Using Congregate Care: What the Evidence Tells Us

This report focuses on kids entering group settings for their first child welfare placement. It explores how likely this placement is, how long and stable it is, and how often it results in achieving permanency or a return to out-of-home care.To complete this study, researchers analyzed demographic data for each child — their age, gender, race and ethnicity and urbanicity — to determine how or if these factors played a role in their group care experience. They found a significant relationship between age, race and ethnicity, and the utilization of group placements. They also noted that such connections are best understood within the context of the local child welfare system and its local service offerings

Weight loss achieved using an energy restriction diet with normal or higher dietary protein decreased the number of CD14++CD16+ proinflammatory monocytes and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in middle-aged, overweight, and obese adults

Monocytes are involved in immune responses, and specific monocyte subpopulations (MS) that express intermediate to high levels of CD16 are associated with obesity and cardiovascular events. Consuming high protein (HP) when dieting improves body composition and cardiometabolic health outcomes, but whether HP affects MS during weight loss remains unknown. We assessed the effect of HP on energy restriction (ER)–induced changes in MS in overweight and obese adults. The relations between MS and plasma lipids and lipoproteins were also examined. We hypothesized that, independent of protein intake, ER-induced weight loss would decrease the numbers of MS and that MS and plasma lipids and lipoproteins would be related. Thirty-two adults (age 52 ± 1 years, body mass index 31.3 ± 0.5 kg/m2, means ± S.E.) consumed either a normal protein (n=18) or HP (n=14) (0.8 vs 1.5 g•kg−1•d−1 protein) ER diet (750-kcal/d [3138-kJ/d] deficit) for 16 weeks. The HP diet included 0.7 g•kg−1•d−1 of milk protein isolate. Fasting plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and the numbers of MS were analyzed. Over time, independent of protein intake, CD14++CD16+ cell number decreased, whereas CD14dimCD16++, CD14+CD16+, and CD14+CD16− cell numbers remained unchanged. CD14dimCD16++ cell number was negatively associated with total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride, while CD14++CD16+ cell number was positively associated with TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), TC to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ratio, and LDL to HDL ratio. Weight loss achieved while consuming an ER diet with either normal or high protein may improve immunity by partially decreasing proinflammatory monocytes. Associations between MS and plasma lipids and lipoproteins are confirmed in overweight and obese adults

Predictive genetic testing experience for myocilin primary open-angle glaucoma using the Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma

Author version made available in accordance with publisher copyright policy.Purpose: Predictive genetic testing of relatives of known myocilin (MYOC) gene mutation carriers is an appropriate strategy to identify individuals at risk for glaucoma. It is likely to prevent irreversible blindness in this high-risk group because this treatable condition might otherwise be diagnosed late. The Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma has established genetic testing protocols for known glaucoma genes, including MYOC. Methods: Through the Australian and New Zealand Registry of Advanced Glaucoma, we investigated the experience of 40 unaffected individuals who had undergone predictive genetic testing for MYOC mutations through questionnaires. Results: The main motivations for being tested were (i) to make appropriate interventions and (ii) to reduce uncertainty. All our respondents perceived strong benefits, either medical or emotional, in being tested. However, different concerns were raised by the respondents that need to be addressed during counseling. Greater family awareness was reported by the majority of the respondents, and the ability to provide information to children was a strong motivation for being tested. Conclusion: This study provides valuable information on the personal and familial impacts of having predictive genetic testing for glaucoma, which will help health professionals to better address the issues faced by patients and provide them adequate support

Chemically Related 4,5-Linked Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Drive Subunit Rotation in Opposite Directions

Dynamic remodelling of intersubunit bridge B2, a conserved RNA domain of the bacterial ribosome connecting helices 44 (h44) and 69 (H69) of the small and large subunit, respectively, impacts translation by controlling intersubunit rotation. Here we show that aminoglycosides chemically related to neomycin-paromomycin, ribostamycin and neamine-each bind to sites within h44 and H69 to perturb bridge B2 and affect subunit rotation. Neomycin and paromomycin, which only differ by their ring-I 6\u27-polar group, drive subunit rotation in opposite directions. This suggests that their distinct actions hinge on the 6\u27-substituent and the drug\u27s net positive charge. By solving the crystal structure of the paromomycin-ribosome complex, we observe specific contacts between the apical tip of H69 and the 6\u27-hydroxyl on paromomycin from within the drug\u27s canonical h44-binding site. These results indicate that aminoglycoside actions must be framed in the context of bridge B2 and their regulation of subunit rotation

Unlocking the Economy Wide Benefits of Heat Pumps - The Role of Electricity and Gas Prices

This briefing considers the economic gains that could be realised through the deployment of heat pumps for the decarbonisation of residential heat. Heat pumps are more efficient that gas heating systems and can ultimately lead to important energy demand reduction across the residential sector. However, under prevailing market conditions where the retail price of electricity is high relative to gas, the bills savings and wider economy benefits usually associated with substantial energy efficiency increases are not evident. In this paper we focus on how, and to what extent, the electricity-gas price differential determines whether the energy efficiency properties of heat pumps will lead to energy bill saving for UK households. This issue becomes increasingly important when we consider how the changes in household energy bills and real spending power can drive a wide range of economy wide impacts

Who will use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and why?: Understanding PrEP awareness and acceptability amongst men who have sex with men in the UK – a mixed methods study

Background: Recent clinical trials suggest that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may reduce HIV transmission by up to 86% for men who have sex with men (MSM), whilst relatively high levels of PrEP acceptability have been reported to date. This study examines PrEP awareness amongst sub-groups of MSM communities and acceptability amongst MSM in a low prevalence region (Scotland, UK), using a mixed methods design. Methods: Quantitative surveys of n = 690 MSM recruited online via social and sociosexual media were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. In addition, n = 10 in-depth qualitative interviews with MSM were analysed thematically. Results: Under one third (29.7%) of MSM had heard of PrEP, with awareness related to living in large cities, degree level education, commercial gay scene use and reporting an HIV test in the last year. Just under half of participants (47.8%) were likely to use PrEP if it were available but there was no relationship between PrEP acceptability and previous PrEP awareness. Younger men (18–25 years) and those who report higher risk UAI were significantly more likely to say they would use PrEP. Qualitative data described specific PrEP scenarios, illustrating how risk, patterns of sexual practice and social relationships could affect motivation for and nature of PrEP use. Conclusion: These findings suggest substantial interest PrEP amongst MSM reporting HIV risk behaviours in Scotland. Given the Proud results, there is a strong case to investigate PrEP implementation within the UK. However, it appears that disparities in awareness have already emerged along traditional indicators of inequality. Our research identifies the need for comprehensive support when PrEP is introduced, including a key online component, to ensure equity of awareness across diverse MSM communities (e.g. by geography, education, gay scene use and HIV proximity), as well as to responding to the diverse informational and sexual health needs of all MSM communities

Unique hole-accepting carbon-dots promoting selective carbon dioxide reduction nearly 100% to methanol by pure water

X.L., M.K.B., J.T. acknowledge EPSRC (EP/S018204/2/1), Leverhulme Trust (Grant No: RPG-2017-122) and Newton Advanced Fellowship grant ((NA170422 and NAF\R1\191163).). X.H., Z.X.G. and S.A.S. acknowledge UCL Grace High-Performance Computing Facility (Grace@UCL) and EPSRC (EP/K021192/1, EP/L018330/1). R.G. thanks the FRQNT for postdoctoral funding and NSERC for operational funding. Y.W., J.C. and C.J., acknowledge CSC Scholarship. R.G., J.F.T. and J.R.D. acknowledge ERC AdG Intersolar grant (291482). J.F.T. acknowledges EPSRC CDT (EP/L015277/1). W.Z. thanks EPSRC for Titan Themis S/TEM microscope (EP/L017008/01). We also thank Dr. Jijia Xie for constructive comments on experimental design.Solar-driven CO2 reduction by abundant water to alcohols can supply sustainable liquid fuels and alleviate global warming. However, the sluggish water oxidation reaction has been hardly reported to be efficient and selective in CO2 conversion due to fast charge recombination. Here, using transient absorption spectroscopy, we demonstrate that microwave-synthesised carbon-dots (mCD) possess unique hole-accepting nature, prolonging the electron lifetime (t50%) of carbon nitride (CN) by six folds, favouring a six-electron product. mCD-decorated CN stably produces stoichiometric oxygen and methanol from water and CO2 with nearly 100% selectivity to methanol and internal quantum efficiency of 2.1% in the visible region, further confirmed by isotopic labelling. Such mCD rapidly extracts holes from CN and prevents the surface adsorption of methanol, favourably oxidising water over methanol and enhancing the selective CO2 reduction to alcohols. This work provides a unique strategy for efficient and highly selective CO2 reduction by water to high-value chemicals.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

How the pace of residential heat electrification impacts the energy system?

Heating buildings is the source of nearly a quarter of UK emissions (UK Government, 2021a). Thus, meeting net zero will involve virtually all heat in buildings to be decarbonised. In their Heat and buildings strategy, the UK Government (2021b) set out its plans to deliver at least 600,000 heat pump systems per year by 2028. This will involve significant changes to the energy system - including the upgrade of the energy networks and increasing renewable energy generation capacity - alongside the installation of new heating systems in people’s homes. Understanding how these costs are distributed, where benefits might accrue and how the wider economy might be impacted will be key. These questions are set within a quickly changing policy environment where for example, surging global gas prices have driven a significant increase to the energy price cap for GB energy consumers. Although the significant increase in international gas prices has markedly narrowed the gap between the cost of electricity and gas, this price differential - where consumers currently pay significantly more per unit of energy for electricity - remains an important factor for understanding how different decarbonisation options will affect the affordability of heating systems. Many studies have been developed to analyse the impact of heat electrification. However, most of them do not consider different heat pump adoption pathways and normally they only analyse the implications of a large penetration of heat electrification in the power sector, not considering, for example, the changes on emissions, energy use and consumer costs. The work developed in this paper aims to provide insight on this issue, analysing the implications of the electrification of residential heat under different adoption pathways, using the UK TIMES energy system model. Preliminary results show that the speed in which heat pumps are rolled out can have important impacts on energy use, emissions and the level of network investments, and thus higher costs for the final consumer