The value of designers' creative practice within complex collaborations

This paper reports a case study investigating the productive value of designers' creative practice within complex academic-industrial collaborations in which a designer's practice had a formative role. Adopting a pragmatic approach, collaborators' experiences of this project were reconstructed through interviews and ‘annotated timelines.’ Collaborators were found to value the designer's work in responding to their particular concerns whilst also opening up new possibilities. This paper discusses how such benefit is attributable to the ‘designerly thinking’ of skilled designers, shifting the focus of work from problem-solving to problematisation and enabling participants to collectively formulate concerns, roles, and potentialities. The paper concludes that designers' creative practice can enable collaborative projects to build upon and transcend participants' expertise and expectations through ‘creative exchange.

An outbreak of fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus in shelter dogs

An outbreak of fatal hemorrhagic pneumonia with 70~90% morbidity and 50% mortality occurred in an animal shelter in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, Korea. Clinically, the affected dogs showed severe respiratory distress within 48 h after arriving in the shelter. The dead were found mainly with nasal bleeding and hematemesis. At necropsy, hemothorax and hemorrhagic pneumonia along with severe pulmonary consolidation was observed, though histopathological analysis showed mainly hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia. Lymphoid depletion was inconsistently seen in the spleen, tonsil and bronchial lymph node. Gram-positive colonies were shown in blood vessels or parenchyma of cerebrum, lung, liver, spleen, and kidney. Also, Streptococcus (S.) equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated from the various organs in which the bacterium was microscopically and histologically detected. In addition, approximately 0.9 Kb specific amplicon, antiphagocytic factor H binding protein, was amplified in the bacterial isolates. In this study, we reported an outbreak of canine hemorrhagic bronchopneumonia caused by S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus in an animal shelter in Yangju, Korea

Human-computer interaction as science

Human-computer interaction (HCI) has had a long and troublesome relationship to the role of 'science'. HCI's status as an academic object in terms of coherence and adequacy is often in question---leading to desires for establishing a true scientific discipline. In this paper I explore formative cognitive science influences on HCI, through the impact of early work on the design of input devices. The paper discusses a core idea that I argue has animated much HCI research since: the notion of scientific design spaces. In evaluating this concept, I disassemble the broader 'picture of science' in HCI and its role in constructing a disciplinary order for the increasingly diverse and overlapping research communities that contribute in some way to what we call 'HCI'. In concluding I explore notions of rigour and debates around how we might reassess HCI's disciplinarity

Repeated nasopharyngeal lavage predicts freedom from silent carriage of Streptococcus equi after a strangles outbreak

Background The value of repeated nasopharyngeal lavage (NPL) to detect silent carriers of Streptococcus equi has not been investigated. Hypothesis/Objectives Determine if results of serial testing for S. equi by NPL predicts subsequent true carrier status as determined by both NPL and guttural pouch lavage. Animals An outbreak of strangles with 100% morbidity in 41 mature Icelandic horses was followed prospectively to investigate development of silent carriers. All were initially positive to S. equi on NPL. The farm was closed to horse movement during the entire study. Methods Prospective observational study. Testing for S. equi was performed by NPL at weeks 18, 28, 29, and 30 postindex case and subsequently at week 45 by both NPL and guttural pouch lavage. Carrier status at week 45 was compared to results obtained at weeks 18, 28, 29, and 30. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Comparisons were made using Fisher's exact test or the Freeman-Halton extension with a P < .05 level of significance. Results Of 24 noncarriers at week 45, only 4 horses were negative on all 3 consecutive weekly NPL samples at weeks 28 to 30. However, 10 of the 11 horses with at least 3 negative NPL obtained from weeks 18, 28, 29, and 30 were S. equi-free at week 45 (P = .03). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Repeated NPL on at least 3 separate occasions can assist in predicting S. equi carrier-free status in horses after recovery from a strangles outbreak

Potential for residual contamination by Streptococcus equi subspp equi of endoscopes and twitches used in diagnosis of carriers of strangles

Background Endoscopic examinations are essential for diagnosis and treatment of strangles (S equi infection) in horses. However, even after disinfection, endoscopes may retain viable bacteria or bacterial DNA. Twitches are commonly used during endoscopic examinations and can thus also potentially transmit the organism to other horses.Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of different disinfectant methods to eliminate S equi from experimentally contaminated endoscopes and twitches and the effectiveness of field disinfection of endoscopes used in sampling carriers of S equi.Study design Experimental contamination and observational field study.Methods One endoscope and 30 twitches were contaminated with standardised S equi broth solutions. The endoscope was disinfected following three protocols using various disinfectants for manual disinfection. A fourth protocol used an automated endoscope reprocessor (AER). The twitches (n = 30) were disinfected following eight different disinfecting protocols. Three endoscopes used in sampling for silent carriers were disinfected following a field-based protocol. After each protocol the endoscopes and twitches were sampled for S equi by culture and qPCR.Results Following experimental contamination all endoscope disinfection protocols, apart from 1/6 of the ethanol protocol were S equi culture negative. However, no endoscope disinfection protocol completely eliminated retention of S equi DNA. Field disinfection of endoscopes after sampling carriers yielded no culture positives and all but one (13/14) were qPCR negative. All twitches disinfected following experimental contamination were culture negative but sodium hypochlorite was the only disinfectant that completely eliminated detection of S equi DNA.Main limitations Experimental contamination may not reflect the numbers of S equi transferred to endoscopes or twitches during use on silent carriers and purulent secretions from infected horses may influence survival of S equi.Conclusions While most disinfection methods appear to ensure removal of cultivable S equi, residual DNA can remain on both endoscopes and twitches

Intramuscular vaccination with Strangvac is safe and induces protection against equine strangles caused by Streptococcus equi

The equine disease strangles, caused by Streptococcus equi, remains a major cause of welfare and economic cost to the global horse industry. Here we report the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of a novel multi-component chimeric fusion protein vaccine, called Strangvac, when administered to ponies via the intramuscular route. Across the four studies, Strangvac was safe and induced robust antibody responses towards the vaccine components in blood serum and the nasopharynx, which were boosted by revaccination up to 12 months after a primary course of 2 vaccinations 4 weeks apart. The vaccine response did not cross-react with a commercial strangles iELISA, which identifies horses that have been exposed to S. equi, demonstrating that it was possible to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). Following challenge with S. equi strain 4047 (Se4047), all 36 control ponies that had received an adjuvant-only placebo vaccine developed clinical signs of strangles. In contrast, intramuscular vaccination with Strangvac protected ponies significantly from challenge with Se4047 at two weeks (5 of 16 ponies protected (31%), P = 0.04) and two months (7 of 12 ponies protected (58%), P = 0.0046 (including pooled control data) after second vaccination. Optimal protection (15 of 16 ponies protected (94%), P &lt; 0.0001) was observed following challenge at two weeks post-third vaccination. Our data demonstrate that Strangvac is safe, has DIVA capability and provides a rapid onset of protective immunity against strangles. We conclude that Strangvac is a valuable tool with which to protect horses from strangles, particularly during high-risk periods, whilst maintaining the mobility of horse populations as required by the global equine industry. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd

A co-design approach to service improvement resulted in teams exhibiting characteristics that support innovation

This paper analyzes a subset of data from a project that sought to transfer knowledge and skills around design led approaches for service improvement to teams working in Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom. Through this analysis the authors sought to understand the range of responses that individual participants had to undertaking service improvement work in a design led project. This was a qualitative study using interviews to gain reflections from participants. These interview transcripts were analyzed using framework analysis. Participants were recruited from three disparate organizations, a public health team of a local authority, a mental health charity and a UK National Health Service mental health initiative. Six main themes were identified, namely; design practice, collaborative working, creating an environment for innovation, team skills and attitudes and transfer of knowledge. The findings suggest that the design approach can contribute to a range of factors that have been identified as valuable for innovative teams. The paper adds to the evidence base and supports further exploration of the use of design in Service improvement and wider innovation endeavours

Equine strangles: An update on disease control and prevention

Streptococcus equi spp. equi (SEE) causes a disease in horses commonly referred to as strangles. Carrier or reservoir equids are important for the maintenance of the bacteria between epizootics and the initiation of outbreaks on premises, they also make the control and prevention of the disease more difficult. Disease outbreaks are common in many countries, affecting negatively equine health and causing major economic losses to the equine industry. This review describes general aspects of the disease caused by SEE in horses (clinical signs, pathogenesis, epidemiology, treatment, complications) and then focuses on prevention, control and eradication mechanisms

Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus : epidemiologia ja taudinaiheutuskyky eri eläinlajeilla

Lisensiaatin tutkielma on kirjallisuuskatsaus Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus -bakteerin epidemiologiasta ja taudinaiheutuskyvystä eri eläinlajeilla. Streptococcus equi ssp. zooepidemicus on grampositiivinen katalaasinegatiivinen kokkibakteeri, joka on fakultatiivisesti anaerobi. Bakteeri kuuluu Lancefield-ryhmään C ja se aiheuttaa veriagarilla ß-hemolyysiä. Bakteeri voidaan tunnistaa biokemiallisilla testeillä, PCR (polymerase chain reaction)- tai MALDI TOF (matrix-assisted-laser desorption-ionization time of flight) -tekniikalla. Bakteeri voidaan vielä tyypittää PFGE (pulse-field gel electroforesis) - tai MLST (multilocus sequence typing) -menetelmällä. Tyypitysmenetelmien avulla voidaan epidemiatapauksissa selvittää, mistä mahdollisesti epidemia on saanut alkunsa, ja minkälaiset S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus –kannat aiheuttavat herkemmin tautia. S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus -bakteerilla on useita virulenssitekijöitä. Sillä on kyky muokata genomiaan virulentimmaksi muun muassa rekombinaation ja horisontaalisen geenisiirron myötä. Bakteerilla on useita pintaproteiineja, jotka toimivat värekarvan kaltaisesti tai sitovat bakteerin pinnalle antifagosyyttisiä aineita. Pintaproteiinien avulla bakteeri pystyy kiinnittymään eri lajien kohdekudokseen ja välttämään elimistön puolustusmekanismeja. Bakteerilla on myös pääosin hyaluronihaposta muodostuva kapseli, joka estää bakteeria joutumasta fagosyyttien syötäväksi. S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus on osa hevosen normaalimikrobistoa. Se voi aiheuttaa yksittäiselle hevoselle muun muassa hengitystieinfektioita sekä kohtu- ja istukkatulehduksia tilanteissa, jossa hevosella on jokin immunipuolustuksen häiriö, esimerkiksi kuljetuksesta tai rankasta harjoittelusta johtuva stressi tai virusinfektio. Bakteeri voi aiheuttaa hevoselle myös hengitystie-epidemioita. Koiralle ja kissalle S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus aiheuttaa hengitystieongelmia sekä aivojen/aivokalvojen tulehduksia. Eläimillä, joilla on esim. immunipuutos, sydänvika tai alla oleva virusinfektio, ovat alttiimpia vakaville infektioille. Koiralle ja kissalle bakteeri voi aiheuttaa hengitystie-epidemioita, varsinkin kennel- tai kissalaolosuhteissa. Bakteeritartunta voi olla tappava ja oireet voivat kehittyä vakaviksi muutaman tunnin kuluessa. S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus –tartuntoja on kuvattu myös useilla muilla eläinlajeilla kuten naudoilla, lampailla, vuohilla ja sioilla. S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus voi tarttua mm. hevosesta, koirasta tai marsusta suoraan kosketustartuntana tai pastöroimattoman maidon välityksellä elintarvikevälitteisenä tartuntana ihmiseen. Ihmisellä, kuten muillakin eläinlajeilla, alla oleva perussairaus altistaa bakteeritulehdukselle. Ihmisellä bakteeri aiheuttaa mm. bakteremiaa, aivokalvontulehdusta ja septistä artriittia, oireet voivat ihmiselläkin olla vakavat ja hengenvaaralliset