Subject Perception of the Effectiveness of an Audio Slide Presentation as a Means of a Consent Review

poster abstractPrior to its initiation, the investigation was reviewed and approved by the IUPUI Institutional Review Board. In clinical research involving humans, it is extremely important that those that participate have a clear understanding of the purpose and procedures of the study as well as any risks or benefits associated with their participation. While required to be written in 8th grade language, informed consent statements may fail at fully informing the participant due to their length and legal and medical terminology required. Also, many adults have poor reading skills. This pilot study assessed subject perception as to the effectiveness of a short audiovisual slide presentation as a means of reviewing key components of the informed consent they had been asked to read. The presentation was provided in English or Spanish (approx. 10 minutes in length) based on the subject’s preference. At the end of the presentation, an anonymous questionnaire containing seven questions regarding their view of the effectiveness of the audiovisual slide presentation was given to the participant. After recording and analyzing the information obtained from the questionnaire it was demonstrated that the majority of subjects believed the presentation improved their overall ability to understand the information provided in the informed consent statement and that it did not appreciably lengthen the consenting process. The results seem to confirm the hypothesis that a presentation such as this has a positive effect in the understanding of the consenting process. This method proved successful in determining the effectiveness of an audio slide presentation as a means of a consent review. Future research may be performed to determine if preferences may vary based on demographic factors such as race or gender

Life long learning in rural areas: a report to the Countryside Agency

Lifelong Learning is a broad umbrella term which includes many different kinds of provision and different forms of learning. At its heart is formal learning, often classroom based, or involving paper and electronic media, undertaken within educational institutions such as colleges and universities. It may or may not lead to an award and it includes learning undertaken for vocational reasons as well as for general interest. It encompasses what are sometimes also known as adult education, continuing education, continuing professional development (cpd), vocational training and the acquisition of basic skills. It may also include work-based learning, and may overlap with post compulsory (post 16) education, i.e. with further education and higher education, but normally applies to all ‘adult learning’ i.e. by people over the age of 19, in particular those who are returning to study after completing their initial education. From the perspective of the individual learner, however, non-formal learning (organised, systematic study carried on outside the framework of the formal system) is also important. This forms a continuum with informal learning that occurs frequently in the process of daily living, sometimes coincidentally for example through information media or through interpretive provision (such as at museums or heritage sites ). This report focuses on those aspects of adult learning which are directly affected by government policies, and thus of prime concern for rural proofing

Introduction to special issue: The sociomateriality of information systems: current status, future directions

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Streptophage-mediated control of off-flavour taint producing streptomycetes isolated from barramundi ponds

Off-flavour taint of aquaculture products is a global issue reducing consumer confidence in the farmed produce as they are taken up via the gills of fish, and deposited in the lipids of the animal. If the fish are not purged, resulting undesirable muddy earthy flavour taint can be tasted by consumers. These undesirable flavour and odour is caused by the terpenoid compounds namely geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, produced as secondary metabolites by certain bacteria including the cyanobacteria and actinomycetes. Current strategies to remediate the problem rely on treating the symptoms not the cause and involve the use of time consuming purging methods and costly chemicals. Biological control using bacteriophages, specific to the problem causing bacteria, offers a natural alternative to chemical control, which might reduce further complications of copper based algaecides and its subsequent implications on water quality. In an adaptation of such biological control approach streptomycetes isolated from barramundi ponds were tested for their susceptibility to streptophages to understand whether host destruction via phage lysis would subsequently eliminate off-flavour taint productions by these isolates. Following the determination of the streptophage susceptibility of the isolates one of the most odourous streptomycete species (USC-14510) was selected to be tested further using different pond simulations resembling real-life applications. Geosmin was tested as the indicator of off-flavour taint production and as it has been previously reported that the cyanobacteria-actinomycete interactions occurring in ponds result in even greater levels of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol, the geosmin levels for the isolate in the presence of cyanobacteria and streptophages were also tested. Findings indicated that the highly odourous Streptomyces species (USC-14510) once infected with streptophages, can lose its capacity to produce off-flavour taints. Pond simulation studies also revealed geosmin production was significantly reduced when streptophages were introduced into the pond water where streptomycete species were grown. The bacteriophage control method developed in the presented study might again confirm significant potential for the bacteriophage-mediated remediation strategy to be adapted by the aquaculture industry

Evaluation of the accuracy of serum MMP-9 as a test for colorectal cancer in a primary care population

Background Bowel cancer is common and is a major cause of death. Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials estimates that screening for colorectal cancer using faecal occult blood (FOB) test reduces mortality from colorectal cancer by 16%. However, FOB testing has a low positive predictive value, with associated unnecessary cost, risk and anxiety from subsequent investigation, and is unacceptable to a proportion of the target population. Increased levels of an enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) have been found to be associated with colorectal cancer, and this can be measured from a blood sample. Serum MMP-9 is potentially an accurate, low risk and cost-effective population screening tool. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of serum MMP-9 as a test for colorectal cancer in a primary care population. Methods/Design People aged 50 to 69 years, who registered in participating general practices in the West Midlands Region, will be asked to complete a questionnaire that asks about symptoms. Respondents who describe any colorectal symptoms (except only abdominal bloating and/or anal symptoms) and are prepared to provide a blood sample for MMP9 estimation and undergo a colonoscopy (current gold standard investigation) will be recruited at GP based clinics by a research nurse. Those unfit for colonoscopy will be excluded. Colonoscopies will be undertaken in dedicated research clinics. The accuracy of MMP-9 will be assessed by comparing the MMP-9 level with the colonoscopy findings, and the combination of factors (e.g. symptoms and MMP-9 level) that best predict a diagnosis of malignancy (invasive disease or polyps) will be determined. Discussion Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Most colorectal cancers arise from adenomas and there is a period for early detection by screening, but available tests have risks, are unacceptable to many, have high false positive rates or are expensive. This study will establish the potential of serum MMP-9 as a screening test for colorectal cancer. If it is confirmed as accurate and acceptable, this serum marker has the potential to assist with reducing the morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer

Genome-wide profiling of chromosome interactions in Plasmodium falciparum characterizes nuclear architecture and reconfigurations associated with antigenic variation.

Spatial relationships within the eukaryotic nucleus are essential for proper nuclear function. In Plasmodium falciparum, the repositioning of chromosomes has been implicated in the regulation of the expression of genes responsible for antigenic variation, and the formation of a single, peri-nuclear nucleolus results in the clustering of rDNA. Nevertheless, the precise spatial relationships between chromosomes remain poorly understood, because, until recently, techniques with sufficient resolution have been lacking. Here we have used chromosome conformation capture and second-generation sequencing to study changes in chromosome folding and spatial positioning that occur during switches in var gene expression. We have generated maps of chromosomal spatial affinities within the P. falciparum nucleus at 25 Kb resolution, revealing a structured nucleolus, an absence of chromosome territories, and confirming previously identified clustering of heterochromatin foci. We show that switches in var gene expression do not appear to involve interaction with a distant enhancer, but do result in local changes at the active locus. These maps reveal the folding properties of malaria chromosomes, validate known physical associations, and characterize the global landscape of spatial interactions. Collectively, our data provide critical information for a better understanding of gene expression regulation and antigenic variation in malaria parasites

Structural, magnetic and electrical properties of the hexagonal ferrites MFeO3 (M=Y, Yb, In)

We thank EPSRC for funding, STFC for providing neutron facilities and Diamond Light Source for provision of synchrotron facilities. We thank Dr Chiu Tang for assistance at Diamond and Dr A. Kusmartseva (University of Edinburgh) for assistance with the SQUID measurements. FDM thanks the Royal Society for a Research Fellowship.The hexagonal ferrites MFeO3 (M=Y, Yb, In) have been studied using a combination of neutron and X-ray powder diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, dielectric measurements and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. This study confirms the previously reported crystal structure of InFeO3 (YAlO3 structure type, space group P63/mmc), but YFeO3 and YbFeO3 both show a lowering of symmetry to at most P63cm (ferrielectric YMnO3 structure type). However, Mössbauer spectroscopy shows at least two distinct Fe sites for both YFeO3 and YbFeO3 and we suggest that the best model to rationalise this involves phase separation into more than one similar hexagonal YMnO3-like phase. Rietveld analysis of the neutron diffraction data was carried out using two hexagonal phases as a simplest case scenario. In both YFeO3 and YbFeO3, distinct dielectric anomalies are observed near 130 K and 150 K, respectively. These are tentatively correlated with weak anomalies in magnetic susceptibility and lattice parameters, for YFeO3 and YbFeO3, respectively, which may suggest a weak magnetoelectric effect. Comparison of neutron and X-ray powder diffraction shows evidence of long-range magnetic order in both YFeO3 and YbFeO3 at low temperatures. Due to poor sample crystallinity, the compositional and structural effects underlying the phase separation and possible magnetoelectric phenomena cannot be ascertained.PostprintPeer reviewe

Recent Decisions

Recent Decisions Admiralty--Time Charter--Shipowner\u27s Contractual Right to Withdraw Services of Vessel upon Charterer\u27s Failure to Provide Punctual Payment is not Extinguished by Late Tender of Payment Richard F. Cook, Jr. =========================== Antitrust--Treble Damages--A Foreign Sovereign is a Person entitled to Sue under Section 4 of the Clayton Act Edward Cage Brewer, III ========================== Customs search of International Mail--A Customs Search of International Mail is Authorized by 19 C.F.R. § 145.2 and Incorporates the Reasonable Cause to Suspect Requirement of 19 U.S.C. § 482 Daniel R. Wofsey =========================== Jurisdiction and Procedure--Discovery--Party unable to comply with Discovery Order which Contravenes Foreign Nondisclosure Law is not in Contempt of Court Sue D. Sheridan =========================== Treaties--Drugs and Narcotics--Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs permits the United States to Place fewer Restrictions on Separated Marijuana Leaves Steven M. Morga

Analysis of methods

Information is one of an organization's most important assets. For this reason the development and maintenance of an integrated information system environment is one of the most important functions within a large organization. The Integrated Information Systems Evolution Environment (IISEE) project has as one of its primary goals a computerized solution to the difficulties involved in the development of integrated information systems. To develop such an environment a thorough understanding of the enterprise's information needs and requirements is of paramount importance. This document is the current release of the research performed by the Integrated Development Support Environment (IDSE) Research Team in support of the IISEE project. Research indicates that an integral part of any information system environment would be multiple modeling methods to support the management of the organization's information. Automated tool support for these methods is necessary to facilitate their use in an integrated environment. An integrated environment makes it necessary to maintain an integrated database which contains the different kinds of models developed under the various methodologies. In addition, to speed the process of development of models, a procedure or technique is needed to allow automatic translation from one methodology's representation to another while maintaining the integrity of both. The purpose for the analysis of the modeling methods included in this document is to examine these methods with the goal being to include them in an integrated development support environment. To accomplish this and to develop a method for allowing intra-methodology and inter-methodology model element reuse, a thorough understanding of multiple modeling methodologies is necessary. Currently the IDSE Research Team is investigating the family of Integrated Computer Aided Manufacturing (ICAM) DEFinition (IDEF) languages IDEF(0), IDEF(1), and IDEF(1x), as well as ENALIM, Entity Relationship, Data Flow Diagrams, and Structure Charts, for inclusion in an integrated development support environment

Tuberculosis care designed with barramarrany (family): Participatory action research that prioritised partnership, healthy housing and nutrition

Issue addressed Ongoing tuberculosis (TB) transmission in Aboriginal communities in Australia is unfair and unacceptable. Redressing the inequity in TB affecting Aboriginal peoples is a priority in Australia’s Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Control. Improving TB care needs not to just identify barriers but do something about them. Privileging the voices of Aboriginal people affected by TB is essential to identify effective and enabling strategies. Methods A barramarrany (Aboriginal family) affected by recurring TB partnered with TB and Environmental Health teams using a participatory action research (PAR) methodology to improve housing health hardware and nutrition alongside biomedical TB prevention and care. A combination of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion; the International ‘End TB’ Strategy; and Aboriginal barramarrany leadership, worldviews and traditional values guided actions to reduce TB transmission. Results Together the partners improved housing hardware and access to nutritious food, so the barramarrany could create a setting for good health and wellbeing. These actions supported the barramarrany to regain the physical, social and emotional wellbeing to deal with day-to-day challenges and stresses. The barramarrany were able to better sustain supportive relationships; grow, prepare and eat healthy food; and participate in healthcare activities. The barramarrany could better engage with medical approaches for TB and four barramarrany members completed TB treatment. The PAR action-project enabled and supported early TB diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Conclusion Amplifying the voices of Aboriginal people and shared ownership of TB diagnosis, treatment and prevention by the barramarrany, was underpinned with principles of self-determination, capacity building and social justice. This PAR action-project provides further evidence that improving housing and nutrition can assist in Ending TB while improving wellbeing. So what? Our action-research project undertaken within a PAR framework demonstrates the implementation of End TB Strategies by utilising the Ottawa Charter’s five actions to promote health, by understanding and centralising the social determinants of health