How do professionals, parents/carers and children view the role of the learning mentor in a multi-agency setting?

"This project will enable the learning mentor team to establish what links have been made with outside agencies and how professionals view the role of the learning mentor. There is little research locally into this area and it is hoped important learning can be fed back to policymakers and strategists within the local authority." - Page 5

Feeding Soy Protein Isolate andor Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on the Spleen-Liver Axis in a Female Rat Model of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease with Liver Steatosis

ABSTRACT Feeding Soy Protein Isolate and/or Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on the Spleen-Liver Axis in a Female Rat Model of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease with Liver Steatosis Lauren Brooke Gibson Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a congenital hepatorenal fibrocystic syndrome with a mortality rate of 30% during the first year of life. The most common extra-renal manifestation of ARPKD is liver disease with a greater rate in females due to their higher estrogen levels. Abnormal spleen enlargement (splenomegaly) has been found to occur in 60% of ARPKD patients. In the absence of effective medications to treat the hepatic and splenic complications of ARPKD, diet offers a potentially efficacious, safe, and cost-effective therapy option. Soy protein isolate (SPI) has been shown to reduce cyst proliferation associated with its anti-estrogenic and anti-inflammatory actions. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory effects and influence mediators of de novo lipogenesis (DNL) through up-regulation of beta-oxidation. Young (age 28 days) female PCK rats, an orthologous animal model of ARPKD, were randomly assigned to one of four diets (n=12/group) and fed for 12 weeks. Diet groups consisted of 1) casein + corn oil (Casein + CO), 2) casein + soybean oil (Casein + SO), 3) soy protein isolate + soybean oil (SPI + SO), or 4) soy protein isolate + a 1:1 soybean: salmon oil blend (SPI + SB) rich in long chain n-3 PUFAs. Unexpectedly, SPI + SB fed rats had the highest histological evidence of hepatic steatosis (p=0.003) suggesting non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is the leading cause of chronic liver disease in adults and children consuming Westernized diets. The SPI + SB group also had increased (p=0.03) inflammation and up-regulated (p=0.03) expression of fibrosis related genes suggesting progression of NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The spleen was also significantly (P=0.02) elongated in the SPI+SB fed group compared to the Casein + CO and Casein + SO groups. However, spleen weight was not significantly different among diet. We hypothesize the spleen-liver axis is responsible for the development of steatosis and fibrosis in our rats. Given the close anatomical proximity of the spleen to the liver bioactive compounds produced by the spleen such as splenic fatty acids, inflammatory and immune genes can directly access the liver via the splenic and portal veins. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of SPI and/or n-3 PUFAs on splenic DNL, lipolysis, inflammatory response, and immune gene expression. Results of DNL gene expression and splenic fatty acid content of DNL fatty acids were not significantly different among diet groups. Rats fed the SPI+SB diet containing the highest (P\u3c0.001) dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) exhibited the highest (P\u3c0.001) splenic EPA and DHA, and the lowest (P=0.03) splenic arachidonic acid (AA) showing diet did effect the spleen with potentially anti-inflammatory effects. However, no significant differences in gene expression regulating inflammation or immunity were found among dietary treatment groups. Based on our results we concluded that diet had no effect on splenomegaly and splenomegaly did not significantly contribute to the development of liver steatosis in a female PCK rat model

Examining the Impacts of Flooding on Public Health

Over the past 10 years, South Carolina has experienced over five major weather events that have led to extreme flooding along the coast. These types of repeated major events have the potential to significantly impact people’s lives and livelihoods. When looking at the issue from a public health perspective, it is known that natural disasters such as flooding can negatively affect community health. However, little research has been done to analyze the impacts on individual health from flooding. This issue inspired a more in-depth research analysis to examine those health impacts from local Horry County residents. This research aims to gain a better understanding of how survivors of flooding are impacted and to highlight those issues to the public. This thesis is based on qualitative analysis of interviews conducted by students from Coastal Carolina University as part of the Flooded Afterlives project. The analysis focused on three main research questions that related to information pertaining to the health of flood survivors, what they wish their community knew, and what changes they would like to see in the future. Collecting and disseminating this information from survivors will allow their voices to be finally heard and create changes to prevent further disasters to communities

Internship Satisfaction and Educational Performance

This paper investigates the impact of internship satisfaction on educational performance, in particular GPA, and subsequent educational impacts, including changing a major and adding a minor post-internship. I conduct a survey to collect data on undergraduate students of different class years and majors. The survey asks students questions on their demographic background, their internship experience, and their GPA by year. I collect data on several measures of satisfaction including colleagues, work environment, work load, substance of work, and pay. Using the data I collect from the survey, I run cross-sectional regressions of demeaned GPA gap on satisfaction variables and control variables. The dependent variable being tested is the change in deviation from the mean before and after the internship. I also run logistic regressions to determine whether additional internship satisfaction leads to a change of major. Additionally, I run matched-pair regressions on GPA post internship of one student, compared to the GPA of a student in the corresponding term that did not have an internship. Each pair is matched by gender, class year, major, and freshman GPA. Regression results suggest there is no concrete evidence that internship satisfaction affects change in grade point average, a change in major post internship, or an added minor post-internship. There is little evidence to suggest a connection between internship satisfaction and GPA difference between matched pairs

Population Dynamics of Endangered Iresine Rhizomatosa (Juda’s Bush)

Population changes of Iresine rhizomatosa Standl. (Juda’s bush, bloodleaf: Amaranthaceae) a State listed (Endangered in Illinois and Maryland, Rare in Indiana) perennial bush of floodplain forests is reported. The size/stage class distribution of I. rhizomatosa plants in Beall Woods and Robeson Hills, Illinois was determined to assess the proportional representation of individuals of different sizes, and monitor fecundity. One hundred randomly located individuals were tagged in each population in March 2012 and monitored for two years. Seedling emergence was monitored from fall 2012 through spring 2013. The number of flowering spikes, and numbers of seed produced were monitored on randomly selected adult plants in fall 2012. Survivorship of seedlings was low (\u3c 50%), re-growth of plants was poor, and seeds had low viability (8-12%) and germination rate (\u3c 1%); all features consistent with the rare status of this state-endangered plant. As a perennial, this plant is buffered to some extent against periods of poor recruitment, but populations would be at risk if these coincided with periods of high adult mortality

The effect of an 8-week classroom-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour programme on adolescents' motivation and physical activity

We determine the effect of "ActiveChat" - an 8-week classroom-based physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) programme on adolescents' motivation and PA. Results of the feasibility study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that an 8-week teacher-led classroom-based PA and SB programme has the potential to maintain adolescents' motivation towards PA, and increase in-class levels of PA. This indicates that pedagogical methods could be adapted to incorporate more PA within secondary school classrooms

Classroom-based physical activity and sedentary behavior interventions in adolescents : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: It is reported that 81% of adolescents are insufficiently active. Schools play a pivotal role in promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate classroom-based PA and SB interventions in adolescents. Methods: A search strategy was developed using the PICOS framework. Articles were screened using strict inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project quality assessment tool ( http://www.ephpp.ca/tools.html ). Outcome data for preintervention and postintervention were extracted, and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: The strategy yielded 7574 potentially relevant articles. Nine studies were included for review. Study quality was rated as strong for 1 study, moderate for 5 studies, and weak for 3 studies. Five studies were included for meta-analyses, which suggested that the classroom-based interventions had a nonsignificant effect on PA (P=.55, d=0.05) and a small, nonsignificant effect on SB ( P=.16, d=−0.11). Conclusion: Only 9 relevant studies were found, and the effectiveness of the classroom-based PA and SB interventions varied. Based on limited empirical studies, there is not enough evidence to determine the most effective classroom-based methodology to increase PA and SB

Interventions by healthcare professionals to improve management of physical long-term conditions in adults who are homeless: a systematic review protocol

Introduction People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of, and have poorer outcomes from, a range of physical long-term conditions (LTCs). It is increasingly recognised that interventions targeting people who are homeless should be tailored to the specific needs of this population. This systematic review aims to identify, describe and appraise trials of interventions that aim to manage physical LTCs in homeless adults and are delivered by healthcare professionals. Methods and analysis Seven electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Assia, Scopus, PsycINFO and CINAHL) will be searched from 1960 (or inception) to October 2016 and supplemented by forward citation searching, handsearching of reference lists and searching grey literature. Two reviewers will independently review titles, abstract and full-texts using DistillerSR software. Inclusion criteria include (1) homeless adults with any physical LTC, (2) interventions delivered by a healthcare professional (any professional trained to provide any form of healthcare, but excluding social workers and professionals without health-related training), (3) comparison with usual care or an alternative intervention, (4) report outcomes such as healthcare usage, physical and psychological health or well-being or cost-effectiveness, (5) randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials, controlled before-after studies. Quality will be assessed using the Cochrane EPOC Risk of Bias Tool. A meta-analysis will be performed if sufficient data are identified; however, we anticipate a narrative synthesis will be performed. Ethics and dissemination This review will synthesise existing evidence for interventions delivered by healthcare professionals to manage physical LTCs in adults who are homeless. The findings will inform the development of future interventions and research aiming to improve the management of LTCs for people experiencing homelessness. Ethical approval will not be required for this systematic review as it does not contain individual patient data. We will disseminate the results of this systematic review via conference presentations, healthcare professional networks, social media and peer-reviewed publication