Planning educational investment for the development of the Borders region of Scotland

Depopulation and decline sustained in the Borders counties for over a hundred years reached critical proportions during the 1960's. The shrunken population was skewed to the elderly and the female, and employment opportunities for those remaining were diminished by deterioration of the narrow economic base.Attempts to redress the downward slide of the economy have focused on the importation of industry from outside the region. These have met with limited success. At the same time, the focus on town -based industrial development has encouraged the threefold effect of migration from countryside to cities, urban overcrowding and unemployment, and farm abandonment, that bedevil governments everywhere. Land -based development, to stem or reverse this flow, has been advocated for developing countries for several years. may be as appropriate for developed nations in some regions.In this form of development the Borders have an advantage. Without a heavy burden of civil and industrial bureaucracies or of cities with their expensive infrastructures, it is an ideal location for land based, labour intensive operations. It has, as well, estates large enough to establish agro-industries on a viable scale.In the forseeable future increasing costs and scarcity of fuels will force a substitution of manpower for machinery. Transportation of goods and commuting of workers will be restricted. Land -based development could become obligatory. There are many advantages for the Borders in such a development. Present settlement patterns and employment structures obviate the development rather than hinder it. The extra jobs created would enable the elderly to return to the workforce. Development would be indigenous and would not require large importations of capital.Education will play a central role in the accommodation to such a dramatic change of direction. Community education, on- the -job, in- service training and continuing, nonformal education will have to be greatly extended to impart new skills and engender new social attitudes and new levels of expectation

Tandem concentrator photovoltaic array applied to Space Station Freedom evolutionary power requirements

Additional power is required to support Space Station Freedom (SSF) evolution. Boeing Defense and Space Group, LeRC, and Entech Corporation have participated in the development of efficiency gallium arsenide and gallium antimonide solar cells make up the solar array tandem cell stacks. Entech's Mini-Dome Fresnel Lens Concentrators focus solar energy onto the active area of the solar cells at 50 times one solar energy flux. Development testing for a flight array, to be launched in Nov. 1992 is under way with support from LeRC. The tandem cells, interconnect wiring, concentrator lenses, and structure were integrated into arrays subjected to environmental testing. A tandem concentrator array can provide high mass and area specific power and can provide equal power with significantly less array area and weight than the baseline array design. Alternatively, for SSF growth, an array of twice the baseline power can be designed which still has a smaller drag area than the baseline

Snake (Colubridae: Thamnophis) Predatory Responses to Chemical Cues from Native and Introduced Prey Species

Several aquatic vertebrates have been introduced into freshwater systems in California over the past 100 years. Some populations of the two-striped garter snake (Thamnophis hammondii) have lived in sympatry with these species since their introduction; other populations have never encountered them. To assess the possible adaptation to a novel prey, we tested the predatory responses of T. hammondii from different populations to different chemosensory cues from native and introduced prey species. We presented chemical extracts from potential prey types and 2 control odors to individual snakes on cotton swabs and recorded the number of tongue flicks and attacks directed at each swab. Subject response was higher for prey odors than control substances. Odors from introduced centrarchid fish (Lepomis) elicited higher response levels than other prey types, including native anuran larvae (Pseudacris regilla). The pattern of response was similar for both populations of snakes (experienced and naïve, with respect to the introduced prey). We suggest that the generalist aquatic lifestyle of T. hammondii has allowed it to take advantage of increasing populations of introduced prey. Decisions on the management strategies for some of these introduced prey species should include consideration of how T. hammondii populations might respond in areas of sympatry

Contribution of G Protein Activation to Fluoride Stimulation of Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis in Human Neuroblastoma Cells

To examine the possibility that NaF enhances phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PIC) activity in neural tissues by a mechanism independent of a guanine nucleotide binding protein (G p ), we have evaluated the contribution of G p activation to NaF-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in human SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Addition of NaF to intact cells resulted in an increase in the release of inositol phosphates (450% of control values; EC 50 of ∼ 8 m M ). Inclusion of U-73122, an aminosteroid inhibitor of guanine nucleotide-regulated PIC activity in these cells, resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of NaF-stimulated inositol lipid hydrolysis (IC 50 of ∼ 3.5 Μ M ). When added to digitonin-permeabilized cells, NaF or guanosine-5′- O -thiotriphosphate (GTPΓS) resulted in a three- and sevenfold enhancement, respectively, of inositol phosphate release. In the combined presence of optimal concentrations of NaF and GTPΓS, inositol phosphate release was less than additive, indicative of a common site of action. Inclusion of 2–5 m M concentrations of guanosine-5′- O -(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDPΒS) fully blocked phosphoinositide hydrolysis elicited by GTPΓS, whereas that induced by NaF was partially inhibited (65%). However, preincubation of the cells with GDPΒS resulted in a greater reduction in the ability of NaF to stimulate inositol phosphate release (87% inhibition). Both GTPΓS and NaF-stimulated inositol phosphate release were inhibited by inclusion of 10 Μ M U-73122 (54–71%). The presence of either NaF or GTPΓS also resulted in a marked lowering of the Ca 2+ requirement for activation of PIC in permeabilized cells. These results indicate that in SK-N-SH cells, little evidence exists for direct stimulation of PIC by NaF and that the majority of inositol phosphate release that occurs in the presence of NaF can be attributed to activation of G p .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65259/1/j.1471-4159.1993.tb13406.x.pd

On Star Formation and the Non-Existence of Dark Galaxies

We investigate whether a baryonic dark galaxy or `galaxy without stars' could persist indefinitely in the local universe, while remaining stable against star formation. To this end, a simple model has been constructed to determine the equilibrium distribution and composition of a gaseous protogalactic disk. Specifically, we determine the amount of gas that will transit to a Toomre unstable cold phase via the H2 cooling channel in the presence of a UV--X-ray cosmic background radiation field. All but one of the models are predicted to become unstable to star formation. Moreover, we find that all our model objects would be detectable via HI line emission, even in the case that star formation is potentially avoided. These results are consistent with the non-detection of isolated extragalactic HI clouds with no optical counterpart (galaxies without stars) by HIPASS. Additionally, where star formation is predicted to occur, we determine the minimum interstellar radiation field required to restore gravothermal stability, which we then relate to a minimum global star formation rate. This leads to the prediction of a previously undocumented relation between HI mass and star formation rate that is observed for a wide variety of dwarf galaxies in the HI mass range 10^8--10^10 M_sun. The existence of such a relation strongly supports the notion that the well observed population of dwarf galaxies represent the minimum rates of self-regulating star formation in the universe. (Barely abridged)Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, TeX using emulateapj.cls, v2 accepted for publication in ApJ (16/8/5) with one figure deleted and a number of minor clarifying revision

Cosmicflows-2: The Data

Cosmicflows-2 is a compilation of distances and peculiar velocities for over 8000 galaxies. Numerically the largest contributions come from the luminosity-linewidth correlation for spirals, the TFR, and the related Fundamental Plane relation for E/S0 systems, but over 1000 distances are contributed by methods that provide more accurate individual distances: Cepheid, Tip of the Red Giant Branch, Surface Brightness Fluctuation, SNIa, and several miscellaneous but accurate procedures. Our collaboration is making important contributions to two of these inputs: Tip of the Red Giant Branch and TFR. A large body of new distance material is presented. In addition, an effort is made to assure that all the contributions, our own and those from the literature, are on the same scale. Overall, the distances are found to be compatible with a Hubble Constant H_0 = 74.4 +-3.0 km/s/Mpc. The great interest going forward with this data set will be with velocity field studies. Cosmicflows-2 is characterized by a great density and high accuracy of distance measures locally, falling to sparse and coarse sampling extending to z=0.1.Comment: To be published in Astronomical Journal. Two extensive tables to be available on-line. Table 1 available at http://edd.ifa.hawaii.edu select catalog `Cosmicflows-2 Distances

A rapid attenuation of muscarinic agonist stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis precedes receptor sequestration in human SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma cells

Agonist occupancy of muscarinic cholinergic receptors in human SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma cells elicited two kinetically distinct phases of phosphoinositide hydrolysis when monitored by either an increased mass of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, or the accumulation of a total inositol phosphate fraction. Within 5s of the addition of the muscarinic agonist, oxotremorine-M, the phosphoinositide pool was hydrolyzed at a maximal rate of 9.5%/min. This initial phase of phosphoinositide hydrolysis was short-lived (t 1/2 =14s) and after 60s of agonist exposure, the rate of inositol lipid breakdown had declined to a steady state level of 3.4%/min which was then maintained for at least 5–10 min. This rapid, but partial, attenuation of muscarinic receptor stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis occurred prior to the agonist-induced internalization of muscarinic receptors.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45408/1/11064_2004_Article_BF00971329.pd

EXPRESS Rack Technology for Space Station

The EXPRESS rack provides accommodations for standard Mid-deck Locker and ISIS drawer payloads on the International Space Station. A design overview of the basic EXPRESS rack and two derivatives, the Human Research Facility and the Habitat Holding Rack, is given in Part I. In Part II, the design of the Solid State Power Control Module (SSPCM) is reviewed. The SSPCM is a programmable and remotely controllable power switching and voltage conversion unit which distributes and protects up to 3kW of 12OVDC and 28VDC power to payloads and rack subsystem components. Part III details the development and testing of a new data storage device, the BRP EXPRESS Memory Unit (BEMU). The BEMU is a conduction-cooled device which operates on 28VDC and is based on Boeing-modified 9GB commercial disk-drive technology. In Part IV results of a preliminary design effort for a rack Passive Damping System (PDS) are reported. The PDS is intended to isolate ISPR-based experiment racks from on-orbit vibration. System performance predictions based on component developmental testing indicate that such a system can provide effective isolation at frequencies of 1 Hz and above

Evaluation of Microwave Steam Bags for the Decontamination of Filtering Facepiece Respirators

Reusing filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) has been suggested as a strategy to conserve available supplies for home and healthcare environments during an influenza pandemic. For reuse to be possible, used FFRs must be decontaminated before redonning to reduce the risk of virus transmission; however, there are no approved methods for FFR decontamination. An effective method must reduce the microbial threat, maintain the function of the FFR, and present no residual chemical hazard. The method should be readily available, inexpensive and easily implemented by healthcare workers and the general public. Many of the general decontamination protocols used in healthcare and home settings are unable to address all of the desired qualities of an efficient FFR decontamination protocol. The goal of this study is to evaluate the use of two commercially available steam bags, marketed to the public for disinfecting infant feeding equipment, for FFR decontamination. The FFRs were decontaminated with microwave generated steam following the manufacturers' instructions then evaluated for water absorption and filtration efficiency for up to three steam exposures. Water absorption of the FFR was found to be model specific as FFRs constructed with hydrophilic materials absorbed more water. The steam had little effect on FFR performance as filtration efficiency of the treated FFRs remained above 95%. The decontamination efficacy of the steam bag was assessed using bacteriophage MS2 as a surrogate for a pathogenic virus. The tested steam bags were found to be 99.9% effective for inactivating MS2 on FFRs; however, more research is required to determine the effectiveness against respiratory pathogens