Interrupting the social amplification of risk process: a case study in collective emissions reduction

One of the main approaches we have for studying the progressive divergence of understandings around a risk issue is that of social risk amplification. This article describes a case study of a particular environmental contaminant, a chemical flame retardant that could be interpreted as having produced a risk amplifying process. It describes in particular how a group of industrial organizations acted collectively to reduce emissions of this contaminant, in an apparent attempt to avert regulation and boycotts—that is, to intercept the social amplification process and avoid its secondary effects. The aim of the study was to investigate the constitutive qualities of this collective action: the qualities that defined it and made it effective in the eyes of those involved. These include institutionalisation and independence, the ability to confer individual as well as collective benefit, the capacity to attract (rather than avoid) criticism, and the ‘branding’ that helps communicate what otherwise appear to be a set of unconnected, local actions. Although the risk amplification framework has been criticised for implying that there is some externally given risk level that is subsequently amplified, it does appear to capture the mentality of actors involved in issues of this kind. They talk and act as though they believe they are participants in a risk amplification process

Activation of σ28-dependent transcription inEscherichia coliby the cyclic AMP receptor protein requires an unusual promoter organization

The Escherichia coli aer regulatory region contains a single promoter that is recognized by RNA polymerase containing the flagellar sigma factor, σ28. Expression from this promoter is dependent on direct activation by the cyclic AMP receptor protein, which binds to a target centred 49.5 base pairs upstream from the transcript start. Activator-dependent transcription from the aer promoter was reconstituted in vitro, and a tethered inorganic nuclease was used to find the position of the C-terminal domains of the RNA polymerase α subunits in transcriptionally competent open complexes. We report that the ternary activator-RNA polymerase-aer promoter open complex is organized differently from complexes at previously characterized promoters. Among other E. coli promoters recognized by RNA polymerase containing σ28, only the trg promoter is activated directly by the cyclic AMP receptor protein. The organization of the different promoter elements and the activator binding site at the trg promoter is the same as at the aer promoter, suggesting a common activation mechanism

Early Mesozoic Paleotectonic-Paleogeographic Reconstruction of Southern Sierra Nevada Region

A paleotectonic-paleogeographic reconstruction was based on structural, petrologic, and geochronologic studies of pre-Sierra Nevada batholith framework rocks exposed between the San Joaquin River and the Garlock fault. Most available fossil data from roof pendants of this region indicate Late Triassic to Early Jurassic ages. An additional fossil locality from the western wall rocks yields a Late Permian Tethyan fauna. This is a maximum age for the enclosing rocks, for the fossils are in a limestone olistolith. As yet there is no sign of Paleozoic strata in the region except perhaps along the eastern Sierran crest in small metamorphic septa, and in the western foothills where ophiolitic rocks are present

Hemoglobin genotype has minimal influence on the physiological response of juvenile atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to environmental challenges

Hemoglobin (Hb) polymorphism in cod is associated with temperature‐related differences in biogeographical distribution, and several authors have suggested that functional characteristics of the various hemoglobin isoforms (HbIs) directly influence phenotypic traits such as growth rate. However, no study has directly examined whether Hb genotype translates into physiological differences at the whole animal level. Thus, we generated a family of juvenile Atlantic cod consisting of all three main Hb genotypes (HbI‐1/1, HbI‐2/2, and HbI‐1/2) by crossing a single pair of heterozygous parents, and we compared their metabolic and cortisol responses to an acute thermal challenge (10&deg;C to their critical thermal maximum [CTM] or 22&deg;C, respectively) and tolerance of graded hypoxia. There were no differences in routine metabolism (at 10&deg;C), maximum metabolic rate, metabolic scope, CTM (overall mean 22.9&deg; &plusmn; 0.2&deg;C), or resting and poststress plasma cortisol levels among Hb genotypes. Further, although the HbI‐1/1 fish grew more (by 15%&ndash;30% during the first 9 mo) when reared at 10&deg; &plusmn; 1&deg;C and had a slightly enhanced hypoxia tolerance at 10&deg;C (e.g., the critical O2 levels for HbI‐1/1, HbI‐2/2, and HbI‐1/2 cod were 35.56% &plusmn; 1.24%, and 40.20% &plusmn; 1.99% air saturation, respectively), these results are contradictory to expectations based on HbI functional properties. Thus, our findings (1) do not support previous assumptions that growth rate differences among cod Hb genotypes result from a more efficient use of the oxygen supply&mdash;that is, reduced standard metabolic rates and/or increased metabolic capacity&mdash;and (2) suggest that in juvenile cod, there is no selective advantage to having a particular Hb genotype with regards to the capacity to withstand ecologically relevant environmental challenges.<br /

Surface analysis for students in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences

Students in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan are required to learn about the various applications of radiation. Because of the broad applicability of accelerators to surface analysis, one of these courses includes a laboratory session on surface analysis techniques such as Rutherford Backscattering Analysis (RBS) and Nuclear Reaction Analysis (NRA). In this laboratory session, the students determine the concentration of nitrogen atoms in various targets using RBS and NRA by way of the 14N(d,α)12C reaction. The laboratory is conducted in a hands‐on format in which the students conduct the experiment and take the data. This paper describes the approach to teaching the theory and experimental methods behind the techniques, the conduct of the experiment and the analysis of the data. © 2003 American Institute of PhysicsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87310/2/856_1.pd

Expanding the Entamoeba Universe: New Hosts Yield Novel Ribosomal Lineages.

Removing the requirement for cell culture has led to a substantial increase in the number of lineages of Entamoeba recognized as distinct. Surveying the range of potential host species for this parasite genus has barely been started and it is clear that additional sampling of the same host in different locations often identifies additional diversity. In this study, using small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, we identify four new lineages of Entamoeba, including the first report of Entamoeba from an elephant, and extend the host range of some previously described lineages. In addition, examination of microbiome data from a number of host animals suggests that substantial Entamoeba diversity remains to be uncovered

Covariance systems

We introduce new definitions of states and of representations of covariance systems. The GNS-construction is generalized to this context. It associates a representation with each state of the covariance system. Next, states are extended to states of an appropriate covariance algebra. Two applications are given. We describe a nonrelativistic quantum particle, and we give a simple description of the quantum spacetime model introduced by Doplicher et al.Comment: latex with ams-latex, 23 page

Unlocking the potential of geothermal energy in the UK

This report is intended to provide technical information that complement the BGS Science Briefing Note: Deep impact: Unlocking the potential of geothermal energy for affordable low-carbon heating in the UK [1]. It gives a general overview of the deep geothermal opportunities that exist in the UK (although regional geothermal potential is not discussed here) as well as of financial, policy and regulatory actions that are needed to support the effective development and exploitation of deep geothermal resources in the UK. The recommendations are applicable to the UK government and its departments as well as to devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and devolved policy areas, such as heat policy and planning, in the respective nations. Following the introduction, the report is organised in three sections. In Section 1, details are given of the UK’s deep geothermal resources and how and where they could be utilised. Section 2 focuses on the experiences of continental Europe and the policies that have enabled the growth of a geothermal industry. Section 3 considers key policies and regulatory actions identified as necessary to drive the development of the UK geothermal sector from its current status of infancy to a mature technology that is universally recognised and utilised by a wide range of stakeholders, end-users and supported by investors

Unravelling the hidden ancestry of American admixed populations

The movement of people into the Americas has brought different populations into contact, and contemporary American genomes are the product of a range of complex admixture events. Here we apply a haplotype-based ancestry identification approach to a large set of genome-wide SNP data from a variety of American, European and African populations to determine the contributions of different ancestral populations to the Americas. Our results provide a fine-scale characterization of the source populations, identify a series of novel, previously unreported contributions from Africa and Europe and highlight geohistorical structure in the ancestry of American admixed populations

Finishing Steers in a Deep-bedded Hoop Barn and a Conventional Feedlot: Effects on Behavior and Temperament during Summer in Iowa

As the Iowa beef industry invests in environmental management, there has been increasing interest in systems where runoff is minimized. A possible housing option used previously for pigs and sheep to help mitigate some of these environmental concerns are hoops. The objective of this study was to compare steer behavior and temperament between two treatments; hoop building (HP; n=3; 4.65m 2 / steer) vs. conventional feedlot (FD; n=3; 14.7m 2 / steer) during the summer months. A total of 240 crossbred Bos taurus steers were used. Steers were ear tagged, implanted, and weighed (445 ± 31.7 kg) on arrival and allotted to balance weight and breed. Behavioral data were collected using a 10 min scan sampling technique using live observation by two experienced observers from 0700 h to 1600 h on d 34, 56 and 91 of the trial. Two behaviors (head in bunk and head in waterer) and three postures (lying, walking and standing) were recorded. One day postbehavior collection, steers were moved through a squeeze chute for subjective temperament scoring. Scores ranged from 1 (exits chute calmly) to 6 (very aggressive, charges handlers). There were no (P = 0.22) differences for head in bunk behavior between treatments, however there was a difference (P = 0.02) for drinking, with HP steers spending more time at the waterer than FD steers. Lying incidence was greater (P = 0.004) for HP vs. FD steers. Fewer (P \u3c 0.05) HP steers exhibited walking or standing behavior compared to their FD counterparts. Temperament scores were not different between treatments (P = 0.13) but day and day*treatment (P \u3c 0.001) were sources of variation for temperament measures. In conclusion, overall time budget differences were observed with HP steers being less active but spending more time engaged in drinking related behaviors. Temperament scores increased during the trial but did not differ between the two housing treatments. Therefore, housing steers in a hoop barn does not result in detrimental alterations in either behavior or temperament when compared to steers in a conventional feedlot