bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A changing environment: narratives of learning about research
Authors: Raddon Arwen E. 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe literature demonstrates how the environment for and value of research is changing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the narratives of 30 UK researchers and academics to consider how they learned about the nature and value of research through the researcher development process and within this broader context of change.Design/methodology/approachA biographical‐narrative approach is adopted, emphasising subjective experience and meaning and how this is shaped by wider social structures.FindingsRespondents' stories highlight the continued informality of much of the development process and how a lack of systematic support can leave much to chance, potentially undermining future views of professional development. Data from respondents across generations also enable examination of some of the changes that have taken place over time in the higher education (HE) environment and the impact this has had on individuals' understanding of research. In particular, changes such as the introduction of the Research Assessment Exercise/Research Excellence Framework appear to have had a significant – and not entirely positive – shaping influence on how individuals perceive, and experience, research and its aims, leading to an emphasis on outputs over knowledge building.Research limitations/implicationsA biographical‐narrative approach necessarily involves a smaller sample, nevertheless, shared themes were generated by this size of sample and inferences can be drawn.Practical implicationsDespite increased emphasis on research and publishing in the UK, these stories across generations suggest that training and development for researchers often remain very informal, with much left to chance. A more overt approach to researcher development, such as through a “scaffolded” learning process, in which an experienced colleague guides development activities, could help to avoid negative early experiences and increase the likelihood that individuals will develop their own sense of a “culture of developmentalism”.Originality/valueFocusing on what individuals learn about the nature and value of research as they go through the development process adds to our understanding of researcher development and how this is situated within the wider HE context. Data from respondents across generations equally enable examination of some of the changes that have taken place over time, and how these re‐shape researcher development.
Doctoral experience as researcher preparation: activities, passion, status
Authors: Turner Gill , McAlpine Lynn 
Published: September 2011

PurposeSocial science doctoral graduates increasingly are moving into higher education research positions yet the nature of these roles is under researched. The purpose of this paper is to compare the experiences of research staff (RS) and doctoral students (DS), to bring an awareness of the extent to which doctoral experience can be preparation for research roles.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts a narrative perspective. Using multi‐method data collection the authors compared seven RS and seven DS from the social sciences, capturing their experiences during the first year of a longitudinal study. Analysis involved developing case summaries and thematic coding.FindingsThe findings detail similarities in the work undertaken by each group; show that passionate thought for academic work is rooted early in academic life; and illustrate that status is more complex and fluid than previously noted, regardless of role.Research limitations/implicationsNumbers are small; however, although attrition is a possibility, this longitudinal approach should allow us to explore further our notions of doctoral experience as researcher preparation, as participants move from doctoral study into research positions.Originality/valueThis is a rare account of a comparison between RS and DS. The paper argues that the experiences of RS are not discrete and specific only to their role but are part of the same journey as that undertaken by DS.
Postgraduate researcher employability
Authors: Houston Kathleen , Lumsden Peter 
Published: September 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a case study‐based evaluation of a newly accredited career exploration and development module for researchers. It assesses the value of the pilot module in terms of how it succeeded in stimulating career thinking and “work wisdom” in researchers. Career destinations data suggest that fewer than 50 per cent of researchers will establish careers in academia or higher education; it is therefore notable that 73 per cent of respondents to the postgraduate research experience survey expected to pursue a research career in higher education. Given that researchers' expectations conflict somewhat with the reality of potential career directions, the need for a career development programme that allows them to explore career possibilities within and without academia seems relevant. The module examined was delivered through a mixture of taught and interactive workshops (examined in this article), structured reflective journaling, online peer‐sharing discussions and group driven action learning.Design/methodology/approachA practitioner research, case study, approach was employed, with the intention of informing practice and delivery.FindingsThe paper presents evidence of positive qualitative outcomes for the researcher participants, and of a successful learning intervention.Originality/valueThe paper describes an accredited programme incorporating action learning. It is unusual since much career training for researchers within universities is ad hoc and unaccredited.
The effect of tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths. Findings from the Netherlands SimSmoke Tobacco Control Policy Simulation Model
Authors: Nagelhout Gera E. , Levy David T. , Blackman Kenneth , Currie Laura , Clancy Luke , Willemsen Marc C. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAim  To develop a simulation model projecting the effect of tobacco control policies in the Netherlands on smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths.Design, setting and participants  Netherlands SimSmoke—an adapted version of the SimSmoke simulation model of tobacco control policy—uses population, smoking rates and tobacco control policy data for the Netherlands to predict the effect of seven types of policies: taxes, smoke‐free legislation, mass media, advertising bans, health warnings, cessation treatment and youth access policies.Measurements  Outcome measures were smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths.Findings  With a comprehensive set of policies, as recommended by MPOWER, smoking prevalence can be decreased by as much as 21% in the first year, increasing to a 35% reduction in the next 20 years and almost 40% by 30 years. By 2040, 7706 deaths can be averted in that year alone with the stronger set of policies. Without effective tobacco control policies, almost a million lives will be lost to tobacco‐related diseases between 2011 and 2040. Of those, 145 000 can be saved with a comprehensive tobacco control package.Conclusions  Smoking prevalence and smoking‐attributable deaths in the Netherlands can be reduced substantially through tax increases, smoke‐free legislation, high‐intensity media campaigns, stronger advertising bans and health warnings, comprehensive cessation treatment and youth access laws. The implementation of these FCTC/MPOWER recommended policies could be expected to show similar or even larger relative reductions in smoking prevalence in other countries which currently have weak policies.
The impact of small changes in bar closing hours on violence. The Norwegian experience from 18 cities
Authors: Rossow Ingeborg , Norström Thor 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTAims  To estimate the effect on violence of small changes in closing hours for on‐premise alcohol sales, and to assess whether a possible effect is symmetrical.Design, setting, and participants  A quasi‐experimental design drawing on data from 18 Norwegian cities that have changed (extended or restricted) the closing hours for on‐premise alcohol sales. All changes were ≤ 2 hours.Measurements  Closing hours were measured in terms of the latest permitted hour of on‐premise trading, ranging from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. The outcome measure comprised police‐reported assaults that occurred in the city centre between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. at weekends. Assaults outside the city centre during the same time window should not be affected by changes in closing hours but function as a proxy for potential confounders, and was thus included as a control variable. The data spanned the period Q1 2000–Q3 2010, yielding 774 observations.Findings  Outcomes from main analyses suggested that each 1‐hour extension of closing hours was associated with a statistically significant increase of 4.8 assaults (95% CI 2.60, 6.99) per 100 000 inhabitants per quarter (i.e. an increase of about 16%). Findings indicate that the effect is symmetrical. These findings were consistent across three different modelling techniques.Conclusion  In Norway, each additional 1‐hour extension to the opening times of premises selling alcohol is associated with a 16% increase in violent crime.
Scuba Diving Is Not Associated With High Prevalence of Headache: A Cross‐Sectional Study in Men
Authors: Di Fabio Roberto , Vanacore Nicola , Davassi Chiara , Serrao Mariano , Pierelli Francesco 
Published: September 2011

Objective.— To study the prevalence of cephalalgia in male divers.Background.— Scuba divers work in stressing environments and have a high cerebrovascular risk, both conditions which are supposed to contribute to the genesis of cephalalgia. However, no study assessed expressly the prevalence of cephalalgia in divers, to date.Methods.— We enrolled 201 professional male scuba divers (41.0 ± 7.2 years) and controls (41.1 ± 7.2 years), and the risk ratio and its corresponding 95% confidence of suffering from cephalalgia was calculated.Results.— We found that 16% of divers and 22% of matched controls were affected by cephalalgia (P > .05), accounting for a risk ratio of 0.71 (95% CI 0.47‐1.07). Divers reported fewer attacks per month (1.8 ± 0.7, n = 32) with regard to controls (2.5 ± 1.8, n = 45) (P = .02), but no differences concerning age at onset and severity were detected (P > .05). Divers suffered from migraine, migraine with aura and tension headache as much as controls.Conclusion.— Scuba diving, an intense physical activity characterized by cerebral micro‐vascular distress, is not associated with cephalalgia, as a whole, or migraine, tension headache or migraine with aura, more commonly than in a matched, non‐diving, population. A longitudinal study may disclose if diving may act as a protective factor in the occurrence of crises of cephalalgia.(Headache 2012;52:385‐392)
Multicopy Suppression Screening of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Identifies the Ubiquitination Machinery as a Main Target for Improving Growth at Low Temperatures
Authors: Hernández-López Maria José , García-Marqués Sara , Randez-Gil Francisca , Prieto Jose Antonio 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

A decrease in ambient temperature alters membrane functionality and impairs the proper interaction between the cell and its external milieu. Understanding how cells adapt membrane properties and modulate the activity of membrane-associated proteins is therefore of major interest from both the basic and the applied points of view. Here, we have isolated multicopy suppressors of the cold sensitivity phenotype of a
trp1
strain of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Three poorly characterized genes, namely,
ALY2
encoding the endocytic adaptor,
CAJ1
encoding the J protein, and
UBP13
encoding the ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase, were identified as mediating increased growth at 12°C of both Trp
−
and Trp
+
yeast strains. This effect was likely due to the downregulation of cold-instigated degradation of nutrient permeases, since it was missing from cells of the
rsp5
Δ mutant strain, which contains a point mutation in the gene encoding ubiquitin ligase. Indeed, we found that 12°C treatments reduced the level of several membrane transporters, including Tat1p and Tat2p, two yeast tryptophan transporters, and Gap1, the general amino acid permease. We also found that the lack of Rsp5p increased the steady state level of Tat1p and Tat2p and that
ALY2
-engineered cells grown at 12°C had higher Tat2p and Gap1p abundance. Nevertheless, the high copy number of
ALY2
or
UBP13
improved cold growth even in the absence of Tat2p. Consistent with this,
ALY2
- and
UBP13
-engineered cells of the industrial QA23 strain grew faster and produced more CO
2
at 12°C than did the parental when maltose was used as the sole carbon source. Hence, the multicopy suppressors isolated in this work appear to contribute to the correct control of the cell surface protein repertoire and their engineering might have potential biotechnological applications.
The RNA Polymerase Omega Factor RpoZ Is Regulated by PhoP and Has an Important Role in Antibiotic Biosynthesis and Morphological Differentiation in Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Santos-Beneit Fernando , Barriuso-Iglesias Mónica , Fernández-Martínez Lorena T. , Martínez-Castro Miriam , Sola-Landa Alberto , Rodríguez-García Antonio , Martín Juan F. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

The RNA polymerase (RNAP) omega factor (ω) forms a complex with the α
2
ββ′ core of this enzyme in bacteria. We have characterized the
rpoZ
gene of
Streptomyces coelicolor
, which encodes a small protein (90 amino acids) identified as the omega factor. Deletion of the
rpoZ
gene resulted in strains with a slightly reduced growth rate, although they were still able to sporulate. The biosynthesis of actinorhodin and, particularly, that of undecylprodigiosin were drastically reduced in the Δ
rpoZ
strain, suggesting that expression of these secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes is dependent upon the presence of RpoZ in the RNAP complex. Complementation of the Δ
rpoZ
mutant with the wild-type
rpoZ
allele restored both phenotype and antibiotic production. Interestingly, the
rpoZ
gene contains a PHO box in its promoter region. DNA binding assays showed that the phosphate response regulator PhoP binds to such a region. Since luciferase reporter studies showed that
rpoZ
promoter activity was increased in a Δ
phoP
background, it can be concluded that
rpoZ
is controlled negatively by PhoP, thus connecting phosphate depletion regulation with antibiotic production and morphological differentiation in
Streptomyces
.
Molecular Epidemiology, Spatiotemporal Analysis, and Ecology of Sporadic Human Cryptosporidiosis in Australia
Authors: Waldron Liette S. , Dimeski Borce , Beggs Paul J. , Ferrari Belinda C. , Power Michelle L. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Parasites from the
Cryptosporidium
genus are the most common cause of waterborne disease around the world. Successful management and prevention of this emerging disease requires knowledge of the diversity of species causing human disease and their zoonotic sources. This study employed a spatiotemporal approach to investigate sporadic human cryptosporidiosis in New South Wales, Australia, between January 2008 and December 2010. Analysis of 261 human fecal samples showed that sporadic human cryptosporidiosis is caused by four species;
C. hominis
,
C. parvum
,
C. andersoni
, and
C. fayeri
. Sequence analysis of the
gp60
gene identified 5 subtype families and 31 subtypes.
Cryptosporidium hominis
IbA10G2 and
C. parvum
IIaA18G3R1 were the most frequent causes of human cryptosporidiosis in New South Wales, with 59% and 16% of infections, respectively, attributed to them. The results showed that infections were most prevalent in 0- to 4-year-olds. No gender bias or regional segregation was observed between the distribution of
C. hominis
and
C. parvum
infections. To determine the role of cattle in sporadic human infections in New South Wales, 205 cattle fecal samples were analyzed. Four
Cryptosporidium
species were identified,
C. hominis
,
C. parvum
,
C. bovis
, and
C. ryanae. C. parvum
subtype IIaA18G3R1 was the most common cause of cryptosporidiosis in cattle, with 47% of infections attributed to it.
C. hominis
subtype IbA10G2 was also identified in cattle isolates.
Molecular Epidemiology and Spatial Distribution of a Waterborne Cryptosporidiosis Outbreak in Australia
Authors: Waldron Liette S. , Ferrari Belinda C. , Cheung-Kwok-Sang Cristel , Beggs Paul J. , Stephens Nicola , Power Michelle L. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common waterborne diseases reported worldwide. Outbreaks of this gastrointestinal disease, which is caused by the
Cryptosporidium
parasite, are often attributed to public swimming pools and municipal water supplies. Between the months of January and April in 2009, New South Wales, Australia, experienced the largest waterborne cryptosporidiosis outbreak reported in Australia to date. Through the course of the contamination event, 1,141 individuals became infected with
Cryptosporidium
. Health authorities in New South Wales indicated that public swimming pool use was a contributing factor in the outbreak. To identify the
Cryptosporidium
species responsible for the outbreak, fecal samples from infected patients were collected from hospitals and pathology companies throughout New South Wales for genetic analyses. Genetic characterization of
Cryptosporidium
oocysts from the fecal samples identified the anthroponotic
Cryptosporidium hominis
IbA10G2 subtype as the causative parasite. Equal proportions of infections were found in males and females, and an increased susceptibility was observed in the 0- to 4-year age group. Spatiotemporal analysis indicated that the outbreak was primarily confined to the densely populated coastal cities of Sydney and Newcastle.
Multilocus Fragment Typing and Genetic Structure of Cryptosporidium parvum Isolates from Diarrheic Preweaned Calves in Spain
Authors: Quílez Joaquín , Vergara-Castiblanco Claudia , Monteagudo Luis , del Cacho Emilio , Sánchez-Acedo Caridad 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

A collection of 140
Cryptosporidium parvum
isolates previously analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequence analyses of the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) genes was further characterized by multilocus fragment typing of six minisatellite (MSB and MS5) and microsatellite (ML1, ML2, TP14, and 5B12) loci. Isolates were collected from diarrheic preweaned calves originating from 61 dairy cattle farms in northern Spain. A capillary electrophoresis-based tool combining three different fluorescent tags was used to analyze all six satellites in one capillary. Fragment sizes were adjusted after comparison with sizes obtained by sequence analysis of a selection of isolates for every allele. Size discrepancies at all but the 5B12 locus were found for those isolates that were typed by both techniques, although identical size differences were reported for every allele within each locus. A total of eight alleles were seen at the ML2 marker, which contributed the most to the discriminatory power of the multilocus approach. Multilocus fragment typing clearly improved the discriminatory power of GP60 sequencing, since a total of 59 multilocus subtypes were identified based on the combination of alleles at the six satellite loci, in contrast to the 7 GP60 subtypes previously reported. The majority of farms (38) displayed a unique multilocus subtype, and individual isolates with mixed multilocus subtypes were seen at 22 farms. Bayesian structure analysis based on combined data for both satellite and GP60 loci suggested the presence of two major clusters among the
C. parvum
isolates from cattle farms in this geographical area.
Novel Metagenome-Derived Carboxylesterase That Hydrolyzes β-Lactam Antibiotics
Authors: Jeon Jeong Ho , Kim Soo-Jin , Lee Hyun Sook , Cha Sun-Shin , Lee Jung Hun , Yoon Sang-Hong , Koo Bon-Sung , Lee Chang-Muk , Choi Sang Ho , Lee Sang Hee , Kang Sung Gyun , Lee Jung-Hyun 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTIt has been proposed that family VIII carboxylesterases and class C β-lactamases are phylogenetically related; however, none of carboxylesterases has been reported to hydrolyze β-lactam antibiotics except nitrocefin, a nonclinical chromogenic substrate. Here, we describe the first example of a novel carboxylesterase derived from a metagenome that is able to cleave the amide bond of various β-lactam substrates and the ester bond ofp-nitrophenyl esters. A clone with lipolytic activity was selected by functional screening of a metagenomic library using tributyrin agar plates. The sequence analysis of the clone revealed the presence of an open reading frame (estU1) encoding a polypeptide of 426 amino acids, retaining an S-X-X-K motif that is conserved in class C β-lactamases and family VIII carboxylesterases. The gene was overexpressed inEscherichia coli, and the purified recombinant protein (EstU1) was further characterized. EstU1 showed esterase activity toward various chromogenicp-nitrophenyl esters. In addition, it exhibited hydrolytic activity toward nitrocefin, leading us to investigate whether EstU1 could hydrolyze β-lactam antibiotics. EstU1 was able to hydrolyze first-generation β-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, cephaloridine, cephalothin, and cefazolin. In a kinetic study, EstU1 showed a similar range of substrate affinities for bothp-nitrophenyl butyrate and first-generation cephalosporins while the turnover efficiency for the latter was much lower. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that the catalytic triad of EstU1 plays a crucial role in hydrolyzing both ester bonds ofp-nitrophenyl esters and amide bonds of the β-lactam ring of antibiotics, implicating the predicted catalytic triad of EstU1 in both activities.
Evidence for Direct Electron Transfer by a Gram-Positive Bacterium Isolated from a Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Wrighton K. C. , Thrash J. C. , Melnyk R. A. , Bigi J. P. , Byrne-Bailey K. G. , Remis J. P. , Schichnes D. , Auer M. , Chang C. J. , Coates J. D. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACT

Despite their importance in iron redox cycles and bioenergy production, the underlying physiological, genetic, and biochemical mechanisms of extracellular electron transfer by Gram-positive bacteria remain insufficiently understood. In this work, we investigated respiration by
Thermincola potens
strain JR, a Gram-positive isolate obtained from the anode surface of a microbial fuel cell, using insoluble electron acceptors. We found no evidence that soluble redox-active components were secreted into the surrounding medium on the basis of physiological experiments and cyclic voltammetry measurements. Confocal microscopy revealed highly stratified biofilms in which cells contacting the electrode surface were disproportionately viable relative to the rest of the biofilm. Furthermore, there was no correlation between biofilm thickness and power production, suggesting that cells in contact with the electrode were primarily responsible for current generation. These data, along with cryo-electron microscopy experiments, support contact-dependent electron transfer by
T. potens
strain JR from the cell membrane across the 37-nm cell envelope to the cell surface. Furthermore, we present physiological and genomic evidence that
c
-type cytochromes play a role in charge transfer across the Gram-positive bacterial cell envelope during metal reduction.