General practitioners' reasons for removing patients from their lists: postal survey in England and Wales

The removal of patients from doctors' lists causes con­ siderable public and political concern, with speculation that patients are removed for inappropriate, including financial, reasons. In 1999 the House of Commons Select Committee on Public Administration noted that little evidence was available on either the frequency of, or the reasons for, removal of patients. National statistics do not distinguish between patients removed after moving out of a practice area and those removed for other reasons. Two postal surveys have reported why general practitioners might, in general, remove patients, and one small study has described the reasons doctors give for particular removals. We therefore determined the current scale of, and doctors' reasons for, removal of patients from their lists in Eng­ land and Wales

The oxidation of carbon monoxide using a tin oxide catalyst

This paper outlines some of the steps involved in the development by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) of a catalytic device for the recombination of carbon monoxide and oxygen in a CO2 laser system. It contrasts the differences between CO oxidation for air purification and for laser environmental control, but indicates that there are similarities between the physical specifications. The principal features of catalytic devices are outlined and some experimental work described. This includes measurements concerning the structure and mechanical properties of the artifact, the preparation of the catalyst coating and its interaction with the gaseous environment. The paper concludes with some speculation about the method by which the reaction actually occurs

Application of airborne infrared technology to monitor building heat loss

The application of airborne infrared technology to the requirements for energy conservation in buildings was studied. Quantitative airborne data of the City of Ypsilanti, Michigan, were collected and processed to identify roof temperatures. A thermal scanner was flown at an altitude of 1,200 feet with two thermal bands 8.2-9.3 micrometers and 10.4-12.5 micrometers recorded by an analog system. Calibration was achieved by standard hot and cold plates. Using a thermal model to interpret ceiling insulation status, environmental factors were found to influence the relation between roof temperature and insulation. These include interior and sky temperatures, roofing materials, and the pitch and orientation of the roof. A follow-up mail survey established the ability to identify insulated and uninsulated houses from the airborne infrared data

Decadal water balance of a temperate Scots pine forest (Pinus sylvestris L.) based on measurements and modelling

We examined the water balance components of an 80-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest stand in the Campine region of Belgium over a ten year period using five very different approaches; our methods ranged from data intensive measurements to process model simulations. Specifically, we used the conservative ion method (CI), the Eddy Covariance technique (EC), an empirical model (WATBAL), and two process models that vary greatly in their temporal and spatial scaling, the ORCHIDEE global land-surface model and SECRETS a stand- to ecosystem-scale biogeochemical process model. Herein we used the EC technique as a standard for the evapotranspiration (ET) estimates. Using and evaluating process based models with data is extremely useful as models are the primary method for integration of small-scale, process level phenomena into comprehensive description of forest stand or ecosystem function. Results demonstrated that the two process models corresponded well to the seasonal patterns and yearly totals of ET from the EC approach. However, both WATBAL and CI approaches overestimated ET when compared to the EC estimates. We found significant relationships between several meteorological variables (i.e., vapour pressure deficit [VPD], mean air temperature [Tair], and global radiation [Rg]) and ET on monthly basis for all approaches. In contrast, few relationships were significant on annual basis. Independent of the method examined, ET exhibited low inter-annual variability. Consequently, drainage fluxes were highly correlated with annual precipitation for all approaches examined, except CI

Transformative Leadership In Nature-Based Preschool Education

The general topic of this qualitative case study was nature-based education for preschool children, which was explored through the lens of transformative leadership and its key principles: equity, inclusion, and democracy. The purpose was to examine nature-based preschool leaders’ perceptions of leadership. The research questions that guided this study were: a.) what are educational leaders’ perceptions of the significance of the transformative leadership components of inclusion, equity, and democracy in nature-based preschool education? b.) what are educational leaders of nature-based preschool programs’ perceptions of the impact their leadership style has upon their schools’ stakeholders, which include teachers, students, parents, and community? The participants were the leaders of five nature-based preschool programs. The findings included the importance of modeling and meeting the needs of stakeholders, and the development of empathy and compassion as a key result of their leadership. Further, the leaders of these programs emphasized the significance of teamwork and collaboration coupled with building strong relationships with stakeholders. A pattern emerged from the data that the principles of transformative leadership tend to occur naturally in nature-based preschool education, and that the empathy and compassion that are developed contribute to an inclusive, equitable, and democratic learning environment. Additionally, nature-based preschool leaders recognize that their leadership has a significant impact on their stakeholders. Recommendations include developing a framework for leadership in nature-based preschool education and expanding professional development opportunities for leaders in this field

The effectiveness of different exercises protocols to prevent the incidence of hamstring injury in athletes

Hamstring strains are the most prevalent non-contact injury associated with participation in sports. In addition to the anatomical and functional characteristics of the hamstrings, such as the biarticular organisation or the dual innervations of biceps femoris, a number of alterable and non-alterable factors have been associated with the risk of hamstring injuries in athletes. Each of these variables would impact upon hamstring injury risk within an integrated approach, by which the possibility of sustaining an injury can vary depending on the particular circumstances of each athlete. The aim of this critical review is to examine the effects of current preventative exercise protocols and to provide basic guidelines for hamstring injury prevention in athletes