Walking research paths together: a story of nurse clinicians and nurse researchers

The path between work practice environments and research environments is not always well-worn in the health sector, particularly in nursing. In Australia, a case study research project in a busy regional hospital has provided a way in to research for its clinical champions and improved academics' access to and knowledge of the hospital and its people. The project was sparked by concerns at the hospital that newly-registered nurses were leaving the profession soon after they entered it. Nursing managers approached the university to gather evidence and develop strategies. Case study was chosen as the most appropriate methodology to meet both the hospital's and the researchers' needs. Data were collected from participants (n=30) during focus groups and face-to-face interviews. Involvement of senior management helped to maximise response rates. Nurses were invited and encouraged to participate in the sessions during paid work time, contributing to a healthy 51.7 per cent response rate. The key themes identified during analysis were finding your place and support. Nurses talked often about the need to 'find a niche'. The research partnership resulted in ongoing practical and intellectual benefits for academics and clinical managers. One of the strategies developed by the study team - lunchtime leadership sessions - is now the subject of an action research project being led this time by the nurse manager in collaboration with university academics. The project, therefore, continues to build evidence and research capacity as well as strengthening pathways

Impaired muscle stem cell function in cows with high concentrations of androstenedione in their follicular fluid

It is unclear whether androstenedione (A4) increases muscle mass and strength similar to testosterone or whether it produces primarily catabolic effects on muscle-like estrogen (Rasmussen et al., 2000). Summers et al. (2014) observed two populations of cows that exhibit either high (\u3e40 ng/mL; High A4) or low (\u3c20 ng/mL; Low A4) concentrations of A4 within the fluid of the dominant follicle just prior to ovulation. High A4 cows had decreased reproductive rates and shorter times before falling out of the herd, but those that did produce calves weaned them ~10-kg heavier than their low A4 counterparts (Summers et al., 2014). It appears that the difference in weights is due to faster growing and more efficient skeletal muscle. High A4 cows share many characteristics with women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), whose high levels of circulating androgens are associated with changes in body composition (Kirchengast and Huber, 2001)

Method and apparatus for managing quality of service

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining regression coefficients that quantify a relationship between premises feedback and first network and premises performance indicators, obtaining second network performance indicators for the network elements, obtaining second premises performance indicators for the customer premises equipment, and predicting customer complaints by applying the obtained regression coefficients to at least the second network performance indicators and the second premises performance indicators. Other embodiments are disclosed.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Beef cows with atypical estrous cyclicity at puberty produced calves with deficits in preweaning muscling, metabolic indicators, and myoblast function but not in feedlot performance

In cattle, age at puberty and number of estrous cycles prior to first breeding contribute to lifetime reproductive success (Perry et al., 1991). In our university beef herd, we have identified a subset of cows that exhibited irregular pubertal cyclicity patterns between weaning and their first breeding season, which we postulate is associated with high androstenedione in follicular fluid (Cupp et al., 2019). Cows with high androstenedione are subfertile but wean calves that average 17 kg heavier than the herd average (Summers et al., 2014). We hypothesized that this additional weight at weaning in their offspring is due to superior muscling and growth efficiency, characterized by better myoblast function, lean mass, and metabolic efficiency. The objective of this study was to test this hypothesis by evaluating growth and metabolic parameters in calves prior to weaning and in the feedlot, as well as carcass characteristics at harvest. We compared calves from cows that were classified as having typical pubertal cyclicity, start–stop pubertal cyclicity, or noncyclic puberty

8‐Year‐Old Boy with Progressive Headache

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/99694/1/bpa12074.pd

A review of previous and ongoing studies of intercropping as an alternative to fertilizers and pesticides.

General EcologyIntercropping is a technique studied by agroecologists in which two or more species are planted together to improve agricultural systems. Since industrial agriculture has proven to be ecologically destructive, the reintroduction of intercropping in United States farming is part of the larger effort to create a sustainable and secure agricultural system. Intercropping improves the use of resources including water, soil, and labor. This paper focuses on intercropping as an alternative to pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers. In addition to reviewing other studies, we analyzed our own study in which we intercropped arugula with beans and marigolds. We hypothesized that arugula yield would be greatest when intercropped with beans and marigolds since beans increase nitrogen availability and marigolds deter herbivory. Though the results suggested that beans inhibit the growth of arugula in comparison to the control, all treatments with marigolds had significantly less herbivory.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/101744/1/Kapustka_Kiseleva_Tryban_Yates_2013.pd

An Ultra-Wideband Leaky Lens Antenna for Broadband Spectroscopic Imaging Applications

We present the design, fabrication and characterisation of a broadband leaky lens antenna for broadband, spectroscopic imaging applications. The antenna is designed for operation in the 300-900 GHz band. We integrate the antenna directly into an Al-NbTiN hybrid MKID to measure the beam pattern and absolute coupling efficiency at three frequency bands centred around 350, 650 and 850 GHz, covering the full antenna band. We find an aperture efficiency $\eta_{ap} \approx 0.4$ over the whole frequency band, limited by lens reflections. We find a good match with simulations for both the patterns and efficiency, demonstrating a 1:3 bandwidth in the sub-mm wavelength range for future on-chip spectrometers.Comment: Accepted for Publication at IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagatio

Coated chitosan onto gauze to efficient conditions for maintenance of the wound microenvironment

The aim of this work was to evaluate the thermo-physiological comfort and moisture properties of surgical cotton gauze coated with chitosan (CH). Gauze was coated with CH at mass fractions of 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.1, 0.063 wt%. Thermal, moisture management and morphological properties were evaluated. Results indicate that the functionalized medical gauze induces low capilarity, allowing a good degree of moisture and absorption capacity of wound exudates. This biofunctional medical gauze coated with CH0,125 wt% demonstrates to deliver an efficient coating and promote the best conditions for maintenance of the wound microenvironment.Jefferson Souza acknowledge CAPES Foundation, the Ministry of Education of Brazil, Proc. no 8976/13-9 and the Department of Textile Engineering of the University of Minho, Portugal. Andrea Zille acknowledges funding from FCT within the scope of the project POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007136 and UID/CTM/00264. This work is financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and by national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology within the scope of the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007136.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Manchester Intermittent Diet in Gestational Diabetes Acceptability Study (MIDDAS-GDM): a two-arm randomised feasibility protocol trial of an intermittent low-energy diet (ILED) in women with gestational diabetes and obesity in Greater Manchester

Introduction The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rising in the UK and is associated with maternal and neonatal complications. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance advises first-line management with healthy eating and physical activity which is only moderately effective for achieving glycaemic targets. Approximately 30% of women require medication with metformin and/or insulin. There is currently no strong evidence base for any particular dietary regimen to improve outcomes in GDM. Intermittent low-energy diets (ILEDs) are associated with improved glycaemic control and reduced insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes and could be a viable option in the management of GDM. This study aims to test the safety, feasibility and acceptability of an ILED intervention among women with GDM compared with best National Health Service (NHS) care. Method and analysis We aim to recruit 48 women with GDM diagnosed between 24 and 30 weeks gestation from antenatal clinics at Wythenshawe and St Mary’s hospitals, Manchester Foundation Trust, over 13 months starting in November 2022. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to ILED (2 low-energy diet days/week of 1000 kcal and 5 days/week of the best NHS care healthy diet and physical activity advice) or best NHS care 7 days/week until delivery of their baby. Primary outcomes include uptake and retention of participants to the trial and adherence to both dietary interventions. Safety outcomes will include birth weight, gestational age at delivery, neonatal hypoglycaemic episodes requiring intervention, neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, admission to special care baby unit or neonatal intensive care unit, stillbirths, the percentage of women with hypoglycaemic episodes requiring third-party assistance, and significant maternal ketonaemia (defined as ≥1.0 mmol/L). Secondary outcomes will assess the fidelity of delivery of the interventions, and qualitative analysis of participant and healthcare professionals’ experiences of the diet. Exploratory outcomes include the number of women requiring metformin and/or insulin. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval has been granted by the Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee (22/EE/0119). Findings will be disseminated via publication in peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and shared with diabetes charitable bodies and organisations in the UK, such as Diabetes UK and the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists