Measuring Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition provides an examination of the background to testing vocabulary knowledge in a second language and in particular considers the effect that word ...frequency and lexical coverage have on learning and communication in a foreign language. It examines the tools we have for assessing the various facets of vocabulary knowledge such as aural and written word recognition, the link with word meaning, and vocabulary depth. These are illustrated and the scores they produce are demonstrated to provide normative data. Vocabulary acquisition from course books and in the classroom in examined, as is vocabulary uptake from informal tasks. This book ties scores on tests of vocabulary breadth to performance on standard foreign language examinations and on hierarchies of communicative performance such as the CEFR.
The red edge position (REP) in the vegetation spectral reflectance is a surrogate measure of vegetation chlorophyll content, and hence can be used to monitor the health and function of vegetation. ...The Multi-Spectral Instrument (MSI) aboard the future ESA Sentinel-2 (S-2) satellite will provide the opportunity for estimation of the REP at much higher spatial resolution (20m) than has been previously possible with spaceborne sensors such as Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) aboard ENVISAT. This study aims to evaluate the potential of S-2 MSI sensor for estimation of canopy chlorophyll content, leaf area index (LAI) and leaf chlorophyll concentration (LCC) using data from multiple field campaigns. Included in the assessed field campaigns are results from SEN3Exp in Barrax, Spain composed of 35 elementary sampling units (ESUs) of LCC and LAI which have been assessed for correlation with simulated MSI data using a CASI airborne imaging spectrometer. Analysis also presents results from SicilyS2EVAL, a campaign consisting of 25 ESUs in Sicily, Italy supported by a simultaneous Specim Aisa-Eagle data acquisition. In addition, these results were compared to outputs from the PROSAIL model for similar values of biophysical variables in the ESUs. The paper in turn assessed the scope of S-2 for retrieval of biophysical variables using these combined datasets through investigating the performance of the relevant Vegetation Indices (VIs) as well as presenting the novel Inverted Red-Edge Chlorophyll Index (IRECI) and Sentinel-2 Red-Edge Position (S2REP). Results indicated significant relationships between both canopy chlorophyll content and LAI for simulated MSI data using IRECI or the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) while S2REP and the MERIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) were found to have the strongest correlation for retrieval of LCC.
Understanding mobility and landscape use is important in reconstructing subsistence behavior, range, and group size, and it may contribute to our understanding of phenomena such as the dynamics of ...biological and cultural interactions between distinct populations of Upper Pleistocene humans. However, studies using traditional strontium isotope analysis are generally limited to identifying locations of childhood residence or nonlocal individuals and lack the sampling resolution to detect movement over short timescales. Here, using an optimized methodology, we present highly spatially resolved
Sr/
Sr measurements made by laser ablation multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry along the growth axis of the enamel of two marine isotope stage 5b, Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal teeth (Gruta da Oliveira), a Tardiglacial, Late Magdalenian human tooth (Galeria da Cisterna), and associated contemporaneous fauna from the Almonda karst system, Torres Novas, Portugal. Strontium isotope mapping of the region shows extreme variation in
Sr/
Sr, with values ranging from 0.7080 to 0.7160 over a distance of c. 50 km, allowing short-distance (and arguably short-duration) movement to be detected. We find that the early Middle Paleolithic individuals roamed across a subsistence territory of approximately 600 km
, while the Late Magdalenian individual parsimoniously fits a pattern of limited, probably seasonal movement along the right bank of the 20-km-long Almonda River valley, between mouth and spring, exploiting a smaller territory of approximately 300 km
. We argue that the differences in territory size are due to an increase in population density during the Late Upper Paleolithic.
The peat archives are one of the stratigraphic records revealing clearly physical, chemical and biological signals of human influence on the Earth System since the 1950s, at least. The presented ...study was aimed mainly to identify the level and origin of anthropogenic radionuclides such as 238, 239, 240Pu in a 210Pb-dated peat profile derived from the Northern Ural, Russian Federation. As stated, the vertical variability of 240Pu/239Pu isotopic compositions reflects the nuclear weapons testing history with the maximum in the 1960s and small regional impact most likely of high-yielded tests in the 1950s as well as Chinese detonations in the 1970s. Peat accumulations rates were similar to those obtained in adjacent areas, whereas 210Pb flux slightly exceeded the reference level established for adequate latitude belt.
•Study on Pu isotopes accumulated in peat archive of the Northern Ural, Russia.•Application of CF/CS and CF models based on 210Pb chronology.•As high as 0.43 ± 0.02 of 240Pu/239Pu ratio recorded in the 1950s.•Evidence of the regional impact of Chinese nuclear tests in the 1970s.
Rationale
Organisms that grow a hard carbonate shell or skeleton, such as foraminifera, corals or molluscs, incorporate trace elements into their shell during growth that reflect the environmental ...change and biological activity they experienced during life. These geochemical signals locked within the carbonate are archives used in proxy reconstructions to study past environments and climates, to decipher taxonomy of cryptic species and to resolve evolutionary responses to climatic changes.
Methods
Here, we use laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) as a time‐resolved acquisition to quantify the elemental composition of carbonate shells and skeletons. We present the LABLASTER (Laser Ablation BLASt Through Endpoint in R) package, which imports a single time‐resolved LA‐ICP‐MS analysis, then detects when the laser has ablated through the carbonate as a function of change in signal over time and outputs key summary statistics. We provide two examples within the package: a fossil planktic foraminifer and a tropical coral skeleton.
Results
We present the first R package that automates the selection of desired data during data reduction workflows. This is achieved by automating the detection of when the laser has ablated through a sample using a smoothed time series, followed by removal of off‐target data points. The functions are flexible and adjust dynamically to maximise the duration of the desired geochemical target signal, making this package applicable to a wide range of heterogenous bioarchives. Visualisation tools for manual validation are also included.
Conclusions
LABLASTER increases transparency and repeatability by algorithmically identifying when the laser has either ablated fully through a sample or across a mineral boundary and is thus no longer documenting a geochemical signal associated with the desired sample. LABLASTER's focus on better data targeting means more accurate extraction of biological and geochemical signals.
Prescribing for older people Milton, James C; Hill-Smith, Ian; Jackson, Stephen H D
BMJ,
03/2008, Letnik:
336, Številka:
7644
Journal Article, Book Review
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Drug Adverse drug reactions Long term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Gastrointestinal haemorrhage, renal impairment, hypertension Benzodiazepines Falls caused by impaired balance ...Anticholinergic drugs Unmasking Alzheimer's disease, urinary retention Tricyclic antidepressants Orthostatic hypotension, sedation Chlorpropramide Hypoglycaemia Doxazosin Orthostatic hypotension, dry mouth, urinary problems What drugs should we routinely consider in older patients? 11 These indicators are best used in conjunction with others Qualitative indicators These are drug specific indicators of unnecessary or ineffective prescribing (such as prescribing both an H2 receptor blocker and a proton pump inhibitor) or potentially harmful drugs (such as long acting hypoglycaemic agents) Evidence based indicators These measure the extent to which research evidence is put into practice, such as the use of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation, while allowing the prescriber to identify reasons why the evidence base should not be followed-for example, because a palliative care pathway is being followed or the patient has a history of an adverse reaction What improvements can we expect in future?
Practical methods for determining the ultra‐trace abundances of precious metals in geological materials are needed for research into magmatic and hydrothermal processes and to expand the geochemical ...footprints of concealed ore deposits. This study presents a new protocol for determining Au, Ag, As, Pt and Re mass fractions in both volcanic glasses and in rock powders prepared as nano‐powder pellets, through the synthesis and refinement of published LA‐ICP‐MS methods. This matrix flexibility allows the method and its limitations to be rigorously assessed for the first time using different volcanic materials. High‐yield laser parameters, interference corrections and low oxide production rates facilitated by laser ablation sampling enabled accurate measurements without chemical pre‐separation. A key finding is that ablation‐remobilised system contamination must be quantified and corrected to make accurate ng g−1‐level Au determinations by LA‐ICP‐MS, resulting in a mean + 2s quantification limit for Au of 0.38 ng g−1. This approach is likely necessary for other ultra‐trace LA‐ICP‐MS analyses of certain elements. Following this correction, the protocol can be usefully applied to both in situ analysis of volcanic materials and efficiently integrated into methods for the determination of major and trace elements in nano‐powder pellets.
Key Points
A detailed protocol for LA‐ICP‐MS measurement of Au, Ag, As, Pt, Re in glasses and nano‐powder pellets.
Assessment of accuracy, precision and limits of quantification from the μg g−1 to sub‐ng g−1 level.
Monitoring and correction of ablation‐remobilised contamination is essential for LA‐ICP‐MS determinations of ultra‐trace Au.
ODP Hole 1256D in the eastern equatorial Pacific is the first penetration of a complete section of fast spread ocean crust down to the dike–gabbro transition, and only the second borehole to sample ...in situ sheeted dikes after DSDP Hole 504B. Here a high spatial resolution record of whole rock and mineral strontium isotopic compositions from Site 1256 is combined with core observations and downhole wireline geophysical measurements to determine the extent of basalt–hydrothermal fluid reaction and to identify fluid pathways at different levels in the upper ocean crust.
The volcanic sequence at Site 1256 is dominated by sheet and massive lava flows but the Sr isotope profile shows only limited exchange with seawater. However, the upper margins of two anomalously thick (>25 m) massive flow sequences are strongly hydrothermally altered with elevated Sr isotope ratios and appear to be conduits of lateral low-temperature off-axis fluid flow. Elsewhere in the lavas, high 87Sr/86Sr are restricted to breccia horizons. Mineralised hyaloclastic breccias in the Lava–Dike Transition are strongly altered to Mg-saponite, silica and pyrite, indicating alteration by mixed seawater and cooled hydrothermal fluids. In the Sheeted Dike Complex 87Sr/86Sr ratios are pervasively shifted towards hydrothermal fluid values (∼0.705). Dike chilled margins display secondary mineral assemblages formed during both axial recharge and discharge and have higher 87Sr/86Sr than dike cores, indicating preferential fluid flow along dike margins. Localised increases in 87Sr/86Sr in the Dike–Gabbro Transition indicates the channelling of fluids along the sub-horizontal intrusive boundaries of the 25 to 50 m-thick gabbroic intrusions, with only minor increases in 87Sr/86Sr within the cores of the gabbro bodies.
When compared to the pillow lava-dominated section from Hole 504B, the Sr isotope measurements from Site 1256 suggest that the extent of hydrothermal circulation in the upper ocean crust may be strongly dependent on the eruption style. Sheet and massive flow dominated lava sequences typical of fast spreading ridges may experience relatively restricted circulation, but there may be much more widespread circulation through pillow lava-dominated sections. In addition, the Hole 1256D sheeted dikes display a much greater extent of Sr-isotopic exchange compared to dikes from Hole 504B. Because seawater-derived hydrothermal fluids must transit the dikes during their evolution to black smoker-type fluids, the different Sr-isotope profiles for Holes 504B and 1256D suggest there are significant variations in mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems at fast and intermediate spreading ridges, which may impact geochemical cycles of elements mobilised by fluid–rock exchange at different temperatures.
•Sub-horizontal channels for hydrothermal fluids associated with >25 m thick flows.•Dike margins are pathways for both recharge and discharge hydrothermal fluids.•Dike/Gabbro Transition has channelled fluid flow along igneous contacts.•Hydrothermal alteration in intermediate-fast spreading rate crust is variable.•Evolution of hydrothermal circulation intimately linked to magmatic accretion.
Siderophores are chelates produced by bacteria as part of a highly specific iron uptake mechanism. They are thought to be important in the bacterial acquisition of iron in seawater and to influence ...iron biogeochemistry in the ocean. We have identified and quantified two types of siderophores in seawater samples collected from the Atlantic Ocean. These siderophores were identified as hydroxamate siderophores, both ferrioxamine species representative of the more soluble marine siderophores characterized to date. Ferrioxamine G was widely distributed in surface waters throughout the Atlantic Ocean, while ferrioxamine E had a more varied distribution. Total concentrations of the two siderophores were between 3 and 20 pM in the euphotic zone. If these compounds are fully complexed in seawater, they represent approximately 0.2−4.6% of the <0.2 μm iron pool. Our data confirm that siderophore-mediated iron acquisition is important for marine heterotrophic bacteria and indicate that siderophores play an important role in the oceanic biogeochemical cycling of iron.
The etiology and pathologic findings of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in adult dairy cows (n = 35) from a commercial dairy herd in Southern Brazil were investigated. Pulmonary samples were ...examined for histopathologic patterns and specific features within these patterns, while immunohistochemical (IHC) assays were designed to detect the intralesional antigens of viral infectious disease agents and Mycoplasma bovis. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 91.4% (32/35) of these cases; neither pneumonia nor any of the infectious disease pathogens evaluated occurred in three cows. The presence of multiple respiratory pathogens in 75% (24/32) of these cases indicated the complex origin of pneumonia in cattle. Interstitial pneumonia, necrosuppurative bronchopneumonia and suppurative bronchopneumonia were the principal patterns of pulmonary disease identified by histopathology. The most frequent pathogens identified by IHC were bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV; n = 18), M. bovis (n = 16) and bovine alphaherpesvirus type 1 (BoHV‐1; n = 14), followed by bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV; n = 11) and bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV‐3; n = 5). Obliterative bronchiolitis and peribronchial lymphocytic cuffings were the characteristic histopathologic features associated with M. bovis. Necrohemorrhagic bronchitis with bronchial angiogenesis was associated with BoHV‐1. Necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis were associated with BVDV, BoHV‐1 and BRSV. Ballooning degeneration of the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelia was associated with BRSV and BoHV‐1. This is the first report from Brazil that correlated the histopathologic findings of BRD with the associated infectious disease agents by immunohistochemistry. M. bovis was frequently detected in the tissues of cows with fatal pulmonary disease during this study and may be a possible primary disease pathogen associated with the development of BRD in dairy cows. Additionally, the histopathologic features identified within patterns of pulmonary disease during this investigation may be an efficient diagnostic tool to associate histopathologic findings with specific agents of BRD in dairy cows.
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