Frontier exploration and the North Atlantic Igneous Province : new insights from a 2.6 km offshore volcanic sequence in the NE Faroe–Shetland Basin

Peer reviewed

Frontier exploration and the North Atlantic Igneous Province : new insights from a 2.6 km offshore volcanic sequence in the NE Faroe–Shetland Basin

Peer reviewed

(Table 1) Diatom events for AND1-1B, CIROS-2, DVDP-10, and DVDP-11 cores including observed and placed depths

Late Neogene stratigraphy of southern Victoria Land Basin is revealed in coastal and offshore drill cores and a network of seismic data in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. These data preserve a record of ice sheet response to global climate variability and progressive cooling through the past 5 million years. Application of a composite standard age model for diatom event stratigraphy to the McMurdo Sound drill cores provides an internally precise mechanism to correlate stratigraphic data and derive an event history for the basin. These marine records are indirectly compared to data obtained from geological outcrop in the Transantarctic Mountains to produce an integrated history of Antarctic Ice Sheet response to climate variability from the early Pliocene to Recent. Four distinct chronostratigraphic intervals reflect stages and steps in a transition from a relatively warm early Pliocene Antarctic coastal climate to modern cold polar conditions. Several of these stages and steps correlate with global events identified via geochemical proxy data recovered from deep ocean cores in mid to low latitudes. These correlations allow us to consider linkages between the high southern latitudes and tropical regions and establish a temporal framework to examine leads and lags in the climate system through the late Neogene and Quaternary. The relative influence of climate-tectonic feedbacks is discussed in light of glacial erosion and isostatic rebound that also influence the history along the Southern Victoria Land coastal margin.

Geological reference standards (JLK-1,JSD-1, JSD-2, JSD-3,JMS-1, JMS-2) measured by Itrax-XRF core scanner in different exposure times

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core-scanning is a fast and nondestructive technique to assess elemental variations of unprocessed sediments. However, although the exposure time of XRF-scanning directly affects the scanning counts and total measurement time, only a few studies have considered the influence of exposure time during the scan. How to select an optimal exposure time to achieve reliable results and reduce the total measurement time is an important issue. To address this question, six geological reference materials from the Geological Survey of Japan (JLK-1, JMS-1, JMS-2, JSD-1, JSD-2, and JSD-3) were scanned by the Itrax-XRF core scanner using the Mo- and the Cr-tube with different exposure times to allow a comparison of scanning counts with absolute concentrations. The regression lines and correlation coefficients of elements that are generally used in paleoenvironmental studies were examined for the different exposure times and X-ray tubes. The results show that for those elements with relatively high concentrations or high detectability, the correlation coefficients are higher than 0.90 for all exposure times. In contrast, for the low detectability or low concentration elements, the correlation coefficients are relatively low, and improve little with increased exposure time. Therefore, we suggest that the influence of different exposure times is insignificant for the accuracy of the measurements. Thus, caution must be taken when interpreting the results of elements with low detectability, even when the exposure times are long and scanning counts are reasonably high.

(Table 2, page 10) Bulk spectroscopic, X-ray fluorescence and colorimetric analyses of samples from the San Pablo ferro-manganese pavement

The Bedford Institute of Oceanography provided ship time on the C.S.S. Hudson during the B.I.0. 1967 Metrology and IODAL Cruise for surveying two separate bottom features in the North Atlantic; the Flemish Cap and the San Pablo Seamount one of the Kelvin Seamounts (also known as the New England Seamounts) about 400 miles SSE of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Underwater photography, dredging, and drilling showed San Pablo seamount to have a very considerable covering of manganese deposit, which may be recoverable by mining. San Pablo Seamount was surveyed and sampled; good hauls were made both on the top and on the slopes, at various depths from 500-1000 fathoms; in all cases samples of an unusual stratified manganese-iron ore were recovered. In the hope of gaining additional information in the immediate sample area, one of the dredges had been previously modified to accommodate underwater photographic equipment. X-ray chemical analyses indicate that the ore contains 20 to 25 per cent MnO2, with similar amounts of Fe2O3. Since bottom photographs indicate that these deposits form a continuous cover 1 foot to 3 feet thick over most of the seamount, it is estimated that there are ore reserves in the order of 10 to 30 M tons above 1,000 fathoms.

Particle positions of numerical experiments 1 to 4

In mixed sediment beds, erosion resistance can change relative to that of beds composed of a uniform sediment because of varying textural and/or other grain-size parameters, with effects on pore water flow that are difficult to quantify by means of analogue techniques. To overcome this difficulty, a three-dimensional numerical model was developed using a finite difference method (FDM) flow model coupled with a distinct element method (DEM) particle model. The main aim was to investigate, at a high spatial resolution, the physical processes occurring during the initiation of motion of single grains at the sediment-water interface and in the shallow subsurface of simplified sediment beds under different flow velocities. Increasing proportions of very fine sand (D50=0.08 mm) were mixed into a coarse sand matrix (D50=0.6 mm) to simulate mixed sediment beds, starting with a pure coarse sand bed in experiment 1 (0 wt% fines), and proceeding through experiment 2 (6.5 wt% fines), experiment 3 (10.5 wt% fines), and experiment 4 (28.7 wt% fines). All mixed beds were tested for their erosion behavior at predefined flow velocities varying in the range of U 1-5=10-30 cm/s. The experiments show that, with increasing fine content, the smaller particles increasingly fill the spaces between the larger particles. As a consequence, pore water inflow into the sediment is increasingly blocked, i.e., there is a decrease in pore water flow velocity and, hence, in the flow momentum available to entrain particles. These findings are portrayed in a new conceptual model of enhanced sediment bed stabilization.

Children's Library system, its projection in the Costa Rican Education

To focus the projection that libraries have had children in Costa Rican education, it is necessary to note that Costa Rica is one of the countries of Latin America, which has developed valuable experience of having specialized libraries in the care of preschool and school children , becoming an important resource in supporting educational and cultural level. This, then places it as a model country in this field in Latin America, on the initiative and from the heart of the capital, starting in 1971 with the opening of the Children's Library Carmen Lyra. System currently operates six libraries of this type, installed in different districts of the Central Canton of San Jose.

Determinación de enfermedad renal en adultos entre las edades de 20 a 50 años que habitan en el caserío El Martillo, cantón San José, municipio de Jiquilisco, departamento de Usulután

La enfermedad renal, se produce cuando se da una falla en los riñones estos no son capaces de eliminar los residuos en forma adecuada, lo que produce acumulación de residuos y fluidos en el cuerpo; la cual está muy ligada a ciertos factores predisponentes como enfermedades que deterioran la función renal, entre ellas la diabetes y la hipertensión, así también como algunos antecedentes ocupaciones, alimenticios. El objetivo de la investigación fue determinar la presencia de enfermedad renal en adultos entre las edades de 20 a 50 años que habitan en el Caserío El Martillo, Cantón San José, Municipio de Jiquilisco, Departamento de Usulután. La metodología de la investigación es de tipo transversal, descriptivo, de campo y de laboratorio, de la cual se tiene una muestra de 97 adultos, realizándoles una entrevista previa, toma de presión arterial, medición del peso, pruebas de laboratorio en sangre para determinar niveles de creatinina, nitrógeno ureico, hemograma y examen general de orina que fueron procesados en el Hospital San Francisco de la ciudad San Miguel, se realizó la depuración de creatinina mediante la ecuación CKD-EPI la cual da a conocer la capacidad de filtración glomerular y de esa forma poder diferenciar el daño según sus estadios de enfermedad renal. Los resultados se encontró un 34% de enfermedad renal, entre las edades el 9.1% de 25 a 29 años, 15.2% de 30 a 34 años, 12.1% de 35 a 39 años, 27.3% de 40 a 44 años, de 45 a 50 años 36.3%, de los cuales el 33.3% realiza trabajos bajo el sol, el 32.7% trabaja en la agricultura, el 31.2% expresó haber tenido contacto con pesticidas, el 55.6% realizó trabajos de albañilería, el 63.3% con hábitos de tabaquismo, el 40.7% con alto consumo d sal y el 43.1% consumo de agua de pozo artesanal, un 45.2% presentó indicativo de infección de vías urinarias, el 42.3% es diabético y el 69.7% es hipertenso. Del porcentaje encontrado de enfermedad renal se obtuvieron: Estadio III 21(21.6%), Estadio IV 11(11.3%) y 1(1.1%) caso en Estadio V. Concluyendo: Lo cual estadísticamente se comprobó que el 34% de los adultos muestreados posee enfermedad renal que resultó mayor al 15% estimado según los propuestos por investigaciones cercanas al Cantón San José.

Evaluación y predicción del riesgo de mala evolución de la neumonía adquirida en la comunidad

206 p.

Desempenho produtivo de Pseudoplatystoma corruscans estocados em sistemas de criação: semi-intensivo (viveiro escavado) e intensivo (tanque-rede)

Objetivou-se comparar o desempenho produtivo e custos de produção de exemplares de pintado, Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, estocados em dois sistemas de criação: semi-intensivo (viveiro escavado, VE) e intensivo (tanque-rede, TR). Trezentos (300) peixes, com um ano de idade, foram estocados, sendo 150 em um VE (médias de peso e comprimento: 1,48±0,46kg e 57,31±6,42cm) e 150 divididos em três TR (médias de peso e comprimento: 1,27±0,34kg e 55,05±4,11cm). Foram alimentados com ração extrusada de 15mm (diâmetro) 40% PB e 3110kcal ED kg-1, ajustada mensalmente à quantidade de ração. Os parâmetros físico-químicos da água, observados durante o experimento, foram temperatura = 24,08°C±3,23; pH=6,89±0,39 e oxigênio dissolvido = 7,57±0,97mg L-1. Os reultados obtidos dos valores médios finais dos comprimentos (VE=74,07±4,34cm; TR=70,33±5,02cm) e pesos dos peixes (VE=3,41±0,58kg e TR=2,94±0,60kg) indicaram desempenho semelhante nos dois sistemas. As médias do fator de condição (0,09-0,036); ganho em peso diário (9,29g dia-1 - 8,95g dia-1); conversão alimentar (3,09-4,15); consumo total de ração (29,60g dia-1 - 74,16g dia-1); índice de crescimento (0,219-0,215) e sobrevivência (97,33-90,67%) para VE e TR, respectivamente. Houve interação significativa entre os sistemas de criação e mês (P<0,05). O quilo de peixe produzido foi de R$ 8,76 (US$ 2,85) e R$ 8,73 (US$ 2,33) para o VE e TR, respectivamente. Embora o VE tenha demonstrado melhor desenvolvimento durante o período e uma vantagem econômica, o índice de crescimento mostrou que ambos os sistemas tiveram desempenhos semelhantes.

Nurse-determined assessment of cardiac output. Comparing a non-invasive cardiac output device and pulmonary artery catheter: a prospective observational study.

Background The accurate measurement of Cardiac output (CO) is vital in guiding the treatment of critically ill patients. Invasive or minimally invasive measurement of CO is not without inherent risks to the patient. Skilled Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nursing staff are in an ideal position to assess changes in CO following therapeutic measures. The USCOM (Ultrasonic Cardiac Output Monitor) device is a non-invasive CO monitor whose clinical utility and ease of use requires testing. Objectives To compare cardiac output measurement using a non-invasive ultrasonic device (USCOM) operated by a non-echocardiograhically trained ICU Registered Nurse (RN), with the conventional pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) using both thermodilution and Fick methods. Design Prospective observational study. Setting and participants Between April 2006 and March 2007, we evaluated 30 spontaneously breathing patients requiring PAC for assessment of heart failure and/or pulmonary hypertension at a tertiary level cardiothoracic hospital. Methods SCOM CO was compared with thermodilution measurements via PAC and CO estimated using a modified Fick equation. This catheter was inserted by a medical officer, and all USCOM measurements by a senior ICU nurse. Mean values, bias and precision, and mean percentage difference between measures were determined to compare methods. The Intra-Class Correlation statistic was also used to assess agreement. The USCOM time to measure was recorded to assess the learning curve for USCOM use performed by an ICU RN and a line of best fit demonstrated to describe the operator learning curve. Results In 24 of 30 (80%) patients studied, CO measures were obtained. In 6 of 30 (20%) patients, an adequate USCOM signal was not achieved. The mean difference (±standard deviation) between USCOM and PAC, USCOM and Fick, and Fick and PAC CO were small, −0.34 ± 0.52 L/min, −0.33 ± 0.90 L/min and −0.25 ± 0.63 L/min respectively across a range of outputs from 2.6 L/min to 7.2 L/min. The percent limits of agreement (LOA) for all measures were −34.6% to 17.8% for USCOM and PAC, −49.8% to 34.1% for USCOM and Fick and −36.4% to 23.7% for PAC and Fick. Signal acquisition time reduced on average by 0.6 min per measure to less than 10 min at the end of the study. Conclusions In 80% of our cohort, USCOM, PAC and Fick measures of CO all showed clinically acceptable agreement and the learning curve for operation of the non-invasive USCOM device by an ICU RN was found to be satisfactorily short. Further work is required in patients receiving positive pressure ventilation.

Research productivity levels of Chinese TEFL academics

Since China’s Economic Reform and its Open Door Policy, China has entered a new era of education (Adamson, 2002; Hu, 2005a). English has gained status as a language for international relations (Graddol, 1997) and international trade (Qu, 2007). Hence, in 2001, China’s Ministry of Education (MOE) required universities to offer 5-10% of their course units in English, particularly in the fields of information technology, biotechnology, finance and law (Jen, 2001; MOE, 2001). However, “the upgrading of national English proficiency, then, is predicted largely on the professional competence of the teaching force” (Hu, 2005b, p. 655). For TEFL academics, one component of this competence is the capacity to conduct research (Day, 1991; Shu, 2002). Indeed, research productivity has become essential for university success, and academics’ employment and promotional prospects. This study aims to investigate 182 Chinese TEFL academics’ research outputs across three Chinese higher education institutions through the research question: What are the research productivity levels of Chinese TEFL academics? A survey instrument was devised to gather TEFL academics’ calculations of research productivity and, in particular, the quality and quantity of research outputs over a five-year period (2004-2008). Descriptive statistics through SPSS were used to analyse data across research output fields (e.g., journal articles, conference papers). Academic status varied (n=182; teaching assistants 23.6%, lecturers 47.3%, associate professors 22.5%, and professors 6.6%) as did years of teaching (1-5 years 27.4%, 6-10 years 24.7%, 11-15 18.1%, 16-20 years 13.7%, > 21 years 15.9%). Results (n=182, male=27%, females=73%) indicated 18% had not produced any research in the five-year period. Indeed, more than 70% had produced no research in all categories except non-core journal articles and provincial projects. An overwhelming majority of TEFL academics had zero productivity in 10 of the 12 categories. Nevertheless, there were highly-productive TEFL academics, who had produced five or more pieces of research across the 12 categories. In addition, there was not much difference between sole and co-authored research outputs, except non-core journal articles where sole authored work was 20% higher than co-authored work. China’s desire for international competitiveness in education will require measures that facilitate higher levels of research productivity. These measures must include professional development, support and mentoring programs, and employment of personnel who can guide these processes. Research performance is an outcome, hence there is a need to understand Chinese TEFL academics’ perceptions about research, and experiences that may hinder and facilitate higher research productivity.

The identification and quantification of temperature-related mortality

The relationship between weather and mortality has been observed for centuries. Recently, studies on temperature-related mortality have become a popular topic as climate change continues. Most of the previous studies found that exposure to hot or cold temperature affects mortality. This study aims to address three research questions: 1. What is the overall effect of daily mean temperature variation on the elderly mortality in the published literature using a meta-analysis approach? 2. Does the association between temperature and mortality differ with age, sex, or socio-economic status in Brisbane? 3. How is the magnitude of the lag effects of the daily mean temperature on mortality varied by age and cause-of-death groups in Brisbane? In the meta-analysis, there was a 1-2 % increase in all-cause mortality for a 1ºC decrease during cold temperature intervals and a 2-5% increase for a 1ºC increment during hot temperature intervals among the elderly. Lags of up to 9 days in exposure to cold temperature intervals were statistically significantly associated with all-cause mortality, but no significant lag effects were observed for hot temperature intervals. In Brisbane, the harmful effect of high temperature (over 24ºC) on mortality appeared to be greater among the elderly than other age groups. The effect estimate among women was greater than among men. However, No evidence was found that socio-economic status modified the temperature-mortality relationship. The results of this research also show longer lag effects in cold days and shorter lag effects in hot days. For 3-day hot effects associated with 1°C increase above the threshold, the highest percent increases in mortality occurred among people aged 85 years or over (5.4% (95% CI: 1.4%, 9.5%)) compared with all age group (3.2% (95% CI: 0.9%, 5.6%)). The effect estimate among cardiovascular deaths was slightly higher than those among all-cause mortality. For overall 21-day cold effects associated with a 1°C decrease below the threshold, the percent estimates in mortality for people aged 85 years or over, and from cardiovascular diseases were 3.9% (95% CI: 1.9%, 6.0%) and 3.4% (95% CI: 0.9%, 6.0%), respectively compared with all age group (2.0% (95% CI: 0.7%, 3.3%)). Little research of this kind has been conducted in the Southern Hemisphere. This PhD research may contribute to the quantitative assessment of the overall impact, effect modification and lag effects of temperature variation on mortality in Australia and The findings may provide useful information for the development and implementation of public health policies to reduce and prevent temperature-related health problems.