Turning up the lights - fabrication of brighter SERRS nanotags

Brighter SERRS nanotags ideal for improved SERRS imaging were prepared by the controlled addition of electrolyte producing a dimer enriched solution, which was incubated with a Raman reporter before being stabilised by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) shell

Measuring the speed of the conscious components of recognition memory: Remembering is faster than knowing.

Three experiments investigated response times (RTs) for remember and know responses in recognition memory. RTs to remember responses were faster than RTs to know responses, regardless of whether the remember–know decision was preceded by an old/new decision (two-step procedure) or was made without a preceding old/new decision (one-step procedure). The finding of faster RTs for R responses was also found when remember–know decisions were made retrospectively. These findings are inconsistent with dual-process models of recognition memory, which predict that recollection is slower and more effortful than familiarity. Word frequency did not influence RTs, but remember responses were faster for words than for nonwords. We argue that the difference in RTs to remember and know responses reflects the time taken to make old/new decisions on the basis of the type of information activated at test

Bridging the gap between epigenetics research and nutritional public health interventions

Epigenetic processes, primarily DNA methylation and covalent modifications of histones, regulate the transcriptional activity of genes in a manner that can be modified by environmental cues. This allows variation in the expression of the transcriptome without changes in the genome. Constraint in the early life environment, such as poor early nutrition, is associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases, including cardio-metabolic disease and cancer in later life. Such induced phenotypic change involves environmental signals acting through developmental plasticity. Recent studies in humans and in animal models show that epigenetic processes, in particular DNA methylation, have a central role in the induction and stability of novel phenotypes and in increased disease risk. Identification of such processes suggests the potential for developing biomarkers of disease risk and for interventions to prevent or reverse the adverse effects of a poor early life environment. At present, knowledge in this area is limited to proof-of-principle studies in animal models and some initial studies in humans. Before such findings can be translated into reliable biomarkers and safe, effective interventions, several fundamental questions need to be answered. In order to achieve this, new technologies will be needed to support large cohort studies. Despite the early stage of knowledge in this field and the intellectual, technological and financial challenges, epigenetic research has substantial potential for public health benefits

Folic acid induces cell type-specific changes in the transcriptome of breast cancer cell lines: a proof-of-concept study

The effect of folic acid (FA) on breast cancer (BC) risk is uncertain. We hypothesised that this uncertainty may be due, in part, to differential effects of FA between BC cells with different phenotypes. To test this we investigated the effect of treatment with FA concentrations within the range of unmetabolised FA reported in humans on the expression of the transcriptome of non-transformed (MCF10A) and cancerous (MCF7 and Hs578T) BC cells. The total number of transcripts altered was MCF10A 75 (70 up-regulated), MCF7 24 (14 up-regulated) and Hs578T 328 (156 up-regulated). Only the cancer-associated gene TAGLN was altered by FA in all three cell lines. In MCF10A and Hs578T cells, FA treatment decreased pathways associated with apoptosis, cell death and senescence, but increased those associated with cell proliferation. The folate transporters SLC19A1, SLC46A1 and FOLR1 were differentially expressed between cell lines tested. However, the level of expression was not altered by FA treatment. These findings suggest that physiological concentrations of FA can induce cell type-specific changes in gene regulation in a manner that is consistent with proliferative phenotype. This has implications for understanding the role of FA in BC risk. In addition, these findings support the suggestion the differences in gene expression induced by FA may involve differential activities of folate transporters. Together these findings indicate the need for further studies of the effect of FA on BC

Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome in an Active and Healthy Young Female

Iliac vein compression syndrome is a condition involving external compression of the left common iliac vein by the right iliac artery, which was first described in the 1850s. It predominates in females typically between the third and fourth decade of life and has been associated with thrombophilias. Importantly, the syndrome is amenable to endovascular treatment. Here, we describe a case of a young athletic female with an incidental finding of a left iliac vein thrombosis while taking oral contraceptives, who was identified as having iliac vein compression syndrome on follow-up MR venography with positive testing for Factor V Leiden mutation

Biomarker Validation of Dietary Intervention in Two Multiethnic Populations

Introduction: Intervention studies have been designed to change dietary and lifestyle factors associated with chronic diseases, but self-reported behavior change may incorporate intervention-related bias. This study examines plasma nutrient concentration and correlations with self-reports in the Healthy Directions intervention study. The Healthy Directions intervention studies were designed to increase multivitamin use, fruit and vegetable consumption, and physical activity in working-class, multiethnic populations. Methods: Participants in both studies completed interviewer-administered questionnaires that collected information on sociodemographic and health behavior characteristics. Postintervention blood samples were collected from 209 participants and pooled in pairs within study and within intervention group. Results: We found significantly higher plasma concentrations of retinol (P = .01) and α-carotene (P = .03) in the intervention than in the usual care group. Self-reported multivitamin users had significantly higher concentrations of retinol (P < .001), β-carotene (P = .02), and α-tocopherol (P < .001). Those who reported four or more fruit and vegetable servings per day had higher lutein and zeaxanthin (P = .05) and β-cryptoxanthin (P = .05) concentrations than those consuming fewer. Plasma nutrient concentrations were associated with reported multivitamin use and fruit and vegetable intake, but the correlations were generally higher in the usual care group. Conclusion: We found significant postintervention differences in plasma carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations by treatment group, multivitamin use, and fruit and vegetable intake. However, because we only obtained postintervention blood samples, we were unable to assess preintervention-to-postintervention changes in plasma nutrients. Self-reported intakes were significantly correlated with plasma nutrient concentrations, but the strength of the correlations differed by group, suggesting some intervention-related bias in the questionnaire responses

Report on the Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Standards Workshop 2016: SCAR SO-CPR Database Expert Group

2016年12月12−16日にオーストラリア南極局にて「南極研究科学委員会（以下SCAR）連続プランクトン採集器（以下CPR）データベース専門家グループワークショップ2016」を開催した．南大洋CPR観測プロジェクトを主導する日本，オーストラリア，ニュージーランドの実務担当者の間で，観測データの品質管理，種同定やデータ分析手法の再確認，および今後の活動についての詳細な討議を行った．前半はこれまでのプロジェクト活動を総括し，各国のマネージメントの状況を確認し，さらには将来的な観測計画を議論した．後半は動物プランクトンの種同定リストの更新のため，具体的な分類カテゴリーの種同定を実施した．特に有孔虫とオキアミ類の幼生期について，確認を行った．まとめられた種同定基準を用いて新たなマニュアル作成を開始することになった．今後，2年に一度を目途にプロジェクト参加国の技術者を集めたワークショップを開催し，各国間で統一された試料処理およびデータ管理を維持していくことを目指すこととなった．The“Southern Ocean Continuous Plankton Recorder (SO-CPR) Survey Standards Workshop”was held at the Australian Antarctic Division on 12−16December 2016. The purposes of the workshop were to confirm that consistent and high standards of species identification, methodology, and data quality were being maintained amongst the main analysts in the SO-CPR Survey, and to discuss future training methods, including a SO-CPR manual that will include a counting rule book, and a future road map for the SO-CPR program. During the workshop we discussed a range of topics including: taxonomic resolution issues (particularly for Foraminifera and euphausiid larval identification and staging); laboratory methods (preservation and storage, with emphasis on maintaining correct pH); shipboard techniques; training methods; data handling (metadata, database, data sharing); gap analysis (spatial, temporal, data, quantitative); and future workshops/conferences, including comprehensive training workshops for emerging SO-CPR survey partners (India). We agreed that there should be a larger workshop every two years to ensure that the high standards of the SO-CPR program are maintained