A staining protocol for identifying secondary compounds in Myrtaceae

• Premise of the study: Here we propose a staining protocol using TBO and Ruthenium red in order to reliably identify secondary compounds in the leaves of some species of Myrtaceae. • Methods and results: Leaves of 10 species representing 10 different genera of Myrtaceae were processed and stained using five different combinations of Ruthenium red and TBO. Optimal staining conditions were determined as 1 min of Ruthenium red (0.05% aqueous) and 45 sec of TBO (0.1% aqueous). Secondary compounds clearly identified under this treatment include mucilage in mesophyll, polyphenols in cuticle, lignin in fibers and xylem, tannins and carboxylated polysaccharides in epidermis and pectic substances in primary cell walls. • Conclusions: Potential applications of this protocol include systematic, phytochemical and ecological investigations in Myrtaceae. It might be applicable to other plant families rich in secondary compounds and could be used as preliminary screening method for extraction of these elements.

Testing the effectiveness of a self-efficacy based exercise intervention for adults with venous leg ulcers : protocol of a randomised controlled trial

Background: Exercise and adequate self-management capacity may be important strategies in the management of venous leg ulcers. However, it remains unclear if exercise improves the healing rates of venous leg ulcers and if a self-management exercise program based on self-efficacy theory is well adhered to. Method/Design: This is a randomised controlled in adults with venous leg ulcers to determine the effectiveness of a self-efficacy based exercise intervention. Participants with venous leg ulcers are recruited from 3 clinical sites in Australia. After collection of baseline data, participants are randomised to either an intervention group or control group. The control group receive usual care, as recommended by evidence based guidelines. The intervention group receive an individualised program of calf muscle exercises and walking. The twelve week exercise program integrates multiple elements, including up to six telephone delivered behavioural coaching and goal setting sessions, supported by written materials, a pedometer and two follow-up booster calls if required. Participants are encouraged to seek social support among their friends, self-monitor their weekly steps and lower limb exercises. The control group are supported by a generic information sheet that the intervention group also receive encouraging lower limb exercises, a pedometer for self-management and phone calls at the same time points as the intervention group. The primary outcome is the healing rates of venous leg ulcers which are assessed at fortnightly clinic appointments. Secondary outcomes, assessed at baseline and 12 weeks: functional ability (range of ankle motion and Tinetti gait and balance score), quality of life and self-management scores. Discussion: This study seeks to address a significant gap in current wound management practice by providing evidence for the effectiveness of a home-based exercise program for adults with venous leg ulcers. Theory-driven, evidence-based strategies that can improve an individual’s exercise self-efficacy and self-management capacity could have a significant impact in improving the management of people with venous leg ulcers. Information gained from this study will provide much needed information on management of this chronic disease to promote health and independence in this population. Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612000475842 Trial status: Current follow up

The security and privacy of usage policies and provenance logs in an Information Accountability Framework

The potential benefits of shared eHealth records systems are promising for the future of improved healthcare. However, the uptake of such systems is hindered by concerns over the security and privacy of patient information. The use of Information Accountability and so called Accountable-eHealth (AeH) systems has been proposed to balance the privacy concerns of patients with the information needs of healthcare professionals. However, a number of challenges remain before AeH systems can become a reality. Among these is the need to protect the information stored in the usage policies and provenance logs used by AeH systems to define appropriate use of information and hold users accountable for their actions. In this paper, we discuss the privacy and security issues surrounding these accountability mechanisms, define valid access to the information they contain, discuss solutions to protect them, and verify and model an implementation of the access requirements as part of an Information Accountability Framework.

The OnTrack Diabetes web-based program for type 2 diabetes and dysphoria self-management: A randomized controlled trial protocol

Background: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising with the majority of patients practicing inadequate disease self-management. Depression, anxiety, and diabetes-specific distress present motivational challenges to adequate self-care. Health systems globally struggle to deliver routine services that are accessible to the entire population, in particular in rural areas. Web-based diabetes self-management interventions can provide frequent, accessible support regardless of time and location Objective: This paper describes the protocol of an Australian national randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the OnTrack Diabetes program, an automated, interactive, self-guided Web program aimed to improve glycemic control, diabetes self-care, and dysphoria symptoms in type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: A small pilot trial is conducted that primarily tests program functionality, efficacy, and user acceptability and satisfaction. This is followed by the main RCT, which compares 3 treatments: (1) delayed program access: usual diabetes care for 3 months postbaseline followed by access to the full OnTrack Diabetes program; (2) immediate program: full access to the self-guided program from baseline onward; and (3) immediate program plus therapist support via Functional Imagery Training (FIT). Measures are administered at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months postbaseline. Primary outcomes are diabetes self-care behaviors (physical activity participation, diet, medication adherence, and blood glucose monitoring), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, and diabetes-specific distress. Secondary outcomes are depression, anxiety, self-efficacy and adherence, and quality of life. Exposure data in terms of program uptake, use, time on each page, and program completion, as well as implementation feasibility will be conducted. Results: This trial is currently underway with funding support from the Wesley Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia. Conclusions: This is the first known trial of an automated, self-guided, Web-based support program that uses a holistic approach in targeting both type 2 diabetes self-management and dysphoria. Findings will inform the feasibility of implementing such a program on an ongoing basis, including in rural and regional locations.

Children's emotions and multimodal appraisal of places : walking with the camera

This sensory ethnography explores the affordances and constraints of multimodal design to represent emotions and appraisal associated with experiencing local places. Digital video production, walking with the camera, and the use of a think-aloud protocol to reflect on the videos, provided an opportunity for the primary school children to represent their emotions and appraisal of places multimodally. Applying a typology from Martin and White's (2005) framework for the Language of Evaluation, children's multimodal emotional responses to places in this study tended toward happiness, security, and satisfaction. The findings demonstrate an explicit connection between children's emotions in response to local places through video, while highlighting the potential for teachers to use digital filmmaking to allow children to reflect actively on their placed experiences and represent their emotional reactions to places through multiple modes.

Protecting encrypted cookies from compression side-channel attacks

Compression is desirable for network applications as it saves bandwidth; however, when data is compressed before being encrypted, the amount of compression leaks information about the amount of redundancy in the plaintext. This side channel has led to successful CRIME and BREACH attacks on web traffic protected by the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. The general guidance in light of these attacks has been to disable compression, preserving confidentiality but sacrificing bandwidth. In this paper, we examine two techniques - heuristic separation of secrets and fixed-dictionary compression|for enabling compression while protecting high-value secrets, such as cookies, from attack. We model the security offered by these techniques and report on the amount of compressibility that they can achieve.

Strategies for teaching evidence-based practice to undergraduate health students: A systematic review protocol

Review question/objective The objective of this review is to find, critically appraise and synthesize the available quantitative evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that promote successful teaching of the evidence-based practice process in undergraduate health students, in preparation for them to become professional evidence-based practitioners. More specifically, the question that this review seeks to answer is: What is the effectiveness of teaching strategies for evidence-based practice for undergraduate health students? Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review will consider studies that include undergraduate health students from any undergraduate health discipline, including but not limited to medicine, nursing and allied health. Post graduate and post-registration students will not be included. Types of interventions This review will consider studies that evaluate strategies or interventions aimed at teaching any or all of the five steps of evidence-based practice, namely asking a structured clinical question; collecting the best evidence available; critically appraising the evidence to ensure validity, relevance and applicability; applying or integrating the results into clinical practice, and evaluating outcomes. The strategy may take place solely within a tertiary education environment or may be combined with a clinical setting. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: evidence-based practice behavior, knowledge, skills, attitudes, self-efficacy (or self-confidence), beliefs, values, intention to use evidence-based practice (future use) and confidence levels. Tools used to measure these outcomes will be assessed for reported validity, reliability and generalizability. Outcomes will be measured during the student’s education period up to graduation. If studies are conducted across different year levels this will be taken into account during analysis and reported accordingly.