Biogeochemical Dynamics of Dissolved Si in Taylor Valley, Antarctica

This thesis is part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MCM) Long-Tern Ecological Research (LTER) study in Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. With the exception of the ice-covered lakes, there is little liquid water present in the valleys for most of the year. Chemical weathering is thought to occur more readily in warm and wet climates, however recent research has shown that it can occur in cold and dry environments. The chemical weathering of rocks and sediments in Taylor Valley occurs in the stream channels when liquid water is present, resulting from the melting of glacial ice during the austral summer. Not only is silicon an important element geologically, it is an important biogeochemical element, as aquatic microorganisms, such as diatoms, need it for growth. Silica (Si) is thought to be one of the chemicals that is dissolved by the glacier meltwater as it flows into the lakes. This thesis is an aqueous geochemical study of the Si found in the streams and lakes. Water samples were collected at the beginning of the austral summer and then again in midsummer from Lakes Bonney, Fryxell and Hoare in the Taylor Valley for the past 3 field seasons. Stream samples from each of the lake basins were also collected during the summer months. To analyze the concentrations of reactive Si in the water samples, a colorimetric method was used. Streams of the Lake Fryxell basin had the highest average Si concentrations, - 1.5 mgL. Streams that flow into Lake Hoare had the lowest average concentrations, -0.2 mgL. This difference is most likely a result of the length of the streams. The streams in Lake Fryxell basin are longer that those of the Lake Hoare, and therefore the water is in contact with the underlying sediment for a longer period of time, resulting in more Si being dissolved. The annual flux of Si into the lakes was determined by calculating the average Si concentrations in the streams and multiplying by the volume of stream flow for each lake basin. The highest Si fluxes occurred in the Lake Bonney basin followed by Lake Fryxell and Lake Hoare. When these fluxes are normalized to lake area, the values range from 212 mgsi/m2yr in Lake Bonney, 29 mgsi/m2yr in Lake Fryxell and 12 mgSi/m2yr in Lake Hoare. Si concentrations in the lakes vary over time due to physical, chemical and biological processes. The concentrations in the lakes could be influenced by dilution with stream water of lower Si concentrations, precipitation and dissolution of Si within the water column, or biological uptake of Si by diatoms. For example, a decrease in Si concentration occurred in the upper part of the water column of Lake Hoare between the early and midsummer sample collections in all three seasons. The change in Si is much greater than expected from uptake by diatoms. Approximately 0.03% of the Si decrease can be attributed to biological uptake, based on primary productivity measurements. Therefore, other physical processes must control the Si variations in Lake Hoare.National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs OPP 9810219 and OPP 009625

The ManVan:a mobile cancer support service for men with prostate, testicular and penile cancer in Wales

The ManVan commenced service delivery on 1st April 2014 and is the United Kingdom’s first dedicated mobile support service for men affected by prostate, testicular, and penile cancer. It is delivered in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK and Movember and fully funded by the Movember Foundation. It brings nursing care, counselling for individuals and couples, group support and welfare rights advice, directly to men living with prostate, testicular and penile cancer in communities across Wales. The ManVan has travelled extensively across Wales during its first year, visiting 94 different locations, across all seven Local Health Board areas. The first half of the year began with a Roadshow where we welcomed thousands of visitors on board, including men and women worried by all sorts of cancer symptoms; their family and friends; health and social care professionals and politicians. The variety of venues the ManVan has visited has included hospitals, supermarkets, social clubs, caravan fairs and rugby grounds to help raise awareness of the ManVan service and identify potential clients. As expected the greatest proportion of visitors are male, particularly older men. In the second half of the year, we focussed on our target audience – men diagnosed with prostate, testicular, or penile cancer and their families. Using a targeted approach to urology clinics across NHS Wales, as well as community-based activity encouraging men from ethnic minorities to visit, we have now taken on 161 clients, many of whom have received more than one ManVan service, and attended on more than one occasion. Most of our clients have prostate cancer, are over the age of 55 years, and are married. Analysis of the early data around the clinical and psychosocial benefits of the services offered on the ManVan is positive and the annualised value of the benefits obtained for ManVan clients equates to more than £300,000 in this first year. There were 3,319 visitors to the ManVan in total during the first year

Plant microbiome-dependent immune enhancing action of Echinacea purpurea is enhanced by soil organic matter content

© 2019 The Authors Anthemis austriaca Jacq. flowers are traditionally used to alleviate abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, ovary diseases and pneumonia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of A. austriaca flowers, which are frequently used in gynecological disorders, on the rat endometriosis model. The rat endometriosis model was used to evaluate the potential activity of the plant in endometriosis. The dried plant material was extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH), successively. The obtained extracts from A. austriaca flowers were applied to the rats. The adhesion scores, endometrial foci areas, and cytokine levels of the peritoneal fluids were measured on surgical induction of endometriosis in rats. The adhesion scores, endometriotic volume, and cytokine levels of the peritoneal fluids were reduced in the EtOAc, MeOH, and buserelin acetate-treated (reference) groups. The MeOH extract reduced the adhesion scores and endometrial foci areas from 3.1 to 1.1 (p \u3c 0.01) and from 86.4 to 40.5 (p \u3c 0.01), respectively and also the MeOH extract reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and interleukin (IL)-6 levels of the peritoneal fluids from 13.7 to 3.8 (p \u3c 0.01), from 28.4 to 16.3 (p \u3c 0.05) and from 50.2 to 24.3 (p \u3c 0.01), respectively. Therefore, isolation studies were conducted on the EtOAc and MeOH extracts. After the MeOH extract was fractionated using RP-18 column, the obtained subfractions were evaluated again on the endometriosis rat model. Subfractions A and C of the MeOH extract displayed statistically significant activity on the endometriosis rat model. Phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of 4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (1) from Fr. A and quercetin (2), apigenin-7-O-(3″-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), apigenin-7-O-(6″-O-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), apigenin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6) from Fr. C. Moreover, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) was isolated from the EtOAc extract. As a conclusion, the MeOH extract obtained from A. austriaca flowers contributed to the regression of endometriosis. In addition, flavonoids and sterols of the plant were detected as the possible compounds responsible for the activity

Unintended Consequences of Incentive Provision for Behaviour Change and Maintenance around Childbirth

Financial (positive or negative) and non-financial incentives or rewards are increasingly used in attempts to influence health behaviours. While unintended consequences of incentive provision are discussed in the literature, evidence syntheses did not identify any primary research with the aim of investigating unintended consequences of incentive interventions for lifestyle behaviour change. Our objective was to investigate perceived positive and negative unintended consequences of incentive provision for a shortlist of seven promising incentive strategies for smoking cessation in pregnancy and breastfeeding. A multi-disciplinary, mixed-methods approach included involving two service-user mother and baby groups from disadvantaged areas with experience of the target behaviours as study co-investigators. Systematic reviews informed the shortlist of incentive strategies. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and a web-based survey of health professionals asked open questions on positive and negative consequences of incentives. The participants from three UK regions were a diverse sample with and without direct experience of incentive interventions: 88 pregnant women/recent mothers/partners/family members; 53 service providers; 24 experts/decision makers and interactive discussions with 63 conference attendees. Maternity and early years health professionals (n = 497) including doctors, midwives, health visitors, public health and related staff participated in the survey. Qualitative analysis identified ethical, political, cultural, social and psychological implications of incentive delivery at population and individual levels. Four key themes emerged: how incentives can address or create inequalities; enhance or diminish intrinsic motivation and wellbeing; have a positive or negative effect on relationships with others within personal networks or health providers; and can impact on health systems and resources by raising awareness and directing service delivery, but may be detrimental to other health care areas. Financial incentives are controversial and generated emotive and oppositional responses. The planning, design and delivery of future incentive interventions should evaluate unexpected consequences to inform the evidence for effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and future implementation

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis is a trigger of brain autoimmunity

In 5 prospectively diagnosed patients with relapsing post-herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antibodies were identified. Antibody synthesis started 1 to 4 weeks after HSE, preceding the neurological relapse. Three of 5 patients improved postimmunotherapy, 1 spontaneously, and 1 has started to improve. Two additional patients with NMDAR antibodies, 9 with unknown neuronal surface antibodies, and 1 with NMDAR and unknown antibodies, were identified during retrospective assessment of 34 HSE patients; the frequency of autoantibodies increased over time (serum, p=0.004; cerebrospinal fluid, p=0.04). The 3 retrospectively identified NMDAR antibody-positive patients also had evidence of relapsing post-HSE. Overall, these findings indicate that HSE triggers NMDAR antibodies and potentially other brain autoimmunity

The Internal-External Security Nexus and EU Police/Rule of Law Missions in the Western Balkans

Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) police/rule of law missions in the Western Balkans are increasingly guided by externally imposed normative agendas that respond primarily to EU internal security needs rather than functional imperatives or local realities. In line with these needs, EU police reform efforts tend to prioritise effectiveness and crime fighting over longer- term democratic policing and good governance reforms. In practice this means that police reform initiatives are technocratically oriented, yet value ridden fitting EU security concerns and needs. As a result, the police reform process can be—and often is—disconnected from the political and socio-economic reforms necessary for long-term stability and sustainable peace. Police assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been shaped by a determined albeit questionable focus on organised crime and corruption. The focus of EU police reform in Macedonia on primarily crime-fighting aspects of policing has compromised the functioning of the Macedonian police. Similarly, the politics of (non-)recognition of Kosovo's self-proclaimed independence and the intrusiveness of EULEX Kosovo's executive mandate contravene meeting local challenges

Highlights From the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society 2022

With more than 6000 attendees between in-person and virtual offerings, the American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2022 in Nashville, felt as busy as in prepandemic times. An ever-growing number of physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals gathered to learn a variety of topics about epilepsy. The program was carefully tailored to meet the needs of professionals with different interests and career stages. This article summarizes the different symposia presented at the meeting. Basic science lectures addressed the primary elements of seizure generation and pathophysiology of epilepsy in different disease states. Scientists congregated to learn about anti-seizure medications, mechanisms of action, and new tools to treat epilepsy including surgery and neurostimulation. Some symposia were also dedicated to discuss epilepsy comorbidities and practical issues regarding epilepsy care. An increasing number of patient advocates discussing their stories were intertwined within scientific activities. Many smaller group sessions targeted more specific topics to encourage member participation, including Special Interest Groups, Investigator, and Skills Workshops. Special lectures included the renown Hoyer and Lombroso, an ILAE/IBE joint session, a spotlight on the impact of Dobbs v. Jackson on reproductive health in epilepsy, and a joint session with the NAEC on coding and reimbursement policies. The hot topics symposium was focused on traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic epilepsy. A balanced collaboration with the industry allowed presentations of the latest pharmaceutical and engineering advances in satellite symposia