Meteorites and their parent bodies: Evidence from oxygen isotopes

Isotopic abundance variations among meteorites are used to establish genetic associations between meteorite classes. Oxygen isotope distributions between group II E irons with H-group ordinary chondrites and enstatic meteorites indicate that the parent bodies were formed out of pre-solar material that was not fully mixed at the time condensation occurred within the solar nebula

Correlates of Compulsive Buying

Compulsive buying is a chronic issue for shoppers exacerbated by a nation obsessed with consumption. To predict compulsive buying behavior, a survey was administered to 283 college students in southern Nevada. The results suggested that the compulsive buyer exhibits am ex­ternal consumer locus of control and purchases goods with the intent to increase social status or quell anxiety. Given that responsible financial behavior changes as a function of age, college students are particularly vulnerable to compulsive purchasing behavior, as it is exacerbated by irresponsible credit spending behaviors

Oxygen isotope fractionation in Apollo 12 rocks and soils

Oxygen isotopic compositions and fractionations between coexisting minerals found in lunar samples from Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 flight

A spectacular nitrogen isotope anomaly in Bencubbin

Results of isotopic measurements on an unusual stony-iron meteorite named Bencubbin, which was found in Western Australia in 1930, are reported. Nitrogen from both the metallic and stony parts of the Bencubbin meteorite was analyzed, and in both materials large excesses of (15)N were found, resulting in values of the (14)N/(15)N abundance ratios as low as 137. That is, (15)N is enriched in Bencubbin by about a factor of two relative to terrestrial nitrogen. This is the largest (15)N enrichment of any known natural material. The effect is so large that chemical processes are probably inadequate to account for it. Nuclear processes which may be responsible for the anomalous isotope abundance are discussed

Role of the community matron in advance care planning and ‘do not attempt CPR’ decision-making: a qualitative study

The community matron (CM) is often the key worker caring for patients with chronic, life-limiting, long-term conditions, but these patients are not always recognised as palliative cases. This study explored the experiences of CMs with regard to advance care planning (ACP) and ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR) decision-making to understand whether or not they felt adequately prepared for this aspect of their role, and why. Qualitative data were generated from six CMs using a broad interpretive phenomenological approach. Face-to-face recorded interviews were analysed using template analysis. The study found that although participants faced complex ethical situations around ACP and DNACPR almost on a daily basis, none had received any formal training despite the emphasis on training in national and local guidelines. Participants often struggled to get their patients accepted on to the Gold Standards Framework. The research found variability and complexity of cases to be the main barriers to clear identification of the palliative phase

Do Hydrogen-Deficient Carbon Stars Have Winds?

We present high resolution spectra of the five known hydrogen-deficient carbon (HdC) stars in the vicinity of the 10830 angstrom line of neutral helium. In R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars the He I line is known to be strong and broad, often with a P Cygni profile, and must be formed in the powerful winds of those stars. RCB stars have similar chemical abundances as HdC stars and also share greatly enhanced O-18 abundances with them, indicating a common origin for these two classes of stars, which has been suggested to be white dwarf mergers. A narrow He I absorption line may be present in the hotter HdC stars, but no line is seen in the cooler stars, and no evidence for a wind is found in any of them. The presence of wind lines in the RCB stars is strongly correlated with dust formation episodes so the absence of wind lines in the HdC stars, which do not make dust, is as expected.NSFScience and Technology FacilitiesCouncilthe National Research CouncilCONICYTAustralian Research CouncilMinistﾴerio da Ciﾴencia e TecnologiaSECYTMcDonald Observator

Carbon isotopes in bulk carbonaceous chondrites

The chemical and physical processes involved in the formation of the solar system are examined. Primitive matter has been found on a microscopic scale in a variety of meteorites: fragments of small solar system bodies that were never part of a large planet. This primitive matter has, in most cases, been identified by the presence of anomalous abundances of some isotopes of the chemical elements. Of particular interest for carbon isotope studies are the primitive meteorites known as carbonaceous chondrites. Using a selective oxidation technique to sort out the carbon contained in different chemical forms (graphite, carbonates, and organic matter), four carbonaceous chondrites are analyzed. The presence of the (13) C-rich component was confirmed and additional carbon components with different, but characteristic, isotopic signatures were resolved

VLTI observations of the dust geometry around R Coronae Borealis stars

We are investigating the formation and evolution of dust around the hydrogen-deficient supergiants known as R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars. We aim to determine the connection between the probable merger past of these stars and their current dust-production activities. We carried out high-angular resolution interferometric observations of three RCB stars, namely RY Sgr, V CrA, and V854 Cen with the mid-IR interferometer, MIDI on the VLTI, using two telescope pairs. The baselines ranged from 30 to 60 m, allowing us to probe the dusty environment at very small spatial scales (~ 50 mas or 400 stellar radii). The observations of the RCB star dust environments were interpreted using both geometrical models and one-dimensional radiative transfer codes. From our analysis we find that asymmetric circumstellar material is apparent in RY Sgr, may also exist in V CrA, and is possible for V854 Cen. Overall, we find that our observations are consistent with dust forming in clumps ejected randomly around the RCB star so that over time they create a spherically symmetric distribution of dust. However, we conclude that the determination of whether there is a preferred plane of dust ejection must wait until a time series of observations are obtained.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 14 pages, 10 figures, 6 table

Failures in the prudential regulation of banks in the UK and US: will the lessons be learnt?

The prudential regulation of banking is now undertaken by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) within the Bank of England. Previously, such regulation was undertaken by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). It will be the role of the FSA as the previous regulator in the UK that will be considered. This article will examine the lack of understanding on the part of the FSA about the risk to which banks were subject. Insights into the approach and effectiveness of the FSA can be found in an examination of the reports of various parliamentary committees and the evidence of senior officials, employees and management called to give evidence. These committees have investigated various banking collapses and important issues relating to the carrying on of banking business. The reports and evidence of such committees are a reliable and detailed source of information. These reports are evaluated throughout. It will be suggested that the economic position of such banks does have an effect upon their regulation. Analogous reports in the US will be compared and contrasted with the findings in the UK. Changes in regulation, and its enforcement, after the setting up of the PRA will be considered