The biology and fishery of Atlantic sailfish Istiophorus platypterus from southeast Florida

(Document has 31 pages.

Application of palynological data to the chronology of the Palaeogene lava fields of the British Province: implications for magmatic stratigraphy

New high-precision ages, determined from palynomorph assemblages within intercalated sedimentary deposits, are presented for the Palaeogene lava fields (Skye, Mull and Antrim) of the British Province. These data reveal very rapid averaged eruption rates (1 m/200 yr) and the non-synchronous formation of the lava fields. Eruption of the volumetrically dominant transitional to mildly alkaline lavas of the Skye (58.25-58.0 Ma) and Mull (post 55 Ma) lava fields is separated by the eruption of the MORB-like Preshal More flows of olivine tholeiite found at the top of the preserved sequence on Skye and at the base of the Mull Lava Field. The Lower Formation of the Antrim Lava Field correlates with the Skye Lava Field and the Upper Formation correlates with the Preshal More flows. The new ages indicate that the eruption of the Preshal More flows was synchronous with the main ocean floor spreading event which occurred 500 km to the NW, at c. 55 Ma, during Chron 24r. A combined thinspot and channelized plume model may best explain the temporal and spatial distributions of the lava fields and associated subvolcanic complexes of the British Province

Cronobacter, the emergent bacterial pathogen Enterobacter sakazakii comes of age; MLST and whole genome sequence analysis

Background: Following the association of Cronobacter spp. to several publicized fatal outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units of meningitis and necrotising enterocolitis, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 requested the establishment of a molecular typing scheme to enable the international control of the organism. This paper presents the application of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to Cronobacter which has led to the establishment of the Cronobacter PubMLST genome and sequence definition database (http://pubmlst.org/ cronobacter/) containing over 1000 isolates with metadata along with the recognition of specific clonal lineages linked to neonatal meningitis and adult infections Results: Whole genome sequencing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has supports the formal recognition of the genus Cronobacter composed of seven species to replace the former single species Enterobacter sakazakii. Applyingthe 7-loci MLST scheme to 1007 strains revealed 298 definable sequence types, yet only C. sakazakii clonal complex 4 (CC4) was principally associated with neonatal meningitis. This clonal lineage has been confirmed using ribosomal-MLST (51-loci) and whole genome-MLST (1865 loci) to analyse 107 whole genomes via the Cronobacter PubMLST database. This database has enabled the retrospective analysis of historic cases and outbreaks following re-identification of those strains. Conclusions: The Cronobacter PubMLST database offers a central, open access, reliable sequence-based repository for researchers. It has the capacity to create new analysis schemes 'on the fly', and to integrate metadata (source, geographic distribution, clinical presentation). It is also expandable and adaptable to changes in taxonomy, and able to support the development of reliable detection methods of use to industry and regulatory authorities. Therefore it meets the WHO (2004) request for the establishment of a typing scheme for this emergent bacterial pathogen. Whole genome sequencing has additionally shown a range of potential virulence and environmental fitness traits which may account for the association of C. sakazakii CC4 pathogenicity, and propensity for neonatal CNS

Determination of gas volume trapped in a closed fluid system

Technique involves extracting known volume of fluid and measuring system before and after extraction, volume of entrapped gas is then computed. Formula derived from ideal gas laws is basis of this method. Technique is applicable to thermodynamic cycles and hydraulic systems

Major Factors Influencing the Competitiveness of the California Strawberry Subsector

With its nearly year-round supply and 83% market share, the California strawberry subsector dominates production and distribution of fresh strawberries in North America. The subsector has achieved its leading position among competitive production regions (e.g., Florida and Oregon) through the development and interaction of several factors. These factors include the following: superior agro-ecological conditions, economies of size, technological innovation, favorable demand conditions, marketing flexibility, and support infrastructure.Industrial Organization,

Volcanic forcing from two sides : Drainage and plant ecosystem development in the Columbia River Flood Basalt Province, Washington State

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Lightweight reflector assembly

An inexpensive, lightweight reflective assembly member having good optical quality and particularly adaptable to accommodating temperature variations without providing destructive thermal stresses and reflective slope errors is described. The reflective assembly consists of a thin sheet of glass with appropriate reflective coating and a cellular glass block substrate bonded together. The method of fabrication includes abrading the cellular substrate with an abrasive master die to form an appropriate concave surface. An adhesive is applied to the abraded surface and a lamina reflective surface is placed under a uniform pressure to conform the reflective surface onto the desired abraded surface of the substrate

Locating Local Education Funds: A Conceptual Framework for Describing LEFs' Contribution to Public Education

With support and leadership from the Public Education Network (PEN), local education funds (LEFs) have worked for two decades to 1) educate and mobilize their communities so that citizen voices are influential in education policy discussions; and 2) support effective partnerships between school district insiders and outsiders to improve the quality of children's education. However, as Useem's study of local education funds points out, it has been difficult to identify the many roles that LEFs play in their communities, the work that they undertake, the obstacles that they encounter, and the contributions that they make. Useem also suggests why the work of LEFs defies simple description. As brokers, LEFs work behind the scenes and in partnership with others, which contributes to their invisibility as catalysts and supporters of educational improvement. LEFs also are highly adaptive organizations that typically customize their change strategies to particular communities. Such attention to local context results in tremendous variation in the organization, work, and accomplishments of LEFs. At the same time, the highly individual nature of each LEF often obscures the overarching values, purposes, and goals that these organizations share, thus obscuring a collective identity.As they mark 20 years of work in public education, LEF and PEN leaders are prescient in their insistence on further research into the role and accomplishments of local education funds in shaping the landscape of public schooling. In August 2003, at the request of PEN, Research for Action (RFA) began work on developing a conceptual framework for: 1) understanding the role and work of LEFs and the many factors that influence what they do and how they do it; and 2) assessing their contributions to public education.This framework will be used to guide future empirical research on LEFs and to develop tools that LEFs themselves can use in a process of self-assessment. Continued research and assessment will provide public education stakeholders with credible evidence and a deeper understanding about how LEFs carry out their missions and demonstrate successes. At the same time, it will provide firm ground for LEF and PEN leaders to chart the next generation of work. This report was prepared for Public Education Network by Research for Action