Quantum test of the Universality of Free Fall using rubidium and potassium

We report on an improved test of the Universality of Free Fall using a rubidium-potassium dual-species matter wave interferometer. We describe our apparatus and detail challenges and solutions relevant when operating a potassium interferometer, as well as systematic effects affecting our measurement. Our determination of the E\"otv\"os ratio yields $\eta_{\,\text{Rb,K}}=-1.9\times10^{-7}$ with a combined standard uncertainty of $\sigma_\eta=3.2\times10^{-7}$

Incorporation Of Deepwater Horizon Oil In A Terrestrial Bird

Carbon isotopic evidence revealed Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil entering coastal planktonic and lower terrestrial food webs. The integration of spilled oil into higher terrestrial trophic levels, however, remains uncertain. Wemeasured radiocarbon (C-14) and stable carbon (C-13) in seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) feathers and crop contents. Lower C-14 and C-13 values in feathers and crop contents of birds from contaminated areas indicated incorporation of carbon from oil. Our results, although based on a small sample of birds, thus reveal a food-web link between oil exposure and a terrestrial ecosystem. They also suggest that the reduction in reproductive success previously documented in the same population might be due to the (direct) toxic effect of oil exposure, rather than to (indirect) ecological effects. Werecommend future studies test our results by using larger samples of birds from a wider area in order to assess the extent and implications ofDWHoil incorporation into the terrestrial food web

Effects of oil on terrestrial vertebrates: Predicting impacts of the macondo blowout

In addition to external oiling, marine oil spills may affect vertebrate animals through degradation of habitat; alterations in food web structure; and contamination of resources by toxic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These processes are not well understood for vertebrates breeding and foraging in terrestrial ecosystems affected by oil, such as coastal marshes that were heavily oiled following the 2010 Macondo oil spill. Here, we review what is known about the ecological and physiological effects of oil exposure on vertebrates in general. We then apply these concepts to salt-marsh vertebrates, with special reference to our ongoing monitoring of impacts and recovery in the seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) and marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) in Louisiana following the Macondo spill

The role of the neutrophil and formed elements of the blood in an in vitro model of reperfusion injury

Using The globally ischaemic isolated guinea-pig heart we conducted studies to assess the role of activated neutrophils (PMNs) and the role of the endothelium in reperfusion injury. Reperfusion injury was induced by a 20 min period of global ischaemia followed by a 30 min reperfusion with Krebs' buffer supplemented with f-Met–Leu–Phe (fMLP) and heparinized blood. Ischaemia alone or blood alone resulted in a complete recovery in contractile function measured by developed pressure, fMLP (500 μM) and blood, administered to normoxic hearts did not affect contractile function. The combination of 100 μM fMLP and blood beginning at reperfusion and continuing for 30 min decreased the recovery in contractile function (max. 33 ± 6% reovery) while buffer and 100 pM fMLP resulted in a complete recovery in function. In hearts infused with buffer and neutropenic blood incubated with 100 μM fMLP a complete recovery in function was observed. Isolated peritoneal neutrophils, 7–70 × 105 PMN/ min, incubated with 100 μM fMLP and Krebs' solution decreased contractile function in a concentration-related manner (max. 44 ± 11% recovery). Platelets, plasma or red blood cells alone incubated with fMLP did not decrease recovery in developed pressure. Platelets and PMN incubated with 100 μM fMLP did not, while red blood cells and PMN did, elicit a reduction in recovery in contractile function (34 ± 4% recovery). A 20 min period of global ischaemia destroys the functional integrity of the endothelium (response to Ach). Pre-treatment of the heart with sufficient H2O2 to functionally damage the endothelium, followed by infusion of Krebs' solution supplemented with blood and 100 μM fMLP also elicited a reduction in recovery of contractile function (42 ± 15% recovery). In summary, partially activated neutrophils play a major role in reperfusion injury and there exists a cooperativity between the RBC and PMN in this model

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus) following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) is an abundant and permanent resident of coastal salt marshes impacted by the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Such terrestrial species are often overlooked in the aftermath of marine spills, despite the potential for long-term oil exposure. We sampled the livers of seaside sparrows residing in oiled and unoiled sites from 2011 to 2014 and quantified expression of cytochrome p450 1A (CYP1A), a gene involved in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In August 2011, CYP1A expression was markedly higher in birds from an oiled site compared to an unoiled site, but differences had disappeared by June 2012. In June 2013, CYP1A expression was elevated compared to 2012 levels on all sites, including those collected from sites that had not been directly oiled during the spill. This rise in CYP1A expression was possibly due to Hurricane Isaac, which made landfall near our sites between the 2012 and 2013 sampling periods. CYP1A expression was significantly attenuated again in June 2014. We also collected sediment samples from the same marshes for a total concentration analysis of PAHs. The PAH concentrations in sediment samples exhibited a similar pattern to the CYP1A data, supporting the link between marsh PAHs and bird CYP1A expression. These results indicate that contamination from marine oil spills can immediately extend to terrestrial ecosystems, and that storms, weather, or other factors may influence subsequent spatial and temporal oil exposure for several additional years

Diet and disturbance: Seaside Sparrow resource use driven by oiling and Hurricane Isaac

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) disaster led to extensive oil deposition in Louisiana’s coastal wetlands, followed two years later by Hurricane Isaac. These disturbances led to changes in saltmarsh invertebrate communities, potentially affecting higher-level predators and the saltmarsh food web. Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) are ubiquitous, year-round residents of the coastal saltmarsh affected by the DWH spill, where they consume diverse invertebrates and may be considered an indicator species for the ecosystem’s integrity. We used DNA metabarcoding to evaluate prey consumed by Seaside Sparrows to understand how sparrows responded to residual contamination from the DWH oil spill and ecosystem disturbance caused by Hurricane Isaac. To do so, we evaluated metrics of diet (prey richness, diversity, overall diet composition) and resource use (total niche width, individual specialization) from 2011 to 2017 on oiled, unoiled, and reference sites. We found that while diet composition varied across years and site type, Hurricane Isaac had an even greater effect on the richness and diversity of prey consumed. Resource use—as measured by the total niche width of the populations and degree of individual specialization—was most stable on unoiled sites compared to unoiled and reference sites. Finally, we analyzed resource use for each combination of site type and year (i.e.: “2014 oiled sites”), which indicated a strong correlation between individual specialization and total niche width: as total niche width increased, individuals became more specialized, following the predictions of the Niche Variation Hypothesis

Horizon Scanning Report Identifying Technologies For Pediatric Neurological Trauma

IntroductionChildren and young people comprise one quarter of the UK’s population. Neurological trauma (e.g., traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury) is one of the most common causes of death and disability in this population group, yet health technology innovations for these patients lag behind those for adults.MethodsUsing the horizon scanning methodologies developed by the Innovation Observatory, systematic searches were performed to identify registered clinical trials, published funding awards, and news articles that focused on innovative devices and digital and diagnostic health technologies developed for use in children and young people (from 28 days after birth up to and including 18 years of age) with actual or suspected neurological trauma. The search results were screened for relevance, and key information on the included technologies was extracted and summarized.ResultsTwenty-nine technologies were identified, of which 10 were commercially available. The majority were developed in the UK or the USA. Overall, the development pipeline was evenly split amongst technologies considered to be a device (37%), digital (34%), or diagnostic (29%). Most technologies were intended for use across settings by healthcare professionals, either for initial onsite assessment, for in-hospital management, or for rehabilitation in hospital or in the community.ConclusionsResults from this horizon scan show that development of technologies for pediatric neurological trauma is currently limited, with only a small number of the technologies being developed covering an area of unmet need. To complement the horizon scan, we also sought stakeholder insights on medical technologies for this population group. The combined results and final conclusions will be shared in a future publication