ELICIT: Preparing staff for the changing learning environment

Output from the SHEFCE funded study on Enabling Largescale Implementation of Communication & Information Technologies for learning and teaching (ELICIT)

Is prospective MRI mapping of the changes in the volume of the prostate gland in prostate cancer patients undergoing 6 months of neo-adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy a step towards a trial to determine those who may benefit from treatment intensification or extended duration?

Introduction: Neo-adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy prior to radiotherapy (RT) causes shrinkage of the prostate gland, but the changes in volume have never been mapped over time in detail, nor have the associations between volume reduction and testosterone escape or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics been determined. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with prostate cancer were treated with 6\ua0months of triptorelin prior to definitive RT. The volume of the prostate gland was measured at the outset and every 6–7\ua0weeks thereafter using MRI scans. The volumes were calculated using a planimetric method, and inter-rater reliability was checked. Factors associated with a large initial volume and greater reductions in it were assessed. Results: The median volume at the outset was 45\ua0cc, and the median reductions every 6\ua0weeks thereafter were 23, 18, 9 and 5%. The inter-rater agreement was high (r\ua0>\ua00.9, P\ua

Physicochemical properties of iron oxide nanoparticles that contribute to cellular ROS-dependent signaling and acellular production of hydroxyl radical

While nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in a variety of consumer products and medical applications, some of these materials have potential health concerns. Macrophages are the primary responders to particles that initiate oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. Here, we utilized six flame-synthesized, engineered iron oxide NPs with various physicochemical properties (e.g. Fe oxidation state and crystal size) to study their interactions with RAW 264.7 macrophages, their iron solubilities, and their abilities to produce hydroxyl radical in an acellular assay. Both iron solubility and hydroxyl radical production varied between NPs depending on crystalline diameter and surface area of the particles, but not on iron oxidation state. Macrophage treatment with the iron oxide NPs showed a dose-dependent increase of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1). The nuclear factor (NF)-erythroid-derived 2 (E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) modulates the transcriptional activity of antioxidant response element (ARE)-driven genes, such as HO-1 and NQO-1. Here, we show that the iron oxide NPs activate Nrf2, leading to its increased nuclear accumulation and enhanced Nrf2 DNA-binding activity in NP-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Iron solubility and acellular hydroxyl radical generation depend on the physical properties of the NPs, especially crystalline diameter; however, these properties are weakly linked to the activation of cellular signaling of Nrf2 and the expression of oxidative stress markers. Overall, our work shows for the first time that iron oxide nanoparticles induce cellular marker genes of oxidative stress and that this effect is transcriptionally mediated through the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway in macrophages

GO-FRESH: Valorisatie kansrijke oplossingen voor een robuuste zoetwatervoorziening : Rendabel en duurzaam watergebruik in een zilte omgeving

In delen van de Zuidwestelijke Delta is aanvoer van extern zoet water niet mogelijk. Het systeem is zodoende kwetsbaar voor droge periodes, zoals de zomer van 2018. Sinds 2012 worden binnen het project GO-FRESH een drietal veldproeven uitgevoerd om de zoetwaterbeschikbaarheid voor de landbouw minder afhankelijk te laten zijn van (grillige) weersomstandigheden. In de rapportage van 2014 (Oude Essink et al., 2014) zijn voorlopige tussenresultaten gecommuniceerd; dit onderhavige rapport betreft de eindrapportage van GO-FRESH

GO-FRESH: Valorisatie kansrijke oplossingen voor een robuuste zoetwatervoorziening : Rendabel en duurzaam watergebruik in een zilte omgeving

In delen van de Zuidwestelijke Delta is aanvoer van extern zoet water niet mogelijk. Het systeem is zodoende kwetsbaar voor droge periodes, zoals de zomer van 2018. Sinds 2012 worden binnen het project GO-FRESH een drietal veldproeven uitgevoerd om de zoetwaterbeschikbaarheid voor de landbouw minder afhankelijk te laten zijn van (grillige) weersomstandigheden. In de rapportage van 2014 (Oude Essink et al., 2014) zijn voorlopige tussenresultaten gecommuniceerd; dit onderhavige rapport betreft de eindrapportage van GO-FRESH