A social norms approach to changing school children’s perceptions of tobacco usage

Purpose: Over 200,000 young people in the UK embark on a smoking career annually, thus continued effort is required to understand the types of interventions that are most effective in changing perceptions about smoking amongst teenagers. Several authors have proposed the use of Social Norms programmes, where correcting misconceptions of what is considered normal behaviour lead to improved behaviours. There are a limited number of studies showing the effectiveness of such programmes for changing teenagers’ perception of smoking habits, and hence this paper reports on the results from one of the largest Social Norms programmes that used a variety of interventions aimed at improving teenagers’ perceptions of smoking. Design/methodology/approach: A range of interventions was adopted for 57 programmes in Year 9 students, ranging from more passive interventions such as posters and banners to more active interventions such as student apps and enterprise days. Each programme consisted of a baseline survey followed by interventions and a repeat survey to calculate changes in perception. A clustering algorithm was also used to reveal the impact of combinations of interventions. Findings: The study reveals three main findings: (i) the use of social norms is an effective means of changing perceptions (ii) the level of interventions and change in perceptions are positively correlated and (iii) that the most effective combinations of interventions include the use of interactive feedback assemblies, enterprise days, parent and student apps and newsletters to parents. Originality/value: The paper presents results from one of the largest social norm programmes aimed at improving young people’s perceptions and is the first to use clustering methods to reveal the impact of combinations of intervention

Questioning short-term memory and its measurement: why digit span measures long-term associative learning

Traditional accounts of verbal short-term memory explain differences in performance for different types of verbal material by reference to inherent characteristics of the verbal items making up memory sequences. The role of previous experience with sequences of different types is ostensibly controlled for either by deliberate exclusion or by presenting multiple trials constructed from different random permutations

The Change Up Project : using social norming theory with young people to address domestic abuse and promote healthy relationships

This paper presents the findings of a secondary analysis of data collected during a pilot project, Change Up, which used a social norming approach (SNA) to address domestic violence and abuse (DVA) with young people aged 13–14. A SNA is based upon a well-articulated theory of behavior and evidence-based methodology for addressing social justice issues. This reflects a paradigm shift focusing upon strengths and positives, rather than pathologizing behaviours. Adopting a SNA, the Change Up project comprised a baseline survey followed by the intervention (workshop and peer-to-peer campaign), ending with a post-intervention survey. It was delivered in two high schools in a UK city between 2015 and 16. A secondary analysis of the survey data collected during the surveys and qualitative data collected at the end of each workshop was undertaken and this is reported here. Change Up data illustrates that most young people in the sample thought that DVA is unacceptable. There was, however, a gender difference in the norms held about the social acceptability of girls using physical violence against boys (and vice versa). The analysis of Change Up data indicates that a social norming approach to DVA programs aimed at young people can be successful in promoting attitude and behaviour change. It also highlights a continuing need for young people’s education about relationships and gender equality

Peroxiredoxin-1 regulates lipid peroxidation in corneal endothelial cells

Corneal transparency is maintained by a monolayer of corneal endothelial cells. Defects in corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) can be rectified surgically through transplantation. Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is the foremost cause of endothelial dysfunction and the leading indication for transplantation. Increased sensitivity of CEnCs to oxidative stress is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of FECD through increased apoptosis. In part, this is thought to be due to loss of NRF2 expression: a global regulator of oxidative stress. We demonstrate that expression of the redox sensor, peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1) is selectively lost from CEnCs in FECD patient samples. We reveal that expression of PRDX1 is necessary to control the response of CEnCs to agents that cause lipid peroxidation. Iron-dependent lipid peroxidation drives non-apoptotic cell death termed ferroptosis. We establish that the inhibitor of ferroptosis, ferrostatin-1 rescues lipid peroxidation and cell death in CEnCs. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the transcription factor NRF2 similarly regulates lipid peroxidation in CEnCs.National Medical Research Council (NMRC)Published versionThis work was supported by the Singapore National Medical Research Council (NMRC), Clinician Scientist Award (NMRC/CSA-INV/0004/2015). The funding body had no role in study design, nor theanalysis and interpretation of data or the decision to publish

Regenerative capacity of the corneal transition zone for endothelial cell therapy

The corneal endothelium located on the posterior corneal surface is responsible for regulating stromal hydration. This is contributed by a monolayer of corneal endothelial cells (CECs), which are metabolically active in a continuous fluid-coupled efflux of ions from the corneal stroma into the aqueous humor, preventing stromal over-hydration and preserving the orderly arrangement of stromal collagen fibrils, which is essential for corneal transparency. Mature CECs do not have regenerative capacity and cell loss due to aging and diseases results in irreversible stromal edema and a loss of corneal clarity. The current gold standard of treatment for this worldwide blindness caused by corneal endothelial failure is the corneal transplantation using cadaveric donor corneas. The top indication is Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy/degeneration, which represents 39% of all corneal transplants performed. However, the global shortage of transplantable donor corneas has restricted the treatment outcomes, hence instigating a need to research for alternative therapies. One such avenue is the CEC regeneration from endothelial progenitors, which have been identified in the peripheral endothelium and the adjacent transition zone. This review examines the evidence supporting the existence of endothelial progenitors in the posterior limbus and summarizes the existing knowledge on the microanatomy of the transitional zone. We give an overview of the isolation and ex vivo propagation of human endothelial progenitors in the transition zone, and their growth and differentiation capacity to the corneal endothelium. Transplanting these bioengineered constructs into in vivo models of corneal endothelial degeneration will prove the efficacy and viability, and the long-term maintenance of functional endothelium. This will develop a novel regenerative therapy for the management of corneal endothelial diseases.National Medical Research Council (NMRC)Published versionSupported by the Clinician Scientist Award-Senior Investigator Category (JRNMRR163801), National Medical Research Council, Singapore, Singapore

New Art from Manitoba

Essar discusses the figurative vocabulary employed by ten young Manitoba artists. Includes artists' statements and biographical notes

Design procedure for low cost, low mass, direct drive, in-wheel motor drivetrains for electric and hybrid vehicles

Direct drive, in-wheel motors are ideal for electric and hybrid vehicles because the packaging of the drivetrain is so simple, because drivetrain losses are eliminated, and because individual wheel control improves handling and safety. In applications where cost is not a constraint, e.g. solar car racing, direct drive, in-wheel motors are the norm. In-wheel motors are also regularly demonstrated in concept vehicles. However, in-wheel motors are not used for production vehicles because of their high cost and high-unsprung mass. This paper describes a project that addresses these issues through the use of a novel, multiple-airgap, axial-flux, switched-reluctance motor with optimized packaging and low cost electronics. The emphasis of the paper is on how to design the system as a whole

Optimisation of storage and transportation conditions of cultured corneal endothelial cells for cell replacement therapy

As the cornea is one of the most transplanted tissues in the body it has placed a burden on the provision of corneas from cadaveric donors. Corneal endothelial dysfunction is the leading indication for cornea transplant. Therefore, tissue engineering is emerging as an alternative approach to overcome the global shortage of transplant-grade corneas. The propagation and expansion of corneal endothelial cells has been widely reported. However, one obstacle to overcome is the transport and storage of corneal endothelial cells. In this study we investigated whether tissue engineered corneal endothelial cells can be preserved in hypothermic conditions. Human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs) were exposed to various temperatures (4 °C, 23 °C, and 37 °C) in both adherent and suspension storage models. Optimal storage media and storage duration was tested along with post-storage viability. Following storage and subsequent recovery at 37 °C, cell phenotype was assessed by immunofluorescence, gene and protein expression, and proliferative capacity analysis. Functionality was also assessed within a rabbit model of bullous keratopathy. Our data support our hypothesis that functional HCEnCs can be preserved in hypothermic conditions.Published versio

EV drivetrain

Abstract not available

Postnatal periodontal ligament as a novel adult stem cell source for regenerative corneal cell therapy

Corneal opacities are a leading cause of global blindness. They are conventionally treated by the transplantation of donor corneal tissue, which is, restricted by a worldwide donor material shortage and allograft rejection. Autologous adult stem cells with a potential to differentiate into corneal stromal keratocytes (CSKs) could offer a suitable choice of cells for regenerative cell therapy. Postnatal periodontal ligament (PDL) contains a population of adult stem cells, which has a similar embryological origin as CSK, that is cranial neural crest. We harvested PDL cells from young adult teeth extracted because of non‐functional or orthodontic reason and differentiated them towards CSK phenotype using a two‐step protocol with spheroid formation followed by growth factor and cytokine induction in a stromal environment (human amnion stroma and porcine corneal stroma). Our results showed that the PDL‐differentiated CSK‐like cells expressed CSK markers (CD34, ALDH3A1, keratocan, lumican, CHST6, B3GNT7 and Col8A2) and had minimal expression of genes related to fibrosis and other lineages (vasculogenesis, adipogenesis, myogenesis, epitheliogenesis, neurogenesis and hematogenesis). Introduction of PDL spheroids into the stroma of porcine corneas resulted in extensive migration of cells inside the host stroma after 14‐day organ culture. Their quiescent nature and uniform cell distribution resembled to that of mature CSKs inside the native stroma. Our results demonstrated the potential translation of PDL cells for regenerative corneal cell therapy for corneal opacities.NRF (Natl Research Foundation, S’pore)NMRC (Natl Medical Research Council, S’pore)Published versio