1,609 research outputs found
Mineral exploration in the Lower Palaeozoic rocks of south-west Cumbria. Part 1, regional surveys
The results of geochemical, geological and geophysical surveys over Lower Palaeozoic rocks in the
south-western part of Cumbria are given in two reports. This report (Part 1) describes the results of a
geochemical drainage survey and an examination of mineralised sites, and relates them to information
from new geological mapping and an assessment of regional geophysical data. Part 2 contains details
of follow-up surveys in the Black Combe inlier.
The geochemical drainage survey, involving the collection and analysis of heavy mineral concentrates
and stream sediment samples from 119 sites, found substantial antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth,
copper, iron, lead, tin, tungsten and zinc anomalies. Gold was reported for the first time from this part
of the Lake District: small amounts were noted in panned concentrates from five sites. Other minerals
identified in panned concentrates included arsenopyrite, baryte, bismutite, bismuthinite, cassiterite,
chalcopyrite, cerussite, pyrite, pyromorphite, scheelite, sphalerite, stolzite and wolfram&e.
The examination of old workings and outcrops revealed many undocumented occurrences of quartzsulphide
vein-style mineralisation. The chemical analysis of samples taken from old workings and
other occurrences confirmed field observations that locally, particularly in the Black Combe area, this
mineralisation is polymetallic with variable amounts of arsenic, gold, bismuth, copper, lead, zinc and
in a few cases antimony, barium, cobalt, nickel, tungsten and tin. Iron mineralisation occurs both as
oxide (hematite) and sulphide deposits. Mercury was present in appreciable amounts in samples from
the High Brow pyrite mine.
The distribution of panned concentrate anomalies suggests that the vein-style mineralisation is
polyphase and that individual phases may be zoned. Highest zinc anomalies occur near Torver and the
highest lead on the west side of Black Combe. Tin and tungsten are restricted largely to the central
part of Black Combe, and the most prominent arsenic and bismuth anomalies are found in the same
area. Copper anomalies are widespread over the Skiddaw Group and the Borrowdale Volcanic Group.
Barium anomalies indicate that baryte mineralisation is weak and localised, occurring principally
within the Black Combe area and close to the Windermere Supergroup basal unconformity. Iron
oxides from host rocks and hematite mineralisation are responsible for local enrichments of iron,
antimony, arsenic and molybdenum in panned concentrates
An exploration of policies and practices used to showcase production facilities
Manufacturers who seek innovative ways in which to differentiate their products and services should not overlook the value of showcasing their production facilities. By careful design, visitors can be exposed to a series of experiences that can help to emphasize the value built into products. This topic has, however, received almost no attention by manufacturing researchers. Therefore, this paper describes a study of six manufacturers and, from this, proposes a set of guidelines for showcasing production facilities. Although exploratory, this work provides both a guide to manufacturers and a platform for more in-depth research. The guidelines and the case studies on which they are based are all described within the paper
Use of MRI in the diagnosis of fetal brain abnormalities in utero (MERIDIAN): a multicentre, prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND: In-utero MRI (iuMRI) has shown promise as an adjunct to ultrasound but the comparative diagnostic performance has been poorly defined. We aimed to assess whether the diagnostic accuracy and confidence of the prenatal diagnosis of fetal brain abnormalities is improved with iuMRI and assess the clinical impact and patient acceptability of iuMRI. METHODS: We did a multicentre, prospective, cohort study in the UK, at 16 fetal medicine centres, of pregnant women aged 16 years or older whose fetus had a brain abnormality detected by ultrasound at a gestational age of 18 weeks or more, had no contraindications to iuMRI, and consented to enter the study. Women carrying a fetus suspected of having a brain anomaly on ultrasound had iuMRI done within 14 days of ultrasound. The findings were reviewed by two independent panels and used to estimate diagnostic accuracy and confidence by comparison with outcome diagnoses. Changes in diagnosis, prognosis, and clinical management brought about by iuMRI and patient acceptability were assessed. FINDINGS: Participants were recruited between July 29, 2011, and Aug 31, 2014. The cohort was subdivided by gestation into the 18 weeks to less than 24 weeks fetus cohort (n=369) and into the 24 weeks or older fetus cohort (n=201). Diagnostic accuracy was improved by 23% (95% CI 18-27) in the 18 weeks to less than 24 weeks group and 29% (23-36) in the 24 weeks and older group (p<0·0001 for both groups). The overall diagnostic accuracy was 68% for ultrasound and 93% for iuMRI (difference 25%, 95% CI 21-29). Dominant diagnoses were reported with high confidence on ultrasound in 465 (82%) of 570 cases compared with 544 (95%) of 570 cases on iuMRI. IuMRI provided additional diagnostic information in 387 (49%) of 783 cases, changed prognostic information in at least 157 (20%), and led to changes in clinical management in more than one in three cases. IuMRI also had high patient acceptability with at least 95% of women saying they would have an iuMRI study if a future pregnancy were complicated by a fetal brain abnormality. INTERPRETATION: iuMRI improves diagnostic accuracy and confidence for fetal brain anomalies and leads to management changes in a high proportion of cases. This finding, along with the high patient acceptability, leads us to propose that any fetus with a suspected brain abnormality on ultrasound should have iuMRI to better inform counselling and management decisions. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme
Sexually dimorphic tibia shape is linked to natural osteoarthritis in STR/Ort mice
Human osteoarthritis (OA) is detected only at late stages. Male STR/Ort mice develop knee OA spontaneously with known longitudinal trajectory, offering scope to identify OA predisposing factors. We exploit the lack of overt OA in female STR/Ort and in both sexes of parental, control CBA mice to explore whether early divergence in tibial bone mass or shape are linked to emergent OA
Thinking about growth : a cognitive mapping approach to understanding small business development
School of Managemen
Dynamic Critical Behavior of the Chayes-Machta Algorithm for the Random-Cluster Model. I. Two Dimensions
We study, via Monte Carlo simulation, the dynamic critical behavior of the
Chayes-Machta dynamics for the Fortuin-Kasteleyn random-cluster model, which
generalizes the Swendsen-Wang dynamics for the q-state Potts ferromagnet to
non-integer q \ge 1. We consider spatial dimension d=2 and 1.25 \le q \le 4 in
steps of 0.25, on lattices up to 1024^2, and obtain estimates for the dynamic
critical exponent z_{CM}. We present evidence that when 1 \le q \lesssim 1.95
the Ossola-Sokal conjecture z_{CM} \ge \beta/\nu is violated, though we also
present plausible fits compatible with this conjecture. We show that the
Li-Sokal bound z_{CM} \ge \alpha/\nu is close to being sharp over the entire
range 1 \le q \le 4, but is probably non-sharp by a power. As a byproduct of
our work, we also obtain evidence concerning the corrections to scaling in
static observables.Comment: LaTeX2e, 75 pages including 26 Postscript figure
From Majorana theory of atomic autoionization to Feshbach resonances in high temperature superconductors
The Ettore Majorana paper - Theory of incomplete P triplets- published in
1931, focuses on the role of selection rules for the non-radiative decay of two
electron excitations in atomic spectra, involving the configuration interaction
between discrete and continuum channels. This work is a key step for
understanding the 1935 work of Ugo Fano on the asymmetric lineshape of two
electron excitations and the 1958 Herman Feshbach paper on the shape resonances
in nuclear scattering arising from configuration interaction between many
different scattering channels. The Feshbach resonances are today of high
scientific interest in many different fields and in particular for ultracold
gases and high Tc superconductivity.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. Journal of Superconductivity and Novel Magnetism
to be publishe
Rhizosphere-scale quantification of hydraulic and mechanical properties of soil impacted by root and seed exudates
Using rhizosphere-scale physical measurements we test the hypothesis that plant exudates gel together soil particles and on drying they enhance soil water repellency. Barley and maize root exudates were compared with chia seed exudate, a commonly used root exudate analogue. Sandy loam and clay loam soils were treated with root exudates at 0.46 and 4.6 mg exudate g-1 dry soil, and chia seed exudate at 0.046, 0.46, 0.92, 2.3 and 4.6 mg exudate g-1 dry soil. Soil hardness and modulus of elasticity were measured at -10 kPa matric potential using a 3 mm diameter spherical indenter. Water sorptivity and repellency index of air-dry soil were measured using a miniaturized infiltrometer device with a 1 mm tip radius. Soil hardness increased by 28% for barley root exudate, 62% for maize root exudate, and 86% for chia seed exudate at 4.6 mg g-1 concentration for sandy loam soil. For a clay loam soil, root exudates did not affect soil hardness, whereas chia seed exudate increased soil hardness by 48% at 4.6 mg g-1concentration. Soil water repellency increased by 48% for chia seed exudate and 23% for maize root exudate, but not for barley root exudate at 4.6 mg g-1 concentration for sandy loam soil. For clay loam soil, chia seed exudate increased water repellency by 45%, whereas root exudates did not affect water repellency at 4.6 mg g-1concentration. Water sorptivity and repellency were both correlated with hardness, presumably due to the combined influence of exudates on hydrological and mechanical properties of soils
Origin and Evolution of Saturn's Ring System
The origin and long-term evolution of Saturn's rings is still an unsolved
problem in modern planetary science. In this chapter we review the current
state of our knowledge on this long-standing question for the main rings (A,
Cassini Division, B, C), the F Ring, and the diffuse rings (E and G). During
the Voyager era, models of evolutionary processes affecting the rings on long
time scales (erosion, viscous spreading, accretion, ballistic transport, etc.)
had suggested that Saturn's rings are not older than 100 My. In addition,
Saturn's large system of diffuse rings has been thought to be the result of
material loss from one or more of Saturn's satellites. In the Cassini era, high
spatial and spectral resolution data have allowed progress to be made on some
of these questions. Discoveries such as the ''propellers'' in the A ring, the
shape of ring-embedded moonlets, the clumps in the F Ring, and Enceladus' plume
provide new constraints on evolutionary processes in Saturn's rings. At the
same time, advances in numerical simulations over the last 20 years have opened
the way to realistic models of the rings's fine scale structure, and progress
in our understanding of the formation of the Solar System provides a
better-defined historical context in which to understand ring formation. All
these elements have important implications for the origin and long-term
evolution of Saturn's rings. They strengthen the idea that Saturn's rings are
very dynamical and rapidly evolving, while new arguments suggest that the rings
could be older than previously believed, provided that they are regularly
renewed. Key evolutionary processes, timescales and possible scenarios for the
rings's origin are reviewed in the light of tComment: Chapter 17 of the book ''Saturn After Cassini-Huygens'' Saturn from
Cassini-Huygens, Dougherty, M.K.; Esposito, L.W.; Krimigis, S.M. (Ed.) (2009)
537-57
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