Controls on reservoir character in carbonate-chert strata, Mississippian (Osagean-Meramecian), southeast Kansas

Osagean-Meramecian strata in southeast Kansas were investigated to determine structural, relative sea level, diagenetic, and depositional controls on stratigraphy, lithofacies distribution, and reservoir character. Lithofacies include echinoderm-rich bioclastic wacke-packstone, sponge-spicule-rich packstone, dolomitic bioclastic wackestone, argillaceous dolomite, tripolitic chert, and chert breccia. Four cores are used to construct a ten-mile long southwest-northeast cross section, which assists in interpretation of three genetic units. Paragenesis reveals that early and late dissolution enhance porosity in chert. Fluid inclusion microthermometry from megaquartz and baroque dolomite reveals variable but increasing homogenization temperatures (70˚C-160˚C) that increase in salinity through time. Data indicate that reservoir character is an interplay of depositional through late diagenetic events. The best reservoirs may be controlled by depositional setting that led to large amounts of chert and carbonate grains in grain support, alteration associated with subaerial exposure, and a hydrologic and structural setting that led to enhanced hydrothermal fluid flow for later dissolution

THE 3' UTR OF TURNIP CRINKLE VIRUS INTERACTS LOCALLY AND DISTALLY TO REGULATE TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION OF THE VIRUS

Turnip crinkle virus (TCV) is a 4054 b positive-strand RNA virus of the genus Carmovirus in the Family Tombusviridae. Upon entry into cells, TCV is translated using host translational machinery to produce its RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). The RNA is proposed to undergo a conformational rearrangement, mediated by recruitment of the RdRp to the 3' ends of the viral RNA, which represses translation and promotes negative-strand synthesis. A second RNA switch is proposed to occur that inhibits minus-strand synthesis and promotes recruitment of the RdRp to the 3' ends of negative-strands for the asymmetrical production of positive-strands. Within the 3' UTR of TCV is a tRNA-shaped structure (TSS) that is capable of binding ribosomes and overlaps with structures necessary for translational enhancement. The RdRp has been shown to bind within this region and result in a widespread conformational shift. The binding of RdRp to the 3' end of the virus is very sensitive to perturbations of sequence or structure, with many mutations resulting in non-specific binding of the RdRp. The elements within the 3' UTR have been shown to be very interactive with alterations affecting the structure of regions hundreds of bases away. A second-site mutation study indicated that regions upstream of the 3' UTR may also be interacting with the 3' UTR. Some second-site mutations located in this upstream region were found to increase accumulation in protoplasts and additional studies are under way to explain this phenomenon. The 3' viral contribution in a luciferase reporter construct was increased to incorporate the second-site mutations. While the second-site mutations had little effect on translation, it was surprising to find that extension of the viral 3' sequence enhanced translation. Translational enhancement was mapped to just an additional twenty bases and further study revealed that a hairpin (H3) is important for viral translation and accumulation and may also be interacting with the 3' UTR

Young people's views on psychological therapy within an outpatient paediatric diabetes service

The evidence base for the efficacy of psychological intervention in paediatric diabetes is substantial, yet little research exists exploring young people’s opinions of the psychological support offered within their diabetes service. The current study investigated the experiences of adolescents with type 1 diabetes who received psychological therapy, and asked what they thought was helpful in bringing about change. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight adolescents. Thematic analysis was employed to identify common themes. The results suggest an overall positive and helpful impression of psychological therapy. Consistent with previous research investigating therapeutic change, factors such as psychologist characteristics, therapeutic activities and external factors were identified as facilitating change. Additional important themes were identified by adolescents with diabetes such as: the impact of feelings of isolation; potential anxieties about engaging with psychology; and young people’s personal willingness to change. The implications for clinical practice are discussed

Predicting wildlife reservoirs and global vulnerability to zoonotic Flaviviruses.

Flaviviruses continue to cause globally relevant epidemics and have emerged or re-emerged in regions that were previously unaffected. Factors determining emergence of flaviviruses and continuing circulation in sylvatic cycles are incompletely understood. Here we identify potential sylvatic reservoirs of flaviviruses and characterize the macro-ecological traits common to known wildlife hosts to predict the risk of sylvatic flavivirus transmission among wildlife and identify regions that could be vulnerable to outbreaks. We evaluate variability in wildlife hosts for zoonotic flaviviruses and find that flaviviruses group together in distinct clusters with similar hosts. Models incorporating ecological and climatic variables as well as life history traits shared by flaviviruses predict new host species with similar host characteristics. The combination of vector distribution data with models for flavivirus hosts allows for prediction of  global vulnerability to flaviviruses and provides potential targets for disease surveillance in animals and humans