Bad debt rising

Charge-offs on credit card loans are rising sharply. While many analysts blame this trend on an expanding supply of credit cards, a closer look reveals the importance of two demand factors--wealth and the share of the population at peak borrowing age--in explaining the increase in bad debt.Credit ; Debt ; Supply and demand

Experimental Simulation of Volatile Organic Contributions to Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces

We present the results of a new simulation of the atmospheric entry heating experienced by extraterrestrial dust particles, quantifying their volatile loss into the early Earth atmosphere and characterising their organic volatile components

The uptake, accumulation and retention of 137-caesium by salmonid fish in fresh water

The Chernobyl disaster on 26ih April 1986, caused contamination over much of the U.K. with radiocaesium, principally via rainfall in upland areas such as N. Wales and S.W. Scotland. 137-Caesium was of particular concern in the freshwater environment as it has a long physical half-life (30yr) and previous studies had shown that 137-caesium accumulated in freshwater animals and that the levels of accumulation increased with trophic level up the food chain. This thesis presents the results of studies on the uptake, accumulation and retention of 137-caesium in salmonid fish in fresh water. A number of previous studies both m vitro and in vivo have observed biochemical similarities of caesium to potassium. The uptake of 137-caesium and 86- rubidium (as a tracer for potassium) by erythrocytes of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) was studied. The total caesium influx was much smaller than that of potassium ( 14.4 and 796.0nmoles min ' ml ' packed cells respectively), at an external concentration of .3mM. Potassium influx was significantly inhibited by caesium and vice versa, at concentrations >0.1 mM. The results indicated that caesium behaved as potassium in a qualitative but not quantative manner. This conclusion, together with evidence from the literature, was used to justify biochemical compansons of the two elements later in the thesis. The accumulation of 137-caesium was studied in the early stages of development of Atlantic salmon {Saimo salar L.) and brown trout {.Salmo trutta L.). The accumulation of the isotope in the eggs of brown trout was relatively small until a few days prior to hatching, when the 137-caesium concentration factor (C F.) increased rapidly. The accumulation of 137-caesium in juveniles of Atlantic salmon and brown trout followed a first order rate equation, ie. the rate of increase of accumulation decreased until a constant, equilibrium C.F. was reached. 137-Caesium accumulated several times above the concentration in water, reaching equilibrium after 4-6 months at C.F.s of approximately 10-12 at ''normal" pH (•7.4), The uptake was greatest in gills, muscle, liver and kidney. The majority of the radiocaesium was however, deposited in muscle tissue and this had consistently the longest biological half-life (t,,,)- Accumulation was significantly reduced at low" pH (-5.0) in both species. This was attributed primarily to an inhibition of caesium uptake by protons in a manner similar to that recorded in the literature for other group 1 metals. The elimination of 137- caesium from juvenile Atlantic salmon was best described by a single exponential equation and was little affected by increased acidity. The accumulation of 137-caesium in alevins of the two species also followed first-order kinetics. The accumulation was much more rapid however, and reached much greater C.F.s (>50) at equilibnum. This difference between the stages of development was attributed to the greater metabolic rate (MR) of the alevins and/or their extra dependence on water as a soua'e of ions. No consistently significant differences were recorded between the two species. The branchial and intestinal influx of 137-caesium was measured in a perfused, whole-body preparation of the rainbow trout {O mykiss). The in vitro caesium fluxes recorded in these experiments were in line with values in the literature, Branchial influx displayed saturation kinetics, with and K* values of 1.17^molcs Cs kg ' fish h ' and 3,93mM respectively, and was therefore concluded to be a mediated process dependent upon a limited number of carriers or active sites, In contrast, intestinal influx was not saturable but was directly proportional to the mucosal concentration of caesium and was thought to occur via paracellular. "leak" pathways. Intestinal influx was consistently greater than branchial influx; this difference increased with caesium concentration as the branchial influx approached saturation. Reduction of ambient pH had no significant effect on short-term branchial influx. Caesium binding to intracellular muscle protein in rainbow trout (O mykiss) was relatively weak and the majority of the caesium remained "free" at in vivo caesium concentrations. It was therefore concluded that intracellular binding was not a significant factor in the long-term retention of radiocaesium seen in nature. It was suggested that caesium transport occurred via ion-specific potassium channels and that the relatively slow uptake and long retention of radiocaesium was due to its large size with respect to such channels. The results of this thesis were used to speculate on the consequences of a single input of 137-caesium into a previously uncontaminated lake. Initially, direct branchial uptake would be the greater source of radiocaesium in fish, to which larval forms would be the most susceptible. As the dissolved concentration of the isotope decreased however, due to flushing and loss to sediments, the radiocaesium concentrations in food organisms would gradually increase. Food would then become the primary source of radiocaesium in fish, although the uptake would obviously vary significantly depending on the diet

Portfolio of musical composition: my approach to composing: the development, selection and application of techniques and systems in my music

I use a range of techniques to put together my musical ideas, techniques that are rooted in the incidental and intentional listening that identifies who I am, as a person as well as a composer. Reflecting on the intentional is relatively easy. Reflecting on the incidental requires objective analysis of one’s own music. Inevitably, such analysis identifies preoccupations and preferences, as well as technical weaknesses and obsessions, all of which may or may not be unhealthy. Like many composers, I develop various systems to help me generate the sketch material which eventually becomes the completed piece. These are important to me and can occupy the mind long after the job of selecting – and therefore discarding – and organising has been started. This is the work that in essence produces the version of the music to be heard – the only version that matters. While others may be interested, even intrigued, by the process of composing, it is difficult to accept the importance of the process to the listener. Once systems have served their purpose, they hold little relevance for me; they may be compromised, altered, even ignored to serve the needs of the music as it develops in its own right. The preoccupations that occupy me presently are: omophonic heterophon Non octave-repeating modes and derivative chord group Rhythmic devices in melodic constructio Temporal ambiguit The application of sets of rules or systems This commentary describes my methods and some of the intentional and incidental influences on my music, and reflects on my thoughts about how my music might be perceived by others. It also reflects on others’ and my thoughts on the relationship between composer and listener. This is something I have come to appreciate the greater significance of during the post-compositional analytical process – my starting point for the commentary – and something which seems increasingly more complex than I had once imagined

Moisture Degradation of CTD-403: Testing the Application of Cyanate Ester Insulations to Fusion Devices

The fusion devices currently being developed present several challenges for magnet designers. One challenge lies within the electrical insulation, which must be able to withstand extreme temperatures (both cryogenic and elevated temperatures), large shear and compressive stresses, high operating voltages, and high levels of incident radiation. To address the need for better performing insulation systems, Composite Technology Development, Inc. (CTD) has developed CTD-403, a cyanate ester resin with increased radiation resistance, ease of processing and fabrication, low moisture absorption characteristics, and high mechanical and electrical strength at cryogenic and elevated temperatures. In this thesis, CTD-403 resin based insulation systems were tested under the operation guidelines of the Quasi-Poloidal Stellarator (QPS). Because the coils of QPS are water cooled, it is important to understand the effects of long term humidity exposure on the insulation. The effects of humidity on moisture absorption characteristics, dimensional stability, mechanical and electrical properties were characterized. Increasing the humidity level caused a corresponding increase in the saturation level, while increasing the temperature of exposure magnified these effects causing more pronounced non-Fickian behavior. The mechanical properties degraded with an increase in humidity level. Elevated temperature effects are more pronounced on the compressive properties than the tensile properties. The glass transition temperature was more greatly affected by elevated temperature exposure as opposed to increased humidity exposure, decreasing in both instances. The dielectric strength decreases with increased humidity level and exposure time. Based on these findings, the performance of cyanate ester resin based insulation systems is shown superior to that of traditional epoxy based resin systems in all performance measures. The degradation of the mechanical and electrical properties of the insulation from long term effects of humidity and elevated temperature exposure are shown to be within the performance criteria bounds, and the insulation is therefore recommended for use in current and future fusion programs

Effect of long-term starvation on the survival, recovery, and carbon utilization profiles of a bovine Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolate from New Zealand

The ability to maintain a dual lifestyle of colonizing the ruminant gut and surviving in nonhost environments once shed is key to the success of Escherichia coli O157:H7 as a zoonotic pathogen. Both physical and biological conditions encountered by the bacteria are likely to change during the transition between host and nonhost environments. In this study, carbon starvation at suboptimal temperatures in nonhost environments was simulated by starving a New Zealand bovine E. coli O157:H7 isolate in phosphate-buffered saline at 4 and 15°C for 84 days. Recovery of starved cells on media with different nutrient availabilities was monitored under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We found that the New Zealand bovine E. coli O157:H7 isolate was able to maintain membrane integrity and viability over 84 days and that the level of recovery depended on the nutrient level of the recovery medium as well as the starvation temperature. In addition, a significant difference in carbon utilization was observed between starved and nonstarved cells

Effect of long-term starvation on the survival, recovery, and carbon utilization profiles of a bovine Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolate from New Zealand

The ability to maintain a dual lifestyle of colonizing the ruminant gut and surviving in nonhost environments once shed is key to the success of Escherichia coli O157:H7 as a zoonotic pathogen. Both physical and biological conditions encountered by the bacteria are likely to change during the transition between host and nonhost environments. In this study, carbon starvation at suboptimal temperatures in nonhost environments was simulated by starving a New Zealand bovine E. coli O157:H7 isolate in phosphate-buffered saline at 4 and 15°C for 84 days. Recovery of starved cells on media with different nutrient availabilities was monitored under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We found that the New Zealand bovine E. coli O157:H7 isolate was able to maintain membrane integrity and viability over 84 days and that the level of recovery depended on the nutrient level of the recovery medium as well as the starvation temperature. In addition, a significant difference in carbon utilization was observed between starved and nonstarved cells

Undergraduate Research: The Jetmore Food Center

The Jetmore Food Center aids the community by providing food to the citizens of Jetmore. In general, the majority of those that shop in the Jetmore Food Center are above the age of 40, but the store serves to customers of all ages. The store opens at 8 A.M and stays open until 8 P.M at night six days a week. In the past, stores in Jetmore closed at 6 P.M every day and closed on Sundays. This caused problems for many residents of Jetmore, as many work in Dodge City and did not return to Jetmore until the evening. Like most small town’s grocery stores, the Jetmore Food Center donates food and drinks to the school, the hospital, as well as clubs and organizations that hold special events in Jetmore. Once again, aiding and partaking in events in the community further strengthens townspeople’s confidence in their local grocer, which in turn helps a store succeed. Also, unlike chain stores, the profit dollars made from a small-town grocery store circulate back into the community. Without a doubt, the Jetmore Food Center keeps Jetmore a successful small town in Kansas. From offering quality food at reasonable prices, to providing jobs for the youth and teaching them vital skills for adulthood, the Jetmore Food Center is the lifeblood of the community of Jetmore