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EDI barriers to university-level student participation in work based learning in Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences: the UK employer’s perspective
No full textG-EPIC Student Resource Book:Girls’ Empowerment Through Politics in the Classroom: Student Resource Book
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EU AI Act regulation: a study of non-European Union manufacturers' compliance preparedness
No full textPurpose This study investigates the preparedness of manufacturing companies in the UK and Brazil to comply with the European Union's artificial intelligence (AI) Act of 2024. It aims to assess these companies' ability to identify AI-related risks, implement necessary compliance measures and evaluate a newly developed compliance framework designed to enhance regulatory compliance. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods approach was adopted. First, 10 AI use case scenarios were identified from the literature related to production processes and products. A survey of 152 members from 87 companies in the UK and Brazil was conducted to gauge baseline readiness. Subsequently, a novel compliance framework was piloted with 11 of these companies. Pre- and post-pilot assessments were analysed to evaluate improvements in risk identification, regulatory knowledge and organisational confidence. Findings The results reveal a significant gap in compliance readiness at baseline and substantial improvements post-intervention. Prior to the pilot, participants on average identified correctly the risk levels in only 40% of scenarios and just 42% demonstrated adequate knowledge of the Act's provisions. After implementing the compliance framework, average risk identification accuracy rose to 86% and regulatory comprehension to 81%, indicating a marked improvement (p < 0.01). Participants' self-reported confidence in managing AI compliance also increased correspondingly. Originality/value This study is among the first to empirically examine AI Act compliance readiness in non-EU manufacturing companies. It provides a novel compliance framework to improve the capacity to manage AI-related regulatory requirements. The study offers valuable insights for manufacturing managers and regulators navigating the interface of technological innovation and regulatory compliance
S-equol producing bacteria: isolation and identification from Albino Wistar rat gut microbiota
Full text linkThe metabolism of soy isoflavones by gut microbiota is critical for the bioactivation and bioavailability of these compounds, particularly daidzein, which is further metabolized by gut bacteria to produce S-equol. S-equol, an exclusive gut bacterial metabolite, is associated with health benefits such as reduced blood pressure, cardiovascular disease prevention, and protection against hormone-related cancers due to its estrogen-mimicking structure and antioxidant properties. However, the limited availability of S-equol-producing bacteria has hindered its production and utilization. This study investigates the isolation and characterization of S-equol-producing microbes from albino Wistar rats and explores the impact of dietary interventions on S-equol production. Preliminary tests showed that both dietary groups excreted more S-equol in feces than urine, with rats on fermented soy feed showing higher S-equol levels due to the presence of daidzein, a precursor. In this study, we isolated four anaerobic S-equol-producing bacteria — MG1 (PX459562), MG2 (PX459563), MG3 (PX459564), and MG4 (PX459565) from the intestine and feces of albino Wistar rats. High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) confirmed the presence of S-equol, with concentrations ranging from 5.90 to 7.56 µg/g of fermented soybean across different strains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolates belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcaceae families, identifying MG1 as C. freundii strain ATCC 8090, MG2 as Escherichia fergusonii strain NBRC 102419, and both MG3 and MG4 as Enterococcus faecalis strain NBRC 100480. Our findings underscore the significant role of gut microbiota in metabolizing daidzein into S-equol, highlighting the potential for utilizing these bacterial strains in functional food development and therapeutic applications. While the pathogenic nature of E. fergusonii (MG2) precludes its therapeutic use, strains MG1, MG3, and MG4, which match common commensal bacteria, show promise for commercial S-equol production and may serve as valuable resources for further investigation and utilization in promoting health and preventing associated diseases. Key points: • Dietary intervention modulates gut microbiota in albino Wistar rats. • Soybean fermentation enables efficient conversion of daidzin to bioactive S-equol. • Novel S-equol–producing microbes were isolated and identified. Graphical abstract
Promoting mental health among at-risk adolescents in Malaysia (MyHeRo): Study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a school-based intervention compared with study skills condition for adolescents identified as at risk for anxiety and depression
No full textThe effects of isothermic heat acclimation on simple and complex cognitive performance in the heat
No full textLonger heat acclimation (HA) protocols more effectively improve physical performance than shorter ones, but the effect of HA duration on cognitive performance remains unclear. Twelve participants performed a 45-min cycling heat stress test [(HST) 40%W max; 40°C; 50% RH] on the first (HST 1), seventh (HST 7), and thirteenth (HST 13) day of testing with five consecutive days of isothermic HA (60-min; rectal temperature ~38.5°C) between each HST. Simple (five-choice reaction time [RT]) and complex (spatial working memory [SWM]) tests were completed before and after each HST. Reaction and Movement times were slower before HST 13 than HST 1. Fewer errors were made in the SWM test before HST 13 in the 6- (0.0v2.7), 8- (1.8v7.6) and 12- (18v31) box tests and before HST 7 in the 6- and 8-box tests (1.9v7.6) compared to HST 1. Search strategy was improved before HST 7 (4.5v6.8) and HST 13 (4.3v6.8). Fewer errors were made in the 8-box test after HST 7 (1.6v8.8) and HST 13 (1.1v8.6). No other differences were observed (p > 0.05). HA improved performance in some of the more challenging tasks but had no effect on the most complex task (12-box) when physiological strain was highest. 10-days of HA was more effective than 5-days at improving some aspects of cognitive performance. </p
Inositol hexakisphosphate kinase 1 is implicated in the insulin response to protein ingestion in older adults
No full textAge-related muscle mass is driven by a reduction in insulin sensitivity partly mediated by reduced amino acid and anabolic signalling kinetics. Insulin activates Akt-mTORC1 signalling in skeletal muscle, with inositol hexakisphosphate kinase 1 (IP6K1) shown to inhibit this signalling pathway in pre-diabetic humans. We aimed to compare muscle and plasma IP6K1 in young vs older adults and the possible role of IP6K1 in the anabolic response to protein and protein plus resistance exercise (RE). Nine young (24.9 ± 0.4 years) and nine older (66.2 ± 0.5 years), moderately active adults received primed continuous infusions of L-[ring- 2H 5]phenylalanine in basal and postprandial state. Blood and muscle biopsy samples were collected prior to and following ingestion of 25 g whey protein with or without knee extension exercise to examine skeletal muscle protein signalling and whole-body phenylalanine kinetics. Young adults had greater plasma IP6K1 at all time points. Older adults had reduced muscle IP6K1 at 120 min post-exercise. Muscle IP6K1 decreased 240 min postprandially in young adults compared with basal and there was no effect of exercise in either group. Older adults presented with reduced plasma and muscle IP6K1 in both postprandially and post-RE states, as well as reduced phenylalanine rate of disappearance for the same comparisons. IP6K1 may be involved in the reduction in amino acid metabolism , and the insulin-mediated response to protein and RE. </p
The impact of a secondary cognitive task on variables associated with ACL loading during landing: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textDeterring Academic Integrity Breaches: The Roles of Institutions, Academics, and Support Service
No full text©2025, University of Toronto Press. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Journal of Scholarly Publishing, uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self- archiving policy. The final published version (version of record) is available online at the link. Some minor differences between this version and the final published version may remain. We suggest you refer to the final published version should you wish to cite from it