Arlis/ANZ 2.0

We've all been hearing about Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 lately. But just what are they all about, and is there anything there that Arlis/ANZ can take advantage of in order to better go about its business? Can there, should there, be an Arlis/ANZ 2.0? Arlis/ANZ, the Arts Libraries Society of Australia and New Zealand, is preparing to review it's online prescence. The Arlis/ANZ website is now three years old, and has been well maintained during that time. However it has not yet been systematically reviewed in terms of content, functionality, and strategic direction. The Arlis/ANZ Website version 'One' will be redeveloped into Arlis/ANZ Website version 'Two'. Although much of that review will concentrate on the structure, look and feel of the site, the review process offers an opportunity to incorporate Web 2.0 developments. By incorporating that 'best' of Web 2.0 in a strategic manner, Arlis/ANZ 2.0 - the website - has powerful potential to contribute toward the strength, cohesion and ongoing development of Arlis/ANZ 2.0 - the Society

Impact of Different Types of Social Support on Adherence and Treatment Outcomes in an Online Behavioral Weight Loss Program

This study examined the effects of four subtypes of social support (tangible, positive interaction, emotional-informational, and affectionate) on caloric intake, adherence to reporting calories, weight, and physical activity, as well as weight loss outcomes in a 4-month online behavioral weight loss intervention. Participants completed social support measures before treatment, had their height taken before treatment, and had their weight measured before and after treatment. Baseline affectionate social support and emotional-informational support both significantly predicted mean caloric intake (p = .008, p \u3c .001, respectively). No baseline types of social support significantly predicted adherence to reporting weight, physical activity minutes or overall adherence to the online program (p’s ≥ .50). None of the assessed types of social support predicted weight loss outcomes or were associated with BMI (p’s ≥ .52). These results suggest that social support types do impact caloric intake and adherence to reporting calories in an online behavioral weight loss program. Further studies are needed to determine the best way to better integrate these social support types into future weight loss interventions

Oral burning with dysphagia and weight loss

Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by an abnormal pain regulation. Widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance are the prevalent symptoms. When unusual symptoms are overbearingly predominant at clinical presentation, the diagnosis becomes challenging. We report on the case of a patient with fibromyalgia, who presented with dysphagia, odynophagia, and glossodynia as prevalent symptoms. Difficulty in swallowing gradually developed over a month prior hospitalization, and worsened progressively so that nourishment and fluid intake were impeded. Because anemia with mild iron deficiency was found, esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed, but no lesions were seen in the upper digestive tract. Levels of zinc and vitamin B12 were normal. Intense pain at pelvis and the inferior limbs, which was at a first glance referred to as osteoarthrosis, associated with oral symptoms and feeling of being in the clouds allowed us to diagnose fibromyalgia. Amitriptyline was used, with relief of symptoms. Although oropharyngeal symptoms were occasionally reported in fibromyalgia, they are often overlooked. The present case, therefore, testifies the need to consider the diagnosis of fibromyalgia when the patient presents with such symptoms that cannot be readily explained on other grounds

Prevention of Cutaneous Tissue Contracture During Removal of Craniofacial Implant Superstructures for CT and MRI Studies

Objectives: Head and neck cancer patients who have lost facial parts following surgical intervention frequently require craniofacial implant retained facial prostheses for restoration. Many craniofacial implant patients require computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans as part of their long-term follow-up care. Consequently removal of implant superstructures and peri-abutment tissue management is required for those studies. The purpose of the present paper was to describe a method for eliminating cranial imaging artifacts in patients with craniofacial implants.Material and Methods: Three patients wearing extraoral implant retained facial prostheses needing either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging studies were discussed. Peri-implant soft tissues contracture after removal of percutaneous craniofacial implant abutments during computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies was prevented using a method proposed by authors. The procedure involves temporary removal of the supra-implant components prior to imaging and filling of the tissue openings with polyvinyl siloxane dental impression material.Results: Immediately after filling of the tissue openings with polyvinyl siloxane dental impression material patients were sent for the imaging studies, and were asked to return for removal of the silicone plugs and reconnection of all superstructure hardware after imaging procedures were complete. The silicone plugs were easily removed with a dental explorer. The percutaneous abutments were immediately replaced and screwed into the implants which were at the bone level.Conclusions: Presented herein method eliminates the source of artifacts and prevents contracture of percutaneous tissues upon removal of the implant abutments during imaging

Quality of life in head and neck cancer: Patients' and family caregivers' perceptions

Abstract Introduction As the Quality of Life (QoL) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) is a significant aspect, outcomes are increasingly important to understand. We report the social/emotional and physical function outcomes in a cohort of surviving patients with HNC treated with primary surgery and/or chemoradiotherapy. Patients and methods Fifty-six patients with HNC treated with primary surgery and/or chemoradiotherapy, and their caregivers were identified between November 2016 and June 2017. University of Washington Quality of life (UWQoL) and EuroQoL (EQ-5D-5L) health questionnaires were given to all patients and caregivers. A paired t test was performed to compare the difference in the results of questionnaires between patients and caregivers. Results The analysis showed no significant difference between the responses of patients and caregiver, except for the anxiety domain. In the UWQoL questionnaire, patients scored higher in anxiety than caregivers (p = .023). On the contrary, in the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, the anxiety/depression score was higher in caregivers than patients (p = .019). Conclusions Both patients and caregivers agreed in the perception of patients' quality of life. This final outcome supports the use of the questionnaires. The only domain that differed was the anxiety domain. The concept of anxiety may be more difficult to define due to its heterogeneity. Moreover in the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire anxiety is put together with depression, which probably is a more complex concept to look at

Novel perspectives on salt and interstitium: from hypertension to heart failure

Sodium (Na+) and water are closely linked in body fluid physiology by the concepts of osmosis and long-term balance. Our traditional understanding of fluid and electrolytes homeostasis has recently been challenged by suggestions of a systemic metabolic shift favouring water preservation when excess Na+ intake is excreted, and of skin as a depot for Na+ accumulation in multiple cardiovascular diseases and risk factors. In particular, a catabolic state would produce endogenous free water and facilitate its renal reabsorption independent of Na+, via urea generation and recycling: in the long term this could adversely impact cardiovascular risk, but has only been shown in preclinical settings. Similarly, the proposed water-independent nature of interstitial Na+ accumulation has the potential to induce local pathogenic changes to the surrounding structures, including the microvasculature, but lacks firm demonstration. The aims of this Thesis were therefore to investigate: 1) the impact of high Na+ intake on renal water-preserving mechanisms and metabolism in a real-life hypertensive population; 2) the nature, distribution and clinical correlates of tissue Na+ accumulation; 3) microvascular function, including capillary-interstitium fluid exchange and lymphatic drainage, in relation to interstitial Na+ accumulation. I herein retrospectively analysed clinical and biochemical blood and 24h-urinary data from consecutive patients with essential hypertension, collected at the time of screening for secondary causes, and found that kidneys can indeed dissociate Na+ and water handling (as estimated by their fractional excretions) when exposed to high Na+ intake. However, this comes at the cost of higher glomerular filtration rate, increased tubular energy expenditure, and protein catabolism at metabolomics signatures. By conducting a chemical analysis of multiple tissues from rodent models of salt sensitivity/salt loading and of skin from patients with hypertension or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), I showed that tissue Na+ excess upon high Na+ intake is a systemic, rather than skin-specific, water-paralleled phenomenon reflecting the expansion of the extracellular compartment, and subclinical oedema in most cases. Despite the lack of any hypertonic interstitial Na+ accumulation to osmotically drag water out of vessels and facilitate the typical “congestion”, I also identified structural and molecular alterations in the skin blood and lymphatic microvasculature of patients with HFpEF, along with evidence of impaired lymphatic drainage of interstitial fluids upon pressure challenge. In summary, I confirmed the previous suggestions of a Na+-driven metabolic shift in a real-life population of hypertensive patients and largely expanded on the novel concepts of tissue Na+ accumulation. In particular, I disproved its water-independence in both experimental models and human subjects and suggested systemic isotonic Na+ excess as an important and likely prevalent determinant in the pathogenesis of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. The biophysical and molecular impact of this subclinical or clinically overt oedema on organ function, as well as the mechanisms of function and dysfunction of lymphatic vessels in the control of interstitial fluid in cardiovascular disease, need further exploration

Igniting the Mind: Engaging Nursing Students in the Process of Learning

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore the perceptions of associate degree nursing faculty regarding their classroom teaching experiences. A purposive, convenience sample of twenty-one educators volunteered to participate in the study. Data were primarily obtained through semi-structured interviews over a period of six months. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously utilizing the constant comparative method. Igniting the Mind emerged as the core category of the study. This category represented the methods nurse educators use to involve students in the process of learning. Igniting the Mind entails making a connection, letting go, getting buy-in, trying something new, pointing the way and, ultimately, seeing the changes exhibited by students. The educator\u27s role is to create a learning environment that embraces challenge, support, engagement, and empowerment for all students. The emergent theory provides the basis for future instrument development. The proposed instrument would assess the effectiveness of various teaching strategies on student success. In addition, the findings of this study will provide novice and expert teachers with the tools to actively engage students in the process of learning

Vino e turismo. Nuovi prodotti per nuovi viaggiatori nel contesto siciliano.

La tesi verte su un’analisi del turismo del vino in Italia ed in ambito internazionale, soffermandosi sui possibili trend futuri di questo segmento e sull’offerta che “la destinazione Italia” offre nel settore dell’enoturismo. Il lavoro, inoltre, delinea un quadro sugli attori coinvolti e sugli enti e le associazioni oggi coinvolte nello sviluppo del turismo del vino in Italia. Infine, la tesi prevede una sezione di approfondimento sulla Sicilia, mettendo in luce lo stato del turismo del vino in questa regione, descrivendo i prodotti di eccellenza del territorio e le iniziative promosse dalla Regione e dagli imprenditori locali al fine di trarne alcune considerazioni in termini strategici e di governance