Working with LGBTQIA+ youth in the child welfare system:Perspectives from youth and professionals

Written through a constant exchange between LGBTQIA+ young people, researchers, professionals and foster families, this book offers a valuable tool to improve the practice with LGBTQIA+ youth at a personal, organizational, and policy level.This book shows the powerful influence of relationships and networks for the LGBTQIA+ young person growing up in child protection and welfare systems. LGBTQIA+ youth need meaningful connections with individuals within their communities in order to be able to heal, learn, and be authentically themselves.Child welfare professionals have a crucial role in creating these connections and cultivating supportive environments, free of additional trauma, where LGBTQIA+ young people can feel valued and loved

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Envelope Protein Gp120 Induces Proliferation but Not Apoptosis in Osteoblasts at Physiologic Concentrations

Patients with HIV infection have decreased numbers of osteoblasts, decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of fracture compared to uninfected patients; however, the molecular mechanisms behind these associations remain unclear. We questioned whether Gp120, a component of the envelope protein of HIV capable of inducing apoptosis in many cell types, is able to induce cell death in bone-forming osteoblasts. We show that treatment of immortalized osteoblast-like cells and primary human osteoblasts with exogenous Gp120 in vitro at physiologic concentrations does not result in apoptosis. Instead, in the osteoblast-like U2OS cell line, cells expressing CXCR4, a receptor for Gp120, had increased proliferation when treated with Gp120 compared to control (P<0.05), which was inhibited by pretreatment with a CXCR4 inhibitor and a G-protein inhibitor. This suggests that Gp120 is not an inducer of apoptosis in human osteoblasts and likely does not directly contribute to osteoporosis in infected patients by this mechanism

31st Annual Meeting and Associated Programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC 2016) : part two

Background The immunological escape of tumors represents one of the main ob- stacles to the treatment of malignancies. The blockade of PD-1 or CTLA-4 receptors represented a milestone in the history of immunotherapy. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors seem to be effective in specific cohorts of patients. It has been proposed that their efficacy relies on the presence of an immunological response. Thus, we hypothesized that disruption of the PD-L1/PD-1 axis would synergize with our oncolytic vaccine platform PeptiCRAd. Methods We used murine B16OVA in vivo tumor models and flow cytometry analysis to investigate the immunological background. Results First, we found that high-burden B16OVA tumors were refractory to combination immunotherapy. However, with a more aggressive schedule, tumors with a lower burden were more susceptible to the combination of PeptiCRAd and PD-L1 blockade. The therapy signifi- cantly increased the median survival of mice (Fig. 7). Interestingly, the reduced growth of contralaterally injected B16F10 cells sug- gested the presence of a long lasting immunological memory also against non-targeted antigens. Concerning the functional state of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), we found that all the immune therapies would enhance the percentage of activated (PD-1pos TIM- 3neg) T lymphocytes and reduce the amount of exhausted (PD-1pos TIM-3pos) cells compared to placebo. As expected, we found that PeptiCRAd monotherapy could increase the number of antigen spe- cific CD8+ T cells compared to other treatments. However, only the combination with PD-L1 blockade could significantly increase the ra- tio between activated and exhausted pentamer positive cells (p= 0.0058), suggesting that by disrupting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis we could decrease the amount of dysfunctional antigen specific T cells. We ob- served that the anatomical location deeply influenced the state of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. In fact, TIM-3 expression was in- creased by 2 fold on TILs compared to splenic and lymphoid T cells. In the CD8+ compartment, the expression of PD-1 on the surface seemed to be restricted to the tumor micro-environment, while CD4 + T cells had a high expression of PD-1 also in lymphoid organs. Interestingly, we found that the levels of PD-1 were significantly higher on CD8+ T cells than on CD4+ T cells into the tumor micro- environment (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In conclusion, we demonstrated that the efficacy of immune check- point inhibitors might be strongly enhanced by their combination with cancer vaccines. PeptiCRAd was able to increase the number of antigen-specific T cells and PD-L1 blockade prevented their exhaus- tion, resulting in long-lasting immunological memory and increased median survival

Truth, Consequences and Reform: Rethinking Adoption in the 21st Century

Rethinking adoption in the 21st century requires that all of us--adopted people, birth parents, adoptive parents, researchers, practitioners and policy makers--consider all possibilities, even those which might make us feel uncomfortable. The truth, the consequences of that “truth,” and the need for reform will all be explored during this presentation. The conversation will continue during the panel discussion with colleagues who are most affected by these experiences and also, hopefully, by the other workshop presenters and participants throughout the course of this conference

The electronic and optical properties of magnetic quantum dots

Advances in lithographic technology have made it possible to fabricate systems in which electrons are confined magnetically. With an inhomogeneous circularly symmetric magnetic field, Bz, that was modulated so as the magnetic field was zero in the centre, electrons could, theoretically, be confined to a disk region. These systems are referred to as magnetic quantum dots, and the purpose of this thesis is to investigate their properties.;The eigenstates of the single electron system are calculated using new methods based on wave function matching. These enable the eigenstates to be determined for all values of Bz. Exact numerical diagonalisation is used to calculate the N-electron eigenstates, and new procedures are derived to evaluate the Coulomb matrix elements. It is shown that a dot is able to confide interacting electrons, and is therefore stable. Numerical results for GaAs and InSb dots indicate the existence of a stability boundary as a function of the dot radius and Bz. The form of this boundary is investigated and an analytic expression for it is obtained. The stability of the system is enhanced in a homogeneous external magnetic field, Bext. Results are also presented for the electron density, the pair distribution, and the pair correlation function.;The response of GaAs and InSb dots to far infrared radiation (FIR) is investigated as a function of Bz and Bext. The FIR response of the one and two electron systems are dissimilar, and this is shown to be a consequence of the interaction. Results for an InSb system with two electrons show a large splitting of the spectrum. This is investigated and an explanation is given. As a function of Bext, the single electron FIR response is similar to that of an electrostatic quantum dot in a magnetic field. The FIR spectrum of the equivalent two electron system is shown to have a rich structure, which should be experimentally verifiable

A rapid review of evaluated interventions to inform the development of a resource to support the resilience of care home nurses

Abstract Backgound Nurses working in care homes face significant challenges that are unique to that context. The importance of effective resilience building interventions as a strategy to enable recovery and growth in these times of uncertainty have been advocated. The aim of this rapid review was to inform the development of a resource to support the resilience of care home nurses. We explored existing empirical evidence as to the efficacy of resilience building interventions. undertaken with nurses. Methods We undertook a rapid review using quantitative studies published in peer reviewed journals that reported resilience scores using a valid and reliable scale before and after an intervention aimed at supporting nurse resilience. The databases; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Medline and PsychInfo. and the Cochrane Library were searched. The searches were restricted to studies published between January 2011 and October 2021 in the English language. Only studies that reported using a validated tool to measure resilience before and after the interventions were included. Results Fifteen studies were included in this rapid review with over half of the studies taking place in the USA. No studies reported on an intervention to support resilience with care home nurses. The interventions focused primarily on hospital-based nurses in general and specialist contexts. The interventions varied in duration content and mode of delivery, with interventions incorporating mindfulness techniques, cognitive reframing and holistic approaches to building and sustaining resilience. Thirteen of the fifteen studies selected demonstrated an increase in resilience scores as measured by validated and reliable scales. Those studies incorporating ‘on the job,’ easily accessible practices that promote self-awareness and increase sense of control reported significant differences in pre and post intervention resilience scores. Conclusion Nurses continue to face significant challenges, their capacity to face these challenges can be nurtured through interventions focused on strengthening individual resources. The content, duration, and mode of delivery of interventions to support resilience should be tailored through co-design processes to ensure they are both meaningful and responsive to differing contexts and populations

The wellbeing shelf: A mixed methods study exploring the impact of a resilience web resource for first year nursing and midwifery students

BackgroundNurturing a resilient nursing and midwifery workforce is vital for the National Health Service's sustainability. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) must support students, given the challenges and attrition rates. Nursing and midwifery education uniquely balances tuition and placements, posing challenges, especially for first-year students, who face stressors including lack of familiarity, knowledge gaps, and emotional exposure.ObjectivesThis study aimed to introduce and evaluate a co-designed web-based intervention called ‘The Wellbeing Shelf’ to enhance resilience among first-year nursing and midwifery students.DesignAn exploratory mixed methods approach was employed, combining quantitative pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and qualitative focus groups.Settings and participantsThe study involved 353 first-year nursing and midwifery students at Queen's University Belfast.Methods‘The Wellbeing Shelf’ was developed through co-design workshops. Quantitative measures included the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS). Qualitative data were collected through focus group interviews.ResultsQuantitative data showed a decrease in both resilience and wellbeing scores over time. The CD-RISC scores decreased significantly from Time 1 to Time 3. Qualitative findings revealed three themes: “Acquiring” knowledge about wellbeing, “Actioning” self-care strategies, and “Advocating” for self-care among peers and family.ConclusionsThe study introduced ‘The Wellbeing Shelf’ as a resource to enhance resilience among nursing and midwifery students. Whilst the resource offered a variety of activities and fostered a sense of belonging, challenges in resource accessibility and student confidence were identified. The study also highlighted the importance of students advocating for self-care practices. Despite the resource's introduction, resilience and wellbeing scores decreased over time, suggesting a need for further research and potentially a control group. Understanding the initial lower resilience of nursing and midwifery students is crucial for future interventions in this high-demand program