6,162 research outputs found
An experimental study of the interaction of basaltic riverine particulate material and seawater
Full text linkThe riverine transport of elements from land to ocean is an integral flux for many element cycles and an important climate regulating process over geological timescales. This flux consists of both dissolved and particulate material. The world’s rivers are estimated to transport between 16.6 and 30 Gt yr?1 of particulate material, considerably higher than the dissolved flux of ?1 Gt yr?1. Therefore, the dissolution of particulate material upon arrival in estuaries and coastal waters may be a significant flux for many elements. Here we assess the role of riverine particulate material dissolution in seawater with closed-system experiments using riverine bedload material and estuarine sediment from western Iceland mixed with open ocean seawater. Both particulate materials significantly changed the elemental concentrations of the surrounding water with substantial increases in Si concentrations indicative of silicate dissolution. Seawater in contact with bedload material shows considerable enrichment of Ca, Mg, Mn, and Ni, while Li and K concentrations decrease. Moreover, the 87Sr/86Sr of seawater decreases with time with little change in Sr concentrations, indicative of a significant two-way flux between the solid and fluid phases. Mass balance calculations indicate that 3% of the Sr contained in the original riverine bedload was released during 9 months of reaction. In contrast, the estuarine material has a negligible effect on seawater 87Sr/86Sr and transition metal concentrations, suggesting that these reactions occur when particulate material first arrives into coastal waters. Solubility calculations performed using the PHREEQC computer code confirm that primary minerals are undersaturated, while secondary minerals such as kaolinite are oversaturated in the reacted fluids. These results demonstrate that riverine transported basaltic particulate material can significantly alter the composition of seawater, although the total concentrations of many major elements in seawater are regulated by the formation of secondary phases. This behavior has important implications for nutrient supply to coastal waters and the isotopic mass balance of several elements in the ocean
Supplementary_material_NNR20190506c – Supplemental material for Neural Correlates of Passive Position Finger Sense After Stroke
No full textSupplemental material, Supplementary_material_NNR20190506c for Neural Correlates of Passive Position Finger Sense After Stroke by Morgan L. Ingemanson, Justin R. Rowe, Vicky Chan, Jeff Riley, Eric T. Wolbrecht, David J. Reinkensmeyer and Steven C. Cramer in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair</p
Confounding factors affecting faecal egg count reduction as a measure of anthelmintic efficacy
Full text linkIncreasing anthelmintic resistance (AR) in livestock has stimulated growing efforts to monitor anthelmintic effectiveness (AE) on livestock farms. On-farm assessment of AE relies on measuring the reduction in faecal egg count (FEC) following treatment; and if conducted rigorously, qualifies as a formal FEC reduction test (FECRT) for AR. Substantial research effort has been devoted to designing robust protocols for the FECRT and its statistical interpretation; however, a wide range of factors other than AR can affect FEC reduction on farms. These are not always possible to control, and can affect the outcome and repeatability of AE measurements and confound the on-farm classification of AR using FECRT. This review considers confounders of FEC reduction, focusing on gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants, including host and parasite physiology and demography; pharmacokinetic variation between drugs, parasites and hosts; and technical performance. Drug formulation and delivery, host condition and diet, and seasonal variation in parasite species composition, can all affect AE and hence observed FEC reduction. Causes of variation in FEC reduction should be attenuated, but this is not always possible. Regular monitoring of AE can indicate a need to improve anthelmintic administration practices, and detect AR early in its progression. Careful interpretation of FEC reduction, however, taking into account possible confounders, is essential before attributing reduced FEC reduction to AR. Understanding of confounders of FEC reduction will complement advances in FECRT design and interpretation to provide measures of anthelmintic efficacy that are both rigorous and accessible
Post 'Celtic Tiger' Ireland, Silver Vigilantes and Public Sociology: Protesting Against Global Neoliberalisation
Full text linkIt is not just publicly funded universities that are facing a cold and hard future in the aftershock of the 2008 global banking crisis. Nations, such as Ireland, are similarly affected as states seek to appease 'the markets' and cover private banks' losses at the public's expense. As this wave of neoliberalisation, or market fundamentalism, proceeds we may ask: what is the role of sociology? Drawing from an exploratory study of financial activism, notably silver vigilantism and the Crash JP Morgan Campaign, this paper endorses global public sociology among threatened publics. As per Michael Burawoy's calls for public sociology, this entails promoting reflexive knowledge and democratic dialogue in the defence of civil society. After outlining the core tenets, strengths and weaknesses of silver vigilantism, the role of public sociology and the need for further research are underscored as the economic crisis continues in post 'Celtic Tiger' Ireland and beyond.Public Sociology; Neoliberalisation; Money; Protest; the Internet
The basic reproduction quotient (Q0) as a potential spatial predictor of the seasonality of ovine haemonchosis
Full text linkHaemonchus contortus is a gastrointestinal nematode parasite of small ruminants, which feeds on blood and causes significant disease and production loss in sheep and goats, especially in warmer parts of the world. The life cycle includes free-living immature stages, which are subject to climatic influences on development, survival and availability, and this species therefore exhibits spatio-temporal heterogeneity in its infection pressure based on the prevailing climate. Models that better explain this heterogeneity could predict future epidemiological changes. The basic reproduction quotient (Q0) was used as a simple process-based model to predict climate-driven changes in the potential transmission of H. contortus across widely different geo-climatic zones, and showed good agreement with the observed frequency of this species in the gastrointestinal nematode fauna of sheep (r = 0.81, P <0.01). Averaged monthly Q0 output was further used within a geographical information system (GIS) to produce preliminary haemonchosis risk maps for the United Kingdom (UK) over a four-year historical span and under future climate change scenarios. Prolonged transmission seasons throughout the UK are predicted, especially in the south although with restricted transmission in peak summer due to rainfall limitation. Additional predictive ability might be achieved if information such as host density and distribution, grazing pattern and edaphic conditions were included as risk layers in the GIS-based risk map. However, validation of such risk maps presents a significant challenge, with georeferenced observed data of sufficient spatial and temporal resolution rarely available and difficult to obtain
Ahead of others in the authorship order: names with middle initials appear earlier in author lists of academic articles in psychology
Full text linkMiddle name initials are often used by people in contexts where intellectual performance matters. Given this association, middle initials in people’s names indicate intellectual capacity and performance (Van Tilburg and Igou, 2014). In the current research, we examined whether middle initials are associated with a typical academic indicator of intellectual performance: authorship order of journal articles. In psychology, authorship early in the author list of an article should correspond with greater contribution to this intellectual endeavor compared to authorship appearing later in the author list. Given that middle initials indicate intellectual capacity and performance, we investigated whether there would be a positive relationship between middle initials in author names and early (vs. late) appearance of names in author lists of academic journal articles in psychology. In two studies, we examined the relationship between amount of authors’ middle initials and authorship order. Study 1 used a sample of 678 articles from social psychology journals published in the years 2006 and 2007. Study 2 used a sample of 696 articles from journals of multiple sub-disciplines in psychology published in the years from 1970 to 2013. Middle initials in author names were overrepresented early (vs. late) in author lists. We discuss implications of our findings for academic decisions on authorship orders, potential avenues of further investigation, and applications
Quantifying the impact of riverine particulate dissolution in seawater on ocean chemistry
Full text linkThe quantification of the sources and sinks of elements to the oceans forms the basis of our understanding of global geochemical cycles and the chemical evolution of the Earth's surface. There is, however, a large imbalance in the current best estimates of the global fluxes to the oceans for many elements. In the case of strontium (Sr), balancing the input from rivers would require a much greater mantle-derived component than is possible from hydrothermal water flux estimates at mid-ocean ridges. Current estimates of riverine fluxes are based entirely on measurements of dissolved metal concentrations, and neglect the impact of riverine particulate dissolution in seawater. Here we present 87Sr/86Sr isotope data from an Icelandic estuary, which demonstrate rapid Sr release from the riverine particulates. We calculate that this Sr release is 1.1–7.5 times greater than the corresponding dissolved riverine flux. If such behaviour is typical of volcanic particulates worldwide, this release could account for 6–45% of the perceived marine Sr budget imbalance, with continued element release over longer timescales further reducing the deficit. Similar release from particulate material will greatly affect the marine budgets of many other elements, changing our understanding of coastal productivity, and anthropogenic effects such as soil erosion and the damming of rivers
An occupational survey to determine the entry level CAD skills and competencies required by employers of civil engineering technicians in the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College district
Full text linkIncludes bibliographical references.The purpose of this study was to identify the CAD related technical skills and
competencies that are required for employability at an entry-level position as a civil engineering technician. The majority of employers represented in this study are civil engineering firms, governmental agencies, and surveying firms. Overall, civil engineering firms along with governmental agencies employ the greatest number of drafters. Civil drawings, survey maps, and topographical drawings are the most commonly prepared drawings by the respondents. Other reported drawing types include architectural, electrical/electronic, landscaping, structural, and technical illustrations. Almost all of the respondents use a CAD system for drafting functions. AutoCAD is
the primary CAD platform used. MicroStation is also used, but to a much lesser extent. Of the employers that use CAD software, most use at least one collaborative software package with their primary CAD platform. Eagle Point is the most common collaborative software utilized. AutoCAD Land Development Desktop (ALDD) was noted to be the next commonly used collaborative software. Out of the 24 basic CAD skills that were listed on the survey, 14 were considered to be valid curriculum items and will be either retained or added to the program curriculum. Six of the 24 items will be reviewed for being valid curriculum items, and four of the items will not be included in the curriculum. Overall, most basic CAD skills were performed frequently or considered important. Out of the 29 advanced CAD skills that were listed on the survey, none were considered to be valid curriculum items. Sixteen of the 29 items will be reviewed for being valid curriculum items, and 13 of the items will not be included in the curriculum. Overall, most advanced CAD skills were not performed frequently nor considered important. Out of the 15 basic architectural drawing skills that were listed on the survey, none were considered to be valid curriculum items. Eight of the 15 items will be reviewed for being valid curriculum items, and seven of the items will not be included in the curriculum. Overall, most basic architectural drawing skills were not performed frequently nor considered important. None of the six basic structural drawing skills that were listed on the survey were considered to be valid curriculum items. One of the six items will be reviewed for being a valid curriculum item, and five of the items will not be included in the curriculum. Overall, most basic structural drawing skills were not performed frequently nor considered important
Vrioco(r)nium and Deva
No full textThe author restores the ancient name of Wroxeter, given as Viroconium in most sources, with the form Vrioconium [Cornovium]. The first element wrio-is an Indo-european name for “ stronghold”, attested in Thracian (Bria), Messapic (Uria), Tokharian (A ri, B, riye) ; any connection with Mycenian ri-jo-seems problematic.L’auteur restitue le nom antique de Wroxeter, le plus souvent Viroconium dans les sources, sous la forme Vrioconium [Cornovium]. Il dégage dans * wrio-un nom indo-européen de la forteresse, attesté en thrace (Bria), messapien (Uria), tokharien (A ri, B, riye), mais un rapport avec mycénien ri-jo-paraît problématique.Hamp Eric P. Vrioco(r)nium and Deva. In: Etudes Celtiques, vol. 36, 2008. pp. 69-74
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