Cyanobacterial Emissions Of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds: Impacts On The Remote Marine Atmosphere

Atmospheric emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) have implications for climate change through the potential to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) as well as their ability to impact the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. Despite the importance of BVOCs, there have been relatively few measurements conducted in remote locations where biogenic sources dominate, leading to a discrepancy between modeled and observed SOA yields. Recent evidence has suggested that marine phytoplankton can produce BVOCs, which may be an unaccounted source in aerosol models. This work discusses the results of atmospheric VOC measurements over the North Atlantic Ocean during May 2017. Whole air canister samples were collected along a transect through the North Atlantic from Woods Hole, MA to Bermuda and back with 24 hour stops at nine stations encompassing different cyanobacterial populations. Analysis of selected BVOCs indicated an additional biogenic source of toluene and other BVOCs such as isoprene, with high mixing ratios correlating with a Synechococcus bloom event encountered at station 9. The elevated mixing ratios identified at station 9 were found to increase both hydroxyl reactivities and potential SOA yields compared to the dataset, indicating marine cyanobacteria emissions of VOCs may have a large impact on marine environments

Application Of ToxCast To Assess Potential Adverse Biological Effects In An Impacted Watershed

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ToxCast program uses a wide array of high-throughput screening assays to evaluate the potential toxicity of environmental chemicals. To prioritize organic contaminants with the potential for adverse biological effects, researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey have developed a bioeffects su¬rveillance tool, ToxEval, that links environmental analytic chemistry to published toxicology data from the ToxCast program. ToxEval and other screening methods were used to evaluate environmental chemicals for potential adverse biological effects in an impacted watershed. In September 2016, water samples collected across an impacted watershed detected 91 organic waste compounds, 19 water quality benchmark exceedances were observed, and 17 endocrine disrupting chemicals were identified. Using ToxEval, we identified contaminants that may be potentially harmful to human health and aquatic life despite lacking water quality benchmarks. If this study was done in the traditional manner, the potential of these contaminants to cause adverse effects may have gone unnoticed. Given the large number of chemicals in common use without water quality benchmarks or toxicity information, the application of ToxCast is an effective tool that can be used to assess the potential adverse effects of environmental contaminants on aquatic life or human health

Boronate macrocycle formation using boron-Lewis base dative bonds and boronic acid-diol condensation reactions

Synthesis of boronate ester compounds via condensation reactions using either an amine or an amine N-oxide coupled with a boronic acid. Synthesis of boronate ester compounds using quinoline isomers coupled with 2, 3-dihydroxynaphthalene was also attempted. These compounds form B-N dative bonds, and potentially form macrocycles capable of trapping a guest molecule in the cavity. The exact sizes of the complexes are unknown at this time. Characterization of these compounds was performed by 1H NMR, FT-IR, mass spectroscopy, and 13C NMR

Neglected Aspects and Unsupported Claims

Comments on the article by M. E. Kite et al (see record 2001-10045-002), which summarized the findings and recommendations of the Task Force on the Status of Women in Academe. The present authors contend that while Kite et al documented the differences in the activities of men and women in academia, it is not clear that "inequalities persist." Kite et al interpreted the observed differences in outcomes between men and women as self-evident indicators of remaining bias and discrimination. The present authors warn of two problems with this interpretation. First, Kite et al neglected important variables that suggest alternative interpretations of these differences. Second, the authors made unsupported claims about the existence of bias and discrimination against women. Here the present authors document specific cases of these errors in reasoning. In conclusion, observed differences between men and women might be partly a reflection of other (neglected) personological variables on which the sexes overlap considerably but differ on average. Just as differential outcomes do not imply differential opportunities, equal opportunities do not necessarily produce equal outcomes

Conceptualizing Hate Speech: How The Internet Has Contributed To Antisemitism In The United States

Antisemitism has been prevalent from the pre-modern to the modern period. In our times, the wide-spread use of websites and social media has given people with antisemitic views a much larger stage to spread their hatred. Furthermore, the dark web allows hate groups to go underground on the Internet through encrypted data to spread their views. The growth of the Internet has given people a new forum to spread their hatred and bigotry away from the restriction of censorship laws, which do not exist in the United States due to the First Amendment of freedom of speech. The Internet also gives extremists the ability to connect with others who share their beliefs, allowing them to further spread their hatred. This platform is hard to police because of the volume of data that the Internet encompasses, thus leaving minority groups to be persecuted and targeted even further. This thesis tackles the topic of hatred against Jews and the internet by examining antisemitism online. A brief history of antisemitism is given first. Then online examples of antisemitism are discussed. Finally, the lack of hate speech laws is explained and possible solutions to stopping antisemitism on the Internet are discussed

The effects of aerobic exercise timing on sleep architecture

It is well known that the quality of sleep has direct effects on the manifestations of disease. Further, exercise has been shown to enhance the quality of sleep, yet little is known regarding how exercise effects sleep stages. Our laboratory has shown that the timing of exercise is important for cardiovascular benefits which may be derived from the improved quality of sleep. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise timing on sleep architecture. Thirteen subjects, with no self-reported sleep disorders and not on any medications participated in this study. Visit one consisted of informed consent and a graded exercise test to exhaustion (VO2peak) and equipment familiarization. During visits 2-4 subjects reported for 3 pre-determined exercise times at 7am, 1pm, and 7pm in a random counterbalanced order to perform a 30 minute treadmill protocol at 65% of their predetermined VO2peak. A Zeo™ ambulatory sleep EEG monitoring headband was worn during sleep. This system transmitted brainwave data to a receiver which was analyzed for sleep stage time and quality of sleep. Aerobic exercise at 7am invoked significantly greater time spent in light and deep sleep and the greatest frequency of sleep cycles compared to exercise in the afternoon or evening. However, exercise at 7pm showed less time in Rapid Eye Movement sleep compared to 7am and 1pm exercise times. These data show that engaging in aerobic exercise during the early morning hours may be the most beneficial epoch of time for greater quality of sleep

Mathematically Facile Adolescents with Math-Science Aspirations: New Perspectives on Their Educational and Vocational Development

This longitudinal study tracked 1,110 adolescents identified as mathematically precocious at Age 13 (top 1%) with plans for a math-science undergraduate major. Participants' high school educational experiences, abilities, and interests predicted whether their attained undergraduate degrees were within math-science or nonmath-nonscience areas. More women than men eventually completed undergraduate degrees outside math-science, but many individuals who completed nonmath-nonscience degrees ultimately chose math-science occupations (and vice versa). At Age 33, the 2 degree groups reported commensurate and uniformly high levels of career satisfaction, success, and life satisfaction. Assessing individual differences is critical for modeling talent development and life satisfaction; it reveals that equal male-female representation across disciplines may not be as simple to accomplish as many policy discussions imply

Spatial Ability: A Neglected Dimension In Talent Searches For Intellectually Precocious Youth

Students identified by talent search programs were studied to determine whether spatial ability could uncover math-science promise. In Phase 1, interests and values of intellectually talented adolescents (617 boys, 443 girls) were compared with those of top math-science graduate students (368 men, 346 women) as a function of their standing on spatial visualization to assess their potential fit with math-science careers. In Phase 2, 5-year longitudinal analyses revealed that spatial ability coalesces with a constellation of personal preferences indicative of fit for pursuing scientific careers and adds incremental validity beyond preferences in predicting math-science criteria. In Phase 3, data from participants with Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores were analyzed longitudinally, and a salient math-science constellation again emerged (with which spatial ability and SAT-Math were consistently positively correlated and SAT-Verbal was negatively correlated). Results across the 3 phases triangulate to suggest that adding spatial ability to talent search identification procedures (currently restricted to mathematical and verbal ability) could uncover a neglected pool of math-science talent and holds promise for refining our understanding of intellectually talented youth

Molecular Phylogeny Of The Freshwater Mussel Family Dreissenidae

The bivalve family Dreissenidae contains some of the most economically and ecologically important fresh and brackish-water mollusk species. There has been much uncertainty surrounding phylogenetic resolution for members of Dreissenidae. The lineage is believed to have originated 83.6 million years ago in the Tethys and Paratethys seas. Three extant dreissenid genera are currently recognized, Dreissena, Mytilopsis, and Congeria. However, in 2012, an un-described mussel was discovered in the Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon River in central Brazil. The objective of this study was to determine the evolutionary history of the unknown South American dreissenids (USADs) and determine their proper taxonomic placement. I examined phylogenetic relationships among 10 described species within Dreissenidae and 6 related outgroups using nuclear and mitochondrial genes, a molecular clock analysis and a comparative analysis of life history characteristics to determine the evolutionary history of these enigmatic bivalves. Recent analyses suggest that these bivalves may comprise a distinct genus within Dreissenidae containing three species. My analyses support this hypothesis and revealed that the common ancestors of today’s USADs first diverged as a distinct lineage ~27.1 MYA. Due to phylogenetic analyses, genetic distance, and life history characteristics I believe USADs are sister taxa to Congeria

The Unintended Victims of Mass Incarceration: The Effect of Parental Incarceration on Children

Despite a declining economy, one business that continues to grow is the prison industry. The national prison population has increased by eight fold since 1970. Literature shows that it is not only criminals affected by the increasing rates of incarceration but also the children that they leave behind. In this thesis, by compiling a review of the literature, the overall effect of parental incarceration on children will be examined. The social, psychological, and intergenerational challenges that children face as well as the obstacles parents face behind bars will be explored. Furthermore, there will be an examination of whether the effects on a child are different if they have an incarcerated mother, father, or both as well as a comparative analysis of programs for children and their parent(s), in order to determine whether these programs are both accessible and successful. Finally, the societal implications of parental incarceration will be analyzed, and the potential need for changes in the prison system to mitigate the negative effects of incarceration in child-rearing will be discussed