Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be detected in a polymicrobial competition model using impedance spectroscopy with a novel biosensor

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful technique that can be used to elicit information about an electrode interface. In this article, we highlight six principal processes by which the presence of microorganisms can affect impedance and show how one of these - the production of electroactive metabolites - changes the impedance signature of culture media containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. EIS, was used in conjunction with a low cost screen printed carbon sensor to detect the presence of P. aeruginosa when grown in isolation or as part of a polymicrobial infection with Staphylococcus aureus. By comparing the electrode to a starting measurement, we were able to identify an impedance signature characteristic of P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, we are able to show that one of the changes in the impedance signature is due to pyocyanin and associated phenazine compounds. The findings of this study indicate that it might be possible to develop a low cost sensor for the detection of P. aeruginosa in important point of care diagnostic applications. In particular, we suggest that a development of the device described here could be used in a polymicrobial clinical sample such as sputum from a CF patient to detect P. aeruginosa

Labour mobility and diaspora: An overview of Solomon Islands’ historical regulatory experience, 1850s-2013

With less than 4,500 of its population of around 600,000 living overseas in 2013, the Solomon Islands ranks 138th in the world for diaspora formation. At these levels the scale of the diaspora as a proportion of population (0.8 percent) remains lower than it was in the early 20th century, when more than 5,000 Solomon islanders were compulsorily repatriated from Queensland under early Australian Commonwealth legislation. This working paper retraces and reframes the history of Solomon Islands labour mobility and diaspora formation since the 1850s, considering it in relation to the wider institutional and macro-regulatory machineries of three phases or regimes of economic, trade and mobility regulation. These regimes are referred to in this paper as: 1.liberal imperial, 2. national territorial and 3. International neoliberal. We argue that Solomon Islanders’ participation in labour mobility has been substantial under all three phases, but that international mobility and diaspora formation only developed significantly under the liberal imperial regime. Even then, however, its development proved precarious. The ways regional actors and governments acting within the different regimes have framed and segmented labour markets continue to powerfully shape mobility and diaspora outcomes. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the situation to date for future economic development and security in Solomon Islands

The relationship between mirror-touch synaesthesia and empathy: new evidence and a new screening tool

People with mirror-touch synaesthesia (MTS) report experiencing tactile sensations on their own body when seeing another person being touched. Although this has been associated with heightened empathy and emotion perception, this finding has recently been disputed. Here, we conduct two experiments to explore this relationship further. In Study 1, we develop a new screening measure for MTS. We show that MTS is related to vicarious experiences more generally (including to itch and pain), but is not a simple exaggerated version of normality. For example, people with MTS report videos of scratching as ‘touch’ rather than ‘itchiness’ and have localized sensations when watching others in pain. In Study 2, we show that MTS is related to increased emotional empathy to others and better ability to read facial expressions of emotion, but other measures of empathy are normal-to-low. In terms of theoretical models, we propose that this is more consistent with a qualitative difference in the ability to selectively inhibit the other and attending to the self, which leads to heightened activity in shared self-other representations (including a mirror system for touch, but also includes other kinds of vicarious experience)

Development of a diagnostic device to detect different pseudomonas aeruginosa phenotypes in medically relevant contexts

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, widely present in the environment, is well known for its ability to cause infection in immune compromised individuals. For example, P. aeruginosa is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Here, we describe how Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) can be used to detect the presence of four different strains of P. aeruginosa. Using a low cost, screen printed carbon electrode significant changes can be seen in impedance data in the presence of P. aeruginosa after 24 hours. Furthermore, through the use of a normalization technique whereby the phase angle of the impedance (a commonly used parameter) is divided by a starting measurement, it is possible to identify differences between a non-mucoid and mucoid strain of P. aeruginosa. Sensors based upon the techniques described here could be used in a number of healthcare scenarios, where there is a need for low cost, real time detection of P. aeruginosa, such as CF

Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the Craighead Inlier and Woodland Point, (Lower Silurian), Girvan, Southwest Scotland

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D77949 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Child Protection and Violence Against Women: Parallel Goals?

The purpose of this research project is to examine the collaboration between child protection agencies and Violence Against Women services in Hamilton. Children's Aid Societies in Ontario are mandated to intervene with caregivers and children to ensure that children are protected from physical and/or emotional harm. In 2000, the phrase 'child exposure to adult conflict' was added to Section 3 of the revised Ontario Risk Assessment Model and Eligibility Spectrum for Child Protection, to recognize the negative effects on children's well being when they witness violence between caregivers. In 2007, the Ontario government promoted a strengths based practice model. Collaboration between Children's Aid Societies and other service providers including Violence Against Women Services was identified as a desirable goal. This qualitative research involved conversations with four Child Protection Services workers and four Violence Against Women workers. The purpose of this research was to gather the perceptions and experiences of workers from both sectors regarding relationships between workers, workers' perceptions about the collaboration, and workers' opinions about training. The results suggests that contentious relationships that existed between workers in Child Protection Services and the Violence Against Women sector a decade ago for the most part still exist today. It is clear that both sectors are working towards the common goal of safety for abused women and their children, yet there is a history of mistrust embedded in complicated power relations that impedes collaboration between these sectors. Despite this, participants of the study have hope for a positive outcome as a result of collaboration. Further research is required to evaluate new initiatives. Moreover, research that includes the experiences of women who experience violence will provide valuable insight into assessment of the collaboration and training curriculum. Existing training methods are not seen as beneficiaL Workers from both sectors want creative, insightful, and applicable training methods.Master of Social Work (MSW

Sexual conflict over copula timing: a mathematical model and a test in the yellow dung fly

Sexual conflict over mating occurrence, timing, or duration is common in animals. This explains conspicuous female mate rejection behavior in many species, often involving shaking, fighting, and occasional forced copulations. We present a simple model that generates predictions about whether and when copulation occurs in such conflict situations and how much female rejection behavior should be observed. Predictions depend on 2 underlying parameters affecting female resistance and male persistence. We supply 2 qualitative tests of the model using the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae). We manipulated adult age, body size (large and small), and adult food availability (low and high), independently in males and females, staging replicate pairings of all treatment combinations. In agreement with predictions of our model, shaking duration first increased to a maximum at intermediate age, when the average female copulated, and then decreased again. Contrary to expectation, body size did not affect copulation timing, female resistance, or male persistence. As predicted, adult food limitation delayed sexual maturity and hence prolonged female resistance, resulting in later copulations after more shaking. However, although food limitation equally delayed the increase in male persistence with age, copulation also occurred later after more shaking, opposite to the model prediction. We conclude that shaking is driven primarily by female age and male responses to it. Although female shaking can initially successfully deter males in S. stercoraria, this behavior is subtle and has apparently shifted function from an effective means of mate choice to a signal of nonreceptivity, though its importance in nature remains unclea