Laser spectroscopy of NiBr: New electronic states and hyperfine structure

Laser induced fluorescence spectrum of NiBr in the visible region between 604 and 666 nm has been recorded and analyzed. Fourteen bands belonging to three electronic transition systems, namely, [15.1] Δ 52 2 -X Π 32 2, [15.1] Π 32 2 -X Π 32 2, and [14.0] Δ 52 2 -X Π 32 2 have been observed. Spectra of isotopic molecules were also observed and analyzed. Detailed analysis of the recorded spectra indicated that the two electronic states [15.1] Π 32 2 and [15.1] Δ 52 2 lie about 1 cm-1 apart from each other and J -dependent perturbation due to spin-uncoupling interaction has been observed. Least squares fitting procedures involving deperturbation matrix elements were used to fit the observed line positions, which yielded accurate molecular constants for the [15.1] Π 32 2 and [15.1] Δ 52 2 states. In addition, the (1,0) band of the [15.1] Δ 52 2 -X Π 32 2 transition shows partially resolved hyperfine structure that was caused by the interaction of unpaired electron with the magnetic moment of the Br nucleus (nuclear spin of I=32) in the excited state. The rapid decrease in hyperfine width as J increases suggests that the hyperfine coupling in the excited state conforms to Hund's case (aΒ) coupling scheme. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Adoption of robotic assisted partial nephrectomies: a population-based analysis of U.S. surgeons from 2004-2013

The advent of minimally invasive and robotic techniques has resulted in the rapid adoption of this novel technology, with the field of urology at the forefront. Since the first Robotic‐Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALP) was performed in 2000 using  the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA), surgeons have rapidly incorporated robotic technology for the use of radical prostatectomies for prostatic carcinoma. Prior to 2005, only a minority of surgeons‐‐fewer than 2.5%‐‐performing radical  prostatectomies utilized robotic assistance.  However, robotic assistance has become the predominant approach for radical prostatectomies, increasing from 22% to 85% between the years 2002 to 2013, representing a nearly five‐fold increase in utilization

Near-infrared laser spectroscopy of Nil

Laser-induced fluorescence spectrum of Nil in the near infrared region of 714-770 nm has been recorded. Seven bands belonging to three electronic transition systems were observed and analyzed: the (0,0), (1,0), and (2,0) bands of [13.3] 2∑ + -A 2∏ 3/2 system; the (1,1) and (0,1) bands of [13.9] 2∏ 3/2-X 2Δ 5/2 system; and the (0,0) and (1,0) bands of [13.9] 2∏ 3/2-A 2∏ 3/2 system. Spectra of isotopic molecules confirmed the vibrational quantum number assignment of the observed bands. Least-squares fit of rotationally resolved transition lines yielded accurate molecular constants for the v = 0-2 levels of the [13.3] 2∑ + state, the v = 0 level of the A 2∏ 3/2, and the v = 1 level of the X 2Δ 5/2 state. The vibrational separation, ΔG 1/2, of the ground state was measured to be 276.674 cm -1. With the observation of the [13.9] 2∏ 3/2-A 2∏ 3/2 and [13.9] 2∏ 3/2-X 2Δ 5/2 transitions, we accurately determined the energy separation between the A 2∏ 3/2 and the X 2Δ 5/2 to be 163.847 cm -1. This confirms that the order of the A 2∏ 3/2 and X 2Δ 5/2 states in Nil is reversed when compared with other nickel monohalides. © 2004 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Laser spectroscopy of iridium monoboride

High resolution laser induced fluorescence spectrum of IrB in the spectral region between 545 and 610 nm has been recorded and analyzed. Reacting laser-ablated iridium atoms with 1% B2 H6 seeded in argon produced the IrB molecule. This is the first experimental observation of the IrB molecule. Four vibronic transition bands, (v,0) with v=0-3 of an electronic transition system, have been observed. Spectra of all four isotopic molecules, Ir191 B10, Ir193 B10, Ir191 B11, and Ir193 B11, were recorded. Isotopic relationships confirmed the carrier of the spectra and the vibrational quantum number assignment. Preliminary analysis of rotational lines showed that these vibronic bands are with ′ =2 and ″ =3. The electronic transition identified is assigned as the [16.5] Π23 -X Δ33 system. Partially resolved hyperfine structure which conforms to the Hund's case aΒ coupling scheme has been observed and analyzed. The bond length r0 of the lower X Δ33 state of IrB was determined to be 1.7675 Å. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

The 2017 M_W 8.2 Chiapas, Mexico Earthquake: Energetic Slab Detachment

On 8 September 2017, a great (M_w 8.2) normal faulting earthquake ruptured within the subducting Cocos Plate ~70 km landward from the Middle American Trench beneath the Tehuantepec gap. Iterative inversion and modeling of teleseismic and tsunami data and prediction of GPS displacements indicate that the steeply dipping rupture extended ~180 km to the northwest along strike toward the Oaxaca coast and from ~30 to 70 km in depth, with peak slip of ~13 m. The rupture likely broke through the entire lithosphere of the young subducted slab in response to downdip slab pull. The plate boundary region between the trench and the fault intersection with the megathrust appears to be frictionally coupled, influencing location of the detachment. Comparisons of the broadband body wave magnitude (m_B) and moment-scaled radiated energy (E_R/M_0) establish that intraslab earthquakes tend to be more energetic than interplate events, accounting for strong ground shaking observed for the 2017 event

Joint modeling of teleseismic and tsunami wave observations to constrain the 16 September 2015 Illapel, Chile, M_w 8.3 earthquake rupture process

The 16 September 2015 Illapel, Chile, M_w 8.3 earthquake ruptured ~170 km along the plate boundary megathrust fault from 30.0°S to 31.6°S. A patch of offshore slip of up to 10 m extended to near the trench, and a patch of ~3 m slip occurred downdip below the coast. Aftershocks fringe the large-slip zone, extending along the coast from 29.5°S to 32.5°S between the 1922 and 1971/1985 ruptures. The coseismic slip distribution is determined by iterative modeling of teleseismic body waves as well as tsunami signals recorded at three regional DART stations and tide gauges immediately north and south of the rupture. The tsunami observations tightly delimit the rupture length, suppressing bilateral southward extension of slip found in unconstrained teleseismic-wave inversions. The spatially concentrated rupture area, with a stress drop of ~3.2 MPa, is validated by modeling DART and tide gauge observations in Hawaii, which also prove sensitive to the along-strike length of the rupture

Two regions of seafloor deformation generated the tsunami for the 13 November 2016, Kaikoura, New Zealand earthquake

The 13 November 2016 Kaikoura, New Zealand, M_w 7.8 earthquake ruptured multiple crustal faults in the transpressional Marlborough and North Canterbury tectonic domains of northeastern South Island. The Hikurangi trench and underthrust Pacific slab terminate in the region south of Kaikoura, as the subdution zone transitions to the Alpine fault strike-slip regime. It is difficult to establish whether any coseismic slip occurred on the megathrust from on-land observations. The rupture generated a tsunami well recorded at tide gauges along the eastern coasts and in Chatham Islands, including a ~4 m crest-to-trough signal at Kaikoura where coastal uplift was about 1 m, and at multiple gauges in Wellington Harbor. Iterative modeling of teleseismic body waves and the regional water-level recordings establishes that two regions of seafloor motion produced the tsunami, including an M_w ~7.6 rupture on the megathrust below Kaikoura and comparable size transpressional crustal faulting extending offshore near Cook Strait

GLProbs: Aligning multiple sequences adaptively

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Emergency Care Handover (ECHO study) across care boundaries : the need for joint decision making and consideration of psychosocial history

Background: Inadequate handover in emergency care is a threat to patient safety. Handover across care boundaries poses particular problems due to different professional, organisational and cultural backgrounds. While there have been many suggestions for standardisation of handover content, relatively little is known about the verbal behaviours that shape handover conversations. This paper explores both what is communicated (content) and how this is communicated (verbal behaviours) during different types of handover conversations across care boundaries in emergency care. Methods: Three types of interorganisational (ambulance service to emergency department (ED) in ‘resuscitation’ and ‘majors’ areas) and interdepartmental handover conversations (referrals to acute medicine) were audio recorded in three National Health Service EDs. Handover conversations were segmented into utterances. Frequency counts for content and language forms were derived for each type of handover using Discourse Analysis. Verbal behaviours were identified using Conversation Analysis. Results: 203 handover conversations were analysed. Handover conversations involving ambulance services were predominantly descriptive (60%–65% of utterances), unidirectional and focused on patient presentation (75%–80%). Referrals entailed more collaborative talk focused on the decision to admit and immediate care needs. Across all types of handover, only 1.5%–5% of handover conversation content related to the patient's social and psychological needs. Conclusions: Handover may entail both descriptive talk aimed at information transfer and collaborative talk aimed at joint decision-making. Standardisation of handover needs to accommodate collaborative aspects and should incorporate communication of information relevant to the patient's social and psychological needs to establish appropriate care arrangements at the earliest opportunity

In vitro method to study antifungal perfusion in Candida Biofilms

Antimycotic perfusion through Candida biofilms was demonstrated by a modification of a simple in vitro diffusion cell bioassay system. Using this model, the perfusion of three commonly used antifungal agents, amphotericin B, fluconazole, and flucytosine, was investigated in biofilms of three different Candida species (i.e., Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei) that were developed on microporous filters. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that C. albicans formed a contiguous biofilm with tightly packed blastospores and occasional hyphae compared with C. parapsilosis and C. krusei, which developed confluent biofilms displaying structural heterogeneity and a lesser cell density, after 48 h of incubation on nutrient agar. Minor structural changes were also perceptible on the superficial layers of the biofilm after antifungal perfusion. The transport of antifungals to the distal biofilm-substratum interface was most impeded by C. albicans biofilms in comparison to C. parapsilosis and C. krusei. Fluconazole and flucytosine demonstrated similar levels of perfusion, while amphotericin B was the least penetrant through all three biofilms, although the latter appeared to cause the most structural damage to the superficial cells of the biofilm compared with the other antifungals. These results suggest that the antifungal perfusion through biofilm mode of growth in Candida is dependent both on the antimycotic and the Candida species in question, and in clinical terms, these phenomena could contribute to the failure of Candida biofilm-associated infections. Finally, the in vitro model we have described should serve as a useful system to investigate the complex interactions that appear to operate in vivo within the biofilm-antifungal interphase.published_or_final_versio