By their words ye shall know them: Language abstraction and the likeability of describers

According to the linguistic category model (LCM), behaviour can be described at concrete (e.g. ‘Kath hit Kim’) and abstract (e.g. ‘Kath is aggressive’) levels. Variations in these levels convey information about the person being described and the relationship between that person and the describer. In the current research, we examined the power of language abstraction to create impressions of describers themselves. Results show that describers are seen as less likeable when they use abstract (vs. concrete) language to describe the negative actions of others. Conversely, impressions of describers are more favourable when they opt for abstract descriptions of others' positive behaviours. This effect is partially mediated by the attribution of a communicative agenda to describers. By virtue of these attributional implications, language abstraction is an impression formation device that can impact on the reputation of describers

iDNA from terrestrial haematophagous leeches as a wildlife surveying and monitoring tool - prospects, pitfalls and avenues to be developed

Invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) from terrestrial haematophagous leeches has recently been proposed as a powerful non-invasive tool with which to detect vertebrate species and thus to survey their populations. However, to date little attention has been given to whether and how this, or indeed any other iDNA-derived data, can be combined with state-of-the-art analytical tools to estimate wildlife abundances, population dynamics and distributions. In this review, we discuss the challenges that face the application of existing analytical methods such as site-occupancy and spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models to terrestrial leech iDNA, in particular, possible violations of key assumptions arising from factors intrinsic to invertebrate parasite biology. Specifically, we review the advantages and disadvantages of terrestrial leeches as a source of iDNA and summarize the utility of leeches for presence, occupancy, and spatial capture-recapture models. The main source of uncertainty that attends species detections derived from leech gut contents is attributable to uncertainty about the spatio-temporal sampling frame, since leeches retain host-blood for months and can move after feeding. Subsequently, we briefly address how the analytical challenges associated with leeches may apply to other sources of iDNA. Our review highlights that despite the considerable potential of leech (and indeed any) iDNA as a new survey tool, further pilot studies are needed to assess how analytical methods can overcome or not the potential biases and assumption violations of the new field of iDNA. Specifically we argue that studies to compare iDNA sampling with standard survey methods such as camera trapping, and those to improve our knowledge on leech (and other invertebrate parasite) physiology, taxonomy, and ecology will be of immense future value

The Molluscan Fauna of the Florida Middle Grounds with Comments on its Zoogeographical Affinities

Recent studies have indicated that the Gulf of Mexico is bounded by a discontinual series of hard substrates which support faunal and floral assemblages of both temperate and tropical origins. This substrate distribution has had a significant impact on molluscan fauna in the Gulf of Mexico. An investigation of the molluscan fauna of the Florida Middle Grounds has produced 75 species associated with this high relief substrate which is also characterized by hermatypic corals. Although the molluscan fauna is comprised of forms which are predominantly Caribbean eurythermic and Caribbean Restricted (76%) which is similar in composition to the West Flower Garden Bank of Texas, their species composition is quite dissimilar (only 23% similarity). For these and other reasons, it is proposed that the zoogeographic status of the Gulf of Mexico should be seriously reconsidered by specialists in other faunal groups

Microbial degradation of crude oils

The microbial degradation of two crude mineral oils and one synthetic crude oil was studied under In situ estuarine conditions and in the laboratory. The three oils differed widely in composition; the Athabasca synthetic crude was a light oil with a high saturate content, conversely its parent sand tar was a heavy oil low in saturates. The North Sea Forties crude represented an intermediate between these two extremes. A new environmental experimental system was devised to yield quantitative data on oil degradation and this was deployed in the Medway estuary under both winter and summer conditions between December 1976 and July 1978. During both winter and summer experiments oil composition had a major influence on the rate and extent of oil loss which followed the order, synthetic crude > Forties crude > sand tar. This order conforms to predictions made on the basis of the fractional composition of the oils. The saturate fraction of the Forties crude and sand tar was most extensively degraded during the second summer experiment. Temperature rather than inorganic nutrient supply appeared to limit degradation during the winter months; degradation was more rapid during the summer months. Microbial colonization of the oils was predominantly bacterial and was more rapid during the summer. The overall colonization pattern however was similar for each oil throughout both winter and summer experiments . The laboratory experiments using supplemented media broadly confirmed the degradation patterns found during the in situ experiments. However, higher initial degradation rates for all the oils were found at 25°C in supplemented medium than those occurring in the in situ summer experiments. The laboratory- experiments also revealed the interesting phenomena of novel hydrocarbon synthesis and the occurrence of intracellular hydrocarbon inclusions during growth on the Forties crude and synthetic crude respectively

Matrix model with superconformal symmetry

A matrix model is presented which leads to the discrete ``eigenvalue model'' proposed recently by Alvarez-Gaum\'e {\it et.al.} for 2D supergravity (coupled to superconformal matters).Comment: 7p

Some Remarks About the Two-Matrix Penner Model and the Kazakov-Migdal Model

I consider the Hermitean two-matrix model with a logarithmic potential which is associated in the one-matrix case with the Penner model. Using loop equations I find an explicit solution of the model at large N (or in the spherical approximation) and demonstrate that it solves the corresponding Riemann-Hilbert problem. I construct the potential of the Kazakov-Migdal model on a D-dimensional lattice, which turns out to be a sum of two logarithms as well, whose large-N solution is given by the same formulas. In the "naive" continuum limit this potential recovers in D<4 dimensions the standard scalar theory with quartic self-interaction. I exploit the solution to calculate explicitly the pair correlator of gauge fields in the Kazakov-Migdal model with the logarithmic potential.Comment: Latex, 13 pages, NBI-HE-93-2

Evidence for recombination between a sialidase (nanH) of Actinomyces naeslundii and Actinomyces oris, previously named ‘Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies 1 and 2’

Actinomyces spp., predominant members of human oral biofilms, may use extracellular sialidase to promote adhesion, deglycosylate immunoglobulins and liberation of nutrients. Partial nanH gene sequences (1077 bp) from Actinomyces oris (n =74), Actinomyces naeslundii (n =30), Actinomyces viscosus (n =1) and Actinomyces johnsonii (n =2) which included the active-site region and the bacterial neuraminidase repeats (BNRs) were compared. The sequences were aligned and each species formed a distinct cluster with five isolates having intermediate positions. These five isolates (two A. oris and three A. naeslundii) exhibited interspecies recombination. The nonsynonymous/synonymous ratio was <1 for both A. oris and A. naeslundii indicating that nanH in both species is under stabilizing selective pressure; nonsynonymous mutations are not selected. However, for A. oris significant negative values in tests for neutral selection suggested the rate of mutation in A. oris was greater than in A. naeslundii but with selection against nonsynonymous mutations. This was supported by the observation that the frequency of polymorphic sites in A. oris, which were monomorphic in A. naeslundii was significantly greater than the frequency of polymorphic sites in A. naeslundii which were monomorphic in A. oris (χ2=7.011; P =0.00081). The higher proportions of A. oris in the oral biofilm might be explained by the higher mutation rate facilitating an increased ability to respond successfully to environmental stress

Study of aluminoborane compound AlB_4H_(11) for hydrogen storage

Aluminoborane compounds AlB_4H_(11), AlB_5H_(12), and AlB_6H_(13) were reported by Himpsl and Bond in 1981, but they have eluded the attention of the worldwide hydrogen storage research community for more than a quarter of a century. These aluminoborane compounds have very attractive properties for hydrogen storage: high hydrogen capacity (i.e., 13.5, 12.9, and 12.4 wt % H, respectively) and attractive hydrogen desorption temperature (i.e., AlB_4H_(11) decomposes at ~125 °C). We have synthesized AlB_4H_(11) and studied its thermal desorption behavior using temperature-programmed desorption with mass spectrometry, gas volumetric (Sieverts) measurement, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Rehydrogenation of hydrogen-desorbed products was performed and encouraging evidence of at least partial reversibility for hydrogenation at relatively mild conditions is observed. Our chemical analysis indicates that the formula for the compound is closer to AlB_4H_(12) than AlB_4H_(11)