A study of the relative effectiveness of two methods of reporting laboratory exercises in general science

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112299/1/3730130408_ftp.pd

Wave Motions In Molecular Clouds: Results in Two Dimensions

We study the linear evolution of small perturbations in self-gravitating fluid systems in two spatial dimensions; we consider both cylindrical and cartesian (i.e., slab) geometries. The treatment is general, but the application is to molecular clouds. We consider a class of equations of state which heuristically take into account the presence of turbulence; in particular, we consider equations of state which are {\it softer} than isothermal. We take the unperturbed cloud configuration to be in hydrostatic equilibrium. We find a class of wave solutions which propagate along a pressure supported cylinder (or slab) and have finite (trapped) spatial distributions in the direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Our results indicate that the dispersion relations for these two dimensional waves have similar forms for the two geometries considered here. Both cases possess a regime of instability and a fastest growing mode. We also find the (perpendicular) form of the perturbations for a wide range of wavelengths. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results for star formation and molecular clouds. The mass scales set by instabilities in both molecular cloud filaments and sheets are generally much larger than the masses of stars. However, these instabilities can determine the length scales for the initial conditions for protostellar collapse.Comment: 24 pages + 10 figures; self-extracting, uuencoded, compressed tarfil

Physiological effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone immunocontraception on white-tailed deer

Before immunocontraceptives can be considered safe to use on wildlife species, potential health risks should be assessed. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive has successfully reduced fertility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus); however, associated deer physiology has rarely been examined. We conducted gross necropsy examinations, histology, and blood chemistry comparisons on euthanized deer previously vaccinated with immunogenic GnRH (n = 18 females and n = 4 males), or left as untreated controls (n = 7 females and n = 6 males). Granulomas were found at injection sites of most deer, even 3 years post-treatment. There were no significant differences in ovary (F2,22= 0.31, P = 0.73), or pituitary weights (F2,22 = 0.30, P = 0.75) between treatment groups. Ovaries from control females had significantly more secondary follicles (F2,21 = 20.56, P ≤ 0.001), but not Graafi an follicles (F2,22= 2.22, P = 0.13). Immunized males had significantly lower mean testes weights, a number of morphologic abnormalities, and varying degrees of aspermatogenesis with fewer mature spermatozoa. We do not recommend treating male deer with anti-GnRH immunocontraceptive vaccines

Physiological effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone immunocontraception on white-tailed deer

Before immunocontraceptives can be considered safe to use on wildlife species, potential health risks should be assessed. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive has successfully reduced fertility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus); however, associated deer physiology has rarely been examined. We conducted gross necropsy examinations, histology, and blood chemistry comparisons on euthanized deer previously vaccinated with immunogenic GnRH (n = 18 females and n = 4 males), or left as untreated controls (n = 7 females and n = 6 males). Granulomas were found at injection sites of most deer, even 3 years post-treatment. There were no significant differences in ovary (F2,22= 0.31, P = 0.73), or pituitary weights (F2,22 = 0.30, P = 0.75) between treatment groups. Ovaries from control females had significantly more secondary follicles (F2,21 = 20.56, P ≤ 0.001), but not Graafi an follicles (F2,22= 2.22, P = 0.13). Immunized males had significantly lower mean testes weights, a number of morphologic abnormalities, and varying degrees of aspermatogenesis with fewer mature spermatozoa. We do not recommend treating male deer with anti-GnRH immunocontraceptive vaccines

New Ediacaran biota from the oldest Nama Group, Namibia (Tsaus Mountains), and re-definition of the Nama Assemblage

The Nama Group, Namibia (≥550.5 to <538 million years ago, Ma), preserves one of the most diverse metazoan fossil records of the terminal Ediacaran Period. We report numerous features that may be biological in origin from the shallow marine, siliciclastic, lowermost Mara Member (older than ca. 550.5 Ma) from the Tsaus Mountains. These include forms that potentially represent body fossils, Beltanelliformis and an indeterminate juvenile uniterminal rangeomorph or arboreomorph frond, plug trace fossils, Bergaueria, as well as sedimentary surface textures, which are possibly microbially induced. These are the oldest documented macrofossils in the Nama Group. They represent taxa that persist from the Avalon or White Sea assemblages prior to the later appearance of new biota, including calcified metazoans, calcified and soft-bodied tubular taxa including all cloudinids, as well as more complex trace fossils.Using a new age model that allows more accurate stratigraphic placement of major Ediacaran macrofossil morphogroups and taxa, we propose a re-definition of the Nama Assemblage following the practice for Phanerozoic evolutionary faunas to include only new morphogroups of soft-bodied tubular, calcified taxa and complex trace fossils, defined by first appearance of Cloudina, which postdates deposition of the Kanies and lower Mara members and first appears ca. 550 Ma and persists until at least 539 Ma.Finally, the Tsaus Mountain environment is pristine, unspoilt by geologists and naturalists. Following World Heritage Convention, we suggest a pledge of non-destructive excavation that all future scientists should be able to make in publications of work that involve research in this area

The Clinchfield and Unicoi County: Documenting the Oral History and Traditions of a Railroad Community

The panel will focus on the oral history and traditions of the Clinchfield from those that were there, as passengers, employees, landowners, and various other stakeholders of the railroad and Unicoi County