8,653 research outputs found
Small mammal survey on agricultural land during conversion and into full organic production
This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. Loss of food and suitable habitat due to modern intensive farming and the decline of mixed farming systems has lead to a reduction in numbers of small mammals on farmland in the UK. Organic production systems are believed to encourage biodiversity. Small mammal surveys were carried out on Coswinsawsin Organic Demonstration Farm in November 1999, April and November 2000 and October 2001. 50 Longworth traps were set in pairs at 5 metre intervals along a hedgerow and checked morning and evening for three days. Trapped mammals were identified, weighed and with the exception of shrews, marked by a small fur clip before release. The wood mouse was the most prevalent species trapped. Other species included the bank vole, the field vole and the common shrew. The highest number of shrews was caught during the April survey. No change in population size or species diversity was demonstrated
Tidal End States of Binary Asteroid Systems with a Nonspherical Component
We derive the locations of the fully synchronous end states of tidal
evolution for binary asteroid systems having one spherical component and one
oblate- or prolate-spheroid component. Departures from a spherical shape, at
levels observed among binary asteroids, can result in the lack of a stable
tidal end state for particular combinations of the system mass fraction and
angular momentum, in which case the binary must collapse to contact. We
illustrate our analytical results with near-Earth asteroids (8567) 1996 HW1,
(66391) 1999 KW4, and 69230 Hermes.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, published in Icaru
An enigmatic microorganism from the Upper Pennsylvanian Grand-Croix cherts (Saint-Etienne Basin, France)
Girl or boy? Prenatal lead, cadmium and mercury exposure and the secondary sex ratio in the ALSPAC study
AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury levels on the secondary sex ratio. Whole blood samples were collected from pregnant women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) study at a median gestational age of 11 weeks and were analyzed for lead, cadmium and mercury. Regression analysis was used to identify associations between maternal lead, cadmium and mercury levels and the secondary sex ratio with adjustment for confounders. There was no evidence for associations between maternal lead, cadmium or mercury levels and the secondary sex ratio in this sample. It appears unlikely that alterations in the secondary sex ratio are influenced by exposure to heavy metals, but further work should be done in large cohorts in other countries to confirm these findings
Adverse effects of maternal lead levels on birth outcomes in the ALSPAC study:a prospective birth cohort study
Evaluating the Early Years Sector Endorsed Foundation Degree : a qualitative study of employers' and mentors' experiences
Intake of game birds in the UK:assessment of the contribution to the dietary intake of lead by women of childbearing age and children
AbstractObjectiveConcern has recently been expressed about Pb levels in Pb-shot game meat. Our aim was to determine the consumption of game birds in a representative sample population in the UK, and in children and women of childbearing age in particular.DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional cohort study. Data from 4 d diet diaries from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS; 2008–2010) were extracted to analyse data on game bird consumption in the sample population, in women of childbearing age (15–45 years old) and in children ≤6 years old.SettingHome-based study in representative areas of the UK.SubjectsParticipants in the NDNS (2008–2010; n 2126, age 1·5 to >65 years).ResultsFifty-eight participants (2·7 %) reported eating game birds. The mean intake was 19·5 (sd 18·1) g/d (median 15·6, range 1·3–92·9 g/d). In women of childbearing age (15–45 years), 11/383 (2·9 %) reported eating game birds, with a mean intake of 22·4 (sd 25·8) g/d (median 15·6, range 2·0–92·9 g/d). In children aged ≤6 years old, 3/342 (0·9 %) were reported as eating game birds, with a mean intake of 6·8 (sd 9·7) g/d (median 2·4, range 1·3–23·2 g/d).ConclusionsThe prevalence of consumption of game birds by women of childbearing age and children ≤6 years old was relatively low and intakes were small. However, any exposure to Pb in these two groups is undesirable. As are uncertainties about the ability of the diet diary method to capture the consumption of food items that are infrequently consumed, alternative methods of capturing these data should be used in future studies.</jats:sec
Predicting the steady state thickness of passive films in order to prevent degradations of implant
Some implants have approximately a lifetime of 15 years. The femoral stem,
for example, should be made of 316L/316LN stainless steel. Fretting corrosion,
friction under small displacements, should occur during human gait, due to
repeated loadings and un-loadings, between stainless steel and bone for
instance. Some experimental investigations of fretting corrosion have been
practiced. As well known, metallic alloys and especially stainless steels are
covered with a passive film that prevents from the corrosion and degradation.
This passive layer of few nanometers, at ambient temperature, is the key of our
civilization according to some authors. This work is dedicated to predict the
passive layer thicknesses of stainless steel under fretting corrosion with a
specific emphasis on the role of proteins. The model is based on the Point
Defect Model (micro scale) and an update of the model on the friction process
(micro-macro scale). Genetic algorithm was used for finding solution of the
problem. The major results are, as expected from experimental results, albumin
prevents from degradation at the lowest concentration of chlorides; an
incubation time is necessary for degrading the passive film; under fretting
corrosion and high concentration of chlorides the passive behavior is
annihilated
- …