Development of a model for recruitment of potential adult basic education students.

EducationDoctor of Education (Ed.D.

Magneto-chemical studies with a new ultrasensitive superconducting quantum magnetometer

A magnetometer utilizing quantum superconductivity as the basis for the flux sensor element has been designed and used for biochemical susceptibility measurements in the temperature range from 1.5°K to 300°K. The sensitivity and reproducibility of this instrument have been tested by measurements on small amounts of material of well-known susceptibilities. Using this instrument the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities of oxy- and metaquohemerythrin have been measured and for the first time their anti-ferromagnetic components have been unambigiously resolved. From this data the exchange coupling constants between the two high-spin iron (III) atoms in each subunit have been determined to be -77 and -134 cm^(-1) respectively

Solubility and diffusional uptake of hydrogen in quartz at high water pressures: Implications for hydrolytic weakening

Attempts to introduce molecular water into dry, natural quartz crystals by diffusive transport and thus weaken them hydrolytically at T = 700°–900°C and PH_2O = 400–1550 MPa have failed. Infrared spectroscopy of hydrothermally annealed single crystals of natural quartz reveals the diffusive uptake of interstitial hydrogen (resulting in hydroxyl groups) at rates similar to those previously proposed for intracrystalline water at high water pressures. The solubility of interstitial hydrogen at these conditions is independent of temperature and pressure; instead, it depends upon the initial aluminum concentration by the local charge neutrality condition [H_i·] = [Al_(Si)′]. The rate of interstitial hydrogen diffusion parallel to c is given by an Arrhenius relation with D_0 = 1.4 × 10^(−1) m^2/s and Q = 200 ± 20 kJ/mol, in close agreement with H diffusivities reported for much lower pressures (PH_2O = 2.5 MPa). Deformation experiments following hydrothermal annealing show no mechanical weakening, and the lack of any detectable broadband absorption associated with molecular water shows that the diffusion rates of structural water are much lower than those of hydrogen. These results are consistent with the available oxygen diffusion data for quartz and with the failure to observe weakening in previous studies of quartz deformation at pressures of 300–500 MPa; they call into question the rapid rates of diffusion originally suggested for the hydrolytic weakening defect. It is suggested that the observed weakening in many previous experiments was complicated by microcracking processes in response to nonhydrostatic stresses and low effective confining pressures. Extensive microcracking may provide a mechanism for molecular water to enter quartz and allow local plastic deformation to occur. It does not appear that molecular water can diffuse far enough into uncracked quartz to allow hydrolytic weakening over annealing times that are feasible in the laboratory

Morphological, Structural, and Spectral Characteristics of Amorphous Iron Sulfates

Current or past brine hydrologic activity on Mars may provide suitable conditions for the formation of amorphous ferric sulfates. Once formed, these phases would likely be stable under current Martian conditions, particularly at low- to mid-latitudes. Therefore, we consider amorphous iron sulfates (AIS) as possible components of Martian surface materials. Laboratory AIS were created through multiple synthesis routes and characterized with total X-ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, visible/near-infrared (VNIR), thermal infrared (TIR), and Mössbauer techniques. We synthesized amorphous ferric sulfates (Fe(III)2(SO4)3 · ~ 6–8H2O) from sulfate-saturated fluids via vacuum dehydration or exposure to low relative humidity

Human annexin A6 interacts with influenza a virus protein M2 and negatively modulates infection

Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights ReservedThe influenza A virus M2 ion channel protein has the longest cytoplasmic tail (CT) among the three viral envelope proteins and is well conserved between different viral strains. It is accessible to the host cellular machinery after fusion with the endosomal membrane and during the trafficking, assembly, and budding processes. We hypothesized that identification of host cellular interactants of M2 CT could help us to better understand the molecular mechanisms regulating the M2-dependent stages of the virus life cycle. Using yeast two-hybrid screening with M2 CT as bait, a novel interaction with the human annexin A6 (AnxA6) protein was identified, and their physical interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation assay and a colocalization study of virus-infected human cells. We found that small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of AnxA6 expression significantly increased virus production, while its overexpression could reduce the titer of virus progeny, suggesting a negative regulatory role for AnxA6 during influenza A virus infection. Further characterization revealed that AnxA6 depletion or overexpression had no effect on the early stages of the virus life cycle or on viral RNA replication but impaired the release of progeny virus, as suggested by delayed or defective budding events observed at the plasma membrane of virus-infected cells by transmission electron microscopy. Collectively, this work identifies AnxA6 as a novel cellular regulator that targets and impairs the virus budding and release stages of the influenza A virus life cycle.This work was supported by the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Disease (project 09080892) of the Hong Kong Government, the Area of Excellence Scheme of the University Grants Committee (grant AoE/M-12/-06 of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China), the French Ministry of Health, the RESPARI Pasteur Network

Value Engineering Study of the Repair of Transverse Cracking in Asphalt Concrete Pavements

DTFH61-87-C-00064This report summarizes the results of a cooperative value engineering study on the repair of transverse cracks in asphalt concrete pavements. The objective of the study was to optimize the expenditure of maintenance funding through an in-depth study of the present methods, materials, and equipments being used, and the development of better methods, materials, and equipment, and work crews, for optimum and safe repair of such cracks. This report contains recommendations and guidelines on crack preparation, materials, equipment, and timing to effect cost-effective repairs to transverse cracks in asphalt pavements. All team members agree that timely, effective crack sealing extends pavement life and reduces future maintenance costs

Comparing sterofundin to 0.9% sodium chloride infusion in managing diabetic ketoacidosis: a pilot study

Fluid replacement is the mainstay treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Currently, the best choice of fluids is still debatable. An amount of 0.9% sodium chloride is commonly used. Sterofundin® is an alternative crystalloid that is assumed to expedite resolution of acidosis. Advantages in sterofundin content being smaller significant ion difference (SID) to plasma and lower chloride content. The main objective of the study was to compare rate of acidosis resolution in DKA patients between treatment with 0.9% normal saline and Sterofundin over 12 hrs. Other objectives were to compare significant ion difference (SID), 12-hr blood ketone clearance and electrolyte balance between the two groups. The study was a prospective open labelled randomized control trial. This study was conducted over 6 months. Sample size of 18 was obtained with 9 for each arm. Main difference between two groups was initial median 2-hr pH level improvement (NS = +0.006 vs. Sterofundin = +0.05, P=0.063), however not being significant. Ketone, anion gap reduction, bicarbonate normalisation, sodium, chloride, urea and creatinine levels failed to show any significant differences between both groups. Twelve-hour median chloride levels increments were higher in the NS group (+11) compared to the sterofundin group (+6). There was no difference between mortality and morbidity. Comparing the two fluid groups, there was no significant biochemical differences during treatment of DKA. This was a pilot study that can initiate further clinical trials

Independent Validation of the SWMM Green Roof Module

Green roofs are a popular Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) technology. They provide multiple benefits, amongst which the retention of rainfall and detention of runoff are of particular interest to stormwater engineers. The hydrological performance of green roofs has been represented in various models, including the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). The latest version of SWMM includes a new LID green roof module, which makes it possible to model the hydrological performance of a green roof by directly defining the physical parameters of a green roof’s three layers. However, to date, no study has validated the capability of this module for representing the hydrological performance of an extensive green roof in response to actual rainfall events. In this study, data from a previously-monitored extensive green roof test bed has been utilised to validate the SWMM green roof module for both long-term (173 events over a year) and short-term (per-event) simulations. With only 0.357% difference between measured and modelled annual retention, the uncalibrated model provided good estimates of total annual retention, but the modelled runoff depths deviated significantly from the measured data at certain times (particularly during summer) in the year. Retention results improved (with the difference between modelled and measured annual retention decreasing to 0.169% and the Nash-Sutcliffe Model Efficiency (NSME) coefficient for per-event rainfall depth reaching 0.948) when reductions in actual evapotranspiration due to reduced substrate moisture availability during prolonged dry conditions were used to provide revised estimates of monthly ET. However, this aspect of the model’s performance is ultimately limited by the failure to account for the influence of substrate moisture on actual ET rates. With significant differences existing between measured and simulated runoff and NSME coefficients of below 0.5, the uncalibrated model failed to provide reasonable predictions of the green roof’s detention performance, although this was significantly improved through calibration. To precisely model the hydrological behaviour of an extensive green roof with a plastic board drainage layer, some of the modelling structures in SWMM green roof module require further refinement