Science, Journalism, Democracy and Technology

Journalism has a vital and urgent role to play in societies that are increasingly the paymasters for and the recipients of scientific and technological development in which they have little or no say. What amounts to the gagging and blindfolding of citizens in the science-policy debate is in contrast to the rapidly growing demands for increased democratisation throughout the world, which, as an important part of the agenda, have included demands for democratisation of science and the scientific informing of democracy. Whether they are being immediately heeded or encouraged, citizens continue to pressure governments and the science establishment for greater transparency in science policy and development, along with a greater share of the discussion about the application of such policy and development. This paper will seek to show that most areas of the 'public sphere' appear no longer capable of facilitating this broad social movement. However, new public demand, and the facilities of new technology indicate that journalism, which has thus far failed to demonstrate any great interest or ability in resolving science issues in the public sphere, can be seen as positioned to take on this function - even if by default - in the 21st century

Science and Journalism: a Mexican Stand-off?

Journalism's relationship with science has ebbed and flowed since the Second World War; from extreme enthusiasm immediately after 1945, through scepticism and disillusionment in the 1970s and early 1980s, back to a form of hero-worship in the late 1980s and 1990s. This article traces the modern history of the reporting of science and concludes that journalism may now be entering a new phase in that relationship, and that science is not likely to be any happier about journalism than it has ever been

Comparison of oxygen consumption and selected kinematics between and within the 1-skate, 2-skate and offset techniques

The 1-skate, 2-skate and offset techniques are the three most prevalent skate-skiing techniques used during cross-country ski racing. Although kinematic differences at maximum velocity have been observed between techniques (Bilodeau et al., 1991, 1996), physiology based criteria for choosing between techniques during a race have not been examined. The primary purpose of this study was to determine any differences in oxygen consumption between the 1-skate, 2-skate and offset when performed by highly trained cross-country ski racers over flat terrain at a submaximum velocity of 5.4 m *s-1. The secondary purpose was to identify the kinematic parameters that may be associated with economical skiing for each of the techniques by examining correlations between kinematic variables and economy for each of the techniques under the same conditions. Eleven male sub-elite cross-country skiers skied behind a snow-machine at a submaximal velocity of 5.4 m*s-1 using the 1-skate, 2-skate or offset exclusively. Oxygen consumption was measured throughout each trial (KB1-C, AeroSport Inc.) to assess economy. Three-dimensional videography (Peak Performance Technologies) was used to measure kinematic parameters. A randomized block ANOVA and Scheffé’s test was used to assess differences in oxygen consumption between techniques. Correlation coefficients between economy (expressed as percentage of VO2Max and HRmax) and selected kinematic parameters were examined to determine the kinematic performance variables associated with the economical performance of each technique. Minute ventilation was observed to be lower (p<0.05) during performance of the 2-skate (84.77 L *min-1) than the 1-skate (91.37 *mi-1 ). This difference was attributed to the increased poling demands of the 1 -skate. Although no other significant physiological differences were observed between techniques, small differences in oxygen consumption between the 1 -skate and 2-skate, representing 2.5% of VOzMax. could potentially be manifested in performance discrepancies at higher, race-specific velocities. Correlations observed between oxygen consumption and the kinem atic parameters suggest that increased gliding tim e and more vigorous application of propulsive forces characterize more economical performance of the 2-skate. Economical performance of the 1-skate appears to feature more sustained poling and increased side-to-side movement of the centre of mass. Future study of between and within group differences for the 1 -skate and 2-skate should be completed at velocities approaching race pace. Few clear findings were observed with the offset and in the future it should be examined on uphill terrain where it is typically performed

Journalism specialisms: Generating better generalists

Experience shows that a subject intending to provide specialist knowledge and skills to students at the University of Queensland (UQ) is, in fact, a valuable provider of generalist knowledge and skills. Two areas of reporting and writing - science and politics - and one course dealing with news organisation management have been known to give students knowledge about aspects of journalism that are increasingly necessary for general work. At the same time, the classes teach students lessons for which life experiences and education have only poorly prepared them

Effect of a Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Eradicate Central Line Associated Blood-Stream Infections (CLABSI)

Introduction: CLABSI remains a significant problem in the intensive care unit. Hypothesis: A multimodal approach for the insertion and care of CVC will prevent CLABSI. Methods: A Critical Care Operations Committee was formed to transform care in 8 intensive care units (ICU) in an academic medical center in 9/2004. One goal was to reduce CLABSI. Using evidence based medicine, a clinical practice guideline was developed that incorporated the use of maximum barrier precautions, chlorhexidine skin preparation, avoidance of the femoral insertion site, dedicated catheter cart, a check list, the tracking of high risk CVC, anti-septic or antimicrobial impregnated catheters, a recommendation to use ultrasound guidance when inserting CVC in the internal jugular vein, daily determination of the need for the CVC and treatment of CLABSI as a critical event.CLABSI were adjudicated by the hospital epidemiologist and CVC days were tracked. Rates of CLABSI were followed from 9/2004 through 7/2011. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used for statistical evaluation. A p Results: CLABSI rates (per 1000 catheter-days) declined dramatically from 2004 to 2011 (p Conclusions: A multimodal approach to CVC insertion and care reduces CLABSI by over 90%. Our ultimate goal is the complete eradication of CRBSI in our institution

Labor Waste in Housing Construction Projects: An empirical study

Purpose - High-level labor waste is a major challenge in construction projects. This paper aims to identify, quantify and categorize labor waste in the context of Iranian housing construction projects. Design/methodology/approach – This research uses a case study approach, with empirical data collected through direct observations and semi-structured interviews. Findings – Having triangulated the findings from the literature review and empirical studies, a list of eight types of waste was derived for the thirteen observed laborers in ten case study projects. The empirical studies allowed the labor waste identified from the literature to be verified and refined by considering it in the context of the observed activities, and led to two new types of waste being identified which were not considered in the literature. Findings indicate that nearly 62% of laborers’ time is spent on non-value adding activities. It appeared that ‘unnecessary movement’, ‘waiting’ and ‘indirect work’ make up the highest labor waste. Research limitations/implications - This research focuses only on onsite resource flows in a housing construction site. It does not include offsite flows such as material delivery to site. Originality/value - The findings have provided substantial evidence on type and amount of labor waste and provide a solid basis to stimulate construction actors to participate in reducing labor waste and improving productivity

A Review of the Tools Used for Marine Monitoring in the UK: Combining Historic and Contemporary Methods with Modeling and Socioeconomics to Fulfill Legislative Needs and Scientific Ambitions

Marine environmental monitoring is undertaken to provide evidence that environmental management targets are being met. Moreover, monitoring also provides context to marine science and over the last century has allowed development of a critical scientific understanding of the marine environment and the impacts that humans are having on it. The seas around the UK are currently monitored by targeted, impact-driven, programmes (e.g., fishery or pollution based monitoring) often using traditional techniques, many of which have not changed significantly since the early 1900s. The advent of a new wave of automated technology, in combination with changing political and economic circumstances, means that there is currently a strong drive to move toward a more refined, efficient, and effective way of monitoring. We describe the policy and scientific rationale for monitoring our seas, alongside a comprehensive description of the types of equipment and methodology currently used and the technologies that are likely to be used in the future. We contextualize the way new technologies and methodologies may impact monitoring and discuss how whole ecosystems models can give an integrated, comprehensive approach to impact assessment. Furthermore, we discuss how an understanding of the value of each data point is crucial to assess the true costs and benefits to society of a marine monitoring programme

Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses

To understand neurological complications of COVID-19 better both acutely and for recovery, we measured markers of brain injury, inflammatory mediators, and autoantibodies in 203 hospitalised participants; 111 with acute sera (1–11 days post-admission) and 92 convalescent sera (56 with COVID-19-associated neurological diagnoses). Here we show that compared to 60 uninfected controls, tTau, GFAP, NfL, and UCH-L1 are increased with COVID-19 infection at acute timepoints and NfL and GFAP are significantly higher in participants with neurological complications. Inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-12p40, HGF, M-CSF, CCL2, and IL-1RA) are associated with both altered consciousness and markers of brain injury. Autoantibodies are more common in COVID-19 than controls and some (including against MYL7, UCH-L1, and GRIN3B) are more frequent with altered consciousness. Additionally, convalescent participants with neurological complications show elevated GFAP and NfL, unrelated to attenuated systemic inflammatory mediators and to autoantibody responses. Overall, neurological complications of COVID-19 are associated with evidence of neuroglial injury in both acute and late disease and these correlate with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses acutely

Managing Jordan's Water Budget: Providing for Past, Present and Future Needs

Jordan faces continuing growth in water demand, far outstripping its limited renewable resources. Significant efforts have been deployed by the government to maximize the capture of surface water and groundwater, and to develop non-conventional sources such as brackish groundwater, fossil groundwater and treated wastewater. However, with agricultural requirements remaining at over 60% of the total water budget of the country, there is currently (in 2005) a deficit of 461 million cubic meters (MCM)/year out of a total annual requirement of 1,546 MCM. This deficit is met partially by significant over-abstraction of groundwater, leading to the depletion and salinization of the aquifers, and also by undersupplying the demand from the municipal sector and agriculture. While attempting to address water demand, improve supply efficiency in all sectors and increase the use of treated wastewater, Jordan has its hopes for the future pinned on the development of new sources-the transfer of fossil groundwater from the Disi field to Amman in the medium term, and a Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance providing desalinated water in the long term. However, such new sources will be expensive, and until they are developed, significant reductions in water supplied to the agricultural sector will be necessary if continued over-exploitation of the aquifers is to be avoided. This paper traces the growth in water demand in Jordan, and sets out the current supply and demand projections using publicly available figures from the National Water Master Plan 2004 and other public sources. The problems arising from addressing the water deficit are discussed. The measures taken by Jordan to date are described, and the need for additional steps to be taken to deal with the future deficits is highlighted

How journalism made science popular?

Despite a widely held assumption that the popularisation of science is a twentieth-century phenomenon, writing about science for various publics has continued for more than four centuries and science journalism of one sort or another has been conducted for more than three centuries. It was, however, certainly in the second half of the twentieth-century that science journalism, or journalism about science, came into its own, becoming one of the most vexed areas of journalism, both practically and academically. An examination of this history presents a perspective on an area of journalistic communication - or lack of it - that is of crucial importance in the twenty-first century