Researchers explore Arctic freshwater\u27s role in ocean circulation

A critical, but insufficiently understood, component of global change is the influence of Arctic freshwater input on water mass exchange between the Arctic Ocean and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Four of the Earth\u27s 10 largest river systems, the Mackenzie, Ob,Yenisei, and Lena, contribute water to the Arctic shore (Figure 1) from a vast watershed that drains continental interiors. This river discharge flows into the world\u27s largest contiguous continental shelf and supplies over 50% (1823 km3 ) of the riverine input to the Arctic Ocean

Lactation and neonatal nutrition: defining and refining the critical questions.

This paper resulted from a conference entitled "Lactation and Milk: Defining and refining the critical questions" held at the University of Colorado School of Medicine from January 18-20, 2012. The mission of the conference was to identify unresolved questions and set future goals for research into human milk composition, mammary development and lactation. We first outline the unanswered questions regarding the composition of human milk (Section I) and the mechanisms by which milk components affect neonatal development, growth and health and recommend models for future research. Emerging questions about how milk components affect cognitive development and behavioral phenotype of the offspring are presented in Section II. In Section III we outline the important unanswered questions about regulation of mammary gland development, the heritability of defects, the effects of maternal nutrition, disease, metabolic status, and therapeutic drugs upon the subsequent lactation. Questions surrounding breastfeeding practice are also highlighted. In Section IV we describe the specific nutritional challenges faced by three different populations, namely preterm infants, infants born to obese mothers who may or may not have gestational diabetes, and infants born to undernourished mothers. The recognition that multidisciplinary training is critical to advancing the field led us to formulate specific training recommendations in Section V. Our recommendations for research emphasis are summarized in Section VI. In sum, we present a roadmap for multidisciplinary research into all aspects of human lactation, milk and its role in infant nutrition for the next decade and beyond

Olivier Messiaen’s Liturgical Improvisations: A Theological Practice and its Resonances

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992) was one of the most distinctive and influential composers of the twentieth century. His works exhibit not only his technical innovations and control of his musical material, but frequently also his avowed intention programmatically to express his Catholic faith. In addition to his work as a composer and as a conservatoire professor, he held the post of titular organist of the church of Ste Trinité in Paris for more than sixty years. In that role he was required to respond musically to liturgical texts and actions, these responses most frequently taking the form of improvisations. The inherently ephemeral nature of this activity, and the specific cultural locus of Roman Catholic liturgy, have meant that this part of Messiaen’s activity has received less attention from researchers than his other functions. This thesis considers the evidence for both the musical content and the theological significance of Messiaen’s liturgical improvisations, and the ways in which that practice may have informed his composition. Significantly, the research includes the first substantial analysis of a set of recordings of Messiaen improvising, made during services at Ste Trinité during the 1980s. This approach, complementing the verbal accounts given by Messiaen himself and others, enables an assessment of his ecclesiastical function as a whole. The resulting interpretation of these improvisations is then further developed with reference to the theology of liturgy, demonstrating that this context enables the music to have its own proper theological force. This in turn enables a refined understanding of Messiaen’s wish to have his composed works understood as a form of transposition of liturgy into the concert-hall. The influence of improvisation on a selection of his compositions is demonstrated, as is the relevance of liturgical theology to the interpretation of his claim that his music aimed to elucidate theological truths

The farnesoid X receptor regulates transcription of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in human adrenal cells

Recent studies have shown that the adrenal cortex expresses high levels of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), but its function remains not known. Herein, using microarray technology, we tried to identify candidate FXR targeting genes in the adrenal glands, and showed that FXR regulates 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD3B2) expression in human adrenocortical cells. We further demonstrated that FXR stimulated HSD3B2 promoter activity and have defined the cis-element responsible for FXR regulation of HSD3B2 transcription. Transfection of H295R adrenocortical cells with FXR expression vector effectively increased FXR expression levels and additional treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) caused a 25-fold increase in the mRNA for organic solute transporter alpha (OSTα), a known FXR target gene. HSD3B2 mRNA levels also increased following CDCA treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Cells transfected with a HSD3B2 promoter construct and FXR expression vector responded to CDCA with a 20-fold increase in reporter activity compared to control. Analysis of constructs containing sequential deletions of the HSD3B2 promoter suggested a putative regulatory element between -166 and -101. Mutation of an inverted repeat between -137 and -124 completely blocked CDCA/FXR induced reporter activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays further confirmed the presence of a FXR response element in the HSD3B2 promoter. In view of the emerging role of FXR agonists as therapeutic treatment of diabetes and certain liver diseases, the effects of such agonists on other FXR expressing tissues should be considered. Our findings suggest that in human adrenal cells, FXR increases transcription and expression of HSD3B2. Alterations in this enzyme would influence the capacity of the adrenal gland to produce corticosteroids

In Support of a Patient-Driven Initiative and Petition to Lower the High Price of Cancer Drugs

Comment in Lowering the High Cost of Cancer Drugs--III. [Mayo Clin Proc. 2016] Lowering the High Cost of Cancer Drugs--I. [Mayo Clin Proc. 2016] Lowering the High Cost of Cancer Drugs--IV. [Mayo Clin Proc. 2016] In Reply--Lowering the High Cost of Cancer Drugs. [Mayo Clin Proc. 2016] US oncologists call for government regulation to curb drug price rises. [BMJ. 2015

Quinones as dienophiles in the Diels-Alder reaction: history and applications in total synthesis

In the canon of reactions available to the organic chemist engaged in total synthesis, the Diels–Alder reaction is among the most powerful and well understood. Its ability to rapidly generate molecular complexity through the simultaneous formation of two carboncarbon bonds is almost unrivalled, and this is reflected in the great number of reported applications of this reaction. Historically, the use of quinones as dienophiles is highly significant, being the very first example investigated by Diels and Alder. Herein, we review the application of the Diels–Alder reaction of quinones in the total synthesis of natural products. The highlighted examples span some 60 years from the landmark syntheses of morphine (1952) and reserpine (1956) by Gates and Woodward, respectively, through to the present day examples, such as the tetracyclines

Researchers Explore Arctic Freshwater's Role in Ocean Circulation

This article is available at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository: https://scholars.unh.edu/faculty_pubs/149National Science FoundationGrant ATM-981826

Erratum to: Methods for evaluating medical tests and biomarkers

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s41512-016-0001-y.]