The History and geography of the Y chromosome SNPs in Europe: an update

The knowledge of the evolution of the human genome is strictly dependent on the availability of appropriate genetic markers and their relative coverage of genetic variation which refine the phylogenetic reconstruction. While autosomal markers are particularly valuable for recognizing correspondence between genetic and geographic distances, markers on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or Non Recombining Portion of Y Chromosome (NRY), because of their unilinear transmission, can effectively trace diachronical patterns of the human peopling. The maximum extent of polymorphism coverage has already been reached for the very small mitochondrial genome (about 16,5 Kbp), whereas the first studies based on RFLPs (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms) (Cann et al., 1987) and on sequencing of the hypervariable regions (Vigliant et al., 1991), were then combined to get higher resolution (Torroni et al., 1996), and finally the complete genome sequencing is now routinely performed (Achilli et al., 2004, Pala et al., 2009), in order to detect the whole mtDNA variation. A similar approach cannot be used yet at population level for the by far larger nuclear genome. However, advances in genotyping technology have dramatically enhanced the resolution of the analysis at genome-wide level, and recent papers significantly improved the knowledge of the relationships among European populations, using 300 to 500 K SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) on microarrays chips (Tian et al., 2008; Novembre et al., 2008). As to the NRY, most of the studies before the year 2000 were performed using Alu insertion (Hammer, 1995) or STRs (Short Tandem Repeats) (De Knijff et al., 1997; Pritchard et al., 1999) with the known limitations due to recurrence and reversion of this kind of polymorphisms. Using D-HPLC (Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography) technology, Underhill and coworkers (1997) discovered 22 new SNP biallelic markers, rapidly raising in number to 167 (Underhill et al., 2000), 242 (YCC, 2002), about 600 (Karafet et al., 2008), up to more than 725 presently listed in the Y-DNA SNP Index 2009, (www.isogg. org), and the knowledge of Y chromosome phylogeny and of the spread worldwide of human populations raised proportionally. The next goal of the research on Y chromosome will be the use of specific microarrays that can genotype a much higher number of SNPs than nowadays routinely performed, and, ultimately, the complete Y chromosome sequencing. Waiting for future developments, this short note reports the state of the art of the phylogenetic (“history”) and phylogeographic (“geography”) research on Y chromosome SNP analyses in Europe, updating the review published in this Journal by Francalacci & Sanna at the beginning of 2008

Asiakastyytyväisyys mielenterveyspalveluiden avohoidon vastaanotoilla : asiakastyytyväisyyskyselylomakkeen kehittäminen

Tämän toiminnallisen opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli tuottaa asiakastyytyväisyyskyselylomake käytettäväksi Lahden pääterveysasemalla toimivien psykiatristen sairaanhoitajien ja psykologien vastaanotoilla. Tuotoksen tarkoitus oli antaa vastaanottojen asiakkaille mahdollisuus kertoa heidän näkemyksensä siitä miten hoito on toteutunut, mikä heitä on auttanut toipumisessa ja missä olisi kehitettävää. Asiakkailta saatu tieto antaa työntekijöille mahdollisuuden kehittää omaa työtään sekä vastaanottojen toimintaa asiakaslähtöisemmäksi ja tarkistaa, että hoito toteutuu annettujen suositusten mukaan. Tuotos valmistui tiiviissä yhteistyössä toimeksiantajan kanssa.Kehitysprojektin pohjana toimi tietoperusta, johon kerättiin tutkimustietoa asioista jotka vaikuttavat asiakkaiden kokemaan tyytyväisyyteen ja laatuun mielenterveyspalveluiden avohoidon toimintaympäristöissä. Tietoperusta toimi pohjana kun kyselylomaketta kehitettiin toimeksiantajan tarpeisiin vastaavaksi. Tuotoksen pohjana toimiva tutkimustieto osoittaa, että asiakkaat näkevät hoidon laadun positiivisena käsitteenä. Asiakkaiden tyytyväisyyteen eniten vaikuttavia tekijöitä ovat kohtaaminen ja vuorovaikutus, tiedonsaanti, asiakaskeskeisyys ja osallisuuden mahdollisuus.The goal of this practice-based thesis was to develop a client satisfaction questionnaire to be used at receptions of psychiatric nurses and psychologists in the main health center of Lahti. The purpose of this thesis was to give the clients an opportunity to tell how their treatment is being implemented, what has helped them towards recovery and what could be improved. Information coming from clients gives the employees an opportunity to develop their own work and the procedures of the receptions. It is also an opportunity find out if treatment is being implemented according to the recommendations. The questionnaire was developed in tight collaboration with the commissioner. Information was gathered about factors affecting client satisfaction and quality in outpatient settings of mental health services.Information from research was used as a foundation for the questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed according to the commissioner’s wishes. The information gathered for this thesis shows that clients recognize the quality of care as a positive concept. Factors that affect the most clients’ satisfaction are: encountering and interaction, access to information, client centeredness and the opportunity to be involved

An Analysis of the Opportunities and Challenges Involved in the Formal Delivery of Self-Management Support in Diabetes using Digital Health Initiatives

This thesis will critically analyse self-management (SM) support services available in Scotland in the form of a gap analysis and demonstrate how digital solutions are required to increase the efficiency of health services nationally in order to fill these gaps. Firstly, the overall concept of self-management will be defined, including its importance in the treatment of long term conditions (LTC), using diabetes as an exemplary condition. This will be followed by an overview of the challenges involved in the delivery of self-management support in a ‘pre-digital’ era, where digital solutions have not been widely implemented. A review of the gaps present in the current provision of self-management support services will be demonstrated and an examination of appropriate digital solutions which could fill these gaps will be presented. Emphasis will be placed on projects run by the Digital Health and Care Institute and the challenges faced in implementing them

The Naica Project - A Multidisciplinary Study of the Largest Gypsum Crystals of the World

The caves of Naica (Chihuahua, Mexico) are perhaps the most famous mine caves of the world due to the presence of gigantic gypsum crystals. Nevertheless, very little research has been carried out on these crystals until now. An international multidisciplinary investigation started in 2006 with the aim not only to define the genesis and the age of the Naica gypsum crystals, but also to focus other important scientific aspects of these caves and to ensure a complete documentation and knowledge of these natural wonders which will not be accessible anymore in a few couple of years. The preliminary results of this, still in progress, research allow to date the giant crystals and to define the boundary conditions and the mechanisms which induced their development. For the first time pollens have been extracted from gypsum crystals and their analyses evidenced that some 35 Ky BP the Naica climate was cooler and more humid than today

Inferring threshold behavior of the Supramonte karst aquifer from tracer test and its implication for groundwater protection (Sardinia, Italy)

Karst aquifer, artificial tracer test, Supramonte aquifer, Sardinia

Development of a sustainable water management for the su Gologone karst spring (Sardinia, Italy)

Drought climate change hot spots, Su Gologone, Sardinia, water pumping management

Mapping the impact: assessment methodologies and policy implications of the Collaborative and Sharing Economy

In this chapter the authors examine different methodologies for assessing the diverse impact of the Collaborative and Sharing Economies (henceforth, CSE) on many aspects of society, then make policy recommendations based on the outcomes of these assessments. The chapter briefly describes the multifarious CSE landscape, then goes on to enumerate the major frameworks currently used to evaluate and assess CSE impacts. It notes that there is no single methodology that can fully capture the wide variety of impacts, but identifies two methods as the most useful: multidimensional assessment, and Theory of Change (ToC) framework analysis. The chapter then elaborates on the benefits and drawbacks of each methodology, before suggesting the use of both methodologies in a mixed format. The authors undertake a brief literature review to examine recent approaches to impact assessment, and focus in on what those approaches have revealed from the points of view of social value, environmental impact, economy, and political impact, concluding with findings about 'rebound effects' in terms of indirect behavioural and other changes caused by CSE initiatives. The chapter maps out a suggested comprehensive inventory for multidimensional assessment, then describes a methodology for assessing the CSE and its impacts via the ToC Framework. It concludes with determining the implications on policy of the impact assessments. This section views policy through the lens of implications derived from the general impact of the CSE, and then via the impact assessment methods and tools derived from the ToC framework. In the first part it assesses considerations that need to be taken by policymakers due to CSE impacts on the market, government, the workforce, consumers, and the environment, and makes recommendations on each. In terms of impact assessment, it recommends more long-term and strategic actions to cope with the ongoing disruption caused by the CSE. In conclusion it recommends a robust and adaptive approach to assessing the impacts caused by flourishing and inevitable growth of the CSE

The Potential of Digital Solutions for Integration of Health and Social Care Services

Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership Exploratory on the 23rd November 2016 in Aberdeen with focus on digital solutions for integrated health and care services

Review and Analysis of the Digital Health Sector and Skills for Scotland : A Report by the Digital Health and Care Institute in Partnership with Skills Development Scotland

This report has been produced by the Digital Health and Care Institute (DHI), as commissioned by Skills Development Scotland to investigate and analyse the Digital Health sector and its skills issues in Scotland. The digital health sector is characterised as emerging from the conjunction of health and care services, mobile health and ICT, and it is one of the fastest growing economic sectors globally, hungry for skilled staff. In this report 'digital health' encompasses companies that produce, provide and service digital health solutions on the one hand, and health and care service providers that utilize and implement digital healthcare solutions and tools in the delivery of their services on the other. As the health and care sector catches up with the other economic sectors in digitization, the need for personnel in digital health and care both in the private and the public sectors increases exponentially. Digital health is a diverse, interdisciplinary sector, something that is reflected in the skills required in the field, ranging from higher level computing, such as software development and software engineering to project management and business-related skills. There is a specific lack of personnel who are proficient in ICT but also have an understanding of health and care. However, while the sector is finding it hard to find suitably skilled graduates, and to offer them competitive salaries, the unemployment among ICT graduates is higher than in other disciplines. Furthermore, currently there are only a handful of courses, and these only on post-graduate level, offering digital health education in Scotland. The biggest single factor restricting economic growth in the sector is the lack of suitably skilled personnel. Digital health is going to face severe challenges in the near future, if the disparity between what the education and training provision offers and what the digital health sector needs is not bridged. Currently, companies are using all available means to attract skilled employees, ranging from recruiting from other sectors to offering in-house training, internships, modern apprenticeships and industrial placements to students and graduates. In order for Scotland to capitalize on the expanding digital health market, it is vital to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of skilled workers entering into the sector. Based on the research discussed in this report the DHI have made several recommendations that focus on: * Reviewing the existing education and training provision with digital health in mind; * involving digital health employees more closely in the development of the curricula in computing and health and care; and * Raising the profile of digital health sector in Scotland

Exploratory on Using Digitally Enabled Technology in the Remote Monitoring of Long Term Conditions

Exploratory event for the Academic Health Science Partnership (AHSP) in Tayside, on the 4th of October, where the use of digitally enabled technology in the remote monitoring of long term conditions was discussed by clinicians and other stakeholders