An assessment of candidate genes to assist prognosis in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth commonest cancer worldwide, with the second highest mortality rate. Its poor mortality is linked to delayed presentation. There is a drive towards non-invasive biomarker screening and monitoring of many different types of cancer, although with limited success so far. We aimed to determine if any genes from a 32-gene panel could be used to determine GC prognosis. We carried out a retrospective study on the expression of 32 genes, selected for their proven or potential links to GC, on historic formalin fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) GC specimens from our unit. Gene expression was measured using quantitative nuclease protection assays (qNPA) technology. Following statistical analysis of the results, immunohistochemical staining for eight genes, both discriminating and non-discriminating, was conducted in seven age and sex matched non-metastatic: metastatic GC pairings. The stained samples were reviewed by two blinded consultant histopathologists. Multivariate Cox analysis of the gene expression data revealed metastatic status, age, sex and five genes appeared to influence GC survival. Genes negatively influencing survival included and (relative risks 2.20, 3.73 and 7.53 respectively). Genes conveying survival benefit included and (relative risks 0.10 and 0.24 respectively). Immunohistochemical staining of seven age and sex matched non-metastatic: metastatic pairs revealed no association between gene expression and protein expression. Our study found several genes whose expression may affect GC prognosis. However, immunohistochemical analysis revealed no association between gene expression and protein expression. It remains to be determined whether gene expression or protein expression are reliable means of assessing GC prognosis

Testing of palynological processing techniques: an example using Silurian palynomorphs from Gotland

Well-preserved acritarchs and prasinophyte algae recovered from the Lower Wenlock of Gotland (Sweden) were used to test the effects of centrifuging in heavy liquid, treatment with nitric acid to remove pyrite, and the loss of material through a 7 μm sieve during washing of a sample. The centrifuge test showed that the relative proportions of different genera stabilized after three heavy liquid separations and the number of acritarchs extracted fell consistently by about 35% at each separation. Treatment with nitric acid yielded a slightly lower number of acritarchs per gram of sediment, but it appears to have yielded more herkomorph and sphaeromorph acritarchs. Treating samples with nitric acid renders them more comparable with those not containing pyrite. The loss of specimens whilst washing through a 7 μm sieve proved to be minimal. It was concluded that three heavy liquid separations should routinely be carried out, in conjunction with treatment with nitric acid and regular tests to examine material passing through a 7 μm sieve

Marie Stopes the palaeobotanist, Manchester and her adventures in Japan

Marie Stopes is best known as a social reformer but before this she was a pio-neering palaeobotanist. She was the first woman to be appointed to the scientif-ic staff at Manchester University where she undertook research into coal fossils.Whilst at Manchester, she met Robert Falcon Scott where she showed himexamples of Glossopteris fossils. Scott went on to collect fossils of this type onhis fateful polar expedition in 1912. Scott's fossils later became a key piece ofevidence for a 200 million year old super-continent. Marie undertook a researchtrip to Japan where she discovered the earliest recorded evidence ofangiosperms. The significance of the events of her early life were fundamentalin shaping her career and should not be underestimated.<br/

Microplankton changes through the early Silurian Ireviken extinction event on Gotland, Sweden

This paper documents and analyses the extinction and origination patterns of acritarchs and prasinophyte algae at the Llandovery/Wenlock boundary transition in the Lower Silurian on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Closely spaced samples were collected from two parallel sections: Lusklint 1 and Lickershamn 2, spanning the upper part of the Lower Visby Beds and almost all of the Upper Visby Beds (i.e. the uppermost Llandovery and lowermost Wenlock).At least eight extinctions affecting the conodont record have been reported at these levels. This turnover (named the Ireviken Event) has been interpreted as an example of the change from a P to an S climate state, reflecting large changes in the ocean/atmosphere system.The palynomorph data show a significant turnover in the phytoplankton, with most of the extinctions at the end of the event (85.3% in the top 4 m of the Lusklint 1 section). The originations are more numerous than the extinctions and they are distributed through the whole of the Ireviken Event. There is an uneven distribution across the event with more originations in the Lower Visby Beds forming a convex pattern.Comparison of these data to other palynological studies suggests that there was a slightly higher number of migrations out of Gotland than in. The P and S model does not successfully explain all the changes recorded, but is the model most inclusive of all the climatic variables available at this time

Decolonising Manchester Museum’s mineral collection – a call to action

The history of Black and Indigenous peoples, and the role of empire in most museum natural history collections is largely unresearched and not acknowledged in displays. This study analyses the reach of empire in Manchester Museum’s mineral collection, uncovers colonial stories, and exposes structural racism in the museum sector. New data analysis of the mineral collection reveals that 24% of the collection comes from countries that were previously colonised. 50% of the Museum’s minerals from the British Empire are Australian, of which 33% came from the Imperial Institute. A new mineral display gave opportunity for focussed contextual research into South African gold ore and Sierra Leone diamonds. Archive photographs from the early 1900s are used in the display to tell the story of the people who mined the Museum’s South African gold ore specimens. Recent research and the Museum’s Sierra Leone diamond are used to tell the story of diamond mining today and the colonial legacy. Institutional approaches, whereby time and resources are not committed to researching colonial histories and complex colonial stories, mean that these histories are not researched and do not get past exhibition editing process, meaning this practice continues. This paper is a call to action to change this

Microplankton changes through the early Silurian Ireviken extinction event on Gotland, Sweden

This thesis documents and analyses the extinction and origination patterns of acritarchs and prasinophyte algae at the Llandovery/Wenlock boundary in the Lower Silurian on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Closely spaced samples were collected from two sections: Lusklint 1 and Lickershamn 2, spanning the upper part of the Lower Visby Beds and almost all of the Upper Visby Beds. Errors associated with the palynological processing technique have been assessed and a new photographic technique has been developed. Five new species are described.;At least eight extinctions affecting the conodont record have been reported at this level (named the Ireviken Extinction Event (Aldridge et al. 1993, Jeppsson 1997)). The Ireviken Event has been interpreted as an example of the change from a P to an S climate state (Jeppsson 1993).;The data show a significant turnover in the phytoplankton at this time, with most of the extinctions at the end of the event (86.3% in the top four metres of the Lusklint 1 section), after many of the conodont extinctions had already taken place. The originations are more numerous than the extinctions (54 species originate at Lusklint 1 as opposed to 44 that became extinct) and they are distributed through the whole of the Ireviken event. There is an uneven distribution across the event with more originations in the Lower Visby Beds forming a convex pattern.;The two section analysed were compared using graphic correlation, but palynomorph range end data show considerable scatter. Peaks in the number of palynomorphs per gram of sediment suggest that the two sections completely overlap. Deposition of the thickest bentonite produced a marked drop in the number of palynomorphs per gram of sediment, but a marked rise in numbers in the following few centimetres, probably caused by a fertilization effect. d13C values at Lusklint 1 remain stable in the Lower Visby Beds, but show a marked gradual rise in the Upper Visby Beds. The d18O values for the same interval vary little.;The P and S model does not successfully explain all the changes recorded, but is the most comprehensive model available at this time. Additions to the model, incorporating planktonic dimenthyl sulphide production and iron fertilization are presented

Object Lessons

Most curators have those niggling objects at the back of their stores. Models and illustrations previously used for teaching or display in the dim and distant past, but kept for a rainy day. Not quite real objects and not the kind of thing you would necessarily want to accession.Well, we’ve embraced these wonderful objects in our new exhibition: Object Lessons.Object Lessons celebrates the scientific model and illustration collection of George Loudon. Each of these finely crafted objects was created for the purpose of understanding the natural world through education, demonstration and display. The object-rich exhibition will look at this incredible collection through themes such as Craftsmanship, the Teaching Museum and the Microscopic. George’s collection will be displayed alongside stunning models from Manchester Museum and World Museum, Liverpool

The Manchester Museum: A case study of a volcano themed public event

It is often difficult to inspire the public about igneous rocks. This case study of apublic activity day shows that through working with a range of partners, innovativeideas can bring the subject alive. Experts with objects to handle talked to the pub-lic about eruptions and volcanoes, with eruption demonstrations, hands on activi-ties, explosions and artists workshops taking place throughout the day

Wild

Press release: New exhibition at Manchester Museum goes ‘wild’ for tackling climate and biodiversity crisisWild Supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation 5 June 2024 to 1 June 2025Press view 4 June 2024, 10am-1pm Wild, an exhibition that explores our relationship with the natural world and unique approaches to environmental recovery, opens at Manchester Museum on 5 June 2024. The exhibition will look at how people are creating, rebuilding and repairing connections with nature, and how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.Visitors will be introduced to five wild places across the globe and hear a diverse range of voices, from Aboriginal elders to researchers and community activists, to discover how they are all looking to ‘wild’ for a more positive future. In one case, the restoration of traditional practices is helping to heal both the land and the people. In others, biodiversity has exploded where farmland has been rewilded and the reintroduction of animal species is helping to restore ecological balance.Featuring an immersive installation, audio, film and interactive elements, alongside natural history collections and artworks, the exhibition prompts visitors to notice the biodiversity and heritage of wild places and invites us to question our relationships with the natural world. The featured wild places are Manchester; Knepp Rewilding Project, West Sussex; Lamlash Bay, Arran, North Ayrshire; Noongar Nowanup Boodja, Western Australia; and Yellowstone National Park, USA.These places have historically been shaped by people to support farming, hunting, fishing, housing and industry - frequently to the detriment of the health of land, people and nature, and leading to a significant reduction in biodiversity and kinship connections between plants, animals, people and place.At the Knepp Rewilding Project in West Sussex, a failing farm has been rewilded and transformed into a place of natural abundance. In 2002 free-roaming grazers were introduced to transform the land and recreate dynamic and biodiverse ecosystems. Knepp is one of the UK’s leading rewilding sites and an experiment in land stewardship that prioritises biodiversity.On Arran, a decade-long community-led campaign in direct response to overfishing and dredging, culminated in Scotland’s first No Take Zone being established in 2008. This protected area in Lamlash Bay is enabling the local marine ecosystem to flourish, and highlights the importance of conserving our precious blue spaces to help tackle biodiversity loss and climate change.More than 100 years ago native bushland was cleared by colonial settlers in Western Australia to establish farmland. An Aboriginal-led cultural revegetation project, Nowanup Noongar Boodja, is healing Country to heal people. The Country is being revitalised through planting and the return of traditional practices, showing the importance of making decisions for current and future generations that strengthen cultural connections with the past.Yellowstone National Park, the USA’s first national park established in 1872, played a pivotal role in the birth of ‘fortress conservation’ and the ‘wilderness movement’ and saw the forced removal of Indigenous people. The exhibition explores how the impact of colonial violence wiped out the area’s native wolves and later a government-level decision to reintroduce wolves impacted local communities and their relationships with wildlife. Today, the reintroduction of wolves is contributing to the restoration of ecological balance to the area.The balance between landscaped and abandoned spaces in post-industrial urban landscapes are examined in the context of Manchester’s ambition to become a 'greener' city that embraces nature. The exhibition raises questions about the biodiversity of man-made green spaces and the challenges of coexisting with nature in urban environments.Wild also explores how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, from pastoral scenes to epic landscapes, and representations in popular culture, from Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows to CBeebies’ Octonauts.Curator of Earth Science Collections, David Gelsthorpe, said: “Wild aims to provide hope in the face of a situation that often leaves many of us feeling pessimistic. The exhibition highlights work being done by communities right now, to build stronger relationships with nature and shape their world for the better. This isn't simply theoretical thinking, it is impactful, practical action that is already achieving positive results. We hope Wild inspires visitors to better understand their own relationship with the natural world and empowers them to take action, however big or small."Manchester Museum Director Esme Ward added:“Wild is one of Europe’s first large-scale exhibitions to look at how people are working to make the world around them more ‘wild’. As the world’s first Carbon Literate museum, with a mission to build a more sustainable planet, we set out to share new stories and perspectives, from the local to the global, that could inspire us all to collaborate in creating a fairer future. It is this spirit that sits at the heart of Wild.”<br/