Use of the Recreation Opportunity Planning System to Inventory Recreation Opportunities of Arid Lands

Recreation opportunity planning, which is being adopted by some land management agencies for recreation input to land management planning, is reviewed for Its applicability to arid land situations* Particular attention is given to the Inventory and analysis phases of the system and to what we have learned about its Implementation during its development

Experimental demonstration of the relationship between the second- and third-order polarizabilities of conjugated donor-acceptor molecules

The dependence of the second- and third-order polarizabilities ((beta) and (gamma) ) on ground-state polarization was measured for a series of donor-acceptor polyenes using electric field induced second harmonic generation and third harmonic generation, respectively. The changes in ground-state polarization, associated with the donor/acceptor strength or solvent polarity, were probed by x-ray crystallography, 1H-NMR, electronic absorption, and Raman spectroscopies. The observed behavior of (beta) and (gamma) as a function of ground- state polarization agrees well with theoretical predictions. In particular, positive and negative peaks, as well as sign changes, were observed for both (beta) and (gamma) . The dependences for (beta) and (gamma) are consistent with a derivative relationship between them. In addition, the third-order polarizability of a series of molecules possessing zero bond length alternation was found to be negative, in agreement with predictions based on the relationship between the polarizabilities and ground-state geometry

Advances in the Construction and Design of Jet Grouting Methods in South America

This paper presents a brief historical development of the two most popular jet grouting methods used in South America, namely, the chemical churning pile method (CCP) and jumbo jet grouting. Advantages and limitations of each procedure are cited. A brief discussion follows covering the history of CCP jet grouting in South America. Field trials performed to improve the design methodology and construction of CCP and jumbo jet grouted columns are presented. Finally, three case histories are presented to illustrate the use of jumbo jet grouting where limited head room exists, jet grouting in close proximity to pile supported structures, formation of a diaphragm wall in gravelly soil with boulders. The paper closes with a short discussion of a recent tunnel project in which horizontal jet grouting is used as the temporary tunnel support

On the mass of a Kerr-anti-de Sitter spacetime in D dimensions

We show how to compute the mass of a Kerr-anti-de Sitter spacetime with respect to the anti-de Sitter background in any dimension, using a superpotential which has been derived from standard Noether identities. The calculation takes no account of the source of the curvature and confirms results obtained for black holes via the first law of thermodynamics.Comment: minor changes; accepted by CQ

Performance Testing of a Photocatalytic Oxidation Module for Spacecraft Cabin Atmosphere Revitalization

Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) is a candidate process technology for use in high volumetric flow rate trace contaminant control applications in sealed environments. The targeted application for PCO as applied to crewed spacecraft life support system architectures is summarized. Technical challenges characteristic of PCO are considered. Performance testing of a breadboard PCO reactor design for mineralizing polar organic compounds in a spacecraft cabin atmosphere is described. Test results are analyzed and compared to results reported in the literature for comparable PCO reactor designs

Management of coronary artery fistulae Patient selection and results of transcatheter closure

AbstractObjectivesWe report short-term findings in 33 patients after transcatheter closure (TCC) of coronary artery fistulae (CAF) and compare our results with those reported in the recent transcatheter and surgical literature.BackgroundTranscatheter closure of CAF has been advocated as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery.MethodsWe reviewed all patients presenting with significant CAF between January 1988 and August 2000. Those with additional complex cardiac disease requiring surgical management were excluded.ResultsOf 39 patients considered for TCC, occlusion devices were placed in 33 patients (85%) at 35 procedures and included coils in 28, umbrella devices in 6 and a Grifka vascular occlusion device in 1. Post-deployment angiograms demonstrated complete occlusion in 19, trace in 11, or small residual flow in 5. Follow-up echocardiograms (median, 2.8 years) in 27 patients showed no flow in 22 or small residual flow in 5. Of the 6 patients without follow-up imaging, immediate post-deployment angiograms showed complete occlusion in 5 or small residual flow in 1. Thus, complete occlusion was accomplished in 27 patients (82%). Early complications included transient ST-T wave changes in 5, transient arrhythmias in 4 and single instances of distal coronary artery spasm, fistula dissection and unretrieved coil embolization. There were no deaths or long-term morbidity. Device placement was not attempted in 6 patients (15%), because of multiple fistula drainage sites in 4, extreme vessel tortuosity in 1 and an intracardiac hemangioma in 1.ConclusionsA comparison of our results with those in the recent transcatheter and surgical literature shows similar early effectiveness, morbidity and mortality. From data available, TCC of CAF is an acceptable alternative to surgery in most patients

Promoting medical students’ reflection on competencies to advance a global health equities curriculum

Abstract Background The move to frame medical education in terms of competencies – the extent to which trainees “can do” a professional responsibility - is congruent with calls for accountability in medical education. However, the focus on competencies might be a poor fit with curricula intended to prepare students for responsibilities not emphasized in traditional medical education. This study examines an innovative approach to the use of potential competency expectations related to advancing global health equity to promote students’ reflections and to inform curriculum development. Methods In 2012, 32 medical students were admitted into a newly developed Global Health and Disparities (GHD) Path of Excellence. The GHD program takes the form of mentored co-curricular activities built around defined competencies related to professional development and leadership skills intended to ameliorate health disparities in medically underserved settings, both domestically and globally. Students reviewed the GHD competencies from two perspectives: a) their ability to perform the identified competencies that they perceived themselves as holding as they began the GHD program and b) the extent to which they perceived that their future career would require these responsibilities. For both sets of assessments the response scale ranged from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” Wilcoxon’s paired T-tests compared individual students’ ordinal rating of their current level of ability to their perceived need for competence that they anticipated their careers would require. Statistical significance was set at p < .01. Results Students’ ratings ranged from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree” that they could perform the defined GHD-related competencies. However, on most competencies, at least 50 % of students indicated that the stated competencies were beyond their present ability level. For each competency, the results of Wilcoxon paired T-tests indicate – at statistically significant levels - that students perceive more need in their careers for GHD-program defined competencies than they currently possess. Conclusion This study suggests congruence between student and program perceptions of the scope of practice required for GHD. Students report the need for enhanced skill levels in the careers they anticipate. This approach to formulating and reflecting on competencies will guide the program’s design of learning experiences aligned with students’ career goals.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109541/1/12909_2013_Article_919.pd

Euarchontan opsin variation brings new focus to primate origins

Debate on the adaptive origins of primates has long focused on the functional ecology of the primate visual system. For example, it is hypothesized that variable expression of short- (SWS1) and middle-to-long-wavelength sensitive (M/LWS) opsins, which confer color vision, can be used to infer ancestral activity patterns and therefore selective ecological pressures. A problem with this approach is that opsin gene variation is incompletely known in the grandorder Euarchonta, i.e., the orders Scandentia (treeshrews), Dermoptera (colugos), and Primates. The ancestral state of primate color vision is therefore uncertain. Here we report on the genes (OPN1SW and OPN1LW) that encode SWS1 and M/LWS opsins in seven species of treeshrew, including the sole nocturnal scandentian Ptilocercus lowii. In addition, we examined the opsin genes of the Central American woolly opossum (Caluromys derbianus), an enduring ecological analogue in the debate on primate origins. Our results indicate: 1) retention of ultraviolet (UV) sensitivity in C. derbianus and a shift from UV to blue spectral sensitivities at the base of Euarchonta; 2) ancient pseudogenization of OPN1SW in the ancestors of P. lowii, but a signature of purifying selection in those of C. derbianus; and, 3) the absence of OPN1LW polymorphism among diurnal treeshrews. These findings suggest functional variation in color vision of nocturnal mammals and a distinctive visual ecology of early primates, perhaps one that demanded greater spatial resolution under light levels that could support cone-mediated color discrimination