A cross-sectional single-centre study of anaemia in the elderly

Background: The geriatric population is increasing globally, and anaemia in the elderly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.  The Anaemia in Elderly study (ANiE study) aimed to assess the prevalence, associations and severity of anaemia in elderly patients attending the outpatient clinics at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of consenting patients, 60 years and older, attending the outpatient clinics in our hospital. A blood sample was collected for full blood count, blood glucose, serum creatinine and HIV serology. A data collection tool was used to collect data on comorbidities, occupation and income among others. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were done to determine factors associated with anaemia in elderly patients in the outpatient clinics. Results: A total of 288 patients consented to participate, anaemia was prevalent in 101 (35.1%) of the participants, there was no difference in the prevalence between males and females, the mean PCV was 38.33±1.33%, the majority of the anaemic patients had mild anaemia 46 (45.5%).  Being a patient on follow-up visit to the hospital, the average monthly income and employment status were significantly associated with the occurrence of anaemia. Conclusions: Anaemia according to the WHO definition was prevalent in 35.1% of elderly patients attending the out-patients’ clinics in the hospital. Factors associated with anaemia were employment status and average monthly income. It is important to identify patients at risk and provide appropriate care to prevent further morbidity and mortality.

Investigating the source of unusual kaolinite-spinel float rocks in Jezero crater, Mars, and their implications for Mars crustal processes.

International audienceSince Landing in Jezero crater, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has encountered over 4,000 light-toned float rocks (“float”) scattered across the dark-toned, mafic to ultramafic crater floor and volcaniclastic Jezero delta. To date (Sol ~1100), no outcrop of these light-toned float has been found. Here, we use imaging, chemical, and mineralogical data from the SuperCam and Mastcam-Z instruments onboard the Perseverance rover to constrain the potential origins of these unusual float.Geochemical data acquired from the SuperCam laser induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) shows that these rocks are rich in Al2O3 (up to 44 wt%), with low abundances of MgO, FeOT, CaO and Na2O (averages <2 wt%) and an unusually high abundance of Ni, Cr, and Cu. Al2O3 abundances in these rocks are negatively correlated with SiO2 and hydration. Mineralogical data provided by SuperCam Visible Near-Infrared spectrometer show that the main minerals present in these rocks are likely kaolinite (strong signature in one target) and spinel, with potential accessory sulfates, zeolites, Al-smectite/illite, and hydrated silica or alumina.Kaolinite horizons overlying Fe/Mg smectite clay horizons have been detected in multiple places in the Jezero crater watershed suggesting that a possible formation mechanism for the high Al2O3 abundances and low MgO, FeOT, CaO, and Na2O, and the mineralogical observation of kaolinite could be due to pedogenic leaching in a warmer and wetter ancient Mars [1]. However, the low hydration observed by both LIBS and IR spectra in many of these targets suggests they are rich in metakaolinite, a metastable dehydroxylated kaolinite. Temperatures from 450-700°C are required to form metakaolinite [2]. Spinel is also known to form from high temperature metamorphism of Al-bearing rocks [e.g., 3]. Possible sources of heat in the Jezero crater watershed or crater rim include impact or volcanic processes. Due to the presence of a kaolinite-bearing megabreccia block and several detections of light-toned boulders on the Jezero crater rim in long-distance images, we suggest impact metamorphism of a kaolinite weathering horizon is the most likely source of these light-toned float.[1] Ehlmann et al., 2009 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JE003339[2] Sperinck et al., 2011 https://doi.org/10.1039/C0JM01748E[3] Wang et al., 2021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-021-00743-

Investigating the source of unusual kaolinite-spinel float rocks in Jezero crater, Mars, and their implications for Mars crustal processes.

International audienceSince Landing in Jezero crater, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has encountered over 4,000 light-toned float rocks (“float”) scattered across the dark-toned, mafic to ultramafic crater floor and volcaniclastic Jezero delta. To date (Sol ~1100), no outcrop of these light-toned float has been found. Here, we use imaging, chemical, and mineralogical data from the SuperCam and Mastcam-Z instruments onboard the Perseverance rover to constrain the potential origins of these unusual float.Geochemical data acquired from the SuperCam laser induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) shows that these rocks are rich in Al2O3 (up to 44 wt%), with low abundances of MgO, FeOT, CaO and Na2O (averages <2 wt%) and an unusually high abundance of Ni, Cr, and Cu. Al2O3 abundances in these rocks are negatively correlated with SiO2 and hydration. Mineralogical data provided by SuperCam Visible Near-Infrared spectrometer show that the main minerals present in these rocks are likely kaolinite (strong signature in one target) and spinel, with potential accessory sulfates, zeolites, Al-smectite/illite, and hydrated silica or alumina.Kaolinite horizons overlying Fe/Mg smectite clay horizons have been detected in multiple places in the Jezero crater watershed suggesting that a possible formation mechanism for the high Al2O3 abundances and low MgO, FeOT, CaO, and Na2O, and the mineralogical observation of kaolinite could be due to pedogenic leaching in a warmer and wetter ancient Mars [1]. However, the low hydration observed by both LIBS and IR spectra in many of these targets suggests they are rich in metakaolinite, a metastable dehydroxylated kaolinite. Temperatures from 450-700°C are required to form metakaolinite [2]. Spinel is also known to form from high temperature metamorphism of Al-bearing rocks [e.g., 3]. Possible sources of heat in the Jezero crater watershed or crater rim include impact or volcanic processes. Due to the presence of a kaolinite-bearing megabreccia block and several detections of light-toned boulders on the Jezero crater rim in long-distance images, we suggest impact metamorphism of a kaolinite weathering horizon is the most likely source of these light-toned float.[1] Ehlmann et al., 2009 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JE003339[2] Sperinck et al., 2011 https://doi.org/10.1039/C0JM01748E[3] Wang et al., 2021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-021-00743-

Investigating the source of unusual kaolinite-spinel float rocks in Jezero crater, Mars, and their implications for Mars crustal processes.

International audienceSince Landing in Jezero crater, the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has encountered over 4,000 light-toned float rocks (“float”) scattered across the dark-toned, mafic to ultramafic crater floor and volcaniclastic Jezero delta. To date (Sol ~1100), no outcrop of these light-toned float has been found. Here, we use imaging, chemical, and mineralogical data from the SuperCam and Mastcam-Z instruments onboard the Perseverance rover to constrain the potential origins of these unusual float.Geochemical data acquired from the SuperCam laser induced breakdown spectrometer (LIBS) shows that these rocks are rich in Al2O3 (up to 44 wt%), with low abundances of MgO, FeOT, CaO and Na2O (averages <2 wt%) and an unusually high abundance of Ni, Cr, and Cu. Al2O3 abundances in these rocks are negatively correlated with SiO2 and hydration. Mineralogical data provided by SuperCam Visible Near-Infrared spectrometer show that the main minerals present in these rocks are likely kaolinite (strong signature in one target) and spinel, with potential accessory sulfates, zeolites, Al-smectite/illite, and hydrated silica or alumina.Kaolinite horizons overlying Fe/Mg smectite clay horizons have been detected in multiple places in the Jezero crater watershed suggesting that a possible formation mechanism for the high Al2O3 abundances and low MgO, FeOT, CaO, and Na2O, and the mineralogical observation of kaolinite could be due to pedogenic leaching in a warmer and wetter ancient Mars [1]. However, the low hydration observed by both LIBS and IR spectra in many of these targets suggests they are rich in metakaolinite, a metastable dehydroxylated kaolinite. Temperatures from 450-700°C are required to form metakaolinite [2]. Spinel is also known to form from high temperature metamorphism of Al-bearing rocks [e.g., 3]. Possible sources of heat in the Jezero crater watershed or crater rim include impact or volcanic processes. Due to the presence of a kaolinite-bearing megabreccia block and several detections of light-toned boulders on the Jezero crater rim in long-distance images, we suggest impact metamorphism of a kaolinite weathering horizon is the most likely source of these light-toned float.[1] Ehlmann et al., 2009 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JE003339[2] Sperinck et al., 2011 https://doi.org/10.1039/C0JM01748E[3] Wang et al., 2021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-021-00743-

Jezero Crater Floor and Delta Chemistry and Mineralogy Observed by SuperCam in the First 1.5 Years of the Perseverance Rover Mission

International audienceJezero crater was chosen for exploration and sample collection by Perseverance due to its history as a lake with river deltas, its diverse mineralogy, including carbonates observed from orbit, and as a potential site to calibrate crater counting ages with radiometric dates of samples to be returned to Earth. This presentation focuses on the results of SuperCam, which uses LIBS for remote elemental chemistry, VISIR and remote Raman spectroscopy for mineral compositions and alteration, includes a microphone, and performs high-resolution imaging for textures and morphology. In the first year after landing, SuperCam and other instruments were used to explore Jezero’s floor. We found that all of the floor units are igneous, with lava flows comprising the upper units as part of the Máaz formation, while the lower formation, Séítah, is an olivine cumulate, produced by gravitational settling of olivine crystals in a large melt body. Artuby ridge, just outside the SW portion of Séítah and stratigraphically just above it, contains up to 60% pyroxene. The upper portions of the Máaz formation are more enriched in plagioclase, with the uppermost Ch’al member having the most evolved composition, along with the Content member, pitted rocks directly overlying the main cumulate portion of Séítah. After exploring the floor, Perseverance drove to the delta formation and began a walk-about style of observations starting at Enchanted Lake, just below an arm of the delta formation, and then moving into Hawksbill Gap, climbing 18 m in elevation between Devil’s Tanyard, Sunset Hill, and Hogwallow flats. Delta compositions initially displayed higher phyllosilicate contents, identified by absorptions at 1.4, 1.9, and 2.3 µm, and by higher LIBS H peak areas. Farther up, compositions changed to sulfur-bearing in lower locations within the continuous fine-grained light-toned strata (e.g., Pignut Mountain, Sol 463) and carbonate-rich in upper strata. Veins were observed, consisting of Mg-Fe carbonate (Elder Ridge, Sol 459) and anhydrite (Reid’s Gap, Sol 466). The sulfates suggest precipitation of these salts at a later stage, as the lake was evaporating. Carbonates and sulfates in veins in different locations indicate that groundwater was active in the lithified sediments and had significantly different chemistry at different intervals

Jezero Crater Floor and Delta Chemistry and Mineralogy Observed by SuperCam in the First 1.5 Years of the Perseverance Rover Mission

International audienceJezero crater was chosen for exploration and sample collection by Perseverance due to its history as a lake with river deltas, its diverse mineralogy, including carbonates observed from orbit, and as a potential site to calibrate crater counting ages with radiometric dates of samples to be returned to Earth. This presentation focuses on the results of SuperCam, which uses LIBS for remote elemental chemistry, VISIR and remote Raman spectroscopy for mineral compositions and alteration, includes a microphone, and performs high-resolution imaging for textures and morphology. In the first year after landing, SuperCam and other instruments were used to explore Jezero’s floor. We found that all of the floor units are igneous, with lava flows comprising the upper units as part of the Máaz formation, while the lower formation, Séítah, is an olivine cumulate, produced by gravitational settling of olivine crystals in a large melt body. Artuby ridge, just outside the SW portion of Séítah and stratigraphically just above it, contains up to 60% pyroxene. The upper portions of the Máaz formation are more enriched in plagioclase, with the uppermost Ch’al member having the most evolved composition, along with the Content member, pitted rocks directly overlying the main cumulate portion of Séítah. After exploring the floor, Perseverance drove to the delta formation and began a walk-about style of observations starting at Enchanted Lake, just below an arm of the delta formation, and then moving into Hawksbill Gap, climbing 18 m in elevation between Devil’s Tanyard, Sunset Hill, and Hogwallow flats. Delta compositions initially displayed higher phyllosilicate contents, identified by absorptions at 1.4, 1.9, and 2.3 µm, and by higher LIBS H peak areas. Farther up, compositions changed to sulfur-bearing in lower locations within the continuous fine-grained light-toned strata (e.g., Pignut Mountain, Sol 463) and carbonate-rich in upper strata. Veins were observed, consisting of Mg-Fe carbonate (Elder Ridge, Sol 459) and anhydrite (Reid’s Gap, Sol 466). The sulfates suggest precipitation of these salts at a later stage, as the lake was evaporating. Carbonates and sulfates in veins in different locations indicate that groundwater was active in the lithified sediments and had significantly different chemistry at different intervals

Jezero Crater Floor and Delta Chemistry and Mineralogy Observed by SuperCam in the First 1.5 Years of the Perseverance Rover Mission

International audienc

Jezero Crater Floor and Delta Chemistry and Mineralogy Observed by SuperCam in the First 1.5 Years of the Perseverance Rover Mission

International audienceJezero crater was chosen for exploration and sample collection by Perseverance due to its history as a lake with river deltas, its diverse mineralogy, including carbonates observed from orbit, and as a potential site to calibrate crater counting ages with radiometric dates of samples to be returned to Earth. This presentation focuses on the results of SuperCam, which uses LIBS for remote elemental chemistry, VISIR and remote Raman spectroscopy for mineral compositions and alteration, includes a microphone, and performs high-resolution imaging for textures and morphology. In the first year after landing, SuperCam and other instruments were used to explore Jezero’s floor. We found that all of the floor units are igneous, with lava flows comprising the upper units as part of the Máaz formation, while the lower formation, Séítah, is an olivine cumulate, produced by gravitational settling of olivine crystals in a large melt body. Artuby ridge, just outside the SW portion of Séítah and stratigraphically just above it, contains up to 60% pyroxene. The upper portions of the Máaz formation are more enriched in plagioclase, with the uppermost Ch’al member having the most evolved composition, along with the Content member, pitted rocks directly overlying the main cumulate portion of Séítah. After exploring the floor, Perseverance drove to the delta formation and began a walk-about style of observations starting at Enchanted Lake, just below an arm of the delta formation, and then moving into Hawksbill Gap, climbing 18 m in elevation between Devil’s Tanyard, Sunset Hill, and Hogwallow flats. Delta compositions initially displayed higher phyllosilicate contents, identified by absorptions at 1.4, 1.9, and 2.3 µm, and by higher LIBS H peak areas. Farther up, compositions changed to sulfur-bearing in lower locations within the continuous fine-grained light-toned strata (e.g., Pignut Mountain, Sol 463) and carbonate-rich in upper strata. Veins were observed, consisting of Mg-Fe carbonate (Elder Ridge, Sol 459) and anhydrite (Reid’s Gap, Sol 466). The sulfates suggest precipitation of these salts at a later stage, as the lake was evaporating. Carbonates and sulfates in veins in different locations indicate that groundwater was active in the lithified sediments and had significantly different chemistry at different intervals