Disordered eating (DE) is associated with elevated cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors, yet little is known about this association in non-Western countries. We examined the association between DE characteristics and CMR and tested the potential mediating role of BMI. This cross-sectional study included 2005 Chinese women (aged 18–50 years) from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey. Loss of control, restraint, shape concern and weight concern were assessed using selected questions from the SCOFF questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire. Eight CMR were measured by trained staff. Generalised linear models examined associations between DE characteristics with CMR accounting for dependencies between individuals in the same household. We tested whether BMI potentially mediated significant associations using structural equation modelling. Shape concern was associated with systolic blood pressure (β (95 % CI) 0·06 (0·01, 0·10)), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (0·07 (95 % CI 0·03, 0·11)) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (–0·08 (95 % CI –0·12, −0·04)). Weight concern was associated with DBP (0·06 (95 % CI 0·02, 0·10)), triglyceride (0·06 (95 % CI 0·02, 0·10)) and HDL-cholesterol (–0·10 (95 % CI –0·14, −0·07)). Higher scores on DE characteristics were associated with higher BMI, and higher BMI was further associated with lower HDL-cholesterol and higher other CMR. In summary, we observed significant associations between shape and weight concerns with some CMR in Chinese women, and these associations were potentially partially mediated by BMI. Our findings suggest that prevention and intervention strategies focusing on addressing DE could potentially help reduce the burden of CMR in China, possibly through controlling BMI.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity are positively associated, with increasing evidence that they share genetic risk factors. Our aim was to examine whether these findings apply to both types of ADHD symptoms for female and male adolescents. We used data from 791 girl and 735 boy twins ages 16−17 years to examine sex-specific phenotypic correlations between the presence of ADHD symptoms and overweight/obese status. For correlations exceeding .20, we then fit bivariate twin models to estimate the genetic and environmental correlations between the presence of ADHD symptoms and overweight/obese status. ADHD symptoms and height/weight were parent- and self-reported, respectively. Phenotypic correlations were .30 (girls) and .08 (boys) for inattention and overweight/obese status and .23 (girls) and .14 (boys) for hyperactivity/impulsivity and overweight/obese status. In girls, both types of ADHD symptoms and overweight/obese status were highly heritable, with unique environmental effects comprising the remaining variance. Furthermore, shared genetic effects explained most of the phenotypic correlations in girls. Results suggest that the positive association of both types of ADHD symptoms with obesity may be stronger in girls than boys. Further, in girls, these associations may stem primarily from shared genetic factors.

Introduction: Intoxicated patients with decreased Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) are common presentations to emergency departments. These patients are often intubated due to presumed full stomachs and perceived aspiration risk. Gastric ultrasound (GUS) -- a simple, non-invasive and objective option -- could be applied to this problem. This pilot study uses GUS alongside usual care at a music festival; a bounded, intoxication-dense environment where airways are often managed using non-invasive airway strategies. We aim to (1) clarify the gastric contents of any intubated patients, and (2) assess if patients managed without intubation go on to have a lack of aspiration sequelae because of empty stomachs or in spite of full stomachs. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at a multi-day music festival. Patients presenting to on-site medical services with GCS ≤ 13 and known or suspected substance use were included. Patients with trauma, instability, metabolic derangements or additional aspiration risk factors (eg morbid obesity, pregnancy) were excluded. Standard GUS was performed by a trained provider and results were categorized according to convention as FS (full stomach, ie solids or liquids >1.5mL/kg) or ES (empty stomach, ie empty or liquids <1.5mL/kg). Additional patient data were extracted from linked medical records post event. Results: 33 patients met inclusion criteria and 27 remained after exclusions were applied and consent obtained. 25 patients reported substance use and 19 polysubstance use. The FS group had 15 patients (7 solid & 8 liquid > 1.5), and the ES group had 12 patients (5 empty & 12 liquid < 1.5). The median low GCS documented for FS and ES was 7 and 11 respectively, and 10 patients total had a GCS of 8 or less (6 FS & 4 ES). No patients were intubated and all were managed conservatively according to usual care. 3 patients (2 FS, 1 ES) were transferred to hospital. No patients re-registered at medical for clinically significant aspiration. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates the potential utility of GUS in stratifying aspiration risk in intoxicated patients with decreased GCS. “Empty” stomachs might avoid intubation, while the implications and true risks of “full” stomachs for aspiration sequelae in the absence of intubation remain unclear. Due to the small numbers in this pilot study and the quoted GUS sensitivity (only 95%), further research is needed to evaluate the safe application of this modality to clinical decision-making in intoxicated patients.

Introduction: Emergency patients with decreased level of consciousness often undergo intubation purely for airway protection from aspiration. However, the true risk of aspiration is unclear and intubation poses risks. Anecdotally, experienced emergency physicians often defer intubation in these patients while others intubate to decrease the perceived clinical and medico-legal consequences. No literature exists on the intubation practices of emergency physicians in these cases. Methods: An online questionnaire was circulated to members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. Participants were asked questions regarding two common clinical cases with decreased level of consciousness : (1) acute, uncomplicated alcohol intoxication and (2) acute, uncomplicated seizure. For each case, providers’ perceptions of aspiration risk, the standard of care, and the need for intubation were assessed. Results: 128 of the 1546 Canadian physicians contacted (8.3%) provided responses. Respondents had a median of 15 years of experience, 88% had CCFP-EM or FRCPC certification, and most worked in urban centers. When intubating, 98% agreed they were competent and 90% agreed they were well supported. A minority (17.4%) considered GCS < 8 an independent indication for intubation. For the alcohol intoxication case, 88% agreed that aspiration risk was present but only 11% agreed they commonly intubate. Only 17% agreed intubation was standard care, and only 0.8% felt their colleagues always intubate such patients. For the seizure case, 65% agreed aspiration risk existed but only 3% agreed they commonly intubate, 1% felt colleagues always intubated, and 5% agreed intubation was standard of care. Additional factors felt to compel intubation (394 total) and support non-intubation (366 total) were compiled and categorized; the most common themes emerging were objective evidence of emesis or aspiration, other standard indications for intubation, head trauma, co-ingestions, co-morbidities and clinical instability. Conclusion: It is acceptable and standard practice to avoid intubating a select subset of intoxicated and post-seizure emergency department patients despite aspiration risk. Most physicians do not view the dogma of “GCS 8, intubate” as an absolute indication for intubation in these patients. Future research is aimed at identifying key factors and evidence supporting intubation for the prevention of aspiration, as well as the development of a validated clinical decision rule for common emergency presentations.

Methane (CH4) production is a ubiquitous, apparently unavoidable side effect of fermentative fibre digestion by symbiotic microbiota in mammalian herbivores. Here, a data compilation is presented of in vivo CH4 measurements in individuals of 37 mammalian herbivore species fed forage-only diets, from the literature and from hitherto unpublished measurements. In contrast to previous claims, absolute CH4 emissions scaled linearly to DM intake, and CH4 yields (per DM or gross energy intake) did not vary significantly with body mass. CH4 physiology hence cannot be construed to represent an intrinsic ruminant or herbivore body size limitation. The dataset does not support traditional dichotomies of CH4 emission intensity between ruminants and nonruminants, or between foregut and hindgut fermenters. Several rodent hindgut fermenters and nonruminant foregut fermenters emit CH4 of a magnitude as high as ruminants of similar size, intake level, digesta retention or gut capacity. By contrast, equids, macropods (kangaroos) and rabbits produce few CH4 and have low CH4 : CO2 ratios for their size, intake level, digesta retention or gut capacity, ruling out these factors as explanation for interspecific variation. These findings lead to the conclusion that still unidentified host-specific factors other than digesta retention characteristics, or the presence of rumination or a foregut, influence CH4 production. Measurements of CH4 yield per digested fibre indicate that the amount of CH4 produced during fibre digestion varies not only across but also within species, possibly pointing towards variation in microbiota functionality. Recent findings on the genetic control of microbiome composition, including methanogens, raise the question about the benefits methanogens provide for many (but apparently not to the same extent for all) species, which possibly prevented the evolution of the hosting of low-methanogenic microbiota across mammals.

Groups of South African, farm-reared merino lambs about 4 months old were vaccinated with extracts of adult Haemonchus contortus enriched with H11, an integral membrane protein from the parasite's intestinal microvilli, or with proteins soluble in Tween 20. The lambs were challenged with 5000 infective 3rd-stage larvae. Compared to the adjuvant-injected controls, lambs vaccinated with 350 μg/kg liveweight of the H11-enriched extract showed an 89% reduction in parasite egg production and an 88% reduction in total worm burden at post-mortem 35 days post-challenge. The H11-enriched extract contained some protein also present in the Tween 20 extract. Lambs vaccinated with 600 μg/kg of protein soluble in Tween 20 showed a 40% reduction in faecal egg counts and 51% reduction in total worm numbers 35 days post-challenge. Animals injected with 20 μg/kg of a sub-fraction containing H11 obtained from the H11 extract, showed a 71% reduction in egg output and total worm numbers.

Major advances in our understanding of the Universe have historically come from dramatic improvements in our ability to accurately measure astronomical quantities. The astrometric observations obtained by modern digital sky surveys are enabling unprecedentedly massive and robust studies of the kinematics of the Milky Way. For example, the astrometric data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), together with half a century old astrometry from the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS), have enabled the construction of a catalog that includes absolute proper motions as accurate as 3 mas/year for about 20 million stars brighter than V=20, and for 80,000 spectroscopically confirmed quasars which provide exquisite error assessment. We discuss here several ongoing studies of Milky Way kinematics based on this catalog. The upcoming next-generation surveys will maintain this revolutionary progress. For example, we show using realistic simulations that the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) will measure proper motions accurate to 1 mas/year to a limit 4 magnitude fainter than possible with SDSS and POSS catalogs, or with the Gaia survey. LSST will also obtain geometric parallaxes with accuracy similar to Gaia's at its faint end (0.3 mas at V=20), and extend them to V=24 with an accuracy of 3 mas. We discuss the impact that these LSST measurements will have on studies of the Milky Way kinematics, and potential synergies with the Gaia survey.

It is shown that the complex semigroup algebra of a free monoid of rank at least two is *-primitive, where * denotes the involution on the algebra induced by word-reversal on the monoid.

Let S be a 0-bisimple inverse semigroup and let denote the contracted l1-algebra of S; that is, the Banach algebra l1 (S)/Z, where Z is the ideal spanned by the zero of S. It is shown that, if l1 (G) is primitive for some non-zero maximal subgroup G of S, then is primitive. The same result also holds with primitivity replaced by a stronger condition, here called *-primitivity

The monoids considered are the free monoid Mx and the free monoid-with-involution MIx on a nonempty set X. In each case, relative to a simply-defined involution, an explicit construction is given for a separating family of continuous star matrix representations of the l1-algebra of the monoid and it is shown that this algebra admits a faithful trace. The results are based on earlier work by M. J. Crabb et al. concerning the complex semigroup algebras of Mx and MIx.

Let denote a subring of the complex field that contains 1 and is closed under complex conjugation. It is shown that, with respect to the involution induced by word-reversal, the algebra over of a free monoid admits a trace and a separating family of star matrix representations. From the existence of a trace it is deduced that the aforementioned involution is special, in the sense of Easdown and Munn. Similar results hold for the algebra over of a free monoid with involution.

A construction is given for a trace function on the semigroup algebra of a certain type of E-unitary inverse semigroup over any subfield of the complex field that is closed under complex conjugation. In particular, the method applies to the semigroup algebras of free inverse semigroups of arbitrary rank.

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) requested that the National Research Council's National Materials Advisory Board conduct a study to assess the current status of microwave processing technology, identify applications of microwave technology where resulting properties are unique or enhanced relative to conventional processing or where significant cost, energy or space savings can be realized, and to recommend future activities in microwave processing. A committee was established to perform the study and report on their findings. This paper is a summary developed from the committee's report, Microwave Processing of Materials (NMAB Report Number 473, Copyright 1994 by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy Press, Washington, DC).

Klebsiella pneumoniae causes serious epidemic and endemic nosocomial infections. We conducted a literature review to characterize the epidemiology of epidemic K. pneumoniae outbreaks. Eighty percent of the outbreaks (20/25) involved infections of the bloodstream or urinary tract. Person-to-person spread was the most common mode of transmission, and nearly 50% of the outbreaks occurred in neonatal intensive care units. No one serotype predominated, and no association was found between serotype and either the site of infection or the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.

We used data reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) by hospitals participating in the National Nosocomial Infections Study (NNIS) to describe the epidemiology of endemic K. pneumoniae infections. In die 8-year period from 1975 through 1982 the nosocomial K. pneumoniae infection rate was 16.7 infections per 10,000 patients discharged. The rate of infection at medical school-affiliated hospitals was significantly greater than at nonaffiliated hospitals; furthermore, the rate of infection at large affiliated hospitals was greater than at small affiliated hospitals. The rate of infection varied by service, with the highest rate found on the medicine service. During the 8-year period, 184 deaths were caused by nosocomial K. pneumoniae infections (184 deaths/16,969 infections, case-fatality ratio 1.1%), with higher ratios in pediatrics (5%) where there was a 12% mortality in children infected with an aminoglycoside-resistant strain.

We would like to share with others our role as Aboriginal teacher aides at Healy State School, Mount Isa.

The administrative staff of the school has encouraged us to keep our roles and timetables very flexible. Our timetable changes as the needs of the Aboriginal children change within the school.

The Aboriginal population at school is 16%. Half of these children come under the heading of ‘assimilated Aboriginals’.

The suburb of Healy was built by the Mount Isa mining company for sale to mine employees. The Aboriginal children from these homes have equal housing and their parents have no trouble ‘fitting in’. They are accepted on their own worth along with children from first and second generation migrant families. These children could be called success stories but we see them as the result of equal opportunities.

Close to our school we have the ‘camping area’. These are the children we mainly work with in Reading and Maths. Within this area we have found two distinct groups. Families who say ‘I never had much schooling, so I always send the kids’, and families who see no benefit in schooling. From the first group children come on a regular basis and we are able to help individual members of the family to catch up and return to ordinary classroom activities, or keep them learning at a different level. The other group from this area do not see the benefits of school and have heavy social problems. Consequently we have a truancy problem with their children.