A Structural Study by Transmission Electron Microscopy of the Reactions of Some Graphite Intercalation Compounds

The intercalation compounds potassium graphite, graphite ferric chloride, graphite copper sulphide and graphite iron have been prepared. The structures of these compounds, examined by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction exhibit similar features, the most common being dark areas with bright discs and ring moire patterns. Electron diffraction patterns from areas of ring moire patterns are distorted indicating uneven intercalation. Potassium graphite, prepared and examined in situ at 573K, appears to contain a mixture of Stage I and higher compounds. Graphite ferric chloride is evenly intercalated and is a stage I compound while graphite copper sulphide appears to be a stage II or higher compound. Graphite iron contains iron in three forms, namely, a graphite iron intercalation complex, iron crystallites and some finely dispersed iron. The areas of iron crystallites also contain THF which causes exfoliation of the graphite as a result of the heating effect of the electron beam. Graphite ferrous chloride formed by reduction of graphite ferric chloride exhibits aggregations of FeCl2 within the graphite layers. Some expulsion of FeCl3 also occurs on heating graphite ferric chloride. The catalytic activity of potassium graphite, graphite ferric chloride, graphite copper sulphide and graphite ferrous chloride for ammonia synthesis from N2/H2 was studied in the range 483-723K and the structures of the intercalation compounds examined after reaction by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. Gaseous products were analysed by mass spectrometry, infra-red analysis, and wet chemical methods and in no case was free ammonia observed. Reaction was observed above 483K after 1 hour in a flow system over potassium graphite. Reaction occurs within the graphite layers and decomposition of the potassium graphite to KNH2 at 573K was observed possibly via a ternary intermediate. Reduction of graphite ferric chloride and graphite copper sulphide takes place on reaction with nitrogen and hydrogen in the range 523-723K. The graphite ferrous chloride formed, exhibited some activity for ammonia synthesis with formation of aggregates within the layers which were provisionally identified as NH4Cl. The catalytic activity of graphite ferrous chloride and graphite iron for the hydrogenation of butadiene was also studied. At 573K graphite ferrous chloride catalysed the polymerisation of butadiene in a similar manner to free ferrous chloride. Electron diffraction indicated that a small amount of iron was formed which could be responsible for the minor hydrogenation reaction observed. Graphite iron exhibited low catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of butadiene compared to iron. Heating graphite iron causes the decomposition of the compound with agglomeration and expulsion of iron particles from the lattice. These iron particles exhibited high catalytic activity for carbon deposition in the butadiene, hydrogen system

Cal Poly Dairy Bull Calves Website

Finding California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) livestock available for purchase is difficult. While many people within the livestock industry recognize Cal Poly has animals available, dealing with Craigslist advertising, newspaper clips and advertisements in magazines can be cumbersome for the searcher and costly for the university. Furthermore, online resources can leave out detailed information about the livestock for sale. In the past, Cal Poly Dairy has had difficulty selling some of the new born bull calves from the herd. Presently, Cal Poly does not have a standard way for the public to view and purchase the bull calves from the dairy herd. A solution for selling livestock is planning and completing a senior project to gather information, resources and create a well-informed website to market the dairy bull calves at Cal Poly. This project will create a website located within the current Cal Poly Department of Animal Science webpage. The website will have menu tabs to gather livestock information and be updated frequently during the course of the year. The site will advertise and give information out to the public. The additional webpage will also serve as an opportunity to the public to see what kind of herds are bred at Cal Poly. The website will have specific background information of the bulls’ genetics the students and faculty raise at Cal Poly. This will help the dairy expand and make tangible changes to marketing of the dairy bull calves at Cal Poly

Infant feeding practices of emirati women in the rapidly developing city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Rapid economic and cultural transition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been accompanied by new challenges to public health; most notably a rapid rise in chronic disease. Breastfeeding is known to improve health outcomes in adulthood, is associated with reduced risk of developing chronic disease, and is therefore an important public health issue for this rapidly increasing population. Factors associated with infant feeding practices were examined in a cohort of 125 Emirati women and their infants, with data collected at birth and 3, 6 and 15 months postpartum by questionnaires and interviews. Participants were recruited in the Corniche Hospital, the main maternity hospital in the city of Abu Dhabi. Factors affecting the duration of breastfeeding and the introduction of complementary foods were investigated using univariate and multivariate statistics. Recommended infant feeding practices, such as exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and timely introduction of appropriate complementary foods, were poorly adhered to. Factors implicated in early cessation of breastfeeding included: time to first breastfeed, mother’s education level, employment status and early introduction of complementary foods

Postpartum Maternal Health at a Time of Rapid Societal Change in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Background. Abu Dhabi has undergone a rapid transition from a subsistence economy to a wealthy modern state over the last 50 years. This paper presents an insight into the health status of Emirati mothers during this transition through a prospective longitudinal study of mothers who gave birth in a government maternity hospital in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.Methods. 125 women were interviewed within the first week after birth, as part of a larger study encompassing a wide range of cultural, social, and behavioural aspects of health. They were then re-interviewed at three, six and 15 months postpartum. A food frequency questionnaire was also administered to the mothers at birth. Data were analysed using univariate statistics.Results. Over 70% of the mothers had BMI in the overweight and obese categories, and approximately half of the women were dissatisfied with their weight. Contributing factors were likely to be diets high in fats and sugar, low levels of exercise and women’s limited involvement in household food purchasing and preparation. Iron deficiency anaemia, diabetes, asthma and fertility problems were found to be the most common concerns amongst the participants prior to conception. Anaemia rates were high during pregnancy, with 35% having haemoglobin < 11 g/dL, and were positively associated with parity. Belief in traditional and herbal medicines was strong, with 43% of women using a variety of remedies during pregnancy.Conclusions. Policies and support mechanisms to encourage women to make better dietary choices and to provide more opportunities for exercising are required to improve the health of mothers in the UAE. The development of good quality health care has resulted in the better maternal health outcomes, although traditional practices in relation to herbal medicines are still common.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: The Great Imitator

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with an estimated incidence of less than one per million. Unlike other hematopoietic malignancies, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly are uncommon, and patients typically present with nonspecific symptoms. IVLBCL presents a diagnostic challenge and patients are usually diagnosed late in the disease course, if at all, and the prognosis is poor. The differential diagnosis is broad, and physicians often pursue multiple diagnostic possibilities during patient workup. We present a case of IVLBCL discovered at autopsy in an 80-year-old male who presented with history and symptoms pointing to the tick-borne illness ehrlichiosis

Population Trends and a Revised Management Plan for Quail in California

California supports a diversity of habitats suitable for mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus), California quail (Callipepla californica), and Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii). These three species require different habitats for foraging, nesting and brood-rearing, and overwinter survival, yet most published information focuses on California quail. Currently the state-wide surveys for quail are limited to the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. We used BBS data (1970–2013) to create abundance maps for quail throughout California. We developed 5-year averages to account for boom-and-bust cycles, and then established 100 random points for mountain and California quail, and 60 random points for Gambel’s quail. Mountain quail populations have declined from high counts in the late 1970s. California quail populations peaked in the early 1990s, declined in the early 2000s, rebounded and are currently declining again. Gambel’s quail populations peaked in the mid-1990s and in 2004, but have been declining since. Currently we are comparing quail population trends to road density, human population, and land use on a broad-scale. Improving our understanding of California’s quail species requires research and monitoring across multiple spatial scales at which their population dynamics are influenced. At the large-scale (statewide), we are developing fall quail surveys to monitor population trends. Additionally, we are continuing fine-scale (local) counts at water sources and other locations. There is a poor understanding of western quail biology relative to northern bobwhite, therefore our new management plan will focus on prioritized research needs, including the relationship of quail to habitat, home range estimation, methods for population estimation that include detection probabilities, and genetic diversity and population structure

High-grade B-Cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL6 rearrangements associated with Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Richter transformation (RT), or Richter syndrome, is defined as the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to an aggressive B-cell lymphoma. The vast majority, up to 99%, transform into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with a small subset (<1%) becoming classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Approximately half of RT cases progress through a pathway involving dysregulation of C-MYC. High-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) is a recent diagnostic category of aggressive B-cell lymphomas set forth in the updated 2017 WHO Classification of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. HGBL with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, formerly “double-hit” and “triple-hit” lymphomas, comprise the majority of HGBL cases. Patients with HGBL have a worse prognosis than those with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We present a case of RT with rearrangements of MYC and BCL6. To our knowledge, there are no reported cases of RT with a “double-hit” lymphoma genotype

Effect of Variable Activities on the Engagement of Memory Care Patients

Background and Objectives: Studies demonstrate that social activities (e.g., church attendance, recreation, and group activities), productive activities (e.g., gardening, preparing meals, and shopping), and fitness activities (e.g., sports, walking, and exercise) are independently associated with survival of elderly persons even after functional disability. The Heritage Community of Kalamazoo focuses on activities such as bible study, music, pet therapy, and modified volleyball exercises to provide and maintain residents’ spiritual appreciation, cognitive abilities, and quality of life. The purpose of the project is to identify any strengths and weaknesses in activity programming for memory care residents at Heritage Community through observation and reflection of resident engagement. Furthermore, ongoing student interaction with the residents provides the organization with the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences on how to better communicate with geriatric and dementia populations. Methods: Five medical students investigated the engagement of Heritage Community memory care residents in various activities from July 2016 to December 2016. Students attended organized activities at Amber Place twice per month for two hours per session. Activities include devotions, dog visits, and modified volleyball games involving hitting a balloon. During each session, students observed residents as they participated in the day’s activities and recorded their observations. Student reflections were compiled to identify common themes between activities and attitudes. Results: Analysis of reflection notes demonstrate that most activities were effective in engaging residents with varying success. Activity effectiveness tended to vary by activity and day. It was not uncommon for residents to join and subsequently leave activities. Sometimes residents were not eager to engage initially, but with some persuasion and discussion, sat quietly and eventually participated. Activities involving music, singing, and devotions evoked general engagement. Residents enjoyed repetitive activities, such as dog visits and balloon games. However, residents most commonly lost interest in the balloon games during the activity. Conclusions: Overall, Heritage Community utilizes effective activities to maintain a stimulating environment for memory care residents. Residents appreciated activity consistency and commonly recognized when activities would occur. Study limitations included the inability to measure activity effectiveness across differing days of the week, as well as limited sample size. There are numerous opportunities for further research into resident engagement and activity programming at Heritage Community. Activity impact on resident engagement and emotional health is a particularly important area to direct further research with quantitative measures

Cost-effectiveness of a patient-centred approach to managing multimorbidity in primary care:a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial

Objective Patients with multiple chronic health conditions are often managed in a disjointed fashion in primary care, with annual review clinic appointments offered separately for each condition. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of the 3D intervention, which was developed to improve the system of care. Design Economic evaluation conducted alongside a pragmatic cluster-randomised trial. Setting General practices in three centres in England and Scotland. Participants 797 adults with three or more chronic conditions were randomised to the 3D intervention, while 749 participants were randomised to receive usual care. Intervention The 3D approach: comprehensive 6-monthly general practitioner consultations, supported by medication reviews and nurse appointments. Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary economic evaluation assessed the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from the perspective of the National Health Service (NHS) and personal social services (PSS). Costs were related to changes in a range of secondary outcomes (QALYs accrued by both participants and carers, and deaths) in a cost-consequences analysis from the perspectives of the NHS/PSS, patients/carers and productivity losses. Results Very small increases were found in both QALYs (adjusted mean difference 0.007 (-0.009 to 0.023)) and costs (adjusted mean difference 126 pound (-739 pound to 991)) pound in the intervention arm compared with usual care after 15 months. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 18 pound 499, with a 50.8% chance of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 20 pound 000 per QALY (55.8% at 30 pound 000 per QALY). Conclusions The small differences in costs and outcomes were consistent with chance, and the uncertainty was substantial; therefore, the evidence for the cost-effectiveness of the 3D approach from the NHS/PSS perspective should be considered equivocal

Trends in digital newspaper discovery: a natural experiment

In this article, the discovery and use of digital newspaper collections are explored by capitalizing on a natural experiment that arose when five California State University libraries activated the Primo newspapers search interface, and five other libraries with similar enrollment numbers and comparable demographic profiles did not. By analyzing Primo Analytics data, COUNTER R4 data, and A–Z database list click-through data collected from the ten libraries over the course of academic years (AY) 2018–2019 (pre-deployment) and AY 2019–2020 (post-deployment), the effects on usage and legible user behavior of introducing a specialized Primo newspaper scope are calculated. Researchers explore how this research method can be a model for libraries to investigate trends within their own organizations