Survey of the genome of opitutus terrae and other organisms for novel carbohydrate-active enzyme specificities

Lignocellulose is the major component of the plant cell wall and is a sustainable source of inexpensive abundant biomass. Efficient degradation of the lignocellulosic polysaccharides, cellulose and hemicellulose, is required if the plant cell wall is to be used as a resource for renewable biofuels. Microorganisms have the ability to catalyse the degradation of such bio-material through a cascade of enzyme activities into fermentable sugars and therefore are considered to be a major resource of biocatalysts for the emerging biofuel industry. The stability of the component polysaccharides and the complexity of the plant cell wall are reflected in the diverse range of functions and substrate specificities of lignocellulosic degrading enzymes. Part of this work describes the identification of a novel GH8 endo-xylanase, OtXyn8A, from the soil bacterium, Opitutus terrae. GH8 is a family in which there is only a limited amount of data available on the xylanase substrate specificity in comparison to families GH10 and GH11 in which xylanases are well established. With this in mind, OtXyn8A is the only endo-xylanase characterised from GH8 that primarily releases xylobiose from its substrates. Synergy between O. terrae enzymes was partially investigated within this study with the identification of a gene cluster within the bacterial genome. Genes organised within this cluster encoded products required for the degradation of xylan substrates and so the associated enzymes were cloned, expressed and subsequently determined for activity. Combined activities of gene products from the cluster exhibited synergy in the hydrolysis of 4-O-methyl glucuronoxylan. While surveying the genome of O. terrae, the multiplication of genes encoding GH43 enzymes was also investigated. Genes encoding GH43 enzymes were cloned, expressed and investigated for catalytic activity. Three arabinofuranosidases from O. terrae and one from Lactobacillus brevis were characterised, including the characterisation of an exo-1,5-L-arabinofuranosidase. Furthermore, a β-xylosidase from O. terrae was characterised which exhibited dual functionality as it catalysed the release of arabinose in addition to xylose from arabino-xylooligosaccharides

eHealth for family planning in Botswana: acceptability and feasibility

BACKGROUND: As many as 50% of pregnancies in Botswana are unintended, but only half of women in the country are currently using contraception. This thesis explores the barriers and facilitators for provision, choice and use of contraception in Botswana, and the feasibility and potential for an eHealth intervention in the field of family planning to address them. METHODS: I conducted a narrative review of factors influencing contraceptive choice, uptake and use in Botswana, and qualitative, semi-structured interviews with Batswana women (n=22), healthcare providers and key policy stakeholders in family planning (n=14), and Botswanabased eHealth experts (n=11). FINDINGS: Many Batswana women lack accurate, in-depth family planning knowledge, and experience extreme clinical and social barriers in accessing contraception. Socio-cultural barriers are more influential than physical access or availability, with partner control and patriarchal attitudes towards sex and gender the most prominent reason for women’s non-use of contraception, exacerbated by urban-rural disparity and education level. Botswana’s HIV epidemic has heavily dominated sexual health services and policy, leading to conflict between national approaches towards HIV and family planning. Key challenges for eHealth innovation in Botswana are related to inconsistent Wi-Fi infrastructure, a lack of national policy, and a reliance on external partners leading to unsustainable design and implementation of interventions. Suggestions for an eHealth intervention in family planning include using a range of media platforms to address varied levels of technological knowledge and access, and ensuring content is culturally appropriate and useful to intended users. CONCLUSION: There is a need, and desire, for more detailed, balanced, up-to-date family planning information for women, their partners, and the providers who counsel them. An eHealth intervention that adheres to the realities of technology and infrastructure limitations, and is Botswana-led in terms of content, design, and implementation, could be highly effective in addressing this gap

When should careers guidance happen? Associations between Theory of Mind, vocational interests and career aspirations

Background and aims: Adolescence is a period of identity development and decision-making for the future. However, the relationship between the socio-cognitive development occurring during adolescence and how vocational interests (VIs) develop is absent in UK career guidance policy. There is evidence that Theory of Mind (ToM), the ability to attribute mental states to others, continues to develop during adolescence, and may affect VI development and stability. The aim of the research was to make a positive contribution to careers education by gathering evidence on the role of ToM alongside other variables (such as birth order and SES) in the development of VIs in adolescence. Three interrelated studies structure the research. Studies 1 and 2 explored associations between ToM, birth order and VIs, cross-sectionally (Study 1) and longitudinally (Study 2). Study 3 examined the stability of career aspirations and VIs. Methods: Participants were N=164 (62 male, 102 female) adolescents. Of these, n=91 were Year 10 pupils (mid-adolescents) and n=73 were final-year university students (late-adolescents). ToM was measured using a computer-based cartoon vignette paradigm; VIs were measured on a short, 4-item scale; IQ was measured using the WASI-II (FSIQ-2 Short Subscale). Quantitative analysis was conducted using SPSS. Results: We found evidence to support ToM development during adolescence. We also found significant positive associations between IQ, SES and career aspirations, and evidence to suggest a relationship exists between ToM and VI development, especially in late-adolescence. Conclusions: ToM is a useful construct to consider in relation to VIs and career aspirations, although further longitudinal research is needed. Our findings suggest the development of cognitive abilities during adolescence may be beneficial to understanding when careers guidance would be most usefully implemented, as well as emphasise the importance of providing individualised personal guidance

The exorcisms of Jesus in Mark as symbolic actions for political liberation : a case study on Mark 5:1-20

Masterthesis Sources, Nieuwe Testamen

Indias Neighbourhood Policy: Geopolitical Fault Line of Its Nepal Policy in the Post-2015 Constitution

This paper would focus on the fault-line of Indian Neighbourhood Policy particularly in the context of its handling of Nepals Constitutional Crisis Post-2015. In the light of the statement of former Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee, friends can change but not neighbours who have to live together, it can be easily inferred from this statement that the neighbourhood policy is holding a very significant place in Indian foreign policy. Since independence, India has been pursuing Neighbourhood Policy. The incumbent government has also conceived Neighbourhood First policy under the visionary and dynamic leadership of PM Modi, but the irony is that notwithstanding this policy, India has recently lost its geopolitical space in Nepal despite such policy. On the contrary, China has made its geopolitical space in Nepal

One-pot, two-step transaminase and transketolase synthesis of L-gluco-heptulose from L-arabinose

The use of biocatalysis for the synthesis of high value added chemical building blocks derived from biomass is becoming an increasingly important application for future sustainable technologies. The synthesis of a higher value chemical from L-arabinose, the predominant monosaccharide obtained from sugar beet pulp, is demonstrated here via a transketolase and transaminase coupled reaction. Thermostable transketolases derived from Deinococcus geothermalis and Dei nococcus radiodurans catalysed the synthesis of L-gluco-heptulose from L-arabinose and β-hydroxypyruvate at elevated temperatures with high conversions. β-Hydroxypyruvate, a commercially expensive compound used in the transketolase reaction, was generated in situ from L-serine and α-ketoglutaric acid via a thermostable transaminase, also from Deinococcus geothermalis. The two steps were investigated and implemented in a one-pot system for the sustainable and efficient production of L-gluco-heptulose

Can genomic research make a useful contribution to social policy?

As genetic research into outcomes beyond health gathers pace, largely through the use of genome-wide association studies, interest from policy-makers has grown. In the last year, two UK reports have explored the policy implications of genomic research, one from the UK Government Office for Science and one from the Early Intervention Foundation. In this article, we explore areas of consensus between these two reports and use them to propose priorities for policy-makers as we prepare for what some have termed a 'genetic revolution'. Both reports agree on two clear recommendations for science and policy communities. One of these relates to public education and engagement, and the other to ensuring that genomic databases are ancestrally diverse. Both reports agree that-even if it is found to be a viable and ethical idea in the medium-term future-DNA data should not be incorporated into social policy before these two issues have been comprehensively addressed. In the article, we argue that scientists are taking the lead on tackling the diversity deficit but that there is a clear role for policy-makers to play in addressing low genetic literacy in society, and that this is a matter of urgency