The Social Return on Investment (SROI) of the Master Gardener Programme

Background Garden Organic’s volunteer mentor network team coordinates and manages a number of programmes each designed to promote the core principles of organic horticulture and the benefits that composting and growing your own produce can bring

Strong Equivalence of the Interleaving and Functional Distortion Metrics for Reeb Graphs

The Reeb graph is a construction that studies a topological space through the lens of a real valued function. It has been commonly used in applications, however its use on real data means that it is desirable and increasingly necessary to have methods for comparison of Reeb graphs. Recently, several metrics on the set of Reeb graphs have been proposed. In this paper, we focus on two: the functional distortion distance and the interleaving distance. The former is based on the Gromov-Hausdorff distance, while the latter utilizes the equivalence between Reeb graphs and a particular class of cosheaves. However, both are defined by constructing a near-isomorphism between the two graphs of study. In this paper, we show that the two metrics are strongly equivalent on the space of Reeb graphs. Our result also implies the bottleneck stability for persistence diagrams in terms of the Reeb graph interleaving distance

Secondary succession in a Swiss mire after a bog burst

Severe natural disturbances can lead to the recovery of the original vegetation or the shift to new vegetation types. While post-disturbance succession is well documented for regularly disturbed ecosystems, little is known about the pathways and rapidity of vegetation dynamics after rare events such as peat mass movements in bogs. We monitored the floristic changes in a mire subject to a bog burst in 1987 for two decades through the repeated sampling of permanent plots. The mean species number per plot increased continuously, while the evenness increased only in the first decade and then slightly decreased. Declining species were mostly mire species, while colonist species were mostly wet meadow species. Species turnover was higher in the first decade after the disturbance, and was also higher in the area of peat erosion than in the area of peat accumulation. Changes in plant species composition indicate a succession towards tall-forb vegetation (Filipendulion), acidic fen vegetation (Caricion fuscae) and swamp willow forest (Salicion). We conclude that the effects of the disturbance are still ongoing, and that the mire's potential for recovery is therefore difficult to predic

Using electronic health records to support clinical trials: a report on stakeholder engagement for EHR4CR

Background. The conduct of clinical trials is increasingly challenging due to greater complexity and governance requirements as well as difficulties with recruitment and retention. Electronic Health Records for Clinical Research (EHR4CR) aims at improving the conduct of trials by using existing routinely collected data, but little is known about stakeholder views on data availability, information governance, and acceptable working practices. Methods. Senior figures in healthcare organisations across Europe were provided with a description of the project and structured interviews were subsequently conducted to elicit their views. Results. 37 structured interviewees in Germany, UK, Switzerland, and France indicated strong support for the proposed EHR4CR platform. All interviewees reported that using the platform for assessing feasibility would enhance the conduct of clinical trials and the majority also felt it would reduce workloads. Interviewees felt the platform could enhance trial recruitment and adverse event reporting but also felt it could raise either ethical or information governance concerns in their country. Conclusions. There was clear support for EHR4CR and a belief that it could reduce workloads and improve the conduct and quality of trials. However data security, privacy, and information governance issues would need to be carefully managed in the development of the platform

Percepções de professores universitários sobre as relações interprofissionais que levam a estresse

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia.O homem é um ser social, tem necessidades, transforma e é transformado pelo seu trabalho. O conhecimento sobre os fenômenos que interferem no trabalho humano é um fator necessário para entender o processo laboral como um todo. Verificar as percepções de professores universitários sobre as relações interprofissionais que levam a estresse, possibilita aferir o quanto os professores compreendem formas de relacionamento interpessoal como possíveis determinantes de desgaste físico e psicológico. Foram entrevistados 11 professores, cinco com dedicação exclusiva e seis com dedicação parcial, de uma organização municipal de ensino superior de uma cidade do interior do estado do sul do país. As perguntas abrangeram temas relacionados a interações interpessoais nas situações de trabalho em que os professores consideram: agradáveis, desagradáveis, que gostariam ou não de vivenciar, situações temidas, bem como as reações e sentimentos diante delas. No total de indicações feitas por professores com dedicação exclusiva e com dedicação parcial, aproximadamente metade das verbalizações de cada um dos grupos indicaram como situações agradáveis que vivenciaram em seu trabalho aspectos relacionados a relacionamentos interpessoais. Como aspectos que os agradam em seu trabalho, a categoria Relacionamento Interpessoal, aparece como a mais indicada com 70% para professores com dedicação parcial e 50% para professores com dedicação exclusiva. Como aspectos que os desagradam em seu trabalho, professores com dedicação exclusiva indicam Formação de Alunos (68%) como categoria mais indicada e professores com dedicação parcial indicam Relacionamento Interpessoal (45%). Quanto as percepções sobre relações interpessoais no ambiente de trabalho a maior proporção de aspectos informais são indicados como situações que os professores consideram agradáveis comparando a aspectos profissionais. Os aspectos indicados em maior proporção quanto a situações que os professores consideram desagradáveis foram os comportamentos de colegas, como falta de coleguismo e falta de ética. De maneira geral professores de ambos os grupos tendem indicar mais aspectos desagradáveis do que agradáveis tanto em relação ao seu trabalho, como em situações específicas de relação pessoal. Essa percepção pode favorecer um desgaste físico e psicológico desses professores. Tendo em vista a análise dos aspectos sobre a natureza das relações interpessoais no ambiente de trabalho do professor universitário e o quanto a percepção é facilitadora para a aquisição de comportamentos preventivos, é possível trazer à prática ações de transformação rumo a possibilidade de uma dimensão mais humana do trabalho docente

The State of Pore Fluid Pressure and 3-D Megathrust Earthquake Dynamics

We study the effects of pore fluid pressure (P-f) on the pre-earthquake, near-fault stress state, and 3-D earthquake rupture dynamics through six scenarios utilizing a structural model based on the 2004 M-w 9.1 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. As pre-earthquake P-f magnitude increases, effective normal stress and fault shear strength decrease. As a result, magnitude, slip, peak slip rate, stress drop, and rupture velocity of the scenario earthquakes decrease. Comparison of results with observations of the 2004 earthquake support that pre-earthquake P-f averages near 97% of lithostatic pressure, leading to pre-earthquake average shear and effective normal tractions of 4-5 and 22 MPa. The megathrust in these scenarios is weak, in terms of low mean shear traction at static failure and low dynamic friction coefficient during rupture. Apparent co-seismic principal stress rotations and absolute post-seismic stresses in these scenarios are consistent with the variety of observed aftershock focal mechanisms. In all scenarios, the mean apparent stress rotations are larger above than below the megathrust. Scenarios with larger P-f magnitudes exhibit lower mean apparent principal stress rotations. We further evaluate pre-earthquake P-f depth distribution. If P-f follows a sublithostatic gradient, pre-earthquake effective normal stress increases with depth. If P-f follows the lithostatic gradient exactly, then this normal stress is constant, shifting peak slip and peak slip rate updip. This renders constraints on near-trench strength and constitutive behavior crucial for mitigating hazard. These scenarios provide opportunity for future calibration with site-specific measurements to constrain dynamically plausible megathrust strength and P-f gradients

A phytosociological classification of Swiss mire vegetation

The mapping and monitoring of Swiss mires has so far relied on a classification system based on expert judgement, which was not supported by a quantitative vegetation analysis and which did not include all wetland vegetation types described in the country. Based on a spatially representative sample of 17,608 relevés from 112 Swiss mires, we address the following questions: (1) How abundant are wetland vegetation types (phytosociological alliances) in Swiss mires? (2) How are they distributed across the country--is there a regional pattern? (3) How clearly are they separated from each other? (4) How clear and reliable is their ecological interpretation? Using published wetland vegetation relevés and lists of diagnostic species for phytosociological units (associations and alliances) established by experts, we developed a numerical method for assigning relevés to units through the calculation of similarity indices. We applied this method to our sample of 17,608 relevés and estimated the total area covered by each vegetation type in Switzerland. We found that vegetation types not included in previous mapping were either rare in Switzerland (partly due to mire drainage) or poorly distinguished from other vegetation units. In an ordination, the Swiss mire vegetation formed a triangular gradient system with the Sphagnion medii, the Caricion davallianae and the Phragmition australis as extreme types. Phytosociological alliances were clearly separated in a subset of 2,265 relevés, which had a strong similarity to one particular association, but poorly separated across all relevés, of which many could not be unequivocally assigned to one association. However, ecological gradients were reflected equally well by the vegetation types in either case. Overall, phytosociological alliances distinguished until now proved suitable schemes to describe and interpret vegetation gradients. Nevertheless, we see the urgent need to establish a data base of Swiss wetland relevés for a more reliable definition of some vegetation unit

Early Onset Angiosarcoma of the Breast Following Breast Conserving Therapy

Introduction: Breast angiosarcoma following treatment for breast cancer is a rare event and generally presents no earlier than 6 years after treatment. We identified 2 cases of early-onset angiosarcoma and evaluated patient and treatment factors. Methods: At our large multi-hospital health system, the tumor registry was searched for breast sarcoma from 2000-2020. Patient, tumor, and treatment details were collected. Results: 39 patients were identified, 4 with radiation induced angiosarcoma following breast cancer treatment (range 3-11 years). Two of the cases were early-onset, diagnosed at 3 and 4 years respectively. Patient 1 underwent BCT at age 44 for T1bN0 estrogen positive Her2 negative breast cancer. She presented 3 years later with progressive skin discoloration. After a delay of 3 months as multiple providers thought this was bruising secondary to trauma sustained during a fall, she was referred to breast surgery and punch biopsy was diagnostic for angiosarcoma (Figure 1). She underwent right mastectomy revealing 9.7-cm of high grade angiosarcoma. Patient 2 underwent BCT at 72 for T1cN1a estrogen positive Her2 negative breast cancer. She presented 4 years later with a suspicious skin finding. Punch biopsy was diagnostic for angiosarcoma. She underwent right mastectomy revealing 8-cm of high grade angiosarcoma. Conclusions: Radiation induced breast angiosarcoma is a known but rare entity typically occurring at least 6 years after treatment for breast cancer; however, it should remain high on the differential for patients with suspicious breast lesions before 6 years to avoid a delay in diagnosis as early-onset angiosarcoma does occur.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/merf2020caserpt/1126/thumbnail.jp

Glucocorticosteroid-induced spinal osteoporosis: scientific update on pathophysiology and treatment

Glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the most frequent of all secondary types of osteoporosis. The understanding of the pathophysiology of glucocorticoid (GC) induced bone loss is of crucial importance for appropriate treatment and prevention of debilitating fractures that occur predominantly in the spine. GIOP results from depressed bone formation due to lower activity and higher death rate of osteoblasts on the one hand, and from increased bone resorption due to prolonged lifespan of osteoclasts on the other. In addition, calcium/phosphate metabolism may be disturbed through GC effects on gut, kidney, parathyroid glands and gonads. Therefore, therapeutic agents aim at restoring balanced bone cell activity by directly decreasing apoptosis rate of osteoblasts (e.g., cyclical parathyroid hormone) or by increasing apoptosis rate of osteoclasts (e.g., bisphosphonates). Other therapeutical efforts aim at maintaining/restoring calcium/phosphate homeostasis: improving intestinal calcium absorption (using calcium supplementation, vitamin D and derivates) and avoiding increased urinary calcium loss (using thiazides) prevent or counteract a secondary hyperparathyroidism. Bisphosphonates, particularly the aminobisphosphonates risedronate and alendronate, have been shown to protect patients on GCs from (further) bone loss and to reduce vertebral fracture risk. Calcitonin may be of interest in situations where bisphosphonates are contraindicated or not applicable and in cases where acute pain due to vertebral fracture has to be managed. The intermittent administration of 1-34-parathormone may be an appealing treatment alternative, based on its documented anabolic effects on bone resulting from the reduction of osteoblastic apoptosis. Calcium and vitamin D should be a systematic adjunctive measure to any drug treatment for GIOP. Based on currently available evidence, fluoride, androgens, estrogens (opposed or unopposed) cannot be recommended for the prevention and treatment of GIOP. However, substitution of gonadal hormones may be indicated if GC-induced hypogonadism is present and leads to clinical symptoms. Data using the SERM raloxifene to treat or prevent GIOP are lacking, as are data using the promising bone anabolic agent strontium ranelate. Kyphoplasty performed in appropriately selected osteoporotic patients with painful vertebral fractures is a promising addition to current medical treatmen