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Understanding the lived experiences of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland: A study protocol for a grounded theory approach
No full textBackground/Purpose: As a less survivable cancer, the mortality rates for pancreatic cancer remain high, with some of the worst five-year, global survival rates experienced in Northern Ireland. Despite this, published research on people’s experiences is scarce both locally and globally. As a result, the unique needs of people with pancreatic cancer are poorly understood, but we do know they experience high symptom burden and worse psychological quality of life when compared to people with other cancers. Unsurprisingly, researchers have highlighted the need for more qualitative research with this population.Therefore, this study aims to explore the experiences of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland and develop a theory to explain the process of their journeys from (pre)diagnosis to survivorship or to the end of life.Methods: This study will adopt a QUAL-qual, simultaneous, mixed-method design. The core component is a Glaserian grounded theory methodology, supplemented by an optional Photovoice/participatory photography method. The study will comprise four phases: 1) a systematic review of literature on the psychosocial aspects of pancreatic cancer journeys; 2) in-person interviews with people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; 3) in-person interviews with their care partners; and 4) focus groups with professionals and other stakeholders who have insight into these experiences. Theoretical sampling principles and constant comparative analysis will guide recruitment, data collection, and data analysis until a mature theory has been developed.Results: Data collection will begin February 2025.Conclusions/Implications: Establishing an in-depth understanding of people’s pancreatic cancer journeys and creating a robust theory to capture this will enable us to better understand and anticipate people’s needs when they are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A theory grounded in people’s lived experiences can inform our priorities for future care, service provision, research, and policy. For example, it could contribute to the development of support interventions that will assist people to maintain the best possible quality of life for as long as possible during their pancreatic cancer journey—be that a short-term, terminal illness; treatment journey; or long-term symptom management. <br/
Always available: Capturing and conceptualising youth work in schools for youth vulnerable to exclusion
No full textAnswer the question: First user feedback on a novel Very Short Answer question assessment system
No full textThe qualities of convivial tools and their relevance to music software accessibility
No full textIn this article, a thematic analysis of interviews with twenty visually impaired and blind people working creatively with sound highlights three prevalent gaps that impact access to music software: gaps in technology, education, and information. The authors highlight the pivotal role of online communities of visually impaired and blind (VIB) people in bridging these gaps. The authors argue that it is impossible to fully anticipate how an artefact will be used until it is, in fact, in use, and in order for a digital audio workstation (DAW) to reach its full potential regarding accessibility, it needs to be malleable, responding to the evolving requirements of interdependent communities of visually impaired and blind sound creatives (VIBSCs). Furthermore, the authors provide three guidelines for accessible music software design drawing on notions of convivial tools.<br/
Gender and work–family balance in the time of pandemic: A comparative study of policy and practice in the UK and South Korea
No full textThis article explores gender inequality in work-family balance since the pandemic from a comparative perspective. It examines the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on working mothers in the UK and South Korea, particularly the factors affecting their work-family balance. It also critically analyses work-family balance policies from a gender perspective. While a number of studies have examined work-family balance issues in both countries, there has been little comparative research on working mothers' perceptions of the way childcare/unpaid work is distributed, and few policy comparisons involving the two countries. The findings from surveys conducted in 2020 show that mothers in both countries not only did more unpaid work but encountered challenges in balancing work and family during the pandemic. This article argues that policies must be further developed to promote equal sharing of paid and unpaid work between men and women.</p
The gut microbial system responds to retinal injury and modulates the outcomes by regulating innate immune activation
No full textPURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand how the gut microbial system responds to retinal injury.METHODS: Adult C57BL/6J mice were subjected to retinal laser burns or hypotony-induced retinal detachment (RD). One, 4, and 24 hours later, gut permeability (8 male mice and 8 female mice) was assessed using Evan's blue assay and the expression of ZO-1 in intestinal epithelial cells was examined by immunofluorescence. Circulating immune cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. The feces from control and lasered mice (n = 8) were collected under strict sterile conditions and processed for 16S DNA paired-end sequencing using the Illumina platform. The impact of gut dysbiosis on retinal wound healing was evaluated following treatment with Peros antibiotics (n = 8). Retinal pathologies were examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Retinal laser injury significantly altered gut microbial profiles within 1 hour (β-diversity, multi-response permutation procedure [MRPP], P = 0.05). The abundance of Lignipirellula and Faecalibacterium was 100- and 6.67-fold lower, and the abundance of Akkermansia and Colidextribacter was 3.65- and 17.72-fold higher than non-lasered controls, respectively. Retinal laser burns and RD, not sham surgery, increased gut permeability at 1 hour and 4 hours by 3.82- and 24.76-fold, respectively, disrupted intestinal epithelial ZO-1 expression, accompanied by an increased population of circulating neutrophils and monocytes (P < 0.01) at 1 hour and 4 hours. Antibiotic treatment attenuated laser-/RD-induced gut permeability and the increased neutrophils and monocytes (in RD, P < 0.05). Antibiotic treatment also significantly reduced the severity of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV; P < 0.001) and RD-mediated photoreceptor apoptosis (P < 0.01), and suppressed Gr-1+ neutrophils (CNV, P < 0.001) and Iba-1+ cell infiltration (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: A retina-gut axis exists. Retinal injury induces rapid gut microbial alteration, which in turn modulates innate immune cell activation and regulates the wound healing response.</p
Deep eutectic solvent-based pretreatment for improved cellulose nanofibrils extraction from sugarcane leaf pulp as bioplastic reinforcers
No full textGlobally, 40 % of fossil-based plastics are used in food packaging, most of which are non-biodegradable, contributing to environmental pollution and potential health risks. This study explores the use of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) from sugarcane leaf pulp as a reinforcing agent in biodegradable agar-based bioplastics, offering a sustainable alternative. CNF was extracted via deep eutectic solvents (DES) with three molar ratios of choline chloride and oxalic acid dihydrate (1:1, 1:2, 2:1), followed by surface modification. This study achieved a 61.3 % yield with a 1:1 DES ratio, 86.9 % cellulose content, 45.5 % crystallinity, and a thermal degradation temperature (T dmax) of 334.5 °C. CNF surface modification significantly enhanced the bioplastic's mechanical strength, water resistance, and thermal stability. Additionally, increasing DES-treated CNF concentrations (5 %-25 %) improved bioplastic performance. This optimization not only utilizes agricultural waste but also creates high-quality, eco-friendly bioplastics that align with industrial standards for sustainable packaging solutions. </p
Older patients’ and caregivers’ perceptions of and attitudes to deprescribing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study
No full textDetermination of toxic tropane alkaloids in globally sourced soya, cereals and products using dilute-and-shoot technique coupled with LC-MS/MS
No full textFor the first time, this study reports the content of tropane alkaloids (TAs) in soybean and soymeal samples sourced from 13 different countries, as well as in various cereals (including corn, millet, wheat, and sorghum) and a product (Super Cereals). The analysis was conducted using a fully validated solid-liquid extraction (SLE) with dilute-and-shoot (DnS) method along with a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) triple quadrupole system. The samples were extracted using a solution of acetonitrile and water (60:40) with 1% formic acid. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.10 µg kg−1 and 0.25 µg kg−1 for atropine and scopolamine, respectively. The extraction recovery was at least 80%, and the intra- and inter-day precision (relative standard deviation) were below 15% at 1, 5, and 50 µg kg−1 atropine and scopolamine spiked levels. The validation parameters showed that the method was fit for the purpose of accurate LC-MS/MS quantification of atropine and scopolamine. The SLE with DnS is high-throughput, enabling the extraction of TAs in 2.3 min per sample or at least 60 samples in 140 min. Whereas typical TA extraction methods require lengthy and costly clean-up and concentration steps, the DnS does not require these steps, sophisticated equipment, or an expert operator for execution, which makes it a simpler and straightforward procedure for TA analysis in different grain-based food matrices. Application of the LC-MS/MS method showed that one in 80 millet or corn, 18 in 269 soybeans, 20 in 62 soymeal and 20 in 42 Super Cereals samples had atropine and scopolamine above the maximum level of 1 μg kg−1 set by the EU Commission Regulation. TA contamination in these samples could either be due to the mixing with (visible) or exposure to (invisible) TA-producing plant material. The latter was proven through an exposure experiment, which showed that atropine and scopolamine from Datura stramonium seeds can be transferred to food grains (soybeans) invisibly with prolonged contact.<br/
Facilitators and barriers in Academic-Practice Partnerships (APPs) between Approved Educational Institutions (AEIs) and Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) during pre-registration nursing students’ placements: a systematic review protocol
No full textBackgroundEffective Academic-Practice Partnerships (APPs) between Approved Educational Institutions (AEIs) and practice learning partners are essential for enhancing the integration of the theoretical and practical aspects of nursing education. Recent literature regarding nursing student placements in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) highlights the significance of these partnerships and a need to explore the dynamic partnerships between AEIs and RACFs to better understand their role in improving student experiences and learning outcomes. Despite the recognition of the significance of understanding these APPs, this remains a significant gap in the existing literature.MethodsWe will conduct a systematic review to identify facilitators and barriers to maintaining productive APPs between AEI and RACFs during pre-registration nursing student placements. Our research will involve an electronic literature search within MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and ERIC. Two independent reviewers will screen eligible papers, and a third reviewer will resolve any conflicts based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible studies must have been published in English after 1990, and they should specifically address collaborative efforts between AEIs and RACFs in the context of pre-registration nursing student placements. All studies will be appraised using Caldwell’s Framework. Findings will be extracted using a standardised extraction table, and an in-depth synthesis will be conducted using thematic analysis.DiscussionThis systematic review addresses a gap in the literature by identifying key factors that influence APPs in the context of RACF placements. The findings from this review have the potential to guide improvements in pre-registration nursing education by informing, nurturing, and supporting collaborative relationships between AEIs and RACFs, which promote enriched experiences for nursing students during their RACF placements. The review will also provide both clinical and academic educators with a deeper understanding of what facilitates and hinders collaboration, which will empower them to facilitate effective collaboration and develop their shared capacity in supporting students. Strengthening the partnerships between AEIs and RACFs fosters a shared vision and enhances the quality of pre-registration nursing education, which improves the standard of care for RACF residents.<br/