Using mHealth to improve health care delivery in India: A qualitative examination of the perspectives of community health workers and beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND:mHealth technologies are proliferating globally to address quality and timeliness of health care delivery by Community Health Workers (CHWs). This study aimed to examine CHW and beneficiaries' perceptions of a new mHealth intervention (Common Application Software [CAS] for CHWs in India. The objectives of the study were to seek perspectives of CHWs and beneficiaries on the uptake of CAS, changes in CHW-beneficiary interactions since the introduction of CAS and potential barriers faced by CHWs in use of CAS. Further, important contextual factors related to CHW-beneficiary interface and dynamics that may have a bearing on CAS have been described. METHODS:A qualitative study was conducted in two states of India (Bihar and Madhya Pradesh) from March-April 2018 with CHWs (n = 32) and beneficiaries (n = 55). All interviews were conducted and recorded in Hindi, transcribed and translated into English, and coded and thematically analysed using Dedoose. FINDINGS:The mHealth intervention was acceptable to the CHWs who felt that CAS improved their status in the communities where they worked. Beneficiaries' views were a mix of positive and negative perceptions. The divergent views between CHWs and beneficiaries surrounding the use and impact of CAS highlight an underlying mistrust, socio-cultural barriers in engagement, and technological barriers in implementation. All these contextual factors can influence the perception and uptake of CAS. CONCLUSIONS:mHealth interventions targeting CHWs and beneficiaries have the potential to improve performance of CHWs, reduce barriers to information and potentially change the behaviors of beneficiaries. While technology is an enabler for CHWs to improve their service delivery, it does not necessarily help overcome social and cultural barriers that impede CHW-beneficiary interactions to bring about improvements in knowledge and health behaviors. Future interventions for CHWs including mHealth interventions should examine contextual factors along with the acceptability, accessibility, and usability by beneficiaries and community members

High-resolution spatial modelling of greenhouse gas emissions from land-use change to energy crops in the United Kingdom

Funded by Energy Technologies Institute EPSRC-Supergen. Grant Number: EP/M013200/1Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Impact of volcanism on the sedimentary record of the Neuquén rift basin, Argentina: towards a cause and effect model

The analysis of volcano-sedimentary infill in sedimentary basins constitutes a challenge for basin analysis and hydrocarbon exploration worldwide. In order to understand the contribution of volcanism to the sedimentary record in rift basins, we study the Jurassic effusive-explosive volcanic infill of an inverted extensional depocentre at the Neuquén Basin, Argentina. A cause and effect model that evaluates the relationship between volcanism and sedimentation was devised to develop a conceptual model for the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of this volcanic rift basin. We show how the variations in the volcanism, coupled with the activity of extensional faults, determined the types of volcanic edifices (i.e., composite volcanoes, graben-calderas, and lava fields). Volcanic edifices controlled the stacking patterns of the volcanic units as well as sedimentary systems. The landform of the volcanic edifices, as well as the styles and scales of the eruptions governed the sedimentary input to the basin, setting the main variables of the sedimentary systems, such as provenance, grain size, transport and deposition and geometry. As a result, the contrasting volcaniclastic input, from higher volcaniclastic input to lower volcaniclastic input, associated with different subsidence patterns, determined the high-resolution syn-rift infill patterns of the extensional depocentre. The cause and effect model presented in this study isolates the variables of the volcanic environments that control the sedimentary scenarios. We suggest that, by adjusting the first order input parameters of the model, these cause and effect scenarios could be adapted to similar rift basins, in order to establish predictive facies models with stratigraphic controls, and the impact of volcanism on their stratigraphic records.Fil: D'Elia, Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Martí, Joan. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera; EspañaFil: Muravchik, Martin. University Of Bergen; Noruega. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bilmes, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico de Geología y Paleontología.; ArgentinaFil: Franzese, Juan Rafael. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; Argentin

ELUM: User-friendly spatial modelling tool predicts net soil greenhouse gas balance of bioenergy land-use change in UK up to 2050

The ELUM Software Package spatially predicts the net soil greenhouse gas balance of land-use change to grow energy crops in the UK up to 2050. It is able to support a range of analyses of bioenergy, and was developed in consultation with anticipated users. Results can be obtained according to specific interests, viewed in the graphical interface and exported for a variety of purposes. The functionality of the software is demonstrated through different case studies, which show an array of applications

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Book Review 1Book Title: Skollie: One man’s struggle to survive by telling storiesBook Author: John W. FredericksCape Town: Penguin Random House. 251 pp. ISBN: 978-1-77609-199-7.Book Review 2Book Title: A Gap in the HedgeBook Author: Johan Vlok LouwCape Town: Umuzi, 2017. 233 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4152-08915Book Review 3Book Title: Iziganeko zesizwe: Occasional Poems (1900–1943)Book Authors: S.E.K. Mqhayi. Eds. and trans. Jeff Opland and Peter T. MtuzePietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu Natal Press, 2017. 469 pp. ISBN: 9781869143343; e-ISBN: 9781869143350.Book Review 4Book Title: Oorlog en terpentynBook Authors: Stefan Hertmans. Vertaal deur Daniel HugoPretoria: Protea Boekhuis, 2016. 335 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4853-0610-8; e-Boek: 978-1-4853-0722-8; Epub: 978-1-4853-0723-5.Book Review 5Book Title: Groen soos die hemel daarboBook Author: Eben VenterKaapstad: Tafelberg, 212 pp. ISBN: 978-0-624-08261-3.Book Review 6Book Title: Die wêreld van Charlie OengBook Author: Etienne van HeerdenKaapstad: Tafelberg, 2017. 559 pp. ISBN 978-0-624-08052-7.Book Review 7Book Title: Die diepblou seeBook Author: François LootsKaapstad: Umuzi, 2017. 239 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4152-0953-0.Book Review 8Book Title: Die derde spoelBook Author: S.J. NaudéKaapstad: Umuzi, 2017. 342 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4152-0747-5 (Druk). ISBN: 978-1-4152-0748-2 (ePub).Book Review 9Book Title: Nou, hierBook Author: Corné CoetzeeKaapstad: Human & Rousseau, 2017. 107 pp. ISBN 978-0-7981-7620-0.Book Review 10Book Title: RadbraakBook Author: Jolyn PhillipsKaapstad: Human & Rousseau, 2017. 68 pp. ISBN: 978-0-7981-7616-3.Book Review 11Book Title: VuurvasBook Author: Carel AntonissenNaledi, 2016. ISBN 978-0-928316-97-1.Book Review 12Book Title: Voor ek my kom kryBook Author: Pirow BekkerPretoria: Protea Boekhuis, 2017. 110 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4853-0648-1.Book Review 13Book Title: Nuwe stemme 6Book Authors: Bibi Slippers en Charl-Pierre Naudé (samenstellers)Kaapstad: Tafelberg, 2017. 176 pp. ISBN 9780624082644.Book Review 14Book Title: UittogboekBook Author: Johan MyburgPretoria: Protea, 2017. 100 pp. ISBN: 9781485307761.Book Review 15Book Title: Krap uit die seeBook Author: Fourie BothaPretoria: Protea Boekehuis, 2017. 64 pp. ISBN 9781485307570.Book Review 16Book Title: Skepelinge. Aanloop tot ‘n romanBook Author: Karel SchoemanKaapstad: Human & Rousseau, 2017. 576 pp. ISBN: 978079817610.Book Review 17Book Title: Die reis gaan inwaarts: Die kuns van sterwe in kreatiewe werke van Karel SchoemanBook Author: Cas WepenerStellenbosch: Sun MeDIA MeTRO. Druknaam: SUN PRESS, 2017. 233 pp. ISBN: 978-1-928355-14-4 (Druk); ISBN: 979-1-928355-15-1 (e-boek)

Hippocampal subfield volumes and pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease in 408 cognitively normal adults born in 1946

BACKGROUND: The human hippocampus comprises a number of interconnected histologically and functionally distinct subfields, which may be differentially influenced by cerebral pathology. Automated techniques are now available that estimate hippocampal subfield volumes using in vivo structural MRI data. To date, research investigating the influence of cerebral β-amyloid deposition-one of the earliest hypothesised changes in the pathophysiological continuum of Alzheimer's disease-on hippocampal subfield volumes in cognitively normal older individuals, has been limited. METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from 408 cognitively normal individuals born in mainland Britain (age range at time of assessment = 69.2-71.9 years) who underwent cognitive assessment, 18F-Florbetapir PET and structural MRI on the same 3 Tesla PET/MR unit (spatial resolution 1.1 x 1.1 x 1.1. mm), we investigated the influences of β-amyloid status, age at scan, and global white matter hyperintensity volume on: CA1, CA2/3, CA4, dentate gyrus, presubiculum and subiculum volumes, adjusting for sex and total intracranial volume. RESULTS: Compared to β-amyloid negative participants (n = 334), β-amyloid positive participants (n = 74) had lower volume of the presubiculum (3.4% smaller, p = 0.012). Despite an age range at scanning of just 2.7 years, older age at time of scanning was associated with lower CA1 (p = 0.007), CA4 (p = 0.004), dentate gyrus (p = 0.002), and subiculum (p = 0.035) volumes. There was no evidence that white matter hyperintensity volume was associated with any subfield volumes. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence of differential associations in cognitively normal older adults between hippocampal subfield volumes and β-amyloid deposition and, increasing age at time of scan. The relatively selective effect of lower presubiculum volume in the β-amyloid positive group potentially suggest that the presubiculum may be an area of early and relatively specific volume loss in the pathophysiological continuum of Alzheimer's disease. Future work using higher resolution imaging will be key to exploring these findings further

Carbon implications of converting cropland to bioenergy crops or forest for climate mitigation: a global assessment

The potential for climate change mitigation by bioenergy crops and terrestrial carbon sinks has been the object of intensive research in the past decade. There has been much debate about whether energy crops used to offset fossil fuel use, or carbon sequestration in forests, would provide the best climate mitigation benefit. Most current food cropland is unlikely to be used for bioenergy, but in many regions of the world, a proportion of cropland is being abandoned, particularly marginal croplands, and some of this land is now being used for bioenergy. In this study, we assess the consequences of land-use change on cropland. We first identify areas where cropland is so productive that it may never be converted and assess the potential of the remaining cropland to mitigate climate change by identifying which alternative land use provides the best climate benefit: C4 grass bioenergy crops, coppiced woody energy crops or allowing forest regrowth to create a carbon sink. We do not present this as a scenario of land-use change – we simply assess the best option in any given global location should a land-use change occur. To do this, we use global biomass potential studies based on food crop productivity, forest inventory data and dynamic global vegetation models to provide, for the first time, a global comparison of the climate change implications of either deploying bioenergy crops or allowing forest regeneration on current crop land, over a period of 20 years starting in the nominal year of 2000 ad. Globally, the extent of cropland on which conversion to energy crops or forest would result in a net carbon loss, and therefore likely always to remain as cropland, was estimated to be about 420.1 Mha, or 35.6% of the total cropland in Africa, 40.3% in Asia and Russia Federation, 30.8% in Europe-25, 48.4% in North America, 13.7% in South America and 58.5% in Oceania. Fast growing C4 grasses such as Miscanthus and switch-grass cultivars are the bioenergy feedstock with the highest climate mitigation potential. Fast growing C4 grasses such as Miscanthus and switch-grass cultivars provide the best climate mitigation option on ≈485 Mha of cropland worldwide with ~42% of this land characterized by a terrain slope equal or above 20%. If that land-use change did occur, it would displace ≈58.1 Pg fossil fuel C equivalent (Ceq oil). Woody energy crops such as poplar, willow and Eucalyptus species would be the best option on only 2.4% (≈26.3 Mha) of current cropland, and if this land-use change occurred, it would displace ≈0.9 Pg Ceq oil. Allowing cropland to revert to forest would be the best climate mitigation option on ≈17% of current cropland (≈184.5 Mha), and if this land-use change occurred, it would sequester ≈5.8 Pg C in biomass in the 20-year-old forest and ≈2.7 Pg C in soil. This study is spatially explicit, so also serves to identify the regional differences in the efficacy of different climate mitigation options, informing policymakers developing regionally or nationally appropriate mitigation actions

Sucrose ingestion after exhaustive exercise accelerates liver, but not muscle glycogen repletion when compared to glucose ingestion in trained athletes

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of sucrose vs. glucose ingestion on postexercise liver and muscle glycogen repletion. Fifteen well-trained male cyclists completed two test days. Each test day started with glycogen-depleting exercise, followed by 5 h of recovery, during which subjects ingested 1.5 g·kg−1·h−1 sucrose or glucose. Blood was sampled frequently and 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging were employed 0, 120, and 300 min postexercise to determine liver and muscle glycogen concentrations and liver volume. Results were as follows: Postexercise muscle glycogen concentrations increased significantly from 85 ± 27 (SD) vs. 86 ± 35 mmol/l to 140 ± 23 vs. 136 ± 26 mmol/l following sucrose and glucose ingestion, respectively (no differences between treatments: P = 0.673). Postexercise liver glycogen concentrations increased significantly from 183 ± 47 vs. 167 ± 65 mmol/l to 280 ± 72 vs. 234 ± 81 mmol/l following sucrose and glucose ingestion, respectively (time × treatment, P = 0.051). Liver volume increased significantly over the 300-min period after sucrose ingestion only (time × treatment, P = 0.001). As a result, total liver glycogen content increased during postexercise recovery to a greater extent in the sucrose treatment (from 53.6 ± 16.2 to 86.8 ± 29.0 g) compared with the glucose treatment (49.3 ± 25.5 to 65.7 ± 27.1 g; time × treatment, P < 0.001), equating to a 3.4 g/h (95% confidence interval: 1.6-5.1 g/h) greater repletion rate with sucrose vs. glucose ingestion. In conclusion, sucrose ingestion (1.5 g·kg−1·h−1) further accelerates postexercise liver, but not muscle glycogen repletion compared with glucose ingestion in trained athletes

Multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management of osteosarcoma – a review of the St Vincent's Hospital experience

BACKGROUND: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and young adults. Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of osteosarcoma, there have been few recent studies describing the experiences of tertiary referral centres. This paper aims to describe and discuss the clinical features, pre-operative work-up, management and outcomes of these patients at St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne, Australia). METHODS: Retrospective study of fifty-nine consecutive patients managed for osteosarcoma at St Vincent's Hospital between 1995 and 2005. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 21 (range, 11–84) years. Gender distribution was similar, with thirty-one male and twenty-eight female patients. Twenty-five patients had osteosarcoma in the femur, eleven each were located in the humerus and tibia, six were identified in the pelvis, and one each in the clavicle, maxilla, fibula, sacrum, ulna and radius. Pre-operative tissue diagnosis of osteosarcoma was obtained through computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy in over ninety percent of patients. Following initial therapy, over fifty percent of patients remained relapse-free during the follow-up period, with twelve percent and twenty-seven percent of patients documented as having local and distant disease recurrence, respectively. Of patients with recurrent disease, sixty-two percent remained disease-free following subsequent surgical intervention (most commonly, pulmonary metastatectomy). CONCLUSION: Patient outcomes can be optimised through a multidisciplinary approach in a tertiary referral centre. At St Vincent's Hospital, survival and relapse rates of patients managed for osteosarcoma compare favourably with the published literature