Limits and possibilities of US energy policy

Malcolm Keay sees déjà vu all over again; Jérôme E. Roos suggests a set of policy proposals to cure America’s addiction to oil; Jim Arrowsmith assesses the current fall in US oil demand

Limits and possibilities of US energy policy

Malcolm Keay sees déjà vu all over again; Jérôme E. Roos suggests a set of policy proposals to cure America’s addiction to oil; Jim Arrowsmith assesses the current fall in US oil demand

Climate and atmospheric circulation changes over the past 1000 years reconstructed from oxygen isotopes in lake-sediment carbonate from Ireland

A 1000 year long subdecadal-resolution record of carbonate oxygen isotopes (δ18Oc) from Lough-na-Shade, Ireland, provides evidence for changing atmospheric circulation over northwest Europe. The total range of δ18Oc values (>5‰) is too large to be explained by changes in water temperature. Moreover, good correlation between the lake record and a previously published δ18O time series from an Irish speleothem indicates that the changes in oxygen isotopes are best explained by variations in the isotopic composition of precipitation. The amplitude of change during this period is too large to be explained by shifts in condensation temperature. Instead we suggest that there have been changes in vapour source and transport paths connected with shifts in atmospheric circulation. Changes from a source area from further south within the North Atlantic to one further to the north could explain the prominent positive shift in oxygen-isotope values between the early eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, for example. Our results also demonstrate the value of a ‘multiple-archive’ approach to deconvolving lake-based carbonate isotope profiles, which are often complex

Gestational diabetes mellitus: Prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A fresh look to a busy corner

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication characterized by hyperglycaemia with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. Risk factors include family history of diabetes, previous GDM, genetic predisposition for GDM/type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance conditions such as overweight, obesity and ethnicity. Women with GDM are at high risk for fetal macrosomia, small for gestational age, neonatal hypoglycaemia, operative delivery and caesarean delivery. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the most recent findings of diagnosis and treatment of GDM in order to underline the importance to promote adequate prevention of this disease, especially through lifestyle interventions such as diet and physical activity. METHODS: The research was conducted using the following electronic databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE,Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, OVID and Cochrane Library, including all published randomized and non-randomized studies as well as narrative and systematic reviews. RESULTS: The lack of universally accepted criteria makes the definition of diagnosis and prognosis of this condition difficult. Early diagnosis and glucose blood level control may improve maternal and fetal short and long-term outcomes. Treatment strategies include nutritional interventions and exercise. Medical treatment can be necessary if these strategies are not effective. Moreover, novel non-pharmacologic agents such as myo-inositol seem to be effective and safe both in the prevention and the treatment of GDM. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to promote adequate prevention of GDM. Further studies are needed in order to better define the most appropriate strategies for the clinical management of women affected by GDM