Contributions and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples to the study of mercury in the Arctic

Arctic Indigenous Peoples are among the most exposed humans when it comes to foodborne mercury (Hg). In response, Hg monitoring and research have been on-going in the circumpolar Arctic since about 1991; this work has been mainly possible through the involvement of Arctic Indigenous Peoples. The present overview was initially conducted in the context of a broader assessment of Hg research organized by the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. This article provides examples of Indigenous Peoples' contributions to Hg monitoring and research in the Arctic, and discusses approaches that could be used, and improved upon, when carrying out future activities. Over 40 mercury projects conducted with/by Indigenous Peoples are identified for different circumpolar regions including the U.S., Canada, Greenland, Sweden, Finland, and Russia as well as instances where Indigenous Knowledge contributed to the understanding of Hg contamination in the Arctic. Perspectives and visions of future Hg research as well as recommendations are presented. The establishment of collaborative processes and partnership/co-production approaches with scientists and Indigenous Peoples, using good communication practices and transparency in research activities, are key to the success of research and monitoring activities in the Arctic. Sustainable funding for community-driven monitoring and research programs in Arctic countries would be beneficial and assist in developing more research/ monitoring capacity and would promote a more holistic approach to understanding Hg in the Arctic. These activities should be well connected to circumpolar/international initiatives to ensure broader availability of the information and uptake in policy development

NK-cell and T-cell functions in patients with breast cancer: effects of surgery and adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy

Breast cancer is globally the most common malignancy in women. Her2-targeted monoclonal antibodies are established treatment modalities, and vaccines are in late-stage clinical testing in patients with breast cancer and known to promote tumour-killing through mechanisms like antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. It is therefore increasingly important to study immunological consequences of conventional treatment strategies. In this study, functional tests and four-colour flow cytometry were used to detect natural killer (NK)-cell functions and receptors as well as T-cell signal transduction molecules and intracellular cytokines in preoperative breast cancer patients, and patients who had received adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant combined chemo-radiotherapy as well as in age-matched healthy controls. The absolute number of NK cells, the density of NK receptors as well as in vitro quantitation of functional NK cytotoxicity were significantly higher in preoperative patients than the post-treatments group and controls. A similar pattern was seen with regard to T-cell signalling molecules, and preoperative patients produced significantly higher amounts of cytokines in NK and T cells compared to other groups. The results indicate that functions of NK and T cells are well preserved before surgery but decrease following adjuvant therapy, which may speak in favour of early rather than late use of immunotherapeutic agents such as trastuzumab that may depend on intact immune effector functions

The level of copper, zinc and certain free amino acids in the plasma of patients with acute appendicitis

Many forms of inflammatory conditions are associated with alterations in physiology, metabolism and concentrations of trace elements such as copper, magnesium, zinc and calcium and of amino acid patterns and C-Reactive protein levels in plasma (1). Decreased levels of zinc and a reciprocal increase of copper in plasma has been seen in many human diseases (2). Nothing concrete is documented concerning these changes in acute appendicitis. The present study was performed to investigate the possible changes in the levels of trace elements such as copper, zinc, magnesium and calcium and electrophoretic patterns, C-Reactive protein and amino acid patterns in plasma in patients admitted for suspected acute appendicitis. The effect of surgical trauma on copper and zinc levels was also investigated

The value of physiotherapy for faecal continence after correction of high anal atresia. A clinical and electromyographic study

A follow-up study of 12 patients who had undergone Stephens rectoplasty for high imperforate anus is presented. Clinical assessment and anal electromyography were performed more than 7 years after surgery, both before and after a year's physiotherapeutic training of the perianal musculature. Electromyography showed correlation between faecal continence and tonus of the anal sphincter, the anocutaneous reflex and maximal voluntary activity in the perianal muscles. After the physiotherapeutic training there was significant improvement of faecal continence. This effect was electromyographically corroborated. The results confirmed clinical observations that postoperative physiotherapy and training of the voluntary muscles in the perianal region is of value for the achievement of faecal continence

Extreme Temperature Tolerance of a Hyperthermophilic Protein Coupled to Residual Structure in the Unfolded State

International audienc

Norway: Religion in the Prison System

This chapter provides a basic overview of the regulation of religion in the Norwegian prison system. After a brief introduction, the chapter maps the role of religion in Norwegian correctional facilities from a historical perspective and examines the changing demography of the prisoner population. In the main section of the chapter, the legal and institutional framework for the management of religion in Norwegian correctional facilities is examined in some detail, with an emphasis on how the regulation of religion during imprisonment interacts with other regulations of religion in Norway, what specific international and domestic provisions regulate religion during incarceration, the role of clergy and other religious leaders, and the management of religion as an operational issue for prison staff, including the growing concern with prisons as hotbeds of radical and violent extremism

DNA methylation: A transcriptional mechanism co-opted by the developed mammalian brain?

Forming and maintaining behavioral memories is a complex process that involves, among other requirements, transcriptional regulation and systems communication. Here we review recent studies exploring the role of DNA methylation in these critical processes. Further, we suggest that, perhaps, the adult brain controls and utilizes the mechanism of DNA methylation in non-traditional ways that are waiting to be explored

Accuracy and precision of the RABBIT technique

One of the most ubiquitous techniques within attosecond science is the so-called reconstruction of attosecond beating by interference of two-photon transitions (RABBIT). Originally proposed for the characterization of attosecond pulses, it has been successfully applied to the accurate determination of time delays in photoemission. Here, we examine in detail, using numerical simulations, the effect of the spatial and temporal properties of the light fields and of the experimental procedure on the accuracy of the method. This allows us to identify the necessary conditions to achieve the best temporal precision in RABBIT measurements. This article is part of the theme issue 'Measurement of ultrafast electronic and structural dynamics with X-rays'