A Comparison between Lynch Syndrome and Sporadic Colorectal Cancer Survivors’ Satisfaction with their Healthcare Providers

This study evaluated provider satisfaction in a sample of colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors with and without Lynch syndrome (LS). Participants were case–case-matched CRC survivors with (n=75) or without (n=75) LS (mean age of 55; range: 27–93). Participants completed a mailed questionnaire assessing demographics, clinical characteristics, healthcare utilization, psychosocial variables, and provider satisfaction. LS CRC survivors reported lower provider satisfaction scores on three subscales of the Primary Care Assessment Survey: communication (78.14 vs. 83.96; P\u3c0.05), interpersonal treatment (78.58 vs. 85.30; P\u3c0.05), and knowledge of the patient (60.34 vs. 69.86; P\u3c0.01). Among LS CRC survivors, predictors for mean communication and trust subscale scores were location of treatment and socioeconomic status. Higher mean depression scores also were associated with trust, while social support predicted higher satisfaction with communication. Sporadic CRC survivor satisfaction is driven largely by age (communication, interpersonal treatment) and patient anxiety (communication), while seeing a provider more often was associated with increased satisfaction with knowledge of the patient. LS CRC survivors reported lower levels of provider satisfaction than sporadic CRC survivors. LS survivors who received care at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a comprehensive cancer center (CCC), reported higher satisfaction than those receiving care at other institutions. Depressive symptoms and socioeconomic status may impact provider satisfaction ratings. Exploration of other potential predictors of provider satisfaction should be examined in this population. Additionally, further research is needed to examine the potential impact of provider satisfaction on adherence to medical recommendations in LS CRC survivors, particularly those being treated outside of CCCs

Patients educating health care providers on Lynch syndrome

Objective: Lynch syndrome (LS) patients are at an elevated risk for early-onset cancers, including endometrial and colorectal (CRC). Prior research has shown a deficit in provider knowledge of LS, which may affect patient satisfaction and adherence to recommended screening and surveillance regimens. Studies suggest patients with LS may educate providers perceived as lacking LS knowledge; however, little is known about these interactions. The goal of this study is to assess patient-reported outcomes from clinical interactions where LS patients educate their providers. Methods: Participants (n=55) were asked to complete an in-depth telephone interview. Results: Out of 55 participants, approximately two-thirds (n=37) reported engaging in educational interactions. Participants reported feeling satisfied with the provider response in over half of the reported educational interactions (n=24). Participants reported changes in their patient-provider relationship ranging from improvements in their relationship to termination of services. Conclusion: Patients with LS report educating providers on their diagnosis as well as their screening and surveillance requirements. Patient-reported outcomes of these educational interactions vary based on the provider’s response to the interaction. Providers should be open and receptive to these educational interactions and follow-up on the discussion to improve patient satisfaction

Final Report for W-183-R-1: Wild Turkey Responses to Forest Management

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Final Report for W-183-R-3: Wild Turkey Responses to Forest Management

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Final Report for W-183-R-2: Wild Turkey Responses to Forest Management

We continued to document locations and fates of Wild Turkey hens captured in the winter of 2015 whose radios continued to function into the fall/winter of 2015 and winter spring of 2016. During the winter/spring of 2016 we captured and banded 46 Wild Turkeys across two study locations and fitted every hen (n=38; 21 at Forbes and 17 at Lake Shelbyville) with a μGPS transmitter. On average each transmitter has recorded over a thousand locations to date that are accurate enough to allow us to know where and when hens were nesting, the fates of those nests, and seasonal habitat use at finer- and larger-scales. This will allow us to model how land use and habitat (i.e. forest) management affect the nesting success, survival, and habitat selection of hen turkeys. Of the 2016 cohort of new hens, 8 of the 9 known mortality events resulted from predation following the onset of incubation because the carcasses were found near nest locations. This pattern has repeated for 2 consecutive years and demonstrates that hen turkeys are particularly vulnerable to predation during the incubation phase of the nesting period. We still do not know what predators are responsible. Accelerometer data (index of hen turkey motion collected every 5 minutes) from the radios on hens allowed us to determine that of 19 hen mortality events, 7 occurred during overnight hours and 12 during daylight hours. Six of 25 nests successfully made it to the poult stage and we now need to determine the predator(s) responsible for predation of hens and/or nests during the incubation phase.Preliminary results indicate that turkeys may select nest locations based on stand-level characteristics, rather than local-scale factors (i.e. there was little difference between all of the various measures of vegetation associated with nests compared to paired random non-nest locations 80 m away from nests). Additional analyses will be forthcoming. Finally, the programming and database structure are now in place to allow us to begin using the data that we get from the μGPS transmitters to create Brownian Bridge Movement Models to assess the effects of land-cover and burn/management history on seasonal and annual home range sizes and habitat use.Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Final Report for W-183-R-4: Wild Turkey Responses to Forest Management

To better understand the response of wild turkeys to forest management activities and black flies, the objectives of Segment 4 of the Wild Turkey Responses to Forest Management research project were to: 1) Use micro-GPS telemetry to examine the effects of forest management, habitat and landscape features, and black flies on wild turkey habitat use, survival and reproductive success, with an added emphasis on western Illinois sites; 2) Use micro-GPS telemetry, accelerometer data, and insect surveys during the breeding season to document potential effects of black flies on hen turkey incubation behavior, hen and nest mortality, and poult survival associated with up to 60 wild turkey hens (split among study areas); 3) Use these results to inform/modify stand- and landscape-level forest and open woodland management plans and actions to benefit turkey populations in Illinois.Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlifeunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Identity work and the `unemployed' worker: age, disability and the lived experience of the older unemployed

This article seeks to explore how older individuals negotiate and manage their self-identity in relation to work while situated without paid employment. After reviewing the current positions of the older unemployed in the UK, noting the substantial overlap between age and disability, we turn our attention to conceptualizing the lived experiences of individuals through exploring `identity work' as a means of understanding a non-working work identity. Based upon focus group interviews, our empirical analysis focuses on key dimensions of participants' identity practice and how they sought to manage the following social processes: imposed identities; crafting working identities; and contesting unfavourable working identities.The conclusion contextualizes the findings against a backdrop of increasing individualistic discourses underpinning approaches to employability, closes with the policy implications arising from this study, and makes suggestions for future research agendas. </jats:p

An inventory of vertebrate roadkill in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area, South Africa

Using a standard protocol, we conducted vertebrate roadkill surveys in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA), South Africa, which is a World Heritage Site. A total of 991 roadkill were recorded on the paved roads and 36 roadkill on the unpaved roads. Identifiable roadkill comprised 162 species from 24 orders and 65 families. Ninety-three roadkill could not be identified to species level. Roadkill counts were strongly influenced by road type and season. More roadkill was recorded on the paved than the unpaved roads. Irrespective of road type, the proportion of roadkill was greatest in the hot/wet season (4.3 paved roadkill/km/day paved and 1.3 roadkill/km/day unpaved) and lowest in the cold/dry season (2.0 roadkill/km/day paved and 0.1 roadkill/km/day unpaved). The high numbers of vertebrates identified as roadkill suggests that road traffic has the potential to directly and negatively affect biodiversity conservation in this part of South Africa. We recommend continued roadkill data collection across South Africa to assist with creating an inventory of species most likely to be at risk from roads. This will, in turn, better inform the implementation of potential mitigation measures.This research was initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, with funding from Bridgestone South Africa.http://www.sawma.co.zaam201

The Ursinus Weekly, December 6, 1973

ProTheatre to present “Second Shepherd’s Play” • Ursinus to comply with Nixon’s request to save energy • St. Andrew’s Society of New York announces graduate deadline • Professor Miller is elected to post • Christmas program to be first of kind • Women’s problems, schedule change aired at meeting • Economics club goes to New York • U.C. band to play on Monday • Editorial: The energy predicament; David Ben-Gurion • Wickersham publishes book, his first, on Greek history of fourth century B.C. • Letter to the editor: Mid-semester assessment • Arts Festival scheduled • Alumni corner: Class of ’73 active in many fields • The Zodiac: The signs and their compatibility discussed • Forum review: Longstreth speaks to forum audience on Megalopolis, 1984 • George Fago, of Psychology Department, delivers first Socratic Club lecture • Don’t think too hard • Hockey Bearettes go to nationals • Ursinus hoopla • Winter sports schedule • Swim team bows to Swarthmorehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1007/thumbnail.jp

Optimising the cost of roadkill surveys based on an analysis of carcass persistence

Reliable estimates of wildlife mortality due to wildlife-vehicle collisions are key to understanding its impact on wildlife populations and developing strategies to prevent or reduce collisions. Standardised approaches for monitoring roadkill are needed to derive robust and unbiased estimates of mortality that are comparable across different study systems and ecological contexts. When designing surveys, there is a trade-off between survey frequency (and hence logistical effort and financial cost) and carcass detection. In this regard, carcass persistence (the period a carcass remains detectable before being removed by decomposition or scavengers) is important; the longer a carcass persists, the greater the likelihood it will be detected with lower survey effort by conducting more infrequent surveys. Using multi-taxon carcass data collected over a month of repeated driven surveys, combined with five covariates (species functional group, body weight, carcass position on road, carcass condition [either flattened or not after impact], and rainfall prior to each survey), we explored the drivers of carcass persistence with the overall aim of providing information to optimise the design of carcass surveys along linear infrastructure. Our methodological approach included a survival analysis to determine carcass persistence, linear regressions to test the effect of covariates, a subsampling analysis (using field data and a simulation exercise) to assess how the proportion of carcasses detected changes according to survey frequency, and an analysis to compare the costs of surveys based on study duration, transect length and survey frequency. Mean overall carcass persistence was 2.7 days and was significantly correlated with position on road and within-functional group body weight. There was no evidence for a significant effect of rainfall, while the effect of carcass condition was weakly non-significant. The proportion of carcasses detected decreased sharply when survey intervals were longer than three days. However, we showed that survey costs can be reduced by up to 80% by conducting non-daily surveys. Expanding on the call for a standardised methodology for roadkill surveys, we propose that carcass persistence be explicitly considered during survey design. By carefully considering the objectives of the survey and characteristics of the focal taxa, researchers can substantially reduce logistical costs. In addition, we developed an R Shiny web app that can be used by practitioners to compare survey costs across a variety of survey characteristics. This web app will allow practitioners to easily assess the trade-off between carcass detection and logistical effort.De Beers Group of Companies, Oppenheimer Generations, and Mopane Bush Lodge. This research was initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust, with funding from Bridgestone South Africa.https://www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvman2022-05-08hj2022Mammal Research Institut