Publications by authors named "L I McKay"

Thermophilic microbial communities growing in low-oxygen environments often contain early-evolved archaea and bacteria, which hold clues regarding mechanisms of cellular respiration relevant to early life. Here, we conducted replicate metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, microscopic, and geochemical analyses on two hyperthermophilic (82-84 °C) filamentous microbial communities (Conch and Octopus Springs, Yellowstone National Park, WY) to understand the role of oxygen, sulfur, and arsenic in energy conservation and community composition. We report that hyperthermophiles within the Aquificota (Thermocrinis), Pyropristinus (Caldipriscus), and Thermoproteota (Pyrobaculum) are abundant in both communities; however, higher oxygen results in a greater diversity of aerobic heterotrophs.

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Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is a multisensory experience most often associated with feelings of relaxation and altered consciousness, elicited by stimuli which include whispering, repetitive movements, and close personal attention. Since 2015, ASMR research has grown rapidly, spanning disciplines from neuroscience to media studies but lacking a collaborative or interdisciplinary approach. To build a cohesive and connected structure for ASMR research moving forwards, a modified Delphi study was conducted with ASMR experts, practitioners, community members, and researchers from various disciplines.

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To what degree is explicit care/work policy taught in family courses in Canada's leading research-intensive universities? We analyze family courses in sociology departments and in political studies and women's/gender studies programs in Canada's 15 R1 universities to make a contribution to the scholarship of teaching and learning. This national scan marks a methodological innovation from curriculum studies that generally adopt a single-program or single-site focus. From a Canadian universe of 74 family courses, we identify 15 whose formal course calendar description explicitly addresses care/work family policy (measures to reconcile caring for young children with employment, through early learning and childcare, parental leaves, and child benefits).

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Article Synopsis
  • Next-generation sequencing (NGS) struggles to fully capture the critical 5' and 3' ends of RNA virus genomes, which are essential for understanding their replication and transcription.
  • The newly developed ViBE-Seq method offers high-resolution sequencing of these genome ends using minimal RNA, improving the reliability of data collection for RNA viruses like Ebola and Marburg.
  • ViBE-Seq also helps identify the activity of different reverse transcriptases, providing a comprehensive approach to sequencing emerging viral genomes.
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Background: An estimated 3.5 million people in the UK live with a rare disease however due to the rarity of each individual condition this is not currently reflected in mainstream medical education. As a result, common features of living with a rare condition include diagnostic delay, poor coordination of health and social care and lack of access to specialist care and treatment.

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