I recently took part in the Higher Education Academy STEM conference on 30th April 2014 in Edinburgh. Here is a screencast of the Pecha Kucha presentation I have on the day on screencast video feedback to students.
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Recent Research Publications:- Quorum sensing as a potential target for increased production of rhamnolipid biosurfactant in Burkholderia thailandensis E264Burkholderia thailandensis E264 is a potential non-pathogenic substitute for producing rhamnolipid biosurfactant, replacing the pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, it has low rhamnolipid production and longer fermentation time. We have earlier suggested that media supplementation with exogenous quorum sensing (QS) molecules could lead to early onset […]
- Nutrition Education and Community Pharmacy: A First Exploration of Current Attitudes and Practices in Northern IrelandCommunity pharmacist is one of the most prominent and accessible healthcare professions. The community pharmacists' role in healthcare is evolving, with opportunities being taken to reduce pressure on primary care services. However, the question remains of how well community pharmacists are equipped for this changing role. This was a sequentially design […]
- Fatty acid synthesis pathway provides lipid precursors for rhamnolipid biosynthesis in Burkholderia thailandensis E264Rhamnolipid production was monitored for a period of 216 h using different substrates in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Burkholderia thailandensis E264 which showed comparable crude yields attained by both after 216 h. The crude yield for P. aeruginosa, however, was significantly higher at the early stages of fermentation (72 or 144 h). Additionally, P. aer […]
- Application of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry To Determine Urinary Concentrations of Five Commonly Used Low-Calorie Sweeteners: A Novel Biomarker Approach for Assessing Recent Intakes?Although the use of low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs) is widespread, methods of assessing consumption within free-living populations have inherent limitations. Five commonly consumed LCSs, namely, acesulfame-K, saccharin, sucralose, cyclamate, and steviol glycosides, are excreted via the urine, and therefore a urinary biomarker approach may provide more objectiv […]
- Microbial rhamnolipid production: a critical re-evaluation of published data and suggested future publication criteriaHigh production cost and potential pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, commonly used for rhamnolipid synthesis, have led to extensive research for safer producing strains and cost-effective production methods. This has resulted in numerous research publications claiming new non-pathogenic producing strains and novel production techniques many of which a […]
- Making room for interactivity: using the cloud-based audience response system Nearpod to enhance engagement in lecturesActive and collaborative learning provides distinct advantages for students in higher education, yet can often be hampered by the barrier of large class sizes. Solutions that combine a 'bring your own device culture' with cloud-based technologies may facilitate a more interactive learning experience. In this pilot study, we describe the use of one […]
- Biological Activity and Antidiabetic Potential of C-Terminal Octapeptide Fragments of the Gut-Derived Hormone XeninXenin is a peptide that is co-secreted with the incretin hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), from intestinal K-cells in response to feeding. Studies demonstrate that xenin has appetite suppressive effects and modulates glucose-induced insulin secretion. The present study was undertaken to determine the bioactivity and antidiabetic pr […]
- A novel chemically modified analogue of xenin-25 exhibits improved glucose-lowering and insulin-releasing propertiesCONCLUSIONS: Xenin-25(gln) is resistant to plasma-mediated degradation and exerts sustained and beneficial metabolic actions in high fat fed and ob/ob mice.
- Isolation and characterisation of insulin-releasing compounds from Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus vegrandis and Bitis nasicornis venomCrude venom from three venomous snakes, Crotalus adamanteus, Crotalus vegrandis and Bitis nasicornis was fractionated by gel filtration chromatography, and selected fractions screened for in-vitro insulinotropic activity using clonal pancreatic BRIN-BD11 cells. Nineteen fractions stimulated insulin secretion and the structural identity of bioactive compounds […]
- A family of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory peptides related to the frenatins from skin secretions of the Orinoco lime frog Sphaenorhynchus lacteus (Hylidae)Peptidomic analysis of norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions of the Orinoco lime tree frog Sphaenorhynchus lacteus (Hylidae, Hylinae) revealed the presence of three structurally related host-defense peptides with limited sequence similarity to frenatin 2 from Litoria infrafrenata (Hylidae, Pelodryadinae) and frenatin 2D from Discoglossus sardus (Alytidae […]
- Quorum sensing as a potential target for increased production of rhamnolipid biosurfactant in Burkholderia thailandensis E264
