Special Issue Call for Papers: Mathematics and Motherhood

The Journal of Humanistic Mathematics is pleased to announce a call for papers for a special issue on Mathematics and Motherhood. Please send your abstract submissions via email to the guest editors by October 1, 2017. Initial submission of complete manuscripts is due January 1, 2018. The issue is currently scheduled to appear in July 2018

Exogenous Lactobacilli Mitigate Microbial Changes Associated with Grain Fermentation (Corn, Oats, and Wheat) by Equine Fecal Microflora \u3cem\u3eEx Vivo\u3c/em\u3e

Cereal grains are often included in equine diets. When starch intake exceeds foregut digestion starch will reach the hindgut, impacting microbial ecology. Probiotics (e.g., lactobacilli) are reported to mitigate GI dysbioses in other species. This study was conducted to determine the effect of exogenous lactobacilli on pH and the growth of amylolytic and lactate-utilizing bacteria. Feces were collected from 3 mature geldings fed grass hay with access to pasture. Fecal microbes were harvested by differential centrifugation, washed, and re-suspended in anaerobic media containing ground corn, wheat, or oats at 1.6% (w/v) starch and one of five treatments: Control (substrate only), L. acidophilus, L. buchneri, L. reuteri, or an equal mixture of all three (107 cells/mL, final concentration). After 24 h of incubation (37°C, 160 rpm), samples were collected for pH and enumerations of total amylolytics, Group D Gram-positive cocci (GPC; Enterococci, Streptococci), lactobacilli, and lactate-utilizing bacteria. Enumeration data were log transformed prior to ANOVA (SAS, v. 9.3). Lactobacilli inhibited pH decline in corn and wheat fermentations (P \u3c 0.0001). Specifically, addition of either L. reuteri or L. acidophilus was most effective at mitigating pH decline with both corn and wheat fermentation, in which the greatest acidification occurred (P \u3c 0.05). Exogenous lactobacilli decreased amylolytics, while increasing lactate-utilizers in corn and wheat fermentations (P \u3c 0.0001). In oat fermentations, L. acidophilus and L. reuteri inhibited pH decline and increased lactate-utilizers while decreasing amylolytics (P \u3c 0.0001). For all substrates, L. reuteri additions (regardless of viability) had the lowest number of GPC and the highest number of lactobacilli and lactate-utilizers (P \u3c 0.05). There were no additive effects when lactobacilli were mixed. Exogenous lactobacilli decreased the initial (first 8 h) rate of starch catalysis when wheat was the substrate, but did not decrease total (24 h) starch utilization in any case. These results indicate that exogenous lactobacilli can impact the microbial community and pH of cereal grain fermentations by equine fecal microflora ex vivo. Additionally, dead (autoclaved) exogenous lactobacilli had similar effects as live lactobacilli on fermentation. This latter result indicates that the mechanism by which lactobacilli impact other amylolytic bacteria is not simple resource competition

Visual inspection reliability for composite aircraft structures

This thesis presents a study of the effects of surface colour, surface finish and dent shape on the visual inspection reliability of 3D surface indentations common in shape to those produced by impact damage to carbon fibre reinforced epoxy laminates. Falling weight (2.5kg) apparatus was used to produce impact damage to non-painted, non-mesh Hexcel AS4/ 8552 carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates and painted AS4/ 8552 laminates containing bronze mesh and glass fabric lightning strike protection layers. Ø20 mm and Ø87 mm hemispherical tip impacts to painted 17ply and 33ply laminates at varying energy levels typically produced circular shaped, smoothly contoured, rounded sectional profiles with an absence of surface breaking cracks. Sectional profiles through coordinate measuring (CMM) data of the impact dents were described using a set of geometric variables. Identifying relationships between impact energy and the geometric variables allowed the typical sectional profile through impact damage dents from Ø20 mm and Ø87 mm hemispherical tips on 17ply and 33ply painted CFRP laminates to be calculated for energies between 5J to 80J. Calculated sectional profiles typical of impact damage dents to CFRP laminates were reconstructed as simple revolved shapes using 3D computer aided design (CAD) models. The 3D CAD models were computer numerical control (CNC) machined into 3mm Plexiglas panels to produce facsimiles of hemispherical impact damage dents on CFRP laminates. Facsimile specimen sets of sixteen 600 mm x 600 mm panels were produced in gloss and matt grey, white and blue finishes. Each set contained the same 32 different sized machined dents representing Ø20 mm and Ø87 mm hemispherical tip impact damage to 17ply & 33ply painted CFRP laminate. Each facsimile specimen set was combined with similarly finished unflawed (dent free) panels. 64 panels in each colour/ finish were presented for 5 seconds in a randomised order to a minimum of 15 novice participants in a visual inspection task lasting approximately 25 minutes. II A set of corresponding visual inspection experiments were performed in which physical specimens were replaced by digitally projected actual size photorealistic images of the machining CAD data. Comparisons between the results of the physical and virtual specimen trials revealed differences in detectability for similarly sized dents. The detection results obtained from visual inspection of physical specimens demonstrated that the detectability of dents similar to those caused by higher (>40J) energy impacts from a Ø87 mm hemispherical tip was less than that of the dents caused by lower energy (90% detection were observed on grey specimens and the highest number of dents returning 0% detection were observed on matt blue specimens. The difference in detection rates for similarly sized dents on a gloss and matt finish was least on grey coloured specimens and greatest on blue coloured specimens.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

A genetic association analysis of cognitive ability and cognitive ageing using 325 markers for 109 genes associated with oxidative stress or cognition

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Non-pathological cognitive ageing is a distressing condition affecting an increasing number of people in our 'ageing society'. Oxidative stress is hypothesised to have a major role in cellular ageing, including brain ageing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Associations between cognitive ageing and 325 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located in 109 genes implicated in oxidative stress and/or cognition, were examined in a unique cohort of relatively healthy older people, on whom we have cognitive ability scores at ages 11 and 79 years (LBC1921). SNPs showing a significant positive association were then genotyped in a second cohort for whom we have cognitive ability scores at the ages of 11 and 64 years (ABC1936). An intronic SNP in the <it>APP </it>gene (rs2830102) was significantly associated with cognitive ageing in both LBC1921 and a combined LBC1921/ABC1936 analysis (<it>p </it>< 0.01), but not in ABC1936 alone.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests a possible role for APP in normal cognitive ageing, in addition to its role in Alzheimer's disease.</p

A REDCap-based model for electronic consent (eConsent): Moving toward a more personalized consent

Introduction: The updated common rule, for human subjects research, requires that consents begin with a \u27concise and focused\u27 presentation of the key information that will most likely help someone make a decision about whether to participate in a study (Menikoff, Kaneshiro, Pritchard. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2017; 376(7): 613-615.). We utilized a community-engaged technology development approach to inform feature options within the REDCap software platform centered around collection and storage of electronic consent (eConsent) to address issues of transparency, clinical trial efficiency, and regulatory compliance for informed consent (Harris, et al. Journal of Biomedical Informatics 2009; 42(2): 377-381.). eConsent may also improve recruitment and retention in clinical research studies by addressing: (1) barriers for accessing rural populations by facilitating remote consent and (2) cultural and literacy barriers by including optional explanatory material (e.g., defining terms by hovering over them with the cursor) or the choice of displaying different videos/images based on participant\u27s race, ethnicity, or educational level (Phillippi, et al. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing. 2018; 47(4): 529-534.). Methods: We developed and pilot tested our eConsent framework to provide a personalized consent experience whereby users are guided through a consent document that utilizes avatars, contextual glossary information supplements, and videos, to facilitate communication of information. Results: The eConsent framework includes a portfolio of eight features, reviewed by community stakeholders, and tested at two academic medical centers. Conclusions: Early adoption and utilization of this eConsent framework have demonstrated acceptability. Next steps will emphasize testing efficacy of features to improve participant engagement with the consent process

Structure and magnetism of multiphase Sm0.080Co0.645Fe0.276 powders

A Sm-poor mixture of Fe-substituted Sm2Co17, having the nominal stoichiometry of Sm0.080Co0.645Fe0.276, was ball-milled to explore the possibility of enhancing its remanence through direct microstructural refinement. With milling, the Sm2(Co0.7Fe0.3)17 compound disassociates to a body-centered-cubic supersaturated SmCoFe solid solution and a residual SmCoFe amorphous phase. Correspondingly, the coercive field values first increase, peaking at 0.83 kOe after 180 min of milling, then decrease with continued milling t

Canonical Particle Acceleration in FRI Radio Galaxies

Matched resolution multi-frequency VLA observations of four radio galaxies are used to derive the asymptotic low energy slope of the relativistic electron distribution. Where available, low energy slopes are also determined for other sources in the literature. They provide information on the acceleration physics independent of radiative and other losses, which confuse measurements of the synchrotron spectra in most radio, optical and X-ray studies. We find a narrow range of inferred low energy electron energy slopes, n(E)=const*E^-2.1 for the currently small sample of lower luminosity sources classified as FRI (not classical doubles). This distribution is close to, but apparently inconsistent with, the test particle limit of n(E)=const*E^-2.0 expected from strong diffusive shock acceleration in the non-relativistic limit. Relativistic shocks or those modified by the back-pressure of efficiently accelerated cosmic rays are two alternatives to produce somewhat steeper spectra. We note for further study the possiblity of acceleration through shocks, turbulence or shear in the flaring/brightening regions in FRI jets as they move away from the nucleus. Jets on pc scales and the collimated jets and hot spots of FRII (classical double) sources would be governed by different acceleration sites and mechanisms; they appear to show a much wider range of spectra than for FRI sources.Comment: 16 figures, including 5 color. Accepted to Astrophysical Journa