A Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Study of Chondritic Diamond and Silicon Carbide

A suite of identically prepared, acid-resistant residues from the three chondrite classes have been analysed for carbon and nitrogen by stepped combustion. Diamond and silicon carbide were found to be ubiquitous components of the residues along with some other minor carbonaceous phases. The diamond and silicon carbide were associated with isotope anomalies suggesting that they are presolar circumstellar condensates. The diamond nitrogen content ranges from 2000 to 13000 ppm, and the δ13C from -32 to -38‰. These two variables are systematically related to petrologic type, with the high petrologic types containing diamond with a heavier carbon isotopic composition and lower nitrogen content. However, the δ15N, at -351±8‰, was found to be indistinguishable between meteorite samples, suggesting that the variation in nitrogen content cannot be explained by metamorphic degassing of the diamond. A more likely explanation is that the more nitrogen rich crystals are more prone to metamorphic destruction that the nitrogen poor grains, perhaps implying that the grains are a mixture of nitrogen rich and nitrogen poor grains that may originate in different sources. Silicon carbide was found to have a similar 12C/13C ratio in all the meteorites in which its abundance was >10ppm of the whole rock, with 12C/13C =36.6±0.5; this is interpreted as evidence that a similar mixture of grains were incorporated into each parent body. SiC poor, higher petrologic type meteorites have lower δ13C values. The combustion dynamics of the grains differ from meteorite to meteorite, suggesting that processing since accretion has caused the SiC grains of separate meteorite classes to have different characteristics. The enstatite chondrite Abee (EH4) appears to be free of carbonaceous phases containing isotopic anomalies but contains isotopically “normal” diamond and silicon carbide. Diamond and sihcon carbide may have been stable condensates in some regions of the early solar nebula. Overall the isotope data suggest that presolar grains, from a mixture of sources, were well mixed in the meteorite parent body region of the early solar nebula before accretion. Subsequent metamorphism has however caused the grains isolated from different meteorite classes to be distinguishable

A Reason to Read: Discovering a Purpose for Books Through Play

Children need desire and motivation to learn. This study examines the responsive, child- centered teaching practices of a reading and literacy specialist as she helps a student, with low motivation for reading, find a reason to want to read. Although her student is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and aspects of autism come up in this study, the focus here is not on teaching children with autism. Since no two children with a diagnosis present similarly, teaching to a diagnosis is not individualized or sensitive enough to meet the educational and emotional needs of a student. Instead, teachers must consider each child individually; thinking about where the child is developmentally in different areas of their learning, how a child’s strengths and interests might lead them to motivation and success, and what a child needs to feel safe and valued. Teachers can then build engagement and rapport, and create content conducive to a specific child’s needs. By considering an experienced teacher’s methods, this study hopes to enlighten other teachers as to how to meet the needs of their students with sensitivity and skill

The Roles of Age and Frontal Lobe Damage in Prospective Memory

Recent evidence suggests that the frontal lobe plays an intimate role in the meditation of prospective memory (Shallice & Burgess, 1991; Cockburn, 1995). However, there is a paucity of studies linking damage to the frontal lobe to reduced efficacy of prospective memory. The present study attempts to examine three types of participants who differ in frontal lobe functioning and their relative levels of successful prospective memory. The participants consist of younger adults, older adults (55 and over) and individuals with frontal lobe damage determined by a CAT scan or MRI. All three groups will be given a computer-based general knowledge quiz that has two types of prospective memory tasks enmeshed within it: a time based, disembedded task and an event-based, embedded task. The latter necessitates higher attentional processing, requiring both selfinitiated retrieval and that the participant break attention from a previous task. The participants will also be given the Stroop test and the WCST which have been implicated as successful predictors of frontal lobe damage. The results indicated that the younger adults performed significantly better than the older adults on both types of prospective memory tasks. However, there was no correlation between the measures of frontal functioning and performance on the prospective memory task. The present study allows comparison of the\u27 three separate groups with differing levels of frontal lobe damage, strengthening evidence for a frontal lobe involvement in the mediation of prospective memory. The results are discussed in reference to a possible mechanism for prospective memory related to the executive functioning of the frontal lobes

Closing the gap? Building surveyors in Oceania

Purpose &ndash; The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has implemented a policy to expand its influence around the world. Quantity or construction surveyors had an established presence and history of working overseas, offering their services particularly in the Middle- and Far-East. Property surveyors found the transition to working in European Union (EU) countries relatively straightforward and numerous UK property consultancies have European, Asian, North American and Oceanic offices. Furthermore UK-based firms establishing partnerships with overseas real estate firms expanded significantly over the past decade. Building surveying (BS) is a different case. Small numbers work in commonwealth countries but it is limited and in many countries professional and academic qualifications are not recognised. This paper aims to consider the extent of the barriers and opportunities facing RICS chartered building surveyors (CBS) in Oceania (taken as Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji) and whether the gap is closing.Design/methodology/approach &ndash; A desktop study reviewed the political, economic and sociological issues that affect the employment opportunities and professional services CBS offer throughout the world. Six opportunities and ten barriers were put to the RICS Oceania Building Surveying Faculty to ascertain their perceptions of these barriers and opportunities. No previous study had identified barriers and opportunities in Oceania for the BS and this research adopted a census survey of RICS practitioners currently employed in the region and the results form the most comprehensive picture of the current position.Findings &ndash; Many respondents felt that stronger links and/or mergers with the different Oceania professional property and surveying bodies would open a large field of opportunities to the CBS. Some provided comments on future business opportunities, for example &ldquo;leaky buildings,&rdquo;&quot;dilapidations/&lsquo; make good&rsquo; work&rdquo;, and seemed to be in general agreement that, as businesses came to know the benefits of protecting themselves from rogue tenants (and landlords) by using the services of a CBS, then opportunities would continue to rise. The principal barrier is communicating those skills and the value they add.Research limitations/implications &ndash; The limitations that affected this research were time constraints and communicating with surveyors in Oceania, to whom the authors were not permitted direct access. The research methodology methods were, with hindsight, not ideal for the type and range of data that the researchers sought.Originality/value &ndash; The research will be of use to building surveyors and providers of building-surveying education in Oceania.<br /

Biological Activities of Phenolic Compounds Present in Virgin Olive Oil

The Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower incidence of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases and certain types of cancer. The apparent health benefits have been partially ascribed to the dietary consumption of virgin olive oil by Mediterranean populations. Much research has focused on the biologically active phenolic compounds naturally present in virgin olive oils to aid in explaining reduced mortality and morbidity experienced by people consuming a traditional Mediterranean diet. Studies (human, animal, in vivo and in vitro) have demonstrated that olive oil phenolic compounds have positive effects on certain physiological parameters, such as plasma lipoproteins, oxidative damage, inflammatory markers, platelet and cellular function, antimicrobial activity and bone health. This paper summarizes current knowledge on the bioavailability and biological activities of olive oil phenolic compounds

Consumer Perception, Attitudes, Liking and Preferences for Olive Oil

The consumption of healthful olive oil (OO) has grown considerably over the past 20 years, particularly in areas outside of Europe. To meet this demand, worldwide production of OO has doubled over this time period. Greece, Italy and Spain remain the major producers of this commodity; however, significant growth in production has also occurred in countries such as Australia and the US. OO consumption is closely associated with the traditional Mediterranean diet. It is likely that the potential health benefits of using OO as a primary dietary fat have been a driver of increased intake, but undoubtedly other factors will be involved. An understanding of the factors that influence consumers’ perceptions, attitudes, liking and preferences for OO will be of benefit to the OO sector. Olive growers, OO manufacturers, packaging specialists and marketers, etc. can utilize these insights to aid in the development and delivery of OO products in line with consumer needs and wants, and help drive further growth in this sector particularly with regard to new and emerging markets. The following chapter details information on the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that have demonstrated an influence on consumer perception, attitudes, liking and preferences for OO

Sensory characterization of the irritant properties of oleocanthal, a natural anti-inflammatory agent in extra virgin olive oils

Oleocanthal is an olive oil phenolic possessing anti-inflammatory activity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that oleocanthal elicits a stinging sensation felt only at the back of the throat (oropharynx). Due to this compound possessing potentially health-benefiting properties, investigation into the sensory aspects of oleocanthal is warranted to aid in future research. The important link between the perceptual aspects of oleocanthal and health benefits is the notion that variation in sensitivity to oleocanthal irritation may relate to potential differences in sensitivity to the pharmacologic action of this compound. The current study assessed the unique irritant attributes of oleocanthal including its location of irritation, temporal profile, and individual differences in the perceived irritation. We show that the irritation elicited by oleocanthal was localized to the oropharynx (P &lt; 0.001) with little or no irritation in the anterior oral cavity. Peak irritation was perceived 15 s postexposure and lasted over 180 s. Oleocanthal irritation was more variable among individuals compared with the irritation elicited by CO2 and the sweetness of sucrose. There was no correlation between intensity ratings of oleocanthal and CO2 and oleocanthal and sucrose (r = &ndash;0.15, n = 50, P = 0.92 and r = 0.17, n = 84, P = 0.12, respectively), suggesting that independent mechanisms underlie the irritation of CO2 and oleocanthal. The unusual spatial localization and independence of acid (CO2) sensations suggest that distinct nociceptors for oleocanthal are located in the oropharyngeal region of the oral cavity.<br /

Equity of colorectal cancer screening: which groups have inequitable participation and what can we do about it?

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) offers population-based screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) across Australia. The aims of this paper were to highlight the inequities in CRC screening in South Australia (SA) and the system-related barriers and enablers to CRC screening from the perspective of participants identified as having inequitable participation. First, de-identified data for the SA population of the NBCSP were statistically analysed and then mapped. Second, 117 in-depth interviews were conducted with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups, Indigenous and Anglo-Saxon Australians. Participation rates in the NBCSP were geographically and statistically significantly different (P < 0.0001) on the basis of gender (higher for women), age (higher for older people) and socioeconomic status (higher for more affluent people). The main system-related barriers were the lack of awareness of CRC or CRC screening within these groups, the problems with language due to most of the information being in English and the lack of recommendation by a doctor. This study revealed that inequity exists in the NBCSP participation in SA, and we identified both barriers and facilitators to CRC screening that require action at the level of both policy and practice. There is a large role in primary health care of both recommending CRC screening and facilitating equitable participation