Number Of Explorations Research Articles

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes altered neuron cholesterol metabolism via Wnt5a-LRP1 axis and alleviated cognitive impairment in a progressive Parkinson’s disease model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with abnormal metabolism of brain cholesterol, and the metabolites of neuronal cholesterol may also affect neurodegenerative progression. In this study, we aim to explore the therapeutic effect of BMSC derived exosomes on motor and cognitive deficits in α-synuclein (α-Syn) A53T transgenic mice, a progressive PD animal model. Results revealed that rotating rod performance of α-Syn A53T TG mice decreased by 45.4 %±8.6 % at the age of 12 months compared with wide-type (WT) mice. Striatum injection of BMSC quiescent exosomes (BMSCquiescent-EXO) and BMSC induced exosomes (BMSCinduced-EXO) rescued the rotation behavior (BMSCquiescent-EXO: 92.3 %±12.5 % P = 0.008; BMSCinduced-EXO: 102.3 %±16.7 %, P = 0.006). Although there was no difference in the escape latency within 5 days of Morris water maze learning between groups in the 12-month old mice. The exploration latency was shorter (p < 0.05) in BMSCquiescent-EXO and BMSCinduced-EXO groups, the number of explorations and novel object recognition index were significantly increased (p < 0.05). More importantly, the total cholesterol level was increased (p < 0.05), while the content of 24S-hydroxycholesterol significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after intrastriatal injection BMSCquiescent-EXO and BMSCinduced-EXO in A53T group. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was performed to profile phospholipid metabolites in lipid raft of hippocampal neurons, demonstrating that BMSCquiescent-EXO injection caused the decreasing relative percentages of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) compared to those in A53T mice, while the relative percentages of phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) increased. The cholesterol content of lipid rafts was lower in BMSCquiescent-EXO and BMSCinduced-EXO groups than that in A53T group (P < 0.05). In summary, exosomes isolated during BMSC dopaminergic neuron differentiation can significantly improve the motor, learning and memory ability of the progressive PD mice model, and its mechanism may be related to the change of altered phospholipid composition and cholesterol metabolism in hippocampal neurons.

Crocin ameliorates depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress via the NAMPT-NAD+-SIRT1 pathway in mice

AimTo investigate the effects of crocin on depression induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in mice. MethodsDepression model was established induced by CRS. All mice were divided into 4 groups randomly: normal group, model group, sertraline group and crocin group. From the 28th day after treatment, serials behaviors were conducted to evaluate the effects of crocin, including sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT), novel objective recognition test (NORT), social interaction test (SIT), and dominance tube test (DTT). Contents of Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), BDNF, CREB, pCREB and SIRT1 in prefrontal cortex (PFC) were detected by WB. The levels of CORT, DA, 5-HT, NE and NAD+ in PFC were also detected by ELISA. ResultsThe results showed that crocin ameliorated the depressive-like behaviors, which manifested by increased sucrose consumption ratio and decreased immobility time in FST and TST. Crocin also increased the exploration time and exploration number in T2 phase in NORT, social preference index and social novelty index in SIT, reduced the defensive behavior in DTT. The results of WB showed crocin reversed the decreased contents of NAMPT, SIRT1, BDNF and pCREB/CREB in PFC induced by CRS. Additionally, crocin decreased the expression of cortisol (CORT) and increased the contents of DA, 5-HT, NAD+, but had no effects on NE between groups in PFC. ConclusionIn view of the findings, crocin ameliorates depression in mice, which may be associated with regulating NAMPT-NAD+-SIRT1 pathway.

Technological radicalness, R&D internationalization, and the moderating effect of intellectual property protection

Drawing on insights from the resource-based view of the firm, this paper examines the link between the radicalness of the firm's technologies and the extent of its exploitation and exploration R&D activities abroad, with an additional focus on the level of the host country's intellectual property (IP) protection as a force moderating this link. It uses information about greenfield foreign direct investment by 185 U.S. publicly-traded manufacturing firms in the period 2003–2013 to demonstrate that technological radicalness is positively associated with the number of exploration and exploitation R&D projects. While the level of IP protection is shown to have a moderating effect, this is nuanced: firms with more radical technologies pursue more exploration R&D projects in countries with stronger IP protection; in turn, the number of exploitation R&D projects is driven by those undertaken in countries with weaker IP protection. The findings have both managerial and policy implications.

Multi-Sensor Perception Strategy to Enhance Autonomy of Robotic Operation for Uncertain Peg-in-Hole Task.

The peg-in-hole task with object feature uncertain is a typical case of robotic operation in the real-world unstructured environment. It is nontrivial to realize object perception and operational decisions autonomously, under the usual visual occlusion and real-time constraints of such tasks. In this paper, a Bayesian networks-based strategy is presented in order to seamlessly combine multiple heterogeneous senses data like humans. In the proposed strategy, an interactive exploration method implemented by hybrid Monte Carlo sampling algorithms and particle filtering is designed to identify the features’ estimated starting value, and the memory adjustment method and the inertial thinking method are introduced to correct the target position and shape features of the object respectively. Based on the Dempster–Shafer evidence theory (D-S theory), a fusion decision strategy is designed using probabilistic models of forces and positions, which guided the robot motion after each acquisition of the estimated features of the object. It also enables the robot to judge whether the desired operation target is achieved or the feature estimate needs to be updated. Meanwhile, the pliability model is introduced into repeatedly perform exploration, planning and execution steps to reduce interaction forces, the number of exploration. The effectiveness of the strategy is validated in simulations and in a physical robot task.

A cost–based analysis for risk–averse explore–then–commit finite–time bandits

In this article, a multi–armed bandit problem is studied in an explore–then–commit setting where the cost of pulling an arm in the experimentation (exploration) phase may not be negligible. Identifying the best arm after a pure experimentation phase to exploit it once or for a given finite number of times is the goal of the problem. Applications of this are prevalent in personalized health-care and financial investments where the frequency of exploitation is limited. In this setting, we observe that pulling the arm with the highest expected reward is not necessarily the most desirable objective for exploitation. Alternatively, we advocate the idea of risk aversion, where the objective is to compete against the arm with the best risk–return trade–off. Additionally, a trade–off between cost and regret should be considered in the case where pulling arms in the exploration phase incurs a cost. In the case that the exploration cost is not considered, we propose a class of hyper–parameter–free risk–averse algorithms, called OTE/FTE–MAB (One/Finite–Time Exploitation Multi–Armed Bandit), whose objectives are to select the arm that is most probable to reward the most in a single or finite–time exploitations. To analyze these algorithms, we define a new notion of finite–time exploitation regret for our setting of interest. We provide an upper bound of order ln for the minimum number of experiments that should be done to guarantee upper bound er for regret. As compared with existing risk–averse bandit algorithms, our algorithms do not rely on hyper–parameters, resulting in a more robust behavior in practice. In the case that pulling an arm in the exploration phase has a cost, we propose the c–OTE–MAB algorithm for two–armed bandits that addresses the cost–regret trade–off, corresponding to exploration–exploitation trade–off, by minimizing a linear combination of cost and regret that is called cost– regret function, using a hyper–parameter. This algorithm determines an estimation of the optimal number of explorations whose cost–regret value approaches the minimum value of the cost–regret function at the rate with an associated confidence level, where ne is the number of explorations of each arm.

Doubting Perspectives and Creative Doubt

Doubt (especially self-doubt) is often considered to be an enemy of creativity. But, might it be its friend, too? We see, in the Zhuangzi (a fourth century BCE Daoist philosophical classic), a number of explorations that point toward an interesting affirmative answer to this question. To explain how the text can be interpreted as suggesting such an answer, this paper proceeds in two parts. First, in section one, I clarify what is meant by “doubt” for the purposes of this paper, as well as several ways in which it can be directed toward its relevant target: entire perspectives (rather than merely individual propositions or sets of propositions). Following that, in section two, I outline a conception of creativity suggested by aspects of the Zhuangzi, and explain how doubt (in the sense discussed in section one) can engender creativity (in the sense discussed in section two), as well as a few reasons that this matters. I then close by briefly discussing two caveats.

THE RESEARCHS IN THE MIDDLE DNIESTER BASIN IN 2009—2019

The paper deals with the course of exploration of the multilayered archaeological sites of the Middle Dniester within the Kamianets-Podilskyi district of Khmelnytskyi region.&#x0D; During 2009—2014 P. Boltaniuk (Head of the «Museum of Antiquities» sector of the Kamianets-Podilskyi State Historical Museum-Reserve, hereinafter — K-PSHMR) and I. Starenkyi made a number of explorations on the multilayered site Kamianets-Podilskyi, Tatarysky (Trypillia culture, Chernyakhiv culture, Kievan Rus age) near the Smotrych village.&#x0D; In 2012 O. Mohylov (Senior Research Fellow, IA NAS of Ukraine) and P. Boltaniuk have explored the multilayered site Malynivtsi on the left bank of the Dniester (Early and Middle Trypillia, Late Chornolis, Early Scy­thian culture, antiquities of the Middle Ages — Modern age).&#x0D; In 2019 the study of this site was continued by the expedition of the K-PSHMR (authors and P. Boltaniuk) which also made further exploration along the left bank of the Dniester River to the Zhvanets village which permits to survey the sites Malynivtsi, Popivskyi Yar (Trypillia, Early Iron Age, Cherniakhiv, Kievan Rus antiquities), Babshyn (Trypillia A, Chernyakhiv culture), Braga (destroyed).&#x0D; The authors’ main focus was on the analysis of Middle Trypillia findings from the Kamianets-Podilskyi, Tatarysky and Malynivtsi sites of the BII stage. Firstly the characteristic ornamental features of the pottery were identified. The mapping of the site to the second phase of the Mereshovka local-chronological group was justified.&#x0D; Concerning the settlement of Malynivtsi the analysis of the pottery complex made it possible to trace the main features of the first phase of the Shypyntsi group and the influences of the Mereshovka ornamental traditions. As a result we managed to attribute the site to the Shypyntsi-Mereshovka contact area.&#x0D; The history of the study of these monuments is described, the materials obtained are analyzed, the attention is paid to the problems and prospects of studying and preserving the monuments.

The management of testicular torsion in the UK: How can we do better? A national quantitative and qualitative analysis of the factors affecting successful testicular salvage

Testicular torsion is a surgical emergency, requiring time-critical surgery to avoid potential organ loss. This study collates national data on paediatric testicular torsion, offering a comprehensive insight into the current standard of care in England for paediatric patients with suspected testicular torsion. National data collection using Freedom of Information requests. Of 134 acute secondary care NHS trusts in England that treat paediatric patients, responses were received from 121 trusts - representing 140 hospitals - providing a picture of the current standard of care in England. Less than two thirds of hospitals have a paediatric A&E department. One third of hospitals use inter-hospital transfer for paediatric patients with suspected torsion, with variable age restrictions. Mean transfer distance was 19·4 miles (range 2·2 to 61·6 miles). No statistically significant relationship between transfer arrangements and the number of non-viable testicle incidents was found (P=0·15, ns). There was no correlation demonstrated nationally between size of population served and number of scrotal explorations completed (Pearson's r=0·20 (CI -0·0·8-0·46), p=0·16, ns). Qualitative thematic content analysis of serious incident reports identified common themes leading to missed diagnosis and delayed time to theatre: Education and Training, Communication, Transfer Complications, On-site Resources and Cross-site Working. We found variability in resource provision across England, as well as the number of explorations, and the number of unviable testicles found at exploration nationally. We received variable and incomplete data on emergency scrotal explorations and subsequent orchidectomies, very low levels of local audit and limited disclosure of incident reports. A mandatory national audit would allow more comprehensive data collection to accurately identify trends and make informed recommendations. To improve outcomes, we recommend continued education of ED and surgical teams, with mandatory testicular examination for young males presenting with abdominal pain. Whilst streamlining inpatient services is important, the time lost between symptom onset and seeking medical attention is crucial, and raising awareness in the community for young boys and parents may be imperative to improve rates of testicular salvage.

Analysis of dynamics, structures and agent relationships in Regional Innovation Systems

This paper analyzes the regional innovation system of the department of Antioquia in Colombia, from a complex systems perspective and using an agent-based simulation model. Among the results is a model with significant variables and indicators for generating new knowledge and innovation on a regional scale. This provides evidence that more favorable conditions exist, insofar as a significant number of explorers encourages greater reciprocal actions with other agents in the regional structure. The number of patents and publications being generated will increase significantly and better network clustering becomes evident as a result. Finally, the model explores the dynamics, structures and relationships among agents in the system, paying special attention to the conditions within which innovation processes unfold at a regional level.

Accumulation conditions and key technologies for exploration and development in Sebei gas field in Qaidam Basin, NW China

The Sebei gas field, located in the northern slope of the Sanhu depression in the eastern Qaidam Basin, is the largest inland biogas producing area in China. It is a typical Quaternary biogenetic gas reservoir composed of multiple layers of unconsolidated sandstone. Through systematic study of gas generating mechanism of source rock, reservoir-caprock combination and trap evolution, the unique biogas accumulation model characterized by “continuous hydrocarbon generation and dynamic accumulation” is established. Its uniqueness is reflected in the biogas generation mechanism under dual effect of low-temperature thermodynamics and microbial degradation, source-reservoir one body, self generation and self storage, dynamic source-reservoir-caprock assemblages and anticline trap formation mechanism of multi-factor mutual promotion. This understanding reveals the intrinsic factors for formation of large-scale biogas field under frigid climate, high salinity and low organic matter abundance. A number of exploration and development technologies have been worked out during the exploration and development of the Sebei gas field. Among them, the low-amplitude structure identification technique, multi-parameter gas-bearing detection technique, sand control and comprehensive water control technique for unconsolidated sandstone are well applied in discovering the gas field, increasing reserve, and increasing and maintaining gas production. The above understandings and key technologies have great reference significance and demonstration effect for biogas exploration and development in China and the world.

Evolution of Fascial Closure Optimization in Damage Control Laparotomy

Management of patients undergoing damage control laparotomy (DCL) involves many surgical, medical, and logistical factors. Ideal patient management optimizing fascial closure with regard to timing and closure techniques remains unclear. A retrospective review of patients undergoing DCL from 2000 to 2012 at an urban Level I trauma center was undertaken. Mortality of DCL decreased over the study period from 62.5 to 34.6 per cent, whereas enterocutaneous fistula rate decreased from 12.5 to 3.8 per cent. Delayed primary fascial closure rate improved from 22.2 to 88.2 per cent. Time to closure (P < 0.001), time to first attempted closure (P < 0.001), and number of explorations (P < 0.001) were associated with ability to achieve delayed primary fascial closure. In subgroup analysis, achievement of delayed primary fascial closure was decreased with time to closure after one week (91.7% vs 52.0%, P = 0.002) and time to first attempted closure after two days (86.5% vs 70.0%, P = 0.042). In multivariate analysis, time to closure (odds ratio: 0.13, 95% confidence interval: 0.04-0.39; P < 0.001) and time to first attempted closure (odds ratio: 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.37-0.99; P = 0.046) were the only factors associated with achieving delayed primary fascial closure. Timing of attempted closure plays a significant role in attaining delayed primary fascial closure, highlighting the importance of early re-exploration.

Specification of a Coupled Geological and Wellbore Fluid Dynamics Model for Uncertainty Analysis and Risk-Based Design on a Subsea Oil Project

This paper describes the method and results of a probabilistic risk analysis that was used to provide a quantitative basis for a complex and high-stakes design decision for a subsea oil project. Geologic properties were specified as probability density functions based on information from a small number of exploration and appraisal wells. The geological information was coupled to a wellbore fluid dynamics model to simulate operational outcomes for potential well kill operations. Conventional probabilistic sampling and a more efficient experimental design approach were both employed. The key results are cumulative density functions for critical bases of design that are used for risk analysis and final equipment selection. The analysis reinforces the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, in this case the subsurface disciplines and well engineering, to achieve efficient risk-based designs.

Geology and Hydrochemistry of the Deep Sandstone Aquifers of Jordan

The deep sandstone aquifer complex of Jordan consists of hundreds of meters of Paleozoic to Lower Cretaceous sandstones that extend from the Saudi Arabian border in the south up to northern Jordan. In the south, this aquifer is known as the Disi Aquifer and is near the surface, well understood and heavily exploited. Toward the north, thick accumulations of later Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary sequences cover the complex. The depth of the aquifer in this area makes it less viable as a water resource. Thus, little is known about its origin, movement and chemical evolution. A number of exploration and production wells have penetrated this aquifer throughout central and northern Jordan. The data from these wells can help to draw a reasonable understanding about this aquifer and its water. Most of the aquifer is under artesian pressure, and the piezometric head data point to a general flow north with drainage of the aquifer into the Dead Sea Rift Basin. Stable isotopes show that the water differs from modern meteoric water in the region and thus is possibly Late Pleistocene in age. The water is slightly brackish, and according to Jordanian Standards, it can be used for drinking under certain conditions. Geochemical modeling shows that here is no evidence that the salinity is primarily the result of prolonged water–rock interactions, but more likely the result of mixing with possibly trapped connate water throughout the complex.

Firm Sees Value After 5 Years of Using the Petroleum Resources Management System

This article, written by Special Publications Editor Adam Wilson, contains highlights of paper SPE 170885, ’The Value Added After 5 Years of SPE-PRMS,’ by Eric Kreft, SPE, Raymond Godderij, SPE, and Berend Scheffers, SPE, EBN, prepared for the 2014 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 27-29 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed. The Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) reserves-reporting system was adopted by EBN in 2009. At that time, a new PRMS project database was developed. The implementation of the PRMS has contributed significantly to the understanding of the hydrocarbon-maturation process in the Netherlands. It has proved to be a valuable system for hydrocarbon-maturation analysis and reporting and provides insight within the current and future activities of the Dutch exploration-and-production industry. Background The Netherlands is part of the southern North Sea Permian basin. The country counts more than 500 oil and gas fields. Most of the fields are gas bearing; less than 50 fields contain oil. The number of onshore and offshore fields is roughly comparable, although slightly in favor of offshore. The Dutch hydrocarbon region is considered mature. The production of the small fields is declining. As of 2014, more than 80 fields have ceased production. Approximately two-thirds have reached the tail-end phase of their production life, which is defined as having produced more than 85% of their expected ultimate recovery. New hydrocarbon accumulations are still being discovered, an average of 10 fields per year over the last 5 years. The annual number of exploration and appraisal wells varies between 10 and 20. The annual amount of production wells (infill and development) varies between 20 and 40. In the Netherlands, the overall investments have remained fairly stable since 2005. A total of EUR 1 billion to 1.2 billion per year is spent on the exploration and development of small fields. EBN is the state participant in exploration and production licenses in the Netherlands. In the Dutch Mining Act, Article 82, EBN is the designated company of which all shares are, directly or indirectly, held by the state in the interest of efficient exploration and production, systematic management, and optimal disposal of hydrocarbons. The state share is either 40 or 50% in all licenses on a nonoperating-venture (NOV) basis. This makes EBN the largest upstream gas owner (nonoperated) in the Netherlands. The new PRMS introduced in 2007 offered a great opportunity to classify and quantify the full hydrocarbon potential of the Netherlands systematically. It has contributed significantly to improving and streamlining EBN’s business processes and its plans to stimulate the future national hydrocarbon maturation. Currently, EBN has its focus on developing the upside of the contingent and prospective resource base. Various projects have been initiated to enhance the maturation of the exploration, the tight gas, and the mature-field portfolios.

Life Cycle Critical Success Factors for Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been widely used in the procurement of economic and social infrastructure projects. Since the operation of more and more PPP projects, there have been a number of explorations on the factors that contribute to their success. Project success is often expressed by the quality of the product and project management success. Bearing in mind these perspectives, the critical success factors (CSFs) of PPP infrastructure projects under the auspices of the project management success perspective are identified and examined. A life-cycle CSF framework with embedded “learning mechanisms” is developed. The proposed framework will enable public and private sector stakeholders to possess an ameliorated understanding of the factors that are critical to successfully implementing a PPP contract strategy.

Dimorfismo sexual en la adquisición de un segundo aprendizaje espacial

A través de un procedimiento de interferencia se investigó si el dimorfismo sexual reportado en tareas espaciales se mantiene durante la adquisición de un segundo aprendizaje. Estudiantes universitarios fueron entrenados para localizar un llavero escondido en uno de 120 cajones agrupados en cuatro cuadrantes presentados en un plano virtual bidimensional. El entrenamiento comprendió dos fases, y en cada una la localización de la meta fue diferente. En dos experimentos la latencia para encontrar la meta disminuyó en el transcurso del entrenamiento y en uno de ellos, su comparación entre sexos reveló diferencias significativas siendo menor en hombres durante los ensayos intermedios de la fase uno y el primero de la fase dos. El número de exploraciones en el área de búsqueda también disminuyó sistemáticamente, sin presentar diferencias entre sexos. Durante una prueba los participantes respondieron al último sitio que contuvo la meta. Estos resultados demuestran la ocurrencia de un dimorfismo sexual en la latencia para localizar una meta durante la primera y segunda adquisición en una tarea de aprendizaje espacial, pero no en el número de exploraciones sobre el área de búsqueda. Lo anterior fue interpretado en términos de diferencias en las estrategias de búsqueda entre hombres y mujeres. Adicionalmente, los resultados son consistentes con un efecto de interferencia en el aprendizaje espacial.

Reserves Overbooking: The Problem We Are Finally Going To Talk About

SummaryOil and gas reserves estimates that honor disclosure requirements of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are critically important in the international oil and gas industry. Unfortunately, a number of exploration and production (E&amp;P) companies have allegedly overstated and subsequently written down certain reserves volumes in recent years. In some cases, the consequences have been quite adverse. We document some of these cases of reserves overstatements and summarize the consequences. Reserves write downs are of obvious interest to numerous groups involved in the reserves estimation process and outcome, including estimators, managers, investors, creditors, and regulators. The magnitude and nature of recent overstatement cases, relative unfamiliarity with the SEC's inner workings, and the SEC's new reserves-reporting requirements increase the need to examine critically reserves disclosures and reserves overstatements.

Analysis of exploration and exploitation in evolutionary algorithms by ancestry trees

This paper introduces an ancestry tree-based approach for exploration and exploitation analysis. The approach introduces a data structure to record the evolution history of a population and a number of exploration and exploitation metrics. Such an approach not only provides insight of how and when the exploration and exploitation influence an evolution process, but also how the genetic structure of an individual is affected. It can be used to better understand inner working of an evolutionary algorithm or in evolutionary algorithm designing phase to develop suitable variation operators with good balance between exploration and exploitation. The approach is applied to the multi-objective 0/1 knapsack problem.

Habitat and Movement Ecology of Grizzly Bears in the Mackenzie Delta, NWT

IN THE 1960S AND 1970S, the Mackenzie Delta region of the Northwest Territories in Canada’s Western Arctic was on the brink of an oil and gas “boom”; however, pipeline construction was delayed following Thomas Berger’s recommendation for a 10-year moratorium so that Native land claims could be settled. Today, the Mackenzie Delta is the proposed site for the new Mackenzie Gas Project, which will include an increase in the number of exploration and production wells and the construction of a pipeline and gathering system with associated facilities, as well as airfields and winter and all-weather roads, and result in landscape-level changes (Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited, 2004; Cizek and Montgomery, 2005). Wildlife managers and the affected communities are concerned that sensitive species like the barren-ground grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) could be adversely affected by increasing oil and gas development. Historically, grizzly bear declines in North America have resulted from the fragmentation of habitats by human settlements, roads, agriculture, human intolerance, and inadequate planning in the early stages that precede development (Servheen et al., 1999). Wildlife managers lack the current information on the ecology of this Arctic population of grizzlies needed for effective mitigation of the effects of disturbance caused by hydrocarbon development. Low density, high mobility, and large home ranges describe Arctic grizzly bear populations (Ferguson and McLoughlin, 2000). When compared to other large carnivores, grizzlies are considered to have a lower ecological resilience, which is characterized by low population density, low fecundity, and low dispersal ability through developed areas (Weaver et al., 1996). Low resilience suggests that grizzlies are especially vulnerable to development-related disturbance. The sensitivity of the species makes it difficult for population numbers to increase in multi-use landscapes where the cumulative impacts of industry, subsistence and sport hunting, problem and defence kills, and recreational activities are the norm. The Mackenzie Gas Project will transect areas occupied by grizzly bears within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, which is also at the northernmost edge of their geographical range. At these northern latitudes, grizzly bears must accumulate enough energy reserves to last the 6–7 months of winter dormancy (Nagy et al., 1983). We do not know what effects a pipeline will have on the grizzlies of the Mackenzie Delta, but it could make it more difficult for them to meet their resource needs given a short active 5–6 month period (Nagy et al., 1983). Harding and Nagy (1980) predicted that hydrocarbon development in the region could be detrimental to grizzly bears because of the loss of available resources, and that mortality from problem bear-human interaction could result in population decline. The primary goals of my project are to collect baseline information on grizzly bear ecology before pipeline construction begins, to describe annual and seasonal home range size and distribution, and to identify important habitats. The information gained will form the foundation for model development to assess the affect of oil and gas–related activities on grizzly bears. Major project objectives are 1) to describe habitat selection patterns, 2) to quantify movement patterns, and 3) to incorporate these patterns into a scenario-based modelling approach to assess the response of grizzly bears to pipeline-related development.

Seamount Characteristics and Mine-Site Model Applied to Exploration- and Mining-Lease-Block Selection for Cobalt-Rich Ferromanganese Crusts

Regulations are being developed through the International Seabed Authority (ISBA) for the exploration and mining of cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. This paper lays out geologic and geomorphologic criteria that can be used to determine the size and number of exploration and mine-site blocks that will be the focus of much discussion within the ISBA Council deliberations. The surface areas of 155 volcanic edifices in the central equatorial Pacific were measured and used to develop a mine-site model. The mine-site model considers areas above 2,500 m water depth as permissive, and narrows the general area available for exploration and mining to 20% of that permissive area. It is calculated that about eighteen 100 km2 exploration blocks, each composed of five 20 km2 contiguous sub-blocks, would be adequate to identify a 260 km2 20-year-mine site; the mine site would be composed of thirteen of the 20 km2 sub-blocks. In this hypothetical example, the 260 km2 mine site would be spread over four volcanic edifices and comprise 3.7% of the permissive area of the four edifices and 0.01% of the total area of those four edifices. The eighteen 100 km2 exploration blocks would be selected from a limited geographic area. That confinement area is defined as having a long dimension of not more than 1,000 km and an area of not more than 300,000 km2.