Reconciling Local and Global Agendas in Sustainable Development： Participatory Research with Indigenous Andean Communities

Introduction In tracing the pioneering influences which created the 1980s participatory research movement in international agriculture, health and conserva- tion, the experiences of Latin America must be highlighted. Activist participatory research itselfwas originally inspired by Paulo Freire, the influential Brazilian educator whose pedagogical teachings have been commonplace throughout South America since the 1960s (Freire 1968, Chambers 1994a). Due to a multitude of social forces betwe…     

Interactions of biopolymers with silica surfaces: Force measurements and electronic structure calculation studies

Pull-off forces were measured between a silica colloid attached to an atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever and three homopolymer surfaces representing constituents of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The pull-off forces were −0.84 (±0.16), −0.68 (±0.15), and −2.37 (±0.31) nN as measured in water for dextran, phosphorylated dextran, and poly-l-lysine, respectively. Molecular orbital and density functional theory methods (DFT) were applied to analyze the measured pull-off forces using dimer clusters representing interactions between the three polymers and silica surfaces. Binding energies for each dimer were calculated with basis set superposition error (BSSE) and interpolated using corrections for silica surface hydroxyl density and silica charge density. The binding energies were compared with the normalized pull-off forces with the effective silica surface area contacting the polymer surfaces. The predicted binding energies at a −0.064 C/m² silica surface charge density corresponding to circum-neutral pH were −0.055, −0.029, and −0.338 × 10⁻¹⁸ J/nm² for the dimers corresponding to the silica surface with dextran, phosphorylated dextran, and poly-l-lysine, respectively. Polarizable continuum model (PCM) calculations with different solvents, silanol vibrational frequency calculations, and orbital interaction analysis based on natural bonding orbital (NBO) showed that phosphate groups formed stronger H-bonds with neutral silanols than hydroxyl and amino functional groups of polymers, implying that phosphate containing polymers would play important roles in EPS binding to silica surfaces.     

Lead-lead systematics: A discussion of the [I,S] diagram proposed by G. Manhes,C.J. Allègre,B. Dupréand B. Hamelin

The choice of diagrammatic representation for Pb isotope data should be determined by clarity of presentation and ability of the chosen diagram to highlight significant differences between samples. The conventionally used [α, β] diagram is shown to be superior to the recently proposed [I, S] diagram in both these respects. Transformation of Pb data to achieve parametric forms which can be treated by linear statistical methods causes a loss of diagnostic sensitivity, particularly for relatively young events. This loss of sensitivity argues against use of the parametric [I, S] diagram.     

Redetermination of lead isotopic composition in Canyon Diablo troilite

Redetermination of the lead isotopic composition in Canyon Diablo troilite shows that the original analysis was overcorrected for analytical fractionation. The new analysis indicates that the lead in nodule CDN-1 is a mixture of primordial lead plus a small amount of common lead.     

Investigations into an unknown organism on the martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001

Abstract— Examination of fracture surfaces near the fusion crust of the martian meteorite Allan Hills (ALH) 84001 have been conducted using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and has revealed structures strongly resembling mycelium. These structures were compared with similar structures found in Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities. On morphology alone, we conclude that these features are not only terrestrial in origin but probably belong to a member of the Actinomycetales, which we consider was introduced during the Antarctic residency of this meteorite. If true, this is the first documented account of terrestrial microbial activity within a meteorite from the Antarctic blue ice fields. These structures, however, do not bear any resemblance to those postulated to be martian biota, although they are a probable source of the organic contaminants previously reported in this meteorite.     

Comparison of Enterococcus density estimates in marine beach and bay samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction, membrane filtration and defined substrate testing

Currently, densities of Enterococcus in marine bathing beach samples are performed using conventional methods which require 24 h to obtain results. Real-time PCR methods are available which can measure results in as little as 3 h. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a more rapid test method for the determination of bacterial contamination in marine bathing beaches to better protect human health. The geometric mean of Enterococcus densities using Enterolert® defined substrate testing and membrane filtration ranged from 5.2 to 150 MPN or CFU/100 mL and corresponding qPCR results ranged from 6.6 to 1785 CCE/100 mL. The regression analysis of these results showed a positive correlation between qPCR and conventional tests with an overall correlation (r) of 0.71. qPCR was found to provide accurate and sensitive estimate of Enterococcus densities and has the potential to be used as a rapid test method for the quantification of Enterococcus in marine waters.     

Analysis of Y-component of Geomagnetic Field and SYM-H Index Using Wavelet Multiresolution Analysis

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Electrodynamical coupling between the solar wind’s plasma and the Earth’s magnetosphere creates geomagnetic disturbances recorded on the ground. This work...