Electrophoretic Analysis of Blood Serum Proteins in Three Species of Water Snakes (Genus Nerodia)

Serum from three species of water snakes (Nerodia rhombifera, N. erythrogaster and N. fasciata) from one geographic region was analyzed electrophoretically on cellulose acetate, and anodic mobility and relative concentration of the fractions were determined by a recording densitometer with an automatic integrator. Classification of fractions was based on mobility (Rf, values), and for identification purposes, bands were labeled in order of decreasing mobility (albumin and alpha₁, alpha₂, alpha₃, beta₁, beta₂, gamma₁, and gamma₂ globulins). Seven fractions were identified in each species with alpha₃ being absent from N. rhombifera and N. erythrogaster, and only one gamma fraction was observed in N. fasciata. In the three species, gamma globulin was the predominant protein (42-46%), and albumin levels were characteristically low ;however, a distinct difference was observed in albumin concentration (N. fasciata, 7%; N. rhombifera and N. erythrogaster, 16-18%). The Rf values and relative concentrations of other globulins showed heterogeneity in the three species, with the protein pattern of N. fasciata being distinct from the other two species

Work based learning partnerships and structural capital: the case of Middlesex University.

The aim of the project is to enhance the value of work based learning to Middlesex University through the development of a critical understanding of the relationship between the Middlesex approach to work based learning and the concept of structural capital. The project considers the Middlesex approach to work based learning and identifies the salient features of the approach. Key to the distinctive nature of the Middlesex approach is the recognition by the University of Work Based Learning as a field of study. The central theme of the project is how the existing demonstrable value of work based learning could be further enhanced by understanding the Middlesex approach in relation to intellectual capital and knowledge management concepts. Intellectual capital is considered as being divided into human, structural and customer capital. The traditional area of expertise of the University has been the development of human capital. Consideration of knowledge management literature identified a range of factors generally seen as facilitating the enhancement of intellectual capital. These factors and the types of intellectual capital were used to examine three case studies of Middlesex work based learning partnerships with: • a leading international construction management company • a UK local authority • an overseas higher education institution. The case studies highlighted the importance of the structural capital of the University in the customised development, business focused operation and responsive evolution of the partnerships. The potential of the work based learning partnership to contribute to the structural capital of the partner and the University is highlighted by the case studies. The report identifies the nature and the significance of the Middlesex University approach to work based leaning as a structural capital asset and concludes with 17 recommendations covering curriculum development, consultancy, research, partnership design and operation and staff development which will inform the future development of Work Based Learning at Middlesex and lead to a range of publications

Final Report: Talking about sex and relationships: The views of young people with learning disabilities

We ran a drama group with young people with learning disabilities. We also interviewed parents of young people with learning disabilities. We also talked to groups of teachers. There has not been much research done about this before

Probing quantum nanostructures with near-field optical microscopy and (vice versa)

A theory is presented to show how near-field optical microscopy can be used to probe quantum nanostructures. Calculations are done for a quantum dot. Results for different tip/dot configurations and sizes show that near-field excitation can enhance light-hole transitions, excite selection-rule breaking transitions with rates comparable to allowed transitions, and map electron-hole pair wave functions. Conversely, dot response can be used to characterize tip near-fields.Comment: 8 pages of ReVTex, 5 ps figures, submitted to Appl. Phys. Let

Old carbon contributes to aquatic emissions of carbon dioxide in the Amazon

Knowing the rate at which carbon is cycled is crucial to understanding the dynamics of carbon transfer pathways. Recent technical developments now support measurement of the <sup>14</sup>C age of evaded CO<sub>2</sub> from fluvial systems, which provides an important "fingerprint" of the source of C. Here we report the first direct measurements of the <sup>14</sup>C age of effluxed CO<sub>2</sub> from two small streams and two rivers within the western Amazonian Basin. The rate of degassing and hydrochemical controls on degassing are also considered. We observe that CO<sub>2</sub> efflux from all systems except for the seasonal small stream was <sup>14</sup>C -depleted relative to the contemporary atmosphere, indicating a contribution from "old" carbon fixed before ~ 1955 AD. Further, "old" CO<sub>2</sub> was effluxed from the perennial stream in the rainforest; this was unexpected as here connectivity with the contemporary C cycle is likely greatest. The effluxed gas represents all sources of CO<sub>2</sub> in the aquatic system and thus we used end-member analysis to identify the relative inputs of fossil, modern and intermediately aged C. The most likely solutions indicated a contribution from fossil carbon sources of between 3 and 9% which we interpret as being derived from carbonate weathering. This is significant as the currently observed intensification of weather has the potential to increase the future release of old carbon, which can be subsequently degassed to the atmosphere, and so renders older, slower C cycles faster. Thus <sup>14</sup>C fingerprinting of evaded CO<sub>2</sub> provides understanding which is essential to more accurately model the carbon cycle in the Amazon Basin

Living roots magnify the response of soil organic carbon decomposition to temperature in temperate grassland.

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is both a strong driver of primary productivity and widely believed to be the principal cause of recent increases in global temperature. Soils are the largest store of the world's terrestrial C. Consequently, many investigations have attempted to mechanistically understand how microbial mineralisation of soil organic carbon (SOC) to CO2 will be affected by projected increases in temperature. Most have attempted this in the absence of plants as the flux of CO2 from root and rhizomicrobial respiration in intact plant-soil systems confounds interpretation of measurements. We compared the effect of a small increase in temperature on respiration from soils without recent plant C with the effect on intact grass swards. We found that for 48 weeks, before acclimation occurred, an experimental 3 °C increase in sward temperature gave rise to a 50% increase in below ground respiration (ca.0.4 kg C m−2; Q10=3.5), whereas mineralisation of older SOC without plants increased with a Q10 of only 1.7 when subject to increases in ambient soil temperature. Subsequent 14C dating of respired CO2 indicated that the presence of plants in swards more than doubled the effect of warming on the rate of mineralisation of SOC with an estimated mean C age of ca.8 y or older relative to incubated soils without recent plant inputs. These results not only illustrate the formidable complexity of mechanisms controlling C fluxes in soils, but also suggest that the dual biological and physical effects of CO2 on primary productivity and global temperature have the potential to synergistically increase the mineralisation of existing soil C

The construction and validation of an institutional work based learning programme.

This chapter explores why the Middlesex University approved the programme

Identification of behaviour change techniques and engagement strategies to design a smartphone app to reduce alcohol consumption using a formal consensus method

Background: Digital interventions to reduce excessive alcohol consumption have the potential to have a broader reach and be more cost-effective than traditional brief interventions. However, there is not yet a strong evidence base on their ability to engage users or on their effectiveness. Objective: This study aimed to identify the behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and engagement strategies most worthy of further study by inclusion in a smartphone application (app) to reduce alcohol consumption, using formal expert consensus methods. Methods: The first phase of the study consisted of a Delphi exercise with three rounds. It was conducted with seven international experts in the field of alcohol and/or behaviour change. In the first round, experts identified BCTs most likely to be effective at reducing alcohol consumption and strategies most likely to engage users with an app; these were rated in the second round; and those rated as effective by at least four out of seven participants were ranked in the third round. The rankings were analysed using Kendall’s W coefficient of concordance, which indicates consensus between participants. The second phase consisted of a new, independent group of experts (n=43) ranking the BCTs that were identified in the first phase. The correlation between the rankings of the two groups was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: Twelve BCTs were identified as likely to be effective. There was moderate agreement among the experts over their ranking (W=.465, χ2(11)=35.77, P<.001) and the BCTs receiving the highest mean rankings were self-monitoring, goal-setting, action planning, and feedback in relation to goals. There was a significant correlation between the ranking of the BCTs by the group of experts who identified them and a second independent group of experts (Spearman’s rho=.690, P=.01). Seventeen responses were generated for strategies likely to engage users. There was moderate agreement among experts on the ranking of these engagement strategies (W=.563, χ2(15)=59.16, P<.001) and those with the highest mean rankings were ease of use, design – aesthetic, feedback, function, design – ability to change design to suit own preferences, tailored information, and unique smartphone features. Conclusions: The BCTs with greatest potential to include in a smartphone app to reduce alcohol consumption were judged by experts to be self-monitoring, goal-setting, action planning, and feedback in relation to goals. The strategies most likely to engage users were ease of use, design, tailoring of design and information, and unique smartphone features