Blood thiamine levels in normal cattle and sheep at pasture

Analysis of whole blood samples from 174 cattle and, 174 sheep from 3 geographical regions of New Zealand over a 10 month period showed a mean (range) thiamine level of 122 nmol/l (71-237 nmol/l) for cattle and 118 nmol/l (67-227 nmol/l) for sheep. Regional and seasonal differences were noted with levels tending to rise over the summer period. A reference range of 75-185 nmol/l is proposed for both cattle and sheep to cover these variations. Levels below 50 nmol/l are considered indicative of deficiency.     

Rapid growth of magnesium-carbonate weathering products in a stony meteorite from antarctica

Nesquehonite, a hydrous magnesium carbonate, occurs as a weathering product on the surface of the Antarctic meteorite LEW 85320(H5 chondrite). Antarctic meteorites have resided on the earth for periods of 10(4) to 10(6) years, but the time needed for weathering products to form has been uncertain. Isotopic measurements of delta(13)C and delta(18)O indicate that the nesquehonite formed at near freezing temperatures by reaction of meteoritic minerals with terrestrial water and carbon dioxide. Results from carbon-14 dating suggest that, although the meteorite has been in Antarctica for at least 3.2 x 10(4) to 3.3 x 10(4) years, the nesquehonite formed after A.D.1950.     

Japanese competitiveness and Japanese management

Japanese-style management and industrial policy are shown to serve as a source of industrial dynamism and are used as a way to illminate what is wrong with the American system. Japanese labor practices-specifically extra hours of unpaid work-are seen as a form of insurance fee that the worker pays in exchange for job security.