Microsatellite primers for red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)

In this note, we document polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) primer pairs for 101 nuclear-encoded microsatellites designed and developed from a genomic library for red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Details of the genomic library construction, the sequencing of positive clones, primer design, and PCR protocols may be found in Karlsson et al. (2008). The 101 microsatellites (GENBA NK Accession Numbers EU015882-EU015982) were amplified successfully and used to genotype 24 red drum obtained from Galveston Bay, Texas (Table 1). A total of 69 of the microsatellites had an uninterrupted (perfect) dinucleotide motif, and 30 had an imperfect dinucleotide motif; one microsatellite had an imperfect tetranucleotide motif, and one had an imperfect and compound motif (Table 1 ). Sizes of the cloned alleles ranged from 84 to 252 base pairs. A ‘blast’ search of the GENBANK database indicated that all of the primers and the cloned alleles were unique (i.e., not duplicated)

Carbon and oxygen isotope composition of carbonates from an L6 chondrite: Evidence for terrestrial weathering from the Holbrook meteorite

Terrestrial weathering in meteorites is an important process which alters pristine elemental and isotopic abundances. The Holbrook L6 chondrite fell in 1912. Material was recovered at the time of the fall, in 1931, and 1968. The weathering processes operating on the freshly fallen meteorite in a semi-arid region of northeastern Arizona have been studied after a ground residence of 19 and 56 years. It has been shown that a large portion of the carbonate material in 7 Antarctic ordinary chondrites either underwent extensive isotopic exchange with atmospheric CO2, or formed recently in the Antarctic environment. In fact it has been demonstrated that hydrated Mg-carbonates, nesquehonite and hydromagnesite, formed in less than 40 years on LEW 85320. In order to help further constrain the effects of terrestrial weathering in meteorites, the carbon and oxygen isotopes extracted from carbonates of three different samples of Holbrook L6: a fresh sample at the time of the fall in 1912, a specimen collected in 1931, and a third specimen collected at the same site in 1968

‘Swim, swim and die at the beach’: family court and perpetrator induced trauma (CPIT) experiences of mothers in Brazil

Gender-based violence (GBV) and Domestic Violence (DV) are prevalent in Brazil. There are growing concerns globally regarding the weaponisation of the pseudo-concept ‘Parental Alienation’ (PA) in the family courts against women. Additionally, a lack of understanding of mothers’ family court and health-related experiences indicated a need to explore this topic further. A qualitative study was conducted with thirteen mothers who are victims of Domestic Violence and have been accused of PA. Mothers reported a range of harmful health experiences, delineated here under the conceptual framework of Court and Perpetrator Induced Trauma (CPIT). Six themes are presented, which encapsulate a range of harmful actions, behaviours and circumstances (ABCs) that surround these mothers and their responses to these ABCs. Multiple physical health conditions were reported as associated with family court proceedings. This included maternity problems, musculoskeletal, autoimmune, and respiratory conditions and a broad range of mental health implications including suicide and other trauma responses. Human rights violations, the weaponisation of ‘Parental Alienation’ and inherently misogynistic and oppressive justice systems in Brazil were also reported. Urgent measures and further research are now needed to investigate causal links between harm to health and the family courts and to strengthen human rights protection for women and child victims in Brazil and beyond

In Situ Analysis of Fatigue Crack Propagation in Polymer Foams

This paper presents an in situ SEM experimental study on cyclic crack propagation in closed-cell polymer foams. The microscopic failure mechanisms in precracked PVC and PES specimens of 60 and 90 kg/m3 densities were examined under low-cycle fatigue loading. In the PVC foam, crack propagation occurred incrementally by successive failure of cell boundaries in front of the crack tip. The crack occasionally jumped to cell boundaries above or below the main crack resulting in non-self similar growth. Crack propagation in the PES foam occurred incrementally by extensive plastic tearing and subsequent tensile failure of the cell edge in front of the crack tip. Crack advance sometimes occurred by coalescence of the main crack with a secondary crack above or below the main crack. Such crack bridging involved extensive shear deformation of the cells bridging the two adjacent cracks. Overall, crack growth in the PES foams occurred through the center of the cells. At a given cycle load level, more loading cycles were required to extend the crack in the PES foam than for the PVC foam as a result of the higher ductility of the PES polymer

In Situ Analysis of Crack Propagation in Polymer Foams

This article presents an experimental study on the microscopic mechanisms associated with crack propagation in closed cell polymer foams. A brittle, slightly cross-linked polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam of density 60 kg/m3 and a ductile thermoplastic polyether sulfone (PES) foam of density 90 kg/m3 were examined. The PVC and PES foams have similar cell size (≈0.7 mm) but the cell edges of the PES foam were much thicker than those in the PVC foam. Overall, it was observed that the elements of both foams fractured in an extensional mode. Crack propagation in the PVC foam was inter-cellular, where agglomerates of very small cells formed a region of weakness. Damaged cell walls were observed on both sides of the crack plane. For the PES foam, craze-like deformation bands were observed in the highly stretched region ahead of the blunted crack tip. Further ahead of the crack tip, highly stretched cells were observed. Fracture occurred predominantly through the center of the cells in the PES foam

Characterization of Fracture Toughness G (sub c) of PVC and PES Foams

The fracture behavior of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethersulfone (PES) foams has been examined using the single-edge notch bend and the double cantilever beam (DCB) tests. PVC foam densities ranging from 45 to 100 kg/m3 and PES foam densities ranging from 60 to 130 kg/m3 were examined. The PVC foams failed in a linear elastic brittle manner, whereas the PES foams displayed much more ductility and substantially larger toughness at a comparable foam density. The cell wall thickness of the PES foams was almost twice the thickness of the PVC foams which may have contributed to the high fracture toughness here defined as critical energy release rate (G c). The PES foam, further displayed low initiation toughness, due to the sharp artificial crack tip and large toughness corresponding to propagation from a natural crack. The results show that the ductile PES foams have toughness close to its solid counterpart whereas the toughness of the PVC foams falls substantially below its solid counterpart

The relationship between biophysical variables and halocarbon distributions in the waters of the Amundsen and Ross Seas, Antarctica

Little is known regarding the distribution of volatile halogenated organic compounds (halocarbons) in Antarctic waters and their relation to biophysical variables. During the austral summer (December to January) in 2007-08 halocarbon and pigment concentrations were measured in the Amundsen (100-130 degrees W) and Ross Sea (158 degrees W-160 degrees E). In addition, halocarbons were determined in air, snow and sea ice. The distribution of halocarbons was influenced to a large extent by sea ice, and to a much lesser extent by pelagic biota. Concentrations of naturally produced halocarbons were elevated in the surface mixed layer in ice covered areas compared to open waters in polynyas and in the bottom waters of the Ross Sea. Higher concentrations of halocarbons were also found in sea ice brine compared to the surface waters. Incubations of snow revealed an additional source of halocarbons. The distribution of halocarbons also varied considerably between the Amundsen and Ross Seas, mainly due to the different oceanographic settings. For iodinated compounds, weak correlations were found with the presence of pigments indicative of Phaeocystis, mainly in the Ross Sea. Surface waters of the Amundsen and Ross Seas are a sink for bromoform (saturation anomalies, SA, -83 to 11%), whereas sea ice was found to be both a source and sink (SA -61-97%). In contrast, both surface waters and sea ice were found to be a source of chloroiodomethane (SA -6-1 200% and 91-22 000 resp.). Consequently, polar waters can have a substantial impact on global halocarbon budgets and need to be included in large-scale assessments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Contribution of sea ice in the Southern Ocean to the cycling of volatile halogenated organic compounds

The contribution of sea ice to the flux of biogenic volatile halogenated organic compounds to the atmosphere in the Southern Ocean is currently not known. To approach this question, we measured halocarbons in sea ice, sea ice brine, and surface water of the Amundsen and Ross Seas. Concentrations in sea ice of these compounds, normalized to seawater salinity, ranged from 0.2 to 810 pmol L-1. Salinity-normalized chlorophyll a concentrations in the ice ranged from 3.5 to 190 mu gL(-1). Our results suggest biological production of halocarbons in sea ice, with maxima of halogenated organics and chlorophyll a commonly found in the interior of the ice cores. Iodinated VHOCs were found to be more enriched in sea ice than brominated ones. Furthermore, depth distributions indicated a transport of halocarbons from sea ice to air and underlying water

Polarized Neutron Laue Diffraction on a Crystal Containing Dynamically Polarized Proton Spins

We report on a polarized-neutron Laue diffraction experiment on a single crystal of neodynium doped lanthanum magnesium nitrate hydrate containing polarized proton spins. By using dynamic nuclear polarization to polarize the proton spins, we demonstrate that the intensities of the Bragg peaks can be enhanced or diminished significantly, whilst the incoherent background, due to proton spin disorder, is reduced. It follows that the method offers unique possibilities to tune continuously the contrast of the Bragg reflections and thereby represents a new tool for increasing substantially the signal-to-noise ratio in neutron diffraction patterns of hydrogenous matter.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure