Klipsun Magazine, 1981, Volume 12, Issue 01 - November

https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/1060/thumbnail.jp

Can The Mercenary from James Bond Shoot Through A Train Coupling?

This paper discusses the possibility of the mercenary from Skyfall, Patrice, being able to shoot through the link between two train carriages to attempt to get away from the secret agent, James Bond. During an altercation atop a train in Istanbul, Patrice shoots through the coupling with ease, separating the two carriages. This paper shows that the required force to shoot through a steel alloy coupling would be 148285N, as the bullet would only exert around a third of the force required, 52099.2N, and this paper proves that this cannot be done with such ease as portrayed in the film

Can Nyan Cat Escape The Moon?

This paper discusses the possibility of Nyan Cat’s capabilities to escape the moon. The dimensions and nutritional values, provided by the Kellogg’s Company, of a Pop-Tart were used, and applied to the model of an average adult cat. It was concluded that Nyan Cat would not be able to escape from the moon. However, if the rainbow that he excretes has some magical powers that would provide him the extra 8.42x10^6J needed to escape the moon

Phenotypic Plasticity of Reproduction in Schizachyrium scoparium (Poaceae) Populations in Relation to Ecological History

Genetic differentiation in reproduction in the wide-ranging Schizachyrium scoparium (Poaceae) has been demonstrated in uniform gardens. However, the fine-tuning of flowering phenology and biomass allocation in relation to spatial and temporal fluctuations in the local environment is best accomplished by plastic responses to local variability. An earlier central New Jersey study suggested that S. scoparium populations in old fields of 2 to 40 years differed in plasticity. To test this apparent effect of ecological history on the development of different levels of plasticity, genotypes were collected from high- and low-fertility sites in New Jersey (forest biome) and in Oklahoma (grassland biome). Three greenhouse experiments manipulating light and nutrients were used to partition variation into genetic and environmental components. High light or high nutrients resulted in plasticity for increased biomass, greater reproductive allocation, and more tillers. Earlier flowering was induced by high light, but nutrient treatments had no effect. Populations were more likely to differ in plasticity across regions than within regions, and Oklahoma populations were consistently more plastic than New Jersey populations. In response to nutrients, populations from high-nutrient sites were often more plastic than those from low-nutrient sites. There were fewer differences in plasticity in response to light between high- and low-nutrient populations. The greater plasticity in Oklahoma populations is suggested to be the result of historically greater environmental unpredictability and K-selection factors such as density-dependent selection and greater competition for resources. A native grass population is more than just a Latin binomial. Evolutionary forces create an ecological unit unique and irreplaceable at the local level

Would the Demolition Man become the Demolished Man?

In the 1993 film Demolition Man, starring Sylvester Stallone, the main character falls from a helicopter suspended by a wire of steel. The fall would generate a G-force of 14.03G and since the wire is attached to his waist it would most likely be terminal but a further, more in depth look into the problem is required

Klipsun Magazine, 1982, Volume 12, Issue 02 - January

https://cedar.wwu.edu/klipsun_magazine/1061/thumbnail.jp

A dialogue of two selves : themes of alienation and African humanism in the works of Es'kia Mphahlele

Es'kia Mphahlele's concept of African humanism was a seminal influence on Black Consciouness thought and provided the philosophical basis for a landmark body of South African criticism and aesthetics wilh roots in Africa. African humanism as a black ethos, combined with rich metaphoric speech, symbols, values and myths resurrected from the deep African past, afforded the author a powerful cultural weapon with which to criticize centuries of colonialism, racism, and state apartheid, related western industrial forces of economic exploitation and alienation. Moreover, the counterweights of African humanism and alienation in the dialogue of two selves -- one that is Western-educated and colonized and the other African -- contribute key elements of realism, vitality, humour, insight, cultural identity, and characterization to Mphahlele's most effective protest writing which, in turn, has helped to shape a black nationalist vision which has surprising relevance to South Africa in the 1990s.English StudiesM.A. (English

Benefits of Time Spent Outdoors in Early Childhood Education: A Systematic Review

Several studies have provided evidence that time spent in nature (i.e., in natural environments or the outdoors) plays a beneficial role in child development by positively influencing children’s cognitive processes and states (Bowler et al., 2010; Bratman et al., 2012; 2014; Cameron-Faulkner et al., 2018; Kaplan, 1995; Mitchell et al.). However, to date, no study has looked systematically at the overall literature addressing the benefits nature plays in early childhood education, primarily through outdoor learning or time spent outside in natural environments. The purpose of the current study is to provide a systematic review of the empirical literature evaluating outcomes linked to children spending time outdoors through outdoor play, forests, gardens, or school playgrounds. A systematic search of PsycINFO was conducted to identify critical studies linking the outdoors with outcomes during early childhood. Inclusion criteria were as follows: research studies conducted with children enrolled in early childhood education programs (age 2-5-year-olds) related to nature base experiences in the United States and peer-reviewed articles written in English. This search yielded 12 empirical studies. Codes were developed to examine a) what outcomes have been measured for children spending time outdoors in their early childhood education settings and b) what approaches were used to measure these outcomes. The two most measured outcomes included in studies were children’s behavior (N = 3; 25%) and educational or learning outcomes (N = 3; 25%). Most activities were child-led (N= 6, 50%) while children engaged in free-play (N = 5, 29%) and physical activities (N= 5, 29%). The most common method utilized was a quasi-experimental design (N=5, 29%), followed by secondary research designs (N=2, 16%). A few studies used rigorous methods to examine the links between children spending time outdoors and their specific beneficial outcomes. Implications for future research in this area are discussed

Are hygiene standards useful in assessing infection risk?

We monitored the surface level cleanliness of a five-bedded surgical intensive care unit (SICU) over a ten-week period in order to evaluate proposed hygiene standards.Ten environmental sites within SICU were sampled twice weekly along with collection of clinical and patient activity data. The standards designate aerobic colony counts (ACCs) >2.5cfu/cm2 from hand-touch sites and the presence of Staphylococcus aureus as hygiene failures. Nearly a quarter of 200 samples failed the standards, mostly from hand-touch sites on curtains, beds and medical equipment. The total number of fails each week was associated with bed occupancy (p=0.04), trending towards association with SICU-acquired infections (p=0.11). Environmental S.aureus was associated with the proportion of beds occupied (p = 0.02). Indistinguishable genotypes were found between patient and environmental staphylococci, with timescales supporting staphylococcal transmission in both directions. Hygiene standards based on microbial growth levels and the presence of S.aureus reflect patient activity and provide a means to risk manage infection. They also exposed a staphylococcal reservoir that could represent a more tangible risk to patients. Standards for surface level cleanliness deserve further evaluation

A population pharmacokinetic model to guide clozapine dose selection, based on age, sex, ethnicity, body weight and smoking status

Aims: Guidance on clozapine dosing in treatment-resistant schizophrenia is based largely on data from White young adult males. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic profiles of clozapine and Ndesmethylclozapine (norclozapine) across the age range, accounting for sex, ethnicity, smoking status, and body weight. Methods: A population pharmacokinetic model, implemented in Monolix, that linked plasma clozapine and norclozapine via a metabolic rate constant, was used to analyse data from a clozapine therapeutic drug monitoring service, 1993–2017. Results: There were 17,787 measurements from 5960 patients (4315 male) aged 18 to 86 years. The estimated clozapine plasma clearance was reduced from 20.2 to 12.0 L h-1 between 20 and 80 years. Model based dose predictions to attain a pre-dose plasma clozapine concentration of 0.35 mg L-1 was 275 (90% prediction interval 125, 625) mg day-1 in a nonsmoking White male weighing 70 kg and aged 40 years. The corresponding predicted dose was increased by 30% in smokers, decreased by 18% in females and was 10% higher and 14% lower in otherwise analogous Afro-Caribbean and Asian patients, respectively. Overall, the predicted dose decreased by 56% between age 20 and 80 years. Conclusion: The large sample size and wide age range of the patients studied allowed precise estimation of dose requirements to attain a pre-dose plasma clozapine concentration of 0.35 mg L-1. The analysis was however limited by the absence of data on clinical outcome and further studies are required to determine optimal pre-dose concentrations specifically in those aged over 65 years