School-based relationship and sexuality education intervention engaging adolescent boys for the reductions of teenage pregnancy: the JACK cluster RCT

BackgroundThe need to engage boys in gender-transformative relationships and sexuality education (RSE) to reduce adolescent pregnancy is endorsed by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects of If I Were Jack on the avoidance of unprotected sex and other sexual health outcomes.DesignA cluster randomised trial, incorporating health economics and process evaluations.SettingSixty-six schools across the four nations of the UK.ParticipantsStudents aged 13–14 years.InterventionA school-based, teacher-delivered, gender-transformative RSE intervention (If I Were Jack) versus standard RSE.Main outcome measuresSelf-reported avoidance of unprotected sex (sexual abstinence or reliable contraceptive use at last sex) after 12–14 months. Secondary outcomes included knowledge, attitudes, skills, intentions and sexual behaviours.ResultsThe analysis population comprised 6556 students: 86.6% of students in the intervention group avoided unprotected sex, compared with 86.4% in the control group {adjusted odds ratio 0.85 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58 to 1.26], p = 0.42}. An exploratory post hoc analysis showed no difference for sexual abstinence [78.30% intervention group vs. 78.25% control group; adjusted odds ratio 0.85 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.24), p = 0.39], but more intervention group students than control group students used reliable contraception at last sex [39.62% vs. 26.36%; adjusted odds ratio 0.52 (95% CI 0.29 to 0.920), p = 0.025]. Students in schools allocated to receive the intervention had significantly higher scores on knowledge [adjusted mean difference 0.18 (95% CI 0.024 to 0.34), p = 0.02], gender-equitable attitudes and intentions to avoid unintended pregnancy [adjusted mean difference 0.61 (95% CI 0.16 to 1.07), p = 0.01] than students in schools allocated to receive the control. There were positive but non-significant differences in sexual self-efficacy and communication skills. The total mean incremental cost of the intervention compared with standard RSE was £2.83 (95% CI –£2.64 to £8.29) per student. Over a 20-year time horizon, the intervention is likely to be cost-effective owing to its impact on unprotected sex because it would result in 379 (95% CI 231 to 477) fewer unintended pregnancies, 680 (95% CI 189 to 1467) fewer sexually transmitted infections and a gain of 10 (95% CI 5 to 16) quality-adjusted life-years per 100,000 students for a cost saving of £9.89 (95% CI –£15.60 to –£3.83).LimitationsThe trial is underpowered to detect some effects because four schools withdrew and the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.12) was larger than that in sample size calculation (0.01).ConclusionsWe present, to our knowledge, the first evidence from a randomised trial that a school-based, male engagement gender-transformative RSE intervention, although not effective in increasing avoidance of unprotected sex (defined as sexual abstinence or use of reliable contraception at last sex) among all students, did increase the use of reliable contraception at last sex among students who were, or became, sexually active by 12–14 months after the intervention. The trial demonstrated that engaging all adolescents early through RSE is important so that, as they become sexually active, rates of unprotected sex are reduced, and that doing so is likely to be cost-effective.Future workFuture studies should consider the longer-term effects of gender-transformative RSE as students become sexually active. Gender-transformative RSE could be adapted to address broader sexual health and other settings

Improving Technology Transfer and Research Commercialisation in the Irish Food Innovation System

End of project reportThe process by which knowledge generated by publicly-funded research is transferred to industry – technology transfer – has been criticised as being inefficient and having limited success. This research project aimed to obtain a better understanding of the technology transfer process and thereby contribute to policy development and provide guidance for researchers to improve the process. Through a series of focus groups, surveys, case studies and depth interviews, the research identified five key challenges that exist in the context of the Irish food innovation system. These relate to communication, industry capabilities, research capabilities, strategic management and socialisation. To address these challenges, a selection of tools, illustrative case studies and recommendations for a range of stakeholders on how to deal with each of these challenges is provided on the project website (www.dit.ie/toolbox/)

Can Dynamic Compression in the Absence of Growth Factors Induce Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Derived MSCs Encapsulated in Agarose Hydrogels?

The objectives of this study were twofold; to determine if cartilage specific matrix synthesis by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is regulated by the magnitude and/or duration of dynamic compression in the absence of growth factors, and to investigate if expanding MSCs in the presence of both fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and transforming growth factor β-3 (TGF-β3) would influence their subsequent response to dynamic compression following encapsulation in agarose hydrogels. Porcine bone marrow derived MSCs were suspended in agarose and cast to produce cylinders (Ø5×3mm). Constructs were maintained in a chemically defined medium. Dynamic compression was applied at 1 Hz at strain amplitudes of 5%, 10% and 5% superimposed upon a 5% pre-strain for durations of 1, 3 and 12 hours. MSCs were also expanded in the presence of FGF-2 and TGF-β3. The biochemical constituents of constructs were analyzed. Under strain magnitudes of 5% and 10% and durations of 1 and 3 hours small increases in sGAG accumulation relative to unloaded controls were observed. However this was orders of magnitude lower than that induced by TGF-β3 stimulation. Expansion in FGF-2 and TGF-β3 did not positively modulate chondrogenesis of MSCs in either unloaded or loaded culture

'Keeping it real' : young working class femininities and celebrity culture

Through a discourse analysis of several celebrity gossip texts, this thesis argues that the discourses within celebrity culture are highly ‘classed’ and highlights that the little empirical research on female audiences of celebrity gossip magazines does pay significant attention to the category of class.  Therefore, this research seeks to explore how young working class women not only negotiate and interact with the ‘classed’ discourses of celebrity culture, but also the role these discourses play in young working class women’s everyday lives and lived experiences.  The empirical data demonstrates how young working class women negotiate the complex discourses that are at work in celebrity culture, particularly with regards to the construction of the self, the female body, fashion and beautification.  Furthermore, through a feminist ethnographic framework, this thesis explores the place of celebrity discourses within the context of young female working class experience, and provides a valuable and much needed insight into the ways in which these discourses are at play in the subjectivities of young working class women.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

'Keeping it real': young working class femininities and celebrity culture

Through a discourse analysis of several celebrity gossip texts, this thesis argues that the discourses within celebrity culture are highly classed and highlights that the little empirical research on female audiences of celebrity gossip magazines does pay significant attention to the category of class.Therefore, this research seeks to explore how young working class women not only negotiate and interact with the classed discourses of celebrity culture, but also the role these discourses play in young working class women's everyday lives and lived experiences. The empirical data demonstrates how young working class women negotiate the complex discourses that are at work in celebrity culture, particularly with regards to the construction of the self, the female body, fashion and beautification. Furthermore, through a feminist ethnographic framework, this thesis explores the place of celebrity discourses within the context of young female working class experience, and provides a valuable and much needed insight into the ways in which these discourses are at play in the subjectivities of young working class women

Exercise on Referral – Symposium hosted by the Physical Activity Special Interest Group of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University

THE Physical Activity Special Interest Group of the Wolfson Research Insti- tute for Health and Wellbeing (Durham University) hosted a symposium focused on exercise referral schemes (ERS), on 14 October 2016 at the College of St Hild and St Bede, Durham. Exercise referral schemes typically allow health professionals, such as general practitioners, nurses and physiotherapists to refer inactive individuals with long-term health conditions to a third party leisure provider for a supervised exercise programme, with the aim of increasing physical activity levels. The symposium was lively and thought-provoking with pres- entations divided into two core themes: ‘Emerging Evidence for ERS’ and ‘Future Developments for ERS’

Dynamic compression can inhibit chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells

Funding was provided by Science Foundation Ireland (07-RFP-ENMF142) and Enterprise Ireland (PC/2006/384)

Comparison of Psychological Response between Concussion and Musculoskeletal Injury in Collegiate Athletes

The psychological response to musculoskeletal injuries has been well documented, however, research on the psychological response to concussion is limited. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) have recently been used to assess the psychological recovery of concussions. Although some studies indicate that psychological response is different for musculoskeletal injuries and concussion, there is currently not enough information to indicate this difference occurs at specific clinical milestones. The purpose of this study was to compare the psychological responses of student-athletes who have been diagnosed with a concussion to those of athletes diagnosed with musculoskeletal injuries with similar recovery duration. Fifteen collegiate athletes who sustained a musculoskeletal injury were recruited and matched with 15 previously collected concussion participants. The main outcome measures were the scores of POMS constructs: tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, depression-dejection, vigor-activity, confusion-bewilderment, and total mood disturbance and STAI (state anxiety only). Two-way MANOVAs was run to determine the effects of group and time on POMS and STAI constructs. There were no significant interactions identified, but follow-up ANOVAs identified a main effect for time for most POMS subscales, with POMS scores improving over time in both groups. Analyses also revealed that tension-anxiety, vigor-activity and the STAI were not affected by time or group. The findings of this study, that both groups' psychological response to injury improves over time and at similar clinical milestones suggests reduction in sports and team related activities may play a substantial role in the psychological response to either concussion or musculoskeletal injury

Cell-matrix interactions regulate mesenchymal stem cell response to hydrostatic pressure.

Both hydrostatic pressure (HP) and cell-matrix interactions have independently been shown to regulate the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the response of MSCs to hydrostatic pressure will depend on the biomaterial within which the cells are encapsulated. Bone-marrow-derived MSCs were seeded into either agarose or fibrin hydrogels and exposed to 10 MPa of cyclic HP (1 Hz, 4 h per day, 5 days per week for 3 weeks) in the presence of either 1 or 10 ng ml(-1) of TGF-β3. Agarose hydrogels were found to support a spherical cellular morphology, while MSCs seeded into fibrin hydrogels attached and spread, with clear stress fiber formation. Hydrogel contraction was also observed in MSC-fibrin constructs. While agarose hydrogels better supported chondrogenesis of MSCs, HP only enhanced sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) accumulation in fibrin hydrogels, which correlated with a reduction in fibrin contraction. HP also reduced alkaline phosphatase activity in the media for both agarose and fibrin constructs, suggesting that this stimulus plays a role in the maintenance of the chondrogenic phenotype. This study demonstrates that a complex relationship exists between cell-matrix interactions and hydrostatic pressure, which plays a key role in regulating the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs