The association of cobalt with iron and manganese (oxyhydr)oxides in marine sediment.

Formation and dissolution of authigenic Fe and Mn (oxyhydr)oxides influence cycling of trace metals in oxic/suboxic surface sediments.We used the diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT) to estimate the association of cobalt with iron and manganese oxides. We compared Co, Fe and Mn maxima measured by DGT in the pore waters of fresh and aged marine sediment cores and estimated the Co/Fe and Co/Mn ratios in the metal oxides. A Mn maximum was not visible in DGT concentration profiles of freshly collected sediment cores, but after ageing the sediment we observed a distinct Mn peak, presumably due to broadening of the depth range over which the various electron acceptors occur. Estimated Co/Mn ratios from both experiments are within the range of literature values for marine sediments, but the value from the aged experiment is at the lower end of the range. This is attributed to stimulation of sulphate reduction and precipitation of cobalt sulfides. The good correlation between Co and Fe maxima in the fresh sediments is attributed to the similarity of their reactions with sulphide rather than Co being released during authigenic Fe oxide reduction

Development of software to plan conversion to organic production (OrgPlan)

This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. OrgPlan is a computer programme aimed at farmers and advisors assisting with the planning of an organic conversion. The programme is divided into technical modules, supported by a standard enterprise database, a report builder and an advisory section. Through the farm profile builder, rotation, cropping and livestock planner, conversion scenarios over several years can be developed and are evaluated for technical and financial feasibility by calculating farm gate budgets for key resources (forage energy and key nutrients) and financial reports (cash flow budget and profit and loss account). The poster illustrates the basic functioning of the software as well as the underlying rationale for the scenario evaluation

A radio and x-ray search for intermediate-age supernovae: Tuning into the oldies.

Type II supernovae (SNe) are the cataclysmic and very luminous last stage in the evolutionary track of very high mass stars, resulting in the destruction of the star and the ejection of large amounts of material into their surroundings, with initial velocities in excess of 10,000 km s-1. SNe II are responsible for the creation of many elements and have a large impact on the chemical evolution of the host spiral galaxies. Not much is known about the later development of the progenitor stars of SNe II, as they are an extremely small subset of the stars in our Universe and are difficult to distinguish from other stars prior to the SN events. One of the best methods to study the properties of the progenitor star is to study the interaction of the SN ejecta with the circumstellar material around the SN, presumably lost in the years proceeding the SN event. This interaction produces radio and X-ray emission, which among other things is influenced by the speed of the outward shock and the density of the circumstellar material. By observing this emission over the course of decades, I garner insight into the late evolution of the very massive stars. Only a few SNe II have been detected and monitored in the radio (22) and X-ray (12) wavelengths. Using the Very Large Array (VLA), I have detected radio emission from five historical, decades-old SNe II [SNe 1923A, 195013, and 1957D in the galaxy, M83; SN 19706 in M101, and; SN 1961V in NGC 1058. Using the Roentgen Satellite, I have established X-ray upper limits for two such objects [SN 1959D in NGC 7331, and SN 1961V in NGC 1058. In this Dissertation, I report the time evolution of the luminosities and the spectral properties of these radio SNe in comparison with other such objects. I also have compared the detected X-ray and radio emission from SNe II, noting a clear correlation between X-ray and radio luminosities. I further report the detection of X-ray emission from the galaxy, NGC 7331, which appears to indicate the presence of a low luminosity active galactic nucleus

The Radio Recovery of SN 1970G: The Continuing Radio Evolution of SN 1970G

Using the Very Large Array, we have detected radio emission from the site of SN 1970G in the Sc galaxy M101. These observations are 31 years after the supernova event, making SN 1970G the longest monitored radio supernova. With flux densities of 0.12 +/- 0.020 mJy at 6 cm and 0.16 +/- 0.015 mJy at 20 cm, the spectral index of -0.24 +/- 0.20 appears to have flattened somewhat when compared with the previously reported value of -0.56 +/- 0.11, taken in 1990. The radio emission at 20 cm has decayed since the 1990 observations with a power-law index of beta_20cm = -0.28 +/- 0.13. We discuss the radio properties of this source and compare them to those of other Type II radio supernovae.Comment: 11 pages, 1 table and 2 figures; To appear in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Let’s talk about sex history: impact of a communication curriculum on medical student performance and perceived competency

Introduction: Communication in general, but especially regarding difficult topics such as sexual health is inadequately addressed in undergraduate medical education. Students often feel they are poorly trained in this area due to a lack of opportunities to practice taking sexual history. Thus, a communication curriculum was implemented to address this gap, including formal small group practice sessions on taking a sexual history during the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) clerkship. Aim: Determine whether medical students who completed a sexual history communication curriculum performed better during a formal standardized patient based assessment (PBA) at the conclusion of the OB/GYN clerkship than historical control medical students, and assess medical student perception about taking a sexual history. Methods: Retrospective study comparing 3 specific PBA standardized patient rating questions and 5 questions gathering medical student feedback at a single academic institution. All (n=71) medical students between January and June 2011 were queried at the conclusion of their OB/GYN clerkship prior to implementation of the sexual history curriculum in July 2011 with responses compared to all subsequent (n=432) medical students through June 2014. Main Outcome Measures: Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel was used to compare scores by clerkship year and block with p<0.05 significant. Results: There was no change in medical student PBA performance or medical student perception regarding ability to take a sexual history following implementation of the sexual history communication curriculum. However, in response to “what other instruction or experiences could the clerkship provide to help you gain competency,” the theme was more practical experience. Conclusion: Learners require different formats to promote and enhance learning which may not have been measured with the outcomes chosen for this study. This may be best achieved by implementation of a formal curriculum including explicit supplementation to incorporate additional experience with sexual history taking

A translation of the memoirs of Eradut Khan, a nobleman of Hindostan containing interesting anecdotes of the Emperor Aulumgeer Aurungzebe and of his successors Shaw Aulum and Jehaundar Shaw in which are displayed the causes of the very precipitate decline of the Mogul Empire in India

Sign.: A4, a2, B-N