Changing the Face of Recycling at Bates College through the Analysis of a Survey Open to Bates Students and Determining the Barriers of Recyclin

This Project was done in collaboration with Julie Rosenbach, the Bates College Sustainability Manager. The focus was on determining how to best increase recycling rates on campus through determining what current barriers and norms that limit the amount of recycling at Bates exist. The recycling rate at Bates is currently around 30-40% according to the data provided by Julie. The goal is to get this rate up to 50% over the next few years. The overall goal of our project was to research barriers to improving our recycling rate and recommend strategies to remove these barriers. The study of social norms is one critical aspect of this study. Social norms are defined as by Ann Carlson as “non-legal rules or obligations that certain individuals feel compelled to follow despite the lack of formal legal sanctions, whether because defiance would subject them to sanctions from others or because they would feel guilty for failing to conform to the norm” (Carlson, 2001, p. 1238). Therefore, the social norms could influence the Bates community’s recycling habits because they feel obligated to recycle more or will feel guilty if they do not. Our project studies the social norms and barriers that are already in place at Bates. One problem Bates faces right now is the miscommunication between facilities and the Sustainability Office as to where the recycling goes and how much of each relevant material gets recycled. In addition, there is not much information regarding what is being measured and how accurate these measurements are. The information that has been recorded in the past is not consistent and does not accurately reflect Bates’ recycling rate. Therefore, the current recycling rate is a tentative percentage because there is no concrete information on recycling at Bates. For this reason, one of the long-term goals is to create a better, more precise system for facilities to accurately and efficiently record data on the amount of trash and recycling produced by Bates. Another problem at Bates is that there is little to no uniformity between the trash and recycling bins around campus (See Appendix A for photos). During our discussion with representatives from other NESCAC schools, we found that the common denominator in starting to improve recycling rates was to distribute the same style, color, and size bins around campus. The primary results of this project indicate that there needs to be a unified recycling system at Bates. In addition, there needs to be more education about what can be recycled. This will require more effective outreach to ensure that all the students are informed. The next steps for this project would be to create a better platform of communication between facilities and the Sustainability Office to ensure both groups are on the same page, to make sure all the bins around campus are uniform in size and color, and to create a system where social norms are catered towards Bates students wanting to recycle

Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Caused by Primary Lacrimal Sac Adenocarcinoma

Background: Primary lacrimal sac tumors are a group of rare, highly malignant group of orbital neoplasms. Early diagnosis is critical, but often delayed, as these tumors are commonly mistaken for comparatively benign conditions. To our knowledge, there are less than 15 published cases of primary lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma. Purpose: To report a rare case of primary lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma with surgical removal and reconstruction by oculoplastics, orthopedic surgery and otolaryngology. Methods: Interventional Case Report. Results: A 55-year-old woman presented with six months of right periocular edema and tearing. Lacrimal gland irrigation revealed a nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). She underwent dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with Crawford stent placement for presumed chronic dacryocystis (lacrimal sac infection). Lacrimal sac pathology was unremarkable. One year later, she presented with recurrent symptoms. CT of the orbits showed a right nasolacrimal mass extending from the lacrimal fossa through an enlarged nasolacrimal duct. Nasal endoscopic biopsy with otolaryngology demonstrated poorly-differentiated glandular structures with AE1/AE3 and CK7 positivity, diagnostic for adenocarcinoma. PET-CT showed no other areas of hypermetabolic activity so she was determined to have Stage II (T2N0M0) poorly differentiated carcinoma. The patient was discussed at tumor board. Surgical intervention with adjuvant radiation therapy was recommended. Oculoplastics, otolaryngology and orthopedic surgery collaborated in a 13 hour lacrimal sac excision and orbital reconstruction. After dacryocystectomy and frozen sections, she was determined to have clear surgical margins (\u3c1mm). The orbital floor, inferior rim and medial wall were repaired with a porous polyethylene coated titanium fan implant. The eye was spared and never incised. A harvested forearm graft of radial bone and forearm tissue reconstructed the right maxilla. Anastomoses of the radial artery to facial artery was performed. Tissues were closed with the aid of a rotational forehead flap. Over the last three months, radiation oncology has administered 60Gy of radiation. Fortunately, she has had no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastases. She continues to follow closely with oculoplastics, otolaryngology, orthopedic surgery and radiation oncology. Conclusion: Primary lacrimal sac tumors are exceedingly difficult to diagnose and treat, necessitating a multidisciplinary collaboration between medical specialties. Our case represents a treatment paradigm for eye sparing primary lacrimal sac adenocarcinoma excision and reconstruction. Continued medical provider education and improved treatment algorithms are essential to maximize patient outcomes.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/merf2019caserpt/1062/thumbnail.jp

Data subset selection by Boolean calculation

In this journal in 1969 the authors described an unconventional method, based on concepts from systematic biology, for storing and retrieving data, whose salient features are: (1) data are stored in such a manner that the space required for their storage is close to the information-theoretic minimum; and (2) the selection of data subsets for retrieval is effected by performing Boolean arithmetic directly on the stored data. Here we describe new algorithms to increase the power of data subset selection in the context of this method and describe their potential for parallel processing.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24646/1/0000057.pd

A Taxir Data Bank Of Seed Plant Types At The University Of Michigan Herbarium

A computerized information management system for use with the curation of seed plant types at the University of Michigan Herbarium is now operative. Its construction, structure, and use are described and illustrated.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149736/1/tax00490.pd

Dog Ecology and Demographics in Several Areas in the Philippines and Its Application to Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programs

Understanding dog population dynamics plays a vital role in planning both rabies and dog management interventions. Establishing a human to dog ratio and an understanding how the urban/rural nature of the community might affect the overall dog population estimate provides an easy-to-use reference to estimate approximate dog populations in a range of communities. A total of 10,664 households were interviewed in 10 locations in the Philippines (2017 and 2018) to understand the dog population variations among the urban, semi-urban and rural areas. Epicollect5 and OSM tracker applications were used to conduct household interviews using a predesigned fixed set of questions. All answers were recorded directly using mobile phone applications. The survey results showed that for every 1000 humans, there are 256.3 dogs in rural areas, 213.8 dogs in semi-rural areas, 208.7 dogs in urban areas and 170.0 dogs on small islands of the Philippines. We estimate a total dog population in the Philippines of 23.29 million dogs (CI 95%, 22.51–24.07 million). Based on the survey findings from Quezon City and Cebu City, targets, resources allocations and vaccination approach were adjusted for the anti-rabies vaccination program at two locations in 2018, which lead to a 3- to 4-fold increase in the total number of dogs vaccinated in each city compared to previous years

Shear Viscosity and Chern-Simons Diffusion Rate from Hyperbolic Horizons

We calculate the shear viscosity and anomalous baryon number violation rate in quantum field theories at finite temperature having gravity duals with hyperbolic horizons. We find the explicit dependence of these quantities on the temperature. We show that the ratio of shear viscosity to entropy density is below $1/(4\pi)$ at all temperatures and it can be made arbitrarily small in the low temperature limit.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, minor changes, published in PL

Pharmacokinetics in patients of an anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody radiolabeled with indium-111 using a novel diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid chelator

The pharmacokinetics of the C110 anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody radiolabeled with 111In via a novel benzylisothiocyanate derivative of diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid have been determined in 12 patients. The chelator was attached to the protein via a thiourea bond and in such a way that all 5 carboxymethyl arms were presumably able to participate in chelation. Patients with known or suspected colorectal carcinoma received between 5 and 20 mg of the IgG antibody labeled with 5 mCi of 111In. Individual organ radioactivity levels were quantitated, and serum and urine samples were analyzed, principally by size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Total urinary excretion averaged 0.18% of the injected dose/h with large patient to patient variation. At early times postadministration (less than 8 h) the predominant radiolabeled species in urine was free diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid most probably administered as a small radiocontaminant in the injectate. Thereafter, radioactivity in urine was primarily present as a low molecular weight catabolic product. Analysis of serum by size exclusion HPLC occasionally showed 3 radioactivity peaks, 2 of which are due to circulating immune complexes and labeled antibody. The third peak is of low molecular weight and is due to one or more products of antibody catabolism. Transchelation of 111In to circulating transferrin was observed but at modest levels. Quantitation of organ radioactivity showed that 18 +/- 4 (SD)% of the injected dose was in the liver at 1 day postadministration and 1.4 +/- 1.1 and 1.2 +/- 0.9% was in the spleen and in both kidneys, respectively, at this time. The mean half-life for clearance of total injected radioactivity was fitted to a single exponential and was found to be 34 h (SD, 14 h; N = 13) and that for antibody alone, assessed by size exclusion HPLC analysis of serum samples, was calculated to be 22 h (SD, 8 h; N = 10). Neither of these values nor organ radioactivity levels were affected by antibody-loading dose

Technology for Improving Street Dog Welfare and Capturing Data in Digital Format during Street Dog Sterilisation Programmes

Street dogs survive on food handouts provided by individuals, or the wider community yet typically receive limited to no veterinary care. They can also carry a variety of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, posing a significant risk to human and dog population health. Dog sterilization is one of the most humane and effective methods available to control street dog populations. Dog sterilization programs, particularly those operating at a large-scale, often face a variety of challenges including limited resources, staffing, and less-than-ideal facilities. Record keeping is often a challenge as well, which can complicate the return of a sterilized dog to their location of capture. Street dogs are territorial, and the return of a dog to an incorrect location is fraught with various welfare issues, as well as an increased risk of postoperative complications, including death. Humane Society International developed a mobile phone-based application called ‘HSIApps’ drawing on years of field experience and data collection in street dog location recording, as well as clinical and postoperative treatment. HSIApps facilitates the return of dogs back to their exact captured location, which ensures dog welfare, and generates reports of a variety of useful data variables to maximize the efficacy and reliability of sterilization programs

Neutrino oscillations in curved spacetime: an heuristic treatment

We discuss neutrino oscillations in curved spacetime. Our heuristic approach can accomodate matter effects and gravitational contributions to neutrino spin precession in the presence of a magnetic field. By way of illustration, we perform explicit calculations in the Schwarzschild geometry. In this case, gravitational effects on neutrino oscillations are intimately related to the redshift. We discuss how spacetime curvature could affect the resonance position and adiabaticity of matter-enhanced neutrino flavor conversion.Comment: 7 pages, REVTeX and 1 included style file. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Cross-sectional study evaluating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on Long COVID outcomes in UK hospital survivors

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 studies report on hospital admission outcomes across SARS-CoV-2 waves of infection but knowledge of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the development of Long COVID in hospital survivors is limited. We sought to investigate Long COVID outcomes, aiming to compare outcomes in adult hospitalised survivors with known variants of concern during our first and second UK COVID-19 waves, prior to widespread vaccination. DESIGN: Prospective observational cross-sectional study. SETTING: Secondary care tertiary hospital in the UK. PARTICIPANTS: This study investigated Long COVID in 673 adults with laboratory-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection or clinically suspected COVID-19, 6 weeks after hospital discharge. We compared adults with wave 1 (wildtype variant, admitted from February to April 2020) and wave 2 patients (confirmed Alpha variant on viral sequencing (B.1.1.7), admitted from December 2020 to February 2021). OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations of Long COVID presence (one or more of 14 symptoms) and total number of Long COVID symptoms with SARS-CoV-2 variant were analysed using multiple logistic and Poisson regression, respectively. RESULTS: 322/400 (wave 1) and 248/273 (wave 2) patients completed follow-up. Predictors of increased total number of Long COVID symptoms included: pre-existing lung disease (adjusted count ratio (aCR)=1.26, 95% CI 1.07, 1.48) and more COVID-19 admission symptoms (aCR=1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.12). Weaker associations included increased length of inpatient stay (aCR=1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.03) and later review after discharge (aCR=1.00, 95% CI 1.00, 1.01). SARS-CoV-2 variant was not associated with Long COVID presence (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.24, 4.20) or total number of symptoms (aCR=1.09, 95% CI 0.82, 1.44). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic lung disease or greater COVID-19 admission symptoms have higher Long COVID risk. SARS-CoV-2 variant was not predictive of Long COVID though in wave 2 we identified fewer admission symptoms, improved clinical trajectory and outcomes. Addressing modifiable factors such as length of stay and timepoint of clinical review following discharge may enable clinicians to move from Long COVID risk stratification towards improving its outcome