A realist evaluation of a collaborative model to support research co-production in long-term care settings in England: the ExCHANGE protocol.

BACKGROUND: Collaborative working between academic institutions and those who provide health and social care has been identified as integral in order to produce acceptable, relevant, and timely research, and for outputs to be useful and practical to implement. The ExCHANGE Collaboration aims to bring together researchers and people working, living in and visiting care homes to build capacity, share and mobilise knowledge, and identify key areas for future research. This paper describes an embedded, formative, realist and theory-driven evaluation which aims to gather information about how successful the ExCHANGE Collaboration is perceived to be in achieving its aims. An existing realist programme theory from the literature - Closer Collaboration - will be supplemented by two substantive theories: Co-production and Knowledge Brokering. This will result in an initial programme theory which will be tested by this formative evaluation to refine understanding of how the ExCHANGE Collaboration works. METHODS: The evaluation will employ mixed qualitative methods, including: analysis of documents such as feedback forms, Knowledge Broker journal/diary, event attendance records, risk and issues logs and other relevant paperwork gathered as part of project delivery; observations of events/activities; and interviews with care home providers and staff, care home residents, residents' family members, and researchers who are involved in the project (both project design/delivery, and also attendance or involvement in project activities/events). Framework Analysis will be used to interpret the data collected; analysis will be strategic, by focusing on particular key areas of importance in the developing theory of how the ExCHANGE Collaboration might achieve change. RESULTS: The results of this study are expected to be published in 2022. DISCUSSION: This evaluation will investigate how successful the ExCHANGE Collaboration is perceived to be in achieving its aims, in what way, in which contexts, and how this may differ for those involved. It will do this by testing an initial programme theory about how the collaboration works, for whom, under which circumstances, and in what way. Findings will be shared through written publication, an end of project learning event for those involved/interested in the project, and a lay summary to be made publically available.

A novel framework for discharge uncertainty quantification applied to 500 UK gauging stations.

A generalized framework for discharge uncertainty estimation is presentedAllows estimation of place-specific discharge uncertainties for many catchmentsLocal conditions dominate in determining discharge uncertainty magnitudes.

Characterisation of triterpenes and new phenolic lipids in Cameroonian propolis.

Chemical investigation of a sample of propolis originating from North-Western Cameroon led to the isolation of thirteen alk(en)ylphenols (1-13) (inseparable mixture) along with α-amyrin (14), ß-amyrin (15), lupeol (16), cycloartenol (17), mangiferonic acid (18), ambonic acid (19), mangiferolic acid (20), ambolic acid (21), isomangiferolic acid (22) and nine alk(en)ylresorcinols (23-31) (inseparable mixture). All compounds were identified following analysis of their spectroscopic data and comparison with previously published reports. Compounds (8), (12), (13) and (30) are new natural products. GC-MS analysis carried out on the alk(en)ylphenol and alk(en)ylresorcinol mixtures (dimethyl disulphide trimethylsilyl derivatives) revealed the presence of saturated and mono-unsaturated compounds with side chain lengths ranging from C11 to C19 and C15 to C19, respectively. The position of the double bond in mono-unsaturated derivatives was established from the characteristic fragments resulting from the cleavage of the bond between the two methylthio-substituted carbons. The most abundant compound in each mixture was 3-(12'Z-heptadecenyl)-phenol (10) and 5-(12'Z-heptadecenyl)-resorcinol (29). This study is the first to report the presence of triterpenes (except for lupeol) and phenolic lipids, including eighteen compounds previously unreported in bee glue, in an African sample.

Mechanisms underlying the metabolic actions of galegine that contribute to weight loss in mice.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Galegine and guanidine, originally isolated from Galega officinalis, led to the development of the biguanides. The weight-reducing effects of galegine have not previously been studied and the present investigation was undertaken to determine its mechanism(s) of action. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Body weight and food intake were examined in mice. Glucose uptake and acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity were studied in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes and AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity was examined in cell lines. The gene expression of some enzymes involved in fat metabolism was examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. KEY RESULTS: Galegine administered in the diet reduced body weight in mice. Pair-feeding indicated that at least part of this effect was independent of reduced food intake. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes, galegine (50 microM-3 mM) stimulated glucose uptake. Galegine (1-300 microM) also reduced isoprenaline-mediated lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and inhibited acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes. Galegine (500 microM) down-regulated genes concerned with fatty acid synthesis, including fatty acid synthase and its upstream regulator SREBP. Galegine (10 microM and above) produced a concentration-dependent activation of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) in H4IIE rat hepatoma, HEK293 human kidney cells, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myotubes. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Activation of AMPK can explain many of the effects of galegine, including enhanced glucose uptake and inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase both inhibits fatty acid synthesis and stimulates fatty acid oxidation, and this may to contribute to the in vivo effect of galegine on body weight.