116 research outputs found
Shallow groundwater temperatures and the urban heat island effect: the first U.K. city-wide geothermal map to support development of ground source heating systems strategy
U.K. Government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 (Climate Change
Act, 2008). Ground source heating systems could contribute to the U.K.’s energy future but
uptake has been slow due to a lack of case studies. The aim of this work was to produce the 1st
U.K. city-wide heat map to support the development of ground source heating. We also sought to
describe groundwater temperature variation with lithology & estimate the available thermal
energy beneath the city
Theorising interprofessional pedagogic evaluation: framework for evaluating the impact of interprofessional CPD on practice change
This paper outlines the development of a conceptual framework to guide the evaluation of the impact of the pedagogy employed in continuing professional development for professionals in education, health and social care. The work is developed as part of the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning: Interprofessional Learning across the Public Sector (CETL: IPPS) at the University of Southampton. The paper briefly outlines the field for pedagogic research and comments on the underpinning theories that have so far been used to guide research into interprofessional learning (IPL). It maps out the development of interprofessional CPD in its specific context as part of the CETL: IPPS with its links to a local authority undergoing service reorganisation and the role of the continuing professional development (CPD) in effecting change. It then brings together a theoretical framework with the potential toexplore, explain and evaluate the essential features of the model of pedagogy used in interprofessional CPD, in which professionals from education have for the first time been included alongside those from health and social care. The framework draws upon elements of situated learning theory, Activity Theory and Dreier’s work (2002, 1999) on trajectories of participation, particularly Personal Action Potency. By combining the resulting analytic framework with an adapted version of an established evaluation model, a theoretically-driven, practicable evaluation matrix is developed. The matrix has potential use in evaluating the impact of pedagogic input on practice change. The paper models a process for developing a conceptual framework to steer pedagogic evaluation. Such a process and the resulting matrix may be of use to other researchers who are similarly developing pedagogic evaluation
Phase III study of pasireotide long-acting release in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors and carcinoid symptoms refractory to available somatostatin analogues
In a randomized, double-blind, Phase III study, we compared pasireotide long-acting
release (pasireotide LAR) with octreotide long-acting repeatable (octreotide LAR) in managing
carcinoid symptoms refractory to first-generation somatostatin analogues. Adults with carcinoid
tumors of the digestive tract were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive pasireotide LAR (60 mg)
or octreotide LAR (40 mg) every 28 days. Primary outcome was symptom control based on
frequency of bowel movements and flushing episodes. Objective tumor response was a secondary
outcome. Progression-free survival (PFS) was calculated in a post hoc analysis. Adverse
events were recorded. At the time of a planned interim analysis, the data monitoring committee
recommended halting the study because of a low predictive probability of showing superiority
of pasireotide over octreotide for symptom control (n=43 pasireotide LAR, 20.9%; n=45
octreotide LAR, 26.7%; odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.27–1.97; P=0.53).
Tumor control rate at month 6 was 62.7% with pasireotide and 46.2% with octreotide (odds
ratio, 1.96; 95% CI, 0.89–4.32; P=0.09). Median (95% CI) PFS was 11.8 months (11.0 – not
reached) with pasireotide versus 6.8 months (5.6 – not reached) with octreotide (hazard ratio,
0.46; 95% CI, 0.20–0.98; P=0.045). The most frequent drug-related adverse events (pasireotide
vs octreotide) included hyperglycemia (28.3% vs 5.3%), fatigue (11.3% vs 3.5%), and nausea
(9.4% vs 0%). We conclude that, among patients with carcinoid symptoms refractory to available
somatostatin analogues, similar proportions of patients receiving pasireotide LAR or octreotide
LAR achieved symptom control at month 6. Pasireotide LAR showed a trend toward higher
tumor control rate at month 6, although it was statistically not significant, and was associated
with a longer PFS than octreotide LAR
Professionalism, Golf Coaching and a Master of Science Degree: A commentary
As a point of reference I congratulate Simon Jenkins on tackling the issue of professionalism in coaching. As he points out coaching is not a profession, but this does not mean that coaching would not benefit from going through a professionalization process. As things stand I find that the stimulus article unpacks some critically important issues of professionalism, broadly within the context of golf coaching. However, I am not sure enough is made of understanding what professional (golf) coaching actually is nor how the development of a professional golf coach can be facilitated by a Master of Science Degree (M.Sc.). I will focus my commentary on these two issues
Horizontal Branch Stars: The Interplay between Observations and Theory, and Insights into the Formation of the Galaxy
We review HB stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable
and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is
presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and
systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of
globular clusters (GCs) in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude,
with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may
have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky
Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC. A rediscussion of the
second-parameter problem is presented. A technique is proposed to estimate the
HB types of extragalactic GCs on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The
relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level
and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax
measurements for the star RR Lyrae, is also revisited, giving a distance
modulus to the LMC of (m-M)_0 = 18.44+/-0.11. RR Lyrae period change rates are
studied. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of
low-mass stars are investigated. [ABRIDGED]Comment: 56 pages, 22 figures. Invited review, to appear in Astrophysics and
Space Scienc
Magnetic signatures of ionospheric and magnetospheric current systems during geomagnetic quiet conditions - An overview
Some aspects of modelling the high-latitude ionospheric convection from Cluster/Edi data
Recommended from our members
Energetic particle influence on the Earth's atmosphere
This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally
galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere
are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere
Effects of changes in micro-weather conditions on structural features, total protein and carbohydrate content in leaves of the Atlantic rain forest tree golden trumpet (Tabebuia chrysotricha)
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