Rates of erosion and landscape change along the Blue Ridge escarpment, southern Appalachian Mountains, estimated from in situ cosmogenic 10Be

The Blue Ridge escarpment, located within the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, forms a distinct, steep boundary between the lower-elevation Piedmont and higher-elevation Blue Ridge physiographic provinces. To understand better the rate at which this landform and the adjacent landscape are changing, we measured cosmogenic 10Be in quartz separated from sediment samples (n = 50) collected in thirty-two streams and from three exposed bedrock outcrops along four transects normal to the escarpment, allowing us to calculate erosion rates integrated over 104–105 years. These basin-averaged erosion rates (5.4–49 m My-1) are consistent with those measured elsewhere in the southern Appalachians and show a positive relationship between erosion rate and average basin slope. Erosion rates show no relationship with basin size or relative position of the Brevard fault zone, a fundamental structural element of the region. The cosmogenic isotopic data, when considered along with the distribution of average basin slopes in each physiographic province, suggest that the escarpment is eroding on average more rapidly than the Blue Ridge uplands, which are eroding more rapidly than the Piedmont lowlands. This difference in erosion rates by geomorphic setting suggests that the elevation difference between the uplands and lowlands adjacent to the escarpment is being reduced but at extremely slow rates

LOY: Refinement of Digital-to-Analog Converters

The electrical engineering solution to the World Wide Web is defined not only by the improve- ment of 802.11b, but also by the robust need for the World Wide Web. Given the current status of optimal symmetries, cyberneticists shockingly desire the refinement of virtual ma- chines, demonstrates the unproven importance of cryptography [1]. Our focus here is not on whether flip-flop gates can be made stochastic, scalable, and atomic, but rather on introducing an encrypted tool for architecting e-commerce (LOY)

“Tractio Divina” – A Particular Christian Spiritual Discipline: Exploring how it may Assist Embodiment and the Transformation of Trauma

Although there is increasing research to demonstrate the beneficial effects of the classical contemplative practices to transform trauma, there is a gap in the research exploring the efficaciousness of the Christian Spiritual Disciplines (CSD) and how they may facilitate embodiment and the transformation of trauma. Some research recommends that further studies are needed to understand the role of spirituality in healing trauma. This article examines how Tractio Divina (TD) – a particular Christian spiritual discipline, practiced in combination with two other CSD – Lectio Divina (LD) and Visio Divina (VD), may facilitate embodiment and transform trauma from Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). It highlights the case study of a survivor of childhood sexual trauma who engages daily with these three CSD. It seeks to gain insight that may inform ministry and improve outcomes for trauma survivors – particularly, survivors of childhood sexual trauma. Keywords: Tractio Divina, Christian spiritual disciplines, child sexual abuse, trauma, drawing, embodiment, transformation

Joseph Wood Krutch

Joseph Wood Krutch’s first encounter with the West was a turning point in his life. In his autobiography, More Lives Than One, he says, “No sooner were we speeding along the roller coaster road which leads across the undulating desert towards Albuquerque than I felt a sudden lifting of the heart. It seemed almost as though I had lived there in some happier previous existence and was coming back home” (308). This sense of being at home was to lead him to abandon his academic life at Columbia University as well as his position as prominent critic of the New York theater in order to move to the desert near Tucson. There he would become an articulate spokesman for the essential value of man’s relationship to his natural environment. This brief study serves as an introduction to his nature writing and social criticism after the mid-1940s when he had come under the influence of both Thoreau and the Southwest. My main focus will be an examination of his work from the last two decades of his life when he had become one of the foremost intellectuals in America

Lateral Marsh Edge Erosion as a Source of Sediments for Vertical Marsh Accretion

With sea level rise accelerating and sediment inputs to the coast declining worldwide, there is concern that tidal wetlands will drown. To better understand this concern, sources of sediment contributing to marsh elevation gain were computed for Plum Island Sound estuary, MA, USA. We quantified input of sediment from rivers and erosion of marsh edges. Maintaining elevation relative to the recent sea level rise rate of 2.8 mm yr−1 requires input of 32,299 MT yr−1 of sediment. The input from watersheds is only 3,210 MT yr−1. Marsh edge erosion, based on a comparison of 2005 and 2011 LiDAR data, provides 10,032 MT yr−1. This level of erosion is met by \u3c0.1% of total marsh area eroded annually. Mass balance suggests that 19,070 MT yr−1 should be of tidal flat or oceanic origin. The estuarine distribution of 14C and 13C isotopes of suspended particulate organic carbon confirms the resuspension of ancient marsh peat from marsh edge erosion, and the vertical distribution of 14C‐humin material in marsh sediment is indicative of the deposition of ancient organic carbon on the marsh platform. High resuspension rates in the estuarine water column are sufficient to meet marsh accretionary needs. Marsh edge erosion provides an important fraction of the material needed for marsh accretion. Because of limited sediment supply and sea level rise, the marsh platform maintains elevation at the expense of total marsh area

Investigating Gene Functions in Mycobacteriophage Island3

Island3 is a temperate Cluster I1 mycobacteriophage that infects Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155. Its genome consists of 76 protein-coding genes, only 17 of which have known functions. Towards the goal of identifying additional gene functions, we amplified, cloned, and assayed 14 genes for host cytotoxicity and the ability to render the host resistant to infection by other phages (defense). We analyzed genes 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 22, 25, 50, 51, 57, 60, and 61 and concluded that none of these genes exhibited either host cytotoxicity or defense against phage infection. We are in the process of assaying the remaining genes of Island3

Using GIS to analyze the relationships between open space and property values

The conservation of open space will become increasingly important as populations expand and undeveloped land is converted to urban uses. The benefits derived from open space conservation include protecting and improving water quality, providing wildlife habitat, maintaining scenic amenities and rural character, and supplying certain recreational opportunities. This study utilizes a hedonic propertypricing model to estimate the benefits to nearby property owners from public open space amenities in the Lake Tahoe Basin of California. The model is estimated using spatial data generated with regional GIS databases and ArcView/Arclnfo software. Proximity relationships are measured by area of open space within pre-defined buffers instead of traditional distance calculations. Results indicate that open space provides amenity benefits to surrounding property owners. Specifically, it was found that a marginal increase of one acre in the area of open space within a 100-500 meter buffer of a property leads to a $360 increase in its value. Open space is also evaluated by type. Only California Tahoe Conservancy-owned properties and USFS National Forest land are found to significantly influence property values. Results indicate that it is other environmental attributes, namely distance to Lake Tahoe, that play a more prominent role in determination of property values in the region. Hypothesis testing further reveals that differences among types of open space are not significant

МОДЕЛІ ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ТА НАДІЙНОСТІ БЛОКОВИХ ШИФРІВ

This research work proposes models of efficiency and reliability increasing of the certain block ciphers. The proposed models are based on the basis of static and dynamic inclusion of masking symbols. Also the analysis of effectiveness of the certain block codes is done. Increasing of block ciphers’ strength and effectiveness is justified.За результатами аналізу особливостей та характеристик відомих блокових шифрів запропоновано моделі підвищення їх ефективності та надійності на основі статичного та динамічного включення маскуючих символів. Обґрунтовано підвищення ефективності та надійності блокових шифрів

Elucidating Antiproliferative Mechanisms of Grapeseed, Guava, and Juniper Berry Extracts

Plant extracts are an untapped source of medicinal potential. Even today they are used as standalone treatments and applied alongside conventional therapies. The focus of our laboratory is to identify plant extracts exhibiting antiproliferative activity in vitro, to determine which chemicals are responsible for this activity, and to elucidate mechanism(s) by which growth is slowed/inhibited by plant extracts. Specifically, we exposed five cell lines/strains to twenty-two plant extracts and measured cell proliferation. Extracts from Vinca, Juniper Berry, Guava, Grapeseed, and Yew slowed the growth of all five lines/strains in a dose dependent fashion. We are working to understand the mechanism of antiproliferation by measuring induction of apoptosis, effects on microtubule assembly, and wound healing