Parabolic induction, categories of representations and operator spaces

We study some aspects of the functor of parabolic induction within the context of reduced group C*-algebras and related operator algebras. We explain how Frobenius reciprocity fits naturally within the context of operator modules, and examine the prospects for an operator algebraic formulation of Bernstein's reciprocity theorem (his second adjoint theorem).Comment: 28 page

A Second Adjoint Theorem for SL(2,R)

We formulate a second adjoint theorem in the context of tempered representations of real reductive groups, and prove it in the case of SL(2,R).Comment: 38 page

Parabolic induction and restriction via C*-algebras and Hilbert C*-modules

This paper is about the reduced group C*-algebras of real reductive groups, and about Hilbert C*-modules over these C*-algebras. We shall do three things. First we shall apply theorems from the tempered representation theory of reductive groups to determine the structure of the reduced C*-algebra (the result has been known for some time, but it is difficult to assemble a full treatment from the existing literature). Second, we shall use the structure of the reduced C*-algebra to determine the structure of the Hilbert C*-bimodule that represents the functor of parabolic induction. Third, we shall prove that the parabolic induction bimodule admits a secondary inner product, using which we can define a functor of parabolic restriction in tempered representation theory. We shall prove in the sequel to this paper that parabolic restriction is adjoint, on both the left and the right, to parabolic induction.Comment: Final version, to appear in Compositio Mathematic

Nursing & Midwifery: The key to the rapid and cost effective expansion of high quality universal healthcare

Nurses and midwives play a central role in all health systems. They support people in every aspect of their health and wellbeing – from health promotion to chronic disease management and specialist services. Together they make up half of the professional health workforce globally and account for about 90 percent of the contacts between patients and health professionals. This report argues that countries that invest in and develop their nursing and midwifery workforce can achieve a rapid, cost-effective expansion of high-quality UHC. This will also help to realize the World Health Assembly (WHA) target of 1 billion more people benefiting from UHC within five years. The report makes three main sets of arguments: 1. The initial emphasis in UHC policy has been on financing and access to services. Much more attention now needs to be given to service quality, the promotion of health and the prevention of diseases – areas where nurses and midwives can play an increasing role – as well as investment in the health workforce. 2. Nurses and midwives are well-placed to meet changing health needs – particularly for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – to deliver increased levels of health promotion and disease prevention, to develop primary care, and to provide support and supervision for community health workers. However, they are very often not enabled, resourced and supported to use their education and experience to their full potential. This is an extraordinary waste of talent and resources. 3. There are already many nurses who have taken on advanced and specialist roles, and globally many midwifery- and nurse-led services provide new and innovative models of care. These can be the foundation for a rapid, cost-effective expansion of high-quality UHC. Moreover, a survey of attitudes in seven countries showed that the public were open to an increase in nurse-led services. More than two-thirds of respondents said that it didn’t matter who treated them for a non-life-threatening illness or condition – a doctor or a nurse – as long as they had the right training and skills. More than 80 percent saw nurses and doctors as equally valuable members of the healthcare team. However, as other surveys show, there are currently many nurses and midwives working in poor conditions without adequate equipment and support, and consequently providing poor services. Investment is needed in nursing and midwifery, as well as effective legislation, regulation, education and employment practices. There also needs to be a fundamental shift in policy at a national and global level to recognize what nurses and midwives can achieve if enabled to do so. This report concludes by setting out a clear plan – with nursing and midwifery at its heart – for how countries can achieve a rapid, cost-effective expansion of high-quality UHC, and help to realize the WHA target

Agents of Change: the story of the Nursing Now campaign

First paragraph: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the extraordinary debt that we all owe to nurses and other health workers. Nurses across the world have played a crucial role in the COVID-19 response and have brought their expert clinical skills and compassion to all settings – in the community advising and providing support and information, in primary care and hospitals caring for the sick and the dying and working in the most stressful intensive care environments. Now it is time to invest in the nursing workforce and develop a global culture in which nurses’ contribution to healthcare is truly valued

Agents of Change: the story of the Nursing Now campaign

First paragraph: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the extraordinary debt that we all owe to nurses and other health workers. Nurses across the world have played a crucial role in the COVID-19 response and have brought their expert clinical skills and compassion to all settings – in the community advising and providing support and information, in primary care and hospitals caring for the sick and the dying and working in the most stressful intensive care environments. Now it is time to invest in the nursing workforce and develop a global culture in which nurses’ contribution to healthcare is truly valued

Screening Protocols for Group B Streptococcus: Are Transport Media Appropriate?

Objective: To evaluate group B streptococcus (GBS) detection in an in vitro setting, using a low and controlled inoculum from swabs directly inoculated into a selective medium, as compared to delayed inoculation following a period in a commercial Amies transport medium with charcoal (Venturi Transystem(™) Copan, Italy). Study design: Clinical isolates of GBS (n = 103), were inoculated into the Amies transport medium with charcoal in a concentration of 100 colony-forming units (cfu)/ml (10 cfu/swab). Swabs were then transferred to an enrichment broth (NPC) at time intervals of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours. Broths were then incubated for 18–24 hours at 35(°)C in air, before being transferred to New Granada Medium Modified (NGM) for GBS detection and incubated for a further 18–24 hours at 35(°)C in air. If the characteristic orange pigmented colonies were observed after this period, the specimen was recorded as + (1–10 colonies) or ++ (more than 10 colonies). Results: Overall 92.2% (95/103) of isolates were detected in all tubes and at all times. An additional two isolates were non-hemolytic, non-pigment forming GBS. Of note, 3.9% (4/103) were negative until 2 hours delayed inoculation and 1.9% (2/103) gave inconsistent results, likely due to the low inoculum used. Conclusion: Delayed inoculation into selective enrichment broth following a period in transport medium, even with a low inoculum, gave a similar and acceptable GBS detection rate to direct inoculation. Hence, Amies transport medium with charcoal is an appropriate transport medium to use, where it is not practical for clinical specimens to be directly inoculated into selective enrichment broth and as endorsed in the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC) Guidelines, 2002