The impact of higher education for part-time students

This report discusses the findings of a study undertaken by Birkbeck, University of London and the National Institute for Economic and Social Research, commissioned by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to examine the impact of higher education (HE) on the labour market experiences of graduates who studied part-time and full-time as undergraduates

Mitochondrial Optic Atrophy (OPA) 1 Processing Is Altered in Response to Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury

Perturbation of mitochondrial function and subsequent induction of cell death pathways are key hallmarks in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury, both in animal models and in term infants. Mitoprotective therapies therefore offer a new avenue for intervention for the babies who suffer life-long disabilities as a result of birth asphyxia. Here we show that after oxygen-glucose deprivation in primary neurons or in a mouse model of HI, mitochondrial protein homeostasis is altered, manifesting as a change in mitochondrial morphology and functional impairment. Furthermore we find that the mitochondrial fusion and cristae regulatory protein, OPA1, is aberrantly cleaved to shorter forms. OPA1 cleavage is normally regulated by a balanced action of the proteases Yme1L and Oma1. However, in primary neurons or after HI in vivo, protein expression of YmelL is also reduced, whereas no change is observed in Oma1 expression. Our data strongly suggest that alterations in mitochondria-shaping proteins are an early event in the pathogenesis of neonatal HI injury

Field study of the repellent activity of ‘Lem-ocimum’-treated double bags against the insect pests of stored sorghum, Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, in northern Nigeria

A field study of the efficacy of a novel use of repellent plant material to protect stored sorghum from pest damage was conducted in Kebbi State, Nigeria. A combination of Ocimum basilicum (Sweet basil) and Cymbopogon nardus (Lemongrass) powdered dried leaves (‘Lem-ocimum’) was found to be significantly more repellent to the most common grain pest, Tribolium castaneum, when applied as a water-based paste between the layers of double storage-bags at a dose of 1% w/w (plant powder/grain) than untreated double bags (n = 30, P < 0.001). The efficacy of protecting a given percentage of grain in Lem-ocimum treated double-bags was tested in 120 store-rooms, each of which contained 15–35 × 60 kg single bags of sorghum that initially had moderate levels of beetle infestation (26–50 T. castaneum/bag). After 5 months in storage, the percent change in grain weight and levels of infestation by the two most prevalent pests, T. castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica, inside treated double-bags were significantly lowest in the store-rooms with the highest percentage of all grain (4%) kept in treated double-bags (P < 0.01, n = 120 store-rooms). This result may have been due to the mass fumigation effect of adding 400–900 g Lem-ocimum to each of the store-rooms with 4% treated grain. Only the participant farmers that had stored 4% of their grain in treated double-bags felt the treatment provided significant protection. The findings suggest Lem-ocimum treated double-bags could improve the chances that a proportion of a farmer's grain would be of good enough quality to sell in the market mid-way through the storage season, when the price of grain would earn a good profit

The everyday use of assistive technology by people with dementia and their family carers: a qualitative study

Background: Assistive Technology (AT) has been suggested as a means by which people with dementia can be helped to live independently, while also leading to greater efficiencies in care. However little is known about how AT is being used by people with dementia and their carers in their daily routines. This paper reports on a qualitative study exploring the everyday use of AT by people with dementia and their families. Methods: The research employed a qualitative methodology. Semi structured interviews took place with 39 participants, 13 people with dementia and 26 carers. Key themes were identified using thematic analysis and the constant comparative method. Results: Three categories of AT use in everyday settings were identified; formal AT, accessed via social care services, ‘off the shelf AT' purchased privately, and ‘do it yourself' AT, everyday household products adapted by families to fulfil individual need in the absence of specific devices. Access to AT was driven by carers, with the majority of benefits being experienced by carers. Barriers to use included perceptions about AT cost; dilemmas about the best time to use AT; and a lack of information and support from formal health and social care services about how to access AT, where to source it and when and how it can be used. Conclusions: It has been argued that the ‘mixed economy' landscape, with private AT provision supplementing state provision of AT, is a key feature for the mainstreaming of AT services. Our data suggests that such a mixed economy is indeed taking place, with more participants using ‘off the shelf' and ‘DIY' AT purchased privately rather than via health and social care services. However this system has largely arisen due to an inability of formal care services to meet client needs. Such findings therefore raise questions about just who AT in its current provision is working for and whether a mixed market approach is the most appropriate provider model. Everyday technologies play an important role in supporting families with dementia to continue caring; further research is needed however to determine the most effective and person-centred models for future AT provision

Is composting worm availability the main barrier to large-scale adoption of worm-based organic waste processing technologies?

Organic waste is the largest typology of waste generated globally, which if untreated, can causes environmental pollution and be a public health risk. The worm-based processing of organic waste is known as vermicomposting and is recognized as a sustainable approach for the management of organic waste streams. Although this technology has been around since the 1970s and many different organic wastes have been successfully processed via vermicomposting, this technology has not been widely adopted at national or international levels. This paper explores the hypothesis that the availability of composting worms is the reason for low uptake of this technology. A market analysis of composting worm farm (vermiculture) businesses in two countries (South Africa and India) was undertaken to explore the hypothesis. It was found that the Indian market had the capacity to supply over 70,000 kg of worms per month, whilst for the South Africa market this was 3000 kg. Both markets have the capability to increase production by two-fold or more. Overall, the study concludes that worm supply is not a barrier to the scaling-up of worm-based technologies in either country. Additionally, these countries show the potential to assist development of worm-based systems in neighboring countries through export of composting worms

Development of novel microcarriers for adipose derived stem cell material directed differentiation and expansion

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering are being revolutionised by developments in the field of stem cell science. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are emerging as a desirable tool in regenerative medicine and cell therapy due to their wide ranging differentiation potential, large expansion capacity, and their lack of immune rejection following transplantation. Early in vivo studies have demonstrated therapeutic effects of hMSCs; however to clinically exploit the potential of hMSCs, the adherent cell type must be expanded to therapeutically relevant lot sizes (109 to 1012 cells). Hence now there is a need to develop protocols for stable, controlled in vitro expansion, isolation and preservation of a homogenous population of functionally viable cells. Specifically a practical, clinically safe and scalable system which adheres to current GMP guidelines is required to develop reproducible and cost effective therapeutic products. Here we describe the design, manufacture and characterisation of biofunctionalised hydrogel microcarriers containing ECM derived adhesion peptides and a range of compressive moduli for adipose derived stem cell expansion. Microfluidic devices were employed to produce monodisperse spherical particles which were polymerised in situ. In addition, these microcarriers have tunable characteristics which make them a particularly useful tool for the systematic investigation of cellular responses. Microcarriers modified to contain fibronectin and laminin derived peptides supported ADSC attachment and growth in a concentration dependent manner. ADSCs cultured on peptide modified microcarriers were capable of differentiating into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes, indicating cells cultured on microcarriers maintained multipotency. Substrate compressibility was found to effect ADSC differentiation, corroborating previous literature reports. Bioreactor culture demonstrated successful ADSC expansion with fold increases in cell number far higher than have previously been reported in the literature. High cell seeding densities produced large quantities of viable cells. However, decreasing initial cell seeding density, increased the total fold expansion and reduced cell doubling rates

Respite and connection:Autistic adults' reflections upon nature and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns provided opportunities to engage and reconnect with nature, with many people noting associated benefits to well-being. Research from the pandemic period has largely focused on the way neurotypical or general populations experienced nature; less is known about how autistic people used nature to support well-being during this time. In this qualitative survey study of 127 autistic adults in the United Kingdom, we used reflexive thematic analysis of text box responses to develop two themes: respite in nature and connecting amid widespread disconnection. For some autistic adults during the pandemic, nature provided physical distance from others or from crowded homes, enabling them to use nature to experience relief from stress. In addition, some participants felt more psychologically connected to nature itself during the pandemic, while for others, nature served as a way of connecting with others during a potentially isolating time. These findings have implications for autistic people and their families and carers who may want to seek out nature-based activities to support well-being in the wake of the pandemic