Cylindrically Symmetric Vacuum Solutions in Higher Dimensional Brans-Dicke Theory

Higher dimensional, static, cylindrically symmetric vacuum solutions with and without a cosmological constant in the Brans-Dicke theory are presented. We show that, for a negative cosmological constant and for specific values of the parameters, a particular subclass of these solutions include higher dimensional topological black hole-type solutions with a flat horizon topology. We briefly extend our discussion to stationary vacuum and $\Lambda-$vacuum solutions.Comment: V3: Published Versio

Integrating Prosodic and Lexical Cues for Automatic Topic Segmentation

We present a probabilistic model that uses both prosodic and lexical cues for the automatic segmentation of speech into topically coherent units. We propose two methods for combining lexical and prosodic information using hidden Markov models and decision trees. Lexical information is obtained from a speech recognizer, and prosodic features are extracted automatically from speech waveforms. We evaluate our approach on the Broadcast News corpus, using the DARPA-TDT evaluation metrics. Results show that the prosodic model alone is competitive with word-based segmentation methods. Furthermore, we achieve a significant reduction in error by combining the prosodic and word-based knowledge sources.Comment: 27 pages, 8 figure

INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL REVIEW OF THE FOCUSED FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PROPOSED PLAN FOR DESIGNATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT UNITS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SOUTHWEST GROUNDWATER PLUME AT THE PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT

The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) is currently developing a Proposed Plan (PP) for remediation of designated sources of chlorinated solvents that contribute contamination to the Southwest (SW) Groundwater Plume at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), in Paducah, KY. The principal contaminants in the SW Plume are trichloroethene (TCE) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs); these industrial solvents were used and disposed in various facilities and locations at PGDP. In the SW plume area, residual TCE sources are primarily in the fine-grained sediments of the Upper Continental Recharge System (UCRS), a partially saturated zone that delivers contaminants downward into the coarse-grained Regional Gravel Aquifer (RGA). The RGA serves as the significant lateral groundwater transport pathway for the plume. In the SW Plume area, the four main contributing TCE source units are: (1) Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 1 / Oil Landfarm; (2) C-720 Building TCE Northeast Spill Site (SWMU 211A); (3) C-720 Building TCE Southeast Spill Site (SWMU 211B); and (4) C-747 Contaminated Burial Yard (SWMU 4). The PP presents the Preferred Alternatives for remediation of VOCs in the UCRS at the Oil Landfarm and the C-720 Building spill sites. The basis for the PP is documented in a Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) (DOE, 2011) and a Site Investigation Report (SI) (DOE, 2007). The SW plume is currently within the boundaries of PGDP (i.e., does not extend off-site). Nonetheless, reasonable mitigation of the multiple contaminant sources contributing to the SW plume is one of the necessary components identified in the PGDP End State Vision (DOE, 2005). Because of the importance of the proposed actions DOE assembled an Independent Technical Review (ITR) team to provide input and assistance in finalizing the PP

TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF TEMPORAL GROUNDWATER MONITORING VARIABILITY IN MW66 AND NEARBY WELLS, PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT

Evaluation of disposal records, soil data, and spatial/temporal groundwater data from the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) 7 indicate that the peak contaminant concentrations measured in monitoring well (MW) 66 result from the influence of the regional PGDP NW Plume, and does not support the presence of significant vertical transport from local contaminant sources in SWMU 7. This updated evaluation supports the 2006 conceptualization which suggested the high and low concentrations in MW66 represent different flow conditions (i.e., local versus regional influences). Incorporation of the additional lines of evidence from data collected since 2006 provide the basis to link high contaminant concentrations in MW66 (peaks) to the regional 'Northwest Plume' and to the upgradient source, specifically, the C400 Building Area. The conceptual model was further refined to demonstrate that groundwater and the various contaminant plumes respond to complex site conditions in predictable ways. This type of conceptualization bounds the expected system behavior and supports development of environmental cleanup strategies, providing a basis to support decisions even if it is not feasible to completely characterize all of the 'complexities' present in the system. We recommend that the site carefully consider the potential impacts to groundwater and contaminant plume migration as they plan and implement onsite production operations, remediation efforts, and reconfiguration activities. For example, this conceptual model suggests that rerouting drainage water, constructing ponds or basin, reconfiguring cooling water systems, capping sites, decommissioning buildings, fixing (or not fixing) water leaks, and other similar actions will potentially have a 'direct' impact on the groundwater contaminant plumes. Our conclusion that the peak concentrations in MW66 are linked to the regional PGDP NW Plume does not imply that there TCE is not present in SWMU 7. The available soil and groundwater data indicate that the some of the waste disposed in this facility contacted and/or were contaminated by TCE. In our assessment, the relatively small amount of TCE associated with SWMU 7 is not contributing detectable TCE to the groundwater and does not represent a significant threat to the environment, particularly in an area where remediation and/or management of TCE in the NW plume will be required for an extended timeframe. If determined to be necessary by the PGDP team and regulators, additional TCE characterization or cleanup activities could be performed. Consistent with the limited quantity of TCE in SWMU 7, we identify a range of low cost approaches for such activities (e.g., soil gas surveys for characterization or SVE for remediation). We hope that this information is useful to the Paducah team and to their regulators and stakeholders to develop a robust environmental management path to address the groundwater and soil contamination associated with the burial ground areas

Biodegradation of chlorophenol containing wastewater using a rotating biological contactor

Bu çalışmada pepton, 4-klorofenol (4-KF) ve 2,4-Diklorofenol (2,4-DKF) içeren sentetik olarak hazırlanmış, bir numunenin arıtımı, 5 rpm’de çalıştırılan iki kademeli Dönen Biyolojik Disk (DBD) reaktör kullanılarak araştırılmıştır. Ayrıca, biyolojik olarak kolay ayrışabilen bir maddenin (pepton) reaktör performansı üzerine etkileri de araştırılmıştır. Yüksek verimde klorofenol ve KOİ giderimi ancak reaktörün ilave havalandırıcılarla havalandırılması durumunda mümkün olmuştur. Aklimasyon sırasında giriş 4-KF konsantrasyonu 200 mg/L’ye, 2,4-DKF konsantrasyonu ise 100 mg/L’ye yükseltilmiştir. Reaktörün birinci kademesinde yüksek klorofenol (>%98) ve KOİ (>%94) giderimleri gözlenmiş ve ikinci kademe giderim verimini kısmen artırmıştır. 260 günlük bir işletmeyi takiben, reaktör 3.5 ay boyunca sadece pepton ile beslenerek, biyokütle deaklime edilmiştir. Deaklimasyonu takiben,16 gün içerisinde giriş 4-KF konsantrasyonu 200 mg/L’ye, 2,4-DKF konsantrasyonu ise 100 mg/L’ye yükseltilmiştir. Mikroorganizmanın 16 gün içersinde tekrar yüksek konsatrasyonlarda beslenen klorofenollere aklime olduğu ve reaktör girişinden peptonun ani olarak çekilmesinin performansı üzerine olumsuz bir etkisinin olmadığı gözlenmiştir. 2,4-DKF, 4-KF arıtımını yarışçıl (competitive) olarak inhibe ettiği için, şok 4-KF (822.7±1.4 mg/L) ve 2,4-DKF (424.6±1.9 mg/L) yüklemesi reaktörün hem birinci hem de ikinci kademesinde 4-KF konsantrasyonunun 2,4-DKF konsantrasyonuna kıyasla 4 kat artmasına neden olmuştur. Şok yükleme sırasında reaktörler tek karbon ve enerji kaynağı olarak klorofenoller ile beslenmiş ve reaktörün birinci kademesinde maksimum 4-KF giderim hızı 2305 mg/L·gün (18.3 g/m2·gün), 2,4-DKF giderim hızı ise 1202 mg/L·gün (9.5 g/m2·gün) olarak gözlenmiştir. Anahtar Kelimeler: 4-Klorofenol, 2,4-Diklorofenol, dönen biyolojik disk reaktör.Chlorophenols are introduced into the environment through various human activities such as waste incineration, uncontrolled use of wood preservatives, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, as well as via bleaching of pulp with chlorine and the chlorination of drinking water. Despite the recalcitrance of chlorophenols, efforts are still being made to treat them biologically for economic reasons and in expectation of few by-products. Although biofilm reactors are more resistant to high chlorophenols loads, limited information is currently available on biofilm based chlorophenols degradation. In this view, this study aims at evaluating the performance of a two stage rotating biological contactor (RBC) for the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing peptone, 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-Dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) at 5 rpm. The RBC had two equal stages with 9 disks in each stage. The diameter of each disk was 18 cm and the total surface area for biomass attachment was 0.44 m2 per stage. Around 40% of disks were submerged in water. Total liquid volume in the reactor was 7.0 L. The study consists of four successive steps. In the first part of the study, feed chlorophenols concentrations were gradually increased, while, peptone concentration was kept constant at 400 mg/L. In the second step, peptone concentration was gradually decreased keeping the 4-CP and 2,4-DCP concentrations constant at 220 and 110 mg/L, respectively. In the third step, reactor was fed with 400 mg/L peptone in the absence of chlorophenols for around 3.5 months to deacclimated biomass and then the biomass was reacclimated to chlorophenols mixture. Lastly, the effect of shock chlorophenols loadings, in the absence of peptone was extensively evaluated. The HRT of the reactor was kept at 0.7 d throughout the study. During the experiments, the reactor was sampled regularly and analyzes were done immediately for COD, chlorophenols and 5-chloro-2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde (CHMS). During the acclimation, CHMS, which is-meta cleavage product of 4-CP, appeared at the effluent when reactor was fed with 20 mg/L 4-CP and 10 mg/L 2,4-DCP. Although both 4-CP and 2,4-DCP removals were complete, the CHMS appeared at the effluent for around 1 month. Also, low dissolved oxygen concentration (1mg/L) favored the filamentous growth  in the first stage of RBC. On day 60, the liquid phase of the reactor was aerated to have at least 3 mg/L of dissolved oxygen (rotational speed was kept at 5 rpm). Under these conditions, CHMS disappeared within a few days along with complete removal of chlorophenols. Then, the concentrations of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP were increased steadily up to 220 mg/L 4-CP and 110 mg/L 2,4-DCP within the 138 days of operation. Most of the chlorophenols were degraded in the first stage and the concentrations were below detection limit in the second stage. Similarly, the effluent COD concentrations were between 20-40 mg/L and the average COD removal efficiency was 96±2.36%. During this period, Pseudomonas sp. and Pseudomonas stutzeri (98% similarity) were the dominant species in biofilm. Decreasing the peptone concentration from 400 mg/L to null did not cause any remarkable adverse effect on chlorophenols degradation as the average 4-CP and 2,4-DCP concentrations in the first stage were 1.53±0.27 and 0.27±0.16 mg/L, respectively. On day 260 and the reactor was fed with 400 mg/L of peptone for 3.5 months to deacclimate the microorganisms. After 3.5 months of operation, the reactor directly started with high chlorophenols removal efficiency without experiencing any lag and no further deterioration in the overall performance was observed even the feed 4-CP and 2,4-DCP concentrations were increased to 200 and 100 mg/L, respectively, within 16 days. When the feed was containing 400 mg/L peptone, 200 mg/L 4-CP and 100 mg/L 2,4-DCP (COD =  915±13 mg/L), the second stage COD was 17±2 mg/L. During the shock loading, the concentrations were increased up to 822.7±1.4 mg/L 4-CP and 424.6±1.9 mg/L 2,4-DCP (total CP loading = 1781 mg/L·d), within 7 days. As feed chlorophenols concentrations were increased, the effluent concentrations in both stages increased linearly. For both stages, the effluent 4-CP concentrations were almost 4 times higher than 2,4-DCP, which may be due to strong competitive inhibition of 2,4-DCP on 4-CP degradation. The observed maximum 4-CP and 2,4-DCP removal rates in the first stage were 2305 mg/L·d (18.3 g/m2·d) and 1202 mg/L·d (9.5 g/m2·d), respectively. Keywords: 4-Chlorophenol, 2,4-Dichlorophenol, rotating biological contactor

Straight versus S-shaped sternotomy: a histologic study in the sheep model

INTRODUCTION: Straight sternotomy is the most common access for open heart surgery. Techniques have been proposed for maximizing sternal stability in high-risk patients. This trend implies a growing need for newer surgical techniques. The aim of this experimental study in the sheep model is to evaluate median vs. S shaped sternotomy the feasibility of using a special device to accelerate the sternal instability and bone healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 31 sheep, weighing 18–30 kg. For all animals a midline skin incision was made. In group I (n = 16 animals), straight median sternotomy and in group II (n = 15 animals), S-shaped incision was marked on the periosteum of the sternum by new created device for standard S-shaped sternotomy. Sternum biopsies were performed on second surgery month for all survived animals from the sternum and the surrounding soft tissue. RESULTS: No early superficial wound complications were observed. Overall mortality in the initial approach group was 19.3% (6 sheep). In group I; 3 sheep had died on first surgery day, the reason may be hemorrhage and in group II; 3 sheep developed intractable VF during surgery procedure or immediately afterwards so died. There were statistically significant differences in the scores of bone healing between group 1 and group 2 (4.2 vs.7.3, ANOVA, p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Our work is based on the use of a standard S-shaped sternotomy procedure on sheep sternum. In our experience with the sternal healing in the sheep model, the process of new bone formation was accelerated with S- shaped cut than straight sternotomy procedure. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13019-014-0173-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

The anti-tumor effect of Apo2L/TRAIL on patient pancreatic adenocarcinomas grown as xenografts in SCID mice

BACKGROUND: Apo2L/TRAIL has considerable promise for cancer therapy based on the fact that this member of the tumor necrosis factor family induces apoptosis in the majority of malignant cells, while normal cells are more resistant. Furthermore, in many cells, when Apo2L/TRAIL is combined with chemotherapy, the effect is synergistic. The majority of this work has been carried out using cell lines. Therefore, investigation of how patient tumors respond to Apo2L/TRAIL can validate and/or complement information obtained from cell lines and prove valuable in the design of future clinical trials. METHODS: We have investigated the Apo2L/TRAIL sensitivity of patient derived pancreatic tumors using a patient tumor xenograft/ SCID mouse model. Mice bearing engrafted tumors were treated with Apo2L/TRAIL, gemcitabine or a combination of both therapies. RESULTS: Patient tumors grown as xenografts exhibited a spectrum of sensitivity to Apo2L/TRAIL. Both Apo2L/TRAIL sensitive and resistant pancreatic tumors were found, as well as tumors that showed heterogeneity of response. Changes in apoptotic signaling molecules in a sensitive tumor were analyzed by Western blot following Apo2L/TRAIL treatment; loss of procaspase 8, Bid and procaspase 3 was observed and correlated with inhibition of tumor growth. However, in a tumor that was highly resistant to killing by Apo2L/TRAIL, although there was a partial loss of procaspase 8 and Bid in response to Apo2L/TRAIL treatment, loss of procaspase 3 was negligible. This resistant tumor also expressed a high level of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-X(L )that, in comparison, was not detected in a sensitive tumor. Importantly, in the majority of these tumors, addition of gemcitabine to Apo2L/TRAIL resulted in a greater anti-tumor effect than either therapy used alone. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that in a clinical setting we will see heterogeneity in the response of patients' tumors to Apo2L/TRAIL, including tumors that are highly sensitive as well as those that are resistant. While much more work is needed to understand the molecular basis for this heterogeneity, it is very encouraging, that Apo2L/TRAIL in combination with gemcitabine increased therapeutic efficacy in almost every case and therefore may be a highly effective strategy for controlling human pancreatic cancer validating and expanding upon what has been reported for cell lines

Sosyal Sermayenin Yenilikçi Davranışa Etkisinde Girişimcilik Eğiliminin Aracılık Rolü: Gaziantep’teki Suriyeli Girişimciler Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Günümüzde bilim ve teknolojinin hızlı gelişimi ve küreselleşmeye yönelik eğilimlerle birlikte, neredeyse tüm örgütler muazzam riskler ve rekabet baskıları getiren dinamik bir iş ortamıyla karşı karşıya kalmaktadır. Yenilikçi davranış, örgütlerin uzun vadede hayatta kalması ve sürdürülebilir bir rekabet avantajı elde etmesi için benzersiz bir varlık olarak kabul edilmektedir. Öte yandan, çok sayıda bilim adamı sosyal sermaye ve girişimciliğin yenilikçi davranış üzerindeki etkisine dikkat çekmektedir. Bu perspektiften Gaziantep’teki 404 Suriyeli girişimcinin katıldığı çalışmanın temel amacı sosyal sermayenin yenilikçi davranış üzerindeki etkisini ve bu etki düzeyinde girişimcilik eğiliminin aracılık rolü olup olmadığını incelemektir. Kavramsal ve ampirik araştırma sonucu elde edilen bulgular sosyal sermayenin hem doğrudan hem de girişimcilik eğilimi aracılığıyla dolaylı olarak yenilikçi davranışı olumlu bir şekilde etkilediğini ve ayrıca sosyal sermayenin yenilikçi davranış üzerindeki etkisinde girişimcilik eğiliminin kısmi aracılık rolü de doğrulanmıştır. Bu sonuçlar sosyal sermayenin girişimcilik eğilimi aracılığıyla girişimcilerin işlevselliğini daha da artırarak daha fazla yeni yaratıcı fikirler ürettikleri ve uyguladıkları argümanına güçlü bir destek sağlamaktadır