64623 research outputs found
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Sticking around: Cell adhesion patterning for energy minimization and substrate mechanosensing
No full textElectrocatalytic CO2 conversion to C2 products: Catalysts design, market perspectives and techno-economic aspects
No full textSocial Stratification in Meaningful Work: Occupational Class Disparities in the United Kingdom
Get PDFA critique of the marketisation of long-term residential and nursing home care
Get PDFLong-term care across the OECD has undergone a progressive marketisation and financialisation in recent decades, characterised by the embedding of neoliberal market values such as competition, consumer choice and the profit motive. In this Personal View, we argue that these make poor guiding principles for the care sector, identifying the dysfunctional dynamics that arise as a result, and reflecting on the clinical implications of each, with a focus on facility-based care. We outline why providers can scarcely respond to competitive forces without compromising care quality. We explain why the promotion of consumer choice cannot effectively motivate improvements to quality of care. And we explore how privatisation opens the door to predatory financial practices. We conclude by considering how far proposals for reform can take us, ultimately arguing for a rejection of neoliberal market ideology, and calling for sector-wide discussions about what principles would be more fitting for a caring economy
Spatially Resolved Cancer Growth Modelling for Drug Development
Get PDFMathematical models used in preclinical drug discovery tend to be based on empirical growth laws.Such models are well suited to fitting the data available, mostly longitudinal studies of tumourvolume. However, they typically have little connection with the underlying physiological processesand, in general, are not spatially resolved. This lack of a mechanistic underpinning restricts theirflexibility and inhibits their direct translation across studies.In this thesis we build on the well-studied continuum approach of modelling cancerous tumourgrowth. We present a spatially resolved mathematical model describing tumour growth for theevaluation of single agent cytotoxic compounds that is based on nutrient di↵usion. Upon assuminga spherical geometry for the tumour we show that the model can predict spatial distributions ofcell subpopulations, tumour growth fraction, as well as spatial drug distribution within tumours.Importantly, we demonstrate the model can be reduced to a growth law similar in form to thosecurrently implemented in pharmaceutical drug development for preclinical trials so that it can beintegrated into the current workflow. By validating this approach for both Cell-derived xenograft(CDX) and Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) data, we show that our theoretical model fits aswell as the best performing and most widely used models in drug discovery. Our work openscurrent preclinical modelling studies to also incorporating spatially resolved and multi-modal datawithout significant added complexity and creates the opportunity to improve translation and tumourresponse predictions.Utilising the model we explore the Norton-Simon hypothesis of dose scheduling. Alternativedose schedules are also explored to better reduce the tumour burden and control regrowth whilesatisfying current best practice guidelines of the RECIST criteria.Taking another direction we conduct an initial exploration into the e↵ects of delayed proliferationof the quiescent cell subpopulation on cytotoxic treatment. We do so by extending the previousmodel formulation to incorporate this delay. The result is a system of delay di↵erential equationswhich we solve numerically. This additional complexity is considered because cellular quiescence isthought to provide tumours a mechanism of resistance to treatment. This preliminary work opensup numerous avenues to investigate strategies to avoid such resistance
A data-driven approach for characterising revenues of South-Asian long-haul low-cost carriers per equivalent flight capacity per block hour
No full textThis study sets out to investigate the revenue characteristics of long-haul low-cost carriers (LHLCCs) in the Southeast Asian market using a recently established metric that calculates revenue per equivalent flight capacity per block hour (REB). REB allows for the accurate comparison of airlines on different routes with varying cabin configurations, and stage lengths. The majority of the data was sourced from Sabre MIDT and OAG, while supplementary data were from other various sources. In addition to REB, the study investigates: How do LHLCCs yields compare to full-service network carriers (FSNCs)? Are LHLCCs positively impacted by smaller share of connecting passengers? Are LHLCCs positively impacted by ancillary revenues? Do LHLCCs benefit from higher load factors and seat densities? Results show that LHLCCs performed 26.6% less in overall REB compared to their FSNC counterpart despite LHLCCs generating 43.9% less yield. This is a result of less revenue diluting connecting passengers, higher average ancillary revenue per block hour, higher average load factors and higher average seat densities for LHLCCs. On a route-level, some LHLCC operations can equally perform or outperform competition's revenue performance. Furthermore, the findings are mostly consistent with earlier REB research conducted on the North Atlantic market by Soyk et al. (2018). Revenue and operating characteristic showed the same trends in both markets, although to varying degrees. This study exposes, with high detail, the revenue generating inner-workings of the elusive long-haul low-cost model in its second largest market, and compares it on equal grounds to their full-service network competition. We learn that airlines can drive the airfare down while minimising the loss of revenue per flight capacity of the aircraft by adjusting for the numerous variables that directly impact it, such as seat density, cabin configuration, ancillary revenues, load factors, and percentage of connecting passengers
PUMILIO competes with AUF1 to control DICER1 RNA levels and miRNA processing
No full textDICER1 syndrome is a cancer predisposition disorder caused by mutations that disrupt the function of DICER1 in miRNA processing. Studying the molecular, cellular and oncogenic effects of these mutations can reveal novel mechanisms that control cell homeostasis and tumor biology. Here, we conduct the first analysis of pathogenic DICER1 syndrome allele from the DICER1 3 UTR. We find that the DICER1 syndrome allele, rs1252940486, abolishes interaction with the PUMILIO RNA binding protein with the DICER1 3 UTR, resulting in the degradation of the DICER1 mRNA by AUF1. This single mutational event leads to diminished DICER1 mRNA and protein levels, and widespread reprogramming of miRNA networks. The in-depth characterization of the rs1252940486 DICER1 allele, reveals important post-transcriptional regulatory events that control DICER1 levels
Sustainable routes for acetic acid production: Traditional processes vs a low-carbon, biogas-based strategy
No full textThe conversion of biogas, mainly formed of CO2 and CH4, into high-value platform chemicals is increasing attention in a context of low-carbon societies. In this new paradigm, acetic acid (AA) is deemed as an interesting product for the chemical industry. Herein we present a fresh overview of the current manufacturing approaches, compared to potential low-carbon alternatives. The use of biogas as primary feedstock to produce acetic acid is an auspicious alternative, representing a step-ahead on carbon-neutral industrial processes. Within the spirit of a circular economy, we propose and analyse a new BIO-strategy with two noteworthy pathways to potentially lower the environmental impact. The generation of syngas via dry reforming (DRM) combined with CO2 utilisation offers a way to produce acetic acid in a two-step approach (BIO-Indirect route), replacing the conventional, petroleum-derived steam reforming process. The most recent advances on catalyst design and technology are discussed. On the other hand, the BIO-Direct route offers a ground-breaking, atom-efficient way to directly generate acetic acid from biogas. Nevertheless, due to thermodynamic restrictions, the use of plasma technology is needed to directly produce acetic acid. This very promising approach is still in an early stage. Particularly, progress in catalyst design is mandatory to enable low-carbon routes for acetic acid production.[Display omitted]•Biogas conversion to acetic acid represents a circular economy route for chemicals manufacturing.•Two new BIO-strategies are proposed to obtain acetic acid from CO2 and CH4.•The implementation of plasma technology in dry reforming represents a step-ahead on carbon-neutral processes.•The state-of-the-art of lab-scale non-thermal plasma dry reforming to value-added products has been reviewed
Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study
No full textWhen romantic partners' personal goals conflict, this can negatively affect personal goal outcomes, such as progress. In a concurrent mixed methods study, we investigated whether goal conflict and negation of goal conflict were associated with goal outcomes (progress, confidence, motivation) and what strategies partners used during the COVID-19 pandemic to negotiate goal conflict. Survey participants (n = 200) completed a daily diary for a week and weekly longitudinal reports for a month and interview participants (n = 48) attended a semi-structured interview. Results showed that higher goal conflict was associated with lower goal outcomes, and successful negotiation of goal conflict was associated with better goal outcomes. Qualitative analyses identified three goal conflict negotiation strategies (compromise, integration, concession). Conversations focused on both practical and emotional needs and included respectful communication and space from conflict (timeout or avoidance). The mixed methods results suggest that goal conflict was low during the pandemic and participants were often able to negotiate goal conflict resulting in better goal outcomes
Multi‐family therapy for eating disorders across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
No full textEating disorders (EDs) have an estimated prevalence rate of 1%–5% across Europe. Effective adjunct interventions are needed to support the 20%–40% of families whose recovery requires additional support to first line approaches. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to establish whether multi‐ family therapy (MFT) improves the physical and psychological health of patients and family members. Searches were conducted in PsycINFO, MED-LINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library in March 2021. 15 studies (850 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Meta‐analysis demonstrated MFT resulted in significant benefits in weight gain, ED symptoms, patients' and parents' depression symptoms, and parents' negative experiences of caregiving. However, significant improvements were only evident when comparisons were drawn before and after the intervention; these dissipated when MFT was compared to another intervention. There was no evidence MFT improves family functioning, positive aspects of caregiving, nor patient and parental anxiety. Intervention completion rates ranged from 86% to 100% indicating a high level of acceptability. Studies varied with regard to intervention length and structure, follow‐up period, and outcome measures uti-lised; most were rated as moderate or weak in methodological quality. More rigorous and large scale randomised controlled trials are needed to fully assess the effectiveness of MFT. </p
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