Exploring mutualistic interactions between microalgae and bacteria in the omics age.

Microalgae undertake a wide range of mutualistic interactions with bacteria. Here we consider how transcriptomic, metagenomic and metabolomic approaches have been combined with microbiological and biochemical analyses to expand our understanding of algal-bacterial interactions. Identification of the major bacterial species associated with algae indicates that specific bacterial groups, particularly the alpha-Proteobacteria, are found more frequently, suggesting that these may have the means to initiate and maintain symbiotic relationships. Nutrient exchange is frequently the basis of algal-bacterial mutualism, and as the compounds involved are characterised, evidence is accumulating that these are complex and specific molecules, offering opportunities for signalling processes and regulation rather than merely passive diffusion. At the same time, it is clear that the interactions are not static, but can be initiated and broken in response to environmental and developmental cues.We thank the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) of the UK, and PML Applications Ltd., Plymouth UK, for the CASE studentship for MBC.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2015.07.00

The Proposed U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA): Provisions and Implications

On June 30, 2007, United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab and South Korean Foreign Trade Minister Kim Hyung-chong signed the proposed U.S.-South Korean Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) for their respective countries. If approved, the KORUS FTA would be the largest FTA that South Korea has signed to date and would be the second largest (next to North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA) in which the United States participates. South Korea is the seventh-largest trading partner of the United States and the United States is South Korea’s third largest trading partner. Various studies conclude that the agreement would increase bilateral trade and investment flows. The final text of the proposed KORUS FTA covers a wide range of trade and investment issues and, therefore, could have wide economic implications for both the United States and South Korea. The KORUS FTA includes issues on which the two countries achieved early agreement, such as the elimination on tariffs on trade in most manufactured goods and the partial liberalization in services trade. The agreement also includes provisions on a number of very sensitive issues, such as autos, agriculture, and trade remedies, on which agreement was reached only during the final hours of negotiations. If the agreement is to enter into force, Congress will have to approve implementation legislation. The negotiations were conducted under the trade promotion authority (TPA), also called fast-track trade authority, that the Congress granted the President under the Bipartisan Trade Promotion Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-210). The authority allows the President to enter into trade agreements that receive expedited congressional consideration (no amendments and limited debate). The White House has not indicated when it will send the draft implementing legislation to Congress. (The TPA sets no deadline for the President to do this.) While a broad swath of the U.S. business community supports the agreement, the KORUS FTA faces opposition from some groups, including some auto and steel manufacturers and labor unions. In addition, the agricultural community and some Members of Congress have withheld support for the agreement until South Korea lifts its restrictions on imports of U.S. beef. Some U.S. supporters view passage of the KORUS FTA as important to secure new opportunities in the South Korea market. Opponents claim that the KORUS FTA does not go far enough in opening up the South Korean market and is a lost opportunity to resolve long running concerns about South Korean barriers. Other observers have suggested the outcome of the KORUS FTA could have implications for the U.S.-South Korean alliance as a whole. Differences between the White House and the Democratic leadership in the Congress over the implications of the KORUS FTA have made the timing and even the likelihood of the President’s submission and the Congress’s subsequent consideration of implementing legislation uncertain. This report will be updated as events warrant

Extended Photometry for the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey: A Testbed for Photometric Redshift Experiments

This paper describes a new catalog that supplements the existing DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey photometric and spectroscopic catalogs with ugriz photometry from two other surveys; the Canada-France-Hawaii Legacy Survey (CFHTLS) and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Each catalog is cross-matched by position on the sky in order to assign ugriz photometry to objects in the DEEP2 catalogs. We have recalibrated the CFHTLS photometry where it overlaps DEEP2 in order to provide a more uniform dataset. We have also used this improved photometry to predict DEEP2 BRI photometry in regions where only poorer measurements were available previously. In addition, we have included improved astrometry tied to SDSS rather than USNO-A2.0 for all DEEP2 objects. In total this catalog contains ~27,000 objects with full ugriz photometry as well as robust spectroscopic redshift measurements, 64% of which have r > 23. By combining the secure and accurate redshifts of the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey with ugriz photometry, we have created a catalog that can be used as an excellent testbed for future photo-z studies, including tests of algorithms for surveys such as LSST and DES.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures and 5 tables. Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal Supplement. Catalogs are publicly available at http://deep.ps.uci.edu/DR4/photo.extended.htm

The 5-HT2C receptor agonist, lorcaserin, and the 5-HT6 receptor antagonist, SB-742457, promote satiety; a microstructural analysis of feeding behaviour

RATIONALE: Whilst the FDA-approved anorectic, lorcaserin and various 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)6 receptor antagonists reduce feeding, a direct assessment of their impact upon feeding behaviour is less clear. We therefore examined the action of lorcaserin and the clinical-stage developmental candidate 5-HT6 receptor antagonist, SB-742457, upon microstructural analysis of licking behaviour. Such analysis provides a rich source of information about the mechanisms controlling food intake. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to gain insight into the influence upon feeding behaviour of the 5-HT2C receptor agonist, lorcaserin and the developmental 5-HT6 receptor antagonist, SB-742457. METHODS: The impact of lorcaserin and SB-742457 upon licking behaviour of non-deprived rats for a glucose solution was assessed using microstructural analysis. RESULTS: Lorcaserin (0.1-3.0 mg/kg) displayed a dose-dependent ability to reduce glucose consumption via reduction in the number of bouts of licking. A similar action was evident with SB-742457, but only at the lowest dose tested (3.0 mg/kg). CONCLUSIONS: The behavioural actions of both lorcaserin and SB-742457 demonstrate they directly promote satiety

Developing the Role of the Clinical Academic Nurse, Midwife and Allied Health Professional in Healthcare Organisations

Clinical academics provide key contributions to positive outcomes in the delivery of high-quality health and social care; however, building capacity and capability for these roles for Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs) within contemporary healthcare settings is often complex and challenging. Accessing funding and training, such as that provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), can remain beyond the reach of NMAHPs at point-of-care delivery because of limited structural empowerment, practical support and a culture inhibiting the growth of clinical academic careers. This article will discuss strategic developments and partnerships from two organisations, both with a positive track record of supporting clinical academic career development for NMAHPs. We aim to provide practical and applicable examples showing how NMAHPs have been supported from foundational to post-doctoral level and outline these under three key headings: strategic commitment; structures to engage, enthuse and empower clinical academic careers; and realising the benefits for staff and patient experience. We contend that a wide-ranging level of support is required to encourage aspiring clinical academics to navigate this complex journey, often where the development of personal confidence, and access to early career models combining clinical and research activity are pivotal. We conclude that when crafted and created effectively with sustainable commitment by organisations, NMAHP clinical academics provide an innovative workforce solution with the knowledge and skills essential for a contemporary NHS healthcare system

The management of health library outreach services: evaluation and reflection on lessons learned on the VIVOS project

Purpose: The aim of the VIVOS project was to develop and evaluate methodologies, i.e., sets of methods, for determining the value and impact of “virtual outreach” information services in the health sector in the UK. Methods: Five different projects were recruited initially, with another two added later. Methods were largely qualitative, with over 130 interviews conducted among health professionals, complemented by postal questionnaire surveys. Results: Identified factors that affect the successful roll-out and continued development of the projects included the need for help-desk type services to provide sustained support for new users to the services. Conclusions: Follow-up of the projects eighteen months after the end of the VIVOS project revealed that the long-term impacts for the participating library managers included the benefits of using evidence on service outcomes, enhanced recognition locally, and greater confidence in evaluation