Origin of Chemical Elements from Water

Based on a literal interpretation of the Biblical account of creation, it is inferred that all the original matter available to the universe was water (Gen. 1:1-3). Employing this premise, a method is outlined demonstrating how various chemical elements might have been derived via nucleosynthesis processes. The mechanism commences with the hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) nuclei provided by water, which are subjected to nuclear reactions. These reactions invoke classical collision theory as the mechanism for generation of new atomic nuclei at a given steady-state temperature. For purposes of simplicity and time constraints, the study thus far has been limited to the production of only the most abundant, stable isotopes naturally present in the earth. There are still some seventy elements remaining to be accounted for. Furthermore, no attempt is made to address the distributions of elements, either in the earth, solar system, or cosmos. These questions must be deferred for future work. The emphasis of this study is solely on the mechanism of production. It is shown that dissociation of water would produce the necessary number of particles and all production times are short. A viable process is also presented which provides a tenable explanation for rapid energy release

Particle Interaction Analysis of Solar Formation and Stabilization

The evolution of the solar interior is analyzed from a classical, independent, particle interaction model. In this model, it is presumed that the plasma has attained an organized state of development, thus reaching a condition of static equilibrium. Henceforth, the ionized particles remain at essentially fixed distances of interaction. Most current standard solar parameters, as well as standard data pertinent to the associated atomic particles, have been utilized. All associated energy quantities are computed within the frame-work of the model, employing conventional techniques. The possibly of strong force interactions between charged particles separated at nuclear distances, is also considered. It is shown that the total repulsive energy exceeds all other stabilizing factors. including the gravitational potential energy. A proposal regarding the deficiency in detecting solar neutrinos is also presented

Testing Classical Interactions Between Finite Particles as a Model of Nuclear Structure

A finite dimensional model for the electron and proton has been used to compute nuclear properties such as: structure, binding energies, energies and rates of decay of radioactive isotopes. Computations were conducted within the frame of classical electromagnetic interactions between toroidal electrons and protons of finite, fixed dimensions. Positions and orientations of each particle were allowed to vary using the variational method, until the minimum energy configuration was attained. Nucleon shell structures were found to build from outer levels toward inner ones, with occupancies following the magic numbers so well known in nuclear physics. Neutrons were found to be formed via toroidal protons binding electronically and magnetically within toroidal electrons, which are significantly larger than the former. Details are presented for 40K as a model test case. Additional results are provided for several select radio nuclides having a diversity of nuclear structures. These calculations, although admittedly of questionable accuracy, do none the less appear to yield results which are in some 90% agreement with the experimental values, over the very limited number of examples tested

Designing Interventions to Overcome Poor Numeracy and Improve Medication Adherence in Chronic Illness, Including HIV/Aids

Numeracy is an element of health literacy that refers to the ability to understand numerically related information. When applied to health behaviors, it describes the degree to which individuals have the capacity to access, process, interpret, and act on graphical and probabilistic health information. As a cognitive and functional skill, low numeracy correlates with poor outcomes in the management of chronic diseases; numeracy is therefore an essential component of patients\u27 capacity to adhere to medication regimens. In this manuscript, we describe novel visual interventions to improve medication adherence in difficult, chronically ill populations. We have used personalized graphical representations of plasma medication concentration and dynamic disease state simulation to overcome poor numeracy. These methods incorporate efficient, precise, and clear graphical data; cartographical techniques focused on judicious use of color intensities; and animation that increases engagement and accentuates information transfer

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Emergency Department Providers in the Care of Suicidal Patients

BACKGROUND: We sought to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of emergency department (ED) providers concerning suicidal patient care and to identify characteristics associated with screening for suicidal ideation (SI). METHODS: Six hundred thirty-one providers at eight EDs completed a voluntary, anonymous survey (79% response rate). RESULTS: The median participant age was 35 (interquartile range: 30-44) years and 57% of the participants were females. Half (48%) were nurses and half were attending (22%) or resident (30%) physicians. More expressed confidence in SI screening skills (81-91%) than in skills to assess risk severity (64-70%), counsel patients (46-56%), or create safety plans (23-40%), with some differences between providers. Few thought mental health provider staffing was almost always sufficient (6-20%) or that suicidal patient treatment was almost always a top ED priority (15-21%). More nurses (37%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 31-42%) than physicians (7%, 95% CI 4-10%) reported screening most or all patients for SI; this difference persisted after multivariable adjustment. In multivariable analysis, other factors associated with screening most or all patients for SI were self-confidence in skills, (odds ratio [OR] 1.60, 95% CI 1.17-2.18), feeling that suicidal patient care was a top ED priority (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.11-2.69) and 5+ postgraduate years of clinical experience (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03-4.13). CONCLUSIONS: ED providers reported confidence in suicide screening skills but gaps in further assessment, counseling, or referral skills. Efforts to promote better identification of suicidal patients should be accompanied by a commensurate effort to improve risk assessment and management skills, along with improved access to mental health specialists

Lethal Means Restriction for Suicide Prevention: Beliefs and Behaviors of Emergency Department Providers

BACKGROUND: We sought to examine the beliefs and behaviors of emergency department (ED) providers related to preventing suicide by reducing suicidal patients\u27 access to lethal methods (means restriction) and identify characteristics associated with asking patients about firearm access. METHODS: Physicians and nurses at eight EDs completed a confidential, voluntary survey. RESULTS: The response rate was 79% (n = 631); 57% of respondents were females and 49% were nurses. Less than half believed, most or all suicides are preventable. More nurses (67%) than physicians (44%) thought most or all firearm suicide decedents would have died by another method had a firearm been unavailable (P \u3c .001). The proportion of providers who reported they almost always ask suicidal patients about firearm access varied across five patient scenarios: suicidal with firearm suicide plan (64%), suicidal with no suicide plan (22%), suicidal with nonfirearm plan (21%), suicidal in past month but not today (16%), and overdosed but no longer suicidal (9%). In multivariable logistic regression, physicians were more likely than nurses to almost always or often ask about a firearm across all five scenarios, as were older providers and those who believed their own provider type was responsible for assessing firearm access. CONCLUSIONS: Many ED providers are skeptical about the preventability of suicide and the effectiveness of means restriction, and most do not assess suicidal patients\u27 firearm access except when a patient has a firearm suicide plan. These findings suggest the need for targeted staff education concerning means restriction for suicide prevention

Exposure to Bioterrorism and Mental Health Response among Staff on Capitol Hill

The October 2001 anthrax attacks heralded a new era of bioterrorism threat in the U.S. At the time, little systematic data on mental health effects were available to guide authorities' response. For this study, which was conducted 7 months after the anthrax attacks, structured diagnostic interviews were conducted with 137 Capitol Hill staff workers, including 56 who had been directly exposed to areas independently determined to have been contaminated. Postdisaster psychopathology was associated with exposure; of those with positive nasal swab tests, PTSD was diagnosed in 27% and any post-anthrax psychiatric disorder in 55%. Fewer than half of those who were prescribed antibiotics completed the entire course, and only one-fourth had flawless antibiotic adherence. Thirty percent of those not exposed believed they had been exposed; 18% of all study participants had symptoms they suspected were symptoms of anthrax infection, and most of them sought medical care. Extrapolation of raw numbers to large future disasters from proportions with incorrect belief in exposure in this limited study indicates a potential for important public health consequences, to the degree that people alter their healthcare behavior based on incorrect exposure beliefs. Incorrect belief in exposure was associated with being very upset, losing trust in health authorities, having concerns about mortality, taking antibiotics, and being male. Those who incorrectly believe they were exposed may warrant concern and potential interventions as well as those exposed. Treatment adherence and maintenance of trust for public health authorities may be areas of special concern, warranting further study to inform authorities in future disasters involving biological, chemical, and radiological agents

A Research Agenda for Gender and Substance Use Disorders in the Emergency Department

For many years, gender differences have been recognized as important factors in the etiology, pathophysiology, comorbidities, and treatment needs and outcomes associated with the use of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. However, little is known about how these gender-specific differences affect ED utilization; responses to ED-based interventions; needs for substance use treatment and barriers to accessing care among patients in the ED; or outcomes after an alcohol-, drug-, or tobacco-related visit. As part of the 2014 Academic Emergency Medicine consensus conference on Gender-Specific Research in Emergency Care: Investigate, Understand and Translate How Gender Affects Patient Outcomes, a breakout group convened to generate a research agenda on priority questions related to substance use disorders