High frequency ultrasound sacral images in the critically ill: Tissue characteristics versus visual evaluation.

Purpose: High frequency ultrasound (HFUS) systems may identify tissue injury. We compared HFUS tissue characteristics (dermal thickness and dermal density) with visual image examination.

Methods: Longitudinal study in critically ill mechanically ventilated adults, from three ICUs (Surgical Trauma, Medical Respiratory, Neuroscience) enrolled within 24hours of airway intubation.

Hybrid Nitrous Oxide Production from a Partial Nitrifying Bioreactor: Hydroxylamine Interactions with Nitrite.

The goal of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of nitrous oxide (NO) production from a bioreactor for partial nitrification (PN). Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) enriched from a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were subjected to NO production pathway tests. The NO pathway test was initiated by supplying an inorganic medium to ensure an initial NH-N concentration of 160 mg-N/L, followed by NO (20 mg-N/L) and dual NHOH (each 17 mg-N/L) spikings to quantify isotopologs of gaseous NO (NO, NO, and NO).

Non-invasive Hall current distribution measurement in a Hall effect thruster.

A means is presented to determine the Hall current density distribution in a closed drift thruster by remotely measuring the magnetic field and solving the inverse problem for the current density. The magnetic field was measured by employing an array of eight tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) sensors capable of milligauss sensitivity when placed in a high background field. The array was positioned just outside the thruster channel on a 1.

Assessing Continuous Operator Workload With a Hybrid Scaffolded Neuroergonomic Modeling Approach.

Objective: We aimed to predict operator workload from neurological data using statistical learning methods to fit neurological-to-state-assessment models.

Background: Adaptive systems require real-time mental workload assessment to perform dynamic task allocations or operator augmentation as workload issues arise. Neuroergonomic measures have great potential for informing adaptive systems, and we combine these measures with models of task demand as well as information about critical events and performance to clarify the inherent ambiguity of interpretation.

Effects of combined exposure to metals, solvents, and noise on permanent threshold shifts.

Background: Studies suggest metal and solvent exposure may damage hearing. This study evaluated the association between exposures classified as high for metals, solvents, and noise on permanent threshold shift (PTS) development.

Methods: A total of 1,546 personnel at an industrial shipyard were divided into five exposure groups based on level of concentration: high noise, high metals/solvents, high metals/noise, high metals/solvents/noise, and a low metals/solvents/noise reference group.

A systems dynamics approach to the efficacy of oxime therapy for mild exposure to sarin gas.

The use of nerve agents such as sarin is as much a threat today as any other time in our history. The events in Syria in 2013 are proof of this. "The Obama administration asserted Sunday for the first time that the Syrian government used the nerve gas sarin to kill more than 1,400 people (August 21, 2013) in the world's gravest chemical weapons attack in 25 years.

Plutonium segregation in glassy aerodynamic fallout from a nuclear weapon test.

This study combines electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy to probe major element composition and autoradiography to map plutonium in order to examine the spatial relationships between plutonium and fallout composition in aerodynamic glassy fallout from a nuclear weapon test. A sample set of 48 individual fallout specimens were interrogated to reveal that the significant chemical heterogeneity of this sample set could be described compositionally with a relatively small number of compositional endmembers. Furthermore, high concentrations of plutonium were never associated with several endmember compositions and concentrated with the so-called mafic glass endmember.

Evaluating the Potential of Marginal Land for Cellulosic Feedstock Production and Carbon Sequestration in the United States.

Land availability for growing feedstocks at scale is a crucial concern for the bioenergy industry. Feedstock production on land not well-suited to growing conventional crops, or marginal land, is often promoted as ideal, although there is a poor understanding of the qualities, quantity, and distribution of marginal lands in the United States. We examine the spatial distribution of land complying with several key marginal land definitions at the United States county, agro-ecological zone, and national scales, and compare the ability of both marginal land and land cover data sets to identify regions for feedstock production.

Acute partial sleep deprivation due to environmental noise increases weight gain by reducing energy expenditure in rodents.

Objective: Chronic partial sleep deprivation (SD) by environmental noise exposure increases weight gain and feeding in rodents, which contrasts weight loss after acute SD by physical methods. This study tested whether acute environmental noise exposure reduced sleep and its effect on weight gain, food intake, physical activity, and energy expenditure (EE). It was hypothesized that acute exposure would (1) increase weight gain and feeding and (2) reduce sleep, physical activity, and EE (total and individual components); and (3) behavioral changes would persist throughout recovery from SD.

The lattice stiffening transition in UO single crystals.

The effective Debye temperatures ([Formula: see text]) of the surface region of UO single crystals, prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis technique, were obtained from temperature-dependent x-ray photoemission in the temperature range of 300 K-623 K. A lattice stiffening transition, characterized by different regions of different effective Debye temperature, 500  ±  59 K below 475 K and 165  ±  21 K above 475 K is identified. A comparison of the temperature dependence of the effective UO Debye temperature, with the changes in the lattice expansion coefficient for UO, support strong lattice-phonon interaction arising from the Jahn-Teller distortion.

Tip-Clearance Measurement in the First Stage of the Compressor of an Aircraft Engine.

In this article, we report the design of a reflective intensity-modulated optical fiber sensor for blade tip-clearance measurement, and the experimental results for the first stage of a compressor of an aircraft engine operating in real conditions. The tests were performed in a ground test cell, where the engine completed four cycles from idling state to takeoff and back to idling state. During these tests, the rotational speed of the compressor ranged between 7000 and 15,600 rpm.

Numerical quadrature over smooth, closed surfaces.

The numerical approximation of definite integrals, or quadrature, often involves the construction of an interpolant of the integrand and its subsequent integration. In the case of one dimension it is natural to rely on polynomial interpolants. However, their extension to two or more dimensions can be costly and unstable.

Tissue interface pressure and skin integrity in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients.

Objective: To describe tissue interface pressure, time spent above critical pressure levels and the effect on skin integrity at seven anatomical locations.

Design, Setting, Patients: Descriptive, longitudinal study in critically ill mechanically ventilated adults, from Surgical Trauma ICU-STICU; Medical Respiratory ICU-MRICU; Neuroscience ICU-NSICU in a Mid-Atlantic urban university medical centre. Subjects were enroled in the study within 24hours of intubation.

Progressive effects of silver nanoparticles on hormonal regulation of reproduction in male rats.

The growing use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various applications, including consumer, agriculture and medicine products, has raised many concerns about the potential risks of nanoparticles (NPs) to human health and the environment. An increasing body of evidence suggests that AgNPs may have adverse effects of humans, thus the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of AgNPs on the male reproductive system. Silver particles (20nm AgNPs (groups Ag I and Ag II) and 200nm Ag sub-micron particles (SPs) (group Ag III)) were administered intravenously to male Wistar rats at a dose of 5 (groups Ag I and Ag III) or 10 (group Ag II) mg/kg of body weight.

Injury Characteristics and Outcomes in Elderly Trauma Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Traumatic injury in the elderly is an emerging global problem with an associated increase in morbidity and mortality. This study sought to describe the epidemiology of elderly injury and outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients (≥ 18 years) with traumatic injuries presenting to the Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe, Malawi, over 5 years (2009-2013).

The effect of malathion on the activity, performance, and microbial ecology of activated sludge.

This study evaluated the effect of a VX (O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate) surrogate (malathion) on the activity, performance, and ecology of activated sludge bioreactors. In the presence of malathion, the maximum observed respiration rates varied between 43 and 53 μg/O2 min, generally similar to the 49 μg O2/min rates observed in controls. Malathion did not alter the respiration ratio of O2 consumed-to-CO2 produced nor did it impact the shape of the oxygen consumption curves during respirometry.

Novel carbon nanotube (CNT)-based ultrasensitive sensors for trace mercury(II) detection in water: A review.

Infamous for "Mad hatter syndrome" and "Minamata disease", mercury (Hg) is ranked high on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's priority list of hazardous substances for its potent neurologic, renal, and developmental toxicities. Most typical exposures are via contaminated water and food. Although regulations and advisories are exercised at various levels, Hg pollution from both natural and anthropogenic sources has remained a major public health and safety concern.

Predictive coupled-cluster isomer orderings for some SinCm (m, n ≤ 12) clusters: A pragmatic comparison between DFT and complete basis limit coupled-cluster benchmarks.

The accurate determination of the preferred Si12C12 isomer is important to guide experimental efforts directed towards synthesizing SiC nano-wires and related polymer structures which are anticipated to be highly efficient exciton materials for the opto-electronic devices. In order to definitively identify preferred isomeric structures for silicon carbon nano-clusters, highly accurate geometries, energies, and harmonic zero point energies have been computed using coupled-cluster theory with systematic extrapolation to the complete basis limit for set of silicon carbon clusters ranging in size from SiC3 to Si12C12. It is found that post-MBPT(2) correlation energy plays a significant role in obtaining converged relative isomer energies, suggesting that predictions using low rung density functional methods will not have adequate accuracy.

Laboratory evaluation of airborne particulate control treatments for simulated aircraft crash recovery operations involving carbon fiber composite materials.

Objective: This study compared four treatment protocols to reduce airborne composite fiber particulates during simulated aircraft crash recovery operations.

Design: Four different treatments were applied to determine effectiveness in reducing airborne composite fiber particulates as compared to a "no treatment" protocol. Both "gold standard" gravimetric methods and real-time instruments were used to describe mass per volume concentration, particle size distribution, and surface area.

Backrest Elevation and Tissue Interface Pressure by Anatomical Location During Mechanical Ventilation.

Background: Backrest elevations less than 30° are recommended to reduce pressure ulcers, but positions greater than 30° are recommended during mechanical ventilation to reduce risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Interface pressure may vary with level of backrest elevation and anatomical location (eg, sacrum, heels).

Objective: To describe backrest elevation and anatomical location and intensity of skin pressure across the body in patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

The closo-Si12C12 molecule from cluster to crystal: A theoretical prediction.

The structure of closo-Si12C12 is unique among stable SinCm isomers (n, m > 4) because of its high symmetry, π-π stacking of C6 rings and unsaturated silicon atoms at symmetrical peripheral positions. Dimerization potential surfaces reveal various dimerization reactions that form between two closo-Si12C12 molecules through Si-Si bonds at unsaturated Si atoms. As a result the closo-Si12C12 molecule is capable of polymerization to form stable 1D polymer chains, 2D crystal layers, and 3D crystals.

Nanomechanical Characterization of Bacillus anthracis Spores by Atomic Force Microscopy.

Unlabelled: The study of structures and properties of bacterial spores is important to understanding spore formation and biological responses to environmental stresses. While significant progress has been made over the years in elucidating the multilayer architecture of spores, the mechanical properties of the spore interior are not known. Here, we present a thermal atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the nanomechanical properties of internal structures of Bacillus anthracis spores.

Population structure and phylogeography of the Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) across the Scotia Arc.

Climate change, fisheries' pressure on penguin prey, and direct human disturbance of wildlife have all been implicated in causing large shifts in the abundance and distribution of penguins in the Southern Ocean. Without mark-recapture studies, understanding how colonies form and, by extension, how ranges shift is challenging. Genetic studies, particularly focused on newly established colonies, provide a snapshot of colonization and can reveal the extent to which shifts in abundance and occupancy result from changes in demographic rates (e.