Epilepsy treatment priorities: answering the questions that matter

Objective To identify research priorities that have been answered, six years after being identified as important to people with epilepsy and epilepsy professionals. Background The DUETs database collates key unanswered questions identified by patients and professionals. In 2011, 398 questions were created using focus group methodologies. We wanted to know whether published research has since answered these important questions. Design The top 20 ranked questions for both patients and clinicians were studied. The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for published papers and NICE, SIGN and ILAE guidance for authoritative statements. The number of papers targeted at answering these research priorities was recorded

Equity, diversity and online learning in peer assisted study sessions

BACKGROUND While Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) are a well-established undergraduate academic assistance program running in many Australasian universities (Woolrych et al., 2020), Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) program is unique in how key training and operational aspects were developed in response to the specific needs of its diverse student cohort, including online and regional students. Notably, ECU’s PASS program was an early adopter of the hybrid delivery model (on-campus and online) to support cohort equitably and inclusively. IMPACT Students who attend PASS sessions are 11% more likely to succeed than non-participants and 8.6% more likely to be retained in their degree. The impact of PASS on success rates is even higher for key equity cohorts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students living with a disability, and students enrolled in pathway programs. RELEVANCE In this session, we will discuss techniques for online facilitation that supports students to succeed, including developing and enhancing learning skills, identifying students to model discussion, question design, learning through play, and strategically using online tools to match the cohort. We will also discuss how STEM lecturers can work with PASS to improve outcomes, including embedding, promoting, and building a relationship with their PASS leaders. REFERENCE Woolrych, T. J., Zaccagnini, M. A., Stephens, M., Stace, M. J., Middleton, R., Bergner, M. L., O'Sullivan, S. M., & Verma, R. (2020). Into the Online Space: Outcomes for a PASS Online Pilot Across Different First Year University Subjects. Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health Papers: Part B. Retrieved from https://ro.uow.edu.au/smhpapers1/125

High-sensitivity eddy-current testing technology for defect detection in aerospace superalloys

Industrial eddy-current testing (ECT) inspections of aerospace superalloys, such as Titanium 6Al-4V, must reliably detect sub-millimetre surface breaking defects. The sensitivity of such measurements is hindered by the materials' low conductivity and high coherent background material noise, making the high sensitivity standards required by industry harder to achieve. It is demonstrated herein that using eddy-current array (ECA) technology also introduces inspection "blind-spots", whereby small defects could be missed. This supports the motivation to develop techniques for enhancing the sensitivity of typical ECT and ECA measurements. The early stage research and development of a novel ECT measurement method is presented, and shown to improve the standard measurement sensitivity of industrial ECT inspections. A defect signal enhancement phenomenon within a band of frequencies close to the electrical resonance of an ECT probe, termed near electrical resonance signal enhancement (NERSE), was observed and characterised. This phenomenon was demonstrated to be a direct result of the shifting resonant frequency of the probe in the presence of material discontinuities. Frequency sweeping chirp signals were used to generate electrical resonance traversing frequency spectra measurements of the inspection probe in the presence of material discontinuities. Critical feature analysis of the results demonstrated a correlation between defect dimensions and peak NERSE amplitude, but failed to draw any conclusive trends between discontinuity dimensions and the resonant frequency shift. This was attributed to the relatively small defect sample set used and the size of many of the machined defects being smaller than the diameter of the inspection coil. An ECT probe was excited at a single frequency carefully selected to correspond to the NERSE peak frequency. A study was performed to statistically analysis the sensitivity of this NERSE measurement compared to a standard excitation frequency measurement used in industry. The results demonstrated that a NERSE frequency inspection was able to reliably detect a defect size of 0.82mm, compared to 1.09mm achieved by a standard operating frequency

On the road again: assessing driving ability in patients with neurological conditions

Clinicians may not be aware of the specialised methods and adaptations that are used to help people with disabilities to drive a car. We describe a driving assessment process as carried out by one of the UK’s flagship assessment centres, including an overview of the available assessments, adaptations and relevant legislation to guide practitioners about how best to signpost and counsel their patients appropriately about driving

Mimicking native display of cd0873 on liposomes augments its potency as an oral vaccine against clostridioides difficile

Mucosal vaccination aims to prevent infection mainly by inducing secretory IgA (sIgA) antibody, which neutralises pathogens and enterotoxins by blocking their attachment to epithelial cells. We previously demonstrated that encapsulated protein antigen CD0873 given orally to hamsters induces neutralising antibodies locally as well as systemically, affording partial protection against Clostridioides difficile infection. The aim of this study was to determine whether displaying CD0873 on liposomes, mimicking native presentation, would drive a stronger antibody response. The recombinant form we previously tested resembles the naturally cleaved lipoprotein commencing with a cysteine but lacking lipid modification. A synthetic lipid (DHPPA-Mal) was designed for conjugation of this protein via its N-terminal cysteine to the maleimide headgroup. DHPPA-Mal was first formulated with liposomes to produce MalLipo; then, CD0873 was conjugated to headgroups protruding from the outer envelope to generate CD0873-MalLipo. The immunogenicity of CD0873-MalLipo was compared to CD0873 in hamsters. Intestinal sIgA and CD0873-specific serum IgG were induced in all vaccinated animals; however, neutralising activity was greatest for the CD0873-MalLipo group. Our data hold great promise for development of a novel oral vaccine platform driving intestinal and systemic immune responses

The TRIM-NHL protein NHL-2 is a Novel Co-Factor of the CSR-1 and HRDE-1 22G-RNA Pathways [preprint]

Proper regulation of germline gene expression is essential for fertility and maintaining species integrity. In the C. elegans germline, a diverse repertoire of regulatory pathways promote the expression of endogenous germline genes and limit the expression of deleterious transcripts to maintain genome homeostasis. Here we show that the conserved TRIM-NHL protein, NHL-2, plays an essential role in the C. elegans germline, modulating germline chromatin and meiotic chromosome organization. We uncover a role for NHL-2 as a co-factor in both positively (CSR-1) and negatively (HRDE-1) acting germline 22G-small RNA pathways and the somatic nuclear RNAi pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrate that NHL-2 is a bona fide RNA binding protein and, along with RNA-seq data point to a small RNA independent role for NHL-2 in regulating transcripts at the level of RNA stability. Collectively, our data implicate NHL-2 as an essential hub of gene regulatory activity in both the germline and soma