Body composition and physical activity in New Zealand Maori, Pacific and European children aged 5-14 years

Body fatness and the components of energy expenditure in children aged 5-14 years were investigated. In a group of seventy-nine healthy children (thirty-nine female, forty male), mean age 10-0 (SD 2-8) years, comprising twenty-seven Maori, twenty-six Pacific Island and twenty-six European, total energy expenditure (TEE) was determined over 10d using the doubly-labelled water method. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured by indirect calorimetry and physical activity level (PAL) was calculated as TEE:RMR. Fat-free mass (FFM), and hence fat mass, was derived from the O-18-dilution space using appropriate values for FFM hydration in children. Qualitative information on physical activity patterns was obtained by questionnaire. Maori and Pacific children had a higher BMI than European children (P< 0.003), but % body fat was similar for the three ethnic groups. The % body fat increased with age for girls (r 0-42, P=0008), but not for boys. Ethnicity was not a significant predictor of RMR adjusted for FFM and fat mass. TEE and PAL, adjusted for body weight and age, were higher in Maori than European children (

High-Throughput Sequencing Reveals Cyclamen persicum Mill. as a Natural Host for Fig Mosaic Virus.

In a search for viral infections, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) were recovered from a diseased cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill.) accession (Cic) and analyzed by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology. Analysis of the HTS data showed the presence of Fig mosaic emaravirus (FMV) in this accession. The complete sequences of six FMV-Cic RNA genomic segments were determined from the HTS data and using Sanger sequencing. All FMV-Cic RNA segments are similar in size to those of FMV from fig (FMV-Gr10), with the exception of RNA-6 that is one nucleotide longer. The occurrence of FMV in cyclamen was investigated through a small-scale survey, from which four plants (out of 18 tested) were found RT-PCR positive. To study sequence variations of cyclamen isolates of FMV, RT-PCR products generated through the amplification of the partially RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, RNA-1), glycoprotein (GP, RNA-2), and nucleocapsid (NCP, RNA-3) genes were explored. The nucleotide sequence identities for cyclamen isolates ranged between 86% and 99% in RNA-1, 93% and 99% in RNA-2, and 98% and 99% in RNA-3, while lower identity levels were observed with the sequences of fig isolates. Based on the phylogenetic tree obtained with a 304-nt fragment of RNA3, all FMV isolates from cyclamens were assigned to a single cluster close to fig isolates from the Mediterranean. FMV was graft-transmitted to healthy cyclamens eliciting symptoms similar to those observed in the Cic accession, thus suggesting a causal role of FMV in the symptoms that prompted the investigation. This is the first report of FMV in a non-fig host, Cyclamen persicum, a finding that may help in the control of the mosaic and mosaic-like diseases of fig and cyclamen, respectively

Multidisciplinary studies of diffuse soil CO2 flux, gas permeability, self-potential, soil temperature highlight the structural architecture of Fondi di Baia craters (Campi Flegrei caldera, Italy)

We present in this paper the results of a geophysical and geochemical survey of self potential, diffuse soil CO2 flux, soil temperature and gas permeability carried out in the Fondi di Baia craters on the western sector of Campi Flegrei caldera, one of the most hazardous active volcano in Italy, aiming at highlighting the small scale volcano-tectonic structures of this Holocene edifice and at evaluating its state of fracturing. The central sector of Campi Flegrei (Solfatara volcano-Pisciarelli) is the one most affected by ground deformation and intense high-temperature fumarolic activity, nevertheless it cannot be ruled out a future vent opening along the western collapsed margin of the caldera, where Fondi di Baia craters are located. Our results show that the Fondi di Baia craters are characterized by a medium-high release of hydrothermal fluids through fractures that mimic the main volcano-tectonic structures of this portion of the caldera. Moreover, results indicate that, in case of a future volcanic reactivation, these structures could be possible paths for magma ascent. We provide a first estimate of the total flux of CO2 from Fondi di Baia diffuse degassing structure, quantified in 10.1 ± 1.1 t*d-