A review of the potential for rare earth element resources from European red muds: examples from Seydişehir, Turkey and Parnassus-Giona, Greece

ArticleRare earth elements (REE) are viewed as ‘critical metals’ due to a complex array of production and political issues, most notably a near monopoly in supply from China. Red mud, the waste product of the Bayer process that produces alumina from bauxite, represents a potential secondary resource of REE. Karst-bauxite deposits represent the ideal source material for REE-enriched red mud as the conditions during formation of the bauxite allow for the retention of REE. The REE pass through the Bayer Process and are concentrated in the waste material. Millions of tonnes of red mud are currently stockpiled in onshore storage facilities across Europe, representing a potential REE resource. Red mud from two case study sites, one in Greece and the other in Turkey, has been found to contain an average of approximately 1 000 ppm total REE, with an enrichment of light over heavy REE. Although this is relatively low grade when compared with typical primary REE deposits (Mountain Pass and Mount Weld up to 80 000 ppm), it is of interest because of the large volumes available, the cost benefits of reprocessing waste, and the low proportion of contained radioactive elements. This work shows that around 12 000 tonnes of REE exist in red mud at the two case study areas alone, with much larger resources existing across Europe as a whole.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European 669 Community’s Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/2007-2013]) under Grant 670 Agreement no. 309373

Regional action plan for the conservation of western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) 2020–2030

This is the final version. Available from IUCN via the DOI in this recordIn 2016, IUCN uplisted the western chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes verus, from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered”, reflecting the subspecies’ increasingly dire conservation status. Of the four recognised chimpanzee subspecies, Pan troglodytes verus is under the greatest threat. The current plan presents the status and threats to P. t. verus, based on expert evaluation of the best scientific knowledge available to date. A considerable amount of new data has improved our knowledge of the distribution and status patterns of this subspecies since the first action plan was published in 2003, and an analysis of the threats to chimpanzee populations highlights the need to address these threats and their drivers. This action plan highlights how concerned stakeholders can harmonise their efforts, emphasising the critical role of regional coordination and inter- and multidisciplinary approaches in conserving the western chimpanzee. Finally, this plan also seeks to be dynamic, embedded in a monitoring and evaluation framework that will keep priorities and strategies relevant, updating objectives and information on threats as anthropogenic and ecological pressures evolve across West Africa.Arcus FoundationUnited States Fish & Wildlife Servic

Evaluation of an automatic article selection method for timelier updates of the Comet Core Outcome Set database

Curated databases of scientific literature play an important role in helping researchers find relevant literature, but populating such databases is a labour intensive and time-consuming process. One such database is the freely accessible Comet Core Outcome Set database, which was originally populated using manual screening in an annually updated systematic review. In order to reduce the workload and facilitate more timely updates we are evaluating machine learning methods to reduce the number of references needed to screen. In this study we have evaluated a machine learning approach based on logistic regression to automatically rank the candidate articles. Data from the original systematic review and its four first review updates were used to train the model and evaluate performance. We estimated that using automatic screening would yield a workload reduction of at least 75% while keeping the number of missed references around 2%. We judged this to be an acceptable trade-off for this systematic review, and the method is now being used for the next round of the Comet database update

Increased HIV Incidence in Men Who Have Sex with Men Despite High Levels of ART-Induced Viral Suppression: Analysis of an Extensively Documented Epidemic

Background: There is interest in expanding ART to prevent HIV transmission, but in the group with the highest levels of ART use, men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), numbers of new infections diagnosed each year have not decreased as ART coverage has increased for reasons which remain unclear. Methods: We analysed data on the HIV-epidemic in MSM in the UK from a range of sources using an individual-based simulation model. Model runs using parameter sets found to result in good model fit were used to infer changes in HIV-incidence and risk behaviour. Results: HIV-incidence has increased (estimated mean incidence 0.30/100 person-years 1990–1997, 0.45/100 py 1998–2010), associated with a modest (26%) rise in condomless sex. We also explored counter-factual scenarios: had ART not been introduced, but the rise in condomless sex had still occurred, then incidence 2006–2010 was 68% higher; a policy of ART initiation in all diagnosed with HIV from 2001 resulted in 32% lower incidence; had levels of HIV testing been higher (68% tested/year instead of 25%) incidence was 25% lower; a combination of higher testing and ART at diagnosis resulted in 62% lower incidence; cessation of all condom use in 2000 resulted in a 424% increase in incidence. In 2010, we estimate that undiagnosed men, the majority in primary infection, accounted for 82% of new infections. Conclusion: A rise in HIV-incidence has occurred in MSM in the UK despite an only modest increase in levels of condomless sex and high coverage of ART. ART has almost certainly exerted a limiting effect on incidence. Much higher rates of HIV testing combined with initiation of ART at diagnosis would be likely to lead to substantial reductions in HIV incidence. Increased condom use should be promoted to avoid the erosion of the benefits of ART and to prevent other serious sexually transmitted infections

Rapid Mass Movement of Chloroplasts during Segment Formation of the Calcifying Siphonalean Green Alga, Halimeda macroloba

is abundant on coral reefs and is important in the production of calcium carbonate sediments. The process by which new green segments are formed over-night is revealed here for the first time. indicated that the movement process is dependent on both microtubules and microfilaments.This unusual process involves the mass movement of chloroplasts at a high rate into new segments during the night and rapid calcification on the following day and may be an adaptation to minimise the impact of herbivorous activity

Development of a novel risk prediction and risk stratification score for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to develop a simple phenotypic algorithm that can capture the underlying clinical and hormonal abnormalities to help in the diagnosis and risk stratification of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).MethodsThe study consisted of 111 women with PCOS fulfilling the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria and 67 women without PCOS. A Firth's penalized logistic regression model was used for independent variable section. Model optimism, discrimination and calibration were assessed using bootstrapping, area under the curve (AUC) and Hosmer‐Lemeshow statistics, respectively. The prognostic index (PI) and risk score for developing PCOS were calculated using independent variables from the regression model.ResultsFirth penalized logistic regression model with backward selection identified four independent predictors of PCOS namely free androgen index [β 0.30 (0.12), P = 0.008], 17‐OHP [β = 0.20 (0.01), P = 0.026], anti‐mullerian hormone [AMH; β = 0.04 (0.01) P < 0.0001] and waist circumference [β = 0.08 (0.02), P < 0.0001]. The model estimates indicated high internal validity (minimal optimism on 1000‐fold bootstrapping), good discrimination ability (bias corrected c‐statistic = 0.90) and good calibration (Hosmer‐Lemeshow χ2 = 3.7865). PCOS women with a high‐risk score (q1 + q2 + q3 vs q4) presented with a worse metabolic profile characterized by a higher 2‐hour glucose (P = 0.01), insulin (P = 0.0003), triglycerides (P = 0.0005), C‐reactive protein (P < 0.0001) and low HDL‐cholesterol (P = 0.02) as compared to those with lower risk score for PCOS.ConclusionsWe propose a simple four‐variable model, which captures the underlying clinical and hormonal abnormalities in PCOS and can be used for diagnosis and metabolic risk stratification in women with PCOS

Odour-mediated orientation of beetles is influenced by age, sex and morph

The behaviour of insects is dictated by a combination of factors and may vary considerably between individuals, but small insects are often considered en masse and thus these differences can be overlooked. For example, the cowpea bruchid Callosobruchus maculatus F. exists naturally in two adult forms: the active (flight) form for dispersal, and the inactive (flightless), more fecund but shorter-lived form. Given that these morphs show dissimilar biology, it is possible that they differ in odour-mediated orientation and yet studies of this species frequently neglect to distinguish morph type, or are carried out only on the inactive morph. Along with sex and age of individual, adult morph could be an important variable determining the biology of this and similar species, informing studies on evolution, ecology and pest management. We used an olfactometer with motion-tracking to investigate whether the olfactory behaviour and orientation of C. maculatus towards infested and uninfested cowpeas and a plant-derived repellent compound, methyl salicylate, differed between morphs or sexes. We found significant differences between the behaviour of male and female beetles and beetles of different ages, as well as interactive effects of sex, morph and age, in response to both host and repellent odours. This study demonstrates that behavioural experiments on insects should control for sex and age, while also considering differences between adult morphs where present in insect species. This finding has broad implications for fundamental entomological research, particularly when exploring the relationships between physiology, behaviour and evolutionary biology, and the application of crop protection strategies

A meta-analytic review of stand-alone interventions to improve body image

Objective Numerous stand-alone interventions to improve body image have been developed. The present review used meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of such interventions, and to identify the specific change techniques that lead to improvement in body image. Methods The inclusion criteria were that (a) the intervention was stand-alone (i.e., solely focused on improving body image), (b) a control group was used, (c) participants were randomly assigned to conditions, and (d) at least one pretest and one posttest measure of body image was taken. Effect sizes were meta-analysed and moderator analyses were conducted. A taxonomy of 48 change techniques used in interventions targeted at body image was developed; all interventions were coded using this taxonomy. Results The literature search identified 62 tests of interventions (N = 3,846). Interventions produced a small-to-medium improvement in body image (d+ = 0.38), a small-to-medium reduction in beauty ideal internalisation (d+ = -0.37), and a large reduction in social comparison tendencies (d+ = -0.72). However, the effect size for body image was inflated by bias both within and across studies, and was reliable but of small magnitude once corrections for bias were applied. Effect sizes for the other outcomes were no longer reliable once corrections for bias were applied. Several features of the sample, intervention, and methodology moderated intervention effects. Twelve change techniques were associated with improvements in body image, and three techniques were contra-indicated. Conclusions The findings show that interventions engender only small improvements in body image, and underline the need for large-scale, high-quality trials in this area. The review identifies effective techniques that could be deployed in future interventions