Integration of digital video sequences and supportive interactive animations into the Level 1 module Introductory Microbiology, to enhance the delivery and effectiveness of experimental microbiology.

Report of a CELT project on supporting students through innovation and researchFrom a previous innovations project during 2002/2003, the feasibility of producing and editing digital video of experimental microbiological procedures was established. The digital video was produced for eventual use on the Level 1 Introductory Microbiology within the University of Wolverhampton virtual learning environment (WOLF), to improve an understanding of the principles and practice of experimental procedures encountered on the module. In addition to the video sequences, supportive animations of the practical exercises were produced, to be viewed eventually by students in association with the video also via WOLF. The end of the previous project had produced several video and animation sequences, although these had not, at that time, been added to the WOLF topic. To provide an effective package of video and animation sequences to fully support the practical component of the module, more sequences were required, together with refinement of existing material. In addition, following integration into the WOLF topic, an analysis of the effectiveness of the sequences, in supporting an understanding of the theory and practice of the experimental exercises, was considered to be of value

Bioinformatics of Recent Aqua- and Orthoreovirus Isolates from Fish: Evolutionary Gain or Loss of FAST and Fiber Proteins and Taxonomic Implications

Family Reoviridae, subfamily Spinareovirinae, includes nine current genera. Two of these genera, Aquareovirus and Orthoreovirus, comprise members that are closely related and consistently share nine homologous proteins. Orthoreoviruses have 10 dsRNA genome segments and infect reptiles, birds, and mammals, whereas aquareoviruses have 11 dsRNA genome segments and infect fish. Recently, the first 10-segmented fish reovirus, piscine reovirus (PRV), has been identified and shown to be phylogenetically divergent from the 11-segmented viruses constituting genus Aquareovirus. We have recently extended results for PRV by showing that it does not encode a fusion-associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein, but does encode an outer-fiber protein containing a long N-terminal region of predicted α-helical coiled coil. Three recently characterized 11-segmented fish reoviruses, obtained from grass carp in China and sequenced in full, are also divergent from the viruses now constituting genus Aquareovirus, though not to the same extent as PRV. In the current study, we reexamined the sequences of these three recent isolates of grass carp reovirus (GCRV)–HZ08, GD108, and 104–for further clues to their evolution relative to other aqua- and orthoreoviruses. Structure-based fiber motifs in their encoded outer-fiber proteins were characterized, and other bioinformatics analyses provided evidence against the presence of a FAST protein among their encoded nonstructural proteins. Phylogenetic comparisons showed the combination of more distally branching, approved Aquareovirus and Orthoreovirus members, plus more basally branching isolates GCRV104, GCRV-HZ08/GD108, and PRV, constituting a larger, monophyletic taxon not suitably recognized by the current taxonomic hierarchy. Phylogenetics also suggested that the last common ancestor of all these viruses was a fiber-encoding, nonfusogenic virus and that the FAST protein family arose from at least two separate gain-of-function events. In addition, an apparent evolutionary correlation was found between the gain or loss of NS-FAST and outer-fiber proteins among more distally branching members of this taxon

Generation and Genetic Characterization of Avian Reovirus Temperature-Sensitive Mutants

AbstractThere currently is little known about the genetic and biological functions of avian reovirus (ARV), an atypical member of the family Reoviridae and the prototype of all nonenveloped viruses that induce syncytia formation. In this study, we created ARV temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants by chemical mutagenesis of ARV strain 138. We developed a novel efficiency of lysis (EOL) screening technique and used it and the classical efficiency of plating (EOP) assay to identify 17 ARV ts mutants. Pairwise mixed infections of these mutants and evaluation of recombinant progeny ts status led to their organization into seven recombination groups. This indicates that these new groups of mutants represent the majority of the ARV genome. To phenotypically characterize the ts mutants, progeny double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced at permissive and nonpermissive temperature was measured. Some mutants were capable of dsRNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature (RNA+), which indicates the effects of their ts lesions occur after RNA replication. Most mutants were RNA−, which suggests their mutations affect stages in viral replication that precede progeny genome synthesis

The emergence and evolution of City Deals in Scotland

There is a resurgent policy emphasis on the role of city-regions as drivers of economic growth. Officials and leaders in such metropolitan areas, however, are confronted with challenges relating to administrative fragmentation, achieving alignment with national policy objectives, and demonstrating the capabilities to plan, finance and deliver effective policy interventions and investments. As a response to these challenges, policymakers are fashioning new governance arrangements, attached to experimental policy mechanisms, to develop urban policy. Of note, City Deals have recently emerged in the UK, and this paper charts their evolution across the UK, with a focus on the devolved administrations in particular. The paper ends with some reflections and questions about their roll out in Scotland

Effect of alcohol addition on the movement of petroleum hydrocarbon fuels in soil

Groundwater contamination by fuel spills from aboveground and underground storage tanks has been of growing concern in recent years. This problem has been magnified by the addition of oxygenates, such as ethanol and methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) to fuels to reduce vehicular emissions to the atmosphere. These additives, although beneficial in reducing atmospheric pollution, may, however, increase groundwater contamination due to the co-solvency of petroleum hydrocarbons and by the provision of a preferential substrate for microbial utilisation. With the introduction of ethanol to diesel fuel imminent and the move away from MTBE use in many states of the USA, the environmental implications associated with ethanol additive fuels must be thoroughly investigated. Diesel fuel movement was followed in a 1-m soil column and the effect of ethanol addition to diesel fuel on this movement determined. The addition of 51% ethanol to diesel fuel was found to enhance the downward migration of the diesel fuel components, thus increasing the risk of groundwater contamination. A novel method using soil packcd HPLC columns allowed the influence of ethanol on individual aromatic hydrocarbon movement to be studied. The levels of ethanol addition investigated were at the current additive level (approx. 25%) for ethanol additive fuels in Brazil and values above (50%) and below (10%) this level. An aqueous ethanol concentration above 10% was required for any movement to occur. At 25% aqueous ethanol, the majority of hydrocarbons were mobilised and the retention behaviour of the soil column lessened. At 50% aqueous ethanol, all the hydrocarbons were found to move unimpeded through the columns. The retention behaviour of the soil was found to change significantly when both organic matter content and silt/clay content was reduced. Unexpectedly, sandy soil with low organic matter and low silt/clay was found to have a retentive behaviour similar to sandy subsoil with moderate silt/clay, but little organic matter. It was concluded that sand grains might have a more important role in the adsorption of petroleum hydrocarbons than first realised. This method has shown that soil packed HPLC columns can be used to provide a quick estimate of petroleum hydrocarbon, and possibly other organic contaminant, movement in a variety of different soil types

Effects of sprayer operating parameters on airborne drift from citrus air-carrier sprayers

Florida citrus is mostly sprayed with various types of air-carrier sprayers.  These sprayers differ substantially in design features and are normally operated at different volume rates and ground speeds, during day and night applications.  The main objective of this study was to characterize drift potential (not total drift) of several commonly used citrus sprayers when operated under typical application conditions (different operating variables).  Drift potential of the applications was assessed by capturing samples of airborne spray droplets with two high-volume air samplers, positioned above tree canopies at two sides of the spray course.  For most applications, higher spray volumes (larger droplets) showed significantly reduced drift potential than lower volumes.  Higher ground speed appeared to have more drift potential compared to lower speed but the effect of speed was not significant.  Nozzles with comparatively lower flow rates (smaller droplets) were generally more drift-prone than the ones with higher flow rates (larger droplets) and spray from the upper nozzle bank had higher drift potential than spray from lower nozzles.  These results are comparative and could show the importance of optimizing spray variables to reduce drift from typical citrus applications.Keywords: spray drift, spray volume rate, sprayer ground speed, air sampler, fluorometry