Exceptional river gorge formation from unexceptional floods

An understanding of rates and mechanisms of incision and knickpoint retreat in bedrock rivers is fundamental to perceptions of landscape response to external drivers, yet only sparse field data are available. Here we present eye witness accounts and quantitative surveys of rapid, amphitheatre-headed gorge formation in unweathered granite from the overtopping of a rock-cut dam spillway by small-moderate floods (~100–1,500 m3 s−1). The amount of erosion demonstrates no relationship with flood magnitude or bedload availability. Instead, structural pattern of the bedrock through faults and joints appears to be the primary control on landscape change. These discontinuities facilitate rapid erosion (>270 m headward retreat; ~100 m incision; and ~160 m widening over 6 years) principally through fluvial plucking and block topple. The example demonstrates the potential for extremely rapid transient bedrock erosion even when rocks are mechanically strong and flood discharges are moderate. These observations are relevant to perceived models of gorge formation and knickpoint retreat

Communication and marketing as tools to cultivate the public's health: a proposed "people and places" framework

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Communication and marketing are rapidly becoming recognized as core functions, or core competencies, in the field of public health. Although these disciplines have fostered considerable academic inquiry, a coherent sense of precisely how these disciplines can inform the practice of public health has been slower to emerge.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In this article we propose a framework – based on contemporary ecological models of health – to explain how communication and marketing can be used to advance public health objectives. The framework identifies the attributes of people (as individuals, as social networks, and as communities or populations) and places that influence health behaviors and health. Communication, i.e., the provision of information, can be used in a variety of ways to foster beneficial change among both people (e.g., activating social support for smoking cessation among peers) and places (e.g., convincing city officials to ban smoking in public venues). Similarly, marketing, i.e., the development, distribution and promotion of products and services, can be used to foster beneficial change among both people (e.g., by making nicotine replacement therapy more accessible and affordable) and places (e.g., by providing city officials with model anti-tobacco legislation that can be adapted for use in their jurisdiction).</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Public health agencies that use their communication and marketing resources effectively to support people in making healthful decisions and to foster health-promoting environments have considerable opportunity to advance the public's health, even within the constraints of their current resource base.</p

Lawson criterion for ignition exceeded in an inertial fusion experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion

Ступінь приверженості до лікування та його ефективність у пацієнтів з гіпертонічною хворобою залежно від способу життя

Vitamin C is a widely used vitamin. Here we review the occurrence and properties of aldonolactone oxidoreductases, an important group of flavoenzymes responsible for the ultimate production of vitamin C and its analogs in animals, plants, and single-cell organisms

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) against bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) and cystic fibrosis lung disease

Persistent infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and inflammatory mechanisms play an important role in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. ANCA against BPI, a potent host defence protein with anti-bacterial and anti-endotoxin properties, have been described in CF. We have assessed the relationship of anti-BPI antibodies to pulmonary disease severity in 148 CF subjects. IgA and IgG anti-BPI antibodies were found in 55.4% and 70.3% of CF patients, respectively, and higher levels were strongly associated with colonization with P. aeruginosa (P = 0.001 and 0.039 for IgA and IgG antibodies, respectively). IgA and IgG anti-BPI antibodies were independently associated with more severe lung disease as assessed by chest radiograph score (P = 0.023) and a significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)% (P = 0.01). The pathophysiological relevance of the autoantibodies was investigated further by determining their epitope specificity and their effect on bacterial phagocytosis in vitro. Both isotypes of anti-BPI antibodies were specific for the C-terminus of BPI shown recently to be important for BPI-mediated opsonization, and in vitro affinity-purified anti-BPI antibodies significantly reduced BPI-induced phagocytosis of Escherichia coli compared with controls. These data indicate that anti-BPI autoantibodies are associated with colonization with P. aeruginosa and worse lung disease in CF. The inhibition of bacterial phagocytosis suggests that these autoantibodies may contribute to the persistence of P. aeruginosa in the CF lung and so play a role in perpetuating CF lung damage

Conduta na lesão dural intraoperatória em artrodese da coluna lombar Conducta en lesión de duramadre intraoperatoria en artrodesis de la columna lumbar Management of intraoperatory dural tear in lumbar spine arthrodesis

OBJETIVO: estudo retrospectivo de pacientes com lesão dural intraoperatória de cirurgia da coluna vertebral lombar, conduzido por meio de um protocolo independente da extensão da lesão, complicações associadas e resultados após seguimento mínimo de um ano. MÉTODOS: um total de 10 pacientes com durotomia acidental em cirurgias de descompressão e artrodese da coluna vertebral lombar, no período de Janeiro de 2007 a Janeiro de 2009, para tratamento de doença degenerativa, tiveram seus prontuários revisados, após terem sido tratados por meio de um protocolo embasado em reparo primário da lesão, drenagem subaracnoidea fechada, subfascial e subcutânea aspirativa realizados por cirurgião experiente, associado a repouso relativo com mobilidade precoce e terapia medicamentosa. Suas anotações e exames radiológicos foram verificados com seguimento pós-operatório e direcionados para identificação de sintomas sugestivos de complicações. RESULTADOS: todos os pacientes apresentaram boa evolução, sem ocorrência de fístula liquórica ou infecção pós-operatória; três deles apresentaram cefaleia pós-operatória de leve intensidade. Não houve necessidade de reoperação em nenhum desses pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: concluiu-se que a conduta adotada é segura e de bom resultado para os pacientes quando ocorre esse tipo de lesão, independentemente da extensão da mesma.<br>OBJETIVO: un estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con lesión de la duramadre intraoperatoria de cirugía en la columna lumbar, llevada a cabo por medio de un protocolo independiente de la extensión de la lesión, complicaciones asociadas y los resultados de seguimiento después de un mínimo de un año. MÉTODOS: 10 pacientes con durotomía accidental en la descompresión quirúrgica y artrodesis de la columna vertebral lumbar, en el período de enero de 2007 a enero de 2009, para el tratamiento de enfermedades degenerativas, tuvieron sus registros revisados después de tendieren sido tratados por un protocolo basado en la reparación primaria de la lesión, subaracnoidea drenaje cerrado, aspiración subfascial y subcutánea realizada por cirujanos con experiencia, combinada con el reposo relativo, con la movilización precoz y el tratamiento farmacológico. Sus notas y las imágenes fueron verificadas con el seguimiento postoperatorio y direccionadas para la identificación de síntomas sugestivos de complicaciones. RESULTADOS: todos los pacientes tuvieron buena evolución, sin registro de pérdidas de líquido cefalorraquídeo o infección postoperatoria, tres tuvieron cefalea en el postoperatorio de intensidad leve. No hubo necesidad de reintervención en esos pacientes. CONCLUSIÓN: la conducta adoptada es segura y con buen resultado para pacientes en los que este tipo de lesión se produce, independiente de la extensión de la misma.<br>OBJECTIVE: a retrospective study of patients with spinal dural intraoperative lumbar spine surgery, conducted by means of a protocol regardless of the extent of the injury, associated complications and follow-up results after a minimum of one year. METHODS: a total of 10 patients with accidental durotomy in surgical decompression and arthrodesis of the lumbar spine during the period from January 2007 to January 2009 for treatment of degenerative disease had their records reviewed after being treated by a protocol based in primary repair of the lesion, closed subarachnoid drainage, subfascial and subcutaneous aspiration drainage performed by experienced surgeons, combined with relative rest with early mobilization and drug therapy. Their notes and imaging were verified with follow-up aimed to identify symptoms that could suggest complications. RESULTS: all patients had a good outcome, without occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid leaks or postoperative infection; three had postoperative headache of mild intensity. There was no need for reoperation in these patients. CONCLUSION: we concluded that the conduct adopted is safe and has a good outcome for patients when this type of injury occurs, regardless of its extent