Structure and radiation effect of Er-stuffed pyrochlore Er2(Ti2-xErx)O7-x/2 (x = 0-0.667)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, D. Y.; Xu, C. P.; Fu, E. G.; Wen, J.; Liu, C. G.; Zhang, K. Q.; Wang, Y. Q.; Li, Y. H.

2015-08-01

Er-stuffed pyrochlore series Er2(Ti2-xErx)O7-x/2 (x = 0, 0.162, 0.286, 0.424 and 0.667) were synthesized using conventional ceramic processing procedures. The structure of Er2(Ti2-xErx)O7-x/2 is effectively tailored by the Er stuffing level (x). In order to study the radiation effect of Er-stuffed pyrochlores, irradiation experiments were performed with 400 keV Ne2+ ions to fluences ranging from 5 × 1014 to 3.0 × 1015 ions/cm2 at cryogenic condition. Irradiation induced microstructural evolution was examined using a grazing incidence X-ray diffraction technique. It is found that the irradiated layer of Er2(Ti2-xErx)O7-x/2 undergoes significant lattice disordering and swelling at fluences of ⩽1.5 × 1015 ions/cm2 and amorphization at fluences of ⩾1.5 × 1015 ions/cm2. The radiation effect depends strongly on the chemical compositions of the samples. Both the lattice swelling percentage and the amorphous fraction decrease with increasing x. The experimental results are discussed in the context of cation antisite defect. The defect formation energy which varies as a function of x is responsible for the difference in the structural behaviors of Er2(Ti2-xErx)O7-x/2 under 400 keV Ne2+ ion irradiation.

Degradation of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in blueberry jams/stuffed fish.

PubMed

Queiroz, Filipa; Oliveira, Carla; Pinho, Olívia; Ferreira, Isabel M P L V O

2009-11-25

This study examined the effects of cooking on the degradation of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) from cultivar Bluecrop. Fruits were used to prepare jams with different degrees Brix and stuffed fish. A systematic evaluation of the degradation of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins of blueberries was performed; for that purpose an HPLC/DAD method was used to determine anthocyanin profile and anthocyanidin contents in fresh and cooked blueberries and in jams. Ten anthocyanins were separated and monitored in methanolic extracts. Of the six common anthocyanidins, four were identified in the hydrolysates, namely, delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin and malvidin. Percentage of degradation of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in jams is highly dependent on degrees Brix: 64-76 degrees Brix led to 20-30% degradation, whereas 80 degrees Brix resulted in degradation between 50 and 60%. Percentage of degradation of anthocyanins in whole blueberries cooked in stuffed fish ranged between 45 and 50%, however, for anthocyanidins, the percentage of degradation was significantly lower, between 12 and 30%, indicating that this cooking procedure can preserve anthocyanidin degradation.

Stuffed Dinosaur

NASA Image and Video Library

2013-09-22

ISS037-E-002783 (22 Sept. 2013) --- NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, Expedition 37 flight engineer, made this stuffed dinosaur toy aboard the International Space Station, using scraps of food-packaging liners and a T-shirt. She sent images of it to her young son on Sept. 22. Many of the astronaut’s hobbies lean toward artistic pursuits. She has let it be known that she loves to create different things through quilting, sewing and sketching. Nyberg took four “fat quarters” (pieces of fabric that are 18 by 22 inches) with her to the International Space Station along with needles, thread and a sketchbook when she launched to space on May 28.

Screening on oil-decomposing microorganisms and application in organic waste treatment machine.

PubMed

Lu, Yi-Tong; Chen, Xiao-Bin; Zhou, Pei; Li, Zhen-Hong

2005-01-01

As an oil-decomposable mixture of two bacteria strains (Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.), Y3 was isolated after 50 d domestication under the condition that oil was used as the limited carbon source. The decomposing rate by Y3 was higher than that by each separate individual strain, indicating a synergistic effect of the two bacteria. Under the conditions that T = 25-40 degrees C, pH = 6-8, HRT (Hydraulic retention time) = 36 h and the oil concentration at 0.1%, Y3 yielded the highest decomposing rate of 95.7%. Y3 was also applied in an organic waste treatment machine and a certain rate of activated bacteria was put into the stuffing. A series of tests including humidity, pH, temperature, C/N rate and oil percentage of the stuffing were carried out to check the efficacy of oil-decomposition. Results showed that the oil content of the stuffing with inoculums was only half of that of the control. Furthermore, the bacteria were also beneficial to maintain the stability of the machine operating. Therefore, the bacteria mixture as well as the machines in this study could be very useful for waste treatment.

Crystal field excitations from Yb3 + ions at defective sites in highly stuffed Yb2Ti2O7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sala, G.; Maharaj, D. D.; Stone, M. B.; Dabkowska, H. A.; Gaulin, B. D.

2018-06-01

The pyrochlore magnet Yb2Ti2O7 has been proposed as a quantum spin ice candidate, a spin liquid state expected to display emergent quantum electrodynamics with gauge photons among its elementary excitations. However, Yb2Ti2O7 's ground state is known to be very sensitive to its precise stoichiometry. Powder samples, produced by solid-state synthesis at relatively low temperatures, tend to be stoichiometric, while single crystals grown from the melt tend to display weak "stuffing" wherein ˜2 % of the Yb3 +, normally at the A site of the A2B2O7 pyrochlore structure, reside as well at the B site. In such samples Yb3 + ions should exist in defective environments at low levels and be subjected to crystalline electric fields very different from those at the stoichiometric A sites. Neutron scattering measurements of Yb3 + in four compositions of Yb2 +xTi2 -xO7 -y show the spectroscopic signatures for these defective Yb3 + ions and explicitly demonstrate that the spin anisotropy of the Yb3 + moment changes from X Y -like for stoichiometric Yb3 + to Ising-like for "stuffed" B site Yb3 + or for A site Yb3 + in the presence of oxygen vacancies.

Effects of age on associating virtual and embodied toys.

PubMed

Okita, Sandra Y

2004-08-01

Technologies such as videos, toys, and video games are used as tools in delivering education to young children. Do children spontaneously transfer between virtual and real-world mediums as they learn? Fifty-six children learned facts about a toy dog presented through varying levels of technology and interactivity (e.g., video game, stuffed animal, picture books). They then met a similar dog character in a new embodiment (e.g., as a stuffed animal if first met the dog as video character). Would children spontaneously generalize the facts they learned about the dog character across mediums (dynamic and static environments)? Results indicate that younger children were more likely to generalize facts across mediums. Specific aspects of the level of technology and interactivity had little effect.

Scabies

MedlinePlus

... too. Wash clothing, sheets, and towels in hot water and dry on a hot setting. Put stuffed animals and other items that ... Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin ...

Cellulite (image)

MedlinePlus

... arranged in large chambers separated by columns of collagen fibers. In overweight people excess fat is stuffed ... may all attribute to the weakening of the collagen fibers to give the cellulite appearance.

Social predisposition dependent neuronal activity in the intermediate medial mesopallium of domestic chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus).

PubMed

Mayer, Uwe; Rosa-Salva, Orsola; Lorenzi, Elena; Vallortigara, Giorgio

2016-09-01

Species from phylogenetically distant animal groups, such as birds and primates including humans, share early experience-independent social predispositions that cause offspring, soon after birth, to attend to and learn about conspecifics. One example of this phenomenon is provided by the behaviour of newly-hatched visually-naïve domestic chicks that preferentially approach a stimulus resembling a conspecific (a stuffed fowl) rather than a less naturalistic object (a scrambled version of the stuffed fowl). However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying this behaviour are mostly unknown. Here we analysed chicks' brain activity with immunohistochemical detection of the transcription factor c-Fos. In a spontaneous choice test we confirmed a significant preference for approaching the stuffed fowl over a texture fowl (a fowl that was cut in small pieces attached to the sides of a box in scrambled order). Comparison of brain activation of a subgroup of chicks that approached either one or the other stimulus revealed differential activation in an area relevant for imprinting (IMM, intermediate medial mesopallium), suggesting that a different level of plasticity is associated with approach to naturalistic and artificial stimuli. c-Fos immunoreactive neurons were present also in the intermediate layers of the optic tectum (a plausible candidate for processing early social predispositions) showing a trend similar to the results for the IMM. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stuffed MO layer as a diffusion barrier in metallizations for high temperature electronics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boah, J. K.; Russell, V.; Smith, D. P.

1981-01-01

Auger electron spectroscopy was employed to characterize the diffusion barrier properties of molybdenum in the CrSi2/Mo/Au metallization system. The barrier action of Mo was demonstrated to persist even after 2000 hours annealing time at 300 C in a nitrogen ambient. At 340 C annealing temperature, however, rapid interdiffusion was observed to have occurred between the various metal layers after only 261 hours. The presence of controlled amounts of oxygen in the Mo layer is believed to be responsible for suppressing the short circuit interdiffusion between the thin film layers. Above 340 C, its is believed that the increase in the oxygen mobility led to deterioration of its stuffing action, resulting in the rapid interdiffusion of the thin film layers along grain boundaries.

Pantothenic Acid

MedlinePlus

... distension) due to reduced intestinal function, and for gas following surgery or pregnancy. A nasal spray containing dexpanthenol is used to reduce the feeling of having a stuffed nose (nasal obstruction) and to reduce a runny nose (nasal discharge).

Bedtime habits for infants and children

MedlinePlus

... stuffed animal or special blanket may give the child some security after the lights are turned out. Before you turn out the light, ask if the child needs anything else. Meeting a simple request is ...

CLOSURE DEVICE

DOEpatents

Linzell, S.M.; Dorcy, D.J.

1958-08-26

A quick opening type of stuffing box employing two banks of rotatable shoes, each of which has a caraming action that forces a neoprene sealing surface against a pipe or rod where it passes through a wall is presented. A ring having a handle or wrench attached is placed eccentric to and between the two banks of shoes. Head bolts from the shoes fit into slots in this ring, which are so arranged that when the ring is rotated a quarter turn in one direction the shoes are thrust inwardly to cramp the neopnrene about the pipe, malting a tight seal. Moving the ring in the reverse direction moves the shoes outwardly and frees the pipe which then may be readily removed from the stuffing box. This device has particular application as a closure for the end of a coolant tube of a neutronic reactor.

An integrated approach to extend the shelf life of a composite pastry product (cannoli).

PubMed

Del Nobile, M A; Muratore, G; Conte, A; Incoronato, A L; Panza, O

2009-12-01

In this study, a combined approach is proposed to extend the shelf life of a composite pastry product (cannoli). In particular, to delay moisture migration, one, two, or three layers of a zein-based coating were studied. A three-layer coating represented the most effective solution to prevent rapid pastry softening. A subsequent experimental trial was aimed to prolong the shelf life of the ricotta-based stuffing. To this aim, two different antimicrobial compounds (lysozyme and lemon extract) at three concentrations (2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 ppm) were investigated separately from a microbiological and a sensorial point of view. Lemon extract was the active compound that received a better score, thus suggesting using 2,000 ppm of citrus extract in the last step. In the final experimental trial, cannoli were coated with three layers of zein, stuffed with ricotta containing the selected active agent, and packaged in two microperforated films. The use of zein-based coating and the lemon extract in the ricotta stuffing, combined with the barrier properties of the selected packaging materials, allowed a significant prolongation of cannoli shelf life, regardless of the type of film: a shelf life of more than 3 days was recorded, compared with the control samples, which were acceptable for less than 2 days. It is reasonable to assume that the proposed integrated approach could boost the distribution of the investigated typical pastry beyond local borders.

Preparing children for pregnancy and a new baby

MedlinePlus

... Going to the playground Playing with their favorite toys Reading books with you Avoid telling your child ... help." For younger children, a small gift (a toy or stuffed animal) "from the baby" is often ...

Diffusion barriers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nicolet, M. A.

1983-01-01

The choice of the metallic film for the contact to a semiconductor device is discussed. One way to try to stabilize a contact is by interposing a thin film of a material that has low diffusivity for the atoms in question. This thin film application is known as a diffusion barrier. Three types of barriers can be distinguished. The stuffed barrier derives its low atomic diffusivity to impurities that concentrate along the extended defects of a polycrystalline layer. Sacrificial barriers exploit the fact that some (elemental) thin films react in a laterally uniform and reproducible fashion. Sacrificial barriers have the advantage that the point of their failure is predictable. Passive barriers are those most closely approximating an ideal barrier. The most-studied case is that of sputtered TiN films. Stuffed barriers may be viewed as passive barriers whose low diffusivity material extends along the defects of the polycrystalline host.

Dilute stuffing in the pyrochlore iridate Eu2Ir2O7

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Telang, Prachi; Mishra, Kshiti; Sood, A. K.; Singh, Surjeet

2018-06-01

The pyrochlore Eu2Ir2O7 has recently attracted significant attention as a candidate Weyl semimetal. The previous reports on this compound unanimously show a thermally induced metal-to-insulator (MI) transition, concomitant with antiferromagnetic long-range ordering of the Ir moments below TN˜120 K. However, there are contradictory reports concerning the slope d ρ /d T of the resistivity plots (ρ ) in the "metallic" state above the MI transition, and the value of ρ in the insulating state, both of which show significant sample dependence. Here, we explore this issue by investigating six different Eu2Ir2O7 samples with slightly varying Eu:Ir ratio. High-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction is done to probe minor variations in the cell parameters of the various Eu2Ir2O7 samples investigated here. Specific heat (Cp) and magnetic susceptibility of all the samples showed long-range antiferromagnetic ordering upon cooling below TN˜120 K. The transitions are, however, found to be smeared out for the off-stoichiometric samples. We show that the sign of d ρ /d T above the MI transition is highly sensitive to the unit-cell length, which, in turn, depends on the level of Eu stuffing at the Ir site. Samples with composition close to the ideal stoichiometry (Eu:Ir =1 ) showed a change of sign of d ρ /d T from negative to positive upon cooling below a certain temperature T*>TMI . With increasing Eu stuffing, T* decreased until a negative d ρ /d T persisted without any sign change down to TMI.

PCM synchronization by word stuffing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butman, S.

1969-01-01

When a transmitted word, consisting of a number of pulses, is detected and removed from the data stream, the space left by the removal is eliminated by a memory buffer. This eliminates the need for a clock synchronizer thereby removing instability problems.

Cognitive Achievements in Identification Skills

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Randler, Christoph; Bogner, Franz X.

2006-01-01

Species identification tasks are generally accepted as fundamental aspects of biodiversity education. Our educational training unit, therefore, focused on identification skills by introducing stuffed specimens in combination with identification books and preparation booklets. We limited the number of bird species to six. 492 secondary school…

Toddler Reading Time

MedlinePlus

... stuffed bears, find books about these things of interest. Kids this age also like books about children, families, and animals. Toddlers love to look at homemade books, scrapbooks, or photo albums full of people they know (try adding simple captions). Poetry and songbooks are good choices for ...

Adventures in Art.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ladewig-Goodman, Jeanne

Classroom teachers are provided with ideas and procedures for teaching art in grades one through six. The activities encourage individuality, creativity, and aesthetic awareness in the child. For grades one through three, activity suggestions include two-dimensional painting, painting stuffed animals, and painting with sponges; paper tearing and…

Managing Volunteers.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Geber, Beverly

1991-01-01

Discusses changing nature of volunteers in Peter Drucker's book "Managing the Nonprofit Corporation." Points out that most volunteers have full-time jobs, families, very little leisure; they are not willing to do such routine work as stuffing envelopes; they want carefully defined projects with beginning and end. Discusses real…

Space-to-Ground: Stuffed with Science: 11/17/2017

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-11-16

S.S. Gene Cernan arrives to station...Experiment will examine how microgravity affects the bacteria's ability to thrive...and who answers astronauts questions about experiments? NASA's Space to Ground is your weekly update on what's happening aboard the International Space Station.

[PHAHs levels in soil samples from the E-waste disassembly sites and their sources allocation].

PubMed

Zhao, Gao-Feng; Wang, Zi-Jian

2009-06-15

Soil samples (each with 3 replicates of - 1 kg, at the top 0-5 cm layer) were collected from each of the e-waste disassembly sites and the control site. Also obtained from each disassembly site were samples (each weighing - 0.2 kg) of cable coating,stuffing powder, and circuit boards chipping. The contents of 23 PBB congeners, 12 PBDE congeners, and 27 PCB congeners in soil and in their potential sources, including e-waste residues, were measured using the GC-MS5975B technique. The highest level of PBBs was found in the cable coating among the three e-waste residues, with a concentration of 35.25 ng x g(-1). The contents of low-brominated PBBs (including monobromobiphenyls and dibromobiphenyls) accounted for 38% of the total PBBs concentration observed in cable coating sample. The highest levels of PBDEs and PBDE209 were found in the stuffing powder for electronic component among the collected e-waste residues, with a concentration of 29.71 and 4.19 x 10(3) ng x g(-1). PBDE153 and PBDE183 were the most predominant PBDE congeners, with their concentration accounting for 43% and 24% of the total PBDEs concentration observed in the stuffing powder sample, respectively. Levels of PCBs in cable coating were the highest in these e-waste residues, with a concentration of 680.02 ngx g(-1). The observed values of the three PHAHs in soils from the disassembly site were considerably higher than their corresponding values observed in the control site (p < 0.05), which indicates that these PHAHs from e-waste is the pollution source of local environment.

Getting Parents Involved.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butts, Vickie; Finch, Patty A.

1985-01-01

Describes a parental involvement program in reading, writing, and human education. The project consists of caring for Clifford, a stuffed toy dog, on a rotated basis by first grade students. Books and pet care items accompany Clifford and provide an opportunity for parent and child to work together. (ML)

Failure of surgical treatment in methamphetamine body-stuffers.

PubMed

Bahrami-Motlagh, Hooman; Hassanian-Moghaddam, Hossein; Behnam, Behdad; Arab-Ahmadi, Mehran

2015-05-01

Body stuffing is defined as ingestion of unpackaged or packaged illicit drugs in a quick process. The drugs have usually been wrapped loosely in cellophane, plastic bags, paper, or aluminum foil. Methamphetamine toxicity is a dangerous state that occurs during methamphetamine leakage from the ingested packages in the gastrointestinal tract. This is usually occurring with cocaine and heroin, but methamphetamine body stuffing may less commonly happen, as well. Accordingly, management of methamphetamine body-stuffers is an important subject that has remained a controversy in clinical and legal aspects. We have reported two body-stuffer cases who underwent exploratory laparotomy. Although surgery was done, it was not useful to exit packs and even led to severe methamphetamine toxicity. These cases show that surgical treatment may be ineffective and even harmful in body-stuffers. On the other hand, this report suggests that pre and post-operation abdominal CT-scan is necessary for evaluating surgical treatment in patients who are still symptomatic. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

30 CFR 7.302 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... conduit box when specified. A motor assembly is comprised of one or more explosion-proof enclosures. Plane.... A metallic enclosure used as a winding compartment, conduit box, or a combination of both that... portions. Stuffing box. An entrance with a recess filled with packing material for cables extending through...

30 CFR 7.302 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... conduit box when specified. A motor assembly is comprised of one or more explosion-proof enclosures. Plane.... A metallic enclosure used as a winding compartment, conduit box, or a combination of both that... portions. Stuffing box. An entrance with a recess filled with packing material for cables extending through...

30 CFR 7.302 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... conduit box when specified. A motor assembly is comprised of one or more explosion-proof enclosures. Plane.... A metallic enclosure used as a winding compartment, conduit box, or a combination of both that... portions. Stuffing box. An entrance with a recess filled with packing material for cables extending through...

22. Photocopy of photograph (original in the Langley Research Center ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

22. Photocopy of photograph (original in the Langley Research Center Archives, Hampton, VA LaRC) (L6415) STUFFED SEAGULL ON CARRIAGE OF TOWING TANK - 1932; EXPERIMENT TO DETERMINE AERODYNAMIC QUALITIES OF BIRDS. - NASA Langley Research Center, Seaplane Towing Channel, 108 Andrews Street, Hampton, Hampton, VA

An Analysis of Military Use of Commercial Satellite Communications

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

frequent visits to my office (complete with hugs, throwing of stuffed animals, and random strumming of my guitar ) helped to ensure the maintenance of...policy). This option is the primary recommendation of this thesis, although the Depot 50/50 Paradigm also scored relatively high. The following

On the Road with Punxsy Phil

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuntz, Jeffrey J.; Snyder, John

2004-01-01

This article describes how one substitute teacher traveling the United States as a meet intern with USA Track and Field, a classroom teacher with an eager group of fifth graders, one stuffed Punxsy Phil groundhog, the Pennsylvania Academic Standards and a digital camera combined to form a collaborative classroom travel project entitled,…

46 CFR 32.65-20 - Pumprooms-TB/ALL.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... bulkhead between the pumproom and the pump-engine compartment may be pierced by fixed lights, drive shaft and pump-engine control rods, provided that the shafts and rods are fitted with stuffing boxes where... their cargo pumps isolated from all sources of vapor ignition by gastight bulkheads. Totally enclosed...

46 CFR 32.65-20 - Pumprooms-TB/ALL.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... bulkhead between the pumproom and the pump-engine compartment may be pierced by fixed lights, drive shaft and pump-engine control rods, provided that the shafts and rods are fitted with stuffing boxes where... their cargo pumps isolated from all sources of vapor ignition by gastight bulkheads. Totally enclosed...

46 CFR 32.65-20 - Pumprooms-TB/ALL.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... bulkhead between the pumproom and the pump-engine compartment may be pierced by fixed lights, drive shaft and pump-engine control rods, provided that the shafts and rods are fitted with stuffing boxes where... their cargo pumps isolated from all sources of vapor ignition by gastight bulkheads. Totally enclosed...

46 CFR 32.65-20 - Pumprooms-TB/ALL.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... bulkhead between the pumproom and the pump-engine compartment may be pierced by fixed lights, drive shaft and pump-engine control rods, provided that the shafts and rods are fitted with stuffing boxes where... their cargo pumps isolated from all sources of vapor ignition by gastight bulkheads. Totally enclosed...

46 CFR 32.65-20 - Pumprooms-TB/ALL.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... bulkhead between the pumproom and the pump-engine compartment may be pierced by fixed lights, drive shaft and pump-engine control rods, provided that the shafts and rods are fitted with stuffing boxes where... their cargo pumps isolated from all sources of vapor ignition by gastight bulkheads. Totally enclosed...

Is That Penguin Stuffed or Real?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ohanian, Susan

1996-01-01

Like sugaring, teaching requires immense patience. Superintendents can force textbooks on teachers but cannot make them use them. Not every high schooler needs an elitist, college-bound education, but no one needs to be bribed or threatened into learning or reading. Alternative texts and approaches can be used to help students discover a…

46 CFR 63.20-1 - Specific control system requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... interlock must ensure low fire start when variable firing rates are used. (c) Water level controls and low water cutoff controls. Water level controls must be constructed and located to minimize the effects of vessel roll and pitch. Float chamber low water cutoff controls using stuffing boxes to transmit the...

46 CFR 63.20-1 - Specific control system requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... interlock must ensure low fire start when variable firing rates are used. (c) Water level controls and low water cutoff controls. Water level controls must be constructed and located to minimize the effects of vessel roll and pitch. Float chamber low water cutoff controls using stuffing boxes to transmit the...

46 CFR 63.20-1 - Specific control system requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... interlock must ensure low fire start when variable firing rates are used. (c) Water level controls and low water cutoff controls. Water level controls must be constructed and located to minimize the effects of vessel roll and pitch. Float chamber low water cutoff controls using stuffing boxes to transmit the...

12. Photocopy of old photo shows the saloon, then owned ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

12. Photocopy of old photo shows the saloon, then owned by Melvin Wiegel, in business from 1907-1945. Stuffed wild animals and birds decorate the saloon, date unknown. Original photograph at Idaho Historical Society, Boise, Idaho. - Miners' Exchange Block, Main & Wall Streets, Idaho City, Boise County, ID

16 CFR 437.3 - Severability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

..., stuffing envelopes from the purchaser's home. (d) Designated person means any person, other than the seller... be made directly or indirectly through a third party. A required payment does not include payments...: (1) Has a reasonable basis for its claim at the time the claim is made; (2) Has in its possession...

40 CFR 61.135 - Standard: Equipment leaks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Emissions from Coke By-Product Recovery Plants § 61.135 Standard: Equipment leaks. (a) Each owner or... benzene service. (d) Each exhauster shall be monitored quarterly to detect leaks by the methods specified... stuffing box pressure; or (ii) Equipped with a barrier fluid system that is connected by a closed vent...

Design and Development of a Smart Storytelling Toy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kara, Nuri; Aydin, Cansu Cigdem; Cagiltay, Kursat

2014-01-01

Because computers generally make children passive listeners, new technological devices need to support children's storytelling activities. This article introduces the StoryTech, a smart toy that includes a virtual space comprised of computer-based graphics and characters as well as a real space that involves stuffed animals, background cards…

Low Tech Solutions: A Place To Begin.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ensign, Arselia S., Ed.

1992-01-01

This guide presents low tech solutions that have worked for some people with disabilities or their parents. Twenty-one ideas are offered to give children with physical disabilities more opportunities for play and art. Examples include recycling stuffed animals into puppets, punching a hole in top of playing cards to accommodate a mouth stick, and…

It's Time the Locker Got a Facelift

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schneider, Tod

2009-01-01

Lockers are often begrudging investments, scraped from the bottom of the budget barrel. This is unfortunate for a number of reasons, one of which is that they often serve as the internal face of the school: endless, grim sentries lining mile-long halls. Alternately, they may be entombed, a catacomb of visual obstacles stuffed into independent…

Sign-a-Palooza

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McMorran, Charles; Reynolds, Veronica

2010-01-01

A halo of signs, some stuffed into thick plastic sheaths while others curled under yellow tape, cluttered the service desks of the New City Library. They bleated out messages of closings, procedures, and warnings. Their number undermined their cause. All too often a customer would ask a question that was answered by the very sign they had pushed…

Hey, There's a Forest in that Classroom!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Scott; Coppedge, Ginny

2004-01-01

In this article, the author describes another teacher's unique approach to teaching science in one unusual second grade classroom. Immediately upon entering the classroom, the author was surrounded by an array of colors, shapes, and objects typically found in a forest. A multitude of puppets, stuffed animals, and live animals filled the classroom.…

Interactive Media to Support Language Acquisition for Deaf Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parton, Becky Sue; Hancock, Robert; Crain-Dorough, Mindy; Oescher, Jeff

2009-01-01

Tangible computing combines digital feedback with physical interactions - an important link for young children. Through the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, a real-world object (i.e. a chair) or a symbolic toy (i.e. a stuffed bear) can be tagged so that students can activate multimedia learning modules automatically. The…

Word Learning in Children following Cochlear Implantation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houston, Derek M.; Carter, Allyson K.; Pisoni, David B.; Kirk, Karen Iler; Ying, Elizabeth A.

2005-01-01

An experimental procedure was developed to investigate word-learning skills of children who use cochlear implants (CIs). Using interactive play scenarios, 2- to 5-year olds were presented with sets of objects (Beanie Baby stuffed animals) and words for their names that corresponded to salient perceptual attributes (e.g., "horns" for a goat). Their…

Basic study on the most relaxing respiration period in children to aid the development of a respiration-leading stuffed toy.

PubMed

Uratani, Hiroki; Yoshino, Kohzoh; Ohsuga, Mieko

2014-01-01

Following natural disasters, accidents, and shocking incidents, some children experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The respiration control method, which relaxes the body and mind, may efficiently prevent PTSD. Therefore, we developed a stuffed toy that leads children's respiration using the up-and-down movement of the abdomen to help them relax. We investigated the most appropriate respiration period for children's relaxation. Data from studies on heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback training suggest that breathing at the respiration period at which HRV is the highest is effective for improving chronic diseases. Therefore, we measured the relationship between the respiration period and physiological indices, including HRV. The participants were 10 children aged 5-12 years. HRV was the highest at a 10-12-s respiration period in all 10 children. However, the most suitable respiration period for smooth breathing and relaxation was different from that at which HRV is the highest. Therefore, the most relaxing respiration periods for children need to be determined by indices other than HRV.

Development of survival skills in captive-raised Siberian polecats (Mustela eversmanni) II: predator avoidance

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, Brian; Biggins, Dean; Wemmer, Chris; Powell, Roger; Calvo, Lorena; Hanebury, Lou; Wharton, Tracy

1990-01-01

We exposed naive Siberain polecats (Mustela eversmanni) (aged 2, 3, and 4 months) to a swooping stuffed great horned owl (Buho virginianus) and a stuffed badger (Taxidae taxus) mounted on a remote control toy automobile frame. The first introduction to each was harmless, the second was accompanied by a mild aversive stimulus, the third (1 day after attack) was harmless, and the fourth (30 days after attack) was harmless. Alert behavior increased after a single attack by either predator model. Escape responses of naive polecats did not differ between ages when exposed to the badger, but 4 month old polecats reduced their escape times after a single badger attack. When exposed to the swooping owl, naive 4 month old polecats redponded more quickly than the other two age groups, and 3 and 4 month old polecats reduced escape times after a single owl attack. This indicates an innate escape response to the owl model at 4 months of age, and a short-tert ability to remember a single mild aversive encounter with the badger and owl models at 3 or 4 months of age.

Valve leakage inspection, testing, and maintenance process

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

Aikin, J.A.; Reinwald, J.W.

1989-01-01

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited-Research Company (AECL-RC), Chalk River, has more than 50 person-years dedicated toward the leak-free valve. In the early 1970s, the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories (CRNL) developed valve stem live-loading and recently completed the packing tests for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)-funded Valve Packing Improvement Study. Current safety concerns with asbestos-based valve packings and the difficulty in removing newer graphite packings prompted CRNL to investigate methods to improve valve repacking procedures. The present practice of valve packing replacement is very labor-intensive, requiring use of hand tools such as corkscrew devices and special packing picks. Use ofmore » water jets to cut or fragment the packing for withdrawal from the stuffing box does improve the process, but removal of the lantern or junk rings is still difficult. To address these problems, AECL-RC has developed a unique valve maintenance process designed to reduce person-rem exposures, the risk of scoring the stem or stuffing box, and maintenance costs and to improve the engineering quality of valve repair.« less

Garnet-type solid-state fast Li ion conductors for Li batteries: critical review.

PubMed

Thangadurai, Venkataraman; Narayanan, Sumaletha; Pinzaru, Dana

2014-07-07

Batteries are electrochemical devices that store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy. Among known batteries, Li ion batteries (LiBs) provide the highest gravimetric and volumetric energy densities, making them ideal candidates for use in portable electronics and plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Conventional LiBs use an organic polymer electrolyte, which exhibits several safety issues including leakage, poor chemical stability and flammability. The use of a solid-state (ceramic) electrolyte to produce all-solid-state LiBs can overcome all of the above issues. Also, solid-state Li batteries can operate at high voltage, thus, producing high power density. Various types of solid Li-ion electrolytes have been reported; this review is focused on the most promising solid Li-ion electrolytes based on garnet-type metal oxides. The first studied Li-stuffed garnet-type compounds are Li5La3M2O12 (M = Nb, Ta), which show a Li-ion conductivity of ∼10(-6) at 25 °C. La and M sites can be substituted by various metal ions leading to Li-rich garnet-type electrolytes, such as Li6ALa2M2O12, (A = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sr0.5Ba0.5) and Li7La3C2O12 (C = Zr, Sn). Among the known Li-stuffed garnets, Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 exhibits the highest bulk Li-ion conductivity of 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 25 °C with an activation energy of 0.35 eV, which is an order of magnitude lower than that of the currently used polymer, but is chemically stable at higher temperatures and voltages compared to polymer electrolytes. Here, we discuss the chemical composition-structure-ionic conductivity relationship of the Li-stuffed garnet-type oxides, as well as the Li ion conduction mechanism.

Great spotted cuckoo fledglings often receive feedings from other magpie adults than their foster parents: which magpies accept to feed foreign cuckoo fledglings?

PubMed

Soler, Manuel; Pérez-Contreras, Tomás; Ibáñez-Álamo, Juan Diego; Roncalli, Gianluca; Macías-Sánchez, Elena; de Neve, Liesbeth

2014-01-01

Natural selection penalizes individuals that provide costly parental care to non-relatives. However, feedings to brood-parasitic fledglings by individuals other than their foster parents, although anecdotic, have been commonly observed, also in the great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius)--magpie (Pica pica) system, but this behaviour has never been studied in depth. In a first experiment, we here show that great spotted cuckoo fledglings that were translocated to a distant territory managed to survive. This implies that obtaining food from foreign magpies is a frequent and efficient strategy used by great spotted cuckoo fledglings. A second experiment, in which we presented a stuffed-cuckoo fledgling in magpie territories, showed that adult magpies caring for magpie fledglings responded aggressively in most of the trials and never tried to feed the stuffed cuckoo, whereas magpies that were caring for cuckoo fledglings reacted rarely with aggressive behavior and were sometimes disposed to feed the stuffed cuckoo. In a third experiment we observed feedings to post-fledgling cuckoos by marked adult magpies belonging to four different possibilities with respect to breeding status (i.e. composition of the brood: only cuckoos, only magpies, mixed, or failed breeding attempt). All non-parental feeding events to cuckoos were provided by magpies that were caring only for cuckoo fledglings. These results strongly support the conclusion that cuckoo fledglings that abandon their foster parents get fed by other adult magpies that are currently caring for other cuckoo fledglings. These findings are crucial to understand the co-evolutionary arms race between brood parasites and their hosts because they show that the presence of the host's own nestlings for comparison is likely a key clue to favour the evolution of fledgling discrimination and provide new insights on several relevant points such as learning mechanisms and multiparasitism.

"Better a Live Sparrow than a Stuffed Eagle": Towards a Translation of Guillaume de Machaut's "Dit de l'Alerion."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thaon, Brenda

1978-01-01

A discussion of some special problems in translating medieval poetry into a modern language while conveying the original meaning, emotional tone and word play. The discussion centers on the poetry of Machaut, a medieval poet of interest to English scholars because of his influence on Chaucer. (AMH)

Playing with Fire, or the Stuffing of Dead Animals: Freire, Dewey, and the Dilemma of Social Studies Reform

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fleury, Stephen

2011-01-01

In his proposal for a social studies both more critical and more participatory, Neumann's (2008) politically adaptive strategy of invoking standards for critical thinking poses troubling concerns for democratic-minded educators familiar with the trajectory of reforms. Neumann's outright dismissal of critical pedagogy ironically underscores how the…

Don't Stop Stuffing the Backpacks!: Parents of English Language Learners Share School-Home Communication Preferences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoffman, Lisa; Podikunju-Hussain, Shifa; Ridout, Susan

2015-01-01

As communications in U.S. society become more digitally focused, many schools have transitioned toward using more digital technology for school-home communications. Across the country, many schools and teachers now disseminate information to students' parents using email listserv, text message, Twitter, Facebook, and other applications such as…

Stuffed in a Locker: A Case Study Involving Guns on Campus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lampron, Phillip Andrew

2017-01-01

Ensuring that children are safe is imperative for any educational institution. This case presents a realistic scenario of the safety concerns of leaders and staff in a middle school concerned with potential gang activity. Inspired by actual events, this case illustrates burdens that many middle school leaders across the nation face on a daily…

Alice in Oman: A Study on Object-First Approaches in Computer Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayat, Khizar; Al-Shukaili, Naeem Ali; Sultan, Khalid

2017-01-01

The success of university-level education depends on the quality of underlying school education and any deficiency therein may be detrimental to a student's career. This may be more glaring with Computer Science education, given its mercurial nature. In the developing countries, the Computer Science school curricula are usually stuffed with…

For the Birds!: Seeing, Being, and Creating the Bird World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russo, Michele

2008-01-01

Nature studies are an often overlooked part of healthy child development. Living in urban or suburban areas can present a big obstacle to studying the natural world with any authenticity or depth. Quite often, the only sense of nature children have is from picture books, stuffed animals, play sets, and nature programs on television and in…

An Alternative to the Use of Animals to Teach Diabetes Mellitus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Basso, Paulo José; Tazinafo, Lucas Favaretto; Silva, Mauro Ferreira; Rocha, Maria José Alves

2014-01-01

We developed an alternative approach to teach diabetes mellitus in our practical classes, replacing laboratory animals. We used custom rats made of cloth, which have a ventral zipper that allows stuffing with glass marbles to reach different weights. Three mock rats per group were placed into metabolic cages with real food and water and with test…

INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION FOR THE MIDDLE PRIMARY. A TEACHER GUIDE, SEMESTER II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

DELIKAN, ALFRED; AND OTHERS

INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION PROGRAMS FOR THE MIDDLE PRIMARY GRADES WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS--ART, MUSIC, AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ART PROGRAM WAS TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY. PUPIL PARTICIPATION WAS TO TAKE PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER TELECAST VIEWING. ART LESSONS USED A WINTER THEME, STUFFED PAPER FORMS,…

Hypervelocity Impact Analysis of International Space Station Whipple and Enhanced Stuffed Whipple Shields

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-12-01

29 Figure 6. Flash Radiography Images of the Debris Cloud and Ejecta...hand, are not predictable. Explosions can occur because of the inadvertent mixing of propellant and oxidizer or the over-pressurization of...residual propellant due to spacecraft heating. Over-pressurized batteries may also cause explosions. Based on statistical analysis of known hypervelocity

The Beauty of the Beasts in Chalk Pastels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skophammer, Karen

2010-01-01

In this article, the author describes how her seventh-grade art students captured an image of a stuffed animal in the "whole-to-part" drawing technique using chalk pastels. Shading with chalk pastels can give a gradual change in value from dark to light. The shading and color changes the mood of the original drawing, and adds texture, too. Chalk…

Investigation of the strength of shielded and unshielded underwater electrical cables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glowe, D. E.; Arnett, S. L.

1981-09-01

The mechanical properties of shielded and unshielded submarine cables (MIL-C-915/8E) were investigated to determine the effect of shielding on cable life, performance, and reliability. Ten cables (five shielded and five unshielded) were selected for laboratory evaluation. A mission profile was developed to establish the mechanical stress limits that cables must endure in service and a test sequence designed to measure tensile strength, flexural abrasion endurance, crush resistance, creep under static tension, and performance in a hull-stuffing tube. The results of this program showed that: (1) DSS-2 cable does not have adequate tensile strength and should have a strength member added. DSS-3 and larger cables have adequate tensile strength with or without the shield; (2) Unshielded DSS-3 type cable does not perform satisfactorily in hull-stuffing tubes; (3) Shielding is not required to meet mission profile specifications for cable crush or flexural abrasion resistance; (4) Construction parameters other than shielding can significantly affect mechanical performance of cable; (5) Unshielded cable construction can result in increased reliability since it permits a thicker single-jacket construction; and (6) Unshielded cable construction can reduce the cost of cable by 8 to 20 percent.

The increased risk of predation enhances cooperation

PubMed Central

Krams, Indrikis; Bērziņš, Arnis; Krama, Tatjana; Wheatcroft, David; Igaune, Kristīne; Rantala, Markus J.

2010-01-01

Theory predicts that animals in adverse conditions can decrease individual risks and increase long-term benefits by cooperating with neighbours. However, some empirical studies suggest that animals often focus on short-term benefits, which can reduce the likelihood that they will cooperate with others. In this experimental study, we tested between these two alternatives by evaluating whether increased predation risk (as a correlate of environmental adversity) enhances or diminishes the occurrence of cooperation in mobbing, a common anti-predator behaviour, among breeding pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. We tested whether birds would join their mobbing neighbours more often and harass a stuffed predator placed near their neighbours' nests more intensely in areas with a higher perceived risk of predation. Our results show that birds attended mobs initiated by their neighbours more often, approached the stuffed predator significantly more closely, and mobbed it at a higher intensity in areas where the perceived risk of predation was experimentally increased. In such high-risk areas, birds also were more often involved in between-pair cooperation. This study demonstrates the positive impact of predation risk on cooperation in breeding songbirds, which might help in explaining the emergence and evolution of cooperation. PMID:19846454

Vacuum ultra-violet damage and damage mitigation for plasma processing of highly porous organosilicate glass dielectrics

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

Marneffe, J.-F. de, E-mail: marneffe@imec.be; Lukaszewicz, M.; Porter, S. B.

2015-10-07

Porous organosilicate glass thin films, with k-value 2.0, were exposed to 147 nm vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) photons emitted in a Xenon capacitive coupled plasma discharge. Strong methyl bond depletion was observed, concomitant with a significant increase of the bulk dielectric constant. This indicates that, besides reactive radical diffusion, photons emitted during plasma processing do impede dielectric properties and therefore need to be tackled appropriately during patterning and integration. The detrimental effect of VUV irradiation can be partly suppressed by stuffing the low-k porous matrix with proper sacrificial polymers showing high VUV absorption together with good thermal and VUV stability. In addition,more » the choice of an appropriate hard-mask, showing high VUV absorption, can minimize VUV damage. Particular processing conditions allow to minimize the fluence of photons to the substrate and lead to negligible VUV damage. For patterned structures, in order to reduce VUV damage in the bulk and on feature sidewalls, the combination of both pore stuffing/material densification and absorbing hard-mask is recommended, and/or the use of low VUV-emitting plasma discharge.« less

Ant-Man and the quantum realm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michalakis, Spiros

2015-11-01

I was in Los Angeles airport, stuffing French fries into my mouth and waiting for a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, when my phone buzzed. The e-mail was from the Science and Entertainment Exchange, a non-profit organization working to elevate the level of science in the movies, and it told me to report to Atlanta to consult on a new superhero movie: Ant-Man.

Beyond Scissors and Glue: Staff Developers Guide Teachers in Piecing Together a Vertically Aligned Curriculum and in Creating a Method to Get This Job Done

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phelps, Vickie

2005-01-01

Layers and layers of curricula stuffed into vinyl binders were the norm in this Texas district until teachers sat down with scissors and glue to create a vertically aligned curriculum. They then created standards-based lessons to support the curriculum and put them into a database readily accessible by all.

Kreta als Beispiel: German Airlift During the Battle of Crete

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-06-13

looked over his shoulder and saw the nervous young faces of the mountain infantrymen stuffed into his aircraft, their knees interlocking, their...white edelweiss patches standing out against the grey of their tunics. Most struggled with their collars against the heat or grasped their rifles with... mountains and northern coastal plains of Crete steadily grow larger in his windscreen. The island’s green orchards and olive trees appeared

JPRS Report China.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-06-24

rice, steamed buns, steamed twisted rolls, and stuffed buns that are served at the end of a meal are only tasted. Tens of kilo- grams of refined...will solve the problem of democratic administration. That is to say, peasant self-governemtn must be guar - anteed by virtue of the system and...formulation of these methods provide rules to be followed in direct peasant elections, but it will guar - antee full development of the peasants’ democratic

European starlings use their acute vision to check on feline predators but not on conspecifics

PubMed Central

Fernández-Juricic, Esteban

2018-01-01

Head movements allow birds with laterally placed eyes to move their centers of acute vision around and align them with objects of interest. Consequently, head movements have been used as indicator of fixation behavior (where gaze is maintained). However, studies on head movement behavior have not elucidated the degree to which birds use high-acuity or low-acuity vision. We studied how European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) used high-acuity vision in the early stages of visual exploration of a stuffed cat (common terrestrial predator), a taxidermy Cooper’s hawk (common aerial predator), and a stuffed study skin of a conspecific. We found that starlings tended to use their high acuity vision when looking at predators, particularly, the cat was above chance levels. However, when they viewed a conspecific, they used high acuity vision as expected by chance. We did not observe a preference for the left or right center of acute vision. Our findings suggest that starlings exposed to a predator (particularly cats) may employ selective attention by using high-acuity vision to obtain quickly detailed information useful for a potential escape, but exposed to a social context may use divided attention by allocating similar levels high- and low-quality vision to monitor both conspecifics and the rest of the environment. PMID:29370164

The validation of procedures to assess prevocational task preferences in retarded adults.

PubMed

Mithaug, D E; Hanawalt, D A

1978-01-01

Three severely retarded young adults between the ages of 19 and 21 years participated in a prevocational training program, and worked regularly on six different tasks during the scheduled six-hour day. The study attempted to assess each subject's preferences for the six tasks: collating, stuffing, sorting, pulley assembly, flour-sifter assembly, and circuit-board stuffing. In Phase I, the procedure consisted of randomly pairing each task with all other tasks in a two-choice situation that required the subjects to select one task from each pair combination to work for a seven-minute period. The selection procedure consisted of presenting two representative task objects on a tray and requesting the subject to pick up one object and place it on the work table. The object selected represented the task worked for that period. The 15 possible pair combinations were presented randomly every two days for a period of 34 days to determine the preferences. During the validation phase (Phase II), each subject's least- and most-preferred tasks were paired separately with moderately-preferred tasks. As expected, these manipulations confirmed the baseline data, as choices for the moderately-preferred tasks decreased when consistently paired with the preferred tasks and increased when consistently paired with the least-preferred tasks.

Symmetry and light stuffing of H o 2 T i 2 O 7 ,   E r 2 T i 2 O 7 , and Y b 2 T i 2 O 7 characterized by synchrotron x-ray diffraction

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

Baroudi, Kristen; Gaulin, Bruce D.; Lapidus, Saul H.

2015-07-01

The Ho2Ti2O7, Er2Ti2O7 and Yb2Ti2O7 pyrochlores were studied by synchrotron X-ray diffraction to determine whether the (002) peak, forbidden in the pyrochlore space group Fd-3m but observed in single crystal neutron scattering measurements, is present due to a deviation of their pyrochlore structure from Fd-3m symmetry. Synchrotron diffraction measurements on precisely synthesized stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric powders and a crushed floating zone crystal of Ho2Ti2O7 revealed that the (002) reflection is absent in all cases to a sensitivity of approximately one part in 30,000 of the strongest X-ray diffraction peak. This indicates to high sensitivity that the structural space group ofmore » these rare earth titanate pyrochlores is Fd-3m, and that thus the (002) peak observed in the neutron scattering experiments has a non-structural origin. The cell parameters and internal strain for lightly stuffed Ho2+xTi2-xO7 are also presented.« less

High Temperature Electronics Technology

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-01

the hidrogen in the gold layer apparently was successful in suppressing the gold crystal growth. Since tape tests removed almost none of the...with others in the industry is that gold adhz-#s well to Ti-W. This refers to the undoped (no nitrogen stuffing) variety not the Ti-W diffusion...passivaiion film. The keys to v’. success were the production of a dense, slightly compreveive film, deposited at a temperature less than 330* C and the

Prototype Development and Dynamic Characterization of Deployable CubeSat Booms

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-01

constant force of gravity and the constant force of photons impinging on the reflective Mylar surface of the craft. This could, in effect, provide a much...reflected photons of light for spacecraft propulsion. As acceleration is inversely proportional to the mass for a constant thrust, this method of...of the satellite. Additionally, with so much boom essentially stuffed within a small cavity, binding and entanglement issues are a near certainty

Field Feeding System to Support USMC Forces in the 1990s

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-07-01

Swedish Meatballs Ham Slices Beef Pot Roast/Gravy Franks/Brine Chili Con Carne Roast Beef/Gravy Spaghetti/ Meatballs Canadian Bacon/Brinea Stuffed...Peppers Roast Chicken/Gravy Pork/BBQ Sauce Entrees Creamed Ground Beefa Beef Swiss Steak/Gravy Pork Sausage Linksa Scrambled Eggs /Hama Turkey...83. At the time of the analysis there were no commercially available Tray Pack breakfast items. Due to their nature, breakfast entrees (i.e., eggs

10. Photocopied August 1978. CLOSEUP VIEW OF TURBINE SHAFT PENETRATING ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

10. Photocopied August 1978. CLOSE-UP VIEW OF TURBINE SHAFT PENETRATING THE STEEL PLATE BULKHEAD THROUGH A STUFFING BOX AND AND ALSO SHOWING THE CONTROL GATE SHAFT. THIS PARTICULAR UNIT WAS INSTALLED IN 1916. THE ADMISSION OF WATER TO ALL FOUR RUNNERS IN A PENSTOCK UNIT COULD SIMULTANEOUSLY BE CONTROLLED BY THE CONTROL SHAFT ON THE LEFT. (899) - Michigan Lake Superior Power Company, Portage Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa County, MI

STS-28 Columbia, OV-102, Pilot Richards at forward flight deck pilots station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1989-01-01

Pilot Richard N. Richards, sitting at forward flight deck pilots station controls, looks back to aft flight deck during STS-28, a Department of Defense (DOD) dedicated mission. Control panels F7 and F8 and portable laptop computer propped on panel F4 appear in front of Richards. Behind him are the pilots seat seat back and head rest. A stuffed toy animal is positioned on C1 panel.

Microbial survey of the mummies from the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Italy: biodeterioration risk and contamination of the indoor air

PubMed Central

Piñar, Guadalupe; Piombino-Mascali, Dario; Maixner, Frank; Zink, Albert; Sterflinger, Katja

2013-01-01

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo contain over 1800 preserved bodies dating from the 16th to 20th centuries AD and showing evidence of biodeterioration. An extensive microbiological and molecular investigation was recently performed. Samples were taken from skin, muscle, hair, bone, stuffing materials, clothes, and surrounding walls as well as from the indoor air. In this study, we witnessed that the different degradation phenomena observed on the variety of materials located at the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are biological in origin. Molecular techniques showed the dominance of halophilic species of the domains Bacteria and Archaea on the walls and – as a result of salt emanating from the walls – on the mummies themselves. Nevertheless, specialized microorganisms belonging to taxa well-known for their cellulolytic and proteolytic activities were detected on clothes and stuffing material, and on skin, muscle, hair, and bone, respectively. This specialized microbiota is threatening the conservation of the mummies themselves. Additionally, sequences related to the human skin microbiome and to some pathogenic Bacteria (order Clostridiales) and fungi (genus Phialosimplex) were identified on samples derived from the mummies. Furthermore, a phosphate-reducing fungus, Penicillium radicum, was detected on bone. Finally, the high concentration of airborne fungal spores is not conducive to the conservation of the human remains and is posing a potential health risk for visitors. PMID:23772650

Advanced Control Surface Seal Development for Future Space Vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeMange, Jeffrey J.; Dunlap, Patrick H., Jr.; Steinetz, Bruce M.

2004-01-01

High temperature control surface seals have been identified as a critical technology in the development of future space vehicles. These seals must withstand temperatures of up to 2600 F and protect underlying temperature-sensitive structures (such as actuators and sealing capability by remaining resilient during flight conditions. The current baseline seal, used on the Shuttle orbiters and the X-38 vehicle, consists of a Nextel 312 sheath, an internal Inconel X-750 knitted spring tube, and hand-stuffed Saffil batting. Unfortunately at high temperatures (> 1500 F), the seal resiliency significantly degrades due to yielding and creep of the spring tube element. The permanent set in the seals can result in flow passing over the seals and subsequent damage to temperature sensitive components downstream of the seals. Another shortcoming of the baseline seal is that instances have been reported on Shuttle flights where some of the hand-stuffed Saffil batting insulation has been extracted, thus potentially compromising the seal. In vehicles where the thermal protection systems are delicate (such as with Shuttle tiles), the control surface seals must also limit the amount of force applied to the opposing surfaces. Additionally, in many applications the seals are subjected to scrubbing as control surfaces are actuated. The seals must be able to withstand any damage resulting from this high temperature scrubbing and retain their heat/flow blocking abilities.

Notes from the Field: Clostridium perfringens Gastroenteritis Outbreak Associated with a Catered Lunch - North Carolina, November 2015.

PubMed

Rinsky, Jessica L; Berl, E; Greene, V; Morrow, J; Didomenico, A; MacFarquhar, J; Gómez, G A; Lúquez, C; Williams, C

2016-11-25

During November 2015, the North Carolina Division of Public Health was notified by the Pitt County Health Department (PCHD) that approximately 40 persons who attended a catered company Thanksgiving lunch the previous day were ill with diarrhea and abdominal pain. The North Carolina Division of Public Health and PCHD worked together to investigate the source of illness and implement control measures. Within hours of notification, investigators developed and distributed an online survey to all lunch attendees regarding symptoms and foods consumed and initiated a cohort study. A case of illness was defined as abdominal pain or diarrhea in a lunch attendee with illness onset <24 hours after the event. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for all menu items. Among 80 attendees, 58 (73%) completed the survey, including 44 respondents (76%) who reported illnesses meeting the case definition; among these, 41 (93%) reported diarrhea, and 40 (91%) reported abdominal pain. There were no hospitalizations. Symptom onset began a median of 13 hours after lunch (range = 1-22 hours). Risk for illness among persons who ate turkey or stuffing (38 of 44; 86%), which were plated and served together, was significantly higher than risk for illness among those who did not eat turkey or stuffing (six of 14; 43%) (RR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.09-3.73).

Turbulence scaling study in an MHD wind tunnel on the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffner, D. A.; Wan, A.; Owusu-Boateng, J.; Brown, M. R.; Lukin, V. S.

2013-10-01

The turbulence of colliding spheromaks are explored in the MHD wind tunnel on the SSX. Fully ionized hydrogen plasma is produced by two plasma guns on opposite sides of a 1 m by 15 cm copper cylinder. Modification of B-field, Ti and β are made through stuffing flux variation of the plasma guns. Presented here are turbulent f-/ k-spectra and correlation times/lengths of B-field fluctuations as measured by a 16 channel B-dot radial probe array at the chamber midplane. Power-law fits to spectra show scaling that is robust to changes in stuffing flux; fits are on the order of f-3 and k - 2 . 1 for all flux variations. Dissipation range modification of the spectra is observed; changes to the f-spectra slopes occur around f =fci while changes in k-spectra slopes appear around ~ 5ρi . Dissipation range fits are made with an exponentially modified power-law model [Terry et al., PoP 2012]. Fluctuations in axial velocity are made using a Mach probe. Both B-field and velocity fluctuations persist on the same timescale in these experiments. Mach velocity f-spectra show power-laws similar to that for B-field. Comparison of spectra from MHD and Hall MHD simulations of SSX performed within the HiFi modeling framework are made to the experimental results.

Food Service Support for Ground-Launched Cruise Missile Dispersed Flights

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-12-01

Roast Beef 7.32 19 Ham and Potatoes 7.03 35 Chili 7.00 33 Chicken Cacciatore 7.00 6 Beef Stew 6.95 4i Stuffed Peppers 6.77 17 Stroganoff 6.00 15... Chicken a la King Chicken Breasts Chicken Cacciatore Chicken & Noodles Chili Lasagna Macaroni Beef Ravioli Roast Beef Roast Pork Salisbury...LRPs (Food Packet, Long Range Patrol) Hot Meal Opticns • MREs • LRPs • Prepare from recipes A Ration B Ration t Convenience (Prepared)

The Fight for the High Ground: The U.S. Army and Interrogation during Operation Iraqi Freedom I, May 2003-April 2004

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-06-12

Regimental Detainee Holding Area in al-Qaim: CW3 Welshofer stuffed Mowhoush into a sleeping bag head first, wrapped the bag tightly with electrical ...greater risk of similar abuse from their captors. 24 This section went on to list examples of illegal physical torture, to include " electric shock...of Iraqis turned against coalition forces as law and order, electricity , garbage disposal, and other essential services failed to quickly materialize

Vane Pump Casing Machining of Dumpling Machine Based on CAD/CAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yusen; Li, Shilong; Li, Chengcheng; Yang, Zhen

Automatic dumpling forming machine is also called dumpling machine, which makes dumplings through mechanical motions. This paper adopts the stuffing delivery mechanism featuring the improved and specially-designed vane pump casing, which can contribute to the formation of dumplings. Its 3D modeling in Pro/E software, machining process planning, milling path optimization, simulation based on UG and compiling post program were introduced and verified. The results indicated that adoption of CAD/CAM offers firms the potential to pursue new innovative strategies.

The Experimental Research on Seismic Capacity of the Envelope Systems with Steel Frame

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiuyang; Wang, Bingbing; Li, Hengxu

2017-09-01

In this paper, according to the present application situation of the external envelope systems steel frame in the severe cold region, the stuffed composite wall panels are improved, the flexible connection with the steel frame is designed, the reduced scale specimens are made, the seismic capacity test is made and some indexes of the envelope systems such as bearing capacity, energy consumption and ductility, etc. are compared, which provide reference for the development and application of the steel frame envelope systems.

USSR Report, Economic Affairs, No. 1052, EKO: Economics and Organization of Industrial Production, No. 12, December 1982

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-05-09

task has been successfully carried out. At present, there are no backward national borderlands." Great October was also a turning point in the life ...nical experiments indicate that from the nontraditional types of fish it is completely pos- sible to produce filets, the whole carcass , fish stuffing...stock and new fish species for ponds and bodies of water in multiple use (reservoirs, lakes, estuaries, cooling ponds of power plants and so forth

LEARNING TO CHOOSE AMONG SOCIAL FORAGING STRATEGIES IN ADULT HOUSE SPARROWS (Passer domesticus)

PubMed Central

Belmaker, Amos; Motro, Uzi; Feldman, Marcus W.; Lotem, Arnon

2012-01-01

Social foragers may be regarded as being engaged in a producer-scrounger game in which they can search for food independently or join others who have discovered food. Research on the producer-scrounger game has focused mainly on the different factors influencing its ESS solution, but very little is known about the actual mechanisms that shape players’ decisions. Recent work has shown that early experience can affect producer-scrounger foraging tendencies in young house sparrows, and that in nutmeg mannikins learning is involved in reaching the ESS. Here we show that direct manipulation of the success rate experienced by adult sparrows when following others can change their strategy choice on the following day. We presented to live sparrows an experimental regime, where stuffed adult house sparrows in a feeding position were positioned on a foraging grid that included two reward regimes: a positive one, in which the stuffed models were placed near food, and a negative one, in which the models were placed away from food. There was a significant increase in joining behavior after the positive treatment (exhibited by 84% of the birds), but no change after the negative treatment. Further analysis demonstrated that sparrows more frequently used the strategy with which they were more successful (usually joining), and that differences in strategy use were correlated with differences in success. These results suggest that adult birds can monitor their success and learn to choose among social foraging strategies in the producer-scrounger game. PMID:23226911

Microbial survey of the mummies from the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Italy: biodeterioration risk and contamination of the indoor air.

PubMed

Piñar, Guadalupe; Piombino-Mascali, Dario; Maixner, Frank; Zink, Albert; Sterflinger, Katja

2013-11-01

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo contain over 1800 preserved bodies dating from the 16th to 20th centuries AD and showing evidence of biodeterioration. An extensive microbiological and molecular investigation was recently performed. Samples were taken from skin, muscle, hair, bone, stuffing materials, clothes, and surrounding walls as well as from the indoor air. In this study, we witnessed that the different degradation phenomena observed on the variety of materials located at the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo are biological in origin. Molecular techniques showed the dominance of halophilic species of the domains Bacteria and Archaea on the walls and - as a result of salt emanating from the walls - on the mummies themselves. Nevertheless, specialized microorganisms belonging to taxa well-known for their cellulolytic and proteolytic activities were detected on clothes and stuffing material, and on skin, muscle, hair, and bone, respectively. This specialized microbiota is threatening the conservation of the mummies themselves. Additionally, sequences related to the human skin microbiome and to some pathogenic Bacteria (order Clostridiales) and fungi (genus Phialosimplex) were identified on samples derived from the mummies. Furthermore, a phosphate-reducing fungus, Penicillium radicum, was detected on bone. Finally, the high concentration of airborne fungal spores is not conducive to the conservation of the human remains and is posing a potential health risk for visitors. © 2013 The Authors. FEMS Microbiology Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

Meteoroid/Debris Shielding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christiansen, Eric L.

2003-01-01

This report provides innovative, low-weight shielding solutions for spacecraft and the ballistic limit equations that define the shield's performance in the meteoroid/debris environment. Analyses and hypervelocity impact testing results are described that have been used in developing the shields and equations. Spacecraft shielding design and operational practices described in this report are used to provide effective spacecraft protection from meteoroid and debris impacts. Specific shield applications for the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle Orbiter and the CONTOUR (Comet Nucleus Tour) space probe are provided. Whipple, Multi-Shock and Stuffed Whipple shield applications are described.

Determination of Optimal Portion Size for Hot Combat Rations

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-07-12

Gravy 20 3 slices 18 027 Stuffed Peppers 8 2 peppers NA 006 Swedish Meatballs 15 2 meatballs 12 106 Chicken/Noodles 12 1 cup 12 107 Chicken Cacciatore...1/2 cups NA 005 Lasagna 12 cut 3x4 12 016 Spaghetti/ Meatballs 8 1-1/2 cups incl 2 meatballs NA 036 Beef Swiss Steak/Gravy 14 1 slice 12 112... Meatballs /Rice/Cabbag e 15 2 meatballs 12 a Prepared by Ration Design and Evaluation Branch, FED. D When used as an entree, servs 5 links (18 servings

A Proposed Combat Food Service System Concept for the Army in 1990

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-01-01

Tray (T) 1 Froz (F) Swedish Meatballs 1 Tray (T) - 1 Froz (F) Ham - 3 Canned (B) 1 Froz (F) Roast Pork/Gravy 1 Tray (T) - - Stuffed Pork Slices...Froz (F) Beef Stew 2 Tray (T) 2 Dehy (D) 2 Froz (F) Lasagna 1 Tray (T) 2 Dry/Dehy (D) 2 Dry/Froz (F) Spaghetti/ Meatballs 1 Tray (T) 2 Dry/Dehy (D) 1...Breakfast Maat Entrae — B Canadian Bacon Bacon Ham Slices Sausage Mon Meat Entree — B Eggs Cheese Omelet French Toast Pancakes Starch - B

Candid views of Thomas and Garneau in Spacehab

NASA Image and Video Library

1996-06-21

STS077-368-026 (19-29 May 1996) --- On his off-duty time, Australian-native Andrew S. W. Thomas, mission specialist, has a little fun with Australian mementos in the Spacehab Module onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Floating in the foreground are a stuffed toy kangaroo and a miniaturized typical highway warning sign about the plentiful four-legged Australian resident. Astronaut Thomas and five other crew members went on to spend almost ten-days aboard Endeavour in support of the Spacehab 4 mission and a number of other payloads.

Infection reduces anti-predator behaviors in house finches

PubMed Central

Adelman, James S.; Mayer, Corinne; Hawley, Dana M.

2017-01-01

Infectious diseases can cause host mortality through direct or indirect mechanisms, including altered behavior. Diminished anti-predator behavior is among the most-studied causes of indirect mortality during infection, particularly for systems in which a parasite’s life-cycle requires transmission from prey to predator. Significantly less work has examined whether directly-transmitted parasites and pathogens also reduce anti-predator behaviors. Here we test whether the directly-transmitted bacterial pathogen, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), reduces responses to predation-related stimuli in house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus). MG causes conjunctivitis and reduces survival among free-living finches, but rarely causes mortality in captivity, suggesting a role for indirect mechanisms. Wild-caught finches were individually housed in captivity and exposed to the following treatments: 1) visual presence of a stuffed, mounted predator (a Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)) or control object (a vase or a stuffed, mounted mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)), 2) vocalizations of the same predator and non-predator, 3) approach of a researcher to enclosures, and 4) simulated predator attack (capture by hand). MG infection reduced anti-predator responses during visual exposure to a mounted predator and simulated predator attack, even for birds without detectable visual obstruction from conjunctivitis. However, MG infection did not significantly alter responses during human approach or audio playback. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that predation plays a role in MG-induced mortality in the wild, with reduced locomotion, a common form of sickness behavior for many taxa, as a likely mechanism. Our results therefore suggest that additional research on the role of sickness behaviors in predation could prove illuminating. PMID:29242677

Infection reduces anti-predator behaviors in house finches.

PubMed

Adelman, James S; Mayer, Corinne; Hawley, Dana M

2017-04-01

Infectious diseases can cause host mortality through direct or indirect mechanisms, including altered behavior. Diminished anti-predator behavior is among the most-studied causes of indirect mortality during infection, particularly for systems in which a parasite's life-cycle requires transmission from prey to predator. Significantly less work has examined whether directly-transmitted parasites and pathogens also reduce anti-predator behaviors. Here we test whether the directly-transmitted bacterial pathogen, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), reduces responses to predation-related stimuli in house finches ( Haemorhous mexicanus ). MG causes conjunctivitis and reduces survival among free-living finches, but rarely causes mortality in captivity, suggesting a role for indirect mechanisms. Wild-caught finches were individually housed in captivity and exposed to the following treatments: 1) visual presence of a stuffed, mounted predator (a Cooper's Hawk ( Accipiter cooperii )) or control object (a vase or a stuffed, mounted mallard duck ( Anas platyrhynchos )), 2) vocalizations of the same predator and non-predator, 3) approach of a researcher to enclosures, and 4) simulated predator attack (capture by hand). MG infection reduced anti-predator responses during visual exposure to a mounted predator and simulated predator attack, even for birds without detectable visual obstruction from conjunctivitis. However, MG infection did not significantly alter responses during human approach or audio playback. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that predation plays a role in MG-induced mortality in the wild, with reduced locomotion, a common form of sickness behavior for many taxa, as a likely mechanism. Our results therefore suggest that additional research on the role of sickness behaviors in predation could prove illuminating.

Analysis of Al diffusion processes in TiN barrier layers for the application in silicon solar cell metallization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumm, J.; Samadi, H.; Chacko, R. V.; Hartmann, P.; Wolf, A.

2016-07-01

An evaporated Al layer is known as an excellent rear metallization for highly efficient solar cells, but suffers from incompatibility with a common solder process. To enable solar cell-interconnection and module integration, in this work the Al layer is complemented with a solder stack of TiN/Ti/Ag or TiN/NiV/Ag, in which the TiN layer acts as an Al diffusion barrier. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements prove that diffusion of Al through the stack and the formation of an Al2O3 layer on the stack's surface are responsible for a loss of solderability after a strong post-metallization anneal, which is often mandatory to improve contact resistance and passivation quality. An optimization of the reactive TiN sputter process results in a densification of the TiN layer, which improves its barrier quality against Al diffusion. However, measurements with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show that small grains with vertical grain boundaries persist, which still offer fast diffusion paths. Therefore, the concept of stuffing is introduced. By incorporating oxygen into the grain boundaries of the sputtered TiN layer, Al diffusion is strongly reduced as confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy profiles. A quantitative analysis reveals a one order of magnitude lower Al diffusion coefficient for stuffed TiN layers. This metallization system maintains its solderability even after strong post-metallization annealing at 425 °C for 15 min. This paper thus presents an industrially feasible, conventionally solderable, and long-term stable metallization scheme for highly efficient silicon solar cells.

A comparison of the transport properties of lithium-stuffed garnets and the conventional phases Li 3Ln3Te 2O 12

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cussen, Edmund J.; Yip, Thomas W. S.; O'Neill, Gemma; O'Callaghan, Michael P.

2011-02-01

The structures of new phases Li 6CaLa 2Sb 2O 12 and Li 6.4Ca 1.4La 2Sb 2O 12 have been characterised using neutron powder diffraction. Rietveld analyses show that both compounds crystallise in the space group la3¯ d and contain the lithium cations in a complex arrangement with occupational disorder across oxide tetrahedra and distorted oxide octahedra, with considerable positional disorder in the latter. Variable temperature neutron diffraction experiments on Li 6.4Ca 1.4La 2Sb 2O 12 show the structure is largely invariant with only a small variation in the lithium distribution as a function of temperature. Impedance spectroscopy measurements show that the total conductivity of Li 6CaLa 2Sb 2O 12 is several orders of magnitude smaller than related lithium-stuffed garnets with σ=10 -7 S cm -1 at 95 °C and an activation energy of 0.82(3) eV. The transport properties of the conventional garnets Li 3Gd 3Te 2O 12, Li 3Tb 3Te 2O 12, Li 3Er 3Te 2O 12 and Li 3Lu 3Te 2O 12 have been evaluated and consistently show much lower values of conductivity, σ≤4.4×10 -6 S cm -1 at 285 °C and activation energies in the range 0.77(4)≤ Ea/eV≤1.21(3).

Factors associated with asthma in adolescents in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil.

PubMed

Gomes de Luna, Maria de Fátima; Gomes de Luna, João Rafael; Fisher, Gilberto Bueno; de Almeida, Paulo César; Chiesa, Daniela; Carlos da Silva, Marcelo Gurgel

2015-06-01

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. In Brazil, little is known about factors associated with this disease. This study aimed to identify factors associated with asthma in 13- to 14-year-old adolescents in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. It is a cross-sectional population-based study, with a probability sample of 3015 students in 2006-2007. We used the questionnaires about asthma, rhinitis and socio-demographic/environmental factors from the International Study for Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. Current asthma was defined as physician-diagnosed asthma and wheezing in the previous 12 months. Bivariate analysis was performed between asthma and factors included in the study, using prevalence ratio and Chi-square test. Confidence intervals (95%) and odds ratio (OR) were also calculated. Factors associated with asthma in bivariate analysis were then assessed using logistic regression. Final sample was composed by 694 adolescents, 179 with asthma. Rhinoconjunctivitis and consumption of stuffed biscuits and fried snacks three or more times per week were independently and positively associated with asthma; consumption of fruits three or more times per week was negatively associated with asthma. Dietary factors were the most associated with asthma in this study. Besides rhinoconjunctivitis, consumption of stuffed biscuits and fried snacks (foods with high content of saturated fat) three or more times per week were independently associated with asthma as aggravating factors, while the consumption of fruits three or more times per week was associated with asthma as protective factor. Interventions acting on these factors may decrease the occurrence of asthma in this population.

A Survey of Quality Assurance Practices in Nonmilitary Hospitals

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-04-01

160 ° ) Power (1600) Scrambled Egg (1450) Final Rinse (1900) SF Scrambled Egg (145) Rinse (190_) Broth ( 190) Hot Beverage (1850) 1 Juices (40-450...3 4 5 Barbecued beef sandwich 1 2 3 4 5 Egg & tuna salad sandwiches 1 2 3 4 5 Beef & noodle casserole 1 2 3 4 5 Grilled ham & cheese sandwich 1 2 3 4...5 Spaghetti & meat sauce 1 2 3 4 5 Grilled hamburger 1 2 3 4 5 Hot turkey sandwich 1 2 3 4 5 Swedish meatballs 1 2 3 4 5 Stuffed green pepper 1 2 3 4

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) generic model for the production of Thai fermented pork sausage (Nham).

PubMed

Paukatong, K V; Kunawasen, S

2001-01-01

Nham is a traditional Thai fermented pork sausage. The major ingredients of Nham are ground pork meat and shredded pork rind. Nham has been reported to be contaminated with Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes. Therefore, it is a potential cause of foodborne diseases for consumers. A Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) generic model has been developed for the Nham process. Nham processing plants were observed and a generic flow diagram of Nham processes was constructed. Hazard analysis was then conducted. Other than microbial hazards, the pathogens previously found in Nham, sodium nitrite and metal were identified as chemical and physical hazards in this product, respectively. Four steps in the Nham process have been identified as critical control points. These steps are the weighing of the nitrite compound, stuffing, fermentation, and labeling. The chemical hazard of nitrite must be controlled during the weighing step. The critical limit of nitrite levels in the Nham mixture has been set at 100-200 ppm. This level is high enough to control Clostridium botulinum but does not cause chemical hazards to the consumer. The physical hazard from metal clips could be prevented by visual inspection of every Nham product during stuffing. The microbiological hazard in Nham could be reduced in the fermentation process. The critical limit of the pH of Nham was set at lower than 4.6. Since this product is not cooked during processing, finally, educating the consumer, by providing information on the label such as "safe if cooked before consumption", could be an alternative way to prevent the microbiological hazards of this product.

Development of Novel Garnet-Type Solid Electrolytes for Potential Application in Lithium Ion Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayanan, Sumaletha

The development of promising solid electrolytes having a garnet-like structure has been successfully achieved through solid state (ceramic) method. Various approaches to improve the Li ion conductivity were employed. The first approach involved creating oxide ion vacancies into the crystal structure of parent garnet-like oxide, Li5La3Nb2O 12 to create a novel family of compounds with nominal composition, Li 5La3Nb2-xYxO12-δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1). The second approach was Li stuffing into the garnet-like oxides to develop a series of Li stuffed novel Li5+2xLa3Nb 2-xYxO12 (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.75) and Li6.5 La2.5Ba0.5ZrTaO12. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) coupled with a wavelength-dispersive spectrometer (WDS), 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance (Li-NMR), and AC impedance spectroscopy were employed to characterize the structure, morphology, elemental composition, Li ion sites, and Li ion conductivity. Studies have shown that Li5+2xLa 3Nb2-xYxO12 have turned out to be promising solid electrolytes with high Li ion conductivity (10-4 Scm -1 at ambient temperatures). In addition, all families of garnets are found to be chemically stable with Li cathode materials (Li2MMn 3O8, where M = Fe, Co) up to 400 °C in air. The developed electrolyte materials have the potential to be used in all-solid-state Li ion batteries.

Analysis of Al diffusion processes in TiN barrier layers for the application in silicon solar cell metallization

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

Kumm, J.; Samadi, H.; Chacko, R. V.

An evaporated Al layer is known as an excellent rear metallization for highly efficient solar cells, but suffers from incompatibility with a common solder process. To enable solar cell-interconnection and module integration, in this work the Al layer is complemented with a solder stack of TiN/Ti/Ag or TiN/NiV/Ag, in which the TiN layer acts as an Al diffusion barrier. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements prove that diffusion of Al through the stack and the formation of an Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} layer on the stack's surface are responsible for a loss of solderability after a strong post-metallization anneal, which is often mandatorymore » to improve contact resistance and passivation quality. An optimization of the reactive TiN sputter process results in a densification of the TiN layer, which improves its barrier quality against Al diffusion. However, measurements with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show that small grains with vertical grain boundaries persist, which still offer fast diffusion paths. Therefore, the concept of stuffing is introduced. By incorporating oxygen into the grain boundaries of the sputtered TiN layer, Al diffusion is strongly reduced as confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy profiles. A quantitative analysis reveals a one order of magnitude lower Al diffusion coefficient for stuffed TiN layers. This metallization system maintains its solderability even after strong post-metallization annealing at 425 °C for 15 min. This paper thus presents an industrially feasible, conventionally solderable, and long-term stable metallization scheme for highly efficient silicon solar cells.« less

Polymorphism in hybrid male sterility in wild-derived Mus musculus musculus strains on proximal chromosome 17.

PubMed

Vyskocilová, Martina; Prazanová, Gabriela; Piálek, Jaroslav

2009-02-01

The hybrid sterility-1 (Hst1) locus at Chr 17 causes male sterility in crosses between the house mouse subspecies Mus musculus domesticus (Mmd) and M. m. musculus (Mmm). This locus has been defined by its polymorphic variants in two laboratory strains (Mmd genome) when mated to PWD/Ph mice (Mmm genome): C57BL/10 (carrying the sterile allele) and C3H (fertile allele). The occurrence of sterile and/or fertile (wild Mmm x C57BL)F1 males is evidence that polymorphism for this trait also exists in natural populations of Mmm; however, the nature of this polymorphism remains unclear. Therefore, we derived two wild-origin Mmm strains, STUS and STUF, that produce sterile and fertile males, respectively, in crosses with C57BL mice. To determine the genetic basis underlying male fertility, the (STUS x STUF)F1 females were mated to C57BL/10 J males. About one-third of resulting hybrid males (33.8%) had a significantly smaller epididymis and testes than parental animals and lacked spermatozoa due to meiotic arrest. A further one-fifth of males (20.3%) also had anomalous reproductive traits but produced some spermatozoa. The remaining fertile males (45.9%) displayed no deviation from values found in parental individuals. QTL analysis of the progeny revealed strong associations of male fitness components with the proximal end of Chr 17, and a significant effect of the central section of Chr X on testes mass. The data suggest that genetic incompatibilities associated with male sterility have evolved independently at the proximal end of Chr 17 and are polymorphic within both Mmd and Mmm genomes.

Alternative approaches to plasma confinement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roth, J. R.

1978-01-01

The paper discusses 20 plasma confinement schemes each representing an alternative to the tokamak fusion reactor. Attention is given to: (1) tokamak-like devices (TORMAC, Topolotron, and the Extrap concept), (2) stellarator-like devices (Torsatron and twisted-coil stellarators), (3) mirror machines (Astron and reversed-field devices, the 2XII B experiment, laser-heated solenoids, the LITE experiment, the Kaktus-Surmac concept), (4) bumpy tori (hot electron bumpy torus, toroidal minimum-B configurations), (5) electrostatically assisted confinement (electrostatically stuffed cusps and mirrors, electrostatically assisted toroidal confinement), (6) the Migma concept, and (7) wall-confined plasmas. The plasma parameters of the devices are presented and the advantages and disadvantages of each are listed.

Separation and purification of thymopentin with molecular imprinting membrane by solid phase extraction disks.

PubMed

Wang, Chaoli; Hu, Xiaoling; Guan, Ping; Wu, Danfeng; Qian, Liwei; Li, Ji; Song, Renyuan

2015-01-01

The synthesis and performance of molecularly imprinted membranes (MIMs) as a solid phase extraction packing materials for the separation and purification of thymopentin from crude samples was described. In order to increase structural selectivity and imprinting efficiency, surface-initiated ATRP and ionic liquid (1-vinyl-3-ethyl acetate imidazolium chloride) were used to prepare molecularly imprinting membranes. The results demonstrated that solid phase extraction disks stuffed by MIMs with ionic liquids as functional monomer demonstrated high isolation and purification of performance to the thymopentin. The molecular recognition of thymopentin was analyzed by using molecular modeling software. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stuffed Snoopy wearing cap and sporting a Space Shuttle emblem

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-02-22

JSC2000-01580 (22 February 2000) --- Snoopy, who has had a long history with the astronauts and Houston's Mission Control Center, showed up in the Shuttle Flight Control Room on one of the consoles during the STS-99 mission. The NASA Astronaut personal safety award -- called the Silver Snoopy -- is given for outstanding performance by NASA employees or NASA contractors who contribute to flight safety or mission success. Snoopy is a product of the imagination of the late cartoonist Charles Schulz. Schulz died on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, the second day of the 11-day SRTM mission and on the eve of his final color strip appearing in Sunday newspapers on February 13, 2000.

Imaging of drug smuggling by body packing.

PubMed

Sica, Giacomo; Guida, Franco; Bocchini, Giorgio; Iaselli, Francesco; Iadevito, Isabella; Scaglione, Mariano

2015-02-01

Body packing, pushing, and stuffing are hazardous practices with complex medicolegal and social implications. A radiologist plays both a social and a medicolegal role in their assessment, and it should not be limited only to the identification of the packages but must also provide accurate information about their number and their exact location so as to prevent any package remains in the body packer. Radiologists must also be able to recognize the complications associated with these risky practices. Imaging assessment of body packing is performed essentially through plain abdominal X-ray and computed tomography scans. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, although with some advantages, actually have a limited use. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Turbulence scaling study in an MHD wind tunnel on the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffner, D. A.; Brown, M. R.; Wan, A.

2013-12-01

The turbulence of colliding plasmas is explored in an MHD wind tunnel on the SSX in an effort to understand solar wind physics in a laboratory setting. Fully ionized hydrogen plasma is produced by two plasma guns on opposite sides of a 1m by 15cm copper cylinder creating plasma with L/ρi ~ 75-150, β ~ 0.1-0.2 and Lundquist number ~ 1000. Modification of B-field, Ti and β are made through stuffing flux variation of the plasma guns. Presented here are turbulent f-/k-spectra and correlation times and lengths of B-field fluctuations as measured by a 16 channel B-dot radial probe array at the chamber midplane using both FFT and wavelet analysis techniques. Power-law behavior is observed spanning about two decades of frequencies [100kHz-10MHz] and about one decade of wavelength [10cm-1cm]. Power-law fits to spectra show scaling in these regions to be robust to changes in stuffing flux; fits are on the order of f-4 and k-2 for all flux variations. Low frequency fluctuations [<100kHz] can vary significantly suggesting a range of energy injection at large scales. Evidence for dissipation range modification of the spectra is also observed; divergence from power-law behavior is seen in f-spectra for frequencies around f=fci while changes in k-spectra slopes appear around 1/k ~ 5ρi. Dissipation range fits are made with an exponentially modified power-law model [Terry et al, PoP 2012]. Fluctuation measurements in axial velocity are made using a Mach probe with edge flows reaching M ~ 0.4. Both B-field and velocity fluctuations persist on the same timescale in these experiments, though Mach velocity f-spectra show power-laws slightly shallower than those for B-field. Comparison of spectra from MHD and Hall MHD simulations of SSX performed within the HiFi modeling framework are made to the experimental results.

Artificial sensory organs: latest progress.

PubMed

Nakamura, Tatsuo; Inada, Yuji; Shigeno, Keiji

2018-03-01

This study introduces the latest progress on the study of artificial sensory organs, with a special emphasis on the clinical results of artificial nerves and the concept of in situ tissue engineering. Peripheral nerves have a strong potential for regeneration. An artificial nerve uses this potential to recover a damaged peripheral nerve. The polyglycolic acid collagen tube (PGA-C tube) is a bio-absorbable tube stuffed with collagen of multi-chamber structure that consists of thin collagen films. The clinical application of the PGA-C tube began in 2002 in Japan. The number of PGA-C tubes used is now beyond 300, and satisfactory results have been reported on peripheral nerve repairs. This PGA-C tube is also effective for patients suffering from neuropathic pain.

Interactive communication channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, R. H.; Mann, M. R.; Ciarrocchi, J. A.

1985-10-01

Discussed is an interactive communications channel (ICC) for providing a digital computer with high-performance multi-channel interfaces. Sixteen full duplex channels can be serviced in the ICC with the sequence or scan pattern being programmable and dependent upon the number or channels and their speed. A channel buffer system is used for line interface, and character exchange. The channel buffer system is on a byte basis. The ICC performs frame start and frame end functions, bit stripping and bit stuffing. Data is stored in a memory in block format (256 bytes maximum) by a program control and the ICC maintains byte address information and a block byte count. Data exchange with a memory is made by cycle steals. Error detection is also provided for using a cyclic redundancy check technique.

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic knee-ankle-foot orthosis with a partially flexible thigh cuff: a modification for comfort while sitting on a toilet seat.

PubMed

Hachisuka, K; Arai, K; Arai, M

2007-06-01

At the request of a polio survivor, a partially flexible thigh cuff made of leather and canvas for a carbon KAFO was devised to allow the wearer to feel more comfortable while sitting on a toilet seat. The original, acrylic resin, thigh cuff was partially excised to make an opening (15x10 cm), which was stuffed with rubber sponge, and was sealed with leather and canvas. The opening's surround was vertically and horizontally reinforced with carbon fibres. This modification provided relief to the polio survivor from the discomfort previously experienced while sitting on a toilet seat, and satisfied her needs in daily life.

Topological Origin of the Network Dilation Anomaly in Ion-Exchanged Glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Mengyi; Smedskjaer, Morten M.; Mauro, John C.; Sant, Gaurav; Bauchy, Mathieu

2017-11-01

Ion exchange is commonly used to strengthen oxide glasses. However, the resulting stuffed glasses usually do not reach the molar volume of as-melted glasses of similar composition—a phenomenon known as the network dilation anomaly. This behavior seriously limits the potential for the chemical strengthening of glasses and its origin remains one of the mysteries of glass science. Here, based on molecular dynamics simulations of sodium silicate glasses coupled with topological constraint theory, we show that the topology of the atomic network controls the extent of ion-exchange-induced dilation. We demonstrate that isostatic glasses do not show any network dilation anomaly. This is found to arise from the combined absence of floppy modes of deformation and internal eigenstress in isostatic atomic networks.

KSC-97PC847

NASA Image and Video Library

1997-05-24

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin presents some gifts to returning astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, who spent the last four months on the Russian Space Station Mir. Goldin met with Linenger in the Crew Transport Vehicle shortly after the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis landed on Runway 33 of KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the nine-day STS-84 mission. Goldin gave the astronaut flowers for Linenger’s wife, Kathryn; a stuffed bear for their 18-month-old son, John; and a rattle for their unborn child who is due next month. STS-84 was the sixth of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Mir. Mir 23 crew member Linenger was replaced on the Russian space station by STS-84 Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale

STS-84 / Mir 23 Crew Member Jerry Linenger post landing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - Astronaut and recent Mir 23 crew member Jerry M. Linenger holds a stuffed bear he was given by NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin at the conclusion of the STS-84 Space Shuttle mission. STS-84 was the sixth docking of the Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir, where Linenger has lived and worked the past four months. Goldin presented several gifts to Linenger in the Crew Transport Vehicle shortly after landing of the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis on KSC's Runway 33. Besides the bear for Linenger's 18-month-old son, John, Goldin gave the astronaut flowers for Linenger's wife, Kathryn; and a rattle for the Linengers' unborn child who is due next month. Linenger was replaced on the Russian space station by STS-84 Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale.

Secondary barrier construction for low temperature liquefied gas storage tank carrying vessels

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

Okamoto, T.; Nishimoto, T.; Sawada, K.

1978-12-05

A new LNG-cargo-tank secondary barrier developed by Japan's Hitachi Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., offers ease of fabrication, simple construction, improved efficiency of installation, and protection against seawater ingress as well as LNG leakage. The secondary barrier, intended for use below spherical LNG tanks, consists of unit heat-insulating block plates adhesively secured to the bottom plate of the ship's hold, heat-insulating filling members stuffed into the joints between the block plates, and a protective layer formed on the entire surface of the block plates and the filling members. These unit block plates are in the form of heat-insulating members ofmore » the required thickness, preformed into a square or trapezoidal shape, particularly in the form of rigid-foam synthetic-resin plates.« less

KSC-97PC848

NASA Image and Video Library

1997-05-24

Astronaut and recent Mir 23 crew member Jerry M. Linenger holds a stuffed bear he was given by NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin at the conclusion of the STS-84 Space Shuttle mission. STS-84 was the sixth docking of the Shuttle with the Russian Space Station Mir, where Linenger has lived and worked the past four months. Goldin presented several gifts to Linenger in the Crew Transport Vehicle shortly after landing of the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis on KSC’s Runway 33. Besides the bear for Linenger’s 18-month-old son, John, Goldin gave the astronaut flowers for Linenger’s wife, Kathryn; and a rattle for the Linengers’ unborn child who is due next month. Linenger was replaced on the Russian space station by STS-84 Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale

STS-84 post landing - Dan Goldin presents gifts to Linenger

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin presents some gifts to returning astronaut Jerry M. Linenger, who spent the last four months on the Russian Space Station Mir. Goldin met with Linenger in the Crew Transport Vehicle shortly after the Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis landed on Runway 33 of KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of the nine-day STS-84 mission. Goldin gave the astronaut flowers for Linenger's wife, Kathryn; a stuffed bear for their 18-month-old son, John; and a rattle for their unborn child who is due next month. STS-84 was the sixth of nine planned dockings of the Space Shuttle with the Mir. Mir 23 crew member Linenger was replaced on the Russian space station by STS-84 Mission Specialist C. Michael Foale.

Projectile Shape Effects Analysis for Space Debris Impact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiraki, Kuniaki; Yamamoto, Tetsuya; Kamiya, Takeshi

2002-01-01

(JEM IST), has a manned pressurized module used as a research laboratory on orbit and planned to be attached to the International Space Station (ISS). Protection system from Micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MM/OD) is very important for crew safety aboard the ISS. We have to design a module with shields attached to the outside of the pressurized wall so that JEM can be protected when debris of diameter less than 20mm impact on the JEM wall. In this case, the ISS design requirement for space debris protection system is specified as the Probability of No Penetration (PNP). The PNP allocation for the JEM is 0.9738 for ten years, which is reallocated as 0.9814 for the Pressurized Module (PM) and 0.9922 for the Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section (ELM-PS). The PNP is calculated with Bumper code provided by NASA with the following data inputs to the calculation. (1) JEM structural model (2) Ballistic Limit Curve (BLC) of shields pressure wall (3) Environmental conditions: Analysis type, debris distribution, debris model, debris density, Solar single aluminum plate bumper (1.27mm thickness). The other is a Stuffed Whipple shield with its second bumper composed of an aluminum mesh, three layers of Nextel AF62 ceramic fabric, and four layers of Kevlar 710 fabric with thermal isolation material Multilayer Insulation (MLI) in the bottom. The second bumper of Stuffed Whipple shields is located at the middle between the first bumper and the 4.8 mm-thick pressurized wall. with Two-Stage Light Gas Gun (TSLGG) tests and hydro code simulation already. The remaining subject is the verification of JEM debris protection shields for velocities ranging from 7 to 15 km/sec. We conducted Conical Shaped Charge (CSC) tests that enable hypervelocity impact tests for the debris velocity range above 10 km/sec as well as hydro code simulation. because of the jet generation mechanism. It is therefore necessary to analyze and compensate the results for a solid aluminum sphere, which is the design requirement.

Common cold symptoms in children: results of an Internet-based surveillance program.

PubMed

Troullos, Emanuel; Baird, Lisa; Jayawardena, Shyamalie

2014-06-19

Conducting and analyzing clinical studies of cough and cold medications is challenging due to the rapid onset and short duration of the symptoms. The use of Internet-based surveillance tools is a new approach in clinical studies that is gradually becoming popular and may become a useful method of recruitment. As part of an initiative to assess the safety and efficacy of cough and cold ingredients in children 6-11 years of age, a surveillance program was proposed as a means to identify and recruit pediatric subjects for clinical studies. The objective of the study was to develop an Internet-based surveillance system and to assess the feasibility of using such a system to recruit children for common cold clinical studies, record the natural history of their cold symptoms, and determine the willingness of parents to have their children participate in clinical studies. Healthy potential subjects were recruited via parental contact online. During the 6-week surveillance period, parents completed daily surveys to record details of any cold symptoms in their children. If a child developed a cold, symptoms were followed via survey for 10 days. Additional questions evaluated the willingness of parents to have their children participate in a clinical study shortly after onset of symptoms. The enrollment target of 248 children was reached in approximately 1 week. Children from 4 distinct geographic regions of the United States were recruited. Parents reported cold symptoms in 163 children, and 134 went on to develop colds. The most prevalent symptoms were runny nose, stuffed-up nose, and sneezing. The most severe symptoms were runny nose, stuffed-up nose, and sore/scratchy throat. The severity of most symptoms peaked 1-2 days after onset. Up to 54% of parents expressed willingness to bring a sick child to a clinical center shortly after the onset of symptoms. Parents found the Internet-based surveys easy to complete. Internet-based surveillance and recruitment can be useful tools to follow colds in children and enroll subjects in clinical studies. However, study designs should account for a potentially high dropout rate and low rate of adherence to study procedures.

Wrist display concept demonstration based on 2-in. color AMOLED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Frederick M.; Longo, Sam J.; Hopper, Darrel G.

2004-09-01

The wrist watch needs an upgrade. Recent advances in optoelectronics, microelectronics, and communication theory have established a technology base that now make the multimedia Dick Tracy watch attainable during the next decade. As a first step towards stuffing the functionality of an entire personnel computer (PC) and television receiver under a watch face, we have set a goal of providing wrist video capability to warfighters. Commercial sector work on the wrist form factor already includes all the functionality of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and full PC operating system. Our strategy is to leverage these commercial developments. In this paper we describe our use of a 2.2 in. diagonal color active matrix light emitting diode (AMOLED) device as a wrist-mounted display (WMD) to present either full motion video or computer generated graphical image formats.

Optimization of the Magnetic Field Structure for Sustained Plasma Gun Helicity Injection for Magnetic Turbulence Studies at the Bryn Mawr Plasma Laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cartagena-Sanchez, C. A.; Schaffner, D. A.; Johnson, H. K.; Fahim, L. E.

2017-10-01

A long-pulsed magnetic coaxial plasma gun is being implemented and characterized at the Bryn Mawr Plasma Laboratory (BMPL). A cold cathode discharged between the cylindrical electrodes generates and launches plasma into a 24cm diameter, 2m long chamber. Three separately pulsed magnetic coils are carefully positioned to generate radial magnetic field between the electrodes at the gun edge in order to provide stuffing field. Magnetic helicity is continuously injected into the flux-conserving vacuum chamber in a process akin to sustained slow-formation of spheromaks. The aim of this source, however, is to supply long pulses of turbulent magnetized plasma for measurement rather than for sustained spheromak production. The work shown here details the optimization of the magnetic field structure for this sustained helicity injection.

Fabrication of Simple Indoor Air Haze Purifier using Domestic Discarded Substances and Its Haze Removal Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhou; Cao, Haoshu; Zhao, Shuang

2018-01-01

Based on the concept of circular economy, discarded plastic bottles stuffed with discarded cotton, clothing and sofa cushion were used as pre-filter to remove big particles (dust and coal dust) in air and 4 L tap water in discarded plastic bottle was worked as an absorbing medium to dissolve the water soluble ions in air (SO4 2-, NO3-, NH4+, Cl- and Ca2+). Moreover, the internet control design was used in this homemade indoor air haze purifier to achieve the performance of remote control and intelligent management. The experimental results showed that this indoor air haze purifier can effectively reduce the level of indoor air haze and the air quality after 20 minutes treatment is higher than that of two commercial well-known air haze purifier

The risk of predation favors cooperation among breeding prey

PubMed Central

Krama, Tatjana; Berzins, Arnis; Rantala, Markus J

2010-01-01

Empirical studies have shown that animals often focus on short-term benefits under conditions of predation risk, which reduces the likelihood that they will cooperate with others. However, some theoretical studies predict that animals in adverse conditions should not avoid cooperation with their neighbors since it may decrease individual risks and increase long-term benefits of reciprocal help. We experimentally tested these two alternatives to find out whether increased predation risk enhances or diminishes the occurrence of cooperation in mobbing, a common anti-predator behavior, among breeding pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca. Our results show that birds attended mobs initiated by their neighbors more often, approached the stuffed predator significantly more closely, and mobbed it at a higher intensity in areas where the perceived risk of predation was experimentally increased. This study demonstrates a positive impact of predation risk on cooperation in breeding songbirds, which might help to explain the emergence and evolution of cooperation. PMID:20714404

Investigation of Aerodynamic Capabilities of Flying Fish in Gliding Flight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, H.; Choi, H.

In the present study, we experimentally investigate the aerodynamic capabilities of flying fish. We consider four different flying fish models, which are darkedged-wing flying fishes stuffed in actual gliding posture. Some morphological parameters of flying fish such as lateral dihedral angle of pectoral fins, incidence angles of pectoral and pelvic fins are considered to examine their effect on the aerodynamic performance. We directly measure the aerodynamic properties (lift, drag, and pitching moment) for different morphological parameters of flying fish models. For the present flying fish models, the maximum lift coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio are similar to those of medium-sized birds such as the vulture, nighthawk and petrel. The pectoral fins are found to enhance the lift-to-drag ratio and the longitudinal static stability of gliding flight. On the other hand, the lift coefficient and lift-to-drag ratio decrease with increasing lateral dihedral angle of pectoral fins.

Oxidation-resisting technology of W-Re thermocouples and their industrial applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, K.; Dai, M.; Dong, J.; Wang, L.; Wang, T.

2013-09-01

We use DSC/TG, SEM and EPMA approaches to investigate the high temperature oxidation behaviors of the Type C W-Re thermocouple wires and W-Re powders which the wires were made from. To solve the oxidization of W-Re thermocouples the chemical method, other than the commonly used physical method, i.e. vacuum-pumping method, was developed. Several solid-packed techniques such as stuffing with inert material, chemical deoxidizing, gas-absorbing and sealing were employed to prevent the W-Re thermocouples from oxidizing. Based on comprehensive consideration of various parameters in process industries, a series of industrial W-Re thermocouples has been successfully used in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres, high temperature alkali and other harsh environments. The service life is 6 to 12 months in strong oxidizing atmosphere of Cr2O3-Al2O3 brick kiln and 2 to 3 months in high temperature alkali and in reducing atmosphere of CO.

Preservation of anal function after total excision of the anal mucosa for Bowen's disease.

PubMed

Reynolds, V H; Madden, J J; Franklin, J D; Burnett, L S; Jones, H W; Lynch, J B

1984-05-01

Six women with Bowen's disease of the anogenital area were treated by total excision of the anal mucosa, perianal skin and, in some cases, partial vulvectomy. Two patients had foci of microinvasive squamous carcinoma. Adequate tumor margins were determined by frozen sections. The resulting mucosal and cutaneous defects were grafted with medium split-thickness skin grafts applied to the anal canal and sutured circumferentially to the rectal mucosa. Grafts were held in place by a finger cot inserted in the anal canal and stuffed with cotton balls. Patients were constipated five or six days with codeine. The skin grafts healed per primam. One additional patient was similarly treated for a chronic herpetic ulceration of the anus and healed. Contrary to dire predictions, all patients were able to distinguish between gaseous and solid rectal contents and sphincter function was preserved. In one patient, Bowen's disease has recurred in the grafted perianal skin.

Play with online virtual pets as a method to improve mirror neuron and real world functioning in autistic children.

PubMed

Altschuler, Eric Lewin

2008-01-01

Autism is a severe disease with no known cause and no cure or treatment. Recently, ourselves and subsequently others found that so-called "mirror neurons" - neurons that respond not only when a person moves, but upon observation of movement in another - are dysfunctional in autistic children. Here I suggest an easy, simple, inexpensive and fun method to improve mirror neuron functioning in autistic children, increase appreciation in autistic children for the theory of mind and thinking of others, and most importantly hopefully to improve real world functioning: play with virtual online pets that are the "embodiment" of a stuffed animal the child has. Adoption and then care and play with online pets forces, in a fun way, one to think about the world through the eyes and needs of the pet. A simple method to test this play with online virtual pet therapy is described.

[Fat and fatty acids chosen in chocolates content].

PubMed

Tarkowski, Andrzej; Kowalczyk, Magdalena

2007-01-01

The objective of present work was to comparison of fat and chosen fatty acid in chocolates with, approachable on national market. In the investigations on fat and fatty acids content in the milk chocolates, there were used 14 chocolates, divided into 3 groups either without, with supplements and stuffing. Crude fat content in the chocolates was determined on Soxhlet automatic apparatus. The saturated ad nsaturated acids content was determined using gas chromatographic method. Content of fat and fatty cids in chocolates were differentiation. The highest crude fat content was finding in chocolates with tuffing (31.8%) and without supplements (28.9%). The sum of saturated fatty acids content in fat above 62%) was highest and low differentiation in the chocolates without supplements. Among of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids depended from kind of chocolates dominated, palmitic, stearic, oleic and, linoleic acids. Supplements of nut in chocolates had on influence of high oleic and linoleic level

Effect of immobilized Lactobacillus casei on the evolution of flavor compounds in probiotic dry-fermented sausages during ripening.

PubMed

Sidira, Marianthi; Kandylis, Panagiotis; Kanellaki, Maria; Kourkoutas, Yiannis

2015-02-01

The effect of immobilized Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 on wheat grains on the generation of volatile compounds in probiotic dry-fermented sausages during ripening was investigated. For comparison reasons, sausages containing free L. casei cells or no starter culture were also included in the study. Samples were collected after 1, 28 and 45days of ripening and subjected to SPME GC/MS analysis. Both the probiotic culture and the ripening process affected significantly the concentration of all volatile compounds. The significantly highest content of total volatiles, esters, alcohols and miscellaneous compounds was observed in sausages containing the highest amount of immobilized culture (300g/kg of stuffing mixture) ripened for 45days. Principal component analysis of the semi-quantitative data revealed that primarily the concentration of the immobilized probiotic culture affected the volatile composition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On the Functionality of Complex Intermetallics: Frustration, Chemical Pressure Relief, and Potential Rattling Atoms in Y11Ni60C6.

PubMed

Guo, Yiming; Fredrickson, Daniel C

2016-10-17

Intermetallic carbides provide excellent model systems for exploring how frustration can shape the structures and properties of inorganic materials. Combinations of several metals with carbon can be designed in which the formation of tetrahedrally close-packed (TCP) intermetallics conflicts with the C atoms' requirement of trigonal prismatic or octahedral coordination environments, as offered by the simple close-packings (SCP) of equally sized spheres. In this Article, we explore the driving forces that lead to the coexistence of these incompatible arrangements in the Yb 11 Ni 60 C 6 -type compound Y 11 Ni 60 C 6 (cI154), as well as potential consequences of this intergrowth for the phase's physical properties. Our focus begins on the structure's SCP regions, which appear as C-stuffed versions of a AuCu 3 -type YNi 3 phase that is not observed on its own in the Y-Ni system. DFT-Chemical Pressure (DFT-CP) calculations on this hypothetical YNi 3 phase reveal large negative pressures within the Ni sublattice, as it is stretched to accommodate the size requirements of the Y atoms. In the Y 11 Ni 60 C 6 structure, two structural mechanisms for addressing these CP issues appear: the incorporation of interstitial C atoms, and the presence of interfaces with CaCu 5 -type domains. The relative roles of these two mechanisms are investigated with the CP analysis on a hypothetical YNi 3 C x series of C-stuffed AuCu 3 -type phases, the Y-Ni sublattice of Y 11 Ni 60 C 6 , and finally the full Y 11 Ni 60 C 6 structure. Through these calculations, the C atoms appear to play the roles of relieving positive Y CPs and supporting relaxation at the AuCu 3 -type/CaCu 5 -type interfaces, where the cancellation occurs between opposite CPs experienced by the Y atoms in the two parent structures (following the epitaxial stabilization mechanism). The CP analysis of Y 11 Ni 60 C 6 also highlights a sublattice of Y and Ni atoms with large negative CPs (and thus the potential for soft vibrational modes), illustrating how frustrated structures could lead to the full realization of the phonon glass-electron crystal concept.

Statistical detection of systematic election irregularities

PubMed Central

Klimek, Peter; Yegorov, Yuri; Hanel, Rudolf; Thurner, Stefan

2012-01-01

Democratic societies are built around the principle of free and fair elections, and that each citizen’s vote should count equally. National elections can be regarded as large-scale social experiments, where people are grouped into usually large numbers of electoral districts and vote according to their preferences. The large number of samples implies statistical consequences for the polling results, which can be used to identify election irregularities. Using a suitable data representation, we find that vote distributions of elections with alleged fraud show a kurtosis substantially exceeding the kurtosis of normal elections, depending on the level of data aggregation. As an example, we show that reported irregularities in recent Russian elections are, indeed, well-explained by systematic ballot stuffing. We develop a parametric model quantifying the extent to which fraudulent mechanisms are present. We formulate a parametric test detecting these statistical properties in election results. Remarkably, this technique produces robust outcomes with respect to the resolution of the data and therefore, allows for cross-country comparisons. PMID:23010929

Effect of processing variables on the outgrowth of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores in comminuted meat cured with sorbic acid and sodium nitrite.

PubMed Central

Robach, M C

1979-01-01

The effects of the initial pH and a "short pump" on the outgrowth of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores in comminuted cured pork were studied. Fresh ground pork was cured with salt, sugar, phosphate, ascorbate, and varying amounts of sodium nitrite and sorbic acid. The product was comminuted and inoculated with 1,000 spores of C. sporogenes per g. The meat was stuffed into 1-ounce (ca. 28.4-g) aluminum tubes, cooked to 58.5 degrees C, cooled, and incubated at 27 degrees C to observe for swells. Product cured with 0.2% sorbic acid in combination with 40 ppm sodium nitrite (40 microgram/g) had better clostridium inhibition than did product cured with 120 ppm nitrite within a pH range of 5.0 to 6.7. The sorbic acid-40 ppm nitrite combination also gave better clostridial protection than did the 120 ppm nitrite alone when reduced amounts of curing ingredients were present. PMID:44445

Effect of processing variables on the outgrowth of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores in comminuted meat cured with sorbic acid and sodium nitrite.

PubMed

Robach, M C

1979-11-01

The effects of the initial pH and a "short pump" on the outgrowth of Clostridium sporogenes PA 3679 spores in comminuted cured pork were studied. Fresh ground pork was cured with salt, sugar, phosphate, ascorbate, and varying amounts of sodium nitrite and sorbic acid. The product was comminuted and inoculated with 1,000 spores of C. sporogenes per g. The meat was stuffed into 1-ounce (ca. 28.4-g) aluminum tubes, cooked to 58.5 degrees C, cooled, and incubated at 27 degrees C to observe for swells. Product cured with 0.2% sorbic acid in combination with 40 ppm sodium nitrite (40 microgram/g) had better clostridium inhibition than did product cured with 120 ppm nitrite within a pH range of 5.0 to 6.7. The sorbic acid-40 ppm nitrite combination also gave better clostridial protection than did the 120 ppm nitrite alone when reduced amounts of curing ingredients were present.

Preservation of anal function after total excision of the anal mucosa for Bowen's disease.

PubMed Central

Reynolds, V H; Madden, J J; Franklin, J D; Burnett, L S; Jones, H W; Lynch, J B

1984-01-01

Six women with Bowen's disease of the anogenital area were treated by total excision of the anal mucosa, perianal skin and, in some cases, partial vulvectomy. Two patients had foci of microinvasive squamous carcinoma. Adequate tumor margins were determined by frozen sections. The resulting mucosal and cutaneous defects were grafted with medium split-thickness skin grafts applied to the anal canal and sutured circumferentially to the rectal mucosa. Grafts were held in place by a finger cot inserted in the anal canal and stuffed with cotton balls. Patients were constipated five or six days with codeine. The skin grafts healed per primam. One additional patient was similarly treated for a chronic herpetic ulceration of the anus and healed. Contrary to dire predictions, all patients were able to distinguish between gaseous and solid rectal contents and sphincter function was preserved. In one patient, Bowen's disease has recurred in the grafted perianal skin. Images Fig. 1. Fig. 2. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. Fig. 5. Fig. 6. PMID:6372711

A solid-state pH sensor for nonaqueous media including ionic liquids.

PubMed

Thompson, Brianna C; Winther-Jensen, Orawan; Winther-Jensen, Bjorn; MacFarlane, Douglas R

2013-04-02

We describe a solid state electrode structure based on a biologically derived proton-active redox center, riboflavin (RFN). The redox reaction of RFN is a pH-dependent process that requires no water. The electrode was fabricated using our previously described 'stuffing' method to entrap RFN into vapor phase polymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). The electrode is shown to be capable of measuring the proton activity in the form of an effective pH over a range of different water contents including nonaqueous systems and ionic liquids (ILs). This demonstrates that the entrapment of the redox center facilitates direct electron communication with the polymer. This work provides a miniaturizable system to determine pH (effective) in nonaqueous systems as well as in ionic liquids. The ability to measure pH (effective) is an important step toward the ability to customize ILs with suitable pH (effective) for catalytic reactions and biotechnology applications such as protein preservation.

Evidence of impurity and boundary effects on magnetic monopole dynamics in spin ice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Revell, H. M.; Yaraskavitch, L. R.; Mason, J. D.; Ross, K. A.; Noad, H. M. L.; Dabkowska, H. A.; Gaulin, B. D.; Henelius, P.; Kycia, J. B.

2013-01-01

Electrical resistance is a crucial and well-understood property of systems ranging from computer microchips to nerve impulse propagation in the human body. Here we study the motion of magnetic charges in spin ice and find that extra spins inserted in Dy2Ti2O7 trap magnetic monopole excitations and provide the first example of how defects in a spin-ice material obstruct the flow of monopoles--a magnetic version of residual resistance. We measure the time-dependent magnetic relaxation in Dy2Ti2O7 and show that it decays with a stretched exponential followed by a very slow long-time tail. In a Monte Carlo simulation governed by Metropolis dynamics we show that surface effects and a very low level of stuffed spins (0.30%)--magnetic Dy ions substituted for non-magnetic Ti ions--cause these signatures in the relaxation. In addition, we find evidence that the rapidly diverging experimental timescale is due to a temperature-dependent attempt rate proportional to the monopole density.

Statistical detection of systematic election irregularities.

PubMed

Klimek, Peter; Yegorov, Yuri; Hanel, Rudolf; Thurner, Stefan

2012-10-09

Democratic societies are built around the principle of free and fair elections, and that each citizen's vote should count equally. National elections can be regarded as large-scale social experiments, where people are grouped into usually large numbers of electoral districts and vote according to their preferences. The large number of samples implies statistical consequences for the polling results, which can be used to identify election irregularities. Using a suitable data representation, we find that vote distributions of elections with alleged fraud show a kurtosis substantially exceeding the kurtosis of normal elections, depending on the level of data aggregation. As an example, we show that reported irregularities in recent Russian elections are, indeed, well-explained by systematic ballot stuffing. We develop a parametric model quantifying the extent to which fraudulent mechanisms are present. We formulate a parametric test detecting these statistical properties in election results. Remarkably, this technique produces robust outcomes with respect to the resolution of the data and therefore, allows for cross-country comparisons.

Industrial ammonia gassing

PubMed Central

Walton, M.

1973-01-01

Walton, M. (1972).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 78-86. Industrial ammonia gassing. Seven cases of ammonia gassing are described with follow-up for five years of the six survivors and the post-mortem findings of the fatal case. All the survivors attributed continuing symptoms to the gassing. The study failed to demonstrate permanent ill effects in the one case of mild exposure. Of the more serious cases one has stopped smoking and taken up physical training teaching. He now has above average lung function. Two serious cases who continued to smoke have the lung function abnormalities expected from their smoking. In the other two seriously exposed cases, who also continued to smoke, there is a persistent reduction in ventilation and gas transfer which seems to be due to the ammonia gassing. The post-mortem findings in the fatal case showed acute congestion and oedema of the mucosa of the respiratory tract, the bronchial walls being stripped of their lining epithelium and the alveoli stuffed with red blood cells and oedema fluid. Images PMID:4685304

Humanizing the impostor: object relations and illness equations in the neonatal intensive care unit.

PubMed

Landzelius, Kyra Marie

2003-03-01

In this paper I explore a seemingly mundane and inconsequential act--that of placing dolls and stuffed animals into newborns' incubator machines, in what I dub a kind of "teddy bear diplomacy," whereby mothers ornament their babies' high tech life-support prostheses with commonplace toys and trinkets. Using hospital ethnography and maternal interviews, I probe the psychodynamic significations of these ornamenting acts, which aspire to domesticate, animate and even humanize the incubator, itself a cyborg womb that displaces maternal purpose and problematizes bonding. The stress triggered by a high-risk infant and the double bind imposed by the therapeutic protocol lead me to here examine the intersubjectivity of illness in mothers' comorbidity and satellite syndromes. I argue that teddy bears and like artifacts serve as countertransitional objects to materially symbolize and perform the imagined mother-child dyad. Moreover, as autopoetic devices in the metamorphosis of maternal identity, they may empower a mother's vicarious participation in her child's healing, and thereby work towards closure of her own intersubjective afflictions.

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

Eremin, N. N., E-mail: neremin@geol.msu.ru; Grechanovsky, A. E.; Marchenko, E. I.

Semi-empirical and ab initio theoretical investigation of crystal structure geometry, interatomic distances, phase densities and elastic properties for some CaAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} phases under pressures up to 200 GPa was performed. Two independent simulation methods predicted the appearance of a still unknown super-dense CaAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} modification. In this structure, the Al coordination polyhedron might be described as distorted one with seven vertices. Ca atoms were situated inside polyhedra with ten vertices and Ca–O distances from 1.96 to 2.49 Å. It became the densest modification under pressures of 170 GPa (density functional theory prediction) or 150 GPa (semi-empirical prediction). Bothmore » approaches indicated that this super-dense CaAl{sub 2}O{sub 4} modification with a “stuffed α-PbO{sub 2}” type structure could be a probable candidate for mutual accumulation of Ca and Al in the lower mantle. The existence of this phase can be verified experimentally using high pressure techniques.« less

Embryonic Exposure to Valproic Acid Impairs Social Predispositions of Newly-Hatched Chicks.

PubMed

Sgadò, Paola; Rosa-Salva, Orsola; Versace, Elisabetta; Vallortigara, Giorgio

2018-04-12

Biological predispositions to attend to visual cues, such as those associated with face-like stimuli or with biological motion, guide social behavior from the first moments of life and have been documented in human neonates, infant monkeys and domestic chicks. Impairments of social predispositions have been recently reported in neonates at high familial risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA), an anticonvulsant associated to increased risk of developing ASD, we modeled ASD behavioral deficits in domestic chicks. We then assessed their spontaneous social predispositions by comparing approach responses to a stimulus containing a face configuration, a stuffed hen, vs. a scrambled version of it. We found that this social predisposition was abolished in VPA-treated chicks, whereas experience-dependent mechanisms associated with filial imprinting were not affected. Our results suggest a specific effect of VPA on the development of biologically-predisposed social orienting mechanisms, opening new perspectives to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms involved in early ASD symptoms.

Development of an energy-saving anaerobic hybrid membrane bioreactors for 2-chlorophenol-contained wastewater treatment.

PubMed

Wang, Yun-Kun; Pan, Xin-Rong; Sheng, Guo-Ping; Li, Wen-Wei; Shi, Bing-Jing; Yu, Han-Qing

2015-12-01

A novel energy-saving anaerobic hybrid membrane bioreactor (AnHMBR) with mesh filter, which takes advantage of anaerobic membrane bioreactor and fixed-bed biofilm reactor, is developed for low-strength 2-chlorophenol (2-CP)-contained wastewater treatment. In this system, the anaerobic membrane bioreactor is stuffed with granular activated carbon to construct an anaerobic hybrid fixed-bed biofilm membrane bioreactor. The effluent turbidity from the AnHMBR system was low during most of the operation period, and the chemical oxygen demand and 2-CP removal efficiencies averaged 82.3% and 92.6%, respectively. Furthermore, a low membrane fouling rate was achieved during the operation. During the AnHMBR operation, the only energy consumption was for feed pump. And a low energy demand of 0.0045-0.0063kWhm(-3) was estimated under the current operation conditions. All these results demonstrated that this novel AnHMBR is a sustainable technology for treating 2-CP-contained wastewater. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anaerobic hydrogen production from unhydrolyzed mushroom farm waste by indigenous microbiota.

PubMed

Lin, Chiu-Yue; Lay, Chyi-How; Sung, I-Yuan; Sen, Biswarup; Chen, Chin-Chao

2017-10-01

The cultivation of mushrooms generates large amounts of waste polypropylene bags stuffed with wood flour and bacterial nutrients that makes the mushroom waste (MW) a potential feedstock for anaerobic bioH 2 fermentation. MW indigenous bacteria were enriched using thermophilic temperature (55°C) for use as the seed inoculum without any external seeding. The peak hydrogen production rate (6.84 mmol H 2 /L-d) was obtained with cultivation pH 8 and substrate concentration of 60 g MW/L in batch fermentation. Hydrogen production yield (HY) is pH and substrate concentration dependent with an HY decline occurring at pH and substrate concentration increasing from pH 8 to 10 and 60 to 80 g MW/L, respectively. The fermentation bioH 2 production from MW is in an acetate-type metabolic path. Copyright © 2017 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Sketching Interface for Freeform 3D Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Igarashi, Takeo

This chapter introduces Teddy, a sketch-based modeling system to quickly and easily design freeform models such as stuffed animals and other rotund objects. The user draws several 2D freeform strokes interactively on the screen and the system automatically constructs plausible 3D polygonal surfaces. Our system supports several modeling operations, including the operation to construct a 3D polygonal surface from a 2D silhouette drawn by the user: it inflates the region surrounded by the silhouette making a wide area fat, and a narrow area thin. Teddy, our prototype system, is implemented as a Java program, and the mesh construction is done in real-time on a standard PC. Our informal user study showed that a first-time user masters the operations within 10 minutes, and can construct interesting 3D models within minutes. We also report the result of a case study where a high school teacher taught various 3D concepts in geography using the system.

[Research progress on food sources and food web structure of wetlands based on stable isotopes].

PubMed

Chen, Zhan Yan; Wu, Hai Tao; Wang, Yun Biao; Lyu, Xian Guo

2017-07-18

The trophic dynamics of wetland organisms is the basis of assessing wetland structure and function. Stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen have been widely applied to identify trophic relationships in food source, food composition and food web transport in wetland ecosystem studies. This paper provided an overall review about the current methodology of isotope mixing model and trophic level in wetland ecosystems, and discussed the standards of trophic fractionation and baseline. Moreover, we characterized the typical food sources and isotopic compositions of wetland ecosystems, summarized the food sources in different trophic levels of herbivores, omnivores and carnivores based on stable isotopic analyses. We also discussed the limitations of stable isotopes in tra-cing food sources and in constructing food webs. Based on the current results, development trends and upcoming requirements, future studies should focus on sample treatment, conservation and trophic enrichment measurement in the wetland food web, as well as on combing a variety of methodologies including traditional stomach stuffing, molecular markers, and multiple isotopes.

Clothing creator trademark : Business plan

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

Stern, B.

SYMAGERY has developed a patented process to manufacture clothing without direct human labor. This CLOTHING CREATOR{trademark}, will have the ability to produce two (2) perfect garments every 45 seconds or one (1) every 30 seconds. The process will combine Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) technology with heat molding and ultrasonic bonding/cutting techniques. This system for garment production, will have the capacity to produce garments of higher quality and at lower productions costs than convention cut and sew methods. ADVANTAGES of the process include: greatly reduced production costs; increased quality of garments; reduction in lead time; and capacity to make new classmore » of garments. This technology will accommodate a variety of knit, woven and nonwoven materials containing a majority of synthetic fibers. Among the many style of garments that could be manufactured by this process are: work clothing, career apparel, athletic garments, medical disposables, health care products, activewear, haz/mat garments, military clothing, cleanroom clothing, outdoor wear, upholstery, and highly contoured stuffed toy shells. 3 refs.« less

Synthesis, Structure and bonding Analysis of the Polar Intermetallic Phase Ca2Pt2Cd

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

Samal, Saroj L.; Corbett, John D.

The polar intermetallic phase Ca2Pt2Cd was discovered during explorations of the Ca-Pt-Cd system. The compound was synthesized by high temperature reactions, and its structure refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as orthorhombic, Immm, a = 4.4514(5), b = 5.8415(6), c = 8.5976(9) Å, Z = 2. The structure formally contains infinite, planar networks of [Pt2Cd]4– along the ab plane, which can be described as tessellation of six and four-member rings of the anions, with cations stuffed between the anion layers. The infinite condensed platinum chains show a substantial long–short distortion of 0.52 Å, an appreciable difference between Ca2Pt2Cd (26 valence electrons)more » and the isotypic but regular Ca2Cu2Ga (29 VE). The relatively large cation proportion diminishes the usual dominance of polar (Pt–Cd) and 5d–5d (Pt–Pt) contributions to the total Hamilton populations.« less

Development, acceptability and nutritional evaluation of 'Doli Ki Roti'--an indigenously fermented bread.

PubMed

Bhatia, A; Khetarpaul, N

2001-01-01

'Doli Ki Roti'-an indigenously fermented bread popular among the Indian Punjabi community who migrated from Pakistan during partition, is a wheat based product having spiced chickpea as stuffing. It contains a good blend of cereal and legume protein (14.5 to 17.1%), fat (7.3 to 9.2%) and ash (3.8 to 4.7%). It is a good source of dietary essential minerals, i.e. calcium (52.7 to 62.6 mg/100 g), iron (8.7 to 10.6 mg/100 g) and phosphorus (313.8 to 346.7 mg/100 g). The antinutrients like phytic acid and trypsin inhibitors are present in considerable amounts in the unfermented bread but are reduced to the extent of 5 to 18% (phytic acid) and 49 to 70% (trypsin inhibitors) due to the fermentation carried out at 35 and 40 degrees C for varying time periods. The products developed were organoleptically acceptable in terms of colour, taste, texture, flavour, etc.

Neutron diffraction studies of the Na-ion battery electrode materials NaCoCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, NaNiCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Cr(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}

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

Yahia, H. Ben; Essehli, R., E-mail: ressehli@qf.org.qa; Avdeev, M.

The new compounds NaCoCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, NaNiCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Cr(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} were synthesized by sol-gel method and their crystal structures were determined by using neutron powder diffraction data. These compounds were characterized by galvanometric cycling and cyclic voltammetry. NaCoCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, NaNiCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Cr(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} crystallize with a stuffed α-CrPO{sub 4}-type structure. The structure consists of a 3D-framework made of octahedra and tetrahedra that are sharing corners and/or edges generating channels along [100] and [010], in which the sodium atoms are located. Of significance, in the structuresmore » of NaNiCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Cr(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} a statistical disorder Ni{sup 2+}/Cr{sup 3+} was observed on both the 8g and 4a atomic positions, whereas in NaCoCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} the statistical disorder Co{sup 2+}/Cr{sup 3+} was only observed on the 8g atomic position. When tested as negative electrode materials, NaCoCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, NaNiCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Cr(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} delivered specific capacities of 352, 385, and 368 mA h g{sup −1}, respectively, which attests to the electrochemical activity of sodium in these compounds. - Highlights: • NaCoCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, NaNiCr{sub 2}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}, and Na{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}Cr(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} were synthesized by sol-gel method. • The crystal structures were determined by using neutron powder diffraction data. • The three compounds crystallize with a stuffed α-CrPO{sub 4}-type structure. • The three compounds were tested as anodes in sodium-ion batteries. • Relatively high specific capacities were obtained for these compounds.« less

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

Hanc, Emil; Zając, Wojciech, E-mail: wojciech.zajac@agh.edu.pl; Lu, Li

Ceramic oxides exhibiting high lithium-ion mobility at room temperature receive broad attention as candidate electrolytes for lithium batteries. Lithium-stuffed garnets from the Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} group seem to be especially promising because of their high ionic conductivity at room temperature and their electrochemical stability. In this work, we discuss factors that affect formation of the garnet in its bulk form or in the form of thick and thin films. We demonstrate that zinc oxide can be applied as a sintering aid that facilitate the formation of the highly conducting cubic Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} garnet phase inmore » a single-step sintering procedure. Based on our experience with the single-step sintering experiments, we successfully fabricated a thick-film membrane consisting of a garnet solid electrolyte using the tape casting technique. In order to reduce the thickness of the electrolyte even further we investigated the fabrication of a thin-film Li{sub 7}La{sub 3}Zr{sub 2}O{sub 12} electrolyte by means of the pulsed laser deposition technique.« less

Performance Improvement of a Magnetized Coaxial Plasma Gun by adopting Iron-core Bias Coil and New Pre-Ionization System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edo, Takahiro; Asai, T.; Tanaka, F.; Yamada, S.; Hosozawa, A.; Gota, H.; Roche, T.; Allfrey, I.; Matsumoto, T.

2017-10-01

A magnetized coaxial plasma gun (MCPG) is a device used to generate a compact toroid (CT), which has a spheromak-like configuration. A typical MCPG consists of a set of axisymmetric cylindrical electrodes, bias coil, and gas-puff valves. In order to expand the CT operating range, the distributions of the bias magnetic field and neutral gas have been investigated. We have developed a new means of generating stuffing flux. By inserting an iron core into the bias coil, the magnetic field increases dramatically; even a small current of a few Amps produces a sufficient bias field. According to a simulation result, it was also suggested that the radial distribution of the bias field is easily controlled. The ejected CT and the target FRC are cooled by excess neutral gas that typical MCPGs require to initiate a breakdown; therefore, we have adopted a miniature gun as a new pre-ionization (PI) system. By introducing this PI system, the breakdown occurs at lower neutral gas density so that the amount of excess neutral gas can be reduced.

Body pushing, prescription drugs and hospital admission.

PubMed

Byard, Roger W; Kenneally, Michaela

2017-09-01

A 39-year-old man died of multi-organ failure complicating mixed drug toxicity that included methadone, oxazepam, oxycodone and nitrazepam. His past medical history involved alcohol and poly-substance abuse with chronic self-harm and suicidal ideation. There had been multiple hospital admissions for drug overdoses. At autopsy the most unusual finding was of two packages of 10 tablets each, wrapped in thin plastic film within the rectum. The insertion of drugs into body orifices and cavities has been termed body pushing to distinguish it from body packing where illicit drugs are wrapped and swallowed for transport and smuggling, and body stuffing where small amounts of loosely wrapped or unwrapped drugs are swallowed to conceal evidence from police. This case demonstrates that body pushing may not always involve illicit drugs or attempted concealment from police or customs officials. It appears that the drugs had been hidden to ensure an additional supply during the time of residence in hospital. The extent to which body pushing is currently being used by patients to smuggle drugs into secure medical facilities is yet to be determined.

Advanced Multifunctional MMOD Shield: Radiation Shielding Assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rojdev, Kristina; Christiansen, Eric

2013-01-01

As NASA is looking to explore further into deep space, multifunctional materials are a necessity for decreasing complexity and mass. One area where multifunctional materials could be extremely beneficial is in the micrometeoroid orbital debris (MMOD) shield. A typical MMOD shield on the International Space Station (ISS) is a stuffed whipple shield consisting of multiple layers. One of those layers is the thermal blanket, or multi-layer insulation (MLI). Increasing the MMOD effectiveness of MLI blankets, while still preserving their thermal capabilities, could allow for a less massive MMOD shield. Thus, a study was conducted to evaluate a concept MLI blanket for an MMOD shield. In conjunction, this MLI blanket and the subsequent MMOD shield was also evaluated for its radiation shielding effectiveness towards protecting crew. The overall MMOD shielding system using the concept MLI blanket proved to only have a marginal increase in the radiation mitigating properties. Therefore, subsequent analysis was performed on various conceptual MMOD shields to determine the combination of materials that may prove superior for radiation mitigating purposes. The following paper outlines the evaluations performed and discusses the results and conclusions of this evaluation for radiation shielding effectiveness.

Characterization and Technological Features of Autochthonous Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci as Potential Starters for Portuguese Dry Fermented Sausages.

PubMed

Semedo-Lemsaddek, Teresa; Carvalho, Laura; Tempera, Carolina; Fernandes, Maria H; Fernandes, Maria J; Elias, Miguel; Barreto, António S; Fraqueza, Maria J

2016-05-01

The manufacture of dry fermented sausages is an important part of the meat industry in Southern European countries. These products are usually produced in small shops from a mixture of pork, fat, salt, and condiments and are stuffed into natural casings. Meat sausages are slowly cured through spontaneous fermentation by autochthonous microbiota present in the raw materials or introduced during manufacturing. The aim of this work was to evaluate the technological and safety features of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) isolated from Portuguese dry fermented meat sausages in order to select autochthonous starters. Isolates (n = 104) obtained from 2 small manufacturers were identified as Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Staphylococcus carnosus. Genomically diverse isolates (n = 82) were selected for further analysis to determine the ability to produce enzymes (for example, nitrate-reductases, proteases, lipases) and antibiotic susceptibility. Autochthonous CNS producing a wide range of enzymes and showing low antibioresistance were selected as potential starters for future use in the production of dry fermented meat sausages. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®

Low-energy positron scattering upon endohedrals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amusia, M. Ya.; Chernysheva, L. V.

2017-07-01

We investigate positron scattering upon endohedrals and compare it with electron-endohedral scattering. We show that the polarization of the fullerene shell considerably alters the polarization potential of an atom, stuffed inside a fullerene. This essentially affects both the positron and electron elastic scattering phases as well as corresponding cross sections. Of great importance is also the interaction between the incoming positron and the target electrons that leads to formation of the virtual positronium P˜s. We illustrate the general trend by concrete examples of positron and electron scattering upon endohedrals He@C60 and Ar@C60, and compare it to scattering upon fullerene C60. To obtain the presented results, we have employed new simplified approaches that permit to incorporate the effect of fullerenes polarizability into the He@C60 and Ar@C60 polarization potential and to take into account the virtual positronium formation. Using these approaches, we obtained numeric results that show strong variations in shape and magnitudes of scattering phases and cross sections due to effect of endohedral polarization and P˜s formation.

Socioeconomic factors and home allergen exposure in children with asthma.

PubMed

Ungar, Wendy J; Cope, Shannon F; Kozyrskyj, Anita; Paterson, J Michael

2010-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and the elimination of allergen sources from homes of asthmatic children. In a cross-sectional analysis of data from 845 asthmatic children, multiple linear regression investigated the association between socioeconomic factors and failure to reduce allergen sources (i.e., stuffed toys, pets, carpeting, curtains, and cushions); failure to use linen covers; and not laundering linens weekly in hot water. Logistic regression assessed the relationship between socioeconomic status and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Mother's employment status was significantly associated with the quality of the home environment (P = .0002). Homemakers demonstrated fewer poor practices (3.1) compared with full-time or part-time employed mothers (3.6). Children whose mothers reported no post-secondary education were more likely to have environmental tobacco smoke exposure compared with those who had a post-secondary CE education or higher (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.7, 3.5). Children whose mothers worked at home and were better educated were at reduced risk for exposure to sources of indoor allergens.

The shape of cars to come

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

Ashley, S.

1991-05-01

Ford's new concept car achieves weight, size, and cost savings with an innovative lightweight aluminum space frame composed of simple extrusions that are fitted together like Lego blocks and adhesively bonded. On the outside, the design is a blend of art and technology that is a modern restatement of a large luxury car. The other major focus of the design is the Contour's compact T-drive powertrain configuration (also shared by the Mystique). This consists of a transversely mounted engine stuffed into the front of the chassis with a longitudinally positioned transmission right behind it. The T-drive arrangement shrinks the car'smore » engine bay and overall length while expanding the passenger compartment. In addition, powerplants with from four to eight cylinders as well as front-wheel-, rear-wheel-, and four-wheel-drive transmission systems can all be incorporated into the T-drive. Other technical innovations on the Contour include an unusual ducted cooling system, a compact brake assembly, a lightweight high-efficiency air conditioner, centralized single-source lighting, and simple but effective suspension technology.« less

Novel deployable morphing wing based on SMP composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Kai; Sun, Shouhua; Liu, Liwu; Zhang, Zhen; Liu, Yanju; Leng, Jinsong

2009-07-01

In this paper, a novel kind of deployable morphing wing base on shape memory polymer (SMP) composite is designed and tested. While the deployment of the morphing wing still relies on the mechanisms to ensure the recovery force and the stability performance, the deploying process tends to be more steady and accurate by the application of SMP composite, which overcomes the inherent drawbacks of the traditional one, such as harmful impact to the flight balance, less accuracy during the deployment and complex mechanical masses. On the other hand, SMP composite is also designed as the wing's filler. During its shape recovery process, SMP composite stuffed in the wing helps to form an aerofoil for the wing and withstand the aerodynamic loads, leading to the compressed aerofoil recovering its original shape. To demonstrate the feasibility and the controllability of the designed deployable morphing wing, primary tests are also conducted, including the deploying speed of the morphing wing and SMP filler as the main testing aspects. Finally, Wing's deformation under the air loads is also analyzed by using the finite element method to validate the flight stability.

Cooked blueberries: anthocyanin and anthocyanidin degradation and their radical-scavenging activity.

PubMed

Oliveira, Carla; Amaro, L Filipe; Pinho, Olivia; Ferreira, Isabel M P L V O

2010-08-25

This study examined anthocyanin and anthocyanidin composition and radical-scavenging activity of three cultivars of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L., cv. Bluecrop, Bluetravel, and Ozarkblue) before and after cooking. A total of 13 anthocyanins were separated and monitored in methanolic extracts of raw fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector (HPLC/DAD). Principal component analysis using the anthocyanin profile as variables revealed differences according to cultivar origin. Of the six common anthocyanidins, four were identified and quantified in the hydrolysates, namely, malvidin, the most abundant, followed by cyanidin, petunidin, and delphynidin. A systematic evaluation of the degradation of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins of blueberries cooked in stuffed fish was performed. The percentage of anthocyanin degradation in cooked blueberries (by progressive heating from 12 to 99 °C for 60 min) ranged between 16 and 30% for Bluecrop, 30-42% for Bluetravel, and 12-41% for Ozarkblue. However, cooked blueberries maintained or increased radical-scavenging activity when evaluated by the 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Overall, results show that cooked blueberries can serve as a good source of bioactive phytochemicals.

[Inactivating Effect of Heat-Denatured Lysozyme on Murine Norovirus in Bread Fillings].

PubMed

Takahashi, Michiko; Yasuda, Yuka; Takahashi, Hajime; Takeuchi, Akira; Kuda, Takashi; Kimura, Bon

2018-01-01

In this study, we investigated the viability of murine norovirus strain 1 (MNV-1), a surrogate for human norovirus, in bread fillings used for making stuffed buns and pastries. The inactivating effect of heat-denatured lysozyme, which was recently reported to have an antiviral effect, on MNV-1 contaminating the bread fillings was also examined. MNV-1 was inoculated into two types of fillings (chocolate cream, marmalade jam) at 4.5 log PFU/g, and the bread fillings were stored at 4℃ for 5 days. MNV-1 remained viable in the bread fillings during storage. However, addition of 1% heat-denatured lysozyme to the fillings resulted in a decrease of MNV-1 infectivity immediately after inoculation, in both fillings. On the fifth day of storage, MNV-1 infectivity was decreased by 1.2 log PFU/g in chocolate cream and by 0.9 log PFU/g in marmalade jam. Although the mechanism underlying the anti-norovirus effect of heat-denatured lysozyme has not been clarified, our results suggest that heat-denatured lysozyme can be used as an inactivating agent against norovirus in bread fillings.

Influence of surfactants and proteins on the properties of wet edible calcium alginate meat coatings.

PubMed

Comaposada, J; Marcos, B; Bou, R; Gou, P

2018-06-01

Calcium alginate structures are of interest as replacers for natural casings due to their high availability, biodegradability and low price. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of oil, surfactants and proteins (pea and collagen) on the water transfer, mechanical and microstructural properties of the wet calcium alginate films. The addition of oil and surfactants tended to reduce the water permeance and the weight loss rate, reaching values between those shown by natural and collagen artificial casings. The addition of proteins did not improve the adherence of the films and it decreased the maximum force of the film at puncture test, which was even lower with the presence of the surfactant E475. The TEM micrographs showed that the differences in mechanical properties are mainly related to the differences in the compaction of the microstructure. Wet alginate films with E475 are envisaged as a substitute of natural and collagen artificial casings in the stuffed meat products industry. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On fabrication procedures of Li-ion conducting garnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanc, Emil; Zając, Wojciech; Lu, Li; Yan, Binggong; Kotobuki, Masashi; Ziąbka, Magdalena; Molenda, Janina

2017-04-01

Ceramic oxides exhibiting high lithium-ion mobility at room temperature receive broad attention as candidate electrolytes for lithium batteries. Lithium-stuffed garnets from the Li7La3Zr2O12 group seem to be especially promising because of their high ionic conductivity at room temperature and their electrochemical stability. In this work, we discuss factors that affect formation of the garnet in its bulk form or in the form of thick and thin films. We demonstrate that zinc oxide can be applied as a sintering aid that facilitate the formation of the highly conducting cubic Li7La3Zr2O12 garnet phase in a single-step sintering procedure. Based on our experience with the single-step sintering experiments, we successfully fabricated a thick-film membrane consisting of a garnet solid electrolyte using the tape casting technique. In order to reduce the thickness of the electrolyte even further we investigated the fabrication of a thin-film Li7La3Zr2O12 electrolyte by means of the pulsed laser deposition technique.

Method for making glass-ceramic articles exhibiting high frangibility

DOEpatents

Beall, George H.; Brydges, III., William T.; Ference, Joseph; Kozlowski, Theodore R.

1976-02-03

This invention is concerned with glass-ceramic articles having compositions within a very narrowly-delimited area of the MgO-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -B.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 field and having alpha-quartz and sapphirine as the principal crystal phases, resulting from nucleation through a combination of TiO.sub.2 and ZrO.sub.2. Upon contacting such articles with lithium ions at an elevated temperature, said lithium ions will replace magnesium ions on a two Li.sup.+-for-one Mg.sup..sup.+2 basis within the crystal structures, thereby providing a unitary glass-ceramic article having an integral surface layer wherein the principal crystal phase is a lithium-stuffed beta-quartz solid solution. That transformation of crystal phases results in compressive stresses being set up within the surface layer as the articles are cooled. Through the careful control of composition, crystallization treatment, and the parameters of the replacement reaction in the crystal structures, a tremendous degree of stored elastic energy can be developed within the articles such that they will demonstrate frangibility when fractured but will not exhibit undesirable spontaneous breakage and/or spalling.

Controllable Thermal Rectification Realized in Binary Phase Change Composites

PubMed Central

Chen, Renjie; Cui, Yalong; Tian, He; Yao, Ruimin; Liu, Zhenpu; Shu, Yi; Li, Cheng; Yang, Yi; Ren, Tianling; Zhang, Gang; Zou, Ruqiang

2015-01-01

Phase transition is a natural phenomenon happened around our daily life, represented by the process from ice to water. While melting and solidifying at a certain temperature, a high heat of fusion is accompanied, classified as the latent heat. Phase change material (PCM) has been widely applied to store and release large amount of energy attributed to the distinctive thermal behavior. Here, with the help of nanoporous materials, we introduce a general strategy to achieve the binary eicosane/PEG4000 stuffed reduced graphene oxide aerogels, which has two ends with different melting points. It's successfully demonstrated this binary PCM composites exhibits thermal rectification characteristic. Partial phase transitions within porous networks instantaneously result in one end of the thermal conductivity saltation at a critical temperature, and therefore switch on or off the thermal rectification with the coefficient up to 1.23. This value can be further raised by adjusting the loading content of PCM. The uniqueness of this device lies in its performance as a normal thermal conductor at low temperature, only exhibiting rectification phenomenon when temperature is higher than a critical value. The stated technology has broad applications for thermal energy control in macroscopic scale such as energy-efficiency building or nanodevice thermal management. PMID:25748640

Structure, electronic properties, and oxygen incorporation/diffusion characteristics of the Σ 5 TiN(310)[001] tilt grain boundary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKenna, Keith P.

2018-02-01

First principles calculations are employed to investigate the structure, electronic properties, and oxygen incorporation/diffusion characteristics of the Σ 5 TiN(310) tilt grain boundary with relevance to applications of polycrystalline TiN in microelectronics and protective coatings. We show that the grain boundary does not significantly modify electronic states near the Fermi energy but does induce an upward shift of up to 0.6 eV in a number of deeper occupied bands. We also show that oxygen is preferentially incorporated into the TiN grain boundary (GB) but must overcome relatively high activation energies for further diffusion. These predictions are consistent with the "stuffed barrier model" proposed to explain the good barrier characteristics of TiN. We also show that while the oxidizing power of TiN GBs is not sufficient to reduce HfO2 (a prototypical gate dielectric material), they can act as a scavenger for interstitial oxygen. Altogether, these results provide the much needed atomistic insights into the properties of a model GB in TiN and suggest a number of directions for future investigation.

Identification of proteolytic bacteria from thai traditional fermented foods and their allergenic reducing potentials.

PubMed

Phromraksa, P; Nagano, H; Boonmars, T; Kamboonruang, C

2008-05-01

This study aimed to identify proteolytic bacteria from Thai traditional fermented foods and investigate their allergenic reducing potentials to wheat and milk allergens. Nine bacteria were isolated from fermented foods as follows: fermented soybean seeds (Thua Nao), fermented soybean paste (Thua Nao), wheat flour dough of steamed stuffed bun (Sa La Pao), and soaked rice from Thai fermented rice-noodle (Kha Nhom Jeen) processing. Both phenotypic and genotypic identifications were used in this study. It was found that all isolates were Gram-positive rods. Seven isolates were matched and identified as Bacillus subtilis by both techniques, and the remaining 2 isolates were phenotypically and genotypically identified as B. licheniformis and B. subtilis, respectively. The concentrated crude enzyme of B. subtilis DB and SR could reduce allergenicity of gliadin by hydrolyzing the allergenic gliadin fragments detected by immunoblotting. Furthermore, the enzyme of B. subtilis DB could also reduce allergenicity of beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) detected by hydrolyzing the major allergenic epitope of beta-LG at Gln(35)-Ser(36) position. B. subtilis DB and SR can be applied for the production of hypoallergenic wheat flour or milk food products.

Cyanogenic glycosides in plant-based foods available in New Zealand.

PubMed

Cressey, Peter; Saunders, Darren; Goodman, Janet

2013-01-01

Cyanogenic glycosides occur in a wide range of plant species. The potential toxicity of cyanogenic glycosides arises from enzymatic degradation to produce hydrogen cyanide, which may result in acute cyanide poisoning and has also been implicated in the aetiology of several chronic diseases. One hundred retail foods were sampled and analysed for the presence of total hydrocyanic acid using an acid hydrolysis-isonicotinic/barbituric acid colourimetric method. Food samples included cassava, bamboo shoots, almonds and almond products, pome fruit products, flaxseed/linseed, stone fruit products, lima beans, and various seeds and miscellaneous products, including taro leaves, passion fruit, spinach and canned stuffed vine leaves. The concentrations of total hydrocyanic acid (the hydrocyanic acid equivalents of all cyanogenic compounds) found were consistent with or lower than concentrations reported in the scientific literature. Linseed/flaxseed contained the highest concentrations of total hydrocyanic acid of any of the analysed foods (91-178 mg kg(-1)). Linseed-containing breads were found to contain total hydrocyanic acid at concentrations expected from their linseed content, indicating little impact of processing on the total hydrocyanic acid content. Simulation modelling was used to assess the risk due to the total hydrocyanic acid in fruit juice and linseed-containing bread. 

Development and Evaluation of the Next Generation of Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Shields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryan, Shannon; Christiansen, Eric

2009-06-01

Recent events such as the Chinese anti-satellite missile test in January 2007 and the collision between a Russian Cosmos satellite and US Iridium satellite in February 2009 are responsible for a rapid increase in the population of orbital debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Without active debris removal strategies the debris population in key orbits will continue to increase, requiring enhanced shielding capabilities to maintain allowable penetration risks. One of the more promising developments in recent years for meteoroid and orbital debris shielding (MMOD) is the application of open cell foams. Although shielding onboard the International Space Station is the most capable ever flown, the most proficient configuration (stuffed Whipple shield) requires an additional ˜30% of the shielding mass for non-ballistic requirements (e.g. stiffeners, fasteners, etc.). Open cell foam structures provide similar mechanical performance to more traditional structural components such as honeycomb sandwich panels, as well as improved projectile fragmentation and melting as a result of repeated shocking by foam ligaments. In this paper, the preliminary results of an extensive hypervelocity impact test program on next generation MMOD shielding configurations incorporating open-cell metallic foams are reported.

Production optimization of sucker rod pumping wells producing viscous oil in Boscan field, Venezuela

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

Guirados, C.; Sandoval, J.; Rivas, O.

1995-12-31

Boscan field is located in the western coast of Maracaibo lake and is operated by Maraven S.A., affiliate of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. It has 315 active wells, 252 of which are produced with sucker rod pumping. Other artificial lift methods currently applied in this field are hydraulic (piston) pumping (39 wells) and ESP (24 wells). This paper presents the results of the production optimization of two sucker rod pumping wells of Boscan field producing viscous oil. This optimization has been possible due to the development of a new production scheme and the application of system analysis in completion design.more » The new production scheme involves the utilization of a subsurface stuffing box assembly and a slotted housing, both designed and patented by Intevep S.A., affiliate of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. The completion design method and software used in the optimization study were also developed by Intevep S.A. The new production scheme and design method proved to be effective in preventing the causes of the above mentioned problems, allowing the increase of oil production under better operating conditions.« less

Development and Evaluation of the Next Generation of Meteoroid and Orbital Debris Shields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christiansen, E.; Lear, D.; Ryan, S.

2009-01-01

Recent events such as the Chinese anti-satellite missile test in January 2007 and the collision between a Russian Cosmos satellite and US Iridium satellite in February 2009 are responsible for a rapid increase in the population of orbital debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Without active debris removal strategies the debris population in key orbits will continue to increase, requiring enhanced shielding capabilities to maintain allowable penetration risks. One of the more promising developments in recent years for meteoroid and orbital debris shielding (MMOD) is the application of open cell foams. Although shielding onboard the International Space Station is the most capable ever flown, the most proficient configuration (stuffed Whipple shield) requires an additional 30% of the shielding mass for non-ballistic requirements (e.g. stiffeners, fasteners, etc.). Open cell foam structures provide similar mechanical performance to more traditional structural components such as honeycomb sandwich panels, as well as improved projectile fragmentation and melting as a result of repeated shocking by foam ligaments. In this paper, the preliminary results of an extensive hypervelocity impact test program on next generation MMOD shielding configurations incorporating open-cell metallic foams are reported.

Controllable Thermal Rectification Realized in Binary Phase Change Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Renjie; Cui, Yalong; Tian, He; Yao, Ruimin; Liu, Zhenpu; Shu, Yi; Li, Cheng; Yang, Yi; Ren, Tianling; Zhang, Gang; Zou, Ruqiang

2015-03-01

Phase transition is a natural phenomenon happened around our daily life, represented by the process from ice to water. While melting and solidifying at a certain temperature, a high heat of fusion is accompanied, classified as the latent heat. Phase change material (PCM) has been widely applied to store and release large amount of energy attributed to the distinctive thermal behavior. Here, with the help of nanoporous materials, we introduce a general strategy to achieve the binary eicosane/PEG4000 stuffed reduced graphene oxide aerogels, which has two ends with different melting points. It's successfully demonstrated this binary PCM composites exhibits thermal rectification characteristic. Partial phase transitions within porous networks instantaneously result in one end of the thermal conductivity saltation at a critical temperature, and therefore switch on or off the thermal rectification with the coefficient up to 1.23. This value can be further raised by adjusting the loading content of PCM. The uniqueness of this device lies in its performance as a normal thermal conductor at low temperature, only exhibiting rectification phenomenon when temperature is higher than a critical value. The stated technology has broad applications for thermal energy control in macroscopic scale such as energy-efficiency building or nanodevice thermal management.

Hydrodynamic role of longitudinal ridges in a leatherback turtle swimming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bang, Kyeongtae; Kim, Jooha; Lee, Sang-Im; Choi, Haecheon

2015-11-01

The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), the fastest swimmer and the deepest diver among marine turtles, has five longitudinal ridges on its carapace. These ridges are the most remarkable morphological features distinguished from other marine turtles. To investigate the hydrodynamic role of these ridges in the leatherback turtle swimming, we model a carapace with and without ridges by using three dimensional surface data of a stuffed leatherback turtle in the National Science Museum, Korea. The experiment is conducted in a wind tunnel in the ranges of the real leatherback turtle's Reynolds number (Re) and angle of attack (α). The longitudinal ridges function differently according to the flow condition (i.e. Re and α). At low Re and negative α that represent the swimming condition of hatchlings and juveniles, the ridges significantly decrease the drag by generating streamwise vortices and delaying the main separation. On the other hand, at high Re and positive α that represent the swimming condition of adults, the ridges suppress the laminar separation bubble near the front part by generating streamwise vortices and enhance the lift and lift-to-drag ratio. Supported by the NRF program (2011-0028032).

Multiple correspondence analysis and random amplified polymorphic DNA molecular typing to assess the sources of Staphylococcus aureus contamination in alheira production lines.

PubMed

Esteves, A; Patarata, L; Aymerich, T; Garriga, M; Martins, C

2007-03-01

Sources and tracing of Staphylococcus aureus in alheira (garlic sausage) production were evaluated by multifactorial correspondence analysis (MCA) of occurrence data and a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) on S. aureus isolates. Samples from four production lines, four different production batches, and 14 different sampling sites (including raw material, different contact surfaces, and several stages of alheira manufacturing) were analyzed at four sampling times. From the 896 microbial analyses completed, a collection of 170 S. aureus isolates was obtained. Although analysis of the occurrence data alone was not elucidative enough, MCA and RAPD-PCR were able to assess the sources of contamination and to trace the spread of this microorganism along the production lines. MCA results indicated that the presence of S. aureus in alheira was related to its presence in the intermediate manufacturing stages after heat treatment but before stuffing in the casings. It was also possible to associate a cross-contamination path related to handler procedures. RAPD-PCR typing in accordance to MCA results confirmed the cross-contamination path between the raw material and casings and the role of handlers as an important cross-contamination vehicle.

Effect of chosen lactic acid bacteria strains on Staphylococcus aureus in vitro as well as in meat and raw sausages.

PubMed

Gomółka-Pawlicka, M; Uradziński, J; Wiszniewska, A

2004-01-01

The present study was aimed at determining the influence of 15 strains of lactic acid bacteria on the growth of 2 Staphylococcus aureus strains in vitro as well as in meat and raw sausages. The investigations were performed within the framework of three alternate stages which differed in respect to the products studied, the number of Lactobacillus sp. strains and, partly, methodological approach. The study also considered water activity (a(w)) and pH of the products investigated. The results obtained are demonstrated in 5 diagrams. It was found that among 15 strains of Lactobacillus aureus investigated only one strain, Lactobacillus helveticus T 78, showed antagonistic effect on studied strains of Staphylococcus aureus both in vitro as well as in meat and raw sausages. Five other strains of Lactobacillus spp. displayed the antagonistic effect in vitro only. The temperature and incubation time of sausages, but also the type of sausage stuffing were found to have a distinct or slight influence, respectively, on the antagonistic interaction between the bacteria. However, this phenomenon was affected by neither a(w) nor pH.

B80 and B101-103 clusters: Remarkable stability of the core-shell structures established by validated density functionalsa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Fengyu; Jin, Peng; Jiang, De-en; Wang, Lu; Zhang, Shengbai B.; Zhao, Jijun; Chen, Zhongfang

2012-02-01

Prompted by the very recent claim that the volleyball-shaped B80 fullerene [X. Wang, Phys. Rev. B 82, 153409 (2010), 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.153409] is lower in energy than the B80 buckyball [N. G. Szwacki, A. Sadrzadeh, and B. I. Yakobson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 166804 (2007), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.166804] and core-shell structure [J. Zhao, L. Wang, F. Li, and Z. Chen, J. Phys. Chem. A 114, 9969 (2010), 10.1021/jp1018873], and inspired by the most recent finding of another core-shell isomer as the lowest energy B80 isomer [S. De, A. Willand, M. Amsler, P. Pochet, L. Genovese, and S. Goedecher, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 225502 (2011), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.225502], we carefully evaluated the performance of the density functional methods in the energetics of boron clusters and confirmed that the core-shell construction (stuffed fullerene) is thermodynamically the most favorable structural pattern for B80. Our global minimum search showed that both B101 and B103 also prefer a core-shell structure and that B103 can reach the complete core-shell configuration. We called for great attention to the theoretical community when using density functionals to investigate boron-related nanomaterials.

Testing social learning of anti-predator responses in juvenile jackdaws: the importance of accounting for levels of agitation

PubMed Central

Lee, Victoria E.; Thornton, Alex

2018-01-01

Social learning is often assumed to help young animals respond appropriately to potential threats in the environment. We brought wild, juvenile jackdaws briefly into captivity to test whether short exposures to conspecific vocalizations are sufficient to promote anti-predator learning. Individuals were presented with one of two models—a stuffed fox representing a genuine threat, or a toy elephant simulating a novel predator. Following an initial baseline presentation, juveniles were trained by pairing models with either adult mobbing calls, indicating danger, or contact calls suggesting no danger. In a final test phase with no playbacks, birds appeared to have habituated to the elephant, regardless of training, but responses to the fox remained high throughout, suggesting juveniles already recognized it as a predator before the experiment began. Training with mobbing calls did seem to generate elevated escape responses, but this was likely to be a carry-over effect of the playback in the previous trial. Overall, we found little evidence for social learning. Instead, individuals' responses were mainly driven by their level of agitation immediately preceding each presentation. These results highlight the importance of accounting for agitation in studies of anti-predator learning, and whenever animals are held in captivity for short periods. PMID:29410861

Testing social learning of anti-predator responses in juvenile jackdaws: the importance of accounting for levels of agitation.

PubMed

McIvor, Guillam E; Lee, Victoria E; Thornton, Alex

2018-01-01

Social learning is often assumed to help young animals respond appropriately to potential threats in the environment. We brought wild, juvenile jackdaws briefly into captivity to test whether short exposures to conspecific vocalizations are sufficient to promote anti-predator learning. Individuals were presented with one of two models-a stuffed fox representing a genuine threat, or a toy elephant simulating a novel predator. Following an initial baseline presentation, juveniles were trained by pairing models with either adult mobbing calls, indicating danger, or contact calls suggesting no danger. In a final test phase with no playbacks, birds appeared to have habituated to the elephant, regardless of training, but responses to the fox remained high throughout, suggesting juveniles already recognized it as a predator before the experiment began. Training with mobbing calls did seem to generate elevated escape responses, but this was likely to be a carry-over effect of the playback in the previous trial. Overall, we found little evidence for social learning. Instead, individuals' responses were mainly driven by their level of agitation immediately preceding each presentation. These results highlight the importance of accounting for agitation in studies of anti-predator learning, and whenever animals are held in captivity for short periods.

Surface sealing using self-assembled monolayers and its effect on metal diffusion in porous low-k dielectrics studied using monoenergetic positron beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uedono, Akira; Armini, Silvia; Zhang, Yu; Kakizaki, Takeaki; Krause-Rehberg, Reinhard; Anwand, Wolfgang; Wagner, Andreas

2016-04-01

Surface sealing effects on the diffusion of metal atoms in porous organosilicate glass (OSG) films were studied by monoenergetic positron beams. For a Cu(5 nm)/MnN(3 nm)/OSG(130 nm) sample fabricated with pore stuffing, C4F8 plasma etch, unstuffing, and a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) sealing process, it was found that pores with cubic pore side lengths of 1.1 and 3.1 nm coexisted in the OSG film. For the sample without the SAM sealing process, metal (Cu and Mn) atoms diffused from the top Cu/MnN layer into the OSG film and were trapped by the pores. As a result, almost all pore interiors were covered with those metals. For the sample damaged by an Ar/C4F8 plasma etch treatment before the SAM sealing process, SAMs diffused into the OSG film, and they were preferentially trapped by larger pores. The cubic pore side length in these pores containing self-assembled molecules was estimated to be 0.7 nm. Through this work, we have demonstrated that monoenergetic positron beams are a powerful tool for characterizing capped porous films and the trapping of atoms and molecules by pores.

Synthesis and structure of a stuffed derivative of α-quartz, Mg 0.5AlSiO 4

DOE PAGES

Xu, Hongwu; Heaney, Peter J.; Yu, Ping; ...

2015-10-01

A structural derivative of quartz with the composition Mg 0.5AlSiO 4 has been grown from glass and characterized using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Rietveld analysis of the XRD data indicates that the framework of Mg 0.5AlSiO 4 is isostructural with α-quartz, rather than β-quartz, as is consistent with previous theoretical modeling (Sternitzke and Müller 1991). Al and Si exhibit long-range disorder over the framework tetrahedral sites, indicated by the absence of the superlattice reflections corresponding to the doubling of c relative to that of quartz. Nevertheless, 29Si NMR measurementsmore » show that Al and Si exhibit partial short-range order with an ordering degree of 56%. Electron diffraction reveals superlattice reflections indicative of doubled periodicities along the a-axes. In conclusion, Fourier electron density maps show that Mg occupies channel sites that each are bonded to six O atoms, in contrast to the tetrahedral coordination of Li in the β-quartz-type framework for β-eucryptite, LiAlSiO 4. Furthermore, the concentrations of Mg in adjacent channels are different, resulting in framework distortions that generate the superstructures along a.« less

Changes of mercury contamination in red-crowned cranes, Grus japonensis, in East Hokkaido, Japan.

PubMed

Teraoka, Hiroki; Tagami, Yukari; Kudo, Moe; Miura, Yoshiaki; Okamoto, Erika; Matsumoto, Fumio; Koga, Kimiya; Uebayashi, Akiko; Shimura, Ryoji; Inoue, Masako; Momose, Kunikazu; Masatomi, Hiroyuki; Kitazawa, Takio; Hiraga, Takeo; Subramanian, Annamalai

2012-07-01

Red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) are native to eastern Hokkaido (island population), in contrast to the mainland, which migrates between the Amur River basin and eastern China-Korea peninsula. During the 1990s we found that Red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido were highly contaminated with mercury: however, the source was unknown. We investigated the time trend of mercury contamination in Red-crowned cranes. Total mercury levels in the livers and kidneys from cranes dead in the 2000s were lower than those dead in the 1990s. Feather is a major pathway of mercury excretion for many bird species and is used as an indicator of blood mercury level during feather growth. As internal organs from the specimens collected before 1988 were not available, we analyzed the flight feather shavings from stuffed Red-crowned cranes dead in 1959-1987 and found that the mercury level of feathers from cranes dead in the 1960s and 1970s was not more than those from the cranes dead in the 2000s. These results suggest that mercury contamination in Red-crowned cranes in Hokkaido decreased temporally during the 1990s-2000s. This indicates the possible occurrence of some mercury pollution in Red-crowned cranes' habitat in this region in the 1990s or before.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of novel intermetallic compounds R2Co2SiC (R = Pr, Nd).

PubMed

Zhou, Sixuan; Mishra, Trinath; Wang, Man; Shatruk, Michael; Cao, Huibo; Latturner, Susan E

2014-06-16

The intermetallic compounds R2Co2SiC (R = Pr, Nd) were prepared from the reaction of silicon and carbon in either Pr/Co or Nd/Co eutectic flux. These phases crystallize with a new stuffed variant of the W2CoB2 structure type in orthorhombic space group Immm with unit cell parameters a = 3.978(4) Å, b = 6.094(5) Å, c = 8.903(8) Å (Z = 2; R1 = 0.0302) for Nd2Co2SiC. Silicon, cobalt, and carbon atoms form two-dimensional flat sheets, which are separated by puckered layers of rare-earth cations. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the rare earth cations in both analogues order ferromagnetically at low temperature (TC ≈ 12 K for Nd2Co2SiC and TC ≈ 20 K for Pr2Co2SiC). Single-crystal neutron diffraction data for Nd2Co2SiC indicate that Nd moments initially align ferromagnetically along the c axis around ∼12 K, but below 11 K, they tilt slightly away from the c axis, in the ac plane. Electronic structure calculations confirm the lack of spin polarization for Co 3d moments.

Origin of high Li⁺ conduction in doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ garnets

DOE PAGES

Chen, Yan; Rangasamy, Ezhiylmurugan; Liang, Chengdu; ...

2015-08-06

Substitution of a native ion in the crystals with a foreign ion that differs in valence ( aliovalent doping) has been widely attempted to upgrade solid-state ionic conductors for various charge carriers including O²⁻, H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, etc. The doping helps promote the high-conductive framework and dredge the tunnel for fast ion transport. The garnet-type Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ (LLZO) is a fast Li⁺ solid conductor, which received much attention as an electrolyte candidate for all-solid-state lithium ion batteries, showing great potential to offer high energy density and minimize battery safety concerns to meet extensive applications in large energy storage systems such asmore » those for electric vehicles and aerospace. In the Li-stuffed garnet framework of LLZO, the 3D pathway formed by the incompletely occupied tetrahedral sites bridged by a single octahedron enables the superior Li⁺ conductivity. For optimal performance, many aliovalent-doping efforts have been made throughout metal elements (Al³⁺, Ta⁵⁺) and metalloid elements (Ga³⁺, Te⁶⁺) in the periodic table with various valences to stabilize the high-conductive phase and increase the Li vacancy concentration.« less

Attic construction with sheathing-applied insulation

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

Rose, W.B.

1995-12-31

Two years of study at a building research laboratory have been applied to cathedralized residential attic construction. Cathedralized attics are rafter-framed or truss-framed attics with flat ceilings in which the insulation is placed against the underside of the roof sheathing rather than on top of the ceiling drywall. The potential benefits of sheathing-applied insulation are considerable and are due to the fact that the attic space becomes part of the conditioned volume. Concern is often expressed that moisture damage may occur in the sheathing. The intent of the current study was to address those concerns. This study allowed an assessmentmore » of the performance of cathedralized ceilings, given the following construction variables: (1) ventilation vs. no ventilation, (2) continuous air chute construction vs. stuffed insulation construction, and (3) opens joints in exposed kraft facing vs. taped joints. The results were compared to a concurrent study of the performance of cathedral ceilings with sloped ceiling drywall. The results show that having an air chute that ensures an air gap between the sheathing and the top of the insulation is the critical factor. Ventilation and the taping of joints were minor determinants of the moisture performance of the sheathing. These results are consistent with the results of normal cathedral ceiling construction performance.« less

Allergens in indoor air: environmental assessment and health effects.

PubMed

Carrer, P; Maroni, M; Alcini, D; Cavallo, D

2001-04-10

It has been suggested that the increase in morbidity and mortality for asthma and allergies, may also be due to an increase in exposure to allergens in the modern indoor environment. Indoor allergen exposure is recognised as the most important risk factor for asthma in children. House dust mites, pets, insects, plants, moulds and chemical agents in the indoor environment are important causes of allergic diseases. House dust mites and their debris and excrements that contain the allergens are normally found in the home in beds, mattresses, pillows, carpets and furniture stuffing, but they have also been found in office environments. Domestic animals such as cats, dogs, birds and rodents may cause allergic asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis. The exposure usually occurs in homes, but also in schools and kindergartens where domestic animals are kept as pets or for education; moreover, cat and dog owners can bring allergens to public areas in their clothes. Allergy to natural rubber latex has become an important occupational health concern in recent years, particularly among healthcare workers; when powdered gloves are worn or changed, latex particles get into the air and workers are exposed to latex aerosolised antigens. To assess the environmental risk to allergen exposure or to verify if there is a causal relationship between the immunologic findings in a patient and his/her environmental exposure, sampling from the suspected environment may be necessary.

Waste exposure and skin diseases.

PubMed

Megna, Matteo; Napolitano, Maddalena; Costa, Claudia; Balato, Nicola; Patruno, Cataldo

2017-08-01

Waste is a composite mixture of different substances including endotoxins, organic dust and bio-aerosol stuffed with micro-organisms, and various toxic organic and inorganic chemicals, which may be intrinsically hazardous to human health. Therefore, health risks may derive from direct or indirect contact with garbage. We searched for English-language literature describing the relationships between garbage and skin diseases in order to provide a state-of-the-art review on what is currently known about waste exposure effects on skin health. Most of the data regarding the possible relationship between garbage exposure and skin diseases are mainly gathered from studies conducted on subjects living near dumping sites and landfills as well as on workers engaged in solid waste collection, processing and/or disposal. Literature data are controversial since some studies did not show any significant association between cutaneous diseases and garbage whereas other authors reported significant connections with conditions such as skin infections, skin rashes and systemic lupus erythematosus. Despite deficiency in garbage collection and waste overproduction are becoming more and more common problems worldwide, to date only few surveys have been conducted to investigate on the relationship between garbage exposure and cutaneous diseases. Indubitably, more efforts and research are needed to elaborate this emerging issue and seek to drive authorities for the organization of controlled action and health risk reduction behaviors models to face possible waste related health risk.

Role of Dendritic Cells in the Pathogenesis of Whipple's Disease

PubMed Central

Schinnerling, Katina; Geelhaar-Karsch, Anika; Allers, Kristina; Friebel, Julian; Conrad, Kristina; Loddenkemper, Christoph; Kühl, Anja A.; Erben, Ulrike; Ignatius, Ralf; Schneider, Thomas

2014-01-01

Accumulation of Tropheryma whipplei-stuffed macrophages in the duodenum, impaired T. whipplei-specific Th1 responses, and weak secretion of interleukin-12 (IL-12) are hallmarks of classical Whipple's disease (CWD). This study addresses dendritic cell (DC) functionality during CWD. We documented composition, distribution, and functionality of DC ex vivo or after in vitro maturation by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and by immunohistochemistry in situ. A decrease in peripheral DC of untreated CWD patients compared to healthy donors was due to reduced CD11chigh myeloid DC (M-DC). Decreased maturation markers CD83, CD86, and CCR7, as well as low IL-12 production in response to stimulation, disclosed an immature M-DC phenotype. In vitro-generated monocyte-derived DC from CWD patients showed normal maturation and T cell-stimulatory capacity under proinflammatory conditions but produced less IL-12 and failed to activate T. whipplei-specific Th1 cells. In duodenal and lymphoid tissues, T. whipplei was found within immature DC-SIGN+ DC. DC and proliferating lymphocytes were reduced in lymph nodes of CWD patients compared to levels in controls. Our results indicate that dysfunctional IL-12 production by DC provides suboptimal conditions for priming of T. whipplei-specific T cells during CWD and that immature DC carrying T. whipplei contribute to the dissemination of the bacterium. PMID:25385798

Pharmacological extension of the sensitive period for imprinting in Gallus domesticus.

PubMed

Parsons, C H; Rogers, L J

1997-12-01

Precocial animals, such as the chick, exhibit a form of learning termed filial imprinting. The chick's sensitive period for filial imprinting is restricted to the first few days after hatching. The neural mechanism that terminates the sensitive period is not fully understood. It is thought to be an experience-dependent event because once a chick has imprinted, it will not readily imprint on another stimulus. However, even dark-reared chicks eventually lose the ability to imprint, which suggests that the ending of the sensitive period may not be entirely experience-dependent. The present study investigates factors that may contribute to the ending of the sensitive period. In our experiments, dark-reared chicks were unable to imprint after Day 2 posthatching, but chicks treated 10 h after hatching with an intramuscular injection of the noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine (55 mg/kg) and the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist xylazine (6 mg/kg) (KX) imprinted on a stuffed hen 8 days after hatching. Similarly treated chicks did not imprint on a red and black box, although the box was an effective imprinting stimulus for Day 2 chicks. Chicks treated with KX at 20 or 40 h posthatching or on Day 4 or 7 as well as controls treated with pyrogen-free saline were unable to imprint on Day 8.

Hydrodynamic characteristics of sailfish and swordfish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagong, Woong; Jeon, Woo-Pyung; Choi, Haecheon

2009-11-01

The sailfish and swordfish are known as fastest sea animals, reaching their maximum speeds of more than 100km/h. Recently, Sagong et al. (2008, Phys. Fluids) investigated the role of V- shaped protrusions existing on the sailfish skin in the skin-friction reduction but those protrusions did not make a direct role in reducing drag. On the other hand, the long bill has been regarded as a device of reducing drag by separation delay through turbulence generation. In the present study, we investigate the hydrodynamic characteristics of sailfish and swordfish by installing the stuffed ones in a wind tunnel and measuring the drag on their bodies and boundary-layer velocities above the body surfaces. The drag coefficients of sailfish and swordfish are 0.0075 and 0.009 based on the free-stream velocity and wetted area, respectively. They are comparable to or smaller than those of other kinds of fish such as the dogfish, tuna and trout. Next, the role of bill on the drag is studied. The drag without bill or with an artificial short bill is lower than that with the original long bill, indicating that the bill does not reduce the drag at all. From the velocity measurement near the body surfaces, we found that flow separation does not occur even without bill, and thus the conjecture that the flow separation is delayed through turbulence generation by the bill is not valid.

Phylogeography, Genetic Diversity, and Management Units of Hawksbill Turtles in the Indo-Pacific

PubMed Central

Jensen, Michael P.; Ho, Simon Y. W.; Mobaraki, Asghar; Broderick, Damien; Mortimer, Jeanne A.; Whiting, Scott D.; Miller, Jeff; Prince, Robert I. T.; Bell, Ian P.; Hoenner, Xavier; Limpus, Colin J.; Santos, Fabrício R.; FitzSimmons, Nancy N.

2016-01-01

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) populations have experienced global decline because of a history of intense commercial exploitation for shell and stuffed taxidermied whole animals, and harvest for eggs and meat. Improved understanding of genetic diversity and phylogeography is needed to aid conservation. In this study, we analyzed the most geographically comprehensive sample of hawksbill turtles from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, sequencing 766bp of the mitochondrial control region from 13 locations (plus Aldabra, n = 4) spanning over 13500 km. Our analysis of 492 samples revealed 52 haplotypes distributed in 5 divergent clades. Diversification times differed between the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic lineages and appear to be related to the sea-level changes that occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum. We found signals of demographic expansion only for turtles from the Persian Gulf region, which can be tied to a more recent colonization event. Our analyses revealed evidence of transoceanic migration, including connections between feeding grounds from the Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific rookeries. Hawksbill turtles appear to have a complex pattern of phylogeography, showing a weak isolation by distance and evidence of multiple colonization events. Our novel dataset will allow mixed-stock analyses of hawksbill turtle feeding grounds in the Indo-Pacific by providing baseline data needed for conservation efforts in the region. Eight management units are proposed in our study for the Indo-Pacific region that can be incorporated in conservation plans of this critically endangered species. PMID:26615184

A V(IV) Hydroxyhydrogenomonophosphate with an Intersecting Tunnel Structure: HK 4[V 10O 10(H 2O) 2(OH) 4(PO 4) 7]·9H 2O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berrah, F.; Guesdon, A.; Leclaire, A.; Borel, M. M.; Provost, J.; Raveau, B.

1999-12-01

A V(IV) hydroxyhydrogenomonophosphate HK4[V10O10(H2O)2(OH)4(PO4)7]·9H2O has been obtained, using hydrothermal conditions. Its structure, closely related to that of (CH3)2NH2K4[V10O10(H2O)2(OH)4(PO4)7]·4H2O, differs from the latter by its I41/a space group (instead of P43). This difference corresponds to a "disordering" of the vanadium atoms, with respect to the dimethyl ammonium phase. It is shown that this disorder, which appears in the form of "V5O22" units distributed at random, does not affect the oxygen framework. The analysis of this complex structure shows that it can be described from the stacking along c of [V8P7O38(OH)4(H2O)2]∞ layers interconnected through layers of isolated VO6 octahedra. In this structure, built up of VO6, VO5OH, and VO4(OH)(H2O) octahedra, of VO4OH pyramids, and of PO4 tetrahedra, large "toffee" tunnels and smaller ones with a tulip-shape section are running along a (or b). The first ones are stuffed with H2O molecules forming aquo tubes, where protons are likely "delocalized," whereas the second ones are occupied by K+ cations.

Testing for voter rigging in small polling stations

PubMed Central

Jimenez, Raúl; Hidalgo, Manuel; Klimek, Peter

2017-01-01

Nowadays, a large number of countries combine formal democratic institutions with authoritarian practices. Although in these countries the ruling elites may receive considerable voter support, they often use several manipulation tools to control election outcomes. A common practice of these regimes is the coercion and mobilization of large numbers of voters. This electoral irregularity is known as voter rigging, distinguishing it from vote rigging, which involves ballot stuffing or stealing. We develop a statistical test to quantify the extent to which the results of a particular election display traces of voter rigging. Our key hypothesis is that small polling stations are more susceptible to voter rigging because it is easier to identify opposing individuals, there are fewer eyewitnesses, and interested parties might reasonably expect fewer visits from election observers. We devise a general statistical method for testing whether voting behavior in small polling stations is significantly different from the behavior in their neighbor stations in a way that is consistent with the widespread occurrence of voter rigging. On the basis of a comparative analysis, the method enables third parties to conclude that an explanation other than simple variability is needed to explain geographic heterogeneities in vote preferences. We analyze 21 elections in 10 countries and find significant statistical anomalies compatible with voter rigging in Russia from 2007 to 2011, in Venezuela from 2006 to 2013, and in Uganda in 2011. Particularly disturbing is the case of Venezuela, where the smallest polling stations were decisive to the outcome of the 2013 presidential elections. PMID:28695193

Stable and non-competitive association of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida milleri and Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis during manufacture of two traditional sourdough baked goods.

PubMed

Venturi, Manuel; Guerrini, Simona; Vincenzini, Massimo

2012-08-01

The microbiota occurring in all the manufacturing phases of two Italian sourdough sweet-leavened baked goods (a typical Genoese dry biscuit, Lagaccio, and a soft stuffed North Italian typical cake, Panettone) were investigated over a period of three years. The two sourdough mother sponges were characterized by the stable presence of three dominant microbial species in potential competition for carbohydrates: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis, Candida milleri, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genotypic and phenotypic characterizations of microbial isolates pointed out that each mother sponge harbored its own strains, well distinguishable by molecular methods of analysis but not differing in their main metabolic properties from those known for the corresponding species. The microbial and biochemical evolution during the whole production protocol of both manufactures demonstrated that the three microbial species grew at almost the same growth rates, without exhausting any of the main carbon substrates (maltose, glucose and fructose). The quite similar growth dynamics under practical conditions and the constant presence of all fermentable carbohydrates were recognized as responsible for the stable non competitive association of maltose-positive and maltose-negative species in both sourdoughs. However, the two sourdoughs were characterized by quite different LAB to yeast ratio, with values significantly higher in Panettone than in Lagaccio. The cause of this difference could mainly be ascribed to the temperature of the mother sponge regeneration phase, that, in the case of Panettone manufacture, occurred under conditions of moderate refrigeration. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Testing for voter rigging in small polling stations.

PubMed

Jimenez, Raúl; Hidalgo, Manuel; Klimek, Peter

2017-06-01

Nowadays, a large number of countries combine formal democratic institutions with authoritarian practices. Although in these countries the ruling elites may receive considerable voter support, they often use several manipulation tools to control election outcomes. A common practice of these regimes is the coercion and mobilization of large numbers of voters. This electoral irregularity is known as voter rigging, distinguishing it from vote rigging, which involves ballot stuffing or stealing. We develop a statistical test to quantify the extent to which the results of a particular election display traces of voter rigging. Our key hypothesis is that small polling stations are more susceptible to voter rigging because it is easier to identify opposing individuals, there are fewer eyewitnesses, and interested parties might reasonably expect fewer visits from election observers. We devise a general statistical method for testing whether voting behavior in small polling stations is significantly different from the behavior in their neighbor stations in a way that is consistent with the widespread occurrence of voter rigging. On the basis of a comparative analysis, the method enables third parties to conclude that an explanation other than simple variability is needed to explain geographic heterogeneities in vote preferences. We analyze 21 elections in 10 countries and find significant statistical anomalies compatible with voter rigging in Russia from 2007 to 2011, in Venezuela from 2006 to 2013, and in Uganda in 2011. Particularly disturbing is the case of Venezuela, where the smallest polling stations were decisive to the outcome of the 2013 presidential elections.

HVI Ballistic Performance Characterization of Non-Parallel Walls

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bohl, William; Miller, Joshua; Christiansen, Eric

2012-01-01

The Double-Wall, "Whipple" Shield [1] has been the subject of many hypervelocity impact studies and has proven to be an effective shield system for Micro-Meteoroid and Orbital Debris (MMOD) impacts for spacecraft. The US modules of the International Space Station (ISS), with their "bumper shields" offset from their pressure holding rear walls provide good examples of effective on-orbit use of the double wall shield. The concentric cylinder shield configuration with its large radius of curvature relative to separation distance is easily and effectively represented for testing and analysis as a system of two parallel plates. The parallel plate double wall configuration has been heavily tested and characterized for shield performance for normal and oblique impacts for the ISS and other programs. The double wall shield and principally similar Stuffed Whipple Shield are very common shield types for MMOD protection. However, in some locations with many spacecraft designs, the rear wall cannot be modeled as being parallel or concentric with the outer bumper wall. As represented in Figure 1, there is an included angle between the two walls. And, with a cylindrical outer wall, the effective included angle constantly changes. This complicates assessment of critical spacecraft components located within outer spacecraft walls when using software tools such as NASA's BumperII. In addition, the validity of the risk assessment comes into question when using the standard double wall shield equations, especially since verification testing of every set of double wall included angles is impossible.

Veterinary practice and occupational health. An epidemiological study of several professional groups of Dutch veterinarians. I. General physical examination and prevalence of allergy, lung function disorders, and bronchial hyperreactivity.

PubMed

Elbers, A R; Blaauw, P J; de Vries, M; van Gulick, P J; Smithuis, O L; Gerrits, R P; Tielen, M J

1996-12-01

The prevalence of allergy, lung function disorders, and bronchial hyperreactivity was studied in 102 Dutch veterinarians, subdivided into five professional groups (predominantly working with either swine, cattle, poultry, companion animals, or as a non-practitioner). The mean age of the participants was 43 years; 6 participants were females. Twenty-two per cent of the participants were overweight, and relatively more non-practitioners than practitioners were overweight. Approximately 23% of the vets reported complaints of prolonged fatigue. The data suggest a relationship between complaints of prolonged fatigue and a more than average number of daily working hours. Only a small proportion of vets were sensitized against several allergens. There were no significant differences in prevalence of distinct lung function disorders or bronchial hyperreactivity between professional groups. It is hypothesized that the respiratory complaints (chronic coughing, chronic phlegm production, stuffed nose, sneezing) reported by the vets predominantly working in swine and/or poultry practice could be caused by irritation and/or inflammation of the first part of the trachea-bronchial tree that has no measurable and permanent consequences for changes in lung function or increased bronchial hyperreactivity. The results of a skin test against allergens and determination of allergen-specific IgE in blood indicated that the respiratory complaints were probably not related to allergy against the panel of allergens tested.

Transparent model of temporal bone and vestibulocochlear organ made by 3D printing.

PubMed

Suzuki, Ryoji; Taniguchi, Naoto; Uchida, Fujio; Ishizawa, Akimitsu; Kanatsu, Yoshinori; Zhou, Ming; Funakoshi, Kodai; Akashi, Hideo; Abe, Hiroshi

2018-01-01

The vestibulocochlear organ is composed of tiny complex structures embedded in the petrous part of the temporal bone. Landmarks on the temporal bone surface provide the only orientation guide for dissection, but these need to be removed during the course of dissection, making it difficult to grasp the underlying three-dimensional structures, especially for beginners during gross anatomy classes. We report herein an attempt to produce a transparent three-dimensional-printed model of the human ear. En bloc samples of the temporal bone from donated cadavers were subjected to computed tomography (CT) scanning, and on the basis of the data, the surface temporal bone was reconstructed with transparent resin and the vestibulocochlear organ with white resin to create a 1:1.5 scale model. The carotid canal was stuffed with red cotton, and the sigmoid sinus and internal jugular vein were filled with blue clay. In the inner ear, the internal acoustic meatus, cochlea, and semicircular canals were well reconstructed in detail with white resin. The three-dimensional relationships of the semicircular canals, spiral turns of the cochlea, and internal acoustic meatus were well recognizable from every direction through the transparent surface resin. The anterior semicircular canal was obvious immediately beneath the arcuate eminence, and the topographical relationships of the vestibulocochlear organ and adjacent great vessels were easily discernible. We consider that this transparent temporal bone model will be a very useful aid for better understanding of the gross anatomy of the vestibulocochlear organ.

Nocturnal Video Assessment of Infant Sleep Environments

PubMed Central

Batra, Erich K.; Teti, Douglas M.; Schaefer, Eric W.; Neumann, Brooke A.; Meek, Elizabeth A.

2016-01-01

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Reports describing factors associated with sleep-related infant death rely on caregiver report or postmortem findings. We sought to determine the frequency of environmental risk factors by using nocturnal sleep videos of infants. METHODS: Healthy, term newborns were recruited for a parent study examining the role of parenting in the development of nighttime infant sleep patterns. For 1 night at ages 1, 3, and 6 months, video recordings were conducted within family homes. Videos were coded for sudden infant death syndrome risk factors in post hoc secondary analyses after the parent study was completed. RESULTS: Among 160 one-month-olds, initially 21% were placed to sleep on nonrecommended sleep surfaces and 14% were placed nonsupine; 91% had loose/nonapproved items on their sleep surface, including bedding, bumper pads, pillows, stuffed animals, and sleep positioners. Among 151 three-month-olds, 10% were initially placed on a nonrecommended sleep surface, 18% were placed nonsupine, and 87% had potentially hazardous items on their sleep surface. By 6 months, 12% of the 147 infants initially slept on a nonrecommended surface, 33% were placed to bed nonsupine, and 93% had loose/nonrecommended items on their surface. At 1, 3, and 6 months, 28%, 18%, and 12% changed sleep locations overnight, respectively, with an increased likelihood of bed-sharing and nonsupine position at the second location at each time point. CONCLUSIONS: Most parents, even when aware of being recorded, placed their infants in sleep environments with established risk factors. If infants were moved overnight, the second sleep environment generally had more hazards. PMID:27527797

A multifaceted community-based asthma intervention in Chicago: effects of trigger reduction and self-management education on asthma morbidity.

PubMed

Turyk, Mary; Banda, Elizabeth; Chisum, Gay; Weems, Dolores; Liu, Yangyang; Damitz, Maureen; Williams, Rhonda; Persky, Victoria

2013-09-01

Home-based, multifaceted interventions have been effective in reducing asthma morbidity in children. However, identification of independent components that contribute to outcomes and delineating effectiveness by level of asthma symptoms would help to refine the intervention and target appropriate populations. A community health educator led asthma intervention implemented in a low-income African-American neighborhood included asthma management education, individually tailored low-cost asthma home trigger remediation, and referrals to social and medical agencies, when appropriate. Changes in asthma morbidity measures were assessed in relation to implementation of individual intervention components using multivariable logistic regression. Among the 218 children who completed the year-long program, there were significant reductions in measures of asthma morbidity, including symptoms, urgent care visits, emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, missed school days, and missed work days for caretakers. We also found significant decreases in the prevalence of many home asthma triggers and improvements in asthma management practices. Improvement in caretaker's ability to manage the child's asthma was associated with reduction in ED visits for asthma and uncontrolled asthma. Specific home interventions, such as repair of water leaks and reduced exposure to plants, dust, clutter and stuffed toys, may be related to reduction in asthma morbidity. This program was effective in reducing asthma morbidity in low-income African-American children and identified specific interventions as possible areas to target in future projects. Furthermore, the intervention was useful in children with persistent asthma symptoms as well as those with less frequent asthma exacerbations.

Efficacies of garlic and L. sakei in wine-based marinades for controlling Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in Chouriço de Vinho, a dry sausage made from wine-marinated pork.

PubMed

Linares, María Belén; Garrido, María Dolores; Martins, Conceição; Patarata, Luis

2013-05-01

Chouriço de vinho is made from roughly minced (10 to 30 mm) pork and fat, seasoned with a marinade made from wine, salt, garlic, and other facultative seasonings used according to the recipe of each producer. The batter is maintained at 4 to 7 ºC for 24 to 48 h. It is then stuffed into natural thin pork gut, cold smoked and matured at a low temperature for 1 to 4 wk. The effect of garlic used in wine-based marinade and a starter culture of indigenous Lactobacillus sakei on the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in the processing of chouriço was investigated. The garlic (as powder and fresh juice) was found to contribute (P < 0.05) to the control of both pathogens in broth. Garlic dose, as tested within the usual limits used for seasoning, did not impact the reduction of pathogens. Garlic-wine-based marinade and a starter culture of indigenous L. sakei contribute to controlling L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in the processing of chouriço. Their presence was responsible for the loss of viability of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. following 5 d of drying, even sooner than situations where no garlic was used. The results of the present work show that the use of a wine-based marinade with garlic has an important role in ensuring the safety of the product. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

Bitter melon: a panacea for inflammation and cancer

PubMed Central

Dandawate, Prasad R.; Subramaniam, Dharmalingam; Padhye, Subhash B.; Anant, Shrikant

2017-01-01

Nature is a rich source of medicinal plants and their products that are useful for treatment of various diseases and disorders. Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd, is one of such plants known for its biological activities used in traditional system of medicines. This plant is cultivated in all over the world, including tropical areas of Asia, Amazon, east Africa, and the Caribbean and used as a vegetable as well as folk medicine. All parts of the plant, including the fruit, are commonly consumed and cooked with different vegetables, stir-fried, stuffed or used in small quantities in soups or beans to give a slightly bitter flavor and taste. The plant is reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. The plant extract inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy and inhibiting cancer stem cells. The plant is rich in bioactive chemical constituents like cucurbitane type triterpenoids, triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, fatty acids, and proteins. Some of the isolated compounds (Kuguacin J, Karaviloside XI, Kuguaglycoside C, Momordicoside Q–U, Charantin, α-eleostearic acid) and proteins (α-Momorcharin, RNase MC2, MAP30) possess potent biological activity. In the present review, we are summarizing the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities of Momordica charantia along with a short account of important chemical constituents, providing a basis for establishing detail biological activities of the plant and developing novel drug molecules based on the active chemical constituents. PMID:26968675

Foods offered in Quebec school cafeterias: do they promote healthy eating habits? Results of a provincial survey.

PubMed

Morin, Pascale; Demers, Karine; Gray-Donald, Katherine; Mongeau, Lyne

2012-06-05

A school environment that encourages students to opt for food with sound nutritional value is both essential and formative in ensuring that young people adopt healthy eating habits. The aim of this paper is to describe the food offered for lunch in the cafeteria service lines in Quebec schools on regular school days. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2008 and June 2009 with a representative sample of 207 French-speaking schools in the province of Quebec. The response rate was 71%. The cafeteria food available from the service line was observed directly and systematically by research assistants trained in observational procedures. Bivariate and descriptive analyses were performed. While most schools offered a vegetable side dish, only 71% of primary schools, 71% of public secondary schools, and 54% of private secondary schools did not offer cold-cut dishes, stuffed pastry, or a fried food on their daily menus. The sandwiches available were rarely made with whole-grain bread. Public secondary schools had more cookies, biscuits, muffins, and chewing gum than private primary and secondary schools. Milk was available in 85% of the primary schools. Most of the schools had eliminated sodas but were still offering fruit cocktails instead of 100% fruit juice. The school eating environment changed significantly from 2002 to 2009, presumably as a result of the government action plan and the Framework Policy. Improvements must be made with respect to reducing added sugar in beverages and desserts and promoting baked rather than fried snacks. Vigilance is required since many new products are making their way into the market.

Low Genetic Variation of Red-Crowned Cranes on Hokkaido Island, Japan, Over the Hundred Years.

PubMed

Akiyama, Takuya; Momose, Kunikazu; Onuma, Manabu; Matsumoto, Fumio; Masuda, Ryuichi

2017-06-01

The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is recognized internationally as an endangered species. Migratory populations breed in eastern Russia and northeastern China, whereas the resident population inhabits the island of Hokkaido, Japan. Although the population inhabiting Hokkaido had experienced a severe bottleneck by the end of the 19th century, the population size has recovered to about 1500 and continues to increase now thanks to conservation efforts. A previous study reported that no marked genetic differences were seen in the island population, and that the genetic variation of the whole population on Hokkaido was lower than that of the continental population. However, the precise genetic structure of the island population in the past or near present remains unclear. To better understand the spatiotemporal changes in the genetic structure of the island population, we performed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses using stuffed specimens (years 1878-2001) and tissue or blood samples (years 1970-2014). We found three haplotypes in the island population, one of which was a novel mtDNA haplotype in 1997 and 2007 samples. In addition, there was no clear difference in the haplotype frequency through the time span. These results suggest that the low genetic variation of the island population persisted for the last hundred years. It is thus nearly impossible for the island population to recover its genetic variation in isolation. Conservation plans for this species should therefore include the promotion of genetic exchanges between the continental and island populations, such as through artificial introduction to Hokkaido.

Phylogeography, Genetic Diversity, and Management Units of Hawksbill Turtles in the Indo-Pacific.

PubMed

Vargas, Sarah M; Jensen, Michael P; Ho, Simon Y W; Mobaraki, Asghar; Broderick, Damien; Mortimer, Jeanne A; Whiting, Scott D; Miller, Jeff; Prince, Robert I T; Bell, Ian P; Hoenner, Xavier; Limpus, Colin J; Santos, Fabrício R; FitzSimmons, Nancy N

2016-05-01

Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) populations have experienced global decline because of a history of intense commercial exploitation for shell and stuffed taxidermied whole animals, and harvest for eggs and meat. Improved understanding of genetic diversity and phylogeography is needed to aid conservation. In this study, we analyzed the most geographically comprehensive sample of hawksbill turtles from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, sequencing 766 bp of the mitochondrial control region from 13 locations (plus Aldabra, n = 4) spanning over 13500 km. Our analysis of 492 samples revealed 52 haplotypes distributed in 5 divergent clades. Diversification times differed between the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic lineages and appear to be related to the sea-level changes that occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum. We found signals of demographic expansion only for turtles from the Persian Gulf region, which can be tied to a more recent colonization event. Our analyses revealed evidence of transoceanic migration, including connections between feeding grounds from the Atlantic Ocean and Indo-Pacific rookeries. Hawksbill turtles appear to have a complex pattern of phylogeography, showing a weak isolation by distance and evidence of multiple colonization events. Our novel dataset will allow mixed-stock analyses of hawksbill turtle feeding grounds in the Indo-Pacific by providing baseline data needed for conservation efforts in the region. Eight management units are proposed in our study for the Indo-Pacific region that can be incorporated in conservation plans of this critically endangered species. © The American Genetic Association. 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Characterization of street food consumption in palermo: possible effects on health

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Street Food (SF) consists of out-of-home food consumption and has old, historical roots with complex social-economic and cultural implications. Despite the emergence of modern fast food, traditional SF persists worldwide, but the relationship of SF consumption with overall health, well-being, and obesity is unknown. Methods This is an observational, cross-sectional study. The study was performed in Palermo, the largest town of Sicily, Italy. Two groups were identified: consumers of SF (n = 687) and conventional restaurant food (RES) consumers (n = 315). Study subjects answered a questionnaire concerning their health conditions, nutritional preferences, frequency of consumption of SF and a score relative to SF consumption ranging from 0 to 20 was calculated. Results Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was significantly and independently correlated with the score of street food consumption (r = 0,103; p < 0.002). The prevalence of different diseases, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes, and the use of medications did not differ between the two groups. Milza (a sandwich stuffed with thin slice of bovine spleen and lung) consumers had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (12.2% vs 6.2% in non consumers; p < 0.005) and in this subgroup the use of anti-hypertensive drugs was inversely correlated with the frequency of milza consumption (r = 0.11; P = 0.010). Conclusions This study suggests that SF consumption in Palermo is associated with a higher BMI and higher prevalence of hypertension in milza consumers. Further studies should evaluate whether frequent SF consumers have unfavourable metabolic and cardiovascular profile. PMID:22034903

Composite Aerogel Multifoil Protective Shielding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Steven M.

2013-01-01

New technologies are needed to survive the temperatures, radiation, and hypervelocity particles that exploration spacecraft encounter. Multilayer insulations (MLIs) have been used on many spacecraft as thermal insulation. Other materials and composites have been used as micrometeorite shielding or radiation shielding. However, no material composite has been developed and employed as a combined thermal insulation, micrometeorite, and radiation shielding. By replacing the scrims that have been used to separate the foil layers in MLIs with various aerogels, and by using a variety of different metal foils, the overall protective performance of MLIs can be greatly expanded to act as thermal insulation, radiation shielding, and hypervelocity particle shielding. Aerogels are highly porous, low-density solids that are produced by the gelation of metal alkoxides and supercritical drying. Aerogels have been flown in NASA missions as a hypervelocity particle capture medium (Stardust) and as thermal insulation (2003 MER). Composite aerogel multifoil protective shielding would be used to provide thermal insulation, while also shielding spacecraft or components from radiation and hypervelocity particle impacts. Multiple layers of foil separated by aerogel would act as a thermal barrier by preventing the transport of heat energy through the composite. The silica aerogel would act as a convective and conductive thermal barrier, while the titania powder and metal foils would absorb and reflect the radiative heat. It would also capture small hypervelocity particles, such as micrometeorites, since it would be a stuffed, multi-shock Whipple shield. The metal foil layers would slow and break up the impacting particles, while the aerogel layers would convert the kinetic energy of the particles to thermal and mechanical energy and stop the particles.

Shelf life determination of sliced Portuguese traditional blood sausage--Morcela de Arroz de Monchique through microbiological challenge and consumer test.

PubMed

Pereira, Jorge A; Silva, Pedro; Matos, Teresa J S; Patarata, Luís

2015-03-01

Morcela de Arroz (MA) is a ready-to-eat blood and rice cooked sausage produced with pork, blood, rice, and seasonings, stuffed in natural casing and cooked above 90 °C/30 min. It is commercialized whole, not packed, with a restricted shelf life (1 wk/0 to 5 °C). The objective of this work was to establish sliced MA shelf life considering both the behavior of L. monocytogenes through a microbiological challenge test (MCT) and the consumer acceptability of MA stored: vacuum packed (VP), modified atmosphere packed (MAP: 80% CO2/20% N2 ), and aerobic packed (AP). The MCT was conducted inoculating ±3 log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes cell suspension on the MA slices. Packaged samples were stored at 3 ± 1 °C and 7 ± 1 °C until 20 d. At 3 ± 1 °C, L. monocytogenes behavior was not affected by packaging or storage time. At 7 ± 1 °C, the pathogen increased nearly 1 log CFU/g in the first 4 d. L. monocytogenes populations in AP were higher (P < 0.05) than in MAP. The pathogen may grow to hazardous levels in the 1st days if a temperature abuse occurs. Considering the acceptability by the consumers, the shelf life of MA stored at 3 ± 1 °C was 4.4 d for AP, 8.1 d for VP, and 10.4 d for MAP. The sensory shelf life established based on sensory spoilage is shorter than the shelf life to maintain the population of L. monocytogenes in safe levels. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

Sodium diacetate and sodium lactate affect microbiology and sensory and objective characteristics of a restructured turkey breast product formulated with a fibrin cold-set binding system.

PubMed

Mohammed Shafit, H; Williams, S K

2010-03-01

Research was conducted to manufacture and evaluate a restructured turkey breast product using the Fibrimex cold-set binding system, sodium diacetate (NaD), and sodium lactate (NaL) and to ascertain effects of the treatments on proximate composition, pH, psychrotrophic organisms, water activity, onset of rancidity (TBA), thaw loss, cooking yields, and objective color, and sensory characteristics. Whole turkey breasts were cut into 5-cm-thick strips; treated with either water only (control), 1.5% NaL, 2.0% NaL, 0.1% NaD, 1.5% NaL + 0.1% NaD, or 2.0% NaL + 0.1% NaD; blended with Fibrimex ingredients; stuffed into casings; and stored at -30 degrees C for 0, 1, 2, and 3 mo. After each storage period, frozen chubs were tempered at 4 degrees C, sliced into 1-cm-thick steaks, packaged in retail trays, stored at 0 degrees C to simulate retail storage, and analyzed after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 d. Sodium diacetate used alone or in combination with NaL reduced (P < 0.05) growth of psychrotrophic organisms and had no adverse effects on water activity, pH, cooking yield, fat, moisture, protein, objective color, onset of rancidity, and sensory characteristics (juiciness, turkey flavor intensity, and tenderness). Panelists reported slight off-flavor in all steaks treated with NaL. Treating steaks with NaL alone or in combination with NaD resulted in increased (P < 0.05) ash content. Sodium lactate also functioned to minimize thaw loss in the frozen restructured turkey product.

A training course on food hygiene for butchers: measuring its effectiveness through microbiological analysis and the use of an inspection checklist.

PubMed

Vaz, Maria Luiza Santomauro; Novo, Neil Ferreira; Sigulem, Dirce Maria; Morais, Tania Beninga

2005-11-01

The effectiveness of food hygiene training for a group of retail butchers was evaluated with the aim of verifying whether the butchers modified their behavior in the light of knowledge gained and whether their acquired knowledge or behavior change was sustained over a period of time. Microbiological analysis (enumeration of mesophilic and coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli) of a raw semiprocessed product (stuffed rolled beef) was conducted, and an inspection checklist was issued before the training course (T0). Initial results were later compared with results obtained 1 month (T1) and 6 months (T6) after the training. The checklist comprised 89 items classified into five categories: A, approved suppliers and product reception; B, storage conditions and temperature control; C, flow process, food handling procedures, and conditions of the window display unit; D, facility design and proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment, utensils, and work surfaces; and E, pest control system, water supply control, and garbage disposal. The inspection results were recorded as "yes" or "no" for each item. Compliance with food safety procedures was recorded as the percentage of "yes" answers. The bacterial counts were significantly higher at T0. At T6, there was no significant increase in bacterial counts. There was a significant improvement in food safety practices at T1 and T6 compared with T0 for all categories. When comparing T0 and T1, the largest increases in the compliance scores were seen within categories C and D. No significant decrease in scores for compliance with food safety practices was observed at T6. Supervision and refresher activities may be necessary to maintain behavioral changes for a longer period of time.

Bitter melon: a panacea for inflammation and cancer.

PubMed

Dandawate, Prasad R; Subramaniam, Dharmalingam; Padhye, Subhash B; Anant, Shrikant

2016-02-01

Nature is a rich source of medicinal plants and their products that are useful for treatment of various diseases and disorders. Momordica charantia, commonly known as bitter melon or bitter gourd, is one of such plants known for its biological activities used in traditional system of medicines. This plant is cultivated in all over the world, including tropical areas of Asia, Amazon, east Africa, and the Caribbean and used as a vegetable as well as folk medicine. All parts of the plant, including the fruit, are commonly consumed and cooked with different vegetables, stir-fried, stuffed or used in small quantities in soups or beans to give a slightly bitter flavor and taste. The plant is reported to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, and immunomodulatory activities. The plant extract inhibits cancer cell growth by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy and inhibiting cancer stem cells. The plant is rich in bioactive chemical constituents like cucurbitane type triterpenoids, triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, fatty acids, and proteins. Some of the isolated compounds (Kuguacin J, Karaviloside XI, Kuguaglycoside C, Momordicoside Q-U, Charantin, α-eleostearic acid) and proteins (α-Momorcharin, RNase MC2, MAP30) possess potent biological activity. In the present review, we are summarizing the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities of Momordica charantia along with a short account of important chemical constituents, providing a basis for establishing detail biological activities of the plant and developing novel drug molecules based on the active chemical constituents. Copyright © 2016 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and correlates of binge eating disorder related features in the community.

PubMed

Mustelin, Linda; Bulik, Cynthia M; Kaprio, Jaakko; Keski-Rahkonen, Anna

2017-02-01

Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with high levels of obesity and psychological suffering, but little is known about 1) the distribution of features of BED in the general population and 2) their consequences for weight development and psychological distress in young adulthood. We investigated the prevalence of features of BED and their association with body mass index (BMI) and psychological distress among men (n = 2423) and women (n = 2825) from the longitudinal community-based FinnTwin16 cohort (born 1975-1979). Seven eating-related cognitions and behaviors similar to the defining features of BED were extracted from the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 and were assessed at a mean age of 24. BMI and psychological distress, measured with the General Health Questionnaire, were assessed at ages 24 and 34. We assessed prevalence of the features and their association with BMI and psychological distress cross-sectionally and prospectively. More than half of our participants reported at least one feature of BED; clustering of several features in one individual was less common, particularly among men. The most frequently reported feature was 'stuffing oneself with food', whereas the least common was 'eating or drinking in secrecy'. All individual features of BED and their clustering particularly were associated with higher BMI and more psychological distress cross-sectionally. Prospectively, the clustering of features of BED predicted increase in psychological distress but not additional weight gain when baseline BMI was accounted for. In summary, although some features of BED were common, the clustering of several features in one individual was not. The features were cumulatively associated with BMI and psychological distress and predicted further increase in psychological distress over ten years of follow-up. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Scientist or science-stuffed? Discourses of science in North American medical education.

PubMed

Whitehead, Cynthia

2013-01-01

The dominance of biomedical science in medical education has been contested throughout the past century, with recurring calls for more social science and humanities content. The centrality of biomedicine is frequently traced back to Abraham Flexner's 1910 report, 'Medical Education in the United States and Canada'. However, Flexner advocated for a scientist-doctor, rather than a curriculum filled with science content. Examination of the discourses of science since Flexner allows us to explore the place of various knowledge forms in medical education. A Foucauldian critical discourse analysis was performed, examining the discourses of scientific medicine in Flexner's works and North American medical education articles in subsequent decades. Foucault's methodological principles were used to identify statements, keywords and metaphors that emerged in the development of the discourses of scientific medicine, with particular attention to recurring arguments and shifts in the meaning and use of terms. Flexner's scientist-doctor was an incisive thinker who drew upon multiple forms of knowledge. In the post-Flexner medical education reforms, the perception of science as a discursive object embedded in the curriculum became predominant over that of the scientist as the discursive subject who uses science. Science was then considered core curricular content and was discursively framed as impossibly vast. A parallel discourse, one of the insufficiency of biomedical science for the proper training of doctors, has existed over the past century, even as the humanities and social sciences have remained on the margins in medical school curricula. That discourses of scientific medicine have reinforced the centrality of biomedicine in medical education helps to explain the persistent marginalisation of other important knowledge domains. Medical educators need to be aware of the effects of these discourses on understandings of medical knowledge, particularly when contemplating curricular reform. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2013.

Look Past the Stuffed Animals and Learn about the Earth: Dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Passow, M. J.

2017-12-01

The dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City provide great examples of artwork depicting locations of interest and value for teaching the Earth Sciences. When the Museum was established in 1869, it—like most institutions of that time—merely provided a taxidermy collection in cases. But as it expanded into the dozens of Halls in its multiple public buildings, curators made a deliberate effort to display the specimens with backdrops depicting the habitats where the animals were collected. Such `curatorial giants' as Frank Chapman and Carl Ackley spearheaded pioneering efforts to present displays in the curved, framed settings. The impact of these large- and small-scale artworks on the Public cannot be underestimated. Instead of just viewing the remains of a dead animal, visitors are transported around the world into a wide variety of ecosystems. With no more effort than walking from one display to the next, viewers "magically travel" to the multitude of environments across Planet Earth. The dioramas may take one from mountaintop vistas to the microsystem just a few centimeters above and below the forest floor. This presentation will provide selected examples of the artwork in AMNH dioramas. The AMNH website provides numerous videos and posts about its dioramas. I will also provide insights into the creation of more recent artwork using an online interview with Sean Murtha, the artist who created many of the Hall of Ocean Life dioramas. Predating modern technologies, including color photography, television, and computers, these dioramas are rightly described as powerful tools for nurturing scientific education and environmental awareness. These dioramas frequently are utilized to teach important Earth System Science concepts to school groups and other visitors, and examples of such lessons will be included.

Children's experiences and responses towards an intervention for psychological preparation for radiotherapy.

PubMed

Engvall, Gunn; Lindh, Viveca; Mullaney, Tara; Nyholm, Tufve; Lindh, Jack; Ångström-Brännström, Charlotte

2018-01-22

Children can experience distress when undergoing radiotherapy as a reaction to being scared of and unfamiliar with the procedure. The aim was to evaluate children's experiences and responses towards an intervention for psychological preparation for radiotherapy. A case control design with qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interviews and statistical analysis of anxiety ratings were used for evaluating a strategy for psychological preparation and distraction. Fifty-seven children aged 2 to 18 years and their parents participated - 30 children in the baseline group and 27 in the intervention group. Child interviews were performed and the child and their parents rated the child's anxiety. The intervention was most appropriate for the younger children, who enjoyed the digital story, the stuffed animal and training with their parents. There were some technical problems and the digital story was not detailed enough to fit exactly with various cancer diagnoses. Children described suggestions for improvement of the intervention. The ratings of the child's anxiety during radiation treatment showed no differences between the baseline group and the intervention group. The children of all the age groups experienced their interventions as positive. The strength of the intervention was that it encouraged interaction within the family and provided an opportunity for siblings and peers to take part in what the child was going through. Future research on children's experiences to interventions should be encouraged. The intervention and the technical solutions could improve by further development. The study design was structured as an un-matched case-control study, baseline group vs. intervention group. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02993978 , Protocol Record 2012-113-31 M. Retrospectively registered - 21 November 2016.

Effect of antioxidants on the quality of irradiated sausages prepared with turkey thigh meat.

PubMed

Du, M; Ahn, D U

2002-08-01

The effects of antioxidants on the flavor and color of electron-beam-irradiated turkey sausages were studied. Sausages were prepared from turkey thigh meat, NaCl (2.0%), phosphate (0.5%), water (10%), and one of five antioxidant treatments (none, vitamin E, sesamol, rosemary extract, or gallic acid at 0.02%). Sausages were stuffed and cooked in an 85 C smokehouse to an internal temperature of 74 C, then chilled and sliced to 1.5-cm thickness, and vacuum-packaged. Packaged sausages were randomly divided into three groups and irradiated at 0, 1.5 or 3.0 kGy, using an electron beam. Volatiles, color, 2-TBA-reactive substances values, and sensory characteristics were analyzed. The antioxidant effect of sesamol was the highest, followed by vitamin E and gallic acid; rosemary extract had the weakest antioxidant effect. Irradiation induced red color in sausages, but addition of gallic acid, rosemary extract, or sesamol reduced it. Gallic acid was very effective in lowering the redness of irradiated and nonirradiated sausages. The redness (a*) values of sausages with added gallic acid that were irradiated at 0, 1.5, and 3.0 kGy were 1.49,2.03, and 2.29, respectively, whereas those of control sausages under the same irradiation conditions were 2.58, 2.81, and 3.25, respectively. The reduction of redness in irradiated sausages by antioxidants was not related to CO, because antioxidants had no effect on CO production by irradiation. The amount of total volatiles was decreased significantly by antioxidants, but antioxidants had minimal effect on the off-flavor of turkey sausages induced by irradiation.

Unstable spin-ice order in the stuffed metallic pyrochlore Pr 2+xIr 2-xO 7-δ

DOE PAGES

MacLaughlin, D. E.; Bernal, O. O.; Shu, Lei; ...

2015-08-24

Specific heat, elastic neutron scattering, and muon spin rotation experiments have been carried out on a well-characterized sample of “stuffed” (Pr-rich) Pr 2+xIr 2-xO 7-δ. Elastic neutron scattering shows the onset of long-range spin-ice “2-in/2-out” magnetic order at 0.93 kelvin, with an ordered moment of 1.7(1) Bohr magnetons per Pr ion at low temperatures. Approximate lower bounds on the correlation length and correlation time in the ordered state are 170 angstroms and 0.7 nanosecond, respectively. Muon spin rotation experiments yield an upper bound 2.6(7) milliteslas on the local field B 4f loc at the muon site, which is nearly twomore » orders of magnitude smaller than the expected dipolar field for long-range spin-ice ordering of 1.7-Bohr magneton moments (120–270 milliteslas, depending on the muon site). This shortfall is due in part to splitting of the non-Kramers crystal-field ground-state doublets of near-neighbor Pr 3+ ions by the positive-muon-induced lattice distortion. For this to be the only effect, however, ~160 Pr moments out to a distance of ~14 angstroms must be suppressed. An alternative scenario—one consistent with the observed reduced nuclear hyperfine Schottky anomaly in the specific heat—invokes slow correlated Pr-moment fluctuations in the ordered state that average B 4f loc on the μSR time scale (~10 -7 second), but are static on the time scale of the elastic neutron scattering experiments (~10 -9 second). In this picture, the dynamic muon relaxation suggests a Pr 3+ 4f correlation time of a few nanoseconds, which should be observable in a neutron spin echo experiment.« less

Persistent Encopresis, Enuresis, and Anxiety in a 7-Year-Old Girl.

PubMed

Nelson, Theodora; Chae, Heekyung; Anbar, Ran D; Stein, Martin T

2017-10-01

Sonia is a 7-year-old old girl who was referred to the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Clinic by the Pediatric Urology Clinic because of persistent wetting and soiling behaviors. Since age 3 years, she has had a history of encopresis (and wetting) for which she has seen gastroenterology and urology specialists. The mother reports that Sonia has accidents almost daily, and she is not upset when sitting in her urine or feces. She dislikes going into the bathroom or sitting on the toilet by herself. She participated in a behavior modification program associated with the pediatric urology clinic, which helps children learn healthy voiding habits and achieve continence.Sonia also has anxious behaviors. She bites her nails and chews on her hair or shirt. She is afraid of small spaces such as those between the bed and the wall and needs to have stuffed animals cover them. Other instances that trigger her anxious behaviors include loud noises, having a substitute teacher, being separated from her mother, and going to certain bathrooms or new places. She also has severe tantrums, which involve throwing and breaking objects, kicking, and hitting her head against doors.A cognitive behavioral therapy program was recommended to target anxiety symptoms, in addition to timed toileting after meals and polyethylene glycol. At a clinic visit several months later, symptoms of anxiety, encopresis, and enuresis persisted. Cognitive behavior therapy was continued and sertraline 25 mg was prescribed for anxiety. In addition, she was referred to a pediatrician who specializes in relaxation techniques and hypnotherapy.Sonia showed modest improvement with these interventions. There were fewer episodes of angry outbursts and a decrease in soiling and wetting, but at times, but she continued to have intermittent periods of wetting and soiling and fear of going to the bathroom by herself persisted.(This Challenging Case extends observations reviewed in a previous Challenging Case: J Dev Behav Pediatr 2010;531:513-515; DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e3181e5a464.).

Composite Resin Dosimeters: A New Concept and Design for a Fibrous Color Dosimeter.

PubMed

Kinashi, Kenji; Iwata, Takato; Tsuchida, Hayato; Sakai, Wataru; Tsutsumi, Naoto

2018-04-11

Polystyrene (PS)-based composite microfibers combined with a photochromic spiropyran dye, 1,3,3-trimethylindolino-6'-nitrobenzopyrylospiran (6-nitro BIPS), and a photostimulable phosphor, europium-doped barium fluorochloride (BaFCl:Eu 2+ ), were developed for the detection of X-ray exposure doses on the order of approximately 1 Gy. To produce the PS-based composite microfibers, we employed a forcespinning method that embeds a high concentration of phosphor in PS in a safe, inexpensive, and simple procedure. On the basis of the optimization of the forcespinning process, fibrous color dosimeters with a high radiation dose sensitivity of 1.2-4.4 Gy were fabricated. The color of the dosimeters was found to transition from white to blue in response to X-ray exposure. The optimized fibrous color dosimeter, made from a solution having a PS/6-nitro BIPS/BaFCl:Eu 2+ /C 2 Cl 4 ratio of 7.0/0.21/28.0/28.0 (wt %) and produced with a 290 mm distance between the needle and collectors, a 0.34 mm 23 G needle nozzle, and a spinneret rotational rate of 3000 rpm, exhibited sensitivity to a dose as low as 1.2 Gy. To realize practical applications, we manufactured the optimized fibrous color dosimeter into a clothlike color dosimeter. The clothlike color dosimeter was mounted on a stuffed bear, and its coloring behavior was demonstrated upon X-ray exposure. After exposure with X-ray, a blue colored and shaped in the form of the letter "[Formula: see text]" clearly appeared on the surface of the clothlike color dosimeter. The proposed fibrous color dosimeters having excellent workability will be an unprecedented dosimetry and contributed to all industries utilizing radiation dosimeters. This new fibrous "composite resin dosimeter" should be able to replace traditional, wearable, and individual radiation dose monitoring devices, such as film badges.

Clinical value of a self-designed training model for pinpointing and puncturing trigeminal ganglion.

PubMed

He, Yu-Quan; He, Shu; Shen, Yun-Xia; Qian, Cheng

2014-04-01

OBJECTIVES. A training model was designed for learners and young physicians to polish their skills in clinical practices of pinpointing and puncturing trigeminal ganglion. METHODS. A head model, on both cheeks of which the deep soft tissue was replaced by stuffed organosilicone and sponge while the superficial soft tissue, skin and the trigeminal ganglion were made of organic silicon rubber for an appearance of real human being, was made from a dried skull specimen and epoxy resin. Two physicians who had experiences in puncturing foramen ovale and trigeminal ganglion were selected to test the model, mainly for its appearance, X-ray permeability, handling of the puncture, and closure of the puncture sites. Four inexperienced physicians were selected afterwards to be trained combining Hartel's anterior facial approach with the new method of real-time observation on foramen ovale studied by us. RESULTS. Both appearance and texture of the model were extremely close to those of a real human. The fact that the skin, superficial soft tissue, deep muscles of the cheeks, and the trigeminal ganglion made of organic silicon rubber all had great elasticity resulted in quick closure and sealing of the puncture sites. The head model made of epoxy resin had similar X-ray permeability to a human skull specimen under fluoroscopy. The soft tissue was made of radiolucent material so that the training can be conducted with X-ray guidance. After repeated training, all the four young physicians were able to smoothly and successfully accomplish the puncture. CONCLUSION. This self-made model can substitute for cadaver specimen in training learners and young physicians on foramen ovale and trigeminal ganglion puncture. It is very helpful for fast learning and mastering this interventional operation skill, and the puncture accuracy can be improved significantly with our new method of real-time observation on foramen ovale.

The experience of critically ill children: A phenomenological study of discomfort and comfort.

PubMed

Carnevale, Franco A; Gaudreault, Josée

2013-01-01

Emerging evidence indicates that critically ill children are particularly at risk for incurring significant psychological harm. Little is known about these children's actual experiences. The aim of the study was to examine children's experience of critical illness. The research question was: What are a critically ill child's sources of discomfort and comfort? Interpretive phenomenology was selected as the study's method. Children's accounts were examined to identify what they considered meaningful, in terms of their experienced discomfort and comfort. Data sources included formal and informal interviews with child-participants, drawings provided by some participants, and field-notes documenting observed non-verbal data. Twelve children were enrolled in the study, ranging from 3 to 17years of age; including four girls and eight boys. Although all participants were able to discuss the discomfort and comfort they experienced, they reported difficulties in remembering part or most of their experience. Some participants characterized their Pediatric Intensive Care Unit stay quite favourably or as "not that bad", while some described their experience unfavourably. Diverse types of discomforts were reported, including fears and worries, hurt and pain, invasive interventions, missing significant people, noise, food or eating problems, boredom, physical symptoms, as well as four additional discomforts reported by individual participants. Several sources of comfort were described, including parents, visitors and friends, hospital staff (principally nurses), stuffed animal/favourite blanket, entertainment and play, food, selected medical interventions, thinking of going home, being able to walk or run, sleep, waking up, gifts, along with two other comforts reported by individual participants. Embodiment and a tension between aloneness and being with were identified as the principal phenomena underlying these children's experiences. The findings complement existing knowledge regarding the psychological impact of critical illness by highlighting how children regard specific phenomena as discomforting or comforting. This sheds light on future directions for practice and research development in pediatric critical care.

[Morphological pathology of classic Kaposi's sarcoma. Ultrastructural studies and reflections on histogenesis].

PubMed

Holzhausen, H J; Stiller, D; Sachs, M

1988-01-01

Histological and electron-microscopic studies were conducted into biopsy material from cases of what is called the classical type of idiopathic Kaposi's sarcoma without acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Ultrastructural analysis was conducted, with the view to characterizing a possible progenitor cell from which the angioblastic and fibroblastic elements were likely to originate. The biopsy material had been obtained from two males, aged 86 or 83 years, who had been afflicted with the disease for 18 or 8 years. The nodular lesions were typical of Kaposi's sarcoma and were, histologically, made up of variable mixtures of vascular and spindle cell elements. The angiomatous structures were a capillary meshwork or sinusoidal patterns lined by atypical endothelial cells. The spindle cell areas contained large numbers of slit-like spaces which were without endothelial lining but were stuffed with erythrocytes. Flattened endothelioid cells were recordable from semi-thin-sections of some clefts. Haemosiderin was, typically, deposited in places. Electron microscopically, the endothelial cells of vascular channels exhibited varying amounts of characteristic organelles, such as Weibel-Palade bodies, microfilaments and pinocytotic vesicles as well as basal membranes. Cells with typical endothelial markers, too, were detectable in solid sprouts or in capillary-like differentiations with narrow or small lumina. The spindle cell tumour areas consisted of fibroblastic cells with plenty of rough endoplasmic reticulum and surrounded by material of basal membrane nature. Also visible were solid, sprout-type multilayer cell complexes surrounded by basal membranes which exhibited undifferentiated or primitive cellular forms, endothelioid and pericytic. Transitional forms from these complexes to the above vascular tumours or the spindle-cell formations were detectable. These ultrastructural findings might be interpreted to the effect that an angioblastically determined mesenchymal cell, a so-called endothelioblast, was thinkable and was discussed as the precursor cell of atypical vascular and spindle cell proliferation in Kaposi's sarcoma.

Molecular phylogenetics of porcini mushrooms (Boletus section Boletus).

PubMed

Dentinger, Bryn T M; Ammirati, Joseph F; Both, Ernst E; Desjardin, Dennis E; Halling, Roy E; Henkel, Terry W; Moreau, Pierre-Arthur; Nagasawa, Eiji; Soytong, Kasem; Taylor, Andy F; Watling, Roy; Moncalvo, Jean-Marc; McLaughlin, David J

2010-12-01

Porcini (Boletus section Boletus: Boletaceae: Boletineae: Boletales) are a conspicuous group of wild, edible mushrooms characterized by fleshy fruiting bodies with a poroid hymenophore that is "stuffed" with white hyphae when young. Their reported distribution is with ectomycorrhizal plants throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Little progress has been made on the systematics of this group using modern molecular phylogenetic tools because sampling has been limited primarily to European species and the genes employed were insufficient to resolve the phylogeny. We examined the evolutionary history of porcini by using a global geographic sampling of most known species, new discoveries from little explored areas, and multiple genes. We used 78 sequences from the fast-evolving nuclear internal transcribed spacers and are able to recognize 18 reciprocally monophyletic species. To address whether or not porcini form a monophyletic group, we compiled a broadly sampled dataset of 41 taxa, including other members of the Boletineae, and used separate and combined phylogenetic analysis of sequences from the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA, the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and the mitochondrial ATPase subunit six gene. Contrary to previous studies, our separate and combined phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of porcini. We also report the discovery of two taxa that expand the known distribution of porcini to Australia and Thailand and have ancient phylogenetic connections to the rest of the group. A relaxed molecular clock analysis with these new taxa dates the origin of porcini to between 42 and 54 million years ago, coinciding with the initial diversification of angiosperms, during the Eocene epoch when the climate was warm and humid. These results reveal an unexpected diversity, distribution, and ancient origin of a group of commercially valuable mushrooms that may provide an economic incentive for conservation and support the hypothesis of a tropical origin of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel use of gamma correction for precise (99m)Tc-HDP pinhole bone scan diagnosis and classification of knee occult fractures.

PubMed

Bahk, Yong-Whee; Jeon, Ho-Seung; Kim, Jang Min; Park, Jung Mee; Chung, Yong-An; Kim, E Edmund; Kim, Sung-Hoon; Chung, Soo-Kyo

2010-08-01

The aim of this study was to introduce gamma correction pinhole bone scan (GCPBS) to depict specific signs of knee occult fractures (OF) on (99m)Tc-hydroxydiphosphonate (HDP) scan. Thirty-six cases of six different types of knee OF in 27 consecutive patients (male = 20, female = 7, and age = 18-86 years) were enrolled. The diagnosis was made on the basis of a history of acute or subacute knee trauma, local pain, tenderness, cutaneous injury, negative conventional radiography, and positive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because of the impracticability of histological verification of individual OF, MRI was utilized as a gold standard of diagnosis and classification. All patients had (99m)Tc-HDP bone scanning and supplementary GCPBS. GCPBS signs were correlated and compared with those of MRI. The efficacy of gamma correction of ordinary parallel collimator and pinhole collimator scans were collated. Gamma correction pinhole bone scan depicted the signs characteristic of six different types of OF. They were well defined stuffed globular tracer uptake in geographic I fractures (n = 9), block-like uptake in geographic II fractures (n = 7), simple or branching linear uptake in linear cancellous fractures (n = 4), compression in impacted fractures (n = 2), stippled-serpentine uptake in reticular fractures (n = 11), and irregular subcortical uptake in osteochondral fractures (n = 3). All fractures were equally well or more distinctly depicted on GCPBS than on MRI except geographic II fracture, the details of which were not appreciated on GCPBS. Parallel collimator scan also yielded to gamma correction, but the results were inferior to those of the pinhole scan. Gamma correction pinhole bone scan can depict the specific diagnostic signs in six different types of knee occult fractures. The specific diagnostic capability along with the lower cost and wider global availability of bone scanning would make GCPBS an effective alternative.

Large N Limits in Tensor Models: Towards More Universality Classes of Colored Triangulations in Dimension d≥2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonzom, Valentin

2016-07-01

We review an approach which aims at studying discrete (pseudo-)manifolds in dimension d≥ 2 and called random tensor models. More specifically, we insist on generalizing the two-dimensional notion of p-angulations to higher dimensions. To do so, we consider families of triangulations built out of simplices with colored faces. Those simplices can be glued to form new building blocks, called bubbles which are pseudo-manifolds with boundaries. Bubbles can in turn be glued together to form triangulations. The main challenge is to classify the triangulations built from a given set of bubbles with respect to their numbers of bubbles and simplices of codimension two. While the colored triangulations which maximize the number of simplices of codimension two at fixed number of simplices are series-parallel objects called melonic triangulations, this is not always true anymore when restricting attention to colored triangulations built from specific bubbles. This opens up the possibility of new universality classes of colored triangulations. We present three existing strategies to find those universality classes. The first two strategies consist in building new bubbles from old ones for which the problem can be solved. The third strategy is a bijection between those colored triangulations and stuffed, edge-colored maps, which are some sort of hypermaps whose hyperedges are replaced with edge-colored maps. We then show that the present approach can lead to enumeration results and identification of universality classes, by working out the example of quartic tensor models. They feature a tree-like phase, a planar phase similar to two-dimensional quantum gravity and a phase transition between them which is interpreted as a proliferation of baby universes. While this work is written in the context of random tensors, it is almost exclusively of combinatorial nature and we hope it is accessible to interested readers who are not familiar with random matrices, tensors and quantum field theory.

The Metabolite Transporters of the Plastid Envelope: An Update

PubMed Central

Facchinelli, Fabio; Weber, Andreas P. M.

2011-01-01

The engulfment of a photoautotrophic cyanobacterium by a primitive mitochondria-bearing eukaryote traces back to more than 1.2 billion years ago. This single endosymbiotic event not only provided the early petroalgae with the metabolic capacity to perform oxygenic photosynthesis, but also introduced a plethora of other metabolic routes ranging from fatty acids and amino acids biosynthesis, nitrogen and sulfur assimilation to secondary compounds synthesis. This implicated the integration and coordination of the newly acquired metabolic entity with the host metabolism. The interface between the host cytosol and the plastidic stroma became of crucial importance in sorting precursors and products between the plastid and other cellular compartments. The plastid envelope membranes fulfill different tasks: they perform important metabolic functions, as they are involved in the synthesis of carotenoids, chlorophylls, and galactolipids. In addition, since most genes of cyanobacterial origin have been transferred to the nucleus, plastidial proteins encoded by nuclear genes are post-translationally transported across the envelopes through the TIC–TOC import machinery. Most importantly, chloroplasts supply the photoautotrophic cell with photosynthates in form of reduced carbon. The innermost bilayer of the plastidic envelope represents the permeability barrier for the metabolites involved in the carbon cycle and is literally stuffed with transporter proteins facilitating their transfer. The intracellular metabolite transporters consist of polytopic proteins containing membrane spans usually in the number of four or more α-helices. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that connecting the plastid with the host metabolism was mainly a process driven by the host cell. In Arabidopsis, 58% of the metabolite transporters are of host origin, whereas only 12% are attributable to the cyanobacterial endosymbiont. This review focuses on the metabolite transporters of the inner envelope membrane of plastids, in particular the electrochemical potential-driven class of transporters. Recent advances in elucidating the plastidial complement of metabolite transporters are provided, with an update on phylogenetic relationship of selected proteins. PMID:22645538

Study of coal and graphite specimens by means of Raman and cathodoluminescence.

PubMed

Kostova, Irena; Tormo, Laura; Crespo-Feo, Elena; Garcia-Guinea, Javier

2012-06-01

The weak luminescence shown by coals has been attributed to accessorial minerals and poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, such as exinite, vitrinite or inertinite, while the luminescence quenching has been found in asphaltenes produced by coal hydrogenation or in pyridine extracts. Nowadays, the spatial resolution and the improved luminescence efficiency of the modern spectrometers allow some details of the luminescent emission centers to be explained. We have selected museum historical coal specimens with different rank, i.e., peat, lignite, sub-bituminous, bituminous, and anthracite to be analyzed by their spectra from cathodoluminescence probe (CL) of an environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), with an energy dispersive spectrometry analyzer (EDS). Additional analytical controls were also performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectrometries. We conclude that coals may display different luminescence emission features coming from several different sources, as follows: (i) broadband of intense luminescence from polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, (ii) weakly visible broadband luminescence attributed to band-tail states caused by variations in the energy gap of individual sp(2) carbon clusters, which are different in size and/or shape, (iii) silicate impurities causing the common luminescence peak at 325 nm observed in coals. This peak is due to non-bridging oxygen hole centres (≡Si-O·) probably generated by precursor Si-O-C species formed by ≡Si-O· defects and carbon atoms; (iv) a 710 nm CL emission commonly detected also in wood and ivory, which has been correlated with hydrocarbon groups of chlorophyll or lignine. Coals are very complex rocks, composed by both organic and inorganic phases with variable and complex spectra. More analyses are necessary and carbonaceous standards of graphite, silicon carbide, stuffed carbon silica and diamond at variable experimental conditions have to be developed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cluster Chemistry in Electron-Poor Ae-Pt-Cd Systems (Ae=Ca, Sr, Ba): (Sr,Ba)Pt2Cd4, Ca6Pt8Cd16, and Its Known Antitype Er6Pd16Sb8

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

Samal, Saroj L.; Gulo, Fakhili; Corbett, John D.

Three new ternary polar intermetallic compounds, cubic Ca6Pt8Cd16, and tetragonal (Sr, Ba)Pt2Cd4 have been discovered during explorations of the Ae–Pt–Cd systems. Cubic Ca6Pt8Cd16 (Fm-3m, Z = 4, a = 13.513(1) Å) contains a 3D array of separate Cd8 tetrahedral stars (TS) that are both face capped along the axes and diagonally bridged by Pt atoms to generate the 3D anionic network Cd8[Pt(1)]6/2[Pt(2)]4/8. The complementary cationic surface of the cell consists of a face-centered cube of Pt(3)@Ca6 octahedra. This structure is an ordered ternary variant of Sc11Ir4 (Sc6Ir8Sc16), a stuffed version of the close relative Na6Au7Cd16, and a network inverse ofmore » the recent Er6Sb8Pd16 (compare Ca6Pt8Cd16). The three groups of elements each occur in only one structural version. The new AePt2Cd4, Ae = Sr, Ba, are tetragonal (P42/mnm,Z = 2, a ≈ 8.30 Å, c ≈ 4.47 Å) and contain chains of edge-sharing Cd4 tetrahedra along c that are bridged by four-bonded Ba/Sr. LMTO-ASA and ICOHP calculation results and comparisons show that the major bonding (Hamilton) populations in Ca6Pt8Cd16 and Er6Sb8Pd16 come from polar Pt–Cd and Pd–Sb interactions, that Pt exhibits larger relativistic contributions than Pd, that characteristic size and orbital differences are most evident for Sb 5s, Pt8, and Pd16, and that some terms remain incomparable, Ca–Cd versus Er–Pd.« less

The narrowing down of inoculated communities of coagulase-negative staphylococci in fermented meat models is modulated by temperature and pH.

PubMed

Stavropoulou, Despoina Angeliki; Van Reckem, Emiel; De Smet, Stefaan; De Vuyst, Luc; Leroy, Frédéric

2018-06-02

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are involved in colour and flavour formation of fermented meats. Their communities are established either spontaneously, as in some artisan-type products, or using a starter culture. The latter usually consists of Staphylococcus carnosus and/or Staphylococcus xylosus strains, although strains from other CNS species also have potential for application. However, it is not entirely clear how the fitness of alternative starter cultures within a fermented meat matrix compares to conventional ones and how this may be affected by processing conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of two key processing conditions, namely temperature and acidity, on the competitiveness of a cocktail of five different strains of CNS belonging to species that are potentially important for meat fermentation (Staphylococcus xylosus 2S7-2, S. carnosus 833, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Staphylococcus equorum DFL-S19, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus FPS1). To this end, fermented meat models consisting of cured meat batters with initial pH values of 5.3, 5.5, or 5.7 were inoculated with these strains, stuffed in containers, and incubated at 23, 30, or 37 °C. Both the pH level and the temperature influenced the composition of the CNS communities, giving a competitive advantage to the best adapted species. Staphylococcus xylosus preferred low temperature and mild acidity, whereas an elevated temperature selected for S. epidermidis and a low pH for S. carnosus. Under the conditions tested, S. saprophyticus and S. equorum were outcompeted by the three other CNS species. Hence, CNS communities in fermented meats are not only established based on the initial presence of specific species in the meat batter but also by their subsequent adaptation to the processing conditions during fermentation, potentially overruling the use of starter cultures. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vitamin profile of cooked foods: how healthy is the practice of ready-to-eat foods?

PubMed

Agte, Vaishali; Tarwadi, Kirtan; Mengale, Sangeeta; Hinge, Ashwini; Chiplonkar, Shashi

2002-05-01

During recent years importance of B complex vitamins, beta-carotene and vitamin C has been realised in terms of their antioxidative and anticarcinogenic properties. Fruits and vegetables are the rich sources of these vitamins. However, there are considerable cooking losses of vitamins, and information on vitamin contents of cooked foods is essential for assessing the adequacy of vitamin intakes. Secondly, there is a growing trend to consume ready-to-eat foods such as stuffed pancakes (samosa, patties), pastries, French fries; replacing traditional foods for lunch or dinner like roti, vegetable curry, bread, non-vegetarian items. Ready-to-eat foods are considered to give empty calories rather than a balanced diet. A study was undertaken to estimate ascorbic acid, folic acid, riboflavin, thiamine and beta-carotene of 263 cooked food samples and 260 meals representing dietary patterns of Asia, Africa, Europe, USA and Latin America by spectrophotometry and photoflurometry. A broad range of beta-carotene (84-2038 mcg%), riboflavin (0.01-0.48 mg%), thiamine (0.04-0.36 mg%), vitamin C (1-28 mg%) and folate (26-111 mcg%) was observed in individual foods. Bakery products and sweets were found to be poor sources and green leafy vegetables and fruits were good sources of these five vitamins. The differences between ready-to-eat foods and meals consumed during lunch or dinner were prominent for beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, riboflavin and folic acid (P < 0.05). The cooking losses were 34.6, 30, 52.2, 45.9 and 32.2% in case of ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, beta-carotene and folic acid respectively. Irrespective of whether it is ready-to-eat or a lunch/dinner food item, the contribution of vegetables in the preparations was found to make a marked impact on the vitamin profile. While results justify the concept of a food pyramid, emphasis needs to be given to types of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins; preferably in their uncooked form, rather than considering their total consumption.

Studies of high temperature ternary phases in mixed-metal-rich early transition metal sulfide and phosphide systems

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

Marking, Gregory Allen

1994-01-04

Investigations of ternary mixed early transition metal-rich sulfide and phosphide systems resulted in the discovery of new structures and new phases. A new series of Zr and Hf - group V transition metal - sulfur K-phases was synthesized and crystallographically characterized. When the group V transition metal was Nb or Ta, the unit cell volume was larger than any previously reported K-phase. The presence of adventitious oxygen was determined in two K-phases through a combination of neutron scattering and X-ray diffraction experiments. A compound Hf 10Ta 3S 3 was found to crystallize in a new-structure type similar to the knownmore » gamma brasses. This structure is unique in that it is the only reported "stuffed" gamma-brass type structure. The metal components, Hf and Ta, are larger in size and more electropositive than the metals found in normal gamma brasses (e.g. Cu and Zn) and because of the larger metallic radii, sulfur can be incorporated into the structure where it plays an integral role in stabilizing this phase relative to others. X-ray single-crystal, X-ray powder and neutron powder refinements were performed on this structure. A new structure was found in the ternary Nb-Zr-P system which has characteristics in common with many known early transition metal-rich sulfides, selenides, and phosphides. This structure has the simplest known interconnection of the basic building blocks known for this structural class. Anomalous scattering was a powerful tool for differentiating between Zr and Nb when using Mo Kα X-radiation. The compounds ZrNbP and HfNbP formed in the space group Prima with the simple Co 2Si structure which is among the most common structures found for crystalline solid materials. Solid solution compounds in the Ta-Nb-P, Ta-Zr-P, Nb-Zr-P, Hf-Nb-P, and Hf-Zr-S systems were crystallographically characterized. The structural information corroborated ideas about bonding in metal-rich compounds.« less

Behavior of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus in Chouriço de Vinho, a dry fermented sausage made from wine-marinated meat.

PubMed

Díez, J García; Patarata, L

2013-04-01

Portuguese chouriço de vinho is made by drying coarsely minced meat and fat that has been previously marinated with wine (usually red), salt, and garlic for 1 to 2 days at a low temperature (4 to 8 °C). This procedure may improve the microbiological safety of the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of three pathogens in this product, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus, to establish the minimum period of drying and maturation necessary to render safe products. The pathogens were inoculated in the chouriço de vinho batter. A factorial design was used to study the following variables in the fermentation process: (i) the presence or absence of an indigenous Lactobacillus sakei starter culture; (ii) the presence or absence of fermentable carbohydrates; and (iii) the salt level (1.5 or 3%). The samples were analyzed 24 h after the preparation of the batter (at stuffing); after 7, 15, and 30 days of drying; and after 30 days of storage at 4 °C under vacuum. Under all of the conditions studied, the levels of the three pathogens decreased during the drying period. In the early stages of drying, the addition of L. sakei starter culture and/or carbohydrates resulted in lower levels of gram-positive pathogens. After 15 days of drying, populations of all pathogens decreased by ca. 2 log in all samples. At that sampling time, L. monocytogenes was undetectable in the chouriço de vinho with L. sakei starter culture and carbohydrates. The mean count of S. aureus after 15 days of drying was below 1 log CFU/g. After 30 days of drying, no pathogens were detected. The drying period could be shortened to 15 days when considering only the gram-positive pathogens studied and the use of a starter culture and carbohydrates. Due to the low infective dose of Salmonella spp., the product should be considered safe after 30 days, when this pathogen became undetectable.

Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in nonintact beefsteaks of different thicknesses cooked by pan broiling, double pan broiling, or roasting by using five types of cooking appliances.

PubMed

Shen, Cangliang; Adler, Jeremy M; Geornaras, Ifigenia; Belk, Keith E; Smith, Gary C; Sofos, John N

2010-03-01

This study compared thermal inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in nonintact beefsteaks of different thicknesses by different cooking methods and appliances. Coarsely ground beef was inoculated with rifampin-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (eight-strain composite, 6 to 7 log CFU/g) and then mixed with sodium chloride (0.45%) plus sodium tripolyphosphate (0.23%); the total water added was 10%. The meat was stuffed into bags (10-cm diameter), semifrozen (-20 degrees C, 6 h), and cut into 1.5-, 2.5-, and 4.0-cm-thick steaks. Samples were then individually vacuum packaged, frozen (-20 degrees C, 42 h), and tempered (4 degrees C, 2.5 h) before cooking. Partially thawed (-2 +/- 1 degrees C) steaks were pan broiled (Presto electric skillet and Sanyo grill), double pan broiled (George Foreman grill), or roasted (Oster toaster oven and Magic Chef standard kitchen oven) to a geometric center temperature of 65 degrees C. Extent of pathogen inactivation decreased in order of roasting (2.0 to 4.2 log CFU/g) > pan broiling (1.6 to 2.8 log CFU/g) >/= double pan broiling (1.1 to 2.3 log CFU/g). Cooking of 4.0-cm-thick steaks required a longer time (19.8 to 65.0 min; variation was due to different cooking appliances), and caused greater reductions in counts (2.3 to 4.2 log CFU/g) than it did in thinner samples (1.1 to 2.9 log CFU/g). The time to reach the target temperature increased in order of George Foreman grill (3.9 to 19.8 min) < Oster toaster oven (11.3 to 45.0 min) < Presto electric skillet (16.3 to 55.0 min) < Sanyo grill (14.3 to 65.0 min) < standard kitchen oven (20.0 to 63.0 min); variation was due to steak thickness. Results indicated that increased steak thickness allowed greater inactivation of E. coli O157:H7, as time to reach the target internal temperature increased. Roasting in a kitchen oven was most effective for pathogen inactivation.

Color plumage polymorphism and predator mimicry in brood parasites

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Plumage polymorphism may evolve during coevolution between brood parasites and their hosts if rare morph(s), by contravening host search image, evade host recognition systems better than common variant(s). Females of the parasitic common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) are a classic example of discrete color polymorphism: gray females supposedly mimic the sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), while rufous females are believed to mimic the kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Despite many studies on host responses to adult cuckoos comprehensive tests of the “hawk mimicry” and “kestrel mimicry” hypotheses are lacking so far. Results We tested these hypotheses by examining host responses to stuffed dummies of the sparrowhawk, kestrel, cuckoo and the innocuous turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) as a control at the nest. Our experimental data from an aggressive cuckoo host, the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), showed low effectiveness of cuckoo-predator mimicry against more aggressive hosts regardless of the type of model and the degree of perfection of the mimic. Specifically, warblers discriminated gray cuckoos from sparrowhawks but did not discriminate rufous cuckoos from kestrels. However, both gray and rufous cuckoos were attacked vigorously and much more than control doves. The ratio of aggression to gray vs. rufous cuckoo was very similar to the ratio between frequencies of gray vs. rufous cuckoo morphs in our study population. Conclusions Overall, our data combined with previous results from other localities suggest polymorphism dynamics are not strongly affected by local predator model frequencies. Instead, hosts responses and discrimination abilities are proportional, other things being equal, to the frequency with which hosts encounter various cuckoo morphs near their nests. This suggests that female cuckoo polymorphism is a counter-adaptation to thwart a specific host adaptation, namely an ability to not be fooled by predator mimicry. We hypothesize the dangerousness of a particular model predator (sparrowhawks are more dangerous to adult birds than kestrels) may be another important factor responsible for better discrimination between the gray cuckoo and its model rather than between the rufous cuckoo and its model. We also provide a review of relevant existing literature, detailed discussion of plumage polymorphism in cuckoos, methodological recommendations and new ideas for future work. PMID:23663311

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Nonlinear Optical Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Cheryl Shuang

1992-01-01

Nonlinear optic materials are becoming increasingly important because of their many technological applications, such as second harmonic generation (SHG), optical switching, and waveguides for optical transmission. Currently, there is a demand for crystals transparent in the UV region, which would make the third and higher harmonic generations feasible. Compounds with the general stoichiometry ABCO _4 structural systems have shown to be promising candidates for frequency doubling into the UV region. The stuffed tridymite structure in which these ABCO_4 compounds crystallize is very tolerant to substitution, and over two hundred compounds have been synthesized up to date. While the presently available theories of optical nonlinearity have been applied to many inorganic solids, the threatened structure theory applied for ferroelectric properties can also be used to describe the structure/property relationship in the ABCO_4 structural family. Compounds synthesized for this study, ALiPO_4 (A = Sr, Ba, Pb) have shown that the SHG of these materials can be maximized by bringing each system close to its structural phase transition or by inducing stress in the pure phase structure. Studies have shown that the dielectric coefficients of KNbO_3 increase by more than tenfold with tantalum doping. This prompted the investigation of a mixed niobium/tantalum containing channelled tetrahedra/octahedra open framework, K_{2/3}Li _{1/3}Nb_ {rm 2-x}Ta_{ rm x}PO_8. These compounds are capable of ion exchange, where other cations are used to replace potassium. The cation-framework interaction mimics the guest-host relationship characteristic of many traditional zeolitic materials. This interaction also enables us to determine the role of the cation in framework polarizability, which can be measured by SHG intensities. Through ion exchange, many isostructural compounds can be made at low temperatures. A family of layered rubidium niobium/tantalum oxide compounds have been synthesized in an extension of the investigation of the above host-guest interaction. X -ray diffraction data have shown successful incorporation of n-butyl ammonium chloride followed by exchange of an organic salt which has very large SHG intensity, N-methylstilbazolium chloride, into the layers.

A dominating imaginary friend, cruelty to animals, social withdrawal, and growth deficiency in a 7-year-old girl with parents with schizophrenia.

PubMed

Shapiro, Henry L; Prince, Jefferson B; Ireland, Rachel; Stein, Martin T

2010-04-01

Tessa is a 7-year-old girl with odd behaviors, worsening over the preceding year. She spends a significant amount of time alone in her room, talking to "Richard." Her father observed that Tessa is "in her own world." In school, she often glares at the teacher and refuses to work. She is alone at recess without any real friends. Her father reports that she eats little and only after he tastes the food. She is increasingly cruel to both real and toy animals. She tied a string around her cat's neck and swung it around, saying she wanted to punish it. She was heard to say to her stuffed cat, "Die, b ... .; die." Richard told her to do this and other "bad" things. Tessa has not had chronic health problems or developmental concerns. During the first 18 months of life, her height was between the 5th and 10th percentiles; it declined to below the 3rd percentile over the past 2 years. Weight has been consistently between the 3rd and 5th percentiles. Tessa's parents both have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. There are at least 7 first- and second-degree relatives with the same diagnosis. Both parents cared for Tessa for 4 years with a lot of support. Then, her father left the home, but he was in contact with her while managing his own illness. When the mother's illness and compliance worsened, Tessa was removed for neglect at 5 (1/2) years old. Two foster homes preceded Dad's award of sole custody 13 months ago. Mother's weekly visitations are quite upsetting to Tessa. Tessa is a verbal, solemn, small, well-dressed girl with no physical abnormalities. She talks with advanced vocabulary and syntax, with normal prosody and good conversational skills. She says Richard is a bad boy who gets her into trouble at school. She equivocates when asked if he is real or imagined or if others can see him. She says that she misses her mother.

Prise en compte d'un couplage fin neutronique-thermique dans les calculs d'assemblage pour les reacteurs a eau pressurisee

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greiner, Nathan

Core simulations for Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) is insured by a set of computer codes which allows, under certain assumptions, to approximate the physical quantities of interest, such as the effective multiplication factor or the power or temperature distributions. The neutronics calculation scheme relies on three great steps : -- the production of an isotopic cross-sections library ; -- the production of a reactor database through the lattice calculation ; -- the full-core calculation. In the lattice calculation, in which Boltzmann's transport equation is solved over an assembly geometry, the temperature distribution is uniform and constant during irradiation. This represents a set of approximations since, on the one hand, the temperature distribution in the assembly is not uniform (strong temperature gradients in the fuel pins, discrepancies between the fuel pins) and on the other hand, irradiation causes the thermal properties of the pins to change, which modifies the temperature distribution. Our work aims at implementing and introducing a neutronics-thermomechanics coupling into the lattice calculation to finely discretize the temperature distribution and to study its effects. To perform the study, CEA (Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives) lattice code APOLLO2 was used for neutronics and EDF (Electricite De France) code C3THER was used for the thermal calculations. We show very small effects of the pin-scaled coupling when comparing the use of a temperature profile with the use of an uniform temperature over UOX-type and MOX-type fuels. We next investigate the thermal feedback using an assembly-scaled coupling taking into account the presence of large water gaps on an UOX-type assembly at burnup 0. We show the very small impact on the calculation of the hot spot factor. Finally, the coupling is introduced into the isotopic depletion calculation and we show that reactivity and isotopic number densities deviations remain small albeit not negligible for UOX-type and MOX-type assemblies. The specific behavior of gadolinium-stuffed fuel pins in an UO2Gd2O 3-type assembly is highlighted.

Partitioning of water between surface and mantle on terrestrial exoplanets: effect of surface-mantle water exchange parameterizations on ocean depth

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Komacek, T. D.; Abbot, D. S.

2016-12-01

Terrestrial exoplanets in the canonical habitable zone may have a variety of initial water fractions due to their volatile delivery rate via planetesimals. If the total planetary water complement is high, the entire surface may be covered in water, forming a "waterworld". The habitable zone for waterworlds is likely smaller than that for planets with partial land coverage because waterworlds lack the stabilizing silicate-weathering feedback. On a planet with active tectonics, competing mechanisms act to regulate the abundance of water on the surface by determining the partitioning of water between interior and surface. We have explored how the incorporation of different mechanisms for the outgassing and regassing of water changes the volatile evolution of a planet. Specifically, we have examined three models for volatile cycling: a model with degassing and regassing both determined by the seafloor pressure, one with mantle temperature-dependent degassing and regassing rates, and a hybrid model that has the degassing rate driven by seafloor pressure and the regassing rate determined by the mantle temperature. We find that the volatile cycling in all three of these scenarios reaches a steady-state after a few billion years. Using these steady-states, we can make predictions from each model for how much water is needed to flood the surface and make a waterworld. We find that if volatile cycling is either solely temperature-dependent or pressure-dependent, exoplanets require a high abundance (more than 0.3% by mass) of water to have fully inundated surfaces. This is because the waterworld boundary for these models is regulated by how much water can be stuffed into the mantle. However, if degassing is more dependent on the seafloor pressure and regassing mainly dependent on mantle temperature, super-Earth mass planets with a total water fraction similar to that of the Earth (approximately 0.05% by mass) can become waterworlds. As a result, further understanding of the processes that drive volatile cycling on terrestrial planets is needed to determine the water fraction at which they are likely to become waterworlds.

Detection of different microenvironments and Lactobacillus sakei biotypes in Ventricina, a traditional fermented sausage from central Italy.

PubMed

Tremonte, Patrizio; Sorrentino, Elena; Pannella, Gianfranco; Tipaldi, Luca; Sturchio, Marina; Masucci, Armando; Maiuro, Lucia; Coppola, Raffaele; Succi, Mariantonietta

2017-02-02

The present study evaluated the physico-chemical and microbiological features of Ventricina, considering for the first time the presence of different compartments deriving from the technology of production. In fact meat pieces (pork muscle and fat cut into cubes of about 10-20cm 3 ), mixed with other ingredients and then stuffed into pig bladder, are still distinguishable at the end of the ripening. They appear delimited on the outside by the casing and inside by thin layers consisting of spices (mainly red pepper powder), salt and meat juices. Our results showed that the exterior (portion of the product in contact with the casing), the interstice (area between the different cubes of meat or fat) and the heart (the inner portion of meat cubes) had distinctive values of pH and a w , and a typical microbial progression, so that they can be considered as different ecological niches, here called microenvironments. The study of lactic acid bacteria population, performed with PCR-DGGE and sequence analysis targeting the V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA), highlighted the presence of a few species, including Lactobacillus sakei, Lb. plantarum, Weissella hellenica and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The RAPD-PCR analysis performed on Lb. sakei, recognised as the predominant species, allowed the differentiation into three biotypes, with that characterised by the highest acidifying and proteolytic activities and the highest ability to grow in the presence of sodium chloride prevailing. This leading biotype, detectable in the interstice during the entire ripening period, was isolated in the microenvironments exterior and heart starting from the 30th d of ripening, and it was the sole biotype present at the end of the ripening. The analysis of microenvironments through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evidenced the presence of micro-channels, which could favour the microbial flow from the interstice to the exterior and the heart. Moreover, the SEM analysis allowed the detection of biofilms, recognised as responsible for the correct colonisation of the different meat niches. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

My Big Wall

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Espinosa, Paul S.

2002-01-01

It was June and I was in Yosemite National Park in California, 2,000-feet off the ground. I was climbing El Capitan, a majestic 3,000-foot high, mile-wide granite monolith--one of the most sought after and spectacular rock climbs in the world. After three days of climbing on its sheer face, and having completed the most difficult part of the route, my partner and I were heading down. A thunderstorm lasting all night and into the morning had soaked our tiny perch and all our worldly possessions. We began rappelling down the vertical wall by sliding to the ends of two 50meter ropes tied together and looped through a set of fixed rings bolted into the rock. At the end of the ropes was another rappel station consisting of a set of rings, placed by previous climbers for retreating parties, which we used to anchor ourselves to the rock face. We then pulled the ropes down from the rings above, threaded the ones in front of our noses and started down another rope length. Everything we brought up for our five-day climb to the summit we had to bring back down with us: ropes, climbing gear of every sort, sleeping bags, extra clothes, food, water, and other essentials. All this we either stuffed into a haul bag (an oversized reinforced duffel bag) or slung over our shoulders. The retreat was slow and methodical, akin to a train backing down a mountain, giving me ample time to think. My situation made me think about my work, mostly, about all the projects I have managed, or been involved in managing. As a NASA project manager, I have worked on a number of successful projects. I have also been involved in a number of projects I never saw the end of. I thought about all the projects I transferred off of for other opportunities, projects that were in full stride and ran out of funding, and ones put on the shelf because they would not meet a flight date. Oh yes, I have had many success, to be sure, or I would have burned out years ago. Lessons from both the successful and not-so-successful projects have taught me valuable lessons, but it has always been the failures where I've learned the most.

[The estimate of well-being and self-assessed health status in urban population in various acoustic areas].

PubMed

Koszarny, Z

2001-01-01

Comparative analysis among 357 inhabitants, who live in two areas: noisy (above 70 dB /A/) and moderate (below 57 dB /A/) showed significant differences between the groups in many variables under consideration. This differences, after eliminating socio-economic influences and behavior factors such as: gender, age, economical conditions, education or smoking confirmed existence of relation between living condition caused by motorization and life quality, well-being and self assessed health of inhabitants. Details showed, that urban intensive traffic noise disturbs realization of many important daily activities, evoke emotional tension, irritation, nervousness. In group of people from noisy areas more often are observed characteristic mental pressure caused by noise, throat and eyes irritation, disturbances in rest, speech, listen to music, sleep, and when going to sleep. Feeling of discomfort and annoyance dominates. More often there is a need to close or seal up the windows, use earplugs or take a sleeping pills. Relative risk of appearance of disturbances mentioned above or mental and emotional reactions in group of people who are exposed to high noise from 3 do 6 times bigger in comparison with people from quiet area. Apart from a decrease in the mental comfort and live quality, intensive traffic noise has a big influence on well-being and self assessed health status. The intensification of complaints and symptoms of neurotic character are observed in noisy areas. Most of these problems are connected with cardiovascular system (palpitation, constriction in chest, hot flush, tiredness after effort) and excessive nervous stimulation. Long lasting influence of noise is probably also a cause for a frequent nervousness, feeling of tiredness after night sleep and overstress, troubles with concentration or distinct reduction of well-being (feel unhappy and miserable, inability to cope with troubles, reduce ability to take of decisions). Additionally, the escalation of troubles probably connected with bigger air pollution (frequent dry cough, sneezing, nasal stuffing) is observed in areas of intensive traffic noise. Relative risk of appearance mentioned above unfavourably health symptoms in group of people from noisy areas is about 1.5 times higher than in areas below 57 dB /A/. Analyzed data did not confirm hypothesis on influence of traffic noise on increasing appearance of diseases confirmed by physician. In both areas noisy and quiet morbidity are similar. Also consumption of medicines was similar.

Eu9Cd4-xCM2+x-y□ySb9: Ca9Mn4Bi9-type structure stuffed with coinage metals (Cu, Ag, and Au) and the challenges with classical valence theory in describing these possible zintl phases.

PubMed

Kazem, Nasrin; Hurtado, Antonio; Klobes, Benedikt; Hermann, Raphaël P; Kauzlarich, Susan M

2015-02-02

The synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties, and europium Mössbauer spectroscopy of the new members of the 9-4-9 Zintl family of Eu(9)Cd(4-x)CM(2+x-y)□(y)Sb(9) (CM = coinage metal: Au, Ag, and Cu) are reported. These compounds crystallize in the Ca(9)Mn(4)Bi(9) structure type (9-4-9) with the 4g interstitial site almost half-occupied by coinage metals; these are the first members in the 9-4-9 family where the interstitial positions are occupied by a monovalent metal. All previously known compounds with this structure type include divalent interstitials where these interstitials are typically the same as the transition metals in the anionic framework. Single-crystal magnetic susceptibility data indicate paramagnetic behavior for all three compounds with antiferromagnetic ordering below 10 K (at 100 Oe) that shifts to lower temperature (<7 K) by applying a 3 T magnetic field. (151)Eu Mössbauer spectra were collected on polycrystalline powder samples of Eu(9)Cd(4-x)CM(2+x-y)□(y)Sb(9) at 50 and 6.5 K in order to evaluate the valence of Eu cations. Although the Zintl formalism states that the five crystallographically distinct Eu sites in Eu(9)Cd(4-x)CM(2+x-y)□(y)Sb9 should bear Eu(2+), the Mössbauer spectral isomer shifts are clearly indicative of both 2+ and 3+ valence of the Eu cations with the Cu- and Au-containing compounds showing higher amounts of Eu(3+). This electronic configuration leads to an excess of negative charge in these compounds that contradicts the expected valence-precise requirement of Zintl phases. The spectra obtained at 6.5 K reveal magnetic ordering for both Eu(2+) and Eu(3+). The field dependence of Eu(2+) indicates two distinct magnetic sublattices, with higher and lower fields, and of a small field for Eu(3+). The site symmetry of the five Eu sites is not distinguishable from the Mössbauer data.

Tunable multifunctional topological insulators in ternary Heusler and related compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felser, Claudia

2011-03-01

Recently the quantum spin Hall effect was theoretically predicted and experimentally realized in quantum wells based on the binary semiconductor HgTe. The quantum spin Hall state and topological insulators are new states of quantum matter interesting for both fundamental condensed-matter physics and material science. Many Heusler compounds with C1b structure are ternary semiconductors that are structurally and electronically related to the binary semiconductors. The diversity of Heusler materials opens wide possibilities for tuning the bandgap and setting the desired band inversion by choosing compounds with appropriate hybridization strength (by the lattice parameter) and magnitude of spin--orbit coupling (by the atomic charge). Based on first-principle calculations we demonstrate that around 50 Heusler compounds show band inversion similar to that of HgTe. The topological state in these zero-gap semiconductors can be created by applying strain or by designing an appropriate quantumwell structure, similar to the case of HgTe. Many of these ternary zero-gap semiconductors (LnAuPb, LnPdBi, LnPtSb and LnPtBi) contain the rare-earth element Ln, which can realize additional properties ranging from superconductivity (for example LaPtBi) to magnetism (for example GdPtBi) and heavy fermion behaviour (for example YbPtBi). These properties can open new research directions in realizing the quantized anomalous Hall effect and topological superconductors. Heusler compounds are similar to a stuffed diamond, correspondingly, it should be possible to find the ``high Z'' equivalent of graphene in a graphite-like structure with 18 valence electrons and with inverted bands. Indeed the ternary compounds, such as LiAuSe and KHgSb with a honeycomb structure of their Au-Se and Hg-Sb layers feature band inversion very similar to HgTe which is a strong precondition for existence of the topological surface states. These materials have a gap at the Fermi energy and are therefore candidates for 3D-topological insulators. Additionally they are centro-symmetric, therefore, it is possible to determine the parity of their wave functions, and hence, their topological character. Surprisingly, the compound KHgSb with the strong SOC is topologically trivial, whereas LiAuSe is found to be a topological non-trivial insulator.

Synthesis and characterization of some low and negative thermal expansion materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varga, Tamas

2005-12-01

The high-pressure behavior of several negative thermal expansion materials was studied by different methods. In-situ high-pressure x-ray and neutron diffraction studies on several compounds of the orthorhombic Sc 2W3O12 structure revealed an unusual "bulk modulus collapse" at the orthorhombic to monoclinic phase transition. In some members of the A2M3O12 family, a second phase transition and/or pressure-induced amorphization were also seen at higher pressure. The mechanism for volume contraction on compression is different from that on heating. A combined in-situ high pressure x-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopic study has been carried out for the first time. The pressure-induced amorphization in cubic ZrW2O8 and ZrMo 2O8 was studied by following the changes in the local coordination environments of the metals. A significant change in the average tungsten coordination was found in ZrW2O8, and a less pronounced change in the molybdenum coordination in ZrMo2O8 on amorphization. A kinetically frustrated phase transition to a high-pressure crystalline phase or a kinetically hindered decomposition, are likely driving forces of the amorphization. A complementary ex-situ study confirmed the greater distortion of the framework tetrahedra in ZrW2O8, and revealed a similar distortion of the octahedra in both compounds. The possibility of stabilizing the low thermal expansion high-temperature structure in AM2O7 compounds to lower temperatures through stuffing of ZrP2O7 was explored. Although the phase transition temperature was suppressed in MIxZr 1-xMIIIxP2O7 compositions, the chemical modification employed was not successful in stabilizing the high-temperature structure to around room temperature. An attempt has been made to control the thermal expansion properties in materials of the (MIII0.5MV 0.5)P2O7-type through the choice of the metal cations and through manipulating the ordering of the cations by different heat treatment conditions. Although controlled heat treatment resulted in only short-range cation ordering, the choice of the MIII cation had a marked effect on the thermal expansion behavior of the materials. Different grades of fluorinert were examined as pressure-transmitting media for high-pressure diffraction studies. All of the fluorinerts studied became nonhydrostatic at relatively low pressures (˜1 GPa).

Implementation of the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations to reduce sudden infant death syndrome risk in neonatal intensive care units: An evaluation of nursing knowledge and practice.

PubMed

Grazel, Regina; Phalen, Ann Gibbons; Polomano, Rosemary C

2010-12-01

There is a direct relationship between nonsupine sleeping and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Premature infants are at greater risk for SIDS and are often cared for in nonsupine positions during the course of hospitalization. Healthy premature infants should be placed supine for sleep before discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and parents receive specific instruction about infant sleep position and other risk factors for SIDS. Most published literature addressing nursing practices for SIDS reduction reflects practices with the healthy newborn population. To examine and describe NICU nurses' knowledge of SIDS risk-reduction measures, modeling of safe infant sleep interventions prior to discharge, and inclusion of SIDS risk reduction in parent education. Convenience sample of nurses practicing in level II and III NICUs located in 2 Middle Atlantic States. A prospective survey design was used for the study. The 14-item questionnaire was developed by a team of neonatal clinical experts and distributed via site coordinators to nurses in 19 NICUs. A total of 1080 surveys were distributed and 430 (40%) NICU nurses completed the survey. The majority of nurses (85%) identified the American Academy of Pediatrics SIDS risk-reduction strategies for safe sleep. The investigators found that age, years of nursing and neonatal nursing experience, and educational preparation did not significantly contribute to the practice of "supine-only" position for sleep for infants in NICUs. The study revealed that nurses frequently position healthy preterm infants supine for sleep when weaned to an open crib (50%). Others wait one to a few days before discharge (15%) and some never position supine for sleep (6%). Stuffed toys are removed from cribs 90.5% of the time. For term infants without major medical complications, 45.5% of surveyed nurses continued to use positioning aids/rolls in infants' cribs. The most common reasons nurses cited to position preterm infants side-lying or prone in a crib were fear of aspiration (29%), infant comfort (28%), and infant safety (20%). NICU nurses educated parents about SIDS and reduction strategies, using various media. At discharge, 73% of the nurses verbally communicated with parents, 53% provided printed literature, and 14% used audiovisual aids with parents. NICU nurses are in influential positions to educate parents and model SIDS risk-reduction strategies. This study supports other published research that points to inconsistencies in nursing practice regarding implementation of methods to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Fibromyalgia syndrome and myofascial pain syndrome. Do they exist?

PubMed

Bohr, T W

1995-05-01

"It is in the healing business that the temptations of junk science are the strongest and the controls against it the weakest." Despite their subjective nature, these syndromes (particularly MPS) have little reliability and validity, and advocates paint them as "objective." Despite a legacy of poor-quality science, enthusiasts continue to cite small, methodologically flawed studies purporting to show biologic variables for these syndromes. Despite a wealth of traditional pain research, disciples continue to ignore the placebo effect, demonstrating a therapeutic hubris despite studies showing a dismal natural history for FS. In reviewing the literature on MPS and FS, F.M.R. Walshe's sage words come to mind that the advocates of these syndromes are "better armed with technique than with judgment." A sympathic observer might claim that labeling patients with monikers of nondiseases such as FS and MPS may not be such a bad thing. After all, there is still a stigma for psychiatric disease in our society, and even telling a sufferer that this plays only a partial role may put that patient on the defensive. Labeling may have iatrogenic consequences, however, particularly in the setting of the work place. Furthermore, review of a typical support group newsletter gives ipso facto proof of this noxious potential. The author of a flyer stuffed inside the newsletter complains that getting social security and disability benefits for "the invisible disability" can be "an uphill battle. But don't loose (sic) hope." Apparently the "seriousness of the condition" is not appreciated by the medical community at large, and "clinician bias may well be the largest threat," according to Boston epidemiologist Dr. John Mason. Sufferers are urged to trek to their local medical library and pull four particular articles claiming FS patients have more "stress," "daily hassles," and difficulty working compared with arthritis patients. If articles can't be located, patients are told to ask their lawyers for help. Although "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" and FS are not considered by everyone to be the same malady, the "National Institute of Health (sic) has lumped these two conditions together. This could work in your favor." (A U.S. political advocacy packet is available for $8, but a list of U.S. senators with Washington, DC addresses is freely provided.) These persons see themselves as victims worthy of a star appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show. A sense of bitterness emerges; one literally bed-bound Texas homemaker writes in Parents magazine that "Some doctors may give up and tell you that you are a hypochondriac."(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The effect of pressure on open-framework silicates: elastic behaviour and crystal-fluid interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gatta, G. D.; Lotti, P.; Tabacchi, G.

2018-02-01

The elastic behaviour and the structural evolution of microporous materials compressed hydrostatically in a pressure-transmitting fluid are drastically affected by the potential crystal-fluid interaction, with a penetration of new molecules through the zeolitic cavities in response to applied pressure. In this manuscript, the principal mechanisms that govern the P-behaviour of zeolites with and without crystal-fluid interaction are described, on the basis of previous experimental findings and computational modelling studies. When no crystal-fluid interaction occurs, the effects of pressure are mainly accommodated by tilting of (quasi-rigid) tetrahedra around O atoms that behave as hinges. Tilting of tetrahedra is the dominant mechanism at low-mid P-regime, whereas distortion and compression of tetrahedra represent the mechanisms which usually dominate the mid-high P regime. One of the most common deformation mechanisms in zeolitic framework is the increase of channels ellipticity. The deformation mechanisms are dictated by the topological configuration of the tetrahedral framework; however, the compressibility of the cavities is controlled by the nature and bonding configuration of the ionic and molecular content, resulting in different unit-cell volume compressibility in isotypic structures. The experimental results pertaining to compression in "penetrating" fluids, and thus with crystal-fluid interaction, showed that not all the zeolites experience a P-induced intrusion of new monoatomic species or molecules from the P-transmitting fluids. For example, zeolites with well-stuffed channels at room conditions (e.g. natural zeolites) tend to hinder the penetration of new species through the zeolitic cavities. Several variables govern the sorption phenomena at high pressure, among those: the "free diameters" of the framework cavities, the chemical nature and the configuration of the extra-framework population, the partial pressure of the penetrating molecule in the fluid (if mixed with other non-penetrating molecules), the rate of P-increase, the surface/volume ratio of the crystallites under investigations and the temperature at which the experiment is conducted. An overview of the intrusion phenomena of monoatomic species (e.g. He, Ar, Kr), small (e.g. H2O, CO2) and complex molecules, along with the P-induced polymerization phenomena (e.g. C2H2, C2H4, C2H6O, C2H6O2, BNH6, electrolytic MgCl2·21H2O solution) is provided, with a discussion of potential technological and geological implications of these experimental findings.

Conical Current Sheets in a Source-Surface Model of the Heliosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulz, M.

2007-12-01

Different methods of modeling the coronal and heliospheric magnetic field are conveniently visualized and intercompared by applying them to ideally axisymmetric field models. Thus, for example, a dipolar B field with its moment parallel to the Sun's rotation axis leads to a flat heliospheric current sheet. More general solar B fields (still axisymmetric about the solar rotation axis for simplicity) typically lead to cone-shaped current sheets beyond the source surface (and presumably also in MHD models). As in the dipolar case [Schulz et al., Solar Phys., 60, 83-104, 1978], such conical current sheets can be made realistically thin by taking the source surface to be non-spherical in a way that reflects the underlying structure of the Sun's main B field. A source surface that seems to work well in this respect [Schulz, Ann. Geophysicae, 15, 1379-1387, 1997] is a surface of constant F = (1/r)kB, where B is the scalar strength of the Sun's main magnetic field and k (~ 1.4) is a shape parameter. This construction tends to flatten the source surface in regions where B is relatively weak. Thus, for example, the source surface for a dipolar B field is shaped somewhat like a Rugby football, whereas the source surface for an axisymmetric quadrupolar B field is similarly elongated but somewhat flattened (as if stuffed into a cone) at mid-latitudes. A linear combination of co-axial dipolar and quadrupolar B fields generates a somewhat pear-shaped (but still convex) source surface. If the region surrounded by the source surface is regarded as current-free, then the source surface itself should be (as nearly as possible) an equipotential surface for the corresponding magnetic scalar potential (expanded, for example, in spherical harmonics). The solar wind should then flow not quite radially, but rather in a straight line along the outward normal to the source surface, and the heliospheric B field should follow a corresponding generalization of Parker's spiral [Levine et al., Solar Phys., 77, 363-392, 1982]. In particular, heliospheric current sheets (of which there are two if the underlying solar B field is mainly quadrupolar) should emanate from neutral lines on the corresponding source surface. However, because the source surface is relatively flattened in regions where such neutral lines tend to appear, the radial component of the heliospheric B field at r ~} 1 AU and beyond is much more nearly latitude-independent in absolute value than one would expect from models based on a spherical source surface.

Animal-Assisted Interventions in Dutch Nursing Homes: A Survey.

PubMed

Schuurmans, Lonneke; Enders-Slegers, Marie-Jose; Verheggen, Theo; Schols, Jos

2016-07-01

Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have become more and more popular in nursing homes in the past decade. Various initiatives for using animals in nursing homes have been developed over the years (eg, animal visiting programs, residential companion animals, petting zoos) and, on the whole, the number of nursing homes that refuse animals on their premises has declined. In this survey, we aimed to determine how many Dutch nursing homes offer AAIs, what type of interventions are used, and with what aim. We also focus on the use of underlying health, hygiene, and (animal) safety protocols. Using an online Dutch nursing home database, we invited all listed (457) nursing home organizations in the Netherlands (encompassing a total of 804 nursing home locations) to participate in our digital survey, powered by SurveyMonkey. The survey consisted of a total of 45 questions, divided into general questions about the use of animals in interventions; the targeted client population(s); and specific questions about goals, guidelines, and protocols. The results were analyzed with SPSS Statistics. In the end, 244 surveys, representing 165 organizations, were returned: 125 nursing homes used AAI in one way or another, 40 did not. Nursing homes that did not offer AAI cited allergy and hygiene concerns as the most important reasons. Most nursing homes offering AAI used visiting animals, mostly dogs (108) or rabbits (76). A smaller number of nursing homes had resident animals, either living on the ward or in a meadow outside. Almost all programs involved animal-assisted activities with a recreational purpose; none of the participating nursing homes provided animal assisted therapy with therapeutic goals. Psychogeriatric patients were most frequently invited to participate. A total of 88 nursing homes used alternatives when animals were not an option or not available. The most popular alternative was the use of stuffed animals (83) followed by FurReal Friends robotic toys (14). The sophisticated robot seal Paro was used in 7 nursing homes. A large percentage (80%) of nursing homes that worked with animals did not have AAI-specific health protocols or animal welfare and safety protocols underlying the animal activities or specific selection criteria for the selection of suitable animals. Most of the participating Dutch nursing homes offer AAI in recreational programs (animal-assisted activities) for psychogeriatric clients (using visiting animals, especially dogs). Most nursing homes do not have specific AAI protocols for animal welfare, hygiene, and safety during animal activities, nor do they employ specific selection criteria for participating animals and their handlers. Copyright © 2016 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development and testing of an assessment to measure spatial thinking about enhanced greenhouse effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaza, Heather Jean

Americans, in general, do not behave in environmentally sustainable ways. We drive cars and fly in planes that emit planet-warming carbon. We purchase food in nearly indestructible packaging that is not recycled or repurposed. We do not consider the environmental impact of the "stuff" stuffed into our grocery and department stores, most of which is made of materials that had to be dug out of the ground, leaving rivers and skies full of pollution in its place. Citizens have a responsibility to understand complex global and local environmental problems. A person's ability to think about the way that an environmental problem they are tasked with understanding changes over time and space can better prepare them to make sustainable decisions in the face of this complexity. Spatial thinking serves the learner's ability to understand the impact of environmental actions and should be given a consistent place in environmental education. Teaching practices and pedagogies that focus on spatial thinking are necessary to learners' success. In order to know if these strategies are successful, educators need an assessment tool that targets the spatial thinking skills necessary to understanding environmental problems. This dissertation project used a models and modeling theoretical framework to develop and test an assessment of students' spatial thinking abilities related to the environmental problem of enhanced greenhouse effect. This assessment was developed from a review of existing spatial thinking literature, research on existing assessments of spatial thinking abilities, and existing assessment of enhanced greenhouse effect. In addition, I interviewed and surveyed experts in science, math, and environmental education to elicit their perspectives on the spatial thinking skills necessary for learners to understand enhanced greenhouse effect. All of this information was synthesized into 14 Central Concepts of spatial thinking for enhanced greenhouse effect. The assessment was developed for students to express their mental models related to these 14 Central Concepts. The assessment was reviewed and tested by experts related to the project's content, as well as students from the target population for assessment delivery. It was revised based on feedback and data collect from these groups. Here I describe my findings, that students are more proficient at modeling simple spatial relationships, one at a time, than modeling more complex relationships; that students understand human-scale spatial relationships related to enhanced greenhouse effect better than very small or very large ones; and that students can associate and correlate spatially distributed features and phenomena to describe enhanced greenhouse effect. Finally, I describe the ways in which student and expert feedback has informed not only revisions of this assessment specifically, but also to the assessment development process, for better assessment design, when spatial thinking assessments related to other environmental problems are developed in the future.

Discovery of Intermetallic Compounds from Traditional to Machine-Learning Approaches.

PubMed

Oliynyk, Anton O; Mar, Arthur

2018-01-16

Intermetallic compounds are bestowed by diverse compositions, complex structures, and useful properties for many materials applications. How metallic elements react to form these compounds and what structures they adopt remain challenging questions that defy predictability. Traditional approaches offer some rational strategies to prepare specific classes of intermetallics, such as targeting members within a modular homologous series, manipulating building blocks to assemble new structures, and filling interstitial sites to create stuffed variants. Because these strategies rely on precedent, they cannot foresee surprising results, by definition. Exploratory synthesis, whether through systematic phase diagram investigations or serendipity, is still essential for expanding our knowledge base. Eventually, the relationships may become too complex for the pattern recognition skills to be reliably or practically performed by humans. Complementing these traditional approaches, new machine-learning approaches may be a viable alternative for materials discovery, not only among intermetallics but also more generally to other chemical compounds. In this Account, we survey our own efforts to discover new intermetallic compounds, encompassing gallides, germanides, phosphides, arsenides, and others. We apply various machine-learning methods (such as support vector machine and random forest algorithms) to confront two significant questions in solid state chemistry. First, what crystal structures are adopted by a compound given an arbitrary composition? Initial efforts have focused on binary equiatomic phases AB, ternary equiatomic phases ABC, and full Heusler phases AB 2 C. Our analysis emphasizes the use of real experimental data and places special value on confirming predictions through experiment. Chemical descriptors are carefully chosen through a rigorous procedure called cluster resolution feature selection. Predictions for crystal structures are quantified by evaluating probabilities. Major results include the discovery of RhCd, the first new binary AB compound to be found in over 15 years, with a CsCl-type structure; the connection between "ambiguous" prediction probabilities and the phenomenon of polymorphism, as illustrated in the case of TiFeP (with TiNiSi- and ZrNiAl-type structures); and the preparation of new predicted Heusler phases MRu 2 Ga and RuM 2 Ga (M = first-row transition metal) that are not obvious candidates. Second, how can the search for materials with desired properties be accelerated? One particular application of strong current interest is thermoelectric materials, which present a particular challenge because their optimum performance depends on achieving a balance of many interrelated physical properties. Making use of a recommendation engine developed by Citrine Informatics, we have identified new candidates for thermoelectric materials, including previously unknown compounds (e.g., TiRu 2 Ga with Heusler structure; Mn(Ru 0.4 Ge 0.6 ) with CsCl-type structure) and previously reported compounds but counterintuitive candidates (e.g., Gd 12 Co 5 Bi). An important lesson in these investigations is that the machine-learning models are only as good as the experimental data used to develop them. Thus, experimental work will continue to be necessary to improve the predictions made by machine learning.

Hydrogen impurity effects. A

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

Leon-Escamilla, E. Alejandro; Corbett, John D.

2001-06-01

All of the binary systems Ca, Sr, Ba, or Eu (A) with Tt (tetrel) = Si or Ge as well as Sr-Sn form both binary Cr{sub 5}B{sub 3}-type A{sub 5}Tt{sub 3} phases and the corresponding ternary hydrides with stuffed Cr{sub 5}B{sub 3}- (Ca{sub 5}Sn{sub 3}F-) type structures. All of those tested, Ca-Si, Ba-Si, Ca-Ge, also yield the isotypic A{sub 5}Tt{sub 3}F{sub x} phases. The tetragonal structures of Ca{sub 5}Si{sub 3}, Ca{sub 5}Si{sub 3}F{sub 0.42}, Sr{sub 5}Si{sub 3}, Eu{sub 5}Si{sub 3}H{sub x}, Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}, Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}H{sub x}, Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}F{sub 0.66} (I4/mcm, No. 140) and of Ba{sub 5}Si{sub 3}F{submore » 0.16} (P4/ncc, Ba{sub 5}Si{sub 3}-type) were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The interstitial H, F atoms are bound in a constricted tetrahedral (A{sup 2+}){sub 4} cavity in the Cr{sub 5}B{sub 3}-type heavy atom structure, which can be described ideally as (A{sup 2+}){sub 5}(Tt{sub 2}){sup 6{minus}}(Tt){sup 4{minus}}. Many of 14 previous reports of the phases reported here were apparently hydrides according to lattice constant differences or, for Sr{sub 5}Si{sub 3}, the fractional coordinates of Sr2 about the tetrahedral site. An articulated model is developed that allows description of the relationship between the dimensions of the tetrahedral interstitial site and the cation cavity about Tt{sub 2} and for some matrix effects in this structure type. The model suggests limitations on the stability of these binary A{sub 5}Tt{sub 3} compounds for the heavier tetrels, as observed. The resistivities of Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3} and Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}H{sub x} are both characteristic of poor metals, and Pauli-like magnetic susceptibilities are exhibited by Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}, Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}H{sub x}, Ca{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}F{sub 0.66}, Sr{sub 5}Ge{sub 3}, and Sr{sub 5}Sn{sub 3}. The characteristic ideal Tt{sub 2}{sup 6{minus}} dimers are evidently not realistic descriptions for these phases; rather, at least some of the {pi}*{sup 4} electrons in the dimers are delocalized in a conduction band. This effect appears to be greater in two europium salts. Bond lengths of dimers in the Ca-Si and Ca-Ge families appear to shorten slightly in three instances of their oxidation to form the hydride or the fluoride, as might be expected.« less

Non-Spherical Source-Surface Model of the Corona and Heliosphere for a Quadrupolar Main Field of the Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulz, M.

2008-05-01

Different methods of modeling the coronal and heliospheric magnetic field are conveniently visualized and intercompared by applying them to ideally axisymmetric field models. Thus, for example, a dipolar main B field with its moment parallel to the Sun's rotation axis leads to a flat heliospheric current sheet. More general solar main B fields (still axisymmetric about the solar rotation axis for simplicity) typically lead to cone-shaped current sheets beyond the source surface (and presumably also in MHD models). As in the dipolar case [Schulz et al., Solar Phys., 60, 83-104, 1978], such conical current sheets can be made realistically thin by taking the source surface to be non-spherical in a way that reflects the underlying structure of the Sun's main B field. A source surface that seems to work well in this respect [Schulz, Ann. Geophysicae, 15, 1379-1387, 1997] is a surface of constant F = (1/r)kB, where B is the scalar strength of the Sun's main magnetic field and k (~ 1.4) is a shape parameter. This construction tends to flatten the source surface in regions where B is relatively weak. Thus, for example, the source surface for a dipolar B field is shaped somewhat like a Rugby football, whereas the source surface for an axisymmetric quadrupolar B field is similarly elongated but somewhat flattened (as if stuffed into a pair of co-axial cones) at mid-latitudes. A linear combination of co-axial dipolar and quadrupolar B fields generates a somewhat apple-shaped source surface. If the region surrounded by the source surface is regarded as current-free, then the source surface itself should be (as nearly as possible) an equipotential surface for the corresponding magnetic scalar potential (expanded, for example, in spherical harmonics). More generally, the mean-square tangential component of the coronal magnetic field over the source surface should be minimized with respect to any adjustable parameters of the field model. The solar wind should then flow not quite radially, but rather in a straight line along the outward normal to the source surface, and the heliospheric B field should follow a corresponding generalization of Parker's spiral [Levine et al., Solar Phys., 77, 363-392, 1982]. In this work the above program is implemented for a Sun with an axisymmetric but purely quadrupolar main magnetic field. Two heliospheric current sheets emanate from circular neutral lines at mid-latitudes on the corresponding source surface. However, because the source surface is relatively flattened in regions where these neutral lines appear, the radial component of the heliospheric B field at r ~ 1 AU and beyond is much more nearly latitude-independent in absolute value than one would expect from a model based on a spherical source surface.

Estimation of carbon 14 inventory in hull and end-piece wastes from Japanese commercial reprocessing operation

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

Tomofumi Sakuragi; Hiromi Tanabe; Emiko Hirose

2013-07-01

Hull and end-piece wastes generated from reprocessing plant operations are expected to be disposed of in a deep underground repository as Group 2 TRU wastes under the Japanese classification system. The activated metals that compose the spent fuel assemblies such as Zircaloy claddings and stainless steel nozzles are mixed and compressed after fuel dissolution, and then stuffed into stainless steel canisters. Carbon 14 is a typical activated product in the hulls and end-pieces and is mainly generated by the {sup 14}N(n,p){sup 14}C reaction. In the previous safety assessment of the TRU waste in Japan, the radionuclides inventory was calculated bymore » ORIGEN-2 code. Some conservative assumptions and preliminary estimates were used in this calculation. For example, total radionuclides generated from a single type of fuel assembly (45 GWd/tU for a PWR unit), and the thickness of the Zircaloy oxide film on the hulls (80 μm) were both overestimated. The second assumption in particular has a large effect on exposure dose evaluation. Therefore, it is essential to have a realistic source term evaluation regarding such items as the C-14 inventory and its distribution to waste parts. In the present study, a C-14 inventory of the hull and end-piece wastes from the operation of a commercial reprocessing plant in Japan corresponding to 32,000 tU (16,000 tU in each BWR and PWR) was calculated. Analysis using individual irradiation conditions and fuel characteristics was conducted on 6 types of fuel assemblies for BWRs and 12 types for PWRs (4 pile types x 3 burnup limits). The oxide film thickness data for each fuel type cladding were obtained from the published literature. Activation calculations were performed by using ORIGEN-2 code. For the amount of spent assembly and other waste characteristics, representative values were assumed based on the published literature. As a preliminary experiment, C-14 in irradiated BWR claddings was measured and found to be consistent with the calculated activation. The total C-14 inventory was estimated as 4.46x10{sup 14} Bq, consisting of 2.58x10{sup 14} Bq for BWRs and 1.87x10{sup 14} Bq for PWRs, and is consistent with the safety assessment of 4.4x10{sup 14} Bq. However, the distribution of the C-14 inventory to hull oxide, which was estimated under the assumption of instantaneous radionuclide release in the safety assessment, decreased from 5.72x10{sup 13} Bq (13% of the total) in the previous assessment to 1.30x10{sup 13} Bq (2.9% of the total; consisting of 1.48x10{sup 12} for BWRs and 1.15x10{sup 13} for PWRs). In other words, the exposure dose peak is reduced to approximate 25% of its previous value due to the use of detailed oxide film data that the BWR cladding has a thin oxide film. Other instantaneous release components for C-14 such as the fuel residual were negligible. (authors)« less

Web-based Tools for Educators: Outreach Activities of the Polar Radar for Ice Sheet Measurements (PRISM) Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braaten, D. A.; Holvoet, J. F.; Gogineni, S.

2003-12-01

The Radar Systems and Remote Sensing Laboratory at the University of Kansas (KU) has implemented extensive outreach activities focusing on Polar Regions as part of the Polar Radar for Ice Sheet Measurements (PRISM) project. The PRISM project is developing advanced intelligent remote sensing technology that involves radar systems, an autonomous rover, and communications systems to measure detailed ice sheet characteristics, and to determine bed conditions (frozen or wet) below active ice sheets in both Greenland and Antarctica. These measurements will provide a better understanding of the response of polar ice sheets to global climate change and the resulting impact the ice sheets will have on sea level rise. Many of the research and technological development aspects of the PRISM project, such as robotics, radar systems, climate change and exploration of harsh environments, can kindle an excitement and interest in students about science and technology. These topics form the core of our K-12 education and training outreach initiatives, which are designed to capture the imagination of young students, and prompt them to consider an educational path that will lead them to scientific or engineering careers. The K-12 PRISM outreach initiatives are being developed and implemented in a collaboration with the Advanced Learning Technology Program (ALTec) of the High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium (HPR*TEC). ALTec is associated with the KU School of Education, and is a well-established educational research center that develops and hosts web tools to enable teachers nationwide to network, collaborate, and share resources with other teachers. An example of an innovative and successful web interface developed by ALTec is called TrackStar. Teachers can use TrackStar over the Web to develop interactive, resource-based lessons (called tracks) on-line for their students. Once developed, tracks are added to the TrackStar database and can be accessed and modified (if necessary) by teachers everywhere. The PRISM project has added a search engine for polar related tracks, and has developed numerous new tracks on robotics, polar exploration, and climate change under the guidance of a K-12 teacher advisory group. The PRISM project is also developing and hosting several other web-based lesson design tools and resources for K-12 educators and students on the PRISM project web page (http://www.ku-prism.org). These tools and resources include: i) "Polar Scientists and Explorers, Past and Present" covering the travels and/or unknown fate of polar explorers and scientists; ii) "Polar News" providing links to current news articles related to polar regions; iii) "Letter of Global Concern", which is a tool to help students draft a letter to a politician, government official, or business leader; iv) "Graphic Sleuth", which is an online utility that allows teachers to make lessons for student use; v) "Bears on Ice" for students in grades K - 6 that can follow the adventures of two stuffed bears that travel with scientists into polar regions; and vi) "K-12 Polar Resources," which provides teachers with images, information, TrackStar lessons, and a search engine designed to identify polar related lessons. In our presentation, we will describe and show examples of these tools and resources, and provide an assessment of their popularity with teachers nationwide.

Physical analogs that help to better understand the modern concepts on continental stretching, hyperextension and rupturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zalan, Pedro

2014-05-01

Three facts helped to establish a revolution in the understanding of how mega-continents stretch, rupture and breakup to form new continents and related passive margins: (1) the penetration of the distal portions of the Iberia-Newfoundland conjugate margins by several ODP wells (late 70's/early 80's), with the discovery of hyperextended crust and exhumation of lower crust and mantle between typical continental and oceanic domains, (2) field works in the Alps and in the Pyrenees that re-interpreted sedimentary successions and associated "ophiolites" as remnants of old Tethyan passive margins that recorded structural domains similar to those found in Iberia-Newfoundland, and (3) the acquisition of long and ultra-deep reflection seismic sections that could image for the first time sub-crustal levels (25-40 km) in several passive margins around the world. The interpretation of such sections showed that the concepts developed in the Iberia-Newfoundland margins and in the Alps could be applied to a great extent to most passive margins, especially those surrounding the North and South Atlantic Oceans. The new concepts of (i) decoupled deformation (upper brittle X lower ductile) within the proximal domain of the continental crust, (ii) of coupled deformation (hyperextension) in the distal crust and, (iii) of exhumation of deeper levels in the outer domain, with the consequent change in the physical properties of the rising rocks, defined an end-member in the new classification of passive margins, the magma-poor type (as opposed to volcanic passive margins). These concepts, together with the new reflection seismic views of the entire crustal structure of passive margins, forced the re-interpretation of older refraction and potential field data and the re-drawing of long established models. Passive margins are prime targets for petroleum exploration, thus, the great interest raised by this subject in both the academy and in the industry. Interestingly enough, the deformation modes envisaged by Manatschal and Peron-Pinvidic in several works published in the last ten years, dealing with the development of conjugate rifted margins (stretching, thinning, hyperextension/exhumation, oceanization/breakup), can be found in physical analogs of geological nature and of mundane phenomena, in a much smaller scale than that of a continental rupture. Rocks strained and cut by normal faults, especially the brittle sedimentary rocks, display geometries and structural domains, which in turn were formed by the particular deformation modes, very similar to those published for the Norwegian, Angolan and Southeastern Brazilian margins. A non-geological and non-conventional physical analog is the everyday breakup of a chocolate bar. Given it is stuffed by a thick ductile filling and covered by a thin, brittle chocolate layer; it is incredible how such a common phenomenon can replicate the rupture and breakup of a mega-continent. Such physical analogs can be compared to ultra-deep seismic sections and raise a cloud of incertitude on the definition of hyperextension. Instead of representing the coupling of the deformation of the upper and lower crusts into a brittle mode, rather, hyperextension could correspond to their coupling into a plastic or, at least, into a semi-brittle mode, but not into an entirely brittle mode.

Cancrinite-group minerals behavior at non-ambient conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotti, Paolo; Gatta, G. Diego; Kahlenberg, Volker; Merlini, Marco; Alvaro, Matteo; Cámara, Fernando

2014-05-01

Cancrinite-group minerals occur in the late stages of alkaline (SiO2)-undersaturated magmatism and in related effusive or contact rocks. So far only few studies have been devoted to the description of the thermo-elastic behavior, phase-stability and P /T -structure evolution (at the atomic scale) of this mineral group. Cancrinite-group minerals have an open-framework structure characterized by the [CAN]-topology. The [CAN]-framework shows large 12-ring channels, parallel to the c crystallographic axis, bound by columns of cages, the so-called can units. While very limited chemical variation is observed in the framework composition (the composition is almost always [Si6Al6O24]) a remarkable chemical variability is reported for the extraframework components in the cancrinite-group minerals. Two subgroups can be identified according to the extraframework content of the can units: the cancrinite- and the davyne-subgroups, showing Na-H2O and Ca-Cl chains, respectively. The channels are stuffed by cations, anions and molecules. We aimed to model the thermo-elastic behavior and the mechanisms of the (P ,T)-induced structure evolution of cancrinite-group minerals, with special interest on the role played by the extraframework population. The study was restricted to the following (CO3)-rich and (SO4)-rich end-members: cancrinite sensu stricto {[(Na,Ca)6(CO3)1.2-1.7][Na2(H2O)2][Al6Si6O24]}, vishnevite {[(Na,Ca,K)6(SO4)][Na2(H2O)2][Al6Si6O24]}, balliranoite {[(Na,Ca)6(CO3)1.2-1.7][Ca2Cl2][Al6Si6O24]} and davyne {[(Na,Ca,K)6((SO4),Cl)][Ca2Cl2][Al6Si6O24]}. Their high-P and low-T (T < 293 K) behavior was investigated by means of in-situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction, using diamond-anvil cells and (N2)-cryosystems, respectively. The high-T behavior of cancrinite has also been studied by means of in-situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction with a resistive heater. Cancrinite minerals share a similar volume compressibility and thermal expansivity at ambient conditions (cancrinite has KV 0 = 45(2) GPa and αV,293K = 4.88(8)·10-5 K-1; vishnevite has KV 0 = 49(2) GPa; balliranoite has KV 0 = 48(3) GPa and αV,293K = 4.6(4)·10-5 K-1; davyne has KV 0 = 46.5(11) GPa and αV,293K = 4.2(4)·10-5 K-1). However, these minerals show different thermo-elastic anisotropy schemes, more pronounced in the cancrinite-subgroup minerals. This behavior is governed by different deformation mechanisms of the crystal structure, which likely reflect the different coordination environments of the cage-cations between the minerals of the cancrinite- and davyne-subgroups (i.e. Na+ and Ca2+, respectively). In addition, a P -induced re-organization of the extraframework population is observed, in vishnevite, at P ≥ 3.5 GPa, suggesting that the channel-constituents can also affect the elastic and structural behavior and the phase stability of these minerals at non-ambient conditions. Besides common features likely ascribable to the [CAN]-topology, the nature of the extraframework population appears to control significantly the (P ,T)-induced structure evolution and thermo-elastic behavior of the cancrinite-group compounds. PL, GDG and MM acknowledge the Italian Ministry of Education, MIUR-Project: 'Futuro in Ricerca 2012 - ImPACT- RBFR12CLQD'. MA acknowledges the ERC starting grant N. 307322 to FN.

Nasal allergies in the Middle Eastern population: results from the "Allergies in Middle East Survey".

PubMed

Abdulrahman, Hussain; Hadi, Usamah; Tarraf, Hisham; Gharagozlou, Mohammad; Kamel, Mohamed; Soliman, Alaa; Hamad, Walid Abou; Hanna, Kamal Maurice; Mostafa, Badr Eldin; Omrani, Mohammádreza; Abdelmotal, Abdelfatah; Moukarzel, Nabil

2012-01-01

Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are a major public health problem in developing countries including those in the Middle East. However, to date, there is a paucity of information related to physician-diagnosed AR in this region. The Allergies in Middle East Survey was undertaken to help clarify and broaden the understanding of physician-diagnosed AR across Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The survey explores the frequency of physician-diagnosed AR, prevalence and types of associated symptoms, the impact on quality of life (QOL), current treatment practices, and therapy expectations. In total, 7411 households in five countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates) were screened to identify individuals that were ≥4 years old with a physician diagnosis of AR and either symptoms and/or treatment in the past 12 months. A total of 501 respondents from the five countries completed the survey. Standardized questionnaires were used to make comparisons across the regions; however, the data collection procedures were tailored for each country. The sample was probability based to ensure valid statistical inference to the population. Ten percent of the Middle East population surveyed had a physician diagnosis of AR, with 65% of respondents stating that their allergies were intermittent in nature. An otolaryngologist or allergist diagnosed the majority of the individuals surveyed. Runny nose, nasal and throat itching, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion or stuffed up nose were the most common and bothersome symptoms of AR. The majority of survey participants (58% of the overall survey population) with AR reported that the condition had an impact on their daily private and professional life. Seventy-two percent of adults reported that their AR symptoms limited their work/school activities and 35% reported that their AR interfered with and caused them to miss work or school within the past 12 months. One factor, in addition to the outward AR symptoms, that could have contributed to these function impairments may have been sleep disturbances. Although a secondary symptom to AR, sleep disturbances (difficulty getting to sleep, waking up during the night or lack of a good night's sleep) were shown in this survey to be extremely troubling in ∼15% of AR sufferers. In the past year >90% of patients reported taking a medication of any type for their AR, with nearly a 4:1 ratio of patients taking a prescription medication versus an over-the-counter (OTC) medication in the past 4 weeks. Over 75% of survey respondents reported taking an intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) in the last 4 weeks and the satisfaction rate of INCS medications was similar to that reported for OTC medications. The most common reasons cited for dissatisfaction with INCS medications were inadequate effectiveness, bothersome side effects (e.g., unpleasant taste and retrograde drainage into the pharynx), decreased effectiveness with chronic use, and failure to provide 24-hour relief. These data show that AR is common in the Middle East region as elsewhere in the world. Many patients with AR in Middle East region suffer from their symptoms (e.g., runny nose, nasal itching, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and other symptoms) on all or most days during the times of the year that their allergies are worst. These symptoms have been shown to reduce QOL and performance at work/school to a significant degree. Additionally, the survey data underscore a considerable treatment gap with current therapies for AR and that many AR patients still have not found adequate effectiveness with currently available medications. Thus, through identification of disease impact on the Middle East population and highlighting treatment gaps, clinicians in the Middle East may better understand and treat AR, leading to improvements in overall patient satisfaction and QOL.

Nasal allergies in the Middle Eastern population: Results from the "Allergies in Middle East Survey".

PubMed

Abdulrahman, Hussain; Hadi, Usamah; Tarraf, Hisham; Gharagozlou, Mohammad; Kamel, Mohamed; Soliman, Alaa; Hamad, Walid Abou; Hanna, Kamal Maurice; Mostafa, Badr Eldin; Omrani, Mohammádreza; Abdelmotal, Abdelfatah; Moukarzel, Nabil

2012-11-01

Chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are a major public health problem in developing countries including those in the Middle East. However, to date, there is a paucity of information related to physician-diagnosed AR in this region. The Allergies in Middle East Survey was undertaken to help clarify and broaden the understanding of physician-diagnosed AR across Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The survey explores the frequency of physician-diagnosed AR, prevalence and types of associated symptoms, the impact on quality of life (QOL), current treatment practices, and therapy expectations. In total, 7411 households in five countries (Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates) were screened to identify individuals that were ≥4 years old with a physician diagnosis of AR and either symptoms and/or treatment in the past 12 months. A total of 501 respondents from the five countries completed the survey. Standardized questionnaires were used to make comparisons across the regions; however, the data collection procedures were tailored for each country. The sample was probability based to ensure valid statistical inference to the population. Ten percent of the Middle East population surveyed had a physician diagnosis of AR, with 65% of respondents stating that their allergies were intermittent in nature. An otolaryngologist or allergist diagnosed the majority of the individuals surveyed. Runny nose, nasal and throat itching, postnasal drip, and nasal congestion or stuffed up nose were the most common and bothersome symptoms of AR. The majority of survey participants (58% of the overall survey population) with AR reported that the condition had an impact on their daily private and professional life. Seventy-two percent of adults reported that their AR symptoms limited their work/school activities and 35% reported that their AR interfered with and caused them to miss work or school within the past 12 months. One factor, in addition to the outward AR symptoms, that could have contributed to these function impairments may have been sleep disturbances. Although a secondary symptom to AR, sleep disturbances (difficulty getting to sleep, waking up during the night or lack of a good night's sleep) were shown in this survey to be extremely troubling in ∼15% of AR sufferers. In the past year >90% of patients reported taking a medication of any type for their AR, with nearly a 4:1 ratio of patients taking a prescription medication versus an over-the-counter (OTC) medication in the past 4 weeks. Over 75% of survey respondents reported taking an intranasal corticosteroid (INCS) in the last 4 weeks and the satisfaction rate of INCS medications was similar to that reported for OTC medications. The most common reasons cited for dissatisfaction with INCS medications were inadequate effectiveness, bothersome side effects (e.g., unpleasant taste and retrograde drainage into the pharynx), decreased effectiveness with chronic use, and failure to provide 24-hour relief. These data show that AR is common in the Middle East region as elsewhere in the world. Many patients with AR in Middle East region suffer from their symptoms (e.g., runny nose, nasal itching, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and other symptoms) on all or most days during the times of the year that their allergies are worst. These symptoms have been shown to reduce QOL and performance at work/school to a significant degree. Additionally, the survey data underscore a considerable treatment gap with current therapies for AR and that many AR patients still have not found adequate effectiveness with currently available medications. Thus, through identification of disease impact on the Middle East population and highlighting treatment gaps, clinicians in the Middle East may better understand and treat AR, leading to improvements in overall patient satisfaction and QOL.

Bioconcentration, bioaccumulation, and metabolism of pesticides in aquatic organisms.

PubMed

Katagi, Toshiyuki

2010-01-01

The ecotoxicological assessment of pesticide effects in the aquatic environment should normally be based on a deep knowledge of not only the concentration of pesticides and metabolites found but also on the influence of key abiotic and biotic processes that effect rates of dissipation. Although the bioconcentration and bioaccumulation potentials of pesticides in aquatic organisms are conveniently estimated from their hydrophobicity (represented by log K(ow), it is still indispensable to factor in the effects of key abiotic and biotic processes on such pesticides to gain a more precise understanding of how they may have in the natural environment. Relying only on pesticide hydrophobicity may produce an erroneous environmental impact assessment. Several factors affect rates of pesticide dissipation and accumulation in the aquatic environment. Such factors include the amount and type of sediment present in the water and type of diet available to water-dwelling organisms. The particular physiological behavior profiles of aquatic organisms in water, such as capacity for uptake, metabolism, and elimination, are also compelling factors, as is the chemistry of the water. When evaluating pesticide uptake and bioconcentration processes, it is important to know the amount and nature of bottom sediments present and the propensity that the stuffed aquatic organisms have to absorb and process xenobiotics. Extremely hydrophobic pesticides such as the organochlorines and pyrethroids are susceptible to adsorb strongly to dissolved organic matter associated with bottom sediment. Such absorption reduces the bioavailable fraction of pesticide dissolved in the water column and reduces the probable ecotoxicological impact on aquatic organisms living the water. In contrast, sediment dweller may suffer from higher levels of direct exposure to a pesticide, unless it is rapidly degraded in sediment. Metabolism is important to bioconcentration and bioaccumulation processes, as is detoxification and bioactivation. Hydrophobic pesticides that are expected to be highly stored in tissues would not be bioconcentrated if susceptible to biotic transformation by aquatic organisms to more rapidly metabolized to hydrophilic entities are generally less toxic. By analogy, pesticides that are metabolized to similar entities by aquatic species surely are les ecotoxicologically significant. One feature of fish and other aquatic species that makes them more relevant as targets of environmental studies and of regulation is that they may not only become contaminated by pesticides or other chemicals, but that they constitute and important part of the human diet. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the enzymes that are capable of metabolizing or otherwise assisting in the removal of xenobiotics from aquatic species. Many studies have been performed on the enzymes that are responsible for metabolizing xenobiotics. In addition to the use of conventional biochemical methods, such studies on enzymes are increasingly being conducted using immunochemical methods and amino acid or gene sequences analysis. Such studies have been performed in algae, in some aquatic macrophytes, and in bivalva, but less information is available for other aquatic species such as crustacea, annelids, aquatic insecta, and other species. Although their catabolizing activity is often lower than in mammals, oxidases, especially cytochrome P450 enzymes, play a central role in transforming pesticides in aquatic organisms. Primary metabolites, formed from such initial enzymatic action, are further conjugated with natural components such as carbohydrates, and this aids removal form the organisms. The pesticides that are susceptible to abiotic hydrolysis are generally also biotically degraded by various esterases to from hydrophilic conjugates. Reductive transformation is the main metabolic pathway for organochlorine pesticides, but less information on reductive enzymology processes is available. The information on aquatic species, other than fish, that pertains to bioconcentration factors, metabolism, and elimination is rather limited in the literature. The kinds of basic information that is unavailable but is needed on important aquatic species includes biochemistry, physiology, position in food web, habitat, life cycle, etc. such information is very important to obtaining improved ecotoxicology risk assessments for many pesticides and other chemicals. More research attention on the behavior of pesticides in, and affect on many standard aquatic test species (e.g., daphnids, chironomids, oligochaetes and some bivalves) would particularly be welcome. In addition to improving ecotoxicology risk assessments on target species, such information would also assist in better delineating affects on species at higher trophic levels that are predaceous on the target species. There is also need for designing and employing more realistic approaches to measure bioconcentration and bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicology effects of pesticides in natural environment. The currently employed steady-state laboratory exposure studies are insufficient to deal with the complexity of parameters that control the contrasts to the abiotic processes of pesticide investigated under the strictly controlled conditions, each process is significantly affected in the natural environment not only by the site-specific chemistry of water and sediment but also by climate. From this viewpoint, ecotoxicological assessment should be conducted, together with the detailed analyses of abiotic processes, when higher-tier mesocosm studies are performed. Moreover, in-depth investigation is needed to better understand the relationship between pesticide residues in organisms and associated ecotoxicological endpoints. The usual exposure assessment is based on apparent (nominal) concentrations fo pesticides, and the residues of pesticides or their metabolites in the organisms are not considered in to the context of ecotoxicological endpoints. Therefore, more metabolic and tissue distribution information for terminal pesticide residues is needed for aquatic species both in laboratory settings and in higher-tier (microcosm, mesocosm) studies.

Trichotillomania: Bizzare Patern of Hair Loss at 11-Year-old Girl.

PubMed

Zímová, Jana; Zímová, Pavlína

2016-06-01

Trichotillomania (TTM) is defined by the Diagnostics and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DMS-IV) as hair loss from a patient`s repetitive self-pulling of hair. The disorder is included under anxiety disorders because it shares some obsessive-compulsive features. Patients have the tendency towards feelings of unattractiveness, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem (1,2). It is a major psychiatric problem, but many patients with this disorder first present to a dermatologist. An 11-year-old girl came to our department with a 2-month history of diffuse hair loss on the frontoparietal and parietotemporal area (Figure 1). She had originally been examined by a pediatrician with the diagnosis of alopecia areata. The patient`s personal history included hay fever and shortsightedness, and she suffered from varicella and mononucleosis. Nobody in the family history suffered from alopecia areata, but her father has male androgenetic alopecia (Norwood/Hamilton MAGA C3F3). The mother noticed that the child had had changeable mood for about 2 months and did not want to communicate with other persons in the family. The family did not have any pet at home. At school, her favorite subjects were Math and Computer Studies. She did not like Physical Education and did not participate in any sport activities during her free time. This was very strange because she was obese (body-mass index (BMI) 24.69). She was sometimes angry with her 13-year-old sister who had better results at school. The girl had suddenly started to wear a blue scarf. The parents did not notice that she pulled out her hair at home. Dermatological examination of the capillitium found a zone of incomplete alopecia in the frontoparietal and parietotemporal area, without inflammation, desquamation, and scaring. Hairs were of variable length (Figure 1). There was a patch of incomplete alopecia above the forehead between two stripes of hair of variable length (Figure 2). The hair pull test was negative along the edges of the alopecia. Mycological examination from the skin capillitium was negative. The trichoscopy and skin biopsy of the parietotemporal region of the capillitium (Figure 3) confirmed trichotillomania. Laboratory tests (blood count, iron, ferritin, transferrin, selenium, zinc, vitamin B12, folic acid, serology and hormones of thyroid gland) were negative. We referred the girl for ophthalmologic and psychological examination. Ophthalmologic examination proved that there was no need to add any more diopters. The psychological examination provided us with a picture in which she drew her family (Figure 4). The strongest authority in the family was the mother because she looked after the girls for most of the day. She was in the first place in the picture. The father had longer working hours and spent more time outside the home. He worked as a long vehicle driver. He was in the second place in the picture. There was sibling rivalry between the girls, but the parents did not notice this problem and preferred the older daughter. She was successful at school and was prettier (slim, higher, curly brown hair, without spectacles). Our 11-years-old patient noticed all these differences between them, but at her level of mental development was not able to cope with this problem. She wanted to be her sister's equal. The sister is drawn in the picture in the third place next to father, while the patient's own figure was drawn larger and slim even though she was obese. Notably, all three female figures had very nice long brown hair. It seemed that the mother and our patient had better quality of hair and more intense color than the sister in the drawing. The only hairless person in the picture was the father. The girl did not want to talk about her problems and feelings at home. Then it was confirmed that our patient was very sensitive, anxious, willful, and withdrawn. She was interested in her body and very perceptive of her physical appearance. From the psychological point of view, the parents started to pay more interest to their younger daughter and tried to understand and help her. After consultation with the psychiatrist, we did not start psychopharmacologic therapy for trichotillomania; instead, we started treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy, mild shampoo, mild topical steroids (e.g. hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1%) in solution and methionine in capsules. With parents' cooperation, the treatment was successful. The name trichotillomania was first employed by the French dermatologist Francois Henri Hallopeau in 1889, who described a young man pulling his hair out in tufts (3-5). The word is derived from the Greek thrix (hair), tillein (to pull), and mania (madness) (5). The prevalence of TTM in the general adult population ranges from 0.6% to 4%, and 2-4% of the general psychiatric outpatient population meet the criteria for TTM (2-5). The prevalence among children and adolescents has been estimated at less than 1% (5). The disease can occur at any age and in any sex. The age of onset of hair pulling is significantly later for men than for women (3). There are three subsets of age: preschool children, preadolescents to young adults, and adults. The mean age of onset is pre-pubertal. It ranges from 8 to 13 years (on average 11.3 years) (2-5). The occurrence of hair-pulling in the first year of life is a rare event, probably comprising <1% of cases (5). The etiology of TTM is complex and may be triggered by a psychosocial stressor within the family, such as separation from an attachment figure, hospitalization of the child or parent, birth of a younger sibling, sibling rivalry, moving to a new house, or problems with school performance. It has been hypothesized that the habit may begin with "playing" with the hair, with later chronic pulling resulting in obvious hair loss (2). Environment is a factor because children usually pull their hair when alone and in relaxed surroundings. The bedroom, bathroom, or family room are "high-risk" situations for hair-pulling (5). Men and women also differed in terms of the hair pulling site (men pull hair from the stomach/back and the moustache/beard areas, while women pull from the scalp) (3). Pulling hair from siblings, pets, dolls, and stuffed animals has also been documented, often occurring in the same pattern as in the patient (5). Genetic factors contributing to the development of TTM are mutations of the SLITRK1 gene, which plays a role in cortex development and neuronal growth. The protein SAPAP3 has been present in 4.2% of TTM cases and patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It may be involved in the development of the spectrum of OCD. A significantly different concordance rate for TTM was found in monozygotic (38.1%) compared with dizygotic (0%) twins in 34 pairs (3). The core diagnostic feature is the repetitive pulling of hairs from one`s own body, resulting in hair loss. The targeted hair is mostly on the scalp (75%), but may also be from the eyebrows (42%), eyelashes (53%), beard (10%), and pubic area (17%) (3,5). There are three subtypes of hair pulling - early onset, automatic, and focused. Diagnostic criteria for TTM according to DSM-IV criteria are (2,3,5): 1) recurrent pulling of one`s hair resulting in noticeable hair loss; 2) an increasing sense of tension immediately prior to pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the behavior; 3) pleasure, gratification, or relief when pulling out the hair; 4) the disturbance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder and is not due to a general medical condition (e.g., a dermatologic condition); 5) the disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The differential diagnosis includes alopecia areata (Table 1) (6), tinea capitis, telogen effluvium, secondary syphilis, traction alopecia, loose anagen syndrome, lichen planopilaris, alopecia mucinosa, and scleroderma (2-5). Biopsy of an involved area (ideally from a recent site of hair loss) can help to confirm the diagnosis (5). On histologic examination, there are typically increased numbers of catagen and telogen hairs without evidence of inflammation. Chronic hair pulling induces a catagen phase, and more hairs will be telogen hairs. Pigment casts and empty anagen follicles are often seen. Perifollicular hemorrhage near the hair bulb is an indicator of TTM (2). Complications of TTM are rare, but they comprise secondary bacterial infections with regional lymphadenopathy as a result of picking and scratching at the scalp. Many patients play with and ingest the pulled hairs (e.g. touching the hair to lips, biting, and chewing). Trichophagia (ingestion of the hair) can lead to a rare complication named trichobezoar (a "hair ball" in stomach). This habit is present in approximately 5% to 30% of adult patients, but it is less frequent in children. Patient with trichophagia present with pallor, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. Radiologic examination and gastroscopy should not be delayed (2,4,5). The management of the disease is difficult and requires strong cooperation between the physician, patient, and parents. The dermatologist cannot take part in the therapy, strictly speaking, but without the psychological, psychopharmacologic, and topic dermatologic treatment a vicious circle will be perpetuated.

hwhap_Ep20_ Special Delivery

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-11-22

Gary Jordan: Houston, We Have a Podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center, episode 20, Special Delivery. I'm Gary Jordan, and I'll be your cohost today, along with Matt Buffington, director of public affairs at NASA's Ames Research Center in California, and the host of NASA in Silicon Valley Podcast. Matt, what's up? Matthew Buffington: Hey Gary, we're doing great, so glad we could team up on this. This is also concurrently episode 69 for the NASA in Silicon Valley Podcast. There's a ton of overlap between our listeners, so I'm really glad we were able to make this happen. Gary Jordan: Yeah, me too. Today is a very special episode, because we're teaming up with NASA in Silicon Valley Podcast to talk about some of the things we can find in a cargo vehicle when it's shipped to space, which is perfect because SpaceX will be sending its Dragon Cargo Vehicle to the International Space Station here soon. So, who do we have from Ames, Matt? Matthew Buffington: Over here we're bringing in Dennis Leveson-Gower. He's a project scientist here over at Ames, and has tons of experience working on cargo, working on payloads, and sending them on up to the space station. How about over there in Houston? Gary Jordan: We'll have Shane Kimbrough. He's a NASA astronaut who recently spent about six months on the space station and landed earlier this year. We've actually had him on the podcast to talk about his landing experience back in episode three. But while he was up there, he had quite a few cargo vehicles visit the station. He had the SpaceX Dragon, Orbital ATK Cygnus, Japanese HTV, and the Russian Progress all within his six-month stay aboard the station. So, it's fair to say he knows what cargo on station is all about. He performed hundreds of experiments with the science that was delivered on some of those vehicles, and even got some fresh food, so I'm excited to ask him about that experience. Matthew Buffington: Awesome. I'm really excited to get the different perspective on both the science, on the space station, so we can see the astronaut's point of view, and the people who actually design those experiments. Gary Jordan: Yeah, this is going to be a good episode. So, with no further delay, let's go light speed and jump right ahead to our talk with Shane Kimbrough and Dennis Leveson-Gower. Enjoy. Okay, all right, it looks like we're all connected, ready to go. How about this, Houston We Have a Podcast and NASA Silicon Valley combined? Matthew Buffington: Yeah, this is going to be sweet. Gary Jordan: Sweet, I know, I'm pumped. And we're doing this remotely, so here in Houston, I'm in the studio with NASA astronaut and no stranger to Houston We Have a Podcast, Shane Kimbrough. Shane, thanks for being here. Shane Kimbrough: Hey, great to be here. Gary Jordan: Cool, and how about over at Ames, Matt, who do you have? Matthew Buffington: I'm sitting over here with my buddy Dennis Leveson-Gower. We actually go way back from SpaceX 8, was it Dennis? Dennis Leveson-Gower: That's right. Matthew Buffington: I always remember it because it was the first time SpaceX had launched a rocket and landed it on a barge. And Dennis was nice enough as I drove him back and forth from his office to do press interviews and stuff. Gary Jordan: Nice enough indeed. Matthew Buffington: Exactly so, I always like to start our podcast with the question of, how did you get to NASA, how did you end up in Silicon Valley. I definitely want to hear about that from Shane as well, but let's start off with Dennis. So tell us about, how did you end up at NASA? Dennis Leveson-Gower: I really ended up here by accident. I was set to be a professor, discover things, have graduate students. I did a Ph.D. in biochemistry. Then I went to Stanford for a post-doctoral fellow doing bone marrow transplantation, graft vs. host disease, immunology. And slowly over the years, I thought, I'm going to go to industry. I'm not going to do the academic track anymore. It was a slow evolution. So I was out there, had my resume posted on job sites and stuff, looking around. Just got an email saying, are you interested in a position at NASA Ames? And I'm like, this is spam. I don't know anything about rockets, I'm not an engineer. I'm a biologist. So, talked to my wife. She's like, you have to apply, it's NASA. So I thought, all right, at least I can go and see the base and look around, because I saw it on the side of the highway, so I knew there was some NASA thing here. And yeah, it was when I talked to the hiring manager, she really convinced me this was a really cool opportunity. Got me into a different head space of not just doing basic research, but doing applied research, and working with a whole different cadre of engineers and operations and safety. And I don't know, it just really appealed to me, so I took a chance and took the job. Matthew Buffington: That's pretty awesome. I always say, when people think of NASA, they think of rockets and telescopes. Biology is a huge part of that. Speaking of that, sometimes we have humans up in space. Gary Jordan: Excellent segue. All right, Shane, how about you? How did you become an astronaut? Shane Kimbrough: I came -- there's several obviously avenues to be an astronaut. I came through the military. I was an Army officer, Apache pilot my whole Army career. I took a little detour toward the end of I would say my conventional Army career when I went to graduate school at Georgia Tech, and then I went to teach math at West Point for a few years. And then from there, I was called to come work down at Johnson Space Center for a few years. I had applied to be an astronaut that year, didn't get selected. But the good news was, I was I guess somewhat in the highly qualified category, so the Army detachment down here asked me to come down here and work for a few years. And that was to really get ready for the 2002 astronaut selection. Guess what, that selection never happened. So, we went through the whole thing, interviews and everything, and it never happened. Congress decided they didn't need a class that year. So, we hung around for another couple years, which in a way was somewhat rolling the dice on my Army career. But my wife and I felt it was where we wanted to be and what we wanted to do, so stuck around, and was lucky enough to get selected in 2004. Gary Jordan: Lucky and persistent enough. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, persistence is a big trait, I think. It was my fourth time to apply. Matthew Buffington: I was going to say, isn't that normal for astronauts? Because we had Steve Smith a while back on our podcast, and I think he had applied three or four times as well. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, I think at least it used to be the norm. A lot of times these days, at least in the last couple classes, we've had a lot of first-timers. But yeah, for folks a little older like myself, I think three or four times is pretty normal. Gary Jordan: I remember talking with the 2017 class, and a couple of them applied multiple times. I know for sure Raja Chari did, but you're right, a couple of them are first-timers. But then you've got folks like Clay Anderson, who applied like, what, eight or nine times or something? So yeah, right. Shane Kimbrough: Persistence. Gary Jordan: Exactly, persistence, and it works out too. This is perfect, to combine forces for the podcast today -- Houston We Have a Podcast and NASA in Silicon Valley -- because today's topic is cargo, and cargo going to the International Space Station. And Shane, I feel like you're the perfect person to have on the podcast today, because you've seen your fair share of cargo vehicles on your last mission, right? Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, we saw everything, and we saw Cygnus twice. We had a lot of vehicles coming and going. And really cargo, when you think about it, it's the way we handle the logistics problem on the space station. It's a big logistics problem, if you think about it, to get equipment and clothes and food and experiments to that orbiting laboratory. So, how do we do that? We used to do it with the space shuttle. It was nice and easy, it could haul a bunch of stuff. Now, we can't do that, so we have these cargo vehicles you're talking about. Gary Jordan: That's right, because on your way to the space station, you can bring stuff, but now you need stuff delivered. It's a huge complex. It's the size of a five-bedroom house, it needs stuff -- food, supplies, all that kind of things. Matthew Buffington: That's one of the funny things as we were coming in, especially as we're getting closer for the SpaceX 13 launch coming into it. We see there's the both sides -- there's the people up at the space station working on receiving the cargo or even science experiments, but also on the flipside of, how do you get that stuff prepared? That is a feat in and of itself. Gary Jordan: That's true. So Dennis, what do you have to do to prepare stuff to go on cargo missions? Dennis Leveson-Gower: That's a big question, because I mean, it really starts one to two years ahead of the launch, if you think about it, or more, because after you have an experiment defined, you've got to prepare exactly what the science requirements are, then you've got to start making a plan, then you've got to start assessing what the hardware needs are, and the kits' needs are, then you have to design those, then they have to get through safety, you have to plan operations, you have to plan how everything's going to be labelled. And then, usually I think somewhere between three and six months before a launch is when we're going to actually have things prepared, off-gassed, tested, H-fit, label committee, all those things, and do the early load. And then we start preparing the late load chemicals and perishables that have to be loaded 25 hours before launch. And we do that out at Kennedy Space Center for SpaceX launch, anyways. So, there's a whole experiment development cycle that happens, and that's just for one payload. And if we have five or six payloads from Ames coming out, that's a lot of work from a lot of people to send a box of something. Matthew Buffington: It takes a village for it, gathering all that stuff up. But I'm always curious on your guys' side, Shane, for you guys, when you receive this cargo, how exactly does that happen, or how does that work? Like, you're unpacking a trunk from a trip? Shane Kimbrough: No, we're always excited to open up the hatch and get new stuff. It's kind of like Christmas every time we get one of these vehicles up there. But the way we go about unpacking is very organized, and it has to be that way. We have a great team on the ground that gets us ready and prepared with all kind of documents, and keeps us organized with charts and things on how they want it to be unpacked. And so, we follow that religiously. We'll have somebody in the crew is going to be called the loadmaster, and that person's responsible for that vehicle. If we just start pulling things out and stowing things where we want to stow them, that's not the way it's going to be, because we'll never find that stuff. We really have to be disciplined, and put things where they're supposed to go. A lot of times, that means we'll take one bag out, and the bag will have 100 different items in it. And we have to go put those 100 things somewhere. So, it's not as easy as pulling a bag out and stuffing it somewhere. Sometimes it is, but most of the time it's not. So, we've really got to make sure we're all helping each other out. And it's always better to, as I've found with all these cargo ops, to do it as a team versus doing it individually. You're much more efficient, and you can have one person reading the book, keeping control of everything, and the other couple people running things around. And that really worked well for us. Gary Jordan: So, everything has an order and a destination, right? You've got to unload this first, and put it in this location, and it's all scheduled that way. How long does it take you to unload completely? Shane Kimbrough: I think we actually set some records for unloading vehicles the quickest, which is a good thing I guess. But, we really -- and we did it by working together as a team. And that's the only way. Thomas [Pesquet] and Peggy [Whitson] and I would knock out a vehicle, no kidding, in a day and a half or two. But, that's pretty unusual. That was kind of if it happened to show up just before a weekend, we used the weekend to do it, so it was a freebie. Where if they had it just playing out during a normal week, it would take a week to two weeks sometimes depending on the vehicle to get it unloaded. Gary Jordan: That's right, because you've got to fit it with everything else you're doing. Wow, amazing. Matthew Buffington: Yeah, and a lot of that, I'd imagine it's already complicated enough, and I'm sure it's crazy complicated even just within NASA, but then you start throwing in all these private companies and different groups. Is everybody, how do you keep -- maybe you guys could talk about, how do you keep everybody on the same page on how things get prepared. Because Dennis, you're preparing this stuff for these companies, but then . . . Dennis Leveson-Gower: I think they all go through NASA. You'll have private hardware developers, but the manifest is controlled through NASA, and the crew procedures are controlled through NASA. Shane, correct me if I'm wrong, but at some certain point has to be layered into the controlled process of NASA, even if it's like -- so, you could think of it as NASA buying things from different vendors, but they'll manage how it goes up, or they'll manage it through SpaceX how it goes up. Shane Kimbrough: Totally agree. We saw differences, of course, because the vehicles are all different inside, so the way they, location coding is all different, and where things might be on one is different than another. That's the only difference, but bottom line is, you're going to get a bag, you're going to take it somewhere, you're going to take it apart, and take those things somewhere. And if we keep it pretty simple like that, it made it easier on the crew. Gary Jordan: Definitely. You're the pro mover when it comes to cargo missions. Shane Kimbrough: I'm going to get a reputation here. Gary Jordan: So what are some of the main differences, then, in terms of, Dennis, on your end, for qualifications, and we can start with that -- what's the difference to get it on that vehicle? But then Shane, for unpacking it, some of those little tiny things? Dennis Leveson-Gower: The biggest thing for us is always safety. We go to great lengths to try to have chemicals that will not interfere with the life support system, that won't be toxic to the crew if they're spilled. Everything that has a tox level will have certain levels of containers and containment that have to be layered onto how it's packaged and how it's stored. Then, we have human factors. We have to make sure that the 5 percent Japanese female and the 5 percent American male can handle the things. And then, even right before it's loaded, there's an expert that comes in with gloves on and feels everything, to make sure there's no sharp edges on anything, and that it's not going to hurt anybody when they start pulling them out of the packages. That's what I've seen on my end, big picture. Shane Kimbrough: I'd say from our end, it's very similar, like I mentioned before. But there are some things. Every vehicle that gets there, there's some critical items that need to come off first. And we're well aware of what those are, based on the ground team prepping us for that. And most of the time, those are delicate experiments or things like that that have to come off, or are time-sensitive. We'll obviously hit those first, and then after that we'll follow the script that the ground lays out for us, so that we're all on the same sheet of music, and everybody knows what's going on. Even if we're doing it in our spare time, where the ground control team might not be following, we can update them with, hey, we did sections two, three, and four, whatever it was, and they'll be caught back up with us when they get back on console. Gary Jordan: Yeah, like if you're doing it on a weekend or something. Sweet. So, what's an example of time-critical, since you unpacked so many vehicles, what's an example of a time-critical experiment you had to unpack? Shane Kimbrough: We had some rodents onboard, so that was one thing we had to get off. Those are always time-critical, just to get them setup in their habitations on the space station. That's one. I think some that just showed up today actually on the space station were things like pizza on ice cream. If you get things like that, those are time-critical, because you need to eat those quickly. Anyway, there's plenty of different, a wide range there I gave you from rodents to ice cream. Matthew Buffington: And I have to chime in on that, because this isn't just the sad, dehydrated stuff you buy at the museum. This is a legit pizza. Shane Kimbrough: This is the real deal, apparently. It's the first time I've heard of a pizza delivery going to the space station, so whatever company got that is going . . . Matthew Buffington: 30 minutes or less. Dennis Leveson-Gower: It's not going to be the best pizza, but it'll probably taste good to you guys. Shane Kimbrough: Ice cream's legit, though. Of course, we didn't have any when I was there, but shortly after I left, they got some, and they're getting some today. Gary Jordan: They waited until right after you left? Oh, man. Shane Kimbrough: Apparently so. Dennis Leveson-Gower: After SpaceX 8 launched, all the guys on the ground at KSC had all these Klondike bars filling the freezer. And I'm like, where did these come from? And they go, the CMC team, the cargo team, when they were packing all the cold stowage, if there's any empty areas in the freezers, they start stuffing ice cream bars in there, as a surprise for the crew. So, we have extra boxes of Klondike bars. Shane Kimbrough: Always a welcome treat. Matthew Buffington: But, when you're unpacking during this, are you in constant contact with the ground, and they're walking you through it, or it's just a mix of sometimes you are, sometimes you guys get your to-do list and you make it happen and update them later on? Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, we have a couple meetings beforehand, of course, before the vehicle gets there, and there's a whole choreography they want us to do, and the order they want us to do it in. And so, we're disciplined and follow that to the T. A lot of times we'd have questions, or something wouldn't be where it was supposed to be, and that's where we'd call down real quickly and touch base with whoever was on console for that, so that we weren't getting out of their choreography, even if something wasn't there. But they were always there if we needed them. Usually, we would just tag up at the end of a day, end of a cargo day, and make sure to tell them exactly what we did so they were up to speed on everything. Gary Jordan: I don't know if you got any Klondike bars. Was there any missions that gave you some nice treats? Shane Kimbrough: I think almost every vehicle had care packages from our families onboard. Those are always a surprise, so that was kind of cool. We didn't get any ice cream, but we got a lot of fresh fruit, and that was kind of cool. That's another thing I think they hold onto, and if there's any extra space they'll cram them in there. But, some apples and oranges and things like that were really delicious after not having them for quite a while. Gary Jordan: I was going to say, definitely a treat compared to -- it's fresh, it's literally fresh. Shane Kimbrough: We ate those really quickly. Gary Jordan: You kind of have to. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, don't want them to go bad. Matthew Buffington: I'm wondering, as you get into the coordination that's needed, and even thinking on the side when, we have researchers, scientists who are creating science experiments, it's hard enough doing it in a lab on your own. And so, when people are -- I'm wondering, Dennis, from your perspective as people design and put these experiments together, but then Dennis -- or, Shane, on your side, actually conducting these things. Talk a little about that, what goes into making an experiment for someone else to do, and your instructions on how to do it? It seems very complicated. I'm looking at you, Dennis. Dennis Leveson-Gower: Okay, what I'll receive is basically a grant proposal that had a very high science score from a panel of reviewers. And then I'll start looking at it and saying, can we actually do this in space? Because, crew time is very precious. You cannot do things as quickly in space as you can on the ground. We add a 1.4 margin of how long it would take us on earth, at a minimum. It's all got to be done in a self-contained glove box volume. And, I start working to make little tweaks and adjustments -- like I said, can we replace this chemical with a nontoxic one? Can we simplify this procedure? What's the tolerance of the timeline? Because, if they have to do an EVA, we can't have a time-critical part of our experiment at the same time they've got to be outside the station. So, we start looking at every single factor, and it takes month to organize that. But then, eventually we get that down into a set of crew procedures, just like written, step-by-step, everything to do, and it should be simple as possible, even though these astronauts are super well trained and super smart. We make these super simple documents to send them. It's kind of funny. And then the training happens at JSC, where an experienced scientist will go and work with the astronauts, and make a fighter pilot into a biologist. And then we send everything up. And then on my end, we're sitting in a control room watching a live video of the astronauts. It's very cool. And, talking to them. And usually, there's one designated person with the best speaking voice talking, and then there's five people in the room behind them with total chaos, yelling it's storage locker 5B, 6-Alpha, and they go, storage locker 5-6-B-Alpha. And then, we just are in their ear, pretty much, walking them through what we need them to do. I know there's simpler payloads, where I think Shane would say you just follow written instruction, but for some of the more complicated things, we're actually talking to them, walking them through it. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, it's very helpful to have Dennis and his team there talking to us. These scientists in general have spent many years creating whatever the experiment is. The last thing we want to do is mess it up, or mess up any of their data. So, we want to be very careful in all that whole process Dennis explained about getting the experiment approved and then what he's got to do to get it in a crew procedure. That takes a lot of people a lot of time. And so, by the time it gets to us, it's pretty well refined. It's not perfect, because I haven't seen that procedure, and I might read something differently than Dennis would read it. So, it is so nice to have them on the horn, so to speak, right there talking to us in case we have any questions, so we don't mess up any of the experiment or any of the data. Gary Jordan: That's true. And then off of Dennis' point of making them as simple as possible, a lot of it has to do with the fact that, you're right, these scientists spend so much time getting these procedures ready for this experiment, but that's not the only one you're doing. You are doing quite a few experiments. Shane Kimbrough: Very true, and in general, we're not trained on all these. We're trained generically on experiments. Like Dennis alluded to, making a pilot a biologist for a day. I was lucky enough to have Peggy there, who is a biologist, so she could help me understand something that normally I wouldn't understand, because it's not in my background. But Dennis and his team can get some really complicated experiment into a procedure that's simple, like he said, so that even I can understand it. That's pretty good. Gary Jordan: So, what else do you have to train for, besides the scientific experiments? Because Dennis also talked about, you have to train for EVAs, and on this last mission you did four, so that's quite a big chunk of time that takes away for science. And then you've got to train for unloading cargo vehicles. What else are you training for? Shane Kimbrough: Those are the big ones. Of course, the cargo vehicles when they come up, we actually use the robotic arm to grab them, to capture them. So, a lot of our training is with the robotics team to make sure we do that operation successfully. Grabbing something that's going 17,500 miles an hour is not trivial. But, with our training, we always train of course for the worst-case scenarios, and the vehicles, at least when I was there, behaved very well. It seemed like it was simple, even though the stress is pretty high, the gains are up, because it's a real vehicle and you want to make sure we grab this thing and get it onboard. So, that's another piece of our training we do. What else? Those are the big-ticket items. Operationally, EVAs, like you talked about, robotics, when we're capturing these vehicles, and most of the other time we're doing experiments. That makes up most of our days onboard the space station. Gary Jordan: Yeah. Was it different to use the robotic arm to capture the different vehicles, or did it translate pretty well? Shane Kimbrough: There are differences certainly with every vehicle. So, we had Cygnus, we had SpaceX, we had HTV from Japan, and we had a Russian vehicle, but that one docks automatically, so we didn't have to reach out with the robotic arm to grab that one. But, there are several differences, and the cues you use are different for every vehicle. Again, we get spun up by our training team a week or two prior to each vehicle showing up, so we remember you're looking here, not here, based on whatever the vehicle was, and using certain cues to help get the vehicle onboard. Matthew Buffington: I'd imagine no matter how much you train on that, and I'm sure there's simulations and different things of remoting the giant robotic arm, I imagine once you're doing that for the first time, it's got to be nerve-wracking, because you're like, this is a very expensive toy, I don't want to mess this up. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, it was on the first time. And again, we got several opportunities, so I won't say it became less important, but you got more comfortable with it. But, it is a big deal. And I really wanted Tomas, the French astronaut I was flying with, to get a lot of experiment. So, when we were together, I grabbed the first one, and after that I let him grab all the other ones, to get his experience level up. And he'll go fly again here in a few years, hopefully, and be able to use all that experience to help his crewmates out when he's onboard. Gary Jordan: Definitely. When you're training to capture these things, like Matt was saying, when you're in the real thing, it's a little bit different, but the training, I've seen it before. It's pretty detailed. There's a projection of, it's like a, I don't know, describe the training. Shane Kimbrough: We have this, we call it a dome facility, because that's what it is, and the graphics are just fantastic. And it gives you the sense of speed in which things are coming together, and the rats that you're coming are very good. But, it's just not the real thing. It's like our pool. Our pool is amazing to train for space walks, but it's not the real thing. There are differences. And until you get up there -- and now, we're in the Cupola, we're flying almost all of these out of the Kupla, which maybe think about you're upside down flying it, so spatially you've got to get your head around where are the arms moving even though you're upside down, those kind of things. It's not super simple until you actually get up there and do it a few times, and then it becomes a little bit easier on the mind. Gary Jordan: I can see why they would put you through the training for it, because there's a lot to think about, just being upside down, using the controls, controlling something from a Cupola, but then the arm's over here, I guess. Shane Kimbrough: Right. So, it's not necessarily right out your window. It is in this case when you're in the Kupla, but you could fly it from the lab as well, and you wouldn't have any windows and you'd just be using cameras. That's what we used to do. That's what we did on my first flight. So, things have gotten a lot better in that regard. Gary Jordan: I'm sure they write these procedures to be as easy as possible, so Dennis, what are some of the techniques you do whenever you're writing these scientific procedures for the astronauts to make it as easy as possible for them? Dennis Leveson-Gower: Yeah, I mean, we try to boil it down to step-by-step, but also add in some rationale for why you're doing it a certain way, so they don't have to memorize the exact step, but they can know what the end goal is and why they're doing it, so they know I should make sure I keep this cold, or I should make sure I handle this gently. And then hopefully, that helps. But I find that most of the time, it boils down to, we have the procedure, but then they say, tell me what to do next, and we're just talking to them. Shane Kimbrough: Especially when we're in the glove box. We're immobile when we're in there. We can't move around and do things. Dennis Leveson-Gower: Yeah, and how do you read something when you're doing that? Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, so it's very helpful to have you guys onboard. Matthew Buffington: And for me, going back, one thing that occurred to me as you're dealing with some, if it's a sensitive science experiment or the precious pizza cargo, I wonder, when you're packing, obviously there's a little bit of Tetris, where you're trying to place things into the cargo to be very efficient. But it's also, launches are quite intense. So I'd imagine, Dennis, I'd imagine things have to be durable enough to survive such a crazy, extreme, launching, and then it's floating in space, and then the big robotic arm that Shane's operating is grabbing it. But then also, on the flipside, Shane, I'd imagine for you, being a human experiencing that sensation as well. But what goes into keeping things safe and packed in? Dennis Leveson-Gower: Yeah, for especially things like the rodent habitat, we strap it to a table and we vibrate the heck out of it. It goes through launch impact testing, it gets put through temperatures, it goes through pressurization, depressurization. Anything like that goes through rigorous testing to make sure it stands up to things. And then, it's usually packed in some foam, into a locker. Then, it's put on a scale so that you can find the center of gravity of that hardware, and also the weight and dimensions. And then from that, some eggheads do some math, and some robots load it into the capsule the right way so it's all balanced. I don't understand all that part. But, we just make sure that we've tested everything, whatever. And I mean, it's pretty excessive. Whatever could possible go wrong, we test, worst-case, and then we treat it as gently as possible. And yeah, then wrap it up and ship it up. Matthew Buffington: And how is that, Shane, from your perspective being the human inside said rocket, vibrating and going through those intense pressures? Shane Kimbrough: On the Soyuz, which is what I just flew on, I was very surprised on the launch how smooth it was. I had an experience on the space shuttle before, and it was rocking and rolling and shaking around like you'd imagine, and you see in the movies. But the Soyuz was super smooth. We pulled about 3Gs going uphill, but the ride itself was very smooth. I was very impressed. Matthew Buffington: So, not only designing the experiments and getting them up, but you'd mentioned before, Dennis, that it could take years in this process. I'd imagine there's several experiments and ideas that never get into Shane's hands. Or, great ideas that just, either it's funding or different things. It's a competitive process, and everybody wants their cool science experiment to go up. Dennis Leveson-Gower: Yeah, no, we have a queue of investigators going out to 2022. We're trying to get them flown off as fast as possible, but we're limited by launch vehicles and crew time. Crew time is becoming less of a concern, because we're getting an extra crew member up there. But now it's launch vehicles, and you can only launch so many experiments at a time. But, there's a whole list of reserve experiments, of people that have put their heart and soul into something, and they just need 15 minutes of crew time, and they're just hoping their experiment can get done. Matthew Buffington: This is stuff that's already up there? Dennis Leveson-Gower: I think they have over 100 experiments at a time on the ISS. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, I think we ended up doing 273, I was told, over the six months. But yeah, at any one time, there can be over 100 onboard, that's about right. Dennis Leveson-Gower: And I remember someone saying, Peggy's going to get every one of those done. She's going to work through the backlog. Matthew Buffington: Singlehandedly. Shane Kimbrough: We took out all the task list and all the things that were backlogged, for sure. So, it was nice. Dennis Leveson-Gower: Yeah, a lot of people over here appreciate it when you guys give up some of your free time and bang one of those experiments out. Shane Kimbrough: Glad to do it. Gary Jordan: That's true. What else, besides if you were to take the weekend to unpack a cargo vehicle, what else are you doing on the weekends? Shane Kimbrough: Weekends, generally on Saturday mornings, it's spent cleaning. So, it's like your house, about once a week you need to probably do a little cleaning. So, we spend all Saturday morning vacuuming the whole station, wiping things down, and just getting everything back in shape after usually a busy week. And then, Saturday afternoons are generally off, and Sundays are generally off. So, I'm a big sports fan, so I was usually watching games, whether it was football or World Series or anything going on. Tomas got us into watching rugby. So, that was big in Europe at the time. So, we got to watch some of those matches. So, we do that as a crew sometimes, or sometimes individually you'd watch those things. And you certainly can catch up on emails or watch movies or call home or any of those things as well. Or, you can just look out the window, which was always spectacular, something you can't do here on earth. So, I tried to do that more often, because I can always talk to people or email people when I'm on earth, but I can't always look out the Kupla window for a rev around the earth in 90 minutes. That was pretty cool. Matthew Buffington: I'm curious, how is that setup? You don't have a normal weekend like you would. It's not like you're commuting home and spending the weekend with your family. You're sitting there floating in space, so there's never really a day off. You're always on. Shane Kimbrough: Correct. So I had to, when I was the commander, I made it clear to my crew that we were going to work from DBC to DBC, which is the morning conference with mission control all the way to the evening conference with mission control, but we weren't going to work outside of that. And there were a few exceptions on the weekends where we'd say, there's this one cargo vehicle, for example, we want to unload. Let's do two hours, and that's it. We're going to work two hours together. If you've got three people, that equates to about six hours of work. And we can do a lot in two hours. But I would make sure we weren't working all weekend, because as the commander, I've got to make sure the crew is not exhausted, for one, so they can hit the next week's activities when Monday starts. But also, we've got to always be ready for that really bad day, an emergency onboard the space station, where that's in the middle of the night or during the day. The crew's got to be fresh enough to handle that. So, I'm always thinking about that as I'm working the crew and the crew's being worked by the ground. And sometimes, we have to modify what they want us to do in order to keep our reserves, so to speak, to be able to handle an emergency. Gary Jordan: That's right. So, as a commander, how much jurisdiction do you have on time, because I know they schedule a lot of things for you, but then what power do you have as a commander? Shane Kimbrough: Big picture, we'll talk. I'll talk with the lead flight director usually before the week, or maybe even two weeks out. We'll talk about the big picture, how things are going to flow, and what they want to get done. And then, the details just kind of flush out. I don't really have too much influence on that. I'll let the flight director know, here's what I want to focus on. Make sure we get maybe a day here or there because we worked last weekend, and those kind of things, because that happens a lot. And then in general, if something's coming up real-time, day-of, maybe an experiment or something is running twice as long as it was expected -- that happens. And we'll just adjust real-time. Maybe I'll take the activity that Peggy was supposed to do next, if she's buried in this experiment, or vice versa. We'll help each other out to get all the things done. And you do that almost daily. You get done with something early, you go help somebody else if you can, or else you take something else off their timeline by knocking out something down the road for them. Gary Jordan: Sounds like you guys were really tightknit. You guts needed to be a really tight team to get all this stuff done. Shane Kimbrough: Totally agree, and I was super fortunate to have Peggy and Tomas onboard for about 90 percent of my time onboard. I was with Kate [Rubins] and Takuya [Onishi] for only a week or so, unfortunately for me, because they were superstars as well. But, they left shortly after we got there. So really, my whole mission was with Peggy and Tomas on the US side. And we did really work well together. We thought the same, our work ethic was the same, and we just loved helping each other out and loved being around each other, which doesn't always happen. So, I was very fortunate. Gary Jordan: Very true. That makes me -- getting back on track to the cargo stuff, I was actually thinking about, we were talking a lot about when cargo comes up, how to get it, how to unpack it, but then, there's a packing story, and they're different for each vehicle, because some of them just burn up, some of them have experiments running before they burn up, and then some of them actually come back. What are some of the differences there? Shane Kimbrough: Yeah, so we had all those. The only one that comes back to earth, as you're probably aware, is SpaceX. So, anything that's real critical experiment-wise, or even maybe broken equipment that engineers want to get their hands on to figure out what happened to it, those kind of things we'll put into SpaceX, so they can come back to the ground. A lot of that has to do with experiments we did on our bodies -- blood draws and those kind of things need to come back, as well as rodent research things will come back on SpaceX, because the scientists need to recover them and look at the data and get all that stuff. That's one thing. All the other vehicles in general burn up, like you mentioned. So to me, I think of it, that's how we manage our trash. That's how we manage trash on the space station. We crate tons of trash, believe it or not, up there, whether it's food trash or clothes trash or experiment trash or waste, human waste. All that stuff needs to get off at some point. And the way we do that is to use these cargo vehicles that are not coming back to earth. And we can't just cram things in there, like you might think. It's a very organized way. And again, we'll get a plan from the ground team and mission control that lays out how they want us to pack it. And a lot of times there are experiments onboard that will happen once it leaves the space station before it gets burned up, like you mentioned. So, we've got to make sure certain aisle ways are clear, and the airflow is going to be correct, so that those experiments can happen correctly. Gary Jordan: I see. So, it's kind of like a supply chain, really, because there needs to be new stuff sent up to the International Space Station, and then you need to take some of the old stuff out. That's the cycle that keeps the ISS going. Shane Kimbrough: Correct. And launch delays and things don't happen, and these launches aren't always happening on time. So, sometimes your trash backlog gets pretty high on the space station. That's not a -- there are some odors and things that go along with that. So, we always like to have vehicles coming frequently, so we can manage our trash, of course along with doing great experiments as well. Gary Jordan: But you guys have plenty of food and all that kind of stuff, right? So, even if something gets delayed, you'll be set for a while, for at least a lot of things. Shane Kimbrough: Yeah. I think they have about a six-month reserve onboard. So, we can handle a lot of delays, I guess. Gary Jordan: Dennis, on your end, when it comes to these experiments coming back to earth, and especially on SpaceX, the ones you actually can get your hands on and don't burn up, what are some of the things you're looking at for those? Dennis Leveson-Gower: Looking at getting it back as quickly as possible is usually our priority, especially with rodent experiments, cell science experiments. You're trying to study the effects of microgravity on these organisms, and the minute you start getting back into the earth's atmosphere, you're going to start to experience gravity and see molecular changes. So, the clock is ticking to try to get the samples back. So in the future, hopefully return vehicles can land on solid ground, and we get the samples back even faster. Right now, it's taking about a day or two on a boat in the ocean. But yeah, the priority's obviously for animal experiments, we want all of them alive and happy. And so far, we've done it twice and they have been. JAXA has also done it twice. All the mice did really well on return. And, yeah, intact samples kept at the right stowage temperatures and everything, then we're happy. Matthew Buffington: On a similar note, and this is a slight pivot, but I love the little catchphrase of working off the earth for the earth. We've talked a lot about how it all happens, from an idea, an experiment, it's created, it's packed, it's sent up, then you actually conduct it. But, I'd love to pick your brain, Dennis and also Shane, of the why. Why is doing experiments in microgravity important? Clearly NASA and the international community is spending a lot of money to put this thing up here. And, what can we get out of that that you just can't do on the ground? Dennis Leveson-Gower: Yeah, there's a lot that we can't do on the ground. My bias is that we want to go to Mars, and we want to explore space, and we want to make Star Trek real, so we should be figuring out what happens to our bodies, what happens to physical processes on a cellular level, really understand the biology and what changes when the vector of gravity is removed. Of course, there is objectives to benefit the earth, as you say, and one prime example is, you can't have forced bedrest of research animals, but if they're in space, all the gravity load is off, and it will mimic conditions where people have extended bedrest or unloading on their muscles. You also, microgravity seems to have an accelerated aging effect, so you can look at age-related factors. You have fluid shifts, and basically high blood pressure in your brain, and that starts affecting the astronauts' vision and things like that, and we want to understand how that works. So, you have a lot of, like, growing 3D tissues in the lab. To be able to do those kind of things, you may be able to do them better in space, and understand the processes better in space. And I think it directly translates into, benefits the earth. Sometimes, you have to connect the dots a little bit to see how that space research affects the ground, but if you look at every experiment we've done, it always has spin-off benefits. Shane Kimbrough: Tough to add much to that. It's very true. The way I look at it is, everything we do up there is either for future exploration, like Dennis mentioned, or it's to help humanity in general. If we're not doing that, I think we're really missing the boat. But everything we touch up there and I've been involved with has met one of those two criteria. One example I like to think of is, we have this machine up there that makes water. It takes every bit of liquid onboard the space station, from urine to sweat to condensation to anything, and it goes into this machine and it makes water that's extremely pure that we use for our food and our drinks the next day, so to speak. It's a great technology for us to have. It's not something we have to have for the space station, but we will have to have something like that for Mars, or the moon, or wherever we're going to go deep space. So, we're working on that now for future exploration. A side benefit of this whole thing is, we actually use that technology on earth as well. There's third-world countries that don't have clean water supplies, and the same technology is helping them get clean water. That's really a cool thing when you're helping future exploration and you're helping humanity. Gary Jordan: That's just one example, right? That's one thing on the station that's helping in both directions. Matt, I think that's a really good place to end the podcast. Matthew Buffington: I think that's perfect, dude. Gary Jordan: I think that's fantastic, because it kind of sums up why do we do all the science, and why the science goes up and down to the International Space Station. Guys, thanks so much for coming on the show, both to Shane and Dennis for coming on Houston We Have a Podcast and NASA in Silicon Valley, the first time we're doing this together. Matt, I really hope we can do this again. Matthew Buffington: With our powers combined, it works out. Thanks a lot for helping pull this together. This has been a lot of fun. Gary Jordan: Yeah, absolutely. Thanks, guys. Shane Kimbrough: It was great, thanks everybody. Dennis Leveson-Gower: Thanks for having me. Matthew Buffington: Huge thanks to Dennis and Shane. Awesome. [END] Gary Jordan: Hey, thanks for sticking around. So today, we teamed up with the NASA in Silicon Valley Podcast to talk about cargo missions, and we had a couple different perspectives with Shane Kimbrough as an astronaut and also Dennis Leveson-Gower as a senior project scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. So if you want to want to check out all of NASA’s podcasts, just go to nasa.gov/podcasts. There’s where you can sign up for the NASA in Silicon Valley Podcast and subscribe to them, and there’s also a new one that just got released – last week I think at this point – called Gravity Assist and it’s hosted by Dr. Jim Green, NASA’s Director of Planetary Scientist. It’ll start with a 10-part series where he starts with the Sun and then goes all the way out to Pluto and makes his stops all along our solar system and then talks about planets beyond. This is going to be a really good podcast, so definitely stay tuned. We were talking about cargo missions, so definitely tune in to the live coverage of the launch and capture of SpaceX CRS-13. I think SpaceX covers the launch, but you can find the latest times for the capture on nasa.gov/NTV, as in NASA TV, and you can see the latest schedule for when we’re going to be broadcasting that. Make sure to follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Make sure to use the hashtag #asknasa to submit an idea for the podcast, and make sure to mention it’s for Houston We Have a Podcast if you want it answered here. This podcast was recorded on November 14, 2017. Thanks to Alex Perryman, John Stoll, Greg Wiseman, Kelly Humphries, Megan Sumner, and Brandi Dean from here in Houston. Thanks to Matt Buffington, Eric Land, Abby Tabor, and Frank Tavares from NASA’s Ames Research Center for teaming up for this podcast. And again thanks to Shane Kimbrough and Dennis Leveson-Gower for coming on the show. We’ll be back next week.

hwhap_Ep30_Infamous Meteorites

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-01

Gary Jordan (Host): Houston, We Have A Podcast. Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center, Episode 30, Infamous Meteorites. I'm Gary Jordan, and I'll be your host today. So on this podcast, we bring in the experts, NASA scientists, engineers, astronauts, all to let you know the coolest stuff about what's going on right here at NASA. So today, we're talking about some of the more unique findings that have been discovered in meteorites with David Mittlefehldt, goes by Duck. He's a planetary scientist here at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and we had a great discussion about curious findings in meteorites, and the adventures that are endured to procure them. So, with no further delay, let's go lightspeed and jump right ahead to our talk with Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt. Enjoy! [ Music & Radio Transmissions ] Host: Duck, thanks for coming to the podcast today. I know we've -- we've talked about searching for life and meteorites before, and it's -- it's such a fascinating topic, but I really wanted to dive deeper, just into like the meteorites portion. We really -- we really actually had a great conversation with Dr. Aaron Burton and -- and Dr. Marc Fries, not too long ago, actually, about life, but really just about the meteorites themselves. There's a -- there's a big story there, and you're one of the explorers that are going down and actually finding these meteorites, huh? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, yeah. I've done that on a number of occasions. Host: Yeah. And it's -- is it -- is it mostly in Antarctica, or are you going other places? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, okay, so most of the times I've been searching for meteorites has been in Antarctica, so I've been down there five times, meteorite collecting expeditions, but I -- I've [pause] -- I was on vacation in Israel once, and I met up with a couple of geologists at a coffee house, and one of them had just published a paper where they -- he described, you know, old surfaces in the deserts of southern Israel that are, you know, have been stable for about 2 million years. And I'm thinking, you know, over 2 million years, you can accumulate a lot of meteorites, so, I actually went there the foll -- later that year, and met up with them again, and we searched some of these areas that are -- have very ancient pavements on the desert, and hunting for meteorites. We didn't find any, unfortunately, and, you know, I'm not quite sure why, there -- there should have been some there, but, you know, it was a small team searching large area over short time, so it may well be that they're there, but we just didn't find any, because the ones that, you know, are there are small. The other is there were a number of issues with that particular location. Meteorites, you know, when we find meteorites, they're typically black on the outside, because they've gone through the atmosphere and they're covered with this glassy, fusion crust, which is almost always black. The area we had searched in southern Israel actually had a number of dark rocks in it, as well. So, you know, the meteorites, if they were there, would not have stood out as -- like -- like, you know, the beacons that you see when you're in Antarctica, scooting across the bare ice, so. Host: I guess that -- is that the main reason why Antarctica is such a great place to find meteorites? Is because it's these black rocks against white snow? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, that certainly makes it easy, because [Gary laughing] you -- you can see, you know, a rock, I'm going to use metric units because that's what I'm used to, I'll try and remember to throw in inches and feet as I can, but, so, you know, you can find a -- a black rock, a couple of centimeters across or about an inch across, from a great distance in Antarctica on the ice. And -- and, as you say, it's because you're looking at either pale blue ice or sometimes white snow, most of the meteorites we find are on the pale blue ice. But even so, it's very bright in comparison to rock. So they're easy to find there. The other thing is in Antarctica, we have a convenient concentration mechanism, which is the actual flow and ablation of the ice across the continent, and where we go to find them the meteorites is -- is actually in locations where the ice movement has been stalled, and ablation by the Antarctic winds and -- and warming by the Antarctic sun, allow a lag deposit to develop on the surface. So we're actually collecting meteorites that have been, you know, shoved from a great geographic area and then left behind in a smaller geographic area. So we have, you know, base -- we have both the easy-to-spot and -- and the concentration mechanism working in our favor. Host: Alright! Yeah, they're -- they're plentiful down there. So -- so you made quite a few trips. How many was it? You said five? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, I've been down five times. The first time was in the '97, '98 field season. That was my first Antarctic experience, and I loved it so much I kept volunteering to go back again. Host: You loved Antarctica? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Oh yeah [Gary laughing], I -- I love it, you know, just -- just last week, well, here in Houston, we had temperatures that Houstonians think of, or Texans think of as cold, but, me, I see that as maybe a cold fall day. Because I -- I was born and raised in western New York. Host: Alright. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And at the same time, you know, my hometown was getting temperatures, okay, again, I've got to do some conversion here, about maybe, you know, between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. And, you know, that was the weather I grew up in winter, and I loved it. Winter was always my favorite season when I was a kid. Alright. So maybe it's a deep love of winter that really -- because I just came from this -- we're just coming back from the holidays now, and it was -- it was negative 2 in Pittsburgh when I -- when I was flying home, and, I mean, I was -- I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, moved around a lot, but I'm not used to it by any means. Like, I like the -- I like the, everyone, you know, saying, oh my gosh, 32 is really cold! And I'm like, [laughing], I'm okay with just that. Host: For me, I -- I loved the deep winter in western New York. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Alright, a lot of snow there too. Host: So when was the last time you were down in Antarctica then? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So I was down last year, 2016, 2017, it was kind of a disappointment for me, personally. Host: Oh. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: I -- I -- because of my experience, I've been down four times before, I -- I left early and was going to go out on a recon sweep with the -- the mountaineer field safety officer for the ANSMET program. ANSMET, by the way, stands for Antarctic Search for Meteorites, and that's the program that goes down to collect the rocks and has been doing so every year, but once, since 1976. Host: Alright! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: But, anyway, because of my experience, I was going to go down on this recon before the main season. We were going to go to one area, check it out for potential systematic work in a future season, and then stay for the first half of the main season, going to a location deep along the Antarctic, transAntarctic mountains. Well, it turns out logistics were badly broken last year. And partly because of weather, partly because of problems with the aircraft and so on, so I got out into the field for a week, in preseason, I got back to McMurdo Station while we were gearing up for the main season, but the logistics just broke and so they were not going to go out where they originally planned. The team ended up going to where I had been out on recon, but it was -- they got such a late start that it made more sense to ship me home early rather than, you know, go out for maybe a week and then come back into McMurdo and go home. Host: Yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So I -- I just spend one week out in the field last year. Host: Ahh... Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Much -- much to my chagrin. Host: [Laughing] So it was just the lack of time that you spent there, that was really the disappointment. Yeah, yeah, it was [inaudible] time, and, you know, in the brief time that John Scott [phonetic] and I, he's the mountaineer, were out on the ice, you know, we -- we'd spend a week in the field, two and a half days we were tent-bound because the weather was so bad, but even so, we found 46 meteorites in the short time we were there. Host: That's amazing! Yeah. Host: Wow. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And -- and remind -- and remember, this was an area that had been heavily harvested back in the 80's, 70's and 80's, we were going to back to see whether there was still great potential for harvesting more meteorites there, and, in fact, I think last year they ended up coming -- picking up a total of 200 and some meteorites, even with, you know, going back to an area that had been searched before, and having a shortened season because the logistics. So, I mean, that -- that kind of shows you the -- the quality of Antarctica as a -- as a site for bringing back space rocks. It's just awesome! Host: Incredible! So is -- is that -- is it because there's just a fresh, I guess you could call it, supply of meteorites that are landing on the surface of Antarctica, or is it things are shifting? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: It's more things are shifting. In part, you know, deflation of the surface continues, as ablation goes on, and so new meteorites are poking through. In part, it's shifting winds blowing snow around, so an area that might have been snow covered earlier season, maybe now has been stripped bare and there's bare ice. And so that allows you to see things. So for a variety of reasons, you can go back to the same place you've searched once, and -- and still find meteorites out there. Host: Incredible. And hundreds of them, a little bit better than Israel, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah [laughter]. Might have been better than my experience trying to find meteorites in the Negev Desert. Host: [Laughing] So -- so you're saying a season. When you're going down to Antarctica, I'm assuming it's the summer there, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, it's austral summer. Host: Yeah. So that means the sun is up 24/7, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Right. Host: So you kind of have to deal with that when you're -- when you're down there, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, you know, I've -- I've become accustomed to that. The first -- I was kind of -- there was a guy who used to work in our building who had been down I think a year or two before me, so I took advice from him, and he said, you know, one of the things is, you know, with the constant sunlight, sometimes sleep can be a problem. So I bought a heavy, black knit hat, and, you know, I just put that on as my sleep hat, and then pulled the brim over my eyes, and so everything was black. So I -- I could sleep fine down there. Host: Oh, nice! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: But the, you know, the main advantage is that because the sun's up 24/7, you're not really bound by the 9 to 5 time sequence. Host: Oh, yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, as I said, when we -- when I was out last year in the -- in the recon site, we were there for a week, you know, we -- we landed, got our gear, and then went, spent a half a day out, then the -- the winds blew in, it was too windy and cold to go out, so the winds broke around noon one day, or a little bit after noon. We decided we would have an early supper and then go out and collect -- harvest meteorites. So that day, we ended up getting out of the tents maybe 5 o'clock in the evening, and we worked about till 30, 2 in the morning. Host: Woah! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: The sun was up, it was perfectly fine, it was just my age and body crapping out at 30 [Gary laughing]. I, you know, I just couldn't pick up another meteorite if -- if they beat me with a stick. You know, I was just so tired. But then, you know, that's -- that's something you can do down there that you can't do here. Host: Yeah, did you know the hours were going by, or did you have no sense of time with the -- with the sun being up? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, you know, you can trace the sun, if you pay attention, you can get a sense of the day, because the sun does a lazy loop in the sky, and... Host: Oh. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt:...and so, you know, once you've located yourself, you know where north, south is, [pause] there is still north and south, even that close to the pole. Host: Yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: But, you know, you know at midnight, the sun is going to be, you know -- you know, at one -- at the one position, so. Host: Right. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And it's kind of at the lowest point far north, and so, you know, you can track it that way, but basically I didn't pay attention. We were just so busy, you know, driving from place to place harvesting meteorites that, you know, it was just constantly moving, doing the next one, taking the data, collecting it, you know, cleanly and safely and getting it in the bag and moving on to the next location. Host: Oh, so are you -- are you not -- you're not stationary then when you -- when you kind of set up camp. Are you -- are you kind of mobile, like with your camp, and you just move it from one meteorite site? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: No, no. Host: Oh, okay. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: The camp is usually -- there are a couple -- there are a couple of ways that it is done. When we do systematic searching, the camp is stationary in one spot, perhaps for the whole field season, and you just go out, day-to-day, to different locations. And that's what we did here. We were on recon, so we -- we plunked the tent down, then we searched within easy skidoo range of the camp. Sometimes, and I've done this before, go down on a recon time, where -- where you go and you put camp down, you might prospect an area for two, three weeks, then you move camp to another area and prospect there for two or three weeks. So, there -- there are -- those -- there are those two types of scenarios, and even in the recon mode, you know, you're -- the tent -- the camp is stationary for two or three weeks, and you're skidooing all around that area to -- to search it, and then you only pick up tents and camp and move to a far distant area to recon that general region. Host: Alright! Alright, well I'm guessing, you know, going down there so many times, you're quite an expert in making sure that, you know, you can survive weeks and weeks and weeks in Antarctica. So, what are the -- some of the stuff that you're taking down there that I guess are unique to the Antarctic environment? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Okay, so, most of the gear you get, you get in Christchurch, so, you know, living in Houston, I don't have a winter coat. Host: Oh! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, at -- at the clothing distribution center in Christchurch, you'll get outkitted -- outfitted with, you know, heavy -- heavy jackets, all the gloves you can want, thermal pants, fleece liners, boots, hats, everything you need to survive, and then in McMurdo Station, you actually get the camping gear, the tents, the cook stoves, the dishes, the food, sleeping bags, that sort of stuff. So all -- all the intrepid Antarctic explorer needs to take down with them are personal items, like I mentioned my knit hat, that -- that was mine, and that was because I knew I wanted something to sleep in. I, you know, I bought extra pairs of thermal underwear, because the first time I went down, you know, they -- they give you two sets, but you're out in the field for six or seven weeks, so you want to change, you know, once in a while. [Gary laughing] Other than that, you know, my glasses are prescription, and so I buy glasses that transition dark and sunlight, so I can just, you know, wear my normal glasses out on the skidoo, I have actually bought glacier glasses, so I have side shields and whatnot to block the light. You want to -- one of the things that really is critical down there is to block all light from your eyeballs, you know, other than what gets filtered through a dark lens, because, otherwise, snow blindness is a problem. Host: Oh, that's right! It's so bright down there, right? Yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So I do that, but, otherwise, you know, most of the gear they give you, they loan it to you for the time that you're out there, and -- and so, you know, you could survive on just what you get from the Antarctic program down in Antarctica. It wouldn't necessarily be entirely comfortable wearing the same clothes, you know, for seven weeks, but you could do it. Host: [Laughing] So -- so your -- this Antarctic program, that -- that's ANSMET, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Right. Host: Okay, so what's the -- what's the relationship between ANSMET and NASA, and how that all works together? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, originally, ANSMET was set up as a three agency agreement. So the -- the -- it was funded -- the actual Antarctic search for meteorites was funded through the National Science Foundation, because they have -- they do the scientific research in Antarctica. NASA funded the curation and allocation of meteorite samples here at NASA Johnson Space Center, and then the Smithsonian Institution did the initial classification and was the long-term repository for the meteorites collected in Antarctica. That, since -- since then, they've changed it, and now NASA actually funds the Antarctic, the ANSMET research component. NSF still supplies the logistics, but NASA pays NSF for those, those logistics, because they -- they are the, I mean, they have all the logistics in Antarctica. And -- and the rocks still go, ultimately, to the Smithsonian, a chip for initial classification, and rocks that are no longer actively being researched by scientists in the world end up being permanently curated at the Smithsonian Institution. So that is -- that is still the way things are run. Host: Alright. So -- so is the ones that people are researching, and actively studying, are all of them housed here at the Johnson Space Center? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yes. With some exceptions. We don't have the necessary facilities to easily deal with metal-rich meteorites. So iron meteorites, stony iron meteorites, automatically go, ah, nope, I'm going to pull that back. Iron meteorites automatically go to the Smithsonian Institution. Because they are equipped for -- to cut metal and -- and make samples available. We do do the stony meteorites here, I forgot about that, because I've gotten some from here. So those that have a significant stony component are still worked on here until they become no longer of scientific interest. But, you know, even though they go to the Smithsonian for permanent curation, they're -- they're not dead to science, so to speak. So I can request samples that have been housed at Johnson Space Center for years, and now transfer -- transformed permanently to the Smithsonian if -- if I find, you know, an interesting project to do on one of these old samples. And I actually have gotten, in the past, some samples from the Smithsonian that were originally from the Antarctic collection. Host: Wow. So back in Antarctica, when you're looking at these meteorites and you're trying to, you know, figure out what they are, are they, you know, more stony, more metal-rich, what are you using to -- to look at them, to find out more about them and say, yes, that's a meteorite that I want to get my hands on? How do you know what's the good stuff? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Uh, decades of experience. Host: There you go [laughing]. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, I, you know, I can look at a rock in Antarctica, and I can already make a preliminary classification. Sometimes I'm wrong, and -- and, you know, the guy who has more experience than anyone is -- is our mountaineer field safety officer, John Scott, and, you know, he -- he can look at a rock, and, in many cases, give a pretty good guess as to what it's going to turn out to be. And, you know, I can do that with a lot of different types of rocks, especially those that I'm interested in, but all in all, there -- there are always those meteorites that come back that either no one has ever seen before, because it's totally new, or it's enough different from the norm for that class that it just doesn't -- doesn't appear to be what you think it is, in hand sample. So, and we don't -- and we don't, you know, in Antarctica, we don't do anymore than a very high-level classification. Yes, this is a stony meteorite, it's probably a chondrite, this is probably a carbonaceous chondrite, this is probably an achondrite, which is a type of meteorite that's been melted. This is probably a stony iron, an iron, and so forth. And, to some extent, we need to do that because certain types of meteorites have more scientific value than others. So -- so, for example, a very primitive carbonaceous chondrite is -- is probably going to get a lot of research attention when it's announced. And so we collect those in a special way to try and minimize contamination by organic compounds. And that's why we need to be able to say, oh, yeah, you know, stand back from this guy, we need to treat him differently than -- than this one over here. Host: Alright. And then, obviously, you know, knowing where to ship it too, right? Because some of the metals one have to go the Smithsonian...? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So that -- no, that's all done here. Everything is shipped here to Johnson Space Center. Host: Oh, everything comes here, okay. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And -- but the difference is when they -- when they open some that are listed in the -- in the notes as probably being iron meteorites, they -- they will warm them up in the dry nitrogen cabinets, look at them, and if they agree, you know, they'll do an external description, you know, this is a brown rock, you know, 10 centimeters in size and weigh so much, and we don't see anything in it, you know, out of the ordinary, from the outside, then the whole thing will -- then that whole rock will get shipped to the Smithsonian at that point, and there, they'll cut it open with a wire saw, if it's, you know, indeed, probably metal, and then make a polished mount and etch it to bring out the texture and so forth. Host: Alright! And then that's what you mean by the facilities, right? They have the -- the proper facilities to do that. So what about here? What kinds of equipment and facilities do we have to make sure that we're handling all of this properly? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, in the meteorite processing lab, we have [pause] -- we use tools of a very limited set of composition. So, typically, stainless steel hammers and chisels, and -- and the reason is, you know, no matter what we do with a rock from space, we're going to contaminate with something from earth. So the object is to, one, minimize that contamination. So we use materials that we know are not going to, you know, just shed particles everywhere, for example, but also if we -- we use always the tools of the same -- of a given composition so that we know that if we see something like this in the rock, oh yeah, that must have come from the tool. And, you know, I've seen this, rocks are hard to break, and so, you know, your -- your choices are to saw them open or to use a hammer and chisel, and I have seen on a rock that I've gotten, a flake from the chisel that rubbed off. Metal, you know, it's soft, even hardened steel will rub off on occasion. So, you know, I can see this, I can pull that contaminant off or isolate it, in the lab, but, you know, I know then I can do a simple test, yes, that's from the chisel, I don't have to worry about that. I've taken care of it, the rest of the sample is fine. So the object is to minimize contamination or to know what the potential contaminants are. And, you know, there's no way you know of getting -- there's -- with modern technology, we can't, you know, we don't have magnetic levitation devices that we then use a laser to slice them open cleanly. You know, we -- we do with what we got. This isn't Star Trek here yet. Host: [Laughing] We'll just stick with the hammer and chisel for now. So, I mean, when you're cutting these open, and you open them up, what -- what are you looking at? Are you looking at just the rock or are you taking even smaller chunks of that? How is that working? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, that all depends on the question that you're trying to answer, and I've done both where I've asked for samples of a, what's called a bulk sample of the rock, so something as representative of the entire rock as possible, and I've looked for individual class in the rock, little fragments that are of a specific type within the rock. All of this is basic 19th century geology, in many respects. You know, in the 19th century, geologists would go out in the field with their hammers, they'd -- they'd beat on a rock and use a hands lens to look at the microscopic, yeah, microscopic texture, mineralogy in it, and, you know, a trained geologist can do the same with a meteorite, and say, yeah, okay, I can see -- I can see what this is, it's a certain type of rock type in there, and that's what I want, I don't want this part over here. So, you know, the traditional geologic methods,but with modern equipment, can be used, and -- and, you know, there's -- there's nothing like the human eye in the brain for sorting out who's who in the zoo. Host: [Laughing] So then how can you -- what -- what are some of the key differences for the -- for the non-geologically-trained eye for whenever you're looking at a rock and you can, you know, you cut it open and you look and you say, that's a meteorite, that's not from earth? Or, this is definitely from earth? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Okay, the -- the first key is -- - is fusion crust. I mentioned this earlier. Host: Oh yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And that -- that's where, going through the atmosphere, friction with the air causes the outer surface to melt, and actually, you know, little bits are flying off all the time, the meteorite we get on the surface is just a small piece of what entered the atmosphere. Most -- sometimes the vast majority of it just ablated away in the atmosphere into little droplets or dust. Host: Wow. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, you know, if you see a fusion crust on the rock, right away, you know it's -- it's a meteorite, you don't have to go any farther than that. In terms of determining what type it is, more primitive meteorites, these are a type that still have textures and mineralogy that were inherited from condensation and accretion in the solar nebula, that's where individual mineral grains formed out of a gas that -- that was the nebula before the planets were around. And -- and then they glomerate together, these mineral grains, and in the -- in the solar nebula, the dust grains banged, you know, got melted into little, tiny objects which we call chondrules. So, these typical textures are plainly evident to the human eye, even without a microscope. But, you know, with a very low-power microscope you can see them quite easily. Most meteorites, especially primitive ones, contain iron metal, it's actually iron nickel metal. You know, you don't find that on earth except when humans have been involved in -- in smelting iron ore. But so iron metal in a -- in a rock is kind of an indicator that it's quite likely from outer space. Very few occurrences on earth of native metal in a rock. And then, as I said, in the dust in the solar nebula, went through periods of melting and formation of these little, round globules of basically melt globules, which we call chondrules, and -- and from that, we get the name chondrite for these primitive rocks. Well, those stand out in, you know, if you break open a rock, depending on -- on the type, you know, you can see those quite easily, and -- and that's a key. Host: And these have never -- they've been in space for all of time, right? They were formed in space and traveling through space, they've never -- they're not like from another planet or another, like, chipped off another...? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, most...no, actually, all meteorites, the only way we get meteorites is for bad things to happen in the asteroid belt. Most meteorites are from asteroids, and when they collide, little fragments get knocked off, and it's -- it's from these fragments that we get meteorites. So they were originally on much larger bodies, I mean, much larger meaning asteroid size, not planet size. Host: Okay. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And they were broken up and then distributed to the earth. You know, one of the, sorry, I'm going to -- I'm going to sort of go back into -- and get into my way back machine and go back to when I was a grad student. Host: Please do! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: When I -- you know, when I first started learning about meteorites, one of the mysteries at the time was there was a group of chondrite meteorites called the L chondrites, L was just the name, you know, the -- the name applied to them. That had ages on the order of 500 million years, and this was really odd, because all meteorites are about four and a half billion years old. Well these, they -- they -- these meteorites were originally about four and a half million -- billion years old, but were somehow affected by an event that reset the ages about 500 million years ago. Host: Woah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And so, you know, this was, you know, just kind of an anomaly. We knew something bad had happened to an asteroid then, about that time, well, fast forward to, I think the 90's, a Swedish geologist started finding in terrestrial sediments fossil meteorites. And, you know, all that's left is a few mineral grains. You -- you can tell, they were found in fine grain limestone, you know, formed on an ocean floor, and all that you could see was this halo of odd stuff, please a few mineral grains that remained from the original meteorite. Well, you know, this guy, and his compadres, studied these mineral grains and they -- they found out they were from the same type of meteorite as these chondrites that were about 500 million years old, and they were in layers in the rock of the earth that were about that age. So, sometime, 500 million years ago, you know, a couple of asteroids collided, and a whole rain of meteorites of this type hit the earth at about, you know, within a few million years when that occurred, and we can find them now. This layer in Sweden that's just chock full of these fossil meteorites. And, you know, to me, that's one of these really neat kind of science stories. Where everything starts tying together. And then to get even further, astronomers looking at what they call asteroid families, so they -- they find an asteroid, they find a whole bunch in orbits similar to it, spectroscopically, they all look to be about the same, and so they -- they figure out, well, these are all, you know, fragments of something that broke apart. Well, they found an asteroid that they figure, you know, based on the spectroscopy, it could be this type of, you know, that formed these L chondrites, and the -- they calculate the age of the family based on dispersion of the fragments, and it's about 500 million years. So, you know, between, you know, meteorite scientists, terrestrial geologists, and astronomers, we -- we've kind of got a neat picture of somehow, you know, about the time of dawn of -- of multicellular life on earth, two asteroids smashed together, and rained down on the earth, and we're still finding fragments coming down to earth now that we can confidently date when this happened in terrestrial laboratories. It's just kind of one of these things that, you know, I find fascinating! Host: [Laughing] I find it -- I mean, a lot of this is over my head, because I don't have the same background as you, but I just find it fascinating that you can look at these rocks and -- and get a story, get a story out of it, you know? Like the story of two asteroids around the time that cellular life was developing coming down to earth and raining down in these locations and telling their story, that's fantastic! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, and multicellular. So this is when... Host: Multicellular. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: This is when, you know, fossils, shortly after the time when fossils started becoming really abundant in the terrestrial record. Host: Wow. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, yeah, it's just a neat story, and, you know, basically I think that's what got me into geology, originally, was, you know, all you've got is -- is a rock on the surface and somehow you can, you know, if you're smart enough and -- and do the right work, you can start to piece together an entire story of what the earth was like at that time, and so, you know, that's kind of what drew me into geology. Host: That's fantastic. I love it! Especially from -- from my background, marketing and journalistic sort of background, the story telling aspect is just fascinating to me. And that's kind of like, that, you know, the title of this episode is going to be, Infamous Meteorites, and that's kind of like what I really wanted to dive into is, you know, we've talked about where you're finding these meteorites, and then what you're doing with then, you're actually cracking them open and studying them, but then what are you finding? What are you finding inside of these meteorites? What stories? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah. Well, exactly! Host: Yeah, so, you know, one of the ones that I know that was brought to my attention was one of them called Allan Hills, and -- I'm going to -- is it 84001, or do you call it by something else? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: No, I call it that. Host: 84001? Okay. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Sometimes it's simply referred to as that rock. Host: [Laughing] Because it's that infamous, huh? Wow! Alright, so what's the story behind -- behind this rock? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Okay, so, this came -- this was found in Antarctica in 1984. And it -- it's [pause] -- it was originally classified as a -- as a type of asteroidal igneous rock that I, at the time, I was studying those -- those types of rocks. You know, my -- my background is heavily-weighted towards an interest in magnetic processes on the earth, the moon, Mars, and asteroids, and -- and so that's why this one was particularly of interest to me. So, I was studying that, along with a bunch of others, that were thought to be basically the same classification of rock, and, unfortunately, Allan Hill's had some puzzling features in it that were -- were a little bit off normal for -- for that rock type. But not so much so that I -- I really stayed up at night worrying about it. Host: [Gary laughing] Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And so I wrote a paper on -- on this group of rocks, finally, and sent it in, and one of the reviewers said, well, you know, you point out that there's this anomaly in this rock, and you really ought to try and chase down why it's -- what's going on there, why it's different. And, you know, being a -- a moderately good scientist, I said, okay. I, you know, he has pointed out, it's a problem, I knew it was a problem, but now I've really got to do something about it. So I started working at it, and, honestly, I -- I could not find out what was wrong with this particular rock. It -- it -- there was one mineral phase in it just did not match what anyone would expect for the class. Quite by chance, I got another sample of that rock for another reason. And but it really wasn't the sample I had asked for. So there was as mixup in the thin section. So a thin section is a very thin slice of a rock, it's about 30 microns thick, doubly polished on both sides, and it's used by people who look through microscopes to look at the minerals and textures in a rock, and then you can put that section into an electron microprobe and actually do analyses of the mineral phases in it. Host: Wow. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And so I was -- that's what I was interested in. And this particular rock, which I thought I had, I was interested in the composition of sulfide phases in the rock. So I put the sample in the electron microprobe without actually looking at it in the microscope first, because I had seen this rock before, I knew what it was like, I knew what to expect, I just went straight to the electron microprobe, which actually probably was good because I may have turned the rock in and asked for a different one otherwise. But I'm getting -- I'm looking at it in the microprobe, looking for the mineral phases I'm looking for, and they just really aren't there in the abundance that I expected. Finally I found a grain and I'm -- I'm banging at it with the electron beam, collecting compositions, and the compositions weren't making sense. I was expecting it to be, so I was looking for sulfide phases, so I was expecting to have iron monosulfide, so one iron, one sulfur atom, and the composition that was coming out just was not right. And I checked the calibration, the calibration was perfect, so what's going on? I was looking at the data, not in atoms, but in mass, so weight percent. So when I converted it to atoms, I realized I had two sulfur atoms for every iron atom instead of one, and that's when it hit me what was wrong with this rock. I then backed off, looked at the -- looked at the texture in more detail in the electron microprobe, and realized I had a sample of Allan Hill's, not the meteorite that I thought I had, and I knew which type of rocks had pyrate, the iron disulfide, instead of the iron monosulfide, and I knew those were martian rocks. And so, you know, it was -- it was probably the most satisfying moment I've ever had in my life, excluding when my children were born, and -- and when I got married [Gary laughing], and if my wife listens to this, I hope she hears that, was, you know, suddenly it dawned on me that this was a martian rock that was totally unlike any other martian rock, except the key minerals were in it, and so, you know, it was just one of these aha moments that -- that you live for. And, you know, it was just so much fun. Host: Amazing. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: I tell you. Host: So what were those -- the key minerals? What -- what story did they tell? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So the key was because it had the iron disulfide pyrate instead of the iron monosulfide troite, I knew it was martian, and it was a rock type not known amongst the martian meteorites. So what it meant was we had a new type of martian rock that was going to tell us even more about the geologic evolution of Mars then we already knew. And, you know, all of this hit me within like a fraction of a second when I realized what it was. Host: Wow! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, I mean, I immediately recognized it, it was an, you know, important meteorite. And that it would tell us big things, and, in fact, you know, it has opened up a whole host of, you know, basically this rock ultimately became a founding member of what you might consider astrobiology, and that came when my colleagues here at Johnson Space Center, Dave McKay, Edward Gibson, and Kathie Thomas and now Simon Clemett is at it, and then there were Simon's dissertation advisors, Stanford was on the paper and several other people, you know, they -- they proposed that a certain both mineralogical and compositional and textural objects in this rock were possibly signs of microscopic life that existed on Mars at one point. Host: Wow. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And, you know, to some extent, then this really allowed the whole discipline of astrobiology to blossom because suddenly we had to figure out, you know, what -- how do we understand, how can we possibly search for life and other objects, other planets, you know, what do we need to look for? Because we're used to looking for life on earth, you know, it's -- it's simple. Just walking over here, I, you know, I had to wait while an opossum walked past me in front of, on the walkway. You know, life is everywhere on earth, whereas on Mars, you know, maybe it's not everywhere, and if it was there, how are we going to tell that it was there? What -- what do we need to do? So I would say the import of Allan Hill's not so much that it was hypothesized that life -- fossils of life are in that rock, but that it caused scientists to really take a much more rigorous look at how they will search for life other places of the universe. Host: Wow. And that's -- that's kind of, you know, like you said, the birth, maybe not the birth, but really the blossoming, and that was the word you used of, of astrobiology, life forming outside of earth. That's just a wild concept. How is that even possible? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, and, you know, the other thing is it did, it was a strong impetus to driving NASA's Mars exploration program, you know, it is -- - a lot of it is geared towards finding evidence for habitability locations on Mars, and, ultimately, you know, from locations where we think there may have been a chance for life, you know, bringing back or -- or studying in situ samples for possible evidence of microbial or -- or larger life on Mars. Host: Yeah, and you said you were, before we started recording, you said you actually were working with Opportunity too, one of the rovers on Mars. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah. I, in 2005, I got attached to the Mars Exploration Rover mission. At the time, we had two rovers going, one Spirit in Gusev Crater, and the other, Opportunity, in Meridiani Planum. Subsequently, Spirit froze to death one winter. Basically, so Spirit lost mobility of one of its wheels, so we were driving backwards, dragging one of the front wheels like a boat anchor through the soil... Host: Oh, man. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And we, you know, the Rover drivers and scientists are very careful. We drove over an area that looked like it was going to be solid, trafficable ground, but it turned out there was a basically a hardpan; layer on top of soil hardpan is kind of an indurated layer that's a little bit stiffer, so it didn't look like it was, you know, loose sand, but it turns out we broke through and got mired in a deep sandpit, basically, and we were unable to extract the rover from the sand, in spite of heroic efforts by the engineers, the Rover drivers at JPL, and the solar panel was tilted at a bad angle for, you know, the oncoming winter sun. So when the sun started getting lower and lower, relative to the tile of the -- of the solar panel, we -- we simply were not getting enough power to keep the rover going and although we tried to contact it again after that winter, we never heard from it again, so it basically just froze to death on Mars. Host: Oh, man, but is Opportunity its twin? Is it the... Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yep, Opportunity is it's twin. Host: And that one's still going, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And that one's still going. We're now so -- we're not -- what day is today? Host: The 8th. Yeah, we're now about two weeks away from the anniversary, the 16the anniversary of landing on Mars for Opportunity. Host: 14 years? Wow! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: It's still going strong, and we are still actively exploring the geology of Meridiani Planum. We don't have all the instruments we had when we landed, but we're still making great scientific discoveries, even with the limited rover ability. Host: How about that? So how is -- how was, you know, working with a rover on Mars different from looking at meteorites? Maybe even martian meteorites, like the Allan Hills, here on earth? How is that different? Well, so, you know, here on earth, I have the luxury of taking a sample into the lab and -- and using state-of-the-art scientific equipment to -- to tease out, tease out its story. On Mars, we have cameras that we can use to image the terrain. So right away, textures, and we have a microscopic camera, so textures allow us to, you know, make inferences about what the rock -- how the rock might have been formed. We have a camera with 13 color filters on it, so we can do some limited spectroscopy of the rock that helps us compare a limited set of mineralogical variations in the rocks, and then we have the alpha particle x-ray spectrometer, which allows us to do bulk compositions of surfaces. So, between them, we -- we can -- we can get a fairly good handle of the mineral -- well, mostly the textures and bulk composition, and, to some extent, neurology of a rock, and that helps us understand what processes might have formed the rock altogether. And, you know, to some extent, where Opportunity is a high-tech version of a 19th century terrestrial geologist. [Gary laughing] But, you know, the, obviously the spectrometer is better than what they had in the 19th century, and the chemical composition is as -- as good as we could do then and actually better for many elements, but we're still not at the cutting edge, as you -- as you could do if you had a, you know, a mobile laboratory up on Mars. Host: Yeah, definitely. And that's kind of your -- your trade-off, right? Is like, here, you know, you can bring into a lab with all the latest equipment and -- and study these meteorites, but, like you said before, like there's a certain amount of contamination that's going on with just the fact that a meteorite has come through the atmosphere and hit the -- hit the -- surface of the earth, you know, you have to deal with that, but then you have limited instruments right there on -- on Mars. So, I guess you just kind of have these tradeoffs [laughing]. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yep. Host: So another one that you mentioned, another infamous meteorite, was one called Orgueil, and that's one -- that one's much earlier than the Allan Hills one, right? Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So Orgueil fell in France in 1864, if I -- if I remember right, and what's key here is it's a -- it's a very primitive type of meteorite. It's a carbonaceous chondrite. The -- the two letter name for it is a CI carbonate -- chondrite. These are amongst the most primitive materials, primitive meteorites that we have for study. They're bulk compositions, basically are identical to what we see for the photosphere of the sun, excluding the most volatile elements like -- like helium, hydrogen, and oxygen and so forth, but if you could take the sun, you know, a cubic kilometer of the sun and condense out all the condensable matter, it would -- the composition would be very much like a carbonaceous, CI carbonaceous chondrite. So, these have always been the touchstone for understanding the chemical evolution of the solar system. They are our -- our basis for seeing who has varied from the original composition. But they're highly-altered, so they are almost completely made up of clays and other low-temperature alteration phases. So the original high-temperature phases have been replaced. So, at some point, these things were altered by water in their parent asteroid to the point where all that's left is -- is basically clay. This makes them [sigh] -- this made Orgueil susceptible to nefarious individual, tempting to prove something, what don't know, because we don't know who that individual was, but, you know, I would call Orgueil the Piltdown Man of meteorites. So Piltdown Man was -- was this fake fossil made in about 1912 I think to look like it had some of the attributes of an ape, but some of the attributes of a modern human, because someone that that's the way human evolution went, and they wanted to show that we had fossils that fit in within that theory. Well, Orgueil, at some point, was broken open, and it turns out, because this is clay, you can -- if you get it good and wet, you can kind of break it open like clay, and then they had stuffed in terrestrial seeds and plant fragments and coal, and then put it back together, and coated the outside with glue to make it look like it still had the fusion crust on it. Host: Oh my gosh! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And then this sample was sealed in a bell jar in a museum from 1864, so apparently it happened very early, we don't know who did it, or why, you know, what were they trying to accomplish by this? Because it was going to be sealed in a bell jar, you know, did they think someone was going to then take it out and look at it, I don't know, but this -- this came to light in 1960's then. Host: Oh! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And so, a well-known meteoriticist, by the name of Ed Anders, very famous, very smart man, he led a study that was published 100 years later, in 1964 in science, where he uncovered, you know, all of this forensic meteoritic work where he showed that, you know, the seeds were, you know, terrestrial seeds, the coal fragments were in there, that glue had been used to put it back together and make it look like it was whole, and -- and all of this, and -- and so that's why, you know, this is an infamous -- infamous meteorite for those who are in the know. Most people won't have heard of it, but, you know, like I said, it's kind of the Piltdown Man of meteoritics. Host: Wow! Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So someone had an agenda, they wanted -- they, for some reason, they wanted to show that life could form on an asteroid or -- or in space, or something, I don't know, but, obviously, they had -- they had some agenda when they did this. Host: Yeah, I know, but seeds and glue are not really a good way to convince people [laughter]. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: No. You know, back in the, you know, mid-19th century, you know, had it been opened up and studied then, maybe it would have caused quite a furor, but, as far as I know, this was only discovered in, you know, a century later. Host: Wow! A hundred years of people thinking this is some kind of like capsule of extraterrestrial life, how about that? So, you know, all of these kind of tell a story and, unfortunately, some of them, this [laughing] -- this particular one is a little bit of a lie, but, you know, we are cracking these open to search for evidence of -- of whatever we can find, right? Maybe -- maybe the formation of a planet, maybe the formation of solar system, maybe the formation of life. So, you know, what, in a perfect world, I guess, what would you like to do -- what would you like to study? What would you like to see and do to really maximize what you can find about learning more about our solar system and about life in the universe Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Well, I mean, that -- that's kind of a difficult question for a scientist to answer, because, you know, truth be told, we're all paid to pursue our hobbies, and so we all have our own hobby horses. So, as I -- as I mentioned, you know, my particular interests are in igneous processes, I, you know, on the earth, moon, Mars, asteroids, I -- I like magmatic rocks, and, you know, I couldn't tell you why, it's just the way I am [Gary laughing]. So, one of the things -- one of the things that's very curious about asteroidal igneous rocks is that asteroids were melted very early in the solar system, probably within a couple million years of the formation of the earliest-known solids in the solar system. So something had to heat up relatively small objects, maybe a few hundred kilometers, you know, 200 miles in -- or in radius, something like that, to the point where they were melted and then cooled down and then they completely shut off after that. So, it was a very, very intense heat source that acted early, died out, and then never came back. You know, we think we know what -- what caused this, but there, you know, and so the -- the leading contender is radioactive heating by a very short-lived isotope of aluminum. It has a half-life of about 730 million years, and so, and aluminum is a -- is a major element in rocks, so, if you -- if you accumulate an asteroid early enough, when there's this aluminum-27 still alive, you've, you know, -- you've then encapsulated a very potent heat source inside that rock. And so that's what we think happened, but, still, you know, we can admit, as scientists, we can imagine this process going on, but geology is always much more complicated than our imaginations. So there are things that I don't understand, things that, as far as I know, no one really understands about how asteroids went from being primitive objects that accumulated from minerals formed in the solar nebula to basically a molten ball that then crystallized out igneous magmatic rocks, similar to what we see on earth. I would desperately like to get, you know, be able to find out more about how -- what was going on, you know, what have we missed, because we, you know, we tend to think of things in -- in the simplest terms, you know, it was heated up, melted, crystallized, that's it, well, we know that -- that's not all the story. Host: Yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And I think all meteoriticists have, in the back of their minds, for their particular hobby horses, just things they don't quite understand. They know the -- the broader picture, but what are the finer details that went into -- to this. We -- we know we've got the basic story, but what are, you know, all the chapter and verse that go into this basic story? Host: Wow. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: So, you know, that's what drives me, and it's all -- it's all a matter of, you know, learning something new that -- that, you know, pushes forth human knowledge. You know, what I do is -- is nowhere near applied science. It's pure basic science. So I can't -- I can't talk to someone and say, you know, tomorrow, you're going to be able to have a better life because of what I do, only if, you know, unless you think a better life means knowing more [Gary laughing]. But you never know, because, in -- in general, a large fraction of basic research ultimately does find an application. Right now, I don't know what that application might be, but I won't say there's never going to be some application for what I do, but, for me, it's -- it's this sense of learning something that -- that drives me. Host: Yeah. Why learn if you don't think it's going to end up, you know, giving you a better life. I mean, honestly, like, you know, learning things kind of helps you understand things, helps things come together, to me, that makes me pretty happy. So I could see that, you know, better understanding, giving me a better life. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, well, I mean, you know, humans have always been curious, and, you know, I suspect the reason we're curious is because it's beneficial for survival, because, you know, when -- when you're out on the savannah hunting lions, or hunting gazelles, if you see something moving the weeds over there, you know, okay, is that a gazelle or is that a lion about to eat me instead? So, you know, humans are geared to being curious about their environment, because it's a survival mechanism. Host: Yeah. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: And, for scientists, we have now transposed that, you know, away from worrying about whether we're going to be eaten to just, you know, a broad knowledge in general. Host: [Laughing] Well, I think last time we sat down with Dr. Burton, he said, he kept talking about this time machine, how easy it would be -- how nice it would be to just kind of hop in a time machine, watch these processes take place, and be like, ah [snapping fingers], that's how -- that's how it takes place. I mean, and then there's whole philosophical idea of, well, is that going to alter the universe if you go back in time and watch these things? So, you know, that was another tangient we could have gone on and we didn't, but [laughter], but it would be nice to, you know, for the, you know, to improve our knowledge a little bit of how all this stuff works and comes together. Alright, so, Duck, I think -- I think that about wraps it up for today. So, thank you so much for coming on the podcast and kind of... Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: It's been a pleasure. I hope I've imparted something that makes sense to the listeners and -- and that they will find interesting. Host: It's actually you know, you know, we're talking about rocks, if you think about it, but it's absolutely fascinating, what you can found and the stories behind these rocks and what they tell you about the universe, and even just your trips to Antarctica are pretty fascinating as well, so, again, thanks so much for coming on and telling the stories of these beautiful rocks and your trips to Antarctica, and, yeah, hopefully we'll -- we'll find some cool evidence of life or, you know, you'll find that key ingredient as to why, you know, the asteroids did what they did. Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt: Yeah, well, I hope so, and thank you very much for the invite! Host: Absolutely. [ Music & Radio Transmissions ] Hey, thanks for sticking around. So, today, we talked with Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt about some of the cooler, infamous meteorites that have been discovered throughout the years, and then some interesting stories about Antarctica and how he's finding them, it's really a cool process, and he works with the ANSMET, it's the Antarctic Search for Meteorites. So if you want to learn more about ANSMET and some of the adventures that are going on in Antarctica, and some of the curious findings in these meteorites, especially some that may or may not be life, it turns out there was some, you know, fake meteorites at the end of there, which is kind of disappointing, but that's okay. You can go to ares.jsc.nasa.gov to get the full scoop on all of these cool meteorites, and -- and you can learn how to get your hands on one of these meteorite samples to study them. If you go to social media on the NASA Johnson Space Center accounts, or if you go to ARES, or astromaterials, NASA astromaterials, we got pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we like to share these stories, just use the hashtag, ask NASA, on -- on your favorite platform to submit an idea, or if you have a question about meteorites, or if you want to submit a new topic for the show, to make sure to mention it's for, Houston, We Have A Podcast. So this podcast was recorded on January 8th, 2018. Thanks to Alex Perryman, Greg Wiseman, Tracy Calhoun, and Jenny Knots, and thanks again to Dr. Duck Mittlefehldt for coming on the show! We'll be back next week!