Tetrahedrally coordinating ligands

Selective ligand coordination of zinc over other metals such as copper (II) and iron (III) is desirable and has potential commercial uses in hydrometallurgy. With this in mind ligands have been synthesised that impart a tetrahedral donor array. Binding to zinc which prefers a tetrahedral binding geometry may achieve selectivity over other non-tetrahedrally coordinating metals. Di-N-alkylated bisbenzimidazole-4,4'-dicarboxylic acids have been synthesised and shown by proton NMR, ESMS and IR analysis to bind zinc as an [L(_2)Zn(_2)] species with selectivity over copper, nickel, lead and cadmium. Hence a reversal of the Irving- Williams sequence is observed. Aqueous extraction tests using a lipophilic N-alkylated derivative indicated that the observed selectivity over copper and iron (III) was not reproduced under these experimental conditions. The ligand began to extract in the pH 2.3-3.8 region.2,9-Diphosphinoxymethyl phenanthroline derivatives were synthesised and shown to bind nickel, copper and zinc with similar stability constants, with only marginal enhancement over that of the parent phenanthroline. The 1:1 complexes were produced at acidities below pH 2. Increasing the length of the pendent arm donor groups by using phenylacetic acid moieties did not enhance zinc selectivity. The donor group was not ideal and [ML(_2)] species were generated (i.e. an N(_4) donor set)Two phenol substituted 12N(_3) ligands were synthesised (N-linked and β-C- linked). Complex stability order followed die Irving-Williams sequence Cu > Zn > Ni. The N-linked derivative formed a six membered chelate on binding and had larger metal-ligand stability constants than for the C-linked derivative which formed an eight membered chelate. The N-linked derivative bound the copper (II) cation in a near tetrahedral arrangement and imparted some copper (I) character to the meta

Public culture and public understanding of genetics: a focus group study

As the role of genetic science in everyday life has grown, policymakers have become concerned about Americans’ understandings of this science. Much effort has been devoted to formal schooling, but less attention has been paid to the role of public culture in shaping public understanding of genetics. Research into public cultural messages about genetics has claimed that the public is likely to adopt problematic accounts, but few studies have explored the public’s articulation of these messages. This study is based on 25 focus groups convened to explore the lay public’s understanding of genetics. The study found that the public processed a greater variety of messages than assumed by previous researchers, including documentaries, non-sciencefiction films, and popular television in addition to previous researchers’ focus on science fiction and news media. The study also found that the public does not process the messages through the linear, transmission model assumed by previous research. The public processes messages about genetics complexly and critically. On the basis of these findings, the study suggests that researchers should include a greater variety of texts about genetics in their research and attend more fully to audience processing in addition to content analyses of these texts

Designing Hostels: Spaces Promoting Positive Cultural Interaction

The focus of this architectural thesis is to create a design process diagram that takes into account the cultural and spatial features affecting interactions and apply it to the design of a hostel. The thesis utilizes concepts from sociology, specifically, Georg Simmel's theories regarding objective and subjective culture as well as his five "fundamental qualities of space for communal life," and applies them to the field of architecture taking into account virtual space as a sixth fundamental quality of space. This process can shed light on how to design space within a hostel, enhancing positive cross-cultural interactions by focusing the user's attention on objective cultural expression rather than a subjective cultural one. Site, program, structure, form and building skin parameters were developed using matrices, cross referencing design options against one another and the specific cultural and spatial features selected for analysis

Light and Shadow in Kaija Saariaho\u27s Maan Varjot

Kaija Saariaho’s work Maan Varjot is a relatively new addition to a set of repertoire that includes the organ as a part of the orchestra. This commission from the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre National de Lyon, Southbank Centre, and the Philharmonia Orchestra, was premiered in 2014 and features the organ as a timbral enhancement and contrast to the orchestra. The 52nd Stanza from the poem Adonais, written by Percy Shelley and dedicated to John Keats, provide an important insight into the analysis and interpretation of the work. Two lines in particular are important: “The One remains, the many change and pass/Heaven\u27s light forever shines, Earth\u27s shadows fly.” These lines imply two interacting elements, similar to how the organ and orchestra are orchestrated in conjunction and opposition to one another in Maan Varjot. This paper seeks to show how Saariaho manipulates the musical possibilities of the instruments, particularly those of the organ, in contrast and complement to the orchestra through the lens of the Shelley poem

SIRT1 Activity Is Linked to Its Brain Region-Specific Phosphorylation and Is Impaired in Huntington’s Disease Mice

Huntingtons disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder for which there are no disease-modifying treatments. SIRT1 is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase that is implicated in maintaining neuronal health during development, differentiation and ageing. Previous studies suggested that the modulation of SIRT1 activity is neuroprotective in HD mouse models, however, the mechanisms controlling SIRT1 activity are unknown. We have identified a striatum-specific phosphorylation-dependent regulatory mechanism of SIRT1 induction under normal physiological conditions, which is impaired in HD. We demonstrate that SIRT1 activity is down-regulated in the brains of two complementary HD mouse models, which correlated with altered SIRT1 phosphorylation levels. This SIRT1 impairment could not be rescued by the ablation of DBC1, a negative regulator of SIRT1, but was linked to changes in the sub-cellular distribution of AMPK-α1, a positive regulator of SIRT1 function. This work provides insights into the regulation of SIRT1 activity with the potential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies

An inwardly rectifying K+ channel is required for patterning.

Mutations that disrupt function of the human inwardly rectifying potassium channel KIR2.1 are associated with the craniofacial and digital defects of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome, but the contribution of Kir channels to development is undefined. Deletion of mouse Kir2.1 also causes cleft palate and digital defects. These defects are strikingly similar to phenotypes that result from disrupted TGFβ/BMP signaling. We use Drosophila melanogaster to show that a Kir2.1 homolog, Irk2, affects development by disrupting BMP signaling. Phenotypes of irk2 deficient lines, a mutant irk2 allele, irk2 siRNA and expression of a dominant-negative Irk2 subunit (Irk2DN) all demonstrate that Irk2 function is necessary for development of the adult wing. Compromised Irk2 function causes wing-patterning defects similar to those found when signaling through a Drosophila BMP homolog, Decapentaplegic (Dpp), is disrupted. To determine whether Irk2 plays a role in the Dpp pathway, we generated flies in which both Irk2 and Dpp functions are reduced. Irk2DN phenotypes are enhanced by decreased Dpp signaling. In wild-type flies, Dpp signaling can be detected in stripes along the anterior/posterior boundary of the larval imaginal wing disc. Reducing function of Irk2 with siRNA, an irk2 deletion, or expression of Irk2DN reduces the Dpp signal in the wing disc. As Irk channels contribute to Dpp signaling in flies, a similar role for Kir2.1 in BMP signaling may explain the morphological defects of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome and the Kir2.1 knockout mouse

Understanding the Profile and Needs of Abused Men: Exploring Call Data From a Male Domestic Violence Charity in the United Kingdom

Current understandings on service engagement by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) within the United Kingdom (UK) have generally been captured by qualitative research. As such, large-scale quantitative data detailing the profile, needs and outcomes of abused men, upon both presentation and use of services, is currently lacking. The present study analysed the client data of 719 callers to a domestic abuse helpline for men in the UK. Findings showed that the overwhelming majority of callers reported they were abused by female perpetrators, most of whom were still their current partner, and that many of the men were fathers. Vulnerable populations (GBTQ+ and disabled men) were under-represented in the sample. Most men were seeking emotional support, along with a range of practical advice and signposting to other services. The confidentiality of the helpline was crucial for many men, and almost half had struggled to access the service (suggesting a severe lack of resourcing). Findings are discussed in relation to the need for gender-inclusive services, which cater for the unique challenges and barriers experienced by abused men

The (im)possibility of being a breastfeeding working mother: experiences of Ecuadorian healthcare providers

Background: Throughout the twentieth century, public health agencies and expert healthcare professionals have recognized breastfeeding as the most nutritious and appropriate option for feeding infants. The Ecuadorian government, in line with international guidelines, has therefore developed laws and initiatives to improve the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding, especially among working mothers. However, breastfeeding rates in Ecuador are low.// Methods: A qualitative methodology following social constructionist approaches was applied to explore the breastfeeding experiences of Ecuadorian women who are both mothers and healthcare professionals. Using snowball sampling, 60 healthcare professionals who breastfed their babies: 20 nurses, 20 physicians, and 20 nutritionists, took part in research interviews lasting between 30 and 92 minutes. All participants are currently offering telehealth or face-to-face consultation to their patients in Ecuador. Since Ecuador is a multicultural country, efforts were made to include participants from different regions of the country. Data gathering employed virtual semi-structured interviews including Photovoice. The interviews were carried out in Spanish, following a semi-structured topic guide. The data analysis employed constant comparative methods.// Results: The analysis produced three overarching themes: Integrating breastfeeding in life and work; Establishing space for breastfeeding at work; Negotiations and tensions. The first theme: Integrating breastfeeding in life and work addresses participants' corporeal and emotional experiences when breastfeeding. This theme also includes the participants' experiences of how they integrated their maternal identity and adapted their breastfeeding bodies to their daily routines. The second theme: Establishing space for breastfeeding at work includes the challenges that some women encounter when incorporating and seeking to combine breastfeeding in their professional identities. The third theme: Negotiations and tensions covers how this group of female healthcare professionals had to negotiate the time and space to continue breastfeeding their children while working