SPARKS: Social and Psychological Aspects of Replacement Knee Surgery - A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Background: Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery is typically performed to alleviate symptoms of severe, advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. TKR surgery has been shown to be an effective treatment to relieve pain and increase functional ability in the affected knee. However, after surgery a substantial subset of patients continue to experience pain, do not demonstrate anticipated functional improvements, and/or are dissatisfied with the outcomes. Recent literature has suggested that psychosocial factors can influence recovery following TKR however, the most influential psychosocial factor has not been identified. A greater understanding of the factors that affect TKR surgery outcomes is needed. Aims: The aims of the current study were: (1) to conduct a systematic review the literature investigating the influence of preoperative psychosocial factors in TKR outcomes; and to (2) investigate the relationship between preoperative psychosocial variables and rehabilitation engagement and TKR outcomes in a sample of Irish patients. Methods: The study adopted a prospective cohort design. Patients were recruited during their pre-surgical assessment. Variables were assessed using self-report measures at two time points: two-six weeks before surgery (Time 1) and six-months after surgery (Time 2). Engagement in rehabilitation was assessed during inpatient physiotherapy. Results: Eighty-two participants were included at Time 1 and 46 were included at Time 2. Mental health, measured at Time 1, contributed significantly to the variance of postoperative patient satisfaction. Unfulfilled expectations, measured at Time 2, contributed significantly to the variance of postoperative pain intensity. These findings suggest that people with lower preoperative mental health and unfulfilled expectations are at risk of poor outcomes after TKR. Thirty-two articles were included in the systematic review. Thirty articles reported significant associations between that preoperative psychosocial factors and TKR outcomes (e.g. pain intensity, functional ability and patient satisfaction). Clinical implications: Preoperative psychological screening may help to identify those in need of preoperative counselling or education regarding the formation of realistic postoperative expectations. This could ultimately improve outcomes and rates of dissatisfied patients

SPARKS: Social and Psychological Aspects of Replacement Knee Surgery - A Prospective Longitudinal Study

Background: Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery is typically performed to alleviate symptoms of severe, advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. TKR surgery has been shown to be an effective treatment to relieve pain and increase functional ability in the affected knee. However, after surgery a substantial subset of patients continue to experience pain, do not demonstrate anticipated functional improvements, and/or are dissatisfied with the outcomes. Recent literature has suggested that psychosocial factors can influence recovery following TKR however, the most influential psychosocial factor has not been identified. A greater understanding of the factors that affect TKR surgery outcomes is needed. Aims: The aims of the current study were: (1) to conduct a systematic review the literature investigating the influence of preoperative psychosocial factors in TKR outcomes; and to (2) investigate the relationship between preoperative psychosocial variables and rehabilitation engagement and TKR outcomes in a sample of Irish patients. Methods: The study adopted a prospective cohort design. Patients were recruited during their pre-surgical assessment. Variables were assessed using self-report measures at two time points: two-six weeks before surgery (Time 1) and six-months after surgery (Time 2). Engagement in rehabilitation was assessed during inpatient physiotherapy. Results: Eighty-two participants were included at Time 1 and 46 were included at Time 2. Mental health, measured at Time 1, contributed significantly to the variance of postoperative patient satisfaction. Unfulfilled expectations, measured at Time 2, contributed significantly to the variance of postoperative pain intensity. These findings suggest that people with lower preoperative mental health and unfulfilled expectations are at risk of poor outcomes after TKR. Thirty-two articles were included in the systematic review. Thirty articles reported significant associations between that preoperative psychosocial factors and TKR outcomes (e.g. pain intensity, functional ability and patient satisfaction). Clinical implications: Preoperative psychological screening may help to identify those in need of preoperative counselling or education regarding the formation of realistic postoperative expectations. This could ultimately improve outcomes and rates of dissatisfied patients

UAS Safety in Non-Segregated Airspace

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are set to become part of everyday air traffic operations perhaps within the next few years; however there are significant challenges that need to be addressed in order to seamlessly introduce UAS into non segregated airspace. This chapter discusses some of the identified safety challenges in achieving this objective in the context of the current regulatory framework. It also takes a look at how one might rigorously argue the safety of UAS operations in non-segregated airspace from an Air Traffic Management (ATM) perspective. The chapter draws upon the experience of the authors’ in the UAS domain, more specifically the lessons learnt from a number of safety assessments for flying UAS as Operational or General Air Traffic (OAT or GAT) inside and outside segregated airspace. Most UAS operations are currently constrained to designated danger areas or within temporary restricted areas of airspace, commonly known as segregated airspace, or are flown under special arrangements over the sea. On some occasions, UAS operations are permitted in an extremely limited environment outside segregated airspace. To exploit fully the unique operational capabilities of current and future UAS and thus realise the potential commercial benefits of UAS, there is a desire to be able to access all classes of airspace and operate across national borders and airspace boundaries. Such operations must be acceptably safe but regulation should not become so inflexible or burdensome that the commercial benefits are lost. The viability of the commercial market for UAS especially in the civil market is heavily dependent on unfettered access to the same airspace as manned civilian operations. Whilst it is essential that UAS demonstrate an equivalent level of safety compared to manned operations the current regulatory framework has evolved around the concept of the pilot-inthe-cockpit. There is a need to develop UAS solutions that assure an equivalent level of safety for UAS operations, which in turn will require adaptation of the current regulatory framework to allow for the concept of the pilot-not-in-the-cockpit without compromising the safety of other airspace users. One of the major issues facing UAS operations is the demonstration of equivalence (in particular for See and Avoid) in the context of an evolving ATM environment. It is very important to understand that the current ATM environment is not static. Achieving equivalence with manned operations is not a fixed target as there are many significant changes proposed that aim to improve operational efficiency and performance or enhance safety. On the whole proposed changes to the ATM environment could be seen Document type: Part of book or chapter of boo

The production of recombinant single chain antibody fragments for the detection of illicit drug residues

Recombinant antibodies represent a more sensitive and specific detection tool for immunoanalysis. The research carried out for this thesis describes the production of genetically-derived single chain antibody fragments to detect illicit drugs. A variety of novel recombinant antibody fragments against morphine-3-glucuronide, a metabolite of heroin has been produced. A monomeric, dimeric and enzyme-labelled scFv were characterised with respect to their binding abilities and cross reactivities. Monomeric scFv was successfully applied to a competitive ELISA format for the detection of morphine residues in saliva. The assay was used to positively identify morphine residues in the saliva of drug addicts attending a rehabilitation clinic. An inhibition assay to detect morphine in saliva was also developed using the BIAcore 3000 instrument, a surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor for detection of biomolecular interactions in ‘real-time’. A novel sol particle lateral flow immunoassay was generated using monomeric and dimeric scFvs for the detection of M3G. Recombinant antibody fragments against tetrahydrocannabinol were isolated from a naive human library by a process known as biopanning. Phage-displayed antibodies have been fully characterised with respect to their binding capabilities and were successfully applied to an immunoassay for the detection of marijuana residues in saliva

The short-term effects of management changes on watertable position and nutrients in shallow groundwater in a harvested peatland forest

This work was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Environmental Protection Agency under the STRIVE program 2007 – 2013.peer-reviewedManagement changes such as drainage, fertilisation, afforestation and harvesting (clearfelling) of forested peatlands influence watertable (WT) position and groundwater concentrations of nutrients. This study investigated the impact of clearfelling of a peatland forest on WT and nutrient concentrations. Three areas were examined: (1) a regenerated riparian peatland buffer (RB) clearfelled four years prior to the present study (2) a recently clearfelled coniferous forest (CF) and (3) a standing, mature coniferous forest (SF), on which no harvesting took place. The WT remained consistently below 0.3 m during the pre-clearfelling period. Results showed there was an almost immediate rise in the WT after clearfelling and a rise to 0.15 m below ground level (bgl) within 10 months of clearfelling. Clearfelling of the forest increased dissolved reactive phosphorus concentrations (from an average of 28–230 μg L−1) in the shallow groundwater, likely caused by leaching from degrading brash mats.Environmental Protection AgencyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and the Marin

Temozolomide sensitivity of malignant glioma cell lines – a systematic review assessing consistencies between in vitro studies

Abstract Background Malignant glioma cell line models are integral to pre-clinical testing of novel potential therapies. Accurate prediction of likely efficacy in the clinic requires that these models are reliable and consistent. We assessed this by examining the reporting of experimental conditions and sensitivity to temozolomide in glioma cells lines. Methods We searched Medline and Embase (Jan 1994-Jan 2021) for studies evaluating the effect of temozolomide monotherapy on cell viability of at least one malignant glioma cell line. Key data items included type of cell lines, temozolomide exposure duration in hours (hr), and cell viability measure (IC50). Results We included 212 studies from 2789 non-duplicate records that reported 248 distinct cell lines. The commonest cell line was U87 (60.4%). Only 10.4% studies used a patient-derived cell line. The proportion of studies not reporting each experimental condition ranged from 8.0–27.4%, including base medium (8.0%), serum supplementation (9.9%) and number of replicates (27.4%). In studies reporting IC50, the median value for U87 at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h was 123.9 μM (IQR 75.3–277.7 μM), 223.1 μM (IQR 92.0–590.1 μM) and 230.0 μM (IQR 34.1–650.0 μM), respectively. The median IC50 at 72 h for patient-derived cell lines was 220 μM (IQR 81.1–800.0 μM). Conclusion Temozolomide sensitivity reported in comparable studies was not consistent between or within malignant glioma cell lines. Drug discovery science performed on these models cannot reliably inform clinical translation. A consensus model of reporting can maximise reproducibility and consistency among in vitro studies

Healthy universities: an example of a whole-system health-promoting setting

The health-promoting settings approach is well established in health promotion, with organisational settings being understood as complex systems able to support human wellbeing and flourishing. Despite the reach and evident importance of higher education as a sector, ‘healthy universities’ has not received high-level international leadership comparable to many other settings programmes. This study explores how the concept of a healthy university is operationalised in two case study universities. Data collection methods included documentary analysis, observation field notes and semi-structured interviews with staff and students. Staff and students understood the characteristics of a healthy university to pertain to management processes relating to communication and to a respectful organisational ethos. Enhancers of health and wellbeing were feeling valued, being listened to, having skilled and supportive line managers and having a positive physical environment. Inhibitors of health and wellbeing were having a sense of powerlessness and a lack of care and concern. The concept of the healthy university has been slow to be adopted in contrast to initiatives such as healthy schools. In addition to challenges relating to lack of theorisation, paucity of evidence and difficulties in capturing the added value of whole-system working, this study suggests that this may be due to both their complex organisational structure and the diverse goals of higher education, which do not automatically privilege health and wellbeing. It also points to the need for a wholeuniversity approach that pays attention to the complex interactions and interconnections between component parts and highlights how the organisation can function effectively as a social system

Identification, utilisation and mapping of novel transcriptome-based markers from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Deep-level second generation sequencing (2GS) technologies are now being applied to non-model species as a viable and favourable alternative to Sanger sequencing. Large-scale SNP discovery was undertaken in blackcurrant (<it>Ribes nigrum </it>L.) using transcriptome-based 2GS 454 sequencing on the parental genotypes of a reference mapping population, to generate large numbers of novel markers for the construction of a high-density linkage map.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over 700,000 reads were produced, from which a total of 7,000 SNPs were found. A subset of polymorphic SNPs was selected to develop a 384-SNP OPA assay using the Illumina BeadXpress platform. Additionally, the data enabled identification of 3,000 novel EST-SSRs. The selected SNPs and SSRs were validated across diverse <it>Ribes </it>germplasm, including mapping populations and other selected <it>Ribes </it>species.</p> <p>SNP-based maps were developed from two blackcurrant mapping populations, incorporating 48% and 27% of assayed SNPs respectively. A relatively high proportion of visually monomorphic SNPs were investigated further by quantitative trait mapping of theta score outputs from BeadStudio analysis, and this enabled additional SNPs to be placed on the two maps.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The use of 2GS technology for the development of markers is superior to previously described methods, in both numbers of markers and biological informativeness of those markers. Whilst the numbers of reads and assembled contigs were comparable to similar sized studies of other non-model species, here a high proportion of novel genes were discovered across a wide range of putative function and localisation. The potential utility of markers developed using the 2GS approach in downstream breeding applications is discussed.</p