Structure of monolayer dye films studied by Brewster angle cavity ringdown spectroscopy

Cavity ringdown spectroscopy of films of oxazine and malachite green dyes coated on thin borosilicate substrates is described. The method involves insertion of the substrate into the cavity at Brewster's angle to reduce reflection losses. Measured absorption features of the adsorbed dyes in the visible region 580 to 700 nm show the presence of dye aggregates. The measurement of sub-monolayers of oxazine 1 as low as 0.032 monolayers with an absorption loss per pass of 5.79 Â 10 À5 is demonstrated

Blaming Bill Gates AGAIN! Misuse, overuse and misunderstanding of performance data in sport

Recently in Sport, Education and Society, Williams and Manley (2014) argued against the heavy reliance on technology in professional Rugby Union and elite sport in general. In summary, technology is presented as an elitist, ‘gold standard’ villain that management and coaches use to exert control and by which players lose autonomy, identity, motivation, social interactions and expertise. In this article we suggest that the sociological interpretations and implications offered by Williams and Manley may be somewhat limited when viewed in isolation. In doing so, we identify some core methodological issues in Williams and Manley’s study and critically consider important arguments for utilising technology; notably, to inform coach decision making and generate player empowerment. Secondly, we present a different, yet perhaps equally concerning, practice-oriented interpretation of the same results but from alternative coaching and expertise literature. Accordingly, we suggest that Williams and Manley have perhaps raised their alarm prematurely, inappropriately and on somewhat shaky foundations. We also hope to stimulate others to consider contrary positions, or at least to think about this topic in greater detail. More specifically, we encourage coaches and academics to think carefully about what technology is employed, how and why, and then the means by which these decisions are discussed with and, preferably, sold to players. Certainly, technology can significantly enhance coach decision making and practice, while also helping players to optimise their focus, empowerment and independence in knowing how to achieve their personal and collective goals

Efforts at the Frontlines: Implementing a Hepatitis C Testing and Linkage-to-Care Program at the Local Public Health Level

The national Viral Hepatitis Action Plan recommends strengthening partnerships among health departments, community-based organizations, and health-care providers for hepatitis services. We implemented a hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing and linkage-to-care program through a local health department using similar strategies reported for HIV care

Atmospheric carbon capture performance of legacy iron and steel waste

Legacy iron (Fe) and steel wastes have been identified as a significant source of silicate minerals, which can undergo carbonation reactions and thus sequester carbon dioxide (CO2). In reactor experiments, i.e., at elevated temperatures, pressures, or CO2 concentrations, these wastes have high silicate to carbonate conversion rates. However, what is less understood is whether a more “passive” approach to carbonation can work, i.e., whether a traditional slag emplacement method (heaped and then buried) promotes or hinders CO2 sequestration. In this paper, the results of characterization of material retrieved from a first of its kind drilling program on a historical blast furnace slag heap at Consett, U.K., are reported. The mineralogy of the slag material was near uniform, consisting mainly of melilite group minerals with only minor amounts of carbonate minerals detected. Further analysis established that total carbon levels were on average only 0.4% while average calcium (Ca) levels exceeded 30%. It was calculated that only ∼3% of the CO2 sequestration potential of the >30 Mt slag heap has been utilized. It is suggested that limited water and gas interaction and the mineralogy and particle size of the slag are the main factors that have hindered carbonation reactions in the slag heap

The microanatomy of Bowman’s layer in the cornea of the pig: changes in collagen fibril architecture at the corneoscleral limbus

In most animals, Bowman’s layer is a feature of the cornea of the eye, and lies between the sur-face epithelium and the stromal extracellular matrix that makes up the bulk of the cornea. It is com-prised of a condensation of disorganised collagen fibrils. However, it has been conjectured that not all species possess Bowman’s layer, and pigs are a species that has classically been stated to lack this anatomical structure, although there is disa-greement in the published literature. Here, we studied the porcine cornea using transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) to ascertain whether Bowman’s layer existed. TEM identified a thin band of disorganised collagen fi-brils between the epithelial basement membrane and corneal stroma. SEM images of the central and peripheral corneal surfaces, following removal of the corneal epithelium by cell maceration, re-vealed a disorganised meshwork of collagen fibrils, with a highly aligned annulus of collagen at the limbus. In between the peripheral cornea and lim-bus, a “transition zone” is observed where collagenfibrils start to align. Quantification of fibril alignment demonstrates a significant increase in collagen alignment from 0.08 ± 0.04 to 0.33 ± 0.07 (p < 0.001; n = 60; 0 = no alignment, 1 = full alignment) with increasing distance from the corneal centre. These data together lead us to conclude that the porcine cornea does include Bowman’s layer, though it is thin (contributing roughly 0.2% of cor-neal thickness), and thus, reaffirms the porcine cornea’s similarity to its human counterpart and usefulness as a model system

Extent of hypoattenuation on CT angiography source images in Basilar Artery occlusion: prognostic value in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background and Purpose:&lt;/b&gt; The posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) quantifies the extent of early ischemic changes in the posterior circulation with a 10-point grading system. We hypothesized that pc-ASPECTS applied to CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome of patients in the Basilar Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; BASICS was a prospective, observational registry of consecutive patients with acute symptomatic basilar artery occlusion. Functional outcome was assessed at 1 month. We applied pc-ASPECTS to CT angiography source images of patients with CT angiography for confirmation of basilar artery occlusion. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) of pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at &#8805;8 versus &#60;8. Primary outcome measure was favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–3). Secondary outcome measures were mortality and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale scores 0–2).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Of 158 patients included, 78 patients had a CT angiography source images pc-ASPECTS ≥8. Patients with a pc-ASPECTS ≥8 more often had a favorable outcome than patients with a pc-ASPECTS &#60;8 (crude RR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.98–3.0). After adjustment for age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and thrombolysis, pc-ASPECTS &#8805;8 was not related to favorable outcome (RR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.8–2.2), but it was related to reduced mortality (RR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.5–0.98) and functional independence (RR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1–3.8). In post hoc analysis, pc-ASPECTS dichotomized at &#8805;6 versus &#60;6 predicted a favorable outcome (adjusted RR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2–7.5).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; pc-ASPECTS on CT angiography source images independently predicted death and functional independence at 1 month in the CT angiography subgroup of patients in the BASICS registry.&lt;/p&gt