Effect of curve fitting parameters on quantitative analysis of Fe0.94O and Fe2O3 using XPS

The XPS peaks of Fe 3p for Fe2+ and Fe3+ in FeO and Fe2O3, respectively, have been measured and the effects of curve fitting parameters on interpretation of the data have been analysed. Firstly, the peak fit parameters, i.e. (1) the number of peaks to be deconvoluted, (2) the range of the peak for back ground subtraction, (3) straight line (Li) or the Shirley (Sh) background subtraction method, (4) GL ratio (the ratio of Gaussian and Lorentzian contribution to the peak shape) and (5) asymmetry factor (AS), are manually selected. Secondly, the standard peak fit parameters were systematically investigated. The peak shape was fitted to a Voigt function by changing the peak position, the peak height and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) to minimize the chi(2). The recommended peak positions and peak parameters for Fe2+ and Fe3+ in iron oxides have been determined. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of smoke inhalation on viscoelastic properties and ventilation distribution in sheep

Smoke inhalation injuries are the leading cause of mortality from burn injury. Airway obstruction due to mucus plugging and bronchoconstriction can cause severe ventilation inhomogeneity and worsen hypoxia. Studies describing changes of viscoelastic characteristics of the lung after smoke inhalation are missing. We present results of a new smoke inhalation device in sheep and describe pathophysiological changes after smoke exposure. Fifteen female Merino ewes were anesthetized and intubated. Baseline data using electrical impedance tomography and multiple-breath inert-gas washout were obtained by measuring ventilation distribution, functional residual capacity, lung clearance index, dynamic compliance, and stress index. Ten sheep were exposed to standardized cotton smoke insufflations and five sheep to sham smoke insufflations. Measured carboxyhemoglobin before inhalation was 3.87 +/- 0.28% and 5 min after smoke was 61.5 +/- 2.1%, range 50-69.4% ( P < 0.001). Two hours after smoke functional residual capacity decreased from 1,773 +/- 226 to 1,006 +/- 129 ml and lung clearance index increased from 10.4 +/- 0.4 to 14.2 +/- 0.9. Dynamic compliance decreased from 56.6 +/- 5.5 to 32.8 +/- 3.2 ml/ cmH(2)O. Stress index increased from 0.994 +/- 0.009 to 1.081 +/- 0.011 ( P < 0.01) ( all means +/- SE, P < 0.05). Electrical impedance tomography showed a shift of ventilation from the dependent to the independent lung after smoke exposure. No significant change was seen in the sham group. Smoke inhalation caused immediate onset in pulmonary dysfunction and significant ventilation inhomogeneity. The smoke inhalation device as presented may be useful for interventional studies.

Clinical outcomes from skin screening clinics within a community-based melanoma screening program

Background : Within a randomized trial of population screening for melanoma, primary care physicians conducted whole-body skin examinations and referred all patients with suspect lesions to their own doctor for further treatment. Objective: Our aim was to describe characteristics of skin screening participants, clinical screening diagnoses, management following referral, and specificity and yield of screening examinations. Methods: Information collected from consent forms, referral forms, and histopathological reports of lesions that had been excised or undergone biopsy was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 16,383 whole-body skin examinations resulted in 2302 referrals (14.1% overall; 15.5% men, 18.2% >= 50 years of age) for 4129 suspect lesions (including 222 suspected melanoma, 1101 suspected basal cell carcinomas [BCCs], 265 suspected squamous cell carcinomas [SCCs]). Histopathologic results were available for 94.8% of 1417 lesions excised and confirmed 33 melanomas (23 in men; 24 in participants ? 50 years of age), 259 BCCs, and 97 SCCs. The probability of detecting skin cancer of any type within the program was 2.4%. The estimated specificity of whole-body skin examinations for melanoma was 86.1% (95% confidence interval = 85.6-86.6). The positive predictive value (number of confirmed/number of lesions excised or biopsied x 100) for melanoma was 2.5%, 19.3% for BCC, and 7.2% for SCC (overall positive predictive value for skin cancer, 28.9%). Limitations: Follow-up of participants with a negative screening examination has not been conducted for the present investigation. Conclusions: The rate of skin cancer detected per 100 patients screened was higher than previously reported and men and attendees older than 50 years more frequently received a referral and diagnosis of melanoma. The specificity for detection of melanoma through whole-body skin examination by a primary care physician was comparable to that of other screening tests, including mammography.

Avaliação de assimetria nas arcadas dentárias de indivíduos com oclusão normal e má oclusão de Classe II

A assimetria das arcadas dentárias constitui um assunto de grande importância estudado por profissionais de Ortodontia na elaboração de um diagnóstico correto, planejamento e execução de um tratamento ortodôntico bem sucedido. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o grau de assimetria das arcadas dentárias em indivíduos com oclusão normal e má oclusão de Classe II, divisão 1 e 2, bem como o dimorfismo sexual existente. Foram avaliados 180 pares de modelos de estudo de indivíduos do sexo masculino e feminino, na faixa etária de 12 a 21 anos, divididos em 3 grupos de 60 pares de modelos, de acordo com a má oclusão. Os grupos foram classificados em: Grupo 1 - indivíduos com oclusão normal, Grupo 2 - indivíduos com má oclusão de Classe II divisão 1 (Cl II 1), e Grupo 3 - indivíduos com má oclusão de Classe II divisão 2 (Cl II 2). Os modelos foram medidos utilizando-se um aparelho inédito, idealizado e fabricado exclusivamente para a análise de assimetria das arcadas dentárias. Para a análise de assimetria foram realizadas 2 medições angulares desvio de linha média (DLM), posicionamento dos caninos (PC) e 3 lineares distância dos caninos à rafe palatina (DC), distância inter-caninos (DIC), posicionamento dos primeiros molares no sentido ântero-posterior (PM). Concluiu-se que a ocorrência de assimetria nas arcadas dentárias independe da má oclusão. O Grupo 1 apresentou um menor grau de assimetria nas arcadas dentárias em relação aos grupos 2 e 3, os quais apresentaram um grau de assimetria semelhante. O grau de assimetria nas arcadas dentárias inferiores, nos 3 grupos, foi maior do que nas arcadas dentárias superiores. A direção do desvio da linha média apresentou uma correlação inversamente proporcional do lado em que o molar se apresentava mesializado, nas arcadas superior e inferior dos três grupos, com exceção da arcada superior no Grupo 2 (Classe II divisão 1). Houve dimorfismo sexual estatisticamente significante para algumas medidas, porém é importante considerar os baixos valores e a disposição, destas diferenças, entre as medidas realizadas, a qual revela ter se tratado de dados obtidos ao acaso.

Effect of β-adrenoceptor antagonists on autonomic control of ciliary smooth muscle

Purpose: Pharmacological intervention with peripheral sympathetic transmission at ciliary smooth muscle neuro-receptor junctions has been used against a background of controlled parasympathetic activity to investigate the characteristics of autonomic control of ocular accommodation. Methods: A continuously recording infrared optometer was used to measure accommodation on a group of five visually normal emmetropic subjects under open- and closed-loop conditions. A double-blind protocol between saline, timolol and betaxolol was used to differentiate between the localised action on ciliary smooth muscle and effects induced by changes in stimulus conditions. Data were collected before and 45 min following the instillation of saline, timolol or betaxolol. Open-loop post-task decay was investigated following 3 min sustained near fixation of a stimulus placed 3 D above the subject's pre-task tonic accommodation level. Closed-loop dynamic responses were recorded for each treatment condition while subjects viewed sinusoidally (0.05-0.6 Hz) or stepwise vergence-modulated targets over a 2 D range (2-4 D). Results: Open-loop data demonstrate a rapid post-task regression to pre-task tonic accommodation levels for saline and betaxolol control conditions. A slow positive post-task shift was induced by timolol indicating that sympathetic inhibition contributes to accommodative adaptation during sustained near vision. Closed-loop accommodation responses to temporally modulated sinusoidal stimuli showed characteristic features for both saline and betaxolol control conditions. Timolol induced a reduced gain for low- and mid-temporal frequencies (< 0.3 Hz) but did not affect the response at higher temporal frequencies. Response times to stepwise stimuli increased following the instillation of timolol for the near-to-far fixation condition compared with the controls and was related to the period of sustained prior fixation. Conclusions: Modulation of accommodation under open- and closed-loop conditions by a non-selective β-blocker is consistent with the temporal and inhibitory features of sympathetic innervation to ciliary smooth muscle. Although parasympathetic innervation predominates there is evidence to support a role for sympathetic innervation in the control of ocular accommodation. © 2002 The College of Optometrists.

Controlling feeding practices:cause or consequence of early child weight?

INTRODUCTION. The exertion of control during child feeding has been associated with both underweight and overweight during childhood. What is as-yet unclear is whether controlling child feeding practices causally affect child weight or whether the use of control may be a reactive response to concerns about high or low child weight. The aims of this study were to explore the direction of causality in these relationships during infancy. METHODS. Sixty-two women gave informed consent to take part in this longitudinal study that spanned from birth to 2 years of child age. Mothers completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire at 1 year, and their children were weighed at 1 and 2 years of age. Child weight scores were converted into standardized z scores that accounted for child age and gender. RESULTS. Controlling for child weight at 1 year, the use of pressure to eat and restriction at 1 year significantly predicted lower child weight at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS. Controlling feeding practices in infancy have an impact on children's weight at 2 years. The use of restrictive child feeding practices during infancy predicts lower child weight at age 2 years, which may reinforce mothers' use of this strategy in the longer term despite its potential association with disinhibition and greater child weight in later childhood.

The information security policy unpacked:a critical study of the content of university policies

Ensuring the security of corporate information, that is increasingly stored, processed and disseminated using information and communications technologies [ICTs], has become an extremely complex and challenging activity. This is a particularly important concern for knowledge-intensive organisations, such as universities, as the effective conduct of their core teaching and research activities is becoming ever more reliant on the availability, integrity and accuracy of computer-based information resources. One increasingly important mechanism for reducing the occurrence of security breaches, and in so doing, protecting corporate information, is through the formulation and application of a formal information security policy (InSPy). Whilst a great deal has now been written about the importance and role of the information security policy, and approaches to its formulation and dissemination, there is relatively little empirical material that explicitly addresses the structure or content of security policies. The broad aim of the study, reported in this paper, is to fill this gap in the literature by critically examining the structure and content of authentic information security policies, rather than simply making general prescriptions about what they ought to contain. Having established the structure and key features of the reviewed policies, the paper critically explores the underlying conceptualisation of information security embedded in the policies. There are two important conclusions to be drawn from this study: (1) the wide diversity of disparate policies and standards in use is unlikely to foster a coherent approach to security management; and (2) the range of specific issues explicitly covered in university policies is surprisingly low, and reflects a highly techno-centric view of information security management.

Universities Masters World Cup Soccer:integrated sports science research and implementation of an international masters soccer community

Ageing populations with greater wellness and athletic expectations require quality sports and active living experiences in order to increase and sustain participation levels. Responding to the diverse needs and circumstances of Masterslveterans players is a complex and multi-faceted process. While sports science contributions have been very effective at enhancing active living in a variety of youth and adult sports events, very little has been documented regarding their efficacy in events for Masterslveteran players. This paper draws upon action research to examine the growth and development of a unique Masters World Cup 6-0-side Soccer Tournament, involving representative teams from twelve nations. lntegrated sports science concepts and strategies were employed to develop quality soccer experiences. Longitudinal data suggest that fostering a community of practice is critical to the success of Masters soccer programs. In addition to critical leadership contributions, an eclectic range of age-appropriate and responsive soccer experiences are essential to ensure that Masters events meet the diverse needs and circumstances of the players.

Dynamical interplay between ground and excited states in quantum dot laser

Full text: Semiconductor quantum dot lasers are attractive for multipletechnological applications in biophotonics. Simultaneous two-state lasing ofground state (GS) and excited state (ES) electrons and holes in QD lasers ispossible under a certain parameter range. It has already been investigated in steady-stateoperations and in dynamical regimes and is currently a subject of the intesiveresearch. It has been shown that the relaxation frequency in the two-state lasingregime is not a function of the total intensity [1], as could be traditionallyexpected.In this work we study damping relaxation oscillations in QD lasersimultaneously operating at two transitions, and find that under variouspumping conditions, the frequency of oscillations may decrease, increase orstay without change in time as shown in Fig1.The studied QD laser structure wasgrown on a GaAs substrate by molecular-beam epitaxy. The active region includedfive layers of self-assembled InAs QDs separated with a GaAs spacer from a5.3nm thick covering layer of InGaAs and processed into 4mm-wide mesa stripe devices. The 2.5mm long lasers withhigh-and antireflection coatings on the rear and front facets lasesimultaneously at the GS (around 1265nm) and ES (around 1190nm) in the wholerange of pumping. Pulsed electrical pumping obtained from a high power (up to2A current) pulse source was used to achieve high output power operation. We simultaneously detect the total output and merely ES output using aBragg filter transmitting the short-wavelength and reflecting the long-wavelengthradiation. Typical QD does not demonstrate relaxation oscillations frequencybecause of the strong damping [2]. It is confirmed for the low (I<0.68A) andhigh (I>1.2 A) range of the pump currents in our experiments. The situationis different for a short range of the medium currents (0.68A2A) asthe large scale amplitude oscillations appear after the laser turns on andstarts to operate simultaneously. The frequency of oscillations may either significantlydecrease (from 2 GHz to 1 GHz) or sufficiently increase (from 2 GHz to 4 GHz)within 20 ns of the pulse duration. The oscilations appear simultaneously at GSand ES and are always damped, but can be either inphase or antiphase dependingon the pump current and temperature conditions. We address the excitation of the relaxation oscillations to non-instantaneousturn on of the pumping source which activates with 5ns rise time and discussthe swap of the oscillation's frequency in time to spectral shifts caused by thermaleffects. [1] M.Abusaa, J. Danckaert, E. A. Viktorov, and T. Erneux, Phys. Rev. A 87, 063827(2013). [2] T.Erneux, E. A. Viktorov, and P. Mandel, Phys. Rev. A 76,023819 (2007). 1 © 2014 IEEE.

Is it safe to increase diabetic retinopathy screening intervals in patients with no background diabetic retinopathy?

Introduction. A 4 year retrospective follow up of 996 patients who pre-sented with no DR and 500 with background DR at baseline digital DR screening in 2006. Purpose. To evaluate the safety of increasing screening intervals in patients with no diabetic retinopathy (DR) or with background DR.Methods. A 4 year retrospective follow up of 996 patients who presented with no DR and 500 with background DR at baseline digital DR screening in 2006.results. Background DR Group: Of the 500 subjects that had back-ground DR in 2006, 231 were referred for DR, with an average DR routine referral rate of 12% (46 subjects) per year. nodrgrouP. Of the 996 patients who had no DR at baseline, 51 were referred over the 4 years for sight threatening DR (STDR), of these 45 patients have definite STDR confirmed by ophthalmological examination. 78% of these had type 2 diabetes and mean age at referral was 60 years (25-87). Mean diabetes duration was 10.7 years (3-32), with a mean HbA1c of 7.8% (5.7-11.3%). Eight patients (0.9%) were referred in the first year, 9 (0.9%) in the second year, 19 (1.9%) in the third year and 15 (1.5%) in the fourth year. 86% of referrals were for maculopathy, and all had observable retinopathy and none required ophthalmology clinic assessment or laser treatment.If biannual screening was adopted for patients with no DR at baseline, allowing for patients who subsequently develop background DR and would then revert to annual screening, a total of 7 (0.7%) patients would not have been appropriately referred for STDR and would have waited a further year for identification. None of the 51 referrals across the 4 years required laser treatment apart from just one patient who developed PDR in year 4 (2010) and had background since 2007.conclusIons. It could be recommended that it is safe to screen pa-tients with no DR biannually due to the low risk of developing STDR. However, patients who present with background DR should continue to be screened annually as there is a significant proportion developing STDR and would not be identified at an appropriate screening interval.

It's not just for boys

Against an historical background of sexual inequality in the workplace engineering persists as a bastion of inequality in the 21st century. This research examines the perceptions of engineering of 86 students, who chose to study the new Level 2 Engineering Diploma at age 14. The students were based in the South West of Birmingham, close to the MG Rover Longbridge plant that closed in 2005. The results have been compared with the results of the EngineeringUK survey (EngineeringUK,2012) on perceptions of Engineering. The survey involved 5 schools - one all girls' school. Nearly a third of the students were girls. The study provides an insight into how these students acquired their perceptions of Engineering and provides clarity as to why they were attracted to join the programme at age 14. A key aspect of this study is to understand why these girls did choose and stay with the study of engineering, whilst most do not despite performing as well as boys in Maths and Science at GCSE level. Informed by the outcomes of this study the paper identifies key areas where work can be done to change teachers, parents and pupils perceptions and enable more females to recognise the possibility of both studying and working in an engineering field.

Middle -class immigrant identities: Dominican-Americans in South Florida

Identity studies of immigrants are complex because of multiple influences affecting identity reconstruction during immigration and acculturation: nationality, socio-cultural differences, occupations, education, spatial and geographic locations, age, gender, and personal attributes. Most immigrant identity studies deal with lower-income immigrants, who do not have the resources of middle- and upper-middle-class immigrants. South Florida is “home” to many middle-class immigrants, including Dominican-Americans. This dissertation interviewed sixty-six Dominican immigrants in South Florida, in order to determine their reconstructed identities after immigration/resettlement and to discover what influences contributed to these changes in identities. ^ The research design of this dissertation utilized an inductive, qualitative model, with the “grounded theory” method of data collection, categorization, and analysis. Participants were selected by a snowball sampling and interviewed with an informal questionnaire. Results were transcribed, categorized, tabulated, and analyzed for conclusions and theorization on immigrant identity. ^ The dissertation addressed numerous influences relating to identity reconstruction: the differing circumstances of immigration, the unique resources of middle- and higher-class immigrants, the nurturing environment of South Florida for immigrants with education and professional skills, and the boundary protection offered by suburban spaces. The interviewees displayed a wide range of age, length of residence in the United States, reasons for immigration, entry ports, settlement, relocations, occupations, and claimed identities. Identity was cross-tabulated with the various influences, as a means of invalidating certain influences and indicating possible trends. ^ The dissertation concluded that middle-class immigrant identities are diverse and multiple, as are the related influences. None of these immigrants had become totally assimilated, nor have they retained dual, non-overlapping attachments or frames of reference. Instead, many of the immigrants seemed to have developed or negotiated two or more identities, according to need, context, and personal interest. A cosmopolitan community such as South Florida seems to have encouraged such multiplicity of identity. However, rather than forming free-flowing identities, most of these immigrants eventually developed diverse and hybrid identities that have bounded attachments to various networks, groups, and places in South Florida. ^

Factors influencing university performance of associate in arts graduates transferring to the state university system

The purpose of this study was to examine the factorsbehind the failure rates of Associate in Arts (AA)graduates from Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) transferring to the Florida State University System (SUS). In M-DCC's largest disciplines, the university failure rate was 13% for Business & Management, 13% for Computer Science, and 14% for Engineering. Hypotheses tested were: Hypothesis 1 (H1): The lower division (LD) overall cumulative GPA and/or the LD major field GPA for AA graduates are predictive of the SUS GPA for the Business Management, Computer Science, and Engineering disciplines. Hypothesis 2 (H2): Demographic variables (age, race, gender) are predictive of performance at the university among M-DCC AA graduates in Engineering, Business & Management, and Computer Science. Hypothesis 3 (H3): Administrative variables (CLAST -College Level Academic Skills Test subtests) are predictive of university performance (GPA) for the Business/Management, Engineering, and Computer Science disciplines. Hypothesis 4 (H4): LD curriculum variables (course credits, course quality points) are predictive of SUS performance for the Engineering, Business/Management and Computer Science disciplines. Multiple Regression was the inferential procedureselected for predictions. Descriptive statistics weregenerated on the predictors. Results for H1 identified the LD GPA as the most significant variable in accounting for the variability of the university GPA for the Business & Management, Computer Science, and Engineering disciplines. For H2, no significant results were obtained for theage and gender variables, but the ethnic subgroups indicated significance at the .0001 level. However, differentials in GPA may not have been due directly to the race factor but, rather, to curriculum choices and performance outcomes while in the LD. The CLAST computation variable (H3) was a significant predictor of the SUS GPA. This is most likely due to the mathematics structure pervasive in these disciplines. For H4, there were two curriculum variables significant in explaining the variability of the university GPA (number of required critical major credits completed and quality of the student's performance for these credits). Descriptive statistics on the predictors indicated that 78% of those failing in the State University System had a LD major GPA (calculated with the critical required university credits earned and quality points of these credits) of less than 3.0; and 83% of those failing at the university had an overall community college GPA of less than 3.0.

Modeled monthly local topographic lapse rates, Pacific Northwest, USA

An emerging approach to downscaling the projections from General Circulation Models (GCMs) to scales relevant for basin hydrology is to use output of GCMs to force higher-resolution Regional Climate Models (RCMs). With spatial resolution often in the tens of kilometers, however, even RCM output will likely fail to resolve local topography that may be climatically significant in high-relief basins. Here we develop and apply an approach for downscaling RCM output using local topographic lapse rates (empirically-estimated spatially and seasonally variable changes in climate variables with elevation). We calculate monthly local topographic lapse rates from the 800-m Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) dataset, which is based on regressions of observed climate against topographic variables. We then use these lapse rates to elevationally correct two sources of regional climate-model output: (1) the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR), a retrospective dataset produced from a regional forecasting model constrained by observations, and (2) a range of baseline climate scenarios from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP), which is produced by a series of RCMs driven by GCMs. By running a calibrated and validated hydrologic model, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), using observed station data and elevationally-adjusted NARR and NARCCAP output, we are able to estimate the sensitivity of hydrologic modeling to the source of the input climate data. Topographic correction of regional climate-model data is a promising method for modeling the hydrology of mountainous basins for which no weather station datasets are available or for simulating hydrology under past or future climates.

Geochemistry of Atlantis Massif crust

The Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N) is an oceanic core complex marked by distinct variations in crustal architecture, deformation and metamorphism over distances of at least 5 km. We report Sr and Nd isotope data and Rare Earth Element (REE) concentrations of gabbroic and ultramafic rocks drilled at the central dome (IODP Hole 1309D) and recovered by submersible from the southern ridge of the massif that underlie the peridotite-hosted Lost City Hydrothermal Field. Systematic variations between the two areas document variations in seawater penetration and degree of fluid-rock interaction during uplift and emplacement of the massif and hydrothermal activity associated with the formation of Lost City. Homogeneous Sr and Nd isotope compositions of the gabbroic rocks from the two areas (87Sr/86Sr: 0.70261-0.70429 and epsilon-Nd: +9.1 to +12.1) indicate an origin from a depleted mantle. At the central dome, serpentinized peridotites are rare and show elevated seawater-like Sr isotope compositions related to serpentinization at shallow crustal levels, whereas unaltered mantle isotopic compositions preserved in the gabbroic rocks attest to limited seawater interaction at depth. This portion of the massif remained relatively unaffected by Lost City hydrothermal activity. In contrast, pervasive alteration and seawater-like Sr and Nd isotope compositions of serpentinites at the southern wall (87Sr/86Sr: 0.70885-0.70918; epsilon-Nd: -4.7 to +11.3) indicate very high fluid-rock ratios (~20 and up to 10**6) and enhanced fluid fluxes during hydrothermal circulation. Our studies show that Nd isotopes are most sensitive to high fluid fluxes and are thus an important geochemical tracer for quantification of water-rock ratios in hydrothermal systems. Our results suggest that high fluxes and long-lived serpentinization processes may be critical to the formation of Lost City-type systems and that normal faulting and mass wasting in the south facilitate seawater penetration necessary to sustain hydrothermal activity.