A scientific forum on the Gulf of Mexico: The Islands in the Stream Concept. Proceedings of the Forum: 23 January 2008, Keating Education Center, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida

The Scientific Forum on the Gulf of Mexico: The Islands in the Stream Concept took place in January 2008 in Sarasota, Florida. The purpose of the meeting was to bring together scientists and managers from around the Gulf of Mexico to discuss a range of topics on our knowledge of the Gulf of Mexico, from its geology to larger-scale connectivity to the Caribbean region, and their applications to the concept of a more integrated approach to area-based management. The forum included six panels of invited experts who spoke on the oceanographic and biological features in the Gulf of Mexico, including connections with Mexico and the Mesoamerican barrier reef system, and the legal and regulatory structure currently in place. The charge to the group was to share information, identify gaps in our knowledge, identify additional potential areas for protection, and discuss available science about connectivity and the potential value of establishing a marine protected area network in the Gulf of Mexico. (PDF has 108 pages.

Method and apparatus for selectively annealing heterostructures using microwaves

The present invention discloses a process for selectively annealing heterostructures using microwaves. A heterostructure, comprised of a material having higher microwave absorption and a material having lower microwave absorption, is exposed to microwaves in the cavity. The higher microwave absorbing material absorbs the microwaves and selectively heats while the lower microwave absorbing material absorbs small amounts of microwaves and minimally heats. The higher microwave absorbing material is thereby annealed onto the less absorbing material which is thermally isolated

Anaesthetic management of post-burn contractures, a recurrent challenge from oil pipeline vandalization in Nigeria: a case report

A 13 year- old girl presented to the department with sternomental contractures as a result of facial burns from kerosene explosion. Difficult airway was envisaged. Over the period of time she developed sub-mental contracture with keloids; and was scheduled for release of contractures and flap closure

Super-Earth LHS3844b is tidally locked

Short period exoplanets on circular orbits are thought to be tidally locked into synchronous rotation. If tidally locked, these planets must possess permanent day- and nightsides, with extreme irradiation on the dayside and none on the nightside. However, so far the tidal locking hypothesis for exoplanets is supported by little to no empirical evidence. Previous work showed that the super-Earth LHS 3844b likely has no atmosphere, which makes it ideal for constraining the planet's rotation. Here we revisit the Spitzer phase curve of LHS 3844b with a thermal model of an atmosphere-less planet and analyze the impact of non-synchronous rotation, eccentricity, tidal dissipation, and surface composition. Based on the lack of observed strong tidal heating we rule out rapid non-synchronous rotation (including a Mercury-like 3:2 spin-orbit resonance) and constrain the planet's eccentricity to less than 0.001 (more circular than Io's orbit). In addition, LHS 3844b's phase curve implies that the planet either still experiences weak tidal heating via a small-but-nonzero eccentricity (requiring an undetected orbital companion), or that its surface has been darkened by space weathering; of these two scenarios we consider space weathering more likely. Our results thus support the hypothesis that short period rocky exoplanets are tidally locked, and further show that space weathering can significantly modify the surfaces of atmosphere-less exoplanets.Comment: Accepte

The MAHA clue - A case report

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), is one of the causes of extra vascular hemolysis. It is seen in settings with pathologically altered small blood vessels. Disseminated carcinomas may rarely present as MAHA. A case of a 28 year old female with carcinoma stomach, who presented with MAHA as a first manifestation is reported. Acute onset of MAHA, may be the first manifestation of malignancy. In the absence of relatively common causes like disseminated intravascular coagulation,/Hemolytic uremic syndrome/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, MAHA warrants extensive rapid investigations including bone marrow aspiration for possible metastatic deposits

Update: Advancement of Contact Dynamics Modeling for Human Spaceflight Simulation Applications

Pong is a new software tool developed at the NASA Johnson Space Center that advances interference-based geometric contact dynamics based on 3D graphics models. The Pong software consists of three parts: a set of scripts to extract geometric data from 3D graphics models, a contact dynamics engine that provides collision detection and force calculations based on the extracted geometric data, and a set of scripts for visualizing the dynamics response with the 3D graphics models. The contact dynamics engine can be linked with an external multibody dynamics engine to provide an integrated multibody contact dynamics simulation. This paper provides a detailed overview of Pong including the overall approach and modeling capabilities, which encompasses force generation from contact primitives and friction to computational performance. Two specific Pong-based examples of International Space Station applications are discussed, and the related verification and validation using this new tool are also addressed

Response of Laryngeal and Tracheo-Bronchial Surface Lining to Inhaled Cigarette Smoke in Normal and Vitamin A-Deficient Rats: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study.

The effects on surface morphology of airway epithelium of cigarette smoke (CS) inhalation alone (experiments one and two) or of CS in combination with hypovitaminosis A (experiment two) was investigated using specific pathogen free rats. Eight morphologically distinct cell types were distinguished overall. Apart from atypical squamous lesions each of the other cell types could be found in varying proportions in all experimental groups. CS alone caused an increase in the frequency with which intra-lumenal mucus was seen and an increase in the occurrence of secretory cells of types IV (i.e.,\u27merocrine\u27) and V (i.e.,\u27apocrine\u27). In experiment one, the area of trachea covered by cilia as determined by point counting increased significantly (P\u3c0.01). Hypovitaminosis A was induced by lowering the dietary intake of vitamin A to a minimum, defined level. Rats showed an approximately 75% decrease in plasma retinol levels and a 95-100% decrease in hepatic stores of vitamin A. At this level, hypovitaminosis A alone had no significant effect on airway epithelial morphology. Foci of squamous metaplasia (squamous cells of type VIIIa) were found in all groups but extensive squamous metaplasia of the larynx and squamous lesions of atypical appearance (type VIIIb) were found only in the vitamin deficient group exposed to CS. The results suggest the synergistic effects of reduced vitamin A and CS may be important in the induction of atypical squamous changes which may predispose the airway to the development of squamous carcinoma