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An investigation of the use and delivery of mesenchymal stem cells and their secretome to treat skin wounds
No full textSkin damage can be caused by cuts, burns, abrasions and ulcers. Wound healing is a complex process involving coordination between multiple biological pathways and is classified into four stages: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Chronic wounds such as burn injuries and diabetic foot ulcer are under-appreciated injuries that are prevalent and life-threatening forms that contribute to mortality rates due to high rates of wound infections. Managing chronic wounds presents challenges and development of new therapeutics are required. Stem cells, specifically mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and their conditioned medium (CM) are known for their regenerative ability in skin wounds. However, there has been a need to search for an efficient delivery system for MSCs and its secretome for skin wounds. This thesis focused on using MySkinTM scaffolds as a delivery system for MSCs and MSC CM as these scaffolds were previously used in delivering keratinocytes for burn wounds. Initial experiments focused on an in vitro animal model using murine cells i.e., murine MSCs (ST2) and murine dermal fibroblasts (L929) where the results suggested that MSC CM helps accelerate dermal fibroblast adhesion/spreading, proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the animal model also suggested that it is possible to use culture MSCs on MySkinTM scaffolds and generate MSC CM on the scaffold. Additionally, the results also suggested that it is possible to deliver MSCs and MSC CM onto a wound site. The same set of experiments were conducted using human cells, i.e., human MSCs, dermal fibroblasts and endothelial cells. The results supported the findings from the animal model along with MSC CM supporting angiogenesis. Due to these results, the CM was analyzed for presence of growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and extra cellular matrix (ECM) proteins which may have played a role in observing these results. The experiments suggest that it is possible to use and deliver MSCs and MSC CM using MySkinTM scaffolds and may help accelerate the wound healing process
Sensorimotor Synchronisation and Entrainment in Musical Timekeeping: Metronome Configurations and Preliminary Implications for Music Education
Get PDFTimekeeping whilst playing music is a skill all musicians, especially drummers, require. Following a review of the literature on this subject, this thesis explores methods of measuring timekeeping accuracy of individuals and groups, and offers recommendations for approaches for future training. Using equipment and techniques accessible to musicians and non-musicians alike, the researcher has investigated how individual timekeeping, specifically the measure of Inter-tap Interval (ITI), is influenced by the presence, absence, and reintroduction of metronomes of various designs. The thesis also investigates how the influence of these differing metronome states interact with tempo and with the type of metronome (audio and visual). Similarly, the dynamics of group timekeeping and the interaction (or entrainment) between individuals in the group is also investigated. Participants were asked to report their perception of their individual performances under the different conditions of the experiments. The results show that tempo influenced the accuracy of timekeeping and the presence, absence and reintroduction of the metronome also had effects on accuracy. Individuals thought their timekeeping to be more accurate when the metronome was present and that they performed better as individuals as opposed to being part of a group. Detailed analysis of the results showed that the reintroduction of the metronome proved to have a significant effect on average ITI produced by participants, as did tempo. Metronome type had no significant influence on ITI in an individual or group setting. In the conclusion of the thesis, the author provides recommendations for future assessment and training of musicians in the skill of timekeeping, with respect to the measure of ITI
Pain in Sheep
Get PDF© The Author 2024Pain in sheep can occur for a variety of reasons, including disease, injury, and naturally through parturition. Sheep, as a prey species, do not overtly express pain making it challenging for owners and veterinarians to recognise and thus effectively treat pain. By observing facial expressions, it is possible to recognise and quantify the pain a sheep may be experiencing. This enables the provision of treatment and the prevention of any further suffering. Information © The Author 202
Cultural values and voice as determinants of customers' marketing research cooperation: A fuzzy set perspective
Get PDFFirms and their managers have long been concerned with encouraging customers to take on an active role in their marketing research activities. The critical question for these firms is how to foster collaboration with customers in marketing research to enhance the firm's marketing effectiveness and simultaneously benefit the customers. This study focuses on the role that individuals' cultural values and customer voice potentially play in shaping how customers perceive marketing research cooperation with the firm. We analyzed data from a sample of 270 customers of apparel store brands in an African country. Utilizing fuzzy‐set qualitative comparative analysis, our research reveals that the combinations of antecedent conditions that enhance marketing research cooperation significantly differ from those that impede it. Theoretically and managerially, our study expands the understanding of how marketing research cooperation is contingent upon the combination of customers' cultural values and their voice
Book Review: Inclusivity and Equality in Performance Training: Teaching and Learning for Neuro and Physical Diversity
Get PDFBook ReviewInternally funded
Introduction: Peninsular Identities, Transatlantic Crossings and Iberian Networks
Get PDFThis volume promotes recent and innovative research in different areas of knowledge within the scope of Iberian studies, contributing to the deepening and dissemination of this expanding research area. This book makes available new approaches to the study of Iberian and Ibero-American spaces and cultures, with particular emphasis on Portuguese-Galician, Basque and Catalan identities produced in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and during dictatorship. A considerable number of chapters discuss issues of memory, reflecting the impact of the Historical Memory Law in Spain and its lively discussion in the public sphere. Social mobilization and economic dynamics also play an important role in this volume. In addition, transatlantic contacts with Portuguese and Spanish speaking countries are covered, giving expression to the most recent trends in Iberian studies, which is broadening its scope to exchanges and influences between the Iberian Peninsula and South America and Africa. This volume will be of interest to students, developing and established researchers, and experts in Iberian studies
A Practical Guide to Embedding Commercial Awareness into your Curriculum
Get PDFThis is a draft chapter. The final version is available in [How To Include Employability in the Law School] edited by [Amanda Millmore], published in 2024, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd.
The material cannot be used for any other purpose without further permission of the publisher, and is for private use only.This chapter aims to equip lecturers with the tools they need to embed ‘commercial awareness’ in their teaching. The meaning of commercial awareness is explored and the arguments in favour of students developing this attribute are discussed. The chapter then introduces two examples from the law schools of UK universities where commercial awareness has been embedded. The first example concerns a very practical module which was specifically designed to ensure commercial awareness was at its core. The second example used student and employer partnerships to add commercial awareness to an established module which had a lot of ‘textbook’ learning but little real-world application. The examples provided offer lecturers with step-by-step toolkits to facilitate the creation of their own learning activities which embed commercial awareness. The positive impact of integrating commercial awareness is highlighted using feedback from students who have experienced these modules
Anxiety and depression among adults with haemophilia A: Patient and physician reported symptoms from the real‐world European CHESS II study
No full textThis article is not available on ChesterRepIntroduction: The physical pain and disability affecting many people with haemophilia A (PwHA) are known detractors from psychological wellbeing. While psychosocial support is considered a core tenet of the haemophilia comprehensive care structure, the extent to which mental health challenges are detected and monitored by the individuals treating haematologist remains relatively unexplored.
Aim: To describe prevalence of anxiety and depression in a real‐world cohort of adult PwHA and evaluate the congruence in reporting of anxiety or depression (A/D) between PwHA and their treating physicians.
Methods: Data for PwHA without inhibitors was drawn from the European ‘Cost of Haemophilia: A Socioeconomic Survey II’ (CHESS II) study. Haematologist‐indicated comorbidities of anxiety and depression were unified into a single A/D indicator. The EQ‐5D‐5L health status measure was used to characterise self‐reported A/D, with individuals stratified into two non‐mutually exclusive subgroups based on level of A/D reported (Subgroup A: ‘some’ or above; Subgroup B: ‘moderate’ or above).
Result: Of 381 PwHA with evaluable EQ‐5D‐5L responses, 54% (n = 206) self‐reported at least some A/D (Subgroup A) and 17% (n = 66) reported at least moderate A/D (Subgroup B). Patient‐physician congruence in A/D reporting was 53% and 76% for Subgroups A and B, respectively. Descriptive analysis suggested that individuals with physician‐ and/or self‐reported A/D experienced worse clinical outcomes (bleeding events, joint disease, chronic pain).
Conclusion: While adverse clinical outcomes appear to correlate with A/D, self‐reports of moderate–severe symptoms occasionally lacked formal recognition from treating physicians. Cross‐disciplinary surveillance of mental health issues could improve both psychological and clinical outcomes among PwHA.Funder: Sanofi; FundRef: https://doi.org/10.13039/10.13039/100004339
Funder: BioMarin Pharmaceutical; FundRef: https://doi.org/10.13039/10.13039/10000848
The role of academic developers in initiating, developing, and supporting student-staff partnerships in learning and teaching in higher education: A systematic narrative literature review and a new framework
Get PDFThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal for Academic Development on 24/04/2024, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2024.2338487There has been a rapidly growing interest in student-staff partnerships (SSPs) in learning and teaching in higher education in the last decade and a half. It is timely to synthesise what we have learnt about the role of academic developers (ADs) in initiating, developing, and supporting SSPs in learning and teaching in higher education. We therefore offer a systematic narrative literature review that draws on 35 papers on SSPs published in the International Journal for Academic Development (IJAD). We argue that to reimagine students as actors in and agents of academic development there is a need to step back from the specifics of these projects and discuss the varying roles that ADs may play in championing SSPs. We end by drawing on a selected wider literature to discuss the contextual factors that underpin SSPs and propose a new framework for examining the variety of ways that ADs may initiate, develop, and support SSPs. We hope that this review will stimulate significant conversations between ADs, students and staff that will contribute to a more holistic approach to academic development and will be relevant not only for ADs working on SSPs but for all ADs
From Surviving to Thriving - Leading the Way to Decent Hybrid Workplaces
Get PDFAs we transition out of the pandemic, enjoying more flexible workplaces and worktimes, a bright future seems ahead for employees and employers. However, studies show that job types and industries determine choice, that remuneration policies often favour on-site over remote options, and that increasing the flexibility of working hours can affect the workforce’s well-being. New skills and behaviours are needed in the use of technology and in leadership, and different aspects, compared to before the pandemic, may influence the career choices of the next-generation workforce. In these new circumstances, Business Schools are invited to adapt their curricula and companies might envision an update of their in-company continuous learning and development programmes to allow for these new workplaces and learning scenarios to become more sustainable. This study adopts an abductive approach to literature review which entwines literature and first-hand experience to identify lessons for business schools and beyond. The findings of this piece call for a more serious prioritisation of Decent Work (SDG8) for equal opportunities, equal pay, and well-being
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