A New Record For The Flora of Iraq: Astragalus vogelii (Papilionaceae)

The Western Desert is a wide area of Iraq, it is bordered by three Arab countries, and characterized by the great plant diversity in the rainy years, including year 2019, during the spring season of the same year, a number of field trips were carried out in which wild plants were collected, and among them was Astragalus vogelii (webb) Bornm. of the papilionaceae family for the first time in Iraq, specifically in the Obealah valley, which intersects with the highway road towards Jordan and Syria (about 18 km. west of Rutba). The species was identificated according to the Flora of neighboring and near countries, the morphological description of the sprcies was done through a taxonomic treatment supported by photographic and microscopic images for all floral and vegetative parts, as well as anatomical description of the stem based on the cross section. Amap was also developed the specifies the locations of the species distribution. After making sure that there was no previous sample for the species in the Iraqi Herbaria, the sample of this study were deposited in the Iraqi National Herbarium with numbers 60340, 60341, 60342 and in the Anbar University Herbarium with numbers 6670, 6671, 6672 and 6673.

657 A Retrospective Cost Analysis of Group and Save Samples Performed Prior To Vascular Procedures

Aim To assess if routine group and save is indicated prior to all vascular procedures. Method A retrospective review of all patients who were admitted to vascular ward between 1st to 30th June 2020 was performed using our hospital database. The following data was retrieved: admission diagnosis, preoperative haemoglobin, number, and type of vascular surgeries performed, number of G&S sent and total number requiring transfusion. Results Total 81 patients were admitted, all had a G&S on arrival with routine bloods. All preoperative patients need 2 G&S prior to surgery as per trust policy.69 patients underwent surgery.111G&S were processed.51 patients had 1 G&S on admission as they had a previous sample.28 patients had 2 G&S either because they had no previous records or had postoperative complications.2 patients required multiple transfusions so had >3 G&S each. 8 out of 81 patients needed peri-operative blood transfusion. 7 of them had undergone limb or toe amputations and 1 patient had ruptured AAA. The cost of single G&S sample is £30.8. Patients undergoing angioplasty, bypass, carotid endarterectomy (n = 46) did not require transfusion, but the expenditure incurred by performing g&s in these patients was £1570.8 Conclusions Peri-operative blood transfusion rates were 9.8%. Judicious use of G&S could have saved £1570.8 to the trust. Rationalising preoperative G&S policy would lead to substantial financial savings.

The Short Version of the Metacognitive Anger Processing Scale (MAP-SV) – initial psychometric testing

Background: The 26-item version of the Metacognitive Anger Processing Scale (MAP) has shown good psychometric properties in previous studies. However, there is a need for a shorter version of the scale. Aims: The aim of the present study is to psychometrically evaluate the 9-item Metacognitive Anger Processing Scale – Short Version (MAP-SV) in comparison with the original, 26-item version. Method: The 26-item MAP includes three subscales: rumination, positive beliefs and negative beliefs. Three items from each subscale were selected based on clinical validity to constitute the 9-item MAP-SV. A previous sample used for validation of the 26-item MAP was used for clinimetric testing. The sample included psychiatric patients (n = 88) and male forensic inpatients (n = 54). The MAP-SV was assessed according to scalability, convergent validity with general metacognition, and concurrent validity with anger measures. Results: The scalability of the 9-item MAP-SV was comparable to that of the original 26-item MAP in most psychometric tests. The Loevinger’s coefficient of homogeneity for the total score of the MAP-SV items was 0.29 for the combined sample compared with 0.36 in the original MAP, indicating close to acceptable scalability. The alpha coefficient for the MAP-SV total score was 0.79. For the combined sample, Pearson inter-correlations between the subscales of the MAP-SV were highly correlated with the MAP-SV total score (ranging from .66 to .84). Conclusions: The 9-item MAP-SV showed good psychometric properties and can be used as a reliable tool for assessing self-reported metacognitive anger processing.

Estimation of Geographic Origin from Dust Using Plant DNA Metabarcoding

Information obtained from the analysis of dust, particularly biological particles such as pollen, plant parts, and fungal spores, has great utility in forensic geolocation. As an alternative to manual microscopic analysis, we developed a pipeline that utilizes the environmental DNA (eDNA) from plants in dust samples to estimate previous sample location(s). The species of plant-derived eDNA within dust samples were identified using metabarcoding and their geographic distributions were then derived from occurrence records in the USGS Biodiversity in Service of Our Nation (BISON) database. The distributions for all plant species identified in a sample were used to generate a probabilistic estimate of the sample source. With settled dust collected at four U.S. sites over a 15-month period, we demonstrated positive regional geolocation (within 600 km 2 of the collection point) with 47.6% (20 of 42) of the samples analyzed. Attribution accuracy and resolution was dependent on the number of plant species identified in a dust sample, which was greatly affected by the season of collection. In dust samples that yielded a minimum of 20 identified plant species, positive regional attribution improved to 66.7% (16 of 24 samples). Using dust samples collected from 31 different U.S. sites, trace plant eDNA provided relevant regional attribution information on provenance in 32.2%. This demonstrated that analysis of plant eDNA in dust can provide an accurate estimate regional provenance within the U.S., and relevant forensic information, for a substantial fraction of samples analyzed.

Exploring Paternal Mentalization Among Fathers of Toddlers Through a Clay-Sculpting Task

This study explored parental mentalization processes as they unfolded during a sculpting task administered to fathers of toddlers. Parental mentalization—the parent’s ability to understand behavior (his/her own as a parent and that of their child) based on its underlying mental states (Luyten et al., 2017)—is considered crucial within parent–child relationships (Fonagy et al., 1998) and child development (Steele and Steele, 2008). Eleven Israeli first-time fathers (n = 11) of children aged 2–3 (mean = 2.3) were asked to sculpt a representation of themselves with their child using clay. Following the task, the fathers were interviewed while observing the sculpture they had created. Qualitative thematic analysis integrated three types of data—video footage of the sculpting processes, the sculptures themselves, and the transcripts of the post-sculpting interviews. By focusing on data extracts relating to mentalization processes, three main aspects of the clay-sculpting task and interview were identified as processes that either preceded controlled mentalization instances and/or related to their underlying dynamics: (1) discussing the sculpting process elicited the father’s curiosity and wonder; (2) observing the sculpture/sculpting process revealed gaps in paternal representations; and (3) the preplanning of the sculptures sparked non-verbal exploration of metaphors and symbolism. Special attention was given, in the analysis, to the interplay between verbal and non-verbal aspects of mentalization as they appeared in the metaphorical representations that arose through the sculpting process. Comparing this sample to a previous sample of mothers who were given the same task, similarities and differences were explored, with specific reference to topics of embodiment, gender roles, paternity leave, and an active approach in art therapy. The discussion indicates that clay sculpting may offer unique insight into implicit parental mentalization. Possible clinical applications are discussed, with reference to attachment theory and clinical art therapy approaches.

Mechanism of neural network training for forecasting the meteorological situation when using GIS

This article is devoted to the mechanisms of neural network training for forecasting the meteorological situation when using GIS. The structural scheme of the GIS under consideration is proposed as a project solution and the main elements allowing to implement neural networks and their training are defined. The stochastic method is chosen as a tool for neural network training as it suggests the most probable outcome of the event based on the previous sample. The article gives an example of testing neural network training as an application program «Data Processor». The results described in the article allow us to judge about the applicability of the selected neural network training method for forecasting meteorological conditions and using data in geoinformation decision-making systems. Keywords: geoinformation system, synoptic forecast method, hydrodynamic forecast method, aggregator, data processor, knowledge base, deterministic method, expert estimation method, stochastic method, neural network, sampling, probability dispersion.

A Control Chart for Exponentially Distributed Characteristics Using Modified Multiple Dependent State Sampling

In this paper, a t-control chart based on modified multiple dependent state sampling is proposed for monitoring processes that assume time between events following exponential distribution. The chart has double control limits and employs information from a previous sample and the current sample. The control chart coefficient “constants” are estimated by considering different values of the in-control average run lengths. The detection ability of the proposed control chart is found to be better than that of control charts based on multiple dependent state sampling in terms of average run lengths and the standard deviation of run lengths and better than generalized multiple dependent state sampling in terms of average run lengths. Case studies with real data are included as illustrative examples for the implementation of the proposed chart.

Developing and Understanding Olfactory Evaluation of Boar Taint

Trained expert panels are used routinely in boar taint research, with varying protocols for training of panelists and scoring methods. We describe a standardized process for training and scoring, to contribute to standardize the olfactory detection of boar taint. Three experiments are described in which we (1) evaluate the importance of training and the effect of the previous sample, (2) determine detection thresholds on strips and in fat for our panel, and (3) test priming panelists before boar taint evaluation. For the final evaluation of boar taint, we propose a consistent three-person evaluation scoring on a 0–4 scale using a final mean score of 0.5 as the cut-off for boar taint. This gave an optimal sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.56 compared to chemical cut-offs. Even limited training proved useful, but priming assessors with strips did not improve the evaluation of fat samples. Detection thresholds were higher in fat compared to strips, except for indole. We recommend panelists to always smell a non-tainted control sample after a tainted one as a ‘reset’ mechanism, before continuing. For longitudinal studies, we additionally advise to set up an expert panel with a fixed number of assessors performing each evaluation in duplicate.

Why NASA may be legally required to sterilize Mars samples to protect Earth's biosphere - 19 years minimum until ready to receive unsterilized samples with existing laws - advantages of orbits above GEO for preliminary telerobotic study instead

NASA plans to return a sample from Mars in the 2020s. However they have not yet started on the legal process to return such a sample safely. There are many laws that already exist that protect Earth’s biosphere. Previous sample return studies have shown that we need to build a sample receiving facility to prevent adverse changes to the environment of Earth from a sample return. This paper examines the timescale based on an end to end requirement, that NASA are required to know what it is they need to build before approving funds for the build. This will not be known until the end of the legal process.We find that it is not possible, with current laws and technology, to have a facility ready to receive unsterilized samples on this timescale. However we find that it is possible to sterilize the samples sufficiently for planetary protection requirements while preserving both astrobiological and geological interest. We also propose as an alternative to return the sample to an orbit in the Laplace plane above GEO, as optimal for protection of Earth, the Moon, and other satellites. This will not delay the geological studies as sterilized subsamples can be returned immediately, and it will permit study of unsterilized material in situ telerobotically. We also look at particular worst case scenarios, which have not been considered in detail before, such as the return of a mirror life blue-green algae, capable of living on Mars and almost anywhere on Earth. We suggest that it is a high priority to determine whether Martian life can be safely mixed into the terrestrial biosphere, and to learn what safety protocols are needed to return it safely. We find that there could be life on Mars that can never be mixed into Earth’s biosphere safely. Finding the answers to this should be a top priority for both scientists and space colonization enthusiasts as the future possibilities, and opportunities, that are open to us depend on whether there is life on Mars and what its nature is.

STRIDES: a 3.9 per cent measurement of the Hubble constant from the strong lens system DES J0408−5354

ABSTRACT We present a blind time-delay cosmographic analysis for the lens system DES J0408−5354. This system is extraordinary for the presence of two sets of multiple images at different redshifts, which provide the opportunity to obtain more information at the cost of increased modelling complexity with respect to previously analysed systems. We perform detailed modelling of the mass distribution for this lens system using three band Hubble Space Telescope imaging. We combine the measured time delays, line-of-sight central velocity dispersion of the deflector, and statistically constrained external convergence with our lens models to estimate two cosmological distances. We measure the ‘effective’ time-delay distance corresponding to the redshifts of the deflector and the lensed quasar $D_{\Delta t}^{\rm eff}=$$3382_{-115}^{+146}$ Mpc and the angular diameter distance to the deflector Dd = $1711_{-280}^{+376}$ Mpc, with covariance between the two distances. From these constraints on the cosmological distances, we infer the Hubble constant H0= $74.2_{-3.0}^{+2.7}$ km s−1 Mpc−1 assuming a flat ΛCDM cosmology and a uniform prior for Ωm as $\Omega _{\rm m} \sim \mathcal {U}(0.05, 0.5)$. This measurement gives the most precise constraint on H0 to date from a single lens. Our measurement is consistent with that obtained from the previous sample of six lenses analysed by the H0 Lenses in COSMOGRAIL’s Wellspring (H0LiCOW) collaboration. It is also consistent with measurements of H0 based on the local distance ladder, reinforcing the tension with the inference from early Universe probes, for example, with 2.2σ discrepancy from the cosmic microwave background measurement.