EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT

Composition for voice, string quartet and film. 41 minutes in duration

Penicillamine Neurotoxicity: An Hypothesis

Penicillamine, dimethyl cysteine, thiovaline, remains the drug of choice for the treatment of patience with Wilson disease. It is also of value in the treatment of cysteinuria and rheumatoid arthritis, it has also been suggested that it has value in the management of other rare diseases. It also has multiple toxicities. The majority of these can be explained as chemical toxicity, for instance its weak antipyridoxine action and its ability to interfere with lysyloxidea resulting in skin lesions. More important are its ability to induce immune reactions such as SLE, immune complex nephritis, the Ehlers Danlos syndrome and Goodpasture's syndrome. However the sudden increase in neurological signs which may occur in a small number of patients remains unexplained. The theory is proposed that this is due to lethal synthesis. In susceptible patients the–SH radical is liberated from penicillamine and will inhibit–SH dependent enzymes in the Krebs cycle leading to death in neurones. Other toxic metabolites may also be produced such as methyl mercaptan and ethyl mercaptan either of which could produce a similar metabolic block

Hospital-based social workers’ perceptions of generalist- and specialist-level palliative social work activities

Summary: A social work advisory group recently proposed 41 generalist-level palliative social work activities applicable to any venue, including hospital-based social work, but this applicability has not been empirically tested. Therefore, we used critical realist grounded theory analysis of qualitative interviews to explore whether the activities proposed by the advisory group reflect inpatient social workers’ perceptions of their generalist-level palliative activities when caring for patients alongside specialist-level palliative social workers. Fourteen Masters educated social workers from six hospitals in the Midwest United States participated. Corresponding concepts from interview data of hospital-based social workers’ perceptions of what facilitates or hinders collaboration with specialist-level palliative social workers were identified and mapped onto the 41 generalist-level palliative social work activities. We used NVivo to organize and track data. Findings: Inpatient social workers find it challenging to engage in specific generalist-level palliative social work activities; provision of generalist-level palliative services is shaped by discharge planning duties, the consultation model, and the concentrated role of specialist-level palliative social workers. Competency in cultural and spiritual aspects of care could be lacking. Applications: Most of the 41 generalist-level palliative social work activities are present in hospital-based social workers’ clinical practice. However, not all activities may be applicable or realizable in the inpatient venue. In the hospital, an emphasis on discharge planning and related time-barriers can mean seriously ill patients and their families lack access to generalist-level palliative social work services. Clarification is needed about which of the 41 activities are relevant to and actionable within the inpatient venue

Reducing the nitrate content of protected lettuce.

End of Project ReportA research project was carried out jointly between Teagasc, Kinsealy Research Centre and University College Dublin, Department of Crop Science, Horticulture and Forestry which studied the effects of cultivar, nitrogen fertilisation and light intensity on the nitrate content of protected butterhead lettuce. In a series of cultivar trials of winter and summer butterhead lettuce, significant differences in the nitrate content of the lettuce between cultivars were found only in one experiment. In this instance, the differences were not consistent between successive harvests. It was concluded that screening lettuce cultivars for tissue nitrate level is unlikely to contribute to an overall reduction of nitrate levels. The application of N in a liquid feed throughout the cropping period resulted in higher nitrate levels in lettuce plants grown in soil filled containers compared with a similar amount of N applied to the soil before planting. Withdrawing N for the final 10 days of the cropping period did not affect the nitrate content of the lettuce. In an experiment studying nitrogen source and rate on lettuce grown in containers, the use of calcium cyanamide as a N source resulted in lower nitrate levels in the lettuce and gave a reduced head weight compared with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) or ammonium sulphate. Increasing the rate of CAN or ammonium sulphate gave higher lettuce nitrate levels. A nitrification inhibitor reduced the soil nitrate levels especially with sulphate of ammonia as the N source but did not affect the plant nitrate levels significantly. The addition of chloride to the soil reduced nitrate levels in the lettuce. In a further fertilisation study using containers, calcium cyanamide again resulted in lower plant nitrate levels than CAN. Increasing the rate of CAN increased soil nitrate levels, lettuce head weight and plant nitrate levels. The relationship between soil nitrate levels, lettuce head weight and plant nitrate level indicates that the level of 100-150 mg·L-1 of nitrate N in the soil, advocated in the Code of Good Practice, is a compromise between maximising plant growth and minimising lettuce nitrate content. A comparison between CAN and calcium cyanamide in a border soil experiment again showed that the latter N source resulted in lower lettuce nitrate levels. In this experiment the addition of chloride to the soil did not affect plant nitrate levels. Lettuce was grown, in late summer, in small tunnels using a range of polyethylene cladding materials. Head weight correlated well with the overall light transmission of the materials. In one of the materials that had a low light transmission, lettuce nitrate content was doubled compared with those grown under the materials with high light transmission. Under both winter and summer conditions, the nitrate content of lettuce heads was not influenced by the time of day at which harvest took place. In experiments in which multiple harvests were carried out there was no consistent trend in nitrate content as the heads developed and matured. Within individual heads of lettuce there was a steep concentration gradient with the older outer leaves having much higher concentrations of nitrate than the younger inner leaves. Herbicides commonly used in protected lettuce production did not influence the nitrate content of the lettuce

Creating metacognitive environments in primary school RE classrooms

An erratum is to be included in the subsequent issue of the journal noting that the published version was not the corrected version as submitted by the authors. There were errors with some of the tables and some text.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Recent reports on Religious Education (RE) in England and Wales highlight the need for guidance on pedagogy and learning. The RE-flect project addressed this by promoting the creation of metacognitively oriented learning environments in primary school RE classrooms. Six primary school teachers and 160 pupils (8 - 10 years) took part in the second year of this two year project. Meta-thinking, worldview and resources zones were created in each classroom. Attainment in RE and pupil perceptions of the learning environment were measured. Data from classroom observations, Worldview Profiles, and pupil and teacher interviews were analysed qualitatively. Results show an overall increase in attainment; a positive change in pupil perceptions of the learning environment; and the ability of pupils to reflect on and articulate their worldviews. Implications for RE curricular and pedagogy are discussed.RE-flect was funded by The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation [10-0901

THE SIGNING

Tony Conrad collaborates with Jennifer Walshe to present THE SIGNING, a street spectacle shadow-opera that centres on the tension enacted in the signing of a document. The project uses shadow puppetry, voice, violin, electronics and projections. The perfrmance is listed on p. 54 of the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche October 4, 2014 exhibition guidebook available at: http://www.shastiolearysoudant.com/files/snb14guidebook.pdf (accessed: 2020-02-22).THE SIGNING is a street spectacle shadow opera which will be performed in Toronto and on the Internet. THE SIGNING will transform Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto into a vortex of sound, image, energy and movement during the night of October 4th 2014 for Toronto’s Nuit Blanche. The conceptual narrative takes the dramatic tension enacted in the signing of a contract, filtered through the myth of Orpheus. The project is a collaboration from experimental film, video, sound, installation and Performance Art cult figure Tony Conrad and renowned Irish composer and performer Jennifer Walshe.http://www.shastiolearysoudant.com/files/snb14guidebook.pd

THE TOTAL MOUNTAIN

Walshe, J. SWR Donaueschinger Musiktage (18/10/2014 15:00 – 18:00) THE TOTAL MOUNTAIN (41' 50"). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88-RxHdJwJ0 (Accessed: 23/02/2020)Composition for voice, electronics and film. Duration 41 minutes 52 seconds. Commissioned by the Donueachinger Musiktage. Premiere by Jennifer Walshe at the Donaueschinger Musiktage, Germany, October 18th 2014 [https://www.swr.de/swrclassic/donaueschinger-musiktage/donaueschinger-musiktage-2014-festival,article-swr-1422.html]. Subsequent performances: the Danish Film Institute, Wundergrund Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 26th 2014; Interpretations Winter School, Brussels, Belgium, December 7th 2014; Café Oto, London, December 9th 2014; Soundscape Festival, Maccagno, Italy, July 11th 2015; Supernormal Festival, Brazier’s Park, UK, August 7th 2015; Cycle Festival, Iceland, August 13th 2015; Ostrava Days Festival, Czech Republic, August 21st 2015; Concepts of Doing, Berlin, Germany, August 23rd 2015; Schoolhouse Studios, Melbourne, Australia, September 26th 2015; First Draft, Sydney, Australia, September 30th 2015; Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia October 3rd 2015. Released on DVD by Neos Music October 24th 2015 (catalogue number: NEOS 11522-24 / NEOS 51501; EAN: 4260063115226; URL: https://neos-music.com/output.php?template=english-album-details.php&content=Alben/11522-24_51501.php) Private link to documentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88-RxHdJwJ