University Of Newcastle Research Articles

Distinct lung cell signatures define the temporal evolution of diffuse alveolar damage in fatal COVID-19

Lung damage in severe COVID-19 is highly heterogeneous however studies with dedicated spatial distinction of discrete temporal phases of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and alternate lung injury patterns are lacking. Existing studies have also not accounted for progressive airspace obliteration in cellularity estimates. We used an imaging mass cytometry (IMC) analysis with an airspace correction step to more accurately identify the cellular immune response that underpins the heterogeneity of severe COVID-19 lung disease. Lung tissue was obtained at post-mortem from severe COVID-19 deaths. Pathologist-selected regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen by light microscopy representing the patho-evolutionary spectrum of DAD and alternate disease phenotypes were selected for comparison. Architecturally normal SARS-CoV-2-positive lung tissue and tissue from SARS-CoV-2-negative donors served as controls. ROIs were stained for 40 cellular protein markers and ablated using IMC before segmented cells were classified. Cell populations corrected by ROI airspace and their spatial relationships were compared across lung injury patterns. Forty patients (32M:8F, age: 22-98), 345 ROIs and >900k single cells were analysed. DAD progression was marked by airspace obliteration and significant increases in mononuclear phagocytes (MnPs), T and B lymphocytes and significant decreases in alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells. Neutrophil populations proved stable overall although several interferon-responding subsets demonstrated expansion. Spatial analysis revealed immune cell interactions occur prior to microscopically appreciable tissue injury. The immunopathogenesis of severe DAD in COVID-19 lung disease is characterised by sustained increases in MnPs and lymphocytes with key interactions occurring even prior to lung injury is established. UK Research and Innovation/Medical Research Council through the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium, Barbour Foundation, General Sir John Monash Foundation, Newcastle University, JGW Patterson Foundation, Wellcome Trust.

APCP CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS: 2023

APCP CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS: 2023

Guest Editorial: Educator Wellbeing in Higher Education

Research has repeatedly shown that quality of instruction and positive student–faculty interaction are significant contributors to student success and wellbeing in higher education. However, as additional workload expectations and resource constraints continue to impact higher education globally, there are growing concerns about stress, workload, burnout and intention to leave academia which have significant implications for the wellbeing of both students and educators. This special issue of Student Success explores the vital contribution of educator wellbeing to student success, and approaches to improving it. Image: Staff on strike at the University of Newcastle, Australia, 2022. https://betteruniversities.work/uon Image used with the permission of the NTEU Office (NSW)

Embedding cultural competency and cultural humility in undergraduate pharmacist initial education and training: a qualitative exploration of pharmacy student perspectives.

Emphasis has been placed upon embedding equity, diversity and inclusion within the initial education and training of healthcare professionals, like pharmacists. Yet, there remains limited understanding of how best to integrate cultural competency and cultural humility into undergraduate pharmacy student training. This qualitative study explored the views of pharmacy students to understand perspectives on, and identify recommendations for, embedding cultural competency and cultural humility within pharmacy education and training. Undergraduate pharmacy students from one UK-based School of Pharmacy were invited to participate in an in-person, semi-structured interview to discuss cultural competency in the pharmacy curriculum. Interviews were conducted between November 2022 and February 2023 and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Reflexive thematic analysis enabled the development of themes. QSR NVivo (Version 12) facilitated data management. Ethical approval was obtained from the Newcastle University Ethics Committee. Twelve undergraduate pharmacist students, across all years of undergraduate training, were interviewed. Three themes were developed from the data, centring on: (1) recognising and reflecting on cultural competency and cultural humility; (2) gaining exposure and growing in confidence; and (3) thinking forward as a culturally competent pharmacist of the future. These findings offer actionable recommendations to align with the updated Initial Education and Training standards from the United Kingdom (UK) pharmacy regulator, the General Pharmaceutical Council; specifically, how and when cultural competency teaching should be embedded within the undergraduate pharmacy curriculum. Future research should further explore teaching content, learning environments, and methods of assessing cultural competency.

Medical education: Accommodating students with ADHD

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a significant number of medical students worldwide. It is poorly recognised by educators, and therefore inadequately accommodated for in educational strategies. In order to investigate this further, a literature review and pilot survey were conducted. Health educators employed by The University of Newcastle, Australia, completed a short online survey, which focused on their understanding of, and ability to recognise and adapt teaching strategies for students with ADHD. The results of the survey informed the development of a resource that provided evidence-based strategies for supporting the learning of tertiary students with ADHD. In addition, the results of this pilot study may form the basis for further research in this domain. Given the prevalence and potential impact of ADHD on higher education, it is important to gain deeper insight into how medical educators can best engage and support students with ADHD. This knowledge may potentially reduce the negative impacts of this neurodiversity on students and support their learning and well-being throughout their medical career. Ultimately this may help doctors to achieve their full potential, especially in clinical decision-making.

MitoHOPE: Introduction to the Australian Mitochondrial Donation Project

Mitochondrial Donation provides a means of reducing the risk of transmitting mitochondrial genetic disease. If successful, families who have suffered in many cases across generations, will be freed from the risks of inheriting mitochondrial genetic disease in their future children. In response to mito community advocacy led by the Mito Foundation, Maeve’s Law, was passed in March 2022 to allow the introduction of mitochondrial donation in Australia. The mitochondrial donation procedure involves removing the nuclear DNA from the egg or zygote of from a woman with a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation and transferring it to an enucleated egg or zygote from a donor with healthy mtDNA. Although this technique has been used in animal models for many years and has undergone significant preclinical testing in humans, it is use in the clinic remains at an early stage and, to date, only a small number of babies have been born. To introduce mitochondrial donation in Australia, an extensive regulatory and licensing procedure has been established and the MRFF has funded a Mitochondrial Donation Pilot Program, including a clinical trial. The mitoHOPE (Healthy Outcomes Pilot and Evaluation) Program integrates expertise in clinical genetics, oocyte and embryo development, mitochondrial disease, reproductive technologies, ethics, law, and health economics. The program was developed in conjunction with the mito community and this engagement will inform all steps of the implementation. Our partners include Monash IVF, the Mito Foundation and Newcastle University (UK). Progress is now underway to establish our governance arrangements, an oocyte donation program, clinical pathways into the clinical trial and an underpinning research program to ensure the safety and efficacy of mitochondrial donation as it is being introduced into the clinic.

Embedding Pharmacist Prescribing into Undergraduate Pharmacist Education: A Qualitative Analysis of Student and Stakeholder Perspectives

Abstract Introduction From 2026 onwards, upon passing the registration exam, all pharmacy students will become independent prescribers (IP), with the aim of maximising the diagnostic and therapeutic skillset of all pharmacist graduates. As a result of this, pharmacy undergraduate education requires a shift in curriculum design to align with the change in direction the profession demands. Research is required to ascertain the needs of the local workforce to identify how the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) course needs to change to future proof the pharmacy workforce and prepare them to independently prescribe. The GPhC new standards for pharmacist prescribing act as a scaffold for the structure of the course, but individual institutions have a level of freedom in curriculum design. Aim To identify the skills, knowledge and best pedagogical approaches required by key stakeholders in the local workforce, to develop an undergraduate prescribing programme for pharmacy students in a North-East England University Pharmacy School. Methods Two focus groups were conducted, one with key educational stakeholders in the North-East of England (Hospital, Primary Care and Academic Leaders in Pharmacy) and one with current MPharm students attending Newcastle University. Participants were selected via convenience sampling. Each group had n=5 participants. Data were recorded and transcribed, then analysed using thematic analysis in NVivo 12 to draw out key themes to consider when redesigning the MPharm curriculum. The project was granted ethical approval by Newcastle University’s Ethics Committee on 27/09/22, Reference 25121/2022. Results Five key themes were derived, with several overlapping across both groups. Themes identified: course content, teaching methods, assessment methods, current level of practice, and barriers to implementation. Within these themes, the key areas where stakeholders and students felt more training was required were identified as; diagnostic skills, mental health, dealing with patients with comprehension difficulties and dealing with complex decisions. The ways in which best to deliver this content were found to be through placement and seminars, also with students notably enjoying problem-based learning (PBL). Issues with hospitals having the capacity to provide adequate placement time for all students was a key concern amongst the stakeholders and was recognised as a key barrier to implementation of enhanced education in the future. Regarding digitalisation of teaching, students expressed a dislike for online delivery of content, but could see the benefits in teaching of emerging technology. However, it was ultimately felt that technology could not replace real-life experience. OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations) were recognised as the best way to assess prescribing ability, however further modifications could be made to make them more specific to independent prescribing. Discussion/Conclusion Stakeholders and students felt the current programme should place greater emphasis on diagnostic skills and complex patient scenarios, with specific focus on people with additional needs such as autism. Additional awareness of the diversity of patients and how this affects prescribing decisions also was raised as a pertinent consideration. Limitations of this research include the small sample size of participants, which limits generalisability of opinions contributed. This was due to lack of recruitment time as a result of project time constraints.

Cross-linguistic Generalizations in the Verb-Production Treatment of Bilingual Aphasic Speakers

Objectives: This study investigates cross- linguistic generalizations in the verb-production therapy for one bilingual speaker with non-fluent aphasia. Methods: Intensive sixty-hour treatment sessions over a period of 12 weeks was provided for an unbalanced bilingual speaker with mild to severe aphasia. A combination of semantically and phonologically cued verbs as well as communication-based treatment were administrated. The treatment was provided in the patient’s L1. The Bilingual Aphasia Test and action-naming pictures from The Newcastle University Aphasia Therapy Resources were used for the pre-and-post-therapy assessments for both languages. Results: A cross-language generalization was reported from L1 to L2. A significant generalization was found in one linguistic domain, i.e., semantics. A within-language generalization was found, i.e., the untrained verbs of L1 showed significant improvement. Nonetheless, inhibition of the semantic domain of the patient’s L1 was reported. Providing treatment for the stronger language of a bilingual aphasic individual could lead to cross-language transfer to the untreated weaker language. Conclusions: We suggest that the cross-language generalization is reported due to the structural overlap between the two languages.

Key considerations when developing and implementing digital technology for early detection of dementia causing diseases: a qualitative study

Abstract Introduction There has been substantial growth in research exploring use of digital health technologies (DHT) to improve global population health. Harnessing the potential of DHT for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases is one such area.1 According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, DHTs need to be credible for UK Healthcare Professionals (HCPs); HCPs should be involved in the development and implementation process of DHTs to ensure that their needs are met and to promote the successful adoption into healthcare systems.2 Aim To explore HCPs’ perspectives on key considerations of developing and implementing DHT for the early detection of dementia causing diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, within the National Health Service (NHS). Methods Ethical approval was granted from Newcastle University Ethics Committee. HCPs with patient-facing roles within primary or secondary care NHS settings were recruited through various online networks alongside a snowball sampling approach. Participants took part in a semi-structured audio-recorded interview exploring their experience of current diagnostic practices, opinions on the early detection of dementia causing diseases and the use of DHT to aid this approach, and the challenges of implementing such interventions into healthcare. The framework approach was used to thematically analyse the verbatim transcripts to identify core concepts and themes emerging within the interviews. A list of core concepts and themes was applied systematically to the whole data set using QSR N-Vivo (Version 1.6.1). The research team then used the ‘constant comparison’ technique to move backwards and forwards between these data and evolve explanations until a fit was made. Results Eighteen interviews were conducted with 11 primary and seven secondary care HCPs. Our analysis highlighted three core concepts, centring around considerations for healthcare service users, HCPs, and the DHT when developing and implementing DHT for the early detection of dementia causing diseases. HCPs recognised the potential benefits of providing an early detection of dementia causing diseases to healthcare services users, but only if a suitable intervention was available to allow individuals to potentially reduce their risk. Additionally, HCPs were concerned about the impact on health inequity, such as accessibility of this type of service to individuals who have disabilities or could be possibly digitally excluded. Many HCPs were also concerned about the impact on the healthcare system, with fears that it could overburden the NHS if sufficient resources and support were not provided for its implementation. In regard to the DHT, HCPs were positive about the possibility of a DHT to remotely capture real time data and felt it would be important to capture different modalities to help differentiate between dementia causing diseases. Discussion/Conclusion This study highlights the need to design a DHT for the early detection of dementia causing diseases that is accessible to users, to promote health equity. This study also highlights potential barriers for researchers when implementing a DHT into the NHS, although it cannot be assumed that these are the only barriers that may be encountered; developers will need to consider this so that a future DHT meet HCPs’ needs.

Does the implementation of self-administration policies for insulin improve patient safety in the hospital inpatient setting? A scoping review

Abstract Introduction Self-administration schemes can have significant impact on a patient’s management and treatment of specific diseases. Implementing the self-administration of insulin for inpatients is believed to increase patient’s knowledge, understanding, independence and confidence regarding medication to improve outcomes. This study identifies the limited knowledge and access to self-administration schemes for diabetes. Aim The aim of this scoping review is to collect and review relevant literature surrounding inpatient insulin self-administration schemes and to identify the impact this scheme has on knowledge, confidence, independence, satisfaction, costs and workload for patients, hospitals and staff. This scoping review further aims to highlight the reported limitations regarding self-administration and identify the potential gaps in the evidence-base. Methods Keywords were searched on MEDLINE (1946 to October Week 4 2022), EMBASE (1974 to 2022 Week 43), Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and Google Scholar from October 6th, 2022, to November 8th, 2022. The title, abstract and citations were initially screened using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Included literature was then screened by a second reviewer. The identified literature described and evaluated inpatient insulin self-administration schemes and summarised according to author and study design. This scoping review did not require ethical approval as it was including information and studies freely available for public domain. Newcastle University Pharmacy Department. Results Among the 1,159 literature sources identified, 16 literature sources were included in the scoping review. A systematic review and meta-analysis was initially considered but yielded due to the heterogeneity of literature in study design. Nine quantitative and seven qualitative studies assessed individual patient and staff views. They were assessed in ranging time frames up to eight months. Literature evaluated the knowledge, understanding and compliance of patients relating to administration and drug regimens which were measured via questionnaires and interviews. Studies identified short-term costs to outweigh long-term benefits. The majority of patients and staff were significantly satisfied with the implementation of self-administration schemes. Discussion/Conclusion The implementation of insulin self-administration schemes for inpatients has shown to support patient health and safety, increasing knowledge and compliance. Literature continues to identify the need for extra support and maintenance from healthcare professionals to control diabetes. Self-administration schemes may continue to advance with increased support and engagement. Study limitations were identified to further acknowledged the advancements in time frames, support and sample size and selection for participants, supporting the advancements in self-administration schemes.

Evaluating students’ experience of simulation technology in an Australian initial teacher education program

International research illustrates the effectiveness of simulation in professional education. For pre-service teachers, such technology offers the ability to contextualise pedagogy and curriculum within the complexity of the classroom environment. Novice practitioners benefit from developing decision-making skills in a risk-free context, whilst receiving immediate feedback on their performance. The University of Newcastle has therefore embedded simSchool, a virtual classroom gaming platform) in its undergraduate teacher education programs. This paper reports pre-service teaching students’ sense of teacher efficacy before and after using simSchool, based on students’ responses to surveys before (n. 398) and after (n. 233) use of the technology. Analysis examined changes in teacher efficacy, as well as potential differences between students based on previous experience. Results will form the basis for more informed integration of simulation technology, and more targeted support for students to optimise their experience and learning.

Global research trends of diabetes remission: a bibliometric study.

Research on diabetes remission has garnered prominence in recent years. However, to date, no pertinent bibliometric study has been published. This study sought to elucidate the current landscape and pinpoint potential new research directions through a bibliometric analysis of diabetes remission. We perused relevant articles on diabetes remission from January 1, 2000, to April 16, 2023, in the Web of Science. We utilized CiteSpace software and VOSviewer software to construct knowledge maps and undertake analysis of countries, institutional affiliations, author contributions, journals, and keywords. This analysis facilitated the identification of current research foci and forecasting future trends. A total of 970 English articles were procured, and the annual publication volume manifested a steady growth trend. Most of the articles originated from America (n=342, 35.26%), succeeded by China and England. Pertaining to institutions, the University of Newcastle in England proliferated the most articles (n=36, 3.71%). Taylor R authored the most articles (n=35, 3.61%), and his articles were also the most co-cited (n=1756 times). Obesity Surgery dominated in terms of published articles (n=81, 8.35%). "Bariatric surgery" was the most prevalently used keyword. The keyword-clustering map revealed that the research predominantly centered on diabetes remission, type 1 diabetes, bariatric surgery, and lifestyle interventions. The keyword emergence and keyword time-zone maps depicted hotspots and shifts in the domain of diabetes remission. Initially, the hotspots were primarily fundamental experiments probing the feasibilities and mechanisms of diabetes remission, such as transplantation. Over the course, the research trajectory transitioned from basic to clinical concerning diabetes remission through bariatric surgery, lifestyle interventions, and alternative strategies. Over the preceding 20 years, the domain of diabetes remission has flourished globally. Bariatric surgery and lifestyle interventions bestow unique advantages for diabetes remission. Via the maps, the developmental milieu, research foci, and avant-garde trends in this domain are cogently portrayed, offering guidance for scholars.

Bibliometric Analysis and Systemic Review of Cantharidin Research Worldwide.

Cantharidin (CTD), a natural toxic compound from blister beetle Mylabris, has been used for cancer treatment for millenary. CTD and its analogs have become mainstream adjuvant drugs with radiotherapy and chemotherapy in clinical applications. However, the detailed pharmacology mechanism of CTD was not fully elucidated. Publications of CTD were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1991 to 2023 using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica software. A total of 1,611 publications of CTD were mainly published in China and the United States. The University of Newcastle has published the most researches. Mcclusey, Adam, Sakoff, Jennette, and Zhang, Yalin had the most CTD publications with higher H. Notably, CTD researches were mainly published in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters and the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Cluster profile results revealed that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), human gallbladder carcinoma, Aidi injection, and cell apoptosis were the hotspots. Concentration on the pharmacology function of PP2A subunit regulation, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiotoxicity mechanism should be strengthened in the future. Bibliometric analysis combined with a systemic review of CTD research first revealed that PP2A and CTD analogs were the knowledge base of CTD, and PP2A subunit regulation and toxic mechanism could be the frontiers of CTD.

Lymphoma triage from H&E using AI for improved clinical management

AimsIn routine diagnosis of lymphoma, initial non-specialist triage is carried out when the sample is biopsied to determine if referral to specialised haematopathology services is needed. This places a heavy...

Global trends in research related to functional dyspepsia and anxiety or depression over the past two decades: a bibliometric analysis.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent global disorder of the upper digestive tract characterized by functional impairment. It often coexists with anxiety/depression, significantly impairing occupational productivity and overall quality of life. This study aimed to identify emerging patterns and prominent themes within FD and anxiety/depression research through bibliometric analysis to help explore new innovative avenues for investigating this type of FD. A comprehensive review of literature encompassing FD and anxiety/depression was conducted using the Science Citation Index Extension of the Web of Science Core Collection from 2003 to 2023. Information extracted comprised "Full Record and Cited References." Bibliometric analysis of relevant publications, including country, institution, author, journal, citations, and keywords, was conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix package in R and Excel. Studies related to FD and anxiety/depression have demonstrated an ascending trajectory since 2003. Our bibliometric analysis identified 338 studies published by 2023. NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY emerged as the most prolific journal, while GASTROENTEROLOGY retained pre-eminence within the top 10 published journals. China emerged as the most prolific country, with two institutions within the top 10 in terms of volume of publications. The Mayo Clinic stood as the foremost institution in terms of publication volume, with the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine exhibiting robust collaborative engagement. Eminent author influence was attributed to Talley NJ of Newcastle University, Australia. Clusters of extensively cited papers and prevalent keywords delineate the status and trend of FD and anxiety/depression research. This encompasses FD, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Furthermore, the timeline view map or trend-term analysis suggested that duodenal low-grade inflammation ("duodenal eosinophilia" and "mast cells") might be a new concern associated with FD and anxiety/depression. Employing bibliometric analysis, this study revealed prevalent focal areas and new trends within FD and anxiety/depression research. These insights serve as valuable guidance for scholars seeking to delve into new research avenues.

Supporting adolescents’ participation in muscle-strengthening physical activity: protocol for the ‘Resistance Training for Teens’ (RT4T) hybrid type III implementation–effectiveness trial

IntroductionIn Australia, only 22% of male and 8% of female adolescents meet the muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines, and few school-based interventions support participation in resistance training (RT). After promising findings...

From the Editor

[First part only] Dear Readers, While this issue is a bit slimmer than usual, it contains an informative set of articles on a variety of currently relevant topics: Creativity-nurturing practices in ELT (Iran), Reading circles (Mali), Learner agency (Indonesia), Summer English camps (Canada) and Code-switching & translanguaging (Japan). Readers might have noticed that the On the Internet article for this issue was pre-released so that it would be available for reference to teachers in schools that start their term in or around September. We thank Ilka Koska & Rachel Toncelli for offering “Exploring Applications of ChatGPT to English Language Teaching: Opportunities, Challenges, and Recommendations” to the TESL-EJ audience. A Retrospective. This issue offers a new feature — a reprint of a published article. As Scott Windeatt states in his foreword: “Because of the speed with which technology develops and becomes obsolete, we tend to assume that literature on technology loses relevance at the same pace.” The article included with this issue proves this assumption wrong. Originally published in the CAELL Journal in 1990 is strikingly relevant to today’s pedagogy. The article, by the late Vance Stevens who was on “On the Internet” editor here for 19 years, is one of a collection of articles that will eventually be published as a book of his writings, edited by Maggie Sokolik, the founder of TESL-EJ and its official publisher. We are pleased that the author of one of Vance’s references, Scott Windeatt of Newcastle University, UK., has written a short preface to help situate readers to the article. Passages. With great regret, we announce that Nicholas (Nicky) Bremner has decided to take a vacation from his role of gatekeeper of new submissions. With great trepidation, Tom Robb, the editor-in-chief, resumes this role until Nicky manages to find time for us again. Thanks to recent reviewers. Continuing our new policy, we thank the reviewers of all submissions that had reached a decision since our last issue – regardless of whether the paper was accepted or declined. Thanks go to: Adele Connor, Anita Lie, Anna Riana Suryanti, Arezou Maleki, Atipat Boonmoh, Azad Ehamadi, Azran Azmee Kafia, Behnam Aghayani, Behrang Mohammad-Salehi, Chingling Wo, Colin William Campbell, Dale Brown, David Imamyartha, Dodi Mulyadi, Elise Nicole Brittain, Eric Hagley, Fatemeh Ranjbaran, Ghasem Modarresi, Graeme Couper, Ha Hoang, Humairah Fauziah, Jardel Coutinho dos Santos, Jieun Kim, Juland Salayo, Kathryn Shelley Price-Jones, Kuang Li, Laila Noor, Larry Xethakis, Loc Tan Nguyen, M. Obaidul Hamid, Marzieh Bagherkazemi, Matthew Nall, Mehrdad Mohajerpour, Meliha R Simsek, Michael Mauricio, Mohammad Kazemian, Musa Nushi, Nataly Karikian, Olive Nabukeera, Onur Ergunay, Paul Mathieson, Peter Ilic, Piyapong Laosrirattanachai, Ranson Lege, Reman Sabah Meena, Reza Adara, Ryan Spring, Suyansah Bin Swanto and Wen Sun. Best, Thomas N. Robb, Ph.D. For the editorial team

Bridging the transition gap

Issues around transition to university have been widely discussed, with the recent pandemic highlighting issues such as students’ lack of confidence in engaging in higher education and lack of knowledge around some of the expectations and skills required (Advance HE,2020), but one aspect which has been somewhat under researched is the link between academic skills required by 6th form students and stage 1 undergraduate students (Baker, 2016) . The Bridging the Gap project is a collaboration between students, the Academic Skills team and the Education Outreach team at Newcastle University. Our project co-created accessible, engaging, interactive resources based on feedback from both 6th form students and (undergraduate (UG) students with the student voice at the heart of the project. We worked with paid interns to not only use the information gathered from focus groups to inform resource development but also to consider how our message was communicated to students. To date, several resources have been developed around topics such as time management and evaluation of sources. Although still in the development phase, the project team has been able to gather some formative feedback from UG students, 6th form students as well as teachers. Further, the impact of the project has been highlighted by gaining additional funding for a two-year project coordinator. This session outlined what we have learned about working collaboratively with students to provide resources to help develop core academic and research skills to build confidence and support the transition from secondary to higher education. We highlighted the project phases, how we were able to work collaboratively and how we were able to ensure that the student input and evaluation were central to the project in order to provide a good practice framework.

The role of hydrogen in the energy transition

The role of hydrogen in the energy transition Professor Sara Walker, Professor of Energy at Newcastle University, is Director of the Hub on Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions HI-ACT, and here, she explores the role of hydrogen in the energy transition. Across the globe, we continue to see the impacts of climate change. As I write, devastating fires in Hawaii are the most recent example, but there are many. Globally, energy use is estimated to contribute more than three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions. So, mitigation of climate change often focuses on energy efficiency, transition away from fossil fuels to renewables, and electrification of demand. At HI-ACT, our vision is to ensure that hydrogen and hydrogen-based alternative liquid fuels are appropriately integrated into a future equitable energy system through holistic multi-disciplinary research.

Exploring the effects of resveratrol supplementation on cerebrovascular function in hormonal migraineurs: A pilot study

BackgroundPast research suggests that hormonal migraineurs may have poorer cerebrovascular function than women who do not suffer from migraine. Resveratrol, a vasoactive phytoestrogen, has been shown to improve cerebrovascular function in several populations but has never been tested in hormonal migraineurs. AimTo investigate the effects of 3-month resveratrol supplementation on the cerebrovascular function of hormonal migraineurs. MethodsWe conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention pilot study with resveratrol (150 mg/d for 3 months) in ten hormonal migraineurs (mean age: 37.2 ± 2.6 years). Participants visited the University of Newcastle’s Clinical Nutrition Research Centre where quality of life and disability, and cerebrovascular function were assessed. Quality of life and disability were examined using Migraine-Specific Quality of Life, Headache Impact Test-6 and the Migraine Disability Assessment. Cerebrovascular function was determined using transcranial Doppler ultrasound to bilaterally measure blood flow velocity in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries at rest and in response to a hypercapnic stimulus. Cerebrovascular responsiveness to a cognitive task battery was also measured bilaterally in the middle cerebral arteries. ResultsCompared to placebo, blood flow velocity in the right posterior cerebral artery was significantly higher (P = 0.041) following resveratrol supplementation. No other significant differences in cerebrovascular function between resveratrol and placebo treatments were observed. Baseline correlation analyses revealed higher blood flow velocities in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries were associated with better quality of life and less disability. However, higher cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypercapnia in the posterior circulation was associated with higher migraine-related disability and poorer migraine-related quality of life. ConclusionIn this pilot we found evidence that resveratrol may increase blood flow velocity in the right posterior cerebral artery in hormonal migraineurs. Larger cohorts are required confirm this effect and its potential relationship to migraine in premenopausal women.