Evaluating delivery of cycling activity and training programmes for disabled people in the UK

Globally, a 15% of the population has some form of disability [1]. While cycling is becoming a popular transport mode, it is crucial to accommodate disabled cyclists, and key for this would be appropriate cycling training for the disabled and those who are involved in the training. This study investigated the delivery of cycling activity and training sessions for disabled people in the UK. The study focused on 1) the delivery systems, in particular the methods, supporting materials, instructor training, and 2) the perceptions of participants, parents/carers, and instructors. It involved semi-structured interviews with promotors and training/activity providers, and a questionnaire survey for instructors, people with disabilities and their carers. It was found that most participants come to training/activity sessions on voluntary basis for physical exercise and socialising. As a result, sessions are often unstructured and designed as ‘activity’ rather than ‘training’. Looking forward it is recommended to, whilst continuing to accommodate the need for flexibility and inclusiveness, introduce a top-down approach designed specifically for disabled participants and initiated by policy-makers, with potential for disability-specific structured sessions in the course of time. The importance of raising awareness among disabled people and their parents and carers is instrumental, as is accessible provision of educational resources for instructors

Proliferation and morphology of pre-osteoblast cells on 25 – 1000 micron diameter patterned features on polyacrylamide hydrogels

Bone formation, also known as osteogenesis, occurs in three distinct phases: proliferation, during which cells multiply, form nodules, and begin expressing early stage osteogenic markers; extracellular matrix development and maturation, during which mature cells in nodules build a collagen matrix and secrete the building blocks for mineralization; and mineralization, during which bone mineral crystals nucleate and grow. While it is known that cell proliferation, maturation, morphology, and density all play a role of in osteogenesis, most studies of controlled cell differentiation either focus proliferation and maturation in large cell colonies or morphology of single cells. However, large cell colonies are difficult to examine because of the presence of multiple bone nodules and mineral nucleation sites, and the single cell differentiation experiments ignore the importance of cell proliferation, cell maturation, and cell-cell contact/interaction. In this work, microcontact printing is used to pattern 19 kPa hydrogel substrates with 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, and 25 micron diameter circles of fibronectin and collagen. Experiments were conducted in which cell proliferation of D1 ORL UVA cells was measured as the cells filled the patterns. Cell seeding density and cell density at confluence do not depend on media type or feature size, as long as cells are not confined to a small area (25 micron). The fold increase is significantly higher for larger features, where the cells have ample area to rapidly proliferate, but not significant for smaller features where the cells do not rapidly proliferate. Proliferating cells have an elongated morphology and mature cells at confluence are cuboidal. In future work, quantitative cell shape, proliferation, and early osteogenic and adipogenic marker data will be combined into a simulation to further study osteogenesis

Inclusive social norms and nationals' positive intergroup orientations toward refugees: The moderating role of initial prejudice and intergroup contact

Research on the interplay between inclusive norms and intergroup contact on improving intergroup orientations has yielded conflicting results, suggesting either that an experience of personal contact is necessary to have a positive effect of inclusive norms or that such personal experience is not always necessary. To clarify this issue, across four studies ( N = 835), we investigated the influence of inclusive norms on positive intergroup orientations as a function of personal experiences of intergroup contact. Study 1 demonstrated that inclusive norms are more strongly correlated with experiences of personal contact with outgroups with whom opportunities of contact are more (i.e., immigrants) than less (i.e., refugees) frequent. Study 2 provided experimental evidence for this finding showing that inclusive norms increase prejudiced nationals’ willingness to engage in future contact with immigrants but not with refugees, suggesting that conformity to inclusive norms depends on varying contact opportunities with the outgroups. Studies 3 and 4 confirmed that prejudiced nationals conformed to inclusive norms specifically when experienced positive contact with a refugee (experimentally induced with the imagined contact paradigm), compared with no contact (Study 3) or negative contact (Study 4). We discuss the implications of these findings for research on intergroup contact, social influence, and intergroup relations.</p

Prerequisites for cytokine measurements in clinical trials with multiplex immunoassays

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Growing knowledge about cellular interactions in the immune system, including the central role of cytokine networks, has lead to new treatments using monoclonal antibodies that block specific components of the immune system. Systemic cytokine concentrations can serve as surrogate outcome parameters of these interventions to study inflammatory pathways operative in patients <it>in vivo</it>. This is now possible due to novel technologies such as multiplex immunoassays (MIA) that allows detection of multiple cytokines in a single sample. However, apparently trivial underappreciated processes, (sample handling and storage, interference of endogenous plasma proteins) can greatly impact the reliability and reproducibility of cytokine detection.</p> <p>Therefore we set out to investigate several processes that might impact cytokine profiles such as blood collecting tubes, duration of storage, and number of freeze thawing cycles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Since under physiological conditions cytokine concentrations normally are low or undetectable we spiked cytokines in the various plasma and serum samples. Overall recoveries ranged between 80-120%. Long time storage showed cytokines are stable for a period up to 2 years of storage at -80°C. After 4 years several cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-15 and CXCL8) degraded up to 75% or less of baseline values. Furthermore we show that only 2 out of 15 cytokines remained stable after several freeze-thawing cycles. We also demonstrate implementation of an internal control for multiplex cytokine immunoassays.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>All together we show parameters which are essential for measurement of cytokines in the context of clinical trials.</p

The interplay between social dominance orientation and intergroup contact in explaining support for multiculturalism

In two studies, we tested whether social dominance orientation (SDO) and intergroup contact interacted in shaping support for multiculturalism. Study 1 was correlational, while in Study 2 we measured SDO and experimentally manipulated intergroup contact (imagined contact paradigm). We found that SDO and intergroup contact interacted on support for multiculturalism: Intergroup contact was associated with more support for multiculturalism only for high‐SDO individuals, and SDO was negatively associated to support for multiculturalism more strongly for individuals with low or no contact. Finally, we discussed the role of the intergroup setting in which studies are conducted

Intergroup contact moderates the influence of social norms on prejudice

While previous research has examined social norms and intergroup contact as predictors of prejudice, there is limited research on their interplay in shaping intergroup attitudes. The results of five studies using correlational and experimental methods in different intergroup contexts consistently showed that the influence of intolerant (vs. tolerant) social norms on prejudice is reduced for people who have contacts with outgroup members. Studies 4–5 further showed that threat perceptions mediate the interaction effects between norms and contact on prejudice. Overall, the research program suggests that intergroup contact is a potent tool for reducing conformity to intolerant and antiegalitarian norms

Renal cell carcinoma metastasizing to solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A tumor metastasizing to another malignancy is an uncommon phenomenon. Since it was first described in 1902, there have been fewer than 200 cases reported in the literature, with lung cancer metastasizing to renal cell carcinoma being the most frequently described pattern. Here we report a case of a solitary fibrous tumor of the lung acting as the recipient for a renal cell carcinoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such a combination and the second case involving a solitary fibrous tumor.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 58-year-old Caucasian man who developed a persistent dry cough presented to our hospital. Imaging studies revealed a large pleural-based mass in the left lung. A biopsy of the mass showed a spindle-cell lesion consistent with a solitary fibrous tumor. The patient underwent surgical excision of the 13 cm mass. The pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a solitary fibrous tumor but also demonstrated discrete foci of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Until that point, a primary renal cell carcinoma tissue diagnosis had not been made and the initial radiological work-up was inconclusive.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Awareness of the unusual phenomenon of tumor-to-tumor metastasis is important for practicing surgical pathologists, particularly in the evaluation of a mass lesion showing bimodal histology. This case also highlights the importance of careful examination of surgical specimens, as minute and unusual findings can direct patient care.</p