310 research outputs found
The nature and role of empathy in public librarianship
This article presents two recent studies, an AHRC-funded exploration of the role of empathy in community librarianship (Study 1) and an investigation of the role of empathy in service to minority ethnic users (Study 2). Qualitative elements of each methodology are presented, namely a series of focus groups with frontline staff, interviews with senior managers and a research workshop (Study 1), and a case study investigation of a public library in the heart of a Chinese community (Study 2). Synthesizing the data of both studies, an analysis is conducted of the relationship between the cultural identities of library staff and their ability to empathize with the public. It is concluded that empathy plays a role in facilitating effective communication between staff and users, but that a distinction should be made between intuitive and cognitive empathy, in considering the potential of staff training to develop appropriate levels of emotional response to members of all communities
The public library, exclusion and empathy: a literature review
Purpose â The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature within the fields of public librarianship, social exclusion and empathy.
Design/methodology/approach â The cross-disciplinary review involved the consultation of material from disciplines including library and information management, politics, social policy and social sciences, cultural studies, psychology, management and organizational theory. It was structured according to the following themes: exclusion, inclusion and social policy, social inclusion in public services and the cultural sector, the role of public libraries in social inclusion and professional empathy and the public library service.
Findings âThe concept of social inclusion remains at the core of public library policy and strategy, and is embedded in contemporary social theory. Conflicting views have emerged as to the perceived and actual role of the public library in combating social exclusion, with a need expressed for research to be conducted that bridges the gap between the âphilosophicalâ interpretations of community librarianship and the more practical, âreal worldâ studies, in order to fully understand the concept of community librarianship. A critical link is made between social inclusion and public librarianship to professional empathy.
Research limitations/implications â The paper provides an edited version of the overall literature review, yet it is felt that it would be of theoretical and practical relevance and value to the professional and academic communities.
Originality/value â Empathy is a relatively new concept in librarianship research, and prior to the study of which this review forms a part only limited findings have been available
Dietary interventions for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid life
This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: In this review we will set out to evaluate the effects of dietary interventions for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid-life and preventing cognitive decline in late life
Scanning Quantum Decoherence Microscopy
The use of qubits as sensitive magnetometers has been studied theoretically
and recent demonstrated experimentally. In this paper we propose a
generalisation of this concept, where a scanning two-state quantum system is
used to probe the subtle effects of decoherence (as well as its surrounding
electromagnetic environment). Mapping both the Hamiltonian and decoherence
properties of a qubit simultaneously, provides a unique image of the magnetic
(or electric) field properties at the nanoscale. The resulting images are
sensitive to the temporal as well as spatial variation in the fields created by
the sample. As an example we theoretically study two applications of this
technology; one from condensed matter physics, the other biophysics. The
individual components required to realise the simplest version of this device
(characterisation and measurement of qubits, nanoscale positioning) have
already been demonstrated experimentally.Comment: 11 pages, 5 low quality (but arXiv friendly) image
Topography and instability of monolayers near domain boundaries
We theoretically study the topography of a biphasic surfactant monolayer in
the vicinity of domain boundaries. The differing elastic properties of the two
phases generally lead to a nonflat topography of ``mesas'', where domains of
one phase are elevated with respect to the other phase. The mesas are steep but
low, having heights of up to 10 nm. As the monolayer is laterally compressed,
the mesas develop overhangs and eventually become unstable at a surface tension
of about K(dc)^2 (dc being the difference in spontaneous curvature and K a
bending modulus). In addition, the boundary is found to undergo a
topography-induced rippling instability upon compression, if its line tension
is smaller than about K(dc). The effect of diffuse boundaries on these features
and the topographic behavior near a critical point are also examined. We
discuss the relevance of our findings to several experimental observations
related to surfactant monolayers: (i) small topographic features recently found
near domain boundaries; (ii) folding behavior observed in mixed phospholipid
monolayers and model lung surfactants; (iii) roughening of domain boundaries
seen under lateral compression; (iv) the absence of biphasic structures in
tensionless surfactant films.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, using RevTeX and epsf, submitted to Phys Rev
âHere to support anybody who needs to comeâ? An investigation of the provision for EAL pupils in secondary school libraries in England
This paper presents the findings of a mixed methods investigation of the effectiveness of provision for
EAL pupils by secondary school libraries in England. Data from a quantitative survey of secondary
school librarians are triangulated with those of qualitative interviews with staff responsible for EAL
provision. A picture emerges of a hybrid environment which addresses a number of the educational,
cultural and social needs of EAL learners, but in which a series of barriers to effective provision are
also identified. Recommendations are made to key stakeholder groups for the short and long term
improvement of EAL provision, and for further research
Surgical aortic valve replacement in the era of transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a review of the UK national database
Objectives To date the reported outcomes of surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) are mainly in the settings of trials comparing it with evolving transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We set out to examine characteristics and outcomes in people who underwent SAVR reflecting a national cohort and therefore âreal-worldâ practice.
Design Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutive people who underwent SAVR with or without coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery between April 2013 and March 2018 in the UK. This included elective, urgent and emergency operations. Participantsâ demographics, preoperative risk factors, operative data, in-hospital mortality, postoperative complications and effect of the addition of CABG to SAVR were analysed.
Setting 27 (90%) tertiary cardiac surgical centres in the UK submitted their data for analysis.
Participants 31â277 people with AVR were identified. 19â670 (62.9%) had only SAVR and 11â607 (37.1%) had AVR+CABG.
Results In-hospital mortality for isolated SAVR was 1.9% (95% CI 1.6% to 2.1%) and was 2.4% for AVR+CABG. Mortality by age category for SAVR only were: 75 years=2.2%. For SAVR+CABG these were; 2.2%, 1.8% and 3.1%. For different categories of EuroSCORE, mortality for SAVR in low risk people was 1.3%, in intermediate risk 1% and for high risk 3.9%. 74.3% of the operations were elective, 24% urgent and 1.7% emergency/salvage. The incidences of resternotomy for bleeding and stroke were 3.9% and 1.1%, respectively. Multivariable analyses provided no evidence that concomitant CABG influenced outcome. However, urgency of the operation, poor ventricular function, higher EuroSCORE and longer cross clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times adversely affected outcomes.
Conclusions Surgical SAVR±CABG has low mortality risk and a low level of complications in the UK in people of all ages and risk factors. These results should inform consideration of treatment options in people with aortic valve disease
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