The effect of varying RDP: UDP ratios on intake and milk production efficiency in Saanen ewes fed a complete diet

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 138-139

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. Ligand-induced two-electron variations of intercluster bonding intimacy. Structures of nineteen-vertex[(eta(5)-C5Me5) HIrB18H19(PMe2Ph)] and the related carbene complex [(eta(5)-C5Me5)HIrB18H19{C(NHMe)(2)}]

Addition of PMe2Ph to fused-cluster syn-[(η5-C5Me5)IrB18H20] 1 to give [(η5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PMe2Ph)] 3 entails a diminution in the degree of intimacy of the intercluster fusion, rather than retention of inter-subcluster binding intimacy and a nido → arachno conversion of the character of either of the subclusters. Reaction with MeNC gives [(η5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19{C(NHMe)2}] 4 which has a similar structure, but with the ligand now being the carbene {:C(NHMe)2}, resulting from a reductive assembly reaction involving two MeNC residues and the loss of a carbon atom

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry: two-electron variations in intercluster bonding intimacy. Contrasting structures of 19-vertex [(eta(5)-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PHPh2)] and [(eta(5) -C5Me5)IrB18H18(PH2Ph)]

Fused double-cluster [(5-C5Me5)IrB18H18(PH2Ph)]8, from syn-[(5-C5Me5)IrB18H20] 1 and PH2Ph, retains the three-atoms-in-common cluster fusion intimacy of 1, in contrast to [(5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PHPh2)]6, from PHPh2 with 1, which exhibits an opening to a two atoms-in-common cluster fusion intimacy. Compound 8 forms via spontaneous dihydrogen loss from its precursor [(5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PH2Ph)]7, which has two-atoms-in-common cluster-fusion intimacy and is structurally analogous to 6

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of the Operation of a Flame Ionization Sensor

The sensors and controls research group at the United States Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is continuing to develop the Combustion Control and Diagnostics Sensor (CCADS) for gas turbine applications. CCADS uses the electrical conduction of the charged species generated during the combustion process to detect combustion instabilities and monitor equivalence ratio. As part of this effort, combustion models are being developed which include the interaction between the electric field and the transport of charged species. The primary combustion process is computed using a flame wrinkling model (Weller et. al. 1998) which is a component of the OpenFOAM toolkit (Jasak et. al. 2004). A sub-model for the transport of charged species is attached to this model. The formulation of the charged-species model similar that applied by Penderson and Brown (1993) for the simulation of laminar flames. The sub-model consists of an additional flux due to the electric field (drift flux) added to the equations for the charged species concentrations and the solution the electric potential from the resolved charge density. The subgrid interactions between the electric field and charged species transport have been neglected. Using the above procedure, numerical simulations are performed and the results compared with several recent CCADS experiments

The Future Evolution of White Dwarf Stars Through Baryon Decay and Time Varying Gravitational Constant

Motivated by the possibility that the fundamental ``constants'' of nature could vary with time, this paper considers the long term evolution of white dwarf stars under the combined action of proton decay and variations in the gravitational constant. White dwarfs are thus used as a theoretical laboratory to study the effects of possible time variations, especially their implications for the future history of the universe. More specifically, we consider the gravitational constant $G$ to vary according to the parametric relation $G = G_0 (1 + t/t_\ast)^{-p}$, where the time scale $t_\ast$ is the same order as the proton lifetime. We then study the long term fate and evolution of white dwarf stars. This treatment begins when proton decay dominates the stellar luminosity, and ends when the star becomes optically thin to its internal radiation.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted to Astrophysics and Space Scienc

Combustion Control and Diagnostics Sensor Testing in a Thermal Barrier Coated Combustor

The combustion control and diagnostics sensor (CCADS) continues to be developed as an in-situ combustion sensor, with immediate application to natural gas fired turbines. In-situ combustion monitoring is also expected to benefit advanced power plants of the future, fueled by coal-derived syngas, liquified natural gas (LNG), hydrogen, or hydrogen blend fuels. The in-situ monitoring that CCADS provides can enable the optimal operation of advanced, fuel-flexible turbines for minimal pollutant emissions and maximum efficiency over the full operating range of an advanced turbine. Previous work has demonstrated CCADS as a useful sensor for in-situ monitoring of natural gas combustion, including detection of important combustion events such as flashback and lean blowoff, in experimental combustors without thermal barrier coatings (TBC). Since typical TBC materials are electrical insulators at room temperature, and CCADS operation requires conduction of electrical current to the walls of the combustor, a TBC on the combustion liner was identified as a potential barrier to CCADS operation in commercial application. This paper reports on CCADS experiments in a turbulent lean premixed combustor with a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coating on the combustor wall. The tests were conducted at 0.1 MPa (1 atm), with a 15V excitation voltage on the CCADS electrodes. The results confirm that for a typical thermal barrier coating, CCADS operates properly, and the total measured average resistance is close to that of an uncoated combustor. This result is consistent with previous materials studies that found the electrical resistance of typical TBC materials considerably decreases at combustor operating temperatures

Validation of screening questions and symptom coherence of night eating in the Swedish Twin Registry

Background Screening criteria have been used to estimate the prevalence of night eating syndrome (NES), but no validation studies have been conducted. Method We examined the validity of two screening questions for NES using a structured interview with adults enrolled in the Swedish Twin Study of Adults: Genes and Environment (STAGE) study. We also examined the coherence of the proposed diagnostic criteria for NES. A total of 416 participants (men = 179; women = 237) completed the interview and reported complete data for study inclusion. Results The following values were calculated for the screening items after confirmation by interview for men and women, respectively: Positive predictive value =.66 and.67, negative predictive value =.52 and.45, sensitivity =.62 and.63, and specificity =.56 and.50. As increasingly stringent diagnostic criteria were applied to the sample, prevalence of NES dropped. Nocturnal ingestions were more likely to co-occur with other NES symptoms than evening hyperphagia, which occurred frequently, but often in isolation; women were more likely to report a co-occurrence of symptoms than men, who were not likely to report distress related to NES symptoms. Conclusion In sum, almost two-thirds of participants were correctly identified as having NES (without considering distress or impairment) if they answered positively on the screening questions, and about half of the participants were correctly identified as not having NES when answering negatively on the screening questions. Although self-report questions are somewhat informative, a structured interview remains the gold standard for diagnosing NES

Development of a patient reported outcome measure for fatigue in motor neurone disease: the Neurological Fatigue Index (NFI-MND).

BACKGROUND: The objective of this research was to develop a disease-specific measure for fatigue in patients with motor neurone disease (MND) by generating data that would fit the Rasch measurement model. Fatigue was defined as reversible motor weakness and whole-body tiredness that was predominantly brought on by muscular exertion and was partially relieved by rest. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were undertaken to confirm the suitability of a previously identified set of 52 neurological fatigue items as relevant to patients with MND. Patients were recruited from five U.K. MND clinics. Questionnaires were administered during clinic or by post. A sub-sample of patients completed the questionnaire again after 2-4 weeks to assess test-retest validity. Exploratory factor analyses and Rasch analysis were conducted on the item set. RESULTS: Qualitative interviews with ten MND patients confirmed the suitability of 52 previously identified neurological fatigue items as relevant to patients with MND. 298 patients consented to completing the initial questionnaire including this item set, with an additional 78 patients completing the questionnaire a second time after 4-6 weeks. Exploratory Factor Analysis identified five potential subscales that could be conceptualised as representing: 'Energy', 'Reversible muscular weakness' (shortened to 'Weakness'), 'Concentration', 'Effects of heat' and 'Rest'. Of the original five factors, two factors 'Energy' and 'Weakness' met the expectations of the Rasch model. A higher order fatigue summary scale, consisting of items from the 'Energy' and 'Weakness' subscales, was found to fit the Rasch model and have acceptable unidimensionality. The two scales and the higher order summary scale were shown to fulfil model expectations, including assumptions of unidimensionality, local independency and an absence of differential item functioning. CONCLUSIONS: The Neurological Fatigue Index for MND (NFI-MND) is a simple, easy-to-administer fatigue scale. It consists of an 8-item fatigue summary scale in addition to separate scales for measuring fatigue experienced as reversible muscular weakness and fatigue expressed as feelings of low energy and whole body tiredness. The underlying two factor structure supports the patient concept of fatigue derived from qualitative interviews in this population. All three scales were shown to be reliable and capable of interval level measurement

Early impact of COVID-19 on individuals with self-reported eating disorders: A survey of ~1,000 individuals in the United States and the Netherlands

Objective: We evaluated the early impact of COVID-19 on people with self-reported eating disorders. Method: Participants in the United States (US, N = 511) and the Netherlands (NL, N = 510), recruited through ongoing studies and social media, completed an online survey that included both quantitative measures and free-text responses assessing the impact of COVID-19 on situational circumstances, eating disorder symptoms, eating disorder treatment, and general well-being. Results: Results revealed strong and wide-ranging effects on eating disorder concerns and illness behaviors that were consistent with eating disorder type. Participants with anorexia nervosa (US 62% of sample; NL 69%) reported increased restriction and fears about being able to find foods consistent with their meal plan. Individuals with bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder (US 30% of sample; NL 15%) reported increases in their binge-eating episodes and urges to binge. Respondents noted marked increases in anxiety since 2019 and reported greater concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health than physical health. Although many participants acknowledged and appreciated the transition to telehealth, limitations of this treatment modality for this population were raised. Individuals with past histories of eating disorders noted concerns about relapse related to COVID-19 circumstances. Encouragingly, respondents also noted positive effects including greater connection with family, more time for self-care, and motivation to recover. Discussions: COVID-19 is associated with increased anxiety and poses specific disorder-related challenges for individuals with eating disorders that require attention by healthcare professionals and carers

Predicting secondary organic aerosol phase state and viscosity and its effect on multiphase chemistry in a regional-scale air quality model

Atmospheric aerosols are a significant public health hazard and have substantial impacts on the climate. Secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) have been shown to phase separate into a highly viscous organic outer layer surrounding an aqueous core. This phase separation can decrease the partitioning of semi-volatile and low-volatile species to the organic phase and alter the extent of acidcatalyzed reactions in the aqueous core. A new algorithm that can determine SOA phase separation based on their glass transition temperature (Tg), oxygen to carbon (O V C) ratio and organic mass to sulfate ratio, and meteorological conditions was implemented into the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling (CMAQ) system version 5.2.1 and was used to simulate the conditions in the continental United States for the summer of 2013. SOA formed at the ground/surface level was predicted to be phase separated with core shell morphology, i.e., aqueous inorganic core surrounded by organic coating 65.4% of the time during the 2013 Southern Oxidant and Aerosol Study (SOAS) on average in the isoprene-rich southeastern United States. Our estimate is in proximity to the previously reported 70% in literature. The phase states of organic coatings switched between semi-solid and liquid states, depending on the environmental conditions. The semi-solid shell occurring with lower aerosol liquid water content (western United States and at higher altitudes) has a viscosity that was predicted to be 102 1012 Pa s, which resulted in organic mass being decreased due to diffusion limitation. Organic aerosol was primarily liquid where aerosol liquid water was dominant (eastern United States and at the surface), with a viscosity < 102 Pa s. Phase separation while in a liquid phase state, i.e., liquid liquid phase separation (LLPS), also reduces reactive uptake rates relative to homogeneous internally mixed liquid morphology but was lower than aerosols with a thick viscous organic shell. The sensitivity cases performed with different phase-separation parameterization and dissolution