Investigation of jointing in the Roubidoux Formation, Rolla, Missouri

Jointing present at an outcrop of sandstone in the Roubidoux formation was examined in order to determine the principal stress direction(s) causing the joint formation. The investigation was accomplished with traditional mapping techniques (detailed field sketches, photographs, structural measurements). Seventy-seven attitude measurements of joints and measurement of primary bedding were collected using a Brunton Compass. These measurements were analyzed using stereo nets and rose diagrams. Two major joint sets were present. The more major joint set strikes along the 175° or 355° azimuth and it has a dip averaging from 75° to 80° . The minor joint set strikes along the 115° or 295° azimuth and has a dip averaging from 75° to 80° as well. This spatial pattern of these joints indicates the presence of a conjugate joint set. This indicates an orientation of 325° for s1 and 055° for s3 at the time of joint formation. Major joints from both sets exhibit secondary hematite cement in the sandstone adjacent to the joint, whereas hematite cementation is sparse along the minor joint sets indicating these joints-controlled paleo fluid flow. Understanding how joints in rock form can better constrain numerical computer models to further understand the effect joints may have on groundwater or petroleum reservoir characteristics like secondary permeability and direction of fluid flow. Understanding the conditions in which joints form can also aid exploration geologists in determining the genesis of specific ore bodies. Current spatial orientation of joints and bedding also affect rock face stability and highway safety

Historical Evolution of Design and Supply of Drinking Water Treatment Plant for the City of Bethlehem, 1741-Present

The purpose of this document is to provide a detailed account of the history of the water supply for the city of Bethlehem. This report begins with the settlement of the Moravians in the area, their need for water and the solutions they developed to meet their needs. It explains why Bethlehem water sources were switched, and how contamination, increasing population and water demands affected Bethlehem and its water supply. The document also introduces South Bethlehem and their water system. New projects that were pursued by Bethlehem are discussed, with specific reasons for the change in technology. Specific characteristics of the systems and technologies are discussed from an engineering standpoint. The characteristics are then further analyzed in regard to how specifications met the requirements and needs of the people of the city. Overall this report concludes that throughout the history of Bethlehem, water resources provided a significant role in the development of the city. Moravians chose to settle in the Bethlehem area because of its abundant supply of water. The growth of the city in population and industry was guided on multiple occasions by the availability of water. For the most part, the city engineers and city officials have met the water needs and standards required by the government and Bethlehem’s citizens

Strangelets: Who is Looking, and How?

It has been over 30 years since the first suggestion that the true ground state of cold hadronic matter might be not nuclear matter but rather strange quark matter (SQM). Ever since, searches for stable SQM have been proceeding in various forms and have observed a handful of interesting events but have neither been able to find compelling evidence for stable strangelets nor to rule out their existence. I will survey the current status and near future of such searches with particular emphasis on the idea of SQM from strange star collisions as part of the cosmic ray flux.Comment: Talk given at International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter, 2006. 8 pages. 1 figur

Older Adults and Photo-Elicited Perspectives on Shopping for Groceries in a Changing Community

Background: A community experiencing gentrification created challenges for older adults and their ability to access food. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine barriers and facilitators perceived by three urban-dwelling older adults during their grocery shopping experiences. Methods: The researchers conducted photo-elicitation supported interviews to gather information on grocery shopping from three older adults attending a local senior center. Photo-elicited interviews were conducted, and the thematic analysis examined the participants’ perspectives on their experiences. Results: Thematic analysis revealed the participants’ experiences in a changing landscape. In the categories of community resources, transportation, and the store, analysis revealed the following themes: encountering obstacles, becoming frustrated, and identifying strategies and facilitators. These themes represent a process for older adults whereby they adapt to obtain their needed or desired items when shopping for groceries. Conclusion: In a community facing urban renewal and gentrification, older adults encountered obstacles and adapted in ways that were productive but not always safe or supportive of good health. This study illustrates the adaptive (or maladaptive) strategies of the participants who are managing change in their community. Advocating for affordable transportation in communities and modifying grocery store layout can support the older adult shoppers

Hair cortisol as a biomarker of stress in mindfulness training for smokers.

OBJECTIVES: Stress is a well-known predictor of smoking relapse, and cortisol is a primary biomarker of stress. The current pilot study examined changes in levels of cortisol in hair within the context of two time-intensity matched behavioral smoking cessation treatments: mindfulness training for smokers and a cognitive-behavioral comparison group. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen participants were recruited from a larger randomized controlled trial of smoking cessation. OUTCOME MEASURES: Hair samples (3 cm) were obtained 1 month after quit attempt, allowing for a retrospective analysis of hair cortisol at preintervention and post-quit attempt time periods. Self-reported negative affect was also assessed before and after treatment. INTERVENTION: Both groups received a 7-week intensive intervention using mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral strategies. RESULTS: Cortisol significantly decreased from baseline to 1 month after quit attempt in the entire sample (d=-0.35; p=.005). In subsequent repeated-measures analysis of variance models, time by group and time by quit status interaction effects were not significant. However, post hoc paired t tests yielded significant pre-post effects among those randomly assigned to the mindfulness condition (d=-0.48; p=.018) and in those abstinent at post-test (d=-0.41; p=.004). Decreased hair cortisol correlated with reduced negative affect (r=.60; p=.011). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that smoking cessation intervention is associated with decreased hair cortisol levels and that reduced hair cortisol may be specifically associated with mindfulness training and smoking abstinence. RESULTS support the use of hair cortisol as a novel objective biomarker in future research

Scrutinizing the impact of policy instruments on adoption of agricultural conservation practices using Bayesian expert models

Policy instruments—such as regulation, financial incentives, and agricultural extension—are commonly applied by governments to promote sustainable agricultural practices and tackle ecosystem degradation. Despite substantial investment, little data are available to gauge the impact of evolving policy mixes. We constructed a Bayesian network model to explore relationships between pol-icy instruments, contextual factors, and adoption. Applying a series of scenarios, we present examples of how different instruments influence adoption and how their effectiveness is shaped by contextual factors. Scenarios highlight that the effect of policy instruments is often modest, and constrained by diverse practice and population characteristics. These findings allow us to reflect on the role of policy instruments, and the conditions necessary to support practice change. For example, our findings raise questions about the role of financial benefits versus financial capacity, and highlight the potential importance of concepts such as mental bandwidth in shaping both motivation and capacity to adopt

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Microglia throughout the Mouse Lifespan and in the Injured Brain Reveals Complex Cell-State Changes.

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, rapidly change states in response to their environment, but we lack molecular and functional signatures of different microglial populations. Here, we analyzed the RNA expression patterns of more than 76,000 individual microglia in mice during development, in old age, and after brain injury. Our analysis uncovered at least nine transcriptionally distinct microglial states, which expressed unique sets of genes and were localized in the brain using specific markers. The greatest microglial heterogeneity was found at young ages; however, several states-including chemokine-enriched inflammatory microglia-persisted throughout the lifespan or increased in the aged brain. Multiple reactive microglial subtypes were also found following demyelinating injury in mice, at least one of which was also found in human multiple sclerosis lesions. These distinct microglia signatures can be used to better understand microglia function and to identify and manipulate specific subpopulations in health and disease

Building a distributed shared print archive of Western Canadian topographic maps

Open access article. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) appliesA working group of map librarians from across Western Canada formed in February 2021 from amongst members of the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL). This group's task was to develop processes and procedures for the identification and preservation of print versions of topographic maps of Western Canadian provinces and northern territories published by Canadian federal government agencies. These maps, once identified and inventoried, are to be included within a distributed shared print archive. Inclusion in the archive will ensure that individual print maps remain accessible, opportunities are available for the reallocation of library space, and that maps are preserved for members in a cost-effective way. On October 28, 2021, the COPPUL SPAN Phase 6 Working Group presented an overview of the project and its progress to date at the WAML 2021 Virtual Conference