Aggregating available soil water holding capacity data for crop yield models

The total amount of water available to plants that is held against gravity in a soil is usually estimated as the amount present at -0.03 MPa average water potential minus the amount present at -1.5 MPa water potential. This value, designated available water-holding capacity (AWHC), is a very important soil characteristic that is strongly and positively correlated to the inherent productivity of soils. In various applications, including assessing soil moisture status over large areas, it is necessary to group soil types or series as to their productivity. Current methods to classify AWHC of soils consider only total capacity of soil profiles and thus may group together soils which differ greatly in AWHC as a function of depth in the profile. A general approach for evaluating quantitatively the multidimensional nature of AWHC in soils is described. Data for 902 soil profiles, representing 184 soil series, in Indiana were obtained from the Soil Characterization Laboratory at Purdue University. The AWHC for each of ten 150-mm layers in each soil was established, based on soil texture and parent material. A multivariate clustering procedure was used to classify each soil profile into one of 4, 8, or 12 classes based upon ten-dimensional AWHC values. The optimum number of classes depends on the range of AWHC in the population of oil profiles analyzed and on the sensitivity of a crop to differences in distribution of water within the soil profile

Alternate methodology for generation and use of key characteristics

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering; and (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1996.Includes bibliographical references (p. 96).Hardware variation reduction is an issue of paramount importance to manufacturing companies in their efforts to reduce cycle time and manufacturing costs. Hardware variation leads to increased rework, and decreased levels of customer satisfaction. The Boeing Company, the leading manufacturer of commercial jet aircraft, in the late 1980's and early 1990's introduced two separate programs to address hardware variation. Advanced Quality Systems (AQS) addressed variation in components from suppliers; Hardware Variability Control (HVC) addressed hardware variation internal to Boeing. One of the tools utilized by both AQS and HVC is the use of Key Characteristics. Key Characteristics are defined at Boeing as "Attributes or features of a material, part, assembly, installation or system in which variation from nominal has the most adverse affect upon fit, performance, or service life." Key characteristics are generated by first identifying the features or requirements of the end product which are of primary importance to the customer. These requirements are then "flowed down" through the different layers of the engineering tree and build plan to determine those attributes or features at the assembly, subassembly, or detail part level which play a critical role in delivering the product level customer requirements. This methodology therefore allows Boeing to focus on those elements of the manufacturing process where hardware variation has the most potential for causing a quality loss in customer satisfaction. Recently a new methodology has been developed at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This methodology, named herein as the quad key methodology, expands the classifications for key characteristics to include the designations of product key characteristics, assembly key characteristics, manufacturing key characteristics, and Stat key characteristics. This new methodology was applied to the analysis of the lower gate assembly for the forward entry door for the new 737-X model airplane, currently in the product design stage at Boeing. The research showed that the added designations for keys available under the quadkey methodology offered several advantages over that included under HVC. Additional uses for key characteristics are also discussed outside of their application for the reduction of hardware variation.by Richard E. Seubert.S.M

Retrospective analysis of free temporoparietal fascial flap for defect reconstruction of the hand and the distal upper extremity

Introduction: Soft tissue reconstruction of the hand and distal upper extremity is challenging to preserve the function of the hand as good as possible. Therefore, a thin flap has been shown to be useful. In this retrospective study, we aimed to show the use of the free temporoparietal fascial flap in soft tissue reconstruction of the hand and distal upper extremity. Methods We analysed the outcome of free temporoparietal fascial flaps that were used between the years 2007and 2016 at our institution. Major and minor complications, defect location and donor site morbidity were the main fields of interest. Results: 14 patients received a free temporoparietal fascial flap for soft tissue reconstruction of the distal upper extremity. Minor complications were noted in three patients and major complications in two patients. Total flap necrosis occurred in one patient. Conclusion The free temporoparietal fascial flap is a useful tool in reconstructive surgery of the hand and the distal upper extremity with a low donor site morbidity and moderate rates of major and minor complications

Tiger Sharks Eat Songbirds: Reply

In response to our recent paper (Drymon et al. 2019), Yosef (2019) questions the mechanism proposed to explain interactions between tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) and migratory songbirds, while offering an alternative mechanism based on a single observation. We appreciate the comments from Yosef and the opportunity to respond

Rapid Orthotics for CURE Kenya - Mechanical Design and Official Testing of 3D Printed Sockets

Rapid Orthotics for Cure Kenya (ROCK) collaborates with CURE, a non-profit orthopedic workshop in Kjabe, Kenya, to implement a 3D printing system for manufacturing custom prosthetics and orthotics. The goal is to reduce the production time and cost for the current transtibial sockets being manufactured in the orthotic workshop to give the patients a way to integrate into society and reduce stigma from their communities. The team designed a system for manufacturing transtibial sockets by converting a scan of the residual limb to a digital file customized by the orthopedic technicians and converted to a file to be 3D printed. The team designed a procedure to ensure the safety of the sockets within the constraints and offsets of the ISO 10328 Standard. The standard requires twelve official tests specifying the type and conditions to be conducted for the Ultimate Strength and Static Proof tests. The team has designed a testing rig that interfaces with the Materials Testing System machine at Messiah University to apply the necessary forces according to the complex geometry outlined in the standard. Additionally, research has determined the optimized 3D printing settings to increase the quality and consistency of the sockets. To smoothly institute the system developed in the orthopedic workshop, the team has developed a Training Manual outlining the step-by-step procedure for the system. Using this system, the team completed all twelve tests with a passing socket result which will contribute to determining the steps for next semester and for the summer site team trip. Funding for this work provided by The Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research and by The Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research.https://mosaic.messiah.edu/engr2022/1014/thumbnail.jp

Rapid Orthotics for Cure Kenya: Mechanical Design and Modeling of 3D Printed Sockets

Rapid Orthotics for Cure Kenya (ROCK) works with CURE, a non-profit orthopedic workshop in Kjabe, Kenya, to implement a 3D printing system for manufacturing custom prosthetics and orthotics. The goal is to reduce the production time and cost for the current transtibial sockets being manufactured in the orthotic clinic to give the patients a way to integrate into society and reduce stigma from their communities. The team has developed a transtibial socket for below-the-knee amputees produced by a 3D printing system that converts a scan of the residual limb to a model that takes a third of the time to print versus the current manufacturing method. The current focus of the team is to develop a rigorous testing procedure adhering to the requirements set by the ISO 10328 Standard, an internationally recognized testing method. In order to ensure the safety of the sockets, tests must be run demonstrating that the product can withstand the different forces experienced during the gait cycle. Due to the complex geometry of the applied forces outlined in the ISO 10328, the team has designed a novel testing rig that interfaces with the MTS machine at Messiah University to apply the necessary forces according to the geometry outlined in the standard. Additionally, computer-based simulations are being developed in SolidWorks, a 3D modeling software, to determine how the components will behave under certain loading conditions. This is done to ensure accordance with the 10328 Standard and will be critical in the future for developing necessary cyclic tests.https://mosaic.messiah.edu/engr2021/1013/thumbnail.jp

Continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion in patients with 'brittle' diabetes:Favourable effects on glycaemic control and hospital stay

Aims: To evaluate the effects of continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion (CIPII) using implantable pumps on glycaemic control and duration of hospital stay in poorly controlled 'brittle' Dutch diabetes patients, and to assess their current quality of life. Methods: Thirty-three patients were included. Glycaemic control was retrospectively assessed with HbA1c levels acquired before implantation, 1 year later and at long-term follow up of 58 months. Duration of hospital stay the year before and the year following first implantation was extracted from hospital records. Determinants of long-term glycaemic response were sought. Self-report questionnaires were administered at 58 months follow-up only, to assess current psychopathology and quality of life. Results: Mean HbA1c decreased from 10.0 ± 2.3% to 9.0 ± 1.8% (P = 0.039) 1 year after implantation and stabilized at 9.0 ± 1.6% (P = 0.023) during long-term follow-up. Median number of hospital days in the 20 patients suffering from hospital admission before implantation decreased from 45 the year before implantation to 13 the year after (P = 0.005). Patients with a higher baseline HbA1c showed a larger long-term response (P ≤ 0.001). Relatively low levels for quality of life were found, as well as a higher than expected number of patients with psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: CIPII proved effective in complex patients with a history of poor control and hospital admission. Despite a substantial long-term improvement in glycaemic control and diminished hospital stay, normal levels of glycaemic control and quality of life were not attained

Population Dynamics, Relative Abundance, and Habitat Suitability of Adult Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in Nearshore Waters of the North-Central Gulf of Mexico

In the Gulf of Mexico, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is an immensely popular sportfish, yet the Gulf of Mexico stock is currently managed as data-limited in federal waters. The results of the federal stock assessment conducted in 2016 for Gulf of Mexico red drum were not recommended for providing management advice. Consequently, we sought to address data gaps highlighted in the assessment by producing up-to- date overall and sex-specific growth models, standardized indices of relative abundance, and predictions of habitat suitability and by updating estimates of natural mortality. Using a time series for the period of 2006–2018, we assigned ages of 0–36 years to 1178 red drum. A negative binomial generalized linear model including variables for year, depth, surface temperature, dissolved oxygen, and bottom salinity was used to standardize an index of relative abundance. Examination of catch per unit of effort revealed that adult red drum were significantly more abundant in state waters than in federal waters. These findings were explained by habitat suitability models, which were used to identify surface current velocity, surface temperature, and depth as the strongest predictors of relative abundance. The results of our investigation reveal that the adult spawning stock of red drum in the Gulf of Mexico is not fully protected by the catch moratorium in federal waters