2,235 research outputs found
T.J. Stiles: “The Commodore’s Patriotism: Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Path to the Founding of Vanderbilt University”
No full textIncludes descriptive metadata provided by producer in MP4 file: "Chancellor's Lecture Series - Videos - T.J. Stiles: 'The Commodore’s Patriotism: Cornelius Vanderbilt’s Path to the Founding of Vanderbilt University'." By Vanderbilt University. T.J. Stiles, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian, speaks Sept. 29, 2010 as part of the Chancellor's Lecture Series. Stiles wrote the 2009 biography The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Chancellor Nicholas Zeppos introduces Stiles. Stiles takes questions after his lecture
An ecophysiological study on the moss hydrogoniuh fontanum from the Asir mountains, Saudi Arabia
No full textThe thesis describes a study on the ecophysiology of the moss Hydrogonium fontanum (C. Mail.) Jaeg., the dominant plant at a waterfall in Saudi Arabia. The influence of environmental variables and water stress on the growth, stress metabolite accumulation and phosphatase activities of the moss was studied in laboratory axenic culture along with observations and experiments conducted in the field. The variables chosen for growth experiments were light flux, flooding, nutrient concentrations and water stress. For phosphatase activities, the influence of temperature, pH, ions, water stress were studied. Differences were found in phosphatase activities for rhlzoids, protonema and leafy shoots of the moss and, therefore, the phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) and phosphodiesterase (PDEase) activities of these fractions were also investigated. H. fontanum was originally collected from the tufa-depositing waterfall (Water chemistry - 44 mg 1(^-1) Na, 44 mg 1(^-1) Ca). High Na and Ca had significant positive effect on yield of the protonema under the laboratory conditions. Low light intensity (10 µmol photon m(^-2) s(^-1)) decreased the yield, but high light intensity (90 µmol photon m(^-2) s(^-1)) increased the yield of the protonema. The moss showed no response to water stress in respect to praline accumulation. Protein content decreased significantly over 48 h with increase in water stress. The Influence of water stress was greater in terms of dry weight and chlorophyll content changes in protonema than in leafy shoots. The protonema was capable of using various organic P substrates as sources of phosphorus and showed both PMEase and PDEase activities. PMEase and PDEase activities were detectable in all moss fractions (rhizoids, protonema, leafy shoots). Laboratory grown material showed higher activities than field grown material. Rhizoids produced the highest PMEase and PDEase activities among the moss fractions. Some leafy shoots collected from the field had low phosphorus content with high phosphatase activities, while others had high phosphorus content with low phosphatase activities. Changes in phosphatase activities in batch culture were studied in relation to growth rate. PMEase activity was first evident when cellular P was 1.15% with low activity (0.117 µmol pNP mg d. wt(^-1) h(^-1)) and PDEase appeared 4 days later when cellular P was 0.54%. The activities increased up to day 12 after which the activities maintained this level. The optimum temperatures, measured over a period of 1 h, for PMEase and PDEase activities were 60 ºC and 65 ºC with pH optima of 5.5-6.0 and 6.4-6.8, respectively. Of the six ions tested, Ca, Zn and P had significant inhibitory effects on the activities at the highest concentration used (10 mM).Drying the moss decreases PMEase and PDEase activities by about 23% and 21% (5-d) and 3.7 and 2,8 times (3 months), respectively. Water stress (PEG treatment) also reduced significantly the activities of PMEase and PDEase with a greater effect on the activity of the latter. A brief comparison in PMEase activity using two different substrates p- nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) and 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (4-MUP) was made to investigate the pH optima and time course. PMEase activity measured using 250 µM 4-MUP was about 60% of that measured using the same concentration of pNPP
Cwbr Author Interview: Custer\u27s Trials: A Life On The Frontier Of A New America
No full textInterview with T.J. Stiles, author of Custer\u27s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America Interviewed by Tom Barber
Civil War Book Review (CWBR): The Civil War Book Review is pleased to speak with T.J. Stiles, winner of multiple awards for biography and author of Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War and The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Today we get to discuss his most recent work Custer\u27s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America. Mr. Stiles, thank you for joining us today. T.J. Stiles: Thanks very much for interviewing me...
New moss records for Vietnam
No full textSixty-one species are newly added to the moss flora of Vietnam. Of which, ten genera (Eurhynchiadelphus Ignatov, Huttunen & T.J. Kop., Fleischerobryum Loeske, Forsstroemia Lindb, Geheebia Schimp., Hageniella Broth., Leskeella (Limpr.) Loeske, Pterogoniadelphus M. Fleisch., Rhizomnium (Mitt. ex Broth.) T.J. Kop., Scabridens E.B. Bartram and Torrentaria Ochyra) are newly reported for the country. Scabridens is recorded outside China for the first time. The tropical American Macromitrium longifolium (Hook.) Brid. is newly reported for Asia. The occurrence of Ctenidium pinnatum (Broth. & Paris) Broth. in Vietnam is confirmed. These results make up the moss flora of Vietnam comprising of 816 species (including 50 infraspecific taxa) belonging to 227 genera in 61 families. One hundred and three taxa of mosses are hitherto known only from Vietnam. All new generic records are illustrated based on the local specimens.</p
The Shannon County Film Digitization Project -- Scenes from 1920s Archive Film
No full textScenes excerpted from STAMP OF CHARACTER, a film commissioned in the 1920s by the T.J. Moss Tie Company, St. Louis, Mo. The footage shows the Missouri forests and rivers as they appeared nearly 100 years ago. The original silent film was shown in movie theaters as an advertisement for the company. Moss Tie began operation in 1879, and was one of the nation's largest railroad tie companies. Part of the footage used in 1978-1979 for 1981 documentary motion pictures "Shannon County: Home" and "Shannon County: Hearts of the Children.
Holocene climate variability revealed by oxygen isotope analysis of Sphagnum cellulose from Walton Moss, northern England
No full textStable isotope analyses of Sphagnum alpha-cellulose, precipitation and bog water from three sites across northwestern Europe (Raheenmore, Ireland, Walton Moss, northern England and Dosenmoor, northern Germany) over a total period of 26 months were used to investigate the nature of the climatic signal recorded by Sphagnum moss. The ?18O values of modern alpha-cellulose tracked precipitation more closely than bog water, with a mean isotopic fractionation factor ?cellulose-precipitation of 1.0274 ± 0.001 (1?) (?27‰). Sub-samples of isolated Sphagnum alpha-cellulose were subsequently analysed from core WLM22, Walton Moss, northern England yielding a Sphagnum-specific isotope record spanning the last 4300 years. The palaeo-record, calibrated using the modern data, provides evidence for large amplitude variations in the estimated oxygen isotope composition of precipitation during the mid- to late Holocene. Estimates of palaeotemperature change derived from statistical relationships between modern surface air temperatures and ?18Oprecipitation values for the British Isles give unrealistically large variation in comparison to proxies from other archives. We conclude that use of such relationships to calibrate mid-latitude palaeo-data must be undertaken with caution. The ?18O record from Sphagnum cellulose was highly correlated with a palaeoecologically-derived index of bog surface wetness (BSW), suggesting a common climatic driver.<br/
Molecular support for Pleistocene persistence of the continental Antarctic moss Bryum argenteum
No full textWe examined sequence variation of ITS and phy2 for Bryum argenteum from Antarctica, sub-Antarctic, New Zealand and Australia to understand better taxonomic delimitations and resolve relationships between these geographic regions. Bryum argenteum has been recorded as two species, B. argenteum and B. subrotundifolium, in all four regions with the latter now referred to as B. argenteum var. muticum. We found disagreement between taxon delimitations (based on morphology) and molecular markers. All continental Antarctic specimens consistently formed a monophyletic sister group that consisted of both morphologically identified B. argenteum varieties, separate to all non-Antarctic specimens (also consisting of both varieties). We suggest, contrary to previous records, that all continental Antarctic (Victoria Land) populations are referable to B. argenteum var. muticum, while sub-Antarctic, Australian and New Zealand populations included here are B. argenteum var. argenteum. Additionally, since there was less genetic diversity within Victoria Land, Antarctica, than observed between non-Antarctic samples, we suggest that this is, in part, due to a potentially lower rate of DNA substitution and isolation in northern and southern refugia within Victoria Land since the Pleistocene.Simon F. K. Hills, Mark I. Stevens and Chrissen E. C. Gemmil
Taiwanoshaira Lee & Beenen, a new genus and first record of moss-inhabiting Galerucinae sensu stricto (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) from Taiwan
No full textTaiwanoshaira Lee & Beenen gen. nov. is described. It represents the first genus of Galerucinae (s. str.) in Taiwan documented to inhabit moss cushions. Shaira chujoi Kimoto, 1982 is transferred to Taiwanoshaira, as follows: T. chujoi (Kimoto), comb. nov. Two new species, T. taipingshanensis sp. nov. and T. tsoui sp. nov., are described. Adults of T. taipingshanensis sp. nov. were observed feeding on the moss species Plagiomnium vesicatum (Besch.) T.J. Kop. (Mniaceae). Microhabitats and distribution of Taiwanoshaira species are discussed
Multi-proxy Holocene palaeoclimate records from Walton Moss, northern England and Dosenmoor, northern Germany, assessed using three statistical approaches
No full textThe carotid bodies influence growth responses to moderate maternal undernutrition in late-gestation fetal sheep
No full textOBJECTIVE: To determine the role of carotid sinus innervation on differential fetal organ growth during maternal nutrient restriction in late pregnancy. DESIGN: Randomised controlled study. SETTING: University research facility. SAMPLE: Thirty-nine Merino ewes. METHODS: At 113 days gestational age (dGA), fetuses were bilaterally carotid sinus denervated or sham denervated. From 118 dGA, the surgery groups were subdivided into two dietary groups, and their ewes were fed 100% of nutrient requirements or 50% until tissue collection at 140 dGA. This provided four groups (sham/control diet, sham/restricted diet, denervated/control diet and denervated/restricted diet). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fetal organ weights and hormone levels and maternal weight change during the dietary restriction. RESULTS: Adrenal glands were larger in sham/restricted diet fetuses than in sham/control diet or denervated/restricted diet fetuses (P < 0.05). Fetal adrenal weight and brain-to-liver weight ratio were positively related to maternal weight change during the nutritional challenge in sham fetuses only (P < 0.05). Fetal liver weight was negatively related to maternal weight change during nutritional challenge in sham fetuses only (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown a reduction in liver growth but sparing of adrenal growth in response to moderate maternal undernutrition, which is dependent on intact carotid body innervation. This suggests a new role for the carotid bodies in the control of differential organ growth during such undernutritio
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