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C-terminal eYFP fusion impairs Escherichia coli MinE function
Get PDFThe Escherichia coli Min system plays an important role in the proper placement of the septum ring at mid-cell during cell division. MinE forms a pole-to-pole spatial oscillator with the membrane-bound ATPase MinD, resulting in MinD concentration being the lowest at mid-cell. MinC, the direct inhibitor of the septum initiator protein FtsZ, forms a complex with MinD at the membrane, mirroring its polar gradients. Therefore, MinC-mediated FtsZ inhibition occurs away from mid-cell. Min oscillations are often studied in living cells by time-lapse microscopy using fluorescently labelled Min proteins. Here, we show that, despite permitting oscillations to occur in a range of protein concentrations, the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) C-terminally fused to MinE impairs its function. Combining in vivo, in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrate that eYFP compromises the ability of MinE to displace MinC from MinD, to stimulate MinD ATPase activity and to directly bind to the membrane. Moreover, we reveal that MinE-eYFP is prone to aggregation. In silico analyses predict that other fluorescent proteins are also likely to compromise several functionalities of MinE, suggesting that the results presented here are not specific to eYFP.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG); Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF); German Federal and State Governments (BIOSS
AI-driven in silico discovery, design, and evaluation of novel antiviral candidates targeting Marburg virus nucleoprotein for advanced therapeutic development
Get PDF© 2025 The Authors. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Background: Marburg virus disease (MVD) is a highly virulent hemorrhagic fever caused by the Marburg virus (MARV), with case fatality rates reaching up to 90 %. Currently, no FDA-approved antiviral drugs exist for MVD, and available treatments are limited to supportive care. This highlights an urgent need for effective and targeted antiviral therapies.
Objective: The aim of this study was to design, screen, and evaluate novel antiviral candidates targeting the nucleoprotein of MARV using AI-assisted in silico drug design and molecular docking approaches.
Methods: The 3D structure of the MARV nucleoprotein (PDB ID: 5F5M) was retrieved and analyzed to predict active binding sites using computational tools. Crizotinib, an FDA-approved tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was selected as the lead compound based on virtual screening against the AXL gene—a key target associated with MARV infection. Using the WADDAICA AI platform, three novel Crizotinib-derived molecules were generated. Molecular docking was performed via CB-Dock2 to assess binding affinity with the nucleoprotein. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity profiles of the designed molecules were evaluated through ADMET and ProTox-II analyses. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was conducted using the iMODS server to validate the stability and interactions of the docked complexes.
Results: Among the three designed molecules, Molecule 3 demonstrated the highest binding affinity with the MARV nucleoprotein (− 8.3 kJ/mol). ADMET analysis indicated that Molecule 3 exhibited favorable absorption, distribution, and elimination properties, and was non-mutagenic, non-carcinogenic, and non-hepatotoxic. Toxicity analysis further supported its low-risk profile. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed stable interactions with low deformability and consistent eigenvalues, validating its structural compatibility as a drug candidate.
Conclusion: This AI-driven in silico study successfully identified a promising Crizotinib-derived molecule (Molecule 3) with high binding affinity, favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and minimal toxicity. These findings support the potential of Molecule 3 as a lead antiviral candidate against MVD, warranting further in vitro and in vivo validation to assess its therapeutic efficacy.The authors extend their sincere acknowledgment to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this study through the Large Research Group Project under grant number "RGP 2/365/45"
Carbon fiber-reinforced piezoelectric nanocomposites: Design, fabrication and evaluation for damage detection and energy harvesting
Get PDF© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) can be used in aging infrastructures as a reinforcement because of their excellent mechanical properties, and they can also be used in the support maintenance and repair work of these structures. However, the development of CFRPs as reinforcement while achieving self-powered damage detection is still challenging. Herein, a sodium potassium niobate (KNN) nanoparticle-filled epoxy (KNN–EP) plate was fabricated and combined with advanced CFRP electrodes. The obtained composites exhibited dramatically enhanced mechanical properties. In addition, CFRP contributed to the energy harvesting output (peak-to-peak output voltage V p p = 7.25 mV), which was over 600 % higher than that of the KNN–EP plate. Thus, this composite could work as a force sensor for damage detection. In the end-notch bending test, the voltage signals generated by CFRP/KNN–EP composite accurately corresponded to the crack growth, which could provide the real-time crack state and prediction of fracture occurrence. Therefore, this work provided a new strategy for structural enhancement and kinetic energy harvesting, which can be used to detect damage behavior in infrastructures.The authors greatly acknowledge the support of this work by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) under Grant No. 22H00183 and Core-to-Core Program under Grant No. JPJSCCA20200005
We need to talk: a reciprocal approach to literacy and physical education
Get PDF© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Background: This study explores how the reciprocal teaching style can support literacy development in secondary Physical Education (PE), particularly for pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL). Set within the context of initial teacher training (ITT) in England, the research addresses the challenges PE Associate Teachers (ATs) face in meeting the literacy development requirements outlined in the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF).
Method: The study generated qualitative data from 47 PE ATs from three consecutive cohorts in a postgraduate ITT programme in north-west England. All ATs were introduced to the Reciprocal Style through university training and supported in applying it during school placements. Data were gathered through post-implementation questionnaires and follow-up semi-structured interviews with 15 ATs at the end of their training. The questionnaires captured immediate perceptions, while the interviews provided deeper insights into the ATs’ experiences and reflections. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, identifying recurring themes and patterns that reflected the ATs’ perceptions of the reciprocal teaching style’s impact on pupil literacy and communication skills.
Results: The findings revealed that ATs adopted the Reciprocal Style as a strategy for inclusion, particularly when teaching EAL pupils. Key outcomes included: (1) The Reciprocal Style integrated oracy, reading, and comprehension into PE lessons, and enabled pupils to practice keywords in context. (2) Bilingual reciprocal cards, combining pictures and text in pupils’ first and second languages, minimised language barriers and maintained cognitive challenge for EAL pupils. (3) Structured peer feedback provided authentic opportunities for active language practice and development. (4) EAL pupils experienced a meaningful, low-pressure environment for language learning, where they could access support without being singled out. Despite its benefits, the style was underused due to preparation demands and pupil readiness. ATs often reserved it for high-need groups, highlighting a tension between pedagogical potential and practical constraints.
Conclusion: The reciprocal teaching style was perceived by PE ATs as a valuable method for integrating literacy into a practical subject. It was particularly effective for EAL pupils due to its combination of visual cues, structured interaction, and adaptable resources. Although the style requires preparation, it aligns well with ITTECF requirements and the aims of inclusive pedagogy. The Reciprocal Style may be one way of overcoming language barriers and helping PE ATs meet the learning needs of an ever-changing and increasingly diverse pupil population.Unfunde
The Working Class Poverty, Education and Alternative Voices
No full textIn The Working Class: Poverty, education and alternative voices, Ian Gilbert unites educators from across the UK and further afield to call on all those working in schools to adopt a more enlightened and empathetic approach to supporting ...N/
What to do with the dead?
No full textTim Grady explains what the treatment of German and British dead following the two world wars reveals about the two nations’ ongoing relationship.“The Unwelcome Gravediggers”: War, Remembrance and the Unmaking of British-German Relations | Funder: Leverhulme Trus
Seminar capital: An exploration of the enduring social and pedagogical benefits of seminar engagement
Get PDF© 2020 The Authors. All rights reservedThis article presents findings from a small-scale qualitative case study exploring how engagement with seminars might prompt a sense of community amongst students. Further, it considered if such engagement might afford students ‘seminar capital’, a form of academic social capital (Bourdieu 1977 in Preece 2010). The study also aimed to uncover how seminar pedagogy can support students to develop their academic voice and connect with others in learning communities. Reflecting on emergent learning (Bourner 2003) supports students to move between a range of language codes (Preece 2010). Students in the study reported that seminar discussions supported their conceptual understanding, consolidated their academic language skills and offered opportunities to apply their knowledge to their assessments. This took place within an emerging positioning of relationships between peers and lecturers.Unfunde
Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
No full textThis is a living reference work entry.
Reference work entry published 1st Jan 2019 here: https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-319-95681-7_57.In order to define the nature of informal music, specifically music making and its multidimensional connections with one’s well-being, a brief history of how music making is understood is first offered in order to delineate associated research and music-learning models. It is hoped that this will provide some detailed definition of the contemporary context of music making, so that the approach of “Universal Design,” among others, in the making of music might be understood as a paradigm shift that might have benefits for well-being. Informal music making is in short defined as categorically separated from formal music making, but their overlapping and dynamic relationship is nonetheless recognized and also further expanded upon. Informal music making is also aligned to understandings of the intuitivist and rationalist composer.N/
Talking outside the box: Film as a stimulus for dialogic engagement around social justice issues
Get PDFThis article explores how film, as a pedagogic device, can be used as a stimulus for dialogic engagement around social justice issues such as human rights, conflict and equity. Based on findings from a doctoral research study – and illustrated with an example from the film, it is argued that through dialogue, film can provide an inclusive and participatory site for learning where children are viewed as social agents, meaning-makers and co-constructors of knowledge.N/
Essential information about nanotechnology in cardiology
Get PDFCopyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.Cardiology, as a medical specialty, addresses cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a leading cause of global mortality. Nanomaterials offer transformative potential across key areas such as drug delivery, stem cell therapy, imaging, and gene delivery. Nanomaterials improve solubility, bioavailability, and targeted delivery in drug delivery, reducing systemic side effects. Examples include gas microbubbles, liposomal preparations, and paramagnetic nanoparticles, which show promise in treating atherosclerosis. Stem cell therapy benefits from nanotechnology through enhanced cell culture conditions and three-dimensional scaffolds that support cardiomyocyte growth and survival. Gold nanoparticles and PLGA-derived microparticles further improve stem cell viability. In imaging, nanomaterials enable advanced visualization techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with direct labeling and optical tracking via dye-conjugated nanoparticles. In gene delivery, polymeric nanocarriers like polyethyleneimine, dendrimers, and graphene-based materials offer efficient, non-viral alternatives, with magnetic nanoparticles showing promise in targeted applications. Ongoing research highlights the potential of nanomaterials to revolutionize CVD management by improving therapeutic outcomes and enabling precision medicine. These advancements position nanotechnology as a cornerstone of modern cardiology.Unfunde
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