78 research outputs found

    Getting to Know Our Web Archive: A Pilot Project to Collaboratively Increase Access to Digital Cultural Heritage Materials in Wyoming

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    The University of Wyoming is the only four year higher education institution in the state, a unique position amongst colleges and universities in the United States. Given this unusual status it is especially important that the university libraries use their resources to identify and partner with communities around the state to build collections that preserve their cultural heritage. An Archive-It subscription was purchased in 2016, with an initial goal of capturing university related materials. In an effort to expand the scope and meaningfulness of the web archive, a project has been undertaken to use university and statewide relationships to build a Wyoming focused Native American digital cultural heritage collection comprised of web-based materials. This is an interdepartmental effort led by the Digital Collections Librarian and the Metadata Librarian that includes collaboration within the library, the university, and the state

    Combining elements of the CO-OP Approachâ„¢ with education to promote healthy eating among older adults: A pilot study

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    This paper describes an exploratory study developing the Baycrest Brain-healthy Eating Approach (BBEA). Poor diet is a modifiable risk factor for many health problems including dementia. Mediterranean type diets, high in plant-based foods, rich in poly- and mono- unsaturated fatty acids with minimal consumption of saturated fat, red meat, and processed foods, are considered brain healthful. While several dementia prevention trials randomized controlled trials have included nutritional counselling in favor of these diets as one component of their interventions, the extent to which dietary change occurred is not known. Based on observations that a strategy training approach, the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) Approach, was beneficial for promoting lifestyle changes in older adults with complaints of cognitive changes, we undertook to develop the BBEA combining elements of CO-OP with didactic nutrition education. This exploratory, descriptive study assesses the feasibility and acceptability of the BBEA. Healthy community dwelling older adults (n = 5) were recruited using convenience sampling. Participants received five, 2 h, group sessions. During these sessions participants were supported in adopting dietary practices consistent with brain healthy eating. Each participant set specific dietary goals important to them. Feasibility of the intervention was demonstrated through high levels of attendance and by the findings that at each session, all participants set personally meaningful goals and received education on selected brain healthy eating topics. Acceptability was demonstrated through participants' positive reports of their experiences and perspectives obtained via semi-structured interviews. Thus, the BBEA appears to be feasible and acceptable

    Unemployment benefits : discursive convergence, distant realities

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    Production of INCASI Project H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015 GA 691004Unemployment protection systems have certain characteristics in common in Argentina, Uruguay, Spain and Italy: they are compulsory and contributory-proportional, although in Uruguay, it also has a capitalisation supplement. Despite the similarities, they work differently because the context of informal employment chiefly, and unemployment, low salaries and precariousness differ greatly. Consequently, the unemployment protection coverage rate varies. Theories of the Active Welfare State, the Investor State and the reforms of unemployment protection systems have led to a certain modernising language being adopted in these countries: activation, employability, conditionality, lifelong learning, flexibility, which are, among others, words shared with Europe. However, the meanings of these words differ according to the institutional context of each country. In Latin America the welfare state is low institutionalised even almost non-existent, while in Europe it is a diverse institution. Despite this, the four countries share an upward trend in benefit policies, in accordance with the increase in poverty risk

    Technology-Enabled Remote Monitoring and Self-Management - Vision for Patient Empowerment Following Cardiac and Vascular Surgery: User Testing and Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

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    BACKGROUND: Tens of thousands of cardiac and vascular surgeries (CaVS) are performed on seniors in Canada and the United Kingdom each year to improve survival, relieve disease symptoms, and improve health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), undetected or delayed detection of hemodynamic compromise, complications, and related poor functional status are major problems for substantial numbers of patients during the recovery process. To tackle this problem, we aim to refine and test the effectiveness of an eHealth-enabled service delivery intervention, TecHnology-Enabled remote monitoring and Self-MAnagemenT-VIsion for patient EmpoWerment following Cardiac and VasculaR surgery (THE SMArTVIEW, CoVeRed), which combines remote monitoring, education, and self-management training to optimize recovery outcomes and experience of seniors undergoing CaVS in Canada and the United Kingdom. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives are to (1) refine SMArTVIEW via high-fidelity user testing and (2) examine the effectiveness of SMArTVIEW via a randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS: CaVS patients and clinicians will engage in two cycles of focus groups and usability testing at each site; feedback will be elicited about expectations and experience of SMArTVIEW, in context. The data will be used to refine the SMArTVIEW eHealth delivery program. Upon transfer to the surgical ward (ie, post-intensive care unit [ICU]), 256 CaVS patients will be reassessed postoperatively and randomly allocated via an interactive Web randomization system to the intervention group or usual care. The SMArTVIEW intervention will run from surgical ward day 2 until 8 weeks following surgery. Outcome assessments will occur on postoperative day 30; at week 8; and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The primary outcome is worst postop pain intensity upon movement in the previous 24 hours (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form), averaged across the previous 14 days. Secondary outcomes include a composite of postoperative complications related to hemodynamic compromise-death, myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke- all-cause mortality and surgical site infections, functional status (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), health service utilization-related costs (health service utilization data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences data repository), and patient-level cost of recovery (Ambulatory Home Care Record). A linear mixed model will be used to assess the effects of the intervention on the primary outcome, with an a priori contrast of weekly average worst pain intensity upon movement to evaluate the primary endpoint of pain at 8 weeks postoperation. We will also examine the incremental cost of the intervention compared to usual care using a regression model to estimate the difference in expected health care costs between groups. RESULTS: Study start-up is underway and usability testing is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2016. CONCLUSIONS: Given our experience, dedicated industry partners, and related RCT infrastructure, we are confident we can make a lasting contribution to improving the care of seniors who undergo CaVS

    Strategies for blocking the fibrogenic actions of connective tissue growth factor (CCN2): From pharmacological inhibition in vitro to targeted siRNA therapy in vivo

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    Connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) is a major pro-fibrotic factor that frequently acts downstream of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-mediated fibrogenic pathways. Much of our knowledge of CCN2 in fibrosis has come from studies in which its production or activity have been experimentally attenuated. These studies, performed both in vitro and in animal models, have demonstrated the utility of pharmacological inhibitors (e.g. tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), prostaglandins, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists, statins, kinase inhibitors), neutralizing antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) to probe the role of CCN2 in fibrogenic pathways. These investigations have allowed the mechanisms regulating CCN2 production to be more clearly defined, have shown that CCN2 is a rational anti-fibrotic target, and have established a framework for developing effective modalities of therapeutic intervention in vivo

    Integrated pest management of Tuta absoluta: practical implementations across different world regions

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    The South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), has invaded most Afro-Eurasian countries and is threatening worldwide tomato production. Various strategies have been developed and implemented to manage this pest. Here, we present a timely review on the up-to-date development and practical implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) programs for tomato crops across different world regions infested by T. absoluta. While insecticide resistance is a growing concern, biological control via releasing or conserving arthropod natural enemies and sex pheromone-based biotechnical control are the most successful management practices. Agronomic control-related research is an emerging area where the soil fertilization and/or irrigation, as well as breeding of resistant cultivars, has the potential to enhance IPM effectiveness. Grower survey responses in the native areas (i.e., South America), early-invaded areas (i.e., first report between 2006 and 2012) and newly invaded areas (i.e., first report after 2012) showed that the control programs evolved along with the areas and time since invasion. Growers in the early-invaded areas shifted more rapidly from chemical control to biological control compared to those from the native area. In all concerned regions, the pest control failure risk following chemical insecticide applications and the high cost associated with either biological or biotechnical control methods have been the greatest concerns for growers. The information gathered from the native and/or early-invaded areas may help achieve a more effective management in newly invaded areas. Lastly, researchers are expected to break the bottlenecks of some key issues that would enable lowering application cost of novel biorational alternative management options

    P19. 3D Imaging, Cross-Cultural Collaboration, and Repatriation: Working to Support an NEH Grant to Build an Elk Cultural Heritage Collection for the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho

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    Understanding and Communicating the Role of Elk on the Wind River Reservation is a three year grant funded initiative to create an inter-tribal digital cultural heritage collection that can be used for K-12 curriculum design throughout the state of Wyoming. This poster will include a visualization of the collaborative relationships built throughout the first year of work. This includes relationships between groups and individuals, as well as relations between people and the collection itself. The poster will also demonstrate a timeline that highlights artifact identification and location, describe the workflows developed to capture both 2D and 3D images for the collection, and explain the repatriation effort and its progress up to that point
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