A qualitative evaluation of a mentoring reading programme for 9-10 year olds in Northern Ireland

This paper discusses the qualitative evaluation of a mentoring reading programme for 9-10 year olds, which was part of a larger evaluation that used a mixed-methods approach including a Randomised Controlled Trial to determine whether there was evidence of improved outcomes for children participating in the scheme (Miller et al. 2009). The mentoring reading programme started in 1999 with 3 schools and by the time of this evaluation had more than 130 schools involved, with an emphasis on socially deprived areas. The programme consisted of volunteers from businesses in Northern Ireland, who were going one hour a week to schools to read books with children with the aim of improving the children’s reading skills and develop their enjoyment of reading. Each volunteer mentored two children for 30 minutes weekly, and stayed with the same children for the duration of the programme. This type of support scheme is perceived as very timely because the need to improve the children’s opportunities, particularly in socially deprived areas, where conditions are in part exacerbated due to recent historical events

Novel Identification of LYVE-1 Positive Macrophages in Rheumatoid Synovial Tissue

Objective: LYVE-1+ macrophages are observed in a range of cancers, where they play a role in tumour lymphangiogenesis. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lymphangiogenesis increases in the early stage of the disease and decreases as it progresses, potentially exacerbating inflammatory cell persistence. We investigated whether LYVE-1+ macrophages were present in RA synovium. Methods: Synovial tissue from RA patients was obtained at joint replacement surgery and immunohistochemistry was performed to visualise LYVE-1+ and CD68+ cells. Results: LYVE-1+ macrophages were present in rheumatoid synovial tissue, the first observation of this kind. Conclusion: Despite the reduction in lymphangiogenesis in chronic RA, LYVE-1 positive macrophages are present and there is a potential role for macrophages in the generation of lymphatic vessels

Syndecan-3 is selectively pro-inflammatory in the joint and contributes to antigen-induced arthritis in mice

INTRODUCTION: Syndecans are heparan sulphate proteoglycans expressed by endothelial cells. Syndecan-3 is expressed by synovial endothelial cells of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients where it binds chemokines, suggesting a role in leukocyte trafficking. The objective of the current study was to examine the function of syndecan-3 in joint inflammation by genetic deletion in mice and compare with other tissues. METHODS: Chemokine C-X-C ligand 1 (CXCL1) was injected in the joints of syndecan-3-/-and wild-type mice and antigen-induced arthritis performed. For comparison chemokine was administered in the skin and cremaster muscle. Intravital microscopy was performed in the cremaster muscle. RESULTS: Administration of CXCL1 in knee joints of syndecan-3-/-mice resulted in reduced neutrophil accumulation compared to wild type. This was associated with diminished presence of CXCL1 at the luminal surface of synovial endothelial cells where this chemokine clustered and bound to heparan sulphate. Furthermore, in the arthritis model syndecan-3 deletion led to reduced joint swelling, leukocyte accumulation, cartilage degradation and overall disease severity. Conversely, CXCL1 administration in the skin of syndecan-3 null mice provoked increased neutrophil recruitment and was associated with elevated luminal expression of E-selectin by dermal endothelial cells. Similarly in the cremaster, intravital microscopy showed increased numbers of leukocytes adhering and rolling in venules in syndecan-3-/-mice in response to CXCL1 or tumour necrosis factor alpha. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a novel role for syndecan-3 in inflammation. In the joint it is selectively pro-inflammatory, functioning in endothelial chemokine presentation and leukocyte recruitment and cartilage damage in an RA model. Conversely, in skin and cremaster it is anti-inflammatory

Experimental Composite Guidance Conduits for Peripheral Nerve Repair: An Evaluation of Ion Release

Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) - Pluronic F127 - glass composites have demonstrated excellent potential, from the perspective of controlled mechanical properties and cytocompatibility, for peripheral nerve regeneration. In addition to controlling the mechanical properties and cytotoxicity for such composite devices, the glass component may mediate specific responses upon implantation via degradation in the physiological environment and release of constituent elements. However, research focused on quantifying the release levels of such therapeutic ions from these experimental medical devices has been limited. To redress the balance, this paper explores the ion release profiles for Si4+, Ca2+, Na+, Zn 2+, and Ce4+ from experimental composite nerve guidance conduits (CNGC) comprising PLGA (at 12.5, and 20 wt.%), F127 (at 0, 2.5 and 5 wt.%) and various loadings of Si-Ca-Na-Zn-Ce glass (at 20 and 40 wt.%) for incubation periods of up to 28 days. The concentration of each ion, at various time points, was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (Perkin Elmer Optima 3000). It was observed that the Si4+, Na+, Ca2+, Zn2+ release from CNGCs in this study ranged from 0.22 to 6.477 ppm, 2.307 to 3.277 ppm, 40 to 119 ppm, and 45 to 51 ppm, respectively. The Ce 4+ concentrations were under the minimum detection limits for the ICP instrument utilized. The results indicate that the ion release levels may be appropriate to mediate therapeutic effects with respect to peripheral nerve regeneration. The data generated in this paper provides requisite evidence to optimize composition for pre-clinical evaluation of the experimental composite. © 2012 Elsevier B.V

Adolescent Overweight and Obesity in Ireland—Trends and Sociodemographic Associations Between 1990 and 2020

Background: Overweight and obesity in adolescence is a growing issue and can have a range of both short- and long-term consequences on health. Objectives: To analyse trends in adolescent weight status in Ireland across a 30-year period and to examine the influence of sociodemographic factors on overweight/obesity in Irish adolescents over time. Methods: Body composition and body mass index weight status of Irish adolescents were compared using data from three nationally representative, cross-sectional Irish national food consumption surveys from 1990, 2006 and 2020. Adjusted analysis of associations between socio-demographic factors with the risk of adolescent overweight/obesity at each time point were examined. Results: The prevalence of Irish adolescents with overweight/obesity has increased significantly in recent years, with 24% of adolescents living with overweight/obesity in 2020 compared to 18% in 2006 and 13% in 1990 (p \u3c 0.001). Of note is a substantial increase in the prevalence of obesity, with 8% of adolescents living with obesity in 2020 compared to 3% in 2006 and 0.5% in 1990 (p \u3c 0.001). A lower affluence social class was associated with 3.95 increased odds of adolescent overweight/obesity (95%CI 2.06-7.61) (p \u3c 0.001) in 2020 only, with 41% of adolescents from the lowest affluence social class affected by overweight/obesity. Parental education level was inversely associated with the risk of adolescent overweight/obesity in 2006 and 2020, with a stronger effect in 2020. Conclusion: There is an increasing prevalence of adolescents living with overweight/obesity in Ireland, with evidence of a growing socioeconomic gradient of overweight/obesity where adolescents affected by socioeconomic disadvantage are most at risk

Determining the Food Choice Motivations of Irish Teens and Their Association with Dietary Intakes, Using the Food Choice Questionnaire

During adolescence, teens start making their own food choices. While health and nutrition are important, practical and social concerns are also influential. This study aims to determine factors that motivate the food choices of Irish teens (using Food Choice Questionnaire), using data from the National Teens\u27 Food Survey II (N = 428, 50% male, 13-18 years), and to identify how these motivations relate to dietary intakes (4-day semi-weighed food diaries). Data analysis used PCA to determine the food choice motivation subscales, and correlation and comparative statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA). Eight motivating factors were identified for Irish teens: Sensory Appeal, Price & Availability, Health & Natural Content, Familiarity, Ease of Preparation, Mood, Weight Control, and Ethical Concerns. Health and practical aspects to food choice (Price, Availability, Ease of Preparation) are important for teens, but taste (Sensory Appeal) remains a key influence. Food choice motivations vary by sex and by age, BMI status and weight perception, where girls were more motivated by health, weight control, mood and ethical concerns, and older teens were more influenced by mood and ease of preparation. Both those classified as overweight and those who perceived they were overweight were motivated more by weight control and mood for their food choices, whereas those who perceived their weight to be correct placed more importance on health and natural content. Those motivated by weight control had lower energy and higher protein intakes, and those motivated by health and natural content had more health promoting behaviours, with higher physical activity, lower screen time, and higher protein intakes. Understanding the motivations of teens\u27 food choice can help understand why they struggle to meet dietary recommendations, and help to develop more effective health promotion messages by capitalising on the key motivations in the population

Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Reduce Disease Severity and Immune Responses in Inflammatory Arthritis

Abstract Background Novel biological therapies have revolutionised the management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) but no cure currently exists. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) immunomodulate inflammatory responses through paracrine signalling via growth factors, cytokines, chemokines and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the cell secretome; however, MSCs are still not available in the clinic. We evaluated the therapeutic potential of MSCs-derived EVs in an antigen-induced model of arthritis (AIA). Methods EVs isolated from MSCs in normal (21% O 2 , 5% CO 2 ) or hypoxic (2% O 2 , 5% CO 2 ) culture or from MSCs pre-conditioned with a pro-inflammatory cytokine cocktail were applied into the AIA model. Disease pathology was assessed 3 days post arthritis induction through histopathological analysis of knee joints. Spleens and lymph nodes were collected and assessed for T cell polarisation within the immune response to AIA. Activated naïve CD4+ T cells from spleens of healthy mice were cultured with EVs or MSCs to assess deactivation capabilities. Results All EV treatments significantly reduced knee-joint swelling and histopathological signs of AIA with enhanced responses to normoxic and pro-inflammatory primed EVs. Polarisation of T cells towards CD4+ helper cells expressing IL17a (Th17) was reduced when EV treatments from MSCs cultured in hypoxia or pro-inflammatory priming conditions were applied. Conclusions Hypoxically cultured EVs present a priming methodology that is as effective in reducing swelling, IL-17a expression, Th17 polarisation and T cell proliferation as pro-inflammatory priming. EVs present an effective novel technology for cell-free therapeutic translation in treating inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disorders such as RA

Coordinating Unions, Wages and Employment

In this paper we consider a two-sector economy in which individual unions are affiliated into a federation of unions. We analyze the consequences of two different types of wage setting. Firstly, individual unions set wages in their own sector without taking into account the effect of their wages on the employment level in the other sector. There may be positive as well as negative externalities. A positive (negative) externality may exist if a higher (lower) wage in one sector implies a higher level of employment in the other sector. Both cases may occur in our model. Secondly, wages in the two sectors are set by the federation of unions. We show that in this case higher (lower) wages result than in the first case if a positive (negative) externality exists

Valence band modification of Cr2O3 by Ni-doping: creating a high figure of merit p-type TCO

p-Type transparent conductors and semiconductors still suffer from remarkably low performance compared to their more widespread n-type counterparts, despite extensive investigation into their development. In this contribution, we present a comparative study on the defect chemistry of potential p-type transparent conducting oxides Mg-doped and Ni-doped Cr 2 O 3 . Conductivities as high as 28 S cm -1 were achieved by Ni-doping. By benchmarking crystallography and spectroscopy characterization against density functional theory calculations, we show that the incorporation of Ni into Cr 2 O 3 contributes to the composition of the valence band, making the formed holes more delocalized, while Mg states do not interact with the valence band in Mg-doped Cr 2 O 3 . Furthermore, it is experimentally proven that Ni has a higher solubility in Cr 2 O 3 than Mg, at least in the highly non-thermodynamic deposition conditions used for these experiments, which directly translates into a higher acceptor concentration. The combination of these two effects means that Ni is a more effective acceptor in Cr 2 O 3 than Mg and explains the improved conductivity observed for the former