Conical folds -- An artifact of using simple geometric shapes to describe a complex geologic structure

Accurate representation of the 3D shapes of natural folds is essential to characterization of the dynamic models for fold formation. Geometrical analysis of folds commonly relies upon analyzing patterns defined by the variation in the orientation of poles to planar surfaces deformed by a shortening event when plotted using graphical calculators (e.g., stereogram, polar tangent diagrams) to interpret the shape of folds. Stereograms for which orientation data define small circles are classified as non-cylindrical regular folds and are interpreted as conical folds, where the shape of the fold is represented by a cone that terminates at a point. Utilizing similar two-dimensional geometrical analysis of orientation data extracted from various transects across virtual pericline folds produces high spatial resolution synthetic stereograms with patterns that reproduce those of cylindrical and non-cylindrical conical folds as well as fish-hook patterns. Stereograms from natural periclines near Licking, Missouri mimic those of the synthetic stereogram patterns. Reverse engineering to produce three-dimensional shapes from the synthetic stereogram defines cones as this is a permissible solution to this stereogram pattern; however, the shape and orientation of these cones are shown to be poor representations of the shape of the pericline. Additionally, SCAT and differential geometry analyses are used to mathematically demonstrate the difference between periclines and conical folds. In comparison to conical folds, natural pericline folds are common, and their formation is readily reproduced by dynamic modelling without requiring highly non-uniform stress-fields or special mechanical behavior. We suggest that continuing to model the geometrical shape of many natural folds as conical, based upon stereogram patterns that define small circles, is pointless as natural folded rocks are more likely to have the form of periclines --Abstract, page iii

The Dimensions of Hardiness and Resiliency for Combat PTSD

Research suggests that the personality factor hardiness may aid in resilience to combat PTSD. The need to understand resiliency factors like hardiness becomes more urgent as the depth of the epidemic of combat PTSD among veterans becomes more evident. Hardiness consists of three dimensions: (a) commitment, (b) control, and (c) challenge. This study was designed to explore the relationship between the dimensions of hardiness and combat PTSD in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans. Participants were contacted through college veterans offices across the nation, and measures were anonymously completed online. Veterans who participated in the study were asked to complete measures of demographics, hardiness, PTSD, and combat exposure. Correlations suggest that commitment hardiness is a better predictor of resilience to combat PTSD, than challenge or control hardiness. A significant correlation of lesser magnitude was also found for challenge hardiness and combat PTSD. The relationship between control hardiness and combat PTSD was nonsignificant. The relationship between commitment hardiness and combat PTSD is consistent across relevant studies. Further research is needed to clarify the reliability of the relationship between challenge and control hardiness, and to learn whether interventions to increase commitment hardiness result in lower levels of PTSD in veterans

The Dimensions of Hardiness and Resiliency for Combat PTSD

Research suggests that the personality factor hardiness may aid in resilience to combat PTSD. The need to understand resiliency factors like hardiness becomes more urgent as the depth of the epidemic of combat PTSD among veterans becomes more evident. Hardiness consists of three dimensions: (a) commitment, (b) control, and (c) challenge. This study was designed to explore the relationship between the dimensions of hardiness and combat PTSD in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans. Participants were contacted through college veterans offices across the nation, and measures were anonymously completed online. Veterans who participated in the study were asked to complete measures of demographics, hardiness, PTSD, and combat exposure. Correlations suggest that commitment hardiness is a better predictor of resilience to combat PTSD, than challenge or control hardiness. A significant correlation of lesser magnitude was also found for challenge hardiness and combat PTSD. The relationship between control hardiness and combat PTSD was nonsignificant. The relationship between commitment hardiness and combat PTSD is consistent across relevant studies. Further research is needed to clarify the reliability of the relationship between challenge and control hardiness, and to learn whether interventions to increase commitment hardiness result in lower levels of PTSD in veterans

Inadequate Adequacy?: Empirical Studies on Class Member Preferences of Class Counsel

Class members to date have been completely sidelined in class litigation. Representational notice is one way to provide them with a voice and a seat at the table (albeit a distant one). However, we note that expressing unmandated preferences does not solve the agency problem that exists in these actions, nor does it guarantee that class counsel is necessarily operating in class members’ best interests during the course of the litigation or in any settlement, even armed with useful ex ante information. Much is left to be explored as to whether class members are satisfied with the representation they received or the results achieved after the culmination of the litigation. Gaining greater insight into class members’ interests, needs, and preferences narrows agency problems that have plagued class actions and would steer such litigation towards being what at its roots it was meant to be—representationa

A Process for the Production of a Stain-Resistant Polymer Application

This project comprises a stain-resistant configuration for copolymer chains of styrene maleic anhydride (SMA), as well as the process involved in the creation and application of the stain-resisting compound. The stain-blocking agent is bonded to nylon 6,6, a common component of nylon carpeting. A sample portion of nylon was created as a component for this experiment. The synthesized nylon is representative of nylon carpet fiber. As a control, we apply 0.05 molar red food dye to a portion of the nylon sample. Under controlled conditions, the food dye bonds with the polymer chains of the nylon, ultimately staining the sample. Furthermore, we will synthesize a SMA copolymer to create a stain-blocking compound that will be applied to the polymer chains of nylon. Once the stain-blocker is applied to a portion of the nylon sample, food dye will be used to test the effectiveness of the stain-blocking composition. The control group will then be compared with the experimental group. The results should show that the stain-blocker prevents the food dye from staining the nylon sample, and result in the synthesis of a successful stain-blocking agent for nylon, 6,6 carpet fibers

Rural Surgery Training Programs in the United States: A Review of the Literature

RURAL SURGERY TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Abstract: Rural surgery training programs have been developed to train general surgeons for community and rural service. There are 10 rural surgery training programs in the United States. Rural surgery training began in 1974 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin to prepare general surgery residents for rural service. There is a national shortage of general surgeons which translates into a deficit of surgeons in rural areas. The terms “general surgeon” and “rural surgeon” are not synonymous as rural surgery is more extensive, more broad-based and more subspecialty with more trauma, burn care and wound care and far more endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. There are many advantages to rural general surgery training programs. A well-trained rural surgeon with OB/GYN experience can handle 66% of all inpatient operations in a rural hospital. Rural surgery programs have been developed to address the above problems and attract graduating general surgeons to communities and rural areas. These programs have had high general surgery practice and high rural placement. Selection of appropriate campus, hospital and attending staff is critical for the educational experience to be maximal. Attending surgeons need to be general surgeons, rural surgeons and subspecialty surgeons. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) has developed the Advisory Council for Rural Surgery (ACRS). The ACRS has developed a repository of rural training experiences and training sites. There are five different types of training experience ranging from rotations to dedicated tracks to fellowships. Rural surgery training programs are a mechanism to attract more medical students to general surgery residencies, more graduating chief general surgery residents to private practice in community and rural areas, improve the case numbers and confidence of graduating surgery residents, and improve the quality of surgical care in this country

Unique probe of dark matter in the core of M87 with the Event Horizon Telescope

We demonstrate the unprecedented capabilities of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) to image the innermost dark matter profile in the vicinity of the supermassive black hole at the center of the M87 radio galaxy. We present the first model of the synchrotron emission induced by dark matter annihilations from a spiky profile in the close vicinity of a supermassive black hole, accounting for strong gravitational lensing effects. Our results show that the EHT should readily resolve dark matter spikes if present. Moreover, the photon ring surrounding the silhouette of the black hole is clearly visible in the spike emission, which introduces observable small-scale structure into the signal. We find that the dark matter-induced emission provides an adequate fit to the existing EHT data, implying that in addition to the jet, a dark matter spike may account for a sizable portion of the millimeter emission from the innermost (subparsec) region of M87. Regardless, our results show that the EHT can probe very weakly annihilating dark matter. Current EHT observations already constrain very small cross sections, typically down to a few 10−31 cm3 s−1 for a 10 GeV candidate, close to characteristic values for p-wave-suppressed annihilation. Future EHT observations will further improve constraints on the DM scenario