The development of a professional: reinterpretation of the professionalization problem from the perspective of cognitive/moral development

Unprofessionalism is not so much a problem of competence or morals as it is an indication that students and some of their mentors require more profound cognitive and moral development. An analysis of student intellectual complexity using a social, educationally oriented developmental model provides evidence that some students who are more adolescent than adult might be overly challenged by a truly "professional" curriculum. Literature concerning the cognitive/moral development of professionals suggests that many faculty members may not be performing at the professional level themselves. The need for mentoring of students, faculty members, and preceptors emerges as a recurring theme. A comprehensive, developmentally anchored plan for professionalization addresses: (1) barriers that must be overcome and strategies to do so; (2) appropriate curriculum content, assessment, and outcomes, and; (3) developmentally appropriate educational interventions

Impact of protein on the composition and metabolism of the human gut microbiota and health

Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Pat Bain for help in preparing figure 1. Financial support: The Rowett Institute is funded by Scottish Government Rural ad Environmental Sciences and Analytical Services (SG-RESAS).Peer reviewedPostprin

Nutritional and Phytochemical Content of High-Protein Crops

The authors acknowledge support from the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) via their strategic research and partnership programs.Peer reviewedPostprin

Efficacy of interventions that use apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour : a systematic review

Background: Health and fitness applications (apps) have gained popularity in interventions to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviours but their efficacy is unclear. This systematic review examined the efficacy of interventions that use apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adults. Methods: Systematic literature searches were conducted in five databases to identify papers published between 2006 and 2016. Studies were included if they used a smartphone app in an intervention to improve diet, physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour for prevention. Interventions could be stand-alone interventions using an app only, or multi-component interventions including an app as one of several intervention components. Outcomes measured were changes in the health behaviours and related health outcomes (i.e., fitness, body weight, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, quality of life). Study inclusion and methodological quality were independently assessed by two reviewers. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included, most were randomised controlled trials (n = 19; 70%). Twenty-three studies targeted adults (17 showed significant health improvements) and four studies targeted children (two demonstrated significant health improvements). Twenty-one studies targeted physical activity (14 showed significant health improvements), 13 studies targeted diet (seven showed significant health improvements) and five studies targeted sedentary behaviour (two showed significant health improvements). More studies (n = 12; 63%) of those reporting significant effects detected between-group improvements in the health behaviour or related health outcomes, whilst fewer studies (n = 8; 42%) reported significant within-group improvements. A larger proportion of multi-component interventions (8 out of 13; 62%) showed significant between-group improvements compared to stand-alone app interventions (5 out of 14; 36%). Eleven studies reported app usage statistics, and three of them demonstrated that higher app usage was associated with improved health outcomes. Conclusions: This review provided modest evidence that app-based interventions to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviours can be effective. Multi-component interventions appear to be more effective than standalone app interventions, however, this remains to be confirmed in controlled trials. Future research is needed on the optimal number and combination of app features, behaviour change techniques, and level of participant contact needed to maximise user engagement and intervention efficacy

High-throughput kinase assays with protein substrates using fluorescent polymer superquenching

BACKGROUND: High-throughput screening is used by the pharmaceutical industry for identifying lead compounds that interact with targets of pharmacological interest. Because of the key role that aberrant regulation of protein phosphorylation plays in diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension, kinases have become one of the main drug targets. With the exception of antibody-based assays, methods to screen for specific kinase activity are generally restricted to the use of small synthetic peptides as substrates. However, the use of natural protein substrates has the advantage that potential inhibitors can be detected that affect enzyme activity by binding to a site other than the catalytic site. We have previously reported a non-radioactive and non-antibody-based fluorescence quench assay for detection of phosphorylation or dephosphorylation using synthetic peptide substrates. The aim of this work is to develop an assay for detection of phosphorylation of chemically unmodified proteins based on this polymer superquenching platform. RESULTS: Using a modified QTL Lightspeed™ assay, phosphorylation of native protein was quantified by the interaction of the phosphorylated proteins with metal-ion coordinating groups co-located with fluorescent polymer deposited onto microspheres. The binding of phospho-protein inhibits a dye-labeled "tracer" peptide from associating to the phosphate-binding sites present on the fluorescent microspheres. The resulting inhibition of quench generates a "turn on" assay, in which the signal correlates with the phosphorylation of the substrate. The assay was tested on three different proteins: Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), Histone H1 and Phosphorylated heat- and acid-stable protein (PHAS-1). Phosphorylation of the proteins was detected by Protein Kinase Cα (PKCα) and by the Interleukin -1 Receptor-associated Kinase 4 (IRAK4). Enzyme inhibition yielded IC(50 )values that were comparable to those obtained using peptide substrates. Statistical parameters that are used in the high-throughput community to determine assay robustness (Z'-value) demonstrate the suitability of this format for high-throughput screening applications for detection of inhibitors of enzyme activity. CONCLUSION: The QTL Lightspeed™ protein detection system provides a simple mix and measure "turn on" assay for the detection of kinase activity using natural protein substrates. The platform is robust and allows for identification of inhibitors of kinase activity

Introduction of a modified obstetric early warning system ­(­MOEWS­)­ at an Ethiopian referral hospital : a feasibility assessment

Acknowledgments The authors wish to acknowledge Johnson & Johnson and THET for funding this project and the staff and management of Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital for their support throughout the project. Funding: This project was supported by THET Strengthening Surgical Capacity grant SSC 4.1 funded by Johnson & Johnson.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Invasive Plants Are a Valuable Alternate Protein Source and Can Contribute to Meeting Climate Change Targets

This work was funded by the Scottish Government through RESAS as part of its strategic research programme. We would like to thank William Rees and Teresa Grohmann for their time in helping with preparation of the manuscript. Jacqueline Wallace (Rowett Institute) and Robin Walker (SRUC) for providing plant samples. Donna Henderson and Jodie Park for technical assistance in NSP measurements. Susan Anderson for technical assistance in amino acid profiling. Gary Duncan and Lorraine Scobbie for technical assistance in phenolic profiling. Lisa Guerrier, Salomé Leveque (IUT- Clermont-Ferrand, France), who assisted and observed procedures as part of their lab-skill training. We would also like to thank Graham Horgan (BIOSS, Rowett Institute) for advise on the statistical analysis. We would like to thank the NHS for its incredible commitment to keeping us safe during these harsh times.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Rapid method for quantification of anthocyanidins and anthocyanins in human biological samples

This work was performed with the support of “The Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS),” Scotland, U.K.Peer reviewedPostprin

Sperm contamination by urine in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) and the use of extender solutions for short-term chilled storage

Methods are needed to manage the sperm of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis), which will enable the industry to use artificial fertilisation to reproduce hatchery raised sole and implement breeding programs. The present study aimed to (a) describe the male reproductive and urinary system, (b) describe the effects of urine contamination on sperm quality and (c) examine the use of extenders for short term chilled storage of sole sperm. Nine males were dissected to describe the male reproductive and urinary system. A total of 49 males were examined and 32 (65.3%) provided adequate sperm samples of the study. Initially the samples were described by appearance (colour, transparency and fluidity) and sub-samples analysed for sperm quality, urea concentration, osmolality, pH and protein concentration. Cell concentration and sperm quality parameters, percentage motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL) and average path velocity (VAP), were measured using ImageJ CASA. Control samples and samples diluted (1:3) in six different extender solutions (modified Leibovitz, Ringer, NAM, Sucrose, Stor Fish® and Marine Freeze®) were stored short-term (4 °C) and tested zero, three, six and 24 h after collection. The close proximity of the reproductive and the urinary systems, especially the sperm ducts being attached to the urinary bladder makes obtaining sperm without urine contamination appear difficult. All the samples appeared to be contaminated with urine. Samples that appeared to be contaminated with urine (yellow colour) had similar spermatozoa cell concentration and urea concentration as samples that appeared not to be contaminated with urine (whitish colour), although motility was significantly lower in yellow samples. Seminal plasma urea concentration was positively correlated with osmolality. Cluster analysis grouped samples with significantly higher sperm quality and pH and significantly lower urea concentration and osmolality to indicate that urine contamination negatively affected sperm quality by increasing osmolality and decreasing pH. Amongst the six extender solutions Leibovitz and Marine Freeze® preserved significantly higher percentage motility 24 h after collection. Ringer, NAM and Stor Fish® were intermediate and Sucrose was similar to control samples that significantly decreased motility 3 h after collection. Taken together all sole sperm samples probably had urine contamination, which is difficult or impossible to avoid especially if all the sperm available needs to be collected. The extenders, Leibovitz and Marine Freeze® were used to maintain sperm quality and mitigate the negative effects of urine contamination. The collection and short term chilled storage in extenders of sole sperm from the majority of males in a broodstock (65.3%) can provide a valid sperm management system for industrial application for artificial fertilisation, however, further work is needed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The presence of wild Senegalese sole breeders improves courtship and reproductive success in cultured conspecifics

The life cycle of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is not closed in captivity due to a reproductive dysfunction related to the lack of participation of cultured male breeders in the courtship. To discern a possible solution to this social reproductive dysfunction, the main objective of this study was to determine the effect of the presence of spawning wild Senegalese sole breeders on the courtship and reproduction of cultured breeders. Three experimental groups were formed: Control group (n = 10) formed with only cultured sole; groups M1 and M2 constituted of mixed-origin sole (10 cultured and 8 or 9 wild breeders). All cultured breeders were from the same stock, which had never successfully reproduced, whilst the wild broodstock had spawned viable eggs in captivity. All groups were held in the same captive conditions and spawning, and behaviour were recorded for each group over four spawning seasons. All spawns were collected, and the parameters registered were floating and non-floating eggs, fertilization and hatching rates. In addition, parental analysis was made of larvae from viable spawns. Behaviour was studied with video recordings to compare locomotor activity and courtship behaviours including the "Follow" behaviours where sole swim after each other in a procession. Fertilized spawns were obtained from the mixed-origin groups (M1 and M2) including spawns involving a cultured male. The cultured males also participated actively in the "Follow" behaviours with the courting wild sole and this participation of cultured males increased significantly over the four years of the experiment. Male percentage participation in the "Follow" behaviours was positively correlated (R = 0.81) to participation in spawning to indicate the importance of increasing cultured male participation in the "Follow" behaviours. A total of seven spawns were obtained from a cultured male that fertilized eggs from one cultured female and two wild females. The same cultured female also spawned with a wild male. No viable spawns were obtained from the Control group and locomotor activity and courtship behaviour counts were significantly lower than in the experimental mixedorigin groups. This is the first report of cultured male breeders participating in reproductive behaviour and spawning, which could be associated with social learning processes, mate selection and dominance where cultured males copied the behaviour and spawning of wild Senegalese sole breeders.Spanish National Institute for Agronomic Research (INIA)-FEDER [RTA201100050, RTA2014-00048]FCT - Foundation for Science and TechnologyPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [UID/Multi/04326/2019]info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio