52,906 research outputs found
Ecology and thermal inactivation of microbes in and on interplanetary space vehicle components
The experiments conducted to determine the heat resistance of Bacillus megaterium ATCC 6458 at 90 and 100 C were completed. Estimates from replicate experiments at eight percent relative humidities (less than 0.001 to 100% RH) for each temperature were computed. A Bacillus cereus strain with high heat resistance was cultured and the resistance determined in phosphate buffer (D sub 121.1 = 2.16 min and z = 8.7 C). The profile of the dry heat resistance of B. megaterium is summarized and the most resistant condition to the three spores (Bacillus subtilis var. niger, ATCC 29669, and Bacillus stearothermophilus, strain 1518) is compared
Ecology and thermal inactivation of microbes in and on interplanetary space vehicle components
Dry heat treatment is specified as the preferred means for the terminal sterilization of spacecraft and for decontamination of spacecraft components. The presence of organisms highly resistant to dry heat in soil and fallout around assembly and industrial manufacturing areas is shown. The dry heat survival characteristics of the Cape Kennedy isolate 4-6 B. brevis spores is demonstrated. The presence of hardy organisms from soil samples obtained from geographical areas of the United States is shown. A resistant fraction appears to occur in low numbers in a soil sample. The heat resistance characteristics of 4-6 B. brevis and B. subtilis var. niger spores are compared. Their morphological characteristics are compared by scanning electron microscopy
Ecology and thermal inactivation of microbes in and on interplanetary space vehicle components
Statistical techniques which have relevance to studies on the thermal inactivation on bacterial spores are discussed
Ecology and thermal inactivation of microbes in and on interplanetary space vehicle components
The heat resistance of Bacillus subtilis var. niger was measured from 85 to 125 C using moisture levels of % RH or = 0.001 to 100. Curves are presented which characterize thermal destruction using thermal death times defined as F values at a given combination of three moisture and temperature conditions. The times required at 100 C for reductions of 99.99% of the initial population were estimated for the three moisture conditions. The linear model (from which estimates of D are obtained) was satisfactory for estimating thermal death times (% RH or = 0.07) in the plate count range. Estimates based on observed thermal death times and D values for % RH = 100 diverged so that D values generally gave a more conservative estimate over the temperature range 90 to 125 C. Estimates of Z sub F and Z sub L ranged from 32.1 to 58.3 C for % RH of or = 0.07 and 100. A Z sub D = 30.0 was obtained for data observed at % RH or = 0.07
Ecology and Thermal Inactivation of Microbes in and on Interplanetary Space Vehicle Components
Spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger were heat treated in aqueous suspension at 90 C, and observed for morphological changes and loss of viability. The 5 logs reduction that occurred in broth at 90 min required 210 min in buffered water. Five characteristic changes observed after spores were exposed 120 min at 90 C in buffered water were: (1) 90% loss of spore viability, (2) 5% stainability, (3) 76% increase in spore size (as observed by scanning electron microscopy), (4) 21% of spore areas remaining refractile, and (5) an increase of 77% in packed cell volume (PCV). Stainability and PCV changes were recognized only after secondary exposure in broth. Extended heat exposure (3 h at 90 C) resulted in 99% loss of spore viability and 99% loss of stainability. After 4 hours of heat exposure, 90% of the cells disintegrated. These results suggest that early germinal changes occurr concurrently with the early changes in the heat susceptibility of dormant spores
Question design in nurse-led and GP-led telephone triage for same-day appointment requests: a comparative investigation
Objective: To compare doctors’ and nurses’ communication with patients in primary care telephone triage consultations. Design: Qualitative comparative study of content and form of questions in 51 telephone triage encounters between practitioners (general practitioners (GPs)=29; nurses=22) and patients requesting a same-day appointment in primary care. Audio-recordings of nurse-led calls were synchronised with video recordings of nurse's use of computer decision support software (CDSS) during triage. Setting: 2 GP practices in Devon and Warwickshire, UK. Participants: 4 GPs and 29 patients; and 4 nurses and 22 patients requesting a same-day face-to-face appointment with a GP. Main outcome measure: Form and content of practitioner-initiated questions and patient responses during clinical assessment. Results: A total of 484 question–response sequences were coded (160 GP; 324 N). Despite average call lengths being similar (GP=4 min, 37 s, (SD=1 min, 26 s); N=4 min, 39 s, (SD=2 min, 22 s)), GPs and nurses differed in the average number (GP=5.51, (SD=4.66); N=14.72, (SD=6.42)), content and form of questions asked. A higher frequency of questioning in nurse-led triage was found to be due to nurses’ use of CDSS to guide telephone triage. 89% of nurse questions were oriented to asking patients about their reported symptoms or to wider-information gathering, compared to 54% of GP questions. 43% of GP questions involved eliciting patient concerns or expectations, and obtaining details of medical history, compared to 11% of nurse questions. Nurses using CDSS frequently delivered questions designed as declarative statements requesting confirmation and which typically preferred a ‘no problem’ response. In contrast, GPs asked a higher proportion of interrogative questions designed to request information. Conclusions: Nurses and GPs emphasise different aspects of the clinical assessment process during telephone triage. These different styles of triage have implications for the type of information available following nurse-led or doctor-led triage, and for how patients experience triage
Tuning Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings: Effects on singlet and triplet condensation with Fermi atoms
We investigate the pair condensation of a two-spin-component Fermi gas in the
presence of both Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit couplings. We calculate the
condensate fraction in the BCS-BEC crossover both in two and in three
dimensions by taking into account singlet and triplet pairings. These
quantities are studied by varying the spin-orbit interaction from the case with
the only Rashba to the equal-Rashba-Dresselhaus one. We find that, by mixing
the two couplings, the singlet pairing decreases while the triplet pairing is
suppressed in the BCS regime and increased in the BEC regime, both in two and
three dimensions. At fixed spin-orbital strength, the greatest total condensate
fraction is obtained when only one coupling (only Rashba or only Dresselhaus)
is present.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, final versio
Mode-Locked Two-Photon States
The concept of mode locking in laser is applied to a two-photon state with
frequency entanglement. Cavity enhanced parametric down-conversion is found to
produce exactly such a state. The mode-locked two-photon state exhibits a
comb-like correlation function. An unbalanced Hong-Ou-Mandel type
interferometer is used to measure the correlation function. A revival of the
typical interference dip is observed. We will discuss schemes for engineering
of quantum states in time domain.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Coal-shale interface detection system
A coal-shale interface detection system for use with coal cutting equipment consists of a reciprocating hammer on which an accelerometer is mounted to measure the impact of the hammer as it penetrates the ceiling or floor surface of a mine. A pair of reflectometers simultaneously view the same surface. The outputs of the accelerometer and reflectometers are detected and jointly registered to determine when an interface between coal and shale is being cut through
An exact self-similar solution for an expanding ball of radiation
We give an exact solution of the Einstein equations which in 4D can be
interpreted as a spherically symmetric dissipative distribution of matter, with
heat flux, whose effective density and pressure are nonstatic, nonuniform, and
satisfy the equation of state of radiation. The matter satisfies the usual
energy and thermodynamic conditions. The energy density and temperature are
related by the Stefan-Boltzmann law. The solution admits a homothetic Killing
vector in , which induces the existence of self-similar symmetry in 4D,
where the line element as well as the dimensionless matter quantities are
invariant under a simple "scaling" group.Comment: New version expanded and improved. To appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
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