Variation in rock quality between metamorphic domains in the lower levels of the Eastern Segment, Sveconorwegian Province

Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning: Variationer i bergkvalitet hos gnejser i Halland, sydvästra Sverige För att kunna förklara variationer i bergkvalitet hos hög metamorfa gnejser i Halland, sydvästra Sverige, har tolv gnejser från området undersökts både kvantitativt och kvalitativt. Tanken är att de kvalitativa resultaten, fält- och tunnslipsbeskrivningar, ska kunna användas som prospekteringsverktyg för aggregat till väg och järnväg. Med hjälp av de kvantitativa analyserna och -till viss del- de kvalitativa analyserna ska gnejsernas lämplighet som aggregat till väg och järnväg testas. Detta visar hur bra gnejserna är som ersättningsmaterial för naturliga grusavsättningar, som är en viktig resurs för det svenska samhället och bör bevaras. De tekniska analyserna (Los Angeles, kulkvarn och mikroDeval) visar hur motståndskraftiga bergarterna är mot fragmentering och nötning. Vattenabsorptionen visar indirekt frekvensen av absorberande sprickor och därmed hur sprött materialet är (ett sprött material har låg motståndskraft mot fragmentering och spricker upp lätt). Mikroanalyserna som gjorts involverar frekvens av sprickor, kornstorlek, kornstorleksfördelning, grad av foliation (orientering av mineral) och fördelningen av mörka mineral. De geokemiska analyserna analyserar mängden huvudämnen och spårämnen, vilket gör att man kan bestämma bergprovernas sammansättning och bergartstyp. Dessa kvantitativa parametrar, men även de kvalitativa (nämnda i föregående stycke), är viktiga att överväga när man ska bestämma kvalitén på bergmaterial. De gnejser med bäst tekniska egenskaperna är de som har deformerats och omvandlats under väldigt höga temperaturer (granulitfacies). Kännetecken hos dessa gnejser i fält är avsaknaden av: en distinkt lineation, metamorf bandning (segregation av ljusa och mörka mineral) och riklig ådring. Studerar man gnejserna i mikroskop finns det vissa texturer som korrelerar väl med högtemperaturomvandling t ex. låg halt av mineralet biotit och rödbrun biotit och brungrön hornblände. Även förekomsten av mineralet pyroxen och antipertitisk fältspat (kaliumrika fältspatavblandningar i natriumdominerad fältspat) indikerar granulitfacies metamorfos. Efter jämförelse av resultaten från de kvalitativa och kvantitativa analyserna med de tekniska analysresultaten står det klart att gnejs från Dagsås och Ljungby belägna i den västra delen av undersökningsområdet är lämpligast att använda som aggregat till väg och järnväg. Däremot gnejser som är minst lämpliga är de från Fridhemsberg och Töresjö belägna i den nordöstra delen. Abstract: Natural gravel deposits act as aquifers storing ground water but are a finite resource and an important asset to the Swedish community. In order to preserve these assets for the future substitute materials have to be located; crushed rock material (aggregates) is an alternative. Twelve gneiss samples from the Eastern Segment, southwestern Sweden, have been characterized and analyzed for suitability as road or railway aggregates. Petrographic characteristics including mineral content and meso- and micro-scale textures and structures, explain the rock quality variations in the high grade metamorphic gneiss area in Halland, Eastern Segment. Petrographic characteristics can be used as prospecting tools in the search for material suitable as aggregates. The suitability of the rock materials as aggregates for road or railway was tested by quantitative analyses including crack, mineral grain size and mineral grain size distribution, Foliation index (FIX), perimeter, geochemical and water absorption analyses, and technical properties (Los Angeles, studded tyre, microDeval test analyses). Low average grain size and high perimeter (total, amphibole+pyroxene, opaque minerals+garnet) show a good correlation with low Los Angeles (LA) values. Samples with high density tend to have a lower Los Angeles/studded tyre ratio. The frequency of fractures has a limited influence on the LA value. A high proportion of very fine or fine grained materials seem to contribute to a better LA value. The absence of a high grade metamorphic banding (segregation of light and dark minerals), the absence of a pronounced aggregate stretching lineation and the absence of leucosome veins indicate good technical values. The best technical properties are obtained from rocks that have been metamorphosed and deformed at very high temperature conditions (granulite facies). Textures, on a microscopic scale, that show a good correlation to granulite facies metamorphism include reddish brown biotite, low biotite content, brownish green hornblende, pyroxene, antiperthitic feldspars and the absence of titanite and tartan twinning in feldspars. In the present investigation samples from Dagsås and Ljungby, both located in the Varberg granulite gneiss domain, are the most suitable rock materials as aggregates for road and railway (bounded layers), while samples from Fridhemsberg and Töresjö, located in the Skene migmatite gneiss domain, are the least suitable. Samples from Knobesholm and Vräk are suitable as aggregates for bounded road layers.Natural gravel deposits act as aquifers storing ground water but are a finite resource and an important asset to the Swedish community. In order to preserve these assets for the future substitute materials have to be located; crushed rock material (aggregates) is an alternative. Twelve gneiss samples from the Eastern Segment, southwestern Swe-den, have been characterized and analyzed for suitability as road or railway aggregates. Petrographic characteristics including mineral content and meso- and micro-scale textures and structures, explain the rock quality variations in the high grade metamorphic gneiss area in Halland, Eastern Segment. Petrographic characteristics can be used as prospecting tools in the search for material suitable as aggregates. The suitability of the rock materials as aggregates for road or railway was tested by quantitative analyses including crack, mineral grain size and mineral grain size distribution, Foliation index (FIX), perimeter, geochemical and water absorption analyses, and technical properties (Los Angeles, studded tyre, microDeval test analyses). Low average grain size and high perimeter (total, amphibole+pyroxene, opaque minerals+garnet) show a good cor-relation with low Los Angeles (LA) values. Samples with high density tend to have a lower Los Angeles/studded tyre ratio. The frequency of fractures has a limited influence on the LA value. A high proportion of very fine or fine grained materials seem to contribute to a better LA value. The absence of a high grade metamorphic banding (segregation of light and dark minerals), the absence of a prono-unced aggregate stretching lineation and the absence of leucosome veins indicate good technical values. The best technical properties are obtained from rocks that have been metamorphosed and deformed at very high temperature conditions (granulite facies). Textures, on a microscopic scale, that show a good correlation to granulite facies me-tamorphism include reddish brown biotite, low biotite content, brownish green hornblende, pyroxene, antiperthitic feldspars and the absence of titanite and tartan twinning in feldspars. In the present investigation samples from Dagsås and Ljungby, both located in the Varberg granulite gneiss doma-in, are the most suitable rock materials as aggregates for road and railway (bounded layers), while samples from Fridhemsberg and Töresjö, located in the Skene migmatite gneiss domain, are the least suitable. Samples from Kno-besholm and Vräk are suitable as aggregates for bounded road layers.Naturliga grusavsättningar är ändliga resurser och verkar som akviferer för grundvatten vilket gör dem viktiga för det svenska samhället. För att kunna bevara dessa värdefulla tillgångar måste ett ersättningsmaterial hittas; krossten (aggregat) är ett bra alternativ. I föreliggande undersökningar har tolv bergartsprov av gnejs från det Östra Segmen-tet i sydvästra Sverige analyserats för att se hur lämpliga de är att använda som material till väg eller järnväg. Syftet med de petrografiska beskrivningarna, vilka innefattar mineralinnehåll samt texturer och strukturer i fält och i tunnslip, var att kunna förklara variationer i bergkvalité i de högmetamorfa gnejserna i Halland. Petrografin kan användas som ett prospekteringsverktyg för att hitta passande bergmaterial till väg och järnväg. Genom att jämföra kvantitativa analyser (sprick-, mineral kornstorlek och mineral kornstorleksfördelnings-, Foliations index (FIX), perimeter-, geokemisk- och vattenabsorptionsanalys) med de tekniska egenskaperna (Los Angeles-, kulkvarn- och mikroDevaltester) för gnejserna kunde deras lämplighet bestämmas. Hög omkrets och lågt kornstorleksmedelvärde korrelerar med låga Los Angelesvärden. Prover med hög densitet tenderar att ha lägre Los Angeles/kulkvarns-förhållande. LA-värdet påverkas till en viss grad av mängden sprickor. En hög andel av väldigt fint eller fint material i proven verkar bidra till ett bättre LA-värde. Få eller inga ådror, avsaknad av höggradig metamorf bandning (segregation av ljusa och mörka mineral) och avsak-nad av aggregatlineation är karaktäristiska strukturer som resulterar i bra tekniska värden. De bästa tekniska egen-skaperna erhölls av bergarter som deformerats och metamorfoserats under mycket höga temperaturer (granulitfacies). Microtexturer som visar en bra correlation till högtemperatur metamorfos är: rödbrun biotit, låg biotithalt, brungrönt hornblende, pyroxen, antipertitisk fältspat, samt avsaknad av titanit och avsaknad av mikroklin tvillingar i fältspat. Gnejs från Dagsås och Ljungby, båda från Varbergs granulit- och gnejsdomän, är de två bergarter av de undersökta bergmaterialen som bäst uppfyller kraven för bergmaterial till bundna väg– och järnvägslager, medan gnejs från Fridhemsberg och Töresjö, båda från Skenes migmatitgnejsdomän är de minst lämpliga. Gnejs från Knobesholm och Vräk är lämpliga som aggregat till bundna väglager

Producing Feedstock for Biofuels: Land-Use and Local Environmental Impacts

This report covers Chalmers responsibilities for subtask 1.3 - land-use patterns as well as parts of subtask 3.4 – data for other environmental impacts, in the EU Biofuel Baseline projec

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Serologic Responses to Pneumocystis jiroveci

Seroepidemiologic studies of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in humans have been limited by inadequate reagents. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using three overlapping recombinant fragments of the human Pneumocystis major surface glycoprotein (MsgA, MsgB, and MsgC) for analysis of antibody responses in HIV-positive patients and healthy blood donors. HIV-positive patients had significantly higher antibody levels to all Msg fragments. Furthermore, HIV-positive patients who experienced a previous episode of PCP (PCP-positive) had higher level of antibodies to MsgC than patients who never had PCP. A significant association was found between ELISA antibody level and reactivity by Western blot in HIV-positive patients, especially those who were PCP-positive. Thus, this ELISA will be useful in studying serum antibody responses to Pneumocystis in different human populations

Phthalates in Indoor Dust and Their Association with Building Characteristics

In a recent study of 198 Swedish children with persistent allergic symptoms and 202 controls without such symptoms, we reported associations between the symptoms and the concentrations of n-butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in dust taken from the childrens’ bedrooms. In the present study we examined associations between the concentrations of different phthalate esters in the dust from these bedrooms and various characteristics of the home. The study focused on BBzP and DEHP because these were the phthalates associated with health complaints. Associations have been examined using parametric and nonparametric tests as well as multiple logistic regression. For both BBzP and DEHP, we found associations between their dust concentrations and the amount of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used as flooring and wall material in the home. Furthermore, high concentrations of BBzP (above median) were associated with self-reported water leakage in the home, and high concentrations of DEHP were associated with buildings constructed before 1960. Other associations, as well as absence of associations, are reported. Both BBzP and DEHP were found in buildings with neither PVC flooring nor wall covering, consistent with the numerous additional plasticized materials that are anticipated to be present in a typical home. The building characteristics examined in this study cannot serve as complete proxies for these quite varied sources. However, the associations reported here can help identify homes where phthalate concentrations are likely to be elevated and can aid in developing mitigation strategies

The Association between Asthma and Allergic Symptoms in Children and Phthalates in House Dust: A Nested Case–Control Study

Global phthalate ester production has increased from very low levels at the end of World War II to approximately 3.5 million metric tons/year. The aim of the present study was to investigate potential associations between persistent allergic symptoms in children, which have increased markedly in developed countries over the past three decades, and the concentration of phthalates in dust collected from their homes. This investigation is a case–control study nested within a cohort of 10,852 children. From the cohort, we selected 198 cases with persistent allergic symptoms and 202 controls without allergic symptoms. A clinical and a technical team investigated each child and her or his environment. We found higher median concentrations of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP) in dust among cases than among controls (0.15 vs. 0.12 mg/g dust). Analyzing the case group by symptoms showed that BBzP was associated with rhinitis (p = 0.001) and eczema (p = 0.001), whereas di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was associated with asthma (p = 0.022). Furthermore, dose–response relationships for these associations are supported by trend analyses. This study shows that phthalates, within the range of what is normally found in indoor environments, are associated with allergic symptoms in children. We believe that the different associations of symptoms for the three major phthalates—BBzP, DEHP, and di-n-butyl phthalate—can be explained by a combination of chemical physical properties and toxicologic potential. Given the phthalate exposures of children worldwide, the results from this study of Swedish children have global implications

A CANDELS - 3D-HST Synergy: Resolved Star Formation Patterns at 0.7 < z < 1.5

We analyze the resolved stellar populations of 473 massive star-forming galaxies at 0.7 < z < 1.5, with multi-wavelength broad-band imaging from CANDELS and Halpha surface brightness profiles at the same kiloparsec resolution from 3D-HST. Together, this unique data set sheds light on how the assembled stellar mass is distributed within galaxies, and where new stars are being formed. We find the Halpha morphologies to resemble more closely those observed in the ACS I band than in the WFC3 H band, especially for the larger systems. We next derive a novel prescription for Halpha dust corrections, which accounts for extra extinction towards HII regions. The prescription leads to consistent SFR estimates and reproduces the observed relation between the Halpha/UV luminosity ratio and visual extinction, both on a pixel-by-pixel and on a galaxy-integrated level. We find the surface density of star formation to correlate with the surface density of assembled stellar mass for spatially resolved regions within galaxies, akin to the so-called 'main sequence of star formation' established on a galaxy-integrated level. Deviations from this relation towards lower equivalent widths are found in the inner regions of galaxies. Clumps and spiral features, on the other hand, are associated with enhanced Halpha equivalent widths, bluer colors, and higher specific star formation rates compared to the underlying disk. Their Halpha/UV luminosity ratio is lower than that of the underlying disk, suggesting the ACS clump selection preferentially picks up those regions of elevated star formation activity that are the least obscured by dust. Our analysis emphasizes that monochromatic studies of galaxy structure can be severely limited by mass-to-light ratio variations due to dust and spatially inhomogeneous star formation histories.Comment: Accepted by The Astrophysical Journal, 18 pages, 1 table, 10 figure

Integrating multiple dimensions of ecological stability into a vulnerability framework

Ecological stability encompasses multiple dimensions of functional and compositional responses to environmental change. Though no single stability dimension used in isolation can fully reflect the overall response to environmental change, a common vulnerability assessment that integrates simultaneously across multiple stability components is highly desirable for ecological risk assessment. We develop both functional and compositional counterparts of a novel, integrative metric of overall ecological vulnerability (OEV). We test the framework with data from a modularized experiment replicated in five lakes over two seasons, examining functional and compositional responses to both pulse and press disturbances across three trophic groups. OEV is measured as the area under the curve integrated over the entire observation period, with the curve delimiting the difference between the disturbance treatment and undisturbed parallel controls, expressed either as the log response ratio of biomass (functional OEV) or community dissimilarity index (compositional OEV). Both, functional and compositional OEV correlated negatively with functional and compositional 'resistance', 'temporal stability' and 'final/extent of recovery' following both pulse and press disturbances, though less so with 'resilience' following a pulse disturbance. We also found a positive correlation between functional and compositional OEV, which reveals the potential to also evaluate the intricate linkage between biodiversity and functional change. Our findings demonstrate that OEV comprises a robust framework to: (a) capture simultaneously multiple functional and compositional stability components, and (b) quantify the functional consequences of biodiversity change. Our results provide the basis for an overarching framework for quantifying the overall vulnerability of ecosystems to environmental change, opening new possibilities for ecological risk assessment and management. Synthesis. Ecological stability comprises multiple dimensions that together encapsulate how ecosystems respond to environmental change. Considering these multiple aspects of stability simultaneously often poses a problem in environmental assessments, which frequently require overarching indicators of risk or vulnerability. While an analysis of multiple dimensions allows for deeper exploration of mechanisms, here we develop and test a new univariate indicator that integrates stability aspects under a broad range of disturbance regimes. Using a modularized experiment in Swedish lakes, we show that this integrative measure captures multiple stability dimensions reflecting compositional and functional vulnerability and their relationships between them

Interleukin-17A Mediates Acquired Immunity to Pneumococcal Colonization

Although anticapsular antibodies confer serotype-specific immunity to pneumococci, children increase their ability to clear colonization before these antibodies appear, suggesting involvement of other mechanisms. We previously reported that intranasal immunization of mice with pneumococci confers CD4+ T cell–dependent, antibody- and serotype-independent protection against colonization. Here we show that this immunity, rather than preventing initiation of carriage, accelerates clearance over several days, accompanied by neutrophilic infiltration of the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Adoptive transfer of immune CD4+ T cells was sufficient to confer immunity to naïve RAG1−/− mice. A critical role of interleukin (IL)-17A was demonstrated: mice lacking interferon-γ or IL-4 were protected, but not mice lacking IL-17A receptor or mice with neutrophil depletion. In vitro expression of IL-17A in response to pneumococci was assayed: lymphoid tissue from vaccinated mice expressed significantly more IL-17A than controls, and IL-17A expression from peripheral blood samples from immunized mice predicted protection in vivo. IL-17A was elicited by pneumococcal stimulation of tonsillar cells of children or adult blood but not cord blood. IL-17A increased pneumococcal killing by human neutrophils both in the absence and in the presence of antibodies and complement. We conclude that IL-17A mediates pneumococcal immunity in mice and probably in humans; its elicitation in vitro could help in the development of candidate pneumococcal vaccines

A mixed methods study to explore women and clinician׳s response to pain associated with suturing second degree perineal tears and episiotomies [PRAISE]

Background: perineal suturing is a common event which affects women across a variety of international settings. Women have expressed pain related to perineal trauma in the postnatal period but little is known about pain during suturing. In addition, there is a lack of evidence to identify how professional decisions are made about pain management during the suturing process. Objective: to explore women and clinician׳s response to pain during the suturing of second degree tears and episiotomies. Design: mixed method feasibility study which included observation, questionnaires and interviews. Setting: a Hospital Trust in Northwest England. Participants: 40 women and 21 clinicians participated. Measurements and findings: mild, moderate and severe pain was measured via the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form (MCPQ-SF). Psychological distress was identified via the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Semi-structured face to face interviews identified three themes, Psychological distress and future functioning; Variation in practice and Style of communication. Key conclusions: women who experienced psychological distress during previous or current childbirth scored higher on HADS and MCPQ-SF, and appeared to express more concerns about future functioning and healing. Variation in practice exists and style of communication had the potential to make the difference for women. Implications for practice and research: the process of suturing is complex and is not a standalone event for a woman. It is crucial that health professionals consider previous and subsequent experience of perineal suturing. Future research aims to develop a decision tree to support pain management during suturing

A CANDELS-3d-HST Synergy: Resolved Star Formation Patterns at 0.7 less than z less than 1.5

We analyze the resolved stellar populations of 473 massive star-forming galaxies at 0.7 < z < 1.5, with multiwavelength broadband imaging from CANDELS andHalpha surface brightness profiles at the same kiloparsec resolution from 3D-HST. Together, this unique data set sheds light on how the assembled stellar mass is distributed within galaxies, and where new stars are being formed. We find the Halpha morphologies to resemble more closely those observed in the ACS I band than in the WFC3 H band, especially for the larger systems. We next derive a novel prescription for Halpha dust corrections, which accounts for extra extinction toward H II regions. The prescription leads to consistent star formation rate (SFR) estimates and reproduces the observed relation between the Halpha/UV luminosity ratio and visual extinction, on both a pixel-by-pixel and a galaxy-integrated level. We find the surface density of star formation to correlate with the surface density of assembled stellar mass for spatially resolved regions within galaxies, akin to the so-called "main sequence of star formation" established on a galaxy-integrated level. Deviations from this relation toward lower equivalent widths are found in the inner regions of galaxies. Clumps and spiral features, on the other hand, are associated with enhanced H alpha equivalent widths, bluer colors, and higher specific SFRs compared to the underlying disk. Their Halpha/UV luminosity ratio is lower than that of the underlying disk, suggesting that the ACS clump selection preferentially picks up those regions of elevated star formation activity that are the least obscured by dust. Our analysis emphasizes that monochromatic studies of galaxy structure can be severely limited by mass-to-light ratio variations due to dust and spatially inhomogeneous star formation histories