Human migration: Climate and the peopling of the world

The human dispersal out of Africa that populated the world was probably paced by climate changes. This is the inference drawn from computer modelling of climate variability during the time of early human migration

Nursing IT: A Peer Assisted Learning Project for Nursing and IT Students

Previous research indicated that nursing students lack IT competence, Fetter (2009), but have strong social skills. Equally observations by the Placement Employability Experience Unit in the Faculty of ACES have identified that IT students are technically able, but weaker in social skills. Employers are seeking graduate with a broad skill range in both subject specific and employability skills, (Ehiyazaryan and Baraclough 2009). Therefore this project aimed to address these issues through a peer learning activity. It is recognised that peer assisted learners can communicate to one another in a language that both understand, Smith et al, (2007). The symbiotic activity was offered as a venture opportunity for level 5 computing students to manage in the Venture Matrix at Sheffield Hallam University. The Venture Matrix is a managed risk enterprise and entrepreneurial environment open to all students, and offers a framework in which students can operate micro-businesses to develop and apply their subject knowledge and employability skills to support real business opportunities/activities offered in the Venture Matrix, Laughton (2010). The Nursing IT venture was offered as business activity with the aims of providing an opportunity; • for computing students to apply their IT skills and develop their employability skills • to meet the individualised IT learning needs of the Level 4 nursing students. The value of the learning in the venture was evaluated by both sets of students. This IT service was offered by the computing students to all level 4 student nurses who commenced their course September 2009 and January 2010. Analysis of post project student questionnaires, evaluations and staff discussions showed that all stakeholders recognised the potential and sustainability of this service. The key learning point are that the project:-·created good cross-faculty communication and sharing of expertises both staff and students: although only a small number of nursing students took the opportunity to use the service they valued the support they received: the computing students enjoyed the opportunity to disseminate their IT skills

Updating Action Descriptions and Plans for Cognitive Agents

Extended Abstract and Poster PresentationPostprin

Working out of the ‘toolbox’: an exploratory study with complementary therapists in acute cancer care

Aims: The aim of this research was to explore and capture therapists’ experiences of and preparation for working with patients in an acute cancer care setting. Method: Semi structured interviews with therapists (n=18) in an acute cancer hospital in the North West of England. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic coding. Results: Key themes identified included; the need for a ‘tool box’ that goes beyond initial training, building confidence with adapting these new skills in practice, helping patients to become empowered, the need to support carers, research evidence and resources issues, and the role of supervision. Conclusion: This study was limited by being set in a single acute cancer site. Therapists valued having a ‘tool box’ but needed confidence and support to navigate the challenges of clinical practice.The authors would like to acknowledge the support of ‘Walk the Walk’ Charity, who help fund the complementary therapy services in the Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Departments

How do atmospheric rivers form?

Identifying the source of atmospheric rivers: Are they rivers of moisture exported from the subtropics or footprints left behind by poleward travelling storms? The term atmospheric river is used to describe corridors of strong water vapor transport in the troposphere. Filaments of enhanced water vapor, commonly observed in satellite imagery extending from the subtropics to the extratropics, are routinely used as a proxy for identifying these regions of strong water vapor transport. The precipitation associated with these filaments of enhanced water vapor can lead to high impact flooding events. However, there remains some debate as to how these filaments form. In this paper we analyse the transport of water vapor within a climatology of wintertime North Atlantic extratropical cyclones. Results show that atmospheric rivers are formed by the cold front which sweeps up water vapor in the warm sector as it catches up with the warm front. This causes a narrow band of high water vapor content to form ahead of the cold front at the base of the warm conveyor belt airflow. Thus, water vapor in the cyclone's warm sector, and not long-distance transport of water vapor from the subtropics, is responsible for the generation of filaments of high water vapor content. A continuous cycle of evaporation and moisture convergence within the cyclone replenishes water vapor lost via precipitation. Thus, rather than representing a direct and continuous feed of moist air from the subtropics into the centre of a cyclone (as suggested by the term atmospheric river), these filaments are, in-fact, the result of water vapor exported from the cyclone and thus they represent the footprints left behind as cyclones travel polewards from subtropics

Trends in all-cause mortality during the scale-up of an antiretroviral therapy programme: a cross-sectional study in Lusaka, Zambia.

OBJECTIVE: To follow the trends in all-cause mortality in Lusaka, Zambia, during the scale-up of a national programme of antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Between November 2004 and September 2011, we conducted 12 survey rounds as part of a cross-sectional study in Lusaka, with independent sampling in each round. In each survey, we asked the heads of 3600 households to state the number of deaths in their households in the previous 12 months and the number of orphans aged less than 16 years in their households and investigated the heads' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). FINDINGS: The number of deaths we recorded - per 100 person-years - in each survey ranged from 0.92 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.78-1.09) in September 2011, to 1.94 (95% CI: 1.60-2.35) in March 2007. We found that mortality decreased only modestly each year (mortality rate ratio: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.95-1.00; P = 0.093). The proportion of households with orphans under the age of 16 years decreased from 17% in 2004 to 7% in 2011. The proportions of respondents who had ever been tested for HIV, had a comprehensive knowledge of HIV, knew where to obtain free ART and reported that a non-pregnant household member was receiving ART gradually increased. CONCLUSION: The expansion of ART services in Lusaka was not associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality. Coverage, patient adherence and retention may all have to be increased if ART is to have a robust and lasting impact at population level in Lusaka