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Providing environmental flows is challenging in the middle portion of the Rio Grande/Bravo Basin (between Elephant Butte Reservoir in New Mexico and Presidio, Texas) where water demand has continue...

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-10T19:56:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-05-01 The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., is a legume of economic and food importance in tropical and subtropical countries. Thus, the objective of this study was to define the phenological growth stages of common beans according to the Bundesanstalt Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale, as well as the degree days, to optimise common bean management practices in accordance with the plant phenology. All phenological stages, including germination, foliar development, side shoots formation, stem elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, pod development and plant senescence, were evaluated using the BBCH scale. The descriptions of the phenological stages, combined with illustrations, and the sum of degree days during the crop cycle improve our understanding of these phenological stages. The identification of the vegetative and reproductive stages of the common bean facilitates improved management of the crop under different environmental conditions, taking thermal accumulation into consideration. State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Postgrad Program Agron Plant Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Dept Vegetables Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Vicosa, Postgrad Program Plant Sci, Vicosa, MG, Brazil Univ Fed Vicosa, Inst Agr Sci, Rio Paranaiba Campus, Vicosa, MG, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Postgrad Program Agron Plant Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil State Univ Sao Paulo Julio de Mesquita Filho, Dept Vegetables Prod, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES While dermatoscopy improves diagnostic accuracy for raised nonpigmented lesions, those with white surface keratin can be problematical. We investigated whether retention of povidone-iodine by surface keratin provides a clue to benignity. METHODS We performed a retrospective pilot study (n = 57) followed by a prospective study (n = 117) on raised nonpigmented lesions with white surface keratin. An initial dermatoscopic image was taken of each lesion, povidone-iodine was applied and another image taken. Following lavage with 70% ethanol, a third image was acquired. The percentage surface area of residual povidone-iodine staining after lavage was recorded, and the results analysed. RESULTS The optimal cut-off point of residual staining was 80%, where values of ≤80% pointed to malignancy. At this cut-off, the OR for lesions with values ≤80% to be truly malignant in the retrospective set was 4.03 (95% CI: 2.1-7.6) and the AUC was 0.7 (95% CI: 0.62-0.78). For the prospective set, the corresponding OR was 2.3 (95% CI: 1.4-3.7) and the AUC was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.55-0.68). CONCLUSIONS This study presents evidence that povidone-iodine retention may have a degree of efficacy in distinguishing benign from malignant keratotic lesions. Further study is warranted.

Objectives To analyse dental hygienists’ (DHs) views on professional competencies and behavioural interventions in the treatment of periodontitis patients, perceived work-related support and work satisfaction. Methods A Web-based questionnaire was distributed to all DHs employed at the public dental service in the county of Vastra Gotaland, Sweden. 302 (83%) responded to the questionnaire; 291 of these DHs stated that they on regular basis treated periodontitis patients and thus constituted the sample for analyses. Based on initial correlation and bivariate analyses of the questionnaire data, multiple logistic regression models were formulated to estimate perceived competencies to treat patients with periodontitis and work satisfaction. Results The multiple analyses revealed that DHs who worked with specific methods for behavioural intervention, like motivational interviewing, were more likely to rate themselves as “definitely possessing the competencies required to treat patients with periodontitis” (OR 4.0). Likewise, this group of DHs did not consider it more difficult to charge their patients the financial costs for such a behavioural intervention than for scaling therapy (OR 3.1). The perception that one's professional competencies were utilized well in daily practice was associated with high work satisfaction (OR 4.1). More years in the profession (OR 1.03) and a good support by colleagues (OR 1.9) had also a positive impact on work satisfaction. Conclusions Dental hygienists’ considered that competencies in the treatment of periodontitis patients were related to the practice of behavioural interventions as part of therapy. A stimulating and supportive work environment, with opportunities for professional development, is important for work satisfaction.

User authentication is a crucial requirement for cloud service providers to prove that the outsourced data and services are safe from imposters. Keystroke dynamics is a promising behavioral biometrics for strengthening user authentication, however, current keystroke based solutions designed for certain datasets, for example, a fixed length text typed on a traditional personal computer keyboard and their authentication performances were not acceptable for other input devices nor free length text. Moreover, they suffer from a high dimensional feature space that degrades the authentication accuracy and performance.

Phyllosilicates, one of the five major structural types of silicates, have highly variable structures and very complex chemistry. This manuscript reports the first comprehensive Raman spectroscopic study of the five major groups of phyllosilicates. We first demonstrate that phyllosilicates have a unique Raman spectral pattern that can be used to distinguish them from orthosilicate, chain silicate, ring silicate, and framework silicate with different degrees of silicate polymerization. Second, we distinguish characteristics of Raman spectral features associated with phyllosilicates of the different stacking sequences and show how minor changes in chemical compositions and structural details in some phyllosilicates can affect their Raman spectral patterns, peak positions, and peak widths. From this study, we extract several empirical rules that can help to identify and characterize phyllosilicates based on in situ Raman spectroscopic measurements. These results are significant for planetary surface exploration, especially Mars, where the existence of phyllosilicates as a result of alteration of primary minerals has been indicated by Vis-Near IR spectroscopy used in orbital remote sensing and recently by X-ray diffraction in surface exploration. The spectral data collected from this study are also useful for laboratory study of terrestrial phyllosilicate samples. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ferric sulfates with various hydration degrees were found on Mars by surface exploration and orbital remote sensing. The processes that they experienced during their formation and alteration relate to Martian hydrologic history and thus have been important topics for laboratory investigations. This study reports three sets of dehydration experiments conducted on Na-jarosite, ferricopiapite, and rhomboclase under two relative humidity conditions (5–6% RH and 10–11% RH) at two temperatures (50 and 95 °C), for which laser Raman spectroscopy and gravimetric measurements were the only two techniques used, in situ and non-invasively, to monitor the progress of these experiments. Our dehydration experiments show that OH-bearing Na-jarosite is relatively stable at 95 °C and RH

Laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS) has been proposed for in situ characterization of molecular species in planetary surface exploration, and three laser Raman spectrometers are included in the science payloads of two under-development missions to Mars (ESA-ExoMars2018 and NASA-Mars2020). We report the first rover test of a laser Raman spectrometer developed for flight, the Mars Micro-beam Raman Spectrometer (MMRS) in the Atacama Desert (Chile). The MMRS was integrated on the Zoe rover and analyzed subsurface samples brought up by a 1 m drill and delivered by a carousel. The MMRS demonstrated robust performance over 50-km traverse on rugged terrains. From MMRS data, igneous minerals, carbonates, sulfates and carbonaceous materials were unambiguously identified. Quantified distributions of major minerals and carbonaceous materials are extracted from MMRS results, which can be used to imply the regional geological evolution, and potential bioactivities. MMRS in the field performed as well as an LRS laboratory instrument when MMRS was focused satisfactorily. The discovery of stable γ-anhydrite, in large quantity (20% in a sample), in the Atacama soils raises an important question of its stability in the field in a natural environment that is worth further laboratory experimental investigation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Different ratios of phosphotungestic acid supported on silica gel were prepared by an impregnation method with PWA loadings ranging from 1 to 30% w/w and calcined at 350 and 500 °C for 4 h in a static air atmosphere. The catalysts were characterized by thermogravimety (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy and N2 adsorption measurements. The surface acidity and basicity of the catalyst were investigated by the dehydration–dehydrogenation of isopropanol and the adsorption of pyridine (PY) and 2,6-dimethyl pyridine (DMPY). The gas-phase estrification of acetic acid with ethanol was carried out at 185 °C in a conventional fixed-bed reactor at 1 atm using air as carrier gas. The results clearly revealed that the catalyst containing 10% w/w PWA/SiO2 is the most active and delivers reaction selectively to ester with 85% yield. The Bronsted acid site resulting from hydroxylation of tungsten oxide plays the main role in the formation of ester. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

Objectives/Hypothesis: Many otologic disorders have been attributed to dysfunction of the tensor tympani muscle, including tinnitus, otalgia, Meniere's disease and sensorineural hearing loss. The objective of this study was to determine adequate stimuli for tensor tympani contraction in humans and determine markers of the hypercontracted state that could be used to detect this process in otologic disease. Study Design: Multiple types of studies. Methods: Studies included 1) measuring middle ear impedance changes in response to orbital puffs of air, facial stroking, and self-vocalization; 2) measuring changes in stapes and eardrum vibrations and middle ear acoustic impedance in response to force loading of the tensor tympani in fresh human cadaveric temporal bones; 3) measuring changes in acoustic impedance in two subjects who could voluntarily contract their tensor tympani, and performing an audiogram with the muscle contracted in one of these subjects; and 4) developing a lumped parameter computer model of the middle ear while simulating various levels of tensor tympani contraction. Results: Orbital jets of air are the most effective stimuli for eliciting tensor tympani contraction. As markers for tensor tympani contraction, all investigations indicate that tensor tympani hypercontraction should result in a low-frequency hearing loss, predominantly conductive, with a decrease in middle ear compliance. Conclusions: These markers should be searched for in otologic pathology states where the tensor tympani is suspected of being hypercontracted.

A planetary environment and analysis chamber (PEACh) has been developed at Washington University in St. Louis, in order to perform in situ multiple spectroscopic measurements on geological samples under relevant planetary environmental conditions and to support future planetary missions, with particular interest on Mars. The pressure in the chamber can range from ambient to 3 × 10−2 mbar. The simulated atmospheric composition and pressure are regulated via a combination of needle and ball valves connecting the chamber with containers filled with premixed gas. The temperature of the samples can be controlled in a range from ambient to − 100 °C. The in situ analytical techniques implemented (and to be implemented) are laser Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), near-IR reflectance spectroscopy, mid-IR attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, and microscopic imaging. The coordinated spectroscopic sensing on the same geological sample under well-controlled atmospheric conditions in the PEACh establishes a way to link the results from the laboratory experiments to the spectral data obtained by landed and orbital planetary exploration missions, which will facilitate understanding the surface processes by which mineral phases occur and their association with atmospheric changes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Therapeutic hypothermia has been shown to improve neurological outcomes in patients who remain comatose following resuscitation from cardiac arrest. While there are numerous reports of patients who have had a successful course after induction of therapeutic hypothermia, such therapeutic intervention has not been described in patients with congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS). We report outcomes in two patients with LQTS who had therapeutic hypothermia following a ventricular fibrillation arrest. Careful and routine monitoring of the QT interval in this patient population is necessary due to the potential for worsening electrical instability during induced hypothermia. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2011;16(1):100–103

The identification of iron sulfates on Mars by the Mars Exploration Rovers (MERs) and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter emphasized the importance of studying iron sulfates in laboratory simulation experiments. The copiapite group of minerals was suggested as one of the potential iron sulfates occurring on the surface and subsurface on Mars, so it is meaningful to study their spectroscopic features, especially the spectral changes caused by cation substitutions. Four copiapite samples with cation substitutions (Fe3+, Al3+, Fe2+, Mg2+) were synthesized in our laboratory. Their identities were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Spectroscopic characterizations by Raman, mid-IR, vis-NIR and laser-induced-breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) were conducted on those synthetic copiapite samples, as these technologies are being (and will be) used in current (and future) missions to Mars. We have found a systematic ν1peak shift in the Raman spectra of the copiapite samples with cation substitutions, a consistent atomic ratio detection by LIBS, a set of systematic XRD line shifts representing structural change caused by the cation substitutions and a weakening of selection rules in mid-IR spectra caused by the low site symmetry of (SO4)2− in the copiapite structures. The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of the trivalent copiapite species show two strong diagnostic water features near 1.4 and 1.9 µm, with two additional bands near 2.0 µm. In the vis-NIR spectra, the position of an electronic band shifts from 0.85 µm for ferricopiapite to 0.866 µm for copiapite, and this shift suggests the appearance of a Fe2+ electronic transition band near 0.9 µm. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cockayne syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive defect in DNA repair resulting in a classic facies with potential visual and auditory impairment. The hearing loss begins peripherally and may become central as the condition progresses. Coexisting sensory deprivation from visual impairment and the possibility of progressive deterioration in mental function conspire with a lack of published experience to produce many challenges for the cochlear implant team. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first case reports with documented follow-up of cochlear implantation in two patients with different manifestations of Cockayne syndrome.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) gels with varying amounts of silicone and solvent and constant amounts of crosslinker were prepared by solution free radical crosslinking copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) comonomer systems. They were then studied in benzene at a total monomer concentration of 3.5 mol L−1 and 70 °C. The conversion of monomer, volume swelling ratio, weight fraction and gel point were measured as a function of the reaction time, silicone concentration and benzene content up to the onset of macrogelation. Structural characteristics of the gels were examined by using equilibrium swelling in benzene, gel fraction and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The morphology of the copolymers was also investigated by SEM. Based on the obtained results, it was concluded that the FTIR data did not have the capacity to show the presence of the VTES or TEOS moiety in these kinds of copolymers. On the other hand, the variation of weight fraction of gel, Wg, and its equilibrium volume swelling ratio in benzene, qv, exhibited the same behaviour as that of MMA/EGDM copolymers. Also, the dilution of the monomer mixture resulted in an increase in the gel point and swelling degree and a decrease in the percent of conversion and gel fraction. Finally, TEOS is not an ideal silicone compound for reaction in the MMA/EGDM copolymerization system, whereas VTES is a suitable silicone comonomer for this system and it has been proved useful. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry

Using the Raman point-count procedure that we anticipate using in planetary surface exploration, we have identified and characterized the major, minor and trace mineral phases in rock chips of a Martian meteorite, EETA 79001. Raman spectra are shown for pyroxene, olivine, maskelynite (shocked, isotropized feldspar), chromite, magnetite, ilmenite, ulvospinel, pyroxferroite, merrillite, apatite, anatase, an Fe sulfide, calcite and hematite. Raman spectra provide information on compositional variations of pyroxene, olivine and FeTiCr oxides and modal proportions of the rock. The maskelynite-free mineral mode obtained on rough rock surfaces is consistent with modes obtained by optical microscopy on a thin section of lithology A of this meteorite. Compositions and variations in compositions of major silicate minerals (pyroxene and olivine) on the basis of Raman peak positions are consistent with those obtained in previous studies by electron probe microanalysis. The variations in composition of the silicate minerals represent different stages of crystallization during the formation of this rock near the Martian surface. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

We investigated the petrologic, geochemical, and spectral parameters that relate to the type and degree of aqueous alteration in nine CM chondrites and one CI (Ivuna) carbonaceous chondrite. Our underlying hypothesis is that the position and shape of the 3 μm band is diagnostic of phyllosilicate mineralogy. We measured reflectance spectra of the chondrites under dry conditions (elevated temperatures) and vacuum (10−8 to 10−7 torr) to minimize adsorbed water and mimic the space environment, for subsequent comparison with reflectance spectra of asteroids. We have identified three spectral CM groups in addition to Ivuna. “Group 1,” the least altered group as determined from various alteration indices, is characterized by 3 μm band centers at longer wavelengths, and is consistent with cronstedtite (Fe-serpentine). “Group 3,” the most altered group, is characterized by 3 μm band centers at shorter wavelengths and is consistent with antigorite (serpentine). “Group 2” is an intermediate group between group 1 and 3. Ivuna exhibits a unique spectrum that is distinct from the CM meteorites and is consistent with lizardite and chrysotile (serpentine). The petrologic and geochemical parameters, which were determined using electron microprobe analyses and microscopic observations, are found to be consistent with the three spectral groups. These results indicate that the distinct parent body aqueous alteration environments experienced by these carbonaceous chondrites can be distinguished using reflectance spectroscopy. High-quality ground-based telescopic observations of Main Belt asteroids can be expected to reveal not just whether an asteroid is hydrated, but also details of the alteration state.

In this article, we present coupled experimental/simulated results about the influence of interface and border traps on the electrical characteristics and split-CV mobility extraction in InGaAs MOSFETs. These results show that border traps limit the maximum drain current under on-state conditions, induce a hysteresis in the quasi-static transfer characteristics, as well as affect CV measurements, inducing an increase in the accumulation capacitance even at high frequencies where trap effects are commonly assumed to be negligible. Hysteresis in the transfer characteristics can be used as a sensitive monitor of border traps, as suggested by a sensitivity analysis where either the energetic or the spatial distribution of border traps are varied. Finally, we show that mobility extraction by means of the split-CV method is affected by appreciable errors related to the spurious contributions of interface and border traps to the total gate charge, ultimately resulting in significant channel mobility underestimation. In very narrow channel devices, channel electron spilling over the InP buffer layer can also contribute to mobility measurement inaccuracy.

Summary With the proliferation of cloud storage services, data integrity verification becomes increasingly significant in order to guarantee the availability and correctness of the outsourced data. Recently, many auditing schemes have been proposed to verify data integrity without possessing or downloading the outsourced data files. However, such schemes in existence assume that there is a single data owner that can update the file and compute the integrity tags. They do not consider the efficiency of user revocation when auditing multi-owner data in the cloud. In addition, existing schemes only support dynamic data operations over fixed-size and single-copy data blocks. Thus, every small update may need updating the tags for all file blocks in all replicas, which in turn causes higher storage and communication overheads. This paper proposes a public and dynamic auditing scheme that supports fully dynamic data operations over variable-size data blocks for replicated and multi-owner cloud storage. Moreover, the proposed scheme can also support efficient user revocation. By supporting batch auditing, the proposed scheme can handle multiple auditing tasks simultaneously and divide an auditing task into multiple sub-tasks in order to increase the detection probability. Experimental results prove the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Oxaliplatin has been a crucial component of combination therapies since admission into the clinic causing modest gains in survival across multiple malignancies. However, oxaliplatin functions in a non‐targeted manner, posing a difficulty in ascertaining precise efficacy mechanisms. While previously thought to only affect DNA repair mechanisms, Platinum‐protein adducts (Pt‐Protein) far outnumber Pt‐DNA adducts leaving a big part of oxaliplatin function unknown. Through preliminary network modeling of high throughput data, this article critically reviews the efficacy of oxaliplatin as well as proposes a better model for enhanced efficacy based on a network approach. In our study, not only oxaliplatin's function in interrupting DNA‐replication was confirmed, but also its role in initiating or intensifying tumorigenesis pathways was uncovered. From our data we present a novel picture of competing signaling networks that collectively provide a plausible explanation of chemotherapeutic resistance, cancer stem cell survival, as well as invasiveness and metastases. Here we highlight oxaliplatin signaling networks, their significance and the clinical implications of these interactions that verifies the importance of network modeling in rational drug design.