Designing for Dual Submission of ETDs

The main objective is to get participants thinking about how they can solve problems associated with a dual submission of ETDs. Many institutions choose to archive ETDs in their repositories, but also mandate, insist, or permit ETDs to be submitted to ProQuest via the UMI ETD Administrator. The Administrator offers a no-submission-fee route for ETD inclusion in ProQuest’s ubiquitous subscription databases. At FIU, after deciding on a mandatory ETD Policy in July 2011, we considered moving from a payment/snail mail submission to altogether scrapping submission to ProQuest; however, our librarians made a case for keeping at least an option for ProQuest submission. After consideration of all the options, implementing the UMI ETD Administrator seemed the most logical because it relieves payment, paperwork, and snail mail. Unfortunately, the UMI ETD Administrator creates as many problems as it solves e.g., the dual submission. According to the Berkman Center’s Good Practices for University Open-Access Policies, the university should offer to make additional deposits outside of the institutional repository. Thus, we sought to find a way for the students to only submit once to our DigitalCommons Institutional Repository. By June 2012, we manually triaged our first batch of ETDs from our DigitalCommons to the UMI ETD Administrator; however, since that first batch we have identified problems with metadata submission, entering student information, and the ETD Administrator default setup. For instance, with our second batch, we eliminated discrepancies with the department field; in our third batch, we eliminated concerns with FERPA and submitting student information; in our fourth batch, we look to cut down the time of each manual submission. Attendees, with institutions considering the ETD Administrator, should expect to anticipate and solve several issues associated with implementing the system in conjunction with an institutional repository. Attendees, who work with both the ETD Administrator and an Institutional Repository, should expect to gain new ideas for eliminating a dual submission for students, a quicker publication turn around, and/or decreased workflow time.

Modelagem do padrão TISS por meio do enfoque dual da Fundação openEHR

Em 2005, a Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS) estabelece o padrão TISS (Troca de Informação na Saúde Suplementar), intercâmbio eletrônico obrigatório entre as operadoras de planos de saúde (cerca de 1500 registradas na ANS) e prestadores de serviços (cerca de 200 mil) sobre os eventos de assistência prestados aos beneficiários. O padrão TISS foi desenvolvido seguindo a estrutura do Comitê ISO/TC215 de padrões para informática em saúde e se divide em quatro partes: conteúdo e estrutura, que compreende a estrutura das guias em papel; representação de conceitos em saúde, que se refere às tabelas de domínio e vocabulários em saúde; comunicação, que contempla as mensagens eletrônicas; e segurança e privacidade, seguindo recomendação do Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM). Para aprimorar sua metodologia de evolução, essa presente tese analisou o grau de interoperabilidade do padrão TISS segundo a norma ISO 20514 (ISO 20514, 2005) e a luz do modelo dual da Fundação openEHR, que propõe padrões abertos para arquitetura e estrutura do Registro Eletrônico de Saúde (RES). O modelo dual da Fundação openEHR é composto, no primeiro nível, por um modelo de referência genérico e, no segundo, por um modelo de arquétipos, onde se detalham os conceitos e atributos. Dois estudos foram realizados: o primeiro se refere a um conjunto de arquétipos demográficos elaborados como proposta de representação da informação demográfica em saúde, baseado no modelo de referência da Fundação openEHR. O segundo estudo propõe um modelo de referência genérico, como aprimoramento das especificações da Fundação openEHR, para representar o conceito de submissão de autorização e contas na saúde, assim como um conjunto de arquétipos. Por fim, uma nova arquitetura para construção do padrão TISS é proposta, tendo como base o modelo dual da Fundação openEHR e como horizonte a evolução para o RES centrado no paciente

Percutaneous insertion of Dual Growth Rods using a new mobile bearing implant

Growth rods are commonly used for the treatment of scoliosis in the immature spine. Many variations have been proposed but breakage of implants is a common problem. Growth rod insertion commonly involves large exposures at initial insertion followed by multiple smaller procedures for lengthening. We present our early experiences using a percutaneous technique of insertion of a new titanium mobile bearing implant (Medtronic Inc). The implant allows some rotatory motion in the middle of the construct thus reducing construct stresses and thus possibly reducing rod breakage risk. Based on this small initial series with 12 months follow-up, percutaneous insertion of growth rods using the new implant is a safe and reliable technique although the infection rate in our sample was of note. This may be related to the titanium wear and inflammation seen in the soft tissues at time of operation and visualised on histology. No implants have required removal due to infection, and all infections were treated with debridement at next lengthening and suppressive antibiotics. Propionibacterium is one of the commonest infections seen with spinal implants and sometimes does not respond to simple antibiotic suppression. The technique allows preservation of the soft tissues until definitive fusion is needed and may lead to a decrease in hospital stay. The implant is low profile and seems to offer advantages over other systems on the market. Further follow up is needed to look at longer term outcomes with this new implant type.

Performance Benchmarking of Australian Business Regulation : Submission to the Productivity Commission

The need to “reduce red tape” and regulatory inconsistencies is a desirable outcome (OECD 1997) for developed countries. The costs normally associated with regulatory regimes are compliance costs and direct charges. Geiger and Hoffman (1998) have noted that the extent of regulation in an industry tends to be negatively associated with firm performance. Typically, approaches to estimation of the cost of regulations examine direct costs, such as fees and charges, together with indirect costs, such as compliance costs. However, in a fragmented system, such as Australia, costs can also be incurred due to procedural delays, either by government, or by industry having to adapt documentation for different spheres of government; lack of predictable outcomes, with variations occurring between spheres of government and sometimes within the same government agency; and lost business opportunities, with delays and red tape preventing realisation of business opportunities (OECD 1997). In this submission these costs are termed adaptation costs. The adaptation costs of complying with variations in regulations between the states has been estimated by the Building Product Innovation Council (2003) as being up to $600 million per annum for building product manufacturers alone. Productivity gains from increased harmonisation of the regulatory system have been estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars (ABCB 2003). This argument is supported by international research which found that increasing the harmonisation of legislation in a federal system of government reduces what we have termed adaptation costs (OECD 2001). Research reports into the construction industry in Australia have likewise argued that improved consistency in the regulatory environment could lead to improvements in innovation (PriceWaterhouseCoopers 2002), and that research into this area should be given high priority (Hampson & Brandon 2004). The opinion of industry in Australia has consistently held that the current regulatory environment inhibits innovation (Manley 2004). As a first step in advancing improvements to the current situation, a summary of the current costs experienced by industry needs to be articulated. This executive summary seeks to outline these costs in the hope that the Productivity Commission would be able to identify the best tools to quantify the actual costs to industry.

Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage : Inquiry into a Sustainability Charter by the Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation

The Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation1 (hereafter called Construction Innovation) supports the notion of the establishment of a Sustainability Charter for Australia and is interested in working collaboratively to achieve this outcome. A number of challenges need to be addressed to develop this Charter. This submission outlines these challenges and possible responses to them by a Sustainability Commission.

Submission to Brisbane City Council : Draft Brisbane Economic Development Plan

As with any strategic planning process, evidence-based estimates are needed to plan effectively for the future. Comments below are based upon data drawn from the Brisbane Long Term Infrastructure Plan (Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation, 2005) and the Brisbane Long Term Planning Economic Indicators (National Institute of Economic and Industry Research, 2005), as these are cited as the underpinning research for the economic plan. This submission focuses on one critical aspect of the strategic plan — the relationship between population growth, employment growth, and infrastructure provision. While the focus of the strategic plan is on the changes which would occur within Brisbane, it is important that consideration of predicted changes in surrounding local government areas be also carried out.

Ethnic differences in the BMI-%BF relationships between young Japanese and Australian-Caucasian males living in Australia using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

The Body Mass Index (BMI) has been used worldwide as an indicator of fatness. However, the universal cut-off points by the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification may not be appropriate for every ethnic group when consider the relationship with their actual total body fatness(%BF). The application of population-specific classifications to assess BMI may be more relevant to public health. Ethnic differences in the BMI%BF relationship between 45 Japanese and 42 Australian-Caucasian males were assessed using whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan and anthropometry using a standard protocol. Japanese males had significantly (p<0.05) greater %BF at given BMI values than Australian males. When this is taken into account the newly proposed Asia-Pacific BMI classification of BMI 23 as overweight and 25 as obese may better assess the level of obesity that is associated increased health risks for this population. To clarify the current findings, further studies that compare the relationships across other Japanese populations are recommended.

Substance Treatment Options in Psychosis (STOP) : a new intervention for dual diagnosis

Despite the high co-occurrence of psychosis and substance abuse, there is very little research on the development of effective treatments for this problem. This paper describes a new intervention that facilitates reaching functional goals through collaboration between therapists, participants and families. Substance Treatment Options in Psychosis (STOP) integrates pharmacological and psycho-logical treatments for psychotic symptoms, with cognitive-behavioural approaches to substance abuse. STOP is tailored to participants' problems and abilities, and recognises that control of consumption and even engagement may take several attempts. Training in relevant skills is augmented by bibliotherapy, social support and environmental change. A case description illustrates the issues and challenges in implementation.