Coronavirus: why managed alcohol programmes are essential for problem drinkers who are homeless

People who are homeless are being particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Common health problems such as respiratory disease put people who are homeless at more risk and self-isolation is impossible if you are living on the streets or in temporary accommodation. Those dependent on alcohol are at even greater risk as they need to continue using to prevent withdrawal, which can lead to serious health problems and sometimes death. But lockdown and self-isolation are challenging if you need to get a hold of alcohol.https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-why-managed-alcohol-programmes-are-essential-for-problem-drinkers-who-are-homeless-13665

Pre-slaughter assessment and selection in commercial beef cattle in relation to final carcase classification

The way we assess readiness for slaughter in beef cattle has not progressed in the past 200 years, with subjective visual and manual assessments of cattle still the primary mechanisms used to determine peak condition, resulting in less than half of all cattle carcases meeting a UK premium classification. Current losses to the UK Beef industry are estimated at approximately £12.5 million per year through the sending of over-fat and poorly conformed cattle to the abattoir. With global population rapidly increasing, there is a fundamental need to provide more food efficiently and effectively from the resources we have. Therefore, successfully reducing wastage and improving carcase quality across the UK beef industry through accurate assessment and selection of beef cattle for slaughter is an important step forwards towards a sustainable future for beef production. The EUROP system of bovine carcase classification dictates which carcases are most desired for the current market, with those failing to meet market specification subject to a penalty. The aim of this research project was therefore to provide farmers with an objective tool using a binary logistic regression model, to combine fat and morphometric measurements taken from live cattle, in order to help predict which cattle are most likely to achieve a desired carcase classification and therefore most suitable for slaughter. Through the use of a series of binary logistic regression models, it was discovered that out of 15 measurements taken from cattle, a combination of pelvis height, pelvis width, 10th and 12th rib fat point readings and the P8 fat point reading were best able to predict the likelihood of cattle meeting a UK premium carcase classification. In a later study, when breed was factored into the model on a larger, more commercial scale, this reduced the number of measurements required to just the pelvis width and 12th rib fat point reading, subsequently increasing the practicality to apply this research on-farm

Feasibility and acceptability of Managed Alcohol Programmes for people who are homeless with severe alcohol problems

In Scotland, rates of alcohol use and alcohol-related harm are high, with more than 1100 deaths attributable to alcohol in 2018. People who are experiencing homelessness are at a particularly high risk of alcohol use and associated harms, including experience of extreme social inequalities. Managed Alcohol Programmes (MAPs) are a harm reduction approach specifically for people experiencing homelessness, providing alcohol in measured, regular doses throughout the day, as well as a range of other supports including health and housing. This briefing paper summarise a study which aimed to scope the feasibility and acceptability of MAPs in Scotland

Multiple identities: the civic function of architectural education in Europe.

Architectural education asks students to look beyond the confines of the studio to embrace global cultures, politics, and social contexts critically. Through making, digital interventions, drawing and critical analysis, architectural practices reveal complex narratives of the contexts they emerge from, reflecting multiple identities of place, heritage, and culture. This special edition of Charrette marks the 10th Biennial Congress of EURAU, (European Research in Architecture & Urbanism). EURAU is a network of schools and researchers in Architecture and Urbanism, which meets biannually in a conference to share their insights and concerns. EURAU's main objective is to establish these meetings as a place of debate and discussion of contemporary discourses in Architecture, City and Town Planning. This is a committed action organised by the Universities and contributes to the Europe 2020 Strategy towards a smart, sustainable and inclusive society. First initiated by the French Ministry of Culture in 2004, EURAU has convened regularly and continues to grow

Sexually transmitted infection (STI) research priority-setting: a two-stage study including the perspectives of patients, the public, clinicians and stakeholders

Objectives Patient and public involvement (PPI) in research priority-setting remains limited, especially for non-HIV STI. We identify and compare the top 10 patient and public STI research priorities with those of clinicians and STI stakeholders. Methods This two-stage study was conducted in May–August 2019. First, STI research priorities were canvassed through qualitative questionnaires issued to all patients attending a large sexual health clinic, all clinicians in region-wide mailing lists, all stakeholders identified through existing networks and the Charity Commission database, and to the Liverpool public. Raw responses were organised by theme into a shortlist of 25. In stage 2, these were ranked through priority-setting activities by telephone with patients and the public (n=8) and some clinicians (n=3), and in two workshops with clinicians (n=26) and stakeholders (n=5), respectively. The top 10 priorities were compared. Results Of 373 surveys submitted, 106 were analysed (83 patient and public; 23 clinician and stakeholder). Exclusions included lack of completion and responses out of scope. Among patient and public respondents, 55% (n=46) were aged 18–24 years, 51% (n=42) identified as heterosexual women and 23% (n=19) as men who have sex with men. Clinicians included all cadres; stakeholders were academics, commissioners and third sector representatives. In stage 2, 4 of 10 themes (STI education, targeted services for high-risk groups, antibiotic resistance and counselling for those with STI) were prioritised by all. Remote STI services and rapid diagnostics also ranked highly but the rationale differed between groups. Conclusion This is the first non-HIV STI research priority-setting exercise to be reported in the UK. It identifies overlaps and differences between public and provider concerns, highlights gaps in the public understanding of STI research, and shows how PPI can promote research responsive to the concerns of both those who use and deliver services

The Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL). Administration Manual.

Advances in the clinical sciences this century have resulted in an impressive range of diagnostic procedures, therapies, drugs and surgical techniques which have revolutionised the management of heretofore fatal conditions. In addition to being concerned about life expectancy, people are also concerned about the quality of their lives. Partly in response to the views of patients, assessment of patient Quality of Life (QoL) is becoming increasingly important in medicine, nursing and in the behavioural sciences. It has already become an important outcome variable in assessing the impact of disease, illness and treatment (Spilker, 1990; Walker and Rosser, 1993; Bowling 1991; O\u27Boyle, 1992). QoL is a multi-dimensional construct and there are various approaches to its evaluation. The approach varies depending on the aims of the exercise. Health economists, for example, use techniques such as the QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Year), standard gamble and time-trade-off techniques in order to incorporate QoL measures into economic analysis and clinical trials. Clinical research has utilised standardised and disease specific measures, usually in the form of questionnaires, in order to determine the impact of disease and treatment on patients\u27 QoL. One of the problems of conducting research in this area is that there is no single agreed definition of QoL nor is there a single \u27gold standard\u27 measurement technique. However, there is broad agreement that studies of health related QoL should include assessments of physical functioning, including somatic sensations such as physical symptoms and pain; psychological function including concentration and mood; social and sexual functioning and occupational status. Many researchers also assess patients\u27 global satisfaction and the economic impact of the condition. While QoL scales and questionnaires, as well as the methods of rating and analysing them, have been developed by assessing the QoL of individuals, the specific items and the response categories do not represent the free choice of individuals who are subsequently investigated using the scale. Furthermore, the measures will often have been standardised in samples other than those currently being assessed. Results are generally presented as group statistics and provide little or no data on the QoL of individual patients

A Study of the Leader Behaviour of the Academic Department Heads in Thai Teachers' Colleges from the Standpoint of Situational Leadership Theory

The purpose of this study is to examine leader behaviour, particularly leadership styles, of academic department heads in Thai teachers' colleges using as a basic framework the Situational Leadership Theory as developed by Hersey and Blanchard (1977) at the Centre for Leadership Studies, Ohio University. Situational Leadership Theory is based on a curvilinear, as opposed to a simple linear, relationship between task and relationship behaviour and maturity of followers. The theory attempts to provide leaders with some understanding of the relationship between effective styles of leadership and the maturity level of their followers. The study further attempted to investigate a number of other variables thought likely to influence choices of leadership styles. Such variables included Thai cultural traits, religious tenets, Western education and length of experience in position held. ... The research would have to be regarded as a pilot study only and its conclusions tentative. Although the department heads were observed as being generally effective in their leader behaviour in their daily work where their staff members were assumedly of limited range of maturity levels (moderately high to high), the non choice of all four possible leadership styles in the LEAD instruments indicates a strong potential that in real-life situations where staff members encompass all four maturity levels (low, moderately low, moderately high, high) much of their leader behaviour would be inappropriate and thus ineffective

Housing rights, homelessness prevention and a paradox of bureaucracy?

In most nations homelessness remains a major injustice. A key response in Wales has been the introduction of a pioneering justiciable right to homelessness prevention and relief assistance. This paper explores the complexities of the new welfare bureaucracy this has created. We explore whether these housing rights invoke a paradox, whereby the positive impacts for citizens are accompanied by distancing and exclusion. The study reveals both a faceless bureaucracy characterised by processes of silencing and subordination propped up by tools of exclusion, particularly impenetrable paperwork, but also a system that can work to grant housing rights to those in need of support. There is no evidence for an utterly ‘faceless tyrant’ of a bureaucratic system, due to the often-inclusive ways that frontline staff operate, frequently at the margins of the law (Arendt 1970). Thus, this paper draws attention to the complexities inherent in a rights-based homelessness system and the paradoxical nature of attempting to grant housing rights