(Table 1) Minor and trace element concentrations in interstitial waters from ODP Leg 166 sites

Concentrations of minor and trace elements (Li, Rb, Sr, Ba, Fe, and Mn) in interstitial water (IW) were found in samples collected during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 166 from Sites 1005, 1006, and 1007 on the western flank of the Great Bahama Bank (GBB). Concentrations of Li range from near-seawater values immediately below the sediment/water interface to a maximum of 250 µM deep in Site 1007. Concentrations determined during shore-based studies are substantially lower than the shipboard data presented in the Leg 166 Initial Reports volume (range of 28-439 µM) because of broad-band interferences from high dissolved Sr concentrations in the shipboard analyses. Rubidium concentrations of 1.3-1.7 µM were measured in IW from Site 1006 when salinity was less than 40 psu. A maximum of 2.5 µM is reached downhole at a salinity of 50 psu. Shipboard and shore-based concentrations of Sr2+ are in excellent agreement and vary from 0.15 mM near the sediment water interface to 6.8 mM at depth. The latter represent the highest dissolved Sr2+ concentrations observed to date in sediments cored during the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) or ODP. Concentrations of Ba2+ span three orders of magnitude (0.1-227µM). Concentrations of Fe (<0.1-14 µM) and Mn (0.1-2 µM) exhibit substantially greater fluctuations than other constituents. The concentrations of minor and trace metals in pore fluids from the GBB transect sites are mediated principally by changes in pore-water properties resulting from early diagenesis of carbonates associated with microbial degradation of organic matter, and by the abundance of detrital materials that serve as a source of these elements. Downcore variations in the abundance of detrital matter reflect differences in carbonate production during various sea-level stands and are more evident at the more proximal Site 1005 than at the more pelagic Site 1006. The more continuous delivery of detrital matter deep in Site 1007 and throughout all of Site 1006 is reflected in a greater propensity to provide trace elements to solution. Concentrations of dissolved Li+ derive principally from (1) release during dissolution of biogenic carbonates and subsequent exclusion during recrystallization and (2) release from partial dissolution of Li-bearing detrital phases, especially ion-exchange reactions with clay minerals. A third but potentially less important source of Li+ is a high-salinity brine hypothesized to exist in Jurassic age (unsampled) sediments underlying those sampled during Leg 166. The source of dissolved Sr2+ is almost exclusively biogenic carbonate, particularly aragonite. Concentrations of dissolved Sr2+ and Ba2+ are mediated by the solubility of their sulfates. Barite and detrital minerals appear to be the more important source of dissolved Ba2+. Concentrations of Fe and Mn2+ in anoxic pore fluids are mediated by the relative insolubility of pyrite and incorporation into diagenetic carbonates. The principal sources of these elements are easily reduced Fe-Mn-rich phases including Fe-rich clays found in lateritic soils and aoelian dust.

(Table 1) Results from XRD analysis as well as sediment type and selected results from ring shear experiments

The location of the seaward tip of a subduction thrust controls material transfer at convergent plate margins, and hence global mass balances. At approximately half of those margins, the material of the subducting plate is completely underthrust so that no accretion or even subduction erosion takes place. Along the remaining margins, material is scraped off the subducting plate and added to the upper plate by frontal accretion. We here examine the physical properties of subducting sediments off Costa Rica and Nankai, type examples for an erosional and an accretionary margin, to investigate which parameters control the level where the frontal thrust cuts into the incoming sediment pile. A series of rotary-shear experiments to measure the frictional strength of the various lithologies entering the two subduction zones were carried out. Results include the following findings: (1) At Costa Rica, clay-rich strata at the top of the incoming succession have the lowest strength (µres = 0.19) while underlying calcareous ooze, chalk and diatomite are strong (up to µres = 0.43; µpeak = 0.56). Hence the entire sediment package is underthrust. (2) Off Japan, clay-rich deposits within the lower Shikoku Basin inventory are weakest (µres = 0.13-0.19) and favour the frontal proto-thrust to migrate into one particular horizon between sandy, competent turbidites below and ash-bearing mud above. (3) Taking in situ data and earlier geotechnical testing into account, it is suggested that mineralogical composition rather than pore-pressure defines the position of the frontal thrust, which locates in the weakest, clay mineral-rich (up to 85 wt.%) materials. (4) Smectite, the dominant clay mineral phase at either margin, shows rate strengthening and stable sliding in the frontal 50 km of the subduction thrust (0.0001-0.1 mm/s, 0.5-25 MPa effective normal stress). (5) Progressive illitization of smectite cannot explain seismogenesis, because illite-rich samples also show velocity strengthening at the conditions tested.

Physical properties of sediment core CRP-1

The relationship between whole-core compressional wave velocities and gamma-ray attenuation porosities of sediments cored at CRP-1 is examined and compared with results from core-plug samples and global models. Both core-plug and whole-core velocities show a strong dependence on porosity: this relationship appears to be independent of lithology. In the range from 0.1 to 0.4 of fractional porosity (Miocene strata), plug velocities are generally 0.2 - 0.5 km s-1 higher than whole-core velocities. Possible reasons include decreased rigidity in the whole core and diagenetic changes in the plugs. Possibly both velocity measurements are correct but neither is fully representative for in situ conditions. It appears that the core-plug results are more compatible with data from other regions than the whole-core data. After removing first-order compaction control from the whole-core porosity record, a second-order control by clay content can be quantified as a simple positive linear regression (R=0.6). In contrast, after correction for first-order control, porosity and velocity are not significantly influenced by lonestone abundance except for rare, very large lonestones.

Cases and readings on law and society,

Bibliographical footnotes.

A digest of English civil law,

v.1. General, by Edward Jenks.--v.2. (part 1) Law of contract (general) by R. W. Lee.--v.2. (part 2) Law of contract (particular contracts) by R. W. Lee.--v.2. (part 3) Law of quasi-contract and tort, by J. C. Miles.--v.3. Law of property, by Edward Jenks.--v.4. Family law, by W. M. Geldart. Succession, by W. S. Holdsworth.--v.5. Succession (cont'd.) by W. S. Holdsworth.

American law times reports.

Vol. 1 has no general title page, being made up of vol. 1 Law times (U.S.) Court reports, vol. 1 Law times bankruptcy reports and, Vol. 1 Law times department reports.

A simple sustained release device for the ethylene binding inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene

The efficacy of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) gas to prevent the adverse effects of ethylene is limited by its short-term residual activity in some plants. Development of a simple 1-MCP sustained release device that prolongs 1-MCP exposure is reported herein. Sustained release devices comprised of polyvinylchloride tubes containing 0.1 g SmartFresh(TM) powder (a.i. 3.3% 1-MCP) and 1.25 ml deionised water were used to release 1-MCP into fibreboard cartons containing cut Geraldton waxflower (Chamelaucium uncinatum Schauer) cv. CWA Pink bunches during export shipment by air (107 h) from Australia to the UK. The devices protected flowers against abscission induced by subsequent test exposures to ethylene (1011,mul l(-1), 12 h, 20 degreesC) for 3-5 days after arrival. In contrast, pre-shipment treatments with either a single application of 790 nl l(-1) 1-MCP for 14 h at 2 degreesC or a 0.2 mM Ag+ (as silver thiosulphate; STS) pulse for 14 h at 2 degreesC protected flowers against exogenous ethylene for only 1-2 days of post-export life. However, pre-shipment 1-MCP fumigation was up to about three-fold more effective than either sustained 1-MCP release or pre-shipment STS treatments in reducing floral organ and leaf abscission from bunches during export. Thus, it is suggested that a combination of pre-shipment 1-MCP fumigation before export with sustained 1-MCP release during shipment should maximise efficacy against ethylene-induced waxflower flower abscission. (C) 2004 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Activation of calcineurin in human failing heart ventricle by endothelin-1, angiotensin II and urotensin II

1 The calcineurin (CaN) enzyme-transcriptional pathway is critically involved in hypertrophy of heart muscle in some animal models. Currently there is no information concerning the regulation of CaN activation by endogenous agonists in human heart. 2 Human right ventricular trabeculae from explanted human ( 14 male/2 female) failing hearts were set up in a tissue bath and electrically paced at 1Hz and incubated with or without 100 nM endothelin-1 (ET-1), 10 mu M, angiotensin-II (Ang II) or 20 nM human urotensin-II (hUII) for 30 min. Tissues from four patients were incubated with 200 nM tacrolimus (FK506) for 30 min and then incubated in the presence or absence of ET-1 for a further 30 min. 3 ET-1 increased contractile force in all 13 patients (P < 0.001). Ang II and hUII increased contractile force in three out of eight and four out of 10 patients but overall nonsignificantly (P > 0.1). FK506 had no effect on contractile force (P = 0.12). 4 ET-1, Ang II and hUII increased calcineurin activity by 32, 71 and 15%, respectively, while FK506 reduced activity by 34%. ET-1 in the presence of FK506 did not restore calcineurin activity (P = 0.1). 5 There was no relationship between basal CaN activity and expression levels in the right ventricle. Increased levels of free phosphate were detected in ventricular homogenates that were incubated with PKC epsilon compared to samples incubated without PKCe. 6 Endogenous cardiostimulants which activate G alpha q-coupled receptors increase the activity of calcineurin in human heart following acute (30 min) exposure. PKC may contribute to this effect by increasing levels of phosphorylated calcineurin substrate.

Synthesis and characterization of Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with triazolopyrimidine derivatives: The crystal structure of [Pd2L2Cl4] where L=5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine

The Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with triazolopyrimidine C-nucleosides L-1 (5,7-dimethyl-3-(2',3',5'-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-s-triazolo)[4,3-a]pyrimidine), L-2 (5,7-dimethyl-3-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-s-triazolo [4,3-a]pyrimidine) and L-3 (5,7-dimethyl[1,5-a]-s-triazolopyrimidine), [Pd(en)(L-1)](NO3)(2), (Pd(bpy)(L-1)](NO3)(2), cis-Pd(L-3)(2)Cl-2, [Pd-2(L-3)(2)Cl-4]center dot H2O, cis-Pd(L-2)(2)Cl-2 and [Pt-3(L-1)(2)Cl-6] were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the [Pd-2(L-3)(2)Cl-4]center dot H2O complex was established by Xray crystallography. The two L-3 ligands are found in a head to tail orientation, with a (PdPd)-Pd-... distance of 3.1254(17) angstrom.L-1 coordinates to Pd(II) through N8 and N1 forming polymeric structures. L-2 coordinates to Pd(II) through N8 in acidic solutions (0.1 M HCl) forming complexes of cis-geometry. The Pd(II) coordination to L-2 does not affect the sugar conformation probably due to the high stability of the C-C glycoside bond. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation and electrochemical properties of the layered material of LixVyO2 (x=0.86 and y=0.8)

Layered lithium-vanadium oxide with a composition of LixVyO2 (x = 0.86 and y = 0.8) was prepared by the hydrothermal reaction of V2O3 with LiOH center dot H2O at 180 degrees C. This material corresponds to a layered rhombohedral structure related to alpha-NaFeO2 in which the vanadium ions are disordered in alternate layers of octahedral 3a (0, 0, 0) and 3b (0, 0, 1/2) sites. The electrochemical properties of this Li0.86V0.8O2 material were investigated and compared with those of the layered Li0.96VO2 made by the conventional solid-state reaction. It was found that the electrochemical capacity and reversibility of the Li0.86V0.8O2 material are significantly improved compared to those of the Li0.96VO2 material; the reversible specific capacities of the Li/Li0.86V0.8O2 and Li/Li0.96VO2 systems are similar to 100 and similar to 50 mAh g(-1), respectively, under the current densities of 7.14 mA g(-1) over 20 charge-discharge cycles with a potential window of 1.50-4.50 V. Such a reversibility results from the structural stability of Li0.86V0.8O2, whereas the increase in the reversible specific capacity can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of the presence of vanadium vacancies in the structure. (c) 2005 The Electrochemical Society.

Mild wear in dry and lubricated sliding systems

A vertical pin on horizontal disc machine has been used to conduct a series of experiments in air under dry and lubricating sliding conditions. For dry sliding low load and speed combinations were chosen to correspond to the mild wear region below the Welsh T1 transition. Lubricated tests were conducted under flooded conditions using Esso Technical White Oil alone and with a 0.1% stearic acid additive, for load and speed ranges that produced substantial amounts of asperity contact and thus a boundary lubricated regime of wear. The test material in all cases was AISI 52100 steel, for unlubricated sliding subjected to loads from 5 to 50 N and a range of speeds from 10-3 to 1.0 ms-1, and for lubricated sliding loads of 50 to 123 N and for speeds of 10-2 to 1.0 ms-1. Unlubricated wear debris was found to be a mixture of -Fe_2O_3 and -Fe. Unlubricated wear was found to occur via a thin film logarithmic oxide growth followed by agglomeration into thicker oxide plateaux 2 to 10 m in thickness. Lubricated wear occurred via thick film diffusion controlled oxide growth producing homogeneous oxide plateaux 0.1 to 0.2 m in thickness. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy identified the presence of a surface film on pins worn in White Oil with stearic acid, which is thought to be iron stearate. A model has been developed for unlubricated wear based upon the postulated growth of thin film oxides by a logarithmic rate law. The importance of sliding geometry and environment to the dominant wear mechanism has been illustrated.

Efficient lasing at near 3μm by a Dy-doped ZBLAN fiber laser pumped at ∼1.1 μm by an Yb fiber laser

Operation of a single-clad Dy 3+-doped ZrF 4-BaF 2-LaF 3-AlF 3-NaF (ZBLAN) fiber laser operating at mid-infrared near 3 μm is presented. The laser is pumped by an Yb 3+-doped silica fiber laser centered at 1088 nm. An output of near 0.1 W with a slope efficiency of up to 23% with respect to absorbed pump power was measured. The laser performance, theoretical modeling and laser spectrum of Dy fiber laser system with respect to various cavity losses are studied. The experimental slope efficiency is more than 4.5 times higher than the previous demonstration, and is 64% of the Stokes efficiency limit. The efficiency was improved by using cavity mirrors of reflectivities of 99 and 50%. The emission central wavelength and spectral width are found to be dependent on the pump power and output coupler, reflectivity. © 2011 by Astro Ltd., published exclusively by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.