464 research outputs found
Explosive volcanism, shock metamorphism and the K-T boundary
The issue of whether shocked quartz can be produced by explosive volcanic events is important in understanding the origin of the K-T boundary constituents. Proponents of a volcanic origin for the shocked quartz at the K-T boundary cite the suggestion of Rice, that peak overpressures of 1000 kbars can be generated during explosive volcanic eruptions, and may have occurred during the May, 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Attention was previously drawn to the fact that peak overpressures during explosive eruptions are limited by the strength of the rock confining the magma chamber to less than 8 kbars even under ideal conditions. The proposed volcanic mechanisms for generating pressures sufficient to shock quartz are further examined. Theoretical arguments, field evidence and petrographic data are presented showing that explosive volcanic eruptions cannot generate shock metamorphic features of the kind seen in minerals at the K-T boundary
Base reaction optimization of redundant manipulators for space applications
One of the problems associated with redundant manipulators which were proposed for space applications is that the reactions transmitted to the base of the manipulator as a result of the motion of the manipulator will cause undesirable effects on the dynamic behavior of the supporting space structure. It is therefore necessary to minimize the magnitudes of the forces and moments transmitted to the base. It is shown that kinematic redundancy can be used to solve the dynamic problem of minimizing the magnitude of the base reactions. The methodology described is applied to a four degree-of-freedom spatial manipulator with one redundant degree-of-freedom
The Foot of \u3cem\u3eHomo naledi\u3c/em\u3e
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with an adducted hallux, an elongated tarsus, and derived ankle and calcaneocuboid joints. In combination, these features indicate a foot well adapted for striding bipedalism. However, the H. naledi foot differs from modern humans in having more curved proximal pedal phalanges, and features suggestive of a reduced medial longitudinal arch. Within the context of primitive features found elsewhere in the skeleton, these findings suggest a unique locomotor repertoire for H. naledi, thus providing further evidence of locomotor diversity within both the hominin clade and the genus Homo
The Foot of Homo Naledi
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with an adducted hallux, an elongated tarsus, and derived ankle and calcaneocuboid joints. In combination, these features indicate a foot well adapted for striding bipedalism. However, the H. naledi foot differs from modern humans in having more curved proximal pedal phalanges, and features suggestive of a reduced medial longitudinal arch. Within the context of primitive features found elsewhere in the skeleton, these findings suggest a unique locomotor repertoire for H. naledi, thus providing further evidence of locomotor diversity within both the hominin clade and the genus Homo
The foot of Homo naledi
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with an adducted hallux, an elongated tarsus, and derived ankle and calcaneocuboid joints. In combination, these features indicate a foot well adapted for striding bipedalism. However, the H. naledi foot differs from modern humans in having more curved proximal pedal phalanges, and features suggestive of a reduced medial longitudinal arch. Within the context of primitive features found elsewhere in the skeleton, these findings suggest a unique locomotor repertoire for H. naledi, thus providing further evidence of locomotor diversity within both the hominin clade and the genus Homo
Stark Broadening of the B III 2s-2p Lines
We present a quantum-mechanical calculation of Stark line widths from
electron-ion collisions for the , lambda = 2066 and 2067
A, resonance transitions in B III. The results confirm the previous
quantum-mechanical R-matrix calculations but contradict recent measurements and
semi-classical and some semi-empirical calculations. The differences between
the calculations can be attributed to the dominance of small L partial waves in
the electron-atom scattering, while the large Stark widths inferred from the
measurements would be substantially reduced if allowance is made for
hydrodynamic turbulence from high Reynolds number flows and the associated
Doppler broadening.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev.
4-Aminopyridine-induced epileptogenesis depends on activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase ERK
Extracellular signal-regulated kinases such as ERK1 [p44
mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)] and ERK2 (p42
MAPK) are activated in the CNS under physiological and
pathological conditions such as ischemia and epilepsy. Here,
we studied the activation state of ERK1/2 in rat hippocampal
slices during application of the K+ channel blocker 4-aminopyridine
(4AP, 50 lM), a procedure that enhances synaptic
transmission and leads to the appearance of epileptiform
activity. Hippocampal slices superfused with 4AP-containing
medium exhibited a marked activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation
that peaked within about 20 min. These effects
were not accompanied by changes in the activation state of
c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), another member of the MAP
kinase superfamily. 4AP-induced ERK1/2 activation
was inhibited by the voltage-gated Na+ channel blocker
tetrodotoxin (1 lM). We also found that application of the ERK
pathway inhibitors U0126 (50 lM) or PD98059 (100 lM)
markedly reduced 4AP-induced epileptiform synchronization,
thus abolishing ictal discharges in the CA3 area. The effects
induced by U0126 or PD98059 were not associated with
changes in the amplitude and latency of the field potentials
recorded in the CA3 area following electrical stimuli delivered
in the dentate hylus. These data demonstrate that activation of
ERK1/2 accompanies the appearance of epileptiform activity
induced by 4AP and suggest a cause-effect relationship
between the ERK pathway and epileptiform synchronization
Advances in Distinguishing Groundwater Influenced by Oil Sands Process-Affected Water (OSPW) from Natural Bitumen-Influenced Groundwaters.
The objective of this study was to advance analytical methods for detecting oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) seepage from mining containments and discriminating any such seepage from the natural bitumen background in groundwaters influenced by the Alberta McMurray formation. Improved sampling methods and quantitative analyses of two groups of monoaromatic acids were employed to analyze OSPW and bitumen-affected natural background groundwaters for source discrimination. Both groups of monoaromatic acids showed significant enrichment in OSPW, while ratios of O2/O4 containing heteroatomic ion classes of acid extractable organics (AEOs) did not exhibit diagnostic differences. Evaluating the monoaromatic acids to track a known plume of OSPW-affected groundwater confirmed their diagnostic abilities. A secondary objective was to assess anthropogenically derived artificial sweeteners and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as potential tracers for OSPW. Despite the discovery of acesulfame and PFAS in most OSPW samples, trace levels in groundwaters influenced by general anthropogenic activities preclude them as individual robust tracers. However, their inclusion with the other metrics employed in this study served to augment the tiered, weight of evidence methodology developed. This methodology was then used to confirm earlier findings of OSPW migrations into groundwater reaching the Athabasca River system adjacent to the reclaimed pond at Tar Island Dyke
Communicating antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in the national press: lessons from sepsis awareness campaigns
No abstract available
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