Cascade-Exciton Model Analysis of Proton Spallation from 10 MeV to 5 GeV

We have used an extended version of the Cascade-Exciton Model (CEM) to analyze more than 600 excitation functions for proton induced reactions on 19 targets ranging from C-12 to Au-197, for incident energies ranging from 10 MeV to 5 GeV. We have compared the calculations to available data, to calculations using approximately two dozen other models, and to predictions of several phenomenological systematics. We present here our conclusions concerning the relative roles of different reaction mechanisms in the production of specific final nuclides. We comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the CEM and suggest possible further improvements to the CEM and to other models.Comment: 9 pages, to be published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Length-weight regressions for zooplankton biomass calculations – A review and a suggestion for standard equations

Zooplankton biomass can be estimated through the use of equations that convert length of individuals to dry weight. The logarithmic transformation of these power equations follow the form Ln(W) =Ln(α) + β Ln(L) where L is length in mm, W is dry weight in ug, and α and β are species-specific values. Several sets of L-W equations have been developed for use in the Great Lakes region by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Since we collaborate with both agencies and require comparability with previously collected data, we reviewed these two sets of equations and the publications that were used to develop them. We offer a third Cornell Standard (CBFS STD) set that resolves many of the discrepancies seen in the other sets.Funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Joint Commission

Exploring the dynamics of herring consumption in the Baltic : applications of an energetic model of fish growth

A bioenergetic model was parameterized for herring (Clupea harengus) using information available in the literature. In this model, all components of the energy budget are functions of temperature and fish weight. The model is used to simulate herring growth and consumption in a coastal area of the northern Baltic proper. Simulated seasonal growth curves restrained to fit one weight per age class are similar to observed growth curves, indicating the importance of temperature in determining herring growth rates in the Baltic. Calculated food consumption and conversion efficiencies are compared with other published estimates

Psychophysiological assessment of trauma-focused Group Music and Imagery therapy for women with PTSD or CPTSD using script-driven imagery. A randomised controlled study.

BackgroundIn posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physiological reactions during trauma scripts have been anchored to the diagnosis. According to the construct of research domain criteria, physiological reactions and self-rating scales could be used to evaluate treatment effects.ObjectiveIn the present study, self-rated PTSD symptoms combined with physiological reactions during trauma script were used as outcome measurements in the domain of arousal/regulatory systems in a controlled randomised study of Group Music and Imagery (GrpMI) treatment for females with PTSD or complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) related to violence and/or sexual abuse.Methods45 traumatised women were randomised to 12 weeks of active treatment or waiting. Before and after the intervention, an assessment was done using physiological measurements during script-driven imagery (SDI) procedures. Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) were collected immediately after the trauma script (TS). Reactions during the SDI procedure were reported using the Responses to Script Driven Imagery (RSDI) scale, measuring re-experiencing, avoidance, and dissociation. Self-reported PTSD symptoms were accessed using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electrodermal activity were sampled during the baseline (BL) and TS conditions of the SDI procedure. As a measure of trauma-related reactivity, the difference between TS and BL was used for statistical calculations. HRV measures included high (HF; 0.15-0.4 Hz) and low (LF; 0.03-0.15 Hz) frequency band power, the LF/HF ratio, and the root mean square of successive inter-beat differences (RMSSD). Measures of electrodermal activity included skin conductance levels (SCL) and frequencies of non-specific skin conductance responses (NS-SCR). Further, correlations between self-rated PTSD symptoms and physiological reactivity measures were analysed.ResultsDuring the TS, the absolute levels of HR, LF/HF-ratio, and NS-SCR, as well as the trauma-related reactivity of HR, RMSSD, HF, LF/HF-ratio, SCL, and NS-SCR, showed significant changes indicating decreased arousal during trauma script after treatment. Compared to the waitlist control, an interaction analysis showed significant treatment effects in the BL level of HR, the absolute TS level of HR and HF, and the trauma-related reactivity of RMSSD and HF, suggesting an improvement of vagal function in the treatment group. Significant treatment-related reductions were found in symptoms of PTSD, re-experiencing and avoidance, as well as SUD. The changes pre- to post-treatment in HR reactivity and self-rated PTSD symptoms correlated significantly. Furthermore, the initial HR reactivity predicted treatment outcome as measured with PCL-5.ConclusionIn the evaluation of treatment methods for PTSD, a combination of self-report and physiological measures seems to be feasible. The physiological measures, in combination with a robust decrease in self-rated PTSD symptoms, indicate that trauma-focused GrpMI is a promising treatment for PTSD or CPTSD. More studies are needed to confirm the results, and further research comparing with other active treatments is necessary to establish the precise role of the treatment.BackgroundIn posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), physiological reactions during trauma scripts have been anchored to the diagnosis. According to the construct of research domain criteria, physiological reactions and self-rating scales could be used to evaluate treatment effects.ObjectiveIn the present study, self-rated PTSD symptoms combined with physiological reactions during trauma script were used as outcome measurements in the domain of arousal/regulatory systems in a controlled randomised study of Group Music and Imagery (GrpMI) treatment for females with PTSD or complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) related to violence and/or sexual abuse.Methods45 traumatised women were randomised to 12 weeks of active treatment or waiting. Before and after the intervention, an assessment was done using physiological measurements during script-driven imagery (SDI) procedures. Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) were collected immediately after the trauma script (TS). Reactions during the SDI procedure were reported using the Responses to Script Driven Imagery (RSDI) scale, measuring re-experiencing, avoidance, and dissociation. Self-reported PTSD symptoms were accessed using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electrodermal activity were sampled during the baseline (BL) and TS conditions of the SDI procedure. As a measure of trauma-related reactivity, the difference between TS and BL was used for statistical calculations. HRV measures included high (HF; 0.15-0.4 Hz) and low (LF; 0.03-0.15 Hz) frequency band power, the LF/HF ratio, and the root mean square of successive inter-beat differences (RMSSD). Measures of electrodermal activity included skin conductance levels (SCL) and frequencies of non-specific skin conductance responses (NS-SCR). Further, correlations between self-rated PTSD symptoms and physiological reactivity measures were analysed.ResultsDuring the TS, the absolute levels of HR, LF/HF-ratio, and NS-SCR, as well as the trauma-related reactivity of HR, RMSSD, HF, LF/HF-ratio, SCL, and NS-SCR, showed significant changes indicating decreased arousal during trauma script after treatment. Compared to the waitlist control, an interaction analysis showed significant treatment effects in the BL level of HR, the absolute TS level of HR and HF, and the trauma-related reactivity of RMSSD and HF, suggesting an improvement of vagal function in the treatment group. Significant treatment-related reductions were found in symptoms of PTSD, re-experiencing and avoidance, as well as SUD. The changes pre- to post-treatment in HR reactivity and self-rated PTSD symptoms correlated significantly. Furthermore, the initial HR reactivity predicted treatment outcome as measured with PCL-5.ConclusionIn the evaluation of treatment methods for PTSD, a combination of self-report and physiological measures seems to be feasible. The physiological measures, in combination with a robust decrease in self-rated PTSD symptoms, indicate that trauma-focused GrpMI is a promising treatment for PTSD or CPTSD. More studies are needed to confirm the results, and further research comparing with other active treatments is necessary to establish the precise role of the treatment

Trauma-focused group music and imagery with women suffering from PTSD/complex PTSD:A feasibility study

Women who have been exposed to physical, psychological and/or sexual abuse, often with a history of childhood abuse and neglect, frequently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). However, the evidence-based treatments recommended for this population help only 50%, so there is a need to investigate complementary methods. In this study one such promising method has been explored: trauma-focused Group Music and Imagery (GrpMI). In a nonrandomised clinical setting the feasibility of GrpMI and the suitability of chosen measurements were explored. Ten participants with PTSD/CPTSD were enrolled in the pilot study, five in each group. All participants completed the treatment. The primary outcome was symptoms of PTSD measured at pre-, postand follow-up. The secondary outcomes were dissociation and quality of life. The results showed a decrease in PTSD and dissociative symptoms, and an increase in quality of life following treatment. This tendency was maintained at follow-up. An analysis of individual, semi-structured interviews with the participants after the termination of the treatment showed that the participants found the group treatment helpful and acceptable. Since the findings indicate that trauma-focused GrpMI has a positive effect on the psychological health of the women, a larger randomised controlled study is needed

Status of the Lake Ontario Food Web in a Changing Ecosystem: the 2003 Lake Ontario Lower Aquatic Food Web Assessment (LOLA)

Understanding stressor impacts on ecological processes in Lake Ontario over the last three decades has resulted from a commitment to long-term binational studies by environmental agencies and their dedicated scientists and support staffs in both Canada and the United States. LOLA was initiated at the request of the United States and Canada Lake Ontario Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s Lake Ontario Committee with the following two goals: 1) assess the status of and 2) develop recommendations for the long-term comprehensive assessment of the Lake Ontario lower aquatic food web. The 2003 LOLA project incorporated seasonal sampling at a large spatial scale, providing the most comprehensive assessment of the status of Lake Ontario’s lower food web since the Lake Ontario Trophic Transfer Program in 1995. Partners from seven government agencies and six universities and colleges participated in the LOLA project. A workshop attended by LaMP representatives, government agencies, and academics was held at Cornell University on November 16-17, 2005. Discussions based on significant findings that were presented at the workshop resulted in seven recommendations for future assessment of the Lake Ontario lower aquatic food web

What is the impact on fish recruitment of anthropogenic physical and structural habitat change in shallow nearshore areas in temperate systems? A systematic review protocol

Shallow nearshore marine ecosystems are changing at an increasing rate due to a range of human activities such as urbanisation and commercial development. The growing numbers of constructions and other physical and structural alterations of the shoreline often take place in nursery and spawning habitats of many fish and other aquatic species. Several coastal fish populations have seen marked declines in abundance and diversity during the past two decades. A systematic review on the topic would clarify if anthropogenic physical and structural changes of near-shore areas have effects on fish recruitment and which these effects are. Methods: The review will examine how various physical and structural anthropogenic changes of nearshore fish habitats affect fish recruitment. Relevant studies include small- and large-scale field studies in marine and brackish systems or large lakes in temperate regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Relevant studies may be based on comparisons between undisturbed and disturbed areas, before and after disturbance, or both. Relevant outcomes include measures of recruitment defined as abundance of juveniles of nearshore fish communities. Searches will be made for peer-reviewed and grey literature in English, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, German, Swedish and Spanish. All fish species and species groups will be considered in this review. Included relevant studies will be subject to a critical appraisal that will assess study validity. From relevant included studies, we will extract information on study characteristics, measured outcomes, exposure, comparators, effect modifiers and critical appraisal. Data synthesis will contain narrative and summary findings of each included study of sufficient quality. Meta-analysis may be possible in cases where studies report similar types of outcome

Discovery of the Cadmium Isotopes

Thirty-seven cadmium isotopes have so far been observed; the discovery of these isotopes is discussed. For each isotope a brief summary of the first refereed publication, including the production and identification method, is presented.Comment: to be published in Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Table

Discovery of the Barium Isotopes

Thirty-eight barium isotopes have so far been observed; the discovery of these isotopes is discussed. For each isotope a brief summary of the first refereed publication, including the production and identification method, is presented.Comment: to be published in At. Data Nucl. Data Table