Stardust microcrater residue compositional groups

Compositional groups are defined in residue from Stardust craters (1-9 Dc) by qualitative EDS. These compositional groups are being further studied by a FIB-SEM technique to determine representative residue compositions

Iron Oxide Grains in Stardust Track 121 Grains as Evidence of Comet Wild 2 Hydrothermal Alteration

Stardust Track 121 terminal grains contain Fe-oxide. These are consistent with the presence of hydrothermal alteration on the Comet Wild 2 parent body

Contributions for innovative institutional research quality assessment practices and processes

The urge for the achievement of excellence patterns in research has led higher education institutions to become more and more aware of their role in the process by putting their strategic emphasis on the development of assessment tools towards the monitoring and evaluation of research quality. We intend to review the lessons learned from current research assessment experiences and collect good practices and recommendations using semi-directed interviews with evaluation panel members, institutions’ representatives and researchers involved in the last UK’s Research Assessment Exercise. Our major aim is to present and discuss a set of guidelines as a first input for the design of an evaluation framework to evaluate and monitor the quality of research at an institutional level. We seek to add significantly to our understanding of what can be actually done using strategic planning to look forward in the areas of research engagement/resources and institutional culture, productivity/ performance and innovation, quality/merit and impact and sustainability/ support. Overall, the challenges of promoting research are discussed and strategies for its enhancement are included

Lithium and carbon isotopic fractionations between the alteration assemblages of Nakhla and Lafayette

Nakhla and Lafayette delta 7Li values for samples and extracts (4.1-14.2�) are consistent with brine evaporation. Relatively 13C-poor siderite in Lafayette suggests more than one carbon source was sampled

Revised target co-ordinates for the Beagle 2 lander

The revised, IAU 2000 target co-ordinates of the Mars Beagle 2 lander are 11.6oN, 90.75oE