What can the G7 do to achieve the Global Health 2035 goals?

The Global Health 2035 report shows that there is tremendous potential to achieve dramatic gains in global health over the next 20 years, particularly with regards to the G7's priorities of eliminating NTDs, preparing effectively for pandemics, and tackling AMR. These challenges require urgent international collective action and demand the leadership and focused investment of the G7. To maximize its impact and help mobilize action for the post-2015 health agenda, the G7 should target its efforts towards four critical policy options: investing in new tools, supporting policy and implementation research, strengthening national health systems, and fostering global coordination. By working in partnership with donor, low- and middle-income countries on these policy options, the G7 can set the course to achieve a grand convergence in global health

Cyclic peptide production using a macrocyclase with enhanced substrate promiscuity and relaxed recognition determinants

This project was supported by grants from the ERC (no. 339367, MJ), BBSRC IBCatalyst (no. BB/M028526/1, MJ, WEH), BBSRC FoF (no. BB/M013669/1, MJ, WEH), IBioIC Exemplar (no. 2014-2-4, MJ, WEH), an AstraZeneca studentship (MJ, WEH, LT, KR), the Academy of Finland (no. 259505, DPF) and the SULSA leaders award (WEH). The authors like to thank the Aberdeen Proteomics Facility and the Aberdeen School of Natural and Computing Sciences MS Facility for LCMS analysis. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental section, Fig. S1–S60 and Tables S1–S3. See DOI: 10.1039/c7cc05913bPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Forum on Early Warning and Early Response: A New Collaborative Effort

This paper provides an introduction and overview of the Forum on Early Warning and Early Response (FEWER). Topics covered are: the mission statement, definitions, objectives and structure of the group as well as a description and evaluation of projects in- progress. A member contact list, a synopsis of membership criteria and d activities are included.Cet article fournit une introduction et un aperçu du Forum sur l'Alerte Préventive et l'Intervention Rapide (Ftorum on Early Warning and Early Response-FEWER). Les sujets abordés sont: la formulation du mandat, la description, les objectifs et la structure de ce groupe, ainsi que la description de l'évaluation des projets en cours. Une liste de membres-contacts, un descriptif des critères à rencontrer pour devenir membre et une présentation des activités sont joints

An exploration of anti-oppressive education in the high school ELA classroom

In the past three years, the province of Manitoba has been implementing a new curriculum in English Language Arts (ELA), starting at the elementary level and more recently voluntary implementation at the high school level. An important change to the curriculum is the addition of the practice of power and agency, which can be viewed as an attempt by this curriculum to be anti-oppressive. Anti-oppressive education is the practice of teaching to all students by embracing their diversity, and creating safe spaces to actively work against various forms of social oppression (Kumashiro, 2000). The goal of this qualitative research study, that garnered data through interviews, is to discover how some high school ELA teachers in the province who self-identify as taking an anti-oppressive stance do so in their approach to students, curriculum and materials, and pedagogy. The findings show that these educators’ motivations for taking such a stance are grounded in their experiences teaching, their identities, and their professional learning. While their objectives for their teaching focused on the selection of resources, building relationships, and having meaningful class discussions. The implications of the study could guide teachers in their selection of resources, teaching and assessment tools, and pedagogical decisions in high school ELA.October 201

CEO Political Partisanship and Corporate Misconduct

Are firms led by liberal or conservative CEOs more likely to engage in corporate misconduct? This study unearths the ideological bases of misconduct by distinguishing the values and identity perspectives of political ideology. Rather than attributing misconduct to liberal or conservative values, we introduce and examine CEO political partisanship—i.e., the strength of a CEO’s identification with political and ideological groups. We hypothesize and find robust evidence for a positive relationship between CEO political partisanship and corporate misconduct in a sample of Fortune 500 CEOs from 2010 to 2018. Our findings thus contribute to the conversation on the role of political ideology in organizations by unearthing the organizational implications of political identities. As CEOs increasingly engage in political discussions and political divisions grow stronger, our study offers a timely warning about the harmful link between CEO political partisanship and corporate misconduct

The Swinholide Biosynthesis Gene Cluster from a Terrestrial Cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. Strain UHCC 0450

Swinholides are 42-carbon ring polyketides with a 2-fold axis of symmetry. They are potent cytotoxins that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. Swinholides were discovered from the marine sponge Theonella sp. and were long suspected to be produced by symbiotic bacteria. Misakinolide, a structural variant of swinholide, was recently demonstrated to be the product of a symbiotic heterotrophic proteobacterium. Here, we report the production of swinholide A by an axenic strain of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain UHCC 0450. We located the 85-kb trans-AT polyketide synthase (PKS) swinholide biosynthesis gene cluster from a draft genome of Nostoc sp. UHCC 0450. The swinholide and misakinolide biosynthesis gene clusters share an almost identical order of catalytic domains, with 85% nucleotide sequence identity, and they group together in phylogenetic analysis. Our results resolve speculation around the true producer of swinholides and demonstrate that bacteria belonging to two distantly related phyla both produce structural variants of the same natural product. In addition, we described a biosynthesis cluster from Anabaena sp. strain UHCC 0451 for the synthesis of the cytotoxic and antifungal scytophycin. All of these biosynthesis gene clusters were closely related to each other and created a group of cytotoxic macrolide compounds produced by trans-AT PKSs of cyanobacteria and proteobacteria. IMPORTANCE Many of the drugs in use today originate from natural products. New candidate compounds for drug development are needed due to increased drug resistance. An increased knowledge of the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds can be used to aid chemical synthesis to produce novel drugs. Here, we show that a terrestrial axenic culture of Nostoc cyanobacterium produces swinholides, which have been previously found only from marine sponge or samples related to them. Swinholides are polyketides with a 2-fold axis of symmetry, and they are potent cytotoxins that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. We describe the biosynthesis gene clusters of swinholide from Nostoc cyanobacteria, as well as the related cytotoxic and antifungal scytophycin from Anabaena cyanobacteria, and we study the evolution of their trans-AT polyketide synthases. Interestingly, swinholide is closely related to misakinolide produced by a symbiotic heterotrophic proteobacterium, demonstrating that bacteria belonging to two distantly related phyla and different habitats can produce similar natural products.Peer reviewe

Student Independent Projects Environmental Studies 2017: Stewardship and Conservation: Stewardship Practices to Conserve Gros Morne Bioregion

In the face of climate change and industrial development intensification in Insular Newfoundland, the need to protect sensitive ecosystems is paramount to the survival of species. Ecosystem-based management has been an effective approach for management within park boundaries, but we cannot risk creating isolated islands of protection. Expanding protection of natural areas beyond existing park boundaries can be difficult to accomplish. Using a comparative case study research method, this study identifies three stewardship approaches, conservation easements, Institutional blending, and land-trusts, to conservation that may prove to be an effective means of achieving new conservation goals near Gros Morne National park

Promising Biomolecules with High Antioxidant Capacity Derived from Cryptophyte Algae Grown under Different Light Conditions

The accumulation and production of biochemical compounds in microalgae are influenced by available light quality and algal species-specific features. In this study, four freshwater cryptophyte strains (Cryptomonas ozolinii, C. pyrenoidifera, C. curvata, and C. sp. (CPCC 336)) and one marine strain (Rhodomonas salina) were cultivated under white (control), blue, and green (experimental conditions) lights. Species-specific responses to light quality were detected, i.e., the color of light significantly affected cryptophyte biomass productivity and biochemical compositions, but the optimal light for the highest chemical composition with high antioxidant capacity was different for each algal strain. Overall, the highest phycoerythrin (PE) content (345 mg g−1 dry weight; DW) was reached by C. pyrenoidifera under green light. The highest phenolic (PC) contents (74, 69, and 66 mg g−1 DW) were detected in C. curvata under control conditions, in C. pyrenoidifera under green light, and in C. ozolinii under blue light, respectively. The highest exopolysaccharide (EPS) content (452 mg g−1 DW) was found in C. curvata under the control light. In terms of antioxidant activity, the biochemical compounds from the studied cryptophytes were highly active, with IC50 -values < 50 µg mL−1. Thus, in comparison to well-known commercial microalgal species, cryptophytes could be considered a possible candidate for producing beneficial biochemical compounds

Direction of the Play: All My Sons

This project entailed background research of Arthur Miller and his works, casting, designing, and direction, and post production evaluation of Marshfield High School\u27s Madrala (Marshfiels Drama Lab) Player\u27s production of All My Sons. The production thesis concentration includes research and analysis of the play and its literary background, evaluation of the play as a production vehicle and a discussion of the directorial concept and vision for the production