Diversity and vulnerability in Prisons in the context of the Equality Act 2010: the experiences of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME)and Foreign National Prisoners (FNPs) in a Northern Jail

This article details findings from a pilot study that was funded by the universities of Newcastle, Northumbria and Liverpool John Moores. The study was undertaken in an English Northern prison by members of the North East Regional Race Crime and Justice Research Network (NERRCJRN) and was approved by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). The study arose out of concerns by practitioner members of the NERRCJRN that following the passing of the Equality Act (2010) there had been a dilution of focus on ‘race’ equality. The Equality Act (2010) shifted the emphasis from an Equality Duty that was focused on distinct protected characteristics of race, disability, gender to one that is all inclusive. The concern was that the positive focus on 'race' which had been growing in recent years, particularly in prisons, would be compromised. The aims of the pilot project were to explore the experiences of BAME national and Foreign National Prisoners (FNPs) in this prison (which is a Category B adult male prison) to find out how the specific needs of these prisoners are being met and to explore how the prison is responding to and managing prisoner vulnerability in relation to 'race', post the 2010 Ac

The Effect of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Improving Joint Range of Motion in Active Individuals: A Critically Appraised Topic

CLINICAL SCENARIO In all activities that require physical movement, whether in athletics or in other daily tasks, it is important for joints to have adequate range of motion and flexibility. Soft tissue restrictions are very common pathologies in healthcare. Although a decrease in myofascial range of motion can arise from a variety of reasons such as biomechanical deformities, autoimmune diseases, or age, it is often caused by overtraining or musculoskeletal injuries in active populations. Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization techniques are gaining popularity to assist in treating various soft tissue injuries and musculoskeletal pathologies. The belief is that by applying a stimulus to the soft tissue around a joint, it will increase the number of fibroblasts, through localized inflammation, and result in a realignment of collagen fibers2. While some studies have shown positive outcomes of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), there has been limited evidence to determine the efficacy of this modality in improving joint range of motion (ROM)

Development of a Nested PCR Method for Detection of Mycoplasma Bovis in Preserved Milk Samples

A nested PCR method was developed and validated for detection of Mycoplasma bovis in milk samples preserved with bronopol. A previously described, randomly cloned DNA fragment was sequenced. This sequence information was used to develop a set of internal primers for a nested PCR assay. Cationic surfactant purification was used to eliminate milk protein substances that inhibit amplification. Serial diluted seeded milk samples were used to determine a sensitivity of 5.1 CFU equivalents/ml of milk. Specificity of the assay was confirmed testing against 7 other mycoplasma species and 11 other mastitis organisms. A comparison of culture, with blind passage, to the nested PCR reaction was performed on clinical field milk samples from M. bovis affected and M. bovis free herds. The nested PCR method was more sensitive than culture (~5 CFU/ml), specific for M. bovis, effective with preserved milk, and could be completed in less than one day. This may provide a practical, rapid, cost effective procedure to screen for clinical and subclinical M. bovis carriers using routinely obtained preservative-treated milk samples

Long-Term Preservation and Reusability of Open Access Scholar-Led Press Monographs

This brief report outlines some initial findings and challenges identified by the Community-Led Open Publication Infrastructures for Monographs (COPIM) project when looking to archive and preserve open access books produced by small, scholar-led presses. This paper is based on the research conducted by Work Package 7 in COPIM, which has a focus on the preservation and archiving of open access monographs in all their complexity, along with any accompanying materials.&nbsp

Executive (dys)function after stroke: special considerations for behavioral pharmacology

Stroke is a world-wide leading cause of death and long-term disability with concurrent secondary consequences that are largely comprised of mood dysfunction, as well as sensory, motor, and cognitive deficits. This review focuses on the cognitive deficits associated with stroke specific to executive dysfunction (including decision making, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) in humans, non-human primates, and additional animal models. Further, we review some of the cellular and molecular underpinnings of the individual components of executive dysfunction and their neuroanatomical substrates after stroke, with an emphasis on the changes that occur during biogenic monoamine neurotransmission. We concentrate primarily on changes in the catecholaminergic (dopaminergic and noradrenergic) and serotonergic systems at the levels of neurotransmitter synthesis, distribution, re-uptake, and degradation. We also discuss potential secondary stroke-related behavioral deficits (specifically, post-stroke depression as well as drug-abuse potential and addiction) and their relationship with stroke-induced deficits in executive function, an especially important consideration given that the average age of the human stroke population is decreasing. In the final sections, we address pharmacological considerations for the treatment of ischemia and the subsequent functional impairment, as well as current limitations in the field of stroke and executive function research

Executive (dys)function after traumatic brain injury: special considerations for behavioral pharmacology

Executive function is an umbrella term that includes cognitive processes such as decision-making, impulse control, attention, behavioral flexibility, and working memory. Each of these processes depends largely upon monoaminergic (dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic) neurotransmission in the frontal cortex, striatum, and hippocampus, among other brain areas. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces disruptions in monoaminergic signaling along several steps in the neurotransmission process – synthesis, distribution, and breakdown – and in turn, produces long-lasting deficits in several executive function domains. Understanding how TBI alters monoamingeric neurotransmission and executive function will advance basic knowledge of the underlying principles that govern executive function and potentially further treatment of cognitive deficits following such injury. In this review, we examine the influence of TBI on the following measures of executive function – impulsivity, behavioral flexibility, and working memory. We also describe monoaminergic-systems changes following TBI. Given that TBI patients experience alterations in monoaminergic signaling following injury, they may represent a unique population with regard to pharmacotherapy. We conclude this review by discussing some considerations for pharmacotherapy in the field of TBI