Self-governing prisons: prison gangs in an international perspective

This paper finds qualified support for the use of Skarbek’s (2011, 2014) governance theory to understand the emergence of prison gang-like groups in Kyrgyzstan, Northern Ireland and Brazil. However, Skarbek’s (2011, 2014) governance theory has little to say about how many prison gangs emerge and how they organise comparatively outside the US context. This paper argues that variation in the number of gangs and their monopolization of informal governance can only be explained by considering importation and deprivation theories alongside governance theories. These theories factor in variation in prison environments and pre-existing societal divisions imported into prison, which affect the costs on information transmission and incentives for gang expansion. In particular, the paper pays attention to the wider role social and political processes play in influencing whether monopoly power by prison gangs is supported and legitimized or not

Computational fluid dynamics as a tool for urban drainage system analysis: a review of applications and best practice

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be applied to gain insights into most fluid processes and associated phenomena and so presents potential to add value in the analysis of urban drainage systems. This paper presents a review of CFD studies carried out in this field, with the objective of developing an appreciation of how and where it can be applied. Existing work has tended to focus around the analysis of four types of urban drainage structure, including Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), storage and attenuation systems, stormwater sediment interceptors and sewerage conveyance structures. Within the respective studies, the prediction of flowfields, particulate behaviour, water surface profiles and Residence Time Distributions (RTDs) are found to form the main focus, and as such, these are considered in most detail in the paper. It is concluded that CFD presents a number of opportunities in urban drainage system analysis, and that the scope of this opportunity will further develop as both computational hardware and software resources become more advanced

Nonlethal age estimation of three threatened fish species using DNA methylation: Australian lungfish, Murray cod and Mary River cod

Age-based demography is fundamental to management of wild fish populations. Age estimates for individuals can determine rates of change in key life-history parameters such as length, maturity, mortality and fecundity. These age-based characteristics are critical for population viability analysis in endangered species and for developing sustainable harvest strategies. For teleost fish, age has traditionally been determined by counting increments formed in calcified structures such as otoliths. However, the collection of otoliths is lethal and therefore undesirable for threatened species. At a molecular level, age can be predicted by measuring DNA methylation. Here, we use previously identified age-associated sites of DNA methylation in zebrafish (Danio rerio) to develop two epigenetic clocks for three threatened freshwater fish species. One epigenetic clock was developed for the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) and the second for the Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) and Mary River cod (Maccullochella mariensis). Age estimation models were calibrated using either known-age individuals, ages derived from otoliths or bomb radiocarbon dating of scales. We demonstrate a high Pearson's correlation between the chronological and predicted age in both the Lungfish clock (cor = .98) and Maccullochella clock (cor = .92). The median absolute error rate for both epigenetic clocks was also low (Lungfish = 0.86 years; Maccullochella = 0.34 years). This study demonstrates the transferability of DNA methylation sites for age prediction between highly phylogenetically divergent fish species. Given the method is nonlethal and suited to automation, age prediction by DNA methylation has the potential to improve fisheries and other wildlife management settings

Evaluation of the impact of excipients and an albendazole salt on albendazole concentrations in upper small intestine using an in vitro biorelevant gastrointestinal transfer (BioGIT) system

An in vitro biorelevant gastrointestinal transfer (BioGIT) system was assessed for its ability to mimic recently reported albendazole concentrations in human upper small intestine after administration of free base suspensions to fasted adults in absence and in presence of supersaturation promoting excipients (hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and lipid self-emulsifying vehicles). The in vitro method was also used to evaluate the likely impact of using the sulfate salt on albendazole concentrations in upper small intestine. In addition, BioGIT data were compared with equilibrium solubility data of the salt and the free base in human aspirates and biorelevant media. The BioGIT system adequately simulated the average albendazole gastrointestinal transfer process and concentrations in upper small intestine after administration of the free base suspensions to fasted adults. However, the degree of supersaturation observed in the duodenal compartment was greater than in vivo. Albendazole sulfate resulted in minimal increase of albendazole concentrations in the duodenal compartment of the BioGIT, despite improved equilibrium solubility observed in human aspirates and biorelevant media, indicating that the use of a salt is unlikely to lead to any significant oral absorption advantage for albendazole

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the “spinal cord injury-falls concern scale” in the Italian population

Study design: Psychometrics study. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop an Italian version of the Spinal Cord Injury-Falls Concern Scale (SCI-FCS) and examine its reliability and validity. Setting: Multicenter study in spinal units in Northern and Southern Italy. The scale also was administered to non-hospitalized outpatient clinic patients. Methods: The original scale was translated from English to Italian using the “Translation and Cultural Adaptation of Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures” guidelines. The reliability and validity of the culturally adapted scale were assessed following the “Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments” checklist. The SCI-FCS-I internal consistency, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability were examined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. Concurrent validity was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient with the Italian version of the short form of the Wheelchair Use Confidence Scale for Manual Wheelchair Users (WheelCon-M-I-short form). Results: The Italian version of the SCI-FCS-I was administered to 124 participants from 1 June to 30 September 2017. The mean ± SD of the SCI-FCS-I score was 16.73 ± 5.88. All SCI-FCS items were either identical or similar in meaning to the original version’s items. Cronbach’s α was 0.827 (p < 0.01), the inter-rater reliability was 0.972 (p < 0.01), and the intra-rater reliability was 0.973 (p < 0.01). Pearson’s correlation coefficient of the SCI-FCS-I scores with the WheelCon-M-I-short form was 0.56 (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The SCI-FCS-I was found to be reliable and a valid outcome measure for assessing manual wheelchair concerns about falling in the Italian population

The microvascular endothelial glycocalyx:An additional piece of the puzzle in veterinary medicine

The endothelial glycocalyx (eGlx) is a critically important structure lining the luminal surface of endothelial cells. There is increasing evidence, in human patients and animal models, for its crucial role in the maintenance of health. Moreover, its damage is associated with the pathogenesis of multiple disease states. This review provides readers with an overview of the eGlx; summarising its structure, essential functions, and evidence for its role in disease. We highlight the lack of studies regarding the eGlx in cats and dogs, particularly in naturally occurring diseases. Importantly, we discuss techniques to aid its study, which can be applied to veterinary species. Finally, we present targeted therapies aimed at preserving, and in some cases, restoring damaged eGlx

Basic life support providers’ assessment of centre of the chest and inter-nipple line for hand position and their underlying anatomical structures

INTRODUCTION Effective chest compression is an integral part of good quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There remains uncertainty over the optimal method for identifying the correct hand position for chest compression. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between basic life support (BLS) providers assessment of the inter-nipple line (INL) versus the centre of the chest (CoC) and to identify the anatomical structures underneath these land marks. METHOD Thirty consecutive patients having elective CT scans of the thorax were recruited and photographs of the patient fully clothed were taken in the supine position. 30 healthcare students trained in BLS were asked to mark the ‘point between the nipples’ and the ‘centre of the chest’ on each photograph in a random sequence. Corresponding points were marked on the CT images and the underlying anatomical structures were identified. RESULTS Hand positions using CoC landmark were significantly higher and were more variable than INL landmark (Measurement represented as ratio of sternal length: mean CoC 0.709, 95% CI 0.677, 0.740 vs mean INL 0.803 95% CI 0.772, 0.835; p<0.0001). Structures underneath CoC and INL hand positions were significantly different; CoC compressing predominantly the aortic arch and ascending aorta and INL compressing the left ventricle and left ventricular outflow (p<0.001). Hand positions were not significantly affected by gender of patients. CONCLUSION Both the centre of the chest landmark and inter-nipple line identify positions on the lower third of the sternum. The centre of the chest technique identifies a point that is consistently higher and more variable than the inter-nipple line. Structures compressed under both landmarks were different although the implications of this are unknown

Care interventions to support transition for young people leaving care: A Scoping Review

In July 2022, Cheshire and Merseyside Social Work Teaching Partnership (CMSWTP) funded a team of social work academics from Edge Hill University, Liverpool Hope University and University of Chester and a principal social worker from Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) adult social care to conduct a scoping review of care interventions to support transition for young people leaving care. This report sets out the findings of the scoping review

HCMV pUL135 remodels the actin cytoskeleton to impair immune recognition of infected cells

Immune evasion genes help human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establish lifelong persistence. Without immune pressure, laboratory-adapted HCMV strains have undergone genetic alterations. Among these, the deletion of the UL/b’ domain is associated with loss of virulence. In a screen of UL/b’, we identified pUL135 as a protein responsible for the characteristic cytopathic effect of clinical HCMV strains that also protected from natural killer (NK) and T cell attack. pUL135 interacted directly with abl interactor 1 (ABI1) and ABI2 to recruit the WAVE2 regulatory complex to the plasma membrane, remodel the actin cytoskeleton and dramatically reduce the efficiency of immune synapse (IS) formation. An intimate association between F-actin filaments in target cells and the IS was dispelled by pUL135 expression. Thus, F-actin in target cells plays a critical role in synaptogenesis, and this can be exploited by pathogens to protect against cytotoxic immune effector cells. An independent interaction between pUL135 and talin disrupted cell contacts with the extracellular matrix