An empirical approach to the nucleation of sulfuric acid droplets in the atmosphere

We use quantum mechanical evaluations of the Gibbs free energy of the hydrates of sulfuric acid, H2SO4. nH2O and (H2SO4)2 . nH2O to evaluate an empirical surface tension for sulfuric acid-water clusters containing few molecules. We use this surface tension to evaluate nucleation rates using classical heteromolecular theory. At low temperatures (T 213 K) the nucleation rates obtained with the empirical surface tensions are signifi cantly greater than those using bulk values of the surface tension. At higher temperatures the difference disappears

U.S. Natural Gas Exports: New Opportunities, Uncertain Outcomes

This report examines what has changed in the U.S. natural gas market and the prospects and implications of the United States becoming a significant net natural gas exporter

U.S. Natural Gas Exports: New Opportunities, Uncertain Outcomes

This report examines what has changed in the U.S. natural gas market and the prospects and implications of the United States becoming a larger net exporter of natural gas. Bills to expedite and expand liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports have been introduced in the 114th Congress, including the LNG Permitting Certainty and Transparency Act (H.R. 351 and S. 33), the American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act (H.R. 287), the Crude Oil Export Act (H.R. 156), the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act (H.R. 89), and the Export American Natural Gas Act of 2015 (H.R. 428)

RNA-Containing Cytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies in Ciliated Bronchial Epithelium Months to Years after Acute Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children in developed nations. The KD etiologic agent is unknown but likely to be a ubiquitous microbe that usually causes asymptomatic childhood infection, resulting in KD only in genetically susceptible individuals. KD synthetic antibodies made from prevalent IgA gene sequences in KD arterial tissue detect intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies (ICI) resembling viral ICI in acute KD but not control infant ciliated bronchial epithelium. The prevalence of ICI in late-stage KD fatalities and in older individuals with non-KD illness should be low, unless persistent infection is common.Lung tissue from late-stage KD fatalities and non-infant controls was examined by light microscopy for the presence of ICI. Nucleic acid stains and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed on tissues that were strongly positive for ICI. ICI were present in ciliated bronchial epithelium in 6/7 (86%) late-stage KD fatalities and 7/27 (26%) controls ages 9-84 years (p = 0.01). Nucleic acid stains revealed RNA but not DNA within the ICI. ICI were also identified in lung macrophages in some KD cases. TEM of bronchial epithelium and macrophages from KD cases revealed finely granular homogeneous ICI.These findings are consistent with a previously unidentified, ubiquitous RNA virus that forms ICI and can result in persistent infection in bronchial epithelium and macrophages as the etiologic agent of KD

Recruitment and retention of women in a large randomized control trial to reduce repeat preterm births: the Philadelphia Collaborative Preterm Prevention Project

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recruitment and retention of patients for randomized control trial (RCT) studies can provide formidable challenges, particularly with minority and underserved populations. Data are reported for the Philadelphia Collaborative Preterm Prevention Project (PCPPP), a large RCT targeting risk factors for repeat preterm births among women who previously delivered premature (< 35 weeks gestation) infants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Design of the PCPPP incorporated strategies to maximize recruitment and retention. These included an advanced database system tracking follow-up status and assessment completion rates; cultural sensitivity training for staff; communication to the community and eligible women of the benefits of participation; financial incentives; assistance with transportation and supervised childcare services; and reminder calls for convenient, flexibly scheduled appointments. Analyses reported here: 1) compare recruitment projections to actual enrollment 2) explore recruitment bias; 3) validate the randomization process 4) document the extent to which contact was maintained and complete assessments achieved 5) determine if follow-up was conditioned upon socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, or other factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of eligible women approached, 1,126 (77.7%) agreed to participate fully. Of the 324 not agreeing, 118 (36.4%) completed a short survey. Consenting women were disproportionately from minority and low SES backgrounds: 71.5% consenting were African American, versus 38.8% not consenting. Consenting women were also more likely to report homelessness during their lifetime (14.6% vs. 0.87%) and to be unmarried at the time of delivery (81.6% versus 47.9%). First one-month postpartum assessment was completed for 83.5% (n = 472) of the intervention group (n = 565) and 76% (426) of the control group. Higher assessment completion rates were observed for the intervention group throughout the follow-up. Second, third, fourth and fifth postpartum assessments were 67.6% vs. 57.5%, 60.0% vs. 48.9%, 54.2% vs. 46.3% and 47.3% vs. 40.8%, for the intervention and control group women, respectively. There were no differences in follow-up rates according to race/ethnicity, SES or other factors. Greater retention of the intervention group may reflect the highly-valued nature of the medical and behavior services constituting the intervention arms of the Project.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Findings challenge beliefs that low income and minority women are averse to enrolling and continuing in clinical trials or community studies.</p

A Review of Translational Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Human and Rodent Experimental Models of Small Vessel Disease

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major health burden, yet the pathophysiology remains poorly understood with no effective treatment. Since much of SVD develops silently and insidiously, non-invasive neuroimaging such as MRI is fundamental to detecting and understanding SVD in humans. Several relevant SVD rodent models are established for which MRI can monitor in vivo changes over time prior to histological examination. Here, we critically review the MRI methods pertaining to salient rodent models and evaluate synergies with human SVD MRI methods. We found few relevant publications, but argue there is considerable scope for greater use of MRI in rodent models, and opportunities for harmonisation of the rodent-human methods to increase the translational potential of models to understand SVD in humans. We summarise current MR techniques used in SVD research, provide recommendations and examples and highlight practicalities for use of MRI SVD imaging protocols in pre-selected, relevant rodent models.</p

Comparison of the Number of Neonatologists in Different Countries Not Valid

I read with dismay, Dr William A. Silverman's "informal survey"1 purporting to demonstrate a disproportionate excess of neonatologists in the United States compared with six other developed countries. The fact that these "rough estimates" of physicians providing neonatology services are totally incomparable makes all subsequent manpower discussions purely judgmental, not factual. In fact, if one is really interested in the number of pediatricians dedicated to neonatal care (neonatologist equivalents) as opposed to only "titled" neonatologists, then calculations using the data in the footnotes triples the manpower figures for both Britain and Japan, catapulting Japan above the United States with the highest density of neonatologist equivalents.</jats:p

Electronic Tracking and Tagging of Pelagic Tunas

This review will compare the habitat preference and behavior via electronic tagging studies with respect to the seven principal market species of tuna. Qualitative data analysis will include (but are not limited to): horizontal migration (time cues, distance and cues to migrate), vertical habitat use in relation to physiology (short-term vertical migrations), depth distributions, aggregations and various tolerances to oceanographic conditions (e.g. temperature and dissolved oxygen). The results will review available electronic tagging data and provide a concise reference point for scientists studying tuna to use in their research. This review will also have important implications for management of tuna worldwide. Important physiological and life history traits can be ascertained via electronic tagging of tuna. There is considerable uncertainty as to the relationship between physiological processes and life history, but if information can be garnered via electronic tagging, there may be ways to increase the effectiveness of conservation and management strategies (Young et al. 2006). This review may also help with a reevaluation of Marine Protected Areas (MP As) due to data from electronic tags related to fish movement. With respect to the highly migratory status of tuna, a review of electronic tagging studies may help to re-evaluate stock boundaries, thus providing more adequate protection of stocks from overfishing. Also, electronic tagging data may help managers acquire more accurate abundance estimates from comparing tracking data with longline fishing gear data (Ward and Myers 2005). Moreover, a review of electronic tagging studies to date can determine if recommendations for future investigation made from previous studies have been initiated and/or completed. Furthermore, a review of current electronic tagging studies may increase returns of archival tags due to increased education and publicity. New technologies have also been developed or redesigned, which may help gather more accurate data and increase returns of data from the individual tags. The data gathered from electronic tagging studies not only provides data specific to tuna fisheries, it also gathers data on oceanographic conditions, which may further our understanding of the physical processes governing our oceans as well as how those processes affect fish and other living organisms in the world\u27s oceans