A Global Hypothesis for Women in Journalism and Mass Communications: The Ratio of Recurrent and Reinforced Residuum

This paper examines the status of women in communications industries and on university faculties. It specifically tests the Ratio of Recurrent and Reinforced Residuum or R3 hypothesis, as developed by Rush in the early 1980s [Rush, Buck & Ogan,1982]. The R3 hypothesis predicts that the percentage of women in the communications industries and on university faculties will follow the ratio residing around 1/4:3/4 or 1/3:2/3 proportion females to males. This paper presents data from a nationwide U.S. survey and compares them to data from global surveys and United Nations reports. The evidence is overwhelming and shows the relevance and validity of the R3 hypothesis across different socio-economic and cultural contexts. The paper argues that the ratio is the outcome of systemic discrimination that operates at multiple levels. The obstacles to achieving equality in the academy as well as media industries are discussed and suggestions for breaking out of the R3 ratio are included.

A Global Hypothesis for Women in Journalism and Mass Communications: The Ratio of Recurrent and Reinforced Residuum

This paper examines the status of women in communications industries and on university faculties. It specifically tests the Ratio of Recurrent and Reinforced Residuum or R3 hypothesis, as developed by Rush in the early 1980s [Rush, Buck & Ogan,1982]. The R3 hypothesis predicts that the percentage of women in the communications industries and on university faculties will follow the ratio residing around 1/4:3/4 or 1/3:2/3 proportion females to males. This paper presents data from a nationwide U.S. survey and compares them to data from global surveys and United Nations reports. The evidence is overwhelming and shows the relevance and validity of the R3 hypothesis across different socio-economic and cultural contexts. The paper argues that the ratio is the outcome of systemic discrimination that operates at multiple levels. The obstacles to achieving equality in the academy as well as media industries are discussed and suggestions for breaking out of the R3 ratio are included.

Westland/Hallmark: 2008 Beef Recall; A Case Study by The Food Industry Center

A Humane Society video, made secretly at the Westland/Hallmark plant in late 2007 and released in early 2008, led to the recall of 143 million pounds of beef. This case study illustrates the complexity of the food industry and the food recall process. Although ultimately, the incident had more to do with animal welfare than food safety — no sicknesses were tied to the recalled beef, it resulted in changes to the nation’s food safety procedures. The 2008 Westland/Hallmark beef recall, the largest beef recall in U.S. history, is a stepping-off point to examine the beef supply chain generally and the ground beef supply chain specifically.Agribusiness, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Livestock Production/Industries,

A Critical Evaluation of BS PD 7974-7 Structural Fire Response Data Based on USA Fire Statistics

Probabilistic techniques deal with the randomness of variables and reliability of safety system but their application in fire safety engineering is limited due to the lack of data related to real structures subjected to real fires. This can be overcome by analysis of national fire statistics provided by fire departments. Fire statistics databases are a collection of data from real structures subjected to real fires and provides an understanding of real effectiveness of different fire safety measures (i.e. compartmentation) which influence the spread and growth of fire, and ultimately their monetary consequence. The ability to understand the realistic responses of buildings in fire is the fundamental basis of British Standards PD 7974-7, which provides data to perform probabilistic risk assessments for fire. However, the current data presented by BS PD 7974-7:2003 (referred to as PD 7974-7 within this paper) was developed between 1966 and 1987. This research has used the USA fire statistic database of 2014 to recreate the tables present in the PD 7974-7, compare the results, and understand their evolution in time. The comparison between PD 7974-7 and the USA fire statistics introduced in this paper shows that modern fire frequency can be up to more than 10 times smaller than presented in PD 7974-7; area damage in m2 and spread of fire are linked to automatic extinguish systems effectiveness and greater in the USA fire statistics than predicted by PD 7974-7. This clearly demonstrate the need of updates to PD 7974-7 and feeds towards a better understanding of the robustness, and potentially the resilience, of real structures in fire

Observations of the Ca II K line in Hel0830A dark points on August 3, 1985

Spectroheliograms taken in the light of He I 10830 A at the National Solar Observatory Vacuum Telescope on Kitt Peak were used to identify coronal holes and bright points (BPs). Target points were identified, coordinates calculated, and spectra recorded. For each spectrum, the difference in wavelength between the Ca II K minimum and the FeI reference line was calculated. It was noteworthy that the overall effect is a blueshift. It should be noted that if material of chromospheric density moves outward at this velocity, it could supply the mass flux of the solar wind if this chromospheric flow was concentrated in a few dozen sources, each of a diameter of a few arc seconds

Stability of Glutamate-Aspartate Cardioplegia Additive Solution in Polyolefin IV Bags

Objective: Glutamate-aspartate cardioplegia additive solution (GACAS) is used to enhance myocardial preservation and left ventricular function during some cardiac surgeries. This study was designed to evaluate the stability of compounded GACAS stored in sterile polyolefin intravenous (IV) bags. The goal is to extend the default USP beyond-use date (BUD) and reduce unnecessary inventory waste. Methods: GACAS was compounded and packaged in sterile polyolefin 250 mL IV bags. The concentration was 232 mM for each amino acid. The samples were stored under refrigeration (2°C-8°C) and analyzed at 0, 1, and 2 months. At each time point, the samples were evaluated by pH measurement and visual inspection for color, clarity, and particulates. The samples were also analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for potency and degradation products. Due to the lack of ultraviolet (UV) chromophores of glutamate and aspartate, the samples were derivatized by ortho-phthalaldehyde prior to HPLC analysis. Results: The time zero samples of GACAS passed the physical, chemical, and microbiological tests. Over 2 months of storage, there was no significant change in pH or visual appearance for any of the stability samples. The HPLC results also indicated that the samples retained 101% to 103% of the label claim strengths for both amino acids. Conclusion: The physical and chemical stability of extemporaneously prepared GACAS has been confirmed for up to 2 months in polyolefin IV bags stored under refrigeration. With proper sterile compounding practice and microbiology testing, the BUD of this product can be extended to 2 months

Differentiation of Cardiac from Noncardiac Pleural Effusions in Cats using Second-Generation Quantitative and Point-of-Care NT-proBNP Measurements

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion is a common cause of dyspnea in cats. N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) measurement, using a first‐generation quantitative ELISA, in plasma and pleural fluid differentiates cardiac from noncardiac causes of pleural effusion. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether NT‐proBNP measurements using second‐generation quantitative ELISA and point‐of‐care (POC) tests in plasma and pleural fluid distinguish cardiac from noncardiac pleural effusions and how results compare to the first‐generation ELISA. ANIMALS: Thirty‐eight cats (US cohort) and 40 cats (UK cohort) presenting with cardiogenic or noncardiogenic pleural effusion. METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Twenty‐one and 17 cats in the US cohort, and 22 and 18 cats in the UK cohort were classified as having cardiac or noncardiac pleural effusion, respectively. NT‐proBNP concentrations in paired plasma and pleural fluid samples were measured using second‐generation ELISA and POC assays. RESULTS: The second‐generation ELISA differentiated cardiac from noncardiac pleural effusion with good diagnostic accuracy (plasma: sensitivity, 95.2%, specificity, 82.4%; pleural fluid: sensitivity, 100%, specificity, 76.5%). NT‐proBNP concentrations were greater in pleural fluid (719 pmol/L (134–1500)) than plasma (678 pmol/L (61–1500), P = 0.003), resulting in different cut‐off values depending on the sample type. The POC test had good sensitivity (95.2%) and specificity (87.5%) when using plasma samples. In pleural fluid samples, the POC test had good sensitivity (100%) but low specificity (64.7%). Diagnostic accuracy was similar between first‐ and second‐generation ELISA assays. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Measurement of NT‐proBNP using a quantitative ELISA in plasma and pleural fluid or POC test in plasma, but not pleural fluid, distinguishes cardiac from noncardiac causes of pleural effusion in cats

Energy storage power and energy sizing and specification using HSSPFC

The intermittent nature of renewable sources requires the integration of Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) with appropriate power and energy densities. One of the applications of Hamiltonian Surface Shaping and Power Flow Control (HSSPFC) is to size ESSs for power and energy densities by employing them as sole actuators of Microgrid (MG) systems. This Article provides a comprehensive yet simplified example of utilization of HSSPFC to size ESSs of inverter-based three-phase MG systems under hierarchical control. Here, the distributed Hamiltonian controller is expanded for control of parallel ESSs and power sharing metrics are defined to distribute power between hybrid storage systems according to their power and energy density capabilities. Simulated hybrid ESSs comprising battery and flywheel systems are used as examples to demonstrate the behaviour of the expanded control, verify the power sharing criteria and illustrate ESS design and specification by utilizing HSSPFC

Darwin's small and medium ground finches might have taste preferences, but not for human foods

Urbanization is rapidly changing ecological niches. On the inhabited Galapagos Islands, Darwin's finches consume human-introduced foods preferentially; however, it remains unclear why. Here, we presented pastry with flavour profiles typical of human foods (oily, salty and sweet) to small ground finches (Geospiza fuliginosa) and medium ground finches (Geospiza fortis) to test if latent taste preferences might drive the selection of human foods. If human food flavours were consumed more than a neutral or bitter control only at sites with human foods, then we predicted tastes were acquired after urbanization; however, if no site differences were found then this would indicate latent taste preferences. Contrary to both predictions, we found little evidence that human food flavours were preferred compared with control flavours at any site. Instead, finches showed a weak aversion to oily foods, but only at remote (no human foods present) sites. This was further supported by behavioural responses, with beak-wiping occurring more often at remote sites after finches tasted flavours associated with human foods. Our results suggest, therefore, that while Darwin's finches regularly exposed to human foods might have acquired a tolerance to human food flavours, latent taste preferences are unlikely to have played a major role in their dietary response to increased urbanization.Peer reviewe

Meta-analysis of UK, USA and New Zealand fire statistics databases with respect to damage and financial loss

The optimization of structures for fire is a growing area of research and practice, however much of the optimization is conducted with respect to life safety and not with property damage. Resilience optimization of structures for fire events represents an evolution from pure life safety objectives. Fire statistics provide information that can fill the knowledge gap related to the response and damage of real buildings to real fires. From damage, it is easy to correlate the direct financial loss, which estimates the consequences caused to structures by fires. Different countries have developed individual fire statistics databases and reporting structures, which can give detailed description of fire incidents divided by different property types, but also the structural damage exhibited by the buildings and the strict relation with the financial loss. The paper presents an analysis of three such fire statistic databases: IRS of the UK, NFIRS in USA and one produced by the New Zealand Fire Service looking specifically at the relationship between damage and financial losses