World minerals trade:a comment

This purely descriptive note discusses various aspects of world trade in minerals. It is not aimed at specialist mineral economists who may extract any detailed trade figures they require from the United Nations’ Comtrade database. Rather it is directed to all those who might use readily available aggregate data on minerals trade for broad analyses of the minerals industry. It starts from the most commonly quoted estimates of minerals trade before looking at some of the issues surrounding those measures and highlighting some of the pitfalls involved. It then examines both the product composition and geographical origins of minerals trade and how it has developed over the past half century. The concluding sections turn to a discussion of the merits and demerits of various measures of mineral dependence.</p

The Thoracic Morphology of Archostemata and the Relationships of the Extant Suborders of Coleoptera (Hexapoda)

Thoracic structures of Tetraphalerus bruchi are described in detail. The results were compared with features found in other representatives of Archostemata and other coleopteran suborders. Differences between thoracic structures of Tetraphalerus and members of other archostematan subgroups are discussed. External and internal characters of larval and adult representatives of 37 genera of the coleopteran suborders are outlined, coded and analysed cladistically, with four groups of Neuropterida as outgroup taxa. The results strongly suggest the branching pattern Archostemata + [Adephaga + (Myxophaga + Polyphaga)]. Coleoptera excluding Archostemata are supported with a high Bremer support. Important evolutionary changes linked with this branching event are simplifications of the thoracic skeleton resulting in reduced degrees of freedom (i.e. a restricted movability, especially at the leg bases), and a distinct simplification of the muscle system. This development culminates in Polyphaga, which are also strongly supported as a clade. Internalization of the partly reduced propleura, further muscle losses, and the fusion of the mesoventrites and metaventrites—with reversal in Scirtoidea and Derodontidae—are autapomorphies of Polyphaga. Archostemata is a small relict group in contrast to highly successful xylobiontic groups of Polyphaga. The less efficient thoracic locomotor apparatus, the lack of cryptonephric Malpighian tubules, and the rise of angiosperms with beetle groups primarily adjusted to them may have contributed to the decline of Archostemata.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

Interpreting the Outsider Tradition in British European Policy Speeches from Thatcher to Cameron

The article investigates how British European policy thinking has been informed by what it identifies as an ‘outsider’ tradition of thinking about ‘Europe’ in British foreign policy dating from imperial times to the presen. The article begins by delineating five phases in the evolution of the outsider tradition through a survey of the relevant historiography back to 1815. The article then examines how prime ministers from Margaret Thatcher to David Cameron have looked to various inflections of the outsider tradition to inform their European discourses. The focus in the speech data sections is on British identity, history and the realist appreciation of international politics that informed the leaders’ suggestions for EEC/EU reform. The central argument is that historically informed narratives such as those making up the outsider tradition do not determine opinion-formers’ outlooks, but that they can be deeply impervious to rapid change

Interference coloration as an anti-predator defence

Interference coloration, in which the perceived colour varies predictably with the angle of illumination or observation, is extremely widespread across animal groups. However, despite considerable advances in our understanding of the mechanistic basis of interference coloration in animals, we still have a poor understanding of its function. Here, I show, using avian predators hunting dynamic virtual prey, that the presence of interference coloration can significantly reduce a predator's attack success. Predators required more pecks to successfully catch interference-coloured prey compared with otherwise identical prey items that lacked interference coloration, and attacks against prey with interference colours were less accurate, suggesting that changes in colour or brightness caused by prey movement hindered a predator's ability to pinpoint their exact location. The pronounced antipredator benefits of interference coloration may explain why it has evolved independently so many times. © 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved

Introduction: Interpreting British European Policy

Britain has had particular problems reconciling itself to the idea of being a ‘European’ actor and a wholehearted member of the EEC/EU since 1973. Now, potentially, the ‘awkward partner’, is edging towards the exit door of the EU because a membership referendum is an increasingly likely prospect in the coming years. The aim of this special issue is to consider how we can account for the present state of affairs by adopting an interpretivist perspective on British European policy over the past four decades. The article begins with a comprehensive review of the extant literature on Britain and Europe, and an elaboration of the ‘traditions and dilemmas’ framework within which the contributors have studied the empirical material in their articles. It then explains the major themes that connect the articles and suggests how future research might build on the agenda proposed in this special issue

Investigating TNT loss between sample collection and analysis

Explosives residues are often collected from explosion scenes, and from surfaces suspected of being in contact with explosives, by swabbing with solvent-wetted cotton swabs. It is vital that any explosives traces present on the swabs are successfully extracted and detected when received in a laboratory. However, a 2007 proficiency test initiated by the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) Expert Working Group on Explosives involving TNT-spiked cotton swabs highlighted that explosives may not always be detected from such samples. This paper outlines work performed to determine potential reasons for this finding. Cotton swabs were spiked using a solution of TNT and stored in nylon bags and glass vials for periods of 1, 2 and 4weeks. Simulated swab extracts were also prepared and investigated. The samples were stored in a freezer, or at room temperature either in the dark or exposed to daylight. Overall, the cotton swabs stored at room temperature and exposed to daylight showed a very rapid loss of TNT over time, whereas cotton swabs stored in the freezer, and all simulated swab extracts, gave high recoveries over time. These results will be of benefit for practicing forensic explosives laboratories and for persons undertaking cold-case reviews involving explosive-based samples.</p

Autologous fat grafting for treating lipoatrophy secondary to lupus erythematosus panniculitis

AbstractLupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) is an uncommon variant of LE and accounts for only 1–3% of cutaneous LE cases. LEP lesions often heal with cutaneous scarring and lipoatrophy resulting in disfigurement. Studies regarding the treatment of permanent lipoatrophy and disfigurement caused by LEP are lacking in the literature. Here, we report our experience with a rare case of lipoatrophy caused by LEP that was treated using autologous fat grafting. A 41-year-old woman presented with indurated, flesh-colored, depressed plaques on both buttocks. After a series of investigations, LEP was diagnosed by a rheumatologist. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a markedly decreased volume of the subcutaneous fatty layer and thickening over the covering cutis. After the inflammatory disease was controlled, we attempted to restore her body contour with autologous fat grafting. We arranged an MRI study after a follow-up period of 12 months. The volume of subcutaneous fat was calculated by integrating cross-sectional area data from consecutive images. The patient was satisfied with her body contour following the injection of 350 mL of fat into the right buttock and 50 mL into the left buttock in a two-stage procedure. No complications were observed following the procedure. Follow-up laboratory results were negative for anti-double-stranded DNA antibody and showed normal complement levels. After a follow-up period of 12 months, no nodules or disease reactivation was noted. The MRI showed a marked improvement in the volume of the subcutaneous fat of the buttock, and the survival ratio of transferred fat was calculated to be 65%. Lipoatrophy secondary to LEP is a rare disease that can cause distress to patients. Autologous fat grafting is a simple, fast, and effective method for alleviating depression deformities in patients with LEP. It has a potentially long-lasting effect in treating patients with permanent lipoatrophy and disfigurement caused by LEP but should be preferably performed only in patients with quiescent disease

Prospects for the Minerals Industry: A View from a Mining Company

SUMMARY During the past decade the minerals industry has faced persistent excess capacity largely because investment took place in advance of an expected growth of demand which failed to materialise. Prices have consequently been driven below the variable cost of production of much capacity. In consequence, the industry has been forced to cut its costs and raise productivity. Slackened economic activity has mainly caused the slowing growth of demand for minerals, and there is a reasonable prospect that demand will accelerate during the 1990s. In any case, attrition of existing mines provides scope for new developments. Mining companies have responded to the lengthy recession through diversification, cost reductions, and greater selectivity. Investment in mineral deposits has been greatly reduced with all potential investors considerably more selective than hitherto about potential projects. RESUME Perspectives d'Avenir pour l'Industrie des Minéraux: Opinion d'une Compagnie Minière Durant les dix dernières années, l'industrie des minéraux a fait face à un constant excès dans le rendement, essentiellement parce que les investissements ont eu lieu par anticipation d'une augmentation de la demande qui ne s'est pas matérialisée. Les prix sont donc tombés au dessous du coût variable de production de bien du rendement. En conséquence, l'industrie a été obligée de réduire ses dépenses et d'augmenter la production. La relâche de l'activité économique a essentiellement causé le ralentissement de l'expansion des demandes en minéraux, et il est raisonable d'espérer que la demande va s'accélérer dans les années 1980. En tout cas, l'attrition des mines existantes offre la possibilité de nouveaux développements. Les compagnies minières ont réagi; à la récession par la diversification, les réductions des dépenses et une plus grande sélectivité. L'investissement dans les gisements minéraux a été largement réduit et les actionnaires possibles considérablement plus sélectifs en ce qui concerne les projets potentiels qu'ils ne l'avaient été jusqu'ici. RESUMEN Prospectos para la mineria. La visión de una compañia minera Durante la década pasada la minería experimentó persistentes excesos de capacidad, debido básicamente a que la inversión se efectuó anticipando un crecimiento de la damanda, que no se materializó. Consecuentamente, los precios descendieron por debajo del nivel de los costos variables de producción, de capacidad excesiva. Como resultado, la industria fue forzada a disminuir sus costos y a aumentar su productividad. La disminución de la actividad económica fue la causa principal de la disminución del crecimiento de la demanda de minerales, existiendo en la actualidad, una prospección razonable de que la demanda aumentará durante la década de 1990. En cualquier caso, el agotamiento de las minas existentes provee un campo de aplicación para nuevos desarrollos. Las compañias mineras respondieron a la extensa recesión con diversificación, reducción de costos y mayor selección. Las inversiones en depósitos minerales se han reducido considerablemente por parte de los inversionistas potenciales, ahora más selectivos sobre los proyectos potenciales