A combined Y/Ho, high field strength element (HFSE) and Nd isotope perspective on basalt weathering, Deccan Traps, India

High-precision high field strength element (HFSE: Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Th, U, W, Mo), Y/Ho, and Nd isotope chemostratigraphy of two contrasting Deccan Traps weathering profiles - an ancient, deeply weathered laterite, and a younger (Quaternary), more moderately weathered saprolite - are used to reconstruct different aspects of basalt weathering. Precision of the HFSE analyses is demonstrated through a report of the long-term concentrations and ratios determined in United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) basalt rock standards (BHVO-1, BHVO-2, BIR-1, BCR-2, JB-2).The oxyanion-forming members (U, Mo, W) are the most mobile of the considered HFSE group. Extreme loss of W, far exceeding those of U and Mo during certain stages of basalt alteration, is first reported here. The ability to strongly fractionate Mo and W during weathering may contribute to solving the unresolved mass imbalance between the crustal and marine inventories of W. By contrast, Zr, Hf, Nb, and Ta preserve the ratios of the parent basalt in the profiles due to their limited mobility; these are therefore of great potential value in reconstructing basalt flow stratigraphy and correlating lava flows in weathered flood basalt provinces. Of the HFSE, Th is not a good choice as a conservative element because it is strongly susceptible to addition of aeolian dust; this is evidenced by strong excursions in Th/Nb that are correlatable with alkali element enrichment and less radiogenic 143 Nd/ 144 Nd ratios.The chemical fingerprints of dust were identified in a paleo-flow top of the saprolite profile, suggesting that dust accumulation occurred during periods of quiescence between basaltic eruptions. During protracted exposure and laterite development, the magnitude to which dust overprints the basalt chemistry increases substantially as evident from much less radiogenic Nd isotope ratios and higher Th/Nb ratios in the Bidar profile relative to the protolith basalt. Attempts at quantifying the magnitude of dust accumulation in the laterite based on Th enrichment indicate a mass fraction of greater than 0.5 when the dust is assumed to have the chemistry of average upper continental crust. Although mixing models between the basalt and assumed dust composition cannot unambiguously constrain the dust source, the Nd isotope mixture preserved in the laterite points to a relatively young crustal dust source (e.g., similar to loess in composition) rather than the Precambrian shield rocks in the vicinity of the Deccan Traps. The contrasting topologies of dust-derived Nd and dust-derived Th in the laterite appears to record both physical transport of dust (Th) through permeable laterite horizons as well as transport by chemical dissolution and precipitation (Nd) at an inferred paleo-water table and in deep saprolite zones.Yttrium and Ho fractionate substantially during all observed stages of weathering, with Y/Ho ratios ranging from 26.5 to 21.9 in the moderately weathered saprolite profile and from 30.2 to 14.7 in the laterite profile. The single strongly superchondritic Y/Ho ratio of 30.2 in the laterite is restricted to a sample at depth, and appears to fingerprint the deposition of REE derived from dissolution higher in the profile. Decrease in the Y/Ho ratio relative to the protolith basalt (24.4-24.7) in both profiles inversely correlates with chemical weathering indices, and suggests that Y/Ho ratios have significant potential as a silicate weathering proxy. Consequently, suspended vs. dissolved river loads may record the differing behaviour of these elements during weathering

Sequence stratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and facies analysis of Cambrian Series 2 – Series 3 boundary strata in northwestern Scotland

Globally, the Series 2 – Series 3 boundary of the Cambrian System coincides with a major carbon isotope excursion, sea-level changes and trilobite extinctions. Here we examine the sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and carbon isotope record of this interval in the Cambrian strata (Durness Group) of NW Scotland. Carbonate carbon isotope data from the lower part of the Durness Group (Ghrudaidh Formation) show that the shallow-marine, Laurentian margin carbonates record two linked sea-level and carbon isotopic events. Whilst the carbon isotope excursions are not as pronounced as those expressed elsewhere, correlation with global records (Sauk I – Sauk II boundary and Olenellus biostratigraphic constraint) identifies them as representing the local expression of the ROECE and DICE. The upper part of the ROECE is recorded in the basal Ghrudaidh Formation whilst the DICE is seen around 30m above the base of this unit. Both carbon isotope excursions co-occur with surfaces interpreted to record regressive–transgressive events that produced amalgamated sequence boundaries and ravinement/flooding surfaces overlain by conglomerates of reworked intraclasts. The ROECE has been linked with redlichiid and olenellid trilobite extinctions, but in NW Scotland, Olenellus is found after the negative peak of the carbon isotope excursion but before sequence boundary formation

Listening to the voices of women suffering perinatal psychological distress

This article suggests that transactional analysis can be an effective treatment approach for women suffering from mental health conditions and the emotional and life disturbances that may occur during the perinatal period. It offers a brief introduction to perinatal psychological distress followed by a description of the use of transactional analysis psychotherapy for this condition. The article outlines a new model for a research project that aims to ascertain women’s views on the helpfulness of the treatment and to gain a better understanding of the stigma often associated with perinatal mental health issues. The author argues for the necessity of qualitative research to assess the efficacy of transactional-analysis-based treatment and to increase our knowledge about the change process in transactional analysis psychotherapy with this client population as well as to inform future transactional analysis treatment protocols

Patient and Provider Perspectives on How Trust Influences Maternal Vaccine Acceptance Among Pregnant Women in Kenya

Background Pregnant women and newborns are at high risk for infectious diseases. Altered immunity status during pregnancy and challenges fully vaccinating newborns contribute to this medical reality. Maternal immunization is a strategy to protect pregnant women and their newborns. This study aimed to find out how patient-provider relationships affect maternal vaccine uptake, particularly in the context of a lower middle- income country where limited research in this area exists. Methods We conducted semi-structured, in-depth narrative interviews of both providers and pregnant women from four sites in Kenya: Siaya, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Marsabit. Interviews were conducted in either English or one of the local regional languages. Results We found that patient trust in health care providers (HCPs) is integral to vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Kenya. The HCP-patient relationship is a fiduciary one, whereby the patients’ trusts is primarily rooted in the provider’s social position as a person who is highly educated in matters of health. Furthermore, patient health education and provider attitudes are crucial for reinstating and fostering that trust, especially in cases where trust was impeded by rumors, community myths and misperceptions, and religious and cultural factors. Conclusion Patient trust in providers is a strong facilitator contributing to vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Kenya. To maintain and increase immunization trust, providers have a critical role in cultivating a positive environment that allows for favorable interactions and patient health education. This includes educating providers on maternal immunizations and enhancing knowledge of effective risk communication tactics in clinical encounters

Authenticity, Culture and Language Learning

In philosophy, authenticity has been used with two meanings: one entails the notion of correspondence; the other entails the notion of genesis (Cooper, 1983: 15). As in certain branches of philosophy, language teaching has perhaps clung too long to the first of these notions of authenticity at the expense of the other. This paper reviews four key conceptualisations of authenticity which have emerged in the field of applied linguistics: text authenticity, authenticity of language competence, learner authenticity and classroom authenticity. If any of these types of authenticity is couched exclusively in terms of one usage or the other, it can lead to an impoverishment and objectification of the experience of language learning. Text authenticity can lead to a poverty of language; authenticity of competence can lead to a poverty of performance; learner authenticity can lead to a poverty of interpretation; classroom authenticity can lead to a poverty of communication. This paper proposes that a pedagogy of intercultural communication be informed by a more hybrid view of authenticity as a process of subjectification, derived from the Heideggerian concept of self-concern

Sequence Stratigraphy, Chemostratigraphy and Facies Analysis of Cambrian Series 2 - Series 3 Boundary Strata in Northwestern Scotland

Globally, the Series 2 - Series 3 boundary of the Cambrian System coincides with a major carbon isotope excursion, sea-level changes and trilobite extinctions. Here we examine the sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and carbon isotope record of this interval in the Cambrian strata (Durness Group) of NW Scotland. Carbonate carbon isotope data from the lower part of the Durness Group (Ghrudaidh Formation) show that the shallow-marine, Laurentian margin carbonates record two linked sea-level and carbon isotopic events. Whilst the carbon isotope excursions are not as pronounced as those expressed elsewhere, correlation with global records (Sauk I - Sauk II boundary and Olenellus biostratigraphic constraint) identifies them as representing the local expression of the ROECE and DICE. The upper part of the ROECE is recorded in the basal Ghrudaidh Formation whilst the DICE is seen around 30m above the base of this unit. Both carbon isotope excursions co-occur with surfaces interpreted to record regressive-transgressive events that produced amalgamated sequence boundaries and ravinement/flooding surfaces overlain by conglomerates of reworked intraclasts. The ROECE has been linked with redlichiid and olenellid trilobite extinctions, but in NW Scotland, Olenellus is found after the negative peak of the carbon isotope excursion but before sequence boundary formation

Results of an experiment at Rothamsted testing farmyard manure and N, P and K fertilizers on five arable crops II. Nutrients removed by crops

RESP-484

Dating the onset and nature of the Middle Permian Emeishan large igneous province eruptions in SW China using conodont biostratigraphy and its bearing on mantle plume uplift models

The Middle Permian Emeishan large igneous province of SW China has provided the quintessential example of the phenomenon of kilometre-scale pre-eruption domal uplift associated with mantle plume impingement on the base of the lithosphere. One key line of evidence is an interpreted zone of truncation of the platform carbonates belonging to the Maokou Formation that underlies the volcanic pile. Here we test this interpretation by conodont age dating the uppermost beds of the Maokou Formation in sections from Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces, which span locations from the inner part of the igneous province to several hundred kilometres beyond its margins. The results show that eruptions began in the Jinogondolella altudaensis Zone ( 263 Ma) of the Middle Capitanian Stage and greatly increased in extent and volume in the J. xuanhanensis Zone ( 262 Ma). Pre-eruption uplift was muted, and most locations within the terrain and at many locations beyond its margins witnessed platform collapse (not uplift) with deep-water facies (radiolarian cherts, submarine fans) developing in the J. altudaensis Zone. The clearest evidence for an emergence surface occurs around the margins of the province in the J. xuanhanensis Zone. This is after the initial onset of eruptions and marks either a eustatic sequence boundary or a brief pulse of tectonic uplift contemporaneous with volcanism. As with recent studies on the basal volcanic successions of the Emeishan LIP, kilometre-scale plume-related domal uplift prior to Emeishan eruptions is not supported by these data; rather a more complex interaction between plume and lithosphere with minor localized uplift and subsidence is inferred

The value of calcium nitrate and urea for main-crop potatoes and kale

RESP-4084 and RESP-430