Chironomus fraternus sp. n. and C. beljaninae sp. n., sympatric sister species of the aberratus group in Fennoscandian reservoirs

The karyotypes, larvae, pupae and adults of Chironomus fraternus sp. n. and C. beljaninae sp. n. are described. The chromosomes of the two species have almost identical banding pattems; the polymorphisms in at least five of the seven chromosome arms are also the same. However, the chromosome number is 2n=8 in C . fraternus (AB, CD, EF, G), and 2n=6 in C. beljaninae (GAB, CD, EF). No hybrid individuals between the two species have been found as yet. Only slight diagnostic differences could be shown between the adults, pupae and larvae of the two species. The sympatric occurrence of C. fraternus and C. beljaninae in lakes of central Finland and Sweden points to speciation due to chromosome fusion. The species are closely related to C. aberratus, C. sororius and C. jonmartini; the five species may therefore be regarded as forming the "aberratus group" of the thummi complex of Chironomus

Using Avifauna to Access the Functional Success of the Restored Beaver Creek Wetlands near Cave Run Lake, Menifee County, Kentucky

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by Brian D. Wulker on December 1, 2014

Space Solar Power for Seawater Desalination

Seawater desalination has existed for decades as a proven technology for supplying water in coastal areas; however, desalination processes are energy intensive and this has reduced their widespread use. It is noted that California offshore oil and gas platforms already use seawater desalination to produce fresh water for platform personnel and equipment. This visualization draws on the proposal that, as California coastal oil and gas platforms come to the end of their productive lives, they be re-commissioned for use as large-scale fresh water production facilities. Solar arrays, mounted on off-shore platforms, are able to provide some of the power needed for seawater desalination during the daytime. However, for efficient fresh water production, a facility must be operated 24 hours a day. The use of solar power transmitted from orbiting solar power satellites (SPS) to substantially augment the solar array power generated from natural sunlight is a feasible concept. As the visualization shown below illustrates, space satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) will enable 24 hours a day operations for fresh water production through seawater desalination. Production of industrial quantities of fresh water on re-commissioned oil and gas platforms, using energy transmitted from solar power satellites, is a breakthrough concept for addressing the pressing climate, water, and economic issues of the 21st Century using space assets. Advisors: Brandon Flayler, Kent Tobiska, Prof. Don Flourno

Role of surface roughness in hard x-ray emission from femtosecond laser produced copper plasmas

The hard x-ray emission in the energy range of 30-300 keV from copper plasmas produced by 100 fs, 806 nm laser pulses at intensities in the range of 10$^{15}-10^{16}$ W cm$^{-2}$ is investigated. We demonstrate that surface roughness of the targets overrides the role of polarization state in the coupling of light to the plasma. We further show that surface roughness has a significant role in enhancing the x-ray emission in the above mentioned energy range.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

The role of an extended medial column arthrodesis for Charcot midfoot neuroarthropathy

The etiology of diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy involving the midfoot often includes an inciting traumatic event or repetitive micro-trauma from an uncompensated biomechanical imbalance that potentiates an incompletely understood pathway leading to a rocker-bottom foot deformity and ulceration. In the setting of a severe Charcot foot fracture and/or dislocation with obvious osseous instability, diagnostic delay can potentiate the limb-threatening sequelae of infected midfoot ulcerations in this patient population. In this article, the authors discuss the thought process as well as the advantages of performing an extended medial column arthrodesis for selected Charcot midfoot deformities