HEALTH CARE REFORM: THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH DATA SYSTEMS

Health Economics and Policy,

A thermodynamic study of oxygen in molten copper alloys

Imperial Users onl

Sonoluminescence in water mixtures and in liquid metals

Imperial Users onl

Establishing laboratory standards for biological flight experiments

The general objective of this research was to assess the effects of exposure to simulated microgravity on ultrastructural aspects of the contractile system in chicken skeletal muscle cells. This general objective had two specific experimental components: (1) the progression of changes in cell morphology, fusion, and patterns of contractile filament organization in muscle cell cultures grown in hollow fibers in the Clinostat were evaluated, with appropriate controls; (2) to initiate experiments in which muscle cells were grown on the surface of microcarrier beads. The ultimate objective of this second portion of the work is to determine if these beads can be rotated in a bioreactor and thereby obtain a more accurate approximation of the effects of simulated microgravity on differentiated muscle cells

Obstetrical Forceps: History, Mystery, and Morality

The history of obstetrical forceps has almost always been one cloaked in controversy after a long history of being shrouded in mystery. Forceps have a long history and have evolved from facilitating the delivery of dead fetuses to aiding in the delivery and survival of live babies. In the middle of all of this arises the story of the Chamberlain family whose contribution was enormous but whose behaviors pushed at the envelope of (at least) our present-day concepts of medical ethics. This lecture traces an interesting story that spans a millennium

Physiological Effects of Low Mowing Heights, Rolling, and Foot Traffic on Creeping Bentgrass Putting Greens

Golf course superintendents are managing creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) putting greens throughout the transition zone where temperatures can exceed optimum levels for consecutive days in the summer. The stress of creeping bentgrass associated with these supraoptimal temperatures has been well documented, but the management practices implemented on putting greens to increase green speeds may exacerbate these environmental stresses. To date, the physiological effects of these management practices in combination have not been evaluated for putting green turf. The objective of this dissertation project was to determine the effect of mowing heights, light-weight rolling, and foot traffic on performance and physiological parameters of `SR 1020\u27 and `Penn G2\u27 creeping bentgrass. Both above and below ground performance characteristics were evaluated in this project including: wear tolerance, turf quality, turf coverage, turf color, rooting characteristics, ball roll distance, ball mark severity, and ball mark recovery. Physiological data were collected with a custom photosynthesis chamber, and carbohydrate analysis was performed for all mowing and rolling treatments. Individual carbohydrates (total ethanol soluble sugars, glucose, sucrose, fructans, and average degree of polymerization) were determined for foliage, crown, and root material of each sample. Both performance characteristics and physiological parameters reached poorest levels in July or August each year as environmental stresses increased. Plots maintained at higher mowing heights and reduced rolling frequencies maintained better wear tolerance, turf quality, coverage, and color compared to lower mowing heights with frequent rolling. Net photosynthesis increased slightly as mowing heights were increased, but few significant differences were observed for these treatment combinations. Few consistent differences were observed for carbohydrate analysis with lower mowing heights or increased rolling frequencies, but increased mowing height generally resulted in higher carbohydrate concentrations in foliage and crown material following heat stress. Ball mark severity was rarely affected by these treatment combinations, but increased rolling frequencies increased maximum ball mark injury and extended recovery time. Fewer significant differences were observed for these parameters compared to initial expectations, but increased mowing heights and reduced rolling frequencies generally created healthier turf