Fanaticism, Fear and Faith

Scholars search their books and minds to discover the roots of terrorism, but have as yet failed even to agree on a definition of the word. Terrorist actions are too varied in scope and common denominators are elusive. Responsibility may lie with nations, ethnic, military or religious groups, or individuals, and the variety of such activities is limited only by the outer parameters of the human capacity for cruelty. Victims range from the soldiers at war, soldiers trying to keep the peace, businessmen, tourists, children and mere passers-by. Research reveals only that there is always a burning cause: a real or imagined injustice, lust for power or greed. There is also a desire to act so outrageously that the “enemy” will be terrorized into acceeding to the perpetrator’s demands and the whole world will be forced to take notice

Big Bang Theology: The Reconciliation of Science and Religion

A struggle began in 1633 which is not yet resolved. It is a contest for the highest possible stakes - the mind of man, and it pits two most formidable opponents against each other: science and religion. The event that initiated this battle was the trial of Galileo and the dominant issue was much more than a man\u27s challenge of his church’s teachings and authority. Rather it was science versus religion, a new manifestation of an age-old struggle between faith and reason, the way man comes to know reality

Book Reviews

Book Reviews of: Michael K. Evans, The Truth about Supply-Side Economics by (Basic Books, 1983) Harvey Cox, Religion in the Secular City by (Simon and Schuster, 1984) William Kennedy, Legs (Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1975) William Kennedy, Billy Phelan’s Greatest Game (Viking, 1978) William Kennedy, Ironweed (Viking, 1983

The 1994 research and technology report at the Goddard Space Flight Center

The breadth of subject material in this 1994 edition of the Research and Technology Report illustrates the broad scope of activities at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The numerous entries dealing with data processing and visualization show the strong emphasis on data and its interpretation. Reports are presented in the following sections: data processing and visualization; space sciences - high energy astronomy, solar system, and new techniques; earth system science - atmospheres, oceans and ice, solid earth, and soils and vegetation; networks, planning, and information systems - mission scheduling and operations, spacecraft operation and status, software engineering, and infrastructure support; engineering and materials - spacecraft subsystems, launch vehicles, thermal control, new mechanisms, and testing and evaluation; and flight projects

High conductance anion channel in Schwann cell vesicles from rat spinal roots

Potassium uptake, possibly together with chloride, is one of the presumed functions of Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. However, the presence of chloride channels has not been demonstrated in adult Schwann cells. We present here a new method which allows single channel recordings to be made from Schwann cells in situ without enzymatic treatment. Isolated rat spinal roots were split mechanically into several bundles. Within about 30 min after this procedure small belb-like vesicles (20-30 m in diameter) with a clean surface appeared at the edges of the fibre bundles. Immunofluorescence microscopy with a surface marker for Schwann cell membranes (monoclonal antibody O4) revealed that the vesicles originate from Schwann cells. In standard patch clamp recordings with symmetrical bath and pipette solutions (excised inside-out configuration) an anion channel with the following characteristics was mainly observed: (1) single channel slope conductance of 337 ± 5 pS in 125 mM KCl and 209 ± 6 pS in 125 mM K+ methylsulphate; (2) ion permeability ratio: PCl/PK/Pgluconate = 1/0.12/0.06; (3) linear current-voltage relationship (range ± 60 mV) and (4) voltage- and time-dependent inactivation (the channel was most active at potentials ± 20mV). Pharmacologically, the channel was completely blocked with zinc (1 mM) and barium (10 mM). A similar anion channel, showing characteristics 1 - (4), has been described in cultured Schwann cells of newborn rats (Gray et al., 1984). We now demonstrate that this channel is also present in adult Schwann cells in situ

The conservation value of human-modified landscapes for the world's primates

Land-use change pushes biodiversity into human-modified landscapes, where native ecosystems are surrounded by anthropic land covers (ALCs). Yet, the ability of species to use these emerging covers remains poorly understood. We quantified the use of ALCs by primates worldwide, and analyzed species' attributes that predict such use. Most species use secondary forests and tree plantations, while only few use human settlements. ALCs are used for foraging by at least 86 species with an important conservation outcome: those that tolerate heavily modified ALCs are 26% more likely to have stable or increasing populations than the global average for all primates. There is no phylogenetic signal in ALCs use. Compared to all primates on Earth, species using ALCs are less often threatened with extinction, but more often diurnal, medium or large-bodied, not strictly arboreal, and habitat generalists. These findings provide valuable quantitative information for improving management practices for primate conservation worldwide

Artificial reefs and marine protected areas: a study in willingness to pay to access Folkestone Marine Reserve, Barbados, West Indies

Artificial reefs in marine protected areas provide additional habitat for biodiversity viewing, and therefore may offer an innovative management solution for managing for coral reef recovery and resilience. Marine park user fees can generate revenue to help manage and maintain natural and artificial reefs. Using a stated preference survey, this study investigates the present consumer surplus associated with visitor use of a marine protected area in Barbados. Two hypothetical markets were presented to differentiate between respondents use values of either: (a) natural reefs within the marine reserve or (b) artificial reef habitat for recreational enhancement. Information was also collected on visitors’ perceptions of artificial reefs, reef material preferences and reef conservation awareness. From a sample of 250 visitors on snorkel trips, we estimate a mean willingness to pay of US$18.33 (median—US$15) for natural reef use and a mean value of US$17.58 (median—US$12.50) for artificial reef use. The number of marine species viewed, age of respondent, familiarity with the Folkestone Marine Reserve and level of environmental concern were statistically significant in influencing willingness to pay. Regression analyses indicate visitors are willing to pay a significant amount to view marine life, especially turtles. Our results suggest that user fees could provide a considerable source of income to aid reef conservation in Barbados. In addition, the substantial use value reported for artificial reefs indicates a reef substitution policy may be supported by visitors to the Folkestone Marine Reserve. We discuss our findings and highlight directions for future research that include the need to collect data to establish visitors’ non-use values to fund reef management

Planet Hunters TESS. V. A Planetary System Around a Binary Star, Including a Mini-Neptune in the Habitable Zone

We report on the discovery and validation of a transiting long-period mini-Neptune orbiting a bright (V = 9.0 mag) G dwarf (TOI 4633; R = 1.05 R ⊙, M = 1.10 M ⊙). The planet was identified in data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite by citizen scientists taking part in the Planet Hunters TESS project. Modelling of the transit events yields an orbital period of 271.9445 ± 0.0040 days and radius of 3.2 ± 0.20 R ⊕. The Earth-like orbital period and an incident flux of 1.56−0.16+0.20 F ⊕ places it in the optimistic habitable zone around the star. Doppler spectroscopy of the system allowed us to place an upper mass limit on the transiting planet and revealed a non-transiting planet candidate in the system with a period of 34.15 ± 0.15 days. Furthermore, the combination of archival data dating back to 1905 with new high angular resolution imaging revealed a stellar companion orbiting the primary star with an orbital period of around 230 yr and an eccentricity of about 0.9. The long period of the transiting planet, combined with the high eccentricity and close approach of the companion star makes this a valuable system for testing the formation and stability of planets in binary systems