414 research outputs found
Staff training and development in academic libraries: a response to the Fielden Report
No full textStaff training and development in academic libraries: a response to the Fielden Repor
A royal charter for the press: how does it measure up to regulation overseas?
No full textIn this policy brief, published in conjunction with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Lara Fielden examines the three key qualities Lord Justice Leveson recommended for future press regulation – that it is ‘voluntary’, ‘independent’, and ‘self-regulatory’. These characteristics, which form the basis of the government’s draft Royal Charter, are explored within the instructive context of differing approaches to press regulation in a range of democracies overseas.The author finds that any blurring of the boundaries between standards upheld by a code and rights upheld by the law will be a significant departure from regulatory systems elsewhere, but acknowledges that publicly recognizing and independently safeguarding voluntary ethical press standards represents a huge step forward in placing the public interest at the heart of regulation
How to obtain Pt(IV) complexes suitable for conjugation to nanovectors from the oxidation of [PtCl(terpyridine)]+
No full textOxidation of [Pt(II)Cl(terpy)]+ (terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) has been attempted with several oxidizing agents and under different experimental conditions in order to obtain a Pt(IV) complex suitable for the conjugation to nanovectors to be used in drug delivery targeting for anticancer therapy. The best compromise in terms of yield and purity of the final complex was obtained by microwave-assisted reaction at 70 °C in 50% aqueous H2O2 for 2 h. Under these conditions the quantitative formation of [Pt(IV)Cl(OH)2(terpy)]+ was observed. The subsequent synthetic steps were, (i) functionalization of [Pt(IV)Cl(OH)2(terpy)]+ in the axial position with succinic anhydride to obtain [Pt(IV)Cl(OH)(succinato)(terpy)]+ and (ii) reaction of the latter with nonporous silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with an external shell containing primary amino groups to obtain a nanovector able to transport the Pt(IV) antitumor prodrug in the form of a conjugate Pt-SNP. Finally, the antiproliferative activity and cell accumulation of [Pt(II)Cl(terpy)]+, [Pt(IV)Cl(OH)2(terpy)]+, and the Pt-SNP conjugate were measured on three cancer cell lines. Despite highly effective accumulation of Pt-SNP in cells, a modest increase in activity was observed with respect to the molecular species. Further experiments showed that the Pt-SNP conjugate can release [Pt(II)Cl(terpy)]+ upon reduction, but this metabolite may undergo hydrolysis, and the resulting aquo complex could coordinate once again the free amino groups of the SNPs. In the resulting tetraamine form, the Pt(ii) complex conjugated to the SNPs cannot completely perform its antiproliferative activity. © 2017 The Royal Society of Chemistry
An analysis of the shear zone for metals deformed by equal-channel angular processing
No full textFour fundamental models, based on slip-line theory, are compared to experimental results obtained from deforming scribed billets in a single pass of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP). Two ECAP die configurations, having sharp and round corners, are used to determine the experimental flow-line fields for Pb, pure Cu and pure Al billets. Two different types of deformation behavior are observed when using the die with a sharp-corner: (a) for the Cu and Al billets a gap develops at the outer corner of the die so that the material flows without filling the outer corner and (b) for Pb billets a “dead-metal” zone is formed which fills with material in the outer corner of the die. Strain mapping is used to delineate different spatial strain distributions for sharp-corner and round-corner dies
Children's understandings of obesity, a thematic analysis
No full textChildhood obesity is a major concern in today’s society. Research suggests the inclusion of the views and understandings of a target group facilitates strategies that have better efficacy. The objective of this study was to explore the concepts and themes that make up children’s understandings of the causes and consequences of obesity. Participants were selected from Reception (4-5 years old) and Year 6 (10-11 years old), and attended a school in an area of Sunderland, in North East England. Participants were separated according to age and gender, resulting in four focus groups, run across two sessions. A thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) identified overarching themes evident across all groups, suggesting the key concepts that contribute to children’s understandings of obesity are ‘‘Knowledge through Education,’’ ‘‘Role Models,’’ ‘‘Fat is Bad,’’ and ‘‘Mixed Messages.’’ The implications of these findings and considerations of the methodology are discussed in full
Dissipative Catalysis with a Molecular Machine
No full textWe report on catalysis by a fuel‐induced transient state of a synthetic molecular machine. A [2]rotaxane molecular shuttle containing secondary ammonium/amine and thiourea stations is converted between catalytically inactive and active states by pulses of a chemical fuel (trichloroacetic acid) that is, itself, decomposed by the machine and/or the presence of additional base. The ON‐state of the rotaxane catalyzes the reduction of a nitrostyrene by transfer hydrogenation. By varying the amount of fuel added, the lifetime of the rotaxane ON‐state can be regulated and temporal control of catalysis achieved. The system can be pulsed with chemical fuel several times in succession, each pulse activating catalysis for a time period determined by the amount of fuel added. Dissipative catalysis by synthetic molecular machines has implications for the future design of networks that feature communication and signaling between the components
Index to A Confederate Englishman: The Civil War Letters of Henry Wemyss Fielden
No full textThis is an index created by Dr. George Rable for research
Cobalt-based molecular electrocatalysis of nitrile reduction: evolving sustainability beyond hydrogen
No full textTwo new cobalt bis-iminopyridines, [Co(DDP)(H2O)2](NO3)2 (1, DDP = cis-[1,3-bis(2-pyridinylenamine)] cyclohexane) and [Co(cis-DDOP)(NO3)](NO3) (2, cis-DDOP = cis-3,5-bis[(2- Pyridinyleneamin]-trans-hydroxycyclohexane) electrocatalyse the 4-proton, 4-electron reduction of acetonitrile to ethylamine. For 1, this reduction occurs in preference to reduction of protons to H2. A coordinating hydroxyl proton relay in 2 reduces the yield of ethylamine and biases the catalytic system back towards H2
Phase Shifts of the Circadian Locomotor Rhythm Induced by Pigment-Dispersing Factor in the Cricket Gryllus bimaculatus
No full textPigment-dispersing factors (PDFs) are octadeca-peptides widely distributed in insect optic lobes and brain. In this study, we have purified PDF and determined its amino acid sequence in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. Its primary structure was NSEIINSLLGLPKVLNDA-NH2, homologous to other PDH family members so far reported. When injected into the optic lobe of experimentally blinded adult male crickets, Gryllus-PDF induced phase shifts in their activity rhythms in a phase dependent and dose dependent manner. The resulted phase response curve (PRC) showed delays during the late subjective night to early subjective day and advances during the mid subjective day to mid subjective night. The PRC was different in shape from those for light, serotonin and temperature. These results suggest that PDF plays a role in phase regulation of the circadian clock through a separate pathway from those of other known phase regulating agents
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