Geometry in the Transition from Primary to Post-Primary

This article is intended as a kind of precursor to the document Geometry for Post-primary School Mathematics, part of the Mathematics Syllabus for Junior Certicate issued by the Irish National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in the context of Project Maths. Our purpose is to place that document in the context of an overview of plane geometry, touching on several important pedagogical and historical aspects, in the hope that this will prove useful for teachers.Comment: 19 page

Evaluation of the capture efficiency and size selectivity of four pot types in the prospective fishery for North Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)

Over 230 metric tons of octopus is harvested as bycatch annually in Alaskan trawl, long-line, and pot fisheries. An expanding market has fostered interest in the development of a directed fishery for North Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). To investigate the potential for fishery development we examined the efficacy of four different pot types for capture of this species. During two surveys in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, strings of 16 –20 sablefish, Korean hair crab, shrimp, and Kodiak wooden lair pots were set at depths ranging between 62 and 390 meters. Catch per-unit-of-ef for t estimates were highest for sablefish and lair pots. Sablefish pots caught significantly heavier North Pacific giant octopuses but also produced the highest bycatch of commercially important species, such as halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), and Tanner crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)

Spatio-temporal genetic structure, effective population size, and parentage simulations from contemporary genetic samples and historic demographic data of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Auke Lake, Alaska

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2021Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) have great ecological, economic, and cultural importance. Accordingly, understanding the genetic diversity of Pacific salmon populations is critical for their effective management and conservation. Spatial and temporal homing fidelity, a central life-history characteristic of Pacific salmon, generates genetic structure through reproductive isolation. Within and among populations, heterogeneity in the freshwater environment should lead to selection for traits that maximize fitness resulting in local adaptation. This adaptation increases productivity of individual populations while diversity among populations can promote long-term stability. Additionally, the demographic properties (age structure, generation length, size) of a population will affect genetic structure by regulating its response to the evolutionary forces of selection, migration, and genetic drift. The scale and extent to which reproductive isolation can produce genetic structure is incompletely understood. In this dissertation, I investigated spatial and temporal trends in population genetic structure and estimated the effective population size (Ne) of Sockeye Salmon from Auke Lake in Southeast Alaska from contemporary genetic samples (2008, 2009, 2011) and historic demographic data (1980-2017). A simulation library in the R statistical environment was developed to assess the accuracy of parentage and sibship inference from genetic markers. This library proved useful in evaluating the sibship method for estimating Ne from genetic data and evaluating genetic markers for a large-scale parentage project. I detected substantial genetic differentiation between Auke Lake and other Southeast Alaska populations (average FST = 0.1137) and an isolation-by-time pattern within the Auke Lake population. A genetically distinct cluster was identified in the late portion of the 2008 return. This group may represent a spatially segregated spawning aggregation previously described in tagging studies; however, because fish were sampled as they passed through the weir, spatial structure within Auke Lake could not be evaluated. Genetic tests for demographic change within the population indicated that the Auke Lake Sockeye Salmon population underwent a historical bottleneck event but has since increased in size. Demographic estimates of Ne from a long-term dataset from the Auke Creek weir revealed that the effective population size was low in the early 1980s and has since increased. Over the six generations evaluated, the major demographic factors that determined Ne were variance in family size, variable contribution to the next generation by brood years within a generation, and fluctuations in population size. Contemporary estimates of Ne from genetic methods were smaller than those from demographic methods and indicated that Ne may be roughly the size of an individual return year. Genetic estimates of the ratio of the effective population size to the census size (Ne/Nc = 0.21) were consistent with values previously reported for other salmonids. Collectively, these chapters contribute to an improved understanding of Sockeye Salmon population genetics and provide a useful tool to assess the power of genetic markers for parentage and sibship inference.Pacific Salmon Commission Northern Fund, Rasmuson Fisheries Research Center, Pollock Conservation Cooperative Research Center, and Douglas Island Pink and ChumIntroduction -- Chapter 1. Spatio-temporal population genetic structure of Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in Auke Lake Alaska -- Chapter 2. Demographic and genetic estimators of effective population size for Sockeye Salmon in Auke Lake, Alaska -- Chapter 3. PseudoBabies: A flexible simulation package to test the assignment accuracy of genetic markers for parentage inference -- Conclusions -- Appendix

Examination of gear type efficacy, tagging methodology, and population structure for establishing a directed Enteroctopus dofleini fishery

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2010"In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in a directed fishery for North Pacific giant octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini. This species continues to be managed as a bycatch only species through the use of commisioner's permits primarily due to the lack of information on the basic ecology of E. dofleini and the logisitics of management. In the summer of 2007, we completed a survey in Kachemak Bay, Alaska, to determine the efficiency of different gear types for targeting E. dofleini, compared different methods of tagging individuals for movement and abundance estimates, and collected tissue samples for use in a genetic analysis of population structure. If a directed fishery develops in Alaska, our data suggest that unbaited lair pots may be the most effective means of capture while minimizing bycatch of other commercially important species. Most regions in Alaska lack sufficient data to estimate abundance and often estimates using catch-per unit of effort can be inaccurate. If mark-recapture methods are used to estimate abundance of octopus populations, then results from our tagging indicate that visible implant elastomer may be the most effective means of marking individuals. Genetic analysis of E. dofleini populations revealed an enigmatic pattern of population structure with two haplotype lineages. The large amount of sequence divergence at the COI locus may indicate the presence of a cryptic species within the E. dofleini complex. It appears that North Pacific giant octopus will continue to be managed as a bycatch-only species for the near-term future. It is essential that management agencies resolve both the phylogenetic and population structure, as well as confidently estimate abundances of the stocks identified before a directed fishery is opened"--Leaf iii1. Evaluation of the capture efficiency and size selectivity of four pot types for use in a North Pacific giant octopus Enteroctopus dofleini fishery -- 2. A comparison of tagging methodology for North Pacific giant octopus Enteroctopus dofleini -- 3. A complex pattern of population structure in the North Pacific giant octopus Enteroctopus dofleini -- General conclusions -- References

LeuT Conformational Sampling Utilizing Accelerated Molecular Dynamics and Principal Component Analysis

AbstractMonoamine transporters (MATs) function by coupling ion gradients to the transport of dopamine, norepinephrine, or serotonin. Despite their importance in regulating neurotransmission, the exact conformational mechanism by which MATs function remains elusive. To this end, we have performed seven 250 ns accelerated molecular dynamics simulations of the leucine transporter, a model for neurotransmitter MATs. By varying the presence of binding-pocket leucine substrate and sodium ions, we have sampled plausible conformational states representative of the substrate transport cycle. The resulting trajectories were analyzed using principal component analysis of transmembrane helices 1b and 6a. This analysis revealed seven unique structures: two of the obtained conformations are similar to the currently published crystallographic structures, one conformation is similar to a proposed open inward structure, and four conformations represent novel structures of potential importance to the transport cycle. Further analysis reveals that the presence of binding-pocket sodium ions is necessary to stabilize the locked-occluded and open-inward conformations

Investigation of extended blinks and interblink intervals in subjects with and without dry eye

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and duration of extended blinks ≥ 70 msec and their associated interblink intervals in normal subjects and in subjects with mild to moderate dry eye. Methods: This single-center, prospective, double-blind study included 11 subjects with dry eye and eight subjects with normal eyes. Extended blinks were defined as lid closure in at least two successive video frames (≥70 msec). Digital video imaging of each subject’s eyes was recorded while the subject viewed a 10-minute documentary. The subjects did not know that blink was the outcome being measured. Following capture, the videos were manually analyzed in a masked fashion for the occurrence of extended blinks. The length of the interblink interval (ie, time between blinks) before and after these extended blinks (the interblink interval ratio) was calculated, as well as differences in lid contact times. Results: The dry eye group had a median extended blink duration which was 2.53 times longer than that of the normal group. For subjects with dry eye, interblink intervals post-extended blink were significantly longer than interblink intervals pre-extended blink (P < 0.001). Interblink intervals did not lengthen significantly in normal subjects. In both groups, the duration of the extended blink was significantly (P = 0.001) and positively correlated with interblink interval ratio (post-extended to pre-extended blink interblink interval), such that for each doubling of extended blink duration, the interblink interval ratio increased by 10%. Blinks longer than one second in duration occurred almost exclusively in subjects with dry eye. Conclusion: This study reports three central findings: blink duration tended to be longer in subjects with dry eye; a lengthening of the interblink interval after an extended blink occurred in subjects with dry eye but not in those without dry eye; and a longer blink duration was associated with a significantly increased interblink interval ratio in all subjects

Mass fluxes and isofluxes of methane (CH4) at a New Hampshire fen measured by a continuous wave quantum cascade laser spectrometer

We have developed a mid‐infrared continuous‐wave quantum cascade laser direct‐absorption spectrometer (QCLS) capable of high frequency (≥1 Hz) measurements of 12CH4 and 13CH4 isotopologues of methane (CH4) with in situ 1‐s RMS image precision of 1.5 ‰ and Allan‐minimum precision of 0.2 ‰. We deployed this QCLS in a well‐studied New Hampshire fen to compare measurements of CH4 isoflux by eddy covariance (EC) to Keeling regressions of data from automated flux chamber sampling. Mean CH4 fluxes of 6.5 ± 0.7 mg CH4 m−2 hr−1 over two days of EC sampling in July, 2009 were indistinguishable from mean autochamber CH4 fluxes (6.6 ± 0.8 mgCH4 m−2 hr−1) over the same period. Mean image composition of emitted CH4 calculated using EC isoflux methods was −71 ± 8 ‰ (95% C.I.) while Keeling regressions of 332 chamber closing events over 8 days yielded a corresponding value of −64.5 ± 0.8 ‰. Ebullitive fluxes, representing ∼10% of total CH4 fluxes at this site, were on average 1.2 ‰ enriched in 13C compared to diffusive fluxes. CH4 isoflux time series have the potential to improve process‐based understanding of methanogenesis, fully characterize source isotopic distributions, and serve as additional constraints for both regional and global CH4 modeling analysis

Major liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma in the morbidly obese: A proposed strategy to improve outcome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Morbid obesity strongly predicts morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. However, obesity's impact on outcome after major liver resection is unknown.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the management of a large hepatocellular carcinoma in a morbidly obese patient (body mass index >50 kg/m²). Additionally, we propose a strategy for reducing postoperative complications and improving outcome after major liver resection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To our knowledge, this is the first report of major liver resection in a morbidly obese patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. The approach we used could make this operation nearly as safe in obese patients as it is in their normal-weight counterparts.</p

Aquatic biosurvey of the Lovell River on UNH land

We assessed the physical, chemical and biological conditions at two sites along the Lovell River on University of New Hampshire (UNH) -owned conservation land. The discharge was 4.4 m3 s-1 at Site 1 and 5.7 m3 s -1 downstream at Site 2. Canopy coverage ranged from 8-25%. Canopy was dominated by Eastern Hemlock (79-84%). Much of the stream was strewn with large boulders and the substrate consisted of rocks of highly variable sizes ( 3-549 cm dia.). Specific conductivity (22.1-23.3 µS), pH (6.4) and temperature (7.9-8.3 °C) varied little between sites. Macro-invertebrate bio-indices indicated either excellent water quality with no apparent organic pollution (3.0/10) or good water quality with possible slight organic pollution (4.4/10)