Biodiversity of Spongosorites coralliophaga (Stephens, 1915) on coral rubble at two contrasting cold-water coral reef settings

The authors would like to thank Bill Richardson (Master), the crew of the RRS James Cook, Will Handley and the Holland-I ROV team. We also thank all the specialists in taxonomy that provided important help with identification of species: Professor Paul Tyler (ophiuroids), Dr. Tammy Horton (amphipods), Dr. Graham Oliver (bivalves), Dr. Rob van Soest (sponges), Susan Chambers, Peter Garwood, Sue Hamilton, Raimundo Blanco Pérez (polychaetes). Also we would like to thank Val Johnston (University of Aberdeen) for her contribution to cruise preparations and John Polanski (University of Aberdeen) for his help onboard the RRS James Cook. Special thanks to Dr. Alexios P. Lolas (University of Thessaly, Greece) for all the artwork. Funding for the JC073 cruise was provided by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) UK Ocean Acidification (UKOA) research programme’s Benthic Consortium project (NE/H017305/1 to JMR). JMR acknowledges support from Heriot-Watt University’s Environment and Climate Change theme. GK was funded by a Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) Ph.D. scholarship.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Anti-tumour Agent, Cisplatin, and its Clinically Ineffective Isomer, Transplatin, Produce Unique Gene Expression Profiles in Human Cells

Cisplatin is a DNA-damaging anti-cancer agent that is widely used to treat a range of tumour types. Despite its clinical success, cisplatin treatment is still associated with a number of dose-limiting toxic side effects. The purpose of this study was to clarify the molecular events that are important in the anti-tumour activity of cisplatin, using gene expression profiling techniques. Currently, our incomplete understanding of this drug’s mechanism of action hinders the development of more efficient and less harmful cisplatin-based chemotherapeutics. In this study the effect of cisplatin on gene expression in human foreskin fibroblasts has been investigated using human 19K oligonucleotide microarrays. In addition its clinically inactive isomer, transplatin, was also tested. Dualfluor microarray experiments comparing treated and untreated cells were performed in quadruplicate. Cisplatin treatment was shown to significantly up- or down-regulate a consistent subset of genes. Many of these genes responded similarly to treatment with transplatin, the therapeutically inactive isomer of cisplatin. However, a smaller proportion of these transcripts underwent differential expression changes in response to the two isomers. Some of these genes may constitute part of the DNA damage response induced by cisplatin that is critical for its anti-tumour activity. Ultimately, the identification of gene expression responses unique to clinically active compounds, like cisplatin, could thus greatly benefit the design and development of improved chemotherapeutics

The Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices to Concentrate Chemicals in Oil Refinery Effluent on the Mackenzie River

To concentrate natural and refinery-derived inducers of mixed function oxygenase (MFO), semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed for 11-12 days in Norman Wells refinery effluent and upstream and downstream on the Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories, Canada. SPMDs, which are layflat polyethylene membrane tubes containing a thin film of purified triolein, absorb freely dissolved neutral organic chemicals that diffuse through the polyethylene membrane. Fish liver cells (Poeciliopsis lucida hepatoma; PLHC-1) were dosed with SPMD extracts; then MFO activity was determined. SPMDs from the effluent contained potent MFO inducers, equivalent to 4830-8700 pg 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)/g SPMD. SPMDs from the site 0.5 km downstream of the refinery outfall also induced MFO, but downstream extracts were about 1/40 as potent as those from effluent-exposed SPMDs. Comparing sites on the Mackenzie River, extracts of SPMDs from downstream of the refinery outfall were over 20 times as potent as those from upstream SPMDs. Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and C1- to C3-substituted PAHs were abundant in extracts of SPMDs from the effluent and, to a lesser degree, in extracts of SPMDs from 0.5 km downstream. In effluent-exposed and downstream SPMDs, concentrations of parent PAHs were lower than those of C1-substituted PAHs. The highest concentrations were those of C2- and C3-substituted PAHs. It is unknown which compounds in the SPMDs caused the MFO induction, but there was a very strong correlation between the concentration of total C3-phenanthrene/anthracene in the SPMD extracts and MFO-induction potency. The study shows both the use of SPMDs as concentrators of neutral organic compounds in harsh environments (such as high temperature effluents and fast-flowing rivers) and the utility and sensitivity of the fish liver cell line for ranking MFO-inducing potencies of environmental SPMD extracts.Afin de concentrer les inducteurs naturels et dérivés de raffinerie de l'oxygénase à fonction mixte (OFM), on a déployé de l'équipement à membrane semi-perméable pendant une durée de 11 à 12 jours dans les effluents de l'usine de raffinage de Norman Wells, de même qu'en amont et en aval dans les eaux du Mackenzie (Territoires du Nord-Ouest, Canada). Ces systèmes, formés de tubes de membrane en polyéthylène aplatis contenant une mince pellicule de trioléine purifiée, absorbent abondamment les produits chimiques organiques neutres en solution qui se diffusent dans toute la membrane de polyéthylène. On a mis des extraits de cette membrane en contact avec des cellules de foie de poisson (hépatocarcinome de Poeciliopsis lucida; HCPL-1), puis on a déterminé l'activité de l'OFM. Les membranes provenant des effluents contenaient de puissants inducteurs d'OFM, équivalents à 4830-8700 pg de tétrachlorodibenzodioxine-p 2,3,7,8 (TCDD)/g de membrane. Les membranes provenant du lieu situé à 0,5 km en aval du déversoir étaient aussi des inducteurs d'OFM, mais environ quarante fois moins puissants que ceux provenant des membranes exposées directement aux effluents. En comparant les sites sur le Mackenzie, les extraits des membranes situées en aval du déversoir de la raffinerie étaient environ 20 fois plus puissants que ceux des membranes situées en amont. Les hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) et les HAP de remplacement de formule C1 à C3 se trouvaient en abondance dans les extraits de membrane provenant des effluents et, à un degré moindre, dans les extraits de membrane provenant du lieu situé à 0,5 km en aval. Dans les membranes exposées aux effluents et aux eaux situées en aval, les concentrations des HAP mères étaient inférieures à celles des HAP de remplacement de formule C1. Les concentrations les plus fortes étaient celles des HAP de remplacement de formule C2 et C3. On ne sait pas quels composés présents dans les membranes ont causé l'induction de l'OFM, mais il existait une très forte corrélation entre la concentration totale de phénanthrène/anthracène dans les extraits de membrane et la puissance d'induction de l'OFM. L'étude démontre à la fois l'utilisation des membranes comme concentrateurs des composés organiques neutres dans un environnement difficile (tel celui d'effluents à haute température et de cours d'eau rapides) ainsi que l'utilité et la sensibilité de la lignée cellulaire de foie de poisson pour classer les extraits de membrane environnementale selon leur puissance d'induction de l'OFM

Hemispheric competence for auditory spatial representation

Sound localization relies on the analysis of interaural time and intensity differences, as well as attenuation patterns by the outer ear. We investigated the relative contributions of interaural time and intensity difference cues to sound localization by testing 60 healthy subjects: 25 with focal left and 25 with focal right hemispheric brain damage. Group and single-case behavioural analyses, as well as anatomo-clinical correlations, confirmed that deficits were more frequent and much more severe after right than left hemispheric lesions and for the processing of interaural time than intensity difference cues. For spatial processing based on interaural time difference cues, different error types were evident in the individual data. Deficits in discriminating between neighbouring positions occurred in both hemispaces after focal right hemispheric brain damage, but were restricted to the contralesional hemispace after focal left hemispheric brain damage. Alloacusis (perceptual shifts across the midline) occurred only after focal right hemispheric brain damage and was associated with minor or severe deficits in position discrimination. During spatial processing based on interaural intensity cues, deficits were less severe in the right hemispheric brain damage than left hemispheric brain damage group and no alloacusis occurred. These results, matched to anatomical data, suggest the existence of a binaural sound localization system predominantly based on interaural time difference cues and primarily supported by the right hemisphere. More generally, our data suggest that two distinct mechanisms contribute to: (i) the precise computation of spatial coordinates allowing spatial comparison within the contralateral hemispace for the left hemisphere and the whole space for the right hemisphere; and (ii) the building up of global auditory spatial representations in right temporo-parietal cortice

Inelastic neutron scattering due to acoustic vibrations confined in nanoparticles: theory and experiment

The inelastic scattering of neutrons by nanoparticles due to acoustic vibrational modes (energy below 10 meV) confined in nanoparticles is calculated using the Zemach-Glauber formalism. Such vibrational modes are commonly observed by light scattering techniques (Brillouin or low-frequency Raman scattering). We also report high resolution inelastic neutron scattering measurements for anatase TiO2 nanoparticles in a loose powder. Factors enabling the observation of such vibrations are discussed. These include a narrow nanoparticle size distribution which minimizes inhomogeneous broadening of the spectrum and the presence of hydrogen atoms oscillating with the nanoparticle surfaces which enhances the number of scattered neutrons.Comment: 3 figures, 1 tabl

Problematizing Complexities and Pedagogy in Teacher Education Programs: Enacting Knowledge in a Narrative Inquiry Teacher Education Discourse Community

This article describes how a cross-Canada cohort of teacher educators identified the benefits of participating in a narrative inquiry teacher education discourse community. The community enables conscious dialogue regarding the legitimacy of teacher knowledge, identification of personal and professional issues within educational contexts, and connections between local issues and global trends. Three themes are explored: (1) development of a non-hierarchical community, (2) unravelling of complexities in light of external pressures, and (3) personal ethical responses to current challenges. Teacher educator knowledge is deepened by providing a relational venue to attend to educational reform and programmatic complexity by grounding practices in collaborative experience

Comparison of monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR expression and stimulated tumor necrosis factor alpha production as outcome predictors in severe sepsis: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: Identifying patients in the immunosuppressive phase of sepsis is essential for development of immunomodulatory therapies. Little data exists comparing the ability of the two most well-studied markers of sepsis-induced immunosuppression, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-ɑ) production, to predict mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to compare HLA-DR expression and LPS-induced TNF-ɑ production as predictors of 28-day mortality and acquisition of secondary infections in adult septic patients. METHODS: A single-center, prospective observational study of 83 adult septic patients admitted to a medical or surgical intensive care unit. Blood samples were collected at three time points during the septic course (days 1–2, days 3–4, and days 6–8 after sepsis diagnosis) and assayed for HLA-DR expression and LPS-induced TNF-ɑ production. A repeated measures mixed model analysis was used to compare values of these immunological markers among survivors and non-survivors and among those who did and did not develop a secondary infection. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (30.1 %) died within 28 days of sepsis diagnosis. HLA-DR expression was significantly lower in non-survivors as compared to survivors on days 3–4 (p = 0.04) and days 6–8 (p = 0.002). The change in HLA-DR from days 1–2 to days 6–8 was also lower in non-survivors (p = 0.04). Median HLA-DR expression decreased from days 1–2 to days 3–4 in patients who developed secondary infections while it increased in those without secondary infections (p = 0.054). TNF-ɑ production did not differ between survivors and non-survivors or between patients who did and did not develop a secondary infection. CONCLUSIONS: Monocyte HLA-DR expression may be a more accurate predictor of mortality and acquisition of secondary infections than LPS-stimulated TNF-ɑ production in adult medical and surgical critically ill patients. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-016-1505-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Cardiovascular risks in smokers treated with nicotine replacement therapy : a historical cohort study

The authors would like to thank Julie von Ziegenweidt, Daina Lim, and Muzammil Ali, who assisted with the analysis. Many thanks to Alison Chisholm for contribution to the study design and critical review of the manuscript, Derek Skinner for preparation of data for analysis, Rosalind Bonomally, and Martina Stagno d’Alcontres for medical writing. The study data were provided by the CPRD without charge (via a Medical Research Council study grant). The analysis was conducted by the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd, in collaboration with the Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG), and funded by the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd. Manuscript costs were covered by the REG.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Identification of stromal ColXα1 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as putative predictive markers of neoadjuvant therapy in estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-positive breast cancer

Patient characteristics. x indicates the case was included for the assay. (XLSX 44 kb