Gender Euphoria: Photography, Fashion, and Gender Nonconformity in The East Village

This thesis investigates the link between art and fashion photography in the work of Peter Hujar and Nan Goldin, both of whom commented on the nature of gender identity. There is an extensive body of fashion-inspired images by both of these East Village photographers that falls into this category. The pictures they produced of gender-nonconforming individuals serve to comment on the restrictive nature of gender identities represented in fashion photography, and also to elevate the status of those pictured to that of fashion models. The unique cultural context of the East Village served as the perfect location for both photographers to explore their interest in gender identity and expression, as the East Village of the 1970s through 1990s was home to a large population of gender-nonconforming individuals. By examining these artists’ work in their cultural context, and comparing it to examples from fashion photography contemporaneous with their photographs, the connection between art and fashion photography is illuminated. Ultimately, this thesis seeks to demonstrate the importance of these photographs in the history of the East Village, and their lasting influence on society

The development and application of audit criteria for assessing knowledge exchange plans in health research grant applications.

Background: Research funders expect evidence of end user engagement and impact plans in research proposals. Drawing upon existing frameworks, we developed audit criteria to help researchers and their institutions assess the knowledge exchange plans of health research proposals. Findings: Criteria clustered around five themes: problem definition; involvement of research users; public and patient engagement; dissemination and implementation; and planning, management and evaluation of knowledge exchange. We applied these to a sample of grant applications from one research institution in the United Kingdom to demonstrate feasibility. Conclusion: Our criteria may be useful as a tool for researcher self-assessment and for research institutions to assess the quality of knowledge exchange plans and identify areas for systematic improvement

Natural history of epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria provides new insights into pathophysiology: A retrospective international study

OBJECTIVE: Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) is integral to the urea cycle, which enables nitrogen wasting and biosynthesis of arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide. Inherited ASL deficiency causes argininosuccinic aciduria, the second most common urea cycle defect and an inherited model of systemic nitric oxide deficiency. Patients present with developmental delay, epilepsy, and movement disorder. Here we aim to characterize epilepsy, a common and neurodebilitating comorbidity in argininosuccinic aciduria. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in seven tertiary metabolic centers in the UK, Italy, and Canada from 2020 to 2022, to assess the phenotype of epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria and correlate it with clinical, biochemical, radiological, and electroencephalographic data. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients, 1-31 years of age, were included. Twenty-two patients (60%) presented with epilepsy. The median age at epilepsy onset was 24 months. Generalized tonic-clonic and focal seizures were most common in early-onset patients, whereas atypical absences were predominant in late-onset patients. Seventeen patients (77%) required antiseizure medications and six (27%) had pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy presented with a severe neurodebilitating disease with higher rates of speech delay (p = .04) and autism spectrum disorders (p = .01) and more frequent arginine supplementation (p = .01) compared to patients without epilepsy. Neonatal seizures were not associated with a higher risk of developing epilepsy. Biomarkers of ureagenesis did not differ between epileptic and non-epileptic patients. Epilepsy onset in early infancy (p = .05) and electroencephalographic background asymmetry (p = .0007) were significant predictors of partially controlled or refractory epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE: Epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria is frequent, polymorphic, and associated with more frequent neurodevelopmental comorbidities. We identified prognostic factors for pharmacoresistance in epilepsy. This study does not support defective ureagenesis as prominent in the pathophysiology of epilepsy but suggests a role of central dopamine deficiency. A role of arginine in epileptogenesis was not supported and warrants further studies to assess the potential arginine neurotoxicity in argininosuccinic aciduria

Evaluation of the implementation of the Single Assessment Process and its impact on occupational therapy practice

Ballinger (2002) stated that the single assessment process for older people presented occupational therapists with the opportunity to examine professional practice. This study, carried out during the early stages of the implementation, surveyed 54 senior I occupational therapists across health and social care within one city with the aim of grasping this opportunity. A 58% return of the total surveyed was achieved. Questionnaires were analysed using basic descriptive data analysis, concept mapping, thematic analysis and organisational model analysis. Themes upon which future improvements and research could be based were then generated. A picture of inconsistency between occupational therapy services emerged. Primary care therapists demonstrated the most client-centred practices, adhering more closely to the process principles and professional standards of practice. Social services therapists provided the lowest response rate and highlighted a number of key practice issues. Time issues, a lack of information technology, and frustration with and resistance to the changes inherent in the implementation indicated some therapists' disengagement with the process. Multidisciplinary team issues were highlighted by therapists working in integrated services. The therapists generated a wide range of strategies with which to improve the implementation of the single assessment process, including a more corporate approach to occupational therapy implementation

The development and application of audit criteria for assessing knowledge exchange plans in health research grant applications

Background: Research funders expect evidence of end user engagement and impact plans in research proposals. Drawing upon existing frameworks, we developed audit criteria to help researchers and their institutions assess the knowledge exchange plans of health research proposals.Findings: Criteria clustered around five themes: problem definition; involvement of research users; public and patient engagement; dissemination and implementation; and planning, management and evaluation of knowledge exchange. We applied these to a sample of grant applications from one research institution in the United Kingdom to demonstrate feasibility. Conclusion: Our criteria may be useful as a tool for researcher self-assessment and for research institutions to assess the quality of knowledge exchange plans and identify areas for systematic improvement.</p

Natural history of epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria provides new insights into pathophysiology: A retrospective international study.

Funder: NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100019256OBJECTIVE: Argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) is integral to the urea cycle, which enables nitrogen wasting and biosynthesis of arginine, a precursor of nitric oxide. Inherited ASL deficiency causes argininosuccinic aciduria, the second most common urea cycle defect and an inherited model of systemic nitric oxide deficiency. Patients present with developmental delay, epilepsy, and movement disorder. Here we aim to characterize epilepsy, a common and neurodebilitating comorbidity in argininosuccinic aciduria. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in seven tertiary metabolic centers in the UK, Italy, and Canada from 2020 to 2022, to assess the phenotype of epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria and correlate it with clinical, biochemical, radiological, and electroencephalographic data. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients, 1-31 years of age, were included. Twenty-two patients (60%) presented with epilepsy. The median age at epilepsy onset was 24 months. Generalized tonic-clonic and focal seizures were most common in early-onset patients, whereas atypical absences were predominant in late-onset patients. Seventeen patients (77%) required antiseizure medications and six (27%) had pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Patients with epilepsy presented with a severe neurodebilitating disease with higher rates of speech delay (p = .04) and autism spectrum disorders (p = .01) and more frequent arginine supplementation (p = .01) compared to patients without epilepsy. Neonatal seizures were not associated with a higher risk of developing epilepsy. Biomarkers of ureagenesis did not differ between epileptic and non-epileptic patients. Epilepsy onset in early infancy (p = .05) and electroencephalographic background asymmetry (p = .0007) were significant predictors of partially controlled or refractory epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE: Epilepsy in argininosuccinic aciduria is frequent, polymorphic, and associated with more frequent neurodevelopmental comorbidities. We identified prognostic factors for pharmacoresistance in epilepsy. This study does not support defective ureagenesis as prominent in the pathophysiology of epilepsy but suggests a role of central dopamine deficiency. A role of arginine in epileptogenesis was not supported and warrants further studies to assess the potential arginine neurotoxicity in argininosuccinic aciduria