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An optical ratiometric approach using enantiopure luminescent metal complexes indicates changes in the average quadruplex DNA content as primary cells undergo multiple divisions
No full textThe three stereoisomers of a previously reported dinuclear ruthenium(II) complex have been quantitatively separated using cation-exchange chromatography and the individual crystal structures of the racemic pair are reported. Cell-based studies on the three stereoisomers disclosed differences in the rate of uptake ofbthe two chiral forms of the rac diastereoisomer with the ΛΛ-enantiomer being taken up noticeably more rapidly than the ΔΔ-form. Cell viability studies reveal that the three cations show identical cytotoxicity over 24 hours, but over more extended exposure periods, the meso-ΔΛ stereoisomer becomes slightly less active. More significantly, microscopy studies revealed that although both isomers display a near infra-red “light-switch” effect associated with binding to duplex DNA on binding to chromatin in live MCF7 and L5178-R cells, only the ΛΛ enantiomer displays a distinctive, blue-shifted component associated with binding to quadruplex DNA. An analysis of the ratio of “quadruplex emission” compared to “duplex emission” for the ΛΛ-enantiomer indicated that there was a decrease in the average quadruplex DNA content within live primary cells as they undergo multiple cell divisions
Towards a Chinese theory of international relations evidenced in practice and policy
No full textThe discipline of international relations (IR) grew out of efforts to prevent global conflict and better understand the causes of conflict and war. Critically, in the aftermath of the First World War, it sought to improve diplomacy and increase cooperation among states. Thus, IR is rooted within what might be framed as a Western tradition based on European patterns of state-based interactions globally. As a result, Agnew (2022, p. 25) argues that its foundational assumptions are ‘presumed to be universal’ despite them being grounded upon a ‘limited geographical experience’, and this has resulted in renewed efforts by Chinese IR theorists to reshape the scholarly literature so that it includes the Chinese experience. Such an effort also reflects China’s growing global power, which provides a strong rationale among Chinese academia, government and policy circles that the Chinese experience and Chinese model of development should be included within the discipline. As a result, such considerations frequently present ideas around how the Chinese outlook on the pattern of international relations is radically different from the Western tradition, historically and in the present era, and is typically framed around highlighting differences rather than seeking out the commonalities. Frequently, this has led to Chinese IR theory (CIRT) being Sinocentric in its nature, while at the same time, Chinese scholars have critiqued Western IR theory (WIRT) as Eurocentric or American-led
Nets, not boxes: a critical typology of climate (im)mobilities policy clusters in oceanic states
No full textThere is an ongoing and increasingly pressing need to better understand the drivers, patterns, and required support structures for people, households, and communities engaging with decisions around climate-related (im)mobilities. Rather than imposing a restrictive or exclusionary framework of mobility types onto this phenomenon, we propose a critical typology of (im)mobility policy clusters. Demonstrating our proposal through examples across Oceania, we engage the powerful metaphor of nets as socially, culturally, and practically important objects to reframe what could be an exclusive typology to one of inclusive, overlapping, and mutually supportive policy clusters. We identify twelve policy clusters where specific provisions could increase the supportive and/or protective capacities of state policies regarding people considering (im)mobility. These clusters are intended to be overlapping nets, where people faced with (im)mobilities can move from interacting with one policy cluster to another, based on their own decision-making and (im)mobility circumstances. Agency is central to this analysis. Making these moves allows us to counter harmful narratives of climate refugees that confer vulnerability and ostracize affected communities, instead embracing the complexities offered by broader terminology like climate mobilities. However, we do so in a practical way so as to enable policy-makers to understand and adapt to the specific protection needs of certain contexts and circumstances to best support people to make their own choices about how they engage in specific forms of (im)mobilities across a range of situations
Tolerance mechanisms in polysaccharide biosynthesis: Implications for undecaprenol phosphate recycling in Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri
No full textBacterial polysaccharide synthesis is catalysed on the universal lipid carrier, undecaprenol phosphate (UndP). The cellular UndP pool is shared by different polysaccharide synthesis pathways including peptidoglycan biogenesis. Disruptions in cytosolic polysaccharide synthesis steps are detrimental to bacterial survival due to effects on UndP recycling. In contrast, bacteria can survive disruptions in the periplasmic steps, suggesting a tolerance mechanism to mitigate UndP sequestration. Here we investigated tolerance mechanisms to disruptions of polymerases that are involved in UndP-releasing steps in two related polysaccharide synthesis pathways: that for enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) and that for O antigen (OAg), in Escherichia coli and Shigella flexneri. Our study reveals that polysaccharide polymerisation is crucial for efficient UndP recycling. In E. coli K-12, cell survival upon disruptions in OAg polymerase is dependent on a functional ECA synthesis pathway and vice versa. This is because disruptions in OAg synthesis lead to the redirection of the shared lipid-linked sugar substrate UndPP-GlcNAc towards increased ECA production. Conversely, in S. flexneri, the OAg polymerase is essential due to its limited ECA production, which inadequately redirects UndP flow to support cell survival. We propose a model whereby sharing the initial sugar intermediate UndPP-GlcNAc between the ECA and OAg synthesis pathways allows UndP to be redirected towards ECA production, mitigating sequestration issues caused by disruptions in the OAg pathway. These findings suggest an evolutionary buffering mechanism that enhances bacterial survival when UndP sequestration occurs due to stalled polysaccharide biosynthesis, which may allow polysaccharide diversity in the species to increase over time
A Mesoproterozoic missing link between eastern Australia and China during the transition from Nuna to Rodinia?
No full textWe document, for the first time, Mesoproterozoic-aged, continental arc magmatism in the Tasmanides. Granitoid samples intruding the Proterozoic Cape River Metamorphics in northeast Queensland contain abundant ∼ 1200 Ma igneous zircons, with early-Paleozoic metamorphic rim overgrowths. Analytical mixing between the igneous and metamorphic zircons produces cryptic discordant analyses, but the origin of said discordance is resolved with zircon Th/U ratios. Samples of the Fat Hen Creek Complex are peraluminous, calc-alkaline, S-type granitoids, that record high-grade metamorphism and trace element mobilization. The P3 and P42 intrusions are metaluminous, calc-alkaline, I-type granodiorite, which intruded the Cape River Metamorphics, and contain trace element signatures consistent with a continental-arc setting. We propose that a Mesoproterozoic continental terrane, herein referred to as the Oakvale Province, exists as basement to the Thomson Orogen. We propose several models for the formation of the Oakvale Province, with potential links to the Tarim Block, and the Yangtze Craton, during the late-Mesoproterozoic. We propose that the Oakvale Province supplied the Tasmanides with late-Mesoproterozoic detritus, and that such detritus was not solely sourced from the Musgrave Province as previously interpreted. Finally, we interpret the oroclinal bending of Paleozoic deformation and plutonic fabrics to reflect the buried extent of the Oakvale Province, and to potentially map out the Neoproterozoic rift margin associated with Rodinia break-up
Humour and children’s learning: Opportunities for tourism
No full textEducating children as future agents appears crucial to achieving sustainability goals, and tourism settings are considered high-potential places for learning and education. This research note explores the importance of humour in children's learning by reviewing the educational literature and identifying a research gap in tourism. Findings highlight humour as a pedagogical tool, categorising different learning contexts and their features to determine how humour can be successfully utilised in various tourism environments for young tourists. The research note showcases instances of humour application within the tourism industry to engage and educate children. Having identified the gap, the authors propose fresh directions for future tourism research and potential strategies for industry practitioners
Preservice Science Teachers' Epistemic Cognition during Online Searching
No full textScience teachers are increasingly using internet sources for lesson planning, science content, and designing classroom activities. With the prevalence of disinformation online, there is potential for school students to learn ineffective internet search strategies and integrate disinformation into their knowledge. Science education fit for the future requires teachers who can navigate online information effectively and develop these capabilities in their students. In this study, we address the ways in which Australian preservice science teachers engage their cognitions about knowledge and knowing when searching and evaluating online information. Using concurrent think-aloud protocols we studied preservice science teachers’ cognitions while completing internet search and evaluation tasks for science lesson content on socioscientific issues. Through subsequent interviews, we captured further dimensions of participants’ knowledge and understanding of search and evaluation processes. We contribute new knowledge by providing a novel conceptual framework used for data analysis and empirical evidence about the cognitions (aims, value, ideals, and relied upon processes) that preservice science teachers engage when searching and evaluating online information. Implications for research and practice are discussed
Internet Gaming Disorder and Problem Gambling Severity do not Predict Money and Time Spent on Games with Loot Boxes
No full textAlthough loot boxes are structurally and psychologically similar to gambling, they are available to minors and relatively free from government regulations. Amid calls for government regulations, researchers have examined the effects of loot boxes using either a gaming framework, a gambling framework, or both. The current study aimed to examine the ability of internet gaming disorder and problem gambling severity to predict money and time spent on games with loot boxes after controlling for demographic and other gaming-related variables (i.e., money and time spent on games without loot boxes). Participants were 171 (88.9% males) gamers and their ages ranged from 18 to 47 (M = 25.67, SD = 5.29). Participants completed instruments assessing internet gaming disorder and problem gambling severity. Subsequently, they provided demographic and gaming-related information. The results showed that internet gaming disorder and problem gambling severity do not predict money and time spent on games with loot boxes. Instead, the best predictor for each of those variables is money and time spent on games without loot boxes. Overall, the results suggested that it might be premature to introduce legislations to ban loot boxes and research should focus on the effects of microtransactions in general. Future research directions include using objective data for the amount of money and time spent and examining the effects of different types of loot boxes
Halal service quality: systematic review, conceptual model and future research
No full textPurpose: Service quality is an established research area in the services marketing literature and is an integral component in an Islamic economy driven by halal service sectors. Despite its importance and the rapidly changing service environment, there has yet to be a comprehensive study of service quality research across halal industries. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the existing literature on service quality in halal industries to provide a state-of-the-art understanding and identify opportunities in this research area.
Design/methodology/approach: Guided by the Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol and the theories, contexts, characteristics and methods (TCCM) framework, this paper reviews 78 journal articles from the Web of Science database which features service quality as an underpinning theory in the context of halal economies.
Findings: Findings indicate that since the first study in 2010, service quality research in halal industries has concentrated on consumers in the Islamic finance sector who are served primarily by human service agents. Most studies are focused on halal industries in Muslim countries. Several papers adopt the SERVQUAL model while others develop more novel service quality scales for halal industries. Culture, technology and faith-related factors are key drivers of halal service quality. While few papers study the antecedents and moderators of service quality in halal industries, religiosity was found to be a significant variable in several papers reviewed.
Practical implications: The global Islamic economy will continue to be driven by halal services. This review will provide managers with an appreciation of service quality across different halal industries. Researchers can use the results of this review to guide future studies and contribute toward the development of this research area.
Originality/value: To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to comprehensively map the antecedents, dimensions, outcomes and moderators of service quality across halal industries and provides managers with a strategic understanding of service quality across the halal economy. This study develops a conceptual model and concludes with a research agenda to advance halal service quality research
The fourth-stage autoinfective larva of Strongyloides stercoralis: redescription and diagnostic implications
No full textHuman strongyloidiasis is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, which can relate to a lack of knowledge or recognition of the importance of particular developmental/larval stages of Strongyloides stercoralis in making an accurate diagnosis using parasitological methods (a morphological approach or morphological features/characters). Here, we report the identification of S. stercoralis autoinfective fourth-stage larvae (L4a) in naturally infected humans, encountered in two clinical cases in Australia. These larvae were identified in sputum (Case 1) and bronchoalveolar lavage (Case 2) specimens by direct wet-mount microscopy. The L4a of S. stercoralis can be morphologically differentiated from autoinfective third-stage larvae by its conical and pointed tail and a relatively mature genital primordium with an enlarged genital rudiment and the formation of a vulva within cuticle layers. This study emphasizes the need to consider these morphological features of the L4a stage for an accurate diagnosis of S. stercoralis infection. A detailed morphological description of this stage is given to guide laboratory practitioners and researchers in the identification and differentiation of this unique but neglected life-cycle stage of S. stercoralis