Subjective Well-Being in Two Himalayan Communities, Post Road Development

Although the first road to ever be built into Humla, Nepal is still under construction, it has already spurred numerous sociocultural and economic changes, including an increased integration into the market economy, changing access to market-purchased foods, and new kinds of health-seeking behavior. This paper is part of a larger research project where we examined changing health and nutrition outcomes co-synchronous with the arrival of this road. In this paper, we focus on whether and how the road is affecting villagers’ subjective well-being (SWB). We studied this while living and working with people from two Humli villages, one that is on the road, and one that is far from it. In these villages, we developed two local models of SWB, using the villagers’ own conceptual frameworks and sense of the factors that play a role in wellbeing. Our analyses showed that villagers’ conceptualization of SWB varied substantially according to road proximity. Additionally, we quantified indices from villagers’ SWB assessments and tested which variables were significant determinants of wellbeing. We discovered a significant relationship between an individual’s well-being level and two variables: available resources per household and levels of social support. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to better understand how villagers from Upper Humla define SWB, to identify which subset of the population is not benefitting in terms of their SWB from the new road, and to present a mixed-methods, anthropologically-based approach for the development of a locally meaningful measure of SWB

Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences in Primary Care

Presented at the 2022 Virtual Northwest Medical Research Symposiu

The Toowoomba adult trauma triage tool

Since the introduction of the Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) there has been considerable variation in its application. Improved uniformity in the application of the ATS by triage nurses is required. A reproducible, reliable and valid method to classify the illness acuity of Emergency Department patients so that a triage category 3 by one nurse means the same as a triage category 3 by another, not only in the same ED but also in another institution would be of considerable value to emergency nurses. This has been the driving motivation behind developing the Toowoomba Adult Trauma Triage Tool (TATTT). It is hoped the TATTT will support emergency nurses working in this challenging area by promoting standardisation and decreasing subjectivity in the triage decision process

Power relations in IS projects – a critical review and a new research agenda

This paper seeks to review and examine the major theoretical underpinnings of research into power relations in IS projects. In order to keep the review manageable and to furnish a reasonable explanation of the ideas and papers referenced, the review is restricted to the ideas of Foucault, Giddens and Clegg. Partly, this restriction was due to the wish of the authors to deal seriously with the ideas presented, and not to produce an exhaustive but terse and taxonomic style review. Partly, the selection of the above theorists is due to the fact that the major IS papers on power relations have drawn on their work. This paper concludes with the presentation of a new theory of power and social influence from social psychology suitable for use in IS research. The ideas of this theory have not yet been examined empirically. Thus, IS researchers are challenged to employ these ideas in their empirical research.<br /

Subjective Well-Being in Two Himalayan Communities, Post Road Development

Although the first road to ever be built into Humla, Nepal is still under construction, it has already spurred numerous sociocultural and economic changes, including an increased integration into the market economy, changing access to market-purchased foods, and new kinds of health-seeking behavior. This paper is part of a larger research project where we examined changing health and nutrition outcomes co-synchronous with the arrival of this road. In this paper, we focus on whether and how the road is affecting villagers’ subjective well-being (SWB). We studied this while living and working with people from two Humli villages, one that is on the road, and one that is far from it. In these villages, we developed two local models of SWB, using the villagers’ own conceptual frameworks and sense of the factors that play a role in wellbeing. Our analyses showed that villagers’ conceptualization of SWB varied substantially according to road proximity. Additionally, we quantified indices from villagers’ SWB assessments and tested which variables were significant determinants of wellbeing. We discovered a significant relationship between an individual’s well-being level and two variables: available resources per household and levels of social support. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to better understand how villagers from Upper Humla define SWB, to identify which subset of the population is not benefitting in terms of their SWB from the new road, and to present a mixed-methods, anthropologically-based approach for the development of a locally meaningful measure of SWB

Moving forward through consensus: protocol for a modified Delphi approach to determine the top research priorities in the field of orthopaedic oncology.

IntroductionOrthopaedic oncology researchers face several obstacles in the design and execution of randomised controlled trials, including finite fiscal resources to support the rising costs of clinical research and insufficient patient volume at individual sites. As a result, high-quality research to guide clinical practice has lagged behind other surgical subspecialties. A focused approach is imperative to design a research programme that is economical, streamlined and addresses clinically relevant endpoints. The primary objective of this study will be to use a consensus-based approach to identify research priorities for international clinical trials in orthopaedic oncology.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a 3-phase modified Delphi method consisting of 2 sequential rounds of anonymous web-based questionnaires (phases I and II), and an in-person consensus meeting (phase III). Participants will suggest research questions that they believe are of particular importance to the field (phase I), and individually rate each proposed question on 5 criteria (phase II). Research questions that meet predetermined consensus thresholds will be brought forward to the consensus meeting (phase III) for discussion by an expert panel. Following these discussions, the expert panel will be asked to assign scores for each research question, and research questions meeting predetermined criteria will be brought forward for final ranking. The expert panel will then be asked to rank the top 3 research questions, and these 3 research questions will be distributed to the initial group of participants for validation.Ethics and disseminationAn ethics application is currently under review with the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The results of this initiative will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations

Multi-year molecular quantification and ‘omics analysis of Planktothrix-specific cyanophage sequences from Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie

Introduction: Planktothrix agardhii is a microcystin-producing cyanobacterium found in Sandusky Bay, a shallow and turbid embayment of Lake Erie. Previous work in other systems has indicated that cyanophages are an important natural control factor of harmful algal blooms. Currently, there are few cyanophages that are known to infect P. agardhii, with the best-known being PaV-LD, a tail-less cyanophage isolated from Lake Donghu, China. Presented here is a molecular characterization of Planktothrix specific cyanophages in Sandusky Bay. Methods and Results: Putative Planktothrix-specific viral sequences from metagenomic data from the bay in 2013, 2018, and 2019 were identified by two approaches: homology to known phage PaV-LD, or through matching CRISPR spacer sequences with Planktothrix host genomes. Several contigs were identified as having viral signatures, either related to PaV-LD or potentially novel sequences. Transcriptomic data from 2015, 2018, and 2019 were also employed for the further identification of cyanophages, as well as gene expression of select viral sequences. Finally, viral quantification was tested using qPCR in 2015–2019 for PaV-LD like cyanophages to identify the relationship between presence and gene expression of these cyanophages. Notably, while PaV-LD like cyanophages were in high abundance over the course of multiple years (qPCR), transcriptomic analysis revealed only low levels of viral gene expression. Discussion: This work aims to provide a broader understanding of Planktothrix cyanophage diversity with the goals of teasing apart the role of cyanophages in the control and regulation of harmful algal blooms and designing monitoring methodology for potential toxin-releasing lysis events

Nurse Discharge Planning in the Emergency Department: A Toowoomba, Australia, Study

Aim. This study aimed to ascertain whether a model of risk screening carried out by an experienced community nurse was effective in decreasing re-presentations and readmissions and the length of stay of older people presenting to an Australian emergency department. Objectives. The objectives of the study were to (i) identify all older people who presented to the emergency department of an Australian regional hospital; (ii) identify the proportion of re-presentations and readmissions within this cohort of patients; and (iii) risk-screen all older patients and provide referrals when necessary to community services. Design. The study involved the application of a risk screening tool to 2139 men and women over 70 years of age from October 2002 to June 2003. Of these, 1102 (51.5%) were admitted and 246 (11.5%) were re-presentations with the same illness. Patients presenting from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00 hours were risk-screened face to face in the emergency department. Outside of these hours, but within 72 hours of presentation, risk screening was carried out by telephone if the patient was discharged or within the ward if the patient had been admitted. Results. There was a 16% decrease in the re-presentation rate of people over 70 years of age to the emergency department. Additionally during this time there was a 5.5% decrease in the readmission rate (this decrease did not reach significance). There was a decrease in the average length of stay in hospital from 6.17 days per patient in October 2002 to 5.37 days per patient in June 2003. An unexpected finding was the decrease in re-presentations in people who represented to the emergency department three or more times per month (known as 'frequent flyers'). Conclusions. Risk screening of older people in the emergency department by a specialist community nurse resulted in a decrease of re-presentations to the emergency department. There was some evidence of a decreased length of stay. It is suggested that the decrease in re-presentations was the result of increased referral and use of community services. It appears that the use of a specialist community nurse to undertake risk screening rather than the triage nurse may impact on service utilization. Relevance to clinical practice. It is apparent that older people presenting to the emergency department have complex care needs. Undertaking risk screening using an experienced community nurse to ascertain the correct level of community assistance required and ensuring speedy referral to appropriate community services has positive outcomes for both the hospital and the patient

Ammonium recycling supports toxic Planktothrix blooms in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie: Evidence from stable isotope and metatranscriptome data

Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, receives high nutrient loadings (nitrogen and phosphorus) from the Sandusky River, which drains an agricultural watershed. Eutrophication and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) persist throughout summer. Planktothrix agardhii is the dominant bloom-forming species and the main producer of microcystins in Sandusky Bay. Non-N2 fixing cyanobacteria, such as Planktothrix and Microcystis, thrive on chemically reduced forms of nitrogen, such as ammonium (NH4+) and urea. Ammonium regeneration and potential uptake rates and total microbial community demand for NH4+ were quantified in Sandusky Bay. Potential NH4+ uptake rates in the light increased from June to August at all stations. Dark uptake rates also increased seasonally and, by the end of August, were on par with light uptake rates. Regeneration rates followed a similar pattern and were significantly higher in August than June. Ammonium uptake kinetics during a Planktothrix-dominated bloom in Sandusky Bay and a Microcystis-dominated bloom in Maumee Bay were also compared. The highest half saturation constant (Km) in Sandusky Bay was measured in June and decreased throughout the season. In contrast, Km values in Maumee Bay were lowest at the beginning of summer and increased in October. A significant increase in Vmax in Sandusky Bay was observed between July and the end of August, reflective of intense competition for depleted NH4+. Metatranscriptome results from Sandusky Bay show a shift from cyanophycin synthetase (luxury NH4+ uptake; cphA1) expression in early summer to cyanophycinase (intracellular N mobilization; cphB/cphA2) expression in August, supporting the interpretation that the microbial community is nitrogen-starved in late summer. Combined, our results show that, in late summer, when nitrogen concentrations are low, cyanoHABs in Sandusky Bay rely on regenerated NH4+ to support growth and toxin production. Increased dark NH4+ uptake late in summer suggests an important heterotrophic contribution to NH4+ depletion in the phycosphere. Kinetic experiments in the two bays suggest a competitive advantage for Planktothrix over Microcystis in Sandusky Bay due to its higher affinity for NH4+ at low concentrations

Exploring the challenges facing the solid waste sector in Douala, Cameroon

In Douala, Cameroon, solid waste volumes and disposal costs are rising, placing pressure on a municipality that has a small tax base and multiple demands for its meagre resources. Initially the municipality outsourced the collection and disposal of solid waste to the private sector, but collection rates are declining. Informal solid waste pickers operate in the sector, but their collection rates are low. The Cameroonian government now sees a public private partnership approach as a cost efficient solution to the problem. This study interviewed key decision makers within the solid waste sector to establish how the sector could become profitable, while improving collection and recyclable recovery rates. Results show that the Cameroonian government has not fostered an enabling environment for the private sector to flourish. Unless this changes, the number of enterprises, operating profits and recyclable recovery rates will not increase. An inadequate organizational structure; poor logistical support; lack of capital and technical expertise; inhibiting government policy and regulations; as well as low levels of awareness and education at the household level inhibit growth of the sector. All stakeholders wanted the government to create a favorable climate for change through engagement and collaboration.http://www.businessperspectives.org/component/option,com_journals/task,journal/id,9/Itemid,74/am2016Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS