Taking the technical microbiome into the next decade

The microbiome' has become a buzzword. Multiple new technologies allow to gather information about microbial communities as they evolve under stable and variable environmental conditions. The challenge of the next decade will be to develop strategies to compose and manage microbiomes. Here, key aspects are considered that will be of crucial importance for future microbial technological developments. First, the need to deal not only with genotypes but also particularly with phenotypes is addressed. Microbial technologies are often highly dependent on specific core organisms to obtain the desired process outcome. Hence, it is essential to combine omics data with phenotypic information to invoke and control specific phenotypes in the microbiome. Second, the development and application of synthetic microbiomes is evaluated. The central importance of the core species is a no-brainer, but the implementation of proper satellite species is an important route to explore. Overall, for the next decade, microbiome research should no longer almost exclusively focus on its capacity to degrade and dissipate but rather on its remarkable capability to capture disordered components and upgrade them into high-value microbial products. These products can become valuable commodities in the cyclic economy, as reflected in the case of reversed sanitation', which is introduced here

A faster running speed is associated with a greater body weight loss in 100-km ultra-marathoners

Abstract In 219 recreational male runners, we investigated changes in body mass, total body water, haematocrit, plasma sodium concentration ([Na(+)]), and urine specific gravity as well as fluid intake during a 100-km ultra-marathon. The athletes lost 1.9 kg (s = 1.4) of body mass, equal to 2.5% (s = 1.8) of body mass (P  0.05). In conclusion, faster runners lost more body mass, runners lost more body mass when they drank less fluid, and faster runners drank more fluid than slower runners

A lad tried to get hold of my boobs, so I kicked him: an examination of attempts by adults with learning difficulties to initiate their own safeguarding

People with learning difficulties are considerably more likely to experience sexual and other forms of violence than non-disabled people. Nevertheless, several respondents in this study have demonstrated some self-protective competencies. Most knew of their right not to be violated and a number of participants described situations when they had attempted to initiate their own safeguarding. Some had asked others for help with this. However, appropriate assistance was not always provided. This indicates that risk may be aggravated by social barriers. This paper focuses on highlighting the resistance skills that are prevalent amongst some people with learning difficulties. It concludes with suggestions on ways in which individuals may be further supported to realise their potential to play a more active role in directing and regaining their own protection