Intraspecific Variation in Taxonomic Characteristics of the Mayfly \u3ci\u3ePotamanthus Myops\u3c/i\u3e (Walsh)

Data collected from an ecological study of the mayfly Potamanthus rnyops (Walsh) in Michigan showed intraspecific variability in taxonomic characteristics that have been employed by previous investigators for species separation. Nymphal dorsal maculation patterns varied considerably within a single population. Also, the ratio of mandibular tusk length to head length increased with successive nymphal instars. Certain adult taxonomic characteristics, particularly relative male imago eye size and distance of separation, were either too poorly defined or too variable to be conclusive in species identification

Constructing a Social Problem: The Press and the Environment

The U. S. daily press might seem to be in a strategic position to function as a claims-maker in the early construction of a social problem. But in the case of the manufacture of environmentalism as a social reality in the 1960\u27s and 70\u27s, the press was fairly slow to adopt a holistic environmental lexicon. Its reporting of environmental news even now only partially reflects concepts promoted by positive environmental claims-makers, such as planet-wide interdependence, and the threats to it by destructive technologies. The movement of environmental claims seems to have started with interest-group entrepreneurship using interpersonal communication and independent publication, gone on to attention in government, then finally--and incompletely--been put on the agenda of the daily press. Once on the press agenda, coverage of environmental issues may have improved. But there are some constraints, possibly inherent in the press as an institution, that limit its role in the incipient construction of some social problems

Ten milliparsec-scale structure of the nucleus region in Centaurus A

We present the results of a VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) observation of the subparsec structure in Centaurus A at 4.9 GHz. Owing to its proximity, our Centaurus A space-VLBI image is one of the highest spatial resolution images of an AGN ever made -- 0.01 pc per beam. The elongated core region is resolved into several components over 10 milli-arcseconds long (0.2 pc) including a compact component of brightness temperature 2.2x10^10K. We analyze the jet geometry in terms of collimation. Assuming the strongest component to be the core, the jet opening angle at ~ 5,000 r_s (Schwarzchild radii) from the core is estimated to be ~ 12 degree, with collimation of the jet to ~ 3 degree continuing out to ~ 20,000 r_s. This result is consistent with previous studies of the jet in M87, which favor MHD disk outflow models. Future space VLBI observations at higher frequencies will probably be able to image the collimation region, within 1,000 r_s of the center of Centaurus A, together with the accretion disk itself.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ, Vol.57 No.6, VSOP special issu

Cross-country risk quantification of extreme wildfires in Mediterranean Europe.

We estimate the country-level risk of extreme wildfires defined by burned area (BA) for Mediterranean Europe and carry out a cross-country comparison. To this end, we avail of the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) geospatial data from 2006 to 2019 to perform an extreme value analysis. More specifically, we apply a point process characterization of wildfire extremes using maximum likelihood estimation. By modeling covariates, we also evaluate potential trends and correlations with commonly known factors that drive or affect wildfire occurrence, such as the Fire Weather Index as a proxy for meteorological conditions, population density, land cover type, and seasonality. We find that the highest risk of extreme wildfires is in Portugal (PT), followed by Greece (GR), Spain (ES), and Italy (IT) with a 10-year BA return level of 50'338 ha, 33'242 ha, 25'165 ha, and 8'966 ha, respectively. Coupling our results with existing estimates of the monetary impact of large wildfires suggests expected losses of 162-439 million € (PT), 81-219 million € (ES), 41-290 million € (GR), and 18-78 million € (IT) for such 10-year return period events. SUMMARY: We model the risk of extreme wildfires for Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain in form of burned area return levels, compare them, and estimate expected losses

Benzene C−H Bond Activation in Carboxylic Acids Catalyzed by O-Donor Iridium(III) Complexes: An Experimental and Density Functional Study

The mechanism of benzene C−H bond activation by [Ir(μ-acac-O,O,C^3)(acac-O,O)(OAc)]_2 (4) and [Ir(μ-acac-O,O,C^3)(acac-O,O)(TFA)]_2 (5) complexes (acac = acetylacetonato, OAc = acetate, and TFA = trifluoroacetate) was studied experimentally and theoretically. Hydrogen−deuterium (H/D) exchange between benzene and CD_(3)COOD solvent catalyzed by 4 (ΔH^‡ = 28.3 ± 1.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = 3.9 ± 3.0 cal K^(−1) mol^(−1)) results in a monotonic increase of all benzene isotopologues, suggesting that once benzene coordinates to the iridium center, there are multiple H/D exchange events prior to benzene dissociation. B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that this benzene isotopologue pattern is due to a rate-determining step that involves acetate ligand dissociation and benzene coordination, which is then followed by heterolytic C−H bond cleavage to generate an iridium-phenyl intermediate. A synthesized iridium-phenyl intermediate was also shown to be competent for H/D exchange, giving similar rates to the proposed catalytic systems. This mechanism nicely explains why hydroarylation between benzene and alkenes is suppressed in the presence of acetic acid when catalyzed by [Ir(μ-acac-O,O,C^3)(acac-O,O)(acac-C^3)]_2 (3) (Matsumoto et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 7414). Benzene H/D exchange in CF_(3)COOD solvent catalyzed by 5 (ΔH^‡ = 15.3 ± 3.5 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −30.0 ± 5.1 cal K^(−1) mol^(−1)) results in significantly elevated H/D exchange rates and the formation of only a single benzene isotopologue, (C_(6)H_(5)D). DFT calculations show that this is due to a change in the rate-determining step. Now equilibrium between coordinated and uncoordinated benzene precedes a single rate-determining heterolytic C−H bond cleavage step

A Three Campus Comparison of Bundled Cellular Telephone Features and The Young Consumer

Useable surveys were completed and returned by 507 (174 rural, 156 urban, and 177 Historic Black College and University) consumers at three Midwestern universities. Regression analysis revealed selected demographic variables were predictive of the evaluation of bundled cell phone features; furthermore, stepwise regression models showed among features young consumers reported available on the phones they owned, DIGCAM, EMAIL, WARRANTY, and INSTANTM were significantly predictive (p\u3c.001) of perceptions of importance of digital media bundles on cellular telephones. Moreover, ANOVA tests revealed young consumers’ perceptions of the importance of cellular telephone features were significantly different among rural, urban, and HBCU young consumers, males and females, and among age groups, grade level, and states where cell phones were purchased (p\u3c.05; p\u3c.01; p\u3c.001). Recommendations are offered that could help marketers develop strategic marketing mixes of phone features targeted to young consumers, rural or urban

Sabatier System Design Study for a Mars ISRU Propellant Production Plant

As NASA looks towards human missions to Mars, an effort has started to advance the technology of a Mars in situ resource utilization (ISRU) Propellant Production Plant to a flight demonstration. This paper will present a design study of the Sabatier subsystem. The Sabatier subsystem receives carbon dioxide, CO2, and hydrogen, H2, and converts them to methane, CH4, and water, H2O. The subsystem includes the Sabatier reactor, condenser, thermal management, and a recycling system (if required). This design study will look at how the choice of reactor thermal management, number of reactors, and recycling system affect the performance of the overall Sabatier system. Different schemes from the literature involving single or cascading reactors will be investigated to see if any provide distinct advantages for a Mars propellant production plant

FY 2017 Center Innovation Fund Annual Report - Highlights/Abstract section

This project evaluated the feasibility of low pressure cold plasma (CP) for two applications: disinfection of produce grown in space and sterilization of medical equipment in space. Currently there is no ISS capability for disinfecting pick and eat crops, food utensils, food production areas, or medical devices. This deficit is extended to projected long duration missions. Small, portable, cold plasma devices would provide an enhanced benefit to crew health and address issues concerning microbial cross contamination. The technology would contribute to the reduction of solid waste since currently crews utilize benzalkonium chloride wet wipes for cleaning surfaces and might use PRO-SAN wipes for cleaning vegetables. CP cleaning/disinfection/sterilization can work on many surfaces, including all metals, most polymers, and this project evaluated produce. Therefore CP provides a simple system that has many different cleaning application in space: produce, medical equipment, cutlery, miscellaneous tools

1967 Ruby Yearbook

A digitized copy of the 1967 Ruby, the Ursinus College yearbook.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ruby/1070/thumbnail.jp

RaD-X: Complementary measurements of dose rates at aviation altitudes

The RaD-X stratospheric balloon flight organized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration was launched from Fort Sumner on 25 September 2015 and carried several instruments to measure the radiation field in the upper atmosphere at the average vertical cutoff rigidity Rc of 4.1 GV. The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) in cooperation with Lufthansa German Airlines supported this campaign with an independent measuring flight at the altitudes of civil aviation on a round trip from Germany to Japan. The goal was to measure dose rates under similar space weather conditions over an area on the Northern Hemisphere opposite to the RaD-X flight. Dose rates were measured in the target areas, i.e., around vertical cutoff rigidity Rc of 4.1 GV, at two flight altitudes for about 1 h at each position with acceptable counting statistics. The analysis of the space weather situation during the flights shows that measuring data were acquired under stable and moderate space weather conditions with a virtually undisturbed magnetosphere. The measured rates of absorbed dose in silicon and ambient dose equivalent complement the data recorded during the balloon flight. The combined measurements provide a set of experimental data suitable for validating and improving numerical models for the calculation of radiation exposure at aviation altitudes