115 research outputs found
Integrated assessment of marine biodiversity status using a prototype indicator-based assessment tool
Integrated assessment of the status of marine biodiversity is and has been problematic compared to, for example, assessments of eutrophication and contamination status, mostly as a consequence of the fact that monitoring of marine habitats, communities and species is expensive, often collected at an incorrect spatial scale and/or poorly integrated with existing marine environmental monitoring efforts. The objective of this Method Paper is to introduce and describe a simple tool for integrated assessment of biodiversity status based on the HELCOM Biodiversity Assessment Tool (BEAT), where interim biodiversity indicators are grouped by themes: broad-scale habitats, communities, and species as well as supporting non-biodiversity indicators. Further, we report the application of an initial indicator-based assessment of biodiversity status of Danish marine waters where we have tentatively classified the biodiversity status of Danish marine waters. The biodiversity status was in no areas classified as âunaffected by human activities.â In all the 22 assessment areas, the status was classified as either âmoderately affected by human activitiesâ or âsignificantly affected by human activities.â Spatial variations in the biodiversity status were in general related to the eutrophication status as well as fishing pressure
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An Improved Global Model for Air-Sea Exchange of Mercury: High Concentrations over the North Atlantic
We develop an improved treatment of the surface ocean in the GEOS-Chem global 3-D biogeochemical model for mercury (Hg). We replace the globally uniform subsurface ocean Hg concentrations used in the original model with basin-specific values based on measurements. Updated chemical mechanisms for Hg0/HgII redox reactions in the surface ocean include both photochemical and biological processes, and we improved the parametrization of particle-associated Hg scavenging. Modeled aqueous Hg concentrations are consistent with limited surface water observations. Results more accurately reproduce high-observed MBL concentrations over the North Atlantic (NA) and the associated seasonal trends. High seasonal evasion in the NA is driven by inputs from Hg enriched subsurface waters through entrainment and Ekman pumping. Globally, subsurface waters account for 40% of Hg inputs to the ocean mixed layer, and 60% is from atmospheric deposition. Although globally the ocean is a net sink for 3.8 Mmol Hg yâ1, the NA is a net source to the atmosphere, potentially due to enrichment of subsurface waters with legacy Hg from historical anthropogenic sources.Engineering and Applied Science
Concomitant occurrence of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and KRAS (V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) mutations in an ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase)-positive lung adenocarcinoma patient with acquired resistance to crizotinib: a case report
BACKGROUND: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung carcinoma patients are generally highly responsive to the dual anaplastic lymphoma kinase and MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib. However, they eventually acquire resistance to this drug, preventing the anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors from having a prolonged beneficial effect. The molecular mechanisms responsible for crizotinib resistance are beginning to emerge, e.g., in some anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung carcinomas the development of secondary mutations in this gene has been described. However, the events behind crizotinib-resistance currently remain largely uncharacterized. Thus, we report on an anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive non-small cell lung carcinoma patient with concomitant occurrence of epidermal growth factor receptor and V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog mutations upon development of crizotinib-resistance. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old Caucasian never-smoking male was diagnosed with anaplastic lymphoma kinase -positive pulmonary adenocarcinoma, stage T4N3M1b. Treatment with crizotinib initially resulted in complete objective response in the thorax and partial response in the abdomen, but after 8 months of therapy the patient acquired resistance and progressed. Biopsies from new metastases revealed development of epidermal growth factor receptor and V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog mutations concomitant with the original anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement and without signs of anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene amplification or secondary anaplastic lymphoma kinase mutations. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report of an anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive pulmonary adenocarcinoma, which upon emergence of crizotinib resistance acquired 2 new somatic mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor and V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog genes, respectively, concomitant with the original anaplastic lymphoma kinase rearrangement. Thus, these 3 driver mutations, usually considered mutually exclusive, may coexist in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma that becomes resistant to crizotinib, presumably because heterogeneous tumor clones utilize epidermal growth factor receptor and/or V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog signaling to circumvent the inhibition of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-mediated signaling by crizotinib. The identification of new targetable somatic mutations by tumor re-biopsy may help clarify the mechanism behind the development of the acquired crizotinib resistance and pave the way for combined strategies involving multiple targeted therapies
Atmospheric black carbon and sulfate concentrations in Northeast Greenland
Measurements of equivalent black carbon (EBC) in aerosols at the high Arctic
field site Villum Research Station (VRS) at Station Nord in North Greenland
showed a seasonal variation in EBC concentrations with a maximum in winter
and spring at ground level. Average measured concentrations were about
0.067 Âą 0.071 for the winter and 0.011 Âą 0.009 for the summer
period. These data were obtained using a multi-angle absorption photometer
(MAAP). A similar seasonal pattern was found for sulfate concentrations with
a maximum level during winter and spring analyzed by ion chromatography.
Here, measured average concentrations were about 0.485 Âą 0.397 for the
winter and 0.112 Âą 0.072 for the summer period. A correlation between
EBC and sulfate concentrations was observed over the years 2011 to 2013
stating a correlation coefficient of <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.72. This finding gives the
hint that most likely transport of primary emitted BC particles to the Arctic
was accompanied by aging of the aerosols through condensational processes. BC
and sulfate are known to have only partly similar sources with respect to
their transport pathways when reaching the high Arctic. Aging processes may
have led to the formation of secondary inorganic matter and further transport
of BC particles as cloud processing and further washout of particles is less
likely based on the typically observed transport patterns of air masses
arriving at VRS. Additionally, concentrations of EC (elemental carbon) based
on a thermo-optical method were determined and compared to EBC measurements.
EBC measurements were generally higher, but a correlation between EC and EBC
resulted in a correlation coefficient of <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.64.
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Model estimates of the climate forcing due to BC in the Arctic are based on
contributions of long-range transported BC during spring and summer. The
measured concentrations were here compared with model results obtained by the
Danish Eulerian Hemispheric Model, DEHM. Good agreement between measured and modeled
concentrations of both EBC/BC and sulfate was observed. Also, the correlation
between BC and sulfate concentrations was confirmed based on the model
results observed over the years 2011 to 2013 stating a correlation
coefficient of <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.74. The dominant source is found to be combustion
of fossil fuel with biomass burning as a minor, albeit significant source
Mixture effects of twenty-seven environmental contaminants given to rats at doses comparable to human exposure
Severe and ChRonic Atopic dermatitis Treatment CoHort (SCRATCH):A Danish Real-world Evidence Atopic Dermatitis Treatment Registry
Data from real-world use of new systemic treatments in atopic dermatitis (AD) is important for assessing safety and efficacy. The aim of this study is to describe the baseline characteristics of adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD enrolled in the Danish nationwide Severe and ChRonic Atopic dermatitis Treatment CoHort (SCRATCH) database, between October 2017 and August 2021. A total of 282 adult patients were included. Most (62%) were men, the median age at baseline was 43 years (interquartile range (IQR) 29â54 years), and median age at onset of AD was 1 year (IQR 0â6 years). The median Eczema Area and Severity Index at treatment initiation was 19.1 (IQR 11.9â25.7); median Patient Oriented Eczema Measure 21.0 (IQR 16.0â25.0); median Dermatology Life Quality Index 13.0 (IQR 7.0â19.0); and median itch and sleep numerical rating scale scores 8.0 (IQR 6.0â9.0) and 6.0 (IQR 4.0â8.0). Differences were found between the sexes. This registry will provide a source for future efficacy and safety studies
Pike (Esox lucius L.) on the edge: consistent individual movement patterns in transitional waters of the western Baltic
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