Nottingham Trent University

About: Nottingham Trent University is a education organization based out in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 4702 authors who have published 12862 publications receiving 307430 citations. The organization is also known as: NTU & Trent Polytechnic.

Serum Proteomic Fingerprinting Discriminates Between Clinical Stages and Predicts Disease Progression in Melanoma Patients

Abstract: Purpose Currently known serum biomarkers do not predict clinical outcome in melanoma. S100- is widely established as a reliable prognostic indicator in patients with advanced metastatic disease but is of limited predictive value in tumor-free patients. This study was aimed to determine whether molecular profiling of the serum proteome could discriminate between early- and late-stage melanoma and predict disease progression. Patients and Methods Two hundred five serum samples from 101 early-stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage I) and 104 advanced stage (AJCC stage IV) melanoma patients were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) time-of-flight (ToF; MALDIToF) mass spectrometry utilizing protein chip technology and artificial neural networks (ANN). Serum samples from 55 additional patients after complete dissection of regional lymph node metastases (AJCC stage III), with 28 of 55 patients relapsing within the first year of follow-up, were analyzed in an attempt to predict disease recurrence. Serum S100- was measured using a sandwich immunoluminometric assay. Results Analysis of 205 stage I/IV serum samples, utilizing a training set of 94 of 205 and a test set of 15 of 205 samples for 32 different ANN models, revealed correct stage assignment in 84 (88%) of 96 of a blind set of 96 of 205 serum samples. Forty-four (80%) of 55 stage III serum samples could be correctly assigned as progressors or nonprogressors using random sample cross-validation statistical methodologies. Twenty-three (82%) of 28 stage III progressors were correctly identified by MALDI-ToF combined with ANN, whereas only six (21%) of 28 could be detected by S100-. Conclusion Validation of these findings may enable proteomic profiling to become a valuable tool for identifying high-risk melanoma patients eligible for adjuvant therapeutic interventions.

The role of social factors in gambling: evidence from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey

Abstract: Using data from the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey, relationships were explored between gambling variables and each of the three key indices of a person's social position, controlling for age and sex. Personal income was found to be positively and linearly related to gambling prevalence, to number of gambling activities engaged in, and to positive attitudes towards gambling; household occupational category was significantly associated with prevalence and frequency of gambling, with problem or moderate risk gambling, and with attitudes towards gambling (managerial and professional, and intermediate, categories obtained lower values than other categories on each of those variables); area deprivation was significantly positively and linearly related to frequency and volume of gambling and to reports of close relatives having gambling problems. The analyses presented here, whilst primarily exploratory, suggest that future surveys should go further towards examining gambling issues as ones of family a...

Mental Health and Movement Behaviour During the COVID-19 Pandemic in UK University Students: Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to negatively impact the mental health of young people and students in particular, yet there is lack of prospective longitudinal data quantifying such changes. This study examines the mental health and movement behaviours, and the associations between the changes in mental health and movement behaviours, of UK university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 214 students enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study (mean age = 20⸱0 years; males = 28⸱0%, females = 72⸱0%) at an East Midlands UK University. Participants completed a self-report, online survey on four occasions; twice before (14/10/2019; T1 and 28/01/2020; T2) and twice during the UK government enforced ‘lockdown’ (20/03/2020; T3 and 27/04/2020; T4). Mental wellbeing and perceived stress were measured using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess for changes in variables over time, whilst correlation analysis tested for associations. Findings: During the first 5 weeks of ‘lockdown’ mental wellbeing and physical activity decreased ((F (2⸱2, 465⸱0) = 6⸱6, p < ⸱0010 and (F (2⸱7, 591⸱0) = 4⸱8, p < ⸱010 respectively)). Meanwhile, perceived stress and time spent in sedentary behaviour significantly increased ((F (2⸱5, 536⸱2) = 94⸱0, p < ⸱0050 and (F (2⸱7, 578⸱9) = 41⸱2, p < ⸱0001 respectively)). The changes in mental wellbeing and stress were not associated with gender or pre-lockdown mental health, nor were they associated with changes physical activity. A positive association was found between the change in perceived stress and the change in sedentary behaviour (r = ⸱18, p < ⸱010). Interpretation: The COVID-19 pandemic is having detrimental effects on the mental health and movement behaviour of university students in the UK. However, these two constructs seem to be changing independently of one another. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval was granted by the Science and Technology College Research Ethics Committee of the University.

Density-viscosity product of small-volume ionic liquid samples using quartz crystal impedance analysis.

Abstract: Quartz crystal impedance analysis has been developed as a technique to assess whether room-temperature ionic liquids are Newtonian fluids and as a small-volume method for determining the values of their viscosity−density product, ρη. Changes in the impedance spectrum of a 5-MHz fundamental frequency quartz crystal induced by a water-miscible room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimiclazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([C4mim][OTf]), were measured. From coupled frequency shift and bandwidth changes as the concentration was varied from 0 to 100% ionic liquid, it was determined that this liquid provided a Newtonian response. A second water-immiscible ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [C4mim][NTf2], with concentration varied using methanol, was tested and also found to provide a Newtonian response. In both cases, the values of the square root of the viscosity−density product deduced from the small-volume quartz crystal technique were consistent with those mea...

A Review of Compliance with Cadbury

Abstract: The report by the Cadbury Committee on the financial aspects of corporate governance is widely viewed as the most far-reaching publication in corporate governance, not only in Great Britain but also in many overseas countries. The Code of Best Practice represents the essence of the principles which are fully discussed in the Cadbury Committee report. This article discusses to what extent have companies implemented the recommendations of the committee on the financial aspects of corporate governance. The review of the most recent research literature confirms that there is a very high degree of adherence to the principles contained in the code. Sir Adrian Cadbury has stated that an important factor in achieving compliance was the London Stock Exchange rule requiring listed companies to disclose in their annual report to the extent to which they complied with the code, and to provide an explanation of any area that they did not comply with. In the area of boardroom committees, companies have nearly universally adopted both audit and remuneration committees. There are important areas where the authors feel that improvements could be made. These are that the audit, remuneration, and nomination committees should comprise solely of non-executive directors who should be independent.