Looking in the equity & inclusion mirror: Lessons from an OSF Program

The Economic Justice Program (EJP) of the Open Society Foundations ran from 2018 until the end of December 2021. During this time, and building on the work of its two parent programs (Fiscal Governance and Economic Advancement), EJP developed the Foundations' first-ever strategy dedicated to fighting economic injustice and pioneered approaches to good grantmaking and investing for social change.This learning brief provides an overview of EJP's internal review of its own practices and culture in relation to intersectional equity and the lessons learned along the way. The aim is to share insights and resources for funders and grantee partners who are considering undertaking a similar equity-focused review and to encourage action on intersectional equity within the field

Collaborative social learning: rewards and challenges in mainstream higher education

This paper introduces the theoretical framework and design rationale for an innovative undergraduate module entitled “Living and Working on the Web” at the University of Southampton. The module design is based on the principles of collaborative social learning and the co-construction of knowledge. At the workshop a model of best practice will be presented, featuring a ‘blog-comment-reflect-feedback’ cycle, which has derived from the synthesis of relevant literature and which will be reflected upon through an informal content analysis of the students’ blogs

Application of lanthanide luminescence in probing enzyme activity

Enzymes play critical roles in the regulation of cellular function and are implicated in numerous disease conditions. Reliable and practicable assays are required to study enzyme activity, to facilitate the discovery of inhibitors and activators of enzymes related to disease. In recent years, a variety of enzyme assays have been devised that utilise luminescent lanthanide(iii) complexes, taking advantage of their high detection sensitivities, long luminescence lifetimes, and line-like emission spectra that permit ratiometric and time-resolved analyses. In this Feature article, we focus on recent progress in the development of enzyme activity assays based on lanthanide(iii) luminescence, covering a variety of strategies including Ln(iii)-labelled antibodies and proteins, Ln(iii) ion encapsulation within defined peptide sequences, reactivity-based Ln(iii) probes, and discrete Ln(iii) complexes. Emerging approaches for monitoring enzyme activity are discussed, including the use of anion responsive lanthanide(iii) complexes, capable of molecular recognition and luminescence signalling of polyphosphate anions

An evaluation of Key Performance Indicators for beef herds

Key performance indicators (KPIs) can be used to monitor progress towards predefined targets. They are used widely across many industries, and although their use in the beef sector currently lags that in the dairy, pork and poultry sectors, it is growing with farmer appetite for data driven decision making. There is limited evidence behind many of the commonly suggested metrics however, and although they have typically been developed through evaluation of expert opinion, analysis of the associations between these metrics and overall enterprise success is lacking. There are several reasons for this; data can be more challenging to capture in more extensive systems (typical of beef suckler enterprises especially). Small herd sizes and a long production cycle also limits the quantity of data available, and the diversity of the sector presents challenges around data continuity. Beef enterprises may operate under tighter margins than other livestock enterprise types, so there may also be a financial barrier to data capture and analysis. Farmers are often unsure of how to make the best use of their data, so in addition to improving recording, there is also substantial value that could be added by making the best use of whatever data is available (such as legally required movement data). This project used a combination of focus group discussion and a questionnaire to evaluate farmer and adviser opinion around performance metrics for beef herds. Six focus group meetings were held over 18 months and 140 responses from UK beef farms, including 107 suckler farms, were collected by questionnaire survey. This led to the development of a KPI ‘toolkit’ with calculation methods and definitions. In order to demonstrate the value of the metrics, regression analysis was carried out using data from a single beef finishing unit in the East Midlands. The dataset contained 16,248 animal records from 2010 to 2016. Predictors of daily liveweight gain (DLWG) and antibiotic treatments were investigated. Predictors of DLWG included purchase price, month of purchase, source of purchase, breed and age of animal, and whether the animals had been given any antibiotic treatments. Predictors of antibiotic treatment included age at purchase and weight for age at purchase. Linear regression analysis of an AHDB Stocktake dataset containing 56 suckler and 36 grower/finisher farms between 2013 and 2015 was used to evaluate the associations between performance metrics in the KPI toolkit, and overall enterprise success (defined as net margin per cow bred for suckler herds and net margin per head of output for grower or finisher herds). Metrics such as age at first calving, scanning percentage, weaning weight and mortality rate were found to be significantly associated with net margin per cow bred in suckler units. In contrast, only financial metrics, such as feed cost per head, were found to be significantly associated with net margin per head of output in grower or finisher herds. To further investigate the relationships between metrics and enterprise success, a stochastic simulation model was developed representing a suckler herd. This was used to generate data from 10,000 herds of 200 suckler cows which could then be analysed using multiple regression. The results of this were used to further influence the structure of the KPI toolkit, and to provide example effect sizes for changes in performance. For example, a change in weaning weight per cow bred from the median (227kg) to the upper quartile (246kg) was associated with an increased net margin per cow bred of £19.96. Relationships between performance indicators and enterprise success such as these could be used to further assist beef farmers with data driven decision making. A mixed methods approach has been used to evaluate KPIs for monitoring beef herd performance. Focus group discussions and surveys have been combined with both real herd data and simulated data, with the aim of evaluating not only what is possible to monitor and record on a regular basis, but also what is practical and useful. The close involvement of stakeholders has helped to ensure that outcomes are relevant to the beef industry and has facilitated knowledge transfer

Grounded Theory Method and Symbolic Interactionism: Freedom of Conceptualization and the Importance of Context in Research

Der symbolische Interaktionismus (SI), eine Perspektive zum Verständnis menschlichen Verhaltens, wird gemeinhin als Grundlage für die Grounded-Theory-Methodologie (GTM) angesehen. Der Zweck der GTM besteht jedoch darin, aus Daten eine substanzielle, erklärende Sozialtheorie zu erstellen, ohne sich auf vorherige Annahmen zu stützen. Daher argumentieren einige, dass SI eine unnötige theoretische Einschränkung des Hauptziels der GTM – der freien Konzeptualisierung von Daten – darstelle. In diesem Artikel verwenden wir Beispiele aus einer laufenden konstruktivistischen Grounded-Theory-Studie über die Aushandlung der Rollen von Krankenschwestern in der Allgemeinmedizin in Neuseeland, um zu zeigen, was SI in Bezug auf die konzeptionelle Entwicklung und das Verständnis des Kontextes beitragen kann. Wir argumentieren, dass durch das Stellen von drei Fragen aus einer symbolisch-interaktionistischen Perspektive in jeder Phase des Forschungsprozesses die Freiheit der Konzeptualisierung erhöht und das Bewusstsein für kontextuelle Belange gefördert werden kann, um eine bessere Brücke zwischen den Weltsichten zu schlagen.Symbolic interactionism (SI), a perspective used to understand human conduct, is commonly said to underpin grounded theory methodology (GTM). However, the purpose of GTM is to produce substantive explanatory social theory from data without reliance on prior assumptions. Therefore, some argue that SI is an unnecessary theoretical constraint on the principal aim of GTM—the free conceptualization of data. In this article we use examples from an ongoing constructionist grounded theory study into the negotiation of nurses' roles in general practice in New Zealand, to demonstrate how SI can inform GTM regarding conceptual development and context. We argue that by asking three questions from a symbolic interactionist perspective, at each stage of the research process, freedom of conceptualization may be enhanced and awareness of contextual matters promoted to better bridge world views

Multivalent scaffolds for use as protein surface mimetics

The development of ligands for protein surfaces to inhibit protein-protein interactions (PPI)s is challenging, as protein surfaces often lack the clefts and pockets associated with traditionally druggable targets like enzyme active sites. One way in which protein surfaces can be targeted is by the use of protein surface mimetics, whereby a multivalent scaffold is functionalised with many binding groups on its periphery in order to achieve high affinity protein recognition. One such scaffold is a ruthenium(II) tris (bipyridine)s (Ru(II)(bpy)3). The work in this thesis aimed to further develop these Ru(II)(bpy)3 protein surface mimetics; gaining information as to how they interact with proteins, looking at new ways of achieving high affinity protein surface recognition and the development of new applications for these molecules. In Chapter 2 an indepth study of the binding of two Ru(II)(bpy)3 complexes to a model protein, cytochrome c, is presented, looking at the thermodynamic and electrostatic contributions to binding as well as using protein NMR to elucidate the binding site. In Chapter 3 the development of dynamic combinatorial chemistry (DCC) scaffolds based on Ru(II)(bpy)3 complexes and tetraphenyl porphyrins was explored as a potential avenue for new receptor design, enabling the development of biologically compatible DCC systems, prime for protein ligand discovery. Chapter 4 presents another avenue for using the Ru(II)(bpy)3 complexes; using an array approach to discriminate between different protein

Recognition of proximally phosphorylated tyrosine residues and continuous analysis of phosphatase activity using a stable europium complex

The recognition of proteins and their post-translational modifications using synthetic molecules is an active area of research. A common post-translational modification is the phosphorylation of serine, threonine or tyrosine residues. The phosphorylation of proximal tyrosine residues occurs in over 1000 proteins in the human proteome, including in disease-related proteins, so the recognition of this motif is of particular interest. We have developed a luminescent europium(III) complex, [Eu.1] + , capable of the discrimination of proximally phosphorylated tyrosine residues, from analogous mono- and non-phosphorylated tyrosine residues, more distantly-related phosphotyrosine residues and over proximally phosphorylated serine and threonine residues. [Eu.1] + was used to continuously monitor the phosphatase catalysed dephosphorylation of a peptide containing proximally phosphorylated tyrosine residues

Intertidal habitat mapping for ecosystem goods and services: Tairua harbour

In January 2013, Waikato Regional Council (WRC) contracted the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), to develop rapid assessment techniques for mapping of intertidal habitats associated with the provision of ecosystem goods and services. Ecosystem goods and services are defined as ‘the direct and indirect benefits that humankind receives or values from natural or semi-natural habitats’ and include the provision of food and raw materials, waste treatment, processing and storage, disturbance prevention, sediment retention, water filtration and regulation, nutrient regulation, gas and climate regulation, habitat structure and cultural services such as spiritual heritage and leisure and recreation (Townsend et al. 2010). Assessment techniques were to be trialled and implemented for the intertidal area of the Tairua estuary with the view of providing: • Descriptions of habitat types that may be linked to levels of ecosystem goods and services. • Descriptions of the techniques involved in differentiating and mapping habitats, and an analysis of the precision and accuracy/validity of the methods. This report documents the evolution of the methodology and a proof of concept using Tairua estuary as a test case to build a habitat map. The goal is to generate precursor maps that will facilitate the mapping of ecosystem goods and services in the near future

Sequencing and characterisation of rearrangements in three S. pastorianus strains reveals the presence of chimeric genes and gives evidence of breakpoint reuse

Gross chromosomal rearrangements have the potential to be evolutionarily advantageous to an adapting organism. The generation of a hybrid species increases opportunity for recombination by bringing together two homologous genomes. We sought to define the location of genomic rearrangements in three strains of Saccharomyces pastorianus, a natural lager-brewing yeast hybrid of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces eubayanus, using whole genome shotgun sequencing. Each strain of S. pastorianus has lost species-specific portions of its genome and has undergone extensive recombination, producing chimeric chromosomes. We predicted 30 breakpoints that we confirmed at the single nucleotide level by designing species-specific primers that flank each breakpoint, and then sequencing the PCR product. These rearrangements are the result of recombination between areas of homology between the two subgenomes, rather than repetitive elements such as transposons or tRNAs. Interestingly, 28/30 S. cerevisiae- S. eubayanus recombination breakpoints are located within genic regions, generating chimeric genes. Furthermore we show evidence for the reuse of two breakpoints, located in HSP82 and KEM1, in strains of proposed independent origin

Not quite cooking on gas: Understanding biogas plant failure and abandonment in Northern Tanzania

The potential for biogas to fulfil an integral role in promoting sustainable energy solutions, particularly in the Global South, is evident, and especially pertinent in the Sustainable Development Goal era. Internationally, multiple initiatives driven by private, public and third sectors have resulted in a significant growth in the numbers of biogas plants constructed. These processes are highly visible in Tanzania which has witnessed considerable investment across the sector in recent decades leading to a proliferation of biogas systems. However, research suggests that many of these plants experience failures which can lead to the ultimate abandonment of the systems, eroding the potential benefits of widespread biogas adoption. This research explores some of the main drivers of biogas plant failure and abandonment in the northern Tanzania through a rapid review of the literature identifying current sector best practice and a series of semi-structed interviews with key stakeholders including biogas plant owners, operators, constructors, government officials and private enterprises. Our analysis reveals a range of clear and, at points, interrelated themes associated with biogas failure which can be largely grouped under the following banners; poor construction and installation, sub-optimal feeding practices, operation and maintenance issues, and training provision and knowledge erosion. By illuminating the subtleties surrounding each challenge, this paper is designed to stimulate a re-evaluation of how long-term, sustained and successful use of biogas plants can be fostered through a reduction in failure and/or abandonment. This is particularly important given that the biogas sector continues to evolve and expand across the globe. Response to Reviewers: We thank all the editors and reviewers for their comments, please see the "detailed response to reviewers" for our specific and individual responses. Thanks you for helping significantly increase the quality of this paper