Recruiting ethnic minority participants to a clinical trial: a qualitative study

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license.To compare the motives and experiences of different ethnic groups participating in a randomised double blind placebo-controlled trial of montelukast in preschool wheeze, and to assess parents' or guardians' understanding of trial procedures and their implications, including the collection of genetic material.National Institute of Health Research Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Stream(grant number: 08-43-03)

Breaking of valley degeneracy by magnetic field in monolayer MoSe2

Using polarization-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, we investigate valley degeneracy breaking by out-of-plane magnetic field in back-gated monolayer MoSe$_2$ devices. We observe a linear splitting of $-0.22 \frac{\text{meV}}{\text{T}}$ between luminescence peak energies in $\sigma_{+}$ and $\sigma_{-}$ emission for both neutral and charged excitons. The optical selection rules of monolayer MoSe$_2$ couple photon handedness to the exciton valley degree of freedom, so this splitting demonstrates valley degeneracy breaking. In addition, we find that the luminescence handedness can be controlled with magnetic field, to a degree that depends on the back-gate voltage. An applied magnetic field therefore provides effective strategies for control over the valley degree of freedom.Comment: expanded discussion section, corrected typo in eq.

Thickness dependence of spin-orbit torques generated by WTe2

We study current-induced torques in WTe2/permalloy bilayers as a function of WTe2 thickness. We measure the torques using both second-harmonic Hall and spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance measurements for samples with WTe2 thicknesses that span from 16 nm down to a single monolayer. We confirm the existence of an out-of-plane antidamping torque, and show directly that the sign of this torque component is reversed across a monolayer step in the WTe2. The magnitude of the out-of-plane antidamping torque depends only weakly on WTe2 thickness, such that even a single-monolayer WTe2 device provides a strong torque that is comparable to much thicker samples. In contrast, the out-of-plane field-like torque has a significant dependence on the WTe2 thickness. We demonstrate that this field-like component originates predominantly from the Oersted field, thereby correcting a previous inference drawn by our group based on a more limited set of samples.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Проблеми та можливості споживання енергії в Україні

Проаналізовано споживання енергії в різних секторах економіки й подано модель визначення потенціалу зниження споживання енергії в Україні. Ключові слова: енергоефективність, енергозбереження, енергоємність, енергоспоживання, потенціал зменшення споживання енергії.Проанализированы потребления энергии в различных секторах экономики и представлена модель определения потенциала снижения потребления энергии в Украине. Ключевые слова: энергоэффективность, энергосбережение, энергоемкость, энергопотребление, потенциал уменьшения потребления энергии.The paper analyses energy consumption in different economic sectors and presents the model of determining the potential of reducing energy consumption in Ukraine. Keywords: energy efficiency, energy saving, energy intensity, energy waste, energy consumption, potential of reducing energy consumption

Mapping and mutation of the conserved DNA polymerase interaction motif (DPIM) located in the C-terminal domain of fission yeast DNA polymerase δ subunit Cdc27

BACKGROUND: DNA polymerases α and δ play essential roles in the replication of chromosomal DNA in eukaryotic cells. DNA polymerase α (Pol α)-primase is required to prime synthesis of the leading strand and each Okazaki fragment on the lagging strand, whereas DNA polymerase δ (Pol δ) is required for the elongation stages of replication, a function it appears capable of performing on both leading and lagging strands, at least in the absence of DNA polymerase ε (Pol ε). RESULTS: Here it is shown that the catalytic subunit of Pol α, Pol1, interacts with Cdc27, one of three non-catalytic subunits of fission yeast Pol δ, both in vivo and in vitro. Pol1 interacts with the C-terminal domain of Cdc27, at a site distinct from the previously identified binding sites for Cdc1 and PCNA. Comparative protein sequence analysis identifies a protein sequence motif, called the DNA polymerase interaction motif (DPIM), in Cdc27 orthologues from a wide variety of eukaryotic species, including mammals. Mutational analysis shows that the DPIM in fission yeast Cdc27 is not required for effective DNA replication, repair or checkpoint function. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of any detectable phenotypic consequences arising from mutation of the DPIM suggests that despite its evolutionary conservation, the interaction between the two polymerases mediated by this motif is a non-essential one

Response to Kamath et al 'A syncretic approach can yield dividends'

We welcome the response from Kamath et al. and their insight into the issues and culture within medicine in India, and their thoughts about how to address these issues. We also agree that a drama-based approach is not sufficient on its own to deal with entrenched power issues which affect students adversely. As we have indicated, we believe “a multipronged approach is needed to generate systemic change.” These authors similarly advocate that student mistreatment be dealt with “in a comprehensive manner” including a ‘grievance redressal system’ and other measures to withhold accreditation where there are issues of abuse of power. Nevertheless, we note that Kamath et al. have responded positively to our approach—as a part of that mix—and it would be of great interest to see whether drama-based workshops could support medical students developing embodied acting skills in their institution and whether they may have similar transformative effects. We’d like to refer the authors to an excellent Medical Humanities paper we referenced that outlined drama-based activities in medical education in India: Gupta S, Singh S. Confluence: understanding medical humanities through street theatre. Medical Humanities. 2011;37(2):127-128. Despite the above article, the authors note that medical education in India has not embraced the medical humanities. We would draw a distinction within the medical humanities between activities which are primarily studious (reading literature, studying medical history) and workshops that are based on participative and embodied activity. Our experience has indicated the effectiveness of drama-based workshops in addressing both the cognitive and emotive aspects of harmful practices and we believe that it is the embodied nature of acting skills workshops that is transformative

Spin-orbit torques in NbSe2_2/Permalloy bilayers

We present measurements of current-induced spin-orbit torques generated by NbSe$_2$, a fully-metallic transition-metal dichalcogenide material, made using the spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR) technique with NbSe$_{2}$/Permalloy bilayers. In addition to the out-of-plane Oersted torque expected from current flow in the metallic NbSe$_{2}$ layer, we also observe an in-plane antidamping torque with torque conductivity $\sigma_{S} \approx 10^{3} (\hbar / 2e)$($\Omega$m)$^{-1}$ and indications of a weak field-like contribution to the out-of-plane torque oriented opposite to the Oersted torque. Furthermore, in some samples we also measure an in-plane field-like torque with the form $\hat{m} \times \hat{z}$, where $\hat{m}$ is the Permalloy magnetization direction and $\hat{z}$ is perpendicular to the sample plane. The size of this component varies strongly between samples and is not correlated with the NbSe$_{2}$ thickness. A torque of this form is not allowed by the bulk symmetries of NbSe$_{2}$, but is consistent with symmetry breaking by a uniaxial strain that might result during device fabrication.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Contrasting effects of Elg1–RFC and Ctf18–RFC inactivation in the absence of fully functional RFC in fission yeast

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen loading onto DNA by replication factor C (RFC) is a key step in eukaryotic DNA replication and repair processes. In this study, the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the large subunit of fission yeast RFC is shown to be essential for its function in vivo. Cells carrying a temperature-sensitive mutation in the CTD, rfc1-44, arrest with incompletely replicated chromosomes, are sensitive to DNA damaging agents, are synthetically lethal with other DNA replication mutants, and can be suppressed by mutations in rfc5. To assess the contribution of the RFC-like complexes Elg1–RFC and Ctf18–RFC to the viability of rfc1-44, genes encoding the large subunits of these complexes have been deleted and overexpressed. Inactivation of Ctf18–RFC by the deletion of ctf18(+), dcc1(+) or ctf8(+) is lethal in an rfc1-44 background showing that full Ctf18–RFC function is required in the absence of fully functional RFC. In contrast, rfc1-44 elg1Δ cells are viable and overproduction of Elg1 in rfc1-44 is lethal, suggesting that Elg1–RFC plays a negative role when RFC function is inhibited. Consistent with this, the deletion of elg1(+) is shown to restore viability to rfc1-44 ctf18Δ cells

Understanding recruitment and retention in the NHS community pharmacy stop smoking service: perceptions of smoking cessation advisers

NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (RP-PG-0609-10181