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Dental neglect as a marker of broader neglect:a qualitative investigation of public health Nurses' assessments of oral health in preschool children
No full textBackgroundChild neglect is a pernicious child protection issue with adverse consequences that extend to adulthood. Simultaneously, though it remains prevalent, childhood dental caries is a preventable disease. Public health nurses play a pivotal role in assessing oral health in children as part of general health surveillance. However, little is known about how they assess dental neglect or what their thresholds are for initiating targeted support or instigating child protection measures. Understanding these factors is important to allow improvements to be made in care pathways.MethodsWe investigated public health nurses' assessment of oral health in preschool children in relation to dental neglect and any associations they make with child neglect more broadly. A qualitative study was conducted in Scotland during 2011/12. Sixteen public health nurses were recruited purposively from one health region. Individual, semi-structured interviews were undertaken and data were analyzed inductively using a framework approach. Categories were subsequently mapped to the research questions.ResultsPublic health nurses assess oral health through proxy measures, opportunistic observation and through discussion with parents. Dental neglect is rarely an isolated issue that leads on its own to child protection referral. It tends to be other presenting issues that initiate a response. Threshold levels for targeted support were based on two broad indicators: social issues and concerns about child (and parental) dental health. Thresholds for child protection intervention were untreated dental caries or significant dental pain. Barriers to intervention are that dental neglect may be 'unseen' and 'unspoken'. The study revealed a communication gap in the care pathway for children where a significant dental problem is identified.ConclusionsPublic health nurses take their child protection role seriously, but rarely make a link between dental caries and child neglect. Clear guidance on oral health assessment is required for public health nurses. Establishing formal communication pathways between child dental care providers and public health nurses may help close gaps in care pathways. However, further research is required into how these communication mechanisms can be improved
The neuroscience of hypoglycemia:: Studies of the rodent brain
No full textIndividuals with type 1 diabetes suffer repeated episodes of insulin-induced hypoglycemia, reflecting both their need for insulin replacement (exogenously delivered and unregulated) and defects in many aspects of the neuroendocrinecounterregulatory response to hypoglycemia. In this review we examine the mechanisms by which the brain detects falling glucose and initiates a counterregulatory hormone defense response. We propose that glucose is monitoredthrough a network of central and peripheral glucose sensors, with specialized neurons in each region using glucose-sensing mechanisms very similar to those of the pancreatic ß- and a-cells
Audio-frequency characteristics of multilayer piezoelectric crystal actuator for use in hearing implant
No full textA multilayer piezoelectric actuator has been evaluated for use in a hearing implant. Its Frequency response was flat up to 20kHz. Initial in-vitro trials gave stapes displacement From stimulation at 3.5V RMS, which is equivalent to that from acoustic stimulation at 90dB SPL below 1kHz, increasing to 120dB at 8kHz. This performance meets accepted clinical specifications.</p
Force measurement on fracture site with external fixation
No full textA force measurement device has been designed to monitor the mechanical properties of fracture site with external fixation. Forces are measured through electric resistance strain gauges mounted on fixation framework and the measurement results are displayed on an LCD screen. The device features a force range of 0-10 kg with linearity and repeatability less than 1% and accuracy less than 0.1 kg.</p
Engaging multimedia leisure for people with dementia
No full textDementia is the loss of cognitive abilities, particularly the use of working (short-term) memory, usually as a result of Alzheimer’s disease or stroke. Dementia occurs primarily in older people, and while it does not affect all of them, its rate of occurrence rises steeply from about 1 in 5 of people in their 80s to 1 in 3 of those in their 90s. As our population balance shifts towards the older end of the spectrum, the incidence of dementia will continue to increase. The ability to take part in enjoyable activities is a faculty which can decrease markedly with the onset of dementia. And yet having fun is an essential part of life. We have been working on using technology to support activities for people with dementia that make life enjoyable. These include having entertainment, being creative, and enjoying a conversation. We have been developing computer-based multi-media systems to support a person with dementia to continue to enjoy taking part in these activities. The entertainment system supplies engaging content and built-in prompting to keep the user supported and involved. The creative tool allows a person with dementia to compose their own musical sounds, regardless of any musical background. The communication support system restores to the person with dementia the ability to carry out a conversation with a relative or carer, by making use of relatively well-preserved long-term memories. All three systems have been evaluated with people who have dementia, using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods. The results show that all three approaches can give positive outcomes, and further work in this field is recommended
Argument Revision as a means of supporting dishonesty
No full textIn this paper, we demonstrate how our previous work on Argument Revision can be used to assist a participant in a dialogue to be dishonest. We first provide answers to the questions of why a participant would choose to lie, and what constitutes a lie in terms of structured argumentation. We then go on to show how Argument Revision can be used not only in selecting a "minimal" lie, but also in maintaining that lie in order to avoid detection
A computational model of Lakatos-style reasoning
No full textLakatos outlined a theory of mathematical discovery and justification, which suggests ways in which concepts, conjectures and proofs gradually evolve via interaction between mathematicians. Different mathematicians may have different interpretations of a conjecture, examples or counterexamples of it, and beliefs regarding its value or theoremhood. Through discussion, concepts are refined and conjectures and proofs modified. We hypothesise that (i) it is possible to computationally represent Lakatos’s theory, and (ii) it is useful to do so. In order to test our hypotheses we have developed a computational model of his theory.Our model is a multiagent dialogue system. Each agent has a copy of a pre-existing theory formation system, which can form concepts and make conjectures which empirically hold for the objects of interest supplied. Distributing the objects of interest between agents means that they form different theories, which they communicate to each other. Agents then find counterexamples and use methods identified by Lakatos to suggest modifications to conjectures, concept definitions and proofs.Our main aim is to provide a computational reading of Lakatos’s theory, by interpreting it as a series of algorithms and implementing these algorithms as a computer program.This is the first systematic automated realisation of Lakatos’s theory. We contribute to the computational philosophy of science by interpreting, clarifying and extending his theory. We also contribute by evaluating his theory, using our model to test hypotheses about it, and evaluating our extended computational theory on the basis of criteria proposed by several theorists. A further contribution is to automated theory formation and automated theorem proving. The process of refining conjectures, proofs and concept definitions requires a flexibility which is inherently useful in fields which handle ill-specified problems, such as theory formation. Similarly, the ability to automatically modify an open conjecture into one which can be proved, is a valuable contribution to automated theorem proving.<br/
Lessons learnt from assembling screening libraries for drug discovery for neglected diseases
No full textTo enable the establishment of a drug discovery operation for neglected diseases, out of 2.3 million commercially available compounds 222 252 compounds were selected for an in silico library, 57 438 for a diverse general screening library, and 1697 compounds for a focused kinase set. Compiling these libraries required a robust strategy for compound selection. Rules for unwanted groups were defined and selection criteria to enrich for lead-like compounds which facilitate straightforward structure-activity relationship exploration were established. Further, a literature and patent review was undertaken to extract key recognition elements of kinase inhibitors ("core fragments") to assemble a focused library for hit discovery for kinases. Computational and experimental characterisation of the general screening library revealed that the selected compounds 1) span a broad range of lead-like space, 2) show a high degree of structural integrity and purity, and 3) demonstrate appropriate solubility for the purposes of biochemical screening. The implications of this study for compound selection, especially in an academic environment with limited resources, are considered.</p
Quantifying the contribution of organisms to the provision of ecosystem services
No full textResearch on ecosystem services has grown rapidly over the last decade. Two conceptual frameworks have been published to guide ecological assessments of organisms that deliver services - the concepts of service-providing units (SPUs) and ecosystem service providers (ESPs). Here, we unite these frameworks and present an SPU-ESP continuum that offers a coherent conceptual approach for synthesizing the latest developments in ecosystem service research, and can direct future studies at all levels of organization. In particular, we show how the service-provider concept can be applied at the population, functional group, and community levels. We strongly emphasize the need to identify and quantify the organisms and their characteristics (e.g., functional traits) that provide services, and to assess service provision relative to the demands of human beneficiaries. We use key examples from the literature to illustrate the new approach and to highlight gaps in knowledge, particularly in relation to the impact of species interactions and ecosystem dynamics on service provision
Synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphate Prodrugs of 4-Phospho-D-erythronohydroxamic acid, an inhibitor of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase
No full textWe have previously reported the discovery of potent and selective inhibitors of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, the third enzyme of the phosphate pentose pathway, from Trypanosoma brucei, the causative organism of human African trypanosomiasis. These inhibitors were charged phosphate derivatives with restricted capacity to enter cells. Herein, we report the synthesis of five different classes of prodrugs: phosphoramidate; bis-S-acylthioethyl esters (bis-SATE); bis-pivaloxymethyl (bis-POM); CycloSaligenyl; and phenyl, S-acyl thioethyl mixed phosphate esters (mix-SATE). Prodrugs were studied for stability and activity against the intact parasites. Most prodrugs caused inhibition of the growth of the parasites. The activity of the prodrugs against the parasites appeared to be related to their stability in aqueous buffer.</p
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