U-Th-Pb zircon geochronology on igneous rocks in the Toija and Salittu Formations, Orijärvi area, southwestern Finland: Constraints on the age of volcanism and metamorphism

Zircons from a felsic volcanic rock in the Toija Formation and a synvolcanic gabbro intrusion in the Salittu Formation within the Orijärvi area were dated by U-Th-Pb SIMS in order to provide depositional constraints on these formations. Zircon crystals from the felsic rock preserve a two-stage crystallisation history with zoned core domains and homogeneous rim domains. Inner domains yield a 1878 ± 4 Ma concordia age, interpreted to determine the crystallisation of this rock. Rims yield a 1815 ± 3 Ma concordia age interpreted to determine the regional metamorphism. Small rounded zircon grains from the Salittu gabbro, located within the Jyly shear zone, yield a concordia age of 1792 ± 5 Ma. We interpret the grain textures to suggest that they recrystallised from inherited zircon seeds during the heat and fluid flow into the shear zone. Although no direct ages for the Salittu Formation have been recovered, field relationships imply that it was deposited between 1878 - 1875 Ma.</p

ORP3 splice variants and their expression in human tissues and hematopoietic cells

ORP3 is a member of the newly described family of oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP)-related proteins (ORPs). We previously demonstrated that this gene is highly expressed in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells, and deduced that the &quot;full-length&quot; ORP3 gene comprises 23 exons and encodes a predicted protein of 887 amino acids with a C-terminal OSBP domain and an N-terminal pleckstrin homology domain. To further characterize the gene, we cloned ORP3 cDNA from PCR products and identified multiple splice variants. A total of eight isoforms were demonstrated with alternative splicing of exons 9, 12, and 15. Isoforms with an extension to exon 15 truncate the OSBP domain of the predicted protein sequence. In human tissues there was specific isoform distribution, with most tissues expressing varied levels of isoforms with the complete OSBP domain; while only whole brain, kidney, spleen, thymus, and thyroid expressed high levels of the isoforms associated with the truncated OSBP domain. Interestingly, the expression in cerebellum, heart, and liver of most isoforms was negligible. These data suggest that differential mRNA splicing may have resulted in functionally distinct forms of the ORP3 gene.<br /

Determination of Interface Atomic Structure and Its Impact on Spin Transport Using Z-Contrast Microscopy and Density-Functional Theory

We combine Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy with density-functional-theory calculations to determine the atomic structure of the Fe/AlGaAs interface in spin-polarized light-emitting diodes. A 44% increase in spin-injection efficiency occurs after a low-temperature anneal, which produces an ordered, coherent interface consisting of a single atomic plane of alternating Fe and As atoms. First-principles transport calculations indicate that the increase in spin-injection efficiency is due to the abruptness and coherency of the annealed interface.Comment: 16 pages (including cover), 4 figure

The Glenburgh Orogeny as a record of Paleoproterozoic continent-continent collision

The Gascoyne Province lies at the western end of the Capricorn Orogen, and includes a range of Paleoproterozoic gneisses and metasedimentary basins, known as the Glenburgh Terrane, that are exotic to both the Yilgarn and Pilbara Cratons. Here we present sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb ages for a variety of detrital zircons and metamorphic zircon and monazite from several of these pre-collisional siliciclastic basins that were deformed and metamorphosed at high metamorphic grade during the Glenburgh Orogeny, when the Yilgarn Craton collided with a previously assembled Pilbara Craton – Glenburgh Terrane. The precursors to the Moogie Metamorphics were deposited sometime between 2240 and 2125 Ma in either a foreland basin to the Ophthalmian Orogeny, or a retro-arc that formed during the collision of the Glenburgh Terrane with the Pilbara Craton. The Quartpot Pelite of the Camel Hills Metamorphics was deposited between 2000 Ma and 1985 Ma as a fore-arc deposit to the Dalgaringa continental margin arc. The Petter Calc-silicate of the Camel Hills Metamorphics was deposited sometime between 2610 and 1965 Ma as part of the Yilgarn Craton passive margin. Metamorphic zircon and monazite ages indicate that continental collision and high-grade metamorphism during the Glenburgh Orogeny (D2g) took place between 1965 Ma and 1950 Ma

Treatment performance and microbial community structure in an aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor amended with diclofenac, erythromycin, and gemfibrozil

This study characterizes the effects of three commonly detected pharmaceuticals—diclofenac, erythromycin, and gemfibrozil—on aerobic granular sludge. Approximately 150 µg/L of each pharmaceutical was fed in the influent to a sequencing batch reactor for 80 days, and the performance of the test reactor was compared with that of a control reactor. Wastewater treatment efficacy in the test reactor dropped by approximately 30-40%, and ammonia oxidation was particularly inhibited. The relative abundance of active Rhodocyclaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, and Nitrospiraceae families declined throughout exposure, likely explaining reductions in wastewater treatment performance. Pharmaceuticals were temporarily removed in the first 12 days of the test via both sorption and degradation; both removal processes declined sharply thereafter. This study demonstrates that aerobic granular sludge may successfully remove pharmaceuticals in the short term, but long-term tests are necessary to confirm if pharmaceutical removal is sustainable

Role of corticosteroids in Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The aim of our study is to systematically review the existing evidence on the role of corticosteroids in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).  Methodology: Systematic search of MEDLINE (1950- 2014), EMBASE (1980-2014), metaRegister, Cochrane Library and ISI conference proceedings was carried out.  Results: Eighteen randomised controlled trials with 1309 patients were included. Use of local and/or systemic corticosteroids with FESS was reported in four categories; operative, anaesthesia related, post-operative outcomes and risk of recurrence. Metaanalysis for operative outcomes demonstrated that, mean operative time (MD -10.70 minutes; 95% CI -15.86, -5.55; P <0.0001) and mean estimated blood loss (MD -28.32 mls; 95% CI -40.93, -15.72; P <0.0001) was significantly lower; and surgical field quality (MD -0.81; 95% CI -1.32, -0.30; P = 0.002) was significantly better in corticosteroid group. Meta-analysis showed that post-operative endoscopic scores (SMD -0.39; 95% CI -0.60, -0.17; P = 0.0004) were significantly better in corticosteroid group compared to no corticosteroid group. There was no increase in risk of sinusitis (RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.32, 1.30; P = 0.22) between use of corticosteroids and no corticosteroids; There was no significant difference in recurrence risk of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in mixed population studies (RR 0.77; 95% CI 0.35, 1.70; P = 0.52) between the two groups but analysis of studies reporting on chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (RR 0.64;95% CI 0.45,0.91;P=0.01) showed significant difference in favour of the corticosteroid group.  Conclusion: Pre-operative use of local and/or systemic corticosteroids in FESS, results in significantly reduced blood loss, shorter operative time and improved surgical field quality. Studies are limited on the intra-operative use of corticosteroids to reduce postoperative pain. Postoperative corticosteroids improve postoperative endoscopic scores in CRS and recurrence rates in cases of CRSwNP

Parakeet: a digital twin software pipeline to assess the impact of experimental parameters on tomographic reconstructions for cryo-electron tomography

In cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) of biological samples, the quality of tomographic reconstructions can vary depending on the transmission electron microscope (TEM) instrument and data acquisition parameters. In this paper, we present Parakeet, a ‘digital twin’ software pipeline for the assessment of the impact of various TEM experiment parameters on the quality of three-dimensional tomographic reconstructions. The Parakeet digital twin is a digital model that can be used to optimize the performance and utilization of a physical instrument to enable in silico optimization of sample geometries, data acquisition schemes and instrument parameters. The digital twin performs virtual sample generation, TEM image simulation, and tilt series reconstruction and analysis within a convenient software framework. As well as being able to produce physically realistic simulated cryo-ET datasets to aid the development of tomographic reconstruction and subtomogram averaging programs, Parakeet aims to enable convenient assessment of the effects of different microscope parameters and data acquisition parameters on reconstruction quality. To illustrate the use of the software, we present the example of a quantitative analysis of missing wedge artefacts on simulated planar and cylindrical biological samples and discuss how data collection parameters can be modified for cylindrical samples where a full 180° tilt range might be measured