Heat and Mass Transfer in Cold Regions Soils

The work upon which this report is based was made possible by a cooperative aid agreement between the U.S. Forest Service, Institute of Northern Forestry, Fairbanks, Alaska, and the Institute of Water Resources, University of Alaska. Contributions to this study were also made by the University of California at Davis and Ohio State University. The collection of winter data on pore pressures was made possible by a separate grant by the Office of Water Research and Technology (project A-053 ALAS)

From Wanted to Weeds: A Natural History of Some Of New England’s Introduced Plants

When the Europeans first colonized New England they initiated the process of transforming the landscape into something more familiar. In order to ensure access to food and medicine and recreate the pastoral landscape of the Old World they brought with them a variety of known plant species for cultivation. With time, shifts in medical practice, agriculture, food preservation, and dietary preferences, reliance on these plants declined. As knowledge of these plant species disappeared from popular consciousness, so too did they disappear into the wilds of America, exploiting new found ecological niches, and becoming New England’s naturalized flora. Human labor was essential in creating and sustaining the habitats in which these new species could thrive, but plant invasions are as much a product of nature as they are of culture. Jessamy Luthin completed a BA in History with a minor in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Maine in 2013. She is now pursuing a certificate in midwifery at Birthwise Midwifery School in Bridgton, Maine

Loss for Words: An Investigation of the English Nature Vocabulary

This research assesses the state of English nature vocabulary in Montana, defined here as words and terms relating to local species, weather, and topography. Studies have shown declining nature knowledge among English speakers as well as a marked decrease in the usage of nature words in English popular culture throughout the 20th century, and while research across disciplines points to a growing disconnect between humans and their environment, researchers have yet to investigate the role of vocabulary and language attrition in humans’ changing experience of nature. This study develops a new survey instrument to gather vocabulary data from Montanans, aiming to gauge depth and diversity of nature terminology knowledge as well as attitudes about language and environment. Demographic information gathered in the online survey is used to analyze trends in the data based on age, community type, and other participant features. Analysis of this data is based on UNESCO’s (2013) Language Vitality Assessment model, a framework designed to quantify language loss and investigate the drivers of language change; the project is also informed by research on environmental literacy and education. I propose that extending the language model to nature vocabulary will cast light on how vocabulary attrition or dynamics may be compared to well-established processes of language change, thereby advancing our understanding of language attrition. The project is the first quantitative assessment of nature vocabulary in the United States, and the survey instrument has potential for further development and use in other states

Assessing social implications of circular economy by integrating circularity in S- LCA

Even though circular economy (CE) is crucial for sustainable performance, not all circularity activities are automatically more sustainable as some trade-offs may occur (e.g., major environmental impacts due to intensive processing of wastes or social effects when production/treatment locations change). In the position paper of the Life Cycle Initiative, Peña et al. (2021) stated the importance of combining CE and life cycle approaches to avoid burden shifting. Apart from economic factors, the recent focus of research in CE is on environmental impacts and how to measure them. Sassanelli et al. (2019) identified life cycle assessment (LCA) as the most used tool for assessing environmental consequences of CE. To ensure that circularity holistically contributes to sustainable behavior, besides economic and environmental aspects, also the third pillar of sustainability, namely social aspects, must be considered. However, Kirchherr, Reike and Hekkert (2017) found that research on social impacts resulting from a shift from a linear to a circular economy is still lacking. Thus, aim of this research is to identify social implications of circular economy and to investigate in what manner circularity aspects currently are assessed in social life cycle assessment (S-LCA). The research starts with a literature review on social consequences of CE. As CE mostly replaces former linear business models, the research includes identifying affected stakeholders in both the former linear and new circular strategies. Based on this analysis, the identified implications will be linked to the relevant stakeholders and S-LCA subcategories. Adequate indicators for assessing the social performance of CE strategies will be proposed referring to indicators presented in the Methodological Sheets for Subcategories in Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) 2021 but also by identifying relevant new indicators that cover social implications of CE that are not covered by existing indicators. Moreover, further CE indicators that should be considered to link circularity performance and S-LCA will be proposed. Hence, a combination of indicators will be presented that will outline how circularity, for example, influences regional employment, cultural changes, education, and other social aspects. Kirchherr, J., Reike, D. and Hekkert, M. (2017) ‘Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions’, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 127(April), pp. 221–232. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.09.005. Peña, C. et al. (2021) ‘Using life cycle assessment to achieve a circular economy’, International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 26(2), pp. 215–220. doi: 10.1007/s11367-020-01856-z. Sassanelli, C. et al. (2019) ‘Circular economy performance assessment methods: A systematic literature review’, Journal of Cleaner Production. Elsevier Ltd, 229, pp. 440–453. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.019

Atropine dissociates complexes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and guanine nucleotide-binding protein in heart membranes

AbstractComplexes of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) are formed in the presence of the agonist carbachol. The complexes remain stable after removal of agonist, and survive subsequent solubilization from cardiac membranes and purification. Dissociation of the receptor from the G protein occurs when the antagonist atropine is added following removal of agonist. This is the first direct demonstration of destabilization of receptor—G protein complexes by the binding of an antagonist

Baffling Cases: A Case/Reference Analysis of Hopi Nominal Constructions

Proceedings of the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Berkeley Linguistics Society (1987), pp. 170-18

Seasonal surface drainage of sloping farmland : a review of its hydrogeomorphic impacts

The combination of runoff-generating areas (saturated soils) and overland flow concentration in features such as drainage ditches makes sloping farmland vulnerable to soil erosion. The establishment of drainage ditches aims at draining the excess of water from the farmland, particularly in areas where soils are saturated in the rainy season. The hydrogeomorphic impacts on the farmland itself and on downstream areas need however also to be studied. Off site, downstream problems comprise higher peak discharges, leading to gully initiation, an increase in sediment load, and flooding problems. On-site problems such as the development of the drainage ditches into (ephemeral) gullies are less documented, although they may be important, as illustrated in the Lake Tana Basin (Ethiopia). The similarities and interactions between ephemeral gully channels and drainage ditches have to be considered to better understand all effects of drainage. Drainage ditches are a potential source of conflict between farmers with different interests and power, as well as between upstream and downstream users. A case study on drainage ditches on sloping farmlands in the Lake Tana Basin showed that nine out of ten catchments had drainage densities by ditches ranging from 53 to 510 m ha−1. Drainage ditches were constructed with an average top width of 27 (±9) cm. A significant correlation was found between stone bund density (physical conservation structures) and ditch drainage density (R = −0·72), in line with the Ethiopian government's ban on drainage ditches in farmlands where stone bunds have been constructed

Coupling of alpha(1)-Adrenoceptors to ERK1/2 in the Human Prostate

Introduction: alpha(1)-Adrenoceptors are considered critical for the regulation of prostatic smooth muscle tone. However, previous studies suggested further alpha(1)-adrenoceptor functions besides contraction. Here, we investigated whether alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in the human prostate may activate extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2). Methods: Prostate tissues from patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were stimulated in vitro. Activation of ERK1/2 was assessed by Western blot analysis. Expression of ERK1/2 was studied by immunohistochemistry. The effect of ERK1/2 inhibition by U0126 on phenylephrine-induced contraction was studied in organ-bath experiments. Results: Stimulation of human prostate tissue with noradrenaline (30 mu M) or phenylephrine (10 mu M) resulted in ERK activation. This was reflected by increased levels of phosphorylated ERK1/2. Expression of ERK1/2 in the prostate was observed in smooth muscle cells. Incubation of prostate tissue with U0126 (30 mu M) resulted in ERK1/2 inhibition. Dose-dependent phenylephrine-induced contraction of prostate tissue was not modulated by U0126. Conclusions: alpha(1)-Adrenoceptors in the human prostate are coupled to ERK1/2. This may partially explain previous observations suggesting a role of alpha(1)-adrenoceptors in the regulation of prostate growth. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base