Life Sciences Publications
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/6342
2024-03-26T03:28:14ZIn situ monitoring of competitive coformer exchange reaction by 1H MAS Solid-state NMR
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/19850
Hareendran C, Alsirawan B, Paradkar AR et al (2024) In situ monitoring of competitive coformer exchange reaction by 1H MAS Solid-state NMR. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 21(3): 1479-1489.
In a competitive coformer exchange reaction, a recent topic of interest in pharmaceutical research, the coformer in a pharmaceutical cocrystal is exchanged with another coformer which is expected to form a cocrystal that is more stable. There will be a competition between coformers to form the most stable product through formation of hydrogen bonds. Thus, to monitor each and every step of such reactions, employing a very sensitive technique is crucial. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a very powerful technique that is very sensitive to the hydrogen bond interactions. In this study, an in situ monitoring of a coformer exchange reaction is carried out by 1H magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR (SSNMR) at a spinning frequency of 60 KHz. The changes in caffeine maleic acid cocrystals on addition of glutaric acid, and caffeine glutaric cocrystal on addition of maleic acid were monitored. In all the reactions, it has been observed that caffeine glutaric acid Form I is formed. When glutaric acid was added to 2:1 caffeine maleic acid, the formation of metastable 1:1 caffeine glutaric acid Form I was observed, at the start of the experiment, indicating that the centrifugal pressure is enough for the formation. The difference in the end product of the reactions with similar reaction pathway of 1:1 and 2:1 reactant stoichiometry indicate that a complete replacement of maleic acid has only occurred only in the 1:1 stoichiometry of the reactants. The polymorphic transition of caffeine glutaric acid Form II to Form I at higher temperature was crucial reason which triggers the exchange of glutaric acid with maleic acid in the reaction of caffeine glutaric acid and maleic acid. Based on these results, new reaction pathways in competitive coformer exchange reactions could be distinguished, and the remarkable role of stoichiometry, polymorphism, temperature and centrifugal pressure could be established.
2024-03-01T00:00:00ZAssembling Wellbeing in Archaeological Teaching and Learning
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/19833
Cobb H and Croucher K (2022) Assembling Wellbeing in Archaeological Teaching and Learning. In: Everill P and Burnell K (Eds) Archaeology, Heritage, and Wellbeing Authentic, Powerful, and Therapeutic Engagement with the Past. London : Routledge.
Wellbeing is a growing concern for educators and students alike and is especially significant in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has brought the importance of wellbeing into sharp focus. Elsewhere, the authors (Cobb and Croucher) have written about a new pedagogic approach they have developed, specifically related to archaeology, although applicable across higher education. In this approach, they draw on relational theories and archaeology's “material turn” to focus on “Inclusive Learning Assemblages”. They explore the material and social assemblages that students encounter, both in different learning contexts and outwith learning, arguing that if we foreground learning assemblages, then student diversity and the student learning experience will be enhanced. In this paper, the authors take a step further by exploring the value of this approach for student wellbeing. They argue that taking an assemblage approach to teaching and learning in archaeology, and foregrounding diversity, actively improves student wellbeing too. This paper brings into dialogue mental health issues, with the diversity of student experiences, and the broad material engagements of an archaeology degree, in order to suggest a series of concrete steps that practitioners can implement to enhance student wellbeing.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZDaily Negotiations with Materiality: Re–Assembling Halaf Ornamentation
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/19832
Belcher E and Croucher K (2023) Daily Negotiations with Materiality: Re–Assembling Halaf Ornamentation. In: Düring BS and Akkermans PMMG (Eds) Style and society in the prehistory of West Asia. Essays in Honour of Olivier P. Nieuwenhuyse. PALMA: Papers on Archaeology of the Leiden Museum of Antiquities (volume 29) Leiden : Sidestone Press. Pp. 115-134.
In this paper we consider the making, daily use and deposition of ornaments in the Halaf period. We seek to move beyond rigid ‘craft production’ interpretive frameworks intersecting symbolism, complexity and social inequality. Instead, we seek different ways of knowing prehistoric ornaments, through their materiality, assemblage and visuality as evidence of ambiguous mutable person-object relationships and experiences. Making and decoration of/with ornaments offers insights into social concepts of embodiment, personhood, identity and belonging, and should be interpreted as having ambiguous, multiple uses and meanings. Using six case studies of ornament types from excavated assemblages, we critically examine existing methods of small finds’ presentation and suggest more dynamic ways of artefact analysis, interpretation and publication. We present this interpretative model as a methodology applicable broadly to small find studies in all archaeological contexts. In our analysis we re-orient towards considering assemblages of dynamic communities of makers, users and identities embedded in these objects’ life histories.
2023-11-01T00:00:00ZDying 2 Talk: Generating a more compassion community for young people
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/19848
Booth J, Croucher K, Walters E et al (2023) Dying 2 Talk: Generating a more compassion community for young people. Journal of Applied Youth Studies. 6: 227-249.
People in the Global North often have a problem talking about — and processing — the inevitability of death. This can be because death and care of the dying has been professionalised, with encounters of death within our families and communities no longer being ‘normal and routine’ (Kellehear 2005). Young people are particularly excluded from these conversations, with implications for future mental health and wellbeing (Ainsley-Green 2017). Working in Wolverhampton and Bradford, the Dying 2 Talk (D2T) project aimed to build young people’s future resilience around this challenging topic. We recruited over 20 young people as project ambassadors to co-produce resources that would encourage talk about death, dying and bereavement. The resources were used as the basis of ‘Festivals of the Dead’ which were taken to schools to engage wider audiences of young people (aged 11 +). The project aimed to use alternative ‘ways in’ to open discussion, beginning with archaeology, and ultimately using gaming, dance, creative writing and other creative outputs to facilitate discussion, encourage compassionate relationships and build resilience. The resources succeeded in engaging young people from ages 11–19 years, facilitating a comfortable and supportive environment for these vital conversations. Project evaluations and observations revealed that the Festivals, and the activities co-created by the young ambassadors helped to facilitate spontaneous conversations about death, dying and bereavement amongst young people by providing a comfortable and supportive environment. The project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/V008609/1), building on a pilot project funded by the Higher Education Innovation Fund at the University of Bradford.
2023-12-01T00:00:00ZEtiquette in the context of death and dying: Communication and conversation
http://hdl.handle.net/10454/19835
Dayes J, Keenan J, Croucher K et al (2024) Etiquette in the context of death and dying: Communication and conversation. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying. Accepted for Publication.
Death, bereavement, and grief are experiences suffused with conflict and disenfranchisement. Intricately connected is ‘etiquette’ – the sense of ‘should’ ‘must’ ‘right’ ‘wrong’ ‘appropriate’ and ‘inappropriate’ individuals feel in death and bereavement situations. This paper is the first of two answering the question, ‘where does etiquette arise in death and bereavement situations and what does this ‘look like?’’ The theme The etiquette of communication and conversation is described, highlighting the importance of early communication for resolving conflict, what is considered ‘appropriate’ communication and support, and the social values underpinning these. Data highlighted how the CBT concept of ‘shoulding and musting’ manifests in death and bereavement situations, gave insight into etiquette’s role in disenfranchising grief through shaping conversations, and offered suggestions for bereavement support. Though the term ‘etiquette’ may be misleading out of context, the concept resonated with the bereaved community and provided language to discuss the nuances of their experiences.
2024-01-01T00:00:00Z