The evolution of homeothermy : from dinosaurs to man

Compiled by H.D. Johnson.Includes bibliographical references (pages 12-[13])

Support services play a crucial role in the benefits system but are currently at risk of being overwhelmed

Debates about the withdrawal of crisis social security measures have focused on the financial implications for benefit claimants. Attention is also needed on what this means for welfare support services, explain David Robertshaw and Daniel Edmiston

Studies on the intermediary metabolism of the ox, with special reference to the sympatho-adrenal system

A study is made of the interrelationships of the concentrations of glucose, potassium, adrenaline, noradrenaline and the lower volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the blood of the ox. An examination of biological and chemical methods for adrenaline and noradrenaline determination in the Jugular rein plasma of the ox revealed that a fluorimetric method involving condensation with ethylenediamine was suitable. Polythene cannulas, implanted in the Jugular vein were used to obtain serial blood samples without any psychic disturbance of the experimental animals. Under these conditions of blood sampling the mean normal concentration of adrenaline in bovine plasma was found to be 0.31 (range 0.03-0.7) mug/1, and that of noradrenaline 2.5 (range 0.4-4.6) mug/1. Intravenous administration of insulin caused blood glucose concentration to fall, and the plasma concentrations of adrenaline end noradrenaline rose when blood glucose levels reached acritical level between 15 and 25 rag/100 ml. The increase in plasms adrenaline concentration was greater than that of noradrenaline. The increase In plasma noradrenaline concentration during hypoglycemia is peculiar to the ox, and the physiological Importance of noradrenaline relative to that of adrenaline was assessed by determining Its ability to raise the blood glucose concentration. It was found that adrenaline:noradrenaline hyperglycaemic ratios for the ox ranged from 0.79 to 6.58, figures which are much lower than those of other species. It was concluded that in the ox the release of noradrenaline during insulin hypoglycaemic is physiologically significant. Insulin administration caused a fall in plasma VFA levels, which was quantitatively indistinguishable from a fall that occurred following glucose administration. Arterio-venous studies suggested that this effect of insulin and glucose was not due to any enhancement of utilisation of VTA by the extrahepatic tissues. Other workers have shown that intravenous administration of sodium propionate or sodium butyrate would relieve hypoglyeaemic convulsions in ruminant animals. The possibility that this may here been the result of sympatho-adrenal stimulation was Investigated. Intravenous sodium propionate end occasionally Intravenous sodium butyrate administration resulted in elevated plasma levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. Sodium aoetate administration caused e depression in plasms adrenaline and noradrenaline levels especially the adrenaline levels. Intravenous glucose administration alao depressed plasma levels of adrenalins and noradrenaline. It was concluded that, with the possible exception of sodium propionate, the eynpatho-edrenal system of the ex plays little part in producing the changes in blood glucose that result from intravenous injections of the sodium salts of the lower fatty acide. The rate of disappearance from the cireulatlon of the injected aeetate end propionate wee inversely related to the initial plasms VFA and blood glucose levels respectively. The intravenous administration of insulin, glucose, or the eodlum salts of the lower fatty acids all produced hypokalemia. Studies on the intermediary metabolism of Bos indicus. a species of cattle indigenous to tropleal arses and of Boa taurua. cattle indigenous to temporete cones, revealed that Bos Indiana possessed higher normal bleed glucose levels, e lower sensitivity to insulin, slower utilisation of intravenously administered glucose and a lower plants potassium concentration than Bos taurus. These differences were attributed to a higher degree of adrenocortical activity in Bos indious. The results of these studies ere coopered to similar studies in non-ruminant animals, taking account of the differences in their dietary intake and node of digestion. The comparative studies on the two species of Bos are discussed In relation to their physiological responses to their environment

Changing attitudes with a MOOC on dementia

Dementia is one of the most significant issues of our time and there are varying prevailing attitudes towards dementia, including negative stigma and perception. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are a widely available online learning resource accessed for free which may present an opportunity to address prevailing attitudes. We conducted a questionnaire before and after a six-week MOOC where participants learned about dementia. We collected data using a survey instrument and analysed them with statistical testing. Although there was no statistically significant change between pre- and post-MOOC questionnaires, the change was observed in some questions and for particular groups. Our findings indicate this MOOC has a greater effect on changing the attitudes of non-healthcare workers, older people and those living in the United Kingdom. We recommend further analysis of MOOC as a change intervention and consideration of their application in other disciplines.N/

What next for End Point Assessments?

This paper reflects on changes to End Point Assessment (EPA) brought about as a result of the COVID pandemic and considers how proposed future change will impact on training providers and employers of health apprentices. The paper provides an analysis of apprenticeship policy, the role of end point assessment and consideration of assessment strategies used in higher education and health professions. Implications for policy, training providers and clinical practice are proposed. These changes will bring the completion of EPA closer to education providers and allow them to take a more direct role within the process. Education providers will need to be issued with clear guidance to ensure regulatory compliance. The pedagogical value of end point assessment is questioned. Training providers and policymakers will need to review their processes and guidance appropriately. This paper provides a summary of salient points needing consideration.N/

Claiming But Connected to Work

This report presents the first findings from the Welfare at a (Social) Distance project, a major national research project investigating the benefits system during the COVID-19 pandemic, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19. It draws upon a new survey of 2,364 new Universal Credit (UC)/Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) claimants (carried out between 25th May and 3rd June) to look at how far benefit claimants are connected to the world of work, helping to better understand the emerging picture from recent UK labour market statistics

At the edge of the safety net: Unsuccessful benefits claims at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

There has been much scrutiny of the British benefits system during COVID-19, and most experts agree that the benefits system has performed well, even if historic weaknesses remain. Yet little attention has been paid to those who start a claim that is ultimately not successful. This report focuses on these ‘unsuccessful claimants’, using new YouGov survey data and interview evidence funded by the Health Foundation

Hunger and the welfare state: Food insecurity among benefit claimants in the UK

In this report, we look at the extent of food insecurity among different types of claimants

Welfare attitudes in a crisis: How COVID exceptionalism undermined greater solidarity

COVID-19 had the potential to dramatically increase public support for welfare. It was a time of apparent increased solidarity, of apparently deserving claimants, and of increasingly widespread exposure to the benefits system. However, there are also reasons to expect the opposite effect: an increase in financial strain fostering austerity and self-interest, and thermostatic responses to increasing welfare generosity. In this paper, we investigate the effects of the pandemic on attitudes towards working-age unemployment benefits in the UK using a unique combination of data sources: (i) temporally fine-grained data on attitudinal change over the course of the pandemic; and (ii) a novel nationally representative survey contrasting attitudes towards pandemic-era and pre-pandemic claimants (including analysis of free-text responses). Our results show that the pandemic prompted little change in UK welfare attitudes. However, we also find that COVID-era unemployment claimants were perceived as substantially more deserving than those claiming prior to the pandemic. This contrast suggests a strong degree of 'COVID exceptionalism'-with COVID claimants seen as categorically different from conventional claimants, muting the effect of the pandemic on welfare attitudes overall

Solidarity in a crisis? Trends in attitudes to benefits during COVID-19

In this report, we look at whether COVID-19 transformed welfare attitudes - and what this means for polic