Story Theatre Playbill

Providence College Department of Theatre, Dance & Film Blackfriars Theatre Story Theatre Thursday - Sunday, April 28 - May 1, 1983, 8PM Cast: Little Peasant, Cock, Parson, Foxy Woxy, Old Man, Eldest Son - Tony Alix; Peasant\u27s Wife, Cat, Miller\u27s Daughter, Mother - Mary Ellen Baxter; Miller, Master Thief, Fisherman, Second Son - Ralph Brancaccio; Cowherd, Hound, Milton, Wife, Venus, Narrator - Patty Carver; Old Woman, Henny Penny, Soldier, Crow, Sexton - Maureen Cox; Farmer\u27s Wife, Morris, Turkey Lurkey, Cat, Simpleton - Mary Donovan; Parson, Robber, Robber Bridegroom, Soldier, Man, Crow, Parson - John Healy; Farmer, Ass, Sexton, Cocky Locky, Count, Flounder, Princess - Joe Henderson; Robber, Parson, King - David Llewellyn; Goosey Poosey, Countess, Second Daughter - Mary Patricia Papini; Mayor/Judge, Soldier, Fisherman\u27s Wife, Eldest Daughter - Alicia Roy; Ducky Daddles, Clerk, Little Grey Man - Nancy Shaughnessyhttps://digitalcommons.providence.edu/storytheatre_1983_pubs/1007/thumbnail.jp

How might technology rise to the challenge of data sharing in agri-food?

Acknowledgement This work was supported by an award made by the UKRI/EPSRC funded Internet of Food Things Network+ grant EP/R045127/1. We would also like to thank Mr Steve Brewer and Professor Simon Pearson for supporting the work presented in this paper.Peer reviewedPostprin

Data Sharing and Interoperability for Data Trusts Workshop : Summary Report

The workshop was supported by an award made by the UKRI, EPSRC funded Internet of Food Things Network+ grant EP/R045127/1. We would like to thank Paul Mayfield, Hannah Rudman, and Steve Brewer for their contributions to the workshop as well as all our participants for your insightful discussionsPublisher PD

The role of regulated clinical trials in the development of bacteriophage therapeutics.

Antibiotic resistance is now recognized as a major, global threat to human health and the need for the development of novel antibacterial therapies has become urgent. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) targeting individual bacterial pathogens have therapeutic potential as an alternative or adjunct to antibiotic use. Bacteriophage therapy has been used for decades, but clinical trials in this field are rare, leaving many questions unanswered as to its effectiveness for many infectious diseases. As a consequence bacteriophage therapy is not used or accepted in most parts of the world. The increasing need for new antimicrobial therapies is driving the development of bacteriophage therapies for a number of diseases but these require the successful completion of large-scale clinical trials in accordance with US FDA or European EMA guidelines. Bacteriophages are considered as biological agents by regulatory authorities and they are managed by biological medicinal products guidelines for European trials and guidelines of the division of vaccines and related product applications in the USA. Bacteriophage therapy is typically an 'active' treatment requiring multiplication in the bacterial host and therefore the factors that govern its success are different from those of conventional antibiotics. From the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic points of view, time of treatment, dosage depending on the site of infection and the composition of the bacteriophage formulation (single vs multiple strains) need careful consideration when designing clinical trials. Scientific evidence regarding inflammatory effects, potential for gene transfer and phage resistance, need to be evaluated through such trials. However purity, stability and sterility of preparations for human use can be addressed through Good Manufacturing Practises to reduce many potential safety concerns. In this review we discuss the potential for the development of bacteriophage therapy in the context of critical aspects of modern, regulated clinical trials

Vancomycin Susceptibility within Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Lineages

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with reduced vancomycin susceptibility (VISA, vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus) has been reported from many countries. Whether resistance is evolving regularly in different genetic backgrounds or in a single clone with a genetic predisposition, as early results suggest, is unclear. We have studied 101 MRSA with reduced vancomycin susceptibility from nine countries by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and characterization of SCCmec (staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec) and agr (accessory gene regulator). We found nine genotypes by MLST, with isolates within all five major hospital MRSA lineages. Most isolates (88/101) belonged to two of the earliest MRSA clones that have global prevalence. Our results show that reduced susceptibility to vancomycin has emerged in many successful epidemic lineages with no clear clonal disposition. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in genetically distinct pandemic clones may lead to MRSA infections that will become increasingly difficult to treat

Characterisation of Bacteriophage-Encoded Depolymerases Selective for Key <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Capsular Exopolysaccharides.

Capsular polysaccharides enable clinically important clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause severe systemic infections in susceptible hosts. Phage-encoded capsule depolymerases have the potential to provide an alternative treatment paradigm in patients when multiple drug resistance has eroded the efficacy of conventional antibiotic chemotherapy. An investigation of 164 K. pneumoniae from intensive care patients in Thailand revealed a large number of distinct K types in low abundance but four (K2, K51, K1, K10) with a frequency of at least 5%. To identify depolymerases with the capacity to degrade capsules associated with these common K-types, 62 lytic phage were isolated from Thai hospital sewage water using K1, K2 and K51 isolates as hosts; phage plaques, without exception, displayed halos indicative of the presence of capsule-degrading enzymes. Phage genomes ranged in size from 41-348 kb with between 50 and 535 predicted coding sequences (CDSs). Using a custom phage protein database we were successful in applying annotation to 30 - 70% (mean = 58%) of these CDSs. The largest genomes, of so-called jumbo phage, carried multiple tRNAs as well as CRISPR repeat and spacer sequences. One of the smaller phage genomes was found to contain a putative Cas type 1E gene, indicating a history of host DNA acquisition in these obligate lytic phage. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) indicated that some phage displayed an extended host range due to the presence of multiple depolymerase genes; in total, 42 candidate depolymerase genes were identified with up to eight in a single genome. Seven distinct virions were selected for further investigation on the basis of host range, phage morphology and WGS. Candidate genes for K1, K2 and K51 depolymerases were expressed and purified as his6-tagged soluble protein and enzymatic activity demonstrated against K. pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides by gel electrophoresis and Anton-Paar rolling ball viscometry. Depolymerases completely removed the capsule in K-type-specific fashion from K. pneumoniae cells. We conclude that broad-host range phage carry multiple enzymes, each with the capacity to degrade a single K-type, and any future use of these enzymes as therapeutic agents will require enzyme cocktails for utility against a range of K. pneumoniae infections

Structures and properties of solvated and unsolvated isopropyl functionalised calix[4]arenes

The tetra-iso-propyl ethers of calix[4]arene and p-t-butylcalix[4]arene have been isolated in the cone conformation, and structurally characterized as chloroform solvates. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the parent iso-propylcalix[4]arene solvate is significantly more stable than the p-t-butylcalix[4]arene analogue, retaining the solvent up to a temperature of of 125 °C. It was found that the calix[4]arene ether sublimes at atmospheric pressure, and solvent-free crystals appropriate for structure determination were produced at reduced pressure. The p-t-butylcalix[4]arene ether was also isolated without solvent in the lattice, but in this case the calixarene was crystallized from acetone, as sublimation did not produce crystals of sufficient quality

The two most common histological subtypes of malignant germ cell tumour are distinguished by global microRNA profiles, associated with differential transcription factor expression.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesised that differences in microRNA expression profiles contribute to the contrasting natural history and clinical outcome of the two most common types of malignant germ cell tumour (GCT), yolk sac tumours (YSTs) and germinomas. RESULTS: By direct comparison, using microarray data for paediatric GCT samples and published qRT-PCR data for adult samples, we identified microRNAs significantly up-regulated in YSTs (n = 29 paediatric, 26 adult, 11 overlapping) or germinomas (n = 37 paediatric). By Taqman qRT-PCR we confirmed differential expression of 15 of 16 selected microRNAs and further validated six of these (miR-302b, miR-375, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-122, miR-205) in an independent sample set. Interestingly, the miR-302 cluster, which is over-expressed in all malignant GCTs, showed further over-expression in YSTs versus germinomas, representing six of the top eight microRNAs over-expressed in paediatric YSTs and seven of the top 11 in adult YSTs. To explain this observation, we used mRNA expression profiles of paediatric and adult malignant GCTs to identify 10 transcription factors (TFs) consistently over-expressed in YSTs versus germinomas, followed by linear regression to confirm associations between TF and miR-302 cluster expression levels. Using the sequence motif analysis environment iMotifs, we identified predicted binding sites for four of the 10 TFs (GATA6, GATA3, TCF7L2 and MAF) in the miR-302 cluster promoter region. Finally, we showed that miR-302 family over-expression in YST is likely to be functionally significant, as mRNAs down-regulated in YSTs were enriched for 3' untranslated region sequences complementary to the common seed of miR-302a~miR-302d. Such mRNAs included mediators of key cancer-associated processes, including tumour suppressor genes, apoptosis regulators and TFs. CONCLUSIONS: Differential microRNA expression is likely to contribute to the relatively aggressive behaviour of YSTs and may enable future improvements in clinical diagnosis and/or treatment.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Reliability and sensitivity to change of post-match physical performance measures in elite youth soccer players

IntroductionTo effectively monitor post-match changes in physical performance, valid, reliable and practical measures which are sensitive to change are required. This study aimed to quantify test-retest reliability and sensitivity to change of a range of physical performance measures recorded during an isometric posterior chain (IPC) lower-limb muscle test and a countermovement jump (CMJ) test.MethodsEighteen Italian Serie A academy soccer players performed three IPC repetitions per limb and five CMJ trials in 4 testing sessions. Test-retest reliability was evaluated between two testing sessions seven days apart using typical error of measurement, coefficient of variation and intraclass correlation coefficient. Sensitivity to change was assessed on two additional testing sessions performed before and immediately after a soccer match through Hedges' g effect size (g) and comparisons to typical error.ResultsAbsolute reliability (coefficient of variations) ranged from 1.5 to 8.8%. IPC and CMJ measures demonstrated moderate to excellent relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.70 to 0.98). A wide range of physical performance measures showed significant alterations post-match (p &lt; 0.05; g: small to moderate). IPC peak force and torque, CMJ reactive strength index modified, CMJ eccentric forces (mean breaking force, mean deceleration force, peak force, force at zero velocity) and CMJ mean power measures had post-match changes greater than their typical variation, demonstrating acceptable sensitivity in detecting performance changes at post-match.DiscussionIPC peak force and torque, CMJ reactive strength index modified, CMJ eccentric phase forces and CMJ mean power were found to be both reliable and sensitive to change, and thus may be appropriate for monitoring post-match neuromuscular performance in youth soccer population

Characterisation of Bacteriophage-Encoded Depolymerases Selective for Key Klebsiella pneumoniae Capsular Exopolysaccharides.

Capsular polysaccharides enable clinically important clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause severe systemic infections in susceptible hosts. Phage-encoded capsule depolymerases have the potential to provide an alternative treatment paradigm in patients when multiple drug resistance has eroded the efficacy of conventional antibiotic chemotherapy. An investigation of 164 K. pneumoniae from intensive care patients in Thailand revealed a large number of distinct K types in low abundance but four (K2, K51, K1, K10) with a frequency of at least 5%. To identify depolymerases with the capacity to degrade capsules associated with these common K-types, 62 lytic phage were isolated from Thai hospital sewage water using K1, K2 and K51 isolates as hosts; phage plaques, without exception, displayed halos indicative of the presence of capsule-degrading enzymes. Phage genomes ranged in size from 41-348 kb with between 50 and 535 predicted coding sequences (CDSs). Using a custom phage protein database we were successful in applying annotation to 30 - 70% (mean = 58%) of these CDSs. The largest genomes, of so-called jumbo phage, carried multiple tRNAs as well as CRISPR repeat and spacer sequences. One of the smaller phage genomes was found to contain a putative Cas type 1E gene, indicating a history of host DNA acquisition in these obligate lytic phage. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) indicated that some phage displayed an extended host range due to the presence of multiple depolymerase genes; in total, 42 candidate depolymerase genes were identified with up to eight in a single genome. Seven distinct virions were selected for further investigation on the basis of host range, phage morphology and WGS. Candidate genes for K1, K2 and K51 depolymerases were expressed and purified as his6-tagged soluble protein and enzymatic activity demonstrated against K. pneumoniae capsular polysaccharides by gel electrophoresis and Anton-Paar rolling ball viscometry. Depolymerases completely removed the capsule in K-type-specific fashion from K. pneumoniae cells. We conclude that broad-host range phage carry multiple enzymes, each with the capacity to degrade a single K-type, and any future use of these enzymes as therapeutic agents will require enzyme cocktails for utility against a range of K. pneumoniae infections