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The influence of psychological and social factors on the lived experience of ageing with co-existent frailty and cognitive impairment
No full textGlobal policy has recognised the need to promote healthy ageing. Risk of frailty with co-existent cognitive impairment increases with age and is associated with adverse outcomes, which services may struggle to support. Understanding life experiences which could contribute to, or promote the self-management of, co-existent frailty and cognitive impairment would enable identification of those at risk and target services appropriately. This thesis aimed to understand how past and present, psychological, and social factors, may influence the experience of ageing with co-existent frailty and cognitive impairment and explore how services support those living with this co-existent decline.
This thesis involved two research studies. Older people living with co-existent frailty and cognitive impairment took part in participant-led life-history interviews. Health and social care professionals were also interviewed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse and explore patterns in the data.
Findings indicate that a range of psychological and social factors, throughout life, may contribute to decline. Physical decline was associated with ageing and accepted, whilst cognitive impairment was feared. Wealth, social networks, and lifelong psychological resilience were seen to promote coping and the management of age associated decline. Future dependency was a source of apprehension. The relative importance of factors is complex, as the impact of experiences and circumstances accumulate and interact.
A need to implement preventative measures across the life-course is implied. Professionals require training to understand how best to approach individualised care for those living with co-existent frailty and cognitive impairment, to promote independence and support dependency in old age
How can value co-creation be integrated into a customer experience evaluation?
Get PDFYesWith the arrival of the service economy, businesses across different sectors have to rely increasingly on service design, with its focus on the viewpoints of customers and their experiences. Existing frameworks for evaluating customer experience tend to neglect the connection between customer experience and value co-creation, which is critical for enhancing the performance of service design. The aim of this conceptual paper is, therefore, to develop a customer experience evaluation framework that is coherently integrated with the value co-creation construct. It is achieved by intersecting the most relevant insights from prior approaches to evaluating customer experiences with a theoretical interpretation of service value as value in the experience that is always co-created and uniquely determined by the customer's personal lived and imagined experiences. The proposed framework is original in its theorizing of the evaluation process as a transformation from a customer experience evaluation to a synchronized evaluation of value in the experience and value co-creation throughout and beyond the service process. The framework proposes to utilize it in both major service redesign and on-the-spot service improvements, which are extremely relevant to businesses operating in highly competitive environments. The proposed framework is designed to guide future empirical evaluations, accommodate new theoretical extensions, and inform practical applications to design service offerings as unique and preferred experiences for customers
Stromal vascular fraction cells from individuals who have previously undergone radiotherapy retain their pro-wound healing properties
Get PDFYesBeneficial effects have been observed following the transplant of lipoaspirates containing adipose-derived stem cells into chronic wounds caused by oncologic radiotherapy. It is not yet certain whether adipose-derived stem cells are resistant to radiation exposure. Therefore, the aims of this study were to isolate stromal vascular fraction from human breast tissue exposed to radiotherapy and determine the presence of adipose-derived stem cells. Stromal vascular fraction from irradiated donor tissue was compared to commercially sourced pre-adipocytes. Immunocytochemistry was used to determine the presence of adipose-derived stem cell markers. Conditioned media from stromal vascular fraction isolated from irradiated donors was used as a treatment in a scratch wound assay of dermal fibroblasts also isolated from irradiated donors and compared to pre-adipocyte conditioned media and serum free control. This is the first report of human stromal vascular fraction being cultured from previously irradiated breast tissue. Stromal vascular fraction conditioned media from irradiated donors had a similar effect in increasing the migration of dermal fibroblasts from irradiated skin to pre-adipocyte conditioned media from healthy donors. Therefore, the ability of adipose-derived stem cells in the stromal vascular fraction to stimulate dermal fibroblasts in wound healing appears to be preserved following radiotherapy. This study demonstrates that stromal vascular fraction from irradiated patients is viable, functional and may have potential for regenerative medicine techniques following radiotherapy.This research was funded by a Bradford City FC Supporters Fellowship for L.V.T. administered through the Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, University of Bradford.Research Development Fund Publication Prize Award winner, Mar 2023
Promotion of joint degeneration and chondrocyte metabolic dysfunction by excessive growth hormone in mice
Get PDFYesObjective: Many patients with acromegaly, a hormonal disorder with excessive growth hormone (GH) production, report pain in joints. We undertook this study to characterize the joint pathology of mice with overexpression of bovine GH (bGH) or a GH receptor antagonist (GHa) and to investigate the effect of GH on regulation of chondrocyte cellular metabolism.
Methods: Knee joints from mice overexpressing bGH or GHa and wild-type (WT) control mice were examined using histology and micro–computed tomography for osteoarthritic (OA) pathologies. Additionally, cartilage from bGH mice was used for metabolomics analysis. Mouse primary chondrocytes from bGH and WT mice, with or without pegvisomant treatment, were used for quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Seahorse respirometry analyses.
Results: Both male and female bGH mice at ~13 months of age had increased knee joint degeneration, which was characterized by loss of cartilage structure, expansion of hypertrophic chondrocytes, synovitis, and subchondral plate thinning. The joint pathologies were also demonstrated by significantly higher Osteoarthritis Research Society International and Mankin scores in bGH mice compared to WT control mice. Metabolomics analysis revealed changes in a wide range of metabolic pathways in bGH mice, including beta-alanine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, lysine degradation, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Also, bGH chondrocytes up-regulated fatty acid oxidation and increased expression of Col10a. Joints of GHa mice were remarkably protected from developing age-associated joint degeneration, with smooth articular joint surface.
Conclusion: This study showed that an excessive amount of GH promotes joint degeneration in mice, which was associated with chondrocyte metabolic dysfunction and hypertrophic changes, whereas antagonizing GH action through a GHa protects mice from OA development.Dr. Zhu's work was supported by Ohio University, the Arthritis National Research Foundation (grant 833836), a FIRST award from the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the NIH (grant R15-AR-080813), and a Hevolution Foundation AGE grant (AGE-008). Dr. Davis’ work was supported by a medical student seed grant from Ohio University. Dr. Lotz's work was supported by the NIH (grant R37-AG-059418). Dr. Berryman was supported by the NIH (grant R01-AG-059779). Dr. Kopchick was supported by the State of Ohio's Eminent Scholar Program that includes a gift from Milton and Lawrence Goll and the AMVETS, and by the NIH (grant R01-AG-059779)
Application of the People, Context, Deal and Opportunity (PCDO) for Entrepreneurship Advancement in Africa
No full textNoThis chapter proposes the application of the people, context, deal and opportunities (PCDO) model to support entrepreneurship advancement in Africa. This proposal recognises patterns of conflicts and crises fuelled by both internal and external forces in some African countries, and that this pattern inhibits entrepreneurship advancement. However, undaunted by the seemingly unfavourable conditions, in 2013, African leaders set Africa on a 50-year journey towards an integrated, peaceful, progressive and prosperous Africa of the future in what is known as Agenda 2063. The proposal is anchored by Aspirations 4 and 6 of Agenda 2063, which propose that people, peaceful and secured environment are necessary for the achievement of the ‘Africa we want’, which arguably, will in turn promote entrepreneurship advancement in Africa. The chapter argues that reforms in the legal and institutional framework of the Africa Union (AU) should consider the application of the PCDO model to maximise opportunities for entrepreneurship development in Africa
Radiographers' perceptions of first year diagnostic radiography students' performance following implementation of a simulation-based education model
Get PDFYesSimulation-based education (SBE) partially replaced the clinical placement learning for a cohort of first year students on a BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography programme. This was in response to the pressures on hospital-based training caused by increasing student numbers and following increased capability and positive outcomes for student learning in delivering SBE as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A survey was distributed to diagnostic radiographers, across five NHS Trusts, involved in the clinical education of first year diagnostic radiography students at one UK university. The survey sought radiographers' perception of student performance in undertaking radiographic examinations, safety procedures, knowledge of anatomy, professionalism, and the impact of embedding simulation-based education through multichoice and free text questions. Descriptive and thematic analysis of the survey data was undertaken.
Twelve survey responses from radiographers across four Trusts were collated. Responses indicated the majority of radiographers perceived students to require the expected level of assistance in undertaking appendicular examinations, applying infection control and radiation safety measures, and had the expected level of radiographic anatomy knowledge. Students also interacted appropriately with service users, demonstrated increased confidence in coming into the clinical environment and were receptive to feedback. Some variation was noted, particularly in professionalism and engagement, though not always attributed to SBE.
Replacement of clinical placement with SBE was perceived to have provided appropriate learning opportunities and some additional benefits, however it was felt by some radiographers that SBE could not replace the experience of the real imaging environment.
Embedding simulated-based education requires a holistic approach and close collaboration with placement partners to ensure complimentary learning experiences in the clinical placement setting, and support achievement of the learning outcomes
Fundamental Movement Skills and Their Assessment in Primary Schools from the Perspective of Teachers
Get PDFYesEvidence suggests that children struggle to acquire age-appropriate fundamental movement skills (FMS), despite their importance for facilitating physical activity. This has led to calls for routine school-based screening of children’s FMS. However, there is limited research exploring schools’ capacity to conduct such assessments. This study investigated what factors might affect the adoption and implementation of FMS assessments in primary schools. School staff (n = 853) completed an online questionnaire developed using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behavior (COM-B) model. A majority reported that knowledge of pupils’ FMS ability would be beneficial (65.3%), and 71.8% would assess FMS if support was provided. Barriers included: Capability–few possessed knowledge of FMS (15%); Opportunity–teachers reported 30–60 minutes as acceptable for assessing a class, a substantially shorter period than current assessments require; Motivation–57.2% stated FMS assessments would increase workload stress. Solutions to these issues are discussed using the COM-B theoretical framework.Economic and Social Research Council White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership Pathway Award [ES/P000745/1], ActEarly: a City Collaboratory approach to early promotion of good health and wellbeing funded by the Medical Research Council [MR/S037527/], National Institute for Health Research Yorkshire and Humber ARC [NIHR20016
Mechanical and thermal properties of lightweight concrete produced with polyester-coated pumice aggregate
Get PDFYesWith the technological advances in the field of building materials, there has been an increasing focus on the research of lightweight concrete made with coated aggregates for improving the durability of concrete. In this study, pumice aggregates were coated with cast-based polyester to obtain polymer-coated pumice aggregates (PCPA). Lightweight concretes were produced with different cement dosages (200, 250 and 300) and PCPAs at different ratios (0%, 50% and 100%). Physical properties, mechanical strength, thermal properties and internal structure analysis (SEM-EDS) of the produced concrete samples were performed. According to the RILEM functional classification of lightweight concrete, the test results showed that REF D300 and REF D250 dosage series are in the semi-load-bearing lightweight concrete class, and the other all series are in the insulation concrete class, and the produced concretes can be classified as lightweight insulation materials. It can also be used in non-load-bearing walls or as an alternative lightweight insulation material.Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) BIDEB-2219 Postdoctoral Research (Project Number: 1059B192100644) and the Düzce University
Perfection, hybridity or shutting up? A cross-country study of how language ideologies shape participation in international business
Get PDFYesEmployees’ participation in professional international business (IB) communication has important consequences for knowledge transfer and processing, a crucial function for multinational enterprises (MNEs). Research suggests that participation is shaped by language, but prior research has focused on firm-internal language dynamics, meaning that less is known about the influence of external context. We help redress this balance by drawing on the sociolinguistic concept of “language ideologies”. Language ideologies, or shared sets of beliefs about language(s) amongst social groups, are societal-level phenomena that employees bring with them to work. As such, they are part of the external social, political and historical context of IB activities. Our analysis of 82 interviews in three countries indicates that some language ideologies block participation and create friction, while others support participation. Implications for the conceptual understanding of language in IB and the management of internationally active firms are discussed.- Add New Charity (Rest of World) Funder
Sustainable ultra-high performance concrete with incorporating mineral admixtures: Workability, mechanical property and durability under freeze-thaw cycles
Get PDFYesThis paper evaluates the influence of mineral admixtures partially replacing cement, sea sand replacing quartz, sea water replacing fresh water on ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). The fluidity and mechanical properties were studied. Besides, the impermeability, chloride resistance and freeze-thaw resistance were investigated. Failure modes, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis, mass loss, relative dynamic modulus of elasticity and mechanical properties of UHPCs after freeze-thaw cycles were conducted. The results showed the fluidity of UHPC paste gradually increases with the improvement of water-binder ratio. It is recommended that the water-binder ratio of UHPC be set at 0.19. The fluidity also increases with the improvement of the content of slag, fly ash and water reducer, but decreases with the improvement of silica fume content. The flexural and compressive strengths of UHPC enhance with the improvement of the content of silica fume, but reduce with the improvement of the content of fly ash and slag. The UHPCs made of quartz sand, river sand and sea sand, all, achieve a high strength. UHPCs prepared at standard curing conditions, with or without steel fibers, mixed by artificial seawater and made of sea sand, exhibited excellent impermeability and chloride resistance. The frost resistant grade of all UHPC specimens prepared by standard curing are greater than F500 exhibiting excellent freeze-thaw resistance and sustainability