Equilibria, kinetics, and boron isotope partitioning in the aqueous boric acid–hydrofluoric acid system

REZ is grateful to Lance Agavulin and Glen Morangie for their spiritual support. JWBR was supported by the European Research Council (ERC Grant 805246) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC grant NE/N011716/1).The aqueous boric, hydrofluoric, and fluoroboric acid systems are key to a variety of applications, including boron measurements in marine carbonates for CO2 system reconstructions, chemical analysis and synthesis, polymer science, sandstone acidizing, fluoroborate salt manufacturing, and more. Here we present a comprehensive study of chemical equilibria and boron isotope partitioning in the aqueous boric acid–hydrofluoric acid system. We work out the chemical speciation of the various dissolved compounds over a wide range of pH, total fluorine (FT), and total boron (BT) concentrations. We show that at low pH (0 ≤ pH ≤ 4) and FT ≫ BT, the dominant aqueous species is BF4−, a result relevant to recent advances in high precision measurements of boron concentration and isotopic composition. Using experimental data on kinetic rate constants, we provide estimates for the equilibration time of the slowest reaction in the system as a function of pH and [HF], assuming FT ≫ BT. Furthermore, we present the first quantum-chemical (QC) computations to determine boron isotope fractionation in the fluoroboric acid system. Our calculations suggest that the equilibrium boron isotope fractionation between BF3 and BF4− is slightly smaller than that calculated between B(OH)3 and B(OH)4−. Based on the QC methods X3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) (X3LYP+) and MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ (MP2TZ),  α(BF3−BF4−) ≃ 1.030 and 1.025, respectively. However, BF4− is enriched in 11B relative to B(OH)4−, i.e., α(BF4−−B(OH)4−) ≃ 1.010 (X3LYP+) and 1.020 (MP2TZ), respectively. Selection of the QC method (level of theory and basis set) represents the largest uncertainty in the calculations. The effect of hydration on the calculated boron isotope fractionation turned out to be minor in most cases, except for BF4− and B(OH)3. Finally, we provide suggestions on best practice for boric acid–hydrofluoric acid applications in geochemical boron analyses.PostprintPeer reviewe

The Management Exercises: A Way Forward with Purpose

This paper outlines the Management Exercises, a co-curricular program that reflects the more — the magis — to better prepare students as future leaders and citizens. The Management Exercises seek to further orient students toward a life of questioning and engagement as students learn to exercise discernment, to build character, and to enact citizenship. The four modules that comprise the Management Exercises are outlined in conjunction with the implementation of the Management Exercises into the school’s MBA program

Metabolomic profiles are gender, disease and time specific in the interleukin-10 gene-deficient mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease.

Metabolomic profiling can be used to study disease-induced changes in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in the metabolomic profile of males and females as they developed IBD. Using the IL-10 gene-deficient mouse model of IBD and wild-type mice, urine at age 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks was collected and analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Multivariate data analysis was employed to assess differences in metabolomic profiles that occurred as a consequence of IBD development and severity (at week 20). These changes were contrasted to those that occurred as a consequence of gender. Our results demonstrate that both IL-10 gene-deficient and wild-type mice exhibit gender-related changes in urinary metabolomic profile over time. Some male-female separating metabolites are common to both IL-10 gene-deficient and control wild-type mice and, therefore, appear to be related predominantly to gender maturation. In addition, we were able to identify gender-separating metabolites that are unique for IL-10 gene-deficient and wild-type mice and, therefore, may be indicative of a gender-specific involvement in the development and severity of the intestinal inflammation. The comparison of the gender-separating metabolomic profile from IL-10 gene-deficient mice and wild-type mice during the development of IBD allowed us to identify changes in profile patterns that appear to be imperative in the development of intestinal inflammation, but yet central to gender-related differences in IBD development. The knowledge of metabolomic profile differences by gender and by disease severity has potential clinical implications in the design of both biomarkers of disease as well as the development of optimal therapies

Predicting smartphone operating system from personality and individual differences

Android and iPhone devices account for over 90% of all smartphones sold world-wide. Despite being very similar in functionality, current discourse and marketing campaigns suggest that key individual differences exist between users of these two devices; however, this has never been investigated empirically. This is surprising, as smartphones continue to gain momentum across a variety of research disciplines. In this paper we consider if individual differences exist between these two distinct groups. In comparison to Android users, we found that iPhone owners are more likely to be female, younger, and increasingly concerned about their smartphone being viewed as a status object. Key differences in personality were also observed with iPhone users displaying lower levels of honesty-humility and higher levels of emotionality. Following this analysis, we were also able to build and test a model that predicted smartphone ownership at above chance level based on these individual differences. In line with extended self theory, the type of smartphone owned provides some valuable information about its owner. These findings have implications for the increasing use of smartphones within research particularly for those working within Computational Social Science and PsychoInformatics, where data is typically collected from devices and applications running a single smartphone operating system

100 Miles of Wild: North Dakota Badlands Transcect

The North Dakota Badlands are little visited not just because of their distance from large populations, but also because they are physically challenging. The 100 Miles of Wild project had a simple aim: go to a little-visited area of North Dakota and discover firsthand the condition of the wild that inspired Roosevelt's effort to preserve wilderness for all Americans and the world

Health Care Delivery Practices in Huntington's Disease Specialty Clinics : An International Survey

The CHDI Foundation, Inc. funds Enroll-HD and the activities of the Enroll-HD Care Improvement Committee, including the present survey. We would like to acknowledge the Enroll-HD and REGISTRY administrative staff that assisted in the recruitment of sites and sites that completed the survey.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

An empirical investigation into the propensity of reckless decision making within the high pressure environment of Deal or No Deal.

This paper discusses human attitudes towards risk and the development of expected utility models, laying the foundations for the creation of prospect theory in 1979. It proceeds to analyse the decisions of contestants on the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal to attempt to observe any evidence of differing levels of risk aversion under losses and gains as predicted by prospect theory. The results reveal some evidence of decreased risk aversion in the domains of losses and gains, with contestants displaying behaviour consistent with the break-even and house-money effects. We conclude there may be enough evidence of variable reference points to warrant further investigation, and propose suggestions for further researc

An empirical investigation into the propensity of reckless decision making within the high pressure environment of Deal or No Deal.

This paper discusses human attitudes towards risk and the development of expected utility models, laying the foundations for the creation of prospect theory in 1979. It proceeds to analyse the decisions of contestants on the popular TV game show Deal or No Deal to attempt to observe any evidence of differing levels of risk aversion under losses and gains as predicted by prospect theory. The results reveal some evidence of decreased risk aversion in the domains of losses and gains, with contestants displaying behaviour consistent with the break-even and house-money effects. We conclude there may be enough evidence of variable reference points to warrant further investigation, and propose suggestions for further researc

A framework for synthesis of safety justification for digitally enabled healthcare services

Digitally enabled healthcare services combine socio-technical resources to deliver the required outcomes to patients. Unintended operation of these services may result in adverse effects to the patient. Eliminating avoidable harm requires a systematic way of analysing the causal conditions, identifying opportunities for intervention. Operators of such services may be required to justify, and communicate, their safety. For example, the UK Standardisation Committee for Care Information (SCCI) standards 0129 and 0160 require a safety justification for health IT (superseded versions were known as the Information Standards Board (ISB) 0129 & 0160. Initial as well as current standards are maintained by the NHS Digital.MethodA framework was designed, and applied as proof of concept, to an IT-supported clinical emergencies (A&E) service. Evaluation was done qualitatively based on the authors? experience, identifying potential benefits of the approach.ResultsThe applied framework encapsulates analysis, and structures the generated information, into a skeleton of an evidence-based case for safety. The framework improved management of the safety activities, assigning ownership to stakeholders (e.g. IT developer), also creating a clear and compelling safety justification.ConclusionsApplication of the framework significantly contributed to systematising an exploratory approach for analysing the service, in addition to existing methods such as reporting. Its application made the causal chain to harm more diaphanous. Constructing a safety case contributed to: (a) identifying potential assurance gaps, (b) planning production of information and evidence, and (c) communication of the justification by graphical unambiguous means