Learning Together 1: an educational model for training GPs, paediatricians: initial findings.

Learning Together is primarily an educational intervention, where paediatric registrars [SpRs] and General Practice (GP) registrars [GPSTs] see children together in a primary care setting. Over a six month period in 2013/2014, 44 learning pairs were set up mainly in North East and Central London. Proof of concept for the model at scale was achieved. Reported learning demonstrated: clinical learning themes of new knowledge, skill and communication skills; and collaborative themes of ongoing collaboration, satisfaction with team working and change in attitudes. These themes were identified in both sets of trainees. The self-reported learning is backed up by the results of a retrospective notes review of four common conditions based on NICE guidelines; constipation, asthma, feverish illness and eczema (CAFE). Guidance adherence improved from 57% before the intervention in solo GP training consultations to 72% during the joint clinic intervention (p < 0.01). After the intervention when the GP registrars returned to normal consultations, guidance adherence was 77% compared to before the intervention (p < 0.01). In addition 99% of the parents, who handed in feedback forms or took part in interviews, reported a good experience of care, and 87% reported increased confidence to manage their children's health following the consultation. A second, linked article examines the cost utility of Learning Together in its South London extension

Theatre and politics in Nigeria: a political reflection in Macaulay’s ‘Obanla’

This paper critically reflects on the political scenario in Nigeria as depicted in the dramatic piece “Obanla” by Abiodun Macaulay. It is actually an excursion into the Nigerian political history, with a serious interrogation of the present while offering a forecast into the future against the backdrop of the plots, structure and the thematic output of the play “Obanla”. The socio-political context that birthed ‘’Obanla’’ equally serves as a fulcrum to x-ray the political atmosphere or milieu of Nigeria as a nation where the socio-economic and political well-being of the citizens are premised primarily on ethnic groupings and power tussling; a country where the citizens’ rights are encroached upon unrestrained; where governance is a game of wits between various ethnic groups; where one greedily secures political powers and attempts to later transfer same to his immediate family members, either through political elections or military coup d’etat only to prevent others from getting to the position. Such intention is usually cladded in heartwarming speeches with sinister motives to govern unjustly characteristically out of greed, selfishness, self- aggrandizement with unholy agreement to subject other ethnic groups to intentional and perpetual societal hardship and terror crowned with political assassination.‘’Obanla’ therefore presents a most potent tool in understanding the political rivalry, greed, assassination, and corruption in Nigeria. It provides a revelation into the evil being perpetrated by the so-called leaders. This article employs Machiavelli theory to illustrate the selfishness of human nature especially in the Africa continent vis-a-vis the corrupt and heinous nature of the African leaders. The play presents a tableau of assorted violence, unequal wealth distribution and power, greed, the destruction of peace and injustice, the growth of disorderly ambition, betrayal, disunity, lawlessness, and dishonesty.Keywords: Theatre and politics, Coup, Godfatherism, Corruption, Political assassination, Abuse of Powe

A Slight Excess of Large Scale Power from Moments of the Peculiar Velocity Field

The peculiar motions of galaxies can be used to infer the distribution of matter in the Universe. It has recently been shown that measurements of the peculiar velocity field indicates an anomalously high bulk flow of galaxies in our local volume. In this paper we find the implications of the high bulk flow for the power spectrum of density fluctuations. We find that analyzing only the dipole moment of the velocity field yields an average power spectrum amplitude which is indeed much higher than the LCDM value. However, by also including shear and octupole moments of the velocity field, and marginalizing over possible values for the growth rate, an average power spectrum amplitude which is consistent with LCDM is recovered. We attempt to infer the shape of the matter power spectrum from moments of the velocity field, and find a slight excess of power on scales ~ h-1 Gpc.Comment: 6 pages,6 figures, updated to match accepted versio

Algorithms for zero-dimensional ideals using linear recurrent sequences

Inspired by Faug\`ere and Mou's sparse FGLM algorithm, we show how using linear recurrent multi-dimensional sequences can allow one to perform operations such as the primary decomposition of an ideal, by computing the annihilator of one or several such sequences.Comment: LNCS, Computer Algebra in Scientific Computing CASC 201

Assessing the genetic diversity of rice originating from Bangladesh, Assam and West Bengal

Acknowledgements This work was funded by BBSRC research project BB/J00336/1. FS and a part of the proportion of the cost of the Illumina genotyping was funded by a Beachell-Borlag International Fellowship. The authors would like to acknowledge the help of Dr MK Sarmah in collecting seed samples of the landraces and improved cultivars from Assam used in this study and Dr. Ma. Elizabeth B. Naredo and Ms. Sheila Mae Q. Mercado for handling of IRGC accessions and preparation of DNAs for genotyping. All rice seeds used here were obtained with MTA agreements and seed and dry leaves imported into the UK under import licence IMP⁄SOIL⁄18⁄2009 issued by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture.Peer reviewedPublisher PD