Implementation issues and barriers for assessing oral health in dependent patients after stroke:A qualitative study

Objectives: To explore implementation issues and potential barriers for assessing oral health in dependent post-stroke patients. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposively identified sample of healthcare service providers who work in two National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in the north of England. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved (n = 30). Data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Results: Six themes were drawn out in this study, which described potential barriers to assessing oral health in post-stroke patients, aspects of oral health that need assessment, streamlining the oral health assessment, input methods for oral health assessment, characteristics of assessors, and how oral care should be planned. Conclusions: Assessment of oral health for post-stroke patients has been viewed as a complex task because of several identified barriers. Several suggestions have been proposed to overcome these barriers, aiming to enable more feasible and effective oral health assessments for post-stroke patients. Clinical Significance: The findings from this study have the potential to contribute to developing oral health measurement instruments that might be more successfully implemented and guide oral care planning for dependent patients after stroke.</p

Generation of a bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei double glycosyltransferase null mutant competent in receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin

The bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei expresses large poly-N-acetyllactosamine (pNAL) chains on complex N-glycans of a subset of glycoproteins. It has been hypothesised that pNAL may be required for receptor-mediated endocytosis. African trypanosomes contain a unique family of glycosyltransferases, the GT67 family. Two of these, TbGT10 and TbGT8, have been shown to be involved in pNAL biosynthesis in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei, raising the possibility that deleting both enzymes simultaneously might abolish pNAL biosynthesis and provide clues to pNAL function and/or essentiality. In this paper, we describe the creation of a TbGT10 null mutant containing a single TbGT8 allele that can be excised upon the addition of rapamycin and, from that, a TbGT10 and TbGT8 double null mutant. These mutants were analysed by lectin blotting, glycopeptide methylation linkage analysis and flow cytometry. The data show that the mutants are defective, but not abrogated, in pNAL synthesis, suggesting that other GT67 family members can compensate to some degree for loss of TbGT10 and TbGT8. Despite there being residual pNAL synthesis in these mutants, certain glycoproteins appear to be particularly affected. These include the lysosomal CBP1B serine carboxypeptidase, cell surface ESAG2 and the ESAG6 subunit of the essential parasite transferrin receptor (TfR). The pNAL deficient TfR in the mutants continued to function normally with respect to protein stability, transferrin binding, receptor mediated endocytosis of transferrin and subcellular localisation. Further the pNAL deficient mutants were as viable as wild type parasites in vitro and in in vivo mouse infection experiments. Although we were able to reproduce the inhibition of transferrin uptake with high concentrations of pNAL structural analogues (N-acetylchito-oligosaccharides), this effect disappeared at lower concentrations that still inhibited tomato lectin uptake, i.e., at concentrations able to outcompete lectin-pNAL binding. Based on these findings, we recommend revision of the pNAL-dependent receptor mediated endocytosis hypothesis.</p

Tensile Behavior of Small Screw Anchors under Cyclic Crack Openings

Small-sized anchors (typically 6 mm [0.24 in.]) are commonly used for nonstructural applications. There has been increasing demand for seismic performance of fastenings for nonstructural applications; however, there have been no 6 mm (0.24 in.) size screw anchors with seismic prequalification for large crack width. This study investigated the feasibility of small-sized screw anchors to perform under tension loading in crack widths of up to 0.8 mm (0.03 in.). Tension tests were conducted in cracked concrete with varying crack widths (0.3, 0.5, and 0.8 mm [0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 in.]) under monotonic, pulsating, and varying crack width load protocol. Based on the findings of this study, 6 mm (0.24 in.) screw anchors exhibited load drop and slip behavior in large crack width during the residual capacity test, even for anchors with a deeper embedment. Finite element analysis was conducted to investigate the feasibility of a larger-sized thread width to perform in 0.8 mm (0.03 in.) crack width.</p

Service Design in Education:A mindset towards Inclusive and Accessible Learning Experiences

This chapter explores the intersection between service design, inclusive design and education emphasising the importance of creating inclusive and learning experiences. It begins by defining the relationship between Universal Design, Inclusive Design and Accessibility and its common goal of creating products, environments and services that cater to a diverse range of users. This is important because in the UK, the Equality Act 2010 legally obliged Further and Higher Education (HE) to provide reasonable adjustments in their approach to service provision to ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities. Lack of awareness and understanding, assumptions and stigma from others can create barriers to learning for people with disabilities. Discussing why inclusive design and service design are important in the realm of education, considering the prevalence of disabilities, the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework is introduced to make learning and teaching more inclusive. The framework focuses on three principles: multiple means of representation, multiple means of expression and multiple means of engagement. Drawing from the authors’ praxis as educators in Further and HE, two case studies are presented exemplifying the integration of UDL principles and the application of service design mindsets and methods. The first case study discusses the adaptation of a module using persona and UDL principles to accommodate diverse learners particularly focusing on the needs of a neurodivergent student. The second case study revolves around the redesign of a service design course to enhance accessibility and accommodate adult learners with various challenges

Resting-state EEG signatures of Alzheimer's disease are driven by periodic but not aperiodic changes

Electroencephalography (EEG) has shown potential for identifying early-stage biomarkers of neurocognitive dysfunction associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). A large body of evidence shows that, compared to healthy controls (HC), AD is associated with power increases in lower EEG frequencies (delta and theta) and decreases in higher frequencies (alpha and beta), together with slowing of the peak alpha frequency. However, the pathophysiological processes underlying these changes remain unclear. For instance, recent studies have shown that apparent shifts in EEG power from high to low frequencies can be driven either by frequency specific periodic power changes or rather by non-oscillatory (aperiodic) changes in the underlying 1/f slope of the power spectrum. Hence, to clarify the mechanism(s) underlying the EEG alterations associated with AD, it is necessary to account for both periodic and aperiodic characteristics of the EEG signal. Across two independent datasets, we examined whether resting-state EEG changes linked to AD reflect true oscillatory (periodic) changes, changes in the aperiodic (non-oscillatory) signal, or a combination of both. We found strong evidence that the alterations are purely periodic in nature, with decreases in oscillatory power at alpha and beta frequencies (AD &lt; HC) leading to lower (alpha + beta) / (delta + theta) power ratios in AD. Aperiodic EEG features did not differ between AD and HC. By replicating the findings in two cohorts, we provide robust evidence for purely oscillatory pathophysiology in AD and against aperiodic EEG changes. We therefore clarify the alterations underlying the neural dynamics in AD and emphasize the robustness of oscillatory AD signatures, which may further be used as potential prognostic or interventional targets in future clinical investigations.</p

The nexus between national and regional reporting of economic news:Evidence from the United Kingdom and Scotland

Broadsheet newspapers are an important source of economic news. Using a unique dataset of more than489,000 articles over the last 20 years, this article asks the question whether newspapers published in Scotland communicate similar economic sentiments as UK-wide newspapers. The findings show that although Scottish and UK newspapers share a positive correlation, this relationship varies over time. There is evidenceof causality running mostly from the United Kingdom to Scotland. The Scottish Referendum 2014 has had animpact on newspaper reporting when there was more uncertainty in the communication. Individual newspapers respond differently during the referendum periods where some newspapers, The Daily Telegraph and Daily Record for instance reacted to the uncertainty rather strongly, whereas local newspapers represented news in a rather surprising positive note

Methylphenidate and Sleep Difficulties in Children and Adolescents With ADHD:Results From the 2-Year Naturalistic Pharmacovigilance ADDUCE Study

Objective: Short-term RCTs have demonstrated that MPH-treatment significantly reduces ADHD-symptoms, but is also associated with adverse events, including sleep problems. However, data on long-term effects of MPH on sleep remain limited.Methods: We performed a 2-year naturalistic prospective pharmacovigilance multicentre study. Participants were recruited into three groups: ADHD patients intending to start MPH-treatment (MPH-group), those not intending to use ADHD-medication (no-MPH-group), and a non-ADHD control-group. Sleep problems were assessed with the Children's-Sleep-Habits-Questionnaire (CSHQ).Results: 1,410 participants were enrolled. Baseline mean CSHQ-total-sleep-scores could be considered clinically significant for the MPH-group and the no-MPH-group, but not for controls. The only group to show a significant increase in any aspect of sleep from baseline to 24-months was the control-group. Comparing the MPH- to the no-MPH-group no differences in total-sleep-score changes were found.Conclusion: Our findings support that sleep-problems are common in ADHD, but don't suggest significant negative long-term effects of MPH on sleep.</p

Tackling TB:How can researchers and cultural institutions benefit each other?

Verdant Works is Dundee's industrial heritage museum, set in a former jute mill near the University of Dundee. Why would they be interested in a biology exhibition? This poster offers a practical, ABCDEF guide to how to plan engagement for mutual benefit