AccessLab: Workshops to broaden access to scientific research

AccessLabs are workshops with two simultaneous motivations, achieved through direct citizen-scientist pairings: (1) to decentralise research skills so that a broader range of people are able to access/use scientific research, and (2) to expose science researchers to the difficulties of using their research as an outsider, creating new open access advocates. Five trial AccessLabs have taken place for policy makers, media/journalists, marine sector participants, community groups, and artists. The act of pairing science academics with local community members helps build understanding and trust between groups at a time when this relationship appears to be under increasing threat from different political and economic currents in society. Here, we outline the workshop motivations, format, and evaluation, with the aim that others can build on the methods developed

At the extremes of exclusion: Deportation, detention and dispersal

Deportation, detention and dispersal have formed an occasional part of Britain's migration regime throughout the twentieth century, though they tended to be used in response to particular events or “crises”. By the end of the twentieth century, however, deportation, detention and, most recently, dispersal have become “normalized”, “essential” instruments in the ongoing attempt to control or manage immigration to Britain. This article outlines the use of detention, deportation and dispersal in the twentieth century exploring how they have evolved and then become an integral part of the migration regime into the twenty-first century. Where appropriate, British practices are compared with those of its European neighbours, where to differing degrees, deportation, detention and dispersal have also become everyday practices. In examining these practices in Britain, we consider the rationale and stated aims of their employment, as well as describing some of the consequences, where known, of detention, deportation and dispersal

Building leaders for the UN Ocean Science Decade : a guide to supporting early career women researchers within academic marine research institutions

Diverse and inclusive marine research is paramount to addressing ocean sustainability challenges in the 21st century, as envisioned by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Despite increasing efforts to diversify ocean science, women continue to face barriers at various stages of their career, which inhibits their progression to leadership within academic institutions. In this perspective, we draw on the collective experiences of thirty-four global women leaders, bolstered by a narrative review, to identify practical strategies and actions that will help empower early career women researchers to become the leaders of tomorrow. We propose five strategies: (i) create a more inclusive culture, (ii) ensure early and equitable career development opportunities for women ECRs, (iii) ensure equitable access to funding for women ECRs, (iv) offer mentoring opportunities and, (v) create flexible, family-friendly environments. Transformational, meaningful, and lasting change will only be achieved through commitment and collaborative action across various scales and by multiple stakeholders.Peer reviewe

A DNA Barcode Library for North American Ephemeroptera: Progress and Prospects

DNA barcoding of aquatic macroinvertebrates holds much promise as a tool for taxonomic research and for providing the reliable identifications needed for water quality assessment programs. A prerequisite for identification using barcodes is a reliable reference library. We gathered 4165 sequences from the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene representing 264 nominal and 90 provisional species of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. No species shared barcode sequences and all can be identified with barcodes with the possible exception of some Caenis. Minimum interspecific distances ranged from 0.3–24.7% (mean: 12.5%), while the average intraspecific divergence was 1.97%. The latter value was inflated by the presence of very high divergences in some taxa. In fact, nearly 20% of the species included two or three haplotype clusters showing greater than 5.0% sequence divergence and some values are as high as 26.7%. Many of the species with high divergences are polyphyletic and likely represent species complexes. Indeed, many of these polyphyletic species have numerous synonyms and individuals in some barcode clusters show morphological attributes characteristic of the synonymized species. In light of our findings, it is imperative that type or topotype specimens be sequenced to correctly associate barcode clusters with morphological species concepts and to determine the status of currently synonymized species

Combined Point-of-Care Nucleic Acid and Antibody Testing for SARS-CoV-2 following Emergence of D614G Spike Variant

Rapid COVID-19 diagnosis in the hospital is essential, although this is complicated by 30%–50% of nose/throat swabs being negative by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Furthermore, the D614G spike mutant dominates the pandemic and it is unclear how serological tests designed to detect anti-spike antibodies perform against this variant. We assess the diagnostic accuracy of combined rapid antibody point of care (POC) and nucleic acid assays for suspected COVID-19 disease due to either wild-type or the D614G spike mutant SARS-CoV-2. The overall detection rate for COVID-19 is 79.2% (95% CI 57.8–92.9) by rapid NAAT alone. The combined point of care antibody test and rapid NAAT is not affected by D614G and results in very high sensitivity for COVID-19 diagnosis with very high specificity

Building leaders for the UN Ocean Science Decade: a guide to supporting early career women researchers within academic marine research institutions

Diverse and inclusive marine research is paramount to addressing ocean sustainability challenges in the 21st century, as envisioned by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Despite increasing efforts to diversify ocean science, women continue to face barriers at various stages of their career, which inhibits their progression to leadership within academic institutions. In this perspective, we draw on the collective experiences of thirty-four global women leaders, bolstered by a narrative review, to identify practical strategies and actions that will help empower early career women researchers to become the leaders of tomorrow. We propose five strategies: (i) create a more inclusive culture, (ii) ensure early and equitable career development opportunities for women ECRs, (iii) ensure equitable access to funding for women ECRs, (iv) offer mentoring opportunities and, (v) create flexible, family-friendly environments. Transformational, meaningful, and lasting change will only be achieved through commitment and collaborative action across various scales and by multiple stakeholders

Combined point of care nucleic acid and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 following emergence of D614G Spike Variant

Rapid COVID-19 diagnosis in hospital is essential, though complicated by 30-50% of nose/throat swabs being negative by SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). Furthermore, the D614G spike mutant now dominates the pandemic and it is unclear how serological tests designed to detect anti-Spike antibodies perform against this variant. We assess the diagnostic accuracy of combined rapid antibody point of care (POC) and nucleic acid assays for suspected COVID-19 disease due to either wild type or the D614G spike mutant SARS-CoV-2. The overall detection rate for COVID-19 is 79.2% (95CI 57.8-92.9%) by rapid NAAT alone. Combined point of care antibody test and rapid NAAT is not impacted by D614G and results in very high sensitivity for COVID-19 diagnosis with very high specificity

Synthese und Struktur von Ni(2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃N=CHCH=NC₆H₃-2,6-ⁱPr₂)₂

Ni(cdt)** reacts with two equivalents of the sterically highly demanding 1,4-diazadiene 2,6-iPr2C6H3N=CH-CH=NC6H3-2,6-iPr2 to yield the red-brown, crystalline title compound Ni(2,6-iPr2Ph-dad)2 (3). The existence of this compound was previously uncertain. 1H and 13C NMR, MS, and UV/VIS spectra of 3 are reported. The X-ray structure analysis of 3 revealed a strongly distored tetrahedral coordination of the nickel center with a dihedral angle of 51-degrees between the planes of the chelate rings and mean bond lengths Ni-N 1.965(4) angstrom and N=CH 1.308(5) angstrom. The poorly soluble compound appears to be rather unreactive because of the bulk of the ligands

Syntheses, Structures, and Complexation Properties of Photoresponsive Crownophanes

A set of tethered bis-benzophenone or -benzaldehyde derivatives was subjected to intramolecular McMurry reactions, thus affording hybrids with cyclophane and crown ether substructures (“crownophanes”). All macrocycles were formed in reasonable yields even at rather high concentrations. A comparative study showed that low-valent titanium [Ti] exerts a strong template effect whereas alkali metal salts accumulating during its preparation have only little influence upon the preorganization of the substrates in a favorable podand-like conformation. Ester linkages in the tethers turned out to be only partly compatible with the reaction conditions. Crystal structures of crownophanes 7, 8, and 12 are described. A 1H- and 13C-NMR study on the complexation of Ag(+1) by 8 and 10 revealed that the endocyclic arene entities rather than the polyether chains are the major sites of interaction of the cation with its host

{Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]stannio(II)}bis(η²-ethen)nickel(0) und verwandte Verbindungen, Teil II

The coordinatively unsaturated (16e) (ethene)nickel(0) stannylene complex (C2H4)2Ni=Sn{CH(SiMe3)2}2 (1) reacts with 1,6-heptadiene with preservation of the Ni=Sn bond to yield quantitatively the 1,6-diene derivative (η2,η2-C7H12)Ni=Sn-{CH(SiMe3)2}2 (2). The alkene ligands of both 1 and 2 are readily displaceable. Compounds 1 and 2 react with butadiene at −50°C by a 4-e oxidation of the metal-metal pair Ni(0)/Sn(II) to Ni(II)/Sn(IV) and concomitant reduction of two butadiene molecules to butenediyl moieties to afford stereo-selectively the 16-e complex Ni-cis-{η3(Ni),η1(Sn)-anti-C3H4CH2}2Sn{CH(SiMe3)2}2 (3). Similarly, the reaction of 1 or 2 with isoprene yields regio- and stereoselectively the derivative Ni-cis-{η3(Ni,η1(Sn)-anti-C3(3-Me)H3CH2}2Sn{CH-(SiMe3)2}2 (4). These reactions imply the cleavage of one formal Ni-Sn bond and the formation of two new Sn-C bonds. Upon reaction of 3 with PMe3 the configuration of the allyl system changes and, again fully stereoselectively, the 18-e addition compound (Me3P)Ni-cis-{η3(Ni),η1(Sn)-syn-C3H4-CH2}2Sn{CH(SiMe3)2}2 (5) is formed. When 5 is treated with BPh3, the phosphane ligand is trapped and, kinetically controlled, Ni-cis-{η3(Ni),η1(Sn)-syn-C3H4CH2}2Sn{CH(SiMe3)2}2 (6) is obtained as a stereoisomer of 3. At 40°C 6 slowly rearranges into the thermodynamically stable stereoisomer Ni-trans-{η3(Ni),η1(Sn)-syn-C3H4CH2}2Sn{CH(SiMe3)2}2 (7). Mild protolysis of 3 with pyridine hydrochloride or hydrobromide affords region and stereoselectively (Me3Si)2CH}2(X)SnNi-(η3-1-MeC3H4)(NC5H5) (X = C1, 8a; Br, 8b). In the course of this protonation reaction one butadiene molecule is eliminated, accompanied by a 2-e reduction of the metal-metal pair Ni(II)/Sn(IV) to Ni(II)/Sn(II) and, at the expense of two Sn-C bonds, reformation of a Ni-Sn bond. All compounds are isolated in high yield and fully characterized by 1H-, 13C-, and 31P-NMR spectroscopy