‘This neo- natal ménage à trois’: British media framing of transnational surrogacy

Background: Media framing can influence people’s perceptions of social changes in family building, and has the potential to influence their future actions. Objectives: to analyse the type of framing and construction used in British news print of transnational commercial surrogacy. Methods: UK newspapers were searched using the search engine Lexis-Nexis. One hundred ninety seven articles were analysed. Content analysis was undertaken to identify the use of gain, loss, neutral, alarm and vulnerability frames, as well as type of construction (i.e. ethical, social, legal, financial and medical). Four researchers independently analysed articles using a coding strategy. Results: Differences between serious (mainly legal, financial), middle market (legal) and tabloid (social, financial) newspapers were found. There were three main foci; buying babies - affordable only to those wealthy enough to pay for it; the legal complications of transnational surrogacy - reporting a sense of the legal system lagging behind this practice; and gay families - repeatedly questioning their suitability as parents - demonstrating a prevailing heterosexual stereotype about reproduction and parenting. Conclusions: Stereotyping was prevalent and the welfare of children and medical aspects of transnational surrogacy were minimally addressed, indicating the media selectively influences its readership

Dampened Transient Actuation of Hydrogels Autonomously Controlled by pH-Responsive Bicontinuous Nanospheres

The fabrication of a soft actuator with a dampened actuation response is presented. This was achieved via the incorporation into an actuating hydrogel of urease-loaded pH-responsive bicontinuous nanospheres (BCNs), whose membrane was able to regulate the permeability and thus conversion of fuel urea into ammonia. The dampened response of these nanoreactors to the enzymatically induced pH change was translated to a pH-responsive soft actuator. In hydrogels composed of a pH-responsive and nonresponsive layer, the transient pH gradient yielded an asymmetric swelling behavior, which induced a bending response. The transient actuation profile could be controlled by varying the external fuel concentrations. Furthermore, we showed that the spatial organization of the BCNs within the actuator had a great influence on the actuation response. Embedding the urease-loaded nanoreactors within the active, pH-responsive layer resulted in a reduced response due to local substrate conversion in comparison to embedding them within the passive layer of the bilayer hydrogel. Finally, we were able to induce transient actuation in a hydrogel comprising two identical active layers by the immobilization of the BCNs within one specific layer. Upon addition of urea, a local pH gradient was generated, which caused accelerated swelling in the BCN layer and transient bending of the device before the pH gradient was attenuated over time.</p

Oorzaak en preventie van schade aan wegen door vochtonttrekking door bomen

In droge jaren vertonen plattelandswegen nabij de boombeplantingen scheuren en verzakkingen. Dit wordt veroorzaakt doordat veen en (zware) klei krimpen door vochtonttrekking door bomen in de berm. In dit rapport wordt het krimp- en rijpingsproces beschreven en worden berekeningsmethoden voor de zakking gegeven. Bij vijf meetlocaties zijn uitgebreide hoogtemetingen gedaan en is het verloop van slootpeilen en grondwaterstanden gemeten. Bij drie meetlocaties is een profielkuil dwars door de weg gegraven. Grondsoort, grondwaterstand, aanwezigheid van diepe watervoerende sloten en de doorlatendheid van de grond blijken een grote invloed te hebben op de schadekans. Een juiste keuze van de boomsoort kan schade voorkomen of beperken

The NEtherlands Cervical Kinematics (NECK) Trial. Cost-effectiveness of anterior cervical discectomy with or without interbody fusion and arthroplasty in the treatment of cervical disc herniation; a double-blind randomised multicenter study

Background. Patients with cervical radicular syndrome due to disc herniation refractory to conservative treatment are offered surgical treatment. Anterior cervical discectomy is the standard procedure, often in combination with interbody fusion. Accelerated adjacent disc degeneration is a known entity on the long term. Recently, cervical disc prostheses are developed to maintain motion and possibly reduce the incidence of adjacent disc degeneration. A comparative cost-effectiveness study focused on adjacent segment degeneration and functional outcome has not been performed yet. We present the design of the NECK trial, a randomised study on cost-effectiveness of anterior cervical discectomy with or without interbody fusion and arthroplasty in patients with cervical disc herniation. Methods/Design. Patients (age 18-65 years) presenting with radicular signs due to single level cervical disc herniation lasting more than 8 weeks are included. Patients will be randomised into 3 groups: anterior discectomy only, anterior discectomy with interbody fusion, and anterior discectomy with disc prosthesis. The primary outcome measure is symptomatic adjacent disc degeneration at 2 and 5 years after surgery. Other outcome parameters will be the Neck Disability Index, perceived recovery, arm and neck pain, complications, re-operations, quality of life, job satisfaction, anxiety and depression assessment, medical consumption, absenteeism, and costs. The study is a randomised prospective multicenter trial, in which 3 surgical techniques are compared in a parallel group design. Patients and research nurses will be kept blinded of the allocated treatment for 2 years. The follow-up period is 5 years. Discussion. Currently, anterior cervical discectomy with fusion is the golden standard in the surgical treatment of cervical disc herniation. Whether additional interbody fusion or disc prothesis is necessary and cost-effective will be determined by this trial. Trial Registration. Netherlands Trial Register NTR1289

Experiences of involuntary childlessness and treatment in the UK: what has changed in 20 years?

This study examined the financial, emotional and relationship impacts of involuntary childlessness and treatment, and satisfaction with support from professionals. 796 participants in the UK completed an online survey based on a survey conducted in 1997. 55% of participants had to pay for at least part of their treatment. High levels of distress were experienced and 42% experienced suicidal feelings at least occasionally. Those most at risk of suffering distress and suicidal feelings at some point had only experienced unsuccessful treatment outcomes, spent longer trying to conceive and experienced some relationship strains. 75% would like to have counselling if it were free but 45% received counselling and 54% of these had to fund some of it themselves. Thus although advances have been made in the availability of funded treatment and psychological support, involuntary childlessness and treatment continue to have financial, emotional and relationship consequences for many people. While counselling was generally reported to be useful, a whole clinic approach involving all fertility clinic staff in the psychosocial care of clients is advisable