Exploring the role of microbes in coral-algal interactions on the inshore Great Barrier Reef

Grace Al Moajil-Cole studied the effect of direct contact between common macrolagae and coral on their host microbial communities on Magnetic Island. She found that the bacterial community of the coral remained unchanged when in direct contact with macroalgae. Her results are important in understanding the effects of macroalgae on coral health

Vector meson photoproduction studied in its radiative decay channel

We provide an analysis of vector meson photoproduction in the channel of the vector meson decaying into a pseudoscalar meson plus a photon, i.e. $V\to P\gamma$. It is shown that non-trivial kinematic correlations arise from the measurement of the $P\gamma$ angular distributions in the overall c.m. system in comparison with those in the vector-meson-rest frame. In terms of the vector meson density matrix elements, the implication of such kinematic correlations in the measurement of polarization observables is discussed. For the $\omega$ meson production, due to its relatively large branching ratios for $\omega\to\pi^0\gamma$, additional events from this channel may enrich the information about the reaction mechanism and improve the statistics of the recent measurement of polarized beam asymmetries by the GRAAL Collaboration. For $\phi\to \eta\gamma$, $\rho\to \pi\gamma$, and $K^*\to K\gamma$, we expect that additional information about the spin structure of the vector meson production vertex can be derived.Comment: Revtex, 14 pages, 2 eps figures; Version accepted by PR

Obesity and metabolic syndrome in adolescent survivors of standard risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Saudi Arabia

This study estimated prevalence of unhealthy weight status and metabolic syndrome (MS) amongst Saudi survivors of standard risk ALL. Procedure. We recruited 56 survivors, mean age 13.4 years (SD 4.1), a mean of 9.1 years (SD 4.1) postdiagnosis. The BMI for age was used to define weight status relative to national (Saudi) and international (Cole et al., Cole-IOTF, WHO, and CDC) reference data. We measured body composition by dualenergy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile (HDL-C, Triglycerides), fasting glucose and insulin. Results. According to international definitions based on BMI for age, around half of the sample had unhealthy weight status. All of the approaches based on BMI for age underestimated overfatness, present in 27/51 (53%) of the sample according to DXA. Prevalence of MS was 7.1% (3/42 of those over 9-years old) and 5.4% (3/56) by applying the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition and National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment panel Guidelines (NCEP III), respectively. However, MS by the NCEP III definition was present in 19% of the overweight and obese survivors and 7.1% of the sample had at least two of the components of MS. Conclusion. Unhealthy body weight and overfatness may be common amongst adolescent Saudi survivors of standard risk ALL, though overweight and obesity may be no more common than in the general Saudi adolescent population. Defining weight status using BMI underestimates overfatness. Ideally, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors should be monitored at late effects clinics. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012;59: 133–137. 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Circulating leukocyte telomere length is highly heritable among families of Arab descent

Background Telomere length, an indicator of ageing and longevity, has been correlated with several biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease in both Arab children and adults. It is not known, however, whether or not telomere length is a highly conserved inheritable trait in this homogeneous cohort, where age-related diseases are highly prevalent. As such, the aim of this study was to address the inheritability of telomere length in Saudi families and the impact of cardiometabolic disease biomarkers on telomere length. Methods A total of 119 randomly selected Saudi families (123 adults and 131 children) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometrics were obtained and fasting blood samples were taken for routine analyses of fasting glucose and lipid profile. Leukocyte telomere length was determined using quantitative real time PCR. Results Telomere length was highly heritable as assessed by a parent-offspring regression [h2 = 0.64 (p = 0.0006)]. Telomere length was modestly associated with BMI (R2 0.07; p-value 0.0087), total cholesterol (R2 0.08; p-value 0.0033), and LDL-cholesterol (R2 0.15; p-value 3 x 10-5) after adjustments for gender, age and age within generation. Conclusion The high heritability of telomere length in Arab families, and the associations of telomere length with various cardiometabolic parameters suggest heritable genetic fetal and/or epigenetic influences on the early predisposition of Arab children to age-related diseases and accelerated ageing

On-Line Process Fiber Optic Refractometer for Measuring Edible Oil Hydrogenation

The process of edible oil partial hydrogenation has improved steadily over the past decades, but few on-line process instruments exist capable of measuring the extent of hydrogenation. This work describes the design of a prototype, on-line fiber optic refractometer for controlling and monitoring of oils. It uses an established correlation between the degree of hydrogenation of an edible oil and its refractive index (Rl). The refractometer cell uses a bare optical fiber in direct contact with processing oil. Equations are given describing the power transmission characteristics of an optical fiber as a function of its cladding Rl. Comparisons between calculated and experimental data are shown using test liquids flowing through the refractometer

Boy Scouts of America Concept Site Master Plan and Improvements

Our team, G1 Engineering, has partnered with the Boy Scouts of America to provide an update to their master plan for the Outdoor Education Center site located at 600 S. 120th Street, Lincoln, NE. Our work included providing transportation solutions; drainage evaluations; investigation of geotechnical conditions; environmental evaluation and determination of permitting requirements; preparation of concept design plans for bridges, drainage, utilities, and overall site plan; and evaluation of structural elements included in the project. Two streams cross the property presenting site access issues. Our team provided pedestrian, UTV, and emergency vehicle access bridges to address these issues. With the two streams on the property, a majority of the land is classified as a floodway or a floodplain. As such, there are regulations placed on any structures built in these areas to not raise flood elevations. Recent expanded use of the facility has led to strains on the parking areas and wastewater facilities. Our team has proposed solutions for expanded parking lots and lagoon operations. Finally, our team investigated the geotechnical conditions present on the site to allow for proper construction and placement of foundations of proposed structures

Patient-specific iPSCs carrying an SFTPC mutation reveal the intrinsic alveolar epithelial dysfunction at the inception of interstitial lung disease

Alveolar epithelial type 2 cell (AEC2) dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of adult and pediatric interstitial lung disease (ILD), including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); however, identification of disease-initiating mechanisms has been impeded by inability to access primary AEC2s early on. Here, we present a human in vitro model permitting investigation of epithelial-intrinsic events culminating in AEC2 dysfunction, using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying an AEC2-exclusive disease-associated variant (SFTP

Extracapsular tumor spread and the risk of local, axillary and supraclavicular recurrence in node-positive, premenopausal patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Extracapsular tumor spread (ECS) has been identified as a possible risk factor for breast cancer recurrence, but controversy exists regarding its role in decision making for regional radiotherapy. This study evaluates ECS as a predictor of local, axillary, and supraclavicular recurrence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: International Breast Cancer Study Group Trial VI accrued 1475 eligible pre- and perimenopausal women with node-positive breast cancer who were randomly assigned to receive three to nine courses of classical combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil. ECS status was determined retrospectively in 933 patients based on review of pathology reports. Cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using methods for competing risks analysis. Adjustment factors included treatment group and baseline patient and tumor characteristics. The median follow-up was 14 years. RESULTS: In univariable analysis, ECS was significantly associated with supraclavicular recurrence (HR = 1.96; 95% confidence interval 1.23-3.13; P = 0.005). HRs for local and axillary recurrence were 1.38 (P = 0.06) and 1.81 (P = 0.11), respectively. Following adjustment for number of lymph node metastases and other baseline prognostic factors, ECS was not significantly associated with any of the three recurrence types studied. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the decision for additional regional radiotherapy should not be based solely on the presence of ECS

Water structuring and collagen adsorption at hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicon surfaces

The adsorption of a collagen fragment on both a hydrophobic, hydrogen-terminated and a hydrophilic, natively oxidised Si surface is investigated using all-atom molecular dynamics. While favourable direct protein-surface interactions via localised contact points characterise adhesion to the hydrophilic surface, evenly spread surface/molecule contacts and stabilisation of the helical structure occurs upon adsorption on the hydrophobic surface. In the latter case, we find that adhesion is accompanied by a mutual fit between the hydrophilic/hydrophobic pattern within the protein and the layered water structure at the solid/liquid interface, which may provide an additional driving force to the classic hydrophobic effect