Quality matters: Response of bacteria and ciliates to different allochthonous dissolved organic matter sources as a pulsed disturbance in shallow lakes.

Shallow lake ecosystems are particularly prone to disturbances such as pulsed dissolved organic matter (allochthonous-DOM; hereafter allo-DOM) loadings from catchments. However, the effects of allo-DOM with contrasting quality (in addition to quantity) on the planktonic communities of microbial loop are poorly understood. To determine the impact of different qualities of pulsed allo-DOM disturbance on the coupling between bacteria and ciliates, we conducted a mesocosm experiment with two different allo-DOM sources added to mesocosms in a single-pulse disturbance event: Alder tree leaf extract, a more labile (L) source and HuminFeed® (HF), a more recalcitrant source.

Longitudinal impact of an online interdisciplinary perinatal mental health module on Healthcare Professionals' knowledge, skills, attitudes and confidence: A qualitative evaluation.

Aim/objective: The current study aimed to explore the following research question; 'What is the longitudinal impact, if any, of an online interdisciplinary perinatal mental health module on HCP knowledge, skills, attitudes and confidence'.

Background: Research suggests that one in five women/people will experience a mental health issue during the perinatal period. Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) play a critical role in identifying, supporting and referring those who disclose health or psychosocial concerns in pregnancy or after birth and consistent research findings highlight the need for appropriate targeted perinatal mental health education among this cohort.

Designing technology to support greater participation of people living with dementia in daily and meaningful activities.

Background: People living with dementia should be at the center of decision-making regarding their plans and goals for daily living and meaningful activities that help promote health and mental well-being. The human-computer interaction community has recently begun to recognize the need to design technologies where the person living with dementia is an active rather than a passive user of technology in the management of their care.

Methods: Data collection comprised semi-structured interviews and focus groups held with dyads of people with early-stage dementia (n = 5) and their informal carers (n = 4), as well as health professionals (n = 5).

Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Non-ridged Versus Ridged Backslabs in Lower Limb Fractures.

Introduction Lower limb fractures frequently require immobilization with backslabs to promote healing. This study investigates a novel approach involving the incorporation of a single ridge to enhance backslab strength while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the mechanical performance of ridged backslabs in comparison to traditional non-ridged backslabs, specifically focusing on their load-bearing capacity and cost-effectiveness when used in lower limb fractures.

An Analysis of Positional Generic and Individualized Speed Thresholds Within the Most Demanding Phases of Match Play in the English Premier League.

Objectives: To analyze the positional distances covered above generic and individualized speed thresholds within the most demanding phases of match play. Categorized by position, 17 English Premier League players' match data were analyzed over 2 consecutive seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21). The most demanding phases of play were determined using a rolling average across 4 periods of 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes.

Psychometric evaluation of the student nurse stressor-14 scale for undergraduate nursing interns.

Background: Currently, there are few scales used to assess the stressors experienced by undergraduate nursing interns during clinical practice, and the assessment of stressors during clinical practice is not comprehensive; the scale includes some unique stressors during training that is not available in the existing instruments used to assess nursing student practice stress in China.

Aim: The study aimed to explore the structure of the Chinese revision of the Student Nurse Stressor-14 Scale(SNS-14-CHI)and investigate the psychometric properties it among Chinese undergraduate nursing interns.

Methods: The original scale was culturally adjusted and revised after expert correspondence on the entries, and 414 undergraduate nursing interns were recruited from three cities in China to administer the questionnaire.

Modulation of fast sodium current in airway smooth muscle cells by exchange protein directly activated by cAMP.

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells from mouse bronchus express a fast sodium current mediated by Na1.7. We present evidence that this current is regulated by cAMP.

Reflections on the Teaching Symposium at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2023.

The Microbiology Society Education and Outreach Network (EON) recently hosted the Teaching Symposium at the Microbiology Society Annual Conference, sponsored by . The presence of the Symposium as an established parallel session within the wider Annual Conference reflects the importance of high-quality, contemporary microbiology education and outreach delivered in an enthusiastic and inclusive manner. At the 2023 Symposium, a variety of pedagogical research projects in higher education learning, teaching and assessment, as well as public engagement projects, were showcased through invited talks, offered talks, flash talks and posters.

Associations between motor competence and physical activity levels of children with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder: Movement matters.

Motor competence is important for lifelong physical activity (PA). The current study aimed to examine associations between PA and motor competence. In total, 43 children aged 7-12 years with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder completed anthropometric measures, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, and wore a wrist accelerometer to capture total PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), average acceleration, and intensity gradient.

Cellular characterization of the mouse collecting lymphatic vessels reveals that lymphatic muscle cells are the innate pacemaker cells.

Collecting lymphatic vessels (cLVs) exhibit spontaneous contractions with a pressure-dependent frequency, but the identity of the lymphatic pacemaker cell is still debated. Here we combined immunofluorescence and scRNAseq analyses with electrophysiological methods to examine the cellular constituents of the mouse cLV wall and assess whether any cell type exhibited morphological and functional processes characteristic of pacemaker cells. We employed inducible Cre (iCre) mouse models to target specific cell populations including c-kitCreER to target interstitial cells of Cajal like cells; to target pericyte-like cells; to target CD34 adventitial cells; and to target lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) directly.

Protein Quantitation and Analysis of Purity.

The accurate quantitation of proteins and an analysis of their purity is essential in numerous areas of scientific research and is a critical factor in many clinical applications. The large number and variety of techniques employed for this purpose is therefore not surprising. The selection of a suitable assay is dependent on such factors as the level of sensitivity required, the presence of interfering agents, and the composition of the protein itself.

Poly-Histidine-Tagged Protein Purification Using Immobilized Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC).

His-tagging is the most widespread and versatile strategy used to purify recombinant proteins for biochemical and structural studies. Recombinant DNA methods are first used to engineer the addition of a short tract of poly-histidine tag (His-tag) to the N-terminus or C-terminus of a target protein. The His-tag is then exploited to enable purification of the "tagged" protein by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC).

Tagging Recombinant Proteins to Enhance Solubility and Aid Purification.

Protein fusion technology has had a major impact on the efficient production and purification of individual recombinant proteins. The use of genetically engineered affinity and solubility-enhancing polypeptide "tags" has a long history, and there is a considerable repertoire of these that can be used to address issues related to the expression, stability, solubility, folding, and purification of their fusion partner. In the case of large-scale proteomic studies, the development of purification procedures tailored to individual proteins is not practicable, and affinity tags have become indispensable tools for structural and functional proteomic initiatives that involve the expression of many proteins in parallel.

A Synopsis of Proteins and Their Purification.

The goal of protein purification is to separate a specific protein from all other biomolecules. Classical chromatographic procedures have been designed to exploit particular distinguishing features of individual target proteins, such as size, shape, physicochemical properties, and binding affinity. Advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have positively contributed at every level to the challenge of purifying individual proteins and more recently have led to the development of high-throughput proteomic platforms.

Ca dynamics in interstitial cells: foundational mechanisms for the motor patterns in the gastrointestinal tract.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract displays multiple motor patterns that move nutrients and wastes through the body. Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) provide the forces necessary for GI motility, but interstitial cells, electrically coupled to SMCs, tune SMC excitability, transduce inputs from enteric motor neurons, and generate pacemaker activity that underlies major motor patterns, such as peristalsis and segmentation. The interstitial cells regulating SMCs are interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and PDGF receptor (PDGFR)α cells.

The recovery of European freshwater biodiversity has come to a halt.

Owing to a long history of anthropogenic pressures, freshwater ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to biodiversity loss. Mitigation measures, including wastewater treatment and hydromorphological restoration, have aimed to improve environmental quality and foster the recovery of freshwater biodiversity. Here, using 1,816 time series of freshwater invertebrate communities collected across 22 European countries between 1968 and 2020, we quantified temporal trends in taxonomic and functional diversity and their responses to environmental pressures and gradients.

Training simulated participants for role portrayal and feedback practices in communication skills training: A BEME scoping review: BEME Guide No. 86.

Background: Providing feedback is a key aspect of simulated participants' (SPs) educational work. In teaching contexts, the ability to provide feedback to learners is central to their role. Suboptimal feedback practices may deny learners the valuable feedback they need to learn and improve.

Sustaining a therapeutic environment within mental health in-patient settings during COVID-19. Results of a Delphi study.

Aim: Develop a strengths-based, person-centred, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented framework to mitigate any potential increase in conflict resulting from the implementation of C19 restrictions.

Background: Guidance addressing the unique challenges posed by Covid-19 within mental health in-patient settings, including how to support those whose distress may present as behaviour that challenges including violence and self-harm, remains urgently needed.

Methodology/approach: A Delphi design involving four iterative stages was adopted.

Waist-What? Can a single sensor positioned at the waist detect parameters of gait at a speed and distance reflective of older adults' activity?

One of the problems facing an ageing population is functional decline associated with reduced levels of physical activity (PA). Traditionally researcher or clinician input is necessary to capture parameters of gait or PA. Enabling older adults to monitor their activity independently could raise their awareness of their activitiy levels, promote self-care and potentially mitigate the risks associated with ageing.

Multi-annual time series operational data for a Vestas V52 wind turbine located in a coastal peri-urban environment in Ireland.

This long-term time series wind turbine operation dataset is from an 850 kW Vestas V52 wind turbine located in a peri-urban location in Ireland. The wind turbine has a hub height of 60 m and a rotor diameter of 52 m. The dataset ranges from 2006 to 2020 and contains the 10-minute raw data logged by the internal turbine controller system.

BK channel modulation by positively charged peptides and auxiliary γ subunits mediated by the Ca2+-bowl site.

The large-conductance, Ca2+-, and voltage-activated K+ (BK) channel consists of the pore-forming α (BKα) subunit and regulatory β and γ subunits. The γ1-3 subunits facilitate BK channel activation by shifting the voltage-dependence of channel activation toward the hyperpolarization direction by about 50-150 mV in the absence of Ca2+. We previously found that the intracellular C-terminal positively charged regions of the γ subunits play important roles in BK channel modulation.

Blockade of Kv7 channels reverses the inhibitory effects of exchange protein directly activated by cAMP activation on purinergic contractions of the murine detrusor.

Purinergic contractions of the detrusor are reduced by cAMP, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We examined the effects of BK and Kv7 channel modulators on purinergic contractions of the detrusor and tested if the inhibitory effects of activators of the cAMP effectors, PKA and EPAC, were reduced by blockade of BK or Kv7 channels. Purinergic contractions of the murine detrusor were induced by electric field stimulation (EFS) or application of the P2X receptor agonist α,β-MeATP.

Excitatory cholinergic responses in mouse primary bronchial smooth muscle require both Ca entry via l-type Ca channels and store operated Ca entry via Orai channels.

Malfunctions in airway smooth muscle Ca-signalling leads to airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ca-release from intracellular stores is important in mediating agonist-induced contractions, but the role of influx via l-type Ca channels is controversial. We re-examined roles of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca store, refilling of this store via store-operated Ca entry (SOCE) and l-type Ca channel pathways on carbachol (CCh, 0.