Knowledge as quality non-conformance : A critical case study of ISO 9000 and adult education in the workplace.

The study focused on the impact of the process seeking ISO 9000 registration and the way in which learning processes come to be defined as defective

Fornix deep brain stimulation enhances acetylcholine levels in the hippocampus

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the fornix has gained interest as a potential therapy for advanced treatment-resistant dementia, yet the mechanism of action remains widely unknown. Previously, we have reported beneficial memory effects of fornix DBS in a scopolamine induced rat model of dementia, which is dependent on various brain structures including hippocampus. To elucidate mechanisms of action of fornix DBS with regard to memory restoration, we performed c-Fos immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus. We found that fornix DBS induced a selective activation of cells in the CA1 and CA3 subfields of the dorsal hippocampus. In addition, hippocampal neurotransmitter levels were measured using microdialysis before, during and after 60 min of fornix DBS in a next experiment. We observed a substantial increase in the levels of extracellular hippocampal acetylcholine, which peaked 20 min after stimulus onset. Interestingly, hippocampal glutamate levels did not change compared to baseline. Therefore, our findings provide first experimental evidence that fornix DBS activates the hippocampus and induces the release of acetylcholine in this region.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Derivative Analysis of AVIRIS Data for Crop Stress Detection

Low-altitude Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) hyperspectral imagery of a cornfield in Nebraska was used to determine whether derivative analysis methods provided enhanced plant stress detection compared with narrow-band ratios. The field was divided into 20 plots representing 4 replicates each of 5 nitrogen (N) fertilization treatments that ranged from 0 to 200 kg N/ha in 50 kg/ha increments. The imagery yielded a 3 m ground pixel size for 224 spectral bands. Derivative analysis provided no advantage in stress detection compared with the performance of narrow-band indices derived from the literature. This result was attributed to a high leaf area index at the time of overflight (LAI approx. equal to 5 to 6t) and the high signal-to-noise character of the narrow AVIRIS bands

Lung cancer stigma predicts timing of medical help-seeking in individuals with lung cancer

Purpose/Objectives To examine relationships among demographic variables, healthcare system distrust, lung cancer stigma, smoking status, and timing of medical help–seeking behavior in individuals with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer after controlling for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and social desirability. Design Descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study. Setting Outpatient oncology clinics in Louisville, KY. Sample 94 patients diagnosed in the past three weeks to six years with all stages of lung cancer. Methods Self-report, written survey packets were administered in person followed by a semistructured interview to assess symptoms and timing characteristics of practice-identified patients with lung cancer. Main Research Variables Timing of medical help–seeking behavior, healthcare system distrust, lung cancer stigma, and smoking status. Findings Lung cancer stigma was independently associated with timing of medical help–seeking behavior in patients with lung cancer. Healthcare system distrust and smoking status were not independently associated with timing of medical help–seeking behavior. Conclusions Findings suggest that stigma influences medical help–seeking behavior for lung cancer symptoms, serving as a barrier to prompt medical help–seeking behavior. Implications for Nursing When designing interventions to promote early medical help–seeking behavior in individuals with symptoms suggestive of lung cancer, methods that consider lung cancer stigma as a barrier that can be addressed through public awareness and patient-targeted interventions should be included

What is the comparative health status and associated risk factors for the Métis? A population-based study in Manitoba, Canada

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Métis are descendants of early 17^thcentury relationships between North American Indians and Europeans. This study's objectives were: (1) to compare the health status of the Métis people to all other residents of Manitoba, Canada; and (2) to analyze factors in predicting the likelihood of diabetes and related lower limb amputation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using de-identified administrative databases plus the Métis Population Database housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, age/sex-adjusted rates of mortality and disease were calculated for Métis (n = 73,016) and all other Manitobans (n = 1,104,672). Diseases included: hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, ischemic heart disease (age 19+); osteoporosis (age 50+); acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke (age 40+); total respiratory morbidity (TRM, all ages). Using logistic regression, predictors of diabetes (2004/05-2006/07) and diabetes-related lower-limb amputations (2002/03-2006/07) were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Disease rates were higher for Métis compared to all others: premature mortality before age 75 (4.0 vs. 3.3 per 1000, p < .001); total mortality (9.7 vs. 8.4 per 1000, p < .001); injury mortality (0.58 vs. 0.51 per 1000, p < .03); Potential Years of Life Lost (64.6 vs. 54.6 per 1000, p < .001); all-cause 5-year mortality for people with diabetes (20.8% vs. 18.6%, p < .02); hypertension (27.9% vs. 24.8%, p < .001); arthritis (24.2% vs. 19.9%, p < .001), TRM (13.6% vs. 10.6%, p < .001); diabetes (11.8% vs. 8.8%, p < .001); diabetes-related lower limb amputation (24.1 vs. 16.2 per 1000, p < .001); ischemic heart disease (12.2% vs. 8.7%, p < .001); osteoporosis (12.2% vs. 12.3%, NS), dialysis initiation (0.46% vs. 0.34%, p < .001); AMI (5.4 vs. 4.3 per 1000, p < .001); stroke (3.6 vs. 2.9 per 1000, p < .001). Controlling for geography, age, sex, income, continuity of care and comorbidities, Métis were more likely to have diabetes (aOR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.25-1.34), but not diabetes-related lower limb amputation (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.90-1.40, NS). Continuity of care was associated with decreased risk of amputation both provincially (aOR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.62-0.81) and for Métis alone (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.96).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite universal healthcare, Métis' illness and mortality rates are mostly higher. Although elevated diabetes risk persists for the Métis even after adjusting for sociodemographic, healthcare and comorbidity variables, the risk of amputation for Métis appears more related to healthcare access rather than ethnicity.</p

Early Diagnosis of Relapse in Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia — Serologic Detection of Leukemia-Associated Antigens in Human Marrow

Abstract We tested serial bone-marrow samples from 47 adults with acute myeloblastic leukemia in remission for reactivity with heteroantiserums to leukemia-associated antigens, to determine whether imminent relapse could be detected in patients with acute leukemia. Of 26 patients who relapsed by standard morphologic criteria, 21 had increased immunoreactivity of bone marrow for one to six months (mean, 3.7 months) before relapse. High concordance was observed between a positive test and relapse during the period of study (chi-square = 27.53,

STEM Graduate Students’ Development at the Intersection of Research, Leadership, and Innovation

Researcher innovation and leadership skills are fundamental to create implementable solutions to pressing societal- and market-based global problems. The Research to Innovation to Society (R2I2S) program is a transformative approach to graduate education, training students at the intersection of research, innovation, and leadership. We detail the design of the program, and a three-year exploratory investigation of its impact at one research university in the western United States. We found that, overall, students who participated in the program realized the value of thinking about their scientific research from a market-need perspective. Students perceived enhanced interest in and understanding of societal and market insights related to their own and other’s research. As well, students developed professional skills in communication, team collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills. We situate our findings in frameworks concerning the development of emerging professionals and argue for programming for STEM graduate students that extends the deep discipline knowledge-based model of professional development into one inclusive of leadership, communication, and innovation goals

Summer

ABSTRACT: In two experiments, interpersonal status was experimentally manipulated by assigning one dyad member to be the owner of a mock art gallery and the other to be the owner&apos;s assistant. Without forewarning, participants were asked immediately following the interaction to recall their partner&apos;s hand gestures, selftouch, gazing, smiling, and nodding. Accuracy of recall was determined by comparing these ratings to their partners&apos; behavior as coded from the videotape. In both experiments, assistants were more accurate at recalling the amount of owners&apos; selftouch than vice versa, but there was little evidence of an accuracy difference in recall of the other nonverbal cues. When accuracy was defined as the correlation between a participant&apos;s ratings of the partner&apos;s behaviors and the partner&apos;s actual behaviors, there was evidence that assistants were more accurate than owners when a combined p-value was calculated across both studies. KEY WORDS: nonverbal sensitivity; recall accuracy; status; power. Social psychologists have hypothesized that people with weak or subordinate status display enhanced interpersonal sensitivity, either as a general skill or vis-à-vis superiors (e.

Structure-based design and synthesis of antiparasitic pyrrolopyrimidines targeting pteridine reductase 1

The treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis remains a major unmet health need in sub-Saharan Africa. Approaches involving new molecular targets are important and pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1), an enzyme that reduces dihydrobiopterin in Trypanosoma spp. has been identified as a candidate target and it has been shown previously that substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines are inhibitors of PTR1 from T. brucei (J. Med. Chem. 2010, 53, 221-229). In this study, 61 new pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines have been prepared, designed with input from new crystal structures of 23 of these compounds complexed with PTR1, and evaluated in screens for enzyme inhibitory activity against PTR1 and in vitro antitrypanosomal activity. 8 compounds were sufficiently active in both screens to take forward to in vivo evaluation. Thus although evidence for trypanocidal activity in a stage I disease model in mice was obtained, the compounds were too toxic to mice for further development