Kantor pairs arise naturally in the study of 5-graded Lie algebras. In this article, we introduce and study Kantor pairs with short Peirce gradings and relate themto Lie algebras graded by the root system of type $\text{B}{{\text{C}}_{2}}$ . This relationship allows us to define so-called Weyl images of short Peirce graded Kantor pairs. We use Weyl images to construct new examples of Kantor pairs, including a class of infinite dimensional central simple Kantor pairs over a field of characteristic $\ne$ 2 or 3, as well as a family of forms of a split Kantor pair of type ${{\text{E}}_{6}}$ .

Canada thistle was grown under field conditions in 2000 and 2003 at ambient and elevated (∼ 350 μmol mol−1 above ambient) carbon dioxide [CO2] to assess how rising [CO2] alters growth, biomass allocation, and efficacy of the postemergent herbicide glyphosate. By the time of glyphosate application, approximately 2 mo after emergence, elevated CO2 had resulted in significant increases in both root and shoot biomass. However, the relative positive effect of [CO2] was much larger for root, relative to shoot growth, during this period (2.5- to 3.3-fold vs. 1.2- to 1.4-fold, respectively) with a subsequent increase in root to shoot ratio. Glyphosate was applied at 2.24 kg ae ha−1 in 2000 and 2003. Subjective classification of leaf damage in shoots after spraying indicated no significant difference in the extent of necrosis in aboveground tissue as a function of CO2 concentration. After a 6-wk regrowth period, significant reductions in shoot and root biomass relative to unsprayed plots were observed under ambient [CO2]. However, the decrease in the ratio of sprayed to unsprayed biomass was significantly less at elevated relative to ambient [CO2] conditions for roots in both years, and no difference in shoot biomass was observed between sprayed and unsprayed plots for Canada thistle grown at elevated [CO2] in either year. The observed reduction in glyphosate efficacy at the enriched [CO2] treatment did not appear to be associated with differential herbicide uptake, suggesting that tolerance was simply a dilution effect, related to the large stimulation of root relative to shoot biomass at elevated [CO2]. Overall, the study indicates that carbon dioxide–induced increases in root biomass could make Canada thistle and other perennial weeds that reproduce asexually from belowground organs harder to control in a higher [CO2] world.

An enormous effort is underway worldwide to attempt to detect gravitational waves. If successful, this will open a new frontier in astronomy. An essential portion of this effort is being carried out in Australia by the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy (ACIGA), with research teams working at the Australia National University, University of Western Australia, and University of Adelaide involving scientists and students representing many more institutions and nations. ACIGA is developing ultrastable high-power continuous-wave lasers for the next generation interferometric gravity wave detectors; researching the problems associated with high optical power in resonant cavities; opening frontiers in advanced interferometry configurations, quantum optics, and signal extraction; and is the world's leader in high-performance vibration isolation and suspension design. ACIGA has also been active in theoretical research and modelling of potential astronomical gravitational wave sources, and in developing data analysis detection algorithms. ACIGA has opened a research facility north of Perth, Western Australia, which will be the culmination of these efforts. This paper briefly reviews ACIGA's research activities and the prospects for gravitational wave astronomy in the southern hemisphere.

Shale gas development may involve trade-offs between energy development and benefits provided by natural ecosystems. However, current best management practices (BMPs) focus on mitigating localized ecological degradation. We review evidence for cumulative effects of natural gas development on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and conclude that BMPs should account for potential watershed-scale effects in addition to localized influences. The challenge is to develop BMPs in the face of uncertainty in the predicted response of brook trout to landscape-scale disturbance caused by gas extraction. We propose a decision-analysis approach to formulating BMPs in the specific case of relatively undisturbed watersheds where there is consensus to maintain brook trout populations during gas development. The decision analysis was informed by existing empirical models that describe brook trout occupancy responses to landscape disturbance and set bounds on the uncertainty in the predicted responses to shale gas development. The decision analysis showed that a high efficiency of gas development (e.g., 1 well pad per square mile and 7 acres per pad) was critical to achieving a win-win solution characterized by maintaining brook trout and maximizing extraction of available gas. This finding was invariant to uncertainty in predicted response of brook trout to watershed-level disturbance. However, as the efficiency of gas development decreased, the optimal BMP depended on the predicted response, and there was considerable potential value in discriminating among predictive models through adaptive management or research. The proposed decision-analysis framework provides an opportunity to anticipate the cumulative effects of shale gas development, account for uncertainty, and inform management decisions at the appropriate spatial scales.

Environmental Practice 14:1–16 (2012)

The mdx mouse is the most commonly used animal model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We tested the null hypothesis that 20 weeks of clenbuterol treatment (∼2 mg kg-1 day-1) of mdx and control mice would have no effect on the absolute and specific force (Po, kN m-2) and absolute and normalised power output (W kg-1) of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and soleus muscles. For mdx and control mice, clenbuterol treatment produced modest increases in the mass of the two muscles but did not increase absolute or specific force or normalised power output. For absolute power output, only the EDL muscles of mdx mice showed a difference following treatment, with the power output of treated mice being 118 % that of the untreated mice. The modest effects of clenbuterol treatment on the dynamic properties of skeletal muscle provide little support for any improvement in muscle function for the dystrophic condition. Experimental Physiology (2000) 85.3, 295-299.

Graphite fiber-thermoset epoxy resin composite materials are frequently used in aerospace and related industries. Electromagnetic heating may have some advantages over the present autoclave techniques, especially for large objects. However, the loss factor of graphite composites at microwave frequencies (915 MHz and 2.45 GHz) is so high that the depth of penetration is no more than about 0.1 mm. Arcing may be encountered at high heating rates due to strong transverse E-fields. Also, since the curing process is exothermic and the surface is at elevated temperature, thermal runaway may be encountered in the interior spaces and result in over-cured (thermally damaged) material.

We have investigated the heating obtained at radio frequency (nominal 27 MHz) in magnetic induction fields in both experiments and numerical models. Inductive coupling has the advantage that arcing is virtually eliminated, even at high heating rates, for typical cylindrical geometries. Also, induction heating easily accomplishes lap seam welds in thermoplastic composites owing to favorable electric field boundary conditions. Transient temperatures were recorded during heating by optical fiber probes and heating distribution was measured, where possible, using thermographic imaging. Finite difference electrical and thermal model results illustrate the dominance of conduction heat transfer in these materials.

Interesting joint constraints are placed on central solar conditions by the solar neutrino detection rate and the frequency separations of high-order, low-degree p-modes of pulsation. A new form of diagnostic diagram is introduced that illustrates the difficulty in standard theories of simultaneously satisfying these joint constraints. A model employing WIMPs (= weakly interacting massive particles) appears to be the only model extant capable of fitting both kinds of data. Unambiguous identification and fitting of g-modes can provide a further test of the WIMP model provided a certain caution is exercised.

It is shown that the assumption of a black dwarf secondary in Z Cha leads to a number of contradictions with well established theoretical and observational facts. In particular the model predicts the radial velocity K1 to be much smaller than is observed, the radius of the accretion disk to be smaller than is physically possible and a white dwarf mass which is inconsistent with the white dwarf's radius derived from eclipse analysis. Using the same arguments as for Z Cha it is also possible to exclude a black dwarf secondary in the similar systems OY Car and HT Cas.