A stable isotope stratigraphy for the Axel Heiberg Fossil Forest and its application to Eocene climate

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-107).The Eocene era was a warm, climatically dynamic transitional period between the Paleocene greenhouse world and the Oligocene icehouse world. This study details carbon and hydrogen isotopic and biomarker analyses of samples of lignite (bulk fossil leaves), wood, paleosol, and resinite from the Middle to Late Eocene age fossil forest stratigraphy on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut, Canada. Bulk carbon isotopes show a record of frequent, large fluctuations on the scale of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum benthic carbon excursion of [approx.] 2.6%₀ (Zachos 1999). However, terrestrial flora are less sensitive to CO₂ fluctuations given their capacity to regulate stomatal intake and the comparatively easy diffusion of CO₂ in air. Resinites (-22.8 +/- 1.7%₀) are enriched relative to bulk lignite (-24.7 +/- 0.75%₀), and wood (-21.66 +/- 0.45%₀) is also enriched relative to bulk lignite. Both 1) a scenario of periodic methane hydrate pulses and 2) a scenario of fluctuating forest stand LAI (leaf area index) are not inconsistent with our data. Either mechanism could be responsible for large carbon isotope shifts. Higher plant input dominated the n-alkane signature. Compound-specific hydrogen isotopes in n-alkanes show a record of marked secular change, with isotopes becoming generally lighter over the time span of the stratigraphy, though punctuated by singular fluctuations as large as 32%₀.(cont.) Polycyclic isoprenoid lipids (-266%₀ to -375%₀, mean 300%₀ +/- 38%₀) are characteristically depleted relative to n-alkanes (-238%₀ to -295%₀, mean -268%₀ +/- 10%₀). From the n-alkanes, we estimate that environmental water in the Eocene on Axel Heiberg Island was depleted -150%o +/- 24.8%o, which agrees with an estimate derived from cellulose, [delta]D-environmental = -133%₀ (Jahren 2003). (For comparison, modern precipitation at the site has a [delta]D value of [approx.] -213%₀, though precipitation should not be considered equivalent to environmental water.) This datum is consistent with a meridional weather patterns that may have carried moisture over continents towards high latitudes in the absence of a polar front, isotopically depleting precipitation to a greater extent than occurs today. However, seasonality cannot be discounted as a mechanism, given that colder temperatures would lead to colder condensation temperatures and thus, isotopically lighter precipitation.Monica C. Byrne.S.M

Comparison of proteomic profiles of serum, plasma, and modified media supplements used for cell culture and expansion

BACKGROUND: The culture and expansion of human cells for clinical use requires the presence of human serum or plasma in culture media. Although these supplements have been extensively characterized in their chemical composition, only recently it has been possible to provide by high throughput protein analysis, a comprehensive profile of the soluble factors contributing to cell survival. This study analyzed and compared the presence of 100 proteins including chemokines, cytokines and soluble factors in six different types of media supplements: serum, plasma, recalcified plasma, heat inactivated serum, heat inactivated plasma and heat inactivated recalcified plasma. METHODS: Serum, plasma, recalcified plasma, and heat inactivated supplements were prepared from ten healthy subjects. The levels of 100 soluble factors were measured in each sample using a multiplexed ELISA assay and compared by Eisen hierarchical clustering analysis. RESULTS: A comparison of serum and plasma levels of soluble factors found that 2 were greater in plasma but 18 factors were greater in serum including 11 chemokines. The levels of only four factors differed between recalcified plasma and plasma. Heat inactivation had the greatest effect on soluble factors. Supervised Eisen hierarchical clustering indicated that the differences between heat inactivated supplements and those that were not were greater than the differences within these two groups. The levels of 36 factors differed between heat inactivated plasma and plasma. Thirty one of these factors had a lower concentration in heat inactivated plasma including 12 chemokines, 4 growth factors, 4 matrix metalloproteases, and 3 adhesion molecules. Heat inactivated decalcified plasma is often used in place of heat inactivated serum and the levels of 19 soluble factors differed between these two supplements. CONCLUSION: Our report provides a comprehensive protein profile of serum, plasma recalcified plasma, and heat inactivated supplements. This profile represents a qualitative and quantitative database that can aid in the selection of the appropriate blood derived supplement for human cell cultures with special requirements

A Prospective Evaluation of Point of Care Ultrasound Teaching in Switzerland.

ContextAs the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) continues to expand in the medical field, there is a need for effective educational methods. In Switzerland, medical education follows the European model and lasts 6 years, focusing on preclinical training during the first 2 years. No previous studies have evaluated the optimal time for teaching ultrasound in European medical education.AimsThe aim of this study is to provide ultrasound training to medical students in Switzerland at varying times during their clinical training to determine if the level of training plays a role in their ability to comprehend and to apply basic POCUS skills.MethodsWe performed an observational study utilizing a convenience sample of Swiss medical students between July 11, 2016 and August 6, 2016. They were taught a 2-day POCUS course by five American-trained 1st-year medical students. Following this course, students were evaluated with written and clinical examination.Results100 Swiss medical students were enrolled in the study. A total of 59 of these students were early clinical students, and 41 students were late clinical students. A two-tailed t-test was performed and demonstrated that the late clinical students performed better than the early clinical students on the written assessment; however, no difference was found in clinical skill.ConclusionOur data suggest that Swiss medical students can learn and perform POCUS after a 2-day instructional taught by trained 1st-year American medical students. No difference was found between students in early clinical training and late clinical training for the ability to perform POCUS

Using new technologies to promote weight management: a randomised controlled trial study protocol

Background: Over the last three decades, overweight and obesity and the associated health consequences have become global public health priorities. Methods that have been tried to address this problem have not had the desired impact, suggesting that other approaches need to be considered. One of the lessons learned throughout these attempts is that permanent weight loss requires sustained dietary and lifestyle changes, yet adherence to weight management programs has often been noted as one of the biggest challenges. This trial aims to address this issue by examining whether social media, as a potential health promotion tool, will improve adherence to a weight management program. To test the effectiveness of this measure, the designated program will be delivered via the popular social networking site Facebook, and compared to a standard delivery method that provides exactly the same content but which is communicated through a pamphlet. The trial will be conducted over a period of twelve weeks, with a twelve week follow-up. Although weight loss is expected, this study will specifically investigate the effectiveness of social media as a program delivery method. The program utilised will be one that has already been proven to achieve weight loss, namely The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet.Methods/design: This project will be conducted as a 3-arm randomised controlled trial. One hundred and twenty participants will be recruited from the Perth community, and will be randomly assigned to one of the following three groups: the Facebook group, the pamphlet group, or a control group. The Facebook Group will receive the weight management program delivered via a closed group in Facebook, the Pamphlet Group will be given the same weight management program presented in a booklet, and the Control Group will follow the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults as usual care. Change in weight, body composition and waist circumference will be initial indicators of adherence to the program. Secondary outcome measures will be blood glucose, insulin, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, physical activity, eating behaviour, mental well-being (stress, anxiety, and depression), social support, self-control, self-efficacy, Facebook activity, and program evaluation. Discussion: It is expected that this trial will support the use of social media - a source of social support and information sharing - as a delivery method for weight management programs, enhancing the reduction in weight expected from dietary and physical activity changes. Facebook is a popular, easy to access and cost-effective online platform that can be used to assist the formation of social groups, and could be translated into health promotion practice relatively easily. It is anticipated in the context of the predicted findings that social media will provide an invaluable resource for health professionals and patients alike

Risk of subsequent primary lymphoma in a cohort of 69,460 five-year survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer in Europe: The PanCareSurFup study.

BACKGROUND Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are at risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) after treatment; however, the risks of developing subsequent primary lymphomas (SPLs), including HL and NHL, after different types of childhood cancer are unknown. The authors quantified the risk of SPLs using the largest cohort of childhood cancer survivors worldwide. METHODS The Pan-European Network for Care of Survivors After Childhood and Adolescent Cancer (PanCare) Survivor Care and Follow-Up Studies (PanCareSurFup) cohort includes 69,460 five-year survivors of childhood cancer, diagnosed during 1940 through 2008, from 12 European countries. Risks of SPLs were quantified by standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and relative risks (RRs) using multivariable Poisson regression. RESULTS Overall, 140 SPLs, including 104 NHLs and 36 HLs, were identified. Survivors were at 60% increased risk of an SPL compared with the general population (SIR, 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-1.9). Survivors were twice as likely to develop NHL (SIR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.9-2.8), with the greatest risks among survivors of HL (SIR, 7.1; 95% CI, 5.1-10.0), Wilms tumor (SIR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.7-5.7), leukemia (SIR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.8-4.4), and bone sarcoma (SIR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4-5.4). Treatment with chemotherapy for any cancer doubled the RR of NHL (RR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2-3.9), but treatment with radiotherapy did not (RR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.7-2.0). Survivors were at similar risk of developing a subsequent HL as the general population (SIR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.8-1.5). CONCLUSIONS In addition to HL, the authors show here for the first time that survivors of Wilms tumor, leukemia, and bone sarcoma are at risk of NHL. Survivors and health care professionals should be aware of the risk of NHL in these survivors and in any survivors treated with chemotherapy

Risk of subsequent gliomas and meningiomas among 69,460 5-year survivors of childhood and adolescent cancer in Europe:the PanCareSurFup study

BACKGROUND: Childhood cancer survivors are at risk of subsequent gliomas and meningiomas, but the risks beyond age 40 years are uncertain. We quantified these risks in the largest ever cohort.METHODS: Using data from 69,460 5-year childhood cancer survivors (diagnosed 1940-2008), across Europe, standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and cumulative incidence were calculated.RESULTS: In total, 279 glioma and 761 meningioma were identified. CNS tumour (SIR: 16.2, 95% CI: 13.7, 19.2) and leukaemia (SIR: 11.2, 95% CI: 8.8, 14.2) survivors were at greatest risk of glioma. The SIR for CNS tumour survivors was still 4.3-fold after age 50 (95% CI: 1.9, 9.6), and for leukaemia survivors still 10.2-fold after age 40 (95% CI: 4.9, 21.4). Following cranial radiotherapy (CRT), the cumulative incidence of a glioma in CNS tumour survivors was 2.7%, 3.7% and 5.0% by ages 40, 50 and 60, respectively, whilst for leukaemia this was 1.2% and 1.7% by ages 40 and 50. The cumulative incidence of a meningioma after CRT in CNS tumour survivors doubled from 5.9% to 12.5% between ages 40 and 60, and in leukaemia survivors increased from 5.8% to 10.2% between ages 40 and 50.DISCUSSION: Clinicians following up survivors should be aware that the substantial risks of meningioma and glioma following CRT are sustained beyond age 40 and be vigilant for symptoms.</p

Crop Updates 2007 - Cereals

This session covers twenty six papers from different authors: CEREAL BREEDING 1. Strategies for aligning producer and market imperatives in cereal breeding in Western Australia, R. Loughman, R. Lance, I. Barclay, G. Crosbie, S. Harasymow, W. Lambe, C. Li, R. McLean, C. Moore, K. Stefanova, A. Tarr and R. Wilson, Department of Agriculture and Food 2. LongReach plant breeders wheat variety trials – 2006, Matu Peipi and Matt Whiting, LongReach Plant Breeders WHEAT AGRONOMY 3. Response of wheat varieties to sowing time in the northern agricultural region in 2006, Christine Zaicou, Department of Agriculture and Food 4. Response of wheat varieties to sowing time in the central agricultural region in 2006, Shahajahan Miyan, Department of Agriculture and Food 5. Response of wheat varieties to sowing time in the Great Southern and Lakes region, Brenda Shackleyand Ian Hartley, Department of Agriculture and Food 6. Response of wheat varieties to time of sowing time in Esperance region in 2006, Christine Zaicou, Ben Curtis and Ian Hartley, Department of Agriculture and Food 7. Performance of wheat varieties in National Variety Testing (NVT) WA: Year 2, Peter Burgess, Agritech Crop Research 8. Flowering dates of wheat varieties in Western Australia in 2006, Darshan Sharma, Brenda Shackley and Christine Zaicou, Department of Agriculture and Food 9. Prospects for perennial wheat: A feasibility study, Len J. Wade, Lindsay W. Bell, Felicity Byrne (nee Flugge) and Mike A. Ewing, School of Plant Biology and CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, The University of Western Australia BARLEY AGRONOMY 10. Barley agronomy highlights: Time of sowing x variety, Blakely Paynter and Andrea Hills, Department of Agriculture and Food 11. Barley agronomy highlights: Weeds and row spacing, Blakely Paynter and Andrea Hills, Department of Agriculture and Food 12. Barley agronomy highlights: Weeds and barley variety, Blakely Paynter and Andrea Hills, Department of Agriculture and Food OAT AGRONOMY 13. Agronomic performance of dwarf potential milling oat varieties in varied environments of WA, Raj Malik, Blakely Paynter and Kellie Winfield, Department of Agriculture and Food 14. Sourcing oat production information in 2007, Kellie Winfield, Department of Agriculture and Food HERBICIDE TOLERANCE 15. Response of new wheat varieties to herbicides, Harmohinder Dhammu, Department of Agriculture and Food 16. Herbicide tolerance of new barley varieties, Harmohinder Dhammu, Vince Lambert and Chris Roberts, Department of Agriculture and Food 17. Herbicide tolerance of new oat varieties, Harmohinder Dhammu, Vince Lambert and Chris Roberts, Department of Agriculture and Food NUTRITION 18. Nitrogen Decision Tools – choose your weapon, Jeremy Lemon, Department of Agriculture and Food DISEASES 19. Barley agronomy highlights: Canopy management, Andrea Hills and Blakely Paynter, Department of Agriculture and Food 20. Barley agronomy highlights: Leaf diseases and spots, Andrea Hills and Blakely Paynter, Department of Agriculture and Food 21. Fungicide applications for stripe rust management in adult plant resistant (APR) wheat varieties, Geoff Thomas, Rob Loughman, Ian Hartley and Andrew Taylor; Department of Agriculture and Food 22. Effect of seed treatment with Jockey on time of onset and disease severity of stripe rust in wheat, Manisha Shankar, John Majewski and Rob Loughman, Department of Agriculture and Food 23. Rotations for management of Cereal Cyst Nematode, Vivien Vanstone, Department of Agriculture and Food 24. Occurrence of Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus in Western Australian grainbelt during the 2006 growing season, Brenda Coutts, Monica Kehoe and Roger Jones, Department of Agriculture and Food 25. Development of a seed test for Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus in bulk samples of wheat, Geoffrey Dwyer, Belinda Welsh, Cuiping Wang and Roger Jones, Department of Agriculture and Food MARKETS 26. Developing the Australian barley value chain, Linda Price, Barley Australi

Decision quality instrument for treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis: a psychometric evaluation

Abstract Background A high quality decision requires that patients who meet clinical criteria for surgery are informed about the options (including non-surgical alternatives) and receive treatments that match their goals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical sensibility of a patient self report instrument, to measure the quality of decisions about total joint replacement for knee or hip osteoarthritis. Methods The performance of the Hip/Knee Osteoarthritis Decision Quality Instrument (HK-DQI) was evaluated in two samples: (1) a cross-sectional mail survey with 489 patients and 77 providers (study 1); and (2) a randomized controlled trial of a patient decision aid with 138 osteoarthritis patients considering total joint replacement (study 2). The HK-DQI results in two scores. Knowledge items are summed to create a total knowledge score, and a set of goals and concerns are used in a logistic regression model to develop a concordance score. The concordance score measures the proportion of patients whose treatment matched their goals. Hypotheses related to acceptability, feasibility, reliability and validity of the knowledge and concordance scores were examined. Results In study 1, the HK-DQI was completed by 382 patients (79%) and 45 providers (58%), and in study 2 by 127 patients (92%), with low rates of missing data. The DQI-knowledge score was reproducible (ICC = 0.81) and demonstrated discriminant validity (68% decision aid vs. 54% control, and 78% providers vs. 61% patients) and content validity. The concordance score demonstrated predictive validity, as patients whose treatments were concordant with their goals had more confidence and less regret with their decision compared to those who did not. Conclusions The HK-DQI is feasible and acceptable to patients. It can be used to assess whether patients with osteoarthritis are making informed decisions about surgery that are concordant with their goals

Secretion of Novel SEL1L Endogenous Variants Is Promoted by ER Stress/UPR via Endosomes and Shed Vesicles in Human Cancer Cells

We describe here two novel endogenous variants of the human endoplasmic reticulum (ER) cargo receptor SEL1LA, designated p38 and p28. Biochemical and RNA interference studies in tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic cells indicate that p38 and p28 are N-terminal, ER-anchorless and more stable relative to the canonical transmembrane SEL1LA. P38 is expressed and constitutively secreted, with increase after ER stress, in the KMS11 myeloma line and in the breast cancer lines MCF7 and SKBr3, but not in the non-tumorigenic breast epithelial MCF10A line. P28 is detected only in the poorly differentiated SKBr3 cell line, where it is secreted after ER stress. Consistently with the presence of p38 and p28 in culture media, morphological studies of SKBr3 and KMS11 cells detect N-terminal SEL1L immunolabeling in secretory/degradative compartments and extracellularly-released membrane vesicles. Our findings suggest that the two new SEL1L variants are engaged in endosomal trafficking and secretion via vesicles, which could contribute to relieve ER stress in tumorigenic cells. P38 and p28 could therefore be relevant as diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets in cancer

First Administration of the Fc-Attenuated Anti-beta Amyloid Antibody GSK933776 to Patients with Mild Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

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