Description: The Cretaceous was characterised by a dramatic increase in ocean crust production and abnormal intraplate volcanism. Many Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) were formed during this period. The south western Pacific is dominated by three LIPs: the Ontong-Java Plateau (〉 1.5 106 km2), the Manihiki Plateau (~0.8 106 km2), and the Hikurangi Plateau (0.35 106 km2). The formation of LIPs in the equatorial western Pacific is still a matter of debate. For example, are they the product of a single “mega (Greater Ontong Java)” or of multiple, smaller volcanic events? Another important question is the time interval over which this volcanism took place: within a few million years or over tens of millions of years? This has implications for our understanding of mantle processes and climate variability. During the eruption of such huge amounts of magma large quantities of CO2 are emitted into the ocean-atmosphere system. LIPs are thus considered to have been responsible for global environmental modifications and ecosystem adaptations. We propose to drill on Manihiki Plateau to recover a complete sedimentary and the upper (1-2 km) basement volcanic rock sequences. The sediments preserved on this plateau record an 120 My-long history of extreme climates , global anoxia, perturbation of geochemical cycles and major changes in marine biota. The overall goal is a quantitative characterisation and understanding of biogeochemical cycles and marine ecosystem reactions to environmental and climate changes at the onset, during and after major greenhouse episodes. We want to determine the spatial and temporal variability of the lysocline carbonate compensation depth (CCD), oxygen minimum zone (OMZ), and primary productivity during the .Cretaceous. The proximity of Manihiki to Ontong Java Plateau and the Galapagos hotspots offers the opportunity to investigate reactions of the ocean/atmosphere system, as well as geochemical fluxes in an area close to emplacement of LIPs.

Description: New major and trace element and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope data, together with 39Ar-40Ar ages for lavas from the extinct Galapagos Rise spreading center in the eastern Pacific reveal the evolution in magma compositions erupted during slowdown and after the end of active spreading at a mid-ocean ridge. Lavas erupted at 9.2 Ma, immediately prior to the end of spreading are incompatible element depleted mid-ocean ridge tholeiitic basalts, whereas progressively younger (7.5 to 5.7 Ma) postspreading lavas are increasingly alkalic, have higher concentrations of incompatible elements, higher La/Yb, K/Ti, 87Sr/86Sr, and lower 143Nd/144Nd ratios and were produced by smaller degrees of mantle melting. The large, correlated variations in trace element and isotope compositions can only be explained by melting of heterogenous mantle, in which incompatible trace element enriched lithologies preferentially contribute to smaller degree mantle melts. The effects of variable degrees of melting of heterogeneous mantle on lava compositions must be taken into account when using mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) to infer the conditions of melting beneath active spreading ridges. For example, the stronger “garnet signature” inferred from Sm/Nd and 143Nd/144Nd ratios for postspreading lavas from the Galapagos Rise results from a larger contribution from enriched lithologies with high La/Yb and Sm/Yb, rather than from a greater proportion of melting in the stability field of garnet peridotite. Correlations between ridge depth and Sm/Yb and fractionation-corrected Na concentrations in MORB worldwide could result from variations in mantle fertility and/or variations in the average degree of melting, rather than from large variations in mantle temperature. If more fertile mantle lithologies are preferentially melted beneath active spreading ridges, then the upper mantle may be significantly more “depleted” than is generally inferred from the compositions of MORB.

Description: New Re-Os in molybdenite and U-Pb in titanite and zircon age data have been used to discern several discrete alteration, mineralization, and igneous events that occurred in iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits in the Selwyn-Mount Dore corridor of the Proterozoic Mount Isa inlier. Two distinct sodic-calcic alteration events that occurred prior to mineralization have been recognized. This suggests that sodic-calcic alteration may be a fundamental precursor to IOCG mineralization as it mobilizes large amounts of metals, including Fe, K, and Cu. Sodic-calcic alteration at Starra was early synmetamorphic (Isan orogeny) at 1594 {+/-} 8 Ma. Some ironstone-hosted mineralization at Starra may have formed during this event, but an Re-Os molybdenite age of 1568 {+/-} 7 Ma suggests that mineralization also occurred during a (late) metamorphic tectonic event. These ages demonstrate that the Starra system is unrelated to igneous activity; a metamorphic fluid source is proposed. Titanite from a preore alteration assemblage at Mount Elliott yields a U-Pb age of 1530 {+/-} 11 Ma which is within error of the ~1515 Ma Re-Os molybdenite ages from both Mount Elliott and the adjacent SWAN deposit. A magmatic-related origin for the Mount Elliott and SWAN deposits is favored given that the titanite and main-stage molybdenite ages are similar to the emplacement ages for the nearby Squirrel Hills Granite. Molybdenite-bearing calcite veins that crosscut main-stage IOCG mineralization at SWAN have been dated at ~1355 Ma, indicating that this paragenetic stage is unrelated to the Squirrel Hills Granite. U-Pb SHRIMP zircon analyses of volumetrically minor trachyandesitic dikes from Mount Elliott and SWAN reveal relatively young crystallization ages of 1119 {+/-} 15 and 1096 {+/-} 10 Ma, therefore they are not a suitable fluid or metal source for these deposits. Two Re-Os molybdenite analyses from Mount Dore (1503 {+/-} 5 and 1508 {+/-} 5 Ma) are similar to the ~1515 Ma ages from Mount Elliott and SWAN emplacement age of and the Mount Dore Granite. However, two other Re-Os dates (1497 {+/-} 6 and 1501 {+/-} 5 Ma) demonstrate that parts of the Mount Dore system may be slightly younger than Mount Elliott and SWAN. This younger timing is consistent with relative timing criteria that demonstrate mineralization postdates the crystallization of the Mount Dore Granite. Molybdenite from Lady Ella gives an age of 1487 {+/-} 5 Ma. Mineralization at Mount Dore and Lady Ella is probably related to a late-stage, evolved magmatic fluid that generated more potassic alteration. The revised geochronological framework for alteration and mineralization in the Cloncurry district partially explains the fundamental differences in geologic characteristics between IOCG deposits in the district and clearly demonstrates that not all of the IOCG occurrences are related to the intrusion of the voluminous Williams-Naraku batholith. Instead metal-rich reservoirs were generated under the Mount Isa inlier by subduction along the southern margin of the North Australia craton; these reservoirs have been periodically tapped during tectonothermal events, including metamorphism during the Isan orogeny and hot spot activity that generated extensive A-type magmatism that have contributed to the significant metal enrichment across the Mount Isa inlier.

Description: BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. This is due largely to the “silent” nature of the disease until it has progressed to a highly metastatic and castrate resistant state. Voltage sensitive sodium channels (VSSCs) are multimeric transmembrane protein complexes comprised of a pore-forming α subunit and one or two β subunits. The β-subunits modulate surface expression and gating kinetics of the channels but also have inherent cell adhesion molecule (CAM) functions. We hypothesize that PCa cells use VSSC β-subunits as CAMs during PCa progression and metastasis. METHODS We overexpressed the beta-2 isoform as a C-terminal fusion protein with enhanced cyan fluorescence protein (ECFP) in the weakly metastatic LNCaP cells. The effect of beta-2 overexpression on cell morphology was examined using confocal microscopy while metastasis-associated behavior was tested by performing several in vitro metastatic functional assays and in vivo subcutaneous tumor studies. RESULTS We found that cells overexpressing beta-2 (2BECFP) converted to a bipolar fibroblastic morphology. 2BECFP cells were more adhesive than control (ECFP) to vitronectin (twofold) and Matrigel® (1.3-fold), more invasive through Matrigel® (3.6-fold in 72 hr), and had enhanced migration (2.1-fold in 96 hr) independent of proliferation in wound-healing assays. In contrast, 2BECFP cells have a reduced tumor-take and tumor volume in vivo even though the overexpression of beta-2 was maintained. CONCLUSIONS Functional overexpression of VSSC β-subunits in PCa may be one mechanism leading to increased metastatic behavior while decreasing the ability to form localized tumor masses. Prostate © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Description: Background: Approximately 1 in 5 pregnant women in the United Kingdom are obese. In addition to being associated generally with poor health, obesity is known to be a contributing factor to pregnancy and birth complications and the retention of gestational weight can lead to long term obesity.This paper describes the protocol for a cluster randomised trial to evaluate whether a weight management intervention for obese pregnant women is effective in reducing women's Body Mass Index at 12 months following birth. Methods: The study is a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 20 maternity units across England and Wales. The units will be randomised, 10 to the intervention group and 10 to the control group. 570 pregnant women aged 18 years or over, with a Body Mass Index of +/=30 (kg/m2) and between 12 and 20 weeks gestation will be recruited. Women allocated to the control group will receive usual care and two leaflets giving advice on diet and physical activity. In addition to their usual care and the leaflets, women allocated to the intervention group will be offered to attend a weekly 1.5 hour weight management group, which combines expertise from Slimming World with clinical advice and supervision from National Health Service midwives, until 6 weeks postpartum.Participants will be followed up at 36 weeks gestation and at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months postpartum. Body Mass Index at 12 months postpartum is the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include pregnancy weight gain, quality of life, mental health, waist-hip ratio, child weight centile, admission to neonatal unit, diet, physical activity levels, pregnancy and birth complications, social support, self-regulation and self-efficacy. A cost effectiveness analysis and process evaluation will also be conducted.DiscussionThis study will evaluate the effectiveness of a theory-based intervention developed for obese pregnant women. If successful the intervention will equip women with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to make healthier choices for themselves and their unborn child.Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN25260464Date of registration: 16th April 2010.