Ideas and Perspectives: A Strategic Assessment of Methane and Nitrous Oxide Measurements In the Marine Environment

In the current era of rapid climate change, accurate characterization of climate-relevant gas dynamics-namely production, consumption, and net emissions-is required for all biomes, especially those ecosystems most susceptible to the impact of change. Marine environments include regions that act as net sources or sinks for numerous climateactive trace gases including methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The temporal and spatial distributions of CH4 and N2O are controlled by the interaction of complex biogeochemical and physical processes. To evaluate and quantify how these mechanisms affect marine CH4 and N2O cycling requires a combination of traditional scientific disciplines including oceanography, microbiology, and numerical modeling. Fundamental to these efforts is ensuring that the datasets produced by independent scientists are comparable and interoperable. Equally critical is transparent communication within the research community about the technical improvements required to increase our collective understanding of marine CH4 and N2O. A workshop sponsored by Ocean Carbon and Biogeochemistry (OCB) was organized to enhance dialogue and collaborations pertaining to marine CH4 and N2O. Here, we summarize the outcomes from the workshop to describe the challenges and opportunities for near-future CH4 and N2O research in the marine environment

Happiness around the world: A combined etic-emic approach across 63 countries.

What does it mean to be happy? The vast majority of cross-cultural studies on happiness have employed a Western-origin, or "WEIRD" measure of happiness that conceptualizes it as a self-centered (or "independent"), high-arousal emotion. However, research from Eastern cultures, particularly Japan, conceptualizes happiness as including an interpersonal aspect emphasizing harmony and connectedness to others. Following a combined emic-etic approach (Cheung, van de Vijver & Leong, 2011), we assessed the cross-cultural applicability of a measure of independent happiness developed in the US (Subjective Happiness Scale; Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) and a measure of interdependent happiness developed in Japan (Interdependent Happiness Scale; Hitokoto & Uchida, 2015), with data from 63 countries representing 7 sociocultural regions. Results indicate that the schema of independent happiness was more coherent in more WEIRD countries. In contrast, the coherence of interdependent happiness was unrelated to a country's "WEIRD-ness." Reliabilities of both happiness measures were lowest in African and Middle Eastern countries, suggesting these two conceptualizations of happiness may not be globally comprehensive. Overall, while the two measures had many similar correlates and properties, the self-focused concept of independent happiness is "WEIRD-er" than interdependent happiness, suggesting cross-cultural researchers should attend to both conceptualizations

Search for electroweak production of SUSY in di-tau final states in full Run-2 ATLAS data

Final states with tau leptons are experimentally challenging but open up exciting opportunities for supersymmetry (SUSY) searches. SUSY models with light sleptons could offer a dark matter candidate consistent with the observed relic dark matter density due to accessible co-annihilation processes. Additionally, final states with hadronically decaying taus in Run-2 benefit from the increased available dataset and improved tau identification using machine learning algorithms. We present analyses that use the full Run 2 dataset of sqrt(s) = 13 TeV proton-proton collision events recorded by ATLAS, which significantly extend existing limits on the electroweak production of supersymmetric particles in hadronic tau final states and extend the simplified models studied in these signatures

Searches for electroweak production of supersymmetric particles with the ATLAS detector

The direct production of electroweak SUSY particles, including sleptons, charginos, and neutralinos, is a particularly interesting area with connections to dark matter and the naturalness of the Higgs mass. The small production cross sections lead to difficult searches, despite relatively clean final states. This talk will highlight the most recent results of searches performed by the ATLAS experiment for supersymmetric particles produced via electroweak processes, including analyses targeting small mass splittings between SUSY particles. Models are targeted in both R-parity conserving as well as R-parity violating scenarios

Searches for supersymmetry in final states with at least two hadronically decaying tau leptons using the ATLAS detector

Final states with tau leptons are experimentally challenging but open up exciting opportunities for supersymmetry (SUSY) searches. SUSY models with light sleptons could offer a dark matter candidate consistent with the observed relic dark matter density due to accessible co-annihilation processes. Additionally, final states with hadronically decaying taus in LHC Run-2 benefit from the increased available dataset and improved tau identification using machine learning algorithms. We present analyses that use the full Run 2 dataset of ⎷s = 13 TeV proton-proton collision events recorded by ATLAS, which significantly extend existing limits on the electroweak production of supersymmetric particles in hadronic tau final states and extend the simplified models studied in these signatures

Search for charginos and neutralinos decaying via a W and a Higgs boson into final states with two same-sign leptons with the ATLAS detector

Supersymmetry as an extension to the Standard Model can solve the hierarchy problem if supersymmetric particles are present at the TeV scale. If R-parity is conserved, the lightest supersymmetric particle is stable and might be a viable dark matter candidate. The production of charginos and neutralinos might be the dominant production mode of supersymmetry at the LHC, if squarks and gluinos are beyond the reach of the LHC. In this thesis, a search for chargino and neutralino production with 36.1 fb$^{-1}$ of $\sqrt{s} = 13 \text{ TeV}$ proton-proton collisions collected with the ATLAS detector is presented. The charginos and neutralinos can decay via W and Higgs bosons into several final states. A final state with exactly two leptons of the same charge, jets and missing transverse energy is analysed. The design of signal regions as well as of validation regions for the WZ diboson background is described. No significant excess over the standard model expectation was observed. Uncertainties considered in the analysis are summarised before interpreting the data in terms of a simplified chargino neutralino model. Chargino masses up to 225 GeV have been excluded for a massless lightest neutralino. Estimating the sensitivity of the analysis using future larger datasets, a maximum discovery significance of 2.92 $\sigma$ was obtained for $\int \mathcal{L} = 140 \text{ fb}^{-1}$

The ATLAS Electron and Photon trigger performance in Run 2

ATLAS electron and photon triggers covering transverse energies from 5 GeV to several TeV are essential to record signals for a wide variety of physics: from Standard Model processes to searches for new phenomena in both proton-proton and heavy ion collisions. Main triggers used during Run 2 (2015-2018) for those physics studies were a single-electron trigger with ET threshold around 25 GeV and a diphoton trigger with thresholds at 25 and 35 GeV. Relying on those simple, general-purpose triggers is seen as a more robust trigger strategy, at a cost of slightly higher trigger output rates, than to use a large number of analysis-specific triggers. To cope with ever-increasing luminosity and more challenging pile-up conditions at the LHC, the trigger selections needed to be optimized to control the rates and keep efficiencies high. The ATLAS electron and photon performance during Run-2 data-taking is presented as well as work ongoing to prepare to even higher luminosity of Run 3 (2021-2023)

Effects from a 90-day inhalation toxicity study with cerium oxide and barium sulfate nanoparticles in rats

Abstract Background Nanomaterials like cerium oxide and barium sulfate are frequently processed in industrial and consumer products and exposure of humans and other organisms is likely. Generally less information is given on health effects and toxicity, especially regarding long-term exposure to low nanoparticle doses. Since inhalation is still the major route of uptake the present study focused on pulmonary effects of CeO2NM-212 (0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mg/m3) and BaSO4NM-220 nanoparticles (50.0 mg/m3) in a 90-day exposure setup. To define particle-related effects and potential mechanisms of action, observations in histopathology, bronchoalveolar lavage and immunohistochemistry were linked to pulmonary deposition and clearance rates. This further allows evaluation of potential overload related effects. Results Lung burden values increased with increasing nanoparticle dose levels and ongoing exposure. At higher doses, cerium clearance was impaired, suggesting lung overload. Barium elimination was extremely rapid and without any signs of overload. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis and histopathology revealed lung tissue inflammation with increasing severity and post-exposure persistency for CeO2. Also, marker levels for genotoxicity and cell proliferation were significantly increased. BaSO4 showed less inflammation or persistency of effects and particularly affected the nasal cavity. Conclusion CeO2 nanoparticles penetrate the alveolar space and affect the respiratory tract after inhalation mainly in terms of inflammation. Effects at low dose levels and post-exposure persistency suggest potential long-term effects and a notable relevance for human health. The generated data might be useful to improve nanoparticle risk assessment and threshold value generation. Mechanistic investigations at conditions of non-overload and absent inflammation should be further investigated in future studies

Cerium oxide and barium sulfate nanoparticle inhalation affects gene expression in alveolar epithelial cells type II

BACKGROUND: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of nanomaterial interacting with cellular systems is important for appropriate risk assessment. The identification of early biomarkers for potential (sub-)chronic effects of nanoparticles provides a promising approach towards cost-intensive and animal consuming long-term studies. As part of a 90-day inhalation toxicity study with CeO2 NM-212 and BaSO4 NM-220 the present investigations on gene expression and immunohistochemistry should reveal details on underlying mechanisms of pulmonary effects. The role of alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEII cells) is focused since its contribution to defense against inhaled particles and potentially resulting adverse effects is assumed. Low dose levels should help to specify particle-related events, including inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Rats were exposed to clean air, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 mg/m(3) CeO2 NM-212 or 50.0 mg/m(3) BaSO4 NM-220 and the expression of 391 genes was analyzed in AEII cells after one, 28 and 90 days exposure. A total number of 34 genes was regulated, most of them related to inflammatory mediators. Marked changes in gene expression were measured for Ccl2, Ccl7, Ccl17, Ccl22, Ccl3, Ccl4, Il-1alpha, Il-1ss, and Il-1rn (inflammation), Lpo and Noxo1 (oxidative stress), and Mmp12 (inflammation/lung cancer). Genes related to genotoxicity and apoptosis did not display marked regulation. Although gene expression was less affected by BaSO4 compared to CeO2 the gene pattern showed great overlap. Gene expression was further analyzed in liver and kidney tissue showing inflammatory responses in both organs and marked downregulation of oxidative stress related genes in the kidney. Increases in the amount of Ce were measured in liver but not in kidney tissue. Investigation of selected genes on protein level revealed increased Ccl2 in bronchoalveolar lavage of exposed animals and increased Lpo and Mmp12 in the alveolar epithelia. CONCLUSION: AEII cells contribute to CeO2 nanoparticle caused inflammatory and oxidative stress reactions in the respiratory tract by the release of related mediators. Effects of BaSO4 exposure are low. However, overlap between both substances were detected and support identification of potential early biomarkers for nanoparticle effects on the respiratory system. Signs for long-term effects need to be further evaluated by comparison to a respective exposure setting

Factors associated with abdominal pain in patients submitted to colonoscopy

Objective: The study evaluated factors associated with abdominal pain during colonoscopy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study that evaluated patients who underwent colonoscopy between February 2014 and February 2015. Physical characteristics, surgical history and previous colonoscopies, indication and current examination conditions, fentanyl and midazolam dose, and pain level were analyzed. Significance level adopted: p < 0.05. Chi-squared test was used for association of categorical variables, Student's t-test was applied for comparison of means, and Spearman's coefficient was used for correlation. Results: A total of 566 women and 391 men with mean age of 54.81 years and mean BMI of 27,064 were evaluated. Of the total, 29 (3.0%) had mild pain, 42 (4.4%) had moderate pain, and 18 (1.9%) had severe pain. Women were less tolerant (p = 0.011) and had longer cecal intubation times (p = 0.001). Mean duration of colonoscopy and mean dose of midazolam were higher in patients with pain (p = 0.001), (p < 0.001*). Among the 39 patients with an incomplete examination, 8 reported pain (p = 0.049). Conclusion: Female gender and prolonged intubation time were significantly associated with abdominal pain during colonoscopy. Patients with discomfort had a higher failure rate on the exam. Additional doses of midazolam given to patients with pain were not effective. Resumo: Objetivo: O estudo avaliou fatores associados à dor abdominal durante a colonoscopia. Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal, que avaliou pacientes que realizaram colonoscopia entre Fevereiro de 2014 e Fevereiro de 2015. Analisou-se características físicas, histórico cirúrgico e colonoscopias prévias, indicação e condições do exame atual, dose de fentanil e midazolam e nível de dor. Nível de significância adotado: p <0,05. Utilizou-se teste Qui-quadrado para associação de variáveis categóricas, teste t de Student para comparação de médias e coeficiente de Spearman para correlação. Resultados: Avaliou-se 566 mulheres e 391 homens, com média de idade de 54,81 anos e IMC médio de 27,064. Do total, 29 (3,0%) tiveram dor leve, 42 (4,4%) dor moderada e 18 (1,9%) dor intensa. As mulheres foram menos tolerantes (p = 0,011) e tiveram maior tempo de intubação cecal (p = 0,001). A duração média da colonoscopia e dose média de midazolam administrada foram maiores nos pacientes com dor (p = 0,001), (p < 0,001*). Entre os 39 pacientes com exame incompleto, 8 relataram dor (p = 0,049). Conclusão: Gênero feminino e tempo de intubação prolongado tiveram associação significativa com dor abdominal durante a colonoscopia. Pacientes com desconforto tiveram uma taxa maior de insucesso no exame. Doses adicionais de midazolam administradas nos pacientes com dor não foram efetivas. Keywords: Colonoscopy, Conscious sedation, Abdominal pain, Sedation, Palavras-chave: Colonoscopia, Sedação consciente, Dor abdominal, Sedaçã