234 research outputs found
The Private Sector Amendment to Australia\u27s Privacy Act: A First Step on the Road to Privacy
Global and national transfers of personal information and data protection laws meant to regulate such transfers will have a significant impact on the growing Internet. Yet vastly different philosophies on how to protect individuals\u27 personal information from theft or misuse by the private sector have led to very different regulatory models throughout the world. In the industrialized world, the European Union\u27s approach, a universally applicable, comprehensive data protection law, occupies one end of the regulatory spectrum, while a self-regulatory scheme like the United States\u27 stakes out the other end. Australia\u27s Private Sector Privacy Act Amendment ( 2000 Amendment ) lies somewhere in between. Australia\u27s 2000 Amendment has been called co-regulatory or light touch regulation partly because it was meant to allay citizens\u27 increasing privacy concerns, yet not impose a significant regulatory burden on industry. Australia \u27s Private Sector Privacy Bill was touted as an innovative compromise between costly state regulation and ineffective self-regulation. However, some of the concessions made in the name of flexibility and de-regulation have resulted in a weak regulatory scheme that produces inconsistent and ineffective information privacy protection. In particular, the small business exemption and the limited enforcement mechanisms weaken the 2000 Amendment so much as to call into question whether Australia\u27s information privacy law is merely a baby step away from self-regulation rather than a happy medium on the regulatory scale. If the 2000 Amendment is to provide Australians with the substantive privacy protections it sets forth, legislators should fix two flaws in the next round of private sector privacy regulation. First, they should close or phase out the small business exemption. Second, in order to give effect to the substantive provisions of the Amendment, the law should allow more effective enforcement by using a system of appropriate penalties that escalate according to the degree of non-compliance. These changes would provide more thorough protection of Australians \u27privacy, yet would not reduce the benefits derived from the co-regulatory model
Letting Go: Conceptualizing intervention de-implementation in public health and social service settings
The discontinuation of interventions that should be stopped, or de-implementation, has emerged as a novel line of inquiry within dissemination and implementation science. As this area grows in human services research, like public health and social work, theory is needed to help guide scientific endeavors. Given the infancy of de-implementation, this conceptual narrative provides a definition and criteria for determining if an intervention should be de-implemented. We identify three criteria for identifying interventions appropriate for de-implementation: (a) interventions that are not effective or harmful, (b) interventions that are not the most effective or efficient to provide, and (c) interventions that are no longer necessary. Detailed, well-documented examples illustrate each of the criteria. We describe de-implementation frameworks, but also demonstrate how other existing implementation frameworks might be applied to de-implementation research as a supplement. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of de-implementation in the context of other stages of implementation, like sustainability and adoption; next steps for de-implementation research, especially identifying interventions appropriate for de-implementation in a systematic manner; and highlight special ethical considerations to advance the field of de-implementation research
Infection with Hymenolepis diminuta Is More Effective than Daily Corticosteroids in Blocking Chemically Induced Colitis in Mice
Purpose. To compare infection with the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, with steroid (dexamethasone) administration in the inhibition of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid- (DNBS-) induced colitis in mice. Procedures. Mice were treated with DNBS ± infected with H. diminuta or treated with daily dexamethasone (2 mg/Kg, ip.) and were assessed 72 hours post-DNBS by the calculation of disease activity and histological damage scores, and spleen cell cytokine production. Results. H. diminuta-infected mice showed increased IL-4 and IL-10 production by spleen cells compared to other groups and were protected from DNBS-induced colitis. In contrast, there was little benefit of dexamethasone in the treatment of colitis. Collagen deposition in the colon was not different between the groups. Conclusions. H. diminuta was superior to dexamethasone in the prevention of DNBS-induced colitis and did not result in additional side effects (i.e., collagen deposition). Comparisons with current therapeutics and long-term followup to studies are essential if “helminth therapy” is to become a viable treatment for specific inflammatory diseases in the gut or other tissues
The impact of Action Schools! BC on the health of aboriginal children and youth living in rural and remote communities in British Columbia
Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the short-term impact of a 7-month whole-school physical activity and healthy eating intervention (Action Schools! BC) over the 2007-2008 school year for children and youth in 3 remote First Nations villages in northwestern British Columbia. Study design: A pre-experimental pre/post design was conducted with 148 children and youth (77 males, 71 females; age 12.5±2.2 yrs). Methods: We evaluated changes in obesity (body mass index [wt/ht 2] and waist circumference z-scores: zBMI and zWC), aerobic fitness (20-m shuttle run), physical activity (PA; physical activity questionnaire and accelerometry), healthy eating (dietary recall) and cardiovascular risk (CV risk). Results: zBMI remained unchanged while zWC increased from 0.46±1.07 to 0.57±1.04 (pB0.05). No change was detected in PA or CV risk but aerobic fitness increased by 22% (25.4±15.8 to 30.9±20.0 laps; p\u3c0.01). There was an increase in the variety of vegetables consumed (1.10±1.18 to 1.45±1.24; p\u3c0.05) but otherwise no dietary changes were detected. Conclusions: While no changes were seen in PA or overall CV risk, zWC increased, zBMI remained stable and aerobic fitness improved during a 7-month intervention. © 2012 Dona Tomlin et al
Ligand hydrogenation during hydroformylation catalysis detected by in-situ high-pressure infra-red spectroscopic analysis of a rhodium/phospholene-phosphite catalyst
Phospholane-phosphites are known to give highly unusual selectivity’s towards branched aldehydes in the hydroformylation of terminal alkenes. This paper describes the synthesis of hitherto unknown unsaturated phospholene-borane precursors and their conversion to the corresponding phospholene-phosphites. The relative stereochemistry of one of these ligands, and it’s Pd complex was assigned with the aid of X-ray crystal structure determinations. These ligands were able to approach the level of selectivity observed for phospholane-phosphites in the rhodium catalysed hydroformylation of propene. High-Pressure-Infra-Red (HPIR) spectroscopic monitoring of the catalyst formation revealed that whilst the catalysts show good thermal stability with respect to fragmentation, the C=C bond in the phospholene is slowly hydrogenated in the presence of rhodium and syngas. The ability of this spectroscopic tool to detect even subtle changes in structure, remote from the carbonyl ligands underlines the usefulness of HPIR spectroscopy in hydroformylation catalyst development.Peer reviewe
Alkyl backbone variations in common β-diketiminate ligands and applications to N-heterocyclic silylene chemistry
We report the extension of the common β-diketimine proligand class, RArnacnacH (HC(RCNAr)2H), where R is an alkyl group such as Et or iPr, plus Ph, and Ar is a sterically demanding aryl substituent such as Dip = 2,6-diispropylphenyl, Dep = 2,6-diethylphenyl, Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl or mesityl, Xyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl, via one-pot condensation procedures. When a condensation reaction is carried out using the chemical dehydrating agent PPSE (polyphosphoric acid trimethylsilylester), β-diketiminate phosphorus(V) products such as (iPrMesnacnac)PO2 can also be obtained, which can be converted to the respective proligand iPrMesnacnacH via alkaline hydrolysis. The RArnacnacH proligands can be converted to their alkali metal complexes with common methods and we have found that deprotonation of iPrDipnacnacH is significantly more sluggish than of related β-diketimines with smaller backbone alkyl groups. The basicity of the RArnacnac- anions can play a role in the success of their salt metathesis chemistry and we have prepared and structurally characterised the EtDipnacnac-derived silicon(II) compounds (EtDipnacnac)SiBr and (EtDipnacnac’)Si, where EtDipnacnac’ is the deprotonated variant MeCHC(NDip)CHC(NDip)Et.Peer reviewe
A scoping review of de-implementation frameworks and models
BACKGROUND: Reduction or elimination of inappropriate, ineffective, or potentially harmful healthcare services and public health programs can help to ensure limited resources are used effectively. Frameworks and models (FM) are valuable tools in conceptualizing and guiding the study of de-implementation. This scoping review sought to identify and characterize FM that can be used to study de-implementation as a phenomenon and identify gaps in the literature to inform future model development and application for research.
METHODS: We searched nine databases and eleven journals from a broad array of disciplines (e.g., healthcare, public health, public policy) for de-implementation studies published between 1990 and June 2020. Two raters independently screened titles and abstracts, and then a pair of raters screened all full text records. We extracted information related to setting, discipline, study design, methodology, and FM characteristics from included studies.
RESULTS: The final search yielded 1860 records, from which we screened 126 full text records. We extracted data from 27 articles containing 27 unique FM. Most FM (n = 21) were applicable to two or more levels of the Socio-Ecological Framework, and most commonly assessed constructs were at the organization level (n = 18). Most FM (n = 18) depicted a linear relationship between constructs, few depicted a more complex structure, such as a nested or cyclical relationship. Thirteen studies applied FM in empirical investigations of de-implementation, while 14 articles were commentary or review papers that included FM.
CONCLUSION: De-implementation is a process studied in a broad array of disciplines, yet implementation science has thus far been limited in the integration of learnings from other fields. This review offers an overview of visual representations of FM that implementation researchers and practitioners can use to inform their work. Additional work is needed to test and refine existing FM and to determine the extent to which FM developed in one setting or for a particular topic can be applied to other contexts. Given the extensive availability of FM in implementation science, we suggest researchers build from existing FM rather than recreating novel FM.
REGISTRATION: Not registered
Multi-responsive thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials : optical ZnCl2 sensors and efficient green to deep-red OLEDs
Funding: China Scholarship Council - 201806890001; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - EP/L017008/1; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme - 101024874; Royal Society - NF171163.Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) is an emission mechanism whereby both singlet and triplet excitons can be harvested to produce light. Significant attention is devoted to developing TADF materials for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), while their use in other organic electronics applications such as sensors, has lagged. A family of TADF emitters, TPAPyAP, TPAPyBP, and TPAPyBPN containing a triphenylamine (TPA) donor and differing nitrogen-containing heterocyclic pyrazine-based acceptors is developed and systematically studied. Depending on the acceptor strength, these three compounds emit with photoluminescence maxima (λPL), of 516, 550, and 575 nm in toluene. Notably, all three compounds show a strong and selective spectral response to the presence of ZnCl2, making them the first optical TADF sensors for this analyte. It is demonstrated that these three emitters can be used in vacuum-deposited OLEDs, which show moderate efficiencies. Of note, the device with TPAPyBPN in 2,8-bis(diphenyl-phoshporyl)-dibenzo[b,d]thiophene (PPT) host emits at 657 nm and shows a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 12.5%. This electroluminescence is significantly red-shifted yet shows comparable efficiency compared to a device fabricated in 4,4′-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (CBP) host (λEL = 596 nm, EQEmax = 13.6%).Peer reviewe
Phosphorus‒bismuth peri-substituted acenaphthenes : a synthetic, structural and computational study
This work was financially supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This included PhD studentship to TEC (Centre for Doctoral Training in Critical Resource Catalysis (CRITICAT), Grant code: EP/L016419/1) and to PN (Grant code EP/L505079/1). The authors would like to thank COST action SM1302 SIPs; the EPSRC UK National Mass Spectrometry Facility at Swansea University for the acquisition and processing of Mass Spectrometry Data and to EaStCHEM and the School of Chemistry for support.A series of acenaphthene species with a diisopropylphosphino group and a variety of bismuth functionalities in the peri-positions were synthesised and fully characterised, including single crystal X–ray diffraction. The majority of the reported species feature a relatively rare interpnictogen P−Bi bond. The series includes the phosphine¬−bismuthine, Acenap(PiPr2)(BiPh2) 2 (Acenap = acenaphthene-5,6-diyl), which was subjected to a fluorodearylation reaction to produce Acenap(PiPr2)(BiPhX) 5−8 and 10 (X = BF4-, Cl, Br, I, SPh), displaying varying degrees of ionicity. The geminally bis(acenaphthyl) substituted [Acenap(PiPr2)2]BiPh 3 shows a large through-space coupling of 17.8 Hz, formally 8TSJPP. Coupling deformation density (CDD) calculations confirm the double through-space coupling pathway, in which the P and Bi lone pairs mediate communication between the two 31P nuclei. Several synthetic routes towards the phosphine−diiodobismuthine Acenap(PiPr2)(BiI2) 9 have been investigated, however the purity of this, surprisingly thermally stable potential synthon, remains poor.PostprintPostprintPeer reviewe
A Multi-Component Prime-Boost Vaccination Regimen with a Consensus MOMP Antigen Enhances Chlamydia trachomatis Clearance
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2016.00162BACKGROUND: A vaccine for Chlamydia trachomatis is of urgent medical need. We explored bioinformatic approaches to generate an immunogen against C. trachomatis that would induce cross-serovar T-cell responses as (i) CD4(+) T cells have been shown in animal models and human studies to be important in chlamydial protection and (ii) antibody responses may be restrictive and serovar specific.
METHODS: A consensus antigen based on over 1,500 major outer membrane protein (MOMP) sequences provided high epitope coverage against the most prevalent C. trachomatis strains in silico. Having designed the T-cell immunogen, we assessed it for immunogenicity in prime-boost regimens. This consensus MOMP transgene was delivered using plasmid DNA, Human Adenovirus 5 (HuAd5) or modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vectors with or without MF59(®) adjuvanted recombinant MOMP protein.
RESULTS: Different regimens induced distinct immune profiles. The DNA-HuAd5-MVA-Protein vaccine regimen induced a cellular response with a Th1-biased serum antibody response, alongside high serum and vaginal MOMP-specific antibodies. This regimen significantly enhanced clearance against intravaginal C. trachomatis serovar D infection in both BALB/c and B6C3F1 mouse strains. This enhanced clearance was shown to be CD4(+) T-cell dependent. Future studies will need to confirm the specificity and precise mechanisms of protection.
CONCLUSION: A C. trachomatis vaccine needs to induce a robust cellular response with broad cross-serovar coverage and a heterologous prime-boost regimen may be an approach to achieve this.AB was funded by the Wellcome Trust. RS was supported by the European Community’s European 7th Framework Program ADITEC (HEALTH-F4-2011-18 280873).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
- …