Renal pathology in a mouse model of severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy is associated with downregulation of Glial Cell-Line Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF)

Acknowledgements: We would like to acknowledge the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility members; Kevin Mackenzie, Debbie Wilkinson, Gillian Milne and Lucy Wight at the University of Aberdeen, and Margaret Mullin at the Glasgow Imaging Facility, University of Glasgow, for their support, assistance and use of the facilities. Funding: SMA Europe and an Anatomical Society PhD Studentship to S.H.P. and H.A.; the Deutsche Muskelstiftung (E-2019-01 to P.C.)Peer reviewedPostprin

Introduction - Professor Jim Rhodes, Founding Editor

This special edition of the Journal comprises the collection of papers presented at a conference held at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, to celebrate the work of Professor Jim Rhodes. The conference theme, Thin Walled Structures, encapsulates the technical field in which Professor Rhodes has been at the forefront for over 40 years. Indeed, it is appropriate that the conference bore the same name as the present Journal, which Professor Rhodes founded in 1983. The special event, held over 2 days, focussed on five specific technical themes, which Professor Rhodes has contributed to over the years, namely Cold Formed Steel (6 papers)-Chaired by Dr. Martin MacDonald, Glasgow Caledonian University; Buckling and Thin Walled Systems (7 papers)-Chaired by Professor Joe Loughlan, Loughborough University; Impact and Dynamical Systems (5 papers)-Chaired by Dr. Marcus Wheel, University of Strathclyde; Composites (5 papers)-Chaired by Professor William M. Banks, University of Strathclyde; Plates and Shells (9 papers)-Chaired by Dr. David Nash, University of Strathclyde

George Baillie on peptide array, a technique that transformed research on phosphodiesterases

George Baillie speaks to Francesca Lake (Managing Editor, Future Science OA). George Baillie is a Professor and PI within the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow (Glasgow, UK). His research over the last 15 years has examined many aspects of the cAMP signaling pathway in disease and he has published over 140 papers on the subject. His major discovery was that phosphodiesterases are ‘compartmentalized’, and it is their location within cells that direct their function. The Baillie/Houslay laboratory was the first to discover a specific function for a single isoform of PDE4 (namely PDE4D5 with β-arrestin desensitizes the β2-adrenergic receptor). His laboratory has since gone on to ascribe functions to several other PDE4 isoforms. He is a founder and director of Sannox Therapeutics, a spin-out venture within University of Glasgow. He is also a member of the Editorial Board of Future Science OA and Co-Editor of Cellular Signalling

Achieving an "enlightened" publications policy at the University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow has led the way in open access developments since 2001. This article charts the progress of open access at Glasgow through the development of the DAEDALUS Project in 2002 to the launch of the University's repository, Enlighten. Key factors leading to the recent announcement of a mandate for the deposit of research publications are discussed, including the impact of the Research Assessment Exercise and the need for a central publications database at Glasgow

Natural history contributions of the University of Glasgow Exploration Society to Scotland and the World

Expeditions with a natural history focus have been organised by University of Glasgow staff and students since the 1930s. The educational benefits of such expeditions to students have been reported by Harper et al. ( Journal of Biological Education 51, 3- 16; 2017). Here, we present a short history of these expeditions, concentrating on their scientific achievements. In addition to expedition reports, a large number of PhD theses, masters and honours project reports and scientific papers have been based on expedition work. Many biological specimens have been deposited in museums, including some new species. We provide case histories of four expedition locations, to demonstrate the variety of work done, and the value of returning many times to the same place: Scotland, Trinidad and Tobago, North Cyprus and Ecuador. A major problem for expeditions is funding. For many years, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland ran a funding stream that was crucial to the viability of Scottish university expeditions, but this has sadly now closed. For Glasgow University expeditions, the Blodwen Lloyd Binns Bequest has provided a reliable source since 1994, and we hope that it will continue to do so

Mapping memories. Exploring intangible heritage through playwriting: an architextural approach

This research is part of an AHRC funded Practice-as-Research PhD currently being undertaken at the University of Glasgow under the supervision of Professor Deirdre Heddon, Dr. Victoria Price and Dr. Graham Eatough. My participation in the Dramatic Architectures conference has been funded by the University of Glasgow through a Research Training Support Grant. This work was published in a book funded by national funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the project UIDB/04041/2020 (Centro de Estudos Arnaldo Araújo).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GAELS Project Final Report: Information environment for engineering

The GAELS project was a collaboration commenced in 1999 between Glasgow University Library and Strathclyde University Library with two main aims:· to develop collaborative information services in support of engineering research at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde· to develop a CAL (computer-aided learning package) package in advanced information skills for engineering research students and staff The project was funded by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) from their Strategic Change Initiative funding stream, and funding was awarded initially for one year, with an extension of the grant for a further year. The project ended in June 2001.The funding from SHEFC paid for two research assistants, one based at Glasgow University Library working on collaborative information services and one based at Strathclyde University Library developing courseware. Latterly, after these two research assistants left to take up other posts, there has been a single researcher based at Glasgow University Library.The project was funded to investigate the feasibility of new services to the Engineering Faculties at both Universities, with a view to making recommendations for service provision that can be developed for other subject areas

Implementing electronic theses at the University of Glasgow: Cultural challenges

Many UK university libraries are actively engaged in the process of introducing electronic theses to their institutions. This article describes the strategies that have been adopted by staff at Glasgow University Library in trying to implement electronic theses and the challenge that have been faced. The article concludes that a number of lessons have been learned from the experience and presents further strategies that have subsequently been developed. External developments, which may help speed up the transition to electronic theses, are also detailed

Searching for 'a third space’: a creative pathway towards international PhD students’ academic acculturation

Undertaking a PhD is a challenging endeavour. Pursuing a doctoral education in a ‘foreign’ context tends to increase the demands of this intellectual venture. The nature of research-based PhD programmes, often characterised by a lack of formal curricula where academic supervision lasts several years, may add another layer of complexity. Drawing upon an extended version of Urie Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological theory of human development, this paper attempts to offer a greater understanding of both academic and non-academic concerns confronting international PhD students with a view to highlighting their implications for institutional policy and practice. Underpinned by a visual metaphor approach, our research findings advocate embedding the use of ‘a third space’ as a creative pathway and strategy for maximising students’ chances of achieving a successful PhD academic acculturation journey