Phytoplankton and nutrient analysis of a nuclear fuel-storage pond at Sellafield

Summary •The aim of the project was to identify and enumerate phytoplankton cells and analyse phosphate and nitrate concentrations in samples from a nuclear fuel-storage pond from Sellafield. The samples were taken in five different bays, at two depths and at two time points. •All samples contained large numbers of phytoplankton cells. •The dominant species in bays B1 to B4 was a filamentous cyanobacterium, Oscillatoria limnetica. Bay B5 was dominated by small single cells of the chlorophyte, Stichococcus bacillaris. Other species in significant numbers that were found in nearly all samples were Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlamydomonas sp. and Chlorella sp. (all Chlorophyceae) and the cyanobacterium Synechococcus. The numbers of other species that were identified were neglectable. •There was no clear difference in species composition and numbers between the samples taken at different depths. •There was no significant difference in the species composition between the samples taken in June and July 2007, even when the July samples showed a slightly higher diversity. The difference between the two sampling time points was more of a quantitative nature; the number of O. limnetica was reduced in July compared to June, but the number of small phytoplankton species, especially S. bacillaris, increased in July. •The chemical analysis revealed only low concentrations of phosphate and nitrate that were mainly below the detection limit of our detection method. Only the July sample contained detectable amounts of nitrogen

Development of Group Treatment Tasks for Adults with Neurological Disorders

Gateway Café and Wellness Center is a support program offered at the University of Rhode Island for individuals with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI), such as Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Stroke. Individuals affected by ABI’s most commonly have difficulties with their cognitive, linguistic, and independence skills. Services provided to people living with ABI’s are very scarce in our community today, so allowing people to interact during Gateway Café allows these adults to receive treatment. This is achieved as URI students plan, organize, and execute activities that require the utilization of cognitive linguistic skills by the Gateway Café members. Furthermore, Gateway Café provides a structured environment to make the execution of cognitive linguistic skills successful for the participants and allows them to interact in a group setting with individuals who have similar shared experiences

Tandem BRAF Mutations in Primary Invasive Melanomas

The RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway likely mediates critical cell proliferation and survival signals in melanoma. BRAF mutations have been found in a high percentage of melanoma cell lines and metastases; however, only a few studies with a limited number of specimens have focused on primary melanomas. We examined BRAF exon 15 mutational status in 37 primary invasive melanomas of varying thicknesses, which had undergone a standardized pathology review. BRAF mutational status was determined using direct manual sequencing of PCR products, followed by resequencing separately amplified DNA aliquots to confirm each mutation. BRAF exon 15 mutations were found in 17 of 37 (46%) primary melanomas. Tumor-specific tandem mutations, encoding either V599K, V599R, or V599E, were found in 5 of 17 (29%) melanomas with BRAF exon 15 mutations. Cloning of BRAF double base-pair substitutions confirmed that both base changes were on the same allele and can result in a positive charge at codon 599. BRAF mutations, including tandem mutations, were frequently found in both thin and thick primary melanomas, implying that these mutations can occur early in the progression of melanoma. The finding of tandem mutations in thin melanomas makes it more likely that they arise as a simultaneous rather than sequential event

Redescription of Dexiotricha colpidiopsis (Kahl, 1926) Jankowski, 1964 (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) from a Hot Spring in Iceland with Identification Key for Dexiotricha species

Publisher's version (útgefin grein)We isolated an encysted ciliate from a geothermal field in Iceland. The morphological features of this isolate fit the descriptions of Dexiotricha colpidiopsis (Kahl, 1926) Jankowski, 1964 very well. These comprise body shape and size in vivo, the number of somatic kineties, and the positions of macronucleus and contractile vacuole. Using state-of-the-art taxonomic methods, the species is redescribed, including phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene as molecular marker. In the phylogenetic analyses, D. colpidiopsis clusters with the three available SSU rRNA gene sequences of congeners, suggesting a monophyly of the genus Dexiotricha. Its closest relative in phylogenetic analyses is D. elliptica, which also shows a high morphological similarity. This is the first record of a Dexiotricha species from a hot spring, indicating a wide temperature tolerance of this species at least in the encysted state. The new findings on D. colpidiopsis are included in a briefly revision of the scuticociliate genus Dexiotricha and an identification key to the species.This study was funded by grants awarded to TS by Europlanet 2020 (project 15-EPN-006) and by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)/Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR, grant 50WB1737). Europlanet 2020 RI has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 654208. Zhishuai Qu received funds from the China Scholarship Council (CSC). We thank Fengchao Li for his support with species identification and Natasa Desnica (Matis) for the trace metal analysis.Peer Reviewe

Vulvar Skin Atrophy Induced by Topical Glucocorticoids

Steroid induced skin atrophy is the most frequent and perhaps most important cutaneous side effect of topical glucocorticoid therapy. To date, it has not been described in vulvar skin. We describe a patient with significant vulvar skin atrophy following prolonged steroid application to treat vulvar dermatitis. The extensive atrophy in the perineum resulted in secondary ‘webbing’ and partial obstruction of genital hiatus and superimposed dyspareunia. Prolonged topical steroids may result in atrophic changes in vulvar skin. Therefore, further research in clinical correlates of steroid-induced atrophy in the vulvar region is warranted

Marine Microbial Communities of North and South Shelves of Iceland

The work is part of the Microbes in the Icelandic Marine Environment (MIME) project which was funded by the Grant of Excellence (No. 163266-051) of the Icelandic Research Fund (Rannís). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.The North Atlantic Ocean surrounds Iceland, influencing its climate and hosting a rich ecosystem that provides the Icelandic nation with economically valuable marine species. The basis of the Icelandic marine ecosystem consists of communities of diverse microorganisms including bacteria, archaea, and unicellular eukaryotes. While the primary production of Icelandic waters has been monitored since the 50s, there is limited knowledge of the taxonomic and metabolic diversity of the marine microorganisms in Icelandic waters based on molecular techniques. In this study, we conducted annual sampling at four hydrographic stations over several years to characterize marine microbial communities and their metabolic potential. Using 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, we resolved the microbial community composition on the North and South Shelves of Iceland, analyzed its evolution from 2011 to 2018, identified frequently occurring taxa, and predicted their potential metabolism. The results showed correlations between the marine microbial community profiles and the water masses in spring, between the North and South Shelves of Iceland. The differences in marine microbial diversity appear to be linked to the average seawater temperature in the mixed surface layer at each sampling station which also constrains the relative abundance of photosynthetic microorganisms. This study set a baseline for the marine microbial diversity in Icelandic marine waters and identified three photosynthetic microorganisms – the cyanobacteria Synechococcus and two members of the Chlorophyta clade – as valuable indicator species for future monitoring, as well as for application in ecosystem modeling in context with research on climate change.Peer reviewe

High-Level Human Herpesvirus-6 Viremia Associated With Onset of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: Report of Two Cases:

The pathogenesis of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) remains obscure but it has been associated with various infectious agents, including members of the Herpes virus family. We present the first report of high level human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) viremia at the onset of SJS suggesting a possible new association. This finding supports the need for further investigation into the possible relationship between HHV-6 and SJS which may illuminate the pathogenesis of SJS and bring us closer to achieving enhanced prevention and treatment of this rare disease

Catalyzing progress in the blue economy through joint marine microbiome research across the Atlantic

International agreements recognize the importance of cooperative scientific research to conserve and promote sustainable development of a shared Atlantic Ocean. In 2022, the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance Declaration was signed. The All-Atlantic Declaration continues and extends relationships forged by the Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation and the Belém Statement on Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Cooperation. These efforts are consistent with programs, actions, and aims of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. In preparation for implementation of the All-Atlantic Declaration, members of the Marine Microbiome Working Group and the Marine Biotechnology Initiative for the Atlantic under the Galway and Belém Statements respectively, joined forces to call for cooperation across the Atlantic to increase marine microbiome and biotechnology research to promote ocean health and a sustainable bioeconomy. This article reviews the goals of the marine microbiome and biotechnology initiatives under the Galway and Belém Statements and outlines an approach to implement those goals under the All-Atlantic Declaration through a Blue Biotech and Marine Microbiome (BBAMM) collaboration