Volcanogenic and exhalative mineralisation within Devonian rocks of the South Hams district of Devon

Soil samples were collected from 77 reconnaissance traverses across the outcrop of the Devonian volcanic rocks in the South Barns district of Devon, between the River Yealm in the west and Totnes in the east, and were analysed for at least 15 elements including Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Sb and Ba. Several geochemical anomalies were found, the most extensive and highest amplitude of which comprise a) Ba with smaller amounts of other elements in the Burraton area, b) Ba and other elements in the Higher Ludbrook area and further north-east, c) Sb in the Ladywell area, d) As in the extreme west of the area, e) Cu in association with a diabase near Weeke and f) Zn and Pb around Willing Cross, near Rattery. Several of these anomalies appeared to follow the strike of the volcanic and associated rocks and the first three were investigated further by means of geophysical techniques and drilling. In the Burraton and Higher Ludbrook areas d. c. resistivity, IP, VLF-EM, VLF-R and some detailed gravity surveys were carried out. Around Burraton resistivity anomalies were generally coincident with soil Ba anomalies but there Has no coincident gravity anomaly. In the Higher Ludbrook area a massive carbonate horizon found by drilling is responsible for a zone of high apparent resistivity, detected with the dipole-dipole array, and a residual Bouguer anomaly high; dipole-dipole IP anomalies indicate that disseminated mineralisation may be extensive, although the results of EH and resistivity surveys suggest that the massive pyrite intersected in one of the boreholes is of limited lateral extent. Limited geophysical surveys were also carried out in the vicinity of Ba anomalies around Whetcombe Cross and near Fursdon in an area of diffuse geochemical anomalies. A small amplitude IP anomaly in the Fursdon area indicates a possible zone of disseminated mineralisation

CBR with Commonsense Reasoning and Structure Mapping: An Application to Mediation

Mediation is an important method in dispute resolution. We implement a case based reasoning approach to mediation integrating analogical and commonsense reasoning components that allow an artificial mediation agent to satisfy requirements expected from a human mediator, in particular: utilizing experience with cases in different domains; and structurally transforming the set of issues for a better solution. We utilize a case structure based on ontologies reflecting the perceptions of the parties in dispute. The analogical reasoning component, employing the Structure Mapping Theory from psychology, provides a flexibility to respond innovatively in unusual circumstances, in contrast with conventional approaches confined into specialized problem domains. We aim to build a mediation case base incorporating real world instances ranging from interpersonal or intergroup disputes to international conflicts.This work was supported by a JAE-Predoc fellowship from CSIC, and the research grants: 2009-SGR-1434 from the Generalitat de Catalunya, CSD2007-0022 from MICINN, and Next-CBR TIN2009-13692-C03- 01 from MICINN.Peer reviewe

Volcanogenic and exhalative mineralisation within Devonian rocks of the South Hams district of Devon

Incl. 1 mapSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:5779.77(BGS-MRPR--79) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Fungos micorrízicos arbusculares na recuperação de florestas ciliares e fixação de carbono no solo

A associação micorrízica arbuscular estabelecida entre os fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs - Filo Glomeromycota) e as raízes das plantas tem papel fundamental na sobrevivência e nutrição das plantas. Nesta revisão, é salientado que a tríade floresta ciliar-fixação de carbono-fungos micorrízicos arbusculares deve ser considerada uma estratégia ambientalmente correta para recuperar áreas outrora ocupadas por florestas ciliares. São apresentadas brevemente as classes de solos que ocorrem em ambientes ripários e a entrada de carbono (C) nos ecossistemas terrestres. Posteriormente, é enfatizado que os fungos micorrízicos arbusculares possuem papel importante no processo de fixação de carbono no solo, visto seus efeitos na absorção de nutrientes pelas plantas e aumento na produção de biomassa vegetal em espécies arbóreas, principalmente espécies pioneiras e secundárias iniciais, utilizadas na recuperação de florestas ciliares. Outrossim, as hifas externas desses fungos impactam a estrutura do solo tanto fisicamente, pela ação física das hifas, como bioquimicamente, pela produção de uma glicoproteína. As estruturas diferenciadas pelos fungos, como esporos e hifas, também servem como via de entrada de C no solo, por meio de componentes celulares ricos em C. A recuperação de florestas ciliares pelo plantio de espécies arbóreas resulta na emergência de um novo serviço ambiental: a fixação de C, a qual pode ser incrementada quando no processo de recuperação seja considerada a inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares

Rights and responsibilities of individuals participating in medical research

Current geophysical knowledge of the planet Mercury is based upon observations from ground-based astronomy and flybys of the Mariner 10 spacecraft, along with theoretical and computational studies. Mercury has the highest uncompressed density of the terrestrial planets and by implication has a metallic core with a radius approximately 75% of the planetary radius. Mercury’s spin rate is stably locked at 1.5 times the orbital mean motion. Capture into this state is the natural result of tidal evolution if this is the only dissipative process affecting the spin, but the capture probability is enhanced if Mercury’s core were molten at the time of capture. The discovery of Mercury’s magnetic field by Mariner 10 suggests the possibility that the core is partially molten to the present, a result that is surprising given the planet’s size and a surface crater density indicative of early cessation of significant volcanic activity. A present-day liquid outer core within Mercury would require either a core sulfur content of at least several weight percent or an unusual history of heat loss from the planet’s core and silicate fraction. A crustal remanent contribution to Mercury’s observed magnetic field cannot be ruled out on the basis of current knowledge. Measurements from the MESSENGER orbiter, in combination with continued ground-based observations, hold the promise of setting on a firmer basis our understanding of the structure and evolution of Mercury’s interior and the relationship of that evolution to the planet’s geological history