NOC Liverpool Unit 117 Glider deployment report for the DEFRA MAREMAP Project, April - May 2012 deployment

This document summarises the extended deployment of a 200 metre depth rated Slocum Electric glider by the National Oceanography Centre, Liverpool, UK from the 2nd April to 17th May 2012. The deployment was aimed as a pilot study for the use of gliders by environment agencies to monitor marine conservation zones. Lithium expendable batteries were used inside the glider to provide an extended endurance. The glider had a series of science sensors installed to measure physical oceanographic and biological parameters that included water quality and algal activity. The glider was deployed from the Liverpool Bay and successfully navigated to the intended survey area that was more than 100km from the initial deployment location. Extensive independent scientific measurements were taken during the glider deployment and subsequent operation. These measurements were used for glider sensor calibration and the monitoring of any sensor drift. Avoidance and managing of the many hazards typical in the survey area such as shipping, strong tidal currents and fixed platforms were required during the deployment. This was achieved by remotely piloting the glider with using a satellite based communications link. After a deployment of just over six weeks a suspected glider entanglement close to the seabed occurred during a routine survey dive and attempted subsequent climb underwater. This compromised the glider operation during its return to shallower, more sheltered coastal waters for an intended recovery. An emergency recovery was then required that used a small charted deep sea fishing vessel. This document provides an overview of the deployment requirements, the glider operations and the recovered glider initial evaluation. A summary of the results achieved is also provided in the report

Indications for Splenectomy in Certain Chronic Blood Disorders: The Technic of the Operation

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The Molecular Line Opacity of MgH in Cool Stellar Atmospheres

A new, complete, theoretical rotational and vibrational line list for the A-X electronic transition in MgH is presented. The list includes transition energies and oscillator strengths for all possible allowed transitions and was computed using the best available theoretical potential energies and dipole transition moment function with the former adjusted to account for experimental data. The A-X line list, as well as new line lists for the B'-X and the X-X (pure rovibrational) transitions, were included in comprehensive stellar atmosphere models for M, L, and T dwarfs and solar-type stars. The resulting spectra, when compared to models lacking MgH, show that MgH provides significant opacity in the visible between 4400 and 5600 Angstrom. Further, comparison of the spectra obtained with the current line list to spectra obtained using the line list constructed by Kurucz (1993) show that the Kurucz list significantly overestimates the opacity due to MgH particularly for the bands near 5150 and 4800 Angstrom with the discrepancy increasing with decreasing effective temperature.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 3 table

Are Male Employees Promoted More Often Than Females Who Are Just As Qualified?

The purpose of this research is to determine if males are promoted faster than females who are equally qualified.  Statistics based on empirical studies have shown that from the number of students who have pursued degrees from the undergraduate level to the master’s level, females outnumber males by far.  One can therefore only conclude (all things being equal) that academically there are more qualified females than males in the workplace.  However when you look on companies’ corporate websites, there are more males than females in top management positions. Data were collected from a sample of 130 professionals who varied by gender, age, education, work experience and minority or majority status. The results of this study demonstrate that gender discrimination is not a perceptual barrier in promotional opportunities. Implications for manager and employees are discussed

The effect of stress on the expression of the amyloid precursor protein in rat brain

AbstractThe abnormal processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a pivotal event in the development of the unique pathology that defines Alzheimer's disease (AD). Stress, and the associated increase in corticosteroids, appear to accelerate brain ageing and may increase vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease via altered APP processing. In this study, rats were repeatedly exposed to an unavoidable stressor, an open elevated platform. Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that a single exposure produces a marked increase in plasma corticosterone levels but animals develop tolerance to this effect between 10 and 20 daily sessions. Twenty-four hours after stress, there was an increase in the ratio of the deglycosylated form of APP in the particulate fraction of the brain, which subsequently habituated after 20 days. The levels of soluble APP (APPs) tended to be lower in the stress groups compared to controls except for a significant increase in the hippocampus after 20 days of platform exposure. Since APPs is reported to have neurotrophic properties, this increased release may represent a neuroprotective response to repeated stress. It is possible that the ability to mount this response decreases with age thus increasing the vulnerability to stress-induced AD-related pathology

Azelia\u27s Walker

A Biomedical Engineering student, KC Balfour, two Mechanical Engineering students, Jayne Benedict and Gabrielle Merkin, and one Industrial Engineering student, Jordan Ramsey, make up the interdisciplinary senior project team of Azelia’s Walker. The goal of Azelia’s Walker is to create a custom walker for an 8-year-old girl in the San Luis Obispo Community, named Azelia, who has decreased motor control. Her current walker does not suit her active and energetic lifestyle, so Azelia’s Walker is challenged to design and manufacture a collapsible all-terrain walker that best suits Azelia’s needs. Throughout the academic year, Azelia’s Walker participated in the brain-storming and iteration process to produce a final design, created a manufacturing plan, and fabricated a prototype. Several key design features of the new walker are its all-terrain ability, height adjustments, portability, and ergonomic features. This report will take you, the reader, through Azelia’s Walker senior project team’s design and fabrication process. This project culminated in a to-scale prototype. Although the final product succeeded in meeting its all-terrain and portability requirements, the walker was deemed unusable for Azelia due to certain safety concerns outlined in the report. The members of Azelia’s Walker have thoroughly enjoyed this design process and have learned a great deal about the engineering research and design (R&D), analysis, fabrication, and testing process

The Molecular Continuum Opacity of MgH in Cool Stellar Atmospheres

The opacity due to photodissociation of 24MgH is investigated in the atmospheres of cool stars. The lowest two electronic transitions A 2Pi -- X 2Sigma+ and B' 2Sigma+ -- X 2 Sigma+ are considered where the cross sections for the latter were published previously (Weck, Stancil, & Kirby 2002) while the former are presented in this work. Model atmospheres calculated with the PHOENIX code are used to investigate the effect of the photodissociation opacity on spectra of cool stars. The A -- X photodissociation cross sections are obtained using a combination of ab initio and experimentally derived potential curves and dipole transition moments. Partial cross sections have been evaluated over the accessible wavelength range 1770-4560 Angstrom for all rotational transitions from the vibrational levels v''=0-11. Assuming a Boltzmann distribution of the rovibrational levels of the X 2Sigma+ state, LTE photodissociation cross sections are presented for temperatures between 1000 and 5000 K. Shape resonances, arising from rotational predissociation of quasi-bound levels of the A 2Pi state near threshold, characterize the LTE photodissociation cross sections. A sum rule is proposed as a check on the accuracy of the photodissociation calculations.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

NOC Liverpool report for the Wirewalker underwater profiler deployment for the RidgeMix research programme

This report provides a review of a ‘wirewalker’ underwater profiler that was used for high resolution water quality and turbulence measurements as part of a mid-Atlantic ocean based scientific survey. The profiler utilised wave energy and buoyancy to generate automated, cyclic underwater vertical measurements. A drifting supporting surface buoy and mooring configuration was used that moved horizontally in response to underwater currents, surface wind and waves, while generating repeated sub-surface vertical scientific measurements. The profiler instrumentation payload included a high-resolution chlorophyll-a fluorimeter, a fast sampling, precision conductivity, temperature and depth sensor (CTD) and a fragile, high resolution oceanic microstructure and turbulence sensor. A bespoke guard was used to help protect the fragile microstructure and turbulence sensors from damage. The mooring surface buoy instrumentation included telemetered GPS at nominally 30 minute intervals, a backup telemetered position indication, a VHF radio beacon based position locator and a solar powered night time light. The experiment was designed to resolve time-variability of upper-ocean mixing and chlorophyll-a fluorescence over the Mid-Atlantic underwater Ridge, an internal wave generation hotspot. Typically more than three wave driven descents to 200 metres and subsequent buoyancy driven ascents to close to the sea surface were achieved per hour during a 22 day deployment, whilst continuously sampling. This represents the first time the UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC) have used this type of underwater profiling system for high resolution oceanic microstructure and turbulence measurements to support a scientific campaign. Information to support a series of developing operational best practices for the use of this delicate and precision sensing arrangement with a wirewalker underwater profiler is provided. Recommendations relating to the future development of this versatile measurement system are also discussed

Towards understanding interactions between Sustainable Development Goals: the role of environment–human linkages

Only 10 years remain to achieve all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally, so there is a growing need to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of action by targeting multiple SDGs. The SDGs were conceived as an ‘indivisible whole’, but interactions between SDGs need to be better understood. Several previous assessments have begun to explore interactions including synergies and possible conflicts between the SDGs, and differ widely in their conclusions. Although some highlight the role of the more environmentally-focused SDGs in underpinning sustainable development, none specifically focuses on environment-human linkages. Assessing interactions between SDGs, and the influence of environment on them, can make an important contribution to informing decisions in 2020 and beyond. Here, we review previous assessments of interactions among SDGs, apply an influence matrix to assess pairwise interactions between all SDGs, and show how viewing these from the perspective of environment-human linkages can influence the outcome. Environment, and environment-human linkages, influence most interactions between SDGs. Our action-focused assessment enables decision makers to focus environmental management to have the greatest impacts, and to identify opportunities to build on synergies and reduce trade-offs between particular SDGs. It may enable sectoral decision makers to seek support from environment managers for achieving their goals. We explore cross-cutting issues and the relevance and potential application of our approach in supporting decision making for progress to achieve the SDGs