New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

A role for MGA2, but not SPT23, in activation of transcription of ERG1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MGA2 gene encodes an important regulator of unsaturated fatty acid production, by controlling transcription and mRNA stability of OLE1, the gene encoding the Delta 9 fatty acid desaturase. Lipid composition studies indicated that the mga2 Delta strain contains elevated relative amounts of squalene when compared to wild-type cells. The deletion of the MGA2 homologue SPT23 did not impact squalene levels. To explore the role of MGA2 in the regulation of sterol synthesis, the transcription of the ERG1 gene, which encodes squalene epoxidase, was studied using an ERG1 promoter-lacZ reporter gene construct. We report here that in addition to MGA2\u27s role in regulation of unsaturated fatty acids, MGA2 is required for full basal expression of ERG1. Mga2p was found to be controlled by a novel regulator in its activation of ERG1, as neither unsaturated fatty acids nor cobalt affected ERG1 expression, as had previously been shown for Mga2p\u27s regulation of OLE1. Further, response to miconazole treatment, which inhibits production of ergosterol at a later step in the sterol biosynthetic pathway and results in up-regulation of several genes in ergosterol synthesis, was not affected in the mga2 Delta mutant. In each case, the spr23 Delta mutant strain shows similar ERG1 expression to wild-type cells, while the mga2 Delta/spt23 Delta strain shows reduced ERG1 expression, comparable to the mga2 Delta, suggesting that the role of regulation of ERG1 transcription is unique to Mga2p

Factors affecting progress of Australian and international students in a problem-based learning medical course

Research on the factors affecting progress in medical schools has typically focused on mainstream (non-Indigenous Australian, non-international) students in traditional, didactic programmes. These results may not be applicable to students, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, undertaking problem-based learning courses. Objective This study used qualitative methodology to explore and compare factors affecting progress for mainstream Australian students (non-Indigenous Australian, non-international) and international students (full fee-paying students who had relocated countries to study) in a problem-based learning medical course. Intervention strategies were devised on the basis of the participants’ experiences. Methods Six focus group discussions were conducted (three with mainstream Australian and three with international participants). Transcripts of these discussions were coded and analysed independently by two researchers and discussed until consensus was attained. Results Participants identified both positive and negative experiences related to the course structure, which were consistent with previous findings. The participants’ experiences demonstrated a relationship between sense of ‘belongingness’ to the medical school community, participation in learning opportunities and progress through the course. Conclusions The results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing barriers to progress need to promote students’ confidence, motivation and subsequent participation in course learning opportunities. These results have application to other problem-based learning courses particularly those which face the challenge of providing an optimal learning environment for students from diverse backgrounds

The Global Open Research Commons International Model Report, Version 1

&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;In response to the global movement to implement national and cross-national or&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;global commons, a Research Data Alliance (RDA) Interest Group was formed to work&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;towards a community-developed typology for describing research commons. This Interest&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Group created a Working Group to develop an International Model describing the attributes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;of Global Open Research Commons. This document supports the release of this RDA Global Open&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Research Commons (GORC) International Model (IM) v. 1.0, presented as a spreadsheet. This&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;accompanying narrative document provides background information about the initiative, describes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;its intent and intended audience, the method used to create it, its structure and content. It also&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;provides brief descriptions of communities and activities that have proposed to, or are currently,&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;utilising the model in different contexts, as well as next steps for work in this area. It is important to&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;recognise that the model is aspirational in nature and not prescriptive, drawing on existing good&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;practice and promoting inclusive approaches. It is important to recognise that the model is&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;aspirational in nature and not prescriptive, drawing on existing good practice and promoting&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;inclusive approaches.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt

Business models for sustainable research data repositories

There is a large variety of repositories that are responsible for providing long term access to data that is used for research. As data volumes and the demands for more open access to this data increase, these repositories are coming under increasing financial pressures that can undermine their long-term sustainability. This report explores the income streams, costs, value propositions, and business models for 48 research data repositories. It includes a set of recommendations designed to provide a framework for developing sustainable business models and to assist policy makers and funders in supporting repositories with a balance of policy regulation and incentives