Local effects of new social-welfare policy on ageing in South Africa

In this paper, new South African social-welfare policy on ageing is analysed through an investigation of a poor coloured community in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The study, conducted during the implementation of proposals in new draft policy, revealed that the new policy would have negative effects on the residents of a home for the aged located in the focus community. It is suggested that the new policy, which invokes the concept of ubuntu, differs only superficially from past policy on the states provision for older citizens. South Africans are required to provide financially for their retirement, despite it having been shown that both in the past and at present, it is tremendously difficult for the majority to do so. Further research is needed to determine whether the results of this study are unique or whether other communities experience similar effects of the new policy

Does other-affirmation increase self-directed exposure to and persuasiveness of a threatening anti-alcohol message?

Objective Self-affirmation of personal values can reduce defensive responses to threatening health promotion messages, probably because it induces a positive and expansive view of the self. However, coping with threat is also an interpersonal process. We developed other-affirmation inductions that focus on values held by others. Two studies examined the effects of common affirmation inductions modified for other-affirmation: affirmation of a specific value (kindness) and affirmation of a personally chosen value. Design Randomized and controlled three-group (self-, other-, or no-affirmation conditions) single-factor design. Outcomes were time spent in self-directed viewing the message and self-reported outcomes that included intentions to reduce drinking, evaluations of the message, and risk perceptions. Methods Students were randomized to self-, other, or no-affirmation conditions and asked to read a threatening anti-alcohol message. Results Self- and other-affirmation increased message viewing time in Study 1. In both studies, other-affirmation increased self-reported outcomes, and study 1 showed this effect to be more prominent in females. In Study 1, the effects of self- and other-affirmation on message exposure were greater in participants with defensive coping styles, and other-affirmation effects were mediated by more positive views of others and their values. This mediation was independent of self-affirmation. Conclusion Other-affirmation increased self-reported outcomes and, in Study 1, reduced defensiveness to and improved viewing times to an anti-alcohol message. Other-affirmation could be useful, because it may be suited to particular subpopulations, such as females, and can be easily incorporated into mass-reach health communications

Integrating psychological theory into the design of an online intervention for sexual health: the sexunzipped website.

BACKGROUND: The Internet can provide a confidential and convenient medium for sexual health promotion for young people. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the development of an interactive, theory-based website (Sexunzipped) aimed at increasing safe sexual behavior of young people, as well as an outline of the evaluation protocol. METHODS: The website focuses on safer sex, relationships, and sexual pleasure. An overview of the site is provided, including a description of the theoretical constructs which form the basis of the site development. An integrated behavioral model was chosen as the guiding theory for the Sexunzipped intervention. A randomized trial design will be used to evaluate the site quantitatively. RESULTS: The content of the site is described in detail with examples of the main content types: information pages, quizzes, and decision-making activities. We describe the protocol for quantitative evaluation of the website using a randomized trial design and discuss the principal challenges involved in developing the site, including the challenge of balancing the requirements of theory with young people's views on website content and design. CONCLUSIONS: Considerations for future interventions are discussed. Developing an online behavior-change intervention is costly and time consuming. Given the large public health potential, the cost involved in developing online interventions, and the need for attractive design, future interventions may benefit from collaborating with established sites that already have a user base, a brand, and a strong Internet presence. It is vital to involve users in decisions about intervention content, design, and features, paying attention to aspects that will attract and retain users' interest. A central challenge in developing effective Internet-based interventions for young people is to find effective ways to operationalize theory in ways that address the views and perspectives of young people

UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration – and the challenges in creating a new Longitudinal Populations Studies linked data resource.

Objectives The UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration (UK LLC) is a new, unprecedented infrastructure enabling research into the COVID-19 pandemic. The UK LLC integrates data from >20 UK longitudinal studies with systematically linked health, administrative and environmental records to facilitate cross-disciplinary COVID-19 research for accredited UK based researchers. Approach Bringing together all of the key components that form the UK LLC was a huge challenge that may have only been possible in the midst of the pandemic. First, we collaborated with the Longitudinal Population Studies (LPS) to create and agree how data linkage, data provision and applications to access the UK LLC would work. In parallel, public contributors helped to create fair processing materials. Finally, we worked closely with NHS Digital and other key national data providers to organise approvals for all studies to be linked, and for the UK LLC to have delegated decision-making for research applications. Results We faced a myriad of challenges creating the UK LLC including: • Short timeframe and short-term funding structure – initial funding for six months with an 18-month extension. • Working across >20 different LPS and four nations with different structures for access, consent and data provision. • Lack of capacity at various points in the data pipeline due to the volume of COVID-19 research required and underway across the involved organisations. • Data processing complexities – split data method means no one can see the entire process therefore catching linkage errors requires working across four different organisations. • With such complex data flows it is challenging to find the balance with communications about data to the public – being accurate about what we are doing, but expressing the complexity in lay terms. Conclusion Creating the UK LLC required collaboration with LPS, data providers and researchers. An iterative approach to creating the data application and data provision pipelines was crucial in developing these processes. The UK LLC was built quickly, from initial funding in October 2020 to provisioning data to researchers in December 2021

The UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration: A trusted research environment for the longitudinal research community

Objectives Our Trusted Research Environment (TRE) provides a centralised infrastructure to pool Longitudinal Population Studies’ (LPS) data and systematically link participants’ routine health, administrative and environmental records. All data are held in a centralised research resource which is now certified by UK Statistics Authority as meeting the Digital Economy Act standard. Approach We have created an unprecedented infrastructure integrating data from interdisciplinary and pan-UK LPS linked to participants’ NHS England records with delegated access responsibilities. Integrated and curated data are made available for pooled analysis within a functionally anonymous DEA and ISO 27001 accredited TRE. We developed a bespoke governance and data curation framework with LPS data managers and Public/participant contributors. New data pipelines are being built with partners at ADRUK and the Office of National Statistics to link non-health records. Our design supports long-term sustainability, linkage accuracy and the ability to link data at both an individual and household level. Results This organisation is a collaboration of >24 LPS with ~280,000 participants. Participants' data are linked to NHS records and geo-coded environmental exposures. This resource is now accessible for public benefit research for bona fide UK researchers. Administrative data including tax, work and pensions, and education are being added to the resource. This data flow is enabled by: (1) a model where TTP processes participant identifiers for many different data owners; (2) creation of a novel longitudinal data pipeline, enabling linkage, data extraction and update of records over time; (3) an access framework where Linked Data Access Panel considers applications on behalf of data owners (e.g., the NHS), with review by a Public Panel and distributing applications to LPS for approval of appropriate data use. Conclusion Our organisation provides a strategic research-ready platform for longitudinal research. We are extending linkages of LPS participants to previously inaccessible datasets. The research resource is positioned to allow researchers to investigate cross-cutting themes such as understanding health and social inequalities, health-social-environmental interactions, and managing the COVID-19 recovery

Circulating Tumor Cells and Biomarker Modulation with Olaratumab Monotherapy Followed by Olaratumab plus Doxorubicin: Phase Ib Study in Patients with Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

This phase Ib study enumerated whole blood circulating tumor cells (CTC) and evaluated biomarkers in patients with potentially resectable soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) treated with olaratumab monotherapy (20 mg/kg) for one cycle followed by up to six cycles of olaratumab (20 mg/kg, cycles 1–2; 15 mg/kg, cycles 3–7) plus doxorubicin (75 mg/m2 on day 1). CTCs, platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR), and PDGF ligand expression in tumor tissue pre- and post-olaratumab monotherapy were evaluated. Antitumor activity, safety, pharmacokinetics, and PET/biomarker association with clinical outcome were assessed. Of 51 treated patients, 35, 43, and 37 were evaluable for CTC enumeration, PDGFRs, and PDGF ligand expression, respectively. An increase in CTCs at cycle 1 day 8 was observed, followed by a significant reduction by cycle 3 day 1 or 30-day follow-up. Decrease in CTC counts after olaratumab monotherapy was higher in patients with disease control than without disease control (57.9% vs. 31.2%). Baseline IHC expression was positive in most patients for PDGFRα [n = 31 (72.1%)] and PDGFRβ [n = 36 (83.7%)]. Similar rates were observed post-olaratumab monotherapy [PDGFRα, n = 30 (69.8%); PDGFRβ, n = 33 (76.7%)]. Eleven patients (29.7%) showed a 30% reduction by RT-PCR in PDGFRα at cycle 2. PDGFR expression and PET response showed no correlation with clinical outcome. Safety and pharmacokinetic profiles were consistent with previous reports. This study, the first to use a validated method for CTC detection, confirms that CTC enumeration in STS is feasible. However, no correlation was observed between PDGFRα expression and clinical outcome.This work was supported by Eli Lilly and Company

A public panel reviews applications and questions applicants: Team member and public contributor discuss a transparent and inclusive approach to data access reviews

Objectives We created a panel with members of the public and longitudinal study participants who review our data access requests. This panel forms an integral part of our data access application process, giving the public a say who can access the data for research. Methods We advertised our lay member vacancies using social media, newsletters, word of mouth and the internet. We appointed six people to the public panel. Our panel includes study participants, NHS service users, parents, carers, and people with experience of disability, neurodiversity, and long-term health conditions. The Panel Terms of Reference were created with help from stakeholders and study teams involved in longitudinal studies that involve the public in data access applications. This ensured that the purpose of the panel was clear. The panel reviews lay summaries and makes sure that researchers have adequate public involvement in their project. Results Panel members have reviewed 28 applications. Researchers present their research at an online meeting with the panel then answer questions from the panel members. We publish meeting minutes on our website for transparency. A 6-month review was overwhelmingly positive - all panel members indicated they felt valued. They felt able to challenge and question researchers as part of the data access application process. This provides a level of public scrutiny to our work. “I feel there’s a real value in the panel. You get a real sense that this has got such potential to make a contribution.” (panel member) We are further developing the Panel Terms of Reference with panel members. We will consider additional areas of responsibility, for example, public benefit review. Conclusion We regularly review how to improve public involvement in our work. The panel has proven its value during our application process. Therefore we are exploring with the panel a new approach to assess the public benefit of applications and what is meant by ‘public benefit research’

Is increasing urbanicity associated with changes in breastfeeding duration in rural India? An analysis of cross-sectional household data from the Andhra Pradesh children and parents study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether village-level urbanicity and lower level socioeconomic factors are associated with breastfeeding practices in transitioning rural communities in India. SETTING: 29 villages in Ranga Reddy district, southern India between 2011 and 2014. PARTICIPANTS: 7848 children under 6 years identified via a cross-sectional household survey conducted as part of the Andhra Pradesh Children and Parents Study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Two key indicators of optimal breastfeeding: termination of exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months and discontinuation of breastfeeding by 24 months. Village urbanicity was classified as low, medium or high according to satellite assessed night-light intensity. RESULTS: Breastfeeding initiation was almost universal, and approximately two in three children were exclusively breastfed to 6 months and a similar proportion breastfed to 24 months. Using multilevel logistic regression, increasing urbanicity was associated with breastfeeding discontinuation before 24 months (medium urbanicity OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.71 to 2.96; high urbanicity OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.45 to 6.05) but not with early (<6 months) termination of exclusive breastfeeding. Increased maternal education was independently associated with both measures of suboptimal breastfeeding, and higher household socioeconomic position was associated with early termination of exclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSION: In this transitional Indian rural community, early stage urbanicity was associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding. Closer surveillance of changes in breastfeeding practices alongside appropriate intervention strategies are recommended for emerging economies

Localized mixed-valence and redox activity within a triazole-bridged dinucleating ligand upon coordination to palladium

The new dinucleating redox-active ligand (LH4), bearing two redox-active NNO-binding pockets linked by a 1,2,3-triazole unit, is synthetically readily accessible. Coordination to two equivalents of PdII resulted in the formation of paramagnetic (S=inline image ) dinuclear Pd complexes with a κ2-N,N′-bridging triazole and a single bridging chlorido or azido ligand. A combined spectroscopic, spectroelectrochemical, and computational study confirmed Robin–Day Class II mixed-valence within the redox-active ligand, with little influence of the secondary bridging anionic ligand. Intervalence charge transfer was observed between the two ligand binding pockets. Selective one-electron oxidation allowed for isolation of the corresponding cationic ligand-based diradical species. SQUID (super-conducting quantum interference device) measurements of these compounds revealed weak anti-ferromagnetic spin coupling between the two ligand-centered radicals and an overall singlet ground state in the solid state, which is supported by DFT calculations. The rigid and conjugated dinucleating redox-active ligand framework thus allows for efficient electronic communication between the two binding pockets

Developing the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs: Giving Students the Opportunity to Gain Experience and Thrive

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have increasingly utilized experiential approaches in business education; however, some researchers have suggested that further research is required to investigate the effectiveness and student reaction to such approaches. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of an experiential learning approach on the perceived development of entrepreneurial traits and to measure the level of both student engagement and satisfaction. The approach was designed and tested during a Higher National Diploma (HND) entrepreneurship module in a British HEI. Traditional taught sessions were blended with applied activities that required students to utilize the skills they learned to complete steps of the activities, which increased in length and complexity. Results found both a high level of student satisfaction and engagement and the belief that the module’s experiential approach had, in many instances, helped to develop entrepreneurial traits. Successful practice and modifications are discussed