Lithology and depositional environments of a portion of the Clays Ferry Formation (Middle and Upper Ordovician) exposed at Silver Creek, Madison County, Kentucky

We measure, describe, and interpret a carbonate stratigraphic section within the Clays Ferry Formation (Middle and Upper Ordovician) cropping out in Madison County, Kentucky (USGS Kirksville 7.5” quadrangle). Outcrops are exposed within the bed of Silver Creek along Ky 876 (Barnes Mill Road) from ~100 m downstream of where a bridge crosses the stream, then upstream and upsection for a distance of ~300 m over several sets of falls until bedrock exposure becomes sporadic to absent. We sampled the stratigraphic section at approximately half-meter intervals, also taking samples at lithology changes. We collected a total 18 samples, all of which were slabbed, and then chose 12 samples for thin section analysis. The total thickness of our measured section is 4.8 m. The rocks are dominantly limestones with some carbonate shales, deposited in shallow-water depositional environments that are generally open-marine subtidal with perhaps some intertidal units. We saw several lithologies representing discrete depositional environments. Burrowed mudstones and wackestones are more common lower in the stratigraphic section and perhaps represent the shallowest depositional environments. Upsection, laminated pelloidal packstones/grainstones occur and contain varying amounts of fragmented fossils. The next prominent unit is a 1.5-meter-thick interval, where shaly carbonate is interbedded with ~10-cm thick limestone beds containing a diverse fossil assemblage, indicating subtidal, open-marine conditions. Several 15- to 25-cm thick grainstone beds mostly comprised of nested, strophomenid brachiopods are prominent ledges and formed under turbulent conditions. Fossiliferous packstones and grainstones with brachiopods, bryozoans, and crinoids then dominate indicating open-marine, subtidal environments; one such horizon displays 10- to 15-cm-high dune bedforms. Upsection for the next ~1.5 meters these lithologies reoccur and are interbedded with one another representing migration of depositional environments over a shallow-marine platform

Lithology and depositional environments of a portion of the Clays Ferry Formation (Middle and Upper Ordovician) exposed at Silver Creek, Madison County, Kentucky

We measure, describe, and interpret a carbonate stratigraphic section within the Clays Ferry Formation (Middle and Upper Ordovician) cropping out in Madison County, Kentucky (USGS Kirksville 7.5” quadrangle). Outcrops are exposed within the bed of Silver Creek along Ky 876 (Barnes Mill Road) from ~100 m downstream of where a bridge crosses the stream, then upstream and upsection for a distance of ~300 m over several sets of falls until bedrock exposure becomes sporadic to absent. We sampled the stratigraphic section at approximately half-meter intervals, also taking samples at lithology changes. We collected a total 18 samples, all of which were slabbed, and then chose 12 samples for thin section analysis. The total thickness of our measured section is 4.8 m. The rocks are dominantly limestones with some carbonate shales, deposited in shallow-water depositional environments that are generally open-marine subtidal with perhaps some intertidal units. We saw several lithologies representing discrete depositional environments. Burrowed mudstones and wackestones are more common lower in the stratigraphic section and perhaps represent the shallowest depositional environments. Upsection, laminated pelloidal packstones/grainstones occur and contain varying amounts of fragmented fossils. The next prominent unit is a 1.5-meter-thick interval, where shaly carbonate is interbedded with ~10-cm thick limestone beds containing a diverse fossil assemblage, indicating subtidal, open-marine conditions. Several 15- to 25-cm thick grainstone beds mostly comprised of nested, strophomenid brachiopods are prominent ledges and formed under turbulent conditions. Fossiliferous packstones and grainstones with brachiopods, bryozoans, and crinoids then dominate indicating open-marine, subtidal environments; one such horizon displays 10- to 15-cm-high dune bedforms. Upsection for the next ~1.5 meters these lithologies reoccur and are interbedded with one another representing migration of depositional environments over a shallow-marine platform

Missed Opportunities in HPV Vaccination

Objective: To use the 3 dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administration (given at 0, 1-2 and 6 months) to quantify opportunities to improve efficacy in the delivery of preventive health services. Methods: This was a retrospective, claims-based analysis using data provided by a single managed care plan. Female patients aged 9-26 who were continuously enrolled between 2009 through 2011 and received ≥ dose of the HPV vaccine during 2010 were analyzed. The proportion of initiators who did and did not completed the vaccine series, the timing and location of doses, and the number of outpatient visits during which the vaccine could have been given to non-completers were determined. Results: 1,830 patients were analyzed in the 2010 sample. 843 (46%) were continuously enrolled during the three-year observation period. 500 (59%) completed 3 doses. Among completers, the interval range between doses 1 and 2 was 27-619 days (median 96 days). The interval range between doses 2 and 3 was 32-621 days (median 127 days). 261 (52%) completers received dose 2, and 139 (28%) received does 3 over 1 month late. Among the 343 non-completers, 137 (40%), and 206 (60%) completed 1 and 2 doses, respectively. 63% of single-dose recipients and 17% of 2-dose recipients had at least 1 visit within the eligible time period for administration. Conclusion: Nearly half of HPV vaccine initiators do not complete the vaccine series. Of those who do, a large percentage complete it late. This example quantifies the potential for reminders, registries and outreach to improve on-time dosage and completion

Sexual intensity of adolescents' online self-presentations: Joint contribution of identity, media consumption, and extraversion

Adolescents produce and distribute a vast quantity of digital media content. A growing literature examines the sexually explicit (i.e., nude) content that adolescents share online. Because adolescents’ sexual content need not be sexually explicit, however, this study examined the sexual intensity with which adolescents choose to present themselves in the context of a social media platform. Exemplifying the variability of adolescents’ online sexual self-presentations, survey participants (N = 265; age range: 13–15 years) constructed social media profiles using components (e.g., photos, fashion brands) that varied in sexual intensity. In accord with predictions drawn from the Media Practice Model, the study found that the sexual intensity of adolescents’ online self-presentations is a product of the sexual self-concept, a relationship that is partially mediated by sexual media diet and moderated by extraversion. This study bridges emerging research on sexual self-presentation with established literature on adolescents’ sexual media uses and effects

Controlling Oct4 Expression Levels Using Invitrogen’s GeneSwitch™ System

Oct4 is a protein that is involved in the retention of pluripotency in adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs). Despite this knowledge, Oct4’s exact role in the complex system used in maintaining pluripotency is not known. One approach to explore Oct4’s role would be through the use of cellular assays to control the expression of Oct4. This can possibly be accomplished by introducing a biological switch and the gene of interest into ADSCs. In this project, the GeneSwitch™ System is used to ultimately induce Oct4 expression. Before the GeneSwitch™ System can be used, the Oct4 gene is extracted from murine embryonic stem cell (ES) RNA. This ES RNA is then used as a template to create complimentary DNA (cDNA) that can then be used to create an insert with the Oct4 gene. In addition to the cDNA, recognition sites for endonucleases must be added on to fully create the Oct4 insert. This insert could then be placed into one of the GeneSwitch™ System plasmids that have the same recognition sites and placed into ADSCs along with the plasmid that will act as a biological switch. With this system put into ADSCs, it is expected that Oct4 levels will be successfully controlled. Once controlled, Oct4 expression can be tested and investigations can be completed to determine how Oct4 expression levels influence pluripotency of ADSCs. This may have significant impact on the creation of regenerative medicine

A study investigating the effects of modified goggle optical designs on swimmer performance

Background: Use of prisms to improve comfort and posture is a common practice in optometry. This concept can be expanded into the competitive sports world by incorporating prisms into swim goggles. Prisms can theoretically allow the competitive swimmer to maintain a more efficient posture throughout their event. The current study assesses the potential benefits of base-up prism in goggles for free-style swimming. Method: Twenty-four collegiate swimmers were surveyed and tested. Each participant filled out an initial survey detailing their preferences and concerns pertaining to competition goggles. All swimmers performed two 1500-meter practices with the prototype, 35 prism diopter (p.d.), goggles prior to testing. Testing consisted of swimming a 200-meter timed trial with each of the experimental goggles and filling out a corresponding survey immediately after each trial. 35 p.d. base-up prism prototype goggles, 1 p.d. base-up prism goggles, and plano control goggles were evaluated by each participant. Results: Fit was the most important concern for these swimmers. Fit also had the lowest standard deviation, denoting a common level of concern among most of the participants. The second most important concern for these swimmers was fogging. The least important concern for the participants was drag, which had the second lowest number of responders. Swimmers also thought that clarity of the goggles was important. Swimmers thought that restriction of peripheral vision was one of the least important problems. The 1 p.d. goggle produced the fastest mean time, and yet was ranked the worst by participants. In the surveys following the time trials, participants specified that their posture and field of view were greatly improved with the 35 p.d. goggles. They were also willing to pay more for the 35 p.d. goggles than the plano goggles. Conclusion: Although the swimmers swam faster with the 35 p.d. goggles and ranked them higher than the plano goggles, these differences were not statistically significant. However, significantly more subjects did perceive the 35 p.d. goggles to be more beneficial than plano or 1 p.d. goggles

A molecular understanding of alphavirus entry

Alphaviruses cause severe human illnesses including persistent arthritis and fatal encephalitis. As alphavirus entry into target cells is the first step in infection, intensive research efforts have focused on elucidating aspects of this pathway, including attachment, internalization, and fusion. Herein, we review recent developments in the molecular understanding of alphavirus entry both in vitro and in vivo and how these advances might enable the design of therapeutics targeting this critical step in the alphavirus life cycle