Decomposition of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants Utilizing Pyrolyzed Cotton Balls as Wicks

The thermal decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants via a novel and simple approach is reported. Utilizing pyrolyzed cotton balls as a substrate for the delivery of an incendiary agent into a bulk volume of mustard and nerve agent simulants, significant enhancements in the burning rates were achieved. Under ambient conditions, this method was able to thermally decompose simulants for both HD (sulfur mustard) and GB (sarin) series chemical warfare agents at rates up to 3.1 ± 0.4 g. min-1 and 1.9 ± 1.0 g. min-1, respectively. The approach proposes a simple and more cost-effective way to decompose these dangerous substances under ambient conditions with the use of a wicking substrate rather than high temperature incineration equipment or chemical treatments

Alien Registration- Lagasse, Joseph A. (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/28675/thumbnail.jp

Thermal Degradation of Chemical Warfare Agents Utilizing Pyrolyzed Cotton Balls

Since the Chemical Warfare Convention (CWC) Treaty was established in 1997, it has been prohibited for countries to stockpile, produce, or use chemical warfare agents (CWAs). However, it can be assumed that not every country or group is in accordance with these regulations, and therefore a method to deactivate and destroy these agents is necessary for international security. Current methods for destroying chemical warfare agents have predominantly relied up hydrolysis, high pressure peroxides, or oxidation reactions utilizing bleaching agents. While these methods are effective, they require a large quantity of decontamination agents relative to the amount of CWA present and can produce secondary hazardous byproducts. By utilizing pyrolyzed cotton balls as a vessel for igniting the agents with napalm, it is possible to quickly and effectively destroy a wide variety of chemical warfare agents with limited residue or byproducts. This presents a simple, low cost, and effective method to rapidly decompose large quantities of CWAs with limited waste or cross contamination

Pasteurella multocida Bacteremia in a Patient With Ovarian Cancer and Chemotherapy-induced Neutropenia

Background: Pasteurella multocida is a commensal organism found in the saliva and oropharynx of domestic animals. It causes a variety of human infections ranging from cellulitis to bacteremia and sepsis. The severity of infection is somewhat related to the immunocompetency of the infected host. An immunocompromised host is more likely to suffer a disseminated infection as a result of contact with this organism than an immunocompetent host. This case report and review of the literature are presented to further evaluate the types of infections caused by this organism in oncology patients

Distinct human stem cell populations in small and large intestine

The intestine is composed of an epithelial layer containing rapidly proliferating cells that mature into two regions, the small and the large intestine. Although previous studies have identified stem cells as the cell-of-origin for intestinal epithelial cells, no studies have directly compared stem cells derived from these anatomically distinct regions. Here, we examine intrinsic differences between primary epithelial cells isolated from human fetal small and large intestine, after in vitro expansion, using the Wnt agonist R-spondin 2.We utilized flow cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, gene expression analysis and a three-dimensional in vitro differentiation assay to characterize their stemcell properties. We identified stem cell markers that separate subpopulations of colony-forming cells in the small and large intestine and revealed important differences in differentiation, proliferation and disease pathways using gene expression analysis. Single cells from small and large intestine cultures formed organoids that reflect the distinct cellular hierarchy found in vivo and respond differently to identical exogenous cues. Our characterization identified numerous differences between small and large intestine epithelial stem cells suggesting possible connections to intestinal disease

Cryptocurrencies: applications and investment opportunities

Purpose This study investigates the role of cryptocurrencies in enhancing the performance of portfolios constructed from traditional asset classes. Using a long sample period covering not only the large value increases but also the dramatic declines during the beginning of 2018, the purpose of this paper is to provide a more complete analysis of the dynamic nature of cryptocurrencies as individual investment opportunities, and as components of optimal portfolios. Design/methodology/approach The mean-variance optimization technique of Merton (1990) is applied to develop the risk and return characteristics of the efficient portfolios, along with the optimal weights of the asset class components in the portfolios.Findings The authors provide evidence that as a single investment, the best cryptocurrency is Ripple, followed by Bitcoin and Litecoin. Furthermore, cryptocurrencies have a useful role in the optimal portfolio construction and in investments, in addition to their original purposes for which they were created. Bitcoin is the best cryptocurrency enhancing the characteristics of the optimal portfolio. Ripple and Litecoin follow in terms of their usefulness in an optimal portfolio as single cryptocurrencies. Including all these cryptocurrencies in a portfolio generates the best (most optimal) results. Contributions of the cryptocurrencies to the optimal portfolio evolve over time. Therefore, the results and conclusions of this study have no guarantee for continuation in an exact manner in the future. However, the increasing popularity and the unique characteristics of cryptocurrencies will assist their future presence in investment portfolios. Originality/value This is one of the first studies that examine the role of popular cryptocurrencies in enhancing a portfolio composed of traditional asset classes. The sample period is the largest that has been used in this strand of the literature, and allows to compare optimal portfolios in early/recent subsamples, and during the pre-/post-cryptocurrency crisis periods

River environment: a reference document, The

DBS-PFL-YHC-SAS-14.Includes bibliographical references (pages A-1-A-26).Prepared for United States of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service.December 1975

TB174: Maine Wild Blueberries Field Winnowing Systems

The objective of this study was to determine if there were differences in berry quality between the two winnowing systems currently used in the Maine wild blueberry industry. The following experiment was performed three times during the 1997 field season.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_techbulletin/1034/thumbnail.jp

Intertester reliability of brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation using upper and lower arm occlusion in healthy subjects

The assessment of endothelial function as brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation is a widely used technique that determines the effect of risk factor intervention and may have the potential to predict the clinical benefit of antiatherogenic therapy. Previous studies suggest that flow-mediated dilation is greater using the upper-arm occlusion technique, but no data are available to compare intertester reliability between technicians. This study was undertaken to compare the amount of hyperemia between upper and lower occlusion techniques and to determine reproducibility between testers. Nineteen healthy adults, ages 25 to 50, were included in the study. Brachial artery vasodilatation was measured 1 and 3 minutes post cuff deflation and was compared with the baseline and expressed as a percent change. There was a tester effect in the percent change in diameter across all measurements. The results of this study reveal inconsistencies between testers when using a blood pressure cuff to induce hyperemia for the assessment of endothelial function through brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation. However, upper arm as compared to lower arm blood pressure cuff occlusion results in significantly greater hyperemia and vasodilatation, even though there was a difference in measurements between testers