The application of optical coherence tomography to image subsurface tissue structure of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba

Many small open ocean animals, such as Antarctic krill, are an important part of marine ecosystems. To discover what will happen to animals such as krill in a changing ocean, experiments are run in aquaria where conditions can be controlled to simulate water characteristics predicted to occur in the future. The response of individual animals to changing water conditions can be hard to observe, and with current observation techniques it is very difficult to follow the progress of an individual animal through its life. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical imaging technique that allows images at high resolution to be obtained from depths up to a few millimeters inside biological specimens. It is compatible with in vivo imaging and can be used repeatedly on the same specimens. In this work, we show how OCT may be applied to post mortem krill samples and how important physiological data such as shell thickness and estimates of organ volume can be obtained. Using OCT we find an average value for the thickness of krill exoskeleton to be (30±4) µm along a 1 cm length of the animal body. We also show that the technique may be used to provide detailed imagery of the internal structure of a pleopod joint and provide an estimate for the heart volume of (0.73±0.03) mm3

The influence of substrate roughness, patterning, curvature, and compliance in peeling problems

NMP is supported by the European Commission under the Graphene FET Flagship (WP14 'Polymer composites' No. 604391) and FET Proactive 'Neurofibres' grant No. 732344. FB is supported by 'Neurofibres' grant No. 732344

Activist experiences of solidarity work

In the runup to Mayday 2014 the special issue editors invited activists to comment on a range of questions about their experience of solidarity work and its practical challenges. We’ve edited the responses together into a single piece which we hope will provoke reflection

Guidance for laboratories performing molecular pathology for cancer patients

Molecular testing is becoming an important part of the diagnosis of any patient with cancer. The challenge to laboratories is to meet this need, using reliable methods and processes to ensure that patients receive a timely and accurate report on which their treatment will be based. The aim of this paper is to provide minimum requirements for the management of molecular pathology laboratories. This general guidance should be augmented by the specific guidance available for different tumour types and tests. Preanalytical considerations are important, and careful consideration of the way in which specimens are obtained and reach the laboratory is necessary. Sample receipt and handling follow standard operating procedures, but some alterations may be necessary if molecular testing is to be performed, for instance to control tissue fixation. DNA and RNA extraction can be standardised and should be checked for quality and quantity of output on a regular basis. The choice of analytical method(s) depends on clinical requirements, desired turnaround time, and expertise available. Internal quality control, regular internal audit of the whole testing process, laboratory accreditation, and continual participation in external quality assessment schemes are prerequisites for delivery of a reliable service. A molecular pathology report should accurately convey the information the clinician needs to treat the patient with sufficient information to allow for correct interpretation of the result. Molecular pathology is developing rapidly, and further detailed evidence-based recommendations are required for many of the topics covered here

Adjusting bone mass for differences in projected bone area and other confounding variables: an allometric perspective.

The traditional method of assessing bone mineral density (BMD; given by bone mineral content [BMC] divided by projected bone area [Ap], BMD = BMC/Ap) has come under strong criticism by various authors. Their criticism being that the projected bone "area" (Ap) will systematically underestimate the skeletal bone "volume" of taller subjects. To reduce the confounding effects of bone size, an alternative ratio has been proposed called bone mineral apparent density [BMAD = BMC/(Ap)3/2]. However, bone size is not the only confounding variable associated with BMC. Others include age, sex, body size, and maturation. To assess the dimensional relationship between BMC and projected bone area, independent of other confounding variables, we proposed and fitted a proportional allometric model to the BMC data of the L2-L4 vertebrae from a previously published study. The projected bone area exponents were greater than unity for both boys (1.43) and girls (1.02), but only the boy's fitted exponent was not different from that predicted by geometric similarity (1.5). Based on these exponents, it is not clear whether bone mass acquisition increases in proportion to the projected bone area (Ap) or an estimate of projected bone volume (Ap)3/2. However, by adopting the proposed methods, the analysis will automatically adjust BMC for differences in projected bone size and other confounding variables for the particular population being studied. Hence, the necessity to speculate as to the theoretical value of the exponent of Ap, although interesting, becomes redundant

Towards personalised anti-microbial and immune approaches to infections in acute care. Can real-time genomic-informed diagnosis of pathogens, and immune-focused therapies improve outcomes for patients? An observational, experimental study protocol

Introduction: Infection causes a vast burden of disease, with significant mortality, morbidity and costs to health-care systems. However, identifying the pathogen causative infection can be challenging, resulting in high use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, much of which may be inappropriate. Novel metagenomic methods have potential to rapidly identify pathogens, however their clinical utility for many infections is currently unclear. Outcome from infection is also impacted by the effectiveness of immune responses, which can be impaired by age, co-morbidity and the infection itself. The aims of this study are twofold: 1. To compare diversity of organisms identified and time-to-result using metagenomic methods versus traditional culture -based techniques, to explore the potential clinical role of metagenomic approaches to pathogen identification in a range of infections.2. To characterise the ex vivo function of immune cells from patients with acute infection, exploring host and pathogen-specific factors which may affect immune function and overall outcomes. Methods: This is a prospective observational study of patients with acute infection. Patients with symptoms suggestive of an acute infection will be recruited, and blood and bodily fluid relevant to the site of infection collected (for example, sputum and naso-oropharyngeal swabs for respiratory tract infections, or urine for a suspected urinary tract infection). Metagenomic analysis of samples will be compared to traditional microbiology, alongside the antimicrobials received. Blood and respiratory samples such as bronchoalveolar lavage will be used to isolate immune cells and interrogate immune cell function. Where possible, similar samples will be collected from matched participants without a suspected infection to determine the impact of infection on both microbiome and immune cell function.</p

Producing interventions for AIDS-affected young people in Lesotho's schools: Scalar relations and power differentials

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Geoforum. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2009 Elsevier B.V.Children and youth are a key target group for interventions to address southern Africa’s AIDS pandemic. Such interventions are frequently implemented through schools, and are often complex products of negotiation between a range of institutional actors including international agencies, NGOs, government departments and individual schools. These institutions not only stand in different (horizontally scaled) spatial relationships to students in schools; they also appear to operate at different hierarchical levels. Empirical research with policy makers and practitioners in Lesotho, however, reveals how interventions are produced through flows of knowledge, funding and personnel within and between institutions that make it difficult to assert that any intervention is manifestly more international or more local than any other. Scale theory offers the metaphor of a network or web which usefully serves to move attention away from discrete organisations, sectors and scalar positionings and onto the relationships and flows between them. Nevertheless, organisations and development interventions are often partly structured in scalar hierarchical ways that express substantive power differentials and shape the forms of interaction that take place, albeit not binding them to strict binaries or nested hierarchies. A modified network metaphor is useful in aiding understanding of how particular interventions are produced through intermeshing scales and diverse fluid interactions, and why they take the form they do.RGS-IB

Exercise Therapy to Reduce Anxiety (ExTRA) in mid-life and later-life adults: study protocol

Background Anxiety in mid-life and later-life is highly prevalent and causes significant distress and disability. There is increasing evidence supporting the potential effectiveness of exercise interventions for reducing clinically significant anxiety. Self-directed online interventions can be scalable and thus reach more people. Aims The Exercise Therapy to Reduce Anxiety (ExTRA) project aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week web-based exercise intervention with the innovation of being self-directed, and facilitated by wearable activity monitors (WAMs) and tailored behaviour change strategies to reduce anxiety in mid-life and later-life adults with clinically significant anxiety. Methods ExTRA will recruit 20-30 community dwelling adults aged 40-79 years with clinically significant anxiety. The self-directed 8-week web-based exercise intervention includes information and strategies to support participants to meet Australian national physical activity guidelines. The intervention is adapted from previous face-to-face trials and includes strategies to support participants living with anxiety. Feasibility will be measured by screening and retention rates. Acceptability will be measured by website usage data, online outcome measure completion, and an evaluation questionnaire. Other outcome measures include anxiety measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and physical activity measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and a WAM. Results Findings will demonstrate whether this intervention is feasible and acceptable, and provide preliminary efficacy data. Conclusions The findings of this pragmatic real-world study will be valuable in guiding development of future trials, including randomised controlled trials of scalable and accessible exercise interventions to reduce the distress, disability and cost of anxiety