Exploring knowledge exchange: a useful framework for practice and policy

Knowledge translation is underpinned by a dynamic and social knowledge exchange process but there are few descriptions of how this unfolds in practice settings. This has hampered attempts to produce realistic and useful models to help policymakers and researchers understand how knowledge exchange works. This paper reports the results of research which investigated the nature of knowledge exchange. We aimed to understand whether dynamic and fluid definitions of knowledge exchange are valid and to produce a realistic, descriptive framework of knowledge exchange. Our research was informed by a realist approach. We embedded a knowledge broker within three service delivery teams across a large mental health organisation, each of whom was grappling with specific challenges. The knowledge broker participated in the team's problem-solving process and collected observational fieldnotes. We also interviewed the team members. Observational and interview data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively in order to determine and describe the nature of the knowledge exchange process in more detail. This enabled us to refine our conceptual framework of knowledge exchange. We found that knowledge exchange can be understood as a dynamic and fluid process which incorporates distinct forms of knowledge from multiple sources. Quantitative analysis illustrated that five broadly-defined components of knowledge exchange (problem, context, knowledge, activities, use) can all be in play at any one time and do not occur in a set order. Qualitative analysis revealed a number of distinct themes which better described the nature of knowledge exchange. By shedding light on the nature of knowledge exchange, our findings problematise some of the linear, technicist approaches to knowledge translation. The revised model of knowledge exchange which we propose here could therefore help to reorient thinking about knowledge exchange and act as a starting point for further exploration and evaluation of the knowledge exchange process

Ixodes brunneus (Acari: Ixodidae) from Two Bird Hosts: A New Michigan Tick

The tick Ixodes brunneus Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) is reported for the first time in Michigan from two bird hosts at two locations in the lower peninsula. All stages of this tick exclusively feed on birds, and are primarily known from the southern U.S., although abundant records occur from northern states. The role of this species as a vector of pathogens is discussed

Cold gas in group-dominant elliptical galaxies

We present IRAM 30m telescope observations of the CO(1-0) and (2-1) lines in a sample of 11 group-dominant elliptical galaxies selected from the CLoGS nearby groups sample. Our observations confirm the presence of molecular gas in 4 of the 11 galaxies at >4 sigma significance, and combining these with data from the literature we find a detection rate of 43+-14%, comparable to the detection rate for nearby radio galaxies, suggesting that group-dominant ellipticals may be more likely to contain molecular gas than their non-central counterparts. Those group-dominant galaxies which are detected typically contain ~2x10^8 Msol of molecular gas, and although most have low star formation rates (<1 Msol/yr) they have short depletion times, indicating that the gas must be replenished on timescales ~100 Myr. Almost all of the galaxies contain active nuclei, and we note while the data suggest that CO may be more common in the most radio-loud galaxies, the mass of molecular gas required to power the active nuclei through accretion is small compared to the masses observed. We consider possible origin mechanisms for the gas, through cooling of stellar ejecta within the galaxies, group-scale cooling flows, and gas-rich mergers, and find probable examples of each type within our sample, confirming that a variety of processes act to drive the build up of molecular gas in group-dominant ellipticals.Comment: 9 pages, 5 postscript figures, 4 tables, accepted by A&A. Revised throughout in response to referee's comments, including updates to Table 1 and Figure 4, and addition of Figure

Physical activity education in the undergraduate curricula of all UK medical schools: are tomorrow's doctors equipped to follow clinical guidelines?

Physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone of disease prevention and treatment. There is, however, a considerable disparity between public health policy, clinical guidelines and the delivery of physical activity promotion within the National Health Service in the UK. If this is to be addressed in the battle against non-communicable diseases, it is vital that tomorrow's doctors understand the basic science and health benefits of physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess the provision of physical activity teaching content in the curricula of all medical schools in the UK. Our results, with responses from all UK medical schools, uncovered some alarming findings, showing that there is widespread omission of basic teaching elements, such as the Chief Medical Officer recommendations and guidance on physical activity. There is an urgent need for physical activity teaching to have dedicated time at medical schools, to equip tomorrow's doctors with the basic knowledge, confidence and skills to promote physical activity and follow numerous clinical guidelines that support physical activity promotion

The Coupled Cluster Method in Hamiltonian Lattice Field Theory

The coupled cluster or exp S form of the eigenvalue problem for lattice Hamiltonian QCD (without quarks) is investigated. A new construction prescription is given for the calculation of the relevant coupled cluster matrix elements with respect to an orthogonal and independent loop space basis. The method avoids the explicit introduction of gauge group coupling coefficients by mapping the eigenvalue problem onto a suitable set of character functions, which allows a simplified procedure. Using appropriate group theoretical methods, we show that it is possible to set up the eigenvalue problem for eigenstates having arbitrary lattice momentum and lattice angular momentum.Comment: LaTeX, no figur

THE PROTEOMIC RESPONSE OF THE CARCINUS MAENAS Y-ORGAN OVER THE COURSE OF THE MOLT CYCLE

Molting in arthropods is a complex process governed by regulatory mechanisms that have evolved and adapted over millennia to allow these animals to grow, despite being confined by a hardened exoskeleton. We isolated the molt-regulating Y-organs (YO) from the common shore crab Carcinus maenas at molt stages B, C1-3, C4, and D0 to assess how changes in protein abundances might underline the unique physiology of each of these stages. We found that changes in protein abundance were most notable in the postmolt stages (B and C1-3), where an increase in energy metabolism and the reactive oxygen species stress (ROS) response proteins was observed. An increase in triosephosphate isomerase and transketolase suggest that the postmolt YO is participating in triglycerides storage and is also actively recycling excess ribose sugars manufactured during the YO’s previously activated state. We also propose as mechanism through which ROS-induced release of cyclophilin A may contribute to YO atrophy during postmolt through the remodeling of structural proteins such as collagen. We support the standing observation of YO atrophy during postmolt by drawing attention to hemolymph protein abundances, especially those of cryptocyanin isoforms, which dropped precipitously in intermolt (C4) and remained at low abundances into early premolt (D0). Finally, though our evidence is preliminary, we propose that future investigations into the YO proteome address the significance of the protein glutamate dehydrogenase. Glutamate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme involved in the formation of glutamate, represents a potential nutrient-sensing checkpoint that might be involved in YO activation. Historically, most attention has gone to the acute molt stages, where signaling mechanisms involved in the activation of the YO have been the focus. Here, we present data suggesting that other regulatory mechanism may be governing the atrophy the postmolt YO. A better understanding of crustacean physiology has the potential to benefit ecosystems and economies worldwide

Faculty perceptions of the effects of collective bargaining agreements on their professional roles: The New England public higher education experience

This study, a combination of quantitative and artifact analysis, examined how New England public college and university faculty perceived their professional concerns were affected by working under a collective bargaining agreement. The professional concerns, derived from the pertinent literature, included the following: the ability of the faculty to effectively influence who joined the faculty ranks; their powers to determine the curriculum, with their related instructional practices/delivery systems, and the setting of degree requirements; determining their teaching, scholarship, and service requirements; assuring the exercise of academic freedom, and reasonable shared governance. Coupled with these professional concerns were three research questions that also were the study\u27s focus: (1) Does collective bargaining facilitate or inhibit faculty professional autonomy? (2) Is it important to their sense of professionalism? (3) Do collective bargaining agreements support professional autonomy? For the survey phase, 650 faculty, drawn from thirteen four-year public institutions within New England, were surveyed to ascertain their perceptions on how their contracts affected their professional concerns. For the artifact phase, the collective bargaining contracts of the thirteen institutions were examined to see if the contracts\u27 language might impinge on the professional concerns of the faculty. The 141 total surveys received after an initial and a follow-up mailing, were analyzed using factor analysis and ANOVAs. The results showed that the respondents perceived that their professional concerns were adequately addressed by their collective bargaining agreements. Also faculty felt that their shared governance role was more secure. There were differences among the survey responses based on union membership with regard to the agreements working as a balance on administrative powers, with significant differences found between those not in a union, and members of AAUP, AFT, and NEA. However, what faculty sought in their contracts to ensure a faculty role in shared governance was in fact very limited in the actual contracts\u27 language. Information gained from this study may inform the collective bargaining process for both sides of the table and lend an understanding of the impact of these agreements upon their respective institutions

An Application of Feynman-Kleinert Approximants to the Massive Schwinger Model on a Lattice

A trial application of the method of Feynman-Kleinert approximants is made to perturbation series arising in connection with the lattice Schwinger model. In extrapolating the lattice strong-coupling series to the weak-coupling continuum limit, the approximants do not converge well. In interpolating between the continuum perturbation series at large fermion mass and small fermion mass, however, the approximants do give good results. In the course of the calculations, we picked up and rectified an error in an earlier derivation of the continuum series coefficients.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, 5 table

Bacterial Transposons containing Markers for Fungal Gene Disruption

We have constructed 2 tn5-containing plasmids, pLH1 and pLH3, specialized towards mutagenesis of genes from fungi which are auxotrophic for arginine or sensitive to hygromycin (such as the filamentous fungi Aspergillus nidulans and Magnaporthe grisea.) These plasmids are also a useful means of integrating additional marker genes in the plasmid backbone

The Coupled Cluster Method in Hamiltonian Lattice Field Theory: SU(2) Glueballs

The glueball spectrum within the Hamiltonian formulation of lattice gauge theory (without fermions) is calculated for the gauge group SU(2) and for two spatial dimensions. The Hilbert space of gauge-invariant functions of the gauge field is generated by its parallel-transporters on closed paths along the links of the spatial lattice. The coupled cluster method is used to determine the spectrum of the Kogut-Susskind Hamiltonian in a truncated basis. The quality of the description is studied by computing results from various truncations, lattice regularisations and with an improved Hamiltonian. We find consistency for the mass ratio predictions within a scaling region where we obtain good agreement with standard lattice Monte Carlo results.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure