Selenium (Se) is an essential element for human health. However, our knowledge of the prevalence of Se deficiency is less than for other micronutrients of public health concern such as iodine, iron and zinc, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Studies of food systems in SSA, in particular in Malawi, have revealed that human Se deficiency risks are widespread and influenced strongly by geography. Direct evidence of Se deficiency risks includes nationally representative data of Se concentrations in blood plasma and urine as population biomarkers of Se status. Long-range geospatial variation in Se deficiency risks has been linked to soil characteristics and their effects on the Se concentration of food crops. Selenium deficiency risks are also linked to socio-economic status including access to animal source foods. This review highlights the need for geospatially-resolved data on the movement of Se and other micronutrients in food systems which span agriculture–nutrition–health disciplinary domains (defined as a GeoNutrition approach). Given that similar drivers of deficiency risks for Se, and other micronutrients, are likely to occur in other countries in SSA and elsewhere, micronutrient surveillance programmes should be designed accordingly.

Observations of red giants in the Bulge globular cluster NGC 6273 with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) mounted on the Nasmuth-East port of the Magellan-Clay 6.5-m telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory reveal a spread in metallicity. Members have been confirmed with radial velocity. NGC 6273 has at least two populations separated by 0.2-0.3 dex in [Fe/H]. The sodium and aluminum abundances are correlated while the magnesium and aluminum abundances are anti-correlated. The cluster also shows a rise in the abundance of the s-process element lanthanum with [Fe/H] similar to other massive clusters. The cluster contains a possible third population depleted in most elements by 0.3 dex.

Serum and erythrocyte (RBC) total folate are indicators of folate status. No nationally representative population data exist for folate forms. We measured the serum folate forms (5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methylTHF), unmetabolised folic acid (UMFA), non-methyl folate (sum of tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-formylTHF), 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (5,10-methenylTHF)) and MeFox (5-methylTHF oxidation product)) by HPLC–MS/MS and RBC total folate by microbiologic assay in US population ≥ 1 year (n approximately 7500) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2. Data analysis for serum total folate was conducted including and excluding MeFox. Concentrations (geometric mean; detection rate) of 5-methylTHF (37·5 nmol/l; 100 %), UMFA (1·21 nmol/l; 99·9 %), MeFox (1·53 nmol/l; 98·8 %), and THF (1·01 nmol/l; 85·2 %) were mostly detectable. 5-FormylTHF (3·6 %) and 5,10-methenylTHF (4·4 %) were rarely detected. The biggest contributor to serum total folate was 5-methylTHF (86·7 %); UMFA (4·0 %), non-methyl folate (4·7 %) and MeFox (4·5 %) contributed smaller amounts. Age was positively related to MeFox, but showed a U-shaped pattern for other folates. We generally noted sex and race/ethnic biomarker differences and weak (Spearman's r< 0·4) but significant (P< 0·05) correlations with physiological and lifestyle variables. Fasting, kidney function, smoking and alcohol intake showed negative associations. BMI and body surface area showed positive associations with MeFox but negative associations with other folates. All biomarkers showed significantly higher concentrations with recent folic acid-containing dietary supplement use. These first-time population data for serum folate forms generally show similar associations with demographic, physiological and lifestyle variables as serum total folate. Patterns observed for MeFox may suggest altered folate metabolism dependent on biological characteristics.

PILOT (the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope) is a proposed 2.5-m optical/infrared telescope to be located at Dome C on the Antarctic plateau. The atmospheric conditions at Dome C deliver a high sensitivity, high photometric precision, wide-field, high spatial resolution, and high-cadence imaging capability to the PILOT telescope. These capabilities enable a unique scientific potential for PILOT, which is addressed in this series of papers. The current paper presents a series of projects dealing with the nearby Universe that have been identified as key science drivers for the PILOT facility. Several projects are proposed that examine stellar populations in nearby galaxies and stellar clusters in order to gain insight into the formation and evolution processes of galaxies and stars. A series of projects will investigate the molecular phase of the Galaxy and explore the ecology of star formation, and investigate the formation processes of stellar and planetary systems. Three projects in the field of exoplanet science are proposed: a search for free-floating low-mass planets and dwarfs, a program of follow-up observations of gravitational microlensing events, and a study of infrared light-curves for previously discovered exoplanets. Three projects are also proposed in the field of planetary and space science: optical and near-infrared studies aimed at characterising planetary atmospheres, a study of coronal mass ejections from the Sun, and a monitoring program searching for small-scale Low Earth Orbit satellite debris items.

PILOT (the Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope) is a proposed 2.5-m optical/infrared telescope to be located at Dome C on the Antarctic plateau. Conditions at Dome C are known to be exceptional for astronomy. The seeing (above ∼30 m height), coherence time, and isoplanatic angle are all twice as good as at typical mid-latitude sites, while the water-vapour column, and the atmosphere and telescope thermal emission are all an order of magnitude better. These conditions enable a unique scientific capability for PILOT, which is addressed in this series of papers. The current paper presents an overview of the optical and instrumentation suite for PILOT and its expected performance, a summary of the key science goals and observational approach for the facility, a discussion of the synergies between the science goals for PILOT and other telescopes, and a discussion of the future of Antarctic astronomy. Paper II and Paper III present details of the science projects divided, respectively, between the distant Universe (i.e. studies of first light, and the assembly and evolution of structure) and the nearby Universe (i.e. studies of Local Group galaxies, the Milky Way, and the Solar System).

The cold, dry, and stable air above the summits of the Antarctic plateau provides the best ground-based observing conditions from optical to sub-millimetre wavelengths to be found on the Earth. Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope (PILOT) is a proposed 2 m telescope, to be built at Dome C in Antarctica, able to exploit these conditions for conducting astronomy at optical and infrared wavelengths. While PILOT is intended as a pathfinder towards the construction of future grand-design facilities, it will also be able to undertake a range of fundamental science investigations in its own right. This paper provides the performance specifications for PILOT, including its instrumentation. It then describes the kinds of projects that it could best conduct. These range from planetary science to the search for other solar systems, from star formation within the Galaxy to the star formation history of the Universe, and from gravitational lensing caused by exo-planets to that produced by the cosmic web of dark matter. PILOT would be particularly powerful for wide-field imaging at infrared wavelengths, achieving near diffraction-limited performance with simple tip–tilt wavefront correction. PILOT would also be capable of near diffraction-limited performance in the optical wavebands, as well be able to open new wavebands for regular ground-based observation, in the mid-IR from 17 to 40 μm and in the sub-millimetre at 200 μm.

This article reports on one component of a larger study on measurement of the zero-pressure-gradient turbulent flat plate boundary layer, in which a detailed investigation was conducted of the suite of corrections required for mean velocity measurements performed using Pitot tubes. In particular, the corrections for velocity shear across the tube and for blockage effects which occur when the tube is in close proximity to the wall were investigated using measurements from Pitot tubes of five different diameters, in two different facilities, and at five different Reynolds numbers ranging from ${\mathit{Re}}_{\theta } = 11\hspace{0.167em} 100$ to 67 000. Only small differences were found amongst commonly used corrections for velocity shear, but improvements were found for existing near-wall proximity corrections. Corrections for the nonlinear averaging of the velocity fluctuations were also investigated, and the results compared to hot-wire data taken as part of the same measurement campaign. The streamwise turbulence-intensity correction was found to be of comparable magnitude to that of the shear correction, and found to bring the hot-wire and Pitot results into closer agreement when applied to the data, along with the other corrections discussed and refined here.

A correction for streamwise Reynolds stress data acquired with insufficient spatial resolution is proposed for wall-bounded flows. The method is based on the attached eddy hypothesis to account for spatial filtering effects at all wall-normal positions. This analysis reveals that outside the near-wall region the spatial filtering effect scales inversely with the distance from the wall, in contrast to the commonly assumed scaling with the viscous length scale. The new formulation is shown to work very well for data taken over a wide range of Reynolds numbers and wire lengths.

Certain health risks have been associated with recreational exposure to faecally polluted water. Canoeing in certain South African waters is considered to be a high risk activity with regard to schistosomiasis. gastroenteritis and possibly hepatitis. In a cross-sectional study, a serosurvey was conducted amongst canoeists to ascertain whether or not they had a higher seroprevalence to hepatitis A virus. Norwalk virus and Schistosoma spp. than non-canoeists. In comparisons between the two groups, a significant association could not be demonstrated between canoeing and antibody response to hepatitis A and Norwalk viruses (P-values for age-adjusted χ2 were 0·083 and 0·219 respectively), but a significant association could be demonstrated between canoeing and the antibody response to Schistosoma spp. (P > 0·001: age-adjusted).

As a result of the European ban of in-feed growth-promoting antibiotics, new strategies are being developed to increase the resistance to disease in farm animals. In pig production, this is of particular importance during the weaning transition when piglets are subjected to major stressful events, making them highly sensitive to digestive disorders. At this time, the development of both innate and adaptive immunity at the mucosal surface is critical in preventing the potential harmful effects of intestinal pathogenic agents. Strategies aiming at stimulating natural host defences through the use of substances able to modulate immune functions have gained increasing interest in animal research, and different bioactive components a priori sharing those properties have been the subject of in vivo nutritional investigations in pig. Among these, yeast derivates (β-glucans and mannans) are able to interact with immune cells, particularly phagocytic cells. However, studies where they have been fed to pigs have shown inconsistent results, suggesting that their ability to target the sensitive immune cells through the oral route is questionable. The plant extracts, which would benefit from a positive image in the public opinion, have also been tested. However, due to a lack of data on the bioactive components of particular plants and the large diversity of species, it has proved difficult to prepare extracts of equivalent potency and thus, the literature on their influence on pig immunity remains inconclusive. In considering piglet immunity and health benefits, the most promising results to date have been obtained with spray-dried animal plasma, whose positive effects would be provided by specific antibodies and non-specific competition of some plasma components with bacteria for intestinal receptors. The major positive effect of spray-dried animal plasma is in reducing the infiltration of gut-associated lymphoid tissue by immune cells, which is likely to be the result of a decreased colonisation by potentially harmful bacteria. This review also highlights the limitations of some of the published in vivo studies on the immunomodulatory activity of certain feed additives. Among those, the lack of standardisation of extracts and the heterogeneity of piglet-rearing conditions (e.g. exposure to pathogens) are likely the most limiting.

Au cours des exercices récents d’intercomparaison, les estimations de dose interne et d’incorporation calculées par les différents participants à partir des données de surveillance ont montré une grande variabilité. Ceci est dû principalement à la diversité des méthodes et des hypothèses appliquées dans la procédure d’évaluation. À partir de ce constat, le besoin d’une harmonisation des procédures a été formulé à travers un projet de recherche européen dans le cadre du 5e PCRD. Le but de ce projet, IDEAS, est de proposer un guide pratique pour homogénéiser les évaluations de dose interne et d’incorporation. Le projet IDEAS a débuté en octobre 2001 et s’achèvera en mai 2005. Huit institutions de sept pays européens y participent. Il est aussi fait appel aux contributions de professionnels de la dosimétrie interne de toute l’Europe pour assurer un large consensus au résultat du projet. IDEAS s’intéresse de près à certains des objectifs du comité 2 de la CIPR et les deux groupes entretiennent une étroite collaboration depuis 2003. Afin de s’assurer que les conseils soient applicables à un large spectre de situations concrètes, la première étape a été la compilation d’une base de données bien documentée de cas de contamination interne. En parallèle, une version améliorée d’un logiciel déjà existant a été développée et distribuée aux partenaires pour une utilisation dans la suite du projet. Un grand nombre des cas de la base de données a été évalué indépendamment par les partenaires du projet en utilisant le même logiciel et les résultats ont été analysés. Sur la base de ces évaluations, une première version du guide a été éditée et discutée avec les professionnels de la dosimétrie du monde entier par le biais d’un séminaire virtuel sur Internet en juin 2004. Les indications seront révisées et affinées à partir des discussions et expériences rapportées au cours de ce séminaire virtuel ainsi que du résultat de l’exercice d’intercomparaison qui sera organisé dans le cadre du projet et ouvert à tous les professionnels de la dosimétrie interne.

Current trends seek to make TEM operation more routine and productive. One of these follows the lead made in scanning electron microscopy in which the spatial distribution of crystallographic data over a selected area of a sample surface is determined by automated recognition of Backscatter Kikuchi patterns (EBSD), Adams et al . This method has been extended to the TEM in a novel manner, Wright et al . Dark field images are collected sequentially from the area of interest for all possible incident beam directions over a solid cone of semi-apex angle up to 4 degrees, Figure 1. The images are recorded directly into a computer. Off line automated analysis follows in which all dark field images are searched to determine the beam conditions under which each pixel in the image brightens, i.e. when the corresponding point in the sample came into a diffraction condition. The measurement of three such non-coplanar conditions for a pixel leads to the determination of the corresponding crystallographic orientation. The accuracy of orientation measurement has been improved to 1 degree by the fitting of the determined diffraction vectors to the surface of the Ewald sphere. The analysis allows grain maps to be reconstructed from which grain size distribution can be automatically determined. Figure 2.

Patterned nanostructures and nanodots are attracting increasing interest in the information storage industry. The ultimate recording density of a magnetic medium will have single domain dots aligned in arrays and each dot in such an array acts as a recording bit. The ideal structure is that the dots are magnetic and the surrounding medium is non-magnetic so that each dot can switch magnetization direction freely without the interference from other dots. This paper presents the nanostructure of the nano-dot array investigated by transmission electron microscopy and magnetic force microscopy. The Co:C film was deposited by alternatively sputtering Co target and C target. The as-deposited specimen has an amorphous structure as revealed by electron diffraction in TEM. Such films transform to ferro-magnetic ones after heat treatment [1]. A laser beam of wavelength of 308 nm and a flux of 0.24 J/cm2 was split into two beams of an approximately equal intensity and then recombined, generating an interference pattern and a periodic modulation of the light intensity.