Elkanah Billings: The Lawyer Who Revealed the Ancient Life of the Past

Elkanah Billings is an important, historical example of a 19th century Ontario lawyer who made a contribution to Canadian life by engaging in a pursuit outside the practice of law. An accomplished autodidact (i.e. a self-taught expert) and renowned as the father of Canadian paleontology, Billings has the distinction of being claimed by the global paleontological and geological professional communities, and by the Ontario legal profession. Although some researchers have alleged that Billings had abused alcohol during his life, he nonetheless managed to establish a remarkable career as a paleontologist. He applied the researching, analytical, and argumentative skills that he had acquired during his years of training and practice as a lawyer to the science of paleontology enabling him to peel back the layers of time to reveal the ancient life of the past. In view of his strengths, weaknesses, and professional accomplishments, the example of Billings’ history potentially becomes increasingly relevant in the effort to reinforce the importance of ethics and professional responsibility among earth science and evolutionary biology professionals and to promote a shared sense of professional community and heritage. The example of Billings’ history also presents a golden opportunity for the synthesist to nurture a closer connection between the law and science in the form of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.RÉSUMÉElkanah Billings est un important exemple historique d’un avocat Ontarienne du XIXe siècle qui a apporté une contribution à la vie Canadienne en se livrant à une poursuite en dehors de la pratique du droit. Autodidacte accompli et reconnu comme le père de la paléontologie canadienne, Billings a la paricularité d’être  revendiqué par les communautés professionnelles paléontologiques et géologiques mondiales, et par la profession juridique de l’Ontario. Bien que certains chercheurs ont affirmé que Billings avait abusé de l’alcool au cours de sa vie, il a réussi néanmoins à établir une carrière remarquable en tant que paléontologue. Il a appliqué la recherche, d’analyse, et les compétences argumentatives qu’il avait acquises au cours de ses années de formation et de pratique comme avocat à la science de la paléontologie qui lui permet de décoller les couches de temps pour révéler l’ancienne vie du passé. Compte tenu de ses points forts, les faiblesses et les réalisations professionnelles, l’exemple de l’histoire Billings devient potentiellement plus pertinent dans les efforts visant à renforcer l’importance de l’éthique et de la responsabilité professionnelle des sciences de la terre et les professionnels de la biologie de l’évolution et de promouvoir un sens partagé de la communauté professionnelle et le patrimoine. L’exemple de l’histoire Billings présente également une occasion en or pour le synthésiste d’entretenir un lien plus étroit entre la loi et la science sous la forme de dialogue et de collaboration interdisciplinaire ou multidisciplinaire

Who Was the First Person Known to Have Discovered Fossils of the Precambrian (Ediacaran) Organism Aspidella terranovica?

This article briefly examines the possible confusion pertaining to the discoveries of Precambrian (Ediacaran) fossils made in the self-governing British colony of Newfoundland in 1868 by the amateur naturalist, the Reverend Moses Harvey, and the subsequent description and naming of the fossil organism Aspidella terranovica in 1872 by Elkanah Billings, the father of Canadian paleontology. Both events could be misinterpreted as one transaction that began with the former event and ended with the latter event. Accounts published by Alexander Murray, the director of the Geological Survey of Newfoundland at the time, arguably may have inadvertently exacerbated the possibility for confusion. The determination of who first discovered fossils of A. terranovica and whose fossil material Billings primarily relied upon when he first described and named the taxon could be placed into doubt as a consequence. Although the confusion does not affect the undisputed priority that Billings holds in having described and named A. terranovica, the opportunity to remedy the confusion serves to benefit the historical record. The incomplete or ambiguous ascertaining and documenting of contextual information whenever an historically significant fossil discovery is made arguably may precipitate subsequent misinterpretations, distortions or omissions in the resulting historical narrative as it develops and becomes entrenched or mythologized in its retelling.RÉSUMÉCet article examine brièvement la confusion possible concernant les découvertes de fossiles Précambriens (Ediacaran) fabriqués dans la colonie Britannique autonome de Terre-Neuve en 1868 par le naturaliste amateur, le Révérend Moses Harvey, et la description et l'appellation suivantes de l'organisme fossile Aspidella terranovica en 1872 par Elkanah Billings, le père de la paléontologie Canadienne. Les deux événements pourraient être mal interprétés comme une transaction qui a commencé avec l'événement précédent et s'est terminée avec le dernier événement. Les comptes publiés par Alexander Murray, le directeur de la Commission Géologique de Terre-Neuve à l'époque, ont sans doute peut-être exacerbé par mégarde la possibilité de confusion. La détermination de qui a découvert les fossiles d'abord de A. terranovica et dont Billings s'appuyait principalement sur le matériel fossile dont il a d'abord décrit et nommé le taxon pourrait être mis en doute en conséquence. Bien que la confusion ne porte pas atteinte à la priorité incontestée que Billings détient en ayant décrit et nommé A. terranovica, la possibilité de remédier à la confusion sert à bénéficier du dossier historique. La constatation et la documentation incomplètes ou ambiguës de l'information contextuelle chaque fois qu'une découverte fossilifère historiquement significative peut être faite peut précipiter des interprétations, des distorsions ou des omissions subséquentes dans le récit historique résultant au fur et à mesure qu'il se développe et devient ancré ou mythologisé dans son récit

34 Alterations in cystic fibrosis peripheral blood mononuclear cells are induced by an increase in intracellular calcium concentration

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Elastic-plastic finite element analysis-to-test correlation for structures subjected to dynamic loading

A test program was undertaken to demonstrate the ability of elastic-plastic finite element methods to predict dynamic inelastic response for simple structural members. Cantilever and fixed-beam specimens were tested to levels that produced plastic straining in the range of 2.0% and to 3.0% and permanent sets. Acceleration, strain, and displacement data were recorded for use in analytical correlation. Correlation analyses were performed using the ABAQUS finite element code. Results of the correlation show that current elastic-plastic analysis techniques accurately capture dynamic inelastic response (displacement, acceleration) due to rapidly applied dynamic loading. Peak elastic and inelastic surface strains are accurately predicted. To accurately capture inelastic straining near connections, a solid model, including fillet welds, is necessary. The hardening models currently available in the ABAQUS code (isotropic, kinematic) do not accurately capture inelastic strain reversals caused by specimen rebound. Analyses performed consistently underpredicted the peak strain level of the first inelastic reversal and the rebound deflection and overpredicted the permanent set of structures experiencing inelastic rebound. Based on these findings, an improved hardening model is being implemented in the ABAQUS code by the developers. The intent of this model upgrade is to improve the ability of the program to capture inelastic strain reversals and to predict permanent sets

Retrospective assessment of inguinal hernia repair in elderly outpatients

Background In the last ten years Day Surgery has significantly evolved, due to improvements in surgery and anaesthesia, and the need of reducing long term admission costs [1]. However, is Day Surgery suitable for elderly patients? The aim of this paper is to assess the risk of over 70 year-old outpatients who underwent inguinal hernia repair, and suggest an adequate preoperative pathway

Cyclic Material Properties Test to Determine Hardening/Softening Characteristics of HY-80 Steel

The Cyclic Material Properties Test was structured to obtain and provide experimental data for determining cyclic hardening/softening characteristics of HY-80 steel. The inelastic strain history data generated by this test program and the resulting cyclic stress-strain curve will be used to enhance material models in the finite element codes used to perform nonlinear elastic-plastic analysis

Preface for CEEPE 2020 Proceedings

Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Volume 1585, 2020 the 3rd International Conference on Energy, Electrical and Power Engineering (CEEPE 2020) 24-26 April 2020, Chongqing, ChinaThe 3rd International Conference on Energy, Electrical, and Power Engineering (CEEPE) was planned to be held in April 24-26, 2020, in Chongqing, China, and was co-sponsored by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China; Wuhan University, China; Shandong University, China; South Asia Institute of Science and Engineering (SAISE) and IEEE PES Chongqing Chapter. Due to the unexpected COVID 19 pandemic, that closed the world to national and international travel, the organization decided to hold the CEEPE 2020 totally online. It was a challenge, not only to the organizers, but also to the participants who were delivering their speeches using videoconference tools, under different time zones. This conference brought together researchers and engineers in academia and industry from China, Iraq, Japan and Portugal to discuss the latest developments and implementation, in these countries, of electrical power in applications ranging from commercial generation and distribution, to electric vehicles, with a particular focus on renewable energy integration in power systems, automation and control systems. Although there was not the opportunity to meet face-to-face under a live social environment, attendees from different areas of the world could interact under the videoconference tool, clarify their doubts and establish business and technical connections. The proceedings of these presentations are listed here in peer reviewed, written form.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Role of Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation in Ventricular Remodeling Induced by Tobacco Smoke Exposure after Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the roles of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in the ventricular remodeling that is induced by tobacco smoke exposure after myocardial infarction.METHODS: After induced myocardial infarction, rats were allocated into two groups: C (control, n=25) and ETS (exposed to tobacco smoke, n=24). After 6 months, survivors were submitted to echocardiogram and biochemical analyses.RESULTS: Rats in the ETS group showed higher diastolic (C = 1.52 +/- 0.4 mm(2), ETS = 1.95 +/- 0.4 mm(2); p=0.032) and systolic (C = 1.03 +/- 0.3, ETS = 1.36 +/- 0.4 mm(2)/g; p=0.049) ventricular areas, adjusted for body weight. The fractional area change was smaller in the ETS group (C = 30.3 +/- 10.1 %, ETS = 19.2 +/- 11.1 %; p=0.024) and E/A ratios were higher in ETS animals (C = 2.3 +/- 2.2, ETS = 5.1 +/- 2.5; p=0.037). ETS was also associated with a higher water percentage in the lung (C = 4.8 (4.3-4.8), ETS = 5.5 (5.3-5.6); p=0.013) as well as higher cardiac levels of reduced glutathione (C = 20.7 +/- 7.6 nmol/mg of protein, ETS = 40.7 +/- 12.7 nmol/mg of protein; p=0.037) and oxidized glutathione (C = 0.3 +/- 0.1 nmol/g of protein, ETS = 0.9 +/- 0.3 nmol/g of protein; p=0.008). No differences were observed in lipid hydroperoxide levels (C = 0.4 +/- 0.2 nmol/mg of tissue, ETS = 0.1 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg of tissue; p=0.08).CONCLUSION: In animals exposed to tobacco smoke, oxidative stress is associated with the intensification of ventricular re-remodeling after myocardial infarction