Sniffer dogs as part of a bimodal bionic research approach to develop a lung cancer screening.

PubMed

Boedeker, Enole; Friedel, Godehard; Walles, Thorsten

2012-05-01

Lung cancer (LC) continues to represent a heavy burden for health care systems worldwide. Epidemiological studies predict that its role will increase in the near future. While patient prognosis is strongly associated with tumour stage and early detection of disease, no screening test exists so far. It has been suggested that electronic sensor devices, commonly referred to as 'electronic noses', may be applicable to identify cancer-specific volatile organic compounds in the breath of patients and therefore may represent promising screening technologies. However, three decades of research did not bring forward a clinically applicable device. Here, we propose a new research approach by involving specially trained sniffer dogs into research strategies by making use of their ability to identify LC in the breath sample of patients.

Ultrafast electron dynamics in phenylalanine initiated by attosecond pulses.

PubMed

Calegari, F; Ayuso, D; Trabattoni, A; Belshaw, L; De Camillis, S; Anumula, S; Frassetto, F; Poletto, L; Palacios, A; Decleva, P; Greenwood, J B; Martín, F; Nisoli, M

2014-10-17

In the past decade, attosecond technology has opened up the investigation of ultrafast electronic processes in atoms, simple molecules, and solids. Here, we report the application of isolated attosecond pulses to prompt ionization of the amino acid phenylalanine and the subsequent detection of ultrafast dynamics on a sub-4.5-femtosecond temporal scale, which is shorter than the vibrational response of the molecule. The ability to initiate and observe such electronic dynamics in polyatomic molecules represents a crucial step forward in attosecond science, which is progressively moving toward the investigation of more and more complex systems. Copyright © 2014, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A strain-isolation design for stretchable electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jian; Li, Ming; Chen, Wei-Qiu; Kim, Dae-Hyeong; Kim, Yun-Soung; Huang, Yong-Gang; Hwang, Keh-Chih; Kang, Zhan; Rogers, John A.

2010-12-01

Stretchable electronics represents a direction of recent development in next-generation semiconductor devices. Such systems have the potential to offer the performance of conventional wafer-based technologies, but they can be stretched like a rubber band, twisted like a rope, bent over a pencil, and folded like a piece of paper. Isolating the active devices from strains associated with such deformations is an important aspect of design. One strategy involves the shielding of the electronics from deformation of the substrate through insertion of a compliant adhesive layer. This paper establishes a simple, analytical model and validates the results by the finite element method. The results show that a relatively thick, compliant adhesive is effective to reduce the strain in the electronics, as is a relatively short film.

Association Between Bullying Victimization and Health Risk Behaviors Among High School Students in the United States*

PubMed Central

Hertz, Marci Feldman; Jones, Sherry Everett; Barrios, Lisa; David-Ferdon, Corinne; Holt, Melissa

2016-01-01

BACKGROUND Childhood exposure to adverse experiences has been associated with adult asthma, smoking, sexually transmitted disease, obesity, substance use, depression, and sleep disturbances. Conceptualizing bullying as an adverse childhood experience, 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data were used to examine the relationship between in-person and electronic bullying victimization among US high school students and health risk behaviors and conditions related to violence, substance use, sexual risk, overweight and physical activity, sleep, and asthma. METHODS Data were from the 2011 national YRBS among students who answered questions about in-person and electronic bullying (N=13,846). The YRBS is a biennial, nationally representative survey of students in grades 9–12 (overall response rate=71%). Logistic regression analyses, stratified by sex and controlling for race/ethnicity and grade, examined the association between bullying victimization and health risk behaviors or conditions. RESULTS Rates of victimization varied; 9.4% of students reported being bullied in-person and electronically, 10.8% only bullied in-person, 6.8% only electronically bullied, and 73.0% uninvolved. Bullying was associated with nearly all health risk behaviors and conditions studied. CONCLUSION Assessing the broad functioning and behaviors of victims of bullying could enable educators and health practitioners to intervene early and promote the long-term health of youth. PMID:26522172

Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in adolescents and association with computer and videogame use.

PubMed

Silva, Georgia Rodrigues Reis; Pitangui, Ana Carolina Rodarti; Xavier, Michele Katherine Andrade; Correia-Júnior, Marco Aurélio Valois; De Araújo, Rodrigo Cappato

2016-01-01

This study investigated the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in high school adolescents from public schools and its association with electronic device use. The sample consisted of 961 boys and girls aged 14-19 years who answered a questionnaire regarding the use of computers and electronic games, and questions about pain symptoms and physical activity. Furthermore, anthropometric assessments of all volunteers were performed. The chi-squared test and a multiple logistic regression model were used for the inferential analysis. The presence of musculoskeletal pain symptoms was reported by 65.1% of the adolescents, being more prevalent in the thoracolumbar spine (46.9%), followed by pain in the upper limbs, representing 20% of complaints. The mean time of use for computers and electronic games was 1.720 and 583 minutes per week, respectively. The excessive use of electronic devices was demonstrated to be a risk factor for cervical and lumbar pain. Female gender was associated with the presence of pain in different body parts. Presence of a paid job was associated with cervical pain. A high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in adolescents, as well as an increased amount of time using digital devices was observed. However, it was only possible to observe an association between the increased use of these devices and the presence of cervical and low back pain. Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Electron-induced origins of prebiotic building blocks of sugars: mechanism of self-reactions of a methanol anion dimer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karsili, Tolga N. V.; Fennimore, Mark A.; Matsika, Spiridoula

The elementary synthesis of prebiotic molecules has attracted vast attention in recent years. Due to their rich surface chemistry and lack of suitable atmosphere, comets represent an important host for such synthesis, especially since they are routinely irradiated with short wavelength electromagnetic radiation and energetic cosmological electrons. Using high-level electronic structure theory, we present the details of the reactivity associated with the electron-impact induced prebiotic synthesis of ethylene glycol (a carbohydrate building block) from elementary methanol. The results suggest that the experimentally observed intermediates and fragment products can be viably formed by both neutral excited-state chemistry and by dissociative electron attachment - highlighting the importance of a theoretical mapping of the relevant potential energy surfaces that ultimately act as an important guide to the experimental results.

Problematic Students of NASP-Approved Programs: An Exploratory Study of Graduate Student Views

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trimble, Leasha D.; Stroebel, Sandra S.; Krieg, Fred Jay; Rubenstein, Robert L.

2012-01-01

This study reports the findings of an electronic exploratory survey of National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Student Representatives. The purpose of the survey was to gather information about the perspective of graduate students concerning problematic peers and their experiences with them in school psychology training programs.…

Development of new materials from waste electrical and electronic equipment: Characterization and catalytic application.

PubMed

Souza, J P; Freitas, P E; Almeida, L D; Rosmaninho, M G

2017-07-01

Wastes of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) represent an important environmental problem, since its composition includes heavy metals and organic compounds used as flame-retardants. Thermal treatments have been considered efficient processes on removal of these compounds, producing carbonaceous structures, which, together with the ceramic components of the WEEE (i.e. silica and alumina), works as support material for the metals. This mixture, associated with the metals present in WEEE, represents promising systems with potential for catalytic application. In this work, WEEE was thermally modified to generate materials that were extensively characterized. Raman spectrum for WEEE after thermal treatment showed two carbon associated bands. SEM images showed a metal nanoparticles distribution over a polymeric and ceramic support. After characterization, WEEE materials were applied in ethanol steam reforming reaction. The system obtained at higher temperature (800°C) exhibited the best activity, since it leads to high conversions (85%), hydrogen yield (30%) and H 2 /CO ratio (3,6) at 750°C. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sniffer dogs as part of a bimodal bionic research approach to develop a lung cancer screening†

PubMed Central

Boedeker, Enole; Friedel, Godehard; Walles, Thorsten

2012-01-01

Lung cancer (LC) continues to represent a heavy burden for health care systems worldwide. Epidemiological studies predict that its role will increase in the near future. While patient prognosis is strongly associated with tumour stage and early detection of disease, no screening test exists so far. It has been suggested that electronic sensor devices, commonly referred to as ‘electronic noses’, may be applicable to identify cancer-specific volatile organic compounds in the breath of patients and therefore may represent promising screening technologies. However, three decades of research did not bring forward a clinically applicable device. Here, we propose a new research approach by involving specially trained sniffer dogs into research strategies by making use of their ability to identify LC in the breath sample of patients. PMID:22345057

The place of SGML and HTML in building electronic patient records.

PubMed

Pitty, D; Gordon, C; Reeves, P; Capey, A; Vieyra, P; Rickards, T

1997-01-01

The authors are concerned that, although popular, SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language) is only one approach to capturing, storing, viewing and exchanging healthcare information and does not provide a suitable paradigm for solving most of the problems associated with paper based patient record systems. Although a discussion of the relative merits of SGML, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) may be interesting, we feel such a discussion is avoiding the real issues associated with the most appropriate way to model, represent, and store electronic patient information in order to solve healthcare problems, and therefore the medical informatics community should firstly concern itself with these issues. The paper substantiates this viewpoint and concludes with some suggestions of how progress can be made.

Skeletal growth phases of the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa shown by scanning electron microscope and electron backscatter diffraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mouchi, Vincent; Vonlanthen, Pierre; Verrecchia, Eric P.; Crowley, Quentin G.

2016-04-01

Lophelia pertusa is a cold-water coral, which may form reefs by the association of multiple coralites within which a polyp lives. Each individual polyp builds an aragonite skeleton by an initial phase of early mineralization (traditionally referred to as centres of calcification) from which aragonite fibres grow in thickening deposits. The skeleton wall features successive optically opaque and translucent bands previously attributed to different regimes of growth as either uniform in crystal orientation (translucent bands) or with a chaotic organization (opaque bands). The processes involved in any organizational changes are still unknown. Microlayers in the coral wall, which represent separate periods of skeletal growth, have been recently identified and described. These growth patterns are readily visible under scanning electron microscope (SEM) after etching in dilute formic acid, but they do not necessarily form continuously visible structures. Here we present high quality SEM images and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) maps to study aragonite fibre orientation across the wall of L. pertusa. Both microlayers and opaque and translucent bands are compared to the crystallographic orientation of the aragonite fibres. EBSD maps and SEM images indicate that aragonite fibres do not exhibit a chaotic orientation, even in opaque bands. The absence of continuity of microlayers is partially explained by an association of multiple crystallographic preferred orientations of aragonite fibres. In the case of L. pertusa, careful textural characterisation is necessary prior to elemental or isotope analysis in order to select a skeletal transect representing a linear and continuous time period.

ASTROPHYSICS. Exclusion of leptophilic dark matter models using XENON100 electronic recoil data.

PubMed

2015-08-21

Laboratory experiments searching for galactic dark matter particles scattering off nuclei have so far not been able to establish a discovery. We use data from the XENON100 experiment to search for dark matter interacting with electrons. With no evidence for a signal above the low background of our experiment, we exclude a variety of representative dark matter models that would induce electronic recoils. For axial-vector couplings to electrons, we exclude cross sections above 6 × 10(-35) cm(2) for particle masses of m(χ) = 2 GeV/c(2). Independent of the dark matter halo, we exclude leptophilic models as an explanation for the long-standing DAMA/LIBRA signal, such as couplings to electrons through axial-vector interactions at a 4.4σ confidence level, mirror dark matter at 3.6σ, and luminous dark matter at 4.6σ. Copyright © 2015, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

77 FR 75174 - Draft Guidance for Industry on Providing Submissions in Electronic Format-Summary Level Clinical...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-19

... inspection by FDA during the review of marketing applications. This draft guidance describes a recommended... associated with marketing applications. The summary level clinical site dataset: Contains data from all... represent the Agency's current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any...

Quasi-four-particle first-order Faddeev-Watson-Lovelace terms in proton-helium scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safarzade, Zohre; Akbarabadi, Farideh Shojaei; Fathi, Reza; Brunger, Michael J.; Bolorizadeh, Mohammad A.

2017-06-01

The Faddeev-Watson-Lovelace equations, which are typically used for solving three-particle scattering problems, are based on the assumption of target having one active electron while the other electrons remain passive during the collision process. So, in the case of protons scattering from helium or helium-like targets, in which there are two bound-state electrons, the passive electron has a static role in the collision channel to be studied. In this work, we intend to assign a dynamic role to all the target electrons, as they are physically active in the collision. By including an active role for the second electron in proton-helium-like collisions, a new form of the Faddeev-Watson-Lovelace integral equations is needed, in which there is no disconnected kernel. We consider the operators and the wave functions associated with the electrons to obey the Pauli exclusion principle, as the electrons are indistinguishable. In addition, a quasi-three-particle collision is assumed in the initial channel, where the electronic cloud is represented as a single identity in the collision.

Design and implementation of an improved chilled water glycol system for GeMS: CANOPUS thermal enclosures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gausachs, Gaston; Bec, Matthieu; Galvez, Ramon; Cavedoni, Chas; Vergara, Vicente; Diaz, Herman; Fernandez, German

2010-07-01

CANOPUS is the facility instrument for the Gemini Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics System (GeMS) wherein all the adaptive optics mechanisms and associated electronic are tightly packed. At an early stage in the pre-commissioning phase Gemini undertook the redesign and implementation of its chilled Ethylene Glycol Water (EGW) cooling system to remove the heat generated by the electronic hardware. The electronic boards associated with the Deformable Mirrors (DM) represent the highest density heat yielding components in CANOPUS and they are also quite sensitive to overheating. The limited size of the two electronic thermal enclosures (TE) requires the use of highly efficient heat exchangers (HX) coupled with powerful yet compact DC fans. A systematic approach to comply with all the various design requirements brought about a thorough and robust solution that, in addition to the core elements (HXs and fan), makes use of features such as high performance vacuum insulated panels, vibration mitigation elements and several environment sensors. This paper describes the design and implementation of the solution in the lab prior to delivering CANOPUS for commissioning.

Opto-valleytronic imaging of atomically thin semiconductors

DOE PAGES

Neumann, Andre; Lindlau, Jessica; Colombier, Léo; ...

2017-01-16

Transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors represent elementary components of layered heterostructures for emergent technologies beyond conventional opto-electronics. In their monolayer form they host electrons with quantized circular motion and associated valley polarization and valley coherence as key elements of opto-valleytronic functionality. Here, we introduce two-dimensional polarimetry as means of direct imaging of the valley pseudospin degree of freedom in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides. Using MoS 2 as a representative material with valley-selective optical transitions, we establish quantitative image analysis for polarimetric maps of extended crystals, and identify valley polarization and valley coherence as sensitive probes of crystalline disorder. Moreover, we findmore » site-dependent thermal and non-thermal regimes of valley-polarized excitons in perpendicular magnetic fields. Finally, we demonstrate the potential of widefield polarimetry for rapid inspection of opto-valleytronic devices based on atomically thin semiconductors and heterostructures.« less

Opto-valleytronic imaging of atomically thin semiconductors

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

Neumann, Andre; Lindlau, Jessica; Colombier, Léo

Transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors represent elementary components of layered heterostructures for emergent technologies beyond conventional opto-electronics. In their monolayer form they host electrons with quantized circular motion and associated valley polarization and valley coherence as key elements of opto-valleytronic functionality. Here, we introduce two-dimensional polarimetry as means of direct imaging of the valley pseudospin degree of freedom in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides. Using MoS 2 as a representative material with valley-selective optical transitions, we establish quantitative image analysis for polarimetric maps of extended crystals, and identify valley polarization and valley coherence as sensitive probes of crystalline disorder. Moreover, we findmore » site-dependent thermal and non-thermal regimes of valley-polarized excitons in perpendicular magnetic fields. Finally, we demonstrate the potential of widefield polarimetry for rapid inspection of opto-valleytronic devices based on atomically thin semiconductors and heterostructures.« less

Electromers of the benzene dimer radical cation.

PubMed

Błoch-Mechkour, Anna; Bally, Thomas

2015-04-28

The well-studied benzene dimer radical cation, which is prototypical for this class of species, has been reinvestigated computationally. Thereby it turned out that both the σ-hemibonded and the half-shifted sandwich structures of the benzene dimer cation, which had been independently proposed, represent stationary points on the B2PLYP-D potential energy surfaces. However, these structures belong to distinct electronic states, both of which are associated with potential surfaces that are very flat with regard to rotation of the two benzene rings in an opposite sense relative to each other. The surfaces of these two "electromers" of the benzene dimer cation are separated by only 3-4 kcal mol(-1) and do not intersect along the rotation coordinate, which represents a rather unique electronic structure situation. When moving on either of the two surfaces the title complex is an extremely fluxional species, in spite of its being bound by over 20 kcal mol(-1).

Collecting verbal autopsies: improving and streamlining data collection processes using electronic tablets.

PubMed

Flaxman, Abraham D; Stewart, Andrea; Joseph, Jonathan C; Alam, Nurul; Alam, Sayed Saidul; Chowdhury, Hafizur; Mooney, Meghan D; Rampatige, Rasika; Remolador, Hazel; Sanvictores, Diozele; Serina, Peter T; Streatfield, Peter Kim; Tallo, Veronica; Murray, Christopher J L; Hernandez, Bernardo; Lopez, Alan D; Riley, Ian Douglas

2018-02-01

There is increasing interest in using verbal autopsy to produce nationally representative population-level estimates of causes of death. However, the burden of processing a large quantity of surveys collected with paper and pencil has been a barrier to scaling up verbal autopsy surveillance. Direct electronic data capture has been used in other large-scale surveys and can be used in verbal autopsy as well, to reduce time and cost of going from collected data to actionable information. We collected verbal autopsy interviews using paper and pencil and using electronic tablets at two sites, and measured the cost and time required to process the surveys for analysis. From these cost and time data, we extrapolated costs associated with conducting large-scale surveillance with verbal autopsy. We found that the median time between data collection and data entry for surveys collected on paper and pencil was approximately 3 months. For surveys collected on electronic tablets, this was less than 2 days. For small-scale surveys, we found that the upfront costs of purchasing electronic tablets was the primary cost and resulted in a higher total cost. For large-scale surveys, the costs associated with data entry exceeded the cost of the tablets, so electronic data capture provides both a quicker and cheaper method of data collection. As countries increase verbal autopsy surveillance, it is important to consider the best way to design sustainable systems for data collection. Electronic data capture has the potential to greatly reduce the time and costs associated with data collection. For long-term, large-scale surveillance required by national vital statistical systems, electronic data capture reduces costs and allows data to be available sooner.

VhuD Facilitates Electron Flow from H2 or Formate to Heterodisulfide Reductase in Methanococcus maripaludis

PubMed Central

Costa, Kyle C.; Lie, Thomas J.; Xia, Qin

2013-01-01

Flavin-based electron bifurcation has recently been characterized as an essential energy conservation mechanism that is utilized by hydrogenotrophic methanogenic Archaea to generate low-potential electrons in an ATP-independent manner. Electron bifurcation likely takes place at the flavin associated with the α subunit of heterodisulfide reductase (HdrA). In Methanococcus maripaludis the electrons for this reaction come from either formate or H2 via formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) or Hdr-associated hydrogenase (Vhu). However, how these enzymes bind to HdrA to deliver electrons is unknown. Here, we present evidence that the δ subunit of hydrogenase (VhuD) is central to the interaction of both enzymes with HdrA. When M. maripaludis is grown under conditions where both Fdh and Vhu are expressed, these enzymes compete for binding to VhuD, which in turn binds to HdrA. Under these conditions, both enzymes are fully functional and are bound to VhuD in substoichiometric quantities. We also show that Fdh copurifies specifically with VhuD in the absence of other hydrogenase subunits. Surprisingly, in the absence of Vhu, growth on hydrogen still occurs; we show that this involves F420-reducing hydrogenase. The data presented here represent an initial characterization of specific protein interactions centered on Hdr in a hydrogenotrophic methanogen that utilizes multiple electron donors for growth. PMID:24039260

Generation of neutral and high-density electron-positron pair plasmas in the laboratory.

PubMed

Sarri, G; Poder, K; Cole, J M; Schumaker, W; Di Piazza, A; Reville, B; Dzelzainis, T; Doria, D; Gizzi, L A; Grittani, G; Kar, S; Keitel, C H; Krushelnick, K; Kuschel, S; Mangles, S P D; Najmudin, Z; Shukla, N; Silva, L O; Symes, D; Thomas, A G R; Vargas, M; Vieira, J; Zepf, M

2015-04-23

Electron-positron pair plasmas represent a unique state of matter, whereby there exists an intrinsic and complete symmetry between negatively charged (matter) and positively charged (antimatter) particles. These plasmas play a fundamental role in the dynamics of ultra-massive astrophysical objects and are believed to be associated with the emission of ultra-bright gamma-ray bursts. Despite extensive theoretical modelling, our knowledge of this state of matter is still speculative, owing to the extreme difficulty in recreating neutral matter-antimatter plasmas in the laboratory. Here we show that, by using a compact laser-driven setup, ion-free electron-positron plasmas with unique characteristics can be produced. Their charge neutrality (same amount of matter and antimatter), high-density and small divergence finally open up the possibility of studying electron-positron plasmas in controlled laboratory experiments.

Invasion of vascular cells in vitro by Porphyromonas endodontalis.

PubMed

Dorn, B R; Harris, L J; Wujick, C T; Vertucci, F J; Progulske-Fox, A

2002-04-01

The objective of this study was to determine whether laboratory strains and clinical isolates of microorganisms associated with root canal infections can invade primary cultures of cardiovascular cells. Quantitative levels of bacterial invasion of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) and coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMC) were measured using a standard antibiotic protection assay. Transmission electron microscopy was used to confirm and visualize internalization within the vascular cells. Of the laboratory and clinical strains tested, only P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 was invasive in an antibiotic protection assay using HCAEC and CASMC. Invasion of P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Certain microorganisms associated with endodontic infections are invasive. If bacterial invasion of the vasculature contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, then microorganisms in the pulp chamber represent potential pathogens.

The effect of dephasing on the thermoelectric efficiency of molecular junctions.

PubMed

Zimbovskaya, Natalya A

2014-07-09

In this work we report the results of theoretical analysis of the effect of the thermal environment on the thermoelectric efficiency of molecular junctions. The environment is represented by two thermal phonon baths associated with the electrodes, which are kept at different temperatures. The analysis is carried out using the Buttiker model within the scattering matrix formalism to compute electron transmission through the system. This approach is further developed so that the dephasing parameters are expressed in terms of relevant energies, including the thermal energy, strengths of coupling between the molecular bridge and the electrodes and characteristic energies of electron-phonon interactions. It is shown that the latter significantly affect thermoelectric efficiency by destroying the coherency of electron transport through the considered system.

The development of efficient coding for an electronic mail system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, R. F.

1983-01-01

Techniques for efficiently representing scanned electronic documents were investigated. Major results include the definition and preliminary performance results of a Universal System for Efficient Electronic Mail (USEEM), offering a potential order of magnitude improvement over standard facsimile techniques for representing textual material.

Do television and electronic games predict children's psychosocial adjustment? Longitudinal research using the UK Millennium Cohort Study.

PubMed

Parkes, Alison; Sweeting, Helen; Wight, Daniel; Henderson, Marion

2013-05-01

Screen entertainment for young children has been associated with several aspects of psychosocial adjustment. Most research is from North America and focuses on television. Few longitudinal studies have compared the effects of TV and electronic games, or have investigated gender differences. To explore how time watching TV and playing electronic games at age 5 years each predicts change in psychosocial adjustment in a representative sample of 7 year-olds from the UK. Typical daily hours viewing television and playing electronic games at age 5 years were reported by mothers of 11 014 children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Conduct problems, emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems, hyperactivity/inattention and prosocial behaviour were reported by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Change in adjustment from age 5 years to 7 years was regressed on screen exposures; adjusting for family characteristics and functioning, and child characteristics. Watching TV for 3 h or more at 5 years predicted a 0.13 point increase (95% CI 0.03 to 0.24) in conduct problems by 7 years, compared with watching for under an hour, but playing electronic games was not associated with conduct problems. No associations were found between either type of screen time and emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems or prosocial behaviour. There was no evidence of gender differences in the effect of screen time. TV but not electronic games predicted a small increase in conduct problems. Screen time did not predict other aspects of psychosocial adjustment. Further work is required to establish causal mechanisms.

Organic Electronic Devices Using Crosslinked Polyelectrolyte Multilayers as an Ultra-Thin Dielectric Material

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-09-01

energy band diagram illustrating the allowed energies for valence and conducting electrons. The dashes within the band gap (Eg) represent localized ...allowed energies for valence and conducting electrons. The dashes within the band gap (Eg) represent localized electron energy states, or traps, that...been observed with the formation of alternating bond lengths along the backbone.43 The localization of the π-electrons while forming the shorter double

Visualization of HIV T Cell Virological Synapses and Virus-Containing Compartments by Three-Dimensional Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy

PubMed Central

Wang, Lili; Eng, Edward T.; Law, Kenneth; Gordon, Ronald E.; Rice, William J.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Virological synapses (VS) are adhesive structures that form between infected and uninfected cells to enhance the spread of HIV-1. During T cell VS formation, viral proteins are actively recruited to the site of cell-cell contact where the viral material is efficiently translocated to target cells into heterogeneous, protease-resistant, antibody-inaccessible compartments. Using correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), we define the membrane topography of the virus-containing compartments (VCC) where HIV is found following VS-mediated transfer. Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and serial sectioning transmission electron microscopy (SS-TEM) were used to better resolve the fluorescent Gag-containing structures within the VCC. We found that small punctate fluorescent signals correlated with single viral particles in enclosed vesicular compartments or surface-localized virus particles and that large fluorescent signals correlated with membranous Gag-containing structures with unknown pathological function. CLEM imaging revealed distinct pools of newly deposited viral proteins within endocytic and nonendocytic compartments in VS target T cells. IMPORTANCE This study directly correlates individual virus-associated objects observed in light microscopy with ultrastructural features seen by electron microscopy in the HIV-1 virological synapse. This approach elucidates which infection-associated ultrastructural features represent bona fide HIV protein complexes. We define the morphology of some HIV cell-to-cell transfer intermediates as true endocytic compartments and resolve unique synapse-associated viral structures created by transfer across virological synapses. PMID:27847357

Distinct Particle Morphologies Revealed through Comparative Parallel Analyses of Retrovirus-Like Particles.

PubMed

Martin, Jessica L; Cao, Sheng; Maldonado, Jose O; Zhang, Wei; Mansky, Louis M

2016-09-15

The Gag protein is the main retroviral structural protein, and its expression alone is usually sufficient for production of virus-like particles (VLPs). In this study, we sought to investigate-in parallel comparative analyses-Gag cellular distribution, VLP size, and basic morphological features using Gag expression constructs (Gag or Gag-YFP, where YFP is yellow fluorescent protein) created from all representative retroviral genera: Alpharetrovirus, Betaretrovirus, Deltaretrovirus, Epsilonretrovirus, Gammaretrovirus, Lentivirus, and Spumavirus. We analyzed Gag cellular distribution by confocal microscopy, VLP budding by thin-section transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and general morphological features of the VLPs by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Punctate Gag was observed near the plasma membrane for all Gag constructs tested except for the representative Beta- and Epsilonretrovirus Gag proteins. This is the first report of Epsilonretrovirus Gag localizing to the nucleus of HeLa cells. While VLPs were not produced by the representative Beta- and Epsilonretrovirus Gag proteins, the other Gag proteins produced VLPs as confirmed by TEM, and morphological differences were observed by cryo-TEM. In particular, we observed Deltaretrovirus-like particles with flat regions of electron density that did not follow viral membrane curvature, Lentivirus-like particles with a narrow range and consistent electron density, suggesting a tightly packed Gag lattice, and Spumavirus-like particles with large envelope protein spikes and no visible electron density associated with a Gag lattice. Taken together, these parallel comparative analyses demonstrate for the first time the distinct morphological features that exist among retrovirus-like particles. Investigation of these differences will provide greater insights into the retroviral assembly pathway. Comparative analysis among retroviruses has been critically important in enhancing our understanding of retroviral replication and pathogenesis, including that of important human pathogens such as human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and HIV-1. In this study, parallel comparative analyses have been used to study Gag expression and virus-like particle morphology among representative retroviruses in the known retroviral genera. Distinct differences were observed, which enhances current knowledge of the retroviral assembly pathway. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Temporal Changes in the Correlates of U.S. Adolescent Electronic Cigarette Use and Utilization in Tobacco Cessation, 2011 to 2013

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lippert, Adam M.

2017-01-01

Objective. To examine temporal changes in the correlates of experimental and current e-cigarette use and associations with tobacco quit attempts. Method. Repeated cross-sectional analyses of data from the 2011 (n = 17,741), 2012 (n = 23,194), and 2013 (n = 16,858) National Youth Tobacco Surveys--a nationally representative sample of U.S. middle…

Emergence of superconductivity in the canonical heavy-electron metal YbRh₂Si₂.

PubMed

Schuberth, Erwin; Tippmann, Marc; Steinke, Lucia; Lausberg, Stefan; Steppke, Alexander; Brando, Manuel; Krellner, Cornelius; Geibel, Christoph; Yu, Rong; Si, Qimiao; Steglich, Frank

2016-01-29

The smooth disappearance of antiferromagnetic order in strongly correlated metals commonly furnishes the development of unconventional superconductivity. The canonical heavy-electron compound YbRh2Si2 seems to represent an apparent exception from this quantum critical paradigm in that it is not a superconductor at temperature T ≥ 10 millikelvin (mK). Here we report magnetic and calorimetric measurements on YbRh2Si2, down to temperatures as low as T ≈ 1 mK. The data reveal the development of nuclear antiferromagnetic order slightly above 2 mK and of heavy-electron superconductivity almost concomitantly with this order. Our results demonstrate that superconductivity in the vicinity of quantum criticality is a general phenomenon. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Self-sustained oscillations in nanoelectromechanical systems induced by Kondo resonance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Taegeun; Kiselev, Mikhail N.; Kikoin, Konstantin; Shekhter, Robert I.; Gorelik, Leonid Y.

2014-03-01

We investigate the instability and dynamical properties of nanoelectromechanical systems represented by a single-electron device containing movable quantum dots attached to a vibrating cantilever via asymmetric tunnel contacts. The Kondo resonance in electron tunneling between the source and shuttle facilitates self-sustained oscillations originating from the strong coupling of mechanical and electronic/spin degrees of freedom. We analyze a stability diagram for the two-channel Kondo shuttling regime due to limitations given by the electromotive force acting on a moving shuttle, and find that the saturation oscillation amplitude is associated with the retardation effect of the Kondo cloud. The results shed light on possible ways to experimentally realize the Kondo-cloud dynamical probe by using high mechanical dissipation tunability as well as supersensitive detection of mechanical displacement.

The multifarious temporal variations of low energy, relativistic cosmic ray electrons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcdonald, F. B.; Cline, T. L.; Simnett, G. M.

1972-01-01

A detailed examination is made of the intensity variations of 3 - 12 MeV interplanetary electrons. The data used are from the cosmic ray experiment flown on the IMP solar minimum through to the onset of the present solar maximum (i.e., from December 1963 through August 1969). A morphology for the intensity changes is tentatively proposed which includes solar flare-associated events, solar co-rotating increases, Forbush decreases, and quiet-time increases, as well as the long term eleven-year variation. It is contended that the electron component observed both during quiescent times and during quiet-time increases are galactic in origin. The quiet-time increases represent a completely new phenomenon that appears to be unique to the low energy electron population. During a quiet-time increase the electron intensity is enhanced by a factor of 3 to 5 over a period of days, and, in general, these periods anti-correlate with low-energy solar particle events. Qualitatively, their amplitude diminishes with increasing solar activity.

Multifarious temporal variations of low-energy relativistic cosmic-ray electrons.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcdonald, F. B.; Cline, T. L.; Simnett, G. M.

1972-01-01

Detailed examination of the intensity variations of 3- to 12-MeV interplanetary electrons. The data are from the Goddard cosmic-ray experiment on the Imp satellites and cover the period from just before the last solar minimum through the onset of the present solar maximum (i.e., from December 1963 through August 1969). A morphology for the intensity changes is tentatively proposed that includes solar-flare-associated events, solar co-rotating increases, Forbush decreases, quiet-time increases, and the long-term 11-year variation. It is contended that the electron components observed both during quiescent times and during quiet-time increases are galactic in origin. The quiet-time increases represent a completely new phenomenon that appears to be unique to the low-energy electron population. During a quiet-time increase the electron intensity is enhanced by a factor of 3 to 5 over a period of days, and, in general, these periods anticorrelate with low-energy solar particle events. Qualitatively, their amplitude diminishes with increasing solar activity.

Early Childhood Media Exposure and Self-Regulation: Bi-Directional Longitudinal Associations.

PubMed

Cliff, Dylan P; Howard, Steven J; Radesky, Jenny S; McNeill, Jade; Vella, Stewart A

2018-04-26

To investigate: i) prospective associations between media exposure (television viewing, computers, and electronic games) at 2 years and self-regulation at 4 and 6 years, and ii) bi-directional associations between media exposure and self-regulation at 4 and 6 years. We hypothesized that media exposure and self-regulation would display a negative prospective association and subsequent bi-directional inverse associations. Data from the nationally-representative Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) when children were aged 2 (n=2786) and 4/6 years (n=3527) were used. Primary caregivers reported children's weekly electronic media exposure. A composite measure of self-regulation was computed from caregivers-, teacher-, and observer-report data. Associations were examined using linear regression and cross-lagged panel models, accounting for covariates. Lower television viewing and total media exposure at 2 years were associated with higher self-regulation at 4 years (both β -0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.03, -0.01). Lower self-regulation at 4 years was also significantly associated with higher television viewing (β -0.15; 95% CI -0.21, -0.08), electronic game use (β -0.05; 95% CI -0.09, -0.01), and total media exposure (β -0.19; 95% CI -0.29, -0.09) at 6 years. However, media exposure at 4 years was not associated with self-regulation at 6 years. Although media exposure duration at 2 years was associated with later self-regulation, and self-regulation at 4 years was associated with later media exposure, associations were of small magnitude. More research is needed examining content quality, social context, and mobile media use and child self-regulation. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Trends in the Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB).

PubMed

Patwardhan, Ardan

2017-06-01

Recent technological advances, such as the introduction of the direct electron detector, have transformed the field of cryo-EM and the landscape of molecular and cellular structural biology. This study analyses these trends from the vantage point of the Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB), the public archive for three-dimensional EM reconstructions. Over 1000 entries were released in 2016, representing almost a quarter of the total number of entries (4431). Structures at better than 6 Å resolution now represent one of the fastest-growing categories, while the share of annually released tomography-related structures is approaching 20%. The use of direct electron detectors is growing very rapidly: they were used for 70% of the structures released in 2016, in contrast to none before 2011. Microscopes from FEI have an overwhelming lead in terms of usage, and the use of the RELION software package continues to grow rapidly after having attained a leading position in the field. China is rapidly emerging as a major player in the field, supplementing the US, Germany and the UK as the big four. Similarly, Tsinghua University ranks only second to the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology in terms of involvement in publications associated with cryo-EM structures at better than 4 Å resolution. Overall, the numbers point to a rapid democratization of the field, with more countries and institutes becoming involved.

Trends in the Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB)

PubMed Central

Patwardhan, Ardan

2017-01-01

Recent technological advances, such as the introduction of the direct electron detector, have transformed the field of cryo-EM and the landscape of molecular and cellular structural biology. This study analyses these trends from the vantage point of the Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB), the public archive for three-dimensional EM reconstructions. Over 1000 entries were released in 2016, representing almost a quarter of the total number of entries (4431). Structures at better than 6 Å resolution now represent one of the fastest-growing categories, while the share of annually released tomography-related structures is approaching 20%. The use of direct electron detectors is growing very rapidly: they were used for 70% of the structures released in 2016, in contrast to none before 2011. Microscopes from FEI have an overwhelming lead in terms of usage, and the use of the RELION software package continues to grow rapidly after having attained a leading position in the field. China is rapidly emerging as a major player in the field, supplementing the US, Germany and the UK as the big four. Similarly, Tsinghua University ranks only second to the MRC Laboratory for Molecular Biology in terms of involvement in publications associated with cryo-EM structures at better than 4 Å resolution. Overall, the numbers point to a rapid democratization of the field, with more countries and institutes becoming involved. PMID:28580912

Delivery of Dietary and Lifestyle Interventions in Pregnancy: is it Time to Promote the Use of Electronic and Mobile Health Technologies?

PubMed

O'Brien, Cecelia M; Cramp, Courtney; Dodd, Jodie M

2016-03-01

Fifty percent of women who enter pregnancy are overweight or obese, increasing complications for both the mother and the infant, along with significant burden on individuals and the health care system. Pregnancy represents a "teachable moment" in a woman's life, however, antenatal interventions focusing on improving dietary and physical activity patterns have been associated with modest behavior change. There are many barriers that need to be overcome, including lack of knowledge, access and time pressures. Advancing mobile and electronic health technologies may represent an adjunct tool to support traditional face-to-face consultations and facilitate behavior change, but further rigorous evaluation of the technologies and their impact on health outcomes is required. Well-designed antenatal intervention trials with particular attention to the structure and method of information provision are required to further assess the feasibility of such technology. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Revised prediction of LDEF exposure to trapped protons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Watts, John W.; Armstrong, T. W.; Colborn, B. L.

1993-01-01

The Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft flew in a 28.5 deg inclination circular orbit with an altitude in the range from 319.4 to 478.7 km. For this orbital altitude and inclination, two components contribute most of the penetrating charge particle radiation encountered - the galactic cosmic rays and the geomagnetically trapped Van Allen protons. Where shielding is less than 1.0 g/sq cm geomagnetically trapped electrons make a significant contribution. The 'Vette' models together with the associated magnetic field models and the solar conditions were used to obtain the trapped electron and proton omnidirectional fluences reported previously. Results for directional proton spectra using the MSFC anisotropy model for solar minimum and 463 km altitude (representative for the LDEF mission) were also reported. The directional trapped proton flux as a function of mission time is presented considering altitude and solar activity variation during the mission. These additional results represent an extension of previous calculations to provide a more definitive description of the LDEF trapped proton exposure.

dParFit: A computer program for fitting diatomic molecule spectral data to parameterized level energy expressions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Roy, Robert J.

2017-01-01

This paper describes FORTRAN program dParFit, which performs least-squares fits of diatomic molecule spectroscopic data involving one or more electronic states and one or more isotopologues, to parameterized expressions for the level energies. The data may consist of any combination of microwave, infrared or electronic vibrotational bands, fluorescence series or binding energies (from photo-association spectroscopy). The level energies for each electronic state may be described by one of: (i) band constants {Gv ,Bv ,Dv , … } for each vibrational level, (ii) generalized Dunham expansions, (iii) pure near-dissociation expansions (NDEs), (iv) mixed Dunham/NDE expressions, or (v) individual term values for each distinct level of each isotopologue. Different representations may be used for different electronic states and/or for different types of constants in a given fit (e.g., Gv and Bv may be represented one way and centrifugal distortion constants another). The effect of Λ-doubling or 2Σ splittings may be represented either by band constants (qvB or γvB, qvD or γvD, etc.) for each vibrational level of each isotopologue, or by using power series expansions in (v + 1/2) to represent those constants. Fits to Dunham or NDE expressions automatically incorporate normal first-order semiclassical mass scaling to allow combined analyses of multi-isotopologue data. In addition, dParFit may fit to determine atomic-mass-dependent terms required to account for breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer and first-order semiclassical approximations. In any of these types of fits, one or more subsets of these parameters for one or more of the electronic states may be held fixed, while a limited parameter set is varied. The program can also use a set of read-in constants to make predictions and calculate deviations [ycalc -yobs ] for any chosen input data set, or to generate predictions of arbitrary data sets.

Associations between psychometrically assessed life history strategy and daily behavior: data from the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR)

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Life history theory has generated cogent, well-supported hypotheses about individual differences in human biodemographic traits (e.g., age at sexual maturity) and psychometric traits (e.g., conscientiousness), but little is known about how variation in life history strategy (LHS) is manifest in quotidian human behavior. Here I test predicted associations between the self-report Arizona Life History Battery and frequencies of 12 behaviors observed over 72 h in 91 US college students using the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), a method of gathering periodic brief audio recordings as participants go about their daily lives. Bayesian multi-level aggregated binomial regression analysis found no strong associations between ALHB scores and behavior frequencies. One behavior, presence at amusement venues (bars, concerts, sports events) was weakly positively associated with ALHB-assessed slow LHS, contrary to prediction. These results may represent a challenge to the ALHB’s validity. However, it remains possible that situational influences on behavior, which were not measured in the present study, moderate the relationships between psychometrically-assessed LHS and quotidian behavior. PMID:29868275

Associations between psychometrically assessed life history strategy and daily behavior: data from the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR).

PubMed

Manson, Joseph H

2018-01-01

Life history theory has generated cogent, well-supported hypotheses about individual differences in human biodemographic traits (e.g., age at sexual maturity) and psychometric traits (e.g., conscientiousness), but little is known about how variation in life history strategy (LHS) is manifest in quotidian human behavior. Here I test predicted associations between the self-report Arizona Life History Battery and frequencies of 12 behaviors observed over 72 h in 91 US college students using the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), a method of gathering periodic brief audio recordings as participants go about their daily lives. Bayesian multi-level aggregated binomial regression analysis found no strong associations between ALHB scores and behavior frequencies. One behavior, presence at amusement venues (bars, concerts, sports events) was weakly positively associated with ALHB-assessed slow LHS, contrary to prediction. These results may represent a challenge to the ALHB's validity. However, it remains possible that situational influences on behavior, which were not measured in the present study, moderate the relationships between psychometrically-assessed LHS and quotidian behavior.

Characterization of the cyanobacteria and associated bacterial community from an ephemeral wetland in New Zealand.

PubMed

Secker, Nick H; Chua, Jocelyn P S; Laurie, Rebecca E; McNoe, Les; Guy, Paul L; Orlovich, David A; Summerfield, Tina C

2016-10-01

New Zealand ephemeral wetlands are ecologically important, containing up to 12% of threatened native plant species and frequently exhibiting conspicuous cyanobacterial growth. In such environments, cyanobacteria and associated heterotrophs can influence primary production and nutrient cycling. Wetland communities, including bacteria, can be altered by increased nitrate and phosphate due to agricultural practices. We have characterized cyanobacteria from the Wairepo Kettleholes Conservation Area and their associated bacteria. Use of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing identified several operational taxonomic units (OTUs) representing filamentous heterocystous and non-heterocystous cyanobacterial taxa. One Nostoc OTU that formed macroscopic colonies dominated the cyanobacterial community. A diverse bacterial community was associated with the Nostoc colonies, including a core microbiome of 39 OTUs. Identity of the core microbiome associated with macroscopic Nostoc colonies was not changed by the addition of nutrients. One OTU was highly represented in all Nostoc colonies (27.6%-42.6% of reads) and phylogenetic analyses identified this OTU as belonging to the genus Sphingomonas. Scanning electron microscopy showed the absence of heterotrophic bacteria within the Nostoc colony but revealed a diverse community associated with the colonies on the external surface. © 2016 Phycological Society of America.

Do television and electronic games predict children's psychosocial adjustment? Longitudinal research using the UK Millennium Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Parkes, Alison; Sweeting, Helen; Wight, Daniel; Henderson, Marion

2013-01-01

Background Screen entertainment for young children has been associated with several aspects of psychosocial adjustment. Most research is from North America and focuses on television. Few longitudinal studies have compared the effects of TV and electronic games, or have investigated gender differences. Purpose To explore how time watching TV and playing electronic games at age 5 years each predicts change in psychosocial adjustment in a representative sample of 7 year-olds from the UK. Methods Typical daily hours viewing television and playing electronic games at age 5 years were reported by mothers of 11 014 children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Conduct problems, emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems, hyperactivity/inattention and prosocial behaviour were reported by mothers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Change in adjustment from age 5 years to 7 years was regressed on screen exposures; adjusting for family characteristics and functioning, and child characteristics. Results Watching TV for 3 h or more at 5 years predicted a 0.13 point increase (95% CI 0.03 to 0.24) in conduct problems by 7 years, compared with watching for under an hour, but playing electronic games was not associated with conduct problems. No associations were found between either type of screen time and emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems or prosocial behaviour. There was no evidence of gender differences in the effect of screen time. Conclusions TV but not electronic games predicted a small increase in conduct problems. Screen time did not predict other aspects of psychosocial adjustment. Further work is required to establish causal mechanisms. PMID:23529828

The Development of M Cells in Peyer’s Patches Is Restricted to Specialized Dome-Associated Crypts

PubMed Central

Gebert, Andreas; Fassbender, Susanne; Werner, Kerstin; Weissferdt, Annikka

1999-01-01

It is controversial whether the membranous (M) cells of the Peyer’s patches represent a separate cell line or develop from enterocytes under the influence of lymphocytes on the domes. To answer this question, the crypts that produce the dome epithelial cells were studied and the distribution of M cells over the domes was determined in mice. The Ulex europaeus agglutinin was used to detect M cells in mouse Peyer’s patches. Confocal microscopy with lectin-gold labeling on ultrathin sections, scanning electron microscopy, and laminin immuno-histochemistry were combined to characterize the cellular composition and the structure of the dome-associated crypts and the dome epithelium. In addition, the sites of lymphocyte invasion into the dome epithelium were studied after removal of the epithelium using scanning electron microscopy. The domes of Peyer’s patches were supplied with epithelial cells that derived from two types of crypt: specialized dome-associated crypts and ordinary crypts differing not only in shape, size, and cellular composition but also in the presence of M cell precursors. When epithelial cells derived from ordinary crypts entered the domes, they formed converging radial strips devoid of M cells. In contrast to the M cells, the sites where lymphocytes invaded the dome epithelium were not arranged in radial strips, but randomly distributed over the domes. M cell development is restricted to specialized dome-associated crypts. Only dome epithelial cells that derive from these specialized crypts differentiate into M cells. It is concluded that M cells represent a separate cell line that is induced in the dome-associated crypts by still unknown, probably diffusible lymphoid factors. PMID:10329609

Two-Phase chief complaint mapping to the UMLS metathesaurus in Korean electronic medical records.

PubMed

Kang, Bo-Yeong; Kim, Dae-Won; Kim, Hong-Gee

2009-01-01

The task of automatically determining the concepts referred to in chief complaint (CC) data from electronic medical records (EMRs) is an essential component of many EMR applications aimed at biosurveillance for disease outbreaks. Previous approaches that have been used for this concept mapping have mainly relied on term-level matching, whereby the medical terms in the raw text and their synonyms are matched with concepts in a terminology database. These previous approaches, however, have shortcomings that limit their efficacy in CC concept mapping, where the concepts for CC data are often represented by associative terms rather than by synonyms. Therefore, herein we propose a concept mapping scheme based on a two-phase matching approach, especially for application to Korean CCs, which uses term-level complete matching in the first phase and concept-level matching based on concept learning in the second phase. The proposed concept-level matching suggests the method to learn all the terms (associative terms as well as synonyms) that represent the concept and predict the most probable concept for a CC based on the learned terms. Experiments on 1204 CCs extracted from 15,618 discharge summaries of Korean EMRs showed that the proposed method gave significantly improved F-measure values compared to the baseline system, with improvements of up to 73.57%.

Heating and background plasma modification associated with large amplitude kinetic Alfv'en wave launch in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, T. A.; Auerbach, D. W.; Brugman, B. T.

2007-11-01

Large amplitude kinetic Alfv'en waves (δB/B ˜1% > k/k) are generated in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA using loop antennas. Substantial electron heating is observed, localized to the wave current channels. The Poynting flux associated with the Alfv'en waves is substantial and the observed heating may be at least in part due to collisional and Landau damping of these waves. However, heating by antenna near inductive electric fields may also be responsible for the observations. A discussion of both possibilities will be presented, including measurements of near fields of the antenna. The heating structures the background plasma and results in the excitation of drift-Alfv'en waves. These drift waves then interact with the incident Alfv'en wave, causing sideband generation which results in a nearly broadband state at high wave power. This process may represent an alternate mechanism by which unidirectional kinetic Alfv'en waves can nonlinearly generate a turbulent spectrum. In addition to electron heating, evidence for background density modification and electron acceleration is observed and will be presented.

Core drug-drug interaction alerts for inclusion in pediatric electronic health records with computerized prescriber order entry.

PubMed

Harper, Marvin B; Longhurst, Christopher A; McGuire, Troy L; Tarrago, Rod; Desai, Bimal R; Patterson, Al

2014-03-01

The study aims to develop a core set of pediatric drug-drug interaction (DDI) pairs for which electronic alerts should be presented to prescribers during the ordering process. A clinical decision support working group composed of Children's Hospital Association (CHA) members was developed. CHA Pharmacists and Chief Medical Information Officers participated. Consensus was reached on a core set of 19 DDI pairs that should be presented to pediatric prescribers during the order process. We have provided a core list of 19 high value drug pairs for electronic drug-drug interaction alerts to be recommended for inclusion as high value alerts in prescriber order entry software used with a pediatric patient population. We believe this list represents the most important pediatric drug interactions for practical implementation within computerized prescriber order entry systems.

Warfarin monitoring in nursing homes assessed by case histories. Do recommendations and electronic alerts affect judgements?

PubMed

Teruel, Reyes Serrano; Thue, Geir; Fylkesnes, Svein Ivar; Sandberg, Sverre; Kristoffersen, Ann Helen

2017-09-01

Older adults treated with warfarin are prone to complications, and high-quality monitoring is essential. The aim of this case history based study was to assess the quality of warfarin monitoring in a routine situation, and in a situation with an antibiotic-warfarin interaction, before and after receiving an electronic alert. In April 2014, a national web-based survey with two case histories was distributed among Norwegian nursing home physicians and general practitioners working part-time in nursing homes. Case A represented a patient on stable warfarin treatment, but with a substantial INR increase within the therapeutic interval. Case B represented a more challenging patient with trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMS) treatment due to pyelonephritis. In both cases, the physicians were asked to state the next warfarin dose and the INR recall interval. In case B, the physicians could change their suggestions after receiving an electronic alert on the TMS-warfarin interaction. Three hundred and ninety eight physicians in 292 nursing homes responded. Suggested INR recall intervals and warfarin doses varied substantially in both cases. In case A, 61% gave acceptable answers according to published recommendations, while only 9% did so for case B. Regarding the TMS-warfarin interaction in case history B, the electronic alert increased the percentage of respondents correctly suggesting a dose reduction from 29% to 53%. Having an INR instrument in the nursing home was associated with shortened INR recall times. Practical advice on handling of warfarin treatment and drug interactions is needed. Electronic alerts as presented in electronic medical records seem insufficient to change practice. Availability of INR instruments may be important regarding recall time.

Electronic data collection and management system for global adult tobacco survey.

PubMed

Pujari, Sameer J; Palipudi, Krishna M; Morton, Jeremy; Levinsohn, Jay; Litavecz, Steve; Green, Michael

2012-01-01

Portable handheld computers and electronic data management systems have been used for national surveys in many high-income countries, however their use in developing countries has been challenging due to varying geographical, economic, climatic, political and cultural environments. In order to monitor and measure global adult tobacco use, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, a nationally representative household survey of adults, 15 years of age or older, using a standard core questionnaire, sample design, and data collection and management procedures. The Survey has been conducted in 14 low- and middle-income countries, using an electronic data collection and management system. This paper describes implementation of the electronic data collection system and associated findings. The Survey was based on a comprehensive data management protocol, to enable standardized, globally comparable high quality data collection and management. It included adaptation to specific country needs, selection of appropriate handheld hardware devices, use of open source software, and building country capacity and provide technical support. In its first phase, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey was successfully conducted between 2008 and 2010, using an electronic data collection and management system for interviews in 302,800 households in 14 countries. More than 2,644 handheld computers were fielded and over 2,634 fieldworkers, supervisors and monitors were trained to use them. Questionnaires were developed and programmed in 38 languages and scripts. The global hardware failure rate was < 1% and data loss was almost 0%. Electronic data collection and management systems can be used effectively for conducting nationally representative surveys, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, irrespective of geographical, climatic, political and cultural environments, and capacity-building at the country level is an important vehicle for Health System Strengthening.

Two-Dimensional Vlasov Simulations of Fast Stochastic Electron Heating in Ionospheric Modification Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Speirs, David Carruthers; Eliasson, Bengt; Daldorff, Lars K. S.

2017-10-01

Ionospheric heating experiments using high-frequency ordinary (O)-mode electromagnetic waves have shown the induced formation of magnetic field-aligned density striations in the ionospheric F region, in association with lower hybrid (LH) and upper hybrid (UH) turbulence. In recent experiments using high-power transmitters, the creation of new plasma regions and the formation of descending artificial ionospheric layers (DAILs) have been observed. These are attributed to suprathermal electrons ionizing the neutral gas, so that the O-mode reflection point and associated turbulence is moving to a progressively lower altitude. We present the results of two-dimensional (2-D) Vlasov simulations used to study the mode conversion of an O-mode pump wave to trapped UH waves in a small-scale density striation of circular cross section. Subsequent multiwave parametric decays lead to UH and LH turbulence and to the excitation of electron Bernstein (EB) waves. Large-amplitude EB waves result in rapid stochastic electron heating when the wave amplitude exceeds a threshold value. For typical experimental parameters, the electron temperature is observed to rise from 1,500 K to about 8,000 K in a fraction of a millisecond, much faster than Ohmic heating due to collisions which occurs on a timescale of an order of a second. This initial heating could then lead to further acceleration due to Langmuir turbulence near the critical layer. Stochastic electron heating therefore represents an important potential mechanism for the formation of DAILs.

45 CFR 170.207 - Vocabulary standards for representing electronic health information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS, IMPLEMENTATION SPECIFICATIONS, AND CERTIFICATION CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Standards and Implementation Specifications for Health Information Technology § 170.207 Vocabulary standards for representing electronic...

45 CFR 170.207 - Vocabulary standards for representing electronic health information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS, IMPLEMENTATION SPECIFICATIONS, AND CERTIFICATION CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Standards and Implementation Specifications for Health Information Technology § 170.207 Vocabulary standards for representing electronic...

45 CFR 170.207 - Vocabulary standards for representing electronic health information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS, IMPLEMENTATION SPECIFICATIONS, AND CERTIFICATION CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Standards and Implementation Specifications for Health Information Technology § 170.207 Vocabulary standards for representing electronic...

45 CFR 170.207 - Vocabulary standards for representing electronic health information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS, IMPLEMENTATION SPECIFICATIONS, AND CERTIFICATION CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Standards and Implementation Specifications for Health Information Technology § 170.207 Vocabulary standards for representing electronic...

Script identification from images using cluster-based templates

DOEpatents

Hochberg, J.G.; Kelly, P.M.; Thomas, T.R.

1998-12-01

A computer-implemented method identifies a script used to create a document. A set of training documents for each script to be identified is scanned into the computer to store a series of exemplary images representing each script. Pixels forming the exemplary images are electronically processed to define a set of textual symbols corresponding to the exemplary images. Each textual symbol is assigned to a cluster of textual symbols that most closely represents the textual symbol. The cluster of textual symbols is processed to form a representative electronic template for each cluster. A document having a script to be identified is scanned into the computer to form one or more document images representing the script to be identified. Pixels forming the document images are electronically processed to define a set of document textual symbols corresponding to the document images. The set of document textual symbols is compared to the electronic templates to identify the script. 17 figs.

Script identification from images using cluster-based templates

DOEpatents

Hochberg, Judith G.; Kelly, Patrick M.; Thomas, Timothy R.

1998-01-01

A computer-implemented method identifies a script used to create a document. A set of training documents for each script to be identified is scanned into the computer to store a series of exemplary images representing each script. Pixels forming the exemplary images are electronically processed to define a set of textual symbols corresponding to the exemplary images. Each textual symbol is assigned to a cluster of textual symbols that most closely represents the textual symbol. The cluster of textual symbols is processed to form a representative electronic template for each cluster. A document having a script to be identified is scanned into the computer to form one or more document images representing the script to be identified. Pixels forming the document images are electronically processed to define a set of document textual symbols corresponding to the document images. The set of document textual symbols is compared to the electronic templates to identify the script.

Theoretical studies on a carbonaceous molecular bearing: association thermodynamics and dual-mode rolling dynamics† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Supplementary figures, tables and atomic coordinates of representative geometries. See DOI: 10.1039/c5sc00335k

PubMed Central

Nakamura, Kosuke; Hitosugi, Shunpei; Sato, Sota; Tokoyama, Hiroaki; Yamakado, Hideo; Ohno, Koichi

2015-01-01

The thermodynamics and dynamics of a carbonaceous molecular bearing comprising a belt-persistent tubular molecule and a fullerene molecule have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT). Among ten representative methods, two DFT methods afforded an association energy that reasonably reproduced the experimental enthalpy of –12.5 kcal mol–1 at the unique curved π-interface. The dynamics of the molecular bearing, which was assembled solely with van der Waals interactions, exhibited small energy barriers with maximum values of 2–3 kcal mol–1 for the rolling motions. The dynamic motions responded sensitively to the steric environment and resulted in two distinct motions, precession and spin, which explained the unique NMR observations that were not clarified in previous experimental studies. PMID:29142679

Crystallization Behavior of A Bulk Amorphous Mg62Cu26Y12 Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shyue-Sheng; Chin, Tsung-Shune; Su, Kuo-Chang

1994-07-01

The crystallization temperature, the associated activation energy and the crystallized structure of a bulk amorphous Mg62Cu26Y12 alloy with a diameter of 2.5 mm were studied. It possesses a one-step crystallization behavior. The crystallization reaction was found to be represented by: AM(MG62Cu26Y12)→Mg2Cu+MgY+CuY+Mg, ( Tx=188°C, Eac=134 kJ/mol) where AM represents the amorphous state, T x the crystallization temperature at an infinitesimal heating rate, and E ac the associated activation energy. The amount of crystalline phases were found to be Mg2Cu:MgY:CuY=76:17:7. The Mg phase is identifiable only by high resolution electron microscopy, not by X-ray diffraction. The crystallization leads to a sharp rise in electrical resistivity which is reversed to those of iron-based amorphous alloys.

Randomised trial comparing the recording ability of a novel, electronic emergency documentation system with the AHA paper cardiac arrest record.

PubMed

Grigg, Eliot; Palmer, Andrew; Grigg, Jeffrey; Oppenheimer, Peter; Wu, Tim; Roesler, Axel; Nair, Bala; Ross, Brian

2014-10-01

To evaluate the ability of an electronic system created at the University of Washington to accurately document prerecorded VF and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) cardiac arrest scenarios compared with the American Heart Association paper cardiac arrest record. 16 anaesthesiology residents were randomly assigned to view one of two prerecorded, simulated VF and PEA scenarios and asked to document the event with either the paper or electronic system. Each subject then repeated the process with the other video and documentation method. Five types of documentation errors were defined: (1) omission, (2) specification, (3) timing, (4) commission and (5) noise. The mean difference in errors between the paper and electronic methods was analysed using a single factor repeated measures ANOVA model. Compared with paper records, the electronic system omitted 6.3 fewer events (95% CI -10.1 to -2.5, p=0.003), which represents a 28% reduction in omission errors. Users recorded 2.9 fewer noise items (95% CI -5.3 to -0.6, p=0.003) when compared with paper, representing a 36% decrease in redundant or irrelevant information. The rate of timing (Δ=-3.2, 95% CI -9.3 to 3.0, p=0.286) and commission (Δ=-4.4, 95% CI -9.4 to 0.5, p=0.075) errors were similar between the electronic system and paper, while the rate of specification errors were about a third lower for the electronic system when compared with the paper record (Δ=-3.2, 95% CI -6.3 to -0.2, p=0.037). Compared with paper documentation, documentation with the electronic system captured 24% more critical information during a simulated medical emergency without loss in data quality. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

The role of low-energy electrons in focused electron beam induced deposition: four case studies of representative precursors

PubMed Central

Thorman, Rachel M; Kumar T. P., Ragesh; Fairbrother, D Howard

2015-01-01

Summary Focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) is a single-step, direct-write nanofabrication technique capable of writing three-dimensional metal-containing nanoscale structures on surfaces using electron-induced reactions of organometallic precursors. Currently FEBID is, however, limited in resolution due to deposition outside the area of the primary electron beam and in metal purity due to incomplete precursor decomposition. Both limitations are likely in part caused by reactions of precursor molecules with low-energy (<100 eV) secondary electrons generated by interactions of the primary beam with the substrate. These low-energy electrons are abundant both inside and outside the area of the primary electron beam and are associated with reactions causing incomplete ligand dissociation from FEBID precursors. As it is not possible to directly study the effects of secondary electrons in situ in FEBID, other means must be used to elucidate their role. In this context, gas phase studies can obtain well-resolved information on low-energy electron-induced reactions with FEBID precursors by studying isolated molecules interacting with single electrons of well-defined energy. In contrast, ultra-high vacuum surface studies on adsorbed precursor molecules can provide information on surface speciation and identify species desorbing from a substrate during electron irradiation under conditions more representative of FEBID. Comparing gas phase and surface science studies allows for insight into the primary deposition mechanisms for individual precursors; ideally, this information can be used to design future FEBID precursors and optimize deposition conditions. In this review, we give a summary of different low-energy electron-induced fragmentation processes that can be initiated by the secondary electrons generated in FEBID, specifically, dissociative electron attachment, dissociative ionization, neutral dissociation, and dipolar dissociation, emphasizing the different nature and energy dependence of each process. We then explore the value of studying these processes through comparative gas phase and surface studies for four commonly-used FEBID precursors: MeCpPtMe3, Pt(PF3)4, Co(CO)3NO, and W(CO)6. Through these case studies, it is evident that this combination of studies can provide valuable insight into potential mechanisms governing deposit formation in FEBID. Although further experiments and new approaches are needed, these studies are an important stepping-stone toward better understanding the fundamental physics behind the deposition process and establishing design criteria for optimized FEBID precursors. PMID:26665061

The role of low-energy electrons in focused electron beam induced deposition: four case studies of representative precursors.

PubMed

Thorman, Rachel M; Kumar T P, Ragesh; Fairbrother, D Howard; Ingólfsson, Oddur

2015-01-01

Focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) is a single-step, direct-write nanofabrication technique capable of writing three-dimensional metal-containing nanoscale structures on surfaces using electron-induced reactions of organometallic precursors. Currently FEBID is, however, limited in resolution due to deposition outside the area of the primary electron beam and in metal purity due to incomplete precursor decomposition. Both limitations are likely in part caused by reactions of precursor molecules with low-energy (<100 eV) secondary electrons generated by interactions of the primary beam with the substrate. These low-energy electrons are abundant both inside and outside the area of the primary electron beam and are associated with reactions causing incomplete ligand dissociation from FEBID precursors. As it is not possible to directly study the effects of secondary electrons in situ in FEBID, other means must be used to elucidate their role. In this context, gas phase studies can obtain well-resolved information on low-energy electron-induced reactions with FEBID precursors by studying isolated molecules interacting with single electrons of well-defined energy. In contrast, ultra-high vacuum surface studies on adsorbed precursor molecules can provide information on surface speciation and identify species desorbing from a substrate during electron irradiation under conditions more representative of FEBID. Comparing gas phase and surface science studies allows for insight into the primary deposition mechanisms for individual precursors; ideally, this information can be used to design future FEBID precursors and optimize deposition conditions. In this review, we give a summary of different low-energy electron-induced fragmentation processes that can be initiated by the secondary electrons generated in FEBID, specifically, dissociative electron attachment, dissociative ionization, neutral dissociation, and dipolar dissociation, emphasizing the different nature and energy dependence of each process. We then explore the value of studying these processes through comparative gas phase and surface studies for four commonly-used FEBID precursors: MeCpPtMe3, Pt(PF3)4, Co(CO)3NO, and W(CO)6. Through these case studies, it is evident that this combination of studies can provide valuable insight into potential mechanisms governing deposit formation in FEBID. Although further experiments and new approaches are needed, these studies are an important stepping-stone toward better understanding the fundamental physics behind the deposition process and establishing design criteria for optimized FEBID precursors.

Study of runaway electrons in TUMAN-3M tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shevelev, A.; Khilkevitch, E.; Tukachinsky, A.; Pandya, S.; Askinazi, L.; Belokurov, A.; Chugunov, I.; Doinikov, D.; Gin, D.; Iliasova, M.; Kiptily, V.; Kornev, V.; Lebedev, S.; Naidenov, V.; Plyusnin, V.; Polunovsky, I.; Zhubr, N.

2018-07-01

Studies of runaway electrons in present day tokamaks are essential to improve theoretical models and to support possible avoidance or suppression mechanisms in future large-scale plasma devices. Some of the phenomena associated with the runaway electrons take place at faster time scales, and thus it is essential to probe the runaway electrons to investigate underlying physics. The present article reports a few experimental observations of runaway electron associated events, at fast time scales, using a state-of-the-art multi-detector system developed at the Ioffe Institute and recently deployed on the TUMAN-3M tokamak. The system is based on the high-performance scintillation gamma-ray spectrometers for measurements of bremsstrahlung generated during the interaction of accelerated electrons with plasma and materials of the tokamak chamber. It includes a total three detectors configured in the spectroscopic mode having different lines of sight. Along with this hardware, dedicated algorithms were developed and validated that enables the separation of piled-up pulses, maximize the dynamic range of the detector and provides a counting rate as high as 107 counts per second. The inversion code, DeGaSum, has been used for the reconstruction of a runaway electron energy distribution function from the measured gamma-ray spectra. Using this tool, experimental analysis of the runaway electron beam generation and evolution of their energy distribution in the TUMAN-3M representative plasma discharges is performed. The effect on gamma-ray count rate during the magnetohydrodynamic activities and possible changes in the runaway electron energy distribution function during sawtooth oscillations is discussed in detail. Possible maximum limit of the runaway electron energy in TUMAN-3M is investigated and compared with the numerical analysis. In addition, the probability of the runaway electron generation throughout the plasma discharge is estimated analytically and compared with the experimental observation that suggests a balance between production and loss of the runaway electrons.

A study in motion sickness - Saccular hair cells in the adult bullfrog

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cohen, G. M.; Reschke, M.; Homick, J.

1982-01-01

The bullfrog's saccule were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. No evidence of a striola was found. Type A hair cells were not only distributed peripherally, but also throughout the central macula, though far less frequently than the dominant type D. Two primary hair cell types were distinguished, which corresponded to the ciliary patterns: type A cilia are associated with short, conical hair cells, and type D cilia are associated with long, cylindrical hair cells. Each displays at least one subtype, which may represent developmental precursors. The otolithic membrane is crisscrossed with tunnels and topped with statoconia.

Magnetic field dependent electronic transport of Mn4 single-molecule magnet.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haque, F.; Langhirt, M.; Henderson, J. J.; Del Barco, E.; Taguchi, T.; Christou, G.

2010-03-01

We have performed single-electron transport measurements on a Mn4 single-molecule magnet (SMM) in where amino groups were added to electrically protect the magnetic core and to increase the stability of the molecule when deposited on the single-electron transistor (SET) chip. A three-terminal SET with nano-gap electro-migrated gold electrodes and a naturally oxidized Aluminum back gate. Experiments were conducted at temperatures down to 230mK in the presence of high magnetic fields generated by a superconducting vector magnet. Mn4 molecules were deposited from solution to form a mono-layer. The optimum deposition time was determined by AFM analysis on atomically flat gold surfaces. We have observed Coulomb blockade an electronic excitations that curve with the magnetic field and present zero-field splitting, which represents evidence of magnetic anisotropy. Level anticrossings and large excitations slopes are associated with the behavior of molecular states with high spin values (S ˜ 9), as expected from Mn4.

Alkaline Fe(III) reduction by a novel alkali-tolerant Serratia sp. isolated from surface sediments close to Sellafield nuclear facility, UK.

PubMed

Thorpe, Clare L; Morris, Katherine; Boothman, Christopher; Lloyd, Jonathan R

2012-02-01

Extensive denitrification resulted in a dramatic increase in pH (from 6.8 to 9.5) in nitrate-impacted, acetate-amended sediment microcosms containing sediment representative of the Sellafield nuclear facility, UK. Denitrification was followed by Fe(III) reduction, indicating the presence of alkali-tolerant, metal-reducing bacteria. A close relative (99% 16S rRNA gene sequence homology) to Serratia liquefaciens dominated progressive enrichment cultures containing Fe(III)-citrate as the sole electron acceptor at pH 9 and was isolated aerobically using solid media. The optimum growth conditions for this facultatively anaerobic Serratia species were investigated, and it was capable of metabolizing a wide range of electron acceptors including oxygen, nitrate, FeGel, Fe-NTA and Fe-citrate and electron donors including acetate, lactate, formate, ethanol, glucose, glycerol and yeast extract at an optimum pH of c. 6.5 at 20 °C. The alkali tolerance of this strain extends the pH range of highly adaptable Fe(III)-reducing Serratia species from mildly acidic pH values associated with acid mine drainage conditions to alkali conditions representative of subsurface sediments stimulated for extensive denitrification and metal reduction. © 2011 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultralow energy calibration of LUX detector using Xe 127 electron capture

DOE PAGES

Akerib, D. S.; Alsum, S.; Araújo, H. M.; ...

2017-12-01

We report an absolute calibration of the ionization yields(more » $$\\textit{Q$$_y$})$ and fluctuations for electronic recoil events in liquid xenon at discrete energies between 186 eV and 33.2 keV. The average electric field applied across the liquid xenon target is 180 V/cm. The data are obtained using low energy $$^{127}$$Xe electron capture decay events from the 95.0-day first run from LUX (WS2013) in search of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs). The sequence of gamma-ray and X-ray cascades associated with $$^{127}$$I de-excitations produces clearly identified 2-vertex events in the LUX detector. We observe the K- (binding energy, 33.2 keV), L- (5.2 keV), M- (1.1 keV), and N- (186 eV) shell cascade events and verify that the relative ratio of observed events for each shell agrees with calculations. The N-shell cascade analysis includes single extracted electron (SE) events and represents the lowest-energy electronic recoil $$\\textit{in situ}$$ measurements that have been explored in liquid xenon.« less

Ultralow energy calibration of LUX detector using Xe 127 electron capture

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

Akerib, D. S.; Alsum, S.; Araújo, H. M.

We report an absolute calibration of the ionization yields (Q y) and fluctuations for electronic recoil events in liquid xenon at discrete energies between 186 eV and 33.2 keV. The average electric field applied across the liquid xenon target is 180 V/cm. The data are obtained using low energy 127Xe electron capture decay events from the 95.0-day first run from LUX (WS2013) in search of weakly interacting massive particles. The sequence of gamma-ray and x-ray cascades associated with 127I deexcitations produces clearly identified two-vertex events in the LUX detector. We observe the K-(binding energy, 33.2 keV), L-(5.2 keV), M-(1.1 keV),more » and N-(186 eV) shell cascade events and verify that the relative ratio of observed events for each shell agrees with calculations. In conclusion, the N-shell cascade analysis includes single extracted electron (SE) events and represents the lowest-energy electronic recoil in situ measurements that have been explored in liquid xenon.« less

Ultralow energy calibration of LUX detector using Xe 127 electron capture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akerib, D. S.; Alsum, S.; Araújo, H. M.; Bai, X.; Bailey, A. J.; Balajthy, J.; Beltrame, P.; Bernard, E. P.; Bernstein, A.; Biesiadzinski, T. P.; Boulton, E. M.; Brás, P.; Byram, D.; Cahn, S. B.; Carmona-Benitez, M. C.; Chan, C.; Currie, A.; Cutter, J. E.; Davison, T. J. R.; Dobi, A.; Druszkiewicz, E.; Edwards, B. N.; Fallon, S. R.; Fan, A.; Fiorucci, S.; Gaitskell, R. J.; Genovesi, J.; Ghag, C.; Gilchriese, M. G. D.; Hall, C. R.; Hanhardt, M.; Haselschwardt, S. J.; Hertel, S. A.; Hogan, D. P.; Horn, M.; Huang, D. Q.; Ignarra, C. M.; Jacobsen, R. G.; Ji, W.; Kamdin, K.; Kazkaz, K.; Khaitan, D.; Knoche, R.; Larsen, N. A.; Lenardo, B. G.; Lesko, K. T.; Lindote, A.; Lopes, M. I.; Manalaysay, A.; Mannino, R. L.; Marzioni, M. F.; McKinsey, D. N.; Mei, D.-M.; Mock, J.; Moongweluwan, M.; Morad, J. A.; Murphy, A. St. J.; Nehrkorn, C.; Nelson, H. N.; Neves, F.; O'Sullivan, K.; Oliver-Mallory, K. C.; Palladino, K. J.; Pease, E. K.; Rhyne, C.; Shaw, S.; Shutt, T. A.; Silva, C.; Solmaz, M.; Solovov, V. N.; Sorensen, P.; Sumner, T. J.; Szydagis, M.; Taylor, D. J.; Taylor, W. C.; Tennyson, B. P.; Terman, P. A.; Tiedt, D. R.; To, W. H.; Tripathi, M.; Tvrznikova, L.; Uvarov, S.; Velan, V.; Verbus, J. R.; Webb, R. C.; White, J. T.; Whitis, T. J.; Witherell, M. S.; Wolfs, F. L. H.; Xu, J.; Yazdani, K.; Young, S. K.; Zhang, C.

2017-12-01

We report an absolute calibration of the ionization yields (Qy ) and fluctuations for electronic recoil events in liquid xenon at discrete energies between 186 eV and 33.2 keV. The average electric field applied across the liquid xenon target is 180 V /cm . The data are obtained using low energy Xe 127 electron capture decay events from the 95.0-day first run from LUX (WS2013) in search of weakly interacting massive particles. The sequence of gamma-ray and x-ray cascades associated with I 127 deexcitations produces clearly identified two-vertex events in the LUX detector. We observe the K-(binding energy, 33.2 keV), L-(5.2 keV), M-(1.1 keV), and N-(186 eV) shell cascade events and verify that the relative ratio of observed events for each shell agrees with calculations. The N-shell cascade analysis includes single extracted electron (SE) events and represents the lowest-energy electronic recoil in situ measurements that have been explored in liquid xenon.

Ultralow energy calibration of LUX detector using Xe 127 electron capture

DOE PAGES

Akerib, D. S.; Alsum, S.; Araújo, H. M.; ...

2017-12-28

We report an absolute calibration of the ionization yields (Q y) and fluctuations for electronic recoil events in liquid xenon at discrete energies between 186 eV and 33.2 keV. The average electric field applied across the liquid xenon target is 180 V/cm. The data are obtained using low energy 127Xe electron capture decay events from the 95.0-day first run from LUX (WS2013) in search of weakly interacting massive particles. The sequence of gamma-ray and x-ray cascades associated with 127I deexcitations produces clearly identified two-vertex events in the LUX detector. We observe the K-(binding energy, 33.2 keV), L-(5.2 keV), M-(1.1 keV),more » and N-(186 eV) shell cascade events and verify that the relative ratio of observed events for each shell agrees with calculations. In conclusion, the N-shell cascade analysis includes single extracted electron (SE) events and represents the lowest-energy electronic recoil in situ measurements that have been explored in liquid xenon.« less

Electron radiation belt dynamics during magnetic storms and in quiet time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lazutin, Leonid; Dmitriev, Aleksey; Suvorova, Alla

2018-03-01

The paper discusses the dynamics of the outer electron belt, adiabatic and nonadiabatic mechanisms of replenishment and losses of energetic electrons. Under undisturbed conditions, the outer electron belt gradually empties: in the inner magnetosphere due to electron precipitation in the atmosphere and in the quasi-trapping region due to losses at the magnetopause because drift shells of electrons are not closed there. The latter process does not occur in normal years due to the masking replenishment by freshly accelerated particles, but in years of extremely low activity, it leads to a significant decrease in the electron population of the belt. During the magnetic storm main phase, the first reason for the decrease in the electron flux intensity is the adiabatic cooling associated with conservation of adiabatic invariants and complemented by precipitation of electrons into the atmosphere and their dropout at the magnetopause. Electron flux increases involve E×B electron injection by the induction electric field of substorm activation and by the large-scale solar wind electric field, with pitch energy diffusion along with adiabatic heating in the recovery phase. The rate of electron flux recovery after a storm is determined by the ratio of nonadiabatic increases and losses; hence the electron flux represents a continuous series from low to very high values. The combination of these processes determines the individual character of radiation belt development during each magnetic storm and the behavior of the belt in the quiet time.

Electrochemical Performance and Microbial Characterization of Thermophilic Microbial Fuel Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wrighton, K. C.; Agbo, P.; Brodie, E. L.; Weber, K. A.; Desantis, T. Z.; Anderson, G. L.; Coates, J. D.

2007-12-01

Significant research effort is currently focused on microbial fuel cells (MFC) as a source of renewable energy. To date, most of these efforts have concentrated on MFCs operating at mesophilic temperatures. However, many previous studies have reported on the superiority of thermophilic conditions in anaerobic digestion and demonstrated a net gain in energy yield, in terms of methane, relative to the increased energy requirements of operation. Because of this, our recent studies on MFCs focused on investigating the operation and microbiology associated with thermophilic MFCs operating at 55°C. Over 100-day operation, these MFCs were highly stable and achieved a maximum power density of 24mW/m2 and a columbic efficiency of 89 percent with acetate as the sole electron donor. In order to characterize the microbial community involved in thermophilic electricity generation, DNA and RNA were isolated from the electrode and PhyloChip analyses performed. Exploring the changes in the microbial community over time in electricity producing MFC revealed an increase in relative abundance of populations belonging to the Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and alpha Proteobacteria by at least one order of magnitude. In contrast, these populations decreased in the open circuit and no electron donor amended controls. In order to better characterize the active microbial populations, we enriched and isolated a novel organism, strain JR, from samples collected from an operating MFC. Based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis strain JR was a member of the family Peptococcaceae, within the Phylum Firmicutes, clustering with Thermincola ferriacetica (98 percent similarity). Phenotypic characterization revealed that strain JR was capable of thermophilic dissimilatory reduction of insoluble electron acceptors such as amorphous Fe(III); as well as reduction of the model quinone 2,6-anthraquinone disulfonate. Thermincola strain JR was also capable of producing current by coupling acetate oxidation to anodic electron transfer. This represents the first organism isolated from a thermophilic microbial fuel cell and also the first representative of this genus capable of anodic electron transfer. The results of this study indicate the potential advantages for thermophilic MFCs and the novel microbiology associated with their operation.

Phylogenetic Evidence for H2 based Electron Bifurcation In Early Life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adams, M. W.; Boyd, E. S.; Schut, G.; Peters, J.

2012-12-01

Energy conservation is a fundamental underpinning of all life and is accomplished by electron transport phosphorylation and/or substrate level phosphorylation. A third mechanism, known as flavin-based electron bifurcation, has recently been established as a mechanism by which life can conserve energy. In this mechanism, a flavin-containing multienzyme complex catalyzes the thermodynamically unfavorable reduction of low potential ferredoxin using electron donors with higher potentials, such as NAD(P)H or H2. Such endergonic reactions are driven forward through the simultaneous oxidation of the electron donor with higher potential acceptors such as NAD+ or heterodisulfide. Membrane associated energy converting [NiFe]hydrogenases (Ech, Eha) link the oxidation of ferredoxin with the production of H2 and in the process conserve energy in the form of an ion (Na+/H+) gradient. Ech/Eha exhibit a modular composition represented by a Na+/H+ antiporter domain and a [NiFe] hydrogenase domain. In addition, Ech/Eha can be accompanied by a formate dehyrogenase, carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, or an FAD/NAD(P)H module that enables coupling with these substrates. Representatives of Ech/Eha have been identified among anaerobic Archaea and Bacteria, including deeply rooted methanogens, sulfur-reducing Crenarcheota/Euryarchaeota as well as Thermotogae. Ech exhibit extensive homology to a number of subunits within the NADH quinone oxidoreductase or complex I family (Nuo, Fpo). Metabolically, Ech generally couple the oxidation of carbon monooxide, formate or ferredoxin to the production of H2. In contrast, the Eha complex couples the translocation of Na+ and the oxidation of H2 to the reduction of ferredoxin, which is then available for the reduction of CO2 in methanogens. In the case of Eha, the gradient of Na+/H+ produced through translocation coupled to ferredoxin oxidation can in be used to drive the phosphorylation of ADP via an ATP synthase complex, thereby representing one of the most simple forms of ATP production supporting life. This finding is consistent with phylogenetic analyses which indicate a close phylogenetic relationship between Ech/Eha and Nuo/Fpo, with [NiFe]-hydrogenase typically involved in H2 oxidation forming divergent lineages. This suggests that Ech/Eha are most likely to represent an ancestor of the Complex I family and the [NiFe]-hydrogenase family. A concatenation and phylogenetic analysis of the large and small subunits of Ech and Nuo was performed and and additional modules enabling coupling with CO2 (Eha), CO (Ech-CODH), and formate (Ech-Fdh) through H2-based electron bifurcation were overlaid on this phylogeny. The results suggest an origin for H2-based electron bifurcation via Ech/Eha among CO2 reducing hydrogenotrophic methanogenic Archaea or sulfur-reducing Archaea, with evolution towards coupling with formate and CO. These results provide insight into the evolutionary relationships between electron bifurcation-enabled ionic gradients capable of driving phosphorylation and electron transport-based phosphorylation. Moreover, these observations suggest that electron bifurcation may have been important in overcoming key metabolic bottlenecks and may have enabled life to access small energetic gradients to support metabolism on early Earth.

77 FR 13968 - Requiring Electronic Filing of Select Appeals by Certain Claimant Representatives

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-08

... SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 20 CFR Parts 404 and 416 [Docket No. SSA-2011-0094] Requiring Electronic Filing of Select Appeals by Certain Claimant Representatives AGENCY: Social Security Administration. ACTION: Revised notification of implementation of requirement. SUMMARY: We are revising the...

77 FR 4653 - Requiring Electronic Filing of Select Appeals by Certain Claimant Representatives

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-31

... SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 20 CFR Parts 404 and 416 [Docket No. SSA-2011-0094] Requiring Electronic Filing of Select Appeals by Certain Claimant Representatives AGENCY: Social Security Administration. ACTION: Notification of implementation of requirement. SUMMARY: We are announcing the requirement...

Preliminary mineralogical data on epithermal ore veins associated with Rosia Poieni porphyry copper deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iatan, E. L.; Popescu, Gh. C.

2012-04-01

Rosia Poieni is the largest porphyry copper (±Au±Mo) deposits associated with Neogene magmatic rocks from the South Apuseni Mountains, being located approximately 8 km northeast of the town of Abrud. During a recent examination of some epithermal mineralized veins, crosscutting the porphyry mineralization from the Roşia Poieni deposit, two species of tellurides and one tellurosulfide minerals were identified. The studied samples were collected from the + 1045 m level, SW side of the open pit and are represented by epithermal veins, crosscutting the porphyry copper mineralized body. The thickness of the veins is almost 4 cm. Following reflected-polarized light microscopy to identify the ore-mineral assemblages, the polished sections were studied with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with a back-scattered electron (BSE) detector to study fine-sized minerals. Quantitative compositional data were determined using a Cameca SX 50 electron microprobe (EMP). Based on optical microscopy, SEM and EMPA three mineral associations have been separated inside the epithermal vein, from the margins to the centre: 1. quartz+tennantite-tetrahedrite+goldfieldite+pyrite+sphalerite; 2. quartz+pyrite+tellurobismutite; 3. chalcopyrite+hessite+vivianite. Goldfieldite occurs in anhedral grains and it is associated with tennantite-tetrahedrite and quartz. The electron microprobe analysis gave a variable content in Te between 13.28-13.39 wt.%, 43.34 wt.% Cu, 0.1 wt. % Fe, 0.2 wt.% Zn, 14.68 wt.% As, 4.35 wt.% Sb and 24.84 wt.% S. The calculated formula for the goldfieldite is Cu11.8Te1.8(Sb,As)4S13.4. The EPM analyses on tetrahedrite-tennantite revealed a low content in Te (0.02-0.03 wt.%) and 42.23 wt.% Cu, 2.67 wt.% Fe, 7.34 wt.% Zn, 0.04 wt.% Sb, 19.28 wt.% As and 28.4 wt.% S. The calculated formula is Cu9.8(Fe,Zn)2.4(Sb,As,Te)3.8S13. The variable ratio of the Te content may reflect a variable content of Te in the hydrothermal fluids from which the tellurian tetrahedrite precipitated. Hessite lies close to the grain boundary between the calchopyrite grains, which is associated with vivianite. Electron microprobe analysis gave 57.73 wt.% Ag and 42.27 wt.% Te with calculated stoichiometric formula Ag1.9Te1.1 . Tellurobismuthite it forms irregular grains and it is associated with quartz and pyrite. Electron microprobe analysis gave 57.20 wt.% Bi and 42.80 wt.% Te with calculated stoichiometric formula Bi2.2Te2.8. Based on the mineral assemblages separated inside the ore vein and on the ratio of the Te content for the different identified tellurium bearing minerals, we can conclude that the Te content of the fluids from which they precipitated, increased from the margins to the centre of the vein. In summary, this study of specimens from Rosia Poieni porphyry copper deposit, has resulted in the recognition of some tellurium-bearing minerals, not reported by previous workers. These minerals are represented by tellurobismutite, hessite and goldfieldite and they are associated with epithermal vein mineralization (pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tennantite-tetrahedrite, quartz, vivianite). The presence of tellurium indicates the transition between porphyry-style mineralization to epithermal vein mineralization. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the strategic grant POSDRU/89/1.5/S58852, Project "Postdoctoral program for training scientific researches" co-financed by the European Social Found within the Sectorial Operational Program Human Resources Development 2007-2013".

Market factors and electronic medical record adoption in medical practices.

PubMed

Menachemi, Nir; Mazurenko, Olena; Kazley, Abby Swanson; Diana, Mark L; Ford, Eric W

2012-01-01

Previous studies identified individual or practice factors that influence practice-based physicians' electronic medical record (EMR) adoption. Less is known about the market factors that influence physicians' EMR adoption. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between environmental market characteristics and physicians' EMR adoption. The Health Tracking Physician Survey 2008 and Area Resource File (2008) were combined and analyzed. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between three dimensions of the market environment (munificence, dynamism, and complexity) and EMR adoption controlling for several physician and practice characteristics. In a nationally representative sample of 4,720 physicians, measures of market dynamism including increases in unemployment, odds ratio (OR) = 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.91, 0.99], or poverty rates, OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.89, 0.96], were negatively associated with EMR adoption. Health maintenance organization penetration, OR = 3.01, 95% CI [1.49, 6.05], another measure of dynamism, was positively associated with EMR adoption. Physicians practicing in areas with a malpractice crisis, OR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.71, 0.94], representing environmental complexity, had lower EMR adoption rates. Understanding how market factors relate to practice-based physicians' EMR adoption can assist policymakers to better target limited resources as they work to realize the national goal of universal EMR adoption and meaningful use.

Nonadiabatic electron wavepacket dynamics behind molecular autoionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuoka, Takahide; Takatsuka, Kazuo

2018-01-01

A theoretical method for real-time dynamics of nonadiabatic reorganization of electronic configurations in molecules is developed, with dual aim that the intramolecular electron dynamics can be probed by means of direct and/or indirect photoionizations and that the physical origins behind photoionization signals attained in the time domain can be identified in terms of the language of time-dependent quantum chemistry. In doing so, we first formulate and implement a new computational scheme for nonadiabatic electron dynamics associated with molecular ionization, which well fits in the general theory of nonadiabatic electron dynamics. In this method, the total nonadiabatic electron wavepackets are propagated in time directly with complex natural orbitals without referring to Hartree-Fock molecular orbitals, and the amount of electron flux from a molecular region leading to ionization is evaluated in terms of the relevant complex natural orbitals. In the second half of this paper, we apply the method to electron dynamics in the elementary processes consisting of the Auger decay to demonstrate the methodological significance. An illustrative example is taken from an Auger decay starting from the 2a1 orbital hole-state of H2O+. The roles of nuclear momentum (kinetic) couplings in electronic-state mixing during the decay process are analyzed in terms of complex natural orbitals, which are schematically represented in the conventional language of molecular symmetry of the Hartree-Fock orbitals.

Why aren’t they happy? An analysis of end-user satisfaction with Electronic health records

PubMed Central

Unni, Prasad; Staes, Catherine; Weeks, Howard; Kramer, Heidi; Borbolla, Damion; Slager, Stacey; Taft, Teresa; Chidambaram, Valliammai; Weir, Charlene

2016-01-01

Introduction. Implementations of electronic health records (EHR) have been met with mixed outcome reviews. Complaints about these systems have led to many attempts to have useful measures of end-user satisfaction. However, most user satisfaction assessments do not focus on high-level reasoning, despite the complaints of many physicians. Our study attempts to identify some of these determinants. Method. We developed a user satisfaction survey instrument, based on pre-identified and important clinical and non-clinical clinician tasks. We surveyed a sample of in-patient physicians and focused on using exploratory factor analyses to identify underlying high-level cognitive tasks. We used the results to create unique, orthogonal variables representative of latent structure predictive of user satisfaction. Results. Our findings identified 3 latent high-level tasks that were associated with end-user satisfaction: a) High- level clinical reasoning b) Communicate/coordinate care and c) Follow the rules/compliance. Conclusion: We were able to successfully identify latent variables associated with satisfaction. Identification of communicability and high-level clinical reasoning as important factors determining user satisfaction can lead to development and design of more usable electronic health records with higher user satisfaction. PMID:28269962

Newly available technologies present expanding opportunities for scientific and technical information exchange

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tolzman, Jean M.

1993-01-01

The potential for expanded communication among researchers, scholars, and students is supported by growth in the capabilities for electronic communication as well as expanding access to various forms of electronic interchange and computing capabilities. Increased possibilities for information exchange, collegial dialogue, collaboration, and access to remote resources exist as high-speed networks, increasingly powerful workstations, and large, multi-user computational facilities are more frequently linked and more commonly available. Numerous writers speak of the telecommunications revolution and its impact on the development and dissemination of knowledge and learning. One author offers the phrase 'Scholarly skywriting' to represent a new form of scientific communication that he envisions using electronic networks. In the United States (U.S.), researchers associated with the National Science Foundation (NSF) are exploring 'nationwide collaboratories' and 'digital collaboration.' Research supported by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) points to a future where workstations with built-in audio, video monitors, and screen sharing protocols are used to support collaborations with colleagues located throughout the world. Instruments and sensors located worldwide will produce data streams that will be brought together, analyzed, and distributed as new findings. Researchers will have access to machines that can supply domain-specific information in addition to locator and directory assistance. New forms of electronic journals will emerge and provide opportunities for researchers and scientists to exchange information electronically and interactively in a range of structures and formats. Ultimately, the wide-scale use of these technologies in the dissemination of research results and the stimulation of collegial dialogue will change the way we represent and express our knowledge of the world. A new paradigm will evolve--perhaps a truly worldwide 'invisible college.'

Associative Pattern Recognition In Analog VLSI Circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tawel, Raoul

1995-01-01

Winner-take-all circuit selects best-match stored pattern. Prototype cascadable very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuit chips built and tested to demonstrate concept of electronic associative pattern recognition. Based on low-power, sub-threshold analog complementary oxide/semiconductor (CMOS) VLSI circuitry, each chip can store 128 sets (vectors) of 16 analog values (vector components), vectors representing known patterns as diverse as spectra, histograms, graphs, or brightnesses of pixels in images. Chips exploit parallel nature of vector quantization architecture to implement highly parallel processing in relatively simple computational cells. Through collective action, cells classify input pattern in fraction of microsecond while consuming power of few microwatts.

An investigation of solar flares and associated solar radio bursts impact on ionospheric total electron content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuyizere, Sarathiel

2016-07-01

Solar transients events such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares represent the cause of various aspects of space weather and can impact the modern man made technological system. Such solar transients are often associated with solar radio bursts (SRBs), particularly of type II and III that , at ground level can be detected by the CALLISTO (Compact Astronomical Low-frequency Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy and Transportable Observatories) solar spectrometer. The present study aims at investigating solar flares and associated SRBs impact on the ionospheric total electron content (TEC). SRBs data used are dynamic spectra covering the 2014-2015 period and detected by the CALLISTO instrument that is installed at the university of Rwanda, Kigali. To investigate ionospheric impact, we use TEC data from IGS stations located at almost the same universal time zone, and correlate the observed TEC changes to the corresponding observed solar bursts events. Preliminary observations resulting from this study indicate a slight enhancement in TEC during the burst event days. The observed TEC enhancement on the burst day can be associated to increased UV and X-rays radiations and particle acceleration that are associated with SRBs events. This work is a contribution to more understanding of the geo-space impact of solar transients phenomena for modeling and prediction.

An investigation of solar flares and associated solar radio bursts on ionospheric total electron content

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uwamahoro, Jean

2016-07-01

Solar transients events such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares represent are the cause of various aspects of space weather and can impact the modern man made technological system. Such solar transients are often associated with solar radio bursts (SRBs), particularly of type II and III that , at ground level can be detected by the CALLISTO (Compact Astronomical Low-frequency Low-cost Instrument for Spectroscopy and Transportable Observatories) solar spectrometer. The present study aims at investigating solar flares and associated SRBs impact on the ionospheric total electron content (TEC). SRBs data used are dynamic spectra covering the 2014-2015 period and detected by the CALLISTO instrument that is installed at the university of Rwanda, Kigali. To investigate ionospheric impact, we use TEC data from IGS stations located at almost the same universal time zone, and correlate the observed TEC changes to the corresponding observed solar bursts events. Preliminary observations resulting from this study indicate a slight enhancement in TEC during the burst event days. The observed TEC enhancement on the burst day can be associated to increased UV and X-rays radiations and particle acceleration that are associated with SRBs events. This work is a contribution to more understanding of the geo-space impact of solar transients phenomena for modeling and prediction.

Use of globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) to link herbarium specimen records to physical specimens.

PubMed

Nelson, Gil; Sweeney, Patrick; Gilbert, Edward

2018-02-01

With the advent of the U.S. National Science Foundation's Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections program and related worldwide digitization initiatives, the rate of herbarium specimen digitization in the United States has expanded exponentially. As the number of electronic herbarium records proliferates, the importance of linking these records to the physical specimens they represent as well as to related records from other sources will intensify. Although a rich and diverse literature has developed over the past decade that addresses the use of specimen identifiers for facilitating linking across the internet, few implementable guidelines or recommended practices for herbaria have been advanced. Here we review this literature with the express purpose of distilling a specific set of recommendations especially tailored to herbarium specimen digitization, curation, and management. We argue that associating globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) with physical herbarium specimens and including these identifiers in all electronic records about those specimens is essential to effective digital data curation. We also address practical applications for ensuring these associations.

[Depiction of the structure of the vitreous body in horses without ocular diseases and in horses with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) using transmission electron microscopy].

PubMed

Niedermaier, G; Wollanke, B; Hoffmann, R; Matiasek, K; Gerhards, H

2006-06-01

Neither the ultrastructure of the vitreous body from horses without ocular diseases, nor the pathomorphological changes in the vitreous body associated with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) have been described. However, the vitreous body plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ERU. Ten vitreous body samples obtained from 5 horses without ocular disease, and 38 vitreous body samples from horses with ERU (collected during vitrectomy) were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The vitreous body samples of horses without ocular diseases were characterized by a loose network of unbranched fibrils 10-12 nm in width. In the vitreous body samples of horses with ERU numerous dense bundles of fibrils, mononuclear inflammatory cells and necrotic cells represent the destruction of the vitreous fibrillar network. In this study, equine vitreous body ultrastructure was described for the first time. Thus, demonstrating ultramorphologically, the clinically apparent changes of the vitreous body associated with ERU.

Electrofluorescence polarity in a molecular diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petrov, E. G.; Leonov, V. A.; Shevchenko, E. V.

2017-11-01

The kinetic equations describing the transmission of an electron in the molecular compound "electrode 1-molecule-electrode 2" (1M2 system) are derived using the method of a nonequilibrium density matrix. The steady-state transmission regime is considered, for which detailed analysis of the kinetics of electrofluorescence formation in systems with symmetric and asymmetric couplings between the molecule and the electrodes is carried out. It is shown that the optically active state of the molecule is formed as a result of electron hops between the molecule and each of the electrodes, as well as due to inelastic interelectrode tunneling of the electron. The electrofluorescence power for a molecular diode (asymmetric 1M2 system) depends on the polarity of the voltage bias applied to the electrodes. The polarity is explained using a model in which the optically active part of the molecule (chromophore group) is represented by the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). Two mechanisms of the emergence of polarity are revealed. One mechanism is associated with nonidentical Stark shifts of the HOMO and LUMO levels relative to the Fermi levels of the electrodes. The second mechanism is associated with the fact that the rates of an electron hopping between HOMO (LUMO) and one of the electrodes are much higher than the rates of such a hopping with the other electrode. The conditions in which each mechanism can be implemented experimentally are indicated.

Electronics Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prickett, Charlotte

This document presents results of research conducted by industry representatives regarding tasks performed by electronic technicians and line manufacturing electro-mechanical technicians in Arizona electronics industries. Based on this research, a competency-based curriculum was developed for training entry-level electronics technicians. Twelve…

Natural organic matter as electron acceptor: experimental evidence for its important role in anaerobic respiration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau, Maximilian Peter; Sander, Michael; Gelbrecht, Jörg; Hupfer, Michael

2014-05-01

Microbial respiration is a key driver of element cycling in oxic and anoxic environments. Upon depletion of oxygen as terminal electron acceptor (TEA), a number of anaerobic bacteria can employ alternative TEA for intracellular energy generation. Redox active quinone moieties in dissolved organic matter (DOM) are well known electron acceptors for microbial respiration. However, it remains unclear whether quinones in adsorbed and particulate OM accept electrons in a same way. In our studies we aim to understand the importance of natural organic matter (NOM) as electron acceptors for microbial energy gain and its possible implications for methanogenesis. Using a novel electrochemical approach, mediated electrochemical reduction and -oxidation, we can directly quantify reduced hydroquinone and oxidized quionone moieties in dissolved and particulate NOM samples. In a mesocosm experiment, we rewetted sediment and peat soil and followed electron transfer to the inorganic and organic electron acceptors over time. We found that inorganic and organic electron acceptor pools were depleted over the same timescales. More importantly, we showed that organic, NOM-associated electron accepting moieties represent as much as 21 40% of total TEA inventories. These findings support earlier studies that propose that the reduction of quinone moieties in particulate organic matter competitively suppresses methanogenesis in wetland soils. Our results indicate that electron transfer to organic, particulate TEA in inundated ecosystems has to be accounted for when establishing carbon budgets in and projecting greenhouse gas emissions from these systems.

Low-rank factorization of electron integral tensors and its application in electronic structure theory

DOE PAGES

Peng, Bo; Kowalski, Karol

2017-01-25

In this paper, we apply reverse Cuthill-McKee (RCM) algorithm to transform two-electron integral tensors to their block diagonal forms. By further applying Cholesky decomposition (CD) on each of the diagonal blocks, we are able to represent the high-dimensional two-electron integral tensors in terms of permutation matrices and low-rank Cholesky vectors. This representation facilitates low-rank factorizations of high-dimensional tensor contractions in post-Hartree-Fock calculations. Finally, we discuss the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) method and the linear coupled-cluster model with doubles (L-CCD) as examples to demonstrate the efficiency of this technique in representing the two-electron integrals in a compact form.

Low-rank factorization of electron integral tensors and its application in electronic structure theory

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

Peng, Bo; Kowalski, Karol

In this paper, we apply reverse Cuthill-McKee (RCM) algorithm to transform two-electron integral tensors to their block diagonal forms. By further applying Cholesky decomposition (CD) on each of the diagonal blocks, we are able to represent the high-dimensional two-electron integral tensors in terms of permutation matrices and low-rank Cholesky vectors. This representation facilitates low-rank factorizations of high-dimensional tensor contractions in post-Hartree-Fock calculations. Finally, we discuss the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) method and the linear coupled-cluster model with doubles (L-CCD) as examples to demonstrate the efficiency of this technique in representing the two-electron integrals in a compact form.

Unfolding and unfoldability of digital pulses in the z-domain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Regadío, Alberto; Sánchez-Prieto, Sebastián

2018-04-01

The unfolding (or deconvolution) technique is used in the development of digital pulse processing systems applied to particle detection. This technique is applied to digital signals obtained by digitization of analog signals that represent the combined response of the particle detectors and the associated signal conditioning electronics. This work describes a technique to determine if the signal is unfoldable. For unfoldable signals the characteristics of the unfolding system (unfolder) are presented. Finally, examples of the method applied to real experimental setup are discussed.

Positive Voltage Hazard to EMU Crewman from Currents through Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koontz, Steven L.; Kramer, Leonard; Hamilton, Doug; Mikatarian, Ronald

2010-01-01

This paper describes the model of the EMU with a human body in the circuit that has been used by NASA to evaluate the low positive voltage hazard. The model utilizes the electron collection characterization from on orbit Langmuir probe data as representative of electron collection to a positive charged surface with a wide range of on orbit plasma temperature and density conditions. The data has been unified according to non-linear theoretical temperature and density variation of the electron saturated probe current collection theory and used as a model for the electron collection at EMU surfaces. Vulnerable paths through the EMU connecting through the crewman s body have been identified along with electrical impedance of the exposed body parts. The body impedance information is merged with the electron collection characteristics in circuit simulation software (SPICE). The assessment shows that currents can be on the order of 20 mA for a 15 V exposure and of order 4 mA at 3V. These currents formally violate NASA protocol for electric current exposures however the human factors associated with subjective consequences of noxious stimuli from low voltage exposure during the stressful conditions of EVA are an area of active inquiry.

Cytochrome b 6 f function and localization, phosphorylation state of thylakoid membrane proteins and consequences on cyclic electron flow.

PubMed

Dumas, Louis; Chazaux, Marie; Peltier, Gilles; Johnson, Xenie; Alric, Jean

2016-09-01

Both the structure and the protein composition of thylakoid membranes have an impact on light harvesting and electron transfer in the photosynthetic chain. Thylakoid membranes form stacks and lamellae where photosystem II and photosystem I localize, respectively. Light-harvesting complexes II can be associated to either PSII or PSI depending on the redox state of the plastoquinone pool, and their distribution is governed by state transitions. Upon state transitions, the thylakoid ultrastructure and lateral distribution of proteins along the membrane are subject to significant rearrangements. In addition, quinone diffusion is limited to membrane microdomains and the cytochrome b 6 f complex localizes either to PSII-containing grana stacks or PSI-containing stroma lamellae. Here, we discuss possible similarities or differences between green algae and C3 plants on the functional consequences of such heterogeneities in the photosynthetic electron transport chain and propose a model in which quinones, accepting electrons either from PSII (linear flow) or NDH/PGR pathways (cyclic flow), represent a crucial control point. Our aim is to give an integrated description of these processes and discuss their potential roles in the balance between linear and cyclic electron flows.

Associations between structural capabilities of primary care practices and performance on selected quality measures.

PubMed

Friedberg, Mark W; Coltin, Kathryn L; Safran, Dana Gelb; Dresser, Marguerite; Zaslavsky, Alan M; Schneider, Eric C

2009-10-06

Recent proposals to reform primary care have encouraged physician practices to adopt such structural capabilities as performance feedback and electronic health records. Whether practices with these capabilities have higher performance on measures of primary care quality is unknown. To measure associations between structural capabilities of primary care practices and performance on commonly used quality measures. Cross-sectional analysis. Massachusetts. 412 primary care practices. During 2007, 1 physician from each participating primary care practice (median size, 4 physicians) was surveyed about structural capabilities of the practice (responses representing 308 practices were obtained). Data on practice structural capabilities were linked to multipayer performance data on 13 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) process measures in 4 clinical areas: screening, diabetes, depression, and overuse. Frequently used multifunctional electronic health records were associated with higher performance on 5 HEDIS measures (3 in screening and 2 in diabetes), with statistically significant differences in performance ranging from 3.1 to 7.6 percentage points. Frequent meetings to discuss quality were associated with higher performance on 3 measures of diabetes care (differences ranging from 2.3 to 3.1 percentage points). Physician awareness of patient experience ratings was associated with higher performance on screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer (1.9 and 2.2 percentage points, respectively). No other structural capabilities were associated with performance on more than 1 measure. No capabilities were associated with performance on depression care or overuse. Structural capabilities of primary care practices were assessed by physician survey. Among the investigated structural capabilities of primary care practices, electronic health records were associated with higher performance across multiple HEDIS measures. Overall, the modest magnitude and limited number of associations between structural capabilities and clinical performance suggest the importance of continuing to measure the processes and outcomes of care for patients. The Commonwealth Fund.

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 nanowires are outer membrane and periplasmic extensions of the extracellular electron transport components

PubMed Central

Pirbadian, Sahand; Barchinger, Sarah E.; Leung, Kar Man; Byun, Hye Suk; Jangir, Yamini; Bouhenni, Rachida A.; Reed, Samantha B.; Romine, Margaret F.; Saffarini, Daad A.; Shi, Liang; Gorby, Yuri A.; Golbeck, John H.; El-Naggar, Mohamed Y.

2014-01-01

Bacterial nanowires offer an extracellular electron transport (EET) pathway for linking the respiratory chain of bacteria to external surfaces, including oxidized metals in the environment and engineered electrodes in renewable energy devices. Despite the global, environmental, and technological consequences of this biotic–abiotic interaction, the composition, physiological relevance, and electron transport mechanisms of bacterial nanowires remain unclear. We report, to our knowledge, the first in vivo observations of the formation and respiratory impact of nanowires in the model metal-reducing microbe Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Live fluorescence measurements, immunolabeling, and quantitative gene expression analysis point to S. oneidensis MR-1 nanowires as extensions of the outer membrane and periplasm that include the multiheme cytochromes responsible for EET, rather than pilin-based structures as previously thought. These membrane extensions are associated with outer membrane vesicles, structures ubiquitous in Gram-negative bacteria, and are consistent with bacterial nanowires that mediate long-range EET by the previously proposed multistep redox hopping mechanism. Redox-functionalized membrane and vesicular extensions may represent a general microbial strategy for electron transport and energy distribution. PMID:25143589

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 nanowires are outer membrane and periplasmic extensions of the extracellular electron transport components.

PubMed

Pirbadian, Sahand; Barchinger, Sarah E; Leung, Kar Man; Byun, Hye Suk; Jangir, Yamini; Bouhenni, Rachida A; Reed, Samantha B; Romine, Margaret F; Saffarini, Daad A; Shi, Liang; Gorby, Yuri A; Golbeck, John H; El-Naggar, Mohamed Y

2014-09-02

Bacterial nanowires offer an extracellular electron transport (EET) pathway for linking the respiratory chain of bacteria to external surfaces, including oxidized metals in the environment and engineered electrodes in renewable energy devices. Despite the global, environmental, and technological consequences of this biotic-abiotic interaction, the composition, physiological relevance, and electron transport mechanisms of bacterial nanowires remain unclear. We report, to our knowledge, the first in vivo observations of the formation and respiratory impact of nanowires in the model metal-reducing microbe Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Live fluorescence measurements, immunolabeling, and quantitative gene expression analysis point to S. oneidensis MR-1 nanowires as extensions of the outer membrane and periplasm that include the multiheme cytochromes responsible for EET, rather than pilin-based structures as previously thought. These membrane extensions are associated with outer membrane vesicles, structures ubiquitous in Gram-negative bacteria, and are consistent with bacterial nanowires that mediate long-range EET by the previously proposed multistep redox hopping mechanism. Redox-functionalized membrane and vesicular extensions may represent a general microbial strategy for electron transport and energy distribution.

Applying semantic web technologies for phenome-wide scan using an electronic health record linked Biobank

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The ability to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has enabled new exploration of how genetic variations contribute to health and disease etiology. However, historically GWAS have been limited by inadequate sample size due to associated costs for genotyping and phenotyping of study subjects. This has prompted several academic medical centers to form “biobanks” where biospecimens linked to personal health information, typically in electronic health records (EHRs), are collected and stored on a large number of subjects. This provides tremendous opportunities to discover novel genotype-phenotype associations and foster hypotheses generation. Results In this work, we study how emerging Semantic Web technologies can be applied in conjunction with clinical and genotype data stored at the Mayo Clinic Biobank to mine the phenotype data for genetic associations. In particular, we demonstrate the role of using Resource Description Framework (RDF) for representing EHR diagnoses and procedure data, and enable federated querying via standardized Web protocols to identify subjects genotyped for Type 2 Diabetes and Hypothyroidism to discover gene-disease associations. Our study highlights the potential of Web-scale data federation techniques to execute complex queries. Conclusions This study demonstrates how Semantic Web technologies can be applied in conjunction with clinical data stored in EHRs to accurately identify subjects with specific diseases and phenotypes, and identify genotype-phenotype associations. PMID:23244446

Electronic Data Collection and Management System for Global Adult Tobacco Survey

PubMed Central

Pujari, Sameer J; Palipudi, Krishna M; Morton, Jeremy; Levinsohn, Jay; Litavecz, Steve; Green, Michael

2012-01-01

Introduction: Portable handheld computers and electronic data management systems have been used for national surveys in many high-income countries, however their use in developing countries has been challenging due to varying geographical, economic, climatic, political and cultural environments. In order to monitor and measure global adult tobacco use, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, a nationally representative household survey of adults, 15 years of age or older, using a standard core questionnaire, sample design, and data collection and management procedures. The Survey has been conducted in 14 low- and middle-income countries, using an electronic data collection and management system. This paper describes implementation of the electronic data collection system and associated findings. Methods: The Survey was based on a comprehensive data management protocol, to enable standardized, globally comparable high quality data collection and management. It included adaptation to specific country needs, selection of appropriate handheld hardware devices, use of open source software, and building country capacity and provide technical support. Results: In its first phase, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey was successfully conducted between 2008 and 2010, using an electronic data collection and management system for interviews in 302,800 households in 14 countries. More than 2,644 handheld computers were fielded and over 2,634 fieldworkers, supervisors and monitors were trained to use them. Questionnaires were developed and programmed in 38 languages and scripts. The global hardware failure rate was < 1% and data loss was almost 0%. Conclusion: Electronic data collection and management systems can be used effectively for conducting nationally representative surveys, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, irrespective of geographical, climatic, political and cultural environments, and capacity-building at the country level is an important vehicle for Health System Strengthening. PMID:23569638

Simulations of Plasmasheet Electrons in a Model Magnetosphere with AMIE Potentials: Implications for Diffuse Aurora

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, M. W.; Schulz, M.; Lu, G.

2001-12-01

We obtain distributions of precipitating electrons by tracing drift shells of plasmasheet electrons in the limit of strong pitch angle diffusion in Dungey's model magnetosphere, which consists of a dipolar magnetic field plus a uniform southward field. Under strong pitch-angle diffusion particles drift so as to conserve an adiabatic invariant Λ equal to the enclosed phase-space volume (i.e., the cube of the particle momentum p times the occupied flux-tube volume per unit magnetic flux). In the past we applied a quiescent Stern-Volland electric-field model with a cross-tail potential drop of 25 kV and added to it a storm-associated Brice-Nishida cross-magnetospheric electric field with impulses to represent substorm effects. For the present study we use the more realistic Assimilative Model of Ionospheric Electrodynamics (AMIE). We use an analytical expansion to express the AMIE ionospheric potential as a function of latitude and magnetic local time. We map this AMIE potential to latitudes >= 50^o to magnetospheric field lines with (L \\ge 2.5) in Dungey's magnetic field model. We trace the bounce-averaged drift motion of representative plasmasheet electrons for values of \\Lambda corresponding to energies of 0.25-64 keV on field lines of equatorial radial distance r = 6 R_E (L = 5.7), which maps to \\approx 65^o$ latitude in the ionosphere. We use the simulation results to map stormtime phase space distributions taking into account loss due to precipitation. We consider 2 models of electron scattering: (1) the limit of strong scattering everywhere, and (2) an MLT-dependent scattering that is less than everywhere strong in the plasma sheet. From the phase space distributions we calculate the total precipitating electron energy flux into the ionosphere. For this study we focus on the October 19, 1998, storm. We compare qualitatively the simulated energy flux with X-ray intensity from Polar/PIXIE images during this storm.

Electronic dispersion from long-range atomic ordering and periodic potentials in two overlapping graphene sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohta, Taisuke; Robinson, Jeremy; Feibelman, Peter; Beechem, Thomas; Diaconescu, Bogdan; Bostwick, Aaron; Rotenberg, Eli; Kellogg, Gary

2013-03-01

A worldwide effort is underway to learn how to build devices that take advantage of the remarkable electronic properties of graphene and other two-dimensional crystals. An outstanding question is how stacking two or a few such crystals affects their joint electronic behavior. Our talk concerns ``twisted bilayer graphene (TBG),'' that is, two graphene layers azimuthally misoriented. Applying angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory, we have found van Hove singularities (vHs) and associated mini-gaps in the TBG electronic spectrum, which represent unambiguous proof that the layers interact. Of particular interest is that the measured and calculated electronic dispersion manifests the periodicity of the moiré superlattice formed by the twist. Thus, there are vHs not just where the Dirac cones of the two layers overlap, but also at the boundaries of the moiré superlattice Brillouin zone. Moirés, ubiquitous in hybrid solids based on two-dimensional crystals, accordingly present themselves as tools for manipulating the electronic behavior. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Trap-induced charge transfer/transport at energy harvesting assembly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Seongeun; Paik, Hanjong; Kim, Tae Wan; Park, Byoungnam

2017-02-01

Understanding interfacial electronic properties between electron donors and acceptors in hybrid optoelectronic solar cells is crucial in governing the device parameters associated with energy harvesting. To probe the electronic localized states at an electron donor/acceptor interface comprising a representative hybrid solar cell, we investigated the electrical contact properties between Al-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) using AZO as the source and drain electrodes, pumping carriers from AZO into P3HT. The injection efficiency was evaluated using the transmission line method (TLM) in combination with field effect transistor characterizations. Highly conductive AZO films worked as the source and drain electrodes in the devices for TLM and field effect measurements. A comparable contact resistance difference between AZO/P3HT/AZO and Au/P3HT/Au structures contradicts the fact that a far larger energy barrier exists for electrons and holes between AZO and P3HT compared with between P3HT and Au based on the Schottky-Mott model. It is suggested that band to band tunneling accounts for the contradiction through the initial hop from AZO to P3HT for hole injection. The involvement of the tunneling mechanism in determining the contact resistance implies that there is a high density of electronic traps in the organic side.

Housing Electrons: Relating Quantum Numbers, Energy Levels, and Electron Configurations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garofalo, Anthony

1997-01-01

Presents an activity that combines the concepts of quantum numbers and probability locations, energy levels, and electron configurations in a concrete, hands-on way. Uses model houses constructed out of foam board and colored beads to represent electrons. (JRH)

Physician capability to electronically exchange clinical information, 2011.

PubMed

Patel, Vaishali; Swain, Matthew J; King, Jennifer; Furukawa, Michael F

2013-10-01

To provide national estimates of physician capability to electronically share clinical information with other providers and to describe variation in exchange capability across states and electronic health record (EHR) vendors using the 2011 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey Electronic Medical Record Supplement. Survey of a nationally representative sample of nonfederal office-based physicians who provide direct patient care. The survey was administered by mail with telephone follow-up and had a 61% weighted response rate. The overall sample consisted of 4326 respondents. We calculated estimates of electronic exchange capability at the national and state levels, and applied multivariate analyses to examine the association between the capability to exchange different types of clinical information and physician and practice characteristics. In 2011, 55% of physicians had computerized capability to send prescriptions electronically; 67% had the capability to view lab results electronically; 42% were able to incorporate lab results into their EHR; 35% were able to send lab orders electronically; and, 31% exchanged patient clinical summaries with other providers. The strongest predictor of exchange capability is adoption of an EHR. However, substantial variation exists across geography and EHR vendors in exchange capability, especially electronic exchange of clinical summaries. In 2011, a majority of office-based physicians could exchange lab and medication data, and approximately one-third could exchange clinical summaries with patients or other providers. EHRs serve as a key mechanism by which physicians can exchange clinical data, though physicians' capability to exchange varies by vendor and by state.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among a Representative Sample of US Adolescents, 2015.

PubMed

Monto, Martin A; McRee, Nick; Deryck, Frank S

2018-06-21

To provide prevalence estimates of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) based on large, representative, nonclinical samples of high-school students, and to explore gender differences in health risks associated with NSSI. We used 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data to estimate the prevalence of self-injury and variables potentially associated with self-injury for high-school-age boys (n = 32 150) and girls (n = 32 521) in 11 US states. We used logistic regression analysis to consider associations between NSSI and other health risks. Rates of boys reporting purposefully hurting themselves without wanting to die over the past 12 months ranged from 6.4% (Delaware) to 14.8% (Nevada). Rates for girls varied from 17.7% (Delaware) to 30.8% (Idaho). Rates declined with age and varied by race and ethnicity. Depression; suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts; sexual minority status; being electronically bullied; smoking; and substance use were associated with NSSI. There were minor differences in associations between NSSI and health risk variables by gender. Nonclinical populations of adolescents are at high risk for self-injury. Nonsuicidal self-injury was higher among girls than among boys, but patterns of association with other health risks were similar. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 21, 2018: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304470).

Using Semantic Web Technologies for Cohort Identification from Electronic Health Records for Clinical Research

PubMed Central

Pathak, Jyotishman; Kiefer, Richard C.; Chute, Christopher G.

2012-01-01

The ability to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has enabled new exploration of how genetic variations contribute to health and disease etiology. One of the key requirements to perform GWAS is the identification of subject cohorts with accurate classification of disease phenotypes. In this work, we study how emerging Semantic Web technologies can be applied in conjunction with clinical data stored in electronic health records (EHRs) to accurately identify subjects with specific diseases for inclusion in cohort studies. In particular, we demonstrate the role of using Resource Description Framework (RDF) for representing EHR data and enabling federated querying and inferencing via standardized Web protocols for identifying subjects with Diabetes Mellitus. Our study highlights the potential of using Web-scale data federation approaches to execute complex queries. PMID:22779040

12 CFR 210.12 - Return of cash items and handling of returned checks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... FEDWIRE (REGULATION J) Collection of Checks and Other Items By Federal Reserve Banks § 210.12 Return of...— (i) The electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the... electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the front and back of...

12 CFR 210.12 - Return of cash items and handling of returned checks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... FEDWIRE (REGULATION J) Collection of Checks and Other Items By Federal Reserve Banks § 210.12 Return of...— (i) The electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the... electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the front and back of...

12 CFR 210.12 - Return of cash items and handling of returned checks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... FEDWIRE (REGULATION J) Collection of Checks and Other Items By Federal Reserve Banks § 210.12 Return of...— (i) The electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the... electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the front and back of...

12 CFR 210.12 - Return of cash items and handling of returned checks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... FEDWIRE (REGULATION J) Collection of Checks and Other Items By Federal Reserve Banks § 210.12 Return of...— (i) The electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the... electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the front and back of...

12 CFR 210.12 - Return of cash items and handling of returned checks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... FEDWIRE (REGULATION J) Collection of Checks and Other Items By Federal Reserve Banks § 210.12 Return of...— (i) The electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the... electronic image portion of the item accurately represents all of the information on the front and back of...

Examining rare and low-frequency genetic variants previously associated with lone or familial forms of atrial fibrillation in an electronic medical record system: a cautionary note.

PubMed

Weeke, Peter; Denny, Joshua C; Basterache, Lisa; Shaffer, Christian; Bowton, Erica; Ingram, Christie; Darbar, Dawood; Roden, Dan M

2015-02-01

Studies in individuals or small kindreds have implicated rare variants in 25 different genes in lone and familial atrial fibrillation (AF) using linkage and segregation analysis, functional characterization, and rarity in public databases. Here, we used a cohort of 20 204 patients of European or African ancestry with electronic medical records and exome chip data to compare the frequency of AF among carriers and noncarriers of these rare variants. The exome chip included 19 of 115 rare variants, in 9 genes, previously associated with lone or familial AF. Using validated algorithms querying a combination of clinical notes, structured billing codes, ECG reports, and procedure codes, we identified 1056 AF cases (>18 years) and 19 148 non-AF controls (>50 years) with available genotype data on the Illumina HumanExome BeadChip v.1.0 in the Vanderbilt electronic medical record-linked DNA repository, BioVU. Known correlations between AF and common variants at 4q25 were replicated. None of the 19 variants previously associated with AF were over-represented among AF cases (P>0.1 for all), and the frequency of variant carriers among non-AF controls was >0.1% for 14 of 19. Repeat analyses using non-AF controls aged >60 (n=14 904), >70 (n=9670), and >80 (n=4729) years did not influence these findings. Rare variants previously implicated in lone or familial forms of AF present on the exome chip are detected at low frequencies in a general population but are not associated with AF. These findings emphasize the need for caution when ascribing variants as pathogenic or causative. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Two conformational states of the membrane-associated Bacillus thuringiensis Cry4Ba {delta}-endotoxin complex revealed by electron crystallography: Implications for toxin-pore formation

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

Ounjai, Puey; Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics and Structural Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakornpathom 73170; Unger, Vinzenz M.

The insecticidal nature of Cry {delta}-endotoxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis is generally believed to be caused by their ability to form lytic pores in the midgut cell membrane of susceptible insect larvae. Here we have analyzed membrane-associated structures of the 65-kDa dipteran-active Cry4Ba toxin by electron crystallography. The membrane-associated toxin complex was crystallized in the presence of DMPC via detergent dialysis. Depending upon the charge of the adsorbed surface, 2D crystals of the oligomeric toxin complex have been captured in two distinct conformations. The projection maps of those crystals have been generated at 17 A resolution. Both complexes appeared tomore » be trimeric; as in one crystal form, its projection structure revealed a symmetrical pinwheel-like shape with virtually no depression in the middle of the complex. The other form revealed a propeller-like conformation displaying an obvious hole in the center region, presumably representing the toxin-induced pore. These crystallographic data thus demonstrate for the first time that the 65-kDa activated Cry4Ba toxin in association with lipid membranes could exist in at least two different trimeric conformations, conceivably implying the closed and open states of the pore.« less

Amphibian ocular malformation associated with frog virus 3.

PubMed

Burton, Elizabeth C; Miller, Debra L; Styer, Eloise L; Gray, Matthew J

2008-09-01

During an on-going amphibian ecology study, a free-ranging American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) metamorph was captured in a pitfall trap adjacent to a constructed farm pond at the Plateau Research and Education Center (PREC) on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, Tennessee, USA. Grossly, the right eye was approximately 50% the size of the left. Stereo and light microscopic examination revealed two granulomas within the orbit. Electron microscopic examination revealed virus particles scattered throughout one structure but mostly aggregated toward the center. Subsequent PCR and sequencing (GenBank accession Number EF175670) confirmed frog virus 3 (FV3). This represents the first report of a malformation in an anuran associated with FV3.

Characterization and evolution of dermal filaments from patients with Morgellons disease.

PubMed

Middelveen, Marianne J; Mayne, Peter J; Kahn, Douglas G; Stricker, Raphael B

2013-01-01

Morgellons disease is an emerging skin disease characterized by formation of dermal filaments associated with multisystemic symptoms and tick-borne illness. Some clinicians hypothesize that these often colorful dermal filaments are textile fibers, either self-implanted by patients or accidentally adhering to lesions, and conclude that patients with this disease have delusions of infestation. We present histological observations and electron microscopic imaging from representative Morgellons disease samples revealing that dermal filaments in these cases are keratin and collagen in composition and result from proliferation and activation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the epidermis. Spirochetes were detected in the dermatological specimens from our study patients, providing evidence that Morgellons disease is associated with an infectious process.

Communication systems, transceivers, and methods for generating data based on channel characteristics

DOEpatents

Forman, Michael A; Young, Derek

2012-09-18

Examples of methods for generating data based on a communications channel are described. In one such example, a processing unit may generate a first vector representation based in part on at least two characteristics of a communications channel. A constellation having at least two dimensions may be addressed with the first vector representation to identify a first symbol associated with the first vector representation. The constellation represents a plurality of regions, each region associated with a respective symbol. The symbol may be used to generate data, which may stored in an electronic storage medium and used as a cryptographic key or a spreading code or hopping sequence in a modulation technique.

Thermoelectric transport in Cu7PSe6 with high copper ionic mobility.

PubMed

Weldert, Kai S; Zeier, Wolfgang G; Day, Tristan W; Panthöfer, Martin; Snyder, G Jeffrey; Tremel, Wolfgang

2014-08-27

Building on the good thermoelectric performances of binary superionic compounds like Cu2Se, Ag2Se and Cu2S, a better and more detailed understanding of phonon-liquid electron-crystal (PLEC) thermoelectric materials is desirable. In this work we present the thermoelectric transport properties of the compound Cu7PSe6 as the first representative of the class of argyrodite-type ion conducting thermoelectrics. With a huge variety of possible compositions and high ionic conductivity even at room temperature, the argyrodites represent a very good model system to study structure-property relationships for PLEC thermoelectric materials. We particularly highlight the extraordinary low thermal conductivity of Cu7PSe6 below the glass limit, which can be associated with the molten copper sublattice leading to a softening of phonon modes.

Virtual substrate method for nanomaterials characterization

PubMed Central

Da, Bo; Liu, Jiangwei; Yamamoto, Mahito; Ueda, Yoshihiro; Watanabe, Kazuyuki; Cuong, Nguyen Thanh; Li, Songlin; Tsukagoshi, Kazuhito; Yoshikawa, Hideki; Iwai, Hideo; Tanuma, Shigeo; Guo, Hongxuan; Gao, Zhaoshun; Sun, Xia; Ding, Zejun

2017-01-01

Characterization techniques available for bulk or thin-film solid-state materials have been extended to substrate-supported nanomaterials, but generally non-quantitatively. This is because the nanomaterial signals are inevitably buried in the signals from the underlying substrate in common reflection-configuration techniques. Here, we propose a virtual substrate method, inspired by the four-point probe technique for resistance measurement as well as the chop-nod method in infrared astronomy, to characterize nanomaterials without the influence of underlying substrate signals from four interrelated measurements. By implementing this method in secondary electron (SE) microscopy, a SE spectrum (white electrons) associated with the reflectivity difference between two different substrates can be tracked and controlled. The SE spectrum is used to quantitatively investigate the covering nanomaterial based on subtle changes in the transmission of the nanomaterial with high efficiency rivalling that of conventional core-level electrons. The virtual substrate method represents a benchmark for surface analysis to provide ‘free-standing' information about supported nanomaterials. PMID:28548114

Dielectronic Satellite Spectra of Na-like Mo Ions Benchmarked by LLNL EBIT with Application to HED Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stafford, A.; Safronova, A. S.; Kantsyrev, V. L.; Safronova, U. I.; Petkov, E. E.; Shlyaptseva, V. V.; Childers, R.; Shrestha, I.; Beiersdorfer, P.; Hell, H.; Brown, G. V.

2017-10-01

Dielectronic recombination (DR) is an important process for astrophysical and laboratory high energy density (HED) plasmas and the associated satellite lines are frequently used for plasma diagnostics. In particular, K-shell DR satellite lines were studied in detail in low-Z plasmas. L-shell Na-like spectral features from Mo X-pinches considered here represent the blend of DR and inner shell satellites and motivated the detailed study of DR at the EBIT-1 electron beam ion trap at LLNL. In these experiments the beam energy was swept between 0.6 - 2.4 keV to produce resonances at certain electron beam energies. The advantages of using an electron beam ion trap to better understand atomic processes with highly ionized ions in HED Mo plasma are highlighted. This work was supported by NNSA under DOE Grant DE-NA0002954. Work at LLNL was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Solvent effects on the properties of hyperbranched polythiophenes.

PubMed

Torras, Juan; Zanuy, David; Aradilla, David; Alemán, Carlos

2016-09-21

The structural and electronic properties of all-thiophene dendrimers and dendrons in solution have been evaluated using very different theoretical approaches based on quantum mechanical (QM) and hybrid QM/molecular mechanics (MM) methodologies: (i) calculations on minimum energy conformations using an implicit solvation model in combination with density functional theory (DFT) or time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) methods; (ii) hybrid QM/MM calculations, in which the solute and solvent molecules are represented at the DFT level as point charges, respectively, on snapshots extracted from classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using explicit solvent molecules, and (iii) QM/MM-MD trajectories in which the solute is described at the DFT or TD-DFT level and the explicit solvent molecules are represented using classical force-fields. Calculations have been performed in dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran and dimethylformamide. A comparison of the results obtained using the different approaches with the available experimental data indicates that the incorporation of effects associated with both the conformational dynamics of the dendrimer and the explicit solvent molecules is strictly necessary to satisfactorily reproduce the properties of the investigated systems. Accordingly, QM/MM-MD simulations are able to capture such effects providing a reliable description of electronic properties-conformational flexibility relationships in all-Th dendrimers.

Thermal electron heating rate: A derivation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoegy, W. R.

1983-01-01

The thermal electron heating rate is an important heat source term in the ionospheric electron energy balance equation, representing heating by photoelectrons or by precipitating higher energy electrons. A formula for the thermal electron heating rate is derived from the kinetic equation using the electron-electron collision operator as given by the unified theory of Kihara and Aono. This collision operator includes collective interactions to produce a finite collision operator with an exact Coulomb logarithm term. The derived heating rate O(e) is the sum of three terms, O(e) = O(p) + S + O(int), which are respectively: (1) primary electron production term giving the heating from newly created electrons that have not yet suffered collisions with the ambient electrons; (2) a heating term evaluated on the energy surface m(e)/2 = E(T) at the transition between Maxwellian and tail electrons at E(T); and (3) the integral term representing heating of Maxwellian electrons by energetic tail electrons at energies ET. Published ionospheric electron temperature studies used only the integral term O(int) with differing lower integration limits. Use of the incomplete heating rate could lead to erroneous conclusions regarding electron heat balance, since O(e) is greater than O(int) by as much as a factor of two.

Extracellular Enzymes Facilitate Electron Uptake in Biocorrosion and Bioelectrosynthesis

PubMed Central

Deutzmann, Jörg S.; Sahin, Merve

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT Direct, mediator-free transfer of electrons between a microbial cell and a solid phase in its surrounding environment has been suggested to be a widespread and ecologically significant process. The high rates of microbial electron uptake observed during microbially influenced corrosion of iron [Fe(0)] and during microbial electrosynthesis have been considered support for a direct electron uptake in these microbial processes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of direct electron uptake are unknown. We investigated the electron uptake characteristics of the Fe(0)-corroding and electromethanogenic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis and discovered that free, surface-associated redox enzymes, such as hydrogenases and presumably formate dehydrogenases, are sufficient to mediate an apparent direct electron uptake. In genetic and biochemical experiments, we showed that these enzymes, which are released from cells during routine culturing, catalyze the formation of H2 or formate when sorbed to an appropriate redox-active surface. These low-molecular-weight products are rapidly consumed by M. maripaludis cells when present, thereby preventing their accumulation to any appreciable or even detectable level. Rates of H2 and formate formation by cell-free spent culture medium were sufficient to explain the observed rates of methane formation from Fe(0) and cathode-derived electrons by wild-type M. maripaludis as well as by a mutant strain carrying deletions in all catabolic hydrogenases. Our data collectively show that cell-derived free enzymes can mimic direct extracellular electron transfer during Fe(0) corrosion and microbial electrosynthesis and may represent an ecologically important but so far overlooked mechanism in biological electron transfer. PMID:25900658

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

Ullrich, C. A.; Kohn, W.

An electron density distribution n(r) which can be represented by that of a single-determinant ground state of noninteracting electrons in an external potential v(r) is called pure-state v -representable (P-VR). Most physical electronic systems are P-VR. Systems which require a weighted sum of several such determinants to represent their density are called ensemble v -representable (E-VR). This paper develops formal Kohn-Sham equations for E-VR physical systems, using the appropriate coupling constant integration. It also derives local density- and generalized gradient approximations, and conditions and corrections specific to ensembles.

The Association between Potential Exposure to Magazine Ads with Voluntary Health Warnings and the Perceived Harmfulness of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)

PubMed Central

Weaver, Scott R.; Zahra, Nahleen; Huang, Jidong; Cheng, Kai-Wen; Chaloupka, Frank J.

2018-01-01

(1) Background: Several brands of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) carry voluntary health warning messages. This study examined how potential exposure to ENDS magazine ads with these voluntary health warnings were associated with the perceived harmfulness of ENDS. (2) Methods: Risk perception measures and self-reported exposure to ENDS ads were obtained from the 2014 Georgia State University (GSU) Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. We examined the association between potential exposure to magazine ads with warnings and the perceived harms of ENDS relative to cigarettes, using binary logistic regressions and controlling for general ENDS ad exposure and socio-demographic characteristics. (3) Results: Potential exposure to ENDS magazine ads with warnings was associated with a lower probability of considering ENDS to be more or equally harmful compared to cigarettes, particularly among non-smokers (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04–0.77). In addition, ad exposure, ENDS use history, race/ethnicity, gender, education, and income were also associated with harm perceptions. (4) Conclusions: This study did not find evidence that magazine ads with warnings increased misperceptions that ENDS are equally or more harmful than cigarettes. With more ENDS advertisements carrying warnings, more research is needed to determine how the warnings in advertisements convey relative harm information to consumers and the public. PMID:29570638

The Association between Potential Exposure to Magazine Ads with Voluntary Health Warnings and the Perceived Harmfulness of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).

PubMed

Shang, Ce; Weaver, Scott R; Zahra, Nahleen; Huang, Jidong; Cheng, Kai-Wen; Chaloupka, Frank J

2018-03-23

(1) Background: Several brands of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) carry voluntary health warning messages. This study examined how potential exposure to ENDS magazine ads with these voluntary health warnings were associated with the perceived harmfulness of ENDS. (2) Methods: Risk perception measures and self-reported exposure to ENDS ads were obtained from the 2014 Georgia State University (GSU) Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Survey of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. We examined the association between potential exposure to magazine ads with warnings and the perceived harms of ENDS relative to cigarettes, using binary logistic regressions and controlling for general ENDS ad exposure and socio-demographic characteristics. (3) Results: Potential exposure to ENDS magazine ads with warnings was associated with a lower probability of considering ENDS to be more or equally harmful compared to cigarettes, particularly among non-smokers (OR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.04-0.77). In addition, ad exposure, ENDS use history, race/ethnicity, gender, education, and income were also associated with harm perceptions. (4) Conclusions: This study did not find evidence that magazine ads with warnings increased misperceptions that ENDS are equally or more harmful than cigarettes. With more ENDS advertisements carrying warnings, more research is needed to determine how the warnings in advertisements convey relative harm information to consumers and the public.

Electronic neural network for dynamic resource allocation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thakoor, A. P.; Eberhardt, S. P.; Daud, T.

1991-01-01

A VLSI implementable neural network architecture for dynamic assignment is presented. The resource allocation problems involve assigning members of one set (e.g. resources) to those of another (e.g. consumers) such that the global 'cost' of the associations is minimized. The network consists of a matrix of sigmoidal processing elements (neurons), where the rows of the matrix represent resources and columns represent consumers. Unlike previous neural implementations, however, association costs are applied directly to the neurons, reducing connectivity of the network to VLSI-compatible 0 (number of neurons). Each row (and column) has an additional neuron associated with it to independently oversee activations of all the neurons in each row (and each column), providing a programmable 'k-winner-take-all' function. This function simultaneously enforces blocking (excitatory/inhibitory) constraints during convergence to control the number of active elements in each row and column within desired boundary conditions. Simulations show that the network, when implemented in fully parallel VLSI hardware, offers optimal (or near-optimal) solutions within only a fraction of a millisecond, for problems up to 128 resources and 128 consumers, orders of magnitude faster than conventional computing or heuristic search methods.

Where are we on the diffusion curve? Trends and drivers of primary care physicians' use of health information technology.

PubMed

Audet, Anne-Marie; Squires, David; Doty, Michelle M

2014-02-01

To describe trends in primary care physicians' use of health information technology (HIT) between 2009 and 2012, examine practice characteristics associated with greater HIT capacity in 2012, and explore factors such as delivery system and payment reforms that may affect adoption and functionality. We used data from the 2012 and 2009 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Surveys of Primary Care Physicians. The data were collected in both years by postal mail between March and July among a nationally representative sample of primary care physicians in the United States. We compared primary care physicians' HIT capacity in 2009 and 2012. We employed multivariable logistic regression to analyze whether participating in an integrated delivery system, sharing resources and support with other practices, and being eligible for financial incentives were associated with greater HIT capacity in 2012. Primary care physicians' HIT capacity has significantly expanded since 2009, although solo practices continue to lag. Practices that are part of an integrated delivery system or share resources with other practices have higher rates of electronic medical record (EMR) adoption, multifunctional HIT, electronic information exchange, and electronic access for patients. Receiving or being eligible for financial incentives is associated with greater adoption of EMRs and information exchange. Federal efforts to increase adoption have coincided with a rapid increase in HIT capacity. Delivery system and payment reforms and federally funded extension programs could offer promising pathways for further diffusion. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Lie algebraic approach to valence bond theory of π-electron systems: a preliminary study of excited states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paldus, J.; Li, X.

1992-10-01

Following a brief outline of various developments and exploitations of the unitary group approach (UGA), and its extension referred to as Clifford algebra UGA (CAUGA), in molecular electronic structure calculations, we present a summary of a recently introduced implementation of CAUGA for the valence bond (VB) method based on the Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP)-type Hamiltonian. The existing applications of this PPP-VB approach have been limited to groundstates of various π-electron systems or, at any rate, to the lowest states of a given multiplicity. In this paper the method is applied to the low-lying excited states of several archetypal models, namely cyclobutadiene and benzene, representing antiaromatic and aromatic systems, hexatriene, representing linear polyenic systems and, finally, naphthalene, representing polyacenes.

Effect of Electron Donor and Solution Chemistry on Products of Dissimilatory Reduction of Technetium by Shewanella putrefaciens

PubMed Central

Wildung, R. E.; Gorby, Y. A.; Krupka, K. M.; Hess, N. J.; Li, S. W.; Plymale, A. E.; McKinley, J. P.; Fredrickson, J. K.

2000-01-01

To help provide a fundamental basis for use of microbial dissimilatory reduction processes in separating or immobilizing 99Tc in waste or groundwaters, the effects of electron donor and the presence of the bicarbonate ion on the rate and extent of pertechnetate ion [Tc(VII)O4−] enzymatic reduction by the subsurface metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 were determined, and the forms of aqueous and solid-phase reduction products were evaluated through a combination of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and thermodynamic calculations. When H2 served as the electron donor, dissolved Tc(VII) was rapidly reduced to amorphous Tc(IV) hydrous oxide, which was largely associated with the cell in unbuffered 0.85% NaCl and with extracellular particulates (0.2 to 0.001 μm) in bicarbonate buffer. Cell-associated Tc was present principally in the periplasm and outside the outer membrane. The reduction rate was much lower when lactate was the electron donor, with extracellular Tc(IV) hydrous oxide the dominant solid-phase reduction product, but in bicarbonate systems much less Tc(IV) was associated directly with the cell and solid-phase Tc(IV) carbonate may have been present. In the presence of carbonate, soluble (<0.001 μm) electronegative, Tc(IV) carbonate complexes were also formed that exceeded Tc(VII)O4− in electrophoretic mobility. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the dominant reduced Tc species identified in the experiments would be stable over a range of Eh and pH conditions typical of natural waters. Thus, carbonate complexes may represent an important pathway for Tc transport in anaerobic subsurface environments, where it has generally been assumed that Tc mobility is controlled by low-solubility Tc(IV) hydrous oxide and adsorptive, aqueous Tc(IV) hydrolysis products. PMID:10831424

[FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenase diversity, mechanism, and maturation.

PubMed

Peters, John W; Schut, Gerrit J; Boyd, Eric S; Mulder, David W; Shepard, Eric M; Broderick, Joan B; King, Paul W; Adams, Michael W W

2015-06-01

The [FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenases catalyze the formal interconversion between hydrogen and protons and electrons, possess characteristic non-protein ligands at their catalytic sites and thus share common mechanistic features. Despite the similarities between these two types of hydrogenases, they clearly have distinct evolutionary origins and likely emerged from different selective pressures. [FeFe]-hydrogenases are widely distributed in fermentative anaerobic microorganisms and likely evolved under selective pressure to couple hydrogen production to the recycling of electron carriers that accumulate during anaerobic metabolism. In contrast, many [NiFe]-hydrogenases catalyze hydrogen oxidation as part of energy metabolism and were likely key enzymes in early life and arguably represent the predecessors of modern respiratory metabolism. Although the reversible combination of protons and electrons to generate hydrogen gas is the simplest of chemical reactions, the [FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenases have distinct mechanisms and differ in the fundamental chemistry associated with proton transfer and control of electron flow that also help to define catalytic bias. A unifying feature of these enzymes is that hydrogen activation itself has been restricted to one solution involving diatomic ligands (carbon monoxide and cyanide) bound to an Fe ion. On the other hand, and quite remarkably, the biosynthetic mechanisms to produce these ligands are exclusive to each type of enzyme. Furthermore, these mechanisms represent two independent solutions to the formation of complex bioinorganic active sites for catalyzing the simplest of chemical reactions, reversible hydrogen oxidation. As such, the [FeFe]- and [NiFe]-hydrogenases are arguably the most profound case of convergent evolution. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Fe/S proteins: Analysis, structure, function, biogenesis and diseases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Depth- and momentum- resolved electronic structure at buried oxide interfaces from standing-wave angle-resolved photoemission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fadley, Charles

2015-03-01

It is clear that interfaces in complex oxide heterostructures often represent emergent materials that possess surprising properties not associated with the parent oxides, such as two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs), superconductivity, and magnetism. A detailed knowledge of the composition, atomic structure, and electronic structure through such interfaces is thus critical. Photomission (PES) and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) represent techniques of choice for such studies, but have certain limitations in being too surface sensitive and in not being able to focus specifically on buried interfaces or heterostructure layers. In this talk, I will discuss combining two newer elements of PES/ARPES to deal with this challenge: - the use of soft x-rays in the ca. few hundred-to-2000 eV regime, or even into the true hard x-ray regime, to probe more deeply into the structure, and - tailoring of the x-ray intensity profile into a strong standing wave (SW) through reflection from a multilayer heterostructure to provide much enhanced depth resolution. The relative advantages of soft/hard x-ray PES and ARPES and their complementarity to conventional VUV ARPES in the ca. 5-150 eV regime will be considered. As illustrative examples, by combining SW-PES and SW-ARPES, it has been possible to measure for the first time the detailed concentration profiles and momentum-resolved electronic structure at the SrTiO3/La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 interface and to directly measure the depth profile of the 2DEG at SrTiO3/GdTiO3 interfaces. Future directions for such measurements will also be discussed. Supported by US DOE Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231, ARO-MURI Grant W911-NF-09-1-0398, and the PALM-APTCOM Project (France).

Termolecular Associations of Ions in Gases, Recombination and Electron-Atom Collisions

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-09-30

its ok, . ight to many important 0 U applications (e.g., exciplex lasers, KrF , XeCl etc.) ..c also it represents the simplest three-body chemical...Lon.) A 35, 287-301. 11. ibid., 1982, J. Phys. B: At. ol . Phys. 15, 1949-56. 12. Bates, D. R., and Moffett, 1966, Proc. Roy. Soc. (Lon.) A 21, 1-8. 13...Invariant Imbedding and Integral Equations, (P. Nelson, V. Faber, T. A. Nanteuffel, D. A. Seth and A. B. White , Jr., eds.) Marcel Dekker. 18. Ferziger, J

Factors associated with patient and parent satisfaction after orthodontic treatment: a systematic review.

PubMed

Pachêco-Pereira, Camila; Pereira, José Roberto; Dick, Bruce D; Perez, Arnaldo; Flores-Mir, Carlos

2015-10-01

Our objective was to identify factors associated with orthodontic treatment satisfaction of patients and their caregivers, when applicable. MEDLINE via Ovid, PubMed, EBM Reviews and EMBASE via OVIDSP, LILACS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched electronically. Reference lists of included articles were also screened for potential relevant studies missed during the electronic searches. Studies evaluating the satisfaction levels of patients or caregivers after orthodontic treatment were considered. Methodologic quality of the included studies was assessed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Eighteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, representing 2891 patients and 464 parents. The risk of bias was moderate in 13 and low in 4 of the included articles. The studies used different questionnaires and timings to assess postorthodontic treatment satisfaction. Based on the available limited evidence, satisfaction was associated with perceived esthetic outcomes, psychological benefits, and quality of care. The latter was specifically linked to dentist-staff-patient interactions. Dissatisfaction was associated with treatment duration, pain levels and discomfort, and the use of retention appliances. When both assessments were available, the patient's and the parent's satisfaction levels were strongly correlated. Based on the limited available evidence with moderate risk of bias, we identified factors that appear to be more commonly associated with a high or low level of satisfaction. Consideration of these factors could be important for practitioners attempting to set realistic expectations of their patients and caregivers regarding orthodontic treatment outcomes. Copyright © 2015 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Screen time, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity among school-age children from Monteria, Colombia.

PubMed

Arango, Carlos M; Parra, Diana C; Gómez, Luis F; Lema, Lucía; Lobelo, Felipe; Ekelund, Ulf

2014-09-01

To explore the association between electronic media exposure (television viewing time, personal computer/video game use, total screen time), and waist circumference and body mass index, and study whether this association is independent of cardiorespiratory fitness, in a representative sample of adolescents from Montería, Colombia. Cross-sectional study analyzing data from 546 students aged 11-18 years, from fourteen randomly selected schools. Z-scores for WC and BMI were calculated. The physical activity module of the Global School Health Survey 2007 was used to determine EME, and the shuttle run test was used to assess CRF. Linear regression models adjusted by age, school location, physical activity level, type of institution (public or private), consumption of sweetened beverages, fast food, and fried food were used. Among boys, independently of cardiorespiratory fitness, high television viewing time (≥ 2 h/day) (β=+0.22; p<0.02), was positively associated with waist circumference. High total screen time (>3h/day) was positively associated with waist circumference (β=+0.34; p<0.01), and body mass index (β=+0.39; p<0.01). Among girls, sedentary behavior was not associated with adiposity, but cardiorespiratory fitness (β=-0.04; p<0.02) was negatively associated with body mass index. These findings support the evidence on the negative impact of excessive electronic media exposure and low cardiorespiratory fitness, and highlight the need for interventions and prevention strategies. Copyright © 2013 Sports Medicine Australia. All rights reserved.

Comparison of measured with calculated dose distribution from a 120-MeV electron beam from a laser-plasma accelerator.

PubMed

Lundh, O; Rechatin, C; Faure, J; Ben-Ismaïl, A; Lim, J; De Wagter, C; De Neve, W; Malka, V

2012-06-01

To evaluate the dose distribution of a 120-MeV laser-plasma accelerated electron beam which may be of potential interest for high-energy electron radiation therapy. In the interaction between an intense laser pulse and a helium gas jet, a well collimated electron beam with very high energy is produced. A secondary laser beam is used to optically control and to tune the electron beam energy and charge. The potential use of this beam for radiation treatment is evaluated experimentally by measurements of dose deposition in a polystyrene phantom. The results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations using the geant4 code. It has been shown that the laser-plasma accelerated electron beam can deliver a peak dose of more than 1 Gy at the entrance of the phantom in a single laser shot by direct irradiation, without the use of intermediate magnetic transport or focusing. The dose distribution is peaked on axis, with narrow lateral penumbra. Monte Carlo simulations of electron beam propagation and dose deposition indicate that the propagation of the intense electron beam (with large self-fields) can be described by standard models that exclude collective effects in the response of the material. The measurements show that the high-energy electron beams produced by an optically injected laser-plasma accelerator can deliver high enough dose at penetration depths of interest for electron beam radiotherapy of deep-seated tumors. Many engineering issues must be resolved before laser-accelerated electrons can be used for cancer therapy, but they also represent exciting challenges for future research. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

Polygenic loading for major depression is associated with specific medical comorbidity

PubMed Central

McCoy, T H; Castro, V M; Snapper, L; Hart, K; Januzzi, J L; Huffman, J C; Perlis, R H

2017-01-01

Major depressive disorder frequently co-occurs with medical disorders, raising the possibility of shared genetic liability. Recent identification of 15 novel genetic loci associated with depression allows direct investigation of this question. In cohorts of individuals participating in biobanks at two academic medical centers, we calculated polygenic loading for risk loci reported to be associated with depression. We then examined the association between such loading and 50 groups of clinical diagnoses, or topics, drawn from these patients' electronic health records, determined using a novel application of latent Dirichilet allocation. Three topics showed experiment-wide association with the depression liability score; these included diagnostic groups representing greater prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, greater prevalence of cardiac ischemia, and a decreased prevalence of heart failure. The latter two associations persisted even among individuals with no mood disorder diagnosis. This application of a novel method for grouping related diagnoses in biobanks indicate shared genetic risk for depression and cardiac disease, with a pattern suggesting greater ischemic risk and diminished heart failure risk. PMID:28926002

Asynchronous automated electronic laboratory result notifications: a systematic review.

PubMed

Slovis, Benjamin H; Nahass, Thomas A; Salmasian, Hojjat; Kuperman, Gilad; Vawdrey, David K

2017-11-01

To systematically review the literature pertaining to asynchronous automated electronic notifications of laboratory results to clinicians. PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Collaboration were queried for studies pertaining to automated electronic notifications of laboratory results. A title review was performed on the primary results, with a further abstract review and full review to produce the final set of included articles. The full review included 34 articles, representing 19 institutions. Of these, 19 reported implementation and design of systems, 11 reported quasi-experimental studies, 3 reported a randomized controlled trial, and 1 was a meta-analysis. Twenty-seven articles included alerts of critical results, while 5 focused on urgent notifications and 2 on elective notifications. There was considerable variability in clinical setting, system implementation, and results presented. Several asynchronous automated electronic notification systems for laboratory results have been evaluated, most from >10 years ago. Further research on the effect of notifications on clinicians as well as the use of modern electronic health records and new methods of notification is warranted to determine their effects on workflow and clinical outcomes. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Sources of information used to support quality use of medicines: findings from a national survey of nurse practitioners in Australia.

PubMed

Buckley, Thomas; Stasa, Helen; Cashin, Andrew; Stuart, Meg; Dunn, Sandra V

2015-02-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sources, both print and electronic formats, which Australian nurse practitioners (NPs) currently use to obtain information regarding quality use of medicines (QUM). An additional aim was to document NPs' preferences for continuing education in relation to QUM. A national electronic survey of Australian NPs was conducted in 2007 and again in 2010. Eighty percent of respondents accessed information on QUM from professional literature, which may include scholarly journal articles, reports, and independent publications. There was a decrease in the percentage of respondents who obtained information from drug industry representatives. NPs prefer to receive medicines information in an electronic form, rather than a paper-based version, and over the time period more NPs are utilizing electronic sources rather than paper. These findings provide important insights into medical information products for the developers who may be able to use these results to ensure that their products meet the needs of NP clinicians. Additionally, the finding that NPs prefer to receive their continuing information related to medicines in electronic format, but also highly value conference proceedings, may help to inform future planning of NP education needs in relation to QUM. ©2014 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Methods, analysis, and the treatment of systematic errors for the electron electric dipole moment search in thorium monoxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baron, J.; Campbell, W. C.; DeMille, D.; Doyle, J. M.; Gabrielse, G.; Gurevich, Y. V.; Hess, P. W.; Hutzler, N. R.; Kirilov, E.; Kozyryev, I.; O'Leary, B. R.; Panda, C. D.; Parsons, M. F.; Spaun, B.; Vutha, A. C.; West, A. D.; West, E. P.; ACME Collaboration

2017-07-01

We recently set a new limit on the electric dipole moment of the electron (eEDM) (J Baron et al and ACME collaboration 2014 Science 343 269-272), which represented an order-of-magnitude improvement on the previous limit and placed more stringent constraints on many charge-parity-violating extensions to the standard model. In this paper we discuss the measurement in detail. The experimental method and associated apparatus are described, together with the techniques used to isolate the eEDM signal. In particular, we detail the way experimental switches were used to suppress effects that can mimic the signal of interest. The methods used to search for systematic errors, and models explaining observed systematic errors, are also described. We briefly discuss possible improvements to the experiment.

Evidence for associated production of a Higgs boson with a top quark pair in final states with electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying $$\\tau$$ leptons at $$\\sqrt{s} =$$ 13 TeV

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

Sirunyan, Albert M; et al.

Results of a search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with a top quark pair (more » $$\\mathrm{t\\overline{t}}$$H) in final states with electrons, muons, and hadronically decaying $$\\tau$$ leptons are presented. The analyzed data set corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb$$^{-1}$$ recorded in proton-proton collisions at $$\\sqrt{s} =$$ 13 TeV by the CMS experiment in 2016. The sensitivity of the search is improved by using matrix element and machine learning methods to separate the signal from backgrounds. The measured signal rate amounts to 1.23$$^{+0.45}_{-0.43}$$ times the production rate expected in the standard model, with an observed (expected) significance of 3.2$$\\sigma$$ (2.8$$\\sigma$$), which represents evidence for $$\\mathrm{t\\overline{t}}$$H production in those final states. An upper limit on the signal rate of 2.1 times the standard model production rate is set at 95% confidence level.« less

Fluorinated Dodecaphenylporphyrins: Synthetic and Electrochemical Studies Including the First Evidence of Intramolecular Electron Transfer Between an Fe(II) Porphyrin -Anion Radical and an Fe(I) Porphyrin

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

D'Souza, F.; Forsyth, T.P.; Fukuzumi, S.

1998-10-19

Dodecaphenylporphyrins with varying degrees of fluorination of the peripheral phenyl rings (FXDPPS) were synthesized as model compounds for studying electronic effects in nonplan~ porphyrins, and detailed electrochemical studies of the chloroiron(HI) complexes of these compounds were undertaken. The series of porphyrins, represented as FeDPPCl and as FeFXDPPCl where x = 4, 8 (two isomers), 12, 20,28 or 36, could be reversibly oxidized by two electrons in dichloromethane to give n-cation radicals and n-dications. All of the compounds investigated could also be reduced by three electrons in benzonitrile or pyridine. In benzonitrile, three reversible reductions were observed for the unfluorinated compoundmore » FeDPPC1, whereas the FeFXDPPCl complexes generally exhibited irreversible first and second reductions which were coupled to chemical reactions. The chemical reaction associated with the first reduction involved a loss of the chloride ion after generation of Fe FXDPPC1. The second chemical reaction involved a novel intramolecular electron transfer between the initially generated Fe(H) porphyrin n-anion radical and the final Fe(I) porphyrin reduction product. In pyridine, three reversible one electron reductions were observed with the second reduction affording stable Fe(II) porphyrin o - anion radicals for ail of the complexes investigated.« less

Manual faucets induce more biofilms than electronic faucets.

PubMed

Mäkinen, Riika; Miettinen, Ilkka T; Pitkänen, Tarja; Kusnetsov, Jaana; Pursiainen, Anna; Kovanen, Sara; Riihinen, Kalle; Keinänen-Toivola, Minna M

2013-06-01

Electronic faucets (types E1 and E2) and manual (M) faucets were studied for microbial quality, i.e., biomass and pathogenic microbes of biofilms in the faucet aerator, the water, and the outer surface of faucet in a hospital in Finland. Heterotrophic plate count content reflecting culturable microbial biomass and adenosine triphosphate content representing viable microbial biomass were smaller in the biofilms of E1-type electronic faucets than E2-type electronic faucets or M faucets. The likely explanation is the mixing point of cold and hot water (E1 and M: in the faucet; E2: in a separate box 50 cm before the actual faucet part). The highest amounts of Legionella (serogroups 2-15 of Legionella pneumophila) in a water sample (5000 cfu/L) and in biofilm samples (May-June 2008 sampling: 240 cfu/mL; November 2008: 1100 cfu/mL) were found in one E1-type faucet, which was lacking a back pressure valve due to faulty installation. This study reveals that certain types of electronic faucets seem to promote hospital hygiene, as they were associated with less microbial growth in biofilms in the faucet aerator, than some other types of electronic faucets or manual faucets, likely owing to the mixing point of cold and hot water. However, the faucet type had no direct effect on the presence of Legionella spp. Also correct installation is crucial.

Development strategy and process models for phased automation of design and digital manufacturing electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Korshunov, G. I.; Petrushevskaya, A. A.; Lipatnikov, V. A.; Smirnova, M. S.

2018-03-01

The strategy of quality of electronics insurance is represented as most important. To provide quality, the processes sequence is considered and modeled by Markov chain. The improvement is distinguished by simple database means of design for manufacturing for future step-by-step development. Phased automation of design and digital manufacturing electronics is supposed. The MatLab modelling results showed effectiveness increase. New tools and software should be more effective. The primary digital model is proposed to represent product in the processes sequence from several processes till the whole life circle.

Technical guidelines for enhancing privacy and data protection in modern electronic medical environments.

PubMed

Gritzalis, Stefanos; Lambrinoudakis, Costas; Lekkas, Dimitrios; Deftereos, Spyros

2005-09-01

Raising awareness and providing guidance to on-line data protection is undoubtedly a crucial issue worldwide. Equally important is the issue of applying privacy-related legislation in a coherent and coordinated way. Both these topics gain extra attention when referring to medical environments and, thus, to the protection of patients' privacy and medical data. Electronic medical transactions require the transmission of personal and medical information over insecure communication channels like the Internet. It is, therefore, a rather straightforward task to capture the electronic medical behavior of a patient, thus constructing "patient profiles," or reveal sensitive information related to a patient's medical history. The consequence is clearly a potential violation of the patient's privacy. We performed a risk analysis study for a Greek shared care environment for the treatment of patients suffering from beta-thalassemia, an empirically embedded scenario that is representative of many other electronic medical environments; we capitalized on its results to provide an assessment of the associated risks, focusing on the description of countermeasures, in the form of technical guidelines that can be employed in such medical environments for protecting the privacy of personal and medical information.

Self-Consistent Monte Carlo Study of the Coulomb Interaction under Nano-Scale Device Structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sano, Nobuyuki

2011-03-01

It has been pointed that the Coulomb interaction between the electrons is expected to be of crucial importance to predict reliable device characteristics. In particular, the device performance is greatly degraded due to the plasmon excitation represented by dynamical potential fluctuations in high-doped source and drain regions by the channel electrons. We employ the self-consistent 3D Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, which could reproduce both the correct mobility under various electron concentrations and the collective plasma waves, to study the physical impact of dynamical potential fluctuations on device performance under the Double-gate MOSFETs. The average force experienced by an electron due to the Coulomb interaction inside the device is evaluated by performing the self-consistent MC simulations and the fixed-potential MC simulations without the Coulomb interaction. Also, the band-tailing associated with the local potential fluctuations in high-doped source region is quantitatively evaluated and it is found that the band-tailing becomes strongly dependent of position in real space even inside the uniform source region. This work was partially supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research B (No. 2160160) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan.

Mirror Langmuir probe: a technique for real-time measurement of magnetized plasma conditions using a single Langmuir electrode.

PubMed

LaBombard, B; Lyons, L

2007-07-01

A new method for the real-time evaluation of the conditions in a magnetized plasma is described. The technique employs an electronic "mirror Langmuir probe" (MLP), constructed from bipolar rf transistors and associated high-bandwidth electronics. Utilizing a three-state bias wave form and active feedback control, the mirror probe's I-V characteristic is continuously adjusted to be a scaled replica of the "actual" Langmuir electrode immersed in a plasma. Real-time high-bandwidth measurements of the plasma's electron temperature, ion saturation current, and floating potential can thereby be obtained using only a single electrode. Initial tests of a prototype MLP system are reported, proving the concept. Fast-switching metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors produce the required three-state voltage bias wave form, completing a full cycle in under 1 mus. Real-time outputs of electron temperature, ion saturation current, and floating potential are demonstrated, which accurately track an independent computation of these values from digitally stored I-V characteristics. The MLP technique represents a significant improvement over existing real-time methods, eliminating the need for multiple electrodes and sampling all three plasma parameters at a single spatial location.

XAFS Data Interchange: A single spectrum XAFS data file format.

PubMed

Ravel, B; Newville, M

We propose a standard data format for the interchange of XAFS data. The XAFS Data Interchange (XDI) standard is meant to encapsulate a single spectrum of XAFS along with relevant metadata. XDI is a text-based format with a simple syntax which clearly delineates metadata from the data table in a way that is easily interpreted both by a computer and by a human. The metadata header is inspired by the format of an electronic mail header, representing metadata names and values as an associative array. The data table is represented as columns of numbers. This format can be imported as is into most existing XAFS data analysis, spreadsheet, or data visualization programs. Along with a specification and a dictionary of metadata types, we provide an application-programming interface written in C and bindings for programming dynamic languages.

XAFS Data Interchange: A single spectrum XAFS data file format

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ravel, B.; Newville, M.

2016-05-01

We propose a standard data format for the interchange of XAFS data. The XAFS Data Interchange (XDI) standard is meant to encapsulate a single spectrum of XAFS along with relevant metadata. XDI is a text-based format with a simple syntax which clearly delineates metadata from the data table in a way that is easily interpreted both by a computer and by a human. The metadata header is inspired by the format of an electronic mail header, representing metadata names and values as an associative array. The data table is represented as columns of numbers. This format can be imported as is into most existing XAFS data analysis, spreadsheet, or data visualization programs. Along with a specification and a dictionary of metadata types, we provide an application-programming interface written in C and bindings for programming dynamic languages.

Characterization and evolution of dermal filaments from patients with Morgellons disease

PubMed Central

Middelveen, Marianne J; Mayne, Peter J; Kahn, Douglas G; Stricker, Raphael B

2013-01-01

Morgellons disease is an emerging skin disease characterized by formation of dermal filaments associated with multisystemic symptoms and tick-borne illness. Some clinicians hypothesize that these often colorful dermal filaments are textile fibers, either self-implanted by patients or accidentally adhering to lesions, and conclude that patients with this disease have delusions of infestation. We present histological observations and electron microscopic imaging from representative Morgellons disease samples revealing that dermal filaments in these cases are keratin and collagen in composition and result from proliferation and activation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the epidermis. Spirochetes were detected in the dermatological specimens from our study patients, providing evidence that Morgellons disease is associated with an infectious process. PMID:23326202

Low-rank factorization of electron integral tensors and its application in electronic structure theory

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

Peng, Bo; Kowalski, Karol

In this letter, we introduce the reverse Cuthill-McKee (RCM) algorithm, which is often used for the bandwidth reduction of sparse tensors, to transform the two-electron integral tensors to their block diagonal forms. By further applying the pivoted Cholesky decomposition (CD) on each of the diagonal blocks, we are able to represent the high-dimensional two-electron integral tensors in terms of permutation matrices and low-rank Cholesky vectors. This representation facilitates the low-rank factorization of the high-dimensional tensor contractions that are usually encountered in post-Hartree-Fock calculations. In this letter, we discuss the second-order Møller-Plesset (MP2) method and linear coupled- cluster model with doublesmore » (L-CCD) as two simple examples to demonstrate the efficiency of the RCM-CD technique in representing two-electron integrals in a compact form.« less

Electronic cigarette use among Korean adults.

PubMed

Lee, Jung Ah; Kim, Sun Hee; Cho, Hong-Jun

2016-03-01

We investigated the prevalence and correlates of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in a representative sample of Korean adults. This cross-sectional study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2013. We analyzed 5338 subjects (≥19 years old) who provided data on e-cigarette use, sex, age, socioeconomic status, and health risk behaviors. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression. Using weighted samples, the prevalence of ever and current e-cigarette use were 6.6 and 1.1 %, respectively (11.2 and 2.0 % in men and 2.0 and 0.4 % in women). In multivariate analysis, the probability of ever e-cigarette use was highest in current smokers (OR 29.3, 95 % CI 15.5-55.3), former smokers (OR 6.1, 95 % CI 3.3-11.2), and daily heavy drinkers (OR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.1-3.4). Current e-cigarette use was associated with current smoking (OR 16.2, 95 % CI 4.7-55.4) and weekly heavy drinking (OR 2.7, 95 % CI 1.1-6.7). E-cigarette use was strongly associated with conventional cigarette use and with frequent heavy drinking. Dual use e-cigarettes and conventional cigarette use as well as the association between heavy alcohol use and e-cigarettes need further exploration.

Improving Care Transitions Management: Examining the Role of Accountable Care Organization Participation and Expanded Electronic Health Record Functionality.

PubMed

Huber, Thomas P; Shortell, Stephen M; Rodriguez, Hector P

2017-08-01

Examine the extent to which physician organization participation in an accountable care organization (ACO) and electronic health record (EHR) functionality are associated with greater adoption of care transition management (CTM) processes. A total of 1,398 physician organizations from the third National Study of Physician Organization survey (NSPO3), a nationally representative sample of medical practices in the United States (January 2012-May 2013). We used data from the third National Study of Physician Organization survey (NSPO3) to assess medical practice characteristics, including CTM processes, ACO participation, EHR functionality, practice type, organization size, ownership, public reporting, and pay-for-performance participation. Multivariate linear regression models estimated the extent to which ACO participation and EHR functionality were associated with greater CTM capabilities, controlling for practice size, ownership, public reporting, and pay-for-performance participation. Approximately half (52.4 percent) of medical practices had a formal program for managing care transitions in place. In adjusted analyses, ACO participation (p < .001) and EHR functionality (p < .001) were independently associated with greater use of CTM processes among medical practices. The growth of ACOs and similar provider risk-bearing arrangements across the country may improve the management of care transitions by physician organizations. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

Electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) battery-related burns presenting to US emergency departments, 2016.

PubMed

Corey, Catherine G; Chang, Joanne T; Rostron, Brian L

2018-03-05

Currently, an estimated 7.9 million US adults use electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Although published reports have identified fires and explosions related to use of ENDS since 2009, these reports do not provide national estimates of burn injuries associated with ENDS batteries in the US. We analyzed nationally representative data provided in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to estimate the number of US emergency department (ED) visits for burn injuries associated with ENDS batteries. We reviewed the case narrative field to gain additional insights into the circumstances of the burn injury. In 2016, 26 ENDS battery-related burn cases were captured by NEISS, which translates to a national estimate of 1007 (95%CI: 357-1657) injuries presenting in US EDs. Most of the burns were thermal burns (80.4%) and occurred to the upper leg/lower trunk (77.3%). Examination of the case narrative field indicated that at least 20 of the burn injuries occurred while ENDS batteries were in the user's pocket. Our study provides valuable information for understanding the current burden of ENDS battery-related burn injuries treated in US EDs. The nature and circumstances of the injuries suggest these incidents were unintentional and would potentially be prevented through battery design requirements, battery testing standards and public education related to ENDS battery safety.

A high-level object-oriented model for representing relationships in an electronic medical record.

PubMed Central

Dolin, R. H.

1994-01-01

The importance of electronic medical records to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of medical care continues to be realized. This growing importance has spawned efforts at defining the structure and content of medical data, which is heterogeneous, highly inter-related, and complex. Computer-assisted data modeling tools have greatly facilitated the process of representing medical data, however the complex inter-relationships of medical information can result in data models that are large and cumbersome to manipulate and view. This report presents a high-level object-oriented model for representing the relationships between objects or entities that might exist in an electronic medical record. By defining the relationship between objects at a high level and providing for inheritance, this model enables relating any medical entity to any other medical entity, even though the relationships were not directly specified or known during data model design. PMID:7949981

Tuberculosis screening in patients with HIV: An audit against UK national guidelines to assess current practice and the effectiveness of an electronic tuberculosis-screening prompt.

PubMed

Fox-Lewis, A; Brima, N; Muniina, P; Grant, A D; Edwards, S G; Miller, R F; Pett, S L

2016-09-01

A retrospective clinical audit was performed to assess if the British HIV Association 2011 guidelines on routine screening for tuberculosis in HIV are being implemented in a large UK urban clinic, and if a tuberculosis-screening prompt on the electronic patient record for new attendees was effective. Of 4658 patients attending during the inclusion period, 385 were newly diagnosed first-time attendees and routine tuberculosis screening was recommended in 165. Of these, only 6.1% of patients had a completed tuberculosis screening prompt, and 12.1% underwent routine tuberculosis screening. This audit represents the first published UK data on routine screening rates for tuberculosis in HIV and demonstrates low rates of tuberculosis screening despite an electronic screening prompt designed to simplify adherence to the national guideline. Reasons why tuberculosis screening rates were low, and the prompt ineffective, are unclear. A national audit is ongoing, and we await the results to see if our data reflect a lack of routine tuberculosis screening in HIV-infected patients at a national level. © The Author(s) 2016.

Biocompatible cephalosporin-hydroxyapatite-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-coatings fabricated by MAPLE technique for the prevention of bone implant associated infections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rădulescu, Dragoş; Grumezescu, Valentina; Andronescu, Ecaterina; Holban, Alina Maria; Grumezescu, Alexandru Mihai; Socol, Gabriel; Oprea, Alexandra Elena; Rădulescu, Marius; Surdu, Adrian; Trusca, Roxana; Rădulescu, Radu; Chifiriuc, Mariana Carmen; Stan, Miruna S.; Constanda, Sabrina; Dinischiotu, Anca

2016-06-01

In this study we aimed to obtain functionalized thin films based on hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (HAp/PLGA) containing ceftriaxone/cefuroxime antibiotics (ATBs) deposited by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The prepared thin films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and infra red (IR) analysis. HAp/PLGA/ATBs thin films sustained the growth of human osteoblasts, proving their good biocompatibility. The microscopic evaluation and the culture-based quantitative assay of the E. coli biofilm development showed that the thin films inhibited the initial step of microbial attachment as well as the subsequent colonization and biofilm development on the respective surfaces. This study demonstrates that MAPLE technique could represent an appealing technique for the fabrication of antibiotics-containing polymeric implant coatings. The bioevaluation results recommend this type of surfaces for the prevention of bone implant microbial contamination and for the enhanced stimulation of the implant osseointegration process.

A New Global Empirical Model of the Electron Temperature with the Inclusion of the Solar Activity Variations for IRI

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Truhlik, V.; Triskova, L.

2012-01-01

A data-base of electron temperature (T(sub e)) comprising of most of the available LEO satellite measurements in the altitude range from 350 to 2000 km has been used for the development of a new global empirical model of T(sub e) for the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). For the first time this will include variations with solar activity. Variations at five fixed altitude ranges centered at 350, 550, 850, 1400, and 2000 km and three seasons (summer, winter, and equinox) were represented by a system of associated Legendre polynomials (up to the 8th order) in terms of magnetic local time and the earlier introduced in vdip latitude. The solar activity variations of T(sub e) are represented by a correction term of the T(sub e) global pattern and it has been derived from the empirical latitudinal profiles of T(sub e) for day and night (Truhlik et al., 2009a). Comparisons of the new T(sub e) model with data and with the IRI 2007 Te model show that the new model agrees well with the data generally within standard deviation limits and that the model performs better than the current IRI T(sub e) model.

Pediatric Genital Injury: An Analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System

PubMed Central

Casey, Jessica T.; Bjurlin, Marc A.; Cheng, Earl Y.

2013-01-01

Objective To describe the characteristics of pediatric genital injuries presenting to United States emergency departments (EDs). Methods A retrospective cohort study utilizing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 1991-2010 to evaluate pediatric genital injuries was performed. Results Pediatric genital injuries represented 0.6% of all pediatric injuries with the incidence of injuries rising through the period studied, 1991-2010. The mean age at injury was 7.1 years old and was distributed 56.6% girls and 43.4% boys. A total of 43.3% had lacerations and 42.2% had contusions/abrasions. The majority of injuries occurred at home (65.9%), and the majority of patients (94.7%) were treated and released from the hospital. The most common consumer products associated with pediatric genital trauma were: bicycles (14.7% of all pediatric genital injuries), bathtubs (5.8%), daywear (5.6%), monkey bars (5.4%), and toilets (4.0%). Conclusion Although pediatric genital injuries represent a small proportion of overall injuries presenting to the ED, genital injuries continue to rise despite public health measures targeted to decrease childhood injury. Our results can be used to guide further prevention strategies for pediatric genital injury. PMID:23953603

Assessing Ongoing Electronic Resource Purchases: Linking Tools to Synchronize Staff Workflows

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carroll, Jeffrey D.; Major, Colleen; O'Neal, Nada; Tofanelli, John

2012-01-01

Ongoing electronic resource purchases represent a substantial proportion of collections budgets. Recognizing the necessity of systematic ongoing assessment with full selector engagement, Columbia University Libraries appointed an Electronic Resources Assessment Working Group to promote the inclusion of such resources within our current culture of…

Factors supporting dentist leaders' retention in leadership.

PubMed

Tuononen, T; Lammintakanen, J; Suominen, A L

2017-12-01

The aim was to study factors associated with staying in a dentist leadership position. We used an electronic questionnaire to gather data from 156 current or former Finnish dentist leaders in 2014. Principal component analysis categorized statements regarding time usage and opportunities in managerial work into five main components. Associations between these main component scores and the tendency to stay as a leader were analyzed with logistic regression. Out of the five main components, two were significantly associated with staying as a leader: 'career intentions', which represented intent to continue or to leave the leadership position; and 'work time control opportunities', which represented how leaders could control their own work time. Other factors that supported staying were leadership education, more work time available for leadership work, and lower age. The main component 'work pressure' decreased, although not significantly, the odds of continuing; it included lack of leadership work time, and pressure from superiors or subordinates. Leaders have important roles in health care, ensuring everyday operations as well as developing their organizations to meet future challenges. Knowledge of these supporting factors will enable dentist leaders and their organizations to improve working conditions in order to recruit and retain motivated and competent persons. In addition, well-designed education is important to inspire and encourage future leaders. Copyright© 2017 Dennis Barber Ltd.

Deriving the exact nonadiabatic quantum propagator in the mapping variable representation.

PubMed

Hele, Timothy J H; Ananth, Nandini

2016-12-22

We derive an exact quantum propagator for nonadiabatic dynamics in multi-state systems using the mapping variable representation, where classical-like Cartesian variables are used to represent both continuous nuclear degrees of freedom and discrete electronic states. The resulting Liouvillian is a Moyal series that, when suitably approximated, can allow for the use of classical dynamics to efficiently model large systems. We demonstrate that different truncations of the exact Liouvillian lead to existing approximate semiclassical and mixed quantum-classical methods and we derive an associated error term for each method. Furthermore, by combining the imaginary-time path-integral representation of the Boltzmann operator with the exact Liouvillian, we obtain an analytic expression for thermal quantum real-time correlation functions. These results provide a rigorous theoretical foundation for the development of accurate and efficient classical-like dynamics to compute observables such as electron transfer reaction rates in complex quantized systems.

Kondo behavior and metamagnetic phase transition in the heavy-fermion compound CeBi2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, W.; Xu, C. Q.; Li, B.; Sankar, R.; Zhang, F. M.; Qian, B.; Cao, C.; Dai, J. H.; Lu, Jianming; Jiang, W. X.; Qian, Dong; Xu, Xiaofeng

2018-05-01

Heavy fermions represent an archetypal example of strongly correlated electron systems which, due to entanglement among different interactions, often exhibit exotic and fascinating physics involving Kondo screening, magnetism, and unconventional superconductivity. Here we report a comprehensive study on the transport and thermodynamic properties of a cerium-based heavy-fermion compound CeBi2 which undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at TN˜3.3 K . Its high-temperature paramagnetic state is characterized by an enhanced heat capacity with Sommerfeld coefficient γ over 200 mJ mol-1K-2 . The magnetization in the magnetically ordered state features a metamagnetic transition. Remarkably, a large negative magnetoresistance associated with the magnetism was observed in a wide temperature and field-angle range. Collectively, CeBi2 may serve as an intriguing system to study the interplay between the f electrons and the itinerant Fermi sea.

Computational electronics and electromagnetics

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

Shang, C C

The Computational Electronics and Electromagnetics thrust area serves as the focal point for Engineering R and D activities for developing computer-based design and analysis tools. Representative applications include design of particle accelerator cells and beamline components; design of transmission line components; engineering analysis and design of high-power (optical and microwave) components; photonics and optoelectronics circuit design; electromagnetic susceptibility analysis; and antenna synthesis. The FY-97 effort focuses on development and validation of (1) accelerator design codes; (2) 3-D massively parallel, time-dependent EM codes; (3) material models; (4) coupling and application of engineering tools for analysis and design of high-power components; andmore » (5) development of beam control algorithms coupled to beam transport physics codes. These efforts are in association with technology development in the power conversion, nondestructive evaluation, and microtechnology areas. The efforts complement technology development in Lawrence Livermore National programs.« less

An overview of EMP effects and their control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Culligan, A. J.

1985-09-01

The environments associated with a nuclear detonation are probably the most extreme of all the environments to which an electronic equipment system may be exposed. One of these environments is related to the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) which represents an intense pulse of radiated electromagnetic energy. The endo-atmospheric EMP is generally not considered a major threat in comparison with other nuclear weapon effects related to blast, thermal phenomena, neutrons, and gamma rays. The situation is different with respect to the exo-atmospheric EMP which has the potential to simultaneously damage communication and allied networks over many thousands of square miles. The present paper is concerned with these EMP effects and the possibilities for protecting equipment from EMP. For such a protection, an understanding of the system's electronic topology is essential, and component/circuit susceptibility levels must be specified. Attention is given to the wire grid model of a strike aircraft, and the simulation of the EMP environment.

Cryo-Scanning Electron Microscopy of Captured Cirrus Ice Particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magee, N. B.; Boaggio, K.; Bandamede, M.; Bancroft, L.; Hurler, K.

2016-12-01

We present the latest collection of high-resolution cryo-scanning electron microscopy images and microanalysis of cirrus ice particles captured by high-altitude balloon (ICE-Ball, see abstracts by K. Boaggio and M. Bandamede). Ice particle images and sublimation-residues are derived from particles captured during approximately 15 balloon flights conducted in Pennsylvania and New Jersey over the past 12 months. Measurements include 3D digital elevation model reconstructions of ice particles, and associated statistical analyses of entire particles and particle sub-facets and surfaces. This 3D analysis reveals that morphologies of most ice particles captured deviate significantly from ideal habits, and display geometric complexity and surface roughness at multiple measureable scales, ranging from 100's nanometers to 100's of microns. The presentation suggests potential a path forward for representing scattering from a realistically complex array of ice particle shapes and surfaces.

Structure-based inhibitors of tau aggregation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seidler, P. M.; Boyer, D. R.; Rodriguez, J. A.; Sawaya, M. R.; Cascio, D.; Murray, K.; Gonen, T.; Eisenberg, D. S.

2018-02-01

Aggregated tau protein is associated with over 20 neurological disorders, which include Alzheimer's disease. Previous work has shown that tau's sequence segments VQIINK and VQIVYK drive its aggregation, but inhibitors based on the structure of the VQIVYK segment only partially inhibit full-length tau aggregation and are ineffective at inhibiting seeding by full-length fibrils. Here we show that the VQIINK segment is the more powerful driver of tau aggregation. Two structures of this segment determined by the cryo-electron microscopy method micro-electron diffraction explain its dominant influence on tau aggregation. Of practical significance, the structures lead to the design of inhibitors that not only inhibit tau aggregation but also inhibit the ability of exogenous full-length tau fibrils to seed intracellular tau in HEK293 biosensor cells into amyloid. We also raise the possibility that the two VQIINK structures represent amyloid polymorphs of tau that may account for a subset of prion-like strains of tau.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Investigation of a Sample Depth Profile Through the Martian Meteorite Nakhla

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toporski, Jan; Steele, Andrew; Westall, Frances; McKay, David S.

2000-01-01

The ongoing scientific debate as to whether or not the Martian meteorite ALH84001 contained evidence of possible biogenic activities showed the need to establish consistent methods to ascertain the origin of such evidence. To distinguish between terrestrial organic material/microbial contaminants and possible indigenous microbiota within meteorites is therefore crucial. With this in mind a depth profile consisting of four samples from a new sample allocation of Martian meteorite Nakhla was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. SEM imaging of freshly broken fractured chips revealed structures strongly recent terrestrial microorganisms, in some cases showing evidence of active growth. This conclusion was supported by EDX analysis, which showed the presence of carbon associated with these structures, we concluded that these structures represent recent terrestrial contaminants rather than structures indigenous to the meteorite. Page

Electron radiography

DOEpatents

Merrill, Frank E.; Morris, Christopher

2005-05-17

A system capable of performing radiography using a beam of electrons. Diffuser means receive a beam of electrons and diffuse the electrons before they enter first matching quadrupoles where the diffused electrons are focused prior to the diffused electrons entering an object. First imaging quadrupoles receive the focused diffused electrons after the focused diffused electrons have been scattered by the object for focusing the scattered electrons. Collimator means receive the scattered electrons and remove scattered electrons that have scattered to large angles. Second imaging quadrupoles receive the collimated scattered electrons and refocus the collimated scattered electrons and map the focused collimated scattered electrons to transverse locations on an image plane representative of the electrons' positions in the object.

Design and production of the digital optical module of the KM3NeT project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leonora, Emanuele; Giordano, Valentina

2017-03-01

The KM3NeT collaboration is building the ARCA and ORCA neutrino telescopes in the depths of the Mediterranean Sea. They will consist of 3-dimensional arrays of photodetectors, called digital optical modules, suspended in the sea by means of vertical string structures, called detection units. The optical modules are composed of a pressure-resistant 17-inch spherical glass vessel, which contains 31 small photomultiplier tubes and all the associated electronics. The multi- photomultiplier solution represents an innovative design with respect to optical modules of all currently operated neutrino telescopes comprising a single large photomultipliers.

Evolution of the modern photon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kidd, Richard; Ardini, James; Anton, Anatol

1989-01-01

The term ``photon'' represents at least four distinct models and carries different connotations for students and for practicing physicists. This reflects the long and complex historical evolution of the concept and its association with the largely misinterpreted principle of duality. The unsatisfactory nature of the corpuscular and wave packet models is discussed, and the pedagogical desirability urged of replacing them with a semiclassical approach in elementary presentations. Derivations of the photoelectric (PE) effect without photons are cited and a vector analysis is given, demonstrating that the PE effect cannot be considered as simply the interaction of a photon and electron.

Health physics measurement of Princeton Tokamaks, 1977-1987.

PubMed

Stencel, J R; Gilbert, J D; Couch, J G; Griesbach, O A; Fennimore, J J; Greco, J M

1989-06-01

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) began fusion experiments in 1951. In the early years, the major health physics concerns were associated with x radiation produced by energetic electrons in the plasma. Within the past year, neutron and 3H production from 2H-2H (represented hereafter as D-D) reactions has increased significantly on the larger fusion devices. Tritium retention noted in graphite tiles underscores the significance of material selection in present and future 3H-fueled fusion devices. This paper reports on operational health physics radiation measurements made on various PPPL machines over the past 10 y.

PREFACE: XVII International Scientific Conference ''RESHETNEV READINGS''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2015-01-01

The International Scientific Conference ''RESHETNEV READINGS'' is dedicated to the memory of Mikhail Reshetnev, an outstanding scientist, chief-constructor of space-rocket systems and communication satellites. The current volume represents selected proceedings of the main conference materials which were published by XVII International Scientific Conference ''RESHETNEV READINGS'' held on November 12 - 14, 2013. Plenary sessions, round tables and forums will be attended by famous scientists, developers and designers representing the space technology sector, as well as professionals and experts in the IT industry. A number of outstanding academic figures expressed their interest in an event of such a level including Jaures Alferov, Vice-president of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Academician of RAS, Nobel laureate, Dirk Bochar, General Secretary of the European Federation of National Engineering Associates (FEANI), Prof. Yuri Gulyaev, Academician of RAS, Member of the Presidium of RAS, President of the International Union of Scientific and Engineering Associations, Director of the Institute of Radio Engineering and Electronics of RAS, as well as rectors of the largest universities in Russia, chief executives of well-known research enterprises and representatives of big businesses. We would like to thank our main sponsors such as JSC ''Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems'', JSC ''Krasnoyarsk Engineering Plant'', Central Design Bureau ''Geophysics'', Krasnoyarsk Region Authorities. These enterprises and companies are leading ones in the aerospace branch. It is a great pleasure to cooperate and train specialists for them.

The Impact of Electronic Communication Technology on Written Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hamzah, Mohd. Sahandri Gani B.; Ghorbani, Mohd. Reza; Abdullah, Saifuddin Kumar B.

2009-01-01

Communication technology is changing things. Language is no exception. Some language researchers argue that language is deteriorating due to increased use in electronic communication. The present paper investigated 100 randomly selected electronic mails (e-mails) and 50 short messaging system (SMS) messages of a representative sample of…

Evaluation of dose uncertainty in radiation processing using EPR spectroscopy and butylated hydroxytoluene rods as dosimetry system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alkhorayef, M.; Mansour, A.; Sulieman, A.; Alnaaimi, M.; Alduaij, M.; Babikir, E.; Bradley, D. A.

2017-12-01

Butylatedhydroxytoluene (BHT) rods represent a potential dosimeter in radiation processing, with readout via electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Among the possible sources of uncertainty are those associated with the performance of the dosimetric medium and the conditions under which measurements are made, including sampling and environmental conditions. Present study makes estimate of the uncertainties, investigating physical response in different resonance regions. BHT, a white crystalline solid with a melting point of between 70-73 °C, was investigated using 60Co gamma irradiation over the dose range 0.1-100 kGy. The intensity of the EPR signal increases linearly in the range 0.1-35 kGy, the uncertainty budget for high doses being 3.3% at the 2σ confidence level. The rod form represents an excellent alternative dosimeter for high level dosimetry, of small uncertainty compared to powder form.

Semi-Automatic Electronic Stent Register: a novel approach to preventing ureteric stents lost to follow up.

PubMed

Macneil, James W H; Michail, Peter; Patel, Manish I; Ashbourne, Julie; Bariol, Simon V; Ende, David A; Hossack, Tania A; Lau, Howard; Wang, Audrey C; Brooks, Andrew J

2017-10-01

Ureteric stents are indispensable tools in modern urology; however, the risk of them not being followed-up once inserted poses medical and medico-legal risks. Stent registers are a common solution to mitigate this risk; however, manual registers are logistically challenging, especially for busy units. Western Sydney Local Health District developed a novel Semi-Automatic Electronic Stent Register (SAESR) utilizing billing information to track stent insertions. To determine the utility of this system, an audit was conducted comparing the 6 months before the introduction of the register to the first 6 months of the register. In the first 6 months of the register, 457 stents were inserted. At the time of writing, two of these are severely delayed for removal, representing a rate of 0.4%. In the 6 months immediately preceding the introduction of the register, 497 stents were inserted, and six were either missed completely or severely delayed in their removal, representing a rate of 1.2%. A non-inferiority analysis found this to be no worse than the results achieved before the introduction of the register. The SAESR allowed us to improve upon our better than expected rate of stents lost to follow up or severely delayed. We demonstrated non-inferiority in the rate of lost or severely delayed stents, and a number of other advantages including savings in personnel costs. The semi-automatic register represents an effective way of reducing the risk associated with a common urological procedure. We believe that this methodology could be implemented elsewhere. © 2017 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Global multi-dimensional modeling of ionospheric electron density using GNSS measurements and IRI model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alizadeh, M.; Schuh, H.; Schmidt, M. G.

2012-12-01

In the last decades Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has turned into a promising tool for probing the ionosphere. The classical input data for developing Global Ionosphere Maps (GIM) is obtained from the dual-frequency GNSS observations. Simultaneous observations of GNSS code or carrier phase at each frequency is used to form a geometric-free linear combination which contains only the ionospheric refraction term and the differential inter-frequency hardware delays. To relate the ionospheric observable to the electron density, a model is used that represents an altitude-dependent distribution of the electron density. This study aims at developing a global multi-dimensional model of the electron density using simulated GNSS observations from about 150 International GNSS Service (IGS) ground stations. Due to the fact that IGS stations are in-homogenously distributed around the world and the accuracy and reliability of the developed models are considerably lower in the area not well covered with IGS ground stations, the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model has been used as a background model. The correction term is estimated by applying spherical harmonics expansion to the GNSS ionospheric observable. Within this study this observable is related to the electron density using different functions for the bottom-side and top-side ionosphere. The bottom-side ionosphere is represented by an alpha-Chapman function and the top-side ionosphere is represented using the newly proposed Vary-Chap function.aximum electron density, IRI background model (elec/m3), day 202 - 2010, 0 UT eight of maximum electron density, IRI background model (km), day 202 - 2010, 0 UT

The core contribution of transmission electron microscopy to functional nanomaterials engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carenco, Sophie; Moldovan, Simona; Roiban, Lucian; Florea, Ileana; Portehault, David; Vallé, Karine; Belleville, Philippe; Boissière, Cédric; Rozes, Laurence; Mézailles, Nicolas; Drillon, Marc; Sanchez, Clément; Ersen, Ovidiu

2016-01-01

Research on nanomaterials and nanostructured materials is burgeoning because their numerous and versatile applications contribute to solve societal needs in the domain of medicine, energy, environment and STICs. Optimizing their properties requires in-depth analysis of their structural, morphological and chemical features at the nanoscale. In a transmission electron microscope (TEM), combining tomography with electron energy loss spectroscopy and high-magnification imaging in high-angle annular dark-field mode provides access to all features of the same object. Today, TEM experiments in three dimensions are paramount to solve tough structural problems associated with nanoscale matter. This approach allowed a thorough morphological description of silica fibers. Moreover, quantitative analysis of the mesoporous network of binary metal oxide prepared by template-assisted spray-drying was performed, and the homogeneity of amino functionalized metal-organic frameworks was assessed. Besides, the morphology and internal structure of metal phosphide nanoparticles was deciphered, providing a milestone for understanding phase segregation at the nanoscale. By extrapolating to larger classes of materials, from soft matter to hard metals and/or ceramics, this approach allows probing small volumes and uncovering materials characteristics and properties at two or three dimensions. Altogether, this feature article aims at providing (nano)materials scientists with a representative set of examples that illustrates the capabilities of modern TEM and tomography, which can be transposed to their own research.Research on nanomaterials and nanostructured materials is burgeoning because their numerous and versatile applications contribute to solve societal needs in the domain of medicine, energy, environment and STICs. Optimizing their properties requires in-depth analysis of their structural, morphological and chemical features at the nanoscale. In a transmission electron microscope (TEM), combining tomography with electron energy loss spectroscopy and high-magnification imaging in high-angle annular dark-field mode provides access to all features of the same object. Today, TEM experiments in three dimensions are paramount to solve tough structural problems associated with nanoscale matter. This approach allowed a thorough morphological description of silica fibers. Moreover, quantitative analysis of the mesoporous network of binary metal oxide prepared by template-assisted spray-drying was performed, and the homogeneity of amino functionalized metal-organic frameworks was assessed. Besides, the morphology and internal structure of metal phosphide nanoparticles was deciphered, providing a milestone for understanding phase segregation at the nanoscale. By extrapolating to larger classes of materials, from soft matter to hard metals and/or ceramics, this approach allows probing small volumes and uncovering materials characteristics and properties at two or three dimensions. Altogether, this feature article aims at providing (nano)materials scientists with a representative set of examples that illustrates the capabilities of modern TEM and tomography, which can be transposed to their own research. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05460e

Lack of electricity production by Pelobacter carbinolicus indicates that the capacity for Fe(III) oxide reduction does not necessarily confer electron transfer ability to fuel cell anodes.

PubMed

Richter, Hanno; Lanthier, Martin; Nevin, Kelly P; Lovley, Derek R

2007-08-01

The ability of Pelobacter carbinolicus to oxidize electron donors with electron transfer to the anodes of microbial fuel cells was evaluated because microorganisms closely related to Pelobacter species are generally abundant on the anodes of microbial fuel cells harvesting electricity from aquatic sediments. P. carbinolicus could not produce current in a microbial fuel cell with electron donors which support Fe(III) oxide reduction by this organism. Current was produced using a coculture of P. carbinolicus and Geobacter sulfurreducens with ethanol as the fuel. Ethanol consumption was associated with the transitory accumulation of acetate and hydrogen. G. sulfurreducens alone could not metabolize ethanol, suggesting that P. carbinolicus grew in the fuel cell by converting ethanol to hydrogen and acetate, which G. sulfurreducens oxidized with electron transfer to the anode. Up to 83% of the electrons available in ethanol were recovered as electricity and in the metabolic intermediate acetate. Hydrogen consumption by G. sulfurreducens was important for ethanol metabolism by P. carbinolicus. Confocal microscopy and analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed that half of the cells growing on the anode surface were P. carbinolicus, but there was a nearly equal number of planktonic cells of P. carbinolicus. In contrast, G. sulfurreducens was primarily attached to the anode. P. carbinolicus represents the first Fe(III) oxide-reducing microorganism found to be unable to produce current in a microbial fuel cell, providing the first suggestion that the mechanisms for extracellular electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides and fuel cell anodes may be different.

Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis of Dipylidium caninum (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Dipylidiidae), an intestinal parasite of Canis familiaris.

PubMed

Miquel, J; Bâ, C T; Marchand, B

1998-09-01

We describe for the first time the ultrastructure of spermiogenesis of a representative of the family Dipylidiidae, Dipylidium caninum. Spermiogenesis begins with the formation of a differentiation zone. This conical area presents two centrioles with associated striated roots. One of the centrioles develops a flagellum and posteriorly a proximodistal fusion is produced between the axoneme and a median cytoplasmic process. In a final stage of spermiogenesis a condensation of electron-dense material between cortical microtubules is observed in the anterior part of the differentiation zone. This is the origin of the crest-like body that appears at the end of spermiogenesis. The presence of striated roots associated with centrioles constitutes the first report of these structures in the spermiogenesis of a cyclophyllidean cestode.

A low cost, modular, and physiologically inspired electronic neuron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sitt, J. D.; Campetella, F.; Aliaga, J.

2010-12-01

We describe a low cost design of an electronic neuron, which is designed to represent the dynamical properties of the membrane potential of biological neurons by modeling the states of the membrane channels. This electronic neuron can be used to study the nonlinear properties of the membrane voltage dynamics and to develop and analyze small neuronal circuits using electronic neurons as building blocks.

Readiness for the Patient-Centered Medical Home: Structural Capabilities of Massachusetts Primary Care Practices

PubMed Central

Friedberg, Mark W.; Safran, Dana G.; Coltin, Kathryn L.; Dresser, Marguerite

2008-01-01

Background The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), a popular model for primary care reorganization, includes several structural capabilities intended to enhance quality of care. The extent to which different types of primary care practices have adopted these capabilities has not been previously studied. Objective To measure the prevalence of recommended structural capabilities among primary care practices and to determine whether prevalence varies among practices of different size (number of physicians) and administrative affiliation with networks of practices. Design Cross-sectional analysis. Participants One physician chosen at random from each of 412 primary care practices in Massachusetts was surveyed about practice capabilities during 2007. Practice size and network affiliation were obtained from an existing database. Measurements Presence of 13 structural capabilities representing 4 domains relevant to quality: patient assistance and reminders, culture of quality, enhanced access, and electronic health records (EHRs). Main Results Three hundred eight (75%) physicians responded, representing practices with a median size of 4 physicians (range 2–74). Among these practices, 64% were affiliated with 1 of 9 networks. The prevalence of surveyed capabilities ranged from 24% to 88%. Larger practice size was associated with higher prevalence for 9 of the 13 capabilities spanning all 4 domains (P < 0.05). Network affiliation was associated with higher prevalence of 5 capabilities (P < 0.05) in 3 domains. Associations were not substantively altered by statistical adjustment for other practice characteristics. Conclusions Larger and network-affiliated primary care practices are more likely than smaller, non-affiliated practices to have adopted several recommended capabilities. In order to achieve PCMH designation, smaller non-affiliated practices may require the greatest investments. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11606-008-0856-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. PMID:19050977

Availability and night-time use of electronic entertainment and communication devices are associated with short sleep duration and obesity among Canadian children.

PubMed

Chahal, H; Fung, C; Kuhle, S; Veugelers, P J

2013-02-01

What is already known about this subject Short sleep duration is a risk factor for obesity. Television (TV) in the bedroom has been shown to be associated with excess body weight in children. Children increasingly use other electronic entertainment and communication devices (EECDs) such as video games, computers, and smart phones. What this study adds Access to and night-time use of EECDs are associated with shortened sleep duration, excess body weight, poorer diet quality, and lower physical activity levels. Our findings reinforce existing recommendations pertaining to TV and Internet access by the American Academy of Pediatrics and suggest to have these expanded to restricted availability of video games and smart phones in children's bedrooms. While the prevalence of childhood obesity and access to and use of electronic entertainment and communication devices (EECDs) have increased in the past decades, no earlier study has examined their interrelationship. To examine whether night-time access to and use of EECDs are associated with sleep duration, body weights, diet quality, and physical activity of Canadian children. A representative sample of 3398 grade 5 children in Alberta, Canada, was surveyed. The survey included questions on children's lifestyles and health behaviours, the Harvard Youth/Adolescent Food Frequency questionnaire, a validated questionnaire on physical activity, and measurements of heights and weights. Random effect models were used to assess the associations of night-time access to and use of EECDs with sleep, diet quality, physical activity, and body weights. Sixty-four percent of parents reported that their child had access to one or more EECDs in their bedroom. Access to and night-time use of EECDs were associated with shortened sleep duration, excess body weight, poorer diet quality, and lower physical activity levels in a statistically significant manner. Limiting the availability of EECDs in children's bedrooms and discouraging their night-time use may be considered as a strategy to promote sleep and reduce childhood obesity. © 2012 The Authors. Pediatric Obesity © 2012 International Association for the Study of Obesity.

Radial Head Subluxation Among Young Children in the United States Associated With Consumer Products and Recreational Activities.

PubMed

Welch, Rachel; Chounthirath, Thiphalak; Smith, Gary A

2017-07-01

This study investigated the epidemiology of children treated in US emergency departments for radial head subluxation (RHS) associated with consumer products and recreational activities using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. An estimated 430 766 (95% confidence interval: 341 194-520 339) children ≤5 years of age were treated for RHS in US emergency departments from 1990 to 2011. The mean patient age was 2.1 years, and 56.5% of patients were girls. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall (43.2%), followed by arm pull (39.4%). The annual rate of RHS increased significantly by 190.1% during the 22-year study period. This is the largest study of RHS to date and the first to use a nationally representative sample to investigate secular trends and mechanisms of injury for RHS associated with consumer products and recreational activities. Events associated with consumer products and recreational activities are an important increasing source of RHS.

Formation of vortices in the presence of sheared electron flows in the earth's ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farid, T.; Shukla, P. K.; Sakanaka, P. H.; Mirza, A. M.

2000-12-01

It is shown that sheared electron flows can generate long as well as short wavelength (in comparison with the ion gyroradius) electrostatic waves in a nonuniform magnetplasma. For this purpose, we derive dispersion relations by employing two-fluid and hybrid models; in the two-fluid model the dynamics of both the electrons and ions are governed by the hydrodynamic equations and the guiding center fluid drifts, whereas the hybrid model assumes kinetic ions and fluid electrons. Explicit expressions for the growth rates and thresholds are presented. Linearly excited waves attain finite amplitudes and start interacting among themselves. The interaction is governed by the nonlinear equations containing the Jacobian nonlinearities. Stationary solutions of the nonlinear mode coupling equations can be represented in the form of a dipolar vortex and a vortex street. Conditions under which the latter arise are given. Numerical results for the growth rates of linearly excited modes as well as for various types of vortices are displayed for the parameters that are relevant for the F-region of the Earth's ionosphere. It is suggested that the results of the present investigation are useful in understanding the properties of nonthermal electrostatic waves and associated nonlinear vortex structures in the Earth's ionosphere.

Electron induced surface reactions of (η5-C5H5)Fe(CO)2Mn(CO)5, a potential heterobimetallic precursor for focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID).

PubMed

Unlu, Ilyas; Spencer, Julie A; Johnson, Kelsea R; Thorman, Rachel M; Ingólfsson, Oddur; McElwee-White, Lisa; Fairbrother, D Howard

2018-03-14

Electron-induced surface reactions of (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 were explored in situ under ultra-high vacuum conditions using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The initial step involves electron-stimulated decomposition of adsorbed (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 molecules, accompanied by the desorption of an average of five CO ligands. A comparison with recent gas phase studies suggests that this precursor decomposition step occurs by a dissociative ionization (DI) process. Further electron irradiation decomposes the residual CO groups and (η 5 -C 5 H 5 , Cp) ligand, in the absence of any ligand desorption. The decomposition of CO ligands leads to Mn oxidation, while electron stimulated Cp decomposition causes all of the associated carbon atoms to be retained in the deposit. The lack of any Fe oxidation is ascribed to either the presence of a protective carbonaceous matrix around the Fe atoms created by the decomposition of the Cp ligand, or to desorption of both CO ligands bound to Fe in the initial decomposition step. The selective oxidation of Mn in the absence of any Fe oxidation suggests that the fate of metal atoms in mixed-metal precursors for focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) will be sensitive to the nature and number of ligands in the immediate coordination sphere. In related studies, the composition of deposits created from (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )Fe(CO) 2 Mn(CO) 5 under steady state deposition conditions, representative of those used to create nanostructures in electron microscopes, were measured and found to be qualitatively consistent with predictions from the UHV surface science studies.

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

Phuthong, Witchukorn; Huang, Zubin; Wittkopp, Tyler M.

To investigate the dynamics of photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes in vascular plants at high resolution in an aqueous environment, membrane-protruding oxygen-evolving complexes (OECs) associated with photosystem II (PSII) on spinach ( Spinacia oleracea) grana membranes were examined using contact mode atomic force microscopy. This study represents, to our knowledge, the first use of atomic force microscopy to distinguish the putative large extrinsic loop of Photosystem II CP47 reaction center protein (CP47) from the putative oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins 1, 2, and 3 (PsbO, PsbP, and PsbQ) and large extrinsic loop of Photosystem II CP43 reaction center protein (CP43) in the PSII-OEC extrinsicmore » domains of grana membranes under conditions resulting in the disordered arrangement of PSII-OEC particles. Moreover, we observed uncharacterized membrane particles that, based on their physical characteristics and electrophoretic analysis of the polypeptides associated with the grana samples, are hypothesized to be a domain of photosystem I that protrudes from the stromal face of single thylakoid bilayers. Furthermore, our results are interpreted in the context of the results of others that were obtained using cryo-electron microscopy (and single particle analysis), negative staining and freeze-fracture electron microscopy, as well as previous atomic force microscopy studies.« less

Non-basal dislocations should be accounted for in simulating ice mass flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chauve, T.; Montagnat, M.; Piazolo, S.; Journaux, B.; Wheeler, J.; Barou, F.; Mainprice, D.; Tommasi, A.

2017-09-01

Prediction of ice mass flow and associated dynamics is pivotal at a time of climate change. Ice flow is dominantly accommodated by the motion of crystal defects - the dislocations. In the specific case of ice, their observation is not always accessible by means of the classical tools such as X-ray diffraction or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Part of the dislocation population, the geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) can nevertheless be constrained using crystal orientation measurements via electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) associated with appropriate analyses based on the Nye (1950) approach. The present study uses the Weighted Burgers Vectors, a reduced formulation of the Nye theory that enables the characterization of GNDs. Applied to ice, this method documents, for the first time, the presence of dislocations with non-basal [ c ] or < c + a > Burgers vectors. These [ c ] or < c + a > dislocations represent up to 35% of the GNDs observed in laboratory-deformed ice samples. Our findings offer a more complex and comprehensive picture of the key plasticity processes responsible for polycrystalline ice creep and provide better constraints on the constitutive mechanical laws implemented in ice sheet flow models used to predict the response of Earth ice masses to climate change.

5 CFR 1201.14 - Electronic filing procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...-Appeal Online, in which case service is governed by paragraph (j) of this section, or by non-electronic... (PDF), and image files (files created by scanning). A list of formats allowed can be found at e-Appeal... representatives of the appeals in which they were filed. (j) Service of electronic pleadings and MSPB documents...

5 CFR 1201.14 - Electronic filing procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...-Appeal Online, in which case service is governed by paragraph (j) of this section, or by non-electronic... (PDF), and image files (files created by scanning). A list of formats allowed can be found at e-Appeal... representatives of the appeals in which they were filed. (j) Service of electronic pleadings and MSPB documents...

5 CFR 1201.14 - Electronic filing procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...-Appeal Online, in which case service is governed by paragraph (j) of this section, or by non-electronic... (PDF), and image files (files created by scanning). A list of formats allowed can be found at e-Appeal... representatives of the appeals in which they were filed. (j) Service of electronic pleadings and MSPB documents...

5 CFR 1201.14 - Electronic filing procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...-Appeal Online, in which case service is governed by paragraph (j) of this section, or by non-electronic... (PDF), and image files (files created by scanning). A list of formats allowed can be found at e-Appeal... representatives of the appeals in which they were filed. (j) Service of electronic pleadings and MSPB documents...

Efficient genome-wide association in biobanks using topic modeling identifies multiple novel disease loci.

PubMed

McCoy, Thomas H; Castro, Victor M; Snapper, Leslie A; Hart, Kamber L; Perlis, Roy H

2017-08-31

Biobanks and national registries represent a powerful tool for genomic discovery, but rely on diagnostic codes that may be unreliable and fail to capture the relationship between related diagnoses. We developed an efficient means of conducting genome-wide association studies using combinations of diagnostic codes from electronic health records (EHR) for 10845 participants in a biobanking program at two large academic medical centers. Specifically, we applied latent Dirichilet allocation to fit 50 disease topics based on diagnostic codes, then conducted genome-wide common-variant association for each topic. In sensitivity analysis, these results were contrasted with those obtained from traditional single-diagnosis phenome-wide association analysis, as well as those in which only a subset of diagnostic codes are included per topic. In meta-analysis across three biobank cohorts, we identified 23 disease-associated loci with p<1e-15, including previously associated autoimmune disease loci. In all cases, observed significant associations were of greater magnitude than for single phenome-wide diagnostic codes, and incorporation of less strongly-loading diagnostic codes enhanced association. This strategy provides a more efficient means of phenome-wide association in biobanks with coded clinical data.

Efficient Genome-wide Association in Biobanks Using Topic Modeling Identifies Multiple Novel Disease Loci

PubMed Central

McCoy, Thomas H; Castro, Victor M; Snapper, Leslie A; Hart, Kamber L; Perlis, Roy H

2017-01-01

Biobanks and national registries represent a powerful tool for genomic discovery, but rely on diagnostic codes that can be unreliable and fail to capture relationships between related diagnoses. We developed an efficient means of conducting genome-wide association studies using combinations of diagnostic codes from electronic health records for 10,845 participants in a biobanking program at two large academic medical centers. Specifically, we applied latent Dirichilet allocation to fit 50 disease topics based on diagnostic codes, then conducted a genome-wide common-variant association for each topic. In sensitivity analysis, these results were contrasted with those obtained from traditional single-diagnosis phenome-wide association analysis, as well as those in which only a subset of diagnostic codes were included per topic. In meta-analysis across three biobank cohorts, we identified 23 disease-associated loci with p < 1e-15, including previously associated autoimmune disease loci. In all cases, observed significant associations were of greater magnitude than single phenome-wide diagnostic codes, and incorporation of less strongly loading diagnostic codes enhanced association. This strategy provides a more efficient means of identifying phenome-wide associations in biobanks with coded clinical data. PMID:28861588

Submicron-scale mineralogy of lithotypes and the implications for trace element associations: Blue Gem coal, Knox County, Kentucky

DOE PAGES

Hower, James C.; Berti, Debora; Hochella, Michael F.; ...

2018-04-16

Transmission electron microscopy accompanied by energy-dispersive spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction of density-gradient separates from two lithotypes of the low-ash, low-sulfur Blue Gem coal, eastern Kentucky, revealed an array of previously unrecognized (in this coal, and arguable in most others) sub-micron minerals, some <10 nm in size. The first sample representing the 1.22–1.24 specific gravity fraction of the middle bench contains a mineral identified as a La-, Ce-, Nd-bearing monazite; other minerals with CrFe, CuFeS, FeZn-S, and Pb; and areas, probably comprising agglomerates of several grains, if not several minerals, with concentrations of Mg, Ca, Ti, Fe, Zn, Zr,more » and Mo. The second sample representing the 1.30–1.31 specific gravity fraction of the basal lithotype has aggregates of particles enriched in Mg, Ca, Ti, and Fe. Individual grains not specifically quantified include CrNiMnCuFeS, AgS, and CuS. Detailed investigation of one area (most of the variation within a <4 μm 2 region) demonstrates the presence of greenockite (CdS); minute phases containing NiCoGe and AgCdBi, the latter with a more evident S association than the former; metallic Bi; nisnite (Ni 3Sn); silver cadmium; manganosite (MnO); and siderite. Some minerals, such as the monazite, are most likely of detrital or tuffaceous origin. Many of the other assemblages could be of hydrothermal origin, a hypothesis supported by known regional geochemical and coal rank trends, but not previously demonstrated in mineral assemblages at the 10's of nm scale in this region.« less

The availability of electronic cigarettes in US retail outlets, 2012: results of two national studies

PubMed Central

Rose, Shyanika W; Barker, Dianne C; D'Angelo, Heather; Khan, Tamkeen; Huang, Jidong; Chaloupka, Frank J; Ribisl, Kurt M

2014-01-01

Background Since their introduction in 2007, electronic cigarette (‘e-cigarette’) awareness and use has grown rapidly. Little is known about variation in e-cigarette availability across areas with different levels of tobacco taxes and smoke-free air policies. This paper looks at US retail availability of e-cigarettes and factors at the store, neighbourhood and policy levels associated with it. Methods In-person store audit data collected in 2012 came from two national samples of tobacco retailers in the contiguous US. Study 1 collected data from a nationally representative sample of tobacco retailers (n=2165). Study 2 collected data from tobacco retailers located in school enrolment zones for nationally representative samples of 8th, 10th and 12th grade public school students (n=2526). Results In 2012, e-cigarette retail availability was 34% in study 1 and 31% in study 2. Tobacco, pharmacy and gas/convenience stores were more likely to sell e-cigarettes than beer/wine/liquor stores. Retail availability of e-cigarettes was more likely in neighbourhoods with higher median household income (study 1), and lower percent of African–American (studies 1 and 2) and Hispanic residents (study 2). Price of traditional cigarettes was inversely related to e-cigarette availability. Stores in states with an American Lung Association Smoke-Free Air grade of F (study 1) or D (study 2) compared with A had increased likelihood of having e-cigarettes. Conclusions Currently, e-cigarette availability appears more likely in areas with weak tax and smoke-free air policies. Given the substantial availability of e-cigarettes at tobacco retailers nationwide, states and localities should monitor the sales and marketing of e-cigarettes at point of sale (POS). PMID:24935892

Submicron-scale mineralogy of lithotypes and the implications for trace element associations: Blue Gem coal, Knox County, Kentucky

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

Hower, James C.; Berti, Debora; Hochella, Michael F.

Transmission electron microscopy accompanied by energy-dispersive spectroscopy and selected area electron diffraction of density-gradient separates from two lithotypes of the low-ash, low-sulfur Blue Gem coal, eastern Kentucky, revealed an array of previously unrecognized (in this coal, and arguable in most others) sub-micron minerals, some <10 nm in size. The first sample representing the 1.22–1.24 specific gravity fraction of the middle bench contains a mineral identified as a La-, Ce-, Nd-bearing monazite; other minerals with CrFe, CuFeS, FeZn-S, and Pb; and areas, probably comprising agglomerates of several grains, if not several minerals, with concentrations of Mg, Ca, Ti, Fe, Zn, Zr,more » and Mo. The second sample representing the 1.30–1.31 specific gravity fraction of the basal lithotype has aggregates of particles enriched in Mg, Ca, Ti, and Fe. Individual grains not specifically quantified include CrNiMnCuFeS, AgS, and CuS. Detailed investigation of one area (most of the variation within a <4 μm 2 region) demonstrates the presence of greenockite (CdS); minute phases containing NiCoGe and AgCdBi, the latter with a more evident S association than the former; metallic Bi; nisnite (Ni 3Sn); silver cadmium; manganosite (MnO); and siderite. Some minerals, such as the monazite, are most likely of detrital or tuffaceous origin. Many of the other assemblages could be of hydrothermal origin, a hypothesis supported by known regional geochemical and coal rank trends, but not previously demonstrated in mineral assemblages at the 10's of nm scale in this region.« less

A longitudinal study of electronic cigarette use among a population-based sample of adult smokers: association with smoking cessation and motivation to quit.

PubMed

Biener, Lois; Hargraves, J Lee

2015-02-01

Increasingly popular electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) may be the most promising development yet to end cigarette smoking. However, there is sparse evidence that their use promotes cessation. We investigated whether e-cigarette use increases smoking cessation and/or has a deleterious effect on quitting smoking and motivation to quit. Representative samples of adults in 2 US metropolitan areas were surveyed in 2011/2012 about their use of novel tobacco products. In 2014, follow-up interviews were conducted with 695 of the 1,374 baseline cigarette smokers who had agreed to be re-contacted (retention rate: 51%). The follow-up interview assessed their smoking status and history of electronic cigarette usage. Respondents were categorized as intensive users (used e-cigarettes daily for at least 1 month), intermittent users (used regularly, but not daily for more than 1 month), and non-users/triers (used e-cigarettes at most once or twice). At follow-up, 23% were intensive users, 29% intermittent users, 18% had used once or twice, and 30% had not tried e-cigarettes. Logistic regression controlling for demographics and tobacco dependence indicated that intensive users of e-cigarettes were 6 times more likely than non-users/triers to report that they quit smoking (OR: 6.07, 95% CI = 1.11, 33.2). No such relationship was seen for intermittent users. There was a negative association between intermittent e-cigarette use and 1 of 2 indicators of motivation to quit at follow-up. Daily use of electronic cigarettes for at least 1 month is strongly associated with quitting smoking at follow-up. Further investigation of the underlying reasons for intensive versus intermittent use will help shed light on the mechanisms underlying the associations between e-cigarette use, motivation to quit, and smoking cessation. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Symmetrical Windowing for Quantum States in Quasi-Classical Trajectory Simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cotton, Stephen Joshua

An approach has been developed for extracting approximate quantum state-to-state information from classical trajectory simulations which "quantizes" symmetrically both the initial and final classical actions associated with the degrees of freedom of interest using quantum number bins (or "window functions") which are significantly narrower than unit-width. This approach thus imposes a more stringent quantization condition on classical trajectory simulations than has been traditionally employed, while doing so in a manner that is time-symmetric and microscopically reversible. To demonstrate this "symmetric quasi-classical" (SQC) approach for a simple real system, collinear H + H2 reactive scattering calculations were performed [S.J. Cotton and W.H. Miller, J. Phys. Chem. A 117, 7190 (2013)] with SQC-quantization applied to the H 2 vibrational degree of freedom (DOF). It was seen that the use of window functions of approximately 1/2-unit width led to calculated reaction probabilities in very good agreement with quantum mechanical results over the threshold energy region, representing a significant improvement over what is obtained using the traditional quasi-classical procedure. The SQC approach was then applied [S.J. Cotton and W.H. Miller, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 234112 (2013)] to the much more interesting and challenging problem of incorporating non-adiabatic effects into what would otherwise be standard classical trajectory simulations. To do this, the classical Meyer-Miller (MM) Hamiltonian was used to model the electronic DOFs, with SQC-quantization applied to the classical "electronic" actions of the MM model---representing the occupations of the electronic states---in order to extract the electronic state population dynamics. It was demonstrated that if one ties the zero-point energy (ZPE) of the electronic DOFs to the SQC windowing function's width parameter this very simple SQC/MM approach is capable of quantitatively reproducing quantum mechanical results for a range of standard benchmark models of electronically non-adiabatic processes, including applications where "quantum" coherence effects are significant. Notably, among these benchmarks was the well-studied "spin-boson" model of condensed phase non-adiabatic dynamics, in both its symmetric and asymmetric forms---the latter of which many classical approaches fail to treat successfully. The SQC/MM approach to the treatment of non-adiabatic dynamics was next applied [S.J. Cotton, K. Igumenshchev, and W.H. Miller, J. Chem. Phys., 141, 084104 (2014)] to several recently proposed models of condensed phase electron transfer (ET) processes. For these problems, a flux-side correlation function framework modified for consistency with the SQC approach was developed for the calculation of thermal ET rate constants, and excellent accuracy was seen over wide ranges of non-adiabatic coupling strength and energetic bias/exothermicity. Significantly, the "inverted regime" in thermal rate constants (with increasing bias) known from Marcus Theory was reproduced quantitatively for these models---representing the successful treatment of another regime that classical approaches generally have difficulty in correctly describing. Relatedly, a model of photoinduced proton coupled electron transfer (PCET) was also addressed, and it was shown that the SQC/MM approach could reasonably model the explicit population dynamics of the photoexcited electron donor and acceptor states over the four parameter regimes considered. The potential utility of the SQC/MM technique lies in its stunning simplicity and the ease by which it may readily be incorporated into "ordinary" molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In short, a typical MD simulation may be augmented to take non-adiabatic effects into account simply by introducing an auxiliary pair of classical "electronic" action-angle variables for each energetically viable Born-Oppenheimer surface, and time-evolving these auxiliary variables via Hamilton's equations (using the MM electronic Hamiltonian) in the same manner that the other classical variables---i.e., the coordinates of all the nuclei---are evolved forward in time. In a complex molecular system involving many hundreds or thousands of nuclear DOFs, the propagation of these extra "electronic" variables represents a modest increase in computational effort, and yet, the examples presented herein suggest that in many instances the SQC/MM approach will describe the true non-adiabatic quantum dynamics to a reasonable and useful degree of quantitative accuracy.

SU-E-T-489: Quantum versus Classical Trajectory Monte Carlo Simulations of Low Energy Electron Transport.

PubMed

Thomson, R; Kawrakow, I

2012-06-01

Widely-used classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulations of low energy electron transport neglect the quantum nature of electrons; however, at sub-1 keV energies quantum effects have the potential to become significant. This work compares quantum and classical simulations within a simplified model of electron transport in water. Electron transport is modeled in water droplets using quantum mechanical (QM) and classical trajectory Monte Carlo (MC) methods. Water droplets are modeled as collections of point scatterers representing water molecules from which electrons may be isotropically scattered. The role of inelastic scattering is investigated by introducing absorption. QM calculations involve numerically solving a system of coupled equations for the electron wavefield incident on each scatterer. A minimum distance between scatterers is introduced to approximate structured water. The average QM water droplet incoherent cross section is compared with the MC cross section; a relative error (RE) on the MC results is computed. RE varies with electron energy, average and minimum distances between scatterers, and scattering amplitude. The mean free path is generally the relevant length scale for estimating RE. The introduction of a minimum distance between scatterers increases RE substantially (factors of 5 to 10), suggesting that the structure of water must be modeled for accurate simulations. Inelastic scattering does not improve agreement between QM and MC simulations: for the same magnitude of elastic scattering, the introduction of inelastic scattering increases RE. Droplet cross sections are sensitive to droplet size and shape; considerable variations in RE are observed with changing droplet size and shape. At sub-1 keV energies, quantum effects may become non-negligible for electron transport in condensed media. Electron transport is strongly affected by the structure of the medium. Inelastic scatter does not improve agreement between QM and MC simulations of low energy electron transport in condensed media. © 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

A first-principles analysis of ballistic conductance, grain boundary scattering and vertical resistance in aluminum interconnects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Tianji; Lanzillo, Nicholas A.; Bhosale, Prasad; Gall, Daniel; Quon, Roger

2018-05-01

We present an ab initio evaluation of electron scattering mechanisms in Al interconnects from a back-end-of-line (BEOL) perspective. We consider the ballistic conductance as a function of nanowire size, as well as the impact of surface oxidation on electron transport. We also consider several representative twin grain boundaries and calculate the specific resistivity and reflection coefficients for each case. Lastly, we calculate the vertical resistance across the Al/Ta(N)/Al and Cu/Ta(N)/Cu interfaces, which are representative of typical vertical interconnect structures with diffusion barriers. Despite a high ballistic conductance, the calculated specific resistivities at grain boundaries are 70-100% higher in Al than in Cu, and the vertical resistance across Ta(N) diffusion barriers are 60-100% larger for Al than for Cu. These results suggest that in addition to the well-known electromigration limitations in Al interconnects, electron scattering represents a major problem in achieving low interconnect line resistance at fine dimensions.

Electron beam generation in the turbulent plasma of Z-pinch discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vikhrev, Victor V.; Baronova, Elena O.

1997-05-01

Numerical modeling of the process of electron beam generation in z-pinch discharges are presented. The proposed model represents the electron beam generation under turbulent plasma conditions. Strong current distribution inhomogeneity in the plasma column has been accounted for the adequate generation process investigation. Electron beam is generated near the maximum of compression due to run away mechanism and it is not related with the current break effect.

Understanding the Electronic Structure of the a-B5C:Hx-to-Metal Interface

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

investigating electronic structure is optical absorption spectroscopy, where the absorbance spectrum represents a superposition of optical transitions...6201 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201 T E C H N IC A L R E P O R T DTRA-TR-16-63 Understanding the Electronic Structure of the a-B5C:Hx-to...42 4.4. Electronic Structure and Charge Transport Models

Representing the thermal state in time-dependent density functional theory

DOE PAGES

Modine, N. A.; Hatcher, R. M.

2015-05-28

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) provides a powerful and widely used approach to determining thermodynamic properties by integrating the classical equations of motion of a system of atoms. Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) provides a powerful and increasingly useful approach to integrating the quantum equations of motion for a system of electrons. TDDFT efficiently captures the unitary evolution of a many-electron state by mapping the system into a fictitious non-interacting system. In analogy to MD, one could imagine obtaining the thermodynamic properties of an electronic system from a TDDFT simulation in which the electrons are excited from their ground state bymore » a time-dependent potential and then allowed to evolve freely in time while statistical data are captured from periodic snapshots of the system. For a variety of systems (e.g., many metals), the electrons reach an effective state of internal equilibrium due to electron-electron interactions on a time scale that is short compared to electron-phonon equilibration. During the initial time-evolution of such systems following electronic excitation, electron-phonon interactions should be negligible, and therefore, TDDFT should successfully capture the internal thermalization of the electrons. However, it is unclear how TDDFT represents the resulting thermal state. In particular, the thermal state is usually represented in quantum statistical mechanics as a mixed state, while the occupations of the TDDFT wave functions are fixed by the initial state in TDDFT. Two key questions involve (1) reformulating quantum statistical mechanics so that thermodynamic expectations can be obtained as an unweighted average over a set of many-body pure states and (2) constructing a family of non-interacting (single determinant) TDDFT states that approximate the required many-body states for the canonical ensemble. In Section II, we will address these questions by first demonstrating that thermodynamic expectations can be evaluated by averaging over certain many-body pure states, which we will call thermal states, and then constructing TDDFT states that approximate these thermal states. In Section III, we will present some numerical tests of the resulting theory, and in Section IV, we will summarize our main results and discuss some possible future directions for this work.« less

On the electrodynamics of moving particles in a quasi flat spacetime with Lorentz violation and its cosmological implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruz, Cláudio Nassif

2016-06-01

This research aims to develop a new approach towards a consistent coupling of electromagnetic and gravitational fields, by using an electron that couples with a weak gravitational potential by means of its electromagnetic field. To accomplish this, we must first build a new model which provides the electromagnetic nature of both the mass and the energy of the electron, and which is implemented with the idea of γ-photon decay into an electron-positron pair. After this, we place the electron (or positron) in the presence of a weak gravitational potential given in the intergalactic medium, so that its electromagnetic field undergoes a very small perturbation, thus leading to a slight increase in the field’s electromagnetic energy density. This perturbation takes place by means of a tiny coupling constant ξ because gravity is a very weak interaction compared with the electromagnetic one. Thus, we realize that ξ is a new dimensionless universal constant, which reminds us of the fine structure constant α; however, ξ is much smaller than α because ξ takes into account gravity, i.e. ξ ∝G. We find ξ = V/c≅1.5302 × 10-22, where c is the speed of light and V ∝G(≅4.5876 × 10-14m/s) is a universal minimum speed that represents the lowest limit of speed for any particle. Such a minimum speed, unattainable by particles, represents a preferred reference frame associated with a background field that breaks the Lorentz symmetry. The metric of the flat spacetime shall include the presence of a uniform vacuum energy density, which leads to a negative pressure at cosmological scales (cosmological anti-gravity). The tiny values of the cosmological constant and the vacuum energy density will be successfully obtained in agreement with the observational data.

Beads + String = Atoms You Can See.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hermann, Christine K. F.

1998-01-01

Presents hands-on activities that give students a head start in learning the vocabulary and basic theory involved in understanding atomic structure. Uses beads to represent protons, neutrons, and electrons and string to represent orbitals. (DDR)

Decreases in self-reported sleep duration among U.S. adolescents 2009-2015 and association with new media screen time.

PubMed

Twenge, Jean M; Krizan, Zlatan; Hisler, Garrett

2017-11-01

Insufficient sleep among adolescents carries significant health risks, making it important to determine social factors that change sleep duration. We sought to determine whether the self-reported sleep duration of U.S. adolescents changed between 2009 and 2015 and examine whether new media screen time (relative to other factors) might be responsible for changes in sleep. We drew from yearly, nationally representative surveys of sleep duration and time use among adolescents conducted since 1991 (Monitoring the Future) and 2007 (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System of the Centers for Disease Control; total N = 369,595). Compared to 2009, adolescents in 2015 were 16%-17% more likely to report sleeping less than 7 h a night on most nights, with an increase in short sleep duration after 2011-2013. New media screen time (electronic device use, social media, and reading news online) increased over this time period and was associated with increased odds of short sleep duration, with a clear exposure-response relationship for electronic devices after 2 or more hours of use per day. Other activities associated with short sleep duration, such as homework time, working for pay, and TV watching, were relatively stable or reduced over this time period, making it unlikely that these activities caused the sudden increase in short sleep duration. Increased new media screen time may be involved in the recent increases (from 35% to 41% and from 37% to 43%) in short sleep among adolescents. Public health interventions should consider electronic device use as a target of intervention to improve adolescent health. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Insider Threat Models

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR PURPOSE OR MERCHANTABILITY, EXCLUSIVITY, OR RESULTS OBTAINED FROM USE OF THE MATERIAL...freely distributed in written or electronic form without requesting formal permission. Permission is required for any other use . Requests for permission...variables represent system elements that are important to understand and represent essential behavior Feedback structure represented using influence

Relationship between Relativistic Electron Flux in the Inner Magnetosphere and ULF Pulsation on the Ground Associated with Long-term Variations of Solar Wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitamura, K.; Nagatsuma, T.; Troshichev, O. A.; Obara, T.; Koshiishi, H.; Saita, S.; Yoshikawa, A.; Yumoto, K.

2014-12-01

In the present study the relativistic electron flux (0.59-1.18MeV) measured by Standard Dose Monitor (SDOM) onboard DRTS (KODAMA) satellite at the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) is analyzed to investigate the long term (from 2002 to 2014) variations of the electron flux enhancement (REF) during the passage of Corotating Interaction Regions (CIRs) and/or Coronal Mass Ejection (CMEs). The long term variations of the REF clearly shows the 27-days period associated with the high speed solar wind velocity caused by the CIRs, whereas it is very few that the enhancement of REF lasts for several days after passage of CMEs. The 27-days period enhancement of REF represents the quite strong peak in 2003 when the high speed stream of the solar wind were quit active. We also conducted the same analysis for the Pc5 pulsations observed on the ground. The ground magnetic variations data globally observed by National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) and International Center for Space Weather Science and Education (ICSWSE) Kyushu University are used to investigate the long term variations of Pc5 power. The same signature in the REF variations is shown in the time variability of the Pc5 power on the ground. These results indicate that the solar wind condition strongly affects the acceleration process of the relativistic electron flux by the ULF wave. In particular the dependence of the REF and Pc5 variations on the sector structures and their seasonal variations strongly suggest that the relationship between Pc5 and REF variations could be controlled by the Russell-McPherron effect.

A distorted-wave methodology for electron-ion impact excitation - Calculation for two-electron ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bhatia, A. K.; Temkin, A.

1977-01-01

A distorted-wave program is being developed for calculating the excitation of few-electron ions by electron impact. It uses the exchange approximation to represent the exact initial-state wavefunction in the T-matrix expression for the excitation amplitude. The program has been implemented for excitation of the 2/1,3/(S,P) states of two-electron ions. Some of the astrophysical applications of these cross sections as well as the motivation and requirements of the calculational methodology are discussed.

Electron impact excitation of SO2 - Differential, integral, and momentum transfer cross sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vuskovic, L.; Trajmar, S.

1982-01-01

Electron impact excitation of the electronic states of SO2 was investigated. Differential, integral, and inelastic momentum transfer cross sections were obtained by normalizing the relative measurements to the elastic cross sections. The cross sections are given for seven spectral ranges of the energy-loss spectra extending from the lowest electronic state to near the first ionization limit. Most of the regions represent the overlap of several electronic transitions. No measurements for these cross sections have been reported previously.

Benchmark study for total enery electrons in thick slabs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jun, I.

2002-01-01

The total energy deposition profiles when highenergy electrons impinge on a thick slab of elemental aluminum, copper, and tungsten have been computed using representative Monte Carlo codes (NOVICE, TIGER, MCNP), and compared in this paper.

Radio frequency analog electronics based on carbon nanotube transistors

PubMed Central

Kocabas, Coskun; Kim, Hoon-sik; Banks, Tony; Rogers, John A.; Pesetski, Aaron A.; Baumgardner, James E.; Krishnaswamy, S. V.; Zhang, Hong

2008-01-01

The potential to exploit single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in advanced electronics represents a continuing, major source of interest in these materials. However, scalable integration of SWNTs into circuits is challenging because of difficulties in controlling the geometries, spatial positions, and electronic properties of individual tubes. We have implemented solutions to some of these challenges to yield radio frequency (RF) SWNT analog electronic devices, such as narrow band amplifiers operating in the VHF frequency band with power gains as high as 14 dB. As a demonstration, we fabricated nanotube transistor radios, in which SWNT devices provide all of the key functions, including resonant antennas, fixed RF amplifiers, RF mixers, and audio amplifiers. These results represent important first steps to practical implementation of SWNTs in high-speed analog circuits. Comparison studies indicate certain performance advantages over silicon and capabilities that complement those in existing compound semiconductor technologies. PMID:18227509

A method to obtain static potential for electron-molecule scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, Rajesh; Das, Tapasi; Stauffer, Allan

2014-05-01

Electron scattering from molecules is complicated by the fact that molecules are a multi-centered target with the nuclei of the constituent atoms being a center of charge. One of the most important parts of a scattering calculation is to obtain the static potential which represents the interaction of the incident electron with the unperturbed charge distribution of the molecule. A common way to represent the charge distribution of molecules is with Gaussian orbitals centered on the various nuclei. We have derived a way to calculate spherically-averaged molecular static potentials using this form of molecular wave function which is mostly analytic. This method has been applied to elastic electron scattering from water molecules and we obtained differential cross sections which are compared with previous experimental and theoretical results. The method can be extended to more complex molecules. One of us (RS) is thankful to IAEA, Vienna, Austria and DAE-BRNS, Mumbai, India for financial support.

Low energy electron-impact study of AlO using the R-matrix method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaur, Savinder; Baluja, Kasturi L.; Bassi, Monika

2017-11-01

This comprehensive study reports the electron-impact on the open shell AlO molecule at low energy (less than 10 eV) using the R-matrix method. We present the elastic (integrated and differential), momentum-transfer, electronic excitation and ionisation cross sections; along with effective collision frequency over a wide electron temperature range (1000-100 000 K). Correlations via a configuration interaction technique are used to represent the target states. Calculations are performed in the static-exchange and 24-target states close-coupling approximation at the experimental bond length of 1.6178 Å. We have used different basis sets 6-311G*, double zeta, polarization (DZP), cc-pCVTZ to represent our target states. We have chosen the Gaussian Type Orbitals (GTOs) basis set DZP to represent the atomic orbitals which gave the best one-electron properties of the molecule. The calculated dipole moment (1.713 au), rotational constant (0.641399 cm-1) and the vertical excitation energies are in concurrence with the best available data. The continuum electron is also represented by GTOs and is placed at the center of mass of the molecule. Resonance analysis is carried out to assign the resonance parameters and the parentage of detected resonances by fitting the eigenphase sums to the Breit-Wigner profile. Our study has detected three core-excited shape resonances in the 24-state model. We detect a stable bound state of AlO- of 1 A 1 symmetry having configuration 1 σ 2 … 7 σ 21 π 42 π 4 with a vertical electronic affinity value of 2.59 eV which is in good accord with the experimental value of 2.6 ± (0.01) eV. The ionisation cross sections are calculated using the Binary-Encounter-Bethe Model in which Hartree-Fock molecular orbitals at self-consistent level are used to calculate kinetic and binding energies of the occupied molecular orbitals. We include partial waves up to g-wave beyond which Born closure method is employed to obtain converged cross sections.

On the contributions of diffusion and thermal activation to electron transfer between Phormidium laminosum plastocyanin and cytochrome f: Brownian dynamics simulations with explicit modeling of nonpolar desolvation interactions and electron transfer events.

PubMed

Gabdoulline, Razif R; Wade, Rebecca C

2009-07-08

The factors that determine the extent to which diffusion and thermal activation processes govern electron transfer (ET) between proteins are debated. The process of ET between plastocyanin (PC) and cytochrome f (CytF) from the cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum was initially thought to be diffusion-controlled but later was found to be under activation control (Schlarb-Ridley, B. G.; et al. Biochemistry 2005, 44, 6232). Here we describe Brownian dynamics simulations of the diffusional association of PC and CytF, from which ET rates were computed using a detailed model of ET events that was applied to all of the generated protein configurations. The proteins were modeled as rigid bodies represented in atomic detail. In addition to electrostatic forces, which were modeled as in our previous simulations of protein-protein association, the proteins interacted by a nonpolar desolvation (hydrophobic) force whose derivation is described here. The simulations yielded close to realistic residence times of transient protein-protein encounter complexes of up to tens of microseconds. The activation barrier for individual ET events derived from the simulations was positive. Whereas the electrostatic interactions between P. laminosum PC and CytF are weak, simulations for a second cyanobacterial PC-CytF pair, that from Nostoc sp. PCC 7119, revealed ET rates influenced by stronger electrostatic interactions. In both cases, the simulations imply significant contributions to ET from both diffusion and thermal activation processes.

Slipping and tripping: fall injuries in adults associated with rugs and carpets

PubMed Central

Rosen, Tony; Mack, Karin A.; Noonan, Rita K.

2013-01-01

Abstract: Background: Falls are a leading cause of unintentional injury among adults age 65 years and older. Loose, unsecured rugs and damaged carpets with curled edges, are recognized environmental hazards that may contribute to falls. To characterize nonfatal, unintentional fall-related injuries associated with rugs and carpets in adults aged 65 years and older. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of surveillance data of injuries treated in hospital emergency departments (EDs) during 2001–2008. We used the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program, which collects data from a nationally representative stratified probability sample of 66 U.S. hospital EDs. Sample weights were used to make national estimates. Results: Annually, an estimated 37,991 adults age 65 years or older were treated in U.S. EDs for falls associated with carpets (54.2%) and rugs (45.8%). Most falls (72.8%) occurred at home. Women represented 80.2% of fall injuries. The most common location for fall injuries in the home was the bathroom (35.7%). Frequent fall injuries occurred at the transition between carpet/rug and non-carpet/rug, on wet carpets or rugs, and while hurrying to the bathroom. Conclusions: Fall injuries associated with rugs and carpets are common and may cause potentially severe injuries. Older adults, their caregivers, and emergency and primary care physicians should be aware of the significant risk for fall injuries and of environmental modifications that may reduce that risk. PMID:22868399

Sources and trends of environmental mercury emissions in Asia.

PubMed

Wong, Coby S C; Duzgoren-Aydin, Nurdan S; Aydin, Adnan; Wong, Ming H

2006-09-15

This paper focuses on environmental mercury emissions in Asia and elaborates its probable trend in the future and associated implications given the anticipated socioeconomic outlook and other macro-environmental factors. Among the various regions, Asia has become the largest contributor of anthropogenic atmospheric Hg, responsible for over half of the global emission. In the next few decades, a significant increase in anthropogenic Hg emissions in Asia is likely owing to rapid economic and industrial development, unless drastic measures are taken. In particular, the dominance of Asia in some Hg-emitting industries, such as coal combustion, steel production and gold mining, provokes a serious environmental concern over their potential contributions of incidental Hg in the region. Moreover, the increasing prevalence of electrical and electronic manufacturing industry as a user and a contributor of Hg in Asia is also worrying. Specifically, disposal of obsolete electrical and electronic wastes represents a phenomenon increasingly encountered in Asia. In addition to escalating anthropogenic Hg emissions in Asia, associated environmental and health implications may also exacerbate in the region for the probable effects of a unique combination of climatic (e.g. subtropical climate), environmental (e.g. acid rain) and socioeconomic factors (e.g. high population density). Hence, much effort is still needed to understand the role of Asia in global Hg cycle and associated environmental and health effects in the region.

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Acceptability of Adult Cigarette Smoking Among Florida Youth: Renormalization of Smoking?

PubMed

Choi, Kelvin; Grana, Rachel; Bernat, Debra

2017-05-01

There is a dearth of research into whether electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) promote acceptance of cigarette smoking. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between ENDS exposure, acceptance of cigarette smoking, and susceptibility to cigarette smoking. Data from the 2014 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey with a state representative sample of middle and high school students (n = 68,928) were analyzed. Own ENDS use, exposure to ENDS advertising, living with ENDS users, acceptance of adult cigarette smoking, demographics, and known predictors of cigarette smoking were assessed. Susceptibility to cigarette smoking was assessed among never smokers. Weighted multiple logistic regression models and mediation analyses were conducted, stratified by middle/high school and never/ever smoking. Analyses were conducted in 2016. Own ENDS use, exposure to ENDS advertising, and living with ENDS users were associated with acceptance of adult cigarette smoking even among never smokers, after accounting for covariates (p < .05). In a mediation analysis, own ENDS use, exposure to ENDS advertising, and living with ENDS users were indirectly associated with susceptibility to cigarette smoking among never smokers through acceptance of adult cigarette smoking (p < .05). Youth ENDS exposure may contribute to normalizing adult cigarette smoking and may in turn heighten susceptibility to cigarette smoking. If confirmed by longitudinal studies, these findings suggest that ENDS policy interventions may help prevent youth cigarette smoking. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Free electron lasers driven by linear induction accelerators: High power radiation sources

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orzechowski, T. J.

1989-01-01

The technology of Free Electron Lasers (FELs) and linear induction accelerators (LIAs) is addressed by outlining the following topics: fundamentals of FELs; basic concepts of linear induction accelerators; the Electron Laser Facility (a microwave FEL); PALADIN (an infrared FEL); magnetic switching; IMP; and future directions (relativistic klystrons). This presentation is represented by viewgraphs only.

The eMERGE Network: a consortium of biorepositories linked to electronic medical records data for conducting genomic studies.

PubMed

McCarty, Catherine A; Chisholm, Rex L; Chute, Christopher G; Kullo, Iftikhar J; Jarvik, Gail P; Larson, Eric B; Li, Rongling; Masys, Daniel R; Ritchie, Marylyn D; Roden, Dan M; Struewing, Jeffery P; Wolf, Wendy A

2011-01-26

The eMERGE (electronic MEdical Records and GEnomics) Network is an NHGRI-supported consortium of five institutions to explore the utility of DNA repositories coupled to Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems for advancing discovery in genome science. eMERGE also includes a special emphasis on the ethical, legal and social issues related to these endeavors. The five sites are supported by an Administrative Coordinating Center. Setting of network goals is initiated by working groups: (1) Genomics, (2) Informatics, and (3) Consent & Community Consultation, which also includes active participation by investigators outside the eMERGE funded sites, and (4) Return of Results Oversight Committee. The Steering Committee, comprised of site PIs and representatives and NHGRI staff, meet three times per year, once per year with the External Scientific Panel. The primary site-specific phenotypes for which samples have undergone genome-wide association study (GWAS) genotyping are cataract and HDL, dementia, electrocardiographic QRS duration, peripheral arterial disease, and type 2 diabetes. A GWAS is also being undertaken for resistant hypertension in ≈ 2,000 additional samples identified across the network sites, to be added to data available for samples already genotyped. Funded by ARRA supplements, secondary phenotypes have been added at all sites to leverage the genotyping data, and hypothyroidism is being analyzed as a cross-network phenotype. Results are being posted in dbGaP. Other key eMERGE activities include evaluation of the issues associated with cross-site deployment of common algorithms to identify cases and controls in EMRs, data privacy of genomic and clinically-derived data, developing approaches for large-scale meta-analysis of GWAS data across five sites, and a community consultation and consent initiative at each site. Plans are underway to expand the network in diversity of populations and incorporation of GWAS findings into clinical care. By combining advanced clinical informatics, genome science, and community consultation, eMERGE represents a first step in the development of data-driven approaches to incorporate genomic information into routine healthcare delivery.

Mining the Human Phenome using Semantic Web Technologies: A Case Study for Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Pathak, Jyotishman; Kiefer, Richard C.; Bielinski, Suzette J.; Chute, Christopher G.

2012-01-01

The ability to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has enabled new exploration of how genetic variations contribute to health and disease etiology. However, historically GWAS have been limited by inadequate sample size due to associated costs for genotyping and phenotyping of study subjects. This has prompted several academic medical centers to form “biobanks” where biospecimens linked to personal health information, typically in electronic health records (EHRs), are collected and stored on large number of subjects. This provides tremendous opportunities to discover novel genotype-phenotype associations and foster hypothesis generation. In this work, we study how emerging Semantic Web technologies can be applied in conjunction with clinical and genotype data stored at the Mayo Clinic Biobank to mine the phenotype data for genetic associations. In particular, we demonstrate the role of using Resource Description Framework (RDF) for representing EHR diagnoses and procedure data, and enable federated querying via standardized Web protocols to identify subjects genotyped with Type 2 Diabetes for discovering gene-disease associations. Our study highlights the potential of Web-scale data federation techniques to execute complex queries. PMID:23304343

Mining the human phenome using semantic web technologies: a case study for Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Pathak, Jyotishman; Kiefer, Richard C; Bielinski, Suzette J; Chute, Christopher G

2012-01-01

The ability to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has enabled new exploration of how genetic variations contribute to health and disease etiology. However, historically GWAS have been limited by inadequate sample size due to associated costs for genotyping and phenotyping of study subjects. This has prompted several academic medical centers to form "biobanks" where biospecimens linked to personal health information, typically in electronic health records (EHRs), are collected and stored on large number of subjects. This provides tremendous opportunities to discover novel genotype-phenotype associations and foster hypothesis generation. In this work, we study how emerging Semantic Web technologies can be applied in conjunction with clinical and genotype data stored at the Mayo Clinic Biobank to mine the phenotype data for genetic associations. In particular, we demonstrate the role of using Resource Description Framework (RDF) for representing EHR diagnoses and procedure data, and enable federated querying via standardized Web protocols to identify subjects genotyped with Type 2 Diabetes for discovering gene-disease associations. Our study highlights the potential of Web-scale data federation techniques to execute complex queries.

Patterns of anti-inflammatory drug use and risk of dementia: a matched case-control study.

PubMed

Dregan, A; Chowienczyk, P; Armstrong, D

2015-11-01

There is limited primary-care-based evidence about a potential association between anti-inflammatory therapy and dementia subtypes. The present study addressed this limitation by using electronic health records from a large primary care database. A case-control study was implemented using electronic medical records. Cases had a diagnosis of dementia between 1992 and 2014. Up to four controls matched on age, gender, family practice and index date were selected for each case. Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoid drugs represented the exposure variables. Primary outcome measures included all-cause dementia and main dementia subtypes, including Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). Data were analysed using conditional logistic regression. The study identified 31,083 patients with AD, 23,465 with VaD and 1694 with LBD. Ever-used NSAIDs were associated with a modest increase in the risk of all-cause dementia (odds ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.05, P < 0.006), whilst no association was apparent for ever-used glucocorticoids (0.98, 0.96-1.01, P = 0.152). There was no evidence for an association between NSAIDs and AD (1.03, 0.99-1.06, P = 0.07) or LBD (1.13, 0.99-1.29, P = 0.08). However, a significant increase in the risk for VaD (1.33, 1.29-1.38, P < 0.001) was observed. Similar patterns emerged for glucocorticoid therapy. In a large primary care population, there was no robust evidence for a potential association between anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of AD or LBD. NSAIDs and glucocorticoid drugs were associated with higher risk of VaD. © 2015 EAN.

Microfossils, biomolecules and biominerals in carbonaceous meteorites: implications to the origin of life

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoover, Richard B.

2012-11-01

Environmental and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM and FESEM) investigations have shown that a wide variety of carbonaceous meteorites contain the remains of large filaments embedded within freshly fractured interior surfaces of the meteorite rock matrix. The filaments occur singly or in dense assemblages and mats and are often encased within carbon-rich, electron transparent sheaths. Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) spot analysis and 2D X-Ray maps indicate the filaments rarely have detectable nitrogen levels and exhibit elemental compositions consistent with that interpretation that of the meteorite rock matrix. Many of the meteorite filaments are exceptionally well-preserved and show evidence of cells, cell-wall constrictions and specialized cells and processes for reproduction, nitrogen fixation, attachment and motility. Morphological and morphometric analyses permit many of the filaments to be associated with morphotypes of known genera and species of known filamentous trichomic prokaryotes (cyanobacteria and sulfur bacteria). The presence in carbonaceous meteorites of diagenetic breakdown products of chlorophyll (pristane and phytane) along with indigenous and extraterrestrial chiral protein amino acids, nucleobases and other life-critical biomolecules provides strong support to the hypothesis that these filaments represent the remains of cyanobacteria and other microorganisms that grew on the meteorite parent body. The absence of other life-critical biomolecules in the meteorites and the lack of detectable levels of nitrogen indicate the filaments died long ago and can not possibly represent modern microbial contaminants that entered the stones after they arrived on Earth. This paper presents new evidence for microfossils, biomolecules and biominerals in carbonaceous meteorites and considers the implications to some of the major hypotheses for the Origin of Life.

Work/life balance and health: the Nurses and Midwives e-cohort Study.

PubMed

Schluter, P J; Turner, C; Huntington, A D; Bain, C J; McClure, R J

2011-03-01

Nursing and midwifery are demanding professions. Efforts to understand the health consequences and workforce needs of these professions are urgently needed. Using a novel electronic approach, the Nurses and Midwives e-cohort Study (NMeS) aims to investigate longitudinally Australian and New Zealand nurses' and midwives' work/life balance and health. This paper describes NMeS participation; provides key baseline demographic, workforce and health indicators; compares these baseline descriptions with external norms; and assesses the feasibility of the electronic approach. From 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2008, nurses in Australia and New Zealand, and midwives in Australia were invited to participate. Potential participants were directed to a purpose-built NMeS Internet site, where study information was provided and consent sought. Once obtained, a range of standardized tools combined into one comprehensive electronic questionnaire was elicited. Overall, 7633 (2.3%) eligible nurses and midwives participated (6308 from Australia and 1325 from New Zealand) from a total pool of 334,400. Age, gender, occupational and health profiles were similar between countries and to national figures. However, some differences were noted; for instance, Queensland participants were over-represented, while Victorian and South Australian participants were under-represented, and 28.2% of Australians were in high strain positions compared with 18.8% of New Zealanders. Using an internationally novel web-based approach, a large cohort, which appears generally similar to population norms, has been established. Provided participant retention is adequate, the NMeS will provide insight into understanding the drivers of nurses' and midwives' workforce retention and work-related factors associated with their health. © 2011 The Authors. International Nursing Review © 2011 International Council of Nurses.

The Hollow Spheres of the Orgueil Meteorite: A Re-Examination

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoover, Richard B.; Jerman, Gregory; Rossignold-Strick, Maritine

2005-01-01

In 1971, Rossignol-Strick and Barghoorn provided images and a description of a number of spherical hollow microstructures showing well-defined walls in acid macerated extract of the Orgueil CI carbonaceous meteorite. Other forms such as membranes and spiral shaped structures were also reported. The carbon-rich (kerogen) hollow spheres were found to be in a narrowly constrained distribution of sizes (mainly 7 to 10 microns in diameter). Electron microprobe analysis revealed that these spheres contained Carbon, possibly P, N, and K. It was established that these forms could not be attributed to pollen or other recent terrestrial contaminants. It was concluded that they most probably represented organic coatings on globules of glass, olivine or magnetite in the meteorite. However, recent studies of the Orgueil meteorite have been carried out at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center with the S-4000 Hitachi Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). These investigations have revealed the presence of numerous carbon encrusted spherical magnetite platelets and spherical and ovoidal bodies of elemental iron in-situ in freshly fractured interior surfaces of the meteorite. Their size range is also very narrowly constrained (typically approximately 6 to 12 microns) in diameter. High resolution images reveal that these bodies are also encrusted with a thin carbonaceous sheath and are surrounded by short nanofibrils that are shown to be composed of high purity iron by EDAX elemental analysis. We present Secondary and Backscatter Electron FESEM images and associated EDAX elemental analyses and 2D X-ray maps of these forms as we re-examine the hollow spheres of Orgueil and attempt to determine if they are representatives of the same population of indigenous microstructures.

Issues in symbol design for electronic displays of navigation information

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-10-24

An increasing number of electronic displays, ranging from small hand-held displays for general aviation to installed displays for air transport, are showing navigation information, such as symbols representing navigational aids. The wide range of dis...

78 FR 77354 - Procedural Rules To Permit Parties To File and Serve Documents Electronically

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-23

... by handwriting his or her signature. For documents filed by electronic transmission, a party may sign... transmission. A party or representative of the party shall sign a document by handwriting his signature. (2...

Platform links clinical data with electronic health records

Cancer.gov

To make data gathered from patients in clinical trials available for use in standard care, NCI has created a new computer tool to support interoperability between clinical research and electronic health record systems. This new software represents an inno

Lymphatic endothelial cell line (CH3) from a recurrent retroperitoneal lymphangioma.

PubMed

Way, D; Hendrix, M; Witte, M; Witte, C; Nagle, R; Davis, J

1987-09-01

An endothelial cell line derived from a massive recurrent chyle-containing retroperitoneal lymphangioma was isolated in monolayer culture. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry confirmed a close resemblance to blood vascular endothelium with typical cobblestone morphology, positive immunofluorescence staining for endothelial marker Factor VIII-associated antigen and fibronectin, and prominent Weibel-Palade bodies. The endothelial cells also exhibited other ultrastructural features characteristic of lymphatic endothelium, including sparse microvillous surface projections, overlapping intercellular junctions, and abundant intermediate filaments. This endothelial cell line represents a new source of proliferating lymphatic endothelium for future study, including structural and functional comparison to blood vascular endothelium.

A case study of lightning, whistlers, and associated ionospheric effects during a substorm particle injection event

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rodriguez, J. V.; Inan, U. S.; Li, Y. Q.; Holzworth, R. H.; Smith, A. J.; Orville, R. E.; Rosenberg, T. J.

1992-01-01

The relationships among cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning, sferics, whistlers, VLF amplitude perturbations, and other ionospheric phenomena occurring during substorm events were investigated using data from simultaneous ground-based observations of narrow-band and broad-band VLF radio waves and of CG lightning made during the 1987 Wave-Induced Particle Precipitation campaign conducted from Wallops Island (Virginia). Results suggest that the data collected on ionospheric phenomena during this event may represent new evidence of direct coupling of lightning energy to the lower ionosphere, either in conjunction with or in the absence of gyroresonant interactions between whistler mode waves and electrons in the magnetosphere.

Parameterized study of the ionospheric modification associated with sun-aligned polar cap arcs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crain, D. J.; Sojka, J. J.; Schunk, R. W.; Zhu, L.

1993-01-01

The local ionospheric modification that is due to a generalized steady state solar aligned (SA) arc structure is addressed. For a representative set of SA arc parameters which includes both convection and precipitation, emphasis is placed on the modification by SA polar cap arcs upon the F region electron density and the height integrated conductivity. At low fluxes and low characteristic energies, SA polar cap arcs have the most pronounced relative effect at F region altitudes in darkness for winter solar minimum conditions. The absolute enhancement in summer solar minimum and winter solar maximum is equivalent to that of winter solar minimum, but the higher ambient densities make the relative enhancement less. The TEC enhancement associated with an SA arc may be used to indicate the degree of plasma cross flow across the arc.

DPM, a fast, accurate Monte Carlo code optimized for photon and electron radiotherapy treatment planning dose calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sempau, Josep; Wilderman, Scott J.; Bielajew, Alex F.

2000-08-01

A new Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm, the `dose planning method' (DPM), and its associated computer program for simulating the transport of electrons and photons in radiotherapy class problems employing primary electron beams, is presented. DPM is intended to be a high-accuracy MC alternative to the current generation of treatment planning codes which rely on analytical algorithms based on an approximate solution of the photon/electron Boltzmann transport equation. For primary electron beams, DPM is capable of computing 3D dose distributions (in 1 mm3 voxels) which agree to within 1% in dose maximum with widely used and exhaustively benchmarked general-purpose public-domain MC codes in only a fraction of the CPU time. A representative problem, the simulation of 1 million 10 MeV electrons impinging upon a water phantom of 1283 voxels of 1 mm on a side, can be performed by DPM in roughly 3 min on a modern desktop workstation. DPM achieves this performance by employing transport mechanics and electron multiple scattering distribution functions which have been derived to permit long transport steps (of the order of 5 mm) which can cross heterogeneity boundaries. The underlying algorithm is a `mixed' class simulation scheme, with differential cross sections for hard inelastic collisions and bremsstrahlung events described in an approximate manner to simplify their sampling. The continuous energy loss approximation is employed for energy losses below some predefined thresholds, and photon transport (including Compton, photoelectric absorption and pair production) is simulated in an analogue manner. The δ-scattering method (Woodcock tracking) is adopted to minimize the computational costs of transporting photons across voxels.

Semistochastic approach to many electron systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grossjean, M. K.; Grossjean, M. F.; Schulten, K.; Tavan, P.

1992-08-01

A Pariser-Parr-Pople (PPP) Hamiltonian of an 8π electron system of the molecule octatetraene, represented in a configuration-interaction basis (CI basis), is analyzed with respect to the statistical properties of its matrix elements. Based on this analysis we develop an effective Hamiltonian, which represents virtual excitations by a Gaussian orthogonal ensemble (GOE). We also examine numerical approaches which replace the original Hamiltonian by a semistochastically generated CI matrix. In that CI matrix, the matrix elements of high energy excitations are choosen randomly according to distributions reflecting the statistics of the original CI matrix.

Drug-Induced Acute Myocardial Infarction: Identifying ‘Prime Suspects’ from Electronic Healthcare Records-Based Surveillance System

PubMed Central

Coloma, Preciosa M.; Schuemie, Martijn J.; Trifirò, Gianluca; Furlong, Laura; van Mulligen, Erik; Bauer-Mehren, Anna; Avillach, Paul; Kors, Jan; Sanz, Ferran; Mestres, Jordi; Oliveira, José Luis; Boyer, Scott; Helgee, Ernst Ahlberg; Molokhia, Mariam; Matthews, Justin; Prieto-Merino, David; Gini, Rosa; Herings, Ron; Mazzaglia, Giampiero; Picelli, Gino; Scotti, Lorenza; Pedersen, Lars; van der Lei, Johan; Sturkenboom, Miriam

2013-01-01

Background Drug-related adverse events remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality and impose huge burden on healthcare costs. Routinely collected electronic healthcare data give a good snapshot of how drugs are being used in ‘real-world’ settings. Objective To describe a strategy that identifies potentially drug-induced acute myocardial infarction (AMI) from a large international healthcare data network. Methods Post-marketing safety surveillance was conducted in seven population-based healthcare databases in three countries (Denmark, Italy, and the Netherlands) using anonymised demographic, clinical, and prescription/dispensing data representing 21,171,291 individuals with 154,474,063 person-years of follow-up in the period 1996–2010. Primary care physicians’ medical records and administrative claims containing reimbursements for filled prescriptions, laboratory tests, and hospitalisations were evaluated using a three-tier triage system of detection, filtering, and substantiation that generated a list of drugs potentially associated with AMI. Outcome of interest was statistically significant increased risk of AMI during drug exposure that has not been previously described in current literature and is biologically plausible. Results Overall, 163 drugs were identified to be associated with increased risk of AMI during preliminary screening. Of these, 124 drugs were eliminated after adjustment for possible bias and confounding. With subsequent application of criteria for novelty and biological plausibility, association with AMI remained for nine drugs (‘prime suspects’): azithromycin; erythromycin; roxithromycin; metoclopramide; cisapride; domperidone; betamethasone; fluconazole; and megestrol acetate. Limitations Although global health status, co-morbidities, and time-invariant factors were adjusted for, residual confounding cannot be ruled out. Conclusion A strategy to identify potentially drug-induced AMI from electronic healthcare data has been proposed that takes into account not only statistical association, but also public health relevance, novelty, and biological plausibility. Although this strategy needs to be further evaluated using other healthcare data sources, the list of ‘prime suspects’ makes a good starting point for further clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic investigation. PMID:24015213

Development of a 3D numerical code to calculate the trajectories of the blow off electrons emitted by a vacuum surface discharge: Application to the study of the electromagnetic interference induced on a spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froger, Etienne

1993-05-01

A description of the electromagnetic behavior of a satellite subjected to an electric discharge is given using a specially developed numerical code. One of the particularities of vacuum discharges, obtained by irradiation of polymers, is the intense emission of electrons into the spacecraft environment. Electromagnetic radiation, associated with the trajectories of the particles around the spacecraft, is considered as the main source of the interference observed. In the absence of accurate orbital data and realistic ground tests, the assessment of these effects requires numerical simulation of the interaction between this electron source and the spacecraft. This is done by the GEODE particle code which is applied to characteristic configurations in order to estimate the spacecraft response to a discharge, which is simulated from a vacuum discharge model designed in laboratory. The spacecraft response to a current injection is simulated by the ALICE numerical three dimensional code. The comparison between discharge and injection effects, from the results given by the two codes, illustrates the representativity of electromagnetic susceptibility tests and the main parameters for their definition.

Investigation of North Pond crustal fluids by poised potential methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, R. M.; Orcutt, B.

2017-12-01

Microbes are present in the deep subsurface but their rates of activity, potential metabolisms and roles in the environment are still largely unknown. The marine deep crustal subsurface accounts for approximately 2.3x1018 m2 of the earth's volume, making this environment potentially significant to earth processes despite low productivity inherent in resource limited conditions. This has implications for geochemical cycling and exploring limits of life, linking to the `follow the energy' approach for defining habitability on earth and further afield. Most resources for life in the marine deep crust originate from rock. One subset of lithotrophic interactions involves direct transfer between electron acceptors and donors embedded in minerals and microbes. In this investigation, poised potential methods such as chronoamperometry were used to investigate mineral-microbe electron transfer interactions in the context of North Pond, a Mid-Atlantic ridge site representative of cool, sediment-covered basalts that make up the majority of the deep marine subsurface. Electrodes were poised at potentials corresponding approximately to particular lithotrophic oxidation reactions to enrich for sub-sections of North Pond deep subsurface fluid communities that were associated with direct electron transfer at these potentials.

A time-correlation function approach to nuclear dynamical effects in X-ray spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karsten, Sven; Bokarev, Sergey I.; Aziz, Saadullah G.; Ivanov, Sergei D.; Kühn, Oliver

2017-06-01

Modern X-ray spectroscopy has proven itself as a robust tool for probing the electronic structure of atoms in complex environments. Despite working on energy scales that are much larger than those corresponding to nuclear motions, taking nuclear dynamics and the associated nuclear correlations into account may be of importance for X-ray spectroscopy. Recently, we have developed an efficient protocol to account for nuclear dynamics in X-ray absorption and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectra [Karsten et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 8, 992 (2017)], based on ground state molecular dynamics accompanied with state-of-the-art calculations of electronic excitation energies and transition dipoles. Here, we present an alternative derivation of the formalism and elaborate on the developed simulation protocol using gas phase and bulk water as examples. The specific spectroscopic features stemming from the nuclear motions are analyzed and traced down to the dynamics of electronic energy gaps and transition dipole correlation functions. The observed tendencies are explained on the basis of a simple harmonic model, and the involved approximations are discussed. The method represents a step forward over the conventional approaches that treat the system in full complexity and provides a reasonable starting point for further improvements.

Constraints on Biological Mechanism from Disease Comorbidity Using Electronic Medical Records and Database of Genetic Variants

PubMed Central

Bagley, Steven C.; Sirota, Marina; Chen, Richard; Butte, Atul J.; Altman, Russ B.

2016-01-01

Patterns of disease co-occurrence that deviate from statistical independence may represent important constraints on biological mechanism, which sometimes can be explained by shared genetics. In this work we study the relationship between disease co-occurrence and commonly shared genetic architecture of disease. Records of pairs of diseases were combined from two different electronic medical systems (Columbia, Stanford), and compared to a large database of published disease-associated genetic variants (VARIMED); data on 35 disorders were available across all three sources, which include medical records for over 1.2 million patients and variants from over 17,000 publications. Based on the sources in which they appeared, disease pairs were categorized as having predominant clinical, genetic, or both kinds of manifestations. Confounding effects of age on disease incidence were controlled for by only comparing diseases when they fall in the same cluster of similarly shaped incidence patterns. We find that disease pairs that are overrepresented in both electronic medical record systems and in VARIMED come from two main disease classes, autoimmune and neuropsychiatric. We furthermore identify specific genes that are shared within these disease groups. PMID:27115429

Constraints on Biological Mechanism from Disease Comorbidity Using Electronic Medical Records and Database of Genetic Variants.

PubMed

Bagley, Steven C; Sirota, Marina; Chen, Richard; Butte, Atul J; Altman, Russ B

2016-04-01

Patterns of disease co-occurrence that deviate from statistical independence may represent important constraints on biological mechanism, which sometimes can be explained by shared genetics. In this work we study the relationship between disease co-occurrence and commonly shared genetic architecture of disease. Records of pairs of diseases were combined from two different electronic medical systems (Columbia, Stanford), and compared to a large database of published disease-associated genetic variants (VARIMED); data on 35 disorders were available across all three sources, which include medical records for over 1.2 million patients and variants from over 17,000 publications. Based on the sources in which they appeared, disease pairs were categorized as having predominant clinical, genetic, or both kinds of manifestations. Confounding effects of age on disease incidence were controlled for by only comparing diseases when they fall in the same cluster of similarly shaped incidence patterns. We find that disease pairs that are overrepresented in both electronic medical record systems and in VARIMED come from two main disease classes, autoimmune and neuropsychiatric. We furthermore identify specific genes that are shared within these disease groups.

A time-correlation function approach to nuclear dynamical effects in X-ray spectroscopy.

PubMed

Karsten, Sven; Bokarev, Sergey I; Aziz, Saadullah G; Ivanov, Sergei D; Kühn, Oliver

2017-06-14

Modern X-ray spectroscopy has proven itself as a robust tool for probing the electronic structure of atoms in complex environments. Despite working on energy scales that are much larger than those corresponding to nuclear motions, taking nuclear dynamics and the associated nuclear correlations into account may be of importance for X-ray spectroscopy. Recently, we have developed an efficient protocol to account for nuclear dynamics in X-ray absorption and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectra [Karsten et al., J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 8, 992 (2017)], based on ground state molecular dynamics accompanied with state-of-the-art calculations of electronic excitation energies and transition dipoles. Here, we present an alternative derivation of the formalism and elaborate on the developed simulation protocol using gas phase and bulk water as examples. The specific spectroscopic features stemming from the nuclear motions are analyzed and traced down to the dynamics of electronic energy gaps and transition dipole correlation functions. The observed tendencies are explained on the basis of a simple harmonic model, and the involved approximations are discussed. The method represents a step forward over the conventional approaches that treat the system in full complexity and provides a reasonable starting point for further improvements.

Relationship between the structures of flavonoids and oxygen radical absorbance capacity values: a quantum chemical analysis.

PubMed

Zhang, Di; Liu, Yixiang; Chu, Le; Wei, Ying; Wang, Dan; Cai, Shengbao; Zhou, Feng; Ji, Baoping

2013-02-28

Various radical-scavenging activities (RSA) assessment assays are based on discrete mechanisms and on using different radical sources. Few studies have analyzed the structural significance of flavonoids in their peroxyl radical activities in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. In this study, the RSA of 13 flavonoids in two ORAC assays with different probes (fluorescein and pyrogallol red) were investigated. Neither O-H bond dissociation enthalpy nor ionization potential values of flavonoids correlated with ORAC values. The proton affinity (PA) and electron transfer enthalpy (ETE) values, which were obtained via the sequential proton-loss electron-transfer mechanism, were significantly associated with the ORAC(pyrogallol Red) and ORAC(fluorescein) assays, respectively. Thus, PA represented the kinetic aspect of RSA, whereas ETE reflected the RSA extent. The PA values and the most acidic sites of flavonoids were affected by intramolecular electronic interactions, H-bonding, 3-hydroxyl group in the C ring, and conjugation systems. The stability of the deprotonated flavonoid determined the ETE value. Apart from the PA and ETE values in the first oxidation step of flavonoids, the PA and ETE values in the second oxidation step also affected the ORAC values of flavonoids.

Barrier-free proton transfer in the valence anion of 2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate. II. A computational study.

PubMed

Kobyłecka, Monika; Gu, Jiande; Rak, Janusz; Leszczynski, Jerzy

2008-01-28

The propensity of four representative conformations of 2(')-deoxyadenosine-5(')-monophosphate (5(')-dAMPH) to bind an excess electron has been studied at the B3LYP6-31++G(d,p) level. While isolated canonical adenine does not support stable valence anions in the gas phase, all considered neutral conformations of 5(')-dAMPH form adiabatically stable anions. The type of an anionic 5(')-dAMPH state, i.e., the valence, dipole bound, or mixed (valence/dipole bound), depends on the internal hydrogen bond(s) pattern exhibited by a particular tautomer. The most stable anion results from an electron attachment to the neutral syn-south conformer. The formation of this anion is associated with a barrier-free proton transfer triggered by electron attachment and the internal rotation around the C4(')-C5(') bond. The adiabatic electron affinity of the a_south-syn anion is 1.19 eV, while its vertical detachment energy is 1.89 eV. Our results are compared with the photoelectron spectrum (PES) of 5(')-dAMPH(-) measured recently by Stokes et al., [J. Chem. Phys. 128, 044314 (2008)]. The computational VDE obtained for the most stable anionic structure matches well with the experimental electron binding energy region of maximum intensity. A further understanding of DNA damage might require experimental and computational studies on the systems in which purine nucleotides are engaged in hydrogen bonding.

Barrier-free proton transfer in the valence anion of 2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate. II. A computational study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobyłecka, Monika; Gu, Jiande; Rak, Janusz; Leszczynski, Jerzy

2008-01-01

The propensity of four representative conformations of 2'-deoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate (5'-dAMPH) to bind an excess electron has been studied at the B3LYP /6-31++G(d,p) level. While isolated canonical adenine does not support stable valence anions in the gas phase, all considered neutral conformations of 5'-dAMPH form adiabatically stable anions. The type of an anionic 5'-dAMPH state, i.e., the valence, dipole bound, or mixed (valence/dipole bound), depends on the internal hydrogen bond(s) pattern exhibited by a particular tautomer. The most stable anion results from an electron attachment to the neutral syn-south conformer. The formation of this anion is associated with a barrier-free proton transfer triggered by electron attachment and the internal rotation around the C4'-C5' bond. The adiabatic electron affinity of the a&barbelow;south-syn anion is 1.19eV, while its vertical detachment energy is 1.89eV. Our results are compared with the photoelectron spectrum (PES) of 5'-dAMPH- measured recently by Stokes et al., [J. Chem. Phys. 128, 044314 (2008)]. The computational VDE obtained for the most stable anionic structure matches well with the experimental electron binding energy region of maximum intensity. A further understanding of DNA damage might require experimental and computational studies on the systems in which purine nucleotides are engaged in hydrogen bonding.

Associations between sports participation, adiposity and obesity-related health behaviors in Australian adolescents.

PubMed

Vella, Stewart A; Cliff, Dylan P; Okely, Anthony D; Scully, Maree L; Morley, Belinda C

2013-10-02

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between organized sports participation, weight status, physical activity, screen time, and important food habits in a large nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents. Nationally representative cross-sectional study of 12,188 adolescents from 238 secondary schools aged between 12 and 17 years (14.47 ± 1.25 y, 53% male, 23% overweight/obese). Participation in organized sports, compliance with national physical activity, screen time, and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fat foods were self-reported. Weight status and adiposity (BMI, waist circumference) were measured. Organized sports participation was higher among males and those residing in rural/remote areas. Underweight adolescents reported the lowest levels of participation. Higher levels of participation were associated with an increased likelihood of complying with national physical activity (OR = 2.07 [1.67-2.58]), screen time (OR = 1.48 [1.19-1.84]), and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines (OR = 1.32 [1.05-1.67]). There was no association between organized sport participation and weight status, adiposity, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or high-fat foods. Participation in organized sports was associated with a greater likelihood to engage in a cluster of health behaviors, including meeting physical activity guidelines, electronic screen time recommendations, and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines. However, participation in organized sports was not associated with unhealthy dietary behaviors including the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fat foods. There is no association between participation in organized sports and likelihood to be overweight or obese. The role of sports in promoting healthy weight and energy balance is unclear.

Associations between sports participation, adiposity and obesity-related health behaviors in Australian adolescents

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between organized sports participation, weight status, physical activity, screen time, and important food habits in a large nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents. Methods Nationally representative cross-sectional study of 12,188 adolescents from 238 secondary schools aged between 12 and 17 years (14.47 ± 1.25 y, 53% male, 23% overweight/obese). Participation in organized sports, compliance with national physical activity, screen time, and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines, and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fat foods were self-reported. Weight status and adiposity (BMI, waist circumference) were measured. Results Organized sports participation was higher among males and those residing in rural/remote areas. Underweight adolescents reported the lowest levels of participation. Higher levels of participation were associated with an increased likelihood of complying with national physical activity (OR = 2.07 [1.67-2.58]), screen time (OR = 1.48 [1.19-1.84]), and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines (OR = 1.32 [1.05-1.67]). There was no association between organized sport participation and weight status, adiposity, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or high-fat foods. Conclusions Participation in organized sports was associated with a greater likelihood to engage in a cluster of health behaviors, including meeting physical activity guidelines, electronic screen time recommendations, and fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines. However, participation in organized sports was not associated with unhealthy dietary behaviors including the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and high-fat foods. There is no association between participation in organized sports and likelihood to be overweight or obese. The role of sports in promoting healthy weight and energy balance is unclear. PMID:24088327

An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Four-Year Industrial Technology Programs In Preparing Industrial Electronic Technicians to Meet the Requirements of Industry.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prewitt, Roger W.

To determine the effectiveness of the 4-year industrial technology programs in preparing industrial electronic technicians for employment in industry, data were obtained through an opinionnaire, which was sent to the higher education institutions offering a 4-year electronic technician program and to selected industrial representatives located in…

Electronic switches and control circuits: A compilation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1971-01-01

The innovations in this updated series of compilations dealing with electronic technology represents a carefully selected collection of items on electronic switches and control circuits. Most of the items are based on well-known circuit design concepts that have been simplified or refined to meet NASA's demanding requirement for reliability, simplicity, fail-safe characteristics, and the capability of withstanding environmental extremes.

Fabrication of High-T(sub c) Hot-Electron Bolometric Mixers for Terahertz Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burns, M. J.; Kleinsasser, A. W.; Delin, K. A.; Vasquez, R. P.; Karasik, B. S.; McGrath, W. R.; Gaidis, M. C.

1996-01-01

Superocnducting hot-electron bolometers (HEB) represent a promising candidate for heterodyne mixing at frequencies exceeding 1 THz. Nb HEB mixers offer performance competitive with tunnel junctions without the frequency limit imposed by the superconducting energy gap.

Optical Potential Field Mapping System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reid, Max B. (Inventor)

1996-01-01

The present invention relates to an optical system for creating a potential field map of a bounded two dimensional region containing a goal location and an arbitrary number of obstacles. The potential field mapping system has an imaging device and a processor. Two image writing modes are used by the imaging device, electron deposition and electron depletion. Patterns written in electron deposition mode appear black and expand. Patterns written in electron depletion mode are sharp and appear white. The generated image represents a robot's workspace. The imaging device under processor control then writes a goal location in the work-space using the electron deposition mode. The black image of the goal expands in the workspace. The processor stores the generated images, and uses them to generate a feedback pattern. The feedback pattern is written in the workspace by the imaging device in the electron deposition mode to enhance the expansion of the original goal pattern. After the feedback pattern is written, an obstacle pattern is written by the imaging device in the electron depletion mode to represent the obstacles in the robot's workspace. The processor compares a stored image to a previously stored image to determine a change therebetween. When no change occurs, the processor averages the stored images to produce the potential field map.

THz based electron bunch length monitoring at the quasi-cw SRF accelerator ELBE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, Bertram; Kovalev, Sergey; Fisher, Alan; Bauer, Christian; Kuntzsch, Michael; Lehnert, Ulf; Schurig, Rico; Goltz, Torsten; Michel, Peter; Stojanovic, Nikola; Gensch, Michael

2014-03-01

In the past few years the quasi-cw SRF electron accelerator ELBE has been upgraded so that it now allows to compress electron bunches to the sub-picosecond regime. The actual optimization and control of the electron bunch form represents one of the largest challenges of the coming years. In particular with respect to the midterm goal to utilize the ultra-short electron bunches for Laser-Thomson scattering experiments or high field THz experiments. Current developments of THz based electron bunch diagnostic are discussed and an outlook into future developments is given.

Transient Nonlinear Optical Properties of Thin Film Titanium Nitride

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-23

representative of a semiconductor, and their total effect. The effect of carrier heating is shown in light purple. The effect of number of electrons in the...small amount of the excited electrons are heated to a very high temperature. [7] One model for how these hot electrons dissipate energy is called the...two temperature model”. The two temperatures are the temperature of the electron and the temperature of the lattice (or phonon). When heated by an

Study of ring influence and electronic response to proton transfer reactions. Reaction electronic flux analysis.

PubMed

Herrera, Barbara

2011-05-01

In this article, a theoretical study of 1-5 proton transfers is presented. Two model systems which represent 1-5 proton transfer, 3-hidroxy-2-propenimine and salicyldenaniline have been studied as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose, a DFT/B3LYP/6-311+G**, reaction force and reaction electronic flux analysis is made. The obtained results indicate that both proton transfers exhibit energetic and electronic differences emphasizing the role of the neighbor ring and the impact of conjugation on electronic properties.

Exploring the implementation of an electronic record into a maternity unit: a qualitative study using Normalisation Process Theory.

PubMed

Scantlebury, Arabella; Sheard, Laura; Watt, Ian; Cairns, Paul; Wright, John; Adamson, Joy

2017-01-07

To explore the benefits, barriers and disadvantages of implementing an electronic record system (ERS). The extent that the system has become 'normalised' into routine practice was also explored. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 members of NHS staff who represented a variety of staff groups (doctors, midwives of different grades, health care assistants) and wards within a maternity unit at a NHS teaching hospital. Interviews were conducted during the first year of the phased implementation of ERS and were analysed thematically. The four mechanisms of Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) (coherence, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring) were adapted for use within the study and provided a theoretical framework to interpret the study's findings. Coherence (participants' understanding of why the ERS has been implemented) was mixed - whilst those involved in ERS implementation anticipated advantages such as improved access to information; the majority were unclear why the ERS was introduced. Participants' willingness to engage with and invest time into the ERS (cognitive participation) depended on the amount of training and support they received and their willingness to change from paper to electronic records. Collective action (the extent the ERS was used) may be influenced by whether participants perceived there to be benefits associated with the system. Whilst some individuals reported benefits such as improved legibility of records, others felt benefits were yet to emerge. The parallel use of paper and the lack of integration of electronic systems within and between the trust and other healthcare organisations hindered ERS use. When appraising the ERS (reflexive monitoring) participants perceived the system to negatively impact the patient-clinician relationship, time and patient safety. Despite expectations that the ERS would have a number of advantages, its implementation was perceived to have a range of disadvantages and only a limited number of 'clinical benefits'. The study highlights the complexity of implementing electronic systems and the associated longevity before they can become 'embedded' into routine practice. Through the identification of barriers to the employment of electronic systems this process could be streamlined with the avoidance of any potential detriment to clinical services.

Electron microscopic diagnosis of human flavivirus encephalitis: use of confocal microscopy as an aid.

PubMed

Chu, C T; Howell, D N; Morgenlander, J C; Hulette, C M; McLendon, R E; Miller, S E

1999-10-01

The distinction between intracranial viral infections and inflammatory conditions requiring immunosuppression is important. Although specific laboratory reagents are readily available for some viruses, diagnosis of arbovirus infection is more difficult. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) theoretically allows identification of viral particles independent of reagent availability, but it has limited sensitivity. We report two cases of human flavivirus encephalitis diagnosed by TEM. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) was used in one case to survey unembedded tissue slices for focal abnormalities, from which fragments smaller than 1 mm2 were excised for epoxy embedding. This facilitated TEM identification of intracytoplasmic, budding, 35-40 nm spherical virus particles, confirmed by serology as St. Louis encephalitis. In contrast to mosquitoes and newborn mice, in which high viral loads are associated with minimal tissue responses, these biopsies showed florid angiodestructive inflammation and microgliosis, with rare virions in necrotic perivascular cells and astrocytes. To our knowledge, this represents the first ultrastructural study of St. Louis encephalitis in humans, indicating the potential value of LSCM-aided TEM.

Development of Flexible Multilayer Circuits and Cables

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barnes, Kevin N.; Bryant, Robert; Holloway, Nancy; Draughon, Fred

2005-01-01

A continuing program addresses the development of flexible multilayer electronic circuits and associated flexible cables. This development is undertaken to help satisfy aerospace-system-engineering requirements for efficient, lightweight electrical and electronic subsystems that can fit within confined spaces, adhere to complexly shaped surfaces, and can be embedded within composite materials. Heretofore, substrate layers for commercial flexible circuitry have been made from sheets of Kapton (or equivalent) polyimide and have been bonded to copper conductors and to other substrate layers by means of adhesives. The substrates for the present developmental flexible circuitry are made from thin films of a polyimide known as LaRC(TM)-SI. This polyimide is thermoplastic and, therefore, offers the potential to eliminate delamination and the need for adhesives. The development work undertaken thus far includes experiments in the use of several techniques of design and fabrication (including computer-aided design and fabrication) of representative flexible circuits. Anticipated future efforts would focus on multilayer bonding, fabrication of prototypes, and overcoming limitations.

Transverse fields to tune an Ising-nematic quantum phase transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maharaj, Akash V.; Rosenberg, Elliott W.; Hristov, Alexander T.; Berg, Erez; Fernandes, Rafael M.; Fisher, Ian R.; Kivelson, Steven A.

2017-12-01

The paradigmatic example of a continuous quantum phase transition is the transverse field Ising ferromagnet. In contrast to classical critical systems, whose properties depend only on symmetry and the dimension of space, the nature of a quantum phase transition also depends on the dynamics. In the transverse field Ising model, the order parameter is not conserved, and increasing the transverse field enhances quantum fluctuations until they become strong enough to restore the symmetry of the ground state. Ising pseudospins can represent the order parameter of any system with a twofold degenerate broken-symmetry phase, including electronic nematic order associated with spontaneous point-group symmetry breaking. Here, we show for the representative example of orbital-nematic ordering of a non-Kramers doublet that an orthogonal strain or a perpendicular magnetic field plays the role of the transverse field, thereby providing a practical route for tuning appropriate materials to a quantum critical point. While the transverse fields are conjugate to seemingly unrelated order parameters, their nontrivial commutation relations with the nematic order parameter, which can be represented by a Berry-phase term in an effective field theory, intrinsically intertwine the different order parameters.

Materials Frontiers to Empower Quantum Computing

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

Taylor, Antoinette Jane; Sarrao, John Louis; Richardson, Christopher

This is an exciting time at the nexus of quantum computing and materials research. The materials frontiers described in this report represent a significant advance in electronic materials and our understanding of the interactions between the local material and a manufactured quantum state. Simultaneously, directed efforts to solve materials issues related to quantum computing provide an opportunity to control and probe the fundamental arrangement of matter that will impact all electronic materials. An opportunity exists to extend our understanding of materials functionality from electronic-grade to quantum-grade by achieving a predictive understanding of noise and decoherence in qubits and their originsmore » in materials defects and environmental coupling. Realizing this vision systematically and predictively will be transformative for quantum computing and will represent a qualitative step forward in materials prediction and control.« less

Secondary mineral formation associated with respiration of nontronite, NAu-1 by iron reducing bacteria

PubMed Central

O'Reilly, S Erin; Watkins, Janet; Furukawa, Yoko

2005-01-01

Experimental batch and miscible-flow cultures were studied in order to determine the mechanistic pathways of microbial Fe(III) respiration in ferruginous smectite clay, NAu-1. The primary purpose was to resolve if alteration of smectite and release of Fe precedes microbial respiration. Alteration of NAu-1, represented by the morphological and mineralogical changes, occurred regardless of the extent of microbial Fe(III) reduction in all of our experimental systems, including those that contained heat-killed bacteria and those in which O2, rather than Fe(III), was the primary terminal electron acceptor. The solid alteration products observed under transmission electron microscopy included poorly crystalline smectite with diffuse electron diffraction signals, discrete grains of Fe-free amorphous aluminosilicate with increased Al/Si ratio, Fe-rich grains, and amorphous Si globules in the immediate vicinity of bacterial cells and extracellular polymeric substances. In reducing systems, Fe was also found as siderite. The small amount of Fe partitioned to the aqueous phase was primarily in the form of dissolved Fe(III) species even in the systems in which Fe(III) was the primary terminal electron acceptor for microbial respiration. From these observations, we conclude that microbial respiration of Fe(III) in our laboratory systems proceeded through the following: (1) alteration of NAu-1 and concurrent release of Fe(III) from the octahedral sheets of NAu-1; and (2) subsequent microbial respiration of Fe(III).

Medication order communication using fax and document-imaging technologies.

PubMed

Simonian, Armen I

2008-03-15

The implementation of fax and document-imaging technology to electronically communicate medication orders from nursing stations to the pharmacy is described. The evaluation of a commercially available pharmacy order imaging system to improve order communication and to make document retrieval more efficient led to the selection and customization of a system already licensed and used in seven affiliated hospitals. The system consisted of existing fax machines and document-imaging software that would capture images of written orders and send them from nursing stations to a central database server. Pharmacists would then retrieve the images and enter the orders in an electronic medical record system. The pharmacy representatives from all seven hospitals agreed on the configuration and functionality of the custom application. A 30-day trial of the order imaging system was successfully conducted at one of the larger institutions. The new system was then implemented at the remaining six hospitals over a period of 60 days. The transition from a paper-order system to electronic communication via a standardized pharmacy document management application tailored to the specific needs of this health system was accomplished. A health system with seven affiliated hospitals successfully implemented electronic communication and the management of inpatient paper-chart orders by using faxes and document-imaging technology. This standardized application eliminated the problems associated with the hand delivery of paper orders, the use of the pneumatic tube system, and the printing of traditional faxes.

Properties of coupled-cluster equations originating in excitation sub-algebras

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kowalski, Karol

2018-03-01

In this paper, we discuss properties of single-reference coupled cluster (CC) equations associated with the existence of sub-algebras of excitations that allow one to represent CC equations in a hybrid fashion where the cluster amplitudes associated with these sub-algebras can be obtained by solving the corresponding eigenvalue problem. For closed-shell formulations analyzed in this paper, the hybrid representation of CC equations provides a natural way for extending active-space and seniority number concepts to provide an accurate description of electron correlation effects. Moreover, a new representation can be utilized to re-define iterative algorithms used to solve CC equations, especially for tough cases defined by the presence of strong static and dynamical correlation effects. We will also explore invariance properties associated with excitation sub-algebras to define a new class of CC approximations referred to in this paper as the sub-algebra-flow-based CC methods. We illustrate the performance of these methods on the example of ground- and excited-state calculations for commonly used small benchmark systems.

A semantic-web oriented representation of the clinical element model for secondary use of electronic health records data.

PubMed

Tao, Cui; Jiang, Guoqian; Oniki, Thomas A; Freimuth, Robert R; Zhu, Qian; Sharma, Deepak; Pathak, Jyotishman; Huff, Stanley M; Chute, Christopher G

2013-05-01

The clinical element model (CEM) is an information model designed for representing clinical information in electronic health records (EHR) systems across organizations. The current representation of CEMs does not support formal semantic definitions and therefore it is not possible to perform reasoning and consistency checking on derived models. This paper introduces our efforts to represent the CEM specification using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). The CEM-OWL representation connects the CEM content with the Semantic Web environment, which provides authoring, reasoning, and querying tools. This work may also facilitate the harmonization of the CEMs with domain knowledge represented in terminology models as well as other clinical information models such as the openEHR archetype model. We have created the CEM-OWL meta ontology based on the CEM specification. A convertor has been implemented in Java to automatically translate detailed CEMs from XML to OWL. A panel evaluation has been conducted, and the results show that the OWL modeling can faithfully represent the CEM specification and represent patient data.

A semantic-web oriented representation of the clinical element model for secondary use of electronic health records data

PubMed Central

Tao, Cui; Jiang, Guoqian; Oniki, Thomas A; Freimuth, Robert R; Zhu, Qian; Sharma, Deepak; Pathak, Jyotishman; Huff, Stanley M; Chute, Christopher G

2013-01-01

The clinical element model (CEM) is an information model designed for representing clinical information in electronic health records (EHR) systems across organizations. The current representation of CEMs does not support formal semantic definitions and therefore it is not possible to perform reasoning and consistency checking on derived models. This paper introduces our efforts to represent the CEM specification using the Web Ontology Language (OWL). The CEM-OWL representation connects the CEM content with the Semantic Web environment, which provides authoring, reasoning, and querying tools. This work may also facilitate the harmonization of the CEMs with domain knowledge represented in terminology models as well as other clinical information models such as the openEHR archetype model. We have created the CEM-OWL meta ontology based on the CEM specification. A convertor has been implemented in Java to automatically translate detailed CEMs from XML to OWL. A panel evaluation has been conducted, and the results show that the OWL modeling can faithfully represent the CEM specification and represent patient data. PMID:23268487

Perceived Utility of Pharmacy Licensure Examination Preparation Tools

PubMed Central

Peak, Amy Sutton; Sheehan, Amy Heck; Arnett, Stephanie

2006-01-01

Objectives To identify board examination preparation tools most commonly used by recent pharmacy graduates and determine which tools are perceived as most valuable and representative of the actual content of licensure examinations. Methods An electronic survey was sent to all 2004 graduates of colleges of pharmacy in Indiana. Participants identified which specific preparation tools were used and rated tools based on usefulness, representativeness of licensure examination, and monetary value, and provided overall recommendations to future graduates. Results The most commonly used preparation tools were the Pharmacy Law Review Session offered by Dr. Thomas Wilson at Purdue University, the Complete Review for Pharmacy, Pre-NAPLEX, PharmPrep, and the Kaplan NAPLEX Review. Tools receiving high ratings in all categories included Dr. Wilson's Pharmacy Law Review Session, Pre-NAPLEX, Comprehensive Pharmacy Review, Kaplan NAPLEX Review, and Review of Pharmacy. Conclusions Although no preparation tool was associated with a higher examination pass rate, certain tools were clearly rated higher than others by test takers. PMID:17149406

Electron-impact excitation of He: Dependence of electron-photon coherence parameters on the principal quantum number

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

Hammond, P.; Khakoo, M.A.; McConkey, J.W.

1987-12-01

Measurements are presented representing a complete set of electron-photon polarization correlation parameters for the excitation of n /sup 1/P states of He at an incident energy of 80 eV and an electron scattering angle of 20/sup 0/. The data support the predictions of a recent theoretical paper that these parameters should exhibit little variation with n. However, disagreement in absolute values between experiment and theory indicates the need for additional theoretical input into the problem.

Ab initio calculations of potential energy curves of Hg/sub 2/ and TlHg

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

Celestino, K.C.; Ermler, W.C.

1984-08-15

Potential energy curves for electronic states of Hg/sub 2/ and TlHg are presented and analyzed. They are derived using large scale configuration interaction procedures for the valence electrons, with the core electrons represented by ab initio relativistic effective potentials. The effect of spin-orbit coupling are investigated for the low-lying excimer states. It is determined that neither system possesses strongly bound electronic states for which transitions to the repulsive ground states are optically allowed.

Influence of High Pulsed Magnetic Field on the Dislocations and Mechanical Properties of Al2O3/Al Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Jiang-feng; Li, Gui-rong; Wang, Hong-ming; Li, Pei-si; Li, Chao-qun

2018-03-01

At T6 state, Al-Zn-Mg-Cu aluminum matrix composites reinforced with Al2O3 particles generated in situ were subjected to high pulsed magnetic fields at different magnetic induction intensities ( B = 2, 3 and 4 T). The results show that the dislocation densities in the treated samples increased with increasing B, and the magnetoplastic effect was determined to be the primary cause. The effect of the magnetic field is believed to alter the spin state of free electrons between dislocations and obstacles from the singlet state (associated with high bonding energy) to the triplet state (low bonding energy). The maximum ultimate tensile strength of 532 MPa was obtained at B = 4 T with 30 pulses, which was 20.7% higher than that of the initial sample, primarily because of dislocation strengthening. At B = 2 T, the elongation was at its maximum of 9.3%, representing an increase of 12% compared with the initial sample, while the associated ultimate tensile strength (447 MPa) was still higher than that of the untreated sample (440 MPa). The relationship between mechanical properties and microstructure was analyzed, and the improved properties observed in this work are explained by the transition of the electron spin state and the piling up of dislocations.

Phytoene Desaturase from Oryza sativa: Oligomeric Assembly, Membrane Association and Preliminary 3D-Analysis

PubMed Central

Koschmieder, Julian; Brausemann, Anton; Drepper, Friedel; Rodriguez-Franco, Marta; Ghisla, Sandro; Warscheid, Bettina; Einsle, Oliver; Beyer, Peter

2015-01-01

Recombinant phytoene desaturase (PDS-His6) from rice was purified to near-homogeneity and shown to be enzymatically active in a biphasic, liposome-based assay system. The protein contains FAD as the sole protein-bound redox-cofactor. Benzoquinones, not replaceable by molecular oxygen, serve as a final electron acceptor defining PDS as a 15-cis-phytoene (donor):plastoquinone oxidoreductase. The herbicidal PDS-inhibitor norflurazon is capable of arresting the reaction by stabilizing the intermediary FADred, while an excess of the quinone acceptor relieves this blockage, indicating competition. The enzyme requires its homo-oligomeric association for activity. The sum of data collected through gel permeation chromatography, non-denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis, chemical cross-linking, mass spectrometry and electron microscopy techniques indicate that the high-order oligomers formed in solution are the basis for an active preparation. Of these, a tetramer consisting of dimers represents the active unit. This is corroborated by our preliminary X-ray structural analysis that also revealed similarities of the protein fold with the sequence-inhomologous bacterial phytoene desaturase CRTI and other oxidoreductases of the GR2-family of flavoproteins. This points to an evolutionary relatedness of CRTI and PDS yielding different carotene desaturation sequences based on homologous protein folds. PMID:26147209

Surface Damage on Dental Implants with Release of Loose Particles after Insertion into Bone.

PubMed

Senna, Plinio; Antoninha Del Bel Cury, Altair; Kates, Stephen; Meirelles, Luiz

2015-08-01

Modern dental implants present surface features of distinct dimensions that can be damaged during the insertion procedure into bone. The aims of this study were (1) to quantify by means of roughness parameters the surface damage caused by the insertion procedure of dental implants and (2) to investigate the presence of loose particles at the interface. Three groups of dental implants representing different surface topographies were inserted in fresh cow rib bone blocks. The surface roughness was characterized by interferometry on the same area before and after the insertion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-back-scattered electron detector (BSD) analysis was used to identify loose particles at the interface. The amplitude and hybrid roughness parameters of all three groups were lower after insertion. The surface presenting predominance of peaks (Ssk [skewness] > 0) associated to higher structures (height parameters) presented higher damage associated to more pronounced reduction of material volume. SEM-BSD images revealed loose titanium and aluminum particles at the interface mainly at the crestal cortical bone level. Shearing forces during the insertion procedure alters the surface of dental implants. Loose metal particles can be generated at bone-implant interface especially around surfaces composed mainly by peaks and with increased height parameters. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Use of Contact Mode Atomic Force Microscopy in Aqueous Medium for Structural Analysis of Spinach Photosynthetic Complexes

DOE PAGES

Phuthong, Witchukorn; Huang, Zubin; Wittkopp, Tyler M.; ...

2015-07-28

To investigate the dynamics of photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes in vascular plants at high resolution in an aqueous environment, membrane-protruding oxygen-evolving complexes (OECs) associated with photosystem II (PSII) on spinach ( Spinacia oleracea) grana membranes were examined using contact mode atomic force microscopy. This study represents, to our knowledge, the first use of atomic force microscopy to distinguish the putative large extrinsic loop of Photosystem II CP47 reaction center protein (CP47) from the putative oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins 1, 2, and 3 (PsbO, PsbP, and PsbQ) and large extrinsic loop of Photosystem II CP43 reaction center protein (CP43) in the PSII-OEC extrinsicmore » domains of grana membranes under conditions resulting in the disordered arrangement of PSII-OEC particles. Moreover, we observed uncharacterized membrane particles that, based on their physical characteristics and electrophoretic analysis of the polypeptides associated with the grana samples, are hypothesized to be a domain of photosystem I that protrudes from the stromal face of single thylakoid bilayers. Furthermore, our results are interpreted in the context of the results of others that were obtained using cryo-electron microscopy (and single particle analysis), negative staining and freeze-fracture electron microscopy, as well as previous atomic force microscopy studies.« less

Pericellular innervation of neurons expressing abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau in the hippocampal formation of Alzheimer's disease patients.

PubMed

Blazquez-Llorca, Lidia; Garcia-Marin, Virginia; Defelipe, Javier

2010-01-01

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) represent one of the main neuropathological features in the cerebral cortex associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This neurofibrillary lesion involves the accumulation of abnormally hyperphosphorylated or abnormally phosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau into paired helical filaments (PHF-tau) within neurons. We have used immunocytochemical techniques and confocal microscopy reconstructions to examine the distribution of PHF-tau-immunoreactive (ir) cells, and their perisomatic GABAergic and glutamatergic innervations in the hippocampal formation and adjacent cortex of AD patients. Furthermore, correlative light and electron microscopy was employed to examine these neurons and the perisomatic synapses. We observed two patterns of staining in PHF-tau-ir neurons, pattern I (without NFT) and pattern II (with NFT), the distribution of which varies according to the cortical layer and area. Furthermore, the distribution of both GABAergic and glutamatergic terminals around the soma and proximal processes of PHF-tau-ir neurons does not seem to be altered as it is indistinguishable from both control cases and from adjacent neurons that did not contain PHF-tau. At the electron microscope level, a normal looking neuropil with typical symmetric and asymmetric synapses was observed around PHF-tau-ir neurons. These observations suggest that the synaptic connectivity around the perisomatic region of these PHF-tau-ir neurons was apparently unaltered.

Graphene-induced apoptosis in lung epithelial cells through EGFR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Shih-Ming; Bangalore, Preeti; Chen, Eric Y.; Lu, David; Chiu, Meng-Hsuen; Suh, Andrew; Gehring, Matthew; Cangco, John P.; Garcia, Santiago G.; Chin, Wei-Chun

2017-07-01

Expanding interest in nanotechnology applied to electronic and biomedical fields has led to fast-growing development of various nanomaterials. Graphene is a single-atom thick, two-dimensional sheet of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms with unique physical and chemical properties. Recently, graphene has been used in many studies on electronics, photonics, composite materials, energy generation and storage, sensors, and biomedicine. However, the current health risk assessment for graphene has been relatively limited and inconclusive. This study evaluated the toxicity effects of graphene on the airway epithelial cell line BEAS-2B, which represents the first barrier of the human body to interact with airborne graphene particles. Our result showed that graphene can induce the cellular Ca2+ by phospholipase C (PLC) associated pathway by activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Subsequently, inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptors activate the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ stores. Those Ca2+ signals further trigger the calcium-regulated apoptosis in the cell. Furthermore, the stimulation can cause EGFR upregulation, which have been demonstrated to associate with diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular diseases. This study highlights the additional health risk considering that it can function as a contributing factor for other respiratory diseases.

Electron microscopic studies of mitosis in amebae. I. Amoeba proteus.

PubMed

ROTH, L E; OBETZ, S W; DANIELS, E W

1960-09-01

Individual organisms of Amoeba proteus have been fixed in buffered osmium tetroxide in either 0.9 per cent NaCl or 0.01 per cent CaCl(2), sectioned, and studied in the electron microscope in interphase and in several stages of mitosis. The helices typical of interphase nuclei do not coexist with condensed chromatin and thus either represent a DNA configuration unique to interphase or are not DNA at all. The membranes of the complex nuclear envelope are present in all stages observed but are discontinuous in metaphase. The inner, thick, honeycomb layer of the nuclear envelope disappears during prophase, reappearing after telophase when nuclear reconstruction is in progress. Nucleoli decrease in size and number during prophase and re-form during telophase in association with the chromatin network. In the early reconstruction nucleus, the nucleolar material forms into thin, sheet-like configurations which are closely associated with small amounts of chromatin and are closely applied to the inner, partially formed layer of the nuclear envelope. It is proposed that nucleolar material is implicated in the formation of the inner layer of the envelope and that there is a configuration of nucleolar material peculiar to this time. The plasmalemma is partially denuded of its fringe-like material during division.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF MITOSIS IN AMEBAE

PubMed Central

Roth, L. E.; Obetz, S. W.; Daniels, E. W.

1960-01-01

Individual organisms of Amoeba proteus have been fixed in buffered osmium tetroxide in either 0.9 per cent NaCl or 0.01 per cent CaCl2, sectioned, and studied in the electron microscope in interphase and in several stages of mitosis. The helices typical of interphase nuclei do not coexist with condensed chromatin and thus either represent a DNA configuration unique to interphase or are not DNA at all. The membranes of the complex nuclear envelope are present in all stages observed but are discontinuous in metaphase. The inner, thick, honeycomb layer of the nuclear envelope disappears during prophase, reappearing after telophase when nuclear reconstruction is in progress. Nucleoli decrease in size and number during prophase and re-form during telophase in association with the chromatin network. In the early reconstruction nucleus, the nucleolar material forms into thin, sheet-like configurations which are closely associated with small amounts of chromatin and are closely applied to the inner, partially formed layer of the nuclear envelope. It is proposed that nucleolar material is implicated in the formation of the inner layer of the envelope and that there is a configuration of nucleolar material peculiar to this time. The plasmalemma is partially denuded of its fringe-like material during division. PMID:13743845

The Electronic Student Portfolio.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fasick, Emily; McLaren, Clemence

1995-01-01

Describes the use of electronic portfolios in one Hawaiian secondary literature class. Students went through their journals, picked two entries that best represented their growth in reading during the course, and explained why. Next they created a presentation about their growth and enjoyment of literature using multimedia technology. (SM)

Bridging Continents: Technology Trends Today and Tomorrow.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cornell, Richard

2002-01-01

Investigates the extent to which electronic learning represents an emergent pedagogy that will be employed not only by corporations, but also by educational institutions, government agencies, and major transportation carriers around the world. Focuses on the relationship of electronic learning to diverse cultures. (Author/LRW)

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

Bailey, Stephanie L.

The goal of Experiment E04-115 (the G0 backward angle measurement) at Jefferson Lab is to investigate the contributions of strange quarks to the fundamental properties of the nucleon. The experiment measures parity-violating asymmetries in elastic electron scattering off hydrogen and quasielastic electron scattering off deuterium at backward angles at Q 2 = 0.631 (GeV/c) 2 and Q 2 = 0.232 (GeV/c) 2. The backward angle measurement represents the second phase of the G0 experiment. The first phase, Experiment E00-006 (the G0 forward angle experiment), measured parity-violating asymmetries in elastic electron scattering off hydrogen at forward angles over a Q 2more » range of 0.1-1.0 (GeV/c) 2. The experiments used a polarized electron beam and unpolarized hydrogen and deuterium liquid targets. From these measurements, along with the electromagnetic form factors, one can extract the contribution of the strange quark to the proton's charge and magnetization distributions. This thesis represents a fi« less

On the Correct Formulation of the Law of the External Photoelectric Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalanov, Temur Z.

2017-01-01

The critical and correct scientific analysis of the generally accepted theory of the external photoelectric effect is proposed. The methodological basis for the analysis is the unity of formal logic and of rational dialectics. It is shown that Einstein's formulation of the law of the photoelectric effect is not free from the following objection. The terms of Einstein's formula characterize the quantitative determinacy (i.e., energy) which belongs and is related to the different material objects: ``photon'', ``electron in metal'', and ``electron not in metal''. This signifies that Einstein's formula represents violation of the formal-logical laws of identity and absence (lack) of contradiction. The correct mathematical formulation of the law of the external photoelectric effect within the framework of the system approach is proposed. The correct formulation represents the proportion by relative increments of the energy of the incident photon and the energy of the emitted electron. The proportion describes the linear relationship between the energy of the incident photon and the energy of the emitted electron.

Patterns in wetland microbial community composition and functional gene repertoire associated with methane emissions

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

He, Shaomei; Malfatti, Stephanie A.; McFarland, Jack W.

Wetland restoration on peat islands previously drained for agriculture has potential to reverse land subsidence and sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide as peat accretes. However, the emission of methane could potentially offset the greenhouse gas benefits of captured carbon. As microbial communities play a key role in governing wetland greenhouse gas fluxes, we are interested in how microbial community composition and functions are associated with wetland hydrology, biogeochemistry, and methane emission, which is critical to modeling the microbial component in wetland methane fluxes and to managing restoration projects for maximal carbon sequestration. Here, we couple sequence-based methods with biogeochemical and greenhousemore » gas measurements to interrogate microbial communities from a pilot-scale restored wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California, revealing considerable spatial heterogeneity even within this relatively small site. A number of microbial populations and functions showed strong correlations with electron acceptor availability and methane production; some also showed a preference for association with plant roots. Marker gene phylogenies revealed a diversity of major methane-producing and -consuming populations and suggested novel diversity within methanotrophs. Methanogenic archaea were observed in all samples, as were nitrate-, sulfate-, and metal-reducing bacteria, indicating that no single terminal electron acceptor was preferred despite differences in energetic favorability and suggesting spatial microheterogeneity and microniches. Notably, methanogens were negatively correlated with nitrate-, sulfate-, and metal-reducing bacteria and were most abundant at sampling sites with high peat accretion and low electron acceptor availability, where methane production was highest. Wetlands are the largest nonanthropogenic source of atmospheric methane but also a key global carbon reservoir. Characterizing belowground microbial communities that mediate carbon cycling in wetlands is critical to accurately predicting their responses to changes in land management and climate. Here, we studied a restored wetland and revealed substantial spatial heterogeneity in biogeochemistry, methane production, and microbial communities, largely associated with the wetland hydraulic design. We observed patterns in microbial community composition and functions correlated with biogeochemistry and methane production, including diverse microorganisms involved in methane production and consumption. We found that methanogenesis gene abundance is inversely correlated with genes from pathways exploiting other electron acceptors, yet the ubiquitous presence of genes from all these pathways suggests that diverse electron acceptors contribute to the energetic balance of the ecosystem. These investigations represent an important step toward effective management of wetlands to reduce methane flux to the atmosphere and enhance belowground carbon storage.« less

Patterns in wetland microbial community composition and functional gene repertoire associated with methane emissions

DOE PAGES

He, Shaomei; Malfatti, Stephanie A.; McFarland, Jack W.; ...

2015-05-19

Wetland restoration on peat islands previously drained for agriculture has potential to reverse land subsidence and sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide as peat accretes. However, the emission of methane could potentially offset the greenhouse gas benefits of captured carbon. As microbial communities play a key role in governing wetland greenhouse gas fluxes, we are interested in how microbial community composition and functions are associated with wetland hydrology, biogeochemistry, and methane emission, which is critical to modeling the microbial component in wetland methane fluxes and to managing restoration projects for maximal carbon sequestration. Here, we couple sequence-based methods with biogeochemical and greenhousemore » gas measurements to interrogate microbial communities from a pilot-scale restored wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California, revealing considerable spatial heterogeneity even within this relatively small site. A number of microbial populations and functions showed strong correlations with electron acceptor availability and methane production; some also showed a preference for association with plant roots. Marker gene phylogenies revealed a diversity of major methane-producing and -consuming populations and suggested novel diversity within methanotrophs. Methanogenic archaea were observed in all samples, as were nitrate-, sulfate-, and metal-reducing bacteria, indicating that no single terminal electron acceptor was preferred despite differences in energetic favorability and suggesting spatial microheterogeneity and microniches. Notably, methanogens were negatively correlated with nitrate-, sulfate-, and metal-reducing bacteria and were most abundant at sampling sites with high peat accretion and low electron acceptor availability, where methane production was highest. Wetlands are the largest nonanthropogenic source of atmospheric methane but also a key global carbon reservoir. Characterizing belowground microbial communities that mediate carbon cycling in wetlands is critical to accurately predicting their responses to changes in land management and climate. Here, we studied a restored wetland and revealed substantial spatial heterogeneity in biogeochemistry, methane production, and microbial communities, largely associated with the wetland hydraulic design. We observed patterns in microbial community composition and functions correlated with biogeochemistry and methane production, including diverse microorganisms involved in methane production and consumption. We found that methanogenesis gene abundance is inversely correlated with genes from pathways exploiting other electron acceptors, yet the ubiquitous presence of genes from all these pathways suggests that diverse electron acceptors contribute to the energetic balance of the ecosystem. These investigations represent an important step toward effective management of wetlands to reduce methane flux to the atmosphere and enhance belowground carbon storage.« less

Patterns in wetland microbial community composition and functional gene repertoire associated with methane emissions.

PubMed

He, Shaomei; Malfatti, Stephanie A; McFarland, Jack W; Anderson, Frank E; Pati, Amrita; Huntemann, Marcel; Tremblay, Julien; Glavina del Rio, Tijana; Waldrop, Mark P; Windham-Myers, Lisamarie; Tringe, Susannah G

2015-05-19

Wetland restoration on peat islands previously drained for agriculture has potential to reverse land subsidence and sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide as peat accretes. However, the emission of methane could potentially offset the greenhouse gas benefits of captured carbon. As microbial communities play a key role in governing wetland greenhouse gas fluxes, we are interested in how microbial community composition and functions are associated with wetland hydrology, biogeochemistry, and methane emission, which is critical to modeling the microbial component in wetland methane fluxes and to managing restoration projects for maximal carbon sequestration. Here, we couple sequence-based methods with biogeochemical and greenhouse gas measurements to interrogate microbial communities from a pilot-scale restored wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California, revealing considerable spatial heterogeneity even within this relatively small site. A number of microbial populations and functions showed strong correlations with electron acceptor availability and methane production; some also showed a preference for association with plant roots. Marker gene phylogenies revealed a diversity of major methane-producing and -consuming populations and suggested novel diversity within methanotrophs. Methanogenic archaea were observed in all samples, as were nitrate-, sulfate-, and metal-reducing bacteria, indicating that no single terminal electron acceptor was preferred despite differences in energetic favorability and suggesting spatial microheterogeneity and microniches. Notably, methanogens were negatively correlated with nitrate-, sulfate-, and metal-reducing bacteria and were most abundant at sampling sites with high peat accretion and low electron acceptor availability, where methane production was highest. Wetlands are the largest nonanthropogenic source of atmospheric methane but also a key global carbon reservoir. Characterizing belowground microbial communities that mediate carbon cycling in wetlands is critical to accurately predicting their responses to changes in land management and climate. Here, we studied a restored wetland and revealed substantial spatial heterogeneity in biogeochemistry, methane production, and microbial communities, largely associated with the wetland hydraulic design. We observed patterns in microbial community composition and functions correlated with biogeochemistry and methane production, including diverse microorganisms involved in methane production and consumption. We found that methanogenesis gene abundance is inversely correlated with genes from pathways exploiting other electron acceptors, yet the ubiquitous presence of genes from all these pathways suggests that diverse electron acceptors contribute to the energetic balance of the ecosystem. These investigations represent an important step toward effective management of wetlands to reduce methane flux to the atmosphere and enhance belowground carbon storage. Copyright © 2015 He et al.

Alternative Tobacco Product Use and Smoking Cessation: A National Study

PubMed Central

Popova, Lucy

2013-01-01

Objectives. We investigated the frequency of alternative tobacco product use (loose leaf, moist snuff, snus, dissolvables, electronic cigarettes [e-cigarettes]) among smokers and the association with quit attempts and intentions. Methods. A nationally representative probability-based cross-sectional survey of 1836 current or recently former adult smokers was completed in November 2011. Multivariate logistic regressions evaluated associations between alternative tobacco product use and smoking cessation behaviors. Results. Of the smokers, 38% had tried an alternative tobacco product, most frequently e-cigarettes. Alternative tobacco product use was associated with having made a quit attempt, and those intending to quit were significantly more likely to have tried and to currently use the products than were smokers with no intentions to quit. Use was not associated with successful quit attempts. Interest in future use of alternative tobacco products was low, except for e-cigarettes. Conclusions. Alternative tobacco products are attractive to smokers who want to quit smoking, but these data did not indicate that alternative tobacco products promote cessation. Unsubstantiated overt and implied claims that alternative tobacco products aid smoking cessation should be prohibited. PMID:23488521

Ramsey method for Auger-electron interference induced by an attosecond twin pulse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buth, Christian; Schafer, Kenneth J.

2015-02-01

We examine the archetype of an interference experiment for Auger electrons: two electron wave packets are launched by inner-shell ionizing a krypton atom using two attosecond light pulses with a variable time delay. This setting is an attosecond realization of the Ramsey method of separated oscillatory fields. Interference of the two ejected Auger-electron wave packets is predicted, indicating that the coherence between the two pulses is passed to the Auger electrons. For the detection of the interference pattern an accurate coincidence measurement of photo- and Auger electrons is necessary. The method allows one to control inner-shell electron dynamics on an attosecond timescale and represents a sensitive indicator for decoherence.

Latent Class Analysis of Gambling Activities in a Sample of Young Swiss Men: Association with Gambling Problems, Substance Use Outcomes, Personality Traits and Coping Strategies.

PubMed

Studer, Joseph; Baggio, Stéphanie; Mohler-Kuo, Meichun; Simon, Olivier; Daeppen, Jean-Bernard; Gmel, Gerhard

2016-06-01

The study aimed to identify different patterns of gambling activities (PGAs) and to investigate how PGAs differed in gambling problems, substance use outcomes, personality traits and coping strategies. A representative sample of 4989 young Swiss males completed a questionnaire assessing seven distinct gambling activities, gambling problems, substance use outcomes, personality traits and coping strategies. PGAs were identified using latent class analysis (LCA). Differences between PGAs in gambling and substance use outcomes, personality traits and coping strategies were tested. LCA identified six different PGAs. With regard to gambling and substance use outcomes, the three most problematic PGAs were extensive gamblers, followed by private gamblers, and electronic lottery and casino gamblers, respectively. By contrast, the three least detrimental PGAs were rare or non-gamblers, lottery only gamblers and casino gamblers. With regard to personality traits, compared with rare or non-gamblers, private and casino gamblers reported higher levels of sensation seeking. Electronic lottery and casino gamblers, private gamblers and extensive gamblers had higher levels of aggression-hostility. Extensive and casino gamblers reported higher levels of sociability, whereas casino gamblers reported lower levels of anxiety-neuroticism. Extensive gamblers used more maladaptive and less adaptive coping strategies than other groups. Results suggest that gambling is not a homogeneous activity since different types of gamblers exist according to the PGA they are engaged in. Extensive gamblers, electronic and casino gamblers and private gamblers may have the most problematic PGAs. Personality traits and coping skills may predispose individuals to PGAs associated with more or less negative outcomes.

The role of Upper Hybrid Turbulence on HF Artificial Ionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadopoulos, Konstantinos Dennis; Najmi, Amir; Eliasson, Bengt; Milikh, Gennady

2016-07-01

One of the most fascinating and scientifically interesting phenomena of active space experiments is the discovery of artificial ionization by Todd Pedersen when the HAARP ERP reached the GW level. The phenomenon has been well documented experimentally. A theoretical model based on ionization by energetic electrons accelerated by 50-100 V/m localized electric fields due to Strong Langmuir Turbulence (SLT) near the reflection surface of the HF pump wave, reproduced the observed dynamics of the descending plasma layer quite accurately. A major defect of the model was that the electron temperature in the SLT region was a free parameter. When taken as the 2000 K representing the ambient electron temperature the SLT driven electron flux was insufficient to produce ionization. An equivalent electron temperature of 5000 K or higher was necessary to reproduce the observations. The needed electron heating was attributed to the interaction of the HF at the Upper Hybrid (UH) resonant layer, approximately 5 Km below the reflection region where the HF electric field is perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field. The heated electrons expanded upwards along the magnetic field line and interacted with SLT fields near the resonance region. A consequence of this defect was that the theory could not explain the puzzling double resonance effect. Namely the observation that the ionization level was much stronger when the HF frequency and the UH resonance were a multiple of the electron cyclotron frequency. To remedy this we used a series of Vlasov simulations to explore the HF-plasma interaction in the vicinity of the UH resonance. The simulations followed the evolution of the spectral density of the electric field over a 7.5 MHz frequency band and cm scale lengths and of the electron distribution function over one millisecond for both double resonant and non-resonant cases. Many new features were revealed by the analysis of the simulations such as: 1. Broadening of the wave-number spectral region at the at the UH frequency 2. Excitation of all Bernstein modes associated with cyclotron frequency harmonics both below and above the UH frequency for both the resonant and non0resonant cases. 3. Moderate electron heating, in the form of bulk heating caused by first Bernstein mode, although its wave intensity is more than 20 dB lower than the intensity of the UH branch for all non-resonant cases. 4. Strong generation of non-thermal tails for the resonant cases, by the UH waves downshifted by the lower hybrid frequency when the downshifted frequency was equal to an harmonic of the electron gyro-frequency. The new UH turbulence resolves several f the mysteries associated with artificial ionization and suggests several new observations. Acknowledgment:Work supported by AFOSR MURI grant FA95501410019.

Software development, nomenclature schemes, and mapping strategies for an international pediatric cardiac surgery database system.

PubMed

Jacobs, Jeffrey P

2002-01-01

The field of congenital heart surgery has the opportunity to create the first comprehensive international database for a medical subspecialty. An understanding of the demographics of congenital heart disease and the rapid growth of computer technology leads to the realization that creating a comprehensive international database for pediatric cardiac surgery represents an important and achievable goal. The evolution of computer-based data analysis creates an opportunity to develop software to manage an international congenital heart surgery database and eventually become an electronic medical record. The same database data set for congenital heart surgery is now being used in Europe and North America. Additional work is under way to involve Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. The almost simultaneous publication of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery/Society of Thoracic Surgeons coding system and the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology coding system resulted in the potential for multiple coding. Representatives of the Association for European Paediatric Cardiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery, and European Congenital Heart Surgeons Foundation agree that these hierarchical systems are complementary and not competitive. An international committee will map the two systems. The ideal coding system will permit a diagnosis or procedure to be coded only one time with mapping allowing this code to be used for patient care, billing, practice management, teaching, research, and reporting to governmental agencies. The benefits of international data gathering and sharing are global, with the long-term goal of the continued upgrade in the quality of congenital heart surgery worldwide. Copyright 2002 by W.B. Saunders Company

78 FR 28124 - Registry for Attorneys and Representatives

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-14

... Appeals (BIA or Board). This notice provides additional instructions regarding the registration process... plan to create an electronic case access and filing system for the immigration courts and the Board... representative. This will increase efficiency by reducing system errors in scheduling matters and providing...

Interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry generally and sales representatives specifically and their association with physicians' attitudes and prescribing habits: a systematic review.

PubMed

Fickweiler, Freek; Fickweiler, Ward; Urbach, Ewout

2017-09-27

The objective of this review is to explore interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry including sales representatives and their impact on physicians' attitude and prescribing habits. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Google scholar electronic databases were searched from 1992 to August 2016 using free-text words and medical subject headings relevant to the topic. Studies included cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, randomised trials and survey designs. Studies with narrative reviews, case reports, opinion polls and letters to the editor were excluded from data synthesis. Two reviewers independently extracted the data. Data on study design, study year, country, participant characteristics, setting and number of participants were collected. Pharmaceutical industry and pharmaceutical sales representative (PSR) interactions influence physicians' attitudes and their prescribing behaviour and increase the number of formulary addition requests for the company's drug. Physician-pharmaceutical industry and its sales representative's interactions and acceptance of gifts from the company's PSRs have been found to affect physicians' prescribing behaviour and are likely to contribute to irrational prescribing of the company's drug. Therefore, intervention in the form of policy implementation and education about the implications of these interactions is needed. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Extracellular enzymes facilitate electron uptake in biocorrosion and bioelectrosynthesis.

PubMed

Deutzmann, Jörg S; Sahin, Merve; Spormann, Alfred M

2015-04-21

Direct, mediator-free transfer of electrons between a microbial cell and a solid phase in its surrounding environment has been suggested to be a widespread and ecologically significant process. The high rates of microbial electron uptake observed during microbially influenced corrosion of iron [Fe(0)] and during microbial electrosynthesis have been considered support for a direct electron uptake in these microbial processes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of direct electron uptake are unknown. We investigated the electron uptake characteristics of the Fe(0)-corroding and electromethanogenic archaeon Methanococcus maripaludis and discovered that free, surface-associated redox enzymes, such as hydrogenases and presumably formate dehydrogenases, are sufficient to mediate an apparent direct electron uptake. In genetic and biochemical experiments, we showed that these enzymes, which are released from cells during routine culturing, catalyze the formation of H2 or formate when sorbed to an appropriate redox-active surface. These low-molecular-weight products are rapidly consumed by M. maripaludis cells when present, thereby preventing their accumulation to any appreciable or even detectable level. Rates of H2 and formate formation by cell-free spent culture medium were sufficient to explain the observed rates of methane formation from Fe(0) and cathode-derived electrons by wild-type M. maripaludis as well as by a mutant strain carrying deletions in all catabolic hydrogenases. Our data collectively show that cell-derived free enzymes can mimic direct extracellular electron transfer during Fe(0) corrosion and microbial electrosynthesis and may represent an ecologically important but so far overlooked mechanism in biological electron transfer. The intriguing trait of some microbial organisms to engage in direct electron transfer is thought to be widespread in nature. Consequently, direct uptake of electrons into microbial cells from solid surfaces is assumed to have a significant impact not only on fundamental microbial and biogeochemical processes but also on applied bioelectrochemical systems, such as microbial electrosynthesis and biocorrosion. This study provides a simple mechanistic explanation for frequently observed fast electron uptake kinetics in microbiological systems without a direct transfer: free, cell-derived enzymes can interact with cathodic surfaces and catalyze the formation of intermediates that are rapidly consumed by microbial cells. This electron transfer mechanism likely plays a significant role in various microbial electron transfer reactions in the environment. Copyright © 2015 Deutzmann et al.

Physiotherapists' perceptions of their role in the rehabilitation management of individuals with obesity.

PubMed

You, Lila; Sadler, Gabrielle; Majumdar, Sujoy; Burnett, Dawn; Evans, Cathy

2012-01-01

To examine physiotherapists' perceptions of their role in the rehabilitation management of individuals with obesity. A Web-based survey was conducted in 2008. Participants were recruited through the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) via electronic communication and were eligible if they had entry level to practice qualifications and were residents of Canada. The online questionnaire consisted of 61 statements pertaining to potential PT roles, barriers, and learning needs, developed using the framework of CPA's position statement on obesity. Frequencies were computed for all Likert-scale response items on the questionnaire. A total of 851 physiotherapists, representative of CPA membership, participated in the study. There was strong agreement that physiotherapists have a role to play in the management of clients who are obese through exercise interventions (96%), mobility training (97%), and cardiorespiratory programmes for impairments associated with obesity (95%). Respondents were less clear about their role in the assessment of body fat or patients' weight loss. Lack of client motivation was identified as a barrier to treatment. Physiotherapists were clear that they see their role as largely focused on exercise and education to treat conditions associated with obesity. These are important components but do not by themselves constitute an overall management plan. Purpose: To examine physiotherapists' perceptions of their role in the rehabilitation management of individuals with obesity. Methods: A Web-based survey was conducted in 2008. Participants were recruited through the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) via electronic communication and were eligible if they had entry level to practice qualifications and were residents of Canada. The online questionnaire consisted of 61 statements pertaining to potential PT roles, barriers, and learning needs, developed using the framework of CPA's position statement on obesity. Frequencies were computed for all Likert-scale response items on the questionnaire. Results: A total of 851 physiotherapists, representative of CPA membership, participated in the study. There was strong agreement that physiotherapists have a role to play in the management of clients who are obese through exercise interventions (96%), mobility training (97%), and cardiorespiratory programmes for impairments associated with obesity (95%). Respondents were less clear about their role in the assessment of body fat or patients' weight loss. Lack of client motivation was identified as a barrier to treatment. Conclusion: Physiotherapists were clear that they see their role as largely focused on exercise and education to treat conditions associated with obesity. These are important components but do not by themselves constitute an overall management plan.

Chiropractic management of low back disorders: report from a consensus process.

PubMed

Globe, Gary A; Morris, Craig E; Whalen, Wayne M; Farabaugh, Ronald J; Hawk, Cheryl

2008-01-01

Although a number of guidelines addressing manipulation, an important component of chiropractic professional care, exist, none to date have incorporated a broad-based consensus of chiropractic research and clinical experts representing mainstream chiropractic practice into a practical document designed to provide standardized parameters of care. The purpose of this project was to develop such a document. Development of the document began with seed materials, from which seed statements were distilled. These were circulated electronically to the Delphi panel until consensus was reached, which was considered to be present when there was agreement by at least 80% of the panelists. The panel consisted of 40 clinically experienced doctors of chiropractic, representing 15 chiropractic colleges and 16 states, as well as both the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Association. The panel reached 80% consensus of the 27 seed statements after 2 rounds. Specific recommendations regarding treatment frequency and duration, as well as outcome assessment and contraindications for manipulation were agreed upon by the panel. A broad-based panel of experienced chiropractors was able to reach a high level (80%) of consensus regarding specific aspects of the chiropractic approach to care for patients with low back pain, based on both the scientific evidence and their clinical experience.

Marine amoebae with cytoplasmic and perinuclear symbionts deeply branching in the Gammaproteobacteria

PubMed Central

Schulz, Frederik; Tyml, Tomáš; Pizzetti, Ilaria; Dyková, Iva; Fazi, Stefano; Kostka, Martin; Horn, Matthias

2015-01-01

Amoebae play an important ecological role as predators in microbial communities. They also serve as niche for bacterial replication, harbor endosymbiotic bacteria and have contributed to the evolution of major human pathogens. Despite their high diversity, marine amoebae and their association with bacteria are poorly understood. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of two novel marine amoebae together with their bacterial endosymbionts, tentatively named ‘Candidatus Occultobacter vannellae’ and ‘Candidatus Nucleophilum amoebae’. While one amoeba strain is related to Vannella, a genus common in marine habitats, the other represents a novel lineage in the Amoebozoa. The endosymbionts showed only low similarity to known bacteria (85–88% 16S rRNA sequence similarity) but together with other uncultured marine bacteria form a sister clade to the Coxiellaceae. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy, identity and intracellular location of both symbionts were confirmed; one was replicating in host-derived vacuoles, whereas the other was located in the perinuclear space of its amoeba host. This study sheds for the first time light on a so far neglected group of protists and their bacterial symbionts. The newly isolated strains represent easily maintainable model systems and pave the way for further studies on marine associations between amoebae and bacterial symbionts. PMID:26303516

Combining PubMed knowledge and EHR data to develop a weighted bayesian network for pancreatic cancer prediction.

PubMed

Zhao, Di; Weng, Chunhua

2011-10-01

In this paper, we propose a novel method that combines PubMed knowledge and Electronic Health Records to develop a weighted Bayesian Network Inference (BNI) model for pancreatic cancer prediction. We selected 20 common risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer and used PubMed knowledge to weigh the risk factors. A keyword-based algorithm was developed to extract and classify PubMed abstracts into three categories that represented positive, negative, or neutral associations between each risk factor and pancreatic cancer. Then we designed a weighted BNI model by adding the normalized weights into a conventional BNI model. We used this model to extract the EHR values for patients with or without pancreatic cancer, which then enabled us to calculate the prior probabilities for the 20 risk factors in the BNI. The software iDiagnosis was designed to use this weighted BNI model for predicting pancreatic cancer. In an evaluation using a case-control dataset, the weighted BNI model significantly outperformed the conventional BNI and two other classifiers (k-Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machine). We conclude that the weighted BNI using PubMed knowledge and EHR data shows remarkable accuracy improvement over existing representative methods for pancreatic cancer prediction. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Combining PubMed Knowledge and EHR Data to Develop a Weighted Bayesian Network for Pancreatic Cancer Prediction

PubMed Central

Zhao, Di; Weng, Chunhua

2011-01-01

In this paper, we propose a novel method that combines PubMed knowledge and Electronic Health Records to develop a weighted Bayesian Network Inference (BNI) model for pancreatic cancer prediction. We selected 20 common risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer and used PubMed knowledge to weigh the risk factors. A keyword-based algorithm was developed to extract and classify PubMed abstracts into three categories that represented positive, negative, or neutral associations between each risk factor and pancreatic cancer. Then we designed a weighted BNI model by adding the normalized weights into a conventional BNI model. We used this model to extract the EHR values for patients with or without pancreatic cancer, which then enabled us to calculate the prior probabilities for the 20 risk factors in the BNI. The software iDiagnosis was designed to use this weighted BNI model for predicting pancreatic cancer. In an evaluation using a case-control dataset, the weighted BNI model significantly outperformed the conventional BNI and two other classifiers (k-Nearest Neighbor and Support Vector Machine). We conclude that the weighted BNI using PubMed knowledge and EHR data shows remarkable accuracy improvement over existing representative methods for pancreatic cancer prediction. PMID:21642013

Sci-Fri PM: Planning-10: The replacement correction factors for cylindrical chambers in megavoltage beams.

PubMed

Wang, L; Rogers, Dwo

2008-07-01

The replacement correction factor (P repl ) in ion chamber dosimetry accounts for the effects of the medium being replaced by the air cavity of the chamber. In TG-21, P repl was conceptually separated into two components: fluence correction, P fl , and gradient correction, P gr . In TG-51, for electron beams, the calibration is at d ref where P gr is required for cylindrical chambers and P fl is unknown and assumed to be the same as that for a beam having the same mean electron energy at d max . For cylindrical chambers in high-energy photon beams, P repl also represents a major uncertainty in current dosimetry protocols. In this study, P repl is calculated with high precision (<0.1%) by the Monte Carlo method as the ratio of the dose in a phantom to the dose scored in water-walled cylindrical cavities of various radii (with the center of the cavity being the point of measurement) in both high energy photon and electron beams. It is found that, for electron beams, the mean electron energy at depth is a good beam quality specifier for P fl ; and TG-51's adoption of P fl at d max with the same mean electron energy for use at d ref is proven to be accurate. For Farmer chambers in photon beams, there is essentially no beam quality dependence for P repl values. In a Co photon beam, the calculated P repl is about 0.4-0.6% higher than the TG-21 value, indicating TG-21 (and TG-51) used incorrect values of P repl for cylindrical chambers. © 2008 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.

PROCEEDING OF THE SEEDED X-RAY FREE ELECTRON LASER WORKSHOP.

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

WANG,X.J.; MURPHY,J.B.; YU,L.H.

2002-12-13

The underlying theory of a high gain free electron laser (FEL) has existed for two decades [1-2], but it is only in the last few years that these novel radiation sources have been realized experimentally. Several high gain FELs have successfully reached saturation in the infrared, visible and the VUV portion of the spectrum: the High Gain Harmonic Generation (HGHG) free electron lasers [3] at BNL and the Self Amplified Spontaneous Emission (SASE) FELs at LEUTL, VISA and TTF [4-6]. The outstanding challenges for future FELs are to extend high gain FELs to the X-ray regime, improve the longitudinal coherencemore » of the radiation using seeded FEL schemes and generate ultrashort pulses (<100 fs). The National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) of the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) sponsored a Seeded X-ray Free Electron Laser Workshop on December 13-14, 2002 to explore these challenging issues. Representatives from BNL, DESY, LBNL, SLAC and UCLA made presentations on the novel schemes under consideration at their laboratories. Workshop participants had a lively discussion on the feasibility, performance and R&D issues associated with the seeded XFEL schemes. An improvement of the electron beam quality will certainly be necessary to drive the XFEL. Self-seeding SASE, cascaded HGHG, and SASE pulse compression FELs show the most promise for producing short pulse X-rays. Of these, only the self-seeded and HGHG schemes generate longitudinally coherent radiation. While the pulse length in the self-seeded scheme is determined by the electron bunch length ({approx}100 fs), the pulse length in the HGHG scheme is determined by the short pulse seed laser, and so can be much shorter ({approx} 20 fs).« less

North-south components of the annual asymmetry in the ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gulyaeva, T. L.; Arikan, F.; Hernandez-Pajares, M.; Veselovsky, I. S.

2014-07-01

A retrospective study of the asymmetry in the ionosphere during the solstices is made using the different geospace parameters in the North and South magnetic hemispheres. Data of total electron content (TEC) and global electron content (GEC) produced from global ionospheric maps, GIM-TEC for 1999-2013, the ionospheric electron content (IEC) measured by TOPEX-Jason 1 and 2 satellites for 2001-2012, the F2 layer critical frequency and peak height measured on board ISIS 1, ISIS 2, and IK19 satellites during 1969-1982, and the earthquakes M5+ occurrences for 1999-2013 are analyzed. Annual asymmetry is observed with GEC and IEC for the years of observation with asymmetry index, AI, showing January > July excess from 0.02 to 0.25. The coincident pattern of January-to-July asymmetry ratio of TEC and IEC colocated along the magnetic longitude sector of 270° ± 5°E in the Pacific Ocean is obtained varying with local time and magnetic latitude. The sea/land differences in the F2 layer peak electron density, NmF2, and the peak height, hmF2, gathered with topside sounding data exhibit tilted ionosphere along the seashores with denser electron population at greater peak heights over the sea. The topside peak electron density NmF2, TEC, IEC, and the hemisphere part of GEC are dominant in the South hemisphere which resembles the pattern for seismic activity with dominant earthquake occurrence in the South magnetic hemisphere. Though the study is made for the hemispheric and annual asymmetry during solstices in the ionosphere, the conclusions seem valid for other aspects of seismic-ionospheric associations with tectonic plate boundaries representing zones of enhanced risk for space weather.

CIRCUS--A digital computer program for transient analysis of electronic circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, W. T.; Steinbert, L. L.

1968-01-01

Computer program simulates the time domain response of an electronic circuit to an arbitrary forcing function. CIRCUS uses a charge-control parameter model to represent each semiconductor device. Given the primary photocurrent, the transient behavior of a circuit in a radiation environment is determined.

First staging of two laser accelerators.

PubMed

Kimura, W D; van Steenbergen, A; Babzien, M; Ben-Zvi, I; Campbell, L P; Cline, D B; Dilley, C E; Gallardo, J C; Gottschalk, S C; He, P; Kusche, K P; Liu, Y; Pantell, R H; Pogorelsky, I V; Quimby, D C; Skaritka, J; Steinhauer, L C; Yakimenko, V

2001-04-30

Staging of two laser-driven, relativistic electron accelerators has been demonstrated for the first time in a proof-of-principle experiment, whereby two distinct and serial laser accelerators acted on an electron beam in a coherently cumulative manner. Output from a CO2 laser was split into two beams to drive two inverse free electron lasers (IFEL) separated by 2.3 m. The first IFEL served to bunch the electrons into approximately 3 fs microbunches, which were rephased with the laser wave in the second IFEL. This represents a crucial step towards the development of practical laser-driven electron accelerators.

Geographical and Occupational Mobility of Workers in the Aircraft and Electronics Industries, Regional Trade Union Seminar (Paris, 21st-22nd September, 1966). Final Report and Supplement.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France). Social Affairs Div.

The trade unions in the European aerospace and electronics industries have become concerned with the sweeping and rapid economic and technical changes taking place in the industries. This seminar enabled trade union representatives from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom aerospace industry and the electronics sector working…

Information Management: The Challenges of Managing Electronic Records. Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives. GAO-10-838T

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Melvin, Valerie C.

2010-01-01

Federal agencies are increasingly using electronic means to create, exchange, and store information, and in doing so, they frequently create federal records: that is, information, in whatever form, that documents government functions, activities, decisions, and other important transactions. As the volume of electronic information grows, so does…

False-color representation of electron-density structures of the polar ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlegel, K.

The use of false-color displays to represent EISCAT electron-density measurements for the polar E and F regions is described and demonstrated. Consideration is given to images of a spring sunrise, wavelike structures, the total-electron-content trough, E-region structures, and midnight-sun phenomena. It is suggested that examination of false-color images can facilitate the selection of structures for more detailed analysis.

Generalization of the Kohn-Sham system that can represent arbitrary one-electron density matrices

DOE PAGES

Hubertus J. J. van Dam

2016-04-27

Density functional theory is currently the most widely applied method in electronic structure theory. The Kohn-Sham method, based on a fictitious system of noninteracting particles, is the workhorse of the theory. The particular form of the Kohn-Sham wave function admits only idempotent one-electron density matrices whereas wave functions of correlated electrons in post-Hartree-Fock methods invariably have fractional occupation numbers. Here we show that by generalizing the orbital concept and introducing a suitable dot product as well as a probability density, a noninteracting system can be chosen that can represent the one-electron density matrix of any system, even one with fractionalmore » occupation numbers. This fictitious system ensures that the exact electron density is accessible within density functional theory. It can also serve as the basis for reduced density matrix functional theory. Moreover, to aid the analysis of the results the orbitals may be assigned energies from a mean-field Hamiltonian. This produces energy levels that are akin to Hartree-Fock orbital energies such that conventional analyses based on Koopmans' theorem are available. Lastly, this system is convenient in formalisms that depend on creation and annihilation operators as they are trivially applied to single-determinant wave functions.« less

Argon ion pollution of the magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lopez, R. E.

1985-01-01

Construction of a Solar Power Satellite (SPS) would require the injection of large quantities of propellant to transport material from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to the construction site at Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). This injection, in the form of approx 10 to the 32nd power, 2 KeV argon ions (and associated electrons) per SPS, is comparable to the content of the plasmasphere (approx 10 to the 31st power ions). In addition to the mass deposited, this represents a considerable injection of energy. The injection is examined in terms of a simple model for the expansion of the beam plasma. General features of the subsequent magnetospheric convection of the argon are also examined.

Numerical studies of a model fermion-boson system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, T.; Gospodarczyk, E. R.; Su, Q.; Grobe, R.

2010-02-01

We study the spectral and dynamical properties of a simplified model system of interacting fermions and bosons. The spatial discretization and an effective truncation of the Hilbert space permit us to compute the distribution of the bare fermions and bosons in the energy eigenstates of the coupled system. These states represent the physical particles and are used to examine the validity of the analytical predictions by perturbation theory and by the Greenberg-Schweber approximation that assumes all fermions are at rest. As an example of our numerical framework, we examine how a bare electron can trigger the creation of a cloud of virtual bosons around. We relate this cloud to the properties of the associated energy eigenstates.

Internet use and electronic gaming by children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems in Australia - results from the second Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

PubMed

Rikkers, Wavne; Lawrence, David; Hafekost, Jennifer; Zubrick, Stephen R

2016-05-13

Concerns have been raised of a potential connection between excessive online activity outside the academic realm and increased levels of psychological distress in young people. Young Minds Matter: the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing provides estimates of the prevalence of online activity and allows an exploration of associations between this activity, a range of mental disorders, socio-demographic characteristics and risk taking behaviour. Based on a randomized nationally representative sample, a household survey of mental health and wellbeing (Young Minds Matter) was conducted in 2013-14. Interviews were conducted with 6,310 parents and carers of 4-17 year-olds (55 % response rate), together with self-report questionnaires completed by 2,967 11-17 year-olds in these households (89 % response rate). The survey identified a range of mental disorders and emotional problems using a variety of diagnostic tools, with the self-report including questions about use of the Internet and electronic games. Five behaviours were measured related to this activity, with 'problem behaviour' being defined as exhibiting at least four out of five behaviours. Levels of Internet use (98.9 %, CI 98.5-99.3 %) and electronic gaming (85.3 %, CI 83.9-86.6 %) were high, and 3.9 % (CI 3.2-4.6 %) of young people reported problem behaviour. The proportion of girls with very high levels of psychological distress and problem behaviour (41.8 %,CI 28.8-54.9 %) was twice that for boys (19.4 %, CI 7.7-31.1 %). Those engaging with a range of risk factors reported higher prevalence of problem behaviour than others. Youth who suffered from emotional problems or high levels of psychological distress spent the most time online or playing games. Multivariate analysis showed associations with problem behaviour and having attempted suicide, experiencing high to very high levels of psychological distress, using alcohol, and living in a poorly functioning family. It was not possible to determine the direction of the associations. There are links between problem behaviours associated with Internet use and electronic gaming, and mental disorders and risk-taking behaviour in young people. Further studies are required to determine whether these are precursors or sequelae.

Femtosecond electron diffraction and spectroscopic studies of a solid state organic chemical reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jean-Ruel, Hubert

Photochromic diarylethene molecules are excellent model systems for studying electrocyclic reactions, in addition to having important technological applications in optoelectronics. The photoinduced ring-closing reaction in a crystalline photochromic diarylethene derivative was fully resolved using the complementary techniques of transient absorption spectroscopy and femtosecond electron crystallography. These studies are detailed in this thesis, together with the associated technical developments which enabled them. Importantly, the time-resolved crystallographic investigation reported here represents a highly significant proof-of-principle experiment. It constitutes the first study directly probing the molecular structural changes associated with an organic chemical reaction with sub-picosecond temporal and atomic spatial resolution---to follow the primary motions directing chemistry. In terms of technological development, the most important advance reported is the implementation of a radio frequency rebunching system capable of producing femtosecond electron pulses of exceptional brightness. The temporal resolution of this newly developed electron source was fully characterized using laser ponderomotive scattering, confirming a 435 +/- 75 fs instrument response time with 0.20 pC bunches. The ultrafast spectroscopic and crystallographic measurements were both achieved by exploiting the photoreversibility of diarylethene. The transient absorption study was first performed, after developing a novel robust acquisition scheme for thermally irreversible reactions in the solid state. It revealed the formation of an open-ring excited state intermediate, following photoexcitation of the open-ring isomer with an ultraviolet laser pulse, with a time constant of approximately 200 fs. The actual ring closing was found to occur from this intermediate with a time constant of 5.3 +/- 0.3 ps. The femtosecond diffraction measurements were then performed using multiple crystal orientations and a large number of different samples. To analyse the results, an innovative method was developed in which the apparently complex ring-closing reaction is distilled down to a small number of basic rotations. Immediately following photoexcitation, sub-picosecond structural changes associated with the formation of the intermediate are observed. The rotation of the thiophene rings is identified as the key motion. Subsequently, on the few picosecond time scale, the time-resolved diffraction patterns are observed to converge towards those associated with the closed-ring photoproduct. The formation of the closed-ring molecule is thus unambiguously witnessed.

Matter in the form of toroidal electromagnetic vortices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagen, Wilhelm F.

2015-09-01

The creation of charged elementary particles from neutral photons is explained as a conversion process of electromagnetic (EM) energy from linear to circular motion at the speed of light into two localized, toroidal shaped vortices of trapped EM energy that resist change of motion, perceptible as particles with inertia and hence mass. The photon can be represented as a superposition of left and right circular polarized transverse electric fields of opposite polarity originating from a common zero potential axis, the optical axis of the photon. If these components are separated by interaction with a strong field (nucleon) they would curl up into two electromagnetic vortices (EMV) due to longitudinal magnetic field components forming toroids. These vortices are perceptible as opposite charged elementary particles e+/- . These spinning toroids generate extended oscillating fields that interact with stationary field oscillations. The velocity-dependent frequency differences cause beat signals equivalent to matter waves, leading to interference. The extended fields entangled with every particle explain wave particle duality issues. Spin and magnetic moment are the natural outcome of these gyrating particles. As the energy and hence mass of the electron increases with acceleration so does its size shrink proportional to its reduced wavelength. The artificial weak and strong nuclear forces can be easily explained as different manifestations of the intermediate EM forces. The unstable neutron consists of a proton surrounded by a contracted and captured electron. The associated radial EM forces represent the weak nuclear force. The deuteron consists of two axially separated protons held together by a centrally captured electron. The axial EM forces represent the strong nuclear force, providing stability for "neutrons" only within nucleons. The same principles were applied to determine the geometries of force-balanced nuclei. The alpha-particle emerges as a very compact symmetric cuboid that provides a unique building block to assemble the isotopic chart. Exotic neutron- 4 appears viable which may explain dark matter. The recognition that all heavy particles, including the protons, are related to electrons via muons and pions explains the identity of all charges to within 10-36. Greater deviations would overpower gravitation. Gravitation can be traced to EM vacuum fluctuations generated by standing EM waves between interacting particles. On that basis, gravity can be correlated via microscopic quantities to the age of the universe of 13.5 billion years. All forces and particles and potentially dark matter and dark energy are different manifestations of EM energy.

High energy dispersion relations for the high temperature Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 superconductor from laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

PubMed

Zhang, Wentao; Liu, Guodong; Meng, Jianqiao; Zhao, Lin; Liu, Haiyun; Dong, Xiaoli; Lu, Wei; Wen, J S; Xu, Z J; Gu, G D; Sasagawa, T; Wang, Guiling; Zhu, Yong; Zhang, Hongbo; Zhou, Yong; Wang, Xiaoyang; Zhao, Zhongxian; Chen, Chuangtian; Xu, Zuyan; Zhou, X J

2008-07-04

Laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements have been carried out on the high energy electron dynamics in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 high temperature superconductor. Our superhigh resolution data, momentum-dependent measurements, and complete analysis provide important information to judge the nature of the high energy dispersion and kink. Our results rule out the possibility that the high energy dispersion from the momentum distribution curve (MDC) may represent the true bare band as believed in previous studies. We also rule out the possibility that the high energy kink represents electron coupling with some high energy modes as proposed before. Through detailed MDC and energy distribution curve analyses, we propose that the high energy MDC dispersion may not represent intrinsic band structure.

The soundtrack of substance use: music preference and adolescent smoking and drinking.

PubMed

Mulder, Juul; Ter Bogt, Tom F M; Raaijmakers, Quinten A W; Gabhainn, Saoirse Nic; Monshouwer, Karin; Vollebergh, Wilma A M

2009-01-01

A connection between preferences for heavy metal, rap, reggae, electronic dance music, and substance use has previously been established. However, evidence as to the gender-specific links between substance use and a wider range of music genres in a nationally representative sample of adolescents has to date been missing. In 2003, the Dutch government funded the Dutch National School Survey on Substance Use (DNSSSU), a self-report questionnaire among a representative school-based sample of 7,324 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, assessed music preference, tobacco, and alcohol use and a set of relevant covariates related to both substance use and music preference. Overall, when all other factors were controlled, punk/hardcore, techno/hardhouse, and reggae were associated with more substance use, while pop and classical music marked less substance use. While prior research showed that liking heavy metal and rap predicts substance use, in this study a preference for rap/hip-hop only indicated elevated smoking among girls, whereas heavy metal was associated with less smoking among boys and less drinking among girls. The types of music that mark increased substance use may vary historically and cross-culturally, but, in general, preferences for nonmainstream music are associated positively with substance use, and preferences for mainstream pop and types of music preferred by adults (classical music) mark less substance use among adolescents. As this is a correlational study no valid conclusions in the direction of causation of the music-substance use link can be drawn.

40 CFR 469.29 - Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... technology (BCT). 469.29 Section 469.29 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Electronic... by the application of the best conventional pollution control technology (BCT). Except as provided in...

40 CFR 469.25 - Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically...) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Electronic... by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT). Except as provided...

Electron transfer from alpha-keggin anions to dioxygen

Treesearch

Yurii V. Geletii; Rajai H. Atalla; Craig L. Hill; Ira A. Weinstock

2004-01-01

Polyoxometalates (POMs), of which alpha-Keggin anions are representative, are a diverse and rapidly growing class of water-soluble cluster-anion structures with applications ranging from molecular catalysis to materials. [1] POMs are inexpensive, minimally or non-toxic, negatively charged clusters comprised of early transition-metals, usually in their do electronic...

IMPACT OF OFFICE AUTOMATION IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

FREEDMAN, AUDREY; AND OTHERS

THE EXTENT AND PACE OF THE ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY AMONG INSURANCE CARRIERS AND ITS EFFECTS ON INSURANCE OFFICE EMPLOYEES WERE STUDIED. QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM 410 FIRMS, REPRESENTING ABOUT 89 PERCENT OF ALL INSURANCE CARRIER EMPLOYMENT, IDENTIFIED 305 FIRMS WITH ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING. OF THESE, 81 PERCENT…

Should Geography Educators Adopt Electronic Textbooks?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Romig, Kevin

2017-01-01

Significant changes in textbook publishing are at college instructors' door. Textbook representatives are directed to mesmerize potential clients with eye-catching displays and statements about digital literacy of the next generation of college students. Based on a one-year pilot study, in 2014-2015, of an electronic textbook, this commentary…

Electronic Storytelling in Electoral Politics: An Anecdotal Analysis of Television Advertising in the Helms-Hunt Senate Race.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Larry David; Golden, James L.

1988-01-01

Examines the fundamental qualities of the television advertising from the 1984 North Carolina senate race between Jesse Helms and James Hunt, using Burke's method of the "representative anecdote." Argues that thematic continuity is a fundamental ingredient of effective electronic storytelling. (SR)

40 CFR 469.25 - Effluent limitations representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available technology economically...) EFFLUENT GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Electronic... by the application of the best available technology economically achievable (BAT). Except as provided...

Illicit drug use among rave attendees in a nationally representative sample of US high school seniors.

PubMed

Palamar, Joseph J; Griffin-Tomas, Marybec; Ompad, Danielle C

2015-07-01

The popularity of electronic dance music and rave parties such as dance festivals has increased in recent years. Targeted samples of party-goers suggest high rates of drug use among attendees, but few nationally representative studies have examined these associations. We examined sociodemographic correlates of rave attendance and relationships between rave attendance and recent (12-month) use of various drugs in a representative sample of US high school seniors (modal age: 18) from the Monitoring the Future study (2011-2013; Weighted N=7373). One out of five students (19.8%) reported ever attending a rave, and 7.7% reported attending at least monthly. Females and highly religious students were less likely to attend raves, and Hispanics, students residing in cities, students with higher income and those who go out for fun multiple times per week were more likely to attend. Rave attendees were more likely than non-attendees to report use of an illicit drug other than marijuana (35.5% vs. 15.6%, p<0.0001). Attendees were more likely to report use of each of the 18 drugs assessed, and attendees were more likely to report more frequent use (≥6 times) of each drug (ps<0.0001). Controlling for sociodemographic covariates, frequent attendance (monthly or more often) was associated with higher odds of use of each drug (ps<0.0001). Frequent attendees were at highest risk for use of "club drugs." Findings from this study can help inform prevention and harm reduction among rave attendees at greatest risk for drug use. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Nebular [OIII] collision strengths - SS3 (Storey+, 2015)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Storey, P. J.; Sochi, T.

2015-03-01

The data set consists of ten Upsilon files labeled 'up_mn.dat' and ten Downsilon files labeled 'do_mn.dat' where m=1,2,3,4 and n=2,3,4,5 with m

Localization of dexamethasone within dendritic core-multishell (CMS) nanoparticles and skin penetration properties studied by multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy.

PubMed

Saeidpour, S; Lohan, S B; Anske, M; Unbehauen, M; Fleige, E; Haag, R; Meinke, M C; Bittl, R; Teutloff, C

2017-07-01

The skin and especially the stratum corneum (SC) act as a barrier and protect epidermal cells and thus the whole body against xenobiotica of the external environment. Topical skin treatment requires an efficient drug delivery system (DDS). Polymer-based nanocarriers represent novel transport vehicles for dermal application of drugs. In this study dendritic core-multishell (CMS) nanoparticles were investigated as promising candidates. CMS nanoparticles were loaded with a drug (analogue) and were applied to penetration studies of skin. We determined by dual-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) how dexamethasone (Dx) labelled with 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (PCA) is associated with the CMS. The micro-environment of the drug loaded to CMS nanoparticles was investigated by pulsed high-field EPR at cryogenic temperature, making use of the fact that magnetic parameters (g-, A-matrices, and spin-lattice relaxation time) represent specific probes for the micro-environment. Additionally, the rotational correlation time of spin-labelled Dx was probed by continuous wave EPR at ambient temperature, which provides independent information on the drug environment. Furthermore, the penetration depth of Dx into the stratum corneum of porcine skin after different topical applications was investigated. The location of Dx in the CMS nanoparticles is revealed and the function of CMS as penetration enhancers for topical application is shown. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Analytic Information Warehouse (AIW): a Platform for Analytics using Electronic Health Record Data

PubMed Central

Post, Andrew R.; Kurc, Tahsin; Cholleti, Sharath; Gao, Jingjing; Lin, Xia; Bornstein, William; Cantrell, Dedra; Levine, David; Hohmann, Sam; Saltz, Joel H.

2013-01-01

Objective To create an analytics platform for specifying and detecting clinical phenotypes and other derived variables in electronic health record (EHR) data for quality improvement investigations. Materials and Methods We have developed an architecture for an Analytic Information Warehouse (AIW). It supports transforming data represented in different physical schemas into a common data model, specifying derived variables in terms of the common model to enable their reuse, computing derived variables while enforcing invariants and ensuring correctness and consistency of data transformations, long-term curation of derived data, and export of derived data into standard analysis tools. It includes software that implements these features and a computing environment that enables secure high-performance access to and processing of large datasets extracted from EHRs. Results We have implemented and deployed the architecture in production locally. The software is available as open source. We have used it as part of hospital operations in a project to reduce rates of hospital readmission within 30 days. The project examined the association of over 100 derived variables representing disease and co-morbidity phenotypes with readmissions in five years of data from our institution’s clinical data warehouse and the UHC Clinical Database (CDB). The CDB contains administrative data from over 200 hospitals that are in academic medical centers or affiliated with such centers. Discussion and Conclusion A widely available platform for managing and detecting phenotypes in EHR data could accelerate the use of such data in quality improvement and comparative effectiveness studies. PMID:23402960

Scattering of an electronic wave packet by a one-dimensional electron-phonon-coupled structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brockt, C.; Jeckelmann, E.

2017-02-01

We investigate the scattering of an electron by phonons in a small structure between two one-dimensional tight-binding leads. This model mimics the quantum electron transport through atomic wires or molecular junctions coupled to metallic leads. The electron-phonon-coupled structure is represented by the Holstein model. We observe permanent energy transfer from the electron to the phonon system (dissipation), transient self-trapping of the electron in the electron-phonon-coupled structure (due to polaron formation and multiple reflections at the structure edges), and transmission resonances that depend strongly on the strength of the electron-phonon coupling and the adiabaticity ratio. A recently developed TEBD algorithm, optimized for bosonic degrees of freedom, is used to simulate the quantum dynamics of a wave packet launched against the electron-phonon-coupled structure. Exact results are calculated for a single electron-phonon site using scattering theory and analytical approximations are obtained for limiting cases.

Window for Optimal Frequency Operation and Reliability of 3DEG and 2DEG Channels for Oxide Microwave MESFETs and HFETs

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-04-01

noise, and energy relaxation for doped zinc-oxide and structured ZnO transistor materials with a 2-D electron gas (2DEG) channel subjected to a strong...function on the time delay. Closed symbols represent the Monte Carlo data with hot-phonon effect at different electron gas density: 1•1017 cm-3...Monte Carlo simulation is performed for electron gas density of 1•1018 cm-3. Figure 18. Monte Carlo simulation of density-dependent hot-electron energy

Building Atoms Shell by Shell.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sussman, Beverly

1993-01-01

Describes an atom-building activity where students construct three-dimensional models of atoms using a styrofoam ball as the nucleus and pom-poms, gum drops, minimarshmallows, or other small items of two different colors to represent protons and neutrons attached. Rings of various sizes with pom-poms attached represent electron shells and…

Dynamic electronic institutions in agent oriented cloud robotic systems.

PubMed

Nagrath, Vineet; Morel, Olivier; Malik, Aamir; Saad, Naufal; Meriaudeau, Fabrice

2015-01-01

The dot-com bubble bursted in the year 2000 followed by a swift movement towards resource virtualization and cloud computing business model. Cloud computing emerged not as new form of computing or network technology but a mere remoulding of existing technologies to suit a new business model. Cloud robotics is understood as adaptation of cloud computing ideas for robotic applications. Current efforts in cloud robotics stress upon developing robots that utilize computing and service infrastructure of the cloud, without debating on the underlying business model. HTM5 is an OMG's MDA based Meta-model for agent oriented development of cloud robotic systems. The trade-view of HTM5 promotes peer-to-peer trade amongst software agents. HTM5 agents represent various cloud entities and implement their business logic on cloud interactions. Trade in a peer-to-peer cloud robotic system is based on relationships and contracts amongst several agent subsets. Electronic Institutions are associations of heterogeneous intelligent agents which interact with each other following predefined norms. In Dynamic Electronic Institutions, the process of formation, reformation and dissolution of institutions is automated leading to run time adaptations in groups of agents. DEIs in agent oriented cloud robotic ecosystems bring order and group intellect. This article presents DEI implementations through HTM5 methodology.

Changes Induced by Exposure of the Human Lung to Glass Fiber–Reinforced Plastic

PubMed Central

Abbate, Carmelo; Giorgianni, Concetto; Brecciaroli, Renato; Giacobbe, Giovanni; Costa, Chiara; Cavallari, Vittorio; Albiero, Francesca; Catania, Stefania; Tringali, Maria Antonietta; Martino, Lucia Barbaro; Abbate, Simona

2006-01-01

The inhalation of glass dusts mixed in resin, generally known as glass fiber–reinforced plastic (GRP), represents a little-studied occupational hazard. The few studies performed have highlighted nonspecific lung disorders in animals and in humans. In the present study we evaluated the alteration of the respiratory system and the pathogenic mechanisms causing the changes in a group of working men employed in different GRP processing operations and exposed to production dusts. The study was conducted on a sample of 29 male subjects whose mean age was 37 years and mean length of service 11 years. All of the subjects were submitted to a clinical check-up, basic tests, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); microscopic studies and biochemical analysis were performed on the BAL fluid. Tests of respiratory function showed a large number of obstructive syndromes; scanning electron microscopy highlighted qualitative and quantitative alterations of the alveolar macrophages; and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of electron-dense cytoplasmatic inclusions indicating intense and active phlogosis (external inflammation). Biochemical analyses highlighted an increase in protein content associated with alterations of the lung oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis. Inhalation of GRP, independent of environmental concentration, causes alterations of the cellular and humoral components of pulmonary interstitium; these alterations are identified microscopically as acute alveolitis. PMID:17107859

Changes induced by exposure of the human lung to glass fiber-reinforced plastic.

PubMed

Abbate, Carmelo; Giorgianni, Concetto; Brecciaroli, Renato; Giacobbe, Giovanni; Costa, Chiara; Cavallari, Vittorio; Albiero, Francesca; Catania, Stefania; Tringali, Maria Antonietta; Martino, Lucia Barbaro; Abbate, Simona

2006-11-01

The inhalation of glass dusts mixed in resin, generally known as glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GRP), represents a little-studied occupational hazard. The few studies performed have highlighted nonspecific lung disorders in animals and in humans. In the present study we evaluated the alteration of the respiratory system and the pathogenic mechanisms causing the changes in a group of working men employed in different GRP processing operations and exposed to production dusts. The study was conducted on a sample of 29 male subjects whose mean age was 37 years and mean length of service 11 years. All of the subjects were submitted to a clinical check-up, basic tests, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); microscopic studies and biochemical analysis were performed on the BAL fluid. Tests of respiratory function showed a large number of obstructive syndromes; scanning electron microscopy highlighted qualitative and quantitative alterations of the alveolar macrophages; and transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of electron-dense cytoplasmatic inclusions indicating intense and active phlogosis (external inflammation). Biochemical analyses highlighted an increase in protein content associated with alterations of the lung oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis. Inhalation of GRP, independent of environmental concentration, causes alterations of the cellular and humoral components of pulmonary interstitium; these alterations are identified microscopically as acute alveolitis.

7 CFR 1755.901 - Incorporation by Reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Electronics Engineers, Inc. ANSI/IEEE C2-2007, The National Electrical Safety Code, 2007 edition, approved.../Electronics Industries Association (TIA/EIA) standards are available from Electronic Industries Association...

7 CFR 1755.901 - Incorporation by Reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Electronics Engineers, Inc. ANSI/IEEE C2-2007, The National Electrical Safety Code, 2007 edition, approved.../Electronics Industries Association (TIA/EIA) standards are available from Electronic Industries Association...

7 CFR 1755.901 - Incorporation by Reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Electronics Engineers, Inc. ANSI/IEEE C2-2007, The National Electrical Safety Code, 2007 edition, approved.../Electronics Industries Association (TIA/EIA) standards are available from Electronic Industries Association...

7 CFR 1755.901 - Incorporation by Reference.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Electronics Engineers, Inc. ANSI/IEEE C2-2007, The National Electrical Safety Code, 2007 edition, approved.../Electronics Industries Association (TIA/EIA) standards are available from Electronic Industries Association...

Sketched oxide single-electron transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Guanglei; Siles, Pablo F.; Bi, Feng; Cen, Cheng; Bogorin, Daniela F.; Bark, Chung Wung; Folkman, Chad M.; Park, Jae-Wan; Eom, Chang-Beom; Medeiros-Ribeiro, Gilberto; Levy, Jeremy

2011-06-01

Devices that confine and process single electrons represent an important scaling limit of electronics. Such devices have been realized in a variety of materials and exhibit remarkable electronic, optical and spintronic properties. Here, we use an atomic force microscope tip to reversibly `sketch' single-electron transistors by controlling a metal-insulator transition at the interface of two oxides. In these devices, single electrons tunnel resonantly between source and drain electrodes through a conducting oxide island with a diameter of ~1.5 nm. We demonstrate control over the number of electrons on the island using bottom- and side-gate electrodes, and observe hysteresis in electron occupation that is attributed to ferroelectricity within the oxide heterostructure. These single-electron devices may find use as ultradense non-volatile memories, nanoscale hybrid piezoelectric and charge sensors, as well as building blocks in quantum information processing and simulation platforms.

Reactivity of seventeen- and nineteen-valence electron complexes in organometallic chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stiegman, Albert E.; Tyler, David R.

1986-01-01

A guideline to the reactivity of 17- and 19-valence electron species in organometallic chemistry is proposed which the authors believe will supersede all others. The thesis holds that the reactions of 17-electron metal radicals are associatively activated with reactions proceeding through a 19-valence electron species. The disparate reaction chemistry of the 17-electron metal radicals are unified in terms of this associative reaction pathway, and the intermediacy of 19-valence electron complexes in producing the observed products is discussed. It is suggested that related associatively activated pathways need to be considered in some reactions that are thought to occur by more conventional routes involving 16- and 18-electron intermediates. The basic reaction chemistry and electronic structures of these species are briefly discussed.

The availability of electronic cigarettes in U.S. retail outlets, 2012: results of two national studies.

PubMed

Rose, Shyanika W; Barker, Dianne C; D'Angelo, Heather; Khan, Tamkeen; Huang, Jidong; Chaloupka, Frank J; Ribisl, Kurt M

2014-07-01

Since their introduction in 2007, electronic cigarette ('e-cigarette') awareness and use has grown rapidly. Little is known about variation in e-cigarette availability across areas with different levels of tobacco taxes and smoke-free air policies. This paper looks at US retail availability of e-cigarettes and factors at the store, neighbourhood and policy levels associated with it. In-person store audit data collected in 2012 came from two national samples of tobacco retailers in the contiguous US. Study 1 collected data from a nationally representative sample of tobacco retailers (n=2165). Study 2 collected data from tobacco retailers located in school enrolment zones for nationally representative samples of 8th, 10th and 12th grade public school students (n=2526). In 2012, e-cigarette retail availability was 34% in study 1 and 31% in study 2. Tobacco, pharmacy and gas/convenience stores were more likely to sell e-cigarettes than beer/wine/liquor stores. Retail availability of e-cigarettes was more likely in neighbourhoods with higher median household income (study 1), and lower percent of African-American (studies 1 and 2) and Hispanic residents (study 2). Price of traditional cigarettes was inversely related to e-cigarette availability. Stores in states with an American Lung Association Smoke-Free Air grade of F (study 1) or D (study 2) compared with A had increased likelihood of having e-cigarettes. Currently, e-cigarette availability appears more likely in areas with weak tax and smoke-free air policies. Given the substantial availability of e-cigarettes at tobacco retailers nationwide, states and localities should monitor the sales and marketing of e-cigarettes at point of sale (POS). Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Biosignature detection at an Arctic analog to Europa.

PubMed

Gleeson, Damhnait F; Pappalardo, R T; Anderson, M S; Grasby, S E; Mielke, R E; Wright, K E; Templeton, A S

2012-02-01

The compelling evidence for an ocean beneath the ice shell of Europa makes it a high priority for astrobiological investigations. Future missions to the icy surface of this moon will query the plausibly sulfur-rich materials for potential indications of the presence of life carried to the surface by mobile ice or partial melt. However, the potential for generation and preservation of biosignatures under cold, sulfur-rich conditions has not previously been investigated, as there have not been suitable environments on Earth to study. Here, we describe the characterization of a range of biosignatures within potentially analogous sulfur deposits from the surface of an Arctic glacier at Borup Fiord Pass to evaluate whether evidence for microbial activities is produced and preserved within these deposits. Optical and electron microscopy revealed microorganisms and extracellular materials. Elemental sulfur (S⁰), the dominant mineralogy within field samples, is present as rhombic and needle-shaped mineral grains and spherical mineral aggregates, commonly observed in association with extracellular polymeric substances. Orthorhombic α-sulfur represents the stable form of S⁰, whereas the monoclinic (needle-shaped) γ-sulfur form rosickyite is metastable and has previously been associated with sulfide-oxidizing microbial communities. Scanning transmission electron microscopy showed mineral deposition on cellular and extracellular materials in the form of submicron-sized, needle-shaped crystals. X-ray diffraction measurements supply supporting evidence for the presence of a minor component of rosickyite. Infrared spectroscopy revealed parts-per-million level organics in the Borup sulfur deposits and organic functional groups diagnostic of biomolecules such as proteins and fatty acids. Organic components are below the detection limit for Raman spectra, which were dominated by sulfur peaks. These combined investigations indicate that sulfur mineral deposits may contain identifiable biosignatures that can be stabilized and preserved under low-temperature conditions. Borup Fiord Pass represents a useful testing ground for instruments and techniques relevant to future astrobiological exploration at Europa.

Experimental exploration of the Mulliken-Hush relationship for intramolecular electron transfer reactions.

PubMed

Mukherjee, Tamal; Ito, Naoki; Gould, Ian R

2011-03-17

The Mulliken-Hush (M-H) relationship provides the critical link between optical and thermal electron transfer processes, and yet very little direct experimental support for its applicability has been provided. Dicyanovinylazaadamantane (DCVA) represents a simple two-state (neutral/charge-transfer) intramolecular electron transfer system that exhibits charge-transfer absorption and emission spectra that are readily measurable in solvents with a wide range of polarities. In this regard it represents an ideal model system for studying the factors that control both optical charge separation (absorption) and recombination (emission) processes in solution. Here we explore the applicability of the M-H relation to quantitative descriptions of the optical charge-transfer processes in DCVA. For DCVA, the measured radiative rate constants exhibit a linear dependence on transition energy, and transition dipole moments exhibit an inverse dependence on transition energy, consistent with the M-H relationship.

Screening Cereals Quality by Electronic Nose: the Example of Mycotoxins Naturally Contaminated Maize and Durum Wheat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campagnoli, Anna; Dell'Orto, Vittorio; Savoini, Giovanni; Cheli, Federica

2009-05-01

Mycotoxins represent an heterogeneous group of toxic compounds from fungi metabolism. Due to the frequent occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals commodities the develop of cost/effective screening methods represent an important topic to ensure food and feed safety. In the presented study a commercial electronic nose constituted by ten MOS (Metal Oxide Sensors) was applied to verify the possibility of discriminating between mycotoxins contaminated and non-contaminated cereals. The described analytical approach was able to discriminate contaminated and non-contaminated samples both in the case of aflatoxins infected maize and deoxynivalenol infected durum wheat samples. In the case of maize data two sensors from the array revealed a partial relation with the level of aflatoxins. These results could be promising for a further improvement of electronic nose application in order to develop a semi-quantitative screening approach to mycotoxins contamination.

Structural, microstructural and vibrational analyses of the monoclinic tungstate BiLuWO{sub 6}

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

Ait Ahsaine, H.; Taoufyq, A.; Institut Matériaux Microélectronique et Nanosciences de Provence, IM2NP, UMR CNRS 7334, Université de Toulon, BP 20132, 83957 La Garde Cedex

2014-10-15

The bismuth lutetium tungstate phase BiLuWO{sub 6} has been prepared using a solid state route with stoichiometric mixtures of oxide precursors. The obtained polycrystalline phase has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. In the first step, the crystal structure has been refined using Rietveld method: the crystal cell was resolved using monoclinic system (parameters a, b, c, β) with space group A2/m. SEM images showed the presence of large crystallites with a constant local nominal composition (BiLuW). TEM analyses showed that the actual local structure could be better representedmore » by a superlattice (a, 2b, c, β) associated with space groups P2 or P2/m. The Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of vibrational bands similar to those observed in the compounds BiREWO{sub 6} with RE=Y, Gd, Nd. However, these vibrational bands were characterized by large full width at half maximum, probably resulting from the long range Bi/Lu disorder and local WO{sub 6} octahedron distortions in the structure. - Graphical abstract: The average structure of BiLuWO{sub 6} determined from X-ray diffraction data can be represented by A2/m space group. Experimental Electron Diffraction patterns along the [0vw] zone axes of the monoclinic structure and associated simulated patterns show the existence of a monoclinic superstructure with space group P2 or P2/m. - Highlights: • A new monoclinic BiLuWO{sub 6} phase has been elaborated from solid-state reaction. • The space group of the monoclinic disordered average structure should be A2/m. • Transmission electron microscopy leads to a superlattice with P2/m space group. • Raman spectroscopy suggests existence of local disorder.« less

An investigation into the feasibility of myoglobin-based single-electron transistors

PubMed Central

Li, Debin; Gannett, Peter M.; Lederman, David

2016-01-01

Myoglobin single-electron transistors were investigated using nanometer-gap platinum electrodes fabricated by electromigration at cryogenic temperatures. Apomyoglobin (myoglobin without heme group) was used as a reference. The results suggest single electron transport is mediated by resonant tunneling with the electronic and vibrational levels of the heme group in a single protein. They also represent a proof-of-principle that proteins with redox centers across nanometer-gap electrodes can be utilized to fabricate single-electron transistors. The protein orientation and conformation may significantly affect the conductance of these devices. Future improvements in device reproducibility and yield will require control of these factors. PMID:22972432

Electron-Poor Polar Intermetallics: Complex Structures, Novel Clusters, and Intriguing Bonding with Pronounced Electron Delocalization

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

Lin, Qisheng; Miller, Gordon J.

Intermetallic compounds represent an extensive pool of candidates for energy related applications stemming from magnetic, electric, optic, caloric, and catalytic properties. The discovery of novel intermetallic compounds can enhance understanding of the chemical principles that govern structural stability and chemical bonding as well as finding new applications. Valence electron-poor polar intermetallics with valence electron concentrations (VECs) between 2.0 and 3.0 e –/atom show a plethora of unprecedented and fascinating structural motifs and bonding features. Furthermore, establishing simple structure-bonding-property relationships is especially challenging for this compound class because commonly accepted valence electron counting rules are inappropriate.

Electron-Poor Polar Intermetallics: Complex Structures, Novel Clusters, and Intriguing Bonding with Pronounced Electron Delocalization

DOE PAGES

Lin, Qisheng; Miller, Gordon J.

2017-12-18

Intermetallic compounds represent an extensive pool of candidates for energy related applications stemming from magnetic, electric, optic, caloric, and catalytic properties. The discovery of novel intermetallic compounds can enhance understanding of the chemical principles that govern structural stability and chemical bonding as well as finding new applications. Valence electron-poor polar intermetallics with valence electron concentrations (VECs) between 2.0 and 3.0 e –/atom show a plethora of unprecedented and fascinating structural motifs and bonding features. Furthermore, establishing simple structure-bonding-property relationships is especially challenging for this compound class because commonly accepted valence electron counting rules are inappropriate.

Highly scalable multichannel mesh electronics for stable chronic brain electrophysiology

PubMed Central

Fu, Tian-Ming; Hong, Guosong; Viveros, Robert D.; Zhou, Tao

2017-01-01

Implantable electrical probes have led to advances in neuroscience, brain−machine interfaces, and treatment of neurological diseases, yet they remain limited in several key aspects. Ideally, an electrical probe should be capable of recording from large numbers of neurons across multiple local circuits and, importantly, allow stable tracking of the evolution of these neurons over the entire course of study. Silicon probes based on microfabrication can yield large-scale, high-density recording but face challenges of chronic gliosis and instability due to mechanical and structural mismatch with the brain. Ultraflexible mesh electronics, on the other hand, have demonstrated negligible chronic immune response and stable long-term brain monitoring at single-neuron level, although, to date, it has been limited to 16 channels. Here, we present a scalable scheme for highly multiplexed mesh electronics probes to bridge the gap between scalability and flexibility, where 32 to 128 channels per probe were implemented while the crucial brain-like structure and mechanics were maintained. Combining this mesh design with multisite injection, we demonstrate stable 128-channel local field potential and single-unit recordings from multiple brain regions in awake restrained mice over 4 mo. In addition, the newly integrated mesh is used to validate stable chronic recordings in freely behaving mice. This scalable scheme for mesh electronics together with demonstrated long-term stability represent important progress toward the realization of ideal implantable electrical probes allowing for mapping and tracking single-neuron level circuit changes associated with learning, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. PMID:29109247

Disentangling the Taxonomy of Rickettsiales and Description of Two Novel Symbionts ("Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis" and "Candidatus Fokinia cryptica") Sharing the Cytoplasm of the Ciliate Protist Paramecium biaurelia.

PubMed

Szokoli, Franziska; Castelli, Michele; Sabaneyeva, Elena; Schrallhammer, Martina; Krenek, Sascha; Doak, Thomas G; Berendonk, Thomas U; Petroni, Giulio

2016-12-15

In the past 10 years, the number of endosymbionts described within the bacterial order Rickettsiales has constantly grown. Since 2006, 18 novel Rickettsiales genera inhabiting protists, such as ciliates and amoebae, have been described. In this work, we characterize two novel bacterial endosymbionts from Paramecium collected near Bloomington, IN. Both endosymbiotic species inhabit the cytoplasm of the same host. The Gram-negative bacterium "Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis" occurs in clumps and is frequently associated with the host macronucleus. With its electron-dense cytoplasm and a distinct halo surrounding the cell, it is easily distinguishable from the second smaller symbiont, "Candidatus Fokinia cryptica," whose cytoplasm is electron lucid, lacks a halo, and is always surrounded by a symbiontophorous vacuole. For molecular characterization, the small-subunit rRNA genes were sequenced and used for taxonomic assignment as well as the design of species-specific oligonucleotide probes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that "Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis" clusters with the so-called "basal" Rickettsiales, and "Candidatus Fokinia cryptica" belongs to "Candidatus Midichloriaceae." We obtained tree topologies showing a separation of Rickettsiales into at least two groups: one represented by the families Rickettsiaceae, Anaplasmataceae, and "Candidatus Midichloriaceae" (RAM clade), and the other represented by "basal Rickettsiales," including "Candidatus Bealeia paramacronuclearis." Therefore, and in accordance with recent publications, we propose to limit the order Rickettsiales to the RAM clade and to raise "basal Rickettsiales" to an independent order, Holosporales ord. nov., inside Alphaproteobacteria, which presently includes four family-level clades. Additionally, we define the family "Candidatus Hepatincolaceae" and redefine the family Holosporaceae IMPORTANCE: In this paper, we provide the characterization of two novel bacterial symbionts inhabiting the same Paramecium host (Ciliophora, Alveolata). Both symbionts belong to "traditional" Rickettsiales, one representing a new species of the genus "Candidatus Fokinia" ("Candidatus Midichloriaceae"), and the other representing a new genus of a "basal" Rickettsiales According to newly characterized sequences and to a critical revision of recent literature, we propose a taxonomic reorganization of "traditional" Rickettsiales that we split into two orders: Rickettsiales sensu stricto and Holosporales ord. nov. This work represents a critical revision, including new records of a group of symbionts frequently occurring in protists and whose biodiversity is still largely underestimated. Copyright © 2016 Szokoli et al.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

2018-05-01

The conduction band electron effective mass under strain is represented by me∗ and valence band heavy hole effective mass is given as mhh∗ =m0 /(γ1 - 2γ2) , where γ1 and γ2 are the Luttinger parameters and m0 is the electron rest mass. All the band parameters used for our simulation are listed in Table 1.

Electronic Technology. Technical Committee Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Idaho State Dept. of Education, Boise. Div. of Vocational Education.

This Technical Committee Report prepared by industry representatives in Idaho lists the skills currently necessary for an employee in that state to obtain a job in electronic technology, retain a job once hired, and advance in that occupational field. (Task lists are grouped according to duty areas generally used in industry settings, and are used…

The Integrity of FPGA Designs: Capabilities Enabled by Unlocking Bitstreams and 3rd-Party IP

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

represented in an HDL such as Verilog or in another common electronic design format such as the Electronic Design Interchange Format ( EDIF ). Whether...Verilog or EDIF , however, the synthesized netlist is expressed as a connected and configured arrangement of the FPGA resources necessary to realize

14 CFR 302.4 - General requirements as to documents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... of paper documents, and an electronic registration for electronic filing at the DOT DMS internet... representative of the pleader, have not in any manner knowingly and willfully falsified, concealed or failed to... pleading. I understand that an individual who is found to have violated the provisions of 18 U.S.C. section...

14 CFR 302.4 - General requirements as to documents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... of paper documents, and an electronic registration for electronic filing at the DOT DMS internet... representative of the pleader, have not in any manner knowingly and willfully falsified, concealed or failed to... pleading. I understand that an individual who is found to have violated the provisions of 18 U.S.C. section...

Diesel Technology: Electrical and Electronic Systems. Teacher Edition [and] Student Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ready, Allan; Kauffman, Ricky; Bogle, Jerry

This document contains the materials for a competency-based course in diesel technology and electrical and electronic systems that is tied to measurable and observable learning outcomes identified and validated by an advisory committee of business and industry representatives and teachers. The competencies addressed align with the medium/heavy…

Inventory Control: A Small Electronic Device for Studying Chemical Kinetics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perez-Rodriguez, A. L.; Calvo-Aguilar, J. L.

1984-01-01

Shows how the rate of reaction can be studied using a simple electronic device that overcomes the difficulty students encounter in solving the differential equations describing chemical equilibrium. The device, used in conjunction with an oscilloscope, supplies the voltages that represent the chemical variables that take part in the equilibrium.…

Exfoliation of graphene sheets via high energy wet milling of graphite in 2-ethylhexanol and kerosene.

PubMed

Al-Sherbini, Al-Sayed; Bakr, Mona; Ghoneim, Iman; Saad, Mohamed

2017-05-01

Graphene sheets have been exfoliated from bulk graphite using high energy wet milling in two different solvents that were 2-ethylhexanol and kerosene. The milling process was performed for 60 h using a planetary ball mill. Morphological characteristics were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). On the other hand, the structural characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and Raman spectrometry. The exfoliated graphene sheets have represented good morphological and structural characteristics with a valuable amount of defects and a good graphitic structure. The graphene sheets exfoliated in the presence of 2-ethylhexanol have represented many layers, large crystal size and low level of defects, while the graphene sheets exfoliated in the presence of kerosene have represented fewer number of layers, smaller crystal size and higher level of defects.

Using quantum process tomography to characterize decoherence in an analog electronic device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ostrove, Corey; La Cour, Brian; Lanham, Andrew; Ott, Granville

The mathematical structure of a universal gate-based quantum computer can be emulated faithfully on a classical electronic device using analog signals to represent a multi-qubit state. We describe a prototype device capable of performing a programmable sequence of single-qubit and controlled two-qubit gate operations on a pair of voltage signals representing the real and imaginary parts of a two-qubit quantum state. Analog filters and true-RMS voltage measurements are used to perform unitary and measurement gate operations. We characterize the degradation of the represented quantum state with successive gate operations by formally performing quantum process tomography to estimate the equivalent decoherence channel. Experimental measurements indicate that the performance of the device may be accurately modeled as an equivalent quantum operation closely resembling a depolarizing channel with a fidelity of over 99%. This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research under Grant No. N00014-14-1-0323.

A model-driven approach for representing clinical archetypes for Semantic Web environments.

PubMed

Martínez-Costa, Catalina; Menárguez-Tortosa, Marcos; Fernández-Breis, Jesualdo Tomás; Maldonado, José Alberto

2009-02-01

The life-long clinical information of any person supported by electronic means configures his Electronic Health Record (EHR). This information is usually distributed among several independent and heterogeneous systems that may be syntactically or semantically incompatible. There are currently different standards for representing and exchanging EHR information among different systems. In advanced EHR approaches, clinical information is represented by means of archetypes. Most of these approaches use the Archetype Definition Language (ADL) to specify archetypes. However, ADL has some drawbacks when attempting to perform semantic activities in Semantic Web environments. In this work, Semantic Web technologies are used to specify clinical archetypes for advanced EHR architectures. The advantages of using the Ontology Web Language (OWL) instead of ADL are described and discussed in this work. Moreover, a solution combining Semantic Web and Model-driven Engineering technologies is proposed to transform ADL into OWL for the CEN EN13606 EHR architecture.

Evidence that electronic health records can promote physician counseling for healthy behaviors.

PubMed

Bae, Jaeyong; Hockenberry, Jason M; Rask, Kimberly J; Becker, Edmund R

Health behavior counseling services may help patients manage chronic conditions effectively and slow disease progression. Studies show, however, that many providers fail to provide these services because of time constraints and inability to tailor counseling to individual patient needs. Electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to increase appropriate counseling by providing pertinent patient information at the point of care and clinical decision support. This study estimates the impact of select EHR functionalities on the rate of health behavior counseling provided during primary care visits. Multivariable regression analyses of the 2007-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were conducted to examine whether eight EHR components representing four core functionalities of EHR systems were correlated with the rate of health behavior counseling services. Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors given the use of observational data. To address concerns that EHR may only lead to improved documentation of counseling services and not necessarily improved care, the association of EHR functionalities with prescriptions for smoking cessation medications was also estimated. The use of an EHR system with health information and data, order entry and management, result management, decision support, and a notification system for abnormal test results was associated with an approximately 25% increase in the probability of health behavior counseling delivered. Clinical reminders were associated with more health behavior counseling services when available in combination with patient problem lists. The laboratory results viewer was also associated with more counseling services when implemented with a notification system for abnormal results. An EHR system with key supportive functionalities can enhance delivery of preventive health behavior counseling services in primary care settings. Meaningful use criteria should be evaluated to ensure that they encourage the adoption of EHR systems with those functionalities shown to improve clinical care.

Substance use and mental diagnoses among adults with and without type 2 diabetes: Results from electronic health records data.

PubMed

Wu, Li-Tzy; Ghitza, Udi E; Batch, Bryan C; Pencina, Michael J; Rojas, Leoncio Flavio; Goldstein, Benjamin A; Schibler, Tony; Dunham, Ashley A; Rusincovitch, Shelley; Brady, Kathleen T

2015-11-01

Comorbid diabetes and substance use diagnoses (SUD) represent a hazardous combination, both in terms of healthcare cost and morbidity. To date, there is limited information about the association of SUD and related mental disorders with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examined the associations between T2DM and multiple psychiatric diagnosis categories, with a focus on SUD and related psychiatric comorbidities among adults with T2DM. We analyzed electronic health record (EHR) data on 170,853 unique adults aged ≥18 years from the EHR warehouse of a large academic healthcare system. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the strength of an association for comorbidities. Overall, 9% of adults (n=16,243) had T2DM. Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans had greater odds of having T2DM than whites. All 10 psychiatric diagnosis categories were more prevalent among adults with T2DM than among those without T2DM. Prevalent diagnoses among adults with T2MD were mood (21.22%), SUD (17.02%: tobacco 13.25%, alcohol 4.00%, drugs 4.22%), and anxiety diagnoses (13.98%). Among adults with T2DM, SUD was positively associated with mood, anxiety, personality, somatic, and schizophrenia diagnoses. We examined a large diverse sample of individuals and found clinical evidence of SUD and psychiatric comorbidities among adults with T2DM. These results highlight the need to identify feasible collaborative care models for adults with T2DM and SUD related psychiatric comorbidities, particularly in primary care settings, that will improve behavioral health and reduce health risk. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Pustular Mats and Related Rivularia-Rich Laminations in Oncoids From the Laguna Negra Lake (Argentina).

PubMed

Mlewski, Estela C; Pisapia, Céline; Gomez, Fernando; Lecourt, Lena; Soto Rueda, Eliana; Benzerara, Karim; Ménez, Bénédicte; Borensztajn, Stephan; Jamme, Frédéric; Réfrégiers, Matthieu; Gérard, Emmanuelle

2018-01-01

Stromatolites are organo-sedimentary structures that represent some of the oldest records of the early biosphere on Earth. Cyanobacteria are considered as a main component of the microbial mats that are supposed to produce stromatolite-like structures. Understanding the role of cyanobacteria and associated microorganisms on the mineralization processes is critical to better understand what can be preserved in the laminated structure of stromatolites. Laguna Negra (Catamarca, Argentina), a high-altitude hypersaline lake where stromatolites are currently formed, is considered as an analog environment of early Earth. This study aimed at characterizing carbonate precipitation within microbial mats and associated oncoids in Laguna Negra. In particular, we focused on carbonated black pustular mats. By combining Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Laser Microdissection and Whole Genome Amplification, Cloning and Sanger sequencing, and Focused Ion Beam milling for Transmission Electron Microscopy, we showed that carbonate precipitation did not directly initiate on the sheaths of cyanobacterial Rivularia , which dominate in the mat. It occurred via organo-mineralization processes within a large EPS matrix excreted by the diverse microbial consortium associated with Rivularia where diatoms and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria were particularly abundant. By structuring a large microbial consortium, Rivularia should then favor the formation of organic-rich laminations of carbonates that can be preserved in stromatolites. By using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Synchrotron-based deep UV fluorescence imaging, we compared laminations rich in structures resembling Rivularia to putatively chemically-precipitated laminations in oncoids associated with the mats. We showed that they presented a different mineralogy jointly with a higher content in organic remnants, hence providing some criteria of biogenicity to be searched for in the fossil record.

Characterization of Pustular Mats and Related Rivularia-Rich Laminations in Oncoids From the Laguna Negra Lake (Argentina)

PubMed Central

Mlewski, Estela C.; Pisapia, Céline; Gomez, Fernando; Lecourt, Lena; Soto Rueda, Eliana; Benzerara, Karim; Ménez, Bénédicte; Borensztajn, Stephan; Jamme, Frédéric; Réfrégiers, Matthieu; Gérard, Emmanuelle

2018-01-01

Stromatolites are organo-sedimentary structures that represent some of the oldest records of the early biosphere on Earth. Cyanobacteria are considered as a main component of the microbial mats that are supposed to produce stromatolite-like structures. Understanding the role of cyanobacteria and associated microorganisms on the mineralization processes is critical to better understand what can be preserved in the laminated structure of stromatolites. Laguna Negra (Catamarca, Argentina), a high-altitude hypersaline lake where stromatolites are currently formed, is considered as an analog environment of early Earth. This study aimed at characterizing carbonate precipitation within microbial mats and associated oncoids in Laguna Negra. In particular, we focused on carbonated black pustular mats. By combining Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Laser Microdissection and Whole Genome Amplification, Cloning and Sanger sequencing, and Focused Ion Beam milling for Transmission Electron Microscopy, we showed that carbonate precipitation did not directly initiate on the sheaths of cyanobacterial Rivularia, which dominate in the mat. It occurred via organo-mineralization processes within a large EPS matrix excreted by the diverse microbial consortium associated with Rivularia where diatoms and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria were particularly abundant. By structuring a large microbial consortium, Rivularia should then favor the formation of organic-rich laminations of carbonates that can be preserved in stromatolites. By using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and Synchrotron-based deep UV fluorescence imaging, we compared laminations rich in structures resembling Rivularia to putatively chemically-precipitated laminations in oncoids associated with the mats. We showed that they presented a different mineralogy jointly with a higher content in organic remnants, hence providing some criteria of biogenicity to be searched for in the fossil record. PMID:29872427

Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring and its relationship to neonatal and infant mortality in the United States.

PubMed

Chen, Han-Yang; Chauhan, Suneet P; Ananth, Cande V; Vintzileos, Anthony M; Abuhamad, Alfred Z

2011-06-01

To examine the association between electronic fetal heart rate monitoring and neonatal and infant mortality, as well as neonatal morbidity. We used the United States 2004 linked birth and infant death data. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were fitted to estimate risk ratio for association between electronic fetal heart rate monitoring and mortality, while adjusting for potential confounders. In 2004, 89% of singleton pregnancies had electronic fetal heart rate monitoring. Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring was associated with significantly lower infant mortality (adjusted relative risk, 0.75); this was mainly driven by the lower risk of early neonatal mortality (adjusted relative risk, 0.50). In low-risk pregnancies, electronic fetal heart rate monitoring was associated with decreased risk for Apgar scores <4 at 5 minutes (relative risk, 0.54); in high-risk pregnancies, with decreased risk of neonatal seizures (relative risk, 0.65). In the United States, the use of electronic fetal heart rate monitoring was associated with a substantial decrease in early neonatal mortality and morbidity that lowered infant mortality. Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transverse fields to tune an Ising-nematic quantum phase transition [Transverse fields to tune an Ising-nematic quantum critical transition

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

Maharaj, Akash V.; Rosenberg, Elliott W.; Hristov, Alexander T.

Here, the paradigmatic example of a continuous quantum phase transition is the transverse field Ising ferromagnet. In contrast to classical critical systems, whose properties depend only on symmetry and the dimension of space, the nature of a quantum phase transition also depends on the dynamics. In the transverse field Ising model, the order parameter is not conserved, and increasing the transverse field enhances quantum fluctuations until they become strong enough to restore the symmetry of the ground state. Ising pseudospins can represent the order parameter of any system with a twofold degenerate broken-symmetry phase, including electronic nematic order associated withmore » spontaneous point-group symmetry breaking. Here, we show for the representative example of orbital-nematic ordering of a non-Kramers doublet that an orthogonal strain or a perpendicular magnetic field plays the role of the transverse field, thereby providing a practical route for tuning appropriate materials to a quantum critical point. While the transverse fields are conjugate to seemingly unrelated order parameters, their nontrivial commutation relations with the nematic order parameter, which can be represented by a Berry-phase term in an effective field theory, intrinsically intertwine the different order parameters.« less

The carbon cycle and associated redox processes through time

PubMed Central

Hayes, John M; Waldbauer, Jacob R

2006-01-01

Earth's biogeochemical cycle of carbon delivers both limestones and organic materials to the crust. In numerous, biologically catalysed redox reactions, hydrogen, sulphur, iron, and oxygen serve prominently as electron donors and acceptors. The progress of these reactions can be reconstructed from records of variations in the abundance of 13C in sedimentary carbonate minerals and organic materials. Because the crust is always receiving new CO2 from the mantle and a portion of it is being reduced by photoautotrophs, the carbon cycle has continuously released oxidizing power. Most of it is represented by Fe3+ that has accumulated in the crust or been returned to the mantle via subduction. Less than 3% of the estimated, integrated production of oxidizing power since 3.8 Gyr ago is represented by O2 in the atmosphere and dissolved in seawater. The balance is represented by sulphate. The accumulation of oxidizing power can be estimated from budgets summarizing inputs of mantle carbon and rates of organic-carbon burial, but levels of O2 are only weakly and indirectly coupled to those phenomena and thus to carbon-isotopic records. Elevated abundances of 13C in carbonate minerals ca 2.3 Gyr old, in particular, are here interpreted as indicating the importance of methanogenic bacteria in sediments rather than increased burial of organic carbon. PMID:16754608

Transverse fields to tune an Ising-nematic quantum phase transition [Transverse fields to tune an Ising-nematic quantum critical transition

DOE PAGES

Maharaj, Akash V.; Rosenberg, Elliott W.; Hristov, Alexander T.; ...

2017-12-05

Here, the paradigmatic example of a continuous quantum phase transition is the transverse field Ising ferromagnet. In contrast to classical critical systems, whose properties depend only on symmetry and the dimension of space, the nature of a quantum phase transition also depends on the dynamics. In the transverse field Ising model, the order parameter is not conserved, and increasing the transverse field enhances quantum fluctuations until they become strong enough to restore the symmetry of the ground state. Ising pseudospins can represent the order parameter of any system with a twofold degenerate broken-symmetry phase, including electronic nematic order associated withmore » spontaneous point-group symmetry breaking. Here, we show for the representative example of orbital-nematic ordering of a non-Kramers doublet that an orthogonal strain or a perpendicular magnetic field plays the role of the transverse field, thereby providing a practical route for tuning appropriate materials to a quantum critical point. While the transverse fields are conjugate to seemingly unrelated order parameters, their nontrivial commutation relations with the nematic order parameter, which can be represented by a Berry-phase term in an effective field theory, intrinsically intertwine the different order parameters.« less

Computer Classifieds: Electronic Career Services Link Alumni with Employers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dessoff, Alan L.

1992-01-01

Electronic service companies are marketing electronic career services to college and university alumni associations. These electronic alternatives to traditional placement services offer schools a way to provide alumni with a desired service while increasing alumni association revenue. Typically, both applicants and companies pay a fee for a…

Discovery of Diffuse Hard X-ray Emission associated with Jupiter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ezoe, Y.; Miyoshi, Y.; Ishikawa, K.; Ohashi, T.; Terada, N.; Uchiyama, Y.; Negoro, H.

2009-12-01

Our discovery of diffuse hard (1-5 keV) X-ray emission around Jupiter is reported. Recent Chandra and XMM-Newton observations revealed several types of X-rays in the vicinity of Jupiter such as auroral and disk emission from Jupiter and faint diffuse X-rays from the Io Plasma Torus (see Bhardwaj et al. 2007 for review). To investigate possible diffuse hard X-ray emission around Jupiter with the highest sensitivity, we conducted data analysis of Suzaku XIS observations of Jupiter on Feb 2006. After removing satellite and planetary orbital motions, we detected a significant diffuse X-ray emission extending to ~6 x 3 arcmin with the 1-5 keV X-ray luminosity of ~3e15 erg/s. The emitting region very well coincided with the Jupiter's radiation belts. The 1-5 keV X-ray spectrum was represented by a simple power law model with a photon index of 1.4. Such a flat continuum strongly suggests non-thermal origin. Although such an emission can be originated from multiple background point sources, its possibility is quite low. We hence examined three mechanisms, assuming that the emission is truly diffuse: bremsstrahlung by keV electrons, synchrotron emission by TeV electrons, and inverse Compton scattering of solar photons by MeV electrons. The former two can be rejected because of the X-ray spectral shape and implausible existence of TeV electrons around Jupiter, respectively. The last possibility was found to be possible because tens MeV electrons, which have been confirmed in inner radiation belts (Bolton et al. 2002), can kick solar photons to the keV energy range and provide a simple power-law continuum. We estimated an average electron density from the X-ray luminosity assuming the oblate spheroid shaped emitting region with 8 x 8 x 4 Jovian radii. The necessary density was 0.02 1/cm3 for 50 MeV electrons. Hence, our results may suggest a new particle acceleration phenomenon around Jupiter.

Quasi-exospheric heat flux of solar-wind electrons

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eviatar, A.; Schultz, M.

1975-01-01

Density, bulk-velocity, and heat-flow moments are calculated for truncated Maxwellian distributions representing the cool and hot populations of solar-wind electrons, as realized at the base of a hypothetical exosphere. The electrostatic potential is thus calculated by requiring charge quasi-neutrality and the absence of electrical current. Plasma-kinetic coupling of the cool-electron and proton bulk velocities leads to an increase in the electrostatic potential and a decrease in the heat-flow moment.

Adequacy of damped dynamics to represent the electron-phonon interaction in solids

DOE PAGES

Caro, A.; Correa, A. A.; Tamm, A.; ...

2015-10-16

Time-dependent density functional theory and Ehrenfest dynamics are used to calculate the electronic excitations produced by a moving Ni ion in a Ni crystal in the case of energetic MeV range (electronic stopping power regime), as well as thermal energy meV range (electron-phonon interaction regime). Results at high energy compare well to experimental databases of stopping power, and at low energy the electron-phonon interaction strength determined in this way is very similar to the linear response calculation and experimental measurements. This approach to electron-phonon interaction as an electronic stopping process provides the basis for a unified framework to perform classicalmore » molecular dynamics of ion-solid interaction with ab initio type nonadiabatic terms in a wide range of energies.« less

Absolute Calibration of Image Plate for electrons at energy between 100 keV and 4 MeV

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

Chen, H; Back, N L; Eder, D C

2007-12-10

The authors measured the absolute response of image plate (Fuji BAS SR2040) for electrons at energies between 100 keV to 4 MeV using an electron spectrometer. The electron source was produced from a short pulse laser irradiated on the solid density targets. This paper presents the calibration results of image plate Photon Stimulated Luminescence PSL per electrons at this energy range. The Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNPX results are also presented for three representative incident angles onto the image plates and corresponding electron energies depositions at these angles. These provide a complete set of tools that allows extraction ofmore » the absolute calibration to other spectrometer setting at this electron energy range.« less

Graphene-Based Flexible and Stretchable Electronics.

PubMed

Jang, Houk; Park, Yong Ju; Chen, Xiang; Das, Tanmoy; Kim, Min-Seok; Ahn, Jong-Hyun

2016-06-01

Graphene provides outstanding properties that can be integrated into various flexible and stretchable electronic devices in a conventional, scalable fashion. The mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of graphene make it an attractive candidate for applications in electronics, energy-harvesting devices, sensors, and other systems. Recent research progress on graphene-based flexible and stretchable electronics is reviewed here. The production and fabrication methods used for target device applications are first briefly discussed. Then, the various types of flexible and stretchable electronic devices that are enabled by graphene are discussed, including logic devices, energy-harvesting devices, sensors, and bioinspired devices. The results represent important steps in the development of graphene-based electronics that could find applications in the area of flexible and stretchable electronics. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The Stair-Step Atom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jordan, Thomas M.; And Others

1992-01-01

Presents a model of a generic atom that is used to represent the movement of electrons from lower to higher levels and vice-versa due to excitation and de-excitation of the atom. As the process of de-excitation takes place, photons represented by colored ping-pong balls are emitted, indicating the emission of light. (MDH)

Meta-Transcriptomic Analysis of a Chromate-Reducing Aquifer Microbial Community

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beller, H. R.; Brodie, E. L.; Han, R.; Karaoz, U.

2010-12-01

A major challenge for microbial ecology that has become more tractable in the advent of new molecular techniques is characterizing gene expression in complex microbial communities. We are using meta-transcriptomic analysis to characterize functional changes in an aquifer-derived, chromate-reducing microbial community as it transitions through various electron-accepting conditions. We inoculated anaerobic microcosms with groundwater from the Cr-contaminated Hanford 100H site and supplemented them with lactate and electron acceptors present at the site, namely, nitrate, sulfate, and Fe(III). The microcosms progressed successively through various electron-accepting conditions (e.g., denitrifying, sulfate-reducing, and ferric iron-reducing conditions, as well as nitrate-dependent, chemolithotrophic Fe(II)-oxidizing conditions). Cr(VI) was rapidly reduced initially and again upon further Cr(VI) amendments. Extensive geochemical sampling and analysis (e.g., lactate, acetate, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, dissolved Cr(VI), total Fe(II)), RNA/DNA harvesting, and PhyloChip analyses were conducted. Methods were developed for removal of rRNA from total RNA in preparation for meta-transcriptome sequencing. To date, samples representing denitrifying and fermentative/sulfate-reducing conditions have been sequenced using 454 Titanium technology. Of the non-rRNA related reads for the denitrifying sample (which was also actively reducing chromate), ca. 8% were associated with denitrification and ca. 0.9% were associated with chromate resistance/transport, in contrast to the fermentative/sulfate-reducing sample (in which chromate had already been reduced), which had zero reads associated with either of these categories but many predicted proteins associated with sulfate-reducing bacteria. We observed sequences for key functional transcripts that were unique at the nucleotide level compared to the GenBank non-redundant database [such as L-lactate dehydrogenase (iron-sulfur-cluster-binding subunit), cytochrome cd1 nitrite reductase (nirS) (from the denitrifying phase), and dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrA, dsrB) (from the sulfate-reducing phase)]. One potential advantage of this approach is that such important genes may not have been detected using more traditional techniques, including PCR-based methods and a priori functional microarrays.

Over-voltage protection system and method

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

Chi, Song; Dong, Dong; Lai, Rixin

An over-voltage protection system includes an electronic valve connected across two terminals of a circuit and an over-voltage detection circuit connected across one of the plurality of semiconductor devices for detecting an over-voltage across the circuit. The electronic valve includes a plurality of semiconductor devices connected in series. The over-voltage detection circuit includes a voltage divider circuit connected to a break-over diode in a way to provide a representative low voltage to the break-over diode and an optocoupler configured to receive a current from the break-over diode when the representative low voltage exceeds a threshold voltage of the break-over diodemore » indicating an over-voltage condition. The representative low voltage provided to the break-over diode represents a voltage across the one semiconductor device. A plurality of self-powered gate drive circuits are connected to the plurality of semiconductor devices, wherein the plurality of self-powered gate drive circuits receive over-voltage triggering pulses from the optocoupler during the over-voltage condition and switch on the plurality of semiconductor devices to bypass the circuit.« less

Sketched Oxide Single-Electron Transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Guanglei

2012-02-01

Devices that confine and process single electrons represent an important scaling limit of electronics. Such devices have been realized in a variety of materials and exhibit remarkable electronic, optical and spintronic properties. Here, we use an atomic force microscope tip to reversibly ``sketch'' single-electron transistors by controlling a metal-insulator transition at the interface of two oxides.ootnotetextCheng et al., Nature Nanotechnology 6, 343 (2011). In these devices, single electrons tunnel resonantly between source and drain electrodes through a conducting oxide island with a diameter of ˜1.5 nm. We demonstrate control over the number of electrons on the island using bottom- and side-gate electrodes, and observe hysteresis in electron occupation that is attributed to ferroelectricity within the oxide heterostructure. These single-electron devices may find use as ultradense non-volatile memories, nanoscale hybrid piezoelectric and charge sensors, as well as building blocks in quantum information processing and simulation platforms.

Ultrafast dynamics of low-energy electron attachment via a non-valence correlation-bound state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rogers, Joshua P.; Anstöter, Cate S.; Verlet, Jan R. R.

2018-03-01

The primary electron-attachment process in electron-driven chemistry represents one of the most fundamental chemical transformations with wide-ranging importance in science and technology. However, the mechanistic detail of the seemingly simple reaction of an electron and a neutral molecule to form an anion remains poorly understood, particularly at very low electron energies. Here, time-resolved photoelectron imaging was used to probe the electron-attachment process to a non-polar molecule using time-resolved methods. An initially populated diffuse non-valence state of the anion that is bound by correlation forces evolves coherently in ∼30 fs into a valence state of the anion. The extreme efficiency with which the correlation-bound state serves as a doorway state for low-energy electron attachment explains a number of electron-driven processes, such as anion formation in the interstellar medium and electron attachment to fullerenes.

Role of Outer Membrane C-Type Cytochromes MtrC and OmcA in Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 Cell Production, Accumulation, and Detachment During Respiration on Hematite

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

Mitchell, Andrew C.; Peterson, L.; Reardon, Catherine L.

2012-07-01

Solid phase iron oxides are considered to be important terminal electron acceptors for microbial respiration in many anoxic environments. Besides the knowledge that cells attach to and reduce these substrates, other aspects of surface-associated cell behavior and the related cell surface components that influence cell-mineral interactions are not well understood. In the present study, wild-type cells of the dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 formed thin biofilms one-to-two cell layers in thickness when respiring on natural specular hematite under flow conditions similar to those which exist in aquatic sediments and subsurface environments. The distribution of cells within the biofilm indicatedmore » that direct contact was not required for electron transfer from cells to the mineral surface. Detached biomass in the form of single cells represented >99% of the surface-associated wild-type cell production from respiration on hematite over the biofilm life cycle. A mutant deficient in the outer membrane c35 type cytochrome OmcA, while still able to respire and replicate on hematite, established a lower steady-state cell density on the mineral surface than that of the wild-type strain. A mutant deficient in MtrC, another outer membrane c-type cytochrome, and a mutant deficient in both cytochromes were unable to reduce sufficient amounts of hematite to support detectable growth on the mineral surface. When considered in the context of previous work, the results support a growing body of evidence that the relative importance of OmcA and MtrC to cell respiration and replication depends on the form of iron oxide available as terminal electron acceptor.« less

Use of Immunization Information Systems in Primary Care.

PubMed

Kempe, Allison; Hurley, Laura P; Cardemil, Cristina V; Allison, Mandy A; Crane, Lori A; Brtnikova, Michaela; Beaty, Brenda L; Pabst, Laura J; Lindley, Megan C

2017-02-01

Immunization information systems (IISs) are highly effective for increasing vaccination rates but information about how primary care physicians use them is limited. Pediatricians, family physicians (FPs), and general internists (GIMs) were surveyed by e-mail and mail from January 2015 to April 2015 from all states with an existing IIS. Providers were recruited to be representative of national provider organization memberships. Multivariable log binomial regression examined factors associated with IIS use (October 2015-April 2016). Response rates among pediatricians, FPs, and GIMs, respectively, were 75% (325/435), 68% (310/459), and 63% (272/431). A proportion of pediatricians (5%), FPs (14%), and GIMs (48%) did not know there was a state/local IIS; 81%, 72%, and 27% reported using an IIS (p<0.0001). Among those who used IISs, 64% of pediatricians, 61% of FPs, and 22% of GIMs thought the IIS could tell them a patient's immunization needs; 22%, 29%, and 51% did not know. The most frequently reported major barriers to use included the IIS not updating the electronic medical record (29%, 28%, 35%) and lack of ability to submit data electronically (22%, 27%, 31%). Factors associated with lower IIS use included FP (adjusted risk ratio=0.85; 95% CI=0.75, 0.97) or GIM (adjusted risk ratio=0.33; 95% CI=0.25, 0.42) versus pediatric specialty and older versus younger provider age (adjusted risk ratio=0.96; 95 CI%=0.94, 0.98). There are substantial gaps in knowledge of IIS capabilities, especially among GIMs; barriers to interoperability between IISs and electronic medical records affect all specialties. Closing these gaps may increase use of proven IIS functions including decision support and reminder/recall. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Li 3Mo 4P 5O 24: A two-electron cathode for lithium-ion batteries with three-dimensional diffusion pathways

DOE PAGES

Wen, Bohua; Khalifah, Peter G.; Liu, Jue; ...

2016-04-12

The structure of the novel compound Li 3Mo 4P 5O 24 has been solved from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The Mo cations in Li 3Mo 4P 5O 24 are present in four distinct types of MoO 6 octahedra, each of which has one open vertex at the corner participating in a Mo=O double bond and whose other five corners are shared with PO 4 tetrahedra. On the basis of a bond valence sum difference map (BVS-DM) analysis, this framework is predicted to support the facile diffusion of Li + ions, a hypothesis that is confirmed by electrochemical testing data,more » which show that Li 3Mo 4P 5O 24 can be utilized as a rechargeable battery cathode material. It is found that Li can both be removed from and inserted into Li 3Mo 4P 5O 24. The involvement of multiple redox processes occurring at the same Mo site is reflected in electrochemical plateaus around 3.8 V associated with the Mo 6+/Mo 5+ redox couple and 2.2 V associated with the Mo 5+/Mo 4+ redox couple. The two-electron redox properties of Mo cations in this structure lead to a theoretical capacity of 198 mAh/g. When cycled between 2.0 and 4.3 V versus Li +/Li, an initial capacity of 113 mAh/g is observed with 80% of this capacity retained over the first 20 cycles. Lastly, this compound therefore represents a rare example of a solid state cathode able to support two-electron redox capacity and provides important general insights about pathways for designing next-generation cathodes with enhanced specific capacities.« less

Media exposure and tobacco product addiction beliefs: Findings from the 2015 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-FDA 2015).

PubMed

Donaldson, Elisabeth A; Hoffman, Allison C; Zandberg, Izabella; Blake, Kelly D

2017-09-01

Addiction beliefs about tobacco use are associated with intentions to use and use of tobacco products. Exposure to information about tobacco products in media sources may affect addiction beliefs. To examine the relationship between media exposure and tobacco product addiction beliefs. A nationally representative sample of US adults (n=3738) from the 2015 National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey was used to examine addiction beliefs about cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, hookah/waterpipe tobacco, and roll-your-own cigarettes. We used logistic regression to examine the relationship between media exposure and addiction beliefs. We defined media exposure by hours exposed, as well as exposure to tobacco use health effects information through media sources including social media. We categorized media sources by whether respondents actively or passively engaged with the source. A majority (60.6% to 87.3%) of respondents believed that cigarettes, cigars, roll-your-own cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are addictive. Less than half of respondents believed that electronic cigarettes or hookah/waterpipes are addictive (45.2% and 49.8%, respectively). Respondents exposed to messages about tobacco use health effects on active media channels (e.g., social media) had greater odds of believing that smokeless tobacco (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.48), hookah/waterpipe (AOR=1.69), and roll-your-own cigarettes (AOR=1.61) are addictive. Respondents exposed to tobacco use health effects messages on passive media channels (e.g., television), had greater odds of believing that cigarettes (AOR=2.76) and electronic cigarettes (AOR=2.12) are addictive. US adult exposure to information about the health effects of tobacco use was associated with addiction beliefs about tobacco products. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Physical activity and coronary artery calcification in two cohorts of women representing early and late postmenopause.

PubMed

Storti, Kristi L; Pettee Gabriel, Kelley K; Underwood, Darcy A; Kuller, Lewis H; Kriska, Andrea M

2010-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical activity (PA) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) among two cohorts of postmenopausal (PM) women representing early and late postmenopause. The cross-sectional relationship between PA and CAC was examined in 173 younger PM women (mean age ± SD, 56.8 ± 2.9 y) from the Women on the Move Through Activity and Nutrition (WOMAN) study and 121 older PM women (mean age ± SD, 73.9 ± 3.8 y) from the Walking Women Follow-up (WWF) study who had complete PA and CAC data. PA was measured objectively using a pedometer over a 7-day period in both cohorts. CAC was assessed using electron beam tomography. Descriptive statistics were used to describe median levels of PA and CAC, as well as proportions of detectable CAC (0 vs > 0). Fifty-seven percent of WOMAN study participants and 74% of WWF study participants had detectable CAC. The median (interquartile range) CAC score was 1.4 (0-23.3) for participants in the WOMAN study and 38.8 (0-264.4) among WWF study participants. Median (interquartile range) step counts were 6,447 (4,823-8,722) steps per day in the WOMAN study and 5,466 (3,610-7,576) steps per day for WWF study participants. Among WWF study participants, there was a statistically significant inverse association between pedometer steps and CAC (P for trend = 0.002); no association was found among WOMAN study participants. Among older PM women, higher levels of PA were associated with lower CAC. However, the relationship was not observed in PM women, likely due to the lower prevalence of CAC in this age group.

Factors associated with physicians' reliance on pharmaceutical sales representatives.

PubMed

Anderson, Britta L; Silverman, Gabriel K; Loewenstein, George F; Zinberg, Stanley; Schulkin, Jay

2009-08-01

To examine relationships between pharmaceutical representatives and obstetrician-gynecologists and identify factors associated with self-reported reliance on representatives when making prescribing decisions. In 2006-2007, questionnaires were mailed to 515 randomly selected physicians in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Collaborative Ambulatory Research Network. Participants were asked about the information sources used when deciding to prescribe a new drug, interactions with sales representatives, views of representatives' value, and guidelines they had read on appropriate industry interactions. Two hundred fifty-one completed questionnaires (49%) were returned. Seventy-six percent of participants see sales representatives' information as at least somewhat valuable. Twenty-nine percent use representatives often or almost always when deciding whether to prescribe a new drug; 44% use them sometimes. Physicians in private practice are more likely than those in university hospitals to interact with, value, and rely on representatives; community hospital physicians tend to fall in the middle. Gender and age are not associated with industry interaction. Dispensing samples is associated with increased reliance on representatives when making prescribing decisions, beyond what is predicted by a physician's own beliefs about the value of representatives' information. Reading guidelines on physician-industry interaction is not associated with less reliance on representatives after controlling for practice setting. Physicians' interactions with industry and their familiarity with guidelines vary by practice setting, perhaps because of more restrictive policies in university settings, professional isolation of private practice, or differences in social norms. Prescribing samples may be associated with physicians' use of information from sales representatives more than is merited by the physicians' own beliefs about the value of pharmaceutical representatives.

Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems among Adults with Mental Health Conditions, 2015

PubMed Central

Spears, Claire Adams; Jones, Dina M.; Weaver, Scott R.; Pechacek, Terry F.; Eriksen, Michael P.

2016-01-01

Adults with mental health conditions (MHC) are especially likely to smoke and experience tobacco-related health disparities. Individuals with MHC may also use electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) at disproportionately high rates. However, there is a relative dearth of knowledge regarding ENDS use among individuals with MHC. In a large representative sample of U.S. adults (n = 6051), associations between self-reported MHC diagnoses and ENDS use and susceptibility were examined, stratified by smoking status. Participants with MHC were approximately 1.5 times more likely to have used ENDS in their lifetime and almost twice as likely to currently use ENDS as those without MHC. MHC status was most strongly linked to higher ENDS use among former smokers, and former smokers with MHC were more likely to report using ENDS during past smoking quit attempts than those without MHC. Among participants who had not tried ENDS, former smokers with MHC were especially susceptible to future ENDS use. The potential advantage of ENDS for cessation purposes should be balanced with the risk of attracting former smokers with MHC to ENDS. PMID:28025560

Photoreduction of Shewanella oneidensis Extracellular Cytochromes by Organic Chromophores and Dye‐Sensitized TiO2

PubMed Central

Ainsworth, Emma V.; Lockwood, Colin W. J.; White, Gaye F.; Hwang, Ee Taek; Sakai, Tsubasa; Gross, Manuela A.; Richardson, David J.; Clarke, Thomas A.

2016-01-01

Abstract The transfer of photoenergized electrons from extracellular photosensitizers across a bacterial cell envelope to drive intracellular chemical transformations represents an attractive way to harness nature's catalytic machinery for solar‐assisted chemical synthesis. In Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 (MR‐1), trans‐outer‐membrane electron transfer is performed by the extracellular cytochromes MtrC and OmcA acting together with the outer‐membrane‐spanning porin⋅cytochrome complex (MtrAB). Here we demonstrate photoreduction of solutions of MtrC, OmcA, and the MtrCAB complex by soluble photosensitizers: namely, eosin Y, fluorescein, proflavine, flavin, and adenine dinucleotide, as well as by riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide, two compounds secreted by MR‐1. We show photoreduction of MtrC and OmcA adsorbed on RuII‐dye‐sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles and that these protein‐coated particles perform photocatalytic reduction of solutions of MtrC, OmcA, and MtrCAB. These findings provide a framework for informed development of strategies for using the outer‐membrane‐associated cytochromes of MR‐1 for solar‐driven microbial synthesis in natural and engineered bacteria. PMID:27685371

Rippling ultrafast dynamics of suspended 2D monolayers, graphene

PubMed Central

Hu, Jianbo; Vanacore, Giovanni M.; Cepellotti, Andrea; Marzari, Nicola; Zewail, Ahmed H.

2016-01-01

Here, using ultrafast electron crystallography (UEC), we report the observation of rippling dynamics in suspended monolayer graphene, the prototypical and most-studied 2D material. The high scattering cross-section for electron/matter interaction, the atomic-scale spatial resolution, and the ultrafast temporal resolution of UEC represent the key elements that make this technique a unique tool for the dynamic investigation of 2D materials, and nanostructures in general. We find that, at early time after the ultrafast optical excitation, graphene undergoes a lattice expansion on a time scale of 5 ps, which is due to the excitation of short-wavelength in-plane acoustic phonon modes that stretch the graphene plane. On a longer time scale, a slower thermal contraction with a time constant of 50 ps is observed and associated with the excitation of out-of-plane phonon modes, which drive the lattice toward thermal equilibrium with the well-known negative thermal expansion coefficient of graphene. From our results and first-principles lattice dynamics and out-of-equilibrium relaxation calculations, we quantitatively elucidate the deformation dynamics of the graphene unit cell. PMID:27791028

Rippling ultrafast dynamics of suspended 2D monolayers, graphene.

PubMed

Hu, Jianbo; Vanacore, Giovanni M; Cepellotti, Andrea; Marzari, Nicola; Zewail, Ahmed H

2016-10-25

Here, using ultrafast electron crystallography (UEC), we report the observation of rippling dynamics in suspended monolayer graphene, the prototypical and most-studied 2D material. The high scattering cross-section for electron/matter interaction, the atomic-scale spatial resolution, and the ultrafast temporal resolution of UEC represent the key elements that make this technique a unique tool for the dynamic investigation of 2D materials, and nanostructures in general. We find that, at early time after the ultrafast optical excitation, graphene undergoes a lattice expansion on a time scale of 5 ps, which is due to the excitation of short-wavelength in-plane acoustic phonon modes that stretch the graphene plane. On a longer time scale, a slower thermal contraction with a time constant of 50 ps is observed and associated with the excitation of out-of-plane phonon modes, which drive the lattice toward thermal equilibrium with the well-known negative thermal expansion coefficient of graphene. From our results and first-principles lattice dynamics and out-of-equilibrium relaxation calculations, we quantitatively elucidate the deformation dynamics of the graphene unit cell.

Structural, microstructural and vibrational analyses of the monoclinic tungstate BiLuWO6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ait Ahsaine, H.; Taoufyq, A.; Patout, L.; Ezahri, M.; Benlhachemi, A.; Bakiz, B.; Villain, S.; Guinneton, F.; Gavarri, J.-R.

2014-10-01

The bismuth lutetium tungstate phase BiLuWO6 has been prepared using a solid state route with stoichiometric mixtures of oxide precursors. The obtained polycrystalline phase has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy. In the first step, the crystal structure has been refined using Rietveld method: the crystal cell was resolved using monoclinic system (parameters a, b, c, β) with space group A2/m. SEM images showed the presence of large crystallites with a constant local nominal composition (BiLuW). TEM analyses showed that the actual local structure could be better represented by a superlattice (a, 2b, c, β) associated with space groups P2 or P2/m. The Raman spectroscopy showed the presence of vibrational bands similar to those observed in the compounds BiREWO6 with RE=Y, Gd, Nd. However, these vibrational bands were characterized by large full width at half maximum, probably resulting from the long range Bi/Lu disorder and local WO6 octahedron distortions in the structure.

Linking exposures and health outcomes to a large population-based longitudinal study: the Millennium Cohort Study.

PubMed

Smith, Tyler C

2011-07-01

To describe current efforts and future potential for understanding long-term health of military service members by linking the Millennium Cohort Study data to exposures and health outcomes. The Millennium Cohort Study launched in 2001, before September 11 and the start of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Other substantial Department of Defense (DoD) health, personnel, and exposure databases are maintained in electronic form and may be linked by personal identifiers. More than 150,000 consenting members comprise the Millennium Cohort from all services, and include active duty, Reserve, and National Guard current and past members, and represent demographic, occupational, military, and health characteristics of the U.S. military. These prospective data offer symptom assessment, behavioral health, and self-reported exposures that may complement and fill gaps in capability presented by other DoD electronic health and exposure data. In conjunction with Millennium Cohort survey data, prospective individual-level exposure and health outcome assessment is crucial to understand and quantify any long-term health outcomes potentially associated with unique military occupational exposures.

Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems among Adults with Mental Health Conditions, 2015.

PubMed

Spears, Claire Adams; Jones, Dina M; Weaver, Scott R; Pechacek, Terry F; Eriksen, Michael P

2016-12-23

Adults with mental health conditions (MHC) are especially likely to smoke and experience tobacco-related health disparities. Individuals with MHC may also use electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) at disproportionately high rates. However, there is a relative dearth of knowledge regarding ENDS use among individuals with MHC. In a large representative sample of U.S. adults ( n = 6051), associations between self-reported MHC diagnoses and ENDS use and susceptibility were examined, stratified by smoking status. Participants with MHC were approximately 1.5 times more likely to have used ENDS in their lifetime and almost twice as likely to currently use ENDS as those without MHC. MHC status was most strongly linked to higher ENDS use among former smokers, and former smokers with MHC were more likely to report using ENDS during past smoking quit attempts than those without MHC. Among participants who had not tried ENDS, former smokers with MHC were especially susceptible to future ENDS use. The potential advantage of ENDS for cessation purposes should be balanced with the risk of attracting former smokers with MHC to ENDS.

Histopathologic changes in punctal stenosis.

PubMed

Port, Alexander D; Chen, Yao-Tseng; Lelli, Gary J

2013-01-01

To describe the pathologic changes in punctal stenosis by reporting the histopathologic findings in a series of punctoplasty specimens. Observational retrospective chart review. Electronic health records of all patients having punctoplasty over a 2-year period at an academic oculoplastic practice were examined. All patients whose records included pathology reports were entered into a database. Twenty-four patients, representing 30 eyes, had pathology records in the electronic health records. Patients were 75% women and had an average age of 65 (19-88) years. Associated conditions included blepharitis (71%), dry eye syndrome, or Meibomian gland dysfunction (63%). Histopathologic examination demonstrated chronic inflammation in 11 eyes (36.7%), fibrosis in 7 eyes (23.3%), chronic inflammation and fibrosis in 4 eyes (13.3%), squamous metaplasia in 3 eyes (10%), normal conjunctival mucosa in 3 eyes (10%), and Actinomyces israelii canaliculitis in 2 eyes (6.7%). Nearly all histopathologic specimens revealed findings consistent with inflammation, fibrosis, or both. These findings provide evidence to support the hypothesis that the many etiologic causes of punctal stenosis are linked by a common pathophysiologic mechanism involving inflammation.

Association of intracellular and synaptic organization in cochlear inner hair cells revealed by 3D electron microscopy.

PubMed

Bullen, Anwen; West, Timothy; Moores, Carolyn; Ashmore, Jonathan; Fleck, Roland A; MacLellan-Gibson, Kirsty; Forge, Andrew

2015-07-15

The ways in which cell architecture is modelled to meet cell function is a poorly understood facet of cell biology. To address this question, we have studied the cytoarchitecture of a cell with highly specialised organisation, the cochlear inner hair cell (IHC), using multiple hierarchies of three-dimensional (3D) electron microscopy analyses. We show that synaptic terminal distribution on the IHC surface correlates with cell shape, and the distribution of a highly organised network of membranes and mitochondria encompassing the infranuclear region of the cell. This network is juxtaposed to a population of small vesicles, which represents a potential new source of neurotransmitter vesicles for replenishment of the synapses. Structural linkages between organelles that underlie this organisation were identified by high-resolution imaging. Taken together, these results describe a cell-encompassing network of membranes and mitochondria present in IHCs that support efficient coding and transmission of auditory signals. Such techniques also have the potential for clarifying functionally specialised cytoarchitecture of other cell types. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Butyrate-Induced Transcriptional Changes in Human Colonic Mucosa

PubMed Central

Vanhoutvin, Steven A. L. W.; Troost, Freddy J.; Hamer, Henrike M.; Lindsey, Patrick J.; Koek, Ger H.; Jonkers, Daisy M. A. E.; Kodde, Andrea; Venema, Koen; Brummer, Robert J. M.

2009-01-01

Background Fermentation of dietary fiber in the colon results in the production of short chain fatty acids (mainly propionate, butyrate and acetate). Butyrate modulates a wide range of processes, but its mechanism of action is mostly unknown. This study aimed to determine the effects of butyrate on the transcriptional regulation of human colonic mucosa in vivo. Methodology/Principal Findings Five hundred genes were found to be differentially expressed after a two week daily butyrate administration with enemas. Pathway analysis showed that the butyrate intervention mainly resulted in an increased transcriptional regulation of the pathways representing fatty acid oxidation, electron transport chain and oxidative stress. In addition, several genes associated with epithelial integrity and apoptosis, were found to be differentially expressed after the butyrate intervention. Conclusions/Significance Colonic administration of butyrate in concentrations that can be achieved by consumption of a high-fiber diet enhances the maintenance of colonic homeostasis in healthy subjects, by regulating fatty acid metabolism, electron transport and oxidative stress pathways on the transcriptional level and provide for the first time, detailed molecular insight in the transcriptional response of gut mucosa to butyrate. PMID:19707587

Soft bio-integrated systems for continuous health monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raj, M.; Wei, P. H.; Morey, B.; Wang, X.; Keen, B.; DePetrillo, P.; Hsu, Y. Y.; Ghaffari, R.

2014-06-01

Electronically-enabled wearable systems that monitor physiological activity and electrophysiological activity hold the key to truly personalized medical care outside of the hospital setting. However, fundamental technical challenges exist in achieving medical systems that are comfortable, unobtrusive and fully integrated without external connections to bench top instruments. In particular, there is a fundamental mismatch in mechanical coupling between existing classes of rigid electronics and soft biological substrates, like the skin. Here we describe new mechanical and electrical design strategies for wearable devices with mechanical properties that approach that of biological tissue. These systems exploit stretchable networks of conformal sensors (i.e. electrodes, temperature sensors, and accelerometers) and associated circuitry (i.e. microcontroller, memory, voltage regulators, rechargeable battery, wireless communication modules) embedded in ultrathin, elastomeric substrates. Quantitative analyses of sensor performance and mechanics under tensile and torsional stresses illustrate the ability to mechanically couple with soft tissues in a way that is mechanically invisible to the user. Representative examples of these soft biointegrated systems can be applied for continuous sensing of muscle and movement activity in the home and ambulatory settings.

Energetics of small electron acceleration episodes in the solar corona from radio noise storm observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

James, Tomin; Subramanian, Prasad

2018-05-01

Observations of radio noise storms can act as sensitive probes of nonthermal electrons produced in small acceleration events in the solar corona. We use data from noise storm episodes observed jointly by the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) and the Nancay Radioheliograph (NRH) to study characteristics of the nonthermal electrons involved in the emission. We find that the electrons carry 1021 to 1024 erg/s, and that the energy contained in the electrons producing a representative noise storm burst ranges from 1020 to 1023 ergs. These results are a direct probe of the energetics involved in ubiquitous, small-scale electron acceleration episodes in the corona, and could be relevant to a nanoflare-like scenario for coronal heating.

Experimental Analysis of Pseudospark Sourced Electron Beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Niraj; Pal, U. N.; Verma, D. K.; Prajapati, J.; Kumar, M.; Meena, B. L.; Tyagi, M. S.; Srivastava, V.

2011-12-01

The pseudospark (PS) discharge has been shown to be a promising source of high brightness, high intensity electron beam pulses. The PS discharge sourced electron beam has potential applications in plasma filled microwave sources where normal material cathode cannot be used. Analysis of the electron beam profile has been done experimentally for different applied voltages. The investigation has been carried out at different axial and radial location inside the drift space in argon atmosphere. This paper represents experimentally found axial and radial variation of the beam current inside the drift tube of PS discharge based plasma cathode electron (PCE) gun. With the help of current density estimation the focusing and defocusing point of electron beam in axial direction can be analyzed.

Electron impact action spectroscopy of mass/charge selected macromolecular ions: Inner-shell excitation of ubiquitin protein

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranković, Miloš Lj.; Giuliani, Alexandre; Milosavljević, Aleksandar R.

2016-02-01

We have performed inner-shell electron impact action spectroscopy of mass and charge selected macromolecular ions. For this purpose, we have coupled a focusing electron gun with a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. This experiment represents a proof of principle that an energy-tunable electron beam can be used in combination with radio frequency traps as an activation method in tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) and allows performing action spectroscopy. Electron impact MS2 spectra of multiply protonated ubiquitin protein ion have been recorded at incident electron energies around the carbon 1 s excitation. Both MS2 and single ionization energy dependence spectra are compared with literature data obtained using the soft X-ray activation conditions.

Curvilinear electronics formed using silicon membrane circuits and elastomeric transfer elements.

PubMed

Ko, Heung Cho; Shin, Gunchul; Wang, Shuodao; Stoykovich, Mark P; Lee, Jeong Won; Kim, Dong-Hun; Ha, Jeong Sook; Huang, Yonggang; Hwang, Keh-Chih; Rogers, John A

2009-12-01

Materials and methods to achieve electronics intimately integrated on the surfaces of substrates with complex, curvilinear shapes are described. The approach exploits silicon membranes in circuit mesh structures that can be deformed in controlled ways using thin, elastomeric films. Experimental and theoretical studies of the micromechanics of such curvilinear electronics demonstrate the underlying concepts. Electrical measurements illustrate the high yields that can be obtained. The results represent significant experimental and theoretical advances over recently reported concepts for creating hemispherical photodetectors in electronic eye cameras and for using printable silicon nanoribbons/membranes in flexible electronics. The results might provide practical routes to the integration of high performance electronics with biological tissues and other systems of interest for new applications.

Educating international students about tuberculosis and infections associated with travel to visit friends and relatives (VFR-travel).

PubMed

Gibney, Katherine B; Brass, Amanda; Hume, Sam C; Leder, Karin

2014-01-01

International students in Victoria, Australia, originate from over 140 different countries. They are over-represented in disease notifications for tuberculosis and travel-associated infections, including enteric fever, hepatitis A, and malaria. We describe a public health initiative aimed to increase awareness of these illnesses among international students and their support staff. We identified key agencies including student support advisors, medical practitioners, health insurers, and government and professional organisations. We developed health education materials targeting international students regarding tuberculosis and travel-related infections to be disseminated via a number of different media, including electronic and printed materials. We sought informal feedback from personnel in all interested agencies regarding the materials developed, their willingness to deliver these materials to international students, and their preferred media for disseminating these materials. Education institutions with dedicated international student support staff and on-campus health clinics were more easily engaged to provide feedback and disseminate the health education materials than institutions without such dedicated personnel. Response to contacting off-campus medical practices was poor. Delivery of educational materials via electronic and social media was preferred over face-to-face education. It is feasible to provide health education messages targeting international students for dissemination via appropriately-staffed educational institutions. This initiative could be expanded in terms of age-group, geographic range, and health issues to be targeted. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The impact of interoperability of electronic health records on ambulatory physician practices: a discrete-event simulation study.

PubMed

Zhou, Yuan; Ancker, Jessica S; Upadhye, Mandar; McGeorge, Nicolette M; Guarrera, Theresa K; Hegde, Sudeep; Crane, Peter W; Fairbanks, Rollin J; Bisantz, Ann M; Kaushal, Rainu; Lin, Li

2013-01-01

The effect of health information technology (HIT) on efficiency and workload among clinical and nonclinical staff has been debated, with conflicting evidence about whether electronic health records (EHRs) increase or decrease effort. None of this paper to date, however, examines the effect of interoperability quantitatively using discrete event simulation techniques. To estimate the impact of EHR systems with various levels of interoperability on day-to-day tasks and operations of ambulatory physician offices. Interviews and observations were used to collect workflow data from 12 adult primary and specialty practices. A discrete event simulation model was constructed to represent patient flows and clinical and administrative tasks of physicians and staff members. High levels of EHR interoperability were associated with reduced time spent by providers on four tasks: preparing lab reports, requesting lab orders, prescribing medications, and writing referrals. The implementation of an EHR was associated with less time spent by administrators but more time spent by physicians, compared with time spent at paper-based practices. In addition, the presence of EHRs and of interoperability did not significantly affect the time usage of registered nurses or the total visit time and waiting time of patients. This paper suggests that the impact of using HIT on clinical and nonclinical staff work efficiency varies, however, overall it appears to improve time efficiency more for administrators than for physicians and nurses.

Benefits and drawbacks of electronic health record systems

PubMed Central

Menachemi, Nir; Collum, Taleah H

2011-01-01

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 that was signed into law as part of the “stimulus package” represents the largest US initiative to date that is designed to encourage widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs). In light of the changes anticipated from this policy initiative, the purpose of this paper is to review and summarize the literature on the benefits and drawbacks of EHR systems. Much of the literature has focused on key EHR functionalities, including clinical decision support systems, computerized order entry systems, and health information exchange. Our paper describes the potential benefits of EHRs that include clinical outcomes (eg, improved quality, reduced medical errors), organizational outcomes (eg, financial and operational benefits), and societal outcomes (eg, improved ability to conduct research, improved population health, reduced costs). Despite these benefits, studies in the literature highlight drawbacks associated with EHRs, which include the high upfront acquisition costs, ongoing maintenance costs, and disruptions to workflows that contribute to temporary losses in productivity that are the result of learning a new system. Moreover, EHRs are associated with potential perceived privacy concerns among patients, which are further addressed legislatively in the HITECH Act. Overall, experts and policymakers believe that significant benefits to patients and society can be realized when EHRs are widely adopted and used in a “meaningful” way. PMID:22312227

Water-Gas Shift and Methane Reactivity on Reducible Perovskite-Type Oxides

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Comparative (electro)catalytic, structural, and spectroscopic studies in hydrogen electro-oxidation, the (inverse) water-gas shift reaction, and methane conversion on two representative mixed ionic–electronic conducting perovskite-type materials La0.6Sr0.4FeO3−δ (LSF) and SrTi0.7Fe0.3O3−δ (STF) were performed with the aim of eventually correlating (electro)catalytic activity and associated structural changes and to highlight intrinsic reactivity characteristics as a function of the reduction state. Starting from a strongly prereduced (vacancy-rich) initial state, only (inverse) water-gas shift activity has been observed on both materials beyond ca. 450 °C but no catalytic methane reforming or methane decomposition reactivity up to 600 °C. In contrast, when starting from the fully oxidized state, total methane oxidation to CO2 was observed on both materials. The catalytic performance of both perovskite-type oxides is thus strongly dependent on the degree/depth of reduction, on the associated reactivity of the remaining lattice oxygen, and on the reduction-induced oxygen vacancies. The latter are clearly more reactive toward water on LSF, and this higher reactivity is linked to the superior electrocatalytic performance of LSF in hydrogen oxidation. Combined electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman measurements in turn also revealed altered surface and bulk structures and reactivities. PMID:26045733

Does Preschool Physical Activity and Electronic Media Use Predict Later Social and Emotional Skills at 6 to 8 Years? A Cohort Study.

PubMed

Hinkley, Trina; Timperio, Anna; Salmon, Jo; Hesketh, Kylie

2017-04-01

Little is known about the associations of preschoolers' health behaviors with their later psychosocial wellbeing. This study investigates the association of 3- to 5-year-old children's physical activity and electronic media use with their later social-emotional skills (6-8 years). Data were collected in 2008-2009 and 2011-2012 for the Healthy Active Preschool and Primary Years (HAPPY) Study in metropolitan Melbourne. Participants were a random subsample (n = 108) of the 567 children at follow-up. Physical activity was objectively measured using ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers; electronic media use (television viewing, sedentary electronic games and active electronic games) was parent proxy-reported. Social and emotional skills were child-reported using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory-Youth Version. Regression analyses controlled for sex, clustering by center of recruitment, and accelerometer wear time (for physical activity analyses). Sedentary electronic games were positively associated with intrapersonal and stress management skills and total emotional quotient. Computer/internet use was inversely associated with interpersonal, and positively associated with stress management, skills. Findings suggest that physical activity is not associated with children's psychosocial health while some types of electronic media use are. Future research should investigate the contexts in which preschoolers participate in these behaviors and potential causal mechanisms of associations.

Importance of correlation effects in hcp iron revealed by a pressure-induced electronic topological transition.

PubMed

Glazyrin, K; Pourovskii, L V; Dubrovinsky, L; Narygina, O; McCammon, C; Hewener, B; Schünemann, V; Wolny, J; Muffler, K; Chumakov, A I; Crichton, W; Hanfland, M; Prakapenka, V B; Tasnádi, F; Ekholm, M; Aichhorn, M; Vildosola, V; Ruban, A V; Katsnelson, M I; Abrikosov, I A

2013-03-15

We discover that hcp phases of Fe and Fe(0.9)Ni(0.1) undergo an electronic topological transition at pressures of about 40 GPa. This topological change of the Fermi surface manifests itself through anomalous behavior of the Debye sound velocity, c/a lattice parameter ratio, and Mössbauer center shift observed in our experiments. First-principles simulations within the dynamic mean field approach demonstrate that the transition is induced by many-electron effects. It is absent in one-electron calculations and represents a clear signature of correlation effects in hcp Fe.

Electronic prototyping

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hopcroft, J.

1987-01-01

The potential benefits of automation in space are significant. The science base needed to support this automation not only will help control costs and reduce lead-time in the earth-based design and construction of space stations, but also will advance the nation's capability for computer design, simulation, testing, and debugging of sophisticated objects electronically. Progress in automation will require the ability to electronically represent, reason about, and manipulate objects. Discussed here is the development of representations, languages, editors, and model-driven simulation systems to support electronic prototyping. In particular, it identifies areas where basic research is needed before further progress can be made.

The Vector Electric Field Instrument on the C/NOFS Satellite

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pfaff, R.; Kujawski, J.; Uribe, P.; Bromund, K.; Fourre, R.; Acuna, M.; Le, G.; Farrell, W.; Holzworth, R.; McCarthy, M.;

Quantification of the precipitation loss of radiation belt electrons observed by SAMPEX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tu, Weichao; Selesnick, Richard; Li, Xinlin; Looper, Mark

2010-07-01

Based on SAMPEX/PET observations, the rates and the spatial and temporal variations of electron loss to the atmosphere in the Earth's radiation belt were quantified using a drift diffusion model that includes the effects of azimuthal drift and pitch angle diffusion. The measured electrons by SAMPEX can be distinguished as trapped, quasi-trapped (in the drift loss cone), and precipitating (in the bounce loss cone). The drift diffusion model simulates the low-altitude electron distribution from SAMPEX. After fitting the model results to the data, the magnitudes and variations of the electron lifetime can be quantitatively determined based on the optimum model parameter values. Three magnetic storms of different magnitudes were selected to estimate the various loss rates of ˜0.5-3 MeV electrons during different phases of the storms and at L shells ranging from L = 3.5 to L = 6.5 (L represents the radial distance in the equatorial plane under a dipole field approximation). The storms represent a small storm, a moderate storm from the current solar minimum, and an intense storm right after the previous solar maximum. Model results for the three individual events showed that fast precipitation losses of relativistic electrons, as short as hours, persistently occurred in the storm main phases and with more efficient loss at higher energies over wide range of L regions and over all the SAMPEX-covered local times. In addition to this newly discovered common feature of the main phase electron loss for all the storm events and at all L locations, some other properties of the electron loss rates, such as the local time and energy dependence that vary with time or locations, were also estimated and discussed. This method combining model with the low-altitude observations provides direct quantification of the electron loss rate, a prerequisite for any comprehensive modeling of the radiation belt electron dynamics.

Fluorescence Modulation of Green Fluorescent Protein Using Fluorinated Unnatural Amino Acids.

PubMed

Villa, Jordan K; Tran, Hong-Anh; Vipani, Megha; Gianturco, Stephanie; Bhasin, Konark; Russell, Brent L; Harbron, Elizabeth J; Young, Douglas D

2017-07-16

The ability to modulate protein function through minimal perturbations to amino acid structure represents an ideal mechanism to engineer optimized proteins. Due to the novel spectroscopic properties of green fluorescent protein, it has found widespread application as a reporter protein throughout the fields of biology and chemistry. Using site-specific amino acid mutagenesis, we have incorporated various fluorotyrosine residues directly into the fluorophore of the protein, altering the fluorescence and shifting the pKa of the phenolic proton associated with the fluorophore. Relative to wild type GFP, the fluorescence spectrum of the protein is altered with each additional fluorine atom, and the mutant GFPs have the potential to be employed as pH sensors due to the altered electronic properties of the fluorine atoms.

Notched graphite polymimide composites at room and notched graphite polymide composites at room and elevated temperatures. [nondestructive test techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Awerbuch, J.; Perkinson, H. E.; Kamel, I. L.

1980-01-01

The fracture behavior in graphite/polyimide (Gr/PI) Celion 6000/PMR-15 composites was characterized. Emphasis was placed on the correlation between the observed failure modes and the deformation characteristics of center-notched Gr/Pl laminates. Crack tip damage growth, fracture strength and notch sensitivity, and the associated characterization methods were also examined. Special attention was given to nondestructive evaluation of internal damage and damage growth, techniques such as acoustic emission, X-ray radiography, and ultrasonic C-scan. Microstructural studies using scanning electron microscopy, photomicrography, and the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance technique were employed as well. All experimental procedures and techniques are described and a summary of representative results for Gr/Pl laminates is given.

Magnetic field generated by lightning protection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geri, A.; Veca, G. M.

1988-04-01

A lightning protection system for today's civil buildings must be electromagnetically compatible with the electronic equipment present in the building. This paper highlights a mathematic model which analyzes the electromagnetic effects in the environment in which the lightning protection system is. This model is developed by means of finite elements of an electrical circuit where each element is represented by a double pole circuit according to the trapezoidal algorithm developed using the finite difference method. It is thus possible to analyze the electromagnetic phenomena associated with the transient effects created by the lightning stroke even for a high-intensity current. Referring to an elementary system comprised of an air terminal, a down conductor, and a ground terminal, numerical results are here laid out.

Measurement of the W charge asymmetry in production with jets using 5 inverse-femtobarns of data measured at center of mass energy = 7TeV with CMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawson, Philip Daniel

A measurement of the electron charge asymmetry in p+p→W production in association with jets at sqrt{s}=7 TeV is presented. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of L=5fb-1 recorded by the CMS detector in proton-proton collisions at the LHC. The sample represents a large increase in statistical precision with respect to previous CMS results and describes a first study of charge asymmetry measured in p+p→W+1 jet events. Full comparisons to previous results and theoretical predictions are provided and recommendations for extending the analysis to produce valuable input for future PDF models are made.

Inclusion bodies in cerebral cortical astrocytes: a new change of astrocytes.

PubMed

Minagawa, M; Shioda, K; Shimizu, Y; Isshiki, T

1992-01-01

A unique pathological finding of astrocytes was observed in the brain of a 20-year-old man who had severe physical and mental retardation. The brain was malformed showing micropolygyria in several cortical areas. A large number of hypertrophic astrocytes with eosinophilic granular substances in their cytoplasm were found throughout the cerebral cortex. Several staining procedures and electron microscopical examinations were carried out on these intracytoplasmic inclusion. It was found that the appearance and staining character of these inclusions were different from other astrocytic changes, especially the Rosenthal fiber, described so far. The authors consider that these inclusion bodies in cerebral cortical astrocytes represent new pathological changes of astrocytes that appear to be associated with malformation of the brain.

Pose Measurement Performance of the Argon Relative Navigation Sensor Suite in Simulated Flight Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Galante, Joseph M.; Eepoel, John Van; Strube, Matt; Gill, Nat; Gonzalez, Marcelo; Hyslop, Andrew; Patrick, Bryan

2012-01-01

Argon is a flight-ready sensor suite with two visual cameras, a flash LIDAR, an on- board flight computer, and associated electronics. Argon was designed to provide sensing capabilities for relative navigation during proximity, rendezvous, and docking operations between spacecraft. A rigorous ground test campaign assessed the performance capability of the Argon navigation suite to measure the relative pose of high-fidelity satellite mock-ups during a variety of simulated rendezvous and proximity maneuvers facilitated by robot manipulators in a variety of lighting conditions representative of the orbital environment. A brief description of the Argon suite and test setup are given as well as an analysis of the performance of the system in simulated proximity and rendezvous operations.

Structure of a zinc oxide ultra-thin film on Rh(100)

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

Yuhara, J.; Kato, D.; Matsui, T.

The structural parameters of ultra-thin zinc oxide films on Rh(100) are investigated using low-energy electron diffraction intensity (LEED I–V) curves, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. From the analysis of LEED I–V curves and DFT calculations, two optimized models A and B are determined. Their structures are basically similar to the planer h-BN ZnO(0001) structure, although some oxygen atoms protrude from the surface, associated with an in-plane shift of Zn atoms. From a comparison of experimental STM images and simulated STM images, majority and minority structures observed in the STM images represent the two optimizedmore » models A and B, respectively.« less

A time-of-flight spectrometer for measuring inelastic to elastic differential cross-section ratios for electron-gas scattering

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

LeClair, L.R.; Trajmar, S.; Khakoo, M.A.

1996-05-01

We describe a crossed electron beam-atomic beam apparatus which utilizes a pulsed electron gun and field free drift tube to obtain time-of-flight (TOF) spectra of electrons scattered from atoms and molecules. This apparatus was constructed for the purpose of obtaining inelastic-to-elastic differential cross-section (DCS) ratios in the energy range extending from threshold to several eV above the threshold of the inelastic channel. The TOF approach eliminates the need for complicated calibration procedures required when using conventional electrostatic electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) at these low energies. The characteristics of the apparatus will be given, along with representative TOF spectra from carbonmore » monoxide. From those spectra we obtained DCS ratios at 90{degree} scattering angle for excitation of the {ital a}{sup 3}{Pi} state of CO, in the impact energy range of 6{endash}15 eV. These ratios were measured with uncertainties as small as {plus_minus}4{percent}, which represents a substantial improvement over previous measurements in this energy range. This demonstrates the feasibility of using the TOF technique to measure DCS ratios which in turn can serve as secondary standards to normalize other inelastic DCSs obtained from measurements with EELS. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}« less

A novel Gaussian-Sinc mixed basis set for electronic structure calculations

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

Jerke, Jonathan L.; Lee, Young; Tymczak, C. J.

2015-08-14

A Gaussian-Sinc basis set methodology is presented for the calculation of the electronic structure of atoms and molecules at the Hartree–Fock level of theory. This methodology has several advantages over previous methods. The all-electron electronic structure in a Gaussian-Sinc mixed basis spans both the “localized” and “delocalized” regions. A basis set for each region is combined to make a new basis methodology—a lattice of orthonormal sinc functions is used to represent the “delocalized” regions and the atom-centered Gaussian functions are used to represent the “localized” regions to any desired accuracy. For this mixed basis, all the Coulomb integrals are definablemore » and can be computed in a dimensional separated methodology. Additionally, the Sinc basis is translationally invariant, which allows for the Coulomb singularity to be placed anywhere including on lattice sites. Finally, boundary conditions are always satisfied with this basis. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we calculated the ground state Hartree–Fock energies for atoms up to neon, the diatomic systems H{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, and N{sub 2}, and the multi-atom system benzene. Together, it is shown that the Gaussian-Sinc mixed basis set is a flexible and accurate method for solving the electronic structure of atomic and molecular species.« less

Factors Associated With Provider Burnout in the NICU

PubMed Central

Phibbs, Ciaran S.; Sexton, J. Bryan; Kan, Peiyi; Sharek, Paul J.; Nisbet, Courtney C.; Rigdon, Joseph; Trockel, Mickey; Profit, Jochen

2017-01-01

BACKGROUND: NICUs vary greatly in patient acuity and volume and represent a wide array of organizational structures, but the effect of these differences on NICU providers is unknown. This study sought to test the relation between provider burnout prevalence and organizational factors in California NICUs. METHODS: Provider perceptions of burnout were obtained from 1934 nurse practitioners, physicians, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists in 41 California NICUs via a validated 4-item questionnaire based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The relations between burnout and organizational factors of each NICU were evaluated via t-test comparison of quartiles, univariable regression, and multivariable regression. RESULTS: Overall burnout prevalence was 26.7% ± 9.8%. Highest burnout prevalence was found among NICUs with higher average daily admissions (32.1% ± 6.4% vs 17.2% ± 6.7%, P < .001), higher average occupancy (28.1% ± 8.1% vs 19.9% ± 8.4%, P = .02), and those with electronic health records (28% ± 11% vs 18% ± 7%, P = .03). In sensitivity analysis, nursing burnout was more sensitive to organizational differences than physician burnout in multivariable modeling, significantly associated with average daily admissions, late transfer proportion, nursing hours per patient day, and mortality per 1000 infants. Burnout prevalence showed no association with proportion of high-risk patients, teaching hospital distinction, or in-house attending presence. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout is most prevalent in NICUs with high patient volume and electronic health records and may affect nurses disproportionately. Interventions to reduce burnout prevalence may be of greater importance in NICUs with ≥10 weekly admissions. PMID:28557756

Absence of evidence for increase in risk for autism or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder following antidepressant exposure during pregnancy: a replication study.

PubMed

Castro, V M; Kong, S W; Clements, C C; Brady, R; Kaimal, A J; Doyle, A E; Robinson, E B; Churchill, S E; Kohane, I S; Perlis, R H

2016-01-05

Multiple studies have examined the risk of prenatal antidepressant exposure and risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with inconsistent results. Precisely estimating such risk, if any, is of great importance in light of the need to balance such risk with the benefit of depression and anxiety treatment. We developed a method to integrate data from multiple New England health systems, matching offspring and maternal health data in electronic health records to characterize diagnoses and medication exposure. Children with ASD or ADHD were matched 1:3 with children without neurodevelopmental disorders. Association between maternal antidepressant exposure and ASD or ADHD liability was examined using logistic regression, adjusting for potential sociodemographic and psychiatric confounding variables. In new cohorts of 1245 ASD cases and 1701 ADHD cases, along with age-, sex- and socioeconomic status matched controls, neither disorder was significantly associated with prenatal antidepressant exposure in crude or adjusted models (adjusted odds ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.50-1.54 for ASD; 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.53-1.69 for ADHD). Pre-pregnancy antidepressant exposure significantly increased risk for both disorders. These results suggest that prior reports of association between prenatal antidepressant exposure and neurodevelopmental disease are likely to represent a false-positive finding, which may arise in part through confounding by indication. They further demonstrate the potential to integrate data across electronic health records studies spanning multiple health systems to enable efficient pharmacovigilance investigation.

Exciton Relaxation and Electron Transfer Dynamics of Semiconductor Quantum Dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Cunming

Quantum dots (QDs), also referred to as colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, exhibit unique electronic and optical properties arising from their three-dimensional confinement and strongly enhanced coulomb interactions. Developing a detailed understanding of the exciton relaxation dynamics within QDs is important not only for sake of exploring the fundamental physics of quantum confinement processes, but also for their applications. Ultrafast transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy, as a powerful tool to explore the relaxation dynamics of excitons, was employed to characterize the hot single/multiexciton relaxation dynamics at the first four exciton states of CdSe/CdZnS QDs. We observed for the first time that the hot hole can relax through two possible pathways: Intraband multiple phonon coupling and intrinsic defect trapping, with a lifetime of ˜7 ps. Additionally, an ultra-short component of ˜ 8 ps, directly associated with the Auger recombination of highly energetic exciton states, was discovered. After exploring the exciton relaxation inside QDs, ultrafast TA spectroscopy was further applied to study the electron transferring outside from QDs. By using a brand-new photocatalytic system consisting of CdSe QDs and Ni-dihydrolipoic acid (Ni-DHLA) catalyst, which has represented a robust photocatalysis of H2 from water, the photoinduced electron transfer (ET) dynamics between QD and the catalyst, one of most important steps during H2 generation, was studied. We found smaller bare CdSe QDs exhibit a better ET performance and CdS shelling on the bare QDs leads to worsen the ET. The calculations of effective mass approximation (EMA) and Marcus theory show the ET process is mainly dominated by driving force, electronic coupling strength and reorganization energy between QD and the catalyst.

The appropriateness of density-functional theory for the calculation of molecular electronics properties.

PubMed

Reimers, Jeffrey R; Cai, Zheng-Li; Bilić, Ante; Hush, Noel S

2003-12-01

As molecular electronics advances, efficient and reliable computation procedures are required for the simulation of the atomic structures of actual devices, as well as for the prediction of their electronic properties. Density-functional theory (DFT) has had widespread success throughout chemistry and solid-state physics, and it offers the possibility of fulfilling these roles. In its modern form it is an empirically parameterized approach that cannot be extended toward exact solutions in a prescribed way, ab initio. Thus, it is essential that the weaknesses of the method be identified and likely shortcomings anticipated in advance. We consider four known systematic failures of modern DFT: dispersion, charge transfer, extended pi conjugation, and bond cleavage. Their ramifications for molecular electronics applications are outlined and we suggest that great care is required when using modern DFT to partition charge flow across electrode-molecule junctions, screen applied electric fields, position molecular orbitals with respect to electrode Fermi energies, and in evaluating the distance dependence of through-molecule conductivity. The causes of these difficulties are traced to errors inherent in the types of density functionals in common use, associated with their inability to treat very long-range electron correlation effects. Heuristic enhancements of modern DFT designed to eliminate individual problems are outlined, as are three new schemes that each represent significant departures from modern DFT implementations designed to provide a priori improvements in at least one and possible all problem areas. Finally, fully semiempirical schemes based on both Hartree-Fock and Kohn-Sham theory are described that, in the short term, offer the means to avoid the inherent problems of modern DFT and, in the long term, offer competitive accuracy at dramatically reduced computational costs.

The Québec BCG Vaccination Registry (1956-1992): assessing data quality and linkage with administrative health databases.

PubMed

Rousseau, Marie-Claude; Conus, Florence; Li, Jun; Parent, Marie-Élise; El-Zein, Mariam

2014-01-09

Vaccination registries have undoubtedly proven useful for estimating vaccination coverage as well as examining vaccine safety and effectiveness. However, their use for population health research is often limited. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccination Registry for the Canadian province of Québec comprises some 4 million vaccination records (1926-1992). This registry represents a unique opportunity to study potential associations between BCG vaccination and various health outcomes. So far, such studies have been hampered by the absence of a computerized version of the registry. We determined the completeness and accuracy of the recently computerized BCG Vaccination Registry, as well as examined its linkability with demographic and administrative medical databases. Two systematically selected verification samples, each representing ~0.1% of the registry, were used to ascertain accuracy and completeness of the electronic BCG Vaccination Registry. Agreement between the paper [listings (n = 4,987 records) and vaccination certificates (n = 4,709 records)] and electronic formats was determined along several nominal and BCG-related variables. Linkage feasibility with the Birth Registry (probabilistic approach) and provincial Healthcare Registration File (deterministic approach) was examined using nominal identifiers for a random sample of 3,500 individuals born from 1961 to 1974 and BCG vaccinated between 1970 and 1974. Exact agreement was observed for 99.6% and 81.5% of records upon comparing, respectively, the paper listings and vaccination certificates to their corresponding computerized records. The proportion of successful linkage was 77% with the Birth Registry, 70% with the Healthcare Registration File, 57% with both, and varied by birth year. Computerization of this Registry yielded excellent results. The registry was complete and accurate, and linkage with administrative databases was highly feasible. This study represents the first step towards assembling large scale population-based epidemiological studies which will enable filling important knowledge gaps on the potential health effects of early life non-specific stimulation of the immune function, as resulting from BCG vaccination.

Electron Microscopy Structural Insights into CPAP Oligomeric Behavior: A Plausible Assembly Process of a Supramolecular Scaffold of the Centrosome

PubMed Central

Alvarez-Cabrera, Ana L.; Delgado, Sandra; Gil-Carton, David; Mortuza, Gulnahar B.; Montoya, Guillermo; Sorzano, Carlos O. S.; Tang, Tang K.; Carazo, Jose M.

2017-01-01

Centrosomal P4.1-associated protein (CPAP) is a cell cycle regulated protein fundamental for centrosome assembly and centriole elongation. In humans, the region between residues 897–1338 of CPAP mediates interactions with other proteins and includes a homodimerization domain. CPAP mutations cause primary autosomal recessive microcephaly and Seckel syndrome. Despite of the biological/clinical relevance of CPAP, its mechanistic behavior remains unclear and its C-terminus (the G-box/TCP domain) is the only part whose structure has been solved. This situation is perhaps due in part to the challenges that represent obtaining the protein in a soluble, homogeneous state for structural studies. Our work constitutes a systematic structural analysis on multiple oligomers of HsCPAP897−1338, using single-particle electron microscopy (EM) of negatively stained (NS) samples. Based on image classification into clearly different regular 3D maps (putatively corresponding to dimers and tetramers) and direct observation of individual images representing other complexes of HsCPAP897−1338 (i.e., putative flexible monomers and higher-order multimers), we report a dynamic oligomeric behavior of this protein, where different homo-oligomers coexist in variable proportions. We propose that dimerization of the putative homodimer forms a putative tetramer which could be the structural unit for the scaffold that either tethers the pericentriolar material to centrioles or promotes procentriole elongation. A coarse fitting of atomic models into the NS 3D maps at resolutions around 20 Å is performed only to complement our experimental data, allowing us to hypothesize on the oligomeric composition of the different complexes. In this way, the current EM work represents an initial step toward the structural characterization of different oligomers of CPAP, suggesting further insights to understand how this protein works, contributing to the elucidation of control mechanisms for centriole biogenesis. PMID:28396859

Streaming energetic electrons in earth's magnetotail - Evidence for substorm-associated magnetic reconnection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bieber, J. W.; Stone, E. C.

1980-01-01

This letter reports the results of a systematic study of streaming greater than 200 keV electrons observed in the magnetotail with the Caltech Electron/Isotope Spectrometers aboard IMP-7 and IMP-8. A clear statistical association of streaming events with southward magnetic fields, often of steep inclination, and with substorms as evidenced by the AE index is demonstrated. These results support the interpretation that streaming energetic electrons are indicative of substorm-associated magnetic reconnection in the near-earth plasma sheet.

Molecular surface mesh generation by filtering electron density map.

PubMed

Giard, Joachim; Macq, Benoît

2010-01-01

Bioinformatics applied to macromolecules are now widely spread and in continuous expansion. In this context, representing external molecular surface such as the Van der Waals Surface or the Solvent Excluded Surface can be useful for several applications. We propose a fast and parameterizable algorithm giving good visual quality meshes representing molecular surfaces. It is obtained by isosurfacing a filtered electron density map. The density map is the result of the maximum of Gaussian functions placed around atom centers. This map is filtered by an ideal low-pass filter applied on the Fourier Transform of the density map. Applying the marching cubes algorithm on the inverse transform provides a mesh representation of the molecular surface.

The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance: a systematic review of the literature.

PubMed

Rasberry, Catherine N; Lee, Sarah M; Robin, Leah; Laris, B A; Russell, Lisa A; Coyle, Karin K; Nihiser, Allison J

2011-06-01

The purpose of this review is to synthesize the scientific literature that has examined the association between school-based physical activity (including physical education) and academic performance (including indicators of cognitive skills and attitudes, academic behaviors, and academic achievement). Relevant research was identified through a search of nine electronic databases using both physical activity and academic-related search terms. Forty-three articles (reporting a total of 50 unique studies) met the inclusion criteria and were read, abstracted, and coded for this synthesis. Findings of the 50 studies were then summarized. Across all the studies, there were a total of 251 associations between physical activity and academic performance, representing measures of academic achievement, academic behavior, and cognitive skills and attitudes. Slightly more than half (50.5%) of all associations examined were positive, 48% were not significant, and 1.5% were negative. Examination of the findings by each physical activity context provides insights regarding specific relationships. Results suggest physical activity is either positively related to academic performance or that there is not a demonstrated relationship between physical activity and academic performance. Results have important implications for both policy and schools. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Technological Determinist Viewpoint of the Stanton-Staggers Conflict over "The Selling of the Pentagon": Print Man Versus Electronic Man.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breen, Myles P.

Media, specifically documentary films on television, profoundly affect both social structure and man's psychological percepts. The clash of views depicted is between "print man" (using U.S. Representative Harley Staggers as an example) and "electronic man" (portrayed as Frank Stanton of CBS) centering on Stagger's objections to…

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

Moradi, Afshin, E-mail: a.moradi@kut.ac.ir; Department of Nano Sciences, Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics; Zangeneh, Hamid Reza

We develop an effective medium theory to obtain effective permittivity of a composite of two-dimensional (2D) aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes. Electronic excitations on each nanotube surface are modeled by an infinitesimally thin layer of a 2D electron gas represented by two interacting fluids, which takes into account different nature of the σ and π electrons. Calculations of both real and imaginary parts of the effective dielectric function of the system are presented, for different values of the filling factor and radius of carbon nanotubes.

NLS Flight Simulation Laboratory (FSL) documentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

The Flight Simulation Laboratory (FSL) Electronic Documentation System design consists of modification and utilization of the MSFC Integrated Engineering System (IES), translation of the existing FSL documentation to an electronic format, and generation of new drawings to represent the Engine Flight Simulation Laboratory design and implementation. The intent of the electronic documentation is to provide ease of access, local print/plot capabilities, as well as the ability to correct and/or modify the stored data by network users who are authorized to access this information.

Mechanically controllable break junctions for molecular electronics.

PubMed

Xiang, Dong; Jeong, Hyunhak; Lee, Takhee; Mayer, Dirk

2013-09-20

A mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) represents a fundamental technique for the investigation of molecular electronic junctions, especially for the study of the electronic properties of single molecules. With unique advantages, the MCBJ technique has provided substantial insight into charge transport processes in molecules. In this review, the techniques for sample fabrication, operation and the various applications of MCBJs are introduced and the history, challenges and future of MCBJs are discussed. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Photoionization and pseudopotentials

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

Costa, Romarly F. da; Lima, Marco A.P.; Ferreira, Luiz G.

2003-05-01

Transferability of norm-conserving pseudopotentials to low-energy electron-molecule scattering processes has been very successful [Bettega et al., Phys. Rev. A 47, 1111 (1993)]. In this paper we discuss the possibility of using effective potentials in calculations of valence electrons photoionization cross sections. Through atomic targets, we illustrate that pseudopotentials can be optimized to give cross sections in good agreement with all-electron calculations. The present work represents a first step towards more elaborate computer programs for photoionization of molecular targets containing heavy atoms.

Material and Doping Dependence of the Nodal and Antinodal Dispersion Renormalizations in Single- and Multilayer Cuprates

DOE PAGES

Johnston, S.; Lee, W. S.; Chen, Y.; ...

2010-01-01

We presenmore » t a review of bosonic renormalization effects on electronic carriers observed from angle-resolved photoemission spectra in the cuprates. Specifically, we discuss the viewpoint that these renormalizations represent coupling of the electrons to the lattice and review how materials dependence, such as the number of Cu O 2 layers, and doping dependence can be understood straightforwardly in terms of several aspects of electron-phonon coupling in layered correlated materials.« less

The Electronic and Computer Technician Vocational Education Incentive Grants Act. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education of the Committee on Education and Labor. House of Representatives, Ninety-Seventh Congress, Second Session (San Francisco, CA) on H.R. 5820.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Congress of the U.S., Washington, DC. House Committee on Education and Labor.

This report documents a hearing to amend the Vocational Education Act of 1963 to make incentive grants to the states for electronic and computer technician vocational education programs. The discucssion focused on the Electronic and Computer Technician Education Incentive Grants Act. Testimony included prepared statements, letters, and…

Sturgeons, sharks, and rays have multifocal crystalline lenses and similar lens suspension apparatuses.

PubMed

Gustafsson, Ola S E; Ekström, Peter; Kröger, Ronald H H

2012-07-01

Crystalline lenses with multiple focal lengths in monochromatic light (multifocal lenses) are present in many vertebrate groups. These lenses compensate for chromatic aberration and create well-focused color images. Stabilization of the lens within the eye and the ability to adjust focus are further requirements for vision in high detail. We investigated the occurrence of multifocal lenses by photorefractometry and lens suspension structures by light and electron microscopy in sturgeons (Acipenseriformes, Chondrostei) as well as sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii, Chondrichthyes). Multifocal lenses were found in two more major vertebrate groups, the Chondrostei represented by Acipenseriformes and Chondrichthyes represented by Elasmobranchii. The lens suspension structures of sturgeons, sharks, and rays are more complex than described previously. The lens is suspended by many delicate suspensory fibers in association with a ventral papilla in all groups studied. The arrangements of the suspensory fibers are most similar between sturgeons and sharks. In rays, the lens is suspended by a smaller ventral papilla and the suspensory fibers are arranged more concentrically to the lens. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Health-care reforms and insurees' preferences: a cluster analysis with data from the representative KBV survey 2010].

PubMed

Schnitzer, S; Grittner, U; Balke, K; Kuhlmey, A

2013-12-01

This study examines insurees' knowledge of and attitudes towards a number of recent reforms of the German healthcare system (electronic health insurance card, reimbursement tariff, etc.). It further examines whether it is possible to identify groups of respondents with similar patterns of preferences and knowledge. The analysis draws on a representative survey conducted by the German National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung, KBV, 2010), in which 6 065 respondents aged between 18 and 79 years were interviewed. 4 groups of respondents can be distinguished: the "quality oriented," the "uninformed," the "internet savvy," and the "informed." The most striking finding is that members of the "uninformed" group, who knew the least about recent reforms, tended to be employed middle-aged men with a high level of formal education. To foster the successful implementation of reforms in the health-care system and their communication to specific target groups, it is recommended to take into account not only specific social determinants, but the full personal circumstances and situation of insurees. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Identification of concrete deteriorating minerals by polarizing and scanning electron microscopy

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

Gregerova, Miroslava, E-mail: mirka@sci.muni.cz; Vsiansky, Dalibor, E-mail: daliborv@centrum.cz

2009-07-15

The deterioration of concrete represents one of the most serious problems of civil engineering worldwide. Besides other processes, deterioration of concrete consists of sulfate attack and carbonation. Sulfate attack results in the formation of gypsum, ettringite and thaumasite in hardened concrete. Products of sulfate attack may cause a loss of material strength and a risk of collapse of the concrete constructions. The authors focused especially on the microscopical research of sulfate attack. Concrete samples were taken from the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic. A succession of degrading mineral formation was suggested. Microscope methods represent a new approach to solvingmore » the deterioration problems. They enable evaluation of the state of concrete constructions and in cooperation with hydro-geochemistry, mathematics and statistics permit prediction of the durability of a structure. Considering the number of concrete constructions and their age, research of concrete deterioration has an increasing importance. The results obtained can also be useful for future construction, because they identify the risk factors associated with formation of minerals known to degrade structures.« less

Probing the electronic transport on the reconstructed Au/Ge(001) surface

PubMed Central

Krok, Franciszek; Kaspers, Mark R; Bernhart, Alexander M; Nikiel, Marek; Jany, Benedykt R; Indyka, Paulina; Wojtaszek, Mateusz; Möller, Rolf

2014-01-01

Summary By using scanning tunnelling potentiometry we characterized the lateral variation of the electrochemical potential µec on the gold-induced Ge(001)-c(8 × 2)-Au surface reconstruction while a lateral current flows through the sample. On the reconstruction and across domain boundaries we find that µec shows a constant gradient as a function of the position between the contacts. In addition, nanoscale Au clusters on the surface do not show an electronic coupling to the gold-induced surface reconstruction. In combination with high resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, we conclude that an additional transport channel buried about 2 nm underneath the surface represents a major transport channel for electrons. PMID:25247129

Development of Scanning Ultrafast Electron Microscope Capability.

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

Collins, Kimberlee Chiyoko; Talin, Albert Alec; Chandler, David W.

Modern semiconductor devices rely on the transport of minority charge carriers. Direct examination of minority carrier lifetimes in real devices with nanometer-scale features requires a measurement method with simultaneously high spatial and temporal resolutions. Achieving nanometer spatial resolutions at sub-nanosecond temporal resolution is possible with pump-probe methods that utilize electrons as probes. Recently, a stroboscopic scanning electron microscope was developed at Caltech, and used to study carrier transport across a Si p-n junction [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] . In this report, we detail our development of a prototype scanning ultrafast electron microscope system at Sandia National Laboratoriesmore » based on the original Caltech design. This effort represents Sandia's first exploration into ultrafast electron microscopy.« less

Study of the transport parameters of cloud lightning plasmas

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

Chang, Z. S.; Yuan, P.; Zhao, N.

2010-11-15

Three spectra of cloud lightning have been acquired in Tibet (China) using a slitless grating spectrograph. The electrical conductivity, the electron thermal conductivity, and the electron thermal diffusivity of the cloud lightning, for the first time, are calculated by applying the transport theory of air plasma. In addition, we investigate the change behaviors of parameters (the temperature, the electron density, the electrical conductivity, the electron thermal conductivity, and the electron thermal diffusivity) in one of the cloud lightning channels. The result shows that these parameters decrease slightly along developing direction of the cloud lightning channel. Moreover, they represent similar suddenmore » change behavior in tortuous positions and the branch of the cloud lightning channel.« less

Detecting borderline infection in an automated monitoring system for healthcare-associated infection using fuzzy logic.

PubMed

de Bruin, Jeroen S; Adlassnig, Klaus-Peter; Blacky, Alexander; Koller, Walter

2016-05-01

Many electronic infection detection systems employ dichotomous classification methods, classifying patient data as pathological or normal with respect to one or several types of infection. An electronic monitoring and surveillance system for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) known as Moni-ICU is being operated at the intensive care units (ICUs) of the Vienna General Hospital (VGH) in Austria. Instead of classifying patient data as pathological or normal, Moni-ICU introduces a third borderline class. Patient data classified as borderline with respect to an infection-related clinical concept or HAI surveillance definition signify that the data nearly or partly fulfill the definition for the respective concept or HAI, and are therefore neither fully pathological nor fully normal. Using fuzzy sets and propositional fuzzy rules, we calculated how frequently patient data are classified as normal, borderline, or pathological with respect to infection-related clinical concepts and HAI definitions. In dichotomous classification methods, borderline classification results would be confounded by normal. Therefore, we also assessed whether the constructed fuzzy sets and rules employed by Moni-ICU classified patient data too often or too infrequently as borderline instead of normal. Electronic surveillance data were collected from adult patients (aged 18 years or older) at ten ICUs of the VGH. All adult patients admitted to these ICUs over a two-year period were reviewed. In all 5099 patient stays (4120 patients) comprising 49,394 patient days were evaluated. For classification, a part of Moni-ICU's knowledge base comprising fuzzy sets and rules for ten infection-related clinical concepts and four top-level HAI definitions was employed. Fuzzy sets were used for the classification of concepts directly related to patient data; fuzzy rules were employed for the classification of more abstract clinical concepts, and for top-level HAI surveillance definitions. Data for each clinical concept and HAI definition were classified as either normal, borderline, or pathological. For the assessment of fuzzy sets and rules, we compared how often a borderline value for a fuzzy set or rule would result in a borderline value versus a normal value for its associated HAI definition(s). The statistical significance of these comparisons was expressed in p-values calculated with Fisher's exact test. The results showed that, for clinical concepts represented by fuzzy sets, 1-17% of the data were classified as borderline. The number was substantially higher (20-81%) for fuzzy rules representing more abstract clinical concepts. A small body of data were found to be in the borderline range for the four top-level HAI definitions (0.02-2.35%). Seven of ten fuzzy sets and rules were associated significantly more often with borderline values than with normal values for their respective HAI definition(s) (p<0.001). The study showed that Moni-ICU was effective in classifying patient data as borderline for infection-related concepts and top-level HAI surveillance definitions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Earth's Most Powerful Natural Particle Accelerator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rowland, Doug

2012-01-01

Thunderstorms launch antimatter, gamma rays, and highly energetic electrons and neutrons to the edge of space. This witches' brew of radiation is generated at the edge of the stratopause, by the strong electric fields associated with lightning discharges. In less than a quarter millisecond, an explosive feedback process takes an initial seed population of electrons, perhaps produced by cosmic rays from dying stars, and amplifies them a billion billion-fold in the rarefied air over high altitude thunderheads. The electrons generate gamma radiation as they travel through the stratosphere and lower mesosphere, momentarily brighter and of harder spectrum than cosmic gamma ray bursts. These electrons ultimately are absorbed by the atmosphere, but the gamma rays continue on, into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, where they in turn generate a new population of electrons, positrons, and energetic neutrons. These secondary electrons and positrons move along the magnetic field, and can reach near-earth space, streaming through the inner radiation belts, and possibly contributing to the trapped populations there. First postulated by Wilson in 1925, and serendipitously discovered by the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory in 1994 [Fishman et al.], these events, known as "Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes" (TGFs), represent the most intense episodes of particle acceleration on or near the Earth, resulting in electrons with energies up to 100 MeV. Recent observations by the RHESSI [Smith et al., 2004], Fermi [Briggs et al., 2010], and AGILE [Tavani et al., 2011] satellites, and theoretical and computational modeling, have suggested that the relativistic runaway electron avalanche (RREA) mechanism [Gurevich, 1992], and important modifications, such as the relativistic feedback discharge (RFD) model [Dwyer 2012] can best explain the observations at present. In these models, strong thunderstorm electric fields drive seed electrons, generated from cosmic ray interactions, into a runaway discharge, in which the seed electrons continually gain energy from the electric field, creating a host of secondaries as they interact with the background atmospheric gas. The feedback mechanisms include backwards-propagating positrons and gamma rays, which then can generate new "seed" electrons at the base of the acceleration region, and themselves generate further avalanche chain reactions, greatly amplifying the initial seed population. All these processes happen in the stratosphere, in the altitude range near 15-20 km, where the electric fields and mean free paths are appropriate to allow the discharge to develop.

"Green" electronics: biodegradable and biocompatible materials and devices for sustainable future.

PubMed

Irimia-Vladu, Mihai

2014-01-21

"Green" electronics represents not only a novel scientific term but also an emerging area of research aimed at identifying compounds of natural origin and establishing economically efficient routes for the production of synthetic materials that have applicability in environmentally safe (biodegradable) and/or biocompatible devices. The ultimate goal of this research is to create paths for the production of human- and environmentally friendly electronics in general and the integration of such electronic circuits with living tissue in particular. Researching into the emerging class of "green" electronics may help fulfill not only the original promise of organic electronics that is to deliver low-cost and energy efficient materials and devices but also achieve unimaginable functionalities for electronics, for example benign integration into life and environment. This Review will highlight recent research advancements in this emerging group of materials and their integration in unconventional organic electronic devices.

X-Ray Sum Frequency Diffraction for Direct Imaging of Ultrafast Electron Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouxel, Jérémy R.; Kowalewski, Markus; Bennett, Kochise; Mukamel, Shaul

2018-06-01

X-ray diffraction from molecules in the ground state produces an image of their charge density, and time-resolved x-ray diffraction can thus monitor the motion of the nuclei. However, the density change of excited valence electrons upon optical excitation can barely be monitored with regular diffraction techniques due to the overwhelming background contribution of the core electrons. We present a nonlinear x-ray technique made possible by novel free electron laser sources, which provides a spatial electron density image of valence electron excitations. The technique, sum frequency generation carried out with a visible pump and a broadband x-ray diffraction pulse, yields snapshots of the transition charge densities, which represent the electron density variations upon optical excitation. The technique is illustrated by ab initio simulations of transition charge density imaging for the optically induced electronic dynamics in a donor or acceptor substituted stilbene.

Shannon entropies and Fisher information of K-shell electrons of neutral atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekh, Golam Ali; Saha, Aparna; Talukdar, Benoy

2018-02-01

We represent the two K-shell electrons of neutral atoms by Hylleraas-type wave function which fulfils the exact behavior at the electron-electron and electron-nucleus coalescence points and, derive a simple method to construct expressions for single-particle position- and momentum-space charge densities, ρ (r) and γ (p) respectively. We make use of the results for ρ (r) and γ (p) to critically examine the effect of correlation on bare (uncorrelated) values of Shannon information entropies (S) and of Fisher information (F) for the K-shell electrons of atoms from helium to neon. Due to inter-electronic repulsion the values of the uncorrelated Shannon position-space entropies are augmented while those of the momentum-space entropies are reduced. The corresponding Fisher information are found to exhibit opposite behavior in respect of this. Attempts are made to provide some plausible explanation for the observed response of S and F to electronic correlation.

Low ERCP Volume Is Associated with More Industry Representative Interactions but Similar Training of Nurses.

PubMed

Keswani, Rajesh N; Malpas, Phyllis; Lynch, Sheryl E; Coté, Gregory A

2016-03-01

Data on ERCP nurses and associate (ERCP-NA) training and comfort are lacking. Healthcare industry representative (HCIR) influence may be greater in low-volume units (LVUs) due to decreased procedure and device familiarity. The aim of this study was to compare ERCP-NA training, safety, and HCIR relationships between LVU and high-volume unit (HVU) ERCP facilities. We conducted an electronic survey of all Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) members assessing: (1) demographics and procedure volume, (2) ERCP training and radiation safety, and (3) HCIR interactions. Responses were stratified by ERCP volume. Among 832 SGNA member respondents (median age 55), 615 (74%) worked as an ERCP-NA; 41% derived from LVUs. The majority of ERCP-NAs, irrespective of unit volume, had observed <50 ERCPs before starting. Except for lead glasses, the majority (>80%) adhered to basic radiation safety, irrespective of unit volume. LVUs were more likely than HVU ERCP-NAs to agree that HCIRs were requested for intra-procedure assistance (24 vs. 19%, p = 0.008), asked for input on the next choice of device (22 vs. 15%, p = 0.01), and assist in device usage (27 vs. 22%, p = 0.04). Irrespective of volume, 30% agreed that they were more likely to utilize a company's devices if that HCIR was present. ERCP-NA training before independent participation in ERCP is suboptimal. HCIRs are frequently requested for assistance during ERCPs, especially in LVUs. HCIR impact on ERCP outcomes and device utilization and whether enhanced ERCP-NA training will impact the role of HCIR, require further study.

Readiness for the Patient-Centered Medical Home: structural capabilities of Massachusetts primary care practices.

PubMed

Friedberg, Mark W; Safran, Dana G; Coltin, Kathryn L; Dresser, Marguerite; Schneider, Eric C

2009-02-01

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), a popular model for primary care reorganization, includes several structural capabilities intended to enhance quality of care. The extent to which different types of primary care practices have adopted these capabilities has not been previously studied. To measure the prevalence of recommended structural capabilities among primary care practices and to determine whether prevalence varies among practices of different size (number of physicians) and administrative affiliation with networks of practices. Cross-sectional analysis. One physician chosen at random from each of 412 primary care practices in Massachusetts was surveyed about practice capabilities during 2007. Practice size and network affiliation were obtained from an existing database. Presence of 13 structural capabilities representing 4 domains relevant to quality: patient assistance and reminders, culture of quality, enhanced access, and electronic health records (EHRs). Three hundred eight (75%) physicians responded, representing practices with a median size of 4 physicians (range 2-74). Among these practices, 64% were affiliated with 1 of 9 networks. The prevalence of surveyed capabilities ranged from 24% to 88%. Larger practice size was associated with higher prevalence for 9 of the 13 capabilities spanning all 4 domains (P < 0.05). Network affiliation was associated with higher prevalence of 5 capabilities (P < 0.05) in 3 domains. Associations were not substantively altered by statistical adjustment for other practice characteristics. Larger and network-affiliated primary care practices are more likely than smaller, non-affiliated practices to have adopted several recommended capabilities. In order to achieve PCMH designation, smaller non-affiliated practices may require the greatest investments.

Electron momentum density and Compton profile by a semi-empirical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguiar, Julio C.; Mitnik, Darío; Di Rocco, Héctor O.

2015-08-01

Here we propose a semi-empirical approach to describe with good accuracy the electron momentum densities and Compton profiles for a wide range of pure crystalline metals. In the present approach, we use an experimental Compton profile to fit an analytical expression for the momentum densities of the valence electrons. This expression is similar to a Fermi-Dirac distribution function with two parameters, one of which coincides with the ground state kinetic energy of the free-electron gas and the other resembles the electron-electron interaction energy. In the proposed scheme conduction electrons are neither completely free nor completely bound to the atomic nucleus. This procedure allows us to include correlation effects. We tested the approach for all metals with Z=3-50 and showed the results for three representative elements: Li, Be and Al from high-resolution experiments.

Single-shot coherent diffraction imaging of microbunched relativistic electron beams for free-electron laser applications.

PubMed

Marinelli, A; Dunning, M; Weathersby, S; Hemsing, E; Xiang, D; Andonian, G; O'Shea, F; Miao, Jianwei; Hast, C; Rosenzweig, J B

2013-03-01

With the advent of coherent x rays provided by the x-ray free-electron laser (FEL), strong interest has been kindled in sophisticated diffraction imaging techniques. In this Letter, we exploit such techniques for the diagnosis of the density distribution of the intense electron beams typically utilized in an x-ray FEL itself. We have implemented this method by analyzing the far-field coherent transition radiation emitted by an inverse-FEL microbunched electron beam. This analysis utilizes an oversampling phase retrieval method on the transition radiation angular spectrum to reconstruct the transverse spatial distribution of the electron beam. This application of diffraction imaging represents a significant advance in electron beam physics, having critical applications to the diagnosis of high-brightness beams, as well as the collective microbunching instabilities afflicting these systems.

Rhizobial Diversity and Nodulation Characteristics of the Extremely Promiscuous Legume Sophora flavescens.

PubMed

Jiao, Yin Shan; Liu, Yuan Hui; Yan, Hui; Wang, En Tao; Tian, Chang Fu; Chen, Wen Xin; Guo, Bao Lin; Chen, Wen Feng

2015-12-01

In present study, we report our extensive survey on the diversity and biogeography of rhizobia associated with Sophora flavescens, a sophocarpidine (matrine)-containing medicinal legume. We additionally investigated the cross nodulation, infection pattern, light and electron microscopies of root nodule sections of S. flavescens infected by various rhizobia. Seventeen genospecies of rhizobia belonging to five genera with seven types of symbiotic nodC genes were found to nodulate S. flavescens in natural soils. In the cross-nodulation tests, most representative rhizobia in class α-Proteobacteria, whose host plants belong to different cross-nodulation groups, form effective indeterminate nodules, while representative rhizobia in class β-Proteobacteria form ineffective nodules on S. flavescens. Highly host-specific biovars of Rhizobium leguminosarum (bv. trifolii and bv. viciae) and Rhizobium etli bv. phaseoli could establish symbioses with S. flavescens, providing further evidence that S. flavescens is an extremely promiscuous legume and it does not have strict selectivity on either the symbiotic genes or the species-determining housekeeping genes of rhizobia. Root-hair infection is found as the pattern that rhizobia have gained entry into the curled root hairs. Electron microscopies of ultra-thin sections of S. flavescens root nodules formed by different rhizobia show that the bacteroids are regular or irregular rod shape and nonswollen types. Some bacteroids contain poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), while others do not, indicating the synthesis of PHB in bacteroids is rhizobia-dependent. The extremely promiscuous symbiosis between S. flavescens and different rhizobia provide us a basis for future studies aimed at understanding the molecular interactions of rhizobia and legumes.

A new ionospheric electron precipitation module coupled with RAM-SCB within the geospace general circulation model

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

Yu, Yiqun; Jordanova, Vania K.; Ridley, Aaron J.

Electron precipitation down to the atmosphere due to wave-particle scattering in the magnetosphere contributes significantly to the auroral ionospheric conductivity. In order to obtain the auroral conductivity in global MHD models that are incapable of capturing kinetic physics in the magnetosphere, MHD parameters are often used to estimate electron precipitation flux for the conductivity calculation. Such an MHD approach, however, lacks self-consistency in representing the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. In this study we improve the coupling processes in global models with a more physical method. We calculate the physics-based electron precipitation from the ring current and map it to the ionosphericmore » altitude for solving the ionospheric electrodynamics. In particular, we use the BATS-R-US (Block Adaptive Tree Scheme-Roe type-Upstream) MHD model coupled with the kinetic ring current model RAM-SCB (Ring current-Atmosphere interaction Model with Self-Consistent Magnetic field (B)) that solves pitch angle-dependent electron distribution functions, to study the global circulation dynamics during the 25–26 January 2013 storm event. Since the electron precipitation loss is mostly governed by wave-particle resonant scattering in the magnetosphere, we further investigate two loss methods of specifying electron precipitation loss associated with wave-particle interactions: (1) using pitch angle diffusion coefficients D αα(E,α) determined from the quasi-linear theory, with wave spectral and plasma density obtained from statistical observations (named as “diffusion coefficient method”) and (2) using electron lifetimes τ(E) independent on pitch angles inferred from the above diffusion coefficients (named as “lifetime method”). We found that both loss methods demonstrate similar temporal evolution of the trapped ring current electrons, indicating that the impact of using different kinds of loss rates is small on the trapped electron population. Furthermore, for the precipitated electrons, the lifetime method hardly captures any precipitation in the large L shell (i.e., 4 < L < 6.5) region, while the diffusion coefficient method produces much better agreement with NOAA/POES measurements, including the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of electron precipitation in the region from the premidnight through the dawn to the dayside. Further comparisons of the precipitation energy flux to DMSP observations indicates that the new physics-based precipitation approach using diffusion coefficients for the ring current electron loss can explain the diffuse electron precipitation in the dawn sector, such as the enhanced precipitation flux at auroral latitudes and flux drop near the subauroral latitudes, but the traditional MHD approach largely overestimates the precipitation flux at lower latitudes.« less

A new ionospheric electron precipitation module coupled with RAM-SCB within the geospace general circulation model

DOE PAGES

Yu, Yiqun; Jordanova, Vania K.; Ridley, Aaron J.; ...

2016-09-01

Electron precipitation down to the atmosphere due to wave-particle scattering in the magnetosphere contributes significantly to the auroral ionospheric conductivity. In order to obtain the auroral conductivity in global MHD models that are incapable of capturing kinetic physics in the magnetosphere, MHD parameters are often used to estimate electron precipitation flux for the conductivity calculation. Such an MHD approach, however, lacks self-consistency in representing the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. In this study we improve the coupling processes in global models with a more physical method. We calculate the physics-based electron precipitation from the ring current and map it to the ionosphericmore » altitude for solving the ionospheric electrodynamics. In particular, we use the BATS-R-US (Block Adaptive Tree Scheme-Roe type-Upstream) MHD model coupled with the kinetic ring current model RAM-SCB (Ring current-Atmosphere interaction Model with Self-Consistent Magnetic field (B)) that solves pitch angle-dependent electron distribution functions, to study the global circulation dynamics during the 25–26 January 2013 storm event. Since the electron precipitation loss is mostly governed by wave-particle resonant scattering in the magnetosphere, we further investigate two loss methods of specifying electron precipitation loss associated with wave-particle interactions: (1) using pitch angle diffusion coefficients D αα(E,α) determined from the quasi-linear theory, with wave spectral and plasma density obtained from statistical observations (named as “diffusion coefficient method”) and (2) using electron lifetimes τ(E) independent on pitch angles inferred from the above diffusion coefficients (named as “lifetime method”). We found that both loss methods demonstrate similar temporal evolution of the trapped ring current electrons, indicating that the impact of using different kinds of loss rates is small on the trapped electron population. Furthermore, for the precipitated electrons, the lifetime method hardly captures any precipitation in the large L shell (i.e., 4 < L < 6.5) region, while the diffusion coefficient method produces much better agreement with NOAA/POES measurements, including the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of electron precipitation in the region from the premidnight through the dawn to the dayside. Further comparisons of the precipitation energy flux to DMSP observations indicates that the new physics-based precipitation approach using diffusion coefficients for the ring current electron loss can explain the diffuse electron precipitation in the dawn sector, such as the enhanced precipitation flux at auroral latitudes and flux drop near the subauroral latitudes, but the traditional MHD approach largely overestimates the precipitation flux at lower latitudes.« less

Associated Clinical Disorders Diagnosed by Medical Specialists in 188 FMR1 Premutation Carriers Found in the Last 25 Years in the Spanish Basque Country: A Retrospective Study

PubMed Central

Merino, Sonia; Ibarluzea, Nekane; Maortua, Hiart; Prieto, Begoña; Rouco, Idoia; López-Aríztegui, Maria-Asunción; Tejada, Maria-Isabel

2016-01-01

Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) and fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) are definitely related to the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) premutation (PM). Additional medical problems have also been associated with the PM, such as fibromyalgia, endocrine, and psychiatric disorders. To improve our understanding in the field, we reviewed all PM carriers and their reasons for any medical referrals from 104 fragile X families molecularly diagnosed in our laboratory and living in the Spanish Basque Country. After signing the written informed consent, we studied their electronic medical records in order to identify the disorders associated with the PM and their frequencies. We obtained clinical data in 188 PM carriers (147 women and 41 men). In women, the frequency of FXPOI (22.61%) was similar to that previously reported in PM carriers. In men, the frequency of definite FXTAS (28.57%) was lower than reported elsewhere. Furthermore, thyroid pathology was associated with the PM, the frequency of hypothyroidism being much higher in the studied region than in the general population (8.84% vs. 0.93%). Finally, we found no association with fibromyalgia or psychiatric problems. These findings represent another population contribution in this field and may be useful for the clinical management of PM carriers. PMID:27775646

Electron scattering measurements from molecules of technological relevance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Darryl

2014-10-01

Biomass represents a significant opportunity to provide renewable and sustainable biofuels. Non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas provide an opportunity to efficiently breakdown the naturally-resilient biomass into its useful subunits. Free electrons produced in the plasma may assist in this process by inducing fragmentation though dissociative excitation, ionization or attachment processes. To assist in understanding and refining this process, we have performed electron energy loss experiments from phenol (C6H5OH), a key structural building block of biomass. This enables a quantitative assessment of the excited electronic states of phenol. Differential cross sections for the electron-driven excitation of phenol have also been obtained for incident electron energies in the 20--250 eV range and over 3--90° scattering angles. DBJ acknowledges financial support provided by an Australian Research Council DECRA.

Electron impact action spectroscopy of mass/charge selected macromolecular ions: Inner-shell excitation of ubiquitin protein

DOE PAGES

Rankovic, Milos Lj.; Giuliani, Alexandre; Milosavljevic, Aleksandar R.

2016-02-11

In this study, we have performed inner-shell electron impact action spectroscopy of mass and charge selected macromolecular ions. For this purpose, we have coupled a focusing electron gun with a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. This experiment represents a proof of principle that an energy-tunable electron beam can be used in combination with radio frequency traps as an activation method in tandem mass spectrometry (MS 2) and allows performing action spectroscopy. Electron impact MS 2 spectra of multiply protonated ubiquitin protein ion have been recorded at incident electron energies around the carbon 1s excitation. Both MS 2 and singlemore » ionization energy dependence spectra are compared with literature data obtained using the soft X-ray activation conditions.« less

Electron impact action spectroscopy of mass/charge selected macromolecular ions: Inner-shell excitation of ubiquitin protein

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

Rankovic, Milos Lj.; Giuliani, Alexandre; Milosavljevic, Aleksandar R.

In this study, we have performed inner-shell electron impact action spectroscopy of mass and charge selected macromolecular ions. For this purpose, we have coupled a focusing electron gun with a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. This experiment represents a proof of principle that an energy-tunable electron beam can be used in combination with radio frequency traps as an activation method in tandem mass spectrometry (MS 2) and allows performing action spectroscopy. Electron impact MS 2 spectra of multiply protonated ubiquitin protein ion have been recorded at incident electron energies around the carbon 1s excitation. Both MS 2 and singlemore » ionization energy dependence spectra are compared with literature data obtained using the soft X-ray activation conditions.« less

Victims of Bullying and Tobacco Use Behaviors in Adolescents: Differences Between Bullied at School, Electronically, or Both.

PubMed

Case, Kathleen R; Cooper, Maria; Creamer, MeLisa; Mantey, Dale; Kelder, Steven

2016-11-01

Being a victim of bullying is associated with greater risk of youth substance use; however, research specifically examining whether tobacco use behaviors differ among adolescents who were bullied at school only, electronically only, or both at school and electronically is limited. We examined the associations between being a victim of bullying (at school only, electronically only, or both at school and electronically) and use of tobacco products using data from the 2013 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Girls who were bullied both at school and electronically reported the highest odds of all tobacco use behaviors (ever use of cigarettes, current use of cigarettes, and current use of any tobacco product) as compared with girls who were not bullied after adjusting for covariates. Conversely, for boys, only the association between being bullied electronically only and ever use of cigarettes remained significant after adjusting for covariates. Results from this study indicate that electronic bullying may differentially influence the odds of tobacco use in high school students as compared with bullying that occurs at school only. Confirmation of these findings could inform interventions to reduce both bullying and tobacco use in high school. © 2016, American School Health Association.

An analysis of technical aspects of the arthroscopic Bankart procedure as performed in the United States.

PubMed

Burks, Robert T; Presson, Angela P; Weng, Hsin-Yi

2014-10-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the intersurgeon variation in technical aspects of performing an arthroscopic Bankart repair. A unique approach with experienced equipment representatives from 3 different arthroscopic companies was used. Experienced representatives were identified by DePuy Mitek, Smith & Nephew, and Arthrex and filled out questionnaires on how their surgeons performed arthroscopic Bankart procedures. This was performed in a blinded fashion with no knowledge of the identities of the specific surgeons or representatives by us. A video on different aspects of the procedure was observed by each representative before filling out the questionnaire to help standardize responses. Data were collected using REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture). Data were analyzed as an infrequent observation with 0% to 30% of representatives reporting the observation; sometimes, 31% to 70% reporting the observation; and often, greater than 70% of representatives reporting. Seventy-six percent of representatives had 6 or more years of arthroscopic experience. Forty-three percent of representatives reported that their surgeons use 3 portals for the procedure often. Forty-four percent reported that viewing was performed exclusively from the posterior portal while the surgeon was performing the repair. Seventy-three percent reported that the Hill-Sachs lesion was observed often, and 61% reported that the posterior labrum was evaluated often before the repair. Only 25% of representatives reported that the Bankart lesion was extensively released and mobilized often. Thirty-three percent reported 3 anchors as being used often. Seventy-five percent reported biocomposite anchors as being used often. Single-loaded anchors were reported as being used often by 47%. Eighty-one percent reported that sutures were placed in a simple fashion. Eighty-three percent reported the use of any posterior sutures or anchors for additional plication as infrequent. There is significant variation in performance of the arthroscopic Bankart repair in the United States. Areas of concern include completeness of the diagnostic examination, the adequacy of capsulolabral mobilization, variation in the use of accessory portals, and inconsistent use of additional capsular or labral plication or fixation. Copyright © 2014 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular evidence of keratin and melanosomes in feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird Eoconfuciusornis.

PubMed

Pan, Yanhong; Zheng, Wenxia; Moyer, Alison E; O'Connor, Jingmai K; Wang, Min; Zheng, Xiaoting; Wang, Xiaoli; Schroeter, Elena R; Zhou, Zhonghe; Schweitzer, Mary H

2016-12-06

Microbodies associated with feathers of both nonavian dinosaurs and early birds were first identified as bacteria but have been reinterpreted as melanosomes. Whereas melanosomes in modern feathers are always surrounded by and embedded in keratin, melanosomes embedded in keratin in fossils has not been demonstrated. Here we provide multiple independent molecular analyses of both microbodies and the associated matrix recovered from feathers of a new specimen of the basal bird Eoconfuciusornis from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. Our work represents the oldest ultrastructural and immunological recognition of avian beta-keratin from an Early Cretaceous (∼130-Ma) bird. We apply immunogold to identify protein epitopes at high resolution, by localizing antibody-antigen complexes to specific fossil ultrastructures. Retention of original keratinous proteins in the matrix surrounding electron-opaque microbodies supports their assignment as melanosomes and adds to the criteria employable to distinguish melanosomes from microbial bodies. Our work sheds new light on molecular preservation within normally labile tissues preserved in fossils.

NLRP6 inflammasome is a regulator of colonic microbial ecology and risk for colitis

PubMed Central

Elinav, Eran; Strowig, Till; Kau, Andrew L.; Henao-Mejia, Jorge; Thaiss, Christoph A.; Booth, Carmen J.; Peaper, David R.; Bertin, John; Eisenbarth, Stephanie C.; Gordon, Jeffrey I.; Flavell, Richard A.

2011-01-01

Inflammasomes are multi-protein complexes that function as sensors of endogenous or exogenous damage-associated molecular patterns. Here we show that deficiency of NLRP6 in mouse colonic epithelial cells results in reduced IL-18 levels and altered fecal microbiota characterized by expanded representation of the bacterial phyla Bacteroidetes (Prevotellaceae) and TM7. NLRP6 inflammasome-deficient mice were characterized by spontaneous intestinal hyperplasia, inflammatory cell recruitment, and exacerbation of chemical colitis induced by exposure to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Cross-fostering and cohousing experiments revealed that the colitogenic activity of this microbiota is transferable to neonatal or adult wild-type mice, leading to exacerbation of DSS colitis via induction of CCL5. Antibiotic treatment and electron microscopy studies further supported the role of Prevotellaceae as a key representative of this microbiota-associated phenotype. Altogether, perturbations in this inflammasome pathway, including NLRP6, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 may constitute a predisposing or initiating event in some cases of human IBD. PMID:21565393

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonising roots and root nodules of New Zealand kauri Agathis australis.

PubMed

Padamsee, Mahajabeen; Johansen, Renee B; Stuckey, S Alexander; Williams, Stephen E; Hooker, John E; Burns, Bruce R; Bellgard, Stanley E

2016-05-01

As the only endemic member in New Zealand of the ancient conifer family, Araucariaceae, Agathis australis is an ideal species to study putatively long-evolved mycorrhizal symbioses. However, little is known about A. australis root and nodular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and how mycorrhizal colonisation occurs. We used light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy to characterise colonisation, and 454-sequencing to identify the AMF associated with A. australis roots and nodules. We interpreted the results in terms of the edaphic characteristics of the A. australis-influenced ecosystem. Representatives of five families of Glomeromycota were identified via high-throughput pyrosequencing. Imaging studies showed that there is abundant, but not ubiquitous, colonisation of nodules, which suggests that nodules are mostly colonised by horizontal transmission. Roots were also found to harbour AMF. This study is the first to demonstrate the multiple Glomeromycota lineages associated with A. australis including some that may not have been previously detected. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Interleukin and interleukin receptor gene polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel diseases susceptibility.

PubMed

Magyari, Lili; Kovesdi, Erzsebet; Sarlos, Patricia; Javorhazy, Andras; Sumegi, Katalin; Melegh, Bela

2014-03-28

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), represents a group of chronic inflammatory disorders caused by dysregulated immune responses in genetically predisposed individuals. Genetic markers are associated with disease phenotype and long-term evolution, but their value in everyday clinical practice is limited at the moment. IBD has a clear immunological background and interleukins play key role in the process. Almost 130 original papers were revised including meta-analysis. It is clear these data are very important for understanding the base of the disease, especially in terms of clinical utility and validity, but text often do not available for the doctors use these in the clinical practice nowadays. We conducted a systematic review of the current literature on interleukin and interleukin receptor gene polymorphisms associated with IBD, performing an electronic search of PubMed Database from publications of the last 10 years, and used the following medical subject heading terms and/or text words: IBD, CD, UC, interleukins and polymorphisms.

Interleukin and interleukin receptor gene polymorphisms in inflammatory bowel diseases susceptibility

PubMed Central

Magyari, Lili; Kovesdi, Erzsebet; Sarlos, Patricia; Javorhazy, Andras; Sumegi, Katalin; Melegh, Bela

2014-01-01

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), represents a group of chronic inflammatory disorders caused by dysregulated immune responses in genetically predisposed individuals. Genetic markers are associated with disease phenotype and long-term evolution, but their value in everyday clinical practice is limited at the moment. IBD has a clear immunological background and interleukins play key role in the process. Almost 130 original papers were revised including meta-analysis. It is clear these data are very important for understanding the base of the disease, especially in terms of clinical utility and validity, but text often do not available for the doctors use these in the clinical practice nowadays. We conducted a systematic review of the current literature on interleukin and interleukin receptor gene polymorphisms associated with IBD, performing an electronic search of PubMed Database from publications of the last 10 years, and used the following medical subject heading terms and/or text words: IBD, CD, UC, interleukins and polymorphisms. PMID:24695754

Diverse Reductive Dehalogenases Are Associated with Clostridiales-Enriched Microcosms Dechlorinating 1,2-Dichloroethane

PubMed Central

Merlino, Giuseppe; Marzorati, Massimo; Rizzi, Aurora; Lavazza, Davide; de Ferra, Francesca; Carpani, Giovanna

2015-01-01

The achievement of successful biostimulation of active microbiomes for the cleanup of a polluted site is strictly dependent on the knowledge of the key microorganisms equipped with the relevant catabolic genes responsible for the degradation process. In this work, we present the characterization of the bacterial community developed in anaerobic microcosms after biostimulation with the electron donor lactate of groundwater polluted with 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA). Through a multilevel analysis, we have assessed (i) the structural analysis of the bacterial community; (ii) the identification of putative dehalorespiring bacteria; (iii) the characterization of functional genes encoding for putative 1,2-DCA reductive dehalogenases (RDs). Following the biostimulation treatment, the structure of the bacterial community underwent a notable change of the main phylotypes, with the enrichment of representatives of the order Clostridiales. Through PCR targeting conserved regions within known RD genes, four novel variants of RDs previously associated with the reductive dechlorination of 1,2-DCA were identified in the metagenome of the Clostridiales-dominated bacterial community. PMID:26273600

Detection of fundamental and harmonic type III radio emission and the associated Langmuir waves at the source region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reiner, M. J.; Stone, R. G.; Fainberg, J.

1992-01-01

Type III radio emission generated in the vicinity of the Ulysses spacecraft has been detected at both the fundamental and harmonic of the local plasma frequency. The observations represent the first clear evidence of locally generated type III radio emission. This local emission shows no evidence of frequency drift, exhibits a relatively short rise time, is less intense than the observed remotely generated radio emission, and is temporally correlated with observed in situ Langmuir waves. The observations were made with the unified radio astronomy and wave (URAP) experiment on the Ulysses spacecraft between 1990 November 4 and 1991 April 30, as it traveled from 1 to 3 AU from the sun. During this time period many thousands of bursts were observed. However, only three examples of local emission and associated Langmuir waves were identified. This supports previous suggestions that type III radio emission is generated in localized regions of the interplanetary medium, rather than uniformly along the extent of the electron exciter beam.

Erythrocyte membrane-camouflaged polymeric nanoparticles as a biomimetic delivery platform

PubMed Central

Hu, Che-Ming J.; Zhang, Li; Aryal, Santosh; Cheung, Connie; Fang, Ronnie H.; Zhang, Liangfang

2011-01-01

Efforts to extend nanoparticle residence time in vivo have inspired many strategies in particle surface modifications to bypass macrophage uptake and systemic clearance. Here we report a top-down biomimetic approach in particle functionalization by coating biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles with natural erythrocyte membranes, including both membrane lipids and associated membrane proteins for long-circulating cargo delivery. The structure, size and surface zeta potential, and protein contents of the erythrocyte membrane-coated nanoparticles were verified using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and gel electrophoresis, respectively. Mice injections with fluorophore-loaded nanoparticles revealed superior circulation half-life by the erythrocyte-mimicking nanoparticles as compared to control particles coated with the state-of-the-art synthetic stealth materials. Biodistribution study revealed significant particle retention in the blood 72 h following the particle injection. The translocation of natural cellular membranes, their associated proteins, and the corresponding functionalities to the surface of synthetic particles represents a unique approach in nanoparticle functionalization. PMID:21690347

Social Network Characteristics Moderate the Association Between Stigmatizing Attributions About HIV and Non-adherence Among Black Americans Living with HIV: a Longitudinal Assessment.

PubMed

Bogart, Laura M; Wagner, Glenn J; Green, Harold D; Mutchler, Matt G; Klein, David J; McDavitt, Bryce

2015-12-01

Stigma may contribute to HIV-related disparities among HIV-positive Black Americans. We examined whether social network characteristics moderate stigma's effects. At baseline and 6 months post-baseline, 147 HIV-positive Black Americans on antiretroviral treatment completed egocentric social network assessments, from which we derived a structural social support capacity measure (i.e., ability to leverage support from the network, represented by the average interaction frequency between the participant and each alter). Stigma was operationalized with an indicator of whether any social network member had expressed stigmatizing attributions of blame or responsibility about HIV. Daily medication adherence was monitored electronically. In a multivariate regression, baseline stigma was significantly related to decreased adherence over time. The association between stigma and non-adherence was attenuated among participants who increased the frequency of their interactions with alters over time. Well-connected social networks have the potential to buffer the effects of stigma.

Molecular evidence of keratin and melanosomes in feathers of the Early Cretaceous bird Eoconfuciusornis

PubMed Central

Pan, Yanhong; Zheng, Wenxia; Moyer, Alison E.; O’Connor, Jingmai K.; Zheng, Xiaoting; Wang, Xiaoli; Schroeter, Elena R.; Zhou, Zhonghe; Schweitzer, Mary H.

2016-01-01

Microbodies associated with feathers of both nonavian dinosaurs and early birds were first identified as bacteria but have been reinterpreted as melanosomes. Whereas melanosomes in modern feathers are always surrounded by and embedded in keratin, melanosomes embedded in keratin in fossils has not been demonstrated. Here we provide multiple independent molecular analyses of both microbodies and the associated matrix recovered from feathers of a new specimen of the basal bird Eoconfuciusornis from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota of China. Our work represents the oldest ultrastructural and immunological recognition of avian beta-keratin from an Early Cretaceous (∼130-Ma) bird. We apply immunogold to identify protein epitopes at high resolution, by localizing antibody–antigen complexes to specific fossil ultrastructures. Retention of original keratinous proteins in the matrix surrounding electron-opaque microbodies supports their assignment as melanosomes and adds to the criteria employable to distinguish melanosomes from microbial bodies. Our work sheds new light on molecular preservation within normally labile tissues preserved in fossils. PMID:27872291

A Study to Determine the Perception of Business Persons on Changing from a Traditional Office to the Electronic Office.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ford, Geraldine A.; Ford, Jerry D.

A study examined the attitudes of employers from 10 firms in northwest Arkansas toward changing from a traditional office to an electronic one. Even though the 10 employers represented 7 different categories of industry (construction, manufacturing, transportation and public utilities, wholesale and retail trade, finance and real estate, services,…

Validating the Technology Acceptance Model in the Context of the Laboratory Information System-Electronic Health Record Interface System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aquino, Cesar A.

2014-01-01

This study represents a research validating the efficacy of Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by pairing it with the Organizational Change Readiness Theory (OCRT) to develop another extension to the TAM, using the medical Laboratory Information Systems (LIS)--Electronic Health Records (EHR) interface as the medium. The TAM posits that it is…

Zero to Six: Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rideout, Victoria J.; Vandewater, Elizabeth A.; Wartella, Ellen A.

Despite the plethora of new electronic media aimed at very young children, little is known about which media are available to children and whether or how children engage with them. This study reports on a nationally representative telephone survey of more than 1,000 parents of children ages 6 months through 6 years, conducted in Spring 2003. The…

Coal emissions adverse human health effects associated with ultrafine/nano-particles role and resultant engineering controls.

PubMed

Oliveira, Marcos L S; Navarro, Orlando G; Crissien, Tito J; Tutikian, Bernardo F; da Boit, Kátia; Teixeira, Elba C; Cabello, Juan J; Agudelo-Castañeda, Dayana M; Silva, Luis F O

2017-10-01

There are multiple elements which enable coal geochemistry: (1) boiler and pollution control system design parameters, (2) temperature of flue gas at collection point, (3) feed coal and also other fuels like petroleum coke, tires and biomass geochemistry and (4) fuel feed particle size distribution homogeneity distribution, maintenance of pulverisers, etc. Even though there is a large number of hazardous element pollutants in the coal-processing industry, investigations on micrometer and nanometer-sized particles including their aqueous colloids formation reactions and their behaviour entering the environment are relatively few in numbers. X-ray diffraction (XRD), High Resolution-Transmission Electron microscopy (HR-TEM)/ (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) EDS/ (selected-area diffraction pattern) SAED, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM)/EDS and granulometric distribution analysis were used as an integrated characterization techniques tool box to determine both geochemistry and nanomineralogy for coal fly ashes (CFAs) from Brazil´s largest coal power plant. Ultrafine/nano-particles size distribution from coal combustion emissions was estimated during the tests. In addition the iron and silicon content was determined as 54.6% of the total 390 different particles observed by electron bean, results aimed that these two particles represent major minerals in the environment particles normally. These data may help in future investigations to asses human health actions related with nano-particles. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Anterior lens epithelium in intumescent white cataracts - scanning and transmission electron microscopy study.

PubMed

Andjelic, Sofija; Drašlar, Kazimir; Hvala, Anastazija; Hawlina, Marko

2016-02-01

Our purpose was to study the structure of the lens epithelial cells (LECs) of intumescent white cataracts (IC) in comparison with nuclear cataracts (NC) in order to investigate possible structural reasons for development of IC. The anterior lens capsule (aLC: basement membrane and associated LECs) were obtained from cataract surgery and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We observed by SEM that in IC, LEC swelling was pronounced with the clefts surrounding the groups of LECs. Another structural feature was spherical formations, that were observed on the apical side of LEC's, towards the fibre cell layer, both by SEM and TEM. Development of these structures, bulging out from the apical cell membrane of the LEC's and disrupting it, could be followed in steps towards the sphere formation. The degeneration of the lens epithelium and the structures of the aLC in IC similar to Morgagnian globules were also observed. None of these structural changes were observed in NC. We show by SEM and TEM that, in IC, LECs have pronounced structural features not observed in NC. This supports the hypothesis that the disturbed structure of LECs plays a role in water accumulation in the IC lens. We also suggest that, in IC, LECs produce bulging spheres that represent unique structures of degenerated material, extruded from the LEC.

Electron acceptors for anaerobic oxidation of methane drive microbial community structure and diversity in mud volcanoes.

PubMed

Ren, Ge; Ma, Anzhou; Zhang, Yanfen; Deng, Ye; Zheng, Guodong; Zhuang, Xuliang; Zhuang, Guoqiang; Fortin, Danielle

2018-04-06

Mud volcanoes (MVs) emit globally significant quantities of methane into the atmosphere, however, methane cycling in such environments is not yet fully understood, as the roles of microbes and their associated biogeochemical processes have been largely overlooked. Here, we used data from high-throughput sequencing of microbial 16S rRNA gene amplicons from six MVs in the Junggar Basin in northwest China to quantify patterns of diversity and characterize the community structure of archaea and bacteria. We found anaerobic methanotrophs and diverse sulfate- and iron-reducing microbes in all of the samples, and the diversity of both archaeal and bacterial communities was strongly linked to the concentrations of sulfate, iron and nitrate, which could act as electron acceptors in anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). The impacts of sulfate/iron/nitrate on AOM in the MVs were verified by microcosm experiments. Further, two representative MVs were selected to explore the microbial interactions based on phylogenetic molecular ecological networks. The sites showed distinct network structures, key species and microbial interactions, with more complex and numerous linkages between methane-cycling microbes and their partners being observed in the iron/sulfate-rich MV. These findings suggest that electron acceptors are important factors driving the structure of microbial communities in these methane-rich environments. © 2018 The Authors. Environmental Microbiology published by Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Using Arden Syntax to Identify Registry-Eligible Very Low Birth Weight Neonates from the Electronic Health Record

PubMed Central

Sarkar, Indra Neil; Chen, Elizabeth S.; Rosenau, Paul T.; Storer, Matthew B.; Anderson, Beth; Horbar, Jeffrey D.

2014-01-01

Condition-specific registries are essential resources for supporting epidemiological, quality improvement, and clinical trial studies. The identification of potentially eligible patients for a given registry often involves a manual process or use of ad hoc software tools. With the increased availability of electronic health data, such as within Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, there is potential to develop healthcare standards based approaches for interacting with these data. Arden Syntax, which has traditionally been used to represent medical knowledge for clinical decision support, is one such standard that may be adapted for the purpose of registry eligibility determination. In this feasibility study, Arden Syntax was explored for its ability to represent eligibility criteria for a registry of very low birth weight neonates. The promising performance (100% recall; 97% precision) of the Arden Syntax approach at a single institution suggests that a standards-based methodology could be used to robustly identify registry-eligible patients from EHRs. PMID:25954412

Analytical and experimental performance of a dual-mode traveling wave tube and multistage depressed collector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramins, Peter; Force, Dale A.; Kosmahl, Henry G.

1987-01-01

A computational procedure for the design of traveling-wave-tube(TWT)/refocuser/multistage depressed collector (MDC) systems was used to design a short, permanent-magnet refocusing system and a highly efficient MDC for a medium-power, dual-mode, 4.8- to 9.6-GHz TWT. The computations were carried out with advanced, multidimensional computer programs which model the electron beam and follow the trajectories of representative charges from the radiofrequency (RF) input of the TWT, through the slow-wave structure and refocusing section, to their points of impact in the depressed collector. Secondary emission losses in the MDC were treated semiquantitatively by injecting representative secondary-electron-emission current into the MDA analysis at the point of impact of each primary beam. A comparison of computed and measured TWT and MDC performance showed very good agreement. The electrodes of the MDC were fabricated from a particluar form of isptropic graphite that was selected for its low secondary electron yield, ease of machinability, and vacuum properties.

Molecules Without Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruth, Anthony; Collins, Laura; Gomes, Kenjiro; Janko, Boldizsar

We present a real-space representation of molecules which results in the normal bonding rules and electronic structure of chemistry without atom-centered coulomb potentials. Using a simple mapping, we can generate atomless molecules from the structure of real molecules. Additionally, molecules without atoms show similar covalent bonding energies and transfer of charge in ionic bonds as real molecules. The atomless molecules contain only the valence and conduction electronic structure of the real molecule. Using the framework of the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) theory of Bader, we prove that the topological features of the valence charge distribution of molecules without atoms are identical to that of real molecules. In particular, the charge basins of atomless molecules show identical location and quantities of representative charge. We compare the accuracy, computational cost, and intuition gained from electronic structure calculations of molecules without atoms with the use of pseudopotentials to represent atomic cores in density functional theory. A. R. acknowledges support from a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship.

Fine structures of embryonic discs of in vivo post-hatching porcine blastocysts at the pre-primitive streak stage.

PubMed

Xia, P; Liu, Z; Qin, P

2011-04-01

To date, reports about the ultrastructure of porcine embryonic discs have not shown details of the primitive streak. The main objective of this study was to examine the ultrastructure of interior and exterior embryonic discs in porcine in vivo blastocysts with diameters of 1, 3 and 9 mm using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. For the first time, we revealed the ultrastructure of the unusual group of cells in the pre-primitive streak area of embryonic discs. The cells were 1-2 μm in diameter, had high electron density and contained abundant, free ribosomes and endoplasmic reticulum. These primitive streak cells could represent original embryonic stem cells or represent a stem cell niche. The results also showed three types of cells on the exterior surface of the embryonic discs. Moreover, our results provided morphological evidence of condensed nuclei in the smooth cells on the surface of the embryonic disc. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Position sensor for a fuel injection element in an internal combustion engine

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

Fulkerson, D.E.; Geske, M.L.

1987-08-18

This patent describes an electronic circuit for dynamically sensing and processing signals representative of changes in a magnet field, the circuit comprising: means for sensing a change in a magnetic field external to the circuit and providing an output representative of the change; circuit means electronically coupled with the output of the sensing means for providing an output indicating the presence of the magnetic field change; and a nulling circuit coupled with the output of the sensing means and across the indicating circuit means for nulling the electronic circuit responsive to the sensing means output, to thereby avoid ambient magneticmore » fields temperature and process variations, and wherein the nulling circuit comprises a capacitor coupled to the output of the nulling circuit, means for charging and discharging the capacitor responsive to any imbalance in the input to the nulling circuit, and circuit means coupling the capacitor with the output of the sensing means for nulling any imbalance during the charging or discharging of the capacitor.« less

Superconducting gap in cuprate high temperature superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Sanjeev K.; Kumari, Anita; Gupta, Anushri; Indu, B. D.

2018-05-01

The many body quantum dynamical evaluation of double time thermodynamic electron Green's functions followed by generalized electron density of states (EDOS) is used to study the superconducting gap (SG). The dependence of EDOS on defects, anharmonicity and electron-phonon interactions makes the problem quite complicated and challenging but furnishes the more realistic grounds to study the SG both in conventional and high temperature superconductors (HTS). For simplicity, only electron-phonon interaction has been taken up to evaluate the intricate integral to enumerate the SG for representative cuprate HTS: YBa2Cu3O7-δ and results show 2Δ/kBTc ⋍ 7.2.

Angular distribution of electrons from powerful accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stepovik, A. P.; Lartsev, V. D.; Blinov, V. S.

2007-07-01

A technique for measuring the angular distribution of electrons escaping from the center of the window of the IGUR-3 and ÉMIR-M powerful accelerators (designed at the All-Russia Institute of Technical Physics, Russian Federal Nuclear Center) into ambient air is presented, and measurement data are reported. The number of electrons is measured with cable detectors (the solid angle of the collimator of the detector is ≈0.01 sr). The measurements are made in three azimuthal directions in 120° intervals in the polar angle range 0 22°. The angular distributions of the electrons coming out of the accelerators are represented in the form of B splines.

On extending Kohn-Sham density functionals to systems with fractional number of electrons.

PubMed

Li, Chen; Lu, Jianfeng; Yang, Weitao

2017-06-07

We analyze four ways of formulating the Kohn-Sham (KS) density functionals with a fractional number of electrons, through extending the constrained search space from the Kohn-Sham and the generalized Kohn-Sham (GKS) non-interacting v-representable density domain for integer systems to four different sets of densities for fractional systems. In particular, these density sets are (I) ensemble interacting N-representable densities, (II) ensemble non-interacting N-representable densities, (III) non-interacting densities by the Janak construction, and (IV) non-interacting densities whose composing orbitals satisfy the Aufbau occupation principle. By proving the equivalence of the underlying first order reduced density matrices associated with these densities, we show that sets (I), (II), and (III) are equivalent, and all reduce to the Janak construction. Moreover, for functionals with the ensemble v-representable assumption at the minimizer, (III) reduces to (IV) and thus justifies the previous use of the Aufbau protocol within the (G)KS framework in the study of the ground state of fractional electron systems, as defined in the grand canonical ensemble at zero temperature. By further analyzing the Aufbau solution for different density functional approximations (DFAs) in the (G)KS scheme, we rigorously prove that there can be one and only one fractional occupation for the Hartree Fock functional, while there can be multiple fractional occupations for general DFAs in the presence of degeneracy. This has been confirmed by numerical calculations using the local density approximation as a representative of general DFAs. This work thus clarifies important issues on density functional theory calculations for fractional electron systems.

Highly scalable multichannel mesh electronics for stable chronic brain electrophysiology.

PubMed

Fu, Tian-Ming; Hong, Guosong; Viveros, Robert D; Zhou, Tao; Lieber, Charles M

2017-11-21

Implantable electrical probes have led to advances in neuroscience, brain-machine interfaces, and treatment of neurological diseases, yet they remain limited in several key aspects. Ideally, an electrical probe should be capable of recording from large numbers of neurons across multiple local circuits and, importantly, allow stable tracking of the evolution of these neurons over the entire course of study. Silicon probes based on microfabrication can yield large-scale, high-density recording but face challenges of chronic gliosis and instability due to mechanical and structural mismatch with the brain. Ultraflexible mesh electronics, on the other hand, have demonstrated negligible chronic immune response and stable long-term brain monitoring at single-neuron level, although, to date, it has been limited to 16 channels. Here, we present a scalable scheme for highly multiplexed mesh electronics probes to bridge the gap between scalability and flexibility, where 32 to 128 channels per probe were implemented while the crucial brain-like structure and mechanics were maintained. Combining this mesh design with multisite injection, we demonstrate stable 128-channel local field potential and single-unit recordings from multiple brain regions in awake restrained mice over 4 mo. In addition, the newly integrated mesh is used to validate stable chronic recordings in freely behaving mice. This scalable scheme for mesh electronics together with demonstrated long-term stability represent important progress toward the realization of ideal implantable electrical probes allowing for mapping and tracking single-neuron level circuit changes associated with learning, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases. Copyright © 2017 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

Sulfur Species as Redox Partners and Electron Shuttles for Ferrihydrite Reduction by Sulfurospirillum deleyianum

PubMed Central

Lohmayer, Regina; Kappler, Andreas; Lösekann-Behrens, Tina

2014-01-01

Iron(III) (oxyhydr)oxides can represent the dominant microbial electron acceptors under anoxic conditions in many aquatic environments, which makes understanding the mechanisms and processes regulating their dissolution and transformation particularly important. In a previous laboratory-based study, it has been shown that 0.05 mM thiosulfate can reduce 6 mM ferrihydrite indirectly via enzymatic reduction of thiosulfate to sulfide by the sulfur-reducing bacterium Sulfurospirillum deleyianum, followed by abiotic reduction of ferrihydrite coupled to reoxidation of sulfide. Thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, and polysulfides were proposed as reoxidized sulfur species functioning as electron shuttles. However, the exact electron transfer pathway remained unknown. Here, we present a detailed analysis of the sulfur species involved. Apart from thiosulfate, substoichiometric amounts of sulfite, tetrathionate, sulfide, or polysulfides also initiated ferrihydrite reduction. The portion of thiosulfate produced during abiotic ferrihydrite-dependent reoxidation of sulfide was about 10% of the total sulfur at maximum. The main abiotic oxidation product was elemental sulfur attached to the iron mineral surface, which indicates that direct contact between microorganisms and ferrihydrite is necessary to maintain the iron reduction process. Polysulfides were not detected in the liquid phase. Minor amounts were found associated either with microorganisms or the mineral phase. The abiotic oxidation of sulfide in the reaction with ferrihydrite was identified as rate determining. Cysteine, added as a sulfur source and a reducing agent, also led to abiotic ferrihydrite reduction and therefore should be eliminated when sulfur redox reactions are investigated. Overall, we could demonstrate the large impact of intermediate sulfur species on biogeochemical iron transformations. PMID:24632263

Rocks, when Stressed, turn into a Battery that is Rechargeable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lau, B. T.; Takeuchi, A. H.; Freund, F. T.

2006-12-01

Igneous rocks, when subjected to deviatory stresses, turn into a battery. We report on gabbro (Shanxi, China). We use steel pistons to load repeatedly ~10 cm3 in the center of 30 x 30 x 0.9 cm3 tiles, from 0 to 60 MPa, 1/3 failure strength, at 0.2 MPa/sec with 20-30 min at constant load. Instantly upon loading, a current begins to flow, increasing to 200-300 pA, equivalent to 30,000 to 50,000 A/km3. Under constant load the current continues to flow for at least 24 hrs with barely 10-20% reduction. During unloading the current stops but resumes during repetitive loading-unloading cycles for at least 22 times. One part of the current is carried by electrons. The electrons flow from the stressed rock into the steel pistons, through the external circuit to the edges of the tile. The other part is carried by holes. The holes flow inside the rock, from the stressed to the unstressed rock and to the edges of the tile. There they meet the electrons, thereby closing the circuit. Both types of charge carriers, electrons and holes, are associated with oxygen anions that changed their valence from 2- to 1- (peroxy). An O- among O2- represents a defect electron in the O2- sublattice, known as positive hole or p-hole for short. In unstressed rocks the O- exist in an electrically inactive form as O- pairs, chemically equivalent to peroxy links, O3X-OO-XO3 with X = Si4+, Al3+ etc. Deviatory stresses cause the peroxy links to break, allowing electrons from neighboring O2- to jump in and p-holes to jump out. The p-holes can spread into and through the unstressed rock using energy levels in the valence band. To observe sustained currents the battery circuit has to close.

Stress-Activated Electronic Charge Carriers in Igneous Rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, C. T.; Jones, H. H.; Freund, F. T.

2006-12-01

Igneous rocks, when subjected to deviatory stress, turn into a battery. We report on gabbro (Shanxi, China) and anorthosite (Larvik, Norway). We use tiles, 30 x 30 x 0.9 cm3, and a pair of steel pistons, 4.4 cm diameter to subject a small off-center volume of ~10 cm3 to 10 MPa, about 5% failure strength. Instantly upon loading, two types of electronic charge carriers are activated in the stressed rock volume and a current begins to flow. One current leg is carried by holes, which flow from the stressed through the unstressed rock to the edges of the tile. The other current leg is carried by electrons, which flow from the stressed rock into the steel pistons and through the external wire to the edge, where they meet the holes. We have measured the impedance of the gabbro and anorthosite over the frequency range from <1 Hz to 10 MHz. We measured the impedence across the 10 cm3 volume between the two pistons and a similar volume outside the pistons in the path of the holes flowing to the edges of the tile: (1) before loading, (2) during loading. We obtain thus information about both types of charge carriers, electrons and holes. Both are associated with oxygen anions that changed their valence from 2- to 1- (peroxy). An O- among O2- represents a defect electron in the O2- sublattice, known as positive hole or p-hole for short. In unstressed rocks the O- exist in an electrically inactive form as O- pairs, chemically equivalent to peroxy links, O3X-OO-XO3 with X = Si4+, Al3+ etc. Stresses cause the peroxy links to break, allowing electrons from neighboring O2- to jump in and p-holes to jump out. The p-holes can spread through unstressed rocks using energy levels at the upper edge of the valence band.

The Association Between Electronic Bullying and School Absenteeism Among High School Students in the United States.

PubMed

Grinshteyn, Erin; Yang, Y T

2017-02-01

We examined the relationship between exposure to electronic bullying and absenteeism as a result of being afraid. This multivariate, multinomial regression analysis of the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data assessed the association between experiencing electronic bullying in the past year and how often students were absent in the last month due to feeling unsafe at/in transit to school. The model controlled for other predictors of school absence including demographics, physical/behavioral health, and risk factors. Missing data were multiply imputed. Electronic bullying was significantly associated with absences. Controlling for model covariates, the relative risk of missing 1 day of school was 1.77 times higher, the relative risk of missing 2 to 3 days of school per month increased by a factor of 2.08, and the relative risk of missing 4 or more days of school per month increased by a factor of 1.77 for those who experienced electronic bullying in the past year compared with those who were not electronically bullied. Electronic bullying's association with absenteeism places it among already recognized negative influences such as depression and binge drinking, necessitating schools to implement policies to mediate the resulting harmful effects. © 2017, American School Health Association.

An evaluation of the NQF Quality Data Model for representing Electronic Health Record driven phenotyping algorithms.

PubMed

Thompson, William K; Rasmussen, Luke V; Pacheco, Jennifer A; Peissig, Peggy L; Denny, Joshua C; Kho, Abel N; Miller, Aaron; Pathak, Jyotishman

2012-01-01

The development of Electronic Health Record (EHR)-based phenotype selection algorithms is a non-trivial and highly iterative process involving domain experts and informaticians. To make it easier to port algorithms across institutions, it is desirable to represent them using an unambiguous formal specification language. For this purpose we evaluated the recently developed National Quality Forum (NQF) information model designed for EHR-based quality measures: the Quality Data Model (QDM). We selected 9 phenotyping algorithms that had been previously developed as part of the eMERGE consortium and translated them into QDM format. Our study concluded that the QDM contains several core elements that make it a promising format for EHR-driven phenotyping algorithms for clinical research. However, we also found areas in which the QDM could be usefully extended, such as representing information extracted from clinical text, and the ability to handle algorithms that do not consist of Boolean combinations of criteria.

Rational Design of an Electron-Reservoir Pt(II) Complex for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Water.

PubMed

Whang, Dong Ryeol; Park, Soo Young

2015-10-12

Herein we report a Pt(II) complex containing a 4,4'-bis[4-(triphenylsilyl)phenyl]-2,2'-bipyridine ligand as a molecular catalyst for water splitting. Systematic studies of the electrochemical and electronic properties of this catalyst, in comparison with two control complexes, reveal electron-reservoir characteristics upon two-electron reduction. A turnover number of 510,000 was recorded by employing this complex as a water reduction catalyst in combination with a state-of-the-art photosensitizer and N,N-dimethylaniline as a sacrificial electron donor, which represents a large improvement over the control complexes that do not contain the tetraphenylsilyl ligand substitution. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.