Developing the Lismore CSG poll- a university/local government collaboration

Regional universities can contribute to the capacity of regional governance by providing an important source of specialist knowledge that can be used to aid problem-solving and engage communities more actively in decision-making. This paper reports a case of a partnership between a regional university and a local government authority (LGA), in a situation where the local government authority chose to run a referendum-style poll on a regionally important environmental and industrial issue; the development of the coal seam gas industry in a rural area. The partnership was adopted to produce an independently developed question for the poll. The poll question was developed by university academics who having consulted with stakeholders, provided advice to the LGA, which took responsibility for the final wording of the poll question. An evaluation of the processes involved in developing the poll question included reflection on the collaborative relationship between the university and the LGA. While the independence implicit in the university staff role was acknowledged as important, the importance of a university-LGA collaboration was also highlighted. The value of a more formally-structured process was noted, as were the importance of emphasising the university’s role as an advisory body only, and the LGA’s ownership of the final decision. Implications for policy include (1) the important role that regional Australian universities can play in enhancing governance and decision-making processes, (2) the potential for independent input to policy development processes for local and regional governance, and (3) the poll process which provides a robust method for ascertaining social acceptance of a controversial land use issue

A systematic review of biomarkers among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 predictive of venous thromboembolism: A communication from the Predictive and Diagnostic Variables Scientific and Standardization Committee of the ISTH

Background Thrombosis is reported to occur more often among patients with COVID-19 than otherwise expected in the setting of viral pneumonia and sepsis. Systemic inflammatory biomarkers may be associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. The ISTH subcommittee on Predictive and Diagnostic Variables in Thrombotic Disease aimed to report the evidence on prognostic biomarkers for VTE in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods Using a standardized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis methodology, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies reporting prognostic biomarkers for VTE among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Eligible studies included adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and reported the prognostic associations between any biomarker measured on admission, and the subsequent diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Two authors reviewed titles and abstracts, and three authors extracted study data and performed review of bias. Results were displayed descriptively. Meta-analysis was not possible. Results From the initial 196 identified studies, full-text review was performed for 72 studies. Admission D-dimer levels were associated with VTE during hospitalization in five studies, and elevated platelet count was associated with VTE during hospitalization in one study. The risk of bias ranged from low to high for included studies. Overall, there was a paucity of high-quality prognostic studies. Studies on other biomarkers did not meet the systematic review inclusion criteria. Conclusions Admission D-dimer was associated with VTE diagnosis during hospitalization for COVID-19; however, prospective validation of this finding is needed to identify optimal D-dimer thresholds to guide VTE prophylaxis measures

Bacterial flagellar motors and osmoelectric molecular rotation by an axially transmembrane well and turnstile mechanism

AbstractBacterial ion-driven flagellar motors are the smallest known rotatory mechanical devices, natural or artificial, their overall diameter being only about 25 nm or one millionth of an inch. They are unique in the fields of biology and engineering. This paper develops a possible osmoelectric or local electrokinetic mechanism of molecular rotatory motion in bilayer membranes, which may help to explain how bacterial flagellar motors work, and may incidentally encourage new developments in the bioenergetics and biomechanics of enzyme, osmoenzyme and porter action

Forearm Rotation Range of Motion and Its Velocity in Eating With Chopsticks : a Comparison Among Positions of Dish

The purpose of this study was to determine range of motion of forearm rotation and its velocity in eating. Six young students (age:20.5±0.5 years [range:20-21], 2 men and 4 women) participated in this study. To measure three-dimensional motions, we used an electromagnetic tracking device system. The first sensor was attached to the dorsal/distal of forearm with sprint, and the second sensor was attached to the dorsal/medial ulna with elastic belt. The subjects ate pickles with chopsticks. At a wooden desk with 70cm height they sat on a height-adjustable chair, so their olecranon was as high as the desk top. Three positions of a dish were measured; A: at the distance of length of distal to elbow, B: at the distance of length of the upper extremity, and C: at a middle position between A and B. The results revealed that forearm rotation, range of motion and its velocity were significantly different among three conditions (one-way repeated-measure ANOVA)(p<0.05). Characteristically the motion velocity of B was lower than C, and A was lower than C (p<0.05). Findings suggest that 1) limited forearm range of motion would decrease a burden of forearm by setting a dish at B or C than A, 2) the rotation (maximal pronation and supination: 11 and 49 degrees, respectively) was similar, to a fork (maximal pronation and supination: 10 and 51 degrees, respectively), 3) C may be efficiently operated, and 4) the system may be instructed as a good equipment for eating

Treatment of patients with rare bleeding disorders in the Netherlands:Real-life data from the RBiN study

Background Patients with rare inherited bleeding disorders (RBDs) exhibit hemorrhagic symptoms, varying in type and severity, often requiring only on-demand treatment. Prolonged bleeding after invasive procedures is common. Adequate peri-procedural therapy may reduce this bleeding risk. Objective To describe general treatment plans of RBD patients and evaluate the use of peri-procedural hemostatic therapy. Methods In the Rare Bleeding Disorders in the Netherlands (RBiN) study, RBD patients from all six Dutch Hemophilia Treatment Centers were included. General treatment plans were extracted from patient files. Patients with a dental or surgical procedure in their history were interviewed about use of peri-procedural treatment and bleeding complications. Results Two-hundred sixty-three patients with a rare coagulation factor deficiency or fibrinolytic disorder were included. Eighty-four percent had a documented general treatment plan. General treatment plans of patients with the same RBD were heterogeneous, particularly in factor XI deficiency. Overall, 308 dental and 408 surgical procedures were reported. Bleeding occurred in 50% of dental and 53% of surgical procedures performed without hemostatic treatment and in 28% of dental and 19% of surgical procedures performed with hemostatic treatment. Not only patients with severe RBDs, but also patients with mild deficiencies, experienced increased bleeding without proper hemostatic treatment. Conclusion Large heterogeneity in general treatment plans of RBD patients was found. Bleeding after invasive procedures was reported frequently, both before and after RBD diagnosis, irrespective of factor activity levels and particularly when peri-procedural treatment was omitted. Improved guidelines should include uniform recommendations for most appropriate hemostatic products per RBD and emphasize the relevance of individual bleeding history

Quel rôle peut-on imputer aux banques à charte canadiennes dans la transmission des chocs monétaires des années quatre-vingt?

Cette recherche s’inscrit dans la foulée de nombreux travaux entrepris suite aux publications de Bernanke et Blinder (1988, 1992) ayant remis à l’avant-plan le rôle joué par le système bancaire dans la transmission de la politique monétaire. Nous proposons d’examiner la dynamique inhérente à certains postes du bilan des banques à charte canadiennes suite aux mouvement des principaux taux d’intérêt, habituellement jugés révélateurs des conditions monétaires du moment. Pour ce faire, nous avons recours à un modèle VAR hebdomadaire comportant à la fois, des éléments de l’actif et du passif des banques ainsi que les taux de rendement associés à divers instruments financiers. Cependant, dans le but de bien encadrer cette analyse, nous développons un modèle formel du comportement d’une banque où les seuls changements aux postes de son bilan suite aux mouvements de taux d’intérêt sont dictés par des ajustements de portefeuille visant à tirer avantage des écarts se creusant entre ceux-ci. Ce modèle théorique est soumis aux variations de taux d’intérêt issues du modèle empirique VAR. Les mouvements observés aux postes du bilan de cette banque « témoin » fournissent un guide utile permettant d’interpréter de façon éclairée les résultats empiriques obtenus. À cet égard, l’exercice proposé montre qu’il est possible d’établir un parallèle assez étroit entre l’évolution des postes du bilan de la banque hypothétique et celle captée par le modèle VAR et ainsi apporte un certain support à l’approche traditionnelle sur le rôle joué par les banques dans la transmission des chocs monétaires.This paper can be seen as a contribution to a growing literature initiated by Bernanke and Blinder (1988, 1992) which have examined the role played by the banking system in the transmission of monetary policy. We propose to study the dynamic behaviour of the balance sheet of Canadian chartered banks following a shock to some key interest rates which are good indicators of the prevailing monetary conditions. More specifically, we estimate a weekly VAR model which comprises key asset and liabilities elements as well as rates of return on major financial instruments. However, to guide this empirical inquiry, we set up a model of a representative bank which adjusts its balance sheet elements according to the interest rate spreads arising in the financial markets. This theoretical model is then subjected to the same interest rate shocks than those imposed on the VAR model: the adjustments observed in this laboratory will prove quite useful to assess the significance of the empirical results uncovered by the VAR model. Overall, we find that both approaches give rise to quite similar dynamic responses which tends to support the traditional role of the banking sector in the transmission of monetary policy

Family time, parental behaviour model and the initiation of smoking and alcohol use by ten-year-old children: an epidemiological study in Kaunas, Lithuania

BACKGROUND: Family is considered to be the first and the most important child development and socialization bond. Nevertheless, parental behaviour model importance for the children, as well as family time for shared activity amount influence upon the child's health-related behaviour habit development has not been yet thoroughly examined. The aim of this paper is to indicate the advanced health-hazardous behaviour modelling possibilities in the families, as well as time spent for joint family activities, and to examine the importance of time spent for joint family activities for the smoking and alcohol use habit initiation among children. METHODS: This research was carried out in Kaunas, Lithuania, during the school year 2004–2005. The research population consisted of 369 fifth-grade schoolchildren (211 (57.2%) boys and 158 (42.8%) girls) and 565 parents: 323 (57.2%) mothers and 242 (48.2%) fathers. The response rate was 80.7% for children; 96.1% and 90.6% for mothers and fathers correspondingly. RESULTS: Eating a meal together was the most frequent joint family activity, whereas visiting friends or relatives together, going for a walk, or playing sports were the most infrequent joint family activities. More than two thirds (81.5%) of parents (248 (77.0%) mothers and 207 (85.9%) fathers (p < 0.05)) reported frequenting alcohol furnished parties at least once a month. About half of the surveyed fathers (50.6%) together with one fifth of the mothers (19.9%) (p < 0.001) were smokers. More frequently than girls, boys reported having tried smoking (6.6% and 23.0% respectively; p < 0.001) as well as alcohol (31.16% and 40.1% respectively; p < 0.05). Child alcohol use was associated both with paternal alcohol use, and with the time, spent in joint family activities. For instance, boys were more prone to try alcohol, if their fathers frequented alcohol furnished parties, whereas girls were more prone to try alcohol, if family members spent less time together. CONCLUSION: Joint family activity time deficit together with frequent parental examples of smoking and alcohol use underlie the development of alcohol and smoking addictions in children to some extent. The above-mentioned issues are suggested to be widely addressed in the comprehensive family health education programs

Lung cancer in HIV patients and their parents: A Danish cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HIV patients are known to be at increased risk of lung cancer but the risk factors behind this are unclear.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We estimated the cumulative incidence and relative risk of lung cancer in 1) a population of all Danish HIV patients identified from the Danish HIV Cohort Study (n = 5,053) and a cohort of population controls matched on age and gender (n = 50,530) (study period; 1995 - 2009) and 2) their parents (study period; 1969 - 2009). Mortality and relative risk of death after a diagnosis of lung cancer was estimated in both populations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>29 (0.6%) HIV patients vs. 183 (0.4%) population controls were diagnosed with lung cancer in the observation period. HIV patients had an increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR); 2.38 (95% CI; 1.61 - 3.53)). The IRR was considerably increased in HIV patients who were smokers or former smokers (adjusted IRR; 4.06 (95% CI; 2.66 - 6.21)), male HIV patients with heterosexual route of infection (adjusted IRR; 4.19 (2.20 - 7.96)) and HIV patients with immunosuppression (adjusted IRR; 3.25 (2.01 - 5.24)). Both fathers and mothers of HIV patients had an increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted IRR for fathers; 1.31 (95% CI: 1.09 - 1.58), adjusted IRR for mothers 1.35 (95% CI: 1.07 - 1.70)). Mortality after lung cancer diagnose was increased in HIV patients (adjusted mortality rate ratio 2.33 (95%CI; 1.51 - 3.61), but not in the parents. All HIV patients diagnosed with lung cancer were smokers or former smokers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The risk was especially increased in HIV patients who were smokers or former smokers, heterosexually infected men or immunosuppressed. HIV appears to be a marker of behavioural or family related risk factors that affect the incidence of lung cancer in HIV patients.</p

Contribution of parental and school personnel smoking to health risk behaviours among Finnish adolescents

This study compared parental smoking with school personnel smoking in relation to adolescents' smoking behaviours, alcohol use, and illicit drug use