Crop ontology in support of conservation and use of banana genetic resources

Poster presented at Workshop on Crop Ontology and Phenotyping Data Interoperability. Montpellier (France), 31 Mar-4 Apr 201

High-pressure x-ray diffraction study of bulk and nanocrystalline PbMoO4

We studied the effects of high-pressure on the crystalline structure of bulk and nanocrystalline scheelite-type PbMoO4. We found that in both cases the compressibility of the materials is highly non-isotropic, being the c-axis the most compressible one. We also observed that the volume compressibility of nanocrystals becomes higher that the bulk one at 5 GPa. In addition, at 10.7(8) GPa we observed the onset of an structural phase transition in bulk PbMoO4. The high-pressure phase has a monoclinic structure similar to M-fergusonite. The transition is reversible and not volume change is detected between the low- and high-pressure phases. No additional structural changes or evidence of decomposition are found up to 21.1 GPa. In contrast nanocrystalline PbMoO4 remains in the scheelite structure at least up to 16.1 GPa. Finally, the equation of state for bulk and nanocrystalline PbMoO4 are also determined.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

Data-constrained assessment of ocean circulation changes since the middle Miocene in an Earth system model

Since the middle Miocene (15 Ma, million years ago), the Earth's climate has undergone a long-term cooling trend, characterised by a reduction in ocean temperatures of up to 7–8 ∘C. The causes of this cooling are primarily thought to be due to tectonic plate movements driving changes in large-scale ocean circulation patterns, and hence heat redistribution, in conjunction with a drop in atmospheric greenhouse gas forcing (and attendant ice-sheet growth and feedback). In this study, we assess the potential to constrain the evolving patterns of global ocean circulation and cooling over the last 15 Ma by assimilating a variety of marine sediment proxy data in an Earth system model. We do this by first compiling surface and benthic ocean temperature and benthic carbon-13 (δ13C) data in a series of seven time slices spaced at approximately 2.5 Myr intervals. We then pair this with a corresponding series of tectonic and climate boundary condition reconstructions in the cGENIE (“muffin” release) Earth system model, including alternative possibilities for an open vs. closed Central American Seaway (CAS) from 10 Ma onwards. In the cGENIE model, we explore uncertainty in greenhouse gas forcing and the magnitude of North Pacific to North Atlantic salinity flux adjustment required in the model to create an Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) of a specific strength, via a series of 12 (one for each tectonic reconstruction) 2D parameter ensembles. Each ensemble member is then tested against the observed global temperature and benthic δ13C patterns. We identify that a relatively high CO2 equivalent forcing of 1120 ppm is required at 15 Ma in cGENIE to reproduce proxy temperature estimates in the model, noting that this CO2 forcing is dependent on the cGENIE model's climate sensitivity and that it incorporates the effects of all greenhouse gases. We find that reproducing the observed long-term cooling trend requires a progressively declining greenhouse gas forcing in the model. In parallel to this, the strength of the AMOC increases with time despite a reduction in the salinity of the surface North Atlantic over the cooling period, attributable to falling intensity of the hydrological cycle and to lowering polar temperatures, both caused by CO2-driven global cooling. We also find that a closed CAS from 10 Ma to present shows better agreement between benthic δ13C patterns and our particular series of model configurations and data. A final outcome of our analysis is a pronounced ca. 1.5 ‰ decline occurring in atmospheric (and ca. 1 ‰ ocean surface) δ13C that could be used to inform future δ13C-based proxy reconstructions.</p

Warm Needle Acupuncture vs. Needle Acupuncture for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Pilot Study Protocol

Acupuncture has been shown to have clinically relevant benefits for chronic pain. However, interpretation of the results and whether they are due to the placebo effect remains contested. As a complex physical intervention acupuncture presents particular problems in clinical research that seeks to identify a specific effect. The existing evidence mosaic can be enhanced by randomised controlled trials that investigate the specific efficacy of different components of acupuncture. This study investigates the specific efficacy of the conducted heat in warm needle acupuncture. Methods: The study is a randomised, controlled, parallel-group 2-armed clinicaltrial. Itis designed so that the outcome administrator, participants and primary acupuncturist will be blinded to group allocation. Analysis: The primary outcome measures WOMACJ NRS 3.1 score and SF 36 are both considered interval variables and provided the distribution of changes is normally distributed the change in score will be analysed using t-test. The information obtained from interviews with participants will be thematically analysed. Discussion: Compromises from acupuncture in practice have been made in order to devise procedures that can investigate the specific efficacy of the conducted heat of warm needle acupuncture. The way in which these compromises may impact on interpretation of the results is discusse

Clearance of inflammatory cytokines in patients with septic acute kidney injury during renal replacement therapy using the EMiC2 filter (Clic-AKI study)

BACKGROUND: The EMiC2 membrane is a medium cut-off haemofilter (45 kiloDalton). Little is known regarding its efficacy in eliminating medium-sized cytokines in sepsis. This study aimed to explore the effects of continuous veno-venous haemodialysis (CVVHD) using the EMiC2 filter on cytokine clearance. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study conducted in critically ill patients with sepsis and acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy. We measured concentrations of 12 cytokines [Interleukin (IL) IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, epidermal growth factor (EGF)] in plasma at baseline (T0) and pre- and post-dialyzer at 1, 6, 24, and 48 h after CVVHD initiation and in the effluent fluid at corresponding time points. Outcomes were the effluent and adsorptive clearance rates, mass balances, and changes in serial serum concentrations. RESULTS: Twelve patients were included in the final analysis. All cytokines except EGF concentrations declined over 48 h (p < 0.001). The effluent clearance rates were variable and ranged from negligible values for IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, and EGF, to 19.0 ml/min for TNF-α. Negative or minimal adsorption was observed. The effluent and adsorptive clearance rates remained steady over time. The percentage of cytokine removal was low for most cytokines throughout the 48-h period. CONCLUSION: EMiC2-CVVHD achieved modest removal of most cytokines and demonstrated small to no adsorptive capacity despite a decline in plasma cytokine concentrations. This suggests that changes in plasma cytokine concentrations may not be solely influenced by extracorporeal removal. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03231748, registered on 27th July 2017

Using community development to build critical health literacy

Critical health literacy is a domain of health literacy that has been presented as existing at both individual and community level with a potential to contribute to improved health outcomes and reduced inequalities. However, it remains the least well explored and researched domain of health literacy and there are few examples of initiatives designed specifically to build critical health literacy. This study explores how community development processes can be used to develop the key attributes of critical health literacy

Temperature dependency of metabolic rates in the upper ocean: A positive feedback to global climate change?

The temperature of seawater can affect marine plankton in various ways, including by affecting rates of metabolic processes. This can change the way carbon and nutrients are fixed and recycled and hence the chemical and biological profile of the water column. A variety of feedbacks on global climate are possible, especially by altering patterns of uptake and return of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Here we summarize and synthesize recent studies in the field of ecology, oceanography and ocean carbon cycling pertaining to possible feedbacks involving metabolic processes. By altering the rates of cellular growth and respiration, temperature-dependency may affect nutrient uptake and food demand in plankton and ultimately the equilibrium of pelagic food webs, with cascade effects on the flux of organic carbon between the upper and inner ocean (the “biological carbon pump”) and the global carbon cycle. Insights from modern ecology can be applied to investigate how temperature-dependent changes in ocean biogeochemical cycling over thousands to millions of years may have shaped the long-term evolution of Earth's climate and life. Investigating temperature-dependency over geological time scales, including through globally warm and cold climate states, can help to identify processes that are relevant for a variety of future scenarios

Calibration of key temperature-dependent ocean microbial processes in the cGENIE.muffin Earth system model

Temperature is a master parameter in the marine carbon cycle, exerting a critical control on the rate of biological transformation of a variety of solid and dissolved reactants and substrates. Although in the construction of numerical models of marine carbon cycling, temperature has been long-recognised as a key parameter in the production and export of organic matter at the ocean surface, it is much less commonly taken into account in the ocean interior. There, bacteria (primarily) transform sinking particulate organic matter into its dissolved constituents and thereby consume dissolved oxygen (and/or other electron acceptors such as sulphate) and release nutrients, which are then available for transport back to the surface. Here we present and calibrate a more complete temperature-dependent representation of marine carbon cycling in the cGENIE.muffin Earth system model, intended for both past and future climate applications. In this, we combine a temperature-dependent remineralisation scheme for sinking organic matter with a biological export production scheme that also includes a temperature-dependent limitation on nutrient uptake in surface waters (and hence phytoplankton growth). Via a parameter ensemble, we jointly calibrate the two parameterisations by statistically contrasting model projected fields of nutrients, oxygen, and the stable carbon isotopic signature (δ13C) of dissolved inorganic carbon in the ocean, with modern observations. We find that for the present-day, the temperature-dependent version shows as-good-as or better fit to data than the existing tuned non-temperature dependent version of the cGENIE.muffin. The main impact of adding temperature-dependent remineralisation is in driving higher rates of remineralisation in warmer waters and hence a more rapid return of nutrients to the surface there – stimulating organic matter production. As a result, more organic matter is exported below 80 m in mid and low latitude warmer waters as compared to the standard model. Conversely, at higher latitudes, colder water temperature reduces the rate of nutrient supply to the surface as a result of slower in-situ rates of remineralisation. We also assess the implications of including a more complete set of temperature-dependent parameterisations by analysing a series of historical transient experiments. We find that between the pre-industrial and the present day, in response to a simulated air temperature increase of 0.9 °C and ocean warming of 0.12 °C (0.6 °C in surface waters and 0.02 °C in deep waters), a reduction in POC export at 80 m of just 0.3 % occurs. In contrast, with no assumed temperature-dependent biological processes, global POC export at 80 m falls by 2.9 % between the pre-industrial and present day as a consequence of ocean stratification and reduced nutrient supply to the surface. This suggests that increased nutrient recycling in warmer conditions offsets some of the stratification-induced surface nutrient limitation in a warmer world, and that less carbon (and nutrients) then reaches the inner and deep ocean. This extension to the cGENIE.muffin Earth system model provides it with additional capabilities in addressing marine carbon cycling in warmer past and future worlds

Effects of regional citrate anticoagulation on thrombin generation, fibrinolysis and platelet function in critically ill patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury: a prospective study

Background: Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is recommended for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). However, filter life varies and premature filter clotting can occur. The aims of this explorative prospective study were to investigate the effects of RCA on thrombin generation, fibrinolysis and platelet function in critically ill patients receiving CRRT, to compare clotting parameters between systemic and intra-circuit blood samples, and to screen participants for coagulation disorders. We recruited critically ill adult patients admitted to a 30-bedded Intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital who required CRRT with RCA for acute kidney injury (AKI). Patients with pre-existing thrombotic, bleeding tendencies or a CRRT duration less than 48 h were excluded. We measured coagulation and thrombophilia parameters at baseline. Thrombin generation, D-dimer and platelet function were measured pre-CRRT and at 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after commencing CRRT using blood samples taken from the arterial line and the circuit. Results: At baseline, all eleven patients (mean age 62.4 years, 82% male) had Factor VIII and von Willebrand Factor concentrations above reference range and significantly increased peak thrombin generation. During CRRT, there were no significant changes in systemic maximum peak thrombin generation, time to peak thrombin generation, fibrinogen, D-dimer and platelet function analysis. We observed no significant difference between paired samples taken from the patient's arterial line and the circuit. Conclusions: Critically ill patients with AKI requiring CRRT are hypercoagulable. Citrate used for anticoagulation during CRRT does not affect thrombin generation, D-dimer or platelet function. Systemic clotting parameters reflect intra-circuit results. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02486614. Registered 01 July 2015—Registered after recruitment of first patient. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0248661