Economical genotyping of little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) clades from feather-based DNA

Determination of clade membership is a crucial requirement for many research questions addressing phylogeography, population structure, mating patterns, speciation, and hybridisation. The little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) can be separated into two deeply divergent clades. However, assigning clade membership in little blue penguins requires molecular methods. Genetic sequencing can be used to identify clade membership but is expensive. Here, we present an economical alternative to the use of sequencing to determine little blue penguin clade membership. We extracted DNA from feathers using a method that produced reasonable quantities of DNA. We then amplified the D-loop section of the mitochondrial control region from total genomic DNA extracts, using the primers 'C L-tRNAglu' and 'D H-Dbox' followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme AluI. When visualised on a gel, distinctive banding patterns clearly indicated clade membership. We sequenced a subset of our samples and verified the accuracy of this method. The methods we present should facilitate little blue penguin research through a cost-effective approach to clade analysis as well as a successful technique to extract DNA from feathers when blood or tissue samples are not available

Rural society & settlement: isolated monuments and farming communities in northern and western Scotland in the late Atlantic Iron Age

The thesis opens with a statement of the methodological approach of the research, explaining the use of a historical model to inform a field methodology of a combination of prospecting techniques. The model to be used is set out along with a consideration of the expectations of the field methodology and the hypothesis to be tested: that élite sites will have a concentrating effect upon settlement patterns and create "hierarchical" landscapes, in contrast to non-hierarchical landscapes which, in the absence of an élite site, will show no particular clustering. Following this is a statement of the problem of settlement studies in Scotland, with a consideration of previous and current approaches. This is followed by discussion of the available prospecting techniques and a detailed discussion of the chemistry of soil phosphates. The historical and archaeological framework of the period is then presented with a consideration of the evidence available from legal and historical sources and from excavations carried out on élite sites. Agriculture is then discussed, firstly in terms of its productivity and then of the techniques of agriculture to assess the effect of agriculture upon settlement distribution. Finally, the results of the fieldwork are presented, divided between hierarchical and non-hierarchical landscapes. The conclusion assesses the overall effectiveness of the methodology in terms of how well the hypothesis was proved and of the applicability of the methodology for amateurs and lone workers. The results indicate that the general model of social relations being reflected in settlement patterns is broadly correct, but that the effect will not necessarily be one of concentrating settlement around the élite site. At the micro-scale of analysis undertaken within the thesis, the important factor connected with élite sites was found to be the denoting of status by the possession of private space

Schwarzchild Black Holes in Matrix Theory II

We present a crude Matrix Theory model for Schwarzchild black holes in uncompactified dimension greater than $5$. The model accounts for the size, entropy, and long range state interactions of black holes. The key feature of the model is a Boltzmann gas of D0 branes, a concept which depends on certain qualitative features of Matrix Theory which have not previously been utilized in studies of black holes.Comment: 20 pages,harvmac,big, Some Typos corrected, 1 reference adde

Strain Measurement Using FBG on COPV in Stress Rupture Test

White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) was requested to perform ambient temperature hydrostatic pressurization testing of a Space Transportation System (STS) 40-in. Kevlar Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV). The 40-in. vessel was of the same design and approximate age as the STS Main Propulsion System (MPS) and Orbiter Maneuvering System (OMS) vessels. The NASA Engineering Safety Center (NESC) assembled a team of experts and conducted an assessment that involved a review of national Kevlar COPY data. During the review, the STS COPVs were found to be beyond their original certification of ten years. The team observed that the likelihood of STS COPV Stress rupture, a catastrophic burst before leak failure mode, was greater than previously believed. Consequently, a detailed assessment of remaining stress rupture life became necessary. Prior to STS-114, a certification deviation was written for two flights of OV-103 (Discovery) and OV-104 (Atlantis) per rationale that was based on an extensive review of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, COPV data, and revisions to the STS COPV stress levels. In order to obtain flight rationale to extend the certification deviation through the end of the Program, the Orbiter Project Office has directed an interagency COPV team to conduct further testing and analysis to investigate conservatism in the stress rupture model and evaluate material age degradation. Additional analysis of stress rupture life requires understanding the fiber stresses including stress that occurs due to thru-wall composite compression in COPV components. Data must be obtained at both zero gauge pressure (pre-stress) and at the component operating pressure so that this phenomenon can be properly evaluated. The zero gauge pressure stresses are predominantly a result of the autofrettage process used during vessel manufacture. Determining these pre-stresses and the constitutive behavior of the overwrap at pressure will provide necessary information to better predict the remaining life of the STS COPVs. The primary test objective is obtaining data to verify the hypothesis of a radially oriented thru-thickness stress-riser in the COPV composite whose magnitude is a function of the applied pressure and the load history. The anticipated load dependent response follows from the constitutive behavior of the composite overwrap so data to quantify its nonlinear and time dependent response will be sought. The objective of the Fiber Braggs Gratings (FBGs) were to advance the state-of-the-art by developing techniques using FBG sensors that are capable of assessing stress-rupture degradation in Kevlar COPVs in a health monitoring mode (1). Moreover, they sought to answer questions of how embedded sensors affect overall integrity of the structure. And lastly, they sought to provide an important link in the overall stress rupture study that will help close the loop on the COPV fabrication process. NDE inspection methods will be used from start to finish and FBG will be an integral link within the overall chain

Some properties of sulfoacetic acid and 3-sulfopropionic acid and their use as analytical masking agents

The values of Ka2 for sulfoacetic and 3-sulfopropionic acids were determined potentiometrically. The values are (8.6 ± 0.3) x 10-5 and (3.0 ± 0.1) x10-5, respectively. These values or Ka2 were much lower than those predicted by the Branch and Calvin equation for the calculation of values or pKa of derivatives of acetic acid

Annotated bibliography of α-furildioxime

This annotated bibliography of the preparation and use of alpha-furildioxime has been prepared as a reference for analytical research. The authors of this bibliography hope that it will be of service to those engaged in analytical research and that further work on the uses of the vic-dioximes in analytical chemistry may be stimulated by the availability of this reference

Influence of sailor position and motion on the performance prediction of racing dinghies

The time-varying influence of a sailor’s position is typically neglected in dinghy velocity prediction programs (VPPs). When applied to the assessment of dinghy race performance, the position and motions of the crew become significant but are practically hard to measure as they interact with the motions of the sailboat. As an initial stage in developing a time accurate dinghy VPP this work develops an on-water system capably of measuring the applied hiking moment due to the sailor’s pose and compares this with the resultant dinghy motion. The sailor’s kinematics are captured using a network of inertial motion sensors (IMS) synchronised to a video camera and dinghy motion sensor. The hiking moment is evaluated using a ‘stick man’ body representation with the mass and inertial terms associated with the main body segments appropriately scaled for the representative sailor. The accuracy of the pose captured is validated using laboratory based pose measurements. The completed work will provide a platform to model how sailor generated forces interact with the sailboat to affect boat speed. This will be used alongside realistic modelling of the wind and wave loadings to extend an existing time-domain dynamic velocity prediction program (DVPP). The results are demonstrated using a single handed Laser and demonstrate an acceptable level of accuracy

Developing tools for assessing the fluid structure interaction of passive adaptive composite foils

The study presents an experimental and numerical evaluation of bend-twist elastic coupling in composite passive-adaptive structures. Due to the lack of experimental validation in Fluid Structure Inter-action (FSI) investigations, a full-field deformation of an aerofoil-shaped section under wind loading is measured. The experimental analysis is carried out at the University of Southampton 3.5 m x 2.4 m R. J. Mitchell wind tunnel and involves the use of full-field non-contact measurement techniques such as high speed three dimensional Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).After assessing the validity and repeatability of the experiments, the study focuses on the development of a numerical FSI investigation that involves the use of a structural and a fluid solver to simulate the aero-elastic behaviour of composite tailored structures with different lay-up arrangements. The numerical analysis is developed as a design tool to allow the structure investigated to maximise bend-twist coupling under increased aerodynamic loading