Promoting school connectedness : planning and evaluating practice in educational settings

D. App. Ed. Psy. ThesisThis thesis explores school connectedness and ways in which this might be promoted. It contains four chapters: a systematic literature review, a critical consideration of research methodology and ethics, an empirical research project and a reflexive chapter, which considers the personal and professional implications of the thesis. Chapter 1: The systematic literature review explores the features of wider-school initiatives which have been suggested to promote school connectedness. Thematic synthesis was used to analyse five key papers, following a detailed process of searching and selecting. The features were grouped into three analytical themes: Practical Features, Features of the Relational Climate and Process Features. A theoretical framework about how school connectedness could be promoted was developed from the findings. This could be argued to begin to address comments within the literature about a research-practice gap in this area. Chapter 2: This chapter includes the rationale for the empirical research question following the systematic literature review. It also details how and why particular decisions were made about the research focus and design. Ethical considerations and the importance of reflexivity within this context are also explored. Chapter 3: The empirical report explores the relationship between school connectedness and staff and students eating lunch together. The project was undertaken in an Alternative Provision setting, where this practice was already in place. A qualitative approach to the research project was adopted. A focus group with staff members and two dyadic interviews with students were transcribed and analysed using a hybrid approach of deductive and inductive Thematic Analysis. The data was analysed using the findings of the Systematic Literature Review, which were constructed to form a theoretical framework about how school connectedness might be promoted. Findings are discussed with regards to the relationship between school connectedness and staff and students eating together. The use of the theoretical framework to evaluate practice and explore how school connectedness might be promoted is also discussed. Chapter 4: This chapter provides a reflective account about the research process and outcomes. It allows a space for consideration about what has changed for me as a result of engaging in this project and how this might shape my future practice and research. It also summarises the implications for further research and wider practice

Increased Risk of Infection and Mortality in Women after Cardiac Surgery Related to Allogeneic Blood Transfusion

Background: Infection and mortality rates are greater in women than in men after cardiac surgery. This study was conducted to assess whether allogeneic blood transfusion could partially account for this gender difference, as transfusion has been associated with immunomodulation. Methods: A cohort study was conducted in 380 patients at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Subjects were adult patients who underwent primary coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, primary valve replacement surgery, or both. Information was collected about blood components transfused, as well as postoperative infection, pulmonary dysfunction, and in-hospital mortality. Results: Women were more likely to receive allogeneic red blood cells (RBCs) or platelets than men (odds ratio [OR] 21.6, 95% CI 3.8, 124.2) and a greater quantity of blood than men. Patients who received allogeneic blood were 4.4 times more likely to develop an infection than those who did not (95% CI 1.5, 13.2). There was a positive linear correlation between number of units of blood received and number of days with fever (p < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (p < 0.001). This was particularly evident in patients who received four or more units of nonleukoreduced blood components. Women had a greater risk of infection (p = 0.005), pulmonary dysfunction (p = 0.005), and mortality (p = 0.007) than men during hospitalization. Conclusions: One reason for the greater mortality in women after cardiac surgery may be the increased likelihood of receiving nonleukoreduced allogeneic RBCs and platelets. Transfusion increased the risk of infection; infection, then, increased the likelihood of pulmonary dysfunction and mortality.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63383/1/jwh.2007.0397.pd

Evolution Of A Higher Intracellular Oxidizing Environment In Caenorhabditis Elegans Under Relaxed Selection

We explored the relationship between relaxed selection, oxidative stress, and spontaneous mutation in a set of mutation-accumulation (MA) lines of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and in their common ancestor. We measured steady-state levels of free radicals and oxidatively damaged guanosine nucleosides in the somatic tissues of five MA lines for which nuclear genome base substitution and GC-TA transversion frequencies are known. The two markers of oxidative stress are highly correlated and are elevated in the MA lines relative to the ancestor; point estimates of the per-generation rate of mutational decay (DM) of these measures of oxidative stress are similar to those reported for fitness-related traits. Conversely, there is no significant relationship between either marker of oxidative stress and the per-generation frequencies of base substitution or GC-TA transversion. Although these results provide no direct evidence for a causative relationship between oxidative damage and base substitution mutations, to the extent that oxidative damage may be weakly mutagenic in the germline, the case for condition-dependent mutation is advanced

Co-Ingestion of Dietary Nitrate and Ascorbic Acid on Nitric Oxide Biomarkers and The Oral Microbiome in Sedentary Hispanic Women

Nitric oxide bioavailability increases following nitrate supplementation wherein oral microbiota facilitate the metabolism and absorption of nitrate. However, few studies have examined if co-ingestion of nitrate with antioxidants can further elevate nitric oxide bioavailability. Moreover, our understanding on how the oral microbiome responds to nitrate supplementation is limited, especially in women. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of ingesting dietary nitrate and ascorbic acid independently and concurrently on markers of nitric oxide bioavailability and oral microbiota species. METHODS: Twelve sedentary women of Hispanic descent (mean ± SD: age 20 ± 1 years; body mass 74 ± 15 kg; height 1.62 ± 0.09 m) consumed nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR), nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (PL), ascorbic acid (AA), and crystal light (CRY) in four conditions: BR combined with AA (BR+AA); BR only (BR+CRY); AA only (PL+AA); and placebo-control (PL+CRY). Supplements were ingested 2.5 hours prior to a resting blood draw and buccal swab sample. Plasma [nitrate] and [nitrite] were analyzed using gas phase chemiluminescence. Buccal swab samples were used for DNA extraction and isolation. DNA was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the V3 - V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Following index PCR, amplicons were pooled and sequenced using the iSeq Illumina NGS sequencer. Reads were clustered into amplicon sequence variants and analyzed for alpha and beta diversity and relative abundance. RESULTS: BR increased plasma [nitrate] (BR+AA: 641 ± 252 vs. BR+CRY: 528 ± 307 vs. PL+AA: 35 ± 10 vs. PL+CRY: 35 ± 12 µM, P \u3c 0.001) and plasma [nitrite] (BR+AA: 710 ± 336 vs. BR+CRY: 578 ± 428 vs. PL+AA: 209 ± 88 vs. PL+CRY: 198 ± 82 nM, P \u3c 0.001) with no differences within BR and PL conditions. Alpha and beta diversity, and the relative abundance of higher and lower taxonomic levels were not significantly different between all conditions (P \u3e 0.05) CONCLUSION: Concurrent nitrate and AA supplementation did not elicit additional increases to nitric oxide compared to nitrate ingestion alone. Acute beetroot juice and ascorbic acid were ineffective at modulating oral microbial composition. Further research is required to understand the impact of supplementation regimen and population on the physiological effects of dietary nitrate

Effects of Co-ingesting Dietary Nitrate and Vitamin C on Nitric Oxide Bioavailability, Blood Pressure, and Cardiovascular Reactivity in Hispanic Females

High blood pressure is a hallmark of chronic disease and is disproportionately prevalent in ethnic minorities. Dietary nitrate has been shown to lower blood pressure via increased nitric oxide (NO), but few studies have examined if combining nitrate with vitamin C (VITC) could have beneficial synergistic effects on blood pressure by augmenting NO, and limited data exist in females. PURPOSE: To investigate if combining nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) with VITC could further augment NO bioavailability and improve blood pressure in Hispanic females compared to BR and VITC ingested alone. METHODS: Eight sedentary Hispanic females participated in four conditions to ingest: 1) BR and VITC (BR+VITC), 2) BR and crystal light (BR+CRY), 3) nitrate-depleted BR and VITC (PL+VITC), and 4) PL and CRY (PL+CRY). A blood draw and blood pressure were obtained at rest, followed by a cardiovascular reactivity test. RESULTS: Plasma nitrate was increased in BR+VITC and BR+CRY compared to PL+VITC and PL+CRY (P0.05). Plasma nitrite was increased in BR+VITC and BR+CRY compared to PL+VITC and PL+CRY (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Co-ingestion of dietary nitrate and VITC increased plasma nitrite compared to BR alone, which could indicate augmented NO bioavailability following BR+VITC; however, there was no impact of nitrate supplementation on markers of cardiovascular health

The effects of acute beetroot juice ingestion on upper and lower body muscular power during weightlifting exercise in men

Nitrate-rich beetroot juice (BR) supplementation improves movements with high-velocity and high-power muscle contractions which may be due to enhanced blood flow, oxygenation and contractile function in type II muscle fibers. The literature has focused predominantly on the effects of BR supplementation running and cycling performance, but its efficacy in resistance exercise, a modality that relies on type II muscle fibers, has limited data. Furthermore, it is unknown how supplementation strategies impact the physiological and ergogenic effects of BR during exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess whether single or multi-day nitrate ingestion will improve performance and muscle oxygenation during resistance exercise. In a double-blind, randomized crossover design, 14 healthy recreationally active men will report to the laboratory for five occasions over a 4-wk period. On the first visit, participants will undergo a 1 repetition-max (1RM) test for back squat and bench press. Subsequently, participants will complete two 4-day experimental trials where they will consume 2 x 70mL doses per day of either nitrate-depleted placebo (PL) or concentrated nitrate-rich BR. On experimental days of each supplementation period (day 1 and 4), subjects will consume 140 mL of their allocated beverage 2.5-h before exercise. On day 2 and 3 of the supplementation period, participants will consume one 70 mL beverage in the morning and one in the evening. On experimental days, participants performed a power protocol, consisting of 2 sets x 2 repetitions of back squats and bench press at 70%1RM followed by repetition-to-failures at 60%1RM. Muscle oxygenation, power and velocity were assessed during exercise using near infrared spectroscopy and a linear transducer, respectively. A subset of data has been collected (n=9) and data collection is ongoing

The effects of acute beetroot juice ingestion on upper and lower body muscular power during weightlifting exercise in men.

Dietary nitrate supplementation, administered per beetroot juice (BR), has been shown to enhance performance while cycling and running. BR has enhanced skeletal muscle contraction and blood flow within type II fibers which are recruited during high-velocity and high-power contractions. However, it is unknown whether BR influences alternative forms of exercise, such as resistance exercise. The purpose of this study is to assess whether BR supplementation influences neuromuscular performance (muscle power and speed), and repetitions-to-failure in healthy, recreationally active men. In a double-blind, randomized crossover design, 14 males will be recruited to complete two 4-day supplementation periods in which they consume 2 x 70mL nitrate-depleted placebo (PL) or nitrate-rich BR per day. Subjects will report to the lab 5 times over a 3-to 4-wk period. Subjects will complete a 1 repetition max (1RM) test and familiarization to the protocol. On experimental days subjects will complete a warm up and then a protocol to assess explosive performance, consisting of 2 sets x 2 repetitions of back squat at 70% 1RM using a cadence that emphasizes an explosive concentric phase. Skeletal muscle oxygenation will be measured using near-infrared spectroscopy and neuromuscular performance will be measured during exercise using a linear transducer. Following a 5-min recovery period, subjects performed 1 set x repetition-to-failure at 60% 1RM to determine muscular endurance. This protocol will be repeated in the bench press exercise. Data was analyzed in a subset of n = 9. There were no significant differences in resistance exercise performance between conditions; however, data collection is ongoing and results are currently underpowered. These data could provide insight for dietary nitrate as an ergogenic aid and inform both supplementation guidelines and recommendations for enhancing resistance training performance in men