Youth voter mobilization techniques and their effectiveness in the 2008 Iowa Democratic caucuses

This exploratory research addresses youth voter mobilization techniques and their effectiveness in the 2008 Iowa Democratic caucuses

Characterization of Argon/Hydrogen Inductively Coupled Plasma for Carbon Removal over Multilayer Thin Films

Inductively coupled plasma with an argon/hydrogen (Ar/H2) mixture is a potential solution to many surface treatment problems, especially when encountering carbon contamination in optical X-ray and extreme ultraviolet instruments. Removing carbon contamination on multilayer thin films with Ar/H2 plasma extends the lifetime of the above devices. To further investigate the reaction between plasma and carbon, both optical emission spectroscopy and finite element method with multiphysics fields were employed. The results demonstrated that the intensities of the Balmer lines were in good agreement with the densities of the radical hydrogen atoms from the simulation model, showing a dependence on the mixing ratio. At an electrical input power of 165 W and a total pressure of 5 Pa, an optimum mixing ratio of about 35 ± 5 % hydrogen produced the highest density of hydrogen radicals, coinciding with the highest carbon removal rate. This shows that the carbon removal with Ar/H2 plasma was mainly controlled by the density of hydrogen radicals, and the mixing ratio showed a significant impact on the removal rates

Detection and Delineation of Contaminant Migration using the Terrain Conductivity Technique outside the Perimeters of the Dompoase Landfill Facility in Kumasi – Ghana.

Electromagnetic conductivity survey was conducted outside the perimeters of an active municipal landfill facility located at Dompase, a suburb of Kumasi, Ghana. The study was undertaken to identify potential conductive layers probably connected with leachate communication from the landfill. The Geonics EM 34-3 terrain conductivity equipment was used as the geophysical tool for the survey. Operating in the low induction number regime, three intercoil separations of 10, 20 and 40 m were used in both the horizontal and vertical dipole configurations. The specific area of interest was the two sides of a discharge stream which carries treated effluent from the treatment ponds. Data were acquired at 10 m meter interval along sixteen east–west profiles, each of length 100 m, running approximately perpendicular to the discharge stream. There were seven and nine profiles respectively on the right and left sides of the discharge stream. The high conductivity found within the depths 30 to 60 m close to the southern boundary of the landfill might suggest leachate communication from the landfill. The linear pattern of the contour lines in that anomalous zone probably indicate the presence of zones of weakness trending approximately perpendicular to the direction of flow of the discharge stream. This weak zone could account for the lateral spread of leachate within those depths, where leachate plume has so far migrated. Keywords: Aquifer, Contamination, Leachate, Electromagnetic conductivity, Geonics EM-34-3, Horizontal dipole, Landfill, Monitoring well, Vertical dipole

Working around the Clock: Adverse health effects of circadian rhythm disturbance

Working around the clock as a consequence of our growing 24/7 economy strains and disturbs the tightly regulated circadian system. In epidemiological studies, shift work was associated with many adverse health effects, such as cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease. These observational human studies are hampered by confounding factors, difficulties with exposure assessment and take many years to complete. Yet, due to the similarities in carcinogenesis and the circadian system between m

Cell therapy in models for temporal lobe epilepsy

SummaryFor patients with refractory epilepsy it is important to search for alternative treatments. One of these potential treatments could be introducing new cells or modulating endogenous neurogenesis to reconstruct damaged epileptic circuits or to bring neurotransmitter function back into balance. In this review the scientific basis of these cell therapy strategies is discussed and the results are critically evaluated. Research on cell transplantation strategies has mainly been performed in animal models for temporal lobe epilepsy, in which seizure foci or seizure propagation pathways are targeted. Promising results have been obtained, although there remains a lot of debate about the relevance of the animal models, the appropriate target for transplantation, the suitable cell source and the proper time point for transplantation. From the presented studies it should be evident that transplanted cells can survive and sometimes even integrate in an epileptic brain and in a brain that is subjected to epileptogenic interventions. There is evidence that transplanted cells can partially restore damaged structures and/or release substances that modulate existent or induced hyperexcitability. Even though several studies show encouraging results, more studies need to be done in animal models with spontaneous seizures in order to have a better comparison to the human situation

Plasma Water Activation with an Inductive Plasma Torch at Atmospheric Pressure

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), collectively referred to as RONS, has been of increasing interest in recent years. This is based on the wide range of applications for the components mentioned. Examples include the food industry and agriculture or biological applications [1 – 3]. The generation of RONS by plasma-liquid interaction in plasma-activated water is a widely used method. Due to the plasma properties, such as high electron temperatures at low gas temperatures, mainly cold or non-equilibrium plasmas are used [4 – 5]. Plasmas in thermal equilibrium at atmospheric pressure have so far played a subordinate role in PAW generation due to their moderate electron temperatures and high thermal losses. This leads to a lack of publications in this field. In our work, we have developed an inductively driven plasma (ICP) torch, which was used for plasma water activation. An atmospheric pressure inductive Argon plasma was generated with a power of 1.2 kW at a frequency of 3 MHz. The used setup is shown in Figure 1. The plasma was pointed to distilled water in a distance of 1 cm. During a one-hour treatment, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2), nitrite (NO2 −), nitrate (NO−3) and the pH value was measured every 10 minutes by using Quantofix test strips (Peroxide 100, Nitrite, Nitrate 100, pH-Fix 0-14, Machery-Nagel, Düren, Germany). Furthermore, a simulation model of the lab setup used was created. The FEM software COMSOL multiphysics was used to simulate the plasma behaviour and to determine the electron temperature at the atmosphere and the water impact region [6]. With the results, the formation rate of the components mentioned were approximated and compared with other methods for PAW generation. 1. Bradu, C.; Kutasi, K.; Magureanu, M.; Puaˇ c, N.; Živkovi´ c, S. Reactive nitrogen species in plasma-activated water: generation chemistry and application in agriculture. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 2020 , 53, 223001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab795a. 2. Xiang, Q.; Fan, L.; Li, Y.; Dong, S.; Li, K.; Bai, Y. A review on recent advances in plasma-activated water for food safety: current applications and future trends. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2022 , 62, 2250–2268. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398 .2020.1852173. 3. Zhou, R.; Zhou, R.; Wang, P.; Xian, Y.; Mai-Prochnow, A.; Lu, X.; Cullen, P.J.; Ostrikov, K.; Bazaka, K. Plasma-activated water: generation, origin of reactive species and biological applications. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 2020 , 53, 303001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ab81cf. 4. Oh.; Szili.; Hatta.; Ito.; Shirafuji. Tailoring the Chemistry of Plasma-Activated Water Using a DC-Pulse-Driven Non-Thermal Atmospheric-Pressure Helium Plasma Jet. Plasma 2019, 2, 127–137. https://doi.org/10.3390/plasma2020010. 5. van Gils, C.A.J.; Hofmann, S.; Boekema, B.K.H.L.; Brandenburg, R.; Bruggeman, P.J. Mechanisms of bacterial inactivation in the liquid phase induced by a remote RF cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 2013, 46, 175203. https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/46/17/175203. 6. COMSOL Multiphysicsv. 6. www.comsol.com. COMSOL AB, Stockholm, Sweden

Electrical Resistivity And Induced Polarization Imaging For Refuse Dump Site

Contamination from landfills as a result of leaching from organic and inorganic waste poses a threat to the environment because, subsoil and groundwater are affected. The contamination is more serious in developing countries where waste management is inefficient. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of pollution at this site. Three profiles were surveyed: two in North-South direction and the third in Northeast-Southwest. 2D electrical resistivity and Time Domain Induced Polarization (TDIP) data sets have been acquired along the three profiles in Boadi Community. Electrical resistivity and induced polarization together with excavations were successful in mapping the extent of the leachate plume. The study demarcated clearly three main zones: the first, second and third zones indicated chargeabilities > 12.8 msec near the surface, > 6.4 msec and > 12.8 msec at the base respectively. Similarly, resistivities < 12 Ωm, 12 to 24 Ωm and >192 Ωm for the first, second and third zones respectively were delineated. The relatively lower electrical resistivity areas were thought to be due to the presence of the leachate plume and the comparatively higher chargeability zones were interpreted as duricrust. The relatively lower chargeability represents absence of polarizable materials. The study also delineated the weathered basement granodiorites showing relatively higher resistivities. These TDIP and ERT results show that the methods have been successful in mapping the landfill leachate plume. The results from the resistivity and chargeability compare very well with the excavations

Determining the impact of self-directed IEP instruction on secondary IEP documents.

The lack of vision component representation across the IEP raises concerns, given the 2004 IDEA amendments, which reiterate that the purpose of special education is to prepare students for further education, employment, and independent living. Implications include the need for specific materials designed to increase IEP vision development and the infusion of the four vision components into key areas of the IEP. Field-initiated research to validate the implementation of such materials is also needed.I wanted to determine if Self-Directed IEP instruction impacted three things in secondary IEP document development: (1) student ownership of the IEP; (2) complexity of postschool goal/vision statements in IEPs; and (3) infusion of the four vision components of living, learning, working, and community involvement, into other key IEP areas. I examined 94 secondary IEP documents (including 92 postschool goal/vision statements) for the presence of four vision components using a scoring rubric. Pilot study and inter-rater reliability procedures established the validity and reliability of the rubric. The IEPs had been developed during Year 2 of a federally sponsored field-initiated research grant that used a randomized control/intervention group design. The secondary students represented in the documents had mild/moderate disabilities and had randomly received Self-Directed IEP instruction to increase student participation in IEP meetings.Study results indicate that the Self-Directed IEP had a moderate impact on the complexity of the vision statements, with vision statements in the intervention group being more inclusive of the four vision components, specifically living and working. The instruction had no influence on student first-person references in the IEP document. The intervention had no impact on the general features of the vision statements, such as their writing style, futures orientation, or support through planned courses and coordinated activities. The Self-Directed IEP did not influence the vision components being addressed within or across specific sections of the IEP, other than the vision statement itself