Brightening the Countryside - The Library Service in Rural Ireland, 1902 - 1935.

The thesis traces the development of the rural library service in Ireland between 1902 and 1935, with particular reference to the part played by Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, which he established in 1913, in that development. The first chapters explore the nineteenth century background. The variety of library facilities that existed in Britain and Ireland - ranging from Mechanics' Institutes to parish libraries, are described. In Ireland the belief that books could rehabilitate the countryside and revive the National spirit gained rural libraries the support of agricultural co-operators and cultural nationalists. The Public Library Act of 1902 enabled Rural District Councils to raise a library rate. Between 1902 and 1914 a number of organisations promoted rural libraries, while others expressed scepticism. These opposing groups are described, and the difficulties of providing a rural library service is shown by a study of one such service in Rathkeale rural district, County Limerick. In 1915 the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust appointed Lennox Robinson as organiser of libraries in County Limerick. His work described, and the extension of his responsibilities to become the Trust's Irish representative is traced. In 1917 the trustees established an Irish advisory committee, and from 1921 financed experimental county library schemes. The first two schemes, in Counties Donegal and Antrim, are described in detail. Acts of parliament passed in 1924 and 1925 made County Councils the library authorities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. This encouraged the Carnegie trustees to change their library policy, a decision precipitated by a public controversy caused by a short story written by Robinson. This incident is described, together with its consequences. The final chapter follows the fortunes of the county library service from 1925 to 1935 and describes how libraries were affected by the political and moral climate of the time. The thesis concludes with the Carnegie trustees' decision to cease funding county library services from 1935

Estimating EQ-5D utilities based on the Short-Form Long Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ-8)

Purpose: The aim of this work was to develop a mapping algorithm for estimating EuroQoL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D) utilities from responses to the Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ), thus increasing LTCQ’s potential as a comprehensive outcome measure for evaluating integrated care initiatives. Methods: We combined data from three studies to give a total sample of 1334 responses. In each of the three datasets, we randomly selected 75% of the sample and combined the selected random samples to generate the estimation dataset, which consisted of 1001 patients. The unselected 25% observations from each dataset were combined to generate an internal validation dataset of 333 patients. We used direct mapping models by regressing responses to the LTCQ-8 directly onto EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-3L utilities as well as response (or indirect) mapping to predict the response level that patients selected for each of the five EQ-5D-5L domains. Several models were proposed and compared on mean squared error and mean absolute error. Results: A two-part model with OLS was the best performing based on the mean squared error (0.038) and mean absolute error (0.147) when estimating the EQ-5D-5L utilities. A multinomial response mapping model using LTCQ-8 responses was used to predict EQ-5D-5L responses levels. Conclusions: This study provides a mapping algorithm for estimating EQ-5D utilities from LTCQ responses. The results from this study can help broaden the applicability of the LTCQ by producing utility values for use in economic analyses

New genetic loci implicated in fasting glucose homeostasis and their impact on type 2 diabetes risk.

Levels of circulating glucose are tightly regulated. To identify new loci influencing glycemic traits, we performed meta-analyses of 21 genome-wide association studies informative for fasting glucose, fasting insulin and indices of beta-cell function (HOMA-B) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in up to 46,186 nondiabetic participants. Follow-up of 25 loci in up to 76,558 additional subjects identified 16 loci associated with fasting glucose and HOMA-B and two loci associated with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. These include nine loci newly associated with fasting glucose (in or near ADCY5, MADD, ADRA2A, CRY2, FADS1, GLIS3, SLC2A2, PROX1 and C2CD4B) and one influencing fasting insulin and HOMA-IR (near IGF1). We also demonstrated association of ADCY5, PROX1, GCK, GCKR and DGKB-TMEM195 with type 2 diabetes. Within these loci, likely biological candidate genes influence signal transduction, cell proliferation, development, glucose-sensing and circadian regulation. Our results demonstrate that genetic studies of glycemic traits can identify type 2 diabetes risk loci, as well as loci containing gene variants that are associated with a modest elevation in glucose levels but are not associated with overt diabetes

A database of marine phytoplankton abundance, biomass and species composition in Australian waters

There have been many individual phytoplankton datasets collected across Australia since the mid 1900s, but most are unavailable to the research community. We have searched archives, contacted researchers, and scanned the primary and grey literature to collate 3,621,847 records of marine phytoplankton species from Australian waters from 1844 to the present. Many of these are small datasets collected for local questions, but combined they provide over 170 years of data on phytoplankton communities in Australian waters. Units and taxonomy have been standardised, obviously erroneous data removed, and all metadata included. We have lodged this dataset with the Australian Ocean Data Network (http://portal.aodn.org.au/) allowing public access. The Australian Phytoplankton Database will be invaluable for global change studies, as it allows analysis of ecological indicators of climate change and eutrophication (e.g., changes in distribution; diatom:dinoflagellate ratios). In addition, the standardised conversion of abundance records to biomass provides modellers with quantifiable data to initialise and validate ecosystem models of lower marine trophic levels

Bi-allelic Loss-of-Function CACNA1B Mutations in Progressive Epilepsy-Dyskinesia.

The occurrence of non-epileptic hyperkinetic movements in the context of developmental epileptic encephalopathies is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. Identification of causative mutations provides an important insight into common pathogenic mechanisms that cause both seizures and abnormal motor control. We report bi-allelic loss-of-function CACNA1B variants in six children from three unrelated families whose affected members present with a complex and progressive neurological syndrome. All affected individuals presented with epileptic encephalopathy, severe neurodevelopmental delay (often with regression), and a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Additional neurological features included postnatal microcephaly and hypotonia. Five children died in childhood or adolescence (mean age of death: 9 years), mainly as a result of secondary respiratory complications. CACNA1B encodes the pore-forming subunit of the pre-synaptic neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.2/N-type, crucial for SNARE-mediated neurotransmission, particularly in the early postnatal period. Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CACNA1B are predicted to cause disruption of Ca2+ influx, leading to impaired synaptic neurotransmission. The resultant effect on neuronal function is likely to be important in the development of involuntary movements and epilepsy. Overall, our findings provide further evidence for the key role of Cav2.2 in normal human neurodevelopment.MAK is funded by an NIHR Research Professorship and receives funding from the Wellcome Trust, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital Charity, and Rosetrees Trust. E.M. received funding from the Rosetrees Trust (CD-A53) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. K.G. received funding from Temple Street Foundation. A.M. is funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Biomedical Research Centre. F.L.R. and D.G. are funded by Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. K.C. and A.S.J. are funded by NIHR Bioresource for Rare Diseases. The DDD Study presents independent research commissioned by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund (grant number HICF-1009-003), a parallel funding partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (grant number WT098051). We acknowledge support from the UK Department of Health via the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London. This research was also supported by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. J.H.C. is in receipt of an NIHR Senior Investigator Award. The research team acknowledges the support of the NIHR through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, Department of Health, or Wellcome Trust. E.R.M. acknowledges support from NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, an NIHR Senior Investigator Award, and the University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of E.R.M. from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. I.E.S. is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Program Grant and Practitioner Fellowship)

Brightening the Countryside - The Library Service in Rural Ireland, 1902 - 1935.

The thesis traces the development of the rural library service in Ireland between 1902 and 1935, with particular reference to the part played by Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, which he established in 1913, in that development. The first chapters explore the nineteenth century background. The variety of library facilities that existed in Britain and Ireland - ranging from Mechanics' Institutes to parish libraries, are described. In Ireland the belief that books could rehabilitate the countryside and revive the National spirit gained rural libraries the support of agricultural co-operators and cultural nationalists. The Public Library Act of 1902 enabled Rural District Councils to raise a library rate. Between 1902 and 1914 a number of organisations promoted rural libraries, while others expressed scepticism. These opposing groups are described, and the difficulties of providing a rural library service is shown by a study of one such service in Rathkeale rural district, County Limerick. In 1915 the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust appointed Lennox Robinson as organiser of libraries in County Limerick. His work described, and the extension of his responsibilities to become the Trust's Irish representative is traced. In 1917 the trustees established an Irish advisory committee, and from 1921 financed experimental county library schemes. The first two schemes, in Counties Donegal and Antrim, are described in detail. Acts of parliament passed in 1924 and 1925 made County Councils the library authorities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. This encouraged the Carnegie trustees to change their library policy, a decision precipitated by a public controversy caused by a short story written by Robinson. This incident is described, together with its consequences. The final chapter follows the fortunes of the county library service from 1925 to 1935 and describes how libraries were affected by the political and moral climate of the time. The thesis concludes with the Carnegie trustees' decision to cease funding county library services from 1935

Brightening the Countryside - The Library Service in Rural Ireland, 1902 - 1935.

The thesis traces the development of the rural library service in Ireland between 1902 and 1935, with particular reference to the part played by Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, which he established in 1913, in that development. The first chapters explore the nineteenth century background. The variety of library facilities that existed in Britain and Ireland - ranging from Mechanics' Institutes to parish libraries, are described. In Ireland the belief that books could rehabilitate the countryside and revive the National spirit gained rural libraries the support of agricultural co-operators and cultural nationalists. The Public Library Act of 1902 enabled Rural District Councils to raise a library rate. Between 1902 and 1914 a number of organisations promoted rural libraries, while others expressed scepticism. These opposing groups are described, and the difficulties of providing a rural library service is shown by a study of one such service in Rathkeale rural district, County Limerick. In 1915 the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust appointed Lennox Robinson as organiser of libraries in County Limerick. His work described, and the extension of his responsibilities to become the Trust's Irish representative is traced. In 1917 the trustees established an Irish advisory committee, and from 1921 financed experimental county library schemes. The first two schemes, in Counties Donegal and Antrim, are described in detail. Acts of parliament passed in 1924 and 1925 made County Councils the library authorities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. This encouraged the Carnegie trustees to change their library policy, a decision precipitated by a public controversy caused by a short story written by Robinson. This incident is described, together with its consequences. The final chapter follows the fortunes of the county library service from 1925 to 1935 and describes how libraries were affected by the political and moral climate of the time. The thesis concludes with the Carnegie trustees' decision to cease funding county library services from 1935

Brightening the Countryside - The Library Service in Rural Ireland, 1902 - 1935.

The thesis traces the development of the rural library service in Ireland between 1902 and 1935, with particular reference to the part played by Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, which he established in 1913, in that development. The first chapters explore the nineteenth century background. The variety of library facilities that existed in Britain and Ireland - ranging from Mechanics' Institutes to parish libraries, are described. In Ireland the belief that books could rehabilitate the countryside and revive the National spirit gained rural libraries the support of agricultural co-operators and cultural nationalists. The Public Library Act of 1902 enabled Rural District Councils to raise a library rate. Between 1902 and 1914 a number of organisations promoted rural libraries, while others expressed scepticism. These opposing groups are described, and the difficulties of providing a rural library service is shown by a study of one such service in Rathkeale rural district, County Limerick. In 1915 the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust appointed Lennox Robinson as organiser of libraries in County Limerick. His work described, and the extension of his responsibilities to become the Trust's Irish representative is traced. In 1917 the trustees established an Irish advisory committee, and from 1921 financed experimental county library schemes. The first two schemes, in Counties Donegal and Antrim, are described in detail. Acts of parliament passed in 1924 and 1925 made County Councils the library authorities in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. This encouraged the Carnegie trustees to change their library policy, a decision precipitated by a public controversy caused by a short story written by Robinson. This incident is described, together with its consequences. The final chapter follows the fortunes of the county library service from 1925 to 1935 and describes how libraries were affected by the political and moral climate of the time. The thesis concludes with the Carnegie trustees' decision to cease funding county library services from 1935