The Salience and Urgency of Enterprise Data Management In the Public Sector

In this emerging topics paper, we argue that enterprise data management is a key enabler for new and innovative uses of data. Given widespread recognition of the public value potential of these new uses of data, enterprise data management capability is increasingly salient and recognized as urgent. We further argue that creating capability for enterprise data management is poorly understood. However, since enterprise data management is a future practitioner imperative, new research from the digital government community addressing the challenges to creating such capability is required. We illustrate the salience and urgency of enterprise data management through three vignettes that highlight the potential of such efforts to reorganize the public sector along new data oriented lines. A focus on the role of governance and the chief data officer as key enablers to creating public value from data highlight the need for research in these areas

Characteristics of Mid-Frequency Sensorineural Hearing Loss Progression.

OBJECTIVES:To characterize the progression of mid-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (MFSNHL) over time. METHODS:A retrospective chart review spanning 2012 to 2017 was performed at a tertiary care audiology and neurotology center. Our cohort included 37 patients met the criteria for MFSNHL also known as "cookie bite hearing loss." It was defined as having a 1, 2, and 4 kHz average pure tone audiometry greater than 10 dB in intensity compared with the average threshold at 500 Hz and 8 kHz. RESULTS:Average age at initial presentation was 11.8 years (range, 8 mo to 70 yr). Across all individuals, the average mid-frequency threshold was 47 dB, compared with 27 dB at 500 Hz and 8 kHz. Twenty-three patients (62%) had multiple audiograms with 4-year median follow up time. Average values across all frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 kHz) in the initial audiogram was 37 dB, compared with an average of 39 dB demonstrated on final audiogram. Of those with serial audiograms, only five patients demonstrated threshold changes of 10 dB or more. Of these five patients, only one was found to have clinical worsening of MFSNHL. CONCLUSIONS:MFSNHL is an uncommon audiometric finding with unspecified long-term outcomes. We demonstrated that most patients (96%) with MFSNHL do not experience clinical worsening of their hearing threshold over almost 4 years of follow up. Future prospective studies aimed at collecting longer-term data are warranted to further elucidate the long-term trajectory of MFSNHL patients

Cryopreparation of Tissue for Electron Microscopy

An apparatus able to remove amorphous phase tissue water without recrystallization or rehydration has been produced. Application of this technique to biological samples achieves both the preservation of ultrastructure and the retention of cellular macromolecules and solute without redistribution or modification. Small pieces of fresh tissue were cryofixed by the method of bounce free metal-mirror freezing on polished copper bars at liquid nitrogen temperature. Tissue samples were then placed under liquid nitrogen in a copper sample holder equipped with a thermocouple and feedback controlled heating circuit. Under liquid nitrogen the sample block was placed in a stainless steel sample chamber which was then evacuated to a hydrocarbon-free ultrahigh vacuum (1x10-8mbar). Equilibrium temperature prior to the onset of the drying cycle was -192°C. Tissue was dried by increasing the temperature of the specimen block 1.33°C each hour while monitoring the rate of water removal with a partial pressure analyzer. Results indicate that drying is complete below the devitrification temperature of amorphous phase tissue water. After drying, tissue was fixed with osmium tetroxide vapour, vacuum embedded in low viscosity epoxy resin, sectioned, stained and viewed with the electron microscope. Tissue processed in this manner exhibits excellent morphological preservation with out the need for prefixation or cryoprotective agents. In addition, by avoiding prefixation and solvent contact during resin embedding, this method provides the basis for combining ultrastructural preservation with optimum material for immunocytochemical staining and elecron microprobe analysis

Our Connected Neighbourhoods: Stirling Environment Audits Report

This report presents the findings of citizen directed programme of environmental audits undertaken in Stirling Town Centre in early 2020. The project was undertaken by a volunteer group of local people living with dementia, as well as their carers and advocates, who designed, directed, and undertook who evaluated key public buildings and the spaces encountered on the journeys between them. The resulting report describes the methods used by group, and details their prioritised recommendations, for individual public buildings, and for public realm of Stirling City Centre as a whole. The report and the project that underpins it was funded by Stirling Council as part of the implementation phase of the Dementia Friendly Stirling Action Plan (2018-2021

A Qualitative Study to Inform a More Acceptable Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program after Acute Exacerbation of COPD

Rationale: Current international guidelines for prevention of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) recommend enrolment and participation in a pulmonary rehabilitatio..

China neemt (Volvo) over

De gebeurtenissen sinds de overname van Volvo Cars door het Chinese Geely in 2010 tarten soms de verbeelding, alleszins voor de gemiddelde leek. In dit artikel zal worden aangetoond dat de Chinezen echter een zeer doordachte strategie gebruiken om hun geopolitieke en –economische doelen te verwezenlijken

Maternal mental health:a key area for future research among women with congenital heart disease

In this viewpoint, we respond to the recently published national priorities for research in congenital heart disease (CHD) among adults, established through the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, with specific attention to priority 3 (mental health) and priority 5 (maternal health). Our recent policy impact project explored how maternal mental health is currently addressed in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) services in the National Health Service, identified gaps and discussed possible ways forward. Our multidisciplinary discussion groups, which included women with lived experience of CHD and pregnancy, cardiology and obstetrics clinicians and medical anthropologists, found that while pregnancy and the postnatal period increase the mental health challenges faced by women with CHD, current services are not yet equipped to address them. Based on this work, we welcome the prioritisation of both mental health and maternal health in ACHD, and suggest that future research should focus on the overlaps between these two priority areas

Developing, monitoring, and reporting of fidelity in aphasia trials: Core recommendations from the collaboration of aphasia trialists (CATs) trials for aphasia panel

Background: Developing, monitoring, and reporting of fidelity are essential and integral components to the design of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in stroke and aphasia. Treatment fidelity refers to the degree to which an intervention is delivered as intended and is directly related to the quality of the evidence generated by RCTs. Clear documentation of treatment fidelity in trials assists in the evaluation of the clinical implications of potential benefits attributed to the intervention. Consideration of the implementation requirements of a research-based intervention as intended in a clinical context is necessary to achieve similar outcomes for a clinical population. Despite this, treatment fidelity is rarely reported in RCTs of aphasia intervention. Aim: To describe fidelity strategies and develop core recommendations for developing, monitoring, and reporting of fidelity in aphasia intervention RCTs. Scope: Relevant conceptual frameworks were considered. The Behaviour Change Consortium comprehensive framework of fidelity was adopted. It includes five areas: study design, training providers, delivery of treatment, treatment receipt, and treatment enactment. We explored fidelity in RCTs with a range of complex aphasia interventions (e.g., ASK, Big CACTUS, COMPARE, FCET2EC, POLAR, SUPERB, and VERSE) and described how different trial design factors (e.g., phase of trial, explanatory vs. pragmatic, number and location of sites, and number and type of treatment providers) influenced the fidelity strategies chosen. Strategies were mapped onto the five areas of the fidelity framework with a detailed exploration of how fidelity criteria were developed, measured, and monitored throughout each trial. This information was synthesised into a set of core recommendations to guide aphasia researchers towards the adequate measurement, capture, and reporting of fidelity within future aphasia intervention studies. Conclusions/Recommendations: Treatment fidelity should be a core consideration in planning an intervention trial, a concept that goes beyond treatment adherence alone. A range of strategies should be selected depending on the phase and design of the trial being undertaken and appropriate investment of time and costs should be considered