Rift-related volcanism predating the birth of the Rheic Ocean

Two very different periods of magma emplacement in the crust of the Ossa-Morena zone (early and main events) in SW Iberia have been previously interpreted to record a Cambrian/Early Ordovician rifting event that is thought to have culminated in the opening of the Rheic Ocean during the Early Ordovician. New stratigraphic, petrographic, geochemical and Sm–Nd isotope data from Cambrian volcanic rocks included in six key low-grade sections in both Portugal and Spain considerably improve our understanding of these events. These data: (1) confirm the existence of two rift-related magmatic events in the Cambrian of the Ossa-Morena zone, (2) demonstrate that the early rift-related event was associated with migmatite and core-complex formation in the mid-upper crust and is represented by felsic peraluminous rocks, the parent magmas of which were derived mainly from crustal sources, and (3) show the main rift-related event to be represented by a bimodal association of felsic and mafic rocks with minor amounts of intermediate rocks. Some of the mafic rocks show N-MORB affinity, whereas others have OIB or E-MORB affinities, suggesting different heterogeneous mantle sources (depleted and enriched, asthenospheric and lithospheric, plume-like and non-plume-like). The acid and intermediate rocks appear to represent hybrid mixtures of crust and mantle-derived magmas. This new data supports the hypothesis that the onset of rifting was associated with a process of oblique ridgetrench collision. We interpret the significant differences between the early and main events as reflecting the evolution froma wide rift stagewith passive extensionmainly accommodated by lower-crust flowin a high heatflow setting, to a narrow rift stage with active extension characterized by extension rates that outpaced thermal diffusion rates

Interfacial pH measurements using a rotating ring‐disc electrode with a voltammetric pH sensor

Electrochemical reactions in which H+ or OH– ions are produced or consumed, affect the pH near the electrode surface. Probing the pH locally is therefore highly desired to understand and model the reaction environment under operando conditions. We carried out interfacial pH measurements under mass transport control using a rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) coupled with our recently developed voltammetric pH sensor.  The interfacial disc pH is detected by functionalizing the gold ring with a hydroxylaminothiophenol (4-HATP)/4-nitrosothiophenol (4-NSTP) redox couple. As protons only have to interact with a monolayer containing the 4-HATP/4-NSTP, the sensitivity and time resolution that can be achieved are superior to potentiometric sensors. We used hydrogen evolution as a model reaction and performed measurements in buffered and unbuffered electrolytes.  The effects of the current density, potential, the buffer capacity of the electrolyte and rotation rate on the local pH were investigated. This work shows a reliable and sensitive method for accurately probing the reaction environment under well-defined mass transport conditions, over a wide pH range.Horizon 2020(H2020)722614-ELCORELCatalysis and Surface Chemistr

Host and Viral Genetic Correlates of Clinical Definitions of HIV-1 Disease Progression

BACKGROUND: Various patterns of HIV-1 disease progression are described in clinical practice and in research. There is a need to assess the specificity of commonly used definitions of long term non-progressor (LTNP) elite controllers (LTNP-EC), viremic controllers (LTNP-VC), and viremic non controllers (LTNP-NC), as well as of chronic progressors (P) and rapid progressors (RP). METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We re-evaluated the HIV-1 clinical definitions, summarized in Table 1, using the information provided by a selected number of host genetic markers and viral factors. There is a continuous decrease of protective factors and an accumulation of risk factors from LTNP-EC to RP. Statistical differences in frequency of protective HLA-B alleles (p-0.01), HLA-C rs9264942 (p-0.06), and protective CCR5/CCR2 haplotypes (p-0.02) across groups, and the presence of viruses with an ancestral genotype in the "viral dating" (i.e., nucleotide sequences with low viral divergence from the most recent common ancestor) support the differences among principal clinical groups of HIV-1 infected individuals. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of host genetic and viral factors supports current clinical definitions that discriminate among patterns of HIV-1 progression. The study also emphasizes the need to apply a standardized and accepted set of clinical definitions for the purpose of disease stratification and research

Is eco-efficiency in greenhouse gas emissions converging among European Union countries?

Eco-efficiency refers to the ability to produce more goods and services with less impact on the environment and less consumption of natural resources. This issue has become a matter of concern that is receiving increasing attention from politicians, scientists and researchers. Furthermore, greenhouse gases emitted as a result of production processes have a marked impact on the environment and are also the foremost culprit of global warming and climate change. This paper assesses convergence in eco-efficiency in greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. Eco-efficiency is assessed at both country and greenhouse-gas-specific levels using Data Envelopment Analysis techniques and directional distance functions, as recently proposed by Picazo-Tadeo et al. (Eur J Oper Res, 220:798–809, 2012). Convergence is then evaluated using the Phillips and Sul (Econometrica, 75:1771–1855, 2007) approach that allows testing for the existence of convergence groups. Although the results point to the existence of different convergence clubs depending on the specific pollutant considered, they signal the existence of at least four clear groups of countries. The first two groups are core European Union high-income countries (Benelux, Germany, Italy, Austria, the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries). A third club is made up of peripheral countries (Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Greece) together with some Eastern countries (Latvia and Slovenia), while the remaining clubs consist of groups containing Eastern European countries

Viremic HIV Infected Individuals with High CD4 T Cells and Functional Envelope Proteins Show Anti-gp41 Antibodies with Unique Specificity and Function

BACKGROUND: CD4 T-cell decay is variable among HIV-infected individuals. In exceptional cases, CD4 T-cell counts remain stable despite high plasma viremia. HIV envelope glycoprotein (Env) properties, namely tropism, fusion or the ability to induce the NK ligand NKp44L, or host factors that modulate Env cytopathic mechanisms may be modified in such situation. METHODS: We identified untreated HIV-infected individuals showing non-cytopathic replication (VL>10,000 copies/mL and CD4 T-cell decay<50 cells/µL/year, Viremic Non Progressors, VNP) or rapid progression (CD4 T-cells<350 cells/µL within three years post-infection, RP). We isolated full-length Env clones and analyzed their functions (tropism, fusion activity and capacity to induce NKp44L expression on CD4 cells). Anti-Env humoral responses were also analyzed. RESULTS: Env clones isolated from VNP or RP individuals showed no major phenotypic differences. The percentage of functional clones was similar in both groups. All clones tested were CCR5-tropic and showed comparable expression and fusogenic activity. Moreover, no differences were observed in their capacity to induce NKp44L expression on CD4 T cells from healthy donors through the 3S epitope of gp41. In contrast, anti- Env antibodies showed clear functional differences: plasma from VNPs had significantly higher capacity than RPs to block NKp44L induction by autologous viruses. Consistently, CD4 T-cells isolated from VNPs showed undetectable NKp44L expression and specific antibodies against a variable region flanking the highly conserved 3S epitope were identified in plasma samples from these patients. Conversely, despite continuous antigen stimulation, VNPs were unable to mount a broad neutralizing response against HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Env functions (fusion and induction of NKp44L) were similar in viremic patients with slow or rapid progression to AIDS. However, differences in humoral responses against gp41 epitopes nearby 3S sequence may contribute to the lack of CD4 T cell decay in VNPs by blocking the induction of NKp44L by gp41