Creating value within "Florida Swimming Club" : strategic imperatives for 2008 and beyond.

The essence of the research undertaken was to put a NPO, the Florida Swimming Club clearly on the map with regards to developing a strategy for them to capitalise upon in the 2008/2009 swimming season. A number of key issues relevant to their identified key stakeholders were identified from the research that they are busy capitalising upon this season. A thorough investigation into the existing infrastructure (both strategy and structure) of the Florida Swimming Club (NPO) was initiated with a view to devising a strategy that more closely aligns the Club to the strategic imperatives of its umbrella body affiliates: Central Gauteng Aquatics-CGA and Swimming South Africa-SSA. Strategic plans were developed for the Club after a thorough SWOT analysis was undertaken. Emanating from the SWOT analysis the Club investigated the possible values that could be created for its relevant stakeholders being: SSA, CGA, Swimmers, Coaches, Parents, Schools, Committee and Previously Disadvantaged Individuals, amongst others. Flowing from this investigation the club also questioned its own norms and values and is now successfully repositioning itself to capitalize upon the various transformation issues confronting it. The Club has developed above all a sense of urgency 'in the transformation issues that it needs to tackle going forward. The revised strategy has also necessitated a total revamp of the Club's existing committee. The committee members that will drive the strategy forward in the 2008/2009 season have each been given clearly demarcated portfolios. The portfolios developed are aligned to achieving the strategic imperatives for "2008 and beyond" and each committee member is now fully accountable for the intended achievement of the Club's objectives and goals set. The main objective of this research was to put something back into the community by our active engagement within the Club in assisting it to develop a workable strategy that would stretch it in achieving measurable goals that would make a meaningful difference to its stakeholders. The researcher's have also assisted the Club in putting together an application to the Lotto to dome and heat their swimming pool. Thus something positive and tangible has been put back into the Club as a result of the researchers' active interventions

Characterization of a temperature-sensitive DNA ligase from Escherichia coli

DNA ligases are essential enzymes in cells due to their ability to join DNA strand breaks formed during DNA replication. Several temperature-sensitive mutant strains of Escherichia coli, including strain GR501, have been described which can be complemented by functional DNA ligases. Here, it is shown that the ligA251 mutation in E. coli GR501 strain is a cytosine to thymine transition at base 43, which results in a substitution of leucine by phenylalanine at residue 15. The protein product of this gene (LigA251) is accumulated to a similar level at permissive and non-permissive temperatures. Compared to wild-type LigA, at 20 °C purified LigA251 has 20-fold lower ligation activity in vitro, and its activity is reduced further at 42 °C, resulting in 60-fold lower ligation activity than wild-type LigA. It is proposed that the mutation in LigA251 affects the structure of the N-terminal region of LigA. The resulting decrease in DNA ligase activity at the non-permissive temperature is likely to occur as the result of a conformational change that reduces the rate of adenylation of the ligase

Hydrogeology of Montserrat review and new insights

Study region The tropical, active volcanic arc island of Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean. Study focus New insights into hydrological recharge distribution, measurements of aquifer permeability, and geological and hydrological field observations from Montserrat are combined with a review of the current understanding of volcanic island hydrology. The aim is to begin to develop a conceptual model for the hydrology of Montserrat, and to inform and stimulate further investigation into the hydrology of volcanic arc islands, by combining a review of the current understanding of essential components of the hydrological system with fresh analysis of existing data, and new observations, data collection and analysis. This study provides new insights into hydrological recharge distribution, measurements of aquifer permeability, and geological and hydrological field observations from Montserrat. New hydrological insights for the region A new groundwater recharge model predicts whole island recharge of 266 mm/year, between 10% and 20% of annual rainfall. Core scale permeability tests reveal ranges from 10−14 to 10−12 m2 for volcaniclastic rocks with coarse matrix, to a minimum of 10−18 m2 for andesitic lavas and volcaniclastics with fine or altered matrix. Analysis of historical pumping tests on aquifers in reworked, channel and alluvial sediment indicate permeabilities ∼10−10 m2. Springs at elevations between 200 and 400 m above mean sea level on Centre Hills currently discharge over 45 L/s. High discharge require a reasonably laterally continuous low permeability body. Contrasting conceptual models are presented to illustrate two potential hydrogeological scenarios. New field observations also reveal systematic spatial variations in spring water temperature and specific electrical conductivity indicating that meteoric waters supplying the springs are mixed with a deeper groundwater source at some sites

Causal and functional interpretation of mu- and delta-opioid receptor profiles in mesoaccumbens and nigrostriatal pathways of an oral stereotypy phenotype

Spontaneous stereotypic behaviours are repetitive, compulsive, topographically invariant response patterns commonly observed in captive or domestic animals, which have been linked to dysfunction of basal ganglia input/output pathways. There is evidence that endogenous opioids play a key regulatory role in basal ganglia direct and indirect pathways, but their precise role, both causally and functionally, in spontaneous stereotypic behaviour is unclear. Here we examined the profile of mu- and delta-opioid receptors (density [Bmax] and affinity [Kd]) of basal ganglia structures in stereotypy (n = 10) and non-stereotypy (n = 10) animals using a competitive ligand binding approach. Mu receptor densities were significantly higher in the nucleus accumbens (p  0.15). Receptor binding affinity was only found to be significantly different between control and stereotypy animals for mu receptors on the caudate region; (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that increased inhibition (via mu-opioid receptors) of the indirect (dorsal striatopallidal) pathways are associated with spontaneous stereotypy development. Data also suggested that different types of spontaneous stereotypies (e.g. oral versus locomotor) within or a cross species may have a different neurological basis. This may have important implications for understanding the aetiology and function of these behaviours. In some instances (oral stereotypy), the behaviour may be associated with allostasis, a process that could enhance the reward value of appetitive behaviour performance (as a starting point of stereotypy development)

Healthcare professionals’ perceptions and experiences of physiotherapy for people with mental illness: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-ethnography

INTRODUCTION: There is a high global prevalence of patients presenting with physical and mental health comorbidities. Physiotherapeutic interventions, such as exercise, can have positive benefits for physical and mental health. However, poor accessibility and negative experiences of healthcare services for those with mental illness (MI) have been consistently observed within literature with recent research identifying poor experiences of physiotherapeutic interactions and processes such as referrals and discharges. One way to help improve physiotherapy services for this population is to understand the personal experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals (HCPs) toward physiotherapy for patients with MI. Qualitative-based evidence syntheses are suited to bring this data together with the aim of improving physiotherapy services for patients with MI. This review will systematically search and synthesise existing evidence around HCP experiences and perceptions of physiotherapy for people with MI. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A systematic search and seven-phase meta-ethnography will be undertaken. A comprehensive search of electronic databases (CINAHL plus, MEDLINE, Pubmed, Embase and Psycinfo) and search engines as well as grey literature (unpublished primary research such as theses) will be completed. Searches are planned to take place in July 2022. Eligibility criteria include: (a) qualitative data, (b) perceptions identified from HCP, including physiotherapists, assistants and HCP referring into physiotherapy, about physiotherapy for patients with MI and (c) are primary studies. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This work is exempt from requiring ethical approval due to review methodology with data accessed from published works. This systematic review is expected to provide insight into experiences and perceptions of HCP around benefits and barriers to accessing physiotherapy for patients with mental health illness. Findings will be used to inform further research and co-develop recommendations to overcome barriers and optimise facilitators to care for this population. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journal, conference presentations and to key stakeholder groups. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021293035

The Thermal Games Dung Beetles Play

Dung beetles are a group of coprophagous scarabs most well known for their reliance on dung as both a source of food and as a vital component of their reproductive cycle. Intense competition between sympatric dung beetles species has spurred the evolution of a variety of complex nesting behaviours; telecoprids move dung along the soil surface; endocoprids reproduce within the dung itself; paracoprids bury dung in tunnels beneath the soil surface. The act of breaking down and relocating dung facilitates numerous biotic and abiotic processes that shape the environment and aid in maintaining ecosystem function. As a result of their ubiquity, the unique niche they inhabit, diverse range of species and life history strategies that have evolved, and strong ties to the biotic and abiotic processes in their surrounding habitat dung beetles have been the subject of research across the globe. We conducted a review of 1463 peer reviewed papers concerning dung beetles with the aim of elucidating geographical, temporal, and methodological patterns of research in order to identify gaps in the literature to better inform future research. All continents, with the exception of Antarctica, have a strong body of literature that has been shaped by the composition and structure of the local dung beetle assemblage, the ecosystems they inhabit, and the cultural and societal influences of its human inhabitants. Paracoprids were the most studied functional group overall with Onthophagus being the genus most frequently used in manipulative experiments, present in 10.3% (151) of the publications assessed. The species Onthophagus taurus is the most studied dung beetle, being one of the few species that has been the subject of genetic research, featuring in 4.5% (66) of studies. The most studied aspects of dung beetles are their ecology and behaviour, with relatively little work conducted on their genetics and physiology, although interest in these fields is increasing. Field surveys are the most frequently utilised method across the literature being used in 456 (31.2%) studies, followed by laboratory experiments (29.1%), and field experiments (13.5%). Studies of dung beetle communities across environmental gradients were also popular, particularly in South America where the focus is often on their use as a biological indicator of environmental health along disturbance gradients. Across the 1463 studies 75 types of dung were used, however the majority of studies utilised dung from livestock such as cattle (39.8%), pigs (6.6%), sheep (5.5%), and horses (4.2%). Human dung (16.9%) and carrion (9.8%) were also amongst the most frequently used types of dung, with most use occurring in South America and North America (primarily Mexico) where they have been shown to be an effective bait for a wide range of species. Studies assessing two or more types of dung are in the minority, accounting for only 22.4% of the publications assessed. Many studies failed to include important information such as the location where the study took place, a description of the habitat, the type of dung used, and whether the dung used was sourced from an animal that had been chemically treated.Dung beetles are strongly influenced by their thermal environment with sympatric species utilising thermal niche partitioning to reduce competition. Climate change models indicate that by 2070 temperature in Australia will increase by 0.4°C-4.5°C in coastal areas and 1.1°C-5.7°C further inland. Rising temperatures and increasingly variable thermal regimes will likely alter the community dynamics of Australia's dung beetle fauna, which it is reliant upon for the provision of a number of ecosystem services. The aim of this research was to determine the physiological tolerances of an Australian dung beetle community and to measure the metabolic responses of these species to thermal changes within these limits to determine whether thermal niche specialisation is driven by metabolic adaptations. Seven species of dung beetle (Onthophagus australis, O. granulatus, O. binodis, Aphodius fimetarius, Euoniticellus intermedius, E. fulvus, and Sisyphus rubrus), belonging to three functional groups, were retrieved from baited pitfall traps placed in grazed fragmented pasture ecosystems at Armidale and Bingara, NSW, Australia. Thermal limit respirometry was used to measure the CTmin, CTmax, V̇CO2 ml h-1, and the thermal sensitivity of their metabolic rate to changes in temperature using a dynamic temperature protocol to subject individual beetles to either increasing (25°C-60°C) or decreasing temperatures (25°C- -15°C). The telecoprid Sisyphus rubrus had the highest CTmax (53.1°C ±0.6) and a stable metabolic rate when exposed to high temperatures. The endocoprid Aphodius fimetarius was the most tolerant to low temperatures with a CTmin of -2.5°C ±2.0, while still having a CTmax of 43.6 ±1.3°C. Relative to the other species assessed it had a high metabolic rate across its entire thermal window, indicative of a thermal generalist. The paracoprids E. fulvus (CTmin: 9.1°C ±2.4; CTmax: 49.9°C ±1.4) and E. intermedius (CTmin: 8.3°C ±1.8; CTmax: 49.1°C ±1.9) have adapted to operate at higher temperatures than the onthophagine paracoprids which have thermal traits intermediary to the cold tolerant A. fimetarius and heat tolerant species.Given the central role of temperature in the evolution and ecology of dung beetles, and the ecosystem functions they provide, understanding the capacity of species to respond to climate change is required to understand the response of communities and implement effective management strategies. Dung beetles of the species Onthophagus binodis were collected from the University of New England's Kirby SMARTFARM, NSW, Australia. Beetles were placed in custom built temperature controlled chambers and soil temperature data used to program chambers with a variable temperature regime based on the natural regime experienced by the sampled population in the field. The chambers were programmed to simulate increased temperatures based on climate change warming estimates of +0°C, +2°C, +3.5°C, and +5°C. Every 10 days two beetles from each chamber were removed and dynamic thermolimit respirometry performed to measure the CTmax, V̇CO2 ml h-1, thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate, and the intercept of the regression of metabolic rate and temperature. Changes in the nesting behaviour of O. binodis were also assessed by recording the number of brood balls produced, brood ball burial depth, and brood ball size. Brood balls were then reared at 25°C and the experiment repeated with the second generation. Onthophagus binodis did not display the capacity for physiological plasticity under the simulated warming scenarios, with no significant effect of warming on CTmax (46.43°C ±1.68), V̇CO2 ml h-1 (32.28 ±8.84), thermal sensitivity (2.51 ±0.63), or the intercept of the MR-T line (-0.13±0.41). Warming regimes had no effect on brood burial depth (9.12cm ±7.02). We found evidence for a potential density dependent effect of temperature on brood ball production in the second generation: beetles from the +5°C treatment producing significantly more broods than the +0°C control. When brood ball production was low beetles from the +5°C treatment produced broods with a significantly greater volume than +0°C controls

Routes of iron entry into, and exit from, the catalytic ferroxidase sites of the prokaryotic ferritin SynFtn

Ferritins are multimers comprised of 4 α-helical bundle monomers that co-assemble to form protein shells surrounding an approximately spherical internal cavity. The assembled multimers acquire Fe2+ from their surroundings by utilising channels that penetrate the protein for the transportation of iron to diiron catalytic centres buried within the monomeric units. Here oxidation of the substrate to Fe3+ is coupled to the reduction of O2 and/or peroxide to yield the precursor to a ferric oxy hydroxide mineral that is stored within the internal cavity. The rhombic dodecahedral quaternary structure results in channels of 4-fold and 3-fold symmetry, located at the vertices, which are common to all 24mer-ferritins. Ferritins isolated from higher eukaryotes have been demonstrated to take up Fe2+ via the 3-fold channels. One of the defining features of ferritins isolated from prokaryotes is the presence of a further 24 channels, the B-channels, and these are thought to play an important role in Fe2+ uptake in this sub-family. SynFtn is an unusual ferritin isolated from the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus CC9311. The reported structure of SynFtn derived from Fe2+ soaked crystals revealed the presence of a fully hydrated Fe2+ associated with three aspartate residues (Asp137 from each of the three symmetry related subunits) within each three-fold channel, suggesting that it might be the route for Fe2+ entry. Here, we present structural and spectro-kinetic data on two variants of SynFtn, D137A and E62A, designed to assess this possibility. Glu62 is equivalent to residues demonstrated to be important in the transfer of iron from the inner exit of the 3-fold channel to the catalytic centre in animal ferritins. As expected replacing Asp137 with a non-coordinating residue eliminated rapid iron oxidation by SynFtn. In contrast the rate of mineral core formation was severely impaired whilst the rate of iron transit into the catalytic centre was largely unaffected upon introducing a non-coordinating residue in place of Glu62 suggesting a role for this residue in release of the oxidised product. The identification of these two residues in SynFtn maps out major routes for Fe2+ entry to, and exit from, the catalytic ferroxidase centres

Neural modulators of temperament:A multivariate approach to personality trait identification in the horse

A relationship between dopamine and temperament has previously been described in human cases of dopaminergic dysfunction. Adjustment in temperament prior to disease manifestation can enable the early identification of individuals at risk of such 20 conditions, and scope exists to extend this application of temperament alterations to cases of dopaminergic dysfunction in horses. A multivariate and mixed-methods approach utilising a questionnaire along with two inferred measurements of dopamine activity (Spontaneous Blink Rate [SBR] and Behavioral Initiation Rate [BIR]) were recorded from direct observation of animals (n=99) to identify the potential relationship between dopamine and temperament in horses. Principal components analysis (PCA) of 36 temperament variables revealed nine Principal Components, including ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Docility’, which accounted for 72.4% of the total variance. Component scores were calculated and correlated with SBR and BIR utilising Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient analysis. The component ‘Anxiety’ was found to have a significant positive relationship with SBR, whereas ‘Docility’ was observed to have a significant negative relationship with SBR. These results indicate a relationship between dopamine and temperament within the horse that is certainly worthy of further study. Potential mechanisms involving neural dopaminergic and GABAergic systems are presented, in addition to how such alterations could be utilised to probe for equine dopamine dysfunction pending future research. Highlights: A significant positive correlation was observed between ‘Anxiety’ and dopamine levels A significant negative correlation was found between ‘Docility’ and dopamine levels Chronic dopamine adaptations may initially manifest as temperament alterations Potential exists to identify horses at risk of dopamine dysfunction development through analysis of temperament Key words: Temperament; Dopamine; Equine; Behavior; Anxiety; Docilit