Microscope and spectacle : on the complexities of using new visual technologies to communicate about wildlife conservation

Acknowledgments We thank our interviewees for granting us access to data and permission to use images; dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, the University of Aberdeen, and the James Hutton Institute for funding and support; Gina Maffey, Tony James, Katrina Myrvang Brown, and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on earlier versions of the manuscript; and JP Vargheese for technical assistance.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

New Technological Interventions in Conservation Conflicts : Countering Emotions and Contested Knowledge

RCUK Digital Economy programme Grant number EP/G066051/1 Open access via Springer Compact AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Functions of Phenylalanine Residues within the β-Barrel Stem of the Anthrax Toxin Pore

Background: A key step of anthrax toxin action involves the formation of a protein-translocating pore within the endosomal membrane by the Protective Antigen (PA) moiety. Formation of this transmembrane pore by PA involves interaction of the seven 2b2–2b3 loops of the heptameric precursor to generate a 14-strand transmembrane b barrel. Methodology/Principal Findings: We examined the effects on pore formation, protein translocation, and cytotoxicity, of mutating two phenylalanines, F313 and F314, that lie at the tip the b barrel, and a third one, F324, that lies part way up the barrel. Conclusions/Significance: Our results show that the function of these phenylalanine residues is to mediate membrane insertion and formation of stable transmembrane channels. Unlike F427, a key luminal residue in the cap of the pore, F313, F314, and F324 do not directly affect protein translocation through the pore. Our findings add to our knowledge of structure-function relationships of a key virulence factor of the anthrax bacillus

Association between nutrition self-efficacy, health locus of control and food choice motives in consumers in nine European countries

We investigated associations between food choice motives and psychological determinants of dietary health behaviour change (nutrition self-efficacy, NS-E, and health locus of control, HLoC) among 9381 participants (18 to 65 years, 49.4% females) from nine European countries. Price was the highest rated food choice motive. Higher importance of all motives was associated with higher NS-E and with higher Internal HLoC. Relationships between food choice motives and External HLoC were also in the expected direction in showing negative associations with Health, Natural Content, Weight Control, Mood and Sensory Appeal. Higher External HLoC was also associated with perceived greater importance of ‘external’ motives Ethical Concern, Familiarity and Convenience. Relationships between External HLoC and food choice motives were not all in the expected direction. Price was unrelated to External HLoC. Females rated the importance of all motives higher than males. People with less education ascribed greater importance to Price in motivating food choices. Together, these findings imply that self-efficacy and health locus of control should be considered along with motivations for food choice in dietary health promotion

Transcriptional dynamics elicited by a short pulse of notch activation involves feed-forward regulation by E(spl)/Hes genes.

Dynamic activity of signaling pathways, such as Notch, is vital to achieve correct development and homeostasis. However, most studies assess output many hours or days after initiation of signaling, once the outcome has been consolidated. Here we analyze genome-wide changes in transcript levels, binding of the Notch pathway transcription factor, CSL [Suppressor of Hairless, Su(H), in Drosophila], and RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) immediately following a short pulse of Notch stimulation. A total of 154 genes showed significant differential expression (DE) over time, and their expression profiles stratified into 14 clusters based on the timing, magnitude, and direction of DE. E(spl) genes were the most rapidly upregulated, with Su(H), Pol II, and transcript levels increasing within 5-10 minutes. Other genes had a more delayed response, the timing of which was largely unaffected by more prolonged Notch activation. Neither Su(H) binding nor poised Pol II could fully explain the differences between profiles. Instead, our data indicate that regulatory interactions, driven by the early-responding E(spl)bHLH genes, are required. Proposed cross-regulatory relationships were validated in vivo and in cell culture, supporting the view that feed-forward repression by E(spl)bHLH/Hes shapes the response of late-responding genes. Based on these data, we propose a model in which Hes genes are responsible for co-ordinating the Notch response of a wide spectrum of other targets, explaining the critical functions these key regulators play in many developmental and disease contexts

A INFLUÊNCIA DE FATORES SÓCIO-DEMOGRÁFICOS NA PREMATURIDADE

Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar a relação entre fatores sócio-demográficos e do apoio social na prematuridade. Trata-se de um estudo caso-controle, realizado em um hospital maternidade da rede pública municipal do Rio de Janeiro, no período de 27 de janeiro à 3 de abril de 2009. A população estudada constituiu-se de puérperas de baixa renda que se encontravam no período pós-parto mediato. Foram selecionados recém-nascidos numa proporção de dois controles para um caso (2:1), sendo então entrevistados 108 casos e 228 controles. Ao analisar o perfil das mulheres que residem no Rio de Janeiro que utilizam a rede pública de saúde, verificou-se que a idade das participantes variou entre 14 e 45 anos (mediana: 24 e desvio-padrão: 6,66); a maior proporção de puérperas concentrou-se na faixa etária entre 20 e 34 anos. Quando comparadas, as puérperas tiveram bebês prematuros relataram com uma frequência 6% maior nunca poder contar com o apoio da mãe e 5,4% maior terem chegado a maternidade sozinhas. 60% das mulheres que não fizeram pré-natal e 54,3% das mulheres que fumaram durante a gravidez pontuaram abaixo de 86 em apoio emocional, material e informativo e 73,3% e 63% pontuaram abaixo de 86 em apoio de interação social positiva, respectivamente. Conclui-se existe uma necessidade crescente de estudos que investiguem a prematuridade e seus fatores relacionados. Pela condição especial da gestação, era esperado que os níveis de apoio social encontrados fossem altos. Os resultados demonstram que entre as mulheres entrevistadas, as que buscaram comportamentos positivos para o desfecho da gravidez, como ir a consultas de pré-natal ou não fumar, apresentavam maiores níveis de escore de apoio social e relataram desejar a gravidez. Ter o apoio de amigos e parentes parece ter um efeito positivo, mesmo quando fatores fisiológicos como gestação múltipla estão presentes

Promoting healthy dietary behaviour through personalised nutrition: technology push or technology pull?

YesThe notion of educating the public through generic healthy eating messages has pervaded dietary health promotion efforts over the years and continues to do so through various media, despite little evidence for any enduring impact upon eating behaviour. There is growing evidence, however, that tailored interventions such as those that could be delivered online can be effective in bringing about healthy dietary behaviour change. The present paper brings together evidence from qualitative and quantitative studies that have considered the public perspective of genomics, nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition, including those conducted as part of the EU-funded Food4Me project. Such studies have consistently indicated that although the public hold positive views about nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition, they have reservations about the service providers’ ability to ensure the secure handling of health data. Technological innovation has driven the concept of personalised nutrition forward and now a further technological leap is required to ensure the privacy of online service delivery systems and to protect data gathered in the process of designing personalised nutrition therapies

Clinical outcomes in hemophilia: Towards development of a core set of standardized outcome measures for research

Introduction: A lack of uniformity in the choice of outcome measurement in hemophilia care and research has led to studies with incomparable results. We identified a need to define core outcome measures for use in research and clinical care of persons with hemophilia. Objective: To move toward a core set of outcome measures for the assessment of persons with hemophilia in research and practice. Methods: A modified nominal groups process was conducted with an international group of hemophilia experts, including persons with hemophilia as follows. Step 1: item generation for all potential outcome measures. Step 2: survey where respondents voted on the relative importance and usefulness of each item. Steps 3/4: 2-day meeting where attendees voted for items they valued, followed by open discussion and a second round of voting. Step 5: survey where respondents selected their top five items from those with >50% agreement at the meeting. Results: The highest ranked items for the pediatric core set (% agreement) are treatment satisfaction (92.7%), joint health (83.3%), a measure of access to treatment (82.5%), a measure of treatment adherence (72.5%), and generic performance based physical function (72.1%). The highest ranked items for the adult core set (% agreement) are total bleeding events (88.1%), EuroQol five dimensions (85.4%), treatment adherence (82.1%), joint health (79.1%), and number/location of bleeds per unit time (78.6%). Conclusion: This process generated a list of preferred outcome measures to consider for assessment in persons with hemophilia. This information now requires refinement to define optimal core sets for use in different clinical/research contexts

Food choice motives, attitudes toward and intention to adopt personalised nutrition

yesObjective: This study explored associations between food choice motives, attitudes towards, 5 and intention to adopt personalised nutrition in order to inform communication strategies 6 based on consumer priorities and concerns. Design and Setting: A survey was administered 7 online which included the food choice questionnaire (FCQ), and items assessing attitudes 8 towards and intention to adopt personalised nutrition. Participants: Nationally representative 9 samples were recruited in 9 EU countries (N=9381). Results: Structural equation modelling 10 indicated that the food choice motives, weight control, mood, health and ethical concern had 11 a positive association and price had a negative association with attitude towards, and 12 intention to adopt, personalised nutrition. Health was positively associated and familiarity 13 negatively associated with attitude toward personalised nutrition. The effects of weight 14 control, ethical concern, mood and price on intention to adopt personalised nutrition were 15 partially mediated by the attitude. The effects of health and familiarity were fully mediated 16 by attitude. Sensory appeal was negatively and directly associated with intention to adopt 17 personalised nutrition. Conclusion: Personalised nutrition providers may benefit from taking 18 into consideration the importance of underlying determinants of food choice, particularly 19 weight control, mood and price, in potential users when promoting services and in tailoring 20 communications that are motivationally relevant.Post peer-review accepted manuscript; changes are in red