Creative cross-sectoral collaboration: a conceptual framework of factors influencing partnerships for arts, health and wellbeing.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the factors impacting cross-sectoral collaboration in arts, health and wellbeing programme, policy and strategy development in South West England. STUDY DESIGN: The study used a participatory action research approach and qualitative methods in the context of a broader effort to develop a regional arts, health and wellbeing strategy. METHODS: Data collection methods included participant observation, semi-structured interviews, a focus group and feedback collected through collaborative online discussion documents. Data were coded using qualitative data analysis software and analysed using thematic analysis. Data were used inductively to develop the conceptual framework of key factors influencing cross-sectoral collaboration in arts, health and wellbeing. RESULTS: Seven key factors that affect cross-sectoral collaboration for arts, health and wellbeing activities were derived from the data and analysis: value and legitimacy, relationships, policy and system complexity, power, capacity, resources and alignment. A conceptual framework shows how these factors relate to each other in multiple configurations and shape cross-sectoral collaborations. CONCLUSIONS: There are increasing opportunities for organisations to partner on arts, health and wellbeing activities. This study highlights key factors influencing the ability to collaborate across sectors and to align with local and national policy agendas. The proposed conceptual framework offers a way to think holistically about how to design for and manage these collaborations.

Theory of mind, empathy and emotion perception in cortical and subcortical neurodegenerative diseases.

Although the impact of neurodegenerative diseases on everyday interactions is well known in the literature, their impact on social cognitive processes remains unclear. The concept of social cognition refers to a set of skills, all of which are essential for living in a community. It involves social knowledge, perception and processing of social cues, and representation of mental states. This report is a review of recent findings on the impact of cortical and subcortical neurodegenerative diseases on three social cognitive processes, namely, the theory of mind, empathy and processing emotions. The focus here is on a conceptual approach to each of these skills and their cerebral underpinnings.

Effects of two field continuous incremental tests on cardiorespiratory responses in Standardbred trotters.

In humans, cardiorespiratory responses are widely evaluated from field incremental exercise tests. On the contrary, equine exercise physiology faces a huge lack of oxygen consumption measurements (VO2) in field conditions due to technical concerns. The aim of this study was to test the effects of two incremental continuous field tests on cardiorespiratory responses in Standardbred trotters. The two protocols were realized at trot and ended when horses galloped. The tests started at 4.2 m/s (T1) and 6.4 m/s (T2), with speed increments of 1.4 m/s every 3 min for T1 and 0.8 m/s every 2 min for T2. Velocity (v), heart rate (HR) and gas exchanges were recorded continuously, and blood lactate concentration [La(-)] was measured before and after tests. Values recorded at the end of the tests were considered as peak values. The vpeak values were 10.6 ± 0.3 and 10.7 ± 0.7 m/s for T1 and T2 respectively. Horses reached higher VO2peak (T1: 116.6 ± 11.5 ml/min/kg; T2: 88.9 ± 10.2 ml/min/kg; p < 0.05) and HRpeak (T1: 217 ± 5 bpm; T2: 209 ± 3 bpm; p < 0.05) during T1 compared with T2. T1 was significantly longer than T2 (17.5 ± 1.9 vs. 12.9 ± 1.6 min respectively, p < 0.01), and the number of steps entirely ran tended to be different (T1: 5.6 ± 0.6; T2: 6.2 ± 0.8, p = 0.07). Compared to T2, the design of T1 appeared easier to implement and allowed higher cardiorespiratory responses. The relationship between HR-VO2 obtained through T1 gave a better correlation between the two variables than T2. These findings suggest that T1 might be better than T2 for evaluating cardiorespiratory adaptations to exercise and for estimating aerobic energy expenditure in exercising trotters.

Technical note: Comparison of two methods to quantify exercise energy expenditure in trotters.

This study aimed at quantifying energy expenditure during 4 specific training exercises, that is, promenade, jogging, parcours, and interval exercises, using field measurements of oxygen consumption and heart rate in trotters. Six animals performed 2 preliminary tests to determine their individual maximum velocity and to establish their individual oxygen consumption/heart rate relationship from an incremental test. Then, they undertook each of the 4 specific exercises separated by 1 wk to avoid fatigue. The intensity of the 4 exercises was expressed in percent of individual maximum velocity as well as duration and distance set according to current training practices of French trotter trainers. Throughout the incremental test and the 4 exercises, oxygen consumption and heart rate were continuously recorded using a portable respiratory gas analyzer. Energy expenditure of the 3 different phases (warm-up, exercise, and recovery) of the 4 exercises and the total energy expended during exercises (sum of energy expended during the 3 phases) were calculated from direct oxygen uptake measurements and from estimated oxygen uptake using heart rate and O caloric equivalent. The quantification of total energy expenditure from the 2 methods was not significantly different. However, estimated energy expenditure was significantly lower from estimated oxygen consumption than direct oxygen uptake method concerning the warm-up and exercise phase of parcours. Our results indicate that the estimated oxygen uptake from heart rate measurements could be used to evaluate total energy expenditure of exercises in trotters. Whereas this method requires previous establishment of an individual oxygen consumption/heart rate curve, it is easy to record using commercially available instruments under practical conditions and opens new perspectives to assess energy balance in trotters' nutrition.

Quantification of the energy expenditure during training exercises in Standardbred trotters.

An appropriate energy feeding management that ensures the optimal dietary energy supply according to the energy expenditure (EE) is a crucial component for the horse's performance. The main purpose of this study was to determine the EE during four specific exercises used in the training of Standardbred trotters (promenade, jogging, parcours and interval work-outs). A total of six Standardbred geldings performed four different testing situations on a track. The intensity (expressed in percentage of the maximal velocity over 500 m, i.e. v500) and volume (distance and duration) of the testing situations were determined according to practices reported by French trainers. Promenade and jogging included only an exercise phase, whereas parcours and interval situations also included a warm-up and a recovery phase. Oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2) and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded from 2 min before the beginning through to the end of the testing situations, using a portable respiratory gas analyser. Blood lactate levels and rectal temperature were determined before and immediately after the exercise phase of each testing situations. EE of the different phases (warm-up, exercise and recovery) and EE of the entire testing situations (EETOTAL) were calculated from VO2 measurements and the O2 caloric equivalent. Interval and parcours situations induced higher physiological responses than promenade and jogging situations, particularly in terms of VO2peak, VCO2peak and HRpeak. The highest blood lactate concentration (6 mmol/l) was measured after the interval exercise, and respiratory exchange ratios ⩾1 were observed only for the parcours situation. The EE of exercise phase varied from 0.49 to 1.79 kJ/min per kg for promenade and parcours situations. The EE of warm-up and recovery phases did not differ between parcours and interval situations, and was estimated at 1.04 and 0.57 kJ/min per kg BW, respectively. On average, the warm-up and the recovery phases contributed to 38% and 19% of the EETOTAL. For promenade, jogging, parcours and interval situations, EETOTAL was evaluated at 12 618, 11 119, 13 698 and 18 119 kJ, respectively.

Parathyroid hormone receptor in human placental syncytiotrophoblast brush border and basal plasma membranes.

The syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta is the site of exchange of nutrients and minerals between the mother and fetus. We have recently demonstrated that PTH influences, in vitro, phosphate transport through the placenta brush border membranes (BBM) and increases cAMP accumulation in placental tissue. To demonstrate the site of binding of PTH in the cytoplasmic membrane, we have purified two polar membranes: the first located on the apical side, the BBM, and the second, on the fetal side, the basal plasma membrane (BPM). BBM were enriched 24-fold in alkaline phosphatase (marker for BBM), and the BPM was enriched 37-fold in binding of [3H] dihydroalprenolol (marker for BPM) compared to homogenate. Both placental membranes contain binding sites (maximum binding = 0.550 +/- 0.032 and 0.298 +/- 0.065 pmol/mg protein for BBM and BPM, respectively) with similar affinities (Kd = 2.05 +/- 0.23 and 1.78 +/- 0.19 nM, respectively) for 125I-[Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34] bovine (b) PTH-(1-34) amide. The three bovine preparations [bPTH-(1-34), its analog [Nle8,Nle18,Try34]bPTH-(1-34) amide, and the antagonist bPTH-(3-34)] were equipotent in binding to both placental membranes. In contrast, human PTH-(1-84) was more effective in displacing the bovine radioligand in BBM. Thyrocalcitonin and insulin, two non-PTH peptides, did not significantly displace the radioligand in BBM and BPM. Adenylate cyclase activity, located exclusively in BPM, was stimulated by PTH. Since the enzyme is absent from BBM, it is probable that the binding of the hormone to this membrane activates another system of messengers.

The detection of brief daytime sleep episodes.

INTRODUCTION: In the present study we evaluated the characteristics of sleep-onset detection (during daytime nap opportunities) as a function of differing sleep lengths among healthy, asymptomatic subjects. METHODS: Twenty subjects were randomized into a Latin square design in which each subject received 1, 5, 10, and 20 minutes of sleep during an MSLT. Subjects were asked after each nap if they fell asleep. The rate of sleep detection was analyzed as a function of sleep duration. RESULTS: Three subjects detected sleep onset after 1 minute of sleep, 7 subjects after 5 minutes of sleep, 10 subjects after 10 minutes of sleep, and 14 after 20 minutes of sleep (chi 2 = 9.63, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The present data indicate the importance of sleep duration in an individual's ability to detect the occurrence of sleep. Importantly, only three subjects detected sleep after 1 minute of sleep, emphasizing the dangerous nature of brief sleep episodes in the context of public safety.

The chronic efficacy of midazolam.

The chronic efficacy of midazolam 15.0 mg was studied in 2 male and 10 female subjects. Only subjects with a complaint of sleep latency insomnia which was verified by polysomnography were included in the study. Following a screening and adaptation period, subjects spent 3 consecutive nights in the laboratory during the weeks of the study. Placebo was administered 15 min before lights out on the initial 8 and final 2 nights, and midazolam for the intervening 35 nights. Midazolam significantly reduced sleep latency parameters and significantly increased total sleep time the entire 5 weeks of nightly administration. No within-night rebound insomnia, residual daytime effects, or rebound effects upon discontinuation appeared.

Structural, relative, and absolute agreement between parents' and adolescent inpatients' reports of adolescent functional impairment.

This study assessed agreement between parents' and adolescent inpatients' scores on caretaker and self-report versions of the Functional Impairment Scale for Children and Adolescents (FISCA and FISCA-SR). Self-report data describing impairment in eight domains were collected from 375 inpatients (M age = 15.0 years, 55% females), with parent data available for 233 (62%). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated structural congruence between a hypothesized, three-factor model, based on a prior study of the parent FISCA, and an observed model, based on responses to the FISCA-SR (GFI = .95). Correlations (measuring relative agreement) and paired comparisons of means (assessing absolute agreement) generally identified stronger agreement in "public" than "private" domains of impairment, and greater relative than absolute agreement in covert, antisocial domains.

Direct continuous measurements of thermal expansion coefficients of liquids and solids using flow microcalorimetry.

A differential heat capacity flow microcalorimeter is used to monitor in a continuous mode the thermal expansion of a sample during a programmed temperature scan. The sample may consist of liquids, suspensions, or bulk solids in a confining liquid and the typical temperature scanning rate is of the order of 1 K/min. The technique has a precision better than 1% and a detection limit of 10(-6) ml s(-1). In contrast to conventional dilatometers, this technique offers variable sensitivity and is not limited by the magnitude of the total volume change during the experiment. Various expansibility data obtained in the temperature range 10-55 degrees C are reported for several systems, namely water, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and aqueous solutions of sodium chloride. The volume changes for the thermal transition of Teflon and the phase separation of 2-butoxyethanol/water mixtures further illustrate the possibilities of this new technique.

The relationship of vaginal and cesarean births to father-infant attachment.

A descriptive, correlational study was undertaken to determine the relationship between type of birth, vaginal or cesarean, and father-infant attachment. Attachment behaviors were measured in the home one month after birth for 60 father-infant pairs (30 vaginal and 30 cesarean). Results from the father-infant observation tool and the paternal caretaking activities questionnaire indicated no significant difference between the groups. However, the following variables did predict reported caretaking activities: infant gender, previous children, father's presence at the delivery, and early contact.

Adjustment to a newborn. Sibling preparation makes a difference.

Two groups of 20 mothers and their firstborn children (matched for age and sex) were investigated to determine whether sibling preparation for the birth of a newborn made a difference in the behavior of the children and in the mothers' perceptions of their own ability to cope with the children. One group of mothers and their children attended a sibling preparation class; the other group did not. Each group was pretested and posttested with the Parent-Child Assessment Tool. A significant difference was found between the two groups.

Development of an ostomy competency.

Staff educators and staff nurses developed an ostomy competency, with the guidance and expertise of the advanced practitioner and enterostomal nurse at a large teaching hospital. The competency improved the quality of care for surgical ostomy patients. Care was standardized and staff nurses' clinical knowledge was enhanced. Following the sessions, staff nurses verbalized increased confidence in working with patients with ostomies and demonstrated increased autonomy and problem-solving abilities. No variances in educational aspects of care were noted on clinical pathways.

[Clinical case management of severely mentally ill homeless people.]. / Le suivi systématique clinique de personnes itinérantes souffrant de troubles mentaux graves et persistants.

The aim of this clinical case management project was to improve the health and quality of life of homeless mentally ill people and to help them use more appropriately health and welfare services. During a descriptive study that lasted 12 months, data was collected concerning the case manager's intervention as well as the assessment of these interventions on the clients' health and behavior and on community resources' services. Although limited in scope and length, the project shows some positive results. Recommendations are made concerning essential collaboration between all health and welfare professionals working with this population.

POU4F1 is associated with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia and contributes directly to its unique transcriptional signature.

The t(8;21)(q22;q22) translocation, present in approximately 5% of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, produces the AML1/ETO (AE) fusion protein. Dysregulation of the Pit/Oct/Unc (POU) domain-containing transcription factor POU4F1 is a recurring abnormality in t(8;21) AML. In this study, we showed that POU4F1 overexpression is highly correlated with, but not caused by, AE. We observed that AE markedly increases the self-renewal capacity of myeloid progenitors from murine bone marrow or fetal liver and drives the expansion of these cells in liquid culture. POU4F1 is neither necessary nor sufficient for these AE-dependent properties, suggesting that it contributes to leukemia through novel mechanisms. To identify targets of POU4F1, we performed gene expression profiling in primary mouse cells with genetically defined levels of POU4F1 and identified 140 differentially expressed genes. This expression signature was significantly enriched in human t(8;21) AML samples and was sufficient to cluster t(8;21) AML samples in an unsupervised hierarchical analysis. Among the most highly differentially expressed genes, half are known AML1/ETO targets, implying that the unique transcriptional signature of t(8;21) AML is, in part, attributable to POU4F1 and not AML1/ETO itself. These genes provide novel candidates for understanding the biology and developing therapeutic approaches for t(8;21) AML.