Multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance investigations in organothallium chemistry.

Thallium-205 chemical shifts have been determined for organothallium(III) derivatives RTlx2 and R2TlX (R = alkyl alicyclic, alkenyl,aryl ; X = anion). … Twenty four new organothallium(III) derivatives have been synthesised and a number of existing syntheses modified

Telerehabilitation for aphasia – protocol of a pragmatic, exploratory, pilot randomized controlled trial

Background The Cochrane review on the effectiveness of speech and language therapy for aphasia following stroke suggests intensity of therapy is a key predictor for outcome. Current aphasia services cannot provide intervention at the intensity observed within trial contexts because of resource limitations. Telerehabilitation could widen access to speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in geographically remote contexts and reduce the time spent on travel by the therapist and patient. The current academic literature within this field is in its infancy, with few trials of speech and language therapy (SLT) delivered by videoconference. Our pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will explore feasibility aspects and effectiveness of telerehabilitation for aphasia in addition to standard SLT. Method/design Our study is a pragmatic, exploratory, pilot randomized controlled trial, where participants will be randomized to a telerehabilitation group or a control group. Both groups receive standard SLT (usual care) but the telerehabilitation group receives an additional 5 h of telerehabilitation per week over 4 weeks through videoconference. This additional telerehabilitation focuses on spoken language with an emphasis on word naming. We aim to include 40 patients in each group, with inclusion criteria being aphasia any time post stroke. Participants will be assessed blindly at pre-randomization (baseline), and 4 weeks and 4 months after randomization. The primary endpoint is naming ability 3 months after the completed intervention, measured by the Norwegian Basic Aphasia Assessment (NGA) naming subtest. Secondary endpoints include other subtests of the NGA, the VAST (Verb and Sentence Test) subtest sentence production, Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI) and the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life scale (SAQOL-39). Experiences of patients and SLPs with telerehabilitation are assessed using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Statistical between group comparisons will be in line with an intention-to-treat analysis. Discussion This pilot RCT of intensive language training by videoconference will contribute new scientific evidence to the field of aphasia telerehabilitation. Here, we describe our trial which will explore the feasibility of telerehabilitation for aphasia as an intervention, our choice of primary and secondary outcome measures and proposed analyses. Our trial will provide information for the development and delivery of future definitive RCTs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02768922 . Registered on 11 May 2016. Last updated on 17 November 2017

Relationship between near-surface ultrasonic shear-wave backscatter and grain size in metals

Backscattered ultrasonic microstructural noise can be used to estimate grain size in metals. However for normal-incidence immersion measurements the ring-down of the front-wall echo creates a ”dead zone” where backscattered grain noise cannot be quantified. This poses a problem for near-surface grain sizing efforts. In this paper we explore the use of mode-converted 45-degree shear waves for near-surface grain sizing using a water immersion setup. We discuss how to accurately relate grain noise arrival time with depth of sound penetration in the metal. Then for a set of Ni-alloy specimens having near-equiaxed microstructures we correlate various backscattered noise attributes with grain sizes determined from micrographs. These noise attributes include both time-domain and frequency-domain characteristics. The backscattered grain noise attributes correlate well with grain size, and are relatively insensitive to modest changes in the transducer tilt angle

Rapid identification of bacteria associated with Acute Oak Decline by high-resolution melt analysis

© 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology Two Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae, Gibbsiella quercinecans and Brenneria goodwinii, are frequently isolated from oak suffering from Acute Oak Decline. These two species are difficult to identify based on colony morphology, carbohydrate utilization or 16S rRNA gene sequence, and identification using gyrB gene sequencing is time-consuming and laborious. A rapid identification technique, based on high-resolution melt analysis of the atpD gene, was designed to efficiently process numerous isolates from an increasing number of affected woodlands and parks. Principal component analysis of the resulting melt curves from strains of G.quercinecans, B.goodwinii and their close phylogenetic relatives allowed differentiation into distinct clusters based on species or subspecies identity. Significance and Impact of the Study: Acute Oak Decline is an increasing threat to Britain's native oak population. Two novel bacterial species both belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, Gibbsiella quercinecans and Brenneria goodwinii, are thought to play an important role in symptom development. Here, we describe a rapid identification technique using high-resolution melt analysis of the atpD gene able to assign isolates to either G.quercinecans or B.goodwinii in a single assay, greatly reducing the time taken to identify if either or both of these species are present in symptomatic oak

Induction of zinc metallothionein by calcium ionophore in vivo and in vitro

AbstractThe calcium ionophore, A23187, can induce rat hepatic metallothionein (MT) when administered in vivo (5.8-fold, 5.0 μM, 11 h) and rat hepatocyte MT when administered in vitro (10.70-fold, 1.0 μM, 24 h). Several rat hepatoma cell lines (2M, 4.55-fold; JM2, 12.29-fold; EC3, 14.12-fold; HTC, 7.99-fold) and a normal rat liver cell line (Clone 9, 39.67-fold) were tested for their inducibility of MT mRNA by Cd2+ (10 μM, 8 h). Quantitatively, JM2 and 2M made the most MT mRNA, while HTC made the least. A23187 (0.1–7.0 μM) was studied as an inducer of MT mRNA in these cell lines (except for HTC) and in HeLa. A variety of responses and tolerances were seen with inductions ranging up to 32.11-fold. Quantitatively, the best responding cell lines were EC3 and 2M. A combination induction experiment, using TPA, a protein kinase C activator, and A23187 in EC3 cells revealed an additive effect of the two inducers on MT mRNA levels: TPA (10 nM), 11.71-fold; A23187 (3.0μM), 6.71-fold; and TPA + A23187, 20.00-fold. These studies have implicated perturbations in cytosolic calcium ion concentrations, caused by the ionophore A23187, as being involved in the complicated signaling systems which can lead to induction of MT mRNA and protein

Importancia del concepto de verdad en Nietzsche y Foucault: incidencias en la visión de la posverdad

La presente investigación tiene como finalidad el análisis de algunos conceptos fundamentales de Friedrich Nietzsche y sus aportes a la posmodernidad, sobre todo, en la noción de verdad en su sentido moral y de Michel Foucault con relación a la verdad y el poder, ya que en estas dos pesquisa se encontró la explicación de la reflexión del fenómeno de la “Posverdad” con sus principales características establecidas o mediadas por las condiciones actuales en los diferentes ámbitos: social, político y mediático, el cual se desarrolla como un proceso y no como una mentira aislada. El fenómeno de la “Posverdad” desde los análisis filosóficos, parte de algunas ideas de éstos dos filósofos, Nietzsche y Foucault en relación con otros pensadores contemporáneos, para luego discutir la posibilidad de que la actual sociedad es una sociedad transparente. El aporte fundamental del presente trabajo radica en el análisis que se realiza a las actuales sociedades y dio como resultado que nuestro presente, pierde sentido al eliminar toda negatividad. Se evidencia realmente en éste trabajo que existe una cultura “transparente” que es un concepto que se desarrolla en esta investigación, y que es tomado del actual pensador sur-coreano Byung-Chul-han. El método utilizado para este trabajo fue el hermenéutico- inductivo, y para ello se analizaron algunos hechos específicos que se reconocieron desinteresadamente para permear el concepto de “Posverdad” dentro de un contexto político y coyuntural en varios espacios geográficos del mundo, y a partir de los cuales serán interpretados a la luz de la filosofía y de la reflexión crítica

Technical features, feasibility, and acceptability of augmented telerehabilitation in post-stroke aphasia – experiences from a randomized control trial

Background: Post-stroke aphasia is a communication disorder where existing evidence favors intensive therapy methods. Telerehabilitation represents a service model for geographically remote settings, or other barriers to clinic attendance or to facilitate an augmentation of therapy across a continuum of care. Evidence to support efficiency, feasibility, and acceptability is however still scarce. Appraising aphasia telerehabilitation in controlled trials beyond its effectiveness, by investigating feasibility and acceptability, may facilitate implementation into clinical practice. Methods: In our pilot randomized controlled trial, we investigated the feasibility and acceptability of speech and language therapy by videoconference, in addition to usual care, in people with aphasia following stroke. To improve functional, expressive language, a tailored intervention was given 1 h per day, five times per week over four consecutive weeks. Feasibility measures included evaluation of technical setup using diary logs. Acceptability was investigated by examining adherence and satisfaction with therapy alongside evaluation of data safety and privacy. Results: Feasibility and acceptability data were collected in relation to 556.5 h of telerehabilitation delivered to 30 participants over a 2-years intervention period by three speech-language pathologists. Protocol adherence was high, with a tolerable technical fault rate; 86 faults were registered over 541 video sessions. Most (80%; n = 30) of the participants experienced zero to three faults. The main cause of technical failures was flawed internet connection, causing delayed or interrupted therapy. Total satisfaction with telerehabilitation was rated good or very good by 93.1% (n = 29) of participants and two of three speech-language pathologists. Within a moderate variance of technical failure, participants experiencing more faults were more satisfied. No serious events regarding security and privacy were reported. Our model is feasibly and ready to be implemented across a range of clinical settings and contexts. Conclusions: Synchronous telerehabilitation for post-stroke aphasia is feasible and acceptable and shows tolerable technical fault rates with high satisfaction among patients and pathologists. Within a low rate of faults, satisfaction was not negatively influenced by fault frequency. Access to clinical and technical expertise is needed when developing telerehabilitation services. Telerehabilitation may be a viable service delivery model for aphasia rehabilitation

Editorial—Culture and Cosmos : The Marriage of Astronomy and Culture, Volume 21

This volume of Culture and Cosmos draws together a selection of papers delivered at the 24th annual conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC). The conference, titled \u27The Marriage of Astronomy and Culture: Theory and Method in the Study of Cultural Astronomy\u27, occurred between the 12th and the 16th September 2016 and was held at The Bath Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI), which has been hosting research endeavours since it foundation in 1824. SEAC 2016 combined history with the latest in twenty-first century developments and, for the very first time, was webcast to SEAC members who could not attend, in addition to students of the MA in Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at the Sophia Centre University of Wales Trinity Saint David. The papers in this volume are organized around archaeology, ethnography, and images. These are available to download at http://www.cultureandcosmos.org/issues/vol21.php. Other papers from this conference appear in issue 3.2 (2017) of the Journal of Skyscape Archaeology

Anomalous Thrust Production from an RF Test Device Measured on a Low-Thrust Torsion Pendulum

This paper describes the eight-day August 2013 test campaign designed to investigate and demonstrate viability of using classical magnetoplasmadynamics to obtain a propulsive momentum transfer via the quantum vacuum virtual plasma. This paper will not address the physics of the quantum vacuum plasma thruster, but instead will describe the test integration, test operations, and the results obtained from the test campaign. Approximately 30-50 micro-Newtons of thrust were recorded from an electric propulsion test article consisting primarily of a radio frequency (RF) resonant cavity excited at approximately 935 megahertz. Testing was performed on a low-thrust torsion pendulum that is capable of detecting force at a single-digit micronewton level, within a stainless steel vacuum chamber with the door closed but at ambient atmospheric pressure. Several different test configurations were used, including two different test articles as well as a reversal of the test article orientation. In addition, the test article was replaced by an RF load to verify that the force was not being generated by effects not associated with the test article. The two test articles were designed by Cannae LLC of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. The torsion pendulum was designed, built, and operated by Eagleworks Laboratories at the NASA Johnson Space Center of Houston, Texas. Approximately six days of test integration were required, followed by two days of test operations, during which, technical issues were discovered and resolved. Integration of the two test articles and their supporting equipment was performed in an iterative fashion between the test bench and the vacuum chamber. In other words, the test article was tested on the bench, then moved to the chamber, then moved back as needed to resolve issues. Manual frequency control was required throughout the test. Thrust was observed on both test articles, even though one of the test articles was designed with the expectation that it would not produce thrust. Specifically, one test article contained internal physical modifications that were designed to produce thrust, while the other did not (with the latter being referred to as the "null" test article). Test data gathered includes torsion pendulum displacement measurements which are used to calculate generated force, still imagery in the visible spectrum to document the physical configuration, still imagery in the infrared spectrum to characterize the thermal environment, and video imagery. Post-test data includes static and animated graphics produced during RF resonant cavity characterization using the COMSOL Multiphysics software application. Excerpts from all of the above are included and discussed in this paper. Lessons learned from test integration and operations include identification of the need to replace manual control of the resonant cavity target frequency with an automated frequency control capability. Future test plans include the development of an automatic frequency control circuit. Test results indicate that the RF resonant cavity thruster design, which is unique as an electric propulsion device, is producing a force that is not attributable to any classical electromagnetic phenomenon and therefore is potentially demonstrating an interaction with the quantum vacuum virtual plasma. Future test plans include independent verification and validation at other test facilities

Filosofía contemporánea : sujeto, ciudadanía y posverdad

fotografías, gráficos, tablasEste libro es producto de un ejercicio académico e investigativo liderado por el docente investigador Renato Martínez Martínez, perteneciente al programa de Derecho de la Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina (FUAA) y líder del grupo de investigación Verba Iuris. Ha contado con el importante aporte del docente investigador Frank Brady Morales Romero, perteneciente al grupo Intellectus Greacus Latinos, de la Universidad del Atlántico; del docente investigador Román Ortega Fernández, director del grupo Verba Iuris, y de la docente investigadora Martha Mendoza Castro, Subdirectora Regional de Investigación de la Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina, sede Valledupar. El objetivo de este libro es presentar un análisis académico sobre algunos de los pensadores más significativos de la filosofía contemporánea, mediante la exposición de sus líneas de pensamiento, de qué manera han repercutido sus ideas en el desarrollo de la sociedad contemporánea y cómo, hoy en día, el análisis filosófico nos presenta posibles formas de abordar problemáticas de interés general.Prólogo.-- Introducción.-- Desarrollo.-- Conclusiones