Filament structure and phosphatase activity in the Rivulariaceae

A study was carried out on phosphatase activity, phosphate uptake and its relationship to hair formation in the Rivulariaceae. The Rivulariaceae was chosen as it is a widespread taxon, where hair formation is a common occurrence, and previous studies indicated that they originate from environments where a large proportion of the phosphorus (P) is present as organic P. It seems possible that hair-forming Rivulariaceae are especially well adapted to utilize organic P. Initially 51 axenic cyanobacterial strains, from 10 genera, were screened for yields using organic P sources and for cell-bound and extracellular phosphomonoesterase (PMEase) and phosphodiesterase (PDEase) activities. All strains exhibited detectable inducible PMEase activities, and highest cell-bound PMEase activities were in hair-forming Rivulariaceae. Synechococcus had significantly low cell-bound phosphatase activities and five strains were unable to hydrolyze phytic acid. PDEase activities were lower compared to PMEase activities in all strains. Strains isolated from deepwater rice habitats had significantly higher levels of PDEase activity. In the three Calothrix strains tested, Calothrix 202, 550 and 603, inducible phosphatase activities were similar whether the P source was inorganic or organic. PMEase synthesis in these strains began when cellular P (% dry wt) values were in the range 0.60 - 1.0%. Differences in the influence of environmental variables on cell-bound and extracellular PMEase activities in hair-forming Calothrix 550 were slight, suggesting that PMEases in the two fractions had a common origin. Of the eleven ions tested Ca had the most pronounced stimulatory effect on PMEase activity. Localization of enzyme activity in Calothrix 550 suggested that the enzyme was bound to a surface. Partial purification of an extracellular PMEase fraction detected four bands of PMEase activity on a non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel. Three of the four bands were associated with carbohydrate and the bands were not extractable by mechanical means. Localization of PMEase activity in hair-forming strains by azo dye (naphthol AS-MX) and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) showed that PMEase activity was associated with hair cells. Phosphate uptake experiments with Calothrix 253 and 550 suggested that uptake at high external phosphate concentrations was located in hair cells. NaCl, above 67.5 mM, inhibited hair formation and subsequently phosphatase activity in Calothrix 253 and 690. Addition of mannitol or sorbitol had no effect on hair formation, suggesting inhibition of hair formation was not an osmotic effect. Removal of P-deficient cultures from saline to freshwater media led to a marked synchronization of hair formation (in 90% of trichomes) and increase in cell-bound PMEase activity. Localization of cell-bound PMEase activity by light microscopy, using naphthol AS-MX, detected activity in the hair cells

Factors determining the integration of nutritional genomics into clinical practice by registered dietitians

YesPersonalized nutrition has the potential to improve health, prevent disease and reduce healthcare expenditure. Whilst research hints at positive consumer attitudes towards personalized nutrition that draws upon lifestyle, phenotypic and genotypic data, little is known about the degree to which registered dietitians (RD) are engaged in the delivery of such services. This review sought to determine possible factors associated with the integration of the emerging science of Nutritional Genomics (NGx) into the clinical practice setting by practicing registered dietitians. Scope Search of online databases (Pubmed; National Library of Medicine; Cochrane Library; Ovid Medline) was conducted on material published from January 2000 to December 2014. Studies that sampled practicing dietitians and investigated integration or application of NGx and genetics knowledge into practice were eligible. Articles were assessed according to the American Dietetic Association Quality Criteria Checklist. Key findings Application of nutritional genomics in practice has been limited. Reluctance to integrate NGx into practice is associated with low awareness of NGx, a lack of confidence in the science surrounding NGx and skepticism toward Direct to consumer (DTC) products. Successful application to practice was associated with knowledge about NGx, having confidence in the science, a positive attitude toward NGx, access to DTC products, a supportive working environment, working in the clinical setting rather than the public health domain and being in private rather than public practice. Conclusions There is a need to provide RGs with a supportive working environment that provides ongoing training in NGx and which is integrated with clinical practice

D-term Inflation and Nonperturbative Kahler Potential of Dilaton

We study the $D$-term inflation scenario with a nonperturbative K\"ahler potential of the dilaton field. Although the FI term which leads an inflationary expansion is given by the derivative of the K\"ahler potential with respect to the dilaton in heterotic string models with anomalous U(1), the too large magnitude is problematic for a viable $D$-term inflation. In this paper, we point out that the K\"ahler potential with a nonperturbative term can reduce the magnitude of FI term to desired values while both the dilaton stabilization and $D$-term domination in the potential are realized by nonperturbative superpotential.Comment: 13 pages, latex, 3 figure

The inclusivity of Anglican cathedrals and the coronation of King Charles III: embracing explicit religion, implicit religion, and civic religion

Judith Muskett’s analysis of metaphors employed to characterise Anglican cathedrals draws attention to the inclusivity of these locations within secular and religiously diverse societies. They are positioned as places where sacred space and common ground collide and coalesce. Drawing on Edward Bailey’s discussion of implicit religion and civic religion, alongside explicit religion, the present study reports on an analysis of the 43 websites of Anglican cathedrals in England and the Isle of Man to map how these cathedrals orchestrated their response to the coronation of King Charles III. The websites provided rich exemplification of engagement with explicit religion (incorporating coronation-related music and prayers within their routine liturgical provision), with civic religion (arranging special services involving civic dignitaries and uniformed groups), and with implicit religion (welcoming within the sacred space a wide range of community-focused events, installations, and activities

Anglican cathedrals and implicit religion: Softening the boundaries of sacred space through innovative events and installations

High profile (and controversial) events and installations, like the Helter-Skelter in Norwich and the Crazy Golf Bridges in Rochester, have drawn attention to innovation and public engagement within Anglican cathedrals. The present study contextualised these innovations both empirically and conceptually. The empirical framework draws on cathedral websites to chronicle the wide and diverse range of events and installations hosted by Anglican cathedrals in England and the Isle of Man between 2018 and 2022. The conceptual framework draws on Edward Bailey’s theory of implicit religion to classify and to explore these events and installations. Two insights from the theory of implicit religion emerged as of particular significance. First, the notion of implicit religion softens the boundaries between the sacred and the secular. This was exemplified by eight categories of events: scientific exhibitions, festivals, musical events, art exhibitions, theatre, markets, community events and installations. Second, the notion of implicit religion draws attention to the themes and activities that generate meaning and purpose. This was exemplified by seven themes: social justice and social conscience, violence and reconciliation, remembrance, migration and sanctuary, COVID-19 and lockdowns, personal well-being and nature and environment. Contribution: Situated within the science of cathedral studies, this article identifies the range of innovative events and installations hosted by Anglican Cathedrals in England and the Isle of Man and assesses the significance of these events and installations through Edward Bailey’s lens of implicit religion, discussing first the softening of boundaries between the sacred and the secular and then the generation of meaning and purpose through the core themes raised by these events and installations

Implicit religion, Anglican cathedrals, ways of belonging and spiritual wellbeing: The impact of carol services on unbelievers

Rooted in the field of cathedral studies, this paper draws into dialogue three bodies of knowledge: Edward Bailey’s notion of implicit religion that, among other things, highlights the continuing traction of the Christian tradition and Christian practice within secular societies; David Walker’s notion of the multiple ways through which in secular societies people may relate to the Christian tradition as embodied within the Anglican Church; and John Fisher’s notion of spiritual wellbeing as conceptualised in relational terms. Against this conceptual background, this paper draws on data provided by 1,234 participants attending one of the Christmas Eve carol services in Liverpool Cathedral to explore the perceived impact of attendance on the spiritual health of people who do not believe in God and yet feel that Liverpool Cathedral is their cathedral, and it is this sense of belonging that brings them back at Christmas time

Do working practices of cancer nurse specialists improve clinical outcomes? Retrospective cohort analysis from the English National Lung Cancer Audit

Background Cancer nurse specialists are advanced practitioners who offer continuity of care and expert support for people diagnosed with specific cancers. Health Education England's Cancer Workforce Plan prioritises expansion of cancer nurse specialist numbers by 2021 as part of the Cancer Taskforce Strategy for England. Objective To assess whether working practices of advanced practice specialist nurses are associated with clinical outcomes for people with lung cancer. Methods Adults with non-small cell lung cancer followed from 30 days post-diagnosis in English secondary care were obtained from the English National Lung Cancer Audit, 2007 to 2011. A national survey of lung cancer nurse specialists provided information on self-reported working practices. Mortality and unplanned admissions from 30 days to 12 months post diagnosis were respectively analysed using Cox and Poisson regression. Outcomes were assessed according to patients’ receipt of initial assessments by a lung cancer nurse specialist and according to trust-level reported working practices. Regression models were adjusted for individual sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, error adjusted for intracorrelations within regional cancer networks, and presented separately according to patients’ treatment pathways (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or no anti-cancer therapy). Results Data for 108,115 people with lung cancer were analysed and associations with mortality and unplanned admissions were infrequent. Among people receiving only radiotherapy, however, the hazard for death was 17% lower among those who received an assessment by a lung cancer nurse specialist, compared with no assessment (hazard ratio = 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.73–0.94; p = 0.003). The hazard was also lower among those receiving surgery (hazard ratio = 0.91, 0.84–0.99; p = 0.028). Among those receiving radiotherapy, nurse specialists’ reported confidence within multidisciplinary team settings was associated with a lower risk of death (hazard ratio = 0.88, 0.78–1.00; p = 0.049) and a lower rate of unplanned cancer-related admissions (incidence rate ratio = 0.83, 0.73–0.95; p = 0.007). Lung cancer nurse specialist assessments before/at diagnosis, were associated with a 5% lower rate of unplanned admissions, compared to when assessments occurred after diagnosis. Conclusion The contribution of nurse specialist working practices was occasionally associated with better outcomes for people with lung cancer. These were not limited to a single treatment pathway, but do indicate discrete relationships within pathways. Our study provides initial measures of overall lung cancer nurse specialist working practices at trusts, however, more detailed studies with longitudinal measurement of lung cancer nurse specialist-patient interaction are needed to better ascertain impacts on long-term patient outcomes. The findings highlight opportunities for potential improvement in effectiveness of service and care management

Exploring the responses of people who never attend church to the pre-Christmas son et lumiere at Liverpool Cathedral: ‘I am not religious, but I had the best experience ever’

Two conceptual strands of research within the field of cathedral studies have theorised the capacity of Anglican cathedrals to engage more successfully than parish churches with the wider non-churchgoing community: one strand has explored mobilising cathedral metaphors, and the other strand has explored the notion of implicit religion. Both strands illuminate the power of events and installations to soften the boundaries between common ground and sacred space. Drawing on a quantitative survey among 978 people who attended the pre-Christmas son et lumiere at Liverpool Cathedral during December 2022, the present study analyses the qualitative responses of 123 participants who never attend church services. Three categories of themes emerged from these data, concerning the Cathedral itself, the installation, and discordant experience. Contribution: Situated within the science of cathedral studies, this paper draws on original qualitative data to illuminate the experiences of participants who never attend church services when engaging with the pre-Christmas son et lumiere at a major cathedral. Conceptualised within the framework of implicit religion these data confirmed how the son et lumiere succeeded in softening boundaries between the sacred and the secular and provided a deeply moving experience. As one participant said, ‘I am not religious, but I had the best experience ever’