Religious and Ceremonial Microartifacts from the Winterville Archaeological Site (22WS500)

The Winterville Archaeological Site (22WS500), located near Greenville, Mississippi, served as a ceremonial center during the Mississippian Period (approximately 1000-1500 AD). Originally consisting of twenty-three or more mounds, Winterville was a significant social and religious gathering place and was home to the elite classes of the society. This study analyses microartifacts from two locations on the site, leading to comparisons and conclusions of the types of religious activities occurring at each. Mound C was home to an elite group while Mound B likely served as a temple or religiously significant mound. The findings indicate that elites and elite mounds played a special religious role in Winterville society and were more accessible to the masses than Mound B may have been. The study explores the role that elites may have taken in Mississippian religious practices by drawing comparisons with ethnographic research from other Native American groups

Releasing Authority Chairs: A Comparative Snapshot Across Three Decades

This report provides a comparative analysis of releasing authority chairs' views of the issues and challenges confronting them at two points in time: 1988 and 2015. Drawing from two surveys, one conducted during the tenure of an ACA Parole Task Force that functioned from 1986-1988, and the other a survey published in 2016 by the Robina Institute called The Continuing Leverage of Releasing Authorities: Findings from a National Survey, this new publication highlights both change and constancy relative to a wide range of comparative markers including, but not limited to, structured decision tools, prison crowding and risk aversion, and the myriad factors considered in granting or denying parole

Effect of Ultrasound Frequency and Treatment Duration on Antibiotic Elution from Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement

Introduction. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect ofultrasound frequency and treatment duration on antibiotic-impregnatedpolymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) antibiotic elution rates andmechanical strength.Methods.xTwo batches of PMMA were prepared: one with five gramsof vancomycin powder and one without. Each batch was dividedinto two frequency groups: kHz and MHz. Each frequency groupwas divided into two duration groups: two minutes and ten minutes.Elution samples were measured daily using flow injection analysis.After one week of elution, ultrasound treatments were done daily untileach group’s average concentration fell below those of non-ultrasoundcontrol groups. After elution testing, compression testing determinedmechanical properties. Paired t-tests were used to compare dailyelution amounts to baseline values. Univariate ANOVAs were used totest for effects of both frequency and treatment duration on antibioticelution amounts and on mechanical properties.Results. All ultrasound treatments resulted in significant increasesin antibiotic elution. Frequency and duration had significant effects ofincreasing antibiotic elution (p < 0.001). The kHz group produced significantlygreater antibiotic elution than the MHz group (p < 0.001).The 10-minute duration produced significantly greater antibioticelution than the two-minute duration (both p < 0.001). Frequencyand duration did not have significant effects on yield stress (p = 0.841and p = 0.179, respectively). Frequency had a significant effect (p =0.024) on modulus, but duration did not (p = 0.136).Conclusions. Ultrasound frequency and treatment duration significantlyaffect antibiotic elution from PMMA which may be helpful fortreatment of periprosthetic joint infections during revision arthroplasty.Kans J Med 2019;12(2):45-49

The Reproductive Biology of Two Common Surfzone Associated Sciaenids, Yellowfin Croaker (Umbrina roncador) and Spotfin Croaker (Roncador stearnsii), from Southern California

Yellowfin croaker (Umbrina roncador) and spotfin croaker (Roncador stearnsii) were collected from San Clemente, California from May through September 2006. Both species were analyzed to determine batch fecundity. Yellowfin croaker ovaries were also histologically examined to describe their summer spawning activity. Batch fecundity in spotfin croaker (n 5 13) females ranged from 35,169 to 640,703 described by the equations BF 5 1.59E-07SL5.01 for length and BF 5 13.51W1.60 for total body weight. Yellowfin croaker (n 5 16) females batch fecundity ranged from 99,259 to 405,967 and was described by the equations BF 5 2.4E- 04SL2.02 for length or BF 5 0.33W0.68 for total body weight. Yellowfin croaker spawning was determined to begin by June and end by September

Antibiotic Elution and Mechanical Strength of PMMA Bone Cement Loaded With Borate Bioactive Glass

A grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Introduction: Local delivery of antibiotics using bone cement as the delivery vehicle is an established method of managing implant-associated orthopedic infections. Various fillers have been added to cement to increase antibiotic elution, but they often do so at the expense of strength. This study evaluated the effect of adding a borate bioactive glass, previously shown to promote bone formation, on vancomycin elution from PMMA bone cement. Methods: Five cement composites were made: three loaded with borate bioactive glass along with 0, 1, and 5 grams of vancomycin and two without any glass but with 1 and 5 grams vancomycin to serve as controls. The specimens were soaked in PBS. Eluate of vancomycin was collected every 24 hours and analyzed by HPLC. Orthopedic-relevant mechanical properties of each composite were tested over time. Results: The addition of borate bioactive glass provided an increase in vancomycin release at Day 1 and an increase in sustained vancomycin release throughout the treatment period. An 87.6% and 21.1% increase in cumulative vancomycin release was seen for both 1g and 5g loading groups, respectively. Compressive strength of all composites remained above the weight-bearing threshold of 70 MPa throughout the duration of the study with the glass-containing composites showing comparable strength to their respective controls. Conclusion: The incorporation of borate bioactive glass into commercial PMMA bone cement can significantly increase the elution of vancomycin. The mechanical strength of the cement-glass composites remained above 70 MPa even after soaking for 8 weeks, suggesting their suitability for orthopedic weight-bearing applications.Marc A. and Elinor J. Asher Orthopedic Research Endowmen

Advanced power sources for space missions

Approaches to satisfying the power requirements of space-based Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) missions are studied. The power requirements for non-SDI military space missions and for civil space missions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are also considered. The more demanding SDI power requirements appear to encompass many, if not all, of the power requirements for those missions. Study results indicate that practical fulfillment of SDI requirements will necessitate substantial advances in the state of the art of power technology. SDI goals include the capability to operate space-based beam weapons, sometimes referred to as directed-energy weapons. Such weapons pose unprecedented power requirements, both during preparation for battle and during battle conditions. The power regimes for these two sets of applications are referred to as alert mode and burst mode, respectively. Alert-mode power requirements are presently stated to range from about 100 kW to a few megawatts for cumulative durations of about a year or more. Burst-mode power requirements are roughly estimated to range from tens to hundreds of megawatts for durations of a few hundred to a few thousand seconds. There are two likely energy sources, chemical and nuclear, for powering SDI directed-energy weapons during the alert and burst modes. The choice between chemical and nuclear space power systems depends in large part on the total duration during which power must be provided. Complete study findings, conclusions, and eight recommendations are reported

Thermophysical Properties of U-10MO Alloy

This report provides an overview of thermophysical properties of unirradiated uranium alloyed with ten weight percent molybdenum (U 10Mo), with particular focus on those material properties needed for modeling of new fuels for HPRRs (High Performance Research Reactors). The report contains both historical data available in the literature on U-10Mo, as well as more recent results conducted by the Global Threat Reduction Initiative fuel development program. The main use of the report is intended as a standard U-10Mo alloy properties reference for reactor models and simulations

Characterization and Testing of Monolithic RERTR Fuel Plates

Monolithic fuel plates are being developed for application in research reactors throughout the world. These fuel plates are comprised of a U-Mo alloy foil encased in aluminum alloy cladding. Three different fabrication techniques have been looked at for producing monolithic fuel plates: hot isostatic pressing (HIP), transient liquid phase bonding (TLPB), and friction stir welding (FSW). Of these three techniques, HIP and FSW are currently being emphasized. As part of the development of these fabrication techniques, fuel plates are characterized and tested to determine properties like hardness and the bond strength at the interface between the fuel and cladding. Testing of HIPed samples indicates that the foil/cladding interaction behavior depends on the Mo content in the U-Mo foil, the measured hardness values are quite different for the fuel, cladding, and interaction zone phase and Ti, Zr and Nb are the most effective diffusion barriers. For FSW samples, there is a dependence of the bond strength at the foil/cladding interface on the type of tool that is employed for performing the actual FSW process

Thermophysical Properties of U-10MO Alloy

This report provides an overview of thermophysical properties of unirradiated uranium alloyed with ten weight percent molybdenum (U 10Mo), with particular focus on those material properties needed for modeling of new fuels for HPRRs (High Performance Research Reactors). The report contains both historical data available in the literature on U-10Mo, as well as more recent results conducted by the Global Threat Reduction Initiative fuel development program. The main use of the report is intended as a standard U-10Mo alloy properties reference for reactor models and simulations

An Overview of Current and Past W-UO[2] CERMET Fuel Fabrication Technology

Studies dating back to the late 1940s performed by a number of different organizations and laboratories have established the major advantages of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) systems, particularly for manned missions. A number of NTP projects have been initiated since this time; none have had any sustained fuel development work that appreciably contributed to fuel fabrication or performance data from this era. As interest in these missions returns and previous space nuclear power researchers begin to retire, fuel fabrication technologies must be revisited, so that established technologies can be transferred to young researchers seamlessly and updated, more advanced processes can be employed to develop successful NTP fuels. CERMET fuels, specifically W-UO2, are of particular interest to the next generation NTP plans since these fuels have shown significant advantages over other fuel types, such as relatively high burnup, no significant failures under severe transient conditions, capability of accommodating a large fission product inventory during irradiation and compatibility with flowing hot hydrogen. Examples of previous fabrication routes involved with CERMET fuels include hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) and press and sinter, whereas newer technologies, such as spark plasma sintering, combustion synthesis and microsphere fabrication might be well suited to produce high quality, effective fuel elements. These advanced technologies may address common issues with CERMET fuels, such as grain growth, ductile to brittle transition temperature and UO2 stoichiometry, more effectively than the commonly accepted ‘traditional’ fabrication routes. Bonding of fuel elements, especially if the fabrication process demands production of smaller element segments, must be investigated. Advanced brazing techniques and compounds are now available that could produce a higher quality bond segment with increased ease in joining. This paper will briefly address the history of CERMET fuel fabrication technology as related to the GE 710 and ANL Nuclear Rocket Programs, in addition to discussing future plans, viable alternatives and preliminary investigations for W-UO2 CERMET fuel fabrication. The intention of the talk is to provide the brief history and tie in an overview of current programs and investigations as related to NTP based W-UO2 CERMET fuel fabrication, and hopefully peak interest in advanced fuel fabrication technologies