Ubiquity of microbial capacity to degrade metaldehyde in dissimilar agricultural, allotment and garden soils

Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used to control slugs and snails. Despite its extensive use, very little is known about the capacity of soil microbial communities to degrade this chemical. This research provides a synopsis of the latent capacity of soil microbial communities, present in agricultural (n = 14), allotment (n = 4) and garden (n = 10) soils, to degrade metaldehyde. Extents of 14C-metaldehyde mineralisation across all soils ranged from 17.7 to 60.0 %. Pre-exposure (in situ, in the field) to metaldehyde was not observed to consistently increase extents of metaldehyde mineralisation. Where soils were augmented, (ex situ, in the laboratory) with metaldehyde (28 mg kg-1), the mineralisation capacity was increased in some, but not all, soils (uplift ranged from +0.10 to +16.9 %). Results indicated that catabolic competence to degrade metaldehyde was evident in both surface (16.7 - 52.8 %) and in sub-surface (30.0 - 66.4 %) soil horizons. Collectively, the results suggest that catabolic competence to degrade metaldehyde was ubiquitous across a diverse range of soil environments; that varied in texture (from sand to silty clay loam), pH (6.15 – 8.20) and soil organic matter (SOM) content (1.2 % – 52.1 %). Lighter texture soils, in general, were observed to have higher capacity to mineralise metaldehyde. Weak correlations between catabolic competence and soil pH and soil organic matter content were observed; it was noted that above a SOM threshold of 12 % metaldehyde mineralisation was always > 34 %. It was concluded that the common occurrence of metaldehyde in EU waters is unlikely the consequence of low potential for this chemical to be degraded in soil. It is more likely that application regimes (quantities/timings) and meteorological drivers facilitate the transport of metaldehyde from point of application into water resources

A high-throughput fluorescence polarization assay for discovering inhibitors targeting the DNA-binding domain of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)

Anti-cancer drug discovery efforts to directly inhibit the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) have been active for over a decade following the discovery that 70% of cancers exhibit elevated STAT3 activity. The majority of research has focused on attenuating STAT3 activity through preventing homo-dimerization by targeting the SH2 or transcriptional activation domains. Such dimerization inhibitors have not yet reached the market. However, an alternative strategy focussed on preventing STAT3 DNA-binding through targeting the DNA-binding domain (DBD) offers new drug design opportunities. Currently, only EMSA and ELISA-based methods have been implemented with suitable reliability to characterize STAT3 DBD inhibitors. Herein, we present a new orthogonal, fluorescence polarization (FP) assay suitable for high-throughput screening of molecules. This assay, using a STAT3127-688construct, was developed and optimized to screen molecules that attenuate the STAT3:DNA association with good reliability (Z' value > 0.6) and a significant contrast (signal-tonoise ratio > 15.0) at equilibrium. The assay system was stable over a 48 hour period. Significantly, the assay is homogeneous and simple to implement for high-throughput screening compared to EMSA and ELISA. Overall, this FP assay offers a new way to identify and characterize novel molecules that inhibit STAT3:DNA association

Efficient and semi-transparent perovskite solar cells using a room-temperature processed MoOx/ITO/Ag/ITO electrode

In order to achieve semi-transparency in perovskite solar cells, the electrode materials must be as transparent as possible. In this work, MoOx/ITO/Ag/ITO (MoOx/IAI) thin films with high average transmittance of 79.90% between 400 nm and 900 nm were introduced as the top transparent electrode to explore its influences on optoelectronic properties of the fabricated perovskite solar cells. MoOx has been demonstrated previously as protection from sputtering damage using a conventional ITO top electrode, however it is shown here to provide protection from a sputtered IAI film that provides superior transparency and conductivity and is deposited using more favourable low temperature processing conditions. MoOx and Ag were thermally evaporated and ITO was radio-frequency magnetron sputtered at room temperature. The resulting semi-transparent solar cells showed power conversion efficiency of 12.85% (steady-state efficiency of 11.3%) along with a much-reduced degradation rate as compared to the reference device with only a Ag top electrode. With such a combination of performance and transparency, this work shows great promise in application of perovskite solar cells into window glazing products for building integrated photovoltaic applications (BIPV), powering internet of things (IoT) and combining into tandem solar cells with industrially mature photovoltaic technologies such as silicon and copper indium gallium di-selenide (CIGS)

Evaluation of Participatory Disaster Preparation and Mitigation Project in Tien Giang and Dong Thap Provinces, Vietnam

In recent years cyclical floods affecting the Mekong delta have become more serious and complex, resulting in significant loss of life and affecting food and income security. This five year project (2005-2010) focuses on 24 communes in 5 districts within the two most flood prone provinces in the delta; Tien Giang and Dong Thap. It aims to reduce the risk of floods to rural men, women and children in Tien Giang and Dong Thap by decreasing their vulnerability and increasing the capacity of communities and institutions. This mid-term evaluation assesses the effectiveness of project activities in contributing to the key objective and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of project activities to date, with recommendations to enhance effectiveness and impact for the duration of the project

The Notion of “Court” under the Succession Regulation

The article concerns the notion of “court” in the Succession Regulation. This notion is used in the Brussels I and Brussels Ia Regulations, where it does not necessarily have the same scope. The author attempts to interpret the concept in the light of the recitals to the Succession Regulation (in particular Recital 20) and of the case law of the Court of Justice. The very general description of the concept contained in Article 3(2) of the Regulation might potentially embrace other authorities and legal professionals, where they exercise judicial functions by way of delegation of power from the court. In the author’s view, the European Court, especially in Oberle and WB v Notariusz Przemysława Bac correctly navigated its way through the Succession Regulation and ruled in a way which is both coherent as regards the operation of the Regulation and consistent with the intentions of the legislator. The above judgments are analysed also with regard to Poland’s omission to notify notaries as “courts” under Article 79 of the Succession Regulation. The European Court found that the criteria for determining whether an authority or a legal professional, in particular a notary public, constitutes a “court” aredetermined by Article 3(2) and not by Article 79. Consequently, Poland’s omission to notify was not conclusive, but was in any event correct in substance. The author expresses the opinion that the judgment is accurate on this point

Embodied creativity: Creative play as a catalyst for adult learning, spirituality and a ludic (playful) mindset

In my research, I explored and investigated the potential of creative play to enrich adult learning, creativity, spirituality, liturgical worship, and ministry formation, in an Anglican theological college setting (2020–2021). In my experience as an Anglican priest in a parish, and a student in a theological college, I have discovered that the church and theological institutions do not always offer a creative way for adults to learn about or engage with the sacred. Although there is growing evidence that creativity and play can have positive benefits for adult learning, there is less research regarding the effect of creative play on adult spirituality and theological education. I used a crystallisation qualitative framework (as described by Ellingson, 2009, 2014) and phenomenological methodology to provide a trans-disciplinary perspective and hold in tension a bricolage of relationships, data-collection methods, and artefacts to engage and ‘play’ with my research. Through my experience-based learning, autoethnographic critical reflection, cycles of action research, poetic inquiry, and a rich and complex range of qualitative data sources I investigated the impact of creative play initiatives at the theological college. During three parts of the project, I used creative play strategies to stimulate the imagination and evoke a ludic (playful) mindset. In Part 1, I developed eight creative liturgical services for the college students to enrich their sense of the holy/ divine/sacred. In Part 2, I facilitated a series of three workshops (online and face-to-face) to understand the impact of creative play on the students’ own learning, imagination, sense of fun, and creativity. In Part 3, I worked with a group at the theological college over 6 months to explore the role of creative play in terms of group dynamics and liturgical worship as we planned and led a number of worship services. My facilitation of the group led to the discovery of six conditions that were helpful in my practice and context for encouraging a team culture of creativity and an enhanced sense of the holy/divine/sacred to develop. These conditions are: 1. a ludic mindset, 2. a facilitator/guide/role model, 3. the creation of a team culture of creativity, 4. shared learning experiences designed to stimulate imagination, 5. a variety of locations for creative play activities, 6. a reflection/action process. Through the development of these conditions, I encouraged three main ludic qualities (curiosity, embodied creative expression, and relationality), in myself as a priest and in participants. My research revealed the importance of not only a ludic mindset but also an embodied creativity that has a collaborative aspect. Therefore, based on the work of Kaufman and Beghetto (2009) and their 4-C model of creativity (Big-C, Pro-C, mini-c, little-c), I suggest a fifth dimension, collaborative-c, be added, to bring a more embodied, collective, and culturally inclusive dimension to this model. The research provides an evidence-based study of how creative play methods can be woven into theological formation and training, support participants’ confidence and creativity in their ministry and help adults encounter the sacred in their everyday lives through creativity and playfulness

A system for the education of the young : applied to all the faculties ... /

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