Renal protection in diabetes: lessons from ONTARGET®

Hypertension is an important independent risk factor for renal disease. If hypertension and chronic renal disease co-exist, as is common in patients with diabetes mellitus, the risk of cardiovascular disease is heightened. The importance of rigorous blood pressure control is recognized in current guidelines, with a recommended target of office blood pressure of < 130/80 mmHg; although ambulatory blood pressure may be more appropriate in order to identify the 24-hour hypertensive burden. Even lower blood pressure may further reduce the progression of chronic kidney disease, but the incidence of cardiovascular events may increase. Albuminuria not only indicates renal damage, but is also a powerful predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality at least in patients with high cardiovascular risk and potentially pre-existing vascular damage. Management of the multiple factors for renal and cardiovascular disease is mandatory in the diabetic patient. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in the progression of renal disease, as well as in hypertension and target-organ damage. The use of agents that target the RAS confer renoprotection in addition to antihypertensive activity. There is extensive evidence of the renoprotective effect of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and specifically telmisartan. In addition to providing 24-hour blood pressure control, clinical studies in patients with diabetes show that telmisartan improves renal endothelial function, prevents progression from microalbuminuria to macroalbuminuria, slows the decline in glomerular filtration rate and reduces proteinuria in overt nephropathy. These effects cannot be solely attributed to blood pressure control. In contrast to other members of the ARB class, the renoprotective effect of telmisartan is not confined to the management of diabetic nephropathy; slowing the progression of albuminuria has been demonstrated in the ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET®), which included diabetic and non-diabetic patients at high risk of cardiovascular events

The Time Has Come… To Talk About Why Research Data Management Isn’t Easy

For the last decade, academic libraries have talked with each other and with potential partners about their roles in helping to manage research data and their plans to expand or initiate research data services (RDS). Libraries have the capacity to provide these services, but the range and maturity of research data services from libraries vary considerably. In summer 2019, our team surveyed a sample of academic libraries of all sizes who are members of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) to find out about their current RDS and plans for the future. This study is a follow-up to surveys of this same group in 2012 and 2015. Our findings include the types of RDS currently being offered in academic libraries, the barriers that hinder RDS implementation, and staff capacity for creating RDS

Commercial gaming devices for stroke upper limb rehabilitation: the stroke survivor experience

Introduction Approximately 30% of stroke survivors experience an upper limb impairment, which impacts on participation and quality of life. Gaming devices (Nintendo Wii) are being incorporated into rehabilitation to improve function. We explored the stroke survivor experience of gaming as an upper limb intervention. Methods Semi-structured, individual interviews with stroke survivors living within the UK were completed. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using Framework methods. Transcripts were coded and summarised into thematic charts. Thematic charts were refined during analysis until the final framework emerged. Results We captured experiences of 12 stroke survivors who used Nintendo Wii. Gaming devices were found to be acceptable for all ages but varying levels of enthusiasm existed. Enthusiastic players described gaming as having a positive impact on their motivation to engage in rehabilitation. For some, this became a leisure activity, encouraging self-practice. Non-enthusiastic players preferred sports to gaming. Conclusion An in-depth account of stroke survivor experiences of gaming within upper limb rehabilitation has been captured. Suitability of gaming should be assessed individually and stroke survivor abilities and preference for interventions should be taken into consideration. There was no indication that older stroke survivors or those with no previous experience of gaming were less likely to enjoy the activity

Finding the sweet spot: Network structures and processes for increased knowledge mobilization

The use of networks in public education is one of a number of knowledge mobilization (KMb) strategies utilized to promote evidence-based research into practice. However, challenges exist in the ability to effectively mobilizing knowledge through external partnership networks. The purpose of this paper is to further explore how networks work. Data was collected from virtual discussions for an interim report for a province-wide government initiative. A secondary analysis of the data was performed. The findings present network structures and processes that partners were engaged in when building a network within education. The implications of this study show that building a network for successful outcomes is complex and metaphorically similar to finding the “sweet spot.” It is challenging but networks that used strategies to align structures and processes proved to achieve more success in mobilizing research to practice

Envisioning the Future of Academic Libraries

A group of librarians, other information professionals, scientists and research administrators met to discuss the challenges that research libraries are currently facing. After the meeting a survey was conducted to obtain additional input from the group on several key challenges that arose from the discussions. The purpose of the meeting and survey was threefold: 1. Examine in detail, from a variety of perspectives, how the world of research is changing and the impact these changes have on the direction of research libraries. 2. Create an informed vision of how research libraries can be a vital partner to researchers. 3. Suggest a strategic approach for realizing this vision. The strategic approach presented in this white paper incorporates feedback from various sized research libraries, each with its own mission.The expectation is that individual libraries will use it as a guide in formulating strategies that are appropriate to their research communities, financial circumstances, and organizational reporting structur

The Ursinus Weekly, April 16, 1962

Jane Mikuliak is prom queen; New Cub & Key men tapped • Sokoloffs sparkle in Forum program • Dr. Tornetta to address pre-medicals on Tuesday • Christianity versus communism heads weekend Y retreat • Building program rolls as ground broken for new heating and power plant Monday • Y slates 2-part seminar on modern art beginning this Wednesday evening • MSGA elections • PSEA sponsors high school day here • Navy information team to explain training program • Ursinus to give college S.S. qualification tests • IRC represents Yemen in recent Model UN session • Young Republicans slate events for coming month • Editorial: What\u27s wrong?; Two kinds of people; Friday the 13th • Jayne Mansfield exhilarates UC\u27s Martin, Kinzley • Chekhov\u27s Bear is ambitious calling • Letters to the editor • Intramural corner • Siebmen shine in victory over PMC, suffer defeat at hands of Delaware • Cindermen lose to Haverford power, return to stop Albrighters Saturday • Greek gleanings • Conservative coed visits Dixielandhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1317/thumbnail.jp

HOW TO DEVELOP AND USE CONCEPT INVENTORIES IN BIOLOGY

Scientific teaching is based on the principle that teaching should be conducted with the same rigor as scientific research. Concept inventories are multiple choice questions which assess student understanding and expose misconceptions in key concepts in an area of study (Redish, 2000). Validated concept inventories (Adams and Wieman, 2010) are useful tools in scientific teaching for assessing student gains in conceptual understanding and for comparing the effectiveness of different teaching strategies. Although published concept inventories currently exist for a number of biological topics there are still many gaps. However, there is increasing consensus for the steps that should be taken to develop a validated concept inventory. In this workshop you will participate in the process of developing concept inventories using as examples the challenging topics of meiosis and speciation. You will also work in small groups to come up with exercises that you can use with your students to improve their learning gains. In addition we will discuss ways to share concept inventories and the data they generate. References Adams W .and Wieman C. 2010. Development and validation of instruments to measure learning of expert-like thinking. International Journal of Science Education. Redish, E. F. (2000). Discipline-based education and education research: the case of physics. J. Appl. Dev. Psychol. 21, 85–96