were no sources of light at that time besides the cosmic microwave background. But as mass started to condense to form the first objects, these objects eventually shone as the earliest luminous sources, contributing to the reionization of the universe.To learn about the early production of light in the universe, our best bet is to study in detail the earliest luminous sources stars, galaxies, or quasars that we can hunt down. One ideal target is the galaxy COSMOS Redshift 7, known as CR7 for short.Targeting CR7CR7 is one of the oldest, most distant galaxies known, lying at a redshift of z 6.6. Its discovery in 2015 and subsequent observations of bright, ultraviolet-emitting clumps within it have led to broad speculation about the source of its emission. Does this galaxy host an active nucleus? Or could it perhaps contain the long-theorized first generation of stars, metal-free Population III stars?To determine the nature of CR7 and the other early galaxies that contributed to reionization, we need to explore their gas and dust in detail a daunting task for such distant sources! Conveniently, this is a challenge that is now made possible by ALMAs incredible capabilities. In a new publication led by Jorryt Matthee (Leiden University, the Netherlands), a team of scientists now reports on what weve learned peering into CR7s interior with ALMA.ALMA observations of [C II] (white contours) are overlaid on an ultraviolet image of the galaxy CR7 taken with Hubble (background image). The presence of [C II] throughout the galaxy indicate that CR7 does not primarily consist of metal-free gas, as had been previously proposed. [Matthee et al. 2017]Metals yet No Dust?Matthee and collaborators deep spectroscopic observations of CR7 targeted the far-infrared dust continuum emission and a gas emission line, [C II]. The authors detected [C II] emission in a large region in and around the galaxy, including near the ultraviolet clumps. This clearly indicates the presence of metals in these star-forming regions, and it rules out the possibility that CR7s gas is mostly primordial and forming metal-free Pop III stars.The authors do not detect far infrared continuum emission from dust, which sets an unusually low upper limit on the amount of dust that may be present in this galaxy. This limit allows them to better interpret their measurements of star formation rates in CR7, providing more information about the galaxys properties.Lastly, Matthee and collaborators note that the [C II] emission is detected in multiple different components that have different velocities. The authors propose that these components are accreting satellite galaxies. If this is correct, then CR7 is not only a target to learn about early sources of light in the universe its also a rare opportunity to directly witness the build-up of a central galaxy in the early universe.CitationJ. Matthee et al 2017 ApJ 851 145. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aa9931

Rational and irrational clinical strategies for collaborative medicine.

PubMed

Hammerly, Milt

2002-01-01

Individual practitioners and health care systems/organizations increasingly understand the rationale for collaborative medicine. An absence of collaboration can compromise the quality and safety of patient care. But having a rationale to provide collaborative medicine without also having a rational clinical strategy can be equally compromising to the quality and safety of patient care. Reasonable evidentiary criteria must be used to determine whether specific therapies merit inclusion or exclusion in a collaborative medicine model. Ranking therapies hierarchically on the basis of their risk-benefit ratio simplifies matching of therapies with the needs of the patient. A unifying taxonomy that categorizes all therapies (complementary/alternative and conventional) on the basis of how we think they work (presumed mechanisms of action) facilitates development of a clinical strategy for collaborative medicine. On the basis of these principles, a rational clinical strategy for collaborative medicine is described to help optimize the quality and safety of patient care.

Performance of Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration Creatinine-Cystatin C Equation for Estimating Kidney Function in Cirrhosis

PubMed Central

Mindikoglu, Ayse L.; Dowling, Thomas C.; Weir, Matthew R.; Seliger, Stephen L.; Christenson, Robert H.; Magder, Laurence S.

2013-01-01

Conventional creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations are insufficiently accurate for estimating GFR in cirrhosis. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) recently proposed an equation to estimate GFR in subjects without cirrhosis using both serum creatinine and cystatin C levels. Performance of the new CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equation (2012) was superior to previous creatinine- or cystatin C-based GFR equations. To evaluate the performance of the CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equation in subjects with cirrhosis, we compared it to GFR measured by non-radiolabeled iothalamate plasma clearance (mGFR) in 72 subjects with cirrhosis. We compared the “bias”, “precision” and “accuracy” of the new CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equation to that of 24-hour urinary creatinine clearance (CrCl), Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and previously reported creatinine- and/or cystatin C-based GFR-estimating equations. Accuracy of CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equation as quantified by root mean squared error of difference scores [differences between mGFR and estimated GFR (eGFR) or between mGFR and CrCl, or between mGFR and CG equation for each subject] (RMSE=23.56) was significantly better than that of CrCl (37.69, P=0.001), CG (RMSE=36.12, P=0.002) and GFR-estimating equations based on cystatin C only. Its accuracy as quantified by percentage of eGFRs that differed by greater than 30% with respect to mGFR was significantly better compared to CrCl (P=0.024), CG (P=0.0001), 4-variable MDRD (P=0.027) and CKD-EPI creatinine 2009 (P=0.012) equations. However, for 23.61% of the subjects, GFR estimated by CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equation differed from the mGFR by more than 30%. CONCLUSIONS The diagnostic performance of CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C equation (2012) in patients with cirrhosis was superior to conventional equations in clinical practice for estimating GFR. However, its diagnostic performance was substantially worse than reported in subjects without cirrhosis. PMID:23744636

Cosmic rays and other space weather effects influenced on satellite operation, technologies, biosphere and people health

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lev, Dorman

2016-07-01

Satellite anomalies (or malfunctions), including total distortion of electronics and loose of some satellites cost for Insurance Companies billions dollars per year. During especially active periods the probability of big satellite anomalies and their loosing increased very much. Now, when a great number of civil and military satellites are continuously worked for our practice life, the problem of satellite anomalies became very important. Many years ago about half of satellite anomalies were caused by technical reasons (for example, for Russian satellites Kosmos), but with time with increasing of production quality, this part became smaller and smaller. The other part, which now is dominated, caused by different space weather effects (energetic particles of CR and generated/trapped in the magnetosphere, and so on). We consider only satellite anomalies not caused by technical reasons: the total number of such anomalies about 6000 events, and separately for high and low altitude orbit satellites (5000 and about 800 events, correspondingly for high and low altitude satellites). No relation was found between low and high altitude satellite anomalies. Daily numbers of satellite anomalies, averaged by a superposed epoch method around sudden storm commencements and solar proton event onsets for high (>1500 km) and low (<1500 km) altitude orbits revealed a big difference in a behavior. Satellites were divided on several groups according to the orbital characteristics (altitude and inclination). The relation of satellite anomalies to the environmental parameters was found to be different for various orbits that should be taken into account under developing of the anomaly frequency models and forecasting. We consider also influence of CR on frequency of gene mutations and evolution of biosphere (we show that if it will be no CR, the Earth's civilization will be start only after milliards years later, what will be too late), CR role in thunderstorm phenomena and discharges, space weather effects on space technologies and radiation effects from solar and galactic CR in dependence of cutoff rigidities and altitude, influence magnetic storms accompanied by CR Forbush-effects on people health (increasing frequency of infarct myocardial and brain strokes), increasing frequency of car accidents (possible through people factor), increasing frequency of malfunctions in railway operation (possible, through induction currents), catastrophes in long-distance electric power lines and transformators, and in other ground technologies.

Effects of Face-to-Face versus Chat Communication on Performance in a Collaborative Inquiry Modeling Task

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sins, Patrick H. M.; Savelsbergh, Elwin R.; van Joolingen, Wouter R.; van Hout-Wolters, Bernadette H. A. M.

2011-01-01

In many contemporary collaborative inquiry learning environments, chat is being used as a means for communication. Still, it remains an open issue whether chat communication is an appropriate means to support the deep reasoning process students need to perform in such environments. Purpose of the present study was to compare the impact of chat…

Teachers as Researchers: A Discovery of Their Emerging Role and Impact through a School-University Collaborative Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chow, Ken Chi Kin; Chu, Samuel Kai Wah; Tavares, Nicole; Lee, Celina Wing Yi

2015-01-01

This study explored the impact of the role of teacher-researchers on in-service teachers' professional development, as well as the reasons behind the lack of a teacher-as-researcher ethos in schools. In the study, teachers from four Hong Kong primary schools participated in a school-university collaborative research project that promotes…

Hot Corrosion Behavior of Stainless Steel with Al-Si/Al-Si-Cr Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Guangyan; Wu, Yongzhao; Liu, Qun; Li, Rongguang; Su, Yong

2017-03-01

The 1Cr18Ni9Ti stainless steel with Al-Si/Al-Si-Cr coatings is prepared by slurry process and vacuum diffusion, and the hot corrosion behavior of the stainless steel with/without the coatings is studied under the condition of Na2SO4 film at 950 °C in air. Results show that the corrosion kinetics of stainless steel, the stainless steel with Al-Si coating and the stainless steel with Al-Si-Cr coating follow parabolic laws in several segments. After 24 h corrosion, the sequence of the mass gain for the three alloys is the stainless steel with Al-Si-Cr coating < the stainless steel with Al-Si coating < the stainless steel without any coating. The corrosion products of the three alloys are layered. Thereinto, the corrosion products of stainless steel without coating are divided into two layers, where the outside layer contains a composite of Fe2O3 and FeO, and the inner layer is Cr2O3. The corrosion products of the stainless steel with Al-Si coating are also divided into two layers, of which the outside layer mainly consists of Cr2O3, and the inner layer is mainly SiO2. The corrosion film of the stainless steel with Al-Si-Cr coating is thin and dense, which combines well with substrate. Thereinto, the outside layer is mainly Cr2O3, and the inside layer is Al2O3. In the matrix of all of the three alloys, there exist small amount of sulfides. Continuous and protective films of Cr2O3, SiO2 and Al2O3 form on the surface of the stainless steel with Al-Si and Al-Si-Cr coatings, which prevent further oxidation or sulfide corrosion of matrix metals, and this is the main reason for the much smaller mass gain of the two alloys than that of the stainless steel without any coatings in the 24 h hot corrosion process.

Glomerular filtration rate estimated using creatinine, cystatin C or both markers and the risk of clinical events in HIV-infected individuals.

PubMed

Lucas, G M; Cozzi-Lepri, A; Wyatt, C M; Post, F A; Bormann, A M; Crum-Cianflone, N F; Ross, M J

2014-02-01

The accuracy and precision of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations based on plasma creatinine (GFR(cr)), cystatin C (GFR(cys)) and the combination of these markers (GFR(cr-cys)) have recently been assessed in HIV-infected individuals. We assessed the associations of GFR, estimated by these three equations, with clinical events in HIV-infected individuals. We compared the associations of baseline GFR(cr), GFR(cys) and GFR(cr-cys) [using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations] with mortality, cardiovascular events (CVEs) and opportunistic diseases (ODs) in the Strategies for the Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) study. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios per standard deviation (SD) change in GFR. A total of 4614 subjects from the SMART trial with available baseline creatinine and cystatin C data were included in this analysis. Of these, 99 died, 111 had a CVE and 121 had an OD. GFR(cys) was weakly to moderately correlated with HIV RNA, CD4 cell count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and D-dimer, while GFR(cr) had little or no correlation with these factors. GFR(cys) had the strongest associations with the three clinical outcomes, followed closely by GFR(cr-cys), with GFR(cr) having the weakest associations with clinical outcomes. In a model adjusting for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, HIV-related factors and inflammation markers, a 1-SD lower GFR(cys) was associated with a 55% [95% confidence interval (CI) 27-90%] increased risk of mortality, a 21% (95% CI 0-47%) increased risk of CVE, and a 22% (95% CI 0-48%) increased risk of OD. Of the three CKD-EPI GFR equations, GFR(cys) had the strongest associations with mortality, CVE and OD. © 2013 British HIV Association.

Comparison of integrated testlet and constructed-response question formats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slepkov, Aaron D.; Shiell, Ralph C.

2014-12-01

Constructed-response (CR) questions are a mainstay of introductory physics textbooks and exams. However, because of the time, cost, and scoring reliability constraints associated with this format, CR questions are being increasingly replaced by multiple-choice (MC) questions in formal exams. The integrated testlet (IT) is a recently developed question structure designed to provide a proxy of the pedagogical advantages of CR questions while procedurally functioning as set of MC questions. ITs utilize an answer-until-correct response format that provides immediate confirmatory or corrective feedback, and they thus allow not only for the granting of partial credit in cases of initially incorrect reasoning, but, furthermore, the ability to build cumulative question structures. Here, we report on a study that directly compares the functionality of ITs and CR questions in introductory physics exams. To do this, CR questions were converted to concept-equivalent ITs, and both sets of questions were deployed in midterm and final exams. We find that both question types provide adequate discrimination between stronger and weaker students, with CR questions discriminating slightly better than the ITs. There is some indication that any difference in discriminatory power may result from the baseline score for guessing that is inherent in MC testing. Meanwhile, an analysis of interrater scoring of the CR questions raises serious concerns about the reliability of the granting of partial credit when this traditional assessment technique is used in a realistic (but nonoptimized) setting. Furthermore, we show evidence that partial credit is granted in a valid manner in the ITs. Thus, together with consideration of the vastly reduced costs of administering IT-based examinations compared to CR-based examinations, our findings indicate that ITs are viable replacements for CR questions in formal examinations where it is desirable both to assess concept integration and to reward partial knowledge, while efficiently scoring examinations.

Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D). Task Order 0036: Physical and Chemical Processes of Operating Electronic Devices

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

actually seen. A. Hierro , … S. A. Ringel et al., Phys. Stat. Sol (b) 228, 937 (2001). Ohio State U. Use DLTS and DLOS (Deep Level Optical Spectroscopy...to threading dislocations. Also see A. Hierro et al., APL 76, 3064 (2000), where traps at EC-ET=0.58-0.62, 1.35, 2.57-2.64, 3.22eV are seen in GaN

Electronic and mechanical properties of half-metallic half-Heusler compounds CoCrZ (Z = S, Se, and Te)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Hai-Ming; Zhang, Chuan-Kun; He, Ze-Dong; Zhang, Jun; Yang, Jun-Tao; Luo, Shi-Jun

2018-01-01

Not Available Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11647133 and 11674113), the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province, China (Grant Nos. 2017CFB740 and 2014CFB631), the Scientific Research Items Foundation of Hubei Educational Committee, China (Grant Nos. Q20141802, Q20161803, B2016091, and D20171803), and Hubei Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Optoelectronics, China.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0065: Nanostructured Dynamic Modulus Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-01

solution-gelation (sol- gel) technique, to form hybrids of these materials with high-Tg open-cell foams so as to enhance shape memory characteristics , and...did not demonstrate the shape memory properties of the original Morthane thermoplastic due to the suppression of crystallinity following sol-gel...method. The utilization of photolatent bases to allow for improved reaction control and the combination of this system with Basotect™ open-cell foam in

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0060: Gradient Materials Morphology Modeling Support

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-08-01

antiplane eigenstrain . ASME Journal of Applied Mechanics (In press, to appear in the September issue). [4] Wang, X., Pan, E., Roy, A. K, 2007. Three...problem of a functionally graded plane with a circular inclusion under a uniform antiplane eigenstrain is investigated, where the shear modulus varies...strain and stress fields inside the circular inclusion under uniform antiplane eigenstrains are intrinsically nOliuniform. This phenomenon differs

Writing a case report for the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

PubMed

Özçakar, L; Franchignoni, F; Frontera, W; Negrini, S

2013-04-01

Case reports (CR) have led to the description and discovery of new diseases, syndromes, therapeutic complications or side-effects, and previously unknown potential benefits of pharmacologic agents. CRs may also be used as an effective training strategy for novice authors to develop the skills needed for medical writing. Yet, too often, CRs do not follow standards for excellence in scientific writing. Therefore, in this article, the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AJPMR) and the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (EJPRM) collaborate with the purpose of providing guidance to authors in selecting CRs that might be appropriate for publication. In addition, we discuss different aspects of the preparation of a well-written CR in accordance with the mission and editorial views of both journals.

Multiscale Multiphysics Developments for Accident Tolerant Fuel Concepts

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

Gamble, K. A.; Hales, J. D.; Yu, J.

2015-09-01

U 3Si 2 and iron-chromium-aluminum (Fe-Cr-Al) alloys are two of many proposed accident-tolerant fuel concepts for the fuel and cladding, respectively. The behavior of these materials under normal operating and accident reactor conditions is not well known. As part of the Department of Energy’s Accident Tolerant Fuel High Impact Problem program significant work has been conducted to investigate the U 3Si 2 and FeCrAl behavior under reactor conditions. This report presents the multiscale and multiphysics effort completed in fiscal year 2015. The report is split into four major categories including Density Functional Theory Developments, Molecular Dynamics Developments, Mesoscale Developments, andmore » Engineering Scale Developments. The work shown here is a compilation of a collaborative effort between Idaho National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Anatech Corp.« less

Communicative Spontaneity in Individuals with High Support Needs: An Exploratory Consideration of Causation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carter, Mark

2002-01-01

Reasons for limited spontaneity of communication in individuals with high support needs are considered and include: it is an inherent characteristic, a product of highly structured teaching programs, a form of learned helplessness, or a product of a failure to systematically program for spontaneity. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Explicit Reasoning, Creativity and Co-Construction in Primary School Children's Collaborative Activities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rojas-Drummond, Sylvia; Mazon, Nancy; Fernandez, Manuel; Wegerif, Rupert

2006-01-01

This paper describes research that explored the question of whether or not it is possible to characterise and teach a single type of educationally productive talk. We analysed and compared the quality of children's interactional strategies when jointly working on a reasoning task and a psycholinguistic task. The latter involved writing an…

A Reason to Read: Linking Literacy and the Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Landay, Eileen; Wootton, Kurt

2012-01-01

"A Reason to Read" is the culminating work of the ArtsLiteracy Project, an ambitious and wide-ranging collaborative that aims to promote literacy through rich and sustained instruction in the arts. At the heart of the book is the "Performance Cycle," a flexible framework for curriculum and lesson planning that can be adapted to…

SRT Status and Plans for Version-7

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Susskind, Joel; Blaisdell, John; Iredell, Lena; Kouvaris, Louis

2015-01-01

The AIRS Science Team Version-6 retrieval algorithm is currently producing level-3 Climate Data Records (CDRs) from AIRS that have been proven useful to scientists in understanding climate processes. CDRs are gridded level-3 products which include all cases passing AIRS Climate QC. SRT has made significant further improvements to AIRS Version-6. Research is continuing at SRT toward the development of AIRS Version-7. At the last Science Team Meeting, we described results using SRT AIRS Version-6.19. SRT Version-6.19 is now an official build at JPL called 6.2. SRTs latest version is AIRS Version-6.22. We have also adapted AIRS Version-6.22 to run with CrISATMS. AIRS Version-6.22 and CrIS Version- 6.22 both run now on JPL computers, but are not yet official builds. The main reason for finalization of Version-7, and using it in the relatively near future for the future processing and reprocessing of old AIRS data, is to produce even better CDRs for use by climate scientists. For this reason all results shown in this talk use only AIRS Climate QC.

Nurse mentor perceptions in the delivery of a home-based cardiac rehabilitation program to support patients living in rural areas: An interpretive study.

PubMed

Frohmader, Terence J; Lin, Frances; Chaboyer, Wendy P

2017-05-01

Home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs improve health outcomes for people diagnosed with heart disease. Mentoring of patients by nurses trained in CR has been proposed as an innovative model of cardiac care. Little is known however, about the experience of mentors facilitating such programs and adapting to this new role. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore nurse mentor perceptions of their role in the delivery of a home-based CR program for rural patients unable to attend a hospital or outpatient CR program. Seven nurses mentored patients by telephone providing patients with education, psychosocial support and lifestyle advice during their recovery. An open-ended survey was administered to mentors by email and findings revealed mentors perceived their role to be integral to the success of the program. Nurses were satisfied with the development of their new role as patient mentors. They believed their collaborative skills, knowledge and experience in coronary care, timely support and guidance of patients during their recovery and use of innovative audiovisual resources improved the health outcomes of patients not able to attend traditional programs. Cardiac nurses in this study perceived that they were able to successfully transition from their normal work practices in hospital to mentoring patients in their homes. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Arguing to learn in science: the role of collaborative, critical discourse.

PubMed

Osborne, Jonathan

2010-04-23

Argument and debate are common in science, yet they are virtually absent from science education. Recent research shows, however, that opportunities for students to engage in collaborative discourse and argumentation offer a means of enhancing student conceptual understanding and students' skills and capabilities with scientific reasoning. As one of the hallmarks of the scientist is critical, rational skepticism, the lack of opportunities to develop the ability to reason and argue scientifically would appear to be a significant weakness in contemporary educational practice. In short, knowing what is wrong matters as much as knowing what is right. This paper presents a summary of the main features of this body of research and discusses its implications for the teaching and learning of science.

Upping The Emergency Management Ante: The Role Of Private Sector Collaboration In Emergency Management And Whether State Procurement And Emergency Management Laws Are Built To Collaborate

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

welfare, or safety such as may arise by reason of fires, floods, tornadoes , other natural or man-caused disasters, epidemics, riots, enemy attack...West, Westlaw through end of the 2015 First Regular and First Extraordinary Sessions of the 63rd Legislature). 267 Ibid. ( Texas law contains an

An Examination of the Effects of Collaborative Scientific Visualization via Model-Based Reasoning on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Learning within an Immersive 3D World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soleimani, Ali

2013-01-01

Immersive 3D worlds can be designed to effectively engage students in peer-to-peer collaborative learning activities, supported by scientific visualization, to help with understanding complex concepts associated with learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Previous research studies have shown STEM learning benefits…

Combined thioflavin T-Congo red fluorescence assay for amyloid fibril detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Girych, Mykhailo; Gorbenko, Galyna; Maliyov, Ivan; Trusova, Valeriya; Mizuguchi, Chiharu; Saito, Hiroyuki; Kinnunen, Paavo

2016-09-01

Fluorescence represents one of the most powerful tools for the detection and structural characterization of the pathogenic protein aggregates, amyloid fibrils. The traditional approaches to the identification and quantification of amyloid fibrils are based on monitoring the fluorescence changes of the benzothiazole dye thioflavin T (ThT) and absorbance changes of the azo dye Congo red (CR). In routine screening it is usually sufficient to perform only the ThT and CR assays, but both of them, when used separately, could give false results. Moreover, fibrillization kinetics can be measured only by ThT fluorescence, while the characteristic absorption spectra and birefringence of CR represent more rigid criteria for the presence of amyloid fibrils. Therefore, it seemed reasonable to use both these dyes simultaneously, combining the advantages of each technique. To this end, we undertook a detailed analysis of the fluorescence spectral behavior of these unique amyloid tracers upon their binding to amyloid fibrils from lysozyme, insulin and an N-terminal fragment of apolipoprotein A-I with Iowa mutation. The fluorescence measurements revealed several criteria for distinguishing between fibrillar and monomeric protein states: (i) a common drastic increase in ThT fluorescence intensity; (ii) a sharp decrease in ThT fluorescence upon addition of CR; (iii) an appearance of the maximum at 535-540 nm in the CR excitation spectra; (iv) increase in CR fluorescence intensity at 610 nm. Based on these findings we designed a novel combined ThT-CR fluorescence assay for amyloid identification. Such an approach not only strengthens the reliability of the ThT assay, but also provides new opportunities for structural characterization of amyloid fibrils.

Evaluation of catch-and-release regulations on Brook Trout in Pennsylvania streams

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jason Detar,; Kristine, David; Wagner, Tyler; Greene, Tom

2014-01-01

In 2004, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission implemented catch-and-release (CR) regulations on headwater stream systems to determine if eliminating angler harvest would result in an increase in the number of adult (≥100 mm) or large (≥175 mm) Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis. Under the CR regulations, angling was permitted on a year-round basis, no Brook Trout could be harvested at any time, and there were no tackle restrictions. A before-after–control-impact design was used to evaluate the experimental regulations. Brook Trout populations were monitored in 16 treatment (CR regulations) and 7 control streams (statewide regulations) using backpack electrofishing gear periodically for up to 15 years (from 1990 to 2003 or 2004) before the implementation of the CR regulations and over a 7–8-year period (from 2004 or 2005 to 2011) after implementation. We used Poisson mixed models to evaluate whether electrofishing catch per effort (CPE; catch/100 m2) of adult (≥100 mm) or large (≥175 mm) Brook Trout increased in treatment streams as a result of implementing CR regulations. Brook Trout CPE varied among sites and among years, and there was no significant effect (increase or decrease) of CR regulations on the CPE of adult or large Brook Trout. Results of our evaluation suggest that CR regulations were not effective at improving the CPE of adult or large Brook Trout in Pennsylvania streams. Low angler use, high voluntary catch and release, and slow growth rates in infertile headwater streams are likely the primary reasons for the lack of response.

Recent results on the neutron irradiation of ITER candidate copper alloys irradiated in DR-3 at 250{degrees}C to 0.3 dpa

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

Edwards, D.J.; Singh, B.N.; Toft, P.

1997-04-01

Tensile specimens of CuCrZr and CuNiBe alloys were given various heat treatments corresponding to solution anneal, prime-ageing and bonding thermal treatment with additional specimens re-aged and given a reactor bakeout treatment at 350{degrees}C for 100 h. CuAl-25 was also heat treated to simulate the effects of a bonding thermal cycle on the material. A number of heat treated specimens were neutron irradiated at 250{degrees}C to a dose level of {approximately}0.3 dpa in the DR-3 reactor as Riso. The main effect of the bonding thermal cycle heat treatment was a slight decrease in strength of CuCrZr and CuNiBe alloys. The strengthmore » of CuAl-25, on the other hand, remained almost unaltered. The post irradiation tests at 250{degrees}C showed a severe loss of ductility in the case of the CuNiBe alloy. The irradiated CuAl-25 and CuCrZr specimens exhibited a reasonable amount of uniform elongation, with CuCrZr possessing a lower strength.« less

C-Cr segregation at grain boundary before the carbide nucleation in Alloy 690

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

Li Hui, E-mail: huili@shu.edu.cn; Laboratory for Microstructures, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444; Xia Shuang

2012-04-15

The grain boundary segregation in Alloy 690 was investigated by atom probe tomography. B, C and Si segregated at the grain boundary. The high concentration regions for each segregation element form a set of straight arrays that are parallel to each other in the grain boundary plane. The concentration fluctuation has a periodicity of about 7 nm in the grain boundary plane. Before the Cr{sub 23}C{sub 6} nucleation at grain boundaries, the C-Cr co-segregate on one side of the grain boundaries while not the exact grain boundary core regions have been detected. The reasons why grain boundary carbides have coherentmore » orientation relationship only with one side of nearby grain which grain boundary is located at high index crystal plane were discussed. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Grain boundary segregation in Alloy 690 was investigated by atom probe tomography. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer B, C and Si segregate at the grain boundary. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Concentration of segregated atoms periodicity fluctuated in the grain boundary plane. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer C and Cr co-segregate on one side of the grain boundary before carbide nucleation.« less

Structural and Dielectric Study of (Dy,Er,Ho) CrO 3 Biferroic Compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meza, Cesar; Siqueiros, Jesus; Duran, Alejandro

2011-03-01

Technological progress, especially in electronic applications, demands increasingly advanced substances, capable of performing a variety of tasks while simultaneously occupying less space than their predecessors. An answer to this demand lies within the realm of multiferroics. Multiferroic materials are defined as those single phase compounds where more than one ferroic order coexists; they generally belong to the perovskite group. One manifestation of multiferroicity, magnetoelectricity, requires the coexistence of spontaneous electric polarization and magnetic ordering. It is for this reason that rare-earth chromites have been selected as suitable candidates. This work is concerned with synthesis, characterization and dielectric response of the DyCr O3 , ErCr O3 and HoCr O3 ceramic compounds. The samples were synthesized by both the traditional solid state ceramic method, and the self-propagating combustion method. The resultant chromites were characterized by TG, DTA and XRD, which confirms the Pbnm space group. Additionally, conductivity analysis was performed and the associated activation energy determined for each system using experimental values and Arrhenius law. Thanks are due to DGAPA-UNAM for financial support through projects no. IN112909 and IN105711.

The opportunity to collaborate increases preschoolers' motivation for challenging tasks.

PubMed

Butler, Lucas P; Walton, Gregory M

2013-12-01

Collaborating on challenging endeavors is a foundation of human society. Recent research suggests that young children are not only motivated to cooperate with others-for instance, to help others accomplish their goals-but may also be motivated to collaborate with others-to pursue shared goals. However, a primary reason why collaboration is so important is because opportunities to collaborate can bring people together to work hard to overcome challenges. Two studies (N=70) tested whether the collaborative nature of an activity itself can cause preschoolers to enjoy challenging tasks more and to persist longer on them. To isolate the psychological feeling of collaboration, we tested this hypothesis by manipulating purely psychological cues of collaboration; in all cases, children worked while physically alone. Both studies found that such cues substantially increased preschoolers' motivation on a challenging puzzle, including their persistence on and liking for the puzzle, relative to two non-collaborative control conditions. We suggest that an early emerging drive to engage in shared collaborative activities leads children to find collaborative activities to be intrinsically motivating. This may represent an important basis of motivation as children embark on formal schooling. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perpendicular recording media for hard disk drives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piramanayagam, S. N.

2007-07-01

Perpendicular recording technology has recently been introduced in hard disk drives for computer and consumer electronics applications. Although conceptualized in the late 1970s, making a product with perpendicular recording that has competing performance, reliability, and price advantage over the prevalent longitudinal recording technology has taken about three decades. One reason for the late entry of perpendicular recording is that the longitudinal recording technology was quite successful in overcoming many of its problems and in staying competitive. Other reasons are the risks, problems, and investment needed in making a successful transition to perpendicular recording technology. Iwasaki and co-workers came up with many inventions in the late 1970s, such as single-pole head, CoCr alloy media with a perpendicular anisotropy, and recording media with soft magnetic underlayers [S. Iwasaki and K. Takemura, IEEE Trans. Magn. 11, 1173 (1975); S. Iwasaki and Y. Nakamura, IEEE Trans. Magn. 14, 436 (1978); S. Iwasaki, Y. Nakamura, and K. Ouchi, IEEE Trans. Magn. 15, 1456 (1979)]. Nevertheless, the research on perpendicular recording media has been intense only in the past five years or so. The main reason for the current interest comes from the need to find an alternative technology to get away from the superparamagnetic limit faced by the longitudinal recording. Out of the several recording media materials investigated in the past, oxide based CoCrPt media have been considered a blessing. The media developed with CoCrPt-oxide or CoCrPt -SiO2 have shown much smaller grain sizes, lower noise, and larger thermal stability than the perpendicular recording media of the past, which is one of the reasons for the success of perpendicular recording. Moreover, oxide-based perpendicular media have also overtaken the current longitudinal recording media in terms of better recording performance. Several issues that were faced with the soft underlayers have also been solved by the use of antiferromagnetically coupled soft underlayers and soft underlayers that are exchange coupled with an antiferromagnetic layer. Significant improvements have also been made in the head design. All these factors now make perpendicular recording more competitive. It is expected that the current materials could theoretically support areal densities of up to 500-600Gbits/in.2. In this paper, the technologies associated with perpendicular recording media are reviewed. A brief background of magnetic recording and the challenges faced by longitudinal recording technology are presented first, followed by the discussions on perpendicular recording media. Detailed discussions on various layers in the perpendicular recording media and the recent advances in these layers have been made. Some of the future technologies that might help the industry beyond the conventional perpendicular recording technology are discussed at the end of the paper.

Fullerene/layered antiferromagnetic reconstructed spinterface: Subsurface layer dominates molecular orbitals' spin-split and large induced magnetic moment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shao, Yangfan; Pang, Rui; Pan, Hui; Shi, Xingqiang

2018-03-01

The interfaces between organic molecules and magnetic metals have gained increasing interest for both fundamental reasons and applications. Among them, the C60/layered antiferromagnetic (AFM) interfaces have been studied only for C60 bonded to the outermost ferromagnetic layer [S. L. Kawahara et al., Nano Lett. 12, 4558 (2012) and D. Li et al., Phys. Rev. B 93, 085425 (2016)]. Here, via density functional theory calculations combined with evidence from the literature, we demonstrate that C60 adsorption can reconstruct the layered-AFM Cr(001) surface at elevated annealing temperatures so that C60 bonds to both the outermost and the subsurface Cr layers in opposite spin directions. Surface reconstruction drastically changes the adsorbed molecule spintronic properties: (1) the spin-split p-d hybridization involves multi-orbitals of C60 and top two layers of Cr with opposite spin-polarization, (2) the subsurface Cr atom dominates the C60 electronic properties, and (3) the reconstruction induces a large magnetic moment of 0.58 μB in C60 as a synergistic effect of the top two Cr layers. The induced magnetic moment in C60 can be explained by the magnetic direct-exchange mechanism, which can be generalized to other C60/magnetic metal systems. Understanding these complex hybridization behaviors is a crucial step for molecular spintronic applications.

Intrinsic properties and strengthening mechanism of monocrystalline Ni-containing ternary concentrated solid solutions

DOE PAGES

Jin, K.; Gao, Y. F.; Bei, H.

2017-04-07

Ternary single-phase concentrated solid solution alloys (SP-CSAs), so-called "medium entropy alloys", not only possess notable mechanical and physical properties but also form a model system linking the relatively simple binary alloys to the complex high entropy alloys. Our knowledge of their intrinsic properties is vital to understand the material behavior and to prompt future applications. To this end, three model alloys NiCoFe, NiCoCr, and NiFe-20Cr have been selected and grown as single crystals. We measured their elastic constants using an ultrasonic method, and several key materials properties, such as shear modulus, bulk modulus, elastic anisotropy, and Debye temperatures have beenmore » derived. Furthermore, nanoindentation tests have been performed on these three alloys together with Ni, NiCo and NiFe on their (100) surface, to investigate the strengthening mechanisms. NiCoCr has the highest hardness, NiFe, NiCoFe and NiFe-20Cr share a similar hardness that is apparently lower than NiCoCr; NiCo has the lowest hardness in the alloys, which is similar to elemental Ni. The Labusch-type solid solution model has been applied to interpret the nanoindentation data, with two approaches used to calculate the lattice mismatch. Finally, by adopting an interatomic spacing matrix method, the Labusch model can reasonably predict the hardening effects for the whole set of materials.« less

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0068: Anti-fretting Coatings Research and Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

reduction in fatigue strength [10]. One common mitigation strategy to the fretting wear/fatigue problem in titanium alloy compressor blades is to...inter-metallic fretting wear between Ti6Al4V ( Titanium , 6% Aluminum, 4% Vanadium) and cold-sprayed, commercially pure nickel coatings. The results...fretting in an aircraft turbine engine is in the compressor section at the blade /disk interface. The blade /disk interface, also known as the

The use of virtual patient scenarios as a vehicle for teaching professionalism.

PubMed

Marei, H F; Al-Eraky, M M; Almasoud, N N; Donkers, J; Van Merrienboer, J J G

2018-05-01

This study aimed to measure students' perceptions of virtual patient scenarios (VPs) for developing ethical reasoning skills and to explore features in VP design that are necessary to promote professionalism. Sixty-five dental students participated in learning sessions that involved collaborative practice with five VPs (four high fidelity and one low fidelity), followed by reflection sessions. Students' perceptions towards the use of VPs in developing ethical reasoning skills were assessed using a questionnaire that involved 10 closed and three open-ended questions. High-fidelity VPs were perceived as significantly better for developing ethical reasoning skills than low-fidelity VPs. Analyses of answers to open-ended questions revealed two new features that are specific for VPs intended for teaching professionalism, which are VP dramatic structure and how it should end. VPs intended for teaching professionalism need to have high fidelity, follow a specific dramatic structure and should include multiple plausible endings. The use of VPs as part of a collaborative activity that is followed by a reflection session is perceived as an effective tool for the development of ethical reasoning skills in dental education. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

[Limitations and Problems with Treatment of Eating Disorders in a Psychiatric Hospital].

PubMed

Amayasu, Hideaki; Okubo, Momoe; Itai, Takahiro

2015-01-01

Treating patients who have eating disorders in psychiatric hospitals is difficult for several reasons. The first reason is that there is a shortage of qualified psychiatrists. For each psychiatrist, there are approximately thirty hospitalized patients. In addition to this limited number of psychiatrists, funding in psychiatric hospitals only provides for a limited number of other medical staff when compared with funding available for general hospitals. The second reason is that there is a problem with the national medical treatment fee system. Specifically, in the current system, patients are not permitted to stay in hospitals long-term; outpatient treatment is preferred. The third reason is that psychiatric hospitals are not equipped to deal with patients who have physical illnesses. The following two case studies highlight the problems and limitations associated with treating patients who have eating disorders. Ways in which psychiatric hospitals can collaborate with other organizations, including low enforcement officials, are also considered. Although it is clear that an integrated and collaborative approach is necessary, implementation of such a system is still a long way from being realized, and greater effort is needed to provide patients suffering from eating disorders with the best possible treatment.

SU-F-R-47: Quantitative Shape Relationship Analysis of PTV Modification for Critical Anatomy Sparing and Its Impact On Pathologic Response for Neoadjuvant Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

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

Cheng, Z; Rosati, L; Chen, L

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be used to increase surgery candidacy in borderline resectable (BRPC) and locally advanced (LAPC) pancreatic cancer. However, the planning target volume (PTV) may need to be limited to avoid toxicity when the gross tumor volume (GTV) is anatomically involved with surrounding critical structures. Our study aims to characterize the coverage of GTV and investigate the association between modified PTV and pathologic (pCR) or near pathologic (npCR) complete response rates determined from the surgical specimen. Methods: Patients treated with neoadjuvant pancreas SBRT followed by surgery from 2010–2015 were selected from Oncospace. Overlap volume histogrammore » (OVH) analysis was performed to determine the extent of compromise of the PTV from both the GTV and a standard target (GTV+3mm). Subsequently, normalized overlap volume (%) was calculated for: (1) GTV-PTV, and (2) GTV+3mm expansion-PTV. A logistic regression model was used to identify the association between the overlap ratios and ≥ npCR(pCR/npCR) stratified by active breathing control (ABC) versus free-breathing status. Results: Eighty-one (BRPC: n=42, LAPC: n=39) patients were available for analysis. Nearly 40% (31/81) had ≥npCR and 75% (61/81) were able to complete ABC. Mean coverage of the GTV-PTV was 92.6% (range, 59.9%–100%, SD = 8.68) and coverage of the GTV+3mm expansion-PTV was 85. 2% (range, 59.9% −100.0%, SD= 8.67). Among the patients with ABC, every 10% increase in GTV coverage doubled the odds to have ≥npCR (OR = 1.82, p=0.06). Coverage of GTV+3mm expansion was not associated with ≥npCR regardless of ABC status. Conclusion: Preferential sparing of critical anatomy over GTV-PTV coverage with ABC management suggests worse ≥npCR rates for neoadjuvant SBRT in BRPC and LAPC. Limiting the GTV and GTV+3mm expansion in free-breathing patients was not associated with pathologic response perhaps due to larger GTV definitions as a result of motion artifacts in free-breathing CT scans. Collaboration with Toshiba, Elekta, and Phillips.« less

Research Infrastructure for Collaborative Team Science: Challenges in Technology-Supported Workflows in and Across Laboratories, Institutions, and Geographies.

PubMed

Mirel, Barbara; Luo, Airong; Harris, Marcelline

2015-05-01

Collaborative research has many challenges. One under-researched challenge is how to align collaborators' research practices and evolving analytical reasoning with technologies and configurations of technologies that best support them. The goal of such alignment is to enhance collaborative problem solving capabilities in research. Toward this end, we draw on our own research and a synthesis of the literature to characterize the workflow of collaborating scientists in systems-level renal disease research. We describe the various phases of a hypothetical workflow among diverse collaborators within and across laboratories, extending from their primary analysis through secondary analysis. For each phase, we highlight required technology supports, and. At time, complementary organizational supports. This survey of supports matching collaborators' analysis practices and needs in research projects to technological support is preliminary, aimed ultimately at developing a research capability framework that can help scientists and technologists mutually understand workflows and technologies that can help enable and enhance them. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Adaptive power allocation schemes based on IAFS algorithm for OFDM-based cognitive radio systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuying; Zhao, Xiaohui; Liang, Cong; Ding, Xu

2017-01-01

In cognitive radio (CR) systems, reasonable power allocation can increase transmission rate of CR users or secondary users (SUs) as much as possible and at the same time insure normal communication among primary users (PUs). This study proposes an optimal power allocation scheme for the OFDM-based CR system with one SU influenced by multiple PU interference constraints. This scheme is based on an improved artificial fish swarm (IAFS) algorithm in combination with the advantage of conventional artificial fish swarm (ASF) algorithm and particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm. In performance comparison of IAFS algorithm with other intelligent algorithms by simulations, the superiority of the IAFS algorithm is illustrated; this superiority results in better performance of our proposed scheme than that of the power allocation algorithms proposed by the previous studies in the same scenario. Furthermore, our proposed scheme can obtain higher transmission data rate under the multiple PU interference constraints and the total power constraint of SU than that of the other mentioned works.

Tensile and impact properties of General Atomics 832864 heat of V-4Cr-4Ti alloy

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

Tsai, H.; Nowicki, L.J.; Gazda, J.

A 1300-kg heat of V-4Cr-4Ti alloy was procured by General Atomics (GA) for the DIII-D radiative divertor program. To determine the mechanical properties of this alloy, tensile and Charpy tests were conducted on specimens prepared from pieces of 4.8-mm-thick as-rolled plates, a major product form for the DIII-D application. The tensile tests were conducted at three temperatures, 26, 280 and 380 C, the last two being the anticipated peak temperatures during DIII-D boronization and postvent bake-out, respectively. Results from these tests show that the tensile and impact properties of the 832864 heat are comparable to those of the other smallermore » V-(4-5)Cr-(4-5)Ti alloy heats previously developed by the US Fusion Materials Program and that scale-up of vanadium alloy production can be successfully achieved as long as reasonable process control is implemented.« less

Tunable d-Limonene Permeability in Starch-Based Nanocomposite Films Reinforced by Cellulose Nanocrystals.

PubMed

Liu, Siyuan; Li, Xiaoxi; Chen, Ling; Li, Lin; Li, Bing; Zhu, Jie

2018-01-31

In order to control d-limonene permeability, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were used to regulate starch-based film multiscale structures. The effect of sphere-like cellulose nanocrystal (CS) and rod-like cellulose nanocrystal (CR) on starch molecular interaction, short-range molecular conformation, crystalline structure, and micro-ordered aggregated region structure were systematically discussed. CNC aspect ratio and content were proved to be independent variables to control d-limonene permeability via film-structure regulation. New hydrogen bonding formation and increased hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) relative crystallinity could be the reason for the lower d-limonene permeability compared with tortuous path model approximation. More hydrogen bonding formation, higher HPS relative crystallinity and larger size of micro-ordered aggregated region in CS0.5 and CR2 could explain the lower d-limonene permeability than CS2 and CR0.5, respectively. This study provided new insight for the control of the flavor release from starch-based films, which favored its application in biodegradable food packaging and flavor encapsulation.

Use of ATP analogs to inhibit HIV-1 transcription

PubMed Central

Narayanan, Aarthi; Sampey, Gavin; Van Duyne, Rachel; Guendel, Irene; Kehn-Hall, Kylene; Roman, Jessica; Currer, Robert; Galons, Hervé; Oumata, Nassima; Joseph, Benoît; Meijer, Laurent; Caputi, Massimo; Nekhai, Sergei; Kashanchi, Fatah

2012-01-01

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the etiological agent of AIDS. Chronic persistent infection is an important reason for the presence of “latent cell populations” even after Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART). We have analyzed the effect of ATP analogs in inhibiting cdk9/T1 complex in infected cells. A third generation drug named CR8#13 is an effective inhibitor of Tat activated transcription. Following drug treatment, we observed a decreased loading of cdk9 onto the HIV-1 DNA. We found multiple novel cdk9/T1 complexes present in infected and uninfected cells with one complex being unique to infected cells. This complex is sensitive to CR8#13 in kinase assays. Treatment of PBMC with CR8#13 does not kill infected cells as compared to Flavopiridol. Interestingly, there is a difference in sensitivity of various clades to these analogs. Collectively, these results point to targeting novel complexes for inhibition of cellular proteins that are unique to infected cells. PMID:22771113

Assessing residual cancer cells using MRI and US after preoperative chemotherapy in primary breast cancer to omit surgery.

PubMed

Iwase, Madoka; Sawaki, Masataka; Hattori, Masaya; Yoshimura, Akiyo; Ishiguro, Junko; Kotani, Haruru; Gondo, Naomi; Adachi, Yayoi; Kataoka, Ayumi; Onishi, Sakura; Sugino, Kayoko; Iwata, Hiroji

2018-04-04

Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) are used to assess residual lesions after preoperative chemotherapy before surgery. However, residual lesion assessments based on preoperative imaging often differ from postoperative pathologic diagnoses. We retrospectively reviewed the accuracy of preoperative residual lesion assessments, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cases to find criteria for cases in which surgery can be omitted. We reviewed 201 patients who received preoperative chemotherapy and surgery in our hospital from January 2013 to November 2016. Presurgical evaluations regarding the possible existence of residual lesions, and clinical Complete Response (cCR) or non-cCR, were compared with postoperative pathological diagnoses. Of the 201 patients, 52 were diagnosed with cCR, and 39 with pathological complete response (pCR). Predictions for residual lesions were 86.4% sensitive, 76.9% specific, and 84.6% accurate. When patients were divided into 4 groups by estrogen receptor (ER) and HER2 status, sensitivity in each group was ER + /HER2 - : 91.4%; ER - /HER2 - : 94.1%; ER + /HER2 + : 78.6%; and ER - /HER2 + : 78.5%. Of the 22 patients preoperatively assessed with cCR, but diagnosed with non-pCR, the median invasive residual tumor size was 2 mm (range 0-46 mm); 5 patients (22.7%) had only DCIS. Predicting residual lesions after preoperative chemotherapy by using MRI and US is a reasonable strategy. However, current methods are inadequate for identifying patients who can omit surgery; therefore, a new strategy for detecting small tumors in these patients is needed.

A little adjustment of synthetic strategy led to a new highly repeated heteropolyblue: Structure, characterizations and photocatalytic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wu-Hua; Zhang, Zhu-Sen; Zhao, Jin-Hua; Qiu, Ze-Hai; Yuan, Qiu-Lan; Huang, Tian-Fu; Lin, Xue-Yu; Hu, Zhi-Biao

2017-06-01

Hydrothermal synthesis is known as the most efficient method to prepare novel structural polyoxometalate (POM)-based materials, but controlled synthesis of a structure-directing POM is always challenging task. The experimental repeatability is usually one of the key topics. To explore a reliable hydrothermal synthesis approach for new POMs will be a meaningful work. Our previous work, which we have hydrothermally synthesized the first Cr-complexes-capped Keggin-type POM, [Hdma]3[H2phen]{[Cr(phen)]2[MoV8MoVI4O36(PO4)]}·nH2O (n ≈ 2) (Chen et al., polyhedron, 2015, 85, 117), afford us some commendable synthetic experiences, arouse us some introspections as well for its tricky preparation conditions and low experimental repeatability. Based on the aforementioned work, a new high-repetition-rate and more steady heteropolyblue, [H3O]0.5(Hdma)2.5(dma)0.25{[Cr(phen)]2[MoV6MoVI6O8(PO4)]}·2H2O (1) (dma = dimethylamine (C2H7N), phen = 1,10-phenanthroline (C12H8N2)), has been successfully obtained by virtue of reasonably adjusting synthetic strategy. The adjustment of synthetic strategy includes controlling ratio of reactants and aging time, reasonably using redoxes and stepwise self-assembly plans. Compound 1 is the second POM with Keggin-type polyanion capped by Cr-complexes. Experiments demonstrate that compound 1 has good catalytic activity in the both degradation reactions of rhodamine B (RHB) and methyl orange (MO) under ultraviolet (UV)-light and oxidant H2O2 conditions. Detailed structural characterizations include single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) analyses, elemental analyses, cerate oxidimetry, powder XRD, fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) solid diffuse reflection spectrum and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. The electrochemical property (cyclic voltammetry (CV)) of compound 1 has also been studied.

Why is it so difficult to classify Renazzo-type (CR) carbonaceous chondrites? - Implications from TEM observations of matrices for the sequences of aqueous alteration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abreu, Neyda M.

2016-12-01

A number of different classifications have been proposed for the CR chondrites; this study aims at reconciling these different schemes. Mineralogy-based classification has proved particularly challenging for weakly to moderately altered CRs because incipient mineral replacement and elemental mobilization arising from aqueous alteration only affected the most susceptible primary phases, which are generally located in the matrix. Secondary matrix phases are extremely fine-grained (generally sub-micron) and heterogeneously mixed with primary nebular materials. Compositional and isotopic classification parameters are fraught with confounding factors, such as terrestrial weathering, impact processes, and variable abundance of clasts from different regions of the CR parent body or from altogether different planetary bodies. Here, detailed TEM observations from eighteen FIB sections retrieved from the matrices of nine Antarctic CR chondrites (EET 96259, GRA 95229, GRO 95577, GRO 03116, LAP 02342, LAP 04516, LAP 04720, MIL 07525, and MIL 090001) are presented, representing a range of petrologic types. Amorphous Fe-Mg silicates are found to be the dominant phase in all but the most altered CR chondrite matrices, which still retain significant amounts of these amorphous materials. Amorphous Fe-Mg silicates are mixed with phyllosilicates at the nanometer scale. The ratio of amorphous Fe-Mg silicates to phyllosilicates decreases as: (1) the size of phyllosilicates, (2) abundance of magnetite, and (3) replacement of Fe-Ni sulfides increase. Carbonates are only abundant in the most altered CR chondrite, GRO 95577. Nanophase Fe-Ni metal and tochilinite are present small abundances in most CR matrices. Based on the presence, abundance and size of phyllosilicates with respect to amorphous Fe-Mg silicates, the sub-micron features of CR chondrites have been linked to existing classification sequences, and possible reasons for inconsistencies among classification schemes are discussed.

Storytelling as an Instructional Method: Research Perspectives (Modeling and Simulations for Learning and Instruction)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

solving the problem and then applying facts and skills to reach a solution (Savery, 1998). KEY INSTRUCTIONAL STORY RESEARCH QUESTIONS Regardless of the...collaborative writing in higher education. In C. J. Bonk & K. S. King (Eds.), Electronic collaborators: Learner-centered technologies for literacy ...Gentner and Kokinov (2001) and luthe (2005), analogical reasoning involves making inferences from the similarity of relationships of elements across two

Oxidation Resistant, Cr Retaining, Electrically Conductive Coatings on Metallic Alloys for SOFC Interconnects

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

Vladimir Gorokhovsky

2008-03-31

This report describes significant results from an on-going, collaborative effort to enable the use of inexpensive metallic alloys as interconnects in planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) through the use of advanced coating technologies. Arcomac Surface Engineering, LLC, under the leadership of Dr. Vladimir Gorokhovsky, is investigating filtered-arc and filtered-arc plasma-assisted hybrid coating deposition technologies to promote oxidation resistance, eliminate Cr volatility, and stabilize the electrical conductivity of both standard and specialty steel alloys of interest for SOFC metallic interconnect (IC) applications. Arcomac has successfully developed technologies and processes to deposit coatings with excellent adhesion, which have demonstrated a substantialmore » increase in high temperature oxidation resistance, stabilization of low Area Specific Resistance values and significantly decrease Cr volatility. An extensive matrix of deposition processes, coating compositions and architectures was evaluated. Technical performance of coated and uncoated sample coupons during exposures to SOFC interconnect-relevant conditions is discussed, and promising future directions are considered. Cost analyses have been prepared based on assessment of plasma processing parameters, which demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed surface engineering process for SOFC metallic IC applications.« less

Diffuse galactic gamma rays at intermediate and high latitudes. I. Constraints on the ISM properties

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

Cholis, Ilias; Tavakoli, Maryam; Evoli, Carmelo

2012-05-01

We study the high latitude (|b| > 10°) diffuse γ-ray emission in the Galaxy in light of the recently published data from the Fermi collaboration at energies between 100 MeV and 100 GeV. The unprecedented accuracy in these measurements allows to probe and constrain the properties of sources and propagation of cosmic rays (CRs) in the Galaxy, as well as confirming conventional assumptions made on the interstellar medium (ISM). Using the publicly available DRAGON code, that has been shown to reproduce local measurements of CRs, we study assumptions made in the literature on atomic (HI) and molecular hydrogen (H2) gasmore » distributions in the ISM, and non spatially uniform models of diffusion in the Galaxy. By performing a combined analysis of CR and γ-ray spectra, we derive constraints on the properties of the ISM gas distribution and the vertical scale height of galactic CR diffusion, which may have implications also on indirect Dark Matter detection. We also discuss some of the possible interpretations of the break at high rigidity in CR protons and helium spectra, recently observed by PAMELA and their impact on γ-rays.« less

Distributed Deliberative Recommender Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Recio-García, Juan A.; Díaz-Agudo, Belén; González-Sanz, Sergio; Sanchez, Lara Quijano

Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) is one of most successful applied AI technologies of recent years. Although many CBR systems reason locally on a previous experience base to solve new problems, in this paper we focus on distributed retrieval processes working on a network of collaborating CBR systems. In such systems, each node in a network of CBR agents collaborates, arguments and counterarguments its local results with other nodes to improve the performance of the system's global response. We describe D2ISCO: a framework to design and implement deliberative and collaborative CBR systems that is integrated as a part of jcolibritwo an established framework in the CBR community. We apply D2ISCO to one particular simplified type of CBR systems: recommender systems. We perform a first case study for a collaborative music recommender system and present the results of an experiment of the accuracy of the system results using a fuzzy version of the argumentation system AMAL and a network topology based on a social network. Besides individual recommendation we also discuss how D2ISCO can be used to improve recommendations to groups and we present a second case of study based on the movie recommendation domain with heterogeneous groups according to the group personality composition and a group topology based on a social network.

Final Technical Report for Collaborative Research: Developing and Implementing Ocean-Atmosphere Reanalyses for Climate Applications (OARCA)

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

Compo, Gilbert P

As an important step toward a coupled data assimilation system for generating reanalysis fields needed to assess climate model projections, the Ocean Atmosphere Coupled Reanalysis for Climate Applications (OARCA) project assesses and improves the longest reanalyses currently available of the atmosphere and ocean: the 20th Century Reanalysis Project (20CR) and the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation with sparse observational input (SODAsi) system, respectively. In this project, we make off-line but coordinated improvements in the 20CR and SODAsi datasets, with improvements in one feeding into improvements of the other through an iterative generation of new versions. These datasets now span from themore » 19th to 21st centuries. We then study the extreme weather and variability from days to decades of the resulting datasets. A total of 24 publications have been produced in this project.« less

Collaborative Technology Assessments Of Transient Field Processing And Additive Manufacturing Technologies As Applied To Gas Turbine Components

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

Ludtka, Gerard Michael; Dehoff, Ryan R.; Szabo, Attila

2016-01-01

ORNL partnered with GE Power & Water to investigate the effect of thermomagnetic processing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of GE Power & Water newly developed wrought Ni-Fe-Cr alloys. Exploration of the effects of high magnetic field process during heat treatment of the alloys indicated conditions where applications of magnetic fields yields significant property improvements. The alloy aged using high magnetic field processing exhibited 3 HRC higher hardness compared to the conventionally-aged alloy. The alloy annealed at 1785 F using high magnetic field processing demonstrated an average creep life 2.5 times longer than that of the conventionally heat-treated alloy.more » Preliminary results show that high magnetic field processing can improve the mechanical properties of Ni-Fe-Cr alloys and potentially extend the life cycle of the gas turbine components such as nozzles leading to significant energy savings.« less

Utilizing constructivism learning theory in collaborative testing as a creative strategy to promote essential nursing skills.

PubMed

Duane, Barbara T; Satre, Maria E

2014-01-01

In nursing education, students participate in individual learner testing. This process follows the instructionist learning theory of a system model. However, in the practice of nursing, success depends upon collaboration with numerous people in different capacities, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and the ability to communicate with others. Research has shown that collaborative testing, a constructivism learning activity and a form of collaborative learning, enhances students' abilities to master these areas. Collaborative testing is a clear, creative strategy which constructivists would say supports the socio-linguistic base of their learning theory. The test becomes an active implementation of peer-mediated learning where individual knowledge is enhanced through problem solving or defense of an individual position with the collaborative method. There is criticism for the testing method's potential of grade inflation and for students to receive grade benefits with little effort. After a review of various collaborative testing methods, this nursing faculty implemented a collaborative testing format that addresses both the positive and negative aspects of the process. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Caloric restriction in primates and relevance to humans.

PubMed

Roth, G S; Ingram, D K; Lane, M A

2001-04-01

Dietary caloric restriction (CR) is the only intervention conclusively and reproducibly shown to slow aging and maintain health and vitality in mammals. Although this paradigm has been known for over 60 years, its precise biological mechanisms and applicability to humans remain unknown. We began addressing the latter question in 1987 with the first controlled study of CR in primates (rhesus and squirrel monkeys, which are evolutionarily much closer to humans than the rodents most frequently employed in CR studies). To date, our results strongly suggest that the same beneficial "antiaging" and/or "antidisease" effects observed in CR rodents also occur in primates. These include lower plasma insulin levels and greater sensitivity; lower body temperatures; reduced cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and arterial stiffness; elevated HDL; and slower age-related decline in circulating levels of DHEAS. Collectively, these biomarkers suggest that CR primates will be less likely to incur diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and other age-related diseases and may in fact be aging more slowly than fully fed counterparts. Despite these very encouraging results, it is unlikely that most humans would be willing to maintain a 30% reduced diet for the bulk of their adult life span, even if it meant more healthy years. For this reason, we have begun to explore CR mimetics, agents that might elicit the same beneficial effects as CR, without the necessity of dieting. Our initial studies have focused on 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), a sugar analogue with a limited metabolism that actually reduces glucose/energy flux without decreasing food intake in rats. In a six-month pilot study, 2DG lowered plasma insulin and body temperature in a manner analagous to that of CR. Thus, metabolic effects that mediate the CR mechanism can be attained pharmacologically. Doses were titrated to eliminate toxicity; a long-term longevity study is now under way. In addition, data from other laboratories suggest that at least some of the same physiological/metabolic end points that are associated with the beneficial effects of underfeeding may be obtained from other potential CR mimetic agents, some naturally occurring in food products. Much work remains to be done, but taken together, our successful results with CR in primates and 2DG administration to rats suggest that it may indeed be possible to obtain the health- and longevity-promoting effects of the former intervention without actually decreasing food intake.

Women's experiences accessing a women-centered cardiac rehabilitation program: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Rolfe, Danielle E; Sutton, Erica J; Landry, Mireille; Sternberg, Len; Price, Jennifer A D

2010-01-01

The health benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) for women living with heart disease are well documented, yet women remain underrepresented in traditionally structured CR programs. This health service delivery gap has been attributed to a number of sex-related factors experienced by women, including lower rates of physician referral, travel-related barriers, competing work and caregiving responsibilities, greater cardiovascular disease severity, and number of comorbid health conditions. Whether a program specifically designed for women is able to address these barriers and facilitate women's participation is a question that has seldom been explored in the CR literature. As part of a larger study exploring whether 6 predefined principles of women's health (empowerment of women, accessible programs, broad definition of health care, high-quality of care, collaborative planning, and innovative and creative approaches) are reflected in the practices of the Women's Cardiovascular Health Initiative (WCHI) (a comprehensive CR and primary prevention program designed for women), the objective of this analysis was to explore how the principle of "accessible programs" is experienced by women participating in the WCHI. Fourteen women previously enrolled in the WCHI program participated in a single, in-person qualitative interview. Transcripts were analyzed using a constant-comparative approach to identify relevant themes related to program accessibility. Key themes identified included participants' experiences with acquiring physician referral, negotiating transportation issues, and navigating program schedules. Women discussed how peer support and staff members' willingness to address their health-related concerns facilitated their participation. While a women-centered CR/primary prevention program may facilitate and encourage women's participation by providing flexible program schedules as well as peer and professional support, efforts are still required to address persistent barriers for women related to physician referral and transportation to programs.

Galactic synchrotron radiation from radio to microwaves, and its relation to cosmic-ray propagation models: past, present and future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orlando, Elena

2016-04-01

Galactic synchrotron radiation observed from radio to microwaves is produced by cosmic-ray (CR) electrons propagating in magnetic fields (B-fields). The low-frequency foreground component separated maps by WMAP and Planck depend on the assumed synchrotron spectrum. The synchrotron spectrum varies for different line of sights as a result of changes on the CR spectrum due to propagation effects and source distributions. Our present knowledge of the CR spectrum at different locations in the Galaxy is not sufficient to distinguish various possibilities in the modeling. As a consequence uncertainties on synchrotron emission models complicate the foreground component separation analysis with Planck and future microwave telescopes. Hence, any advancement in synchrotron modeling is important for separating the different foreground components.The first step towards a more comprehensive understanding of degeneracy and correlation among the synchrotron model parameters is outlined in our Strong et al. 2011 and Orlando et al. 2013 papers. In the latter the conclusion was that CR spectrum, propagation models, B-fields, and foreground component separation analysis need to be studied simultaneously in order to properly obtain and interpret the synchrotron foreground. Indeed for the officially released Planck maps, we use only the best spectral model from our above paper for the component separation analysis.Here we present a collections of our latest results on synchrotron, CRs and B-fields in the context of CR propagation, showing also our recent work on B-fields within the Planck Collaboration. We underline also the importance of using the constraints on CRs that we obtain from gamma ray observations. Methods and perspectives for further studies on the synchrotron foreground will be addressed.

A comparison of discontinuation rates of tofacitinib and biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

PubMed

Park, Sun-Kyeong; Lee, Min-Young; Jang, Eun-Jin; Kim, Hye-Lin; Ha, Dong-Mun; Lee, Eui-Kyung

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the discontinuation rates of tofacitinib and biologics (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), abatacept, rituximab, and tocilizumab) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients considering inadequate responses (IRs) to previous treatment(s). Randomised controlled trials of tofacitinib and biologics - reporting at least one total discontinuation, discontinuation due to lack of efficacy (LOE), and discontinuation due to adverse events (AEs) - were identified through systematic review. The analyses were conducted for patients with IRs to conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) and for patients with biologics-IR, separately. Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to estimate rate ratio (RR) of a biologic relative to tofacitinib with 95% credible interval (CrI), and probability of RR being <1 (P[RR<1]). The analyses of 34 studies showed no significant differences in discontinuation rates between tofacitinib and biologics in the cDMARDs-IR group. In the biologics-IR group, however, TNFi (RR 0.17, 95% CrI 0.01-3.61, P[RR<1] 92.0%) and rituximab (RR 0.20, 95% CrI 0.01-2.91, P[RR<1] 92.3%) showed significantly lower total discontinuation rates than tofacitinib did. Despite the difference, discontinuation cases owing to LOE and AEs revealed that tofacitinib was comparable to the biologics. The comparability of discontinuation rate between tofacitinib and biologics was different based on previous treatments and discontinuation reasons: LOE, AEs, and total (due to other reasons). Therefore, those factors need to be considered to decide the optimal treatment strategy.

A Population Pharmacokinetic Model for 51Cr EDTA to Estimate Renal Function.

PubMed

Kuan, Isabelle H S; Duffull, Stephen B; Putt, Tracey L; Schollum, John B W; Walker, Robert J; Wright, Daniel F B

2017-06-01

51 Cr EDTA clearance (CL) from plasma is used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We propose that current methods for analysing the raw 51 Cr EDTA measurements over-simplifies the disposition of 51 Cr EDTA and therefore could produce biased GFR estimates. The aim of this study was to develop a population pharmacokinetic model for 51 Cr EDTA disposition and to compare model-predicted GFR to other methods of estimating renal function. Data from 40 individuals who received ~7.4 MBq of 51 Cr EDTA, as an intravenous bolus, were available for analysis. Plasma radioactivity (counts/min) was measured from timed collection points at 2, 4, 6 and 24 h after the dose. A population analysis was conducted using NONMEM ® version 7.2. Model-predicted GFR was compared with other methods for estimating renal function using mean prediction error (MPE). A two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with first-order elimination best fit the data. Compared with the model predictions, creatinine CL from 24 h urine data was unbiased. The commonly used 'slope-intercept' method for estimating isotopic GFR was positively biased compared with the model (MPE 15.5 mL/min/1.73 m 2 [95% confidence interval {CI} 8.9-22.2]. The Cockcroft Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-Epi) equations led to negatively biased GFR estimates (MPE -19.0 [95% CI -25.4 to -12.7], -20.1 [95% CI -27.2 to -13.1] and -16.5 [95% CI -22.2 to -10.1] mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively). The biased GFR estimates were most obvious in patients with relatively normal renal function. This may lead to inaccurate dosing in patients who are receiving drugs with a narrow therapeutic range where dosing is adjusted according to GFR estimates (e.g. carboplatin). The study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), number: ACTRN 12611000035921.

Potential Applications of JNPP to Infrared-Based Remote Sensing of Volcanic Emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Realmuto, V. J.

2016-12-01

The simultaneous collection of VIIRS, CrIS, and OMPS data will make JNPP an ideal platform for monitoring volcanic emissions. For daytime overpasses we will obtain three contemporaneous, but independent, estimates of SO2 column density, as well as information on the quantity and composition of aerosols and volcanic ash. We will use the independent measurements to validate individual retrieval techniques, and exploit the synergy between UV and TIR remote sensing. The finer spatial resolution of VIIRS (750 m at nadir), relative to OMPS (50 km) and CrIS (14 km), will allow us to characterize variations in surface conditions, plume composition, and the distribution of clouds within an IFOV of CrIS or OMPS, and assess the impact of these variations on the SO2retrievals. Atmospheric profiles are an essential input to the retrieval procedures, and the profiles derived from CrIS soundings will provide us with an accurate description of atmospheric conditions local to the plumes. In addition, the fine spectral resolution of CrIS will enable us to identify and quantify the components of heterogeneous (gas + particulate) plumes. We will demonstrate the potential use of JPSS to map volcanic planes through the analyses of TIR data acquired by EOS (ASTER, MODIS, and AIRS) and SNPP (VIIRS and CrIS) instruments over the plumes generated by recent eruptions of Eyjafallajökull, Bardarbunga (Iceland), Calbuco (Chile), and Ontake (Japan) Volcanoes. We will present comparisons of the TIR-based retrievals to OMI and SNPP-OMPS data products. Finally, we will outline a path to operations through collaboration with the Alaska Volcano Observatory (USGS), Anchorage Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (NWS + FAA), NASA-GSFC Direct Readout Lab, and University of Alaska-Fairbanks. This research was conducted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract to National Atmospheric and Space Administration.

"...because I am something special" or "I think I will be something like a guinea pig": information and assent of legal minors in clinical trials – assessment of understanding, appreciation and reasoning

PubMed Central

Koelch, Michael; Singer, Hanneke; Prestel, Anja; Burkert, Jessica; Schulze, Ulrike; Fegert, Jörg M

2009-01-01

Background The aim of this study is to assess and evaluate the capacities for understanding, appreciation and reasoning of legal minors with psychiatric disorders and their parents and their competence to consent or assent to participation in clinical trials. The beliefs, fears, motivation and influencing factors for decision-making of legal minors and parents were also examined. Methods Using the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR), an instrument developed for adults whose capacities to consent are unclear, we provided information about clinical trials and assessed understanding, appreciation and reasoning. We adapted this tool for legal minors and examined 19 children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 15 with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or ADHD combined with oppositional defiant disorder (DSM-IV 314.00/314.01/312.8) enrolled in clinical trials. Parents were also examined using the MacCAT-CR. Results Facts such as the procedures involved in trials or their duration were well understood by legal minors, but more abstract issues like the primary purpose of the trial were not understood by children and adolescents or by many parents. Legal minors also had difficulties understanding the nature of placebo and the probability of receiving placebo. Children's and adolescents' decisions were influenced by fears about their disorder worsening and by problems in their relationship with their parents. Parents wanted the best therapy for their children in order to minimize problems in school. Conclusion Legal minors and parents need to be informed more precisely about specific issues like placebo and the primary purpose of trials. In general, the reasoning of children and adolescents was influenced by their experience with their disorder and decision making was based on reasonable arguments. Their fears were based on everyday experiences such as school performance or family relationships. PMID:19175905

Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D). Delivery Order 0051: Atomic Scale Transmission Electron Microscope Image Modeling and Application to Semiconductor Heterointerface Characterization

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. 1. REPORT DATE (DD...microscopy ( AEM ), to characterize a variety of III-V semiconductor thin films. The materials investigated include superlattices based on the InAs- GaSb...technique. TEM observations were performed using a Philips-CM 200 FEG transmission electron microscope equipped with a field emission gun, operated at an

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0034: Aircraft Coatings Modeling and Simulation

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-03-01

bonded potentials used. The interactions between the beads were described using 6-12 Lennard - Jones (LJ) potential (Equation (1)) with a 2.5 d cutoff...in Lennard - Jones potential for the non-bonded interactions is at 1.12 d in line with the second peak. The remainder of the g(r)chain-chain has...Simulator). 40 Lennard - Jones and Coulombic interactions for pairs of organic atoms were computed using a switching function with inner and outer cutoffs of

Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D). Task Order 0061: Modeling Complex Structural Geometry and Process Interaction

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

a Titanium and Gamma-TiAl Alloy, JOM, September 2005, 50-54 4 Chapter 1 [ref3] Caton, M.J., Jha, S.K., Larsen, J.M., Rosenberger, A.H., TMS...Figure 5: Notch 3 strain distribution at 900MPa 25 Chapter 3 Figure 6 : Notch 3 inverse pole figure of local microstructure. Figure 7: Notch 4 ...showing the local grain structure Figure 6 : Local strain distribution at 986MPa calculated from 36 Chapter 4 Figure 7: Secondary electron

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0043: Deformation and Texture Development During Hot Working of Titanium

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-04-01

Hot Working of Titanium 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER F33615-03-D-5801-0043 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 61202F 6 . AUTHOR(S) A.A...micrographs and thus to correlate microstructural features and texture data [3- 6 ]. For instance, Germain, et al. [3, 4 ] linked local orientations...microstructures can be developed in alpha/beta titanium alloys by TMP [2- 4 ], namely, fully lamellar, fully equiaxed, and duplex (bi-modal). A mixture

Summary Record of the GFF Community of Interest on the Practice and Organization of Intelligence Ottawa Roundtable: What Can the Cognitive and Behavioural Sciences Contribute to Intelligence Analysis? Towards a Collaborative Agenda for the Future

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

Discussion..................................... 14 5 Dinner Lecture: What Can Jazz Contribute to Intelligence Analysis...trade-offs. The implications of low integrative complexity include a limited information search, rigid following of established plans, black -white...also scientists can be of help. DRDC Toronto CR 2010-012 17 5 Dinner Lecture: What Can Jazz Contribute to Intelligence Analysis

Studies of Silicon-Refractory Metal Interfaces: Photoemission Study of Interface Formation and Compound Nucleation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-10-29

Photoelectron energy analysis was done with Si s states 10--14 eV below E,. For CoSi2 and NiSi2, a commercial double-pass electron energy analyzer . The...Collaborative studies with theorists gave rise to modeling ,f interfaces and calculation of electronic energy states for ordered silicides. (i, ,I... analyzed by a double-pass cylindrical mirror energy A. There is no evidence of Cr outdiffusion into the Au analyzer , and the overall resolution

Visualization analysis of author collaborations in schizophrenia research.

PubMed

Wu, Ying; Duan, Zhiguang

2015-02-19

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that levies a heavy medical toll and cost burden throughout the world. Scientific collaborations are necessary for progress in psychiatric research. However, there have been few publications on scientific collaborations in schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of author collaborations in schizophrenia research. This study used 58,107 records on schizophrenia from 2003 to 2012 which were downloaded from Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI Expanded) via Web of Science. CiteSpace III, an information visualization and analysis software, was used to make a visual analysis. Collaborative author networks within the field of schizophrenia were determined using published documents. We found that external author collaboration networks were more scattered while potential author collaboration networks were more compact. Results from hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the main collaborative field was genetic research in schizophrenia. Based on the results, authors belonging to different institutions and in different countries should be encouraged to collaborate in schizophrenia research. This will help researchers focus their studies on key issues, and allow each other to offer reasonable suggestions for making polices and providing scientific evidence to effectively diagnose, prevent, and cure schizophrenia.

Simulation of double beta decay in the ''SeXe'' TPC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mauger, F.

2007-04-01

In 2004, the NEMO collaboration has started some preliminary studies for a next-generation double beta decay experiment: SuperNEMO. The possibility to use a large gaseous TPC has been investigated using simulation and extrapolation of former experiments. In this talk, I report on the reasons why such techniques have not been selected in 2004 and led the NEMO collaboration to reuse the techniques implemented within the NEMO3 detector.

Improving Tools and Processes in Mechanical Design Collaboration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Briggs, Clark

2009-01-01

Cooperative product development projects in the aerospace and defense industry are held hostage to high cost and risk due to poor alignment of collaborative design tools and processes. This impasse can be broken if companies will jointly develop implementation approaches and practices in support of high value working arrangements. The current tools can be used to better advantage in many situations and there is reason for optimism that tool vendors will provide significant support.

Treatment of chrome plating wastewater (Cr+6) using activated alumina.

PubMed

Sarkar, Sudipta; Gupta, Anirban

2003-01-01

Suitability of activated alumina for removal of hexavalent chromium from electroplating wastewater has been investigated. Activated alumina exhibited good sorption capacity for hexavalent chromium and pH has no pronounced effect on the sorption capacity. Both batch and column adsorption studies have been carried out and an adsorption column design indicated reasonable depth of column for practical application.

Understanding the physical metallurgy of the CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy: an atomistic simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Won-Mi; Jo, Yong Hee; Sohn, Seok Su; Lee, Sunghak; Lee, Byeong-Joo

2018-01-01

Although high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are attracting interest, the physical metallurgical mechanisms related to their properties have mostly not been clarified, and this limits wider industrial applications, in addition to the high alloy costs. We clarify the physical metallurgical reasons for the materials phenomena (sluggish diffusion and micro-twining at cryogenic temperatures) and investigate the effect of individual elements on solid solution hardening for the equiatomic CoCrFeMnNi HEA based on atomistic simulations (Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics and molecular statics). A significant number of stable vacant lattice sites with high migration energy barriers exists and is thought to cause the sluggish diffusion. We predict that the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) structure is more stable than the face-centered cubic (fcc) structure at 0 K, which we propose as the fundamental reason for the micro-twinning at cryogenic temperatures. The alloying effect on the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) is well predicted by the atomistic simulation, used for a design of non-equiatomic fcc HEAs with improved strength, and is experimentally verified. This study demonstrates the applicability of the proposed atomistic approach combined with a thermodynamic calculation technique to a computational design of advanced HEAs.

The EGS Data Collaboration Platform: Enabling Scientific Discovery

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

Weers, Jonathan D; Johnston, Henry; Huggins, Jay V

Collaboration in the digital age has been stifled in recent years. Reasonable responses to legitimate security concerns have created a virtual landscape of silos and fortified castles incapable of sharing information efficiently. This trend is unfortunately opposed to the geothermal scientific community's migration toward larger, more collaborative projects. To facilitate efficient sharing of information between team members from multiple national labs, universities, and private organizations, the 'EGS Collab' team has developed a universally accessible, secure data collaboration platform and has fully integrated it with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Data Repository (GDR) and the National Geothermal Data Systemmore » (NGDS). This paper will explore some of the challenges of collaboration in the modern digital age, highlight strategies for active data management, and discuss the integration of the EGS Collab data management platform with the GDR to enable scientific discovery through the timely dissemination of information.« less

Characterization of CuCrZr and CuCrZr/SS joint strength for different blanket components manufacturing conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillia, Olivier; Briottet, Laurent; Chu, Isabelle; Lemoine, Patrick; Rigal, Emmanuel; Peacock, Alan

2009-04-01

This work describes studies on the strength of CuCrZr/SS joints for different manufacturing conditions foreseen for the fabrication of blanket components. In the meantime, as junction strength is expected to be strongly related to CuCrZr properties, investigation on the properties of the CuCrZr itself after the different manufacturing conditions is also presented. The initial manufacturing conditions retained were made of a HIP treatment combined with a fast cooling plus a subsequent ageing treatment. For security reasons, the HIP-quenching operation was not possible. A supplementary solutionning cycle with fast cooling has thus been inserted in the heat treatment process just after the HIP bonding treatment. The influence of solutionning temperature (1040 °C or 980 °C), the cooling rate after solutionning (70 °C/min to water quench), the ageing temperature (480 °C or 560 °C) and the HIP temperature (1040 °C or 980 °C) have been addressed. Test results show that the ageing temperature is very important for keeping high strength of material whereas elongation properties are not very sensible to the manufacturing conditions. 1040 °C HIP or solutionning temperature gives better strength properties, as well as a higher cooling rate after solutionning. Concerning samples with joints, it appears that CT test is more selective than other tests since tensile test does not give rupture at joint and KCU test eliminates a route without classifying other routes.

Characterization and application of the hetero-junction ZnFe2O4/TiO2 for Cr(VI) reduction under visible light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rekhila, G.; Trari, M.; Bessekhouad, Y.

2017-06-01

The spinel ZnFe2O4 prepared by nitrate route is used as dispersed photons collector capable to sensitize TiO2 under visible light and to reduce Cr(VI) into trivalent state. The transport properties, optical and photo-electrochemical characterizations are correlated, to build the energetic diagram of the hetero-system ZnFe2O4/TiO2/CrO4 - solution. A gap of 1.97 eV is obtained for the spinel from the diffuse reflectance. The conduction band of ZnFe2O4 (-1.47 V SCE) favors the electrons injection into TiO2, permitting a physical separation of the charge carriers. The oxidation of oxalic acid by photoholes prevents the corrosion of the spinel. The best configuration ZnFe2O4 (75 %)/TiO2 (25 %) is used to catalyze the downhill reaction (2HCrO4 - + 3C2H4O4 + 1.5O2 + 8H+ → 2Cr3+ + 6CO2 + 11 H2O, Δ G° = -557 kcal mol-1). 60 % of Cr(VI) are reduced after 3 h of visible light illumination and the photoactivity follows a first-order kinetic with a half-life of 70 min. The water reduction competes with the HCrO4 - reduction which is the reason in the regression of the photoactivity; a hydrogen evolution rate of 24 µmol mg-1 h-1 is obtained.

Cavitation Erosion in Hydraulic Turbine Components and Mitigation by Coatings: Current Status and Future Needs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Raghuvir; Tiwari, S. K.; Mishra, Suman K.

2012-07-01

Cavitation erosion is a frequently observed phenomenon in underwater engineering materials and is the primary reason for component failure. The damage due to cavitation erosion is not yet fully understood, as it is influenced by several parameters, such as hydrodynamics, component design, environment, and material chemistry. This article gives an overview of the current state of understanding of cavitation erosion of materials used in hydroturbines, coatings and coating methodologies for combating cavitation erosion, and methods to characterize cavitation erosion. No single material property fully characterizes the resistance to cavitation erosion. The combination of ultimate resilience, hardness, and toughness rather may be useful to estimate the cavitation erosion resistance of material. Improved hydrodynamic design and appropriate surface engineering practices reduce damage due to cavitation erosion. The coatings suggested for combating the cavitation erosion encompasses carbides (WC Cr2C3, Cr3C2, 20CrC-80WC), cermets of different compositions (e.g., 56W2C/Ni/Cr, 41WC/Ni/Cr/Co), intermetallic composites, intermetallic matrix composites with TiC reinforcement, composite nitrides such as TiAlN and elastomers. A few of them have also been used commercially. Thermal spraying, arc plasma spraying, and high velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) processes have been used commercially to apply the coatings. Boronizing, laser surface hardening and cladding, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, and plasma nitriding have been tried for surface treatments at laboratory levels and have shown promise to be used on actual components.

Effect of nanograin-boundary networks generation on corrosion of carburized martensitic stainless steel.

PubMed

Boonruang, Chatdanai; Thong-On, Atcharawadi; Kidkhunthod, Pinit

2018-02-02

Martensitic stainless steel parts used in carbonaceous atmosphere at high temperature are subject to corrosion which results in a large amount of lost energy and high repair and maintenance costs. This work therefore proposes a model for surface development and corrosion mechanism as a solution to reduce corrosion costs. The morphology, phase, and corrosion behavior of steel are investigated using GIXRD, XANES, and EIS. The results show formation of nanograin-boundary networks in the protective layer of martensitic stainless steel. This Cr 2 O 3 -Cr 7 C 3 nanograin mixture on the FeCr 2 O 4 layer causes ion transport which is the main reason for the corrosion reaction during carburizing of the steel. The results reveal the rate determining steps in the corrosion mechanism during carburizing of steel. These steps are the diffusion of uncharged active gases in the stagnant-gas layer over the steel surface followed by the conversion of C into C 4- and O into O 2- at the gas-oxide interface simultaneously with the migration of Cr 3+ from the metal-oxide interface to the gas-oxide interface. It is proposed that previous research on Al 2 O 3 coatings may be the solution to producing effective coatings that overcome the corrosion challenges discussed in this work.

Evaluating the effect of a web-based quality improvement system with feedback and outreach visits on guideline concordance in the field of cardiac rehabilitation: rationale and study protocol.

PubMed

van Engen-Verheul, Mariëtte M; de Keizer, Nicolette F; van der Veer, Sabine N; Kemps, Hareld M C; Scholte op Reimer, Wilma J M; Jaspers, Monique W M; Peek, Niels

2014-12-31

Implementation of clinical practice guidelines into daily care is hampered by a variety of barriers related to professional knowledge and collaboration in teams and organizations. To improve guideline concordance by changing the clinical decision-making behavior of professionals, computerized decision support (CDS) has been shown to be one of the most effective instruments. However, to address barriers at the organizational level, additional interventions are needed. Continuous monitoring and systematic improvement of quality are increasingly used to achieve change at this level in complex health care systems. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of a web-based quality improvement (QI) system with indicator-based performance feedback and educational outreach visits to overcome organizational barriers for guideline concordance in multidisciplinary teams in the field of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). A multicenter cluster-randomized trial with a balanced incomplete block design will be conducted in 18 Dutch CR clinics using an electronic patient record with CDS at the point of care. The intervention consists of (i) periodic performance feedback on quality indicators for CR and (ii) educational outreach visits to support local multidisciplinary QI teams focussing on systematically improving the care they provide. The intervention is supported by a web-based system which provides an overview of the feedback and facilitates development and monitoring of local QI plans. The primary outcome will be concordance to national CR guidelines with respect to the CR needs assessment and therapy indication procedure. Secondary outcomes are changes in performance of CR clinics as measured by structure, process and outcome indicators, and changes in practice variation on these indicators. We will also conduct a qualitative process evaluation (concept-mapping methodology) to assess experiences from participating CR clinics and to gain insight into factors which influence the implementation of the intervention. To our knowledge, this will be the first study to evaluate the effect of providing performance feedback with a web-based system that incorporates underlying QI concepts. The results may contribute to improving CR in the Netherlands, increasing knowledge on facilitators of guideline implementation in multidisciplinary health care teams and identifying success factors of multifaceted feedback interventions. NTR3251.

Potential influence of tubular dysfunction on the difference between estimated and measured glomerular filtration rate after kidney transplantation.

PubMed

Lezaic, V; Mirkovic, D; Ristic, S; Radivojevic, D; Dajak, M; Naumovic, R; Marinkovic, J; Djukanovic, L J

2013-05-01

Because no consensus exists regarding the most accurate calculation to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on serum creatinine concentrations (sCr) after kidney transplantation, this study sought to assess the potential role of tubular dysfunction on GFR estimates using various equations as well as the effect of pharmacologic blockades on tubular secretion of creatinine on creatinine clearance (ClCr). Iohexol GFR (mGFR) was performed in 17 stable kidney transplant recipients(R) at >24 months post-transplantation. Their mean age was 48.3 ± 11.3 years. All R were treated with a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI). At the time of study we measured sCr, 24 hour-ClCr, cystatin C, 24-hour proteinuria, microalbuminuria, FE Na, alfa1-microglobulinuria (alfa1-MG), and CNI concentrations. To block tubular secretion of Cr, recipients were prescribed cimetidine (2400 mg) 2 days before the sCr measurement. Additionally, to exclude dietary influences on sCr, R did not eat meat for 2 days before testing. GFR was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), Cockroft-Gault (C&G), and Cystatin C (Cyst C) GFR equations. Mean kidney graft function over the previous 6 months was used as the control. Pearson correlation was determined between the differences between mGFR and estimatedGFR: Iohexol minus MDRD, EPI, Cyst C or C&G GFR for paired estimates. The diagnostic accuracy of the eGFRs to detect an mGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) was examined by receiver operating characteristic curves. Mean mGFR was 75.2 ± 35.8 mL/min/1.73 m(2). The sCr increased but the 24-hour ClCr, MDRD, EPI, and C&G decreased after vs before cimetidine. The difference was significant for sCr (F = 12.933; P = .002) and MDRD GFR (F = 15.750; P = .001). mGFR was not significantly higher than all pair values of eGFRs, and not significantly lower than 24-hour ClCr before and after cimetidine. However, in comparison to all eGFRs, ClCr after cimetidine most approached mGFR. A significant positive correlation was observed between alfa1-MG and the difference between mGFR and MDRD (before, r = .543 [P = .045]; after cimetidine, 0.568 [P = .034]), EPI (before, r = 0.516 [P = .050]; after cimetidine, r = 0.562 [P = .036]), and ClCr (r = 0.633; P = .016), C&G (P = .581; P = .029) before cimetidine. Accuracy of eGFRs to detect mGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) showed EPI GFR before cimetidine to show diagnostic accuracy for patients with GFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 71.4%. Because mGFR is unavailable in many transplant centers, determination of ClCr after cimetidine may help to achieve a more accurate diagnosis of CKD among transplant patients. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Epidemiology, clinical features, and outcome of HTLV-1–related ATLL in an area of prevalence in the United States

PubMed Central

Pimentel, Agustin; Reis, Isildinha M.; Gotuzzo, Eduardo; Lekakis, Lazaros; Komanduri, Krishna; Harrington, Thomas; Barber, Glen N.

2018-01-01

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a fatal disease caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1). We retrospectively analyzed 195 patients with ATLL (lymphomatous n = 96, acute n = 80, unfavorable chronic n = 7, chronic n = 5, smoldering n = 3, and unclassified n = 4) diagnosed between 1987 and 2016 (median age 52 years, 77% Afro-Caribbean). Hypercalcemia was associated with acute ATLL (65%, vs 23% lymphomatous) (P = .012). The median survival for patients treated with modern therapies between 2000 and 2016 was 4.1 months for acute, 10.2 months for lymphomatous, 72 months for chronic/smoldering, and not reached for unfavorable chronic type, with 4-year survival rates of 10%, 4%, 60%, and 83%, respectively. The overall response rate (ORR) after first-line multiagent chemotherapy was 78% (complete response [CR] 39%) for acute vs 67% (CR 33%) for lymphomatous ATLL. First-line zidovudine interferon-α (AZT-IFN) resulted in ORR of 56% (CR 23%) for acute (n = 43), 33% (CR 16.5%) for lymphomatous (n = 6), and 86% (CR 29%) for unfavorable chronic ATLL. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with aggressive ATLL who achieved CR after AZT-IFN was 48 months vs 11 months after chemotherapy (P = .003). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) resulted in a PFS of 24 and 28 months in 2 patients with lymphomatous ATLL. Our results suggest high-dose AZT-IFN is a reasonable up-front option for patients with aggressive leukemic ATLL followed by chemotherapy switch in nonresponders, whereas chemotherapy should be used in lymphomatous type followed by allo-HSCT when feasible. PMID:29545256

The joint operating company: an innovative approach to collaboration.

PubMed

Mason, S A; Seymour, D W

1995-06-01

Hospitals interested in horizontal integration often run into difficulties. In spite of otherwise sound business logic for two organizations to merge, there may be political, legal or financial reasons why a merger option cannot be pursued. Increasingly, enterprises are turning to a joint operating company structure as the solution to their needs. Scott A. Mason and Donald W. Seymour, partners with consulting firm National Health Advisors, explore situations where a JOC model of collaboration may be appropriate.

Theoretical study of the magnetic exchange coupling behavior substituting Cr(III) with Mo(III) in cyano-bridged transition metal complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yi-Quan; Luo, Cheng-Lin

Molecular magnetism in a series of cyano-bridged first and second transition metal complexes has been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) combined with the broken-symmetry (BS) approach. Several exchange-correlation (XC) functionals in the ADF package were used to investigate complexes I [-(Me3tacn)2(cyclam)NiMo2(CN)6]2+, II [-(Me3tacn)2(cyclam)Ni-Cr2(CN)6]2+, III [(Me3tacn)6MnMo6(CN)18]2+, and IV [(Me3tacn)6MnCr6(CN)18]2+ (Me3tacn = N,N?,N‴-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane). For models A (the molded structure of complex I) and B (the modeled structure of complex II), all the XCs given qualitatively reasonable results and predict ferromagnetic coupling character between M (M = MoIII for A or CrIII for B) and NiII in coincidence with the experimental results (see Tables and ). The calculated using Operdew, OPBE, O3LYP, and B3LYP functionals and experimental J values show that substituting CrIII with MoIII will enhance the ferromagnetic exchange coupling interactions. But VWN, PW91, PBE, VSXC, and tau-HCTH functionals have no way to differentiate the relative strength of the intramolecular magnetic exchange coupling interactions of A and B correctly. For models C (the modeled structure of complex III) and D (the modeled structure of complex IV), all the XCs in ADF and B3LYP in Gaussian 03 with several basis sets show that substituting CrIII with MoIII will enhance the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling interactions. From the above calculations, the substitution of CrIII by MoIII will enhance the magnetic coupling interactions, whether the magnetic coupling interactions are ferro- or antiferromagnetic. Moreover, Kahn's model was applied to investigate the above facts.

Effects of environment on the release of Ni, Cr, Fe, and Co from new and recast Ni-Cr alloy.

PubMed

Oyar, Perihan; Can, Gülşen; Atakol, Orhan

2014-07-01

The addition of previously cast alloy to new alloy for economic reasons may increase the release of elements. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the immersion period, immersion media, and addition of previously cast alloy to new alloy on the release of elements. Disk-shaped specimens were prepared from a Ni-Cr alloy (Ni: 61 wt%, Cr: 26 wt%, Mo: 11 wt%, Si: 1.5 wt%, Fe, Ce, Al, and Co <1 wt%) (Remanium CS; Dentaurum) with new alloy (group N) and 50% new/50% recast alloy (group R). After the immersion of the specimens in both NaCl (pH 4) and artificial saliva (pH 6.7) for 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days, the release of ions was determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry. Data were analyzed with a 3-way ANOVA (α=.001). The release of Ni was significantly affected by the immersion period, of Ni and Cr by the alloy and media (P<.01), and of Fe by the alloy (P<.01). Ion release from the recast alloy in artificial saliva was 109.71 for Ni, 6.49 for Cr, 223.22 for Fe, and 29.90 μg/L for Co. The release of Co in NaCl was below the detection limit in both groups. The release of Ni in NaCl and artificial saliva increased with the length of the immersion period in both groups. The release of Cr and Fe was higher in artificial saliva than in NaCl in group R, regardless of the immersion period. The release of Co in NaCl was below the detection limit in both groups. Copyright © 2014 The Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Background for Joint Systems Aspects of AIR 6000

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-04-01

Checkland’s Soft Systems Methodology [7, 8,9]. The analytical techniques that are proposed for joint systems work are based on calculating probability...Supporting Global Interests 21 DSTO-CR-0155 SLMP Structural Life Management Plan SOW Stand-Off Weapon SSM Soft Systems Methodology UAV Uninhabited Aerial... Systems Methodology in Action, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1990. [101 Pearl, Judea, Probabilistic Reasoning in Intelligent Systems: Networks of Plausible

Nano-twin Mediated Plasticity in Carbon-containing FeNiCoCrMn High Entropy Alloys

DOE PAGES

Wu, Zhenggang; Bei, Hongbin; Parish, Chad M

2015-06-14

Equiatomic FeNiCoCrMn alloy has been reported to exhibit promising strength and ductility at cryogenic temperature and deformation mediated by nano-twining appeared to be one of the main reasons. We use the FeNiCoCrMn alloy as a base alloy to seek further improvement of its mechanical properties by alloying additional elements, i.e., interstitial carbon. Moreover, the effects of carbon on microstructures, mechanical properties and twinning activities were investigated in two different temperatures (77 and 293 K). With addition of 0.5 at% C, the high entropy alloy still remains entirely single phase face-centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure. We found that these materials canmore » be cold rolled and recrystallized to produce a microstructure with equiaxed grains. Both strain hardening rate and strength are enhanced while high uniform elongations to fracture (~70% at 77 K and ~40% at 293 K) are still maintained. The increased strain hardening and strength could be caused by the promptness of deformation twinning in C-containing high entropy alloys.« less

Cognitive Rehabilitation for Schizophrenia and the Putative Role of Motivation and Expectancies

PubMed Central

Velligan, Dawn I.; Kern, Robert S.; Gold, James M.

2006-01-01

Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) approaches seek to enhance cognitive processes or to circumvent cognitive impairments in schizophrenia in an effort to improve functional outcome. In this review we examine the research findings on the 8 evidence-based approaches to cognitive remediation listed in the 2005 Training Grid Outlining Best Practices for Recovery and Improved Outcomes for People With Serious Mental Illness, developed by the American Psychological Association Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice. Though the approaches vary widely in theoretical orientation and methods of intervention, the results are, for the most part, encouraging. Improvements in attention, memory, and executive functioning have been reported. However, many persons with schizophrenia are more impaired in real-world functioning than one would expect given the magnitude of their cognitive deficits. We may need to look beyond cognition to other targets such as motivation to identify the reasons that many persons with schizophrenia demonstrate such marked levels of disability. Although a number of current CR approaches address motivation to varying degrees, treating motivation as a primary target may be needed to maximize CR outcomes. PMID:16641424

Delta-Ferrite Distribution in a Continuous Casting Slab of Fe-Cr-Mn Austenitic Stainless Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Chao; Cheng, Guoguang

2017-10-01

The delta-ferrite distribution in a continuous casting slab of Fe-Cr-Mn stainless steel grade (200 series J4) was analyzed. The results showed that the ferrite fraction was less than 3 pct. The "M" type distribution was observed in the thickness direction. For the distribution at the centerline, the maximum ferrite content was found in the triangular zone of the macrostructure. In addition, in this zone, the carbon and sulfur were severely segregated. Furthermore, an equilibrium solidification calculation by Thermo-Calc® software indicates that the solidification mode of the composition in this triangular zone is the same as the solidification mode of the averaged composition, i.e., the FA (ferrite-austenite) mode. None of the nickel-chromium equivalent formulas combined with the Schaeffler-type diagram could predict the ferrite fraction of the Cr-Mn stainless steel grade in a reasonable manner. The authors propose that more attention should be paid to the development of prediction models for the ferrite fraction of stainless steels under continuous casting conditions.

An ab initio study of Fe(CO)n, n = 1,5, and Cr(CO)6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnes, Leslie A.; Rosi, Marzio; Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.

1991-01-01

Ab initio calculations have been performed for Cr(CO)6 and Fe(CO)n, n = 1,5. Basis sets of better than double zeta quality are used, and correlation is included using the modified coupler-pair functional method. The computed geometries and force constants are in reasonable agreement with experiment. The sequential bond dissociation energies of CO from Fe(CO)5 are estimated to be: 39, 31, 25, 22, and greater than 5 kcal/mol. It is noted that the first bond dissociation energy is relative to the singlet ground state of Fe(CO)5 and the lowest singlet state of Fe(CO)4, whereas the second is relative to the ground triplet states of Fe(CO)4 and Fe(CO)3. In addition, the binding energy for Fe-CO would be modified to 18 kcal/mol if dissociation occurred to the Fe(5F) excited state asymptote. The CO binding energies for Fe and Cr are found to be in poorer agreement with experiment than those found in a previous study on Ni(CO)4. The origins of this difference are discussed.

Cognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia and the putative role of motivation and expectancies.

PubMed

Velligan, Dawn I; Kern, Robert S; Gold, James M

2006-07-01

Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) approaches seek to enhance cognitive processes or to circumvent cognitive impairments in schizophrenia in an effort to improve functional outcome. In this review we examine the research findings on the 8 evidence-based approaches to cognitive remediation listed in the 2005 Training Grid Outlining Best Practices for Recovery and Improved Outcomes for People With Serious Mental Illness, developed by the American Psychological Association Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice. Though the approaches vary widely in theoretical orientation and methods of intervention, the results are, for the most part, encouraging. Improvements in attention, memory, and executive functioning have been reported. However, many persons with schizophrenia are more impaired in real-world functioning than one would expect given the magnitude of their cognitive deficits. We may need to look beyond cognition to other targets such as motivation to identify the reasons that many persons with schizophrenia demonstrate such marked levels of disability. Although a number of current CR approaches address motivation to varying degrees, treating motivation as a primary target may be needed to maximize CR outcomes.

Factors Affecting Impact Toughness in Stabilized Intermediate Purity 21Cr Ferritic Stainless Steels and Their Simulated Heat-Affected Zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anttila, Severi; Alatarvas, Tuomas; Porter, David A.

2017-12-01

The correlation between simulated weld heat-affected zone microstructures and toughness parameters has been investigated in four intermediate purity 21Cr ferritic stainless steels stabilized with titanium and niobium either separately or in combination. Extensive Charpy V impact toughness testing was carried out followed by metallography including particle analysis using electron microscopy. The results confirmed that the grain size and the number density of particle clusters rich in titanium nitride and carbide with an equivalent circular diameter of 2 µm or more are statistically the most critical factors influencing the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature. Other inclusions and particle clusters, as well as grain boundary precipitates, are shown to be relatively harmless. Stabilization with niobium avoids large titanium-rich inclusions and also suppresses excessive grain growth in the heat-affected zone when reasonable heat inputs are used. Thus, in order to maximize the limited heat-affected zone impact toughness of 21Cr ferritic stainless steels containing 380 to 450 mass ppm of interstitials, the stabilization should be either titanium free or the levels of titanium and nitrogen should be moderated.

Metabolite alterations in basal ganglia associated with methamphetamine-related psychiatric symptoms. A proton MRS study.

PubMed

Sekine, Yoshimoto; Minabe, Yoshio; Kawai, Masayoshi; Suzuki, Katsuaki; Iyo, Masaomi; Isoda, Haruo; Sakahara, Harumi; Ashby, Charles R; Takei, Nori; Mori, Norio

2002-09-01

Following the chronic use of methamphetamine, some individuals experience psychosis and anxiety. One reason may be the persistence of metabolite abnormalities in the brain of currently abstinent former methamphetamine users. In this study, N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr+PCr), and choline-containing compound (Cho) levels were measured in the left and right basal ganglia using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in 13 abstinent methamphetamine users and 11 healthy comparison subjects with no history of illicit drug use. The methamphetamine users showed a significantly reduced Cr+PCr/Cho ratio in the bilateral basal ganglia compared with the healthy comparison subjects. Furthermore, the reduction in the Cr+PCr/Cho ratio was significantly correlated with the duration of methamphetamine use and with the severity of residual psychiatric symptoms. NAA/Cho ratios in the bilateral basal ganglia did not significantly differ between methamphetamine users and comparison subjects. These findings suggest that protracted use of methamphetamine may cause metabolite alterations in the basal ganglia. Furthermore, residual psychiatric symptoms may be attributable to the metabolite alterations in the basal ganglia.

Accuracy of the MacArthur competence assessment tool for clinical research (MacCAT-CR) for measuring children's competence to consent to clinical research.

PubMed

Hein, Irma M; Troost, Pieter W; Lindeboom, Robert; Benninga, Marc A; Zwaan, C Michel; van Goudoever, Johannes B; Lindauer, Ramón J L

2014-12-01

An objective assessment of children's competence to consent to research participation is currently not possible. Age limits for asking children's consent vary considerably between countries, and, to our knowledge, the correlation between competence and children's age has never been systematically investigated. To test a standardized competence assessment instrument for children by modifying the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Clinical Research (MacCAT-CR), to investigate its reliability and validity, and to examine the correlation of its assessment with age and estimate cutoff ages. This prospective study included children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in the inpatient and outpatient departments of allergology, gastroenterology, oncology, ophthalmology, and pulmonology from January 1, 2012, through January 1, 2014. Participants were eligible for clinical research studies, including observational studies and randomized clinical trials. Competence judgments by experts aware of the 4 relevant criteria-understanding, appreciation, reasoning, and choice-were used to establish the reference standard. The index test was the MacCAT-CR, which used a semistructured interview format. Interrater reliability, validity, and dimensionality of the MacCAT-CR and estimated cutoff ages for competence. Of 209 eligible patients, we included 161 (mean age, 10.6 years; 47.2% male). Good reproducibility of MacCAT-CR total and subscale scores was observed (intraclass correlation coefficient range, 0.68-0.92). We confirmed unidimensionality of the MacCAT-CR. By the reference standard, we judged 54 children (33.5%) to be incompetent; by the MacCAT-CR, 61 children (37.9%). Criterion-related validity of MacCAT-CR scores was supported by high overall accuracy in correctly classifying children as competent against the reference standard (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, 0.78). Age was a good predictor of competence on the MacCAT-CR (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, 0.90). In children younger than 9.6 years, competence was unlikely (sensitivity, 90%); in those older than 11.2 years, competence was probable (specificity, 90%). The optimal cutoff age was 10.4 years (sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 84%). The MacCAT-CR demonstrated strong psychometric properties. In children aged 9.6 to 11.2 years, consent may be justified when competence can be demonstrated in individual cases by the MacCAT-CR. The results contribute to a scientific underpinning of regulations for clinical research directed toward children.

Reasoning about variables in 11 to 18 year olds: informal, schooled and formal expression in learning about functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ayalon, Michal; Watson, Anne; Lerman, Steve

2016-09-01

This study examines expressions of reasoning by some higher achieving 11 to 18 year-old English students responding to a survey consisting of function tasks developed in collaboration with their teachers. We report on 70 students, 10 from each of English years 7-13. Iterative and comparative analysis identified capabilities and difficulties of students and suggested conjectures concerning links between the affordances of the tasks, the curriculum, and students' responses. The paper focuses on five of the survey tasks and highlights connections between informal and formal expressions of reasoning about variables in learning. We introduce the notion of `schooled' expressions of reasoning, neither formal nor informal, to emphasise the role of the formatting tools introduced in school that shape future understanding and reasoning.

CR1 clade of non-LTR retrotransposons from Maculinea butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): evidence for recent horizontal transmission

PubMed Central

Novikova, Olga; Śliwińska, Ewa; Fet, Victor; Settele, Josef; Blinov, Alexander; Woyciechowski, Michal

2007-01-01

Background Non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that propagate themselves by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. Non-LTR retrotransposons are known to evolve mainly via vertical transmission and random loss. Horizontal transmission is believed to be a very rare event in non-LTR retrotransposons. Our knowledge of distribution and diversity of insect non-LTR retrotransposons is limited to a few species – mainly model organisms such as dipteran genera Drosophila, Anopheles, and Aedes. However, diversity of non-LTR retroelements in arthropods seems to be much richer. The present study extends the analysis of non-LTR retroelements to CR1 clade from four butterfly species of genus Maculinea (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). The lycaenid genus Maculinea, the object of interest for evolutionary biologists and also a model group for European biodiversity studies, possesses a unique, specialized myrmecophilous lifestyle at larval stage. Their caterpillars, after three weeks of phytophagous life on specific food plants drop to the ground where they are adopted to the ant nest by Myrmica foraging workers. Results We found that the genome of Maculinea butterflies contains multiple CR1 lineages of non-LTR retrotransposons, including those from MacCR1A, MacCR1B and T1Q families. A comparative analysis of RT nucleotide sequences demonstrated an extremely high similarity among elements both in interspecific and intraspecific comparisons. CR1A-like elements were found only in family Lycaenidae. In contrast, MacCR1B lineage clones were extremely similar to CR1B non-LTR retrotransposons from Bombycidae moths: silkworm Bombyx mori and Oberthueria caeca. Conclusion The degree of coding sequence similarity of the studied elements, their discontinuous distribution, and results of divergence-versus-age analysis make it highly unlikely that these sequences diverged at the same time as their host taxa. The only reasonable alternative explanation is horizontal transfer. In addition, phylogenetic markers for population analysis of Maculinea could be developed based on the described non-LTR retrotransposons. PMID:17588269

A new organic-rich soil reference material certified for its EDTA- and acetic acid- extractable contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, following collaboratively tested and harmonised procedures.

PubMed

Pueyo, M; Rauret, G; Bacon, J R; Gomez, A; Muntau, H; Quevauviller, P; López-Sánchez, J F

2001-02-01

There is an increasing requirement for assessment of the bioavailable metal fraction and the mobility of trace elements in soils upon disposal. One of the approaches is the use of leaching procedures, but the results obtained are operationally defined; therefore, their significance is highly dependent on the extraction protocol performed. So, for this type of study, there is a need for reference materials that allow the quality of measurements to be controlled. This paper describes the steps involved in the certification of an organic-rich soil reference material, BCR-700, for the EDTA- and acetic acid-extractable contents of some trace elements, following collaboratively tested and harmonised extraction procedures. Details are given for the preparation of the soil, homogeneity and stability testing, analytical procedures and the statistical selection of data to be included in the certification.

Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Zong, Yu; Wu, Jiayi; Shen, Kunwei

2017-03-07

The value of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in neoadjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer remains uncertain. Both electronic databases and proceedings of oncologic meetings were included in systematic literature search. Pooled rates of pathological complete response (pCR), odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed-effect or random-effect model to determine the effect of neoadjuvant nab-paclitaxel. Twenty-one studies with 2357 patients were included, 3 of which were randomized clinical trials. The aggregate pCR(ypT0/is ypN0) rate was 32% (95% CI 25-38%) in unselected breast cancer patients and variated in different subtypes. Within randomized clinical trials, the probability of achieving pCR was significantly higher in the nab-paclitaxel group than in the conventional taxanes group (OR = 1.383, 95%CI 1.141-1.676, p = 0.001). For non-hematological toxic effect, any grade and grade 3-4 peripheral sensory neuropathy occurred more frequently with nab-paclitaxel compared to paclitaxel (any grade, OR = 2.090, 95%CI 1.016-4.302, p = 0.045; grade3-4, OR = 3.766, 95%CI 2.324-6.100, p < 0.001). Hypersensitivity was more common with paclitaxel than nab-paclitaxel at any grade and grade 3-4. nab-paclitaxel is an effective cytotoxic drug in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer, especially for aggressive tumors in terms of pCR. Exchange of nab-paclitaxel for conventional taxanes could significantly improve pCR rate with reasonable toxicities.

Patient and tumor characteristics associated with breast cancer recurrence after complete pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

PubMed

Ju, Na Rae; Jeffe, Donna B; Keune, Jason; Aft, Rebecca

2013-01-01

Breast cancer patients whose tumors achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) with neoadjuvant chemotherapy have a prognosis which is better than that predicted for the stage of their disease. However, within this subgroup of patients, recurrences have been observed. We sought to examine factors associated with recurrence in a population of breast cancer patients who achieved a pCR with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients with unilateral breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2010 at one comprehensive cancer center. A pCR was defined as no residual invasive cancer in the breast in the surgical specimen following neoadjuvant therapy. Recurrence was defined as visceral or bony reappearance of cancer after completion of all therapy. Of 818 patients who completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 144 (17.6 %) had pCR; six with bilateral breast cancer were excluded from further analysis. The mean time to follow-up was 47.2 months. Among the 138 patients with unilateral breast cancer, there were 14 recurrences (10.1 %). Using a binary multiple logistic regression model, examining types of chemotherapy and surgery, race, lymph node assessment, and lymph node status, breast cancer side, triple-negative status, and radiation receipt, only African-American patients (OR: 5.827, 95 % CI: 1.280-26.525; p = 0.023) were more likely to develop distant recurrence. The mean time to recurrence was 31.9 months. In our study, race was the only independent predictor of recurrence after achieving pCR with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The reasons for this observation require further study.

Pb(II), Cr(VI) and atrazine sorption behavior on sludge-derived biochar: role of humic acids.

PubMed

Zhou, Fengsa; Wang, Hong; Fang, Sheng'en; Zhang, Weihua; Qiu, Rongliang

2015-10-01

Pyrolyzing municipal wastewater treatment sludge into biochar can be a promising sludge disposal approach, especially as the produced sludge-derived biochar (SDBC) is found to be an excellent sorbent for heavy metals and atrazine. The aim of this study was to investigate how and why the coexisting humic acids influence the sorption capacity, kinetic, and binding of these contaminants on SDBC surface. Results showed humic acids enhanced Pb(II)/Cr(VI) sorption binding, and increased the corresponding Pb(II) Langmuir sorption capacity at pH 5.0 from 197 to 233 μmol g(-1), and from 688 to 738 μmol g(-1) for Cr(VI) at pH 2.0. It can be mainly attributed to the sorbed humic acids, whose active functional groups can offer the additional sites to form stronger inner-sphere complexes with Pb(2+), and supply more reducing agent to facilitate the transformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). However, humic acids reduced the atrazine adsorption Freundlich constant from 1.085 to 0.616 μmol g(-1). The pore blockage, confirmed by the decreased BET-specific surface area, as well as the more hydrophilic surface with more sorbed water molecules may be the main reasons for that suppression. Therefore, the coexisting humic acids may affect heavy metal stabilization or pesticide immobilization during SDBC application to contaminated water or soils, and its role thus should be considered especially when organic residues are also added significantly to increase the humic acid content there.

Virtual patients to explore and develop clinical case summary statement skills amongst Japanese resident physicians: a mixed methods study.

PubMed

Heist, Brian S; Kishida, Naoki; Deshpande, Gautam; Hamaguchi, Sugihiro; Kobayashi, Hiroyuki

2016-02-01

In Western clinical training, formulation of a summary statement (SS) is a core exercise for articulation, evaluation, and improvement of clinical reasoning (CR). In Japanese clinical training, structured guidance in developing CR, including opportunity for SS practice, is uncommon, and the present status of case summarization skills is unclear. We used Virtual Patients (VPs) to explore Japanese junior residents' SS styles and the effectiveness of VPs on improving SS quality. All first-year junior resident physicians at 4 residency programs (n = 54) were assigned randomized sequences of 5 VP modules, rolled out at 6 day intervals. During each module, participants free-texted a case summary and then reviewed a model summary. Thematic analysis was used to identify SS styles and each SS was categorized accordingly. Frequency of SS styles, and SS CR quality determined by 1) an internally developed Key Feature rubric and 2) demonstration of semantic qualification, were compared across modules. Four SS styles were identified: numbered features matched to differential diagnoses, differential diagnoses with supportive comments, feature listing, and narrative summarization. From module #1 to #5, significant increases in the narrative summarization SS style (p = 0.016), SS CR quality score (p = 0.021) and percentage of semantically driven SS (p = 0.003) were observed. Our study of Japanese junior residents identified distinct clinical case summary statement styles, and observed adoption of the narrative summarization style and improvement in the CR quality of summary statements during a series of VP cases.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Metoprolol and Carvedilol on Mortality Benefits in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

PubMed

Li, Jingen; Chen, Zhuo; Gao, Xiang; Zhang, He; Xiong, Wenjing; Ju, Jianqing; Xu, Hao

2017-11-01

Although carvedilol, a nonselective beta-blocker with alpha-adrenergic blocking and multiple ancillary activities, has been demonstrated to be superior to metoprolol in chronic heart failure, it remains unclear whether the superiority of carvedilol still exists in myocardial infarction (MI). Therefore, we performed a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the 2 drugs in patients with MI. All RCTs that compared either 2 of the following interventions, carvedilol, metoprolol, and placebo, for the treatment of MI were included. The Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and PubMed were searched thoroughly for potential eligible studies. Finally, 12 RCTs involving 61,081 patients were included. Pooled results showed that compared with placebo, carvedilol and metoprolol significantly reduced composite cardiovascular events (risk ratio [RR] 0.63; 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.41, 0.85 for carvedilol; RR 0.78; 95% CrI 0.65, 0.93 for metoprolol) and re-infarction (RR 0.57; 95% CrI 0.37, 0.84 for carvedilol; RR 0.77; 95% CrI 0.62, 0.91 for metoprolol) in patients with MI. However, neither carvedilol nor metoprolol showed significant benefits on all-cause death, cardiovascular death, revascularization, and rehospitalization. Also, no obvious difference was found when comparing carvedilol and metoprolol on primary or secondary outcomes. In conclusion, there is insufficient evidence supporting the superiority of carvedilol over metoprolol for the treatment of MI. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network's organization and approach to observational research and health outcomes research.

PubMed

Krischer, Jeffrey P; Gopal-Srivastava, Rashmi; Groft, Stephen C; Eckstein, David J

2014-08-01

Established in 2003 by the Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR), in collaboration with several National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes/Centers, the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) consists of multiple clinical consortia conducting research in more than 200 rare diseases. The RDCRN supports longitudinal or natural history, pilot, Phase I, II, and III, case-control, cross-sectional, chart review, physician survey, bio-repository, and RDCRN Contact Registry (CR) studies. To date, there have been 24,684 participants enrolled on 120 studies from 446 sites worldwide. An additional 11,533 individuals participate in the CR. Through a central data management and coordinating center (DMCC), the RDCRN's platform for the conduct of observational research encompasses electronic case report forms, federated databases, and an online CR for epidemiological and survey research. An ORDR-governed data repository (through dbGaP, a database for genotype and phenotype information from the National Library of Medicine) has been created. DMCC coordinates with ORDR to register and upload study data to dbGaP for data sharing with the scientific community. The platform provided by the RDCRN DMCC has supported 128 studies, six of which were successfully conducted through the online CR, with 2,352 individuals accrued and a median enrollment time of just 2 months. The RDCRN has built a powerful suite of web-based tools that provide for integration of federated and online database support that can accommodate a large number of rare diseases on a global scale. RDCRN studies have made important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases.

Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D). Delivery Order 0031: Basic Research and Development of Ti-B Alloys

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

September 2005 Abstract The grain size of as-cast Ti- 6Al - 4V is reduced by about an order of magnitude from 1700 to 200 /lm with an addition of 0.1 wt...and enhances subsequent mechanical working response [l J. The grain sizes of conventional cast titanium alloys (e.g, Ti-6AI- 4V ) are rather coarse...microstructure; Serial sectioning 1. Introduction The addition of boron to titanium alloys such as Ti­ 6AI- 4V can significantly enhance their strength

Collaborative Research and Development (CR&D). Delivery Order 0014: Anti-Fretting Coatings Research Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-12-01

properties Deposition Cu / Al in At% Roughness Ra (µm) Nano Hardness (GPa) Modulus (GPa) Thickness (µm) 1 Plasma ≈ 6 ≈ 12 ≈ 1.8 ≈ 89.6 ≈ 300 2... sprayed coatings of different copper to aluminum ( Cu / Al ) ratios and one cathodic arc coating. Bench level gross slip fretting experiments and post...some of Ti6Al4V disks were commercially grit blasted and then plasma sprayed with Al -bronze coatings 1 and 2, which have different Cu / Al

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0037: Mechanisms Causing Fatigue Variability in Turbine Engine Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

titanium alloy, Ti- 6 -2- 4 - 6 and a P/M processed nickel-based superalloy. Two heats of the Ti- 6 -2- 4 - 6 alloy with constant composition but...fatigue behavior, and the effect of microstructure and loading variables on the long-lifetime regime of the α+β titanium alloy Ti- 6 -2- 4 - 6 . By long...α+β titanium alloy, Ti- 6 -2- 4 - 6 . These are shown in Fig. 1 (a) and (b) respectively. We designate these as microstructures A and B,

Latest AMS Results on Cosmic Ray fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertucci, Bruna; AMS Collaboration

2017-01-01

AMS-02 is a wide acceptance high-energy physics experiment installed on the International Space Station in May 2011 and it has been operating continuously since then. Accurate studies of CR composition and energy spectra can be performed in AMS thanks to the unprecedented collected statistics - more than 90 billion events as of today - and the redundant measurements of particle charge, velocity, rigidity and energy. In this contribution we will present an overview of the latest results on anti-particles, electrons and light nuclei fluxes. On behalf of the AMS Collaboration.

Making Sense of Critical Pedagogy in L2 Education through a Collaborative Study Group (Dándole sentido a la pedagogía crítica en la educación en L2 a través de un grupo de estudio colaborativo)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Echeverri Sucerquia, Paula Andrea; Pérez Restrepo, Sebastián

2014-01-01

In this article we discuss our experiences in the process of understanding critical pedagogy within an English teachers' study group which was created for the purpose of learning how to teach language from a critical perspective. We particularly focus on the challenges of meaning making around critical pedagogy, as we realized that we were not all…

Proceedings of the NASA Conference on Space Telerobotics, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodriguez, Guillermo (Editor); Seraji, Homayoun (Editor)

1989-01-01

The theme of the Conference was man-machine collaboration in space. Topics addressed include: redundant manipulators; man-machine systems; telerobot architecture; remote sensing and planning; navigation; neural networks; fundamental AI research; and reasoning under uncertainty.

Digital radiography reject analysis: data collection methodology, results, and recommendations from an in-depth investigation at two hospitals.

PubMed

Foos, David H; Sehnert, W James; Reiner, Bruce; Siegel, Eliot L; Segal, Arthur; Waldman, David L

2009-03-01

Reject analysis was performed on 288,000 computed radiography (CR) image records collected from a university hospital (UH) and a large community hospital (CH). Each record contains image information, such as body part and view position, exposure level, technologist identifier, and--if the image was rejected--the reason for rejection. Extensive database filtering was required to ensure the integrity of the reject-rate calculations. The reject rate for CR across all departments and across all exam types was 4.4% at UH and 4.9% at CH. The most frequently occurring exam types with reject rates of 8% or greater were found to be common to both institutions (skull/facial bones, shoulder, hip, spines, in-department chest, pelvis). Positioning errors and anatomy cutoff were the most frequently occurring reasons for rejection, accounting for 45% of rejects at CH and 56% at UH. Improper exposure was the next most frequently occurring reject reason (14% of rejects at CH and 13% at UH), followed by patient motion (11% of rejects at CH and 7% at UH). Chest exams were the most frequently performed exam at both institutions (26% at UH and 45% at CH) with half captured in-department and half captured using portable x-ray equipment. A ninefold greater reject rate was found for in-department (9%) versus portable chest exams (1%). Problems identified with the integrity of the data used for reject analysis can be mitigated in the future by objectifying quality assurance (QA) procedures and by standardizing the nomenclature and definitions for QA deficiencies.

Tools and collaborative environments for bioinformatics research

PubMed Central

Giugno, Rosalba; Pulvirenti, Alfredo

2011-01-01

Advanced research requires intensive interaction among a multitude of actors, often possessing different expertise and usually working at a distance from each other. The field of collaborative research aims to establish suitable models and technologies to properly support these interactions. In this article, we first present the reasons for an interest of Bioinformatics in this context by also suggesting some research domains that could benefit from collaborative research. We then review the principles and some of the most relevant applications of social networking, with a special attention to networks supporting scientific collaboration, by also highlighting some critical issues, such as identification of users and standardization of formats. We then introduce some systems for collaborative document creation, including wiki systems and tools for ontology development, and review some of the most interesting biological wikis. We also review the principles of Collaborative Development Environments for software and show some examples in Bioinformatics. Finally, we present the principles and some examples of Learning Management Systems. In conclusion, we try to devise some of the goals to be achieved in the short term for the exploitation of these technologies. PMID:21984743

Behavior of U 3Si 2 Fuel and FeCrAl Cladding under Normal Operating and Accident Reactor Conditions

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

Gamble, Kyle Allan Lawrence; Hales, Jason Dean; Barani, Tommaso

2016-09-01

As part of the Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation program, an Accident Tolerant Fuel High Impact Problem was initiated at the beginning of fiscal year 2015 to investigate the behavior of \\usi~fuel and iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) claddings under normal operating and accident reactor conditions. The High Impact Problem was created in response to the United States Department of Energy's renewed interest in accident tolerant materials after the events that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. The High Impact Problem is a multinational laboratory and university collaborative research effort between Idaho National Laboratory, Losmore » Alamos National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This report primarily focuses on the engineering scale research in fiscal year 2016 with brief summaries of the lower length scale developments in the areas of density functional theory, cluster dynamics, rate theory, and phase field being presented.« less

Observation of a remarkable reduction of correlation effects in BaCr2As2 by ARPES.

PubMed

Nayak, Jayita; Filsinger, Kai; Fecher, Gerhard H; Chadov, Stanislav; Minár, Ján; Rienks, Emile D L; Büchner, Bernd; Parkin, Stuart P; Fink, Jörg; Felser, Claudia

2017-11-21

The superconducting phase in iron-based high-[Formula: see text] superconductors (FeSC), as in other unconventional superconductors such as the cuprates, neighbors a magnetically ordered one in the phase diagram. This proximity hints at the importance of electron correlation effects in these materials, and Hund's exchange interaction has been suggested to be the dominant correlation effect in FeSCs because of their multiband nature. By this reasoning, correlation should be strongest for materials closest to a half-filled [Formula: see text] electron shell (Mn compounds, hole-doped FeSCs) and decrease for systems with both higher (electron-doped FeSCs) and lower (Cr-pnictides) [Formula: see text] counts. Here we address the strength of correlation effects in nonsuperconducting antiferromagnetic BaCr 2 As 2 by means of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and first-principles calculations. This combination provides us with two handles on the strength of correlation: First, a comparison of the experimental and calculated effective masses yields the correlation-induced mass renormalization. In addition, the lifetime broadening of the experimentally observed dispersions provides another measure of the correlation strength. Both approaches reveal a reduction of electron correlation in BaCr 2 As 2 with respect to systems with a [Formula: see text] count closer to five. Our results thereby support the theoretical predictions that Hund's exchange interaction is important in these materials.

Teaching neurology to medical students with a simplified version of team-based learning.

PubMed

Brich, Jochen; Jost, Meike; Brüstle, Peter; Giesler, Marianne; Rijntjes, Michel

2017-08-08

To compare the effect of a simplified version of team-based learning (sTBL), an active learning/small group instructional strategy, with that of the traditionally used small group interactive seminars on the acquisition of knowledge and clinical reasoning (CR) skills. Third- and fourth-year medical students (n = 122) were randomly distributed into 2 groups. A crossover design was used in which 2 neurologic topics were taught by sTBL and 2 by small group interactive seminars. Knowledge was assessed with a multiple-choice question examination (MCQE), CR skills with a key feature problem examination (KFPE). Questionnaires were used for further methodologic evaluation. No group differences were found in the MCQE results. sTBL instruction of the topic "acute altered mental status" was associated with a significantly better student performance in the KFPE ( p = 0.008), with no differences in the other 3 topics covered. Although both teaching methods were highly rated by the students, a clear majority voted for sTBL as their preferred future teaching method. sTBL served as an equivalent alternative to small group interactive seminars for imparting knowledge and teaching CR skills, and was particularly advantageous for teaching CR in the setting of a complex neurologic topic. Furthermore, students reported a strong preference for the sTBL approach, making it a promising tool for effectively teaching neurology. © 2017 American Academy of Neurology.

Information Fusion for Collaborating Commanders at Different Levels

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

times, and thus given too much importance (also known as data incest ). The third level in the picture shows how the national situational picture is...this is still not feasible for political reasons. In this process, data incest is even more of a problem since the data probably is exchanged at a...partners, something that for political reasons is made at a rather high information level causing problems such as data incest . There exist some methods

Microscale characterization of metallic coatings for a high strength high conductivity copper alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jain, Piyush

NiCrAlY overlay coatings are being considered by NASA's Glenn Research Center to prevent blanching and reduce thermo-mechanical fatigue of rocket engine combustion chamber liners made of GRCop-84 (Cu-8%Cr-4%Nb) for reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). However, their successful application depends upon their integrity to the GRCop-84 during multiple firings of rocket engines. This study focuses on determining the adhesion of NiCrAlY coatings and their microstructural stability on GRCop-84 as a function of thermal cycling. Specimens were prepared by depositing NiCrAlY top coat on GRCop-84 by vacuum plasma spaying with a thin layer of Cu-26Cr as a bond coat. A thermal cycling rig was built to thermally cycle the NiCrAlY/Cu-26Cr/GRCop-84 specimens from RT to 600°C in an argon environment, with 10 minutes hold at 600°C, and 4 minutes hold at RT. Samples were cut from the coupons in as-received condition (AR), after 100 thermal cycles (TC-100), and after 300 thermal cycles (TC-300) for characterization. A newly developed interfacial microsample testing technique was employed to determine the adhesion of the coatings on GRCop-84, where bowtie shaped microsamples having interfaces normal to the tensile axis were tested. Interfacial microsamples of NiCrAlY/Cu-26Cr/GRCop-84 in all the conditions (AR, TC-100, and TC-300) failed cohesively in the substrate at a UTS of 380+/-5 MPa and their interfaces remained intact. The microstructural characterization revealed that microstructure of the NiCrAlY/Cu-26Cr/GRCop-84 specimens does not degrade as a function of thermal cycling. Constitutive properties of NiCrAlY, Cu-26Cr, and GRCop-84 were measured by testing monolithic samples and were used to build the finite element model (FEM) of the interfacial microsamples. The FE model analyzed the local stress-strain in the interfacial microsamples during the testing and confirmed the strength of the interfaces to be higher than 380+/-5 MPa. Depleted zones, devoid of Cr2Nb particles, were observed in the substrate near the interface, which has been attributed to uncontrolled processing parameters during the coating deposition. The interfacial microsamples containing depleted zones, failed at 335+/-25 MPa in AR condition exhibiting cohesive-adhesive failure, and at 360+/-15 MPa in TC-300 condition exhibiting adhesive failure. All these results suggested that the presence of depleted zone decreases the adhesion of the coating and should be avoided in future coatings deposition. Adhesion of two top coats, NiCrAlY (with the Cu-26Cr bond coat) and the Cu-26Cr (without any bond coat), were found to be lower on the grit blasted GRCop-84 than on the polished GRCop-84. The adhesion of both the top coats on polished GRCop-84 was measured to be 380+/-5 MPa with cohesive failure in the substrate, while the adhesion of NiCrAlY top coat on the grit blasted GRCop-84 was measured to be 142+/-35 MPa with cohesive failure in the Cu-26Cr bond coat, and the adhesion of Cu-26Cr top coat on the grit blasted GRCop-84 was measured to be 360+/-25 MPa with cohesive failure in the Cu-26Cr top coat. The microstructural characterization revealed that the reason of lower strength of top coats on the grit blasted GRCop-84 was the porosity present in the coatings on the grit blasted GRCop-84, while the coatings on the polished GRCop-84 did not have any measurable porosity.

Assessing Student Peer Dialogue in Collaborative Settings: A Window into Student Reasoning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stone, Antoinette

The use of science classroom discourse analysis as a way to gain a better understanding of various student cognitive outcomes has a rich history in Science Education in general and Physics Education Research (PER) in particular. When students talk to each other in a collaborative peer instruction environment, such as in the CLASP classes (Collaborative Learning and Sense-making in Physics) at UC Davis, they get to practice and enhance their reasoning and sense-making skills, develop collaborative approaches to problem solving, and participate in co-construction of knowledge and shared thinking. To better understand these important cognitive processes, an analysis tool for monitoring, assessing and categorizing the peer talk arising in this environment is needed as a first step in teasing out evidence for these processes inherent in such talk. In order to meaningfully contribute to the extensive body of knowledge that currently exists, deeper, more insightful answers to the question of what happens linguistically when students struggle to "make sense" and how students use language to mediate these important cognitive outcomes is needed. To this end, a new tool for interpreting particularly qualitative linguistic data is needed, and the first part of the dissertation expounds on the development of a discourse analysis tool that has as its underpinnings a framework for coding borrowed extensively from Systemic Functional Linguistics Theory (SFL). The second part of this dissertation illustrates multiple ways in which the tool is used and how it can be utilized to address many current research questions.

Clinical Reasoning in School Psychology: From Assessment to Intervention

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrews, Jac J. W.; Syeda, Maisha M.

2017-01-01

School psychologists typically conduct psychological and psychoeducational assessments, provide prevention and intervention services, and consult and collaborate with allied professionals (e.g., teachers, physicians, psychiatrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and nurses) and parents toward better understanding and…

Eight reasons payer interoperability and data sharing are essential in ACOs. Interoperability standards could be a prerequisite to measuring care.

PubMed

Mookencherry, Shefali

2012-01-01

It makes strategic and business sense for payers and providers to collaborate on how to take substantial cost out of the healthcare delivery system. Acting independently, neither medical groups, hospitals nor health plans have the optimal mix of resources and incentives to significantly reduce costs. Payers have core assets such as marketing, claims data, claims processing, reimbursement systems and capital. It would be cost prohibitive for all but the largest providers to develop these capabilities in order to compete directly with insurers. Likewise, medical groups and hospitals are positioned to foster financial interdependence among providers and coordinate the continuum of patient illnesses and care settings. Payers and providers should commit to reasonable clinical and cost goals, and share resources to minimize expenses and financial risks. It is in the interest of payers to work closely with providers on risk-management strategies because insurers need synergy with ACOs to remain cost competitive. It is in the interest of ACOs to work collaboratively with payers early on to develop reasonable and effective performance benchmarks. Hence, it is essential to have payer interoperability and data sharing integrated in an ACO model.

Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Manning, Andrew H.; Mills, Christopher T.; Morrison, Jean M.; Ball, Lyndsay B.

2015-01-01

Environmental tracers are useful for determining groundwater age and recharge source, yet their application in studies of geogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater has been limited. Environmental tracer data from 166 wells located in the Sacramento Valley, northern California, were interpreted and compared to Cr concentrations to determine the origin and age of groundwater with elevated Cr(VI), and better understand where Cr(VI) becomes mobilized and how it evolves along flowpaths. In addition to major ion and trace element concentrations, the dataset includes δ18O, δ2H, 3H concentration, 14C activity (of dissolved inorganic C), δ13C, 3He/4He ratio, and noble gas concentrations (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe). Noble gas recharge temperatures (NGTs) were computed, and age-related tracers were interpreted in combination to constrain the age distribution in samples and sort them into six different age categories spanning from <60 yr old to >10,000 yr old. Nearly all measured Cr is in the form of Cr(IV). Concentrations range from <1 to 46 μg L−1, with 10% exceeding the state of California’s Cr(VI) maximum contaminant level of 10 μg L−1. Two groups with elevated Cr(VI) (⩾5 μg L−1) were identified. Group 1 samples are from the southern part of the valley and contain modern (<60 yr old) water, have elevated NO3− concentrations (>3 mg L−1), and commonly have δ18O values enriched relative to local precipitation. These samples likely contain irrigation water and are elevated due to accelerated mobilization of Cr(VI) in the unsaturated zone (UZ) in irrigated areas. Group 2 samples are from throughout the valley and typically contain water 1000–10,000 yr old, have δ18O values consistent with local precipitation, and have unexpectedly warm NGTs. Chromium(VI) concentrations in Group 2 samples may be elevated for multiple reasons, but the hypothesis most consistent with all available data (notably, the warm NGTs) is a relatively long UZ residence time due to recharge through a deep UZ near the margin of the basin. A possible explanation for why Cr(VI) may be primarily mobilized in the UZ rather than farther along flowpaths in the oxic portion of the saturated zone is more dynamic cycling of Mn in the UZ due to transient moisture and redox conditions.

A Comparison of Reasoning Processes in a Collaborative Modelling Environment: Learning about genetics problems using virtual chat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pata, Kai; Sarapuu, Tago

2006-09-01

This study investigated the possible activation of different types of model-based reasoning processes in two learning settings, and the influence of various terms of reasoning on the learners’ problem representation development. Changes in 53 students’ problem representations about genetic issue were analysed while they worked with different modelling tools in a synchronous network-based environment. The discussion log-files were used for the “microgenetic” analysis of reasoning types. For studying the stages of students’ problem representation development, individual pre-essays and post-essays and their utterances during two reasoning phases were used. An approach for mapping problem representations was developed. Characterizing the elements of mental models and their reasoning level enabled the description of five hierarchical categories of problem representations. Learning in exploratory and experimental settings was registered as the shift towards more complex stages of problem representations in genetics. The effect of different types of reasoning could be observed as the divergent development of problem representations within hierarchical categories.

Status Report on the Fabrication of Fuel Cladding Chemical Interaction Test Articles for ATR Irradiations

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

Field, Kevin G.; Howard, Richard H.

FeCrAl alloys are a promising new class of alloys for light water reactor (LWR) applications due to their superior oxidation and corrosion resistance in high temperature environments. The current R&D efforts have focused on the alloy composition and processing routes to generate nuclear grade FeCrAl alloys with optimized properties for enhanced accident tolerance while maintaining properties needed for normal operation conditions. Therefore, the composition and processing routes must be optimized to maintain the high temperature steam oxidation (typically achieved by increasing the Cr and Al content) while still exhibiting properties conducive to normal operation in a LWR (such as radiationmore » tolerance where reducing Cr content is favorable). Within this balancing act is the addition of understanding the influence on composition and processing routes on the FeCrAl alloys for fuel-cladding chemical interactions (FCCI). Currently, limited knowledge exists on FCCI for the FeCrAl-UO 2 clad-fuel system. To overcome the knowledge gaps on the FCCI for the FeCrAl-UO2 clad-fuel system a series of fueled irradiation tests have been developed for irradiation in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) housed at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The first series of tests has already been reported. These tests used miniaturized 17x17 PWR fuel geometry rodlets of second-generation FeCrAl alloys fueled with industrial Westinghouse UO 2 fuel. These rodlets were encapsulated within a stainless steel housing.To provide high fidelity experiments and more robust testing, a new series of rodlets have been developed deemed the Accident Tolerant Fuel Experiment #1 Oak Ridge National Laboratory FCCI test (ATF-1 ORNL FCCI). The main driving factor, which is discussed in detail, was to provide a radiation environment where prototypical fuel-clad interface temperatures are met while still maintaining constant contact between industrial fuel and the candidate cladding alloys, hence promoting FCCI between the fuel-clad systems. The other factor was to develop a test bed where multiple candidate alloys could be evaluated within a single irradiation test train, thereby reducing overall costs and increasing efficiency in alloy screening efforts. A collaboration between ORNL and INL was developed to facilitate the completion of the test bed for FCCI testing. The report highlights the activities related to the development of the ATF-1 ORNL FCCI rodlets for irradiation in INL’s ATR as part of the on-going ATF-1 experiments.« less

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

McLing, Travis; Carpenter, Michael; Brandon, William

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has teamed with Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to facilitate further testing of geologic-fracture-identification methodology at a field site near the Monsanto Superfund Site located in Soda Springs, Idaho. INL has the necessary testing and technological expertise to perform this work. Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) has engaged INL to perform this work through a Work for Others (WFO) Agreement. This study continues a multi-year collaborative effort between INL and EPA to test the efficacy of using field deployed Cr-39 radon in soil portals. This research enables identification of active fracturesmore » capable of transporting contaminants at sites where fractures are suspected pathways into the subsurface. Current state of the art methods for mapping fracture networks are exceedingly expensive and notoriously inaccurate. The proposed WFO will evaluate the applicability of using cheap, readily available, passive radon detectors to identify conductive geologic structures (i.e. fractures, and fracture networks) in the subsurface that control the transport of contaminants at fracture-dominated sites. The proposed WFO utilizes proven off-the-shelf technology in the form of CR-39 radon detectors, which have been widely deployed to detect radon levels in homes and businesses. In an existing collaborative EPA/INL study outside of this workscope,. CR-39 detectors are being utilized to determine the location of active transport fractures in a fractured granitic upland adjacent to a landfill site at the Fort Devens, MA that EPA-designated as National Priorities List (NPL) site. The innovative concept of using an easily deployed port that allows the CR-39 to measure the Rn-222 in the soil or alluvium above the fractured rock, while restricting atmospheric Rn-222 and soil sourced Ra from contaminating the detector is unique to INL and EPA approach previously developed. By deploying a series of these inexpensive detector-casing combinations statistical samples of the Rn-222 flux can be measured, elucidating the most communicative fractures (i.e. fractures that are actively transporting water and gasses). The Rn-222 measurements can then be used as an input to create a more accurate conceptual model to be used for transport modeling and related cleanup activities. If the team’s approach is demonstrated to be applicable to a wide variety of rock types and soil conditions it might potentially offer significant cost saving without a reduction in data quality at Monsanto Superfund and other sites underlain by fracture-dominated bedrock.« less

In-Space Crew-Collaborative Task Scheduling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jaap, John; Meyer, Patrick; Davis, Elizabeth; Richardson, Lea

2006-01-01

As humans venture farther from earth for longer durations, it will become essential for those on the journey to have significant control over the scheduling of their own activities as well as the activities of their companion systems and robots. However, there are many reasons why the crew will not do all the scheduling; timelines will be the result of collaboration with ground personnel. Emerging technologies such as in-space message buses, delay-tolerant networks, and in-space internet will be the carriers on which the collaboration rides. Advances in scheduling technology, in the areas of task modeling, scheduling engines, and user interfaces will allow the crew to become virtual scheduling experts. New concepts of operations for producing the timeline will allow the crew and the ground support to collaborate while providing safeguards to ensure that the mission will be effectively accomplished without endangering the systems or personnel.

Synergist: Collaborative Analyst Assistant

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-04-01

NLP Framework ............................................................................................ 4  3.2  Identifying Concepts in Text...48  iii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Lymba’s NLP Pipeline...events, general concepts, relations and context, and build representations that yield well to reasoning on text and providing information access. NLP

An assessment of soil-to-plant concentration ratios for some natural analogues of the transuranic elements.

PubMed

Linsalata, P; Morse, R S; Ford, H; Eisenbud, M; Franca, E P; de Castro, M B; Lobao, N; Sachett, I; Carlos, M

1989-01-01

A field study was conducted in an area of enhanced, natural radioactivity to assess the soil to edible vegetable concentration ratios (CR = concentration in dry vegetable/concentration in dry soil) of 232Th, 230Th, 226Ra, 228Ra, and the light rare earth elements (REE's) La, Ce and Nd. Twenty-nine soil and 42 vegetable samples consisting of relatively equal numbers of seven varieties were obtained from 11 farms on the Pocos de Caldas Plateau in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. This region is the site of a major natural analogue study to assess the mobilization and retardation processes affecting Th and the REE's at the Morro do Ferro ore body and U series radionuclides at a nearby open pit U mine. Thorium (IV) serves as a chemical analogue for quadrivalent Pu and the light REE's (III) as chemical analogues for trivalent Am and Cm. The geometric mean CR's (all times 10(-4] decreased as 228Ra (148) greater than 226Ra (76) greater than La (5.4) greater than Nd (3.0) = Ce (2.6) greater than 232Th (0.6), or simply as M (II) greater than M (III) greater than M (IV). These differences may reflect the relative availability of these metals for plant uptake. Significant differences were found in the CR's (for any given analyte) among many of the vegetables sampled. The CR's for the different analytes were also highly correlated. The reasons for the correlations in CR's seen among elements with such diverse chemistries as Ra-REE or Ra-Th are not clear but are apparently related to the essential mineral requirements or mineral status of the different vegetables sampled. This conclusion is based on the significant correlations obtained between the Ca content of the dried vegetables and the CR's for all of the elements studied.

A high-resolution analytical scanning transmission electron microscopy study of the early stages of spinodal decomposition in binary Fe–Cr

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

Westraadt, J.E., E-mail: johan.westraadt@nmmu.ac.za; Olivier, E.J.; Neethling, J.H.

2015-11-15

Spinodal decomposition (SD) is an important phenomenon in materials science and engineering. For example, it is considered to be responsible for the 475 °C embrittlement of stainless steels comprising the bcc (ferrite) or bct (martensite) phases. Structural characterization of the evolving minute nano-scale concentration fluctuations during SD in the Fe–Cr system is, however, a notable challenge, and has mainly been considered accessible via atom probe tomography (APT) and small-angle neutron scattering. The standard tool for nanostructure characterization, viz. transmission electron microscopy (TEM), has only been successfully applied to late stages of SD when embrittlement is already severe. However, we heremore » demonstrate that the structural evolution in the early stages of SD in binary Fe–Cr, and alloys based on the binary, are accessible via analytical scanning TEM. An Fe–36 wt% Cr alloy aged at 500 °C for 1, 10 and 100 h is investigated using an aberration-corrected microscope and it is found that highly coherent and interconnected Cr-rich regions develop. The wavelength of decomposition is rather insensitive to the sample thickness and it is quantified to 2, 3 and 6 nm after ageing for 1, 10 and 100 h, which is in reasonable agreement with prior APT analysis. The concentration amplitude is more sensitive to the sample thickness and acquisition parameters but the TEM analysis is in good agreement with APT analysis for the longest ageing time. These findings open up for combinatorial TEM studies where both local crystallography and chemistry is required. - Highlights: • STEM-EELS analysis was successfully applied to resolve early stage SD in Fe–Cr. • Compositional wavelength measured with STEM-EELS compares well to previous ATP studies. • Compositional amplitude measured with STEM-EELS is a function of experimental parameters. • STEM-EELS allows for combinatorial studies of SD using complementary techniques.« less

Synchrotron EXAFS and XANES spectroscopy studies of transition aluminas doped with La and Cr for catalytic applications

DOE PAGES

Glazoff, Michael V.

2016-03-14

Abstract Transition aluminas doped with Cr find widespread application in the dehydrogenation industry, while La-stabilized transition aluminas are used extensively for high temperature application as catalytic supports. In this work, a detailed synchrotron XAFS-spectroscopy studies were conducted to shed light upon the atomic mechanisms of catalysis and/or catalytic support stabilization. It has been demonstrated that in the samples of different transition aluminas doped with Cr, the atoms of chromium are mostly in the state of oxidation Cr3+ and enter nanoparticles of Cr-bearing phases (Cr2O3 in the case of gamma- and –chi-alumina. In the row “gamma – chi – theta –more » eta-alumina” the change of properties (in particular, of the coloration of different samples) takes place because of dramatic reduction in the average size of Cr clusters and, possibly, their appearance on the Al2O3 surface. It has been also demonstrated that the substantial change in the local coordination of the La atoms in the samples of gamma-alumina doped with La, takes place only upon heating up to 1400°C, thereby making the La-stabilized gamma-alumina a perfect catalytic support for the numerous applications, e.g. catalytic three-way conversion of automobile exhaust gases. This change manifested itself in the form of increased La-O bond lengths and the La coordination number (from 8 to 12). It has been proved that the local environment of La in this new La-bearing phase cannot be explained in terms of the LaAlO3 formation. The absence of the La atoms in the second coordination sphere favors monoatomic distribution of La atoms on grain boundaries, proving that only very small amounts of this expensive rare earth material is required to achieve full stabilization. It is inferred that the tendency of La atoms to get surrounded by oxygen atoms, and also the impossibility of going into the bulk of alumina crystal, could be a major reason of the increased thermal stability of gamma alumina doped with lanthanum.« less

Synchrotron EXAFS and XANES spectroscopy studies of transition aluminas doped with La and Cr for catalytic applications

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

Glazoff, Michael V.

Abstract Transition aluminas doped with Cr find widespread application in the dehydrogenation industry, while La-stabilized transition aluminas are used extensively for high temperature application as catalytic supports. In this work, a detailed synchrotron XAFS-spectroscopy studies were conducted to shed light upon the atomic mechanisms of catalysis and/or catalytic support stabilization. It has been demonstrated that in the samples of different transition aluminas doped with Cr, the atoms of chromium are mostly in the state of oxidation Cr3+ and enter nanoparticles of Cr-bearing phases (Cr2O3 in the case of gamma- and –chi-alumina. In the row “gamma – chi – theta –more » eta-alumina” the change of properties (in particular, of the coloration of different samples) takes place because of dramatic reduction in the average size of Cr clusters and, possibly, their appearance on the Al2O3 surface. It has been also demonstrated that the substantial change in the local coordination of the La atoms in the samples of gamma-alumina doped with La, takes place only upon heating up to 1400°C, thereby making the La-stabilized gamma-alumina a perfect catalytic support for the numerous applications, e.g. catalytic three-way conversion of automobile exhaust gases. This change manifested itself in the form of increased La-O bond lengths and the La coordination number (from 8 to 12). It has been proved that the local environment of La in this new La-bearing phase cannot be explained in terms of the LaAlO3 formation. The absence of the La atoms in the second coordination sphere favors monoatomic distribution of La atoms on grain boundaries, proving that only very small amounts of this expensive rare earth material is required to achieve full stabilization. It is inferred that the tendency of La atoms to get surrounded by oxygen atoms, and also the impossibility of going into the bulk of alumina crystal, could be a major reason of the increased thermal stability of gamma alumina doped with lanthanum.« less

Particles from bird feather: a novel application of an ionic liquid and waste resource.

PubMed

Sun, Ping; Liu, Zhao-Tie; Liu, Zhong-Wen

2009-10-30

The dissolution and regeneration of the waste chicken feathers in an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) were demonstrated for preparing chicken feather based particles. The structure and properties of the regenerated chicken feathers were investigated by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, BET and water contact angle. The crystallinity of the regenerated chicken feathers was decreased, and the content of beta-sheet was 31.71%, which was clearly lower than the raw feather (47.19%). The surface property of chicken feather changed from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity after regenerated from [BMIM]Cl as indicated by the change of the water contact angle from 138 to 76 degrees . The chicken feather particles regenerated from [BMIM]Cl showed an excellent efficiency (63.5-87.7%) for removing Cr(VI) ions in wastewater at the concentrations from 2 to 80 ppm. The Freundlich constant (k(F)) for the adsorption of Cr(VI) ion by the particles of the regenerated chicken feather was four times larger than that of the raw chicken feather, the possible reason is the hydrophilic groups such as amino and carboxyl groups were tend to self-assemble towards surface when the dissolved CF were regenerated by water, amino group will partly hydrate to cationic amino and Cr(VI) ion occurs as an anion in the aqueous phase, so the cationic amino will adsorb the anionic Cr(VI) ion onto the RCF particles through electrostatic attraction. This work demonstrated a new application of the ionic liquid for dissolving chicken feather and a renewable application of waste chicken feather for removing Cr(VI) ion in water.

Watershed-scale assessment of background concentrations and guidance values for heavy metals in soils from a semiarid and coastal zone of Brazil.

PubMed

da Silva, Yuri Jacques Agra Bezerra; do Nascimento, Clístenes Williams Araújo; Cantalice, José Ramon Barros; da Silva, Ygor Jacques Agra Bezerra; Cruz, Cinthia Maria Cordeiro Atanázio

2015-09-01

Determining heavy metal background concentrations in soils is fundamental in order to support the monitoring of potentially contaminated areas. This is particularly important to areas submitted to high environmental impact where an intensive and local monitoring is required. To this end, the aim of this study was to establish background concentrations and quality reference values (QRVs) for the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, As, and Hg in an environmentally impacted watershed from Brazil. Geochemical associations among Fe, Mn, and trace elements were also assessed to provide an alternative tool for establishing background concentrations. A total of one hundred and four samples comprised twenty-six composite soil samples from areas of native forest or minimal anthropic influence. Samples were digested (USEPA method 3051A), and the metals were determined by ICP-OES, except for As and Hg measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Background concentrations of heavy metals in soils had the following decreasing order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > As > Cd > Hg. These values were usually lower than those observed in the international and national literature. The QRVs for Ipojuca watershed followed the order (mg kg(-1)) Fe (13,020.40) > Mn (91.80) > Zn (30.12) > Cr (15.00) > Pb (13.12) > Cu (3.53) > Ni (3.30) > As (0.51) > Cd (0.08) > Hg (0.04). Significant correlation among Fe, Mn, and heavy metals shows that solubilization by the method 3051A provides a reasonable estimate for predicting background concentrations for Cd, Cr, and Cu as well as Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni.

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

Igidbashian, Levon, E-mail: levonig@hotmail.co; Fortin, Bernard; Guertin, Louis

Purpose: To evaluate the role of neck dissection (ND) after chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with N3 disease. Methods and Materials: From March 1998 to September 2006, 70 patients with HNSCC and N3 neck disease were treated with concomitant CRT as primary therapy. Response to treatment was assessed using clinical examination and computed tomography 6 to 8 weeks posttreatment. Neck dissection was not routinely performed and considered for those with less than complete response. Of the patients, 26 (37.1%) achieved clinical complete response (cCR) after CRT. A total of 31 (44.3%) underwent ND aftermore » partial response (cPR-ND). Thirteen patients (29.5%) did not achieve cCR and did not undergo ND for the following reasons: incomplete response/progression at primary site, refusal/contraindication to surgery, metastatic progression, or death. These patients were excluded from the analysis. Outcomes were computed using Kaplan-Meier curves and were compared with log rank tests. Results: Comparing the cCR and cPR-ND groups at 2 years, the disease-free survival was respectively 62.7% and 84.9% (p = 0.048); overall survival was 63.0% and 79.4% (p = 0.26), regional relapse-free survival was 87.8% and 96.0% (p = 0.21); and distant disease-free survival was 67.1% and 92.6% (p = 0.059). In the cPR-ND group, 71.0% had no pathologic evidence of disease (PPV of 29.0%). Conclusions: Patients with N3 disease achieving regional cPR and primary cCR who underwent ND seemed to have better outcomes than patients achieving global cCR without ND. Clinical assessment with computed tomography is not adequate for evaluating response to treatment. Because of the inherent limitations of our study, further confirmatory studies are warranted.« less

Ballistic Deficits for Ionization Chamber Pulses in Pulse Shaping Amplifiers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, G. Anil; Sharma, S. L.; Choudhury, R. K.

2007-04-01

In order to understand the dependence of the ballistic deficit on the shape of rising portion of the voltage pulse at the input of a pulse shaping amplifier, we have estimated the ballistic deficits for the pulses from a two-electrode parallel plate ionization chamber as well as for the pulses from a gridded parallel plate ionization chamber. These estimations have been made using numerical integration method when the pulses are processed through the CR-RCn (n=1-6) shaping network as well as when the pulses are processed through the complex shaping network of the ORTEC Model 472 spectroscopic amplifier. Further, we have made simulations to see the effect of ballistic deficit on the pulse-height spectra under different conditions. We have also carried out measurements of the ballistic deficits for the pulses from a two-electrode parallel plate ionization chamber as well as for the pulses from a gridded parallel plate ionization chamber when these pulses are processed through the ORTEC 572 linear amplifier having a simple CR-RC shaping network. The reasonable matching of the simulated ballistic deficits with the experimental ballistic deficits for the CR-RC shaping network clearly establishes the validity of the simulation technique

Principle Component Analysis of AIRS and CrIS Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Aumann, H. H.; Manning, Evan

2015-01-01

Synthetic Eigen Vectors (EV) used for the statistical analysis of the PC reconstruction residual of large ensembles of data are a novel tool for the analysis of data from hyperspectral infrared sounders like the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on the EOS Aqua and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) on the SUOMI polar orbiting satellites. Unlike empirical EV, which are derived from the observed spectra, the synthetic EV are derived from a large ensemble of spectra which are calculated assuming that, given a state of the atmosphere, the spectra created by the instrument can be accurately calculated. The synthetic EV are then used to reconstruct the observed spectra. The analysis of the differences between the observed spectra and the reconstructed spectra for Simultaneous Nadir Overpasses of tropical oceans reveals unexpected differences at the more than 200 mK level under relatively clear conditions, particularly in the mid-wave water vapor channels of CrIS. The repeatability of these differences using independently trained SEV and results from different years appears to rule out inconsistencies in the radiative transfer algorithm or the data simulation. The reasons for these discrepancies are under evaluation.

Status of Wrought FeCrAl-UO 2 Capsules Irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor

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

Field, Kevin G.; Harp, J.; Core, G.

2017-07-01

Candidate cladding materials for accident tolerant fuel applications require extensive testing and validation prior to commercial deployment within the nuclear power industry. One class of cladding materials, FeCrAl alloys, is currently undergoing such effort. Within these activities is a series of irradiation programs within the Advanced Test Reactor. These programs are developed to aid in commercial maturation and understand the fundamental mechanisms controlling the cladding performance during normal operation of a typical light water reactor. Three different irradiation programs are on-going; one designed as a simple proof-of-principle concept, the other to evaluate the susceptibility of FeCrAl to fuel-cladding chemical interaction,more » and the last to fully simulate the conditions of a pressurized water reactor experimentally. To date, nondestructive post-irradiation examination has been completed on the rodlet deemed FCA-L3 from the simple proof-of-concept irradiation program. Initial results show possible breach of the rodlet under irradiation but further studies are needed to conclusively determine whether breach has occurred and the underlying reasons for such a possible failure. Further work includes characterizing additional rodlets following irradiation.« less

Effect of ageing on precipitation and impact energy of 2101 economical duplex stainless steel

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

Zhang Wei; College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240; Jiang Laizhu

2009-01-15

The impact energy and microstructure of a thermally aged 2101 duplex stainless steel with composition of Fe-21.4Cr-1.2Ni-5.7Mn-0.23 N-0.31Mo were studied. The results showed that the room temperature impact energy of specimens decreased gradually with ageing temperature up to 700 deg. C and then increased with aging over 700 deg. C. The minimum value of impact energy was 37 J after 700 deg. C aging, which was only 34% of that for as-annealed specimens. For specimens aged at 700 deg. C, the room temperature impact energy decreased significantly after 3 min and was halved after 10 min. Fractographs showed that, withmore » increasing aging time, the fracture morphology changed from fibrous fracture to transgranular and intragranular fracture. Scanning electron micrographs revealed that many precipitates were distributed along {alpha}/{gamma} and {alpha}/{alpha} interfaces. The precipitates were extracted and confirmed by X-ray diffraction to be Cr{sub 2}N. Therefore, it can be concluded that precipitation of Cr{sub 2}N is the main reason for the decrease of impact energy in aged 2101 duplex stainless steel.« less

Developing learning environments which support early algebraic reasoning: a case from a New Zealand primary classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunter, Jodie

2014-12-01

Current reforms in mathematics education advocate the development of mathematical learning communities in which students have opportunities to engage in mathematical discourse and classroom practices which underlie algebraic reasoning. This article specifically addresses the pedagogical actions teachers take which structure student engagement in dialogical discourse and activity which facilitates early algebraic reasoning. Using videotaped recordings of classroom observations, the teacher and researcher collaboratively examined the classroom practices and modified the participatory practices to develop a learning environment which supported early algebraic reasoning. Facilitating change in the classroom environment was a lengthy process which required consistent and ongoing attention initially to the social norms and then to the socio-mathematical norms. Specific pedagogical actions such as the use of specifically designed tasks, materials and representations and a constant press for justification and generalisation were required to support students to link their numerical understandings to algebraic reasoning.

Correlates of Caregiver Participation in a Brief, Community-Based Dementia Care Management Program.

PubMed

Mavandadi, Shahrzad; Patel, Samir; Benson, Amy; DiFilippo, Suzanne; Streim, Joel; Oslin, David

2017-11-10

The evidence base for dementia care management interventions for informal caregivers (CGs) is strong, yet enrollment and sustained engagement in academic and community-based research trials is low. This study sought to examine rates and correlates of participation in a community-based, telephone-delivered dementia care management program designed to address logistic and practical barriers to participation in CG trials and services. Participants included 290 CGs of older, community-dwelling, low-income care recipients (CRs) who met criteria for enrollment in a collaborative dementia care management program that provides assessment, psychosocial support and education, and connection to community resources via telephone. Cross-sectional analyses examined the association between CG-related (e.g., financial status, relationship to CR, caregiving burden) and CR-related (e.g., functional limitations, symptom severity) factors and CG enrollment and engagement. The majority of CGs were non-Hispanic White, female, financially stable, and adult children of the CRs. Over half of CGs lived with the CR and provided 20 or more hours of care per week. Roughly half of CGs refused care management services. Adjusted logistic regression models revealed that perceived caregiving burden and financial status were related to initial enrollment and engagement in services once enrolled, respectively. A significant proportion of CGs refuse free, convenient, evidence-based dementia care management services, underscoring the need for further examination of correlates of program acceptance. Nonetheless, community-based programs that address barriers may improve enrollment and engagement rates among CGs, including those who are especially vulnerable to negative CG and CR outcomes. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America 2016. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.

Prevalence of augmented renal clearance and performance of glomerular filtration estimates in Indigenous Australian patients requiring intensive care admission.

PubMed

Tsai, D; Udy, A A; Stewart, P C; Gourley, S; Morick, N M; Lipman, J; Roberts, J A

2018-01-01

Augmented renal clearance (ARC) refers to the enhanced renal excretion of circulating solute commonly demonstrated in numerous critically ill subgroups. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of ARC in critically ill Indigenous Australian patients and explore the accuracy of commonly employed mathematical estimates of glomerular filtration. We completed a single-centre, prospective, observational study in the intensive care unit (ICU), Alice Springs Hospital, Central Australia. Participants were critically ill adult Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian patients with a urinary catheter in situ. Exclusion criteria were anuria, pregnancy or the requirement for renal replacement therapy. Daily eight-hour measured creatinine clearances (CrCL_m) were collected throughout the ICU stay. ARC was defined by a CrCL_m ≥130 ml/min/1.73 m². The Cockcroft-Gault and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations were also used to calculate mathematical estimates for comparison. In total, 131 patients were recruited (97 Indigenous, 34 non-Indigenous) and 445 samples were collected. The median (range) CrCL_m was 93.0 (5.14 to 205.2) and 90.4 (18.7 to 206.8) ml/min/1.73 m² in Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients, respectively. Thirty-one of 97 (32%) Indigenous patients manifested ARC, compared to 7 of 34 (21%) non-Indigenous patients (P=0.21). Younger age, major surgery, higher baseline renal function and an absence of diabetes were all associated with ARC. Both mathematical estimates manifest limited accuracy. ARC was prevalent in critically ill Indigenous patients, which places them at significant risk of underdosing with renally excreted drugs. CrCL_m should be obtained wherever possible to ensure accurate dosing.

Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Anthracycline-Based Regimens Combined With Nanoparticle Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Operable Breast Cancer.

PubMed

Tanaka, Satoru; Iwamoto, Mitsuhiko; Kimura, Kosei; Matsunami, Nobuki; Morishima, Hirotaka; Yoshidome, Katsuhide; Nomura, Takashi; Morimoto, Takashi; Yamamoto, Daigo; Tsubota, Yu; Kobayashi, Toshihiro; Uchiyama, Kazuhisa

2015-06-01

We treated patients with operable human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer with neoadjuvant anthracycline regimens followed by nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel plus trastuzumab. Of the 44 patients, 49% achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR). The pCR rate was 36% and 71% in the patients with estrogen receptor-positive and -negative cancer, respectively. Neoadjuvant therapy using this combination appears to be effective and safe. Introduction: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus trastuzumab results in a 30% to 50% pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer and has been associated with improved therapeutic outcomes. Thus, the pCR rate can be useful in evaluating novel agents in this patient population. Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel (PTX) can reduce the toxicity of PTX while maintaining its efficacy. The present study evaluated the activity and safety of nab-PTX as a neoadjuvant treatment of HER2(+) breast cancer. We treated patients with stage I to IIIA breast cancer using neoadjuvant epirubicin/cyclophosphamide (EC) or 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide every 3 weeks (q3w) for 4 cycles, followed by nab-PTX (260 mg/m(2)) plus trastuzumab q3w for 4 cycles. The primary endpoint was the pCR rate. The secondary endpoints included the clinical response rate, disease-free survival, pathologic response rate (defined as pCR or minimal residual invasive disease only in the breast), breast-conserving surgery rate, and safety. Forty-six patients were enrolled. One patient met the exclusion criteria because of the coexistence of another malignant disease; therefore, we evaluated 45 patients in the entire study. One patient experienced rapid disease progression during EC therapy, leaving 44 patients evaluable for nab-PTX treatment. Of the 45 patients, 49% achieved a pCR. The pCR rate was 36% and 71% in those with estrogen receptor-positive and -negative cancer, respectively. Of all the study treatments, the most frequent reason for delay or dose reduction was hematologic toxicity; only 1 patient required a dose reduction for nab-PTX because of peripheral neuropathy. Neoadjuvant therapy using this combination appears to be effective and safe. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mutual Funds.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dessoff, Alan L.

1993-01-01

There is good reason for college fund raisers and business officers to collaborate on common financial interests. Communication is a key element of such cooperation. Other needs include agreement on accounting and reporting of institutional finances, agreement on stewardship of gifts (particularly with restrictions or endowments), and common…

Help Wanted: More Cosmopolitan Managers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayden, Rose L.

The government role in internationalizing business education in the United States is minimal for several reasons: the limited federal role in public education curriculum, limited government-industry collaboration at state and local levels, little effort to standardize the international dimension of college business administration programs, and…

Learner Perceptions of Online Interaction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Northrup, Pam; Lee, Russell; Burgess, Vance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the types of interactions that students perceived to be important for online learning. The interaction attributes investigated included content interaction, conversation and collaboration, intrapersonal/metacognitive skills, and need for support. Also investigated were reasons why learners were taking…

Crossing boundaries in interprofessional education: A call for instructional integration of two script concepts.

PubMed

Kiesewetter, Jan; Kollar, Ingo; Fernandez, Nicolas; Lubarsky, Stuart; Kiessling, Claudia; Fischer, Martin R; Charlin, Bernard

2016-09-01

Clinical work occurs in a context which is heavily influenced by social interactions. The absence of theoretical frameworks underpinning the design of collaborative learning has become a roadblock for interprofessional education (IPE). This article proposes a script-based framework for the design of IPE. This framework provides suggestions for designing learning environments intended to foster competences we feel are fundamental to successful interprofessional care. The current literature describes two script concepts: "illness scripts" and "internal/external collaboration scripts". Illness scripts are specific knowledge structures that link general disease categories and specific examples of diseases. "Internal collaboration scripts" refer to an individual's knowledge about how to interact with others in a social situation. "External collaboration scripts" are instructional scaffolds designed to help groups collaborate. Instructional research relating to illness scripts and internal collaboration scripts supports (a) putting learners in authentic situations in which they need to engage in clinical reasoning, and (b) scaffolding their interaction with others with "external collaboration scripts". Thus, well-established experiential instructional approaches should be combined with more fine-grained script-based scaffolding approaches. The resulting script-based framework offers instructional designers insights into how students can be supported to develop the necessary skills to master complex interprofessional clinical situations.

Fostering critical thinking and collaborative learning skills among medical students through a research protocol writing activity in the curriculum.

PubMed

Sahoo, Soumendra; Mohammed, Ciraj Ali

2018-06-01

This intervention was aimed to analyse the effect of academic writing and journal critiquing as educational approaches in improving critical thinking and collaborative learning among undergraduate medical students. A research proposal writing format was created for the 4th year medical students of Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia during their ophthalmology clinical postings. The students worked in small groups and developed research protocols through an evidence based approach. This was followed by writing reflective summaries in academic portfolios about the activity undertaken. A mixed methods study was designed to explore the possible role of collaborative research proposal writing in enhancing critical thinking and collaborative learning. Analysis of reflections submitted by 188 medical students after the intervention indicate that majority of them found an improvement in their skills of critical thinking and collaborative learning as a result of research protocol writing. All participants agreed that the model helped in applying concepts to new situations in the form of designing their own study, which reflected in enhanced higher order cognitive skills. This study shows that the introduction of a structured module in the core medical curriculum that focuses on research writing skills embedded with collaborative and reflective practices can enhance collaborative learning, critical thinking, and reasoning among medical students.

Growth, Structural, Electronic, and Magnetic Characterization of GaN, CrN, Fe Islands on CrN, and Fe/CrN Bilayer Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, Khan

As a part of my Ph.D research, initially I was involved in construction and calibration of an ultra-high vacuum thin film facility, and later on I studied structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of GaN, CrN, Fe/CrN bilayers, and Fe islands on CrN thin films. All of these films were grown by molecular beam epitaxy and characterized with a variety of state-of-the-art techniques including variable temperature reflection high energy electron diffraction, low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy, variable temperature vibrating sample magnetometry, variable temperature neutron diffraction and reflectometry, variable temperature x-ray diffraction, x-ray reflectometry, Rutherford backscattering, Auger electron spectroscopy, and cross-sectional tunneling electron microscopy. The experimental results are furthermore understood by comparing with numerical calculations using generalized gradient approximation, local density approximation with Hubbard correction, Refl1D, and data analysis and visual environment program. In my first research project, I studied Ga gas adatoms on GaN surfaces. We discovered frozen-out gallium gas adatoms on atomically smooth c(6x12) GaN(0001¯) surface using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. We identified adsorption sites of the Ga adatoms on c(6x12) reconstructed surface. Their bonding is determined by measuring low unoccupied molecular orbital level. Absorption sites of the Ga gas adatoms on centered 6x12 are identified, and their asymmetric absorption on the chiral domains is investigated. In second project, I investigated magneto-structural phase transition in chromium nitride (CrN) thin films. The CrN thin films are grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Structural and magnetic transition are studied using variable temperature reflection high energy electron diffraction and variable temperature neutron diffraction. We observed a structural phase transition at the surface at 277+/-2 K, and a sharp, first-order magnetic phase transition from paramagnetic (room temperature) to antiferromagnetic (low temperature) at 280+/-3 K. Our experiments suggest that the structural transition in CrN thin films occur in out-of-plane direction, and epitaxial constraints suppress the in-plane transition; therefore, the low temperature crystal structure of CrN is tetragonal. This new model explains our structural and magnetic data at low temperatures, but it is different than the previously published orthorhombic model. In third project, I studied exchange bias and exchange spring effect in MBE grown Fe/CrN bilayer thin films. We grew Fe/CrN bilayer thin films on MgO(001) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy, and studied them using variable temperature vibrating sample magnetometry, polarized neutron reflectometry, x-ray reflectivity, and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy. We observed exchange bias and exchange spring effect in all bilayer thin films. We studied the relationship of exchange bias, blocking temperature, and coercivity with Fe and CrN layers thicknesses. We used polarized neutron beam reflectometry to see if spins at Fe/CrN interface are pinned. We found a thin ferromagnetically ordered CrN layer at the interface. In my final project, I studied growth of submonolayer Fe islands on CrN thin films. These films are prepared in two stages: first, a CrN layer is grown by MBE and then a submonolayer Fe is deposited at room temperature from a carefully degassed e-beam evaporator. The films are studied at liquid helium temperature using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Islands are seen in STM images, after the Fe deposition, at the edges as well as at the center of atomically flat CrN terraces. However, numerical calculations performed by our collaborator Ponce-P'erez from Benem'erita Universidad Aut'onoma de Puebla show that the Fe islands are energetically unstable on the surface. The Fe atoms substitute Cr atoms in the surface layer and the Cr atoms comes out and form islands. In order to find out elemental composition of the islands, we attempted to map local density of state by measuring differential conductance spectra as a function of bias voltage using LT-STS. We observed three characteristically different spectra; one in the CrN substrate and two in the islands. The CrN substrate curve has a "U" shape near Fermi level and a peak at ≈ 105 mV. The islands spectra show Kondo-like resonances at Fermi level; some islands produce a peak whereas others produce a dip the dI/dV curves near Fermi level. Further investigations are needed to determine the origin of the peak and dip in the island curves, as well as to find the composition of the islands.

Family Interaction and Consensus with IT Support.

PubMed

Karlsudd, Peter

2012-01-01

Experience shows that there are great defects in information and collaboration between families and professionals in the health and care sector. In an attempt to improve the quality of the efforts planned and implemented in collaboration with relatives a family-related IT-based collaboration system called CIDC was constructed. With the intention to facilitate communication, information, documentation, and collaboration the system was tested together with parents of children with cognitive impairment. The system contains a number of functions gathered in a so-called e-collaboration room. The person administering and distributing the system authorizes the patient/care recipient or relative to build up an e-collaboration room. The result has been largely positive, but the part, which was supposed to document everyday activities, leaves much to be desired. For this reason a follow-up study was completed, and an iPad was used as a contact book, which with the help of the Dropbox software provided increased insight into the child and improved the contact with parents without losing confidentiality or causing extra workload for the staff. By automatic download from the iPad parents and/or contact persons could easily follow the documentation of children's everyday activities.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (CR&D) Delivery Order 0063: Flexible and Transparent Electronics (FAT) Development

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

Suzuki, T . Matsushita, T . Aoki and M. Okuda, Thin Solid Films, 445, p263 (2003). 7 S.M. Park, T . Ikegami , K. Ebihara and P.K. Shin, App. Surf...quality films and substrates have negligible scatter therefore we may take the absorption to be 1- T -R, where T and R are the specularly resolved...1995. 2 T . Minami, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 20, S35–S44 (2005). 3 G. Fang, D. Li and B.L. Yao, Vacuum 68, p363 (2003). 4 T . Minami, S. Suzuki and T

Mn-Cr relative sensitivity factor in ferromagnesian olivines defined for SIMS measurements with a Cameca ims-1280 ion microprobe: Implications for dating secondary fayalite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doyle, Patricia M.; Jogo, Kaori; Nagashima, Kazuhide; Huss, Gary R.; Krot, Alexander N.

2016-02-01

The short-lived radionuclide 53Mn, which decays to 53Cr with a half-life of ∼3.7 Myr, is useful for sequencing objects that formed within the first 20 Myr of Solar System evolution. 53Mn-53Cr relative chronology enables aqueously formed secondary minerals such as fayalite and various carbonates in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites to be dated, thereby providing chronological constraints on aqueous alteration processes. In situ measurements of Mn-Cr isotope systematics in fayalite by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) require consideration of the relative sensitivities of the 55Mn+ and 52Cr+ ions, for which a relative sensitivity factor [RSF = (55Mn+/52Cr+)SIMS/(55Mn/52Cr)true] is defined using appropriate standards. In the past, San Carlos olivine (Fa∼10) was commonly used for this purpose, but a growing body of evidence suggests that it is an unsuitable standard for meteoritic fayalite (Fa>90). Natural fayalite also cannot be used as a standard because it contains only trace amounts of chromium, which makes determining a true 55Mn/52Cr ratio and its degree of heterogeneity very difficult. To investigate the dependence of the Mn-Cr RSF on ferromagnesian olivine compositions, we synthesized a suite of compositionally homogeneous Mn,Cr-bearing liquidus-phase ferromagnesian olivines (Fa31-99). Manganese-chromium isotopic measurements of San Carlos olivine and synthesized ferromagnesian olivines using the University of Hawai'i Cameca ims-1280 SIMS show that the RSF for Fa10 is ∼0.9; it increases rapidly between Fa10 and Fa31 and reaches a plateau value of ∼1.5 ± 0.1 for Fa>34. The RSF is time-dependent: it increases during the measurements of olivines with fayalite content <30 and decreases during the measurements of olivines with fayalite content >50. The RSF measured on ferroan olivine (Fa>90) is influenced by pit shape, whereas the RSF measured on magnesian olivine (Fa10) is less sensitive to changes in pit shape. For these reasons, 53Mn-53Cr systematics of chondritic fayalite (Fa>90) should be determined using standards of similar composition that are measured under the same analytical conditions as the ;unknown;. The 53Mn-53Cr ages of secondary fayalites (Fa90-100) in the Elephant Moraine (EET) 90161 (L3.05), Vicencia (LL3.2), Asuka 881317 (CV3) and MacAlpine Hills (MAC) 88107 (C3) chondrites (2.4-1.3+1.8 , 4.0-1.1+1.4 , 4.2-0.7+0.8 and 5.1-0.4+0.5 Myrs after CV CAIs, respectively) are ∼3 Myr older when using an RSF measured on a matrix-matched (Fa99) standard, rather than on a San Carlos olivine. The inferred 53Mn-53Cr ages of fayalite formation are consistent with the ages reported for calcites in CM chondrites measured with similarly matrix-matched standards, suggesting an early onset of aqueous alteration on the ordinary and carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies heated by decay of 26Al.

Comment on the Nanoparticle Conclusions in Crüts et al. (2008), "Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers"

PubMed Central

Valberg, Peter A; Long, Christopher M; Hesterberg, Thomas W

2008-01-01

A recent publication in this journal reported interesting changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) waves that occurred in 10 young, male volunteers following inhalation for one hour of elevated levels of diesel-engine exhaust fumes [1]. The authors then proposed a chain of causal events that they hypothesized underlay their observed EEG changes. Their reasoning linked the observed results to nanoparticles in diesel-engine exhaust (DEE), and went on to suggest that associations between changes in ambient particulate matter (PM) levels and changes in health statistics might be due to the effects of diesel-engine exhaust (DEE) nanoparticles on EEG. We suggest that the extrapolations of the Crüts et al. EEG findings to casual mechanisms about how ambient levels of DEE particulate might affect electrical signals in the brain, and subsequently to how DEE particulate might alter disease risk, are premature. PMID:18652692

Cardiac rehabilitation and exercise therapy in the elderly: Should we invest in the aged?

PubMed Central

Menezes, Arthur R; Lavie, Carl J; Milani, Richard V; Arena, Ross A; Church, Timothy S

2012-01-01

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and becomes increasingly prevalent among patients aged 65 years and older. Elderly patients are at a higher risk for complications and accelerated physical deconditioning after a cardiovascular event, especially compared to their younger counterparts. The last few decades were privy to multiple studies that demonstrated the beneficial effects of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and exercise therapy on mortality, exercise capacity, psychological risk factors, inflammation, and obesity among patients with CHD. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the available data in this field pertains to younger patients. A viable explanation is that older patients are grossly underrepresented in these programs for multiple reasons starting with the patient and extending to the physician. In this article, we will review the benefits of CR programs among the elderly, as well as some of the barriers that hinder their participation. PMID:22783325

Thermodynamics analysis of diffusion in spark plasma sintering welding Cr3C2 and Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Fan; Zhang, Jinyong; Leng, Xiaoxuan; Lei, Liwen; Fu, Zhengyi

2017-03-01

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) welding of chromium carbide (Cr3C2) and nickel (Ni) was used to investigate the atomic diffusion caused by bypassing current. It was found that the diffusion coefficient with bypassing current was enhanced by almost 3.57 times over that without bypassing current. Different from the previous researches, the thermodynamics analysis conducted herein showed that the enhancement included a current direction-independent part besides the known current direction-dependent part. A local temperature gradient (LTG) model was proposed to explain the current direction-independent effect. Assuming that the LTG was mainly due to the interfacial electric resistance causing heterogeneous Joule heating, the theoretical results were in good agreement with the experimental results both in the present and previous studies. This new LTG model provides a reasonable physical meaning for the low-temperature advantage of SPS welding and should be useful in a wide range of applications.

Chemometric analysis of voltammetric data on metal ion binding by selenocystine.

PubMed

Gusmão, Rui; Díaz-Cruz, José Manuel; Ariño, Cristina; Esteban, Miquel

2012-06-28

The behavior of selenocystine (SeCyst) alone or in the presence of various metal ions (Bi(3+), Cd(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Cr(3+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+), and Zn(2+)) was studied using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) over a wide pH range. Voltammetric data matrices were analyzed using chemometric tools recently developed for nonlinear data: pHfit and Gaussian Peak Adjustment (GPA). Under the experimental conditions tested, no evidence was found for the formation of metal complexes with Bi(3+), Cu(2+), Cr(3+), and Pb(2+). In contrast, SeCyst formed electroinactive complexes with Co(2+) and Ni(2+) and kinetically inert but electroactive complexes with Cd(2+) and Zn(2+). Titrations with Cd(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), and Zn(2+) produced data that were reasonably consistent with the formation of stable 1:1 M(SeCyst) complexes.

Microstructure Evolution During Continuous Cooling in AISI 5140 Steel Processed by Induction Heating Chromizing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Jianjun; Ma, Chaoping; Yang, Xian; Xu, Hongbin; Guo, Ning; Yu, Hongbing

2017-11-01

In this study, induction heating chromizing (IHC) and box-type furnace heating chromizing (BFHC) were conducted on commercial AISI 5140 steels, respectively. Microstructure, microhardness and wear resistance of the chromized samples were characterized. The results show that the IHC samples have thicker Cr coating layer and stronger interface bond due to pre-compressive stress among the packed powders. Three kinds of microstructures including alloyed cementite (AC-layer), fine pearlite zone (FP-zone) and carbon-poor zone (CP-zone) are formed near the interface in the IHC samples. The main reason given for this is that different contents of Cr and C have different effects on pearlite phase and morphology. The IHC sample shows better wear properties due to its stronger interface bonding strength than that of the BFHC sample. The formation mechanism of CP-zone and its influences on microhardness and wear resistance are also discussed.

Collaboration and critical thinking in an online chemistry environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kershisnik, Elizabeth Irene

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine collaboration and student's critical thinking and cognitive achievement within online chemistry courses. This quantitative study focused on the apparent lack of research relating collaboration and critical thinking in online science courses. Collaboration was determined using the small group collaboration model coding scheme, which examined student postings in asynchronous discussion forums for quantity, equality, and shareness. Critical thinking was measured using the chemistry concept reasoning test, the online self-diagnostic test, and also asynchronous student homework discussion postings that were coded using the community of inquiry cognitive presence indicators. Finally cognitive achievement was determined using quiz scores and the student's final grade. Even though no significant findings were revealed in this exploratory quasi-experimental study, this research did add to the educational technology knowledge base since very few studies have investigated the chemistry discipline in an online environment. Continued research in this area is vital to understanding how critical thinking progresses, how it can be assessed, and what factors in the classroom, be it virtual or face-to-face, have the greatest effect on critical thinking.

Markov Task Network: A Framework for Service Composition under Uncertainty in Cyber-Physical Systems.

PubMed

Mohammed, Abdul-Wahid; Xu, Yang; Hu, Haixiao; Agyemang, Brighter

2016-09-21

In novel collaborative systems, cooperative entities collaborate services to achieve local and global objectives. With the growing pervasiveness of cyber-physical systems, however, such collaboration is hampered by differences in the operations of the cyber and physical objects, and the need for the dynamic formation of collaborative functionality given high-level system goals has become practical. In this paper, we propose a cross-layer automation and management model for cyber-physical systems. This models the dynamic formation of collaborative services pursuing laid-down system goals as an ontology-oriented hierarchical task network. Ontological intelligence provides the semantic technology of this model, and through semantic reasoning, primitive tasks can be dynamically composed from high-level system goals. In dealing with uncertainty, we further propose a novel bridge between hierarchical task networks and Markov logic networks, called the Markov task network. This leverages the efficient inference algorithms of Markov logic networks to reduce both computational and inferential loads in task decomposition. From the results of our experiments, high-precision service composition under uncertainty can be achieved using this approach.

Research Guides Mayo Clinic's Recruitment, Retention Efforts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nayar, Veena R.; Morrey, Michael A.; Schneider, Kenneth J.; Purrington, Anne W.; Wilshusen, Laurie L.; Mullen, Michael P.; Seltman, Kent D.

2001-01-01

Discusses a collaborative study between Mayo Clinic's departments of human resources and marketing to identify the factors that influence candidates' decisions to accept or decline job offers and the reasons behind staff resignations. Study aimed to increase the effectiveness of employee recruitment advertising, streamline its interviewing…

Real Problems, Real Research, Real Students: Authentic Research with Undergraduates as a Win-Win-Win Collaboration

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bank, Carl-Georg; Ryan, Anne Marie

2009-01-01

Authentic research, in which students pose original questions and attempt to find the unknown answers, addresses principles of undergraduate education in an ideal way. With careful planning and reasoned considerations it will benefit students, faculty, and institutions.

An IT-enabled supply chain model: a simulation study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cannella, Salvatore; Framinan, Jose M.; Barbosa-Póvoa, Ana

2014-11-01

During the last decades, supply chain collaboration practices and the underlying enabling technologies have evolved from the classical electronic data interchange (EDI) approach to a web-based and radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled collaboration. In this field, most of the literature has focused on the study of optimal parameters for reducing the total cost of suppliers, by adopting operational research (OR) techniques. Herein we are interested in showing that the considered information technology (IT)-enabled structure is resilient, that is, it works well across a reasonably broad range of parameter settings. By adopting a methodological approach based on system dynamics, we study a multi-tier collaborative supply chain. Results show that the IT-enabled supply chain improves operational performance and customer service level. Nonetheless, benefits for geographically dispersed networks are of minor entity.

Responses to the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration individual patient data meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Vickers, Andrew J.; Maschino, Alexandra C.; Lewith, George; MacPherson, Hugh; Sherman, Karen J.; Witt, Claudia M.

2013-01-01

In September 2012, the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration published the results of an individual patient data meta-analysis of close to 18,000 patients in high quality-randomized trials. The results favored acupuncture. Although there was little argument about the findings in the scientific press, a controversy played out in blog posts and the lay press. This controversy was characterized by ad hominem remarks, anonymous criticism, phony expertise, and the use of opinion to contradict data, predominately by self-proclaimed skeptics. There was a near complete absence of substantive scientific critque. The lack of any reasoned debate about the main findings of the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration paper underlines that mainstream science has moved on from the intellectual sterility and ad hominem attacks that characterize the skeptics’ movement. PMID:23449559

Responses to the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration individual patient data meta-analysis.

PubMed

Vickers, Andrew J; Maschino, Alexandra C; Lewith, George; MacPherson, Hugh; Sherman, Karen J; Witt, Claudia M

2013-03-01

In September 2012 the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration published the results of an individual patient data meta-analysis of almost 18 000 patients in high quality randomised trials. The results favoured acupuncture. Although there was little argument about the findings in the scientific press, a controversy played out in blog posts and the lay press. This controversy was characterised by ad hominem remarks, anonymous criticism, phony expertise and the use of opinion to contradict data, predominantly by self-proclaimed sceptics. There was a near complete absence of substantive scientific critique. The lack of any reasoned debate about the main findings of the Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration paper underlines the fact that mainstream science has moved on from the intellectual sterility and ad hominem attacks that characterise the sceptics' movement.

Understanding collaboration in a multi-national research capacity-building partnership: a qualitative study.

PubMed

Varshney, Dinansha; Atkins, Salla; Das, Arindam; Diwan, Vishal

2016-08-18

Research capacity building and its impact on policy and international research partnership is increasingly seen as important. High income and low- and middle-income countries frequently engage in research collaborations. These can have a positive impact on research capacity building, provided such partnerships are long-term collaborations with a unified aim, but they can also have challenges. What are these challenges, which often result in a short term/ non viable collaboration? Does such collaboration results in capacity building? What are the requirements to make any collaboration sustainable? This study aimed to answer these and other research questions through examining an international collaboration in one multi-country research capacity building project ARCADE RSDH (Asian Regional Capacity Development for Research on Social Determinants of Health). A qualitative study was conducted that focused on the reasons for the collaboration, collaboration patterns involved, processes of exchanging information, barriers faced and perceived growth in research capacity. In-depth interviews were conducted with the principal investigators (n = 12), research assistants (n = 2) and a scientific coordinator (n = 1) of the collaborating institutes. Data were analysed using thematic framework analysis. The initial contact between institutes was through previous collaborations. The collaboration was affected by the organisational structure of the partner institutes, political influences and the collaboration design. Communication was usually conducted online, which was affected by differences in time and language and inefficient infrastructure. Limited funding resulted in restricted engagement by some partners. This study explored work in a large, North-South collaboration project focusing on building research capacity in partner institutes. The project helped strengthen research capacity, though differences in organization types, existing research capacity, culture, time, and language acted as obstacles to the success of the project. Managing these differences requires preplanned strategies to develop functional communication channels among the partners, maintaining transparency, and sharing the rewards and benefits at all stages of collaboration.

Damage Tolerant Repair Techniques for Pressurized Aircraft Fuselages

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

2 if20 20 offset 50, fatigue GST, GLARE 2 if20 20 static, no fatigue *Unidirectional SP500 carbon/epoxy tape . "* Fatigue load did not initiate a crack...Et value, so this is a reasonable assumption. It further implies zero crack opening under the patch. The Erdogan solution [51 for two collinear...Cr Figure 6. 11. Idealization of patched crack as unfailed ligament between two collinear cracks (after [5, 6)). The Erdogan solution leads to the AK

GLOBAL WATER RESEARCH COALITION: AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ON WATER RESEARCH

EPA Science Inventory

The research needs for drinking water far exceed the ability of any one research organization to fully address by itself. For this reason, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S.EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD) historically has sought opportunities to levera...

Supporting Common Core Sense Making

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keazer, Lindsay; Gerberry, Carla

2017-01-01

Imagine a mathematics classroom in which students engage in sharing ideas and reasoning through solutions to interesting mathematical problems. They are excited about mathematics and working on challenging problems that encourage collaboration and critical thinking. These are things that teachers want, but sometimes they do not know how to achieve…

Celebrating 50 Years!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kristjansdottir, Anna

2011-01-01

The author congratulates members of the Association of Teachers of Mathematics (ATM) on celebrating the 50th anniversary of their annual conference. These conferences have kept the spirit alive from the early years, especially the engagement in investigative, collaborative, and reasoning activities. In the 50th year as an association, the author…

Obtaining Related Services through Local Interagency Collaboration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Olsen, Kenneth R.

Designed as a resource for local school administrators, the report describes the experiences of 15 local special education agencies in providing related services at reasonable cost through interagency cooperation. An introductory chapter discusses the role of interagency committees (both policy and direct service types), and provides information…

A collaborative exploration of the reasons for lower satisfaction with services among Bangladeshi and Pakistani social care users.

PubMed

Blake, Margaret; Bowes, Alison; Gill, Valdeep; Husain, Fatima; Mir, Ghazala

2017-05-01

This study explored underlying reasons for the expression of dissatisfaction with services among Bangladeshi and Pakistani social care users in England and investigated, using a collaborative approach, how these could be addressed. In-depth interviews were conducted in Birmingham, Leeds and London during 2012-2013 with 63 Bangladeshi, Pakistani and white British service users and 24 social care managers, social workers and care workers. A further 34 cognitive interviews were conducted within the same study. Following data analysis, three collaborative workshops involving service users and providers were held to validate the findings and to draw out policy and practice recommendations. Analysis of the cognitive interviews showed that higher dissatisfaction among Bangladeshi and Pakistani service users reported in social care surveys was not due to questionnaire design. Instead in-depth interviews showed that dissatisfaction across all three groups was expressed along the social care journey, including accessing care, communication with social workers and the nature of care received. While many issues were common to all three groups, cultural differences also emerged as affecting experiences of social care. These included misunderstandings about family roles in care; gender issues, especially relating to women; language and communication barriers, alongside the need for a more nuanced approach to ethnic 'matching'; and continuing limited cultural understanding among care workers. The collaborative workshops identified practical actions that could address some of the issues identified. These covered raising awareness of services within communities; improving support for informal carers; service user input to assessments; consistent and ongoing sharing of information; improving access; and more efforts to diversify and appropriately train the social care workforce. In conclusion, the paper presents the reality of dissatisfaction among these groups and argues for more action involving communities and service providers to address these persistent issues collaboratively. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Fostering critical thinking and collaborative learning skills among medical students through a research protocol writing activity in the curriculum

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Purpose This intervention was aimed to analyse the effect of academic writing and journal critiquing as educational approaches in improving critical thinking and collaborative learning among undergraduate medical students. Methods A research proposal writing format was created for the 4th year medical students of Melaka Manipal Medical College, Malaysia during their ophthalmology clinical postings. The students worked in small groups and developed research protocols through an evidence based approach. This was followed by writing reflective summaries in academic portfolios about the activity undertaken.A mixed methods study was designed to explore the possible role of collaborative research proposal writing in enhancing critical thinking and collaborative learning. Results Analysis of reflections submitted by 188 medical students after the intervention indicate that majority of them found an improvement in their skills of critical thinking and collaborative learning as a result of research protocol writing. All participants agreed that the model helped in applying concepts to new situations in the form of designing their own study, which reflected in enhanced higher order cognitive skills. Conclusion This study shows that the introduction of a structured module in the core medical curriculum that focuses on research writing skills embedded with collaborative and reflective practices can enhance collaborative learning, critical thinking, and reasoning among medical students. PMID:29860777

Understanding Motivators and Challenges to Involving Urban Parents as Collaborators in HIV Prevention Research Efforts.

PubMed

McKay, Mary M; Pinto, Rogério M; Bannon, William M; Guilamo-Ramos, Vincent

2007-01-01

This study was designed to explore the experiences of urban parents in their role as Collaborative Board members as part of the CHAMP (Collaborative HIV prevention and Adolescent Mental health Project) Family Program Study. The CHAMP Collaborative Board is comprised of urban parents, representatives from schools and community-based agencies and university-based researchers and is charged with overseeing the design, delivery and testing of a family-based HIV prevention program for pre and early adolescent youth. The current qualitative study, guided by the Theory of Unified Behavior Change, is meant to elucidate: (1) pathways to involvement by urban parents; (2) benefits and costs of participating in this collaborative HIV prevention research effort; and (3) the role of social relationships in influencing initial and ongoing participation by parent participants. Twenty-nine parent Collaborative Board members were interviewed for this study. In-depth interviews were audio recorded and ranged from 30 to 90 minutes in length. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using NUD*IST, computerized software used for examining narratives. Findings include community parent members identifying social support and learning opportunities as major reasons for involvement with the Collaborative Board. Prior involvement with other community-based projects and knowledge of at least one other person on the Board also influenced members to join the Board and remain involved over time. Further, recommendations for future collaborative partnerships are made. Findings have direct implication for participatory HIV prevention research activities.

Discussing the Greenhouse Effect: Children's Collaborative Discourse Reasoning and Conceptual Change.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason, Lucia; Santi, Marina

1998-01-01

Investigates fifth-grade students' conceptual changes toward the greenhouse effect and global warming due to sociocognitive interaction developed in small and large group discussion in an authentic classroom context during an environmental education unit. Classroom discussions led the children to integrate new scientific knowledge into their…

Argumentation in Secondary School Students' Structured and Unstructured Chat Discussions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salminen, Timo; Marttunen, Miika; Laurinen, Leena

2012-01-01

Joint construction of new knowledge demands that persons can express their statements in a convincing way and explore other people's arguments constructively. For this reason, more knowledge on different means to support collaborative argumentation is needed. This study clarifies whether structured interaction supports students' critical and…

Scientific Reasoning in School Contexts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vellom, R. Paul; Anderson, Charles W.; Palincsar, Annemarie S.

This study investigates the fate of claims made by middle school science students working in collaborative groups in a multicultural urban classroom and the concomitant effects on engagement and understanding. Given problems of a complex and open-ended nature in a learning community setting, students were challenged to establish group positions…

Strategic Help in User Interfaces for Information Retrieval.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brajnik, Giorgio; Mizzaro, Stefano; Tasso, Carlo; Venuti, Fabio

2002-01-01

Discussion of search strategy in information retrieval by end users focuses on the role played by strategic reasoning and design principles for user interfaces. Highlights include strategic help based on collaborative coaching; a conceptual model for strategic help; and a prototype knowledge-based system named FIRE. (Author/LRW)

Constructivist Learning of Anatomy: Gaining Knowledge by Creating Anatomical Casts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hermiz, David J.; O'Sullivan, Daniel J.; Lujan, Heidi L.; DiCarlo, Stephen E.

2011-01-01

Educators are encouraged to provide inquiry-based, collaborative, and problem solving activities that enhance learning and promote curiosity, skepticism, objectivity, and the use of scientific reasoning. Making anatomical casts or models by injecting solidifying substances into organs is an example of a constructivist activity for achieving these…

Autonomy and the Curriculum: An Exploration of Three Views.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wesson, Anthony J.

1986-01-01

The nature of autonomy and the relevance of education to its development is explored through a discussion of three theories--progressive, liberal-rational, and social class--of the curriculum. Reasons are advanced for preference for a "collaborative" over a "negotiated" curriculum. Defends the liberal-rational theory.…

Productive Academic Talk during Inquiry-Based Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gillies, Robyn M.

2013-01-01

This study reports on the types of academic talk that contribute to enhanced explanatory responses, reasoning, problem-solving and learning. The study involved 10 groups of 3-4 students who were provided with one of three linguistic tools (i.e. Cognitive Questioning, Philosophy for Children and Collaborative Strategic Reading (CSR)) to scaffold…

Perspective Taking and Synchronous Argumentation for Learning the Day/Night Cycle

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schwarz, Baruch B.; Schur, Yaron; Pensso, Haim; Tayer, Naama

2011-01-01

Changing practices in schools is a very complex endeavor. This paper is about new practices we prompted to foster collaboration and critical reasoning in science classrooms: the presentation of pictures representing different perspectives, small group synchronous argumentation, and moderation of synchronous argumentation. A CSCL tool helped in…

Judging the Quality of Peer-Led Student Dialogues.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keefer, Matthew W.; Zeitz, Colleen M.; Resnick, Lauren B.

2000-01-01

Compared the rational quality of fourth-graders' discussion of literary texts with an ideal model and over the course of the academic year. Analyzed the collaborative reasoning capabilities of 6 three-student groups using a graphical coding system with an analysis of the literary content of the students' argumentation. Identified important…

Boxwood Blight: A new scourge, a new paradigm for collaborative research

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The genus Buxus is prized for its use as individual specimen plants, hedges, parterres and landscape groupings. In general, boxwood suffers from few pests or diseases, which is one reason the recent introduction of boxwood blight disease to Europe and North America has been so significant to people ...

Learning Objects, Repositories, Sharing and Reusability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koppi, Tony; Bogle, Lisa; Bogle, Mike

2005-01-01

The online Learning Resource Catalogue (LRC) Project has been part of an international consortium for several years and currently includes 25 institutions worldwide. The LRC Project has evolved for several pragmatic reasons into an academic network whereby members can identify and share reusable learning objects as well as collaborate in a number…

Teacher Empowerment and School Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thornburg, Devin G.; Mungai, Anne

2011-01-01

Teachers in high-needs settings working with diverse populations are typically cited as a central element for school improvement yet are often described as resistant to such efforts. We sought to investigate the reasons behind teachers' views and beliefs about school reform within the context of collaboration and professional development, rather…

Reaching Agreement: The Structure & Pragmatics of Critical Care Nurses' Informal Argument

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hagler, Debra A.; Brem, Sarah K.

2008-01-01

The hospital critical care unit provides an authentic, high-stakes setting for studying reasoning, argumentation, and discourse. In particular, it allows examination of structural and pragmatic features of informal collaborative argument created while participants are engaged in familiar, meaningful activities central to their work. The nursing…

Elicitation Support Requirements of Multi-Expertise Teams

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bitter-Rijpkema, Marlies; Martens, Rob; Jochems, Wim

2005-01-01

Tools to support knowledge elicitation are used more and more in situations where employees or students collaborate using the computer. Studies indicate that differences exist between experts and novices regarding their methods of work and reasoning. However, the commonly preferred approach tends to deal with team members as a single system with…

Comparison of USDA Forest Service and Stakeholder Motivations and Experiences in Collaborative Federal Forest Governance in the Western United States.

PubMed

Davis, Emily Jane; White, Eric M; Cerveny, Lee K; Seesholtz, David; Nuss, Meagan L; Ulrich, Donald R

2017-11-01

In the United States, over 191 million acres of land is managed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, a federal government agency. In several western U.S. states, organized collaborative groups have become a de facto governance approach to providing sustained input on management decisions on much public land. This is most extensive in Oregon, where at least 25 "forest collaboratives" currently exist. This affords excellent opportunities for studies of many common themes in collaborative governance, including trust, shared values, and perceptions of success. We undertook a statewide survey of participants in Oregon forest collaboratives to examine differences in motivations, perceptions of success, and satisfaction among Forest Service participants ("agency participants"), who made up 31% of the sample, and other respondents ("non-agency") who represent nonfederal agencies, interest groups, citizens, and non-governmental groups. We found that agency participants differed from non-agency participants. They typically had higher annual incomes, and were primarily motivated to participate to build trust. However, a majority of all respondents were similar in not indicating any other social or economic motivations as their primary reason for collaborating. A majority also reported satisfaction with their collaborative-despite not ranking collaborative performance on a number of specific potential outcomes highly. Together, this suggests that collaboration in Oregon is currently perceived as successful despite not achieving many specific outcomes. Yet there were significant differences in socioeconomic status and motivation that could affect the ability of agency and nonagency participants to develop and achieve mutually-desired goals.

Palladium-chromium static strain gage for high temperature propulsion systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lei, Jih-Fen

1991-01-01

The present electrical strain gage for high temperature static strain measurements is in its fine-wire and thin-film forms designed to be temperature-compensated on any substrate material. The gage element is of Pd-Cr alloy, while the compensator is of Pt. Because the thermally-induced apparent strain of this compensated wire strain gage is sufficiently small, with good reproducibility between thermal cycles to 800 C, output figures can be corrected within a reasonable margin of error.

Current status and recent research achievements in ferritic/martensitic steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tavassoli, A.-A. F.; Diegele, E.; Lindau, R.; Luzginova, N.; Tanigawa, H.

2014-12-01

When the austenitic stainless steel 316L(N) was selected for ITER, it was well known that it would not be suitable for DEMO and fusion reactors due to its irradiation swelling at high doses. A parallel programme to ITER collaboration already had been put in place, under an IEA fusion materials implementing agreement for the development of a low activation ferritic/martensitic steel, known for their excellent high dose irradiation swelling resistance. After extensive screening tests on different compositions of Fe-Cr alloys, the chromium range was narrowed to 7-9% and the first RAFM was industrially produced in Japan (F82H: Fe-8%Cr-2%W-TaV). All IEA partners tested this steel and contributed to its maturity. In parallel several other RAFM steels were produced in other countries. From those experiences and also for improving neutron efficiency and corrosion resistance, European Union opted for a higher chromium lower tungsten grade, Fe-9%Cr-1%W-TaV steel (Eurofer), and in 1997 ordered the first industrial heats. Other industrial heats have been produced since and characterised in different states, including irradiated up to 80 dpa. China, India, Russia, Korea and US have also produced their grades of RAFM steels, contributing to overall maturity of these steels. This paper reviews the work done on RAFM steels by the fusion materials community over the past 30 years, in particular on the Eurofer steel and its design code qualification for RCC-MRx.

Towards Cooperative Predictive Data Mining in Competitive Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lisý, Viliam; Jakob, Michal; Benda, Petr; Urban, Štěpán; Pěchouček, Michal

We study the problem of predictive data mining in a competitive multi-agent setting, in which each agent is assumed to have some partial knowledge required for correctly classifying a set of unlabelled examples. The agents are self-interested and therefore need to reason about the trade-offs between increasing their classification accuracy by collaborating with other agents and disclosing their private classification knowledge to other agents through such collaboration. We analyze the problem and propose a set of components which can enable cooperation in this otherwise competitive task. These components include measures for quantifying private knowledge disclosure, data-mining models suitable for multi-agent predictive data mining, and a set of strategies by which agents can improve their classification accuracy through collaboration. The overall framework and its individual components are validated on a synthetic experimental domain.

Optimization of etching and reading procedures for the Autoscan 60 track etch system

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

McKeever, R.; Devine, R.; Coennen, C.

1997-02-11

The Los Alamos National Laboratory is charged with measuring the occupational exposure to radiological workers and contractors throughout the Laboratory, which includes many different sites with multiple and varied radiation fields. Of concern here are the high energy neutrons such as those generated during accelerator operations at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). In 1993, the Los Alamos National Laboratory purchased an Autoscan 60 automated reader for use with chemically etched CR39 detectors. The dosimeter design employed at LANL uses a plastic, hemispherical case, encompassing a polystyrene pyramidal detector holder. The pyramidal holder supports three detectors at a 35{degree} angle.more » Averaging the results of the three detectors minimizes the angular dependence normally associated with a planar dosimeter. The Autoscan 60 is an automated reading system for use with CR39 chemical etch detectors. The detectors are immersed in an etch solution to enhance the visibility of the damage sites caused by recoil proton impact with the hydrogen atoms in the detector. The authors decided to increase the etch time from six hours to 15 hours, while retaining the 70 C temperature. The reason for the change in the etch is to enhance the sensitivity and precision of the CR39 detector as indicated by this study.« less

The Use of Mixed Populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii to Reduce Ethanol Content in Wine: Limited Aeration, Inoculum Proportions, and Sequential Inoculation

PubMed Central

Alonso-del-Real, Javier; Contreras-Ruiz, Alba; Castiglioni, Gabriel L.; Barrio, Eladio; Querol, Amparo

2017-01-01

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most widespread microorganism responsible for wine alcoholic fermentation. Nevertheless, the wine industry is currently facing new challenges, some of them associate with climate change, which have a negative effect on ethanol content and wine quality. Numerous and varied strategies have been carried out to overcome these concerns. From a biotechnological point of view, the use of alternative non-Saccharomyces yeasts, yielding lower ethanol concentrations and sometimes giving rise to new and interesting aroma, is one of the trendiest approaches. However, S. cerevisiae usually outcompetes other Saccharomyces species due to its better adaptation to the fermentative environment. For this reason, we studied for the first time the use of a Saccharomyces kudriavzevii strain, CR85, for co-inoculations at increasing proportions and sequential inoculations, as well as the effect of aeration, to improve its fermentation performance in order to obtain wines with an ethanol yield reduction. An enhanced competitive performance of S. kudriavzevii CR85 was observed when it represented 90% of the cells present in the inoculum. Furthermore, airflow supply of 20 VVH to the fermentation synergistically improved CR85 endurance and, interestingly, a significant ethanol concentration reduction was achieved. PMID:29118746

The Use of Mixed Populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii to Reduce Ethanol Content in Wine: Limited Aeration, Inoculum Proportions, and Sequential Inoculation.

PubMed

Alonso-Del-Real, Javier; Contreras-Ruiz, Alba; Castiglioni, Gabriel L; Barrio, Eladio; Querol, Amparo

2017-01-01

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most widespread microorganism responsible for wine alcoholic fermentation. Nevertheless, the wine industry is currently facing new challenges, some of them associate with climate change, which have a negative effect on ethanol content and wine quality. Numerous and varied strategies have been carried out to overcome these concerns. From a biotechnological point of view, the use of alternative non- Saccharomyces yeasts, yielding lower ethanol concentrations and sometimes giving rise to new and interesting aroma, is one of the trendiest approaches. However, S. cerevisiae usually outcompetes other Saccharomyces species due to its better adaptation to the fermentative environment. For this reason, we studied for the first time the use of a Saccharomyces kudriavzevii strain, CR85, for co-inoculations at increasing proportions and sequential inoculations, as well as the effect of aeration, to improve its fermentation performance in order to obtain wines with an ethanol yield reduction. An enhanced competitive performance of S. kudriavzevii CR85 was observed when it represented 90% of the cells present in the inoculum. Furthermore, airflow supply of 20 VVH to the fermentation synergistically improved CR85 endurance and, interestingly, a significant ethanol concentration reduction was achieved.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded and laser welded high entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, Min-Gu; Kim, Han-Jin; Kang, Minjung; Madakashira, Phaniraj P.; Park, Eun Soo; Suh, Jin-Yoo; Kim, Dong-Ik; Hong, Sung-Tae; Han, Heung Nam

2018-01-01

The high entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNi has been shown to have promising structural properties. For a new alloy to be used in a structural application it should be weldable. In the present study, friction stir welding (FSW) and laser welding (LW) techniques were used to butt weld thin plates of CrMnFeCoNi. The microstructure, chemical homogeneity and mechanical behavior of the welds were characterized and compared with the base metal. The tensile stress-strain behavior of the welded specimens were reasonable when compared with that of the base metal. FSW refined the grain size in the weld region by a factor of ˜14 when compared with the base metal. High-angle annular dark field transmission electron microscopy in combination with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed chemical inhomogeneity between dendritic and interdendritic regions in the fusion zone of LW. Large fluctuations in composition (up to 15 at%) did not change the crystal structure in the fusion zone. Hardness measurements were carried out in the weld cross section and discussed in view of the grain size, low angle grain boundaries and twin boundaries in FSW specimens and the dendritic microstructure in LW specimens.

Quadratic Frequency Modulation Signals Parameter Estimation Based on Two-Dimensional Product Modified Parameterized Chirp Rate-Quadratic Chirp Rate Distribution.

PubMed

Qu, Zhiyu; Qu, Fuxin; Hou, Changbo; Jing, Fulong

2018-05-19

In an inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging system for targets with complex motion, the azimuth echo signals of the target are always modeled as multicomponent quadratic frequency modulation (QFM) signals. The chirp rate (CR) and quadratic chirp rate (QCR) estimation of QFM signals is very important to solve the ISAR image defocus problem. For multicomponent QFM (multi-QFM) signals, the conventional QR and QCR estimation algorithms suffer from the cross-term and poor anti-noise ability. This paper proposes a novel estimation algorithm called a two-dimensional product modified parameterized chirp rate-quadratic chirp rate distribution (2D-PMPCRD) for QFM signals parameter estimation. The 2D-PMPCRD employs a multi-scale parametric symmetric self-correlation function and modified nonuniform fast Fourier transform-Fast Fourier transform to transform the signals into the chirp rate-quadratic chirp rate (CR-QCR) domains. It can greatly suppress the cross-terms while strengthening the auto-terms by multiplying different CR-QCR domains with different scale factors. Compared with high order ambiguity function-integrated cubic phase function and modified Lv's distribution, the simulation results verify that the 2D-PMPCRD acquires higher anti-noise performance and obtains better cross-terms suppression performance for multi-QFM signals with reasonable computation cost.

Efficacy and Safety of Different Bisphosphonates for Bone Loss Prevention in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PubMed Central

Yang, Yan; Qiu, Shi; Tang, Xi; Li, Xin-Rui; Deng, Ling-Hui; Wei, Qiang; Fu, Ping

2018-01-01

Background: Mineral and bone disorder is one of the severe complications in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Previous studies showed that bisphosphonates had favorable effects on bone mineral density (BMD). We sought to compare different bisphosphonate regimens and rank their strategies. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) up to April 01, 2017, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing bisphosphonate treatments in adult KTRs. The primary outcome was BMD change. We executed the tool recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration to evaluate the risk of bias. We performed pairwise meta-analyses using random effects models and network meta-analysis (NMA) using Bayesian models and assessed the quality of evidence. Results: A total of 21 RCTs (1332 participants) comparing 6 bisphosphonate regimens were included. All bisphosphonates showed a significantly increased percentage change in BMD at the lumbar spine compared to calcium except clodronate. Pamidronate with calcium and Vitamin D analogs showed improved BMD in comparison to clodronate with calcium (mean difference [MD], 9.84; 95% credibility interval [CrI], 1.06–19.70). The combination of calcium and Vitamin D analogs had a significantly lower influence than adding either pamidronate or alendronate (MD, 6.34; 95% CrI, 2.59–11.01 and MD, 6.16; 95% CrI, 0.54–13.24, respectively). In terms of percentage BMD change at the femoral neck, both pamidronate and ibandronate combined with calcium demonstrated a remarkable gain compared with calcium (MD, 7.02; 95% CrI, 0.30–13.29 and MD, 7.30; 95% CrI, 0.32–14.22, respectively). The combination of ibandronate with calcium displayed a significant increase in absolute BMD compared to any other treatments and was ranked best. Conclusions: Our NMA suggested that new-generation bisphosphonates such as ibandronate were more favorable in KTRs to improve BMD. However, the conclusion should be treated with caution due to indirect comparisons. PMID:29578126

Evaluation and application of an algorithm for atmospheric profiling continuity from Aqua to Suomi-NPP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipton, A.; Moncet, J. L.; Lynch, R.; Payne, V.; Alvarado, M. J.

2016-12-01

We will present results from an algorithm that is being developed to produce climate-quality atmospheric profiling earth system data records (ESDRs) for application to data from hyperspectral sounding instruments, including the Atmospheric InfraRed Sounder (AIRS) on EOS Aqua and the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) on Suomi-NPP, along with their companion microwave sounders, AMSU and ATMS, respectively. The ESDR algorithm uses an optimal estimation approach and the implementation has a flexible, modular software structure to support experimentation and collaboration. Data record continuity benefits from the fact that the same algorithm can be applied to different sensors, simply by providing suitable configuration and data files. For analysis of satellite profiles over multi-decade periods, a concern is that the algorithm could respond inadequately to climate change if it uses a static background as a retrieval constraint, leading to retrievals that underestimate secular changes over extended periods of time and become biased toward an outdated climatology. We assessed the ability of our algorithm to respond appropriately to changes in temperature and water vapor profiles associated with climate change and, in particular, on the impact of using a climatological background in retrievals when the climatology is not static. We simulated a scenario wherein our algorithm processes 30 years of data from CrIS and ATMS (CrIMSS) with a static background based on data from the start of the 30-year period. We performed simulations using products from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 (CMIP5), and in particular the "representative concentration pathways" midrange emissions (RCP4.5) scenario from the GISS-E2-R model. We will present results indicating that regularization using empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) from a 30-year outdated covariance had a negligible effect on results. For temperature, the secular change is represented with high fidelity with the CrIMSS retrievals. For water vapor, an outdated background adds distortion to the secular moistening trend in the troposphere only above 300 mb, where the sensor information content is less than at lower levels. We will also present results illustrating the consistency between retrievals from near-simultaneous AIRS and CrIMSS measurements.

A plan for study of hexavalent chromium, CR(VI) in groundwater near a mapped plume, Hinkley, California, 2016

USGS Publications Warehouse

Izbicki, John A.; Groover, Krishangi D.

2016-01-22

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) Hinkley compressor station, in the Mojave Desert 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, is used to compress natural gas as it is transported through a pipeline from Texas to California. Between 1952 and 1964, cooling water used at the compressor station was treated with a compound containing chromium to prevent corrosion. After cooling, the wastewater was discharged to unlined ponds, resulting in contamination of soil and groundwater in the underlying alluvial aquifer (Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, 2013). Since 1964, cooling-water management practices have been used that do not contribute chromium to groundwater.In 2007, a PG&E study of the natural background concentrations of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), in groundwater estimated average concentrations in the Hinkley area to be 1.2 micrograms per liter (μg/L), with a 95-percent upper-confidence limit of 3.1 μg/L (CH2M-Hill, 2007). The 3.1 μg/L upper-confidence limit was adopted by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) as the maximum background concentration used to map the plume extent. In response to criticism of the study’s methodology, and an increase in the mapped extent of the plume between 2008 and 2011, the Lahontan RWQCB (Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, 2012) agreed that the 2007 PG&E background-concentration study be updated.The purpose of the updated background study is to evaluate the presence of natural and man-made Cr(VI) near Hinkley, Calif. The study also is to estimate natural background Cr(VI) concentrations in the aquifer upgradient and downgradient from the mapped Cr(VI) contamination plume, as well as in the plume and near its margins. The study was developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in collaboration with a technical working group (TWG) composed of community members, the Independent Review Panel (IRP) Manager (Project Navigator, Ltd.), the Lahontan RWQCB, PG&E, and consultants for PG&E.&E.

WHAT IS THE SHELL AROUND R CORONAE BOREALIS?

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

Montiel, Edward J.; Clayton, Geoffrey C.; Marcello, Dominic C.

2015-07-15

The hydrogen-deficient, carbon-rich R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars are known for being prolific producers of dust which causes their large iconic declines in brightness. Several RCB stars, including R Coronae Borealis (R CrB), itself, have large extended dust shells seen in the far-infrared. The origin of these shells is uncertain but they may give us clues to the evolution of the RCB stars. The shells could form in three possible ways. (1) They are fossil Planetary Nebula (PN) shells, which would exist if RCB stars are the result of a final, helium-shell flash, (2) they are material left over frommore » a white-dwarf (WD) merger event which formed the RCB stars, or (3) they are material lost from the star during the RCB phase. Arecibo 21 cm observations establish an upper limit on the column density of H I in the R CrB shell implying a maximum shell mass of ≲0.3 M{sub ☉}. A low-mass fossil PN shell is still a possible source of the shell although it may not contain enough dust. The mass of gas lost during a WD merger event will not condense enough dust to produce the observed shell, assuming a reasonable gas-to-dust ratio. The third scenario where the shell around R CrB has been produced during the star’s RCB phase seems most likely to produce the observed mass of dust and the observed size of the shell. But this means that R CrB has been in its RCB phase for ∼10{sup 4} years.« less

Mitigation of chromium poisoning of cathodes in solid oxide fuel cells employing CuMn1.8O4 spinel coating on metallic interconnect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ruofan; Sun, Zhihao; Pal, Uday B.; Gopalan, Srikanth; Basu, Soumendra N.

2018-02-01

Chromium poisoning is one of the major reasons for cathode performance degradation in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). To mitigate the effect of Cr-poisoning, a protective coating on the surface of interconnect for suppressing Cr vaporization is necessary. Among the various coating materials, Cu-Mn spinel coating is considered to be a potential candidate due to their good thermal compatibility, high stability and good electronic conductivity at high temperature. In this study, Crofer 22 H meshes with no protective coating, those with commercial CuMn2O4 spinel coating and the ones with lab-developed CuMn1.8O4 spinel coating were investigated. The lab-developed CuMn1.8O4 spinel coating were deposited on Crofer 22 H mesh by electrophoretic deposition and densified by a reduction and re-oxidation process. With these different Crofer 22 H meshes (bare, CuMn2O4-coated, and CuMn1.8O4-coated), anode-supported SOFCs with Sr-doped LaMnO3-based cathode were electrochemically tested at 800 °C for total durations of up to 288 h. Comparing the mitigating effects of the two types of Cu-Mn spinel coatings on Cr-poisoning, it was found that the performance of the denser lab-developed CuMn1.8O4 spinel coating was distinctly better, showing no degradation in the cell electrochemical performance and significantly less Cr deposition near the cathode/electrolyte interface after the test.

Synchrotron EXAFS and XANES spectroscopy studies of transition aluminas doped with La and Cr for catalytic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glazoff, Michael V.

2016-04-01

Transition aluminas doped with Cr find widespread application in the dehydrogenation catalysis industry, while La-stabilized transition aluminas are used extensively for high-temperature application as catalytic supports (Wefers and Misra in Oxides and hydroxides of aluminum, Alcoa Laboratories, Pittsburgh, 1987). In this work, detailed synchrotron XAFS spectroscopy studies were conducted to shed light upon the atomic mechanisms of surface and subsurface reconstructions and/or catalytic support stabilization of doped aluminas. It was demonstrated that in four transition aluminas doped with Cr, it is the atoms which are mostly in the state of oxidation Cr3+ and enter nanoparticles of Cr-bearing phases (Cr2O3 in the case of gamma- and chi-alumina). In the transition series aluminas: "gamma- chi- theta- eta-alumina," the change of properties (in particular, the dramatic increase in dehydrogenation catalytic activity and catalyst longevity and the coloration of samples) takes place because of the reduction in the average size of Cr clusters and their appearance on the Al2O3 surface, probably responsible for change in catalytic activity. It was demonstrated that in the samples of gamma-alumina doped with La any substantial change in the local coordination of the La atoms takes place only upon heating up to 1400 °C. This makes the La-stabilized gamma-alumina a perfect catalytic support for the numerous applications, e.g., catalytic three-way conversion of automobile exhaust gases. This change manifested itself in the form of increased La-O bond lengths and the La coordination number (from 8 to 12). Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the local environment of La in this new La-bearing phase cannot be explained in terms of the LaAlO3 formation. The absence of the La atoms in the second coordination sphere favors monoatomic distribution of La atoms on grain boundaries, proving that only very small amount of this rare earth material is required to achieve full stabilization. It is inferred that the tendency of La atoms to get surrounded by oxygen atoms, and also the impossibility of going into the alumina bulk, could be a major reason of the increased thermal stability of gamma-alumina doped with lanthanum.

Intelligent tutoring system for clinical reasoning skill acquisition in dental students.

PubMed

Suebnukarn, Siriwan

2009-10-01

Learning clinical reasoning is an important core activity of the modern dental curriculum. This article describes an intelligent tutoring system (ITS) for clinical reasoning skill acquisition. The system is designed to provide an experience that emulates that of live human-tutored problem-based learning (PBL) sessions as much as possible, while at the same time permitting the students to participate collaboratively from disparate locations. The system uses Bayesian networks to model individual student knowledge and activity, as well as that of the group. Tutoring algorithms use the models to generate tutoring hints. The system incorporates a multimodal interface that integrates text and graphics so as to provide a rich communication channel between the students and the system, as well as among students in the group. Comparison of learning outcomes shows that student clinical reasoning gains from the ITS are similar to those obtained from human-tutored sessions.

Creating value-added linkages through creative programming: a partnership for nursing education.

PubMed

Caldwell, Linda M; Luke, Gerri; Tenofsky, Linda M

2007-01-01

Academic and clinical institutions can effectively collaborate to deliver programs that enhance the educational level of the nursing staff. Creative programming, which offers flexibility and convenience, and a reasonable cost are key elements in the success of a program. Open communication and mutual recognition and respect of the talents, abilities, and values of all developers of the program are essential factors in effective collaborations leading to successful partnerships. Although clear expectations and clarity of functions are important once the partnership has developed, flexibility and a desire to "own" both the problems and the successes of a program are crucial to success.

Health Risks to Children and Adults Residing in Riverine Environments where Surficial Sediments Contain Metals Generated by Active Gold Mining in Ghana

PubMed Central

Armah, Frederick Ato; Gyeabour, Elvis Kyere

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current status of metal pollution in the sediment from rivers, lakes, and streams in active gold mining districts in Ghana. Two hundred and fifty surface sediment samples from 99 locations were collected and analyzed for concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Mn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Metal concentrations were then used to assess the human health risks to resident children and adults in central tendency exposure (CTE) and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) scenarios. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were almost twice the threshold values established by the Hong Kong Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines (ISQG). Hg, Cu, and Cr concentrations in sediment were 14, 20, and 26 times higher than the Canadian Freshwater Sediment Guidelines for these elements. Also, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, and Hg were 3, 11, 12, and 16 times more than the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) sediment guideline values. The results of the human health risk assessment indicate that for ingestion of sediment under the central tendency exposure (CTE) scenario, the cancer risks for child and adult residents from exposure to As were 4.18 × 10−6 and 1.84 × 10−7, respectively. This suggests that up to 4 children out of one million equally exposed children would contract cancer if exposed continuously to As over 70 years (the assumed lifetime). The hazard index for child residents following exposure to Cr(VI) in the RME scenario was 4.2. This is greater than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) threshold of 1, indicating that adverse health effects to children from exposure to Cr(VI) are possible. This study demonstrates the urgent need to control industrial emissions and the severe heavy metal pollution in gold mining environments. PMID:24278631

A comparative study of quantitative microsegregation analyses performed during the solidification of the Ni-base superalloy CMSX-10

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

Seo, Seong-Moon, E-mail: castme@kims.re.kr; Jeong, Hi-Won; Ahn, Young-Keun

Quantitative microsegregation analyses were systematically carried out during the solidification of the Ni-base superalloy CMSX-10 to clarify the methodological effect on the quantification of microsegregation and to fully understand the solidification microstructure. Three experimental techniques, namely, mushy zone quenching (MZQ), planar directional solidification followed by quenching (PDSQ), and random sampling (RS), were implemented for the analysis of microsegregation tendency and the magnitude of solute elements by electron probe microanalysis. The microprobe data and the calculation results of the diffusion field ahead of the solid/liquid (S/L) interface of PDSQ samples revealed that the liquid composition at the S/L interface is significantlymore » influenced by quenching. By applying the PDSQ technique, it was also found that the partition coefficients of all solute elements do not change appreciably during the solidification of primary γ. All three techniques could reasonably predict the segregation behavior of most solute elements. Nevertheless, the RS approach has a tendency to overestimate the magnitude of segregation for most solute elements when compared to the MZQ and PDSQ techniques. Moreover, the segregation direction of Cr and Mo predicted by the RS approach was found to be opposite from the results obtained by the MZQ and PDSQ techniques. This conflicting segregation behavior of Cr and Mo was discussed intensively. It was shown that the formation of Cr-rich areas near the γ/γ′ eutectic in various Ni-base superalloys, including the CMSX-10 alloy, could be successfully explained by the results of microprobe analysis performed on a sample quenched during the planar directional solidification of γ/γ′ eutectic. - Highlights: • Methodological effect on the quantification of microsegregation was clarified. • The liquid composition at the S/L interface was influenced by quenching. • The segregation direction of Cr varied depending on the experimental techniques. • Cr and Mo segregation in Ni-base superalloys was fully understood.« less

Antioxidative efficiency of Triticum aestivum L. exposed to chromium stress.

PubMed

Dey, Surjendu Kumar; Jena, Priyanka Priyadarshani; Kundu, Satyajit

2009-07-01

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv Sonalika) seedlings were grown in presence of K2Cr2O7 (10, 50 and 100 ppm) for 7 days and growth, total chlorophyll, activities of antioxidative enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) and guaiacol peroxidase (POX; EC 1.11.1.7) and lipid peroxidation were determined in root and shoot tissues. Growth of the seedlings was significantly (p < or = 0.05) depressed and at 100 ppm, root length was reduced by 63% and shoot length by 44% in comparison to the respective controls. Total chlorophyll loss in shoots was about 46% at 10 ppm of K2Cr2O7 which further increased to 80% at 100 ppm. Both in root and shoot tissues, activities of SOD and CAT declined with increase of metal in growth medium and it was significant (p < or = 0.05) even at lowest concentration of the metal tested. But POX activity showed a different trend. In root tissues it was decreased whereas in shoots, there was many fold increase in the activity (about 370% over control at 100 ppm). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased both in root and shoot tissues, but it reached significant (p < 0.05) level at 50 ppm in roots and at 100 ppm in shoot tissues. Even though antioxidative enzyme activities were not assayed in germinating embryos, inhibition in germination percentage (by 40% at 100 ppm) and increase in lipid peroxidation level (by 71% over control at 100 ppm) were observed in 2-day-old embryos, germinated in presence of K2Cr2O7 (10, 50 and 100 ppm). The results indicated the imposition of oxidative stress situations both during germination and early stages of seedling growth by Cr6 stress, which might be one of the probable reasons behind Cr toxicity in plants.

Thyroid hormones and menstrual cycle function in a longitudinal cohort of premenopausal women.

PubMed

Jacobson, Melanie H; Howards, Penelope P; Darrow, Lyndsey A; Meadows, Juliana W; Kesner, James S; Spencer, Jessica B; Terrell, Metrecia L; Marcus, Michele

2018-05-01

Previous studies have reported that hyperthyroid and hypothyroid women experience menstrual irregularities more often compared with euthyroid women, but reasons for this are not well-understood and studies on thyroid hormones among euthyroid women are lacking. In a prospective cohort study of euthyroid women, this study characterised the relationship between thyroid hormone concentrations and prospectively collected menstrual function outcomes. Between 2004-2014, 86 euthyroid premenopausal women not lactating or taking hormonal medications participated in a study measuring menstrual function. Serum thyroid hormones were measured before the menstrual function study began. Women then collected first morning urine voids and completed daily bleeding diaries every day for three cycles. Urinary oestrogen and progesterone metabolites (estrone 3-glucuronide (E 1 3G) and pregnanediol 3-glucuronide (Pd3G)) and follicle-stimulating hormone were measured and adjusted for creatinine (Cr). Total thyroxine (T 4 ) concentrations were positively associated with Pd3G and E 1 3G. Women with higher (vs lower) T 4 had greater luteal phase maximum Pd3G (Pd3G = 11.7 μg/mg Cr for women with high T 4 vs Pd3G = 9.5 and 8.1 μg/mg Cr for women with medium and low T 4 , respectively) and greater follicular phase maximum E 1 3G (E 1 3G = 41.7 ng/mg Cr for women with high T 4 vs E 1 3G = 34.3 and 33.7 ng/mg Cr for women with medium and low T 4 , respectively). Circulating thyroid hormone concentrations were associated with subtle differences in menstrual cycle function outcomes, particularly sex steroid hormone levels in healthy women. Results contribute to the understanding of the relationship between thyroid function and the menstrual cycle, and may have implications for fertility and chronic disease. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

State of the Art in Beta Titanium Alloys for Airframe Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cotton, James D.; Briggs, Robert D.; Boyer, Rodney R.; Tamirisakandala, Sesh; Russo, Patrick; Shchetnikov, Nikolay; Fanning, John C.

2015-06-01

Beta titanium alloys were recognized as a distinct materials class in the 1950s, and following the introduction of Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al in the early 1960s, intensive research occurred for decades thereafter. By the 1980s, dozens of compositions had been explored and sufficient work had been accomplished to warrant the first major conference in 1983. Metallurgists of the time recognized beta alloys as highly versatile and capable of remarkable property development at much lower component weights than steels, coupled with excellent corrosion resistance. Although alloys such as Ti-15V-3Al-3Sn-3Cr, Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al and Ti-3AI-8V-6Cr-4Mo-4Zr (Beta C) were commercialized into well-known airframe systems by the 1980s, Ti-13V-11Cr-3Al was largely discarded following extensive employment on the SR-71 Blackbird. The 1990s saw the implementation of specialty beta alloys such as Beta 21S and Alloy C, in large part for their chemical and oxidation resistance. It was also predicted that by the 1990s, cost would be the major limitation on expansion into new applications. This turned out to be true and is part of the reason for some stagnation in commercialization of new such compositions over the past two decades, despite a good understanding of the relationships among chemistry, processing, and performance and some very attractive offerings. Since then, only a single additional metastable beta alloy, Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr-0.5Fe, has been commercialized in aerospace, although low volumes of other chemistries have found a place in the biomedical implant market. This article examines the evolution of this important class of materials and the current status in airframe applications. It speculates on challenges for expanding their use.

Conserved and Differential Effects of Dietary Energy Intake on the Hippocampal Transcriptomes of Females and Males

PubMed Central

Martin, Bronwen; Pearson, Michele; Brenneman, Randall; Golden, Erin; Keselman, Alex; Iyun, Titilola; Carlson, Olga D.; Egan, Josephine M.; Becker, Kevin G.; Wood, William; Prabhu, Vinayakumar; de Cabo, Rafael

2008-01-01

The level of dietary energy intake influences metabolism, reproductive function, the development of age-related diseases, and even cognitive behavior. Because males and females typically play different roles in the acquisition and allocation of energy resources, we reasoned that dietary energy intake might differentially affect the brains of males and females at the molecular level. To test this hypothesis, we performed a gene array analysis of the hippocampus in male and female rats that had been maintained for 6 months on either ad libitum (control), 20% caloric restriction (CR), 40% CR, intermittent fasting (IF) or high fat/high glucose (HFG) diets. These diets resulted in expected changes in body weight, and circulating levels of glucose, insulin and leptin. However, the CR diets significantly increased the size of the hippocampus of females, but not males. Multiple genes were regulated coherently in response to energy restriction diets in females, but not in males. Functional physiological pathway analyses showed that the 20% CR diet down-regulated genes involved in glycolysis and mitochondrial ATP production in males, whereas these metabolic pathways were up-regulated in females. The 40% CR diet up-regulated genes involved in glycolysis, protein deacetylation, PGC-1α and mTor pathways in both sexes. IF down-regulated many genes in males including those involved in protein degradation and apoptosis, but up-regulated many genes in females including those involved in cellular energy metabolism, cell cycle regulation and protein deacetylation. Genes involved in energy metabolism, oxidative stress responses and cell death were affected by the HFG diet in both males and females. The gender-specific molecular genetic responses of hippocampal cells to variations in dietary energy intake identified in this study may mediate differential behavioral responses of males and females to differences in energy availability. PMID:18545695

In Vitro Comparison Of Fluoride Gel Alone and in Combination With Er,Cr:YSGG Laser on Reducing White Spot Lesions in Primary Teeth.

PubMed

Molaasadollah, Fatemeh; Asnaashari, Mohammad; Mashhadi Abbas, Fatemeh; Jafary, Maral

2017-01-01

Introduction: Laser therapy has been suggested as a method for caries-prevention, and ErCr:YSGG laser is increasingly used in dentistry. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of fluoride gel alone and in conjunction with Er,Cr:YSGG laser for remineralization of white spot lesions (WSLs) in primary teeth. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 primary teeth with WSLs extracted for orthodontic reasons. Three sections were made of each tooth at the site of WSLs. The surface area of WSLs was measured under a stereomicroscope at ×25 magnification. Samples were assigned to 3 groups of control (group 1), exposure to 1.23% APF gel for 4 minutes (group 2) and Er,Cr:YSGG laser (0.5 W power, 20 Hz frequency, 60% water, 40% air, pulse duration of 5±1 seconds) plus fluoride (group 3). All samples were stored in artificial saliva for 10 days and then the surface area of the WSLs was measured again under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis, MannWhitney and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: The reduction in surface area of the WSLs was significantly different between the control and fluoride ( P <0.001) and also the control and laser plus fluoride groups ( P <0.001); the difference between fluoride and laser plus fluoride groups was not significant ( P =0.265). Comparison of the surface area of WSLs before and after the intervention showed no significant difference in group one ( P =0.737) while this difference in groups 2 ( P <0.001) and 3 ( P <0.001) was statistically significant. Conclusion: The results showed that Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation plus 1.23% APF gel was not significantly different from the application of fluoride gel alone in enhancing the remineralization of WSLs.

Stages of Collaboration and the Realities of Professional Learning Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dooner, Anne-Marie; Mandzuk, David; Clifton, Rodney A.

2008-01-01

Although professional learning communities are often promoted as unique learning opportunities, little is known about how they get started and how they are sustained. For this reason, group members are often unprepared, and then frustrated, by inevitable group tensions. With this in mind, Karl Weick's [(1979). "The social psychology of…

Student Affairs and Academic Affairs Collaborations in the Community College Setting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gulley, Needham Yancey; Mullendore, Richard H.

2014-01-01

The relationship between academic affairs and student affairs units in higher education settings has traditionally and historically been troubled by the divergent understandings of each other's institutional role and the systematic division of labor between the two. However, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is a desire to…

Wind Power Reliability Research | Wind | NREL

Science.gov Websites

Reliability Collaborative fact sheet. Wind Turbine Blade Reliability Wind turbine blade failures are an extremely rare occurrence, but when they do happen, the results can be catastrophic. For this reason, blade manufacturers require tests of blade properties, static mechanical tests, and fatigue tests to certify wind

The Quality of Textbooks: A Basis for European Collaboration.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hooghoff, Hans

The enhancement of the European dimension in the national curriculum is a large scale educational innovation that affects many European countries. This report puts forward the proposition that broad scale educational innovation has more success if the aims and objectives find their way into textbooks. The reasons why a European dimension in…

Arguing Collaboratively: Argumentative Discourse Types and Their Potential for Knowledge Building

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Felton, Mark; Garcia-Mila, Merce; Villarroel, Constanza; Gilabert, Sandra

2015-01-01

Background: There is growing interest in using argumentative discourse in educational settings. However, in a previous study, we found that discourse goals (persuasion vs. consensus) while arguing can affect student outcomes in both content learning and reasoning. Aims: In this study, we look at argumentative discourse data from a previous study…

13 CFR 102.4 - Timing of responses to requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... extended by an additional 10 working days for one or more of the following reasons: (1) The need to search... office processing the request; (2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a.... Where an office believes that multiple requests submitted by a requester, or by a group of collaborating...

13 CFR 102.4 - Timing of responses to requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... extended by an additional 10 working days for one or more of the following reasons: (1) The need to search... office processing the request; (2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a.... Where an office believes that multiple requests submitted by a requester, or by a group of collaborating...

13 CFR 102.4 - Timing of responses to requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... extended by an additional 10 working days for one or more of the following reasons: (1) The need to search... office processing the request; (2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a.... Where an office believes that multiple requests submitted by a requester, or by a group of collaborating...

13 CFR 102.4 - Timing of responses to requests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... extended by an additional 10 working days for one or more of the following reasons: (1) The need to search... office processing the request; (2) The need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a.... Where an office believes that multiple requests submitted by a requester, or by a group of collaborating...

The New England Spruce-Fir Seed Orchard Program

Treesearch

Carter B. Gibbs; James B. Carlaw

1973-01-01

I once heard it said that if you want to know how something was organized, ask a man who had nothing to do with it. I suspect this may be one of the reasons I was asked to collaborate on this report of the development of the New England Spruce-Fir Seed Orchard Program.

Partnerships for optimizing organizational flexibility

Treesearch

Louis Poliquin

1999-01-01

For the purpose of this conference, I was asked to discuss partnerships in general. We will first review the reasons that bring organizations to enter into a collaborative agreement, then provide examples of different types of partnerships, discuss some factors that seem to explain the success of partnerships, and review important points to consider before preparing...

Distance Education for Physicians: Adaptation of a Canadian Experience to Uruguay

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Llambi, Laura; Margolis, Alvaro; Toews, John; Dapueto, Juan; Esteves, Elba; Martinez, Elisa; Forster, Thais; Lopez, Antonio; Lockyer, Jocelyn

2008-01-01

Introduction: The production of online high-quality continuing professional development is a complex process that demands familiarity with effective program and content design. Collaboration and sharing across nations would appear to be a reasonable way to improve quality, increase access, and reduce costs. Methods: In this case report, the…

DGIC Interconnection Insights | Distributed Generation Interconnection

Science.gov Websites

Collaborative | NREL disseminate analysis findings to inform decision making and planning. Cost (SEPA) What is the need for cost certainty? As the distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) industry has , equitably and at a reasonable cost. This dynamic is now playing out in the cost certainty proposals being

Teacher Leaders: Transforming Schools from the inside. Occasional Paper Series 23

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmerler, Gil, Ed.; Mhatre, Nayantara; Stacy, Jill; Patrizio, Kami; Winkler, Jessica Endlich; Groves, Jennifer; Rockwood, Kathleen Dickinson; Lin, Clara E.; Hernandez, Lillian; Solorza, Cristian; Hummel, Robin E.

2009-01-01

Teacher leadership is "hard." Many of the reasons are obvious: Teaching is a highly labor-intensive profession to begin with, leaving little downtime for work with other adults. School schedules are notoriously stingy with space for adult collaboration. Teachers are rarely paid to exercise leadership; when they are, they are never paid…

Collaborative Interactivity and Integrated Thinking in Brazilian Business Schools Using Cognitive Flexibility Hypertexts: The Panteon Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lima, Marcos; Koehler, Matthew J.; Spiro, Rand J.

2004-01-01

In this article, we discuss how the Harvard Method of case study, Interactive Communication Technologies, and Cognitive Flexibility Theory may contribute to case-based learning about business decision-making. In particular, we are interested in designing learning environments that foster critical thinking, creativity, and reasoning that entertains…

Are You with Me or Not? Temporal Synchronicity and Transactivity during CSCL

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Popov, V.; van Leeuwen, A.; Buis, S. C. A.

2017-01-01

Do the simultaneous alignment of student activities (temporal synchronicity) and students successively building on each other's reasoning (transactivity) predict the quality of collaborative learning products? To address this question, we used a mixed-method approach to study 74 first-year university students who were randomly assigned to work in…

Influence of Cultural Norms and Collaborative Discussions on Children's Reflective Essays

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Il-Hee; Anderson, Richard C.; Miller, Brian; Jeong, Jongseong; Swim, Terri

2011-01-01

This study investigated the influence of culture and discussion participation on rhetorical patterns in the reflective essays of 238 Korean and 196 American 4th-graders. Results showed significant differences between Korean children's essays and American children's essays in types of reasons, uses of argument elements, and uses of rhetorical…

Inner-City Teachers' Perceptions in a Lesson Study for Critiquing Mathematical Reasoning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Won, Noelle

2017-01-01

This manuscript focuses on practical questions in a study that describes the perceptions of four teachers at the beginning stages of Common Core Mathematics implementation in a historically underperforming school district. The overarching goal was to understand the collaborative inquiry experience in a lesson study that focused on teaching the…

Using Puppets to Provide Opportunities for Dialogue and Scientific Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liston, Maeve

2015-01-01

Talk, peer collaboration and exchanging ideas significantly contribute to a child's conceptual understanding in science (Howe, McWilliam and Cross, 2005). Dialogue helps children to clarify their thinking and to develop their capacity to reason, which are crucial scientific process skills (Mercer et al., 2004). One very effective way of supporting…

STEM and Model-Eliciting Activities: Responsive Professional Development for K-8 Mathematics Coaches

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Courtney; Galanti, Terrie; Birkhead, Sara

2017-01-01

This research highlights a university-school division collaboration to pilot a professional development framework for integrating STEM in K-8 mathematics classrooms. The university researchers worked with mathematics coaches to construct a realistic and reasonable vision of STEM integration built upon the design principles of model-eliciting…

A Physician/Psychologist Team Approach to Children and Adolescents with Recurrent Somatic Complaints.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greene, John W.; Thompson, Warren

1984-01-01

Children and adolescents with recurrent somatic complaints represent some of the most complex school health-related problems encountered by school officials and physicians. These complaints account for missed days and are often the primary reason for prolonged absences. A collaborative approach involving a school psychologist and physician team is…

It's Your Evaluation--Collaborating to Improve Teacher Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Danielson, Charlotte

2012-01-01

The most fundamental reason why teachers are evaluated is because public schools take public money, and the public has a right to expect high-quality teaching. But there are two more basic purposes: (1) to ensure teacher quality; and (2) to promote professional development. The challenge is merging these two purposes of teacher evaluation.…

Power and Flow Experience in Time-Intensive Business Simulation Game

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiili, Kristian; Lainema, Timo

2010-01-01

Power is an influential component of social interaction and there are reasons for thinking that it may have important effects both on decision-making and psychological and interpersonal processes. The aim of this paper was to study the relations between the feeling of power, decision-making and flow experience in a collaborative business…

Students' Socio-Scientific Reasoning in an Astrobiological Context during Work with a Digital Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hansson, Lena; Redfors, Andreas; Rosberg, Maria

2011-01-01

In a European project--CoReflect--researchers in seven countries are developing, implementing and evaluating teaching sequences using a web-based platform (STOCHASMOS). The interactive web-based inquiry materials support collaborative and reflective work. The learning environments will be iteratively tested and refined, during different phases of…

Telerobot task planning and reasoning: Introduction to JPL artificial intelligence research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atkinson, D. J.

1987-01-01

A view of the capabilities and areas of artificial intelligence research which are required for autonomous space telerobotics extending through the year 2000 is given. In the coming years, JPL will be conducting directed research to achieve these capabilities, as well as drawing heavily on collaborative efforts conducted with other research laboratories.

Calling for Research Collaborations and the Use of Dis/ability Studies in Mathematics Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tan, Paulo; Kastberg, Signe

2017-01-01

In this commentary, the authors find that despite discussions of "mathematics for all," opportunities that support the development of mathematical reasoning and understanding of mathematics as a human endeavor often do not exist for mathematics learners identified in schools as having dis/abilities. Indeed, mathematics for all is…

Interactive Visual Tools as Triggers of Collaborative Reasoning in Entry-Level Pathology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nivala, Markus; Rystedt, Hans; Saljo, Roger; Kronqvist, Pauliina; Lehtinen, Erno

2012-01-01

The growing importance of medical imaging in everyday diagnostic practices poses challenges for medical education. While the emergence of novel imaging technologies offers new opportunities, many pedagogical questions remain. In the present study, we explore the use of a new tool, a virtual microscope, for the instruction and the collaborative…

Make your enemies your allies.

PubMed

Uzzi, Brian; Dunlap, Shannon

2012-05-01

Rivalries in the workplace can be destructive to both personal career growth and group success. Many attempts to reverse rivalries fail because of the complex way emotion and reason operate in the building of trust. Using a method called the 3Rs, an effective leader can turn a rival into a collaborator, setting the stage for a healthy work life while driving fresh thinking within an organization. Step 1 of the method is redirection, shifting a rival's negative emotions away from the adversarial relationship. This creates an opening for Step 2, reciprocity, through which a relationship can be established. Here, the essential principle is to give before you ask--offering a rival something of clear benefit and "priming the pump" for a future return that requires little effort on the rival's part. Step 3, rationality, sets expectations of the new relationship so that efforts made using the previous steps don't come off as disingenuous. A rival is encouraged to see collaborative opportunities from a reasoned standpoint. A key advantage of the 3Rs is that the method can work to reverse all kinds of rivalries, including those with subordinates, peers, and superiors.

Glomerular disease: why is there a dearth of high quality clinical trials?

PubMed

Leaf, David E; Appel, Gerald B; Radhakrishnan, Jai

2010-08-01

There is a paucity of high quality clinical trials in glomerular disease, particularly in non-diabetic kidney disease. The aims of this review include quantifying the extent of this problem and exploring reasons for the scarcity of such trials in primary glomerular disease, with an emphasis on immunoglobulin A nephropathy, minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and membranous nephropathy in comparison with the more common diseases of diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis. Reasons for the dearth of high quality clinical trials in primary glomerular disease include (1) low prevalence of disease; (2) variability in clinical presentation; (3) variability in treatment response; (4) lack of consensus in definitions; (5) difficulty in recruiting patients; (6) high costs of randomized controlled trials; and (7) lack of collaborative efforts. To facilitate greater numbers of high quality clinical trials in glomerular disease, practice guidelines should establish common classification systems of disease and common clinical end points, industry and non-industry sponsored research should find common ground and work together toward advancing science, and national registries should be created to encourage collaborations across institutions and across nations.

A measurement of summertime dry deposition of ambient air particulates and associated metallic pollutants in Central Taiwan.

PubMed

Fang, Guor-Cheng; Chiang, Hung-Che; Chen, Yu-Cheng; Xiao, You-Fu; Wu, Chia-Ming; Kuo, Yu-Chen

2015-04-01

The purpose of this study is to characterize metallic elements associated with atmospheric particulate matter in the dry deposition plate, total suspended particulate, fine particles, and coarse particles at Taichung Harbor and Gong Ming Junior High School (airport) in central Taiwan at a sampling site from June 2013 to August 2013. The results indicated that: (1) the average concentrations of the metallic elements Cr and Cd were highest at the Gong Ming Junior High School (airport), and the average concentrations of the metallic elements Ni, Cu, and Pb were highest at the Taichung Harbor sampling site. (2) The high smelting industry density and export/import rate of heavily loaded cargos were the main reasons leading to these findings. (3) The average metallic element dry deposition and metallic element PM(2.5-10) all followed the order of Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni > Cd at the two sampling sites. However, the average metallic elements Cu and Pb were found to have the highest dry deposition velocities and concentrations in PM(2.5) for the two sampling sites in this study. (4) The correlation coefficients of ambient air particle dry deposition and concentration with wind speed at the airport were higher than those from the harbor sampling site. The wind and broad open spaces at Taichung Airport were the possible reasons for the increasing correlation coefficients for ambient air particle concentration and dry deposition with wind speed at the Taichung Airport sampling site.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and pathological complete response in rectal cancer

PubMed Central

Ferrari, Linda; Fichera, Alessandro

2015-01-01

The management of rectal cancer has evolved significantly in the last few decades. Significant improvements in local disease control were achieved in the 1990s, with the introduction of total mesorectal excision and neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Level 1 evidence has shown that, with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) the rates of local recurrence can be lower than 6% and, as a result, neoadjuvant CRT currently represents the accepted standard of care. This approach has led to reliable tumor down-staging, with 15–27% patients with a pathological complete response (pCR)—defined as no residual cancer found on histological examination of the specimen. Patients who achieve pCR after CRT have better long-term outcomes, less risk of developing local or distal recurrence and improved survival. For all these reasons, sphincter-preserving procedures or organ-preserving options have been suggested, such as local excision of residual tumor or the omission of surgery altogether. Although local recurrence rate has been stable at 5–6% with this multidisciplinary management method, distal recurrence rates for locally-advanced rectal cancers remain in excess of 25% and represent the main cause of death in these patients. For this reason, more recent trials have been looking at the administration of full-dose systemic chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting (in order to offer early treatment of disseminated micrometastases, thus improving control of systemic disease) and selective use of radiotherapy only in non-responders or for low rectal tumors smaller than 5 cm. PMID:26290512

Comparison of USDA Forest Service and Stakeholder Motivations and Experiences in Collaborative Federal Forest Governance in the Western United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Emily Jane; White, Eric M.; Cerveny, Lee K.; Seesholtz, David; Nuss, Meagan L.; Ulrich, Donald R.

2017-11-01

In the United States, over 191 million acres of land is managed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, a federal government agency. In several western U.S. states, organized collaborative groups have become a de facto governance approach to providing sustained input on management decisions on much public land. This is most extensive in Oregon, where at least 25 "forest collaboratives" currently exist. This affords excellent opportunities for studies of many common themes in collaborative governance, including trust, shared values, and perceptions of success. We undertook a statewide survey of participants in Oregon forest collaboratives to examine differences in motivations, perceptions of success, and satisfaction among Forest Service participants ("agency participants"), who made up 31% of the sample, and other respondents ("non-agency") who represent nonfederal agencies, interest groups, citizens, and non-governmental groups. We found that agency participants differed from non-agency participants. They typically had higher annual incomes, and were primarily motivated to participate to build trust. However, a majority of all respondents were similar in not indicating any other social or economic motivations as their primary reason for collaborating. A majority also reported satisfaction with their collaborative—despite not ranking collaborative performance on a number of specific potential outcomes highly. Together, this suggests that collaboration in Oregon is currently perceived as successful despite not achieving many specific outcomes. Yet there were significant differences in socioeconomic status and motivation that could affect the ability of agency and nonagency participants to develop and achieve mutually-desired goals.

Preschool children's Collaborative Science Learning Scaffolded by Tablets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fridberg, Marie; Thulin, Susanne; Redfors, Andreas

2017-06-01

This paper reports on a project aiming to extend the current understanding of how emerging technologies, i.e. tablets, can be used in preschools to support collaborative learning of real-life science phenomena. The potential of tablets to support collaborative inquiry-based science learning and reflective thinking in preschool is investigated through the analysis of teacher-led activities on science, including children making timelapse photography and Slowmation movies. A qualitative analysis of verbal communication during different learning contexts gives rise to a number of categories that distinguish and identify different themes of the discussion. In this study, groups of children work with phase changes of water. We report enhanced and focused reasoning about this science phenomenon in situations where timelapse movies are used to stimulate recall. Furthermore, we show that children communicate in a more advanced manner about the phenomenon, and they focus more readily on problem solving when active in experimentation or Slowmation producing contexts.

University/industry collaboration in remote sensing education

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ragan, R. M.; Royal, J. A.

1981-01-01

A graduate level course covering the development and structure of geographical information systems and the acquisition and processing of LANDSAT data for input to these systems is described. A portion of the course was devoted to hands-on classification of LANDSAT digital tapes utilizing both university and private industry processing systems. This industry/university collaboration was extremely successful and resulted in a high quality course. It gave the students an excellent experience in working in a real-world client/consultant relationship undertaken to accomplish a specific task. There were two key factors in the success of the collaboration. First, there was a very careful product definition and advance meetings between the University faculty and the company personnel to be involved. Second, the students were not taken into the industrial facility until late in the course, after they had a reasonable knowledge of the physical bases of remote sensing, the concept of spectral signatures, and the fundamentals of pattern analysis.

Reinduction therapy for adult acute leukemia with adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone: a Southwest Oncology Group study.

PubMed

Elias, L; Shaw, M T; Raab, S O

1979-08-01

In an attempt to improve remissions and survivals in previously treated patients with adult acute leukemia, we gave Adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone for induction therapy, followed by 6-mercaptopurine and methotrexate for maintenance therapy to patients attaining complete remission (CR). The study group consisted of 18 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), ten with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and one with acute undifferentiated leukemia. Only one patient had previously received Adriamycin. Overall, there were ten CRs and two partial remissions. The five CRs and one partial remission in patients with AML occurred among those with one prior induction attempt; none of the eight AML patients with more than one prior induction attempt responded. The actuarial median duration of CR was 15 weeks and was similar for AML and acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Responders had a longer median survival (30 weeks) than nonresponders (9 weeks). Thus, although a reasonable number of responses in previously treated patients were obtained with this program, improvements in maintenance therapy are clearly needed.

Design of cognitive engine for cognitive radio based on the rough sets and radial basis function neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yanchao; Jiang, Hong; Liu, Congbin; Lan, Zhongli

2013-03-01

Cognitive radio (CR) is an intelligent wireless communication system which can dynamically adjust the parameters to improve system performance depending on the environmental change and quality of service. The core technology for CR is the design of cognitive engine, which introduces reasoning and learning methods in the field of artificial intelligence, to achieve the perception, adaptation and learning capability. Considering the dynamical wireless environment and demands, this paper proposes a design of cognitive engine based on the rough sets (RS) and radial basis function neural network (RBF_NN). The method uses experienced knowledge and environment information processed by RS module to train the RBF_NN, and then the learning model is used to reconfigure communication parameters to allocate resources rationally and improve system performance. After training learning model, the performance is evaluated according to two benchmark functions. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the model and the proposed cognitive engine can effectively achieve the goal of learning and reconfiguration in cognitive radio.

On Some Mechanical Properties and Wear Behavior of Sintered Bronze Based Composites Reinforced with Some Aluminides Microadditives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feldshtein, E.; Kiełek, P.; Kiełek, T.; Dyachkova, L.; Letsko, A.

2017-05-01

In the paper, the changes in some mechanical properties and wear behavior of CuSn10 sintered bronze and MMCs based on this bronze reinforced with composite ultrafine aluminide powders FeAl/15 % Al2O3, NiAl/15 % Al2O3 and Ti-46Al-8Cr are described. It was observed that the presence of aluminides in the MMCs leads to an increase in the hardness, but the flexural strength may increase or decrease depending on the type of aluminide. The presence of aluminides in the MMC reduces the wear rate considerably. It is decreased in the direction of FeAl/15 % Al2O3 → NiAl/15 % Al2O3 → Ti-46Al-8Cr aluminides and for the best MMC composition the advantage is about 20 times. In the MMCs wear process, micro-craters are formed on the contact surface and it is the principal reason of a decrease in the wear rate.

Metal impurity fluxes and plasma-surface interactions in EXTRAP T2R

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergsåker, H.; Menmuir, S.; Rachlew, E.; Brunsell, P. R.; Frassinetti, L.; Drake, J. R.

2008-03-01

The EXTRAP T2R is a large aspect ratio Reversed Field Pinch device. The main focus of interest for the experiments is the active feedback control of resistive wall modes [1]. With feedback it has been possible to prolong plasma discharges in T2R from about 20 ms to nearly 100 ms. In a series of experiments in T2R, in H- and D- plasmas with and without feedback, quantitative spectroscopy and passive collector probes have been used to study the flux of metal impurities. Time resolved spectroscopic measurements of Cr and Mo lines showed large metal release towards discharge termination without feedback. Discharge integrated fluxes of Cr, Fe, Ni and Mo were also measured with collector probes at wall position. Reasonable quantitative agreement was found between the spectroscopic and collector probe measurements. The roles of sputtering, thermal evaporation and arcing in impurity production are evaluated based on the composition of the measured impurity flux.

Experimental study of a SINIS detector response time at 350 GHz signal frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemzyakov, S.; Tarasov, M.; Mahashabde, S.; Yusupov, R.; Kuzmin, L.; Edelman, V.

2018-03-01

Response time constant of a SINIS bolometer integrated in an annular ring antenna was measured at a bath temperature of 100 mK. Samples comprising superconducting aluminium electrodes and normal-metal Al/Fe strip connected to electrodes via tunnel junctions were fabricated on oxidized Si substrate using shadow evaporation. The bolometer was illuminated by a fast black-body radiation source through a band-pass filter centered at 350 GHz with a passband of 7 GHz. Radiation source is a thin NiCr film on sapphire substrate. For rectangular 10÷100 μs current pulse the radiation front edge was rather sharp due to low thermal capacitance of NiCr film and low thermal conductivity of substrate at temperatures in the range 1-4 K. The rise time of the response was ~1-10 μs. This time presumably is limited by technical reasons: high dynamic resistance of series array of bolometers and capacitance of a long twisted pair wiring from SINIS bolometer to a room-temperature amplifier.

Dichromated Gelatine as a Material of Optical Element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Hyuk-Soo; Cho, Dong-Hyun; Choi, Yong-Jin; Son, Jung-Young; Park, Seung-Han

1999-04-01

In the fabrication process of optical elements (OEs) by the laser scanning method using a dichromated gelatin (DCG) photoplate, the expansion and drying stress of gelatine caused by inhomogeneous liquid flow inside the gelatine affects the shape of OEs. The reason this inhomogeneous liquid flow exists in the energy oversaturated parts of OEs is the presence of surplus energy. In order to obtain the OEs of desired spherical lens shape, the drying stress should be reduced and therefore the maximum energy of the illuminating laser should be defined not to cause the surplus energy. The maximum energy is investigated according to the relative concentrations of (NH4)2Cr2O7 to DCG. The use of photoplates with a relative concentration of (NH4)2Cr2O7 to gelatin of more than 20% has some advantages when making the lens raster, especially a short-focal-length lens raster. It is also very important to increase the drying time to reduce the total drying stress by maintaining high humidity during the drying process.

Modeling of neutrals in the Linac4 H- ion source plasma: Hydrogen atom production density profile and Hα intensity by collisional radiative model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, T.; Shibata, T.; Ohta, M.; Yasumoto, M.; Nishida, K.; Hatayama, A.; Mattei, S.; Lettry, J.; Sawada, K.; Fantz, U.

2014-02-01

To control the H0 atom production profile in the H- ion sources is one of the important issues for the efficient and uniform surface H- production. The purpose of this study is to construct a collisional radiative (CR) model to calculate the effective production rate of H0 atoms from H2 molecules in the model geometry of the radio-frequency (RF) H- ion source for Linac4 accelerator. In order to validate the CR model by comparison with the experimental results from the optical emission spectroscopy, it is also necessary for the model to calculate Balmer photon emission rate in the source. As a basic test of the model, the time evolutions of H0 production and the Balmer Hα photon emission rate are calculated for given electron energy distribution functions in the Linac4 RF H- ion source. Reasonable test results are obtained and basis for the detailed comparisons with experimental results have been established.

Letter Report Documenting Progress of Second Generation ATF FeCrAl Alloy Fabrication

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

Yamamoto, Y.; Yang, Y.; Field, K. G.

2014-06-10

Development of the 2nd generation ATF FeCrAl alloy has been initiated, and a candidate alloy was selected for trial tube fabrication through hot-extrusion and gun-drilling processes. Four alloys based on Fe-13Cr-4.5Al-0.15Y in weight percent were newly cast with minor alloying additions of Mo, Si, Nb, and C to promote solid-solution and second-phase precipitate strengthening. The alloy compositions were selected with guidance from computational thermodynamic tools. The lab-scale heats of ~ 600g were arc-melted and drop-cast, homogenized, hot-forged and -rolled, and then annealed producing plate shape samples. An alloy with Mo and Nb additions (C35MN) processed at 800°C exhibits very finemore » sub-grain structure with the sub-grain size of 1-3μm which exhibited more than 25% better yield and tensile strengths together with decent ductility compared to the other FeCrAl alloys at room temperature. It was found that the Nb addition was key to improving thermal stability of the fine sub-grain structure. Optimally, grains of less than 30 microns are desired, with grains up to and order of magnitude in desired produced through Nb addition. Scale-up effort of the C35MN alloy was made in collaboration with a commercial cast company who has a capability of vacuum induction melting. A 39lb columnar ingot with ~81mm diameter and ~305mm height (with hot-top) was commercially cast, homogenized, hot-extruded, and annealed providing 10mm-diameter bar-shape samples with the fine sub-grain structure. This commercial heat proved consistent with materials produced at ORNL at the lab-scale. Tubes and end caps were machined from the bar sample and provided to another work package for the ATF-1 irradiation campaign in the milestone M3FT-14OR0202251.« less

Distributed collaborative environments for predictive battlespace awareness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McQuay, William K.

2003-09-01

The past decade has produced significant changes in the conduct of military operations: asymmetric warfare, the reliance on dynamic coalitions, stringent rules of engagement, increased concern about collateral damage, and the need for sustained air operations. Mission commanders need to assimilate a tremendous amount of information, make quick-response decisions, and quantify the effects of those decisions in the face of uncertainty. Situational assessment is crucial in understanding the battlespace. Decision support tools in a distributed collaborative environment offer the capability of decomposing complex multitask processes and distributing them over a dynamic set of execution assets that include modeling, simulations, and analysis tools. Decision support technologies can semi-automate activities, such as analysis and planning, that have a reasonably well-defined process and provide machine-level interfaces to refine the myriad of information that the commander must fused. Collaborative environments provide the framework and integrate models, simulations, and domain specific decision support tools for the sharing and exchanging of data, information, knowledge, and actions. This paper describes ongoing AFRL research efforts in applying distributed collaborative environments to predictive battlespace awareness.

Understanding students' readiness for interprofessional learning in an Asian context: a mixed-methods study.

PubMed

Lestari, Endang; Stalmeijer, Renée E; Widyandana, Doni; Scherpbier, Albert

2016-07-15

Healthcare is generally provided by various health professionals acting together. Unfortunately, poor communication and collaboration within such healthcare teams often prevent its members from actively engaging in collaborative decision-making. Interprofessional education (IPE) which prepares health professionals for their collaborative role in the healthcare system may partially address this problem. This study aimed to investigate: 1) students' readiness for IPE in an Asian context, 2) the most important factors influencing students' perceptions of IPE, 3) the reasons underlying such perceptions, and 4) the factors mitigating or promoting their sense of readiness. To identify students' perceptions of IPE, we administered the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) to 398 in approximately 470 students from a range of health professions (medicine, nursing, midwifery and dentistry). The questionnaire included factors that could potentially influence readiness for IPE as found in the literature (GPA, etc.). To enhance our understanding of the responses to the RIPLS and to explore the reasons underlying them, we conducted 4 mono-professional focus group discussions (FGDs). We ran a statistical analysis on the quantitative data, while performing a thematic content analysis of the qualitative data using ATLAS.ti (version 7). Medical students seemed to be the most prepared for IPE. Students' perceptions of IPE were conditioned by the study programme they took, their GPA, intrinsic motivation and engagement in the student council connoting experience of working with students from different programmes. Focus groups further revealed that: 1) early exposure to clinical practice triggered both positive and negative perceptions of IPE and of its importance to learning communication and leadership skills, 2) medical students caused insecurity and disengagement in other students, 3) medical students felt pressured to be leaders, and 4) there was a need to clarify and understand each other's profession and the boundaries of one's own profession. Students were generally favourable to IPE, appreciating the opportunity it offered them to hone their interprofessional leadership, collaboration and communication skills and to learn to address the problem of role blurring. Hence, we judge the Asian context ready to implement IPE, allowing health professions students in Asian countries to reap its benefits. The present study revealed several important reasons underlying students' positive and negative perceptions of IPE implementation which may be addressed during the interprofessional learning process.

Novel Dissimilar Joints Between Alloy 800H and 2.25%Cr and 1%Mo Steel

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

DebRoy, Tarasankar

Dissimilar metal joints between ferritic steels and nickel base alloys are currently fabricated using conventional arc welding processes with selected filler metal combinations. The dissimilar metal joints contain abrupt changes in composition over a relatively small distance. Many years of service at elevated temperatures has shown that these welds are susceptible to creep and creep fatigue failures. The primary mechanism for these creep failures involves carbon diffusion from the ferritic steel to the nickel base alloy. As a result, a carbon depleted zone is created that contains very few stable carbides. This work used additive manufacturing (AM) technologies as amore » highly controllable means for reducing carbon migration through theoretically designed, compositionally graded transition joints guided by appropriate thermodynamic, kinetic and heat transfer and fluid flow modeling. The contents of the report include the objectives and tasks set forth by the PI and collaborators, major technical accomplishments throughout the research and additional details in the form of technical publications resulting from the NEUP grant and reports from the collaborating university and national laboratory.« less

The RaDIATE High-Energy Proton Materials Irradiation Experiment at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer Facility

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

Ammigan, Kavin; et al.

The RaDIATE collaboration (Radiation Damage In Accelerator Target Environments) was founded in 2012 to bring together the high-energy accelerator target and nuclear materials communities to address the challenging issue of radiation damage effects in beam-intercepting materials. Success of current and future high intensity accelerator target facilities requires a fundamental understanding of these effects including measurement of materials property data. Toward this goal, the RaDIATE collaboration organized and carried out a materials irradiation run at the Brookhaven Linac Isotope Producer facility (BLIP). The experiment utilized a 181 MeV proton beam to irradiate several capsules, each containing many candidate material samples formore » various accelerator components. Materials included various grades/alloys of beryllium, graphite, silicon, iridium, titanium, TZM, CuCrZr, and aluminum. Attainable peak damage from an 8-week irradiation run ranges from 0.03 DPA (Be) to 7 DPA (Ir). Helium production is expected to range from 5 appm/DPA (Ir) to 3,000 appm/DPA (Be). The motivation, experimental parameters, as well as the post-irradiation examination plans of this experiment are described.« less

Galle Cr. Dunes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2005-01-01

[figure removed for brevity, see original site] Context image for PIA03637 Galle Cr. Dunes

These dunes are located on the floor of Galle Crater.

Image information: VIS instrument. Latitude 51.5S, Longitude 329.0E. 17 meter/pixel resolution.

Note: this THEMIS visual image has not been radiometrically nor geometrically calibrated for this preliminary release. An empirical correction has been performed to remove instrumental effects. A linear shift has been applied in the cross-track and down-track direction to approximate spacecraft and planetary motion. Fully calibrated and geometrically projected images will be released through the Planetary Data System in accordance with Project policies at a later time.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) was developed by Arizona State University, Tempe, in collaboration with Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing. The THEMIS investigation is led by Dr. Philip Christensen at Arizona State University. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, is the prime contractor for the Odyssey project, and developed and built the orbiter. Mission operations are conducted jointly from Lockheed Martin and from JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Spark plasma sintering synthesis of porous nanocrystalline titanium alloys for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Nicula, R; Lüthen, F; Stir, M; Nebe, B; Burkel, E

2007-11-01

The reason for the extended use of titanium and its alloys as implant biomaterials stems from their lower elastic modulus, their superior biocompatibility and improved corrosion resistance compared to the more conventional stainless steel and cobalt-based alloys [Niinomi, M., Hattori, T., Niwa, S., 2004. Material characteristics and biocompatibility of low rigidity titanium alloys for biomedical applications. In: Jaszemski, M.J., Trantolo, D.J., Lewandrowski, K.U., Hasirci, V., Altobelli, D.E., Wise, D.L. (Eds.), Biomaterials in Orthopedics. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, pp. 41-62]. Nanostructured titanium-based biomaterials with tailored porosity are important for cell-adhesion, viability, differentiation and growth. Newer technologies like foaming or low-density core processing were recently used for the surface modification of titanium alloy implant bodies to stimulate bone in-growth and improve osseointegration and cell-adhesion, which in turn play a key role in the acceptance of the implants. We here report preliminary results concerning the synthesis of mesoporous titanium alloy bodies by spark plasma sintering. Nanocrystalline cp Ti, Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-Al-V-Cr and Ti-Mn-V-Cr-Al alloy powders were prepared by high-energy wet-milling and sintered to either full-density (cp Ti, Ti-Al-V) or uniform porous (Ti-Al-V-Cr, Ti-Mn-V-Cr-Al) bulk specimens by field-assisted spark plasma sintering (FAST/SPS). Cellular interactions with the porous titanium alloy surfaces were tested with osteoblast-like human MG-63 cells. Cell morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM analysis results were correlated with the alloy chemistry and the topographic features of the surface, namely porosity and roughness.

ST6GALNAC1 plays important roles in enhancing cancer stem phenotypes of colorectal cancer via the Akt pathway

PubMed Central

Ogawa, Tadashi; Hirohashi, Yoshihiko; Murai, Aiko; Nishidate, Toshihiko; Okita, Kenji; Wang, Liming; Ikehara, Yuzuru; Satoyoshi, Tetsuta; Usui, Akihiro; Kubo, Terufumi; Nakastugawa, Munehide; Kanaseki, Takayuki; Tsukahara, Tomohide; Kutomi, Goro; Furuhata, Tomohisa; Hirata, Koichi; Sato, Noriyuki; Mizuguchi, Toru; Takemasa, Ichiro; Torigoe, Toshihiko

2017-01-01

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a mortal disease due to treatment resistance, recurrence and distant metastasis. Emerging evidence has revealed that a small sub-population of cancer cells termed cancer stem cells (CSCs)/ cancer-initiating cells (CICs) is endowed with high levels of tumor-initiating ability, self-renewal ability and differentiation ability and is responsible for treatment resistance, recurrence and distant metastasis. Eradication of CSCs/CICs is essential to improve current treatments. However, the molecular mechanisms by which CSCs/CICs are maintained are still elusive. In this study, we aimed to determine the molecular mechanisms by which colorectal (CR)-CSCs/CICs in are maintained human primary CRC cells. CR-CSCs/CICs were isolated by sphere-culture and the ALDEFLUOR assay, and transcriptome analysis revealed that the gene ST6 N-Acetylgalactosaminide Alpha-2,6-Sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GALNAC1) was expressed at high levels in CR-CSCs/CICs. Overexpression of ST6GALNAC1 enhanced the expression of sialyl-Tn (STn) antigen, which is carried by the CSC marker CD44, and increased the sphere-forming ability and resistance to a chemotherapeutic reagent. The opposite phenomena were observed by gene knockdown using siRNA. Furthermore, the Akt pathway was activated in ST6GANAC1-overexpressed cells, and activation of the pathway was cancelled by gene knockdown of galectin-3. The results indicate that ST6GALNAC1 has a role in the maintenance of CR-CSCs/CICs by activating the Akt pathway in cooperation with galectin-3 and that ST6GalNAC1 (or STn antigen) might be a reasonable molecule for CSC/CIC-targeting therapy. PMID:29348846

Efficient and rapid degradation of Congo red dye with TiO2 based nano-photocatalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayan, Himanshu; Alemu, Hailemichael

2017-04-01

Degradation of Congo red (CR) dye with TiO2 based nano-photocatalyst (NPC) loaded with Nd3+ and Er3+ ions is reported. The chemical route of synthesis through co-precipitation/hydrolysis (CPH) was employed to produce NPCs with general composition TiO2[R2O3]x, {x = 0.1, 0.2; R □ Nd, Er} and particle size within 12 - 16 nm. Photocatalytic degradation under visible light was measured in terms of the percent degradation of CR in 180 min ({C}180\\prime), time taken to degrade to half of the initial CR concentration (t1/2) and apparent rate constant (kobs). For both doping types, values of {C}180\\prime close to 100% were obtained with x = 0.2 NPCs, indicating complete removal of the dye. For the same NPCs, very high values of kobs were found; 2.91 × 10-2 min-1 and 2.36 × 10-2 min-1, for Nd3+ and Er3+ loaded NPCs, respectively, suggesting very rapid degradation. Other NPCs with x = 0.1, also showed reasonably good and fast degradation of CR. The observations may be attributed to the small particle size of the NPCs. Moreover, from the DRS results it is observed that the addition of Nd3+ and Er3+ ions apparently introduces intermediate energy levels within the band gap of TiO2. Such new levels seem to support photocatalysis because they act as electron traps leading to effective suppression of the undesired e-/h+ recombination. To some meaningful extent they also facilitate the absorption of visible irradiations required in the process.

Temporal Trends and Future Prediction of Breast Cancer Incidence Across Age Groups in Trivandrum, South India.

PubMed

Mathew, Aleyamma; George, Preethi Sara; Arjunan, Asha; Augustine, Paul; Kalavathy, Mc; Padmakumari, G; Mathew, Beela Sarah

2016-01-01

Increasing breast cancer (BC) incidence rates have been reported from India; causal factors for this increased incidence are not understood and diagnosis is mostly in advanced stages. Trivandrum exhibits the highest BC incidence rates in India. This study aimed to estimate trends in incidence by age from 2005- 2014, to predict rates through 2020 and to assess the stage at diagnosis of BC in Trivandrum. BC cases were obtained from the Population Based Cancer Registry, Trivandrum. Distribution of stage at diagnosis and incidence rates of BC [Age-specific (ASpR), crude (CR) and age-standardized (ASR)] are described and employed with a joinpoint regression model to estimate average annual percent changes (AAPC) and a Bayesian model to estimate predictive rates. BC accounts for 31% (2681/8737) of all female cancers in Trivandrum. Thirty-five percent (944/2681) are <50 years of age and only 9% present with stage I disease. Average age increased from 53 to 56.4 years (p=0.0001), CR (per 105 women) increased from 39 (ASR: 35.2) to 55.4 (ASR: 43.4), AAPC for CR was 5.0 (p=0.001) and ASR was 3.1 (p=0.001). Rates increased from 50 years. Predicted ASpR is 174 in 50-59 years, 231 in > 60 years and overall CR is 80 (ASR: 57) for 2019- 20. BC, mostly diagnosed in advanced stages, is rising rapidly in South India with large increases likely in the future; particularly among post-menopausal women. This increase might be due to aging and/or changes in lifestyle factors. Reasons for the increased incidence and late stage diagnosis need to be studied.

Monitoring Heavy Metal Contents with Sphagnum Junghuhnianum Moss Bags in Relation to Traffic Volume in Wuxi, China.

PubMed

Hu, Rong; Yan, Yun; Zhou, Xiaoli; Wang, Yanan; Fang, Yanming

2018-02-22

Despite its small size, a moss bag can reveal the different temporal and spatial deposition patterns of pollutants at a particular site; therefore, researchers can use moss bags to determine pollution sources and to put forward strategies for pollution control. Although the use of moss bags to monitor atmospheric pollution has been widely reported in Europe, there are few such empirical studies in China. Thus, in this study, bags containing the moss Sphagnum junghuhnianum were used to assess the concentrations of heavy metals (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn)) at five sampling sites (four roads and a forest park) during the summer and winter of 2012. According to the relative accumulation factor (RAF) and contamination factor (CF) results, pollution in winter was heavier than that in summer, and Cr was found to be the most contaminating, having the highest mean CF. There was a significant positive correlation ( p < 0.05) between traffic volume and concentration for three heavy metals (Cr, Cu, and V) in winter, whereas a significant positive correlation ( p < 0.05) was observed between traffic volume and concentrations for four heavy metal elements (Cr, Pb, V, and Zn) in summer, indicating a close relationship between heavy metal contents and traffic volume. Although there was substantial variation in the concentrations of the five heavy metals in the moss bags, significant correlations between heavy metals suggested that the contaminants originated from a common source, namely vehicle emissions. The results demonstrated that the four roads were subject to different degrees of pollution depending on the volume of traffic using each road. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that traffic volume is a major reason for heavy metal pollution.

Large Metal Heads and Vitamin E Polyethylene Increase Frictional Torque in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Meneghini, R Michael; Lovro, Luke R; Wallace, Joseph M; Ziemba-Davis, Mary

2016-03-01

Trunnionosis has reemerged in modern total hip arthroplasty for reasons that remain unclear. Bearing frictional torque transmits forces to the modular head-neck interface, which may contribute to taper corrosion. The purpose of this study is to compare frictional torque of modern bearing couples in total hip arthroplasty. Mechanical testing based on in vivo loading conditions was used to measure frictional torque. All bearing couples were lubricated and tested at 1 Hz for more than 2000 cycles. The bearing couples tested included conventional, highly crosslinked (XLPE) and vitamin E polyethylene, CoCr, and ceramic femoral heads and dual-mobility bearings. Statistical analysis was performed using Student t test for single-variable and analysis of variance for multivariant analysis. P ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. Large CoCr metal heads (≥36 mm) substantially increased frictional torque against XLPE liners (P = .01), a finding not observed in ceramic heads. Vitamin E polyethylene substantially increased frictional torque compared with XLPE in CoCr and ceramic heads (P = .001), whereas a difference between conventional and XLPE was not observed (P = .69) with the numbers available. Dual-mobility bearing with ceramic inner head demonstrated the lowest mean frictional torque of all bearing couples. In this simulated in vivo model, large-diameter CoCr femoral heads and vitamin E polyethylene liners are associated with increased frictional torque compared with smaller metal heads and XLPE, respectively. The increased frictional torque of vitamin E polyethylene and larger-diameter femoral heads should be considered and further studied, along with reported benefits of these modern bearing couples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Monitoring Heavy Metal Contents with Sphagnum Junghuhnianum Moss Bags in Relation to Traffic Volume in Wuxi, China

PubMed Central

Hu, Rong; Yan, Yun; Zhou, Xiaoli; Wang, Yanan; Fang, Yanming

2018-01-01

Despite its small size, a moss bag can reveal the different temporal and spatial deposition patterns of pollutants at a particular site; therefore, researchers can use moss bags to determine pollution sources and to put forward strategies for pollution control. Although the use of moss bags to monitor atmospheric pollution has been widely reported in Europe, there are few such empirical studies in China. Thus, in this study, bags containing the moss Sphagnum junghuhnianum were used to assess the concentrations of heavy metals (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn)) at five sampling sites (four roads and a forest park) during the summer and winter of 2012. According to the relative accumulation factor (RAF) and contamination factor (CF) results, pollution in winter was heavier than that in summer, and Cr was found to be the most contaminating, having the highest mean CF. There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between traffic volume and concentration for three heavy metals (Cr, Cu, and V) in winter, whereas a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between traffic volume and concentrations for four heavy metal elements (Cr, Pb, V, and Zn) in summer, indicating a close relationship between heavy metal contents and traffic volume. Although there was substantial variation in the concentrations of the five heavy metals in the moss bags, significant correlations between heavy metals suggested that the contaminants originated from a common source, namely vehicle emissions. The results demonstrated that the four roads were subject to different degrees of pollution depending on the volume of traffic using each road. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that traffic volume is a major reason for heavy metal pollution. PMID:29470433

Measurements of indoor 222RN activity in dwellings and workplaces of Curitiba (Brazil)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corrêa, Janine N.; Paschuk, Sergei A.; Del Claro, Flávia; Kappke, Jaqueline; Perna, Allan F. N.; Schelin, Hugo R.; Denyak, Valeriy

2014-11-01

The present work describes the results of systematic measurements of radon (222Rn) in residential environments and workplaces in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba (Paraná State, Brazil) during the period 2004-2012. For radon in air activity measurements, polycarbonate Track Etch Detectors CR-39, mounted in diffusion chambers protected by borosilicate glass fiber filters, were used. After being exposed in air, the CR-39 detectors were submitted to a chemical etching in a 6.25 M NaOH solution at 70 °C for 14 h. The alpha particle tracks were identified and manually counted with an optical microscope, and with the results of previously performed calibrations, the indoor activity concentration of 222Rn was calculated. The calibration of CR-39 and the alpha particle tracks chemical development procedures were performed in collaboration the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS, Japan). The major part of indoor 222Rn concentration in residences was found to be below 100 Bq/m3. In the case of working places, all measurements of 222Rn concentrations were below 100 Bq/m3. These values are considered within the limits set by international regulatory agencies, such as the US EPA and ICRP, which adopt up to 148 and 300 Bq/m3 as upper values for the reference levels for radon gas activity in dwellings, respectively. The latest value of 300 Bq/m3 for radon activity in air is proposed by ICRP considering the upper value for the individual dose reference level for radon exposure of 10 mSv/yr.

Radiotherapy is essential after complete response to asparaginase-containing chemotherapy in early-stage extranodal nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma: A multicenter study from the China Lymphoma Collaborative Group (CLCG).

PubMed

Deng, Xiu-Wen; Wu, Jun-Xin; Wu, Tao; Zhu, Su-Yu; Shi, Mei; Su, Hang; Wang, Ying; He, Xia; Xu, Li-Ming; Yuan, Zhi-Yong; Zhang, Li-Ling; Wu, Gang; Qu, Bao-Lin; Qian, Li-Ting; Hou, Xiao-Rong; Zhang, Fu-Quan; Zhang, Yu-Jing; Zhu, Yuan; Cao, Jian-Zhong; Lan, Sheng-Min; Dong, Mei; Qi, Shu-Nan; Yang, Yong; Li, Ye-Xiong

2018-05-05

This study aimed to clarify the benefit of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with early-stage extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) who achieve a complete response (CR) after asparaginase-containing chemotherapy (CT). Of 240 patients achieved a CR after asparaginase-containing CT, 202 patients received additional RT (CT + RT), and 38 patients did not (CT alone). Compared to CT alone, CT + RT significantly improved overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and locoregional control (LRC). The 5-year OS, DFS and LRC rates were 84.9%, 76.2% and 84.9% for CT + RT, compared to 58.9% (P = 0.006), 43.6% (P = 0.001) and 62.1% (P = 0.026) for CT alone. The 5-year cumulative disease recurrence rate was 18.8% for CT + RT compared to 46.9% (P = 0.003) for CT alone. High-dose RT (≥50 Gy) significantly decreased the risk of locoregional recurrence. The 5-year cumulative locoregional failure rate was 35.5% for patients receiving <50 Gy compared to 8.8% for patients receiving ≥50 Gy (P = 0.028). For patients with early-stage NKTCL who achieve a CR after asparaginase-containing CT, omission of RT results in frequent locoregional recurrence and a poor prognosis; RT is essential to improve locoregional control and survival. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Device characteristics of antenna-coupled metal-insulator-metal diodes (rectenna) using Al2O3, TiO2, and Cr2O3 as insulator layer for energy harvesting applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inac, Mesut; Shafique, Atia; Ozcan, Meric; Gurbuz, Yasar

2015-09-01

Antenna-coupled metal-insulator-metal devices are most potent candidate for future energy harvesting devices. The reason for that they are ultra-high speed devices that can rectify the electromagnetic radiation at high frequencies. In addition to their speed, they are also small devices that can have more number of devices in unit area. In this work, it is aimed design and develop a device which can harvest and detect IR radiation.

Spaghetti Sine Curves: Virtual Environments for Reasoning and Sense Making

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Özgün-Koca, S. Asli; Edwards, Michael Todd; Meagher, Michael

2013-01-01

In a recent collaboration with an area high school teacher, the authors were asked to develop an introductory sinusoidal curves lesson for a group of second-year algebra students. Because the topic was abstract and unfamiliar to these tenth graders, they looked for hands-on lessons to support their learning. One lesson that they found, which they…

Proficient vs. Prepared: Disparities between State Tests and the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Achieve, Inc., 2015

2015-01-01

Today's economy demands that all young people develop high-level literacy, quantitative reasoning, problem solving, communication, and collaboration skills, all grounded in a rigorous and content-rich K-12 curriculum. Acquiring these skills ensures that high school graduates are academically prepared to pursue the future of their choosing.…

Zig-Zagging in Geometrical Reasoning in Technological Collaborative Environments: A Mathematical Working Space-Framed Study Concerning Cognition and Affect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gómez-Chacón, Inés Ma.; Romero Albaladejo, Isabel Ma.; del Mar García López, Ma.

2016-01-01

This study highlights the importance of cognition-affect interaction pathways in the construction of mathematical knowledge. Scientific output demands further research on the conceptual structure underlying such interaction aimed at coping with the high complexity of its interpretation. The paper discusses the effectiveness of using a dynamic…

Parents as Learners and Teachers of Mathematics: Toward a Two-Way Dialogue.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Civil, Marta

Three Spanish-speaking mothers of middle-school children, a relative of one of the mothers, a school librarian, and the researcher met regularly to establish a collaborative, two-way dialogue which would encourage social and educational equality and that would take contributions into consideration according to the validity of reasoning rather than…

An Evaluation of the Supplemental Instruction Programme in a First Year Calculus Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fayowski, V.; MacMillan, P. D.

2008-01-01

Supplemental Instruction (SI) incorporates collaborative learning in small, peer-led, group settings in order to integrate instruction in learning and reasoning skills with course content. Several meta-analyses speak to the efficacy of SI but fail to address selection bias due to ability/motivation and gender. In this study, SI was paired with a…

The Australian Curriculum: Excellence or Equity. A Rural Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Drummond, Aaron

2012-01-01

In 2008 it was agreed by the Australian Education Ministers that a national curriculum be implemented with the rationale that it would help to ensure high quality education for all young Australians (ACARA, 2012b). One reason for the shift to a standardised national curriculum is so that "School and curriculum authorities can collaborate to…

A Coral Reef as an Analogical Model to Promote Collaborative Learning on Cultural & Ethnic Diversity in Science

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yost, Robert W.; Gonzalez, Edward L. F.

2008-01-01

Analogical reasoning is integral to everyday living. The diversity associated with a coral reef provides a familiar model for initiating discussions focusing on cultural diversity and gender of past and present scientists with non-western science endeavors. These concepts are strengthened through the use of scientific biographical and historical…

Questions from Afar: The Influence of Outsideness on Web-Based Conversation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deed, Craig; Edwards, Anthony; Gomez, Viviana

2015-01-01

This paper defines the metaphor of outsideness in relation to web-based interaction. Outsideness is conceived of as a key influence in online academic conversation. In particular, through the sharing of cultural perspectives, asking questions to resolve doubt, and collaborative writing and re-writing as a basis for shaping ideas through reasoning.…

How Do Students Value the Importance of Twenty-First Century Skills?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahonen, Arto Kalevi; Kinnunen, Päivi

2015-01-01

Frameworks of twenty-first century skills have attained a central role in school development and curriculum changes all over the world. There is a common understanding of the need for meta-skills such as problem solving, reasoning, collaboration, and self-regulation. This article presents results from a Finnish study, in which 718 school pupils…

Putting Descartes before the Horse: Opportunities for Advancing the Student Affairs Link with Academic Affairs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamarid, Lucas

1999-01-01

Article challenges the division between student and academic affairs and encourages a view of learning and reason in a more holistic and integrated fashion. Outlines the historical factors for the separation of student and academic affairs and offers the programs instituted at Bellarmine College as examples of effective collaboration between…

Can science writing collectives overcome barriers to more democratic communication and collaboration? Lessons from environmental communication praxis in southern Appalachia

Treesearch

Brian J. Burke; Meredith Welch-Devine; Seth Gustafson; Nik Heynen; Jennifer L. Rice; Ted L. Gragson; Sakura R. Evans; Donald R. Nelson

2015-01-01

Despite compelling reasons to involve nonscientists in the production of ecological knowledge, cultural and institutional factors often dis-incentivize engagement between scientists and nonscientists. This paper details our efforts to develop a biweekly newspaper column to increase communication between ecological scientists, social scientists, and the communities...

Reasons to Co-Operate: Co-Operative Solutions for Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roach, Patrick

2013-01-01

The NASUWT's landmark agreement with the Schools Co-operative Society has provided a new spur to co-operation, collaboration and collegiality in schools. Against a background of rapid and radical changes to the education landscape, co-operative schools are viewed by many as a means to maintaining public service ethos and values in education. The…

78 FR 11179 - Auction of Lower and Upper Paging Bands Licenses Scheduled for July 16, 2013; Comment Sought on...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

... investigating and evaluating all technical and marketplace factors that may have a bearing on the value of the... cooperate, collaborate, or communicate, including discussing bids, bidding strategies, or post-auction... schedule in order to foster an auction pace that reasonably balances speed with the bidders' need to study...

An Exploration of School Counselors' Knowledge Sharing Practices Using Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Social Exchange Theory, and Theory of Reasoned Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shipp, Adria E.

2010-01-01

School counselors are expected to be advocates, collaborators, consultants, and leaders in their work with students, families, administrators, school staff, and community based stakeholders (ASCA, 2005; Shoffner & Briggs, 2001; Rowley, 2000). Underlying these expectations is the belief that school counselors are knowledgeable in the areas that…

Educating Early Childhood Teachers about Nutrition: A Collaborative Venture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cotugna, Nancy; Vickery, Connie

2007-01-01

Nourishing the young child can be a challenge. This stage of life is critical to the development of positive attitudes toward maintaining a healthy diet and learning to make reasonable food choices. Educators of young children are often the gatekeepers of child nutrition. This article reports on the current nutrient needs of young children,…

Collaboration Promotes Proportional Reasoning about Resource Distribution in Young Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ng, Rowena; Heyman, Gail D.; Barner, David

2011-01-01

The authors investigated how children and adults evaluate the "niceness" of individuals who engage in resource distribution, with a focus on their sensitivity to the proportion of resources given. Across 3 experiments, subjects evaluated the niceness of a child who gave a quantity of pennies to another child. In Study 1 (N = 30), adults showed…

Integrating Susceptibility into Environmental Policy: An Analysis of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Lead

PubMed Central

Chari, Ramya; Burke, Thomas A.; White, Ronald H.; Fox, Mary A.

2012-01-01

Susceptibility to chemical toxins has not been adequately addressed in risk assessment methodologies. As a result, environmental policies may fail to meet their fundamental goal of protecting the public from harm. This study examines how characterization of risk may change when susceptibility is explicitly considered in policy development; in particular we examine the process used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead. To determine a NAAQS, EPA estimated air lead-related decreases in child neurocognitive function through a combination of multiple data elements including concentration-response (CR) functions. In this article, we present alternative scenarios for determining a lead NAAQS using CR functions developed in populations more susceptible to lead toxicity due to socioeconomic disadvantage. The use of CR functions developed in susceptible groups resulted in cognitive decrements greater than original EPA estimates. EPA’s analysis suggested that a standard level of 0.15 µg/m3 would fulfill decision criteria, but by incorporating susceptibility we found that options for the standard could reasonably be extended to lower levels. The use of data developed in susceptible populations would result in the selection of a more protective NAAQS under the same decision framework applied by EPA. Results are used to frame discussion regarding why cumulative risk assessment methodologies are needed to help inform policy development. PMID:22690184

Reproducibility and reliability of short-TE whole-brain MR spectroscopic imaging of human brain at 3T.

PubMed

Ding, Xiao-Qi; Maudsley, Andrew A; Sabati, Mohammad; Sheriff, Sulaiman; Dellani, Paulo R; Lanfermann, Heinrich

2015-03-01

A feasibility study of an echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) using a short echo time (TE) that trades off sensitivity, compared with other short-TE methods, to achieve whole brain coverage using inversion recovery and spatial oversampling to control lipid bleeding. Twenty subjects were scanned to examine intersubject variance. One subject was scanned five times to examine intrasubject reproducibility. Data were analyzed to determine coefficients of variance (COV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for N-acetylaspartate (NAA), total creatine (tCr), total choline (tCho), glutamine/glutamate (Glx), and myo-inositol (mI). Regional metabolite concentrations were derived by using multi-voxel analysis based on lobar-level anatomic regions. For whole-brain mean values, the intrasubject COVs were 14%, 15%, and 20% for NAA, tCr, and tCho, respectively, and 31% for Glx and mI. The intersubject COVs were up to 6% higher. For regional distributions, the intrasubject COVs were ≤ 5% for NAA, tCr, and tCho; ≤ 9% for Glx; and ≤15% for mI, with about 6% higher intersubject COVs. The ICCs of 5 metabolites were ≥ 0.7, indicating the reliability of the measurements. The present EPSI method enables estimation of the whole-brain metabolite distributions, including Glx and mI with small voxel size, and a reasonable scan time and reproducibility. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Trace metal anomalies in bleached Porites coral at Meiji Reef, tropical South China Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Shu; Yu, Kefu; Zhao, Jianxin; Feng, Yuexing; Chen, Tianran

2017-01-01

Coral bleaching has generally been recognized as the main reason for tropical coral reef degradation, but there are few long-term records of coral bleaching events. In this study, trace metals including chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), and yttrium (Y), were analyzed in two Porites corals collected from Meiji Reef in the tropical South China Sea (SCS) to assess differences in trace metal concentrations in bleached compared with unbleached coral growth bands. Ti, V, Cr, and Mo generally showed irregular fluctuations in both corals. Bleached layers contained high concentrations of Mn, Cu, Sn, and Pb. Unbleached layers showed moderately high concentrations of Mn and Cu only. The different distribution of trace metals in Porites may be attributable to different selectivity on the basis of vital utility or toxicity. Ti, V, Cr, and Mo are discriminated against by both coral polyps and zooxanthellae, but Mn, Cu, Sn, and Pb are accumulated by zooxanthellae and only Mn and Cu are accumulated by polyps as essential elements. The marked increase in Cu, Mn, Pb, and Sn are associated with bleaching processes, including mucus secretion, tissue retraction, and zooxanthellae expulsion and occlusion. Variation in these trace elements within the coral skeleton can be used as potential tracers of short-lived bleaching events.

Public-private collaboration in clinical research during pregnancy, lactation, and childhood: joint position statement of the Early Nutrition Academy and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.

PubMed

Koletzko, Berthold; Benninga, Marc A; Godfrey, Keith M; Hornnes, Peter J; Kolaček, Sanja; Koletzko, Sibylle; Lentze, Michael J; Mader, Silke; McAuliffe, Fionnuala M; Oepkes, Dick; Oddy, Wendy H; Phillips, Alan; Rzehak, Peter; Socha, Piotr; Szajewska, Hania; Symonds, Michael E; Taminiau, Jan; Thapar, Nikhil; Troncone, Riccardo; Vandenplas, Yvan; Veereman, Gigi

2014-04-01

This position statement summarises a view of academia regarding standards for clinical research in collaboration with commercial enterprises, focussing on trials in pregnant women, breast-feeding women, and children. It is based on a review of the available literature and an expert workshop cosponsored by the Early Nutrition Academy and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. Clinical research collaborations between academic investigators and commercial enterprises are encouraged by universities, public funding agencies, and governmental organisations. One reason is a pressing need to obtain evidence on the effects, safety, and benefits of drugs and other commercial products and services. The credibility and value of results obtained through public-private research collaborations have, however, been questioned because many examples of inappropriate research practice have become known. Clinical research in pregnant and breast-feeding women, and in infants and children, raises sensitive scientific, ethical, and societal questions and requires the application of particularly high standards. Here we provide recommendations for the conduct of public-private research collaborations in these populations. In the interest of all stakeholders, these recommendations should contribute to more reliable, credible, and acceptable results of commercially sponsored trials and to reducing the existing credibility gap.

Industry-university collaborations: a necessity for the future.

PubMed

Davies, R M

1996-01-01

The aim of this discussion document is to consider the potential benefits of collaborations between universities and industry. Universities and industry now exist in a harsh and competitive economic climate. Indeed, their very survival depends increasingly on their ability and willingness to adapt to an unprecedented pace of change. There are a number of compelling reasons for universities and industry to undertake collaborative research. The costs of research have escalated. Universities, of necessity, are increasingly seeking financial support from industry as conventional sources of funding have been systematically reduced. Companies can no longer be self sufficient in terms of the science and technology needed for success. The strength of universities is their science base, and industry recognizes that the rapid exploitation of scientific advances is the key to its survival. Both organizations can benefit from collaborative research programmes. Universities are able to make additional staff appointments which add to their intellectual resource and reputation. In addition the purchase of equipment enhances their infrastructure. Industry has the opportunity to recognize the potential relevance and value of funded research and must harness and commercially exploit new knowledge as rapidly as possible. Ultimately such collaboration will give rise to new approaches to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dental diseases with benefits to all concerned.

Status of the measurement of the nuclear components in cosmic rays with the AMS-02 experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donnini, F.

2017-01-01

The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) is a large-acceptance (0.45 m 2 sr) magnetic spectrometer operating on board the International Space Station since May 2011. One of the main scientific objectives of the mission is the measurement of the nuclei fluxes in cosmic rays (CR). The identification of nuclei is achieved by the combination of independent measurements of the absolute charge, provided by different sub-detectors: the Silicon Tracker, the Time-of-Flight system (TOF), the Ring Imaging Cherenkov Counter (RICH), the Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) and the Electromagnetic Calorimeter (ECAL). In this contribution the results of nuclei fluxes already shown by the AMS collaboration are presented.

Orbitally dependent kinetic exchange in a heterobimetallic pair: Ferromagnetic spin alignment and magnetic anisotropy in the cyano-bridged Cr(III)Fe(II) dimer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palii, A. V.; Tsukerblat, B. S.; Verdaguer, M.

2002-11-01

The problem of the kinetic exchange interaction in the cyanide-bridged heterobinuclear dimers involving orbitally degenerate transition metal ions is considered. The developed approach is based on the concept of the effective Hamiltonian of the orbitally dependent kinetic exchange. We deduce this many-electron Hamiltonian on the microscopic background so that all relevant biorbital transfer processes are taken into account as well as the properties of the many-electron states. The bioctahedral cyanide-bridged Cr(III)Fe(II) dimer is considered in detail as an example distinctly exhibiting new quantitative and qualitative features of the orbitally dependent exchange and as a structural unit of three-dimensional ferromagnetic crystals {Fe(II)3)Cr(III)(CN62}[middle dot]13H2O. The proposed mechanism of the kinetic exchange involves the electron transfer from the double occupied t2 orbitals of Fe(II) [ground state 5T2(t2)4e2] to the half occupied t2 orbitals of Cr(III) [ground state 4A2(t2)3] resulting in the charge transfer state 3T1(t2)4Cr(II)- 6A1(t2)3e2 Fe(III) and the transfer between the half-occupied t2 orbitals of the metal ions resulting in the charge transfer state 3T1(t2)4Cr(II)- 4T2(t2)3e2 Fe(III). The effective Hamiltonian of the orbitally dependent exchange for the Cr(III)Fe(II) pair deduced within this theoretical framework describes competitive ferro- and antiferromagnetic contributions arising from these two charge transfer states. This Hamiltonian leads to a complex energy pattern, consisting of two interpenetrating Heisenberg-like schemes, one exhibiting ferromagnetic and another one antiferromagnetic splitting. The condition for the ferromagnetic spin alignment in the ground state is deduced. The orbitally dependent terms of the Hamiltonian are shown to give rise to a strong magnetic anisotropy of the system, this result as well as the condition for the spin alignment in the ground term are shown to be out of the scope of the Goodenough-Kanamori rules. Along with the full spin S the energy levels are labeled by the orbital quantum numbers providing thus the direct information about the magnetic anisotropy of the system. Under a reasonable estimation of the excitation energies based on the optical absorption data we conclude that the kinetic exchange in the cyanide-bridged Cr(III)Fe(II) pair leads to the ferromagnetic spin alignment exhibiting at the same time strong axial magnetic anisotropy with C4 easy axis of magnetization.

Elective Self-Care Course Emphasizing Critical Reasoning Principles

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Objectives. To create, implement, and assess a self-directed online course based on 3 critical reasoning principles to develop pharmacy students’ skills in literature appraisal, content, metacognition, and assessment. Design. Students completed 3 assignments for the course: compile a literature appraisal on a healthcare topic; plan learning objectives and meta-cognitive skills for a learning module; and create a case-based online lesson with multi-structured feedback. Assessment. An online exit survey evaluated students’ perceptions regarding development of ACE (agency, collaboration, expertise) principles and preparation for competency. Students reported acquisition of ACE principles and noted improvements in their learning approaches, sense of responsibility for individual and community learning, skills, and confidence. Conclusions. An online elective course in self-care addressed practice standards for patient safety, maintenance of competency, and interprofessional education by emphasizing critical reasoning skills. PMID:22171110

A cross-sectional study of water arsenic exposure and intellectual function in adolescence in Araihazar, Bangladesh.

PubMed

Wasserman, Gail A; Liu, Xinhua; Parvez, Faruque; Chen, Yu; Factor-Litvak, Pam; LoIacono, Nancy J; Levy, Diane; Shahriar, Hasan; Uddin, Mohammed Nasir; Islam, Tariqul; Lomax, Angela; Saxena, Roheeni; Gibson, Elizabeth A; Kioumourtzoglou, Marianthi-Anna; Balac, Olgica; Sanchez, Tiffany; Kline, Jennie K; Santiago, David; Ellis, Tyler; van Geen, Alexander; Graziano, Joseph H

2018-06-19

Exposure to inorganic arsenic (As) from drinking water is associated with modest deficits in intellectual function in young children; it is unclear whether deficits occur during adolescence, when key brain functions are more fully developed. We sought to determine the degree to which As exposure is associated with adolescent intelligence, and the contributory roles of lead, cadmium, manganese and selenium. We recruited a cross-section of 726 14-16 year olds (mean age = 14.8 years) whose mothers are participants in the Bangladesh Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS), and whose household well water As levels, which varied widely, were well characterized. Using a culturally modified version of the WISC-IV, we examined raw Full Scale scores, and Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory and Processing Speed Indices. Blood levels of As (BAs), Mn, Pb, Cd and Se were assessed at the time of the visit, as was creatinine-adjusted urinary As (UAs/Cr). Linear regression analyses revealed that BAs was significantly negatively associated with all WISC-IV scores except for Perceptual Reasoning. With UAs/Cr as the exposure variable, we observed significantly negative associations for all WISC-IV scores. Except for Se, blood levels of other metals, were also associated with lower WISC-IV scores. Controlling for covariates, doubling BAs, or UAs/Cr, was associated with a mean decrement (95% CI) of 3.3 (1.1, 5.5), or 3.0 (1.2, 4.5) points, respectively, in raw Full scale scores with a sample mean of 177.6 (SD = 36.8). Confirmatory analyses using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression, which identifies important mixture members, supported these findings; the primary contributor of the mixture was BAs, followed by BCd. Our data indicate that the adverse consequences of As exposure on neurodevelopment observed in other cross-sectional studies of younger children are also apparent during adolescence. They also implicate Cd as a neurotoxic element that deserves more attention. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Peridotite-suite dominated mineral inclusions in diamonds from Kelsey Lake Mine, Colorado U.S.A.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulze, D. J.; Coopersmith, H. G.

2005-12-01

Thirty silicate and oxide inclusions large enough for in situ WDS electron microprobe analysis were exposed by grinding/polishing of 16 diamonds from the Kelsey Lake Mine in the Colorado-Wyoming State Line kimberlite district. Three garnets in two stones belong to the eclogite (E) suite, and 18 olivines, three Mg-chromites and six Cr-pyropes in the other 14 stones belong to the peridotite (P) suite. The peridotite-dominated population is in stark contrast to the other suites studied in the State Line district. The reported inclusion population from George Creek is completely eclogitic and that of the Sloan pipe is overwhelmingly eclogitic, with only a minor, relatively Fe-rich peridotite component. Multiple inclusions are common in single stones, with 12 olivines (of uniform composition) exposed in one example. Kelsey Lake olivine inclusions are magnesian (17 of 18 grains in 9 stones are in the range Fo 92.7-93.1), typical of P-suite stones worldwide, but unlike the more Fe-rich Sloan olivine suite (13 of 14 in the range Fo 91.3-92.2). Mg-chromites (wt percent MgO = 12.8-13.8, wt percent Cr2O3 = 61.4-66.6) are in the lower MgO range of diamond inclusion chromites worldwide. Six Cr-pyropes in four stones have moderately low calcium contents (wt percent CaO = 3.5-4.5) but are very Cr-rich (wt percent Cr2O3 = 10.5-16.7). An olivine-garnet pair in one stone yields a Mg-Fe exchange temperature of 895 degrees C, possibly indicating disequilibrium, whereas an olivine-chromite pair yields an Mg-Fe exchange temperature of 1035 degrees C, cool but reasonable for equilibration within the diamond stability field. Comparison with diamond inclusion minerals worldwide reveals that the Kesley Lake suite is most similar to those from the Slave Craton in Canada, especially in terms of Cr-pyrope compositions. Both suites are somewhat less depleted than suites from southern Africa or Siberian kimberlites. By analogy with the Slave P-suite diamonds of Archean age and a Proterozoic eclogitic component in the Slave mantle, the mixed diamond inclusion populations from the State Line district may support models in which blocks of Archean mantle survive buried beneath Proterozoic continental crust, mixed with eclogitic regimes emplaced by Proterozoic subduction.

Child Intelligence and Reductions in Water Arsenic and Manganese: A Two-Year Follow-up Study in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Wasserman, Gail A; Liu, Xinhua; Parvez, Faruque; Factor-Litvak, Pam; Kline, Jennie; Siddique, Abu B; Shahriar, Hasan; Uddin, Mohammed Nasir; van Geen, Alexander; Mey, Jacob L; Balac, Olgica; Graziano, Joseph H

2016-07-01

Arsenic (As) exposure from drinking water is associated with modest intellectual deficits in childhood. It is not known whether reducing exposure is associated with improved intelligence. We aimed to determine whether reducing As exposure is associated with improved child intellectual outcomes. Three hundred three 10-year-old children drinking from household wells with a wide range of As concentrations were enrolled at baseline. In the subsequent year, deep community wells, low in As, were installed in villages of children whose original wells had high water As (WAs ≥ 50 μg/L). For 296 children, intelligence was assessed by WISC-IV (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th ed.), with a version modified for the study population, at baseline and approximately 2 years later; analyses considered standardized scores for both Full Scale IQ and Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory, and Processing Speed Indices. Creatinine-adjusted urinary arsenic (UAs/Cr), blood As (BAs), and blood manganese (BMn) were assessed at both times. UAs/Cr concentrations declined significantly by follow-up for both the high (≥ 50 μg/L) and low (< 50 μg/L) WAs subgroups. At baseline, adjusting for maternal age and intelligence, plasma ferritin, head circumference, home environment quality, school grade, and BMn, UAs/Cr was significantly negatively associated with Full Scale IQ, and with all Index scores (except Processing Speed). After adjustment for baseline Working Memory scores and school grade, each 100-μg/g reduction in UAs/Cr from baseline to follow-up was associated with a 0.91 point increase in Working Memory (95% CI: 0.14, 1.67). The change in UAs/Cr across follow-up was not significantly associated with changes in Full Scale IQ or Index scores. Installation of deep, low-As community wells lowered UAs, BAs, and BMn. A greater decrease in UAs/Cr was associated with greater improvements in Working Memory scores, but not with a greater improvement in Full Scale IQ. Wasserman GA, Liu X, Parvez F, Factor-Litvak P, Kline J, Siddique AB, Shahriar H, Uddin MN, van Geen A, Mey JL, Balac O, Graziano JH. 2016. Child intelligence and reductions in water arsenic and manganese: a two-year follow-up study in Bangladesh. Environ Health Perspect 124:1114-1120; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509974.

Low diversity, activity, and density of transposable elements in five avian genomes.

PubMed

Gao, Bo; Wang, Saisai; Wang, Yali; Shen, Dan; Xue, Songlei; Chen, Cai; Cui, Hengmi; Song, Chengyi

2017-07-01

In this study, we conducted the activity, diversity, and density analysis of transposable elements (TEs) across five avian genomes (budgerigar, chicken, turkey, medium ground finch, and zebra finch) to explore the potential reason of small genome sizes of birds. We found that these avian genomes exhibited low density of TEs by about 10% of genome coverages and low diversity of TEs with the TE landscapes dominated by CR1 and ERV elements, and contrasting proliferation dynamics both between TE types and between species were observed across the five avian genomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that CR1 clade was more diverse in the family structure compared with R2 clade in birds; avian ERVs were classified into four clades (alpha, beta, gamma, and ERV-L) and belonged to three classes of ERV with an uneven distributed in these lineages. The activities of DNA and SINE TEs were very low in the evolution history of avian genomes; most LINEs and LTRs were ancient copies with a substantial decrease of activity in recent, with only LTRs and LINEs in chicken and zebra finch exhibiting weak activity in very recent, and very few TEs were intact; however, the recent activity may be underestimated due to the sequencing/assembly technologies in some species. Overall, this study demonstrates low diversity, activity, and density of TEs in the five avian species; highlights the differences of TEs in these lineages; and suggests that the current and recent activity of TEs in avian genomes is very limited, which may be one of the reasons of small genome sizes in birds.

Imaging the neonate in the incubator: an investigation of the technical, radiological and nursing issues.

PubMed

Mutch, S J; Wentworth, S D P

2007-11-01

Modern neonatal incubators incorporate an X-ray tray device into the mattress support structure to facilitate patient examination with minimal disturbance and distress. However, the usual method of examination is to place the image plate directly underneath the baby. Users often cite radiological reasons for not using X-ray trays but modern quantitative evidence is lacking. This work looks at the technical and clinical aspects of imaging neonates in incubators and the impact that these may have in determining the imaging protocol. A number of hospitals were surveyed to determine their current method of examination and the reasons for their preference. Experimental measurements of the radiological impact of using (or not using) the X-ray tray were performed for a range of neonatal incubators. The average dose to the image plate was 5.9 microGy (range 5.4-6.4 microGy) for the "plate on mattress" method and 3.0 microGy (2.0-3.8 microGy) when using the tray--a 49% reduction owing to the mattress support materials. However, when using a computed radiography (CR) imaging system, the image quality differences were marginal. Survey results indicated that nurses preferred to use the tray but that radiographers were reluctant. We conclude that incubator manufacturers could do much to improve the radiological performance of their equipment and we offer recommendations. We also conclude that, with appropriate nurse and radiographer training and the advent of CR imaging systems, use of X-ray tray facilities may optimize imaging of the neonate in the incubator.

Who collaborates and why: Assessment and diagnostic of governance network integration for salmon restoration in Puget Sound, USA.

PubMed

Sayles, Jesse S; Baggio, Jacopo A

2017-01-15

Governance silos are settings in which different organizations work in isolation and avoid sharing information and strategies. Siloes are a fundamental challenge for environmental planning and problem solving, which generally requires collaboration. Siloes can be overcome by creating governance networks. Studying the structure and function of these networks is important for understanding how to create institutional arrangements that can respond to the biophysical dynamics of a specific natural resource system (i.e., social-ecological, or institutional fit). Using the case of salmon restoration in a sub-basin of Puget Sound, USA, we assess network integration, considering three different reasons for network collaborations (i.e., mandated, funded, and shared interest relationships) and analyze how these different collaboration types relate to productivity based on practitioner's assessments. We also illustrate how specific and targeted network interventions might enhance the network. To do so, we use a mixed methods approach that combines quantitative social network analysis (SNA) and qualitative interview analysis. Overall, the sub-basin's governance network is fairly well integrated, but several concerning gaps exist. Funded, mandated, and shared interest relationships lead to different network patterns. Mandated relationships are associated with lower productivity than shared interest relationships, highlighting the benefit of genuine collaboration in collaborative watershed governance. Lastly, quantitative and qualitative data comparisons strengthen recent calls to incorporate geographic space and the role of individual actors versus organizational culture into natural resource governance research using SNA. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Access to Food for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students. Best Practices in Interagency Collaboration Brief Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE, 2012

2012-01-01

Homelessness is a lack of fixed, regular, and adequate housing often resulting from extreme poverty; economic hardship due to job loss, illness, or a similar reason; or devastation following a natural disaster. According to the Urban Institute, the mean income of families experiencing homelessness is less than half the federal poverty line. This…

Learning to Reason and Communicate in College: Initial Report of Findings from the CLA Longitudinal Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arum, Richard; Roksa, Josipa

2008-01-01

This research emerged from the Social Science Research Council's collaborative partnership with the Pathways for College Network, with technical assistance in data collection provided by the Council for Aid to Education. The project has followed over 2,300 students at 24 institutions over time to examine what factors are associated with learning…

An e-Learning Collaborative Filtering Approach to Suggest Problems to Solve in Programming Online Judges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toledo, Raciel Yera; Mota, Yailé Caballero

2014-01-01

The paper proposes a recommender system approach to cover online judge's domains. Online judges are e-learning tools that support the automatic evaluation of programming tasks done by individual users, and for this reason they are usually used for training students in programming contest and for supporting basic programming teachings. The…