Amplifier provides dual outputs from a single source with complete isolation

Amplifier provides two amplified outputs from a single input signal with complete transformer isolation. It uses modulation techniques to obtain the separated output

\u3ci\u3eLycaeides Melissa Samuelis\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Response to an Aggregation of \u3ci\u3eLytta Sayi\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Meloidae) on \u3ci\u3eLupinus Perennis\u3c/i\u3e (Fabaceae

Lycaeides melissa samuelis Nabokov, frequently called the Karner blue butterfly, is a Federally endangered species found in savanna/barren type ecosystems of New England and the Great Lakes region of North America. We observed sporadic and localized feeding aggregations of Lytta sayi LeConte (Coleoptera: Meloidae) on Lupinus perennis L. (Fabaceae) occupied by L. m. samuelis during the summers of 2000-2004, in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. In 2004, we quantified the phenology and behavior of an aggregation (\u3e 900 beetles) within a 1,020 m2 stand of lupine and measured its effect upon adult L. m. samuelis behavior. The L. sayi aggregation formed and dispersed within 11 days with three beetles observed on day one and a maximum of 951 beetles on day seven. By the eighth day of the aggregation, the beetles had consumed 100% of the lupine flowers, 2% of lupine seeds and no lupine leaves. In comparisons of L. m. samuelis activity before and during the beetle aggregation, L. m. samuelis males spent significantly less time perching on Potentilla simplex Michaux (Rosaceae) and more time flying during the beetle aggregation. L. m. samuelis females spent significantly less time under lupine leaves during the beetle aggregation. Distribution of L. m. samuelis larval feeding damage suggests adult females avoided ovipositing in areas containing large numbers of beetles

Satellite microwave observations of soil moisture variations

The electrically scanning microwave radiometer (ESMR) on the Nimbus 5 satellite was used to observe microwave emissions from vegetated and soil surfaces over an Illinois-Indiana study area, the Mississippi Valley, and the Great Salt Lake Desert in Utah. Analysis of microwave brightness temperatures (T sub B) and antecedent rainfall over these areas provided a way to monitor variations of near-surface soil moisture. Because vegetation absorbs microwave emission from the soil at the 1.55 cm wavelength of ESMR, relative soil moisture measurements can only be obtained over bare or sparsely vegetated soil. In general T sub B increased during rainfree periods as evaporation of water and drying of the surface soil occurs, and drops in T sub B are experienced after significant rainfall events wet the soil. Microwave observations from space are limited to coarse resolutions (10-25 km), but it may be possible in regions with sparse vegetation cover to estimate soil moisture conditions on a watershed or agricultural district basis, particularly since daily observations can be obtained

Estimated Impacts of a Potential U.S.-Mexico Preferential Trading Agreement for the Agricultural Sector

We develop a three region - U.S., Mexico, and Rest-of-World - simulation model to analyze the effects on the agricultural sector of a potential preferential trading arrangement (PTA) between Mexico and the United States. The simulation exercises indicate that two-way agricultural trade increases and welfare improves in the United States and Mexico from a bilateral preferential agreement on agricultural products. Our results show that when border protection is eliminated by the United States and Mexico, bilateral agricultural trade expands by over 15 percent. Relative to the size of the two agricultural sectors, however, the overall impact is very small for the U.S. agricultural sector but there is a more significant adjustment for Mexican agriculture.preferential trading arrangements, simulation model, agricultural trade, United States and Mexico, International Relations/Trade,

Some neutron and gamma radiation characteristics of plutonium cermet fuel for isotopic power sources

Gamma and neutron measurements on various types of plutonium sources are presented in order to show the effects of O-17, O-18 F-19, Pu-236, age of the fuel, and size of the source on the gamma and neutron spectra. Analysis of the radiation measurements shows that fluorine is the main contributor to the neutron yields from present plutonium-molybdenum cermet fuel, while both fluorine and Pu-236 daughters contribute significantly to the gamma ray intensities

Treatment of metal surfaces for use with space storable propellants - A critical survey

Treatment of metallic surfaces for use with space storable propellant

Existence theorems in the geometrically non-linear 6-parametric theory of elastic plates

In this paper we show the existence of global minimizers for the geometrically exact, non-linear equations of elastic plates, in the framework of the general 6-parametric shell theory. A characteristic feature of this model for shells is the appearance of two independent kinematic fields: the translation vector field and the rotation tensor field (representing in total 6 independent scalar kinematic variables). For isotropic plates, we prove the existence theorem by applying the direct methods of the calculus of variations. Then, we generalize our existence result to the case of anisotropic plates. We also present a detailed comparison with a previously established Cosserat plate model.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur