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This paper presents the findings from one of the first empirical research studies which has investigated the impact of Inter-Life; a novel three-dimensional immersive virtual learning environment, on learning and development of social and educational life transition skills in a group of looked after and accommodated children. Drawing on social constructivism in which meaningful learning is related to context and situated in practice, we report on a series of Inter-Life workshops that enabled young people to work together and "through the processes of participation in authentic learning activities" contributed to the development of life transition skills such as self-confidence, empathy, negotiation and mediation skills, teamwork and active problem-solving skills. The novel affordances of the Inter-Life virtual world which contributed to the development of the learning community included the ability to personalise learner engagement and activities from the outset along with "co-presence" and "immersion" and the flexibility provided by the innovative, technology-enhanced Inter-Life platform. This study presents some empirical evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of new models of learning that are mediated by innovative malleable technologies that can be shaped by the learner in a participatory manner.

Accessible forms of language, learning and literacy, as well as strategies that support intercultural communication are needed for the diverse population of refugee, asylum seeker and migrant children within schools. The research project "Journeys from Images to Words" explored the potential of visual texts to address these issues. Working in Glasgow primary schools within critical pedagogical frameworks that invite sharing of personal narratives and of cultural knowledge, the researchers examined and evaluated an image-based approach, both for reading and responding to a selection of children's texts and for obtaining an insight into the home literacy practices of diverse communities. In this article, a "generative theme", as used by Paulo Freire is used to examine how students engaged with reading visual texts, shared their responses and extended their intercultural understanding. The results from this project provide evidence for the inclusion of visual texts and methodologies within critical pedagogies in order to develop intercultural literacy in the classroom.

Innovation in addiction recovery in Scotland includes the transfer of effective models from other countries, such as San Patrignano, Italy and Basta, Sweden. Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland (IFDAS) was founded to develop a new model for Scotland, based on social enterprise. Drawing on the San Patrignano programme theory, this prospective study investigates IFDAS stakeholders' perspectives on which mechanisms should be transferred, and which require adaptation of the delivery mode, for the Scottish context. Data collection included interviews with ten stakeholders with expertise including: drugs policy, social enterprise, alcohol and drug partnership practice and therapeutic community methods. Drawing on realist principles, data were analysed using inductive and deductive approaches and synthesised using frameworks. San Patrignano mechanisms identified for transfer include: the need for motivation, recovery peer mentors, visionary leadership and social enterprise. Adaptations from Basta include: extending abstinence to alcohol and creating a smaller, semi-permeable, residential community. Further adaptations to mechanism delivery include a 'step-wise' model of housing and work. Scottish contextual factors shaping adaptations include: the culture of alcohol misuse, social care standards, housing regulations and socio-cultural acceptability. This study contributes to the evidence on international transfer and adaptation of complex interventions and documents stakeholders' theory-informed decision making in the development of a new Scottish recovery model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently identified a novel calcium-regulated gene, HCaRG, that is highly expressed in the kidney and maps to a chromosomal locus determining kidney weight in rats. The mRNA levels of HCaRG negatively correlate with the proliferative status of the kidney cells. To investigate its role in renal epithelial cellular growth directly, we studied the human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293) stably transfected with either plasmid alone or plasmid containing rat HCaRG. [[sup.3]H]thymidine incorporation was significantly lower in HCaRG clones. Although HCaRG clones exhibited some enhanced susceptibility to cell death, this was not the primary mechanism of reduced proliferation. Cell cycle analysis revealed a [G.sub.2]M phase accumulation in HCaRG clones that was associated with upregulation of p[21.sup.Cip1/WAF1] and downregulation of p[27.sup.Kip1]. HCaRG clones had a greater protein content, larger cell size, and re]eased 4.5- to 8-fold more of an atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity compared with controls. In addition, HCaRG clones demonstrated the presence of differentiated junctions and a lower incidence of mitotic figures. Genistein treatment of wild-type HEK-293 cells mimicked several phenotypic characteristics associated with HCaRG overexpresssion, including increased cell size and increased release of atrial natriuretic peptide. Taken together, our results suggest that HCaRG is a regulator of renal epithelial cell growth and differentiation causing [G.sub.2]M cell cycle arrest. novel gene; p[21.sup.Cip/WAF1; p[27.sup.Kip1]; atrial natriuretic peptide; human embryonic kidney 293 cells; hypertension-related, calcium-regulated gene

Research was conducted to study the vascular and cardiac response of nitric oxide synthase blockade in vivo in rats. Blood pressure was determined by tail-cuff plethysmography in conscious, restrained rats while the aorta was dissected and prepared for aortic rings for functional studies. Results indicated that nitric oxide deficiency in vivo results in the development of vascular and cardiac hypertrophy. They also showed that no significant difference in nitric oxide expression in the aorta or heart despite marked functional and structural changes.

Atrial natriuretic peptide suppresses basal renin secretion through increased intracellular secretion of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate stimulates basal renin secretion.

The San Patrignano drug recovery community, Italy, is regarded as one of the most successful in the world. However, if this model is to be transferred to other countries, it is necessary to clarify its underlying mechanisms and how far their success is context dependent. This qualitative study investigated these features of the San Patrignano model. Data collection included semi-structured interviews with six key stakeholders and 10 days' observational field notes. Data were synthesised using frameworks and analysis was informed by realist principles. Individual level mechanisms include: commitment to change, removal from former social environment, communal living, peer mentor with lived experience and meaningful work. These operate in the context of a free of charge, long term (3–4 year) residential community. Organisational level mechanisms are: visionary leadership, staff dedication, social enterprise and adaptable learning. Organisational contextual factors include: a gap in suitable provision for drug recovery and the region's high level of social capital. Articulating the programme theory of the recovery model and its contextual dependency helps clarify which elements should be transferred and how far they need to be adapted for different socio-cultural settings. The recognition of context is crucial when considering transfer of effective complex interventions across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings from one of the first empirical research studies which has investigated the impact of Inter-Life; a novel three-dimensional immersive virtual learning environment, on learning and development of social and educational life transition skills in a group of looked after and accommodated children. Drawing on social constructivism in which meaningful learning is related to context and situated in practice, we report on a series of Inter-Life workshops that enabled young people to work together andthrough the processes of participation in authentic learning activitiescontributed to the development of life transition skills such as self-confidence, empathy, negotiation and mediation skills, teamwork and active problem-solving skills. The novel affordances of the Inter-Life virtual world which contributed to the development of the learning community included the ability to personalise learner engagement and activities from the outset along with ‘co-presence’ and ‘immersion’ and the flexibility provided by the innovative, technology-enhanced Inter-Life platform. This study presents some empirical evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of new models of learning that are mediated by innovative malleable technologies that can be shaped by the learner in a participatory manner. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We recently identified a novel calcium-regulated gene, HCaRG, that is highly expressed in the kidney and maps to a chromosomal locus determining kidney weight in rats. The mRNA levels of HCaRG negatively correlate with the proliferative status of the kidney cells. To investigate its role in renal epithelial cellular growth directly, we studied the human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293) stably transfected with either plasmid alone or plasmid containing rat HCaRG. [³H]thymidine incorporation was significantly lower in HCaRG clones. Although HCaRG clones exhibited some enhanced susceptibility to cell death, this was not the primary mechanism of reduced proliferation. Cell cycle analysis revealed a G[sub 2]M phase accumulation in HCaRG clones that was associated with upregulation of p21[sup Cip1/WAF1] and downregulation of p27[sup Kip1]. HCaRG clones had a greater protein content, larger cell size, and released 4.5- to 8-fold more of an atrial natriuretic peptide-like immunoreactivity compared with controls. In addition, HCaRG clones demonstrated the presence of differentiated junctions and a lower incidence of mitotic figures. Genistein treatment of wild-type HEKo293 cells mimicked several phenotypic characteristics associated with HCaRG overexpresssion, including increased cell size and increased release of atrial natriuretic peptide. Taken together, our results suggest that HCaRG is a regulator of renal epithelial cell growth and differentiation causing G[sub 2]M cell cycle arrest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We have shown previously that there is a relative nitric oxide deficiency at the level of vascular endothelium in the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP), a model of human essential hypertension, as compared to its normotensive reference strain Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether adenoviral-mediated gene transfer of an endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) cDNA (AdCMVeNOS) into carotid arteries of the SHRSP may improve endothelial function. Methods: Enzyme activity of the recombinant eNOS protein encoded by AdCMVeNOS was tested using a Griess assay in endothelial cells in culture. Left carotid arteries of SHRSP were surgically isolated and exposed to either the AdCMVeNOS or control β-galactosidase-containing virus, (2×109 pfu/ml) ex vivo and in vivo. The vessels were harvested 24 h after surgery and analysed by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and by examining endothelial function ex vivo. Results: Cultured endothelial cells showed almost 100% transduction with both viruses and a dose response of eNOS expression showed a five-fold increase in nitrite production for AdCMVeNOS with no change for β-galactosidase-containing virus. Western blotting demonstrated a significant increase of eNOS expression in vessels infused with AdCMVeNOS when compared to controls. Immunohistochemistry showed highly positive staining with monoclonal antibodies against eNOS in the intact endothelial cells of the AdCMVeNOS infused vessels. The areas under the curve of the concentration responses to phenylephrine (10−9 to 3×10−6M) in the absence and presence of NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (100 μM) showed increased basal nitric oxide bioavailability in the carotid arteries infused with AdCMVeNOS compared to the control (n=6 for each; P=0.0069; 95% CI, 0.864 to 3.277). Conclusions: Our results show that AdCMVeNOS is an effective tool for vascular gene transfer and that it can improve endothelial NO availability in the SHRSP, a genetic model of essential hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To understand how the social networks of a new recovery community can help sustain recovery, focusing on processes of social identity change, in the context of the wider UK recovery movement., Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods social network analysis (SNA) of ego-network sociograms to map network transitions, using retrospective measures. Ten men were recruited from a peer-worker programme, in the South Ayrshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), West of Scotland. Network measures were compared between two timepoints, just prior to current recovery and the present time. Measures included size and density, closeness of members, and their positive or negative influence, proportion of alcohol and other drug (AOD) using and recovery peers, and extent of separate subgroups. These were complemented with qualitative interview data., Findings: There was a significant transition in network composition, with the replacing of AOD-using peers with recovery peers and a broader transformation from relationships being framed as negative to positive. However, there was no significant transition in network structure, with AOD-using and recovery networks both consisting of strong ties and a similar density of connections between people in the networks., Conclusions: The transition in network composition between pre-recovery and the present indicates a different set of social influences, while the similarities in network structure indicate that the recovery network replaced the role of the using network in providing close bonds. This helped reduce social isolation experienced in early-recovery and provided a pathway into more structured opportunities for volunteering and employment., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

A personal child health record called the eRedBook was recently piloted in the United Kingdom. A qualitative exploratory case study was used to examine how public health nurses engaged or recruited parents and what factors hindered participation. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with those implementing the eRedBook and those taking part in the pilot study. A range of project documentation was also reviewed. Thematic analysis using the framework approach was applied to draw out themes. Numerous socio-technical factors such as the usability of the software, concerns over data protection and costs, poor digital literacy skills and a lack of Internet connectivity emerged. These barriers need to be addressed before the eRedBook is implemented nationwide.