Investigation ofδ18Oandδ2Hin the Namoi River catchment—elucidating recharge sources and the extent of sur-face water/groundwater interaction

Stable isotopes 18O and 2H were analysed in water samples from rainfall, surface water and groundwater within the semi-arid Namoi River catchment in NSW, Australia.The isotopic composition of rainfall events and groundwater samples plot along the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL). In contrast, the surface water samples of the Namoi River clearly show signs of evaporative enrichment and plot on a Local Evaporation Line (LEL) constructed for the area based on δ18O and δ2H time-series for surface waters of the Namoi River. The river samples have a distinctly lower slope than the LMWL which is due to evaporation. Shallow groundwater near the Namoi River shows considerable enrichment compared to average groundwater signatures and plots in between the LMWL and the LEL on a δ2H vs. δ18O graph. These results clearly indicate that the Namoi River is recharging the shallow aquifer system. Conversely, the isotopic composition of surface water in the tributaries of Maules and Horsearm creeks are similar to groundwater indicating that these creeks are receiving groundwater discharge. This study reveals many complex hydrological processes occurring in the catchment. It would not have been possible to elucidate these processes without the use of stable isotope data

A post-wildfire response in cave dripwater chemistry

Surface disturbances above a cave have the potential to impact cave dripwater discharge, isotopic composition and solute concentrations, which may subsequently be recorded in the stalagmites forming from these dripwaters. One such disturbance is wildfire; however, the effects of wildfire on cave chemistry and hydrology remains poorly understood. Using dripwater data monitored at two sites in a shallow cave, beneath a forest, in southwest Australia, we provide one of the first cave monitoring studies conducted in a post-fire regime, which seeks to identify the effects of wildfire and post-fire vegetation dynamics on dripwater δ18O composition and solute concentrations. We compare our post-wildfire δ18O data with predicted dripwater δ18O using a forward model based on measured hydro-climatic influences alone. This helps to delineate hydro-climatic and fire-related influences on δ18O. Further we also compare our data with both data from Golgotha Cave – which is in a similar environment but was not influenced by this particular fire – as well as regional groundwater chemistry, in an attempt to determine the extent to which wildfire affects dripwater chemistry. We find in our forested shallow cave that δ18O is higher after the fire relative to modelled δ18O. We attribute this to increased evaporation due to reduced albedo and canopy cover. The solute response post-fire varied between the two drip sites: at Site 1a, which had a large tree above it that was lost in the fire, we see a response reflecting both a reduction in tree water use and a removal of nutrients (Cl, Mg, Sr, and Ca) from the surface and subsurface. Solutes such as SO4 and K maintain high concentrations, due to the abundance of above-ground ash. At Site 2a, which was covered by lower–middle storey vegetation, we see a solute response reflecting evaporative concentration of all studied ions (Cl, Ca, Mg, Sr, SO4, and K) similar to the trend in δ18O for this drip site. We open a new avenue for speleothem science in fire-prone regions, focusing on the geochemical records of speleothems as potential palaeo-fire archives. © Author(s) 2016

Isotopic and chromatographic fingerprinting of the sources of dissolved organic carbon in a shallow coastal aquifer

The terrestrial subsurface is the largest source of freshwater globally. The organic carbon contained within it and processes controlling its concentration remain largely unknown. The global median concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in groundwater is low compared to surface waters, suggesting significant processing in the subsurface. Yet the processes that remove this DOC in groundwater are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the different sources and processes influencing DOC in a shallow anoxic coastal aquifer. Uniquely, this study combines liquid chromatography organic carbon detection with organic (δ13CDOC) carbon isotope geochemical analyses to fingerprint the various DOC sources that influence the concentration, carbon isotopic composition, and character with respect to distance from surface water sources, depth below surface, and inferred groundwater residence time (using 3H activities) in groundwater. It was found that the average groundwater DOC concentration was 5 times higher (5 mg L−1) than the global median concentration and that the concentration doubled with depth at our site, but the chromatographic character did not change significantly. The anoxic saturated conditions of the aquifer limited the rate of organic matter processing, leading to enhanced preservation and storage of the DOC sources from peats and palaeosols contained within the aquifer. All groundwater samples were more aromatic for their molecular weight in comparison to other lakes, rivers and surface marine samples studied. The destabilization or changes in hydrology, whether by anthropogenic or natural processes, could lead to the flux of up to 10 times more unreacted organic carbon from this coastal aquifer compared to deeper inland aquifers

Unbiased estimate of the epithelial cell number and epithelial cell nuclear volume in the bulbourethral (cowper) glands of holstein bulls - a stereological study

The bulbourethral gland (or Cowper"s gland) plays an important role for fertility. It is, therefore, essential to have quantitative data about the morphological and histomorphological structure of this gland in nonpathological conditions. In the present study, Holstein bull"s bulbourethral glands were collected, and the volume of the glands, total epithelial cell number and epithelial cell"s nuclear volume was estimated for the first time by stereological methods. The smooth fractionator technique for epithelial cell counting was used. Epithelial cell"s nuclear volume was estimated on vertical sections. The mean number of the epithelial cells (coefficient of error; CE) and the mean epithelial cell"s nuclear volume were found 322x107 (0.1) and 59.1 µm3 (SD=3.7) respectively. Finally, the present studies stereological findings are in the acceptable range

Anatomical, histomorphological, and molecular classification of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma constitutes a heterogeneous group of malignancies that can emerge at any point of the biliary tree. Cholangiocarcinoma is classified into intrahepatic, perihilar and distal based on its anatomical location. Histologically, conventional perihilar/distal cholangiocarcinomas are mucin-producing adenocarcinomas or papillary tumours; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are more heterogeneous and can be sub-classified according to the level or size of the displayed bile duct. Cholangiocarcinoma develops through multistep carcinogenesis and is preceded by dysplastic and in situ lesions. Definition and clinical significance of precursor lesions, including biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct, intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms and mucinous cystic neoplasm, are discussed in this review. A main challenge in diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma is the fact that tumour tissue for histological examination is difficult to obtain. Thus, a major clinical obstacle is the establishment of the correct diagnosis at a tumour stage that is amenable to surgery which still represents the only curable therapeutic option. Current standards, methodology and criteria for diagnosis are discussed. Cholangiocarcinoma represents a heterogeneous tumour with regard to molecular alterations. In intrahepatic subtype, mainly two distinctive morpho-molecular groups can currently be discriminated. Large-duct type intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma shows a high mutation frequency of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, such as KRAS and TP53 while Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1/2 mutations and Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2-fusions are typically seen in small-duct type tumours. It is most important to ensure the separation of the given anatomical subtypes and to search for distinct subgroups within the subtypes on a molecular and morphological basis

The Role of Female Sexual-Self Schema in Reactions to Non-Explicit Sexual Advertising Imagery

We explore females’ reactions to a non-explicit, but still sexually themed, advertisement. Specifically, we consider the role of female sexual self-schema (SSS) in the identification of the level of sex present in such an advertisement, and then resultant effects on attitudes and purchase intent. We find that while SSS has no effect on the perceived level of sex present, it does influence resultant dependent variables, particularly for low-SSS females. Informed by our study and extant literature, we also offer areas for further SSS-based advertising research, particularly regarding issues of females’ perceptions of advertisement and brand fit with sexual themes

Prediction of hip joint load and translation using musculoskeletal modelling with force-dependent kinematics and experimental validation

Musculoskeletal (MSK) lower limb models are widely used to predict the resultant contact force in the hip joint as a non-invasive alternative to instrumented implants. Previous MSK models based on rigid body assumptions treated the hip joint as an ideal sphere with only three rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs). An MSK model that considered force-dependent kinematics (FDK) with three additional translational DOFs was developed and validated in the present study by comparing it with a previous experimental measurement. A 32-mm femoral head against a polyethylene cup was considered in the MSK model for calculating the contact forces. The changes in the main modelling 28 parameters were found to have little influence on the hip joint forces (RDPV<10 BW%, mean trial deviation<20 BW%). The centre of the hip joint translation was more sensitive to the changes in the main modelling parameters, especially muscle recruitment type (RDPV<20%, mean trial deviation<0.02 mm). The predicted hip contact forces (HCFs) showed consistent profiles, compared with the experimental measurements, except in the lateral-medial direction. The ratio-average analysis, based on the Bland and Altman’s plots, showed better limits of agreement (LOA) in climbing stairs (mean LOA: -2.0 to 6.3 in walking, mean LOA: -0.5 to 3.1 in climbing stairs). Better agreement of the predicted HCFs was also found during the stance phase. The FDK approach underestimated the maximum hip contact force by a mean value of 6.68 ±1.75% BW compared with the experimental measurements. The predicted maximum translations of the hip joint centres were 0.125 ± 0.03 mm in level walking and 0.123 ± 0.005 mm in climbing stairs

CD4 lymphocyte dynamics in Tanzanian pulmonary tuberculosis patients with and without hiv co-infection

The interaction of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) on CD4 levels over time is complex and has been divergently reported. CD4 counts were assessed from time of diagnosis till the end of TB treatment in a cohort of pulmonary TB patients with and without HIV co-infection and compared with cross-sectional data on age- and sex-matched non-TB controls from the same area. Of 1,605 study participants, 1,250 were PTB patients and 355 were non-TB controls. At baseline, HIV was associated with 246 (95% CI: 203; 279) cells per μL lower CD4 counts. All PTB patients had 100 cells per μL lower CD4 counts than the healthy controls. The CD4 levels were largely unchanged during a five-month of TB treatment. HIV infected patients not receiving ART at any time and those already on ART at baseline had no increase in CD4 counts after 5 months of TB treatment, whereas those prescribed ART between baseline and 2 months, and between 2 and 5 months increased by 69 (22;117) and 110 (52; 168) CD4 cells per μL after 5 months. The increase in circulating CD4 levels observed in PTB in patients is acquired after 2 months of treatment irrespective of HIV status. Initiation of ART is the strongest factor correlated with CD4 increase during TB treatment.\ud \ud \u