Glass in the submarine section of the HSDP2 drill core, Hilo, Hawaii

The Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project recovered ~3 km of basalt by coring into the flank of Mauna Kea volcano at Hilo, Hawaii. Rocks recovered from deeper than ~1 km were deposited below sea level and contain considerable fresh glass. We report electron microprobe analyses of 531 glasses from the submarine section of the core, providing a high-resolution record of petrogenesis over ca. 200 Kyr of shield building of a Hawaiian volcano. Nearly all the submarine glasses are tholeiitic. SiO2 contents span a significant range but are bimodally distributed, leading to the identification of low-SiO2 and high-SiO2 magma series that encompass most samples. The two groups are also generally distinguishable using other major and minor elements and certain isotopic and incompatible trace element ratios. On the basis of distributions of high- and low-SiO2 glasses, the submarine section of the core is divided into four zones. In zone 1 (1079–~1950 mbsl), most samples are degassed high-SiO2 hyaloclastites and massive lavas, but there are narrow intervals of low-SiO2 hyaloclastites. Zone 2 (~1950–2233 mbsl), a zone of degassed pillows and hyaloclastites, displays a continuous decrease in silica content from bottom to top. In zone 3 (2233–2481 mbsl), nearly all samples are undegassed low-SiO2 pillows. In zone 4 (2481–3098 mbsl), samples are mostly high-SiO2 undegassed pillows and degassed hyaloclastites. This zone also contains most of the intrusive units in the core, all of which are undegassed and most of which are low-SiO2. Phase equilibrium data suggest that parental magmas of the low-SiO2 suite could be produced by partial melting of fertile peridotite at 30–40 kbar. Although the high-SiO2 parents could have equilibrated with harzburgite at 15–20 kbar, they could have been produced neither simply by higher degrees of melting of the sources of the low-SiO2 parents nor by mixing of known dacitic melts of pyroxenite/eclogite with the low-SiO2 parents. Our hypothesis for the relationship between these magma types is that as the low-SiO2 magmas ascended from their sources, they interacted chemically and thermally with overlying peridotites, resulting in dissolution of orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene and precipitation of olivine, thereby generating high-SiO2 magmas. There are glasses with CaO, Al2O3, and SiO2 contents slightly elevated relative to most low-SiO2 samples; we suggest that these differences reflect involvement of pyroxene-rich lithologies in the petrogenesis of the CaO-Al2O3-enriched glasses. There is also a small group of low-SiO2 glasses distinguished by elevated K2O and CaO contents; the sources of these samples may have been enriched in slab-derived fluid/melts. Low-SiO2 glasses from the top of zone 3 (2233–2280 mbsl) are more alkaline, more fractionated, and incompatible-element-enriched relative to other glasses from zone 3. This excursion at the top of zone 3, which is abruptly overlain by more silica-rich tholeiitic magmas, is reminiscent of the end of Mauna Kea shield building higher in the core

System for HIV-1 Treatment to the Brain

While HIV-1 treatment has been revolutionized by combination antiretroviral therapy in the past two decades, HIV-1 remains persistent in organs that don’t allow easy penetration of anti-HIV drugs (e.g., brain) and cause persistent HIV-1 infections and inflammation. Researchers have turned towards nanotechnology-based drug carriers to combat this challenge, such as nanodiscoidal bicelles (ND) and liposomes. Bicelles entrap the drug in their interior hydrophobic core until metabolized by the body, and the payload can be released at the desired location in a controlled, long-lasting dosage. This study investigated the toxicity and extended-release of an anti-HIV drug-loaded within ND and liposomes for HIV-1 treatment to the brain. Results from both in-vitro and in-vivo characterization studies demonstrated that further optimization of the ND formulation needs to be adjusted towards liposomal structures for future studies

Localization of ribosomal genes in three Pimelodus species (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) of the São Francisco River: 5S genes as species markers and conservation of the 18S rDNA sites

Pimelodidae is one of the most representative of Neotropical catfish families. However, these fish are still poorly studied in terms of cytogenetics, especially regarding the application of more accurate techniques such as the chromosomal localization of ribosomal genes. In the present work, fluorescent in situ hybridization with 5S and 18S rDNA probes was employed for rDNA site mapping in Pimelodus sp., P. fur and P. maculatus from the São Francisco River in the Três Marias municipality - MG. The results from the application of the 18S probe confirmed the previous data obtained by silver nitrate staining, identifying a simple nucleolar organizing region system for these species. However, the labeling results from the 5S rDNA probe demonstrated a difference in the number and localization of these sites between the analyzed species. The obtained data allowed inferences on the possible processes involved in the karyotypic evolution of this genus.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Volatiles in glasses from the HSDP2 drill core

H2O, CO2, S, Cl, and F concentrations are reported for 556 glasses from the submarine section of the 1999 phase of HSDP drilling in Hilo, Hawaii, providing a high-resolution record of magmatic volatiles over ~200 kyr of a Hawaiian volcano's lifetime. Glasses range from undegassed to having lost significant volatiles at near-atmospheric pressure. Nearly all hyaloclastite glasses are degassed, compatible with formation from subaerial lavas that fragmented on entering the ocean and were transported by gravity flows down the volcano flank. Most pillows are undegassed, indicating submarine eruption. The shallowest pillows and most massive lavas are degassed, suggesting formation by subaerial flows that penetrated the shoreline and flowed some distance under water. Some pillow rim glasses have H2O and S contents indicating degassing but elevated CO2 contents that correlate with depth in the core; these tend to be more fractionated and could have formed by mixing of degassed, fractionated magmas with undegassed magmas during magma chamber overturn or by resorption of rising CO2-rich bubbles by degassed magmas. Intrusive glasses are undegassed and have CO2 contents similar to adjacent pillows, indicating intrusion shallow in the volcanic edifice. Cl correlates weakly with H2O and S, suggesting loss during low-pressure degassing, although most samples appear contaminated by seawater-derived components. F behaves as an involatile incompatible element. Fractionation trends were modeled using MELTS. Degassed glasses require fractionation at pH2O ≈ 5–10 bars. Undegassed low-SiO2 glasses require fractionation at pH2O ≈ 50 bars. Undegassed and partially degassed high-SiO2 glasses can be modeled by coupled crystallization and degassing. Eruption depths of undegassed pillows can be calculated from their volatile contents assuming vapor saturation. The amount of subsidence can be determined from the difference between this depth and the sample's depth in the core. Assuming subsidence at 2.5 mm/y, the amount of subsidence suggests ages of ~500 ka for samples from the lower 750 m of the core, consistent with radiometric ages. H2O contents of undegassed low-SiO2 HSDP2 glasses are systematically higher than those of high-SiO2 glasses, and their H2O/K2O and H2O/Ce ratios are higher than typical tholeiitic pillow rim glasses from Hawaiian volcanoes

Social and Structural Determinants of Health Associated with Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake in South Texas

Background: The Mays Cancer Center (MCC) is one of only four National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers in Texas and the only one in South Texas. The MCC serves 38 counties and over 4.9 million residents; 70% of residents are Hispanic, 25 of 38 counties are designated as rural areas; additionally, 25 of the 38 counties have census tracts designated as areas of persistent poverty. Catchment area residents are at disproportionately greater risk of developing liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer (64%), cervical cancer (46%), gallbladder cancer (8%), gastric cancer (4%), and pediatric leukemia (32%) compared to the nation. Currently the Papanicolaou test (often called a pap test) is considered the most effective screening test for identifying abnormal cells associated with cervical cancer. During a pap-test, cervical cells are collected and examined for pre-cancerous or cancerous changes. When cancer is detected at an earlier stage, before symptoms start to appear, it is often easier to treat. For South Texas women, evidence suggests that barriers to receiving a pap-test include low health literacy, cultural beliefs and norms, and lack of health insurance coverage. Additionally, there is growing evidence that structural and social determinants of health (SDoH) also impact adherence to cancer screenings. The purpose of this study was to examine select SDoH that may be influencing South Texas women’s decisions to receive a pap test. Methods: In the summer and fall of 2020, the MCC Community Outreach and Engagement team fielded the South Texas Survey. This survey captured information in seven specific domains, two of which are social determinants of health and cancer screening practices. This survey was designed using a probabilistic sampling frame for our catchment area with representation from a metropolitan and race and ethnicity perspective. A total of 555 individuals completed the survey of which 382 identified as female (69%). For this study, descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis were used to examine the study population. Generalized logistic regression were used to identify individual, social, and structural factors associated with cervical cancer screening uptake. All data were weighted, and analyses were conducted using the R statistical software. Results: Overall, 80% of women indicated they had received a pap-test. When examining women who indicated not receiving a pap-test, a greater proportion were Hispanic, single and did not have health care coverage. For a SDoH perspective, regression results determined that at the individual level, single women had 89% lower odds of having received a pap-test compared to married women (OR: 0.11; CI: 0.03-0.42) and women who had a higher discrimination index score had 27% lower odds of having received a pap-test compared to women who had lower index scores (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.53-1.00). Conclusion: South Texas women who are single, report perceptions of greater discrimination, and/or do not have healthcare coverage are less likely to have a pap test. Results provide insight into the influence of social and structural determinants of health on South Texas women’s decisions to receive a pap-test

Ethical Analysis of Soma Mining Inc.’s Role in the Soma Coal Mine Fire, Turkey, 2014

This report presents an ethical analysis of the actions taken by Soma Mining Inc. regarding the Soma Mine Disaster as well as an evaluation of their existing safety infrastructure. Soma Mining Inc. is responsible for neglecting worker safety in order to prioritize company profits. Failure to provide functional safety equipment, construct emergency escape routes and safe rooms, establish a reliable system for communication, as well as implement a practiced emergency response plan led to the tragic deaths of 301 workers and the injury of an additional 80. The Turkish government perpetuates this negligence of worker safety as a result of their agenda to maximize profits from the mining industry. The Turkish government owns the majority of Turkish coal mines and exercises control over the safety regulation of these mines. The profitdriven interests of the Turkish government pose a conflict of interest when making decisions regarding the enforcement of safety standards in the mining industry. Enabled by such corruption, Soma Mining Inc. ignored the standards set forth by mining safety regulations. Soma Mining Inc. is directly responsible for the mass worker casualty of the Soma Mine Disaster as well as the devastating economic and social consequences that befell the surrounding communities. The actions of Soma Mining Inc. are evaluated against the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Mining Principles.Randall, D'ArcyChemical Engineerin

Formação docente por meio da extensão: oficina de teorias da aprendizagem para professores da educação básica

Trabalho apresentado no 31º SEURS - Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul, realizado em Florianópolis, SC, no período de 04 a 07 de agosto de 2013 - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina.O projeto visou a construção, por parte de professores da educação básica da rede pública e licenciandos, de propostas de ensino, a serem aplicadas nas aulas dos frequentadores da oficina, que levem em conta premissas de três Teorias de Aprendizagem: a teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa de David Ausubel, a teoria da mediação de Vigotski e a teoria da Aprendizagem Significativa Crítica de Marco Antônio Moreira. Acreditamos na relevância deste tipo de projeto, quando se sabe que muitos professores carecem de um olhar estruturado sobre sua prática ou sobre esta teoria. Algumas ferramentas e estratégias de ensino, como os mapas conceituais e a utilização de organizador prévio, foram abordadas, de modo a trazer alternativas para as práticas docentes dos participantes da oficina

Overactive bladder and caffeine: comparing women with and without mental health diagnoses

Caffeine is a stimulant thought to activate the pleasure centre in the brain, commonly used in the general public for purposeful attempt to alter mood, and also commonly perceived to be a bladder irritant with associated urgency and frequency symptoms. Mental health diagnosis, such as depression, is also associated with overactive bladder. Taken together, it is plausible that women with overactive bladder symptoms along with comorbid mental health symptoms may also show higher caffeine intake but no data exist. This pilot study's purpose was to determine in women with overactive bladder, if those with a mental health diagnosis (we included anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar diagnosis) consume a significantly higher amount of caffeine than those without any of these diagnoses. Secondary analysis was performed on data from women with overactive bladder recruited into a longitudinal parent study on beverage management. All parent study participants met criteria of urgency and voiding more than seven times per day. Each kept a detailed 3-day diary of beverage intake. From the total parent study pool of 61, we identified 14 women with a comorbid mental health diagnosis as described above and 47 without when interviewed at baseline. Women with mental health diagnosis demonstrated higher median baseline caffeine intake per day than their counterparts without mental health diagnosis: 240·2 mg (range: 72·3–576·0 mg) versus 174·3 mg (range: 0–567·6 mg), which was marginally significant ( p = · 053). Volume of caffeinated beverage intake did not differ significantly. In women with overactive bladder and comorbid mental health symptoms, higher caffeine intake may be a previously unrecognized link. Cause and effect is unknown between the three conditions of overactive bladder, mental health disorders and higher caffeine intake; but this initial data support the need for further research.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79289/1/j.1749-771X.2010.01079.x.pd

Evaluation of Water Quality Indices: Use, Evolution and Future Perspectives

The evaluation of the quality of water bodies is of fundamental importance to the study and use of water. Aiming to improve the understanding of the phenomena which occur in these environments, several indices have been proposed over the years, using several statistical, mathematical and computational techniques. For this, it is necessary to know the variables which influence different water bodies. However, not all places are able to make the most diverse analyses due to the financial and sanitary conditions, which can promote greater expenses in treatment as well as make the limits of tolerance of the water quality higher. Nowadays, there is a need to formulate indices which can address climate change in its variables, making it even closer to reality. In this context, seeking to reduce the number of variables used, collection costs, laboratory analyses and a greater representativeness of the indices, multivariate statistical techniques and artificial intelligence are being increasingly used and obtaining expressive results. These advances contribute to the improvement of water quality indices, thus seeking to obtain one which portrays the various phenomena which occur in water bodies in a more rapid and coherent way with the reality and social context of water resources