Star Formation in Violent and Normal Evolutionary Phases

Mergers of massive gas-rich galaxies trigger violent starbursts that - over timescales of $> 100$ Myr and regions $> 10$ kpc - form massive and compact star clusters comparable in mass and radii to Galactic globular clusters. The star formation efficiency is higher by 1 - 2 orders of magnitude in these bursts than in undisturbed spirals, irregulars or even BCDs. We ask the question if star formation in these extreme regimes is just a scaled-up version of the normal star formation mode of if the formation of globular clusters reveals fundamentally different conditions.Comment: 4 pages To appear in The Evolution of Galaxies. II. Basic building blocks, eds. M. Sauvage, G. Stasinska, L. Vigroux, D. Schaerer, S. Madde

Suppression of electron spin decoherence in a quantum dot

The dominant source of decoherence for an electron spin in a quantum dot is the hyperfine interaction with the surrounding bath of nuclear spins. The decoherence process may be slowed down by subjecting the electron spin to suitable sequences of external control pulses. We investigate the performance of a variety of dynamical decoupling protocols using exact numerical simulation. Emphasis is given to realistic pulse delays and the long-time limit, beyond the domain where available analytical approaches are guaranteed to work. Our results show that both deterministic and randomized protocols are capable to significantly prolong the electron coherence time, even when using control pulse separations substantially larger than what expected from the {\em upper cutoff} frequency of the coupling spectrum between the electron and the nuclear spins. In a realistic parameter range, the {\em total width} of such a coupling spectrum appears to be the physically relevant frequency scale affecting the overall quality of the decoupling.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. Invited talk at the XXXVII Winter Colloquium on the Physics of Quantum Electronics, Snowbird, Jan 2007. Submitted to J. Mod. Op

Evidence-based Suicide Assessment and Prevention Training for Licensed Nursing Staff

Section I: Abstract Problem: Suicide is a major public health concern that kills over 45,000 people in the U.S every year. At a psychiatric hospital in Northern California, several suicide attempts occur every year. Context: The aim of this DNP project was to train licensed nursing staff at a large safety net psychiatric hospital in Northern California on interventions and best practices in suicide prevention to improve suicide screening, assessment, and detection for an at-risk population. Intervention: Interventions consisted of training on the appropriate use of (a) the organization’s Evidence-based Suicide Screening and Prevention Protocol and (b) an evidence-based suicide screening tool, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), used to conduct suicide assessment levels, and risk detection. Measures: An author-developed instrument was used for assessment of nurses’ knowledge, skills, and comfort level before and after training on the organization’s Evidence-based Suicide Screening and Prevention Protocol and use of the C-SSRS. Patients’ charts were audited after the training to check for accurate completion of the C-SSRS tool. Results: Ninety-six percent of licensed nursing staff were trained on the use of the organization’s suicide screening and prevention protocol and the C-SSRS. Knowledge, comfort level, and skills for screening, assessing, intervening, and planning care for patients at–risk for suicide improved post-training. Conclusions: Training of Licensed Nursing Staff on how to follow the organization’s Evidence-Based Suicide Screening and Prevention Protocol and use the C-SSRS was successful. Licensed nursing staff are prepared to provide successful suicide screening, assessment, detection and prevention, thus achieving better patient outcomes. Keywords: Suicide prevention, interventions, and suicide in adults

Characterization and topical delivery of phenylethyl resorcinol

Objective: Phenylethyl resorcinol (PR) has been used widely in the personal care industry as a novel skin lightening ingredient. Surprisingly, there is only limited information describing the physicochemical properties of this active. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to perform a comprehensive characterization of PR. A secondary objective was to investigate the delivery of this molecule to mammalian skin. Methods: Phenylethyl resorcinol was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). A new high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for analysis of PR was developed and validated. The log P (octanol water partition coefficient), value, solubility and short‐term stability of PR in a series of vehicles were also determined using HPLC. The evaporation of the selected vehicles was examined using dynamic vapour sorption (DVS). The permeation profiles of PR were investigated under finite dose conditions in porcine and human skin. Results: The melting point of PR was determined to be 79.13 °C and the measured log P (octanol water partition coefficient) at 21 °C was 3.35 ± 0.03. The linearity of the HPLC analytical method was confirmed with an r2 value of 0.99. Accuracy of the method was evaluated by average recovery rates at three tested concentrations, and the values ranged from 99 to 106%. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.19 and 0.57 μg mL−1, respectively. The solubility of PR in PG, DMI, glycerol was within the range of 367 to 877 mg mL−1. The stability of PR in tested solvents was also confirmed by the 72 h stability studies. From the DVS studies, 70–125% of applied formulations were recovered at 24 h. The permeation through porcine skin at 24 h ranged from 4 to 13 μg cm−2, while the corresponding amounts of PR delivered through human skin were 2 to 10 μg cm−2. Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of PR confirm it is suitable for dermal delivery. In this study, propylene glycol was the most promising vehicle for PR delivery to human skin. Future work will expand the range of vehicles studied and explore the percutaneous absorption from more complex formulations

Channel discord and distortion

Discord, originally notable as a signature of bipartite quantum correlation, in fact can be nonzero classically, i.e. arising from noisy measurements by one of the two parties. Here we redefine classical discord to quantify channel distortion, in contrast to the previous restriction of classical discord to a state, and we then show a monotonic relationship between classical (channel) discord and channel distortion. We show that classical discord is equivalent to (doubly stochastic) channel distortion by numerically discovering a monotonic relation between discord and total-variation distance for a bipartite protocol with one party having a noiseless channel and the other party having a noisy channel. Our numerical method includes randomly generating doubly stochastic matrices for noisy channels and averaging over a uniform measure of input messages. Connecting discord with distortion establishes discord as a signature of classical, not quantum, channel distortion

Highly stretchable and sensitive self-powered sensors based on the N-Type thermoelectric effect of polyurethane/Na_{x}(Ni-ett)_{n}/graphene oxide composites

The development of stretchable organic thermoelectric materials is prompted by fast evolving application fields like flexible electronic devices, soft robotics, health monitoring and internet-of-things. Stretchability in thermoelectric materials is usually obtained by using an insulating elastomer, either as a substrate or as a matrix in a blend or composite, which, unfortunately, leads to a compromise in thermoelectric performance. Herein, a potential solution is reported exploiting the addition of graphene oxide as a secondary (nano)filler in a polyurethane/poly nickel-ethenetetrathiolates film. Compared with traditional binary blends, our ternary composite shows an increased electrical conductivity (4 times), air-stability (∼20 times after 3 months), and stretchability (38% increase in strain at break). With a gauge factor (GF) of ∼58, this new composite film shows high sensitivity to tensile strain. Thanks to its Seebeck coefficient of ∼ −40 μV K^{−1}, the composite film can generate a thermopower of ∼0.25 pW when subjected to a small temperature difference (30 °C), which could be exploited by self-powered strain sensors. Therefore, the ternary polyurethane/poly nickel-ethenetetrathiolates/graphene oxide composite film can work as a stretchable strain sensor, providing a strategy to reconcile the compromise between thermoelectric performance and stretchability

Cadmium Induces the Expression of Grp78, an Endoplasmic Reticulum Molecular Chaperone, in LLC-PK1 Renal Epithelial Cells

To reveal the effects of cadmium exposure on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, we examined the expression and function of 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (Grp78), an ER-resident molecular chaperone, in LLC-PK1 cells. In cells treated with 10 μM cadmium chloride, Grp78 protein levels increased after 6 hr and remained elevated at 24 hr. When cells were incubated with 1–20 μM CdCl(2) for 6 hr, Grp78 increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Grp78 mRNA levels were elevated in response to CdCl(2) exposure. After exposure to 10 μM CdCl(2), the levels of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) were increased at 2 hr, with a further enhancement after that; this accumulation followed the transient but marked phosphorylation of the α subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) on serine 51. Although ATF4 mRNA levels increased mildly by CdCl(2) exposure, treatment with actinomycin D did not suppress CdCl(2)-induced accumulation of ATF4 protein, suggesting the involvement of posttranscriptional and, in part, transcriptional mechanisms. Compared with other heavy-metal compounds such as manganese chloride, zinc chloride, mercuric chloride, and lead chloride, CdCl(2) could increase the levels of Grp78, ATF4, and the phosphorylated form of eIF2α more markedly without definite cellular damage. The silencing of Grp78 expression using short-interference RNA enhanced CdCl(2)-induced cellular damage. These results show that cadmium induces the expression of Grp78 probably via phosphorylation of eIF2α and resultant translation of ATF4, and this ER stress response plays a role in protection against cadmium cytotoxicity in this renal epithelial cell

Evidence for Anthropogenic Surface Loading as Trigger Mechanism of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake

Two and a half years prior to China's M7.9 Wenchuan earthquake of May 2008, at least 300 million metric tons of water accumulated with additional seasonal water level changes in the Minjiang River Valley at the eastern margin of the Longmen Shan. This article shows that static surface loading in the Zipingpu water reservoir induced Coulomb failure stresses on the nearby Beichuan thrust fault system at <17km depth. Triggering stresses exceeded levels of daily lunar and solar tides and perturbed a fault area measuring 416+/-96km^2. These stress perturbations, in turn, likely advanced the clock of the mainshock and directed the initial rupture propagation upward towards the reservoir on the "Coulomb-like" Beichuan fault with rate-and-state dependent frictional behavior. Static triggering perturbations produced up to 60 years (0.6%) of equivalent tectonic loading, and show strong correlations to the coseismic slip. Moreover, correlations between clock advancement and coseismic slip, observed during the mainshock beneath the reservoir, are strongest for a longer seismic cycle (10kyr) of M>7 earthquakes. Finally, the daily event rate of the micro-seismicity (M>0.5) correlates well with the static stress perturbations, indicating destabilization.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figures, 3 table

Disparities and risks of sexually transmissible infections among men who have sex with men in China: a meta-analysis and data synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Hepatitis B and C virus, are emerging public health risks in China, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to assess the magnitude and risks of STIs among Chinese MSM. METHODS: Chinese and English peer-reviewed articles were searched in five electronic databases from January 2000 to February 2013. Pooled prevalence estimates for each STI infection were calculated using meta-analysis. Infection risks of STIs in MSM, HIV-positive MSM and male sex workers (MSW) were obtained. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. RESULTS: Eighty-eight articles (11 in English and 77 in Chinese) investigating 35,203 MSM in 28 provinces were included in this review. The prevalence levels of STIs among MSM were 6.3% (95% CI: 3.5-11.0%) for chlamydia, 1.5% (0.7-2.9%) for genital wart, 1.9% (1.3-2.7%) for gonorrhoea, 8.9% (7.8-10.2%) for hepatitis B (HBV), 1.2% (1.0-1.6%) for hepatitis C (HCV), 66.3% (57.4-74.1%) for human papillomavirus (HPV), 10.6% (6.2-17.6%) for herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and 4.3% (3.2-5.8%) for Ureaplasma urealyticum. HIV-positive MSM have consistently higher odds of all these infections than the broader MSM population. As a subgroup of MSM, MSW were 2.5 (1.4-4.7), 5.7 (2.7-12.3), and 2.2 (1.4-3.7) times more likely to be infected with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HCV than the broader MSM population, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence levels of STIs among MSW were significantly higher than the broader MSM population. Co-infection of HIV and STIs were prevalent among Chinese MSM. Integration of HIV and STIs healthcare and surveillance systems is essential in providing effective HIV/STIs preventive measures and treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO NO: CRD42013003721