Working at the prime p = 3, we construct a stably finite spectrum, Z, with a v_2^1 self map f. Further, both Ext_A(H*(Z),Z_3) and Ext_A(H*(Z),H*(Z)) have a vanishing line of slope 1/16 in (t-s,s) coordinates, and the map f is represented by an element a of Ext where multiplication by a is parallel to the vanishing line. To accomplish this construction, we prove a result about the connection between particular self maps of spectra and their effect on the Margolis homology of related modules over the Steenrod Algebra.

Although it is sympatric with tsetse flies, Stomoxys calcitrans is not a biological vector of trypanosomes. It is known that haemolymph (HL) and midgut reservoir zone (RH) lectins regulate parasitic infections in some dipteran insects. Agglutinins (lectins) were detected in HL and RH from unfed stable flies (maximum titre 2-6). Increased haemagglutination activity resulted post-feeding (maximum titre 2- 16 - 2- 18). Optimum titres varied according to agglutinogen type and mammalian blood source. Rabbit erythrocytes produced the highest haemagglutination titres followed by human group B, human group 0, horse, human group A, human group AB and sheep. Stomoxys haemagglutination activity was found to be 1.5 - 2.5 times stronger than that of Glossina. Whole blood-fed flies produced the highest titre (2-18), compared to glucose-fed insects, against rabbit erythrocytes. Anti-Trypanosoma brucei brucei titres ranged from 2-6 - 2-7 in both tissues. Similar results were obtained with Leishmania hertigi and Crithidia!asciculata. Purification of the samples was performed in order to draw conclusions with confidence regarding the physico-chemical properties of the agglutinins (lectins) and in order to determine the molecular weight of the agglutinins. Protein contents ofHL and RH samples of flies aged < 12 hours to 3 days were determined. They were 25 - 28 mg/ml and 6.4 mg/ml respectively. Protein contents increased with age reaching 32 mg/ml for HL and 7.2 mg/ml for RH at day 14 post-emergence (p.e.). The contents then started to decrease reaching 22 mg/ml for HL and 5.6 mg/ml for RIi at day 28 p.e. Purified lectins constitute 4.3% of the total protein contents in RH samples (having molecular weights of 26,302 Da, 16,218 Da and 14,028 Da) and, approximately twice, 9.47% of the total protein contents, in HL samples (having similar molecular weights of 28,300 Da, 16,218 Da and 14,600 Da). HL and RH anti-parasite and anti-erythrocyte agglutinins (lectins) were basic glycoproteins in nature, calcium ion dependent for activity, heat labile, freeze-thaw sensitive and required slightly acid to alkaline pH conditions for optimum agglutination. Lectins were specific for galactosyl and glucosyl moieties. In vivo sugar inhibition of RH lectin activity resulted in three-fold increased S. calcitrans mortalities post- T.b. brucei infection, compared to the controls, suggesting a lectin parasite-killing function. However, sugar inhibition of lectins did not lead to transformation of trypanosomes to procyclic forms or to infection of the fly.

Neste projeto inicia-se o estudo de classificação de aplicações estáveis. Para isto usamos grafos que irão corresponder ao conjunto singular destas aplicações. Em um primeiro momento estudamos o caso de aplicações estáveis de superfícies no plano e depois estudamos aplicações estáveis de 3-variedades em \'R POT. 3\' / In this project we began the study of classification of stable maps. For this we use graphs that correspond to the singular set of these applications. At first we study the case of stable maps of surfaces in the plane and then we study stable maps of a 3-manifold in \'R POT. 3\'

In this paper, we assess the role of policies aimed at regulating the number and age structure of elections on the size and age structure of five European Academies of Sciences. We show the recent pace of ageing and the degree of variation in policies across them and discuss the implications of different policies on the size and age structure of academies. We also illustrate the potential effect of different election regimes (regimens? types?) (fixed vs. linked) and age structures of elections (younger vs. older) by contrasting the steady-state dynamics of different projections of Full Members in each academy into 2070 and measuring the size and age-compositional effect of changing a given policy relative to a status quo policy scenario. Our findings suggest that academies with linked intake (i.e., where the size of the academy below a certain age is fixed and the number of elections is set to the number of members becoming that age) may be a more efficient approach to curb growth without suffering any aging trade-offs relative to the faster growth of academies electing a fixed number of members per year. We further discuss the implications of our results in the context of stable populations open to migration.

Climate change is expected to have significant and uncertain impacts on methane (CH4) emissions from northern peatlands. Biogeochemical models can extrapolate site-specificCH(4) measurements to larger scales and predict responses of CH4 emissions to environmental changes. However, these models include considerable uncertainties and limitations in representing CH4 production, consumption, and transport processes. To improve predictions of CH4 transformations, we incorporated acetate and stable carbon (C) isotopic dynamics associated with CH4 cycling into a biogeochemistry model, DNDC. By including these new features, DNDC explicitly simulates acetate dynamics and the relative contribution of acetotrophic and hydro-genotrophic methanogenesis (AM and HM) to CH4 production, and predicts the C isotopic signature (delta C-13) in soil C pools and emitted gases. When tested against biogeochemical and microbial community observations at two sites in a zone of thawing permafrost in a subarctic peatland in Sweden, the new formulation substantially improved agreement with CH4 production pathways and delta C-13 in emitted CH4 (delta C-13-CH4), a measure of the integrated effects of microbial production and consumption, and of physical transport. We also investigated the sensitivity of simulated delta C-13-CH4 to C isotopic composition of substrates and, to fractionation factors for CH4 production (alpha(AM) and alpha(HM)), CH4 oxidation (alpha(MO)), and plant-mediated CH4 transport (alpha(TP)). The sensitivity analysis indicated that the delta C-13-CH4 is highly sensitive to the factors associated with microbial metabolism (alpha(AM), alpha(HM), and alpha(MO)). The model framework simulating stable C isotopic dynamics provides a robust basis for better constraining and testing microbial mechanisms in predicting CH4 cycling in peatlands.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Entomology / Alberto B. Broce / Ludek Zurek / Stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), and house fly, Musca domestica L., are two major pests affecting both confined and pastured livestock in the United States. It costs livestock producers millions of dollars annually to reduce populations of these two pests. Control of stable flies and house flies based on chemical insecticides is only marginally effective and unsustainable in the long term due to the development of insecticide resistance. This has created a demand for alternative methods which are environmentally friendly and cost effective for the management of these pests. Information on stable fly and house fly oviposition behavior and the aggregation and segregation of their immatures may help in an integrated pest management control program for these pests. This research identified specific bacterial species from the surface of stable fly eggs which are suspected of releasing chemical cues used to induce gravid females to oviposit at sites where eggs have been deposited and inhibit additional deposition of eggs in the same habitat when it is already colonized. My research also showed that stable fly and house fly larvae tend to be aggregated in distribution, even in apparently homogenous habitats, and to be spatially segregated from each other. Finally, I evaluated the vector competence of stable flies for an emerging food-borne pathogen, Enterobacter sakazakii, showing that this fly species is potentially a good vector for this pathogen.

The marked decline in tree island cover across the Everglades over the last century, has been attributed to landscape-scale hydrologic degradation. To preserve and restore Everglades tree islands, a clear understanding of tree island groundwater-surface water interactions is needed, as these interactions strongly influence the chemistry of shallow groundwater and the location and patterns of vegetation in many wetlands. The goal of this work was to define the relationship between groundwater-surface water interactions, plant-water uptake, and the groundwater geochemical condition of tree islands. Groundwater and surface water levels, temperature, and chemistry were monitored on eight constructed and one natural tree island in the Everglades from 2007-2010. Sap flow, diurnal water table fluctuations and stable oxygen isotopes of stem, ground and soil water were used to determine the effect of plant-water uptake on groundwater-surface water interactions. Hydrologic and geochemical modeling was used to further explore the effect of plant-groundwater-surface water interactions on ion concentrations and potential mineral formation. A comparison of groundwater and surface water levels, along with calculated groundwater evapotranspiration rates, revealed that the presence of a water table depression under the islands was concurrent with elevated groundwater uptake by the overlying trees. Groundwater chemistry indicated that the water table depression resulted in the advective movement of regional groundwater into the islands. A chloride budget and oxygen isotopes indicated that the elevated ionic strength of tree island groundwater was a result of transpiration. Geochemical modeling indicated that the elevated ionic strength of the groundwater created conditions conducive to the precipitation of aragonite and calcite, and suggests that trees may alter underlying geologic and hydrologic properties. The interaction of tree island and regional groundwater was mediated by the underlying soil type and aboveground biomass, with greater inputs of regional groundwater found on islands underlain by limestone with high amounts of aboveground biomass. Variations in climate, geologic material and aboveground biomass created complex groundwater-surface water interactions that affected the hydrogeochemical condition of tree islands.

The decline of freshwater ecosystems, generally result from land use activities in the river catchment and is of great concern worldwide. This study was conducted along Umtata River in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa between May 2010 and April 2011. The study was aimed at identifying macrophytes families (to species level) and determining the stable isotope signatures (C:N ratios, δ13C and δ15N) and to relate their isotopic signatures to the land use activities along the river catchment. Analysis of variance was performed to test the effect of sites and sampling period on the C:N ratios, δ13C and δ15N signatures. There were 16 macrophyte families represented by 26 species recorded along the river. There was only a significant difference in sites and sampling period in δ15N (p< 0.05). The highest C:N ratios value (30.75±9.65‰) was recorded in the upper reaches while the lowest value (6.10±2.35‰) occurred in the lower reaches. The δ13C values varied throughout the length of the river with highest values (-19.63±5.44‰) obtained in the middle reaches. Spatial variation was evident in δ15N throughout the length of the river and showed increase from the upper reaches to middle reaches and decreased towards lower reaches. The δ15N ranged from 3.92±2.43‰ in the upper reaches to 10.02±4.56‰ in the middle reaches. Temporal variation in δ15N was also evident throughout the sampling period with highest peak in May (9.77± 4.49‰) and lowest in February (0.50±2.49‰) respectively. The highest values of isotope signatures at spatial level demonstrated the true reflection of urban development, sewage discharge and agricultural activities taking place along the river system. Continued monitoring is recommended that may ultimately come up with a better management options for the communities living within the study area, and also to better enhanced land utilization.

Despite the importance of tropical rivers to the global carbon cycle, the nature of carbon cycling within these watersheds has been dealt with by only a handful of studies. The current work attempts to address this lack of information, using stable isotope and concentration measurements to constrain sources and sinks of carbon in two Peninsular Malaysian watersheds. The basins are located on the central-western and northeastern coasts of the Malaysian Peninsula, and are drained by the Langat and Kelantan Rivers, respectively. Water samples were collected from three points along the two rivers twice a month, in addition to the sampling of groundwater in adjacent aquifers. Principal component analyses (PCA) on water chemistry parameters in the Langat and Kelantan Rivers show the dominance of geogenic and anthropogenic influences, grouped in 4 to 6 components that comprise over 50 % of the total dataset variances. The geogenic input is reflected by components showing strong loadings by Ca, Mg, Mn, Si, and Sr, while anthropogenic influences via pollution are indicated via strong loadings by NO3, SO4, K, Zn and Cl. The carbon isotope and concentration data appear unrelated to these groups, suggesting that the riverine carbon cycle in both locations is dominated by other factors. These may include alternative sources of organic pollution, or inputs from the local vegetation and soils. The mean riverine 13CDOC of -27.8 ± 2.9 ‰ and -26.6 ± 2.2 ‰ in the Langat and Kelantan Basins, respectively, are consistent with the dominance of C3-type vegetation in both watersheds. Riverine 13CDIC signatures approach C3-like values at high DIC concentrations, with measurements as low as -19 ‰ in the Kelantan Basin and -20 ‰ observed in the Langat Basin, consistent with a biological origin for riverine DIC. However, the average 13CDIC in river water is 13C-enriched by about 10 ‰ relative to the expected C3 source in both rivers, and this 13C- enrichment appears to be largest with smaller DIC concentrations. Because of the overpressures of CO2 in the rivers, entrainment of isotopically-heavy atmospheric CO2 is not a likely explanation for the observed 13C-enrichment. Theoretically, dissolution of carbonates could be an alternative source of 13C-enriched carbon, but this lithology is scarce, particularly in the Langat watershed. The increase in DIC downstream and generally high pCO2 values in most river sections argues against aquatic photosynthesis as a primary causative factor for the observed isotopic enrichment. This elimination process leaves the speciation of riverine DIC and the evasion of CO2 as the most likely mechanisms for 13C-enrichment in DIC, via isotope fractionation during HCO3- hydration and CO2 diffusion. Potentially, methanogenic activity could also be, at least partially, responsible for the 13C-enrichment in DIC, particularly immediately downstream of the Langat Reservoir, but due to the absence of empirical data, this must remain only a theoretical proposition. The aquatic chemistry and dissolved carbon data suggests that pollution discharge into the Langat and Kelantan Rivers is the major factor that is responsible for the considerable CO2 overpressures and high DIC and DOC concentrations in the river waters, particularly in the downstream sections. This pollution is likely of biological origin, via sewage and palm oil mill effluent (POME) discharge, and therefore isotopically indistinguishable from natural C3 plant sources. Carbon budgets of the Langat and Kelantan River show CO2 degassing to be a significant mechanism of fluvial carbon loss, comprising roughly 50 %, or more, of the total riverine carbon export in both watersheds. The remainder of the river carbon is transported to the ocean in the form of DIC, DOC and POC in broadly comparable proportions. However, the combined riverine carbon export from the Kelantan and Langat Basins amount to 2 % or less of the total carbon sequestration of the watersheds. Thus, most of the sequestered carbon is returned to the atmosphere via respiration, with smaller amounts incorporated into ecosystem biomass . These results highlight the complexity of carbon cycling in tropical rivers, and agree with previous studies in showing riverine systems to be more than simple conduits of carbon from the land to the ocean.

Étant donné un espace topologique filtré X, nous donnons des critères explicites pour pouvoir scinder sa filtratlon associée par rapport à une théorie généralisée de l'homologie, Nous reproduisons ainsi et de manière unifiée les scindements classiques de Snaith (pour les espaces de lacets), de Steenrod (pour les produits symétriques) et multiples autres exemples. Ces scindements sont de grande utilité en topologie algébrique. Nous étendons également le scindement de Steenrod aux espaces de permutations et puis donnons plusieurs nouvelles applications de nos techniques de scindements aux espaces de confïgurations, aux produits polyèdraux, aux fonctions rationnelles et aux espaces de « particules ». / Given a fïltered space X, we provide useful criteria to split the associated filtration on X with respect to a generalized homology theory. We recover in a unifïed way the classlcal splittings of Snaith (for iterated loop spaces), of Steenrod (for the symmetric products) and mam others (contïguratlon spaces, classifying spaces). We extend the splitting of Steenrod to permutation products and to other situations. We then apply our techniques to exhibit splittings for polyhedral spaces, rational functions and "particle spaces"