The development of a design and construction process protocol to support the home modification process delivered by occupational therapists

Modifying the home environments of older people as they age in place is a well-established health and social care intervention. Using design and construction methods to redress any imbalance caused by the ageing process or disability within the home environment, occupational therapists are seen as the experts in this field of practice. However, the process used by occupational therapists when modifying home environments has been criticised for being disorganised and not founded on theoretical principles and concepts underpinning the profession. To address this issue, research was conducted to develop a design and construction process protocol specifically for home modifications. A three stage approach was taken to the analysis of qualitative data generated from an on-line survey, completed by 135 occupational therapists in the UK. Using both the existing Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model, and the Design and Construction Process Protocol as the theoretical frameworks, a 4 phase, 9 sub-phase design and construction process protocol for home modifications was developed. Overall, the study is innovative in developing the first process protocol for home modifications, potentially providing occupational therapists with a systematic and effective approach to the design and delivery of home modification services for older and disabled people

The ascent of kimberlite: Insights from olivine

Olivine xenocrysts are ubiquitous in kimberlite deposits worldwide and derive from the disaggregation of mantle-derived peridotitic xenoliths. Here, we provide descriptions of textural features in xenocrystic olivine from kimberlite deposits at the Diavik Diamond Mine, Canada and at Igwisi Hills volcano, Tanzania. We establish a relative sequence of textural events recorded by olivine during magma ascent through the cratonic mantle lithosphere, including: xenolith disaggregation, decompression fracturing expressed as mineral- and fluid-inclusion-rich sealed and healed cracks, grain size and shape modification by chemical dissolution and abrasion, late-stage crystallization of overgrowths on olivine xenocrysts, and lastly, mechanical milling and rounding of the olivine cargo prior to emplacement. Ascent through the lithosphere operates as a “kimberlite factory” wherein progressive upward dyke propagation of the initial carbonatitic melt fractures the overlying mantle to entrain and disaggregate mantle xenoliths. Preferential assimilation of orthopyroxene (Opx) xenocrysts by the silica-undersaturated carbonatitic melt leads to deep-seated exsolution of CO2-rich fluid generating buoyancy and supporting rapid ascent. Concomitant dissolution of olivine produces irregular-shaped relict grains preserved as cores to most kimberlitic olivine. Multiple generations of decompression cracks in olivine provide evidence for a progression in ambient fluid compositions (e.g., from carbonatitic to silicic) during ascent. Numerical modelling predicts tensile failure of xenoliths (disaggregation) and olivine (cracks) over ascent distances of 2–7 km and 15–25 km, respectively, at velocities of 0.1 to >4 m s−1. Efficient assimilation of Opx during ascent results in a silica-enriched, olivine-saturated kimberlitic melt (i.e. SiO2 >20 wt.%) that crystallizes overgrowths on partially digested and abraded olivine xenocrysts. Olivine saturation is constrained to occur at pressures <1 GPa; an absence of decompression cracks within olivine overgrowths suggests depths <25 km. Late stage (<25 km) resurfacing and reshaping of olivine by particle–particle milling is indicative of turbulent flow conditions within a fully fluidized, gas-charged, crystal-rich magma

Cellular localization and associations of the major lipolytic proteins in human skeletal muscle at rest and during exercise

Lipolysis involves the sequential breakdown of fatty acids from triacylglycerol and is increased during energy stress such as exercise. Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) is a key regulator of skeletal muscle lipolysis and perilipin (PLIN) 5 is postulated to be an important regulator of ATGL action of muscle lipolysis. Hence, we hypothesized that non-genomic regulation such as cellular localization and the interaction of these key proteins modulate muscle lipolysis during exercise. PLIN5, ATGL and CGI-58 were highly (&gt;60%) colocated with Oil Red O (ORO) stained lipid droplets. PLIN5 was significantly colocated with ATGL, mitochondria and CGI-58, indicating a close association between the key lipolytic effectors in resting skeletal muscle. The colocation of the lipolytic proteins, their independent association with ORO and the PLIN5/ORO colocation were not altered after 60 min of moderate intensity exercise. Further experiments in cultured human myocytes showed that PLIN5 colocation with ORO or mitochondria is unaffected by pharmacological activation of lipolytic pathways. Together, these data suggest that the major lipolytic proteins are highly expressed at the lipid droplet and colocate in resting skeletal muscle, that their localization and interactions appear to remain unchanged during prolonged exercise, and, accordingly, that other post-translational mechanisms are likely regulators of skeletal muscle lipolysis

The development of a design and construction process protocol to support occupational therapists in delivering effective home modifications

Occupational therapists are experts in analysing the transaction between the person and the home environment and they use design and construction methods to redress any imbalance caused by the ageing process or disability. This skill is recognised by many, including governments, who utilise the expertise of occupational therapists to deliver housing modification programmes. However, the role of the occupational therapist within housing modifications services has been criticised. It is claimed that therapists' professional practice is disorganised and not founded on theoretical principles and concepts underpinning the profession. This thesis explores the development of, and a proof of concept for, a design and construction process protocol for home modifications, which seeks to address the issues highlighted above. Using a multi-method research design, the study involved three distinct phases. The first phase involved an on-line survey which was completed by 135 occupational therapists practising in the field of home modifications in the UK. Through a series of open and closed questions, the existing home modification process used by occupational therapists was explored. The second phase comprised a directed content analysis of the qualitative data generated from the online survey. Using the Occupational Therapy Intervention Process Model (Fisher, 2009) and the Design and Construction Process Protocol (Cooper et al., 2008) as the theoretical frameworks, the Home Modification Process Protocol was developed. To identify the benefits of using the Home Modification Process Protocol in occupational therapy practice, the final phase of the study used a single holistic case study design to test the concept of using the protocol in practice. The results of the first phase revealed that existing home modification processes used by occupational therapists throughout the UK lack the theoretical framework that underpins their professional practice, which is evident in other areas of clinical practice. The second part of the study revealed that a 4 phase, 9 sub-phase design and construction process protocol for home modifications could be developed using an inductive and deductive approach to the thematic analysis of the qualitative data, collected during the first phase of the study. The final phase revealed that as a concept, the Home Modification Process Protocol improved participants' understanding of their intervention as a design and construction process and importantly, it provided a theoretical framework for them to understand and articulate their practice as occupational therapists. Overall, the study found that the Home Modification Process Protocol potentially provides occupational therapists working in this area / field with a design and construction process to guide their professional practice. As the Protocol is underpinned by a combined occupational therapy and design and construction theoretical framework, it also has the potential to offer other professionals involved in modifying home environments a more systematic and effective approach to designing and delivering services for older and disabled people in their own homes

Investigating SME resilience to flooding : the Braunton report

The number of major floods in Europe has risen from one per year (between 1900 and 1974) to 15 a year (between 1993 and 2001). Many parts of the UK have faced extensive flooding in recent years, notably during the winter of 2013/14, and climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of such disasters still further. Flood events cause significant disruptions to the business sector, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are often affected disproportionately hard by such events, and are less prepared to manage the consequences and need more support to enhance their resilience. This study focuses on the effect of flooding on the SMEs located in a single village street in Braunton, North Devon. Seven case studies were undertaken and both content analysis and cognitive mapping techniques were used to examine the data collected. The SME interview findings were compared with interviews with other local stakeholders, such as the Environment Agency and the Parish Council. The findings of the study were shared with the Parish Councillors and SMEs as a method of validating the data. The analysis has furnished valuable new perspectives across a range of SMEs, including several innovative ways of responding to flooding. The Braunton SMEs were found to be ‘experts by experience’ on the various resilience measures that they adopted; furthermore, there was a lot of enthusiasm among the SME community for sharing and enhancing their learning further. A key finding was that proactive initiatives by the Parish Council and the SMEs themselves have successfully kept flooding issues at the top of the local agenda, despite the fact that three years have passed since the last flood event. Studies of this nature, in which SMEs and other stakeholders are engaged in examining and identifying their own resilience levels, their needs, constraints and gaps are more likely to deliver appropriate behavioural change than the use of self-assessment toolkits. In meeting the demands of future flooding, it is important to recognize that SMEs are entities having very specific needs, such that mitigation / preparedness measures will inevitably vary with the type of business and their individual strategies. There is a need for appropriate leadership and strong commitment on the part of all the stakeholders, in order to identify and meet these needs, if stakeholder actions are to positively contribute towards community resilience. One of the key observations of the study was the lack of consistency in the way SMEs obtained flood insurance, together with an obvious lack of knowledge on the role of insurance within a context of flooding. The new ‘Flood Re’ insurance scheme (due to commence in 2016) does not apply to commercial organisations such as SMEs and this issue has been a key criticism of the scheme since its inception. The issue of insurance clearly forms a key factor capable of influencing behavioural change such as undertaking resilience against flooding, which would merit separate study. This report is funded by the ARCC NCN network (an EPSRC funded network) as a follow on fund to further contextualise, trial and test the ‘extreme weather risk assessment toolkit for SMEs’ that emerged from the EPSRC funded Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW) project (2008 – 2011)

Does reconnection only occur at points of maximum shear on Mercury’s dayside magnetopause?

MESSENGER observations of large numbers of flux transfer events (FTEs) during dayside crossings of Mercury's magnetopause have shown that the highly dynamic Hermean magnetosphere is strongly driven by frequent and intense magnetic reconnection. Since FTEs are products of reconnection, study of them can reveal information about whether reconnection sites favor points of maximum shear on the magnetopause. Here, we analyze 201 FTEs formed under relatively stable upstream solar wind conditions as observed by MESSENGER during inbound magnetopause crossings. By modeling paths of these FTEs along the magnetopause, we determine the conditions and locations of the reconnection sites at which these FTEs were likely formed. The majority of these FTE formation paths were found to intersect with high-magnetic shear regions, defined as shear angles above 135°. Seven FTEs were found where the maximum shear angle possible between the reconnecting magnetic field lines was less than 80° and three of these had shear angles less than 70°, supporting the idea that very low-shear reconnection could be occurring on Mercury's dayside magnetopause under this global-scale picture of magnetic reconnection. Additionally, for the FTEs formed under these low-shear reconnection conditions, tracing a dominant X-line connecting points of maximum shear along the magnetopause that passes through a region of very low-shear may be difficult to justify, implying reconnection could be occurring anywhere along Mercury's magnetopause and may not be confined to points of maximum shear

Mapping the autistic advantage from the accounts of adults diagnosed with autism: A qualitative study

This is the final version. Available on open access from Mary Ann Liebert via the DOI in this recordBackground: Autism has been associated with specific cognitive strengths. Strengths and weaknesses have traditionally been conceptualized as dichotomous. Methods: We conducted 28 semi-structured interviews with autistic adults. Maximum variation sampling was used to ensure diversity in relation to support needs. We asked which personal traits adults attributed to their autism, and how these have helped in the workplace, in relationships, and beyond. Data were collected in two stages. Responses were analyzed using content and thematic techniques. Results: The ability to hyperfocus, attention to detail, good memory, and creativity were the most frequently described traits. Participants also described specific qualities relating to social interaction, such as honesty, loyalty, and empathy for animals or for other autistic people. In thematic analysis we found that traits associated with autism could be experienced either as advantageous or disadvantageous dependent on moderating influences. Moderating influences included the social context in which behaviors occurred, the ability to control behaviors, and the extent to which traits were expressed. Conclusions: Separating autistic strengths from weaknesses may be a false dichotomy if traits cannot be isolated as separate constructs of strengths or deficits. If attempts to isolate problematic traits from advantageous traits are ill conceived, there may be implications for interventions that have reduction in autistic traits as a primary outcome measure.Wellcome Trus

Sequential Extensions of Causal and Evidential Decision Theory

Moving beyond the dualistic view in AI where agent and environment are separated incurs new challenges for decision making, as calculation of expected utility is no longer straightforward. The non-dualistic decision theory literature is split between causal decision theory and evidential decision theory. We extend these decision algorithms to the sequential setting where the agent alternates between taking actions and observing their consequences. We find that evidential decision theory has two natural extensions while causal decision theory only has one.Comment: ADT 201

Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Barmah Forest Virus Disease in Queensland, Australia

Background Barmah Forest virus (BFV) disease is a common and wide-spread mosquito-borne disease in Australia. This study investigated the spatio-temporal patterns of BFV disease in Queensland, Australia using geographical information system (GIS) tools and geostatistical analysis. Methods/Principal Findings We calculated the incidence rates and standardised incidence rates of BFV disease. Moran's I statistic was used to assess the spatial autocorrelation of BFV incidences. Spatial dynamics of BFV disease was examined using semi-variogram analysis. Interpolation techniques were applied to visualise and display the spatial distribution of BFV disease in statistical local areas (SLAs) throughout Queensland. Mapping of BFV disease by SLAs reveals the presence of substantial spatio-temporal variation over time. Statistically significant differences in BFV incidence rates were identified among age groups (χ2 = 7587, df = 7327,p<0.01). There was a significant positive spatial autocorrelation of BFV incidence for all four periods, with the Moran's I statistic ranging from 0.1506 to 0.2901 (p<0.01). Semi-variogram analysis and smoothed maps created from interpolation techniques indicate that the pattern of spatial autocorrelation was not homogeneous across the state. Conclusions/Significance This is the first study to examine spatial and temporal variation in the incidence rates of BFV disease across Queensland using GIS and geostatistics. The BFV transmission varied with age and gender, which may be due to exposure rates or behavioural risk factors. There are differences in the spatio-temporal patterns of BFV disease which may be related to local socio-ecological and environmental factors. These research findings may have implications in the BFV disease control and prevention programs in Queensland