An investigation of the properties of bacteriophage M13 and the implications for its large-scale bioprocessing

Bacteriophage are a diverse class of viruses that infect bacterial cells. As a result of over 60 years of molecular biology advances, bacteriophage today feature as candidates for vaccination, gene therapy, biomaterial and antibacterial purposes. Consequently, scientific, commercial and public awareness of bacteriophage is growing rapidly. There is now an increasing need for the establishment of strong biochemical engineering foundations to serve as a guide for future bacteriophage bioprocessing. It has been the purpose of this study to contribute towards this knowledge base, by understanding the properties of the filamentous bacteriophage M13. Ultimately, this work has aimed to allow for the more efficient assembly of a large-scale production process. By the application of well-understood small-scale predictive techniques, it has been found that bacteriophage M13 should not be severely damaged by hydrodynamic shear forces of the duration and magnitude imparted by fermentation, pumping or continuous centrifugation operations. Thus, it may well be possible to manufacture on the large-scale using existing large-scale equipment designs. Amongst bacteriophage, the reproduction strategy of M13 is unusual in that propagation occurs by the non-lethal extrusion of progeny through the cell wall of the E. coli host. Investigation of bacteriophage M13 propagation indicated that growth in a medium that increased host cell density concomitantly increased bacteriophage yield; a four-fold increase to 2 x 1012 pfu ml-1 was achieved. At the end of culture, concentrations of supernatant DNA and protein contaminants were found to vary amongst three E. coli strains studied. Post-fermentation, bacteriophage M13 can be precipitated from the cell-free process fluid by as little as 2 % (w/v) PEG 6 000 plus 25 mM magnesium sulphate, or by isoelectric precipitation. Purification factors in excess of 100 were achieved by PEG-salt precipitations with regards to the reductions in DNA and protein concentrations. Methods used in this study have increased the processing knowledge of bacteriophage M13 and have a broader applicability to both derivatives of M13 and other bacteriophage

Planning, Politics and the Media in Detroit

Over the past few decades, Detroit was hit with a number of challenges including deindustrialization and outsourcing, as well as two major riots, which many argue that Detroit never fully recovered from, as social and economic unrest is still prevalent today. More recently, the City of Detroit declared bankruptcy, which was the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Detroit is at a crossroads; between the state of Michigan, Wall Street and private developers, with large-scale private investment in the downtown core, which has fuelled rumours in the news of Detroit's comeback. Creative professionals and developers continue to take interest in the city, in search of a new frontier, with this narrative being fuelled in part by the media. This paper attempted to uncover competing discourses of development in Detroit, both the mainstream media and local reactions to Detroit's new found coolness

Corporate control and the public interest; theory and cases

This thesis contains two lines of research. The first applies the strategic decision-making theory of the firm to the issue of corporate governance. We find that preferences vary over strategy but not all interests are currently being represented, resulting in a failure to govern in the public interest. As solutions, we consider membership of the company and also more immediate ways forward, focusing on regulation and democratically controlled public agencies, but stressing the fundamental significance of active, effective citizens. Throughout, our arguments are illustrated using utility companies as our primary examples. It includes discussion of electricity privatisation in Mexico and, to demonstrate that the theory is widely applicable, we also consider governance of corporate universities. The second line of research builds upon earlier analysis by considering aspects of British electricity privatisation. We consider the role of independent power producers, finding that they have not significantly increased competition as intended but have adversely affected the future viability of the system. The affect of privatisation on electricity prices is also considered via the use of a counterfactual model for continued state ownership. Observed prices are found to have been significantly higher than those that would have been charged had the industry remained in the public sector

The effects of climate and habitat on breeding blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and their prey

Ephemeral resource and productivity peaks are characteristic of temperate woodland ecosystems. An ecological model system, which both exhibits and exploits these ephemeral peaks, and is the focus of this thesis, is the deciduous tree-herbivorous caterpillar-insectivorous bird food chain. Phenological synchrony within food chains, displaying ephemeral peaks, is crucial to maximise fitness of higher trophic levels. In the well-studied oak-winter moth-insectivore system, the phenology of all levels are highly temperature sensitive, and given atmospheric warming since the mid-20th century has been, and is predicted to continue, occurring at an unprecedented rate, this tri-trophic system is at risk of phenological mismatch. The effects of climate change on this system have been well studied in oak (Quercus spp.) dominated woodlands across Europe, as oak supports a wide variety of invertebrates. However, little is known about the importance of other deciduous tree species, which also support a variety of invertebrate species that are likely to be important to nesting blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleaus). Understanding the predictors of phenology and productivity across multiple trophic levels is required to understand the pressures on this food chain with a changing climate. The overarching aim of this thesis is to explore the effects of both climate and habitat on the phenology and productivity of both blue tit and herbivorous caterpillars. The effect of tree leafing phenology and air temperature on herbivorous caterpillar phenology was investigated at a local scale, across an extensive woodland site in Durham (UK) through collecting fallen frass. Frass fall phenology was not predicted by temperature or tree phenology, and did not differ across four common deciduous tree species. However, frass fall was most abundant under oak trees, corroborating the importance of oak for Lepidoptera. Across the same Durham study site, nestling blue tits faecal sacs were collected, with a view of using next-generation sequencing to elucidate nestling diet and resource usage, to expand the food chain into a more complex food web. Due to difficulties extracting and amplifying DNA from blue tit nestling faecal sacs, sequencing was unable to be undertaken. However, I provide a method for extracting DNA from difficult faecal samples, which are likely inhibitor-rich and contain highly degraded DNA. The effects of climate and habitat on blue tit phenology and productivity were then considered, by combining bird nesting data from 34 sites across the UK with local temperature and habitat variables. Overall, climatic factors were more important predictors of blue tit phenology and productivity than habitat. Decreased clutch size and earlier breeding phenology, but decreased risk of nest failure, is predicted at higher temperatures. These results, combined, depict a mixed picture for how blue tits may fare with changing climate. To further work presented in this thesis, the effects of climate and habitat on recruitment need to be explored to understand the full implications of the results presented here on blue tit population dynamics

Cross cultural change, adjustment and culture shock: UK to USA

Globalisation of the hospitality industry has resulted in continuously increasing numbers of international student sojourners whose desire to experience and learn about new cultures is frequently accompanied by an aim to develop their linguistic and professional skills. This paper focuses predominantly on United Kingdom students\u27 perceptions of their international placement experiences in the United States of America. Issues pertaining to cultural diversity, cross- cultural adjustment, culture shock, culture surprise and acculturation are discussed. A deductive approach was adopted, with cluster sampling. Quantitative and qualitative evidence pertaining to perceptions of the phases of adjustment, culture shock, culture surprise and preparation material received from the university placement office was collected. Data from academic placement tutor interviews (n=2) then student questionnaires (n=38), focus groups (n=2) and in-depth interviews (n=4) were triangulated employing SPSS and network analysis. The findings showed that the majority of students suffered culture shock due to their changed circumstances, yet the experience was not deemed wholly negative. Culture shock was linked to language problems, lack of preparation, cultural differences and frustration at work. Culture surprise was evident in feelings of comfort, belonging and security. Cross-cultural adjustment focused on peers, hosts and workrelated stress; an alternative model for cross-cultural adjustment emerged. Key recommendations include education and training to raise levels of awareness of culture shock in preparation for cross-cultural change. It is concluded that culture shock may be moderated by culture surprise, hence accelerating cross-cultural adjustment, particularly when cultural distance is small

Long term time-lapse microgravity and geotechnical monitoring of relict salt-mines, Marston, Cheshire, UK.

The area around the town of Northwich in Cheshire, U. K., has a long history of catastrophic ground subsidence caused by a combination of natural dissolution and collapsing abandoned mine workings within the underlying Triassic halite bedrock geology. In the village of Marston, the Trent and Mersey Canal crosses several abandoned salt mine workings and previously subsiding areas, the canal being breached by a catastrophic subsidence event in 1953. This canal section is the focus of a long-term monitoring study by conventional geotechnical topographic and microgravity surveys. Results of 20 years of topographic time-lapse surveys indicate specific areas of local subsidence that could not be predicted by available site and mine abandonment plan and shaft data. Subsidence has subsequently necessitated four phases of temporary canal bank remediation. Ten years of microgravity time-lapse data have recorded major deepening negative anomalies in specific sections that correlate with topographic data. Gravity 2D modeling using available site data found upwardly propagating voids, and associated collapse material produced a good match with observed microgravity data. Intrusive investigations have confirmed a void at the major anomaly. The advantages of undertaking such long-term studies for near-surface geophysicists, geotechnical engineers, and researchers working in other application areas are discussed

Innovation in the North Staffordshire Ceramics District - stimulation through international trade fairs

This report arises from a programme of academic research conducted in 2013 on firms in the North Staffordshire Ceramics district. In this specific briefing, we report on our examination of the benefits of attending international trade fairs and business conferences for innovation. Such events are normally used purely to maintain or grow market presence, but the presence of many international firms at such events may also create a temporary ecology of ‘global buzz’ which can potentially enhance innovative performance for firms that attend. We found this to be true for the firms in this cluster. There is also some evidence to suggest that global buzz complements ‘local buzz’ to further enhance innovation within the North Staffordshire cluster. We recommend that efforts by the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce to encourage local ceramics firms to attend international events continues both to support the growth of international markets but also to further stimulate their dynamic ability to generate innovations for the future.<br/

Where to next for countries with high tobacco taxes? The potential for greater control of tobacco pricing through licensing regulation

Optimising the taxation of tobacco products should be among the highest priorities for health and hence economic policy in every country. The WHO Technical Manual on Tobacco Tax Policy and Administration released in April 2021 provides invaluable advice, including 26 best practice recommendations on policy design, administrative efficiency, and addressing industry tactics to circumvent tobacco tax increases. Introducing and increasing tobacco taxes is the most important tobacco control measure for any jurisdiction. The effects of simple tax structures, high tax levels, and frequent above-inflation increases in specific excise duties can be enhanced through strict controls on packaging (including pack size), product design, and discounting. However, even with such measures, tobacco companies can continue to undermine the effectiveness of tax policy by offering some products in their ranges at very low prices, as well as gradually and selectively increasing the prices of some but not all products after tax increases. This paper is aimed at policy makers in countries that have already adopted best practice tax policy. It explores the idea of wholesale price capping combined with retail licensing to address the problems of brand proliferation, dispersion of prices, cushioning and strategic under/over-shifting of tax increases, thereby radically and sustainably increasing the effectiveness of tobacco tax policy while also raising additional tax revenue for governments by reducing industry profitability