99,221 research outputs found
Dr. Glendon Swarthout
No full textHosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness
Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses
No full textFollowing an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied
C3H7NO2S effect on concrete steel-rebar corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4 simulating industrial/microbial environment
No full textThis paper investigates C3H7NO2S (Cysteine) effect on the inhibition of reinforcing steel corrosion in concrete immersed in 0.5 M H2SO4, for simulating industrial/microbial environment. Different C3H7NO2S concentrations were admixed, in duplicates, in steel-reinforced concrete samples that were partially immersed in the acidic sulphate environment. Electrochemical monitoring techniques of open circuit potential, as per ASTM C876-91 R99, and corrosion rate, by linear polarization resistance, were then employed for studying anticorrosion effect in steel-reinforced concrete samples by the organic hydrocarbon admixture. Analyses of electrochemical test-data followed ASTM G16-95 R04 prescriptions including probability distribution modeling with significant testing by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and student's t-tests statistics. Results established that all datasets of corrosion potential distributed like the Normal, the Gumbel and the Weibull distributions but that only the Weibull model described all the corrosion rate datasets in the study, as per the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test-statistics. Results of the student's t-test showed that differences of corrosion test-data between duplicated samples with the same C3H7NO2S concentrations were not statistically significant. These results indicated that 0.06878 M C3H7NO2S exhibited optimal inhibition efficiency η = 90.52±1.29% on reinforcing steel corrosion in the concrete samples immersed in 0.5 M H2SO4, simulating industrial/microbial service-environment
Metacordyceps G. H. Sung, J. M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora
No full textMetacordyceps G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora M. chlamydosporia (H.C. Evans) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones & Spatafora, Stud. Mycol. 57: 35 (2007) / IF 504186 Reference: Sung et al. (2007)Published as part of Wijayawardene, Nalin N., Dai, Dong-Qin, Premarathne, Bhagya M., Wimalasena, Madhara K., Jayalal, Udeni, Wickramanayake, Kawmini D., Dangalla, Hasanka, Jayathunga, Hashini, Brahmanage, Rashika S., Karunarathna, Samantha C., Weerakoon, Gothamie, Ariyawansa, Kahandawa G. S. U., Yapa, Neelamanie, Madawala, Sumedha, Nanayakkara, Chandrika M., Fan, Xin-Lei, Kirk, Paul M., Zhang, Gui-Qing, Ediriweera, Aseni, Bhat, Jayarama, Dawoud, Turki M. & Tibpromma, Saowaluck, 2023, Checklist, typification details, and nomenclature status of ascomycetous fungi originally described in Sri Lanka, pp. 1-105 in Phytotaxa 611 (1) on page 63, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.611.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/830873
Borderline shades: Morphometric features predict borderline personality traits but not histrionic traits
No full text: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most diagnosed disorders in clinical settings. Besides the fully diagnosed disorder, borderline personality traits (BPT) are quite common in the general population. Prior studies have investigated the neural correlates of BPD but not of BPT. This paper investigates the neural correlates of BPT in a subclinical population using a supervised machine learning method known as Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR) to build predictive models. Additionally, we want to determine whether the same brain areas involved in BPD are also involved in subclinical BPT. Recent attempts to characterize the specific role of resting state-derived macro networks in BPD have highlighted the role of the default mode network. However, it is not known if this extends to the subclinical population. Finally, we wanted to test the hypothesis that the same circuitry that predicts BPT can also predict histrionic personality traits. Histrionic personality is sometimes considered a milder form of BPD, and making a differential diagnosis between the two may be difficult. For the first time KRR was applied to structural images of 135 individuals to predict BPT, based on the whole brain, on a circuit previously found to correctly classify BPD, and on the five macro-networks. At a whole brain level, results show that frontal and parietal regions, as well as the Heschl's area, the thalamus, the cingulum, and the insula, are able to predict borderline traits. BPT predictions increase when considering only the regions limited to the brain circuit derived from a study on BPD, confirming a certain overlap in brain structure between subclinical and clinical samples. Of all the five macro networks, only the DMN successfully predicts BPD, confirming previous observations on its role in the BPD. Histrionic traits could not be predicted by the BPT circuit. The results have implications for the diagnosis of BPD and a dimensional model of personality
Could hypomanic traits explain selective migration? Verifying the hypothesis by the surveys on Sardinian migrants
No full textIntroduction: A recent survey put forward the hypothesis that the emigration that occurred from Sardinia from the 1960's to the 1980's, selected people with a hypomanic temperament. The paper aims to verify if the people who migrated from Sardinia in that period have shown a high risk of mood disorders in the surveys carried out in their host countries, and if the results are consistent with this hypothesis. Methods: This is systematic review. Results: In the 1970's when examining the attitudes towards migration in Sardinian couples waiting to emigrate, Rudas found that the decision to emigrate was principally taken by males. Female showed lower self-esteem than male emigrants. A study on Sardinian immigrants in Argentina carried out in 2001-02, at the peak of the economic crisis, found a high risk of depressive disorders in women only. These results were opposite to the findings recorded ten years earlier in a survey on Sardinian immigrants in Paris, where the risk of Depressive Episode was higher in young men only. Discussion: Data point to a bipolar disorder risk for young (probably hypomanic) male migrants in competitive, challenging conditions; and a different kind of depressive episodes for women in trying economic conditions. The results of the survey on Sardinian migrants are partially in agreement with the hypothesis of a selective migration of people with a hypomanic temperament. Early motivations and self-esteem seem related to the ways mood disorders are expressed, and to the vulnerability to specific triggering situations in the host country
Chhapgarus intermedius Ng & Trivedi & Bhat 2022, comb. nov.
No full textChhapgarus intermedius (Chhapgar, 1955) comb. nov. (Figs. 1–6) Pseudograpsus intermedius Chhapgar, 1955: 257.— Chhapgar 1957: 519.— Hashmi 1964: 452.— Sethuramalingam & Khan 1991: 89.— Selvakumar & Khan 1993: 337.— Tirmizi & Ghani 1996: 170, fig. 65.— Chakraborty et al, 2002: 1392.— Khan et al. 2005: 1319.— Dev Roy & Nandi 2007: 180.— Ravichandran & Kannupandi 2007: 333 (in list).— Haragi et al. 2010: 10 (in list).— Dineshbabu et al, 2011: 23 (in list).— Pawar 2012: 90 (in list).— Trivedi et al. 2018: 75 (in list). Holotype: ZSI C3-363/1, male (CW 10.7 mm, CL 9.0 mm), Mumbai, Maharastra State, India, 17 March 1953, coll. B. F. Chhapgar. Other material examined: LFSC.ZRC-154, 8 males (CW 5.8–11.1 mm, CL 5.4–10.0 mm), 6 females (CW 6.1– 8.6 mm, CL 5.5–7.6 mm), Chapora Estuary (15°37′95″N, 73°45′76″E), Goa state, India, 7 September 2016, coll. M. Bhat; RMNH D-30417, 1 male (CW 11.3 mm, CL 10.4 mm), 1 female (CW 8.6 mm, CL 7.6 mm), Kali River estuary, Karnataka state, India, 1974–1975, coll. U. S. Kakati. Description. Carapace squarish, slightly broader than long; dorsal surface covered with short-brown setae, regions not well defined, convex. Frontal margin slightly convex, slightly bilobed (Figs. 1A, 2A, 4A, 5A, 6A). Anterolateral margin subcristate with three teeth, including orbital tooth, external orbital tooth most distinct, very broad; second tooth smaller in size, third tooth smallest. Posterolateral margins not sharply demarcated from anterolateral margin, almost straight, distinctly converging. Orbits small, eyes completely filling orbit (Figs. 1A, 2A, 4A, 5A, 6A). Third maxilliped with foliaceous merus, broader than long; anterolateral angle produced, auriculiform; distal margin distinctly bilobed, outer lobe larger, base with small median cleft. Ischium longer than broad, sulcus not discernible. Small, distinct rhomboidal gape formed when closed. Exopod with obtuse, blunt inner subdistal angle, flagellum prominent, longer than width of merus (Fig. 2D). Epistome broad, flat, posterior margin entire. Male chelipeds equal to subequal, inner surfaces glabrous; merus without spines, dorsal surface highly setose; carpus without spines or teeth; outer surface of fingers with tufts of long, soft setae. Fingers slightly shorter than palm; dactylus with one large tooth medially followed by small teeth, pollex cutting edge with small teeth, one large tooth present proximally, single prominent ridge present on pollex, finger tips recurved, sharp, hooved (Figs. 1A, B, 2B, 4B). Female chelae slender than those of male, outer surface covered with short setae, a prominent ridge running parallel to the ventral margin (Figs. 2C, 5B). Ambulatory legs with second pair longest. Merus of all ambulatory legs with long, soft setae; anterior margin with blunt subdistal tooth; outer surface of carpus with short setae, anterior and posterior margins of propodus with short setae (Figs. 1A, C, 3F–I, 4A, C, 5A, C, 6A, B). Male pleon narrowly triangular with all segments freely moveable (six somites plus telson), lateral margins highly setose (Figs. 1C, 2E, 4C, 6B); female pleon similar, very broad (Figs. 3A, 5B). G1 stout, gently curving outwards, terminal lobe elongate, slightly curved (Figs. 3B–D). G2 short, small (Fig. 3E). Female vulvae operculate, circular (Fig. 3J). Distribution. The species is so far reported from Pakistan (Tirmizi & Ghani 1996) and India (Trivedi et al. 2018). In India, the species is reported from Maharashtra (Chhapgar 1955, 1957; Pawar 2012), Karnataka (Haragi et al. 2010; Dineshbabu et al. 2011), and Tamil Nadu (Sethuramalingam & Khan 1991; Selvakumar & Khan 1993; Khan et al. 2005; Dev Roy & Nandi 2007; Ravichandran & Kannupandi 2007). Ecology. Chhapgarus intermedius comb. nov. inhabits the mid-intertidal zone in mangrove habitats. Individuals of the species are mostly found under dead logs or rock boulders, and sometimes also in burrows. Coloration. The carapace of fresh specimens is chestnut brown with short black setae. The cheliped and ambulatory legs are light brown. Sternum and abdomen are also light brown. Remarks. Chhapgarus intermedius (Chhapgar, 1955) comb. nov. was described on the basis of 14 specimens (ten males; two females and two ovigerous females) collected from Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra State, India (Chhapgar 1955). The holotype male, which was deposited in Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata has been examined in the present study but the rest of the specimens (paratype) examined by Chhapgar (1955) are not traceable. Fresh specimens examined in the present study show agreement with the illustrations and original descriptions given by Chhapgar (1955).Published as part of Ng, Ngan Kee, Trivedi, Jigneshkumar & Bhat, Mithila, 2022, Redescription of Pseudograpsus intermedius Chhapgar, 1955 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Varunidae) from India, pp. 127-138 in Zootaxa 5209 (1) on page 131, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.1.7, http://zenodo.org/record/732261
Author Correction: A global analysis of terrestrial plant litter dynamics in non-perennial waterways
No full text© 2018 The Author(s) In the version of this Article originally published, the affiliation for M. I. Arce was incorrect; it should have been:5Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany. This has now been corrected in the online versions of the Article
Studies on Thermal Reactions and Sintering Behaviour of Red Clays by Irreversible Dilatometry
No full textThermal behavior of clays strongly influences that of ceramic bodies made thereof and hence, its study is must for assessing its utility in ceramic products as well as to set the body composition. Irreversible dilatometry is an effective thermal analysis tool for evaluating thermal reactions as well as sintering behavior of clays or clay based ceramic bodies. In this study, irreversible dilatometry of four red clay samples (S, M, R and G) of Gujarat region, which vary in their chemical and mineralogical compositions was carried out using a Dilatometer and compared. Chemical analysis and XRD of red clays were carried out. XRD showed that major clay minerals in S, M and R clays are kaolinite. However, clay marked R and G showed presence of both kaolinite and illite and / muscovite. Presence of non-clay minerals such as hematite, quartz, anatase were also observed in all clays. XRD results were in agreement with chemical analyses results. Rational analyses showed variation in amount of clay and non-clay minerals in red clay samples. Evaluation of dilatometric curves showed that clay marked as S, M and R exhibit patterns typical for kaolinitic clays. Variation in linear expansion (up to 550 degrees C) and shrinkage (above 550 degrees C) between these three clays was found to be related to difference in amount of quartz and kaolinite respectively. However, dilatometric curve of G exhibit a pattern similar to that for an illitic clay. This study confirmed that sintering of investigated kaolinitic and illitic and / muscovitic red clays initiates at above 1060 degrees C and 860 degrees C respectively and this behaviour strongly depends upon type and amount of minerals and their chemical compositions
Measurement of the CP-violating phase \phi s in Bs->J/\psi\pi+\pi- decays
No full textMeasurement of the mixing-induced CP-violating phase phi_s in Bs decays is of prime importance in probing new physics. Here 7421 +/- 105 signal events from the dominantly CP-odd final state J/\psi pi+ pi- are selected in 1/fb of pp collision data collected at sqrt{s} = 7 TeV with the LHCb detector. A time-dependent fit to the data yields a value of phi_s=-0.019^{+0.173+0.004}_{-0.174-0.003} rad, consistent with the Standard Model expectation. No evidence of direct CP violation is found
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