Naresuan University Journal
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PSR1 is a global transcriptional regulator of phosphorus deficiency responses and carbon storage metabolism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
No full textMany eukaryotic microalgae modify their metabolism in response to nutrient stresses such as P starvation, which substantially induces storage metabolite biosynthesis, but the genetic mechanisms regulating this response are poorly understood. Here we show that P starvation-induced lipid and starch accumulation is inhibited in a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant lacking the transcription factor PSR1. Transcriptomic analysis identified specific metabolism transcripts that are induced by P starvation but mis-regulated in the psr1 mutant. These include transcripts for starch and triacylglycerol synthesis but also transcripts for photosynthesis-, redox- and stress signalling-related proteins. To further examine the role of PSR1 in regulating lipid and starch metabolism, PSR1 complementation lines in the psr1 strain, and PSR1 over-expression lines in a cell wall-deficient strain, were generated. PSR1 expression in the psr1 lines was shown to be functional due to rescue of the psr1 phenotype. PSR1 over-expression lines exhibited increased starch content and number of starch granules per cell, which correlated with higher expression of specific starch metabolism genes but reduced neutral lipid content. Furthermore, this phenotype was consistent in the presence and absence of acetate. Together, these results identify a key transcriptional regulator in global metabolism, and demonstrate transcriptional engineering in microalgae to modulate starch biosynthesis
A Theoretical Model for Quantifying Expansion of Intumescent Coating under Different Heating Conditions
No full textThis paper presents an analytical method to calculate the expansion of intumescent coatings under different heating and fire conditions, being the most critical step in quantifying their fire protection performance under different conditions. The proposed method extends that of Amon and Denson, originally developed for spherical bubbles in viscous fluid subject to increase in pressure within the bubbles, to intumescent coatings with non-uniform temperature field and temperature-dependent viscosity. The pressure increase inside the bubbles is a result of the conversion of intumescent coatings from melt to gases at high temperatures. The extended analytical method has been used to predict the expansion processes of intumescent coatings tested by Zhang et al under cone calorimeter with different heating rates and under furnace fire condition with different temperature-time curves, and those of Muller under cone calorimeter heating. In these tests, intumescent coatings were applied to steel plates and the tests examined the effects of different coating thicknesses and steel plate thicknesses, therefore allowing the fire and cone calorimeter tests to encompass a wide range of temperatures and rates of heating. Comparison of the analytical calculation and test results indicates that the proposed method is suitable for quantifying the expansion process of intumescent coatings
How a moderated online discussion forum facilitates support for young people with eating disorders
No full textIntroductionYoung people with eating disorders are at risk of harm to their social, emotional and physical development and life chances. Although they can be reluctant to seek help, they may access social media for information, advice or support. The relationship between social media and youth well-being is an emotive subject, but not clearly understood. This qualitative study aimed to explore how young people used a youth-orientated, moderated, online, eating disorders discussion forum, run by an eating disorders charity.MethodsWe applied a netnographic approach involving downloading and thematically analysing over 400 messages posted August–November 2012.ResultsData analysis generated five themes: Taking on the role of mentor; the online discussion forum as a safe space; Friendship within the online forum; Flexible help; and Peer support for recovery and relapse prevention. Forum moderation may have influenced the forum culture.DiscussionOur findings are consistent with literature about youth preferences for mental health self-care support. A young person's decision to use this discussion forum can be construed as pro-active self-care. A moderated online discussion forum can make a positive contribution to support for youth with eating disorders, countering negative media perceptions of online groups.ConclusionThis study adds to knowledge about how young people access support via social media. Online discussion forums can be safe and acceptable spaces for youth to access help. Further research could provide insights into the impact of forum moderation
Tornadoes in Europe: Synthesis of the Observational Datasets
No full textA synthesis of tornado observations across Europe between 1800 and 2014 is used to produce a pan-European climatology. Based on regional tornado-occurrence datasets and articles published in peer-reviewed journals, the evolution and the major contributions to tornado databases for 30 European countries were analyzed. Between 1800 and 2014, 9563 tornadoes were reported in Europe with an increase from 8 tornadoes per year between 1800 and 1850 to 242 tornadoes per year between 2000 and 2014. The majority of the reports came from northern, western, and southern Europe, and to a lesser extent from eastern Europe where tornado databases were developed after the 1990s. Tornadoes occur throughout the year with a maximum in June–August for most of Europe and in August–November for southern Europe. Tornadoes occur more frequently between 1300 and 1500 UTC over most of Europe and between 0900 and 1100 UTC over southern Europe. Where intensity was known, 74.7% of tornadoes were classified as F0 and F1, 24.5% as F2 and F3, and 0.8% as F4 and F5. Comparing this intensity distribution over Europe with the intensity distribution for tornadoes in the United States shows that tornadoes over western and eastern Europe are more likely to be supercellular tornadoes and those over northern and southern Europe are likely to also include nonsupercellular tornadoes
The 1753 “Jew Bill” Controversy, Jewish Restoration to Palestine, and English National Identity
No full textExaminations of the controversy surrounding the Jewish Naturalization Act (or “Jew Bill”) of 1753 have tended to concentrate on either the role of systematic anti-Semitism or political expediency in attempting to explain the sudden, violent uproar that the Act occasioned. While both of these approaches shed light on the controversy, they ignore the central role of prophecy in debates surrounding the Act, both for its proponents and opponents. Both groups drew upon of reservoir of “Restorationist” images of the Jews, built on the biblical prophecies of a Jewish return to Palestine. For opponents, the “Jew Bill” represented an attempt to discredit prophecies of Jewish separation and denigrate scripture. “Restorationist” concepts were used to portray the Jews as violent and disloyal, and to suggest that if naturalised they would use England as a staging ground for their conquest of Palestine. For supporters of the Act, naturalisation offered England a unique opportunity to fulfil prophecy. They saw the Act as allowing the nation to take the first steps in fulfilling the apocalyptic role God had prepared for it as the nation that would “bless” the Jews. Both sides of the debate therefore used “Restorationism” to negotiate concepts of Englishness and alterity. This paper constructs its argument by examining a range of material surrounding the controversy including parliamentary debates, sermons, pamphlets and newspaper reports. It argues for the importance of a nuanced understanding of the role of religion in eighteenth-century political debates
The enactment of socio-technical transition pathways: A reformulated typology and a comparative multi-level analysis of the German and UK low-carbon electricity transitions (1990–2014)
No full textThis paper aims to make two contributions to the sustainability transitions literature, in particular the Geels and Schot (2007) transition pathways typology. First, it reformulates and differentiates the typology through the lens of endogenous enactment, identifying the main patterns for actors, formal institutions, and technologies. Second, it suggests that transitions may shift between pathways, depending on struggles over technology deployment and institutions. Both contributions are demonstrated with a comparative analysis of unfolding low-carbon electricity transitions in Germany and the UK between 1990-2014. The analysis shows that Germany is on a substitution pathway, enacted by new entrants deploying small-scale renewable electricity technologies (RETs), while the UK is on a transformation pathway, enacted by incumbent actors deploying large-scale RETs. Further analysis shows that the German transition has recently shifted from a '˜stretch-and-transform'™ substitution pathway to a '˜fit-and-conform'™ pathway, because of a fightback from utilities and altered institutions. It also shows that the UK transition moved from moderate to substantial incumbent reorientation, as government policies became stronger. Recent policy changes, however, substantially downscaled UK renewables support, which is likely to shift the transition back to weaker reorientation
Growing fast or slow?: understanding the variety of paths and the speed of early growth of entrepreneurial science-based firms
No full textThe paper explores the process of early growth of entrepreneurial science-based firms. Drawing on case studies of British and Dutch biopharmaceutical R&D firms, we conceptualize the speed of early growth of science-based firms as the time it takes for the assembly (or combined development) of three types of critical resources—a functionally-diverse management team, early fundraising and development of technology. The development of these resources is an unfolding and interrelated process, the causal direction of which is highly ambiguous. We show the variety of paths used by science-based firms to access and develop these critical resources. The picture that emerges is that the various combinations of what we call “assisted” and “unassisted” paths combine to influence the speed of firm growth. We show how a wide range of manifestations of technology development act as signaling devices to attract funding and management, affecting the speed of firm development. We also show how the variety of paths and the speed of development are influenced by the national institutional setting
Identifying the causes, prevention and management of crises in dementia. An online survey of stakeholders
No full textBackground: Crisis situations in dementia can lead to hospital admission or institutionalisation. Offering immediate interventions may help avoid admission, whilst stabilising measures can help prevent future crises. Objective: Our objective was to identify the main causes of crisis and interventions to treat or prevent crisis in persons with dementia based on different stakeholder perspectives. Methods: An online questionnaire was developed to identify the causes of crisis and appropriate interventions in a crisis. Participants included people with dementia, family carers and staff working in health and social care, including emergency and voluntary sectors, and academia. Results: The results ranked the main causes of crisis, interventions that can prevent a crisis and interventions that can be useful in a crisis. Wandering, falls and infection were highly rated as risk factors for crises across all stakeholder groups. Consumers rated aggression as less important but severity of memory impairment as much more important than the other groups did. Education and support for family carers and home care staff were highly valued for preventing crises. Well-trained home care staff, communication equipment, emergency contacts and access to respite were highly valued for managing crises. Conclusions: We identified triggers and interventions that different stakeholders see as important for crisis in dementia. Recognition of these may be critical to planning effective and accepted support and care for people with dementi