Integrated metal transistor leads

Technique that makes the metal leads integral to the transistor wafer and reduces capacitance in the device, thereby increasing its efficiency is outlined

Concentrated Wastewater Treatment Using a Ferric Iron-dosed Anaerobic Upflow Sludge Blanket Reactor for Recovery of Phosphorus and Ammonium

This study evaluated the performance of a novel, ferric iron-dosed anaerobic bioreactor to recover two separate nutrient products from concentrated wastewaters -- phosphorus as vivianite (Fe3(PO4)2×8H2O) and an ammonium-containing effluent with low organics. A bench-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor fed with a synthetic wastewater (458.0 mg/L total organic carbon, 282.7 mg/L ammonium, and 84.4 mg/L phosphate) was dosed with a ferric chloride solution at an org. C/Fe3+ molar ratio ~17.5 to facilitate organic carbon oxidation coupled to iron reduction. The reactor design allowed natural settling of vivianite to its cone-shaped bottom for collection. The UASB reactor was operated under two hydraulic retention times (HRT, 7 and 10 hours) and the results showed that an increase in HRT from 7 hours to 10 hours resulted in a higher removal efficiency of TOC (54% to 58%) and a higher removal (loss) of ammonia (16% to 38%). The change in HRT did not affect phosphate removal (79%). The total suspended solids (TSS) were 0.3, 20.5, and 172.8 gTSS/L at three heights of the bioreactor from top to bottom. Nitrite was below detection limit (0.01 mg/L) in both the influent and the effluent. Average total iron concentration in the influent was 14.93 mg/L including 0.14 mg/L Fe2+ and 14.79 mg/L Fe3+. The effluent had an average total Fe concentration of 1.90 mg/L including 1.26 mg/L Fe2+ and 0.64 mg/L Fe3+. Analysis of the microbial composition within the reactor was performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and results indicated the presence of Feammox bacteria (Acidimicrobiaceae A6) and iron-reducing bacteria (Geobacter). Further characterization of the biomass was completed with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). These results revealed oxygen (O), iron (Fe), carbon (C), and phosphorus (P) as the major elements present in the sludge sample obtained from the bottom of the reactor. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) revealed vivianite formation in the bottom sludge material. The process outlined by this research has the potential of recovering nutrients from concentrated wastewaters as a standalone system or as an add-on to biogas producing systems. The separate products of vivianite and ammonium-containing effluent low in organics offer flexibility in applying these as fertilizers at ratios best suited for the applied soils

Study of pressure losses in tubing and fittings Quarterly progress report, Dec. 1965 - Feb. 1966

Pressure losses in tubing and fittings - flow systems analysis, entrance effects in flexible metal hoses, and methods for analyzing flow over rough surfac

Vibration effects on heat transfer in cryogenic systems Quarterly progress report no. 1, Jun. 1 - Aug. 31, 1966

Vibration effects on natural convection and fluid transport properties in cryogenic system

Student Emotional Responses to Different Communication Situations

Communication and emotion are closely linked. Emotions experienced while communicating with others can affect one’s message both verbally and nonverbally. This study asked participants to identify the emotions they experienced when communicating with groups of different sizes. These emotions were drawn from, and displayed upon, the Circumplex Model of Affect, a figure developed by Posner, Russell, and Peterson (2005). This model divides 16 emotions into quadrants that lie along two axes: pleasantness and emotional arousal. Results show that as audience size increases, speakers’ emotions become more unpleasant, more highly aroused, and more variable overall. Prior research indicates that these negative emotions can have detrimental effects not just on the speaker’s message, but also on how the audience receives that message. Helping communicators understand the link between their emotions and their communication is a valuable step in improving communication ability and developing valuable emotional intelligence skills

Report of the committee to review the use of J-13 well water in Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations

The Waste Management Project Office of the Department of Energy conducted a special audit of the activities of the Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigation Project at Livermore. It was noted that there never has been a comprehensive, well-documented examination of the basis for the use of J-13 water in the nuclear waste storage investigations. In each of the sections of This Report, an issue relating to the use of J-13 water has been addressed. 58 refs., 19 figs., 8 tabs

Targeted interventions for patellofemoral pain syndrome (TIPPS): classification of clinical subgroups

Introduction Patellofemoral pain (PFP) can cause significant pain leading to limitations in societal participation and physical activity. An international expert group has highlighted the need for a classification system to allow targeted intervention for patients with PFP; we have developed a work programme systematically investigating this. We have proposed six potential subgroups: hip abductor weakness, quadriceps weakness, patellar hypermobility, patellar hypomobility, pronated foot posture and lower limb biarticular muscle tightness. We could not uncover any evidence of the relative frequency with which patients with PFP fell into these subgroups or whether these subgroups were mutually exclusive. The aim of this study is to provide information on the clinical utility of our classification system. Methods and analysis 150 participants will be recruited over 18 months in four National Health Services (NHS) physiotherapy departments in England. Inclusion criteria: adults 18–40 years with PFP for longer than 3 months, PFP in at least two predesignated functional activities and PFP elicited by clinical examination. Exclusion criteria: prior or forthcoming lower limb surgery; comorbid illness or health condition; and lower limb training or pregnancy. We will record medical history, demographic details, pain, quality of life, psychomotor movement awareness and knee temperature. We will assess hip abductor and quadriceps weakness, patellar hypermobility and hypomobility, foot posture and lower limb biarticular muscle tightness. The primary analytic approach will be descriptive. We shall present numbers and percentages of participants who meet the criteria for membership of (1) each of the subgroups, (2) none of the subgroups and (3) multiple subgroups. Exact (binomial) 95% CIs for these percentages will also be presented. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Committee North West—Greater Manchester North (11/NW/0814) and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Built, Sport, Health (BuSH) Ethics Committee (BuSH 025). An abstract has been accepted for the third International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat, Vancouver, September 2013

Impacts of Upstream Drought and Water Withdrawals on the Health and Survival of Downstream Estuarine Oyster Populations

Increases in the frequency, duration, and severity of regional drought pose major threats to the health and integrity of downstream ecosystems. During 2007-2008, the U.S. southeast experienced one of the most severe droughts on record. Drought and water withdrawals in the upstream watershed led to decreased freshwater input to Apalachicola Bay, Florida, an estuary that is home to a diversity of commercially and ecologically important organisms. This study applied a combination of laboratory experiments and field observations to investigate the effects of reduced freshwater input on Apalachicola oysters. Oysters suffered significant disease-related mortality under high-salinity, drought conditions, particularly during the warm summer months. Mortality was size-specific, with large oysters of commercially harvestable size being more susceptible than small oysters. A potential salinity threshold was revealed between 17 and 25 ppt, where small oysters began to suffer mortality, and large oysters exhibited an increase in mortality. These findings have important implications for watershed management, because upstream freshwater releases could be carefully timed and allocated during stressful periods of the summer to reduce disease-related oyster mortality. Integrated, forward-looking water management is needed, particularly under future scenarios of climate change and human population growth, to sustain the valuable ecosystem services on which humans depend

Deferred and deterred: a review of literature on the impact of deferrals on blood donors

Background: Potential blood donors can be deferred due to concerns about the impact of the donation on their health or the safety of the blood supply. To date, we lack a comprehensive review of the impact of deferrals on donors and how to mitigate adverse effects. Aims: The aim of this review was to describe the available literature on deferrals, with a focus on the impact of deferrals on donors’ subsequent behaviour, potential reasons for impact and the effectiveness of strategies to improve deferral processes and facilitate donor return. Method: A narrative review of the literature on blood donation deferrals was undertaken. Results: Deferral rates vary widely across different contexts, with female, younger, first time and minority donors more likely to be ineligible to donate. There is clear evidence that deferrals impact on future donation behaviour, particularly for those deferred at their first donation attempt. Deferral has a negative emotional impact if the deferral is permanent or related to positive test results, while emotions experienced at the time of a temporary deferral are related to donors’ willingness to return. Conclusion: An understanding of the impact of deferrals from the donor perspective provides key information to improve the blood centre practices. There is preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of strategies to retain donors, including enabling the ineligible donor to make an alternative contribution, providing clear information about the deferral, notifying the donor when they can return to donate and addressing practical barriers to return