The Centre for Advanced Laser Applications in Garching, Germany, is home to the ATLAS-3000 multi-petawatt laser, dedicated to research on laser particle acceleration and its applications. A control system based on Tango Controls is implemented for both the laser and four experimental areas. The device server approach features high modularity, which, in addition to the hardware control, enables a quick extension of the system and allows for automated data acquisition of the laser parameters and experimental data for each laser shot. In this paper we present an overview of our implementation of the control system, as well as our advances in terms of experimental operation, online supervision and data processing. We also give an outlook on advanced experimental supervision and online data evaluation – where the data can be processed in a pipeline – which is being developed on the basis of this infrastructure.

The vertebrate retina contains a large number of different types of neurons that can be distinguished by their morphological properties. Assuming that no location should be without a contribution from the circuitry and function linked to a specific type of neuron, it is expected that the dendritic trees of neurons belonging to a type will cover the retina in a regular manner. Thus, for most types of neurons, the contribution to visual processing is thought to be independent of the exact location of individual neurons across the retina. Here, we have investigated the distribution of AII amacrine cells in rat retina. The AII is a multifunctional amacrine cell found in mammals and involved in synaptic microcircuits that contribute to visual processing under both scotopic and photopic conditions. Previous investigations have suggested that AIIs are regularly distributed, with a nearest-neighbor distance regularity index of ~4. It has been argued, however, that this presumed regularity results from treating somas as points, without taking into account their actual spatial extent which constrains the location of other cells of the same type. When we simulated random distributions of cell bodies with size and density similar to real AIIs, we confirmed that the simulated distributions could not be distinguished from the distributions observed experimentally for AIIs in different regions and eccentricities of the retina. The developmental mechanisms that generate the observed distributions of AIIs remain to be investigated.

Prolonged parturition duration has been widely demonstrated to be a risk factor for incidence of stillbirth. This study evaluated the supply of dietary fibre on the parturition duration, gut microbiota and metabolome using sows as a model. A total of 40 Yorkshire sows were randomly given diet containing normal level of dietary fibre (NDF, 17·5 % dietary fibre) or high level of dietary fibre (HDF, 33·5 % dietary fibre). Faecal microbiota profiled with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, SCFA and metabolome in the faeces and plasma around parturition were compared between the dietary groups. Correlation analysis was conducted to further explore the potential associations between specific bacterial taxa and metabolites. Results showed that HDF diet significantly improved the parturition process as presented by the shorter parturition duration. HDF diet increased the abundance of the phyla Bacteroidetes and Synergistetes and multiple genera. Except for butyrate, SCFA levels in the faeces and plasma of sows at parturition were elevated in HDF group. The abundances of fifteen and twelve metabolites in the faeces and plasma, respectively, markedly differ between HDF and NDF sows. These metabolites are involved in energy metabolism and bacterial metabolism. Correlation analysis also showed associations between specific bacteria taxa and metabolites. Collectively, our study indicates that the improvement of parturition duration by high fibre intake in late gestation is associated with gut microbiota, production of SCFA and other metabolites, potentially serving for energy metabolism.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The aim of this project is to assess the usability and acceptance of a web-based educational resource for early career researchers. The Emerging Investigators website is designed to bring together resources, provide educational support and foster a community of early career researchers throughout the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS). Locally designed and built, this web-based platform is developed using the principles of Community of Inquiry (COI), which considers how the design of online learning environments might best create and sustain a sense of community among learners. Developing a resource that meets the needs of this cohort of researchers requires an iterative implementation strategy guided by user feedback. A formal website roll-out strategy and accompanied evaluation aims to determine the design, navigability, content, relevance and educational value of this online resource from a user perspective. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In order to ensure this resource effectively meets the needs of this cohort of researchers, a mixed process of evaluation and design was utilized. An initial phase 1 survey was conducted with TL1 and KL2 scholars. Surveys consisted of standardized questions with answers arranged as Likert-type scales and additional written responses to collect valuable qualitative data. A convenience sample of early career researchers at Mount Sinai were contacted for initial survey participation (N = 10). A total of 3 junior faculty KL2 scholars, 3 TL1 post-doc and 4 TL1 pre-doc scholars responded to the survey. Participants were initially asked to comment on design, functionality and usefulness of content on a Likert scale with qualitative comments to support the given scores. They were subsequently asked to consider what key topics or resources were missing from the website. Based on the initial survey, changes were made to the format and content of the Emerging Investigators website to improve content relevance and usability. For phase 2, an evaluation rubric was developed to assess design, navigability, content, relevance, along with three key COI criteria to determine the educational value of this online resource. The rubric will be utilized to collect feedback in the wider phase 2 roll out of the website. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The first phase of survey feedback shaped overall design of the resource. The second phase will comprehensively evaluate the value of the website in the context of teaching and learning for emerging investigators. Ten surveys were captured in the first phase. Data collection is ongoing for the second phase. Phase 1 feedback was primarily qualitative, and valuable in informing overall design choices and content. Overall the website was well received, with participants commenting on the value of the resource in terms of content and educational value. Participants particularly appreciated the regularly updated calendar function and the links provided to a wide range of resources. Functionality issues, such as broken links, were reported by participants and repaired for phase 2. Further topics of content were identified, and additional links and multimedia resources were added to address this feedback. The second phase evaluation is ongoing with data collection being conducted via an evaluation rubric. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The Emerging Investigators website, developed using the principles of COI provides key learning, reading and resources for early career investigators in a format that is well received by a sample group of early career researchers at Mount Sinai. The website has aimed to address the reported need for communication, collaboration and social interaction with peers and other researchers across the MSHS through the addition of further web-based resources such as a LinkedIn page, a blog to feature research and provide a sounding board for research efforts, and a calendar of events targeted specifically at early career researchers. These were highlighted as areas of particular value by the participants. We anticipate the results of phase 2 rubric-based evaluations will provide actionable data that will lead to further refinement of the website, an optimized interface, and improved usability.

Because of the increasing adoption and use of technology in primary health care (PHC), public health informatics competencies (PHIC) are becoming essential for public health workers. Unfortunately, no studies have measured PHIC in resource-limited setting. This paper describes the process of developing and validating Public Health Informatics Competencies for Primary Health Care (PHIC4PHC), an instrument for measuring PHC workers’ competencies in public health informatics. Method: This study developed a questionnaire that had three stages: the Delphi technique, a pretest, and field test. Eleven academicians from a university and 13 PHC workers joined 2 rounds of group discussion in the first stage. The second stage comprised two pilot studies with 75 PHC workers in Semarang Municipality. The third stage involved validating the questionnaire with 462 PHC workers in Kendal District. This study used Pearson’s product-moment correlation for the validity check and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for determining the internal consistency. This study used the K-means algorithm for clustering the results of the PHIC4PHC questionnaire. Results and Conclusion: PHIC4PHC is the first comprehensive PHIC questionnaire administered in a resource-limited setting, consisting of 11 indicators and 42 measurement items concerning knowledge of health information systems, skills required for health data management, ethical aspects of data sharing and health information literacy. The final results of PHIC4PHC were clustered into three classes based on the K-means algorithm. Overall, 45.7% PHC workers achieved medium competency, whereas 25.6% and 27.7% achieved low and high competency, respectively. Men had higher competency than women. The higher the worker’s level of education, the higher the PHIC level; the longer the worker’s work experience, the lower the PHIC score; and the greater the worker’s age, the lower the PHIC score. Measuring and monitoring PHIC is vital to support successful health IT adoption in PHC.

Increasing evidence indicates that gut microbiota may influence colorectal cancer risk. Diet, particularly fibre intake, may modify gut microbiota composition, which may affect cancer risk. We investigated the relationship between dietary fibre intake and gut microbiota in adults. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assessed gut microbiota in faecal samples from 151 adults in two independent study populations: National Cancer Institute (NCI), n 75, and New York University (NYU), n 76. We calculated energy-adjusted fibre intake based on FFQ. For each study population with adjustment for age, sex, race, BMI and smoking, we evaluated the relationship between fibre intake and gut microbiota community composition and taxon abundance. Total fibre intake was significantly associated with overall microbial community composition in NYU (P=0·008) but not in NCI (P=0·81). In a meta-analysis of both study populations, higher fibre intake tended to be associated with genera of class Clostridia, including higher abundance of SMB53 (fold change (FC)=1·04, P=0·04), Lachnospira (FC=1·03, P=0·05) and Faecalibacterium (FC=1·03, P=0·06), and lower abundance of Actinomyces (FC=0·95, P=0·002), Odoribacter (FC=0·95, P=0·03) and Oscillospira (FC=0·96, P=0·06). A species-level meta-analysis showed that higher fibre intake was marginally associated with greater abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (FC=1·03, P=0·07) and lower abundance of Eubacterium dolichum (FC=0·96, P=0·04) and Bacteroides uniformis (FC=0·97, P=0·05). Thus, dietary fibre intake may impact gut microbiota composition, particularly class Clostridia, and may favour putatively beneficial bacteria such as F. prausnitzii. These findings warrant further understanding of diet–microbiota relationships for future development of colorectal cancer prevention strategies.

Uranium-lead isotope dating of two zircon inclusions in sapphires from the Central Province, NSW. gives ages of 35.9 ± 1.9 and 33.7 ± 2.1 million years (Ma). These ages fall within the range of basalt potassium-argon ages of 19 to 38Ma and zircon fission track ages of 2 to 49Ma for the timing of volcanism of the Central Province, NSW. These data, combined with the observation that corundum is found associated with many alkali basaltic provinces, indicate a genetic link between the growth of large corundum crystals and the processes involved in alkali basaltic magma generation. The reported failure of experimental attempts to grow corundum from a corundum-bearing basaltic composition, and more significantly, the abundance of incompatible elements such as U, Th, Zr, Nb and Ta in inclusion minerals indicate that the crystallization process is not simple. Corundum and the other minerals found as its inclusions (zircon, columbite, thorite, uranium pyrochlore, alkali feldspar etc.) could not have crystallized from most basaltic compositions. A more complex process must occur in which crystallization takes place when there are high proportions of incompatible elements and volatiles in the melt. These crystallization products are then carried to the surface by upward movement of later magmas. The extent of this process presumably determines whether a particular basaltic province carries sufficient corundum to be worked into economic concentrations of sapphire.