Active metal-cycling microbial communities of polymetallic nodules from the Eastern Pacific Ocean

The rising demand for minerals and metals is encouraging the great international interest for alternative sources in the deep sea. Deposits of deep-sea polymetallic nodules attracted the attention for a long time because they are rich in nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The environmental consequences of large-scale mining of polymetallic nodules are currently less known. In 2019 the Belgian and German licence area in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (Eastern Pacific) were studied to obtain further baseline characteristics of the 4000 m deep polymetallic nodule fields. Here, we present: i) diversity and distribution of the present & active microbial communities of polymetallic nodules and ii) abundance and activity of relevant metal-cycling microorganisms by quantification of extracellular enzyme activity and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Further we aim to enrich potential metal-cycling microorganisms and investigate microbial metabolisms by metagenomic/-transcriptomic from polymetallic nodules. Our results may provide a new set of tools for monitoring ecosystem impacts associated with deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining. New regulations are required to protect these areas from irreversible anthropogenic impacts

Transtorno Bipolar: Relato de caso de um paciente internado em hospital psiquiátrico / Bipolar Disorder: Case report of a patient in the psychiatric hospital

Objetivo: Relatar caso de um paciente internado em hospital psiquiátrico para tratamento de Transtorno Bipolar (TB). Relato de caso: Se trata de um paciente de 44 anos, sexo masculino, pardo, divorciado, aposentado por invalidez, natural do interior do estado de São Paulo, diagnosticado com Transtorno Bipolar aos 37 anos e atualmente encontra-se internado em hospital psiquiátrico devido surto maníaco persistente. Paciente estava desaparecido há dois anos e foi encontrado na Argentina após comunicação do consulado com a família. No início do quadro o paciente apresentava dificuldades de concentração e de memória, insônia e pensamentos ilógicos, posteriormente, manifestaram-se as alucinações auditivas e os delírios de ciúme e de grandeza. Iniciou o tratamento medicamentoso, mas devido aos efeitos adversos, interrompeu por conta própria. Conclusão: A piora no curso evolutivo da doença e do funcionamento de pacientes com TB podem estar relacionados a gravidade dos episódios de humor, presença de déficits cognitivos, bem como a não adesão ao tratamento.

Democratic directionality for transformative food systems research

Effective interfaces of knowledge and policy are critical for food system transformation. Here, an expert group assembled to explore research needs towards a safe and just food system put forward principles to guide relations between society, science, knowledge, policy and politics

Water and sodium intake habits and status of ultra-endurance runners during a multi-stage ultra-marathon conducted in a hot ambient environment: an observational field based study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anecdotal evidence suggests ultra-runners may not be consuming sufficient water through foods and fluids to maintenance euhydration, and present sub-optimal sodium intakes, throughout multi-stage ultra-marathon (MSUM) competitions in the heat. Subsequently, the aims were primarily to assess water and sodium intake habits of recreational ultra-runners during a five stage 225 km semi self-sufficient MSUM conducted in a hot ambient environment (T_max range: 32°C to 40°C); simultaneously to monitor serum sodium concentration, and hydration status using multiple hydration assessment techniques.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Total daily, pre-stage, during running, and post-stage water and sodium ingestion of ultra-endurance runners (UER, <it>n</it> = 74) and control (CON, <it>n</it> = 12) through foods and fluids were recorded on Stages 1 to 4 by trained dietetic researchers using dietary recall interview technique, and analysed through dietary analysis software. Body mass (BM), hydration status, and serum sodium concentration were determined pre- and post-Stages 1 to 5.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Water (overall mean (SD): total daily 7.7 (1.5) L/day, during running 732 (183) ml/h) and sodium (total daily 3.9 (1.3) g/day, during running 270 (151) mg/L) ingestion did not differ between stages in UER (<it>p</it> < 0.001 <it>vs</it>. CON). Exercise-induced BM loss was 2.4 (1.2)% (<it>p</it> < 0.001). Pre- to post-stage BM gains were observed in 26% of UER along competition. Pre- and post-stage plasma osmolality remained within normal clinical reference range (280 to 303 mOsmol/kg) in the majority of UER (<it>p</it> > 0.05 <it>vs</it>. CON pre-stage). Asymptomatic hyponatraemia (<135 mmol/L) was evident pre- and post-stage in <it>n</it> = 8 UER, corresponding to 42% of sampled participants. Pre- and post-stage urine colour, urine osmolality and urine/plasma osmolality ratio increased (<it>p</it> < 0.001) as competition progressed in UER, with no change in CON. Plasma volume and extra-cellular water increased (<it>p</it> < 0.001) 22.8% and 9.2%, respectively, from pre-Stage 1 to 5 in UER, with no change in CON.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Water intake habits of ultra-runners during MSUM conducted in hot ambient conditions appear to be sufficient to maintain baseline euhydration levels. However, fluid over-consumption behaviours were evident along competition, irrespective of running speed and gender. Normonatraemia was observed in the majority of ultra-runners throughout MSUM, despite sodium ingestion under benchmark recommendations.</p

All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory: Exploring the Extreme Multimessenger Universe

The All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory (AMEGO) is a probe class mission concept that will provide essential contributions to multimessenger astrophysics in the late 2020s and beyond. AMEGO combines high sensitivity in the 200 keV to 10 GeV energy range with a wide field of view, good spectral resolution, and polarization sensitivity. Therefore, AMEGO is key in the study of multimessenger astrophysical objects that have unique signatures in the gamma-ray regime, such as neutron star mergers, supernovae, and flaring active galactic nuclei. The order-of-magnitude improvement compared to previous MeV missions also enables discoveries of a wide range of phenomena whose energy output peaks in the relatively unexplored medium-energy gamma-ray band

Broadband Multi-wavelength Properties of M87 during the 2017 Event Horizon Telescope Campaign

Abstract: In 2017, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration succeeded in capturing the first direct image of the center of the M87 galaxy. The asymmetric ring morphology and size are consistent with theoretical expectations for a weakly accreting supermassive black hole of mass ∼6.5 × 109 M ⊙. The EHTC also partnered with several international facilities in space and on the ground, to arrange an extensive, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength campaign. This Letter presents the results and analysis of this campaign, as well as the multi-wavelength data as a legacy data repository. We captured M87 in a historically low state, and the core flux dominates over HST-1 at high energies, making it possible to combine core flux constraints with the more spatially precise very long baseline interferometry data. We present the most complete simultaneous multi-wavelength spectrum of the active nucleus to date, and discuss the complexity and caveats of combining data from different spatial scales into one broadband spectrum. We apply two heuristic, isotropic leptonic single-zone models to provide insight into the basic source properties, but conclude that a structured jet is necessary to explain M87’s spectrum. We can exclude that the simultaneous γ-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton emission in the same region producing the EHT mm-band emission, and further conclude that the γ-rays can only be produced in the inner jets (inward of HST-1) if there are strongly particle-dominated regions. Direct synchrotron emission from accelerated protons and secondaries cannot yet be excluded

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Die Nachbarschaftsbibliothek Schnelsen : Ist- Analyse unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Standortes und der Kundenzufriedenheit

Bibliotheken müssen sich dem Wettbewerb um den Kunden stellen, denn diesem bietet sich heute eine Vielzahl an Möglichkeiten der Informationsbeschaffung. Um im Konkurrenzkampf zu bestehen, gilt es den derzeitigen Status Quo einer Einrichtung zu erforschen und die Wünsche und Einstellungen der Kunden hinsichtlich der Leistungen der Bibliothek zu erheben. Dies dient als Planungsgrundlage der zukünftigen Bibliotheksarbeit. In dieser Arbeit wird eine Analyse des Ist- Zustandes für die Nachbarschaftsbibliothek Schnelsen durchgeführt, einer neuartigen Bibliotheksform im System der Hamburger Öffentlichen Bücherhallen. Besondere Beachtung findet dabei die Analyse des Stadtteils, in dem die Bibliothek liegt sowie die Evaluation der Kundenzufriedenheit durch eine Besucherbefragung. Die Ergebnisse der verschiedenen Untersuchungen werden abschließend in einer Auflistung der Stärken und Schwächen der Nachbarschaftsbibliothek Schnelsen zusammengeführt