Exploring circularity in clothing resale: a new materialism and value perspective

The mainstreaming of alternative or circular business models is considered key for increased sustainability in clothing consumption. One such business model, clothing resale, is a growing but under-researched market. Clothing resale is a way to maintain value beyond an initial purchase. Previous research considers value key to sustainability but provides limited insight into what value means in this context. The role of the consumer is overlooked in circular business models, with assumptions made that they will engage with businesses’ offerings without challenge. This research explores circularity and value, considering retailer and consumer behaviours and how these relate to value maintenance, values and longevity in clothing resale. The research used new materialism as a theoretical lens to consider circularity in clothing resale in relation to sustainability and value. Over a 12-month fieldwork period, this research used a multi- method qualitative approach. This approach included in-depth interviews and visual methods to collect data from a purposive sample of nine retailer participants and thirteen consumer participants. All participants were actively engaged in clothing resale behaviours. The data was analysed thematically. The findings of the study mapped a value regime for clothing resale to outline the value outcomes that underpinned behaviours, including economic, aesthetic, and experiential value. The formal and informal practices of retailers and consumers in clothing resale and the conflict between mainstream and alternative market logic limited the maintenance and longevity of value in clothing resale. In some cases, this caused value disruption and loss. This research makes a theoretical contribution to knowledge by going beyond new materialism’s singular focus on material value to uncover the multiple value outcomes that motivate clothing resale behaviours. A further contribution to the value literature comes from extending a value regime’s object pathway to recognise the need to understand value in other related object pathways to outline a clear value regime for sustainability. Finally, the study’s findings suggest that value is not always maintained but rather disrupted through the conflict of mainstream and alternative market logic and the value and values of consumers and retailers. This finding extends knowledge on the proposed sustainability of circular business models, such as resale

Human telomeres that carry an integrated copy of human herpesvirus 6 are often short and unstable, facilitating release of the viral genome from the chromosome

Linear chromosomes are stabilized by telomeres, but the presence of short dysfunctional telomeres triggers cellular senescence in human somatic tissues, thus contributing to ageing. Approximately 1% of the population inherits a chromosomally integrated copy of human herpesvirus 6 (CI-HHV-6), but the consequences of integration for the virus and for the telomere with the insertion are unknown. Here we show that the telomere on the distal end of the integrated virus is frequently the shortest measured in somatic cells but not the germline. The telomere carrying the CI-HHV-6 is also prone to truncations that result in the formation of a short telomere at a novel location within the viral genome. We detected extra-chromosomal circular HHV-6 molecules, some surprisingly comprising the entire viral genome with a single fully reconstituted direct repeat region (DR) with both terminal cleavage and packaging elements (PAC1 and PAC2). Truncated CI-HHV-6 and extra-chromosomal circular molecules are likely reciprocal products that arise through excision of a telomere-loop (t-loop) formed within the CI-HHV-6 genome. In summary, we show that the CI-HHV-6 genome disrupts stability of the associated telomere and this facilitates the release of viral sequences as circular molecules, some of which have the potential to become fully functioning viruses

Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in COVID-19.

Host-mediated lung inflammation is present1, and drives mortality2, in the critical illness caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development3. Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study in 2,244 critically ill patients with COVID-19 from 208 UK intensive care units. We have identified and replicated the following new genome-wide significant associations: on chromosome 12q24.13 (rs10735079, P = 1.65 × 10-8) in a gene cluster that encodes antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3); on chromosome 19p13.2 (rs74956615, P = 2.3 × 10-8) near the gene that encodes tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2); on chromosome 19p13.3 (rs2109069, P = 3.98 ×  10-12) within the gene that encodes dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9); and on chromosome 21q22.1 (rs2236757, P = 4.99 × 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identified potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomization, we found evidence that low expression of IFNAR2, or high expression of TYK2, are associated with life-threatening disease; and transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte-macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe COVID-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in COVID-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. However, large-scale randomized clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Stability and change over time in children with movement difficulties

Children with movement difficulties experience significant problems in education and development. This paper explores some of the issues behind developmental research and focuses in particular on the most common condition causing childhood movement problems in school age children. Recent research is discussed along with key issues for understanding stability and change in the progress of these children. Finally, areas for new research are identified and potential methods are highlighted by applying an innovative conceptual framework and operationalized through a mixed methods approach

The progression over time of profiles of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Aim: To investigate the characteristics of children with DCD with different severity of motor ability and compare motor progression over time. Introduction: Children with DCD have difficulty in the development of motor coordination and learning new motor skills. Empirical and professional evidence suggests that they differ from typically developing children, but also suggest that they are heterogeneous in nature. DCD commonly overlaps with other developmental disorders. Studies have used different cut-off points for motor impairment and yet little is known whether children’s motor progression differs for these different cut-offs or the impact on participation in physical activity (PA). Method: An ecological mixed methods study design was used. Children had detailed profiles compiled of their individual characteristics and context. DSM-5 criteria were applied to identify children with and without DCD. Repeated motor measurements over 2 years measured motor stability or change. A case study approach identified a subset of children to interview about their experiences of participation in PA. Data analysis considered group comparison and individual motor progression through a dynamical systems lens. Results: Children were categorized according to motor ability: ≤5th percentile, 6-16th percentile and ≥25th percentile on MABC2. Children in the lowest motor ability group had distinct characteristics. They had significant differences between their motor performance and the other groups, both at baseline and over time. It was characterized by stable, persistent and poor motor performance, while the other two groups were more variable over time. Conclusion: Children ≤5th percentile of MABC2 appeared to have special characteristics in motor and non-motor domains. These were less variable and different to both typically developing children and to children with milder motor impairment. The results point the way to differential intervention according to the nature and severity of the characteristics in DCD in both the motor and non-motor domains

The electrochemical regeneration of granular activated carbons in situ of permeable reactive barriers

© 2020 Rebecca Victoria McQuillanPermeable reactive barriers have proven to be an effective and cost efficient remediation technique for the clean-up of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in extreme regions such as the Antarctic. The materials within these barriers, namely granular activated carbon, decontaminate migrating groundwaters via adsorption processes and prevent further spread of pollutants into the environment. However, with long operational periods, the activated carbon becomes saturated and is no longer effective at capturing contaminants. In an effort to prevent this, this thesis investigated the possibility of using in situ electrochemical treatments as a means of regenerating the activated carbon in these barriers such that the continuous replacement of saturated material is not necessary. Aqueous phase studies were first conducted to assess which electrochemical reactions aid in the degradation of solubilized petroleum hydrocarbons. Due to the natural presence of chloride and iron at the contaminated sites in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic, the active chlorine and electro-Fenton pathways were chosen. Similarly, naphthalene, a high priority pollutant for removal in these regions, was chosen as a model compound to investigate the efficacy of the selected reactions. Upon application of an electric current in a near-saturated naphthalene solution, both reaction pathways achieved full contaminant removal within 3 hours of treatment. Further analysis showed that the naphthalene was electrochemically transformed into species of lesser toxicity with minimal energy usage that is appropriate for use in remote regions. Varying operational conditions were assessed to determine the underlying mechanism for which naphthalene was removed, and a dynamic kinetic model was developed for each reaction that could accurately predict treatment outcomes over a range of reagent concentrations, treatment timeframes, and applied electric currents. Due to the success for which the active chlorine and electro-Fenton pathways degraded naphthalene in the aqueous phase, the reactions were applied to naphthalene loaded granular activated carbon to determine the extent of regeneration that could be achieved. Regardless of the reaction applied, only 30 % regeneration could be achieved under any of the regenerative trials conducted, indicating that only the exterior surface of the porous granular activated carbon was likely being regenerated. As the micropores within the activated carbon were essentially unaffected by electrochemical treatments, macroporous or non-porous materials may be better suited for achieving high regeneration efficiencies. Although complete regeneration of the activated carbon was not reached, the developed technology can still prolong the longevity for which granular activated carbon can perform within permeable reactive barriers; over four cycles of treatment, the exterior surface was continually restored and freed up adsorptive sites for further adsorption processes. Thus, an ideal method for applying electrochemical treatments in situ of existing permeable reactive barriers is recommended

What can the perceptions of motor ability and the actual motor ability of children with DCD tell us about engagement in physical activity?

What can the perceptions of motor ability and the actual motor ability of children with DCD tell us about engagement in physical activity? McQuillan, V.A. 1,2, Swanwick, R.A.1, Chambers1, M.E. & Sugden, D.A1 1School of Education, University of Leeds 2School of Health Sciences, University of Liverpool Background and aim: Children’s perceptions about their motor competence are believed to provide motivation for physical activity. A positive and reciprocal relationship between motor competence and physical activity is thought to play a role for the engagement and persistence with physical activity. Children with DCD have motor difficulties and are thought to have lower perceptions of their motor competence than typically developing children. They have also been found to participate less in physical activity and are therefore at greater risk for the negative consequences of inactivity. However, few studies enquiring about engagement in physical activity have investigated the perceived competence simultaneously with the actual motor competence of children with DCD. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the actual and perceived motor competence of children with and without DCD over time and compare their engagement in physical activity. Method: Children aged 7-14 years (M=10.07, SD= 1.66, 85.3% boys) n=34 were recruited from mainstream schools via special needs coordinators. DSM5 criteria were used to identify children with and without DCD; all were also screened for ADHD and ASD. The children were followed over 2 years. Their motor competence was repeatedly assessed using the MABC2 and their perception of motor ability was simultaneously assessed using the CSAPPA. Results: The findings contrast with previous theoretical perspective, as no significant difference in perception was found between the children with DCD, including those with co-occurring ADHD or ASD, and the children with typical motor development assessed over the same time period. Meaning is discussed in relation to the model of Stodden et al. (2008) of physical activity and motor competence. Conclusion: The results suggest that a more complex explanation involving developmental maturity and other factors play a role in the children’s perception of their motor ability. This study differs from others as ecological factors were also examined. These have implications for intervention to improve the participation in physical activity for children with DCD and indicate directions for future study