title: Effects of solar ultraviolet radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns, mechanisms, and interactions with climate change

authors: Ballare, Carlos L.

subjects: Ultraviolet radiation

abstract: Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a minor fraction of the solar spectrum reaching the ground surface. In this assessment we summarize the results of previous work on the effects of the UV-B component (280–315 nm) on terrestrial ecosystems, and draw attention to important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the interactive effects of UV radiation and climate change. We highlight the following points: (i) The effects of UV-B on the growth of terrestrial plants are relatively small and, because the Montreal Protocol has been successful in limiting ozone depletion, the reduction in plant growth caused by increased UV-B radiation in areas affected by ozone decline since 1980 is unlikely to have exceeded 6%. (ii) Solar UV-B radiation has large direct and indirect (plant-mediated) effects on canopy arthropods and microorganisms. Therefore, trophic interactions (herbivory, decomposition) in terrestrial ecosystems appear to be sensitive to variations in UV-B irradiance. (iii) Future variations in UV radiation resulting from changes in climate and land-use may have more important consequences on terrestrial ecosystems than the changes in UV caused by ozone depletion. This is because the resulting changes in UV radiation may affect a greater range of ecosystems, and will not be restricted solely to the UV-B component. (iv) Several ecosystem processes that are not particularly sensitive to UV-B radiation can be strongly affected by UV-A (315–400 nm) radiation. One example is the physical degradation of plant litter. Increased photodegradation (in response to reduced cloudiness or canopy cover) will lead to increased carbon release to the atmosphere via direct and indirect mechanisms.

text: Effects of solar ultraviolet radiation on terrestrial ecosystems. Patterns, mechanisms, and interactions with climate change Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a minor fraction of the solar spectrum reaching the ground surface. In this assessment we summarize the results of previous work on the effects of the UV-B component (280–315 nm) on terrestrial ecosystems, and draw attention to important knowledge gaps in our understanding of the interactive effects of UV radiation and climate change. We highlight the following points: (i) The effects of UV-B on the growth of terrestrial plants are relatively small and, because the Montreal Protocol has been successful in limiting ozone depletion, the reduction in plant growth caused by increased UV-B radiation in areas affected by ozone decline since 1980 is unlikely to have exceeded 6%. (ii) Solar UV-B radiation has large direct and indirect (plant-mediated) effects on canopy arthropods and microorganisms. Therefore, trophic interactions (herbivory, decomposition) in terrestrial ecosystems appear to be sensitive to variations in UV-B irradiance. (iii) Future variations in UV radiation resulting from changes in climate and land-use may have more important consequences on terrestrial ecosystems than the changes in UV caused by ozone depletion. This is because the resulting changes in UV radiation may affect a greater range of ecosystems, and will not be restricted solely to the UV-B component. (iv) Several ecosystem processes that are not particularly sensitive to UV-B radiation can be strongly affected by UV-A (315–400 nm) radiation. One example is the physical degradation of plant litter. Increased photodegradation (in response to reduced cloudiness or canopy cover) will lead to increased carbon release to the atmosphere via direct and indirect mechanisms.

year: 2011

title: Secondary Blooming and Mottling in an Intravaginal Drug Release Product

authors: Waugh, Brendan Arthur

subjects: progesterone

abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the root cause of secondary blooming (surface progesterone) and mottling (translucent regions) in the CIDR insert.

A stability study on CIDR inserts found that the alternative supplier silicone (Dow Corning silicone is used in normal manufacture) did not exhibit either secondary blooming or mottling, in agreement with previous work. There was no difference in ‘in vitro’ drug release rate between CIDR inserts made from the two silicone feedstocks. This silicone was found to have a higher ratio of low molecular weight cyclic silicone compounds to straight chain silicone compounds (Measured through detected ion ratios in the leachate by ESMS). The exact relationship between blooming and secondary mottling and this discovery remains unknown.

Results from this research found that part B of the Dow Corning silicone was not responsible for causing secondary blooming and mottling in contrast to previous research. ESMS and GCMS results found that the Dow Corning part B had a more complex composition than of the samples from Dow Corning part A and alternative supplier silicone part A and part B.

It was found that addition of a silicone crosslinker into the Dow Corning silicone, increased mottling, but not secondary blooming. Increasing the mixing of progesterone and liquid silicone decreased mottling (via a static mixer), but did not increase surface progesterone.

The results from two studies into the packing of CIDR inserts immediately after manufacture were contradictory as one found a decrease in mottling from packing in line, while the other found no change in mottling. However there was no difference observed in surface progesterone levels between the packing conditions. Studies on the length of cure were also found to have no predictable effect on mottling.

Studies on arresting the cooling cured silicone above, between and below the melting points of the α and β progesterone polymorphs found that pausing cooling after cure at ~135 °C resulted in decreased secondary blooming and mottling, and that pausing after cure at ~125 °C exhibited less secondary blooming. Neither DSC nor XRD was able to determine a polymorphic bias in progesterone cooled by this cooling process (β progesterone polymorph was in all but one case (that had an added reduction in normal cooling rate)). Studies (XRD and DSC) on the cooling rate of progesterone found that only with very slow cooling rates was the α progesterone polymorph formed. XRD studies also revealed that the mottled regions of CIDR inserts exhibit the β progesterone polymorph, whereas the α progesterone polymorph was detected in non-mottled regions. The mottled regions were found to continue to exhibit the same polymorph after removal of surface progesterone, whereas the non-mottled regions gave no detectable XRD peak intensity.

The study found useful information to assist in the determination of the root cause of secondary blooming and mottling in CIDR inserts. However the root cause remains unknown.

text: Secondary Blooming and Mottling in an Intravaginal Drug Release Product This study was undertaken to determine the root cause of secondary blooming (surface progesterone) and mottling (translucent regions) in the CIDR insert.

A stability study on CIDR inserts found that the alternative supplier silicone (Dow Corning silicone is used in normal manufacture) did not exhibit either secondary blooming or mottling, in agreement with previous work. There was no difference in ‘in vitro’ drug release rate between CIDR inserts made from the two silicone feedstocks. This silicone was found to have a higher ratio of low molecular weight cyclic silicone compounds to straight chain silicone compounds (Measured through detected ion ratios in the leachate by ESMS). The exact relationship between blooming and secondary mottling and this discovery remains unknown.

Results from this research found that part B of the Dow Corning silicone was not responsible for causing secondary blooming and mottling in contrast to previous research. ESMS and GCMS results found that the Dow Corning part B had a more complex composition than of the samples from Dow Corning part A and alternative supplier silicone part A and part B.

It was found that addition of a silicone crosslinker into the Dow Corning silicone, increased mottling, but not secondary blooming. Increasing the mixing of progesterone and liquid silicone decreased mottling (via a static mixer), but did not increase surface progesterone.

The results from two studies into the packing of CIDR inserts immediately after manufacture were contradictory as one found a decrease in mottling from packing in line, while the other found no change in mottling. However there was no difference observed in surface progesterone levels between the packing conditions. Studies on the length of cure were also found to have no predictable effect on mottling.

Studies on arresting the cooling cured silicone above, between and below the melting points of the α and β progesterone polymorphs found that pausing cooling after cure at ~135 °C resulted in decreased secondary blooming and mottling, and that pausing after cure at ~125 °C exhibited less secondary blooming. Neither DSC nor XRD was able to determine a polymorphic bias in progesterone cooled by this cooling process (β progesterone polymorph was in all but one case (that had an added reduction in normal cooling rate)). Studies (XRD and DSC) on the cooling rate of progesterone found that only with very slow cooling rates was the α progesterone polymorph formed. XRD studies also revealed that the mottled regions of CIDR inserts exhibit the β progesterone polymorph, whereas the α progesterone polymorph was detected in non-mottled regions. The mottled regions were found to continue to exhibit the same polymorph after removal of surface progesterone, whereas the non-mottled regions gave no detectable XRD peak intensity.

The study found useful information to assist in the determination of the root cause of secondary blooming and mottling in CIDR inserts. However the root cause remains unknown.

year: 2006

title: New Zealand English and Te Reo Māori: A critical perspective on the loanword narrative using data from translingual picturebooks

authors: Barbour, Julie Renee

subjects: language contact

abstract: Aims/Purpose: New Zealand English has been characterised by the use of vocabulary ‘borrowed’ from the Indigenous Māori language since early contact between English and Māori speakers. In this paper, we consider the relevance of the ‘loanword narrative’ to New Zealand English, examining data from translingual picturebooks published in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Design/Data: We built a small corpus of 10 translingual picturebooks spanning a 30-year period beginning in the early years of Māori language revitalisation.
Analysis: We applied techniques of language analysis from descriptive linguistics, including studies of loanwords.
Findings: We find some evidence of linguistic ‘borrowing’.
Originality: However, in texts created by Māori content creators, with Māori cultural themes, a language practice akin to pedagogical code-switching or pedagogical translanguaging is observed. Māori content creators alternate between languages, treating Māori lexemes as distinct from NZE, preserving Māori orthographic traditions, and providing translation, explanation, or contextual support of Māori lexemes for NZE reader comprehension. Our observations find parallels in translanguaging studies in bilingual early childhood settings, and they are supported by new psycholinguistic research that has identified the development of substantial body of linguistic knowledge about the Māori language by non-Māori speakers through societal exposure.
Significance: We argue that the prevailing loanword narrative does not account for Māori language usage in translingual picturebooks developed by Māori content creators. Rather, we find a clear pattern of differentiation between Māori and NZE.

text: New Zealand English and Te Reo Māori: A critical perspective on the loanword narrative using data from translingual picturebooks Aims/Purpose: New Zealand English has been characterised by the use of vocabulary ‘borrowed’ from the Indigenous Māori language since early contact between English and Māori speakers. In this paper, we consider the relevance of the ‘loanword narrative’ to New Zealand English, examining data from translingual picturebooks published in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Design/Data: We built a small corpus of 10 translingual picturebooks spanning a 30-year period beginning in the early years of Māori language revitalisation.
Analysis: We applied techniques of language analysis from descriptive linguistics, including studies of loanwords.
Findings: We find some evidence of linguistic ‘borrowing’.
Originality: However, in texts created by Māori content creators, with Māori cultural themes, a language practice akin to pedagogical code-switching or pedagogical translanguaging is observed. Māori content creators alternate between languages, treating Māori lexemes as distinct from NZE, preserving Māori orthographic traditions, and providing translation, explanation, or contextual support of Māori lexemes for NZE reader comprehension. Our observations find parallels in translanguaging studies in bilingual early childhood settings, and they are supported by new psycholinguistic research that has identified the development of substantial body of linguistic knowledge about the Māori language by non-Māori speakers through societal exposure.
Significance: We argue that the prevailing loanword narrative does not account for Māori language usage in translingual picturebooks developed by Māori content creators. Rather, we find a clear pattern of differentiation between Māori and NZE.

year: 2025