NHS Wales e-library portal evaluation (For Informing Healthcare Strategy implementation programme)

Thomas, R. & Urquhart, C. NHS Wales e-library portal evaluation. (For Informing Healthcare Strategy implementation programme). Aberystwyth: Department of Information Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth Follow-on to NHS Wales User Needs study Sponsorship: Informing Healthcare, NHS Wales

Yield drag in a two-dimensional foam flow around a circular obstacle: Effect of liquid fraction

Raufaste, C., Dollet, B., Cox, S., Jiang, Y. and Graner, F. (2007). Yield drag in a two-dimensional foam flow around a circular obstacle: Effect of liquid fraction. European Physical Journal E, 23 (2), 217?228 Sponsorship: Y.J. is supported by US DOE under contract No. DE-AC52-06NA25396. S.C. is supported by EPSRC (EP/D071127/1)

Action research in developing knowledge networks

Seeley, H. & Urqhart, C. (2007). Action research in developing knowledge networks. In P. Bath, K. Albright & T. Norris (Eds.), Proceedings of ISHIMR 2007, The twelfth international symposium on health information management research (pp. 217-235.) Sheffield: Centre for Health Information Management Research, University of Sheffield.

Rough sets, their extensions and applications

Q. Shen and R. Jensen, 'Rough sets, their extensions and applications,' International Journal of Automation and Computing (IJAC), vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 217-218, 2007.

The validity of ultrasound estimation of muscle volumes

Infantolino, B., Gales, D., Winter, S., Challis, J., The validity of ultrasound estimation of muscle volumes, Journal of applied biomechanics, ISSN 1065-8483, Vol. 23, N?. 3, 2007 , pags. 213-217 RAE2008

?Minorities with a Message?: The Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949?1951) and Wales

Medhurst, J. (2008). 'Minorities with a Message': the Beveridge Report on Broadcasting (1949-51) and Wales. Twentieth Century British History. 19(2), pp.217-233. RAE2008

Electrons in feldspar II: a consideration of the influence of conduction band-tail states on luminescence processes

Poolton, Nigel; Ozanyan, K.B.; Wallinga, J.; Murray, A.S., (2002) 'Electrons in feldspar II: a consideration of the influence of conduction band-tail states on luminescence processes', Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 29(3) pp.217-225 RAE2008

SPOŁECZNO-KULTUROWE UWARUNKOWANIA PRZĘPSTW PRZECIWKO WOLNOŚCI SEKSUALNEJ MAŁOLETNIEGO

Wykorzystanie seksualne dziecka jest związane z przestępstwami z art. 200 i z kilku artykułów pokrewnych polskiego Kodeksu karnego. Czynniki społeczno-kulturowe oddziaływają na to zjawisko poprzez dwa rodzaje socjalizacji. Socjalizacja wtórna zachodzi w populacji polskiej w sposób jednolity dla wszystkich sprawców, natomiast różnicuje ich socjalizacja pierwotna, w związku z czym to ona winna być przedmiotem badań. Najlepsze wyjaśnienia zjawiska oferują ujęcia zintegrowane, akcentujące, między innymi, rolę czynników rodzinnych w jego powstawaniu. W niniejszym artykule, jako teoretyczną podstawę badań, wykorzystano zintegrowaną teorię etiologii przestępstw seksualnych, która uznaje rodzinne doświadczenia sprawcy za główną przyczynę późniejszego seksualnego wykorzystywania dzieci. Zaproponowano cztery ścieżki rozwoju patologii wskazujące, w jaki sposób wczesne uwarunkowania psychologiczne (typ opieki i postawy rodziców) przyczyniają się do zostania sprawcą wykorzystania seksualnego dziecka w przyszłości, oraz zweryfikowano je w badaniach własnych. Wyniki przeprowadzonych badań częściowo potwierdzają zaprezentowany model teoretyczny i pozwalają wyznaczyć kierunki dalszych poszukiwań.

Badania wartości ekonomicznej usług biblioteczno-informacyjnych i ich wpływu na otoczenie

Biblioteki pełnią różnorodne funkcje we współczesnym otoczeniu społecznym. Uczestniczą w tworzeniu kapitału intelektualnego i społecznego, wpływają na wzrost korzyści ekonomicznych użytkowników i całego społeczeństwa. W artykule omówiono główne podejścia i metody badawcze w zakresie oceny korzyści ekonomicznych płynących z funkcjonowania bibliotek. Skupiono się na metodzie analizy kosztów w stosunku do korzyści (ang. CBA – cost-benefit analysis), metodzie analizy warunkowej (ang. CVM – contigent valuation method), określaniu wartości dodanej dla użytkownika (ang. consumer surplus method) i metodologii oceny stopy wzrostu z inwestycji (ang. ROI – return of investment). Przeanalizowano również różne projekty badań prowadzone na świecie w tym zakresie.

Resíduos de medicamentos

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

A medical study on wireless inertial measurement technology as a tool for identifying patients at risk of death or imminent clinical deterioration

This paper provides a system description and preliminary results for an ongoing clinical study currently being carried out at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Nenagh, Ireland. The goal of the trial is to determine if wireless inertial measurement technology can be employed to identify elderly patients at risk of death or imminent clinical deterioration. The system measures cumulative movement and provides a score that will help provide a robust early warning to clinical staff of clinical deterioration. In addition the study examines some of the logistical barriers to the adoption of wearable wireless technology in front-line medical care.

The psychology of immersion and development of a quantitative measure of immersive response in games

This study sets out to investigate the psychology of immersion and the immersive response of individuals in relation to video and computer games. Initially, an exhaustive review of literature is presented, including research into games, player demographics, personality and identity. Play in traditional psychology is also reviewed, as well as previous research into immersion and attempts to define and measure this construct. An online qualitative study was carried out (N=38), and data was analysed using content analysis. A definition of immersion emerged, as well as a classification of two separate types of immersion, namely, vicarious immersion and visceral immersion. A survey study (N=217) verified the discrete nature of these categories and rejected the null hypothesis that there was no difference between individuals' interpretations of vicarious and visceral immersion. The primary aim of this research was to create a quantitative instrument which measures the immersive response as experienced by the player in a single game session. The IMX Questionnaire was developed using data from the initial qualitative study and quantitative survey. Exploratory Factor Analysis was carried out on data from 300 participants for the IMX Version 1, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted on data from 380 participants on the IMX Version 2. IMX Version 3 was developed from the results of these analyses. This questionnaire was found to have high internal consistency reliability and validity.

Impact of the smoke-free workplace legislation on smoking behaviour, risk perception & stigmatisation

The Republic of Ireland became the first European country to implement nationwide smoke-free workplace legislation. Aims: To determine prevalence of smoking among bar workers and estimate the impact of the smoke-free workplace legislation on their smoking behaviour to that of a comparable general population sample. To approximate the influence of tobacco control measures on risk perception of second-hand smoke (SHS) among the general population. To explore the de-normalisation of smoking behaviour and the potential increased stigmatisation of smokers and their smoking. Methods: Prevalence estimates and behavioural changes were examined among a random sample of bar workers before and 1 year after the smoke-free legislation; comparisons made with a general population sub-sample. Changes in risk knowledge related to SHS exposure were based on general population data. Qualitative interviews were conducted among a purposive sample of smokers and non-smokers four years after the implementation of the legislation. Results: Smoking prevalence was extremely high among bar workers. Smoking prevalence dropped in bar workers and significantly among the general population 1 year post ban while cigarette consumption dropped significantly among bar workers. Disparity in knowledge between smokers and non-smoker of risk associated with SHS exposure reduced. Lack of understanding of the risk of ear infections in children posed by SHS exposure was notable. Evidence for advanced de-normalisation of smoking behaviour and intensification of stigma because of the introduction of the legislation was dependent on many factors, quality of smoking facilities played a key role. Conclusions: Ireland’s smoke-free legislation was associated with a drop in prevalence and cigarette consumption. Disparity in knowledge between smokers and non-smokers of the risk posed by SHS exposure reduced however the risk of ear infections in children needs to be effectively disseminated. The proliferation of ‘good’ smoking areas may diminish the potential to reduce smoking behaviour and de-normalise smoking.

The effectiveness of using patient-reported outcome measures as quality improvement tools

Aim: To investigate the value of using PROMs as quality improvement tools. Methods: Two systematic reviews were undertaken. The first reviewed the quantitative literature on the impact of PROMs feedback and the second reviewed the qualitative literature on the use of PROMs in practice. These reviews informed the focus of the primary research. A cluster randomised controlled trial (PROFILE) examined the impact of providing peer benchmarked PROMs feedback to consultant orthopaedic surgeons on improving outcomes for hip replacement surgery. Qualitative interviews with surgeons in the intervention arm of the trial examined the view of and reactions to the feedback. Results: The quantitative review of 17 studies found weak evidence to suggest that providing PROMs feedback to professionals improves patient outcomes. The qualitative review of 16 studies identified the barriers and facilitators to the use of PROMs based on four themes: practical considerations, attitudes towards the data, methodological concerns and the impact of feedback on care. The PROFILE trial included 11 surgeons and 215 patients in the intervention arm, and 10 surgeons and 217 patients in the control arm. The trial found no significant difference in the Oxford Hip Score between the arms (-0.7, 95% CI -1.9-0.5, p=0.2). Interviews with surgeons revealed mixed opinions about the value of the PROMs feedback and the information did not promote explicit changes to their practice. Conclusion: It is important to use PROMs which have been validated for the specific purpose of performance measurement, consult with professionals when developing a PROMs feedback intervention, communicate with professionals about the objectives of the data collection, educate professionals on the properties and interpretation of the data, and support professionals in using the information to improve care. It is also imperative that the burden of data collection and dissemination of the information is minimised.

VCP/p97 is essential for maturation of ubiquitin-containing autophagosomes and this function is impaired by mutations that cause IBMPFD.

VCP (VCP/p97) is a ubiquitously expressed member of the AAA(+)-ATPase family of chaperone-like proteins that regulates numerous cellular processes including chromatin decondensation, homotypic membrane fusion and ubiquitin-dependent protein degradation by the proteasome. Mutations in VCP cause a multisystem degenerative disease consisting of inclusion body myopathy, Paget disease of bone, and frontotemporal dementia (IBMPFD). Here we show that VCP is essential for autophagosome maturation. We generated cells stably expressing dual-tagged LC3 (mCherry-EGFP-LC3) which permit monitoring of autophagosome maturation. We determined that VCP deficiency by RNAi-mediated knockdown or overexpression of dominant-negative VCP results in significant accumulation of immature autophagic vesicles, some of which are abnormally large, acidified and exhibit cathepsin B activity. Furthermore, expression of disease-associated VCP mutants (R155H and A232E) also causes this autophagy defect. VCP was found to be essential to autophagosome maturation under basal conditions and in cells challenged by proteasome inhibition, but not in cells challenged by starvation, suggesting that VCP might be selectively required for autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated substrates. Indeed, a high percentage of the accumulated autophagic vesicles contain ubiquitin-positive contents, a feature that is not observed in autophagic vesicles that accumulate following starvation or treatment with Bafilomycin A. Finally, we show accumulation of numerous, large LAMP-1 and LAMP-2-positive vacuoles and accumulation of LC3-II in myoblasts derived from patients with IBMPFD. We conclude that VCP is essential for maturation of ubiquitin-containing autophagosomes and that defect in this function may contribute to IBMPFD pathogenesis.