Proteins with expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) segments cause a number of fatal neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington’s disease (HD). Previous high-throughput screens in cellular and biochemical models of HD have revealed compounds that mitigate polyQ aggregation and proteotoxicity, providing insight into the mechanisms of disease and leads for potential therapeutics. However, the structural diversity of natural products has not yet been fully mobilized toward these goals. Here, we have screened a collection of ~11 000 natural product extracts for the ability to recover the slow growth of ΔProQ103-expressing yeast cells in 384-well plates (Z’ ~ 0.7, CV ~ 8%). This screen identified actinomycin D as a strong inhibitor of polyQ aggregation and proteotoxicity at nanomolar concentrations (~50–500 ng/mL). We found that a low dose of actinomycin D increased the levels of the heat-shock proteins Hsp104, Hsp70 and Hsp26 and enhanced binding of Hsp70 to the polyQ in yeast. Actinomycin also suppressed aggregation of polyQ in mammalian cells, suggesting a conserved mechanism. These results establish natural products as a rich source of compounds with interesting mechanisms of action against polyQ disorders.

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It is thought that there is a low level of awareness of key competencies that drive material waste reduction at the construction stage of a project which has led to the low impact of waste minimization in the construction industry. This study, therefore, explores the key competencies for driving waste minimization at the construction stage of projects. Twenty-four (24) key factors that drive CW minimization at the construction stage of projects were derived from a thorough review of existing literature. The research adopted the quantitative approach whereby a questionnaire survey involving 53 construction professionals was conducted. Factor analysis was the statistical tool employed for the analysis of the data gathered. The findings of the study revealed four major competencies that drive CW minimization: Awareness Competency (AC), Managerial Competency (MC), Personnel Ability Competency (PAC), and Communication Competency (CC). The implementation of the key competencies from the findings of the study is highly recommended for the achievement of low waste in building projects. In view of this, it is recommended that government should enact legislative and fiscal measures to instill waste management habits in the construction industry. Several studies have investigated strategies or measures for CW minimization. However, this study focused on the knowledge and skills of construction stakeholders as the main component of waste minimization competencies.

It has become necessary for people especially teachers and learners to have the ability to utilize Information Technology (Info Tech) since it has become a reigning literacy in this 21 st century. Info Tech literacy has posed numerous challenges for teachers and learners as well as technically their ability, knowledge and expertise in the field if Information Technology. Info Tech Education Policy by the MOE in 2009 identified some challenges which include the effects of Info Tech on access, the cost of effective and quality education, involving in the information technology society and integrating technology into teaching and learning. This research is pivoted on integrating Info Tech into teaching and learning processes to enable the researcher investigate trends and dimensions of style in teaching and learning in Ghana especially in Walewale Senior High Technical School in order to provide grounds for an objective, measurable placement or categorization of the phenomenon that could be deduced or constructed as the basis for scientific proof. In this study, the accessible population used was the Headmaster, Headmaster in charge of academics, the headmaster in charge of administration, heads of departments, some selected teachers and learners in Walewale Senior High Technical School (WALSCTECH). Qualitative data was collected and analysed accordingly.