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Diagnostic differences in glycaemic markers for detecting impaired glucose tolerance in black African and white European men in the United Kingdom: The SOUL-DEEP cross-sectional study.
No full textNo description supplied</p
Establishing the time course of contextual predictability and word frequency effects during Chinese reading: evidence from survival analysis
No full textWord frequency and contextual predictability play important roles in word recognition, yet research in alphabetic languages remains inconclusive on whether they exert independent (additive) or combined (interactive) effects. We consider whether script-specific characteristics may modulate their processing, specifically, in Chinese reading, where early activation of predictability information may aid effective word segmentation. While the time course of predictability effects has been demonstrated in alphabetic languages with survival analysis, it has yet to be established for Chinese reading. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) identify whether frequency and predictability independently or interactively influence fixation durations during Chinese reading and (2) establish the time course of these effects using survival analysis. The study adopted a 2 (contextual predictability: predictable vs. unpredictable) × 2 (word frequency: high-frequency vs. low-frequency) within-subject design. Participants read for comprehension, and their eye movements were recorded and then analyzed with Linear Mixed-Effects Models and Survival analysis techniques to identify the earliest disernable influence of each variable. Results showed clear frequency and predictability effects during first-pass reading, but no interaction, providing strong evidence that these variables exert early, independent influences on fixation durations. Survival analysis placed the divergence point for predictability effects at 83ms and for frequency at 163ms, indicating that predictability exerts a particularly early influence on processing in Chinese reading. This represents a potentially important cross-linguistic difference in processing dynamics, offering valuable insights to inform the development of models of Chinese reading.</p
PARG regulates the proteasomal degradation of TARG1
No full textADP-ribosylation (ADPr) is a reversible modification of macromolecules critical for the regulation of genome stability, stress responses, and proteostasis. While the roles of ADPr transferases such as PARP1/2 and TNKS1/2 are well established, the functions and regulatory mechanisms of ADPr hydrolases are still poorly understood. Here, we identify a function of the poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase PARG in regulating protein degradation. Using quantitative proteomics, we show that PARG inhibition depletes protein levels of the mono-ADPr hydrolase TARG1. We demonstrate that this TARG1 depletion is both PAR and proteasome dependent and identify the E3 ubiquitin ligases HUWE1 and TRIP12 as mediators of this process. Our findings establish TARG1 as a substrate of PAR-dependent protein degradation and uncover a PARG-dependent mechanism controlling its stability. This work highlights an interplay between the two ADP-ribosyl hydrolases, with implications for the refinement of PARG-targeted therapeutic strategies.</p
Rapid Fault Detection and Accurate Junction Temperature Estimation in SiC MOSFET-Based EV Drivetrains
No full textThe reliability of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET-based power converters remains a central challenge in electric vehicle (EV) applications, where fast switching, wide temperature swings, and harsh operating conditions accelerate device degradation and raise the risk of catastrophic failures. This dissertation proposes a unified self-aware framework that integrates ultra-fast short-circuit (SC) protection with real-time junction temperature (Tj) prognostics to improve the transient and lifetime reliability of SiC MOSFETs in EV drivetrains.First, a nanosecond-scale SC detection method is developed by exploiting intrinsic device electrical signatures. The approach monitors rapid variations in drain-source voltage and gate-charge dynamics, enabling the identification of hard-switching fault (HSF) and fault-under-load (FUL) short circuits within 24–150 ns, well below the microsecond-level withstand capability of SiC devices. The circuit is fully integrated into the gate driver with minimal additional components and exhibits strong noise immunity. Experiments on a high-voltage double-pulse setup verify reliable SC detection across wide temperature conditions while reducing voltage overshoot and oscillation duration.Second, a data-driven temperature estimation scheme, UncertTempNet (UTN), is introduced. Multiple temperature-sensitive electrical parameters (TSEPs) are extracted from switching waveforms, and mutual-information-based feature selection identifies the most informative indicators. UTN employs an ensemble neural network with Monte Carlo dropout and attention-based fusion, achieving R² > 99.99% under nominal conditions and maintaining R² ≥ 97.9% under noise and partial-failure scenarios. The uncertainty metric offers built-in diagnostic capability by flagging unreliable predictions.The combined SC protection and Tj prognostics framework is validated on an experimental platform replicating EV-relevant switching environments. Results demonstrate significant improvements in fault resilience, thermal reliability, and self-diagnostic capability, establishing a foundation for future cognitive power electronic systems capable of autonomous health management.</p
Conceptualising Teacher Professional Development in the Context of the Saudi Reform Vision 2030: A mixed-methods Approach
No full textThis study aims to explore teachers’ perceptions of the influence of professional development (PD) on their skills, knowledge, and practice, along with the broader contextual factors that influence their participation in and implementation of PD within the framework of Saudi educational reform Vision 2030. The main research question that underpins this study is: What are teachers’ perceptions of professional development in light of the Saudi Vision 2030? Drawing on Opfer and Pedder’s (2011) theoretical framework, the study conceptualises teacher PD as shaped by the interactions between and within individual teachers, learning activities, and school contexts.This study employed a mixed-methods approach and was conducted in two phases in one public high school in Saudi Arabia. The first phase was quantitative, conducted through an online questionnaire, and involved a total of 25 out of 35 teachers. The second phase was qualitative and conducted via face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 27 stakeholders, including 17 teachers, a school leader, a deputy leader, and 8 educational supervisors. A document analysis of national PD policies and reform-related initiatives was purposefully selected. The questionnaire was analysed using descriptive statistics, while the qualitative data was analysed by applying thematic analysis.The findings revealed that understanding teacher PD is not a matter of examining factors related to teachers, learning activities, or school contexts in isolation, but instead requires attention to the interactions within and between them and the wider professional environment that can both enable and constrain teacher learning. This study calls for the need to move beyond a “one size fits all” approach to teacher PD toward an approach that is more coherent, flexible, contextually relevant, and responsive to teachers’ evolving needs. Implications for policy and practice as well as recommendations for future research were drawn from the findings of this study.</p
Characterisation of novel synaptonemal complex initiation protein ASYNAPTIC5 in Arabidopsis thaliana
No full textThe synaptonemal complex (SC) is a structurally conserved meiosis-specific tripartite protein ultrastructure that regulates crossover (CO) frequency and positioning across homologous chromosomes in Arabidopsis thaliana. CO assurance, the mechanism by which each homologous chromosome pair receives at least one CO, is associated with positive CO interference, whereby two COs are spaced further apart than by chance, as well as the prevention of clustered COs generated by negative CO interference. CO patterning is regulated by the chromosome axis and SC, composed of lateral element proteins ASY1, ASY3 and ASY4, AAA+ ATPase PCH2, central element proteins SCEP1 and SCEP2, and transverse filament protein ZYP1. Here, ASYNAPTIC5 (ASY5) has been identified as a novel SC central region protein necessary for SC initiation and CO interference, generating ~194.6 variably-sized axis-associated foci at leptotene which migrate to the SC throughout meiotic prophase I. In asy5 heterozygous mutants, E3 ligase HEI10-marked CO sites are more frequent and cluster relative to the wild-type despite retained ZYP1-defined synapsis. In asy5 homozygous mutants, chiasmata number is reduced, and HEI10 localisation behaviour is changed relative to the wild-type, while ZYP1 loads only as ~28.2/33.0 axis-associated foci. Additionally, yeast-2-hybrid reveals strong protein-protein interactions between ASY5 and itself, SCEP1, and ZYP1. Analysis of asy5 double mutant lines reveals additive reductions in chiasmata in asy1/asy5 and asy5/pch2, alongside changes in CO positioning by an additive increase in univalent chromosome frequency in asy3/asy5, suggesting that ASY5 functions concomitantly with the chromosome axis to regulate CO patterning. Fluorescent Tagged Lines also reveal that both heterozygous and homozygous asy5 mutants exhibit impaired positive CO interference and clustering of COs by negative CO interference, like previous observations in asy4 and serine/threonine kinase atm mutants. Furthermore, overexpression of HEI10 in asy5 heterozygous mutants additively increases HEI10-marked CO frequency, while failing to restore CO assurance in asy5 homozygous mutants.</p
How do high-frequency traders under different option market regulations affect the quality and co-movement of the stock market and option market?
No full textUsing an agent-based model as a framework, this study explores the mechanisms of high-frequency trading (HFT) in the stock and options markets and its impact on market quality and trader profitability. By simulating market performance under various regulatory policies (including minimum price levels, make/take fees, delay mechanisms, minimum order durations, and a financial transaction tax), the study systematically analyses market liquidity, volatility, price efficiency, and profit distribution.The results show that HFT has a typical dual effect: on the one hand, it significantly narrows bid-ask spreads, reduces price errors, and improves price discovery efficiency; on the other hand, its entry reduces order book depth, compresses the profit margins of slow traders, and, under certain conditions, may amplify market instability. Furthermore, HFT's own profits exhibit diminishing returns, demonstrating the dilution of internal returns caused by speed competition. Regulatory experiments further demonstrate significant differences and trade-offs in the effectiveness of different policy tools: Tick size and make/take mechanisms improve market depth but compromise efficiency; delay mechanisms and minimum order durations have limited impact on stability; and transaction taxes are effective in curbing speculation and improving price precision, but at the expense of liquidity. Options markets are more sensitive to regulatory tools, reflecting the derivatives market's high sensitivity to volatility and the regulatory environment.The main contributions of this study are: first, it constructs a simulation framework covering both stock and options markets, revealing the cross-market impact of HFT; second, it systematically compares the advantages and disadvantages of different regulatory tools, revealing the trade-offs between efficiency, fairness, and stability; and third, it provides new quantitative evidence for understanding the complex role of HFT in different market structures and policymaking. The conclusions of this article suggest that HFT is a double-edged sword: while promoting market efficiency, it also carries the risk of undermining stability and fairness. Therefore, future regulation should adopt contextualised and differentiated strategies to achieve a balance between efficiency and stability.</p
Menopause in the workplace: Female healthcare staff experiences and the impact of stereotype priming on cognitive functioning.
No full textLiterature ReviewA critical interpretive meta-synthesis was conducted to explore how female healthcare staff experience the menopause transition in the workplace. A systematic search identified seven qualitative studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Reciprocal translational analysis revealed three interconnected themes: distress in the workplace, fear of judgement and pressure to perform. The findings show that menopause significantly impacts the well-being and performance of female healthcare workers, with stigma, lack of organisational support and gender dynamics exacerbating these challenges. The study concludes that systemic organisational changes are essential to improve the experiences and retention of menopausal healthcare staff.Research ProjectThis study investigated how stereotype priming (positive, negative, control) influences attention and reaction times in menopausal women using the Attention Network Task (ANT). Seventy-one employed women aged 40-60 were randomly assigned to priming groups and completed cognitive and self-report measures. While stereotype threat levels differed, with unexpectedly higher threat in the positive prime group, priming had no significant impact on attitudes, symptoms, reaction times or ANT network scores. Reaction times varied by cue type and congruency. Findings suggest that stereotype priming may not directly affect cognitive performance, highlighting a need for carefully framed, contextsensitive workplace support strategies.</p
Loyalty and the Early Fourteenth Century English Knight: Contemporary Sources and Perceptions
No full textThis thesis is a comprehensive study of approaches to and understanding of loyalty among English knights between 1300-1350. The original and distinctive contribution to knowledge and understanding of this thesis has been to create a robust account of both the significance and the variety of ways in which loyalty impacted and directed the lives of knights. To do so it has focused on interpretations of their reasoning and underlying mentalities, drawn from the development and application of a conceptual framework centring on loyalty. Integral and essential is the implicit understanding of a contemporary hierarchy of loyalties, in which all relationships have their place. Another important element of the conceptual framework was the impact that loyalty had on national identity, and how it was influenced by the knight’s loyalty to a particular king.The originality of this thesis also stems from the scale and wide-reaching nature of its primary research, drawing information from sources such as chronicles, calendar rolls, romantic literature, and didactic treatises. The main chapters of the thesis consider ideological loyalty (such as honour, libéralité, courtoise and piety), social loyalty (the knights as both lovers and husbands, and as parents and patriarchs, and their service in the community), and political loyalty (implicit and explicit structures within the concept and application of loyalty, how loyalty could be increased, what bonds were put in place to cement this loyalty, and what role loyalty played within the knights’ concept of national identity). Finally, this thesis addresses modes of disloyalty: a chapter concerning the nature and manifestations of treason. Each chapter considers driving principles, the modes through which loyalty was expressed, and the principal structures within which loyalty existed.</p
Exploring the Factors Influencing the Translation of Dialysis Interventions into Clinical Practice: Focus on the Implementation of In-centre Nocturnal Haemodialysis.
No full textIndividuals receiving dialysis have increased mortality rates compared to other non-communicable chronic disease cohorts. They also experience co-morbidity, hospitalisation, and poor health-related quality of life. The evidence-base to clinical-practice gap is an important contributing factor for the worsening impact of kidney disease.This thesis explores the translation of dialysis research into clinical practice and the implementation of complex interventions through a mixed methods approach. The non-adoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread and sustainability (NASSS) framework and the implementation of in-centre nocturnal haemodialysis (INHD) as part of the NightLife study (ISRCTN87042063) have been used to develop this thesis.A systematic review demonstrated that many randomised controlled trials in the dialysis population are not utilised in clinical guidelines and this may be associated with poor study design, inconsistent reporting and lack of external validity. North American research is more likely to be utilised, the peritoneal dialysis population are poorly represented, and there has been an absence of documented Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement. A qualitative content analysis demonstrated commonality in the challenges to dialysis service innovation across UK dialysis units. Four themes were identified that contributed to both the adoption and non-adoption of INHD: inequity; role of knowledge and evidence; staff perception and experience; resources, support and complexity. Vascular access safety has frequently been raised as a concern by the dialysis community when considering INHD. A retrospective cohort study from dialysis centres in the UK, Canada and Netherlands demonstrated there does not appear to be an increased risk to vascular access survival and safety for INHD compared to daytime haemodialysis.The findings of this thesis are the first to explore the factors that may influence the translation of dialysis research findings into clinical practice. These findings provide strong foundations for future lines of inquiry and offer practical implications for research and clinical practice.</p