GCAT-SEEKquence: genome consortium for active teaching of undergraduates through increased faculty access to next-generation sequencing data

To transform undergraduate biology education, faculty need to provide opportunities for students to engage in the process of science. The rise of research approaches using next-generation (NextGen) sequencing has been impressive, but incorporation of such approaches into the undergraduate curriculum remains a major challenge. In this paper, we report proceedings of a National Science Foundation-funded workshop held July 11-14, 2011, at Juniata College. The purpose of the workshop was to develop a regional research coordination network for undergraduate biology education (RCN/UBE). The network is collaborating with a genome-sequencing core facility located at Pennsylvania State University (University Park) to enable undergraduate students and faculty at small colleges to access state-of-the-art sequencing technology. We aim to create a database of references, protocols, and raw data related to NextGen sequencing, and to find innovative ways to reduce costs related to sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. It was agreed that our regional network for NextGen sequencing could operate more effectively if it were partnered with the Genome Consortium for Active Teaching (GCAT) as a new arm of that consortium, entitled GCAT-SEEK(quence). This step would also permit the approach to be replicated elsewhere.     

火焰悬崖的化石

蒙古的戈壁沙漠埋藏着迄今所发现的最丰富的恐龙残骸组合。古生物学家正在揭示更多关于该地区的历史。     

Daily steps in midlife and older adults: relationship with demographic, self-rated health, and self-reported physical activity

The relationship between average daily step counts and age, body mass index (BMI), self-reported physical activity (PA) level, and perceived health was determined in 85 middle-aged and older adults who wore a pedometer for 7 consecutive days. Average daily steps were significantly (p < .05) correlated with BMI (r = -.26), age (r = -.44) and perceived health (r = .53) but not with self-reported PA level (r = .19). The adjusted percentage of participants classified as meeting the PA recommendation in < or = 5,000, 5,001-9,999, and > or = 10,000 steps/day categories ranged from 53 to 61%. These findings support previous evidence in younger populations suggesting that the recommended minimal level of health-related PA may be achieved despite not accumulating 10,000 steps/day.     

The effects of ad libitum fluid ingestion on fluid balance during alpine skiing in recreational skiers

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of ad libitum water ingestion, using a back-mounted hydration system (BMHS), on fluid balance during alpine skiing. Fourteen skiers skied on two different days. On one day, seven skiers ingested water during skiing via the BMHS and the other seven skiers refrained from fluid ingestion during skiing until the midday break (NW trial). On the second day, the trials were reversed. Results indicated that when skiers used the BMHS they drank significantly more water than during the NW trials (2.0 +/- 0.9 vs. 0.78 +/- 0.4 litres). However, skiers drank significantly more at the midday break during the NW trials than during the BMHS trials (0.78 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.4 +/- 0.2 litres). Percent change in plasma volume was less during the BMHS trials than during the NW trials (-0.1 +/- 5.3 vs. -4.9 +/- 5.2%), urine osmolality was maintained in the BMHS trials but rose from 295 +/- 80 to 818 +/- 168 mOsm . kg(-1) at midday during the NW trials, and body mass loss was minimized during the BMHS trials compared with the NW trials (0.4 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.2 kg). Skiers reported that they felt significantly better when they ingested water during the BMHS trials. In conclusion, a back-mounted hydration system allowed the skiers to maintain hydration status.     

Modelling age and secular differences in fitness between basketball players

Concerns about the value of physical testing and apparently declining test performance in junior basketball players prompted this retrospective study of trends in anthropometric and fitness test scores related to recruitment age and recruitment year. The participants were 1011 females and 1087 males entering Basketball Australia's State and National programmes (1862 and 236 players, respectively). Players were tested on 2.6 +/- 2.0 (mean +/- s) occasions over 0.8 +/- 1.0 year. Test scores were adjusted to recruitment age (14-19 years) and recruitment year (1996-2003) using mixed modelling. Effects were estimated by log transformation and expressed as standardized (Cohen) differences in means. National players scored more favourably than State players on all tests, with the differences being generally small (standardized differences, 0.2-0.6) or moderate (0.6-1.2). On all tests, males scored more favourably than females, with large standardized differences (>1.2). Athletes entering at age 16 performed at least moderately better than athletes entering at age 14 on most tests (standardized differences, 0.7-2.1), but test scores often plateaued or began to deteriorate at around 17 years. Some fitness scores deteriorated over the 8-year period, most notably a moderate increase in sprint time and moderate (National male) to large (National female) declines in shuttle run performance. Variation in test scores between National players was generally less than that between State players (ratio of standard deviations, 0.83-1.18). More favourable means and lower variability in athletes of a higher standard highlight the potential utility of these tests in junior basketball programmes, although secular declines should be a major concern of Australian basketball coaches.     

Innovations in athletic preparation: role of substrate availability to modify training adaptation and performance

World records for athletic events continue to improve and in the search for superior methods to gain a competitive edge, coaches and athletes are constantly searching for the latest "magic bullet". Although it is assumed that optimal adaptation to the demands of repeated training sessions requires a diet that can sustain muscle energy reserves, this premise does not consider the unsolved longstanding question of whether it is a lack or a surplus of a substrate that triggers the training adaptation. As such, recent scientific enquiry has re-focused attention on the role of substrate availability before, during, and after training to amplify the training adaptation. There has also been a resurgence of interest in the potential for protein ingestion to improve performance and/or promote training-induced adaptations in skeletal muscle. Altitude training (real or simulated) is now an accepted part of competition preparation for many athletic events, and such interventions attract their own nutritional issues. These and other diet-training interactions with the potential to alter training adaptation and performance are discussed.     

清关注贫困孩子的心理健康

记得上师范时,国家给了贫困家庭学生一定的生活补贴,我在班上享受了甲等,这是班主任考虑到我家庭困难特意设的等次,全班只有我一人享受。当班主任在班上宣布时,我的心中不知是什么滋味,没有兴奋,有的只是难受,当时的念头只有一个：“老师,我不想要。”每次领补贴对我来说也像是一种折磨,心中总有一股难言的酸楚。     

The early childhood aggression curve: development of physical aggression in 10- to 50-month-old children

This study examines the prevalence, stability, and development of physical aggression, as reported by mothers and fathers, in a sample of children initially recruited at 12, 24, and 36 months (N=2,253) and in a subsample followed up 1 year later (n=271) in a cross-sequential design. Physical aggression occurred in 12-month-olds, but significantly more often in 24- and 36-month-olds. The rates of physically aggressive behaviors increased in the 2nd year of life, and declined from the 3rd birthday onward. Stabilities were moderate for 12-month-olds and high for 24- and 36-month-olds. At the ages of 24 and 36 months, boys were more aggressive than girls. The results confirm and extend R.E. Tremblay's (2004) hypothesis about the early development of physical aggression.     

Writing for publication: ensuring you find the right audience for your paper

Often overlooked by prospective authors, one of the keys to successful writing projects is to find the right audience for your writing. Early in the writing process you should identify where you wish to publish. Publications have preferred styles of presentation and, crucially, defined remits so once you've identified the place of publication, it should determine how to write and structure your piece. Selecting the right place for your writing can also save you from wasting valuable time in submitting and then having your writing rejected because it didn't meet a publication's requirements. The revised and updated aims and scope of the Health Information and Libraries Journal are presented.