The self-care for people initiative: the outcome evaluation.

To determine the effects of a community-based training programme in self-care on the lay population

Community Wellbeing Case study synthesis : study protocol

As part of the Communities of Place (CoP) Evidence Programme, at the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, we are conducting a scoping review and qualitative synthesis of the methods and approaches of community-based practices in supporting community wellbeing. This ‘Community Wellbeing Case Study Synthesis’ will have two areas of focus (i) development of a method to synthesise learning and outcomes from community-based wellbeing projects (ii) collection and review of a sample of projects that are focused on promoting wellbeing through a place or neighbourhood. There is considerable interest in the knowledge and learning that can be obtained from practice-based case studies, but no consensus on how to synthesise that evidence. This study will therefore aim to provide a ‘proof of concept’, laying the foundations for synthesising learning from community wellbeing practice. This protocol sets out the process that we will use to develop the methods and then apply them with a small set of community wellbeing case studies

Electronic structure of the muonium center as a shallow donor in ZnO

The electronic structure and the location of muonium centers (Mu) in single-crystalline ZnO were determined for the first time. Two species of Mu centers with extremely small hyperfine parameters have been observed below 40 K. Both Mu centers have an axial-symmetric hyperfine structure along with a [0001] axis, indicating that they are located at the AB_{O,//} and BC_{//} sites. It is inferred from their small ionization energy (~6 meV and 50 meV) and hyperfine parameters (~10^{-4} times the vacuum value) that these centers behave as shallow donors, strongly suggesting that hydrogen is one of the primary origins of n type conductivity in as-grown ZnO.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR

Impact of proctoring on success rates for percutaneous revascularisation of coronary chronic total occlusions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of proctoring for chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in six UK centres. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 587 CTO procedures from six UK centres and compared success rates of operators who had received proctorship with success rates of the same operators before proctorship (pre-proctored) and operators in the same institutions who had not been proctored (non-proctored). There were 232 patients in the pre-proctored/non-proctored group and 355 patients in the post-proctored group. Complexity was assessed by calculating the Japanese CTO (JCTO) score for each case. RESULTS: CTO PCI success was greater in the post-proctored compared with the pre-proctored/non-proctored group (77.5% vs 62.1%, p<0.0001). In more complex cases where JCTO≥2, the difference in success was greater (70.7% vs 49.5%, p=0.0003). After proctoring, there was an increase in CTO PCI activity in centres from 2.5% to 3.5%, p<0.0001 (as a proportion of total PCI), and the proportion of very difficult cases with JCTO score ≥3 increased from 15.3% (35/229) to 29.7% (105/354), p<0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: Proctoring resulted in an increase in procedural success for CTO PCI, an increase in complex CTO PCI and an increase in total CTO PCI activity. Proctoring may be a valuable way to improve access to CTO PCI and the likelihood of procedural success

Guide to Best Practice in Seascape Assessment

Seascape is a crucial element in any maritime nation’s sense of identity and culture. It has played an important part in the history and development of Ireland and Wales. The coast and the sea is a primary holiday and leisure location and is a significant asset in a nation’s recreational resource. The coast and related seascape is a finite resource under almost continual pressure for development. In both Ireland and Wales we are currently experiencing a period of exceptional change around our coasts. The response to sea level rise is generating more proposals for coastal defence works. We have seen the development of new ports and the upgrading of existing facilities, and proposals for aquaculture schemes have become more prevalent around some coasts. Energy strategies are giving rise to wind turbine projects off both coasts. We have also become more aware of how valuable and important our seascapes are to the character and identity of much of our countryside, towns and cities. With all of these development pressures related to the coast and the sea, a systematic approach to issues raised is now timely and essential to ensure that the decision making process has the tools to deal with the upcoming changes. For these reasons development that affects our coasts and seascapes require particular attention and care. Such consideration can best be given in a structure based upon a thorough understanding of the character and values attributable to the relevant seascapes. This guide attempts to provide a methodology to deal with the issues involved.Funder: European Unio

Comparison of Characteristics and Complications in Men Versus Women Undergoing Chronic Total Occlusion Percutaneous Intervention

Gender differences exist in clinical outcomes after routine percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but studies reporting such outcomes after chronic total occlusion (CTO) PCI are limited. We assessed the characteristics and outcomes of female patients undergoing CTO PCI. We retrospectively analyzed a dedicated national (United Kingdom) prospective CTO database from 2011 to 2015 for outcomes and characteristics of female patients undergoing CTO PCI (unmatched and propensity matched). Female patients constituted 20.5% (n = 260 of 1,271) of the unmatched cohort and 33.3% (n = 233 of 699) of the matched cohort and were more likely to be older (women aged >70 years, 48% in the unmatched and 45% in the matched cohort). An increased inhospital complication rate was observed in female patients (unmatched: 10% women vs 4.45% men, p = 0.0012, and matched 9.87% women vs 3.86% men, p = 0.0032). Coronary perforation, bleeding, and contrast-induced nephropathy were more frequently observed in female patients. Femoral access site with >6 French sheath was associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Presence of calcification in the CTO artery was associated with coronary perforation (grade III) in female patients in the matched cohort (p = 0.007). Female patients undergoing CTO PCI were older and experienced increased of inhospital complications. Increased awareness of these complications could influence the selection of access site and sheath size, the need for prehydration, judicious choice of balloon size, collateral selection, and wire placement in female patients undergoing CTO PCI