Bezen Perrot: The Breton nationalist unit of the SS, 1943-5

This article charts the origins and course of the wartime Breton collaborationist force, the Bezen Perrot (Perrot Unit). For the first time in English, and employing source material previously unused in any language, it investigates the impact of the \u27Irish example\u27 upon Breton militancy from clandestine beginnings to military \u27alliance\u27 with Nazi Germany, with particular focus upon nationalist leader Célestin Lainé (aka \u27Neven Henaff\u27). Employing primary material such as interviews with Bezen Perrot veterans and their descendants, previously unpublished photographs, and Lainé\u27s own unpublished memoirs, the motivations of the Bezen\u27s chief identities are contextualised within a Celtic nationalist framework. The article presents an anglophone readership with a largely unexplored chapter of Celtic history while simultaneously challenging much of the French historiography on this controversial subject

Vertical axis non-linearities in wavelength scanning interferometry

The uncertainty of measurements made on an areal surface topography instrument is directly influenced by its metrological characteristics. In this work, the vertical axis deviation from linearity of a wavelength scanning interferometer is evaluated. The vertical axis non-linearities are caused by the spectral leakage resulting from the Fourier transform algorithm for phase slope estimation. These non-linearities are simulated and the results are compared with experimental measurements. In order to reduce the observed non-linearities, a modification of the algorithm is proposed. The application of a Hamming window and the exclusion of edge points in the extracted phase are shown to increase the accuracy over the whole instrument range

Effect of experimental forest treatments on gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) habitat use [abstract]

Abstract only availableAmphibian use of modified habitats has recently received more attention due to anthropogenic land-use patterns and the continued decline of species. We examined habitat use and abundance of gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) in response to different forestry practices. Our study site consisted of three natural breeding ponds each surrounded by four experimental plots (~2.11 ha each): partial harvest, clearcut with high coarse woody debris (CWD), clearcut with low CWD, and uncut control. We distributed 288 PVC pipe traps equally among treatments and monitored traps from mid-June continuing until the first hard frost. Treefrogs used all forest treatments but sex and age composition differed significantly between forested and clearcut treatments. Fewer adult females were captured within clearcuts than in forested plots whereas adult males were captured at similar frequencies in both forested and clearcut plots. Metamorphs were first captured in mid-July with increasing frequency in the following weeks and were captured more frequently in clearcuts than in forested plots. Greater frequencies of captures were recorded for each of the sex and age classes in clearcuts with high CWD compared to clearcuts with low CWD. Equal or greater frequencies of captures were recorded for adult and metamorph treefrogs in partial harvest treatments compared to control plots. Our results indicate that timber harvest may alter habitat use associated with reproduction. Males benefit by using clearcut habitat and having access to breeding pools preferred by females for oviposition. Females benefit by having access to forest habitat shown to be essential for feeding and energy intake. Gray treefrogs thrived in small clearcuts because the small plot size provided accessibility to uncut forests. The effect of extensive clearcutting on amphibians however would likely be detrimental and effects would depend upon a species' life history needs.NSF-REU Supplement to R. Semlitsc

Differences in habitat use of gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) in experimental forest plots

Abstract only availableThe fragmentation of species' natural habitats has become a topic of particular concern in the past several years. Habitat fragmentation is an especially important consideration for seasonally migrating species such as pond-breeding amphibians. In our study, we are examining breeding migration patterns and identifying differences in movement patterns and habitat types used by gray treefrogs within modified habitats during different periods of their breeding season. Our study of treefrog movements throughout a modified habitat will provide further insight into the species' normal movement, home ranges, breeding behaviors, and habitat requirements as well as its response to modified habitats. To accomplish this we surgically implanted 29 gray treefrogs with radiotransmitters. We then tracked their movements using radiotelemetry and recorded their locations and the micro- and macro-habitat used. Tracking occurred during both day and night to follow nightly movement and identify daytime refuge sites.Based on previous study of this species we believed that gray treefrogs, particularly adult females avoided using recent clearcut habitat and instead only migrated into these areas briefly at night to breed. Five of the six adult females found breeding in clearcut habitats in the earlier (May) of the two tracking periods remained in clearcut habitat throughout the duration of the study period. Adult females tracked during the later study period (July) on the other hand showed a stronger tendency to leave the recently clearcut habitats within the experimental treatment array, often leaving the array for the surrounding forests. These preliminary observations indicate that gray treefrogs may be able to utilize recently clearcut forests more effectively than we had previously thought. It now appears that the previous sampling may not have found the absence of gray treefrogs in recently clearcut forest but rather discovered differences in habitat use between these modified areas and mature forest habitats.Life Sciences Undergraduate Research Opportunity Progra

Angiotensin II in the Treatment of Distributive Shock, an Old Theory Revitalized

Objective: To assess whether or not angiotensin II in combination with current treatment has a favorable outcome in the treatment of distributive shock in terms of decreasing duration of vasopressor usage, increasing mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 65 mmHg, and improving mortality. Design: Systematic Literature Review Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and the James Madison University Library Database for the key terms angiotensin II, shock, septic shock, vasodilatory shock, distributive shock, blood pressure, double-blind, humans, and vasoconstrictor agents. Search results were filtered by year, for animal trials, irrelevant therapies, meta-analysis, retrospective studies, and case studies. Only original studies published within the last ten years that used angiotensin II for human trials in the treatment of distributive shock were included in the review. Results: Two of three studies showed statistically significant data supporting the ability of angiotensin II to increase MAP above 65 mmHg; however, statistical significance was not found in the reduction of mortality. Conclusion: The addition of angiotensin II to current standard therapy for the treatment of distributive shock decreases the requirement for vasopressors and increases MAP. Further studies are needed to address the long-term effects of angiotensin II and to investigate outcomes in specific types of shock such as sepsis-induced and anaphylaxis

Searches for massive neutrinos with mechanical quantum sensors

The development of quantum optomechanics now allows mechanical sensors with femtogram masses to be controlled and measured in the quantum regime. If the mechanical element contains isotopes that undergo nuclear decay, measuring the recoil of the sensor following the decay allows reconstruction of the total momentum of all emitted particles, including any neutral particles that may escape detection in traditional detectors. As an example, for weak nuclear decays the momentum of the emitted neutrino can be reconstructed on an event-by-event basis. We present the concept that a single nanometer-scale, optically levitated sensor operated with sensitivity near the standard quantum limit can search for heavy sterile neutrinos in the keV-MeV mass range with sensitivity significantly beyond existing constraints. We also comment on the possibility that mechanical sensors operated well into the quantum regime might ultimately reach the sensitivities required to provide an absolute measurement of the mass of the light neutrino states.Comment: 11 pages + refs, 7 figures. v2: published version (+ an appendix containing a quantum model of the 3-body decay in a nanosphere