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

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

The Craft Hub Journey:Project Catalogue

Introducing the Craft Hub project and the International Exhibition ‘Investigating Craft Practices across Europe’, including its journey across Europe, the artistic curation and set-up methodology for a replicable, accessible and sustainable design, adapting to seven unique exhibition spaces and content. The recurring themes, Heritage, Sustainability, Experimentation, Technological Innovation, Empowerment and Social Inclusion create common threads running through the activities and research carried out by each Craft Hub partner

Validation of the ACE (Albumin, CRP and Endoscopy) Index in Acute Colitis:Analysis of the CONSTRUCT dataset

Background and Aims: In 2020 we reported the ACE Index in Acute Colitis which used biochemical and endoscopic parameters to predict steroid non-response on admission in patients with acute ulcerative colitis (UC). We aimed to validate the ACE Index in an independent cohort.Methods: The validation cohort comprised the patients screened as eligible for inclusion in the CONSTRUCT study, a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled trial which compared the effectiveness of treatment with infliximab versus ciclosporin in patients admitted with acute UC. The CONSTRUCT cohort database was reviewed at The Edinburgh IBD Unit and the same biochemical and endoscopic variables and cut-off values as those in the derivation cohort were applied to the validation cohort.Results: In total, 800 patients were identified. 62.5% (55/88) of patients with a maximum ACE Index of 3 did not respond to IV steroids (positive predictive value (PPV) 62.5%, negative predictive value (NPV) 79.8%). Furthermore, 79.8% (158/198) of patients with an ACE Index of 0 responded to IV steroids (PPV 79.8%, NPV 62.5%). Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis produced an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.663 (p=&lt;0.001).Conclusions: We have now reported and externally validated the ACE Index in Acute Colitis in a combined cohort of over 1000 patients from across the United Kingdom. The ACE Index may be used in conjunction with clinical judgement to help identify patients admitted with active UC who are at high risk of not responding to IV steroids. Further studies are required to improve objectivity and accuracy of assessment.</p

Gaza war:if there’s a lesson from the Berlin airlift it’s that political will is required to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe

The desperate plight of the population of Gaza suggests that in this conflict humanitarian aid has become politicised. In 1948, when there was a clear-cut political consensus in the West that the people of Berlin must be helped in their hour of need, it was possible to mount and sustain such an enormous operation. To do so again with the people of Gaza will take the same political will. It’s not entirely clear, at least not yet, from the leaders of Israel’s western allies, that this political will exists. This is where a lesson can be drawn from Berlin, and it is a scandal that it is taking so long for this to happen