Encouraging practitioners in infection prevention and control to publish: a cross-sectional survey

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to determine the views of infection prevention and control practitioners (IPCPs) on publishing research. Methods: A convenience sample was obtained by approaching delegates at the 2015 Infection Prevention Society conference and data was captured via a hand-held electronic device. Findings: Of the 79 respondents most (83%) read Journal of Infection Prevention (JIP) and found it useful for informing their practice (72%). However, most (91%) had never published in JIP, and less than half (40%) published elsewhere. The main barrier to publication was not having work suitable for publication (38%). Support (37%), training in writing for publication (10%) and time (9%) were considered to be important facilitators in encouraging respondents to publish. Discussion: Strategies that support IPCPs in developing their writing skills may encourage more IPCPs to disseminate evidence to support best practice by publishing their work in peer reviewed journals

Building Partnerships to Promote Economic and Social Wellbeing and Learning

The paper describes, three initiatives that illustrate ways in which governments can intervene to promote social objectives are described in this paper: Raploch Urban Regeneration in Scotland; the Drugs Round Table in St Kilda, Vic; and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park in Scotland. The paper discusses the conditions that are necessary to achieve effective partnership formation

Guided self-help cognitive behavioural therapy for depression in primary care : a randomised controlled trial

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Regulation of endothelial calcium-dependent phenomena by calcium-regulated proteins

The inner lining of the vasculature is a monolayer of endothelial cells that performs a multitude of functions with importance for cardiovascular health. Many of the functions are regulated by or are dependent on the calcium ion (Ca2+), a major intracellular signalling factor. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate molecular mechanisms and pharmacology of Ca2+ entry mechanisms and their downstream signalling in endothelial cells. Molecular, biochemical and electrophysiology techniques and cell functional assays were used to address two main objectives. The first objective was to investigate putative Ca2+ channel regulator proteins, CRACR2A and golli-MBP. Based on previous reported studies, it was hypothesised that both of these proteins would have a role in regulating endothelial cell store-operated Ca2+ entry. However, unexpectedly these proteins had Ca2+ channel-independent functions, leading to alternative hypotheses about their roles in endothelial cells. The second objective was to generate new information about pharmacology targeted to a Ca2+ channel subunit, TRPC6, which has been suggested to be important in endothelial cell biology. Specifically, it was hypothesised that the anti-cancer agent carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) and the flavanol galangin and its derivatives, which have previously been shown to inhibit intracellular Ca2+, were TRPC6 channel inhibitors. Endothelial cells did not express CRACR2A as reported for T cells (Srikanth et al., 2010) but did express a longer splice variant arising from the same gene, EFCAB4B isoform a (EFCAB4B-a). CRACR2A and EFCAB4B-a have the same putative Ca2+ binding domains at their N termini but EFCAB4B-a, unlike CRACR2A, had no role in the regulation of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels. Instead, EFCAB4B-a contained a predicted Rab domain in its C terminus and was therefore a putative monomeric G protein. It localised to endothelial cell specific Weibel-Palade bodies and influenced the abundance of the pro-thrombotic agent von Willebrand factor. Golli-MBP was found expressed in endothelial cells but again there was little effect on CRAC channel activity. Instead golli-MBP was identified as a positive regulator of the important endothelial growth factor receptor, VEGFR2. The small-molecule CAI, was identified as an inhibitor of TRPC6 channels without effect on TRPC5 or TRPV4 channels. A range of flavonol compounds was also identified as TRPC6 inhibitors. In summary, this research has generated new information and hypotheses about a putative Ca2+-regulated Rab protein of Weibel-Palade bodies, a novel regulator of a key endothelial growth factor receptor, and a molecular target for CAI. It has, therefore, led to understanding of molecular mechanisms and pharmacology in endothelial cells which may be useful for devising strategies to treat life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer

Magnesium supplementation of ruminant diets

The major objectives of this thesis were to study the variation in the dietary availability of calcined magnesites to ruminants, both indoors and at grass, and to investigate different experimental methods for availability determinations. Calcined magnesite is given to ruminant animals as a preventitive measure against hypomagnesaemic tetany due to magnesium deficiency. Section I describes this and alternative methods of prevention in current use, following a description of normal magnesium physiology and metabolism in ruminants, the symptoms and incidence of hypomagnesaemic tetany, and factors involved in the development of the clinical condition. In Section II, balance trials with sheep demonstrated that the apparent availability of calcined magnesite was lower in coarse than in fine particles, and that the temperature of calcination was important in so far as "raw" or under calcined magnesite was poorly available whereas material calcined between 800- 1,10

Can nurses rise to the public health challenge? How a novel solution in nurse education can address this contemporary question.

This paper raises the problem of how improvements in health outcomes, a key component in many governments' strategies, can be achieved. The work highlights a novel undergraduate educational approach which offers solutions to public health challenges within nursing. Against the backdrop of one UK university institution it discusses approaches that can guide nursing students towards a deeper understanding and engagement within the principles of public health. It then proposes how nurses can use their learning to become leaders of health improvement

Building the foundation for environmental risk assessment at the Marcus Hook Refinery using geographic information systems

Center for Research in Water Resource

Young people’s interaction with natural heritage through outdoor learning

Funded jointly by Scottish Natural Heritage and Learning and Teaching Scotland, this research forms part of a two-year research and development programme entitled Outdoor Connections. A key aim of the programme is to research the current state of outdoor education in Scotland for 3–18-year-olds. Outdoor Connections, in turn, is seeking to understand how outdoor learning can be harnessed to address the aims of the current national curriculum development initiative: A Curriculum for Excellence (hereafter ACfE). The research comes at a time when formal outdoor learning is broadening its scope beyond adventure and field studies activities to include a wider range of activities across the whole curriculum thereby potentially connecting learners with their environment, their community, their society and themselves. The report analyses two sets of data. The first comes from a survey of schools’ and pre-school centres’ provision of formal outdoor learning. The second set of data comes from interviews with young people themselves (ages 3–16) about their outdoor experiences more generally. The report analyses these data to show how different types, durations and locations for outdoor learning provide different kinds of opportunities for interaction with nature and different learning outcomes

Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Vulnerability: An Exploratory Spatial Analysis

Research has demonstrated that vulnerable populations including disadvantaged populations of color live in areas that may place them at higher risk of exposure to social and environmental hazards. Due to climate change, these populations may experience worse health outcomes and environmental health disparities. The purpose of this project was to explore the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess areas that may be vulnerable to climate change across the United States. We employed ArcGIS 9.3 to create vulnerability scores for areas across the country that may be that may be impacted by climate change at the county level in the United States using different social, environmental, and health indicators. We included data on race=ethnicity and socioeconomic status from the US Census. Data on pollution sources and pollution levels were obtained from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Health data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the National Vital Statistics System, and the National Center for Health Statistics. We also employed the Moran’s I statistic to assess any significant vulnerability clusters. We found the highest scores for counties in the South particularly the Deep South and in Metropolitan areas in the Northeast and Midwest. Our findings provide insight into the areas of the country that may be vulnerable to the impacts of climate-change. More work needs to be performed to improve the spatial resolution of the maps and include more physical data that will help target areas that need effective climate change related mitigation and adaptation policies

Good vibrations: Do electrical therapeutic massagers work?

Health, leisure and beauty activities are increasing in popularity, with a particular emphasis on self-help and alternative health practices. One product type that has increased sales with this expansion is the hand-held electric massager. These are products that use vibration as a means of alleviating muscular strains and pains, as well as promoting relaxation. Paradoxically, these products are extremely popular as gifts, but are soon discarded. A multi-disciplinary research team was commissioned by a British manufacturer of electrical consumer products to investigate user attitudes and perceptions of existing massagers, to identify areas of user dissatisfaction. The manufacturer was also concerned about a possible stigma attached to these products because of an association with sex aids. This paper provides an account of the perceptions of both consumers and therapists regarding the use of these products. Identifying the differences between the perceptions of consumers and therapists should help provide a basis for effective integration of user needs, manufacturer requirements, designers’ skills and sound therapeutic practice. The results provide insight to support the development of more effective hand-held massagers