The third sector and social care for older people in England: towards an explanation of its contrasting contributions in residential care, domiciliary care and day care

This paper reviews the historical and recent development of the third sector in social care services for older people, and uses this as a springboard to develop a typology to capture in stylised form the diversity of providers within the sector. After reviewing a range of evidence concerning the nature of the third sector’s relative contribution, three propositions are developed to explain why this balance varies so significantly between residential care, domiciliary care and day care. First, differences in the character of the regulatory regime, reflecting both the historical legacy of market development and different attributes of the services and their users; second, the nature of the demand for, and supply of, volunteers; and third, variations in the internal composition of the third sector. The last proposition underscores the importance of attending to internal variety within the third sector in understanding its contribution to the broader mixed economy of care

Single cell gel electrophoresis-based investigations of UVR- and visible light-induced single strand breakage in cultured human cells

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/627 on 27.02.2017 by CS (TIS)Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/627 Submitted by Collection Services ([email protected]) on 2011-09-23T10:53:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 300874.pdf: 34357514 bytes, checksum: ba348bb40e7ab7a3d9575bd4d8319acf (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Collection Services([email protected]) on 2011-09-23T10:53:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 300874.pdf: 34357514 bytes, checksum: ba348bb40e7ab7a3d9575bd4d8319acf (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2011-09-23T10:53:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 300874.pdf: 34357514 bytes, checksum: ba348bb40e7ab7a3d9575bd4d8319acf (MD5) Previous issue date: 1999Single strand breaks induced by very low fluence UVR (20 µW cmˉ² , 310 nm) and visible light (70 µW cmˉ² , 405 nm) and higher fluence unfiltered xenon arc lamp radiation (3 mW cmˉ² ) were measured by single cell gel electrophoresis. The normal responses of 6 cell lines to the low fluence radiation show a peak in single strand breaks after approximately 2 minutes, after which time the single strand breakage returns to background levels despite continued irradiation. This was not observed with the higher fluence irradiation. The repair of these single strand breaks was observed to be complete within 4 minutes after both high and low fluence irradiation. The dose responses were modulated by beta-carotene and o-phenanthroline; these molecules appeared to have both photosensitising and photoprotective properties, in the cells tested at least. Inorganic arsenic (V) was observed to inhibit single strand break repair and the religation of repair-related excised lesions. Arsenic-induced crosslinking and the excision of the crosslinked lesions were observed. The Area Moment, a new parameter for the image analysis of these low dose phenomena based on the measurement of the Comet Area and DNA migration, is proposed. The Area Moment displayed a higher level of sensitivity to the dose responses. Lower variance in Area Moment data enabled statistical significance (p < 0.05, t-test) to be attained where existing parameters returned only borderline significance at best.Cornwall Skin Cancer Research Grou

Functional expression of the yeast alpha-factor receptor in Xenopus oocytes

The STE2 gene of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a 431- residue polypeptide that has been shown by chemical cross-linking and genetic studies to be a component of the receptor for the peptide mating pheromone, alpha-factor. To demonstrate directly that the ligand binding site of the alpha-factor receptor is comprised solely of the STE2 gene product, the STE2 protein was expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Oocytes microinjected with synthetic STE2 mRNA displayed specific surface binding for 35S-labeled alpha-factor (up to 40 sites/micron2/ng RNA). Oocytes injected with either STE2 antisense RNA or heterologous receptor mRNA (nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha, beta, gamma, and delta subunit mRNAs) showed no binding activity (indistinguishable from uninjected control oocytes). The apparent KD (7 nM) of the alpha-factor binding sites expressed on the oocyte surface, determined by competition binding studies, agreed with the values reported for intact yeast cells and yeast plasma membrane fractions. These findings demonstrate that the STE2 gene product is the only yeast polypeptide required for biogenesis of a functional alpha-factor receptor. Electrophysiological measurements indicated that the membrane conductance of oocytes injected with STE2 mRNA, or with both STE2 and GPA1 (encoding a yeast G protein alpha-subunit) mRNAs, did not change and was not affected by pheromone binding. Thus, the alpha-factor receptor, like mammalian G protein-coupled receptors, apparently lacks activity as an intrinsic or ligand-gated ion channel. This report is the first instance in which a membrane-bound receptor from a unicellular eukaryote has been expressed in a vertebrate cell

Maize Water Use in Living Mulch Systems with Stover Removal

Constraints to maize (Zea mays L.) stover biomass harvest may be mitigated by using a living mulch (LM) to offset C exports and control soil erosion. Living mulches can compete with the main crop for resources, particularly water. The objectives of this research were to quantify soil water dynamics and maize water use in continuous maize with stover removal. Continuous soil water content (SWC) and reproductive whole-plant water use were measured in no-till maize growing in LMs of creeping red fescue (CF) (Festuca rubra L.), Kentucky bluegrass (KB) (Poa pratensis L.), and a no-LM control between 2008 and 2010 near Ames, IA. In 2 yr with excessive rainfall (2008 and 2010), LMs increased SWC compared to the control at 15 cm. No-till LM treatments lowered grain yield in 2008 and 2010 compared to the control, although a KB fall strip-till treatment, which was part of the larger research study, produced yields that were not different than the control all 3 yr. Reproductive water use efficiency for no-till KB in 2008 and 2009 (51 and 42 g grain per cm water) was 21 and 14% greater than the control (42 and 37) but 24% lower in 2010 (41 vs. 51). Maize water use in the control exhibited a bimodal response averaged across the 3 yr with peak water use occurring at the R1 through R2 period (0.58 cm d−1) and declining to 0.26 cm d−1 during R5 through R6. In contrast, no-till KB exhibited a simple negative linear relationship with water use rates declining from a high of 0.47 cm d−1 during the R1 through R2 period to 0.22 cm d−1 during R5 through R6. These results indicate LMs may increase SWC and utilize water more effectively, particularly when combining strip-till and herbicide management

Evaluation of Grass and Legume Species as Perennial Ground Covers in Corn Production

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover has been identified as an important feedstock for biofuel production but its removal will likely increase soil erosion. To address this issue 35 species of grasses and legumes were evaluated as potential perennial ground covers (PGCs) in corn. Selection of species encompassed both C3 and C4 species with a wide range of developmental and morphological features. The objectives were to (i) identify species that could support a high level of corn production while requiring minimal management and (ii) identify morphological traits and growth habits of suitable entries as PGC. Over the 3-yr study period species with slow growing and spreading habits were more conducive to corn production, even though these PGCs still caused an average 23% reduction in corn grain yield. Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L.), Canada bluegrass (Poa compressa L.), fowl bluegrass (Poa palustris L.), and colonial bentgrass (Agrostis capillaris L.) were identified as suitable PGC species. These species were generally shorter and slower to spread into the corn rows compared with other, more aggressive species. Based on these observations an ideotype for future PGC species should be low growing, clump forming, and shade tolerant and have delayed green-up in the spring

The role and scope of the UK voluntary sector

This thesis describes and analyses the scope and scale of the UK voluntary sector, drawing on research undertaken within the context of an international comparative project. It provides the first systematic and comprehensive attempt to map the economic contribution of the voluntary sector in terms of paid employment and financial resources, using both a broad definition suitable for international comparative purposes and a narrow one tailored to the UK context. The methodology for constructing the mapping are described and the results are analysed, organised by the International Classification of Nonprofit Organisations (ICNPO). The thesis also sets the sector's current contributions in historical context with reference to its changing relationship with the state, and the role of religion in its development. It explores the voluntary sector's wider social and political role from a variety of perspectives. The study traces and analyses the recent development of links with the state at a general level, and disaggregated by field (housing, special employment measures, urban development, international aid and personal social services) and tier of the state (central, local and territorial government). There is also a detailed analysis of the historical and recent development of part of the largest field of voluntary sector service provision activity in the UK (under a broad definition of the sector), primary and secondary education. The thesis concludes with a discussion of what light the UK experience analyses in this study sheds on some of the main theories relating to the role and scope of the voluntary sector that have been developed in the international literature on the voluntary, non-profit or third sector

Human Performance Assessments in Cadet Populations

This study assessed potential physiological differences between the Ranger Challenge (RC) Competition team and junior year cadets in an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program. The method included: RC (m = 11, f = 2) and junior year cadets (m = 7, f = 3) were assessed in the following areas: 1) quickness and agility (5-10-5 shuttle run), 2) total-body power (standing broad jump), and 3) grip strength (hand grip dynamometry) assessed. The 5-10-5 shuttle run was performed twice (opening once to the left and once to the right). The standing broad jump required that cadets stand with their toes behind a line, perform a maximum of three preparatory movements, triple extend their knees, hips, and ankles while using their upper body to propel them as far forward as possible. After the jump the distanced reached was measured from the line to the heel of the nearest foot. Hand grip dynamometry was performed once on each hand. The cadet held the dynamometer out to his or her side and squeezed it as they lowered it to their hip. The results were that there were no significant differences between groups for the 5-10-5 shuttle run (p = 0.91), standing broad jump (p = 0.49), or grip strength (p = 0.31). RC did not outperform