Synthesis of functionalised, crosslinked polymer networks

Previously restricted to Strathclyde users from 1 June 2017 until 1 June 2022Crosslinked polymer networks that are largely insoluble and tolerant to various chemical environments are useful in solid-supported chemistries and as sorbents in chemical separation. The selective retention of organic pollutants is an area of environmental importance for the clean-up of contaminated water sources, and a family of ion-exchange hypercrosslinked polymer particles have recently been developed for use as mixed-mode solid phase extraction sorbents. Expanding this family of polymers will give rise to a greater range of materials with enhanced selectivity and capacity for specific analytes of environmental concern. This work is an investigation of methods to synthesise and functionalise crosslinked polymer networks with ion-exchange character.;The approaches explored for the synthesis of crosslinked polymers containing aromatic rings bridged by methylene (-CH2) chains include phenol-formaldehyde inspired chemistry, precipitation polymerisation, and Friedel Crafts chemistry. Weak anion-exchange character was imparted by the introduction of tertiary amine groups through post-polymerisation chemical modification reactions. Furthermore, by utilising amino acid derived alkyl esters it was proposed that there could be potential to exploit the weak cation-exchange character of the deprotected carboxylic acid and harness and exploit zwitterionic character.;The use of precipitation polymerisation to synthesise poly(divinylbenzene-co-vinylbenzyl chloride) yielded spherical particles of low polydispersity in the 2-5 μm size range, with tuneable particle size and porosity (0-740 m2/g). Subsequent hypercrosslinking using Friedel-Crafts chemistry produced microporous polymers with a high concentration of micropores and ultra-high specific surface areas (1,900 m2/g). Amino acid derived esters, including sarcosine methyl and ethyl esters, and the L- and D- enantiomers of phenylalanine methyl ester, were utilised in a post-polymerisation amination study to impart weak anion-exchange character into the polymers at a level of around 1 mmol/g.;Through evaluation of the macroreticular and hypercrosslinked variants as mixed-mode solid phase-extraction sorbents for the extraction of spiked organic analytes from ultra-pure water, it was found that these sorbents possess additional and useful functionality that is distinct from the weak anion-exchange polymeric sorbents that have been reported previously.Crosslinked polymer networks that are largely insoluble and tolerant to various chemical environments are useful in solid-supported chemistries and as sorbents in chemical separation. The selective retention of organic pollutants is an area of environmental importance for the clean-up of contaminated water sources, and a family of ion-exchange hypercrosslinked polymer particles have recently been developed for use as mixed-mode solid phase extraction sorbents. Expanding this family of polymers will give rise to a greater range of materials with enhanced selectivity and capacity for specific analytes of environmental concern. This work is an investigation of methods to synthesise and functionalise crosslinked polymer networks with ion-exchange character.;The approaches explored for the synthesis of crosslinked polymers containing aromatic rings bridged by methylene (-CH2) chains include phenol-formaldehyde inspired chemistry, precipitation polymerisation, and Friedel Crafts chemistry. Weak anion-exchange character was imparted by the introduction of tertiary amine groups through post-polymerisation chemical modification reactions. Furthermore, by utilising amino acid derived alkyl esters it was proposed that there could be potential to exploit the weak cation-exchange character of the deprotected carboxylic acid and harness and exploit zwitterionic character.;The use of precipitation polymerisation to synthesise poly(divinylbenzene-co-vinylbenzyl chloride) yielded spherical particles of low polydispersity in the 2-5 μm size range, with tuneable particle size and porosity (0-740 m2/g). Subsequent hypercrosslinking using Friedel-Crafts chemistry produced microporous polymers with a high concentration of micropores and ultra-high specific surface areas (1,900 m2/g). Amino acid derived esters, including sarcosine methyl and ethyl esters, and the L- and D- enantiomers of phenylalanine methyl ester, were utilised in a post-polymerisation amination study to impart weak anion-exchange character into the polymers at a level of around 1 mmol/g.;Through evaluation of the macroreticular and hypercrosslinked variants as mixed-mode solid phase-extraction sorbents for the extraction of spiked organic analytes from ultra-pure water, it was found that these sorbents possess additional and useful functionality that is distinct from the weak anion-exchange polymeric sorbents that have been reported previously

Reflective Functioning of Refugee Mothers with Children Born of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

The ability of a parent to step back from their own experiences in order to understand those of their child, reflective functioning (RF), can be impacted by myriad factors. We explored RF among refugee mothers in the context of having a child born of sexual violence (CBSV). A sample of 10 mothers now residing in the Netherlands, both with (n = 5) and without (n = 5) a CBSV, were interviewed, seeking to explore parents’ representations of their children, themselves as parents, and their relationship with their children. After deriving a score of RF, interview narratives were qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis. An ordinary level of reflective functioning was identified in this sample overall (average score 4.5); which was reduced in the group with CBSV (average score 3.0). Trends within the qualitative analyses indicated that emotion regulation and ambivalence as well as parenting challenges are factors that affect RF capabilities for mothers with CBSV. Wider findings show that the asylum process and mental well-being also impinge on RF capabilities. Experiences of having a CBSV as well as those pertaining to being a refugee appear to interact and impact reflective functioning for some mothers. Further investigation would add weight to this pilot data

Crafting Well-being: A Scoping Review of the Benefits of Participation in Fibre Craft Communities and Implications for Activities for Older Adults

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus the need for positive mental health and well-being as communities at large, and older adults in particular, struggle to cope with social isolation, loneliness, stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. At the same time, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional home-based crafts that are both compatible with social distancing requirements, yet fulfill one’s passion for fibre craft. This paper reviews the literature to understand the ways in which participation in fibre craft communities, organized as informal or formal collectives of people, contributed to their well-being. Nineteen articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed for this scoping review. The findings show that participants of fibre craft communities perceived overlapping benefits of craft-related activities that corresponded with several aspects of well-being. The paper discusses how knowledge from this scoping review can be used to guide the development of activities for older adults

NDRG2 promotes myoblast proliferation and caspase 3/7 activities during differentiation, and attenuates hydrogen peroxide - but not palmitate-induced toxicity

The function of the stress-responsive N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) in the control of myoblast growth, and the amino acids contributing to its function, are not well characterized. Here, we investigated the effect of increased NDRG2 levels on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in skeletal muscle cells under basal and stress conditions. NDRG2 overexpression increased C2C12 myoblast proliferation and the expression of positive cell cycle regulators, cdk2, cyclin B and cyclin D, and phosphorylation of Rb, while the serine/threonine-deficient NDRG2, 3A-NDRG2, had less effect. The onset of differentiation was enhanced by NDRG2 as determined through the myogenic regulatory factor expression profiles and myocyte fusion index. However, the overall level of differentiation in myotubes was not different. While NDRG2 up-regulated caspase 3/7 activities during differentiation, no increase in apoptosis was measured by TUNEL assay or through cleavage of caspase 3 and PARP proteins. During H2O2 treatment to induce oxidative stress, NDRG2 helped protect against the loss of proliferation and ER stress as measured by GRP78 expression with 3A-NDRG2 displaying less protection. NDRG2 also attenuated apoptosis by reducing cleavage of PARP and caspase 3 and expression of pro-apoptotic Bax while enhancing the pro-survival Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL levels. In contrast, Mcl-1 was not altered, and NDRG2 did not protect against palmitate-induced lipotoxicity. Our findings show that NDRG2 overexpression increases myoblast proliferation and caspase 3/7 activities without increasing overall differentiation. Furthermore, NDRG2 attenuates H2O2-induced oxidative stress and specific serine and threonine amino acid residues appear to contribute to its function in muscle cells

Pharmacy Leadership and Management module: An evaluation of the student experience and its perceived usefulness for future employment

Background: Pharmacy Leadership and Management is a 12-day, final-year synoptic experiential learning simulation. Student teams of six run a primary care-based pharmacy business and are presented with approximately 180 scenarios and over 400 medicines-based exercises. This module is based on the successful model created by the GIMMICS consortia of universities. Aims: To evaluate the acceptability and perceived usefulness to students and their future employment. Method: An online 82-item questionnaire was sent to all 221 students on the module comprising open and closed questions about their module experiences. Two reminders were sent. Analysis consisted of frequency counts and percentages. Results: Sixty-five percent of students completed the survey (n=143). Ninety-two percent said the module challenged them (n=132/143). Eighty-nine percent said it made them more confident talking to patients (n=127/143); 84% reported that their team-working skills improved as the module progressed (n=110/131). Eighty nine percent of students stated that they thought the module consolidated their learning across the degree (n=117/131). Despite the nature of the module, over half felt that the business skills would not be useful to their future career (55%, n=71/131). Conclusion: This new module has assisted students to develop themselves by challenging them and assisting to consolidate their team-working skills. Despite the importance of understanding business and management, students still appear to lack appreciation of this topic, perhaps due to lack of practice exposure in the course. This is the first year the module has run and we will be following up with the now recent graduates to evaluate the module impact on the next stages of their career

Pharmacy Leadership and Management: A new high fidelity simulation to prepare students for their future practise

Objective: To design and deliver a synoptic experiential learning experience drawing on leadership and management skills coupled with clinical problem solving in a high fidelity simulation. Our vision is to produce world leading pharmacists by providing them with diverse opportunities to demonstrate and expand their knowledge, skills and behaviours and prepare them for the changing healthcare landscape of the future. Design: Pharmacy Leadership and Management (PLM) is based on the successful GIMMICS consortia blueprint. Development was informed by stakeholder events with local and national health commissioners, professionals, experts, patients and academic staff. Teams of six final-year students run their own primary care-based pharmacy business competing against four others over four blocks of three days through the year. Simulated patients and academics deliver approximately 180 acute scenarios over the module to each team, comprising face-to-face, telephone and email queries. Teams also have longer term challenges including development new services and tendering for contracts. The curriculum covers all areas of practice including communication with patients and professionals, business and people development, medicines supply, clinical practice, governance and patient safety and health promotion and public health. Assessment: Assessment uses a multi-format approach of OSCE for skills, reflective portfolio for longer term and attitudinal attributes and an online assessment for knowledge based elements. Conclusion: In this paper, we will present the development of this educational experience and describe our implementation and operationalisation of this highly complex module

Using performance and leadership mentors to support students during a simulated pharmacy business module

Objective: To design and deliver a synoptic experiential learning experience drawing on leadership and management skills coupled with clinical problem solving in a high fidelity simulation. To provide undergraduates with a mentor employed to support and coach groups and individuals to learn, practise and develop their leadership and team working skills. Design: Pharmacy Leadership and Management (PLM) is a module which provides an experiential learning simulation drawing on leadership and management skills coupled with clinical problem solving. Teams of six students run their own primary care based pharmacy business competing against each other, based on a successful model currently run by the GIMMICS consortia of universities across Europe. Working with the university graduate school, a job description and person specification was developed. Mentors were appointed, using a robust application and interview process. A bespoke leadership and management training programme was co-developed between the Pharmacy and Graduate schools. The mentors supported student-led group sessions, coaching them to reflect on performance, develop solutions and change initiatives. The performance mentors were able to monitor the progress of their clients and stimulate interventions to improve their performance. Assessment: Students are required to reflect on their team working and its development during the simulation via their reflective portfolios. Conclusion: In this paper, we will present the development of the mentors and the impact they had on student learning. Qualitative interviews are currently being conducted to determine the impact of the mentor role on recent graduates and their development as future leaders

Shape-shifting : TheoArtistry poetry as Theological Action Research

This paper describes a creative partnership between a theologian and a poet arranged by the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts at the University of St Andrews in 2018. The TheoArtistry project seeks to reintroduce artists to traditional religious culture and to foster collaborations between academics and art practitioners (Corbett). In this article we discuss and utilise Theological Action Research methodology (Cameron et al.), to explore the process and outcomes of one such collaboration tasked to produce a poem inspired by an Old Testament passage and the theme of “Annunciation.” The researchers in this collaboration drew on a diverse range of cultural forms and accommodated a position of scepticism towards Christian faith. An examination of the cycles of action and reflection in the production of the poem enables conclusions to be made concerning the impact of this interaction upon the collaborators’ theological thought and practice. This section closes with the final poem and a brief team commentary. The final section evaluates the partnership in terms of the TheoArtistry goals and shows how it both supported the project and set a challenging precedent for broadening the scope of theological openness and inclusivity in future collaborations.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Gravitational wave and collider probes of a triplet Higgs sector with a low cutoff

We study the scalar triplet extension of the standard model with a low cutoff, preventing large corrections to the quadratic masses that would otherwise worsen the hierarchy problem. We explore the reach of LISA to test the parameter space region of the scalar potential (not yet excluded by Higgs to diphoton measurements) in which the electroweak phase transition is strongly first-order and produces sizeable gravitational waves. We also demonstrate that the collider phenomenology of the model is drastically different from its renormalizable counterpart. We study the reach of the LHC in ongoing searches and project bounds for the HL-LHC. Likewise, we develop a dedicated analysis to test the key but still unexplored signature of pair-production of charged scalars decaying to third-generation quarks: $pp\rightarrow t\overline{b} (\overline{t}b), b\overline{b}$. These results apply straightforwardly to other extensions of the Higgs sector such as the 2HDM/MSSM.Comment: 12 pages, 19 figure