Allowable CO2 emissions based on regional and impact-related climate targets

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Nature and the definitive published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature16542© 2016 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved. Global temperature targets, such as the widely accepted limit of an increase above pre-industrial temperatures of two degrees Celsius, may fail to communicate the urgency of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The translation of CO2 emissions into regional- and impact-related climate targets could be more powerful because such targets are more directly aligned with individual national interests. We illustrate this approach using regional changes in extreme temperatures and precipitation. These scale robustly with global temperature across scenarios, and thus with cumulative CO2 emissions. This is particularly relevant for changes in regional extreme temperatures on land, which are much greater than changes in the associated global mean

Evaluation of appendicitis risk prediction models in adults with suspected appendicitis

Background Appendicitis is the most common general surgical emergency worldwide, but its diagnosis remains challenging. The aim of this study was to determine whether existing risk prediction models can reliably identify patients presenting to hospital in the UK with acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain who are at low risk of appendicitis. Methods A systematic search was completed to identify all existing appendicitis risk prediction models. Models were validated using UK data from an international prospective cohort study that captured consecutive patients aged 16–45 years presenting to hospital with acute RIF in March to June 2017. The main outcome was best achievable model specificity (proportion of patients who did not have appendicitis correctly classified as low risk) whilst maintaining a failure rate below 5 per cent (proportion of patients identified as low risk who actually had appendicitis). Results Some 5345 patients across 154 UK hospitals were identified, of which two‐thirds (3613 of 5345, 67·6 per cent) were women. Women were more than twice as likely to undergo surgery with removal of a histologically normal appendix (272 of 964, 28·2 per cent) than men (120 of 993, 12·1 per cent) (relative risk 2·33, 95 per cent c.i. 1·92 to 2·84; P < 0·001). Of 15 validated risk prediction models, the Adult Appendicitis Score performed best (cut‐off score 8 or less, specificity 63·1 per cent, failure rate 3·7 per cent). The Appendicitis Inflammatory Response Score performed best for men (cut‐off score 2 or less, specificity 24·7 per cent, failure rate 2·4 per cent). Conclusion Women in the UK had a disproportionate risk of admission without surgical intervention and had high rates of normal appendicectomy. Risk prediction models to support shared decision‐making by identifying adults in the UK at low risk of appendicitis were identified

Internet and its Impact on University Libraries: A Case Study at University of Moratuwa

The Internet, networks of networks, has revolutionized the way one can access the information and provide numerous opportunities to the field of library and information science in providing information services easily, timely and appropriately to the users. Therefore the Internet has an impact on library and information services. This case study was carried out at University of Moratuwa to find out the impact of Internet on university libraries. The study aimed to analyze trends in Internet usage in terms of major user categories, Internet usage patterns, Internet information resources, services, Internet tools and technologies and their impact on university library. The focus of this study was based on three hypotheses; 1) Since Internet is regarded as an information resource and academic staff and students of the university can freely access it, Internet has significantly reduced the university library usage. 2) As an information resource; Internet users had more favourable attitude towards the characteristics and features of the Internet than the university library. 3) Majority of the Internet users, irrespective of the user category view, University of Moratuwa, Library web site in fulfilling their information needs. The research sample of the study consisted of 50% of the population of academic staff members, 25% of the postgraduate students, 10% of the undergraduate students and 10% of National Diploma in Technology students and amounted to 518. The study received 83.4% response rate. According to the results, two hypotheses found to be true. And it was revealed that the Internet has been recognized as source of information by all the user categories of University of Moratuwa, Library and some or other way Internet has reduced the university library usage. To add up, all user categories had favourable attitudes towards the Internet as a resource of information than the university library. But Internet tools, technologies and services are not optimally used by all the user categories. Even the facilities and features of University of Moratuwa, Library web site has not been utilized as expected. Therefore, university libraries have to taken an advantage of Internet as a source of information and must play a pro-active role in utilizing its tools, technologies and services to enhance access to the information with respect teaching, learning and research activities of the university without diminishing its status in the academi

Health Information Seeking and Information Encountering of Female Undergraduates: a Pilot Study at University of Moratuwa

Health literacy can be explained as one’s ability to obtain, process and understand health information and services to enable sound health decision making. A healthy population is an asset to any country and directly related to the economic growth and development. Health literacy is fundamentally important to maintain a population’s health. National survey on emerging issues among adolescents recognized health literacy as a life skill since adolescence has recently gained recognition as a critical phase of life. On the other hand health literacy as a life skill will have a greater impact on adult health. Undergraduates just passed adolescence will be future leaders of the society and female undergraduates will be future mothers in the community. This study was conducted as a part of a research on prevention and control of breast cancer and explored the health information seeking and information encountering of female undergraduates of University of Moratuwa. Adopting the survey method, a semi- structured questionnaire was developed as the research instrument and consisted of 4 parts namely socio demographic data, knowledge on breast cancer, knowledge on screening of breast cancer and information seeking behaviour, Questionnaire was randomly distributed among 245 female undergraduates of three faculties of University of Moratuwa who were willing to participate for the survey. Of 245 respondents, 95 undergraduates belonged to Faculty of Architecture ; 71 undergraduates belonged to Faculty of Engineering and 79 undergraduates belonged to Faculty of Information Technology. Though health literacy is not a novel concept majority of the respondents were not aware about it. Few participants were able to explain the concept of health literacy. Majority of the respondents understand health education is vital in the university as undergraduates and prefer the availability of health information in the university library. Most of the female undergraduates prefer to maintain a personal collocation on health related aspects. However, only 19 students have used university library to find out health-related information. Participants also believed that University library does not have items on health aspects as well as available collection is out-dated. of 245 respondents, 191 undergraduates believed that the Internet provides latest information on health aspects. Social media such as Facebook has been rated as best option to educate about health literacy. However, 98 students frequently get information from Medical Officers about health related aspects. On the other hand, health information seeking through television programmes is also common. Most of the participants also encounter health related information through television programmes, magazines and newspapers dedicated for women. Majority of the female undergraduates participated did not concern about their health at the younger age since there are many burning issues prevailing currently for undergraduates. In conclusion, female undergraduates accepted the fact that health education is vital in the university setup as undergraduates are future leaders. Regular awareness programmes to educate undergraduate about health aspects is recommended along with developing library collection related to health literacy

Print vs. electronic : user preferences for information resources : a comparative study

Though University libraries have positioned themselves as the main vehicles for the organization, access, distribution and use of knowledge, current library services will eventually be inadequate to keep pace with the demands and expectations of modern library users. Therefore, this study is focused on the assessment of users preferences for electronic and print information resources available in Sri Lankan University Libraries

A study of information literacy skills of engineering undergraduates at University of Moratuwa

This research was conducted to investigate the status of information literacy skills of the undergraduates of Engineering Faculty of University of Moratuwa. Survey questionnaire was the main method of data collection and it was administered to stratified random sample of 189 Level 4 Engineering undergraduates representing all academic departments. The findings and implications of the research will be discussed

Information literacy skills of undergraduates of University of Moratuwa

This research was conducted to investigate the status of information iiieracy skills of the undergraduates of Engineering Faculty of University of Moratuwa. Survey questionnaire was the main method of data collection and it was administered to stratified random sample of 189 Level 4 Engineering undergraduates representing all academic departments. The findings and implications of the research will be discussed.Senate Research Gran

Perspectives of Library Staff on outreach activities of Library, University of Moratuwa

Introducing outreach activities to an academic library is a novel experience to the university library staff. It's even considerable when the resource persons for such activities are managed by the library staff of the university. Aiming to serve the communities in the vicinity of University of Moratuwa, the Library launched several outreach activities. To review the outcome of these outreach activities, a survey was conducted with the library staff of University of Moratuwa as the target population. All the library staff members including academic, administrative and non-academic staff participated as the population. Data collection was done by using a semi-structured questionnaire. Forty-nine responses were received from the library staff members. Majority of the staff members had positive attitudes about the activities conducted by the Outreach Services Division. They felt the need of continuing such programmes as they had a positive effect on the helpful services offered for the learning environment of the children. The results revealed the positive commitment of library staff towards continuing outreach activities targeting lower age groups of the society for their future endeavors