Search

STFC are acknowledged for supporting the “Curation and Preliminary Examination of the Winchcombe Carbonaceous Chondrite Fall” project (ST/V000799/1), and Natural History Museum staff for curatorial support. Oxygen isotope studies at the Open University are funded by a consolidated grant from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), UK GRANT NUMBER: ST/T000228/1 (IAF, RCG, JM, MA), and STFC studentship NUMBER: ST/S505614/1 (RF). As part of an integrated consortium study, we have undertaken O, Cd, Cr, Si, Te, Ti, and Zn whole rock isotopic measurements of the Winchcombe CM2 meteorite. δ66Zn values determined for two Winchcombe aliquots are +0.29 ± 0.05‰ (2SD) and +0.45 ± 0.05‰ (2SD). The difference between these analyses likely reflects sample heterogeneity. Zn isotope compositions for Winchcombe show excellent agreement with published CM2 data. δ114Cd for a single Winchcombe aliquot is +0.29 ± 0.04‰ (2SD), which is close to a previous result for Murchison. δ130Te values for three aliquots gave indistinguishable results, with a mean value of +0.62 ± 0.01‰ (2SD) and are essentially identical to published values for CM2s. ε53Cr and ε54Cr for Winchcombe are 0.319 ± 0.029 (2SE) and 0.775 ± 0.067 (2SE), respectively. Based on its Cr isotopic composition, Winchcombe plots close to other CM2 chondrites. ε50Ti and ε46Ti values for Winchcombe are 3.21 ± 0.09 (2SE) and 0.46 ± 0.08 (2SE), respectively, and are in line with recently published data for CM2s. The δ30Si composition of Winchcombe is −0.50 ± 0.06‰ (2SD, n = 11) and is essentially indistinguishable from measurements obtained on other CM2 chondrites. In conformity with petrographic observations, oxygen isotope analyses of both bulk and micromilled fractions from Winchcombe clearly demonstrate that its parent body experienced extensive aqueous alteration. The style of alteration exhibited by Winchcombe is consistent with relatively closed system processes. Analysis of different fractions within Winchcombe broadly support the view that, while different lithologies within an individual CM2 meteorite can be highly variable, each meteorite is characterized by a predominant alteration type. Mixing of different lithologies within a regolith environment to form cataclastic matrix is supported by oxygen isotope analysis of micromilled fractions from Winchcombe. Previously unpublished bulk oxygen isotope data for 12 CM2 chondrites, when combined with published data, define a well‐constrained regression line with a slope of 0.77. Winchcombe analyses define a more limited linear trend at the isotopically heavy, more aqueously altered, end of the slope 0.77 CM2 array. The CM2 slope 0.77 array intersects the oxygen isotope field of CO3 falls, indicating that the unaltered precursor material to the CMs was essentially identical in oxygen isotope composition to the CO3 falls. Our data are consistent with earlier suggestions that the main differences between the CO3s and CM2s reflect differing amounts of water ice that co‐accreted into their respective parent bodies, being high in the case of CM2s and low in the case of CO3s. The small difference in Si isotope compositions between the CM and CO meteorites can be explained by different proportions of matrix versus refractory silicates. CMs and COs may also be indistinguishable with respect to Ti and Cr isotopes; however, further analysis is required to test this possibility. The close relationship between CO3 and CM2 chondrites revealed by our data supports the emerging view that the snow line within protoplanetary disks marks an important zone of planetesimal accretion. Publisher PDF

This study investigated pretreatment variables associated with depression severity in adolescents following maintenance treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). Data was derived from the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). Participants received one of three treatments: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), fluoxetine (FLX), or combined CBT and fluoxetine (COMB). Participants received 12 weeks of acute treatment, 6 weeks of consolidation treatment, and 18 weeks of maintenance treatment (N = 327, M age = 14.62 yrs). Outcome was measured by the Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised. Results showed adolescents with shorter depressive episodes, better global functioning, less suicidal ideation, better health/social functioning, and greater expectancy of positive treatment response were more likely to have lower depression severity following 36 weeks of treatment, regardless of modality. Adolescents with lower initial depression demonstrated lower depression severity if treated with CBT. FLX was more effective in reducing depression severity in adolescents with severe baseline depression than for those with mild or moderate depression. Adolescents with higher family incomes were more likely to have lower depression severity if they received CBT only. In conclusion, adolescents with shorter depressive episodes, better health, social, and global functioning, less suicidal ideation, and greater expectancy for treatment at baseline respond equally well to CBT, fluoxetine, and combined treatment. Adolescents who are more severely depressed at baseline may have a better treatment response if they are treated with FLX; whereas adolescents of higher income are more likely to have a better response if they receive CBT only.

The second-phonon ( n ω = 2 ) wobbling band has been established in the nucleus 135Pr. Conclusive evidence for its wobbling nature comes from the Δ I = 1 , E2 character of the transitions between the new band and the previously identified transverse wobbler band ( n ω = 1 ) in this nucleus. Theoretical calculations in the framework of the quasiparticle triaxial rotor and triaxial projected shell models are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.

The CNO cycle is the main energy source in stars more massive than our sun, it defines the energy production and the cycle time that lead to the lifetime of massive stars, and it is an important tool for the determination of the age of globular clusters. One of the largest uncertainties in the CNO chain of reactions comes from the uncertainty in the $^{14}$N$(p,\gamma)^{15}$O reaction rate. This uncertainty arises predominantly from the uncertainty in the lifetime of the sub-threshold state in $^{15}$O at $E_{x}$ = 6792 keV. Previous measurements of this state's lifetime are significantly discrepant. Here, we report on a new lifetime measurement of this state, as well as the excited states in $^{15}$O at $E_{x}$ = 5181 keV and $E_{x}$ = 6172 keV, via the $^{14}$N$(p,\gamma)^{15}$O reaction at proton energies of $E_{p} = 1020$ keV and $E_{p} = 1570$ keV. The lifetimes have been determined with the Doppler-Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) with three separate, nitrogen-implanted targets with Mo, Ta, and W backing. We obtained lifetimes from the weighted average of the three measurements, allowing us to account for systematic differences between the backing materials. For the 6792 keV state, we obtained a $\tau = 0.6 \pm 0.4$ fs. To provide cross-validation of our method, we measured the known lifetimes of the states at 5181 keV and 6172 keV to be $\tau = 7.5 \pm 3.0$ and $\tau = 0.7 \pm 0.5$ fs, respectively, which are in good agreement with previous measurements., Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures

Quasi-elastic scattering measurements have been performed using 16O and 24Mg projectiles off 90Zr at energies around the Coulomb barrier. Experimental data have been analyzed in the framework of coupled channels (CC) calculations using the code CCFULL. The quasi-elastic scattering excitation function and derived barrier distribution for 16O + 90Zr reaction are well reproduced by the CC calculations using the vibrational coupling strengths for 90Zr reported in the literature. Using these vibrational coupling strengths, a Bayesian analysis is carried out for 24Mg + 90Zr reaction. The β 2 and β 4 values for 24Mg are determined to be + 0.43 ± 0.02 and − 0.11 ± 0.02 , respectively. The β 2 parameter determined in the present work is in good agreement with results obtained using inelastic scattering probes. The hexadecapole deformation of 24Mg has been measured very precisely for the first time. Present results establish that quasi-elastic scattering could provide a useful probe to determine the ground state deformation of atomic nuclei.

Carbon and oxygen burning reactions, in particular, $^{12}\mathrm{C}+^{12}\mathrm{C}$ fusion, are important for the understanding and interpretation of the late phases of stellar evolution as well as the ignition and nucleosynthesis in cataclysmic binary systems such as type Ia supernovae and x-ray superbursts. A new measurement of this reaction has been performed at the University of Notre Dame using particle-$\ensuremath{\gamma}$ coincidence techniques with SAND (a silicon detector array) at the high-intensity 5U Pelletron accelerator. New results for $^{12}\mathrm{C}+^{12}\mathrm{C}$ fusion at low energies relevant to nuclear astrophysics are reported. They show strong disagreement with a recent measurement using the indirect Trojan Horse method. The impact on the carbon burning process under astrophysical scenarios will be discussed.

Background Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) secrete exosomes into the surrounding extracellular environment to promote the horizontal transfer of bioactive molecules including microRNA (miRNA). The primary objective of this study was to explore potential differences in miRNA content between OSCC and OSCC stem cells. Methods The OSCC cell lines SCC4, SCC15, SCC25 and CAL27 were used in these studies. The corresponding OSCC stem cells that demonstrated phenotypic adhesion independent tumor spheres (AiTS) were manually isolated. All cells were cultured in DMEM containing 10% exosome-free fetal bovine serum. Exosomes were isolated using Total Exosome Isolation reagent (Invitrogen) and RNA was purified using Total Exosome RNA isolation kit (Invitrogen). Exosome miRNA content was evaluated using miRNA Advanced Taqman Assays for miR-21, − 155, − 133, − 34, − 31, − 32, and − 365. The fold change of miRNA content was calculated using the comparative CT (ΔΔCT) method using miR-16 as an endogenous control. Results After successful cell cultures were established, AiTS (cancer stem cells) were manually separated and confirmed using CD133 and Sox-2 biomarkers. Exosomes and extracellular vesicles were successfully isolated from all cell lines and AiTS isolates for miRNA screening. All isolates exhibited miR-16 expression (positive control), but none contained mir-31, − 32, or 133a. Differential expression of miR-21, miR-34 and miR-155 were observed with patterns observed among the cancer cell lines which were distinct from the corresponding AiTS isolates. Conclusions Exosomes isolated from these different OSCC stem cell populations displayed nearly consistent downregulation/loss of miR-21 and miR-34 suggesting the possibility of a unique miRNA profile characteristic of oral cancer stem cells. These findings highlight the need to investigate the comprehensive functions of miR-21 and miR-34 in tumor progression and continued research to refine a miRNA profile that could aid in distinguishing tumors with poor prognosis.

Carbon and oxygen burning reactions, in particular, $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C fusion, are important for the understanding and interpretation of the late phases of stellar evolution as well as the ignition and nucleosynthesis in cataclysmic binary systems such as type Ia supernovae and x-ray superbursts. A new measurement of this reaction has been performed at the University of Notre Dame using particle-$\gamma$ coincidence techniques with SAND (a silicon detector array) at the high-intensity 5U Pelletron accelerator. New results for $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C fusion at low energies relevant to nuclear astrophysics are reported. They show strong disagreement with a recent measurement using the indirect Trojan Horse method. The impact on the carbon burning process under astrophysical scenarios will be discussed., Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett

Isoscalar giant resonances, being the archetypal forms of collective nuclear behavior, have been studied extensively for decades with the goal of constraining bulk nuclear properties of the equation of state, as well as for modeling dynamical behaviors within stellar environments. An important such mode is the isoscalar electric giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) that can be understood as a radially symmetric density vibration within the saturated nuclear volume. The field has a few key open questions, which have been proposed and remain unresolved. One of the more provocative questions is the extra high-energy strength in the $A\approx 90$ region, which manifested in large percentages of the $E0$ sum rule in $^{92}$Zr and $^{92}$Mo above the main ISGMR peak. The purpose of this article is to introduce these questions within the context of experimental investigations into the phenomena in the zirconium and molybdenum isotopic chains, and to address, via a discussion of previously published and preliminary results, the implications of recent experimental efforts on extraction of the nuclear incompressibility from this data., 9 pages, 7 figures, invited to be submitted to a special issue of EPJA honoring Prof. P. F. Bortignon

"Why are the tin isotopes soft?" has remained, for the past decade, an open problem in nuclear structure physics: models which reproduce the isoscalar giant monopole resonance (ISGMR) in the "doubly-closed shell" nuclei, $^{90}$Zr and $^{208}$Pb, overestimate the ISGMR energies of the open-shell tin and cadmium nuclei, by as much as 1 MeV. In an effort to shed some light onto this problem, we present results of detailed studies of the ISGMR in the molybdenum nuclei, with the goal of elucidating where--and how--the softness manifests itself between $^{90}$Zr and the cadmium and tin isotopes. The experiment was conducted using the $^{94,96,98,100}$Mo($\alpha,\alpha^\prime$) reaction at $E_\alpha = 386$ MeV. A comparison of the results with relativistic, self-consistent Random-Phase Approximation calculations indicates that the ISGMR response begins to show softness in the molybdenum isotopes beginning with $A=92$., Comment: Accepted for publication to Physics Letters B

Introduction Unplugging: "It Forces You to Play Differently" Chapter One "My Charade is the Event of the Season:" Celebrating Supernatural with Materiality, Music, and Generations X to Z Chapter Two Beca as Bricoleur: How Pitch Perfect Characters Embrace Materiality and Music Chapter Three Analog Dinosaurs and Abandoned Kids in Jurassic World Chapter Four "Don't Adjust Whatever Device You're Hearing This On:" (Dis)embodiment and Analog Technology in 13 Reasons Why Chapter Five Complicating Materiality and Generational Labels: Get Out and the Role of the Collector Chapter Six Solving Z for X: Extending Generational Paradigms in Stranger Things Conclusion Blooming (and Burning) Where You Are Planted: The Optimism of Generation Z

The isoscalar giant monopole, dipole, and quadrupole strength distributions have been deduced in $^{90,92}\mathrm{Zr}$ and $^{92}\mathrm{Mo}$ from ``background-free'' spectra of inelastic $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle scattering at a beam energy of 385 MeV at extremely forward angles, including ${0}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$. These strength distributions were extracted by a multipole-decomposition analysis based on the expected angular distributions of the respective multipoles. All these strength distributions for the three nuclei practically coincide with each other, affirming that giant resonances, being collective phenomena, are not influenced by nuclear shell structure near $A\ensuremath{\sim}90$, contrary to the claim in a recent measurement.

Usually you are called to come to the infirmary when you are least expecting to, you don't have time even to take a bath. Being a new girl of course you don't know what to expect because no two examinations are alike.First you are shown into a little room where you are instructed to take off all your clothes. Of course everyone tries to leave on some of their underclothes but eventually you get all of your own clothes off and put on one of those so-called angel robes....Next you are shown into a room, which by the way has all the windows open, through which a cool breeze is blowing. There you are confronted by M. T.,1 and I'll tell you right now you would never think by looking at her that she had such hard fingers. She pokes you all over, then tries her best to knock you over but takes pity and doesn't deliver the blow that would really do it.The "little room" described above suggests a child's fear of the physician's office as the girl notes the lack of privacy and respect that accompany a systematic poking and prodding of her body. The feelings of claustrophobia and surveillance seem to intensify as the "hard" fingers try to "knock over" the patient during inspection. The cool breeze coming in the windows is the only sign that this doctor's visit occurs anywhere near nature. What may be surprising is this letter's provenance. It was written by a child attending a summer camp in the 1920s.The description in the letter bridges two different epistemologies of the body: one located in what appears to be a carefree wilderness, and the other connected closely to the urban doctor's office, where one might imagine microscopes and lab equipment surrounding the patient. Within the description, the hard fingers of the scientist seem to reach uncomfortably into the wilderness in a manner that counters typical camp images of roasting marshmallows over a fire and living in rustic cabins. In Children's Nature: The Rise of the American Summer Camp, Leslie Paris explains, "Children's inculcation into camps' body-focused culture began when they underwent precamp physicals. These exams were designed primarily to keep ill and potentially contagious children out of camps, where they might put others at risk" (123). Some may agree that Paris was right when she stated that at summer camp "the new interwar social science rhetoric never completely overrode a more sentimental wilderness narrative" (Children's Nature 240); however, private summer camps reflect urban society's preoccupation with body surveillance much more than they purport to separate from it, and this is illustrated by focusing on the child's body across and within iconic settings at summer camps in the early years of their development. A rhetorical study of early camp documents and traditions reveals that wilderness, under a scientific gaze, became a laboratory featuring human sub- jects whose growth depended on the intervention of health experts to make them superior in body and mind.Exploring rhetoric, particularly rhetoric associated with the body, means embracing what Debra Hawhee explains as transdisciplinarity. In her work on Kenneth Burke and the body, Hawhee says, "What distinguishes transdisciplinarity from interdisciplinarity is its effort to suspend-however temporary-one's own disciplinary terms and values in favor of a broad, open, multilevel inquiry" (3). This study of how the American summer camp became a laboratory more than a pastoral setting, draws from disparate sources of information: reports of education in schools and cities to contrast those about camp settings, recent scholarship in disability and medical rhetoric, studies in eugenics rhetoric, and assistance from those who theorize relationships between the body and environment. Jay Dolmage is correct when he says that rhetoric may be viewed as "the strategic study of the circulation of power through communication" (3). To discuss responsibly how such power circulates, it is important to look across disciplines to theorize how the body becomes a site of power negotiation. …

Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble has the reputation of being a difficult book to read and teach. This project shows how compositionists may help theory teachers approach Butler from a rhetorical lens. This lens calls attention to the conversational moves in Butler’s writing and how those create productive dialogue among scholars.

Most research exploring possible differences in the prevalence of mental and behavioral health¹ (MBH) problems between urban and rural areas has indicated that there are no differences. Unfortunately, most of this research has measured urbanness-ruralness as a 2-level or dichotomous construct only (i.e., an area is either urban or rural), and researchers have used inconsistent (and sometimes conflicting) definitions for what constitutes an "urban" or "rural" area. In this study, urbanness-ruralness is conceptualized as an expanded categorical construct with the addition of a 3rd point: The frontier area. Surveys were completed by 259 MBH professionals across the urban, rural, and frontier counties of a U.S. state in the intermountain west. Survey items asked about a number of issues related to MBH, including what the professionals perceived to be the most-prevalent MBH problems in their areas. Anxiety was perceived to be a significantly more prevalent problem in urban areas, and substance abuse and domestic violence were perceived to be significantly more prevalent problems in frontier areas. These results suggest that when urbanness-ruralness is conceptualized as an expanded categorical construct (rather than simply a dichotomous one), differences in the perceived prevalence of MBH problems may be found. Language: en

Past research suggests that senior citizens often face challenges related to deteriorating physical and mental health, and the quality of their lives may suffer as a result. Past research also suggests that volunteering can improve the health and quality of life for seniors. In the present study, 451 volunteers enrolled in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) completed surveys including questions regarding their volunteer experiences and how these experiences have affected their health and quality of life. The results suggest that volunteering through RSVP is associated with improvements in health and quality of life across a variety of dimensions. Furthermore, these improvements may be particularly greater for women, current volunteers, and older seniors. These findings may help guide interventions designed to enhance the health and well-being of senior citizens in a variety of settings.

"Background-free" spectra of inelastic $\alpha$-particle scattering have been measured at a beam energy of 385 MeV in $^{90, 92}$Zr and $^{92}$Mo at extremely forward angles, including 0$^{\circ}$. The ISGMR strength distributions for the three nuclei coincide with each other, establishing clearly that nuclear incompressibility is not influenced by nuclear shell structure near $A\sim$90 as was claimed in recent measurements., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B

First estimates of sex allocation patterns and body size-at-sexual maturity and at protogynous sex change are presented for the five major (including one endemic) species of parrotfishes of Hawaii. Median body size at initial maturation as a female (LM50) and at protogynous sex change from adult female to adult male (LΔ50) varied greatly among the five species. Estimates of LM50 were about 14, 17, 24, 34 and 35 cm fork length (LF) in palenose Scarus psittacus, Pacific bullethead Chlorurus spilurus, stareye Calotomus carolinus, spectacled Chlorurus perspicillatus and redlip parrotfish Scarus rubroviolaceus. Values of LΔ50 were c. 23, 27, 37, 46 and 47 cm LF in the respective species. Length at female maturation was proportional to maximum body size (Lmax) of the respective species, ranging from 50 to 72% and averaging 62% of Lmax across species. LΔ50 was also proportional to Lmax, ranging from 82 to 97% and averaging 92%. Males of both pairs of Scarus and Chlorurus spp. reported here are diandric. Only one of the five major species (C. carolinus) is functionally monandric, with either all or nearly all males secondarily derived from adult females. The broadly differing absolute body sizes at sexual maturation and at sex change among the five species have important implications for improving regulatory size limits for parrotfishes in the State of Hawaii, where parrotfish species have historically been managed based on a single minimum size limit of 30·5 cm LF. This study provides a model demonstration of why catch data for parrotfishes, and other size-structured reef-fish populations, should be recorded either by species or by functional size-groups of species that allow setting more meaningful minimum size limits.

The mechanism of heat extraction from the lower oceanic crust near the ridge axis is poorly constrained despite its importance for understanding both the process of accretion of the plutonic complex and the mass fluxes associated with ridge hydrothermal systems. We have investigated the role of zones of focussed fluid flow in the plutonic complex of the Oman ophiolite in the near-axis cooling of the oceanic crust. Lineaments identified on aerial photographs, that occur at 1 km spacing, show evidence for extensive hydrothermal fluid flow through regions 10 to 50 m wide. Fluid flow is initiated in these regions at 800°C and continues at least into the lower greenschist facies. Strontium-isotope analyses indicate that the fluid flux through these zones is sufficient to transport a metasomatic front from the base of the sheeted dike complex to close to the Moho. Computed minimum fluid fluxes to transport a metasomatic front through the focussed fluid flow zones are 1x108 kgm2. Modeling of diffusive exchange of calcium from olivine to clinopyroxene indicates enhanced cooling rates adjacent to the focussed fluid flow zones. Heat fluxes estimated from the enhanced cooling rates are broadly consistent with the fluid fluxes determined from modeling the Sr-isotopic composition of samples from the focussed fluid flow zones. The combination of independent estimates of the fluid and heat fluxes, such as these, can provide more rigorous constraints on the thermal history than either approach used in isolation. Our results show that focussed fluid flow could play a major role in the cooling in the lower oceanic crust. Significant focussed fluid flow in the lower oceanic crust has important implications for predicting the total mass flux associated with hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges. This is because fluids flowing through channels become chemically rock-buffered at smaller fluid fluxes than those flowing pervasively through a rock mass. Thus, if focussed fluid flow is an important mechanism of heat loss from the lower oceanic crust the chemical fluxes from ridge hydrothermal systems into the oceans may be smaller than currently thought.

The Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia requested a retrospective analysis of all fishermen's deaths from immersion in water in British Columbia.To identify the underlying cause of drowning and make recommendations to improve safety in the fishing industry.Eighty-nine inshore and offshore fishing accidents were analysed. Where possible, deaths were classified into the four stages of cold-water immersion: cold shock, swimming failure, hypothermia and post-rescue collapse. Other factors that led up to the drowning were also identified.One hundred and thirty fishermen died from immersion between 1976 and 2002. One hundred and twenty-eight drownings were certified by the coroner as drowning or drowning/hypothermia and two were certified as cardiac event after immersion. The underlying causes of drownings were reclassified as: cold shock (5.4%), swimming failure (5.4%), hypothermia (5.4%), post-rescue collapse (0.8%), cardiac event (0.8%) and drowning/other (10%). In the remaining 72.2% of deaths, there was insufficient information to determine an underlying cause. All deaths occurred in water below 17.5 degrees C but 95% were in water less than 15 degrees C.Immersion in water below 15 degrees C is dangerous and this should be emphasized on marine survival courses. Accident investigators, coroners and pathologists need a common checklist to record vital data. A recommended format is included as Supplementary data available at Occupational Medicine Online. Fishermen should be educated about the dangers of sudden, unexpected immersion in cold water. Consideration should be given to making marine survival courses mandatory for fishermen.

Collection of airborne spray drift of malathion released from a ground-driven boom sprayer was investigated using six types of samplers: (1) horizontal alpha cellulose fallout sheets; (2) high-volume air samplers; (3) sampling trains of rotary disk impactor and two bubblers (RDI); (4) rotating rod samplers; (5) vertical string samplers; and (6) polyurethane foam plugs (PUF). Spray deposit was determined with malathion residue collection on horizontal alpha cellulose sheets spaced at 3 m intervals in the spray swath and at 6-m intervals along a line perpendicular and downwind from the spray swath. Spray drift residues were collected by the samplers at four stations along a 90 m sampler line located 30 m downwind and parallel to the spray swath. Gas chromatographic analysis was used to quantify the concentration of malathion. Results indicated that fallout deposits (1) in the spray swath, (2) at 6, 12, 18, or 24 m from the spray swath edge, and (3) at 30 m downwind from the spray swath edge were approximately (1) 47, (2) 0.7, and (3) 0.09% of the total spray application rate, respectively. The low in-swath deposit was partially attributed to (1) a 1.2 m boom height—to ensure that samplers of the evaluation were challenged with a uniform cloud of spray droplets, and (2) the use of a single swath width. No differences were observed in residue collections from high-volume air samplers (P>0.4), rotating rod samplers (P>0.3), or vertical strings (P>0.7) at the four sampling stations. The collection from a high volume-PUF air sampler was 1108 ng/m3, with 728 ng/m3 from the filter and 380 ng/m3 from the PUF. Malathion residues were not detected in the RDI under the selected test conditions. A low airflow rate of 1.2 L/min combined with the short duration of exposure to the moving spray cloud provided little opportunity for the RDI to collect a detectable level of malathion.

During 1994 and 1995, tests of ultra-low-volume applications of insecticides conducted on cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., at Stoneville, MS, evaluated the effectiveness of malathion applied with a new technology in ground application, the air-assisted ultra-low-volume ground sprayer. Two tests conducted in 1994 determined the effectiveness of ultra-low-volume applications of malathion (91%) with and without cottonseed oil and established effective malathion rates against boll weevils , Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman. An emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation of azinphosmethyl was used as a standard. In 1995, ultra-low-volume malathion (95%) was applied at 1.36 and 1.02 kg (AI)/ha plus cottonseed oil in a total volume of 1.17 liter/ha. These treatments were compared with a 1.12kg (AI)/ha rate of an EC formulation of malathion applied with water in a total volume of 46.8 liter/ha. In the 1994 insecticide comparison test, ultra-low-volume malathion treatments resulted in 70% mortality throughout the 48-h test period, whereas mortality from the azinphosmethyl standard steadily decreased from 71% at 4 h after treatment to 12% at 48 h after treatment. In the 1994 malathion rate test, 1.30 and 0.98 kg (AI)/ha produced mortalities comparable to those of azinphosmethyl at 0.28 kg (AI)/ha. In 1995, 48-h mortalities at 24 and 48 h after treatment were highest for the rate at 1.36 kg (AI)/ha (99 and 90%, respectively), followed by the rate at 1.02 kg (AI)/ha (78 and 54%, respectively), and lowest in the EC formulation treatment (28 and 21%, respectively). There were no differences in mortality at 72 h after treatment. The air-assisted ground sprayer permitted application of insecticides at considerably lower volumes than a conventional hydraulic ground sprayer and also permitted a reduction in the current rate of ultra-low-volume malathion required for effective boll weevil control.

Evaporitic deposits are a globally widespread habitat for micro-organisms. The microbe-mineral environment in weathered and remobilized gypsum from exposed mid-Ordovician marine evaporite beds in the polar desert of Devon Island, Nunavut, Canadian High Arctic was examined. The gypsum is characterized by internal green zones of cyanobacterial colonization (dominated by Gloeocapsa/Aphanothece and Chroococcidiopsis spp. morphotypes) and abundant black zones, visible from the surface, that contain pigmented cyanobacteria and fungi. Bioessential elements in the gypsum are primarily provided by allochthonous material from the present-day polar desert. The disruption, uplift and rotation of the evaporite beds by the Haughton meteorite impact 39 Ma have facilitated gypsum weathering and its accessibility as a habitat. No cultured cyanobacteria, bacteria and fungi were halophilic consistent with the expectation that halophily is not required to persist in gypsum habitats. Heterotrophic bacteria from the evaporite were slightly or moderately halotolerant, as were heterotrophs isolated from soil near the gypsum outcrop showing that halotolerance is common in arctic bacteria in this location. Psychrotolerant Arthrobacter species were isolated. No psychrophilic organisms were isolated. Two Arthrobacter isolates from the evaporite were used to mediate gypsum neogenesis in the laboratory, demonstrating a potential role for microbial biomineralization processes in polar environments.

Engineering Statics at North Carolina State University is taught to both distance-education and on-campus sections simultaneously. Statics has been remodeled to include online and in-class tools to encourage all students to stay actively engaged with the material. Seven online tools which have been incorporated into the redesigned course are presented and discussed: review modules, reading introductions and quizzes, class notes with video example problems, recorded lectures, skills quizzes, synchronous office hours and asynchronous message boards, and clickers. Results indicate students come to class consistently, are more likely to complete readings, and appreciate the just-in-time online resources. One faculty member can now supervise larger numbers of students and homework grading has been cut in half.Copyright © 2010 by ASME