Origin of Silicate Spherules and Geochemistry of Re and Platinum-Group Elements Within Microfossil-Bearing Archean Chert from the 3.4 Ga Strelley Pool Formation, Western Australia.

Silicate spherules have been identified from the ca. 3.4 Ga-old Strelley Pool Formation (SPF) in the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. Their origins and geochemical characteristics, including the Re and platinum-group elements of their host clastic layer and the overlying and underlying microfossil-bearing finely laminated carbonaceous cherts, were examined. The spherules have various morphologies (completely spherical to angular), sizes (∼20 to >500 µm), textures (layered, non-layered, and fibrous), mineralogy (various proportions of microcrystalline quartz, sericite, anatase and Fe-oxides), and chemistry (enriched in Ni and/or Cr), commonly with thin anatase-rich walls. Their host clastic layer is characterized by rip-up clasts, suggesting a suddenly occurring high-energy depositional environment, such as tsunamis. Although various origins other than asteroid impact were considered, none could unequivocally explain the features of the spherules. In contrast, non-layered spherical spherules that occur as individual framework grains or collectively comprise angular-shaped rock fragments appear to be more consistent with the asteroid impact origin. The calculated Re-Os age of the cherts (3331 ± 220 Ma) was consistent with the established age of the SPF (3426-3350 Ma), suggesting that the Re-Os system was not significantly disturbed by later metamorphic and weathering events.

Microscopy and chemical analyses reveal flavone-based woolly fibres extrude from micron-sized holes in glandular trichomes of Dionysia tapetodes.

BACKGROUND: Dionysia tapetodes, a small cushion-forming mountainous evergreen in the Primulaceae, possesses a vast surface-covering of long silky fibres forming the characteristic "woolly" farina. This contrasts with some related Primula which instead form a fine powder. Farina is formed by specialized cellular factories, a type of glandular trichome, but the precise composition of the fibres and how it exits the cell is poorly understood. Here, using a combination of cell biology (electron and light microscopy) and analytical chemical techniques, we present the principal chemical components of the wool and its mechanism of exit from the glandular trichome. RESULTS: We show the woolly farina consists of micron-diameter fibres formed from a mixture of flavone and substituted flavone derivatives. This contrasts with the powdery farina, consisting almost entirely of flavone. The woolly farina in D. tapetodes is extruded through specific sites at the surface of the trichome's glandular head cell, characterised by a small complete gap in the plasma membrane, cell wall and cuticle and forming a tight seal between the fibre and hole. The data is consistent with formation and thread elongation occurring from within the cell. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the composition of the D. tapetodes farina dictates its formation as wool rather than powder, consistent with a model of thread integrity relying on intermolecular H-bonding. Glandular trichomes produce multiple wool fibres by concentrating and maintaining their extrusion at specific sites at the cell cortex of the head cell. As the wool is extensive across the plant, there may be associated selection pressures attributed to living at high altitudes.

Seismic evidence for flow in the hydrated mantle wedge of the Ryukyu subduction zone.

It is widely accepted that water-rich serpentinite domains are commonly present in the mantle above shallow subducting slabs and play key roles in controlling the geochemical cycling and physical properties of subduction zones. Thermal and petrological models show the dominant serpentine mineral is antigorite. However, there is no good consensus on the amount, distribution and alignment of this mineral. Seismic velocities are commonly used to identify antigorite-rich domains, but antigorite is highly-anisotropic and depending on the seismic ray path, its properties can be very difficult to distinguish from non-hydrated olivine-rich mantle. Here, we utilize this anisotropy and show how an analysis of seismic anisotropy that incorporates measured ray path geometries in the Ryukyu arc can constrain the distribution, orientation and amount of antigorite. We find more than 54% of the wedge must consist of antigorite and the alignment must change from vertically aligned to parallel to the slab. This orientation change suggests convective flow in the hydrated forearc mantle. Shear wave splitting analysis in other subduction zones indicates large-scale serpentinization and forearc mantle convection are likely to be more widespread than generally recognized. The view that the forearc mantle of cold subduction zones is dry needs to be reassessed.

How we established a new undergraduate firm on a Medical Admissions Unit.

Medical Admission Units (MAUs) were introduced in the UK in the 1980s primarily driven by a governance and service improvement agenda. In the UK this has led to the development of Acute Medicine as a specialty in its own right, together with a strong role of this specialty in postgraduate teaching. In contrast, the role of MAUs, if any, in undergraduate medical education is currently unclear. Prompted by an expansion of our undergraduate student numbers, our aim was to establish a Year 3 undergraduate firm on a 33-bedded MAU in a large academic teaching hospital in the National Health Service (NHS). Despite initial scepticism from clinicians, managers, and educators, the new firm placement on MAU became an instant success and continues to attract excellent feedback from our Year 3 undergraduate students. Students enjoy the bedside teaching with a high percentage of consultant-delivered teaching and also liked the involvement of Foundation Doctors. Here, we report our experience on how to make such a firm work, based on student feedback and the tutors' experience. We provide an overview and a step-by-step guide of how to construct a successful new undergraduate firm on a busy MAU. We also discuss opportunities and challenges and discuss the relevant literature. We conclude that undergraduate teaching is feasible and rewarding in an extremely busy MAU setting. We note that identifying enthusiastic educators within the MAU team, utilisation of peripheral learning opportunities, structured timetables and induction, and a robust framework for quality assurance are all crucial to success.

Retinal artery occlusions in children.

The purpose of this study is to present a case of RAO in a 13 year old girl with a preceding history of hyperextension of the neck at her hairdressers for a long duration and use of her mobile phone handset resting it against the side of her neck presumably exerting some pressure on carotids during the same time. Materials and methods of this study was reported as case report and review of literature. A 13 year-old girl presented with the left supero-nasal scotoma due to an inferior temporal branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO). She underwent extensive investigations and no underlying cause was discovered. She gave a history of cervical extension over a long period of time while having the hair coloured twice in the preceding week. She also mentioned that she was using her mobile phone more or less continuously during both these occasions keeping it against her neck. Given the above history it is possible that the pressure on the ipsilateral carotid arteries or the prolong neck extension may have been responsible for the formation of a platelet embolus resulting in the BRAO. In conclusion, although cerebro-vascular accidents due to 'beauty parlor stroke syndrome' (JAMA 269:2085-2086, 1993) have been reported previously it has not been reported in children to our knowledge. On the other hand, 'beauty parlor stroke syndrome' occurs due to a dissection of the vertebral arteries or due to mechanical compression of the vertebral arteries during the prolonged hyperextension of the neck. The central retinal artery originates from the internal carotid circulation and it is highly unlikely for an embolus to enter the retinal circulation from the vertebral arteries. Therefore, the authors favour the possibility that the compulsive use of a mobile phone exerting pressure on the carotid arteries for a long time may have led to the formation of an embolus and subsequent RAO in this case.

Iris microhaemangioma: a management strategy.

AIM: To analyse previous literature and to formulate a management strategy for iris microhaemangiomas (IMH). METHODS: A review of the literature in English language articles on IMH. RESULTS: Thirty five English language articles fulfilled the criteria for inclusion to the study and based on the contents on these articles a management strategy was formulated. Age at presentation ranged from 42 to 80 years with no sex or racial predisposition. Most patients with IMH have no systemic disease but a higher incidence had been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus, myotonic dystrophy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and several other systemic and ophthalmic co-morbidities. Most patients remained asymptomatic until they experienced a sudden blurring of vision due to a hyphaema. Some patients only develop a self-limiting single episode of hyphaema and therefore the laser or surgical photocoagulation of iris should be reserved for the cases complicated with recurrent hyphaema. In some patients, several laser photocoagulation sessions may be needed and the recurrent iris vascular tufts may require more aggressive treatment. Iris fluorescein angiography (IFA) is useful in identifying the true extent of the disease and helps to improve the precision of the laser treatment. Surgical excision (iridectomy) should only be considered in patients who fail to respond to repeated laser treatment. In some cases IMHs has been initially misdiagnosed as amaurosis fugax, iritis and Posner-Schlossman syndrome. CONCLUSION: Owing to its scarcity, there is no good quality scientific evidence to support the management of IMH. The authors discuss the various treatment options and present a management strategy based on the previous literature for the management for this rare condition and its complications.

Determining the critical micelle concentration of a novel lipid-lowering agent, disodium ascorbyl phytostanyl phosphate (FM-VP4), using a fluorescence depolarization procedure.

The objective of this study was to determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of a novel water-soluble plant sterol derivative (FM-VP4) using a fluorescence depolarization method. The CMC was determined by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence depolarization. Test solutions of various concentrations of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) as a positive control or FM-VP4 in water were spiked with 2 microL of 4 mM DPH in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and left overnight to equilibrate in a dark chamber. Fluorescence of each solution was measured at room temperature using a Perseptive Biosystems Cytofluor Series 4000 multi-well plate reader. Fluorescence intensity increases as DPH is incorporated into the hydrophobic core of micelles. Thus, the CMC is the value at which an abrupt increase in intensity is observed. These points were observed at 8 mM and 0.014 mM for SDS and FM-VP4, respectively. Sodium dodecylsulphate was used as a positive control and supports the validity of our results, as the literature values of SDS are reported to be between 8-8.3 mM. The CMC of FM-VP4 is reported to be 0.014 mM.

Natural examples of olivine lattice preferred orientation patterns with a flow-normal a-axis maximum.

Tectonic plate motion is thought to cause solid-state plastic flow within the underlying upper mantle and accordingly lead to the development of a lattice preferred orientation of the constituent olivine crystals. The mechanical anisotropy that results from such preferred orientation typically produces a direction of maximum seismic wave velocity parallel to the plate motion direction. This has been explained by the existence of an olivine preferred orientation with an 'a-axis' maximum parallel to the induced mantle flow direction. In subduction zones, however, the olivine a axes have been inferred to be arranged roughly perpendicular to plate motion, which has usually been ascribed to localized complex mantle flow patterns. Recent experimental work suggests an alternative explanation: under conditions of high water activity, a 'B-type' olivine preferred orientation may form, with the a-axis maximum perpendicular to the flow direction. Natural examples of such B-type preferred orientation are, however, almost entirely unknown. Here we document widespread B-type olivine preferred orientation patterns from a subduction-type metamorphic belt in southwest Japan and show that these patterns developed in the presence of water. Our discovery implies that mantle flow above subduction zones may be much simpler than has generally been thought.