Is Free School Meal Status a Valid Proxy for Socio-Economic Status (in Schools Research)?

School meals, family income,

The role of renal transporters and novel regulatory interactions in the TAL that control blood pressure

Hypertension (HTN), a major public health issue is currently the leading factor in the global burden of disease, where associated complications account for 9.4 million deaths worldwide every year (98). Excessive dietary salt intake is among the environmental factors that contribute to HTN, known as salt sensitivity. The heterogeneity of salt sensitivity and the multiple mechanisms that link high salt intake to increases in blood pressure are of upmost importance for therapeutic application. A continual increase in the kidney's reabsorption of sodium (Na+) relies on sequential actions at various segments along the nephron. When the distal segments of the nephron fail to regulate Na+, the effects on Na+ homeostasis are unfavourable. We propose that the specific nephron region where increased active uptake occurs as a result of variations in Na+ reabsorption is at the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle (TAL). The purpose of this review is to urge the consideration of the TAL that contributes to the pathophysiology of salt sensitive HTN. Further research in this area will enable development of a therapeutic application for targeted treatment

Mechanisms of light harvesting by photosystem II in plants

Light harvesting by photosystem II (PSII) in plants is highly efficient and acclimates to rapid changes in the intensity of sunlight. However, the mechanisms of PSII light harvesting have remained experimentally inaccessible. Using a structure-based model of excitation energy flow in 200 nanometer (nm) x 200 nm patches of the grana membrane, where PSII is located, we accurately simulated chlorophyll fluorescence decay data with no free parameters. Excitation movement through the light harvesting antenna is diffusive, but becomes subdiffusive in the presence of charge separation at reaction centers. The influence of membrane morphology on light harvesting efficiency is determined by the excitation diffusion length of 50 nm in the antenna. Our model provides the basis for understanding how nonphotochemical quenching mechanisms affect PSII light harvesting in grana membranes.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figure

The Study of Hepatitis B Virus Using Bioinformatics

Hepatitis refers to the inflammation of the liver. A major cause of hepatitis is the hepatotropic virus, hepatitis B virus (HBV). Annually, more than 786,000 people die as a result of the clinical manifestations of HBV infection, which include cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Sequence heterogeneity is a feature of HBV, because the viral-encoded polymerase lacks proof-reading ability. HBV has been classified into nine genotypes, A to I, with a putative 10th genotype, “J,” isolated from a single individual. Comparative analysis of HBV strains from various geographic regions of the world and from different eras can shed light on the origin, evolution, transmission and response to anti-HBV preventative, and treatment measures. Bioinformatics tools and databases have been used to better understand HBV mutations and how they develop, especially in response to antiviral therapy and vaccination. Despite its small genome size of ~3.2 kb, HBV presents several bioinformatic challenges, which include the circular genome, the overlapping open reading frames, and the different genome lengths of the genotypes. Thus, bioinformatics tools and databases have been developed to facilitate the study of HBV

Treatment Outcomes of Treatment-Naïve Hepatitis C Patients co-infected with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohorts

Co-infection with Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV is common and HIV accelerates hepatic disease progression due to HCV. However, access to HCV treatment is limited and success rates are generally poor

Psychological wellbeing benefits of simulated exposure to five urban settings: An experimental study from the pedestrian's perspective

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd The potential health benefits of walking in attractive, predominantly built-up urban settings have not received much attention from scholars, despite the global need to increase walking levels in cities. The current experimental study assessed the affective outcomes associated with several urban walking settings, with a focus on the presence of motor-traffic and architectural styles from different historic periods. We employed a mixed within-between subjects design (n = 269) with employees and students from Bristol (UK) and measured relaxation and hedonic tone experiences, perceived restorativeness, and environmental perceptions following exposures to one of five urban settings. Results identified three categories of affective outcomes, rather than the classic dichotomy ‘urban vs natural’: the simulated walks in areas with greenery rated significantly better than the others; however, the pedestrianised settings were associated with neutral or positive affective outcomes and perceptions, with statistically significant differences with an area with traffic. These results suggest that walking in high-quality urban settings can have positive outcomes, and highlight the negative role of traffic and the potential benefits of historic elements in the affective walking experience. From a policy perspective, the findings strengthen the case for traffic removal, and indicate that exposure to high quality urban design that includes some natural elements can offer the same affective benefits offered by large green spaces