DSpace 2.0 and 1.5.2 XMLUI Enhancements to Modularity

4th International Conference on Open RepositoriesThis presentation was part of the session : DSpace User Group PresentationsDate: 2009-05-20 01:30 PM – 03:00 PMDSpace 2.0 will support modular capabilities at multiple levels of its architecture. While the DSpace Kernel will provide a means to share Services and Configuration detail across multiple deployed web applications within a Servlet Container, the DSpace XMLUI has been ported to Cocoon 2.2, which includes support for the dynamic deployment of "Service Blocks". Blocks enhance the DSpace XMLUI web-application to support not just the Manakin Aspects deployed at assembly time, but also additional services (or servlets) that may be accessed and replaced polymorphically. The lessons learned from the migration of DSpace 2.0 to use Cocoon 2.2 have been back-ported to DSpace 1.5.2. By migrating DSpace 1.5.2 to Cocoon 2.2 we are now able to utilize the same Block support to allow DSpace Manakin XMLUI users to more easily add their modules into the Core. We will discuss the Cocoon 2.2 Block capability and review an example Block that will introduce new Services, Manakin Aspects and Theme additions into the DSpace XMLUI web application, showing how it assists in keeping customizations cleanly separated and manageable by the developer

DSpace Discovery: Unifying DSpace Search and Browse with Solr

One key innovation long awaited by the DSpace community is a more intuitive and unified search and browse experience. NESCent and @mire NV have collaborated to create a new Faceted Search and Browse experience for NESCent's DSpace repository, Dryad. DSpace Discovery is a modular Add-on for DSpace XMLUI that replaces DSpace search and browse with Solr. The implementation of Discovery's Services utilize the DSpace Services API originally developed for DSpace 2.0 and back-ported for use within the recent release of DSpace 1.6.0. Thus, DSpace Discovery represents the next stage in @mire's DSpace 2.0 development initiative

DSpace Discovery: Unifying DSpace Search and Browse with Solr

One key innovation long awaited by the DSpace community is a more intuitive and unified search and browse experience. NESCent and @mire NV have collaborated to create a new Faceted Search and Browse experience for NESCent's DSpace repository, Dryad. DSpace Discovery is a modular Add-on for DSpace XMLUI that replaces DSpace search and browse with Solr. The implementation of Discovery's Services utilize the DSpace Services API originally developed for DSpace 2.0 and back-ported for use within the recent release of DSpace 1.6.0. Thus, DSpace Discovery represents the next stage in @mire's DSpace 2.0 development initiative

Linked independent junior schools : an investigation into what head teachers perceive to be the influence of autonomy on school effectiveness, in terms of shared leadership and management

The provision of junior school education in the independent sector includes junior schools that are attached, or 'linked', to 'senior' schools (i. e. secondary schools). Within pairs of linked schools, a key issue to emerge is the degree of autonomy granted to the junior school head teacher and how this is thought to influence the effectiveness of his or her school. Head teachers sometimes use different criteria in judging junior school effectiveness and have different understandings of the concept of autonomy. Therefore they may not share the same expectation of how much, or what kind of, autonomy should be given. However, pairs of head teachers have to develop ways of sharing power and leadership through their organisational structures, as they interpret their concepts of autonomy in a mutually dependent relationship, whilst seeking to understand and support each other's aims for improving the effectiveness of the junior school. The research used a questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews to assess, from the perspective of a head teacher, how autonomy is thought to influence the effectiveness of the junior school. The main survey findings, partly validated using triangulation with interview data, showed that head teachers generally understood a high degree of autonomy to mean having decision-making power over appointing staff, setting budgets, allocating resources, selecting pupils and controlling capital development. The findings from questionnaire and interview data showed that junior and senior school head teachers sometimes used different criteria when judging junior school effectiveness but there was a good mutual understanding between the two groups. Furthermore, there was general agreement that for a junior school to be considered effective it had to have professional leadership promoting a shared vision, with good inter-personal relations operating within a well-resourced learning community that sets high expectations. In relation to these understandings of the terms autonomy and school effectiveness and within the context of this study, there was strong evidence to support the view that all head teachers surveyed generally thought that junior schools benefit from increased autonomy by becoming more effective. No significant evidence directly linked autonomy or effectiveness with particular organisational structures, but the way in which heads operated within a given structure was seen as important. With regard to professional practice, in cases of a high degree of autonomy operating, there was evidence of pairs of head teachers having a shared approach to leadership, with a collaborative and participative approach to decision-making and managemen

A Periodically-Forced Mathematical Model for the Seasonal Dynamics of Malaria in Mosquitoes

We describe and analyze a periodically-forced difference equation model for malaria in mosquitoes that captures the effects of seasonality and allows the mosquitoes to feed on a heterogeneous population of hosts. We numerically show the existence of a unique globally asymptotically stable periodic orbit and calculate periodic orbits of field-measurable quantities that measure malaria transmission. We integrate this model with an individual-based stochastic simulation model for malaria in humans to compare the effects of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in reducing malaria transmission, prevalence, and incidence. We show that ITNs are more effective than IRS in reducing transmission and prevalence though IRS would achieve its maximal effects within 2 years while ITNs would need two mass distribution campaigns over several years to do so. Furthermore, the combination of both interventions is more effective than either intervention alone. However, although these interventions reduce transmission and prevalence, they can lead to increased clinical malaria; and all three malaria indicators return to preintervention levels within 3 years after the interventions are withdraw

Inflammatory fibroid polyp of the oesophagus

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory fibroid polyp of the oesophagus is an uncommon lesion and very rarely it grows rapidly. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a patient with a rapidly growing inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP) of the oesophagus, which showed up within five months after a normal endoscopy. CONCLUSION: The treatment of IFP is by surgical excision, either open or endoscopic. Laser or other form of ablative treatment like thermo cautery can also be tried

A Periodically-Forced Mathematical Model for the Seasonal Dynamics of Malaria in Mosquitoes

We describe and analyze a periodically-forced difference equation model for malaria in mosquitoes that captures the effects of seasonality and allows the mosquitoes to feed on a heterogeneous population of hosts. We numerically show the existence of a unique globally asymptotically stable periodic orbit and calculate periodic orbits of field-measurable quantities that measure malaria transmission. We integrate this model with an individual-based stochastic simulation model for malaria in humans to compare the effects of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) in reducing malaria transmission, prevalence, and incidence. We show that ITNs are more effective than IRS in reducing transmission and prevalence though IRS would achieve its maximal effects within 2 years while ITNs would need two mass distribution campaigns over several years to do so. Furthermore, the combination of both interventions is more effective than either intervention alone. However, although these interventions reduce transmission and prevalence, they can lead to increased clinical malaria; and all three malaria indicators return to preintervention levels within 3 years after the interventions are withdrawn

Incorporating genetic selection into individual‐based models of malaria and other infectious diseases

Introduction Control strategies for human infections are often investigated using individual‐based models (IBMs) to quantify their impact in terms of mortality, morbidity and impact on transmission. Genetic selection can be incorporated into the IBMs to track the spread of mutations whose origin and spread are driven by the intervention and which subsequently undermine the control strategy; typical examples are mutations which encode drug resistance or diagnosis‐ or vaccine‐escape phenotypes. Methods and results We simulated the spread of malaria drug resistance using the IBM OpenMalaria to investigate how the finite sizes of IBMs require strategies to optimally incorporate genetic selection. We make four recommendations. Firstly, calculate and report the selection coefficients, s, of the advantageous allele as the key genetic parameter. Secondly, use these values of “s” to calculate the wait time until a mutation successfully establishes itself in the pathogen population. Thirdly, identify the inherent limits of the IBM to robustly estimate small selection coefficients. Fourthly, optimize computational efficacy: when “s” is small, fewer replicates of larger IBMs may be more efficient than a larger number of replicates of smaller size. Discussion The OpenMalaria IBM of malaria was an exemplar and the same principles apply to IBMs of other diseases

“I too matter”. The experience and impact of a brief online self-compassion intervention for informal carers of those with a life-limiting or terminal illness: A mixed methods study

Aims: Being an informal carer of someone with a life-limiting or terminal illness (‘Carer’) often results in marked levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Yet, Carers have little available free time to devote to lengthy, well-being interventions offered outside the home. Carers also struggle to prioitorise their self-care, a factor which may help buffer some of the negative impacts of being a Carer. The aim of this research was to gain insight into Carers’ views and perceptions of the impact of a brief, four module, online self-compassion intervention for Carers which was created to improve wellbeing, increase self-compassion and develop self-care among Carers. In so doing, the research addresses gaps in the literature relating to self-compassion interventions for Carers and targeted self-care initiatives for Carers. Design: This predominantly qualitative study was undertaken in two phases. In Phase One semi-structured interviews with nine participants of a four module, one to one self-compassion intervention (iCare), delivered in person, were conducted and data subjected to a reflexive thematic analysis within a critical realist framework. Additionally, descriptive statistics were collected. The findings from Phase One provided a theoretical basis for the design and content of the online version of iCare, the intervention studied in Phase Two. Seven Carers completed the four module online self-compassion programme. Data were collected through individual module feedback, post-intervention online qualitative questionnaires and descriptive statistics. Findings: The reflexive thematic analysis of the data generated four overarching themes: The Myth of SuperCarer; Get with the programme!; ‘Being kinder to myself’; and Everyone’s a winner. These explored how participants approached iCareonline, the impact engaging with it had on their well-being and highlighted how participants developed self-care through gaining permission to recognise their own needs. Improvements in psychological well-being and increases in self-compassion were reflected in the quantitative findings. In line with critical realist methodology, a causal mechanism was proposed explaining the development of self-compassion and conscious self-care among participants based on a cyclical model of Carer self-compassion. Implications: This study has relevance for: healthcare practitioners as the findings suggest that these professionals have a key role in legitimising Carer needs and fostering permission in Carers to practise self-care; counselling and psychotherapy professionals who work with Carers who are well-placed to challenge barriers Carer-clients may erect in the face of encouragement to practise self-care and self-compassion. Some of the content of iCare may prove useful to those therapists adopting a pluralistic approach when working with clients who are carers. Finally, teachers of mindful self-compassion could note the importance of the permission-giving aspects of a self-compassion intervention and the role it plays in developing conscious self-care in participants