Stress, burnout and doctors' attitudes to work are determined by personality and learning style: a twelve year longitudinal study of UK medical graduates

The study investigated the extent to which approaches to work, workplace climate, stress, burnout and satisfaction with medicine as a career in doctors aged about thirty are predicted by measures of learning style and personality measured five to twelve years earlier when the doctors were applicants to medical school or were medical students

Investigations of Sodium Dependent Vitamin C Transporters in the Ovine Corpus Luteum

SVCT1 and SVCT2 are two forms of sodium dependent vitamin C transporters within the sheep corpus luteum. A truncated version of SVCT2 has been observed in the human, and is inhibitory to SVCT1 & 2. The full nucleotide sequences of these transporters are not known in the sheep, but partial sequences are available. The objectives of the current research were to determine the existence of a truncated form of SVCT2 in the sheep, and to sequence the 3’ ends of both transport proteins. Primer sets were designed to flank the predicted deleted sequence within SVCT2. RT-PCR and gel electrophoresis procedures were run. We found the expected (approximately 800 bp) amplicon, but no 400 bp amplicon, providing no evidence of a truncated form of SVCT2 in the sheep CL. Forward primers were designed based on the partial sequences of oSVCT1 & 2, and Oligo dT 3’ Primer was used as a reverse primer. We successfully identified an 1800 bp amplicon that potentially represents the 3’ end of oSVCT2. This research could be beneficial in improving our understanding of sheep reproduction.No embarg

The role of submerged macrophytes in seasonally-flowing agricultural streams

Although submerged macrophytes are well known to support aquatic fauna and influence physical and chemical processes in many perennial freshwaters, they are rarely studied in seasonally-flowing streams. However, these streams often support seasonal plant assemblages that may support key ecological processes, particularly in agricultural landscapes with degraded riparian vegetation. This thesis investigated the distribution and contribution to ecosystem processes of submerged macrophytes in seasonally-flowing agricultural streams in a mediterranean climate, and their capacity to improve biodiversity and water quality in degraded reaches. It comprised: a survey of macrophyte distribution in relation to environmental factors; a food web study using stable δ13C and δ15N isotopes; and a transplant experiment. Sufficient duration of flow and/or pools limited macrophyte establishment in these seasonal streams. Two plant assemblages were found with distinct distributions associated with riparian shading: strap-leaved Cycnogeton occurred as remnant populations in shaded habitats in both undisturbed and degraded reaches; whereas the more structurally-complex Potamogeton/Ottelia assemblage colonised degraded reaches with little riparian vegetation. Both assemblages supported greater macroinvertebrate abundance and richness than reaches without macrophytes. Stable isotopes indicated macrophyte and epiphyte material were a valuable food web resource in reaches with limited riparian vegetation, supporting macroinvertebrates and native fish, thereby potentially compensating for lost allochthonous resources. Low-light tolerance of Vallisneria australis (morphologically similar to Cycnogeton) and protection from waterbirds enabled successful transplantation and growth (85-100% cover after six months) in a phytoplankton-dominated lentic river reach. A regime of macrophyte/phytoplankton co-dominance achieved through transplantation delivered substantial biodiversity outcomes (macroinvertebrate abundance 18.5 times; diversity 3 times bare sediment controls) and in the longer term may contribute to improved water quality. Provision of higher faunal biodiversity and other ecosystem services suggests submerged macrophytes are worthy of conservation and inclusion in river restoration in agricultural catchments

Survey of Carter’s Freshwater Mussel in the Lower Vasse River to inform future sediment removal

This report presents the outcomes of a survey of Carter’s Freshwater Mussel (Westralunio carteri) in the Lower Vasse River, Busselton, to provide information for planning of sediment removal in the river. The City of Busselton proposes to undertake sediment removal from the river and is required to minimise potential impacts of these works on mussels in the river. The Lower Vasse River is degraded with a long history of seasonal algal blooms and the purpose of sediment removal is to provide benefits to water quality, habitat and public amenity..

Gaia DR2 Distances and Peculiar Velocities for Galactic Black Hole Transients

We report on a first census of Galactic black hole X-ray binary (BHXRB) properties with the second data release (DR2) of {\em Gaia}, focusing on dynamically confirmed and strong candidate black hole transients. DR2 provides five-parameter astrometric solutions including position, parallax and proper motion for 11 of a sample of 24 systems. Distance estimates are tested with parallax inversion as well as Bayesian inference. We derive an empirically motivated characteristic scale length of $L$=2.17$\pm$0.12 kpc for this BHXRB population to infer distances based upon an exponentially decreasing space density prior. Geometric DR2 parallaxes provide new, independent distance estimates, but the faintness of this population in quiescence results in relatively large fractional distance uncertainties. Despite this, DR2 estimates generally agree with literature distances. The most discrepant case is BW Cir, for which detailed studies of the donor star have suggested a distant location at >~25 kpc. A large DR2 measured parallax and relatively high proper motion instead prefer significantly smaller distances, suggesting that the source may instead be amongst the nearest of XRBs. However, both distances create problems for interpretation of the source, and follow-up data are required to resolve its true nature. DR2 also provides a first distance estimate to one source, MAXI J1820+070, and novel proper motion estimates for 7 sources. Peculiar velocities relative to Galactic rotation exceed $\sim$ 50 km s$^{-1}$ for the bulk of the sample, with a median system kinetic energy of peculiar motion of $\sim$ 5 $\times$ 10$^{47}$ erg. BW Cir could be a new high-velocity BHXRB if its astrometry is confirmed. A putative anti-correlation between peculiar velocity and black hole mass is found, as expected in mass-dependent BH kick formation channels, but this trend remains weak in the DR2 data.Comment: MNRAS in pres