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Young peoples’ experiences of exclusion from school in the political economies of the four UK jurisdictions
No full textThe data in this article were gathered as part of a larger study of school exclusion in the four jurisdictions of the United Kingdom (UK). Key points of investigation involved attempting to understand why there were disproportionately higher official school exclusions in England, in terms of temporary and permanent exclusions, compared to the rest of the UK and an exploration of informal or unofficial forms of exclusionary practices. Education in each jurisdiction of the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) is devolved and there are different legislative and policy arrangements in place. In this paper, we consider young peoples’ experiences of exclusion in what are ultimately different cultural contexts. We were minded that disability needs to be understood within the settings in which it is experienced and is thus cultural, contextual and fluid. Young people were interviewed, and vignettes illustrating experience were constructed and a coding frame was developed. We have presented the outcomes of the analysis organised by individual themes across jurisdictions. Our conclusions suggest that experience may not be as contextually labile as expected, rather that incidence was a more salient factor. Exclusion is not a pleasant experience although it is more common in some settings than others.<br/
Are plant-based meat alternatives the stepping stone to healthier and more sustainable diets? A review of the literature
No full textIn recognition of the impact of current dietary patterns on human and environmental health, dietary shifts towards sustainable diets are considered crucial to adequately feed a growing global population within planetary boundaries. Whilst the composition of sustainable diets varies to account for regional specificity, consensus exists on the need to reduce meat and increase plant protein intakes in sustainable dietary patterns for high-income settings. Due to the high environmental impact resulting from meat production and observational evidence of higher risks of negatives health outcomes associated with excess red and processed meat, a reduction in meat consumption is considered a ‘win-win’ for both people and the planet. However, meat is an important contributor to dietary protein and micronutrient intakes and plays an important sociocultural role, particularly in the UK and Ireland. Whilst a strong evidence-base exists on the environmental and health benefits associated with increased consumption of whole plant foods such as legumes, nuts and seeds, these foods may not address the barriers associated with lower meat diets. Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) are products created to replicate the taste, texture, appearance and functionality of meat and therefore may provide an acceptable means of facilitating the shift to healthy and more sustainable diets. However, less is known about the health and environmental impact of substituting meat with PBMAs. Therefore, this review summarises the literature on the nutritional, health and environmental impact of PBMAs to better understand the role of these products in healthy and sustainable diets for the UK and Ireland.<br/
The impact of data reduction on classical and Bayesian <sup>210</sup>Pb dating models
No full textAccurate dating of sediment layers is vital for deciphering Earth's environmental history. This study addresses the precision and accuracy of lead-210 (210Pb) dating models, a critical tool in sedimentary research for understanding environmental changes. Traditional Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) methods, while widely used, often struggle with accuracy, particularly in complex sedimentation scenarios. We contrast the CRS model with Plum, an advanced Bayesian approach, using simulated 210Pb profiles derived from varied sedimentation processes. Our analysis reveals that even under ideal CRS conditions, the model's precision does not significantly improve with additional data. In the contrary, Plum consistently outperforms CRS in both accuracy and precision, even with limited data inputs. As data volume increases, Plum's performance improves markedly, unlike CRS. The Bayesian framework effectively addresses the complexities overlooked by CRS, demonstrating its superiority in refining sediment chronologies. This paper highlights the importance of incorporating statistical advancements in sediment dating techniques. By applying refined Bayesian methods like Plum, researchers can achieve more reliable sediment chronologies, essential for robust environmental studies and unravelling complex climate histories. Our findings suggest that embracing statistical innovations in geochronology can substantially enhance our understanding of Earth's environmental changes.</p
Consuming grass finished lamb improves blood plasma ω-3 fatty acid response among healthy consumers
No full textBackground and purposeDietary intakes of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) are below what is recommended. Meat from grass finished ruminants contains higher levels of ω-3 PUFAs, particularly, alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3 ω-3). The impact of consuming grass finished lamb meat rich in ω-3 PUFA on blood fatty acid (FA) response in humans is not well established. This study investigated the impact of consuming grass finished lamb on total blood plasma and blood plasma phospholipids (PL) FA and on cardiovascular risk factors, including heart rate, blood pressure (BP), HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and TAG, in humans.MethodsA single blinded, randomised controlled trial was conducted. Two portions of lamb chops and one portion of lamb mince from lambs finished on a grass or concentrate diet were consumed per week by 34 healthy participants for four consecutive weeks. Blood samples were taken at baseline and post-intervention. Approximately ~ 328 mg/100 g of total ω-3 PUFA was present in grass finished lamb portions per week.ResultsGreater levels of ω-3 PUFA, namely C18:3 ω-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 ω-3) and docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5 ω-3), were detected in total blood plasma from participants who consumed grass finished lamb (P < 0.05), while consuming concentrate finished lamb higher levels of linoleic acid (C18:2 ω-6) in plasma PL (P < 0.01). There were no differences of consuming grass or concentrate finished lamb on cardiovascular risk factors.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that ω-3 PUFA from lamb meat finished on grass is reflected in blood ω-3 PUFA response. Grass finished lamb is a useful matrix for increasing intake of ω-3 PUFA into the human body alongside little required change to customary dietary habits.<br/
Educational interventions promoting modifiable lifestyle behaviours for cardiovascular disease in pre-registration nursing students: a scoping review
No full textAimsModifiable lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking and high alcohol consumption are more prevalent among pre-registration nursing students, than the general population. Embedding education on the impact of these risk factors for cardiovascular disease and motivating behaviour change is essential. This scoping review aims to investigate educational interventions promoting healthier lifestyle behaviours for cardiovascular disease prevention within the curriculum for pre-registration nursing students.Methods and resultsThe methodological framework for scoping reviews was used to identify literature on educational interventions for pre-registration nursing students, focusing on smoking, nutrition, physical activity, and alcohol consumption as key modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Following the PRISMA-ScR Checklist, 1631 records were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in 29 records for data extraction and analysis. Interventions varied by region: North America (N = 7), Europe (N = 11), Asia (N = 8), and the Middle East (N = 3). Most studies targeted smoking cessation (N = 11), followed by nutrition (N = 6), alcohol (N = 3), or a combination of these (N = 9). Findings indicate that educational interventions improved knowledge, self-efficacy, and led to behaviour changes, particularly in smoking cessation.ConclusionThere are numerous educational interventions that aim to educate pre-registration nursing students about knowledge of modifiable lifestyle behaviours or supporting detrimental behaviour change in the clinical setting however, most interventions individually address a single behaviour such as smoking. This scoping review identifies that there is a paucity of educational interventions directly focused on cardiovascular disease prevention that encompass all four of the modifiable lifestyle behaviours of smoking, nutrition, physical activity and alcohol consumption in combination for pre-registration nursing students.<br/
Low hand grip strength is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment in older men, including men with probable sarcopenic obesity: results from the Northern Ireland PRIME-COG cohort
No full textIntroduction: The relationship between cognitive impairment and a phenotype comprising low muscle strength coupled with excess adiposity, representative of sarcopenic obesity, is not well defined. The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between low hand grip strength (HGS), representative of “probable sarcopenia,” coupled with obesity, thus representing “probable sarcopenic obesity” and cognitive impairment. Methods: Logistic regression models were implemented between probable sarcopenia and cognitive impairment in older men residing in Northern Ireland within the Prospective Epidemiological Study of Myocardial Infarction (PRIME)-COG cohort, a nested study in the PRIME cohort. In addition, associations across BMI strata were evaluated, including probable sarcopenic obesity (low HGS and BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Models were adjusted for demographics, cardiometabolic disease and risk factors, APOE-ε4, and lifestyle behaviours. Results: Among 792 men (79.1, SD 3.2 years), low HGS was associated with a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) of cognitive impairment (OR 2.14; 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 1.51–3.03, p < 0.001). The risk was broadly consistent across BMI strata, including men with probable sarcopenic obesity (OR 2.36 [95% CI: 0.85–6.35], p = 0.05). The consistent risk across BMI strata was supported by a non-significant interaction between BMI and probable sarcopenia (likelihood ratio test, p = 0.772). Conclusions: Probable sarcopenia, indicated by low HGS, was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in older men, with risk consistent across BMI strata, including men living with probable sarcopenic obesity. Our findings have clinical relevance, suggesting that phenotypes comprising low muscle strength, in the presence of excess adiposity, must not be overlooked and appropriate interventions explored to attenuate physical perturbations which could carry significance towards ameliorating cognitive function in ageing.<br/
A scRNA-seq reference contrasting living and early post-mortem human retina across diverse donor states
No full textBackgroundCurrent human retina studies predominantly utilize post-mortem tissue, and the sample accessibility constraints make the characterization of the living human retina at single-cell resolution a challenge. Although single-nucleus RNA-seq expands the utility of frozen samples, it provides a nuclear-centric view, potentially missing key cytoplasmic information and transient biological processes. Thus, it is important to generate resources directly from living human retinal tissue to complement existing datasets.MethodsWe profiled 106,829 single cells from nine unfrozen human retina samples. Living samples were collected within 10 min of therapeutic enucleation and four postmortem samples were collected within 6 h. After standardized dissociation, single-cell transcriptomes were generated using 10x Genomics 3’ RNA-seq and applied scVI to generate batch-corrected integrated atlas. Major cell types and subtypes were annotated through iterative Leiden clustering, canonical markers. Subsequent analyses included differential expression comparisons between cell states and regulon activity profiling to further characterize cellular identities and regulatory networks. Transcriptional dynamics were assessed using RNA velocity, and cell-cell signaling pathways were inferred with CellChat. Key findings were validated in independent samples from two additional donors (four samples) using the identical workflow.ResultsWe contribute to establishing a reference for retinal cell type proportions and cellular states. Our analysis revealed ELF1-mlCone, a distinct cluster of mlCone photoreceptors identified by distinct transcriptional features. The presence and transcriptional features of this cluster were validated in independent samples. Additionally, by comparing living and post-mortem samples, our study highlights differences in transcriptional dynamics: living tissue preserved coherent RNA velocity streams, enabling clear dynamic state transitions, while post-mortem tissue exhibited disorganized patterns. These findings suggest that using living tissue can improve the capture of active cellular states and transitions.ConclusionsOur atlas provides a single-cell reference contrasting living versus early postmortem human retina, integrating cell type composition, transcriptional diversity, and functional insights. It may serve as a useful resource for retinal research and for understanding aspects of human retinal biology, particularly given its inclusion of living tissue and diverse pathological states.<br/
Effect of simvastatin on postoperative complications in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation during surgery: the Prevention HARP-2 randomised controlled trial
No full textRationale Surgeries that require one-lung ventilation have high rates of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications with associated morbidity and mortality. Statins may limit inflammation involved in the development of these complications.Objectives We tested the hypothesis that perioperative simvastatin use reduces postoperative cardiopulmonary complications, compared with placebo, in surgery requiring one-lung ventilation.Methods Randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial of simvastatin versus placebo in patients undergoing elective oesophagectomy, lobectomy or pneumonectomy at 15 sites throughout the UK. Planned sample size is 452 patients. Participants were randomised to either simvastatin 80 mg or placebo for 4 days preoperatively and up to 7 days postoperatively.Measurements The primary outcome measure was a composite endpoint of the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome, postoperative pulmonary complications, myocardial infarction and/or myocardial ischaemia during the first 7 days postoperatively or until hospital discharge. A modified intention-to-treat analysis excluded patients who did not receive the intervention preoperatively or proceed with the planned surgery.Main results 251 patients were randomised, 126 assigned to simvastatin and 125 to placebo, with 208 included in the modified intention-to-treat population. The trial was stopped early because of futility following recommendations from the data monitoring and ethics committee. The primary outcome occurred in 45/106 patients (42.5%) in the simvastatin group and 39/102 patients (38.2%) in the placebo group (OR 1.19 (95% CI 0.68 to 2.08); p=0.54). Secondary and safety outcomes were similar between the groups.Conclusion In patients undergoing one-lung ventilation, simvastatin did not reduce the incidence of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications.<br/
Advances in peptidomimetics for next-generation therapeutics: strategies, modifications, and applications
No full textOver the past two decades, peptide drug discovery has experienced a remarkable renaissance, with organic chemistry and biotechnology emerging as pivotal tools for developing peptidomimetics that exhibit improved stability, specificity, and bioavailability compared to conventional peptides. This review systematically examines methodologies for modifying peptide backbones to achieve targeted properties, highlighting recent advances facilitated by modern biotechnological innovations for novel molecular transformations. Additionally, the review emphasizes the practical applications of peptides and peptidomimetics, showcasing their successful integration into medicine and pharmacology. This manuscript evaluates achievements and challenges in the field and identifies critical areas for further research. Its overarching aim is to synthesize current knowledge and propose strategic directions for advancing peptide-based therapeutics
Pre-colonial institutions and economic development in Latin America: evidence from a new ethnic homeland dataset
No full textThis paper examines the effects of pre-colonial institutions on economic development in Latin America using historical ethnic homelands as the unit of analysis. We construct a newly digitised and georeferenced map of 257 ethnic homelands. Our results show a strong and positive relationship between pre-colonial institutions and contemporary economic development. Beyond the role of pre-existing institutions, our dataset provides a foundation for future research on long-run development in Latin America.<br/