ScotPID - a model of collaboration

ScotPID is a national personal development initiative in Scotland, with thirteen higher education institutions taking part in the development of case studies which enhance personal development planning for students. As a model of collaboration, ScotPID involves all stakeholders: each core project group is composed of an academic, IT support manager, careers service adviser and undergraduate student, with support from QAA Scotland. The case study is developed by the contribution of all of the members of the team. The strength of the ScotPID collaboration is the varied background of the team members. However, collaboration between the ScotPID teams should also be encouraged, to strengthen the inter-institutional approach further

X-ray and UV spectroscopy of Cygnus X-1 = HDE226868

Observations are presented of Cygnus X-1 with the solid-state spectrometer on the Einstein Observatory. The X-ray spectra of two intensity dips viewed near superior conjunction did not exhibit increased photoelectric absorption. Rather the data support a model in which an increase in the electron scattering optical depth modifies both the observed spectrum and the intensity. The characteristic temperature of the intervening material is greater than 5 x 10 to the 7th power K. These measurements were in part simultaneous with observations by IUE. The ultra violet spectrum and intensity remained relatively constant during an X-ray intensity dip

The Lagrange and Markov spectra from the dynamical point of view

This text grew out of my lecture notes for a 4-hours minicourse delivered on October 17 \& 19, 2016 during the research school "Applications of Ergodic Theory in Number Theory" -- an activity related to the Jean-Molet Chair project of Mariusz Lema\'nczyk and S\'ebastien Ferenczi -- realized at CIRM, Marseille, France. The subject of this text is the same of my minicourse, namely, the structure of the so-called Lagrange and Markov spectra (with an special emphasis on a recent theorem of C. G. Moreira).Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures. Survey articl

Early careers on ecohydraulics:Challenges, opportunities and future directions

Early career researchers (ECRs) play a critical role in our knowledge-based society, yet they are the most vulnerable group in the scientific community. As a young, interdisciplinary science, ecohydraulics is particularly reliant on ECRs for future progress. In 2014, the Early Careers on Ecohydraulics Network (ECoENet) was created to help the development of young researchers in this field. In this paper, we synthesize the outcomes of a workshop for ECRs organized by ECoENet in February 2016. We aim to show how the potential of ECRs can be maximized to drive progress in ecohydraulics. According to the most recent entrants to the field, major challenges lie in becoming more integrated as a discipline, developing a common vocabulary and a collective vision, engaging effectively with policy-makers, and encouraging public participation. ECRs need to develop their careers on an international scale in a way that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries, including the social sciences, and allows them time to work at fundamental levels rather than focusing solely on individual applications. We propose a strategy to facilitate this by providing: a platform for disseminating research; an international support network; and a set of services for enhancing ECR training and experience. Early career researchers; interdisciplinary science; ecohydraulics; society; ecology; hydraulicsacceptedVersio

Discovery of 4,6-bis(2-((E)-benzylidene)hydrazinyl)pyrimidin-2-Amine with antibiotic activity

Robenidine (E)-N'-((E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylidene)-2-(1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylidene)hydrazine-1-carboximidhydrazide displays methicillin-resistant Staphyoccoccus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) MICs of 2 μg mL-1. Herein we describe the structure-activity relationship development of a novel series of guanidine to 2-aminopyrimidine isosteres that ameliorate the low levels of mammalian cytotoxicity in the lead compound while retaining good antibiotic activity. Removal of the 2-NH2 pyrimidine moiety renders these analogues inactive. Introduction of a central 2-NH2 triazine moiety saw a 10-fold activity reduction. Phenyl to cyclohexyl isosteres were inactive. The 4-BrPh and 4-CH3Ph with MIC values of 2 and 4 μg mL-1, against MRSA and VRE respectively, are promising candidates for future development.Cecilia C. Russe, Andrew Stevens, Kelly A. Young, Jennifer R. Baker ... Manouchehr Khazandi ... Abiodun Ogunniyi ... et al

Characterization of the Temperature-Sensitive Mutations un-7 and png-1 in Neurospora crassa

The model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa has been studied for over fifty years and many temperature-sensitive mutants have been generated. While most of these have been mapped genetically, many remain anonymous. The mutation in the N. crassa temperature-sensitive lethal mutant un-7 was identified by a complementation based approach as being in the open reading frame designated NCU00651 on linkage group I. Other mutations in this gene have been identified that lead to a temperature-sensitive morphological phenotype called png-1. The mutations underlying un-7 result in a serine to phenylalanine change at position 273 and an isoleucine to valine change at position 390, while the mutation in png-1 was found to result in a serine to leucine change at position 279 although there were other conservative changes in this allele. The overall morphology of the strain carrying the un-7 mutation is compared to strains carrying the png-1 mutation and these mutations are evaluated in the context of other temperature-sensitive mutants in Neurospora

The influence of 'significant others' on persistent back pain and work participation: a qualitative exploration of illness perceptions

Background Individual illness perceptions have been highlighted as important influences on clinical outcomes for back pain. However, the illness perceptions of 'significant others' (spouse/partner/close family member) are rarely explored, particularly in relation to persistent back pain and work participation. The aim of this study was to initiate qualitative research in this area in order to further understand these wider influences on outcome. Methods Semi-structured interviews based on the chronic pain version of the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised were conducted with a convenience sample of UK disability benefit claimants, along with their significant others (n=5 dyads). Data were analysed using template analysis. Results Significant others shared, and perhaps further reinforced, claimants' unhelpful illness beliefs including fear of pain/re-injury associated with certain types of work and activity, and pessimism about the likelihood of return to work. In some cases, significant others appeared more resigned to the permanence and negative inevitable consequences of the claimant's back pain condition on work participation, and were more sceptical about the availability of suitable work and sympathy from employers. In their pursuit of authenticity, claimants were keen to stress their desire to work whilst emphasising how the severity and physical limitations of their condition prevented them from doing so. In this vein, and seemingly based on their perceptions of what makes a 'good' significant other, significant others acted as a 'witness to pain', supporting claimants' self-limiting behaviour and statements of incapacity, often responding with empathy and assistance. The beliefs and responses of significant others may also have been influenced by their own experience of chronic illness, thus participants lives were often intertwined and defined by illness. Conclusions The findings from this exploratory study reveal how others and wider social circumstances might contribute both to the propensity of persistent back pain and to its consequences. This is an area that has received little attention to date, and wider support of these findings may usefully inform the design of future intervention programmes aimed at restoring work participation

Evaluating the Associations between Physical Activity, Weight Gain and Academic Attainment in Primary School Children

Objective The aim of this study was to identify if there is an association between physical activity, body mass and academic attainment in primary school children. Methods Eighty-six children at a UK primary school were included in this cohort analysis. Physical activity status was determined using the Physical Activity Questionnaire – Children. Weight and height was measured, and BMI calculated at 4-time points. Academic attainment was measured from national standardised tests. Results Children who are less active demonstrated lower height (mean difference (MD) 0.49 95% CI 0.08 to 0.90), weight (MD 0.58 95% CI 0.12 to 1.04) and BMI z-scores (MD 0.48 95% CI -0.04 to 1.00) than children who are more active. They also had a higher rate of weight gain (0.06 z-score units/month), than children who are more active (0.05*z-core units/ month), and had greater fluctuations in weight. Children who were more active performed significantly better than children who are less active in writing (χ2 16.40, p=0.003) and mathematics (χ2 12.18, p=0.02). Conclusion There does appear to be an association between physical activity, body mass and academic attainment in primary school children, such that lower activity levels negatively effects growth and academic performance. These differences could not be solely explained by physical activity level due to unaccounted socio-economic factor

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Contains reports on seven research projects

In Vitro Activity of Robenidine Analogues NCL259 and NCL265 against Gram-Negative Pathogens

Published: 23 September 2022Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens, especially Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Enterobacter spp., are recognized by the World Health Organization as the most critical priority pathogens in urgent need of drug development. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial activity of robenidine analogues NCL259 and NCL265 was tested against key human and animal Gram-negative clinical isolates and reference strains. NCL259 and NCL265 demonstrated moderate antimicrobial activity against these Gram-negative priority pathogens with NCL265 consistently more active, achieving lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the range of 2–16 µg/mL. When used in combination with sub-inhibitory concentrations of polymyxin B to permeabilize the outer membrane, NCL259 and NCL265 elicited a synergistic or additive activity against the reference strains tested, reducing the MIC of NCL259 by 8- to 256- fold and the MIC of NCL265 by 4- to 256- fold. A small minority of Klebsiella spp. isolates (three) were resistant to both NCL259 and NCL265 with MICs > 256 µg/mL. This resistance was completely reversed in the presence of the efflux pump inhibitor phenylalanine-arginine-beta-naphthylamide (PAβN) to yield MIC values of 8–16 µg/mL and 2–4 µg/mL for NCL259 and NCL256, respectively. When NCL259 and NCL265 were tested against wild-type E. coli isolate BW 25113 and its isogenic multidrug efflux pump subunit AcrB deletion mutant (∆AcrB), the MIC of both compounds against the mutant ∆AcrB isolate was reduced 16-fold compared to the wild-type parent, indicating a significant role for the AcrAB-TolC efflux pump from Enterobacterales in imparting resistance to these robenidine analogues. In vitro cytotoxicity testing revealed that NCL259 and NCL265 had much higher levels of toxicity to a range of human cell lines compared to the parent robenidine, thus precluding their further development as novel antibiotics against Gram-negative pathogens.Hongfei Pi, Henrietta Venter, Cecilia C. Russell, Kelly A. Young, Adam McCluskey, Stephen W. Page, Abiodun D. Ogunniyi and Darren J. Trot