Occupational Therapy graduates of 2009; knowledge and attitudes relating to their role in the area of alcohol misuse.

Purpose: Within Scotland, health policy changes are being considered to address\ud the misuse of alcohol. Concurrently, a shifting of professional roles within the\ud National Health Service is under way. The purpose of the study was to investigate\ud personal knowledge and attitudes relating to alcohol use/misuse amongst all\ud final year Scottish occupational therapy students.\ud Procedure: A self-completed questionnaire was developed for delivery in spring\ud 2009 within scheduled lectures to students (n = 161) at all three Scottish universities\ud providing occupational therapy education.\ud Findings: Of those in class, 93% (n = 109) provided completed questionnaires.\ud There was evidence of gaps in knowledge around the understanding and application\ud of United Kingdom responsible drinking guidelines; however, students reported\ud confidence in their professional and personal ability to act effectively in this area\ud of clinical practice. There was a distinct lack of congruence with key proposals\ud put forward by the Scottish Government to address alcohol misuse.\ud Conclusion: Identified knowledge gaps have implications for the alcohol\ud teaching content of the curriculum in Scotland. Additionally, while investigation\ud of student attitudes revealed a self-belief in personal and professional skills,\ud the findings nevertheless stress a need to ensure that the potential value of\ud occupational therapists’ contribution is more effectively communicated to their\ud health professional collea

WNK1-dependent osmoregulation in CD4⁺ T cell activation

CD4+ T cell activation is critical for the initiation of the adaptive immune response. In particular, through the provision of help to B cells, CD4+ T cells are essential for the generation of high-affinity, class-switched antibodies specific for epitopes on invading pathogens. CD4+ T cells also augment the activation of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and modulate the effector function of innate immune cells. These features of the immune response are essential for the clearance of many pathogens and are conditional on the ability of a small population of antigen-specific CD4+ T cells to rapidly expand in response to antigenic challenge. In this study we show that this expansion is strongly dependent on the activity of the WNK1 kinase, and that in the absence of WNK1, CD4+ T cells are unable to support a class-switched antibody response. WNK1 has been extensively studied in the distal nephron of the kidney, where it regulates ion transport, and consequently blood pressure, via the STK39 and OXSR1 kinases and the SLC12A-family of ion co-transporters. Here we show that this osmoregulatory function of WNK1 is required for TCR signalling in CD4+ T cells and the subsequent entry of these cells into G1 phase of the cell cycle. Furthermore, having entered the cell cycle, WNK1-deficient T cells show a reduced rate of DNA replication and activate the ATR-mediated cell cycle checkpoint, resulting in a G2/M blockade. CD4+ T cells carrying mutations in both Oxsr1 and Stk39 phenocopy WNK1-deficient T cells, although the defects in TCR-induced proliferation are less severe. Taken together, these data suggest that WNK1 regulates cell cycle progression via the OXSR1 and STK39 signalling pathways, as well as via another, non-canonical pathway. Importantly, the defective TCR signalling and G1 entry exhibited by WNK1-deficient CD4+ T cells can be rescued by activating the cells in hypotonic medium. These novel findings reveal fundamental roles for WNK1 activity and transmembrane water movement in antigen receptor signalling and cell cycle dynamics

Alternative approaches for studying shared and distributed leadership

Scholars hold different perspectives about leadership which are not limited to a formally appointed leader. Of the abundance of terms used to describe this phenomenon, shared and distributed are the most prevalent. These terms are often used interchangeably, resulting in confusion in the way that shared and distributed leadership is conceptualized and investigated. This paper provides a historical development of this field, challenges existing conceptions and reveals inconsistencies and contradictions that are seldom acknowledged. Four distinct approaches to the study of shared and distributed leadership are identified in the literature, each embracing different ontological views and leadership epistemologies. Individually, the four approaches offer valuable - yet partial - understanding. Comparing and contrasting the assumptions and insights from the four approaches raises fundamental issues about how we think about leadership in terms of research, practice and development

Mechanical robustness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

Biofilms grow on various surfaces and in many different environments, a phenomenon that constitutes major problems in industry and medicine. Despite their importance little is known about the viscoelastic properties of biofilms and how these depend on the chemical microenvironment. Here, we find that the mechanical properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.a.) biofilms are highly robust towards chemical perturbations. Specifically, we observe that P.a. biofilms are able to fully regain their initial stiffness after yielding is enforced, even in the presence of chemicals. Moreover, only trivalent ions and citric acid significantly affect the biofilm elasticity, the first of which also alters the texture of the material. Finally, our results indicate that biofilm mechanics and bacteria viability inside the biofilm are not necessarily linked which suggests that targeting bacteria alone might not be sufficient for biofilm removal strategies.National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (P50-GM068763)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (P30-ES002109)German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD

Viral infection identifies micropeptides differentially regulated in smORF-containing lncRNAs

Viral infection leads to a robust cellular response whereby the infected cell produces hundreds of molecular regulators to combat infection. Currently, non-canonical components, e.g., long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been added to the repertoire of immune regulators involved in the antiviral program. Interestingly, studies utilizing next-generation sequencing technologies show that a subset of the >10,000 lncRNAs in the mammalian genome contain small open reading frames (smORFs) associated with active translation, i.e., many lncRNAs are not noncoding. Here, we use genome-wide high-throughput methods to identify potential micropeptides in smORF-containing lncRNAs involved in the immune response. Using influenza as a viral infection model, we performed RNA-seq and ribosome profiling to track expression and translation of putative lncRNAs that may encode for peptides and identify tens of potential candidates. Interestingly, many of these peptides are highly conserved at the protein level, strongly suggesting biological relevance and activity. By perusing publicly available data sets, four potential peptides of interest seem common to stress induction and/or are highly conserved; potential peptides from the MMP24-AS1, ZFAS1, RP11-622K12.1, and MIR22HG genes. Interestingly, using an antibody against the potential peptide encoded by MIR22HG RNA, we show that the peptide is stably expressed in the absence of infection, and upregulated in response to infection, corroborating the prediction of the ribosome profiling results. These data show the utility of perturbation approaches in identifying potentially relevant novel molecules encoded in the genome

Prebiotic effects: metabolic and health benefits

The different compartments of the gastrointestinal tract are inhabited by populations of micro-organisms. By far the most important predominant populations are in the colon where a true symbiosis with the host exists that is a key for well-being and health. For such a microbiota, 'normobiosis' characterises a composition of the gut 'ecosystem' in which micro-organisms with potential health benefits predominate in number over potentially harmful ones, in contrast to 'dysbiosis', in which one or a few potentially harmful micro-organisms are dominant, thus creating a disease-prone situation. The present document has been written by a group of both academic and industry experts (in the ILSI Europe Prebiotic Expert Group and Prebiotic Task Force, respectively). It does not aim to propose a new definition of a prebiotic nor to identify which food products are classified as prebiotic but rather to validate and expand the original idea of the prebiotic concept (that can be translated in 'prebiotic effects'), defined as: 'The selective stimulation of growth and/or activity(ies) of one or a limited number of microbial genus(era)/species in the gut microbiota that confer(s) health benefits to the host.' Thanks to the methodological and fundamental research of microbiologists, immense progress has very recently been made in our understanding of the gut microbiota. A large number of human intervention studies have been performed that have demonstrated that dietary consumption of certain food products can result in statistically significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota in line with the prebiotic concept. Thus the prebiotic effect is now a well-established scientific fact. The more data are accumulating, the more it will be recognised that such changes in the microbiota's composition, especially increase in bifidobacteria, can be regarded as a marker of intestinal health. The review is divided in chapters that cover the major areas of nutrition research where a prebiotic effect has tentatively been investigated for potential health benefits. The prebiotic effect has been shown to associate with modulation of biomarkers and activity(ies) of the immune system. Confirming the studies in adults, it has been demonstrated that, in infant nutrition, the prebiotic effect includes a significant change of gut microbiota composition, especially an increase of faecal concentrations of bifidobacteria. This concomitantly improves stool quality (pH, SCFA, frequency and consistency), reduces the risk of gastroenteritis and infections, improves general well-being and reduces the incidence of allergic symptoms such as atopic eczema. Changes in the gut microbiota composition are classically considered as one of the many factors involved in the pathogenesis of either inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome. The use of particular food products with a prebiotic effect has thus been tested in clinical trials with the objective to improve the clinical activity and well-being of patients with such disorders. Promising beneficial effects have been demonstrated in some preliminary studies, including changes in gut microbiota composition (especially increase in bifidobacteria concentration). Often associated with toxic load and/or miscellaneous risk factors, colon cancer is another pathology for which a possible role of gut microbiota composition has been hypothesised. Numerous experimental studies have reported reduction in incidence of tumours and cancers after feeding specific food products with a prebiotic effect. Some of these studies (including one human trial) have also reported that, in such conditions, gut microbiota composition was modified (especially due to increased concentration of bifidobacteria). Dietary intake of particular food products with a prebiotic effect has been shown, especially in adolescents, but also tentatively in postmenopausal women, to increase Ca absorption as well as bone Ca accretion and bone mineral density. Recent data, both from experimental models and from human studies, support the beneficial effects of particular food products with prebiotic properties on energy homaeostasis, satiety regulation and body weight gain. Together, with data in obese animals and patients, these studies support the hypothesis that gut microbiota composition (especially the number of bifidobacteria) may contribute to modulate metabolic processes associated with syndrome X, especially obesity and diabetes type 2. It is plausible, even though not exclusive, that these effects are linked to the microbiota-induced changes and it is feasible to conclude that their mechanisms fit into the prebiotic effect. However, the role of such changes in these health benefits remains to be definitively proven. As a result of the research activity that followed the publication of the prebiotic concept 15 years ago, it has become clear that products that cause a selective modification in the gut microbiota's composition and/or activity(ies) and thus strengthens normobiosis could either induce beneficial physiological effects in the colon and also in extra-intestinal compartments or contribute towards reducing the risk of dysbiosis and associated intestinal and systemic pathologies

International recruitment of physiotherapists: a report for the Chartered Society for Physiotherapy.

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Retirement patterns of doctors

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Reference to the index of Harry O'May's scrapbook of the 1930's.

Press cuttings relating to the O'May and other Derwent ferry services, Tasmanian shipping and history (1930's), also pay sheet of Rosny Estate & Ferry Co. Ltd (18-28 June 1925)

MY Voice: A participatory action research project with men, women and young people on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Scotland

MY Voice is an innovative participatory action research project with affected communities on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Scotland. The project aims are to facilitate community engagement on FGM with women, men, young people and religious leaders, to enable their voices to be heard, and to contribute to the development of awareness-raising around FGM, as well as ensuring culturally appropriate services for Scotland. There have been multiple calls for greater community participation and leadership in the work on FGM in Scotland from those directly affected (see section 1.3). The findings from MY Voice can start to identify key issues and help determine ways in which community participation can be built in to the Scottish response to FGM more effectively.Funding was provided by the Scottish Government Violence Against Women Fund.https://www.waverleycare.orgpubpu