Fate and Persistence of Crude Oil Stranded on a Sheltered Beach

Detailed observations, mapping and sampling were conducted following an experimental spill of 15 cu m of crude oil adjacent to the coast at Cape Hatt, Baffin Island, N.W.T. The beach could not retain all of the oil that reached the shoreline, and as a result, one-third of the spill oil was recovered in cleanup activities on the water, approximately one-third was lost to the atmosphere and to the ocean and one-third remained stranded on the intertidal zone. The stranded oil was subject to natural cleaning processes during approximately 6 months of open-water periods from 1981 to 1983. Over this period the surface area of oil cover was reduced by approximately half, whereas estimates indicate that 80% of the oil initially stranded (5.3 cu m) was removed. This natural removal of stranded oil occurred in a very sheltered environment. The reduction of the surface area and of the volume of oil resulted primarily from the physical processes associated with wave activity and ground-water leaching. By 1983 an asphalt pavement had developed in the upper intertidal zone on the beach-face slope. Total hydrocarbon concentrations of samples collected from the asphalt pavement indicated a significant increase in oil-in-sediment values in this zone to concentrations in the order of 2-5%. Oil removed from the beach was transported into the adjacent nearshore bottom sediments, where oil concentrations increased sixfold between 1981 and 1983. Physio-chemical weathering rates were relatively rapid immediately following the release of the oil, as the lower molecular weight (C1 to C10) hydrocarbons evaporated. Subsequent physio-chemical changes were heterogeneous .... The primary conclusion from the investigations undertaken to date is that oil is removed in substantial quantities from the intertidal zone even in such a sheltered, low-energy arctic environment. Similar changes should also be expected from comparable environments in lower latitudes.Key words: oil spill, natural oil weathering, asphalt pavement, beached oilMots clés: déversement de pétrole, dégradation naturelle du pétrole, plaque d’asphalte, pétrole échou&eacute

Book Reviews

Essential Woodworker - Skills, Tools & Materials - reviewed by John EgglestonPower Tool Woodworking - reviewed by John EgglestonAir Brushing Automobiles - Tips, Techniques and Projects - reviewed by Steve SayerChair Seating - Techniques in Cane, Rush, Willow and Cords - reviewed by Steve SayerAuthentic Craftsmanship in Interior Design - reviewed  by John EgglestonA tool for Learning - Some functions of art in the primary school - reviewed  by Brian Allison";SKILLS"; - Video series for CDT - reviewed  by David JonesStarting Embroidery - reviewed  by Moira G SimpsonSantos Statures and Sculptures - reviewed  by Brian AllisonCompendium of Lettering Workbooks - reviewed  by John LancasterDrawn Thread Embroidery Starting Needlepoint Lace - reviewed  by E. WishartBinche Lace - reviewed  by E. Wishar

The agronomic performance and nutritional content of oat and barley varieties grown in a northern maritime environment depends on variety and growing conditions

Funding for this research came from the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) through their support for this Strategic Partnership project. We are also grateful to Ingvar Andersson at Lantmännen SW Seed AB for supplying seed of the Scandinavian varieties for the trials each year and to the seed merchant William Shearer (Kirkwall) for importing it. We are indebted to Grietje Holtrop from Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland for her help with statistical analysis. Andy Beer (The Royal Zoological Society, Edinburgh) performed all NIRS analysis and Gill Campbell (Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health) performed the mineral content analysis. The Centre for Sustainable Cropping platform is supported through Scottish Government Underpinning Capacity funding. The Agronomy Institute acknowledges support from the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme's Northern Cereals project in preparing this publication.Peer reviewedPostprin

Recombinant Incretin-Secreting Microbe Improves Metabolic Dysfunction in High-Fat Diet Fed Rodents

peer-reviewedThe gut hormone glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and its analogues represent a new generation of anti-diabetic drugs, which have also demonstrated propensity to modulate host lipid metabolism. Despite this, drugs of this nature are currently limited to intramuscular administration routes due to intestinal degradation. The aim of this study was to design a recombinant microbial delivery vector for a GLP-1 analogue and assess the efficacy of the therapeutic in improving host glucose, lipid and cholesterol metabolism in diet induced obese rodents. Diet-induced obese animals received either Lactobacillus paracasei NFBC 338 transformed to express a long-acting analogue of GLP-1 or the isogenic control microbe which solely harbored the pNZ44 plasmid. Short-term GLP-1 microbe intervention in rats reduced serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein cholesterol substantially. Conversely, extended GLP-1 microbe intervention improved glucose-dependent insulin secretion, glucose metabolism and cholesterol metabolism, compared to the high-fat control group. Interestingly, the microbe significantly attenuated the adiposity associated with the model and altered the serum lipidome, independently of GLP-1 secretion. These data indicate that recombinant incretin-secreting microbes may offer a novel and safe means of managing cholesterol metabolism and diet induced dyslipidaemia, as well as insulin sensitivity in metabolic dysfunction

The future of NMR-based metabolomics

The two leading analytical approaches to metabolomics are mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Although currently overshadowed by MS in terms of numbers of compounds resolved, NMR spectroscopy offers advantages both on its own and coupled with MS. NMR data are highly reproducible and quantitative over a wide dynamic range and are unmatched for determining structures of unknowns. NMR is adept at tracing metabolic pathways and fluxes using isotope labels. Moreover, NMR is non-destructive and can be utilized in vivo. NMR results have a proven track record of translating in vitro findings to in vivo clinical applications

Climatic controls on the survival and loss of ancient types of barley on North Atlantic Islands

This study was partly funded by a Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Service award (PM, JW and TSG). The Scottish Northern Cairngorms reconstruction was finalised through the project NERC project ‘SCOT2K: Reconstructing 2000 years of Scottish climate from tree rings (NE/ K003097/1)’ while the new central and northwest Scottish data were developed as part of a NERC Iapetus PhD project.For ancient types of barley at sites in the Scottish Isles, Faroes, and Iceland, we calculated minimum temperature requirements for grain production (grain production threshold, GPT) as accumulated degree days over the cropping season. Site suitability for barley from AD 1200 to 2000 was investigated by comparing these thresholds with reconstructions of annual cropping season degree days (CSDD) using temperature and tree-ring data. In Iceland, between AD 1200 and 1500, reconstructed CSDD were more favorable in the southwest (Reykjavik), with fewer years below the GPT, than in the North, East and West, but there were two periods (1340–1389 and 1426–1475) with low average CSDD and several years below the GPT which possibly influenced the abandonment of barley cultivation around this time. Reconstructed CSDD for the Faroes (Tórshavn) had only one year below the GPT, but 15 periods of four or more consecutive years with low CSDD which would have challenged barley cultivation, especially in the thirteenth century. Reconstructed CSDD were highest for the Scottish Isles, allowing a more prominent role of barley in the farming system and economy. Nevertheless, years with poor harvests or famines were common and about half were associated with low CSDD, resulting in a significant temperature link but also demonstrating the important contribution of other factors. Despite frequent unfavorable years in both the Faroes and Scottish Isles, resilient production systems, well-adapted barley strains and socio-economic factors allowed barley cultivation to continue, and some ancient types to survive to the present day.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Outcomes From A Peer Tutor Model For Teaching Technology To Older Adults

A key component of social work ethics is social justice and equitable access to resources. Increasingly, this includes access to technology. This study addresses issues related to the \u27digital divide\u27 by testing a peer tutor model (Technology and Aging Project, TAP2) to teach adults aged 60 and older how to use information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as email, the internet, online chat rooms and discussion groups, internet-based support groups, and voice technology and webcams. Participants from the control group of a previous programme, TAP1 (N = 19) participated in a six-month computer training programme. Six participants who had successfully completed the TAP1 training were selected to be peer tutors. Data were collected from tutors and learners at baseline, three months, six months and nine months (three months after the end of training). The current study reports on learner outcomes only. Measures include computer, social support, and mental health-related outcomes. Learners reported a significant and consistent increase over time in their confidence completing certain computer-related tasks and their overall use of ICTs. Mental health and social support outcomes did not change. Overall, the peer tutor model appeared to be at least as effective as the previous staff-directed model

Seaweed fertilisation impacts the chemical and isotopic composition of barley : Implications for analyses of archaeological skeletal remains

This research was partially funded by the European Social Fund and Scottish Funding Council as part of Developing Scotland's Workforce in the Scotland 2014–2020 European Structural and Investment Fund Programme. The contribution of staff from the University of the Highlands and Islands' Agronomy Institute and the James Hutton Institute to the field trial was supported by Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) funding from the Scottish Government. GPS geolocation was performed by archaeologists of the Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology (ORCA). Stable isotope ratio measurements were performed at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), East Kilbride, and elemental composition analysis was performed at the Trace Element Speciation Laboratory, Aberdeen (TESLA). MB would like to thank IM's family for their help collecting and storing the decomposing seaweed.Peer reviewedPostprintPostprin