Dust Devil Sediment Transport: From Lab to Field to Global Impact

The impact of dust aerosols on the climate and environment of Earth and Mars is complex and forms a major area of research. A difficulty arises in estimating the contribution of small-scale dust devils to the total dust aerosol. This difficulty is due to uncertainties in the amount of dust lifted by individual dust devils, the frequency of dust devil occurrence, and the lack of statistical generality of individual experiments and observations. In this paper, we review results of observational, laboratory, and modeling studies and provide an overview of dust devil dust transport on various spatio-temporal scales as obtained with the different research approaches. Methods used for the investigation of dust devils on Earth and Mars vary. For example, while the use of imagery for the investigation of dust devil occurrence frequency is common practice for Mars, this is less so the case for Earth. Modeling approaches for Earth and Mars are similar in that they are based on the same underlying theory, but they are applied in different ways. Insights into the benefits and limitations of each approach suggest potential future research focuses, which can further reduce the uncertainty associated with dust devil dust entrainment. The potential impacts of dust devils on the climates of Earth and Mars are discussed on the basis of the presented research results

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Orbital Observations of Dust Lofted by Daytime Convective Turbulence

Over the past several decades, orbital observations of lofted dust have revealed the importance of mineral aerosols as a climate forcing mechanism on both Earth and Mars. Increasingly detailed and diverse data sets have provided an ever-improving understanding of dust sources, transport pathways, and sinks on both planets, but the role of dust in modulating atmospheric processes is complex and not always well understood. We present a review of orbital observations of entrained dust on Earth and Mars, particularly that produced by the dust-laden structures produced by daytime convective turbulence called “dust devils”. On Earth, dust devils are thought to contribute only a small fraction of the atmospheric dust budget; accordingly, there are not yet any published accounts of their occurrence from orbit. In contrast, dust devils on Mars are thought to account for several tens of percent of the planet’s atmospheric dust budget; the literature regarding martian dust devils is quite rich. Because terrestrial dust devils may temporarily contribute significantly to local dust loading and lowered air quality, we suggest that martian dust devil studies may inform future studies of convectively-lofted dust on Earth

Early FGF/Ets1/2 Target Heart Genes in Ciona intestinalis

Activation of the transcription factor Ets1/2 through FGF signaling is known to specify heart precursor fate in Ciona intestinalis. In previous research, we identified candidate target genes of Ets1/2 through microarray analysis. Through in situ hybridization assays we have identified a subset of these candidate genes that are expressed specifically in the heart precursor cells immediately following their specification. To find the enhancers for the regulation of these presumed Ets target genes, we are employing bioinformatics to find conserved areas of DNA in the upstream non‐coding DNA between Ciona intestinalis and Ciona savignyi. This analysis will be used to guide ongoing efforts to clone and test predicted enhancer regions using reporter constructs. In depth analysis of identified enhancers will be used to find transcription‐binding sites for Ets and identify co-transcription factors presumed to act in concert with Ets to drive heart precursor cell specification

Research data supporting the publication "Effect of Molecule Structure on Electrochemical Phase Behavior of Phospholipid Bilayers on Au(111)"

This dataset contains the data for the results presented in this publication on DPPC bilayers supported on Au(111) electrodes. The measurements included: pressure-area isotherm data, electrochemical data, AFM data, infrared spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) data

PROMOZIONE DELLA SALUTE E LAVORO AI SENSI DEL D. LGS. 81/08: L’ESEMPIO DELLA SINDROME METABOLICA

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by multiple cardiovascular risk factors such as central obesity, hypertension, dislipidemia and hyperinsulinemia and is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality. We assessed the prevalence of MS in a heterogeneous working population and described differences related to work type and lifestyle habits. Data were collected during the health surveillance on 120 individuals (91% male and 9% female; mean age 48,9, SD 8,2) actively employed in a water delivery factory of South Italy. Blood biochemical assays were performed on fasting blood sample to detect the following metabolic values: Total Cholesterol, HDL, Triglycerides and Fasting Glucose. Major cardiovascular risk factors related to lifestyle habits and health were investigated. The waist circumference (WC) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were assessed; Metabolic Syndrome was defined using ATP-III criteria. The mean values of WC and BMI were 93,8±11,6 cm and 26,6 ±4 Kg/m2 respectively. Among the total subject group, 51 ,7% were classified as abdominal obesity (defined as a WC>102 cm in men and >88 cm in women) and 29,2% as MS. In our study a higher prevalence of MS (36,8%) was found in active workers

Effect of Molecular Structure on Electrochemical Phase Behavior of Phospholipid Bilayers on Au(111)

Lipid bilayers form the basis of biological cell membranes, selective and responsive barriers vital to the function of the cell. The structure and function of the bilayer are controlled by interactions between the constituent molecules and so vary with the composition of the membrane. These interactions also influence how a membrane behaves in the presence of electric fields they frequently experience in nature. In this study, we characterize the electrochemical phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a glycerophospholipid prevalent in nature and often used in model systems and healthcare applications. DPPC bilayers were formed on Au(111) electrodes using Langmuir–Blodgett and Langmuir–Schaefer deposition and studied with electrochemical methods, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and in situ polarization-modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The coverage of the substrate determined with AFM is in accord with that estimated from differential capacitance measurements, and the bilayer thickness is slightly higher than for bilayers of the similar but shorter-chained lipid, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). DPPC bilayers exhibit similar electrochemical response to DMPC bilayers, but the organization of molecules differs, particularly at negative charge densities. Infrared spectra show that DPPC chains tilt as the charge density on the metal is increased in the negative direction, but, unlike in DMPC, the chains then return to their original tilt angle at the most negative potentials. The onset of the increase in the chain tilt angle coincides with a decrease in solvation around the ester carbonyl groups, and the conformation around the acyl chain linkage differs from that in DMPC. We interpret the differences in behavior between bilayers formed from these structurally similar lipids in terms of stronger dispersion forces between DPPC chains and conclude that relatively subtle changes in molecular structure may have a significant impact on a membrane’s response to its environment