El desplegament d'un servei de préstec i consulta de llibres electrònics: l'experiència de la Biblioteca Virtual de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (BUOC)

La Biblioteca de la UOC (BUOC) ha ofert durant tres mesos (octubre-desembre 09), en fase de prova pilot, un servei de consulta i préstec de lectors de llibres electrònics (e-readers). Aquest nou desplegament s'ha desenvolupat en consonància amb l'aposta general de la Universitat en innovació en tecnologies aplicades a l'educació, i la voluntat de potenciar les col·leccions de llibres electrònics i l'ús dels dispositius de lectura de llibres electrònics com una extensió més de la tecnologia del Campus 5.0, en el suport a l'aprenentatge dels seus estudiants durant la seva formació a la Universitat. Aquest treball presenta en detall les especificacions de la prova pilot a més de contenir un anàlisi i avaluació dels resultats obtinguts: punts forts i punts febles, relació dels aspectes a millorar i modificar, de cara a la consolidació final del servei.Biblioteca de la UOC (BUOC) ha ofrecido durante tres meses (octubre-diciembre 09), en fase de prueba piloto, un servicio de consulta y préstamo de lectores de libros electrónicos (e-readers). Este nuevo despliegue se ha desarrollado en consonancia con la apuesta general de la Universidad en innovación en tecnologías aplicadas a la educación, y la voluntad de potenciar las colecciones de libros electrónicos y el uso de los dispositivos de lectura de libros electrónicos como una extensión más de la tecnología del Campus 5.0, en el apoyo al aprendizaje de sus estudiantes durante su formación en la Universidad. Este trabajo presenta con detalle las especificaciones de la prueba piloto además de contener un análisis y evaluación de los resultados obtenidos: ventajas, debilidades, relación de los aspectos a mejorar y modificar de cara a la consolidación final del servicio.The UOC Library (BUOC) has offered for three months (October-December 09), in pilot testing phase, an e-reader consultation and loan service. This new deployment has been developed in line with the general commitment of the university: technology innovation applied to learning and education, and willingness to promote the use of ebook collections and e-readers as an extension of UOC 5.0 Campus Technology, in supporting student learning during their training at the University. This paper presents in detail the specifics of the pilot testing in addition to containning an analysis and evaluation of results: advantages, weaknesses, list of issues to improve and change the face of final service consolidation

Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure: A pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants

© The Author(s) 2018. Background: Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hypertensive population). Our aim was to quantify the contributions of these two phenomena to the worldwide trends in the prevalence of raised blood pressure. Methods: We pooled 1018 population-based studies with blood pressure measurements on 88.6 million participants from 1985 to 2016. We first calculated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and prevalence of raised blood pressure by sex and 10-year age group from 20-29 years to 70-79 years in each study, taking into account complex survey design and survey sample weights, where relevant. We used a linear mixed effect model to quantify the association between (probittransformed) prevalence of raised blood pressure and age-group- and sex-specific mean blood pressure. We calculated the contributions of change in mean SBP and DBP, and of change in the prevalence-mean association, to the change in prevalence of raised blood pressure. Results: In 2005-16, at the same level of population mean SBP and DBP, men and women in South Asia and in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa would have the highest prevalence of raised blood pressure, and men and women in the highincome Asia Pacific and high-income Western regions would have the lowest. In most region-sex-age groups where the prevalence of raised blood pressure declined, one half or more of the decline was due to the decline in mean blood pressure. Where prevalence of raised blood pressure has increased, the change was entirely driven by increasing mean blood pressure, offset partly by the change in the prevalence-mean association. Conclusions: Change in mean blood pressure is the main driver of the worldwide change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure, but change in the high-blood-pressure tail of the distribution has also contributed to the change in prevalence, especially in older age groups

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries(1,2). However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world(3) and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health(4,5). However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol-which is a marker of cardiovascular riskchanged from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million-4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.Peer reviewe

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30–79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30–79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306–359) million women and 317 (292–344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584–668) million women and 652 (604–698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55–62) of women and 49% (46–52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43–51) of women and 38% (35–41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20–27) for women and 18% (16–21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions

Visita facultat Biblioteconomia i Documentació de la UB

Presentació realitzada per la Biblioteca Virtual de la UOC a un grup d'alumnes de la Facultat de Biblioteconomia i Documentació de la UBPresentación realizada por la Biblioteca Virtual de la UOC a un grupo de alumnos de la Facultad de Biblioteconmía y Documentación de la UBPresentation made by UOC Virtual Library to a group of students of the Faculty of Library and Information Science from the Barcelona Universit

Visita facultat Biblioteconomia i Documentació de la UB

Presentació realitzada per la Biblioteca Virtual de la UOC a un grup d'alumnes de la Facultat de Biblioteconomia i Documentació de la UBPresentación realizada por la Biblioteca Virtual de la UOC a un grupo de alumnos de la Facultad de Biblioteconmía y Documentación de la UBPresentation made by UOC Virtual Library to a group of students of the Faculty of Library and Information Science from the Barcelona Universit

Reasons for deploying an e-reader loan service at the UOC Library

The presentation will focus on the reasons for deploying an e-reader loan service at a virtual university library as a part of an e-learning support system to aid user mobility, concentration of documentary and electronic resources, and ICT skills acquisition, using the example of the UOC pilot project and its subsequent consolidation. E-reader devices at the UOC are an extension of the Virtual Campus. They are offered as a tool to aid user mobility, access to documentary and electronic resources, and development of information and IT skills. The e-reader loan service began as a pilot project in 2009 and was consolidated in 2010. The UOC Library piloted the e-reader loan service from October to December 2009. The pilot project was carried out with 15 devices and involved 37 loans. The project was extended into 2010 with the same number of devices and 218 loans (October 2010). In 2011 the e-reader loan service is to involve 190 devices, thus offering an improved service. The reasons for deploying an e-reader loan service at the UOC are the following: a) to offer library users access to the many kinds of learning materials available at the UOC through a single device that facilitates student study and learning; b) to enhance access to and use of the e-book collections subscribed to by the UOC Library; c) to align with UOC strategy on the development of learning materials in multiple formats, and promote e-devices as an extension of the UOC Virtual Campus, and d) to increase UOC Library visibility within and beyond the institution. The presentation will conclude with an analysis of the key issues to be taken into account at a university library: the e-reader market, the unclear business and license model for e-book contents, and the library's role in promoting new reading formats to increase use of e-collections.La presentación se centrará en las razones para implementar un servicio de préstamo de e-readers en una biblioteca de la universidad virtual, como parte de un sistema de apoyo al e-learning para ayudar a la movilidad del usuario, la concentración de los recursos documentales y electrónicos, y la adquisición de competencias TIC, con el ejemplo del proyecto piloto de la UOC y su posterior consolidación. Los lectores de libros electrónicos de la UOC son una extensión del Campus Virtual. Se ofrecen como una herramienta para ayudar a la movilidad del usuario, el acceso a los recursos documentales y electrónicos, y el desarrollo de competencias informacionales y en las TIC. El servicio de préstamo de e-readers empezó como un proyecto piloto en 2009 y se consolidó durante el 2010. La Biblioteca de la UOC puso a prueba el servicio de préstamo de e-readers de octubre a diciembre de 2009. El proyecto piloto se llevó a cabo con 15 dispositivos y implicó 37 préstamos. El proyecto se amplió en 2010 con el mismo número de dispositivos y 218 préstamos (octubre de 2010). En 2011 el servicio de préstamo de e-readers dispone de 190 dispositivos, ofreciendo así un mejor servicio. Las razones para la implementación de un servicio de préstamo de e-readers en la UOC son los siguientes: a) ofrecer a los usuarios acceso a los múltiples tipos de materiales de aprendizaje disponibles en la UOC a través de un único dispositivo que facilita al alumno el estudio y el aprendizaje, b) mejorar el acceso y uso de las colecciones de libros electrónicos suscritos por la Biblioteca de la UOC, c) alinearse con la estrategia de la UOC en el desarrollo de materiales de aprendizaje en múltiples formatos, y promover los dispositivos electrónicos como una extensión del Campus Virtual de la UOC, y d ) para aumentar la visibilidad de la Biblioteca de la UOC dentro y fuera de la institución. La presentación concluirá con un análisis de las cuestiones clave que deben tenerse en cuenta en una biblioteca universitaria: el mercado de los e-reader, el negocio poco claro y los modelos de licencia de los libros electrónicos, y el papel de la biblioteca en la promoción de nuevos formatos de lectura para incrementar uso de las colecciones electrónicas

Reasons for deploying an e-reader loan service at the UOC Library

The presentation will focus on the reasons for deploying an e-reader loan service at a virtual university library as a part of an e-learning support system to aid user mobility, concentration of documentary and electronic resources, and ICT skills acquisition, using the example of the UOC pilot project and its subsequent consolidation. E-reader devices at the UOC are an extension of the Virtual Campus. They are offered as a tool to aid user mobility, access to documentary and electronic resources, and development of information and IT skills. The e-reader loan service began as a pilot project in 2009 and was consolidated in 2010. The UOC Library piloted the e-reader loan service from October to December 2009. The pilot project was carried out with 15 devices and involved 37 loans. The project was extended into 2010 with the same number of devices and 218 loans (October 2010). In 2011 the e-reader loan service is to involve 190 devices, thus offering an improved service. The reasons for deploying an e-reader loan service at the UOC are the following: a) to offer library users access to the many kinds of learning materials available at the UOC through a single device that facilitates student study and learning; b) to enhance access to and use of the e-book collections subscribed to by the UOC Library; c) to align with UOC strategy on the development of learning materials in multiple formats, and promote e-devices as an extension of the UOC Virtual Campus, and d) to increase UOC Library visibility within and beyond the institution. The presentation will conclude with an analysis of the key issues to be taken into account at a university library: the e-reader market, the unclear business and license model for e-book contents, and the library's role in promoting new reading formats to increase use of e-collections.La presentación se centrará en las razones para implementar un servicio de préstamo de e-readers en una biblioteca de la universidad virtual, como parte de un sistema de apoyo al e-learning para ayudar a la movilidad del usuario, la concentración de los recursos documentales y electrónicos, y la adquisición de competencias TIC, con el ejemplo del proyecto piloto de la UOC y su posterior consolidación. Los lectores de libros electrónicos de la UOC son una extensión del Campus Virtual. Se ofrecen como una herramienta para ayudar a la movilidad del usuario, el acceso a los recursos documentales y electrónicos, y el desarrollo de competencias informacionales y en las TIC. El servicio de préstamo de e-readers empezó como un proyecto piloto en 2009 y se consolidó durante el 2010. La Biblioteca de la UOC puso a prueba el servicio de préstamo de e-readers de octubre a diciembre de 2009. El proyecto piloto se llevó a cabo con 15 dispositivos y implicó 37 préstamos. El proyecto se amplió en 2010 con el mismo número de dispositivos y 218 préstamos (octubre de 2010). En 2011 el servicio de préstamo de e-readers dispone de 190 dispositivos, ofreciendo así un mejor servicio. Las razones para la implementación de un servicio de préstamo de e-readers en la UOC son los siguientes: a) ofrecer a los usuarios acceso a los múltiples tipos de materiales de aprendizaje disponibles en la UOC a través de un único dispositivo que facilita al alumno el estudio y el aprendizaje, b) mejorar el acceso y uso de las colecciones de libros electrónicos suscritos por la Biblioteca de la UOC, c) alinearse con la estrategia de la UOC en el desarrollo de materiales de aprendizaje en múltiples formatos, y promover los dispositivos electrónicos como una extensión del Campus Virtual de la UOC, y d ) para aumentar la visibilidad de la Biblioteca de la UOC dentro y fuera de la institución. La presentación concluirá con un análisis de las cuestiones clave que deben tenerse en cuenta en una biblioteca universitaria: el mercado de los e-reader, el negocio poco claro y los modelos de licencia de los libros electrónicos, y el papel de la biblioteca en la promoción de nuevos formatos de lectura para incrementar uso de las colecciones electrónicas

E-MOVE project : a case of successful cooperation of European academic libraries of distance teaching universities

El Library and Learning Support Working Group (LLSWG) és una xarxa europea de professionals de biblioteca i de la informació i educadors dins de l'Associació Europea d'Universitats d'Ensenyament (EADTU). EADTU és l'organització que representa tant les universitats obertes i d'ensenyament a distància com els consorcis nacionals d'institucions d'ensenyament superior actius en els camps d'educació de distància i e-learning. El 2005 l'Associació Europea d'Universitats d'Ensenyament de Distància (EADTU) presentava a la Comissió Europea una proposta de projecte sobre Mobilitat Virtual anomenada E-MOVE. El projecte incloïa, entre d'altres, un paquet de treball referent a biblioteca i suport a l'aprenentatge al context de mobilitat virtual. Aquest fou desenvolupat pel LLSWG de l'EADTU.El Library and Learning Support Working Group (LLSWG) es una red europea de profesionales de biblioteca y de la información y educadores dentro de la Asociación Europea de Universidades de Enseñanza (EADTU). EADTU es la organización que representa tanto las universidades abiertas y de enseñanza a distancia como los consorcios nacionales de instituciones de enseñanza superior activos en los campos de educación de distancia y e-learning. En el 2005 la Asociación Europea de Universidades de Enseñanza de Distancia (EADTU) presentaba a la Comisión Europea una propuesta de proyecto sobre Movilidad Virtual llamada E-MOVE. El proyecto incluía, entre otros, un paquete de trabajo en lo referente a biblioteca y soporte al aprendizaje en el contexto de movilidad virtual. Éste fue desarrollado por el LLSWG del EADTU.The Library and Learning Support Working Group (LLSWG) is a European network of library and information professionals and educators within the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU). EADTU is the representative organization of both the European open and distance learning universities and of the national consortia of higher education institutions active in the field of distance education and e-learning. In 2005 the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) presented to the European Commission a project proposal on Virtual Mobility called E-MOVE. The project included, among other elements, a work package concerning library and learning support in the context of virtual mobility. This work package was developed by the LLSWG of EADTU