The Bindweed Plume Moth, \u3ci\u3eEmmelina Monodactyla\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae): First Host Record for \u3ci\u3ePhaeogenes Vincibilis\u3c/i\u3e (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

The first host record for Phaeogenes (= Oronotus) vincibilis, a solitary ichneumonine pupal parasite, is the bindweed plume moth, Emmelina monodactyla

Partnership With a Graduate Nursing Program: Voices of the Community

Academic-community partnerships (ACPs) are a means by which community-based organizations can implement their missions and programs of higher education can facilitate student educational objectives through real world learning experiences. Many ACPs are framed in the educational methodology, service-learning. Theoretical definitions of ACPs (as a type of inter-organizational relationship) describe them as relationships that are on-going, reciprocal and characterized by mutual trust and respect. During the past 15 years, ACPs and service-learning have experienced a rapid growth in nursing education. Literature pertaining to ACPs in nursing education is largely anecdotal and concerns undergraduate nursing programs. There are few reports of research pertaining to ACPs, particularly those involving graduate nursing programs or community partners\u27 perspectives of their experiences in ACPs. The purpose of this study was to explore community partners\u27 perspectives of partnership with a graduate nursing program. The grounded theory approach to qualitative research was used to answer research questions concerning the process of, and factors influencing, the partnerships. The setting for the study was 17 organizations that have partnered with a graduate program of nursing as part of a project called, Community Engagement Through Service-Learning. Thirteen key contact persons from each partnership were each interviewed once. Additional data collection methods included field notes, a group meeting and memberchecking. Thirteen participants representing 14 partnerships participated in the study. Data analysis began with the initial interview. Techniques included open coding, constant comparison, the Six C\u27s family of codes and memoing. Phases of data analysis included: Level I (Level I, II and III coding), Phase II (delimiting the theory) and Phase III (writing the theory). Accepted strategies to promote rigor were also employed: two rounds of member checking, peer review and maintaining an audit trail. Twelve participants reported positive outcomes and satisfaction with the relationship. Nine had engaged in partnerships with one faculty member for one semester. Four had partnered with one faculty member for two to four semesters. Products of data analysis included: a summary of each interview, 20 categories, six concepts, and two constructs along with their associated properties; the basic social process i.e., Connecting for Partnership and a substantive, descriptive theory The partnerships in this sample were seen as being of two levels. Level I, Teaming, refers to the process, a sequence of five stages, which occurs over the course of one semester. Factors relevant to each stage were identified and include: commitment by all involved; a close, working relationship; consideration of each others culture; thorough, effective communication, and careful planning. Primary and secondary outcomes were identified for both participants and students. Level II, Sustaining, refers to on-going partnerships characterized by continuing commitment, shared goals, building on evaluation findings and mutual trust and respect. The findings of this study supported the literature and identified several factors specific to partnerships with a graduate nursing program. Advantages and challenges unique to working with MSN students were discussed. Implications for direct relevance and transferability for professional nursing and other disciplines were described. Limitations related primarily to the use of grounded theory methods and directions for future quantitative and qualitative research were identified

Localism and the Big Society: the asset transfer of leisure centres and libraries – fighting closures or empowering communities?

This paper critically examines the ‘asset transfer’ of leisure services from the public to the voluntary sector. Asset transfer might be theorised as ‘austerity localism’, in which volunteers are obliged to fill the gaps left by retreating public provision, or as ‘progressive localism’, which represents new opportunities through the localism and Big Society agendas to develop more locally responsive, cooperative and mutualist visions. In this way, asset transfer might overcome the limitations of the United Kingdom policies in which ‘Big Government’ is replaced by civic society. Drawing on qualitative interviews with key personnel (volunteers, managers and local authority officers) at 12 leisure facilities, a grounded assessment of the nuanced balance between ‘austerity localism’ and ‘progressive localism’ is provided, including three observations. First, the main impetus for transfer was cuts in local authority budgets which stimulated the emergence of local groups of volunteers. Secondly, the transfers themselves required interaction between local government and the volunteer groups; however, the nature of the relationship and support given varied and support was limited by austerity measures. Thirdly, volunteers do not automatically fill a gap left by the state: without support transfer viability relies on the financial and social capital among volunteer groups, and this is unevenly distributed. These findings suggest that the capacity for a ‘progressive localism’ to emerge through asset transfer is limited. However, where transfer has occurred, there are some progressive benefits of volunteer empowerment and a more flexible service

Watching the pennies and the people – how volunteer led sport facilities have transformed services for local communities

Rationale/Purpose This paper shows how the transfer of public sport facilities to management led by volunteers has increased the responsiveness of services to local needs; while at the same time reducing running costs. It provides a contrast to previous research on transfer to large leisure trusts. Design/Methodology/approach It draws on interviews with key personnel at 8 sport facilities transferred to small-volunteer led community groups. Findings Running costs have been cut because of the greater attention to detail and flexibility of volunteer managed services. The service has become more sensitive and flexible to the needs of the local community because volunteers are their own marketing information system, rooted in that community. The positive outcomes are driven by needs to attain economic sustainability; and to renew volunteer effort by changing the public perception of the facility to an asset created by the community, rather than just as a public service consumed by it. Practical implications The paper shows the progressive potential of the small trusts in meeting local leisure needs, making a case to support this type of sport facility delivery. Research contribution These small leisure trusts retain advantages of the large leisure trusts, established in the 1990’s, but with further advantages derived from local production

The community asset transfer of leisure facilities in the UK: a review and research agenda.

This paper reviews recent work on community asset transfers (CAT): a transfer of management of facilities from the public sector to the third sector, largely led by volunteers. The emergence of CATs is placed in the context of the development of community organisations and their relation to the state. Transfer has been stimulated by cuts in local government budgets since 2010. The review focusses on leisure facilities because these are non-statutory and so more vulnerable to cuts in public expenditure. The experience of CATs is reviewed, including: the motivations of local government and volunteers; the transfer process and management of CATs post-transfer; and the market position of facility types. The methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks used in research are contrasted; in particular, how these have balanced agency and structure in analysing a contested neoliberalist discourse. The practicalities of research in this area are considered before concluding with research questions

Metformin and cancer in type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and comprehensive bias evaluation.

Background: Existing observational studies provide conflicting evidence for the causal effect of metformin use on cancer risk in patients with type-2 diabetes, and there are concerns about bias affecting a number of studies. Methods: MEDLINE was used to identify observational studies investigating the association between metformin and overall or site-specific cancer in people with type-2 diabetes. A systematic data extraction and bias assessment was conducted, in which risk of eight bias domains (outcome, exposure, control selection, baseline confounding, time-dependent confounding, immortal time, missing data, censoring methods) were assessed against pre-defined criteria, and rated as unlikely, low, medium or high. Results: Of 46 studies identified, 21 assessed the effect of metformin on all cancer. Reported relative risks ranged from 0.23 to 1.22, with 12/21 reporting a statistically significant protective effect and none a harmful effect. The range of estimates was similar for site-specific cancers; 3/46 studies were rated as low or unlikely risk of bias in all domains. Two of these had results consistent with no effect of metformin; one observed a moderate protective effect overall, but presented further analyses that the authors concluded were inconsistent with causality. However, 28/46 studies were at risk from bias through exposure definition, 22 through insufficient baseline adjustment and 35 from possible time-dependent confounding. Conclusions: Observational studies on metformin and cancer varied in design, and the majority were at risk of a range of biases. The studies least likely to be affected by bias did not support a causal effect of metformin on cancer risk

A systematic review of non-motor symptom evaluation in clinical trials for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is increasingly recognised as a multi-system disorder, presenting with common and impactful non-motor symptoms, such as neuropsychiatric symtpoms, cognitive and behavioural changes, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue and problematic saliva. AIM/HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to systematically review 25 years of ALS clinical trials data to identify if non-motor features were evaluated, in addition to the traditional measures of motor functioning and survival, and where evaluated to describe the instruments used to assess. We hypothesised that assessment of non-motor symptoms has been largely neglected in trial design and not evaluated with ALS-suitable instruments. METHODS: We reviewed clinical trials of investigative medicinal products in ALS, since the licensing of riluzole in 1994. Trial registry databases including WHO International Trials Registry, European Clinical Trials Register, clinicaltrials.gov, and PubMed were systematically searched for Phase II, III or IV trials registered, completed or published between 01/01/1994 and 16/09/2020. No language restrictions were applied. RESULTS: 237 clinical trials, including over 29,222 participants, were investigated for their use of non-motor outcome measures. These trials evaluated neuropsychiatric symptoms (75, 32%), cognitive impairment (16, 6.8%), behavioural change (34, 14%), pain (55, 23%), sleep disturbances (12, 5%) and fatigue (18, 8%). Problematic saliva was assessed as part of composite ALS-FRS(R) scores in 184 trials (78%) but with no focus on this as an isolated symptom. 31 (13%) trials including 3585 participants did not include any assessment of non-motor symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Non-motor symptoms such as neuropsychiatric, cognitive and behavioural changes, pain, disordered sleep, fatigue, and problematic saliva have not been consistently evaluated in trials for people with ALS. Where evaluated, non-symptoms were primarily assessed using instruments and impairment thresholds that are not adapted for people with ALS. Future trials should include non-motor symptom assessments to evaluate the additional potential therapeutic benefit of candidate drugs. PROPSERO REGISTRATION: CRD42020223648. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00415-021-10651-1