Spatial Variability of Manganese Oxide in Two Soilscapes: Upland-Lowland, and Riparian Buffer-Wetland Boundary- Wetland

Background: This research project describes the development of a quantitative measurement methodology to determine the concentration of manganese oxide (MnOx) in two soilscape positions (Upland- Lowland and Riparian Buffer-Wetland Boundary-Wetland). Methods: A reaction between the MnOx in the soil sample and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was initiated to determine the level of MnOx reactivity in the soil sample. Data was collected from four sites on Soilscape 1 (Upland, Lowland, and two sites between the Uplands and Lowlands); within each site, five soil profile depths and three sample replicates were measured which comprised a total of 60 samples. Additionally, data was collected from three sites on Soilscape 2 (Riparian Buffer-Wetland Boundary-Wetland), within each site, three soil profile depths and three sample replicates were measured which comprised a total of 27 samples. Measurements were collected and revalidated to assess the accuracy of the measurement protocol. Results: Analysis of data collected from the surface layers in Soilscape 1 indicated that the Lowland (Site 4) had the highest level of MnOx followed by Site 3 with the lowest value occurring at Site 2. A follow up, revalidation study of three of the four sites from the surface layers on Soilscape 1 indicated that the Lowland (Site 4) had the highest level followed by the Midslope (Site 3) with the lowest value occurring at the Upland (Site 1). Therefore, the revalidation study results matched two of the three sites from the initial study. Correspondingly, the data collected from the three sites from the surface layers on Soilscape 2 indicated that the Wetland Boundary had the highest level followed by Riparian Buffer with the lowest value occurring at Wetland. The revalidation study results matched the initial study for each of the three sites from the surface layers on Soilscape 2, which indicated that the Wetland Boundary had the highest level followed by the Riparian Buffer with the lowest value occurring at the Wetland. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used to easily determine the spatial variability o f MnOx levels in soilscapes that range from Upland-Lowland and Riparian Buffer- Wetland Boundary-Wetland, and the movement of soluble MnOx ions within soilscapes by mass flow and/or diffusion processes. In soils with adequate levels of MnOx ions, the use of this methodology can assist in the delineation of the wetland boundary, which has both an economic and land-use importance to society, because of the importance of the ecological functions of wetland ecosystems

Sex differences in oncogenic mutational processes.

Sex differences have been observed in multiple facets of cancer epidemiology, treatment and biology, and in most cancers outside the sex organs. Efforts to link these clinical differences to specific molecular features have focused on somatic mutations within the coding regions of the genome. Here we report a pan-cancer analysis of sex differences in whole genomes of 1983 tumours of 28 subtypes as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium. We both confirm the results of exome studies, and also uncover previously undescribed sex differences. These include sex-biases in coding and non-coding cancer drivers, mutation prevalence and strikingly, in mutational signatures related to underlying mutational processes. These results underline the pervasiveness of molecular sex differences and strengthen the call for increased consideration of sex in molecular cancer research

BIOPOLE: biogeochemical processes and ecosystem functioning in changing polar systems and their global impacts

The export of elements (particularly carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) from the Poles critically supports global marine biodiversity and major fisheries as well as the sequestration of atmospheric carbon to the deep ocean. Ecosystem processes regulate this export, but major uncertainties remain in terms of how and by how much. Progress on understanding key ecosystem interactions is hindered by lack of data and their representation in Earth system models is poor. The two polar regions share similarities in environmental extremes which make them sensitive to the impacts of climate change. They both receive nutrients from multiple and diverse sources and the delivery of these nutrients to other oceans is regulated by similar ecosystem processes. However, the extent to which these ecosystem processes will be modified by climate change is unclear and urgently needs to be determined. BIOPOLE will determine how polar ecosystems regulate the balance of carbon and nutrients in the world’s oceans and, through it, their effect on global fish stocks and carbon storage. It will address this challenge by integrating ambitious fieldwork campaigns and innovative modelling in a multidisciplinary and highly coordinated approach. BIOPOLE will capitalise on world-leading capabilities and infrastructure in ocean and high-latitude research, including cutting-edge land-based facilities, state-of-the-art polar research vessels and innovative autonomous instrumentation. Collaboration with national and international partners will further strengthen BIOPOLE’s multidisciplinary approach and efficient use of infrastructure. BIOPOLE’s legacy will be the first assessment of the global impact of polar ecosystems on biogeochemical cycling and fish stocks; technologically-novel approaches and strong partnerships between leading international science groups

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

Karl Kraus, das Militär und der « innere Feind » 1914-1918

Es ist bekannt, daß Kraus in den Jahren vor dem Weltkrieg, etwa 1911-1914, eine ausgesprochen konservative Phase durchgemacht hat. Er selbst hat seine Haltung – allerdings nicht ohne Vorbehalte – als „rechtsradikal“ bezeichnet (F 400-03, Juli 1914, 92). Daher ist es nicht verwunderlich, daß wir in der Fackel der Vorkriegszeit positive Äußerungen über Armee und Kriegsmarine finden. Aus dem Erlebnis einer Vorlesung vor Marineoffizieren in Pola (November 1913) schöpfte Kraus „eine Hoffnung auf S..