Batch Metadata Editing - Dspace 1.6: a workshop/tutorial to inform and build skills

A new feature of the DSpace 1.6 Software is "Batch Metadata Editing". It gives Repository staff the ability to export metadata and change it easily for re-upload into the system. Once you try this "Data Entry" will never be the same

Batch Metadata Editing - Dspace 1.6: a workshop/tutorial to inform and build skills

A new feature of the DSpace 1.6 Software is "Batch Metadata Editing". It gives Repository staff the ability to export metadata and change it easily for re-upload into the system. Once you try this "Data Entry" will never be the same

Short and Long-Term Outcomes of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a serious disease occurring in 1 in 3000 births. Essentially, failure of diaphragmatic closure in-utero leads to herniation of the abdominal contents into the thoracic cavity, causing lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. The current mortality rate is 30%-50% but for newborns that require ECMO support, a higher mortality rate of 60% is evident. The infants that do survive to hospital discharge may be left with complex long-term health problems, across multiple body systems. It is estimated that the prevalence of chronic lung disease (CLD) may affect up to 50% of all CDH patients. Neurological complications, such as motor and cognitive defects, and gastrointestinal morbidity, including severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) are also notable. This thesis focuses on both the short- and long-term outcomes of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and consists of three main studies. Study I systematically reviews outcome reporting in observational studies and randomised controlled trials of post-natal interventions in CDH. With complex disease comes a variety of management strategies, and the need for these to be evaluated in robust clinical trials. However, no consensus currently exists on which outcomes should best be measured. This study aimed to review the selection, measurement, and reporting of outcomes in CDH. The outcomes were classified into seven domains modelled on the patient journey. The most frequent domains were ‘short-term markers of disease activity’ and outcomes relating to ‘hospital interventions and medication’. Long term outcomes were reported infrequently. There was heterogeneity in outcome reporting, primary outcomes were also variable and not always clearly stated. There is a clear need for a Core Outcome Set to standardise outcome reporting. Study II, a systematic review, focuses on short term outcomes in CDH, specifically the risk of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Given uncertainties surrounding upcoming RSV epidemics, debate exists around whether palivizumab (RSV prophylaxis) should be given to CDH infants. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of RSV bronchiolitis hospitalisation and whether palivizumab prophylaxis modulates this risk. We included three retrospective cohort studies: A single study found CDH to be an independent risk factor for RSV hospitalisation (OR 3.30, 95% CI 2.01-4.4). Two studies compared RSV hospitalisation rates in CDH patients who had palivizumab vs those that did not. The pooled Risk Ratio was 1.11 (95% CI 0.29-4.23, p=0.88). Overall, the quality of evidence was considered poor, and one study was industry-funded. Study III considers the long-term sequelae of CDH. This study is a systematic review focusing on cardiorespiratory outcomes and health related quality of life in CDH survivors over 2 years of age. Indices of lung function, radiological outcomes, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and health related quality of life were often reduced. Findings on the prevalence of asthma or reactive airway disease were mixed and there was some evidence of persistent pulmonary hypertension. Three papers reported late death (>2 years), five due to respiratory cause, one of which was pulmonary hypertension. This thesis has highlighted that the outcomes of CDH survivors, both short and long term, should not be overlooked. Where not already available dedicated follow-up clinics for CDH survivors should be established. Further research into various aspects of CDH survivorship is required

DSpace Under the Hood: How DSpace works

Whilst you don't need to be a mechanic to drive a car, it is helpful if you have a basic understanding of how a car works, what bits do different jobs, and how to top up your oil and pump up your tyres / tires. This presentation will give an overview of the DSpace architecture, and will give you enough knowledge to understand how DSpace works. By knowing this, you will also learn about ways DSpace could be used, and ways in which it can't be used

DSpace Under the Hood: How DSpace works

Whilst you don't need to be a mechanic to drive a car, it is helpful if you have a basic understanding of how a car works, what bits do different jobs, and how to top up your oil and pump up your tyres / tires. This presentation will give an overview of the DSpace architecture, and will give you enough knowledge to understand how DSpace works. By knowing this, you will also learn about ways DSpace could be used, and ways in which it can't be used

DSpace Under the Hood: The development process and YOUR role in it

DSpace development in undertaken by the DSpace community. No one, or no organisation is in charge, and without contributions from the DSpace community the platform would not continue to develop and evolve. Sometimes it can appear that there are people in charge, or that unless you are a technical developer then there is no way or need to contribute. This presentation will explain how DSpace development usually takes place, where and who has input at different stages, and will equip you to contribute further, or to help you contribute for the first time

DSpace Under the Hood: The development process and YOUR role in it

DSpace development in undertaken by the DSpace community. No one, or no organisation is in charge, and without contributions from the DSpace community the platform would not continue to develop and evolve. Sometimes it can appear that there are people in charge, or that unless you are a technical developer then there is no way or need to contribute. This presentation will explain how DSpace development usually takes place, where and who has input at different stages, and will equip you to contribute further, or to help you contribute for the first time

A trial of mass isoniazid preventive therapy for tuberculosis control.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is epidemic among workers in South African gold mines. We evaluated an intervention to interrupt tuberculosis transmission by means of mass screening that was linked to treatment for active disease or latent infection. METHODS: In a cluster-randomized study, we designated 15 clusters with 78,744 miners as either intervention clusters (40,981 miners in 8 clusters) or control clusters (37,763 miners in 7 clusters). In the intervention clusters, all miners were offered tuberculosis screening. If active tuberculosis was diagnosed, they were referred for treatment; if not, they were offered 9 months of isoniazid preventive therapy. The primary outcome was the cluster-level incidence of tuberculosis during the 12 months after the intervention ended. Secondary outcomes included tuberculosis prevalence at study completion. RESULTS: In the intervention clusters, 27,126 miners (66.2%) underwent screening. Of these miners, 23,659 (87.2%) started taking isoniazid, and isoniazid was dispensed for 6 months or more to 35 to 79% of miners, depending on the cluster. The intervention did not reduce the incidence of tuberculosis, with rates of 3.02 per 100 person-years in the intervention clusters and 2.95 per 100 person-years in the control clusters (rate ratio in the intervention clusters, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.34; P=0.98; adjusted rate ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.21; P=0.71), or the prevalence of tuberculosis (2.35% vs. 2.14%; adjusted prevalence ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.65 to 1.48; P=0.90). Analysis of the direct effect of isoniazid in 10,909 miners showed a reduced incidence of tuberculosis during treatment (1.10 cases per 100 person-years among miners receiving isoniazid vs. 2.91 cases per 100 person-years among controls; adjusted rate ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.88; P=0.03), but there was a subsequent rapid loss of protection. CONCLUSIONS: Mass screening and treatment for latent tuberculosis had no significant effect on tuberculosis control in South African gold mines, despite the successful use of isoniazid in preventing tuberculosis during treatment. (Funded by the Consortium to Respond Effectively to the AIDS TB Epidemic and others; Thibela TB Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN63327174.)

Immunolocalization of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Normal Murine Airway Epithelium and Changes following Induction of Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Inflammation

Little is known about innate immunity and components of inflammasomes in airway epithelium. This study evaluated immunohistological evidence for NLRP3 inflammasomes in normal and inflamed murine (Balb/c) airway epithelium in a model of ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic airway inflammation. The airway epithelium of control mice exhibited strong cytoplasmic staining for total caspase-1, ASC, and NLRP3, whereas the OVA mice exhibited strong staining for active caspase-1, with redistribution of caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18, indicating possible activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Active caspase-1, NLRP3, and other inflammasome components were also detected in tissue eosinophils from OVA mice, and may potentially contribute to IL-1β and IL-18 production. In whole lung, inRNA expression of NAIP and procaspase-1 was increased in OVA mice, whereas NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 decreased. Some OVA-treated mice also had significantly elevated and tightly correlated serum levels of IL-1β and TNFα. In cultured normal human bronchial epithelial cells, LPS priming resulted in a significant increase in NLRP3 and II-lp protein expression. This study is the first to demonstrate NLRP3 inflammasome components in normal airway epithelium and changes with inflammation. We propose activation and/or luminal release of the inflammasome is a feature of allergic airway inflammation which may contribute to disease pathogenesis