Harvesting the benefits when growing older

This picture was taken at a community garden where researchers at Cardiff Metropolitan University have been investigating the benefits of gardening activity for physical and psychological health in later life. The Growing a Healthy Older Population in Wales (GHOP) project has found that allotments and community gardens are nurturing environments not only for plants but for humans too. Over the course of a four-month prospective study, Jemma Hawkins, the research officer on the project, and her colleagues Debbie Clayton and Jenny Mercer found improvements in participants’ health and wellbeing on measures of body mass index, hand-grip strength, perceived stress levels and selfesteem that were not observed in a wait-list control group. This sample of older gardeners also kept diaries that informed follow-up interviews exploring their experiences of being a newcomer to allotment gardening. Findings indicated that, even during the first couple of years, keeping an allotment can have significant benefits. For example, participants discussed the importance of regular social interaction at the site, and the sense of achievement and satisfaction that arises from their activity. This has several parallels with the research team’s previous findings (published in the June 2013 issue of Ecopsychology) that both engaging in gardening activities and being in such a natural environment have the potential to reduce stress and enhance healthy ageing. For further information on the GHOP project go to www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/ghop

Aerosol contribution to the rapid warming of near-term climate under RCP 2.6

The importance of aerosol emissions for near term climate projections is investigated by analysing simulations with the HadGEM2-ES model under two different emissions scenarios: RCP2.6 and RCP4.5. It is shown that the near term warming projected under RCP2.6 is greater than under RCP4.5, even though the greenhouse gas forcing is lower. Rapid and substantial reductions in sulphate aerosol emissions due to a reduction of coal burning in RCP2.6 lead to a reduction in the negative shortwave forcing due to aerosol direct and indirect effects. Indirect effects play an important role over the northern hemisphere oceans, especially the subtropical northeastern Pacific where an anomaly of 5-10\,Wm$^{-2}$ develops. The pattern of surface temperature change is consistent with the expected response to this surface radiation anomaly, whilst also exhibiting features that reflect redistribution of energy, and feedbacks, within the climate system. These results demonstrate the importance of aerosol emissions as a key source of uncertainty in near term projections of global and regional climate

“Doing” gardening and “being” at the allotment site: exploring the benefits of allotment gardening for stress reduction and healthy aging

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits to health and well-being of allotment gardening (in Wales, UK) in a community-dwelling older adult sample, with a particular emphasis on stress recovery. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore allotment gardener participants' personal beliefs and ideas of the benefits of their allotment gardening activity. The transcribed interviews were examined using thematic analysis. It was assumed that through the discussion of positive aspects of allotment gardening it would be possible to clarify specific benefits that relate to coping with stress in order to further an understanding of the mechanisms involved. Findings indicate that allotment gardeners appreciate both “doing” gardening activity as well as “being” at the allotment landscape for affording a wide range of benefits to their health and well-being. These benefits are discussed with reference to existing theory and research, including links to stress reduction

Dynamically Driven Evolution of the Interstellar Medium in M51

Massive star formation occurs in giant molecular clouds (GMCs); an understanding of the evolution of GMCs is a prerequisite to develop theories of star formation and galaxy evolution. We report the highest-fidelity observations of the grand-design spiral galaxy M51 in carbon monoxide (CO) emission, revealing the evolution of GMCs vis-a-vis the large-scale galactic structure and dynamics. The most massive GMCs (giant molecular associations (GMAs)) are first assembled and then broken up as the gas flow through the spiral arms. The GMAs and their H_2 molecules are not fully dissociated into atomic gas as predicted in stellar feedback scenarios, but are fragmented into smaller GMCs upon leaving the spiral arms. The remnants of GMAs are detected as the chains of GMCs that emerge from the spiral arms into interarm regions. The kinematic shear within the spiral arms is sufficient to unbind the GMAs against self-gravity. We conclude that the evolution of GMCs is driven by large-scale galactic dynamics—their coagulation into GMAs is due to spiral arm streaming motions upon entering the arms, followed by fragmentation due to shear as they leave the arms on the downstream side. In M51, the majority of the gas remains molecular from arm entry through the interarm region and into the next spiral arm passage

A Cell Wall Proteome and Targeted Cell Wall Analyses Provide Novel Information on Hemicellulose Metabolism in Flax

International audienceExperimentally-generated (nanoLC-MS/MS) proteomic analyses of four different flax organs/tissues (inner-stem, outer-stem, leaves and roots) enriched in proteins from 3 different sub-compartments (soluble-, membrane-, and cell wall-proteins) was combined with publically available data on flax seed and whole-stem proteins to generate a flax protein database containing 2996 nonredundant total proteins. Subsequent multiple analyses (MapMan, CAZy, WallProtDB and expert curation) of this database were then used to identify a flax cell wall proteome consisting of 456 nonredundant proteins localized in the cell wall and/or associated with cell wall biosynthesis, remodeling and other cell wall related processes. Examination of the proteins present in different flax organs/tissues provided a detailed overview of cell wall metabolism and highlighted the importance of hemicellulose and pectin re-modeling in stem tissues. Phylogenetic analyses of proteins in the cell wall proteome revealed an important paralogy in the class IIIA xyloglucan endo-transglycosy-lase/hydrolase (XTH) family associated with xyloglucan endo-hydrolase activity. Immunolocalisation, FT-IR microspectroscopy, and en-zymatic fingerprinting indicated that flax fiber primary/S1 cell walls contained xyloglucans with typical substituted side chains as well as glucuronoxylans in much lower quantities. These results suggest a likely central role of xyloglucans and endotransglucosylase/hydrolase activity in flax fiber formation and cell wall remodeling processes. Molecular & Cellula

Dynamically Driven Evolution of the Interstellar Medium in M51

We report the highest-fidelity observations of the spiral galaxy M51 in CO emission, revealing the evolution of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) vis-a-vis the large-scale galactic structure and dynamics. The most massive GMCs (so-called GMAs) are first assembled and then broken up as the gas flow through the spiral arms. The GMAs and their H2 molecules are not fully dissociated into atomic gas as predicted in stellar feedback scenarios, but are fragmented into smaller GMCs upon leaving the spiral arms. The remnants of GMAs are detected as the chains of GMCs that emerge from the spiral arms into interarm regions. The kinematic shear within the spiral arms is sufficient to unbind the GMAs against self-gravity. We conclude that the evolution of GMCs is driven by large-scale galactic dynamics --their coagulation into GMAs is due to spiral arm streaming motions upon entering the arms, followed by fragmentation due to shear as they leave the arms on the downstream side. In M51, the majority of the gas remains molecular from arm entry through the inter-arm region and into the next spiral arm passage.Comment: 6 pages, including 3 figures. Accepted, ApJ

Crop Updates 2000 - Cereals part 2

This session covers twenty papers from different authors: DISEASE 1. Forecasting aphid and virus risk in cereals, Debbie Thackray, Jenny Hawkes and Roger Jones, Agriculture Western Australia and Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture 2. Cereal Diagnostics, Dominie Wright, Agriculture Western Australia 3. The economic returns from spraying for leaf rust in the central wheatbelt in 1999, Peter Carlton, Trials Coordinator, Elders Limited 4. Impact and Management of Yellow Spot and Leaf Rust in the Northern Agricultural Region, Jat Bhathal and Robert Loughman, Agriculture Western Australia 5. Leaf disease management in wheat and barley in the southern agricultural region, K. Jayasena, R. Loughman and J. Majewski, Agriculture Western Australia 6. Root nematode update, R. Loughman1, S. Kelly1, G. Holloway2, N. Venn1 and D. Diepeveen1 1 Agriculture Western Australia, 2Agriculture Victoria WHEAT AGRONOMY 7. Small Grain Screenings in wheat - the agronomic issues, Brenda Shackley, Agriculture Western Australia, 8. Response of New Wheat Varieties to Seed Rate and applied Nitrogen in the North, Darshan Sharma and Wal Anderson, Agriculture Western Australia 9. Seen vigour in wheat, Darshan Sharma and Wal Anderson, Agriculture Western Australia 10. Influence of the Time of Sowing on New Wheat Varieties in the North, Darshan Sharma and Wal Anderson, Agriculture Western Australia 11, Wheat performance in a high disease season on the South Coast. 1. Disease and grain quality on the Esperance sandplain, Mohammad Amjad, Vanessa Dooley and Wal Anderson, Agriculture Western Australia 12. Wheat performance in a high disease season on the South Coast. 2. Leaf area, disease and yield at Gibson and Salmon Gums, Mohammad Amjad, Vanessa Dooley and Wal Anderson, Agriculture Western Australia 13. Agronomic Evaluation of Wheat in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia, Peter Burgess and Ashley Bacon, Agritech Crop Research 14. Mechanisms influencing grain susceptibility to black point in wheat, Frances Hoyle, University of Western Australia and Agriculture Western Australia 15. Improving paddock productivity using renovation cropping techniques on heavier soils, Frances Hoyle, Agriculture Western Australia 16. Improving paddock productivity using renovation cropping techniques on sandplain soils, Frances Hoyle and Keith Devenish, Agriculture Western Australia 17. Increasing profit - Is it possible using high input package approach for cereal production? M. Appelbee, IAMA Agri Services 18. Improving wheat yield, soil physical and chemical fertility by a package of deep ripping, gypsum and complete nutrients, M.A. Hamza and W.K. Anderson, Agriculture Western Australia 19. Organic Wheat - Production System Guidelines, Steven McCoy, Centre for New Industries Development 20. Durum wheat obtains a premium over bread wheat, Steven Penny, Agriculture Western Australi

Crop Updates 2002 - Lupins

This session covers twenty four papers from different authors: LUPIN INDUSTRY ISSUES AND RESEARCH DIRECTIONS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Amelia McLarty LUPIN CONVENOR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE VARIETIES 1. Evaluation of lupinus mutabilis in Western Australia, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten and Martin Harries, Department of Agriculture 2. Adaption of restricted-branching lupins in short-growing season environments, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten, Department of Agriculture ESTABLISHMENT 3. Moisture delving for better lupin establishment, Dr Paul Blackwell, Department of Agriculture 4. Lupins, tramlines, 600mm rows, rolling and shield spraying … a good result in a dry season! Paul Blackwell and Mike Collins, Department of Agriculture 5. Lupin wider row spacing data and observations, Bill CrabtreeA, Geoff FosberyB, Angie RoeB, Mike CollinsCand Matt BeckettA,AWANTFA, BFarm Focus Consultants and CDepartment of Agriculture NUTRITION 6. Lupin genotypes respond differently to potash, Bob French and Laurie Wahlsten, Department of Agriculture 7. Consequence of radish competition on lupin nutrients in a wheat-lupin rotation, Abul Hashem and Nerys Wilkins, Department of Agriculture 8. Consequence of ryegrass competition on lupin nutrients in a wheat-lupin rotation, Abul Hashem and Nerys Wilkins, Department of Agriculture PESTS AND DISEASES 9. Fungicide sprays for control of lupin anthracnose, Geoff Thomas and Ken Adcock, Department of Agriculture 10. Estimated yield losses in lupin varieties from sowing anthracnose infected seed, Geoff Thomas, Department of Agriculture 11. Effect of variety and environment (northern and southern wheatbelt) on yield losses in lupins due to anthracnose, Geoff Thomas and Ken Adcock, Department of Agriculture, 12. A decision support system for the control of aphids and CMV in lupin crops, Debbie Thackray, Jenny Hawkes and Roger Jones, Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture and Department of Agriculture 13. Integrated management strategies for virus diseases of lupin, Roger Jones, Crop Improvement Institute, Department of Agriculture, and Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, University of WA 14. Quantifying yield losses caused by the non-necrotic strain of BYMV in lupin, Roger Jones and Brenda Coutts, Department of Agriculture, and Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture 15. Screening for pod resistance to phomopsis in various lupin species, Manisha Shankar1, Mark Sweetingham1&2and Bevan Buirchell2 1Co-operative Research Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 2 Department of Agriculture 16. Lupin disease diagnostics, Nichole Burges and Dominie Wright, Department of Agriculture QUALITY AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT 17. To GM or not to GM pulses – that is the question, Dr Susan J. Barker, The University of Western Australia 18. Towards a management package for grain protein in lupins, Bob French, Senior Research Officer, Department of Agriculture 19. Yield and seed protein response to foliar application of N among lupin genotypes, Jairo A Palta1&2, Bob French2&3and Neil C Turner1&2 , 1 CSIRO Plant Industry, Floreat Park, 2 CLIMA, University of Western Australia,3Department of Agriculture 20. Foliar nitrogen application to improve protein content in narrow-leafed lupin, Martin Harries, Bob French, Laurie Wahlsten, Department of Agriculture, Matt Evans, CSBP 21. Effect of time of swathing of lupins on grain protein content, Martin Harries, Department of Agriculture 22. Putting a value on protein premiums for the animal feed industries: Aquaculture, Brett Glencross and John Curnow, Department of Fisheries, Wayne Hawkins, Department of Agriculture 23. Progress in selecting for reduced seed hull and pod wall in lupin, Jon C. Clements, CLIMA, University of Western Australia 24. Contact details for principal author

Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a common disease of the central nervous system in which the interplay between inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes typically results in intermittent neurological disturbance followed by progressive accumulation of disability. Epidemiological studies have shown that genetic factors are primarily responsible for the substantially increased frequency of the disease seen in the relatives of affected individuals, and systematic attempts to identify linkage in multiplex families have confirmed that variation within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) exerts the greatest individual effect on risk. Modestly powered genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have enabled more than 20 additional risk loci to be identified and have shown that multiple variants exerting modest individual effects have a key role in disease susceptibility. Most of the genetic architecture underlying susceptibility to the disease remains to be defined and is anticipated to require the analysis of sample sizes that are beyond the numbers currently available to individual research groups. In a collaborative GWAS involving 9,772 cases of European descent collected by 23 research groups working in 15 different countries, we have replicated almost all of the previously suggested associations and identified at least a further 29 novel susceptibility loci. Within the MHC we have refined the identity of the HLA-DRB1 risk alleles and confirmed that variation in the HLA-A gene underlies the independent protective effect attributable to the class I region. Immunologically relevant genes are significantly overrepresented among those mapping close to the identified loci and particularly implicate T-helper-cell differentiation in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

Options for possible changes to the blood donation service: health economics modelling

BackgroundEvidence is required on the cost-effectiveness of alternative changes to the blood collection service.Objectives(1) To estimate the cost-effectiveness of alternative minimum interdonation intervals between whole-blood donations. (2) To investigate donors’ frequency of whole-blood donation according to alternative changes to the blood collection service. (3) To estimate the cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies for maintaining the supply of whole blood.MethodsWe undertook a within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of the INTERVAL trial, stated preference (SP) surveys to elicit donor preferences and a CEA of different strategies for blood collection. The strategies considered were reduced minimum intervals between whole-blood donations, introduction of a donor health report and changes to appointment availability and opening times at blood collection venues. The within-trial CEA included 44,863 donors, with men randomly assigned to 12- versus 10- versus 8-week interdonation intervals, and women to 16- versus 14- versus 12-week interdonation intervals. We undertook a SP survey of non-INTERVAL donors (100,000 invitees). We asked donors to state the frequency with which they would be willing to donate blood, according to the service attribute and level. The CEA compared changes to the blood service with current practice by combining the survey estimates with information from the NHS Blood and Transpant database (PULSE) and cost data. The target population was existing whole-blood donors in England, of whom approximately 85% currently donate whole blood at mobile (temporary) blood collection venues, with the remainder donating at static (permanent) blood collection centres. We reported the effects of the alternative strategies on the number of whole-blood donations, costs and cost-effectiveness.ResultsThe reduced donation interval strategies had higher deferral rates caused by low haemoglobin (Hb), but increased frequency of successful donation. For men in the 8- versus 12-week arm of the INTERVAL trial [Di Angelantonio E, Thompson SG, Kaptoge S, Moore C, Walker M, Armitage J,et al.Efficiency and safety of varying the frequency of whole blood donation (INTERVAL): a randomised trial of 45 000 donors.Lancet2017;390:2360–71], the Hb-related deferral rate was 5.7% per session versus 2.6% per session, but the average number of donations over 2 years increased by 1.71 (95% confidence interval 1.60 to 1.80). A total of 25,187 (25%) donors responded to the SP survey. For static donor centres, extending appointment availability to weekday evenings or weekends, or reduced intervals between blood donations, increased stated donation frequency by, on average, 0.5 donations per year. The CEA found that reducing the minimum interval, extending opening times to weekday evenings and extending opening times to weekends in all static donor centres would provide additional whole blood at a cost per additional unit of £10, £23 and £29, respectively, with similar results for donors with high-demand blood types.LimitationsThe study did not consider the long-term rates at which donors will leave the donation register, for example following higher rates of Hb-related deferral.ConclusionsExtending opening hours for blood donation to weekday evenings or weekends for all static donor centres are cost-effective ways of increasing the supply of high-demand blood types.Future workTo monitor the effects of new strategies on long-term donation frequency.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.</jats:sec