47011 research outputs found
Sort by
Worker-firm screening and the business cycle
Get PDFTo understand the co-movement of vacancies and employment, an equilibrium model with two-sided screening is developed. On one side of the market, both employed and unemployed workers can evaluate multiple job openings simultaneously and decide which ones to apply for. On the other side, firms assess multiple applicants and choose their preferred candidates. This model is calibrated to reflect the U.S. economy. Consistent with data, the model generates significant volatility in vacancies, unemployment, and labor market flows over the business cycle. Moreover, differences in the search behaviors of employed and unemployed workers offer a theoretical explanation for the shift in the Beveridge curve observed after the 2008 recession
Can you escape da Vinci's Curse? A chemistry escape room for skills consolidation
Get PDFWe present the development and evaluation of “da Vinci’s Curse”, a chemistry escape room experience designed to consolidate laboratory skills in a fun and interactive setting. Inspired by the maestro, Leonardo da Vinci, the escape room challenges students to complete a series of puzzles in teams to escape “da Vinci’s Curse”. Guided in their journey by instructional riddles from da Vinci himself, these puzzles focus on practical laboratory techniques including liquid–liquid extraction, acid–base behavior of functional groups, infrared spectroscopy, and thin-layer chromatography. Evaluation of the effectiveness of “da Vinci’s Curse” by a Likert methodology found that student confidence in a range of key laboratory, transferable, and employability skills increased significantly and that students enjoyed the experience of working with others in the laboratory
Male reproductive tract extracellular vesicles display region-specific heterogeneity in mice
Get PDFAs sperm transit the male reproductive tract, they undergo a series of dynamic changes, gaining motility, modifying lipid and protein content and refining their epigenetic composition. Extracellular vesicles are central to this post-testicular maturation and changes in their composition could directly impact male reproductive health, sperm quality and post-fertilisation development. This study aimed to characterise and compare extracellular vesicles isolated from distinct regions of the male reproductive tract. Extracellular vesicles were isolated from adult, male C57BL/6J cauda and caput epididymis (epididymosomes) and seminal vesicle fluid by precipitation and size exclusion chromatography. Isolated vesicles were characterised using nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting and imaging flow cytometry. Epididymosomes and seminal fluid vesicles ranged from 110.26 to 121.26 nm in diameter, had a concentration of 109 to 1010 particles/cm3 and had a typical round, cup-shaped morphology. The size and concentration of extracellular vesicles from the caput were significantly larger than those from the cauda and seminal fluid. Imaging flow cytometry revealed that all isolated extracellular vesicles expressed CD81 and CD9 tetraspanins; however, CD63 was detected only in caput epididymosomes. Furthermore, there were significantly fewer CD9+ vesicles in seminal fluid EVs compared to epididymosomes. Using a range of bulk- and single-vesicle analytical approaches, we show that different regions of the male reproductive tract display distinct vesicle compositional phenotypes. However, additional studies are warranted to define the significance of this heterogeneity, their roles in regulating male reproductive health and the development of their offspring
The influence of physical post-operative rehabilitation interventions to improve upper limb strength in women undergoing breast cancer surgery: A Systematic Review of the literature
No full textBackground: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally. Primary treatment commonly involves surgery to the breast and axilla, which can potentially cause a variety of physical impairments, negatively affecting patients' quality of life. Consequently, effective rehabilitation techniques may help patients recover their physical function following surgery. Therefore, this review aims to identify whether post-operative rehabilitation interventions improve upper limb strength in women following breast cancer surgery and to compare the efficacy of different approaches.Methods: The literature search was completed in October 2023 using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases. Eligible studies included full-text English articles of studies performed in patients who have undergone breast cancer surgery and subsequent post-operative rehabilitation to assess the outcome on upper limb strength.Results: Nine studies were included with 786 women who underwent breast cancer surgery and subsequent post-operative rehabilitation. Six studies were rated as level-I evidence, whilst three studies represented level-II evidence. Five studies reported an increase in upper limb strength following rehabilitation with multimodal therapy and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation. Findings regarding the optimal duration of intervention and the best time to commence rehabilitation following surgery were inconclusive.Conclusion: This review has demonstrated heterogeneous findings regarding the impact of post-operative rehabilitation on upper limb strength. Furthermore, the ideal time point to initiate rehabilitation post-surgery, as well as the appropriate length of intervention needs further investigation. Therefore, additional research is necessary to better inform clinical practice in this area
Loofah-inspired biomimetic scaffold with triaxial anisotropy for spatiotemporally guided cortical-cancellous bone reconstruction
No full textThe ideal critical-sized bone repair scaffold should possess not only osteogenic capacity but also achieve integrated reconstruction of the cortical-cancellous bone structure, adaptation of anisotropic mechanical properties, and biomimetic simulation of comprehensive biological functions of natural bone. However, such comprehensively engineered scaffolds remain scarce. Herein, we developed a multifunctional loofah-inspired biomimetic scaffold. Mineralized hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating enhanced osteoconductivity, while embedded magnesium-based metal-organic frameworks/polyvinyl alcohol (Mg-MOFs/PVA) hydrogel reinforced strength and biofunctionality, enabling integrated cortical-cancellous reconstruction. The loofah-derived hierarchical structure comprises a cortical layer with axially aligned Haversian systems and a cancellous layer featuring radially porous trabecular architecture, thereby recapitulating natural cortical-cancellous bone structure and triaxial anisotropic mechanical properties. In vitro and in vivo evaluations demonstrated spatiotemporal guidance of osteogenesis. Initial sustained release of HAp and Mg-MOFs promoted stem cell recruitment. Subsequently, the spatial architecture formed by the scaffold fibers guided their directional migration, enabling three-dimensional cellular infiltration. Coupled immunomodulation-angiogenesis-osteoinduction synergistically accelerated scaffold-templated mineralization and bone formation. Complete cortical coverage and cortical-cancellous reconstruction were achieved within 12 weeks post-implantation. By integrating structural, mechanical, and biochemical cues from natural bone, this study proposes a novel design strategy for advanced bone regeneration scaffolds
Contrasting Behavioural and Biochemical Characteristics of Normal and Spontaneously α-Synuclein-Deficient Mice Treated With MPTP
Get PDFα-Synuclein is the primary toxic constituent of Lewy bodies, but its exact function under homeostatic conditions remains elusive. To better understand the role of α-synuclein, we compared two C57BL sub-strains: the normal α-synuclein-expressing J6 and the α-synuclein-deficient J6-OlaHSD, for behavioural, dopaminergic and glial integrity in substantia nigra (SN) and caudate putamen (CPu) before and after 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) treatment. After MPTP treatment, J6 mice showed significant weight loss (−7% by Day 10), whereas OlaHSD mice maintained stable body weight. At baseline, J6 mice exhibited 33% higher locomotor activity but 38% more thigmotaxis, and 33% less endurance on the Rotarod test than OlaHSD mice. Loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons was similar in OlaHSD (−40%) and J6 mice (−34%). J6 mice had double the SN GFAP-ir cells of J6-OlaHSD, a difference that was unchanged by MPTP treatment. In the CPu, MPTP increased GFAP-ir cells in both strains, but Iba1-ir cells significantly increased only in MPTP-treated OlaHSD mice, compared to J6 strain. We further compared the biochemical signatures using Raman micro-spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of the freshly cut SN sections showed a greater shift in the α-helix to β-sheet protein conformation ratio in MPTP-induced J6 mice, likely due to the absence of the Snca1 gene in OlaHSD mice. These findings suggest that the absence of α-synuclein plays a subtle role in the behavioural and neurochemical differences but has no significant effect on dopaminergic neurotransmission. It is therefore concluded that the presence of α-synuclein is important for non-dopaminergic behaviours such as anxiety-like behaviours and regulation of body weight. Under toxic challenge, gliosis in the SN and CPu may be regulated by α-synuclein. This study also emphasises the utility of Raman spectroscopy as a potential tool for identifying subtle protein conformation differences in mice with and without Snca1
Influences on parents’ food choices for what children eat at school: a UK qualitative study
Get PDFChildhood obesity is a growing public health concern, leading to school absenteeism, poor academic performance, poor health outcomes and increased morbidity. Given that children consume a significant proportion of their daily calories in school, creating a healthy food environment is a key determinant to battling this obesity crisis. In the UK, 50% of primary school pupils eat packed lunches at school, however only 1% of lunchboxes are thought to meet government nutrition regulations. These regulations are imposed on school-provided lunches; however, no such thing exists for packed lunches. To overcome this, schools have generated their own policies, however, they have been largely unsuccessful due to a lack of consideration for socio-economic, behavioural and cultural factors influencing parental perceptions around food. To create successful school lunch policies, the influences on parental food choices and decision-making must be understood in terms of why they decide to give their child a packed lunch or school lunch, and if a packed lunch what goes in it. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine parents of children at two Nottingham primary schools. Using constructionist thematic analysis, three themes operating across three levels (child, parent and school) were constructed: social influences, structural influences and societal expectations. Parental decision-making was shown to be influenced by various factors, including peer influences and parental reputation, perceived and observed societal norms around discretionary food, family circumstances, the quality of school-provided meals, the need for control over children’s diets and expectations of the schools’ responsibilities
Fast ultraviolet-C photonics: generating and sensing laser pulses on femtosecond timescales
No full textPhotonic devices operating in the ultraviolet UV-C range (100–280 nm) have diverse applications from super-resolution microscopy to optical communications, and their advances promise to unlock new opportunities across science and technology. However, generating and detecting ultrafast light signals in this spectral range remains a major challenge. Here, we report an integrated UV-C source-sensor platform that combines phase-matched second-order processes in nonlinear optical crystals for the efficient generation of femtosecond UV-C laser pulses with a new class of room temperature photodetectors based on two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors. Unexpectedly, these 2D sensors exhibit a linear to super-linear photocurrent response to pulse energy, a highly desirable property, laying the foundation for UV-C-based photonics operating on femtosecond timescales over a wide range of pulse energies and repetition rates. As proof of concept, we demonstrate a free-space communication system
Producing Artisans: Apprenticeship and Skill Training in Colonial India
Get PDFThis article examines the institution of apprenticeship in artisanal production during the second half of British colonial rule in India (1850–1950). It proposes that apprenticeships were used strategically by various types of businesses that employed or trained artisanal labour, ranging from craft industries, technical schools and government enterprises. The article focuses on three strands of apprenticeships. First, it discusses the master-apprentice relationships, which were bound through artisanal rituals, customs and community norms. Second, it discusses the mutation of master-apprentice relationships in artisanal workshops undergoing commercialisation. It highlights the role of debt as a key instrument in binding apprentices to master artisans. Finally, it focuses on the colonial state’s interventions to institute indentured apprenticeships, some of which were legally bound. The article highlights the broader colonial discussion on the institution of apprenticeships, including the Indian versions of it, which were marked by the rigidity of caste and unscientific training methods
Continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery systems in the management of diabetes among individuals with chronic kidney disease on dialysis
Get PDFPurpose of review To describe the current evidence and emerging role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems in the management of diabetes among individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing dialysis.Recent findings Recent studies have shown that CGM provides accurate and clinically useful glucose data in people with advanced CKD requiring dialysis. CGM enables the detection of glycaemic variability and hypoglycaemia patterns that are often missed by traditional monitoring methods, such as capillary blood glucose testing and haemoglobin A1c. While observational studies show benefits, randomised controlled trial data are limited. Early trials and case series suggest that AID, especially fully closed-loop systems, may improve glycaemia in dialysis-dependent individuals with diabetes, though evidence is currently sparse and primarily focused on type 2 diabetes. Several ongoing and planned studies aim to address these knowledge gaps.Summary CGM represents a valuable tool for improving glucose management and safety in people with diabetes and advanced CKD, but barriers to widespread use, such as cost, access, and healthcare provider familiarity, remain significant. AID technologies show promise but require further evaluation in this population. Future research should prioritise long-term outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and patient-reported outcomes to support the integration of these technologies into routine care for this high-risk group
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇