Homology of Distributive Lattices

We outline the theory of sets with distributive operations: multishelves and multispindles, with examples provided by semi-lattices, lattices and skew lattices. For every such a structure we define multi-term distributive homology and show some of its properties. The main result is a complete formula for the homology of a finite distributive lattice. We also indicate the answer for unital spindles and conjecture the general formula for semi-lattices and some skew lattices. Then we propose a generalization of a lattice as a set with a number of idempotent operations satisfying the absorption law.Comment: 30 pages, 3 tables, 3 figure

Glial repair in an insect central nervous system: effects of selective glial disruption

In vivo application of ethidium bromide to cockroach central nervous connectives caused extensive disruption of the neuroglia within 24 hr. Axonal conduction persisted following treatment with the glial toxin. A consistent feature of glial damage and repair was the prominent involvement of granule-containing cells. These cells (which were never seen in control cords) shared a number of cytological features with hemocytes that were seen adhering to and penetrating the neural lamella, in the early stages of glial damage. The granule-containing cells appear to serve dual functions: phagocytosis and structural repair. After 48 hr, granule-containing cells, or their processes, formed layers at the periphery of the connectives. By 4 to 6 days after treatment, the peripheral cells had assumed the morphological characteristics of normal perineurial cells and by 28 days were indistinguishable, ultrastructurally, from those of the perineurium of normal, untreated animals. These structural changes paralleled the re-establishment of the normal permeability properties of the blood-brain interface revealed by the exclusion of an extracellular tracer, ionic lanthanum, and electrophysiological observations

Health professionals and students encounter multi-level barriers to implementing high-value osteoarthritis care: a multi-national study

Objective: Consistent evidence-practice gaps in osteoarthritis (OA) care are observed in primary care settings globally. Building workforce capacity to deliver high-value care requires a contemporary understanding of barriers to care delivery. We aimed to explore barriers to OA care delivery among clinicians and students. Design: A cross-sectional, multinational study sampling clinicians (physiotherapists, primary care nurses, general practitioners (GPs), GP registrars; total possible denominator: n = 119,735) and final-year physiotherapy and medical students (denominator: n = 2,215) across Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Respondents answered a survey, aligned to contemporary implementation science domains, which measured barriers to OA care using categorical and free-text responses. Results: 1886 clinicians and 1611 students responded. Items within the domains ‘health system’ and ‘patient-related factors’ represented the most applicable barriers experienced by clinicians (25–42% and 20–36%, respectively), whereas for students, ‘knowledge and skills’ and ‘patient-related factors’ (16–24% and 19–28%, respectively) were the most applicable domains. Meta-synthesis of qualitative data highlighted skills gaps in specific components of OA care (tailoring exercise, nutritional/overweight management and supporting positive behaviour change); assessment, measurement and monitoring; tailoring care; managing case complexity; and translating knowledge to practice (especially among students). Other barriers included general infrastructure limitations (particularly related to community facilities); patient-related factors (e.g., beliefs and compliance); workforce-related factors such as inconsistent care and a general knowledge gap in high-value care; and system and service-level factors relating to financing and time pressures, respectively. Conclusions: Clinicians and students encounter barriers to delivery of high-value OA care in clinical practice/training (micro-level); within service environments (meso-level); and within the health system (macro-level)