Conditioning of pulses from aerosol-particle detectors

Pulse-conditioner translates pulses generated by aerosol-particle detectors to a form acceptable by commercially available pulse height analyzers designed for nuclear-energy spectroscopy

Science religion encounters toolkit 12: science and religion in the classroom

I was a classroom science teacher for 17 years (I now work in Initial Teacher Education). Many years ago, I was welcoming year 9 pupils (13-year-olds) at the door of my classroom for a physics lesson. One pupil stopped in the doorway with a puzzled expression on his face. They all knew I was religious as it was a Catholic school, and I was a Eucharistic Minister at the school Mass. He said, “I thought scientists weren’t allowed to be religious.” I don’t remember what I did and/or said in response, but that incident struck me at the time and now as interesting. How can I make my classroom an inclusive place for people of diverse religious beliefs, the unsure, and those without religious beliefs

Race and “Hotspots” of Preventable Hospitalizations

Abstract Preventable hospitalizations (PHs) are those for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions that indicate insufficiencies in local primary healthcare. PH rates tend to be higher among African Americans, in urban centers, rural areas and areas with more African American residents. The objective of this study is to determine geographic clusters of high PH rates (“spatial clusters”) by race. Data from Maryland hospitals were utilized to determine the rates of PHs in zip code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) by race in 2010. Geographic clusters of ZCTAs with higher than expected PH rates were identified using Scan Statistic and Anselin’s Local Moran’s I. 10 PH spatial clusters were observed among the total population with an average PH rate of 3,046.6 per 100,000 population. Among whites, the average PH rate was 3,339.9 per 100,000 in 11 PH spatial clusters. Only five PH spatial clusters were observed among African Americans with a higher average PH rate (3,710.8 per 100,000). The locations and other characteristics of PH spatial clusters differed by race. These results can be used to target resources to areas with high PH rates. Because PH spatial clusters are observed in differing locations for African Americans, approaches that include cultural tailoring may need to be specifically targeted

Alien Registration- Bowie, Mary J. (Gardiner, Kennebec County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/29107/thumbnail.jp

Using contingent valuation to measure the economic impact of climate change on hiker recreation during New England peak foliage

This paper seeks to define and develop an economic tool for measuring willingness to pay for hiking recreation in the face of climate change in New England during the peak foliage season. Potential climate change impacts to New England are defined, along with relevant economic tools for measuring the market value of non-marketed goods. Ultimately, contingent valuation is chosen as the most viable option, and a survey is developed, pretested, and ready for implementation at the trailhead of Mt. Major in New Hampshire

Risk factors for chest infection in acute stroke: a prospective cohort study

<p><b>Background and Purpose:</b> Pneumonia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after stroke. We aimed to determine key characteristics that would allow prediction of those patients who are at highest risk for poststroke pneumonia.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> We studied a series of consecutive patients with acute stroke who were admitted to hospital. Detailed evaluation included the modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; the Abbreviated Mental Test; and measures of swallow, respiratory, and oral health status. Pneumonia was diagnosed by set criteria. Patients were followed up at 3 months after stroke.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> We studied 412 patients, 391 (94.9%) with ischemic stroke and 21 (5.1%) with hemorrhagic stroke; 78 (18.9%) met the study criteria for pneumonia. Subjects who developed pneumonia were older (mean±SD age, 75.9±11.4 vs 64.9±13.9 years), had higher modified National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower Abbreviated Mental Test scores, and a higher oral cavity score, and a greater proportion tested positive for bacterial cultures from oral swabs. In binary logistic-regression analysis, independent predictors (P<0.05) of pneumonia were age >65 years, dysarthria or no speech due to aphasia, a modified Rankin Scale score ≥4, an Abbreviated Mental Test score <8, and failure on the water swallow test. The presence of 2 or more of these risk factors carried 90.9% sensitivity and 75.6% specificity for the development of pneumonia.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Pneumonia after stroke is associated with older age, dysarthria/no speech due to aphasia, severity of poststroke disability, cognitive impairment, and an abnormal water swallow test result. Simple assessment of these variables could be used to identify patients at high risk of developing pneumonia after stroke.</p&gt

The gas phase cyclization of deprotonated N-aryl-2-cyano-2-diazoacetamides

The document attached has been archived with permission from the publisher.1-Aryl-4-cyano-5-hydroxy-1,2,3-triazoles can be obtained in solution by base-catalysed cyclization of N-aryl-2-cyano-2-diazoacetamides. A similar reaction was shown to take place under conditions of negative ion chemical ionization in the ion source of a mass spectrometer. High resolution mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, charge reversal spectra, synthesis of the ions with known structures and quantum chemical calculations were used to prove the latter statement. The fact of the observed cyclization demonstrates once again the ability of mass spectrometry to study the gas phase chemical reactions that take place in solution.Vladislav V. Lobodin, Yuriy Yu. Morzherin, Tom Blumenthal, Daniel Bilusich, Vladimir V. Ovcharenko, John H. Bowie, and Albert T. Lebede