The oxygen isotopic composition of water extracted from carbonaceous chondrites

The oxygen isotopic composition of water from carbonaceous chondrites suggests that close to isotopic equilibrium was attained on CI and CM parent bodies. This is more consistent with a closed system than one with fluid flow. Tagish Lake does not display such equilibrium

Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway: Evaluation Report

The Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway (YPPAP) is a pilot six week behavioural intervention (a physical activity pathway) aimed at increasing physical activity levels in school-aged children in school years 6 and 7 (ages 10-12 yrs). It builds on the experiences of the South Staffordshire (SS) Physical Activity Care Pathway (PACP), but was developed specifically to focus on school-age young people in an urban city setting. For the purposes of the evaluation a mixed-methods approach including a quantitative and qualitative component was employed. Data analysis revealed that of the 239 eligible participants, 99 entered the pathway (31.2%). Ninety-three participants set physical goals at baseline and 3 were lost to follow up representing a pathway completion rate of 97% (n = 90). Overall, the results indicated that the increase in ‘spare time’ physical activity was statistically significant (t(95)=-2.88, p=.005), but the differences were not significant for overall physical activity (t(95)=-.096, p=.924), or mean frequency of physical activity (t(95)=-.414, p=.680). Analysis also revealed that the correlation between change in physical activity between baseline and follow up and the number of goals set by participants was not significant (r = 0.08, p =.436). Qualitative findings revealed that participants perceived that the pathway had helped to educate them about the relationship between physical activity and health and had provided a means of engaging with physical activity in a way that was fun and non-threatening. Delivery costs were also calculated taking into account management and delivery costs, including resources, training and support, the total cost per child of delivering the intervention was £143. The high completion rate might point to the utility of using school settings for physical activity interventions. Problematically, the limited sample size prevented the meaningful investigation of any relationship between the physical activity options chosen by young participants and outcomes in terms of potential increases in levels of physical activity. Similarly, it was not possible to fully investigate the potential effects of gender, class, ethnicity, disability status on adherence to the pathway or physical activity behaviour. More usefully, data analysis revealed that the pathway attracted a range of participants which demonstrated potential for securing the interest and motivation of participants. This finding underpins the importance of understanding the number, variety and availability of local physical activity opportunities and delivering the intervention in a way that is engaging and supportive

Insight into the evolution of the Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite by analysis of the oxygen isotopic composition of extracted water and Mössbauer spectroscopy

Analysis of oxygen isotopes in water from Tagish Lake together with Mössbauer Spectroscopy suggest some similarities to the CI group of meteorites but also suggest differences in the extent of parent body hydrothermal alteration

Improved synchronous production of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in vitro.

The sexual stages of the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle are attractive targets for vaccines and transmission blocking drugs. Difficulties in culturing and obtaining large amounts of sexual stage P. falciparum parasites, particularly early stages, have often limited research progress in this area. We present a new protocol which simplifies the process of stimulating gametocytogenesis leading to improved synchronous gametocyte production. This new method can be adapted to enrich for early stage gametocytes (I and II) with a higher degree of purity than has previously been achieved, using MACS magnetic affinity columns. The protocol described lends itself to large scale culturing and harvesting of synchronous parasites suitable for biochemical assays, northern blots, flow cytometry, microarrays and proteomic analysis

Tattoo ink nanoparticles in skin tissue and fibroblasts

YesTattooing has long been practised in various societies all around the world and is becoming increasingly common and widespread in the West. Tattoo ink suspensions unquestionably contain pigments composed of nanoparticles, i.e., particles of sub-100 nm dimensions. It is widely acknowledged that nanoparticles have higher levels of chemical activity than their larger particle equivalents. However, assessment of the toxicity of tattoo inks has been the subject of little research and ink manufacturers are not obliged to disclose the exact composition of their products. This study examines tattoo ink particles in two fundamental skin components at the nanometre level. We use atomic force microscopy and light microscopy to examine cryosections of tattooed skin, exploring the collagen fibril networks in the dermis that contain ink nanoparticles. Further, we culture fibroblasts in diluted tattoo ink to explore both the immediate impact of ink pigment on cell viability and also to observe the interaction between particles and the cells

Oral Administration of Levo-Tetrahydropalmatine Attenuates Reinstatement of Extinguished Cocaine Seeking by Cocaine, Stress or Drug-Associated Cues in Rats

Cocaine addiction is characterized by a persistently heightened susceptibility to drug relapse. For this reason, the identification of medications that prevent drug relapse is a critical goal of drug abuse research. Drug re-exposure, the onset of stressful life events, and exposure to cues previously associated with drug use have been identified as determinants of relapse in humans and have been found to reinstate extinguished cocaine seeking in rats. This study examined the effects of acute oral (gavage) administration of levo-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), a tetrahydroprotoberberine isoquinoline with a pharmacological profile that includes antagonism of D1, D2 and D3 dopamine receptors, on the reinstatement of extinguished cocaine seeking by a cocaine challenge (10 mg/kg, ip), a stressor (uncontrollable electric footshock [EFS]) or response-contingent exposure to a stimulus (tone and light complex) previously associated with drug delivery in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Extinguished drug seeking was reinstated by ip cocaine, EFS, or response-contingent presentation of drug-associated cues in vehicle-pretreated rats following extinction of iv cocaine self-adminisration. Oral administration of either 3.0 or 10.0 mg/kg l-THP 1 h prior to reinstatement testing significantly attenuated reinstatement by each of the stimuli. Food-reinforced responding and baseline post-extinction responding were significantly attenuated at the 10.0, but not the 3.0 mg/kg, l-THP dose, indicating that the effects of 3 mg/kg l-THP on reinstatement were likely independent of non-specific motor impairment. These findings further suggest that l-THP may have utility for the treatment of cocaine addiction

Teaching Hispanic restaurant workers: Translanguaging as culturally sustaining pedagogy

In this article, we make a case for incorporating translanguaging pedagogy into the framework of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP). Drawing on data from a one-year ethnographic study of an adult ESL program, we show how teachers believed in and attempted to create spaces for translanguaging and CSP, but in practice fell short. We conclude that translanguaging is most powerful when understood as a component of CSP but call for more research in this area.Accepted manuscrip