Origin and age of carbonate clasts from the Lusi eruption, Java, Indonesia

Deep stratigraphic constrains below the Indonesian Lusi mud eruption are currently lacking due to the absence of deep wells and good quality seismic data. A collection of carbonate clasts has been sampled from the Lusi site, active since its birth in 2006. These specimens are part of a large variety of lithotypes erupted from the main crater. The carbonates analysed comprise scleractinian coral and bivalve shell fragments, probably shallow-water in origin, and clasts consisting of planktonic foraminifera- bearing mudstone, from pelagic deposits. Selected rocks were analysed using planktonic foraminifera and 87Sr/86Sr dating with the aim to constrain their age and to improve the understanding of the, so far unknown, sequence of limestone deposits inferred at this site. Based on biostratigraphy using planktonic foraminifera, one group of samples reveal to belong to the Planktonic Foraminifera Zone M5b, with an age comprised between 16.29 and 15.10 Ma (Miocene, Latest Burdighalian to Langhian). The Sr isotope-based ages of clasts analysed for 87Sr/86Sr cover a larger time window spanning from Pliocene (Zanclean and Piacenzian), Miocene (Messinian) down to Eocene (Priabonian). The Pliocene and Messinian ages are unreasonably young from what is known of the local geology and one sample provided an 87Sr/86Sr age that is ∼8 My younger compared to that obtained from the planktonic foraminifera assemblage occurring in that sample. The discrepancy suggests that this and the other unduly young samples have possibly been contaminated by geological materials with radiogenic Sr isotope composition. The minimum age of 37.18 Ma obtained by 87Sr/86Sr from a well-preserved oyster shell indicates that some of the clasts can be attributed to the deep seated Ngimbang Formation. The dating has been combined with the interpretation of seismic profiles to investigate the stratigraphy of inferred carbonates below Lusi and the PRG-1 well located some kilometres to the north east. PRG-1 borehole data are also integrated and discussed in this study. The obtained results reveal multiple implications: a) the Tuban and Kujung Formations are overlapping at Lusi site; b) the Lusi feeder conduit brecciated and mobilized to the surface carbonate lithologies buried as deep as possibly ∼3.8 km as well as even older and deeper seated lithotypes from the Ngimbang Formation; c) since the deeper carbonate samples erupted in 2006 belong to the typically not overpressured Kujung Formation, an additional overpressure generated from deeper units (Ngimbang Formation) would be required to force these fragments to surface

Employment rate and predictors of return to work in European cancer survivors: a systematic review.

Cancer incidence and survival are both increasing. Over 1/3 of cancer survivors (CSs) are in their working age1. CSs experience pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and mood disorders that may adversely affect social functioning2. Systematic reviews show a 64% employment rate for CSs, with high variability in different contexts (range 24% 94%)3. We reviewed the recent literature on the employment rate of CSs in Europe, investigating the factors influencing their return to work (RTW

Factors influencing return to work of cancer survivors: a population-based study in Italy

Little is known about return to work (RTW) of cancer survivors (CSs) in Central and Southern Europe. This study investigates the RTW rate of Italian CSs, describes their sick leave (SL) pattern, and explores factors affecting their RTW process. Methods A population-based cross-sectional survey involving CSs registered at the Cancer Registry of Reggio Emilia Province (Italy) was launched in July 2016. Eligibility was restricted to individuals with first diagnosis of cancer in 2012 (stages I–III), aged 20–59, and employed at the time of diagnosis. Results Of the 266 individuals interviewed, 140 (52.6%) were reintegrated without difficulty, 113 (42.5%) returned to work with some difficulty, and 13 did not RTW (4.9%). The majority of CSs (56%) took SL for some periods during treatment. Age > 50 years and higher income seemed to facilitate RTW (RR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.49–0.88 and RR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.54–0.97, respectively), while being divorced acted as a barrier compared to being married (RR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.04–2.01). Individuals uncertain about the type of company they were working for reported greater difficulty in RTW (RR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.03–2.72). Individuals who had undergone chemotherapy and those perceiving physical limitations had a higher risk of difficulty in the RTW process (RR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.42–2.24 and RR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.25–2.02, respectively). Conclusions Most CSs did RTW, with 2/3 combining work and treatment. However, almost half reported difficulty in RTW process. Factors affecting this process should be addressed throughout context-specific social and healthcare pathways aimed at preventing difficulties and potential job loss in this population

Human chitotriosidase helps <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> in the <i>Anopheles</i> midgut

High levels of plasma chitotriosidase (Chit) represents a marker of macrophage activation in human malaria infection. Plasmodium falciparum during its maturation cycle in the Anopheles midgut produces an analogue of Chit for the digestion of peritrophic matrix (PM). Our results confirm the hypothesis that Chit contained in blood of malaria patients could help P. falciparum to complete its cycle in the Anopheles midgut and to produce a bigger number of oocysts/sporozoites. This could balance the different genetic protection in humans conferred by the heterozygous Hb beta (S) gene, which seems to be associated with an increasing effect on P. falciparum transmission from humans to mosquitoes

The Potential Role of Peripheral Oxidative Stress on the Neurovascular Unit in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathogenesis: A Preliminary Report from Human and In Vitro Evaluations

Oxidative stress, the alteration of mitochondrial function, and changes in the neurovascular unit (NVU) could play a role in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. Our aim was to analyze the plasma redox system and nitric oxide (NO) in 25 ALS new-diagnosed patients and five healthy controls and the effects of plasma on the peroxidation/mitochondrial function in human umbilical cord-derived endothelial vascular cells (HUVEC) and astrocytes. In plasma, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) were analyzed by using specific assays. In HUVEC/astrocytes, the effects of plasma on the release of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) and NO, viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated. In the plasma of ALS patients, an increase in TBARS and a reduction in GSH and NO were found. In HUVEC/astrocytes treated with a plasma of ALS patients, mitoROS increased, whereas cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential decreased. Our results show that oxidative stress and NVU play a central role in ALS and suggest that unknown plasma factors could be involved in the disease pathogenesis. Quantifiable changes in ALS plasma related to redox state alterations can possibly be used for early diagnosis

Grotta Romanelli (Southern Italy, Apulia): legacies and issues in excavating a key site for the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean

Grotta Romanelli, located on the adriatic coast of southern apulia (Italy), is considered a key site for the Mediterranean Pleistocene for its archaeological and palaeontological contents. The research team had to deal with the consequences of more than 40 years of inactivity in the eld and the combined effect of erosion and legal, as well as illegal, excavations. In this paper, we provide a database of all the information published during the rst 70 years of excavations and highlight the outstanding problems and contradictions between the chronological and geomorphological evidence, the features of the faunal assemblages and the limestone artefacts