Phylogenetic Diversity of Cyanobacteria from Qatar Coastal Waters

Cyanobacteria represent the major microorganism phyla, being diverse and widespread group inhabiting most of the earth's environments. The recent increase of occurrence of toxic cyanobacterial strains in the marine environment attracts attention of the scientific community and environmental managers. The deterministic factors leading to such events are under scrutiny and are closely linked to our understanding of the diversity and environmental response of these strains to environmental conditions. The extreme environment witnessed in the Arabian Gulf is likely to nurture the occurence of such harmful events. In recent times advanced molecular methodologies for the detection and genetic characterization of cyanobacteria were developed based on DNA amplification techniques. We aim in this work to better understand the diversity of the cyanobacterial natural communities found in Qatar marine environment through a genotypic characterization (phylogenetic analysis) with the objective to i. assess the local diversity, and ii. provide consistent reference for future comparative analysis, biotechnological applications and monitoring. In this study, QUCCCM strains from Qatar coastal were used to amplify fragments of the 16S rRNA gene followed by phylogenetic analysis. This methodology showed to produce accurate identification of the considered strains and analyze their evolutionary relationship. 28 taxa were identified among them 21.4% belong to the genus Geitlerinem, 25% Chroococcidiopsis, 10.7% Synechococcus, 10.7% Stanieria, 7.1% Euhalothece, 7.1% Geminocystis, 3.6% Leptolyngbya, 3.6% Oscillatoria, and 3.6% Dermocarpella. The biogeographic distribution of the strains and their potential toxicity is discussed

Genetics and metabolomics of elite athletes: Genome-wide association study and Metabolomics profiling of elite athletes

AIM: The outstanding performance of elite athletes is a product of a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The aims of this study was to compare differences in genetic and metabolic profiles among different classes of elite athletes and to identify genetically-influenced metabolic profiles (metabotypes) underlying these differences. METHODS: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted in 1259 elite athlete samples using Drug core BeadChip arrays, followed by non-targeted metabolomics of 692 serum samples. Genotype distribution, differences in metabolic levels and genetically-influenced metabotypes were compared between high and moderate endurance and power sports as well as among sports with different cardiovascular demands (CVD). RESULTS: Out of 341385 SNPs, two novel associations are reported for endurance status including rs56330321 in ATP2B2 (p=1.47E-7) and rs2635438 in SYNE1 (p=2.54E-7). A meta-analysis confirmed the association of rs56330321 and rs2635438 with endurance athlete status at GWAS level of significance. Metabolomics analysis of 740 metabolites was performed in in 191 (discovery cohort) and 500 (replication cohort) elite athletes. These studies revealed changes in various metabolites involved in steroid biosynthesis, fatty acid oxidation, oxidative stress response, xenobiotics and various mediators of cell signaling among different groups of endurance, power and CVD athletes. By combining GWAS with metabolomics profiling data (mGWAS), 19 common variant metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) were identified, of which 5 were novel. When focusing on metabolites associated with endurance, power and CVD, 4 common variant mQTLs were found, of which one novel mQTL linking 4-androsten-3alpha,17alpha-diol monosulfate and SULT2A1 involved in steroid sulfation was identified in association with endurance. CONCLUSIONS: GWAS, metabolomics and mGWAS of elite athletes identified novel markers associated with elite athletic performance with a potential application in biomarker discovery in relation to elite athletic performance

Metabolic Signature of Leukocyte Telomere Length in Elite Male Soccer Players

Introduction: Biological aging is associated with changes in the metabolic pathways. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a predictive marker of biological aging; however, the underlying metabolic pathways remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic alterations and identify the metabolic predictors of LTL in elite male soccer players. Methods: Levels of 837 blood metabolites and LTL were measured in 126 young elite male soccer players who tested negative for doping abuse at anti-doping laboratory in Italy. Multivariate analysis using orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS), univariate linear models and enrichment analyses were conducted to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with LTL. Generalized linear model followed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were conducted to identify top metabolites predictive of LTL. Results: Sixty-seven metabolites and seven metabolic pathways showed significant associations with LTL. Among enriched pathways, lysophospholipids, benzoate metabolites, and glycine/serine/threonine metabolites were elevated with longer LTL. Conversely, monoacylglycerols, sphingolipid metabolites, long chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were enriched with shorter telomeres. ROC analysis revealed eight metabolites that best predict LTL, including glutamine, N-acetylglutamine, xanthine, beta-sitosterol, N2-acetyllysine, stearoyl-arachidonoyl-glycerol (18:0/20:4), N-acetylserine and 3-7-dimethylurate with AUC of 0.75 (0.64–0.87, p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion: This study characterized the metabolic activity in relation to telomere length in elite soccer players. Investigating the functional relevance of these associations could provide a better understanding of exercise physiology and pathophysiology of elite athletes.</p

An Approach to the Airway Management in Children with Craniofacial Anomalies

Managing the airways during anesthesia in pediatric patients with craniofacial abnormalities is a challenging and stressful situation for even experienced anesthesiologists. The prerequisites for a good management are a thorough understanding of the normal anatomy of the upper airway, its normal changes with growth, and the key features of congenital craniofacial abnormalities and their impact on the airways resulting in management difficulties. This chapter aims to provide an overview of various craniofacial anomalies and their airway management specificities. These include cleft lip and palate with or without Pierre Robin syndrome, craniofacial dysostosis (including Crouzon, Pfeiffer, and Apert syndromes), mandibulofacial dysostosis/Treacher Collins syndrome, hemifacial microsomia, Down’s syndrome, and other anomalies

Meanings of Women's Agency: Improving Measurement in Context

Decades of research has been conducted to understand the processes that under gird women's empowerment and one of its core components-women's agency. However, few inroads have been made into the study of how these processes work in Arab Middle Eastern societies. In fact, research on women's agency in the Arab Middle East has generally relied on measurement instruments that have been adapted without rigorous testing. This study is the first in Qatar to explore how women in Qatar understand women's agency scale items. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore women's interpretations of selected scale items about decision-making, freedom of movement, and gender attitudes. Methods: Cognitive interviews were conducted with 24 Qatari women ages 18-21. These women previously responded to agency scales as part of a bigger two wave survey study on influences of kin on women's participation in the labor market. The semi-structured cognitive interviews explore one decision-making item, one freedom-of-movement item, and five gender attitude items. Grounded theory analysis techniques were used. Women's responses were coded and analyzed for themes and patterns. Results: For the decision-making item, the majority of women originally reported that they made their own decisions; yet probing revealed family input as an important part of the decision-making process. We conclude that the response options for this item were not uniformly interpreted by participants, and this variation in interpretation results in the group of women who reported making the decision on their own to be more heterogeneous than the researchers intended. Women's multiple interpretations of the decision-making scale suggest that the item was too vague for the context in which it was measured. On the other hand, women seemed to understand the item measuring freedom of movement as the researchers intended, as almost all participants easily indicated that they needed input from others on the freedom-of-movement item. We conclude that the uniformity in responses is due to the specificity of the item which led to women interpreting the item as intended. Women's responses to gender attitude items were reflective of broader Qatari societal norms rather than their own individual opinions. In their survey responses, women participants reflected less gender-equitable attitudes on some items and higher gender-equitable attitudes on other items. When probed during the cognitive interviews, inconsistencies appeared between their initial responses and their subsequent discussion of gender roles in Qatari society. It appears that these young women are caught between their own beliefs about gender equality and larger Qatari societal norms. These conflicts resulted in inconsistent responses across the gender attitude scale. Conclusion: Agency measures commonly used in the Arab Middle East are not necessarily appropriate for such a context, especially when used with Qatari young women. Generally, the scale items tested revealed that the items were interpreted in different ways by different women. This highlights the need for deeper exploration into women's understanding of agency scale items before their use in new social contexts. Accordingly, we recommend that scale items be systematically tested whenever a researcher wants to field it in a new cultural context to determine if it is being interpreted consistently across women, and in line with the researchers intent. It is also important to identify scale items which may elicit responses that are representative of societal norms rather than personal beliefs. We recommend that such items are modified to encourage women to express their own opinions.qscienc

Author Correction: Metabolic GWAS of elite athletes reveals novel genetically-influenced metabolites associated with athletic performance

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper

Metabolic GWAS of elite athletes reveals novel genetically-influenced metabolites associated with athletic performance

Genetic research of elite athletic performance has been hindered by the complex phenotype and the relatively small effect size of the identified genetic variants. The aims of this study were to identify genetic predisposition to elite athletic performance by investigating genetically-influenced metabolites that discriminate elite athletes from non-elite athletes and to identify those associated with endurance sports. By conducting a genome wide association study with high-resolution metabolomics profiling in 490 elite athletes, common variant metabolic quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) were identified and compared with previously identified mQTLs in non-elite athletes. Among the identified mQTLs, those associated with endurance metabolites were determined. Two novel genetic loci in FOLH1 and VNN1 are reported in association with N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate and Linoleoyl ethanolamide, respectively. When focusing on endurance metabolites, one novel mQTL linking androstenediol (3alpha, 17alpha) monosulfate and SULT2A1 was identified. Potential interactions between the novel identified mQTLs and exercise are highlighted. This is the first report of common variant mQTLs linked to elite athletic performance and endurance sports with potential applications in biomarker discovery in elite athletic candidates, non-conventional anti-doping analytical approaches and therapeutic strategies

Airway Management in COVID-19 as Aerosol Generating Procedure

2020 has seen the whole world battling a pandemic. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets when in close contact with an infected person, by direct contact, or by contact with contaminated objects and surfaces. Aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) like intubation have a high chance of generating large concentrations of infectious aerosols. AGPs potentially put healthcare workers at an increased risk of contracting the infection, and therefore special precautions are necessary during intubation. The procedure has to be performed by an expert operator who uses appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Modifications of known techniques have helped to reduce the chances of contracting the infection from patients. The use of checklists has become standard safe practice. This chapter looks at the current knowledge we have regarding this illness and how we should modify our practice to make managing the airway both safer for the patient and the healthcare workers involved. It addresses the preparation, staff protection, technical aspects and aftercare of patients who need airway intervention. It recommends simulation training to familiarize staff with modifications to routine airway management

The association of HFE gene H63D polymorphism with endurance athlete status and aerobic capacity: novel findings and a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Iron is an important component of the oxygen-binding proteins and may be critical to optimal athletic performance. Previous studies have suggested that the G allele of C/G rare variant (rs1799945), which causes H63D amino acid replacement, in the HFE is associated with elevated iron indexes and may give some advantage in endurance-oriented sports. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the HFE H63D polymorphism and elite endurance athlete status in Japanese and Russian populations, aerobic capacity and to perform a meta-analysis using current findings and three previous studies. METHODS: The study involved 315 international-level endurance athletes (255 Russian and 60 Japanese) and 809 healthy controls (405 Russian and 404 Japanese). Genotyping was performed using micro-array analysis or by PCR. VO2max in 46 male Russian endurance athletes was determined using gas analysis system. RESULTS: The frequency of the iron-increasing CG/GG genotypes was significantly higher in Russian (38.0 vs 24.9%; OR 1.85, P = 0.0003) and Japanese (13.3 vs 5.0%; OR 2.95, P = 0.011) endurance athletes compared to ethnically matched controls. The meta-analysis using five cohorts (two French, Japanese, Spanish, and Russian; 586 athletes and 1416 controls) showed significant prevalence of the CG/GG genotypes in endurance athletes compared to controls (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.58-2.45; P = 1.7 × 10-9). Furthermore, the HFE G allele was associated with high V̇O2max in male athletes [CC: 61.8 (6.1), CG/GG: 66.3 (7.8) ml/min/kg; P = 0.036]. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that the HFE H63D polymorphism is strongly associated with elite endurance athlete status, regardless ethnicities and aerobic capacity in Russian athletes

Partnering for sustainability : Parent-Teacher-School (PTS) interactions in the Qatar education system

The interaction avenues, levels, and impacts between parents, schools and teachers have changed drastically due to the ever-increasing responsibilities, frequent and rapid changes in the curriculum, the invasive dominance of the internet and digital media in the lives of all stakeholders, and the digitization of learning materials, to name a few. This pilot study follows a design-thinking approach to investigate the current practices, needs, and challenges of parental involvement in public schools in Qatar to improve student achievements towards sustainable living and habits by identifying problems, developing solutions, and improving student achievement in conjunction with all local and relevant stakeholders. To this end, building on extensive and comparative studies on theories, models, and best practices within and outside the selected domain, a qualitative study is conducted to obtain insight from local teachers and parents in preparatory public schools. The grounded theory method is employed to analyze the data via the qualitative coding technique. The results indicate that parental involvement practices in Qatar public schools occur in different forms, including home-based and school-based learning. Furthermore, while almost all parents recognize the significance of parental involvement and show a high level of interest in being on the ‘Board of Trustees’, in reality, very few participate or volunteer in school activities, and they rarely visit classrooms or interact with teachers or schools, mainly due to their increasing job-related commitments. In addition, the majority of parents indicate the need for additional flexibility in communication with the school to increase their involvement. Meanwhile, the teachers highlight the significant lack of parental involvement in understanding, overcoming and improving student achievement in both academic subjects and sustainable living habits and actions. The study outlines a few key suggestions to overcome these challenges and improve the parent-teacher-school (PTS) partnership, including offering mandatory parenting classes, developing and implementing effective communication mechanisms to facilitate parent-school interactions, and involving parents in decision-making process relating to their children and other school-related activities. Despite the sampling limitation, this study’s findings represent a starting point for understanding the needs of PTS partnerships, current practices of parental involvement, and mechanisms to improve their contribution to Qatar’s schools