Exposure to Fibres, Crystalline Silica, Silicon Carbide and Sulphur Dioxide in the Norwegian Silicon Carbide Industry

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess personal exposure to fibres, crystalline silica, silicon carbide (SiC) and sulphur dioxide in the Norwegian SiC industry

Another Year of 2,4-D

About a million acres of corn and 500,000 acres of small grain and flax were sprayed with 2,4-D in Iowa last season. County extension directors report an estimated 62,000 miles of fencerows were so treated. Chemical manufacturers sold between 500,000 and 800,000 pounds of actual 2,4-D last year

On Aharonov-Casher bound states

In this work bound states for the Aharonov-Casher problem are considered. According to Hagen's work on the exact equivalence between spin-1/2 Aharonov-Bohm and Aharonov-Casher effects, is known that the $\boldsymbol{\nabla}\cdot\mathbf{E}$ term cannot be neglected in the Hamiltonian if the spin of particle is considered. This term leads to the existence of a singular potential at the origin. By modeling the problem by boundary conditions at the origin which arises by the self-adjoint extension of the Hamiltonian, we derive for the first time an expression for the bound state energy of the Aharonov-Casher problem. As an application, we consider the Aharonov-Casher plus a two-dimensional harmonic oscillator. We derive the expression for the harmonic oscillator energies and compare it with the expression obtained in the case without singularity. At the end, an approach for determination of the self-adjoint extension parameter is given. In our approach, the parameter is obtained essentially in terms of physics of the problem.Comment: 11 pages, matches published versio

Supercooled melting in multicomponent Zr–Al–Cu–Ni diffusion couples

Diffusion couples combining a hcp Zr90Al10 supersaturated solid solution with a fcc Cu64Ni36 solid solution were annealed at 410 °C for different times. The reaction at the interface was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The investigations show the formation of a noncrystalline layer at the interface between the two solid solutions that grows to a maximum thickness of more than 0.3 µm. Concentration profiles reveal that two noncrystalline phases coexist in the diffusion couple. One is Ni-rich and was in the amorphous state during the reaction at 410 °C. The other phase is Zr-rich and grew in its supercooled liquid state. This novel supercooled melting process has not been previously observed in a solid state reaction. Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects that contribute to the high thermal stability of the Zr–Al–Ni–Cu in the supercooled liquid are discussed

The viscosity of the Zr46.75Ti8.25Cu7.5Ni10Be27.5 bulk metallic glass forming alloy in the supercooled liquid

The viscosity of the Zr46.75Ti8.25Cu7.5Ni10Be27.5 bulk metallic glass forming alloy in the supercooled liquid was measured using parallel plate rheometry. The measurements were carried out with different heating rates between 0.0167 and 1.167 K/s as well as isothermally. Because of the high thermal stability above the glass transition of this bulk metallic glass former with respect to crystallization, it was possible to measure viscosities in the range from 1010 to 106 poise. This region of viscosities has not been previously measured for supercooled metallic melts. Our measurements suggest that the viscosity of the supercooled liquid of this bulk glass former exhibits a small Vogel–Fulcher temperature relative to the glass transition temperature, similar to silicate glasses

More than smell - COVID-19 is associated with severe impairment of smell, taste, and chemesthesis

Recent anecdotal and scientific reports have provided evidence of a link between COVID-19 and chemosensory impairments such as anosmia. However, these reports have downplayed or failed to distinguish potential effects on taste, ignored chemesthesis, and generally lacked quantitative measurements. Here, we report the development, implementation and initial results of a multi-lingual, international questionnaire to assess self-reported quantity and quality of perception in three distinct chemosensory modalities (smell, taste, and chemesthesis) before and during COVID-19. In the first 11 days after questionnaire launch, 4039 participants (2913 women, 1118 men, 8 other, ages 19-79) reported a COVID-19 diagnosis either via laboratory tests or clinical assessment. Importantly, smell, taste and chemesthetic function were each significantly reduced compared to their status before the disease. Difference scores (maximum possible change ±100) revealed a mean reduction of smell (-79.7 ± 28.7, mean ± SD), taste (-69.0 ± 32.6), and chemesthetic (-37.3 ± 36.2) function during COVID-19. Qualitative changes in olfactory ability (parosmia and phantosmia) were relatively rare and correlated with smell loss. Importantly, perceived nasal obstruction did not account for smell loss. Furthermore, chemosensory impairments were similar between participants in the laboratory test and clinical assessment groups. These results show that COVID-19-associated chemosensory impairment is not limited to smell, but also affects taste and chemesthesis. The multimodal impact of COVID-19 and lack of perceived nasal obstruction suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection may disrupt sensory-neural mechanisms.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

In situ recordings of large gelatinous spheres from NE Atlantic, and the first genetic confirmation of egg mass of Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) (Cephalopoda, Mollusca)

In total, 90 gelatinous spheres, averaging one meter in diameter, have been recorded from ~ 1985 to 2019 from the NE Atlantic Ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea, using citizen science. More than 50% had a dark streak through center. They were recorded from the surface to ~ 60–70 m depth, mainly neutrally buoyant, in temperatures between 8 and 24°C. Lack of tissue samples has until now, prohibited confirmation of species. However, in 2019 scuba divers secured four tissue samples from the Norwegian coast. In the present study, DNA analysis using COI confirms species identity as the ommastrephid broadtail shortfin squid Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839); these are the first confirmed records from the wild. Squid embryos at different stages were found in different egg masses: (1) recently fertilized eggs (stage ~ 3), (2) organogenesis (stages ~ 17–19 and ~ 23), and (3) developed embryo (stage ~ 30). Without tissue samples from each and every record for DNA corroboration we cannot be certain that all spherical egg masses are conspecific, or that the remaining 86 observed spheres belong to Illex coindetii. However, due to similar morphology and size of these spheres, relative to the four spheres with DNA analysis, we suspect that many of them were made by I. coindetii