Household food insecurity and future orientation of Ghanaian youth and their parents

Food insecurity heightens risk for poor mental health and psychosocial functioning. Higher levels of future orientation influence numerous desirable behaviors. However, limited evidence exists on the association between food insecurity and future orientation, particularly in low-resource settings. The objective of this study was to examine the association between food insecurity and future orientation of Ghanaian youth and their parents. The study included a cross-sectional sample of 2656 youth and 2656 parents from 8 of Ghana’s 10 regions. Food insecurity was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Future orientation in the Ghanaian context was measured using three distinct factors adapted from the School Success Profile and the Consideration of Future Consequences scale. We analyzed our data using hierarchical linear modeling, with a three-level linear random-intercept model with covariates. Results suggest an inverse relationship between food insecurity and future orientation of youth and their parents. Food insecurity was consistently and significantly associated with lower orientation toward success (β = −0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.22, −0.14) and higher uncertainty of the future (β = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.17, 0.28) among youth, as well as lower consideration of future consequences (β = −0.15, 95% CI = −0.23, −0.06) among parents. Additionally, severe food insecurity was associated with the lowest future orientation scores for youth and their parents. Our findings indicate that, under conditions of food insecurity, youth and their parents lose sight of the future, which may come at a great cost. Encouraging individuals to engage in thinking about the future or to create future images of their selves may not be meaningful if their basic needs, including access to food, are not met. Programs that provide opportunities to generate income and accumulate assets may have a twofold effect of increasing access to food and improving future orientation

Retrospect and Prospect: What are the future possibilities in the Care Act (2014) for older parent-carers of adults with learning disabilities? A discussion Paper.

Building on this previous research and the practice background of both authors, this paper aims to identify and then explore potential new opportunities and possible challenges brought about by the introduction of the Care Act 2014 for older parent-carers of adults with learning disabilities. By considering some of the themes that had emerged in this earlier research, set within the then current legislative and political landscape (2006), this paper aims to provide a retrospective and prospective analysis of the legal and policy context within which service delivery to this group takes place, such as to orient thinking regarding the role and function of law and policy in relation to the delivery of services to this and, potentially, other carer-groupings. Plans for future research to develop further these areas will also be discussed

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes in the Brain: Cellular Internalization and Neuroinflammatory Responses

The potential use of functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) for drug and gene delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) and as neural substrates makes the understanding of their in vivo interactions with the neural tissue essential. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between chemically functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWNTs) and the neural tissue following cortical stereotactic administration. Two different f-MWNT constructs were used in these studies: shortened (by oxidation) amino-functionalized MWNT (oxMWNT-NH3+) and amino-functionalized MWNT (MWNT-NH3+). Parenchymal distribution of the stereotactically injected f-MWNTs was assessed by histological examination. Both f-MWNT were uptaken by different types of neural tissue cells (microglia, astrocytes and neurons), however different patterns of cellular internalization were observed between the nanotubes. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining for specific markers of glial cell activation (GFAP and CD11b) was performed and secretion of inflammatory cytokines was investigated using real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Injections of both f-MWNT constructs led to a local and transient induction of inflammatory cytokines at early time points. Oxidation of nanotubes seemed to induce significant levels of GFAP and CD11b over-expression in areas peripheral to the f-MWNT injection site. These results highlight the importance of nanotube functionalization on their interaction with brain tissue that is deemed critical for the development nanotube-based vector systems for CNS application

Making Connections and Building Confidence: A Study of Specialist Dating Agencies for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Dating agencies are a small, but growing sector of social care provision for people with intellectual disabilities. The research reported here is the first to explore, with 10 specialist agencies in the UK, why they were set up, how they operate, the barriers and problems they encounter and their success or otherwise in facilitating relationships for people with intellectual disabilities. A strong case is made for the proliferation of such services

A sweeter way of teaching health and safety

The underpinning educational theory for practical work is that of experimental learning or 'learning by and through doing'. Hands-on practical work promotes learning as it provides students with an opportunity to put theory into practice. There are many hazards with practical work, each with an associated risk that students will encounter while they are working in the laboratory and, therefore, adequate instruction should be given before students carry out any practical work. Getting students to engage with this in the past has been difficult due to the dryness of the material. Here we show how every students sweet tooth can be used to teach them risk assessment, experimental design and embedding health and safety as part of their scientific culture

Integrins Have Cell-Type-Specific Roles in the Development of Motor Neuron Connectivity

Formation of the nervous system requires a complex series of events including proper extension and guidance of neuronal axons and dendrites. Here we investigate the requirement for integrins, a class of transmembrane cell adhesion receptors, in regulating these processes across classes of C. elegans motor neurons. We show alpha integrin/ina-1 is expressed by both GABAergic and cholinergic motor neurons. Despite this, our analysis of hypomorphic ina-1(gm144) mutants indicates preferential involvement of alpha integrin/ina-1 in GABAergic commissural development, without obvious involvement in cholinergic commissural development. The defects in GABAergic commissures of ina-1(gm144) mutants included both premature termination and guidance errors and were reversed by expression of wild type ina-1 under control of the native ina-1 promoter. Our results also show that alpha integrin/ina-1 is important for proper outgrowth and guidance of commissures from both embryonic and post-embryonic born GABAergic motor neurons, indicating an ongoing requirement for integrin through two phases of GABAergic neuron development. Our findings provide insights into neuron-specific roles for integrin that would not be predicted based solely upon expression analysis

The WHO UNESCO FIP Pharmacy Education Taskforce: enabling concerted and collective global action

Pharmacy Education is a priority area for the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global federation representing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists worldwide that is spearheading the Global Pharmacy Education Taskforce. This paper describes the work of the Taskforce that was established in March 2008, explores key issues in pharmacy education development, and describes the Global Pharmacy Action Plan 2008-2010. Given the significance of pharmacy education to the diverse practice of contemporary pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel, there is a need for pharmacy education to attain greater visibility on the global human resources for health agenda. From this perspective, FIP is steering the development of holistic and comprehensive pharmacy education and pharmacy workforce action to support and strengthen regional, national, and local efforts. The role of a global organization such as FIP is to facilitate, catalyze, and share efforts to maximize pharmacy education development and stimulate international research to develop guidance, tools, and better understanding of key issues. To achieve this goal, FIP has (1) established a formal collaborative partnership with the 2 United Nations agencies representing the education and health sectors, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Health Organization (WHO); and (2) established the Global Pharmacy Education Taskforce to serve as the coordinating body of these efforts. The initial effort will serve to leverage strategic leadership and maximize the impact of collective actions at global, regional, and national levels. Three project teams have been convened to conduct research, consultations and develop guidance in the domains of vision for pharmacy education, competency, quality assurance, academic workforce, and institutional capacity

DNA from Fingerprints: Attempting Dual Recovery

DNA and Fingerprints are highly prioritised evidence types as they are considered reliable when distinguishing between individuals within a population. Attempts have been documented on recovering both forms of evidence from a single source, but were met with varying success. These studies have however highlighted issues concerning interferences resulting from the methods used to either recover or visualise, with a significant issue lying with contamination or destruction of the DNA by fingerprint enhancement techniques. The aim of the research was to recover DNA prior to enhancement to determine the extent of recovery and damage of both the ridge detail and DNA. Fingerprints were deposited on textured plastic, carrier bags, glass, stainless steel and paper. DNA was recovered by the use of nylon flocked swabs (CopanTM), minitapes (ScenesafeTM) or gelatine lifts (Crime Scene Investigation LimitedTM). Extraction was conducted with QIAmp DNA micro kitTM (QIAGEN®), with Qubit® fluorometry being used for DNA quantification and NGM SelectTM (AmpFISTR®) determining the quality. For fingerprint enhancement; cyanoacrylate, aluminium powder and DFO were used to visualise the prints which were scored using the Centre of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) grading scheme. The gelatine lifts displayed higher detectable levels of DNA along with recovering more donor alleles. The lifts also resulted in the least amount of damage to ridge detail. Minitapes followed in both DNA levels and ridge damage. The nylons swabs displayed a low affinity for collecting DNA while removing all traces of the fingerprints

“Put bluntly, they are targeted by the worst creeps society has to offer”: Police and professionals’ views and actions relating to domestic violence and women with intellectual disabilities

Background: Little is known about the attitudes and practices of key personnel towards the domestic violence experienced by women with intellectual disabilities. Method: An online survey was conducted of Police officers and health and social care professionals. A total of 717 Police and other professionals across a wide variety of UK sites responded. Research questions were focussed on direct experience, attitudes and responses. Results: Approximately half of all respondents had direct experience of working with a woman with intellectual disabilities who had been through domestic violence. Professionals were more likely than the Police to see women with intellectual disabilities as being especially vulnerable. The majority of both professionals and Police believed women with intellectual disabilities were deliberately targeted by violent and abusive men. Conclusions: More training is needed for both the Police and health and social care professionals specifically in domestic violence as it affects women with intellectual disabilities