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CCTC final report: care leavers' transitions to adulthood in the context of COVID-19
Get PDFThe Care Leavers, COVID-19 and Transitions from Care (CCTC) study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19 (ES/V016245/1). The research explored care leavers’ experience of the pandemic. Analysis of local authority management information system data on over 1300 young people from 10 local authorities and over 60 interviews with young people and professionals informed the study. As part of the study care experienced adults, leaving care workers and operational managers came together to form a Networked Learning Community (NLC). Over a series of sessions the NLC supported the research team to interpret the findings, develop recommendations and tools for practic
A tale of two committees: Newbolt illuminated through the Cox models
Get PDFThe historical moment of Newbolt, and what gives it enduring significance, is that it defined English as the business of the state and the key to the state of the nation. The Committee had an extraordinary brief, which it developed into a remarkable mission to transform ‘English’ from its pitiful place in education oppressed by ‘The Classics’ to the paramount subject charged with the salvation of the nation. Despite the inevitably elitist nature of its members, it argued for an emancipatory model of English to benefit every class of society. How could anything as bureaucratic as a committee produce such an evangelical and missionary manifesto? Almost 70 years later, the Cox committee, used much more subdued language. However, with a Newbolt legacy that had promoted English to the key subject in schooling, Cox set out a vision of English for ages 5-16 with the same emancipatory principles. The Newbolt and Cox Committees have a remarkable affinity that deserves recognition and analysis, beginning with the notion that the committee phenomenon itself is a remarkable historical agent in the history of the subject English
Development and validation of a simple risk model for predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS) in midlife: a cohort study
Get PDFPurpose: To develop and validate a simple risk model for predicting metabolic syndrome in midlife using a prospective cohort data. Design: Prospective cohort study. Participants: A total of 7626 members of the 1958 British birth cohort (individuals born in the first week of March 1958) participated in the biomedical survey at age 45 and have completed information on metabolic syndrome. Methods: Variables utilised were obtained prospectively at birth, 7, 16, 23 and 45 years. Multivariable logistic regression was used to develop a total of ten (10) MetS risk prediction models taking the life course approach. Measures of discrimination and calibration were used to evaluate the performance of the models. A pragmatic criteria developed was used to select one model with the most potential to be useful. The internal validity (overfitting) of the selected model was assessed using bootstrap technique of Stata. Main Outcome Measure: Metabolic syndrome was defined based on the NCEP-ATP III clinical criteria. Results: There is high prevalence of MetS among the cohort members (19.6%), with males having higher risk as compared to females (22.8% vs 16.4%, P < 0.001). Individuals with MetS are more likely to have higher levels of HbA1c and low HDL-cholesterol. Similarly, regarding the individual components of MetS, male cohort members are more likely to have higher levels of glycaemia (HbA1c), BP and serum triglycerides. In contrast, female cohort members have lower levels of HDL-cholesterol and higher levels of waist circumference. Furthermore, a total of ten (10) MetS risk prediction models were developed taking the life course approach. Of these, one model with the most potential to be applied in practical setting was selected. The model has good accuracy (AUROC 0.91 (0.90, 0.92)), is well calibrated (Hosmer-Lemeshow 6.47 (0.595)) and has good internal validity. Conclusion: Early life factors could be included in a risk model to predict MetS in midlife. The developed model has been shown to be accurate and has good internal validity. Therefore, interventions targeting socioeconomic inequality could help in the wider prevention of MetS. However, the validity of the developed model needs to be further established in an external population.</p
A mixed-methods investigation of work identity in waiting staff, and its impact on turnover intention
Get PDFThis study set out to explore the factors which influence work identity construction and turnover intention in waiters. A mixed-methods approach was used. We first conducted a qualitative study into waiters’ work identity, followed by a quantitative survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for analysis. Ability to act ‘authentically’ in the workplace, and relations with intra-group members, emerged as factors that influence work identity construction. An impact of work identity on turnover intention was confirmed. The findings have implications for strategies that could enhance work identity construction amongst waiters and tackle problematic levels of turnover in the industry
Stakeholder perspectives on equity, acceptability and feasibility of the duration and type of supplemental milk for infants under six months with growth faltering: a qualitative evidence synthesis
No full textReview objectives What are the perspectives of stakeholders on equity, acceptability and feasibility with respect to the most effective supplemental milk, and for how long should these should be given infants <6 months with growth faltering. Searches We will conduct comprehensive searches on the following electronic databases for potential studies: CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), MEDLINE (EBSCO), EMBASE (Ovid), APA PsycINFO (EBSCO), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics) and Scopus(Ovid). We will limit the search to peer-reviewed published qualitative or mixed-methods (where the qualitative element of the study is included in the findings) studies published in the English language between January 2000 – June 2022. Study design We will include primary studies that used qualitative study designs such as ethnography, phenomenology, case studies, grounded theory studies and qualitative process evaluations. We will include studies that used both qualitative methods for data collection (e.g. focus group discussions, individual interviews, observation, diaries, document analysis, and open-ended survey questions) and data analysis (e.g. thematic analysis, framework analysis, grounded theory). We will include mixed methods studies where it is possible to extract the qualitative data that were collected and analysed. We will exclude studies that collected data using qualitative methods but did not undertake qualitative analysis (e.g. open-ended survey questions where the response data are analysed using descriptive statistics only). We will exclude studies that did not report an intervention to manage difficulties with breast feeding. We will exclude studies reporting quantitative data only, and grey literature, discussion articles, conference abstracts
Effectiveness of interventions to manage difficulties with breastfeeding for mothers of infants under six months with growth faltering for improving breastfeeding practices and increasing breastmilk intake: a systematic review update
No full textReview objectives In mothers/caregivers of infants <6 months with growth faltering who are experiencing difficulties with breastmilk intake, which interventions to manage difficulties with breastfeeding can improve breastfeeding practices and increase breastmilk intake? Searches Searches will be conducted in three databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. We will limit the search to human studies only and studies published in the English language between December 2018 and December 2021. Study design Inclusion: we will include experimental studies (randomised and non-randomised controlled trials) Exclusion: opinions/commentary, reviews, observational studies, qualitative studies, protocol
Insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation induced by a high-fat diet are attenuated in the absence of hepcidin
No full textIncreased body iron stores and inflammation in adipose tissue have been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the underlying basis of these associations is unclear. To attempt to investigate this, we studied the development of IR and associated inflammation in adipose tissue in the presence of increased body iron stores. Male hepcidin knock-out (Hamp1−/−) mice, which have increased body iron stores, and wild-type (WT) mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 and 24 weeks. Development of IR and metabolic parameters linked to this, insulin signaling in various tissues, and inflammation and iron-related parameters in visceral adipose tissue were studied in these animals. HFD-feeding resulted in impaired glucose tolerance in both genotypes of mice. In response to the HFD for 24 weeks, Hamp1−/− mice gained less body weight and developed less systemic IR than corresponding WT mice. This was associated with less lipid accumulation in the liver and decreased inflammation and lipolysis in the adipose tissue in the knock-out mice, than in the WT animals. Fewer macrophages infiltrated the adipose tissue in the knockout mice than in wild-type mice, with these macrophages exhibiting a predominantly anti-inflammatory (M2-like) phenotype and indirect evidence of a possible lowered intracellular iron content. The absence of hepcidin was thus associated with attenuated inflammation in the adipose tissue and increased whole-body insulin sensitivity, suggesting a role for it in these processes
Ethics as a moral duty: proposing an integrated ethics framework for migration research
Get PDFThis article interrogates the assumptions and moral values underlying social research ethics frameworks and practices applicable to migration studies. Based on a review of forced migration literature and on empirical observations I identify three tiers of research ethics that generally guide ethical conduct in this field: Procedural, relational and reciprocal ethics. I suggest that these tiers are traditionally conceptualised as a hierarchy in which certain ethical demands are considered morally superior to others. Looking at each of the three tiers the article shows that procedural and relational ethics demands are often based on unclear moral values and problematic notions of migrants’ vulnerability. To address this shortcoming, I draw on deontological ethics and on Levinas’ notion of unconditional responsibility to argue that our duty as researchers is based on our particular relationship with our research subjects rather than on their status as migrants. Moving away from a hierarchical understanding of research ethics I then propose an integrated ethics framework that allows researchers to conceptualise and address the various ethical demands in an interconnected and holistic way. This framework presents an original contribution to research ethics discourses and practice in migration studies and other fields of social inquiry with a political and moral ambition such as human rights, social work and childhood studies
Genetically modified metallothionein/cellulose composite material as an efficient and environmentally friendly biosorbent for Cd2+ removal
Get PDFMetallothioneins (MTs) are a class of cysteine-rich metal-binding proteins. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the toxic heavy metal pollutants. In our previous research, the full-length cDNA of MT (Cd specificity) from freshwater crab (Sinopotamon henanense) (ShMT) was cloned and genetically modified to ShMT3 by site-directed mutagenesis to enhance the tolerance for Cd2+, however, it was limited in actual Cd2+ adsorption due to instability. Here, ShMT3-CBM, a novel recombinant fusion protein, was prepared. CBM is a carbohydrate binding module that can specifically bind cellulose while ShMT3 can effectively chelate Cd2+. The biosorbent Cellulose1-ShMT3-CBM was obtained by screening suitable cellulose materials. The selective adsorption experiments showed that Cellulose1-ShMT3-CBM had a preference for Cd2+. In low-concentration Cd2+ solutions, the removal efficiency was >99 %, and the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 15 min. The saturated adsorption capacity of Cellulose1-ShMT3-CBM for Cd2+ is 180.35 ± 4.67 mg/g (Dry Weight). Regeneration experiments showed that adsorption efficiency was maintained after six cycles. The MTT experiment showed that Cellulose1-ShMT3-CBM had low cytotoxicity. Meanwhile, Cellulose1-ShMT3-CBM can preferentially remove Cd2+ in actual water samples and boiler sewage. In this study, an environmentally friendly biosorbent which can adsorb Cd2+ efficiently and quickly was prepared for actual water treatment
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