Information Literacy from the Policy and Strategy Perspective

This paper examines IL from a policy and strategy perspective and reports the selected findings of the research project that was carried out within open and distance learning universities in Europe. The research problem for this study focused on the need to know how information-related competencies (IRC) were developed in European higher open and distance learning (ODL) institutions. The general research strategy in this study was a mixed method strategy, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, built into a two-stage research design. A survey provided a broad picture of a phenomenon, and case studies covered a more limited area of the same ground but in more depth.The first stage was a small-scale questionnaire survey, with a structured questionnaire using a purposive sample, which was analysed using statistical techniques. The objectives of the questionnaire were to determine the extent and the ways to which IRC were developed within European higher ODL institutions, to investigate the role of libraries within the development of IRC and to identify examples of ‘good practice' in the field of IRC in European higher ODL institutions. The second stage of the study involved a multiple case study in six European ODL institutions. In this part of the study the researcher was trying to discover what people actually did in practice to develop IRC, how they experienced those processes and made sense of it.The research results will contribute to the development of ODL courses with library and information literacy support, that would improve students' IRC, and also to the Bologna aims of competence development and professional development in a context of lifelong learning

Intramedullary Nailing of Periarticular Fractures

Plate fixation has historically been the preferred surgical treatment method for periarticular fractures of the lower extremity. This trend has stemmed from difficulties with fracture reduction and concerns of inadequate fixation with intramedullary implants. However, the body of literature on management of periarticular fractures of the lower extremities has expanded in recent years, indicating that intramedullary nailing of distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal tibia fractures may be the preferred method of treatment in some cases. Intramedullary nailing reliably leads to excellent outcomes when performed for appropriate indications and when potential difficulties are recognized and addressed

The role of the library for university education: general introduction

Intervention à la 33e conférence générale annuelle de la Ligue des bibliothèques européennes de recherche (Liber)

Models of Academic Cooperation in European LIS Education

In the last two decades an increasing interest in academic cooperation has been evident in library and information science (LIS) education in Europe. This growing interest of internationalisation is mainly motivated by a strong desire to respond to the challenges of globalisation, to improve and strengthen the LIS curricula as well as teaching and research, and to explore ways and means by which international as well as intercontinental cooperative schemes can best be utilized. However, recently European LIS schools have started to participate more actively in joint activities enabling them to take a broader European approach to themes of mutual interest. Several cooperation models exist; for example, the European Association for Library and Information Education and Research (EUCLID) seeks to facilitate exchange of staff and students among members, to develop cooperation on research projects, to encourage support from stronger to weaker members, and to encourage mutual recognition of curricula or parts of curricula. The Nordic Research School in Library and Information Science (NORSLIS) intends to achieve synergic effects, effectiveness and efficiency in doctoral education and research of LIS by collecting the scattered scientific expertise, often in small-size research educational units, throughout the Nordic and Baltic countries. The BOBCATSSS network seeks to enhance cooperation and communication between LIS students and professionals at an international level. The authors of this paper will analyse the models of academic cooperation of LIS education in Europe in general and further examine these issues through the literature review and two case studies - the University of Parma and the Tallinn University

Defining venous thromboembolism and measuring its incidence using Swedish health registries: a nationwide pregnancy cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To accurately define venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the routinely collected Swedish health registers and quantify its incidence in and around pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Registry (MBR) linked to the National Patient Registry (NPR) and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register (PDR). SETTING: Secondary care centres, Sweden. PARTICIPANT: 509,198 women aged 15-44 years who had one or more pregnancies resulting in a live birth or stillbirth between 2005 and 2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: To estimate the incidence rate (IR) of VTE in and around pregnancy using various VTE definitions allowing direct comparison with other countries. RESULTS: The rate of VTE varied based on the VTE definition. We found that 43% of cases first recorded as outpatient were not accompanied by anticoagulant prescriptions, whereas this proportion was much lower than those cases first recorded in the inpatient register (9%). Using our most inclusive VTE definition, we observed higher rates of VTE compared with previously published data using similar methodology. These reduced by 31% (IR=142/100,000 person-years; 95% CI 132 to 153) and 22% (IR=331/100,000 person-years; 95% CI 304 to 361) during the antepartum and postpartum periods, respectively, using a restrictive VTE definition that required anticoagulant prescriptions associated with diagnosis, which were more in line with the existing literature. CONCLUSIONS: We found that including VTE codes without treatment confirmation risks the inclusion of false-positive cases. When defining VTE using the NPR, anticoagulant prescription information should therefore be considered particularly for cases recorded in an outpatient setting

Using Scrum in a side project with distributed teams

Scrum is the most popular agile software development methodology in use today (VersionOne, 2013), (West & Grant, 2010), (Begel & Nagappan, 2007). Many of the Scrum teams work in virtual distributed formations (VersionOne, 2013). The distributed work model introduces multiple burdens, like communication issues, matter of trust, time zones and cultural differences to the teams, which can severely affect performance (Deemer, s.a.). As a result, dislocated Scrum teams have a considerably lower success rate than collocated ones according to various surveys (Ambler S. W., 2008), (Ambler S. W., Agility at Scale Survey 2012, 2012), (Cohn, 2010). This paper researches the topic of “Using Scrum in a side project with distributed teams” and consist of three main parts: theoretical background, methods and results. In the theoretical background we cover the different software development methodologies, agile methodology in particular. We take a deeper look into Scrum; it's history, roles in Scrum, Scrum artifacts and ceremonies. We also briefly discuss virtual teams theory. In the methods we cover the online contract bridge card game development, Lean Startup and Business Model Generation as part of business development, background info on contract bridge, validating the idea, the design and development tools used to build the minimum viable product and the methods of data collection for Scrum. In the results we describe our implementation of Scrum, the building of the minimum viable product, and research made into other early stage startup teams to support our own findings.http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2656166~S1*es

Human trafficking and the media: Comparing newspapers\u27 portrayal of victims and offenders

his study examined the portrayal of victims and offenders of human trafficking in three major newspapers from 2005- 2012. Additionally, this study examined if the age, gender, and legal status effected the portrayal of victims and offenders in the newspapers. Also included is an examination of groups of claims-makers and whether different groups portrayed victims and offenders same or differently. Utilizing a quantitative and qualitative content analysis to analyze the newspapers’ framing of victims and offenders, this research compared the portrayal of its groups. The findings indicated that claims-makers socially construct victims and offenders in ways that may not reflect the true situation. Given such misrepresentation it is imperative that readers and policy makers pay attention to whether or not the claims-makers are expertise in human trafficking

Costs and Complications of Single Stage Fixation Versus Two-Stage Treatment of Select Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures

Objectives: To determine the differences in costs and complications in patients with bicondylar tibial plateau (BTP) fractures treated with one stage definitive fixation compared to two stage fixation following initial spanning external fixation. Design: Retrospective cohort study Setting: Level one trauma center Patients/Participants: Patients with OTA 41-C (Schatzker 6) treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Intervention: Definitive treatment with ORIF either acutely (one stage) or delayed following initial spanning external fixation (two stage). Main Outcome Measures: Wound healing complications, implant costs, hospital charges, PROMIS outcome measures. Results: 105 patients were identified over a three-year period, of which 52 met inclusion criteria. There were 28 patients in the One-Stage group and 24 patients in the Two-Stage group. Mean follow-up was 21.8 months, and 87% of patients had at least 12 months follow-up. The mean number of days to definitive fixation was 1.2 in the One-Stage group and 7.8 in the Two-Stage group. There were no differences between groups with respect to wound healing or any other surgery-related complications. Functional outcomes (PROMIS) were similar between groups. Mean implant cost in the Two-Stage group was $10,821 greater than the One-Stage group, mostly due to the costs of external fixation. Median hospital inpatient charges in the Two-Stage group exceeded the One-Stage group by over$68,000 for all BTP fractures and by $61,000 for isolated BTP fractures. Conclusions: Early single stage treatment of BTP fractures is cost effective, and is not associated with a higher complication rate than two stage treatment in appropriately selected patients. Level of Evidence: Level III- Retrospective cohort stud