Alaska mining and water quality

The Institute of Water Resources has sought financial assistance for some time in an attempt to initiate research relative to the impact of mining on water quality. Attempts were made as early as 1971 by Dr. Timothy Tilsworth and later by Dr. Donald Cook and Dr. Sage Murphy. These investigators anticipated growth in placer gold mining and the development of natural resources in Alaska during a period of national and environmental concern. The subsequent energy "crisis," the major increase in the price of gold on the world market, and dwindling nonrenewable resource supplies have resulted in large-scale mineral exploration in Alaska. This exploration, coupled with development of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, has attracted considerable capital for potential investment and development in Alaska. Expected industrial growth has already started and major new projects are "just around the corner." Yet, as of 1976, no major research effort has occurred to determine the extent of or potential for water quality impacts from mining operations in Alaska. Recently a series of interdisciplinary research projects have been completed in Canada; however, the application of Canadian data to Alaskan problems is uncertain. Although, state and federal government agencies have been advised and are aware of this potential problem and lack of baseline data they have not sought out new information or rational solutions. Even now, with deadlines of Public Law 92-500 at hand, some regulatory agencies give the impression of attempting to ignore the situation. Interim limitations are proposed and permits are issued with no discernible rationale or basis. Data have not been obtained relative to the Alaskan mining operations and thus are not available for use in seeking solutions compatible with mining and environmental protection. Numbers appear to have been arbitrarily assigned to permits and water quality standards. When permits are issued, self-monitoring requirements are negligible or nonexistent. Nor have regulatory agencies demonstrated the ability or inclination to monitor mining operations or enforce permits and water quality standards. It was hoped that the project would bring together miners, environmentalists, and regulators in a cooperative effort to identify the problems and seek solutions. The investigators recognized the political sensitivity of the subject matter but proceeded optimistically. Relatively good cooperation, though not total, occurred early in the project. In April 1976, a symposium was held to exchange ideas and determine the state-of-the-art. Although the symposium had good attendance and an exchange of information occurred, the symposium itself was somewhat of a disappointment. With few exceptions, the participants aligned on one side or the other in preconceived fixed positions. Some even chose not to attend and were therefore able to avoid the issues. Little hard data was presented. Optimistically, some of the miners, environmentalists, and regulators are prepared to resolve their differences. This report, hopefully, will be of benefit to them. It is our experience that miners and environmentalists share a love of the land that is uniquely Alaska. We feel that technology is available for application to this problem for those who care about doing the job right in the "last frontier." Whether or not it will be effectively applied to protect Alaska's water resources is a question which remains unanswered.The work upon which this report is based was supported in part by funds provided by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Water Resources Research Act of 1964, Public Law 88-379, as amended (Project A-055-ALAS)

Cary: Politics and the Regulatory Agencies

A Review of Politics and the Regulatory Agencies by William L. Car

Thrips species composition in Louisiana cotton and associated management strategies

The common species of thrips infesting cotton seedlings include flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici (Fitch); tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds); western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande); onion thrips, Thrips tabaci (Lindeman); and soybean thrips, Neohydatothrips variabilis (Beach). In surveys of cotton seedlings at several locations in Louisiana, tobacco thrips was the most common species. The occurrence of flower thrips and soybean thrips was variable. Western flower thrips accounted for \u3c 15% of adults collected at all locations, except two. The performance of acephate and imidacloprid applied as seed treatments and in-furrow, and aldicarb applied in-furrow was evaluated for thrips management across different production environments. Insecticide treatments reduced thrips densities and delayed development of thrips larval populations. The at-planting insecticides influenced thrips species composition in some instances. In studies to evaluate the effects of winter-spring vegetation type (native vegetation and wheat) on aldicarb efficacy, vegetation type did not influence thrips densities on cotton, with one exception. Aldicarb reduced thrips densities regardless of vegetation type. Vegetation type or insecticide treatments did not influence lint yield. Increasing aldicarb rates generally did not improve thrips control. Aldicarb rates currently recommended in conventional tillage systems should be adequate for systems that incorporate winter-spring vegetation as cover crops. Additional studies were conducted to further investigate the influence of thrips on crop maturity and yield. The addition of an at-planting insecticide improved lint yield in one of six tests. Thrips infestations did not affect crop maturity, and with few exceptions boll distribution and boll retention. The majority of these exceptions were associated with the test where the addition of an at-planting insecticide improved lint yield. Several soil applied at-planting insecticides were evaluated against tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), in a field caged infestation study. Acephate and imidacloprid provided little control of tarnished plant bugs. Thiamethoxam and aldicarb resulted in ≥ 50% tarnished plant bug mortality until 10 and 18 DAE, respectively. These are the first reports of western flower thrips infesting cotton seedlings in Louisiana. The addition of an at-planting insecticide provided control of thrips, but affects on crop maturity and yield were variable

Development of a gene deleted pseudorabies (Aujeszky\u27s disease) vaccine and evaluation of a differential diagnostic serology test

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1987380

The Impact of Online Homework, Time on Homework, Gender, and Metacognition in Improving Student Achievement in Undergraduate Biology Courses

This study sought to address a gap in the literature to determine whether a relationship exists between use of online homework and student achievement in undergraduate biology courses. Previous studies have examined other STEM courses, but few have considered biology. The purpose of the study was to determine whether homework grades in online homework systems can predict student achievement in introductory undergraduate biology courses. This study utilized a correlational analysis by multiple regression using archival data to determine whether final course grades in undergraduate biology courses can be predicted by grades on online homework, time spent on online homework, gender, or participation in a course on metacognition. A second question considered whether performance on a major assignment in a course on metacognition correlated with biology course grades and found a moderate correlation. The study took place at a small private Christian university in the Southeast, with 311 participants. The study found that there is a significant predictive ability to use these variables in determining course grades. Homework scores were most predictive, but time spent on homework and gender were also significant. Participation in a course on metacognition gave inconclusive results and is one suggestion for further research. Keywords: STEM, online homework, academic achievement, metacognitio

Arterial distensibility in adolescents: the influence of adiposity, the metabolic syndrome, and classic risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis develops from childhood, but the determinants of this preclinical stage remain uncertain. We examined the relations of classic coronary risk factors, adiposity and its associated metabolic disturbances, to arterial distensibility (a marker of early arterial disease) in 13- to 15-year-olds, some of whom had previously been studied at ages 9 to 11 years. METHODS AND RESULTS: Brachial artery distensibility was measured by a noninvasive ultrasound technique in 471 British children in whom measures of adiposity, blood pressure, fasting blood lipids, and insulin had been made. All adiposity measures showed strong graded inverse relationships with distensibility. Inverse associations with distensibility were also observed for insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment), diastolic pressure, C-reactive protein, and the number of metabolic syndrome components present, which had a graded relation to distensibility. Total and LDL cholesterol levels were also inversely related to distensibility, but less strongly than adiposity; homocysteine had no relation to distensibility. Although the relations of total and LDL cholesterol and diastolic pressure to distensibility had been present at 9 to 11 years of age, those of adiposity and insulin resistance were only apparent at 13 to 15 years. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity and its metabolic consequences are associated with adverse changes in the arterial wall by the teenage years. The graded relation with increasing adiposity was stronger than that for cholesterol and was seen at body mass index levels well below those considered to represent "obesity." This emphasizes the importance of population-based strategies to control adiposity and its metabolic consequences in the young

Method of making an airfoil

An improved method of making an airfoil includes stacking plies in two groups. A separator ply is positioned between the two groups of plies. The groups of plies and the separator ply are interconnected to form an airfoil blank. The airfoil blank is shaped, by forging or other methods, to have a desired configuration. The material of the separator ply is then dissolved or otherwise removed from between the two sections of the airfoil blank to provide access to the interior of the airfoil blank. Material is removed from inner sides of the two separated sections to form core receiving cavities. After cores have been placed in the cavities, the two sections of the airfoil blank are interconnected and the shaping of the airfoil is completed. The cores are subsequently removed from the completed airfoil