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Malaysia, Sarawak state in particular produces superior quality black pepper compared to other producing countries. While Sarawak black pepper deserves higher price in the global market, from year 2015 onwards, its price has been plummeting due to global oversupply of pepper. Physical, chemical and biological profiling of Sarawak pepper is conducted to differentiate Sarawak pepper against adulteration and to justify its higher market price. However, the analysis of pepper was performed using time-consuming, non-portable, expensive and invasive laboratory equipment and methodologies. This paper reports an attempt to develop a black pepper geo-tracing system using metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors array. The pneumatic system to contain and purge the sample volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is designed, simulated, fabricated and proven to be contain and purge sample VOCs effectively. A total of 200 black pepper samples from Malaysia and India are sampled using non-invasive method for the MOS gas sensors response and the sensors response are analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The PCA scatter plots shows that Malaysia and India black pepper can be discriminated based on the MOS gas sensor response towards different VOCs composition in the black pepper samples. The PCA result are then used for geo-tracing of a total of 40 samples (20 from Malaysia; 20 from India), which shows an overall accuracy of 92.5%. The geo-tracing system developed performs rapidly with 260–600 s sampling cycle compared to gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) equipment which requires at least 30 minutes sampling time, and is portable, cheaper and non-invasive.

Group theoretical arguments are used to find the subgroup corresponding to symmetry reduction along a particular irreducible representation of a group. The results are used to guide the search for stationary points on the potential energy surface of hydrated copper(I) ion at the HF/6-31G∗, HF/6-31+G∗, HF/6-311+G∗, MP2/6-31G∗, MP2/6-31+G∗, MP2/6-311+G∗, B3LYP/6-31G∗, B3LYP/6-31+G∗, and B3LYP/6-311+G∗ levels. The better levels give the most stable coordination number of two. The effect of desymmetrization on the Cu-O distances and stretching frequencies has been examined.

Bonamiosis has developed as a problem in Australian native oysters Ostrea angasi since the parasite Bonamia spp. was first detected in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, in the early 1990s. At that time, large-scale mortalities in both farmed and wild oysters saw the demise of the pilot native oyster culture industry. More recent attempts to farm the species resulted in subclinical infections that progressed over time to clinical disease. The aim of this work was to establish what environmental factors result in the clinical manifestation of disease; determine the diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity of histopathological examination and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test for the diagnosis of B. exitiosa infection in clinically diseased farmed native oysters; and calculate the optimal qPCR threshold cycle (CT) epidemiological cut-point for classification of positive and negative cases. After applying a range of stressors to tank-held oysters, results indicated a 58% increased risk (95% CI: 16%, 99%) of a Bonamia-infected oyster dying if the oyster was held at a higher temperature (p = 0.048). Starving and tumbling oysters, in isolation, was not significantly associated with clinical bonamiosis, but a Bonamia-infected oyster was at the greatest risk of death when increased water temperature was combined with both starvation and increased motion (p = 0.02; odds ratio = 3.47). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the World Organisation for Animal Health qPCR protocol were calculated for increasing CT value cut-points from ≤25 to ≤40, with an optimal cut-point identified at ≤34.5 (specificity: 92.2; 95% posterior credible intervals [PCI]: 76.2, 99.8; Sensitivity: 93.5; 95% PCI: 84.7, 99.1).

The catch efficiency of a hydraulic dredge was tested on a population of the northern quahog Mercenaria mercenaria in Narragansett Bay, RI, to understand gear limitations and correct relative abundance time series data. In 2017 and 2018, 45 hydraulic dredge tows were conducted following a long-standing fisheries-independent survey protocol, with the dredge transects inspected on SCUBA to assess dredge catch efficiency. Bull raking and quadrat samples taken on SCUBA were also conducted alongside the transects to compare sampling methods. The average dredge catch efficiency across samples was 0.64 (±0.29 SD). Bottom type was the most significant determinant of dredge catch efficiency, with higher catch efficiency on hard bottom (0.73 efficiency) than on soft bottom (0.48 efficiency). The quadrat and bull rake samples reflected higher catch rates than the dredge, but relationships between relative abundance estimates from the alternate methods and the dredge were either weak or insignificant. Bottom type, sediment classification, depth, and observed abundance were used to model dredge catch efficiencies and predict fisheries-independent abundance indices to more accurate estimates. Applying corrections using a generalized linear model scaled abundances through time, with trends generally the same between time series both with and without the corrections applied. This work provides an example of addressing gear efficiency concerns through diverse collaborations and improving the science and management for a commercially and recreationally significant marine resource.

Our previously developed kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm is used to simulate M-H loops of high anisotropy magnetic recording media at long time scales relevant to the experimental measurements using the magneto-optic Kerr effect. Micromagnetic parameters are fit to loop data taken at 300 K and at a sweep rate of 700 Oe/s on a single-layer media developed for heat-assisted magnetic recording. Significantly different fitted parameters result from standard micromagnetic simulations that can access only sweep rates many orders of magnitude faster. Sensitivities of the loops to anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and various distributions are reported.

The chlorine isotope composition of chondrites provides information about isotopic reservoirs that were present in the solar nebula and the effects of secondary processes on their isotopic composition. We analyzed chlorine isotope ratios of 19 chondrites that included both unaltered (type 3) and altered (types 1,2 and 4–6) chondrites from the carbonaceous, ordinary, and enstatite classes as well as an enstatite chondrite impact melt breccia and a partial melt residue. Chlorine isotope compositions (δ37Cl, ‰ vs. SMOC) and 1σ uncertainty () are as follows (excluding melt residue and anomalous Parnallee): Material Carbonaceous chondrites Ordinary chondrites Enstatite chondrites Structurally-bound Cl −0.3(0.6) −0.4(0.6) 0.4(0.4) Water-soluble Cl −0.9(0.9) 0.3(2.1) 0.4(0.6) Bulk (total) Cl −0.2(0.6) −0.4(0.7) 0.4(0.3) Petrologic type 3 chondrites are the least equilibrated and are those most likely to retain primary nebular signatures. Type 3 carbonaceous chondrites have bulk δ37Cl values that average −0.3 ± 0.5‰ and structurally-bound Cl values of −0.3 ± 0.3‰. These values are indistinguishable from the δ37Cl values of the bulk Earth (−0.2‰) and close to the lowest measured value of the Moon (−0.7‰). From this similarity, we conclude that the inner regions of the early solar nebula had a homogeneous chlorine isotope reservoir. For samples that have undergone secondary processing, δ37Clbulk values range from −1.2‰ to 0.8‰ for metamorphosed samples (average 0.0‰) and −0.3‰ to 0.3‰ (average 0.1‰) for aqueously-altered samples (Orgueil, Ivuna, Murray, and Murchison). Most of the data can be explained in terms of fractionation processes similar to those that occur on the Earth, such as interaction with pore waters. No apparent correlations exist with Cl concentration data. Ordinary chondrites have the lowest and most restricted range of Cl concentration, but the largest range in δ37Cl values. Carbonaceous and enstatite chondrites have wide ranges of Cl concentration and more restricted ranges of δ37Cl values. We have analyzed additional terrestrial mantle-derived materials of the Earth in order to better constrain the δ37Cl value of this reservoir and compare with the chondrite data. The mantle data cluster at −0.3‰ to −0.1‰, and support the idea that the most pristine type C chondrites and the bulk Earth have the same δ37Cl value, indicating that no fractionation by evaporative processes occurred during the formation of the Earth. The discrepancy between our data and previously published results is discussed.

A series of atomistic finite temperature simulations on a model of an FCC lattice of maghemite nanoparticles using the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (sLLG) equation are presented. The model exhibits a ferromagnetic transition that is in good agreement with theoretical expectations. The simulations also reveal an orientational disorder in the orientational order parameter for $T < 0.5 T_c$ due to pinning of the surface domain walls of the nanoparticles by surface vacancies. The extent of the competition between surface pinning and dipolar interactions provides support for the conjecture that recent measurements on systems of FCC superlattices of iron-oxide nanoparticles provide evidence for dipolar ferromagnetism is discussed.

A hybrid Landau Lifshitz Gilbert/kinetic Monte Carlo algorithm is used to simulate experimental magnetic hysteresis loops for dual layer exchange coupled composite media. The calculation of the rate coefficients and difficulties arising from low energy barriers, a fundamental problem of the kinetic Monte Carlo method, are discussed and the methodology used to treat them in the present work is described. The results from simulations are compared with experimental vibrating sample magnetometer measurements on dual layer CoPtCrB/CoPtCrSiO media and a quantitative relationship between the thickness of the exchange control layer separating the layers and the effective exchange constant between the layers is obtained. Estimates of the energy barriers separating magnetically reversed states of the individual grains in zero applied field as well as the saturation field at sweep rates relevant to the bit write speeds in magnetic recording are also presented. The significance of this comparison between simulations and experiment and the estimates of the material parameters obtained from it are discussed in relation to optimizing the performance of magnetic storage media.

From the mid 1990s to the late 2000s the consistency of electrochemical cell ozonesonde long term records has been compromised by differences in manufacturers, Science Pump and ENSCI, and differences in recommended sensor solution concentrations, 1.0 % potassium iodide (KI) and the one half dilution 0.5 %. To investigate these differences a number of organizations independently undertook comparisons of the various ozonesonde types and solution concentrations, resulting in 197 ozonesonde comparison profiles. The goal is to derive transfer functions to allow measurements outside of standard recommendations, for sensor composition and ozonesonde type, to be converted to a standard measurement and thus homogenize the data to the expected accuracy of 5 % (10 %) in the stratosphere (troposphere). Subsets of these data have been analyzed previously and intermediate transfer functions derived. Here all the comparison data are analyzed to compare: 1) differences in sensor solution composition for a single ozonesonde type, 2) differences in ozonesonde type for a single sensor solution composition and 3) the manufacturer’s recommendations of 1.0 % KI solution for Science Pump and 0.5 % KI for ENSCI. From the recommendations it is clear that ENSCI ozonesondes and 1.0 % KI solution result in higher amounts of ozone sensed. The results indicate that differences in solution composition and in ozonesonde type display little pressure dependence at pressures ≥ 30 hPa and thus the transfer function can be characterized as a simple ratio of the less sensitive to the more sensitive method. This ratio is 0.96 for both solution concentration and ozonesonde type. The ratios differ at pressures

Calculating the dipolar fields in LLG simulations account for the majority of the runtime as these computations scale with system size faster than the other interactions. Efficient parallelization of the dipolar field is essential for a parallel LLG solution. This article presents a method to dynamically generate a parallel strategy and examines the benefits in speedup over standard parallelization.

The colonial ascidian, Didemnum vexillum, is a relatively recent invader to the east and west coasts of North America and since its appearance it has often become a dominant member of a variety of coastal communities in these regions. The species has the unique ability to colonize cobble-pebble substrates and form extensive mats in this habitat type. The mats essentially ‘glue’ the small pebbles and cobbles together and alter habitat complexity of the seafloor from a more three-dimensional system to a more two-dimensional one. We examined the potential impacts of the mat-forming activities on benthic macro-invertebrate population and community structure by comparing sets of samples collected inside and outside of the mats. Sampling was conducted at a site located in eastern Long Island Sound, USA, over a period of approximately one year using a corer and a suction sampler. Contrary to our prediction that the presence of the ascidian mats would reduce benthic species richness and abundance we found that these parameters either were not different or were significantly higher in samples taken inside Didemnum mats compared to samples collected immediately outside the mats. The presence of the mats did result in subtle shifts in benthic community structure and functional group dominance with greater numbers of infauna and deposit-feeders residing inside the mats compared to samples collected adjacent to the mats.

Animal models are useful tools to study etiology, progress, and new treatments of disease and are an approximation of human disease for experimental study. Intracardiac injection of the human estrogen-independent breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in nude mice is a well-characterized animal model of bone metastasis mainly used to study new treatments for late-stage breast cancer. According to the published literature, this model should produce radiologically distinguishable bone tumors within 17 days after injection. Mice should develop complications such as cachexia, paraplegia, and morbidity within 28 days and require euthanasia within 35 days after injection. We report a study in which injection of MDA-MB-231 cell line led to brain rather than bone metastasis. Unexpected alterations in biological behavior are an important confounding variable in the use of tumor cell lines, and the occurrence and cause of such variants is poorly documented.

To investigate the effects of a low transdermal estradiol dose on bone metabolism and to compare it with both the standard dose and absence of treatment.In this study performed in a third-level academic center, 66 healthy postmenopausal women underwent hormone therapy (HT) with patches containing estradiol at standard (0.050 mg/day, HT50, 33 women) or low dosage (0.025 mg/day, HT25, 33 women) and 70 women were without treatment (NT). The values (mean of three samples) of several bone biochemical parameters were compared between groups after adjusting for confounding factors. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) in the spine and hip in all cases, and a second densitometry scan was performed in 44 women.Bone turnover markers tended to show lower values in the treated groups, but significance was restricted to total alkaline phosphatase (NT vs. HT25, p0.05) and cross-linked N-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTX) (NT vs. HT25, p10(-6); NT vs. HT50, p10(-5)). The loss of BMD observed in NT women, as assessed by the annual percentage change, was blocked in both the HT25 and HT50 women. No significant differences were detected between both HT groups.Low and standard dosages of transdermal estradiol were equally effective in controlling bone metabolism, as assessed by turnover markers. Additionally, NTX was confirmed as the most sensitive marker for detecting changes in bone resorption.

Traditional methods of measuring the propagation of waves originating from ocean swell and other sources have relied on wire strain gauges, accelerometers or tiltmeters. All methods required constant attention to keep in range, while data recovery has demanded that the instrument site be revisited. In this paper, we describe the use of ultra-sensitive tiltmeters and novel re-zeroing techniques to autonomously gather wave data from both polar regions. A key feature of our deployments has been the use of the Iridium satellite communications system as a way of ensuring continuous data recovery and remote control of the instrumentation. Currently four instruments have been successfully reporting from the Arctic Ocean for over 18 months, with two further units deployed in 2005, one in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, and one additional unit in the Arctic.

We examine statistical and directional properties of the ambient noise in the 10-100 Hz frequency band from the NPAL array. Marginal probability densities are estimated as well as mean square levels, skewness and kurtoses in third octave bands. The kurotoses are markedly different from Gaussian except when only distant shipping is present. Extremal levels reached approximately 150 dB re 1 micro Pa, suggesting levels 60dB greater than the mean ambient were common in the NPAL data sets. Generally, these were passing ships. We select four examples: i) quiescent noise, ii) nearby shipping, iii) whale vocalizations and iv) a micro earthquake for the vertical directional properties of the NPAL noise since they are representative of the phenomena encountered. We find there is modest broadband coherence for most of these cases in their occupancy band across the NPAL aperture. Narrowband coherence analysis from VLA to VLA was not successful due to ambiguities. Examples of localizing sources based upon this coherence are included. kw diagrams allow us to use data above the vertical aliasing frequency. Ducted propagation for both the quiescent and micro earthquake (T phase) are identified and the arrival angles of nearby shipping and whale vocalizations. MFP localizations were modestly successful for nearby sources, but long range ones could not be identified, most likely because of signal mismatch in the MFP replica.

The EC FARMING network (Food and Agriculture Restoration Management Involving Networked Groups) was set up to bring together the many and diverse stakeholders who would be involved in intervention following wide scale radioactive contamination of the food chain, so that acceptable strategies can be developed for maintaining agricultural production and safe food supply. The network comprises stakeholder panels in the UK, Finland, Belgium, France and Greece that have met regularly since 2001 to debate, discuss and exchange opinion on the acceptability, constraints and impact of various countermeasure options and strategies. The objectives of this paper are to consolidate the main achievements of the FARMING project over the period 2000-2004, to highlight the various difficulties that were encountered and to discuss the challenges for engaging stakeholders in off-site emergency management and long-term rehabilitation in the future. (c) 2005 Health Protection Agency. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. J Environ Radioact

A Workshop to extend the Involvement of Stakeholders in Decisions On restoration Management (WISDOM) was held at New College, Oxford from 15 to 17 September 2003. The aim was to promote awareness and interest in the wider application of stakeholder involvement in the formulation of strategies for the management of contaminated agricultural land and produce following a nuclear accident. The workshop, through 25 plenary papers and a set of two facilitated discussion sessions, provided valuable feedback on a wide range of issues including technical and social factors affecting countermeasure selection, acceptability of intervention levels, the challenges of rural waste disposal and crisis management. The workshop achieved its aim and the findings will be disseminated widely. Stakeholder groups are already active in the UK, Finland, Belgium, France and Greece; there was commitment from participants to establish further, similar groups in other member states within the European Union.

Summary Leading obesity researchers from across Europe assembled in Aberdeen, Scotland, in January 2003 to consider how to increase the impact of European obesity research. The workshop was funded by the European Commission and hosted by the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen. The delegates identified the need to (i) develop a portfolio of studies that integrate genetics and mechanisms through parallel study of humans and animal models and (ii) establish major intervention studies in weight management and early life nutrition. It was recommended that these goals would be best achieved under the umbrella of a virtual European Obesity Research Institute, or Network of Excellence in Obesity Research under Framework Programme 6, that would facilitate harmonization of methodology, manage centralized standardized resources, coordinate training initiatives, workshops and working groups, and increase focus.

Objective: It is conceivable that, since menopause accelerates the continuous bone loss determined by age, a specific configuration of bone mass determinants during the first postmenopausal years occurs. Methods: To establish their value as indicators of bone mass in women with recent natural menopause, we assessed relationships between bone mineral density (BMD) and age, menopausal age, body mass index (BMI), PTH, sex steroid hormones (estradiol and testosterone), and several markers of bone turnover in urine (N-telopeptide and calcium/creatinine ratio) or serum (osteocalcin (OC), total alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total and ionic calcium (iCa), phosphate (P) and magnesium (Mg)) for a group of 118 women (mean of three measurements per subject) attending a third-level menopause unit. Multivariate analysis was used in addition to Pearson's correlation to detect relationships between variables. Results: Several significant associations were detected between variables under Pearson's correlation analysis, but only a few were confirmed under multivariate analysis. Thus, among the clinical traits, age was the main predictor of BMD for femoral neck (P

Rate coefficients of the Arrhenius-Neel form are calculated for thermally activated magnetic moment reversal for dual layer exchange-coupled composite (ECC) media based on the Langer formalism and are applied to study the sweep rate dependence of MH hysteresis loops as a function of the exchange coupling I between the layers. The individual grains are modelled as two exchange coupled Stoner-Wohlfarth particles from which the minimum energy paths connecting the minimum energy states are calculated using a variant of the string method and the energy barriers and attempt frequencies calculated as a function of the applied field. The resultant rate equations describing the evolution of an ensemble of non-interacting ECC grains are then integrated numerically in an applied field with constant sweep rate and the magnetization calculated as a function of the applied field H. MH hysteresis loops are presented for a range of values I and a figure of merit (FOM) that quantifies the advantages of ECC media is proposed. The results are also used to examine the accuracy of certain approximate models that reduce the complexity associated with the Langer based formalism and which provide some useful insight into the reversal. Of particular interest is the clustering of minimum energy states that are separated by relatively low energy barriers into "metastates." It is shown that while approximating the reversal process in terms of "metastates" results in little loss of accuracy, it can reduce the run time of a Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation of the magnetic decay of an ensemble of dual layer ECC media by 2~3 orders of magnitude. The essentially exact results presented in this work for two coupled grains are analogous to the Stoner-Wohlfarth model of a single grain and serve as an important precursor to KMC based simulation studies on systems of interacting dual layer ECC media., Comment: 36 pages, 29 figures

Resumen La osteoporosis posmenopausica es un problema de salud publica mundial, y su principal causa es la deficiencia estrogenica. El metabolismo oseo presenta dos actividades opuestas: la formacion de hueso nuevo por el osteoblasto y la degradacion o resorcion de hueso viejo por el osteoclasto. Dado que estas actividades cursan con el vertido a la circulacion de una serie de productos, los denominados marcadores bioquimicos de remodelado oseo, nosotros podemos estimar la tasa de ambos procesos determinando los valores sericos o urinarios de estos productos en el laboratorio. Estos marcadores son una poderosa herramienta para el ginecologo, ya que su determinacion es facil de realizar, es barata, puede ser repetida a menudo y refleja el metabolismo oseo en un momento dado. En los ultimos anos se han desarrollado marcadores mas especificos como los telopeptidos del colageno tipo I (CTx y NTx), y se estan introduciendo metodos automatizados para su determinacion que disminuyen la variabilidad intra e interensayo, aunque existen diversas fuentes de variabilidad que deben tenerse en cuenta a la hora de evaluar su uso

Resumen Con la deplecion estrogenica se produce un aumento del remodelado oseo, cuyo grado podemos determinar mediante el analisis de los marcadores bioquimicos de remodelado oseo. En los ultimos anos se ha puesto mucho enfasis en establecer la relacion entre estas tasas de remodelado oseo, determinadas a partir de los valores en los marcadores, con la perdida osea y la posibilidad de fractura y como indicadores reales del beneficio de la terapia antirresortiva. Como comentaremos a continuacion, aunque existen varios estudios que demuestran su capacidad predictora de perdida osea y de posibilidad de fractura, el uso mas establecido en la actualidad es el de monitorizar el tratamiento y establecer la adhesion (compliance) de la paciente a la terapia

Placental tissues from humans, rodents and farm animals contain leptin and its receptor. Leptin produced by the human placenta has the same size, charge and immunoreactivity as leptin produced by adipose tissue. However, the expression of human placental leptin appears to be regulated by a placenta-specific upstream enhancer. In this review the occurrence of leptin and its receptor in a range of species and placental types is described, and its significance during pregnancy discussed. Placental leptin contributes to the increase in maternal circulating concentrations of leptin during late pregnancy when it is likely to have an endocrine role in regulating maternal energy balance. Placental leptin may have angiogenic and immunomodulatory activities, which affect the placenta in an autocrine or paracrine manner. It also appears to affect fetal growth and development by binding to leptin receptors present in fetal organs.

We assessed changes in the benthic community, and in the feeding, growth and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in three littoral zone fishes (pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, bluegill, Le...

123I-labelled iodoazomycin arabinoside (123I-IAZA) is an experimental radiopharmaceutical that has been shown to have clinical utility for imaging regional tissue hypoxia. We report the clinical pharmacokinetics of IAZA, the radiopharmacokinetics of 123I-IAZA and total radioactivity kinetics after injection of 123I-IAZA. Six healthy volunteers each received an intravenous bolus injection of 185 MBq of 123I-IAZA. Thirteen blood samples and a cumulative urine sample were collected over 28 h from each subject. A two-compartment open model best described the disposition characteristics of all three chemical components, with terminal phase half-lives of 179 +/- 24, 232 +/- 41 and 294 +/- 27 min for 123I-IAZA, IAZA and total radioactivity, respectively. 123I-IAZA had a steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) of 0.716 +/- 0.088 l.kg-1 and a systemic clearance (Cls) of 239 +/- 48 ml.min-1. Radioactive decay was responsible for about 37% of clearance; of the remaining radioactivity, about 92% was eliminated renally. Only about 12% of 123I-IAZA was eliminated unchanged in urine, indicating that renal excretion was the major route of elimination for the radioactive metabolites rather than for 123I-IAZA itself. The effective half-lives of 123I-IAZA and total radioactivity reported here are considerably shorter than previously estimated. Our results confirm that 123I-IAZA has appropriate pharmacokinetic and radiopharmacokinetic properties to support clinical hypoxia imaging.

Measurements of basin-scale acoustic transmissions made during the last four years by the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) program have allowed for the study of acoustic fluctuations of low-frequency pulse propagation at ranges of 1000 to 5000 km. Analysis of data from the ATOC Acoustic Engineering Test conducted in November 1994 has revealed new and unexpected results for the physics of ocean acoustic wave propagation in random media. In particular, use of traditional /spl Lambda/, /spl Phi/ methods (using the Garrett-Munk (GM) internal wave model) to identify the wave propagation regime for early identifiable wavefronts predict the saturated regime, whereas observations of intensity probability density functions, intensity variance, and pulse time spread and wander suggest that the propagation is more likely near the border between the unsaturated and partially saturated regimes. Calculations of the diffraction parameter /spl Lambda/ are very sensitive to the broad-band nature of the transmitted pulse, with CW calculations differing from a simplistic broad-band calculation by 10/sup 3/. A simple model of pulse propagation using the Born approximation shows that CW and broad-band cases are sensitive to a random medium very differently and a theoretical description of broad-band effects for pulse propagation through a random media remains a fundamental unsolved problem in ocean acoustics. The observations show that, at 75-Hz center frequency, acoustic normal mode propagation is strongly nonadiabatic due to random media effects caused by internal waves. Simulations at a lower frequency of 28 Hz suggest that the first few modes might be treated adiabatically even in a random ocean. This raises the possibility of using modal techniques for ocean acoustic tomography, thereby increasing the vertical resolution of thermometry. Finally, the observation of unsaturated or partially saturated propagation for 75-Hz broad-band transmissions, like those of ATOC, suggests that ray-based tomography will be robust at basin-scales. This opens up the possibility of ray-based internal wave tomography using the observables of travel time variance, and vertical and temporal coherence. Using geometrical optics and the GM internal wave spectrum, internal wave tomography for an assortment of parameters of the chi model can be formulated in terms of a mixed linear/nonlinear inverse. This is a significant improvement upon a Monte Carlo approach presented in this paper which is used to infer average internal wave energies as a function of depth for the SLICE89 experiment. However, this Monte Carlo approach demonstrated, for the SLICE89 experiment, that the GM model failed to render a consistent inverse for acoustic energy which sampled the upper 100 m of the ocean. Until a new theory for the forward problem is advanced, internal wave tomography utilizing the signal from strong mode coupling can only be carried out using time-consuming Monte Carlo methods.

Differential cross sections for electron impact excitation of the first four excited states of helium have been measured for electron impact energies of 30, 40 and 50 eV. A novel `magnetic angle-changing' technique has been used which allows the full angular range from to to be covered for the first time. Serious discrepancies between theory and experiment have been found at angles that were previously inaccessible experimentally.

Hypothalamic temperature (Thypo) and metabolic heat production (M) were measured in seven conscious rabbits injected intravenously with either saline or with Staphylococcus aureus, (8.10(7) cell walls.kg-1) while being subjected to a 3-h period of ramp-like total body cooling using a chronically implanted intravascular heat exchanger. In pyrogen-injected animals cooling started (1) at the time of injection or (2) 70 min after injection. In (1) the fall in Thypo induced by heat extraction was similar (1.0 degree C) in afebrile and febrile animals. In (2) there was a transient increase in Thypo of about 0.5 degree C at a time corresponding to the start of fever resulting in a significantly smaller fall in Thypo at the end of the 3-h cooling period (0.5 degree C vs 0.9 degree C, P < 0.05, n = 5). At this time in both (1) and (2) M was lower than theoretically expected from the increase in shivering threshold during fever. However, most of this effect can be explained when available data showing a decrease in thermosensitivity during S. aureus-induced fever are taken into account. After cessation of cooling in both groups of febrile animals Thypo rose to about 1 degree C higher than the precooling level, which is comparable to the fever level in a separate series of experiments with S. aureus injection without cooling (1.2 degrees C).

A trial involving the body and carcass analysis of 7885 lambs sired by 15 different breeds of ram and run at two New Zealand locations (Ruakura and Manutuke) over a 10 year period was analysed to determine the significance and size of the year effect on lamb composition. Animal size (growth rate) differed between sites with the Manutuke lambs being approximately 10% larger. Year had a very significant effect on the muscle, fat, and bone measurements investigated, with this effect remaining after adjusting measurements to the same carcass weight. Carcass fatness was strongly influenced by carcass weight which differed between years. At the same carcass weight, lambs differed by around 5% fat as a proportion of carcass weight or around 20% fat as a proportion of total fat, between the most extreme years at each location. Year differences were as large as those associated with identifiable management factors (breed, strains, sex, etc). Unfortunately, the underlying factors contributing to the year e...

Ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential calculations for the neutral silicon vacancy indicate a formation energy of 3.6 eV, with the surrounding lattice undergoing a tetragonal distortion with the nearby atoms forming two dimers having bond lengths 2.91 A. Close in energy is a tetrahedrally distorted structure in which the nearby atoms relax towards the vacancy by 12.6% of the bulk bond length. Additional distortions with trigonal symmetry were also investigated, but no stable structures were found. The symmetry, energetics, and geometry are found to be a sensitive function of the computational basis-set and supercell used in the plane-wave calculations.

— The European abalone Haliotis tuberculata, a valuable macroalgivore, was introduced and acclimated for culture in a land-based facility at Eilat, Israel, on the Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba). Large quantities of high-protein seaweed (Ulva lactuca) are produced there in biofilters used in fish mariculture. Although high water temperatures (25–27 C) inhibited summer growth, and in spite of the high salinity (41 ± 1 ppt). four groups of abalone of different sizes grew more in 1 yr than reported in their natural habitat. This fast growth is attributed to the long period (8 mo, from fall to spring) in which temperatures in Eilat waters are within the optimal range for this species, and to the high protein content of the seaweed. Winter timing of maximal growth as well as reproduction in Eilat was reversed compared with Europe, where they occur in summer. Gametogenesis began in December, and the gonads in most broodstock were spent by May. Haliotis tuberculata appears to have excellent potential for intensive mariculture in Israel.

The proportions of cuts from 7885 lamb carcasses sired by 15 different ram breeds, reared on pasture at two locations over 10 years, were measured and examined for breed differences. Although highly significant breed differences were found, their magnitude was small reaching a largest difference between crosses of 1.22% for the leg and 1.26% for the loin compared at the same carcass weight. Compared at the same time of slaughter (age), the maximum differences between the progeny of different ram breeds were 1.02% for the leg and 1.06% for the loin. Wether lambs had a slightly higher proportion of forequarter cuts. Sire breed had a major effect on the proportion of lambs reaching the fatter P grade (class) with the meat breeds Southdown, Dorset Down, South Dorset Down, Hampshire, and South Suffolk sires producing 68–76% P carcasses and the wool breeds such as the English Leicester, Merino, Romney, and Lincoln producing 18–23% of P carcasses. Lambs sired by the Poll Dorset, Dorset Horn, Suffolk, Ry...

A procedure is developed to study the evolution of high anisotropy magnetic recording media due to thermally activated grain reversal. It is assumed that the system is composed of single domain grains that evolves by passing through a sequence of relatively long-lived metastable states punctuated by abrupt reversals of individual grains. Solutions to the rate equations describing the sequence of metastable states are calculated using kinetic Monte Carlo. Transition rates are formulated from the Arrhenius-N\'eel expression in terms of the material parameters, temperature, and applied field. Results obtained from this method are shown to be in good agreement with those calculated from finite-temperature micromagnetics. The method is applied to study the rate dependence of finite-temperature $MH$ loops and the thermal degradation of a recorded bit pattern in perpendicular recording media. A significant advantage of the procedure is its ability to extend simulations over time intervals many orders of magnitude greater than is feasible using standard finite-temperature micromagnetics with relatively modest computational effort.

Student affairs programs share a common goal of developing master’s level professionals for employment in higher education. Approximately one-third of student affairs training programs are counseling-based and half of those programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). However, there is a lack of literature regarding the preparation of student affairs professionals trained in counseling programs and the importance of counselor training to the student affairs profession. Based upon a review of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education Professional Standards, CACREP standards, and other related research, this article will discuss the perceived value of counselor preparation to the functional areas within student affairs and categorize the specific student affairs functional areas based upon the perceived value of counselor training.

The function of the supra-orbital salt gland was studied in the common eider duck (Somateria mollissima). The maximum salt-secreting capacity was determined in (1) wild ducks which had been living in a marine environment, (2) ducks reared in captivity on fresh water, and (3) ducks from group 2 adapted to salt water. The maximum secreting capacity was found by infusing a solution of NaCl (1000 mosmol·kg-1) at increasing rates, from 0.691 to 1.671 mosmol·min-1. Freshwater-adapted ducks secreted at a maximum rate of 0.785 mosmol·min-1 (1500 mosmol·kg-1). Adapted to salt water they increased their capacity, and the best duck secreted at a rate of 1215 mosmol·min-1 (1600 mosmol·kg-1). The best wild duck secreted at a rate of 1516 mosmol·min-1. Ducks in group 3 were used to examine the response to a hyperosmotic or an isoosmotic infusion. The amount of salt (NaCl) given per unit time was the same. Given a hyperosmotic solution their salt glands secreted at a high rate: 30 min after the infusion had stopped the ducks had excreted 94% of the sodium infused, 92.9% via the salt gland. Given an isoosmotic solution they secreted at a rate about half the infusion rate: 30 min after cessation of infusion they had excreted 73% of the sodium, 42.9% via the salt gland and the rest by the kidneys.

Results on the body and carcass composition of 7885 lambs sired by 371 rams of 15 different breeds mated to Romney cast‐for‐age ewes are given. Trials were run at the Ruakura Agricultural Centre and the Manutuke Research Station from 1963 to 1972. Lambs of the different breeds were slaughtered at the same average age so that differences between breeds/crosses in liveweight and carcass weight reflected differences in growth rate. Ranked from heaviest to lightest mean age‐adjusted carcass weights, lambs sired by the Dorset Horn, Poll Dorset, Hampshire, Border Leicester, Suffolk, Dorset Down, South Suffolk, and South Dorset Down produced the heaviest carcasses, and those sired by the Cheviot, Southdown, English Leicester, and Ryeland were intermediate. The Lincoln, Merino, and Romney sired carcasses were lighter. The longer‐woolled Romney, Merino, and Lincoln had lowest dressing‐out percentages based on full liveweights and the short finer‐wooled breeds such as the Southdown, Dorset Down, and Poll D...

The role of prolonged electrical stimulation on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+sequestration measured in vitro and muscle energy status in fast white and red skeletal muscle was investigated. Fatigue was induced by 90 min intermittent 10-Hz stimulation of rat gastrocnemius muscle, which led to reductions (p f) and free AMP (AMPf) were elevated 3- and 15-fold, respectively. No differences were found in the metabolic response between tissues obtained from the white (WG) and red (RG) regions of the gastrocnemius. No significant reductions in SR Ca2+ATPase activity were observed in homogenate (HOM) or a crude SR fraction (CM) from WG or RG muscle following exercise. Maximum Ca2+uptake in HOM and CM preparations was similar in control (C) and stimulated (St) muscles. However, Ca2+uptake at 400 nM free Ca2+was significantly reduced in CM from RG (0.108 ± 0.04 to 0.076 ± 0.02 μmol∙mg−1protein∙min−1in RG–C and RG–St, respectively). Collectively, these data suggest that reductions in muscle energy status are dissociated from changes in SR Ca2+ATPase activity in vitro but are related to Ca2+uptake at physiological free [Ca2+] in fractionated SR from highly oxidative muscle. Dissociation of SR Ca2+ATPase activity from Ca2+uptake may reflect differences in the mechanisms evaluated by these techniques.Key words: sarcoplasmic reticulum, contractile activity, Ca2+sequestration, energy status, red and white gastrocnemius.

An experiment was repeated in 2 years using 698 lambs to investigate the effects of sire breed (Southdown, Suffolk), sex (female, short‐scrotum male), and growth path on lamb growth and carcass composition. The three growth paths used were high (H), high followed by maintenance (HM), or low followed by high (LH) levels of pasture availability. The Suffolk‐cross lambs averaged 2.3 kg more than Southdown‐cross lambs at weaning (unfasted liveweight) and gained 2.6 kg more than the Southdown‐cross lambs between weaning and slaughter. The male lambs weighed 1.8 kg more than the females at weaning and gained 0.7 kg more between weaning and slaughter. When hot‐carcass weight was adjusted to 17.1 kg, the Southdown‐cross lambs averaged 1.6 mm higher GR than Suffolks and females averaged 1.6 mm higher GR than short‐scrotum lambs. The effect of the different nutritional treatments applied in this study was not consistent on GR or any other carcass measurements. The HM lambs had the largest carcass measureme...