Implementing a newborn hearing screening programme : a feasibility study : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Massey University

Aim. To determine the feasibility of implementing a universal newborn hearing screening programme at National Women's Hospital (NWH), Auckland, New Zealand. Method. This feasibility study evaluates the potential for success of a Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) Programme in a tertiary hospital setting. A review of the present provision of care for infants with congenital hearing loss and a clear description of the current environment and resources at National Women's Hospital was undertaken. By utilising the four key determinants of a feasibility study as described by Whitten, Bently & Dittman (2001) I was able to provide a clear description of the current position and explore the alternative solutions, ensuring an accurate and comprehensive study approach was undertaken. Results. A detailed analysis of the environmental setting and population at NWH identified the support required for implementing a UNHS programme. Findings also identified the acceptance by both staff and consumers in providing improved congenital hearing loss detection and intervention early in the newborn period. The evidence supported recommendations for two possible hearing screening protocols that are both practical and feasible in the National Women's Hospital setting for the detection of congenital hearing loss in the newborn population. Conclusion. Overall findings indicated that the implementation of UNHS at National Women's Hospital is feasible. The current method of detecting hearing loss in the newborn population is inadequate with unacceptable delays for diagnosis and appropriate intervention to improve outcomes for those identified with a congenital hearing loss. The protocols supported by this study are based on the research findings and are unique to the NWH environment and target population. They will ensure the infants with congenital hearing loss are detected and referred early (soon after birth) so formal audiological diagnosis and strategies for intervention can occur with treatment implemented by six months of age. This will improve the child's communication and learning skills, improving their level of education and long term learning ability. Further and regular audit of the programme, screeners and outcomes will be required to ensure its efficiency as a screening service for congenital hearing loss

A discussion on developing online learning communities for student information professionals

The Internet provides a wealth of resources and opportunities for enhancing professional education. In professional education courses for archivists and records managers, students can shape their own learning and develop professional skills through authentic assessment strategies which require them to find, analyse and evaluate policy documents and best practice standards published by leading archival organizations. Use of online discussion facilities provided by the ECU School of Computer and Information Science\u27s eCourse system allows students to engage in professional discussion just as they would in the workplace while developing communication and information literacy skills. Student evaluations of this form of assessment are encouragingly positive

Developing recordkeeping: Australians working together

Australia has nine governments, each with their own archives and records legislation. This multiplicity of jurisdictions has the potential for generating divergence and incompatibility of standards. However, the Australian recordkeeping community works together with the result that consistent, complementary standards are not only customised to local legislative requirements and situations, but will in future ensure interoperability and ease of transfer of records wherever necessary. Australian recordkeeping professionals have a sound history of working together. The Implementation Guidelines for the current International standard for records management, /SO15489.2-2001, were adopted and adapted from those in an earlier Australian Standard for records management, AS4390-1996, jointly developed by the National Archives of Australia and State Records New South Wales. The community has also been influential in the development of the Competency standard for archives and records management, an Australian Work process standard (AS5090), and the development of metadata standards for recordkeeping. This last was strengthened by leading research from Monash University in which the National Archives of Australia and State Records New South Wales, and the Australian Society of Archivists collaborated. The archives and records authorities have formed the Council of Australasian Archives and Records Authorities (CAARA). A major part of their work is done under the umbrella of the Australian Digital Recordkeeping Initiative strategically sharing the challenging tasks required to successfully capture and preserve digital records as archives for the future. They also work with other influential partners, including auditors-general, the Australian Government Information Management Office and other heritage collecting bodies such as the Collections Australia and the National Library of Australia. This paper will explore collaboration and cooperation in the Australian recordkeeping community and its strategic benefits for developing the infrastructure necessary to manage technology-dependent records in the present and provide digital public access to them in the future

Challenges in Developing New Therapies for AIDS

The World Health Organization estimates that in 2018 almost 40 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. The most recent CDC report estimates that in the US over 1.2 million people are infected including about 13% who are unaware of their infections. With the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART), there has been much needed progress over the past decade. The continual emergence of drug resistance HIV variants and side effects of life long therapy necessitates the development of new therapies. Our work has centered upon the viral polymerase molecular target, HIV reverse transcriptase (RT). We are using mechanistic studies with computational and structural guidance to design more effective therapies that have improved therapeutic properties

Concur: a High-Level Language for Concurrent Programming

A language CONCUR is defined which permits the definition and initiation of asynchronous processes. The language was inspired by Modula, a language proposed by Wirth for realtime programming. CONCUR removes Modula\u27s restrictions on the placement of process declarations and invocations in order to study the implications of process support more fully- Most of the other sophisticated features of Modula, such as modules, structure types, and procedures, have also been removed to focus attention on processes and their particular requirements. A general methodology is suggested for concurrent programming, and several sample programs are presented which demonstrate concurrent programming with CONCUR. Finally, a compiler is presented which translates CONCUR into the object language for a hypothetical machine. An interpreter for this object language is also included

Estimating the Benefits of Water Quality Improvements in the Upper Narragansett Bay

An EPA-sponsored study of the benefits to Rhode Island residents of the water quality improvement in the Upper Narragansett Bay showed that the estimated annual costs ($2.9 million) exceeded the expected annual benefits ($2.0 million). That analysis evaluated only user benefits which were measured via expenditures; nonuser (intrinsic) benefits were not included. This study estimated the benefits to Rhode Island residents using the "Contingent Valuation" approach and responses from 435 residents to a 1985 survey about swimming and shellfishing. Aggregate annual benefits were estimated to be in the range of $30-60 million for "swimmable" and$30-70 million for "shellfishable" water quality, depending on the type of measure (mean or median) and survey format. Secondary objectives of the study were to test different versions of "willingness to pay" questions and compare mean and median values for measurement. Aside from payment vehicle bias, we found no evidence of serious bias.contingent valuation, pollution, water quality benefits, Environmental Economics and Policy, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Measuring Risk-Based Capital

In order to assure policyholders that their benefits will be available when they are needed, the National Association ofInsurance Commissioners (NAIC) has begun regulating insurer capital through the Risk-Based Capital (RBC) Model Act for life insurance companies. The Model Act helps state insurance regulators plan to preserve and protect adequate insurance capital levels and maintain insurer solvency. The RBC requirements provide for a ratio which assesses the level of risk that is associated with an insurance company\u27s assets. The purpose of the NAIC\u27s RBC calculation is to develop the minimum amount of surplus needed given the risks assumed by the company. For example, the RBC model establishes a 30% risk factor for all unaffiliated common stock held by life insurance companies. This factor was established by using the S&P 500 as an indicator ofthe volatility ofthe stock market. However, questions arise regarding whether the S&P 500 is an accurate measure of the market risk associated with life insurer stock portfolios or whether another index would better reflect their risk. Therefore, after determining the market risk reflected by several different stock indexes and analyzing a sample of insurer stock portfolios, a discussion results about whether the RBC factor needs to be changed