Regional conditions cause contrasting behaviour in U-isotope fractionation in black shales: Constraints for global ocean palaeo-redox reconstructions

The U-isotope system is a well-established palaeo-redox proxy that potentially constrains the global extent of marine anoxia during average as well as extreme redox events throughout Earth's history. A typical archive that forms underneath a reducing water column and acts as an intense U sink is organic-rich black shale. However, the degree to which black shale archives reflect the marine U-isotope signature is not well understood because U-isotope fractionation between U(VI)-bearing seawater and U(IV)-bearing black shales may vary as a function of local environmental conditions. Here, we present a combination of U-isotope and elemental concentration datasets, supported by a complementary Mo-isotope record, for the Furlo sedimentary section in Marche–Umbria, Italy and interrogate the combined systematics to unravel the mechanisms controlling the U-isotope fractionation factor between black shales and ambient seawater. We examine black shales deposited before and during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2), which was one of the most extreme climatic perturbations of the Mesozoic Era that took place around the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary (Late Cretaceous, c. 94 Ma). The results of this study show that the U-isotope signature in the black shales deposited before OAE 2 was controlled by different mechanisms than the U-isotope ratios recorded in black shales deposited during OAE 2, with both stratigraphic intervals likely influenced by local environmental conditions. Probable local environmental changes include increased U reduction associated with biomass at or above the sediment–water interface and varying dissolved hydrogen sulphide concentrations in the water column and sediment. The overall results of this study confirm that black shales are a highly complex archive for U-isotope studies of past oceanic redox conditions, due to the sensitivity of the U-isotope fractionation mechanism to local environmental conditions, which are difficult to constrain. We propose the application of a ∆238Ushale-seawater of 0.6 ± 0.1 ‰ to black shale records deposited under locally constant euxinic conditions at non-restricted settings

Developing Community Nursing Practice: Promoting Case Management and Skill Enhancement to Support Shifting the Balance of Care

Five inter-related projects were commissioned by NHS Highland to further knowledge and understanding of key issues that can be used to inform particular aspects of care delivery that supports the community nurse review. The five projects reflect some of the core elements that have been identified to maximise nurses’ contributions in community settings (Scottish Executive 2006a). The projects were designed to provide qualitative evidence of the views of community nurses regarding case management and to support the delivery of skills in community nursing practice. Additionally community nurses identified the knowledge and skills required to develop practice tools that would support areas of generalist and specialist practice, specifically around child welfare and long term conditions (heart care). The five projects were: i. Literature review on case management models in Community Nursing. ii. Action research project to support implementation of Case Management Models in community nursing. iii. Literature review on practitioners with special interest. iv. Research to inform development of practitioner tools for child protection and long term conditions (heart care). v. Research to explore skills transition to support Shifting the Balance of Care. This project focused on 3 key initiatives that are influencing community nursing and it was apparent that they all shared common goals and challenges of implementation. For this reason, it was clear that any development in service provision would impact on, and articulate with, other health, social and profession based changes and could not be implemented in isolation from other related developments that underpin shifting the balance of care. Nurses in the studies articulated insightful challenges for shifting the balance of care, and related role developments, but these were, in the majority, followed by offering practical solutions

Environmental effects in partitioning and development in groundnut

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D86012 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Idiopathic membranous nephropathy and nephrotic syndrome: outcome in the era of evidence-based therapy

<b>BACKGROUND:</b> Contemporary studies analysing the long-term outcomes of patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy and nephrotic syndrome in the era of evidence-based antiproteinuric and immunosuppressive therapies are sparse. Controversy also persists regarding which immunosuppression (IS) regimen to use. In this retrospective cohort study, we aimed to characterize time to partial remission (PR), complete remission (CR), requirement for renal replacement therapy (RRT) or death. We aimed to assess which factors predicted RRT or death and determine the impact of IS on outcome.<p></p> <b>METHODS:</b> Ninety-five consecutive adult patients attending two centres between 1997 and 2008 were identified. Baseline demographics and subsequent treatment and outcome were recorded.<p></p> <b>RESULTS:</b> Ninety-five percent of patients were prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin-receptor blocker (ACEI/ARB) therapy, 78% statin therapy, 70% antiplatelets and 38% IS. The 5-year actuarial rates for PR, CR, RRT and death were 76.4, 24.4, 11.9 and 16.8%, respectively. In patients achieving at least one PR, the 5-year actuarial risk of relapse was 32.8%. Using multivariate survival analysis, achievement of remission was the factor most strongly associated with reduced risk of RRT or death. There was no significant difference in outcomes between patients who did or did not receive IS, although patients receiving IS had more severe disease. Contrary to published findings, 81.8% of patients treated with the Ponticelli regimen (6 months of alternating prednisolone and cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil) suffered significant treatment-related complications compared with 19% of patients prescribed the Cattran regimen (prolonged combined low-dose prednisolone and cyclosporine).<p></p> <b>CONCLUSIONS:</b> Using an approach of widespread ACEI/ARB treatment and targeted IS, 76% of patients can expect to have achieved at least one PR by 5 years. Achievement of remission is the factor most strongly associated with reduced risk of RRT and death. Treatment with IS is associated with significant treatment complications

The influence of secondary senescence processes within the culm of a pseudoviviparous grass (Poa alpina var. vivipara L.) on the supply of water to propagules

An anatomical investigation of the culm of pseudoviviparous alpine meadow grass (Poa alpina var. vivipara L.) revealed that transpiration flow, as delimited by Lucifer Yellow tracer dye, was maintained despite advanced senescence (as evidenced by loss of chlorophyll and chloroplasts), with leafy spikelets driving transpiration flow. Transpiration flow was not hindered by cavitation or tylosis in older culms, the low frequencies of these senescence processes being bypassed via nodal plexi. Despite this, water content of plantlets declined over time and water stress became apparent, suggesting that water supply via the determinate culm was not sufficient for the increasing transpirational demand of indeterminate plantlets. The implications of declining water content on the biomechanical properties of the culm, and concomitant limitations on the pseudoviviparous reproductive strategy, are discussed. Nomenclature of grass follows Hubbard

Elevated CO2 and N: effects on growth and photosynthesis of Dactylis Glomerata L.[abstract]

Growth responses of Dactylis glomerata L. at elevated [C02 ] (680 µmo! mo1• were analysed in controlled environments at two concentrations of nitrogen (1.5 and 6.0 m M N03-). The dry weight of plants grown at elevated [C02] was significantly increased at both levels of N-supply due to a transient increase in the relative growth rate during early stages of growth. The instantaneous decrease in leaf area ratio (LAR) and specific leaf area (SLA) of plants grown at elevated [C02] was not observed when growth was analysed allometrically. This suggests that the observed instantaneous decrease in L AR and SLA is due to the increase in dry weight of plants at elevated [CO2]. In order to test whether growth at elevated [CO,] results i n a reduction of the photosynthetic capacity (acclimation), the light-saturated response of the net CO, uptake (A) to intercellular C02 concentration (Ci) was determined for leaf 5, two days after full expansion. The in vivo maximum rate of carboxylation (V,,m,J and the CO,-saturated rate of photosynthesis (Am,J were significantly decreased in plants grown at elevated [C02] and low nitrogen (0.15 and 1.6mM (N03-). No effect of elevated [CO,] on V,;m°' and Arna, was observed when plants were grown at high nitrogen (1.5 and 6.0 mM >J03-). The observed acclimation at limited nitrogen supply may be due to the fact that plants grown at elevated [C02 J are bigger and therefore experience a more severe nitrogen deficiency

Elevated CO2 and temperature: effects on plant canopy development [abstract]

An experiment was conducted in a suite of eight Solardome glasshouses program med to provide a factorial combination of two levels of CO, concentrations (ambient and ambient plus 340 ppm) and two levels of temperature (ambient and ambient +3°C) with two replicates for each C02 x temperature combination. Plants were grown in 0.11 m diameter pots made from 1.5m lengths of drainage pipes, filled with washed silica sand and supplied with full strength Long Ashton solution. Combined and independent increases in [CO,J and temperature promoted leaf extension and increased final leaf length, particularly during the early stages of the growing season (July) the absence of any CO, effect on leaf extension later in the season (August) in Dactylis glomerata was possibly due to its large canopy, with leaf extension more closely coupled to canopy microclimate than externally imposed treatments. Elevated C02 concentrations had no significant effect on leaf numbers.Elevated temperature significantly increased leaf production in Helianthemum nummularium (p<0.05), but only in combination with an increase in [CO,] in Plantago lanceolata (p<0.05).Elevated CO, promoted early leaf senescence (p<0.05) with the exception of Poa alpina which was more sensitive to a 3"C increase in growth temperature (p<O.O I ). The greater sensitivity of P. alpina to elevated temperature than [CO,] may reflect its alpine habit. • Elevated [CO"] increased leaf size but not leaf n umber and promoted early leaf senescence in most species. • There was little evidence of any interaction between elevated [CO2] and temperature on plant canopy development

Reducing global warming potential through sustainable intensification of basmati rice-wheat systems in India.

This study examines the effects of tillage, residue management and cropping system intensification through the inclusion of green gram on the performance of the rice-wheat (RW) system in NW India. We hypothesized that zero tillage (ZT) with residue retention provides a means of sustainably intensifying the RW system through lower production costs and higher economic profitability, whilst at the same time minimizing soil and environmental trade-offs. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated six combinations of tillage, residue management and green gram integration in RW rotation in northwest Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India. Treatments included in the study were: rice and wheat under conventional tillage (CT) with and without green gram (CTR-CTW, CTR-CTW+GG), both crops under zero-tillage (ZT) with and without green gram (ZTR-ZTW-R, ZTR-ZTW-R+GG) and both crops under ZT plus residues with and without green gram (ZTR-ZTW+R, ZTR- ZTW+R+GG). Based on two consecutive years of data, the net return from the RW system was significantly higher in the ZT than CT systems. Methane emissions were only observed under flooded conditions in CT rice plots; otherwise, emissions were negligible in all other treatment combinations. N2O emissions were dictated by N fertilizer application with no other treatment effects. Overall, ZT with residue retention resulted in the lowest global warming potential (GWP) ranging from -3301 to -823 kg CO2-eq ha-1 year-1 compared to 4113 to 7917 kg CO2-eq ha-1 year-1 in other treatments. Operational inputs (tillage, planting, and irrigation) and soil C sequestration had significant effects on total GWP. The water footprint of RW production system was about 29% less in CA-based system compared to CT-based systems. Our study concludes that ZTR-ZTW+R and ZTR-ZTW+R+GG in RW systems of northwestern IGP have the potential to be agronomically productive, economically viable with benefits also for the environment in terms of soil health and GHG emissions