Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry of the Ogallala Aquifer, Southern High Plains

The Ogallala aquifer, which underlies the Southern High Plains, consists of the saturated sediments of the Ogallala Formation (Neogene). It serves as the main source of water for the High Plains of Texas and New Mexico but has been severely depleted due to extensive pumpage. The hydrology and hydrochemistry of the aquifer are influenced by the surface topography of the underlying formations and the thickness and permeability of formation deposits. Two distinct hydrogeologic provinces were observed. The first province, located along paleo valleys filled with coarse fluvial sediments, exhibits increased formation thickness and saturated section, as well as higher porosities and hydraulic conductivities. Ground-water flow lines within this province follow the orientation of the paleo valleys. The hydrochemical composition in this province remains relatively constant, characterized by Ca-HCO3 to mixed-HCO3 water, depleted in 0180, δD, and tritium. In contrast, the second hydrogeologic province features thinner and less permeable formations, primarily composed of fine-grained eolian elastics. Ground-water discharge from aquifers in the Cretaceous contributes to the hydrochemical facies, resulting in isotopic compositions different from those of the first province. Cross-formational movement of water and low permeability in the Ogallala Formation in these areas lead to varying hydrochemical facies and isotopic compositions. Secondary factors influencing the chemical composition of Ogallala Formation ground water include contamination from evaporating saline lakes, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, and oil field brines. The impact of these chemicals may increase in the future as contaminants continue to move through the unsaturated zone toward the water table.Bureau of Economic Geolog

"WHOSE GROUPS ARE THESE ANYWAY?" ON STAFF AND PATIENTS’ NEEDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE MILIEU

The psychiatric ward is a complex organization. It contains two main groups: the patients and the staff. The different needs of each group influence the encounters between patients, the consumers, and staff, the suppliers. We shall discuss those needs and analyze the ways they interfere with or complement the therapeutic group work. For example: staff members need specific therapeutic group work for their professional development, and the patients need the group in order to maintain some form of interpersonal contact and to keep themselves active. The staff holds therapeutic groups in order to monitor the activity on the ward, while the patients seek a space where they can express their concerns about their treatment. Some vignettes will be presented which demonstrate these different needs, of staff and patients, and the way they were explored in the staff’s group supervision meetings

"WHOSE GROUPS ARE THESE ANYWAY?" ON STAFF AND PATIENTS’ NEEDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE MILIEU

The psychiatric ward is a complex organization. It contains two main groups: the patients and the staff. The different needs of each group influence the encounters between patients, the consumers, and staff, the suppliers. We shall discuss those needs and analyze the ways they interfere with or complement the therapeutic group work. For example: staff members need specific therapeutic group work for their professional development, and the patients need the group in order to maintain some form of interpersonal contact and to keep themselves active. The staff holds therapeutic groups in order to monitor the activity on the ward, while the patients seek a space where they can express their concerns about their treatment. Some vignettes will be presented which demonstrate these different needs, of staff and patients, and the way they were explored in the staff’s group supervision meetings

Characterization Study of the Ogallala Aquifer, Northwest Texas

The Ogallala aquifer, which is the main water supply in the High Plains of Texas, is being severely depleted by extensive pumpage for irrigation. The aquifer overlies the Permian evaporites that are being considered as a potential repository for the disposal of high-level nuclear wastes. Potential contamination of the aquifer by these wastes and further depletion of the limited water resources are major concerns of the people in the area. The purpose of this work is to develop a general hydrogeologic characterization of the aquifer that will serve as a firm basis for accurate evaluation of aquifer recharge mechanisms relevant to problems stemming from accidental spills of radionuclides at the land surface and possible interactions of the radionuclides with deeper hydrologic units. Aquifer hydraulics relevant to problems that may be encountered in shaft construction were studied as well. The existing geologic, hydrologic, geochemical, and isotopic data are integrated into a regional hydrogeologic model for water and solutes. The model enables (1) an understanding of recharge/discharge relationships, ages of water, and rock-water interactions, and (2) the tracing of cross-formational flow between the Ogallala and the underlying aquifers. This report presents preliminary conclusions of research conducted from August 1984 through August 1985.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Acute inflammatory response to contrast agent aspiration and its mechanisms in the rat lung.

Objectives/hypothesisContrast agent (CA) aspiration is an established complication of upper gastrointestinal and videofluoroscopic swallow studies. The underlying molecular biological mechanisms of acute response to CA aspiration in the respiratory organs remain unclear. The aims of this study were to elucidate the histological and biological influences of three kinds of CAs on the lung and to clarify the differences in acute responses.Study designAnimal model.MethodsEight-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n = 6 in each group). Three groups underwent tracheal instillation of one of three different CAs: barium (Ba) sulfate, nonionic contrast agents (NICAs), and ionic contrast agents (ICAs). A control group was instilled with saline and a sham group was instilled with air. All animals were euthanized on day 2 after treatment and histological and gene analysis was performed.ResultsNo animal died after CA or control/sham aspiration. Ba caused severe histopathologic changes and more prominent inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs compared with the two other iodinated contrast agents. Increases in expressions of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [Tnf], interleukin-1β [Il1b], and interferon-γ [Ifng]) were observed in Ba aspiration rats, and upregulation of Il1b was seen in ICA aspiration rats. NICA did not cause obvious histologic changes or expressions of inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis-related genes in the lungs.ConclusionsBa caused significantly more acute lung inflammation in a rodent model than did ioinic and nonionic iodinated CAs. Nonionic contrast did not cause any discernible inflammatory response in the lungs, suggesting that it may be the safest contrast for videofluoroscopic swallow studies.Level of evidenceNA Laryngoscope, 129:1533-1538, 2019

Validation of the PILL-5: A 5-Item Patient Reported Outcome Measure for Pill Dysphagia.

Objectives: Pill dysphagia is common and costly with a significant risk of pill retention, caustic injury, and poor medication compliance. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity and reliability of the PILL-5, a self-administered patient reported outcome measure (PROM) to quantify the degree of pill (tablet and capsule) dysphagia. The PILL-5 is a 5-item questionnaire with a maximum symptom score of 20. Methods: The PILL-5 was administered to 190 patients with dysphagia referred for videofluoroscopic esophagography (VFE). Construct validity was assessed by comparing PILL-5 composite scores to delayed barium tablet transit on VFE. Normative data was obtained by administering the instrument to a cohort of healthy community based volunteers. Internal consistency was assessed with the Cronbach alpha. Test/retest reliability was determined by administering the instrument to the same cohort of patients at two time points. Results: The mean PILL-5 was 5.6 (±4.9) for persons with dysphagia and 1.6 (±2.7) for healthy volunteers (p < 0.001). The internal consistency of the instrument was high (Cronbach alpha = 0.85). The mean PILL-5 was 4.3 (±4.1) for patients with normal transit and 7.6 (±5.3) for patients with delayed barium tablet transit on esophagography, indicating excellent criterion based validity (p < 0.001). Reproducibility was high with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.83 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Healthy individuals report some degree of swallowing difficulty with pills. Normative data suggest that a PILL-5 > 6 is abnormal (mean + 2 SD). The instrument demonstrated excellent criterion based validity and reliability. The PILL-5 is the first validated patient reported outcome measure for pill dysphagia

Siting a Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility in Texas Volume Four- Geologic and Hydrologic Investigations of State of Texas and University of Texas Lands

The Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, conducted preliminary investigations of the geology and hydrology of 5 areas in Culberson and Hudspeth Counties, Texas, selected by the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority as potential sites for a low-level radioactive waste repository. This report discusses the results of those studies. Two areas in Culberson County, Texas, Site S-15 and Block 46 and adjacent regions, were investigated. The Permian Castile Formation underlies all of Site S-15 and the eastern half of Block 46. The Castile Formation displays evidence of extensive solution and local collapse and appears to contain a complex system of karst features and underground solution channels. The western half of Block 46 is underlain by the Permian Bell Canyon Formation, consisting of interbeds of sandstone and limestone. Both the Castile and subjacent Bell Canyon Formations contain prominent joint systems and local areas of normal faults. Surficial deposits are commonly composed of detritus derived from local formations and appear to be both porous and permeable. The groundwater flow in both areas is governed by karst dissolution and collapse features. The chemical and isotopic composition of groundwater indicates active recharge through the thin unsaturated zone combined with older water flowing from the west. Residence time of groundwater in the aquifers is relatively short, and numerous springs discharge from the shallow groundwater table.Bureau of Economic Geolog

What\u27s in a Stream? Understanding Video Gamers\u27 Perceptions regarding Streaming and its Legitimacy

Video game streaming – live interactive broadcasts of gameplay on online platforms such as YouTube, has emerged as an important phenomenon in the world of video games, with leading streamers attracting the viewership of millions. The public’s perception of streaming, and its legitimacy, is still very much undecided. We seek to understand gamers’ and streamers’ normative perceptions of streaming. Employing an extreme case study methodology, we analyze the Reddit discussion threads and streamers’ video-blogs following the decision of a game producer, Altus, to restrict streaming of its Persona 5 game. We reveal ambiguities amongst community regarding the nature of streaming, with perceptions ranging between streaming as a broadcast of game, a creative performance, or a community activity. Further, we discover the factors that influence gamers’ perceptions regarding streaming legitimacy. We discuss implications for HCI and IS research and practice