Naresuan University Journal
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Engaging communitites in climate adaptation: the potential of social networks
No full textThere has been a growing recognition regarding the use of social networks to engage communities in government actions. However, despite increasing awareness of social networks, there is very limited evidence for their application in relation to climate policy. This study fills this gap by assessing the potential of social networks for engaging local communities in climate adaptation policy, drawing on a case study of the Shoalhaven region in Australia. Participants from key representative groups were recruited using a purposive snowball sampling technique (N ¼ 24). By mapping knowledge acquisition and diffusion networks in relation to climate adaption at the local scale, this study identified key nodes within the networks. Findings demonstrate that although climate adaptation information was acquired from a diverse range of sources, the sharing knowledge networks were far more dispersed. Furthermore, although 165 knowledge sources were identified, three nodes had coverage cross the entire network, and as such acted as boundary spanners within the sharing network. This research demonstrates the utility of social network analysis to reveal the underlying knowledge networks and structures that influence community engagement pathways and in doing so outlines key implications in relation to engaging local communities in climate policy and action. Policy relevance The rapid development of adaptation as a mainstream strategy for managing the risks of climate change has resulted in the emergence of a broad range of adaptation policies and management strategies globally. However, the success of these initiatives is largely dependent on their acceptance and uptake by local communities, which to date remains a significant challenge. Accordingly, policy makers require novel approaches to overcome barriers to community engagement so as to enhance the likely success of community engagement pathways. This article demonstrates the value of using social network analysis to reveal the underlying knowledge network structures. This approach makes it possible to identify key individuals within a community who can disseminate adaptation information quickly across broad geographic ranges. By utilizing this approach, policy makers globally will be able to increase the extent to which adaption initiatives are accepted and adhered to by local communities, thus increasing their success
Motivational interviewing for parent-child health interventions:A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textPURPOSE: Motivational interviewing (MI) is a patient-centered approach focusing on building intrinsic motivation for change. This paper presents a meta-analysis of parent-involved MI to improve pediatric health behavior and health outcomes.METHODS: Study inclusion criteria: (1) examined modifiable pediatric health behaviors (< 18 years old); (2) used MI or motivational enhancement; (3) conducted a randomized controlled trial with a comparison group (non-MI control or active treatment group); (4) conducted the intervention with only a parent or both a parent and child; and (5) were written in English. Twenty-five studies (with 5,130 participants) were included and independently rated. Weighted mean effect sizes, using random-effects assumptions, were calculated.RESULTS: Relative to comparison groups, MI was associated with significant improvements in health behaviors (e.g., oral health, diet, physical activity, reduced screen time, smoking cessation, reduced second hand smoke) and reduction in body mass index. Results suggest that MI may also outperform comparison groups in terms of dental caries, but more studies are needed. MI interventions were more successful at improving diets for Caucasians and when the intervention included more MI components.CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide support for providing motivational interviewing to parents and children to improve pediatric health behaviors.</p
Developing test methods for interfacial ageing in composite insulators
No full textHigh voltage insulation systems consist of a combination of different insulating materials, exposed to multiple stresses during operation. Outdoor composite insulators used in transmission lines are typically made of two solid polymeric materials bonded together to form the insulator. Work reported here contributes to the evaluation of degradation within internal interfaces by developing tests to investigate interfacial tracking, with a view to replicating the tracking phenomena seen within composite insulators in service. The present paper highlights high voltage tests on dielectric interfaces with needle electrodes generating local high fields to initiate tracking. FEA has been used to design an experiment with controlled electric field magnitudes over a 1 m sample. Moreover, information from monitoring partial discharges and surface temperature is used to understand the inception and propagation of tracking activity within the structure
On the Finite Differences Used in Reacting Flow Simulations
No full textThere exist many spatial discretization schemes that are well able to provide accurate and stable approximations for isothermal turbulent flows. Comparatively little analysis has been made of the performance of these schemes in the presence of temperature gradients driven by combustion. In this paper, the effects of temperature gradients on numerical stability are explored. A surprising result is that temperature gradients in the flow have a tendency to impinge on left half plane (LHP) stability of the spatial discretization scheme. Reasons for this tendency are explored and two remedies are proposed: one based on the particular class of finite difference schemes, and one based on an alternative method of boundary condition specification
Search for heavy long-lived multi-charged particles in pp collisions at TeV using the ATLAS detector
No full textEnrichment of Bruch’s membrane from human donor eyes
No full textAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment in the developed world. The disease manifests itself by the destruction of the center of the retina, called the macula, resulting in the loss of central vision. Early AMD is characterised by the presence of small, yellowish lesions called soft drusen that can progress onto late AMD such as geographic atrophy (dry AMD) or neovascularisation (wet AMD). Although the clinical changes are well described, and the understanding of genetic influences on conferring AMD risk are getting ever more detailed, one area lacking major progress is an understanding of the biochemical consequences of genetic risk. This is partly due to difficulties in understanding the biochemistry of Bruch’s membrane, a very thin extracellular matrix that acts as a biological filter of material from the blood supply and a scaffold on which the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell monolayer resides. Drusen form within Bruch’s membrane and their presence disrupts nutrient flow to the RPE cells. Only by investigating the protein composition of Bruch’s membrane, and indeed how other proteins interact with it, can researchers hope to unravel the biochemical mechanisms underpinning drusen formation, development of AMD and subsequent vision loss. This paper details methodologies for enriching either whole Bruch’s membrane, or just from the macula region, so that it can be used for downstream biochemical analysis, and provide examples of how this is already changing the understanding of Bruch’s membrane biochemistry
Seizure suppression through manipulating splicing of a voltage-gated sodium channel
No full textSeizure can result from increased voltage-gated persistent sodium current expression. Although many clinically-approved antiepileptic drugs target voltage-gated persistent sodium current, none exclusively repress this current without also adversely affecting the transient voltage-gated sodium current. Achieving a more selective block has significant potential for the treatment of epilepsy. Recent studies show that voltage-gated persistent sodium current amplitude is regulated by alternative splicing offering the possibility of a novel route for seizure control. In this study we identify 291 splicing regulators that, on knockdown, alter splicing of the Drosophila voltage-gated sodium channel to favour inclusion of exon K, rather than the mutually exclusive exon L. This change is associated with both a significant reduction in voltage-gated persistent sodium current, without change to transient voltage-gated sodium current, and to rescue of seizure in this model insect. RNA interference mediated knock-down, in two different seizure mutants, shows that 95 of these regulators are sufficient to significantly reduce seizure duration. Moreover, most suppress seizure activity in both mutants, indicative that they are part of well conserved pathways and likely, therefore, to be optimal candidates to take forward to mammalian studies. We provide proof-of-principle for such studies by showing that inhibition of a selection of regulators, using small molecule inhibitors, is similarly effective to reduce seizure. Splicing of the Drosophila sodium channel shows many similarities to its mammalian counterparts, including altering the amplitude of voltagegated persistent sodium current. Our study provides the impetus to investigate whether manipulation of splicing of mammalian voltage-gated sodium channels may be exploitable to provide effective seizure control
Effects of Polypropylene Glycol 400 (PPG400) on the Micellization and Gelation of Pluronic F127
No full textIn dilute aqueous solution unimers of Pluronic F127 associate to form micelles. In more concentrated solution, micelles pack to form high-modulus gels. Our interest is the effect of addition of 10 to 30 wt% low molecular weight PPG400 on the micellization and gelation of solutions of F127. DLS was used to determine the apparent size of the micelles (rh,app)¬¬. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) using the dye solubilization method of F127 in PPG400 solutions was studied. It was carried out visual observation of mobility to detect gel formation in concentrated solutions and the onset of clouding and turbidity, as the temperature was raised. Oscillatory rheometry was used to confirm the formation of high-modulus gels and provide values of elastic moduli (G'max) over a wide temperature range. SAXS was used to determine gel structure. Our results for the hydrophobic adduct PPG400 were compared with literature values for the hydrophilic adduct PEG6000
Prevalence and impact of co-morbidity burden as defined by the Charlson co-morbidity index on 30-day and 1- and 5-year outcomes after coronary stent implantation (from the Nobori-2 Study)
No full textCo-morbidities have typically been considered as prevalent cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases rather than systematic measures of general co-morbidity burden in patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI) is a measure of co-morbidity burden providing a means of quantifying the prognostic impact of 22 co-morbid conditions on the basis of their number and prognostic impact. The study evaluated the impact of the CCI on cardiac mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) after PCI through analysis of the Nobori-2 study. The prognostic impact of CCI was studied in 3,067 patients who underwent PCI in 4,479 lesions across 125 centers worldwide on 30-day and 1- and 5-year cardiac mortality and MACE. Data were adjusted for potential confounders using stepwise logistic regression; 2,280 of 3,067 patients (74.4%) had ≥1 co-morbid conditions. CCI (per unit increase) was independently associated with an increase in both cardiac death (odds ratio [OR] 1.47 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20 to 1.80, p = 0.0002) and MACE (OR 1.29 95% CI 1.14 to 1.47, p ≤0.0011) at 30 days, with similar observations recorded at 1 and 5 years. CCI score ≥2 was independently associated with increased 30-day cardiac death (OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.24 to 14.56, p = 0.02) at 1 month, and this increased risk was also observed at 1 and 5 years. In conclusion, co-morbid burden, as measured using CCI, is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in the short, medium, and long term. Co-morbidity should be considered in the decision-making process when counseling patients regarding the periprocedural risks associated with PCI, in conjunction with traditional risk factors