The positive and negative impact of an intergenerational digital technology education programme on younger people’s perceptions of older adults

In order to meet the technological needs of older adults, and ensure digital inclusion, it is important for digital technology designers to accurately assess and understand older adults’ needs and requirements, free from the influence of societal assumptions of their capabilities. This study evaluated the impact of an intergenerational digital technology education programme on younger adults’ stereotypes of older people. Using an experimental design, results show that compared to a control group, students taking part in the programme subsequently rated older adults as more friendly but less competent. Practical implications for developing intergenerational education programmes are discussed

The Hellenic type of nondeletional hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin results from a novel mutation (g.-109G>T) in the HBG2 gene promoter

Nondeletional hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (nd-HPFH), a rare hereditary condition resulting in elevated levels of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) in adults, is associated with promoter mutations in the human fetal globin (HBG1 and HBG2) genes. In this paper, we report a novel type of nd-HPFH due to a HBG2 gene promoter mutation (HBG2:g.-109G>T). This mutation, located at the 3′ end of the HBG2 distal CCAAT box, was initially identified in an adult female subject of Central Greek origin and results in elevated Hb F levels (4.1%) and significantly increased Gγ-globin chain production (79.2%). Family studies and DNA analysis revealed that the HBG2:g.-109G>T mutation is also found in the family members in compound heterozygosity with the HBG2:g.-158C>T single nucleotide polymorphism or the silent HBB:g.-101C>T β-thalassemia mutation, resulting in the latter case in significantly elevated Hb F levels (14.3%). Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis revealed that the HBG2:g.-109G>T mutation abolishes a transcription factor binding site, consistent with previous observations using DNA footprinting analysis, suggesting that guanine at position HBG2/1:g.-109 is critical for NF-E3 binding. These data suggest that the HBG2:g-109G>T mutation has a functional role in increasing HBG2 transcription and is responsible for the HPFH phenotype observed in our index cases

Clinical features and outcomes of patients with tubercular uveitis treated with antitubercular therapy in the collaborative ocular tuberculosis study (COTS)-1

IMPORTANCE Eradication of systemic tuberculosis (TB) has been limited by neglected populations and the HIV pandemic. Whereas ocular TB often presents as uveitis without any prior evidence of systemic TB, the existing uncertainty in the diagnosis of TB uveitis may perpetuate missed opportunities to address systemic TB. OBJECTIVE To examine the clinical features of TB uveitis and the associations with response to antitubercular therapy (ATT). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective multinational cohort study included patients from 25 ophthalmology referral centers diagnosed with TB uveitis and treated with ATT from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2014, with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Treatment failure, defined as a persistence or recurrence of inflammation within 6 months of completing ATT, inability to taper oral corticosteroids to less than 10mg/d or topical corticosteroid drops to less than 2 drops daily, and/or recalcitrant inflammation necessitating corticosteroid-sparing immunosuppressive therapy. RESULTS A total of 801 patients (1272 eyes) were studied (mean [SD] age, 40.5 [14.8] years; 413 [51.6%] male and 388 [48.4%] female; 577 [73.6%] Asian). Most patients had no known history (498 of 661 [75.3%]) of systemic TB. Most patients had bilateral involvement (471 of 801 [58.8%]). Common clinical signs reported include vitreous haze (523 of 1153 [45.4%]), retinal vasculitis (374 of 874 [42.8%]), and choroidal involvement (419 of 651 [64.4%]). Treatment failure developed in 102 of the 801 patients (12.7%). On univariate regression analysis, the hazard ratios (HRs) associated with intermediate uveitis (HR, 2.21; 95%CI, 1.07-4.55; P = .03), anterior uveitis (HR, 2.68; 95%CI, 1.32-2.35; P = .006), and panuveitis (HR, 3.28; 95%CI, 1.89-5.67; P < .001) were significantly higher compared with posterior distribution. The presence of vitreous haze had a statistically significant association (HR, 1.95; 95%CI, 1.26-3.02; P = .003) compared with absence of vitreous haze. Bilaterality had an associated HR of 1.50 (95%CI, 0.96-2.35) compared with unilaterality (HR, 1 [reference]), although this finding was not statistically significant (P = .07). On multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, the presence of vitreous haze had an adjusted HR of 2.98 (95%CI, 1.50-5.94; P = .002), presence of snow banking had an adjusted HR of 3.71 (95%CI, 1.18-11.62; P = .02), and presence of choroidal involvement had an adjusted HR of 2.88 (95%CI, 1.22-6.78; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE A low treatment failure rate occurred in patients with TB uveitis treated with ATT. Phenotypes and test results are studied whereby patients with panuveitis having vitreous and choroidal involvement had a higher risk of treatment failure. These findings are limited by retrospectivemethods. A prospectively derived composite clinical risk score might address this diagnostic uncertainty through holistic and standardized assessment of the combinations of clinical features and investigation results that may warrant diagnosis of TB uveitis and treatment with ATT

SAFEFOODNET : a survey on the activities related to diet definition in new member countries and associated countries of the European Union

The SAFEFOODNET project (Chemical Food Safety Network for the enlarging Europe) has as primary objectives the harmonisation and integration of Associated Candidate Countries (ACC) and New Member States (NMS) infrastructures and activities in the field of chemical food safety with those of Member States (MS). SAFEFOODNET consortium has 20 partners from 17 countries, which include 4 MS (Italy, Denmark, Germany and Belgium), 10 NMS (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus), and 3 ACC (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey). The structure of the general work plan has been broken down into 5 work packages to respond in a practical way to the SAFEFOODNET proposed objectives. Regarding the possibilities for dietary assessment, individual country profiles assemble information with respect to the identification of existing resources, organisational features, data sources and availability, with a view of establishing a \u201cstandard diet\u201d (according for instance to the indications of GEMS/FOOD of WHO) and consumption patterns. In order to retrieve and collect the information available in the field of dietary intake for each country, a questionnaire on diet was prepared. The questionnaire was divided in two parts: the first one regarding the institutions involved in the assessment of food consumption through performance of food intake surveys at national level, participation in relevant international projects, creation and maintenance of databases, or any other activity in the field of diet definition. The second part was focused at collecting further details on the individual surveys performed, such as type, methodology, population involved, availability and form of data acquired, as well as the suitability of the data to be used for acute intake estimates. The data are still being elaborated however some local specificities can be observed

SAFEFOODNET : a survey on the activities related to diet definition in new member countries and associated countries of the European Union

The SAFEFOODNET project (Chemical Food Safety Network for the enlarging Europe) has as primary objectives the harmonisation and integration of Associated Candidate Countries (ACC) and New Member States (NMS) infrastructures and activities in the field of chemical food safety with those of Member States (MS). SAFEFOODNET consortium has 20 partners from 17 countries, which include 4 MS (Italy, Denmark, Germany and Belgium), 10 NMS (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus), and 3 ACC (Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey). The structure of the general work plan has been broken down into 5 work packages to respond in a practical way to the SAFEFOODNET proposed objectives. Regarding the possibilities for dietary assessment, individual country profiles assemble information with respect to the identification of existing resources, organisational features, data sources and availability, with a view of establishing a \u201cstandard diet\u201d (according for instance to the indications of GEMS/FOOD of WHO) and consumption patterns. In order to retrieve and collect the information available in the field of dietary intake for each country, a questionnaire on diet was prepared. The questionnaire was divided in two parts: the first one regarding the institutions involved in the assessment of food consumption through performance of food intake surveys at national level, participation in relevant international projects, creation and maintenance of databases, or any other activity in the field of diet definition. The second part was focused at collecting further details on the individual surveys performed, such as type, methodology, population involved, availability and form of data acquired, as well as the suitability of the data to be used for acute intake estimates. The data are still being elaborated however some local specificities can be observed

Bringing Research into the Classroom – The Citizen Science approach in schools.

The way science is approached in the classroom can be instrumental in dispelling negative stereotypes about science and scientific research in future generations. The present report looks at the Citizen Science approach as an opportunity to connect schools with the world of research to foster a better command of scientific processes in the young, raise their awareness of current issues faced in certain sectors and geographical regions, and help them make sense of the surrounding world. The purpose of this report is to provide a baseline for understanding the key conditions of successfully implementing citizen science activities in schools. This report is based on three main sources of information: (1) review of recent literature on Citizen Science and its applications in schools; (2) a collection of citizen science case studies selected by educational organisations in four countries (Belgium, Greece, Poland and Spain) and from the Scientix repository of resources; and (3) the discussions between project managers, project representatives and science educators participating in the 14th Science Projects Networking Event (SPNE14), organisedbyScientixwiththecollaborationoffour other organisations and projects – GFOSS, Jet Propulsion Theatre, EDU-ARCTIC and ERIS. The report includes three main sections. The first explores the current literature on citizen science, guided by three main questions: (1) how do we define citizen science, (2) what are the main actors involved in citizen science projects and how do they contribute, and (3) what are the particularities of citizen science activities run in the context of formal education. The second section illustrates 20 citizen science projects, indicating the target audiences and main areas of research covered, as well as a description of the activities, outlining which part of the scientific method is carried out by volunteers, and, when such information is available, descriptions of the roles and interactions between the researchers and citizen scientists. Finally, the third section presents a discussion on the case studies included in the report, with a focus on the main challenges and opportunities of bringing citizen science in schools. The main challenge of running citizen science activities in school which transpired from the literature review and the review of the case studies is the issue of balancing research and educational outcomes. For educational outcomes to be achieved, citizen science projects in schools need to go beyond engaging pupils only in data collection and simple analysis, and look to involving them in meaningful research practices, which will give them the opportunity to develop scientific inquiry skills. On the same line, if genuine science outcomes are to be met, the ‘novice’ scientists (teachers and their students) need to interact with the researchers in order to be exposed to the requirements of the scientific method, and be supported in implementing it. Research suggests that carefully designed projects, created in dialogue between schools (teachers) and researchers which take into consideration the needs and constraints of both groups can successfully achieve both goals.status: Published onlin