Content repositories and social networking : can there be synergies?

This paper details the novel application of Web 2.0 concepts to current services offered to Social Scientists by the ReDReSS project, carried out by the Centre for e-Science at Lancaster University. We detail plans to introduce Social Bookmarking and Social Networking concepts into the repository software developed by the project. This will result in the improved discovery of e-Science concepts and training to Social Scientists and allow for much improved linking of resources in the repository. We describe plans that use Social Networking and Social Bookmarking concepts, using Open Standards, which will promote collaboration between researchers by using information gathered on user’s use of the repository and information about the user. This will spark collaborations that would not normally be possible in the academic repository context

Structural analysis of five-coordinate aluminium(salen) complexes and its relationship to their catalytic activity

The crystal structure of [Al(tBu-salen)]2O·HCl shows major changes compared to that of [Al(tBu-salen)]2O. The additional proton is localized on the bridging oxygen atom, making the aluminium atoms more electron deficient. As a result, a water molecule coordinates to one of the aluminium atoms, which becomes six-coordinate. This pushes the salen ligand associated with the six-coordinate aluminium ion closer to the other salen ligand and results in the geometry around the five-coordinate aluminium atom becoming more trigonal bipyramidal. These results experimentally mirror the predications of DFT calculations on the interaction of [Al(tBu-salen)]2O and related complexes with carbon dioxide. Variable temperature NMR studies of protonated [Al(tBu-salen)]2O complexes revealed that the structures were dynamic and could be explained on the basis of an intramolecular rearrangement in which the non-salen substituent of a five-coordinate aluminium(tBu-salen) unit migrates from one face of a square based pyramidal structure to the other via the formation of structures with trigonal bipyramidal geometries. Protonated [Al(tBu-salen)]2O complexes were shown to have enhanced Lewis acidity relative to [Al(tBu-salen)]2O, coordinating to water, dioxane and 1,2-epoxyhexane. Coordinated epoxyhexane was activated towards ring-opening, to give various species which remained coordinated to the aluminium centers. The protonated [Al(tBu-salen)]2O complexes catalysed the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide both in the presence and absence of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a nucleophilic cocatalyst. The catalytic activity was principally determined by the nature of the nucleophilic species within the catalyst structure rather than by changes to the Lewis acidity of the metal centers

Can clinician’s risk assessments distinguish those who disclose suicidal ideation from those who attempt suicide?

Participants were 85 individuals who made suicide attempts within two years of their Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) assessment, identified using record linkage. Two comparison groups, non-suicidal controls (n = 1416) and (ideators, n = 743) were compared on variables extracted from the standardized IAPT risk assessment interview. Disclosure of a historical suicide attempt or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) distinguished those making an attempt from those with suicidal ideation only, but suicidal intent did not. A third of the participants concealed a historical suicide attempt. The IAPT Phobia Scale classified 49.30% of attempters with 100% specificity. The IAPT Phobia Scale may have clinical value in assessing risk but requires validation. Past suicide attempt and NSSI have better clinical risk assessment utility than current suicidal ideation intensity. Risk assessment relying on disclosure is likely to be flawed and risks support being withheld from those assumed to be at lower risk

Association of cardiometabolic microRNAs with COVID-19 severity and mortality

AIMS: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to multiorgan damage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in blood reflect cell activation and tissue injury. We aimed to determine the association of circulating miRNAs with COVID-19 severity and 28 day intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed RNA-Seq in plasma of healthy controls (n = 11), non-severe (n = 18), and severe (n = 18) COVID-19 patients and selected 14 miRNAs according to cell- and tissue origin for measurement by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR) in a separate cohort of mild (n = 6), moderate (n = 39), and severe (n = 16) patients. Candidates were then measured by RT–qPCR in longitudinal samples of ICU COVID-19 patients (n = 240 samples from n = 65 patients). A total of 60 miRNAs, including platelet-, endothelial-, hepatocyte-, and cardiomyocyte-derived miRNAs, were differentially expressed depending on severity, with increased miR-133a and reduced miR-122 also being associated with 28 day mortality. We leveraged mass spectrometry-based proteomics data for corresponding protein trajectories. Myocyte-derived (myomiR) miR-133a was inversely associated with neutrophil counts and positively with proteins related to neutrophil degranulation, such as myeloperoxidase. In contrast, levels of hepatocyte-derived miR-122 correlated to liver parameters and to liver-derived positive (inverse association) and negative acute phase proteins (positive association). Finally, we compared miRNAs to established markers of COVID-19 severity and outcome, i.e. SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia, age, BMI, D-dimer, and troponin. Whilst RNAemia, age and troponin were better predictors of mortality, miR-133a and miR-122 showed superior classification performance for severity. In binary and triplet combinations, miRNAs improved classification performance of established markers for severity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Circulating miRNAs of different tissue origin, including several known cardiometabolic biomarkers, rise with COVID-19 severity. MyomiR miR-133a and liver-derived miR-122 also relate to 28 day mortality. MiR-133a reflects inflammation-induced myocyte damage, whilst miR-122 reflects the hepatic acute phase response

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a personalised self-management intervention for living with long COVID: protocol for the LISTEN randomised controlled trial

Background: Individuals living with long COVID experience multiple, interacting and fluctuating symptoms which can have a dramatic impact on daily living. The aim of the Long Covid Personalised Self-managemenT support EvaluatioN (LISTEN) trial is to evaluate effects of the LISTEN co-designed self-management support intervention for non-hospitalised people living with long COVID on participation in routine activities, social participation, emotional well-being, quality of life, fatigue, and self-efficacy. Cost-effectiveness will also be evaluated, and a detailed process evaluation carried out to understand how LISTEN is implemented. Methods: The study is a pragmatic randomised effectiveness and cost-effectiveness trial in which a total of 558 non-hospitalised people with long COVID will be randomised to either the LISTEN intervention or usual care. Recruitment strategies have been developed with input from the LISTEN Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) advisory group and a social enterprise, Diversity and Ability, to ensure inclusivity. Eligible participants can self-refer into the trial via a website or be referred by long COVID services. All participants complete a range of self-reported outcome measures, online, at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months post randomisation (the trial primary end point). Those randomised to the LISTEN intervention are offered up to six one-to-one sessions with LISTEN-trained intervention practitioners and given a co-designed digital resource and paper-based book. A detailed process evaluation will be conducted alongside the trial to inform implementation approaches should the LISTEN intervention be found effective and cost-effective. Discussion: The LISTEN trial is evaluating a co-designed, personalised self-management support intervention (the LISTEN intervention) for non-hospitalised people living with long COVID. The design has incorporated extensive strategies to minimise participant burden and maximise access. Whilst the duration of follow-up is limited, all participants are approached to consent for long-term follow-up (subject to additional funding being secured)

Supporting the uptake of Cyberinfrastructure in the Social Sciences and the challenges faced

In this paper we provide arguments as to why the tools and resources that ReDReSS offers provide an effective and ultimately unique online learning environment for social science researchers. Learning content is provided in a variety of formats including audio-visual recordings of lectures and workshops. This is complemented by a range of classification and search tools to facilitate the construction of 'learning ladders' for self motivated researchers wishing to acquire new skills. Web 2.0 style collaboration tools are included to give a rich experience and to stimulate community engagement. Statistics indicate the popularity of the resources offered by the project, and demonstrate the importance of the ReDReSS project and the services and resources it has to offer

Advanced detector and control systems for optical astronomy

Since the late 1920's, the concept of large optical telescopes for optical astronomy has been much discussed. Ever since the construction of the Hale 200" Telescope at Palomar, no new developments have appeared during the intervening fifty years, despite a clear need for such facilities. Only recently have renewed attempts been made at very large telescopes using new ideas and advanced concepts in telescope construction. Nevertheless optical astronomy has advanced tremendously due to huge improvements in instrumentation. The advent of computers and electronic detectors gave the astronomer new and powerful tools for reaching deeper into the cosmos in much more detail. These new developments in instrumentation have been most dramatic in the past fifteen years with the development of the Charge-Coupled-Device (CCD) and Image Photon Counting Systems (IPCS) together with improvements in spectrograph design. With the new, very large telescopes under construction now and the continued improvements in instrumentation, the future for optical astronomy is bound to be very exciting. This thesis involves work carried out by the author at University College London that includes the development of a common user CCD camera for the South African Astronomical Observatory, the control system for a new generation echelle spectrograph recently commissioned at the Anglo-Australian Telescope, and the development of a new concept in CCD detectors involving the assembly of large focal plane arrays of CCDs, thereby providing the astronomer with a detector able to fully utilise the capabilities of the new generation of very large telescopes and their associated instrumentation. This work is described within a framework that begins with a brief introduction and overview of some of the recent advances in optical instrumentation for astronomy. The main body of the thesis illustrates the work carried out during the course of study including commissioning data and results. The thesis is concluded with a brief look to the future for instrumentation in ground-based optical astronomy

Reporting of emotional abuse in children

Background: There is a growing clinical and research interest into emotional abuse and its detrimental impact on child welfare and development, yet increasing evidence suggests that it remains both under-recognised and under-reported. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and nature of emotional abuse experienced by a random sample of children referred to a multi-agency Child Protection team, located within an NHS board, due to concerns about maltreatment. The secondary objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of children within the sample who were disabled. Method: The study was a retrospective case note survey. Random samples of 108 case files were selected and reviewed using the Maltreatment Classification Record Abstraction Instrument – MCRAI (Trickett et al., 2009). Fifteen items of parental behaviour regarded as emotionally abusive were coded and organised into four subtypes of emotional abuse. This information was applied to two psychological maltreatment frameworks. Non parametric and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis Results: There was a significant difference found in the identification of emotional abuse between clinician reporting, n=33 (30.6%), at the time of referral and the use of the extraction tool with either psychological framework, n=78(72.2%). There was only a small number of children with a disability identified within the random sample who had experienced abuse and/or neglect n=12. Conclusions: Greater awareness and understanding of emotional abuse would be valuable in ensuring that children’s psychological needs are met and to avoid the detrimental impact of this form of abuse. Clinicians would also benefit from a greater understanding of the complexities of disabilities and how these can impact on child protection investigations.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo