Exploring the application of RSS for library staff professional development and SDI services

Blog and XML feed technologies have provided new opportunities for information dissemination and communication. The University of Southern Queensland Library developed a virtual professional Reading Room using these technologies to provide a centralised, easily-accessible source for professional reading, based on SDI principles. The Reading Room also provides a discussion space so that Library staff can exchange views on readings of interest. This paper outlines the goals of the initiative, the processes used to establish the Reading Room, and the challenges dealt with along the way. Finally, it provides a preliminary evaluation of outcomes of the initiative and plans for the future

Developing research-informed practice in child care social work teams

The thesis centres on a two-year project with childcare teams in a local authority social services department encouraging the use of research materials to inform social workers' day-to-day practice. The intervention was intended to encourage research-mindedness in social workers in order to develop research-informed practice, describe its implementation and evaluate its outcomes. The thesis first considers various strategies for the improvement of professional practice found mostly in the health field, whilst also looking at educational aspects of adult learning theory allied to problem solving and peer group learning. The development and evaluation of an intervention project is then described. The project was delivered by organising and setting up practice development groups (PDGs) in each of the teams, which were facilitated for a period of six to nine months. Group meetings were held fortnightly during this time and lasted two hours. Within the PDGs, social workers' live cases were used during group discussions to arrive at a request for research information relating to the case in order to generate "research informed practice". Data for the evaluation were collected by means of participant observation, the administration of standardised measures of team functioning and follow-up interviews. In the course of the intervention some essential features that were found to assist with the project's success were built into the design. These included the introduction of training sessions in critical thinking skills that were needed to enable social workers to evaluate their cases to see what research information might be useful. The project also identified the need for basic IT skills training and updated software packages together with a requirement for access to electronic journals. There was a high level of commitment to the project by the social workers and evidence that they were able to utilise research information in ways that sometimes changed the direction of their cases and often empowered both the social worker and the client. However, learning at the individual level was not reflected at the organisational level of the employing department

Report of the Academic Board Working Group on Racism and Prejudice

A Special Meeting of Academic Board was held on 12 December 2019 in response to a requisition calling for the establishment of a Working Group ‘to advise on racism and prejudice that would investigate the proposed adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and its consistency with/inconsistency with Academic Freedom at UCL’. Academic Board resolved at that meeting to set up a Working Group ‘to report to the Board so that it may advise Council on the matter of group-specific definitions of racism.’ Elections to the Working Group were accordingly held and the Working Group began its work in February 2020

Particle aging and aerosol–radiation interaction affect volcanic plume dispersion: evidence from the Raikoke 2019 eruption

A correct and reliable forecast of volcanic plume dispersion is vital for aviation safety. This can only be achieved by representing all responsible physical and chemical processes (sources, sinks, and interactions) in the forecast models. The representation of the sources has been enhanced over the last decade, while the sinks and interactions have received less attention. In particular, aerosol dynamic processes and aerosol–radiation interaction are neglected so far. Here we address this gap by further developing the ICON-ART (ICOsahedral Nonhydrostatic – Aerosols and Reactive Trace gases) global modeling system to account for these processes. We use this extended model for the simulation of volcanic aerosol dispersion after the Raikoke eruption in June 2019. Additionally, we validate the simulation results with measurements from AHI (Advanced Himawari Imager), CALIOP (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization), and OMPS-LP (Ozone Mapping and Profiling Suite-Limb Profiler). Our results show that around 50 % of very fine volcanic ash mass (particles with diameter d<30 µm) is removed due to particle growth and aging. Furthermore, the maximum volcanic cloud top height rises more than 6 km over the course of 4 d after the eruption due to aerosol–radiation interaction. This is the first direct evidence that shows how cumulative effects of aerosol dynamics and aerosol–radiation interaction lead to a more precise forecast of very fine ash lifetime in volcanic clouds

New Scientific-teaching Staff

Additional file 1: Table S1. Demographic and clinical data summary of d-lactic acidosis episodes (n = 59) included in the qualitative synthesis. All episodes simultaneously reported at least one high d-lactate level (from blood or urine analysis) and documented neurological symptoms. Episodes were screened for information about patient demographics, neurological symptoms, non-neurological symptoms, d-lactate levels, l-lactate levels, anion gap, pH levels, microbial composition, proposed triggers, medical history/comorbid conditions and treatment. Numbers in brackets (1) and (2) indicate separate episodes for the same patient. The letters a and b identify different patient cases reported in the same reference. Episodes from non-SBS patients are marked with an asterisk

Primary prevention of diabetes mellitus type 2 and cardiovascular diseases using a cognitive behavior program aimed at lifestyle changes in people at risk: Design of a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The number of people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is growing rapidly. To a large extend, this increase is due to lifestyle-dependent risk factors, such as overweight, reduced physical activity, and an unhealthy diet. Changing these risk factors has the potential to postpone or prevent the development of T2DM and CVD. It is hypothesized that a cognitive behavioral program (CBP), focused in particular on motivation and self-management in persons who are at high risk for CVD and/or T2DM, will improve their lifestyle behavior and, as a result, will reduce their risk of developing T2DM and CVD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>12,000 inhabitants, 30-50 years of age living in several municipalities in the semi-rural region of West-Friesland will receive an invitation from their general practitioner (n = 13) to measure their own waist circumference with a tape measure. People with abdominal obesity (male waist ≥ 102 cm, female waist ≥ 88 cm) will be invited to participate in the second step of the screening which includes blood pressure, a blood sample and anthropometric measurements. T2DM and CVD risk scores will then be calculated according to the ARIC and the SCORE formulae, respectively. People with a score that indicates a high risk of developing T2DM and/or CVD will then be randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 300) or the control group (n = 300).</p> <p>Participants in the intervention group will follow a CBP aimed at modifying their dietary behavior, physical activity, and smoking behavior. The counseling methods that will be used are <it>motivational interviewing </it>(MI) and <it>problem solving treatment </it>(PST), which focus in particular on intrinsic motivation for change and self-management of problems of the participants. The CBP will be provided by trained nurse practitioners in the participant's general practice, and will consists of a maximum of six individual sessions of 30 minutes, followed by 3-monthly booster sessions by phone. Participants in the control group will receive brochures containing health guidelines regarding physical activity and diet, and how to stop smoking. The primary outcome measures will be changes in T2DM and CVD risk scores. Secondary outcome measures will be changes in lifestyle behavior and cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios. All relevant direct and indirect costs will be measured, and there will be a follow-up of 24 months.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Changing behaviors is difficult, requires time, considerable effort and motivation. Combining the two counseling methods MI and PST, followed by booster sessions may result in sustained behavioral change.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN59358434</p

General practitioners' deprescribing decisions in older adults with polypharmacy: a case vignette study in 31 countries.

BACKGROUND General practitioners (GPs) should regularly review patients' medications and, if necessary, deprescribe, as inappropriate polypharmacy may harm patients' health. However, deprescribing can be challenging for physicians. This study investigates GPs' deprescribing decisions in 31 countries. METHODS In this case vignette study, GPs were invited to participate in an online survey containing three clinical cases of oldest-old multimorbid patients with potentially inappropriate polypharmacy. Patients differed in terms of dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) and were presented with and without history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). For each case, we asked GPs if they would deprescribe in their usual practice. We calculated proportions of GPs who reported they would deprescribe and performed a multilevel logistic regression to examine the association between history of CVD and level of dependency on GPs' deprescribing decisions. RESULTS Of 3,175 invited GPs, 54% responded (N = 1,706). The mean age was 50 years and 60% of respondents were female. Despite differences across GP characteristics, such as age (with older GPs being more likely to take deprescribing decisions), and across countries, overall more than 80% of GPs reported they would deprescribe the dosage of at least one medication in oldest-old patients (> 80 years) with polypharmacy irrespective of history of CVD. The odds of deprescribing was higher in patients with a higher level of dependency in ADL (OR =1.5, 95%CI 1.25 to 1.80) and absence of CVD (OR =3.04, 95%CI 2.58 to 3.57). INTERPRETATION The majority of GPs in this study were willing to deprescribe one or more medications in oldest-old multimorbid patients with polypharmacy. Willingness was higher in patients with increased dependency in ADL and lower in patients with CVD

African-Caribbean cancer consortium for the study of viral, genetic and environmental cancer risk factors

This is a short summary of a meeting of the "African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium", jointly organized by the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Epidemiology and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, held in Montego Bay, Jamaica as a satellite meeting at the Caribbean Health Research Council, 52nd Annual Council and Scientific meeting on May 4, 2007

Aplicación del enfoque fisiográfico para el relevamiento de suelos semidetallado en el departamento Guaraní, Misiones

Se estudia la relación paisaje-suelo en el departamento Guaraní, Misiones, aplicando el enfoque fisiográfico. Para la clasificación de las unidades de paisaje se utilizó el Modelo Digital de Elevaciones y parámetros del terreno derivados. En cada unidad se realizan descripciones del sitio (relieve, vegetación, uso del suelo) y el reconocimiento de perfiles de suelo. Los resultados permitieron diferenciar cinco unidades a nivel de Gran Paisaje: La Meseta central constituye el relieve más antiguo, con lomas muy amplias y pendientes suaves, donde dominan suelos rojos profundos (Ultisoles y Oxisoles), y se desarrolla el cultivo de té y yerba mate; las Estribaciones de la Meseta central es un sector más erosionado, con pendientes mayores y dominancia de Alfisoles rojos y Ultisoles, siendo un área de reserva ecológica; El Lomerío comprende lomadas de menor extensión y mayores pendientes que las anteriores, donde dominan Alfisoles rojos y afloramientos rocosos. Entre las lomadas se desarrollan valles en “U”, donde se reconocen Alfisoles pardos y Molisoles. El uso de los suelos es para la producción de té, yerba mate, ganadería y forestación en las lomas y cultivos anuales en los valles; La Serranía se caracteriza por cerros fuertemente disectados con laderas de pendientes pronun ciadas, donde los valles son estrechos y en forma de “V”. Dominan los Entisoles y afloramientos rocosos en sectores cuspidales o de mayor pendiente, mientras que en áreas planas, se desarrollan Molisoles. El uso de los suelos es para producción de yerba mate, tabaco, citronela y forestación, siendo la unidad que presenta mayor cobertura de vegetación natural; El valle del Río Uruguay presenta Entisoles en sectores de pendiente y Molisoles en terrazas, donde se producen cultivos anuales. El análisis fisiográfico realizado será de utilidad para el relevamiento de suelos y la confección de la Carta a escala semidetallada del departamento.Fil: Moretti, Lucas M. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cerro Azul; ArgentinaFil: Tenti Vuegen, Leonardo M. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos. ArgentinaFil: Barbaro, S.E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cerro Azul; ArgentinaFil: Hopechek, L.A. Provincia de Misiones. Ministerio del Agro y la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Lanfranco, M. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Manfredi; ArgentinaFil: Alvarenga, F.A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cerro Azul; ArgentinaFil: Florentín, J. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cerro Azul; ArgentinaFil: Pahr, Norberto Manuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Von Wallis, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Darío M. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; ArgentinaFil: Schulz, Guillermo A. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Dardo. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca; ArgentinaFil: Ybarra, Diego Daniel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Corrientes; ArgentinaFil: Perucca, S. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez. Agencia de Extensión Rural Río Cuarto; ArgentinaFil: Iwasita, Bárbara Eloisa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Cerro Azul; Argentin