The Effect of Repeated Low Temperature on Eggs of the Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Three ages of alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) eggs were exposed to repeated exposures of -15 and -20°C. Fresh-laid eggs were quite susceptible and 3- and 5day old eggs were relatively resistant to -15\u27C, but all ages of eggs showed considerable susceptibility to -20°C, with an average LT50 of 2.2 days. Comparison of this data with similar studies utilizing constant low temperature exposures showed the effect to be independent of temporal interruptions

NASTRAN as a resource in code development

A case history is presented in which the NASTRAN system provided both guidelines and working software for use in the development of a discrete element program, PATCHES-111. To avoid duplication and to take advantage of the wide spread user familiarity with NASTRAN, the PATCHES-111 system uses NASTRAN bulk data syntax, NASTRAN matrix utilities, and the NASTRAN linkage editor. Problems in developing the program are discussed along with details on the architecture of the PATCHES-111 parametric cubic modeling system. The system includes model construction procedures, checkpoint/restart strategies, and other features

An Alternative to Using Fresh Alfalfa for Culturing \u3ci\u3eColias Philodice Eurytheme\u3c/i\u3e Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Various artificial materials were implemented at each life stage of the alfalfa caterpillar, Colias philodice eurytheme Boisduval, to provide effective and economical replacements for alfalfa. Alfalfa substitutes were used for oviposition and feeding. We also developed a favorable laboratory mating environment. Also, the development of a method for removing disease organisms from eggs without increasing egg mortality was an essential facet of this work. The performance of individuals on artificial surfaces was compared with similar individuals reared on greenhouse alfalfa. Green tape oriented at the top of oviposition cages or near some object which could be held on to while ovipositing was the most successful surface. Egg yields on green tape were comparable to those on alfalfa. A dilute bleach wash followed by two water washes required little time, yet provided adequate disease control, and all larval instars thrived on artificial diet. Methods for handling pupae and new adults and the favorable mating environment reduced colony maintenance time yet sumival rates insured propagation of the colony

Desegregation and Black Achievement: A Review of the Research

Holmen Paper is one of Sweden’s leading manufacturer of paper, with two Swedish production facilities located in Norrköping and Hallstavik. The European continent constitutes the company’s largest customer base which makes the company’s distribution system an integral part of the business. Historically, much of the produced paper has been transported by vessels, as vessels allow large volumes of goods and deliveries to markets which are difficult to reach with other modes of transportation. On the first of January 2015, a new EU directive enters into force which regulates the allowed fuels for vessel transports. This directive leads to an increase in cost for vessel transports due to more expensive fuels needing to be used to comply with the new rules. Therefore, Holmen Paper is interested in evaluating alternatives to the distribution system used today, focusing on the product flow between the Swedish production facilities. Thereof, the purpose of this study is to evaluate four predetermined scenarios regarding the distribution system from a capacity and cost perspective. The first scenario is based on the same distribution system Holmen Paper is using today, which does not include a product flow between the Swedish production facilities. The other three scenarios, in contrast to the first, do include a production flow between Hallstavik and Norrköping. For these scenarios a particular volume of the produced paper in Hallstavik will firstly be transported to Norrköping, then be placed in the warehouse of finished goods and lastly be loaded on new modes of transportation. For the second scenario, the production flow between Hallstavik and Norrköping is based on a combination between rail and road transports. The third scenario is based on only road transports and the last scenario is based on vessel transports between Hallstavik and Norrköping. To perform an evaluation of each scenario, the authors designed a study-specific course of action whose structure is based on four different steps. The first step was a mapping of the operations at the facilities’ warehouses for finished products. The second step was to use the mapping results to calculate the available capacity in the warehouses. The third step was an estimation of the capacity demand which would arise in each scenario, depending on the design of the product flow. The last step of the course of action is to calculate the cost for providing the necessary capacities which was calculated in the previous step. The costs were based on three theoretically chosen logistic costs, called warehousing cost, inventory cost and transportation cost. After a total of 16 days of time measuring at the production facilities, the authors were able to combine the measurement results with the 2015 projected production volumes and for each scenario calculate a capacity need along with the associated costs. The first scenario meant a capacity need below the available capacity and the lowest yearly cost in a comparison with the other scenarios. The calculations for the second scenario also resulted in a capacity need below the available capacity along with the highest yearly cost. The third scenario’s capacity need exceeded the available capacity. This was regarding loading docks and forklift trucks for lorry loading in Hallstavik, as well as personnel in Norrköping. The costs needed to manage this scenario, which meant an increase in personnel in Norrköping, reached the second highest yearly cost. The calculated capacity need for the fourth scenario was below the current available capacity. The cost for this scenario was calculated as the second lowest. To validate the result, the authors performed sensitivity analyzes where the effects of some of the assumptions and simplifications which has been made to produce the result were tested. The sensitivity analyzes showed that some of the assumptions affected the end result but the authors still deem that the relationship regarding capacity need between the scenarios show a representative image of reality

Effect of Cluster Formation on Isospin Asymmetry in the Liquid-Gas Phase Transition Region

Nuclear matter within the liquid-gas phase transition region is investigated in a mean-field two-component Fermi-gas model. Following largely analytic considerations, it is shown that: (1) Due to density dependence of asymmetry energy, some of the neutron excess from the high-density phase could be expelled into the low-density region. (2) Formation of clusters in the gas phase tends to counteract this trend, making the gas phase more liquid-like and reducing the asymmetry in the gas phase. Flow of asymmetry between the spectator and midrapidity region in reactions is discussed and a possible inversion of the flow direction is indicated.Comment: 9 pages,3 figures, RevTe

Assessing Organizational Readiness for Depression Care Quality Improvement: Relative Commitment and Implementation Capability

Background: Depression is a major cause of morbidity and cost in primary care patient populations. Successful depression improvement models, however, are complex. Based on organizational readiness theory, a practice’s commitment to change and its capability to carry out the change are both important predictors of initiating improvement. We empirically explored the links between relative commitment (i.e., the intention to move forward within the following year) and implementation capability. Methods: The DIAMOND initiative administered organizational surveys to medical and quality improvement leaders from each of 83 primary care practices in Minnesota. Surveys preceded initiation of activities directed at implementation of a collaborative care model for improving depression care. To assess implementation capability, we developed composites of survey items for five types of organizational factors postulated to be collaborative care barriers and facilitators. To assess relative commitment for each practice, we averaged leader ratings on an identical survey question assessing practice priorities. We used multivariable regression analyses to assess the extent to which implementation capability predicted relative commitment. We explored whether relative commitment or implementation capability measures were associated with earlier initiation of DIAMOND improvements. Results: All five implementation capability measures independently predicted practice leaders’ relative commitment to improving depression care in the following year. These included the following: quality improvement culture and attitudes (p = 0.003), depression culture and attitudes (p \u3c0.001), prior depression quality improvement activities (p \u3c0.001), advanced access and tracking capabilities (p = 0.03), and depression collaborative care features in place (p = 0.03). Higher relative commitment (p = 0.002) and prior depression quality improvement activities appeared to be associated with earlier participation in the DIAMOND initiative. Conclusions: The study supports the concept of organizational readiness to improve quality of care and the use of practice leader surveys to assess it. Practice leaders’ relative commitment to depression care improvement may be a useful measure of the likelihood that a practice is ready to initiate evidence-based depression care changes. A comprehensive organizational assessment of implementation capability for depression care improvement may identify specific barriers or facilitators to readiness that require targeted attention from implementers

The Effects of Patient-Centered Depression Care on Patient Satisfaction and Depression Remission

Background: While health systems are striving for patient-centered care, they have little evidence to guide them on how to engage patients in their care, or how this may affect patient experiences and outcomes. Objective: To explore which specific patient-centered aspects of care were best associated with depression improvement and care satisfaction. Methods: Design - observational. Setting - 83 primary care clinics across Minnesota. Subjects - Primary care patients with new prescriptions for antidepressants for depression were recruited from 2007 to 2009. Outcome measures - Patients completed phone surveys regarding demographics and self-rated health status and depression severity at baseline and 6 months. Patient centeredness was assessed via a modified version of the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care. Differences in rates of remission and satisfaction between positive and negative responses for each care process were evaluated using chi-square tests. Results: At 6 months, 37% of 792 patients ages 18–88 achieved depression remission, and 79% rated their care as good-to-excellent. Soliciting patient preferences for care and questions or concerns, providing treatment plans, utilizing depression scales and asking about suicide risk were patient centered measures that were positively associated with depression remission in the unadjusted model; these associations were mildly weakened after adjustment for depression severity and health status. Nearly all measures of patient centeredness were positively associated with care ratings. Conclusion: The patient centeredness of care influences how patients experience and rate their care. This study identified specific actions providers can take to improve patient satisfaction and depression outcomes