Implications of coral reef buildup for the controls on atmospheric CO2 since the Last Glacial Maximum

We examine the effect on atmospheric CO2 of the occurrence of increased shallow water carbonate deposition and regrowth of the terrestrial biosphere following the last glacial. We find that contrary to recent speculations that changes in terrestrial carbon storage were primarily responsible for the observed similar to20 ppmv late Holocene CO2 rise, a more likely explanation is coral reef buildup and other forms of shallow water carbonate deposition during this time. The importance of a responsive terrestrial carbon reservoir may instead be as a negative feedback restricting the rate of CO2 rise possible in the early stages of the deglacial transition. This separation in time of the primary impacts of regrowth of the terrestrial biosphere and increased shallow water carbonate deposition explains the occurrence of an early Holocene carbonate preservation event observed in deep-sea sediments. We demonstrate that their combined influence is also consistent with available proxy estimates of deep ocean carbonate ion concentration changes over the last 21 kyr. Accounting for the processes that act on the carbonate chemistry of the ocean as a whole then allows us to place strong constraints on the nature of the remaining processes that must be operating at the deglacial transition. By subtracting the net CO2 effect of coral reef buildup and terrestrial biosphere regrowth from recent high-resolution ice core data, we highlight two periods, from 17.0 to 13.8 kyr and 12.3 to 11.2 kyr BP characterized by sustained rapid rates of CO2 increase (> 12 ppmv kyr(-1)). Because these periods are coincident with Southern Hemisphere "deglaciation,'' we argue that changes in the biogeochemical properties of the Southern Ocean surface are the most likely cause

Effects of the visual exercise environments on cognitive directed attention, energy expenditure and perceived exertion

Green exercise research often reports psychological health outcomes without rigorously controlling exercise. This study examines effects of visual exercise environments on directed attention, perceived exertion and time to exhaustion, whilst measuring and controlling the exercise component. Participants completed three experimental conditions in a randomized counterbalanced order. Conditions varied by video content viewed (nature; built; control) during two consistently-ordered exercise bouts (Exercise 1: 60% VO2peakInt for 15-mins; Exercise 2: 85% VO2peakInt to voluntary exhaustion). In each condition, participants completed modified Backwards Digit Span tests (a measure of directed attention) pre-and post-Exercise 1. Energy expenditure, respiratory exchange ratio and perceived exertion were measured during both exercise bouts. Time to exhaustion in Exercise 2 was also recorded. There was a significant time by condition interaction for Backwards Digit Span scores (F 2,22 = 6.267, p = 0.007). Scores significantly improved in the nature condition (p < 0.001) but did not in the built or control conditions. There were no significant differences between conditions for either perceived exertion or physiological measures during either Exercise 1 or Exercise 2, or for time to exhaustion in Exercise 2. This was the first study to demonstrate effects of controlled exercise conducted in different visual environments on post-exercise directed attention. Via psychological mechanisms alone, visual nature facilitates attention restoration during moderate-intensity exercise

Recent results from systematic parameterizations of Ginsparg-Wilson fermions

The Fixed Point Dirac Operator and Chirally Improved Fermions both use large numbers of gauge paths and the full Dirac structure to approximate a solution of the Ginsparg-Wilson equation. After a brief review of the two approaches we present recent results for quenched QCD with pion masses down to 210 MeV. We discuss the limits and advantages of approximate parameterizations and outline future perspectives.Comment: Lattice2002(plenary). References and Fig. 5 updated. Final version submitted to the proceeding

Chiral Effective Lagrangian and Quark Masses

The status of lattice determinations of quark masses is reviewed (with the exception of m_b). Attempts to extract the low-energy constants in the effective chiral Lagrangian are discussed, with special emphasis on those couplings which are required to test the hypothesis of a massless up-quark. Furthermore, the issue of quenched chiral logarithms is addressed.Comment: Invited talk presented at Lattice2002(plenary), 12 pages, 3 figure

Performance measurement systems, TQM, and multi-level firm performance: a person-organisation fit perspective

For firms implementing TQM, there is a need to redesign performance measurement systems (PMS). Innovated PMS ought to have measurement diversity in their structure with considering the spirit of TQM and emphasize the congruence of goals between employees and firms by adding the viewpoint of person-organisation fit (P-O fit). This paper adopts structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine Taiwanese manufacturing firms to study the association between the P-O fit of PMS and the implementation of TQM, as well as the effects of the adaptation of both to firm performance. Particularly, this paper examines firm performance at multiple levels and gathers data from multiple sources, including archival files and self-reported data from surveys

State of the Art on Prediction of Concrete Pumping

Large scale constructions needs to estimate a possibility for pumping concrete. In this paper, the state of the art on prediction of concrete pumping including analytical and experimental works is presented. The existing methods to measure the rheological properties of slip layer (or called lubricating layer) are first introduced. Second, based on the rheological properties of slip layer and parent concrete, models to predict concrete pumping (flow rate, pumping pressure, and pumpable distance) are explained. Third, influencing factors on concrete pumping are discussed with the test results of various concrete mixes. Finally, future need for research on concrete pumping is suggested.ope

Anarchy in the UK('s most famous fortress): comradeship and cupidity in Gibraltar and neighbouring Spain, 1890-1902

This article is the first to investigate the growth of anarchist ideology and tactics in Gibraltar and the surrounding Spanish region, the Campo de Gibraltar, in the period 1890-1902. We draw upon hitherto unused material from both The National Archives in London and the Gibraltar Government Archives. By doing so, we demonstrate that during this period Gibraltarian and Spanish workers came together, not only to defend and advance their interests by direct action, such as strikes and attacks on employers, but also to advance educational and social causes too. Indeed, by 1898-9 the appeal of this movement was so strong that an attempt by the British Social Democratic Federation to establish a more constitutionalist approach to industrial relations failed. By 1902, the power of anarchist movements and tactics concerned employers in Gibraltar so greatly that they engineered a lock-out – styled a general strike by local workers – and successfully smashed the organising power of the local movement. Meanwhile, on the Spanish side of the frontier a massacre engineered by the local Spanish authorities resulted in the deaths of a number of activists and a hiatus in the movement that would last until the Great War of 1914-18

What have we learnt from palaeoclimate simulations?

There has been a gradual evolution in the way that palaeoclimate modelling and palaeoenvironmental data are used together to understand how the Earth System works, from an initial and largely descriptive phase through explicit hypothesis testing to diagnosis of underlying mechanisms. Analyses of past climate states are now regarded as integral to the evaluation of climate models, and have become part of the toolkit used to assess the likely realism of future projections. Palaeoclimate assessment has demonstrated that changes in large-scale features of climate that are governed by the energy and water balance show consistent responses to changes in forcing in different climate states, and these consistent responses are reproduced by climate models. However, state-of-the-art models are still largely unable to reproduce observed changes in climate at a regional scale reliably. While palaeoclimate analyses of state-of-the-art climate models suggest an urgent need for model improvement, much work is also needed on extending and improving palaeoclimate reconstructions and quantifying and reducing both numerical and interpretative uncertainties

An investigation into the relationship between hypoglycemia and anxiety

The purpose of this study was t.o investigate whether or not a relationship exists between hypoglycemia and anxiety as measured by two specific instruments. The two tests used were the Spielberger/ Self-Evaluation Questionnaire and the Harper/Hypoglycemia Questionnaire. It was hypothesized that the identified hypoglycemia subjects would score higher on the Harper/Hypoglycemia Questionnaire than the non-hypoglycemic subjects, and that they would also have higher trait and state anxiety scores. It was expected that a significant interactional effect between hypoglycemia and anxiety would be demonstrated. The two-way ANOVA found a significant difference between hypoglycemic and non-hypoglycemic subjects on the Harper/Hypoglycemic Probability Scale and the Spielberger/Self-Evaluation Trait and State Anxiety Scale.Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-55)California State University, Northridge. Department of Education

Viewing Nature Scenes Positively Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental Stress

A randomized crossover study explored whether viewing different scenes prior to a stressor altered autonomic function during the recovery from the stressor. The two scenes were (a) nature (composed of trees, grass, fields) or (b) built (composed of man-made, urban scenes lacking natural characteristics) environments. Autonomic function was assessed using noninvasive techniques of heart rate variability; in particular, time domain analyses evaluated parasympathetic activity, using root-mean-square of successive differences (RMSSD). During stress, secondary cardiovascular markers (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) showed significant increases from baseline which did not differ between the two viewing conditions. Parasympathetic activity, however, was significantly higher in recovery following the stressor in the viewing scenes of nature condition compared to viewing scenes depicting built environments (RMSSD; 50.0 ± 31.3 vs 34.8 ± 14.8 ms). Thus, viewing nature scenes prior to a stressor alters autonomic activity in the recovery period. The secondary aim was to examine autonomic function during viewing of the two scenes. Standard deviation of R-R intervals (SDRR), as change from baseline, during the first 5 min of viewing nature scenes was greater than during built scenes. Overall, this suggests that nature can elicit improvements in the recovery process following a stressor. © 2013 American Chemical Society