Aquatic Invasive Species as Hazards on Water Resources and Ecosystems in Texas

Water losses due to invasive species cost Texas hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water per year, water unavailable for instream flows, irrigation and other human uses. Innovative, proactive ecological research and public and policy awareness and education initiatives are instrumental to preventing further invasions and managing existing exotic species impacts in Texas aquatic ecosystems

Preliminary operational results from the Willard solar power system

The solar powered system located near Willard, New Mexico, generates mechanical or electrical power at a capacity of 19 kW (25 HP). The solar collection system incorporates east/west tracking parabolic trough collectors with a total aperture area of 1275 sq m (13,720 sq ft). The hot oil type thermal energy storage is sufficient for approximately 20 hours of power system operation. The system utilizes a reaction type turbine in conjunction with an organic Rankine cycle engine. Total collector field efficiency reaches a maximum of 20 percent near the winter solstice and about 50 percent during the summer. During the month of July, 1979, the system pumped 60 percent of the 35,300 cu m (28.6 acre-feet) of water delivered. Operating efficiencies for the turbine component, organic Rankine cycle engine and the complete power system are respectively 65 to 75 percent, 12 to 15 percent and 5 to 6 percent. Significant maintenance time was expended on both the collector and power systems throughout the operational period

Earning More, Receiving Less: Loss of Benefits and Child Hunger

New research from Children's HealthWatch shows that increases in income that trigger loss of public assistance benefits can leave young children without enough food to eat. Families hat have been cut off from SNAP or TANF when their income exceeds eligibility limits are more likely to experience levels of food insecurity that require reducing the size or frequency of children's meals compared to those currently receiving benefits. Previous research has demonstrated that both SNAP and TANF reduce the likelihood of food insecurity. Income eligibility guidelines should be re-examined to ensure that a modest increase in income does not disqulaify a family from the benefits they need to keep their children healthy and well-fed. Families that successfully increase their earnings should not find themselves worse off due to a resulting loss of benefits

Development and validation of a chemostat gut model to study both planktonic and biofilm modes of growth of Clostridium difficile and human microbiota

Copyright: 2014 Crowther et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.The human gastrointestinal tract harbours a complex microbial community which exist in planktonic and sessile form. The degree to which composition and function of faecal and mucosal microbiota differ remains unclear. We describe the development and characterisation of an in vitro human gut model, which can be used to facilitate the formation and longitudinal analysis of mature mixed species biofilms. This enables the investigation of the role of biofilms in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). A well established and validated human gut model of simulated CDI was adapted to incorporate glass rods that create a solid-gaseous-liquid interface for biofilm formation. The continuous chemostat model was inoculated with a pooled human faecal emulsion and controlled to mimic colonic conditions in vivo. Planktonic and sessile bacterial populations were enumerated for up to 46 days. Biofilm consistently formed macroscopic structures on all glass rods over extended periods of time, providing a framework to sample and analyse biofilm structures independently. Whilst variation in biofilm biomass is evident between rods, populations of sessile bacterial groups (log10 cfu/g of biofilm) remain relatively consistent between rods at each sampling point. All bacterial groups enumerated within the planktonic communities were also present within biofilm structures. The planktonic mode of growth of C. difficile and gut microbiota closely reflected observations within the original gut model. However, distinct differences were observed in the behaviour of sessile and planktonic C. difficile populations, with C. difficile spores preferentially persisting within biofilm structures. The redesigned biofilm chemostat model has been validated for reproducible and consistent formation of mixed species intestinal biofilms. This model can be utilised for the analysis of sessile mixed species communities longitudinally, potentially providing information of the role of biofilms in CDI.Peer reviewe

Children of Immigrants: Healthy Beginnings Derailed by Food Insecurity

Children of immigrants are the fastest growing child population in the United States. More than 20 percent of children under age six have immigrant parents; approximately 93 percent of these children are American citizens.Of the children who are non-citizens, two-thirds will grow up to become citizens, playing a critical role in our nation's future

The Acute Effects of Cardiorespiratory Exercise on Telomere-Associated Genes and MicroRNA Expression in Immune Cell Subsets.

The acute effects of cardiorespiratory exercise on telomere-associated genes and microRNA expression in immune cell subsets. CHILTON WL, MARQUES FZ, O’BRIEN BJ, and CHARCHAR F. School of Health Sciences; University of Ballarat; Victoria, Australia. ABSTRACT Telomeres are specialized nucleoprotein structures that protect the ends of linear chromosomes from degradation. Habitual physical activity is positively associated with longer leukocyte telomere length; however the molecular mechanisms underpinning the association are unclear. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the rate-limiting component of the telomere extending enzyme telomerase. The effective functioning of the adaptive immune system depends heavily upon the replicative potential of T cells, which is largely determined by telomere length and hTERT expression. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) also serves important pro-telomeric functions via an interaction with telomeric chromatin and regulatory roles in genome stabilization and DNA repair. It is unknown if cardiorespiratory exercise acutely regulates mRNA levels of hTERT, SIRT6 or other telomere-associated genes in white blood cells in general and T cell subsets in particular. Additionally, the exercise-induced regulation of microRNAs (short, non-coding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression) with potential telomeric functions is unknown. Twenty-three healthy males (mean age=23.96 ±1.49 years) undertook 30min of treadmill running at 80% of previously determined VO2peak. Blood samples were taken before exercise, immediately post-exercise and 60min post-exercise. White blood cells and flow cytometry-sorted T cell subsets were assessed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction for differential regulation of telomeric genes and microRNAs. Expression levels of hTERT and SIRT6 mRNA were up-regulated following exercise in white blood cells and various T cell subsets (CD4+ naïve, CD4+ memory, CD8+ naïve, and CD8+ memory). Additionally, exercise differentially regulated several genes associated with telomere structure. A total of 56 microRNAs were differentially regulated post-exercise, six of which were investigated for potential telomeric functions. MicroRNAs-186, 636, 15a, and 96 showed significant up-regulation 60min post-exercise. MicroRNAs-186 and 636 showed detectable differential regulation in naïve and memory subsets. Intense cardiorespiratory exercise differentially regulated a host of telomeric genes in white blood cells and T cell subsets. Furthermore, it resulted in differential regulation of 56 microRNAs, some of which have binding potential to telomeric genes. Importantly, we demonstrated cell type-specific expression patterns in telomeric genes and microRNA. These results could have important implications for T cell-dependent immune functions and telomere homeostasis

Peri-operative pulse oximetry in low-income countries: a cost–effectiveness analysis

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the cost–effectiveness of pulse oximetry – compared with no peri-operative monitoring – during surgery in low-income countries. Methods: We considered the use of tabletop and portable, hand-held pulse oximeters among patients of any age undergoing major surgery in low-income countries. From earlier studies we obtained baseline mortality and the effectiveness of pulse oximeters to reduce mortality. We considered the direct costs of purchasing and maintaining pulse oximeters as well as the cost of supplementary oxygen used to treat hypoxic episodes identified by oximetry. Health benefits were measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted and benefits and costs were both discounted at 3% per year. We used recommended cost–effectiveness thresholds – both absolute and relative to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita – to assess if pulse oximetry is a cost–effective health intervention. To test the robustness of our results we performed sensitivity analyses. Findings: In 2013 prices, tabletop and hand-held oximeters were found to have annual costs of 310 and 95 United States dollars (US$), respectively. Assuming the two types of oximeter have identical effectiveness, a single oximeter used for 22 procedures per week averted 0.83 DALYs per annum. The tabletop and hand-held oximeters cost US$ 374 and US$115 per DALY averted, respectively. For any country with a GDP per capita above US$ 677 the hand-held oximeter was found to be cost–effective if it prevented just 1.7% of anaesthetic-related deaths or 0.3% of peri-operative mortality. Conclusion: Pulse oximetry is a cost–effective intervention for low-income settings

Experiences with a universal mindfulness and wellbeing programme at a UK medical school

Evaluation of a universal, mental wellbeing and mindfulness programme in a UK graduate entry medical school Design: Mixed methods: measurement of mental wellbeing and mindfulness in 2 cohorts at 3 time points over 15mths; descriptive, regression and repeated measures analysis with post hoc pairwise comparisons; qualitative interviews with purposive sample of 13 students after 1yr analysed thematically; spontaneous anonymous feedback on the course. Findings: The course was a surprise to students, and reactions mixed. Respect for its contents grew over the first year. Most students had actively implemented a wellbeing strategy by the end of the course and an estimated quarter were practicing some mindful activity. In the context of an overall decline in wellbeing and limited engagement with mindfulness practice, increases in mindfulness were protective against this decline in both cohorts (p<001). A small minority of students thought the course was a waste of time. Their attitudes influenced engagement by their peers. The mindfulness and wellbeing practices of the facilitators were evident to students and influenced perceived effects. Research Limitations: The uncontrolled nature of this observational study and low response rates to the survey limit conclusions. Further research in other medical education settings is needed. Practice Implications: Results are encouraging, suggesting modest benefit in terms of changing attitudes and practices and a modest protective effect on the wellbeing of students who engaged. Originality/value: This is the first study of a universal wellbeing and mindfulness programme in a UK medical school. Universal programmes are rare and evaluation studies are scarce

On the possibility of magneto-structural correlations: detailed studies of di-nickel carboxylate complexes

A series of water-bridged dinickel complexes of the general formula [Ni&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;(μ&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-OH&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;)(μ2- O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;C&lt;sup&gt;t&lt;/sup&gt;Bu)&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;(O&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;C&lt;sup&gt;t&lt;/sup&gt;Bu)2(L)(L0)] (L = HO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;C&lt;sup&gt;t&lt;/sup&gt;Bu, L0 = HO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;C&lt;sup&gt;t&lt;/sup&gt;Bu (1), pyridine (2), 3-methylpyridine (4); L = L0 = pyridine (3), 3-methylpyridine (5)) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The magnetic properties have been probed by magnetometry and EPR spectroscopy, and detailed measurements show that the axial zero-field splitting, D, of the nickel(ii) ions is on the same order as the isotropic exchange interaction, J, between the nickel sites. The isotropic exchange interaction can be related to the angle between the nickel centers and the bridging water molecule, while the magnitude of D can be related to the coordination sphere at the nickel sites