The metal finds and their implications

Major interdisciplinary study of metal artefacts from major Norse site in Orkney

Studies on the amount and composition of digesta flowing through the duodenum of dairy cows. 2. Sites of net absorption of magnesium and calcium from the alimentary tract.

Two cows were fitted with re-entrant duodenal cannulas, and four with T-piece duodenal annulas. Balance trials were carried out, the cows receiving either a winter ration, or freshly-mown herbage. Direct measurements were made of the flow of digesta, and of the amounts of Mg and Ca in both duodenal and faecal samples. Also indirect measurements were made of these parameters, using polyethylene glycol and chromium sesquioxide indicators. Net Ca absorption was restricted to the intestines, and, at high Mg intake, net Mg absorption was also largely intestinal, though too large an error attached to the indirect measurement of Mg absorption rates for reliable conclusions to be drawn. There was considerable secretion of Ca proximal to the duodenum. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

On the most compact regular lattice in large dimensions: A statistical mechanical approach

In this paper I will approach the computation of the maximum density of regular lattices in large dimensions using a statistical mechanics approach. The starting point will be some theorems of Roger, which are virtually unknown in the community of physicists. Using his approach one can see that there are many similarities (and differences) with the problem of computing the entropy of a liquid of perfect spheres. The relation between the two problems is investigated in details. Some conjectures are presented, that need further investigation in order to check their consistency.Comment: 27 page

Studies on the amount and composition of digesta flowing through the duodenum of dairy cows. 1. Rate of flow of digesta measured direct and estimated indirect by the indicator dilution technique.

1. Feed intake and the output of faeces, urine and milk were recorded for 8 to 10 days on 2 Friesian cows, with duodenal re-entrant cannulae, receiving hay and concentrates or fresh-mown herbage at the early or mature growth stage. One cow was also given 50 g calcined magnesite daily. During and in the 5 days preceding the collection periods 100 g polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 5.25 g Cr2O3 were given twice daily into the rumen. The digesta were measured and sampled from the re-entrant cannulae for 120 h in the middle of each balance period. All of the administered PEG and Cr2O3 were recovered from the duodenal digesta and faeces. The PEG content of duodenal digesta reached a peak 3 to 4 h after administration, but no diurnal pattern was observed for Cr2O3. The contents of PEG, Cr2O3, DM, Ca and Mg in spot samples of duodenal digesta taken at 2-h intervals agreed well with proportional samples collected during the same hours. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: The role of post-visit ‘action resources’

This paper argues the need for the providers of ecotourism and other free‐choice environmental learning experiences to promote the adoption of environmentally sustainable actions beyond their own sites, when visitors return to their home environments. Previous research indicates that although visitors often leave such experiences with a heightened awareness of conservation issues and intentions to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours, only a minority translate these intentions into real actions. Building on research and theory in relation to visitor experiences in free‐choice learning environments, the paper identifies three different stages in the educational process and proposes a strategy for facilitating the translation of visitors' behavioural intentions into the adoption of sustainable actions through the provision of post‐visit action resources

Study of the dependence of 198Au half-life on source geometry

We report the results of an experiment to determine whether the half-life of \Au{198} depends on the shape of the source. This study was motivated by recent suggestions that nuclear decay rates may be affected by solar activity, perhaps arising from solar neutrinos. If this were the case then the $\beta$-decay rates, or half-lives, of a thin foil sample and a spherical sample of gold of the same mass and activity could be different. We find for \Au{198}, $(T_{1/2})_{\rm foil}/(T_{1/2})_{\rm sphere} = 0.999 \pm 0.002$, where $T_{1/2}$ is the mean half-life. The maximum neutrino flux at the sample in our experiments was several times greater than the flux of solar neutrinos at the surface of the Earth. We show that this increase in flux leads to a significant improvement in the limits that can be inferred on a possible solar contribution to nuclear decays.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Options Trades, Short Sales and Real Earnings Management

We study the link between measures of stock options’ volatility and firms’ real earnings management (RM). We hypothesize that RM causes uncertainty in the value of a firm’s common stock and, as a result, increases the volatility spread and skew of the firm’s options. Spread and skew proxy for investors’ uncertainty in the value of the options underlying a stock. Consistent with our hypothesis, we find an association between a firm’s use of RM, and the volatility spread and skew in the firm’s options, more precisely in its put options. We also study the link between short selling and the extent of RM but do not find a consistent relationship between the two

The relationship between caries-specific quality of life and generic wellbeing in a Dutch pediatric population

Dental caries has significant negative impacts on the lives of children and young people. Whilst the impacts on children’s oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) have been increasingly investigated, the effect on children’s overall wellbeing remains largely unknown. Data were obtained from a survey conducted across four cities in the Netherlands. Children and their parents completed a series of questionnaires, which included Dutch versions of a caries-specific pediatric measure of OHRQoL (CARIES-QC-NL) and a generic pediatric health utility measure (CHU9D-NL). The participating children underwent dental examinations to determine their caries status. A total of 486 11-year-old children participated in the study, of which 184 had caries experience (38%). The mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) was 0.71. The CARIES-QC-NL was found to have statistically significant correlations with the DMFT and CHU9D-NL. There were no statistically significant correlations between the CHU9D and the clinical variables. The CARIES-QC-NL had acceptable internal consistency and construct validity in this population despite the low prevalence of active caries. A relationship was demonstrated between OHRQoL and generic wellbeing in this population. Despite this, the CHU9D did not show any correlation with the clinical data, which may limit its application in studies of the impact of dental caries

Motivation as a predictor of outcomes in school-based humanistic counselling

Recent years have seen a growth in the provision of counselling within UK secondary schools, and research indicates that it is associated with significant reductions in psychological distress. However, little is known about the moderators and mediators of positive therapeutic benefit. In the field of adult mental health, motivation has been found to be one of the strongest predictors of therapeutic outcomes, and it was hypothesised that this may also be a predictor of outcomes for young people in school-based counselling services. To assess the relationship between young people’s motivation for counselling and its effectiveness within a secondary school setting. Eighty-one young people (12 - 17 years old) who attended school-based humanistic counselling services in Scotland. Clients completed a measure of motivation for counselling at the commencement of their therapeutic work and a measure of psychological wellbeing at the commencement and termination of counselling. Motivation for counselling was not found to be significantly related to outcomes. The results indicate that the association between motivation and outcomes may be weaker in young people as compared with adults. However, a number of design factors may also account for the non-significant findings: insufficient participants, marginal reliability of the motivation measure and social desirability effects