The introduction of plastic and reconstructive surgery to the University of Glasgow undergraduate medical core curriculum

Misperceptions of plastic surgery remain common among medical students and the medical community. This creates barriers in recruitment to specialty and patient referral. Before this study, there was no formal plastic surgery teaching in University of Glasgow undergraduate medical core curriculum. A plastic surgery teaching pilot was implemented for fourth year students. Oncoplastic breast surgery was used as an example of gold standard multidisciplinary reconstructive surgery. Surveys collected data before and after provision of teaching across four parameters; identification of plastic surgery subspecialties, understanding of plastic surgery, opinion of the pilot and curriculum, career preferences and gender. The response rate was 57% (n=160). The most and least recognised subspecialties were burns (48% (n=75)) and perineal and lower limb reconstruction (0% (n=0)), respectively, with more students identifying aesthetic surgery (16% (n=26)) than hand (9% (n=15)) or skin cancer surgery (6% (n=9)). The majority (129 (81%)) thought plastic surgery was poorly represented in their curriculum and wanted further information (98 (61%)). Reported understanding of plastic surgery significantly improved (p≤0.00005). Those interested in surgical careers increased from 39% (n=63) to 41% (n=66) with more males than females reporting interest (p≤0.05). This study introduced plastic and reconstructive surgery into the undergraduate curriculum and led to further increased plastic surgery teaching. It improved student understanding, desire to gain more experience in the specialty and interest in surgical careers. Teaching students about subspecialties is vital to dispel misconceptions, ensure appropriate referrals and ignite interest in those with aptitude for surgical careers

Strain rate and density dependent behaviour of bovine cancellous bone in compression

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-138).The mechanical properties of bone are determined by means of low strain rate testing performed quasi-statically on the Zwick Universal Testing Machine and high strain rate testing performed on the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar. Cancellous bone is sourced from the vertebrae of five bovine of slaughtering age. Two sizes of specimens are machined. For quasi-static testing an aspect ratio of 2:1 is used (10 mm high and 5 mm in diameter). A ratio of 1:1 is utilised for the dynamic testing (5 mm in both length and diameter). Tests are conducted at four different strain rates of 10-4, 10-3, 10-2 and 10-1 /s for quasi-static tests and a range of approximately 800 to 1300 /s for the high impact tests. A total of 68 specimens are tested quasi-statically, with 17 specimens assigned to each strain rate. The dynamic data is gathered from tests on 18 specimens. Therefore, a total of 86 specimens are used for the combined data. The trends in yield stress, yield strain and Young’s modulus as a function of both strain rate and density were investigated. Results show that, as expected, density has a far greater effect on the mechanical properties of cancellous bone than strain rate. Due to the high scatter in results, the exact relationships are difficult to determine, although results of this work generally fall within the findings of the literature reviewed

Direct imaging of individual intrinsic hydration layers on lipid bilayers with Angstrom resolution

The interactions between water and biological molecules have the potential to influence the structure, dynamics, and function of biological systems, hence the importance of revealing the nature of these interactions in relation to the local biochemical environment. We have investigated the structuring of water at the interface of supported dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers in the gel phase in phosphate buffer solution using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). We present experimental results supporting the existence of intrinsic (i.e., surface-induced) hydration layers adjacent to the bilayer. The force versus distance curves measured between the bilayer and the AFM tip show oscillatory force profiles with a peak spacing of 0.28 nm, indicative of the existence of up to two hydration layers next to the membrane surface. These oscillatory force profiles reveal the molecular-scale origin of the hydration force that has been observed between two apposing lipid bilayers. Furthermore, FM-AFM imaging at the water/lipid interface visualizes individual hydration layers in three dimensions, with molecular-scale corrugations corresponding to the lipid headgroups. The results demonstrate that the intrinsic hydration layers are stable enough to present multiple energy barriers to approaching nanoscale objects, such as proteins and solvated ions, and are expected to affect membrane permeability and transport

Direct imaging of individual intrinsic hydration layers on lipid bilayers with Angstrom resolution

The interactions between water and biological molecules have the potential to influence the structure, dynamics, and function of biological systems, hence the importance of revealing the nature of these interactions in relation to the local biochemical environment. We have investigated the structuring of water at the interface of supported dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers in the gel phase in phosphate buffer solution using frequency modulation atomic force microscopy (FM-AFM). We present experimental results supporting the existence of intrinsic (i.e., surface-induced) hydration layers adjacent to the bilayer. The force versus distance curves measured between the bilayer and the AFM tip show oscillatory force profiles with a peak spacing of 0.28 nm, indicative of the existence of up to two hydration layers next to the membrane surface. These oscillatory force profiles reveal the molecular-scale origin of the hydration force that has been observed between two apposing lipid bilayers. Furthermore, FM-AFM imaging at the water/lipid interface visualizes individual hydration layers in three dimensions, with molecular-scale corrugations corresponding to the lipid headgroups. The results demonstrate that the intrinsic hydration layers are stable enough to present multiple energy barriers to approaching nanoscale objects, such as proteins and solvated ions, and are expected to affect membrane permeability and transport

Differences in the ubiquitination of p53 by Mdm2 and the HPV protein E6

AbstractThe human papillomavirus (HPV) protein E6 can promote the ubiquitination of the p53 tumour suppressor in vitro, providing an explanation for the ability of E6 to induce p53 degradation in vivo and contribute to the potential tumorigenic effect of the virus. Instead, in non-infected cells, p53 levels are primarily destabilised by the ubiquitin E3 ligase activity of the Mdm2 protein. Here we have compared the effects of E6 and Mdm2 on p53 ubiquitination in vivo. We show that whereas in the presence of Mdm2 proteasome inhibitors induce the accumulation of ubiquitinated forms of p53, this does not occur in the presence of E6. Accordingly, we confirm that the effect of E6 and p53 is independent of the six C-terminal lysine residues in p53, which have previously been described to play an important role for effective ubiquitination and degradation of 53 mediated by Mdm2. We also show that other yet unidentified residues in p53 are also susceptible to ubiquitination. These results indicate that E6 does not induce ubiquitination of p53 in the same way as Mdm2 in order to promote its degradation, suggesting important differences between the Mdm2 and E6 effects on p53 degradation

The Role of Proximal Sensors to Improve Land Management, Meet Environmental Targets and Increase Nutrient Use Efficiency on Farms

Increasing nutrient use efficiency on farms; improving land management; changing land use to capture more carbon, along with boosting renewable energy and the wider bio economy are practices that have been identified as key mechanisms by which the ambitious goal of achieving carbon net zero by 2050 can be achieved [1,2]. In order to increase nutrient use efficiency on farms, it requires knowledge and data collection to manage inputs, outputs, emissions and productivity. Soil and crop sensors can play an important role in improving the precision of agricultural practices while minimising harmful emissions to the environment. Rapid advances in technology mean that today there are many soil and crop sensors which provide a fast, powerful, non-destructive means of measuring a large number of chemical and physical properties. However, disentangling the data provided by soil and crop sensors can often be a challenge, particularly as some sensors and proximal sensor systems can be good proxies for more than one soil property. While it is possible to create very accurate and detailed soil maps using proximal sensors, there is nearly always a requirement to calibrate with local samples, as multiple factors can affect sensor measurements [3]. Good processing and calibration are key, and the best results will be achieved when there is a wide variation of in-field properties [4]. This mini review identifies two important case examples where proximal sensors can improve land management and farm nutrient use efficiency, which are both important concepts towards carbon net ze

Weighted risk assessment of critical source areas for soil phosphorus losses through surface runoff mechanisms

This work was supported by the NERC QUADRAT DTP [grant number 2280708].Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Inducing Neurite Outgrowth by Mechanical Cell Stretch

Establishing extracellular milieus to stimulate neuronal regeneration is a critical need in neuronal tissue engineering. Many studies have used a soluble factor (such as nerve growth factor or retinoic acid [RA]), micropatterned substrate, and electrical stimulation to induce enhanced neurogenesis in neuronal precursor cells. However, little attention has been paid to mechanical stimulation because neuronal cells are not generally recognized as being mechanically functional, a characteristic of mechanoresponsive cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and muscle cells. In this study, we performed proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate the potential anabolic effects of mechanical stretch to enhance cellular neurogenesis. We cultured human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells on collagen- coated membrane and applied 10% equibiaxial dynamic stretch (0.25 Hz, 120 min/d for 7 days) using a Flexcell device. Interestingly, cell stretch alone, even without a soluble neurogenic stimulatory factor (RA), produced significantly more and longer neurites than the non–RA-treated, static control. Specific neuronal differentiation and cytoskeletal markers (e.g., microtubule-associated protein 2 and neurofilament light chain) displayed compatible variations with respect to stretch stimulation

Aneuploidy in oocytes is prevented by sustained CDK1 activity through degron masking in cyclin B1

Successful mitosis requires that cyclin B1:CDK1 kinase activity remains high until chromosomes are correctly aligned on the mitotic spindle. It has therefore been unclear why, in mammalian oocyte meiosis, cyclin B1 destruction begins before chromosome alignment is complete. Here, we resolve this paradox and show that mouse oocytes exploit an imbalance in the ratio of cyclin B1 to CDK1 to control CDK1 activity; early cyclin B1 destruction reflects the loss of an excess of non-CDK1-bound cyclin B1 in late prometaphase, while CDK1-bound cyclin B1 is destroyed only during metaphase. The ordered destruction of the two forms of cyclin B1 is brought about by a previously unidentified motif that is accessible in free cyclin B1 but masked when cyclin B1 is in complex with CDK1. This protects the CDK1-bound fraction from destruction in prometaphase, ensuring a period of prolonged CDK1 activity sufficient to achieve optimal chromosome alignment and prevent aneuploidy