The role of leisure activities in the wellbeing of musicians

This thesis addresses two research questions: 1a) How much leisure time do music students at conservatoires and universities, and amateur and professional musicians, have? 1b) How do they choose to spend it? and 2) To what extent do music students at conservatoires and universities, and professional musicians, find music making in their leisure time beneficial for their health and wellbeing? A review of literature pertaining to three areas was carried out. Research in the field of leisure studies demonstrates that leisure time is important and engaging in leisure activities can facilitate health and wellbeing. Research on everyday uses of music shows that music making can also have a wide range of benefits for people’s health and wellbeing when part of an intervention, or when it is engaged in as a leisure pursuit, at an amateur level. Nevertheless, research on musicians demonstrates that music making at a professional level can pose many challenges to music students and professional musicians’ physical health and psychological wellbeing. No research has yet combined these three areas to investigate music students’ and professional musicians’ experiences of leisure and wellbeing. Pilot interviews were designed and carried out with a convenience sample of seven conservatoire students and professional musicians to investigate if the topic of musicians’ leisure time was worth pursuing, to obtain some preliminary findings to inform the design of a survey. This was designed and distributed to a total of 637 university and conservatoire students, and amateur and professional musicians, to measure their wellbeing, satisfaction with life and work orientation, and to investigate how much leisure time they had, how they spent it and the extent to which their leisure activities contributed to their wellbeing. Finally, follow-up interviews were conducted with a sub-set of 16 survey respondents to investigate the second research question further. The results indicate that musicians have leisure time or make time for leisure activities because they consider leisure important for their wellbeing. Musicians engage in both musical and non-musical leisure activities and find them beneficial to a large extent. Musical leisure activities are either different from, or contribute to, their studies or their work. They also remind them of their love for music making when they are disillusioned by their work. Musicians engage in non-musical leisure activities to escape from music. In their role as musicians they undertake a range of musical activities and consider some of them as leisure even though they might be paid for doing them. It can be difficult for musicians to distinguish between work and leisure because of the enjoyment they obtained from making music when it was merely a hobby, and the passion they feel towards it. In the conclusion to the thesis it is recommended that musicians should spend more time on leisure activities and use their leisure time to engage in activities that improve their general wellbeing. The thesis ends by outlining the implications of this research and making suggestions for future research

Arboricultural Assessment of Street Trees in Colombo City, Sri Lanka

Roadside trees are beneficial for providing ecological services, such as heat absorbance, natural air conditioning, and reducing GHG emissions in urban landscapes. This study examines the tree structure, species composition, species diversity, and some field observations (i.e. tree structural defects and disorders) on roadside trees in Colombo City. The vegetation parameters, such as diameter-at-breast height (DBH), tree height, and crown radius were measured in each tree. Purposive random sampling was adapted to invent street trees along High-level Road (Nugegoda to Tummulla junction), Bauddhaloka Mawatha (Tummulla junction to Borella Cemetery junction),Viharamahadevi Park circle and suburbs, Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha-Sri Jayawardanapura Mawatha (Kollupitia to Rajagiriya), Jawatta Road, Torinton Avenue and Keppitipola road. A total of 1458 street trees belonging to 92 species, 71 genera and 33 families were recorded along the roadways of Colombo City expanding ca. 20 km in length. Average 41±18 trees were located per kilometer. The survey shows that 64% of the species were exotic and 36% were indigenous species, reflecting the trend towards planting more exotic tree species in streets in recent past. The most dominant street trees were Albizia saman [% Relative Density (RD)=8; % Relative Basal Area (RBA)=34, % Relative Crown Cover (RCC)=30] and Peltophorum pterocarpum [% RD=11; % RBA=16; % RCC=19]. The highest number of trees was recorded from Public Library to Town Hall via Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha (69 trees/km and 36 spp./km) and the most diverse tree species composition was found along Marcus Fernando Mawatha (66 trees/km and 52 spp./km) at Viharamahadevi Park circle. In conclusion, maintaining urban forest inventories, silvicultural managing of street trees from Ficus invasion, and introducing suitable native trees viz., Lagerstroemia speciose (Murutha), Pongamia pinnata (Magul-Karanda), Barringtonia asiatica (Mudilla) and Phyllanthus emblica (Nelli) for future tree planting areas will be recommended.Keywords: Street trees, Forest inventory, Silvicultural management, Colombo cit

iPrevent®: a tailored, web-based, decision support tool for breast cancer risk assessment and management

We aimed to develop a user-centered, web-based, decision support tool for breast cancer risk assessment and personalized risk management. Using a novel model choice algorithm, iPrevent® selects one of two validated breast cancer risk estimation models (IBIS or BOADICEA), based on risk factor data entered by the user. Resulting risk estimates are presented in simple language and graphic formats for easy comprehension. iPrevent® then presents risk-adapted, evidence-based, guideline-endorsed management options. Development was an iterative process with regular feedback from multidisciplinary experts and consumers. To verify iPrevent®, risk factor data for 127 cases derived from the Australian Breast Cancer Family Study were entered into iPrevent®, IBIS (v7.02), and BOADICEA (v3.0). Consistency of the model chosen by iPrevent® (i.e., IBIS or BOADICEA) with the programmed iPrevent® model choice algorithm was assessed. Estimated breast cancer risks from iPrevent® were compared with those attained directly from the chosen risk assessment model (IBIS or BOADICEA). Risk management interventions displayed by iPrevent® were assessed for appropriateness. Risk estimation model choice was 100% consistent with the programmed iPrevent®logic. Discrepant 10-year and residual lifetime risk estimates of >1% were found for 1 and 4 cases, respectively, none was clinically significant (maximal variation 1.4%). Risk management interventions suggested by iPrevent® were 100% appropriate. iPrevent® successfully integrates the IBIS and BOADICEA risk assessment models into a decision support tool that provides evidence-based, risk-adapted risk management advice. This may help to facilitate precision breast cancer prevention discussions between women and their healthcare providers

Structural insights into the catalysis and regulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases

Covalent attachment (conjugation) of one or more ubiquitin molecules to protein substrates governs numerous eukaryotic cellular processes, including apoptosis, cell division and immune responses. Ubiquitylation was originally associated with protein degradation, but it is now clear that ubiquitylation also mediates processes such as protein–protein interactions and cell signalling depending on the type of ubiquitin conjugation. Ubiquitin ligases (E3s) catalyse the final step of ubiquitin conjugation by transferring ubiquitin from ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) to substrates. In humans, more than 600 E3s contribute to determining the fates of thousands of substrates; hence, E3s need to be tightly regulated to ensure accurate substrate ubiquitylation. Recent findings illustrate how E3s function on a structural level and how they coordinate with E2s and substrates to meticulously conjugate ubiquitin. Insights regarding the mechanisms of E3 regulation, including structural aspects of their autoinhibition and activation are also emerging

Multidrug efflux pumps:structure, function and regulation

Infections arising from multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria are spreading rapidly throughout the world and threaten to become untreatable. The origins of resistance are numerous and complex, but one underlying factor is the capacity of bacteria to rapidly export drugs through the intrinsic activity of efflux pumps. In this Review, we describe recent advances that have increased our understanding of the structures and molecular mechanisms of multidrug efflux pumps in bacteria. Clinical and laboratory data indicate that efflux pumps function not only in the drug extrusion process but also in virulence and the adaptive responses that contribute to antimicrobial resistance during infection. The emerging picture of the structure, function and regulation of efflux pumps suggests opportunities for countering their activities

A Review of Wine Authentication Using Spectroscopic Approaches in Combination with Chemometrics

In a global context where trading of wines involves considerable economic value, the requirement to guarantee wine authenticity can never be underestimated. With the ever-increasing advancements in analytical platforms, research into spectroscopic methods is thriving as they offer a powerful tool for rapid wine authentication. In particular, spectroscopic techniques have been identified as a user-friendly and economical alternative to traditional analyses involving more complex instrumentation that may not readily be deployable in an industry setting. Chemometrics plays an indispensable role in the interpretation and modelling of spectral data and is frequently used in conjunction with spectroscopy for sample classification. Considering the variety of available techniques under the banner of spectroscopy, this review aims to provide an update on the most popular spectroscopic approaches and chemometric data analysis procedures that are applicable to wine authentication

Delayed Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism Six Months after Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case Report

Introduction: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been one of the most globally impactful diseases. It has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the acute stage. Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), particularly pulmonary embolism is well associated in the acute stages. Occurrence after initial recovery remains a rare encounter. Case Presentation: A 49-year-old previously healthy gentleman was admitted following an acute onset severe shortness of breath. On examination he was tachypneic, tachycardic with clear lungs on auscultation. He had a S1Q3T3 pattern on his ECG with elevated d-dimer. Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiogram revealed bilateral pulmonary embolism. There were no risk factors for VTE other than a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection 6 months back with persistent low grade systemic inflammation. Malignancy and thrombophilia screening was  negative. Conclusion: This case report highlights the possibility of the pro-coagulopathy state caused by SARS-Cov-2 virus infection to persist for a prolonged period even following a mild clinical infection. It raises the concern regarding the need for prolonged anticoagulation even after recovering from the initial infection