High-Precision Mass-Dependent Molybdenum Isotope Variations in Magmatic Rocks Determined by Double-Spike MC-ICP-MS

Small mass‐dependent variations of molybdenum isotope ratios in oceanic and island arc rocks are expected as a result of recycling altered oceanic crust and sediments into the mantle at convergent plate margins over geological timescales. However, the determination of molybdenum isotope data precise and accurate enough to identify these subtle isotopic differences remains challenging. Large sample sizes – in excess of 200 mg – need to be chemically processed to isolate enough molybdenum in order to allow sufficiently high‐precision isotope analyses using double‐spike MC‐ICP‐MS techniques. Established methods are either unable to process such large amounts of silicate material or require several distinct chemical processing steps, making the analyses very time‐consuming. Here, we present a new and efficient single‐pass chromatographic exchange technique for the chemical isolation of molybdenum from silicate and metal matrices. To test our new method, we analysed USGS reference materials BHVO‐2 and BIR‐1. Our new data are consistent with those derived from more involved and time‐consuming methods for these two reference materials previously published. We also provide the first molybdenum isotope data for USGS reference materials AGV‐2, the GSJ reference material JB‐2 as well as metal NIST SRM 361.ISSN:1639-4488ISSN:1751-908

Abundances and Physical Conditions in the Warm Neutral Medium Towards mu Columbae

We present ultraviolet interstellar absorption line measurements for the sightline towards the O9.5 V star mu Columbae obtained with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope. These archival data represent the most complete GHRS interstellar absorption line measurements for any line of sight towards an early-type star. The 3.5 km/s resolution of the instrument allow us to accurately derive the gas-phase column densities of many important ionic species in the diffuse warm neutral medium using a combination of apparent column density and component fitting techniques, and we study in detail the contamination from ionized gas along this sightline. The low-velocity material shows gas-phase abundance patterns similar to the warm cloud (cloud A) towards the disk star zeta Oph, while the component at v = +20.1 km/s shows gas-phase abundances similar to those found in warm halo clouds. We find the velocity-integrated gas-phase abundances of Zn, P, and S relative to H along this sightline are indistinguishable from solar system abundances. We discuss the implications of our gas-phase abundance measurements for the composition of interstellar dust. The relative ionic column density ratios of the intermediate velocity components show the imprint both of elemental incorporation into grains and (photo)ionization. The components at v = -30 and -48 km/s along this sightline likely trace shocked gas with very low hydrogen column densities. Appendices include a new derivation of the GHRS instrumental line spread function, and a new very accurate determination of the total H I column along this sightline. (Abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 80 pages including 19 embedded figures and 12 embedded tables. Version with higher resolution figures can be downloaded from http://fuse.pha.jhu.edu/~howk/Papers/papers.htm

Differential engulfment of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by monocyte-derived macrophages is associated with altered phagocyte biochemistry and morphology

Knowledge of changes in macrophages following bacterial engulfment is limited. U937-derived macrophages were incubated with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Morphological and biochemical changes in macrophages following host-pathogen interactions were visualized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) respectively. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to assess the variability in the FTIR spectra. Following host-pathogen interactions, survival of S. aureus was significantly lower than P. aeruginosa (P 99 % of variability in the FTIR spectra explained by the first two principal components. These findings demonstrated that there were clear morphological and biochemical changes in macrophages following engulfment of two different bacterial types suggesting that the biochemical components of the bacterial cell wall influenced the biochemical characteristics and hence the morphology of macrophages in distinct ways

Os mártires e a cristianização do território na América portuguesa, séculos XVI e XVII

O artigo investiga um grupo de atores sociais bastante relevante para viabilizar a cristianização na América portuguesa: os mártires cristãos, indivíduos muito especiais, dispostos a regar a terra com seu próprio sangue, de forma a tornar definitiva e irreversível a ocupação cristã do território. Os mártires - e principalmente a narrativa em torno deles - parecem ter sido bastante acionados para integrar a América portuguesa e seus habitantes nativos à temporalidade e territorialidade cristã. Os mártires dos séculos XVI e XVII, principalmente missionários, reeditavam os martírios do início da cristandade, que espalharam o cristianismo rumo a diversas partes do mundo na antiguidade. Dessa forma, viabilizaram a cristianização das novas fronteiras, consagrando o solo com seu sangue divino e viabilizando posteriores processos de urbanização. Além da função estratégica dos mártires para os cristãos, o texto mostra que eles também tiveram significado peculiar na interlocução com as culturas ameríndias, que tinha como um de seus principais personagens o grande guerreiro, disposto a perder seu sangue em prol de seu grupo.This paper looks into a group of social agents who played a significant role in the Christianization of Portuguese America, namely, the Christian martyrs - very special individuals who were ready to wet the land with their own blood in order to make possible a definitive and irreversible occupation of the territory by Christian settlers. The martyrs, and above all the stories told about them, seem to have been called upon to integrate Portuguese America and its native inhabitants into the temporalities and territory of Christendom. Mostly made up of missionaries, this group of 16th and 17th-century martyrs reedited the martyrdom of early Christians, who spread their creed across numerous parts of the Ancient World. They enabled the Christianization of new frontiers by consecrating the soil with their divine blood and paving the way for subsequent processes of urban development. In addition to their strategic significance for Christianity, the text also shows that their martyrdom played a specific role in the Christian settlers' interaction with Amerindian culture, whose main cults included the figure of the great warrior, ever ready to shed his own blood for his group

Exploring the putative interactions between chronic kidney disease and chronic periodontitis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic periodontitis (CP) are both common diseases, which are found disproportionately comorbid with each other and have been reported to have a detrimental effect on the progression of each respective disease. They have an overlap in risk factors and both are a source of systemic inflammation along with a wide selection of immunological and non-specific effects that can affect the body over the lifespan of the conditions. Previous studies have investigated the directionality of the relationship between these two diseases; however, there is a lack of literature that has examined how these diseases may be interacting at the localized and systemic level. This review discusses how oral microorganisms have the ability to translocate and have distal effects and provides evidence for microbial involvement in a systemic disease. Furthermore, it summarizes the reported local and systemic effects of CKD and CP and discusses how the interaction of these effects may be responsible for directionality associations reported

OPM-MEG in multiple sclerosis:proof of principle, and the effect of naturalistic posture

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disorder in which myelin damage affects neuronal signalling. Magnetoencephalography (MEG – the measurement of magnetic fields generated by neuronal currents) offers metrics of brain function that relate directly to electrophysiological signalling, making it a valuable tool for exploring how abnormal function relates to MS symptoms. However, conventional MEG requires participants to be seated or supine with limited head and body motion. This makes it hard to measure brain function whilst simultaneously asking patients to carry out tasks they find challenging – many of which relate to movement. Here, we used a newly developed OPM-MEG system, with a wearable helmet and a lightweight backpack-mounted control unit, to measure MEG signals in people with MS (pwMS), both at rest and during a visuo-motor task. Uniquely, our system enabled data collection in participants who were seated and standing. We found that established markers of MS – including delayed beta-band responses to finger movement and diminished gamma-band responses to visual stimulation – were measurable using OPM-MEG. Further, we showed that standing (compared to sitting) decreased beta-band connectivity (in patients and controls, but the effect was only significant in controls) and decreased oscillatory power (in patients but not controls). In summary, our paper confirms that OPM-MEG is a useful means to investigate MS; it also demonstrates the importance of investigating how changes in posture relate to oscillations and connectivity, and lays the groundwork for broader studies of movement

Longitudinal clinical study of patients with iron rim lesions in multiple sclerosis

Background: Iron rims (IRs) surrounding white matter lesions (WMLs) are suggested to predict a more severe disease course. Only small longitudinal cohorts of patients with and without iron rim lesions (IRLs) have been reported so far. Objective: To assess whether the presence and number of IRLs in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are associated with long-term disability or progressive disease. Methods: Ninety-one CIS/MS patients were recruited between 2008 and 2013 and scanned with 7 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was used to calculate Age-related Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (ARMSS) at the time of scan and at the latest clinical follow-up after 9 years. WMLs were assessed for the presence of IRL using Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)-filtered phase images. Results: In all, 132 IRLs were detected in 42 patients (46%); 9% of WMLs had IRs; 54% of the cohort had no rims, 30% had 1–3 rims and 16% had ⩾4. Patients with IRL had a higher EDSS and ARMSS. Presence of IRL was also a predictor of long-term disability, especially in patients with ⩾4 IRLs. IRLs have a greater impact on disability compared to the WML number and volume. Conclusion: The presence and number of perilesional IR on MRI hold prognostic value for long-term clinical disability in MS

Towards comprehensive observing and modeling systems for monitoring and predicting regional to coastal sea level

A major challenge for managing impacts and implementing effective mitigation measures and adaptation strategies for coastal zones affected by future sea level (SL) rise is our limited capacity to predict SL change at the coast on relevant spatial and temporal scales. Predicting coastal SL requires the ability to monitor and simulate a multitude of physical processes affecting SL, from local effects of wind waves and river runoff to remote influences of the large-scale ocean circulation on the coast. Here we assess our current understanding of the causes of coastal SL variability on monthly to multi-decadal timescales, including geodetic, oceanographic and atmospheric aspects of the problem, and review available observing systems informing on coastal SL. We also review the ability of existing models and data assimilation systems to estimate coastal SL variations and of atmosphere-ocean global coupled models and related regional downscaling efforts to project future SL changes. We discuss (1) observational gaps and uncertainties, and priorities for the development of an optimal and integrated coastal SL observing system, (2) strategies for advancing model capabilities in forecasting short-term processes and projecting long-term changes affecting coastal SL, and (3) possible future developments of sea level services enabling better connection of scientists and user communities and facilitating assessment and decision making for adaptation to future coastal SL change.RP was funded by NASA grant NNH16CT00C. CD was supported by the Australian Research Council (FT130101532 and DP 160103130), the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) Working Group 148, funded by national SCOR committees and a grant to SCOR from the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant OCE-1546580), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO/International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IOC/IODE) IQuOD Steering Group. SJ was supported by the Natural Environmental Research Council under Grant Agreement No. NE/P01517/1 and by the EPSRC NEWTON Fund Sustainable Deltas Programme, Grant Number EP/R024537/1. RvdW received funding from NWO, Grant 866.13.001. WH was supported by NASA (NNX17AI63G and NNX17AH25G). CL was supported by NASA Grant NNH16CT01C. This work is a contribution to the PIRATE project funded by CNES (to TP). PT was supported by the NOAA Research Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program through its sponsorship of UHSLC (NA16NMF4320058). JS was supported by EU contract 730030 (call H2020-EO-2016, “CEASELESS”). JW was supported by EU Horizon 2020 Grant 633211, Atlantos

Observer agreement for small bowel ultrasound in Crohn’s disease:results from the METRIC trial

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate interobserver agreement for small bowel ultrasound (SBUS) in newly diagnosed and relapsing Crohn’s disease. Methods: A subset of patients recruited to a prospective trial comparing the diagnostic accuracy of MR enterography and SBUS underwent a second SBUS performed by one of a pool of six practitioners, who recorded the presence, activity and location of small bowel and colonic disease. Detailed segmental mural and extra-mural observations were also scored. Interobserver variability was expressed as percentage agreement with a construct reference standard, split by patient cohort, grouping disease as present or absent. Prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa (PABAK), and simple percentage agreement between practitioners, irrespective of the reference standard, were calculated. Results: Thirty-eight patients (11 new diagnosis, 27 relapse) were recruited from two sites. Overall percentage agreement for small bowel disease presence against the consensus reference was 82% (52–95% (95%CI)), kappa coefficient (κ) 0.64, (substantial agreement) for new diagnosis and 81%, κ 0.63 (substantial agreement) for the relapsing cohort. Agreement for colonic disease presence was 64%, κ 0.27 (fair agreement) in new diagnosis and 78%,κ 0.56 (moderate agreement) in the relapsing cohort. Simple agreement between practitioners was 84% and 87% for small bowel and colonic disease presence respectively. Practitioners agreed on small bowel disease activity in 24/27 (89%) where both identified disease. Kappa agreement for detailed mural observations ranged from κ 0.00 to 1.00. Conclusion: There is substantial practitioner agreement for small bowel disease presence in newly diagnosed and relapsing CD patients, supporting wider dissemination of enteric US.</p