Preliminary Physical Stratigraphy and Geophysical Data From the USGS Dixon Core, Onslow County, North Carolina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Seefelt, Ellen L.; Gonzalez, Wilma Aleman B.; Self-Trail, Jean M.; Weems, Robert E.; Edwards, Lucy E.; Pierce, Herbert A.; Durand, Colleen T.

2009-01-01

In October through November 2006, scientists from the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eastern Region Earth Surface Processes Team (EESPT) and the Raleigh (N.C.) Water Science Center (WSC), in cooperation with the North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS) and the Onslow County Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA), drilled a stratigraphic test hole and well in Onslow County, N.C. The Dixon corehole was cored on ONWASA water utility property north of the town of Dixon, N.C., in the Sneads Ferry 7.5-minute quadrangle at latitude 34deg33'35' N, longitude 77deg26'54' W (decimal degrees 34.559722 and -77.448333). The site elevation is 66.0 feet (ft) above mean sea level as determined using a Paulin precision altimeter. The corehole attained a total depth of 1,010 ft and was continuously cored by the USGS EESPT drilling crew. A groundwater monitoring well was installed in the screened interval between 234 and 254 ft below land surface. The section cored at this site includes Upper Cretaceous, Paleogene, and Neogene sediments. The Dixon core is stored at the NCGS Coastal Plain core storage facility in Raleigh. The Dixon corehole is the fourth and last in a series of planned North Carolina benchmark coreholes drilled by the USGS Coastal Carolina Project. These coreholes explore the physical stratigraphy, facies, and thickness of Cretaceous, Paleogene, and Neogene Coastal Plain sediments in North Carolina. Correlations of lithologies, facies, and sequence stratigraphy can be made with the Hope Plantation corehole, N.C., near Windsor in Bertie County (Weems and others, 2007); the Elizabethtown corehole, near Elizabethtown, N.C., in Bladen County (Self-Trail and others, 2004b); the Smith Elementary School corehole, near Cove City, N.C., in Craven County (Harris and Self-Trail, 2006; Crocetti, 2007); the Kure Beach corehole, near Wilmington, N.C., in New Hanover County (Self-Trail and others, 2004a); the Esso#1, Esso #2, Mobil #1, and Mobil #2 cores in Albermarle and Pamlico Sounds

Sustainability and Scotland's Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, 2009

2009-01-01

This report evaluates how effectively Scotland's colleges have embraced and taken forward sustainability in the context of the Scottish Government's commitment to improve Scotland's natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it. "Greener Scotland" is one of the five strategic objectives that form part of the…

Applying 3-PG, a simple process-based model designed to produce practical results, to data from loblolly pine experiments

Treesearch

Joe J. Landsberg; Kurt H. Johnsen; Timothy J. Albaugh; H. Lee Allen; Steven E. McKeand

2001-01-01

3-PG is a simple process-based model that requires few parameter values and only readily available input data. We tested the structure of the model by calibrating it against loblolly pine data from the control treatment of the SETRES experiment in Scotland County, NC, then altered the fertility rating to simulate the effects of fertilization. There was excellent...

75 FR 59934 - Amendment to Class E Airspace; Smithfield, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-29

... Class E airspace at Johnston County Airport, Smithfield, NC, by correcting an omission of the geographic coordinates of the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Special Standard Instrument Approach... System. DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, January 13, 2011. The Director of the Federal Register approves this...

76 FR 31510 - Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Rutherfordton, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-01

...; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-41) and be submitted in triplicate to the Docket Management System (see... airspace required to support new standard instrument approach procedures for Rutherford County Airport. The... action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Rutherfordton, NC, to accommodate the additional airspace...

Suicide in the Highlands of Scotland.

PubMed

Stark, C; Matthewson, F; O'Neill, N; Oates, K; Hay, A

2002-01-01

The Highlands have one of the highest suicide rates in Scotland. This paper describes suicide and deliberate self-harm in the Highlands in the last 20 years and explores possible reasons for the differences from the Scottish average. Retrospective analysis of routine data from the SMRI/SMR01 scheme and information on deaths from the Registrar General. Suicide and undetermined deaths were combined in the analysis. Highland and Scotland 1978-98. The high rates in Highland are caused by an excess of male deaths. Highland has had consistently high male suicide rates over the 20 year period compared to Scotland. These differences do not disappear when deaths of non-Highland residents are excluded. By comparison, deliberate self-harm admissions follow a similar pattern to Scotland as a whole. Causes of death differed from Scotland as a whole, with an over-representation of drowning, gases and firearm deaths. Highland suicide rates are elevated compared to Scotland. This is mainly due to an excess of deaths in men up to the age of 74 years, and is not accounted for by deaths of non-residents. Female deaths are not elevated in comparison to the rest of Scotland. Male attempted suicide rates do not differ from Scotland. Lethality of method--drowning, car exhausts and firearms--may contribute to the elevated male death rates.

AmeriFlux US-NC3 NC_Clearcut#3

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Noormets, Asko

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-NC3 NC_Clearcut#3. Site Description - The North Carolina Clearcut site #3 was set up to complement NC2, and continue in place of NC1. The previous rotation of loblolly pine was harvested in the spring of 2012, the site was prepared and replanted with 2-yr old seedlings in the winter of 2012/2013.

Laser spectroscopy of CaNC and SrNC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Douay, M.; Bernath, P. F.

1990-11-01

Low-resolution laser excitation and dispersed laser-induced fluorescence spectra of CaNC and SrNC were recorded. The laser excitation spectra of the overlineB2Σ+-overlineX2Σ+ and overlineA2Π-overlineX2Σ+ transitions of SrNC are consistent with a linear,isocyanide structure. For both CaNC and SrNC, additional strong, non-resonant features occur to the red of the overlineB2Σ+-overlineX2Σ+ and overlineA2Π-overlineX2Σ+ transitions in the dispersed fluorescence spectra. Although these features remain unassigned, they might be due to emission from the isomeric,linear cyanides, CaCN and SrCN. In this case, the excited state potential curves need to have a small barrier between the cyanide and the isocyanide forms.

The impact of smokefree legislation in Scotland: results from the Scottish ITC Scotland/UK longitudinal surveys

PubMed Central

Hassan, Louise M.; Higbee, Cheryl; Boudreau, Christian; Fong, Geoffrey T.; Borland, Ron; Cummings, K. Michael; Yan, Mi; Thompson, Mary E.; Hastings, Gerard

2009-01-01

Background: To evaluate how Scotland's smokefree law impacted self-reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in hospitality venues, workplaces and in people's homes. In addition, we examine changes in support for the law, pub and restaurant patronage, smoking cessation indicators and whether any observed changes varied by socioeconomic status. Methods: A quasi-experimental longitudinal telephone survey of nationally representative samples of smokers and non-smokers interviewed before the Scottish law (February to March 2006) and 1 year later after the law (March 2007) in Scotland (n = 705 smokers and n = 417 non-smokers) and the rest of the UK (n = 1027 smokers and n = 447 non-smokers) where smoking in public places was not regulated at the time. Results: Dramatic declines in the observance of smoking in pubs, restaurants and workplaces were found in Scotland relative to the rest of the UK. The change in the percent of smokers reporting a smokefree home and number of cigarettes smoked inside the home in the evening was comparable in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Support for smokefree policies increased to a greater extent in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. Self-reported frequency of going to pubs and restaurants was generally comparable between Scotland and the rest of the UK; however, non-smokers in Scotland were more likely to frequent pubs more often. No differences in smoking cessation indicators were observed between countries. Conclusion: The Scottish smokefree law has been successful in decreasing secondhand smoke exposure while causing none of the hypothesized negative outcomes. PMID:19151105

An altered state? Emergent changes to illicit drug markets and distribution networks in scotland.

PubMed

Densley, James; McLean, Robert; Deuchar, Ross; Harding, Simon

2018-06-13

Many efforts have been undertaken to construct an overview of various aspects of illicit drug distribution in the United Kingdom. Yet given that national, regional, and local differences can be profound, this has proven difficult, to the extent that Scotland has been largely excluded from the conversation. In addition, the level of supply being examined, the drug type, and the actors involved only add to confusion and vast differences between some findings. The current study aims to provide a holistic account, as best as possible considering variations of illegal drug supply in illicit networks, by focusing in on a particular geographical context (Scotland) and addressing drug supply at all levels. It is informed by in-depth interviews with 42 offenders involved in drug distribution from retail to wholesale/middle market to importation levels. Findings indicate Scotland's importation and distribution is evolving owing to increasingly adaptive risk mitigation by importers and distributors, and market diversification of both product and demand. While a hierarchical model still dominates the market, commuting or 'county lines' and increasing demand for drugs such as cannabis, but also anabolic steroids and psychoactive substances, means that home growing, online purchasing, and street-level dealership is common. The findings have the capacity to further inform police and practitioners about the diverse and evolving nature of drug distribution in Scotland (with a particular focus on the west of the country), so that they may become more effective in improving the safety and wellbeing of people, places and communities. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Knowledge Exchange with Sistema Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allan, Julie; Moran, Nikki; Duffy, Celia; Loening, Gica

2010-01-01

This paper reports on a knowledge exchange project, funded by the Scottish Funding Council and undertaken by a group of researchers from three higher education institutions in Scotland and the project partner, Sistema Scotland. This newly established charity is attempting to implement a major programme of social change, developed in Venezuela,…

Access in Scotland: Access to Higher Education for People from Less Advantaged Backgrounds in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blackburn, Lucy Hunter; Kadar-Satat, Gitit; Riddell, Sheila; Weedon, Elisabet

2016-01-01

Access to universities across the United Kingdom remains a challenge despite improvements in recent years. Those challenges are still more marked in Scotland than in the other nations, as this report shows. This report lays bare the extent of the challenge. Scotland has a different approach to higher education. It no longer charges tuition fees,…

Comparative study of protective activities of Neospora caninum bradyzoite antigens, NcBAG1, NcBSR4, NcMAG1, and NcSAG4, in a mouse model of acute parasitic infection.

PubMed

Uchida, Masaki; Nagashima, Kotomi; Akatsuka, Yui; Murakami, Takashi; Ito, Akira; Imai, Soichi; Ike, Kazunori

2013-02-01

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that causes severe neuromuscular diseases, repeated abortion, stillbirth, and congenital infection in livestock and companion animals. The development of an effective vaccine against neosporosis in cattle is an important issue due to the significant worldwide economic impact of this disease. We evaluated the immunogenicity of four bradyzoite antigens, NcBAG1 (first described in this study), NcBSR4, NcMAG1, and NcSAG4, using an acute infection mouse model to determine synergistic effects with the tachyzoite antigen as a candidate for vaccine production. Mice were inoculated with the recombinant vaccines (r-)NcBAG1, rNcBSR4, rNcMAG1, rNcSAG4, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (adjuvant control group) in an oil-in-water emulsion with bitter gourd extract, a Th1 immune stimulator, or PBS alone as the infection control group. Mice inoculated with each vaccine developed antigen-specific IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies and isolated splenocytes from mice produced high levels of interferon-γ when infected with the N. caninum tachyzoite. The mice inoculated with rNcBAG1, rNcMAG1, or rNcSAG4 developed slight to moderate clinical symptoms but did not succumb to infection. In contrast, rNcBSR4 and both control groups developed severe disease and some mice required euthanasia. The parasitic burden in the brain tissues of vaccinated mice was assessed by N. caninum-specific real-time PCR at 5 weeks after infection. The parasite load in rNcBAG1-, rNcMAG1-, and rNcSAG4-inoculated mice was significantly lower than that in adjuvant and infection control mice. Therefore, these antigens may be useful for the production of a N. caninum-specific vaccination protocol.

Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters - helping address Scotland's water policy challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacDonald, Jannette; Morris, Sue; Hastings, Emily; Ferrier, Bob

2014-05-01

CREW connects water research and policy in Scotland. We deliver easily accessible research and expert opinion to support Scottish Government and its delivery partners in the development and implementation of water policy in Scotland. The main policy areas include the Water Framework Directive, Flooding Directive, and Scotland's Hydro Nation Strategy with links to cross cutting policies such as those relating to agriculture and climate change. CREW is unique in its demand-driven and free service for policy makers and practitioners, managing the engagement between scientists, policy makers and practitioners to work effectively across this interface. CREW aims are to; • deliver timely and accurate advice • coordinate and fund research, analysis and interpretation • stimulate innovative and proactive thinking • develop and implement a programme of knowledge exchange • develop the networks and skills of researchers, policy makers and practitioners to make best use of available science leading to improved environmental, social and economic outcomes for all CREW is a partnership between the James Hutton Institute and Scottish Universities, funded by the Scottish Government. http://www.crew.ac.uk/home

Scotland

NASA Image and Video Library

2017-12-08

In late February, 2013 the Aqua satellite passed over Scotland as the clouds parted, allowing the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying aboard to capture a clear image of the late winter landscape. This image was captured at 1320 UTC (1:20 in the afternoon local time) on February 27. England makes up about the southern third of the image. The border between England and Scotland runs from the River Tweed on the east coast and the Solway Firth along the Cheviot Hills of the west coast. The Solway Firth is an estuary of the Irish Sea, and was filled with tan-colored sediment at the time of this image. Further north on the west coast of Scotland, the Firth of Clyde is hidden under a bank of low clouds (fog). Scotland’s Southern Uplands lie just north of the border and the Central Lowlands just north of that. The Grampian Mountains are found in the center of the country, and the high peaks wear a covering of snow and ice year-round. Finally the Northern Highlands can be seen peeking out from under a large bank of clouds. The Northern Highlands and the Grampian Mountains are separated by a striking feature - the Great Glen Fault. This is a 100 km-long strike-slip fault which runs from Moray Firth in the east to Fort William at the head of Loch Linnhe in the west. The Great Glen contains the United Kingdom’s deepest freshwater loch, the famous Loch Ness. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team NASA image use policy. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Find us on Instagram

Surgery in remote and rural Scotland.

PubMed

Sim, Andrew J W; Grant, Fiona; Ingram, Annie K

2009-12-01

Over the past 15 years, rural surgery in Scotland has emerged from the backwaters of the Scottish Health service to a recognized and important part of overall health care provision in Scotland. No longer is the rural surgeon regarded by his city colleague as the eccentric poor relation of the urban specialist. The rural surgeon is now more likely to have the skills and experience necessary for the work that must be done. Training pathways are defined to ensure succession planning. The support of the Scottish Government, Health Boards, and the Royal Colleges has been essential; their continued involvement will ensure safe surgery for those who dwell in the more isolated areas of Scotland.

Asbestos in Scotland.

PubMed

Gorman, Thomas; Johnston, Ronnie; McIvor, Arthur; Watterson, Andrew

2004-01-01

This paper outlines the asbestos hazard in Scotland and draws upon a systematic oral history project to analyze from the workers' perspective the nature of exposure, the limitations of government regulatory initiatives, and the ramifications of contracting asbestos-related diseases for sufferers and their families. Current issues are investigated, stressing the agency of workers, trade unions, sympathetic local councils, and, especially, the victims' pressure groups. The occupational and environmental health threats of asbestos in Scotland remain significant, although recent E.U.- and U.K.-based decisions to ban further use of asbestos together with active campaigning by local activist groups have helped to reduce them. Mesothelioma mortality rates remain high, due to historic exposures, and much work remains to be done to reduce the number and plight of asbestos-exposed workers.

The wave and tidal resource of Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neill, Simon; Vogler, Arne; Lewis, Matt; Goward-Brown, Alice

2017-04-01

As the marine renewable energy industry evolves, in parallel with an increase in the quantity of available data and improvements in validated numerical simulations, it is occasionally appropriate to re-assess the wave and tidal resource of a region. This is particularly true for Scotland - a leading nation that the international community monitors for developments in the marine renewable energy industry, and which has witnessed much progress in the sector over the last decade. With 7 leased wave and 17 leased tidal sites, Scotland is well poised to generate significant levels of electricity from its abundant natural marine resources. In this review of Scotland's wave and tidal resource, I present the theoretical and technical resource, and provide an overview of commercial progress. I also discuss issues that affect future development of the marine energy seascape in Scotland, applicable to other regions of the world, including the potential for developing lower energy sites, and grid connectivity.

Benchmarking in national health service procurement in Scotland.

PubMed

Walker, Scott; Masson, Ron; Telford, Ronnie; White, David

2007-11-01

The paper reports the results of a study on benchmarking activities undertaken by the procurement organization within the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland, namely National Procurement (previously Scottish Healthcare Supplies Contracts Branch). NHS performance is of course politically important, and benchmarking is increasingly seen as a means to improve performance, so the study was carried out to determine if the current benchmarking approaches could be enhanced. A review of the benchmarking activities used by the private sector, local government and NHS organizations was carried out to establish a framework of the motivations, benefits, problems and costs associated with benchmarking. This framework was used to carry out the research through case studies and a questionnaire survey of NHS procurement organizations both in Scotland and other parts of the UK. Nine of the 16 Scottish Health Boards surveyed reported carrying out benchmarking during the last three years. The findings of the research were that there were similarities in approaches between local government and NHS Scotland Health, but differences between NHS Scotland and other UK NHS procurement organizations. Benefits were seen as significant and it was recommended that National Procurement should pursue the formation of a benchmarking group with members drawn from NHS Scotland and external benchmarking bodies to establish measures to be used in benchmarking across the whole of NHS Scotland.

Large Nc equivalence and baryons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blake, Mike; Cherman, Aleksey

2012-09-01

In the large Nc limit, gauge theories with different gauge groups and matter content sometimes turn out to be “large Nc equivalent,” in the sense of having a set of coincident correlation functions. Large Nc equivalence has mainly been explored in the glueball and meson sectors. However, a recent proposal to dodge the fermion sign problem of QCD with a quark number chemical potential using large Nc equivalence motivates investigating the applicability of large Nc equivalence to correlation functions involving baryon operators. Here we present evidence that large Nc equivalence extends to the baryon sector, under the same type of symmetry realization assumptions as in the meson sector, by adapting the classic Witten analysis of large Nc baryons.

Identification of Vape Shops in Two North Carolina Counties: An Approach for States without Retailer Licensing.

PubMed

Lee, Joseph G L; D'Angelo, Heather; Kuteh, Jaleel D; Martin, Ryan J

2016-10-27

Stores that sell electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as their primary product are a new phenomenon and often termed "vape shops". While vape shops are now regulated by state and federal agencies, not all states maintain lists of vape shops in operation. Standard ways of identifying tobacco retailers through off-premise alcohol permits and business listing services may not identify vape shops. We used four online business listing services (i.e., Google Maps, ReferenceUSA, YellowPages.com, Yelp) to identify vape shops in two counties in North Carolina (NC). In one county, we also assessed four vaping web sites. We drove primary and secondary roads to physically validate the identified stores and attempt to identify stores not listed online. To assess the accuracy of the online searches, we calculated sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPVs). This research was conducted in spring and summer 2016 and identified 28 vape shops online. We confirmed 16 vape shops (seven in Pitt County, NC, USA, and nine in Durham County, NC, USA). Online searches ranged in sensitivity, 62.5%-81.3%, and PPVs ranged from 73.3% to 92.3%. Because of the range of sensitivity found among the business listing services, state policymakers should consider uniform licensing requirements for vape and tobacco retailers to more easily track retailers and ensure compliance with regulations.

Identification of Vape Shops in Two North Carolina Counties: An Approach for States without Retailer Licensing

PubMed Central

Lee, Joseph G. L.; D’Angelo, Heather; Kuteh, Jaleel D.; Martin, Ryan J.

2016-01-01

Stores that sell electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as their primary product are a new phenomenon and often termed “vape shops”. While vape shops are now regulated by state and federal agencies, not all states maintain lists of vape shops in operation. Standard ways of identifying tobacco retailers through off-premise alcohol permits and business listing services may not identify vape shops. We used four online business listing services (i.e., Google Maps, ReferenceUSA, YellowPages.com, Yelp) to identify vape shops in two counties in North Carolina (NC). In one county, we also assessed four vaping web sites. We drove primary and secondary roads to physically validate the identified stores and attempt to identify stores not listed online. To assess the accuracy of the online searches, we calculated sensitivity and positive predictive values (PPVs). This research was conducted in spring and summer 2016 and identified 28 vape shops online. We confirmed 16 vape shops (seven in Pitt County, NC, USA, and nine in Durham County, NC, USA). Online searches ranged in sensitivity, 62.5%–81.3%, and PPVs ranged from 73.3% to 92.3%. Because of the range of sensitivity found among the business listing services, state policymakers should consider uniform licensing requirements for vape and tobacco retailers to more easily track retailers and ensure compliance with regulations. PMID:27801793

Recovery in Scotland: Beyond service development

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Over the last ten years there has been significant activity related to the promotion and support of recovery in Scotland, much of it linked to the work of the Scottish Recovery Network. A range of government policies have consistently identified recovery as a guiding principle of both service design and mental health improvement efforts. New learning has been developed and shared, workforce competencies reviewed and training developed, and a range of national initiatives put in place. In Scotland, as elsewhere, these efforts have tended to focus primarily on ensuring that mental health services offer environments and practices that support personal recovery. While service improvement is crucial, a wider challenge is ensuring that opportunities and support for self-directed recovery are enhanced outside statutory services. Providing examples, this paper will look at the development of recovery in Scotland – including the work of the Scottish Recovery Network – and consider the potential for building on progress made by rebalancing efforts to support personal recovery, highlighting the importance of public attitudes and community-based learning approaches. We will also touch on the role of identity in personal recovery and consider cultural issues related to the promotion of recovery in Scotland. PMID:22385428

HOME ENVIRONMENT AND CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN A RURAL IOWA COUNTY

EPA Science Inventory

HOME ENVIRONMENT AND CHILDHOOD ASTHMA IN A RURAL IOWA COUNTY
Erik R. Svendsen*?, Stephen J. Reynolds*?, James A. Merchant*, Allison L. Naleway*?, Ann M. Stromquist*, Peter S. Thorne*.
*University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA ?Current: USEPA RTP, NC ?Curre...

Comparison of mechanical behavior of TiN, TiNC, CrN/TiNC, TiN/TiNC films on 9Cr18 steel by PVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Xingguo; Zhang, Yanshuai; Hu, Hanjun; Zheng, Yugang; Zhang, Kaifeng; Zhou, Hui

2017-11-01

TiN, TiNC, CrN/TiNC and TiN/TiNC films were deposited on 9Cr18 steel using magnetron sputtering technique. The morphology, composition, chemical state and crystalline structure of the films were observed and analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hardness and adhesion force were tested by nanoindentation and scratch tester, respectively. The friction and wear behavior of TiN, TiNC, CrN/TiNC and TiN/TiNC films sliding against GCr15 balls were investigated and compared synthetically using ball-on-disk tribometer. It was found that Tisbnd N, Tisbnd C, Tisbnd Nsbnd C and Csbnd C bonds were formed. The TiN/TiNC film was composed of TiN, TiC and TiNC phases. Hardness and adhesion force results indicated that although the TiN film possessed the highest hardness, its adhesion force was lowest among all the films. Tribological test results showed that the friction coefficient of TiN/TiNC was much lower than that of TiN and the wear rate decreases remarkably from 2.3 × 10-15 m3/Nm to 7.1 × 10-16 m3/Nm, which indicated the TiN/TiNC film has better wear resistance.

Dark Sky Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hillier, D.

2008-06-01

Dark Sky Scotland (DSS) 2006-2008 is a nationwide programme of public and educational astronomy events. It demonstrates successful national partnerships with non-astronomy organisations and effective ways of delivering events in remote rural communities. DSS is looking for international partners for IYA2009.

Renewables (Energy): A Subject-Based Aspect Report by Education Scotland on Provision in Scotland's Colleges on Behalf of the Scottish Funding Council. Transforming Lives through Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Scotland, 2014

2014-01-01

The Education Scotland publication, "External Quality Arrangements for Scotland's Colleges, Updated August 2013," specifies that Education Scotland will produce a number of subject-based aspect reports each year. These reports complement, in a subject-specific context, the generic evaluations of learning and teaching in Education…

English for Speakers of Other Languages in Scotland's Colleges: A Subject-Based Aspect Report on Provision in Scotland's Colleges by Education Scotland on Behalf of the Scottish Funding Council. Transforming Lives through Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Scotland, 2014

2014-01-01

Education Scotland's publication, "External Quality Arrangements for Scotland's Colleges, Updated August 2013", specifies that HM Inspectors (HMI) will produce a number of subject aspect reports over the four-year period 2012-16. Colleges should act on the recommendations contained in these reports. College inspectors will monitor action…

A comparison of health inequalities in urban and rural Scotland.

PubMed

Levin, Kate A; Leyland, Alastair H

2006-03-01

Previous research suggests that there are significant differences in health between urban and rural areas. Health inequalities between the deprived and affluent in Scotland have been rising over time. The aim of this study was to examine health inequalities between deprived and affluent areas of Scotland for differing ruralities and look at how these have changed over time. Postcode sectors in Scotland were ranked by deprivation and the 20% most affluent and 20% most deprived areas were found using the Carstairs indicator and male unemployment. Scotland was then split into 4 rurality types. Ratios of health status between the most deprived and most affluent areas were investigated using all cause mortality for the Scottish population, 1979-2001. These were calculated over time for 1979-1983, 1989-1993, 1998-2001. Multilevel Poisson modelling was carried out for all of Scotland excluding Grampian to assess inequalities in the population. There was an increase in inequalities between 1981 and 2001, which was greatest in remote rural Scotland for both males and females; however, male health inequalities remained higher in urban areas throughout this period. In 2001 female health inequalities were higher in remote rural areas than urban areas. Health inequalities amongst the elderly (age 65+) in 2001 were greater in remote rural Scotland than urban areas for both males and females.

Cosmogenic Samarium-150 and Calcium-41 in Norton County

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fink, D.; Klein, J.; Middleton, R.; Albrecht, A.; Ma, P.; Herzog, G. F.; Bogard, D. D.; Nyquist, L. E.; Shih, C.-Y.; Reese, Y.;

77 FR 66165 - Proposed Flood Elevation Determinations for Scotland County, NC, and Incorporated Areas

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-02

.... ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FEMA-B- 1158, to Luis Rodriguez, Chief... Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-4064, or (email) Luis[email protected] . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luis Rodriguez, Chief, Engineering Management Branch, Federal...

The NHS--is Scotland different? A case study of the management of health care in the hospital service in the west of Scotland 1947-1987.

PubMed

McTavish, D

2000-10-01

Management of the health service in Scotland and England, has since its creation, shown both divergence and congruence. In the initial decades in Scotland the executive hospital boards (which contained strong medical professional membership) and central government had a clearer relationship than in England. The health service-civil service machinery in Scotland was without doubt more to the forefront with higher status in the Scottish 'polity' than was the case in England. The 1970s reforms also indicated difference: despite the pro managerialist tones of the Farquarson Lang report in Scotland, a managerial emphasis was more apparent in the English reforms. By the 1980s, the government's clear intention that their 'radical' agenda should apply in Scotland and England was implemented in many instances: aspects of the new managerialism were applied as vigorously in the case examined than anywhere in England; the attempt to draw clinicians into resource management (as advocated in the Griffiths report) appeared to have advanced further in Scotland until well into the 1990s. Yet in other aspects, Scotland diverged from parts of England in the implementation of the 1980's agenda most notably in the growth of private practice though the case indicated significant Scottish developments here too. The article concludes by speculating on some Scottish differences in the coming years.

Atmospheric transport and wet deposition of ammonium in North Carolina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, John T.; Aneja, Viney P.; Dickey, David A.

Wet deposition and transport analysis has been performed for ammonium (NH 4+) in North Carolina, USA. Multiple regression analysis is employed to model the temporal trend and seasonality in monthly volume-weighted mean NH 4+ concentrations in precipitation from 1983 to 1996 at six National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) sites. A significant ( p<0.01) increasing trend beginning in 1990, which corresponds to an annual concentration increase of approximately 9.5%, is detected at the rural Sampson County site (NC35), which is located within a densely populated network of swine and poultry operations. This trend is positively correlated with increasing ammonia (NH 3) emissions related to the vigorous growth of North Carolina's swine population since 1990, particularly in the state's Coastal Plain region. A source-receptor regression model, which utilizes weekly NH 4+ concentrations in precipitation in conjunction with boundary layer air mass back trajectories, is developed to statistically test for the influence of a particular NH 3 source region on NH 4+ concentrations at surrounding NADP/NTN sites for the years 1995-1996. NH 3 emissions from this source region, primarily evolving from swine and poultry operations, are found to increase NH 4+ concentration in precipitation at sites up to ≈80 km away. At the Scotland County (NC36) and Wake County (NC41) sites, mean NH 4+ concentrations show increases of at least 44% for weeks during which 25% or more back trajectories are influenced by this source region.

IMatter: validation of the NHS Scotland Employee Engagement Index.

PubMed

Snowden, Austyn; MacArthur, Ewan

2014-11-08

Employee engagement is a fundamental component of quality healthcare. In order to provide empirical data of engagement in NHS Scotland an Employee Engagement Index was co-constructed with staff. 'iMatter' consists of 25 Likert questions developed iteratively from the literature and a series of validation events with NHS Scotland staff. The aim of this study was to test the face, content and construct validity of iMatter. Cross sectional survey of NHS Scotland staff. In January 2013 iMatter was sent to 2300 staff across all disciplines in NHS Scotland. 1280 staff completed it. Demographic data were collected. Internal consistency of the scale was calculated. Construct validity consisted of concurrent application of factor analysis and Rasch analysis. Face and content validity were checked using 3 focus groups. The sample was representative of the NHSScotland population. iMatter showed very strong reliability (α = 0.958). Factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure consistent with the following interpretation: iMatter showed evidence of high reliability and validity. It is a popular measure of staff engagement in NHS Scotland. Implications for practice focus on the importance of coproduction in psychometric development.

Policy and Practice of Holocaust Education in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cowan, Paula; Maitles, Henry

2010-01-01

In contrast to the situation in England and Wales, Holocaust education in Scotland is not mandatory and is not delivered to every school student. Still, it is offered frequently. In this article we show how Scotland's changing curriculum, the introduction of Holocaust Memorial Day, and the Lessons from Auschwitz Project have contributed to the…

New Models for Initial Teacher Education in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kibble, Bob

2012-01-01

In this article, the author responds to the recent article by Lynne Bianchi commenting on the Donaldson report, "Teaching Scotland's future" (Donaldson, 2011). He agrees that the Donaldson report has indeed been a catalyst to drive change across the entire landscape of initial teacher education (ITE) in Scotland. In fact, not only ITE:…

AmeriFlux US-NC1 NC_Clearcut

DOE Data Explorer

Noormets, Asko [North Carolina State University

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-NC1 NC_Clearcut. Site Description - The North Carolina Clearcut site is located in a pine plantation amongst the mixed forests of the North Carolina lower coastal plain. Owned by the Weyerhaeuser Company, the plantation is managed for the purpose of commercial logging. In 2004, 70 ha of 75 year old native hardwoods was harvested. Following the clearcut, the stand was bedded and planted with loblolly pine seedlings. The only significant natural disturbances during the measurement period was a severe drought that lasted from summer of 2007 through 2008. Consequently, the 2007 total amount of precipitation was 486 mm below the 30-year norm.

For Sale--Scotland's Most Famous Mountain Range: Land "Ownership" in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Slattery, Deirdre

2005-01-01

The nature of land ownership is infrequently discussed by practitioners of outdoor education, though it is often central to the way they work. The recent controversy over the proposed sale of the Cuillin mountain range on the Isle of Skye in Scotland provoked heated discussion over rights to and benefits of this important place. The main point at…

Suboptimal MMR2 vaccine coverage in six counties in Norway detected through the national immunisation registry, April 2014 to April 2017

PubMed Central

Hagerup-Jenssen, Maria; Kongsrud, Sigrun; Riise, Øystein Rolandsen

2017-01-01

In 2014, Norway became aware of potential low vaccination coverage for the second dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR2) in six of 19 counties. This was detected by comparing the national coverage (NC) for 16-year-olds extracted from the national immunisation registry SYSVAK with the annual status update for elimination of measles and rubella (ASU) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). The existing method for calculating NC in 2014 did not show MMR2 coverage. ASU reporting on MMR2 was significantly lower then the NC and below the WHO-recommended 95% coverage. SYSVAK is based on the Norwegian personal identification numbers, which allows monitoring of vaccinations at aggregateded as well as individual level. It is an important tool for active surveillance of the performance of the Norwegian Childhood Immunisation Programme (NCIP). The method for calculating NC was improved in 2015 to reflect MMR2 coverage for 16-year-olds. As a result, Norway has improved its real-time surveillance and monitoring of the actual MMR2 coverage also through SYSVAK (the annual publication of NC). Vaccinators receive feedback for follow-up if 15-year-olds are missing MMR2. In 2017, only three counties had an MMR2 coverage below 90%. PMID:28489000

Suboptimal MMR2 vaccine coverage in six counties in Norway detected through the national immunisation registry, April 2014 to April 2017.

PubMed

Hagerup-Jenssen, Maria; Kongsrud, Sigrun; Riise, Øystein Rolandsen

2017-04-27

In 2014, Norway became aware of potential low vaccination coverage for the second dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR2) in six of 19 counties. This was detected by comparing the national coverage (NC) for 16-year-olds extracted from the national immunisation registry SYSVAK with the annual status update for elimination of measles and rubella (ASU) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). The existing method for calculating NC in 2014 did not show MMR2 coverage. ASU reporting on MMR2 was significantly lower then the NC and below the WHO-recommended 95% coverage. SYSVAK is based on the Norwegian personal identification numbers, which allows monitoring of vaccinations at aggregateded as well as individual level. It is an important tool for active surveillance of the performance of the Norwegian Childhood Immunisation Programme (NCIP). The method for calculating NC was improved in 2015 to reflect MMR2 coverage for 16-year-olds. As a result, Norway has improved its real-time surveillance and monitoring of the actual MMR2 coverage also through SYSVAK (the annual publication of NC). Vaccinators receive feedback for follow-up if 15-year-olds are missing MMR2. In 2017, only three counties had an MMR2 coverage below 90%. This article is copyright of The Authors, 2017.

Teacher Education Reform in Scotland: National and Global Influences

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menter, Ian; Hulme, Moira

2011-01-01

This article provides an overview of the background and recent developments leading to the current reshaping of teacher education in Scotland, starting with the developments emanating in the past decade from the McCrone Report and finishing with the recent Donaldson Report, "Teaching Scotland's Future." It documents the key features of…

Local earthquake tomography of Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luckett, Richard; Baptie, Brian

2015-03-01

Scotland is a relatively aseismic region for the use of local earthquake tomography, but 40 yr of earthquakes recorded by a good and growing network make it possible. A careful selection is made from the earthquakes located by the British Geological Survey (BGS) over the last four decades to provide a data set maximising arrival time accuracy and ray path coverage of Scotland. A large number of 1-D velocity models with different layer geometries are considered and differentiated by employing quarry blasts as ground-truth events. Then, SIMULPS14 is used to produce a robust 3-D tomographic P-wave velocity model for Scotland. In areas of high resolution the model shows good agreement with previously published interpretations of seismic refraction and reflection experiments. However, the model shows relatively little lateral variation in seismic velocity except at shallow depths, where sedimentary basins such as the Midland Valley are apparent. At greater depths, higher velocities in the northwest parts of the model suggest that the thickness of crust increases towards the south and east. This observation is also in agreement with previous studies. Quarry blasts used as ground truth events and relocated with the preferred 3-D model are shown to be markedly more accurate than when located with the existing BGS 1-D velocity model.

77 FR 44468 - Safety Zone; Fireworks for NC NENA/APCO Conference, Cape Fear River; Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

... 1625-AA00 Safety Zone; Fireworks for NC NENA/APCO Conference, Cape Fear River; Wilmington, NC AGENCY... on the navigable waters of Cape Fear River; Wilmington, NC in support of the Fireworks display for... shore of the Cape Fear River at Battleship Park. The fireworks debris fallout area will extend over the...

Variation of laparoscopic hernia repair in Scotland: a postcode lottery?

PubMed

Stevenson, A D; Nixon, S J; Paterson-Brown, S

2010-06-01

The laparoscopic approach is now recommended by NICE as the preferred technique for repair of bilateral and recurrent inguinal hernia and an accepted option for unilateral hernia. This study was set up to examine whether patients across Scotland had equal access to this method of treatment. Information was collected on laparoscopic hernia repairs in adults at all acute general NHS hospitals in Scotland between the financial years 1997/8 and 2007/8. Private hospitals were excluded due to lack of data. The data were derived from SMR01 data of inpatient and daycase discharges from non-paediatric general acute NHS hospitals in Scotland as collected by the Information Services Division (ISD) of NHS National Services Scotland. Of 6821 repairs in 2007/8, only 890 (13.0%) were performed laparoscopically, a small increase from 294 (4.5%) in 1997/8. The highest incidence of laparoscopic hernia repair in 2007/8 was in NHS Lothian, where 435 (41.1%) of all repairs were performed using the laparoscopic technique. Excluding NHS Lothian, the number of laparoscopic hernia repairs in the rest of Scotland showed a much smaller rise, from 184 (3.3%) to 455 (7.9%). NHS Lothian, (which has 20% of the Scottish population) performed 54.5% of laparoscopic repairs in Scotland between 1997/8 and 2007/8. In the most recent year available, 2007/8, 63.1% of bilateral primary, 53.7% of bilateral recurrent and 26.8% of unilateral recurrent hernia operations in Lothian were laparoscopic. This compares to only 9.9%, 7.0% and 7.1%, respectively, for other Scottish hospitals. Despite the fact that laparoscopic hernia repair has several proven advantages over open techniques, particularly in bilateral and recurrent hernias, activity remains at a low level in Scotland with the exception of NHS Lothian. In Scotland, laparoscopic techniques are not being used as recommended by NICE guidelines and there appears to be a "postcode lottery" in the provision of this method of treatment. Possible reasons are

Retaining Public and Political Trust: Teacher Education in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gray, Donald; Weir, Douglas

2014-01-01

This paper traces the key periods, players and events which have contributed to the shaping of the current landscape of teacher education in Scotland. Starting with the Wheatley Report and the formation of the General Teaching Council (Scotland) in the 1960s through to the most recent Donaldson Review of Teacher Education, we examine ebb and flow…

33 CFR 80.530 - Cape Fear, NC to Little River Inlet, NC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Cape Fear, NC to Little River... SECURITY INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION RULES COLREGS DEMARCATION LINES Fifth District § 80.530 Cape Fear, NC to... latitude 33°52.4′ N. longitude 78°00.1′ W. across the Cape Fear River Entrance to Oak Island Light. (b...

Structural studies of n-type nc-Si-QD thin films for nc-Si solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Debajyoti; Kar, Debjit

2017-12-01

A wide optical gap nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) dielectric material is a basic requirement at the n-type window layer of nc-Si solar cells in thin film n-i-p structure on glass substrates. Taking advantage of the high atomic-H density inherent to the planar inductively coupled low-pressure (SiH4 + CH4)-plasma, development of an analogous material in P-doped nc-Si-QD/a-SiC:H network has been tried. Incorporation of C in the Si-network extracted from the CH4 widens the optical band gap; however, at enhanced PH3-dilution of the plasma spontaneous miniaturization of the nc-Si-QDs below the dimension of Bohr radius (∼4.5 nm) further enhances the band gap by virtue of the quantum size effect. At increased flow rate of PH3, dopant induced continuous amorphization of the intrinsic crystalline network is counterbalanced by the further crystallization promoted by the supplementary atomic-H extracted from PH3 (1% in H2) in the plasma, eventually holding a moderately high degree of crystallinity. The n-type wide band gap (∼1.93 eV) window layer with nc-Si-QDs in adequate volume fraction (∼52%) could furthermore be instrumental as an effective seed layer for advancing sequential crystallization in the i-layer of nc-Si solar cells with n-i-p structure in superstrate configuration.

Approaches to Dispute Resolution in Additional Support Needs in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riddell, Sheila; Weedon, Elisabet

2009-01-01

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 aimed, among other things, to increase parents' rights in relation to the education of their children. In addition to the creation of the Additional Supports Needs Tribunals for Scotland, parents were given new rights to challenge local authority decisions through mediation and…

Evaluation of Eco Schools Scotland. SCRE Research Report No. 124

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pirrie, Anne; Elliot, Dely; McConnell, Fraser; Wilkinson, J. Eric

2006-01-01

In October 2005, Keep Scotland Beautiful commissioned the SCRE Centre at the University of Glasgow to undertake an evaluation of the Eco Schools Programme in Scotland. Eco Schools is a programme for environmental management, certification and sustainable development education. It is an international programme that was developed in 1994 in response…

Is Small Beautiful? Policy-Making in Teacher Education in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menter, Ian; Hulme, Moira

2008-01-01

This paper examines the extent to which political devolution has influenced the nature of education policy-making in Scotland, taking initial teacher education and early professional development as a case. Pre-devolution studies of the policy community in Scotland stressed the close relationships between the various stakeholders and the inherent…

2H and 18O Freshwater Isoscapes of Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meier-Augenstein, Wolfram; Hoogewerff, Jurian; Kemp, Helen; Frew, Danny

2013-04-01

Scotland's freshwater lochs and reservoirs provide a vital resource for sustaining biodiversity, agriculture, food production as well as for human consumption. Regular monitoring of freshwaters by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) fulfils legislative requirements with regards to water quality but new scientific methods involving stable isotope analysis present an opportunity combining these mandatory monitoring schemes with fundamental research to inform and deliver on current and nascent government policies [1] through gaining a greater understanding of Scottish waters and their importance in the context of climate change, environmental sustainability and food security. For example, 2H and 18O isoscapes of Scottish freshwater could be used to underpin research and its applications in: • Climate change - Using longitudinal changes in the characteristic isotope composition of freshwater lochs and reservoirs as proxy, isoscapes will provide a means to assess if and how changes in temperature and weather patterns might impact on precipitation patterns and amount. • Scottish branding - Location specific stable isotope signatures of Scottish freshwater have the potential to be used as a tool for provenancing and thus protecting premium Scottish produce such as Scottish beef, Scottish soft fruit and Scottish Whisky. During 2011 and 2012, with the support of SEPA more than 110 samples from freshwater lochs and reservoirs were collected from 127 different locations across Scotland including the Highlands and Islands. Here we present the results of this sampling and analysis exercise isotope analyses in form of 2H and 18O isoscapes with an unprecedented grid resolution of 26.5 × 26.5 km (or 16.4 × 16.4 miles). [1] Adaptation Framework - Adapting Our Ways: Managing Scotland's Climate Risk (2009): Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands - A strategy for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Scotland (2005); Recipe For Success - Scotland

Non-leptonic kaon decays at large Nc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Donini, Andrea; Hernández, Pilar; Pena, Carlos; Romero-López, Fernando

2018-03-01

We study the scaling with the number of colors Nc of the weak amplitudes mediating kaon mixing and decay, in the limit of light charm masses (mu = md = ms = mc). The amplitudes are extracted directly on the lattice for Nc = 3 - 7 (with preliminar results for Nc = 8 and 17) using twisted mass QCD. It is shown that the (sub-leading) 1 /Nc corrections to B\\hatk are small and that the naive Nc → ∞ limit, B\\hatk = 3/4, seems to be recovered. On the other hand, the O (1/Nc) corrections in K → ππ amplitudes (derived from K → π matrix elements) are large and fully anti-correlated in the I = 0 and I = 2 channels. This may have some implications for the understanding of the ΔI = 1/2 rule.

The Continued Existence of State-Funded Catholics Schools in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKinney, Stephen J.; Conroy, James C.

2015-01-01

Catholic schools in Scotland have been fully state-funded since the 1918 Education (Scotland) Act. Under this Act, 369 contemporary Catholic schools are able to retain their distinctive identity and religious education and the teachers have to be approved by the Catholic hierarchy. Similar to the position of other forms of state-funded and…

Population density and suicide in Scotland.

PubMed

Stark, Cameron; Hopkins, Paddy; Gibbs, Diane; Belbin, Alan; Hay, Alistair

2007-01-01

Suicide rates among men have increased in Scotland while falling in neighbouring countries. A national suicide prevention strategy has been produced. Previous work found that some rural areas of Scotland had higher than average rates of male suicide and undetermined deaths. This article describes the association between population density and suicide and undetermined death rates in Scotland. Anonymised information on deaths from suicide and undetermined cause in Scotland were obtained from the General Registrar Office for 1981-1999, including information on postcode sector. Each postcode sector was assigned a deprivation and population density score. Loglinear models were used to examine the effects of time period (grouped into four periods), deprivation quintiles, population density (grouped into four categories) and their interactions in each sex in three age groups. A significance level of 5% was used throughout. Adjusted rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals were based on models that included only significant factors and interactions. In men, there were higher rate ratios in the most densely populated and least densely populated quartiles, with intermediate rate ratios in other areas. There was no association with population density in women aged less than 25 years, a similar pattern to men in 25-44 year old women, and lower rates in rural areas in older women. Higher levels of deprivation were associated with higher rate ratios of suicide in both sexes and all age groups. Rate ratios over time increased in younger men and women, remained stable in older men, and declined in older women. Deprivation is associated with higher rates of suicide and undetermined deaths at all levels of population density and in all age groups. The highest rates of suicide among men are in the most and least densely populated areas, after adjusting for deprivation. The effect is different among women, with no effect among younger women, and lower rates among older women in areas

McDonald's restaurants and neighborhood deprivation in Scotland and England.

PubMed

Cummins, Steven C J; McKay, Laura; MacIntyre, Sally

2005-11-01

Features of the local fast food environment have been hypothesized to contribute to the greater prevalence of obesity in deprived neighborhoods. However, few studies have investigated whether fast food outlets are more likely to be found in poorer areas, and those that have are local case studies. In this paper, using national-level data, we examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and the density of McDonald's restaurants in small census areas (neighborhoods) in Scotland and England. Data on population, deprivation, and the location of McDonald's Restaurants were obtained for 38,987 small areas in Scotland and England (6505 "data zones" in Scotland, and 32,482 "super output areas" in England) in January 2005. Measures of McDonald's restaurants per 1000 people for each area were calculated, and areas were divided into quintiles of deprivation. Associations between neighborhood deprivation and outlet density were examined during February 2005, using one-way analysis of variance in Scotland, England, and both countries combined. Statistically significant positive associations were found between neighborhood deprivation and the mean number of McDonald's outlets per 1000 people for Scotland (p<0.001), England (p<0.001), and both countries combined (p<0.001). These associations were broadly linear with greater mean numbers of outlets per 1000 people occurring as deprivation levels increased. Observed associations between presence or absence of fast food outlets and neighborhood deprivation may provide support for environmental explanations for the higher prevalence of obesity in poor neighborhoods.

NC10 bacteria in marine oxygen minimum zones

PubMed Central

Padilla, Cory C; Bristow, Laura A; Sarode, Neha; Garcia-Robledo, Emilio; Gómez Ramírez, Eddy; Benson, Catherine R; Bourbonnais, Annie; Altabet, Mark A; Girguis, Peter R; Thamdrup, Bo; Stewart, Frank J

2016-01-01

Bacteria of the NC10 phylum link anaerobic methane oxidation to nitrite denitrification through a unique O2-producing intra-aerobic methanotrophy pathway. A niche for NC10 in the pelagic ocean has not been confirmed. We show that NC10 bacteria are present and transcriptionally active in oceanic oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) off northern Mexico and Costa Rica. NC10 16S rRNA genes were detected at all sites, peaking in abundance in the anoxic zone with elevated nitrite and methane concentrations. Phylogenetic analysis of particulate methane monooxygenase genes further confirmed the presence of NC10. rRNA and mRNA transcripts assignable to NC10 peaked within the OMZ and included genes of the putative nitrite-dependent intra-aerobic pathway, with high representation of transcripts containing the unique motif structure of the nitric oxide (NO) reductase of NC10 bacteria, hypothesized to participate in O2-producing NO dismutation. These findings confirm pelagic OMZs as a niche for NC10, suggesting a role for this group in OMZ nitrogen, methane and oxygen cycling. PMID:26918666

Arrangements for Assuring and Improving the Quality of Provision and Services in Scotland's Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Scotland, 2016

2016-01-01

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) with Education Scotland is introducing new arrangements for assuring and improving the quality of provision delivered by Scotland's colleges commencing in AY 2016-17. The arrangements have been developed by Education Scotland and SFC at the end of a four-year cycle of external arrangements for review of colleges.…

A vaccine formulation combining rhoptry proteins NcROP40 and NcROP2 improves pup survival in a pregnant mouse model of neosporosis.

PubMed

Pastor-Fernández, Iván; Arranz-Solís, David; Regidor-Cerrillo, Javier; Álvarez-García, Gema; Hemphill, Andrew; García-Culebras, Alicia; Cuevas-Martín, Carmen; Ortega-Mora, Luis M

2015-01-30

Currently there are no effective vaccines for the control of bovine neosporosis. During the last years several subunit vaccines based on immunodominant antigens and other proteins involved in adhesion, invasion and intracellular proliferation of Neospora caninum have been evaluated as targets for vaccine development in experimental mouse infection models. Among them, the rhoptry antigen NcROP2 and the immunodominant NcGRA7 protein have been assessed with varying results. Recent studies have shown that another rhoptry component, NcROP40, and NcNTPase, a putative dense granule antigen, exhibit higher expression levels in tachyzoites of virulent N. caninum isolates, suggesting that these could be potential vaccine candidates to limit the effects of infection. In the present work, the safety and efficacy of these recombinant antigens formulated in Quil-A adjuvant as monovalent vaccines or pair-wise combinations (rNcROP40+rNcROP2 and rNcGRA7+rNcNTPase) were evaluated in a pregnant mouse model of neosporosis. All the vaccine formulations elicited a specific immune response against their respective native proteins after immunization. Mice vaccinated with rNcROP40 and rNcROP2 alone or in combination produced the highest levels of IFN-γ and exhibited low parasite burdens and low IgG antibody levels after the challenge. In addition, most of the vaccine formulations were able to increase the median survival time in the offspring. However, pup survival only ensued in the groups vaccinated with rNcROP40+rNcROP2 (16.2%) and rNcROP2 (6.3%). Interestingly, vertical transmission was not observed in those survivor pups immunized with rNcROP40+rNcROP2, as shown by PCR analyses. These results show a partial protection against N. caninum infection after vaccination with rNcROP40+rNcROP2, suggesting a synergistic effect of the two recombinant rhoptry antigens. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Improving Scotland's health: time for a fresh approach?

PubMed

Stone, D H

2012-05-01

Scotland's health remains the worst in the UK. There are several probable reasons for this. Of those that are amenable to change, health improvement policy has been excessively preoccupied with targeting individuals perceived to be 'at risk' rather than adopting a whole population perspective. Environmental as opposed to behavioural approaches to health improvement have been relatively neglected. To meet the challenge of Scotland's poor health more effectively in the future, new strategic thinking is necessary. Three initial steps are required: recognize that current approaches are inadequate and that fresh ideas are needed; identify the principles that should underlie future strategy development; translate these principles into achievable operational objectives. Five principles of a revitalized strategy to improve the health of Scotland in the future are proposed. These are start early and sustain effort; create a healthy and safe environment; reduce geographical as well as social inequalities in health; adopt an evidence-based approach to public health interventions; use epidemiology to assess need, plan interventions and monitor progress. These principles may then be translated into achievable operational policy and practice objectives.

Post Occupancy Evaluation in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Chris; Thomson, Keith

2004-01-01

The Scottish Executive, the devolved government for Scotland, is engaging with stakeholders to achieve excellence in the school estate through Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE). Design of the school environment has a direct impact on teaching and learning, activities which can be supported or frustrated by many building elements. Through a…

Implementing recovery: an analysis of the key technologies in Scotland

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Over the past ten years the promotion of recovery has become a stated aim of mental health policies within a number of English speaking countries, including Scotland. Implementation of a recovery approach involves a significant reorientation of mental health services and practices, which often poses significant challenges for reformers. This article examines how four key technologies of recovery have assisted in the move towards the creation of a recovery-oriented mental health system in Scotland. Methods Drawing on documentary analysis and a series of interviews we examine the construction and implementation of four key recovery 'technologies' as they have been put to use in Scotland: recovery narratives, the Scottish Recovery Indicator (SRI), Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) and peer support. Results Our findings illuminate how each of these technologies works to instantiate, exemplify and disseminate a 'recovery orientation' at different sites within the mental health system in order to bring about a 'recovery oriented' mental health system. They also enable us to identify some of the factors that facilitate or hinder the effectiveness of those technologies in bringing about a change in how mental health services are delivered in Scotland. These finding provide a basis for some general reflections on the utility of 'recovery technologies' to implement a shift towards recovery in mental health services in Scotland and elsewhere. Conclusions Our analysis of this process within the Scottish context will be valuable for policy makers and service coordinators wishing to implement recovery values within their own national mental health systems. PMID:21569633

Scotland's knowledge network: a progress report on Knowledge into Action.

PubMed

Wales, Ann; Boyle, Derek

2015-11-01

Launched in 2012, Knowledge into Action is the national knowledge management strategy for the health and social care workforce in Scotland. It is transforming the role of the national digital knowledge service--NHS Education for Scotlands' Knowledge Network--and the NHSS librarian role to offer more active, tailored support for translating knowledge into frontline clinical practice. This includes the development of a national evidence search and summary service, help with converting knowledge into practical and usable formats for easy use at point of care and with using digital tools to share clinicians' learning, experience and expertise. Through this practical support, Knowledge into Action is contributing to quality and safety outcomes across NHS Scotland, building clinicians' capacity and capability in applying knowledge in frontline practice and service improvement. © The Author(s) 2015.

A case of imported tungiasis in Scotland initially mimicking verrucae vulgaris.

PubMed

Wardhaugh, A D; Norris, J F

1994-10-01

A case is described of Tunga penetrans infection in the feet of a tourist returning from South America to Scotland. The condition had initially mimicked verrucae vulgaris, but microscopic examination of the lesions together with the travel history allowed the diagnosis of tungiasis to be made. This is the first case reported in Scotland.

Pathogenic Potential to Humans of Bovine Escherichia coli O26, Scotland

PubMed Central

Rosser, Tracy; Allison, Lesley J.; Courcier, Emily; Evans, Judith; McKendrick, Iain J.; Pearce, Michael C.; Handel, Ian; Caprioli, Alfredo; Karch, Helge; Hanson, Mary F.; Pollock, Kevin G.J.; Locking, Mary E.; Woolhouse, Mark E.J.; Matthews, Louise; Low, J. Chris; Gally, David L.

2012-01-01

Escherichia coli O26 and O157 have similar overall prevalences in cattle in Scotland, but in humans, Shiga toxin–producing E. coli O26 infections are fewer and clinically less severe than E. coli O157 infections. To investigate this discrepancy, we genotyped E. coli O26 isolates from cattle and humans in Scotland and continental Europe. The genetic background of some strains from Scotland was closely related to that of strains causing severe infections in Europe. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling found an association between hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and multilocus sequence type 21 strains and confirmed the role of stx2 in severe human disease. Although the prevalences of E. coli O26 and O157 on cattle farms in Scotland are equivalent, prevalence of more virulent strains is low, reducing human infection risk. However, new data on E. coli O26–associated HUS in humans highlight the need for surveillance of non-O157 enterohemorrhagic E. coli and for understanding stx2 phage acquisition. PMID:22377426

Identifying dietary differences between Scotland and England: a rapid review of the literature.

PubMed

Chambers, Stephanie; Barton, Karen L; Albani, Viviana; Anderson, Annie S; Wrieden, Wendy L

2017-10-01

Rates of premature mortality have been higher in Scotland than in England since the 1970s. Given the known association of diet with chronic disease, the study objective was to identify and synthesise evidence on current and historical differences in food and nutrient intakes in Scotland and England. A rapid review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature was carried out. After an initial scoping search, Medline, CINAHL, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Relevant grey literature was also included. Inclusion criteria were: any date; measures of dietary intake; representative populations; cross-sectional or observational cohort studies; and English-language publications. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies. A narrative synthesis of extracted information was conducted. Fifty publications and reports were included in the review. Results indicated that children and adults in Scotland had lower intakes of vegetables and vitamins compared with those living in England. Higher intakes of salt in Scotland were also identified. Data were limited by small Scottish samples, difficulty in finding England-level data, lack of statistical testing and adjustment for key confounders. Further investigation of adequately powered and analysed surveys is required to examine more fully dietary differences between Scotland and England. This would provide greater insight into potential causes of excess mortality in Scotland compared with England and suitable policy recommendations to address these inequalities.

Do financial incentives trump clinical guidance? Hip Replacement in England and Scotland.

PubMed

Papanicolas, Irene; McGuire, Alistair

2015-12-01

Following devolution in 1999 England and Scotland's National Health Services diverged, resulting in major differences in hospital payment. England introduced a case payment mechanism from 2003/4, while Scotland continued to pay through global budgets. We investigate the impact this change had on activity for Hip Replacement. We examine the financial reimbursement attached to uncemented Hip Replacement in England, which has been more generous than for its cemented counterpart, although clinical guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends the later. In Scotland this financial differential does not exist. We use a difference-in-difference estimator, using Scotland as a control, to test whether the change in reimbursement across the two countries had an influence on treatment. Our results indicate that financial incentives are directly linked to the faster uptake of the more expensive, uncemented Hip Replacement in England, which ran against the clinical guidance. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultraviolet laser spectroscopy of jet-cooled CaNC and SrNC free radicals: Observation of bent excited electronic states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greetham, Gregory M.; Ellis, Andrew M.

2000-11-01

New electronic transitions of the CaNC and SrNC free radicals have been identified in the near ultraviolet. For CaNC one new system, labeled the D˜-X˜ transition, was observed in the 31 500-33 400 cm-1 region. Two new transitions were found for SrNC, the D˜-X˜ and Ẽ-X˜ systems spanning 29 100-31 000 and 32 750-34 000 cm-1, respectively. Jet-cooled laser excitation spectra yield complex vibrational structure, much of which is attributed to excitation of the bending vibration. This has been used to infer that the molecule adopts a nonlinear equilibrium geometry in the upper electronic state in all three band systems, in contrast to the linear ground electronic state. This structural change is accounted for by the increased diffuseness of the unpaired electron in the excited states, which favors deviation from linearity. All three new excited states are assigned 2A' symmetry and correlate with 2Σ+ states in the linear molecule limit. Tentative estimates for the barriers to linearity in the D˜ 2A' states of CaNC and SrNC have been determined as ˜700 and ˜1050 cm-1, respectively.

Salmonella montevideo infection in sheep and cattle in Scotland, 1970-81.

PubMed

Sharp, J C; Reilly, W J; Linklater, K A; Inglis, D M; Johnston, W S; Miller, J K

1983-04-01

Outbreaks of abortion associated with infection by Salmonella montevideo have affected sheep in the east, especially the south-east, of Scotland each year since 1972. Disease in the north and north-east was usually less severe. Between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1981, a total of 67 incidents affecting sheep were reported by veterinary laboratories to the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit, 87% of which presented during the main lambing months of February, March and April. Twenty-one episodes of bovine infection were also recorded over the same period, 17 of which involved single animals only, usually an aborted cow or a scouring calf. Despite intensive investigations, neither the origin nor the mode of spread of S. montevideo infection among sheep and cattle in Scotland have been established with any certainty, although there has been considerable evidence indicating the role of scavenging wild birds, particularly seagulls, as vectors transmitting infection to other farms in the same district. Also largely unexplained are the differences in the epidemiology and clinical pattern of disease in the south-east compared to the north and north-east, while sheep in the west of Scotland have remained virtually unaffected throughout.

Salmonella montevideo infection in sheep and cattle in Scotland, 1970-81.

PubMed Central

Sharp, J. C.; Reilly, W. J.; Linklater, K. A.; Inglis, D. M.; Johnston, W. S.; Miller, J. K.

1983-01-01

Outbreaks of abortion associated with infection by Salmonella montevideo have affected sheep in the east, especially the south-east, of Scotland each year since 1972. Disease in the north and north-east was usually less severe. Between 1 January 1970 and 31 December 1981, a total of 67 incidents affecting sheep were reported by veterinary laboratories to the Communicable Diseases (Scotland) Unit, 87% of which presented during the main lambing months of February, March and April. Twenty-one episodes of bovine infection were also recorded over the same period, 17 of which involved single animals only, usually an aborted cow or a scouring calf. Despite intensive investigations, neither the origin nor the mode of spread of S. montevideo infection among sheep and cattle in Scotland have been established with any certainty, although there has been considerable evidence indicating the role of scavenging wild birds, particularly seagulls, as vectors transmitting infection to other farms in the same district. Also largely unexplained are the differences in the epidemiology and clinical pattern of disease in the south-east compared to the north and north-east, while sheep in the west of Scotland have remained virtually unaffected throughout. Images Map 2 PMID:6833746

External Quality Arrangements for Scotland's Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, 2008

2008-01-01

This document represents an innovative and radical landmark in the development of external quality arrangements for Scotland's colleges. The quality framework and arrangements for annual engagement, subject-based aspect reports, and external review reflect new thinking nationally, within HMIE, in the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding…

Mechanism of Nucleic Acid Chaperone Function of Retroviral Nuceleocapsid (NC) Proteins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rouzina, Ioulia; Vo, My-Nuong; Stewart, Kristen; Musier-Forsyth, Karin; Cruceanu, Margareta; Williams, Mark

2006-03-01

Recent studies have highlighted two main activities of HIV-1 NC protein contributing to its function as a universal nucleic acid chaperone. Firstly, it is the ability of NC to weakly destabilize all nucleic acid,(NA), secondary structures, thus resolving the kinetic traps for NA refolding, while leaving the annealed state stable. Secondly, it is the ability of NC to aggregate NA, facilitating the nucleation step of bi-molecular annealing by increasing the local NA concentration. In this work we use single molecule DNA stretching and gel-based annealing assays to characterize these two chaperone activities of NC by using various HIV-1 NC mutants and several other retroviral NC proteins. Our results suggest that two NC functions are associated with its zinc fingers and cationic residues, respectively. NC proteins from other retroviruses have similar activities, although expressed to a different degree. Thus, NA aggregating ability improves, and NA duplex destabilizing activity decreases in the sequence: MLV NC, HIV NC, RSV NC. In contrast, HTLV NC protein works very differently from other NC proteins, and similarly to typical single stranded NA binding proteins. These features of retroviral NCs co-evolved with the structure of their genomes.

Physical activity and hypertension in black adults: the Pitt County Study.

PubMed Central

Ainsworth, B E; Keenan, N L; Strogatz, D S; Garrett, J M; James, S A

1991-01-01

The relation of physical activity to hypertension was examined in 1751 Black adults in Pitt County, NC. More women (65%) than men (44%) were classified as sedentary. Sedentary behavior was not associated with the prevalence of hypertension in men, but was associated with a 31% increase in prevalence for women (sedentary-26.2%; active-20.0%; P less than .01). The association in women was independent of other risk factors for hypertension. PMID:1951807

Environmental justice in Scotland: policy, pedagogy and praxis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scandrett, Eurig

2007-10-01

In the first decade of Scottish devolution, environmental justice became a significant component of environmental policy for the Scottish Executive, especially under First Minister Jack McConnell. This paper analyses how a discourse developed within policy narratives which separated environmental justice from economic growth and the interests of capital. In particular, it explores the role which research has played in justifying this discourse. By contrast, an alternative discourse has developed through reflexive and dialogical research associated with the praxis of the environmental organization Friends of the Earth Scotland. This alternative discourse is embedded in the embryonic environmental justice movement in Scotland, and identifies environmental justice as a social conflict which exposes negative externalities at the heart of economic development.

Modularisation and Vocational Education in Scotland.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomson, Sandy

In Scotland, vocational education at the professional level takes place in colleges and universities and at the craft and technician level, in further education colleges. Most of the further education/higher education curriculum has been modularized. The following benefits of modularization are claimed: rationalization of resource provision;…

A Barking Dog That Never Bites? The British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Meulder, Maartje

2015-01-01

This article describes and analyses the pathway to the British Sign Language (Scotland) Bill and the strategies used to reach it. Data collection has been done by means of interviews with key players, analysis of official documents, and participant observation. The article discusses the bill in relation to the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005…

Community Business in Scotland: An Alternative Vision of 'Enterprise Culture', 1979-97.

PubMed

Murray, Gillian

2018-06-09

The force and coherency with which Margaret Thatcher and her inner circle outlined their vision for 'enterprise culture', like so many aspects of Thatcherism, have masked the complexity of its origins and the histories of alternative responses. This article provides a history of an alternative vision for enterprise culture by examining the community business movement in Scotland, the largest experiment of its kind in the UK in the 1980s and a forerunner of social enterprise. Working across Scotland, but with a hub of activity in the Strathclyde region, practitioners worked with local people to find ways to develop their neighbourhood economy while improving their environment, creating jobs, and developing services needed in their area. This article outlines the origins of the movement, the shared values of its founding members, and how their training in community development informed the community business model. It analyses how practitioners put their ideas into practice and the reasons behind the fragmentation of the movement in the 1990s. It argues that although at face value the concept of community business may appear to chime with the dominant political rhetoric of Thatcher's 'enterprise culture', the history of the movement provides a signpost to an alternative, if unrealised, vision for Scotland's recovery from social and economic depression. Where previous historical research has focused on the political consequences of Thatcher's policies in Scotland, this research connects this discussion to the transformation of Scotland's civic society in the wake of deindustrialization.

Recent studies of time variations of natural electromagnetic fields in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutton, V. R. S.; Dawes, G.; Ingham, M.; Kirkwood, S.; Mbipom, E. W.; Sik, J.

1981-01-01

A series of geomagnetic induction studies has been undertaken in Scotland since 1973. It includes the operation of two geomagnetic arrays, one over northern Scotland and the other over southern Scotland, subsequent individual station and small-scale geomagnetic array studies, and three sets of magnetotelluric soundings which traverse Scotland from the Lewisian Foreland to the English border. The problems associated with the interpretation of induction data from an island located in the subauroral region are discussed qualitatively and the manner in which both coast and source field effects can be accounted for, is described. The geomagnetic deep sounding data (GDS) from all the observation sites have been collated, and examples of hypothetical event contour maps and traverses across the Great Glen and of individual events from the northern array are presented. They indicate that significant lateral variations in electrical conductivity structure within the crust and upper mantle are associated with the major geological faults in the region. Examples of the results of the magnetotelluric soundings are also presented, together with an outline of the procedure used for one- and two-dimensional modelling. Models of the geo-electric structure in both northern and southern Scotland have been obtained. These show distinctive features which are compatible with the qualitative interpretation of the magnetovariational data. For example, the major granitic blocks are highly resistive while regions of relatively low resistivity exist at upper crustal depths near the Great Glen, Highland boundary and Southern Uplands faults. A zone of low resistivity exists at lower crust-uppermost mantle depths throughout much of the region, the lowest value occurring under the Southern Uplands.

78 FR 14543 - Ward Transformer Superfund Site; Raleigh, Wake County, NC; Notice of Settlement

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-06

... ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL 9788-2; CERCLA-04-2013-3754] Ward Transformer Superfund Site... Ward Transformer Superfund Site located in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. Under the terms of the.... Submit your comments by Site name Ward Transformer Superfund Site by one of the following methods: [[Page...

Supporting Scotland's STEM Education and Culture

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farmer, Stuart

2013-01-01

The evolution of the education system in Scotland is explained as the starting point for future developments, particularly in science and related subjects. The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) provided the backbone of current reforms in which the emphasis on skills is seen as more important and potentially more lasting than concentrating on…

Improving Earth Science Metadata: Modernizing ncISO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Brien, K.; Schweitzer, R.; Neufeld, D.; Burger, E. F.; Signell, R. P.; Arms, S. C.; Wilcox, K.

2016-12-01

ncISO is a package of tools developed at NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) that facilitates the generation of ISO 19115-2 metadata from NetCDF data sources. The tool currently exists in two iterations: a command line utility and a web-accessible service within the THREDDS Data Server (TDS). Several projects, including NOAA's Unified Access Framework (UAF), depend upon ncISO to generate the ISO-compliant metadata from their data holdings and use the resulting information to populate discovery tools such as NCEI's ESRI Geoportal and NOAA's data.noaa.gov CKAN system. In addition to generating ISO 19115-2 metadata, the tool calculates a rubric score based on how well the dataset follows the Attribute Conventions for Dataset Discovery (ACDD). The result of this rubric calculation, along with information about what has been included and what is missing is displayed in an HTML document generated by the ncISO software package. Recently ncISO has fallen behind in terms of supporting updates to conventions such updates to the ACDD. With the blessing of the original programmer, NOAA's UAF has been working to modernize the ncISO software base. In addition to upgrading ncISO to utilize version1.3 of the ACDD, we have been working with partners at Unidata and IOOS to unify the tool's code base. In essence, we are merging the command line capabilities into the same software that will now be used by the TDS service, allowing easier updates when conventions such as ACDD are updated in the future. In this presentation, we will discuss the work the UAF project has done to support updated conventions within ncISO, as well as describe how the updated tool is helping to improve metadata throughout the earth and ocean sciences.

Evaluating potential effects of widening US 64 on the black bear population of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Dare County, North Carolina.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-21

This report summarizes research conducted along US Highway 64 (US 64) and US Highway 264 (US 264) in Alligator : River National Wildlife Refuge (ARNWR), Dare County, NC regarding the proposed expansion of US 64. The study site : included the areas ad...

AmeriFlux US-NC2 NC_Loblolly Plantation

DOE Data Explorer

Noormets, Asko [North Carolina State University

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-NC2 NC_Loblolly Plantation. Site Description - The North Carolina Loblolly Pine site is located in a pine plantation amongst the mixed forests of the North Carolina lower coastal plain. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the region was logged extensively. After a series of clearcuts, the land was transformed for agricultural practices. In 1967 and 1969, 4000 ha was sold to the Weyerhauser company for agriculture, preservation, and commercial logging of loblolly pines in a series of plantations. The fifth rotation stand surrounding the tower was established in 1992. The only significant natural disturbances during the measurement period was a severe drought that spanned the entire duration of the 2007 growing season. Consequently, the 2007 total amount of precipitation was 486 mm below the 30-year norm. In the same year, the plantation was thinned and fertilized. The stand was thinned in Oct 2009. The eastern half of the site was fertilized in January 2011, and the entire site was fertilized in October 2012.

75 FR 53264 - Restricted Area in Cape Fear River and Tributaries at Sunny Point Army Terminal, Brunswick County...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-31

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers 33 CFR Part 334 Restricted Area in Cape Fear River and Tributaries at Sunny Point Army Terminal, Brunswick County, NC AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The U.S. Army requested that the U.S...

75 FR 53197 - Restricted Area in Cape Fear River and Tributaries at Sunny Point Army Terminal, Brunswick County...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-31

... DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers 33 CFR Part 334 Restricted Area in Cape Fear River and Tributaries at Sunny Point Army Terminal, Brunswick County, NC AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. ACTION: Direct final rule. SUMMARY: The U.S. Army requested that the U.S...

The First Detailed 2H and 18O Isoscapes of Freshwater in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meier-Augenstein, W.; Hoogewerff, J.; Kemp, H. F.; Frew, D.

2012-04-01

Scotland's freshwater lochs and reservoirs provide a vital resource for sustaining biodiversity, agriculture, food production as well as for human consumption. Regular monitoring of freshwater quality by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) fulfils the legislative requirements but new scientific methods involving stable isotope analysis present an opportunity for delivering on current and nascent government policies [1] and gaining a greater understanding of Scottish waters and their importance in the context of climate change, environmental sustainability and the aforementioned functions. In brief, 2H and 18O isoscapes of Scottish freshwater could be used to support fundamental and applied research in: • Climate change - These first ever isoscapes will provide a baseline against which future environmental impact can be assessed due to changes in the characteristic isotope composition of freshwater lochs and reservoirs. • Scottish branding - Location specific stable isotope signatures of Scottish freshwater have the potential to be used as a tool for provenancing and thus protecting premium Scottish produce such as Scottish beef, Scottish berries and Scottish Whisky. During 2011, freshwater samples were collected with the support of SEPA from more than 80 freshwater lochs and reservoirs across Scotland. Here we present the result of the 2H and 18O stable isotope analyses of these water samples together with the first isoscapes generated based on these data. [1] Adaptation Framework - Adapting Our Ways: Managing Scotland's Climate Risk (2009): Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands - A strategy for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in Scotland (2005); Recipe For Success - Scotland's National Food and Drink Policy (2009); Scottish Planning Policy Environmental Report (2009); Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 15 Planning for Rural Development (2005); National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 14: Natural Heritage (1999).

Relational Study of Technical Education in Scotland and Nigeria for Sustainable Skill Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Umunadi, E. Kennedy

2014-01-01

This paper was designed to look at technical education curriculum and mode of implementation in Scotland in order to adopt the advantageous attributes of the Scottish technical education in Nigeria. The paper x-rayed the staff perceptions of technical education and its roles in Scotland; history of technical education before the advent of British…

International Conference on Education in Sparsely Populated Rural Areas (7th, Golspie High School, County of Sutherland, Scotland, July 9-17, 1974). Interskola Golspie '74 Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aberdeen Coll. of Education (Scotland).

Papers from a conference series initiated in the Aberdeen College of Education in 1968 and recently held in Golspie, Scotland (July 1974), address policy oriented recommendations relative to rural education. This conference report is intended to serve as a useful source of ideas; as background information on international rural educational…

Synthesis, thermolysis, and sensitivities of HMX/NC energetic nanocomposites.

PubMed

Wang, Yi; Song, Xiaolan; Song, Dan; Liang, Li; An, Chongwei; Wang, Jingyu

2016-07-15

1,3,5,7-Tetranittro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane/nitrocellulose (HMX/NC) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by an improved sol-gel-supercritical method. NC nanoparticles with a size of ∼30nm were cross-linked to form a network structure, and HMX nanoparticles were imbedded in the nano-NC matrix. The key factors, i.e., the selection of catalyst and solvent, were probed. No phase transformation of the HMX occurred before or after fabrication, and the molecular structures of the HMX and NC did not change. Thermal analyses were performed, and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters, such as activation energy (EK), per-exponent factor (lnAK), rate constant (k), activation heat (ΔH(≠)), activation free energy (ΔG(≠)), activation entropy (ΔS(≠)), critical temperature of thermal explosion (Tb), and critical heating rate of thermal explosion (dT/dt)Tb, were calculated. The results indicate that HMX/NC presented a much lower activation energy (165.03kJ/mol) than raw HMX (282.5kJ/mol) or raw NC (175.51kJ/mol). The chemical potential (ΔG(≠)) for the thermal decomposition of HMX/NC has a positive value, which means that the activation of the molecules would not proceed spontaneously. The significantly lower ΔH(≠) value of HMX/NC, which represents the heat needed to be absorbed by an explosive molecule to change it from its initial state to an activated state, implies that the molecules of HMX/NC are much easier to be activated than those of raw HMX. Similarly, the HMX/NC presented a much lower Tb (168.2°C) than raw HMX (283.2°C). From the results of the sensitivity tests, the impact and friction sensitivities of HMX/NC were significantly decreased compared with those of raw HMX, but the thermal sensitivity was distinctly higher. The activation of the particles under external stimulation was simulated, and the mechanism was found to be crucial. Combining the thermodynamic parameters, the mechanism as determined from the results of the sensitivity tests was

The changing epidemiology of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in Scotland.

PubMed

Sommerfield, T; Chalmers, J; Youngson, G; Heeley, C; Fleming, M; Thomson, G

2008-12-01

The aetiology of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has not been fully elucidated. Since the 1990s, a sharp decline in IHPS has been reported in various countries. Recent research from Sweden reported a correlation between falling rates of IHPS and of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). This was attributed to a reduction in the number of infants sleeping in the prone position following the "Back to Sleep" campaign. To describe the changing epidemiology of IHPS in Scotland, to examine the relationship between IHPS and SIDS rates and to examine trends in other factors that may explain the observed reduction in IHPS incidence. Incidence rates of IHPS and SIDS were derived from routine data and their relationship analysed. Trends in mean maternal age, maternal smoking, mean birth weight and breastfeeding rates were also examined. The whole of Scotland between 1981 and 2004. IHPS incidence fell from 4.4 to 1.4 per 1000 live births in Scotland between 1981 and 2004. Rates were consistently higher in males, although the overall incidence patterns in males and females were similar. Rates showed a positive relationship with deprivation. The fall in the incidence of IHPS preceded the fall in SIDS by 2 years and the incidence of SIDS displayed less variability than that of IHPS. Significant temporal trends were also observed in other maternal and infant characteristics. There has been a marked reduction in Scotland's IHPS incidence, but this is unlikely to be a consequence of a change in infant sleeping position.

Population Structure of Sclerotinia subarctica and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in England, Scotland and Norway

PubMed Central

Clarkson, John P.; Warmington, Rachel J.; Walley, Peter G.; Denton-Giles, Matthew; Barbetti, Martin J.; Brodal, Guro; Nordskog, Berit

2017-01-01

Sclerotinia species are important fungal pathogens of a wide range of crops and wild host plants. While the biology and population structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has been well-studied, little information is available for the related species S. subarctica. In this study, Sclerotinia isolates were collected from different crop plants and the wild host Ranuculus ficaria (meadow buttercup) in England, Scotland, and Norway to determine the incidence of Sclerotinia subarctica and examine the population structure of this pathogen for the first time. Incidence was very low in England, comprising only 4.3% of isolates while moderate and high incidence of S. subarctica was identified in Scotland and Norway, comprising 18.3 and 48.0% of isolates respectively. Characterization with eight microsatellite markers identified 75 haplotypes within a total of 157 isolates over the three countries with a few haplotypes in Scotland and Norway sampled at a higher frequency than the rest across multiple locations and host plants. In total, eight microsatellite haplotypes were shared between Scotland and Norway while none were shared with England. Bayesian and principal component analyses revealed common ancestry and clustering of Scottish and Norwegian S. subarctica isolates while English isolates were assigned to a separate population cluster and exhibited low diversity indicative of isolation. Population structure was also examined for S. sclerotiorum isolates from England, Scotland, Norway, and Australia using microsatellite data, including some from a previous study in England. In total, 484 haplotypes were identified within 800 S. sclerotiorum isolates with just 15 shared between England and Scotland and none shared between any other countries. Bayesian and principal component analyses revealed a common ancestry and clustering of the English and Scottish isolates while Norwegian and Australian isolates were assigned to separate clusters. Furthermore, sequencing part of the

Endohedral metallofullerene Sc3NC@C84: a theoretical prediction.

PubMed

Wang, Dong-Lai; Xu, Hong-Liang; Su, Zhong-Min; Xin, Guang

2012-11-21

Very recently, two novel Sc(3)NC-based cluster fullerenes Sc(3)NC@C(80) (Wang et. al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 16362) and Sc(3)NC@C(78) (Wu et. al. J. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115, 23755) were prepared and characterized, respectively. Inspired by these findings, the possibility of encapsulating Sc(3)NC cluster in the C(84) fullerene is performed using density functional theory (DFT). Firstly, the isolated pentagon rule (IPR) D(2d) (23) C(84) fullerene is employed to encase the Sc(3)NC cluster: four possible endohedral metallofullerene isomers a-d are designed. The large binding energies (ranging from 163.7 to 210.0 kcal mol(-1)) indicate that the planar quinary cluster Sc(3)NC can be stably encapsulated in the C(84) (isomer 23) cage. Further, we consider the incorporation of Sc(3)NC into the non-IPR C(s) (51365) C(84) cage leading to isomer e and show the high stability of isomer e, which has a larger binding energy, larger HOMO-LUMO gap, higher adiabatic (vertical) ionization potential, and lower adiabatic (vertical) electron affinity than the former four Sc(3)NC@C(84) (isomer 23). Significantly, the predicted binding energy (294.2 kcal mol(-1)) of isomer e is even larger than that (289.2 and 277.7 kcal mol(-1), respectively) of the synthesized Sc(3)NC@C(80) and Sc(3)NC@C(78,) suggesting a considerable possibility for experimental realization. The (13)C NMR chemical shifts and Raman spectra of this a new endofullerene have been explored to assist future experimental characterization.

Local Education Spending in Scotland and England: Problems of Comparison in the LACE Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Midwinter, Arthur

1997-01-01

The LACE (Local Authority Current Expenditure) report on comparable local education expenditure in Scotland, England, and Wales, 1993-95, found that Scottish expenditure was 23% higher than in England, largely from the higher incidence of local authority-educated children in Scotland. However, the LACE report excludes several important variables…

Management of alcohol misuse in Scotland: the role of A&E nurses.

PubMed

Anderson, S; Eadie, D R; MacKintosh, A M; Haw, S

2001-04-01

Despite national targets to reduce excessive drinking in Scotland, rates have increased dramatically since the mid-eighties. The role of Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments in the management of alcohol misuse is much debated. This postal survey was conducted with senior medical and nursing staff in A&E departments and minor injury units throughout Scotland to examine the prevalence of alcohol-related attendances and staff's attitudes towards identifying and responding to alcohol-related attendances. A 57% response rate was achieved, representing 87% of all A&E institutions in Scotland (n = 84). The results reveal an estimated 1 in 7 attendances in A&E in Scotland are alcohol-related, and 1 in 5 of these result in admission. However, over two-fifths of departments do not routinely screen for, or keep records of, patients who attend with alcohol problems. Intervention is normally limited to a brief dialogue and referral to the patient's GP. Despite considerable barriers, A&E nursing staff express a willingness to assume a preventive role, but acknowledge lack of appropriate training and sources of support. It is concluded that there is scope for developing identification and brief intervention services within A&E. However, such developments are dependent upon alcohol issues assuming a higher priority among senior A&E staff.

Women and Computing in Scotland. A Conference Held at the University of Strathclyde (Strathclyde, Scotland, June 14, 1985).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pilley, Chris, Ed.

These proceedings contain a series of papers focusing on the fact that women in Scotland and England are significantly underrepresented in learning about and working with computers and suggesting ways of remedying the situation. The volume begins with an introduction by Elisabeth Gerver and a foreword by Margaret Boden. The following conference…

Evaluating the impact of the alcohol act on off-trade alcohol sales: a natural experiment in Scotland.

PubMed

Robinson, Mark; Geue, Claudia; Lewsey, James; Mackay, Daniel; McCartney, Gerry; Curnock, Esther; Beeston, Clare

2014-12-01

A ban on multi-buy discounts of off-trade alcohol was introduced as part of the Alcohol Act in Scotland in October 2011. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this legislation on alcohol sales, which provide the best indicator of population consumption. Interrupted time-series regression was used to assess the impact of the Alcohol Act on alcohol sales among off-trade retailers in Scotland. Models accounted for underlying seasonal and secular trends and were adjusted for disposable income, alcohol prices and substitution effects. Data for off-trade retailers in England and Wales combined (EW) provided a control group. Weekly data on the volume of pure alcohol sold by off-trade retailers in Scotland and EW between January 2009 and September 2012. The introduction of the legislation was associated with a 2.6% (95% CI = -5.3 to 0.2%, P = 0.07) decrease in off-trade alcohol sales in Scotland, but not in EW (-0.5%, 95% CI = -4.6 to 3.9%, P = 0.83). A statistically significant reduction was observed in Scotland when EW sales were adjusted for in the analysis (-1.7%, 95% CI = -3.1 to -0.3%, P = 0.02). The decline in Scotland was driven by reduced off-trade sales of wine (-4.0%, 95% CI = -5.4 to -2.6%, P < 0.001) and pre-mixed beverages (-8.5%, 95% CI = -12.7 to -4.1%, P < 0.001). There were no associated changes in other drink types in Scotland, or in sales of any drink type in EW. The introduction of the Alcohol Act in Scotland in 2011 was associated with a decrease in total off-trade alcohol sales in Scotland, largely driven by reduced off-trade wine sales. © 2014 The Authors. Addiction published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.

Evaluating the impact of the alcohol act on off-trade alcohol sales: a natural experiment in Scotland

PubMed Central

Robinson, Mark; Geue, Claudia; Lewsey, James; Mackay, Daniel; McCartney, Gerry; Curnock, Esther; Beeston, Clare

2014-01-01

Background and Aims A ban on multi-buy discounts of off-trade alcohol was introduced as part of the Alcohol Act in Scotland in October 2011. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of this legislation on alcohol sales, which provide the best indicator of population consumption. Design, Setting and Participants Interrupted time–series regression was used to assess the impact of the Alcohol Act on alcohol sales among off-trade retailers in Scotland. Models accounted for underlying seasonal and secular trends and were adjusted for disposable income, alcohol prices and substitution effects. Data for off-trade retailers in England and Wales combined (EW) provided a control group. Measurements Weekly data on the volume of pure alcohol sold by off-trade retailers in Scotland and EW between January 2009 and September 2012. Findings The introduction of the legislation was associated with a 2.6% (95% CI = −5.3 to 0.2%, P = 0.07) decrease in off-trade alcohol sales in Scotland, but not in EW (−0.5%, 95% CI = −4.6 to 3.9%, P = 0.83). A statistically significant reduction was observed in Scotland when EW sales were adjusted for in the analysis (−1.7%, 95% CI = −3.1 to −0.3%, P = 0.02). The decline in Scotland was driven by reduced off-trade sales of wine (−4.0%, 95% CI = −5.4 to −2.6%, P < 0.001) and pre-mixed beverages (−8.5%, 95% CI = −12.7 to −4.1%, P < 0.001). There were no associated changes in other drink types in Scotland, or in sales of any drink type in EW. Conclusions The introduction of the Alcohol Act in Scotland in 2011 was associated with a decrease in total off-trade alcohol sales in Scotland, largely driven by reduced off-trade wine sales. PMID:25099127

Peat drainage conditions assessment in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poggio, Laura; Artz, Rebekka; Donaldson-Selby, Gillian; Aitkenhead, Matt; Donnelly, David; Gimona, Alessandro

2017-04-01

Large areas of Scotland are covered in peat, providing an important sink of carbon but also a notable source of emission where peatlands are not in good condition. However, despite data from designated sites that peat degradation is common, a detailed spatial assessment of the condition of most peatlands across the whole of Scotland is missing. An assessment of peatland drainage was carried out at >600 random sampling locations with an expert-based estimation of presence or absence of drainage ditches within a 500 metre block using 25 cm resolution aerial imagery. The resulting dataset was modelled using a scorpan-kriging approach, in particular using Generalised Additive Models for the description of the trend. Remote sensing images from different sensors (i.e. MODIS, Landsat and Sentinel 1 and 2) were used. In particular we used indices describing vegetation greenness (Enhanced Vegetation Index), water availability (Normalised Water Difference index), Land Surface Temperature and vegetation productivity. When considering MODIS indices we used time series and phenological summaries. The model provides also uncertainty of the estimations. The derived dataset can then be used in the decision making process for the selection of sites for restoration, emissions estimation and accounting.

Progress on Evaluating School Buildings in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thomson, Keith

2006-01-01

In June 2004, the Scottish Executive published guidance on evaluating completed school building projects, "Building Our Future: Scotland's School Estate," as part of the School Estate Strategy; the guidance included a case study evaluation at an Edinburgh primary school. The Executive is continuing to support evaluation work on the school estate…

Results from Scotland's 2013 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

PubMed

Reilly, John J; Dick, Smita; McNeill, Geraldine; Tremblay, Mark S

2014-05-01

The Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card aims to consolidate existing evidence, facilitate international comparisons, encourage more evidence-informed physical activity and health policy, and improve surveillance of physical activity. Application of the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card process and methodology to Scotland, adapted to Scottish circumstances and availability of data. The Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card 2013 consists of indicators of 7 Health Behaviors and Outcomes and 3 Influences on Health Behaviors and Outcomes. Grades of F were assigned to Overall Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior (recreational screen time), and Obesity Prevalence. A C was assigned to Active Transportation and a D- was assigned to Diet. Two indicators, Active and Outdoor Play and Organized Sport Participation, could not be graded. Among the Influences, Family Influence received a D, while Perceived Safety, Access, and Availability of Spaces for Physical Activity and the National Policy Environment graded more favorably with a B. The Active Healthy Kids Canada process and methodology was readily generalizable to Scotland. The report card illustrated low habitual physical activity and extremely high levels of screen-based sedentary behavior, and highlighted several opportunities for improved physical activity surveillance and promotion strategies.

Health Promotion Research and the Public Health Function in Scotland: Prospects for the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wimbush, Erica; Tannahill, Carol; Hanlon, Phil

2004-01-01

Scotland has the worst health in the United Kingdom; worse than comparable areas like the industrial North East of England. Scotland's health also lags behind comparable European countries. In fact, the nearest neighbours in the health "league table" of European nations are Slovenia and Portugal. One has only a limited understanding of…

The Galbraith judgment and the defence of diminished responsibility in Scotland.

PubMed

Hodelet, Nicola; Darjee, Rajan

2005-10-01

New case law on diminished responsibility in Scotland (Galbraith v. HM Advocate 2001) re-defined the defence and clarified the role of expert witnesses. We examined how this judgment affected the use of the defence, provision of expert evidence and the outcome of trials. We studied homicide cases in one area of Scotland in the year before and the year after the new judgment. Results indicated little change in the number of cases where the defence was used, but a difference in how psychiatrists set out their opinions.

Popular Education and Social Movements in Scotland Today.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crowther, Jim, Ed.; Martin, Ian, Ed.; Shaw, Mae, Ed.

The following papers are included: "Foreword" (Colin Kirkwood); "Introductory Essay: Popular Education and Social Movements in Scotland Today" (Ian Martin); "Popular Education and the Struggle for Democracy" (Jim Crowther); "Social Movements and the Politics of Educational Change" (Lindsay Paterson);…

Opening Educational Practices in Scotland (OEPS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cannell, Pete; Page, Anna; Macintyre, Ronald

2016-01-01

OEPS is a cross-sector project led by the Open University in Scotland (OUiS) and funded by the Scottish Funding Council. The project began in late spring 2014 and runs until the end of July 2017. It has its origins in OER projects carried out by the OUiS over the preceding four years. In most cases these involved close partnership between the…

An overview on STEP-NC compliant controller development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Othman, M. A.; Minhat, M.; Jamaludin, Z.

2017-10-01

The capabilities of conventional Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tools as termination organiser to fabricate high-quality parts promptly, economically and precisely are undeniable. To date, most CNCs follow the programming standard of ISO 6983, also called G & M code. However, in fluctuating shop floor environment, flexibility and interoperability of current CNC system to react dynamically and adaptively are believed still limited. This outdated programming language does not explicitly relate to each other to have control of arbitrary locations other than the motion of the block-by-block. To address this limitation, new standard known as STEP-NC was developed in late 1990s and is formalized as an ISO 14649. It adds intelligence to the CNC in term of interoperability, flexibility, adaptability and openness. This paper presents an overview of the research work that have been done in developing a STEP-NC controller standard and the capabilities of STEP-NC to overcome modern manufacturing demands. Reviews stated that most existing STEP-NC controller prototypes are based on type 1 and type 2 implementation levels. There are still lack of effort being done to develop type 3 and type 4 STEP-NC compliant controller.

Learning for Living: Environmental Education in Scotland.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smyth, J. C., Ed.

The development and progress of environmental education in Scotland since the Gilbert report of 1974 are charted and reviewed in this publication. Environmental education is viewed as opening all disciplines and affecting all age groups. Emphasis is placed on the need for a central resource base where an internal conceptual structure could be…

Genome sequence analysis of emm89 Streptococcus pyogenes strains causing infections in Scotland, 2010-2016.

PubMed

Beres, Stephen B; Olsen, Randall J; Ojeda Saavedra, Matthew; Ure, Roisin; Reynolds, Arlene; Lindsay, Diane S J; Smith, Andrew J; Musser, James M

2017-12-01

Strains of type emm89 Streptococcus pyogenes have recently increased in frequency as a cause of human infections in several countries in Europe and North America. This increase has been molecular epidemiologically linked with the emergence of a new genetically distinct clone, designated clade 3. We sought to extend our understanding of this epidemic behavior by the genetic characterization of type emm89 strains responsible in recent years for an increased frequency of infections in Scotland. We sequenced the genomes of a retrospective cohort of 122 emm89 strains recovered from patients with invasive and noninvasive infections throughout Scotland during 2010 to 2016. All but one of the 122 emm89 infection isolates are of the recently emerged epidemic clade 3 clonal lineage. The Scotland isolates are closely related to and not genetically distinct from recent emm89 strains from England, they constitute a single genetic population. The clade 3 clone causes virtually all-contemporary emm89 infections in Scotland. These findings add Scotland to a growing list of countries of Europe and North America where, by whole genome sequencing, emm89 clade 3 strains have been demonstrated to be the cause of an ongoing epidemic of invasive infections and to be genetically related due to descent from a recent common progenitor.

78 FR 72009 - Establishment of Class E Airspace; Star, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-02

...-0440; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASO-10] Establishment of Class E Airspace; Star, NC AGENCY: Federal... at Star, NC, to accommodate a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard... Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish Class E airspace at Star, NC (78 FR 54413...

Sea louse control in Scotland, past and present.

PubMed

Rae, Gordon H

2002-06-01

Methods for farming the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) in Scotland were developed at the Unilever Research Laboratory facility at Lochailort on the west coast of Scotland in the late 1960s. By the spring of 1972 a fledgling commercial company had been set up and Marine Harvest, as it was known, received its first year class of smolts at Lochailort. Sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer) from passing wild fish infected the smolts but did not cause any significant damage until the summer of 1976 when intervention was required. The Scottish industry has since grown to become a vital source of employment for fragile rural economies and produced about 130,000 tonnes of salmon in 2000. This paper gives an overview of how fish welfare has been maintained by the development of treatments and management strategies aimed at minimising the impact of sea lice.

78 FR 24071 - Safety Zone; Pasquotank River; Elizabeth City, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-24

... 1625-AA00 Safety Zone; Pasquotank River; Elizabeth City, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Temporary... Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City, NC in support of the Fireworks display for the Potato Festival. This... Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City, NC...

Re-assessing the flood risk in Scotland.

PubMed

Black, Andrew R; Burns, John C

2002-07-22

This paper presents a review of changes in flood risk estimation on Scottish rivers resulting from re-analysis of flood records or from the application of new methods. The review arises at a time when flood damages have received recent prominence through the occurrence of a number of extreme floods in Scotland, and when the possible impacts of climate change on flood risk are receiving considerable attention. An analysis of the nine longest available peaks-over-threshold (POT) flood series for Scottish rivers reveals that, for thresholds yielding two events per year on average, annual POT frequencies on western rivers have increased in the 1980s/1990s to maximum recorded values, while in the east, values were highest in the 1950s/1960s. These results support the results of flood modelling work based on rainfall and temperature records from the 1870s, which indicate that, in western catchments, annual POT frequencies in the 1980s/1990s are unprecedented. No general trends in flood magnitude series were found, but an unexpected cluster of extreme floods is identified as having occurred since 1988, resulting in eight of Scotland's 16 largest gauged rivers producing their maximum recorded flows since then. These shifts are related to recent increases in the dominance of westerly airflows, share similarities with the results of climate change modelling, and collectively point to increases in flood risk in many parts of Scotland. The paper also reviews advances in flood risk estimation arising from the publication of the UK Flood Estimation Handbook, developments in the collection and use of historic flood estimation and the production of maps of 100-year flood areal extent. Finally the challenges in flood risk estimation posed by climate change are examined, particularly in relation to the assumption of stationarity.

Novice Head Teachers in Scotland: Competing Expectations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crawford, Megan

2012-01-01

This article examines how novice principals reflect on the adequacy or otherwise of their preparation. It looks at data drawn from the International Study of Principal Preparation (ISPP), and in particular a questionnaire of principals up to three years in post, in Scotland. The principals find much about their preparation has helped them gain…

Mortality for alcohol-related harm by country of birth in Scotland, 2000-2004: potential lessons for prevention.

PubMed

Bhala, Neeraj; Fischbacher, Colin; Bhopal, Raj

2010-01-01

Deaths caused by alcohol have increased in the UK, and Scotland in particular, but the change in the rates of alcohol-related deaths for migrants are uncertain, and could yield insights for the general population. Alcohol-related mortality in immigrants among Scotland's residents was assessed using 2001 census data and mortality data from 2000 to 2004. Mortality from direct alcohol-related causes accounted for nearly 1500 deaths per year in Scotland. Age-standardized mortality ratios were comparatively low for people born in Pakistan, other parts of the UK (largely England and Wales) and those from elsewhere in the world. Scotland's propensity to alcohol-related deaths is not shared by all its residents. Studying such variations in more depth could yield lessons for prevention.

Scotland's GP Rural Fellowship: an initiative that has impacted on rural recruitment and retention.

PubMed

MacVicar, Ronald; Clarke, Gillian; Hogg, David R

2016-01-01

In Scotland 20% of the population live in a remote or rural area spread across 94% of the land mass that is defined as remote and rural. NHS Education for Scotland (NES), NHS Scotland's training and education body, works in partnership with territorial health boards and medical schools to address rural recruitment and retention through a variety of initiatives. The longest established of these is the GP Rural Fellowship, which has been in place since 2002. This article describes this program and reports on a survey of the output of the Fellowship from 2002 to 2013. The Fellowship is aimed at newly qualified GPs, who are offered a further year of training in and exposure to rural medicine. The Fellowship has grown and undergone several modifications since its inception. The current model involves co-funding arrangements between NES and participating boards, supporting a maximum of 12 fellows per year. The Health Boards' investment in the Fellowship is returned through the service commitment that the Fellows provide, and the funding share from NES allows Fellows to have protected educational time to meet their educational needs in relation to rural medicine. Given this level of funding support it is important that the outcome of the Fellowship experience is understood, in particular its influence on recruitment to and retention in general practice in rural Scotland. To address this need a survey of all previous rural Fellows was undertaken in the first quarter of 2014, including all Fellows that had undertaken the Fellowship between 2002-03 and 2012-13. A total of 69 GPs were recruited to the Fellowship in this period, of which 66 were able to be included in the survey. There was a response rate of 98% to the survey and 63 of those that responded (97%) were working currently in general practice, 53 of whom were doing so in Scotland. A total of 46 graduates of the Fellowship in the period surveyed (71%) were working in rural areas or accessible small towns in Scotland

76 FR 55555 - Amendment of Class E Airspace; Shelby, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-08

...-0280; Airspace Docket No. 11-ASO-16] Amendment of Class E Airspace; Shelby, NC AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This action amends Class E Airspace at Shelby, NC, to... rulemaking to amend Class E airspace at Shelby, NC (76 FR 35799) Docket No. FAA-2011-0280. Interested parties...

75 FR 17891 - Amendment of Class D Airspace; Goldsboro, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-08

...-0095; Airspace Docket No. 10-ASO-18] Amendment of Class D Airspace; Goldsboro, NC AGENCY: Federal... proposes to amend the Class D airspace at Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, NC, to reflect the part-time... amend Class D airspace at Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, NC, to reflect the part-time operations of the...

The Influence of Deaf People's Dual Category Status on Sign Language Planning: The British Sign Language (Scotland) Act (2015)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

De Meulder, Maartje

2017-01-01

Through the British Sign Language (Scotland) Act, British Sign Language (BSL) was given legal status in Scotland. The main motives for the Act were a desire to put BSL on a similar footing with Gaelic and the fact that in Scotland, BSL signers are the only group whose first language is not English who must rely on disability discrimination…

MOF derived Ni/Co/NC catalysts with enhanced properties for oxygen evolution reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Jiapeng; Chen, Juan; Lin, Hao; Liu, Ruilai; Yang, Xiaobing

2018-03-01

Designing efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is very important for renewable energy storage and conversion devices. In this paper, we introduced a new strategy to synthesize Ni doped Co/NC catalysts (NC is the abbreviation of nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon), which were derived from ZIF-67. All catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The results show that Ni was well doped in the Ni/Co/NC catalysts and the doping of Ni has great influence on the OER activity of Ni/Co/NC catalysts. Among these catalysts, 0.50Ni/Co/NC exhibits the highest OER activity. The onset potential of 0.50Ni/Co/NC is 1.47 V, which is superior than the onset potential of Co/NC (1.54 V), 0.25Ni/Co/NC (1.48 V), 1.00Ni/Co/NC (1.53 V). The excellent OER activity of 0.50Ni/Co/NC catalyst makes its potential to be used on renewable energy storage.

Effects of licence change on prescribing and poisons enquiries for antipsychotic agents in England and Scotland

PubMed Central

Bateman, D N; Good, A M; Afshari, R; Kelly, C A

2003-01-01

Aims To examine the effect of licence change for thioridazine at the end of 2000 on the prescription of antipsychotic drugs in England and Scotland, and investigate changes in poisons information inquiries and, for Edinburgh, poisons admissions. Methods Prescription data for antipsychotic drugs were obtained for England and Scotland and quarterly trends examined for 2000 and 2001. Accesses to the UK National Poisons Information Service website TOXBASE for antipsychotic products were examined for the same period. For Scotland telephone enquiry data, and admission data to the Edinburgh Poisons Unit were also evaluated. Trends in poisonings were compared with prescribing change. Results In England prescriptions for thioridazine fell rapidly in 2001 from approximately 35% of market share to less than 5%, and were replaced by risperidone, chlorpromazine and olanzapine. TOXBASE accesses fell from 39.3% of antipsychotics to 4.4%. Accesses for chlorpromazine, olanzapine and risperidone increased. In Scotland prescribing of thioridazine was similar to changes in England, but it was principally replaced by chlorpromazine. These changes were mirrored by TOXBASE accesses, telephone enquiries and in-patient admissions. The ratio of TOXBASE accesses for thioridazine to prescription numbers for the drug increased after the licence change. Conclusions Licence change produced rapid change in prescribing behaviour within 3 months. Prescribing behaviour in England and Scotland was different. Changes in prescribing were mirrored by changes in accesses for poisons information in both England and Scotland, and in Edinburgh by hospital admissions. The increase in the ratio of TOXBASE accesses to prescriptions for thioridazine suggests doctors may have become more aware of its potential toxicity. PMID:12814455

Injecting drug users in Scotland, 2006: Listing, number, demography, and opiate-related death-rates.

PubMed

King, Ruth; Bird, Sheila M; Overstall, Antony; Hay, Gordon; Hutchinson, Sharon J

2013-06-01

Using Bayesian capture-recapture analysis, we estimated the number of current injecting drug users (IDUs) in Scotland in 2006 from the cross-counts of 5670 IDUs listed on four data-sources: social enquiry reports (901 IDUs listed), hospital records (953), drug treatment agencies (3504), and recent Hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnoses (827 listed as IDU-risk). Further, we accessed exact numbers of opiate-related drugs-related deaths (DRDs) in 2006 and 2007 to improve estimation of Scotland's DRD rates per 100 current IDUs. Using all four data-sources, and model-averaging of standard hierarchical log-linear models to allow for pairwise interactions between data-sources and/or demographic classifications, Scotland had an estimated 31700 IDUs in 2006 (95% credible interval: 24900-38700); but 25000 IDUs (95% CI: 20700-35000) by excluding recent HCV diagnoses whose IDU-risk can refer to past injecting. Only in the younger age-group (15-34 years) were Scotland's opiate-related DRD rates significantly lower for females than males. Older males' opiate-related DRD rate was 1.9 (1.24-2.40) per 100 current IDUs without or 1.3 (0.94-1.64) with inclusion of recent HCV diagnoses. If, indeed, Scotland had only 25000 current IDUs in 2006, with only 8200 of them aged 35+ years, the opiate-related DRD rate is higher among this older age group than has been appreciated hitherto. There is counter-balancing good news for the public health: the hitherto sharp increase in older current IDUs had stalled by 2006.

Preliminary report, cruises L1-86-NC and L2-86-NC, Escanaba Trough, Gorda Ridge

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morton, J.L.; Normark, W.R.; Ross, Stephanie L.; Koski, R.A.; Holmes, M.L.; Shanks, Wayne C.; Zierenberg, R.A.; Lyle, M.W.; Benninger, L.M.

1987-01-01

Eight large (up to 200 m across) and many small massive sulfide deposits were photographed and sampled at the sediment-covered Escanaba Trough, southern Gorda Ridge, during S.P. Lee cruises L1-86-NC and L2-86-NC in 1986. The deposits are associated with two volcanic edifices within the sedimentary fill along the axis of Escanaba Trough. The sulfide and other hydrothermal minerals are deposited on the seafloor as well as within the sedimentary section. High concentrations of Pb and As in some of the sulfide samples indicates significant interaction between hydrothermal fluids and sediment at depth.

Acanthamoeba keratitis in Scotland: risk factors for contact lens wearers.

PubMed

Seal, D V; Kirkness, C M; Bennett, H G; Peterson, M

1999-01-01

To investigate risk factors for Acanthamoeba keratitis amongst contact lens wearers in Scotland. Patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis in the Scottish study, all of whom wore contact lenses, were compared with 46 healthy asymptomatic contact lens-wearing controls. They were all visited at home for contact lens and environmental microbiological sampling. In addition, all 288 optical practices in the West of Scotland were polled for contact lens types and disinfecting solutions sold in 1995, and a sample, each of whom fitted more than 500 contact lenses per year, were polled for a second time. Independently, a poll was commissioned by the Eyecare Information Service in July/August 1995 to estimate the numbers of contact lens wearers in Scotland and the UK. Industry was polled for numbers of each contact lens disinfecting regimen sold in Scotland in 1995. West of Scotland, UK. All contact lens wearers among the 3 million population of the West of Scotland Health Board Areas. Risk factors for Acanthamoeba infection and recommendations for its prevention. When Acanthamoeba infection occurred, patients' home water systems were frequently (54%) found to be colonised by this amoeba. Patients more frequently washed their storage cases in tap water than controls (P<0.05) with resulting contamination, kept storage cases wet rather than air drying them (P<0.05), and had coliform bacteria cultured from the storage case (P<0.05) and had viable Acanthamoeba within the storage case (P<0.0001). Overall, patients were found to have significantly more risk factors than controls (P<0.0001). The noncompliant use of chlorine tablet disinfection, or failure to disinfect contact lenses at all, was associated with increased risk (P<0.05). Ionic high water content contact lenses (FDA group 4 material), when used without disinfection or with non-compliant use of low chlorine (Soflab) tablet-based disinfection, were associated with increased risk of Acanthamoeba infection (P<0.05). In log

Development of STEP-NC Adaptor for Advanced Web Manufacturing System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ajay Konapala, Mr.; Koona, Ramji, Dr.

2017-08-01

Information systems play a key role in the modern era of Information Technology. Rapid developments in IT & global competition calls for many changes in basic CAD/CAM/CAPP/CNC manufacturing chain of operations. ‘STEP-NC’ an enhancement to STEP for operating CNC machines, creating new opportunities for collaborative, concurrent, adaptive works across the manufacturing chain of operations. Schemas and data models defined by ISO14649 in liaison with ISO10303 standards made STEP-NC file rich with feature based, rather than mere point to point information of G/M Code format. But one needs to have a suitable information system to understand and modify these files. Various STEP-NC information systems are reviewed to understand the suitability of STEP-NC for web manufacturing. Present work also deals with the development of an adaptor which imports STEP-NC file, organizes its information, allowing modifications to entity values and finally generates a new STEP-NC file to export. The system is designed and developed to work on web to avail additional benefits through the web and also to be part of a proposed ‘Web based STEP-NC manufacturing platform’ which is under development and explained as future scope.

Dirac field and gravity in NC SO(2,3)_\\star model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gočanin, Dragoljub; Radovanović, Voja

2018-03-01

Action for the Dirac spinor field coupled to gravity on noncommutative (NC) Moyal-Weyl spacetime is obtained without prior knowledge of the metric tensor. We emphasize gauge origins of gravity and its interaction with fermions by demonstrating that a classical action invariant under SO(2, 3) gauge transformations can be exactly reduced to the Dirac action in curved spacetime after breaking the original symmetry down to the local Lorentz SO(1, 3) symmetry. The commutative SO(2, 3) invariant action can be straightforwardly deformed via Moyal-Weyl \\star -product to its NC SO(2,3)_\\star invariant version which can be expanded perturbatively in powers of the deformation parameter using the Seiberg-Witten map. The NC gravity-matter couplings in the expansion arise as an effect of the gauge symmetry breaking. We calculate in detail the first order NC correction to the classical Dirac action in curved spacetime and show that it does not vanish. Moreover, linear NC effects are apparent even in flat spacetime. We analyse NC deformation of the Dirac equation, Feynman propagator and dispersion relation for electrons in Minkowski spacetime and conclude that constant NC background acts as a birefringent medium for electrons propagating in it.

Reconciling the Perspective of Practitioner and Service User: Findings from The Aphasia in Scotland Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Law, James; Huby, Guro; Irving, Anne-Marie; Pringle, Ann-Marie; Conochie, Douglas; Haworth, Catherine; Burston, Amanda

2010-01-01

Background: It is widely accepted that service users should be actively involved in new service developments, but there remain issues about how best to consult with them and how to reconcile their views with those of service providers. Aims: This paper uses data from The Aphasia in Scotland study, set up by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland to…

Key Informants' Perspectives on Teacher Learning in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Aileen; Christie, Donald; Fraser, Christine; Reid, Lesley; McKinney, Stephen; Welsh, Mary; Wilson, Alastair; Griffiths, Morwenna

2008-01-01

This article outlines the policy context for teachers' learning and continuing professional development in Scotland and considers this in relation to the perspectives of key informants gained through interview. The analysis draws on a triple-lens conceptual framework and points to some interesting contradictions between the policy text and the…

Adjustment Problems of Iranian International Students in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mehdizadeh, Narjes; Scott, Gill

2005-01-01

Despite the important contribution of the adjustment of international students to successful academic performance in the host country, little research has been done in the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to collect factual information about adjustment problems of Iranian international students in Scotland, such as psycho-social and…

77 FR 56587 - Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Oak Island, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-13

... maintenance on the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 311.8, at Oak Island... Beach, Virginia to perform bridge maintenance on the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic... encompass the waters directly under the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway...

Use of power of attorney in Scotland.

PubMed

Routh, Rajdeep; Mcneill, Catriona; Jackson, Graham A

2016-08-01

Power of Attorney as a form of surrogate decision making was introduced within the Adults with Incapacity, Scotland Act (2000) to help individuals who lack mental capacity due to illnesses like dementia. Even after a decade, little was known if it has been useful. We sought to find out how useful the power of attorney document has been so far in supporting people when they lose their capacity and identify any barriers. We did a survey and approached a random sample of 5000 attorneys in Scotland. A total of 1226 attorneys responded; 59% of the respondents had never used their powers but still considered it useful for 'peace of mind'. For the majority, the costs of arranging a power of attorney ranged in between £150 and £300. The study confirms that power of attorney is useful to safeguard interests of people when they lose capacity. Costs remain a big barrier. Further studies are required to understand the long-term impact of providing financial support to arrange a power of attorney at an early stage on reducing delayed discharges in hospitals. © The Author(s) 2015.

78 FR 23316 - The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, et al.; Notice of Application and Temporary Order

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-18

... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. IC-30462; 812-14148] The Royal Bank of Scotland... Bank of Scotland plc (``RBS plc''), Citizens Investment Advisors (``Citizens IA''), a separately... Management, Exemptive Applications Office). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following is a temporary order and...

78 FR 54413 - Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Star, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-04

...-0440; Airspace Docket No. 13-ASO-10] Proposed Establishment of Class E Airspace; Star, NC AGENCY... action proposes to establish Class E Airspace at Star, NC, to accommodate a new Area Navigation (RNAV... establish Class E airspace at Star, NC, providing the controlled airspace required to support the new RNAV...

77 FR 44466 - Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Oak Island, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-30

... the safety of mariners on navigable waters during maintenance of the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the... Beach, Virginia to perform bridge maintenance on the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic... Coast Guard will require a one hour notification to the work supervisor at the NC 133 Fixed Bridge at...

77 FR 35906 - Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Oak Island, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-15

... navigable waters during maintenance of the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway... maintenance on the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 311.8, at Oak Island... notification to the work supervisor at the NC 133 Fixed Bridge at the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway crossing...

ScotlandsPlaces XML: Bespoke XML or XML Mapping?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beamer, Ashley; Gillick, Mark

2010-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate web services (in the form of parameterised URLs), specifically in the context of the ScotlandsPlaces project. This involves cross-domain querying, data retrieval and display via the development of a bespoke XML standard rather than existing XML formats and mapping between them.…

Phytophthora ramorum in Scotland: is it all over?

Treesearch

Alexandra Schlenzig

2008-01-01

Phytophthora ramorum was found for the first time in Scotland in April 2002 on some Viburnum tinus plants in a nursery. Seventeen more outbreaks were confirmed in the same year, all on plants moving in horticultural trade. Phytosanitary emergency measures to eradicate the disease were taken, such as destruction of infected plants...

Teacher Education in Scotland--Riding out the Recession?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Menter, Ian; Hulme, Moira

2012-01-01

Background: Teacher education in Scotland has developed its own trajectory for many years and this distinctiveness appears to have increased since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Teachers' pay and conditions were addressed in 2001 by the agreement "A teaching profession for the 21st century." This agreement led to a…

Radicals & Respectables--The Adult Education Experience in Scotland.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bryant, Ian

As in England and Wales, there is no unified system for provision of adult education in Scotland. The various levels and types of postschool learning opportunity have emerged from a series of ad hoc arrangements and have been conditioned by local factors reflecting the characteristics of various Scottish religious, economic, legal, political, and…

Recent genomic heritage in Scotland.

PubMed

Amador, Carmen; Huffman, Jennifer; Trochet, Holly; Campbell, Archie; Porteous, David; Wilson, James F; Hastie, Nick; Vitart, Veronique; Hayward, Caroline; Navarro, Pau; Haley, Chris S

2015-06-06

The Generation Scotland Scottish Family Health Study (GS:SFHS) includes 23,960 participants from across Scotland with records for many health-related traits and environmental covariates. Genotypes at ~700 K SNPs are currently available for 10,000 participants. The cohort was designed as a resource for genetic and health related research and the study of complex traits. In this study we developed a suite of analyses to disentangle the genomic differentiation within GS:SFHS individuals to describe and optimise the sample and methods for future analyses. We combined the genotypic information of GS:SFHS with 1092 individuals from the 1000 Genomes project and estimated their genomic relationships. Then, we performed Principal Component Analyses of the resulting relationships to investigate the genomic origin of different groups. We characterised two groups of individuals: those with a few sparse rare markers in the genome, and those with several large rare haplotypes which might represent relatively recent exogenous ancestors. We identified some individuals with likely Italian ancestry and a group with some potential African/Asian ancestry. An analysis of homozygosity in the GS:SFHS sample revealed a very similar pattern to other European populations. We also identified an individual carrying a chromosome 1 uniparental disomy. We found evidence of local geographic stratification within the population having impact on the genomic structure. These findings illuminate the history of the Scottish population and have implications for further analyses such as the study of the contributions of common and rare variants to trait heritabilities and the evaluation of genomic and phenotypic prediction of disease.

Scotland: inequalities in women's reproductive health.

PubMed

1999-01-01

This document reports a detailed information on the link between women's poverty and the provision of health care services in Glasgow, Scotland. Glasgow, Scotland was known as the second city of the British Empire and in spite of its wealth, a great number of its population suffers from poverty. In the 1990s, as a response to the inadequate health services provided to the impoverished women, the Family Planning and Sexual Health Directorate included the health needs of the city's female population. It emphasized three main areas of care: improved access, preventive health, and promotion of women's well-being. Seventeen model well-women clinics were conceived to provide a better access, and experts played an active part in the delivery of prioritized health issues through an educational program. An open-ended consultation on major health issues and discrete referral were utilized for the promotion of the women's emotional well-being. "Women Talking" mini-mags produced in 1993 which tackles issues relevant to women's health and the Women's Reproductive Health Services provide multidisciplinary approach offering reproductive health care to women who have social and health problems. This strategic response of Glasgow to these women had facilitated awareness on the links between the social and economic factors, and a confirmation that a continued availability of such appropriate services would prove beneficial to women with severe social problems.

Prevention of poultry-borne salmonellosis by irradiation: costs and benefits in Scotland

PubMed Central

Yule, B. F.; Sharp, J. C. M.; Forbes, G. I.; Macleod, A. F.

1988-01-01

Poultry-borne salmonellosis is the most common foodborne infection in Scotland for which the vehicle can be identified. The cost of the disease to society in terms of health service use, absence from work, morbidity, and mortality is substantial. The study estimates the total cost of poultry-borne salmonellosis in Scotland and compares it with the cost of a single preventive measure: the irradiation of poultry meat. The results suggest that the public health benefits exceed irradiation costs. This conclusion is, however, sensitive to assumptions made in the analysis, particularly those related to the cost of unreported cases of salmonellosis. PMID:3148375

Characterizing ncRNAs in Human Pathogenic Protists Using High-Throughput Sequencing Technology

PubMed Central

Collins, Lesley Joan

2011-01-01

ncRNAs are key genes in many human diseases including cancer and viral infection, as well as providing critical functions in pathogenic organisms such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, and protists. Until now the identification and characterization of ncRNAs associated with disease has been slow or inaccurate requiring many years of testing to understand complicated RNA and protein gene relationships. High-throughput sequencing now offers the opportunity to characterize miRNAs, siRNAs, small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), and long ncRNAs on a genomic scale, making it faster and easier to clarify how these ncRNAs contribute to the disease state. However, this technology is still relatively new, and ncRNA discovery is not an application of high priority for streamlined bioinformatics. Here we summarize background concepts and practical approaches for ncRNA analysis using high-throughput sequencing, and how it relates to understanding human disease. As a case study, we focus on the parasitic protists Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis, where large evolutionary distance has meant difficulties in comparing ncRNAs with those from model eukaryotes. A combination of biological, computational, and sequencing approaches has enabled easier classification of ncRNA classes such as snoRNAs, but has also aided the identification of novel classes. It is hoped that a higher level of understanding of ncRNA expression and interaction may aid in the development of less harsh treatment for protist-based diseases. PMID:22303390

Why does Scotland have a higher suicide rate than England? An area-level investigation of health and social factors.

PubMed

Mok, Pearl L H; Leyland, Alastair H; Kapur, Navneet; Windfuhr, Kirsten; Appleby, Louis; Platt, Stephen; Webb, Roger T

2013-01-01

Up until the mid-late 2000s, the national suicide rate in Scotland was the highest among all the UK countries, but the reasons for this phenomenon are poorly understood. In a multilevel study of suicide risk in Scotland and England during 2001-2006, the authors examined a range of social, cultural and health-related factors at small area level: postcode sector and Health Board in Scotland and ward and Primary Care Organisation in England. Scotland's national suicide rate was 79% higher than in England (rate ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.62 to 1.98), with younger male and female Scots aged 15-44 years having double the risk compared with their English peers. Overall, 57% of the excess suicide risk in Scotland was explained by a range of area-level measures, including prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, alcohol and drug use, socioeconomic deprivation, social fragmentation, and other health-related indices. The use of psychotropic drugs, acting as a proxy measure for mental ill health, was the variable most strongly associated with the between-country differences in suicide risk. Alcohol misuse also made an important contribution to the differentials. Overall, the contribution of socioeconomic deprivation and social fragmentation was relatively small. Any attempt to reverse the divergent trend in suicide between Scotland and England will require initiatives to prevent and treat mental ill health and to tackle alcohol and drug misuse. Differences in prescribing rates, however, may also be explained by differences in illness behaviour or the availability of psychosocial interventions, and addressing these may also reduce Scotland's excess risk.

Rural and urban distribution of trauma incidents in Scotland.

PubMed

Morrison, J J; McConnell, N J; Orman, J A; Egan, G; Jansen, J O

2013-02-01

Trauma systems reduce mortality and improve functional outcomes from injury. Regional trauma networks have been established in several European regions to address longstanding deficiencies in trauma care. A perception of the geography and population distribution as challenging has delayed the introduction of a trauma system in Scotland. The characteristics of trauma incidents attended by the Scottish Ambulance Service were analysed, to gain a better understanding of the geospatial characteristics of trauma in Scotland. Data on trauma incidents collected by the Scottish Ambulance Service between November 2008 and October 2010 were obtained. Incident location was analysed by health board region, rurality and social deprivation. The results are presented as number of patients, average annual incidence rates and relative risks. Of the 141,668 incidents identified, 72·1 per cent occurred in urban regions. The risk of being involved in an incident was similar across the most populous regions, and decreased slightly with increasing rurality. Social deprivation was associated with greater numbers and risk. A total of 53·1 per cent of patients were taken to a large general hospital, and 38·6 per cent to a teaching hospital; the distribution was similar for the subset of incidents involving patients with physiological derangements. The majority of trauma incidents in Scotland occur in urban and deprived areas. A regionalized system of trauma care appears plausible, although the precise configuration of such a system requires further study. Copyright © 2012 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Trimerization and Triple Helix Stabilization of the Collagen XIX NC2 Domain*

PubMed Central

Boudko, Sergei P.; Engel, Jürgen; Bächinger, Hans Peter

2008-01-01

The mechanisms of chain selection and assembly of fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACITs) must differ from that of fibrillar collagens, since they lack the characteristic C-propeptide. We analyzed two carboxyl-terminal noncollagenous domains, NC2 and NC1, of collagen XIX as potential trimerization units and found that NC2 forms a stable trimer and substantially stabilizes a collagen triple helix attached to either end. In contrast, the NC1 domain requires formation of an adjacent collagen triple helix to form interchain disulfide bridges. The NC2 domain of collagen XIX and probably of other FACITs is responsible for chain selection and trimerization. PMID:18845531

The Diverse Geographies of Rural Gentrification in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stockdale, Aileen

2010-01-01

Gentrification has for too long been investigated as an urban phenomenon. Only relatively recently has it been viewed as an avenue for fruitful rural research. This paper focuses on the repopulation of rural Scotland. Using survey and interview data it examines evidence of gentrification among in-migration flows and seeks to explore both the…

Renewing Democracy in Scotland: An Educational Source Book.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crowther, Jim, Ed.; Martin, Ian, Ed.; Shaw, Mae, Ed.

This document is intended to promote understanding of democracy in Scotland as a social and cultural process that is sustained through learning as well as through political institutions and procedures. It consists of 47 short, easy-to-read papers that can be used in existing programs (for example, modern studies and social studies) or as…

Imported malaria in Scotland--an overview of surveillance, reporting and trends.

PubMed

Unger, Holger W; McCallum, Andrew D; Ukachukwu, Vincent; McGoldrick, Claire; Perrow, Kali; Latin, Gareth; Norrie, Gillian; Morris, Sheila; Smith, Catherine C; Jones, Michael E

2011-11-01

Imported malaria cases continue to occur and are often underreported. This study assessed reporting of malaria cases and their characteristics in Scotland. Cases were identified at the study sites of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. The number of cases identified in the period 2003-2008 was compared to surveillance databases from Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and the Malaria Reference Laboratory (MRL). Case characteristics were recorded and analysed. Of 252 cases of malaria diagnosed and treated, an estimated 235 (93.3%) were reported to the MRL. Between 2006 and 2008, 114 of 126 cases (90.5%) were reported to HPS. Plasmodium falciparum caused 173 cases (68.7%). Business and professional travel accounted for 35.3% of cases (higher in Aberdeen), followed by visiting friends and relatives (33.1%) and holiday makers (25.5%). The majority of infections were imported from West Africa and 65.7% of patients for whom data on prophylaxis was available had taken no or inappropriate prophylaxis. Reporting of malaria in Scotland can be improved. There is a continued need to optimise preventive measures and adherence to chemoprophylaxis amongst business travellers, those visiting friends and relatives, and holiday makers in endemic countries in order to reduce imported malaria cases. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Nc dependencies of baryon masses: Analysis with Lattice QCD and Effective Theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Calle Cordon, Alvaro C.; DeGrand, Thomas A.; Goity, Jose L.

Baryon masses at varying values of Nc and light quark masses are studied with Lattice QCD and the results are analyzed in a low energy effective theory based on a combined framework of the 1/Nc and Heavy Baryon Chiral Perturbation Theory expansions. Lattice QCD results for Nc=3, 5 and 7 obtained in quenched calculations, as well as results for unquenched calculations for Nc=3, are used for the analysis. The results are consistent with a previous analysis of Nc=3 LQCD results, and in addition permit the determination of sub-leading in 1/Nc effects in the spin-flavor singlet component of the baryon massesmore » as well as in the hyperfine splittings.« less

The Restructuring of Scotland's Education Authorities: Does Size Matter?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Midwinter, Arthur; McGarvey, Neil

1994-01-01

Challenges government assumptions regarding local government reorganization that would increase educational authorities in Scotland from 12 to 32. Proposes that the potential increase in administrative costs of smaller educational authorities would be greater than potential savings and would result in lower quality of educational service. Compares…

Outdoor Recreation, Outdoor Education and the Economy of Scotland.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Higgins, Peter

2000-01-01

Interviews and a literature review found that outdoor recreation contributes significantly to Scotland's tourist income, particularly in rural areas; outdoor education centers are significant employers in certain rural areas; the provision of outdoor education by secondary schools has decreased in the last 20 years; and therapeutic outdoor…

33 CFR 110.170 - Lockwoods Folly Inlet, N.C.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Lockwoods Folly Inlet, N.C. 110.170 Section 110.170 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANCHORAGES ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS Anchorage Grounds § 110.170 Lockwoods Folly Inlet, N.C. (a) Explosives...

33 CFR 110.170 - Lockwoods Folly Inlet, N.C.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 1 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Lockwoods Folly Inlet, N.C. 110.170 Section 110.170 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANCHORAGES ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS Anchorage Grounds § 110.170 Lockwoods Folly Inlet, N.C. (a) Explosives...

Visualising and quantifying 'excess deaths' in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK and the rest of Western Europe.

PubMed

Minton, Jon; Shaw, Richard; Green, Mark A; Vanderbloemen, Laura; Popham, Frank; McCartney, Gerry

2017-05-01

Scotland has higher mortality rates than the rest of Western Europe (rWE), with more cardiovascular disease and cancer among older adults; and alcohol-related and drug-related deaths, suicide and violence among younger adults. We obtained sex, age-specific and year-specific all-cause mortality rates for Scotland and other populations, and explored differences in mortality both visually and numerically. Scotland's age-specific mortality was higher than the rest of the UK (rUK) since 1950, and has increased. Between the 1950s and 2000s, 'excess deaths' by age 80 per 100 000 population associated with living in Scotland grew from 4341 to 7203 compared with rUK, and from 4132 to 8828 compared with rWE. UK-wide mortality risk compared with rWE also increased, from 240 'excess deaths' in the 1950s to 2320 in the 2000s. Cohorts born in the 1940s and 1950s throughout the UK including Scotland had lower mortality risk than comparable rWE populations, especially for males. Mortality rates were higher in Scotland than rUK and rWE among younger adults from the 1990s onwards suggesting an age-period interaction. Worsening mortality among young adults in the past 30 years reversed a relative advantage evident for those born between 1950 and 1960. Compared with rWE, Scotland and rUK have followed similar trends but Scotland has started from a worse position and had worse working age-period effects in the 1990s and 2000s. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

NC10 Bacteria in a Marine Oxygen Minimum Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Padilla, C. C.; Bristow, L. A.; Benson, C. R.; Sarode, N. D.; Girguis, P. R.; Glass, J. B.; DiChristina, T. J.; Thamdrup, B.; Stewart, F. J.

2014-12-01

Marine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) are key regions of nitrogen cycling and nitrogen loss as N2. The potential for methane cycling to influence OMZ nitrogen budgets remains largely unknown. The anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to nitrite or nitrate reduction has been shown to be a potential source of methane consumption, N loss, and oxygen production in freshwater sediments, but has not been described for marine pelagic environments. Nitrite-dependent AOM is performed by bacteria of the candidate division NC10 through an intra-aerobic pathway involving the dismutation of nitric oxide to O2 and N2. We explored the potential that NC10-like bacteria are present and active in the anoxic, nitrite-rich OMZ of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific. Community transcriptome sequencing confirmed the expression of genes with top matches to the NC10 bacterium 'Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera.' NC10-like transcripts increased in relative abundance with depth into the anoxic OMZ core and included genes of aerobic methanotrophy and denitrification, as well as high numbers of transcripts matching norZ nitric oxide reductase, hypothesized to play a role in the O2-yielding dismutation reaction. Phylogenetic analysis of OMZ particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) and 16S rRNA gene sequences recovered by PCR revealed multiple clades of NC10 phylotypes in the OMZ. Preliminary data from OMZ enrichments revealed methane-dependent nitrite consumption, but further characterization is required to identify the pathways and organisms mediating this process. These findings expand the known environmental range of NC10 and suggest the possibility of previously uncharacterized linkages between OMZ nitrogen and methane cycles.

The Development of Learner Employability in Scotland's Colleges: A Thematic Aspect Report by Education Scotland on Behalf of the Scottish Funding Council

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Scotland, 2016

2016-01-01

This report is one of a suite of reports by Education Scotland commissioned by the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council (SFC) to evaluate provision in colleges for supporting learner success. Colleges should act on the recommendations contained in these reports. College inspectors will monitor action towards implementation of…

History, politics and vulnerability: explaining excess mortality in Scotland and Glasgow.

PubMed

Walsh, D; McCartney, G; Collins, C; Taulbut, M; Batty, G D

2017-10-01

High levels of excess mortality (i.e. that not explained by deprivation) have been observed for Scotland compared with England & Wales, and especially for Glasgow in comparison with similar post-industrial cities such as Liverpool and Manchester. Many potential explanations have been suggested. Based on an assessment of these, the aim was to develop an understanding of the most likely underlying causes. Note that this paper distils a larger research report, with the aim of reaching wider audiences beyond Scotland, as the important lessons learnt are relevant to other populations. Review and dialectical synthesis of evidence. Forty hypotheses were examined, including those identified from a systematic review. The relevance of each was assessed by means of Bradford Hill's criteria for causality alongside-for hypotheses deemed causally linked to mortality-comparisons of exposures between Glasgow and Liverpool/Manchester, and between Scotland and the rest of Great Britain. Where gaps in the evidence base were identified, new research was undertaken. Causal chains of relevant hypotheses were created, each tested in terms of its ability to explain the many different aspects of excess mortality. The models were further tested with key informants from public health and other disciplines. In Glasgow's case, the city was made more vulnerable to important socioeconomic (deprivation, deindustrialisation) and political (detrimental economic and social policies) exposures, resulting in worse outcomes. This vulnerability was generated by a series of historical factors, processes and decisions: the lagged effects of historical overcrowding; post-war regional policy including the socially selective relocation of population to outside the city; more detrimental processes of urban change which impacted on living conditions; and differences in local government responses to UK government policy in the 1980s which both impacted in negative terms in Glasgow and also conferred protective

What Do Teachers Do When They Say They Are Doing Learning Rounds? Scotland's Experience of Instructional Rounds

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Philpott, Carey; Oates, Catriona

2015-01-01

This paper reports on research into the practice of learning rounds in Scotland. Learning rounds are a form of collaborative professional development for teachers based on the instructional rounds practice developed in the USA. In recent years learning rounds have gained high profile official support within education in Scotland. The research…

Impact of Legislation on Post-School Transition Practice for Young People with Additional Support Needs in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Richardson, Thomas D.; Jindal-Snape, Divya; Hannah, Elizabeth F. S.

2017-01-01

A longitudinal study was conducted to understand post-school transition practice for young people with additional support needs (ASN) before and after the implementation of key legislation, the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, amended in 2009. Primary data were collected from one local authority in Scotland. Twelve…

Educational Policy in Scotland: Inclusion and the Control Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Cate

2010-01-01

This paper sets out to examine educational policy and practice in Scotland, showing how the "comprehensive and coherent programme to promote social inclusion"--inculcating "readiness to learn", ensuring that education equips the young for adult life, creating a demand for lifelong learning, above all through the presumption of…

Year Book of Adult Education in Scotland, 1972-73.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shearer, J. G. S., Ed.

The Year Book of Adult Education in Scotland for 1972-73 contains: (1) next [new] business; (2) directory of organizations--Scottish Institute of Adult Education, education authorities, the universities, the Workers' Educational Association, Newbattle Abbey College, the Open University, university contribution to adult education H.M. Forces, radio…

Education and Nationalism in Scotland: Governing a "Learning Nation"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arnott, Margaret; Ozga, Jenny

2016-01-01

Nationalism is a key resource for the political work of governing Scotland, and education offers the Scottish National Party (SNP) government a policy space in which political nationalism (self determination) along with social and cultural forms of civic nationalism can be formed and propagated, through referencing "inwards" to…

Polarized photoluminescence of nc-Si–SiO{sub x} nanostructures

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Michailovska, E. V.; Indutnyi, I. Z.; Shepeliavyi, P. E.

2016-01-15

The effect of photoluminescence polarization memory in nc-Si–SiO{sub x} light-emitting structures containing Si nanoparticles (nc-Si) in an oxide matrix is for the first time studied. The polarization properties of continuous and porous nanostructures passivated in HF vapors (or solutions) are studied. It is established that the polarization memory effect is manifested only after treatment of the structures in HF. The effect is also accompanied by a shift of the photoluminescence peak to shorter wavelengths and by a substantial increase in the photoluminescence intensity. It is found that, in anisotropic nc-Si–SiO{sub x} samples produced by oblique deposition in vacuum, the degreemore » of linear photoluminescence polarization in the sample plane exhibits a noticeable orientation dependence and correlates with the orientation of SiO{sub x} nanocolumns forming the structure of the porous layer. These effects are attributed to the transformation of symmetrically shaped Si nanoparticles into asymmetric elongated nc-Si particles upon etching in HF. In continuous layers, nc-Si particles are oriented randomly, whereas in porous structures, their preferential orientation coincides with the orientation of oxide nanocolumns.« less

Sulphur and oxygen sequestration of n-C37 and n-C38 unsaturated ketones in an immature kerogen and the release of their carbon skeletons during early stages of thermal maturation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Koopmans, M.P.; Schaeffer-Reiss, C.; De Leeuw, J. W.; Lewan, M.D.; Maxwell, J.R.; Schaeffer, P.; Sinninghe, Damste J.S.

1997-01-01

Sedimentary rock from the Gessoso-solfifera Formation (Messinian) in the Vena del Gesso Basin (northern Italy) containing immature (Ro = 0.25%) S-rich organic matter was artificially matured by hydrous pyrolysis at temperatures from 160 to 330??C for 72 h to study the diagenetic fate of n-C37 and n-C38 di-and tri-unsaturated methyl and ethyl ketones (alkenones) biosynthesised by several prymnesiophyte algae. During early diagenesis, the alkenones are incorporated into the kerogen by both sulphur and oxygen cross-linking as indicated by chemical degradation experiments with the kerogen of the unheated sample. Heating at temperatures between 160 and 260??C, which still represents early stages of thermal maturation, produces large amounts (up to 1 mg/g TOC) of S-bound, O-bound, and both S-and O-bound n-C37 and n-C38 skeletons, saturated n-C37 and n-C38 methyl, ethyl, and mid-chain ketones, C37 and C38 mid-chain 2,5-di-n-alkylthiophenes, C37 and C38 1,2-di-n-alkylbenzenes, and C37 and C38 n-alkanes. With increasing thermal maturation, three forms of the n-C37 and n-C38 skeletons are relatively stable (saturated hydrocarbons, 1,2-di-n-alkylbenzenes and saturated ketones), whereas the S-and O-bound skeletons are relatively labile. These results suggest that in natural situations saturated ketones with an n-C37 and n-C38 skeleton can be expected as well as the corresponding hydrocarbons. Copyright ?? 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Sulphur and oxygen sequestration of n-C 37 and n-C 38 unsaturated ketones in an immature kerogen and the release of their carbon skeletons during early stages of thermal maturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koopmans, Martin P.; Schaeffer-Reiss, Christine; de Leeuw, Jan W.; Lewan, Michael D.; Maxwell, James R.; Schaeffer, Philippe; Sinninghe Damsté, Jaap S.

1997-06-01

Sedimentary rock from the Gessoso-solfifera Formation (Messinian) in the Vena del Gesso Basin (northern Italy) containing immature ( Ro = 0.25%) S-rich organic matter was artificially matured by hydrous pyrolysis at temperatures from 160 to 330°C for 72 h to study the diagenetic fate of n-C 37 and n-C 38 di- and tri-unsaturated methyl and ethyl ketones (alkenones) biosynthesised by several prymnesiophyte algae. During early diagenesis, the alkenones are incorporated into the kerogen by both sulphur and oxygen cross-linking as indicated by chemical degradation experiments with the kerogen of the unheated sample. Heating at temperatures between 160 and 260°C, which still represents early stages of thermal maturation, produces large amounts (up to 1 mg/g TOC) of S-bound, O-bound, and both S- and O-bound n-C 37 and n-C 38 skeletons, saturated n-C 37 and n-C38 methyl, ethyl, and mid-chain ketones, C 37 and C 38 mid-chain 2,5-di- n-alkylthiophenes, C 37 and C 38 1,2-di- n-alkylbenzenes, and C 37 and C 38n-alkanes. With increasing thermal maturation, three forms of the n-C 37 and n-C 38 skeletons are relatively stable (saturated hydrocarbons, 1,2-di- n-alkylbenzenes and saturated ketones), whereas the S- and O-bound skeletons are relatively labile. These results suggest that in natural situations saturated ketones with an n-C 37 and n-C 38 skeleton can be expected as well as the corresponding hydrocarbons.

Utilisation of eye-care services: the effect of Scotland's free eye examination policy.

PubMed

Dickey, Heather; Ikenwilo, Divine; Norwood, Patricia; Watson, Verity; Zangelidis, Alexandros

2012-12-01

To examine how the introduction of free eye examinations in Scotland affected people's use of eye care services. Particularly, to assess if more people are now having their eyes examined regularly, and whether there are differences in the way people responded to the policy across socio-economic groups. Using the British Household Panel Survey, eye test uptake and frequency in Scotland is compared to the rest of the UK pre and post policy. Propensity to have eye tests and responsiveness to the policy is compared across socio-economic groups. In addition, using data available from a chain of private ophthalmic opticians, clinical characteristics of eye examination patients are compared pre- and post-policy. There is evidence that suggests that people responded positively to the policy. In particular, a higher percentage of people in Scotland have their eyes tested after the free eye care policy was introduced. Interestingly, the response to the policy varies between the different socio-economic groups. For the highest earners and most educated groups, the proportion of people having an eye test increased more than for those groups with lower income or lower education. Although the policy succeeded in getting more people to have their eyes tested, the socio-economic differences observed suggest that the policy has not reached the more vulnerable segments in society to the same extent, in particular, those with low education and low income. As a result, eye care services utilisation inequalities have widened in Scotland after the free eye care policy was introduced. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Professionalism and Partnership: Panaceas for Teacher Education in Scotland?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kennedy, Aileen; Doherty, Robert

2012-01-01

A critical reading of the Donaldson Report on teacher education in Scotland reveals what might be termed a "panacea approach" to addressing perceived current problems in relation to the quality of teacher education. In particular, the essence of the Donaldson Report is that teachers need to embrace "twenty-first century…

Aiming for a College Education: A Strategy for Scotland.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McPherson, Andrew; And Others

The report reviews British Petroleum's "Aiming for College Education" program in Scotland, a 5-year program to raise the aspirations of young people for post-compulsory education and for higher education in particular. The program invites local higher education institutions to consider initiatives in four areas (promotion and marketing,…

Influence of strategic direction for NHS Scotland knowledge services on indexing policy for the NHS Scotland e-library.

PubMed

McLeod, Lorraine; Thain, Annette; Wales, Ann

2005-03-01

Indexing policy for the NHS Scotland e-Library needs to maximize future inter-operability with other significant health- and social-care-related resources. The strategic drive towards integration and partnership working means that the indexing system has to be widely acceptable to the full range of disciplines within the integrated health-care family. Indexes identified by various means and then shortlisted using predefined criteria. Three subject indexes have been chosen--Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), CareData and the Government Category List (GCL), plus mapping between natural language and MeSH terms. This decision was a reasonable compromise between the strategy-driven aim of seamless access for all 'partners in care', and practical constraints of time/manpower. Other authority files (e.g. geographical area, language) are also standards based, and customised to reflect the information needs of an increasingly integrated health-care system. No single index could provide the scope required to meet the widening range of NHS information need. The influence of high-level strategic aims and objectives have extended their reach to influence indexing policy for the e-Library. Our indexing policy will continue to evolve and contribute to a knowledge management infrastructure capable of supporting current and future NHS Scotland information needs and strategy. Layperson terminology was identified as a gap; additional measures to address this gap are highlighted.

The changing case-mix of hip fractures in Scotland - evidence from the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit.

PubMed

Hannah, Stephen D; Ferguson, K B; Smith, R; Hutchison, J; Holt, G

2017-11-01

Until discontinued in 2008, the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit collected and reported on data relating to the quality of care of hip fracture patients in Scotland. In 2013, the audit was recommenced under the umbrella of the MSK Audit group, which audits high volume orthopaedic pathways across Scotland. Our aim is to report on the changes in the demographics of hip fracture patients in Scotland between 2003 and 2013. There was an increase in the proportion of male patients from 2003 to 2013 (22.4% to 29.5%; p < 0.0001). An increased percentage of hip fracture patients were admitted from their own home (63.9% to 73.1%; p < 0.0001). Both these factors have deleterious effects on the outcome, and use of necessary resources, following hip fracture. There was also an increase in the percentage of patients who were American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade 3 (52.9% to 56.4%). Over the last decade, there has been a shift in the demographics of Scotland's hip fracture patients. If hip fracture incidence increases as predicted, this potentially more-challenging case-mix will likely impact on multiple health resources.

The baryon vector current in the combined chiral and 1/Nc expansions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Flores-Mendieta, Ruben; Goity, Jose L

2014-12-01

The baryon vector current is computed at one-loop order in large-Nc baryon chiral perturbation theory, where Nc is the number of colors. Loop graphs with octet and decuplet intermediate states are systematically incorporated into the analysis and the effects of the decuplet-octet mass difference and SU(3) flavor symmetry breaking are accounted for. There are large-Nc cancellations between different one-loop graphs as a consequence of the large-Nc spin-flavor symmetry of QCD baryons. The results are compared against the available experimental data through several fits in order to extract information about the unknown parameters. The large-Nc baryon chiral perturbation theory predictions aremore » in very good agreement both with the expectations from the 1/Nc expansion and with the experimental data. The effect of SU(3) flavor symmetry breaking for the |Delta S|=1 vector current form factors f1(0) results in a reduction by a few percent with respect to the corresponding SU(3) symmetric values.« less

Using ensemble rainfall predictions in a countrywide flood forecasting model in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cranston, M. D.; Maxey, R.; Tavendale, A. C. W.; Buchanan, P.

2012-04-01

Improving flood predictions for all sources of flooding is at the centre of flood risk management policy in Scotland. With the introduction of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act providing a new statutory basis for SEPA's flood warning responsibilities, the pressures on delivering hydrological science developments in support of this legislation has increased. Specifically, flood forecasting capabilities need to develop in support of the need to reduce the impact of flooding through the provision of actively disseminated, reliable and timely flood warnings. Flood forecasting in Scotland has developed significantly in recent years (Cranston and Tavendale, 2012). The development of hydrological models to predict flooding at a catchment scale has relied upon the application of rainfall runoff models utilising raingauge, radar and quantitative precipitation forecasts in the short lead time (less than 6 hours). Single or deterministic forecasts based on highly uncertain rainfall predictions have led to the greatest operational difficulties when communicating flood risk with emergency responders, therefore the emergence of probability-based estimates offers the greatest opportunity for managing uncertain predictions. This paper presents operational application of a physical-conceptual distributed hydrological model on a countrywide basis across Scotland. Developed by CEH Wallingford for SEPA in 2011, Grid-to-Grid (G2G) principally runs in deterministic mode and employs radar and raingauge estimates of rainfall together with weather model predictions to produce forecast river flows, as gridded time-series at a resolution of 1km and for up to 5 days ahead (Cranston, et al., 2012). However the G2G model is now being run operationally using ensemble predictions of rainfall from the MOGREPS-R system to provide probabilistic flood forecasts. By presenting a range of flood predictions on a national scale through this approach, hydrologists are now able to consider an

Additional Support Needs Reforms and Social Justice in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riddell, Sheila; Stead, Joan; Weedon, Elisabet; Wright, Kevin

2010-01-01

New additional support-needs legislation in Scotland sought to recognise the way in which poverty, as well as individual impairment, contribute to the creation of children's difficulties in learning. As well as identifying a wider range of needs, the legislation sought to provide parents, irrespective of social background, with more powerful means…

Eco-Schools Scotland: Lessons Learned from First-Hand Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fraser, Neil

2010-01-01

Secondary schools are tasked with becoming sustainable institutions but this can be difficult to achieve because of a lack of time, shortage of project ideas and limited environmental management expertise. The Eco-Schools initiative exists to overcome these issues, and lessons learned from some schools in Scotland can help other schools implement…

The Modularisation Approach of Work-Based VET in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pilz, Matthias; Canning, Roy

2017-01-01

The issue of modularising vocational education and training (VET) systems has been the subject of heated debate in many European countries. In particular, in Scotland the use of modules within the curriculum has been seen as either restrictive or liberating depending upon the theoretical stance taken. At a more pragmatic level modularisation of…

Generation Scotland: the Scottish Family Health Study; a new resource for researching genes and heritability.

PubMed

Smith, Blair H; Campbell, Harry; Blackwood, Douglas; Connell, John; Connor, Mike; Deary, Ian J; Dominiczak, Anna F; Fitzpatrick, Bridie; Ford, Ian; Jackson, Cathy; Haddow, Gillian; Kerr, Shona; Lindsay, Robert; McGilchrist, Mark; Morton, Robin; Murray, Graeme; Palmer, Colin N A; Pell, Jill P; Ralston, Stuart H; St Clair, David; Sullivan, Frank; Watt, Graham; Wolf, Roland; Wright, Alan; Porteous, David; Morris, Andrew D

2006-10-02

Generation Scotland: the Scottish Family Health Study aims to identify genetic variants accounting for variation in levels of quantitative traits underlying the major common complex diseases (such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, mental illness) in Scotland. Generation Scotland will recruit a family-based cohort of up to 50,000 individuals (comprising siblings and parent-offspring groups) across Scotland. It will be a six-year programme, beginning in Glasgow and Tayside in the first two years (Phase 1) before extending to other parts of Scotland in the remaining four years (Phase 2). In Phase 1, individuals aged between 35 and 55 years, living in the East and West of Scotland will be invited to participate, along with at least one (and preferably more) siblings and any other first degree relatives aged 18 or over. The total initial sample size will be 15,000 and it is planned that this will increase to 50,000 in Phase 2. All participants will be asked to contribute blood samples from which DNA will be extracted and stored for future investigation. The information from the DNA, along with answers to a life-style and medical history questionnaire, clinical and biochemical measurements taken at the time of donation, and subsequent health developments over the life course (traced through electronic health records) will be stored and used for research purposes. In addition, a detailed public consultation process will begin that will allow respondents' views to shape and develop the study. This is an important aspect to the research, and forms the continuation of a long-term parallel engagement process. As well as gene identification, the family-based study design will allow measurement of the heritability and familial aggregation of relevant quantitative traits, and the study of how genetic effects may vary by parent-of-origin. Long-term potential outcomes of this research include the targeting of disease prevention and treatment, and the development of

Informing the 'early years' agenda in Scotland: understanding infant feeding patterns using linked datasets.

PubMed

Ajetunmobi, Omotomilola; Whyte, Bruce; Chalmers, James; Fleming, Michael; Stockton, Diane; Wood, Rachel

2014-01-01

Providing infants with the 'best possible start in life' is a priority for the Scottish Government. This is reflected in policy and health promotion strategies to increase breast feeding, which gives the best source of nutrients for healthy infant growth and development. However, the rate of breast feeding in Scotland remains one of the lowest in Europe. Information is needed to provide a better understanding of infant feeding and its impact on child health. This paper describes the development of a unique population-wide resource created to explore infant feeding and child health in Scotland. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of linked routine/administrative maternal and infant health records for 731,595 infants born in Scotland between 1997 and 2009. A linked dataset was created containing a wide range of background, parental, maternal, birth and health service characteristics for a representative sample of infants born in Scotland over the study period. There was high coverage and completeness of infant feeding and other demographic, maternal and infant records. The results confirmed the importance of an enabling environment--cultural, family, health service and other maternal and infant health-related factors--in increasing the likelihood to breast feed. Using the linked dataset, it was possible to investigate the determinants of breast feeding for a representative sample of Scottish infants born between 1997 and 2009. The linked dataset is an important resource that has potential uses in research, policy design and targeting intervention programmes.

Extent of the last ice sheet in northern Scotland tested with cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages

USGS Publications Warehouse

Phillips, W.M.; Hall, A.M.; Ballantyne, C.K.; Binnie, S.; Kubik, P.W.; Freeman, S.

2008-01-01

The extent of the last British-Irish Ice Sheet (BIIS) in northern Scotland is disputed. A restricted ice sheet model holds that at the global Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ca. 23-19 ka) the BIIS terminated on land in northern Scotland, leaving Buchan, Caithness and the Orkney Islands ice-free. An alternative model implies that these three areas were ice-covered at the LGM, with the BIIS extending offshore onto the adjacent shelves. We test the two models using cosmogenic 10Be surface exposure dating of erratic boulders and glacially eroded bedrock from the three areas. Our results indicate that the last BIIS covered all of northern Scotland during the LGM, but that widespread deglaciation of Caithness and Orkney occurred prior to rapid warming at ca. 14.5 ka. Copyright ?? 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Inventory of Well Yields in Avery and Watauga Counties, North Carolina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Huffman, Brad A.; Chapman, Melinda J.; Tighe, Kirsten C.; Terziotti, Silvia

2008-01-01

More than 1,500 well records were compiled for Avery and Watauga Counties, North Carolina, as part of a study of ground-water resources. Wells in this area of the Blue Ridge Physiographic Province produce water from the fractured-bedrock aquifer. Prior to this study, only about 132 wells were included in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Information System, as a result of a study conducted during the late 1960s. The large number of additional well records provide a better data set to evaluate the ground-water resources. From the more recent well inventory conducted in 2007, the range of well yields in these two counties is from 0 to 400 gallons per minute. Total depth of the wells ranged from 20 to 1,204 feet below land surface, and depth to primary fracture zones ranged from 25 to 1,000 feet below land surface. In many rural areas of North Carolina (NC), ground water is the sole resource for drinking water. With increasing population, many more wells are being drilled, and information on this important resource needs to be updated. In February 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initiated a study in cooperation with the High Country Council of Governments, through a grant received by the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, to better quantify available ground-water resources in two rural counties (Avery and Watauga) in the northern North Carolina mountains. Many small towns in Avery and Watauga counties are dependent on wells from local fractured-bedrock aquifers, and local officials are concerned about the sustainability of the resource for support of economic development and population growth. In 2005, all residents in Avery County were served by ground-water resources, while 37 percent of the population in Watauga County was served by ground water (D.G. Smith, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 2007).

Control of blood pressure in Scotland: the rule of halves.

PubMed

Smith, W C; Lee, A J; Crombie, I K; Tunstall-Pedoe, H

1990-04-14

Audit of detection, treatment, and control of hypertension in adults in Scotland. Cross sectional survey with random population sampling. General practice centres in 22 Scottish districts. 5123 Men and 5236 women aged 40-59 in the Scottish heart health study, randomly selected from 22 districts throughout Scotland, of whom 1262 men and 1061 women had hypertension (defined as receiving antihypertensive treatment or with blood pressure above defined cut off points). Hypertension (assessed by standardised recording, questionnaire on diagnosis, and antihypertensive drug treatment) according to criteria of the World Health Organisation (receiving antihypertensive treatment or blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg, or both) and to modified criteria of the British Hypertension Society. In half the men with blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg hypertension was undetected (670/1262, 53%), in half of those in whom it had been detected it was untreated (250/592, 42%), and in half of those receiving treatment it was not controlled (172/342, 50%). In women the numbers were: 486/1061, 46%; 188/575, 33%; and 155/387, 40% respectively. Assessment of blood pressure according to the British Hypertension Society's recommendations showed an improvement, but in only a quarter of men and 42% of women was hypertension detected and treated satisfactorily (142/561, 215/514 respectively). The detection and control of hypertension in Scotland is unsatisfactory, affecting management of this and other conditions, such as high blood cholesterol concentration, whose measurement is opportunistic and selective and depends on recognition of other risk factors.

Noise in NC-AFM measurements with significant tip–sample interaction

PubMed Central

Lübbe, Jannis; Temmen, Matthias

2016-01-01

The frequency shift noise in non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) imaging and spectroscopy consists of thermal noise and detection system noise with an additional contribution from amplitude noise if there are significant tip–sample interactions. The total noise power spectral density D Δ f(f m) is, however, not just the sum of these noise contributions. Instead its magnitude and spectral characteristics are determined by the strongly non-linear tip–sample interaction, by the coupling between the amplitude and tip–sample distance control loops of the NC-AFM system as well as by the characteristics of the phase locked loop (PLL) detector used for frequency demodulation. Here, we measure D Δ f(f m) for various NC-AFM parameter settings representing realistic measurement conditions and compare experimental data to simulations based on a model of the NC-AFM system that includes the tip–sample interaction. The good agreement between predicted and measured noise spectra confirms that the model covers the relevant noise contributions and interactions. Results yield a general understanding of noise generation and propagation in the NC-AFM and provide a quantitative prediction of noise for given experimental parameters. We derive strategies for noise-optimised imaging and spectroscopy and outline a full optimisation procedure for the instrumentation and control loops. PMID:28144538

Noise in NC-AFM measurements with significant tip-sample interaction.

PubMed

Lübbe, Jannis; Temmen, Matthias; Rahe, Philipp; Reichling, Michael

2016-01-01

The frequency shift noise in non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) imaging and spectroscopy consists of thermal noise and detection system noise with an additional contribution from amplitude noise if there are significant tip-sample interactions. The total noise power spectral density D Δ f ( f m ) is, however, not just the sum of these noise contributions. Instead its magnitude and spectral characteristics are determined by the strongly non-linear tip-sample interaction, by the coupling between the amplitude and tip-sample distance control loops of the NC-AFM system as well as by the characteristics of the phase locked loop (PLL) detector used for frequency demodulation. Here, we measure D Δ f ( f m ) for various NC-AFM parameter settings representing realistic measurement conditions and compare experimental data to simulations based on a model of the NC-AFM system that includes the tip-sample interaction. The good agreement between predicted and measured noise spectra confirms that the model covers the relevant noise contributions and interactions. Results yield a general understanding of noise generation and propagation in the NC-AFM and provide a quantitative prediction of noise for given experimental parameters. We derive strategies for noise-optimised imaging and spectroscopy and outline a full optimisation procedure for the instrumentation and control loops.

The three-dimensional structure of a complex of a murine Fab (NC10. 14) with a potent sweetener (NC174): an illustration of structural diversity in antigen recognition by immunoglobulins.

PubMed

Guddat, L W; Shan, L; Broomell, C; Ramsland, P A; Fan, Z; Anchin, J M; Linthicum, D S; Edmundson, A B

2000-09-29

The three-dimensional structure of a complex of an Fab from a murine IgG2b(lambda) antibody (NC10.14) with a high potency sweet tasting hap- ten, N-(p-cyanophenyl)-N'-(diphenylmethyl)-N"-(carboxymethyl)guan idine (NC174), has been determined to 2.6 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. This complex crystallized in the triclinic space group P1, with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. In contrast to a companion monoclonal antibody (NC6.8) with a kappa-type light chain and similar high affinity for the NC174 ligand, the NC10.14 antibody possessed a large and deep antigen combining site bounded primarily by the third complementarity-determining regions (CDR3s) of the light and heavy chains. CDR3 of the heavy chain dominated the site and its crown protruded into the external solvent as a type 1' beta-turn. NC174 was nested against HCDR3 and was held in place by two tryptophan side-chains (L91 and L96) from LCDR3. The diphenyl rings were accommodated on an upper tier of the binding pocket that is largely hydrophobic. At the floor of the site, a positively charged arginine side-chain (H95) stabilized the orientation of the electronegative cyano group of the hapten. The negative charge on the acetate group was partially neutralized by a hydrogen bond with the phenolic hydroxyl group of tyrosine H58. Comparisons of the modes of binding of NC174 to the NC6.8 and NC10.14 antibodies illustrate the enormous structural and mechanistic diversity manifest by immune responses. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Low expression of a Ddm7/Ldm7-hybrid mutant (D/Ldm7) in the novel haplotype H-2nc identified in atopic dermatitis model NC/Nga mice.

PubMed

Ohkusu-Tsukada, Kozo; Yamashita, Tadashi; Tsukada, Teruyo; Takahashi, Kimimasa

2017-12-22

Environmental factors and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). However, MHC type (H2 haplotype) of AD model mice NC/Nga is poorly understood. Alloreactive CD8 + or CD4 + T cells in NC/Nga strongly responded to each antigen-presenting cells (A/J: H-2 a , C57BL/6: H-2 b , BALB/c: H-2 d , or C3H/HeJ: H-2 k ), suggesting that NC/Nga has other H2 haplotype. Polymorphic microsatellite (CA) n repeats in TNF-α gene differ based on the H2 haplotype at present. NC/Nga's (CA) n repeats (n = 19) were different from other examined strains, A/J (n = 14), BALB/c (n = 14), C3H/HeJ (n = 16), and C57BL/6 (n = 20). Using flow cytometry and genotyping, we demonstrated the NC/Nga H2 haplotype had a unique phenotype (K d , I-A k , and I-E k ) in which D d and L d lacked as protein despite sensitive mRNA detection. The loss of D d and L d was caused by forming a unique D dm7 /L dm7 -hybrid mutant (D/L dm7 ). We propose to call this novel H2 haplotype the "H-2 nc ," and provide the important information regarding the AD research using NC/Nga mice.

Costs of employee smoking in the workplace in Scotland

PubMed Central

Parrott, S.; Godfrey, C.; Raw, M.

2000-01-01

BACKGROUND—Employers have responded to new regulations on the effects of passive smoking by introducing a range of workplace policies. Few policies include provision of smoking cessation intervention.
OBJECTIVE—To estimate the cost to employers of smoking in the workplace in Scotland to illustrate the potential gains from smoking cessation provision. Costs vary with type of smoking policy in place; therefore, to estimate these costs results from a survey were combined with evidence drawn from a literature review.
STUDY DESIGN—A telephone survey of 200 Scottish workplaces, based on a stratified random sample of workplaces with 50 or more employees, was conducted in 1996. Additional evidence was compiled from a review of the literature of smoking related costs and specific smoking related effects.
RESULTS—167 completed responses were received, of which 156 employers (93%) operated a smoking policy, 57 (34%) operated smoke free buildings, and 89 (53%) restricted smoking to a "smoke room". The research literature shows absenteeism to be higher among smokers when compared to non-smokers. The estimated cost of smoking related absence in Scotland is £40 million per annum. Total productivity losses are estimated at approximately £450 million per annum. In addition, the resource cost in terms of losses from fires caused by smoking materials is estimated at approximately £4 million per annum. In addition, there are costs from smoking related deaths and smoking related damage to premises.
CONCLUSION—This study shows how smoking cessation interventions in the workplace can yield positive cost savings for employers, resulting in gains in productivity and workplace attendance which may outweigh the cost of any smoking cessation programme.


Keywords: costs of employee smoking; Scotland; smoking related absence PMID:10841855

Phytoplankton Bloom in North Sea off Scotland

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2008-01-01

The northern and western highlands of Scotland were still winter-brown and even dusted with snow in places, but the waters of the North Sea were blooming with phytoplankton on May 8, 2008, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the region and captured this image. The tiny, plant-like organisms swirled in the waters off the country's east coast, coloring the shallow coastal waters shades of bright blue and green. Phytoplankton are tiny organisms--many are just a single cell--that use chlorophyll and other pigments to capture light for photosynthesis. Because these pigments absorb sunlight, they change the color of the light reflected from the sea surface back to the satellite. Scientists have used observations of 'ocean color' from satellites for more than 20 years to track worldwide patterns in phytoplankton blooms. Phytoplankton are important to the Earth system for a host of reasons, including their status as the base of the ocean food web. In the North Sea, they are the base of the food web that supports Scotland's commercial fisheries, including monkfish and herring. As photosynthesizers, they also play a crucial role in the carbon cycle, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Some oceanographers are concerned that rising ocean temperatures will slow phytoplankton growth rates, harming marine ecosystems and causing carbon dioxide to accumulate more rapidly in the atmosphere.

75 FR 4269 - Establishment of Class E Airspace; Hertford, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-27

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 71 [Docket No. FAA-2009-0705; Airspace Docket No. 09-ASO-25] Establishment of Class E Airspace; Hertford, NC AGENCY: Federal... September 14, 2009 that establishes Class E Airspace at Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity, Hertford, NC...

Impact and cost-effectiveness of chlamydia testing in Scotland: a mathematical modelling study.

PubMed

Looker, Katharine J; Wallace, Lesley A; Turner, Katherine M E

2015-01-15

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in Scotland, and is associated with potentially serious reproductive outcomes, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and tubal factor infertility (TFI) in women. Chlamydia testing in Scotland is currently targeted towards symptomatic individuals, individuals at high risk of existing undetected infection, and young people. The cost-effectiveness of testing and treatment to prevent PID and TFI in Scotland is uncertain. A compartmental deterministic dynamic model of chlamydia infection in 15-24 year olds in Scotland was developed. The model was used to estimate the impact of a change in testing strategy from baseline (16.8% overall testing coverage; 0.4 partners notified and tested/treated per treated positive index) on PID and TFI cases. Cost-effectiveness calculations informed by best-available estimates of the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost due to PID and TFI were also performed. Increasing overall testing coverage by 50% from baseline to 25.2% is estimated to result in 21% fewer cases in young women each year (PID: 703 fewer; TFI: 88 fewer). A 50% decrease to 8.4% would result in 20% more PID (669 additional) and TFI (84 additional) cases occurring annually. The cost per QALY gained of current testing activities compared to no testing is £40,034, which is above the £20,000-£30,000 cost-effectiveness threshold. However, calculations are hampered by lack of reliable data. Any increase in partner notification from baseline would be cost-effective (incremental cost per QALY gained for a partner notification efficacy of 1 compared to baseline: £5,119), and would increase the cost-effectiveness of current testing strategy compared to no testing, with threshold cost-effectiveness reached at a partner notification efficacy of 1.5. However, there is uncertainty in the extent to which partner notification is currently done, and hence the amount by which it could potentially be

Correlation between the physical parameters of the i-nc-Si absorber layer grown by 27.12 MHz plasma with the nc-Si solar cell parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Debajyoti; Mondal, Praloy

2017-09-01

Growth of highly conducting nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) thin films of optimum crystalline volume fraction, involving dominant <220> crystallographic preferred orientation with simultaneous low fraction of microstructures at a low substrate temperature and high growth rate, is a challenging task for its promising utilization in nc-Si solar cells. Utilizing enhanced electron density and superior ion flux densities of the high frequency (∼27.12 MHz) SiH4 plasma, improved nc-Si films have been produced by simple optimization of H2-dilution, controlling the ion damage and enhancing supply of atomic-hydrogen onto the growing surface. Single junction nc-Si p-i-n solar cells have been prepared with i-nc-Si absorber layer and optimized. The physical parameters of the absorber layer have been systematically correlated to variations of the solar cell parameters. The preferred <220> alignment of crystallites, its contribution to the low recombination losses for conduction of charge carriers along the vertical direction, its spectroscopic correlation with the dominant growth of ultra-nanocrystalline silicon (unc-Si) component and corresponding longer wavelength absorption, especially in the neighborhood of i/n-interface region recognize scientific and technological key issues that pave the ground for imminent advancement of multi-junction silicon solar cells.

MNDR v2.0: an updated resource of ncRNA–disease associations in mammals

PubMed Central

Cui, Tianyu; Zhang, Lin; Huang, Yan; Yi, Ying; Tan, Puwen; Zhao, Yue; Hu, Yongfei

2018-01-01

Abstract Accumulating evidence suggests that diverse non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in the progression of a wide variety of diseases. In recent years, abundant ncRNA–disease associations have been found and predicted according to experiments and prediction algorithms. Diverse ncRNA–disease associations are scattered over many resources and mammals, whereas a global view of diverse ncRNA–disease associations is not available for any mammals. Hence, we have updated the MNDR v2.0 database (www.rna-society.org/mndr/) by integrating experimental and prediction associations from manual literature curation and other resources under one common framework. The new developments in MNDR v2.0 include (i) an over 220-fold increase in ncRNA–disease associations enhancement compared with the previous version (including lncRNA, miRNA, piRNA, snoRNA and more than 1400 diseases); (ii) integrating experimental and prediction evidence from 14 resources and prediction algorithms for each ncRNA–disease association; (iii) mapping disease names to the Disease Ontology and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH); (iv) providing a confidence score for each ncRNA–disease association and (v) an increase of species coverage to six mammals. Finally, MNDR v2.0 intends to provide the scientific community with a resource for efficient browsing and extraction of the associations between diverse ncRNAs and diseases, including >260 000 ncRNA–disease associations. PMID:29106639

Attitudes of Scottish abortion care providers towards provision of abortion after 16 weeks' gestation within Scotland.

PubMed

Cochrane, Rosemary A; Cameron, Sharon T

2013-06-01

In Scotland, in contrast to the rest of Great Britain, abortion at gestations over 20 weeks is not provided, and provision of procedures above 16 weeks varies considerably between regions. Women at varying gestations above 16 weeks must travel outside Scotland, usually to England, for the procedure. To determine the views of professionals working within Scottish abortion care about a Scottish late abortion service. Delegates at a meeting for abortion providers in Scotland completed a questionnaire about their views on abortion provision over 16 weeks and their perceived barriers to service provision. Of 95 distributed questionnaires, 70 (76%) were analysed. Fifty-six respondents (80%) supported a Scottish late abortion service, ten (14%) would maintain current service arrangements, and five (7%) were undecided. Forty (57%) of the supporters of a Scottish service would prefer a single national service, and 16 (22%) several regional services. Perceived barriers included lack of trained staff (n = 39; 56%), accommodation for the service (n = 34; 48%), and perception of lack of support among senior management (n = 28; 40%). The majority of health professionals surveyed who work in Scottish abortion services support provision of abortion beyond 16 weeks within Scotland, and most favour a single national service. Further work on the feasibility of providing this service is required.

Media Education in Scotland. Outline Proposals for a Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, T. K.; And Others

This document, prepared for the Scottish Council for Educational Technology and the Scottish Film Council, sets forth basic principles on which discussions of the future of media education in Scotland might be based. The nature and scope of media education are reviewed, and media education is portrayed as a means of helping children and adults to…

The Journey So Far: Assessment for Learning in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hutchinson, Carolyn; Hayward, Louise

2005-01-01

This article takes the form of a case-study, outlining the progress of policy and practice in Scotland towards the introduction of Assessment for Learning in pre-school and schools for children aged 3-14. The period described comprises the launch of 5-14 curriculum and assessment guidelines in the early 1990s, a review and consultation on…

Inequalities in Toothbrushing among Adolescents in Scotland 1998-2006

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Levin, K. A.; Currie, C.

2009-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine trends in toothbrushing and inequalities in toothbrushing among girls and boys in Scotland between 1998 and 2006. A secondary aim was to investigate the association between the health promoting school (HPS) initiative and toothbrushing. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 1998, 2002 and 2006…

DRAFT LANDSAT DATA MOSAIC: MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS; HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS; FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; BRAZORIA COUNTY, TEXAS; GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS

EPA Science Inventory

This is a draft Landsat Data Mosaic, which contains remote sensing information for Montgomery County, Texas Harris County, Texas Fort Bend County, Texas Brazoria County, Texas Galveston County, and Texas Imagery dates on the following dates: October 6, 1999 and September 29, 200...

Scotland's GP paediatric scholarship: an evaluation.

PubMed

MacVicar, Ronald; Borland, Lyndsey; McHale, Sharon; Goh, Dayeel; Potter, Alex

2018-05-01

In a previous publication we described the implementation and early evaluation of general practice paediatric scholarships in Scotland. We suggested that it was too early to be able to determine whether this significant investment will produce a return for Scotland in terms of enhanced roles in providing, leading or developing children's services in primary care or at the primary care/secondary care interface. This paper presents the results of a survey of the impact of the scholarship for the first six cohorts of the scholarship (119 General Practitioners). The response rate was 76%. Of the 90 respondents, almost half (44) have developed roles or areas of special paediatric interest either within or out with the practice, or in three cases both within and out with the practice. A total of 37 (43%) of those that continue to work within general practice reported that they have developed areas of special interest of benefit to the practice. Qualitative analysis of free text questions suggested that scholars had benefited from their experience in terms of increased confidence in dealing with child health problems, developing links with secondary care colleagues, and personal gain with respect to role development. What is already known in this area: Changes in GP Training have been suggested in order to provide a workforce that can meet the needs of infants, children and young people. Studies have shown a positive impact of paediatric trainees and GP trainees learning together. Little attention has however been given to the potential to support trained GPs to develop their expertise in child health. What this work adds: Early evaluation of the Scottish Paediatric Scholarship suggested a high degree of satisfaction. This more robust evaluation suggests that almost half (44/90 respondents) have developed roles or areas of special paediatric interest either within or out with the practice, or in three cases both within and out with the practice. Suggestions for future

Shrinking wild lands: Assessing human intrusion in the Highlands of Scotland, 1870 to 2004, using Geographical Information Systems

Treesearch

Steve Carver; Mark Wrightham

2007-01-01

Wild land in Scotland has been subject to steady attrition due to various types of development. This paper explores approaches that might be used to describe this attrition in Scotland, in order to promote more informed debate and assist policy development. Current digital map databases showing roads, bulldozed trails, plantation forest and hydropower schemes were...

77 FR 50376 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW); Wrightsville Beach, NC...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-21

...; Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear River; Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Final rule... Beach, NC; the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8; and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0; both in Wilmington, NC. The modification will...

A novel denitrifying methanotroph of the NC10 phylum and its microcolony

PubMed Central

He, Zhanfei; Cai, Chaoyang; Wang, Jiaqi; Xu, Xinhua; Zheng, Ping; Jetten, Mike S. M.; Hu, Baolan

2016-01-01

The NC10 phylum is a candidate phylum of prokaryotes and is considered important in biogeochemical cycles and evolutionary history. NC10 members are as-yet-uncultured and are difficult to enrich, and our knowledge regarding this phylum is largely limited to the first species ‘Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera’ (M. oxyfera). Here, we enriched NC10 members from paddy soil and obtained a novel species of the NC10 phylum that mediates the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to nitrite reduction. By comparing the new 16S rRNA gene sequences with those already in the database, this new species was found to be widely distributed in various habitats in China. Therefore, we tentatively named it ‘Candidatus Methylomirabilis sinica’ (M. sinica). Cells of M. sinica are roughly coccus-shaped (0.7–1.2 μm), distinct from M. oxyfera (rod-shaped; 0.25–0.5 × 0.8–1.1 μm). Notably, microscopic inspections revealed that M. sinica grew in honeycomb-shaped microcolonies, which was the first discovery of microcolony of the NC10 phylum. This finding opens the possibility to isolate NC10 members using microcolony-dependent isolation strategies. PMID:27582299

Improving predictive asthma algorithms with modelled environment data for Scotland: an observational cohort study protocol.

PubMed

Soyiri, Ireneous N; Sheikh, Aziz; Reis, Stefan; Kavanagh, Kimberly; Vieno, Massimo; Clemens, Tom; Carnell, Edward J; Pan, Jiafeng; King, Abby; Beck, Rachel C; Ward, Hester J T; Dibben, Chris; Robertson, Chris; Simpson, Colin R

2018-05-20

Asthma has a considerable, but potentially, avoidable burden on many populations globally. Scotland has some of the poorest health outcomes from asthma. Although ambient pollution, weather changes and sociodemographic factors have been associated with asthma attacks, it remains unclear whether modelled environment data and geospatial information can improve population-based asthma predictive algorithms. We aim to create the afferent loop of a national learning health system for asthma in Scotland. We will investigate the associations between ambient pollution, meteorological, geospatial and sociodemographic factors and asthma attacks. We will develop and implement a secured data governance and linkage framework to incorporate primary care health data, modelled environment data, geospatial population and sociodemographic data. Data from 75 recruited primary care practices (n=500 000 patients) in Scotland will be used. Modelled environment data on key air pollutants at a horizontal resolution of 5 km×5 km at hourly time steps will be generated using the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport modelling system for the datazones of the primary care practices' populations. Scottish population census and education databases will be incorporated into the linkage framework for analysis. We will then undertake a longitudinal retrospective observational analysis. Asthma outcomes include asthma hospitalisations and oral steroid prescriptions. Using a nested case-control study design, associations between all covariates will be measured using conditional logistic regression to account for the matched design and to identify suitable predictors and potential candidate algorithms for an asthma learning health system in Scotland.Findings from this study will contribute to the development of predictive algorithms for asthma outcomes and be used to form the basis for our learning health system prototype. The study received National Health Service Research Ethics Committee

Downsizing of acute inpatient beds associated with private finance initiative: Scotland's case study.

PubMed

Dunnigan, Matthew G; Pollock, Allyson M

2003-04-26

To evaluate whether the projected 24% reduction in acute bed numbers in Lothian hospitals, which formed part of the private finance initiative (PFI) plans for the replacement Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, is being compensated for by improvements in efficiency and greater use of community facilities, and to ascertain whether there is an independent PFI effect by comparing clinical activity and performance in acute specialties in Lothian hospitals with other NHS hospitals in Scotland. Comparison of projected and actual trends in acute bed capacity and inpatient and day case admissions in the first five years (1995-6 to 2000-1) of Lothian Health Board's integrated healthcare plan. Population study of trends in bed rate, hospital activity, length of stay, and throughput in Lothian hospitals compared with the rest of Scotland from 1990-1 to 2000-1. Staffed bed rates, admission rates, mean lengths of stay, occupancy, and throughput in four adult acute specialty groups in 1990-1, 1995-6, and 2000-1. By 2000-1, rates for inpatient admission in all acute, medical, surgical, and intensive therapy specialties in Lothian hospitals were respectively 20%, 6%, 28%, and 38% below those in the rest of Scotland. Day case rates in all acute and acute surgical specialties were 13% and 33% lower. The proportion of delayed discharges in staffed acute and post-acute NHS beds in Lothian hospitals exceeded the Scottish average (15% and 12% respectively; P<0.001). The planning targets and increase in clinical activity in acute specialties in Lothian hospitals associated with PFI had not been achieved by 2000-1. The effect on clinical activity has been a steeper decline in the number of acute beds and rates of admission in Lothian hospitals compared with the rest of Scotland between 1995-6 and 2000-1.

"Exactly What Do You Mean by Consistency?" Exploring Concepts of Consistency and Standards in Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayward, E. Louise; Hutchinson, Carolyn

2013-01-01

Scotland, in common with many other countries internationally, has paid considerable attention to the development of assessment for learning. Currently, schools in Scotland are engaged in a major programme of curriculum and assessment reform, entitled Curriculum for Excellence. As part of the reform process, there is concern amongst practitioners,…

Seven key investments for health equity across the lifecourse: Scotland versus the rest of the UK

PubMed Central

Frank, John; Bromley, Catherine; Doi, Larry; Estrade, Michelle; Jepson, Ruth; McAteer, John; Robertson, Tony; Treanor, Morag; Williams, Andrew

2015-01-01

While widespread lip service is given in the UK to the social determinants of health (SDoH), there are few published comparisons of how the UK's devolved jurisdictions ‘stack up’, in terms of implementing SDoH-based policies and programmes, to improve health equity over the life-course. Based on recent SDoH publications, seven key societal-level investments are suggested, across the life-course, for increasing health equity by socioeconomic position (SEP). We present hard-to-find comparable analyses of routinely collected data to gauge the relative extent to which these investments have been pursued and achieved expected goals in Scotland, as compared with England and Wales, in recent decades. Despite Scotland's longstanding explicit goal of reducing health inequalities, it has recently been doing slightly better than England and Wales on only one broad indicator of health-equity-related investments: childhood poverty. However, on the following indicators of other ‘best investments for health equity’, Scotland has not achieved demonstrably more equitable outcomes by SEP than the rest of the UK: infant mortality and teenage pregnancy rates; early childhood education implementation; standardised educational attainment after primary/secondary school; health care system access and performance; protection of the population from potentially hazardous patterns of food, drink and gambling use; unemployment. Although Scotland did not choose independence on September 18th, 2014, it could still (under the planned increased devolution of powers from Westminster) choose to increase investments in the underperforming categories of interventions for health equity listed above. However, such discussion is largely absent from the current post-referendum debate. Without further significant investments in such policies and programmes, Scotland is unlikely to achieve the ‘healthier, fairer society’ referred to in the current Scottish Government's official aspirations for

Seven key investments for health equity across the lifecourse: Scotland versus the rest of the UK.

PubMed

Frank, John; Bromley, Catherine; Doi, Larry; Estrade, Michelle; Jepson, Ruth; McAteer, John; Robertson, Tony; Treanor, Morag; Williams, Andrew

2015-09-01

While widespread lip service is given in the UK to the social determinants of health (SDoH), there are few published comparisons of how the UK's devolved jurisdictions 'stack up', in terms of implementing SDoH-based policies and programmes, to improve health equity over the life-course. Based on recent SDoH publications, seven key societal-level investments are suggested, across the life-course, for increasing health equity by socioeconomic position (SEP). We present hard-to-find comparable analyses of routinely collected data to gauge the relative extent to which these investments have been pursued and achieved expected goals in Scotland, as compared with England and Wales, in recent decades. Despite Scotland's longstanding explicit goal of reducing health inequalities, it has recently been doing slightly better than England and Wales on only one broad indicator of health-equity-related investments: childhood poverty. However, on the following indicators of other 'best investments for health equity', Scotland has not achieved demonstrably more equitable outcomes by SEP than the rest of the UK: infant mortality and teenage pregnancy rates; early childhood education implementation; standardised educational attainment after primary/secondary school; health care system access and performance; protection of the population from potentially hazardous patterns of food, drink and gambling use; unemployment. Although Scotland did not choose independence on September 18th, 2014, it could still (under the planned increased devolution of powers from Westminster) choose to increase investments in the underperforming categories of interventions for health equity listed above. However, such discussion is largely absent from the current post-referendum debate. Without further significant investments in such policies and programmes, Scotland is unlikely to achieve the 'healthier, fairer society' referred to in the current Scottish Government's official aspirations for the nation

School-Based Curriculum Development in Scotland: Curriculum Policy and Enactment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Priestley, Mark; Minty, Sarah; Eager, Michelle

2014-01-01

Recent worldwide trends in curriculum policy have re-emphasised the role of teachers in school-based curriculum development. Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence is typical of these trends, stressing that teachers are agents of change. This paper draws upon empirical data to explore school-based curriculum development in response to Curriculum for…

Developing ECEC Services in Regionalised Administrations: Scotland's Post-Devolution Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Bronwen

2013-01-01

Devolution within the United Kingdom (UK) forms part of increased regionalisation in the European Union (EU). The post-devolution history of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Scotland illustrates problems arising from split responsibilities and nation-state policies that fail to take adequate account of devolved administrations. UK-led…

Hydrological and vegetational response to the Younger Dryas climatic oscillations: a high resolution case study from Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney, Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maas, David; Abrook, Ashley; Timms, Rhys; Matthews, Ian; Palmer, Adrian; Milner, Alice; Candy, Ian; Sachse, Dirk

2016-04-01

The Younger Dryas (Loch Lomond) Stadial is a well defined period of cold climate that in North West Europe punctuated the climatic amelioration during the Last Glacial - Interglacial Transition (LGIT ca. 16-8 ka). A palaeolake record from Quoyloo Meadow, Orkney Islands (N59.067, E-3.309) has been analysed for pollen and stable isotopes on biomarker lipids. n-Alkanes from terrestrial and aquatic sources are present throughout the core. The average chain length (ACL) is relatively low during the interstadial (~28.0) and shows a distinct increase during the Younger Dryas (to 29.0 +), attributed to an increase in grasses and drought resistant shrubs (e.g. Artemisia, Castañeda et al., 2009, Bunting, 1994). At the beginning of the Holocene, the ACL rapidly drops to 28.3 and from thereon gently increases again to ~29.0. There is a continued odd-over-even n-alkane predominance, although even n-alkanes are present in greater quantities in the interstadial, indicating an increasing terrestrial contribution in the Holocene. Ongoing deuterium isotope measurements of the n-alkanes will give independent evidence for palaeohydrological changes and can be compared to the other proxy evidence within the same core. Using a combination of nC29 and nC23 (terrestrial and aquatic end-members, respectively), a change in relative humidity (rH) can be qualified. This is based on the idea that terrestrial vegetation is affected by evapotranspiration processes, whereas aquatic vegetation is not (Rach et al., 2014). This data is supported by a high resolution palynological study; the contiguously sampled record demonstrates ecosystem/environmental responses to millennial-scale climatic change and allows for the possible detection of vegetation shifts at the sub-millennial scale. Vegetation aside, the pollen data can further aid in the interpretation of the recorded n-alkanes and isotopic analyses. This data is placed within a chronological framework derived from a high resolution crypto- and

Opportunity for change in the future roles for the health library and information professional: meeting the challenges in NHS Scotland.

PubMed

Maclean, Gerry

2006-12-01

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the Special Health Board responsible for supporting best practice in education, training and development for all staff groups within NHS Scotland. As part of its remit, the Knowledge Services Group within NES is responsible for the e-Library, a national electronic resource providing and supporting access to the evidence base. The Knowledge Services Group also supports the national development of library services to NHS Scotland. This article aims to provide a reflective overview of some recent challenges within the health library and information field in Scotland, and the positive role opportunities these have afforded. The information was gathered through extensive professional interaction with staff across the sector over the first year of establishing the new role of Librarian Staff Development Manager. New roles have emerged for health library and information professionals generally; for example, in response to new technology or new user groups. The development of the NHS Scotland e-Library provides examples of role development that emerges symbiotically from core skills applied to a new situation or applied in an innovative way. Role development among health library and information professionals operating at the local service level can be both reactive and proactive. Working together, the partnership between the national Knowledge Services Group and local library and knowledge services for NHS Scotland has resulted in the emergence of additional new roles, extending the role portfolio of the local professional (for example, the Librarian-Tutor role) and supported by other national infrastructures (for example, the competency framework initiative).

Oral history, subjectivity, and environmental reality: Occupational health histories in twentieth-century Scotland

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnston, R.; McIvor, A.

2004-07-01

This essay uses oral histories of dust disease in twentieth-century Scotland to illustrate the ways in which such history can illuminate how the working environment and work cultures affect workers' bodies and how workers come to terms with the ill-health caused by their employment. It emphasizes the agency of the interpreter but argues further that oral histories of dust disease in twentieth-century Scotland are simultaneously influenced by, and evidence for, material conditions. The essay explores the notion that the bodies, not just the voices of interviewees, are material testament to health-corroding work practices, cultures, and habitat. The focus is themore » problems caused by the inhalation of coal and asbestos dust.« less

Signs of atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis affected by distinct H2-haplotype in the NC/Nga genetic background.

PubMed

Ohkusu-Tsukada, Kozo; Ito, Daiki; Okuno, Yuki; Tsukada, Teruyo; Takahashi, Kimimasa

2018-02-07

We recently advocated in favour of naming a novel H2-haplotype consisting of K d , D/L dm7 , I-A k and I-E k in the atopic dermatitis (AD) mouse model NC/Nga as "H-2 nc ." The role of the H2-haplotype in AD development was investigated in H2 b -congenic NC/Nga mice (NC.h2 b/b and NC.h2 b/nc ) established by backcrossing. A severe 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga was alleviated partially in NC.h2 b/nc and significantly in NC.h2 b/b . The AD phenotype was correlated with thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-epidermal expression levels and serum levels of total IgE and IL-18/IL-33. Histologically, allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was accompanied by lymphocytes and plasma cells-infiltrating perivasculitis in NC.h2 b/nc and NC.h2 b/b and clearly differed from AD accompanied by neutrophils, eosinophils and macrophages-infiltrating diffuse suppurative dermatitis in NC/Nga. Interestingly, IFN-γ/IL-17 production from autoreactive CD4 + T-cells remarkably increased in DNFB-sensitised NC.h2 b/b but not in NC/Nga. Our findings suggest that AD or ACD may depend on haplotype H-2 nc or H-2 b , respectively, in addition to the NC/Nga genetic background.

Religion, social mobility and education in Scotland.

PubMed

Paterson, Lindsay; Iannelli, Cristina

2006-09-01

The relationship among religion, education and social mobility in Scotland is analysed statistically using the Scottish Household Survey of 2001. The large sample size allows much greater statistical power for this purpose than any previous source, and thus allows a more reliable assessment of claims that the stratifying effect of religion in Scotland may have declined. The questions investigated are as follows. What are the religious differences in the distributions of class origins and class destinations, in the movement between these (absolute mobility), and in the association of these (relative mobility, or social fluidity)? Do changes in social fluidity across cohorts vary among people with different religious affiliation? Are there religious differences in the association of origins and education, in the association of education and destinations, or in the role of education in social fluidity, and do any of these vary over cohorts? The conclusions are that, in younger cohorts, there is no religious difference in social status, and that in older cohorts Catholics are generally of lower status than Protestants and the non-religious. Social fluidity does not, however, vary among religious groups, even for older cohorts, and does not change over time. The reason for convergence in social status of religious groups over time is probably the equalizing of educational attainment among the groups: there is no evidence for any of the cohorts that the labour-market rewards to education differ by religion.

Characterization and properties of acetylated nanocrystalline cellulose (aNC) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasa, Siti Norbaya; Omar, Mohd Firdaus; Ismail, Ismarul Nizam

2017-12-01

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was synthesized from banana stem through strong acid hydrolysis with measured length of approximately 287.0 ± 56.4 nm and diameter of 26.6 ± 4.8 nm. Modification of NCC was carried by acetylation reaction in order to increase the compatibility during reinforcement with polylactic acid (PLA) polymer. The reinforcing effect towards morphology, crystallinity, mechanical and thermal properties of bio-nanocomposites was investigated. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrograph reveals the uniform dispersion achieved at 1 %, 3 % and 5% aNC loading while agglomeration was found at 7 % aNC loading. Disappearance of crystallinity peak at 2θ = 22.7⁰ for low aNC loading during elemental analysis using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) indicates the proper dispersion of aNC in PLA polymer. From the tensile test, 1 % aNC loading gives the highest mechanical properties of bio-nanocomposite film with 82.71 %, 118.7 % and 24.18 % increment in tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break. However, 7 % aNC loading gives the highest increment in TGA of aNC-PLA nanocomposites which is from 310 °C to 320 °C.

The pure rotational spectrum of CaNC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scurlock, C. T.; Steimle, T. C.; Suenram, R. D.; Lovas, F. J.

1994-03-01

The pure rotational spectrum of calcium isocyanide, CaNC, in its (0,0,0) X 2Σ+ vibronic state was measured using a combination of Fourier transform microwave (FTMW) and pump/probe microwave-optical double resonance (PPMODR) spectroscopy. Gaseous CaNC was generated using a laser ablation/supersonic expansion source. The determined spectroscopic parameters are (in MHz), B=4048.754 332 (29); γ=18.055 06 (23); bF=12.481 49 (93); c=2.0735 (14); and eQq0=-2.6974 (11). The hyperfine parameters are qualitatively interpreted in terms of a plausible molecular orbital descriptions and a comparison with the alkaline earth monohalides and the alkali monocyanides is given.

NSDNA: a manually curated database of experimentally supported ncRNAs associated with nervous system diseases

PubMed Central

Wang, Jianjian; Cao, Yuze; Zhang, Huixue; Wang, Tianfeng; Tian, Qinghua; Lu, Xiaoyu; Lu, Xiaoyan; Kong, Xiaotong; Liu, Zhaojun; Wang, Ning; Zhang, Shuai; Ma, Heping; Ning, Shangwei; Wang, Lihua

2017-01-01

The Nervous System Disease NcRNAome Atlas (NSDNA) (http://www.bio-bigdata.net/nsdna/) is a manually curated database that provides comprehensive experimentally supported associations about nervous system diseases (NSDs) and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). NSDs represent a common group of disorders, some of which are characterized by high morbidity and disabilities. The pathogenesis of NSDs at the molecular level remains poorly understood. ncRNAs are a large family of functionally important RNA molecules. Increasing evidence shows that diverse ncRNAs play a critical role in various NSDs. Mining and summarizing NSD–ncRNA association data can help researchers discover useful information. Hence, we developed an NSDNA database that documents 24 713 associations between 142 NSDs and 8593 ncRNAs in 11 species, curated from more than 1300 articles. This database provides a user-friendly interface for browsing and searching and allows for data downloading flexibility. In addition, NSDNA offers a submission page for researchers to submit novel NSD–ncRNA associations. It represents an extremely useful and valuable resource for researchers who seek to understand the functions and molecular mechanisms of ncRNA involved in NSDs. PMID:27899613

76 FR 1663 - Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on Proposed Highway in North Carolina

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-11

..., Bonner Bridge Replacement Project along NC 12, from Rodanthe to Bodie Island in Dare County, North... Bonner Bridge Replacement Project along Highway NC 12, from Rodanthe to Bodie Island, in Dare County...

Teaching Scientific and Technical French at Napier College in Scotland.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mitchell, Evelyne

Scotland's vocationally-oriented Napier College was funded by the French Government to develop language courses for scientists and engineers. The courses developed have been intensive and extensive, based on work started by a team of French scientists focusing on the language, concepts, and ways of thinking common to the scientific community.…

Modern Languages in Scotland: Social Capital out on a Limb

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doughty, Hannah

2011-01-01

This article critically examines the state (extent of provision) and status (public esteem) of modern language education in Scotland, which as a constituent part of the United Kingdom has its own independent education system. The notion of social capital, as conceptualized by Putnam and others, is used to show how attempts by language…

Observed and modelled stability of overflow across the Greenland-Scotland ridge.

PubMed

Olsen, Steffen M; Hansen, Bogi; Quadfasel, Detlef; Østerhus, Svein

2008-09-25

Across the Greenland-Scotland ridge there is a continuous flow of cold dense water, termed 'overflow', from the Nordic seas to the Atlantic Ocean. This is a main contributor to the production of North Atlantic Deep Water that feeds the lower limb of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation, which has been predicted to weaken as a consequence of climate change. The two main overflow branches pass the Denmark Strait and the Faroe Bank channel. Here we combine results from direct current measurements in the Faroe Bank channel for 1995-2005 with an ensemble hindcast experiment for 1948-2005 using an ocean general circulation model. For the overlapping period we find a convincing agreement between model simulations and observations on monthly to interannual timescales. Both observations and model data show no significant trend in volume transport. In addition, for the whole 1948-2005 period, the model indicates no persistent trend in the Faroe Bank channel overflow or in the total overflow transport, in agreement with the few available historical observations. Deepening isopycnals in the Norwegian Sea have tended to decrease the pressure difference across the Greenland-Scotland ridge, but this has been compensated for by the effect of changes in sea level. In contrast with earlier studies, we therefore conclude that the Faroe Bank channel overflow, and also the total overflow, did not decrease consistently from 1950 to 2005, although the model does show a weakening total Atlantic meridional overturning circulation as a result of changes south of the Greenland-Scotland ridge.

A rapid review of key strategies to improve the cognitive and social development of children in Scotland.

PubMed

Geddes, Rosemary; Frank, John; Haw, Sally

2011-06-01

Inequalities in health and educational outcomes in Scotland show a strong and persistent socioeconomic status gradient. Our aims were to provide policy-makers with a synthesis of international research evidence that assesses the effectiveness of early childhood interventions aimed at equitably promoting cognitive and social development and suggest potential areas for action in Scotland. A rapid review was conducted of review level studies of early childhood interventions with outcome measures relating to child cognitive-language or social-emotional development, subsequent academic and life achievement. Websites were searched and interviews were conducted to identify relevant interventions, policies and programmes delivered in Scotland. : Early childhood intervention programmes can reduce disadvantage due to social and environmental factors. Scottish health policy demonstrates a clear commitment to early childhood development but much work remains in terms of detail of policy implementation, identification of high risk children and families, and early childhood monitoring systems. Programmes should provide a universal seamless continuum of care and support from pregnancy through to school entry with the intensity of support graded according to need. The current information systems in Scotland would be inadequate for monitoring the effects of early childhood interventions especially in relation to cognitive-language and social-emotional development. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enrichment and Molecular Detection of Denitrifying Methanotrophic Bacteria of the NC10 Phylum▿

PubMed Central

Ettwig, Katharina F.; van Alen, Theo; van de Pas-Schoonen, Katinka T.; Jetten, Mike S. M.; Strous, Marc

2009-01-01

Anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification was recently assigned to bacteria belonging to the uncultured phylum NC10. In this study, we incubated sediment from a eutrophic ditch harboring a diverse community of NC10 bacteria in a bioreactor with a constant supply of methane and nitrite. After 6 months, fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that NC10 bacteria dominated the resulting population. The enrichment culture oxidized methane and reduced nitrite to dinitrogen gas. We assessed NC10 phylum diversity in the inoculum and the enrichment culture, compiled the sequences currently available for this bacterial phylum, and showed that of the initial diversity, only members of one subgroup had been enriched. The growth of this subgroup was monitored by quantitative PCR and correlated to nitrite-reducing activity and the total biomass of the culture. Together, the results indicate that the enriched subgroup of NC10 bacteria is responsible for anaerobic methane oxidation coupled to nitrite reduction. Due to methodological limitations (a strong bias against NC10 bacteria in 16S rRNA gene clone libraries and inhibition by commonly used stopper material) the environmental distribution and importance of these bacteria could be largely underestimated at present. PMID:19329658

Theoretical study on the potential energy surfaces of CaNC and CaCN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishii, Keisaku; Taketsugu, Tetsuya; Hirano, Tsuneo

2003-06-01

The potential energy surfaces of CaNC ( overlineX2Σ+) and CaCN ( overlineX2Σ+) have been investigated by the highly correlated ab initio molecular orbital methods. The bending potential for CaNC is shallow, and shows quite anharmonic and anomalous character, which can explain why the centrifugal distortion constants up to the tenth order were required for the analysis of its rotational spectrum. The reaction path for the isomerization reaction of CaNC and CaCN was also determined: The activation barrier is 2111 cm -1 from the CaNC side, and 602 cm -1 from the CaCN side. Core-core and core-valence correlation contributions of Ca M-shell electrons make the Ca-N (for CaNC) and Ca-C (for CaCN) bond lengths shorter by 0.05 and 0.04 Å, respectively, which indicates the significance of these core-correlation effects.

Numerical Control/Computer Aided Manufacturing (NC/CAM), A Descom Study

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-07-01

CAM machines operate directly from computers, but most get instructions in the form of punched tape. The applications of NC/CAM are virtually...Although most NC/CAM equipment is metal working, its applications include electronics manufacturing, glass making, food processing, materiel handling...drafting, woodworking, plastics and inspection, just to name a few. Numerical control, like most technologies, is an advancing and evolutionary process

Large-Nc sum rules for charmed baryons at subleading orders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heo, Yonggoo; Lutz, Matthias F. M.

2018-05-01

Sum rules for the low-energy constants of the chiral SU(3) Lagrangian with charmed baryons of spin JP=1 /2+ and JP=3 /2+ baryons are derived from large-Nc QCD. We consider the large-Nc operator expansion at subleading orders for current-current correlation functions in the charmed baryon-ground states for two scalar and two axial-vector currents.

77 FR 64906 - Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Emerald Isle, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-24

... 1625-AA00 Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Emerald Isle, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS... zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Emerald Isle, North Carolina. The safety... NC 58 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 226, at Emerald Isle, North...

77 FR 57063 - Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Emerald Isle, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-17

... 1625-AA00 Safety Zone, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Emerald Isle, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS... zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Emerald Isle, North Carolina. The safety... NC 58 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 226, at Emerald Isle, North...

Demographic and Geographical Characteristics of Pediatric Trauma in Scotland

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

the 8-fold Scottish Urban/ Rural Classifi- cation [20], which is based on settlement size and drive time to major conurbations. Social deprivation was...distribution, but with some exceptions. Scotland has an eccentrically distributed population, with 69.5% living in urban areas ( Scottish urban/ rural ...high rate of mortality and prehospital death. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 2003;47:153-6. [20] Scottish Government: Scottish government urban/ rural

Assessing Investigative Skills in History: A Case Study from Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hillis, Peter

2005-01-01

Recent changes in the history syllabi stress the importance of developing an investigative/enquiry method of learning involving the framing of questions, subsequent research, and the presentation of findings. Scotland has made several attempts to assess not only the end result (the paper) but also the process itself and now uses an extended essay…

Comparative Performance Measures, Globalising Strategies and Literacy Policy in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tett, Lyn

2014-01-01

This paper explores one example of an international comparison -- the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) -- in order to investigate the power of numbers in both the shaping and the legitimisation of adult literacy policy using Scotland as a case study. It is argued that policy…

Interviewing the Education Policy Elite in Scotland: A Changing Picture?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Grek, Sotiria

2011-01-01

In Scotland, access to the "policy community" is relatively easy and relations are very relaxed, but this may be interpreted as a different means of managing and co-opting researchers. However, the relationships of the different actors, and the kinds of knowledge they draw on, are in a process of change. Since parliamentary devolution…

The Experience of 50 Years of Comprehensive Schooling in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howieson, Cathy; Croxford, Linda; Murphy, Daniel

2017-01-01

The year 2015 was the 50th anniversary of the introduction of comprehensive schooling in Scotland. This article outlines the two models of comprehensive schooling pursued over this period: the first which aimed to promote a universal, common system, and the second, from around 2000, which has prioritised diversity and choice. Equality (in its…

Interactions between land use, climate and hydropower in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sample, James

2015-04-01

To promote the transition towards a low carbon economy, the Scottish Government has adopted ambitious energy targets, including generating all electricity from renewable sources by 2020. To achieve this, continued investment will be required across a range of sustainable technologies. Hydropower has a long history in Scotland and the present-day operational capacity of ~1.5 GW makes a substantial contribution to the national energy budget. In addition, there remains potential for ~500 MW of further development, mostly in the form of small to medium size run-of-river schemes. Climate change is expected to lead to an intensification of the global hydrological cycle, leading to changes in both the magnitude and seasonality of river flows. There may also be indirect effects, such as changing land use, enhanced evapotranspiration rates and an increased demand for irrigation, all of which could affect the water available for energy generation. Preliminary assessments of hydropower commonly use flow duration curves (FDCs) to estimate the power generation potential at proposed new sites. In this study, we use spatially distributed modelling to generate daily and monthly FDCs on a 1 km by 1 km grid across Scotland, using a variety of future land use and climate change scenarios. Parameter-related uncertainty in the model has been constrained using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques to derive posterior probability distributions for key model parameters. Our results give an indication of the sensitivity and vulnerability of Scotland's run-of-river hydropower resources to possible changes in climate and land use. The effects are spatially variable and the range of uncertainty is sometimes large, but consistent patterns do emerge. For example, many locations are predicted to experience enhanced seasonality, with significantly lower power generation potential in the summer months and greater potential during the autumn and winter. Some sites may require

CAI System with Multi-Media Text Through Web Browser for NC Lathe Programming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizugaki, Yoshio; Kikkawa, Koichi; Mizui, Masahiko; Kamijo, Keisuke

A new Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) system for NC lathe programming has been developed with use of multi-media texts including movies, animations, pictures, sound and texts through Web browser. Although many CAI systems developed previously for NC programming consist of text-based instructions, it is difficult for beginners to learn NC programming with use of them. In the developed CAI system, multi-media texts are adopted for the help of users' understanding, and it is available through Web browser anytime and anywhere. Also the error log is automatically recorded for the future references. According to the NC programming coded by a user, the movement of the NC lathe is animated and shown in the monitor screen in front of the user. If its movement causes the collision between a cutting tool and the lathe, some sound and the caution remark are generated. If the user makes mistakes some times at a certain stage in learning NC, the corresponding suggestion is shown in the form of movies, animations, and so forth. By using the multimedia texts, users' attention is kept concentrated during a training course. In this paper, the configuration of the CAI system is explained and the actual procedures for users to learn the NC programming are also explained too. Some beginners tested this CAI system and their results are illustrated and discussed from the viewpoint of the efficiency and usefulness of this CAI system. A brief conclusion is also mentioned.

77 FR 64720 - Safety Zone: Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; Oak Island, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-23

... 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 311.8, at Oak Island, North... NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 311.8, at Oak Island, North... under the NC 133 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 311.8, at Oak Island...

76 FR 11960 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-04

... Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of temporary... deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span...

75 FR 44916 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-30

... Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of temporary... deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span...

77 FR 12475 - Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-01

... Operation Regulations; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of temporary... deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to...

76 FR 53342 - Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

... Operation Regulations; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of temporary... deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, at mile 26.8, over Cape Fear River, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to...

NSDNA: a manually curated database of experimentally supported ncRNAs associated with nervous system diseases.

PubMed

Wang, Jianjian; Cao, Yuze; Zhang, Huixue; Wang, Tianfeng; Tian, Qinghua; Lu, Xiaoyu; Lu, Xiaoyan; Kong, Xiaotong; Liu, Zhaojun; Wang, Ning; Zhang, Shuai; Ma, Heping; Ning, Shangwei; Wang, Lihua

2017-01-04

The Nervous System Disease NcRNAome Atlas (NSDNA) (http://www.bio-bigdata.net/nsdna/) is a manually curated database that provides comprehensive experimentally supported associations about nervous system diseases (NSDs) and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). NSDs represent a common group of disorders, some of which are characterized by high morbidity and disabilities. The pathogenesis of NSDs at the molecular level remains poorly understood. ncRNAs are a large family of functionally important RNA molecules. Increasing evidence shows that diverse ncRNAs play a critical role in various NSDs. Mining and summarizing NSD-ncRNA association data can help researchers discover useful information. Hence, we developed an NSDNA database that documents 24 713 associations between 142 NSDs and 8593 ncRNAs in 11 species, curated from more than 1300 articles. This database provides a user-friendly interface for browsing and searching and allows for data downloading flexibility. In addition, NSDNA offers a submission page for researchers to submit novel NSD-ncRNA associations. It represents an extremely useful and valuable resource for researchers who seek to understand the functions and molecular mechanisms of ncRNA involved in NSDs. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

James Hutton's Geological Tours of Scotland: Romanticism, Literary Strategies, and the Scientific Quest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Furniss, Tom

2014-03-01

Rather than focussing on the relationship between science and literature, this article attempts to read scientific writing as literature. It explores a somewhat neglected element of the story of the emergence of geology in the late eighteenth century—James Hutton's unpublished accounts of the tours of Scotland that he undertook in the years 1785-1788 in search of empirical evidence for his theory of the earth. Attention to Hutton's use of literary techniques and conventions highlights the ways these texts dramatise the journey of scientific discovery and allow Hutton's readers to imagine that they were virtual participants in the geological quest, conducted by a savant whose self-fashioning made him a reliable guide through Scotland's geomorphology and the landscapes of deep time.

Health and Wellbeing: A Policy Context for Physical Education in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horrell, Andrew; Sproule, John; Gray, Shirley

2012-01-01

The "Curriculum for Excellence" (CfE) guidelines and associated learning experiences and outcomes have been developed following a national debate on the purposes of education in Scotland. The recent development shifts physical education's (PE) role in Scottish education, changing from contributing to the "Expressive Arts" area…

How do trends in mortality inequalities by deprivation and education in Scotland and England & Wales compare? A repeat cross-sectional study.

PubMed

McCartney, Gerry; Popham, Frank; Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal; Walsh, David; Schofield, Lauren

2017-07-21

To compare the trends in mortality inequalities by educational attainment with trends using area deprivation. Scotland and England & Wales (E&W). All people resident in Scotland and E&W between 1981 and 2011 aged 35-79 years. Absolute inequalities (measured using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII)) and relative inequalities (measured using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII)) in all-cause mortality. Relative inequalities in mortality by area deprivation have consistently increased for men and women in Scotland and E&W between 1981-1983 and 2010-2012. Absolute inequalities increased for men and women in Scotland, and for women in E&W, between 1981-1983 and 2000-2002 before subsequently falling. For men in E&W, absolute inequalities were more stable until 2000-2002 before a subsequent decline. Both absolute and relative inequalities were consistently higher in men and in Scotland. These trends contrast markedly with the reported declines in mortality inequalities by educational attainment and apparent improvement of Scotland's inequalities with those in E&W. Trends in health inequalities differ when assessed using different measures of socioeconomic status, reflecting either genuinely variable trends in relation to different aspects of social stratification or varying error or bias. There are particular issues with the educational attainment data in Great Britain prior to 2001 that make these education-based estimates less certain. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

78 FR 9587 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-11

... Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of deviation... operating schedule that governs the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear.... The Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, at mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC, has vertical clearances in the...

School Board Women and Active Citizenship in Scotland, 1873-1919

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDermid, Jane

2009-01-01

Although the number of women who served on Scotland's school boards (1873-1918) was not large, they made the case for female representation on public bodies both through their electoral campaigns and their record of office. Many were simultaneously active on parish and town councils and in feminist causes, with a few in the labour movement from…

Referral for secondary restorative dental care in rural and urban areas of Scotland: findings from the Highlands Et Islands Teledentistry Project.

PubMed

Nuttall, N M; Steed, M S; Donachie, M A

2002-02-23

To compare the reported level of use of secondary care services for restorative dental care in rural and urban areas of Scotland. Postal questionnaire survey Postal questionnaire sent to all dentists in the Highland region, the island regions in Scotland and Dumfries Et Galloway (n = 150) and an equal number were sampled from the remainder of Scotland stratified by health board area. Non-respondents were sent 2 reminders after which 62% of the sample had responded. Most dentists (85%) who practised in what they considered were urban areas of Scotland said they felt that they had good access to a secondary referral service. Whereas most of those who practised in what they considered were rural areas either said they had no access to such a service (26%) or that access was difficult (53%), only 3% of those in urban areas said they had no access to a secondary restorative consultative service compared with 14% of dentists practising in rural areas of mainland Scotland and 54% of those practising on Scottish islands. The survey suggests the people of the Scottish islands and some of the remoter parts of the Scottish mainland would be among those who might benefit from improvement in access to a restorative dentistry consultant service.

Map showing reconnaissance geochemistry in the gold-pyrophyllite belt of northwestern Moore County, North Carolina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lesure, Frank G.

1981-01-01

Traces of gold and molybdenum are widely disseminated in an area approximately 35 km long and 10 km wide in northwestern Moore County, N.C.  At least 2540 oz. of gold were recovered from 16 or more mines and prospects between 1880 and 1910.  One hundred and ninety rock samples out of 244 collected from old gold mines, pyrophyllite deposits and along roads contain gold quantities ranging from 0.02 to 2.4 parts per million.  In addition, 43 samples out of the 244 taken contain molybdenum in amounts ranging from 4 to 500 parts per million.

33 CFR 165.T05-0091 - Safety Zone; Alligator River, NC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Safety Zone; Alligator River, NC... Safety Zone; Alligator River, NC. (a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, Captain of the Port...) Location. The following area is a safety zone: The temporary safety zone will encompass a 100 yard radius...

Development of a Cross-Cultural HPV Community Engagement Model within Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carnegie, Elaine; Whittaker, Anne; Gray Brunton, Carol; Hogg, Rhona; Kennedy, Catriona; Hilton, Shona; Harding, Seeromanie; Pollock, Kevin G.; Pow, Janette

2017-01-01

Objective: To examine cultural barriers and participant solutions regarding acceptance and uptake of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine from the perspective of Black African, White-Caribbean, Arab, Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani young people. Methods: In total, 40 young people from minority ethnic communities in Scotland took part in a…

Professors and Examinations: Ideas of the University in Nineteenth-Century Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Robert

2017-01-01

The separation of examining from teaching, pushed furthest in the "examining university" of which London University, founded in 1836, was the model, was a much-debated principle in nineteenth-century Britain. This separation was generally rejected in Scotland, but only after complex controversies that illustrate how Scots defined their…

Plus C'est La Même Chose: Joinery Apprenticeship Arrangements in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Pauline

2014-01-01

This paper examines recent changes in the Scottish apprenticeship system of skill formation for joiners through an occupational skill ecosystem lens. Building trade apprenticeships in Scotland are based around a social partnership model more akin to "dual systems" than typical arrangements elsewhere in the UK. Drawing on in-depth…

A national trainee-led audit of inguinal hernia repair in Scotland.

PubMed

O'Neill, S; Robertson, A G; Robson, A J; Richards, C H; Nicholson, G A; Mittapalli, D

2015-10-01

This audit assessed inguinal hernia surgery in Scotland and measured compliance with British Hernia Society Guidelines (2013), specifically regarding management of bilateral and recurrent inguinal hernias. It also assessed the feasibility of a national trainee-led audit, evaluated regional variations in practise and gauged operative exposure of trainees. A prospective audit of adult inguinal hernia repairs across every region in Scotland (30 hospitals in 14 NHS boards) over 2-weeks was co-ordinated by the Scottish Surgical Research Group (SSRG). 235 patients (223 male, median age 61) were identified and 96 % of cases were elective. Anaesthesia was 91 % general, 5 % spinal and 3 % local. Prophylactic antibiotics were administered in 18 %. Laparoscopic repair was used in 33 % (30 % trainee-performed). Open repair was used in 67 % (42 % trainee-performed). Elective primary bilateral hernia repairs were laparoscopic in 97 % while guideline compliance for an elective recurrence was 77 %. For elective primary unilateral hernias, the use of laparoscopic repair varied significantly by region (South East 43 %, North 14 %, East 7 % and West 6 %, p < 0.001) as did repair under local anaesthesia for open cases (North 21 %, South East 4 %, West 2 % and East 0 %, p = 0.001). Trainees independently performed 9 % of procedures. There were no significant differences in trainee or unsupervised trainee operator rates between laparoscopic and open cases. Mean hospital stay was 0.7-days with day case surgery performed in 69 %. This trainee-lead audit provides a contemporary view of inguinal hernia surgery in Scotland. Increased compliance on recurrent cases appears indicated. National re-audit could ensure improved adherence and would be feasible through the SSRG.

The economic cost of bereavement in Scotland.

PubMed

Stephen, Audrey I; Macduff, Colin; Petrie, Dennis J; Tseng, Fu-Min; Schut, Henk; Skår, Silje; Corden, Anne; Birrell, John; Wang, Shaolin; Newsom, Cate; Wilson, Stewart

2015-01-01

Aspects of the socioeconomic costs of bereavement in Scotland were estimated using 3 sets of data. Spousal bereavement was associated with increased mortality and longer hospital stays, with additional annual cost of around £20 million. Cost of bereavement coded consultations in primary care was estimated at around £2.0 million annually. In addition, bereaved people were significantly less likely to be employed in the year of and 2 years after bereavement than non-bereaved matched controls, but there were no significant differences in income between bereaved people and matched controls before and after bereavement.

Asthma in Scotland: epidemiology and clinical management.

PubMed

Capewell, S

1993-03-01

Asthma in Scotland is briefly reviewed including epidemiology, management and the potential for research, education and audit. Asthma is characterised by variable wheeze and shortness of breath caused by variable narrowing of the bronchial airways secondary to inflammation. Confusion with chronic obstructive airways disease is increasingly common in the elderly and epidemiological studies tend to focus on the age range 5-44 years. Asthma prevalence is critically dependent on the definitions used and exceeds 20% based on questionnaire alone, less if objective measurements of airways obstruction is also used: perhaps 15% in children, 5% in adults in Scotland. Comparisons between studies and countries are therefore potentially hazardous. Routine information sources confirm the high levels of morbidity and use of health services by asthmatic patients. A true increase in the prevalence of asthma in children over the last two decades appears likely. This has been compounded by increased willingness to use the diagnostic label of asthma. Asthma, hayfever and eczema have increased significantly in Aberdeen school children over the last 25 years and asthma symptoms and airways obstruction have increased significantly in South Wales. Similar increases are reported in New Zealand children between 1975 and 1985, the prevalence being significantly higher than in Welsh children using standardised methodology. In Zimbabwe an intriguing strong association has been demonstrated between asthma, urban life style and higher socio economic groups. Most asthma deaths are caused by bronchial narrowing and subsequent asphyxia. Asthma mortality has apparently increased in most industrialised countries but problems of definition remain even when attention is confined to the age span 5-44 years. The epidemic of asthma deaths in mid-60s was undeniable and may have reflected good symptomatic control by bronchodilators, which made doctors and patients neglect the underlying risk of asthma death

Glaucoma-service provision in Scotland: introduction and need for Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines.

PubMed

Syrogiannis, Andreas; Rotchford, Alan P; Agarwal, Pankaj Kumar; Kumarasamy, Manjula; Montgomery, Donald; Burr, Jennifer; Sanders, Roshini

2015-01-01

To describe the pattern of glaucoma-service delivery in Scotland and identify areas for improvement, taking into account Scottish General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) arrangements and the Eye Care Integration project, and to design Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines to refine the primary and secondary interface of glaucoma care. A glaucoma-survey questionnaire was sent to all consultant glaucomatologists in Scotland. The design of SIGN guidelines was based on the results of the questionnaire using SIGN methodology. Over 90% of Scottish glaucoma care is triaged and delivered within hospital services. Despite GOS referral, information is variable. There are no consistent discharge practices to the community. These results led to defined research questions that were answered, thus formulating the content of the SIGN guidelines. The guideline covers the assessment of patients in primary care, referral criteria to hospital, discharge criteria from hospital to community, and monitoring of patients at risk of glaucoma. With increasing age and limitations to hospital resources, refining glaucoma pathways between primary and secondary care has become a necessity. Scotland has unique eye care arrangements with both the GOS and Eye Care Integration project. It is hoped that implementation of SIGN guidelines will identify glaucoma at the earliest opportunity and reduce the rate of false-positive referrals to hospital.

Vocational Education Teacher Training in Scotland and England: Policy and Practice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Avis, James; Canning, Roy; Fisher, Roy; Morgan-Klein, Brenda; Simmons, Robin

2011-01-01

This article compares and contrasts the policy context of Vocational Education Teacher Training (VETT) in Scotland and England by setting this within its wider socio-economic context, one emphasising lifelong learning and competitiveness. This facilitates a comparison of the two nations and enables an analysis of VETT responses to globalisation…

The Development of Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence: Amnesia and Deja Vu

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Priestley, Mark; Humes, Walter

2010-01-01

Scotland's new "Curriculum for Excellence" (CfE) has been widely acknowledged as the most significant educational development in a generation, with the potential to transform learning and teaching in Scottish schools. In common with recent developments elsewhere, CfE seeks to re-engage teachers with processes of curriculum development,…

76 FR 72309 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Neuse River, New Bern, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-23

... bridge across Neuse River, mile 33.7 at New Bern, NC. The drawbridge was replaced with a fixed bridge in..., mile 33.7, at New Bern, NC was removed and replaced with a fixed bridge in 1999. It has come to the... Federal Regulations by removing language that regulates signaling and notice requirements for the opening...

One Teacher Primary Schools: England, Scotland and Wales, 1996-97.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muse, Ivan; Hite, Steve; Powley, Ellen

During the 1996-97 school year, 63 one-teacher primary schools were identified in Great Britain and 54 of these were surveyed. Three of the schools surveyed were in England, 47 in Scotland, and 4 in Wales. The majority of teachers in these schools were female, married, and 40-49 years old; had over 20 years teaching experience, with 5-15 years in…

Research ethical committees in Scotland.

PubMed Central

Thompson, I E; French, K; Melia, K M; Boyd, K M; Templeton, A A; Potter, B

1981-01-01

A questionnaire was sent to 41 ethical committees in Scotland requesting information about their constitution and supervision of clinical research. Thirty-four (83%) replies were received. Committees varied in size from one to 73 members, most of whom were medical. Ten had no nurse members and only three had lay members without direct NHS connections. Sixteen saw their role as advisory rather than supervisory. Thirteen had not met in the past year whereas two had held 10 or more meetings. Limited use (12) was made of standard protocols, and only six had formal procedures for monitoring research in progress. Only seven of 370 proposals were rejected outright. Risk/benefit dilemmas and difficulties relating to informed consent were the commonest problems encountered. The committees provide only limited safeguards for patients and research workers, and more effective, standardised procedures are indicated. PMID:6781629

Five key recommendations for the implementation of Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration systems in Scotland.

PubMed

Cresswell, Kathrin; Slee, Ann; Sheikh, Aziz

2017-01-24

NHS Scotland is about to embark on the implementation of Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (HEPMA) systems. There are a number of risks associated with such ventures, thus drawing on existing experiences from other settings is crucial in informing deployment.Drawing on our previous and ongoing work in English settings as well as the international literature, we reflect on key lessons that NHS Scotland may wish to consider in going forward. These deliberations include recommendations surrounding key aspects of deployment strategy surrounding: 1) the way central coordination should be conceptualised, 2) how flexibility in can be ensured, 3) paying attention to optimising systems from the outset, 4) how expertise should be developed and centrally shared, and 5) ways in which learning from experience can be maximised.Our five recommendations will, we hope, provide a starting point for the strategic deliberations of policy makers. Throughout this journey, it is important to view the deployment of HEPMA as part of a wider strategic goal of creating integrated digital infrastructures across Scotland.

Singular spectrum and singular entropy used in signal processing of NC table

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Linhong; He, Yiwen

2011-12-01

NC (numerical control) table is a complex dynamic system. The dynamic characteristics caused by backlash, friction and elastic deformation among each component are so complex that they have become the bottleneck of enhancing the positioning accuracy, tracking accuracy and dynamic behavior of NC table. This paper collects vibration acceleration signals from NC table, analyzes the signals with SVD (singular value decomposition) method, acquires the singular spectrum and calculates the singular entropy of the signals. The signal characteristics and their regulations of NC table are revealed via the characteristic quantities such as singular spectrum, singular entropy etc. The steep degrees of singular spectrums can be used to discriminate complex degrees of signals. The results show that the signals in direction of driving axes are the simplest and the signals in perpendicular direction are the most complex. The singular entropy values can be used to study the indetermination of signals. The results show that the signals of NC table are not simple signal nor white noise, the entropy values in direction of driving axe are lower, the entropy values increase along with the increment of driving speed and the entropy values at the abnormal working conditions such as resonance or creeping etc decrease obviously.

Corrected Article: Thermal stability of the endohedral fullerenes N\\@C60, N\\@C70, and P\\@C60 [Phys. Rev. B 63, 045421 (2001)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waiblinger, M.; Lips, K.; Harneit, W.; Weidinger, A.; Dietel, E.; Hirsch, A.

2001-10-01

There was a problem with the \\@ sign in the original article (published 9 January 2001). The entire corrected article is republished here. This article should be cited as M. Waiblinger, K. Lips, W. Harneit, A. Weidinger, E. Dietel, and A. Hirsch, Phys. Rev. B 63, 045421 (2001); 64, 159901(E) (2001). Nitrogen and phosphorus atoms enclosed in fullerenes keep their atomic ground-state configuration, and no charge transfer or covalent bonding to the cage occurs. These systems can be dissolved in organic solvents and reacted with addends without losing the atomic character of the guest atom. In this paper we present a detailed study of the annealing behavior of N\\@C60, N\\@C70, and P\\@C60, and of some N\\@C60 adducts. The disintegration of these systems, as recorded by electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, occurs in a temperature range between 400 and 600 K. The results are in qualitative agreement with potential-energy calculations, and confirm the proposed escape mechanism which proceeds via bond formation of the trapped atom with the cage. It is found that other combinations of group-V elements with fullerenes, e.g., N\\@C84, P\\@C70, and As\\@C60, are not stable at room temperature. The escape mechanism and the possibility of disabling this path are discussed.

Wolf reintroduction to Scotland: public attitudes and consequences for red deer management.

PubMed

Nilsen, Erlend B; Milner-Gulland, E J; Schofield, Lee; Mysterud, Atle; Stenseth, Nils Chr; Coulson, Tim

2007-04-07

Reintroductions are important tools for the conservation of individual species, but recently more attention has been paid to the restoration of ecosystem function, and to the importance of carrying out a full risk assessment prior to any reintroduction programme. In much of the Highlands of Scotland, wolves (Canis lupus) were eradicated by 1769, but there are currently proposals for them to be reintroduced. Their main wild prey if reintroduced would be red deer (Cervus elaphus). Red deer are themselves a contentious component of the Scottish landscape. They support a trophy hunting industry but are thought to be close to carrying capacity, and are believed to have a considerable economic and ecological impact. High deer densities hamper attempts to reforest, reduce bird densities and compete with livestock for grazing. Here, we examine the probable consequences for the red deer population of reintroducing wolves into the Scottish Highlands using a structured Markov predator-prey model. Our simulations suggest that reintroducing wolves is likely to generate conservation benefits by lowering deer densities. It would also free deer estates from the financial burden of costly hind culls, which are required in order to achieve the Deer Commission for Scotland's target deer densities. However, a reintroduced wolf population would also carry costs, particularly through increased livestock mortality. We investigated perceptions of the costs and benefits of wolf reintroductions among rural and urban communities in Scotland and found that the public are generally positive to the idea. Farmers hold more negative attitudes, but far less negative than the organizations that represent them.

Wolf reintroduction to Scotland: public attitudes and consequences for red deer management

PubMed Central

Nilsen, Erlend B; Milner-Gulland, E.J; Schofield, Lee; Mysterud, Atle; Stenseth, Nils Chr; Coulson, Tim

2007-01-01

Reintroductions are important tools for the conservation of individual species, but recently more attention has been paid to the restoration of ecosystem function, and to the importance of carrying out a full risk assessment prior to any reintroduction programme. In much of the Highlands of Scotland, wolves (Canis lupus) were eradicated by 1769, but there are currently proposals for them to be reintroduced. Their main wild prey if reintroduced would be red deer (Cervus elaphus). Red deer are themselves a contentious component of the Scottish landscape. They support a trophy hunting industry but are thought to be close to carrying capacity, and are believed to have a considerable economic and ecological impact. High deer densities hamper attempts to reforest, reduce bird densities and compete with livestock for grazing. Here, we examine the probable consequences for the red deer population of reintroducing wolves into the Scottish Highlands using a structured Markov predator–prey model. Our simulations suggest that reintroducing wolves is likely to generate conservation benefits by lowering deer densities. It would also free deer estates from the financial burden of costly hind culls, which are required in order to achieve the Deer Commission for Scotland's target deer densities. However, a reintroduced wolf population would also carry costs, particularly through increased livestock mortality. We investigated perceptions of the costs and benefits of wolf reintroductions among rural and urban communities in Scotland and found that the public are generally positive to the idea. Farmers hold more negative attitudes, but far less negative than the organizations that represent them. PMID:17264063

Changing Legislation and Its Effects on Inclusive and Special Education: Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riddell, Sheila; Weedon, Elisabet

2014-01-01

This article, by Sheila Riddell and Elisabet Weedon of the Centre for Research in Education Inclusion and Diversity, University of Edinburgh, analyses recent policy developments and outcomes in the field of additional support needs in Scotland in the context of devolution and austerity, drawing on a critical analysis of policy and administrative…

University Patenting in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: A Comparative Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beale, Andrew; Blackaby, David; Mainwaring, Lynn

2008-01-01

Using data on the patent portfolios of UK universities, the paper compares the levels of patenting activity (filings), success (grants) and quality (patents with commercial co-assignees and patent citations) at Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish institutions. Patent activity, per researcher, in Wales is on a par with that in Scotland and about…

46 CFR 7.55 - Cape Henry, VA to Cape Fear, NC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Cape Henry, VA to Cape Fear, NC. 7.55 Section 7.55 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO THE PUBLIC BOUNDARY LINES Atlantic Coast § 7.55 Cape Henry, VA to Cape Fear, NC. (a) A line drawn from Rudee Inlet Jetty Light “2” to...

46 CFR 7.60 - Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. 7.60 Section 7.60... Atlantic Coast § 7.60 Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. (a) A line drawn from the southernmost... Buoy “2CF”); thence to Oak Island Light. (b) A line drawn from the southernmost extremity of Bird...

46 CFR 7.60 - Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. 7.60 Section 7.60... Atlantic Coast § 7.60 Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. (a) A line drawn from the southernmost... Buoy “2CF”); thence to Oak Island Light. (b) A line drawn from the southernmost extremity of Bird...

46 CFR 7.60 - Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. 7.60 Section 7.60... Atlantic Coast § 7.60 Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. (a) A line drawn from the southernmost... Buoy “2CF”); thence to Oak Island Light. (b) A line drawn from the southernmost extremity of Bird...

46 CFR 7.60 - Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. 7.60 Section 7.60... Atlantic Coast § 7.60 Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. (a) A line drawn from the southernmost... Buoy “2CF”); thence to Oak Island Light. (b) A line drawn from the southernmost extremity of Bird...

RadNet Air Data From Raleigh, NC

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Raleigh, NC from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

RadNet Air Data From Wilmington, NC

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Wilmington, NC from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

RadNet Air Data From Charlotte, NC

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Charlotte, NC from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

RadNet Air Data From Greensboro, NC

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This page presents radiation air monitoring and air filter analysis data for Greensboro, NC from EPA's RadNet system. RadNet is a nationwide network of monitoring stations that measure radiation in air, drinking water and precipitation.

Landowners and the Structure of Affordable Housing Provision in Rural Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Satsangi, M.

2005-01-01

This paper looks at the behaviour of private landowners in rural Scotland in relation to housing supply, particularly renting and low-cost housing. The theme is one that has received relatively little research. In consequence, the paper is set in the context of two rather broader traditions in the literature of examining investor/developer…

Use of process evaluation to guide health education in Forsyth County's project to prevent cervical cancer.

PubMed

Dignan, M B; Michielutte, R; Sharp, P C; Young, L D; Daniels, L A

1991-01-01

The Forsyth County, NC, Cervical Cancer Prevention Project is a 5-year public health education program designed to increase the proportion of black women in the county who are appropriately screened for cervical cancer. In this paper, the authors report on process evaluation--the procedures used to monitor the intervention and to insure that the target population was reached with a high quality, community-based health education program. A system that encompasses documentation of program activities, interviews with women in waiting rooms of primary care providers, semiannual interviews with a panel of approximately 100 women from the target population, and telephone followup with participants in direct education workshops was designed and implemented. Through October 1990, more than 2,100 interviews had been conducted. Data from these activities have facilitated continued development and refinement of educational materials, provided guidance for developing new strategies for reaching the target population, and provided continuous feedback to program managers to allow monitoring the impact of all program activities.

75 FR 2540 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-15

... Recreation Area, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Clark County, NV, Wait Period Ends: 02/16/2010, Contact.... 20090437, Final EIS, USACE, NC, Western Wake Regional Wastewater Management Facilities, Proposed... of Apex, Cary, Holly Springs and Morrisville, Research Triangle Park, Wake County, NC, Wait Period...

The effect of selected monoterpenoids on the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum NC4.

PubMed

Hwang, J Y; Kim, J H; Yun, K W

2004-06-01

We tested the activity of 11 main compounds identified from Pinus plants on the growth of Dictyostelium discoideum NC4. Four concentrations (1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001 microg/microl) of each compound were tested using a disk volatilization technique following germination of D. discoideum NC4 spores. Photographs of D. discoideum NC4 fruiting bodies were taken 2 days after treatment. Fenchone (at 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 microg/microl) and camphene (at 0.01 microg/microl) stimulated growth of D. discoideum NC4. (1S)-(-)-verbenone, (1S)-(-)-alpha-pinene, (+)-beta-pinene, myrcene, (-)-menthone, (-)-bornyl acetate, (S)-(+)-carvone, (-)-camphene, and (R)-(+)-limonene inhibit its growth. All of the compounds at 1 microg/microl had a strong inhibitory effect on cell growth of D. discoideum NC4. Microscopic observation of the fruiting bodies matched the results of growth rate analysis. Most of the inhibitory effects were represented by changes in the shapes of the fruiting bodies. These changes include short sorophores, smaller sized sori, and sori without spores. Our results suggest that inhibition of growth is the most common effect of monoterpenoids on D. discoideum NC4. Nevertheless, some of them, like fenchone and camphene, seem to enhance its growth.

Elastic properties of nc-TiN /a-Si3N4 and nc-TiN /a-BN nanocomposite films by surface Brillouin scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manghnani, Murli H.; Tkachev, Sergey N.; Zinin, Pavel V.; Glorieoux, Christ; Karvankova, Pavla; Veprek, Stan

2005-03-01

The hardness of nanocomposite (nc) films developed recently appears to reach the hardness of diamond. High hardness is commonly attributed to the granular structure of nanocomposites (Hall-Petch effect) [E. O. Hall, Proc. Phys. Soc. Lond. B 64, 747 (1951); N. J. Petch, J. Iron Steel Inst. 174, 25 (1953)]. However, grain size in nanocomposites is generally small (5-15nm) and falls in the region where the Hall-Petch effect does not apply. The objective of the present study is to report the elastic properties of the superhard nanocomposites determined by means of surface Brillouin scattering (SBS), and to compare the results with those obtained by nanoindentation. Two types of nanocomposite films were studied: nc-TiN /a-Si3N4 and nc-TiN /a-BN. The SBS measurements presented yield values of Young's modulus significantly larger than those obtained from the slope of unloading indentation curve. This discrepancy is attributed to the lack of the validity of the assumptions behind the Sneddon's derivation of the formula used for the calculation of the Young's modulus from the indentation data.

Can health feasibly be considered as part of the planning process in Scotland?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Higgins, Martin; Douglas, Margaret; Muirie, Jill

2005-10-15

The planning system is significant because of its capacity to determine the quality of the built environment as well as the health, well-being and quality of life of the individuals and communities therein. Development planning is especially important because of the long-term impact of the decisions. This paper was developed in response to increasing recognition amongst HIA practitioners in Scotland of the importance of planning for health. It focuses on the relationship between the planning system in Scotland, specifically the Development Planning element of it, and population health and considers how the health impact assessment (HIA) approach can facilitate andmore » support joint working with planners. In particular, consideration is given to the potential impact of the introduction of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on the linkages between health, HIA and planning.« less

Toxoplasma gondii coinfection with diseases and parasites in wild rabbits in Scotland.

PubMed

Mason, Sam; Dubey, J P; Smith, Judith E; Boag, Brian

2015-09-01

In wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) on an estate in Perthshire, central Scotland, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was 18/548 (3·3%). The wild rabbit could be a T. gondii reservoir and it has potential value as a sentinel of T. gondii in environmental substrates. Toxoplasma gondii was associated with female sex (P < 0·001) and with relatively heavy infections by Eimeria stiedae (P = 0·036). It was not associated with the intensity of coccidial oocysts, the severity of myxomatosis caused by the virus Myxomatosis cuniculi, the intensity of roundworm eggs, the year or season, rabbit age or distance from farm buildings. Coinfections could have been affected by gestational down regulation of type 1 T helper cells. A sudden influx or release of T. gondii oocysts might have occurred. This is the first report of T. gondii in any wild herbivore in Scotland and also the first report of lapine T. gondii as a coinfection with E. stiedae, M. cuniculi and helminths.

46 CFR 7.60 - Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. 7.60 Section 7.60... Atlantic Coast § 7.60 Cape Fear, NC to Sullivans Island, SC. (a) A line drawn from the southernmost extremity to Cape Fear to latitude 33°49.5′ N. longitude 78°03.7′ W. (Cape Fear River Entrance Lighted Bell...

Testing the QCD string at large Nc from the thermodynamics of the hadronic phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Thomas D.

2007-02-01

It is generally believed that in the limit of a large number of colors (Nc) the description of confinement via flux tubes becomes valid and QCD can be modeled accurately via a hadronic string theory—at least for highly excited states. QCD at large Nc also has a well-defined deconfinement transition at a temperature Tc. In this talk it is shown how the thermodyanmics of the metastable hadronic phase of QCD (above Tc) at large NC can be related directly to properties of the effective QCD string. The key points in the derivation is the weakly interacting nature of hadrons at large Nc and the existence of a Hagedorn temperature TH for the effective string theory. From this it can be seen at large Nc and near TH, the energy density and pressure of the hadronic phase scale as E ˜ (TH - T)-(D⊥-6)/2 (for D⊥ < 6) and P ˜ (TH - T)-(D⊥-4)/2 (for D⊥ < 4) where D⊥ is the effective number of transverse dimensions of the string theory. This behavior for D⊥ < 6 is qualitatively different from typical models in statistical mechanics and if observed on the lattice would provide a direct test of the stringy nature of large Nc QCD. However since it can be seen that TH > Tc this behavior is of relevance only to the metastable phase. The prospect of using this result to extract D⊥ via lattice simulations of the metastable hadronic phase at moderately large Nc is discussed.

Business, Management and Administration: A Subject-Based Aspect Report by Education Scotland on Behalf of the Scottish Funding Council on Provision in Scotland's Colleges. Transforming Lives through Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Scotland, 2014

2014-01-01

In preparing this report, reviewers visited a sample of four colleges, detailed in Appendix 1. They also drew on the findings of published Education Scotland external reviews of colleges, and examined other relevant publications and reports. They consulted and held focus groups with key stakeholders, including the Scottish Qualifications Authority…

Aspirations and Actions: Early Childhood from Policy to Practice in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunlop, Aline-Wendy

2015-01-01

This paper explores early childhood experience in Scotland in terms of how readily the aspirations of policy convert to day-to-day practices. Ambitions to improve the lives of children and families have been high on the political agenda. Policy may be understood as a tool that aims to influence childhood experience in positive ways. If this is to…

Ability as an Additional Support Need: Scotland's Inclusive Approach to Gifted Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sutherland, Margaret; Stack, Niamh

2014-01-01

The present paper provides an overview of the current national legislation, policies, curriculum and practice relating to gifted education within Scotland. It begins by providing an overview of the national context and historical background that, to this day, underpin the egalitarian ethos that permeates Scottish education. We discuss how…

The Promotion of Children's and Adolescents' Social Participation in Italy and Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rossi, Elisa; Baraldi, Claudio

2009-01-01

This article presents the theoretical framework, methodology and the main results of a comparative research on the promotion of children's social participation in Italy and Scotland, which was based on politicians', managers' and practitioners' representations. Promotion of participation here is considered a form of social intervention in which…

77 FR 4853 - North Carolina Disaster #NC-00041

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-31

... SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION [Disaster Declaration 12990 and 12991] North Carolina Disaster NC-00041 AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This is a notice of an.... [[Page 4854

Differences in delta13C and diameter growth among remnant Scots pine populations in Scotland.

PubMed

Brendel, Oliver; Handley, Linda; Griffiths, Howard

2002-10-01

Published data suggest that differences in wood cellulose carbon isotope composition (delta13C) and xylem ring width among natural populations of Scots pine in Scotland (Pinus sylvestris L.) are attributable to the persistence of palaeotypes of various post-glacial migratory origins. We assessed differences in wood cellulose delta13C and ring width among Scottish Scots pine populations grown in a clone bank and in natural stands at various locations in northern and central Scotland. Ring width and wood cellulose delta13C varied significantly among natural stands. Potential water deficit was positively correlated with wood cellulose delta13C and xylem ring width in the natural stands. Neither wood cellulose delta13C nor xylem ring width of clone bank trees correlated with any climate variables at the sites from which the trees originated, indicating little adaptation to climate for these traits. Xylem ring width showed a site x population interaction for the growth sites (i.e., natural stands versus clone bank), but wood cellulose delta13C did not. These results suggest that climate variation in Scotland has not resulted in significant genetic variation in wood cellulose delta13C or xylem ring width in post-glacial populations.

Caseload of NHS plastic surgeons in Scotland, 2005-2006: analysis of Scottish hospital activity data.

PubMed

Brewster, Colin T; Shoaib, Taimur

2009-04-01

To assess the contemporary caseload of NHS plastic surgeons. Descriptive study. Scotland. Analysis of routinely collected NHS hospital activity data relating to the financial year 2005-2006. Number of inpatient/day-case episodes and bed-days by principal diagnosis and main operative procedure. During the study period, 12,844 inpatient and 9439 day-case episodes were recorded in 19,166 patients, accounting for 36,300 bed-days. There were more female patients, especially among middle-age groups. Socioeconomic deprivation was more common than expected (P < 0.0001), especially among younger age groups and male patients. In terms of episodes, the most common categories of diagnosis were neoplasms (28.4%) and injuries, including burns (22.4%). However, injuries accounted for a higher proportion of bed-days (37.3%) than neoplasms (23.8%). Only approximately half of all surgical procedures were assigned to the skin chapter of the OPCS-4 classification. Despite some limitations, this study provides an insight into the current caseload of NHS plastic surgeons working in Scotland. The data suggest that cosmetic surgery for purely aesthetic reasons represents a relatively small part of NHS plastic surgery activity in Scotland, and that the majority of caseload is in reconstructive plastic surgery.

The Small RNA ncS35 Regulates Growth in Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315

PubMed Central

Kiekens, Sanne; Sass, Andrea; Van Nieuwerburgh, Filip; Deforce, Dieter

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 is a member of the B. cepacia complex. It has a large genome with three replicons and one plasmid; 7,261 genes code for annotated proteins, while 113 code for functional RNAs. Small regulatory RNAs of B. cenocepacia have not yet been functionally characterized. We investigated a small regulatory RNA, designated ncS35, that was discovered by differential RNA sequencing. Its expression under various conditions was quantified, and a deletion mutant, ΔncS35, was constructed. Compared to planktonic growth in a rich medium, the expression of ncS35 was elevated when B. cenocepacia J2315 was grown in biofilms and in minimal medium. Cells of the deletion mutant showed increased aggregation, higher metabolic activity, a higher growth rate, and an increased susceptibility to tobramycin. A transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of the phenylacetic acid and tryptophan degradation pathways in ΔncS35. Computational target prediction indicated that ncS35 likely interacts with the first gene of the tryptophan degradation pathway. Overall, we demonstrated that small RNA ncS35 is a noncoding RNA with an attenuating effect on the metabolic rate and growth. It is possible that slower growth protects B. cenocepacia J2315 against stressors acting on fast-dividing cells and enhances survival under unfavorable conditions. IMPORTANCE Small RNAs play an important role in the survival of bacteria in diverse environments. We explored the physiological role of ncS35, a small RNA expressed in B. cenocepacia J2315, an opportunistic pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients. In cystic fibrosis patients, infections can lead to “cepacia syndrome,” a rapidly progressing and often fatal pneumonia. Infections with Burkholderia spp. are difficult to threat with antibiotics because of their high intrinsic resistance and ability to form biofilms. We show that ncS35 attenuates the growth and reduces the metabolic rate of B. cenocepacia and influences

A Scotland-wide pilot programme of smoking cessation services for young people: process and outcome evaluation.

PubMed

Gnich, Wendy; Sheehy, Christine; Amos, Amanda; Bitel, Mark; Platt, Stephen

2008-11-01

To conduct an independent, external evaluation of a Scotland-wide youth cessation pilot programme, focusing upon service uptake and effectiveness. National Health Service (NHS) Health Scotland and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Scotland funded a 3-year (2002-2005) national pilot programme comprising eight projects which aimed to engage with and support young smokers (aged 12-25 years) to quit. Process evaluation was undertaken via detailed case studies comprising qualitative interviews, observation and documentary analysis. Outcomes were assessed by following project participants (n=470 at baseline) at 3 and 12 months and measuring changes in smoking behaviour, including carbon monoxide (CO)-validated quit status. Recruitment proved difficult. Considerable time and effort were needed to attract young smokers. Advertising and recruitment had to be tailored to project settings and educational activities proved essential to raise the profile of smoking as an issue. Thirty-nine participants [8.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.0-11.2%] were CO-validated quitters at 3 months and 11 of these (2.4%, 95% CI 1.90-3.8%) were also validated quitters at 12 months. Older participants were more likely to be abstinent at 3 months. The overall quit rate was disappointing. As a result of low participant numbers, it was impossible to draw conclusions about the relative effectiveness of different project approaches. These findings give little support to the case for developing dedicated youth cessation services in Scotland. They also highlight the difficulties of undertaking 'real-world' evaluations of pilot youth cessation projects. More action is needed to develop environments which enhance young smokers' motivation to quit and their ability to sustain quit attempts.

Laboratory Detection of HSiCN and HSiNC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanz, M. Eugenia; McCarthy, Michael C.; Thaddeus, Patrick

2002-09-01

Two new silicon-bearing molecules, the closed-shell asymmetric tops cyanosilylene HSiCN and its isomer HSiNC, have been detected in a laboratory discharge by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The rotational spectra of the normal and deuterated isotopic species of both molecules have been analyzed to derive precise spectroscopic constants, which allow the astronomically most interesting transitions up to 120 GHz to be calculated to an accuracy better than 1 km s-1 in equivalent radial velocity. Both molecules are good candidates for astronomical detection, closely related in structure and composition to known astronomical molecules, and they are highly polar, with estimated dipole moments of 3.5 D for HSiCN and 2.5 D for HSiNC.

Distribution and presentation of Lyme borreliosis in Scotland - analysis of data from a national testing laboratory.

PubMed

Mavin, S; Watson, E J; Evans, R

2015-01-01

This study examines the distribution of laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme borreliosis in Scotland and the clinical spectrum of presentations within NHS Highland. Methods General demographic data (age/sex/referring Health Board) from all cases of Lyme borreliosis serologically confirmed by the National Lyme Borreliosis Testing Laboratory from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013 were analysed. Clinical features of confirmed cases were ascertained from questionnaires sent to referring clinicians within NHS Highland during the study period. Results The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme borreliosis in Scotland peaked at 440 in 2010. From 2008 to 2013 the estimated average annual incidence was 6.8 per 100,000 (44.1 per 100,000 in NHS Highland). Of 594 questionnaires from NHS Highland patients: 76% had clinically confirmed Lyme borreliosis; 48% erythema migrans; 17% rash, 25% joint, 15% neurological and 1% cardiac symptoms. Only 61% could recall a tick bite. Conclusion The incidence of Lyme borreliosis may be stabilising in Scotland but NHS Highland remains an area of high incidence. Lyme borreliosis should be considered in symptomatic patients that have had exposure to ticks and not just those with a definite tick bite.

How Stable Is the Stratification of Higher Education in England and Scotland?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Raffe, David; Croxford, Linda

2015-01-01

This paper asks whether the institutional hierarchies defined by "golden triangle", other Russell Group, other pre-1992 and post-1992 universities in England, and by ancient, old and new universities in Scotland, have become weaker since the 1990s. Using indicators constructed from Universities and Colleges Admissions Service data for…

A hypothetical mechanism of intraepidermal neurite formation in NC/Nga mice with atopic dermatitis.

PubMed

Tominaga, Mitsutoshi; Ozawa, Sumiko; Ogawa, Hideoki; Takamori, Kenji

2007-06-01

Pruritus is a symptom in atopic dermatitis (AD). Previous studies have reported that increased intraepidermal neurites are observed in AD, suggesting that the neuritogenesis is related to itching in the skin. This study was conducted to reveal the mechanism of intraepidermal neurite formation in AD. In this study, we used conventional (Conv) NC/Nga mice with AD. NC/Nga mice maintained in specific pathogen-free (SPF) condition were used as a control with no AD. Distribution of intraepidermal neurites and expression patterns of growth factors (NGF and amphiregulin (AR)) and cell-cell junctional molecules (E-cadherin, zona occludens 1 (ZO-1) and desmoglein 3 (Dsg3)) were examined in the skins by immunohistochemistry or quantitative RT-PCR. Furthermore, detection of gelatinase activity was performed with in situ zymography. The same experiments were conducted in ICR mice for comparison with NC/Nga mice. Neurite density and expression levels of growth factors and gelatinase were remarkably increased in the epidermis of Conv-NC/Nga mice compared with those of SPF-NC/Nga mice. Decreased expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 and misexpression of Dsg3 were also observed in the atopic skins. In comparison with ICR mice, increases of neurite density and gelatinase activity were found in the skins of SPF-NC/Nga mice but expression levels of growth factors and cell-cell junctional molecules were unchanged. Increases of growth factors and gelatinase activity may be related to neurite outgrowth in the epidermis of atopic NC/Nga mice. Additionally, abnormal expressions of cell-cell junctional molecules in the epidermis may provide intercellular spaces for the neurite formation.

The metallofullerene field-induced single-ion magnet HoSc2 N@C80.

PubMed

Dreiser, Jan; Westerström, Rasmus; Zhang, Yang; Popov, Alexey A; Dunsch, Lothar; Krämer, Karl; Liu, Shi-Xia; Decurtins, Silvio; Greber, Thomas

2014-10-13

The low-temperature magnetic properties of the endohedral metallofullerene HoSc2 N@C80 have been studied by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry. Alternating current (ac) susceptibility measurements reveal that this molecule exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization in a small applied field with timescales in the order of milliseconds. The equilibrium magnetic properties of HoSc2 N@C80 indicate strong magnetic anisotropy. The large differences in magnetization relaxation times between the present compound and the previously investigated DySc2 N@C80 are discussed. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

'An aid to mental health': natural history, alienists and therapeutics in Victorian Scotland.

PubMed

Finnegan, Diarmid A

2008-09-01

In the nineteenth century natural history was widely regarded as a rational and 'distracting' pursuit that countered the ill-effects, physical and mental, of urban life. This familiar argument was not only made by members of naturalists' societies but was also borrowed and adapted by alienists concerned with the moral treatment of the insane. This paper examines the work of five long-serving superintendents in Victorian Scotland and uncovers the connections made between an interest in natural history and the management of mental disease. In addition to recovering a significant influence on the conduct of several alienists the paper explores arguments made outside the asylum walls in favour of natural history as an aid to mental health. Investigating the promotion of natural history as a therapeutic recreation in Scotland and elsewhere reveals more fully the moral and cultural significance attached to natural history pursuits in the nineteenth century.

Negative stereotypes of the Scottish diet: A qualitative analysis of deep-fried Mars bar references in bestselling newspapers in Scotland, 2011-14.

PubMed

Knight, Christine

2016-08-01

The Scottish diet is associated in the UK media and popular discourse with unhealthy deep-fried foods. In addition to the stereotype's negative effects on perceptions of Scottish food, culture and people, there is evidence that the stereotype of the Scottish diet has negative effects on food behaviour and public health in Scotland, having been shown to encourage consumption of deep-fried foods and discourage positive dietary change. The most notorious deep-fried food associated with Scotland is the deep-fried Mars bar (DFMB), arguably invented in Stonehaven (near Aberdeen), and first reported in the Scottish and UK press in 1995. This article reports findings from an analysis of newspaper references to the DFMB in the two highest selling newspapers in Scotland, the Scottish Sun and the Daily Record, between 2011 and 2014. A keyword search ("deep fried Mars bar") using the online media database Lexis Library generated 97 unique records, and the resulting dataset was analysed thematically and discursively. Analysis showed that both newspapers clearly associated the DFMB with Scotland. Further, both newspapers portrayed the DFMB and the broader "deep-fried" Scottish diet stereotype ambivalently (mixed positive and negative associations). However, the Daily Record actively criticised the DFMB stereotype much more often than did the Scottish Sun. These findings suggest that the Scottish population encounters different messages in the press about food and nutrition from people elsewhere in the UK, and that these messages vary depending on choice of media in Scotland. Given the known negative effects of the stereotype, differences in Scottish media discourse should be considered a potential factor in persistent health inequalities affecting Scotland. Educational efforts, and opening discussion with journalists and amongst the Scottish public, may be helpful. Copyright © 2016 The Author. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

33 CFR 117.822 - Beaufort Channel, NC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS Specific Requirements North Carolina § 117.822 Beaufort Channel, NC. The... bridge need not open between the hours of 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (b) From 10 p.m. to...

A survey of information given to head‐injured patients on direct discharge from emergency departments in Scotland

PubMed Central

Kerr, Jacques; Swann, Ian J; Pentland, Brian

2007-01-01

Aim To survey the information provided to head‐injured patients on discharge from emergency departments (EDs) in Scotland. Methods EDs throughout Scotland were asked to supply a copy of their head injury advice pamphlet for analysis. Each pamphlet was assessed against a template and an Excel spreadsheet was created. Results All 30 (100%) Scottish EDs responded. The frequency with which specific features appeared varied widely, with most pamphlets concentrating on emergency features, with less emphasis on postconcussion symptoms. Conclusions Head injury discharge advice should be standardised throughout EDs, with more emphasis given to postconcussion features. PMID:17452698

Preparing Learners in Scotland's Colleges for Employment or Further Study. An Aspect Report on Provision in Scotland's Colleges by HM Inspectors on Behalf of the Scottish Funding Council

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Education Scotland, 2011

2011-01-01

Scotland's colleges have a wide-ranging mission. They meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders, including individual learners, local communities, regional and national bodies and the national and international economies. That they meet all of these needs to a very large extent is testament to the commitment of the staff and Boards of…

Recent cohort effects in suicide in Scotland: a legacy of the 1980s?

PubMed Central

Parkinson, Jane; Lewsey, James; Bouttell, Janet; McCartney, Gerry

2017-01-01

Background Mortality rates are higher in Scotland relative to England and Wales, even after accounting for deprivation. This ‘excess’ mortality is partly due to higher mortality from alcohol-related and drug-related deaths, violence and suicide (particularly in young adults). This study investigated whether cohort effects from exposure to neoliberal politics from the 1980s might explain the recent trends in suicide in Scotland. Methods We analysed suicide deaths data from 1974 to 2013 by sex and deprivation using shaded contour plots and intrinsic estimator regression modelling to identify and quantify relative age, period and cohort effects. Results Suicide was most common in young adults (aged around 25–40 years) living in deprived areas, with a younger peak in men. The peak age for suicide fell around 1990, especially for men for whom it dropped quickly from around 50 to 30 years. There was evidence of an increased risk of suicide for the cohort born between 1960 and 1980, especially among men living in the most deprived areas (of around 30%). The cohort at highest risk occurred earlier in the most deprived areas, 1965–1969 compared with 1970–1974. Conclusions The risk of suicide increased in Scotland for those born between 1960 and 1980, especially for men living in the most deprived areas, which resulted in a rise in age-standardised rates for suicide among young adults during the 1990s. This is consistent with the hypothesis that exposure to neoliberal politics created a delayed negative health impact. PMID:27485053

DES-ncRNA: A knowledgebase for exploring information about human micro and long noncoding RNAs based on literature-mining.

PubMed

Salhi, Adil; Essack, Magbubah; Alam, Tanvir; Bajic, Vladan P; Ma, Lina; Radovanovic, Aleksandar; Marchand, Benoit; Schmeier, Sebastian; Zhang, Zhang; Bajic, Vladimir B

2017-07-03

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), are important players in diseases and emerge as novel drug targets. Thus, unraveling the relationships between ncRNAs and other biomedical entities in cells are critical for better understanding ncRNA roles that may eventually help develop their use in medicine. To support ncRNA research and facilitate retrieval of relevant information regarding miRNAs and lncRNAs from the plethora of published ncRNA-related research, we developed DES-ncRNA ( www.cbrc.kaust.edu.sa/des_ncrna ). DES-ncRNA is a knowledgebase containing text- and data-mined information from public scientific literature and other public resources. Exploration of mined information is enabled through terms and pairs of terms from 19 topic-specific dictionaries including, for example, antibiotics, toxins, drugs, enzymes, mutations, pathways, human genes and proteins, drug indications and side effects, mutations, diseases, etc. DES-ncRNA contains approximately 878,000 associations of terms from these dictionaries of which 36,222 (5,373) are with regards to miRNAs (lncRNAs). We provide several ways to explore information regarding ncRNAs to users including controlled generation of association networks as well as hypotheses generation. We show an example how DES-ncRNA can aid research on Alzheimer disease and suggest potential therapeutic role for Fasudil. DES-ncRNA is a powerful tool that can be used on its own or as a complement to the existing resources, to support research in human ncRNA. To our knowledge, this is the only knowledgebase dedicated to human miRNAs and lncRNAs derived primarily through literature-mining enabling exploration of a broad spectrum of associated biomedical entities, not paralleled by any other resource.

DES-ncRNA: A knowledgebase for exploring information about human micro and long noncoding RNAs based on literature-mining

PubMed Central

Salhi, Adil; Essack, Magbubah; Alam, Tanvir; Bajic, Vladan P.; Ma, Lina; Radovanovic, Aleksandar; Marchand, Benoit; Zhang, Zhang; Bajic, Vladimir B.

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), are important players in diseases and emerge as novel drug targets. Thus, unraveling the relationships between ncRNAs and other biomedical entities in cells are critical for better understanding ncRNA roles that may eventually help develop their use in medicine. To support ncRNA research and facilitate retrieval of relevant information regarding miRNAs and lncRNAs from the plethora of published ncRNA-related research, we developed DES-ncRNA (www.cbrc.kaust.edu.sa/des_ncrna). DES-ncRNA is a knowledgebase containing text- and data-mined information from public scientific literature and other public resources. Exploration of mined information is enabled through terms and pairs of terms from 19 topic-specific dictionaries including, for example, antibiotics, toxins, drugs, enzymes, mutations, pathways, human genes and proteins, drug indications and side effects, mutations, diseases, etc. DES-ncRNA contains approximately 878,000 associations of terms from these dictionaries of which 36,222 (5,373) are with regards to miRNAs (lncRNAs). We provide several ways to explore information regarding ncRNAs to users including controlled generation of association networks as well as hypotheses generation. We show an example how DES-ncRNA can aid research on Alzheimer disease and suggest potential therapeutic role for Fasudil. DES-ncRNA is a powerful tool that can be used on its own or as a complement to the existing resources, to support research in human ncRNA. To our knowledge, this is the only knowledgebase dedicated to human miRNAs and lncRNAs derived primarily through literature-mining enabling exploration of a broad spectrum of associated biomedical entities, not paralleled by any other resource. PMID:28387604

75 FR 52461 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Wrightsville Beach, NC and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-26

... Operation Regulation; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Wrightsville Beach, NC and Northeast Cape Fear River... Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation is necessary to.... Holmes Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington. The current operating...

Reforming Special Education in Scotland: Tensions between Discourses of Professionalism and Rights

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Riddell, Sheila; Weedon, Elisabet

2010-01-01

In 2001, the (then) Scottish Executive embarked on a process of reform of the SEN framework in Scotland. This paper analyses negotiations between different social actors, principally local authority staff and parents, in the formation of the legislation and its subsequent enactment. Data are drawn from an analysis of responses to consultations,…

Baryon chiral perturbation theory combined with the 1 /Nc expansion in SU(3): Framework

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernando, I. P.; Goity, J. L.

2018-03-01

Baryon chiral perturbation theory combined with the 1 /Nc expansion is implemented for three flavors. Baryon masses, vector charges and axial vector couplings are studied to one-loop and organized according to the ξ -expansion, in which the 1 /Nc and the low-energy power countings are linked according to 1 /Nc=O (ξ )=O (p ). The renormalization to O (ξ3) necessary for the mentioned observables is provided, along with applications to the baryon masses and axial couplings as obtained in lattice QCD calculations.

Ultraconserved regions encoding ncRNAs are altered in human leukemias and carcinomas.

PubMed

Calin, George A; Liu, Chang-gong; Ferracin, Manuela; Hyslop, Terry; Spizzo, Riccardo; Sevignani, Cinzia; Fabbri, Muller; Cimmino, Amelia; Lee, Eun Joo; Wojcik, Sylwia E; Shimizu, Masayoshi; Tili, Esmerina; Rossi, Simona; Taccioli, Cristian; Pichiorri, Flavia; Liu, Xiuping; Zupo, Simona; Herlea, Vlad; Gramantieri, Laura; Lanza, Giovanni; Alder, Hansjuerg; Rassenti, Laura; Volinia, Stefano; Schmittgen, Thomas D; Kipps, Thomas J; Negrini, Massimo; Croce, Carlo M

2007-09-01

Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) transcripts are thought to be involved in human tumorigenesis. We report that a large fraction of genomic ultraconserved regions (UCRs) encode a particular set of ncRNAs whose expression is altered in human cancers. Genome-wide profiling revealed that UCRs have distinct signatures in human leukemias and carcinomas. UCRs are frequently located at fragile sites and genomic regions involved in cancers. We identified certain UCRs whose expression may be regulated by microRNAs abnormally expressed in human chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and we proved that the inhibition of an overexpressed UCR induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Our findings argue that ncRNAs and interaction between noncoding genes are involved in tumorigenesis to a greater extent than previously thought.

External electric field effects on Schottky barrier at Gd3N@C80/Au interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onishi, Koichi; Nakashima, Fumihiro; Jin, Ge; Eto, Daichi; Hattori, Hayami; Miyoshi, Noriko; Kirimoto, Kenta; Sun, Yong

2017-08-01

The effects of the external electric field on the height of the Schottky barrier at the Gd3N@C80/Au interface were studied by measuring current-voltage characteristics at various temperatures from 200 K to 450 K. The Gd3N@C80 sample with the conduction/forbidden/valence energy band structure had a face-centered cubic crystal structure with the average grain size of several nanometers. The height of the Gd3N@C80/Au Schottky barrier was confirmed to be 400 meV at a low electric field at room temperature. Moreover, the height decreases with the increasing external electric field through a change of permittivity in the Gd3N@C80 sample due to a polarization of the [Gd3] 9 +-[N3 -+("separators="|C80 ) 6 -] dipoles in the Gd3N@C80 molecule. The field-dependence of the barrier height can be described using a power math function of the electric field strength. The results of the field-dependent barrier height indicate that the reduction in the Schottky barrier is due to an image force effect of the transport charge carrier at the Gd3N@C80/Au interface.

An audit of growth hormone replacement for GH-deficient adults in Scotland.

PubMed

Philip, Sam; Howat, Isobel; Carson, Maggie; Booth, Anne; Campbell, Karen; Grant, Donna; Patterson, Catherine; Schofield, Christopher; Bevan, John; Patrick, Alan; Leese, Graham; Connell, John

2013-04-01

Guidelines on the clinical use of growth hormone therapy in adults were issued by the UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) in August 2003. We conducted a retrospective clinical audit on the use of growth hormone (GH) in Scotland to evaluate the use of these guidelines and their impact on clinical practice. The audit had two phases. In phase I, the impact of NICE criteria on specialist endocrine practice in starting and continuing GH replacement was assessed. In phase II, the reasons why some adults in Scotland with growth hormone deficiency were not on replacement therapy were evaluated. A retrospective cross-sectional case note review was carried out of all adult patients being followed up for growth hormone deficiency during the study period (1 March 2005 to 31 March 2008). Phase I of the audit included 208 patients and phase II 108 patients. Sellar tumours were the main cause of GH deficiency in both phases of the audit. In phase I, 53 patients (77%) had an AGHDA-QoL score >11 documented before commencing GH post-NICE guidance, compared with 35 (25%) pre-NICE guidance. Overall, only 39 patients (18%) met the full NICE criteria for starting and continuing GH (pre-NICE, 11%; post-NICE, 35%). Phase II indicated that the main reasons for not starting GH included perceived satisfactory quality of life (n = 47, 43%), patient reluctance (16, 15%) or a medical contraindication (16, 15%). Although the use of quality of life assessments has increased following publication of the NICE guidelines, most adults on GH in Scotland did not fulfil the complete set of NICE criteria. The main reason for not starting GH therapy in adult GH-deficient patients was perceived satisfactory quality of life. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Continuity and Change in Teacher Education in Scotland--Back to the Future

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McCall, James

2017-01-01

The paper examines the changes which have taken place in the delivery, content and validation and accreditation of teacher education in Scotland. Particular attention is paid to the impact of external and internal changes on the development of new course structures and the strengthening of linkages between the initial stage of a teacher's…

Framing the Landscape: Discourses of Woodland Restoration and Moorland Management in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fischer, Anke; Marshall, Keith

2010-01-01

There is a long-standing debate in Scotland over the use of upland areas, as initiatives to restore the native Caledonian pine forest are vying with traditional moorland management for shooting. Our study set out to improve our understanding of argumentation processes with regard to these issues. We conducted semi-structured interviews with a wide…

Gender and Management in Further Education in Scotland: An Agenda for Research

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ducklin, Alan; Ozga, Jenny

2007-01-01

Research on gender and education is somewhat limited in Scotland, and research that explores the further education sector from a gender perspective is particularly lacking. This paper argues for such work, and underlines its importance given the prominence of FE in the Scottish policy context as a key contributor to the knowledge economy and…

Selected results from LLNL-Hughes RAR for West Coast Scotland Experiment 1992

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lehman, S.K.; Johnston, B.; Twogood, R.

1993-01-05

The joint US-UK 1992 West Coast Scotland Experiment (WCSEX) was held in the Sound of Sleat from June 6 to 25. The LLNL-Hughes team fielded a fully polarimetric X-band hill-side real aperture radar to collect internal wave wake data. We present here a sample data set of the best radar runs.

BChPT x 1/Nc: masses and currents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Goity, Jose L.; Fernando, Ishara P.

A summary of the implementation of the combined BChPT X 1/Nc expansion for three flavors is presented, along with its applications to the octet and decuplet baryon masses, SU(3) charges and axial couplings.

'Breaking Good News': Neurologists' experiences of discussing SUDEP with patients in Scotland.

PubMed

Nisbet, Tom; Turbull, Sue; Mulhern, Sharon; Razvi, Saif

2017-05-01

Since the findings of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) in 2010, clinicians working in Scotland have been advised to discuss the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) with patients immediately or soon after a diagnosis of epilepsy is made. A thematic analysis was used to describe the experiences discussing SUDEP of 10 clinicians (six Consultant Neurologists and four Neurology Registrars) working in Scotland. Contrary to previous research, clinicians appear to be routinely discussing SUDEP in a standardized fashion with newly diagnosed patients and the FAI appears to have instigated this change in practice. Clinicians are ambivalent about the practice and whether this is a Breaking Bad News (BBN) experience. Clinicians appear to anticipate that patients will be anxious or distressed discussing SUDEP, despite their experiences that patients do not react this way. There are further concerns that the pressure to discuss SUDEP, as a result of the FAI, hinders effective communication of the SUDEP message. Implications for guideline development are discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Downsizing of acute inpatient beds associated with private finance initiative: Scotland's case study

PubMed Central

Dunnigan, Matthew G; Pollock, Allyson M

2003-01-01

Objectives To evaluate whether the projected 24% reduction in acute bed numbers in Lothian hospitals, which formed part of the private finance initiative (PFI) plans for the replacement Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, is being compensated for by improvements in efficiency and greater use of community facilities, and to ascertain whether there is an independent PFI effect by comparing clinical activity and performance in acute specialties in Lothian hospitals with other NHS hospitals in Scotland. Design Comparison of projected and actual trends in acute bed capacity and inpatient and day case admissions in the first five years (1995-6 to 2000-1) of Lothian Health Board's integrated healthcare plan. Population study of trends in bed rate, hospital activity, length of stay, and throughput in Lothian hospitals compared with the rest of Scotland from 1990-1 to 2000-1. Main outcome measures Staffed bed rates, admission rates, mean lengths of stay, occupancy, and throughput in four adult acute specialty groups in 1990-1, 1995-6, and 2000-1. Results By 2000-1, rates for inpatient admission in all acute, medical, surgical, and intensive therapy specialties in Lothian hospitals were respectively 20%, 6%, 28%, and 38% below those in the rest of Scotland. Day case rates in all acute and acute surgical specialties were 13% and 33% lower. The proportion of delayed discharges in staffed acute and post-acute NHS beds in Lothian hospitals exceeded the Scottish average (15% and 12% respectively; P<0.001). Conclusion The planning targets and increase in clinical activity in acute specialties in Lothian hospitals associated with PFI had not been achieved by 2000-1. The effect on clinical activity has been a steeper decline in the number of acute beds and rates of admission in Lothian hospitals compared with the rest of Scotland between 1995-6 and 2000-1. What is already known on this topicThe full business cases for the 15 first wave private finance initiative (PFI) hospitals in England

Theoretical mechanistic study on the ion-molecule reaction of SiCN+/SiNC+ with H2O.

PubMed

Wang, Jian; Ding, Yi-hong; Sun, Chia-chung

2005-02-15

The gas-phase ion-molecule reactions play very important roles in interstellar and in plasma chemistry. Motivated by recent astrophysical detection of the SiCN/SiNC radicals and laboratory characterization of some SiCN-containing species, we carried out a detailed potential energy survey on the SiCN+/SiNC(+) + H2O reaction at the Becke's three-parameter Lee-Yang-Parr-B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and coupled cluster with single, double, and triple excitations-CCSD(T)/6-311 + G(2df,p) (single-point) levels as an attempt towards understanding the SiCN+/SiNC+ reaction mechanisms. In contrast to the carbene-featured analogous CCN+/CNC(+) + H2X (X=O,S) reactions, the title reaction SiCN+/SiNC(+) + H2O are not associated with any competitive silylene-insertion characters. Moreover, the -CN <--> -NC interconversion has a low barrier and plays an important role in determining the final product distributions. This is also in marked difference from the CCN+/CNC+ reaction. It is shown that the isomeric sila-cations SiCN+ and SiNC+ can both react with H2O to barrierlessly generate the major product P1 HOSi(+) + HCN and the minor one P3 HOSi(+) + HNC, whereas other low-lying products such as P2 SiNCO(+) + H2, and P(0) H2NSi(+) + CO are kinetically unfeasible. The high efficiency of the SiCN+/SiNC+ reaction towards H2O and the potential importance of SiCN+/SiNC+ ion chemistry in interstellar and SiCN-based microelectric and photoelectric processes strongly appeals for future laboratory investigations on the SiCN+/SiNC+ chemical reactivity.

Nc886 is epigenetically repressed in prostate cancer and acts as a tumor suppressor through the inhibition of cell growth.

PubMed

Fort, Rafael Sebastián; Mathó, Cecilia; Geraldo, Murilo Vieira; Ottati, María Carolina; Yamashita, Alex Shimura; Saito, Kelly Cristina; Leite, Katia Ramos Moreira; Méndez, Manuel; Maedo, Noemí; Méndez, Laura; Garat, Beatriz; Kimura, Edna Teruko; Sotelo-Silveira, José Roberto; Duhagon, María Ana

2018-02-02

Nc886 is a 102 bp non-coding RNA transcript initially classified as a microRNA precursor (Pre-miR-886), later as a divergent homologue of the vault RNAs (vtRNA 2-1) and more recently as a novel type of RNA (nc886). Although nc886/vtRNA2-1/Pre-miR-886 identity is still controversial, it was shown to be epigenetically controlled, presenting both tumor suppressor and oncogenic function in different cancers. Here, we study for the first time the role of nc886 in prostate cancer. Nc886 promoter methylation status and its correlation with patient clinical parameters or DNMTs levels were evaluated in TCGA and specific GEO prostate tissue datasets. Nc886 level was measured by RT-qPCR to compare normal/neoplastic prostate cells from radical prostatectomies and cell lines, and to assess nc886 response to demethylating agents. The effect of nc886 recovery in cell proliferation (in vitro and in vivo) and invasion (in vitro) was evaluated using lentiviral transduced DU145 and LNCaP cell lines. The association between the expression of nc886 and selected genes was analyzed in the TCGA-PRAD cohort. Nc886 promoter methylation increases in tumor vs. normal prostate tissue, as well as in metastatic vs. normal prostate tissue. Additionally, nc886 promoter methylation correlates with prostate cancer clinical staging, including biochemical recurrence, Clinical T-value and Gleason score. Nc886 transcript is downregulated in tumor vs. normal tissue -in agreement with its promoter methylation status- and increases upon demethylating treatment. In functional studies, the overexpression of nc886 in the LNCaP and DU145 cell line leads to a decreased in vitro cell proliferation and invasion, as well as a reduced in vivo cell growth in NUDE-mice tumor xenografts. Finally, nc886 expression associates with the prostate cancer cell cycle progression gene signature in TCGA-PRAD. Our data suggest a tumor suppressor role for nc886 in the prostate, whose expression is epigenetically silenced in

"None Must Meddle Betueene Man and Wife": assessing family and the fluidity of public and private in early modern Scotland.

PubMed

Nugent, Janay

2010-01-01

The physical and ideological boundaries between public and private in early modern Scotland were constantly contested, resulting in a shifting reality of what was public and private. This fluidity has been recognized by historians, but how, when, and why the shifting took place is not as clear. The moral church courts (Kirk Sessions) of Reformation Scotland allow a unique opportunity to begin to understand the largely elusive boundaries between public and private in the early modern era.

Education, Employment and School Religious Denomination in Scotland in the 1950s

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paterson, Lindsay; Calvin, Catherine; Deary, Ian J.

2015-01-01

Newly available survey data allow the investigation of the educational and employment opportunities open to Roman Catholics in Scotland in the mid-20th century. Previous research has shown that Catholic disadvantage in education and the labour market in the early 20th century had weakened or vanished by the end of the century, and that the main…

Dietary apigenin attenuates the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

PubMed

Yano, Satomi; Umeda, Daisuke; Yamashita, Shuya; Yamada, Koji; Tachibana, Hirofumi

2009-11-01

One of the flavones, apigenin has various physiological functions including anti-inflammatory activities. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing inflammatory disorder that is characterized by pruritic and eczematous skin lesions. To evaluate the anti-allergic effect of apigenin in vivo, we examined the effect of dietary apigenin on picrylchloride (PiCl)-induced AD-like pathology in NC/Nga mice. NC/Nga mice were fed experimental diets containing apigenin from Day 18 after sensitized with PiCl for 4 weeks. Dietary apigenin significantly alleviated the development of skin lesions, accompanied by lower serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 and IgE levels in NC/Nga mice. Interferon (IFN)-gamma mRNA expression level in spleen cells from NC/Nga mice was reduced by apigenin feeding. Moreover, interleukin 4-induced signal transducers and activators of transcription 6 phosphorylation in primary spleen cells from BALB/c mice was inhibited by treatment with apigenin. These results suggest that apigenin attenuates exacerbation of AD-like symptoms in part through the reduction of serum IgE level and IFN-gamma expression in NC/Nga mice.

Urban-rural differences in adolescent eating behaviour: a multilevel cross-sectional study of 15-year-olds in Scotland.

PubMed

Levin, Kate A

2014-08-01

Improving the diet of the Scottish population has been a government focus in recent years. Population health is known to vary between geographies; therefore alongside trends and socio-economic inequalities in eating behaviour, geographic differences should also be monitored. Eating behaviour data from the 2010 Scotland Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey were modelled using multilevel linear and logistic modelling. Data were collected in schools across urban and rural Scotland. Schoolchildren aged 15 years. Adolescents living in remote rural Scotland had the highest consumption frequency of vegetables (on average consumed on 6·68 d/week) and the lowest consumption frequency of sweets and crisps (on 4·27 and 3·02 d/week, respectively). However, it was not in the major four cities of Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen) but in the geography described by the classification 'other urban' areas (large towns of between 10 000 and 125 000 residents) that adolescents had the poorest diet. Deprivation and rurality were independently associated with food consumption for all but fruit consumption. Sharing a family meal, dieting behaviour, food poverty and breakfast consumption did not differ by rurality. Variance at the school level was significant for fruit and vegetable consumption frequencies and for irregular breakfast consumption, regardless of rurality. Young people from rural areas have a healthier diet than those living in urban areas. The eating behaviours examined did not explain these differences. Future research should investigate why urban-rural differences exist for consumption frequencies of 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' foods.

Working Health Services Scotland: a 4-year evaluation

PubMed Central

Hanson, M; Bakhshi, A; Kennedy, M; Macdonald, E B

2018-01-01

Abstract Background Working Health Service Scotland (WHSS) supports the self-employed and employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland with a health condition affecting their ability to work, who are either absent or at risk of becoming absent due to it. Aims To evaluate the impact on health and work outcomes of WHSS clients over a 4-year period. Methods Data were collected at enrolment, entry, discharge and follow-up at 3 and 6 months after discharge. Clients completed up to three validated health questionnaires at entry and discharge—EuroQol five dimensions (EQ-5D) and visual analogue scale (VAS); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Results A total of 13463 referrals occurred in the 4-year period; 11748 (87%) were eligible and completed entry assessment and 60% of the latter completed discharge paperwork. The majority of referrals were due to musculoskeletal conditions (84%) while 12% were referred with mental health conditions. Almost a fifth (18%) of cases were absent at entry and back at work at discharge. Work days lost while in WHSS was associated with age, length of absence prior to entering WHSS, primary health condition and time in programme. All health measures showed significant improvements from entry to discharge. Improvement in general health was sustained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Conclusions The WHSS evaluation findings indicate that participation was associated with positive changes to health and return-to-work. The extent of the positive change in health measures and work ability can be highly important economically for employees and employers. PMID:29390161

Working Health Services Scotland: a 4-year evaluation.

PubMed

Demou, E; Hanson, M; Bakhshi, A; Kennedy, M; Macdonald, E B

2018-02-16

Working Health Service Scotland (WHSS) supports the self-employed and employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland with a health condition affecting their ability to work, who are either absent or at risk of becoming absent due to it. To evaluate the impact on health and work outcomes of WHSS clients over a 4-year period. Data were collected at enrolment, entry, discharge and follow-up at 3 and 6 months after discharge. Clients completed up to three validated health questionnaires at entry and discharge-EuroQol five dimensions (EQ-5D) and visual analogue scale (VAS); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). A total of 13463 referrals occurred in the 4-year period; 11748 (87%) were eligible and completed entry assessment and 60% of the latter completed discharge paperwork. The majority of referrals were due to musculoskeletal conditions (84%) while 12% were referred with mental health conditions. Almost a fifth (18%) of cases were absent at entry and back at work at discharge. Work days lost while in WHSS was associated with age, length of absence prior to entering WHSS, primary health condition and time in programme. All health measures showed significant improvements from entry to discharge. Improvement in general health was sustained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. The WHSS evaluation findings indicate that participation was associated with positive changes to health and return-to-work. The extent of the positive change in health measures and work ability can be highly important economically for employees and employers. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine.

Recent cohort effects in suicide in Scotland: a legacy of the 1980s?

PubMed

Parkinson, Jane; Minton, Jon; Lewsey, James; Bouttell, Janet; McCartney, Gerry

2017-02-01

Mortality rates are higher in Scotland relative to England and Wales, even after accounting for deprivation. This 'excess' mortality is partly due to higher mortality from alcohol-related and drug-related deaths, violence and suicide (particularly in young adults). This study investigated whether cohort effects from exposure to neoliberal politics from the 1980s might explain the recent trends in suicide in Scotland. We analysed suicide deaths data from 1974 to 2013 by sex and deprivation using shaded contour plots and intrinsic estimator regression modelling to identify and quantify relative age, period and cohort effects. Suicide was most common in young adults (aged around 25-40 years) living in deprived areas, with a younger peak in men. The peak age for suicide fell around 1990, especially for men for whom it dropped quickly from around 50 to 30 years. There was evidence of an increased risk of suicide for the cohort born between 1960 and 1980, especially among men living in the most deprived areas (of around 30%). The cohort at highest risk occurred earlier in the most deprived areas, 1965-1969 compared with 1970-1974. The risk of suicide increased in Scotland for those born between 1960 and 1980, especially for men living in the most deprived areas, which resulted in a rise in age-standardised rates for suicide among young adults during the 1990s. This is consistent with the hypothesis that exposure to neoliberal politics created a delayed negative health impact. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Rainfall thresholds and susceptibility mapping for shallow landslides and debris flows in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Postance, Benjamin; Hillier, John; Dijkstra, Tom; Dixon, Neil

2017-04-01

Shallow translational slides and debris flows (hereafter 'landslides') pose a significant threat to life and cause significant annual economic impacts (e.g. by damage and disruption of infrastructure). The focus of this research is on the definition of objective rainfall thresholds using a weather radar system and landslide susceptibility mapping. In the study area Scotland, an inventory of 75 known landslides was used for the period 2003 to 2016. First, the effect of using different rain records (i.e. time series length) on two threshold selection techniques in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was evaluated. The results show that thresholds selected by 'Threat Score' (minimising false alarms) are sensitive to rain record length and which is not routinely considered, whereas thresholds selected using 'Optimal Point' (minimising failed alarms) are not; therefore these may be suited to establishing lower limit thresholds and be of interest to those developing early warning systems. Robust thresholds are found for combinations of normalised rain duration and accumulation at 1 and 12 day's antecedence respectively; these are normalised using the rainy-day normal and an equivalent measure for rain intensity. This research indicates that, in Scotland, rain accumulation provides a better indicator than rain intensity and that landslides may be generated by threshold conditions lower than previously thought. Second, a landslide susceptibility map is constructed using a cross-validated logistic regression model. A novel element of the approach is that landslide susceptibility is calculated for individual hillslope sections. The developed thresholds and susceptibility map are combined to assess potential hazards and impacts posed to the national highway network in Scotland.

Novel microclimate monitoring and microbial colonisation in sandstones of historic buildings, Glasgow, Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duthie, L.; Hyslop, E.; Lee, M.; Phoenix, V.; Kennedy, C.

2009-04-01

The impact of our changing climate on the historic built environment of Scotland has received surprisingly little attention. Current projections indicate that Scotland will become notably wetter and warmer over the coming decades. Winter temperatures are predicted to increase by 30C with 15% more precipitation, one result should be more aggressive microbial weathering of the sandstone buildings. In order to understand better and to quantify the damage potentially caused, it is necessary to analyse existing microbial populations but also to characterize conditions within building stones, how they change over diurnal and seasonal cycles, and how they differ from external conditions. In this study, temperature, humidity and moisture sensors were inserted at different depths into representative Scottish sandstones to record parameters key to microbial colonisation and organic weathering. Penetration of photosynthetically active radiation has also been measured. The within-stone data were compared to meteorological conditions recorded by an adjacent weather station. These data have then been compared with analysis of the microbial populations at different depths within the stone, using osmium stained polished blocks. Notably, microbes occur up to 7 mm beneath the outer sandstone surface, with community structure differing with depth. Clearly, different communities experience very different conditions within the stone, reflecting trophic structure, light penetration and microclimate. The sensor data confirm that temperature and water availability all vary within the stone and differ considerably with the external environment. We conclude that the warm and humid microclimate within Scottish building stones promotes microbial colonisation and stone decay and both will increase significantly with the changing climate of Scotland and north-west Europe.

76 FR 39298 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, and Northeast Cape Fear River, in Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-06

... Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, and Northeast Cape Fear River, in Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard... Northeast Cape Fear River, at mile 1.0, both in Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the... across Northeast Cape Fear River, at mile 1.0, both in Wilmington, NC, requested a temporary deviation...

eWaterCycle visualisation. combining the strength of NetCDF and Web Map Service: ncWMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hut, R.; van Meersbergen, M.; Drost, N.; Van De Giesen, N.

2016-12-01

As a result of the eWatercycle global hydrological forecast we have created Cesium-ncWMS, a web application based on ncWMS and Cesium. ncWMS is a server side application capable of reading any NetCDF file written using the Climate and Forecasting (CF) conventions, and making the data available as a Web Map Service(WMS). ncWMS automatically determines available variables in a file, and creates maps colored according to map data and a user selected color scale. Cesium is a Javascript 3D virtual Globe library. It uses WebGL for rendering, which makes it very fast, and it is capable of displaying a wide variety of data types such as vectors, 3D models, and 2D maps. The forecast results are automatically uploaded to our web server running ncWMS. In turn, the web application can be used to change the settings for color maps and displayed data. The server uses the settings provided by the web application, together with the data in NetCDF to provide WMS image tiles, time series data and legend graphics to the Cesium-NcWMS web application. The user can simultaneously zoom in to the very high resolution forecast results anywhere on the world, and get time series data for any point on the globe. The Cesium-ncWMS visualisation combines a global overview with local relevant information in any browser. See the visualisation live at forecast.ewatercycle.org

Curriculum Differentiation and Social Inequality in Higher Education Entry in Scotland and Ireland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Iannelli, Cristina; Smyth, Emer; Klein, Markus

2016-01-01

This paper examines the relative importance of upper secondary subject choice and attainment in explaining social inequalities in access to higher education (HE) in Scotland and Ireland. These two countries differ in the extent of curriculum differentiation, in the degree of standardisation in school examination and in HE entry criteria. In…

Link between the potentially hazardous Asteroid (86039) 1999 NC43 and the Chelyabinsk meteoroid tenuous

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, Vishnu; Vokrouhlický, David; Bottke, William F.; Pravec, Petr; Sanchez, Juan A.; Gary, Bruce L.; Klima, Rachel; Cloutis, Edward A.; Galád, Adrián; Guan, Tan Thiam; Hornoch, Kamil; Izawa, Matthew R. M.; Kušnirák, Peter; Le Corre, Lucille; Mann, Paul; Moskovitz, Nicholas; Skiff, Brian; Vraštil, Jan

2015-05-01

We explored the statistical and compositional link between Chelyabinsk meteoroid and potentially hazardous Asteroid (86039) 1999 NC43 to investigate their proposed relation proposed by Borovička et al. (Borovička, J., et al. [2013]. Nature 503, 235-237). First, using a slightly more detailed computation we confirm that the orbit of the Chelyabinsk impactor is anomalously close to the Asteroid 1999 NC43. We find ∼(1-3) × 10-4 likelihood of that to happen by chance. Taking the standpoint that the Chelyabinsk impactor indeed separated from 1999 NC43 by a cratering or rotational fission event, we run a forward probability calculation, which is an independent statistical test. However, we find this scenario is unlikely at the ∼(10-3-10-2) level. Secondly, we note that efforts to conclusively prove separation of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid from (86039) 1999 NC43 in the past needs to meet severe criteria: relative velocity ≃1-10 m/s or smaller, and ≃100 km distance (i.e. about the Hill sphere distance from the parent body). We conclude that, unless the separation event was an extremely recent event, these criteria present an insurmountable difficulty due to the combination of strong orbital chaoticity, orbit uncertainty and incompleteness of the dynamical model with respect to thermal accelerations. This situation leaves the link of the two bodies unresolved and calls for additional analyses. With that goal, we revisit the presumed compositional link between (86039) 1999 NC43 and the Chelyabinsk body. Borovička et al. (Borovička, J., et al. [2013]. Nature 503, 235-237) noted that given its Q-type taxonomic classification, 1999 NC43 may pass this test. However, here we find that while the Q-type classification of 1999 NC43 is accurate, assuming that all Q-types are LL chondrites is not. Our experiment shows that not all ordinary chondrites fall under Q-taxonomic type and not all LL chondrites are Q-types. Spectral curve matching between laboratory spectra of

Rosmarinic acid attenuates 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.

PubMed

Jang, An-Hee; Kim, Tae-Ho; Kim, Gun-Dong; Kim, Jeong Eun; Kim, Ha Jin; Kim, Sung Soo; Jin, Young-Ho; Park, Yong Seek; Park, Cheung-Seog

2011-09-01

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most common skin diseases, and its incidence is increasing in industrialized countries. Furthermore, the epicutaneous application of a hapten, such as 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), evokes an AD-like lesion in NC/Nga mice under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a secondary metabolite that is frequently found in herbs, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial effects. In this study, we studied whether RA is an effective treatment against DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. RA at 1 or 5 μM was found to suppress the productions of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 significantly by activated CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, an intraperitoneal injection of RA at 10 or 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited skin lesion development and ear thickness and total serum IgE level increases in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice. In addition, intraperitoneal administered RA at 10 or 50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the infiltrations of CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, and mast cells into DNFB-induced skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. This study suggests that RA suppresses the development of AD-like dermatitis in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing IFN-γ and IL-4 production by activated T cells and total serum IgE levels. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sugar intake and dental decay: results from a national survey of children in Scotland.

PubMed

Masson, Lindsey F; Blackburn, Alison; Sheehy, Christine; Craig, Leone C A; Macdiarmid, Jennie I; Holmes, Bridget A; McNeill, Geraldine

2010-11-01

The aim of this analysis was to investigate the strength of the association between sugar intake and treatment for dental decay in children in Scotland, and the impact of tooth brushing frequency on this association. The Survey of Sugar Intake among Children in Scotland was carried out in 2006 in those aged 3-17 years. Diet was assessed using the Scottish Collaborative Group FFQ, and interviews were carried out by trained fieldworkers who asked about dental health. A total of 1700 interviews were carried out, and 1512 FFQ were returned. Of the children, 56% had received treatment for decay (fillings or teeth removed due to decay). Intake of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES), but not total sugar, increased the risk of having had treatment for decay: adjusted OR 1.84 (95% CI 1.28, 2.64) for the highest ( ≥ 20.0% food energy) v. lowest ( ≤ 14.8% food energy) tertile of NMES intake. This raised risk remained in children who reported brushing their teeth at least twice a day. Compared with children who reported brushing their teeth at least twice a day and were in the lowest tertile of NMES intake, children who reported brushing their teeth once a day or less and were in the highest tertile of NMES intake were over three times more likely to have received treatment for decay (adjusted OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.97, 5.82). In order to improve dental health in children in Scotland, dental health strategies must continue to stress the importance of both reduced NMES intake and good oral hygiene.

Obesity in Scotland: a persistent inequality.

PubMed

Tod, Elaine; Bromley, Catherine; Millard, Andrew D; Boyd, Allan; Mackie, Phil; McCartney, Gerry

2017-07-27

Obesity is a health problem in its own right and a risk factor for other conditions such as cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in Scotland between 1995 and 2008 with socio-economic inequalities persisting in adults over time and increasing in children. This paper explores changes in the underlying distribution of body mass index (BMI) which is less well understood. Using data from the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) between 1995 and 2014 for adults aged 18-64 years, we calculated population distributions for BMI for the population overall, and for age, sex and deprivation strata. We used SHeS data for children aged 2-15 years between 1998 and 2014, in addition to data from the Child Health Systems Programme (CHSP) collected from primary one (P1) children in participating local authorities, to describe the overall trends and to compare trends in inequalities by deprivation strata. Amongst adults, the BMI distribution shifted upwards, with a large proportion of the population gaining a small amount of weight between 1995 and 2008 before subsequently stabilising across the distribution. In men the prevalence of obesity showed a linear deprivation gradient in 1995 but over time obesity declined in the least deprived quintile while the remaining four quintiles converged (and stabilised). In contrast, a persistent and generally linear gradient is evident among women for most of the 1995-2014 period. For those aged 2-15 years, obesity increased between 1998 and 2014 for the most deprived 40% of children contrasted with stable trends for the least deprived. The surveillance data for P1 children in Scotland showed a persistent inequality between 2005/06 and 2014/15 though it was less clear if this is widening. The BMI distribution for adults increased between 1995 and 2008 with a large proportion of the population gaining a small amount of weight before stabilising across the distribution. Inequalities in obesity persist for adults

What Remains of History? Historical Epistemology and Historical Understanding in Scotland's "Curriculum for Excellence"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Joseph

2016-01-01

This paper critically examines the framing of historical knowledge in the primary and "broad general education" phases (ages 4-14) of Scotland's "Curriculum for Excellence". The paper focuses on curriculum documentation, particularly the curriculum's aims and "Experiences and Outcomes" and evaluates these in light of…

The Sitter Service in Scotland: A Study of the Costs and Benefits. Insight.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, Valerie; Hall, Stuart; Rankin, Nicola; Davidson, Julia; Schad, Dominic

This report presents the findings of an examination of the costs, benefits, and characteristics of Sitter Services, a program in Scotland offering child care in the child's home to parents working atypical hours or respite care for families of children with developmental disabilities. The study also explored users' and providers' knowledge of the…

James Hutton's Geological Tours of Scotland: Romanticism, Literary Strategies, and the Scientific Quest

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Furniss, Tom

2014-01-01

Rather than focussing on the relationship between science and literature, this article attempts to read scientific writing as literature. It explores a somewhat neglected element of the story of the emergence of geology in the late eighteenth century--James Hutton's unpublished accounts of the tours of Scotland that he undertook in the years…

Exercise and Education: Facilities for the Young Female Body in Scotland, 1930-1960

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Macrae, Eilidh H. R.

2012-01-01

This article uses testimony gathered from oral history interviews and contemporary physical education sources to explore the schooling of the young female body in Scotland between 1930 and 1960. It looks at the ways in which girls were educated about their own bodies and their physical capabilities at school, taking into account official…

Tricolor microcavity OLEDs based on P-nc-Si:H films as the complex anodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Li; Xingyuan, Liu; Chunya, Wu; Zhiguo, Meng; Yi, Wang; Shaozhen, Xiong

2009-06-01

A P+-nc-Si:H film (boron-doped nc-Si:H thin film) was used as a complex anode of an OLED. As an ideal candidate for the composite anode, the P+-nc-Si:H thin film has a good conductivity with a high work function (~ 5.7 eV) and outstanding optical properties of high reflectivity, transmission, and a very low absorption. As a result, the combination of the relatively high reflectivity of a P+-nc-Si:H film/ITO complex anode with the very high reflectivity of an Al cathode could form a micro-cavity structure with a certain Q to improve the efficiency of the OLED fabricated on it. An RGB pixel generated by microcavity OLEDs is beneficial for both the reduction of the light loss and the improvement of the color purity and the efficiency. The small molecule Alq would be useful for the emitting light layer (EML) of the MOLED, and the P+-nc-Si film would be used as a complex anode of the MOLED, whose configuration can be constructed as Glass/LTO/P+-nc-Si:H/ITO/MoO3/NPB/Alq/LiF/Al. By adjusting the thickness of the organic layer NPB/Alq, the optical length of the microcavity and the REB colors of the device can be obtained. The peak wavelengths of an OLED are located at 486, 550, and 608 nm, respectively. The CIE coordinates are (0.21, 0.45), (0.33, 0.63), and (0.54, 0.54), and the full widths at half maximum (FWHM) are 35, 32, and 39 nm for red, green, and blue, respectively.

DincRNA: a comprehensive web-based bioinformatics toolkit for exploring disease associations and ncRNA function.

PubMed

Cheng, Liang; Hu, Yang; Sun, Jie; Zhou, Meng; Jiang, Qinghua

2018-06-01

DincRNA aims to provide a comprehensive web-based bioinformatics toolkit to elucidate the entangled relationships among diseases and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) from the perspective of disease similarity. The quantitative way to illustrate relationships of pair-wise diseases always depends on their molecular mechanisms, and structures of the directed acyclic graph of Disease Ontology (DO). Corresponding methods for calculating similarity of pair-wise diseases involve Resnik's, Lin's, Wang's, PSB and SemFunSim methods. Recently, disease similarity was validated suitable for calculating functional similarities of ncRNAs and prioritizing ncRNA-disease pairs, and it has been widely applied for predicting the ncRNA function due to the limited biological knowledge from wet lab experiments of these RNAs. For this purpose, a large number of algorithms and priori knowledge need to be integrated. e.g. 'pair-wise best, pairs-average' (PBPA) and 'pair-wise all, pairs-maximum' (PAPM) methods for calculating functional similarities of ncRNAs, and random walk with restart (RWR) method for prioritizing ncRNA-disease pairs. To facilitate the exploration of disease associations and ncRNA function, DincRNA implemented all of the above eight algorithms based on DO and disease-related genes. Currently, it provides the function to query disease similarity scores, miRNA and lncRNA functional similarity scores, and the prioritization scores of lncRNA-disease and miRNA-disease pairs. http://bio-annotation.cn:18080/DincRNAClient/. biofomeng@hotmail.com or qhjiang@hit.edu.cn. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Quantifying severe maternal morbidity in Scotland: a continuous audit since 2003.

PubMed

Marr, Leslie; Lennox, Christopher; McFadyen, Angus K

2014-06-01

Since 2003, a continuous audit of severe maternal morbidity in Scotland has been conducted, collecting data on consistently defined events in all the consultant-led maternity units within Scotland. This review summarizes the methodology of the audit and describes some of the main results accumulated in the 10 years audited [2003-2012 (The 2012 Scottish Confidential Audit of Severe Maternal Morbidity report is yet to be published. This article refers to extracts from 2012 data where available, but on other occasions refers to data from 2003 to 2011.)]. Although most causes of severe maternal morbidity have decreased during the audit, major obstetric haemorrhage, the most common cause of severe maternal morbidity, has increased. Some key findings are as follows: admission to an ICU is required for 1 woman in every 700 births; major obstetric haemorrhage is experienced by 1 in 172 women; cases of eclampsia have decreased during the audit; there were deficiencies in antenatal risk identification and action planning; and the direct involvement of consultant obstetricians and anaesthetists in the care of women was below those recommended by the guidelines. The audit has demonstrated changes in clinical practice and in adherence to clinical guidelines over time. The information has been used to inform clinical practice within the Scottish maternity units.

Mobility of gold during metamorphism of the Dalradian in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pitcairn, I. K.; Skelton, A. D. L.; Wohlgemuth-Ueberwasser, C. C.

2015-09-01

Mobility of Au and related metals during metamorphism has been suggested to be the source of metals enriched in orogenic Au deposits. This study investigates the mobility of Au, As, and Sb during metamorphism of the Dalradian metasedimentary rocks of Scotland. The metamorphic processes in the Dalradian of Scotland are extremely well studied, and the terrane is an ideal area to investigate mobility of these metals. Our results show that of the 25 major and trace elements analysed, only Au, As, Sb, S and volatile contents as shown by loss on ignition (LOI) values show systematic variation with the metamorphic grade of the samples. Average Au concentrations decrease from 1.1 ± 0.55 ppb and 0.72 ± 0.34 ppb in chlorite and biotite zone rocks down to 0.4 ± 0.22 ppb and 0.34 ± 0.13 ppb in kyanite and sillimanite zone rocks. Average As concentrations decrease from 4.8 ppm (range 0.5 to 17.8 ppm) and 1.96 ± 1.9 ppm in chlorite and biotite zone rocks down to 0.24 ± 0.15 ppm and 0.2 ± 0.12 ppm in kyanite and sillimanite zone rocks. Average Sb concentrations decrease from 0.18 ± 0.15 ppm and 0.11 ± 0.10 ppm in chlorite and biotite zone rocks down to 0.04 ± 0.02 ppm in both kyanite and sillimanite zone rocks. Sulphur and LOI concentrations also show significant decreases. Mass balance calculations indicate that compared to chlorite and biotite zone samples, sillimanite zone samples have an average mass loss of 62 ± 14%, 94 ± 4% and 74 ± 14% for Au, As, and Sb respectively. Every 1 km3 of chlorite-biotite zone mixed psammitic-pelitic protolith rock that is metamorphosed to sillimanite zone conditions would release 1.5 t Au, 8613 t As, 270 t Sb, and 1.02 Mt S. The mobility of these elements is strongly controlled by the paragenesis of sulphide minerals. Pyrite, sphalerite, galena and cobaltite (as well as gersdorffite) decrease in abundance with increasing metamorphic grade in the Dalradian metasedimentary rocks. A critical aspect of the sulphide paragenesis is the

Low susceptibility of NC/Nga mice to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated lethality and hepatocellular damage with D-galactosamine sensitization.

PubMed

Koide, Naoki; Morikawa, Akiko; Naiki, Yoshikazu; Tumurkhuu, Gantsetseg; Yoshida, Tomoaki; Ikeda, Hiroshi; Yokochi, Takashi

2009-02-01

The susceptibility of NC/Nga mice to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha was examined by using sensitization with d-galactosamine (d-GalN). Administration of TNF-alpha and d-GalN killed none of the NC/Nga mice, whereas it killed all of the BALB/c mice. Treatment with TNF-alpha and d-GalN caused few hepatic lesions in NC/Nga mice but massive hepatocellular apoptosis in BALB/c mice. Unlike BALB/c mice, there was no elevation in caspase 3 and 8 activities in the livers of NC/Nga mice receiving TNF-alpha and d-GalN. On the other hand, administration of anti-Fas antibody definitely killed both NC/Nga and BALB/c mice via activation of caspases 3 and 8. Treatment with TNF-alpha and d-GalN led to translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in NC/Nga and BALB/c mice. However, NF-kappaB translocation was sustained in NC/Nga mice, although it disappeared in BALB/c mice 7 h after the treatment. NF-kappaB inhibitors activated caspases 3 and 8, and enhanced TNF-alpha-mediated lethality in NC/Nga. Taken together, the low susceptibility of NC/Nga mice to TNF-alpha-mediated lethality was suggested to be responsible for the sustained NF-kappaB activation.

76 FR 39156 - C&NC Railroad, LLC-Lease Renewal Exemption-Norfolk Southern Railway Company

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-05

... taking a close look at this transaction, the affected shippers, and the traffic flows, rather than... increase traffic levels. According to C&NC, the interchange point with NSR is New Castle. C&NC certifies... ``invest in improvements on the leased lines to increase traffic levels.'' But there is no reason to...

77 FR 33997 - Television Broadcasting Services; Greenville, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-08

... FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 73 [MB Docket No. 12-130, RM-11662; DA 12-815] Television Broadcasting Services; Greenville, NC AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed... Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. In addition to...

Core competencies in teaching and training for doctors in Scotland: a review of the literature and stakeholder survey.

PubMed

Ross, Michael T; Macrae, Claire; Scott, Jayne; Renwick, Lynne; Moffat, Mandy; Needham, Gillian; Scott, Hazel; Shippey, Ben; Jackson, Catherine; Edgar, Simon; Aitken, Debbie; Evans, Phillip; Irvine, Stewart

2014-06-01

The UK General Medical Council requires all registered doctors to be competent in all areas of their work, including teaching and training. The current research sought consensus on core competencies for all consultants and GPs involved in teaching and training in Scotland. A draft list of 80 competencies was developed from the literature and made available as a survey to all consultants and GPs with teaching roles and all final year speciality trainees working in Scotland. Respondents rated the importance of each competency and provided free text comments. There were 1026 responses. Eighteen competencies were rated as "high priority", and are recommended as a baseline for all doctors involved in teaching and training; 55 were rated as "medium priority", and are recommended in relation to specific teaching and training roles; and 7 were rated as "low priority". Free text responses suggested the topic was controversial and emotive, and emphasised the importance of further work to engage trainers. The findings appeared to have face validity, and it was felt these could be used as the basis for developing a "Scottish Trainer Framework" for doctors and others involved in teaching and training in Scotland.

An analysis of suicide trends in Scotland 1950-2014: comparison with England & Wales.

PubMed

Dougall, Nadine; Stark, Cameron; Agnew, Tim; Henderson, Rob; Maxwell, Margaret; Lambert, Paul

2017-12-20

Scotland has disproportionately high rates of suicide compared with England. An analysis of trends may help reveal whether rates appear driven more by birth cohort, period or age. A 'birth cohort effect' for England & Wales has been previously reported by Gunnell et al. (B J Psych 182:164-70, 2003). This study replicates this analysis for Scotland, makes comparisons between the countries, and provides information on 'vulnerable' cohorts. Suicide and corresponding general population data were obtained from the National Records of Scotland, 1950 to 2014. Age and gender specific mortality rates were estimated. Age, period and cohort patterns were explored graphically by trend analysis. A pattern was found whereby successive male birth cohorts born after 1940 experienced higher suicide rates, in increasingly younger age groups, echoing findings reported for England & Wales. Young men (aged 20-39) were found to have a marked and statistically significant increase in suicide between those in the 1960 and 1965 birth cohorts. The 1965 cohort peaked in suicide rate aged 35-39, and the subsequent 1970 cohort peaked even younger, aged 25-29; it is possible that these 1965 and 1970 cohorts are at greater mass vulnerability to suicide than earlier cohorts. This was reflected in data for England & Wales, but to a lesser extent. Suicide rates associated with male birth cohorts subsequent to 1975 were less severe, and not statistically significantly different from earlier cohorts, suggestive of an amelioration of any possible influential 'cohort' effect. Scottish female suicide rates for all age groups converged and stabilised over time. Women have not been as affected as men, with less variation in patterns by different birth cohorts and with a much less convincing corresponding pattern suggestive of a 'cohort' effect. Trend analysis is useful in identifying 'vulnerable' cohorts, providing opportunities to develop suicide prevention strategies addressing these cohorts as they age.

Implementation of a national, nurse-led telephone health service in Scotland: assessing the consequences for remote and rural localities.

PubMed

Roberts, A; Heaney, D; Haddow, G; O'Donnell, C A

2009-01-01

Internationally, nurse-led models of telephone triage have become commonplace in unscheduled healthcare delivery. Various existing models have had a positive impact on the delivery of healthcare services, often reducing the demand on accident and emergency departments and staff workload 'out of hours'. Our objective was to assess whether a model of centralised nurse telephone triage (NHS 24, introduced in Scotland in 2001) was appropriate for remote and rural areas. In this qualitative study the views and perspectives of health professionals across Scotland are explored. Thirty-five participants were purposively selected for interviews during 2005. Two types of interview were conducted: detailed, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with key stakeholders of NHS 24; and briefer telephone interviews with partners from NHS Boards across Scotland. A constant comparative approach was taken to analysis. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Scottish Multi-site Research Ethics Committee. The findings are comparable with other research studies of new service developments in remote and rural health care. The rigidity of the centralised triage model introduced, the need to understand variation of health service delivery, and the importance of utilising local professional knowledge were all key issues affecting performance. Remote and rural complexities need to be considered when designing new healthcare services. It is suggested that new health service designs are 'proofed' for remote and rural complexities. This study highlights that a centralised nurse-led telephone triage model was inappropriate for remote and rural Scotland, and may not be appropriate for all geographies and circumstances.

Alasdair Macintyre's Idea of an Educated Public and "Informal" Adult Education in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hammond, Keith

2006-01-01

Scotland has a particular history, that moves around the unique public experiences of the Enlightenment and the Act of Union as defining moments that could have developed differently. For complex reasons, public thinking moved more and more towards the fractured moral and political conditions that we know now. But, following the work of Alasdair…

Genetic diversity of Phytophthora ramorum in nursery trade and managed environment in Scotland

Treesearch

Alexandra Schlenzig; David Cook

2013-01-01

in Scotland were genotyped using seven microsatellite markers as described by Vercauteren et al. (2010). Thirty multilocus genotypes were identified within the Scottish population, with 51 percent of the isolates belonging to the main European genotype EU1MG1 and 13 unique detected genotypes. Ten of those genotypes were site specific, often represented by...

Local Area Co-Ordination: Strengthening Support for People with Learning Disabilities in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stalker, Kirsten Ogilvie; Malloch, Margaret; Barry, Monica Anne; Watson, June Ann

2008-01-01

This paper reports the findings of a study commissioned by the Scottish Executive which examined the introduction and implementation of local area co-ordination (LAC) in Scotland. A questionnaire about their posts was completed by 44 local area co-ordinators, interviews were conducted with 35 local area co-ordinators and 14 managers and case…

The Health Role of Local Area Coordinators in Scotland: A Mixed Methods Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Michael; Karatzias, Thanos; O'Leary, Lisa

2013-01-01

The study set out to explore whether local area coordinators (LACs) and their managers view the health role of LACs as an essential component of their work and identify the health-related activities undertaken by LACs in Scotland. A mixed methods cross-sectional phenomenological study involving local authority service managers (n = 25) and LACs (n…

33 CFR 165.530 - Safety Zone: Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, NC.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, NC. 165.530 Section 165.530 Navigation and Navigable Waters COAST GUARD... § 165.530 Safety Zone: Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers, NC. (a) Location. The following area is a moving safety zone during the specified conditions: The waters of the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape...

MT2-MMP-dependent release of collagen IV NC1 domains regulates submandibular gland branching morphogenesis.

PubMed

Rebustini, Ivan T; Myers, Christopher; Lassiter, Keyonica S; Surmak, Andrew; Szabova, Ludmila; Holmbeck, Kenn; Pedchenko, Vadim; Hudson, Billy G; Hoffman, Matthew P

2009-10-01

Proteolysis is essential during branching morphogenesis, but the roles of MT-MMPs and their proteolytic products are not clearly understood. Here, we discover that decreasing MT-MMP activity during submandibular gland branching morphogenesis decreases proliferation and increases collagen IV and MT-MMP expression. Specifically, reducing epithelial MT2-MMP profoundly decreases proliferation and morphogenesis, increases Col4a2 and intracellular accumulation of collagen IV, and decreases the proteolytic release of collagen IV NC1 domains. Importantly, we demonstrate the presence of collagen IV NC1 domains in developing tissue. Furthermore, recombinant collagen IV NC1 domains rescue branching morphogenesis after MT2-siRNA treatment, increasing MT-MMP and proproliferative gene expression via beta1 integrin and PI3K-AKT signaling. Additionally, HBEGF also rescues MT2-siRNA treatment, increasing NC1 domain release, proliferation, and MT2-MMP and Hbegf expression. Our studies provide mechanistic insight into how MT2-MMP-dependent release of bioactive NC1 domains from collagen IV is critical for integrating collagen IV synthesis and proteolysis with epithelial proliferation during branching morphogenesis.

Photoinduced Charge Transfer and Electrochemical Properties of Triphenylamine Ih-Sc3N@C80 Donor-Acceptor Conjugates

PubMed Central

Pinzón, Julio R.; Gasca, Diana C.; Shankara, Gayathri. S; Bottari, Giovanni; Torres, Tomás; Guldi, Dirk M.; Echegoyen, Luis

2009-01-01

Two isomeric [5,6]-pyrrolidine-Ih-Sc3N@C80 electron donor acceptor conjugates containing triphenylamine (TPA) as the donor system were synthesized. Electrochemical and photophysical studies of the novel conjugates were made and compared with those of their C60 analogues, in order to determine i) the effect of the linkage position (N-substituted versus 2-substituted pyrrolidine) of the donor system in the formation of photoinduced charge separated states, ii) the thermal stability towards the retro-cycloaddition reaction and iii) the effect of changing C60 for Ih-Sc3N@C80 as the electron acceptor. It was found that when the donor is connected to the pyrrolidine nitrogen atom, the resulting dyad produces a significantly longer lived radical pair than the corresponding 2-substituted isomer for both the C60 and Ih-Sc3N@C80 dyads. In addition to that, the N-substituted TPA-Ih-Sc3N@C80 dyad has much better thermal stability than the 2-subtituted one. Finally, the Ih-Sc3N@C80 dyads have considerably longer lived charge separated states than their C60 analogues, thus approving the advantage of using Ih-Sc3N@C80 instead of C60 as the acceptor for the construction of fullerene based donor acceptor conjugates. These findings are important for the design and future application of Ih-Sc3N@C80 dyads as materials for the construction of plastic organic solar cells. PMID:19445462

Children's Concerns about Their Parents' Health and Well-Being: Researching with ChildLine Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Backett-Milburn, Kathryn; Jackson, Sharon

2012-01-01

This paper reports on collaborative research conducted with ChildLine Scotland, a free, confidential, telephone counselling service, using their database. We focussed on children's calls about parental health and well-being and how this affected their own lives. Children's concerns emerged within multi-layered calls in which they discussed…

Effectiveness of Scotland's National Naloxone Programme for reducing opioid-related deaths: a before (2006-10) versus after (2011-13) comparison.

PubMed

Bird, Sheila M; McAuley, Andrew; Perry, Samantha; Hunter, Carole

2016-05-01

To assess the effectiveness for Scotland's National Naloxone Programme (NNP) by comparison between 2006-10 (before) and 2011-13 (after NNP started in January 2011) and to assess cost-effectiveness. This was a pre-post evaluation of a national policy. Cost-effectiveness was assessed by prescription costs against life-years gained per opioid-related death (ORD) averted. Scotland, in community settings and all prisons. Brief training and standardized naloxone supply became available to individuals at risk of opioid overdose. ORDs as identified by National Records of Scotland. Look-back determined the proportion of ORDs who, in the 4 weeks before ORD, had been (i) released from prison (primary outcome) and (ii) released from prison or discharged from hospital (secondary). We report 95% confidence intervals for effectiveness in reducing the primary (and secondary) outcome in 2011-13 versus 2006-10. Prescription costs were assessed against 1 or 10 life-years gained per averted ORD. In 2006-10, 9.8% of ORDs (193 of 1970) were in people released from prison within 4 weeks of death, whereas only 6.3% of ORDs in 2011-13 followed prison release (76 of 1212, P < 0.001; this represented a difference of 3.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-5.4%)]. This reduction in the proportion of prison release ORDs translates into 42 fewer prison release ORDs (95% CI = 19-65) during 2011-13, when 12,000 naloxone kits were issued at current prescription cost of £225,000. Scotland's secondary outcome reduced from 19.0 to 14.9%, a difference of 4.1% (95% CI = 1.4-6.7%). Scotland's National Naloxone Programme, which started in 2011, was associated with a 36% reduction in the proportion of opioid-related deaths that occurred in the 4 weeks following release from prison. © 2015 The Authors. Addiction published by JohnWiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society for the Study of Addiction.

Status of NC Primer Demonstration & Transition

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-20

Camo Paint Scheme H-53 • Six a/c selected for demonstration of Hentzen 17176KEP FRCE • Full non-chromate coating stack-up demo – Hentzen...CCC • BUNO #: #163076 #163080 #164859 11 NC Primer Demos: Camo Paint Scheme F/A-18A-D • 13 a/c selected for demonstration of PPG-Deft 02-GN... Strippability 5. Dry Time (-23377) 6. Fluid Resistance (Skydrol) 7. Solvent Resistance 8. Thickness Tolerance 9. Application Method 10. Packaging (1K

Weak meson decays and the 1/Nc expansion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tadić, Dubravko; Trampetić, Josip

1982-07-01

In the QCD corrected weak hamiltonian, the leading terms in the large-Nc limit give a reasonable description of D--> Kπ decays and good values of K --> ππ decay amplitudes. Alexander von Humboldt Fellow of Max-Planck Institut für Physik und Astrophysik, Munich, Fed. Rep. Germany.

Changing molecular epidemiology of rotavirus infection after introduction of monovalent rotavirus vaccination in Scotland.

PubMed

Mukhopadhya, Indrani; Murdoch, Heather; Berry, Susan; Hunt, Alison; Iturriza-Gomara, Miren; Smith-Palmer, Alison; Cameron, J Claire; Hold, Georgina L

2017-01-03

Rotaviruses (RV) are the leading cause of gastroenteritis in children less than five years of age worldwide. Rotarix®, a live attenuated monovalent vaccine containing a RV strain of G1P[8] specificity has been included in the childhood immunisation schedule from June 2013 in Scotland. This study aimed to characterise the prevalent RV strains in Scotland before and after the introduction of the RV vaccine. RV positive faecal samples from Scottish virology laboratories covering the years 2012-2015 were genotyped. Viral RNA was extracted from faecal suspensions. VP7 and VP4 gene specific primers were used for multiplex hemi-nested PCRs and sequencing. Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were used for statistical comparison. There was a decrease in RV positive samples from the Scottish virology laboratories from 7409 samples in the pre-vaccination years (2009-2013) to 760 in 2014-2015, with an annual reduction of RV infections by 74.4% (RR-3.95; 95%-CI, 3.53-4.42, p<0.001). 362 samples from the pre-vaccination period and 278 samples from the post-vaccination were genotyped. There was a drop in prevalence of G1P[8] strains (72.1%, 95%-CI, 67.42-76.33 to 15%, 95%-CI, 11.38-19.79) after introduction of the vaccine. In the post-vaccination period G2P[4] was the dominant strain in Scotland (21.9%, 95%-CI, 17.48-27.17) with increase in G9P[8] (12.9%, 95%-CI, 9.50-7.41), G12P[8] (12.2%, 95%-CI, 8.89-16.60) and G3P[8] (11.9%, 95%-CI, 8.58-16.20) infections. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 and VP4 genes showed no major differences between the pre and post-vaccination G1P[8] strains. This laboratory based surveillance study shows significant reduction in reported RV cases and a shift in proportion from G1P[8] to G2P[4] strains after introduction of RV vaccination in Scotland. The genotyping data from a subset of the total reported RV cases will be used to ascertain cross protection against strains and identify vaccine induced RV strain shifts in the years to come

78 FR 36664 - Safety Zone; Fifth Coast Guard District Fireworks Display, Currituck Sound; Corolla, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-19

... 1625-AA00 Safety Zone; Fifth Coast Guard District Fireworks Display, Currituck Sound; Corolla, NC.... This regulation applies to only one recurring fireworks event, held adjacent to the Currituck Sound... portion of the Currituck Sound, Corolla, NC, during the event. DATES: This rule will be effective from...

Bereavement and Bereavement Care in Health and Social Care: Provision and Practice in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stephen, Audrey I.; Wimpenny, Peter; Unwin, Rachel; Work, Fiona; Dempster, Paul; MacDuff, Colin; Wilcock, Sylvia E.; Brown, Alison

2009-01-01

The interview study described here aimed to explore current views of and practice in bereavement care and identify priorities for service development in Scotland. Fifty-nine participants who worked with the bereaved in some way, or whose interest was in bereavement or bereavement care, were interviewed. They represented National Health Service…

Engineering in Scotland's Colleges: A Report by HM Inspectors for the Scottish Funding Council

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, 2007

2007-01-01

Engineering has played an important role in Scotland's industrial history. Over the years, the skills requirements of industry have changed as the technology has progressed and the industrial base of the country has developed. Over the past decade, there have been substantial changes in the employment opportunities for people with engineering…

A Survey of Speech and Language Therapists' Views on Electropalatography Therapy Outcomes in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gibbon, Fiona E.; Paterson, Lisa

2006-01-01

Questionnaires elicited information from speech and language therapists (SLTs) working in Scotland about individuals they had treated with Electropalatography (EPG) between 1993 and 2003. The results showed that the majority of the group (n = 60) who had received EPG therapy during this period were school-age children with either functional…

Oligomerization-Dependent Regulation of Motility and Morphogenesis by the Collagen Xviii Nc1/Endostatin Domain

PubMed Central

Kuo, Calvin J.; LaMontagne, Kenneth R.; Garcia-Cardeña, Guillermo; Ackley, Brian D.; Kalman, Daniel; Park, Susan; Christofferson, Rolf; Kamihara, Junne; Ding, Yuan-Hua; Lo, Kin-Ming; Gillies, Stephen; Folkman, Judah; Mulligan, Richard C.; Javaherian, Kashi

2001-01-01

Collagen XVIII (c18) is a triple helical endothelial/epithelial basement membrane protein whose noncollagenous (NC)1 region trimerizes a COOH-terminal endostatin (ES) domain conserved in vertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila. Here, the c18 NC1 domain functioned as a motility-inducing factor regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM)-dependent morphogenesis of endothelial and other cell types. This motogenic activity required ES domain oligomerization, was dependent on rac, cdc42, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, and exhibited functional distinction from the archetypal motogenic scatter factors hepatocyte growth factor and macrophage stimulatory protein. The motility-inducing and mitogen-activated protein kinase–stimulating activities of c18 NC1 were blocked by its physiologic cleavage product ES monomer, consistent with a proteolysis-dependent negative feedback mechanism. These data indicate that the collagen XVIII NC1 region encodes a motogen strictly requiring ES domain oligomerization and suggest a previously unsuspected mechanism for ECM regulation of motility and morphogenesis. PMID:11257123

Comparison of community structures of Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera-like bacteria of NC10 phylum in different freshwater habitats.

PubMed

Shen, Li-Dong; Wu, Hong-Sheng; Gao, Zhi-Qiu; Liu, Xu; Li, Ji

2016-05-09

Methane oxidation coupled to nitrite reduction is mediated by 'Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera' (M. oxyfera), which belongs to the NC10 phylum. In this study, the community composition and diversity of M. oxyfera-like bacteria of NC10 phylum were examined and compared in four different freshwater habitats, including reservoir sediments (RS), pond sediments (PS), wetland sediments (WS) and paddy soils (PAS), by using Illumina-based 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The recovered NC10-related sequences accounted for 0.4-2.5% of the 16S rRNA pool in the examined habitats, and the highest percentage was found in WS. The diversity of NC10 bacteria were the highest in RS, medium in WS, and lowest in PS and PAS. The observed number of OTUs (operational taxonomic unit; at 3% cut-off) were 97, 46, 61 and 40, respectively, in RS, PS, WS and PAS. A heterogeneous distribution of NC10 bacterial communities was observed in the examined habitats, though group B members were the dominant bacteria in each habitat. The copy numbers of NC10 bacterial 16S rRNA genes ranged between 5.8 × 10(6) and 3.2 × 10(7) copies g(-1) sediment/soil in the examined habitats. These results are helpful for a systematic understanding of NC10 bacterial communities in different types of freshwater habitats.

Fabrication and Characteristics of an nc-Si/c-Si Heterojunction MOSFETs Pressure Sensor

PubMed Central

Zhao, Xiaofeng; Wen, Dianzhong; Li, Gang

2012-01-01

A novel nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction MOSFETs pressure sensor is proposed in this paper, with four p-MOSFETs with nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction as source and drain. The four p-MOSFETs are designed and fabricated on a square silicon membrane by CMOS process and MEMS technology where channel resistances of the four nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction MOSFETs form a Wheatstone bridge. When the additional pressure is P, the nc-Si/c-Si heterojunction MOSFETs pressure sensor can measure this additional pressure P. The experimental results show that when the supply voltage is 3 V, length-width (L:W) ratio is 2:1, and the silicon membrane thickness is 75 μm, the full scale output voltage of the pressure sensor is 15.50 mV at room temperature, and pressure sensitivity is 0.097 mV/kPa. When the supply voltage and L:W ratio are the same as the above, and the silicon membrane thickness is 45 μm, the full scale output voltage is 43.05 mV, and pressure sensitivity is 2.153 mV/kPa. Therefore, the sensor has higher sensitivity and good temperature characteristics compared to the traditional piezoresistive pressure sensor. PMID:22778646

Light shift from ultraviolet to near infrared light: Cerenkov luminescence with gold nanocluster - near infrared (AuNc-NIR) conjugates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoo, Su Woong; Mun, Hyoyoung; Oh, Gyungseok; Ryu, Youngjae; Kim, Min-Gon; Chung, Euiheon

2015-03-01

Cerenkov luminescence (CL) is generated when a charged particle moves faster than the speed of light in dielectric media. Recently CL imaging becomes an emerging technique with the use of radioisotopes. However, due to relatively weak blue light production and massive tissue attenuation, CL has not been applied widely. Therefore, we attempted to shift the CL emission to more near infrared (NIR) spectrum for better tissue penetration by using Cerenkov Radiation Energy Transfer (CRET). Gold nanoclusters were conjugated with NIR dye molecules (AuNc-IR820 and AuNc-ICG) to be activated with ultraviolet light. We found optimal conjugate concentrations of AuNc-NIR conjugates by spectroscopy system to generate maximal photon emission. When exposed by ultraviolet light, the emission of NIR light from the conjugates were verified. In quantitative analysis, AuNc-NIR conjugates emit brighter light signal than pure AuNc. This result implies that NIR fluorescent dyes (both IR820 and ICG) can be excited by the emission from AuNc. Following the above baseline experiment, we mixed F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) radioisotope to the AuNc- NIR conjugates, to confirm NIR emission induced from Cerenkov radiation. Long pass filter was used to block Cerenkov luminescence and to collect the emission from AuNc-NIR conjugates. Instead of one long exposure imaging with CCD, we used multiple frame scheme to eliminate gamma radiation strike in each frame prior to combination. In summary, we obtained NIR emission light from AuNc-NIR conjugated dyes that is induced from CL. We plan to perform in vivo small animal imaging with these conjugates to assess better tissue penetration.

Awareness of smoking risks and attitudes towards graphic health warning labels on cigarette packs: a cross-cultural study of two populations in Singapore and Scotland.

PubMed

Ng, D H L; Roxburgh, S T D; Sanjay, S; Au Eong, K G

2010-05-01

Little is known about the level of awareness of blindness as a smoking-related condition, although the relationship has been well established. To compare the awareness of smoking risks and the impact of graphic health warning labels on cigarette packs in discouraging smoking among adults in Singapore and Scotland. A cross-sectional survey using a structured interview of adults in ophthalmic, general medical, and general surgical outpatient clinics in Singapore and Scotland. One hundred and fifteen out of 163 (70.6%) outpatients in Singapore and 105 out of 112 (93.8%) outpatients in Scotland responded to the study. In both samples, awareness levels for smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer, mouth and throat cancer, heart disease, and stroke were all greater than 85%. These were found to be significantly higher than the level of awareness of blindness as a smoking-related condition (chi (2)-test, P<0.001). Although the awareness of blindness as a smoking-related condition was greater in Singapore (36.5%) than in Scotland (30.5%), this difference was not statistically significant. More than half of the respondents indicated that graphic health warning labels would be effective in discouraging them from smoking. Graphic health warning labels reading 'Smoking causes blindness' printed on cigarette packs may be useful in raising public awareness of blindness as a smoking-related condition and discouraging the habit of smoking in Singapore and Scotland.

The NC3Rs gateway: Accelerating scientific discoveries with new 3Rs models and technologies.

PubMed

Percie du Sert, Nathalie; Robinson, Vicky

2018-01-01

This editorial introduces the NC3Rs gateway, which publishes articles and reviews on new models and technologies emerging from NC3Rs-funded research. The aim is to raise awareness about these approaches, increase confidence in their capability, and provide sufficient information to facilitate their uptake by others.

MT2-MMP-dependent release of collagen IV NC1 domains regulates submandibular gland branching morphogenesis

PubMed Central

Rebustini, Ivan T.; Myers, Christopher; Lassiter, Keyonica S.; Surmak, Andrew; Szabova, Ludmila; Holmbeck, Kenn; Pedchenko, Vadim; Hudson, Billy G.; Hoffman, Matthew P.

2009-01-01

Summary Proteolysis is essential during branching morphogenesis, but the roles of MT-MMPs and their proteolytic products are not clearly understood. Here we discover that decreasing MT-MMP activity during submandibular gland branching morphogenesis decreases proliferation and increases collagen IV and MT-MMP expression. Importantly, reducing epithelial MT2-MMP profoundly decreases proliferation and morphogenesis, increases Col4a2 and intracellular accumulation of collagen IV, and decreases the proteolytic release of collagen IV NC1 domains. Importantly, we demonstrate the presence of collagen IV NC1 domains in developing tissue. Furthermore, recombinant collagen IV NC1 domains rescue branching morphogenesis after MT2-siRNA-treatment, increasing MT-MMP and pro-proliferative gene expression via β1 integrin and PI3K-AKT signaling. Additionally, HBEGF also rescues MT2-siRNA-treatment, increasing NC1 domain release, proliferation, and MT2-MMP and Hbegf expression. Our studies provide mechanistic insight into how MT2-MMP-dependent release of bioactive NC1 domains from collagen IV is critical for integrating collagen IV synthesis and proteolysis with epithelial proliferation during branching morphogenesis. PMID:19853562

Generation Scotland: Donor DNA Databank; A control DNA resource.

PubMed

Kerr, Shona M; Liewald, David C M; Campbell, Archie; Taylor, Kerrie; Wild, Sarah H; Newby, David; Turner, Marc; Porteous, David J

2010-11-23

Many medical disorders of public health importance are complex diseases caused by multiple genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Recent technological advances have made it possible to analyse the genetic variants that predispose to complex diseases. Reliable detection of these variants requires genome-wide association studies in sufficiently large numbers of cases and controls. This approach is often hampered by difficulties in collecting appropriate control samples. The Generation Scotland: Donor DNA Databank (GS:3D) aims to help solve this problem by providing a resource of control DNA and plasma samples accessible for research. GS:3D participants were recruited from volunteer blood donors attending Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) clinics across Scotland. All participants gave full written consent for GS:3D to take spare blood from their normal donation. Participants also supplied demographic data by completing a short questionnaire. Over five thousand complete sets of samples, data and consent forms were collected. DNA and plasma were extracted and stored. The data and samples were unlinked from their original SNBTS identifier number. The plasma, DNA and demographic data are available for research. New data obtained from analysis of the resource will be fed back to GS:3D and will be made available to other researchers as appropriate. Recruitment of blood donors is an efficient and cost-effective way of collecting thousands of control samples. Because the collection is large, subsets of controls can be selected, based on age range, gender, and ethnic or geographic origin. The GS:3D resource should reduce time and expense for investigators who would otherwise have had to recruit their own controls.

The mutuality metaphor: understanding healthcare provision in NHS Scotland.

PubMed

Howieson, Brian

2016-06-20

Purpose - Better Health, Better Care Action Plan (Scottish Government, 2007) sets out how the Scottish Government intends to strengthen public ownership of the National Health Service in Scotland. The purpose of this paper is to advance extant knowledge by understanding how a state-led mutual health policy may be interpreted, and importantly, communicated. Design/methodology/approach - The definitional problem of mutuality will be discussed and analysed in terms of how it is (or perhaps should be) communicated? will be offered. Findings - It actually may be more instructive to think of, and communicate, mutuality as a metaphor to aid understanding of the openness and fluidity found in NHS Scotland. Research limitations/implications - The existence of paradox and ambiguity does not, however, negate the usefulness of the term "mutuality". Quite the opposite in fact: it is precisely by examining healthcare and its delivery through the lens of mutuality (rather than rejecting its complexity as a failure) that this amorphousness can be better appreciated. Practical implications - There is a need for more public, professional, and academic debate to explore and clarify its implementation, and how it is to be led. This must be provided whilst recognising the daily imperatives that NHS leaders must face. This would suggest, therefore, that a dual development path may help. Originality/value - Although Better Health, Better Care Action Plan was published in 2007, some eight years on there is still confusion and misunderstanding as to what mutuality in healthcare is, not only in policy and theory, but also in practice. It is hoped that this analysis will help address, in part, some of this confusion and misunderstanding.

Phytoremediation of landfill leachate using Populus

Treesearch

Jill A. Zalesny; Ronald S., Jr. Zalesny; Adam H. Wiese; Richard B. Hall; Bart Sexton

2006-01-01

Proper genotype selection is required for successful phytoremediation. We selected eight Populus clones (NC13460, NC14018, DM115, NC14104, NC14106, DN5, NM2, NM6) of four genomic groups after three cycles of phyto-recurrent selection for a field trial that began June 2005 at the Oneida County Landfill in Rhinelander, WI, USA.

Selected results from LLNL-Hughes RAR for West Coast Scotland Experiment 1991

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lehman, S K; Johnston, B; Twogood, R

1993-01-05

The joint US -- UK 1991 West Coast Scotland Experiment (WCSEX) was held in two locations. From July 5 to 12, 1991, in Upper Loch Linnhe, and from July 18 to July 26, 1991, in the Sound of Sleat. The LLNL-Hughes team fielded a fully polarimetric X-band hill-side real aperture radar to collect internal wave wake data. We present here a sample data set of the best radar runs.

Progress in the development of integrated mental health care in Scotland

PubMed Central

Woods, Kevin; McCollam, Allyson

2002-01-01

Abstract The development of integrated care through the promotion of ‘partnership working’ is a key policy objective of the Scottish Executive, the administration responsible for health services in Scotland. This paper considers the extent to which this goal is being achieved in mental health services, particularly those for people with severe and enduring mental illness. Distinguishing between the horizontal and vertical integration of services, exploratory research was conducted to assess progress towards this objective by examining how far a range of functional activities in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) and their constituent Local Health Care Co-operatives (LHCCs) were themselves becoming increasingly integrated. All PCTs in Scotland were surveyed by postal questionnaire, and followed up by detailed telephone interviews. Six LHCC areas were selected for detailed case study analysis. A Reference Group was used to discuss and review emerging themes from the fieldwork. The report suggests that faster progress is being made in the horizontal integration of services between health and social care organisations than is the case for vertical integration between primary health care and specialist mental health care services; and that there are significant gaps in the extent to which functional activities within Trusts are changing to support the development of integrated care. A number of models are briefly considered, including the idea of ‘intermediate care’ that might speed the process of integration. PMID:16896397

A method to induce stable atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice housed with skin-lesioned mice.

PubMed

Takano, N; Arai, I; Kurachi, M

2006-03-01

Itching is a characteristic symptom in various forms of dermatosis, especially atopic dermatitis; consequently it is a major diagnostic criterion. All features are similar to events seen in patients, hence NC/Nga mice are considered to be a suitable model of human atopic dermatitis. However, there were data spreads in commencing time and the degree of skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. In the present study, we attempted to improve experimental conditions to induce stable skin lesions and to establish a more appropriate method. Methods NC/Nga mice were kept together with skin-lesioned mice during the experiment period (mixed-NC mice). The dermatitis scores of face, ears and rostral back were assessed. Scratching behaviour was measured using an apparatus, MicroAct (Neuroscience, Tokyo, Japan). Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and serum total IgE levels were also measured. To observe the presence of mites, the skin of the rostral backs of the mixed-NC mice was stripped using cellulose tape. We also investigated the effects of fipronil (Wako, Osaka, Japan), an acaricidal compound, on skin lesions and scratching behaviour of these mixed-NC mice. In mixed-NC mice, skin lesions appeared from 2 weeks, worsened gradually and reached peak levels of a dermatitis score in 8 weeks. Scratching behaviour increased significantly from day 3. TEWL also increased from day 3, but total IgE increased from day 7. Mites were observed on the rostral backs of mixed-NC mice from day 3, and all mice had these mites on day 28. Giving pretreatment with fipronil (Wako), the skin lesions and scratching behaviour of mixed-NC mice was significantly suppressed. The findings of the present study suggest that the method of being kept together with skin-lesioned mice can induce stable skin lesions and scratching behaviour at an early stage, without skin lesions. This method could help investigate a more stable evaluation of the effects on symptoms of atopic dermatitis, and mechanisms of the itching. It was

Higher Education in Scotland: Differentiation and Diversion? The Impact of College-University Progression Links

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallacher, Jim

2014-01-01

This paper addresses the issue of the impact of expansion and differentiation on widening access to higher education. In particular, it considers the impact of the growing importance of full-time short-cycle higher education in Scotland's colleges of further and higher education, the progression pathways which have now been established from these…

Potential Issues for Language Planning in Scotland. Language Planning Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 1.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wood, Richard E.

The national re-emergence of Scotland is accompanied by the desire for cultural and linguistic autonomy and identity. Issues at hand include language standardization, bilingual education, the language problems of immigrants, the role of Gaelic as compared to the continuum of linguistic varieties that go from Standard English to Scots, the adoption…

The epidemiology of Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae at two historic gardens in Scotland

Treesearch

M. Elliot; T.R. Meagher; C. Harris; K. Searle; B.V. Purse; A. Schlenzig

2013-01-01

This study looked at the factors that facilitated the spread of Phytophthora ramorum andP. kernoviae at two locations in the west of Scotland. Spore traps, river baiting, bait plants, and soil sampling were used to both confirm the presence of, and measure the amount of, inoculum in the environment in order...

Engagement of Older Adults in Higher Education: International Perspectives from New Zealand and Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Findsen, Brian

2012-01-01

This article explores the issue of older adults' access to and participation in higher education in two countries, Aotearoa New Zealand and Scotland. It discusses older adults' engagement with regard to patterns of participation and provision, using a critical educational gerontology approach. The two case studies, one in more theoretical terms,…

The NC3Rs gateway: Accelerating scientific discoveries with new 3Rs models and technologies

PubMed Central

Percie du Sert, Nathalie; Robinson, Vicky

2018-01-01

This editorial introduces the NC3Rs gateway, which publishes articles and reviews on new models and technologies emerging from NC3Rs-funded research. The aim is to raise awareness about these approaches, increase confidence in their capability, and provide sufficient information to facilitate their uptake by others. PMID:29862024

40 CFR 721.642 - Amines, N-(C14-18 and C16-16 unsaturated alkyl)] dipropylene-tri-, tripropylenetetra-, and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... substances amines, N-(C14-18 and C16-18 unsaturated alkyl)] dipropylenetri-, (PMN P-94-1244... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Amines, N-(C14-18 and C16-16... Amines, N-(C14-18 and C16-16 unsaturated alkyl)] dipropylene-tri-, tripropylenetetra-, and...

Attitudes and values in sexual behaviour and sex education: A cross-cultural study among University students in Greece and Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakavoulis, Alexandros; Forrest, Joan

1999-03-01

This article describes a survey comparing university students in Greece and Scotland with regard to their attitudes to sexual development and sex education. A questionnaire was constructed in Greek and English and was completed by 436 university students in Greece and an equivalent number in Scotland. Comparative results show a tendency for students' attitudes to converge with regard to gender identity, inter-sexual relations, appropriate forms of sexual behaviour and the factors that shape it. Differences exist regarding the aims of sex education, the concept of a sexually mature person, and the moral principles that should govern inter-sexual relations.

High precision NC lathe feeding system rigid-flexible coupling model reduction technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xuan, He; Hua, Qingsong; Cheng, Lianjun; Zhang, Hongxin; Zhao, Qinghai; Mao, Xinkai

2017-08-01

This paper proposes the use of dynamic substructure method of reduction of order to achieve effective reduction of feed system for high precision NC lathe feeding system rigid-flexible coupling model, namely the use of ADAMS to establish the rigid flexible coupling simulation model of high precision NC lathe, and then the vibration simulation of the period by using the FD 3D damper is very effective for feed system of bolt connection reduction of multi degree of freedom model. The vibration simulation calculation is more accurate, more quickly.

Discourses, Decisions, Designs: "Special" Education Policy-Making in New South Wales, Scotland, Finland and Malaysia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chong, Pei Wen; Graham, Linda J.

2017-01-01

This comparative analysis investigates the influence of neo-liberal and inclusive discourses in "special" education policy-making in New South Wales, Scotland, Finland and Malaysia. The centrality of competition, selectivity and accountability in the discourses used in New South Wales and Malaysia suggests a system preference for…

Self-Reported Digital Literacy of the Pharmacy Workforce in North East Scotland

PubMed Central

MacLure, Katie; Stewart, Derek

2015-01-01

In their day-to-day practice, pharmacists, graduate (pre-registration) pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, dispensing assistants and medicines counter assistants use widely available office, retail and management information systems alongside dedicated pharmacy management and electronic health (ehealth) applications. The ability of pharmacy staff to use these applications at home and at work, also known as digital literacy or digital competence or e-skills, depends on personal experience and related education and training. The aim of this research was to gain insight into the self-reported digital literacy of the pharmacy workforce in the North East of Scotland. A purposive case sample survey was conducted across NHS Grampian in the NE of Scotland. Data collection was based on five items: sex, age band, role, pharmacy experience plus a final question about self-reported digital literacy. The study was conducted between August 2012 and March 2013 in 17 community and two hospital pharmacies. With few exceptions, pharmacy staff perceived their own digital literacy to be at a basic level. Secondary outcome measures of role, age, gender and work experience were not found to be clear determinants of digital literacy. Pharmacy staff need to be more digitally literate to harness technologies in pharmacy practice more effectively and efficiently. PMID:28975912

Audit, guidelines and standards: clinical governance for hip fracture care in Scotland.

PubMed

Currie, Colin T; Hutchison, James D

To report on experience of national-level audit, guidelines and standards for hip fracture care in Scotland. Scottish Hip Fracture Audit (from 1993) documents case-mix, process and outcomes of hip fracture care in Scotland. Evidence-based national guidelines on hip fracture care are available (1997, updated 2002). Hip fracture serves as a tracer condition by the health quality assurance authority for its work on older people, which reported in 2004. Audit data are used locally to document care and support and monitor service developments. Synergy between the guidelines and the audit provides a means of improving care locally and monitoring care nationally. External review by the quality assurance body shows to what extent guideline-based standards relating to A&E care, pre-operative delay, multidisciplinary care and audit participation are met. Three national-level initiatives on hip fracture care have delivered: Reliable and large-scale comparative information on case-mix, care and outcomes; evidence-based recommendations on care; and nationally accountable standards inspected and reported by the national health quality assurance authority. These developments are linked and synergistic, and enjoy both clinical and managerial support. They provide an evolving framework for clinical governance, with casemix-adjusted outcome assessment for hip fracture care as a next step.

Linkage between mantle and crustal structures and its bearing on inherited structures in northwestern Scotland

USGS Publications Warehouse

Snyder, D.B.; England, R.W.; McBride, J.H.

1997-01-01

Deep seismic reflection profiles in Scotland reveal mantle structures beneath a crust with a polyphase tectonic history that resulted in several generations of structures. Continuum mechanics suggests that coeval mantle and crustal structures must be kinematically linked. Inherited structures imply relative ages for the reflectors, ages that can be placed into the context of the geological history of the near-surface rocks of northern Scotland. Thus, some mantle reflectors are assigned Triassic ages related to the opening of the West Orkney and related marginal basins of the Atlantic Ocean. Other mantle reflectors are cut by late Caledonian structures associated with the Great Glen Fault Zone and therefore older than c. 400 Ma. Many of these structures also track the late Precambrian margin of Laurentia and may be related to either the opening (900-600 Ma) or closing (500-400 Ma) of the Iapetus Ocean. Some reflective structures may also be attributed to 1800-1700 Ma Laxfordian deformation that was part of a global-scale orogenic belt.

Ethnomedicinal plants of Aydıncık District of Mersin, Turkey.

PubMed

Sargin, Seyid Ahmet; Selvi, Selami; Büyükcengiz, Mustafa

2015-11-04

This survey presents crucial ethnopharmacological data on medicinal plants used by indigenous people who live in the Aydıncık district of Mersin in Turkey. To provide a knowledge base of herbal therapies from the Aydıncık region with their traditional use, plant parts and administration methods besides computing some statistical values. Plant samples that have been collected by spice-sellers or residents from Aydıncık for therapeutic purposes were recorded by visiting the villages during the study period, and then brought to the laboratory to diagnose the taxa. In addition, the relative frequency citation (RFC), use values (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL) were computed. In this research conducted between 2013 and 2015, 91 taxa associated with 41 families, including 1 fern & 2 gymnosperms were defined they have been used for centuries in terms of the healing by visiting 10 villages & 5 spice-sellers in Aydıncık. Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Araceae, Asteraceae, Cupressaceae, Orchidaceae and Pinaceae have been determined as the most used families for therapeutic purposes. The study revealed that most of the locals concurred on the use of Juniperus oxycedrus fruits & leaves to cure gastro-intestinal diseases that demonstrated the highest fidelity level (0.98). 22 taxa have not matched with any studies conducted in and around the region. The light of the information obtained during the investigation demonstrates that the medicinal plants have been mostly utilized as analgesics (0.78 ICF). The most data were acquired from the mountain villagers & Yuruk nomads, having average ages of 65. From the viewpoint of ethnobotany, the district has remained valuable due to the winding roads, ongoing hundreds of kilometers over the mountains and along the coast is very difficult to drive making Aydıncık too far from large cities and mass tourism centers. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Extreme river flow dependence in Northern Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villoria, M. Franco; Scott, M.; Hoey, T.; Fischbacher-Smith, D.

2012-04-01

Various methods for the spatial analysis of hydrologic data have been developed recently. Here we present results using the conditional probability approach proposed by Keef et al. [Appl. Stat. (2009): 58,601-18] to investigate spatial interdependence in extreme river flows in Scotland. This approach does not require the specification of a correlation function, being mostly suitable for relatively small geographical areas. The work is motivated by the Flood Risk Management Act (Scotland (2009)) which requires maps of flood risk that take account of spatial dependence in extreme river flow. The method is based on two conditional measures of spatial flood risk: firstly the conditional probability PC(p) that a set of sites Y = (Y 1,...,Y d) within a region C of interest exceed a flow threshold Qp at time t (or any lag of t), given that in the specified conditioning site X > Qp; and, secondly the expected number of sites within C that will exceed a flow Qp on average (given that X > Qp). The conditional probabilities are estimated using the conditional distribution of Y |X = x (for large x), which can be modeled using a semi-parametric approach (Heffernan and Tawn [Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B (2004): 66,497-546]). Once the model is fitted, pseudo-samples can be generated to estimate functionals of the joint tails of the distribution of (Y,X). Conditional return level plots were directly compared to traditional return level plots thus improving our understanding of the dependence structure of extreme river flow events. Confidence intervals were calculated using block bootstrapping methods (100 replicates). We report results from applying this approach to a set of four rivers (Dulnain, Lossie, Ewe and Ness) in Northern Scotland. These sites were chosen based on data quality, spatial location and catchment characteristics. The river Ness, being the largest (catchment size 1839.1km2) was chosen as the conditioning river. Both the Ewe (441.1km2) and Ness catchments have

Proteolysis breaks tolerance toward intact α345(IV) collagen, eliciting novel anti-GBM autoantibodies specific for α345NC1 hexamers

PubMed Central

Olaru, Florina; Wang, Xu-Ping; Luo, Wentian; Ge, Linna; Miner, Jeffrey H; Kleinau, Sandra; Geiger, Xochiquetzal J.; Wasiluk, Andrew; Heidet, Laurence; Kitching, A. Richard; Borza, Dorin-Bogdan

2012-01-01

Goodpasture disease is an autoimmune kidney disease mediated by autoAbs against NC1 monomers of α3(IV) collagen that bind to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), usually causing rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. We identified a novel type of human IgG4-restricted anti-GBM autoAbs associated with mild non-progressive glomerulonephritis, which specifically targeted α345NC1 hexamers but not α3NC1 monomers. The mechanisms eliciting these anti-GBM autoAbs were investigated in mouse models recapitulating this phenotype. Wild type and FcγRIIB−/− mice immunized with autologous murine GBM NC1 hexamers produced mouse IgG1-restricted autoAbs specific for α345NC1 hexamers, which bound to the GBM in vivo but did not cause glomerulonephritis. In these mice, intact collagen IV from murine GBM was not immunogenic. However, in Col4a3−/− Alport mice, both intact collagen IV and NC1 hexamers from murine GBM elicited IgG antibodies specific for α3α4α5NC1 hexamers, which were not subclass restricted. As heterologous antigen in COL4A3-humanized mice, murine GBM NC1 hexamers elicited mouse IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b autoAbs specific for α345NC1 hexamers and induced anti-GBM Ab glomerulonephritis. These findings indicate that tolerance toward autologous intact α3α4α5(IV) collagen is established in hosts expressing this antigen, even though autoreactive B cells specific for α345NC1 hexamers are not purged from their repertoire. Proteolysis selectively breaches this tolerance by generating autoimmunogenic α3α4α5NC1 hexamers. This provides a mechanism eliciting autoAbs specific for α345NC1 hexamers, which are restricted to non-inflammatory IgG subclasses and non-nephritogenic. In Alport syndrome, lack of tolerance toward α3α4α5(IV) collagen promotes production of alloantibodies to α345NC1 hexamers, including pro-inflammatory IgG subclasses which mediate post-transplant anti-GBM nephritis. PMID:23303673

Equine grass sickness in Scotland: A case-control study of environmental geochemical risk factors.

PubMed

Wylie, C E; Shaw, D J; Fordyce, F M; Lilly, A; Pirie, R S; McGorum, B C

2016-11-01

We hypothesised that the apparent geographical distribution of equine grass sickness (EGS) is partly attributable to suboptimal levels of soil macro- and trace elements in fields where EGS occurs. If proven, altering levels of particular elements could be used to reduce the risk of EGS. To determine whether the geographical distribution of EGS cases in eastern Scotland is associated with the presence or absence of particular environmental chemical elements. Retrospective time-matched case-control study. This study used data for 455 geo-referenced EGS cases and 910 time-matched controls in eastern Scotland, and geo-referenced environmental geochemical data from the British Geological Survey Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment stream sediment (G-BASE) and the James Hutton Institute, National Soil Inventory of Scotland (NSIS) datasets. Multivariable statistical analyses identified clusters of three main elements associated with cases from (i) the G-BASE dataset - higher environmental Ti and lower Zn, and (ii) the NSIS dataset - higher environmental Ti and lower Cr. There was also some evidence from univariable analyses for lower Al, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb and higher Ca, K, Mo, Na and Se environmental concentrations being associated with a case. Results were complicated by a high degree of correlation between most geochemical elements. The work presented here would appear to reflect soil- not horse-level risk factors for EGS, but due to the complexity of the correlations between elements, further work is required to determine whether these associations reflect causality, and consequently whether interventions to alter concentrations of particular elements in soil, or in grazing horses, could potentially reduce the risk of EGS. The effect of chemical elements on the growth of those soil microorganisms implicated in EGS aetiology also warrants further study. © 2015 The The Authors Equine Veterinary Journal © 2015 EVJ Ltd.

Secondary Science Teachers as Curriculum Makers: Mapping and Designing Scotland's New Curriculum for Excellence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Carolyn S.; Priestley, Mark R.

2017-01-01

Scotland is one of several countries to have recently implemented a new national curriculum to highlight 21st century educational priorities. Teachers have been mandated to follow the new curriculum guidelines, known as Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), since the fall of 2010. The purpose of this study was to use a phenomenological lens to…

Determination of dispersive optical constants of nanocrystalline CdSe (nc-CdSe) thin films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sharma, Kriti; Al-Kabbi, Alaa S.; Saini, G.S.S.

2012-06-15

Highlights: ► nc-CdSe thin films are prepared by thermal vacuum evaporation technique. ► TEM analysis shows NCs are spherical in shape. ► XRD reveals the hexagonal (wurtzite) crystal structure of nc-CdSe thin films. ► The direct optical bandgap of nc-CdSe is 2.25 eV in contrast to bulk (1.7 eV). ► Dispersion of refractive index is discussed in terms of Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model. -- Abstract: The nanocrystalline thin films of CdSe are prepared by thermal evaporation technique at room temperature. These thin films are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-raymore » diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The transmission spectra are recorded in the transmission range 400–3300 nm for nc-CdSe thin films. Transmittance measurements are used to calculate the refractive index (n) and absorption coefficient (α) using Swanepoel's method. The optical band gap (E{sub g}{sup opt}) has been determined from the absorption coefficient values using Tauc's procedure. The optical constants such as extinction coefficient (k), real (ε{sub 1}) and imaginary (ε{sub 2}) dielectric constants, dielectric loss (tan δ), optical conductivity (σ{sub opt}), Urbach energy (E{sub u}) and steepness parameter (σ) are also calculated for nc-CdSe thin films. The normal dispersion of refractive index is described using Wemple–DiDomenico single-oscillator model. Refractive index dispersion is further analysed to calculate lattice dielectric constant (ε{sub L}).« less

2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene-induced contact hypersensitivity response in NC/Nga mice fed fructo-oligosaccharide.

PubMed

Fujiwara, Reiko; Sasajima, Naho; Takemura, Naoki; Ozawa, Keisuke; Nagasaka, Yuki; Okubo, Takuma; Sahasakul, Yuraporn; Watanabe, Jun; Sonoyama, Kei

2010-01-01

Strategies to manipulate gut microbiota in infancy have been considered to prevent the development of allergic diseases later in life. We previously demonstrated that maternal dietary supplementation with fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) during pregnancy and lactation modulated the composition of gut microbiota and diminished the severity of spontaneously developing atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in the offspring of NC/Nga mice. The present study tested whether dietary FOS affects contact hypersensitivity (CHS), another model for allergic skin disease, in NC/Nga mice. In experiment 1, 5-wk-old female NC/Nga mice were fed diets either with or without FOS supplementation for 3 wk and then received 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) on the ear auricle 5 times at 7-d intervals. FOS supplementation reduced CHS response as demonstrated by ear swelling. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that mRNA levels for interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12p40, and IL-17 in the lesional ear skin were significantly lower in mice fed FOS. In experiment 2, female NC/Nga mice were fed diets either with or without FOS during pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, offspring were fed the diets supplemented with or without FOS. Three weeks after weaning, offspring received DNFB on the ear auricle 4 times at 7-d intervals. Although FOS supplementation after weaning reduced ear swelling, maternal FOS consumption was ineffective in offspring. The present data suggest that dietary FOS reduces CHS while maternal FOS consumption is ineffective in offspring of DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice.

NC-Mediated Nucleolar Localization of Retroviral Gag Proteins

PubMed Central

Lochmann, Timothy L.; Bann, Darrin V.; Ryan, Eileen P.; Beyer, Andrea R.; Mao, Annie; Cochrane, Alan

2012-01-01

The assembly and release of retrovirus particles from the cell membrane is directed by the Gag polyprotein. The Gag protein of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) traffics through the nucleus prior to plasma membrane localization. We previously reported that nuclear localization of RSV Gag is linked to efficient packaging of viral genomic RNA, however the intranuclear activities of RSV Gag are not well understood. To gain insight into the properties of the RSV Gag protein within the nucleus, we examined the subnuclear localization and dynamic trafficking of RSV Gag. Restriction of RSV Gag to the nucleus by mutating its nuclear export signal (NES) in the p10 domain or interfering with CRM1-mediated nuclear export of Gag by leptomycin B (LMB) treatment led to the accumulation of Gag in nucleoli and discrete nucleoplasmic foci. Retention of RSV Gag in nucleoli was reduced with cis-expression of the 5′ untranslated RU5 region of the viral RNA genome, suggesting the psi (ψ packaging signal may alter the subnuclear localization of Gag. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) demonstrated that the nucleolar fraction of Gag was highly mobile, indicating that the there was rapid exchange with Gag proteins in the nucleoplasm. RSV Gag is targeted to nucleoli by a nucleolar localization signal (NoLS) in the NC domain, and similarly, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) NC protein also contains an NoLS consisting of basic residues. Interestingly, co-expression of HIV-1 NC or Rev with HIV-1 Gag resulted in accumulation of Gag in nucleoli. Moreover, a subpopulation of HIV-1 Gag was detected in the nucleoli of HeLa cells stably expressing the entire HIV-1 genome in a Rev-dependent fashion. These findings suggest that the RSV and HIV-1 Gag proteins undergo nucleolar trafficking in the setting of viral infection. PMID:23036987

76 FR 64086 - Availability of FY 10 Grantee Performance Evaluation Reports for the Eight States of EPA Region 4...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-17

... Conservation Resources, FL; Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, KY; Forsyth County Environmental... Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency, NC; Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, TN; Shelby County Health Department, TN; Knox County Department of Air Quality Management, TN; and...

77 FR 52022 - Availability of FY 11 Grantee Performance Evaluation Reports for the Eight States of EPA Region 4...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-28

... Conservation Resources, FL; Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, KY; Forsyth County Environmental... Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency, NC; Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau, TN; Shelby County Health Department, TN; Knox County Department of Air Quality Management, TN; and...

Cell death/proliferation roles for nc886, a non-coding RNA, in the Protein Kinase R pathway in cholangiocarcinoma

PubMed Central

Kunkeaw, Nawapol; Jeon, Sung Ho; Lee, Kwanbok; Johnson, Betty H.; Tanasanvimon, Suebpong; Javle, Milind; Pairojkul, Chawalit; Chamgramol, Yaovalux; Wongfieng, Wipaporn; Gong, Bin; Leelayuwat, Chanvit; Lee, Yong Sun

2013-01-01

We have recently identified nc886 (pre-miR-886 or vtRNA2-1) as a novel type of non-coding RNA that inhibits activation of PKR (Protein Kinase RNA-activated). PKR's pro-apoptotic role through eIF2α phosphorylation is well established in the host defense against viral infection. Paradoxically, some cancer patients have elevated PKR activity; however, its cause and consequence are not understood. Initially we evaluated the expression of nc886, PKR and eIF2α in non-malignant cholangiocyte and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells. nc886 is repressed in CCA cells and this repression is the cause of PKR's activation therein. nc886 alone is necessary and sufficient for suppression of PKR via direct physical interaction. Consistently, artificial suppression of nc886 in cholangiocyte cells activates the canonical PKR/eIF2α cell death pathway, suggesting a potential significance of the nc886 suppression and the consequent PKR activation in eliminating pre-malignant cells during tumorigenesis. In comparison, active PKR in CCA cells does not induce phospho-eIF2α nor apoptosis, but promotes the pro-survival NF-κB pathway. Thus, PKR plays a dual life or death role during tumorigenesis. Similarly to the CCA cell lines, nc886 tends to be decreased but PKR tends to be activated in our clinical samples from CCA patients. Collectively from our data, we propose a tumor surveillance model for nc886's role in the PKR pathway during tumorigenesis. PMID:22926522

Creating the first MedlinePlus "Go Local" service: lessons and recommendations from the evaluation of NC Health Info.

PubMed

Silbajoris, Christie; McDuffee, Diana; Olney, Cynthia

2007-01-01

NC Health Info is an online collection of North Carolina based health services Web sites that seamlessly links local health resources to topical health information on MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine's consumer health information Web site. NC Health Info was the first project to connect local resources with MedlinePlus in the "Go Local" initiative. As such, NC Health Info serves as a model for other states to follow in connecting their own local information with Medline- Plus. This paper describes the processes used and lessons learned during a year-long evaluation of NC Health Info. Evaluation results may be of interest and applicable to any existing or planned "Go Local" project.

Structural basis for recognition and remodeling of the TBP:DNA:NC2 complex by Mot1

PubMed Central

Butryn, Agata; Schuller, Jan M; Stoehr, Gabriele; Runge-Wollmann, Petra; Förster, Friedrich; Auble, David T; Hopfner, Karl-Peter

2015-01-01

Swi2/Snf2 ATPases remodel substrates such as nucleosomes and transcription complexes to control a wide range of DNA-associated processes, but detailed structural information on the ATP-dependent remodeling reactions is largely absent. The single subunit remodeler Mot1 (modifier of transcription 1) dissociates TATA box-binding protein (TBP):DNA complexes, offering a useful system to address the structural mechanisms of Swi2/Snf2 ATPases. Here, we report the crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of Mot1 in complex with TBP, DNA, and the transcription regulator negative cofactor 2 (NC2). Our data show that Mot1 reduces DNA:NC2 interactions and unbends DNA as compared to the TBP:DNA:NC2 state, suggesting that Mot1 primes TBP:NC2 displacement in an ATP-independent manner. Electron microscopy and cross-linking data suggest that the Swi2/Snf2 domain of Mot1 associates with the upstream DNA and the histone fold of NC2, thereby revealing parallels to some nucleosome remodelers. This study provides a structural framework for how a Swi2/Snf2 ATPase interacts with its substrate DNA:protein complex. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.07432.001 PMID:26258880

The West of Scotland coronary prevention study: economic benefit analysis of primary prevention with pravastatin.

PubMed Central

Caro, J.; Klittich, W.; McGuire, A.; Ford, I.; Norrie, J.; Pettitt, D.; McMurray, J.; Shepherd, J.

1997-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic efficiency of using pravastatin to prevent the transition from health to cardiovascular disease in men with hypercholesterolaemia. DESIGN: Economic benefit analysis based on data from the West of Scotland coronary prevention study. Treatment specific hazards of developing cardiovascular disease according to various definitions were estimated. Scottish record linkage data provided disease specific survival. Cost estimates were based on extracontractual tariffs and event specific average lengths of stay calculated from the West of Scotland coronary prevention study. SUBJECTS: Men with hypercholesterolaemia similar to the subjects in the West of Scotland coronary prevention study. MAIN OUTCOME: Cost consequences, the number of transitions from health to cardiovascular disease prevented, the number needed to start treatment, and cost per life year gained. RESULTS: If 10,000 of these men started taking pravastatin, 318 of them would not make the transition from health to cardiovascular disease (number needed to treat, 31.4), at a net discounted cost of 20m Pounds over 5 years. These benefits imply an undiscounted gain of 2,460 years of life, and thus 8121 Pounds per life year gained, or 20,375 Pounds per life year gained if benefits are discounted. Restriction to the 40% of men at highest risk reduces the number needed to treat to 22.5 (5601 Pounds per life year gained (undiscounted) and 13,995 Pounds per life year gained (discounted)). CONCLUSIONS: In subjects without evidence of prior myocardial infarction but who have hypercholesterolaemia, the use of pravastatin yields substantial health benefits at a cost that is not prohibitive overall and can be quite efficient in selected high risk subgroups. PMID:9437275

Consultants in nhs scotland: a survey of work commitments, remuneration, job satisfaction and retirement plans.

PubMed

French, F H; Andrew, J E; Awramenko, M; Coutts, H; Leighton-Beck, L; Mollison, J; Needham, G; Scott, A; Walker, K A

2004-05-01

UK consultants have reported working long hours, increased stress and reduced morale. This study set out to elicit consultants' views on flexible working and to gather data on consultants' workloads, remuneration, job satisfaction and retirement plans. As such it is the first comprehensive study of consultants in NHS Scotland. The Information and Statistics Division of the Scottish Executive Health Dept provided a list of consultants working in NHS Scotland Focus groups and interviews informed the design of a postal self-completion, questionnaire. The response ratewas 61%. Almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents felt their workloads were unreasonable and unsustainable and 67% were unable to provide their desired standards of patient care. Two-thirds (67%) did not normally take meal breaks, 63% had insufficient time for outside interests, whilst 44% felt their health was being adversely affected Many (84%) believed that some of their work could be delegated to someone less qualified but 79% agreed that there were insufficient staff to make this possible. The average planned retirement age was 60 years, with 23% describing their plans as definite and 70% as quite or very likely. When asked what might induce them to postpone retirement, 50% cited reduced workload/work intensity. In 2003, a majority of consultants in the UK voted in favour of the new consultant contract. This will improve consultant pay and introduce a standard 40-hour working week, including worked on-call. This should address tow of the main areas of consultant dissatisfaction in NHS Scotland. However, staff shortages will require to be addressed if the contract is to be successfully implemented.

76 FR 56855 - North Carolina Disaster Number NC-00037

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-14

... SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION [Disaster Declaration 12790 and 12791] North Carolina Disaster Number NC-00037 AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration. ACTION: Amendment 1. SUMMARY: This is an... through 09/01/2011. Effective Date: 09/01/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 10/31/2011...

Interactions Between Land Use, Climate and Hydropower in Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sample, J.

2014-12-01

To promote the transition towards a low carbon economy, the Scottish Government has adopted ambitious energy targets, including generating all electricity from renewable sources by 2020. To achieve this, continued investment will be required across a range of sustainable technologies. Hydropower has a long history in Scotland and the present-day operational capacity of ~1.5 GW makes a substantial contribution to the national energy budget. In addition, there remains potential for ~500 MW of further development, mostly in the form of small to medium size run-of-river schemes. Climate change is expected to lead to an intensification of the global hydrological cycle, leading to changes in both the magnitude and seasonality of river flows. There may also be indirect effects, such as changing land use, enhanced evapotranspiration rates and an increased demand for irrigation, all of which could affect the water available for energy generation. Preliminary assessments of hydropower commonly use flow duration curves (FDCs) to estimate the power generation potential at proposed new sites. In this study, we use spatially distributed modelling to generate daily and monthly FDCs for a range of Scottish catchments using a variety of future land use and climate change scenarios. These are then used to assess Scotland's future hydropower potential under different flow regimes. The results are spatially variable and include large uncertainties, but some consistent patterns emerge. Many locations are predicted to experience enhanced seasonality, with lower power generation potential in the summer months and greater potential during the autumn and winter. Some sites may require infrastructural changes in order to continue operating at optimum efficiency. We discuss the implications and limitations of our results, and highlight design and adaptation options for maximising the resilience of hydropower installations under changing future flow patterns.

Potential Impact of Conjugate Vaccine on the Incidence of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease among Children in Scotland

PubMed Central

Clarke, Stuart C.; Jefferies, Johanna M.; Smith, Andrew J.; McMenamin, Jim; Mitchell, Timothy J.; Edwards, Giles F. S.

2006-01-01

We sought to determine the potential impact of seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) among children in Scotland. Invasive pneumococci from blood and cerebrospinal fluid, isolated between 2000 and 2004 from all children aged less than 5 years in Scotland, were characterized by serotyping. Using reported efficacy data of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) along with likely coverage rates, we made an estimation of the potential impact on the incidence of IPD among children in Scotland. A total of 217 pneumococci were characterized into 22 different serogroups/types, the most common, in rank order, being 14, 19F, 6B, 18C, 23F, 9V, 4, 1, 19A, and 6A. Estimated serotype coverage for PCV7 was 76.5% in those aged less than 5 years of age but increased to 88.9% for those aged 1 year. By using serotype coverage and estimates of vaccine efficacy and uptake, the potential impact of the vaccine for those greater than 2 months of age, but less than 5 years, was estimated as 67.3%, leading to an average of 29 preventable cases per year. The introduction of PCV7 into the childhood immunization schedule would reduce the burden of pneumococcal disease in children, and the incidence would be particularly reduced in those children aged 1 year. Additional benefits may be gained in adults through herd protection. Continued surveillance of IPD is required before, during, and after the introduction of PCV7. PMID:16597842

The Urgent Need for New Approaches in School Evaluation to Enable Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacKinnon, Niall

2011-01-01

This paper presents observations on the nature of school audit methods in light of the implementation of Scotland's incoming Curriculum for Excellence and the major normative, technological, and cultural changes affecting schools. It points to a mismatch between the concepts and structures of the incoming curriculum and that of the universalistic…

Engaging with a History of Counselling, Spirituality and Faith in Scotland: A Readers' Theatre Script

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Willis, Alette; Bondi, Liz; Burgess, MaryCatherine; Miller, Gavin; Fergusson, David

2014-01-01

This paper presents an abbreviated version of a verbatim script developed from oral history interviews with individuals key to the development of counselling and psychotherapy in Scotland from 1960 to 2000. Earlier versions were used in workshops with counsellors and pastoral care practitioners to share counter-narratives of counselling and to…

Pneumonia hospitalisations in Scotland following the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in young children.

PubMed

Nair, Harish; Watts, Arun Thor; Williams, Linda J; Omer, Saad B; Simpson, Colin R; Willocks, Lorna J; Cameron, J Claire; Campbell, Harry

2016-08-09

Scotland introduced PCV7 and PCV13 immunisation in young children in 2006 and 2010 respectively. One recent study from the United States reported a decrease in hospitalisation rates for all-cause pneumonia most notably in adults older than 75 years of age following PCV7 introduction in the US child population. We aimed to examine the effect of PCV7 and PCV13 on hospitalisation rates for all-cause pneumonia across all age groups in Scotland. We linked hospital records and death certification datasets for the entire Scottish population for the period 2000 to 2012. We included all cases where the primary / secondary diagnosis was pneumonia. Differences in hospital admission rates for pneumonia by age group were calculated using the difference in average annual rates for each period. We estimated that all-cause pneumonia hospitalisation rates in children <2 years decreased by about 30 % in the post-PCV-13 period compared with the pre-PCV period. However, in adults aged 75-84 years and ≥85 years, all-cause pneumonia hospitalisation rates increased by 63 and 46 % respectively in the post-PCV 13 period compared to the pre-PCV period. This resulted in an additional 7000 hospitalisations across all age groups in Scotland in 2012 about half of which were in adults >75 years. At the same time, the median length of hospital stay decreased by a third in children <2 years and by about 20 % in adults >75 years in the post-PCV13 period compared to the pre-PCV period. Additionally, there was an 11 % reduction in deaths due to all-cause pneumonia, and 30 % reduction in pneumococcal hospitalisations across all age groups in the post-PCV13 period compared with pre-PCV period. The modest and sustained decline in the rates of hospitalisation for all-cause pneumonia in children and the reduction in proportion of pneumonia hospitalisations in children coded as pneumococcal disease in the post-PCV period should alleviate concerns that pneumococcal serotype replacement may have

A review of ethylphenidate in deaths in east and west Scotland.

PubMed

Parks, Claire; McKeown, Denise; Torrance, Hazel J

2015-12-01

Ethylphenidate is a psychostimulant and analogue of methylphenidate. Interestingly it is also produced as a metabolite from the co-ingestion of methylphenidate and alcohol (ethanol). In the UK, between April and June 2015, ethylphenidate and 6 other methylphenidate based novel psychoactive substances (NPS) were subjected to a temporary class drug order under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Ethylphenidate is being abused by both novel and habitual drug users, more prominently in the East of Scotland. What is unknown in the literature is the contribution of ethylphenidate in deaths. A search was conducted for an 18 month period (July 2013 to December 2014) to identify cases where ethylphenidate was detected during post-mortem toxicological analysis. Nineteen cases were identified and these cases were examined with regards to case circumstances, pathology findings, toxicology results and adverse effects. The individuals ranged in age from 20 to 54 (median 37) and the majority were male (n=14) and from the East of Scotland (n=16), more specifically Edinburgh and surrounding area. Current or previous heroin abuse was a common theme in these cases (n=16) and injection was a common route of administration of "legal highs" or "burst". The concentration of ethylphenidate in the cases ranged from 0.008 mg/L to over 2 mg/L in post-mortem femoral blood (median 0.25 mg/L, average 0.39 mg/L). Other drugs commonly detected were benzodiazepines (n=15), followed by opiates (n=11, 4 of which were positive for 6-monoacetylmorphine) and then methadone (n=8). All 19 cases received a full post-mortem examination and there were 10 cases where drug toxicity was the sole or potentially contributory factor to the cause of death. Ethylphenidate was specifically mentioned in the cause of death for 5 cases, chronic intravenous (IV) drug use was named as part of the cause of death for 2 cases and in 6 cases there was evidence of complications and infections through IV drug use. As far as it is

77 FR 5398 - Safety Zone; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Vicinity of Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-03

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Vicinity of Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC... zone on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) adjacent to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune..., Vicinity of Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, NC in the Federal Register (77 FR 1431). We received no...

Tracking Biases: An Update to the Validity and Reliability of Alcohol Retail Sales Data for Estimating Population Consumption in Scotland.

PubMed

Henderson, Audrey; Robinson, Mark; McAdams, Rachel; McCartney, Gerry; Beeston, Clare

2016-05-01

To highlight the importance of monitoring biases when using retail sales data to estimate population alcohol consumption. Previously, we identified and where possible quantified sources of bias that may lead to under- or overestimation of alcohol consumption in Scotland. Here, we update findings by using more recent data and by quantifying emergent biases. Underestimation resulting from the net effect of biases on population consumption in Scotland increased from -4% in 2010 to -7% in 2013. Biases that might impact on the validity and reliability of sales data when estimating population consumption should be routinely monitored and updated. © The Author 2015. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press.

Tracking Biases: An Update to the Validity and Reliability of Alcohol Retail Sales Data for Estimating Population Consumption in Scotland

PubMed Central

Henderson, Audrey; Robinson, Mark; McAdams, Rachel; McCartney, Gerry; Beeston, Clare

2016-01-01

Aims To highlight the importance of monitoring biases when using retail sales data to estimate population alcohol consumption. Methods Previously, we identified and where possible quantified sources of bias that may lead to under- or overestimation of alcohol consumption in Scotland. Here, we update findings by using more recent data and by quantifying emergent biases. Results Underestimation resulting from the net effect of biases on population consumption in Scotland increased from −4% in 2010 to −7% in 2013. Conclusion Biases that might impact on the validity and reliability of sales data when estimating population consumption should be routinely monitored and updated. PMID:26419684

Smart Growth Implementation Assistance for Coastal Communities

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The page describes the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance for Coastal Communities program and links to reports from projects in: Houston, TX; Marquette, MI; Pamlico County, NC; Porter County, IN; Sussex County, DE; and Wells, ME.

The Built Environment and Childhood Obesity in Durham, NC

PubMed Central

Miranda, Marie Lynn; Edwards, Sharon E.; Anthopolos, Rebecca; Dolinsky, Diana H.; Kemper, Alex R.

2013-01-01

The relationship between childhood obesity and aspects of the built environment characterizing neighborhood social context is understudied. We evaluate the association between seven built environment domains and childhood obesity in Durham, NC. Measures of housing damage, property disorder, vacancy, nuisances, and territoriality were constructed using data from a 2008 community assessment. Renter-occupied housing and crime measures were developed from public databases. We linked these measures to 2008–2009 Duke University Medical Center pediatric preventive care visits. Age- and sex-specific body mass index percentiles were used to classify children as normal weight (>5th and ≤ 85th percentile), overweight (>85th and ≤ 95th percentile), or obese (> 95th percentile). Ordinal logistic regression models with cluster-corrected standard errors evaluated the association between weight status and the built environment. Adjusting for child-level socioeconomic characteristics, nuisances and crime were associated with childhood overweight/obesity (P<0.05). Built environment characteristics appear important to childhood weight status in Durham, NC. PMID:22563061

Itch-associated scratching contributes to the development of dermatitis and hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E in NC/Nga mice.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Yuki; Takaoka, Akiko; Sugimoto, Masanori; Honma, Yusuke; Sakurai, Takanobu; Futaki, Nobuko; Arai, Iwao

2011-10-01

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is related to immunoglobulin E (IgE) production, and a type-1 and type-2 helper T cell (Th1/Th2) imbalance has been hypothesized as the aetiology. While itching and scratching are important factors in the development of dermatitis, the mechanisms underlying these phenomena are poorly understood. We investigated the relationship between scratching, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), signs of dermatitis and serum Ig levels in NC/Nga mice, a model of AD. We also sensitized specific pathogen-free (SPF)-NC/Nga mice and BALB/c mice to mite antigen to determine the effects of IgE overproduction on scratching and investigated the involvement of mast cells and T/B cells in the induction of scratching using WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice and C.B.17/Icr-scid mice. Under conventional conditions, the scratch counts increased, followed by increases in TEWL and the inflammation score in NC/Nga mice that were not kept under SPF conditions. However, no change was observed in scratching, TEWL, or signs of dermatitis in mite antigen-sensitized SPF-NC/Nga and BALB/c mice, although the serum total IgE, IgG(1) and IgG(2a) levels increased. The scratch count increased significantly in both the WBB6F1-W/W(v) mice and C.B.17/Icr-scid mice when they were co-housed with skin-lesioned NC/Nga mice, raised under conventional conditions. These results show that IgE overproduction results from itch-associated scratching-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Improvement of cationic albumin conjugated pegylated nanoparticles holding NC-1900, a vasopressin fragment analog, in memory deficits induced by scopolamine in mice.

PubMed

Xie, Yue-Ling; Lu, Wei; Jiang, Xin-Guo

2006-10-02

NC-1900, an active fragment analog of arginine vasopressin [arginine vasopressin-(4-9)], has proved to be capable of improving the spatial memory deficits and the impairments in passive avoidance test. In this study, a novel drug carrier for brain delivery, cationic bovine serum albumin conjugated pegylated nanoparticles (CBSA-NPs) holding NC-1900, was developed and its improvement on scopolamine-induced memory deficits was investigated in mice using the platform-jumping avoidance test. CBSA-NPs loaded with NC-1900 in spherical shape and uniform size below 100 nm were prepared by the double emulsion/solvent evaporation procedure, and the zeta potential of CBSA-NPs was about -8mV with the loading capacity of NC-1900 around 0.46%. The in vitro study showed that approximately 10% NC-1900 was released from CBSA-NPs in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer saline (PBS) during 56 h incubation with about 15% NC-1900 released in pH 4.0 PBS during 7 days, indicating the sustained release of this carrier. Furthermore, the half-life of NC-1900 loaded in CBSA-NPs in plasma was about 78 h, which was 4-fold longer than that of free NC-1900 (19 h). The active avoidance behavioral results showed that the s.c. administration of NC-1900 tended to improve memory deficits, but the difference did not present any statistical significance, whereas this peptide failed to produce any positive effects by i.v. administration. However, the i.v. injection of CBSA-NPs loaded with NC-1900 greatly improved memory impairments to a normal level, but the efficacy was slight if the loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were exclusive of the conjugation of CBSA, indicating that CBSA-NP was a promising brain delivery carrier for NC-1900 with CBSA as a potent brain targetor. It was concluded that CBSA-NP loaded with NC-1900 was potentially efficacious in the treatment of memory deficits via i.v. administration.

Effectiveness of Scotland's National Naloxone Programme for reducing opioid‐related deaths: a before (2006–10) versus after (2011–13) comparison

PubMed Central

McAuley, Andrew; Perry, Samantha; Hunter, Carole

2016-01-01

Abstract Aims To assess the effectiveness for Scotland's National Naloxone Programme (NNP) by comparison between 2006–10 (before) and 2011–13 (after NNP started in January 2011) and to assess cost‐effectiveness. Design This was a pre–post evaluation of a national policy. Cost‐effectiveness was assessed by prescription costs against life‐years gained per opioid‐related death (ORD) averted. Setting Scotland, in community settings and all prisons. Intervention Brief training and standardized naloxone supply became available to individuals at risk of opioid overdose. Measurements ORDs as identified by National Records of Scotland. Look‐back determined the proportion of ORDs who, in the 4 weeks before ORD, had been (i) released from prison (primary outcome) and (ii) released from prison or discharged from hospital (secondary). We report 95% confidence intervals for effectiveness in reducing the primary (and secondary) outcome in 2011–13 versus 2006–10. Prescription costs were assessed against 1 or 10 life‐years gained per averted ORD. Findings In 2006–10, 9.8% of ORDs (193 of 1970) were in people released from prison within 4 weeks of death, whereas only 6.3% of ORDs in 2011–13 followed prison release (76 of 1212, P < 0.001; this represented a difference of 3.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6–5.4%)]. This reduction in the proportion of prison release ORDs translates into 42 fewer prison release ORDs (95% CI = 19–65) during 2011–13, when 12 000 naloxone kits were issued at current prescription cost of £225 000. Scotland's secondary outcome reduced from 19.0 to 14.9%, a difference of 4.1% (95% CI = 1.4–6.7%). Conclusions Scotland's National Naloxone Programme, which started in 2011, was associated with a 36% reduction in the proportion of opioid‐related deaths that occurred in the 4 weeks following release from prison. PMID:26642424

78 FR 13857 - Foreign-Trade Zone 93-Raleigh-Durham, NC; Authorization of Production Activity; Revlon Consumer...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-01

... DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [B-77-2012] Foreign-Trade Zone 93--Raleigh-Durham, NC; Authorization of Production Activity; Revlon Consumer Products Corporation (Hair Coloring Products); Oxford, NC On October 10, 2012, Revlon Consumer Products Corporation, the operator of FTZ 93G, submitted a notification of proposed production...

75 FR 62320 - Safety Zone; Fireworks for USS GRAVELY Commissioning Ceremony, Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-08

...-AA00 Safety Zone; Fireworks for USS GRAVELY Commissioning Ceremony, Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC... zone on the navigable waters of Cape Fear River in Wilmington, NC in support of the Fireworks for the... western shore of the Cape Fear River at Battleship Park. The fireworks debris fallout area will extend...

The Attitudes of the Pupils towards Modern Languages in the Primary School (MLPS) in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tierney, Daniel; Gallastegi, Lore

2011-01-01

This article considers the attitudes of pupils aged 9-11 years in Scotland towards their learning of a foreign language in primary school. It also considers their perception of difficulty, what they tell us causes them difficulty, their language preferences and the reasons for these. The article identifies any significant differences between boys…

Facilitating the Evaluation of Complexity in the Public Sector: Learning from the NHS in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connolly, John; Reid, Garth; Mooney, Allan

2015-01-01

It is necessary for public managers to be able to evaluate programmes in the context of complexity. This article offers key learning and reflections based on the experience of facilitating the evaluation of complexity with a range of public sector partners in Scotland. There have been several articles that consider evaluating complexity and…

Public Views of Minority Languages as Communication or Symbol: The Case of Gaelic in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paterson, Lindsay; O'Hanlon, Fiona

2015-01-01

Two social roles for language have been distinguished by Edwards--the communicative and the symbolic. Using data from a survey of public attitudes to Gaelic in Scotland, the article investigates the extent to which people's view of language may be characterised as relating to these roles. Respondents were grouped, using statistical cluster…

Animal Health Surveillance in Scotland in 2030: Using Scenario Planning to Develop Strategies in the Context of "Brexit".

PubMed

Boden, Lisa A; Auty, Harriet; Reeves, Aaron; Rydevik, Gustaf; Bessell, Paul; McKendrick, Iain J

2017-01-01

Animal health surveillance is necessary to protect human and animal health, rural economies, and the environment from the consequences of large-scale disease outbreaks. In Scotland, since the Kinnaird review in 2011, efforts have been made to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the strategic goals of surveillance are better aligned with the needs of the end-users and other beneficiaries. The aims of this study were to engage with Scottish surveillance stakeholders and multidisciplinary experts to inform the future long-term strategy for animal health surveillance in Scotland. In this paper, we describe the use of scenario planning as an effective tool for the creation and exploration of five plausible long-term futures; we describe prioritization of critical drivers of change (i.e., international trade policy, data-sharing philosophies, and public versus private resourcing of surveillance capacity) that will unpredictably influence the future implementation of animal health surveillance activities. We present 10 participant-developed strategies to support 3 long-term visions to improve future resilience of animal health surveillance and contingency planning for animal and zoonotic disease outbreaks in Scotland. In the absence of any certainty about the nature of post-Brexit trade agreements for agriculture, participants considered the best investments for long-term resilience to include data collection strategies to improve animal health benchmarking, user-benefit strategies to improve digital literacy in farming communities, and investment strategies to increase veterinary and scientific research capacity in rural areas. This is the first scenario planning study to explore stakeholder beliefs and perceptions about important environmental, technological, societal, political, and legal drivers (in addition to epidemiological "risk factors") and effective strategies to manage future uncertainties for both the Scottish livestock industry and animal health

Plasmodium berghei infection ameliorates atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

PubMed

Kishi, C; Amano, H; Suzue, K; Ishikawa, O

2014-10-01

Atopic diseases are more prevalent in industrialized countries than in developing countries. In addition, significant differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases are observed between rural and urban areas within the same country. This difference in prevalence has been attributed to what is called the 'hygiene hypothesis'. Although parasitic infections are known to protect against allergic reactions, the mechanism is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not malarial infections can inhibit atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in a mouse model of AD. We used NC/Nga mice which are a model for AD. The NC/Nga mice were intraperitoneally infected with 1 × 10(5) Plasmoduim berghei (Pb) XAT-infected erythrocytes. Malarial infections ameliorated AD-like skin lesions in the NC/Nga mice. This improvement was blocked by the administration of anti-asialo GM1 antibodies, which are anti-natural killer (NK) cells. Additionally, adoptive transfer of NK cells markedly improved AD-like skin lesions in conventional NC/Nga mice; these suggest that the novel protective mechanism associated with malaria parasitic infections is at least, in part, dependent on NK cells. We have experimentally demonstrated for the first time that malarial infections ameliorated AD-like skin lesions in a mouse model of AD. Our study could explain in part the mechanism of the 'hygiene hypothesis', which states that parasitic infections can inhibit the development of allergic diseases. © 2014 The Authors. Allergy Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Polarized luminescence of nc-Si-SiO x nanostructures on silicon substrates with patterned surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michailovska, Katerina; Mynko, Viktor; Indutnyi, Ivan; Shepeliavyi, Petro

2018-05-01

Polarization characteristics and spectra of photoluminescence (PL) of nc-Si-SiO x structures formed on the patterned and plane c-Si substrates are studied. The interference lithography with vacuum chalcogenide photoresist and anisotropic wet etching are used to form a periodic relief (diffraction grating) on the surface of the substrates. The studied nc-Si-SiO x structures were produced by oblique-angle deposition of Si monoxide in vacuum and the subsequent high-temperature annealing. The linear polarization memory (PM) effect in PL of studied structure on plane substrate is manifested only after the treatment of the structures in HF and is explained by the presence of elongated Si nanoparticles in the SiO x nanocolumns. But the PL output from the nc-Si-SiO x structure on the patterned substrate depends on how this radiation is polarized with respect to the grating grooves and is much less dependent on the polarization of the exciting light. The measured reflection spectra of nc-Si-SiO x structure on the patterned c-Si substrate confirmed the influence of pattern on the extraction of polarized PL.

Regional and contact metamorphism within the Moy Intrusive Complex, Grampian Highlands, Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaleski, E.

1985-04-01

In central Scotland, the Moy Intrusive Complex consists of (1) the Main Phase — syntectonic peraluminous granodiorite to granite emplaced at c. 455 Ma, intruded by (2) the Finglack Alaskite — post-tectonic leucocratic granite emplaced at 407+/-5 Ma. The Main Phase was emplaced into country rocks at amphibolite facies temperatures. Rb-Sr dates and a compositional spectrum of decreasing celadonite content in Main Phase muscovite suggest the persistence of c. 550° C temperatures for c. 30 Ma but with a declining pressure regime, i.e. isothermal uplift. The Finglack Alaskite was intruded at high structural level, leading to the development of a contact metamorphic aureole in the Main Phase. The thermal effects of contact metamorphism include intergrowths of andalusite, biotite and feldspar in pseudomorphs after muscovite. This is associated with recrystallized granoblastic quartz. Muscovite breakdown and reaction with adjacent biotite, quartz and feldspar, i.e. a function of local mineral assemblage rather than bulk rock composition, is postulated to explain the occurrence of metamorphic andalusite in a granitoid rock. The Main Phase pluton of the Moy Intrusive Complex lies within a NNE trending belt of c. 450 Ma Caledonian tectonic and magmatic activity paralleling the Moine Thrust, and extending from northern Scotland to the Highland Boundary Fault. Syntectonic ‘S-type’ magmatism with upper crustal source areas implies crustal thickening and suggests an intracratonic orogeny.

Urban-rural differences in self-reported limiting long-term illness in Scotland.

PubMed

Levin, Kate A

2003-12-01

Previous research suggests that there are significant differences in health between urban and rural areas. The aim of this study is to describe the pattern and magnitude of urban-rural variation in health in Scotland and to examine the factors associated with health inequalities in urban and rural areas. The data used in this study were limiting long-term illness (LLTI) and socio-economic data collected by the 1991 Census. A rurality indicator was created using Scottish Household Survey rurality classifications. Multilevel Poisson regression modelling was carried out with LLTI as a health indicator for each type of rurality within Scotland. A variety of socio-economic factors were investigated for each rurality. Areas with the highest Standardized Illness Ratios (SIRs) (>125) are predominantly urban whereas the lowest SIRs (<75) are found in both urban and rural areas. Rural communities are more heterogeneous than urban areas in terms of their social make-up with relation to health; however, when these areas are split according to minor road length and different socio-economic factors are added, the model fit for each new model is improved and the reduction in total variation is comparable with that of the urban models. These findings suggest that rural areas should not be treated as a homogeneous group but should be subdivided into rural types.

Estimating the number of injecting drug users in Scotland's HCV-diagnosed population using capture-recapture methods.

PubMed

McDonald, S A; Hutchinson, S J; Schnier, C; McLeod, A; Goldberg, D J

2014-01-01

In countries maintaining national hepatitis C virus (HCV) surveillance systems, a substantial proportion of individuals report no risk factors for infection. Our goal was to estimate the proportion of diagnosed HCV antibody-positive persons in Scotland (1991-2010) who probably acquired infection through injecting drug use (IDU), by combining data on IDU risk from four linked data sources using log-linear capture-recapture methods. Of 25,521 HCV-diagnosed individuals, 14,836 (58%) reported IDU risk with their HCV diagnosis. Log-linear modelling estimated a further 2484 HCV-diagnosed individuals with IDU risk, giving an estimated prevalence of 83. Stratified analyses indicated variation across birth cohort, with estimated prevalence as low as 49% in persons born before 1960 and greater than 90% for those born since 1960. These findings provide public-health professionals with a more complete profile of Scotland's HCV-infected population in terms of transmission route, which is essential for targeting educational, prevention and treatment interventions.

76 FR 3884 - Environmental Impacts Statements; Notice of Availability

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-21

..., FHWA, NC, Gaston East-West Connector Project, Construction (from I-85 west Gastonia to I-485/NC 160... Community, Payette National Forest, Adam, Idaho, Valley and Washington Counties, ID, Comment Period Ends: 04...

75 FR 69878 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Neuse River, New Bern, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-16

..., mile 34.2, at New Bern, NC. This closure is necessary to facilitate mechanical repairs. DATES: This... Railroad Bridge to facilitate mechanical repairs. The repairs consist of removing, refurbishing, and...

Targeted investment improves access to hospice and palliative care.

PubMed

Abernethy, Amy P; Bull, Janet; Whitten, Elizabeth; Shelby, Rebecca; Wheeler, Jane L; Taylor, Donald H

2013-11-01

Availability of hospice and palliative care is increasing, despite lack of a clear national strategy for developing and evaluating their penetration into and impact on the target population. To determine whether targeted investment (i.e., strategic grants made by one charitable foundation) in hospice and palliative care in one U.S. state (North Carolina [NC]) led to improved access to end-of-life care services as indicated by hospice utilization. Access was measured by the death service ratio (DSR), defined as the proportion of people who died and were served by hospice for at least one day before death. Calculation of the DSR is based on counts of patients accessing hospice by county in a given year (numerator) and U.S. Census projected population data for that county (denominator). Multilevel modeling was the primary analytic strategy used to generate two models: 1) comparison of the DSR in counties with vs. without philanthropic funding and 2) relationship between years since receipt of a philanthropic grant and DSR. In NC, the average DSR increased from 20.7% in 2003 to 35.8% in 2009 (55% increase). In 2009, 82 of 100 NC counties had a DSR below the U.S. average (41.6%). In Model 1, significant associations were found between county population and DSR (P=0.03) and between receipt of philanthropic funding and DSR (P=0.01); on average, funded counties had a DSR that was 2.63 percentage points higher than unfunded counties. Receipt of philanthropic funding appeared to be associated with improved access to palliative care and hospice services in NC. Copyright © 2013 U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Natural Heritage in Rural Development: An Analysis of Economic Linkages in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Courtney, Paul; Hill, Gary; Roberts, Deborah

2006-01-01

There is growing recognition of the important role played by natural heritage in rural economic development, but limited empirical work as yet to inform this debate. This paper examines the nature and strength of local economic linkages associated with the natural heritage in four case study areas in Scotland, differentiated in terms of their…

Identification, Assessment and Intervention--Implications of an Audit on Dyslexia Policy and Practice in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reid, Gavin; Deponio, Pamela; Petch, Louise Davidson

2005-01-01

This article reports on research commissioned by the Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED). It aimed to establish the range and extent of policy and provision in the area of specific learning difficulties (SpLD) and dyslexia throughout Scotland. The research was conducted between January and June 2004 by a team from the University of…

A review of smoking cessation services in women attending colposcopy clinics in Scotland.

PubMed

Rumbles, A U; Nicholson, S C; Court, S J

2012-02-01

The most common reason for women being referred to colposcopy clinics is an abnormal smear suggesting pre-cancerous change within the cervix. It has been demonstrated that in women with low-grade lesions, smoking cessation led to a reduction in size of the cervical lesion over a 6-month period. Smoking is also recognised as an independent risk factor for treatment failure of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. As 'stop smoking' services have become an integral part of the colposcopy clinic at St John's Hospital, Livingston, a national survey was undertaken. The aim of the survey was to establish what smoking cessation information, advice and support is available in colposcopy clinics throughout Scotland, and if staff had attended standardised training on raising the issue of smoking. The study demonstrated that 52% of colposcopy clinics in Scotland always establish smoking status but only 37% of clinics discuss the benefits of smoking cessation in relation to abnormal cervical smears. There was inaccurate and inconsistent written and verbal advice given on the benefits of cessation and whether women should cut down or stop smoking completely. The majority of staff had not attended standardised training on how to raise the issue of smoking and very few clinics have established referral pathways for smoking cessation support.

Research on NC laser combined cutting optimization model of sheet metal parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Z. Y.; Zhang, Y. L.; Li, L.; Wu, L. H.; Liu, N. B.

2017-09-01

The optimization problem for NC laser combined cutting of sheet metal parts was taken as the research object in this paper. The problem included two contents: combined packing optimization and combined cutting path optimization. In the problem of combined packing optimization, the method of “genetic algorithm + gravity center NFP + geometric transformation” was used to optimize the packing of sheet metal parts. In the problem of combined cutting path optimization, the mathematical model of cutting path optimization was established based on the parts cutting constraint rules of internal contour priority and cross cutting. The model played an important role in the optimization calculation of NC laser combined cutting.

Ab initio study on electronically excited states of lithium isocyanide, LiNC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasumatsu, Hisato; Jeung, Gwang-Hi

2014-01-01

The electronically excited states of the lithium isocyanide molecule, LiNC, were studied by means of ab initio calculations. The bonding nature of LiNC up to ∼10 eV is discussed on the basis of the potential energy surfaces according to the interaction between the ion-pair and covalent states. The ion-pair states are described by Coulomb attractive interaction in the long distance range, while the covalent ones are almost repulsive or bound with a very shallow potential dent. These two states interact each other to form adiabatic potential energy surfaces with non-monotonic change in the potential energy with the internuclear distance.

Immunogenicity of recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum NC8 expressing goose parvovirus VP2 gene in BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Liu, Yu-Ying; Yang, Wen-Tao; Shi, Shao-Hua; Li, Ya-Jie; Zhao, Liang; Shi, Chun-Wei; Zhou, Fang-Yu; Jiang, Yan-Long; Hu, Jing-Tao; Gu, Wei; Yang, Gui-Lian; Wang, Chun-Feng

2017-06-30

Goose parvovirus (GPV) continues to be a threat to goose farms and has significant economic effects on the production of geese. Current commercially available vaccines only rarely prevent GPV infection. In our study, Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum NC8 was selected as a vector to express the VP2 gene of GPV, and recombinant L. plantarum pSIP409-VP2/NC8 was successfully constructed. The molecular weight of the expressed recombinant protein was approximately 70 kDa. Mice were immunized with a 2 × 10 9 colony-forming unit/200 μL dose of the recombinant L. plantarum strain, and the ratios and numbers of CD11c + , CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + , and interferon gamma- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-expressing spleen lymphocytes in the pSIP409-VP2/NC8 group were higher than those in the control groups. In addition, we assessed the capacity of L. plantarum SIP409-VP2/NC8 to induce secretory IgA production. We conclude that administered pSIP409-VP2/NC8 leads to relatively extensive cellular responses. This study provides information on GPV infection and offers a clear framework of options available for GPV control strategies.

Immunogenicity of recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum NC8 expressing goose parvovirus VP2 gene in BALB/c mice

PubMed Central

Liu, Yu-Ying; Yang, Wen-Tao; Shi, Shao-Hua; Li, Ya-Jie; Zhao, Liang; Shi, Chun-Wei; Zhou, Fang-Yu; Jiang, Yan-Long; Hu, Jing-Tao; Gu, Wei

2017-01-01

Goose parvovirus (GPV) continues to be a threat to goose farms and has significant economic effects on the production of geese. Current commercially available vaccines only rarely prevent GPV infection. In our study, Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum NC8 was selected as a vector to express the VP2 gene of GPV, and recombinant L. plantarum pSIP409-VP2/NC8 was successfully constructed. The molecular weight of the expressed recombinant protein was approximately 70 kDa. Mice were immunized with a 2 × 109 colony-forming unit/200 µL dose of the recombinant L. plantarum strain, and the ratios and numbers of CD11c+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, and interferon gamma- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-expressing spleen lymphocytes in the pSIP409-VP2/NC8 group were higher than those in the control groups. In addition, we assessed the capacity of L. plantarum SIP409-VP2/NC8 to induce secretory IgA production. We conclude that administered pSIP409-VP2/NC8 leads to relatively extensive cellular responses. This study provides information on GPV infection and offers a clear framework of options available for GPV control strategies. PMID:27456769

Resonant inelastic light scattering and photoluminescence in isolated nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} quantum dots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bairamov, F. B., E-mail: Bairamov@mail.ioffe.ru; Toporov, V. V.; Poloskin, E. D.

2013-05-15

Observation at the room temperature the spectra of the resonant inelastic light scattering by the spatially confined optical phonons as well as the excitonic luminescence caused by confinement effects in the ensemble of isolated quantum dots (QDs) nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} is reported. It is shown that the samples investigated are high purity and high crystalline perfection quality nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} QDs without amorphous phase {alpha}-Si and contaminants. Comparison between the experimental data obtained and phenomenological model of the strong space confinement of optical phonons revealed the need of the more accurate form of the weighted function for the confinement of optical phonons.more » It is shown that simultaneous detection of the inelastic light scattering by the confinement of phonons and the excitonic luminescence spectra by the confined electron-hole pairs in the nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} QDs allows selfconsistently to determine more accurate values of the diameter of the nc-Si/SiO{sub 2} QDs.« less

77 FR 51699 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-27

... Operation Regulation; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of temporary deviation from regulations. SUMMARY: The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary [[Page 51700

Making sense of the relationships between Ne, Nb and Nc towards defining conservation thresholds in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

PubMed

Ferchaud, A-L; Perrier, C; April, J; Hernandez, C; Dionne, M; Bernatchez, L

2016-10-01

Effective population size over a generation (Ne) or over a reproductive cycle (Nb) and the adult census size (Nc) are important parameters in both conservation and evolutionary biology. Ne provides information regarding the rate of loss of genetic diversity and can be tracked back in time to infer demographic history of populations, whereas Nb may often be more easily quantified than Nc for short-term abundance monitoring. In this study, we propose (1) an empirical context to Waples et al. (2014) who introduced a correction to bias due to overlapping generations, and (2) a mathematical relationship between Ne and Nb for direct application in Atlantic salmon populations in Québec, Canada. To achieve this, we investigate the relationships between Ne, Nb and Nc in 10 Atlantic salmon populations, Canada, for which we genotyped 100 randomly sampled young-of-the year individuals for 5 consecutive years. The results show a positive correlation between Ne, Nb and Nc, suggesting that Nb is an indicative parameter for tracking effective population size and abundance of Atlantic salmon. However, our model allows predicting Nc from Nb values at 27% that can be partly explained by high variance in Nb/Nc both among populations (37%) and among years (19%). This result illustrates the need for thorough calibration of Nb/Nc before using Nb in monitoring programs, as well as a full understanding of the limits of such an approach. Finally, we discuss the importance of these results for the management of wild populations.

Environmental Assessment: Johnson County Road F-20 Bypass, Johnson County, Iowa.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-08-01

D-A184 328 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT- JOHNSON COUNTY ROAD F-20 vil BYPASS JOHNSON COUNTY’ IOWA (U) ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT ROCK ISLAND IL AUG 86...BYPASS JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA DTIC SELECTEI AUG 24 198D AUGUST 1986 -’"Thn; c>, .. i ’, been p ore i Icr publj rJlxaje aid sale; ii ,,. I distibu on is...2004 19 EPLY TO ATTENTION OP NCRPD-E ENVIRONMENTAL ASSE SSMENT JOHNSON COUNTY ROAD F-20 BYPASS JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA Acce3siofl For NTIS MR& QUA~rTY

Explaining trends in alcohol-related harms in Scotland, 1991-2011 (I): the role of incomes, effects of socio-economic and political adversity and demographic change.

PubMed

McCartney, G; Bouttell, J; Craig, N; Craig, P; Graham, L; Lakha, F; Lewsey, J; McAdams, R; MacPherson, M; Minton, J; Parkinson, J; Robinson, M; Shipton, D; Taulbut, M; Walsh, D; Beeston, C

2016-03-01

This paper tests the extent to which differing trends in income, demographic change and the consequences of an earlier period of social, economic and political change might explain differences in the magnitude and trends in alcohol-related mortality between 1991 and 2011 in Scotland compared to England & Wales (E&W). Comparative time trend analyses and arithmetic modelling. Three approaches were utilised to compare Scotland with E&W: 1. We modelled the impact of changes in income on alcohol-related deaths between 1991-2001 and 2001-2011 by applying plausible assumptions of the effect size through an arithmetic model. 2. We used contour plots, graphical exploration of age-period-cohort interactions and calculation of Intrinsic Estimator coefficients to investigate the effect of earlier exposure to social, economic and political adversity on alcohol-related mortality. 3. We recalculated the trends in alcohol-related deaths using the white population only to make a crude approximation of the maximal impact of changes in ethnic diversity. Real incomes increased during the 1990s but declined from around 2004 in the poorest 30% of the population of Great Britain. The decline in incomes for the poorest decile, the proportion of the population in the most deprived decile, and the inequality in alcohol-related deaths, were all greater in Scotland than in E&W. The model predicted less of the observed rise in Scotland (18% of the rise in men and 29% of the rise in women) than that in E&W (where 60% and 68% of the rise in men and women respectively was explained). One-third of the decline observed in alcohol-related mortality in Scottish men between 2001 and 2011 was predicted by the model, and the model was broadly consistent with the observed trends in E&W and amongst women in Scotland. An age-period interaction in alcohol-related mortality was evident for men and women during the 1990s and 2000s who were aged 40-70 years and who experienced rapidly increasing alcohol

The appropriateness of the NC state-mandated reading competency test for deaf students as a criterion for high school graduation.

PubMed

Lollis, Jana; LaSasso, Carol

2009-01-01

Deaf students consistently score lower on standardized measures of reading comprehension than their hearing peers. Most of the studies that have been conducted to explain this phenomenon have focused on variables within the reader, and important differences have been found between deaf and hearing readers. More recently, in the face of increasingly high-stakes consequences, researchers are looking "outside" the reader, at the tests themselves, to determine whether there are fairness issues for special populations, such as deaf students. The study reported here, the first of its kind with deaf students, examines the North Carolina (NC) reading comprehension test. The study employs the same method used originally by NC to determine its appropriateness of the test for the general population of NC students. The experts in this article, like those in the original construction of the NC test, are familiar with the content of the reading curriculum in NC; however, the raters in this article bring a special perspective related to teaching and testing reading of students who are deaf. Findings from this study raise questions about the appropriateness of the NC reading test for deaf students. Implications for future research and instructional practice are discussed.

Melatonin inhibits the development of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice.

PubMed

Kim, Tae-Ho; Jung, Jung-A; Kim, Gun-Dong; Jang, An-Hee; Ahn, Hyun-Jong; Park, Yong Seek; Park, Cheung-Seog

2009-11-01

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease in children, and epicutaneous treatment with a chemical hapten such as 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) evokes an AD-like reaction in NC/Nga mice under specific pathogen-free conditions. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is synthesized by the pineal gland, has several different physiologic functions, which include seasonal reproduction control, immune system modulation, free radical scavenging, and inflammatory suppression. In the present study, we investigated whether melatonin suppresses DNFB-induced AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. The topical administration of melatonin to DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice was found to inhibit ear thickness increases and the skin lesions induced by DNFB. Furthermore, interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion by activated CD4(+) T cells from the draining lymph nodes of DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice were significantly inhibited by melatonin, and total IgE levels in serum were reduced. Our findings suggest that melatonin suppresses the development of AD-like dermatitis in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing total IgE in serum, and IL-4 and IFN-gamma production by activated CD4(+) T cells.

Scotland’s Potential Independence: Defense Implications for Britain, NATO, and the United States

DTIC Science & Technology

2018-03-01

EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EU European Union GDP Gross Domestic Product MoD Ministry of Defence NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NPT...Lowlanders focused more on the economic grievances they were facing as businessmen and entrepreneurs whereas the Highlanders found their grievances in...embark on improving the economic performance of Scotland compared to that of England through “enlightenment” and “de-nationalization.”8 Internal

Male unemployment and cause-specific mortality in postwar Scotland.

PubMed

Forbes, J F; McGregor, A

1987-01-01

This article reports a time-series analysis of male unemployment and mortality in postwar Scotland. The results provide little evidence to support the hypothesis that unemployment exerts a significant and consistent positive impact on mortality from all causes, lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Although significant positive associations between unemployment and mortality from lung cancer and ischemic heart disease were detected for older males in the short term, the long-term association between unemployment and mortality tends to be negative. Further progress on establishing possible causal relationships between unemployment and health requires both the collaboration of medical and social scientists and a well designed prospective study that avoids many of the problems associated with time-series and cross-sectional analyses.

Public health implications of 4 decades of neoliberal policy: a qualitative case study from post-industrial west central Scotland.

PubMed

Garnham, L M

2017-12-01

The UK has long had a strong commitment to neoliberal policy, the risks of which for population health are well researched. Within Europe, Scotland demonstrates especially poor health outcomes, much of which is driven by high levels of deprivation, wide inequalities and the persistent impacts of deindustrialisation. The processes through which neoliberalism has contributed to this poor health record are the subject of significant research interest. Qualitative case study of a post-industrial town in west central Scotland. Primary data were collected using photovoice (11) and oral history (9) interviews, supplemented by qualitative and quantitative secondary source data. For those who fared poorly after the initial introduction of neoliberal policy in the 1970s, subsequent policy decisions have served to deepen and entrench negative impacts on the determinants of health. Neoliberalism has constituted a suite of rapidly and concurrently implemented policies, cross-cutting a variety of domains, which have reached into every part of people's lives. In formerly industrial parts of west central Scotland, policy developments since the 1970s have generated multiple and sustained forms of deprivation. This case study suggests that a turn away from neoliberal policy is required to improve quality of life and health. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

Two tales of cardiovascular risks—middle-aged women living in Sweden and Scotland: a cross-sectional comparative study

PubMed Central

Wennerholm, Carina; Bromley, Catherine; Johansson, AnnaKarin; Nilsson, Staffan; Frank, John; Faresjö, Tomas

2017-01-01

Objectives To compare cardiovascular risk factors as well as rates of cardiovascular diseases in middle-aged women from urban areas in Scotland and Sweden. Design Comparative cross-sectional study. Setting Data from the general population in urban areas of Scotland and the general population in two major Swedish cities in southeast Sweden, south of Stockholm. Participants Comparable data of middle-aged women (40–65 years) from the Scottish Health Survey (n=6250) and the Swedish QWIN study (n=741) were merged together into a new dataset (n=6991 participants). Main outcome measure We compared middle-aged women in urban areas in Sweden and Scotland regarding risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD diagnosis, anthropometrics, psychological distress and lifestyle. Results In almost all measurements, there were significant differences between the countries, favouring the Swedish women. Scottish women demonstrated a higher frequency of alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, low vegetable consumption, a sedentary lifestyle and also more psychological distress. For doctor-diagnosed coronary heart disease, there were also significant differences, with a higher prevalence among the Scottish women. Conclusions This is one of the first studies that clearly shows that Scottish middle-aged women are particularly affected by a worse profile of CVD risks. The profound differences in CVD risk and outcome frequency in the two populations are likely to have arisen from differences in the two groups of women's social, cultural, political and economic environments. PMID:28790040

CoSN Senior Delegation to Scotland and Netherlands: Real Investment/Real Innovation (November 6-14, 2009)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spero, Irene, Comp.

2010-01-01

In November, 2009 The Consortium of School Networking (CoSN) led a United States (US) "Senior Delegation" to the Netherlands and Scotland as part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate a global conversation on the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in education. Building upon the experiences of three previous…

Spatial analysis of agri-environmental policy uptake and expenditure in Scotland.

PubMed

Yang, Anastasia L; Rounsevell, Mark D A; Wilson, Ronald M; Haggett, Claire

2014-01-15

Agri-environment is one of the most widely supported rural development policy measures in Scotland in terms of number of participants and expenditure. It comprises 69 management options and sub-options that are delivered primarily through the competitive 'Rural Priorities scheme'. Understanding the spatial determinants of uptake and expenditure would assist policy-makers in guiding future policy targeting efforts for the rural environment. This study is unique in examining the spatial dependency and determinants of Scotland's agri-environmental measures and categorised options uptake and payments at the parish level. Spatial econometrics is applied to test the influence of 40 explanatory variables on farming characteristics, land capability, designated sites, accessibility and population. Results identified spatial dependency for each of the dependent variables, which supported the use of spatially-explicit models. The goodness of fit of the spatial models was better than for the aspatial regression models. There was also notable improvement in the models for participation compared with the models for expenditure. Furthermore a range of expected explanatory variables were found to be significant and varied according to the dependent variable used. The majority of models for both payment and uptake showed a significant positive relationship with SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest), which are designated sites prioritised in Scottish policy. These results indicate that environmental targeting efforts by the government for AEP uptake in designated sites can be effective. However habitats outside of SSSI, termed here the 'wider countryside' may not be sufficiently competitive to receive funding in the current policy system. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fjordic Environments of Scotland: A National Inventory of Sedimentary Blue Carbon.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smeaton, Craig; Austin, William; Davies, Althea; Baltzer, Agnes; Howe, John

2016-04-01

Coastal sediments potentially hold a significant store of carbon; yet there has been no comprehensive attempt to quantitatively determine the quantity of carbon in these stores. Using Scottish sea lochs (fjords) we have established a Holocene record of the quantity and type of carbon held within the sediment store of a typical Scottish sea loch. Through the use of both seismic geophysics and geochemical measurements we have developed a methodology to make first-order estimations of the carbon held with the sediment of sea lochs. This methodology was applied to four sea lochs with differing geographical locations, catchments, freshwater inputs to produce the first sedimentary Blue Carbon estimates. The resulting carbon inventories show clearly that these sea lochs hold a significant store of sedimentary carbon; for example, Loch Sunart in Argyll stores an estimated 26.88 ± 0.52 Mt C. A direct comparison of the organic carbon content per unit area suggest sea lochs have a greater OC storage potential between than Scottish peatlands on long, Holocene timescales (Loch Sunart = 0.234 Mt OC km-2; Peatland = 0.093 Mt OC km-2 (Chapman et al. 2009). The carbon values calculated for these sea lochs have been used to estimate the total carbon held within Scotland's 110 sea lochs and these up-scaled estimations are for the first time, reviewed in the context of Scotland's known terrestrial stores. Chapman, S. J., Bell, J., Donnelly, D. and Lilly, A.: Carbon stocks in Scottish peatlands, Soil Use Manag., 25(2), 105-112, doi:10.1111/j.1475-2743.2009.00219.x, 2009.

Dare County Gunnery Range, North Carolina. Limited Surface Observations Climatic Summary (LISOCS). Parts A-F.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-01

AIR wEATHER SERVICE/MAC--) STATION NUMBER: ?4695C STATIOK NAME: DARE COUNTY GUNNERY RANGE NC PERIOD OF PECORD: 7887 MONTH: JAN HOURSILSTi: ISO -1700...25D01 776 89.7 87.1 88.2 88.2 88.2 88.2 88.2 88.2 8.2 88.2 88:2 88.2 88.2 88.2 C GE 27001 78.8 85.9 88.2 89.4 89.4 89.9 89.4 89.4 90.6 97.6 93.6 90.6...78.6 81 .9 83. 4 83.4 85. 1 85 .7 86. 7 86.7 86.7 86.9 87.8 C)GE 27001 5 1.9 65.1 73.8 80.4 80.6 83 .9 85. 3 65.3 87.3 87.8 87.8 88.8 88.8 89.2 90. 1 G

Research on NC motion controller based on SOPC technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Tingbiao; Meng, Biao

2006-11-01

With the rapid development of the digitization and informationization, the application of numerical control technology in the manufacturing industry becomes more and more important. However, the conventional numerical control system usually has some shortcomings such as the poor in system openness, character of real-time, cutability and reconfiguration. In order to solve these problems, this paper investigates the development prospect and advantage of the application in numerical control area with system-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) technology, and puts forward to a research program approach to the NC controller based on SOPC technology. Utilizing the characteristic of SOPC technology, we integrate high density logic device FPGA, memory SRAM, and embedded processor ARM into a single programmable logic device. We also combine the 32-bit RISC processor with high computing capability of the complicated algorithm with the FPGA device with strong motivable reconfiguration logic control ability. With these steps, we can greatly resolve the defect described in above existing numerical control systems. For the concrete implementation method, we use FPGA chip embedded with ARM hard nuclear processor to construct the control core of the motion controller. We also design the peripheral circuit of the controller according to the requirements of actual control functions, transplant real-time operating system into ARM, design the driver of the peripheral assisted chip, develop the application program to control and configuration of FPGA, design IP core of logic algorithm for various NC motion control to configured it into FPGA. The whole control system uses the concept of modular and structured design to develop hardware and software system. Thus the NC motion controller with the advantage of easily tailoring, highly opening, reconfigurable, and expandable can be implemented.

Micro-Economics of Apoptosis in Cancer: ncRNAs Modulation of BCL-2 Family Members

PubMed Central

Villanova, Lidia; Careccia, Silvia; De Maria, Ruggero

2018-01-01

In the last few years, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been a hot topic in cancer research. Many ncRNAs were found to regulate the apoptotic process and to play a role in tumor cell resistance to treatment. The apoptotic program is on the frontline as self-defense from cancer onset, and evasion of apoptosis has been classified as one of the hallmarks of cancer responsible for therapy failure. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family members are key players in the regulation of apoptosis and mediate the activation of the mitochondrial death machinery in response to radiation, chemotherapeutic agents and many targeted therapeutics. The balance between the pro-survival and the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins is strictly controlled by ncRNAs. Here, we highlight the most common mechanisms exerted by microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs on the main mediators of the intrinsic apoptotic cascade with particular focus on their significance in cancer biology. PMID:29570632

Micro-Economics of Apoptosis in Cancer: ncRNAs Modulation of BCL-2 Family Members.

PubMed

Villanova, Lidia; Careccia, Silvia; De Maria, Ruggero; Fiori, Micol E

2018-03-23

In the last few years, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been a hot topic in cancer research. Many ncRNAs were found to regulate the apoptotic process and to play a role in tumor cell resistance to treatment. The apoptotic program is on the frontline as self-defense from cancer onset, and evasion of apoptosis has been classified as one of the hallmarks of cancer responsible for therapy failure. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family members are key players in the regulation of apoptosis and mediate the activation of the mitochondrial death machinery in response to radiation, chemotherapeutic agents and many targeted therapeutics. The balance between the pro-survival and the pro-apoptotic BCL-2 proteins is strictly controlled by ncRNAs. Here, we highlight the most common mechanisms exerted by microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs on the main mediators of the intrinsic apoptotic cascade with particular focus on their significance in cancer biology.

Heterogeneity in the treatment of moderately severe scalp psoriasis in Scotland - results of a survey of Scottish health professionals.

PubMed

Smith, Douglas R W; Bottomley, Julia M; Auland, Merran; Jackson, Peter; Sharp, Judith

2011-01-01

Scalp psoriasis is a chronic recalcitrant condition. An aging literature for topical treatments used in clinical practice and no treatment guidelines means there is no current gold standard for its management in Scotland. There are no Scottish data on the resources and costs of treatment of the scalp psoriasis patient. Conduct a survey of Scottish healthcare professionals to understand how patients are typically managed to support the development of a model estimating the cost-effectiveness of a new treatment for moderately severe scalp psoriasis in Scotland. Experts from primary and secondary care were invited to participate in an interview programme to collect information on the management of scalp psoriasis in Scotland. This was further informed by Scottish prescribing statistics. Simple descriptive statistics were performed. Forty-three healthcare professionals (33 from primary care and ten in secondary care) completed the survey which illuminated national prescribing statistics. While an overall 72% response rate was achieved, representation from five of 14 Health Boards was not available. There was significant variation in stated patient pathways but some common themes. Most patients were treated initially with coal tar preparations and shampoos, then often progressing to topical potent corticosteroids. There was no consensus on the order patients might receive topicals thereafter although if referred for specialist review they would typically have been treated with three topicals in primary care first. Treatment in secondary care comprised application of topicals available in primary care or alternative preparations with nurse assistance to improve compliance. Phototherapy and systemic agents were not given to patients with scalp psoriasis alone. Study limitations are not considered to impact on the study observations. There was a large variety in first-, second- and third-line agents in primary care in scalp psoriasis although our interview programme and

Animal Health Surveillance in Scotland in 2030: Using Scenario Planning to Develop Strategies in the Context of “Brexit”

PubMed Central

Boden, Lisa A.; Auty, Harriet; Reeves, Aaron; Rydevik, Gustaf; Bessell, Paul; McKendrick, Iain J.

2017-01-01

Animal health surveillance is necessary to protect human and animal health, rural economies, and the environment from the consequences of large-scale disease outbreaks. In Scotland, since the Kinnaird review in 2011, efforts have been made to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the strategic goals of surveillance are better aligned with the needs of the end-users and other beneficiaries. The aims of this study were to engage with Scottish surveillance stakeholders and multidisciplinary experts to inform the future long-term strategy for animal health surveillance in Scotland. In this paper, we describe the use of scenario planning as an effective tool for the creation and exploration of five plausible long-term futures; we describe prioritization of critical drivers of change (i.e., international trade policy, data-sharing philosophies, and public versus private resourcing of surveillance capacity) that will unpredictably influence the future implementation of animal health surveillance activities. We present 10 participant-developed strategies to support 3 long-term visions to improve future resilience of animal health surveillance and contingency planning for animal and zoonotic disease outbreaks in Scotland. In the absence of any certainty about the nature of post-Brexit trade agreements for agriculture, participants considered the best investments for long-term resilience to include data collection strategies to improve animal health benchmarking, user-benefit strategies to improve digital literacy in farming communities, and investment strategies to increase veterinary and scientific research capacity in rural areas. This is the first scenario planning study to explore stakeholder beliefs and perceptions about important environmental, technological, societal, political, and legal drivers (in addition to epidemiological “risk factors”) and effective strategies to manage future uncertainties for both the Scottish livestock industry and animal health

A short history of the Royal Odonto Chirurgical Society of Scotland.

PubMed

Geissler, Paul R

2014-01-01

In the mid-19th Century, the practice of dentistry in Britain was unregulated and chaotic. Organised training was non-existent, and the public was unable to be assured of satisfactory, ethical treatment. A group of Scottish practitioners, led by John Smith, an Edinburgh surgeon, established the Odonto Chirurgical Society of Scotland in 1867 as an ethical dental society promoting education and regulation of the emerging profession. The Society has prospered over the years. It was granted the title "Royal" on the occasion of its centenary in 1967, and approaches its 150th year with confidence.

77 FR 32394 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; The Straights, Harkers Island, NC

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-01

... across The Straights, in Harkers Island, NC. The bridge has a vertical clearance in the closed position... routes available for vessels with mast heights greater than 14 feet. In the event of an emergency, the...

An examination of the association between seeing smoking in films and tobacco use in young adults in the west of Scotland: cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Hunt, Kate; Sweeting, Helen; Sargent, James; Lewars, Heather; Dal Cin, Sonya; Worth, Keilah

2009-02-01

The objective is to examine the association between the amount of smoking seen in films and current smoking in young adults living in the west of Scotland in the UK. Cross-sectional analyses (using multivariable logistic regression) of data collected at age 19 (2002-04) from a longitudinal cohort originally surveyed at age 11 (1994-95) were conducted. The main outcome measure is smoking at age 19. No association was found between the number of occurrences of smoking estimated to have been seen in films (film smoking exposure) and current (or ever) smoking in young adults. This lack of association was unaffected by adjustment for predictors of smoking, including education, risk-taking orientation and smoking among peers. There was no association between film smoking exposure and smoking behaviour for any covariate-defined subgroup. Associations have been found between film smoking exposure and smoking initiation in younger adolescents in the United States. In this study, conducted in Scotland, no similar association was seen, suggesting that there may be age or cultural limitations on the effects of film smoking exposure on smoking. The lack of association could be due to methodological issues or greater sophistication of older adolescents and young adults in interpreting media images or the greater ubiquity of real-life smoking instances in Scotland. If the latter, film smoking exposure could become a more important risk factor for smoking uptake and maintenants in older adolescents following the recent ban on smoking in public places in Scotland.

International trends in health science librarianship Part 9: the UK - Scotland and Wales.

PubMed

Wales, Ann; Bruch, Sarah; Foster, Wendy; Gorman, Meg; Peters, Janet

2014-03-01

This is the 9th in a series of articles exploring international trends in health science librarianship. The previous article in this series looked at Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In this issue the focus is Scotland and Wales. There will be three or four more articles this year tracking trends in the Far East, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. JM. © 2014 The authors. Health Information and Libraries Journal © 2014 Health Libraries Group.

Translating Change into Improved Practice: Analysis of Teachers' Attempts to Generate a New Emerging Pedagogy in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thorburn, Malcolm; Carse, Nicola; Jess, Mike; Atencio, Matthew

2011-01-01

In Scotland, substantial changes in the management of education at national, local authority and school/community levels are afoot. Central to future improvements are how teachers translate curriculum guidelines, with an increased focus on health and wellbeing and holistic learning experiences, into constructivist inclined pedagogical practices.…

Physical Education at Preschools: The Meaning of "Physical Education" to Practitioners at Three Preschool Settings in Scotland

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McEvilly, Nollaig; Verheul, Martine; Atencio, Matthew

2015-01-01

Background: Preschool physical education has been largely unexplored by researchers. This article examines the meaning of the term "physical education", in relation to preschool contexts, to 14 practitioners working at three preschool settings in Scotland. Our focus on preschool physical education reflects a change in the language…

Flood Risk Management Policy in Scotland: Research Questions Past, Present and Future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilkinson, Mark; Hastings, Emily; MacDonald, Jannette

2016-04-01

Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) delivers accessible research and expert opinion to support the Scottish Government and its delivery partners in the development and implementation of water policy. It was established in 2011 by the Scottish Government (Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services) in recognition of a gap in the provision of short term advice and research to policy (development and implementation). Key policy areas include the Water Framework Directive, Floods Directive, Drinking Water Directive, Habitats Directive and Scotland's Hydro Nation Strategy. CREW is unique in its demand-driven and free service for policy makers and practitioners, managing the engagement between scientists, policy makers and practitioners to work effectively across this interface. The users of CREW are the Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Water. CREW has funded around 100 projects relating to water policy since its inception in 2011. Of these, a significant number relate to flood risk management policy. Based on a review of work to date, this poster will give an overview of these projects and a forward look at the challenges that remain. From learning from community led flood risk management to surface water flood forecasting for urban communities, links will be made between sustainable and traditional flood risk management while considering the perceptions of stakeholders to flood risk management. How can we deliver fully integrated flood risk management options? How policy makers, scientists and land managers can better work together will also be explored.

Pattern of injury mortality by age-group in children aged 0-14 years in Scotland, 2002-2006, and its implications for prevention.

PubMed

Pearson, Janne; Stone, David H

2009-04-07

Knowledge of the epidemiology of injuries in children is essential for the planning, implementation and evaluation of preventive measures but recent epidemiological information on injuries in children both in general and by age-group in Scotland is scarce. This study examines the recent pattern of childhood mortality from injury by age-group in Scotland and considers its implications for prevention. Routine mortality data for the period 2002-2006 were obtained from the General Register Office for Scotland and were analysed in terms of number of deaths, mean annual mortality rates per 100,000 population, leading causes of death, and causes of injury death. Mid-year population estimates were used as the denominator. Chi-square tests were used to determine statistical significance. 186 children aged 0-14 died from an injury in Scotland during 2002-06 (MR 4.3 per 100,000). Injuries were the leading cause of death in 1-14, 5-9 and 10-14 year-olds (causing 25%, 29% and 32% of all deaths respectively). The leading individual causes of injury death (0-14 years) were pedestrian and non-pedestrian road-traffic injuries and assault/homicide but there was variation by age-group. Assault/homicide, fire and suffocation caused most injury deaths in young children; road-traffic injuries in older ones. Collectively, intentional injuries were a bigger threat to the lives of under-15s than any single cause of unintentional injury. The mortality rate from assault/homicide was highest in infants (<1 year) and decreased with increasing age. Children aged 5-9 were significantly less likely to die from an injury than 0-4 or 10-14 year-olds (p < 0.05). Suicide was an important cause of injury mortality in 10-14 year-olds. Injuries continue to be a leading cause of death in childhood in Scotland. Variation in causes of injury death by age-group is important when targeting preventive efforts. In particular, the threats of assault/homicide in infants, fire in 1-4 year-olds, pedestrian injury

Explaining trends in alcohol-related harms in Scotland 1991-2011 (II): policy, social norms, the alcohol market, clinical changes and a synthesis.

PubMed

McCartney, G; Bouttell, J; Craig, N; Craig, P; Graham, L; Lakha, F; Lewsey, J; McAdams, R; MacPherson, M; Minton, J; Parkinson, J; Robinson, M; Shipton, D; Taulbut, M; Walsh, D; Beeston, C

2016-03-01

To provide a basis for evaluating post-2007 alcohol policy in Scotland, this paper tests the extent to which pre-2007 policy, the alcohol market, culture or clinical changes might explain differences in the magnitude and trends in alcohol-related mortality outcomes in Scotland compared to England & Wales (E&W). Rapid literature reviews, descriptive analysis of routine data and narrative synthesis. We assessed the impact of pre-2007 Scottish policy and policy in the comparison areas in relation to the literature on effective alcohol policy. Rapid literature reviews were conducted to assess cultural changes and the potential role of substitution effects between alcohol and illicit drugs. The availability of alcohol was assessed by examining the trends in the number of alcohol outlets over time. The impact of clinical changes was assessed in consultation with key informants. The impact of all the identified factors were then summarised and synthesised narratively. The companion paper showed that part of the rise and fall in alcohol-related mortality in Scotland, and part of the differing trend to E&W, were predicted by a model linking income trends and alcohol-related mortality. Lagged effects from historical deindustrialisation and socio-economic changes exposures also remain plausible from the available data. This paper shows that policy differences or changes prior to 2007 are unlikely to have been important in explaining the trends. There is some evidence that aspects of alcohol culture in Scotland may be different (more concentrated and home drinking) but it seems unlikely that this has been an important driver of the trends or the differences with E&W other than through interaction with changing incomes and lagged socio-economic effects. Substitution effects with illicit drugs and clinical changes are unlikely to have substantially changed alcohol-related harms: however, the increase in alcohol availability across the UK is likely to partly explain the rise in

Juggling work and motherhood: the impact of employment and maternity leave on breastfeeding duration: a survival analysis on Growing Up in Scotland data.

PubMed

Skafida, Valeria

2012-02-01

In 2005, Scotland became the first nation to make breastfeeding in public a legal right, but current breastfeeding targets and maternity leave allowance do not acknowledge the conflicting demands women face when juggling employment and motherhood. This paper explores how employment and maternity leave relate to breastfeeding duration among mothers in Scotland. The Growing Up in Scotland national longitudinal cohort study of 5,217 babies born in 2004-2005 was used. Multivariate proportional hazards regression models were specified using one cross-sectional wave of data to predict breastfeeding duration. Mothers working as employees, full-time (Hazard Ratio 1.6) or part-time (HR1.3), had a higher risk of earlier breastfeeding cessation than non-working mothers. However, self-employed mothers did not differ significantly from non-working mothers in their breastfeeding patterns. Mothers who took longer maternity leave breastfed for longer. The relationships between employment, maternity leave and breastfeeding duration were significant when controlling for known predictors of breastfeeding. Younger mothers, those with less formal education, single mothers, those of white ethnic background, and first-time mothers were more likely to stop breastfeeding sooner, as has been noted in previous research. Employment and early return to work are both factors associated with a shorter duration of breastfeeding. More flexible working conditions and more generous employment leave could help to prolong breastfeeding among working mothers. Current health and employment policy in Scotland and the UK could be better coordinated so that working mothers have the adequate support to meet the conflicting demands of employment and motherhood.

Low susceptibility of NC/Nga mice to the lipopolysaccharide-mediated lethality with D-galactosamine sensitization and the involvement of fewer natural killer T cells.

PubMed

Koide, Naoki; Morikawa, Akiko; Odkhuu, Erdenezaya; Haque, Abedul; Badamtseren, Battuvshin; Naiki, Yoshikazu; Komatsu, Takayuki; Yoshida, Tomoaki; Yokochi, Takashi

2012-02-01

The LPS-mediated lethality of NC/Nga mice, having fewer NKT cells, was examined by using d-galactosamine (d-GalN)-sensitization. The NC/Nga mice were not killed by a simultaneous administration of d-GalN and LPS whereas all C57BL/6 (B6) control mice were killed. The injection of d-GalN and LPS failed to elevate the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and caspase 3 in the liver tissues of NC/Nga mice. Further, the nitric oxide (NO) level of the d-GalN- and LPS-injected NC/Nga mice was much lower than those of the B6 mice. The expression of an inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was significantly reduced in the livers of NC/Nga mice. However, there was no significant difference in LPS-induced TNF-α production between B6 mice and NC/Nga mice. The NC/Nga mice had an impaired expression of IFN-γ protein and mRNA in response to d-GalN and LPS. The pretreatment with α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), which activates Vα14(+) NKT cells and induces the production of IFN-γ, rendered NC/Nga mice more susceptible to the LPS-mediated lethality. The livers of NC/Nga mice had fewer NKT cells compared to B6 mice. Taken together, it is suggested that the resistance of NC/Nga mice to the LPS-mediated lethality with d-GalN sensitization depended on the impaired IFN-γ production caused by fewer NKT cells and reduced NO production that followed.

Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane Coupled to Nitrite Reduction by Halophilic Marine NC10 Bacteria.

PubMed

He, Zhanfei; Geng, Sha; Cai, Chaoyang; Liu, Shuai; Liu, Yan; Pan, Yawei; Lou, Liping; Zheng, Ping; Xu, Xinhua; Hu, Baolan

2015-08-15

Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to nitrite reduction is a novel AOM process that is mediated by denitrifying methanotrophs. To date, enrichments of these denitrifying methanotrophs have been confined to freshwater systems; however, the recent findings of 16S rRNA and pmoA gene sequences in marine sediments suggest a possible occurrence of AOM coupled to nitrite reduction in marine systems. In this research, a marine denitrifying methanotrophic culture was obtained after 20 months of enrichment. Activity testing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis were then conducted and showed that the methane oxidation activity and the number of NC10 bacteria increased correlatively during the enrichment period. 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that only bacteria in group A of the NC10 phylum were enriched and responsible for the resulting methane oxidation activity, although a diverse community of NC10 bacteria was harbored in the inoculum. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that NC10 bacteria were dominant in the enrichment culture after 20 months. The effect of salinity on the marine denitrifying methanotrophic culture was investigated, and the apparent optimal salinity was 20.5‰, which suggested that halophilic bacterial AOM coupled to nitrite reduction was obtained. Moreover, the apparent substrate affinity coefficients of the halophilic denitrifying methanotrophs were determined to be 9.8 ± 2.2 μM for methane and 8.7 ± 1.5 μM for nitrite. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Walkability around primary schools and area deprivation across Scotland.

PubMed

Macdonald, Laura; McCrorie, Paul; Nicholls, Natalie; Ellaway, Anne

2016-04-14

A number of studies based in the US, Canada, and Australia, have found evidence of associations between the built environment (BE) and mode of transport to school, and links between active travel and deprivation. Limited research in the UK compares potential BE supports for walking to school by area deprivation. Within this study, we gathered data on BE attributes previously linked to active travel, i.e., street/path connectivity, and dwelling density, created a composite 'walkability score' (WS) for areas around primary schools across urban Scotland, and explored whether poorer areas exhibit lower scores than more affluent areas, or vice versa. We consider this to be a novel approach as few studies have compared BE features by deprivation across a whole country. Address and road/path maps were obtained and primary schools (N = 937) across mainland Scotland were mapped. Schools were attributed income deprivation scores (scores divided into quintiles (Q1: least deprived, Q5: most deprived)). Catchment area (CA) boundaries, i.e., the geographic area representing eligibility for local school attendance, were drawn around schools, and WS calculated for each CA. We compared mean WS by income quintile (ANOVA), for all local authorities (LAs) combined (N = 29), and separately for the four LAs with the greatest number of schools included in the analysis. For all LAs combined, the least deprived quintile (Q1) showed a significantly lower WS (-0.61), than quintiles 3, 4 and 5 (Q2: -0.04 (non-sig), Q3: 0.38, Q4: 0.09, Q5: 0.18); while for Glasgow the second least deprived quintile (Q2) showed significantly higher WS (Q1: 1.35, Q2: 1.73), than middling (Q3: 0.18) and most deprived quintiles (Q4: 0.06, Q5: -0.10). WS differ by deprivation with patterns varying depending on the spatial scale of the analysis. It is essential that less walkable areas are provided with the resources to improve opportunities to engage in active travel.

A New Primer to Amplify pmoA Gene From NC10 Bacteria in the Sediments of Dongchang Lake and Dongping Lake.

PubMed

Wang, Shenghui; Liu, Yanjun; Liu, Guofu; Huang, Yaru; Zhou, Yu

2017-08-01

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) is catalyzed by the NC10 phylum bacterium "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera" (M. oxyfera). Generally, the pmoA gene is applied as a functional marker to test and identify NC10-like bacteria. However, it is difficult to detect the NC10 bacteria from sediments of freshwater lake (Dongchang Lake and Dongping Lake) with the previous pmoA gene primer sets. In this work, a new primer cmo208 was designed and used to amplify pmoA gene of NC10-like bacteria. A newly nested PCR approach was performed using the new primer cmo208 and the previous primers cmo182, cmo682, and cmo568 to detect the NC10 bacteria. The obtained pmoA gene sequences exhibited 85-92% nucleotide identity and 95-97% amino acid sequence identity to pmoA gene of M. oxyfera. The obtained diversity of pmoA gene sequences coincided well with the diversity of 16S rRNA sequences. These results indicated that the newly designed pmoA primer cmo208 could give one more option to detect NC10 bacteria from different environmental samples.

Implementing health and social care integration in Scotland: Renegotiating new partnerships in changing cultures of care.

PubMed

Pearson, Charlotte; Watson, Nick

2018-05-01

Health and social care integration has been a long-term goal for successive governments in Scotland, culminating in the implementation of the recent Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014. This laid down the foundations for the delegation of health and social care functions and resources to newly formed Integrated Joint Boards. It put in place demands for new ways of working and partnership planning. In this article, we explore the early implementation of this Act and how health and social care professionals and the third sector have begun to renegotiate their roles. The paper draws on new empirical data collated through focus groups and interviews with over 70 professionals from across Scotland. The data are explored through the following key themes: changing cultures, structural imbalance, governance and partnership and the role of individuals or "boundary spanners" in implementing change. We also draw on evidence from other international systems of care, which have implemented integration policies, documenting what works and what does not. We argue that under the current framework much of the potential for integration is not being fulfilled and that the evidence suggests that at this early stage of roll-out, the structural and cultural policy changes that are required to enable this policy shift have not yet emerged. Rather, integration has been left to individual innovators or "boundary spanners" and these are acting as key drivers of change. Where change is occurring, this is happening despite the system. As it is currently structured, we argue that too much power is in the hands of health and despite the rhetoric of partnership working, there are real structural imbalances that need to be reconciled. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Garnet zoning and metamorphism of the Barrovian type area, Scotland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dempster, T. J.

1985-03-01

A microprobe investigation of the high grade metamorphic zones from the Barrovian type area in Angus, Scotland, shows the importance of local zones of retrograde cation exchange between garnet, staurolite and biotite. The interpretation of this zoning, established during a slow cooling history, is critical to any study of metamorphic reactions or conditions. The extent and intensity of these diffusion effects are dependent on a number of parameters including grainsize, fabric orientation, heating and cooling history, and the modal abundance of the phases. Increasing diffusion within garnets with metamorphic grade, and the subsequent retrograde effects are modelled using Temperature-Time-Transformation diagrams and provide information on the activation energy for Fe-Mg diffusion in garnet.

Remediation by in-situ solidification/stabilisation of Ardeer landfill, Scotland

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wyllie, M.; Esnault, A.; Barker, P.

1997-12-31

The Ardeer Landfill site at ICI Explosives factory on the west coast of Scotland had been a repository for waste from the site for 40 years. In order to safeguard the local environment ICI Explosives, with approval of Local Authorities and the Clyde River Purification Board put into action a programme of investigation and planning which culminated in the in-situ treatment of 10,000 m3 of waste within the landfill by a deep mixing method using the {open_quotes}Colmix{close_quotes} system. The paper describes in varying degrees of detail the remediation from investigation to the execution of the in-situ stabilisation and presents themore » post construction monitoring results.« less

Extending dental nurses' duties: a national survey investigating skill-mix in Scotland's child oral health improvement programme (Childsmile).

PubMed

Gnich, Wendy; Deas, Leigh; Mackenzie, Sarah; Burns, Jacqueline; Conway, David I

2014-11-25

Childsmile is Scotland's national child oral health improvement programme. To support the delivery of prevention in general dental practice in keeping with clinical guidelines, Childsmile sought accreditation for extended duty training for dental nurses to deliver clinical preventive care. This approach has allowed extended duty dental nurses (EDDNs) to take on roles traditionally undertaken by general dental practitioners (GDPs). While skill-mix approaches have been found to work well in general medicine, they have not been formally evaluated in dentistry. Understanding the factors which influence nurses' ability to fully deliver their extended roles is necessary to ensure nurses' potential is reached and that children receive preventive care in line with clinical guidance in a cost-effective way. This paper investigates the supplementation of GDPs' roles by EDDNs, in general dental practice across Scotland. A cross-sectional postal survey aiming to reach all EDDNs practising in general dental practice in Scotland was undertaken. The survey measured nurses': role satisfaction, perceived utility of training, frequency, and potential behavioural mediators of, preventive delivery. Frequencies, correlations and multi-variable linear regression were used to analyse the data. Seventy-three percent of practices responded with 174 eligible nurses returning questionnaires. Respondents reported a very high level of role satisfaction and the majority found their training helpful in preparing them for their extended role. While a high level of preventive delivery was reported, fluoride vanish (FV) was delivered less frequently than dietary advice (DA), or oral hygiene advice (OHA). Delivering FV more frequently was associated with higher role satisfaction (p < 0.001). Those nurses who had been practising longer reported delivering FV less frequently than those more recently qualified (p < 0.001). Perceived difficulty of delivering preventive care (skills) and

Human and animal salmonellosis in Scotland associated with environmental contamination, 1973-79.

PubMed

Reilly, W J; Forbes, G I; Paterson, G M; Sharp, J C

1981-06-27

Twenty-six incidents of salmonellosis occurring in Scotland between 1973 and 1979 and attributed to environmental pollution are reviewed. The apparent sources of pollution were sewage effluent (10 incidents), septic tank effluent (eight), sewage sludge (three), seagulls (three) and abattoir effluents (two). Cattle were the species predominantly affected. Human infection was primary in three incidents and was secondary to bovine infection in another four. Thirteen salmonella serotypes were recovered from infected humans or animals and 17 during related environmental investigations. The factors causing pollutions and possible control measures are discussed.

Epidemiological Study of Paratuberculosis in Wild Rabbits in Scotland

PubMed Central

Greig, Alastair; Stevenson, Karen; Henderson, Dennis; Perez, Valentin; Hughes, Valerie; Pavlik, Ivo; Hines, Murray E.; McKendrick, Iain; Sharp, J. Michael

1999-01-01

A survey of 22 farms confirmed the presence of paratuberculosis in wild rabbits in Scotland. Regional differences were apparent in the prevalence of the disease in rabbits, with a significantly higher incidence occurring in the Tayside region. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between a previous history or current problem of paratuberculosis in cattle and the presence of paratuberculosis in rabbits on the farms. Molecular genetic typing techniques could not discriminate between selected rabbit and cattle isolates from the same or different farms, suggesting that the same strain may infect and cause disease in both species and that interspecies transmission may occur. The possibility of interspecies transmission and the involvement of wildlife in the epidemiology of paratuberculosis have important implications for the control of the disease. PMID:10325318