Acute aggression risk: an early warning signs methodology

1. Abstract 1.1. Purpose Predicting the imminence of high risk behaviours in in-patients with schizophrenia is an ongoing concern. This study explores the utility, validity and reliability of an adapted early warning signs methodology for dynamic risk assessment. 1.2. Design Nursing staff were interviewed to identify operationally defined early warning signs of high risk behaviours. Frequency of occurrence of the early warning signs and the high risk behaviour were rated over a one week period to establish the predictive validity of the methodology. 1.3. Findings Support was found for the reliability of staff ratings of the relevance of identified early warning signs and their occurrence within a specified time period. ROC analysis indicates some modest predictive validity in predicting aggressive risk behaviours but effect sizes were small, and there were high rates of false positive predictions. 1.4. Value A dynamic risk assessment methodology to assess changes in risk for inpatients would benefit both staff and inpatients. No such methodology has been assessed to date. 1.5. Research Limitations The small sample size limits generalisability. A longitudinal prospective study to better establish the added predictive power of the method over the use of largely actuarial methods is needed

Immobilization of Fission Iodine by Reaction with a Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound and Insoluble Natural Matrix

Observations related to the oxidation of iodide to iodine (I2) or hypoiodic acid (HIO) by MnO2 were continued. The formation of triiodide presumable involves the adsorption of iodide onto the MnO2 surface (perhaps displacing a surface hydroxyl group). The iodide should be subsequently oxidized and released back into solution as IOH or I2, which rapidly forms I3 -. The kinetic data has been modeled as a first order process. First order rate constants have been obtained for the formation of iodine in the presence of MnO2. The increase in iodide oxidation rates with MnO2 concentration is evident in the data. The reaction rate increases with iodide concentration although the dependence is not first order (an order of 1.4 appear to fit the data). The oxidation rate also increases with temperature and has a apparent activation energy of 16.2 kJ/mol

Immobilization of Fission Iodine by Reaction with a Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound and Insoluble Natural Organic Matrix

The recovery of iodine released during the processing of used nuclear fuel poses a significant challenge to the transmutation of radioactive iodine. During the first year of this program we have examined the potential of Fullerene Containing Carbon compounds (FCC) developed by KRI, and natural organic matter (NOM) as sorbents for iodine released during the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. This work involved the development of bench-scale testing of the FCC and NOM material in a simulated process off-gas environment. During the first two quarters of this program we explored various analytical methods available for measurement of iodine, iodide, and iodate. We reproduced an analytical method proposed by Mishra et al., 2000 for measurement of trace levels of iodide and iodine in aqueous solution. Iodine or hypoiodic acid reacts with N,N-dimethylanaline to form p-iododimethylaniline. Iodide can be measured after selective oxidation of iodide with 2-iodosobenzoate to produce active iodine that is subsequently reacted with N,Ndimethylaniline. The product p-iodo-N,N-dimethylaniline can be quantified by GC/MS. This method gave excellent results in dilute aqueous solutions however; we did encounter some interference in the presence of NOM. The method should still be useful for quantifying low levels on iodine released by FCC or other sorbent materials

Immobilization of Fission Iodine by Reaction with a Fullerene Containing Carbon Compound and Insoluble Natural Matrix

The stability of the association of iodine with FCC and NOM products were studied. Product distributions for the various matrices under various reaction conditions were examined in order to maximize the binding of iodine. The recovery of the iodine from the sequestration matrices was also examined, along with the conversion of the iodine to matrices more suitable for geological storage and/or use as transmutation targets. The following are the specific research objectives and goals: Develop bench-scale experimental set-up and procedures for simulating plutonium extraction process (PUREX) head-end vapor phase. Develop experimental procedures for evaluating iodine sequestering methods using bench-scale procedures. Develop FCC bearing material as potential iodine sequestration matrix. Determine binding of iodine to FCC and NOM. Examine alternate iodine sequestration matrices using techniques developed for FCC and NOM studies. Examine the effect of reaction conditions on binding. Elucidate the nature of the reaction products (volatile, hydrophobic, soluble, insoluble). Develop methodology and host matrix for converting sequestered iodine to solid matrix for evaluation as transmutation target and/or disposal matrix. Examine recovery of iodine from sequestration matrices

Noncompact sigma-models: Large N expansion and thermodynamic limit

Noncompact SO(1,N) sigma-models are studied in terms of their large N expansion in a lattice formulation in dimensions d \geq 2. Explicit results for the spin and current two-point functions as well as for the Binder cumulant are presented to next to leading order on a finite lattice. The dynamically generated gap is negative and serves as a coupling-dependent infrared regulator which vanishes in the limit of infinite lattice size. The cancellation of infrared divergences in invariant correlation functions in this limit is nontrivial and is in d=2 demonstrated by explicit computation for the above quantities. For the Binder cumulant the thermodynamic limit is finite and is given by 2/(N+1) in the order considered. Monte Carlo simulations suggest that the remainder is small or zero. The potential implications for ``criticality'' and ``triviality'' of the theories in the SO(1,N) invariant sector are discussed.Comment: 46 pages, 2 figure

Potential health effects of Champagne wine consumption

Epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse correlation between red wine consumption and the incidence of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Although white wines are generally low in polyphenol content as compared to red wines, champagne has been shown to contain relatively high amounts of phenolic acids that may exert protective cellular actions in vivo. In this study, we have investigated the potential cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects of champagne. Our data suggest that a daily moderate consumption of champagne may improve vascular performance via the delivery of phenolic constituents capable of improving NO bioavailability and the modulation of metalloproteinase. Moreover, champagne intervention significantly increased spatial working memory in aged animals, whilst no improvement was observed in the presence of alcohol. Together, these data indicate that polyphenols present in champagne may induce cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects, delaying the onset of degenerative disorders

Flux and Seasonality of Dissolved Organic Matter From the Northern Dvina (Severnaya Dvina) River, Russia

Pan‐Arctic riverine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes represent a major transfer of carbon from land‐to‐ocean, and past scaling estimates have been predominantly derived from the six major Arctic rivers. However, smaller watersheds are constrained to northern high‐latitude regions and, particularly with respect to the Eurasian Arctic, have received little attention. In this study, we evaluated the concentration of DOC and composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) via optical parameters, biomarkers (lignin phenols), and ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry in the Northern Dvina River (a midsized high‐latitude constrained river). Elevated DOC, lignin concentrations, and aromatic DOM indicators were observed throughout the year in comparison to the major Arctic rivers with seasonality exhibiting a clear spring freshet and also some years a secondary pulse in the autumn concurrent with the onset of freezing. Chromophoric DOM absorbance at a350 was strongly correlated to DOC and lignin across the hydrograph; however, the relationships did not fit previous models derived from the six major Arctic rivers. Updated DOC and lignin fluxes were derived for the pan‐Arctic watershed by scaling from the Northern Dvina resulting in increased DOC and lignin fluxes (50 Tg yr−1 and 216 Gg yr−1, respectively) compared to past estimates. This leads to a reduction in the residence time for terrestrial carbon in the Arctic Ocean (0.5 to 1.8 years). These findings suggest that constrained northern high‐latitude rivers are underrepresented in models of fluxes based from the six largest Arctic rivers with important ramifications for the export and fate of terrestrial carbon in the Arctic Ocean

Stoichiometric and Stable Isotope Ratios of Wild Lizards in an Urban Landscape Vary with Reproduction, Physiology, Space and Time

Spatial and temporal variation in stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios of animals contains ecological information that we are just beginning to understand. In both field and lab studies, stoichiometric or isotopic ratios are related to physiological mechanisms underlying nutrition or stress. Conservation and ecosystem ecology may be informed by isotopic data that can be rapidly and non-lethally collected from wild animals, especially where human activity leaves an isotopic signature (e.g. via introduction of chemical fertilizers, ornamental or other non-native plants or organic detritus). We examined spatial and temporal variation in stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios of the toes of Uta stansburiana (side-blotched lizards) living in urban and rural areas in and around St. George, Utah. We found substantial spatial and temporal variation as well as context-dependent co-variation with reproductive physiological parameters, although certain key predictions such as the relationship between δ15N and body condition were not supported. We suggest that landscape change through urbanization can have profound effects on wild animal physiology and that stoichiometric and stable isotope ratios can provide unique insights into the mechanisms underlying these processes

The LightSail 2 Solar Sailing Mission Summary

The LightSail 2 mission concluded a 3-year mission in November 2022, having successfully demonstrated controlled solar sailing in low-Earth orbit using a CubeSat platform. Flight data show that LightSail 2 successfully controlled its orientation relative to the Sun, with sustained periods of apogee raising and increasing orbital energy. The LightSail 2 solar sail was 5.6 m on a side and has a total deployed area of 32 m². Four independent triangular aluminized Mylar® sail sections 4.6 microns thick were Z-folded and stowed into four sail bays. The sail segments were deployed by four 4 m Triangular Retractable And Collapsible booms made of elgiloy. The booms were wound around a common spindle, with deployment driven by a Faulhaber motor containing Hall sensors. Attitude was controlled using a single-axis Sinclair Interplanetary momentum wheel and magnetic torque rods. During solar sailing operations, two 90 degree slews were performed each orbit to harness momentum from solar photons. The thrust from solar radiation pressure measurably reduced the rate of orbital decay, including an extended period of orbit raising. Two Planetary Society Cameras developed by the Aerospace Corporation were mounted at the tips of opposing solar panels, providing imaging for engineering evaluation and public engagement throughout mission operations. This paper provides a summary of the LightSail 2 mission implementation, including the flight system design and the pre-launch test program. LightSail 2 mission operations are described, including discussion of the ground system. Solar sailing performance is presented, and anomalies encountered during the mission are discussed. The Planetary Society\u27s decade-long LightSail program was entirely donor-funded, with over 50,000 contributors worldwide. With a total cost of about $7M for two flight missions, the LightSail program showed that solar sails can provide a cost-effective option for propulsion of CubeSat-class vehicles