A proposal to determine properties of the gravitropic response of plants in the absence of a complicating g-force (GTHRES)

Gravitropic responses of oat seedlings (Avena sativa L.) were measured on Earth and in microgravity (IML-1). The seedlings were grown at 1 g either on Earth or on 1 g centrifuges. They were challenged by centripetal accelerations for which the intensity and duration of the stimulations were varied. All stimulation intensities were in the hypogravity region from 0.1 to 1.0 g. All responses occurred either in Spacelab microgravity or during clinorotation on Earth. The experiments were carried out with the same apparatus in Spacelab and on Earth. The experiments addressed a series of scientific questions and useful data were obtained to provide answers to some but not all of those questions

Open resources for case studies and assignments

Resources not designed for educational use can be successfully used educationally. For example, publications by bodies such as the United Nations or government departments can be rich resources for case studies and assignments in an educational context. Such resources are often freely available on the web, and so can be considered open educational resources. The use of this type of resource for case studies and assignments is considered in the context of two related level-3 modules (final year undergraduate) produced by the UK Open University. Both modules are concerned with digital technology, and both situate the technology in a wider social context. Both courses are also concerned with developing students’ skills of independent investigation. The prime benefits of this type of resource are shown to be their authenticity and authority. In using these resources, students are dealing with materials that are often produced and used by professional practitioners. However, there are potential pitfalls: students often need a great deal of help to make good use of these resources, and the resources are liable to change or disappear from the web unpredictably. The paper concludes that using this type of open educational resource should not be seen as a time-saver or an easy option for course designers. Instead, as with other open educational resources, using these resources can present course designers with problems of location, selection and incorporation. That is, where can suitable resources be found, which parts can be used successfully, and how can these resources be incorporated into resources created by the course designers themselves

A new indicator mineral methodology based on a generic Bi-Pb-Te-S mineral inclusion signature in detrital gold from porphyry and low/intermediate sulfidation epithermal environments in Yukon Territory, Canada

Porphyry-epithermal and orogenic gold are two of the most important styles of gold-bearing mineralization within orogenic belts. Populations of detrital gold resulting from bulk erosion of such regions may exhibit a compositional continuum wherein Ag, Cu, and Hg in the gold alloy may vary across the full range exhibited by natural gold. This paper describes a new methodology whereby orogenic and porphyry-epithermal gold may be distinguished according to the mineralogy of microscopic inclusions observed within detrital gold particles. A total of 1459 gold grains from hypogene, eluvial, and placer environments around calc-alkaline porphyry deposits in Yukon (Nucleus-Revenue, Casino, Sonora Gulch, and Cyprus-Klaza) have been characterized in terms of their alloy compositions (Au, Ag, Cu, and Hg) and their inclusion mineralogy. Despite differences in the evolution of the different magmatic hydrothermal systems, the gold exhibits a clear Bi-Pb-Te-S mineralogy in the inclusion suite, a signature which is either extremely weak or (most commonly) absent in both Yukon orogenic gold and gold from orogenic settings worldwide. Generic systematic compositional changes in ore mineralogy previously identified across the porphyry-epithermal transition have been identified in the corresponding inclusion suites observed in samples from Yukon. However, the Bi-Te association repeatedly observed in gold from the porphyry mineralization persists into the epithermal environment. Ranges of P-T-X conditions are replicated in the geological environments which define generic styles of mineralization. These parameters influence both gold alloy composition and ore mineralogy, of which inclusion suites are a manifestation. Consequently, we propose that this methodology approach can underpin a widely applicable indicator methodology based on detrital gold

Development and preliminary validation of a tool measuring concordance and belief about performing pressure-relieving activities for pressure ulcer prevention in spinal cord injury

Objective: To develop and examine the reliability, and validity of a questionnaire measuring concordance for performing pressure-relief for pressure ulcer (PrU) prevention in people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Methods: Phase I included item development, content and face validity testing. In phase II, the questionnaire was evaluated for preliminary acceptability, reliability and validity among 48 wheelchair users with SCI. Results: Thirty-seven items were initially explored. Item and factor analysis resulted in a final 26-item questionnaire with four factors reflecting concordance, perceived benefits, perceived negative consequences, and personal practical barriers to performing pressure-relief activities. The internal consistency reliability for four domains were very good (Cronbach's α = .75-.89). Pearson correlation coefficient on a test-retest of the same subjects yielded significant correlations in concordance (r = .91, p = .005), perceived benefit (r = .71, p < .04), perceived negative consequences (r = .98, p < .0001), personal barriers (r = .93, p= .002). Participants with higher levels of concordance reported a greater amount of pressure-relieving performed. Individuals viewing PrU as a threatening illness were associated with higher scores of concordance and tended to report a greater amount of pressure-relieving performance which provides evidence of criterion related validity. Conclusion: The new questionnaire demonstrated good preliminary reliability and validity in people with SCI. Further evaluation is necessary to confirm these findings using larger samples with follow-up data for predictive validity. Such a questionnaire could be used by clinicians to identify high risk of patients and to design individualised education programme for PrU prevention

Does stakeholder involvement really benefit biodiversity conservation?

The establishment of protected areas, such as Natura 2000, is a common approach to curbing biodiversity loss. But many of these areas are owned or managed by private actors. Policies indicate that their involvement should be encouraged to ensure long term success. However, to date there have been no systematic evaluations of whether local actor involvement in the management of protected areas does in fact contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, which is the expressed policy goal. Research incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data was carried out in three case studies in Scotland where local actor input was required in the development and/or implementation of Natura 2000 management plans. No relationship was found between the characteristics of the process of stakeholder involvement and stakeholders’ perceptions of future biodiversity outcomes. Social outcomes of increased stakeholder involvement, such as increased trust, did however increase the perceived likelihood of positive future biodiversity outcomes. The findings indicate that efforts aimed at increasing stakeholder involvement in the management of protected areas need to consider making processes more independent, and acknowledge and address underlying biodiversity conflicts. The findings also emphasise the need to evaluate multi-level conservation efforts in terms of processes, social outcomes and biodiversity outcomes

Minor early embryonic chick hemoglobin M. Amino acid sequences of the epsilon and alpha D chains

Erythrocytes of the early chick embryo contain four hemoglobins, two major and two minor. In this paper, we present amino acid sequences for the beta-like and alpha-like chains of HbM, the least abundant of the four early chick hemoglobins. The complete amino acid sequence of the beta-like chain of HbM is identical with that of the epsilon chain of HbE, the other minor early embryonic hemoglobin in the domestic chicken. Analysis of the alpha-like chain of HbM (92 of 141 residues) reveals a globin sequence closely related to the minor adult alpha D chain. Comparison of our sequence data with the nucleotide sequence of the alpha D globin gene suggests that a single gene encodes both the embryonic and adult alpha D globin polypeptides. We discuss the structure, possible function, and evolution of the HbM globin chains

Complete amino acid sequence of the major early embryonic beta-like globin in chickens

The rho globin is the major beta-like chain found in 5-day-old chick embryos. In association with two unique early embryonic alpha-like globins, it forms the two major hemoglobins of early chick development. This paper presents the complete amino acid sequence of the rho globin. There are no amino acid differences between the rho chain and the adult chicken beta chain at known Bohr effect or organophosphate-binding positions, and there are only 19 differences altogether. The rho globin ought to be functionally equivalent to the adult chicken beta globin. Since the adult and embryonic chains are very similar in sequence, they may be products of a relatively recent gene duplication in the chicken beta globin gene family. The possibility of a gene correction event is discussed

Amino acid sequences of the epsilon and alpha E globins of HbE, a minor early embryonic hemoglobin of the chicken

We have determined amino acid sequences for the alpha-like and beta- like globin components of HbE, one of the two minor hemoglobins in early chick embryos. The complete primary structure of the epsilon chain differs at 18 positions from the adult chicken beta globin, but there are no changes in heme-binding residues, alpha 1 beta 2 contact positions, or allosteric regulatory sites. By amino acid sequence analysis, we have identified a new alpha-like globin that we have called alpha E. The alpha E globin chain differs from the major adult alpha A chain at 22 amino acid positions. This paper discusses the structural and implied functional characteristics of these globins and presents hypotheses regarding the possible role of minor embryonic hemoglobins