Chemistry Student Perceptions of Transferable & Workplace Skills Development

The perceptions of transferable and workplace skills development of year one and two chemistry undergraduate students at the University of Leicester were measured using two questionnaires. This group of students is taught be a variety of approaches including Problem and Context Based Learning (C/PBL). Over 60% of respondents agreed that all discipline specific and transferable skills included in the first questionnaire were important skills for chemistry graduates to have. The perceived importance of most skills does not vary between year groups but there are small increases in perceived importance for most transferable skills. In a separate questionnaire, first year students were asked to rate their skills development following a series of Context and Problem Based Learning (C/PBL) activities. "problem solving", "time management", "working in a team“ and "oral communication" were the most developed skills based on student responses. This element of the study also provided evidence to suggest that students believe the “real-world”, authentic nature of C/PBL problems may be an important factor in determining the extent of skills development.Keywords: Transferable skills, Workplace skills, Employability, Chemistry educatio

The Mechanism of Formation of N-Formylkynurenine by Heme Dioxygenases

[Image: see text] Heme dioxygenases catalyze the oxidation of l-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine (NFK), the first and rate-limiting step in tryptophan catabolism. Although recent progress has been made on early stages in the mechanism, there is currently no experimental data on the mechanism of product (NFK) formation. In this work, we have used mass spectrometry to examine product formation in a number of dioxygenases. In addition to NFK formation (m/z = 237), the data identify a species (m/z = 221) that is consistent with insertion of a single atom of oxygen into the substrate during O(2)-driven turnover. The fragmentation pattern for this m/z = 221 species is consistent with a cyclic amino acetal structure; independent chemical synthesis of the 3a-hydroxypyrroloindole-2-carboxylic acid compound is in agreement with this assignment. Labeling experiments with (18)O(2) confirm the origin of the oxygen atom as arising from O(2)-dependent turnover. These data suggest that the dioxygenases use a ring-opening mechanism during NFK formation, rather than Criegee or dioxetane mechanisms as previously proposed

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 2-9 years: Population-based burden estimates across five regions in India.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) compromise the development and attainment of full social and economic potential at individual, family, community, and country levels. Paucity of data on NDDs slows down policy and programmatic action in most developing countries despite perceived high burden. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We assessed 3,964 children (with almost equal number of boys and girls distributed in 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories) identified from five geographically diverse populations in India using cluster sampling technique (probability proportionate to population size). These were from the North-Central, i.e., Palwal (N = 998; all rural, 16.4% non-Hindu, 25.3% from scheduled caste/tribe [SC-ST] [these are considered underserved communities who are eligible for affirmative action]); North, i.e., Kangra (N = 997; 91.6% rural, 3.7% non-Hindu, 25.3% SC-ST); East, i.e., Dhenkanal (N = 981; 89.8% rural, 1.2% non-Hindu, 38.0% SC-ST); South, i.e., Hyderabad (N = 495; all urban, 25.7% non-Hindu, 27.3% SC-ST) and West, i.e., North Goa (N = 493; 68.0% rural, 11.4% non-Hindu, 18.5% SC-ST). All children were assessed for vision impairment (VI), epilepsy (Epi), neuromotor impairments including cerebral palsy (NMI-CP), hearing impairment (HI), speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID). Furthermore, 6-9-year-old children were also assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LDs). We standardized sample characteristics as per Census of India 2011 to arrive at district level and all-sites-pooled estimates. Site-specific prevalence of any of seven NDDs in 2-<6 year olds ranged from 2.9% (95% CI 1.6-5.5) to 18.7% (95% CI 14.7-23.6), and for any of nine NDDs in the 6-9-year-old children, from 6.5% (95% CI 4.6-9.1) to 18.5% (95% CI 15.3-22.3). Two or more NDDs were present in 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-1.7) to 4.3% (95% CI 2.2-8.2) in the younger age category and 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-2.0) to 5.3% (95% CI 3.3-8.2) in the older age category. All-site-pooled estimates for NDDs were 9.2% (95% CI 7.5-11.2) and 13.6% (95% CI 11.3-16.2) in children of 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories, respectively, without significant difference according to gender, rural/urban residence, or religion; almost one-fifth of these children had more than one NDD. The pooled estimates for prevalence increased by up to three percentage points when these were adjusted for national rates of stunting or low birth weight (LBW). HI, ID, speech and language disorders, Epi, and LDs were the common NDDs across sites. Upon risk modelling, noninstitutional delivery, history of perinatal asphyxia, neonatal illness, postnatal neurological/brain infections, stunting, LBW/prematurity, and older age category (6-9 year) were significantly associated with NDDs. The study sample was underrepresentative of stunting and LBW and had a 15.6% refusal. These factors could be contributing to underestimation of the true NDD burden in our population. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies NDDs in children aged 2-9 years as a significant public health burden for India. HI was higher than and ASD prevalence comparable to the published global literature. Most risk factors of NDDs were modifiable and amenable to public health interventions

Chemical and bio-analytical studies on Pergularia tomentosa and species from the Mentha genus

In this study samples of plant species Pergularia tomentosa; family Asclepiadaceae were collected from the Sultanate of Oman and extracted with organic solvents. These extracts were screened for their relative total phenol content, total antioxidant and anti-microbial properties. This species of plants has been traditionally used in Oman and much of the Middle East for the treatment of skin diseases, as abortive agents and as a laxative. The ethanolic extract of the plant was shown to possess anti-oxidant activity (inhibition of DPPH• radical), which is related to their phenolic content and also anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Partial purification of these extracts (and associated anti-oxidant activity) has also been achieved by a combination of column chromatography and HPLC. Although complete structural elucidation of the compounds present within the extracts has not been possible, NMR analysis has indicated the presence of certain functional groups. Antioxidant activities of the extracts have been determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•) assay and phospho-molybdate method. Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine total phenolic contents. In order to detect anti-bacterial activities of extracts a preliminary screening study was performed by using Varioskan spectrophotometer (Transgalactic Ltd). The second objective of this thesis describes the overall phenotypic relationships of the mint species and their interspecific hybrids and to provide some additional vision as to the development of the cultivated mint plants. Protocols for the extraction (microwave) and analysis (GC-MS) of the essential oil content within fresh and historical (dried) mint leave samples have been developed. By applying these methods to samples from both parental and hybrid mint species and carrying out a Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) analysis we have been able to determine the relationship between essential oil composition and parental genus.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Comparison of Individual and Combined Effects of Ankle Strengthening and Proprioception Training on Balance Performance in Elderly Women

Abstract: Decreased mobility among older women is often related to a combination of impairments i

Cationic functionalisation of cellulose using a choline based ionic liquid analogue

The efficient cationic functionalisation of cellulose is demonstrated using an ionic liquid analogue, based on a eutectic mixture of a choline chloride derivative and urea, which acts as both solvent and reagent. It was determined that all the available hydroxyl groups on cellulose had been modified