Novel matrix resins for composites for aircraft primary structures, phase 1

The objective of the contract is the development of matrix resins with improved processability and properties for composites for primarily aircraft structures. To this end, several resins/systems were identified for subsonic and supersonic applications. For subsonic aircraft, a series of epoxy resins suitable for RTM and powder prepreg was shown to give composites with about 40 ksi compressive strength after impact (CAI) and 200 F/wet mechanical performance. For supersonic applications, a thermoplastic toughened cyanate prepreg system has demonstrated excellent resistance to heat aging at 360 F for 4000 hours, 40 ksi CAI and useful mechanical properties at greater than or equal to 310 F. An AB-BCB-maleimide resin was identified as a leading candidate for the HSCT. Composite panels fabricated by RTM show CAI of approximately 50 ksi, 350 F/wet performance and excellent retention of mechanical properties after aging at 400 F for 4000 hours

Dismissed Psychiatry Residents Who Appeal: Exploring Unprofessional Behavior

Objective Dutch psychiatry residents who are dismissed from their training program have the opportunity to appeal the decision. Those appeals are publicly available. This report explores the appeals of residents dismissed for unprofessional behavior.Methods The authors analyzed caselaw of dismissed psychiatry residents brought before the conciliation board of The Royal Dutch Medical Association and compared them to a control group of caselaw of dismissed family medicine residents.Results From 2011 to 2020, 19 psychiatry residents were dismissed for failing to meet the competencies of the CanMEDS professional domain and matched with 19 family medicine residents. Most psychiatry residents deficient in professionalism were considered deficient in their attitude, in reliability of keeping agreements, or in their ability to profit from supervisors' feedback. Insufficient professional behavior overlapped with insufficient communication, collaboration, and management. Half of the psychiatry residents with deficits in professionalism went on sick leave at some time. Between residents in psychiatry and family medicine, or between psychiatry residents with and without a favorable conciliation board decision, no statistical differences were found regarding gender, year of residency, and number of insufficient competencies.Conclusions The deficiencies in the professionalism of residents who challenged their program director's decision to be dismissed mostly consisted of inadequate attitude or the inability to profit from feedback, suggesting that these residents lack empathy, introspection, or both

Is Protection Against Florivory Consistent with the Optimal Defense Hypothesis?

Background: Plant defense traits require resources and energy that plants may otherwise use for growth and reproduction. In order to most efficiently protect plant tissues from herbivory, one widely accepted assumption of the optimal defense hypothesis states that plants protect tissues most relevant to fitness. Reproductive organs directly determining plant fitness, including flowers and immature fruit, as well as young, productive leaf tissue thus should be particularly well-defended. To test this hypothesis, we quantified the cyanogenic potential (HCNp)—a direct, chemical defense—systemically expressed in vegetative and reproductive organs in lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), and we tested susceptibility of these organs in bioassays with a generalist insect herbivore, the Large Yellow Underwing (Noctuidae: Noctua pronuba). To determine the actual impact of either florivory (herbivory on flowers) or folivory on seed production as a measure of maternal fitness, we removed varying percentages of total flowers or young leaf tissue and quantified developing fruit, seeds, and seed viability. Results: We found extremely low HCNp in flowers (8.66 ± 2.19 μmol CN− g−1 FW in young, white flowers, 6.23 ± 1.25 μmol CN− g−1 FW in mature, yellow flowers) and in pods (ranging from 32.05 ± 7.08 to 0.09 ± 0.08 μmol CN− g−1 FW in young to mature pods, respectively) whereas young leaves showed high levels of defense (67.35 ± 3.15 μmol CN− g−1 FW). Correspondingly, herbivores consumed more flowers than any other tissue, which, when taken alone, appears to contradict the optimal defense hypothesis. However, experimentally removing flowers did not significantly impact fitness, while leaf tissue removal significantly reduced production of viable seeds. Conclusions: Even though flowers were the least defended and most consumed, our results support the optimal defense hypothesis due to i) the lack of flower removal effects on fitness and ii) the high defense investment in young leaves, which have high consequences for fitness. These data highlight the importance of considering plant defense interactions from multiple angles; interpreting where empirical data fit within any plant defense hypothesis requires understanding the fitness consequences associated with the observed defense pattern

Nitrogen-Fixing Rhizobia Affect Multitrophic Interactions in the Field

Virtually all plants employ direct and indirect defenses against herbivores. While it is known that plant defenses can be affected by belowground symbiotic microbes under controlled conditions, studies showing these multitrophic interactions in nature are surprisingly scarce. Here we tested for effects of rhizobia on insect attraction and direct defense (cyanogenesis) in wild lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) plants in Costa Rica. We performed bioassays with rhizobia-inoculated (R+) and rhizobia-free (R-) potted plants distributed among native lima bean communities at two spatially separated field sites (450 km apart) and in two field seasons. Without affecting overall plant size, rhizobia altered leaf chemistry (cyanogenesis and soluble leaf nitrogen) and ultimately insect communities visiting the plants. Natural herbivorous chrysomelid beetles were strongly attracted to R + plants, while natural enemies, ants and parasitoid wasps, preferred R- plants resulting in a particularly high herbivore:carnivore ratio on R + plants. This suggests that symbiotic microbes mediate trophic interactions by influencing both direct and indirect plant defenses against herbivores. Our results show that rhizobia affect the plant defensive phenotype and have cascading effects on plant-insect interactions in nature

Appendix D. Bivariate correlations between response variables in the structural equation model.

Bivariate correlations between response variables in the structural equation model

Do deficiencies in CanMEDS competencies of dismissed residents differ according to specialty?

Program directors dismiss a small percentage of residents from residency training programs, presumably due to underperformance or lack of progress. Whether underperformance in competency domains differs by residents’ specialty is unknown. In 2021, we analysed the case law of Dutch residents who were dismissed from training by the program director, and who challenged this dismissal before the national conciliation board between 2011 and 2020. Across medical specialties we compared which of the CanMEDS competency domains these residents failed to meet. We found 116 cases of residents dismissed from their training programmes who challenged the decision of the program director before the board. In general, most residents were unable to meet the requirements of several CanMEDS competency domains (usually: medical expert, communicator, and professional). In surgery, all dismissed residents failed to meet the competency domain of the medical expert, while most of the dismissed psychiatry residents met this domain. In specialties with a primarily diagnostic task, more dismissed residents failed to meet the competency domain of the scholar, while dismissed general medicine residents (for example family medicine and nursing homecare) were less likely to do so. Residents in general medicine, more often than other specialties, however, failed to meet the competency domain of the professional. Residents dismissed from training who challenged their dismissal to fail to meet the requirements of multiple CanMEDS competency domains. Competency domain failures differ by speciality.</p

Appendix C. Results of structural equation models.

Results of structural equation models

Appendix B. Initial conceptual “saturated” model of the relationship between rhizobia, aboveground plant traits, number of ants attracted and the model selection procedure.

Initial conceptual “saturated” model of the relationship between rhizobia, aboveground plant traits, number of ants attracted and the model selection procedure