Factors Affecting Caregiver Outcomes

Research in the area of caregiving has tended to focus on the impact of the caregiving experience itself without consideration of continued psychological distress for caregivers after institutionalisation or death. Seven caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer's Dementia (mostly spousal) were interviewed about their experiences of caregiving and their emotional well-being after placement of their loved one into a residential care facility or death. The nature of the carers relationship with their loved one (e.g. highly dependent), lack of social supports, inactivity and a poor experience of transition into care seemed to be factors relating to poorer outcomes for these caregivers. Utilisation of social supports, involvement in pleasant events, adequate preparation and information relating to the disease and collaboratively planned transition into care played protective roles for the remaining carers who reported decreased levels of anxiety, guilt, depression and stress post-institutionalisation/death. The implications of the current research for practise, policy change and prevention are extensive and suggest that risk factors may be identifiable and thus poorer mental health outcomes in caregivers preventable. A need for greater support to be made available to caregivers is necessary

Electricity in Isolation: the progress of power generation in Antarctica.

This review outlines the development of power generation technologies in Antarctica, their downfalls and the increasingly popular eco-friendly alternatives to traditional methods. Power generation in Antarctica is a rapidly developing field considering its relatively short history. Demonstrated in this review is how quickly power generating technologies have developed in less than 100 years on the continent. Generation has progressed from the heroic age in Antarctica where blubber was burnt, to a diesel dominated lifestyle where diesel generators were utilised in almost every base as the predominant means of power supply. Management of diesel and dealing with the effects of its use were not fully realised until the rise of environmental awareness. Here alternative, eco-friendly power generation methods were investigated. With a range of renewable energy generation methods considered, solar and wind generation have, thus far, been selected as the emerging energy technologies on the continent. These new technologies require less maintenance, are cheaper to run long term, and produce fewer emissions so are ultimately better for both the environment and humans alike

Understanding Eiffelton Irrigation’s targeted stream augmentation.

Eiffelton Community Group Irrigation Scheme (ECGIS) is a small owner-operated irrigation scheme located near the Ashburton Coast of Canterbury. ECGIS is bisected by a number of drainage channels which serve to lower the water table and keep the land suited for agriculture. ECGIS provides water to its members by targeted stream augmentation. This is where groundwater is pumped from bores into the drainage channels which transports the water to members to enable take for irrigation. Despite the length of operation of ECGIS, little is known about it beyond this conceptual understanding establish in consent documents. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to understand operation and operational effects of ECGIS. This was achieved by meeting four objectives. The first objective was to document the operation of ECGIS and how operational decisions were made. This was achieved by undertaking semi-structured interviews with ECGIS members. ECGIS consists of 4,000 ha of land, 58 km of drains, and 20 production bores. ECGIS pumps water from the production bores into Deals, Windermere and Home Paddock drains to convey water for irrigation to its members. Bores are pumped into the closest drain, except HP1 which is pumped into Windermere Drain. Diversion gates allow transfer of water between these drains to enable the most cost-efficient use of water. Member access to water is proportional to their relative share of land within the ECGIS footprint. More water can be abstracted from the drains than can be supplied by ECGIS production bores, but each drain has a minimum flow rate which must be complied with whenever an ECGIS member is irrigating. The Race Manager and Assistant Race Manager are responsible for the day-to-day operation of ECGIS. Both are ECGIS members. ECGIS management make decisions on which production bores to use and how much flow to divert between the drains based on their understanding of ECGIS; capacity of the production bores, requirements of each irrigator, and the hydrology of the ECGIS area. Management operates to a 20 L/s surplus in provided water to prevent non-compliance. Management recognises that some bores have better yield than others, while some have higher operating costs. Because of these factors, there is no set order in which production bores are used. The second objective was to understand the hydrological setting of ECGIS and how scheme operation impacts measured parameters. This was addressed by undertaking field investigation on the largest and centremost drain utilised by ECGIS; Windermere Drain. Gauging results showed Windermere Drain increased in flow towards the coast across 2018, while in 2019 flows increased to Surveyors Road and again fell. Highest nitrate-N concentrations were found at the top of ECGIS and in drain water. E. Coli detections were lowest at the top of ECGIS and increased in drain water down-gradient. Data from the top of ECGIS suggests that Windermere Drain gains in its upper to mid reaches, but loses flow from its mid reaches, with rate increasing towards the coast. When predicting the flow in Windermere Drain over the irrigation period in the absence of targeted stream augmentation and without irrigation abstraction there were significant periods of no flow. This suggests ECGIS ensures flow in Windermere Drain where it may otherwise be dry. Water quality parameters were considered relative to the 2018/19 irrigation season. Targeted stream augmentation by ECGIS is understood to have contributed to lower dissolved oxygen, lower electrical conductivity, and lower nitrate-N concentrations in Windermere Drain and shallow groundwater across the 2018/19 irrigation season. The third objective was to identify values associated with the Hinds Drains, of which the drains used by ECGIS are a part. This was achieved by conducting semi-structured interviews with ECGIS members and individuals that have been involved in Ashburton water management. The most common value associated with the Hinds Drains by ECGIS members was their function as drains and keeping their land farmable. This likely reflected the fact that most interviewees lived within the Hinds Drains area and so benefitted directly from this primary function of the drains. Recreation (e.g. swimming, fishing) was the value most associated with the Hinds Drains by other interviewees. Presence of introduced and native fish was equally valued by ECGIS Members, but introduced fish were less valued by other interviewees. Interviewees were asked what they would like to see the Hinds Drains used for in a ‘perfect world’. Most interviewees identified restoration to provide for native fish. Many interviewees commented that while it would be nice to see greater biodiversity in the area, developing the drainage network to support such things should not come at the expense of their drainage function. The final objective was to determine how values could be met using an integrated framework. This was achieved by incorporating information obtained to address the previous three. Integrated water management was selected to identify opportunities to enhance drainage and native fish habitat. It was considered that to address both or either of these that efforts should be made to better understand and optimise existing drainage, and to improve riparian management along Windermere Drain

Treatment with AICAR inhibits blastocyst development, trophectodermdifferentiation and tight junction formation and function in mice

STUDY QUESTION: What is the impact of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation on blastocyst formation, gene expression, and tight junction formation and function? SUMMARY ANSWER: AMPK activity must be tightly controlled for normal preimplantation development and blastocyst formation to occur. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: AMPK isoforms are detectable in oocytes, cumulus cells and preimplantation embryos. Cultured embryos are subject to many stresses that can activate AMPK. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Two primary experiments were carried out to determine the effect of AICAR treatment on embryo development and maintenance of the blastocoel cavity. Embryos were recovered from superovulated mice. First, 2-cell embryos were treated with a concentration series (0-2000 μM) of AICAR for 48 h until blastocyst formation would normally occur. In the second experiment, expanded mouse blastocysts were treated for 9 h with 1000 μM AICAR. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Outcomes measured included development to the blastocyst stage, cell number, blastocyst volume, AMPK phosphorylation, Cdx2 and blastocyst formation gene family expression (mRNAs and protein measured using quantitative RT-PCR, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence), tight junction function (FITC dextran dye uptake assay), and blastocyst ATP levels. The reversibility of AICAR treatment was assessed using Compound C (CC), a well-known inhibitor of AMPK, alone or in combination with AICAR. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Prolonged treatment with AICAR from the 2-cell stage onward decreases blastocyst formation, reduces total cell number, embryo diameter, leads to loss of trophectoderm cell contacts and membrane zona occludens-1 staining, and increased nuclear condensation. Treatment with CC alone inhibited blastocyst development only at concentrations that are higher than normally used. AICAR treated embryos displayed altered mRNA and protein levels of blastocyst formation genes. Treatment of blastocysts with AICAR for 9 h induced blastocyst collapse, altered blastocyst formation gene expression, increased tight junction permeability and decreased CDX2. Treated blastocysts displayed three phenotypes: those that were unaffected by treatment, those in which treatment was reversible, and those in which effects were irreversible. LARGE SCALE DATA: Not applicable. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Our study investigates the effects of AICAR treatment on early development. While AICAR does increase AMPK activity and this is demonstrated in our study, AICAR is not a natural regulator of AMPK activity and some outcomes may result from off target non-AMPK AICAR regulated events. To support our results, blastocyst developmental outcomes were confirmed with two other well-known small molecule activators of AMPK, metformin and phenformin. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Metformin, an AMPK activator, is widely used to treat type II diabetes and polycystic ovarian disorder (PCOS). Our results indicate that early embryonic AMPK levels must be tightly regulated to ensure normal preimplantation development. Thus, use of metformin should be carefully considered during preimplantation and early post-embryo transfer phases of fertility treatment cycles. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S): Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) operating funds. There are no competing interests

Amnion as a surrogate tissue reporter of the effects of maternal preeclampsia on the fetus

We described the study design, detailed analytical methods, and verification results in the supporting information file. (DOCX 21.2 MB

Influenza hemagglutinin membrane anchor

Viruses with membranes fuse them with cellular membranes, to transfer their genomes into cells at the beginning of infection. For Influenza virus, the membrane glycoprotein involved in fusion is the hemagglutinin (HA), the 3D structure of which is known from X-ray crystallographic studies. The soluble ectodomain fragments used in these studies lacked the “membrane anchor” portion of the molecule. Since this region has a role in membrane fusion, we have determined its structure by analyzing the intact, full-length molecule in a detergent micelle, using cryo-EM. We have also compared the structures of full-length HA−detergent micelles with full-length HA−Fab complex detergent micelles, to describe an infectivity-neutralizing monoclonal Fab that binds near the ectodomain membrane anchor junction. We determine a high- resolution HA structure which compares favorably in detail with the structure of the ectodomain seen by X-ray crystallography; we detect, clearly, all five carbohydrate side chains of HA; and we find that the ectodomain is joined to the membrane anchor by flexible, eight-residue-long, linkers. The linkers extend into the detergent micelle to join a central triple-helical structure that is a major component of the membrane anchor

Catching Element Formation In The Act

Gamma-ray astronomy explores the most energetic photons in nature to address some of the most pressing puzzles in contemporary astrophysics. It encompasses a wide range of objects and phenomena: stars, supernovae, novae, neutron stars, stellar-mass black holes, nucleosynthesis, the interstellar medium, cosmic rays and relativistic-particle acceleration, and the evolution of galaxies. MeV gamma-rays provide a unique probe of nuclear processes in astronomy, directly measuring radioactive decay, nuclear de-excitation, and positron annihilation. The substantial information carried by gamma-ray photons allows us to see deeper into these objects, the bulk of the power is often emitted at gamma-ray energies, and radioactivity provides a natural physical clock that adds unique information. New science will be driven by time-domain population studies at gamma-ray energies. This science is enabled by next-generation gamma-ray instruments with one to two orders of magnitude better sensitivity, larger sky coverage, and faster cadence than all previous gamma-ray instruments. This transformative capability permits: (a) the accurate identification of the gamma-ray emitting objects and correlations with observations taken at other wavelengths and with other messengers; (b) construction of new gamma-ray maps of the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies where extended regions are distinguished from point sources; and (c) considerable serendipitous science of scarce events -- nearby neutron star mergers, for example. Advances in technology push the performance of new gamma-ray instruments to address a wide set of astrophysical questions.Comment: 14 pages including 3 figure

Identification and Description of the Uncertainty, Variability, Bias and Influence in Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) for Toxicity Prediction

Improving regulatory confidence in, and acceptance of, a prediction of toxicity from a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) requires assessment of its uncertainty and determination of whether the uncertainty is acceptable. Thus, it is crucial to identify potential uncertainties fundamental to QSAR predictions. Based on expert review, sources of uncertainties, variabilities and biases, as well as areas of influence in QSARs for toxicity prediction were established. These were grouped into three thematic areas: uncertainties, variabilities, potential biases and influences associated with 1) the creation of the QSAR, 2) the description of the QSAR, and 3) the application of the QSAR, also showing barriers for their use. Each thematic area was divided into a total of 13 main areas of concern with 49 assessment criteria covering all aspects of QSAR development, documentation and use. Two case studies were undertaken on different types of QSARs that demonstrated the applicability of the assessment criteria to identify potential weaknesses in the use of a QSAR for a specific purpose such that they may be addressed and mitigation strategies can be proposed, as well as enabling an informed decision on the adequacy of the model in the considered context

The impact of heat treatment of bovine milk on gastric emptying and nutrient appearance in peripheral circulation in healthy females: a randomized controlled trial comparing pasteurized and ultra-high temperature milk

Background: Heat treatments of dairy, including pasteurization and ultra-high temperature (UHT) processing, alter milk macromolecular structures, and ultimately affect digestion. In vitro, animal, and human studies show faster nutrient release or circulating appearance after consuming UHT milk (UHT-M) compared with pasteurized milk (PAST-M), with a faster gastric emptying (GE) rate proposed as a possible mechanism. Objectives: To investigate the impact of milk heat treatment on GE as a mechanism of faster nutrient appearance in blood. We hypothesized that GE and circulating nutrient delivery following consumption would be faster for UHT-M than PAST-M. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled cross-over trial, healthy female (n = 20; 27.3 ± 1.4 y, mean ± SD) habitual dairy consumers, consumed 500 mL of either homogenized bovine UHT-M or PAST-M (1340 compared with 1320 kJ). Gastric content volume (GCV) emptying half-time (T50) was assessed over 3 h by magnetic resonance imaging subjective digestive symptoms, plasma amino acid, lipid and B vitamin concentrations, and gastric myoelectrical activity were measured over 5 h. Results: Although GCV T50 did not differ (102 ± 7 min compared with 89 ± 8 min, mean ± SEM, UHT-M and PAST-M, respectively; P = 0.051), GCV time to emptying 25% of the volume was 31% longer following UHT-M compared with PAST-M (42 ± 2 compared with 32 ± 4 min, P = 0.004). Although GCV remained larger for a longer duration following UHT-M (treatment × time interaction, P = 0.002), plasma essential amino acid AUC was greater following UHT-M than PAST-M (55,324 ± 3809 compared with 36,598 ± 5673 μmol·min·L-1, P = 0.006). Heat treatment did not impact gastric myoelectrical activity, plasma appetite hormone markers or subjective appetite scores. Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, GE was slower with UHT-M, yet, as anticipated, aminoacidemia was greater. The larger GCV following UHT-M suggests that gastric volume may poorly predict circulating nutrient appearance from complex food matrices. Dairy heat treatment may be an effective tool to modify nutrient release by impacting digestion kinetics. Clinical Trial Registry: www.anzctr.org.au (ACTRN12620000172909)