Arctic Bottleneck: Protecting The Bering Strait Region From Increased Vessel Traffic

Climate change in the circumpolar Arctic is reducing seasonal sea ice coverage and leading to longer periods when the ocean surface is relatively ice-free. The reduction in the temporal and geographic extent of sea ice is in turn driving increased interest in the pursuit of commercial and industrial activities throughout the Arctic, including oil and gas exploration and development, mining, tourism, and shipping. While these activities are already affecting various parts of the Arctic Ocean, the Bering Strait and surrounding waters are likely to experience especially significant impacts due to the increased vessel traffic associated with the expansion of commercial activity. Sea ice covers the Bering Strait region for much of the year, and the area is subject to severe weather and strong ocean currents. Despite the harsh environment, these waters are remarkably productive. Fish and wildlife—including a wide variety of marine mammals and seabirds— make extensive use of the area, and many species use the Bering Strait as a vital migration corridor. Moreover, the people residing in Bering Strait communities are an integral part of the region’s rich ecosystem. For thousands of years they have depended on the marine resources of the region to support their way of life. As seasonal sea ice diminishes and industrial activity in the Arctic grows, the Bering Strait will continue to experience increasing levels of vessel traffic. Increased maritime traffic in the narrow, often icy waters of the Bering Strait could elevate the risk of maritime accidents that lead to injury and loss of life. Increased vessel traffic may also result in more pollution, ship strikes on marine mammals, chronic and catastrophic spills, and other unanticipated environmental impacts. These threats are of particular concern due to the region’s lack of infrastructure and limited resources to support search and rescue, spill response, and restoration activities. In a part of the ocean as biologically rich and fragile as the Bering Strait region, these increased environmental impacts could have serious consequences. At present, there are few protective measures in place to improve safety, reduce the risk of accidents, or mitigate environmental impacts associated with increased commercial vessel traffic in the Bering Strait and surrounding waters. With vessel traffic in the region likely to expand significantly, the status quo must change. Given the Bering Strait region’s status as a gateway between the Pacific and Arctic oceans, its significance as a wildlife migration corridor, its biological productivity, and its importance to the subsistence economies of surrounding communities, the United States should work with the Russian Federation and the international community to adopt and implement heightened safety, prevention, management, and mitigation measures in order to protect the region from the impacts of increased vessel traffic. This Article outlines the environmental and socio-economic characteristics of the Bering Strait region, explores the legal framework that governs shipping traffic in the Strait, identifies the institutions that are best positioned to adopt and implement changes in policy and governance, and examines the legal tools and instruments available to regulate vessel traffic that will improve safety and protect the people and biological resources of the region. Part II of this Article describes some of the attributes of the Bering Strait and its surrounding waters, including geographical features, the role of seasonal sea ice, biological characteristics, neighboring human communities, and the ongoing and anticipated impacts of climate change and ocean acidification. Part III describes the status and expected future growth of maritime traffic in the region. Part IV of this Article explains the overarching legal regime established by customary international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, with particular emphasis on those portions of the law that relate to international straits, ecologically important areas, and ice-covered waters. Part V identifies and describes institutions that could facilitate the adoption and implementation of improved safety and environmental protection measures in the Bering Strait region and evaluates some of the specific instruments and tools that these institutions could employ. Finally, Part VI recommends that the United States, the Russian Federation, other Arctic nations, and the international community act now—in advance of a crisis—to adopt and implement specific measures designed to improve safety, reduce the threat of accidents, and prevent and mitigate environmental threats that are likely to develop as a result of increased vessel traffic in the Bering Strait region

An Independent Review of USGS Circular 1370: An Evaluation of the Science Needs to Inform Decisions on Outer Continental Shelf Energy Development in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, Alaska

Reviews the U.S. Geological Survey's findings and recommendations on Alaska's Arctic Ocean, including geology, ecology and subsistence, effect of climate change on, and impact of oil spills. Makes recommendations for data management and other issues

Extraordinary sensitizing effect of co-doped carbon nanodots derived from mate herb: application to enhanced photocatalytic degradation of chlorinated wastewater compounds under visible light

tThe present work investigates the role of two types of carbon nanodots (CNDs) as novel sensitizers of TiO2to create a visible-light driven photo-catalyst that is not only efficient for solar-driven pollution abate-ment, but also inexpensive, durable and environmentally-friendly. Two widely available green organicprecursors, the Argentinean herb Mate and the Stevia plant have been selected as the carbogenic sourceto thermally induce the formation of different types of CNDs with different levels of N and P doping andtunable photoluminescence response in the UV–vis-near infrared (NIR) ranges. These CNDs have beensuccessfully assembled with TiO2to form heterogeneous photocatalysts that are highly active in thevisible-light and NIR- driven photodegradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), a persistent chlorinatedorganic compound present in numerous pesticide formulations

Cohort profile: The prospective study on Chinese elderly with multimorbidity in primary care in Hong Kong

Acknowledgments We would like to thank the General Outpatient Clinics (Lek Yuen, Ma On Shan, Shatin (Tai Wai), Yuen Chau Kok) and Shatin Rhenish Neighbourhood Elderly Centre for the support and help in recruitment. We also greatly thank all the patients who joined in the cohort. Funding The staff working on this cohort received funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Competing interests None declared. Patient consent for publication Not required. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed. Data availability statement Data are available on reasonable request. The authors warmly welcome collaborations for future research based on this study. For those who would like to request for the data or propose new assessments into the follow-up assessments, they can email to: ([email protected]). For more information please see the website: http://cpcp.sphpc.cuhk.edu.hk/chi/.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition as a possible therapeutic target in peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Peritoneal dissemination is the primary metastatic route of ovarian cancer (OvCa), and is often accompanied by the accumulation of ascitic fluid. The peritoneal cavity is lined by mesothelial cells (MCs), which can be converted into carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT). Here, we demonstrate that MCs isolated from ascitic fluid (AFMCs) of OvCa patients with peritoneal implants also undergo MMT and promote subcutaneous tumour growth in mice. RNA sequencing of AFMCs revealed that MMT-related pathways – including transforming growth factor (TGF)- signalling – are differentially regulated, and a gene signature was verified in peritoneal implants from OvCa patients. In a mouse model, pre-induction of MMT resulted in increased peritoneal tumour growth, whereas interfering with the TGF- receptor reduced metastasis. MC-derived CAFs showed activation of Smad-dependent TGF- signalling, which was disrupted in OvCa cells, despite their elevated TGF- production. Accordingly, targeting Smad-dependent signalling in the peritoneal pre-metastatic niche in mice reduced tumour colonization, suggesting that Smad-dependent MMT could be crucial in peritoneal carcinomatosis. Together, these results indicate that bidirectional communication between OvCa cells and MC-derived CAFs, via TGF--mediated MMT, seems to be crucial to form a suitable metastatic niche. We suggest MMT as a possible target for therapeutic intervention and a potential source of biomarkers for improving OvCa diagnosis and/or prognosis.post-print2310 K

Cyclododecane as opcifier for digitalization of archaeological glass

[EN] This paper faces the problem of acquiring archaeological artifacts using triangulation based 3D laser scanners and focusing on reflective/refractive surfaces. This kind of artifacts are mostly made of glass or polished metal, and the properties of their surfaces violate most of the fundamental assumptions made by vision algorithms. Also, the unique and fragile nature of archaeological artifacts adds an extra constraint to the acquisition process: the use of industrial whitening sprays has to be avoided, due to the physicochemical processes required to clean the surface after scanning and because the chemical properties of these sprays may damage the original object. As an alternative to them, a new way to use a common conservation material is proposed: the use of cyclododecane as a whitening spray. Thanks to its chemical stability and to the fact that it sublimes at room temperature, together with its good filmforming capabilities, a set of evaluation tests is presented to prove thatthe error introduced by the opaque thin layer created on the surface of the artifact is smaller than the accuracy of the 3D scanner and, thus, no acquisition errors are introduced. A comparison with general-purpose industrial whitening sprays is also presented, and achieved results show no significant differences in the quality of the resulting 3D models.This work is supported by the "Programa de Ayudas de Investigacion y Desarrollo (PAID)" of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia and the "Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2008-2011" from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of Spain, Projects ID: HAR2012-38391-C02-01 and HAR2012-38391-C02-02.Díaz Marín, MDC.; Aura Castro, E.; Sánchez Belenguer, C.; Vendrell Vidal, E. (2016). Cyclododecane as opcifier for digitalization of archaeological glass. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 17:131-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2015.06.003S1311401

Remote: Geographies

Remote interpretation is now digitally distorted. Something considered distant can be equally close, pervasive, a-spatial. With this topic, we intend to open the debate on the tensions caused by the multiple interpretations that the word “remote” in relation with (the complex binomial) “public art”. Is it a remote feeling that will remain? What path did the remote word take to us, today? Is the remote as a medium here to stay? Will the far, off-center (eccentric), have a component of unexpected surprise? What scale is remote, sustainable, green, universal, atomic? With this call for articles, essays, reviews of book or exhibitions, we will seek to draw an overview of the present and the past, crossing views (among many others) from the history of art, sculpture, artistic practices, design, architecture and urbanism.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Two-year efficacy and safety of risdiplam in patients with type 2 or non-ambulant type 3 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Risdiplam is an oral, survival of motor neuron 2 (SMN2) pre-mRNA splicing modifier approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SUNFISH (NCT02908685) Part 2, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, investigated the efficacy and safety of risdiplam in type 2 and non‑ambulant type 3 SMA. The primary endpoint was met: a significantly greater change from baseline in 32-item Motor Function Measure (MFM32) total score was observed with risdiplam compared with placebo at month 12. After 12 months, all participants received risdiplam while preserving initial treatment blinding. We report 24-month efficacy and safety results in this population. Month 24 exploratory endpoints included change from baseline in MFM32 and safety. MFM‑derived results were compared with an external comparator. At month 24 of risdiplam treatment, 32% of patients demonstrated improvement (a change of ≥ 3) from baseline in MFM32 total score; 58% showed stabilization (a change of ≥ 0). Compared with an external comparator, a treatment difference of 3.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.67-4.57) in favor of risdiplam was observed in MFM-derived scores. Overall, gains in motor function at month 12 were maintained or improved upon at month 24. In patients initially receiving placebo, MFM32 remained stable compared with baseline (0.31 [95% CI - 0.65 to 1.28]) after 12 months of risdiplam; 16% of patients improved their score and 59% exhibited stabilization. The safety profile after 24 months was consistent with that observed after 12 months. Risdiplam over 24 months resulted in further improvement or stabilization in motor function, confirming the benefit of longer-term treatment

Social and individual subjective wellbeing and capabilities in Chile

The notion of social belongingness has been applied to different scales, from individual to social processes, and from subjective to objective dimensions. This article seeks to contribute to this multidimensional perspective on belongingness by drawing from the capabilities and subjective wellbeing perspectives. The specific aim is to analyze the relationships between capabilities—including those related to social belongingness—and individual and social subjective wellbeing. The hypotheses are: (H1–H2) There is a relationship between capabilities (measured as evaluation and functioning) and (H1) individual and (H2) social subjective wellbeing; (H3) The set of capabilities associated to individual subjective wellbeing differs from the set correlated to social subjective wellbeing; (H4) The intensity and significance of the correlation between subjective wellbeing and capabilities depends on whether the latter is measured as evaluation or functioning; and (H5) The relationships between capabilities and subjective wellbeing are complex and non-linear. Using a nationally representative survey in Chile, multiple linear (H1–H5) and dose response matching (H1–H5) regressions between capabilities and subjective wellbeing outcomes are estimated, confirming all hypotheses. Subjective evaluations and effective functionings of some capabilities (“basic needs,” “social ties,” “feeling recognized and respected;” “having and deploying a life project”) are consistently correlated with both subjective wellbeing outcomes. Others capabilities are correlated with both subjective wellbeing outcomes only when measured as functionings (contact with nature), do not display a systematic pattern of correlation (“health,” “pleasure,” “participation,” and “human security”) or are not associated with subjective wellbeing (“self-knowledge” and “understanding the world”). When observed, correlations are sizable, non-linear, and consistent across estimation methods. Moreover, capabilities related to social belongingness such as “social ties” and “feeling recognized and respected” are important by themselves but also are positively correlated to both social and individual subjective wellbeing. These findings underscore the need of a multidimensional perspective on the relationships between capabilities and subjective wellbeing, considering both subjective and objective, as well as individual and social aspects that are relevant to belongingness. These findings also have practical and policy implications, and may inform public deliberation processes and policy decisions to develop capabilities, promote subjective wellbeing, and ultimately promote positive belongingness

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London