Comparing the number of outdoor sugar-sweetened beverage and caffeinated beverage advertisements near schools by school type and school-level economic advantage

INTRODUCTION

Sugar-sweetened beverage and caffeinated beverage consumption are associated with a variety of health issues among youth. Food and beverage marketing has been shown to affect youth's preferences, purchases, and consumption of marketed products. Previous research suggests that outdoor food and beverage marketing differs by community demographics, with more advertisements in lower-income communities and near schools. The purpose of this study is to examine the density of sugar-sweetened and caffeinated beverage advertisements near schools by school type (middle vs. high school) and by school-level SES.

METHODS

Data are from the Outdoor Measuring and Evaluating the Determinants and Influence of Advertising (MEDIA)study, which documented and described all outdoor food and beverage advertisements near 47 middle and high schools in 2012. Beverage advertisements were categorized as: sugar-sweetened/caffeinated, sugar-sweetened/non-caffeinated, non-sugar-sweetened/caffeinated, or non-sugar-sweetened/non-caffeinated. Schools were categorized by type (middle vs high) and by SES as determined by the percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Bootstrapped non-parametric Mann-Whitney U tests compared the number of advertisements in each category by school type and school-level SES (higher vs lower).

RESULTS

Compared to schools with higher SES, schools with lower SES had significantly more advertisements for sugar-sweetened/non-caffeinated beverages (Medianlow = 28.5 (IQR 17-69), vs Medianhigh = 10.5 (IQR 4-17) (p = 0.002)., sugar-sweetened non-caffeinated (Medianlow = 46 (IQR 16-99) vs Medianhigh = 13.5 (IQR 6-25), p = 0.002), -sugar-sweetened caffeinated (Medianlow = 12 (IQR 8-19) vs Medianhigh = 6 (IQR 2-8), p = 0.000), and non-sugar-sweetened non-caffeinated (Medianlow = 30 (IQR 13-65) vs Medianhigh = 14 (IQR 4-29), p = 0.045).There were no significant differences by school type.

CONCLUSION

This study adds to the literature demonstrating pervasive marketing of unhealthy products in lower-income communities. Disproportionate exposure to sugar-sweetened and caffeinated beverage advertisements in lower-income communities may contribute to the disparities in associated health outcomes by economic status.

Depressive symptoms prospectively increase risk for new onset cigarette and ENDS dependence symptoms

Little research has examined the new onset of cigarette and Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) dependence symptoms among young adults. This study aims to 1) examine new onset cigarette and ENDS dependence symptoms over a 4.5-year period and 2) examine how depressive symptoms impact new onset dependence symptoms among young adults. Participants were drawn from 24 colleges in Texas who were participating in a multi-wave cohort study (2014-2019). The present study included 4536 participants aged 18-25 who did not report cigarette or ENDS dependence symptoms at wave 1 (64.1% female; 65.2% non-white; m age = 20.62 [SD = 1.80] at wave 1). Cox's regression models were employed to determine the hazard of new onset cigarette and ENDS dependence symptoms overall and the impact of depressive symptoms. Models controlled for sociodemographic factors and other tobacco product use. 14.4% of participants reported new onset cigarette dependence symptoms and 14.6% reported new onset ENDS dependence symptoms over the 4.5 years of the study. Depressive symptoms significantly predicted increased risk for new onset cigarette (HR = 1.30, CI = [1.21, 1.39]) and ENDS (HR = 1.20, CI = [1.12, 1.29]) dependence symptoms. Young adults exhibited dependence symptoms for cigarettes and ENDS products at similar rates across the 4.5 years of the study. Elevated depressive symptoms increased risk of new onset cigarette and ENDS dependence symptoms, advancing evidence for the self-medication hypothesis. Tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation programs and messaging are needed particularly among young adults who experience depressive symptoms.

School-Level Socioeconomic Status and Nutrient Content of Outdoor Food/Beverage Advertisements

We examined if areas around schools with more students of lower socioeconomic status (SES) have more total food/beverage advertisements and/or more advertisements with poorer nutritional content as compared to areas around schools with fewer students with lower SES. All outdoor food/beverage advertisements within a half-mile radius of 47 middle and high schools in the United States were objectively documented in 2012 and coded for nutritional content. The total number of advertisements and the macronutrient and micronutrient contents (total calories, fat (g), protein (g), carbohydrate (g), sugar (g), and sodium (mg)) of food and beverage items depicted in the advertisements were calculated. In total, 9132 unique advertisements were recorded, with 3153 ads displaying food and beverages that could be coded for nutrient content. Schools located in areas of lower SES (≥60% students receiving free/reduced-price lunch) had significantly more advertisements displaying food and beverages that could be coded for nutrient content (z = 2.01, p = 0.04), as well as advertisements that contained more sodium (z = 2.20, p = 0.03), as compared to schools located in areas of higher SES. There were no differences in calorie, fat, protein, carbohydrate, or sugar content. Policies to reduce the prevalence of outdoor food and beverage advertising are warranted.

Exposure to tobacco retail outlet tobacco marketing and initiation of cigarette and e-cigarette use: Depressive symptoms as a moderator

INTRODUCTION

While tobacco retail outlet (TRO) marketing exposure has been associated with tobacco use, little research has explored how this relationship may vary by the experience of depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine if the relationship between TRO tobacco marketing exposure and tobacco use initiation is moderated by depressive symptoms among young adults.

METHODS

Participants were drawn from 24 colleges in Texas who were participating in a multi-wave cohort study (2014-2019). The present study included 2020 cigarette or ENDS naïve participants at wave 2 (69.2% female; 32.1% white; m age=20.6 [SD=2.0] at wave 1). Generalized mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between cigarette and ENDS TRO marketing exposure and subsequent initiation for both products with depressive symptoms as a moderator.

RESULTS

The interaction between cigarette marketing and depressive symptoms was significant (OR=1.38 95% CI=[1.04,1.83]). Cigarette marketing did not impact cigarette initiation among participants with low depressive symptoms (OR=0.96 95% CI= [0.64,1.45]), but did impact cigarette initiation among participants with high depressive symptoms (OR=1.83 95% CI=[1.23,2.74]). There was no interaction effect for ENDS initiation. Main effects showed that ENDS marketing exposure predicted ENDS initiation (OR=1.43 95% CI=[1.10,1.87]).

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to tobacco marketing at TROs is an important risk factor for initiation of cigarette and ENDS use, particularly for cigarette initiation among those who experience greater levels of depressive symptoms. Future work is needed to better understand why this type of marketing is influential for this group.

Moderators and Mediators of the Relationship of Shared Decision-Making and Satisfaction

Background:Evidence suggests that health literacy, perceived availability of information and guidance to adapt to challenges (informational support), and symptoms of depression all have the potential to mediate or moderate the relationship between patient-rated involvement in decisions and satisfaction with care. If so these could be useful targets for improving patient experience. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 130 new adult patients visiting an orthopedic surgeon over a 4-month period. All patients were asked to complete measures of satisfaction with care (21-item Medical Interview Satisfaction Scale), perceived involvement in decisions (9-item Shared Decision-Making Questionnaire), symptoms of depression (the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information Scale [PROMIS] Depression Computerized Adaptive Test [CAT]), perceived availability of information and guidance to adapt to challenges (PROMIS Informational Support CAT), and the Newest Vital Sign test of health literacy. Results: The strong correlation between satisfaction with care (ρ = 0.60, P < .001) and perceived involvement in decisions was neither mediated nor moderated by health literacy, perceived availability of information and guidance, and symptoms of depression. Conclusions: The observation that patient-rated shared decision-making is strongly related to satisfaction with an office visit, independent of health literacy, perceived support, and symptoms of depression, is consistent with evidence that various measures of patient experience tend to correlate and emphasizes the importance of the patient-clinician relationship. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective study.

Symptoms of depression and catastrophic thinking attenuate the relationship of pain intensity and magnitude of incapability with fracture severity

OBJECTIVE

The relative association of pain intensity and magnitude of incapability with pathophysiology, accounting for psychological factors, is incompletely understood. Using moderation analysis, we assessed the association of pain intensity and magnitude of incapability (dependent variables) with fracture severity (independent variable) and the influence of symptoms of depression and catastrophic thinking (moderators) at early and later stages of recovery.

METHODS

A cohort of 731 patients recovering from a shoulder, elbow, or wrist fracture, completed self-reported measures of pain intensity, upper extremity capability, symptoms of depression, and catastrophic thinking between 2 and 4 weeks after injury and again between 6 and 9 months after injury. Fracture severity was rated by clinicians, and we used multivariable regression analysis to examine interaction effects of fracture severity, depression, catastrophic thinking, pain intensity, and magnitude of incapability at early and later stages of recovery.

RESULTS

Symptoms of depression and catastrophic thinking attenuate the relationship between pain intensity and fracture severity at earlier and later stages of recovery. Symptoms of depression and catastrophic thinking also attenuate the relationship between the magnitude of incapability and fracture severity, but only at early stages of recovery.

CONCLUSION

The relative divergence of pain intensity and magnitude of incapability from the level of fracture severity due to the moderating effects of unhelpful thinking and distress, signals a benefit to anticipating mental health opportunities during recovery after fracture. Fracture management can incorporate measures of unhelpful thinking and symptoms of distress to better address these opportunities and ensure comprehensive optimization of recovery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IIc, prognostic.

Trajectories of depressive symptoms among young adults in Texas 2014-2018: a multilevel growth curve analysis using an intersectional lens

INTRODUCTION

Research has demonstrated disparities in depressive symptoms among people who are marginalized. However, more work should examine depressive symptoms through an intersectional lens, recognizing that multiple systems of privilege and oppression interlock to create unique struggles where multiple marginalized identities meet. Recent methodological developments have advanced quantitative intersectionality research using multilevel modeling to partition variance in depressive symptoms to person-level sociodemographic variables and intersectional-level social strata. The purpose of this study is to leverage these methods to examine trajectories of depressive symptoms among young adults in Texas through an intersectional lens.

METHODS

Multilevel modeling was used to examine the longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms among 3575 young adults from 24 colleges in Texas assessed seven times between Fall 2014 and Spring 2018. Intersectional identities included sex, race/ethnicity, and sexual and gender minority identities. The model examined time nested within individuals and individuals nested within intersectional social strata.

RESULTS

Young adults in Texas experienced an increase in depressive symptoms from 2014-2018. Those with female, Hispanic, AAPI, other race/ethnicity, or LGBTQ + identities experienced more depressive symptoms. After controlling for the main effects of the sociodemographic variables, 0.08% of variance in depressive symptoms remained attributed to the effects of intersectional identities.

CONCLUSION

Evaluating disparities in depressive symptoms through an intersectional lens offers a more complete description of the epidemiology of depressive symptoms. Communities and institutions that serve marginalized people should consider the elevated burden of depressive symptoms that marginalized people may carry, and integrate culturally competent psychoeducation, assessments, and therapies where possible.

Difficult life events affect lower extremity illness

BACKGROUND

Given the relationship between psychological distress and activity tolerance (capability), a stressful life event might diminish accommodation, increase symptoms, and induce a person to seek specialty care. As a first step to investigate this possibility, this study addressed whether difficult life events are associated with greater activity intolerance and pain intensity.

METHODS

A cohort of 127 patients seeking specialty care for lower extremity symptoms completed questionnaires that inquired about difficult life events within the last 12 months as derived from the Holmes Rahe Life Stress Inventory, and recorded pain intensity on an 11-point ordinal scale, activity tolerance [Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)], symptoms of anxiety (GAD-2; 2 item version of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire), symptoms of depression (PROMIS Depression CAT), self-efficacy when in pain (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, 2 question version), and demographics. The treating clinician indicated if the disease was established (e.g. arthritis) or relatively new (e.g. sprain/strain). Bivariate and multivariable analyses sought factors associated with activity intolerance and pain intensity.

RESULTS

Greater activity intolerance was associated with difficult life events in bivariate analyses (t = 2.13, MD = 3.18, 95% C.I. = 0.22-6.13, p = 0.04) and in multivariable analyses that excluded symptoms of depression. Greater pain intensity was not associated with difficult life events, but was associated with surgeon rating of established disease (β = 1.20, 95% C.I. = 0.33-2.08, p < 0.01), greater symptoms of anxiety (MD = 3.35, s = 1.72; ρ = 0.30, p < 0.01), and less education (β =  - 1.06, 95% C.I. =  - 1.94- - 0.18, p = 0.02) (no college degree).

CONCLUSION

When a musculoskeletal specialist identifies less activity tolerance (less capability) than anticipated for a given injury or pathology, they can anticipate a potential difficult life event, and expect alleviation of symptoms and improved capability as the stress is ameliorated with time and support. Specialists can be prepared to direct people to community or professional support if requested.

Hydrodynamic Relaxation in a Strongly Interacting Fermi Gas

We measure the free decay of a spatially periodic density profile in a normal fluid strongly interacting Fermi gas, which is confined in a box potential. This spatial profile is initially created in thermal equilibrium by a perturbing potential. After the perturbation is abruptly extinguished, the dominant spatial Fourier component exhibits an exponentially decaying (thermally diffusive) mode and a decaying oscillatory (first sound) mode, enabling independent measurement of the thermal conductivity and the shear viscosity directly from the time-dependent evolution.

Energy-Resolved Information Scrambling in Energy-Space Lattices

Weakly interacting Fermi gases simulate spin lattices in energy space, offering a rich platform for investigating information spreading and spin coherence in a large many-body quantum system. We show that the collective spin vector can be determined as a function of energy from the measured spin density, enabling general energy-space resolved protocols. We measure an out-of-time-order correlation function in this system and observe the energy dependence of the many-body coherence.

What Are the Priming and Ceiling Effects of One Experience Measure on Another?

Patient-reported experience measures have notable ceiling effects which can hinder efforts to learn and improve. This study tested whether an iterative (Guttman-style) satisfaction questionnaire combined with instructions intended to give people agency to critique us primes responses on an ordinal scale and reduces ceiling effects. Among the 161 subjects randomly assigned to complete an iterative satisfaction questionnaire before or after an ordinal scale, there was no difference in mean satisfaction (no priming). The Guttman scale was more normally distributed and had slightly less ceiling effect when compared to the ordinal scale. Iterative satisfaction scales partially mitigate ceiling effects. The absence of priming suggests that attempts to encourage agency and reflection have limited ability to reduce ceiling effects, and alternative approaches should be tested.

Electrostratigraphy and hydrogeochemistry of hyporheic zone and water-bearing caches in the littoral shorefront of Akwa Ibom State University, Southern Nigeria

Ground-based electrical geophysical data calibrated with borehole information are conveniently used to delineate subsurface strata because of their inherent capability to assess the lateral and vertical variations in the pore water. In this study, joined geophysical approach of vertical electrical sounding (VES) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been steered to define the strata in the hyporheic zone and in the water bearing caches in the Akwa Ibom State University's littoral shorefront. Four ERTs with each using Wenner array with 5 m electrode spacing were conducted along four profiles at the same locations that VES were conducted. Twelve surface VES soundings were performed with maximum current electrode separations of (AB/2 = 150 m). The integration of formation resistivity with six boreholes reveals motley topsoil/dry strata with resistivity value greater than 200 Ω - m above water table; saturated clay/saline water depository with resistivity value less than 30 Ω - m below water table; fine-grained sand/brackish water depository with resistivity range spanning between 70 and 200 Ω - m below water table; medium-grained sand/freshwater depository with resistivity ranging from 500 to 800 Ω - m below water table and gravelly sand/freshwater depository with resistivity value greater 800 Ω - m below water table were inferred from top to bottom within the maximum current electrode separations. These ranges of resistivity show lithological diversity in subsurface layer. Geochemical analysis was performed for main cations (magnesium, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron and manganese), anions (bicarbonates, sulphates, chloride, and fluoride) and other physical parameters such as, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand. The results of the interpretation of hydrochemical species of the groundwater samples revealed that the groundwater in most locations within the study area is fresh, slightly alkaline to acidic based on the EC, pH and TDS values. The order of abundance for anions and cations is HCO₃^- > Cl^- > SO₄^2- > F^- and Na⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ > Fe²⁺ > Mn²⁺ respectively. The observation of elevated BOD with lower DO even in the muddy area suggests anoxic condition (DO < 5 mg/L) rather than oxic condition (DO > 5 mg/L), based on the measured DO values (00.12-2.61 mg/L). The elevated ferric iron concentrations on the surface water, which later seeps into the groundwater systems, are due to excessive accumulation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the consequent reduction reaction within the DOM in surface water.

Mitochondrial respiratory capacity modulates LPS-induced inflammatory signatures in human blood

Mitochondria modulate inflammatory processes in various model organisms, but it is unclear how much mitochondria regulate immune responses in human blood leukocytes. Here, we examine the effect of i) experimental perturbations of mitochondrial respiratory chain function, and ii) baseline inter-individual variation in leukocyte mitochondrial energy production capacity on stimulated cytokine release and glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity. In a first cohort, whole blood from 20 healthy women and men was stimulated with increasing concentrations of the immune agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Four inhibitors of mitochondrial respiratory chain Complexes I, III, IV, and V were used (LPS + Mito-Inhibitors) to acutely perturb mitochondrial function, GC sensitivity was quantified using the GC-mimetic dexamethasone (DEX) (LPS + DEX), and the resultant cytokine signatures mapped with a 20-cytokine array. Inhibiting mitochondrial respiration caused large inter-individual differences in LPS-stimulated IL-6 reactivity (Cohen's d = 0.72) and TNF-α (d = 1.55) but only minor alteration in EC50-based LPS sensitivity (d = 0.21). Specifically, inhibiting mitochondrial Complex IV potentiated LPS-induced IL-6 levels by 13%, but inhibited TNF-α induction by 72%, indicating mitochondrial regulation of the IL-6/TNF-α ratio. As expected, DEX treatment suppressed multiple LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, .TNF-α) by >85% and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by 80%. Inhibiting Complex I potentiated DEX suppression of IL-6 by a further 12% (d = 0.73), indicating partial mitochondrial modulation of glucocorticoid sensitivity. Finally, to examine if intrinsic mitochondrial respiratory capacity may explain a portion of immune reactivity differences across individuals, we measured biochemical respiratory chain enzyme activities and mitochondrial DNA copy number in isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from a second cohort of 44 healthy individuals in parallel with LPS-stimulated IL-6 and TNF-α response. Respiratory chain .function, particularly Complex IV activity, was positively correlated with LPS-stimulated IL-6 levels (r = 0.45, p = 0.002). Overall, these data provide preliminary evidence that mitochondrial behavior modulates LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine signatures in human blood.

Measuring the Hydrodynamic Linear Response of a Unitary Fermi Gas

We directly observe the hydrodynamic linear response of a unitary Fermi gas confined in a box potential and subject to a spatially periodic optical potential that is translated into the cloud at speeds ranging from subsonic to supersonic. We show that the time-dependent change of the density profile is sensitive to the thermal conductivity, which controls the relaxation rate of the temperature gradients and hence the responses arising from adiabatic and isothermal compression.

Designer Spatial Control of Interactions in Ultracold Gases

Designer optical control of interactions in ultracold atomic gases has wide applications, from creating new quantum phases to modeling the physics of black holes. We demonstrate wide tunability and spatial control of interactions in a two-component cloud of ^{6}Li fermions, using electromagnetically induced transparency. With two control fields detuned ≃1.5  THz from atomic resonance, megahertz changes in the frequency of one optical beam tune the measured scattering length over the full range achieved by magnetic control, with negligible (10^{-6}) effect on the net optical confining potential. A 1D "sandwich" of resonantly and weakly interacting regions is imprinted on the trapped cloud and broadly manipulated with sub-MHz frequency changes. All of the data are in excellent agreement with our continuum-dressed state theoretical model of optical control, which includes both the spatial and momentum dependence of the scattering amplitude.

Probing Energy-Dependent Feshbach Resonances by Optical Control

Optical control enables new high resolution probes of narrow collisional (Feshbach) resonances, which are strongly dependent on the relative momentum of colliding atom pairs, and important for simulating neutron matter with ultracold atomic gases. We demonstrate a two-field optical vernier, which expands kHz (mG) magnetic field detunings near a narrow resonance into MHz optical field detunings, enabling precise control and characterization of the momentum-dependent scattering amplitude. Two-photon loss spectra are measured for the narrow resonance in ^{6}Li, revealing rich structure in very good agreement with our theoretical model. However, anomalous overall frequency shifts between the measured and predicted two-photon spectra are not yet explained.

The Application of a Monoclonal Antibody to Factor VIII Related Antigen (VIIIRAg) in Immunoradiometric Assays for Factor VIII

A two site solid phase immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for VIIIRAg has been developed using a monoclonal antibody as both the solid phase ligand and the radiolabelled antibody. A range of normal plasmas and von Willebrand’s disease (vWd) plasmas has been assayed for VIIIRAg by this method and compared with VIIIRAg values measured by an IRMA using polyclonal antibodies and by immunoelectrophoresis and with ristocetin cofactor activity (VIIIRiCoF). It was found that the monoclonal IRMA correlated well with the polyclonal IRMA and the immunoelectrophoretic assay, but the correlation with the VIIIRiCoF assay was relatively poor, in spite of the strong inhibitory effect of the antibody on VIIIRiCoF activity.

Optical Control of Magnetic Feshbach Resonances by Closed-Channel Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

We control magnetic Feshbach resonances in an optically trapped mixture of the two lowest hyperfine states of a ^{6}Li Fermi gas, using two optical fields to create a dark state in the closed molecular channel. In the experiments, the narrow Feshbach resonance is tuned by up to 3 G. For the broad resonance, the spontaneous lifetime is increased to 0.4 s at the dark-state resonance, compared to 0.5 ms for single-field tuning. We present a new model of light-induced loss spectra, employing continuum-dressed basis states, which agrees in shape and magnitude with loss measurements for both broad and narrow resonances. Using this model, we predict the trade-off between tunability and loss for the broad resonance in ^{6}Li, showing that our two-field method substantially reduces the two-body loss rate compared to single-field methods for the same tuning range.

Spin-imbalanced quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gases

We measure the density profiles for a Fermi gas of (6)Li containing N(1) spin-up atoms and N(2) spin-down atoms, confined in a quasi-two-dimensional geometry. The spatial profiles are measured as a function of spin imbalance N(2)/N(1) and interaction strength, which is controlled by means of a collisional (Feshbach) resonance. The measured cloud radii and central densities are in disagreement with mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory for a true two-dimensional system. We find that the data for normal-fluid mixtures are reasonably well fit by a simple two-dimensional polaron model of the free energy. Not predicted by the model is a phase transition to a spin-balanced central core, which is observed above a critical value of N(2)/N(1). Our observations provide important benchmarks for predictions of the phase structure of quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gases.

Anomalous minimum in the shear viscosity of a Fermi gas

We measure the static shear viscosity η in a two-component Fermi gas near a broad collisional (Feshbach) resonance, as a function of interaction strength and energy. We find that η has both a quadratic and a linear dependence on the interaction strength 1/(k(FI)a), where a is the s-wave scattering length and k(FI) is the Fermi wave vector for an ideal gas at the trap center. For energies above the superfluid transition, the minimum in η as a function of interaction strength is significantly shifted toward the BEC side of resonance, to 1/(k(FI)a)≃0.25.

Observation of conformal symmetry breaking and scale invariance in expanding Fermi gases

We precisely test scale invariance and examine local thermal equilibrium in the hydrodynamic expansion of a Fermi gas of atoms as a function of interaction strength. After release from an anisotropic optical trap, we observe that a resonantly interacting gas obeys scale-invariant hydrodynamics, where the mean square cloud size <r2>=<x2+y2+z2> expands ballistically (like a noninteracting gas) and the energy-averaged bulk viscosity is consistent with zero, 0.00(0.04)ℏn, with n the density. In contrast, the aspect ratios of the cloud exhibit anisotropic "elliptic" flow with an energy-dependent shear viscosity. Tuning away from resonance, we observe conformal symmetry breaking, where <r2> deviates from ballistic flow.

Fecal shedding in cattle inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and fed corn or wheat distillers' dried grain with solubles

Feeding corn dried distillers' grain with solubles (DDGS) has been linked to increased fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle. A study was conducted to compare the impact of three diets containing (dry matter basis) 40% corn DDGS, 40% wheat DDGS, or 20% corn and 20% wheat mixed DDGS to a standard barley grain finishing diet on fecal shedding in cattle challenged with a 10(10) CFU mixture of four nalidixic acid-resistant E. coli O157:H7 strains. Rectal grab samples (n = 544) were collected over 70 days and screened for E. coli O157:H7 by direct plating and immunomagnetic bead separation. Feeding diets containing DDGS had no effect (P > 0.05) on the intensity or duration of fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 compared with the standard barley grain finishing diet.

Applying research in nutrition education planning: a dietary intervention for Bangladeshi chronic kidney disease patients

BACKGROUND

Effective nutrition health interventions are theory-based, as well as being drawn from practice and research, aiming to successfully accomplish dietary behavioural changes. However, the integration of theory, research and practice to develop community dietary educational programmes is a challenge that many interventionists feel ill equipped to achieve.

METHODS

In the present study, a community-based education programme was designed for Bangladeshi patients with chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The goal of this programme was to reduce dietary salt intake in this population group, with a view to reducing their blood pressure and slowing kidney disease progression.

RESULTS

The present study sets out the first four steps of a six-step model for creating a behaviour change programme.

CONCLUSIONS

These four steps were concerned with the translation of theory and evidence into intervention objectives, and illustrate how a practical, community-based intervention was developed from behavioural theory, relevant research, knowledge of practice and the target patient group. Steps 5 and 6, which are concerned with implementation and evaluation, will be reported separately.

Carotid angioplasty and stenting for recurrent and radiation-induced stenosis: preliminary experience

Carotid endarterectomy for atherosclerotic occlusive disease has become the standard of care for the treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic occlusive disease of the carotid bifurcation, based on the results of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial, as well as the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study. For surgical treatment to be of benefit, the perioperative complication rate for neurological events should be 6% or less in the symptomatic population and 3% or less in the asymptomatic group. The performance of carotid endarterectomy for recurrent stenosis and radiation-induced stenosis has reported neurological events ranging from 4 to 10%. It is in this particular population that carotid angioplasty and stent placement may play a role. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 11 patients who underwent carotid angioplasty and stent placement for recurrent or radiation-induced stenosis. One patient in whom endarterectomy was performed by the vascular surgery service had a critical stenosis distal to the endarterectomy site and awoke with a neurological deficit. This patient underwent reexploration and placement of a stent in the artery distal to the arteriotomy site. The follow-up period ranged from 7 to 12 months. Patient age ranged from 65 to 77 years (mean 75 years). Five of eight patients underwent angioplasty and stent placement for recurrent atherosclerotic disease. Two patients had radiation-induced stenosis, and one patient had a stent placed intraoperatively. All patients, with the exception of the one who underwent intraoperative stent placement, had posttreatment stenoses of less than 15%. The surgical patient had a 30% residual stenosis distally. There were no intra- or postoperative transient ischemic attacks, major or minor strokes, or deaths. Patients who have recurrent or radiation-induced stenosis are potential candidates for angioplasty and stent placement. Before this can be recommended as an alternative to surgical correction, a longer follow-up period is required.

Polaron-to-polaron transitions in the radio-frequency spectrum of a quasi-two-dimensional Fermi gas

We measure radio-frequency spectra for a two-component mixture of a 6Li atomic Fermi gas in a quasi-two-dimensional regime with the Fermi energy comparable to the energy level spacing in the tightly confining potential. Near the Feshbach resonance, we find that the observed resonances do not correspond to transitions between confinement-induced dimers. The spectral shifts can be fit by assuming transitions between noninteracting polaron states in two dimensions.

Optical control of Feshbach resonances in Fermi gases using molecular dark states

We propose a general method for optical control of magnetic Feshbach resonances in ultracold atomic gases with more than one molecular state in an energetically closed channel. Using two optical frequencies to couple two states in the closed channel, inelastic loss arising from spontaneous emission is greatly suppressed by destructive quantum interference at the two-photon resonance, i.e., dark-state formation, while the scattering length is widely tunable by varying the frequencies and/or intensities of the optical fields. This technique is of particular interest for a two-component atomic Fermi gas, which is stable near a Feshbach resonance.

Observation of shock waves in a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We study collisions between two strongly interacting atomic Fermi gas clouds. We observe exotic nonlinear hydrodynamic behavior, distinguished by the formation of a very sharp and stable density peak as the clouds collide and subsequent evolution into a boxlike shape. We model the nonlinear dynamics of these collisions by using quasi-1D hydrodynamic equations. Our simulations of the time-dependent density profiles agree very well with the data and provide clear evidence of shock wave formation in this universal quantum hydrodynamic system.

Improved soil fumigation by Telone C35 using carbonation

Soil fumigation to control pests and pathogens is an important part of current agricultural practice. A reduction in fumigant emissions is required to ensure worker safety and environment health. A field trial in Florida was conducted to investigate whether carbonating Telone C35™ ((Z)- and (E)-1,3-dichloropropene with 35 % chloropicrin) would improve the delivery of the fumigant to such an extent that the application rate could be decreased without sacrificing efficacy. All treatments were carried out in three replications in a complete block design. The use of carbon dioxide (CO(2)) to carbonate and pressurize Telone C35 provided quicker and deeper distribution initially compared to application by nitrogen gas (N(2)) pressurization. The deeper distribution of Telone C35 components found with CO(2) application may have lowered the initial concentration of Telone C35, but it did not appreciably alter the disappearance rate of the three chemicals, chloropicrin, (Z)- and (E)-1,3-dichloropropene. The faster vertical distribution within the bedded soil of the Telone C35 by CO(2) did enhance volatilization of the active ingredients into the atmosphere compared to volatilization of similar reduced rate applied by N(2) pressurization. However, the cumulative amount volatilized from the carbonated fumigant beds at 75 % application rate was lower than the cumulative amount emitted by full rate of Telone C35 using N(2). The efficacy of the carbonated Telone C35 at a lower application rate was statistically equivalent to that of non-carbonated fumigant using N(2) pressurized injection at a higher application rate, based on weed enumeration and the root-knot nematode galling index.

Molecular subtypes of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from faecal and surface water samples in the Oldman River watershed, Alberta, Canada

Campylobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from 898 faecal, 43 sewage, and 342 surface water samples from the Oldman River were characterized using bacterial subtyping methods in order to investigate potential sources of contamination of the watershed. Among these pathogens, Campylobacter spp. were the most frequently isolated from faecal, sewage, and surface water samples (266/895, 11/43, and 91/342, respectively), followed by Salmonella (67/898, 8/43, and 29/342, respectively), and E. coli O157:H7 (16/898, 2/43, and 8/342, respectively). Salmonella Rubislaw was the most common serovar isolated from water. This serovar was also isolated from two wild bird species. Most other serovars isolated from water were either not isolated from animals or were isolated from multiple species. E. coli O157:H7 was predominantly isolated from cattle. The most common phage-types of this pathogen from cattle were also the most common among water isolates, and there were exact pulsed field gel electrophoresis and comparative genomic fingerprint matches between cattle, sewage, and water isolates. Campylobacters were commonly isolated from surface waters and faeces from most animal species. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the Campylobacter flaA gene identified several location and host species-specific (cattle, goose, pig) fingerprints. Molecular subtyping of these bacterial pathogens shows considerable promise as a tool for determining the sources of faecal pollution of water.

Barriers and facilitators of dietary sodium restriction amongst Bangladeshi chronic kidney disease patients

BACKGROUND

People of Bangladeshi origin have the highest mortality ratio from coronary heart disease of any minority ethnic group in UK and their rate of kidney disease is three- to five-fold higher than that of the European UK population. However, there is little information regarding their dietary customs or knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards health and nutrition. This multi-method qualitative study aimed to identify: (i) barriers and facilitators to dietary sodium restriction; (ii) traditional and current diet in the UK; and (iii) beliefs and attitudes towards development of hypertension, and the role of sodium.

METHODS

Methods included focus group discussions, vignettes and food diaries. Twenty female chronic kidney disease patients attended four focus group discussions and maintained food diaries; ten responded to vignettes during telephone interviews. Triangulation of the results obtained from the three methods identified categories and themes from qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Identified barriers to sodium restriction were deeply-rooted dietary beliefs, attitudes and a culturally-established taste for salt. Facilitators of change included acceptable strategies for cooking with less salt without affecting palatability. Dietary practices were culturally determined but modified by participants' prosperity in the UK relative to their previous impoverished agrarian lifestyles in Bangladesh.

CONCLUSIONS

Cultural background and orientation were strong determinants of the group's dietary practices and influenced their reception and response to health communication messages. Efforts to understand their cultural mores, interpret and convey health-promotion messages in culturally-appropriate ways met with a positive response.

Two novel mastreviruses from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) in Australia

Two novel mastreviruses (genus Mastrevirus; family Geminiviridae), with proposed names chickpea chlorosis virus (CpCV) and chickpea redleaf virus, are described from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) from eastern Australia. The viruses have genomes of 2,582 and 2,605 nucleotides, respectively, and share similar features and organisation with typical dicot-infecting mastreviruses. Two distinct strains of CpCV were suggested by phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, a partial mastrevirus Rep sequence from turnip weed (Rapistrum rugosum) indicated the presence of a distinct strain of Tobacco yellow dwarf virus (TYDV). In phylogenetic analyses, isolates of Bean yellow dwarf virus, Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Pakistan virus and Chickpea chlorotic dwarf Sudan virus from southern and northern Africa and south-central and western Asia clustered separately from these three viruses from Australia. An Australian, eastern Asian, or south-eastern Asian origin for the novel mastreviruses and TYDV is discussed.

First Report of Tomato torrado virus on Tomato from Australia

Since 2005, a disease of greenhouse tomatoes has been observed in the North Adelaide Plains of South Australia. Symptoms include chlorosis and necrotic lesions on the leaves, stunted plants, and leaves that are frequently distorted. Necrotic lesions typically had a light green or yellow margin and affected areas often fell out, leaving small holes. The onset of disease was generally associated with an increase in population of the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). Isometric virions (25 to 30 nm) were observed by electron microscopy in partially purified extracts, but no other virion types were observed. In 2008, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR products were obtained using primers specific for RNA-1 (TR1F/TR1R) and RNA-2 (TR2F/TR2R) of Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) (1) using a fresh diseased sample (isolate 2136) and a 2005 archived, lyophilized sample (isolate 1883). Cucumber mosaic virus was not detected in these samples by RT-PCR (data not shown). The RT-PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The partial 892-bp RNA-1 consensus nucleotide (nt) sequences of isolates 1883 (GenBank Accession No. GQ844869) and 2136 (GenBank No. GQ844871) were 100% identical. The partial 573-bp RNA-2 consensus nt sequences of isolates 1883 (GenBank No. GQ844870) and 2143 (GenBank No. GQ844872) were 99.8% identical. The partial RNA-1 and -2 nt sequences of isolate 1883 were 99.1% and 98.5% identical to the published ToTV sequences (RNA-1, GenBank No. DQ388879; RNA-2, GenBank No. DQ88880), respectively (2). For isolate 2136, the identities were 98.1 and 98.7%, respectively. The putative amino acid sequences were all 100% identical to the published sequences. The virus was graft transmitted to tomato cv. Grosse Lisse and Datura stramonium, in which typical disease symptoms and leaf chlorosis, respectively, were induced, and by mechanical inoculation to Nicotiana benthamiana, which displayed leaf chlorosis. All inoculated plant species indexed positive by RT-PCR for ToTV. Seeds were collected from known ToTV-infected plants and the seedlings were grown in isolation in an insect-proof glasshouse. None of the seedlings exhibited symptoms of virus infection, and ToTV was not detected in 97 seedlings from cv. Beatrice, 368 seedlings from cv. Ediez, or from 286 seedlings from cv. Loretto with the virus-specific RT-PCR assays. The pathway for entry of ToTV into Australia is unknown, and although seed transmission was suspected, no evidence for this could be found. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of ToTV from Australia. References: (1) H. Pospieszny et al. Plant Dis. 91:1364, 2007. (2) M. Verbeek et al. Arch. Virol. 152:881, 2007.

A review of the evidence for the impact of improving nutritional care on nutritional and clinical outcomes and cost

BACKGROUND

The association between malnutrition and poor clinical outcome is well-established, yet most research has focussed on the role of artificial nutritional support in its management. More recently, emphasis has been placed on the provision of adequate nutritional care, including nutritional screening and the routine provision of food and drink. The aim of this literature review is to establish the evidence for the efficacy of interventions that might result in improvements in nutritional and clinical outcomes and costs.

METHODS

A structured literature review was conducted investigating the role of nutritional care interventions in adults, and their effects on nutritional and clinical outcomes and costs, in all healthcare settings. Ten databases were searched electronically using keywords relating to nutritional care, patient outcomes and healthcare costs. High quality trials were included where available.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-seven papers were identified and reviewed. Of these, only two randomised, controlled trials and six other trials were identified that addressed the major issues. A further 99 addressed some aspects of the provision of nutritional care, although very few formally evaluated nutritional or clinical outcomes and costs.

CONCLUSIONS

This review reveals a serious lack of evidence to support interventions designed to improve nutritional care, in particular with reference to their effects on nutritional and clinical outcomes and costs. The review suggests that screening alone may be insufficient to achieve beneficial effects and thus more research is required to determine the most cost-effective interventions in each part of the nutritional care pathway, in a variety of healthcare settings and across all age ranges, to impact upon nutritional and clinical outcomes.

Controlling spin current in a trapped Fermi gas

We study fundamental features of spin current in a very weakly interacting Fermi gas of 6Li. By creating a spin current and then reversing its flow, we demonstrate control of the spin current. This reversal is predicted by a spin vector evolution equation in energy representation, which shows how the spin and energy of individual atoms become correlated in the nearly undamped regime of the experiments. The theory provides a simple physical description of the spin current and explains both the large amplitude and the slow temporal evolution of the data. Our results have applications in studying and controlling fundamental spin interactions and spin currents in ultracold gases.

Inelastic collisions of a Fermi gas in the BEC-BCS crossover

We measure inelastic three-body and two-body collisional decay rates for a two-component Fermi gas of 6Li, which are highly suppressed by the Pauli exclusion principle. Our measurements are made in the BEC-BCS crossover regime, near the two-body collisional (Feshbach) resonance. At high temperature (energy) the data show a dominant three-body decay process, which is studied as a function of bias magnetic field. At low energy, the data show a coexistence of two-body and three-body decay processes near and below the Feshbach resonance. Below resonance, the observed two-body inelastic decay can arise from molecule-atom and molecule-molecule collisions. We suggest that at and above resonance, an effective two-body decay rate arises from collisions between atoms and correlated (Cooper) pairs that can exist at sufficiently low temperature.

Observation of anomalous spin segregation in a trapped Fermi gas

We report the observation of spin segregation, i.e., time-dependent separation of the spin density profiles of two spin states, in a trapped, coherently prepared Fermi gas of 6Li with a magnetically tunable scattering length a12 close to zero. For |a12| approximately = 5 bohr, as the cloud profiles evolve, the measured difference in the densities at the cloud center increases in 200 ms from 0 to approximately = 60% of the initial mean density and changes sign with a12. The data are in disagreement in both amplitude and temporal evolution with a spin-wave theory for a Fermi gas. In contrast, for a Bose gas, an analogous theory has successfully described previous observations of spin segregation. The observed segregated atomic density profiles are far from equilibrium, yet they persist for approximately = 5 s, long compared to the axial trapping period of 6.9 ms. We find the zero crossing in a12=0, where spin segregation ceases, at 527.5+/-0.2 G.

The effects of dietary protein restriction on chorda tympani nerve taste responses and terminal field organization

Prenatal dietary sodium restriction produces profound developmental effects on rat functional taste responses and formation of neural circuits in the brainstem. Converging evidence indicates that the underlying mechanisms for these effects are related to a compromised nutritional state and not to direct stimulus-receptor interactions. We explored whether early malnourishment produces similar functional and structural effects to those seen following dietary sodium restriction by using a protein deficient, sodium replete diet. To determine if early dietary protein-restriction affects the development of the peripheral gustatory system, multi-fiber neurophysiological recordings were made from the chorda tympani nerve and anterograde track tracing of the chorda tympani nerve into the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was accomplished in rats fed a protein-restricted or a control diet (6% and 20%, respectively). The dietary regimens began on embryonic day 7 and continued until rats were used for neurophysiological recordings (postnatal days (P) 35-50) or for chorda tympani terminal field labeling (P40-50). Responses to a concentration series of NaCl, sodium acetate, KCl, and to 0.50 M sucrose, 0.03 M quinine-HCl, and 0.01 N HCl revealed attenuated responses (30-60%) to sodium-specific stimuli in rats fed the 6% protein diet compared with those fed the 20% protein diet. Responses to all other stimuli were similar between groups. Terminal field volumes were nearly twofold larger in protein-restricted rats compared with controls, with the differences located primarily in the dorsal-caudal zone of the terminal field. These results are similar to the results seen previously in rats fed a sodium-restricted diet throughout pre- and postnatal development, suggesting that dietary sodium- and protein-restriction share similar mechanisms in altering gustatory development.

Abacá bunchy top virus, a new member of the genus Babuvirus (family Nanoviridae)

Two isolates of a novel babuvirus causing "bunchy top" symptoms were characterised, one from abacá (Musa textilis) from the Philippines and one from banana (Musa sp.) from Sarawak (Malaysia). The name abacá bunchy top virus (ABTV) is proposed. Both isolates have a genome of six circular DNA components, each ca. 1.0-1.1 kb, analogous to those of isolates of Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV). However, unlike BBTV, both ABTV isolates lack an internal ORF in DNA-R, and the ORF in DNA-U3 found in some BBTV isolates is also absent. In all phylogenetic analyses of nanovirid isolates, ABTV and BBTV fall in the same clade, but on separate branches. However, ABTV and BBTV isolates shared only 79-81% amino acid sequence identity for the putative coat protein and 54-76% overall nucleotide sequence identity across all components. Stem-loop and major common regions were present in ABTV, but there was less than 60% identity with the major common region of BBTV. ABTV and BBTV were also shown to be serologically distinct, with only two out of ten BBTV-specific monoclonal antibodies reacting with ABTV. The two ABTV isolates may represent distinct strains of the species as they are less closely related to each other than are isolates of the two geographic subgroups (Asian and South Pacific) of BBTV.

Student dietitians? attitudes towards research and audit: a comparison with registered dietitians

BACKGROUND

Student dietitians' attitudes towards research and audit are important as they are likely to influence their subsequent involvement in such activities once qualified. The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of student dietitians towards research and audit and to compare them with those of registered dietitians previously reported.

METHODS

A questionnaire survey of final-year student dietitians' attitudes towards research and audit was conducted. Students indicated their agreement with 12 statements relating to research and audit and the results were compared with those from an identical survey of registered dietitians.

RESULTS

A total of 110 questionnaires were completed (87% response rate). In general, students had positive attitudes towards research and audit. The majority (91%) agreed that 'all dietitians should be able to act on research', whilst only a small minority agreed that research (6%) and audit (4%) was 'not part of a dietitian's role'. In general, students had more positive attitudes towards research, and less positive attitudes towards audit, than dietitians from a previously published survey.

DISCUSSION

Final year student dietitians have positive attitudes towards research and audit. These should be nurtured throughout the early years of their career in order to maximize on their research potential.

Measurement of the entropy and critical temperature of a strongly interacting Fermi gas

We report a model-independent measurement of the entropy, energy, and critical temperature of a degenerate, strongly interacting Fermi gas of atoms. The total energy is determined from the mean square cloud size in the strongly interacting regime, where the gas exhibits universal behavior. The entropy is measured by sweeping a bias magnetic field to adiabatically tune the gas from the strongly interacting regime to a weakly interacting regime, where the entropy is known from the cloud size after the sweep. The dependence of the entropy on the total energy quantitatively tests predictions of the finite-temperature thermodynamics.

Human Milk Vacuolating Cytotoxin A Immunoglobulin A Antibodies ModifyHelicobacter pyloriInfection in Gambian Children

We collected data, including the weights, urea breath test results, and presence of maternal milk cytotoxin-associated gene-specific and vacuolating cytotoxin A-specific immunoglobulin A monthly from 48 mothers and infants (to 44 weeks of age) in The Gambia. In all, 11 children (23%) had negative urea breath test results, and 37 (77%) had positive results. Weight loss associated with Helicobacter pylori colonization was restricted to children whose mothers did not produce anti-vacuolating cytotoxin A antibodies in their milk (P=.028, by t test).

Molecular characterization, expression and localization of tropomyosin and paramyosin immunodominant allergens from sheep scab mites (Psoroptes ovis)

cDNAs encoding the immunodominant allergens tropomyosin and paramyosin were amplified from RNA extracted from the sheep scab mite Psoroptes ovis. The tropomyosin cDNA contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 852 bp which encoded a predicted protein with 98% and 97% identity to the house dust mite allergens Der f 10 and Der p 10 respectively. The complete paramyosin ORF generated by RT-PCR was 2625 bp in length and encoded an 875aa predicted protein of 102.6 kDa with 97%, 95% and 89% identity to the paramyosins of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 11), Sarcoptes scabiei and Blomia tropicalis (Blo t 11) respectively. Full length tropomyosin and truncated and full-length paramyosin were expressed as recombinant proteins. IgG and IgE in sera from sheep with a 6-week duration primary infestation of P. ovis did not detect either full-length or truncated recombinant paramyosin. IgG in both infested and naïve sheep sera detected recombinant tropomyosin, suggesting cross-reactivity to tropomyosin and to other invertebrate species to which the sheep may have been exposed. Staining with antibodies directed against tropomyosin and paramyosin was observed throughout sections of P. ovis. Staining was especially prevalent in the anterior sections of the mites, possibly associated with locomotory muscles in this region.

Effects of application methods and plastic covers on distribution of cis- and trans-1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin in root zone

This study examined the effects of three application methods (chisel injection, Avenger coulter injection, and drip irrigation) and two plastic films (polyethylene film [PE] and virtually impermeable film [VIF]) on distribution of cis- and trans- 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) in a Florida sandy soil after application of Telone C35 or Telone In-Line. Regardless of application method, VIF retained greater amounts of cis- and trans-1,3-D and CP in the root zone with longer residential time than PE. There was better retention of the three compounds in the root zone when applied with the Avenger coulter injection rig than chisel injection, especially in combination with VIF. Distribution of the three compounds in the root zone was less predictable when applied by drip irrigation. Following drip irrigation, more than 50% of the three compounds in the PE and VIF-covered beds was found near the end of the drip tapes in one experiment, whereas the distribution was much more uniform in the root zone in a second experiment. Among the three biologically active compounds, CP disappeared from the root zone more rapidly than cis- and trans-1,3-D, especially in the PE-covered beds.

Interprofessional education in undergraduate healthcare programmes: the reaction of student dietitians

BACKGROUND

Interprofessional education (IPE) is a novel teaching and learning initiative where students of more than one health profession learn interactively together. However, despite its potential for improving interprofessional relationships, there is little information regarding the participation of student dietitians in IPE. The aim of this paper was to consider the reaction of student dietitians to an IPE course in order to stimulate debate between dietitians regarding the issues relating to IPE.

METHODS

Student dietitians participated in an IPE course consisting of seven sessions on communication and ethics in health care together with students of medicine and nursing. Student dietitians completed an evaluation questionnaire following each session that surveyed their reaction to the session using both a Likert scale and free-text comments.

RESULTS

Twenty-six student dietitians completed the IPE course. All sessions were rated positively for interest value (P < or = 0.14), learning experience (P < or = 0.036) and value for clinical practice (P < or = 0.05). The limited number of free-text comments indicated some positive experiences regarding interprofessional learning, teaching content and teaching strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of very few evaluations to describe the reaction of student dietitians to IPE. Student dietitians had largely positive reactions to the IPE course. Further research is required to evaluate whether these positive reactions were a direct consequence of the inclusion of students from other health professions and whether these translate into positive effects on learning, behaviour and results. The opportunities for the dietetic profession posed by students' involvement in IPE are discussed.

Virial theorem and universality in a unitary fermi gas

Unitary Fermi gases, where the scattering length is large compared to the interparticle spacing, can have universal properties, which are independent of the details of the interparticle interactions when the range of the scattering potential is negligible. We prepare an optically trapped, unitary Fermi gas of 6Li, tuned just above the center of a broad Feshbach resonance. In agreement with the universal hypothesis, we observe that this strongly interacting many-body system obeys the virial theorem for an ideal gas over a wide range of temperatures. Based on this result, we suggest a simple volume thermometry method for unitary gases. We also show that the observed breathing mode frequency, which is close to the unitary hydrodynamic value over a wide range of temperature, is consistent with a universal hydrodynamic gas with nearly isentropic dynamics.

Use of in-stream reservoirs to reduce bacterial contamination of rural watersheds

An investigation into bacterial water quality problems was conducted on an interconnected stream and irrigation system within the Oldman River Basin of southern Alberta, Canada. Levels of indicator bacteria, including fecal coliforms, generic Escherichia coli and fecal streptococci, were repeatedly measured in streams and irrigation return canals of this river basin during the summer of 2001. Bacterial-loading segments of the irrigation/stream system were identified through a comparison of indicator bacteria levels in pairs of upstream and downstream sites. Mann-Whitney U-tests indicated that reservoirs significantly reduced bacterial counts. A temporal comparison of E. coli counts and river discharges suggested that these indicator bacteria do not originate from within in-stream sediments. Site-specific as well as cumulative inputs from a variety of non-point sources are likely to be responsible for the high downstream levels of indicator bacteria in this water system. The use of management practices such as in-stream reservoirs may significantly reduce contamination, and increase the quality of limited rural water supplies to allow their reuse and safe discharge into downstream water sources. The identification of bacteria-loading river/canal segments could also be used to prioritize restoration projects.

Observation of phase-sensitive temporal correlations in the resonance fluorescence from two-level atoms

We have made what we believe is the first observation of phase-dependent temporal correlations in the fluorescent field emitted by coherently driven two-level atoms in free space. We measured the temporal fluctuations of the fluorescent field when the resonant driving field was in phase and out of phase with the local-oscillator field.

Damping of a unitary Fermi gas

We measure the temperature dependence of the radial breathing mode in an optically trapped, unitary Fermi gas of 6Li, just above the center of a broad Feshbach resonance. The damping rate reveals a clear change in behavior which we interpret as arising from a superfluid transition. We suggest pair breaking as a mechanism for an increase in the damping rate which occurs at temperatures well above the transition. In contrast to the damping, the frequency varies smoothly and remains close to the unitary hydrodynamic value. At low temperature T, the damping depends on the atom number only through the reduced temperature, and extrapolates to 0 at T = 0.