INSTALLATION OF THE LHC EXPERIMENTAL INSERTIONS

The installation of the LHC experimental insertions, and particularly the installation of the Low-Beta quadrupoles, raises many technical challenges due to the stringent alignment specifications and to the difficulty of access in very confined areas. The compact layout with many lattice elements, vacuum components, beam control instrumentation and the presence of shielding does not allow for any improvisation in the installation procedure. This paper reviews all the constraints that need to be taken into account when installing the experimental insertions. It describes the chronological sequence of installation and discusses the technical solutions that have been adopted

Loss of PLA2G6 leads to elevated mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction

© 2015 The Author.The PLA2G6 gene encodes a group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 beta enzyme that selectively hydrolyses glycerophospholipids to release free fatty acids. Mutations in PLA2G6 have been associated with disorders such as infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy, neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type II and Karak syndrome. More recently, PLA2G6 was identified as the causative gene in a subgroup of patients with autosomal recessive early-onset dystonia-Parkinsonism. Neuropathological examination revealed widespread Lewy body pathology and the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau, supporting a link between PLA2G6 mutations and Parkinsonian disorders. Here we show that knockout of the Drosophila homologue of the PLA2G6 gene, iPLA2-VIA, results in reduced survival, locomotor deficits and organismal hypersensitivity to oxidative stress. Furthermore, we demonstrate that loss of iPLA2-VIA function leads to a number of mitochondrial abnormalities, including mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction, reduced ATP synthesis and abnormal mitochondrial morphology. Moreover, we show that loss of iPLA2-VIA is strongly associated with increased lipid peroxidation levels. We confirmed our findings using cultured fibroblasts taken from two patients with mutations in the PLA2G6 gene. Similar abnormalities were seen including elevated mitochondrial lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane defects, as well as raised levels of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Finally, we demonstrated that deuterated polyunsaturated fatty acids, which inhibit lipid peroxidation, were able to partially rescue the locomotor abnormalities seen in aged flies lacking iPLA2-VIA gene function, and restore mitochondrial membrane potential in fibroblasts from patients with PLA2G6 mutations. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that loss of normal PLA2G6 gene activity leads to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent mitochondrial membrane abnormalities. Furthermore we show that the iPLA2-VIA knockout fly model provides a useful platform for the further study of PLA2G6-associated neurodegeneration

Cyprus' image—a sun and sea destination—as a detrimental factor to seasonal fluctuations. Exploration into motivational factors for holidaying in Cyprus

Cyprus is established as a summer destination. To aid the destination in developing its winter season as well, this research uses a qualitative inductive approach to explore the tourists’ current image of the island and their motivations of visiting it. The research indicates that the current image, which essentially portrays Cyprus as a sun-and-sea destination is thought to dissuade tourists from perceiving the island as a year-round destination. Nonetheless, increasing the pull factors of the destination through the development of unique special interest products can help in extending the tourism season as well as broaden its narrow image

Comparison between the 5-day cosynch and 7-day estradiol-based protocols for synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination in suckled BOS taurus BEEF cows

The objective was to compare pregnancy per AI and follicular dynamic in suckled Bos taurus beef cows treated with either a 7-day progesterone + estradiol-based protocol or a 5-day progesterone CoSynch protocol for timed artificial insemination (TAI) during four breeding seasons. We hypothesized that estrous cycle status, days postpartum (DPP), fat depth and plasma progesterone concentration differentially modify the effect of treatments. Every year, 9 days before initiation of each breeding season, cows were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Cows in the 7-d P + E group (n = 428) received a progesterone intravaginal device (DIB) and estradiol benzoate on Day −9. On Day −2 the device was removed, and cows received cloprostenol and estradiol cypionate. Forty-eight hours later (Day 0) cows received TAI. Cows in the 5-d P + CoS group (n = 428) received a DIB, and GnRH on Day −8. On Day −3, the device was removed, and cows received cloprostenol. A second dose of cloprostenol was given on Day −2. Cows received GnRH and TAI 72 h after device removal (Day 0). On Day −9, estrous cycle status was determined. In a subset of cows (n = 79) the size of the dominant follicle was determined between Days −2 and 0. In another subset of cows (n = 340), DPP, fat depth (mm) and plasma progesterone concentration (ng/mL) were evaluated on Day −9. Pregnancy per AI was determined 30 d after TAI. Pregnancy per AI was greater for cows in the 5-d P + CoS group than for cows in the 7-d P + E group (50.9% vs. 41.3%, P = 0.01) and was also greater in cyclic than in anestrus cows (54.3% vs. 33.2%, P < 0.0001). There was also a significant effect of breeding season (P = 0.0002) and sire (P = 0.03), and an interaction between treatment group and breeding season (P = 0.03). The dominant follicle was larger (P < 0.0001) in cows in the 5-d P + CoS group than the 7-d P + E group (10.7 ± 0.29 mm vs. 9.0 ± 0.28 mm). Pregnancy per AI was greater in cows with ≥55 DPP (47.0% vs. 29.6%, P = 0.001), fat depth ≥0.50 mm (44.7% vs. 29.7%), and with plasma progesterone concentration ≥1 ng/mL (47.2% vs. 28.7%, P = 0.01). In cows with plasma progesterone ≥1 ng/mL on Day −9, pregnancy per AI was greater in the 5-d P + CoS group (60.5%) than in the 7-d P + E group (34.9%), but there was no difference between treatment groups in cows with plasma progesterone < 1 ng/mL (P = 0.07). In conclusion, the 5-d P + CoS protocol resulted in greater size of the dominant follicle and pregnancy per AI in suckled Bos taurus beef cows subjected to TAI.Fil: Bilbao, María Guillermina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Confluencia; ArgentinaFil: Zapata, Luis Oscar. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Romero Harry, H.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional La Pampa-San Luis. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; ArgentinaFil: Perez Wallace, S.. Zoetis SRL; ArgentinaFil: Farcey, Maria Florencia. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Gelid, Lucas Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional La Pampa-San Luis. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; ArgentinaFil: Palomares, R. A.. University of Georgia. College of Veterinary Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Ferrer, M. S.. University of Georgia. College of Veterinary Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Bartolome, Julian. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

Aperture Restriction Localisation in the LHC Arcs using an RF Mole and the LHC Beam Position Measurement System

Ensuring that the two 27km beam pipes of the LHC do not contain aperture restrictions is of utmost importance. Most of the ring is composed of continuous cryostats, so any intervention to remove aperture restrictions when the machine is at its operating temperature of 1.9K will require a substantial amount of time. On warming-up the first cooled sector, several of the sliding contacts which provide electrical continuity for the beam image current between successive sections of the vacuum chamber were found to have buckled into the beam pipe. This led to a search for a technique to verify the integrity of a complete LHC arc (~3km) before any subsequent cool-down. In this paper the successful results from using a polycarbonate ball fitted with a 40MHz RF transmitter are presented. Propulsion of the ball is achieved by sucking filtered air through the entire arc, while its progress is traced every 54m via the LHC beam position measurement system which is auto-triggered by the RF transmitter on passage of the ball. Reflectometry at frequencies in the 4-8 GHz range can cover the gaps between beam position monitors and could therefore be used to localise a ball blocked by an obstacle

Strike-slip faults mediate the rise of crustal-derived fluids and mud volcanism in the deep sea

We report on newly discovered mud volcanoes located at ∼4500 m water depth ∼90 km west of the deformation front of the accretionary wedge of the Gulf of Cadiz, and thus outside of their typical geotectonic environment. Seismic data suggest that fluid flow is mediated by a >400-km-long strike-slip fault marking the transcurrent plate boundary between Africa and Eurasia. Geochemical data (Cl, B, Sr, 87Sr/86Sr, δ18O, δD) reveal that fluids originate in oceanic crust older than 140 Ma. On their rise to the surface, these fluids receive strong geochemical signals from recrystallization of Upper Jurassic carbonates and clay-mineral dehydration in younger terrigeneous units. At present, reports of mud volcanoes in similar deep-sea settings are rare, but given that the large area of transform-type plate boundaries has been barely investigated, such pathways of fluid discharge may provide an important, yet unappreciated link between the deeply buried oceanic crust and the deep ocean

A tribute to Marie Tharp: Mapping the seafloor of back-arc basins, mid-ocean ridges, continental margins and plate boundaries

European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly 2020, 4-8 May 2020Marie Tharp (1920-2006) was a pioneer of modern oceanography. She was an American geologist and oceanographic cartographer who, together with his husband Bruce Heezen, generated the first bathymetric map of the Atlantic Ocean floor. Tharp's work revealed the detailed topography and geological landscape of the seafloor. Her work revealed the presence of a continuous rift valley along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis, causing a paradigm in earth sciences that led to the acceptance of plate tectonics and continental drift theories. Piecing maps together in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Marie and his partner Bruce Heezen discovered the 75.000 km underwater ridge bounding around the globe. By this finding, they laid the conclusion from geophysical data that the seafloor spreads from mid-ocean ridges and that continents are in motion with respect to one another¿a revolutionary geological theory at that time. Many years later, satellite images demonstrate that Tharp¿s maps were accurate. In this contribution, we focus on detailed bathymetric maps collected from year 1992 to today, which include bathymetric maps from diverse parts of the world. For instance, we will show a) Back-arc basins (i.e. the Bransfield Basin, Antarctica; and the North Fiji Basin, SW Pacific); b) Mid-ocean ridges and fracture zones (i.e. the MAR at the South of Azores, the MAR at the Oceanographer-Hayes, and the St. Paul Fracture Zone at the Equator), and c) Active tectonic structures from the Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea, located at the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary (Gibraltar Arc). Regarding this last area, we will characterize the seafloor expression of the fault systems, as well as the subsurface structure of the faults in the Gulf of Cadiz and Alboran Sea. This zone is characterized by a moderate seismicity, mainly reverse and strike-slip focal mechanisms; although large historical (AD1755, AD1829) and instrumental earthquakes or large/great magnitude also occurred, such as the earthquakes of 1969, 1994, 2004 and 2016. In addition, the Gulf of Cadiz-Alboran Sea area is compartmentalized in different crustal domains, bounded by active strike-slip fault systems. We adopted a multi-scale approach, including morphological analysis of shipboard multibeam bathymetry, near-bottom bathymetry obtained with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) at a resolution of 1-2 m, and medium to deep penetration multi-channel seismic (MCS) data. Finally, we will also show a couple of videos from recent marine cruises in the Gibraltar Arc (SHAKE-2015 and INSIGHT-2018), both using state-of-the-art high-resolution marine technologie

Cerebral ornithine decarboxylase levels following gestational exposure to cocaine

The pre- and postnatal developmental course of cerebral ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) has been studied in infant rats after treatment of pregnant dams with cocaine. Levels of cocaine attained in brains and serum of embryos were not initially increased over corresponding maternal values, but were more persistent. However, cocaine was not longer detectable in these tissues 4 days after administration. The cerebral ODC level of treated pups was initially depressed and subsequently elevated relative to control values. These changes were apparent at times when cocaine was not detected in the developing brain. Results indicate that a transient exposure to cocaine in utero may lead to prolonged developmental abnormality