Sex differences in spatial cognition have been reported for many species ranging from voles to humans. The range size hypothesis predicts that sex differences in spatial ability will only occur in species in which the mating system selects for differential range size. Consistent with this prediction, we observed sex differences in spatial ability in giant pandas, a promiscuous species in which males inhabit larger ranges than females, but did not observe sex differences in Asian small-clawed otters, a related monogamous species in which males and females share home ranges. Furthermore, the sex difference in giant pandas was observed during the period of male range expansion and outside female estrus, thus the potentially confounding influence of decreased female ability was avoided. Finally, all subjects in this study were raised in captivity and never actually inhabited different range sizes. Therefore these findings emphasize the importance of biological rather than experiential factors underlying sex differences in spatial cognition. These results are the first evidence of sex differences in spatial ability in the order Carnivora, and provide support for the range size hypothesis.

This thesis presents molecular line and radio continuum observations of the giant molecular cloud (GMC) complex known as G305. The energy input from high-mass stars in the form of powerful winds and ionising radiation is one of the primary feedback mechanisms in GMCs. This feedback is thought to play a dual role both dispersing and destroying the natal environment but also sweeping up and compressing molecular gas and potentially triggering new episodes of star formation. Despite their importance to the evolution of GMCs and galaxies as a whole, the physical processes behind the formation and evolution of high-mass stars remains poorly understood. We therefore set out to obtain wide-field observations of the ionised and molecular environment to study the impact of high-mass stars on the evolution of G305. Observations conducted with the Mopra telescope of the molecular gas traced by NH3 in the (1,1), (2,2) and (3,3) transition and CO (12CO, 13CO and C18O J = 1–0) reveals the reservoir for future star formation in G305 and allows the physical properties and kinematics of the region to be studied. We identify 15 large molecular clouds and 57 smaller molecular clumps towards G305. The physical properties of the molecular gas are consistent with G305 being amongst the most massive a vigorous star forming regions in the Galaxy. We find a total molecular gas mass of 2:5–6:5 105M indicating that there is a large reservoir for future star formation. By considering virial equilibrium within the molecular clumps we discover that only 14% of the molecular clumps in G305 are gravitationally unstable, however these clumps contain > 30% of the molecular mass in G305 suggesting there is scope for considerable future star formation. To study the ionised environment towards G305 we have obtained some of the largest and most detailed wide-area mosaics with the Australia Telescope Compact Array to date. These radio continuum observations were performed simultaneously at 5.5 and 8.8 GHz and by applying two imaging techniques we are able to resolve HII regions from the ultra-compact to classical evolutionary phase. This has allowed high-mass star formation within G305 to be traced over the extent and lifetime of the complex. We discover that more than half of the observable total ionising flux in G305 is associated with embedded high-mass star formation around the periphery of a central cavity that has been driven into the molecular gas by a cluster of optically visible massive stars. By considering the contribution of embedded and visible massive stars to the observed radio continuum we suggest that more than 45 massive stars exist within G305. Combination of these two studies and recent and ongoing star formation provides the most in depth view of G305 to date and allows the star formation history and impact of high-mass stars to be investigated. We find compelling morphological evidence that suggests triggering is responsible for at least some of the observed high-mass star formation and construct a star formation history for the region.

Final Report to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, National Park Service / Cooperative Agreement No. CA 8000-1-0002

The permeability of lipid bilayer membranes to glucose and carboxyfluorescein has been studied in model membranes. Using an enzyme assay, the permeability of glucose was monitored spectrometrically with both large and giant unilamellar vesicles (LUVs and GUVs). The permeability of carboxyfluorescein was studied by entrapping the dye and monitoring its leakage over time from a single GUV. Permeability study using GUVs may provide new information that cannot be obtained from LUVs.The stability of lipid membranes was enhanced by incorporating polymer scaffold. LUVs were prepared with hydrophobic monomers partitioned and then polymerized inside the hydrophobic interior of the lipid bilayers. The sizes of the formed polymers were characterized using gel permeation chromatography and mass spectrometry. This study suggests that large molecular weight polymers were formed inside the lipid bilayers and that the stability of the membranes is related to the size of the polymers.

The manufacturing of nanocontact-based spin-torque oscillators (NC-STOs)has opened the door for spintronic devices to play a part as active microwaveelements. The NC-STO has the capability of converting a direct current intoa microwave signal, and vice versa, by utilizing the spin transfer torque (STT)in ferromagnetic multilayer systems. However, the high-frequency operation ofNC-STOs typically requires high magnetic fields and the microwave power theygenerate is rather limited. As a result, NC-STOs are not yet commercially used,and they require improvements in both material systems and device geometriesbefore they can find actual use in microwave applications. In order to improve and advance this technology, NC-STOs are requiredwith both different nanocontact (NC) sizes and geometries, and using differ- ent stacks of magnetic materials. This dissertation presents experimental in- vestigations into the manufacturing of such devices using different fabrication techniques and a number of different magnetic material stacks. Currently, the fabrication of NC-STOs is limited to advanced laboratories, because NC fabri- cation requires high-resolution lithography tools. In the present work, we have developed an alternative method of fabrication, which does not require such tools and has the capability of fabricating NC-STOs having one to hundreds of NCs in a variety of sizes, possibly  down to 20 nm. Devices fabricated with this method have shown mutual synchronization of three parallel-connected NCs, and pairwise synchronization in devices with four and five NCs. Furthermore, the present work demonstrates low-field operation (down to0.02 Tesla) of NC-STOs at a record high frequency of 12 GHz. This wasachieved by implementing multilayers with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy(PMA) material in the free layer of the NC-STO. In addition, the fabricateddevices revealed an unexpected dynamic regime under large external appliedfield (above 0.4 Tesla). The new dynamic regime was found to be due to anentirely novel nanomagnetic dynamic object â a so-called magnetic droplet soliton,predicted theoretically in 1977 but not experimentally observed until now.Detailed experiments and micromagnetic simulations show that the droplet hasvery rich dynamics. Finally,  spin-torque-induced  transverse spin wave instabilities have beenstudied.  A NC-STO with  a material stack consisting of a single ferromag- netic metal sandwiched between two non-ferromagnetic metals was fabricated. Prior to this work, evidence of spin wave instabilities was reported as resis- tance switching in nanopillar- and mechanical point contact based STOs. In the present  work, the fabricated NC-STOs showed actual microwave  signals up to 3 GHz under zero applied field with strong current hysteresis. All  the fabricated NC-STOs open up new means of studying STT in different environ- ments, in order to resolve their current drawbacks for industrial applications. / <p>QC 20130527</p>

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, results in the development of granulomas in affected tissues. These structures are formed by a myeloid cell core including multinucleated giant cells and surrounded by T lymphocytes. We studied mechanisms of survival, formation and functions of giant cells in Mycobacterium granulomas. Previously, our group showed that the cytokine IL-17A induces the fusion of dendritic cells (DC). Here, we identified molecules induced by the IL-17A genetic program in myeloid cells: BFL1 regulated DC survival, while the chemokines CCL2 and CCL20 directed clustering required for DC fusion. In situ, in human TB granulomas, we found that IL-17A was expressed by T lymphocytes while BFL1, CCL2 and CCL20 were expressed by the mono- and multi-nucleated myeloid cells. Then we characterized phenotype, immune functions and microbicidal activity of IL-17A-treated DC and their derived giant cells. They expressed a mixed DC-macrophage phenotype, retained classical DC functions, synthesized several destructive enzymes and had increased and differential microbicidal activities against Mycobacterium species. We named GMIC (giant myeloid inflammatory cells) these IL-17A-dependent giant cells, and propose that they constitute a new inflammatory myeloid effector with potent microbicidal activities. Altogether, our results show that IL-17A may participate in the maintenance of the myeloid core of human tuberculosis granuloma by promoting the formation of GMIC with potent destructive and microbicidal functions. The molecular mechanisms we have documented should help the development of new tuberculosis therapeutic and vaccination strategies.

The number of extrasolar planet discoveries has increased dramatically over the last 15 years. Nearly 700 exoplanets have currently been observed through a variety of observation techniques. Most of the currently documented exoplanets differ greatly from the planets in our own Solar System, with various combinations of eccentric orbits, short orbital periods, and masses many times that of Jupiter. More recently, planets belonging to a new class of `distant gas giants' have also been discovered with orbits of 30 to 100 times that of Jupiter. The wide variety of different planet formation outcomes stem from a complex interplay between gravitational interactions, hydrodynamic interactions and competitive accretion among the planets that is not yet fully understood. Simulations performed using a series of modifications to an existing, widely used hydrodynamic code (FARGO) are presented. The main goal is to develop a more rigorous and robust gas accretion scheme that is valid and consistent for the ranges of exolanetary gas giant masses, eccentricities and semimajor axes that have been observed to better understand the mechanisms involved in their formation. The resulting scheme is a more robust and accurate prescription for gas accretion onto planetary cores in a manner that is mostly resolution independent and valid over a large range of masses (less than an Earth mass to multiple Jupiter masses). The modified scheme accounts for multiple, competing, dynamic accretion mechanisms (including atmospheric effects) and their associated time scales between an arbitrary number of protoplanets. This updated accretion scheme provides a means for exploring the entire formation process of gas giants out of a variety of initial conditions in a self-consistent manner. The modifications made to the code as well as simulation results will be discussed and explored.

Giant ragweed is an extremely competitive weed and poor control in soybean could lead to significant yield losses for Ontario producers. In 2008, a giant ragweed biotype near Windsor, ON was not controlled with glyphosate and further testing confirmed it as the first glyphosate-resistant (GR) weed in Canada. Giant ragweed seed was collected from 102 locations in Essex (70), Kent (21), Lambton (10) and Waterloo (1) counties to document the occurrence and distribution of GR giant ragweed in Ontario. Giant ragweed seedlings were sprayed with glyphosate at 1800 g a.e. ha-1, and evaluated 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after application (DAA). Results from the survey concluded that there are 47 additional locations in southwestern Ontario with GR giant ragweed. The majority of the sites were found in Essex county, but there was one location in both Chatham-Kent and Lambton counties. Field trials were established at six sites with GR giant ragweed during the 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. The objectives were to determine the level of giant ragweed control with increasing doses of glyphosate, and glyphosate tank mixes applied either preplant or postemergence. Control of giant ragweed increased with higher doses of glyphosate, but only at doses that are not economical for producers. The most effective glyphosate tank mixes were 2, 4-D ester, saflufenacil, linuron, and cloransulam-methyl providing up to 98, 94, 99 and 97% control 4 weeks after application (WAA), respectively. Glyphosate plus dicamba in dicamba-tolerant soybean provided up to 100% giant ragweed control, 4 WAA at the three confined field trial locations. / Monsanto Canada Inc.; Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program; Grain Farmers of Ontario

Anthropogenic and geogenic sources of arsenic (As) have been identified in mining-impacted soils from the Giant mine (1948-1999), NT and the North Brookfield mine (1886-1906), NS. Both used roasting to extract gold from the arsenopyrite ore, decomposing it to As-bearing iron oxides (roaster oxides or RO) containing As, and releasing As3+-bearing arsenic trioxide (As2O3). Arsenic trioxide is considered highly soluble with the dissolved As3+ species being more mobile and toxic than other oxidation states. Soil profiles from the Giant mine show elevated As and antimony (Sb) at the surface (As=140-3300ppm) and decreasing concentrations with depth (As=22-600ppm). Surface soils contain anthropogenically-derived As2O3 identified using synchrotron methods (µXRD, µXANES) and environmental SEM. The persistence of As2O3 is attributed to Sb in As2O3 grains, dry climate and high organics in the soils. Anthropogenically-derived RO of maghemite (containing both As3+ and As5+) and natural arsenopyrite were observed. Sequential selective extractions (SSE) from surface soils show between 20% and 75% of As extracted in the crystalline iron-oxide phase is attributed to As2O3 and RO, while at depth As is bound by organics in the weaker leaches. North Brookfield mine soils show lower total As (2ppm to 45ppm) except near the roaster (4300ppm). No As2O3 was identified, probably due to the smaller scale and age of the mine, lower organic content and the lack of Sb. As-bearing phases include RO of hematite (As5+), As-rich rims on titanium-oxides, and As associated with clays and goethite. Adjacent to the roaster, SSE show As was also in the amorphous iron-oxide phase, also shown by As in arsenopyrite weathering rims. There are many differences between the North Brookfield and Giant mine soils including roasting techniques which produced different RO mineralogy, the scale of mining, climate, soil type, and the presence of As2O3. Currently, the Giant property is not publically accessible but may become so in the future while the North Brookfield property is accessible. Understanding the form and distribution of As phases is critical because of the potential risk to human and ecosystem health associated with ingestion of soil particles and their control on the total dissolved As in surface and groundwater. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-29 17:21:50.73

No description available.