Preservation of Web Resources: The JISC PoWR Project

This paper describes the work of the JISC-funded PoWR (Preservation Of Web Resources) project which is developing a handbook on best practices and advice aimed at UK higher and further educational institutions for the preservation of Web sites and Web resources. The paper summarises the challenges institutions face in preserving Web resources, describes the workshops organized by the project in order to identify the challenges and identify appropriate best practices, and outlines areas in which further work is required

Raised cortisol excretion rate in urine and contamination by topical steroids

No abstract available

Convex probability domain of generalized quantum measurements

Generalized quantum measurements with N distinct outcomes are used for determining the density matrix, of order d, of an ensemble of quantum systems. The resulting probabilities are represented by a point in an N-dimensional space. It is shown that this point lies in a convex domain having at most d^2-1 dimensions.Comment: 7 pages LaTeX, one PostScript figure on separate pag

How to Undertake a Clinically Relevant Systematic Review in a Rapidly Evolving Field: Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Objectives: The aim was to determine which generations of the evolving technology of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are currently of clinical relevance in two clinical applications. Our purpose was to plan a systematic review that would be valuable both to purchasers driven by cost-effectiveness and to practicing clinicians. Methods: Information was gathered from a search of major bibliographic databases, from a short questionnaire sent to 500 U.K. vascular radiologists and vascular surgeons, and from local clinical The authors thank A. Jackson and all those who completed a questionnaire. This work was carried out with the financial support of the Secretary of State for Health under the NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme, project 97/13/04. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Secretary of State for Health. In part, this work was undertaken by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which received funding from the NHS Executive. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS Executive.experts. We asked which of the MRA techniques were currently used and, assuming availability, what would be their technique of choice. Results: There were 206 published articles that satisfied preliminary inclusion criteria: 69 discussed 2D time of flight (TOF); 47, 3D TOF; and 38, contrast-enhanced techniques. There were 162 questionnaires returned (60 radiologists, 102 surgeons). Of the total respondents, 77/162 (48%) used MRA in the assessment of carotid artery stenosis; 47/77 (61%) used 2D TOF; 32/77 (42%), 3D TOF; and 26/77 (34%), contrast-enhanced techniques. Thirty-five of 162 (22%) respondents used MRA in the assessment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD); 15/35 (43%) used 2D TOF, 4/35 (11%) used 3D TOF, and 22/35 (63%) used contrast-enhanced techniques. For those wishing to use MRA, contrast-enhanced techniques were the method of choice. Conclusions: The TOF methods that represent earlier generations of the technology remain clinically relevant, and will therefore be included in our systematic review. To ensure complete and relevant coverage in reviews of other evolving technologies, it would be advisable to obtain data for guidance in a similar way

Use of magnetic resonance angiography to select candidates with recently symptomatic carotid stenosis for surgery: systematic review

Objective To determine if sufficient evidence exists to support the use of magnetic resonance angiography as a means of selecting patients with recently symptomatic high grade carotid stenosis for surgery. Design Systematic review of published research on the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance angiography, 1990-9. Main outcome measures Performance characteristics of diagnostic test. Results 126 potentially relevant articles were identified, but many articles failed to examine die performance of magnetic resonance angiography as a diagnostic test at the surgical decision thresholds used in major clinical trials on endarterectomy. 26 articles were included in a meta-analysis that showed a maximal joint sensitivity and specificity of 99% (95% confidence interval 98% to 100%) for identifying 70-99% stenosis and 90% (81% to 99%) for identifying 50-99% stenosis. Only four articles evaluated contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. Conclusions Magnetic resonance angiography is accurate for selecting patients for carotid endarterectomy at the surgical decision thresholds established in the major endarterectomy trials, but the evidence is not very robust because of the heterogeneity of the studies included. Research is to determine the diagnostic performance of the most recent developments in magnetic resonance angiography, including contrast enhanced techniques, as well as to assess the impact of magnetic resonance angiography on surgical decision making and outcomes

Clones help develop ewe feeding strategy

Cloned sheep are not a new animal to the researchers of Agriculture WA, but the method that produced Dolly is. Cloned sheep have been produced at the great Southern Research Institute as early as the mid 1980s. Myra Yelland, Rob Kelly, John Davies and Johan Greef outline how clones are used in experimental studies on wool productio

Inspiratory Muscle Training Enhances Recovery Post COVID-19: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: Many people recovering from COVID-19 experience prolonged symptoms, particularly breathlessness. We urgently need to identify safe and effective COVID-19 rehabilitative strategies. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential rehabilitative role of inspiratory muscle training (IMT).Methods: 281 adults (46.6±12.2 years; 88% female) recovering from self-reported COVID-19 (9.0±4.2 months post-acute infection) were randomized 4:1 to an eight-week IMT or a “usual care” wait list control arm. Health-related quality of life and breathlessness questionnaires (King’s Brief Interstitial Lung Disease (KBILD) and Transition Dyspnoea Index (TDI)), respiratory muscle strength and fitness (Chester Step Test) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. The primary endpoint was KBILD total score, with the KBILD subdomains and TDI being key secondary outcomes. Results: According to intention to treat (ITT), there was no difference between groups in KBILD total score post-intervention (Control: 59.5±12.4; IMT: 58.2±12.3; P<0.05) but IMT elicited clinically meaningful improvements in the KBILD subdomains of breathlessness (Control: 59.8±12.6; IMT: 62.2±16.2; P<0.05) and chest symptoms (Control: 59.2±18.7; IMT: 64.5±18.2; P<0.05), along with clinically meaningful improvements in breathlessness according to TDI (Control: 0.9 ± 1.7 vs. 2.0 ± 2.0; P<0.05). IMT also improved respiratory muscle strength and estimated aerobic fitness. Conclusions: IMT may represent an important home-based rehabilitation strategy for wider implementation as part of COVID-19 rehabilitative strategies. Given the diverse nature of long-COVID, further research is warranted on the individual responses to rehabilitation - the withdrawal rate herein highlights that no one strategy is likely to be appropriate for all

Effect of High-Intensity Training and Asthma on the VO2 Kinetics of Adolescents

Purpose High-intensity interval training (HIIT) represents a potent stimulus to the dynamic oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2) response in adults but whether the same is evident in youth is unknown. HIIT has also been suggested to place a lower demand on the respiratory system, decreasing the likelihood of exacerbation in those with respiratory conditions, such as asthma.Methods Sixty-nine adolescents (13.6±0.9 years; 36 asthma) took part, 35 of which (17 asthma) participated in a 30-minute HIIT intervention three-times/week for six months. Each participant completed an incremental ramp test to volitional exhaustion and three heavy-intensity constant work-rate tests to determine the dynamic oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2), heart rate (HR) and deoxyhaemoglobin ([HHb]) response at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention and at a three-month follow-up.Results There was no influence of asthma at baseline or in response to the intervention. Participants in the intervention group demonstrated a faster V[Combining Dot Above]O2 time constant (τp) post-intervention (intervention: 29.2±5.7 vs. control: 34.2±6.5 s; P=0.003), with these differences maintained at follow-up (intervention: 32.5±5.5 vs. control: 37.3±8.7 s; P=0.008). The intervention was associated with a speeding of the [HHb] τ (Pre: 20.1±4.7 vs. Post: 18.2±4.1 s; P=0.05), compared to a slowing over the same time period in the control participants (Pre: 17.9±4.9 vs. Post: 20.1±4.6 s; P=0.012). HR kinetics were not altered (Pre: 46.5±12.2 vs. Post: 47.7±11.1 s; P=0.98).Conclusion These findings highlight the potential utility of school-based HIIT as a strategy to enhance the V[Combining Dot Above]O2 kinetics of youth, regardless of the presence of asthma

The Mass of the Black Hole in Arp 151 from Bayesian Modeling of Reverberation Mapping Data

Supermassive black holes are believed to be ubiquitous at the centers of galaxies. Measuring their masses is extremely challenging yet essential for understanding their role in the formation and evolution of cosmic structure. We present a direct measurement of the mass of a black hole in an active galactic nucleus (Arp 151) based on the motion of the gas responsible for the broad emission lines. By analyzing and modeling spectroscopic and photometric time series, we find that the gas is well described by a disk or torus with an average radius of 3.99 +- 1.25 light days and an opening angle of 68.9 (+21.4, -17.2) degrees, viewed at an inclination angle of 67.8 +- 7.8 degrees (that is, closer to face-on than edge-on). The black hole mass is inferred to be 10^(6.51 +- 0.28) solar masses. The method is fully general and can be used to determine the masses of black holes at arbitrary distances, enabling studies of their evolution over cosmic time.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter