Current understanding of the human microbiome

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2018. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Nature Publishing Group for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Nature Medicine 24 (2018): 392–400, doi:10.1038/nm.4517.Our understanding of the link between the human microbiome and disease, including obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and autism, is rapidly expanding. Improvements in the throughput and accuracy of DNA sequencing of the genomes of microbial communities associated with human samples, complemented by analysis of transcriptomes, proteomes, metabolomes and immunomes, and mechanistic experiments in model systems, have vastly improved our ability to understand the structure and function of the microbiome in both diseased and healthy states. However, many challenges remain. In this Review, we focus on studies in humans to describe these challenges, and propose strategies that leverage existing knowledge to move rapidly from correlation to causation, and ultimately to translation.Many of the studies described here in our laboratories were supported by the NIH, NSF, DOE, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.2018-10-1

Multiple job-holding among male workers in Greece

This paper studies the incidence of multiple job-holding in Greece and contributes to the literature by examining its determinants, its variance across different regions and the effect of the business cycle on its occurrence. The empirical analysis highlights the importance of both pecuniary and non-pecuniary motives behind multiple job-holding, and reveals significant variations in its incidence across regions, with areas that have a large primary sector having higher multiple job-holding rates. Finally, multiple job-holding is found to be pro-cyclical, with the probability of holding a second job estimated to increase during economic expansions

Exploring the Avyssos-Yali-Strogyli submarine volcanic complex at the the Avyssos-Yali-Strogyli submarine volcanic complex at the eastern edge of the Aegean Volcanic Arc edge of the Aegean Volcanic Arc

The volcanic centers of Kos, Yali and Nisyros lie at the eastern edge of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc. Recent swath bathymetric surveys and seismic profiling, conducted by HCMR, led to the discovery of several submarine volcanic centers and massive underwater volcaniclastic deposits. Further research aboard the E/V “Nautilus” was conducted at the area in October 2010. Avyssos crater, located northeast of Strongyli islet, is believed to have been the original location of the massive eruption of Kos ignimbrite 160,000 years ago. Exploration of Avyssos showed that it the seafloor is mostly covered with fine-grained sediment full with traces of bioturbation. Hydrothermal activity was not evident at any point. Yali and Strongyli represent Late Pleistocene to Holocene volcanic islands that have developed between the islands of Kos and Tilos. ROV exploration of the eastern flank of Yali revealed wave-type sediment structures, as well as linear fractures at various depths. Several smaller craters were also discovered on the northwest slopes of Strongyli, aligned with ENE-WSW trending fractures with no signs of hydrothermal activity. Heavy biogenic encrustations cover the volcanic rock outcrops on the flanks of both Yali and Strongyli. Analysis of recovered samples will provide information about their relationship to the geology of the nearby islands

Review on the Safe Use of Ammonia Fuel Cells in the Maritime Industry

In April 2018, the International Maritime Organisation adopted an ambitious plan to contribute to the global efforts to reduce the Greenhouse Gas emissions, as set by the Paris Agreement, by targeting a 50% reduction in shipping’s Green House Gas emissions by 2050, benchmarked to 2008 levels. To meet these challenging goals, the maritime industry must introduce environmentally friendly fuels with negligible, or low SOX, NOX and CO2 emissions. Ammonia use in maritime applications is considered promising, due to its high energy density, low flammability, easy storage and low production cost. Moreover, ammonia can be used as fuel in a variety of propulsors such as fuel cells and can be produced from renewable sources. As a result, ammonia can be used as a versatile marine fuel, exploiting the existing infrastructure, and having zero SOX and CO2 emissions. However, there are several challenges to overcome for ammonia to become a compelling fuel towards the decarbonisation of shipping. Such factors include the selection of the appropriate ammonia-fuelled power generator, the selection of the appropriate system safety assessment tool, and mitigating measures to address the hazards of ammonia. This paper discusses the state-of-the-art of ammonia fuelled fuel cells for marine applications and presents their potential, and challenges.</jats:p