Juvenile southern elephant seals exhibit seasonal differences in energetic requirements and use of lipids and protein stores

Growing juvenile animals undergo many morphological, physiological, and behavioural changes that influence their energetic requirements, patterns of energy use, and ultimately, their survival and reproductive success. We examined changes in mass loss and body composition of juvenile southern elephant seals (1- and 2-yr-olds) during their two annual haul-outs. At the start and end of the midyear and molt haul-outs, we caught, weighed, and measured 41 and 14 seals, respectively. We measured blubber depth using ultrasound to estimate body composition ( lean and adipose tissue mass). Using energy densities of the adipose and lean tissue, we calculated total, lean, and adipose mass changes and energy expenditure. While molting, juvenile seals used more energy than during the midyear, which is related to the increased use of lean tissue for hair and skin regeneration. The amount of energy used increases with mass as individuals mature. We found sexual differences in energy use where females retained greater fat reserves than males by utilizing more lean tissue. These differences are most likely related to haul-out function and behavior, growth, and earlier development of females toward sexual maturity

Resonant electron transmission through a finite quantum spin chain

Electron transport in a finite one dimensional quantum spin chain (with ferromagnetic exchange) is studied within an $s-d$ exchange Hamiltonian. Spin transfer coefficients strongly depend on the sign of the $s-d$ exchange constant. For a ferromagnetic coupling, they exhibit a novel resonant pattern, reflecting the salient features of the combined electron-spin system. Spin-flip processes are inelastic and feasible at finite voltage or at finite temperature.Comment: 4 pages including 4 .eps figure

Health impact assessment of industrial development projects: a spatio-temporal visualization

Development and implementation of large-scale industrial projects in complex eco-epidemiological settings typically require combined environmental, social and health impact assessments. We present a generic, spatio-temporal health impact assessment (HIA) visualization, which can be readily adapted to specific projects and key stakeholders, including poorly literate communities that might be affected by consequences of a project. We illustrate how the occurrence of a variety of complex events can be utilized for stakeholder communication, awareness creation, interactive learning as well as formulating HIA research and implementation questions. Methodological features are highlighted in the context of an iron ore development in a rural part of Afric

Beyond Nanopore Sequencing in Space: Identifying the Unknown

Astronaut Kate Rubins sequenced DNA on the International Space Station (ISS) for the first time in August 2016 (Figure 1A). A 2D sequencing library containing an equal mixture of lambda bacteriophage, Escherichia coli, and Mus musculus was prepared on the ground with a SQK_MAP006 kit and sent to the ISS frozen and loaded into R7.3 flow cells. After a total of 9 on-orbit sequencing runs over 6 months, it was determined that there was no decrease in sequencing performance on-orbit compared to ground controls (1). A total of ~280,000 and ~130,000 reads generated on-orbit and on the ground, respectively, identified 90% of reads that were attributed to 30% lambda bacteriophage, 30% Escherichia coli, and 30% M. musculus (Figure 1B). Extensive bioinformatics analysis determined comparable 2D and 1D read accuracies between flight and ground runs (Figure 1C), and data collected from the ISS were able to construct directed assemblies of E.coli and lambda genomes at 100% and M. musculus mitochondrial genome at 96.7%. These findings validate sequencing as a viable option for potential on-orbit applications such as environmental microbial monitoring and disease diagnosis. Current microbial monitoring of the ISS applies culture-based techniques that provide colony forming unit (CFU) data for air, water, and surface samples. The identity of the cultured microorganisms in unknown until sample return and ground-based analysis, a process that can take up to 60 days. For sequencing to benefit ISS applications, spaceflight-compatible sample preparation techniques are required. Subsequent to the testing of the MinION on-orbit, a sample-to-sequence method was developed using miniPCR and basic pipetting, which was only recently proven to be effective in microgravity. The work presented here details the in- flight sample preparation process and the first application of DNA sequencing on the ISS to identify unknown ISS-derived microorganisms

Safety and physiological effects of two different doses of elosulfase alfa in patients with morquio a syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, pilot study.

The primary treatment outcomes of a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, pilot study evaluating safety, physiological, and pharmacological effects of elosulfase alfa in patients with Morquio A syndrome are herewith presented. Patients aged ≥7 years and able to walk ≥200 m in the 6-min walk test (6MWT) were randomized to elosulfase alfa 2.0 or 4.0 mg/kg/week for 27 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety of both doses. Secondary objectives were to evaluate effects on endurance (6MWT and 3-min stair climb test [3MSCT]), exercise capacity (cardio-pulmonary exercise test [CPET]), respiratory function, muscle strength, cardiac function, pain, and urine keratan sulfate (uKS) levels, and to determine pharmacokinetic parameters. Twenty-five patients were enrolled (15 randomized to 2.0 mg/kg/week and 10 to 4.0 mg/kg/week). No new or unexpected safety signals were observed. After 24 weeks, there were no improvements versus baseline in the 6MWT, yet numerical improvements were seen in the 3MSCT with 4.0 mg/kg/week. uKS and pharmacokinetic data suggested no linear relationship over the 2.0-4.0 mg/kg dose range. Overall, an abnormal exercise capacity (evaluated in 10 and 5 patients in the 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg/week groups, respectively), impaired muscle strength, and considerable pain were observed at baseline, and there were trends towards improvements in all domains after treatment. In conclusion, preliminary data of this small study in a Morquio A population with relatively good endurance confirmed the acceptable safety profile of elosulfase alfa and showed a trend of increased exercise capacity and muscle strength and decreased pain

Structure-Directing Agent Location and Non-Centrosymmetric Structure of Fluoride-Containing Zeolite SSZ-55

Single crystals of pure silica zeolite SSZ-55 were prepared using the fluoride route. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction at a synchrotron source revealed the framework structure of the material, but the unit cell (orthorhombic a = 12.905(2) Å, b = 21.344(4) Å, c = 5.1279(10)) is too small to accommodate ordered arrays of the organic structure-directing agent. Molecular modeling was used to simulate the docking of the structure-directing agent in the channels of the material, and this revealed a strong space-filling interaction with a number of possible orientations of the organic cation. The overall non-centrosymmetric structure of the solid (spacegroup C222_1) was confirmed using second harmonic generation experiments

The Grand Tour of the Ruby-East Humboldt Metamorphic Core Complex, Northeastern Nevada: Part 1-Introduction & Road Log

The purpose of this geological excursion is to provide an overview of the multiphase developmental history of the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range, northeastern Nevada. Although these mountain ranges are commonly cited as a classic example of a Cordilleran metamorphic core complex developed through large-magnitude, mid-Tertiary crustal extension, a preceding polyphase Mesozoic contractional history is also well preserved in the ranges. An early phase of this history involved Late Jurassic two-mica granitic magmatism, high-temperature but relatively low-pressure metamorphism, and polyphase deformation in the central Ruby Mountains. In the northern Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range, a Late Cretaceous history of crustal shortening, metamorphism, and magmatism is manifested by fold-nappes (involving Archean basement rocks in the northern East Humboldt Range), widespread migmatization, injection of monzogranitic and leucogranitic magmas, all coupled with sillimanite-grade metamorphism. Following Late Cretaceous contraction, a protracted extensional deformation partially overprinted these areas during the Cenozoic. This extensional history may have begun as early as the Late Cretaceous or as late as the mid-Eocene. Late Eocene and Oligocene magmatism occurred at various levels in the crust yielding mafic to felsic orthogneisses in the deep crust, a composite granitic pluton in the upper crust, and volcanic rocks at the surface. Movement along a west-rooted, extensional shear zone in the Oligocene and early Miocene led to core-complex exhumation. The shear zone produced mylonitic rocks about 1 km thick at deep crustal levels, and an overprint of brittle detachment faulting at shallower levels as unroofing proceeded. Megabreccias and other synextensional sedimentary deposits are locally preserved in a tilted, upper Eocene through Miocene stratigraphic sequence. Neogene magmatism included the emplacement of basalt dikes and eruption of rhyolitic rocks. Subsequent Basin and Range normal faulting, as young as Holocene, records continued tectonic extension

Impact of Controlling the Site Distribution of Al Atoms on Catalytic Properties in Ferrierite-Type Zeolites

Zeolites with the ferrierite (FER) topology are synthesized using a combination of tetramethylammonium (TMA) cations with differently sized cyclic amines (pyrrolidine (Pyr), hexamethyleneimine (HMI), and 1,4- diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DAB)). Using these organic structure-directing agents (SDAs), low Si/Al ratios and concentrated synthesis mixtures favor the crystallization of FER materials. Increasing the size of the cyclic amine or decreasing the aluminum content leads to the crystallization of other phases or the creation of excessive amounts of connectivity defects. TMA cations play a decisive role in the synthesis of the FER materials, and their presence allows the use of HMI to synthesize FER. Proton MAS NMR is used to quantify the accessibility of pyridine to acid sites in these FER samples, where it is found that the FER + HMI + TMA sample contains only 27% acid sites in the 8-MR channels, whereas FER + Pyr and FER + Pyr + TMA contain 89% and 84%, respectively. The constraint index (CI) test and the carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) with carbon monoxide are used as probe reactions to evaluate how changes in the aluminum distribution in these FER samples affect their catalytic behavior. Results show that the use of Pyr as an SDA results in the selective population of acid sites in the 8-MR channels, whereas the use of HMI generates FER zeolites with an increased concentration of acid sites in the 10-MR channels