Near-field angular distributions of high velocity ions for low-power hall thrusters

Experimental angular distributions of high-energy primary ions in the near-field region of a small Hall thruster between 50-200 mm downstream of the thruster exit plane at a range of centerline angles have been determined using a highly-collimated, energy-selective diagnostic probe. The measurements reveal a wide angular distribution of ions exiting the thruster channel and the formation of a strong, axially-directed jet of ions along the thruster centerline. Comparisons are made to other experimental determinations as applicable

The Effects of Daily Explicit Phonics Instruction on Reading Fluency in First Grade

The purpose of this paper was to examine the effects of daily phonics instruction on first grade oral reading fluency scores. This 10-week intervention took place in a suburban first grade classroom through whole group and small group instruction. Data was collected using a pre and post confidence interview, weekly written formative assessments, standardized testing, and seasonal benchmark fluency testing. An increase in oral reading fluency was demonstrated following the implementation of daily phonics instruction, but not significant enough to say that the phonics instruction was the sole reasoning for the small increase in fluency scores. Research should continue to identify the effects that phonics instruction has on the fluency of first grade students, and additionally other instructional methods that have an impact as well. Furthermore, a longitudinal study involving how a phonics-based instructional strategy impacts the reading fluency of students in the primary grades. This information can be utilized to best inform reading instruction with first grade students

A nucleotide resolution map of Top2-linked DNA breaks in the yeast and human genome

DNA topoisomerases are required to resolve DNA topological stress. Despite this essential role, abortive topoisomerase activity generates aberrant protein-linked DNA breaks, jeopardising genome stability. Here, to understand the genomic distribution and mechanisms underpinning topoisomerase-induced DNA breaks, we map Top2 DNA cleavage with strand-specific nucleotide resolution across the S. cerevisiae and human genomes—and use the meiotic Spo11 protein to validate the broad applicability of this method to explore the role of diverse topoisomerase family members. Our data characterises Mre11-dependent repair in yeast and defines two strikingly different fractions of Top2 activity in humans: tightly localised CTCF-proximal, and broadly distributed transcription-proximal, the latter correlated with gene length and expression. Moreover, single nucleotide accuracy reveals the influence primary DNA sequence has upon Top2 cleavage—distinguishing sites likely to form canonical DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) from those predisposed to form strand-biased DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) induced by etoposide (VP16) in vivo

Exchanges in a Virtual Environment for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support: Social Network Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes remains a major health problem in the United States, affecting an estimated 10.5% of the population. Diabetes self-management interventions improve diabetes knowledge, self-management behaviors, and clinical outcomes. Widespread internet connectivity facilitates the use of eHealth interventions, which positively impacts knowledge, social support, and clinical and behavioral outcomes. In particular, diabetes interventions based on virtual environments have the potential to improve diabetes self-efficacy and support, while being highly feasible and usable. However, little is known about the patterns of social interactions and support taking place within type 2 diabetes-specific virtual communities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine social support exchanges from a type 2 diabetes self-management education and support intervention that was delivered via a virtual environment. METHODS: Data comprised virtual environment-mediated synchronous interactions among participants and between participants and providers from an intervention for type 2 diabetes self-management education and support. Network data derived from such social interactions were used to create networks to analyze patterns of social support exchange with the lens of social network analysis. Additionally, network correlations were used to explore associations between social support networks. RESULTS: The findings revealed structural differences between support networks, as well as key network characteristics of supportive interactions facilitated by the intervention. Emotional and appraisal support networks are the larger, most centralized, and most active networks, suggesting that virtual communities can be good sources for these types of support. In addition, appraisal and instrumental support networks are more connected, suggesting that members of virtual communities are more likely to engage in larger group interactions where these types of support can be exchanged. Lastly, network correlations suggest that participants who exchange emotional support are likely to exchange appraisal or instrumental support, and participants who exchange appraisal support are likely to exchange instrumental support. CONCLUSIONS: Social interaction patterns from disease-specific virtual environments can be studied using a social network analysis approach to better understand the exchange of social support. Network data can provide valuable insights into the design of novel and effective eHealth interventions given the unique opportunity virtual environments have facilitating realistic environments that are effective and sustainable, where social interactions can be leveraged to achieve diverse health goals

Penggunaan Abu Batu Bara Pltu Mpanau sebagai Bahan Stabilisasi Tanah Lempung

Penelitian ini bertujuan memeriksa pengaruh stabilisasi tanah lempung menggunakan bahanstabilisasi Abu batu bara dan semen. Abu batu bara yang digunakan adalah abu bara hasilpembakaran dari PLTU Mpanau Kecamatan Tawaeli Kota Palu yang lolos saringan No.200, tanahlempung yang diuji memiliki indeks plastisitas lebih besar dari 20. Sifat yang diperiksa adalah:Perubahan batas cair, kepadatan maksimum dan nilai CBR. Proporsi rancangan campuran terdiridari abu batu bara adalah 10% dan 20% semen sebesar 4% dan 8% masing-masing terhadapberat kering tanah lempung,.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa campuran abu batu bara dansemen mampu menurunkan nilai indeks plastisitas tanah lempung dari 27,33% menjadi 10,37 %,meningkatkan nilai CBR tanah dari 4,46% menjadi 13,8% untuk CBR rendaman dan dari 5,6%menjadi 15,5% untuk CBR tanpa rendama

Effects of Autonomy on Worker Performance

Having autonomy can produce positive effects on an individual’s well-being as well as overall job-satisfaction. Research has shown that background music influences listener attention and is associated with the listeners fondness of the music (Huang & Shih, 2011). This study investigates the effects that autonomy may also have on performance levels in the workplace. Specifically, the effects of listening to music of preference and the effects it has on attention, concentration, and enjoyment of task. In this study worker autonomy is operationally defined as preferred genre of music. Performance will be measured by participants score on a recall task that mimics a medical scenario where a healthcare worker would have to recall specific patient information. We hypothesize that participants autonomy preferred background music will have a positive effect on worker performance. If the predicted results are found, this research could be beneficial to companies that are considering implementing new policies to encourage autonomy and in turn produce greater success in the workplace

To Determine the Active and Inactive Hours for Sound Sows When Housed in Individual Pens

There are currently no analgesic drugs specifically approved for pain relief in livestock by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Therefore, the objective of this study was to (1) identify the active hours of sound sows and (2) use this information to watch these active hours of the same sows when lame and after pain mitigation treatments. To avoid confounding injury due to aggression, twelve, clinically normal, mixed-parity, crossbred sows were purchased from a commercial producer in Iowa and housed in individual pens at Iowa State University. One 12 v black and white CCTV camera was affixed above the pen. Video was captured onto a DVR at 10 frames per second in black and white mode. Scoring of video began at 0600 and ended at 1800 and two postures (active and inactive), out of pen or unknown were collected. All behavioral data were expressed as percentages and were subjected to a square root arcsine transformation process to normalize the distribution. Transformed data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS®. A P value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered to be significant. No differences were observed for out of pen (P = 0.24) or unknown (P = 0.71) for the sows. There was a difference for the time spent active (P = 0.0003) versus inactive (P = 0.0052) over the 12-h for sows. Sows were most active at 0800 (59 %) and at 1600 (66 %) which corresponded to the feeding schedule. The least active hours were 0600, 0700, and 1700 h respectively. In conclusion the critical active hours for these sows were around feeding schedules. Therefore, it is beneficial to watch from 0800 to 1659 to capture when the sows are most active in their home pen environment

Dietary patterns for adults with chronic kidney disease

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: This review will evaluate the benefits and harms of dietary patterns among adults with CKD (any stage including people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) treated with dialysis, transplantation or supportive care)