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When it matters most: a trauma-informed, outdoor learning programme to support children’s wellbeing during COVID-19 and beyond
No full textAbstract: This paper presents a unique school-based programme that harnesses the benefits of both trauma-informed practice (TIP) and outdoor environments to
support children’s social and emotional wellbeing throughout the pandemic and beyond. In the opening sections of the paper, we discuss the extant literature and conceptual underpinning of TIP and outdoor learning, and highlight why
both are needed, particularly in the context of Covid-19. We then chart the design of a six-week outdoor trauma-informed programme, devised to support children’s emotional regulation and overall sense of wellbeing. The programme
activities are aligned to the Northern Ireland curriculum, and are tailored to make use of the outdoor spaces available in the first author’s place of work – a primary school in South Belfast. We conclude the paper by highlighting the
importance of trauma-informed curriculum and pedagogical innovations and note future directions for trauma-informed schools. Whilst there are many generic guidelines on trauma-informed care in schools, this paper makes a distinct contribution to the field; firstly by demonstrating how teachers can use their craft – teaching – as a component of TIP; and secondly by infusing trauma-informed principles within outdoor learning environments
Anticipatory Stress Responses and Immune Evasion in Fungal Pathogens
No full textIn certain niches, microbes encounter environmental challenges that are temporally linked. In such cases, microbial fitness is enhanced by the evolution of anticipatory responses where the initial challenge simultaneously activates pre-emptive protection against the second impending challenge. The accumulation of anticipatory responses in domesticated yeasts, which have been termed 'adaptive prediction', has led to the emergence of 'core stress responses' that provide stress cross-protection. Protective anticipatory responses also seem to be common in fungal pathogens of humans. These responses reflect the selective pressures that these fungi have faced relatively recently in their evolutionary history. Consequently,
some pathogens have evolved 'core environmental responses' which exploit host signals to trigger immune evasion strategies that protect them against imminent immune attack
At the metal–metabolite interface in Aspergillus fumigatus: towards untangling the intersecting roles of zinc and gliotoxin
No full textCryptic links between apparently unrelated metabolic systems represent potential new drug targets in fungi. Evidence of such a
link between zinc and gliotoxin (GT) biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus is emerging. Expression of some genes of the GT biosynthetic gene cluster gli is influenced by the zinc-dependent transcription activator ZafA, zinc may relieve GT-mediated fungal
growth inhibition and, surprisingly, GT biosynthesis is influenced by zinc availability. In A. fumigatus, dithiol gliotoxin (DTG), which
has zinc-chelating properties, is converted to either GT or bis-dethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin (BmGT) by oxidoreductase GliT and
methyltransferase GtmA, respectively. A double deletion mutant lacking both GliT and GtmA was previously observed to be
hypersensitive to exogenous GT exposure. Here we show that compared to wild-type exposure, exogenous GT and the zinc chelator N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridinylmethyl)−1,2-ethanediamine (TPEN) inhibit A. fumigatus ΔgliTΔgtmA growth, specifically under
zinc-limiting conditions, which can be reversed by zinc addition. While GT biosynthesis is evident in zinc-depleted medium,
addition of zinc (1µM) suppressed GT and activated BmGT production. In addition, secretion of the unferrated siderophore, triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC), was evident by A. fumigatus wild-type (at >5µM zinc) and ΔgtmA (at >1µM zinc) in a low-iron medium.
TAFC secretion suggests that differential zinc-sensing between both strains may influence fungal Fe3+ requirement. Label-free
quantitative proteomic analysis of both strains under equivalent differential zinc conditions revealed protein abundance alterations in accordance with altered metabolomic observations, in addition to increased GliT abundance in ΔgtmA at 5µM zinc,
compared to wild-type, supporting a zinc-sensing deficiency in the mutant strain. The relative abundance of a range of oxidoreductase- and secondary metabolism-related enzymes was also evident in a zinc- and strain-dependent manner. Overall, we
elaborate new linkages between zinc availability, natural product biosynthesis and oxidative stress homeostasis in A. fumigatu
Multi-targeted metallo-ciprofloxacin derivatives rationally designed and developed to overcome antimicrobial resistance
No full textAntimicrobial resistance is a major global threat to human health due to the rise, spread and persistence
of multi-drug-resistant bacteria or ‘superbugs’. There is an urgent need to develop novel chemotherapeutics to overcome this overarching challenge. The authors derivatized a clinically used fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin (Cip), and complexed it to a copper phenanthrene framework. This resulted in the development of two novel metallo-antibiotics of general formula [Cu(N,N)(CipHA)]NO3 where N,N repre�sents a phenanthrene ligand and CipHA represents a hydroxamic acid of Cip derivative. Comprehensive
studies, including a detailed proteomic study in which Staphylococcus aureus cells were exposed to the
complexes, were undertaken to gain an insight into their mode of action. These new complexes possess
potent antibacterial activity against S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. In addition, they were
found to be well tolerated in vivo in Galleria mellonella larvae, which has both functional and structural
similarities to the innate immune system of mammals. These findings suggest that proteins involved
in virulence, pathogenesis, and the synthesis of nucleotides and DNA repair mechanisms are most affected. In addition, both complexes affected similar cell pathways when compared with clinically used Cip, including cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance. The Cu-DPPZ-CipHA (DPPZ = dipyrido[3,2-a:2’,3’- c]phenazine) analogue also induces cell leakage, which leads to an altered proteome indicative of reduced
virulence and increased stress
Development of highly sensitive and selective bisphenol A sensor based on a cobalt phthalocyanine-modified carbon paste electrode: application in dairy analysis
No full textThe development of an accurate, sensitive and selective sensor for the detection of bisphenol A (BPA) based
on the incorporation of a new phthalocyanine derivative, cobalt phthalocyanine, C,C,C,C-tetracarboxylic
acid-polyacrylamide (CoPc-PAA) into a carbon-paste matrix is presented using voltammetry and constant potential techniques. The influence of measuring parameters such as pH and scan rate on the analytical performance of the sensor was evaluated. Several kinetic parameters such as electron transfer number (n), charge transfer coefficient (a), electrode surface area (A) and diffusion coefficient (D) were also calculated. Under optimum conditions, particularly at pH 7.2, the BPA sensor resulted in a wide linear range from 25x10x11M to 2.5 x 10 x 7M and a limit of detection as low as 63.5 pM. Based on these findings, it can be
concluded that our sensor can be substantially utilized for detecting BPA in spiked milk sample
Oligomannose N-Glycans 3D Architecture and Its Response to the FcγRIIIa Structural Landscape
No full textOligomannoses are evolutionarily the oldest class of
N-glycans, where the arms of the common pentasaccharide unit, i.e., Manα(1−6)-[Manα(1−3)]-Manβ(1−4)-GlcNAcβ(1−4)-
GlcNAcβ1-Asn, are functionalized exclusively with branched
arrangements of mannose (Man) monosaccharide units. In
mammalian species oligomannose N-glycans can have up to 9
Man; meanwhile structures can grow to over 200 units in yeast mannan. The highly dynamic nature, branching complexity, and 3D structure of oligomannoses have been recently highlighted for their roles in immune escape and infectivity of enveloped viruses, such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV2. The architectural features that allow these N-glycans to perform their functions are yet unclear, due to their intrinsically disordered nature that hinders their
structural characterization. In this work we will discuss the results of over 54 μs of cumulative sampling by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of differently processed, free (not protein-linked) oligomannose N-glycans common in vertebrates. We then discuss the effects of a protein surface on their structural equilibria based on over 4 μs cumulative MD sampling of the fully glycosylated CD16a Fc γ receptor (FcγRIIIa), where the type of glycosylation is known to modulate its binding affinity for IgG1s,
regulating the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). Our results show that the protein’s structural constraints shift the oligomannoses conformational ensemble to promote conformers that satisfy the steric requirements and hydrogen bonding networks demanded by the protein’s surface landscape. More importantly, we find that the protein does not actively distort the N-glycans into
structures not populated in the unlinked forms in solution. Ultimately, the highly populated conformations of the Man5 linked glycans support experimental evidence of high levels of hybrid complex forms at N45 and show a specific presentation of the arms at N162, which may be involved in mediating binding affinity to the IgG1 Fc
Outcomes for self-expressive brands followed on social media: Identifying different paths for inner self-expressive and social self-expressive brands
No full textBrands provide a means for consumers to present the self, expressing their inner selves (the ‘real me’), or their
social selves (how others see me). With the rise in social media use, academics and practitioners seek to understand how consumers’ self-expression through following brands online leads to brand outcomes. This study
investigates the inner and social self-expressiveness of brands as separate antecedents of two outcomes: intention
to co-create value and willingness to pay a premium price. Insights from 332 followers of brands on social media
reveal that the inner and social self-expressiveness of brands drive these outcomes differently, as online brand
engagement and brand trust mediate the relationship between self-expressive brands and brand outcomes, but
only when the brand has an ability to express the inner self. The findings have implications for the study of self-expressive brands and their influence on brand outcomes
Empirical research on the impact and experience of open prisons: state of the field and future directions
No full textThe term ‘open prison’ can be used to mean
different things depending on the jurisdiction or
institution, but generally refers to a prison into
which residents are not fully or always locked.1
Relative to their ‘closed’ counterparts, open
prisons generally afford detainees a greater
connection to the outside world, often through
access to family and day release for employment,
volunteering and education. As such, progressive
prison reformers and scholars often tout the
potential benefits of open conditions for the
wellbeing and reintegration of people in custody2
— relative, at least, to the generally deleterious
effect of entirely closed regimes.3 Yet, compared
with research on closed prisons, there remains
only a modest quantity of empirical work on open
prisons, even considering the low proportion of
incarcerated people in open prisons in most
countries.4 Similarly, few studies attend to the
experience of staffing open prisons, despite a
burgeoning literature on prison officers.5 There
must be further research on the impact and
experiences of living or working in open prisons
to enhance our understanding of different prison
regimes and inform penal policy
Mental health of adults in Ireland during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a nationally representative, longitudinal study
No full textIn a recent article in this journal, Shevlin et al. (2021) reported that the mental health of
adults in the UK, who were surveyed as part of the COVID-19 Psychological Research
Consortium (C19PRC) study during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, could be best
described in terms of five profiles. They found that a small proportion of people (~5%)
experienced increased symptoms of depression/anxiety and Covid-19 related posttraumatic stress
disorder (C19-PTSD), a slightly higher proportion (~6-8%) experienced decreased symptoms of
both, and the rest (> ~80%) experienced no major changes across the year. These results are
consistent with findings from two meta-analytic reviews of changes in population mental health
from before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 (Prati & Mancini, 2021; Robinson et al., 2021).
These studies showed that there was a small increase in symptoms of mental ill health in the first
weeks of the pandemic, followed by a return to pre-pandemic levels by May 2020. Here we
report results from the now completed C19PRC study in Ireland that assessed the mental health
of adults at five points during the first year of the pandemic. Specifically, we present findings on
(1) what proportion of adults met criteria for depression, anxiety, and/or C19-PTSD at each
assessment, and (2) if, and how, symptoms and prevalence estimates of these disorders changed
during the first year of the pandemic
Tracking the Irish adult population during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A methodological report of the COVID-19 psychological research consortium (C19PRC) study in Ireland
No full textThe COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) study was established to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population of multiple countries. Here, we provide a methodological overview, cohort profile, data access, and summary of key findings from the Republic of Ireland arm of the C19PRC study. A longitudinal internet panel survey was designed to collect data from a nationally representative sample of Irish adults ( N = 1041) who were tracked from March/April 2020 to March/April 2021. Quota sampling methods were used to produce a sample that was representative of the population with respect to sex, age, and regional distribution. Data were collected in five waves, and new participants were recruited at follow-up waves to cover sample attrition and produce nationally representative samples at various points during the first year of the pandemic. A comprehensive battery of measures was used throughout the project to assess an array of sociodemographic, political, social, psychological, physical health, COVID-19, and mental health variables. Analyses were conducted to compare sample characteristic to known population parameters from available census data. These analyses showed that the sample was representative of the general adult population of Ireland on the three quota variables and was reasonable representative of the population across a diverse range of sociodemographic variables. These data representative the first and only nationally representative, longitudinal survey of the mental health of the Irish population. These data are made freely available to interested users ( https://osf.io/2huzd/files/ ) and the findings of this study provide a methodological basis for the future use of these data