Active Site-directed Inactivation of Escherichia coli Glucosamine-6-phosphate Synthase DETERMINATION OF THE FRUCTOSE 6-PHOSPHATE BINDING CONSTANT USING A CARBOHYDRATE-BASED INACTIVATOR

Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase (GlmS) catalyzes the formation of glucosamine 6-phosphate from fructose 6-phosphate using glutamine as the ammonia source. Because N-acetylglucosamine is an essential building block of both bacterial cell walls and fungal cell wall chitin, the enzyme is a potential target for antibacterial and antifungal agents. N-Iodoacetylglucosamine 6-phosphate is an active site-directed irreversible inactivator of GlmS from Escherichia coli (kinact/KI = 17 (+/-3) m-1 s-1). Both fructose 6-phosphate and glutamine protect the enzyme from inactivation, indicating that this reagent is directed at both the sugar binding site and the glutamine binding site. Protection studies with fructose 6-phosphate demonstrate that the value of the dissociation constant for fructose 6-phosphate is 3.3 (+/-0.5) x 10(-7) m, approximately 3 orders of magnitude less than the Kia value for this substrate determined from initial velocity experiments (Badet, B., Vermoote, P., and Le Goffic, F. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 2282-2287)

The experiences and acceptability of a novel multimodal programme for the management of fibromyalgia: A qualitative service evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia guidelines recommend multi-modal, non-pharmacological interventions but there is limited evidence on the optimal programme. The Fibromyalgia Active Management and Exercise programme (FAME) aimed to improve function and quality of life. It consisted of 12 sessions delivered by a multidisciplinary team and incorporated education, exercise, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness approaches. This qualitative service evaluation explored the experience and acceptability of FAME from the perspective of the patients' and healthcare practitioners' (HCP). METHODS: All patients and HCP involved in the first FAME programme were invited to attend either one audio-recorded focus group or an individual semi-structured interview. Topic guides were developed a priori. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Thirteen participants (six HCP (three physiotherapists, two nurses, one psychologist)) and seven patients (mean age 46 (7.5) years, all female,) were enroled. FAME was acceptable to HCP participants but not to all patient participants. Where patient participants understood and anticipated the aims of FAME, the programme was found to be acceptable. Whereas, patient participants who did not fully understand the aims of the programme reported lower acceptability. Three themes were generated: expectations and preparation for FAME, the value of social support, and FAME as a learning opportunity. The themes could be explained by five constructs of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. CONCLUSION: FAME was acceptable to HCPs but not to all patient participants. Patient and HCP participants valued social support and regarded this as central to their learning. Further adaptation of FAME is required to optimise acceptability

An optic to replace space and its application towards ultra-thin imaging systems

Centuries of effort to improve imaging has focused on perfecting and combining lenses to obtain better optical performance and new functionalities. The arrival of nanotechnology has brought to this effort engineered surfaces called metalenses, which promise to make imaging devices more compact. However, unaddressed by this promise is the space between the lenses, which is crucial for image formation but takes up by far the most room in imaging systems. Here, we address this issue by presenting the concept of and experimentally demonstrating an optical 'spaceplate', an optic that effectively propagates light for a distance that can be considerably longer than the plate thickness. Such an optic would shrink future imaging systems, opening the possibility for ultra-thin monolithic cameras. More broadly, a spaceplate can be applied to miniaturize important devices that implicitly manipulate the spatial profile of light, for example, solar concentrators, collimators for light sources, integrated optical components, and spectrometers.Comment: 4 figures, 3 videos, includes complete S

The effectiveness of knowledge-sharing techniques and approaches in research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR): a systematic review

Background The National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research to improve people’s health and wellbeing. To achieve this aim, effective knowledge sharing (two-way knowledge sharing between researchers and stakeholders to create new knowledge and enable change in policy and practice) is needed. To date, it is not known which knowledge sharing techniques and approaches are used or how effective these are in creating new knowledge that can lead to changes in policy and practice in NIHR funded studies. Methods In this restricted systematic review, electronic databases [MEDLINE, The Health Management Information Consortium (including the Department of Health’s Library and Information Services and King’s Fund Information and Library Services)] were searched for published NIHR funded studies that described knowledge sharing between researchers and other stakeholders. One researcher performed title and abstract, full paper screening and quality assessment (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist) with a 20% sample independently screened by a second reviewer. A narrative synthesis was adopted. Results In total 9897 records were identified. After screening, 17 studies were included. Five explicit forms of knowledge sharing studies were identified: embedded models, knowledge brokering, stakeholder engagement and involvement of non-researchers in the research or service design process and organisational collaborative partnerships between universities and healthcare organisations. Collectively, the techniques and approaches included five types of stakeholders and worked with them at all stages of the research cycle, except the stage of formation of the research design and preparation of funding application. Seven studies (using four of the approaches) gave examples of new knowledge creation, but only one study (using an embedded model approach) gave an example of a resulting change in practice. The use of a theory, model or framework to explain the knowledge sharing process was identified in six studies. Conclusions Five knowledge sharing techniques and approaches were reported in the included NIHR funded studies, and seven studies identified the creation of new knowledge. However, there was little investigation of the effectiveness of these approaches in influencing change in practice or policy

Exploring how members of the public access and use health research and information: a scoping review

Background Making high-quality health and care information available to members of the general public is crucial to support populations with self-care and improve health outcomes. While attention has been paid to how the public accesses and uses health information generally (including personal records, commercial product information or reviews on healthcare practitioners and organisations) and how practitioners and policy-makers access health research evidence, no overview exists of the way that the public accesses and uses high quality health and care information. Purpose This scoping review aimed to map research evidence on how the public accesses and uses a specific type of health information, namely health research and information that does not include personal, product and organisational information. Methods Electronic database searches [CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Social Sciences Full Text, Web of Science and SCOPUS] for English language studies of any research design published between 2010–2022 on the public’s access and use of health research or information (as defined above). Data extraction and analysis was informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute protocol for scoping reviews, and reported in accordance with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Results The search identified 4410 records. Following screening of 234 full text studies, 130 studies were included. One-hundred-and-twenty-nine studies reported on the public’s sources of health-research or information; 56 reported the reasons for accessing health research or information and 14 reported on the use of this research and information. The scoping exercise identified a substantial literature on the broader concept of ‘health information’ but a lack of reporting of the general public’s access to and use of health research. It found that ‘traditional’ sources of information are still relevant alongside newer sources; knowledge of barriers to accessing information focused on personal barriers and on independent searching, while less attention had been paid to barriers to access through other people and settings, people’s lived experiences, and the cultural knowledge required. Conclusions The review identified areas where future primary and secondary research would enhance current understanding of how the public accesses and utilises health research or information, and contribute to emerging areas of research

The Use of Social Media for Dissemination of Research Evidence to Health and Social Care Practitioners: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Effective dissemination of research to health and social care practitioners enhances clinical practice and evidence-based care. Social media use has potential to facilitate dissemination to busy practitioners. OBJECTIVE: This is a protocol for a systematic review that will quantitatively synthesize evidence of the effectiveness of social media, compared with no social media, for dissemination of research evidence to health and social care practitioners. Social media platforms, formats, and sharing mechanisms used for effective dissemination of research evidence will also be identified and compared. METHODS: Electronic database searches (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, LISTA, and OpenGrey) will be conducted from January 1, 2010, to January 10, 2023, for studies published in English. Randomized, nonrandomized, pre-post study designs or case studies evaluating the effect of social media on dissemination of research evidence to postregistration health and social care practitioners will be included. Studies that do not involve social media or dissemination or those that evaluate dissemination of nonresearch information (eg, multisource educational materials) to students or members of the public only, or without quantitative data on outcomes of interest, will be excluded. Screening will be carried out by 2 independent reviewers. Data extraction and quality assessment, using either the Cochrane tool for assessing risk of bias or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, will be completed by 2 independent reviewers. Outcomes of interest will be reported in 4 domains (reach, engagement, dissemination, and impact). Data synthesis will include quantitative comparisons using narrative text, tables, and figures. A meta-analysis of standardized pooled effects will be undertaken, and subgroup analyses will be applied, if appropriate. RESULTS: Searches and screening will be completed by the end of May 2023. Data extraction and analyses will be completed by the end of July 2023, after which findings will be synthesized and reported by the end of October 2023. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review will summarize the evidence for the effectiveness of social media for the dissemination of research evidence to health and social care practitioners. The limitations of the evidence may include multiple outcomes or methodological heterogeneity that limit meta-analyses, potential risk of bias in included studies, and potential publication bias. The limitations of the study design may include potential insensitivity of the electronic database search strategy. The findings from this review will inform the dissemination practice of health and care research. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022378793; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=378793. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/45684

Effectiveness of web-based and mobile health interventions designed to enhance adherence to physical activity for people with inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies for the effectiveness of digital interventions designed to enhance adherence to physical activity (PA) for people with inflammatory arthritis and describe the intervention content using established coding criteria. Methods: Six electronic databases were searched for published and unpublished studies. Independent data extraction and quality assessment (Cochrane risk of bias II or ROBINS-I) were conducted by two reviewers. The primary outcome was self-reported adherence to PA post-intervention. Secondary outcomes included self-reported adherence to PA at other time points, level of PA or engagement with intervention at any follow-up time point. Intervention content was assessed using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template and the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy version 1. Results: From 11 136 citations, four moderate risk of bias studies (three RCTs and one cohort study) including 1160 participants with RA or JIA were identified. Owing to heterogeneity of outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted. Only one RCT reported a small between-group difference in adherence to PA [mean difference (95% CI) -0.46 (-0.82, -0.09)] in favour of the intervention. There were no between-group differences in any secondary outcomes. Interventions included between 3 and 11 behaviour change techniques but provided minimal information on exercise prescription. Conclusion: There is currently limited moderate-quality evidence available to provide confident evaluation of the effect of web-based and mobile health interventions on adherence to PA or level of PA post-intervention in people with inflammatory arthritis

‘[N]ow I can be a poetic writer’: using action research as a way of reclaiming and implementing professional values in the primary school

This paper explores the impact of an action research intervention to support primary aged children’s confidence as writers. Set in a school where few children (the majority of whom had English as an additional language) were performing at or beyond national expectations in terms of writing, the intervention looked at how to engage children more effectively, by promoting enjoyment of writing and providing quality mentor texts to inspire the children. The school had received a number of critical inspection reports and had consequently adopted a series of measures to improve academic outcomes, which acted as a constraint on my teaching. There was a real sense that as a teacher I was struggling to put my educational values into practice. In addition, my lack of confidence in my abilities as a writer acted as a further constraint. Adopting an action research approach enabled me to develop my personal confidence as a teacher of writing, explore more effective ways to teach writing, resulting in the development of confident and reflective writers in the classroom