Micro-scale investigation of carbonation process in partially serpentinized peridotites

The carbonation of ultramafic rocks is, theoretically, the most efficient reaction to trap CO2 irreversibly in the form of solid carbonates, as predicted by equilibrium thermodynamic calculations. However, the success of industrial or natural carbonation in large ultramafic aquifers or oceanic ultramafic exposures does not only rely on the thermodynamic conditions of chemical reactions, but also on their feedback effects on the reactive surface area and on the local porosity and permeability. In addition, side processes like serpentinization, redox reactions, abiotic catalytic effects, and biological activity, can be expected in such complex natural system. Their occurrence and implications on carbon speciation and carbon transfers during hydrothermal alteration of oceanic peridotites have not been explored yet and requires detailed study of natural and/or experimental carbonation zones. We have combined petrographic and electron microscopy with SIMS, Raman and FTIR microspectroscopy on partially serpentinized peridotites drilled during the IODP leg 304 (30 N, MAR) in order to characterize the mechanisms of peridotite carbonation at the fluid-mineral interface and identify the associated speciation of carbon (inorganic and organic carbon occurrences). We present first results on zones located close to talc-tremolite sheared veins in holes 1309B and D. Associations of carbonates, porous phyllosilicates and oxides are observed in close vicinity of relict olivines that underwent a previous stage of serpentinization. The olivine-carbonate interface is nanoporous which facilitates mass transfer between fluid and mineral. The phyllosilicate identified as saponite results from the metasomatic replacement, during the carbonation stage, of previously formed serpentine. These observations do not favour reaction-induced cracking but rather a transfer-controlled process in an open system. Among the submicrometric dark clusters widely-distributed in saponite and in serpentine, vibrational microspectroscopy reveals the presence of various types of organic compounds that tend to be located close to micrometric sulphides grains. Those results underline the microscale variability of carbon speciation within hydrothermally altered peridotites. The association of reduced carbon phases with the carbonation texture suggests that CO2 conversion may not be limited to solid carbonate formation in natural systems and that biological activity and/or abiotic CO2 reduction, possibly catalyzed by Ni-rich sulphides, can occur contemporaneously. This complex association of reactions has to be unravelled further to determine the respective contribution of abiotic versus biological processes and integrate them in carbon transfers modelling through the oceanic lithosphere

Combined magnetic and chemical patterning for neural architectures

In vitro investigation of neural architectures requires cell positioning. For that purpose, micro-magnets have been developed on silicon substrates and combined with chemical patterning to attract cells to adhesive sites and keep them there during incubation. We have shown that the use of micro-magnets allows to achieve a high filling factor (~90%) of defined adhesive sites in neural networks and prevents migration of cells during growth. This approach has great potential for neural interfacing by providing accurate and time-stable coupling with integrated nanodevices

Citizen science provides a reliable and scalable tool to track disease-carrying mosquitoes

Recent outbreaks of Zika, chikungunya and dengue highlight the importance of better understanding the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes across multiple spatio-temporal scales. Traditional surveillance tools are limited by jurisdictional boundaries and cost constraints. Here we show how a scalable citizen science system can solve this problem by combining citizen scientists'' observations with expert validation and correcting for sampling effort. Our system provides accurate early warning information about the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) invasion in Spain, well beyond that available from traditional methods, and vital for public health services. It also provides estimates of tiger mosquito risk comparable to those from traditional methods but more directly related to the human-mosquito encounters that are relevant for epidemiological modelling and scalable enough to cover the entire country. These results illustrate how powerful public participation in science can be and suggest citizen science is positioned to revolutionize mosquito-borne disease surveillance worldwide

Youth chances: integrated report

This document provides an overview of the key findings from this five-year ground-breaking research project about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and questioning (LGBTQ) 16-25year olds in England funded by the Big Lottery Fund and conducted by METRO Charity in collaboration with Ergo Consulting and the University of Greenwich. Methods: The project surveyed 7,126 young people aged 16-25. Of these 6,514 were LGBTQ young people. 612 were heterosexual non-trans young people and 956 were trans young people. 29 commissioners of services for young people and 52 relevant service providers across England were also surveyed. Findings: Show high levels of discrimination, abuse and mental health issues that young LGBTQ people face which indicate a need for more to be done to improve the lives of LGBTQ young people. Sections of the report are: 1. Being different Over half of LGBQ respondents (53%) knew they were LGBQ by the age of 13. Over half of trans respondents (58%) knew they were trans by the same age. When coming out as LGBQ or trans, over four fifths of LGBQ respondents (81%) and nearly two thirds of trans respondents (62%) told a friend first. Over a quarter of LGBQ young people (29%) have not told their mother, nearly a half (45%) have not told their father, and 5% have not told anybody. Approximately half of trans respondents have not told parents or siblings that they are trans and 28% have not told anybody. Young people tell us that they most want emotional support to help them when they are coming out but most are not getting it. The second most important thing to them is to meet other LGBTQ people and again over half of them did not get this opportunity. 2. Participation LGBTQ young people are twice as likely not to feel accepted in the area where they currently live, compared to heterosexual non-trans young people. 59% of LGBTQ young people that would be interested in joining a religious organisation have stopped or reduced their involvement owing to their sexuality or gender identity. Over a third of LGBTQ young people (34%) are not able to be open about their sexuality or gender identity at a sports club they are involved in. 3. Staying safe 73% of the LGBTQ sample agreed that discrimination against LGB people is still common and 90% of the LGBTQ sample agreed that discrimination against trans people is still common. About three quarters of LGBTQ young people (74%) have experienced name calling, nearly a half (45%) have experienced harassment or threats and intimidation and almost a quarter (23%) have experienced physical assault. 88% of LGBTQ young people do not report incidents to the police and when cases are reported only 10% lead to a conviction. 29% of LGBTQ respondents reported domestic or familial abuse, compared to 25% of the heterosexual non trans group. Over a third (36%) of LGBTQ respondents cited their sexuality or gender identity as at least a contributing factor in the abuse. Almost one in five (18%) LGBTQ young people have experienced some form of sexual abuse, compared with one in ten (11%) of non-trans heterosexuals in our sample. Most LGBTQ respondents who have experienced sexual abuse (79%) have not received any help or support. Nearly one in ten LGBTQ young people report that they have had to leave home for reasons relating to their sexuality or gender identity. 4. Enjoying and achieving Nearly half of LGBTQ young people (49%) reported that their time at school was affected by discrimination or fear of discrimination. Consequences reported included missing lessons, achieving lower grades, feeling isolated and left out and having to move schools are all reported. 61% reported name calling because they were LGBTQ or people thought they were. This figure includes the experiences of heterosexual non-trans respondents: it is an issue for all young people. About one in five LGBTQ young people experience physical attack at school on account of their sexual identity or gender identity. The majority do not report this and only a small proportion of those who do experience resolution. For some reporting the abuse means that it gets worse. Around two thirds of LGBTQ young people say they learn a lot about relationships and safer sex between a man and a woman, compared to less than 5% who say they learn a lot about same sex relationships and safer sex. 89% of LGBTQ young people report learning nothing about bisexuality issues and 94% report learning nothing about transgender issues. Only 25% of LGBTQ young people report that they learned anything at school about safer sex for a male couple

First detection of Aedes japonicus in Spain: An unexpected finding triggered by citizen science

Background: Aedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now. Results: Here, we report the first detection of Ae. japonicus in Spain, at its southernmost location in Europe. This finding was triggered by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. In June 2018, a citizen sent a report via the Mosquito Alert app from the municipality of Siero in the Asturias region (NW Spain) containing pictures of a female mosquito compatible with Ae. japonicus. Further information was requested from the participant, who subsequently provided several larvae and adults that could be classified as Ae. japonicus. In July, a field mission confirmed its presence at the original site and in several locations up to 9 km away, suggesting a long-time establishment. The strong media impact in Asturias derived from the discovery raised local participation in the Mosquito Alert project, resulting in further evidence from surrounding areas. Conclusions: Whilst in the laboratory Ae. japonicus is a competent vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, to date only West Nile virus is a concern based on field evidence. Nonetheless, this virus has yet not been detected in Asturias so the vectorial risk is currently considered low. The opportunity and effectiveness of combining citizen-sourced data to traditional surveillance methods are discussed

Zinc isotope evidence for sulfate-rich fluid transfer across subduction zones

Subduction zones modulate the chemical evolution of the Earth?s mantle. Water and volatile elements in the slab are released as fluids into the mantle wedge and this process is widely considered to result in the oxidation of the sub-arc mantle. However, the chemical composition and speciation of these fluids, which is critical for the mobility of economically important elements, remain poorly constrained. Sulfur has the potential to act both as oxidizing agent and transport medium. Here we use zinc stable isotopes ( \ensuremathδ 66 Zn) in subducted Alpine serpentinites to decipher the chemical properties of slab- derived fluids. We show that the progressive decrease in \ensuremathδ 66Zn with metamorphic grade is correlated with a decrease in sulfur content. As existing theoretical work predicts that Zn-SO42- complexes preferentially incorporate heavy \ensuremathδ 66Zn, our results provide strong evidence for the release of oxidized, sulfate-rich, slab serpentinite-derived fluids to the mantle wedge.This work was supported by an ERC Starting Grant (HabitablePlanet; 306655) and a NERC Deep Volatiles Consortium Grant (NE/M0003/1) awarded to H.W. H.W. and P.B. also acknowledge salary support from a NERC Advanced Fellowship (NE/F014295/2) and ERC Starting Grant (279828, MASE), respectivel

Education as Risk Factor of Mild Cognitive Impairment:The Link to the Gut Microbiome

Background: With differences apparent in the gut microbiome in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, and risk factors of dementia linked to alterations of the gut microbiome, the question remains if gut microbiome characteristics may mediate associations of education with MCI. Objectives: We sought to examine potential mediation of the association of education and MCI by gut microbiome diversity or composition. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Luxembourg, the Greater Region (surrounding areas in Belgium, France, Germany). Participants: Control participants of the Luxembourg Parkinson’s Study. Measurements: Gut microbiome composition, ascertained with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Differential abundance, assessed across education groups (0–10, 11–16, 16+ years of education). Alpha diversity (Chao1, Shannon and inverse Simpson indices). Mediation analysis with effect decomposition was conducted with education as exposure, MCI as outcome and gut microbiome metrics as mediators. Results: After exclusion of participants below 50, or with missing data, n=258 participants (n=58 MCI) were included (M [SD] Age=64.6 [8.3] years). Higher education (16+ years) was associated with MCI (Odds ratio natural direct effect=0.35 [95% CI 0.15–0.81]. Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae-UCG-001 genera were more abundant in higher education. Conclusions: Education is associated with gut microbiome composition and MCI risk without clear evidence for mediation. However, our results suggest signatures of the gut microbiome that have been identified previously in AD and MCI to be reflected in lower education and suggest education as important covariate in microbiome studies

Efficient coupler between silicon photonic and metal-insulator-silicon-metal plasmonic waveguides

We report the experimental realization of a compact, efficient coupler between silicon waveguides and vertical metal-insulator-silicon-metal (MISM) plasmonic waveguides. Devices were fabricated using complementary metal-oxide-silicon technology processes, with copper layers that support low-loss plasmonic modes in the MISM structures at a wavelength of 1550 nm. By implementing a short (0.5 μm) optimized metal-insulator-silicon-insulator structure inserted between the photonic and plasmonic waveguide sections, we demonstrate experimental coupling loss of 2.5 dB, despite the high optical confinement of the MISM mode and mismatch with the silicon waveguide mode

Susceptibility of Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus to Japanese encephalitis virus; 35710580

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is the principal cause of mosquito-borne encephalitis in human populations within Asia. If introduced into new geographic areas, it could have further implications for public and animal health. However, potential mosquito vectors for virus transmission have not been fully investigated. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has emerged in Europe and is now expanding its geographical range into more northerly latitudes. Culex quinquefasciatus, although absent from Europe, has been detected in Turkey, a country with territory in Europe, and could act as a vector for JEV in other regions. To assess the risk of these invasive species acting as vectors for JEV and therefore potentially contributing to its geographical expansion, we have investigated the vector competence of Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Methods: Two colonised lines of Ae. albopictus (Italy and Spain) and a line of Cx. quinquefasciatus (Tanzania) were compared for susceptibility to infection by oral feeding with JEV strain SA-14, genotype III at 106 PFU/ml and maintained at 25 °C. Specimens were processed at 7 and 14 days post-inoculation (dpi). Rates of infection, dissemination and transmission were assessed through detection of viral RNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in mosquito body, legs and saliva, respectively, at each time point. Where possible, infection and dissemination were confirmed by immunohistochemical (IHC) detection of the JEV envelope protein. Results: Aedes albopictus from Italy showed no susceptibility to infection with JEV strain SA-14. Conversely, Ae. albopictus colonised in Spain was susceptible and 100% of infected mosquitoes that were subjected to saliva screening expressed viral RNA at 14 dpi. Culex quinquefasciatus was highly susceptible to infection as early as 7 dpi and 50% of infected mosquitoes that were subjected to saliva screening expressed viral RNA at 14 dpi. Infection and dissemination were confirmed in Cx. quinquefasciatus by IHC detection of JEV envelope protein in both the mid-gut and salivary glands. Conclusions: Aedes albopictus from two different locations in Europe range from being susceptible to JEV and capable of transmission through to being resistant. Culex quinquefasciatus also appears highly susceptible; therefore, both species could potentially act as vectors for JEV and facilitate the emergence of JEV into new regions. Graphical Abstract: Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2022, The Author(s)

The inner centromere is a biomolecular condensate scaffolded by the chromosomal passenger complex.

The inner centromere is a region on every mitotic chromosome that enables specific biochemical reactions that underlie properties, such as the maintenance of cohesion, the regulation of kinetochores and the assembly of specialized chromatin, that can resist microtubule pulling forces. The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) is abundantly localized to the inner centromeres and it is unclear whether it is involved in non-kinase activities that contribute to the generation of these unique chromatin properties. We find that the borealin subunit of the CPC drives phase separation of the CPC in vitro at concentrations that are below those found on the inner centromere. We also provide strong evidence that the CPC exists in a phase-separated state at the inner centromere. CPC phase separation is required for its inner-centromere localization and function during mitosis. We suggest that the CPC combines phase separation, kinase and histone code-reading activities to enable the formation of a chromatin body with unique biochemical activities at the inner centromere