Mass Output Research Articles

Central Actions of Leptin Induce an Atrophic Pattern and Improves Heart Function in Lean Normoleptinemic Rats via PPARβ/δ Activation.

Leptin, acting centrally or peripherally, has complex effects on cardiac remodeling and heart function. We previously reported that central leptin exerts an anti-hypertrophic effect in the heart via cardiac PPARβ/δ activation. Here, we assessed the impact of central leptin administration and PPARβ/δ inhibition on cardiac function. Various cardiac properties, including QRS duration, R wave amplitude, heart rate (HR), ejection fraction (EF), end-diastolic left ventricular mass (EDLVM), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and cardiac output (CO) were analyzed. Central leptin infusion increased cardiac PPARβ/δ protein content and decreased HR, QRS duration, and R wave amplitude. These changes induced by central leptin suggested a decrease in the ventricular wall growth, which was confirmed by MRI. In fact, the EDLVM was reduced by central leptin while increased in rats co-treated with leptin and GSK0660, a selective antagonist of PPARβ/δ activity. In summary, central leptin plays a dual role in cardiac health, potentially leading to ventricular atrophy and improving heart function when PPARβ/δ signaling is intact. The protective effects of leptin are lost by PPARβ/δ inhibition, underscoring the importance of this pathway. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting leptin and PPARβ/δ pathways to combat cardiac alterations and heart failure, particularly in the context of obesity.

Determining performance characteristics of jet water-gas ejectors for an opening in a vertical fencing structure

The object of this study is jet water-gas ejectors (JWGEs) in the system for ensuring fire safety of ships. The problem that was solved: in the event of a fire, in the shortest possible time, a high temperature rises in the area of ​​the exit from the ship's emergency room and a large amount of smoke spreads throughout the ship's premises. These factors require immediate sealing of the emergency room, which limits the immediate access of emergency teams to the interior. Installation of a local air support system based on JWGE in the doorway could make it possible to shield thermal energy and localize smoke gases in the emergency room without sealing it to ensure prompt access of emergency teams. The main results that were achieved relate to the adequacy of theoretical studies on the processes of localization of flue gases in the emergency room without its sealing confirmed by the experimental method. The investigated problem was solved by optimizing processes: the intensity of smoke emission from the working characteristics of jet water-gas ejectors; the rate of change of the natural indicator of the weakening of the environment at the start of JWGE system; speed of reaching the required temperature from the time in the adjacent room. Special feature of the results was the formation of an air curtain, obtained by the selection of a part of high-temperature flue gases into the JWGE housing, their heat and mass exchange treatment and output back into the flow. This created conditions under which thermal energy shielding occurs with a fairly high efficiency of 85–88 %. And it was also established that the decrease in the intensity of gas exchange through the open hole, in which the JWGE works, occurs already at the 0.3 MPa regime in the fire pipeline. The scope and conditions of practical use of the reported results are shipbuilding and ship fire safety design

DGet! An open source deuteration calculator for mass spectrometry data

DGet! is an open-source analysis package written in Python for calculating the degree of deuterium enrichment in isotopically labelled molecules using mass spectrometric data. The nuclear properties of deuterium make it a valuable tracer in metabolic studies and an excellent contrast agent in nuclear spectroscopies. Determination of molecular deuteration levels is typically performed using mass spectrometry, however software options to perform these calculations are scarce. The in-house scripts and spreadsheets currently used rarely account for isotopic interferences from 13C or multi-isotopic elements that impact deuteration calculations. DGet! removes isotopic interferences using de-convolution and both the isotopological makeup and overall deuteration level can be accurately recovered. The software is available as command line and web applications that take a molecular formula and mass spectrometry data and output a graphical representation of the degree of deuteration as well as the distribution of partially deuterated analogues. These applications are designed to be easy to use and enable superior characterisation of deuterated molecules for users of all levels of expertise, without the limitations of techniques currently used by the majority of deuteration laboratories and researchers.Graphical

Effects of three-dimensional type flow fields on mass transfer and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Developing state-of-the-art bipolar plate structures, to optimize fluid distribution, is essential to achieve better cell performance. In this paper, a three-dimensional model of PEMFC is developed and two cathode-side flow field structures are designed: two-dimensional and three-dimensional types. The two-dimensional type is the traditional “bipolar plate + gas diffusion layer” flow field structure, easily resulting in uneven distribution of reactant gas and other problems. This study describes three novel three-dimensional type flow fields (metal foam, fine-mesh, and wire-mesh). Through comprehensive performance analysis using numerical simulations, it is found that the three-dimensional type flow fields significantly improve mass transfer and output performance compared to two-dimensional type flow fields. The proposed three-dimensional type flow fields create forced convective fluid flow. It further enhances the diffusion dispersion of reactant gas, thus making fuller use of the active region. Among them, the wire-mesh flow field shows the best performance in terms of oxygen distribution, water distribution and electrical properties. The net output power density produced is 0.75068 W cm−2, higher than parallel flow field by 32.78%.

Baffle structure effects on mass transfer and pressure drop of HT-PEMFC with orientated flow channels

Flow field design is critical to improving the overall performance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Adding baffles in the flow channel has been proven to be effective in enhancing mass transfer. In this study, fuel cells with different baffle numbers, heights, and arrangements are numerically simulated to investigate the effects of reactant velocity, concentration distribution, and pressure drop on mass transfer and output performance. The results show that baffles are beneficial in improving cell performance, especially under high current density. With the increase in baffle number and height, the concentration of the reactant at the outlet decreases and the output power increases with the increase in pressure drop. The net power density growth rate is defined to characterize the cell performance. A lower pressure drop reduces the pumping power loss generated during reactant transfer, resulting in a staggered baffle structure with the highest net power density of 4329.65 W/m2. Compared with the traditional and parallel baffle channels, this value is improved by about 11.74% and 4.83%, respectively. Therefore, the optimized baffle channel can enhance the mass transfer, reduce the pumping power, and further improve the cell performance, providing an effective guide for the optimal design and development direction of the orientated flow channel.

An experimental field study of inbreeding depression in an outcrossing invasive plant.

Inbreeding depression is likely to play an important role during biological invasion. But relatively few studies have investigated the fitness of selfed and outcrossed offspring in self-incompatible invasive plants in natural environments in their introduced range. Moreover, the majority of studies on inbreeding depression have investigated self-compatible species with mixed mating, and less is known about the intensity of inbreeding depression in outcrossing self-incompatible species. Here, we address these questions experimentally by comparing selfed and outcrossed progeny of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) over four growing seasons, including three under field conditions in a freshwater marsh in southern Ontario, Canada, a region where L. salicaria is highly invasive. The tristylous mating system of L. salicaria involves disassortative mating among floral morphs enforced by trimorphic incompatibility. However, owing to partial incompatibility, self-fertilized seed can be obtained by manual self-pollination thus facilitating comparisons of selfed and outcrossed progeny. We compared progeny with and without intraspecific competition from selfed or outcrossed neighbours and examined the influence of breeding treatment and competition on fitness correlates by measuring a range of life-history traits including: proportion of seeds germinating, days to germination, survival, proportion of plants flowering, time to flowering, vegetative mass, and inflorescence number and mass. We analysed data for each trait using functions from time series estimates of growth and two multiplicative estimates of fitness. We detected varying intensities of inbreeding depression for several traits in three of the four years of the experiment, including inflorescence mass and reproductive output. Cumulative inbreeding depression over four years averaged δ = 0.48 and 0.68, depending on the method used to estimate multiplicative fitness. The competition treatments did not significantly affect plant performance and the magnitude of inbreeding depression. Given the primarily outcrossing mating system of L. salicaria populations, the detection of inbreeding depression for several key life-history traits was as predicted by theory. Our results suggests that biparental inbreeding and low selfing in colonizing populations may have significant effects on demographic parameters such as population growth.

Supplementation of lemon juice through drinking water on performance, egg quality, serum biochemical indices and combat heat stress in laying pullets

BACKGROUND: Numerous feed additives, such as probiotics, prebiotics, organic acids, and enzymes, have the potential to optimize weight gain, feed efficiency and maintain the acid-base balance which eventually contributes to improve production performance. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the possible advantages of lemon juice (LJ) on laying performance, egg quality, serum biochemical properties, and layers' ability to recover from heat stress. METHODOLOGY: Ninety-six Hy-Line Brown layers all 29 weeks were randomly assigned to four treatments, each with six replications, and were given a six-hour daily drinking experiment. The birds were provided with 0% (control), 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% LJ respectively for 6 weeks. The temperature, humidity, hen day egg production (HDEP) and egg weight (EW) were recorded. Egg quality indices were measured bi-weekly. An analysis of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), packed cell volume (PCV), heterophil (H), lymphocyte (L) count, and heterophil-lymphocyte (H/L) ratio was performed on the blood sample collected at the end of the experiment. KEY FINDINGS: The studied parameters among the various treated groups showed that the egg weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), egg quality parameters, HDL, TG, AST, heterophil count, lymphocyte count and H/L ratio did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). HDEP, egg mass output (EMO) and FI differed significantly (P < 0.01) compared to the control group. The significant reduction in TC, LDL, glucose, ALT, increase in feed intake, HDEP and PCV showed that LJ had a positive effect in reducing the adverse effects of heat stress in laying pullets. CONCLUSION: Taken together, it may be concluded that LJ can be used to improve the laying performance and reduce the heat stress in layers.

A global zircon U–Th–Pb geochronological database

Abstract. Since the start of the 21st century, the widespread application of ion probes has promoted the mass output of high-precision and high-accuracy U–Th–Pb geochronological data. Zircon, as a commonly used mineral for U–Th–Pb dating, widely exists in the continental crust and records a variety of geological activities. Due to the universality and stability of zircon and the long half-lives of U and Th isotopes, zircon U–Th–Pb geochronology can provide nearly continuous records for almost the entirety of Earth's history and is thus essential to studying the growth and evolution of the continental crust and Earth system evolution. Here, we present a database of zircon U–Th–Pb geochronology that samples the global continental crust and spans nearly all of Earth's history. This database collects ∼2 000 000 geochronology records from ∼12 000 papers and dissertations. This paper describes the compiled raw data, presents the relationship between dating error and zircon age, compares the error levels of different dating instruments, and discusses the impact of sampling bias on data analysis as well as how to evaluate and minimize this impact. In addition, we provide an overview of the temporal and spatial distribution of global zircon ages and provide key insights into the potential research value of zircon ages for Earth system science, such as crustal evolution, plate tectonics, and paleoclimate changes, as well as commercial use in mining and energy exploration. Overall, this data collection provides us with a comprehensive platform with which to study zircon chronological data in deep time and space. The described zircon database is freely available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7387566 (Wu et al., 2023).

From ‘publish or perish’ to ‘publish for purpose’

AbstractPressures to publish prolifically have led to an abundance of research on trivial matters rather than on issues of significance. This trend is particularly pronounced in developing countries, where limited access to paid content has fueled the growth of open‐access publications. Additionally, the prevailing “publish or perish” culture has encouraged the pursuit of inconsequential and conformist research. The scholarly integrity of academic institutions is eroded when they struggle with evaluating research impact through metrics, potentially overlooking substantive contribution. The emergence of AI technology adds a fresh dimension to the issue, creating new possibilities for mass output rather than work that is innovative or informed by social values and priorities. This commentary serves as a call to action for scholars, institutions, and policymakers collectively to reshape the trajectory of academic publishing, restoring its sense of purpose through making lasting contributions to the betterment of society.

An experiment-informed discrete element modelling study of knife milling for flexural biomass feedstocks

A discrete element method (DEM) based approach is used to study the relationships between material attributes (MAs), processing parameters (PPs), and quality attributes (QAs) for the knife milling of maize stalks. An approximate DEM shape model was conceptualized based on real maize stalks and calibrated based on experimental bending test data for flexural properties (elastic bending stiffness, elastic bending angle limit, elastoplastic ratio, etc.). DEM simulations of maize stalk comminution in a Jordan Reduction Solutions (“JRS”) knife mill were performed to investigate the relationships between the MAs (maize stalk size and breakage stress limit), PPs (impeller rotational speed), and QAs (mass throughput and output particle size distribution (PSD)). The DEM results suggest that stalk length has little influence on mass throughput and PSD, whilst stalks with larger cross sections tend to generate larger sizes of milled particles given the same breakage stress limit. Both the DEM and experimental results show that faster impeller rotation (or higher power) does not necessarily generate higher throughput or smaller output PSD, especially for maize stalks of higher breakage stress limit. The correlations between these MAs, PPs and QAs are found highly stochastic, though breakage stress limit dictates mass throughput, regardless of stalk size. The DEM-predicted output particle size tended to match the experimental data with coarse PSDs based on sieve size but showed weakened fidelity with finer material, indicating the potential for further model improvement.

Physiological characteristics of a 92-yr-old four-time world champion indoor rower.

This study assessed the physiological, performance, nutritional intake, and training characteristics of a 92-yr-old four-time master world champion indoor male rower. Body composition was assessed via bioelectrical impedance. Oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, ventilation, and heart rate were measured at rest and during a 2,000-m time trial on a rowing ergometer. Maximal power was assessed to compute anaerobic power reserve. Training included ≈ 30 km/wk on the rowing ergometer. Herein, 70% of distances were covered at light intensities (RPE, 10-12), 20% at hard (RPE, 13-17), and 10% at near maximal or maximal (RPE, 17-20). Resistance training was performed during ≈ 2 sessions/wk, and involved three sets of dumbbell lunges, rows, and curls, respectively, taken close (or to) failure. Dietary intake was high in protein [2.3 ± 0.1 g·kg-1 lean body mass (LBM)], conferring a caloric intake of 33.4 ± 1.7 kcal·kg-1 LBM. The participant demonstrated muscle mass of 47.7 kg, fat mass of 9.1 kg (15.4% body fat), forced vital capacity of 3.36 L, time constant (τ) to steady state of 30.2 s, peak relative oxygen pulse of 0.18 ([mL·O2/beats/min]/kg), peak heart rate of 153 beats/min, and maximum power of 220 W (140 W anaerobic power reserve). This 92-yr-old athlete demonstrated remarkably fast oxygen uptake kinetics, akin to values for a healthy young adult, indicating well-developed and/or maintained cardiopulmonary function. The high values for cardiopulmonary function, muscle mass, metabolic efficiency, and maximum power output may infer the pliability of these systems to maintain high functionality at an advanced age.NEW & NOTEWORTHY To our knowledge, this study is the first to characterize the physiological attributes of a competitive rower (4-time master world champion) at an advanced age (≥ 85 yr). The participant demonstrated a high muscle mass (47.7 kg; 80.6% body mass), maximal power (220 W), and exceptional oxygen uptake kinetics (τ of 30.2 s), similar to values reported for healthy young adults.

Countermovement Jump Performance in Elite Senior Male Kabaddi Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the peak power and relative peak power output between raiders and defenders in professional kabaddi players using the counter movement jump test. Method: A total of 16 professional male kabaddi players, evenly split into 8 raiders, and 8 defenders with an average kabaddi experience of 6 years (aged 22.5 ± 3.1 years, height 175.1 ± 6.3cm and weight 78.7 ± 0.5kg) participated in this study. A counter movement jump test on a force platform was performed to determine their power output values along with their whole-body composition analysis. All players have played in national, international, or pro league competitions. During their 8-week pre-season camp in September–October 2022, these athletes trained and were tested at Inspire Institute of Sport in Bellary, India. Results: The results indicated that there is no significant difference in peak power output with respect to a Kabaddi player’s playing position or training age. But a significant positive correlation (p=0.039) was established between lean body mass and relative peak power output. Conclusion: The current study suggests that peak power production from the countermovement leap test may be a good way to measure explosive leg power in kabaddi athletes. Kabaddi raiders and defenders have similar vertical jump height, peak power, and relative peak power. Years of kabaddi experience did not affect countermovement jump test variables. According to the study, all kabaddi players have similar physiological demands.

Females with Increased Costs Maintain Reproductive Output: A Field Experiment in a Common Songbird.

Reproduction and self-maintenance are energetically costly activities involved in classic life history trade-offs. However, few studies have measured the responses of wild organisms to simultaneous changes in reproductive and self-maintenance costs, which may have interactive effects. In free-living female Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), we simultaneously manipulated reproductive costs (by adding or removing two nestlings) and self-maintenance costs (by attaching a ∼1 g weight in the form of a GPS tag to half of our study birds) and measured mass, immune status, blood glucose, feather growth, and reproductive output (likelihood of a second clutch, number of eggs, and time between clutches). GPS tags allowed us to analyze how movement range size affected response to brood size manipulation. Tagging altered females' immune function as evidenced by an elevated heterophil to lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, but all females were equally likely to lay more eggs. There was no evidence of interactive effects of the tagging and brood size treatment. Range size was highly variable, and birds with large ranges grew feathers more slowly, but analyzing the effect of brood size manipulation while accounting for variation in range size did not result in any physiological response. Our results support the theoretical prediction that short-lived vertebrates do face a trade-off between reproduction and self-maintenance and, when faced with increased costs, tend to preserve investment in reproduction at the expense of parental condition. This experiment also helps us to understand how movement patterns may be relevant to life history trade-offs in wild birds.

Exploring Sex Differences of Beta-Blockers in the Treatment of Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, early recognition and adequate treatment of hypertension are of leading importance. However, the efficacy of antihypertensives may be depending on sex disparities. Our objective was to evaluate and quantify the sex-diverse effects of beta-blockers (BB) on hypertension and cardiac function. We focussed on comparing hypertensive female versus male individuals. A systematic search was performed for studies on BBs from inception to May 2020. A total of 66 studies were included that contained baseline and follow up measurements on blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and cardiac function. Data also had to be stratified for sex. Mean differences were calculated using a random-effects model. In females as compared to males, BB treatment decreased systolic BP 11.1 mmHg (95% CI, -14.5; -7.8) vs. 11.1 mmHg (95% CI, -14.0; -8.2), diastolic BP 8.0 mmHg (95% CI, -10.6; -5.3) vs. 8.0 mmHg (95% CI, -10.1; -6.0), and HR 10.8 beats per minute (bpm) (95% CI, -17.4; -4.2) vs. 9.8 bpm (95% CI, -11.1; -8.4)), respectively, in both sexes' absolute and relative changes comparably. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased only in males (3.7% (95% CI, 0.6; 6.9)). Changes in left ventricular mass and cardiac output (CO) were only reported in males and changed -20.6 g (95% CI, -56.3; 15.1) and -0.1 L (95% CI, -0.5; 0.2), respectively. BBs comparably lowered BP and HR in both sexes. The lack of change in CO in males suggests that the reduction in BP is primarily due to a decrease in vascular resistance. Furthermore, females were underrepresented compared to males. We recommend that future research should include more females and sex-stratified data when researching the treatment effects of antihypertensives.

Cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking technique can assess cardiac function and prognosis in patients with myocardial amyloidosis

To quantitatively assess cardiac functions in patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) using cardiac magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) technique and evaluate the prognostic value of CMR-FT in patients with CA. We retrospectively collected the data from 31 CA patients with systemic amyloidosis confirmed by Congo red staining and serum immunohistochemistry after extracardiac tissue biopsy undergoing CMR at our hospital from March, 2013 to June, 2021.Thirty-one age and gender matched patients with asymmetric left ventricular wall hypertrophy and 31 healthy individuals without organic or functional heart disease served as the controls.Radial, circumferential and longitudinal strains and strain rates of the left ventricle at the global level and in each myocardial segment (basal, middle and apical) were obtained with CMR-FT technique and compared among the 3 groups.The predictive value of myocardial strains and strain rates for all-cause mortality in CA patients was analyzed using a stepwise COX regression model. The left ventricular volume, myocardial mass, ejection fraction and cardiac output differed significantly among the groups (P < 0.05).Except for apical longitudinal strain, the global and segmental strains were all significantly lower in CA group than in HCM group (P < 0.05).The global and segmental strains were all significantly lower in CA group than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05).The basal strain rates in the 3 directions were significantly lower in CA group than in the healthy individuals (P < 0.05), but the difference in apical strain rates was not statistically significant between the two groups.Multivariate stepwise COX analysis showed that troponin T (HR=1.05, 95%CI: 1.01-1.10, P=0.017) and middle peak diastolic circumferential strain rate (HR=6.87, 95%CI: 1.52-31.06, P=0.012) were strong predictors of death in CA patients. Strain and strain rate parameters derived from CMR-FT based on cine sequences are new noninvasive imaging markers for assessing cardiac impairment in CA and cardiac function changes in HCM, and provide independent predictive information for all-cause mortality in CA patients.

Structure and electrochemical properties of CuO-ZnO nanocomposite produced by the one-step novel discharge process

The current study focuses on an alternative strategy for producing nanoparticles (NPs) using one-step electrochemical discharge process (ECDP) in different electrolyte mediums. Current and plasma discharge effects on morphology and mass output rate were examined in detail. FE-SEM and TEM results show dimensional control materials such as rod, flower and rice shapes are produced. The XRD, EDS, UV-vis and Raman characterization techniques confirm the formation of CuO-ZnO NPs with different morphology. The use of two semiconductors (n-type ZnO and p-type CuO) in combination have two different band energies may boost electrochemical performance. From the electrochemical study, the flower-shaped structure has high specific capacity (313 F/g at 2 A/g current density), with 84.1% retention capacitance after 5000 cycles. This study allows us to study the discharge-based composite formation, which could be used in supercapacitors.

The association of gestational age and birthweight with blood pressure, cardiac structure, and function in 4 years old: a prospective birth cohort study

BackgroundCurrent evidence relating birthweight and gestational age to cardiovascular risk is conflicting. Whether these factors have independent or interactive impacts on cardiovascular parameters during early childhood remains unclear. The goal of this study was to explore whether there were any independent and interactive effects of gestational age and birthweight on blood pressure, left ventricle (LV) structure, and function in 4 years old.MethodsThis study included 1194 children in the Shanghai Birth Cohort from 2013 to 2016. Information about the mothers and children was recorded at time of birth using a questionnaire. Follow-up measurements, including anthropometric, blood pressure, and echocardiography, were taken between 2018 and 2021, when the children were 4 years old. Multiple linear or logistic regressions and restricted cubic spline were used to explore the association of birthweight and gestational age with cardiovascular measurements.ResultsGestational age had a significant negative correlation with both systolic blood pressure [β = − 0.41, 95% CI: (− 0.76, − 0.07)] and mean arterial pressure [β = − 0.36, 95%CI: (− 0.66, − 0.07)]. The risk of prehypertension decreased with increased gestational age [OR = 0.54, 95% CI: (0.32, 0.93)]. The relationship between birthweight with blood pressure was U-shape (P for non-linear < 0.001). The wall thickness, volume, mass, and cardiac output of LV increased with birthweight, though the ejection fraction [β = − 1.02, 95% CI: (− 1.76, − 0.27)] and shorten fraction [β = 0.72, 95% CI: (− 1.31, − 0.14)] decreased with birthweight. The risk of LV hypertrophy was not associated with birthweight [OR = 1.59, 95% CI: (0.68, 3.73)].ConclusionsIn this study, we found different associations of birthweight and gestational age with cardiovascular measurements in the offspring at 4 years old. Gestational age influenced blood pressure independent of birthweight. Heart size and function at 4 years old was influenced mostly by birthweight and not by gestational age.

Seawater hydrothermal system in the middle of the Kuril Arc: Yankich Island, Ushishir Archipelago

Ushishir volcano is located in the middle of the Kuril Arc. The Ushishir crater, a closed bay connected with the ocean by a narrow and shallow strait, is characterized by a strong hydrothermal activity. Boiling springs, hot pools, fumaroles and shallow submarine vents are manifestations of a magmatic-seawater hydrothermal system that discharges a boiling solution that is generally similar in chemical and isotopic composition to the seafloor hydrothermal fluids at different tectonic settings. The main features of the Ushishir fluids are: (1) water has close to zero δD and a large oxygen isotopic shift (6 to 9 ‰); (2) 3He/4He = 7.3Ra, very low CH4 and N2/Ar > 200; (3) high boron concentration (∼70 ppm); (4) a significant uptake of Ca and Sr from the host rock and Ca/Sr ratio higher than that for seawater with 87Sr/86Sr 0.7037–0.7039, a bit higher than that of the rock value (0.7031). The measured onshore discharge of boiling water is ∼5 kg/s; however, a large plume of the discolored seawater is released from the outer submarine slope of the volcano indicating a much higher total mass and heat output. We compare the seafloor hydrothermal fluids with boiling water of the coastal Ushishir springs and estimate the effective water/rock ratio using our data on oxygen and Sr isotopes and some trace elements. We also discuss the correctness of the application of solute and gas geothermometers for both seafloor and coastal seawater hydrothermal systems.

Glucocorticoids Accelerate Erythropoiesis in Healthy Humans-Should the Use in Sports Be Reevaluated?

The World Anti-Doping Agency prohibits glucocorticoid administration in competition but not in periods out of competition. Glucocorticoid usage is controversial as it may improve performance, albeit debated. A hitherto undescribed but performance-relevant effect of glucocorticoids in healthy humans is accelerated erythropoiesis. We investigated whether a glucocorticoid injection accelerates erythropoiesis, increases total hemoglobin mass, and improves exercise performance. In a counterbalanced, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design (3 months washout), 10 well-trained males (peak oxygen uptake, 60 ± 3 mL O 2 ·min -1 ·kg -1 ) were injected with 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide (glucocorticoid group) or saline (placebo group) in the gluteal muscles. Venous blood samples collected before and 7-10 h, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d after treatment were analyzed for hemoglobin concentration and reticulocyte percentage. Hemoglobin mass and mean power output in a 450-kcal time trial were measured before as well as 1 and 3 wk after treatment. A higher reticulocyte percentage was evident 3 d (19% ± 30%, P < 0.05) and 7 d (48% ± 38%, P < 0.001) after glucocorticoid administration, compared with placebo, whereas hemoglobin concentration was similar between groups. Additionally, hemoglobin mass was higher ( P < 0.05) 7 d (glucocorticoid, 886 ± 104 g; placebo, 872 ± 103 g) and 21 d (glucocorticoid, 879 ± 111 g; placebo, 866 ± 103 g) after glucocorticoid administration compared with placebo. Mean power output was similar between groups 7 d (glucocorticoid, 278 ± 64 W; placebo, 275 ± 62 W) and 21 d (glucocorticoid, 274 ± 62 W; placebo, 275 ± 60 W) after treatment. Intramuscular injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide accelerates erythropoiesis and increases hemoglobin mass but does not improve aerobic exercise performance in the present study. The results are important for sport physicians administering glucocorticoids and prompt a reconsideration of glucocorticoid usage in sport.

NOEMA spatially resolved view of the multiphase outflow in IRAS17020+4544: a shocked wind in action?

ABSTRACT The Narrow Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy IRAS17020+4544 is one of the few active galactic nuclei (AGNs) where a galaxy-scale energy-conserving outflow was revealed. This paper reports on NOEMA observations addressed to constrain the spatial scale of the CO emission in outflow. The molecular outflowing gas is resolved in five components tracing approaching and receding gas, all located at a distance of 2–3 kpc on the west and east sides of the active nucleus. This high-velocity gas (up to vout = ±1900 km s−1) is not coincident with the rotation pattern of the CO gas in the host galaxy disc. The estimated mass outflow rate shows that with a global mass output of $\dot{M}_{H_2}$ = 139$\pm 20~\, \mathrm{M}_\odot$ yr−1, this powerful galaxy-scale outflow is consistent with the wind conserving its energy, and with a momentum rate boost of a factor of ∼30 compared to the momentum rate of the nuclear X-ray wind. Preliminary results from ancillary X-ray (Chandra) and radio images (e-MERLIN) are reported. While the nature of the radio source is not conclusive, the Chandra image may tentatively trace extended emission, as expected by an expanding bubble of hot X-ray gas. The outcome of the NOEMA analysis and of the past and ongoing publications dedicated to the description of the outflow multiband phenomenology in IRAS17020+4544 concur to provide compelling reasons to postulate that an outflow shocking with the galaxy interstellar medium is driving the multiphase wind in this peculiar AGN.