Hugh to Doctor Jim, 31 July 1961

Personal correspondenc

A Letter of Consequence: Referral Letters from General Practitioners to Secondary Mental Health Services

The referral letter is a key instrument in moving patients from primary to secondary care services. Consequently, the circumstances in which a referral should be made and its contents have been the subject of clinical guidelines. This article is based on a project that demonstrated that physicians do not adhere to clinical guidelines when referring patients to secondary mental health services. This research supports earlier findings into noncompliance with guidelines by general practitioners (GPs). The authors briefly note possible reasons, which have been the subject of some debate. They also present a content analysis of referral letters to demonstrate the important ways in which they differ from guideline criteria. However, their central argument is that the role of the referral letter in relation to the GP’s repertoire of treatments has not been understood fully. Such understanding implies the need for a reexamination of the support available for GPs

A Letter of Consequence: Referral Letters from General Practitioners to Secondary Mental Health Services

The referral letter is a key instrument in moving patients from primary to secondary care services. Consequently, the circumstances in which a referral should be made and its contents have been the subject of clinical guidelines. This article is based on a project that demonstrated that physicians do not adhere to clinical guidelines when referring patients to secondary mental health services. This research supports earlier findings into noncompliance with guidelines by general practitioners (GPs). The authors briefly note possible reasons, which have been the subject of some debate. They also present a content analysis of referral letters to demonstrate the important ways in which they differ from guideline criteria. However, their central argument is that the role of the referral letter in relation to the GP’s repertoire of treatments has not been understood fully. Such understanding implies the need for a reexamination of the support available for GPs

Molecular Interactions behind the Self-Assembly and Microstructure of Mixed Sterol Organogels

In this work, we have employed docking and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations supported by complementary experiments using atomic force microscopy, rheology and spectroscopy to investigate the self-assembled structure of β-sitosterol and γ-oryzanol molecules into cylindrical tubules in a non-aqueous solvent. Docking models of several phytosterols, including sitosterol, with oryzanol and other sterol-esters demonstrate that for systems to form tubules, the phytosterol sterane group must be stacked in a wedge shape with the esters sterane group, and a hydrogen bond must form between the hydroxyl group of the phytosterol and the carbonyl group of the ester. Molecular dynamics of the self-assembled structure were initiated with the molecules in a roughly cylindrical configuration, as suggested from previous experimental studies, and the configurations were found to be stable during 50 ns simulations. We performed MD simulations of two tubules in proximity to better understand the aggregation of these fibrils and how the fibrils interact in order to stick together. We found that an interfibril network of non-covalent bonds, in particular van der Waals and π-π contacts, which is formed between the ferulic acid groups of oryzanol through the hydroxyl, methoxy and aromatic groups, is responsible for the surface-to-surface interactions between fibrils; an observation supported by molecular spectroscopy. We believe these interactions are of primary importance in creating a strong organogel network

A Letter of Consequence: Referral Letters from General Practitioners to Secondary Mental Health Services

The referral letter is a key instrument in moving patients from primary to secondary care services. Consequently, the circumstances in which a referral should be made and its contents have been the subject of clinical guidelines. This article is based on a project that demonstratedthat physicians do not adhere to clinical guidelines when referring patients to secondary mental health services. This research supports earlier findings into noncompliancewith guidelines by general practitioners (GPs). The authors briefly note possible reasons, which have been the subject of some debate. They also present a content analysis of referral letters to demonstrate the important ways in which they differ from guideline criteria. However, their central argument is that the role of the referral letter in relation to the GP’s repertoire of treatments has not been understood fully. Such understanding implies the need for a reexamination of the support available for GPs

Long-Lived Foams Stabilized by a Hydrophobic Dipeptide Hydrogel

A hydrogel of hydrophobic dipeptides can be used to create a wet foam with long-term stability. The dipeptide molecules self-assemble into fiber-like networks (due to the presence of metal ions) both at air–water interfaces and in the continuous phase. The former creates an interfacial film stabilizing the air bubbles while the latter forms a bulk gel, which prevents bubble movement and retards growth. If the storage modulus (G′) of the bulk hydrogel is sufficiently high it can stop the coarsening of the air bubbles and thus dramatically improve the stability of the foam. Cryogenic scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectra reveals the width of the fibers (200 nm) and that they are held together by hydrogen bonds. In the absence of bubbles, phase separation is observed between a hydrogel and a water-rich phase; in the foam this can be suppressed provided that the concentration of dipeptides and metal ions are sufficiently high. It is speculated that the resistance of the bubble arrangement to compaction and hence further drainage arrests the process of phase separation. This foam system has the advantages of long stability, low cost, as well as easy preparation; therefore, it has potential applications in food manufacturing, drug delivery, and personal care industries

Geographical surrogates of genetic variation for selecting island populations for conservation

Aim: Threatened species often exist in small numbers in isolated populations. Limited financial resources usually constrain conservationists to allocate funds to a subset of these populations. Because obtaining information required to maximize the amount of genetic and phenotypic variation protected can be costly and time-consuming, the utility of surrogates should be explored. This study tests the efficacy of three simple and cost-effective geographical measures in capturing genetic and phenotypic variation in fragmented populations when setting conservation priorities. Location: Vanuatu archipelago. Methods: We used neutral genetic data (mtDNA and microsatellites) and morphometric data (a proxy for functional variation) for two bird species displaying different patterns of regional population genetic structure: Zosterops flavifrons and Zosterops lateralis. We tested the performance of three geographical surrogates (maximizing: geographical distance between islands; area of islands; geographical representation of islands), in representing divergence between and diversity within populations, constrained to the number of islands being protected. Results: Maximizing geographical separation of sites provided the best surrogate for a constrained budget ( 50% of the populations), the spatially most representative sites were often more effective. Selecting islands based on size retained about half of within-population genetic diversity; however, this was not much higher than selecting the islands randomly. Main conclusions: The ability of surrogates to capture genetic or phenotypic variation varied depending on the species, genetic markers and number of islands selected. While imperfect, selection of populations based on simple geographical surrogates for genetic and phenotypic variation will generally be better than random selection for conserving the evolutionary potential of threatened populations when time and money limit a more thorough and direct analyses of genetic and phenotypic variation

Persistent anthrax as a major driver of wildlife mortality in a tropical rainforest

Anthrax is a globally important animal disease and zoonosis. Despite this, our current knowledge of anthrax ecology is largely limited to arid ecosystems, where outbreaks are most commonly reported. Here we show that the dynamics of an anthrax-causing agent, Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis, in a tropical rainforest have severe consequences for local wildlife communities. Using data and samples collected over three decades, we show that rainforest anthrax is a persistent and widespread cause of death for a broad range of mammalian hosts. We predict that this pathogen will accelerate the decline and possibly result in the extirpation of local chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) populations. We present the epidemiology of a cryptic pathogen and show that its presence has important implications for conservation

British Communists and the 1932 turn to the trade unions

The Comintern’s Third Period, 1928-1934, based on Stalin’s ‘second revolution’ in Russia, capitalist crisis and the claim that social democracy and fascism were twins, generated sectarian, ultra-left politics which proved inimical to Communist activity in trade unions. This article sheds new light on that issue by revisiting three connected episodes: the British party’s (CPGB) renewed turn to the unions, heralded in the January resolution of 1932; the roles Comintern staff and CPGB leader Harry Pollitt, played in this initiative; and the subsequent attempt by Pollitt to revise the politics of union work. This triptych reviews both primary sources and the recent historiography. It argues that some accounts have overestimated the novelty of the January resolution, blurred its meaning, and exaggerated Pollitt’s part in it. The resolution did not attempt to change the line but its application. Its impact was limited. Subsequent bids to go beyond it were muddled and unsuccessful. The 1933 move towards the united front, and the ensuing turn to the popular front, possessed more profound significance in the creation of an effective Communist presence in trade unions than the events of 1931- 1932