Paleogeography, sedimentology and basin development of the Eocene Rapahoe Group in the Punakaiki-Westport area

The Rapahoe Group as presently defined consists of marine and marginal marine sediments deposited during a regional transgressive cycle, which occur between Brunner Coal Measures and Nile Group Limestones. It is proposed that the Rapahoe Group be expanded to include all transgressive deposits that underlie the Nile Group Limestones, including the Brunner Coal Measures. The limestone in and around the quarry at Cape Foul wind should also be included as the Cape Foul wind limestone rather than part of the Oligocene Waitakere Limestone, as it is formed during a fluctuating transgression in the Eocene rather than high-stand conditions in the Oligocene, even though the two are similar in composition. The basin between Punakaiki and Westport is a narrow N to NE trending basin controlled on the west by the Cape Foulwind Fault and on the east by the complex Paparoa Tectonic Zone. Maximum subsidence occurred on the SE margin of the basin, but due to post-Oligocene uplift and erosion most of the evidence for the nature of this margin has been removed. The Cape Foul wind Fault is an enigmatic structure, its orientation, exact location and history is unknown. Slide deposits md the occurrences of Miocene Welsh Formation limestone onlapping basement on the eastern side of the basin suggest a land mass to the east, that was not transgressed until the Miocene. A similar land mass to the southeast was probably transgressed in the latest Eocene, however, all direct evidence of landmasses to the east of the basin has been removed by erosion caused by post-Oligocene uplift. The Little Totara Sand can be subdivided at most outcrops and was deposited in a number of different shoreline environments, including beach, dune and tidal bar and channels. At Gibsons Beach and the Cape Foul wind Quarry it is underlain by a laminated silt and clay sequence up to 50 cm thick, that contains lenses of coarser sand and is very carbon rich. This is inferred to be a lagoon deposit. The Little Totara Sand is time transgressive as it occurs both over and underlying the limestone at the Cape Foulwind Quarry. A basin wide transgression-regression-transgression sequence has been recognised in all closely examined sections, the regression culminating in the Lower Whaingaroan with a surface of erosion or sub-aerial exposure recognised in most sections. This unconformity is correlated with an unconformity in the Inangahua and Buller Gorge regions, and possibly with breccia deposits around the mouths of the Little Wanganui and Mokihinui Rivers, but similar unconformities are not recorded for Greymouth, Buller Coalfields or Murchison areas. The regression and unconformity are therefore thought to be due to local tectonic events, rather than regional or global changes in sea-level

Correlation of Sequences and Changes in Facies across Shelf Margin using Core and Seismic Data Offshore Canterbury basin

Canterbury basin covers an approximate area of 40 000 km2 Canterbury basin is largely an offshore basin extending slightly onshore southward across Canterbury plains and to the Southern Alps This work aimed to correlates seismic sequences boundaries earlier interpreted with sedimentary sequence surfaces observed in cores recovered from the four sites drilled across the shelf by expedition 317 This work utilises well data obtained from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program IODP expedition 317 The expedition which targeted stratigraphic seismic sequences earlier interpreted from the seismic data acquired on the eastern margin of the south island of New Zealand offshore Canterbury Three synthetic seismograms were created from well U1351B U1353C and U1352B which both contain sets of sonic and density logs at variable length this is to provide a direct means of comparison between the sequence boundaries interpreted on seismic and the depth on cores recovered from holes transecting on the seismic profiles From the interpretation nineteen boundaries were identified U1-U19 these boundaries can be broadly divided into two large units From U19-U11 the upper units it s dominated by downlapped seismic termination pattern along the paleoshelve and truncation surfaces across the shelve edge around site U1351B a number of channel incisions were observed in this profile The lower units from U10-U5 consist of less truncation but more common onlap on paleoshelves it features more drift deposits with sigmoidal reflection pattern The nineteen seismic sequences boundaries correlate perfectly with sharp contacts between sandstone and mud shale on the core sections however few are gradational contact

Mudrock Microstructure: A Technique for Distinguishing between Deep-Water Fine-Grained Sediments

Distinguishing among deep-water sedimentary facies has been a difficult task. This is possibly due to the process continuum in deep water, in which sediments occur in complex associations. The lack of definite sedimentological features among the different facies between hemipelagites and contourites presented a great challenge. In this study, we present detailed mudrock characteristics of the three main deep-water facies based on sedimentological characteristics, laser diffraction granulometry, high-resolution, large area scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the synchrotron X-ray diffraction technique. Our results show that the deep-water microstructure is mainly process controlled, and that the controlling factor on their grain size is much more complex than previously envisaged. Retarding current velocity, as well as the lower carrying capacity of the current, has an impact on the mean size and sorting for the contourite and turbidite facies, whereas hemipelagite grain size is impacted by the natural heterogeneity of the system caused by bioturbation. Based on the microfabric analysis, there is a disparate pattern observed among the sedimentary facies; turbidites are generally bedding parallel due to strong currents resulting in shear flow, contourites are random to semi-random as they are impacted by a weak current, while hemipelagites are random to oblique since they are impacted by bioturbation

Comparing pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal outcomes in women with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy women: a prospective cohort study

The aim of this study was to compare pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal outcomes in women with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with healthy women. A prospective cohort study from the beginning to the end of pregnancy for 41 pregnant women with PCOS (case) and 49 healthy pregnant women (control) was completed. Based on the presence or absence of menstrual dysfunction (M), hyperandrogenism (HA), and polycystic ovaries (PCO) on ultrasound, the PCOS (case) group were divided into three phenotypes (HA + PCO (  = 22), M + PCO (  = 9), HA + M+PCO (  = 10). Pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and lower birth weight among newborns were significantly higher in the PCOS case group compared to the control group especially in the phenotype HA + M+PCO (  < .05). High BMI (  = 2.40; =.03) was the strongest predictor of pre-eclampsia in patients with PCOS. High androgen levels (free androgen index) (  = 13.71, 3.02;  < .05), was the strongest predictor of developing diabetes during pregnancy and reduced birth weight baby, respectively.These results suggest that PCOS, particularly in phenotype HA + M+PCO (  < .05), is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and reduced weight babies

Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems

Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change and biological invasions are radically altering biodiversity, with greater effects projected into the future. Evidence suggests human impacts may differ substantially between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the reasons for these differences are poorly understood. We propose an integrative approach to explain these differences by linking impacts to four fundamental processes that structure communities: dispersal, speciation, species-level selection and ecological drift. Our goal is to provide process-based insights into why human impacts, and responses to impacts, may differ across ecosystem types using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary comparative framework. To enable these insights, we review and synthesise (i) how the four processes influence diversity and dynamics in terrestrial versus freshwater communities, specifically whether the relative importance of each process differs among ecosystems, and (ii) the pathways by which human impacts can produce divergent responses across ecosystems, due to differences in the strength of processes among ecosystems we identify. Finally, we highlight research gaps and next steps, and discuss how this approach can provide new insights for conservation. By focusing on the processes that shape diversity in communities, we aim to mechanistically link human impacts to ongoing and future changes in ecosystems

Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change and biological invasions are radically altering biodiversity, with greater effects projected into the future. Evidence suggests human impacts may differ substantially between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the reasons for these differences are poorly understood. We propose an integrative approach to explain these differences by linking impacts to four fundamental processes that structure communities: dispersal, speciation, species-level selection and ecological drift. Our goal is to provide process-based insights into why human impacts, and responses to impacts, may differ across ecosystem types using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary comparative framework. To enable these insights, we review and synthesise (i) how the four processes influence diversity and dynamics in terrestrial versus freshwater communities, specifically whether the relative importance of each process differs among ecosystems, and (ii) the pathways by which human impacts can produce divergent responses across ecosystems, due to differences in the strength of processes among ecosystems we identify. Finally, we highlight research gaps and next steps, and discuss how this approach can provide new insights for conservation. By focusing on the processes that shape diversity in communities, we aim to mechanistically link human impacts to ongoing and future changes in ecosystems

HIV-1 remission following CCR5Δ32/Δ32 haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

HIV-1 cure remains elusive with only one reported case a decade ago. Termed the “Berlin Patient”, the individual underwent 2 allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT) procedures using a donor with a homozygous mutation in the HIV coreceptor CCR5 (CCR5Δ32/Δ32) to treat his acute myeloid leukemia. Total body irradiation was given with each HSCT. Critically, it is unclear which treatment or patient parameters contributed to this only documented case of long term HIV remission. Here we show that HIV-1 remission may be possible with a less aggressive and toxic approach. An HIV-1-infected adult underwent allo-HSCT for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma using cells from a CCR5Δ32/Δ32 donor. He experienced mild gut graft versus host disease. Antiretroviral therapy was interrupted 16 months after transplantation. HIV-1 remission has been maintained through a further 18 months. Plasma HIV-1 RNA has been undetectable at <1 copy/ml along with undetectable HIV-1 DNA in peripheral CD4 T lymphocytes. Quantitative viral outgrowth assay from peripheral CD4 T lymphocytes shows no reactivatable virus using a total of 24 million resting CD4 T cells. CCR5-tropic, but not CXCR4-tropic viruses were identified in HIV-1 DNA from CD4 T cells of the patient prior to transplant. CD4 T cells isolated from peripheral blood post-transplant did not express CCR5 and were only susceptible to CXCR4-tropic virus ex vivo. HIV-1 Gag-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell responses were lost after transplantation whilst Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific responses were detectable. Likewise, HIV-1-specific antibodies and avidities fell to levels comparable to those in the Berlin patient following transplantation. Although at 18 months post-treatment interruption it is premature to conclude that this patient has been cured, these data suggest that single allo-HSCT with homozygous CCR5Δ32 donor cells may be sufficient to achieve HIV-1 remission with reduced intensity conditioning and no irradiation, and the findings further support the development of HIV remission strategies based on preventing CCR5 expression.NIHR AmFA

Feasibility of polymer-drug conjugates for non-cancer applications

Polymer-drug conjugates have been intensely studied in the context of improving cancer chemotherapy and yet the only polymer-drug conjugate on the market (MovantikÒ) has a different therapeutic application (relieving opioid-induced constipation). In parallel, a number of studies have recently been published proposing the use of this approach for treating diseases other than cancer. In this commentary, we analyse the many and very diverse applications that have been proposed for polymer-drug conjugates (ranging from inflammation, to cardiovascular diseases) and the rationales underpinning them. We also highlight key design features to be considered when applying polymer-drug conjugates to these new therapeutic areas