6,568 research outputs found
The significance of organic carbon and nutrient export from peatland-dominated landscapes subject to disturbance, a stoichiometric perspective
The terrestrial-aquatic interface is a crucial environment in which to consider the fate of exported terrestrial carbon in the aquatic system. Here the fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) may be controlled by nutrient availability. However, peat-dominated headwater catchments are normally of low nutrient status and thus there is little data on how DOC and nutrient export co-varies. We present nutrient and DOC data for two UK catchments dominated by peat headwaters. One, Whitelee, is undergoing development for Europe's largest windfarm. Glen Dye by comparison is relatively undisturbed. At both sites there are significant linear relationships between DOC and soluble reactive phosphorus and nitrate concentrations in the drainage waters. However, inter-catchment differences exist. Changes in the pattern of nutrient and carbon export at Whitelee reveal that landscape disturbance associated with windfarm development impacts the receiving waters, and that nutrient export does not increase in a stoichiometric manner that will promote increase in microbial biomass but rather supports aquatic respiration. In turn greater CO2 efflux may prevail. Hence disturbance of terrestrial carbon stores may impact the both the aquatic and gaseous carbon cycle. We suggest estimates of aquatic carbon export should inform the decision-making process prior to development in ecosystems and catchments with high terrestrial carbon storage
An Investigation of the Cognitive and Perceptual Dynamics of a ColorâDigit Synesthete
L, a 47-year-old female of Choctaw descent, was first identified as a potential synesthete on the basis of self-report data regarding digitâcolor associations. Upon completion of the identification procedures typified in the literature, it was concluded that L met the classic memory-performance criteria used to identify synesthetic ability. A series of Stroop-type tasks were then performed to identify the dynamics of her synesthetic experiences. The results of these analyses provided three findings of note. First, the clear pattern of response-time differences between L and the control group suggests that tasks designed to produce involuntary divisions of attention can be an effective means by which to demonstrate that synesthetic experiences are involuntary but elicited. Second, the significantly slower performance by L on a negative-priming Stroop list shaped around her colorâdigit associations indicates the presence of a lexical component in her synesthetic experience. Third, the use of a manual color-classification task for which a verbal response was not employed served to confirm the presence of a lexical component in Lâs synesthetic experiences. The implications of these results for current synesthetic theories are then discussed. Finally, a clustering solution of a portion of Lâs colorâdigit experiences is presented, along with the ramifications of its results on the nature of Lâs perceptual experience
The significance of organic carbon and nutrient export from peatland-dominated landscapes subject to disturbance
International audienceThe terrestrial-aquatic interface is a crucial environment in which to consider the fate of exported terrestrial carbon in the aquatic system. To a large extent the fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) may be controlled by nutrient availability. However, peat-dominated headwater catchments are normally considered of low nutrient status and thus there is little data on the interaction of DOC and nutrients. Here we present nutrient and DOC data exported from two UK catchments, both dominated by peat headwaters, but of differing land-use. Glen Dye is a moorland with no trees; Whitelee has partially forested peats and peaty podzols, and is now undergoing development to host Europe's largest on-shore windfarm, the Whitelee Windfarm. There are significant linear relationships between DOC and soluble reactive phosphorus and nitrate concentrations in the drainage waters, but inter-catchment differences exist. Changes in the pattern of nutrient and carbon export in Whitelee suggest that disturbance of peatlands soils can impact the receiving water and that nutrient export does not increase in a stoichiometric manner that will promote increase in biomass. As such the changes are more likely to cause increased aquatic respiration, and thus lead to higher dissolved CO2 concentrations (and therefore CO2 efflux). Hence disturbance of terrestrial carbon stores may also impact the gaseous carbon cycle. Confirming the source of carbon and nutrients in these study sites is not possible. However, nearby 14C measurements are in keeping with other published literature values from similar sites which show C in DOM exported from peatlands is predominantly modern, and thus supports an interpretation that nutrients, additional to carbon, are derived from shallow soils. Estimates of organic carbon loss from Whitelee catchments to the drainage waters suggest a system where losses are approaching likely sequestration rates. We suggest such sequestration assessment should inform the decision-making tools required prior to development of terrestrial carbon stores
Privacy Preserving Internet Browsers: Forensic Analysis of Browzar
With the advance of technology, Criminal Justice agencies are being
confronted with an increased need to investigate crimes perpetuated partially
or entirely over the Internet. These types of crime are known as cybercrimes.
In order to conceal illegal online activity, criminals often use private
browsing features or browsers designed to provide total browsing privacy. The
use of private browsing is a common challenge faced in for example child
exploitation investigations, which usually originate on the Internet. Although
private browsing features are not designed specifically for criminal activity,
they have become a valuable tool for criminals looking to conceal their online
activity. As such, Technological Crime units often focus their forensic
analysis on thoroughly examining the web history on a computer. Private
browsing features and browsers often require a more in-depth, post mortem
analysis. This often requires the use of multiple tools, as well as different
forensic approaches to uncover incriminating evidence. This evidence may be
required in a court of law, where analysts are often challenged both on their
findings and on the tools and approaches used to recover evidence. However,
there are very few research on evaluating of private browsing in terms of
privacy preserving as well as forensic acquisition and analysis of privacy
preserving internet browsers. Therefore in this chapter, we firstly review the
private mode of popular internet browsers. Next, we describe the forensic
acquisition and analysis of Browzar, a privacy preserving internet browser and
compare it with other popular internet browser
Double Charge Exchange And Configuration Mixing
The energy dependence of forward pion double charge exchange reactions on
light nuclei is studied for both the Ground State transition and the
Double-Isobaric-Analog-State transitions. A common characteristic of these
double reactions is a resonance-like peak around 50 MeV pion lab energy. This
peak arises naturally in a two-step process in the conventional pion-nucleon
system with proper handling of nuclear structure and pion distortion. A
comparison among the results of different nuclear structure models demonstrates
the effects of configuration mixing. The angular distribution is used to fix
the single particle wave function.Comment: Added 1 figure (now 8) corrected references and various other change
Dynamical symmetry of isobaric analog 0+ states in medium mass nuclei
An algebraic sp(4) shell model is introduced to achieve a deeper
understanding and interpretation of the properties of pairing-governed 0+
states in medium mass atomic nuclei. The theory, which embodies the simplicity
of a dynamical symmetry approach to nuclear structure, is shown to reproduce
the excitation spectra and fine structure effects driven by proton-neutron
interactions and isovector pairing correlations across a broad range of nuclei.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure
Data Sonification from the Desktop: Should Sound Be Part of Standard Data Analysis Software?
The design of auditory formats for data display is presently focused on applications for blind or visually impaired users, specialized displays for use when visual attention must be devoted to other tasks, and some innovative work in revealing properties of complex data that may not be effectively rendered by traditional visual means. With the availability of high-quality and flexible sound production hardware in standard desktop computers, the potential exists for using sound to represent characteristics of typical âsmall and simpleâ samples of data in routine data inspection and analysis. Our research has shown that basic properties of simple functions, distribution properties of data samples, and patterns of covariation between two variables can be effectively displayed by simple auditory graphs involving patterns of pitch variation over time. While such developments have implications for specialized applications and populations of users, these displays are easily comprehended by normal users with minimal practice. Providing further software enhancement to encourage exploration of data representation by sound may lead to a variety of useful creative developments in data display technology
Bring a plate: facilitating experimentation in the Welcome Dinner Project
Drawing on in-depth empirical research, we explore a project called The Welcome Dinner (WDP). The WDP aims to bring together ânewly arrivedâ people and âestablished Australiansâ to meet and âshare storiesâ over a potluck meal in âthe comfort of their own homeâ. The purpose is to create meaningful connections, new friendships and social solidarities. In this paper, we focus on the micro-contexts of the dinners and the minute activities and techniques that facilitators use in hosting. Our aim is not to analyse the effects of the project but rather the design and meaning of the activities. As a form of âdesigned everyday multiculturalismâ, focused on welcoming new arrivals to Australia, it takes effort, skill and labour to manage the contact between different cultural groups over organised meals. Thus, facilitators take over the hosting of the lunches and dinners to run activities, which are imagined to lubricate social dynamics and relations, and produce convivial commensal affects and behaviours. Drawing on theories of training activities as embodied and cognitive experimentations, which enable new knowledge practices and social relations, we analyse field notes and interviews about the facilitation, structure and activities at the WDP home dinners
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