Residential natural gas consumption: evidence that conservation efforts to date have failed

A new short-term natural gas consumption model is developed, tested against American Gas Association sales data, and applied to the question of the effectiveness of conservation efforts. The results indicate that unit residential gas-heating sales per heating degree-day have remained constant in four major gas-consuming regions during the period 1974 to 1976 and that heating sales have not been affected by the recent sharp changes in price.     

Strontium Uptake in Shell Aragonite from the Freshwater Gastropod Limnaea stagnalis

Shell aragonite from 96 specimens of the freshwater gastropod Limnaea stagnalis grown in laboratory tanks at different temperatures in water with variable strontium/calcium ratios have been analyzed for its strontium content in order to evaluate the mechanisms of strontium uptake in molluskan aragonite. Within the limits defined by natural freshwater environments, the strontium/calcium ratio in the aragonite was found to be linearly related to the strontium/calcium ratio in the water. A distribution coefficient k(A)(Sr) = 0.237 +/- 0.029, unaffected by variations in temperature and growth rate, has been found. This finding substantiates the existence of a strontium-discriminating effect in aragonite precipitated by mollusks as compared to the case for nonbiogenic aragonite which contains about five times as much strontium when precipitated under the same conditions.     

Early deglaciation of the labrador shelf

Two marine sediment cores from a basin on the southeastern Labrador Shelf penetrate a mud sequence extending back to 21,000 carbon-14 years before the present (B.P.). The benthic foraminifera are dominated by subartic nearshore species indicative of ice-free summer waters. The pollen record indicates the presence of a sedge-shrub tundra in eastern Labrador as early as 21,000 years B.P. Both sources of evidence suggest less extensive continental ice than has previously been reported for this subarctic region.     

Immunochemical study of canine intestinal, hepatic, and osseous alkaline phosphatases.

Partially purified alkaline phosphatase (ALP) from canine intestine, liver, and bone were injected into rabbits to elicit anti-canine intestinal, hepatic, and osseous ALP antibodies, respectively. The antibody formed a soluble enzyme-antienzyme complex when directly interacted with the ALP antigen. In order to form an insoluble complex, it was then necessary to interact the initial soluble complex with the goat anti-rabbit gamma-globulin antibody in the 2nd step. Antiintestinal ALP antibody was highly specific and did not cross react with canine hepatic, osseous, splenic, and renal ALP. Antiliver and antibone ALP antibodies, on the other hand, did cross react with hepatic, osseous, splenic, and renal ALP, but not with the intestinal ALP.     

Contribution to the morphology and biochemistry of mustelide blood. 1. Blood specimen collection in various mustelides with special reference to the use of the tissue adhesive "Fimomed"]

An account is given of various techniques of blood sampling in the context of certain mustelids, including cardiopuncture, amputation of tail tip, talon cutting, incision of the ear vein, puncture of the jugular or femoral vein, and catheterisation of the abdominal aorta. Reference is made to details of use of all techniques, characteristics, advantages and potential setbacks, and preferable use of some of the tested methods to collect blood from mustela and martes species. Blood collection from the abdominal aorta may be helpful in obtaining no-haemolysis and no-additive plasma for biochemical multi-screening. Biochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological follow-up checks may be feasible under certain conditions following surgical exposure of the external jugular vein. The use of "Fimomed" (n-butylcyano-acrylate), a tissue adhesive, may help to reduce effort in terms of time and material and consequently, rationalise veterinary hygiene action as a whole, provided that the conditions for its application are observed. The skin adhesive is properly applicable to skin lesions of mustelids. A combination of suturing with adhesive should be used to close laparotomy wounds for better mechanical strength of the abdominal wall. Possible applications of "Fimomed" should be tested with other species as well.     

Microbiology of normal and seborrheic canine skin.

Quantitative and qualitative bacterial assays were performed on the skin of 15 normal and 32 seborrheic dogs. Nonionic detergent scrubs were made on areas demarcated by glass sidearm cylinders. Quantitative analysis was accomplished by the serial dilution technique, and the bacteria were identified by individual and colonial morphology and by enzyme production. Areas measured on control dogs had a markedly lower total bacterial count than similar areas measured on seborrheic animals. Control dogs had a flora consisting primarily of coagulase-negative cocci, whereas seborrheic dogs usually had a cutaneous flora composed primarily of Stahylococcus aureus, coagulase-positive.