Placing the library at the heart of plagiarism prevention: The University of Bradford experience.

yesPlagiarism is a vexed issue for Higher Education, affecting student transition, retention and attainment. This paper reports on two initiatives from the University of Bradford library aimed at reducing student plagiarism. The first initiative is an intensive course for students who have contravened plagiarism regulations. The second course introduces new students to the concepts surrounding plagiarism with the aim to prevent plagiarism breaches. Since the Plagiarism Avoidance for New Students course was introduced there has been a significant drop in students referred to the disciplinary programme. This paper discusses the background to both courses and the challenges of implementation

Simple scoring system to predict in-hospital mortality after surgery for infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND: Aspecific scoring systems are used to predict the risk of death postsurgery in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The purpose of the present study was both to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death, which complicates surgery for IE, and to create a mortality risk score based on the results of this analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Outcomes of 361 consecutive patients (mean age, 59.1\ub115.4 years) who had undergone surgery for IE in 8 European centers of cardiac surgery were recorded prospectively, and a risk factor analysis (multivariable logistic regression) for in-hospital death was performed. The discriminatory power of a new predictive scoring system was assessed with the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Score validation procedures were carried out. Fifty-six (15.5%) patients died postsurgery. BMI >27 kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; P=0.049), estimated glomerular filtration rate 55 mm Hg (OR, 1.78; P=0.032), and critical state (OR, 2.37; P=0.017) were independent predictors of in-hospital death. A scoring system was devised to predict in-hospital death postsurgery for IE (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.780; 95% CI, 0.734-0.822). The score performed better than 5 of 6 scoring systems for in-hospital death after cardiac surgery that were considered. CONCLUSIONS: A simple scoring system based on risk factors for in-hospital death was specifically created to predict mortality risk postsurgery in patients with IE

Comparison of pharmacokinetic variables for creatinine and iohexol in dogs with various degrees of renal function

estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs with various degrees of renal function. Animals—50 Great Anglo-Francais Tricolor Hounds with various degrees of renal function. Procedures—Boluses of iohexol (40 mg/kg) and creatinine (647 mg/kg) were injected IV. Blood samples were collected before administration and 5 and 10 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after administration. Plasma creatinine and iohexol concentrations were assayed via an enzymatic method and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. A noncompartmental approach was used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Pharmacokinetic variables were compared via a Bland-Altman plot and an ANOVA. Results—Compared with results for creatinine, iohexol had a significantly higher mean ± SD plasma clearance (3.4 ± 0.8 mL/min/kg vs 3.0 ± 0.7 mL/min/kg) and a significantly lower mean volume of distribution at steady state (250 ± 37 mL/kg vs 539 ± 73 mL/kg), mean residence time (80 ± 31 minutes vs 195 ± 73 minutes), and mean elimination half-life (74 ± 20 minutes vs 173 ± 53 minutes). Despite discrepancies between clearances, especially for high values, the difference was < 0.6 mL/min/kg for 34 (68%) dogs. Three dogs with a low GFR (< 2 mL/min/kg) were classified similarly by both methods. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Plasma iohexol and creatinine clearances can be used interchangeably for screening patients suspected of having chronic kidney disease (ie, low GFR), but large differences may exist for dogs with a GFR within or above the reference range. (Am J Vet Res 2012;73:1841–1847

Comparison of pharmacokinetic variables for creatinine and iohexol in dogs with various degrees of renal function

estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs with various degrees of renal function.Animals—50 Great Anglo-Francais Tricolor Hounds with various degrees of renal function.Procedures—Boluses of iohexol (40 mg/kg) and creatinine (647 mg/kg) were injected IV.Blood samples were collected before administration and 5 and 10 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6, and8 hours after administration. Plasma creatinine and iohexol concentrations were assayedvia an enzymatic method and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Anoncompartmental approach was used for pharmacokinetic analysis. Pharmacokineticvariables were compared via a Bland-Altman plot and an ANOVA.Results—Compared with results for creatinine, iohexol had a significantly higher mean ±SD plasma clearance (3.4 ± 0.8 mL/min/kg vs 3.0 ± 0.7 mL/min/kg) and a significantly lowermean volume of distribution at steady state (250 ± 37 mL/kg vs 539 ± 73 mL/kg), meanresidence time (80 ± 31 minutes vs 195 ± 73 minutes), and mean elimination half-life (74 ±20 minutes vs 173 ± 53 minutes). Despite discrepancies between clearances, especially forhigh values, the difference was < 0.6 mL/min/kg for 34 (68%) dogs. Three dogs with a lowGFR (< 2 mL/min/kg) were classified similarly by both methods.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Plasma iohexol and creatinine clearances can beused interchangeably for screening patients suspected of having chronic kidney disease (ie,low GFR), but large differences may exist for dogs with a GFR within or above the referencerange. (Am J Vet Res 2012;73:1841–1847