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Staff and parent perceptions of neonatal outreach services across the North West of England: A qualitative study
Get PDFDespite advancements in neonatal care, preterm infants often require extended periods of stay in neonatal units, which can lead to parent-infant separation and increased stress. Supported discharge services may be helpful in reducing separation and stress, but neonatal outreach service provision differs substantially across the UK. This study aimed to map current service models (e.g., intensity, components, staffing) of neonatal outreach service provision to describe variations, to identify barriers and facilitators to delivery, and to explore staff and parents’ perceptions of these services. Qualitative interviews were conducted with staff (n = 15) and parents (n = 10) with experience of neonatal outreach services across the North West of England and analysed thematically. The findings identified variations in service models, and barriers (e.g., commissioning, staffing, resources) and facilitators (e.g., consistency, financial support, documentation) influencing service delivery which are useful in understanding how to improve neonatal outreach services in the future
Isolation and Bioactivity of Siderophores from Streptomyces sp. MA37
Get PDFThe isolation and characterization of bioactive metabolites from Streptomyces species continue to be a vital area of research, given their potential in natural product drug discovery. In this study, we characterize a new siderophore called legonoxamine I together with a known compound, streptimidone, from the talented soil bacterium Streptomyces sp. MA37, using chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic analysis. Legonoxamine I is a new holo-siderophore, which is likely to be a derailed product from the biosynthetic pathway of legonoxamine A. We also demonstrate that legonoxamine A possesses potent anticancer activity (IC50 = 2.2 µM), exhibiting a remarkable ~30-fold increase in potency against MCF-7 ATCC HTB-22 breast cancer cells compared to desferrioxamine B, a structural analogue of legonoxamine A (IC50 = 61.1 µM). Comparing the structural difference between legonoxamine A and desferrioxamine B, it is deduced that the phenylacetyl moiety in legonoxamine A may have contributed significantly to its enhanced potency. Our findings contribute to the growing library of Streptomyces-derived metabolites and underscore the genus’ potential as a promising source of lead compounds
Directed acyclic graphs as conceptual and analytical tools in applied and theoretical epidemiology: advances, setbacks and future possibilities
Get PDFIn this review, we explore the advances, setbacks, and future possibilities of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) as conceptual and analytical tools in applied and theoretical epidemiology. DAGs are literal, theoretical or speculative, and diagrammatic representations of known, uncertain, or unknown data generating mechanisms (and dataset generating processes) in which the causal relationships between variables are determined on the basis of two over-riding principles—"directionality" and "acyclicity". Among the many strengths of DAGs are their transparency, simplicity, flexibility, methodological utility, and epistemological credibility. All these strengths can help applied epidemiological studies better mitigate (and acknowledge) the impact of avoidable (and unavoidable) biases in causal inference analyses based on observational/non-experimental data. They can also strengthen the credibility and utility of theoretical studies that use DAGs to identify and explore hitherto hidden sources of analytical and inferential bias. Nonetheless, and despite their apparent simplicity, the application of DAGs has suffered a number of setbacks due to weaknesses in understanding, practice, and reporting. These include a failure to include all possible (conceivable and inconceivable) unmeasured covariates when developing and specifying DAGs; and weaknesses in the reporting of DAGs containing more than a handful of variables and paths, and where the intended application(s) and rationale(s) involved is necessary for appreciating, evaluating, and exploiting any causal insights they might offer. We proposed two additional principles to address these weaknesses and identify a number of opportunities where DAGs might lead to further advancements: The critical appraisal and synthesis of observational studies; the external validity and portability of causality-informed prediction; the identification of novel sources of bias; and the application of DAG-dataset consistency assessment to resolve pervasive uncertainty in the temporal positioning of time-variant and time-invariant exposures, outcomes, and covariates
Lactate Profiling and the Agreement among various Lactate Threshold Methods in Professional and Youth Soccer Players
Get PDFThe lactate threshold (LT) and the associated running velocities are important markers used to define physical readiness and prescribe exercise intensity in athletes. This study examined blood LT during maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing using four methods: visual inspection, log-to-log transformation, the Dmax method, and the 4 mmol/L fixed blood lactate accumulation (FBLA) method. The participants included 96 soccer players, comprising 52 professional (27.37 ± 5.67 years) and 44 elite youth players (16.20 ± 0.8 years). A total of 554 capillary blood lactate samples were analyzed. Blant-Altman and ICC analyses for running velocities determined using the four LT detection methods demonstrated poor agreement in both groups. Results indicated that the youth players had significantly (p<0.05) higher V̇ O2 max (59.89 ± 5.6 ml .kg-1 .min-1), compared to the professional players, (56.43 ± 4.81 ml .kg-1.min-1). However, the professional players had significantly better running performance and running economy. A two-way ANOVA revealed a main effect of playing standard, with professional players exhibiting significantly higher 4 mmol/L FBLA LT compared to youth players. A mixed-design ANOVA indicated a significant (p<0.01) interaction with the youth exhibiting a higher lactate accumulation only after completing the 18 Km/h stage. Therefore, the youth and professional players should not use the different LT concepts interchangeably. Additionally, the 4-mmol/L FBLA LT method appears to be more robust for youth soccer players
Two Channels of Metal-rich Compact Stellar System Formation: Starbursts under High Ram Pressure versus Tidal Stripping
Get PDFMost galaxies follow a well-defined scaling relation between metallicity and stellar mass; however, some outliers at the low-mass end of the observed galaxy population exhibit unusually high metallicity for their mass. Understanding how these objects get to be so metal-rich is vital for understanding the role of feedback in galaxy formation. Using the TNG50 simulation, we explore the origins of this phenomenon. We identify 227 metal-rich, compact stellar systems (CSSs) that deviate significantly from this scaling relation. These CSSs are satellites located in the vicinity of massive host galaxies, with stellar masses ranging from 108 to 1010 M⊙ (including six systems that are close analogs of the M31–M32 system). Contrary to the previously assumed scenario that such objects are predominantly products of tidal stripping, we find that more often ram pressure plays a major role in their formation. Indeed, 76% (173) of these CSSs are formed through a burst of star formation occurring around the time of the first pericentric passage, typically at redshifts z ≲ 1, aided by strong ram pressure and tidal forces. The high ram pressure, resulting from the CSSs’ rapid motion near the host halo center, facilitates metal enrichment, producing high-metallicity CSSs by confining the metal-rich gas from bursty star formation, which leads to distinct stellar populations characterized by enhanced metallicity and high α-abundance. The other 24% (54) of metal-rich CSSs are generated through the tidal stripping of massive progenitors. Our results further indicate that M32 is more likely to have formed through intense star formation events rather than through gradual tidal stripping
From Real-World Challenges to a Global Code: How the PREPARED Code Was Built
Get PDFThe PREPARED Code is a risk-based, values-driven framework that integrates research ethics and research integrity and is designed for a global audience. Developed over two years, this ambitious initiative required a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort led by an international team. The PREPARED team employed a range of methods to develop the code, including literature searches, scoping reviews, empirical studies, targeted consultations, ethical and legal analyses, and public consultation. This chapter explores the processes and methods used to develop the PREPARED Code, highlighting how real-world challenges in research ethics and research integrity during crises were identified, analysed and validated by stakeholders. It describes how these challenges were aligned with universally recognised moral values and grouped as risks, and how the risks were transformed into a clear, focused and jargon-free code of conduct. It also details the final stages of development, which involved iterative refinement of the code from Version 1 to Version 13, through extensive consultation and review
The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in neurodevelopmental pediatric outcomes in the settings of gestational diabetes and obesity: A comprehensive review
No full textObesity is one of the major concerns of global health. Globally, 6–12% of women with obesity also curse with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Obesity and GDM constitute a major risk to maternal and fetal health with evidence suggesting an association with offspring cardiometabolic risk, respiratory disorders, and neurodevelopmental problems. Fatty acids, specifically polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), play a crucial role in fetal neurodevelopment and during early life stages. In addition to their neurogenesis-promoting properties, PUFAs have anti-apoptotic effects and provide neuroprotection against brain injury and oxidative stress. Some lipid metabolism enzymes have been recognized at synaptic terminals, proving PUFAs play a role in synaptogenesis, locally modulating synaptic transmission. On a cellular level, PUFAs suppress the production of arachidonic-acid-derived eicosanoids which modulate the production of pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines. On a subcellular level, when ingested through the diet, PUFAs are distributed and enriched into cells and their membranes where they impact both metabolism and survival. For instance, mitochondria maintain both cellular homeostasis and calcium concentrations in the cell. Maternal PUFA concentrations during pregnancy are hypothesized to be associated with children’s cognitive and neuropsychiatric outcomes, including intelligence and IQ traits and autism spectrum disorders. Most recent evidence demonstrated a positive association between maternal dietary intake of PUFAs and fetal neurodevelopment. Nevertheless, establishing clear, evidence-based guidelines on the appropriate types, doses, and timing of PUFA supplementation for high-risk pregnancies could improve maternal and pediatric health outcomes
“I didn’t even know any other visually impaired people, I was just on my own”: generative outcomes of football for visually impaired women
No full textIntroduction Men’s blind football has featured at the Paralympic Games since 2004, yet international developments for women are in their infancy. The last few years have seen nations establish representative sides, the inaugural Women’s Blind Football World Championships in 2023, and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) lobby for Paralympic inclusion for the women’s game. Whilst our research, adopting an intra-categorical approach to intersectionality, has examined a range of inequities in the game (Macbeth & Sprake, forthcoming), this presentation concentrates on the “generative outcomes” (Frederick, 2023) experienced by players.
Method Data was generated through a focus group and in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of seven women, with differing sight conditions, all of whom have been involved in England development squads in recent years.
Results Collaborative abductive data analysis led to the development of the following themes: 1) pride and honour of being history-makers; 2) football as a vehicle for wider VI socialisation; 3) learning from the boys in mixed-sex football; 4) football helping prepare for deteriorating sight.
Conclusion Our findings show significant generative potential for VI women participating in football, yet some of the positive outcomes emerge at the “intersections of inequity” (Frederick, 2023, p. 1351) within the game. So, whilst generative outcomes can be empowering for VI women and should be promoted to attract more women and girls to VI football, it is important that they do not gloss over the inequities experienced by some players during this crucial stage in the development of the women’s game