http://chesterrep.openrepository.com/cdr ChesterRep captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material. Search the Channel search http://chesterrep.openrepository.com/cdr/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93817 Title: Resveratrol-induced cell death in leukaemia cells: The effect of Hsp72 expression and combination treatments with TRAIL and ethanol<br/><br/>Authors: Weaver, Annette Sharp<br/><br/>Abstract: Resveratrol, a natural phytoalexin found in grapes and red wine, displays anti-cancer activities through a variety of mechanisms that include the induction of cancer cell apoptosis. Although high concentrations may be needed for the efficacy of resveratrol alone, the compound shows promise as a potent sensitizer of the apoptotic effect of other anti-cancer agents, including death ligand TRAIL. Intracellular heat shock proteins (Hsps) are frequently up-regulated in cancer cells, conferring resistance to apoptosis. Modulation of these proteins may overcome the resistance and increase efficacy of anticancer therapies. In this study, resveratrol caused significant dose-dependent apoptosis or necrosis in the lymphoid and myeloid leukaemia cell lines Jurkat and U937 at 50µM and above. Combination treatments with sub-lethal concentrations of ethanol or TRAIL showed synergistic effects on the dose-dependent cell death, such that significant apoptosis was achieved at 25µM resveratrol. Treatment with all compounds together showed the greatest efficacy with significant apoptosis occurring at 12.5µM resveratrol, but also greater toxicity demonstrated by a shift from apoptosis to necrosis occurring at 25-50µM as opposed to 100-200µM resveratrol in the other combination treatments. Low concentrations of resveratrol that were unable to induce apoptosis caused a significant increase in intracellular Hsp72, whilst intracellular Hsp72 was unchanged or reduced at higher concentrations. Increasing intracellular Hsp72 expression in cells with a mild heat shock prior to resveratrol treatment caused increased resistance to resveratrol-induced cell death at 50-200µM. It was not possible to show that lowering intracellular Hsp72 with ethanol treatment increased sensitivity to resveratrol-induced cell death. It was shown for the first time that resveratrol increased surface expression of Hsp72 at all concentrations, highlighting the potential for an additional anti-cancer effect in situ. The results indicate that combination treatments with resveratrol are promising for use in anticancer therapy, and manipulation of intracellular Hsp72 expression may modulate the efficacy of resveratrol-induced apoptosis. Further investigations are recommended into the clinical relevance of resveratrol, further synergistic compounds, and the effects of reducing intracellular and increasing surface Hsp72 levels. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93835 Title: Hsp72 translocation and secretion in in vivo and in vitro models<br/><br/>Authors: Leoni, Francesca<br/><br/>Abstract: Evidence suggesting that Hsp72 is actively participating in cellular signalling as well interacting with immune system dynamics has been increasing. This is true in healthy, stressed and diseased cells but to different degrees. Modulation of the plasma membrane association and secretion in the extracellular environment by different types of stressors is the key event that leads to different degrees of immune system activation. Hence a better understanding of the mechanisms of Hsp72 secretion and association with plasma membrane is crucial.This thesis investigated the tissue source and mechanism of Hsp72 surface presentation to plasma membrane structures and release in relation with different cellular and physiological stressors. In vivo models confirmed that different tissue types determine specific Hsp72 responses following the same stress and increase serum Hsp72 dependant on intensity and duration of the stress. Diseases models confirm that Hsp72 responses in specific cell populations is related to disease progression, while in vitro models clearly showed that there are multiple mechanisms of secretion and surface presentation, dependent on the nature of the stressor as well as the intensity and duration.This observations clearly change the view of extracellular Hsp72 as a danger signal and lead to a revision of the original danger model. It also suggests that manipulation of Hsp72 translocation through the different pathways involved may prove effective therapeutically. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93779 Title: A case study of Liverpool City Council's Speke One Stop Shop and South Liverpool Housing partnership arrangement : Is it successful from an employee's viewpoint?<br/><br/>Authors: Yates, Shelia<br/><br/>Abstract: In 1999 a new Chief Executive was appointed to Liverpool City Council (LCC). The nine original directorates were stream lined into the five current portfolio areas. LCC has dramatically changed and improved the way it delivers its services to the customer, which has been developed through the introduction of the Customer Contact Strategy (CCS) Through the CCS there are a number of contact channels, which give a first point of contact choice of access to a citizen. A key component of the strategy is the development of a network of fourteen One-Stop Shops (OSS's) across the city. There are currently ten in operation. The Shops provide face-to-face contact for customers for council and partner services.This study focuses its attention on the partnership arrangement between the Speke OSS and South Liverpool Housing (SLH), who are a registered social landlord (RSL). Staff based in the Speke OSS share the same building and counter facility with staff from SLH. Both organisations are located in the Parklands Building, which is a Public Finance Initiative (PFI). This is a unique partnership in England and Wales and the first of its kind in delivering "joined up" services. From the findings of the initial research, the author proposes and introduces a model named the "CHANGED" model. A contrasting merger between Chester College and Warrington Collegiate Institute is examined as a case study in appendix 7. In order to further test the validity of the aforementioned model, the author has carried out further research with a focus group of LCC 2nd year MBA students. The findings of which are described in Chapter Five.Adopting both qualitative and quantitative research methods, this research aims to treat the partnership arrangement as a "case study" to establish the success of the partnership: where success is taken to mean a process beneficial to staff in meeting organisational goals. The research aims and questions that are to be explored in this study are: 1. How has the partnership arrangement managed to enable staff to provide a seamless service in dealing with customers?2. What evidence is there to suggest that a single culture has developed between staff from both organizations?The study illustrates the investigation and analysis of data, tests the data against established theory, discusses the findings and uses the results as a basis to identify possible recommendations. These recommendations could be incorporated into the development of a tool kit (CHANGED model) or similar model, which may be adopted in the success of future partnership arrangements which LCC may choose to embark upon. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93746 Title: Fractional differential equations and numerical methods<br/><br/>Authors: Landy, Alan John<br/><br/>Abstract: The increasing use of Fractional Calculus demands more accurate arid efficient methods for the numerical solution of fractional differential equations. We introduce the concepts of Fractional Calculus and give the definitions of fractional integrals and derivatives in the Riemann-Liouville and Caputo forms. We explore three existing Numerical Methods of solution of Fractional Differential Equations.1. Diethelm's Backward Difference Form (BDF) method.2. Lubich's Convolution Quadrature method.3. Luchko and Diethelm's Operational Calculus (using the Mittag-Lefner function) method.We present useful recursive expressions we developed to compute the Taylor Series coefficients in the Operational Calculus method. These expressions are used in the calculation of the convolution and starting weights.We compare their accuracy and performance of the numerical methods, and conclude that the more complex methods produce the more accurate results. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93757 Title: Downsizing and the impact on employee job satisfaction: An analysis of employee job satisfaction with regard to organisational downsizing and merger, between two major BT business departments - BT Retail and BT Wholesale Markets<br/><br/>Authors: Brenton, Cullum<br/><br/>Abstract: This dissertational report represents analytical findings and conclusions following a six month investigation into the issue of downsizing and its impact on employee job satisfaction.Through qualitative, case-study research, the aim was to explore not only the impact on job satisfaction downsizing had on employees, but also to identify existing literature, in order to understand and establish the subjects being studied.The data is drawn from two stages of case study research.Stage one involved a literature review of downsizing and employee job satisfaction. This was necessary, in order to build a theoretical background, allowing the author to discuss the findings with the primary research resulting from the survey.Stage two consisted of the primary research tool relating to a distributed questionnaire to one hundred and eight two (182) employees from British Telecom's retail division, identified as the most affected staff group of the BT downsizing strategy.The main results from this study are presented through tables and pictorial diagrams and are aligned to the existing literature in order to present any similarities with the existing literature or is there new evidence stating opposites the existing literature. The aims of the investigation are to analyse post downsizing, job satisfaction scores using a job satisfaction survey (JSS). http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93477 Title: Severe acute malnutrition and HIV in children in Malawi<br/><br/>Authors: Fergusson, Pamela Lynne<br/><br/>Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa is more affected by the HIV epidemic than any other region ofthe world. At the same time, malnutrition remains a major public health concern. HIV and malnutrition are interlinked, both epidemiologically and physiologically, contributing to high mortality and poor growth and development of children in sub-Saharan Africa.This thesis aims to explore the impact of HIV on the treatment and care of children with severe acute malnutrition in Malawi. The thesis will investigate mortality and nutritional recovery in HIV-infected and uninfected children with SAM; HIV infection and nutritional status in carers of children with SAM; and caregiver perspectives on quality of care for children with SAM. The study is based on a prospective cohort study of 454 children with SAM and meta-analysis of 17 relevant studies; a cross sectional study of 322 carer-child pairs; and a qualitative study using a grounded theory approach. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93367 Title: Binary construct analysis of forensic psychiatric nursing in the UK: High, medium and low security services<br/><br/>Authors: Mason, Tom; King, Lisa; Dulson, Julie<br/><br/>Abstract: The aim of this study was to idenfity if differences in perceptions of the role of forensic psychiatric nurses exist across the three levels of secure psychiatric provision: high, medium and low. Any differences may reflect the type of clinical conditions found in different levels of security provision. An information gathering schedule containing a validated 7-point Likert scale was distributed to 1200 forensic psychiatric nurses across the UK in 2005. A response rate of 34.6 was achieved, with 122 from high-security, 159 from medium-securitya nd 135 from low-security services. Differences in perceptions regarding role constructs were found across all three levels, with numerous differences being statistically significant using analysis of variance. The implications are in relation to the development of skills and competencies, which should target specific clinical conditions in relation to effective interventions, the development of a specialist education and training curriculum focused on treatment outcomes and the need for further research to draw together theory and practice. Finally, creative policy initiatives should be developmed to cross-fertilize the levels of security provision in order that staff may acquire and deliver experiences in high, medium and low security psychiatric services.<br/><br/>Description: This article is not available through ChesterRep. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93343 Title: Special observations in forensic psychiatric practice: Gender issues of the watchers and the watched<br/><br/>Authors: Mason, Tom; Mason-Whitehead, Elizabeth; Thomas, Mike<br/><br/>Abstract: Special observations in psychiatric practice may create tensions for both the patient under surveillance and the staff undertaking the procedure. This study reports on special observations undertaken in forensic settings focusing specifically on the gender sensitive issues. The aim of the study was to investigate the specific gender issues relating to special observations in relation to those under the procedure and those engaged in observing. Three medium secure units in the UK formed the sampling frame, and the population studied was eight female and seven male clinical Registered nurses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio tape recorded and transcribed for analysis. The analysis involved a Grounded Theory approach to explicate categories and formulte two overarching themes: (1) the psychosocial fusion; and (2) the private as spectacle. There are implications for practice in relation to policy formulation and the implementation of special observations following risk assessment and individual skill identification. It is concluded that gender issues are extremely important for all concerned in this intrusive practice.<br/><br/>Description: This article is not available through ChesterRep. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93364 Title: A gluten-free diet as a normal way of life: Adherence to gluten-free diet among people with coeliac disease and the role of specialist follow up<br/><br/>Authors: Britcut, Elizabeth Kathleen<br/><br/>Abstract: Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet is the only known treatment for coeliac disease and is believed to reduce the risk of serious complications such as malignancy. Regular follow up has been associated with better dietary adherence in this group. This thesis examines adherence to a gluten-free diet among people with coeliac disease with a particular emphasis on specialist follow up.The research presented in the thesis comprises a qualitative study, conducted using a grounded theory method, and a questionnaire study. The questionnaire focussed particularly on specialist follow up and aimed to compare people who attended follow up with those who had defaulted.Data for the qualitative study was collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Thirty interviews were carried out. Interview transcripts were analysed and the findings used to develop a model of dietary adherence. The experience of coeliac disease and of implementing a gluten-free diet was seen to be a social one. At the centre of the model was the concept of dietary adherence as the incorporation of the gluten-free diet into normal life. The model illustrates the factors which were found to facilitate or inhibit the adoption of a strict gluten-free diet as part of normal life.Findings from the qualitative study were used to inform a postal questionnaire. Three hundred and four questionnaires were distributed and 214 returned giving a response rate of 70%. A higher response rate (78%) was obtained from regular clinic attenders than non-attenders (43%). Non-attenders (n=29) were less likely than attenders (n=185) to report their needs had been met at their out-patient appointments. This suggests that a service which better meets the needs of this group may result in better attendance and this may in turn improve dietary adherence and possibly influence long term health.This research suggests a number of ways in which health professionals may better support people with coeliac disease. These include understanding the social aspects of coeliac disease, providing practical and factual information that is useful to the individual and allowing adequate time for patients to discuss their concerns. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/93296 Title: The status of prenuptial agreements in English law – eccentricity or sensible pragmatism?<br/><br/>Authors: Lowe, Nigel; Kay, Roger<br/><br/>Abstract: This book chapters discusses the current legal position of prenuptial agreements and possible legal reforms.<br/><br/>Description: This book chapter is not available through ChesterRep.