Zr-Based MOF-545 Metal-Organic Framework Loaded with Highly Dispersed Small Size Ni Nanoparticles for CO2 Methanation

We report the use of Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) MOF-545 and MOF-545(Cu) as supports to prepare catalysts with uniformly and highly dispersed Ni nanoparticles (NPs) for CO2 hydrogenation into CH4. In the first step, we studied the MOF support under catalytic conditions using operando diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy, ex situ characterizations (PXRD, XPS, TEM, and EDX-element mapping), and DFT calculations. We showed that the high-temperature conditions undoubtedly confer a potential for catalytic functionality to the solids toward CH4 production, while no role of the Cu could be evidenced. The MOF was shown to be transformed into a catalytically active material, amorphized but still structured with dehydroxylated Zr-oxoclusters, in line with DFT calculations. In the second step, Ni@MOF-545 catalysts were prepared using either impregnation (IM) or double solvent (DS) methods, followed by a dry reduction (R) route under H2 to immobilize Ni NPs. The highest catalytic activity was obtained with the Ni@MOF-545 DS R catalyst (595 mmolCH4 gNi-1 h-1) with 100% CH4 selectivity and 60% CO2 conversion after ∼3 h. The higher catalytic activity of Ni@MOF-545 DS R is a result of much smaller (∼5 nm) and better dispersed Ni NPs than in the IM sample (20-40 nm), the latter exhibiting sintering. The advantages of the encapsulation of Ni NPs by the DS method and of the use of a MOF-545-based support are discussed, highlighting the interest of designing yet-unexplored Zr-based MOFs loaded with Ni NPs for CO2 hydrogenation.

General Offending and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in Young Adulthood: A Dutch Longitudinal Study

This study examines the relationship between general offending and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in young adulthood, using a Dutch longitudinal study. Young adults were followed over four waves, and self-reported data on general offending, IPV perpetration, and a number of individual characteristics were collected. Results of random effects models demonstrated that young adults involved in more diverse offending behavior reported higher levels of different types of IPV perpetration, even when individual factors were taken into account. Moreover, logistic regression analyses showed that general offending was also related to an increased likelihood of continuity in IPV perpetration. Taken together, the findings indicate that it is useful to view IPV perpetration as part of a broader criminal career.

The Relationship Between the Development of General Offending and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration in Young Adulthood

This study examined how patterns in general offending relate to the occurrence of and likelihood of persistence in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in young adulthood. The study used longitudinal data from the cohort of 18 year olds from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods study. Self-reported offending was measured in all three waves, and data on IPV were collected in Waves 1 and 3. Group-based trajectory modeling identified three distinct general offending trajectory groups: non-offenders, low-rate offenders, and high-rate offenders. The majority of respondents engaged in psychological IPV perpetration, and half of all young adults reported physical IPV, but prevalence rates decreased over the waves. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that those involved in offending, especially those who showed a diverse offending pattern, were at increased risk of perpetrating psychological and (severe) physical IPV, as well as to show persistence in the different forms of IPV perpetration. The findings highlight an important overlap between general crime and IPV perpetration. In recognition that IPV is often part of a broader pattern of antisocial behavior, interventions should focus on interrupting the criminal careers of all young offenders to reduce the prevalence and harms of IPV.

Associations of Later-Life Education, the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism and Cognitive Change in Older Adults

In 358 participants of the Tasmanian Healthy Brain Project, we quantified the cognitive consequences of engaging in varying loads of university-level education in later life, and investigated whether or not BDNF Val66Met affected outcomes. Assessment of neuropsychological, health, and psychosocial function was undertaken at baseline, 12-month, and 24-month follow-up. Education load was positively associated with change in language processing performance, but this effect did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.064). The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism significantly moderated the extent to which education load was associated with improved language processing (P = 0.026), with education load having a significant positive relationship with cognitive change in BDNF Met carriers but not in BDNF Val homozygotes. In older adults who carry BDNF Met, engaging in university-level education improves language processing performance in a load-dependent manner.

Measurement of the Spectral Shape of the β-Decay of ^{137}Xe to the Ground State of ^{137}Cs in EXO-200 and Comparison with Theory

We report on a comparison between the theoretically predicted and experimentally measured spectra of the first-forbidden nonunique β-decay transition ^{137}Xe(7/2^{-})→^{137}Cs(7/2^{+}). The experimental data were acquired by the EXO-200 experiment during a deployment of an AmBe neutron source. The ultralow background environment of EXO-200, together with dedicated source deployment and analysis procedures, allowed for collection of a pure sample of the decays, with an estimated signal to background ratio of more than 99 to 1 in the energy range from 1075 to 4175 keV. In addition to providing a rare and accurate measurement of the first-forbidden nonunique β-decay shape, this work constitutes a novel test of the calculated electron spectral shapes in the context of the reactor antineutrino anomaly and spectral bump.

Search for Neutrinoless Double-β Decay with the Complete EXO-200 Dataset

A search for neutrinoless double-β decay (0νββ) in ^{136}Xe is performed with the full EXO-200 dataset using a deep neural network to discriminate between 0νββ and background events. Relative to previous analyses, the signal detection efficiency has been raised from 80.8% to 96.4±3.0%, and the energy resolution of the detector at the Q value of ^{136}Xe 0νββ has been improved from σ/E=1.23% to 1.15±0.02% with the upgraded detector. Accounting for the new data, the median 90% confidence level 0νββ half-life sensitivity for this analysis is 5.0×10^{25}  yr with a total ^{136}Xe exposure of 234.1 kg yr. No statistically significant evidence for 0νββ is observed, leading to a lower limit on the 0νββ half-life of 3.5×10^{25}  yr at the 90% confidence level.

Impact of rotavirus vaccine on all-cause diarrhea and rotavirus hospitalizations in Madagascar

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus vaccine was introduced into the Extended Program on Immunization in Madagascar in May 2014. We analyzed trends in prevalence of all cause diarrhea and rotavirus hospitalization in children <5years of age before and after vaccine introduction and assessed trend of circulating rotavirus genotypes at Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mère Enfant Tsaralalàna (CHU MET).

METHODS

From January 2010 to December 2016, we reviewed the admission logbook to observe the rate of hospitalization caused by gastroenteritis among 19619 children <5years of age admitted at the hospital. In June 2013-December 2016, active rotavirus surveillance was also conducted at CHUMET with support from WHO. Rotavirus antigen was detected by EIA from stool specimen of children who are eligible for rotavirus gastroenteritis surveillance at sentinel site laboratory and rotavirus positive specimens were further genotyped at Regional Reference Laboratory by RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Diarrhea hospitalizations decreased after rotavirus vaccine introduction. The median proportion of annual hospitalizations due to diarrhea was 26% (range: 31-22%) before vaccine introduction; the proportion was 25% the year of vaccine introduction, 17% in 2015 and 16% in 2016. Rotavirus positivity paralleled patterns observed in diarrhea. Before vaccine introduction, 56% of stool specimens tested positive for rotavirus; the percent positive was 13% in 2015, 12% in 2016. Diverse genotypes were detected in the pre-vaccine period; the most common were G3P[8] (n=53; 66%), G2P[4] (n=12; 15%), and G1P[8] (n=11; 14%). 6 distinct genotypes were found in 2015; the most common genotype was G2P[4] (n=10; 67%), the remaining, 5, G12[P8], G3[P8], G1G3[P4], G3G12[P4][P8] and G1G3[NT] had one positive specimen each.

CONCLUSIONS

Following rotavirus vaccine introduction all-cause diarrhea and rotavirus-specific hospitalizations declined dramatically. The most common genotypes detected in the pre-vaccine period were G3P[8] and G2P[4] in 2015, the post vaccine period.

Gasoline cars produce more carbonaceous particulate matter than modern filter-equipped diesel cars

Carbonaceous particulate matter (PM), comprising black carbon (BC), primary organic aerosol (POA) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA, from atmospheric aging of precursors), is a highly toxic vehicle exhaust component. Therefore, understanding vehicle pollution requires knowledge of both primary emissions, and how these emissions age in the atmosphere. We provide a systematic examination of carbonaceous PM emissions and parameterisation of SOA formation from modern diesel and gasoline cars at different temperatures (22, -7 °C) during controlled laboratory experiments. Carbonaceous PM emission and SOA formation is markedly higher from gasoline than diesel particle filter (DPF) and catalyst-equipped diesel cars, more so at -7 °C, contrasting with nitrogen oxides (NOX). Higher SOA formation from gasoline cars and primary emission reductions for diesels implies gasoline cars will increasingly dominate vehicular total carbonaceous PM, though older non-DPF-equipped diesels will continue to dominate the primary fraction for some time. Supported by state-of-the-art source apportionment of ambient fossil fuel derived PM, our results show that whether gasoline or diesel cars are more polluting depends on the pollutant in question, i.e. that diesel cars are not necessarily worse polluters than gasoline cars.

Reducing Repeat Victimization Among High-Risk Victims of Domestic Violence

The goal of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) is to provide a forum for sharing information and taking actions to reduce harm to high-risk domestic violence victims. Interviews with participants and victims, observations, and police data reveal how the MARACs work in practice and also what they can accomplish. Results showed MARACs to be invaluable: Agencies assisted victims more efficiently, primarily through enhanced information sharing. MARACs improve victims' safety because both police and victim data revealed that 6 in 10 victims had not been revictimized. These positive results demonstrate the benefits of a coordinated community response.

Neonatal infections with multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. cloacae and K. pneumoniae in Neonatal Units of two different Hospitals in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Background

We investigated the molecular mechanism of ß-lactam resistance in extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterial strains isolated in neonatal units of different hospitals in Anatnanarivo, Madagascar.

Methods

Bacteria were identified by standard biochemical methods, disc diffusion antibiograms and Etest. Resistance genes were sought by PCR. Strains were characterized by Rep-PCR (Diversilab), plasmid analysis and rep-typing.

Results

From April 2012 to March 2013, 29 ESBL-producing E. cloacae and 15 K. pneumoniae were isolated from blood culture (n = 32) or gastric samples (n = 12) performed at day 0 or 2 from 39/303 newborns suspected of early neonatal infection. These infants were treated with expanded spectrum cephalosporins, due to lack of carbapenems, leading to a high mortality rate (45 %). Isolates recovered were all, but 4, multidrug resistant, particularly to fluoroquinolones (FQ) except for 21 E. cloacae isolates. Isolates produced TEM-1 and CTX-M-15 ß-lactamases and their genes were located on several self-transferable plasmids of variable sizes sizes that could not be linked to a major plasmid incompatibility group. E. cloacae isolates belonged to 6 Rep-types among which two counted for 11 isolates each. The FQ resistant E. cloacae isolates belonged to one clone, whereas the FQ susceptible E. cloacae isolates belonged to four clones. The K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to 9 Rep-types among which one included five isolates.

Conclusion

This study is the first molecular characterization of ESBL-producing isolates from neonatology units in Madagascar, a country with limited epidemiological data. It revealed an important multi-clonal dissemination of CTX-M-15-producing isolates reflecting both the high community carriage and the very early nosocomial contamination of the neonates.

Enumeration of sublethally injured Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895 and Escherichia coli strain B-41560 using selective agar overlays versus commercial methods

Quality control procedures during food processing may involve direct inoculation of food samples onto appropriate selective media for subsequent enumeration. However, sublethally injured bacteria often fail to grow, enabling them to evade detection and intervention measures and ultimately threaten the health of consumers. This study compares traditional selective and nonselective agar-based overlays versus two commercial systems (Petrifilm and Easygel) for recovery of injured E. coli B-41560 and O157:H7 strains. Bacteria were propagated in tryptic soy broth (TSB), ground beef slurry, and infant milk formula to a density of 10(6) to 10(8) CFU/ml and then were stressed for 6 min either in lactic acid (pH 4.5) or heat shocked for 3 min at 60°C. Samples were pour plated in basal layers of either tryptic soy agar (TSA), sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC), or violet red bile agar (VRB) and were resuscitated for 4 h prior to addition of agar overlays. Other stressed bacteria were plated directly onto Petrifilm and Easygel. Results indicate that selective and nonselective agar overlays recovered significantly higher numbers (greater than 1 log) of acid- and heat-injured E. coli O157:H7 from TSB, ground beef, and infant milk formula compared with direct plating onto selective media, Petrifilm, or Easygel, while no significant differences among these media combinations were observed for stressed E. coli B-41560. Nonstressed bacteria from TSB and ground beef were also recovered at densities significantly higher in nonselective TSA-TSA and in VRB-VRB and SMAC-SMAC compared with Petrifilm and Easygel. These data underscore the need to implement food safety measures that address sublethally injured pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7 in order to avoid underestimation of true densities for target pathogens.

Judging risk: key determinants in British domestic violence cases

Data from the largest study to date of the working practices of British victim support workers (known as Independent Domestic Violence Advisors or IDVAs) are used to provide insight into how "risk judgments" are made in cases of domestic violence. Using data from more than 2,000 victims, this study found a convergence between actuarial data and IDVAs' risk judgments when the risk score was high, but in cases with a lower risk score, IDVAs often used their professional judgment to upgrade risk. Next, we identified the specific factors underpinning IDVAs' risk judgments. Consistent with existing research, we found that IDVAs relied on a subset of available information when forming risk judgments, and characteristics of the abusive situation, such as the escalation of violence, use of weapons, stalking, and significant injuries, were particularly salient to them. Furthermore, IDVAs paid attention to victims' perceptions and when they felt very frightened or afraid of further injury then IDVAs were more likely to label them as high risk. Although we identified some encouraging overlap between the subset of factors informing risk judgments and those associated with victims' reabuse at a later date, some notable differences indicate a need for messages from research about the significance of particular risk factors to be reinforced to frontline practitioners on a regular basis.

Organic aerosol formation downwind from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

A large fraction of atmospheric aerosols are derived from organic compounds with various volatilities. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) WP-3D research aircraft made airborne measurements of the gaseous and aerosol composition of air over the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred from April to August 2010. A narrow plume of hydrocarbons was observed downwind of DWH that is attributed to the evaporation of fresh oil on the sea surface. A much wider plume with high concentrations of organic aerosol (>25 micrograms per cubic meter) was attributed to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from unmeasured, less volatile hydrocarbons that were emitted from a wider area around DWH. These observations provide direct and compelling evidence for the importance of formation of SOA from less volatile hydrocarbons.

[Cutaneous tuberculosis: a pediatric case in Madagascar]

Cutaneous manifestation of tuberculosis is still observed in countries with high endemicity of tuberculosis such as Madagascar. The purpose of this report is to describe a case of nodular type cutaneous tuberculosis located in the subclavian region of a 5-month-old child living in Antananarivo, Madagascar. In absence of bacteriological evidence, diagnosis was based on epidemiological, clinical and histological findings. Treatment was successful using standard antituberculosis therapy. This case illustrates the diagnostic pitfalls associated with this type of tuberculosis.

The perceptions of high-risk victims of domestic violence to a coordinated community response in Cardiff, Wales

Research was conducted with very high-risk victims of domestic violence to determine their levels of revictimization one year after being referred to a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and their perceptions of this type of intervention. The MARACs provide increased and ongoing communication between agencies and victims, risk assessments, advocacy to victims, help translating policy into action, and help in holding perpetrators to account. More than 4 in 10 victims reported no further violence one year after the MARAC. Nearly all victims first attributed responsibility for ending the violence to themselves and then acknowledged the importance of having multiagency support once they were ready to change their situations. This research reveals that taking a holistic multiagency approach to domestic violence can reduce recidivism, even among the population most at risk.

Coupled partitioning, dilution, and chemical aging of semivolatile organics

A unified framework of semi-volatile partitioning permits models to efficiently treat both semi-volatile primary emissions and secondary organic aerosol production (SOA), and then to treat the chemical evolution (aging) of the aggregate distribution of semi-volatile material. This framework also reveals critical deficiencies in current emissions and SOA formation measurements. The key feature of this treatment is a uniform basis set of saturation vapor pressures spanning the range of ambient organic saturation concentrations, from effectively nonvolatile material at 0.01 microg m(-3) to vapor-phase effluents at 100 mg m(-3). Chemical evolution can be treated by a transformation matrix coupling the various basis vectors. Using this framework, we show that semi-volatile partitioning can be described in a self-consistent way, with realistic behavior with respect to temperature and varying organic aerosol loading. The time evolution strongly suggests that neglected oxidation of numerous "intermediate volatility" vapors (IVOCs, with saturation concentrations above approximately 1 mg m(-3)) may contribute significantly to ambient SOA formation.

Structure-dependent nonenzymatic deamidation of glutaminyl and asparaginyl pentapeptides

Nonenzymatic deamidation rates for 52 glutaminyl and 52 asparaginyl pentapeptides in pH 7.4, 37.0 degrees C. 0.15 m Tris-HCl buffer have been determined by direct injection mass spectrometry. These and the previously reported 306 asparginyl rates have been combined in a self-consistent model for peptide deamidation. This model depends quantitatively upon peptide structure and involves succinimide, glutarimide and hydrolysis mechanisms. The experimental values and suitable interpolated values have been combined to provide deamidation rate values in pH 7.4, 37.0 degrees C. 0.15 m Tris-HCl buffer for the entire set of 648 single-amide permutations of ordinary amino acid residues in GlyXxxAsnYyyGly and GlyXxxGlnYyyGly. Thus, knowledge about sequence-dependent deamidation in peptides is extended to include very long deamidation half-times in the range of 2-50 years.

Assessment of potential carbon dioxide reductions due to biomass-coal cofiring in the United States

Cofiring biomass with coal in existing power plants offers a relatively inexpensive and efficient option for increasing near-term biomass energy utilization. Potential benefits include reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides and development of biomass energy markets. To understand the economics of this strategy, we develop a model to calculate electricity and pollutant mitigation costs with explicit characterization of uncertainty in fuel and technology costs and variability in fuel properties. The model is first used to evaluate the plant-level economics of cofiring as a function of biomass cost. It is then integrated with state-specific coal consumption and biomass supply estimates to develop national supply curves for cofire electricity and carbon mitigation. A delivered cost of biomass below 15 dollars per ton is required for cofire to be competitive with existing coal-based generation. Except at low biomass prices (less than 15 dollars per ton), cofiring is unlikely to be competitive for NOx or SOx control, but it can provide comparatively inexpensive control of CO2 emissions: we estimate that emissions reductions of 100 Mt-CO2/year (a 5% reduction in electric-sector emissions) can be achieved at 25 +/- 20 dollars/tC. The 2-3 year time horizon for deployment--compared with 10-20 years for other CO2 mitigation options--makes cofiring particularly attractive.

Near-infrared emissions in single-bubble and multibubble sonoluminescence

Comparisons of light emissions from multibubble and single-bubble sonoluminescence in the near-infrared band extending from 800 to 1050 nm have been investigated. In argon-water mixtures, single-bubble and multibubble spectra are similar in appearance. In sodium chloride-water mixtures, the multibubble spectrum shows evidence of the 3d-3p sodium emission line, whereas the single-bubble spectrum shows no such emission. For single bubbles, the near-infrared emissions change linearly with driving pressure. No evidence of near-infrared emissions are observed below the visible luminescence threshold.

Measurements of NOx emissions and in-service duty cycle from a towboat operating on the inland river system

This paper describes measurements of NOx emissions from one engine on a commercial towboat operating on the Upper Ohio River system around the Port of Pittsburgh. Continuous measurements were made over a one-week period to characterize emissions during normal operations. The average NOx emission factor is 70 +/- 4.2 kg of NOx per t of fuel, similar to that of larger marine engines. A vessel-specific duty cycle is derived to characterize the towboat's operations; more than 50% of the time the vessel engines are at idle. Although recently promulgated EPA regulations apply only to new marine engines, these data provide insight into inland-river operations, which can be used to evaluate these regulations within the inland river context. This vessel operates as a courier service, scheduling pickups and deliveries of single- or multiple-barge loads per customers' requests; as many as 30% of the 277 towboats in the Pittsburgh region operate in this fashion. The EPA-prescribed ISO E3 duty cycle does not accurately describe inland-river operations of this towboat: its application overestimates actual NOx emissions by 14%. Only 41% of this vessel's operations fall within the Not-To-Exceed Zone defined by the EPA regulations, which limits the effectiveness of this component of the regulations to limit emissions from vessels that operate in a similar fashion.

Cooperative effects in multi-bubble sonoluminescence

Theoretical and experimental evidence is presented in support of quantum collective effects in sonoluminescence.

Radon entry into houses: the importance of scale-dependent permeability

Soil permeability to air can increase substantially with measurement length scale. We tested the hypothesis that the scale effect could resolve large model underpredictions of radon and soil-gas entry into two experimental basement structures located in natural sandy-loam soil at a field site in Ben Lomond, CA. Previously, the model input for permeability at the site had been assessed based on 0.5-m scale measurements. After determining the soil-structure interaction scale (system scale) to be approximately 3 m, the model input was changed to reflect 3-m scale permeability measurements. This adjustment reduced unacceptably large model underpredictions, of a factor of 3 to 5, to a range near that of acceptable experimental error, 20 to 40%. The permeability scale effect may explain large and persistent model underestimates of radon entry into real houses. The results argue strongly for determining permeability at a length scale consistent with that of the system under study.

Routine suxamethonium in children. A regional survey of current usage

This survey aimed to assess the extent and pattern of use of suxamethonium for elective tracheal intubation in children and the occurrence of major complications. A postal questionnaire was sent to 280 consultant anaesthetists and senior registrars in the West Midlands Region. Of the 180 replies received, 84% of respondents use suxamethonium routinely. Usage was more common amongst those more recently trained (all anaesthetists with less than 10 years experience reported using suxamethonium for routine intubation compared with 81% of those with over 20 years experience). Reported side effects directly attributable to suxamethonium were common, the most frequent being cardiac arrhythmias (especially bradycardia) following the first dose (24% respondents) or the second dose (43%), and prolonged apnoea (36% of respondents). There were 13 reported cardiac arrests (requiring external cardiac massage), three of which were associated with repeat dosing and one with undiagnosed Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Three cases of documented hyperkalaemia did not lead to cardiac arrest. There were two deaths, neither of which could be solely attributed to the use of suxamethonium. We conclude that suxamethonium remains popular in paediatric practice and that minor side effects are common and usually preventable. Life-threatening reactions are rare and until a truly comparable alternative is produced this drug will continue to be used in children.

A comparison between total intravenous anaesthesia using a propofol/alfentanil mixture and an inhalational technique for laparoscopic gynaecological sterilization

Thirty patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological sterilization, as day-cases, were randomly allocated to receive either total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with a propofol and alfentanil mixture or a standard inhalational technique. Immediate recovery, as measured by times to awakening, co-operation and orientation, and psychomotor recovery, as measured by 'P' deletion studies, were not significantly different between the two groups. TIVA produced a significant reduction in post-operative nausea at both 1 and 2 h post-operatively, as measured by a visual analogue scale (P < 0.01). No patient in the TIVA group vomited whereas two vomited in the inhalational group. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to suitability for discharge home and no incidences of awareness. We conclude that TIVA with a propofol and alfentanil mixture provides satisfactory anaesthesia for gynaecological sterilization, with good recovery characteristics and a low incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting.

The influence of a subslab gravel layer and open area on soil-gas and radon entry into two experimental basements

Measurements of steady-state soil-gas and 222Rn entry rates into two room-sized experimental basement structures were made for a range of structure depressurizations (0-40 Pa) and open floor areas (0-165 x 10(-4) m2). The structures are identical except that in one the floor slab lies directly on native soil whereas in the other the slab lies on a high-permeability gravel layer. The subslab gravel layer greatly enhances the soil-gas and radon entry rate into the structure. The radon entry rate into the structure with the subslab gravel layer is four times greater than the entry rate into the structure without the gravel layer with an open floor area of 165 x 10(-4) m2; however the ratio increases to 30 for an open floor area of 5.0 x 10(-4) m2. The relationship between open area and soil-gas entry rate is complex. It depends on both the amount and distribution of the open area as well as the permeability of the soil near the opening. The entry rate into the experimental structures is largely determined by the presence or absence of a subslab gravel layer. Therefore open area is a poor indicator of radon and soil-gas entry into the structures. The extension of the soil-gas pressure field created by structure depressurization is a good measure of the radon entry. The measured normalized radon entry rate into both structures has the same linear relationship with the average subslab pressure coupling is an estimate of the extension of the soil-gas pressure field. A three-dimensional finite-difference model correctly predicts the effect of a subslab gravel layer and different open area configurations on radon and soil-gas entry rate; however, the model underpredicts the absolute entry rate into each structure by a factor of 1.5.

Conflicts of practice confronting second line nurse managers in an accident and emergency department. Part 2

In recent times in Australia, there has been a proliferation of nursing career structures which aim to address the historical neglect of a career path for clinical nurses. Among these developments has been the formulation of a new and exciting nursing role, that of the second line nurse manager. This role was designed to give experienced nurses who traditionally worked 'in charge' formal recognition of their knowledge and skill, and sought to construct a role that encompassed both clinical and managerial responsibilities. However, the reality of these nurses' practice is fraught with problems and difficulties as they attempt to negotiate a new and uncharted domain. This paper recounts an action research study conducted by a group of second line nurse managers in an Accident and Emergency department, who sought to explore the dimensions of their practice. The study identifies problems with combining clinical and managerial responsibilities in the one role, within a context marked by a high level of unpredictability, and a culture which values clinical practice over other forms of nursing practice. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations to overcome these problems.

Conflicts of practice confronting second line nurse managers in an accident and emergency department. Part I

In recent times in Australia, there has been a proliferation of nursing career structures which aim to address the historical neglect of a career path for clinical nurses. Among these developments has been the formulation of a new and exciting nursing role, that of the second line nurse manager. This role was designed to give experienced nurses who traditionally worked 'in charge' formal recognition of their knowledge and skill, and sought to construct a role that encompassed both clinical and managerial responsibilities. However, the reality of these nurses' practice is fraught with problems and difficulties as they attempt to negotiate a new and uncharted domain. This paper recounts an action research study conducted by a group of second line nurse managers in an Accident and Emergency department, who sought to explore the dimensions of their practice. The study identifies problems with combining clinical and managerial responsibilities in the one role, within a context marked by a high level of unpredictability, and a culture which values clinical practice over other forms of nursing practice. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations to overcome these problems.

Profile of mortality from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake using coroner and medical examiner reports

Mortality patterns from earthquakes in the United States may differ from those observed in other parts of the world. We reviewed coroner and medical examiner records for all investigated deaths from seven California counties for 15 days following the Loma Prieta earthquake of October 17, 1989 (N = 327). Data on the circumstances surrounding death were used to classify each case as directly earthquake-related, indirectly earthquake-related, or not earthquake-related. Fifty-seven deaths were judged as directly earthquake-related. Six other deaths were indirectly related. Ten circumstances accounted for all directly earthquake-related deaths, with the collapse of an elevated freeway accounting for 40 of these deaths. Forty-six (80.8 per cent) of the 57 directly earthquake-related deaths occurred in motor vehicles on public roadways. Fifty-three (93.0 per cent) of the directly earthquake-related deaths occurred within seconds or minutes of injury. Future earthquake deaths in the United States may best be prevented by identifying and modifying seismic hazards in earthquake-prone regions, particularly transportation structures.

Crosstalk reduction with a micromachined diaphragm structure for integrated ultrasound transducer arrays

Crosstalk reduction in a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) integrated ultrasound transducer array with a micromachined diaphragm structure is reported. Three sets of linear arrays with nine 1 mmx1 mm elements on dielectric diaphragms have been made. They were fabricated with (1) a solid substrate, (2) a single large diaphragm window underneath the entire array, and (3) a small diaphragm window (SW) for each array element. To estimate crosstalk and fringe field effects in each array, the authors measured each array's angular response in the far field of an unfocused source transducer. A Fourier transform analysis was then performed on the measured data to obtain each array's directivity pattern, which in turn was fitted to theoretical curves based on a crosstalk model. Crosstalk-related parameters have been extracted from curve-fitting and their values show that the array with the SW structure for each element has the least electrical and acoustical crosstalk and fringe field effects.

Radiographic assessment of renal trauma: a 10-year prospective study of patient selection

To develop criteria to determine which patients require radiographic assessment after blunt renal trauma, we studied prospectively 1,146 consecutive patients with either blunt (1,007) or penetrating (139) renal trauma between 1977 and 1987. Based on our preliminary results from 1977 to 1983, in which none of the 221 patients with blunt trauma and microscopic hematuria without shock had significant renal injuries, we designed a prospective study to determine if such patients could be managed safely without radiographic staging. During the last 10 years significant renal injuries were found in 44 patients (4.4 per cent) with blunt trauma and gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria associated with shock, and in 88 patients (63 per cent) with penetrating trauma. No significant injuries occurred in the 812 patients with blunt trauma and microscopic hematuria without shock, 404 of whom had complete radiographic assessment and 408 of whom did not. There were no delayed operations or significant sequelae related to the renal injury in these patients. We conclude that complete radiographic staging is mandatory in patients with penetrating trauma to the flank or abdomen and in patients with blunt trauma associated with either gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria and shock. However, patients with blunt trauma, microscopic hematuria and no shock who do not have associated major intra-abdominal injuries can be managed safely without excretory urography.

More Superconductivity Questions Than Answers

Although making liquid nitrogen-temperature superconductors is easy enough that high school science projects already feature them, researchers still have little idea how the new ceramic oxides work and therefore little guidance for improving them. At the International Workshop on Novel Mechanisms of Superconductivity, held from 22 to 26 June in Berkeley, California, theorists reviewed a host of competing explanations of how these materials come by their remarkable properties, but they could not, get far in sifting through the candidates for the best one. One cause of the unsettled situation is that theorists have not yet pushed their models far enough to make many specific predictions about physical properties and therefore to provide a reason to choose one theory over another. But experimental data for comparison with theory are lacking, too. For example, experimentalists are just now succeeding in being able to grow single crystals and thin films of the ceramic oxide superconductors, whose properties were shown at the workshop to be highly anisotropic. Measurements already made on the polycrystalline sintered material available up to now are difficult to interpret and therefore need to be repeated on good-quality crystals and films, where the variation of properties with crystallographic orientation can be mapped out. Given the high level of Japanese activity in the field, it was surprising that no researchers from industrial laboratories in Japan presented their findings at the workshop. In the light of a budding international competition in commercializing superconductors, some American scientists interpreted the absence as an attempt to protect proprietary advances. A more pleasant surprise was the attendance of a delegation of six Soviet scientists, although one of the fathers of superconductivity theory, Vitaly Ginzburg of the P.N.Lebedev Institute of Physics in Moscow, who was expected, did not come.