From Traditional Farming in Morocco to Early Urban Agroecology in Northern Mesopotamia: Combining Present-day Arable Weed Surveys and Crop Isotope Analysis to Reconstruct Past Agrosystems in (Semi-)arid Regions

Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis GroupWe integrate functional weed ecology with crop stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to assess their combined potential for inferring arable land management practices in (semi-)arid regions from archaeobotanical assemblages. Weed and GIS survey of 60 cereal and pulse fields in Morocco are combined with crop sampling for stable isotope analysis to frame assessment of agricultural labour intensity in terms of manuring, irrigation, tillage and hand-weeding. Under low management intensity weed variation primarily reflects geographical differences, whereas under high management intensity fields in disparate regions have similar weed flora. Manured and irrigated oasis barley fields are clearly discriminated from less intensively manured rain-fed barley terraces in southern Morocco; when fields in northern and southern Morocco are considered together, climatic differences are superimposed on the agronomic intensity gradient. Barley δ13C and δ15N values clearly distinguish among the Moroccan regimes. An integrated approach combines crop isotope values with weed ecological discrimination of low- and high-intensity regimes across multiple studies (in southern Morocco and southern Europe). Analysis of archaeobotanical samples from EBA Tell Brak, Syria suggests that this early city was sustained through extensive (low-intensity, large-scale) cereal farming

Computational modelling and experimental tank testing of the multi float WaveSub under regular wave forcing

A submerged wave device generates energy from the relative motion of floating bodies. In WaveSub, three floats are joined to a reactor; each connected to a spring and generator. Electricity generated damps the orbital movements of the floats. The forces are non-linear and each float interacts with the others. Tuning to the wave climate is achieved by changing the line lengths, so there is a need to understand the performance trade-offs for a large number of configurations. This requires an efficient, large displacement, multidirectional, multi-body numerical scheme. Results from a 1/25 scale wave basin experiment are described. Here, we show that a time domain linear potential flow formulation (Nemoh, WEC-Sim) can match the tank testing provided that suitably tuned drag coefficients are employed. Inviscid linear potential models can match some wave device experiments; however, additional viscous terms generally provide better accuracy. Scale experiments are also prone to mechanical friction, and we estimate friction terms to improve the correlation further. The resulting error in mean power between numerical and physical models is approximately 10%. Predicted device movement shows a good match. Overall, drag terms in time domain wave energy modelling will improve simulation accuracy in wave renewable energy device design

Computational modelling and experimental tank testing of the multi float WaveSub under regular wave forcing

A submerged wave device generates energy from the relative motion of floating bodies. In 1 WaveSub, three floats are joined to a reactor; each connected to a spring and generator. Electricity generated 2 damps the orbital movements of the floats. The forces are non-linear and each float interacts with the others. 3 Tuning to the wave climate is achieved by changing the line lengths so there is a need to understand the 4 performance trade-offs for a large number of configurations. This requires an efficient, large displacement, 5 multidirectional, multi-body numerical scheme. Results from a 1/25 scale wave basin experiment are described. 6 Here we show that a time domain linear potential flow formulation (Nemoh, WEC-Sim) can match the tank 7 testing provided that suitably tuned drag coefficients are employed. Inviscid linear potential models can match 8 some wave device experiments, however, additional viscous terms generally provide better accuracy. Scale 9 experiments are also prone to mechanical friction and we estimate friction terms to improve the correlation 10 further. The resulting error in mean power between numerical and physical models is approximately 10%. 11 Predicted device movement shows a good match. Overall, drag terms in time domain wave energy modelling 12 will improve simulation accuracy in wave renewable energy device design

Pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen in man IV: Absorption and disposition

Fifteen normal male volunters received 400, 800, and 1200 mg doses of ibuprofen as 1, 2, or 3 tablets, respectively, in crossover fashion, then 420 mg in solution form during the fourth week. Plasma concentration of ibuprofen was measured by an HPLC method. Individual subject concentration-time (C,t) data following the solution were analyzed by two different methods, and results unequivocally indicated the open two compartment model with first order absorption. However, the computer fitting of both arithmetic and geometric mean concentrations led to a different model. A method was developed to obtain absorption data (fraction of drug absorbed , F a , versus time) for a multicompartmental system from oral data alone, without intravenous data. The method assumes that V p is constant intrasubject and that absorption is complete following administration of both the solution and tablets. The method was successfully applied to the ibuprofen tablet data. It was shown also that such a method is necessary to obtain ibuprofen absorption data since intrasubject variation of the microscopic rate constants k 12 , k a21 , and k el ( as reflected by the intrasubject variation of the hybrid rate parameters λ 1 and λ 2 or Β and a) is of the same order of magnitude as intersubject variation. Absorption of ibuprofen from tablets was shown not to be simple first order as for the solution. The absorption profiles following one tablet were S- shaped, while those following 2 or 3 tablets had partial linear segments indicating zero order absorption .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45032/1/10928_2005_Article_BF01062664.pd

Pre-agricultural plant management in the uplands of the central Zagros: the archaeobotanical evidence from Sheikh-e Abad

Prior to the emergence of agriculture in southwest Asia, sedentarising human communities were experimenting with a diverse range of wild plant species over a prolonged period. In some cases, this involved the cultivation of species that would go on to be domesticated and form the foundation of future agricultural economies. However, many forms of plant use did not follow this trajectory, and in multiple places farming was only taken up later as an established ‘package’. In this paper, we present new archaeobotanical evidence from the Early Neolithic site of Sheikh-e Abad in the central Zagros of western Iran. Sheikh-e Abad is unique in being the only settlement known to date within southwest Asia that lies at an altitude above 1000m and which has occupation spanning the agricultural transition. Thus, it provides a rare opportunity to examine pre-agricultural plant management strategies in an upland zone. Our analyses of the plant remains from Sheikh-e Abad suggest that from its earliest occupation inhabitants were unconsciously ‘auditioning’ a suite of locally available wild grasses which ultimately were never domesticated. We discuss the possible reasons for this from a socio-ecological perspective, considering both the biology and ecology of the plant species in question, as well as the ways in which they were potentially managed

Sports coaching and the law of negligence: implications for coaching practice

The ordinary principles of the law of negligence are applicable in the context of sport, including claims brought against volunteer and professional coaches. Adopting the perspective of the coach, this article intends to raise awareness of the emerging intersection between the law of negligence and sports coaching, by utilising an interdisciplinary analysis designed to better safeguard and reassure coaches mindful of legal liability. Detailed scrutiny of two cases concerning alleged negligent coaching, with complementary discussion of some of the ethical dilemmas facing modern coaches, reinforces the legal duty and obligation of all coaches to adopt objectively reasonable and justifiable coaching practices when interacting with athletes. Problematically, since research suggests that some coaching practice may be underpinned by ‘entrenched legitimacy’ and ‘uncritical inertia’, it is argued that coach education and training should place a greater emphasis on developing a coach’s awareness and understanding of the evolving legal context in which they discharge the duty of care incumbent upon them

Stereoselective, competitive, and nonlinear plasma protein binding of ibuprofen enantiomers as determined in vivo in healthy subjects

The plasma protein binding and competitive inhibition parameters of R(−)- and S(+)-ibuprofen were determined in vivo in 12 healthy subjects. Subjects participated in a 4×4 Latin square design in which oral solutions of drug were administered as 300 mg R (−)-ibuprofen, 300 mg S (+)-ibuprofen, 300 mg R (−)-+300 mg S (+)-ibuprofen, and 300 mg R(−)-+600 mg S (+)-ibuprofen. Unlabeled ibuprofen enantiomers were quantitated using a stereospecific reversed-phase HPLC assay, and plasma protein binding experiments were performed using radiolabeled 14 C-enantiomers and an ultrafiltration method at 37C. At therapeutic drug concentrations, the protein binding of each enantiomer was greater than 99%. Furthermore, the binding of ibuprofen enantiomers was Stereoselective and mutually competitive, as well as nonlinear. The bound-free data were fitted to a model in which the non-linearity of plasma protein binding and competition between enantiomers for binding sites could be accommodated. There were substantial differences in the affinity of ibuprofen enantiomers for protein binding sites (RP2=0.358±0.185 vs. SP2=0.979 ±0.501 μg/ml; X±SD) but no differences in their binding capacity (RP1=160±86 vs. SP1=161 ±63 μg/ml). Although statistically significant, the differences in competitive inhibition parameters were more modest (SKI=0.661 ±0.363 vs. RKI=0.436 ±0.210 μg/ml). As a result, the intrinsic binding (i.e.), P1/P2J of R(−)-ibuprofen was greater than S(±)-ibuprofen, and the unbound fraction was significantly greater for S-enantiomer vs. R-enantiomer after a given dose of R-ibuprofen or racemate.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45048/1/10928_2005_Article_BF01059767.pd

Recent developments in protein–ligand affinity mass spectrometry

This review provides an overview of direct and indirect technologies to screen protein–ligand interactions with mass spectrometry. These technologies have as a key feature the selection or affinity purification of ligands in mixtures prior to detection. Specific fields of interest for these technologies are metabolic profiling of bioactive metabolites, natural extract screening, and the screening of libraries for bioactives, such as parallel synthesis libraries and small combichem libraries. The review addresses the principles of each of the methods discussed, with a focus on developments in recent years, and the applicability of the methods to lead generation and development in drug discovery

The Connor Legacy - The First R.F.X Connor Memorial Lecture

E.G. Whitlam, The Connor Legacy - The First R.F.X. Connor Memorial Lecture, University of Wollongong Historical Journal, 3(1), 1979. Delivered by the Hon. E.G. Whitlam, A.C., Q.C. in the Union Hall of the University of Wollongong 26 September, 1979.https://ro.uow.edu.au/rfxconnor/1000/thumbnail.jp