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Through this study, a vehicle to enhance existing education curricula was demonstrated, by exposing students to research-informed educational activities and to experience the key digital systems used in different industrial sectors. Digital skills are in high demand across the globe, with over a million digitally skilled people required by 2022 in the U.K. alone. With digital skills being vital to a country's economy, there is a need to develop the higher education sector to prepare students for a digitized future--a key area of future graduate skills. The overall aim of the project was to train students in cutting-edge digital technologies through two separate week-long boot camps, targeting undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts. To this end, an educational project primed by research-informed teaching was successfully organized at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the industry, to directly enhance the student's personal development in the digital field, the findings of which are reported in this article. Researchers and practitioners presented practical applications of various digital technologies during the boot camps.

ObjectivesTo estimate the health characteristics and racial/ethnic health disparities among a probation cohort in Hennepin County. We hypothesised the probation population would have higher health needs compared with the general population as well as significant racial/ethnic health disparities.DesignCross-sectional study using linked administrative records.ParticipantsOf 7992 eligible individuals, 5873 met inclusion criteria of 6 or more months of eligibility for a full-benefit Minnesota healthcare plan.SettingProbation system in Hennepin County in 2016.OutcomesWe compared health condition prevalence among our probation cohort with survey data from the general population and analysed by race/ethnicity. We also measured sociodemographic characteristics, including the use of safety-net services.ResultsIndividuals were predominantly male (80.5%), young (mean age: 35.5 years), and disproportionately black or African American (52.9%). A majority of individuals enrolled in Medicaid were eligible via Medicaid expansion (65.9%). Compared with the general population, individuals on probation had higher rates of substance use disorders (66.5% vs 8.1%), mental illness (55.3% vs 14.4%) and many physical conditions (eg, asthma: 17.0% vs 12.5%, chronic kidney disease: 5.8% vs 0.2%). White individuals on probation were significantly more likely than black or African American individuals to have a diagnosed substance use disorder (71.6% vs 62.0%) or mental health disorder (64.9% vs 48.5%), but fewer chronic physical health conditions (average: 0.52 vs 0.73 chronic physical conditions).ConclusionsIndividuals on probation have high health needs, which vary substantially by race/ethnicity. Without attention to this variation, interventions to address health conditions in this population could worsen racial/ethnic disparities.

To describe characteristics and acute clinical outcomes for patients with COVID-19 treated with sotrovimab, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir, or untreated patients at highest risk per National Health Service (NHS) criteria. Retrospective study of non-hospitalized patients between 1 December 2021 and 31 May 2022, using data from the Discover-NOW dataset (North-West London). Included patients were aged ≥12 years and treated with sotrovimab, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir, or untreated but expected to be eligible for early treatment per NHS highest-risk criteria. COVID-19-related and all-cause hospitalizations were reported for 28 days from COVID-19 diagnosis (index). Subgroup analyses were conducted in patients with advanced renal disease, those aged 18–64 and ≥65 years, and by period of Omicron BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5 (post-hoc exploratory) predominance. Overall, 1503 treated and 4044 eligible high-risk untreated patients were included. A high proportion of patients on sotrovimab had advanced renal disease (29.3%), ≥3 high-risk comorbidities (47.6%) and were aged ≥65 years (36.9%). Five of 696 (0.7%) patients on sotrovimab, <5/337 (0.3–1.2%) on nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, 10/470 (2.1%) on molnupiravir and 114/4044 (2.8%) untreated patients were hospitalized with COVID-19. Similar results were observed across all subgroups. The proportion of patients dying within 28 days of the index period was similarly low across all cohorts (<2%). Patients receiving sotrovimab appeared to show evidence of multiple high-risk comorbidities. Low hospitalization rates were observed for all treated cohorts across subgroups and periods of predominant variants of concern. These results require confirmation with comparative effectiveness analyses adjusting for differences in underlying patient characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrobenthic communities of three Mississippi Gulf Coast bayous Casotte, Cumbest and Heron, located within Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), were compared. From October 2003 to August 2004, macrobenthic invertebrate samples were collected from sampling sites in the bayous to compare densities and diversity among the bayous. Water quality parameters including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity were also monitored. Annelids were the dominant phylum consisting of 68% of the total of 898 organisms. The highest value of total invertebrate density was found in Bayou Cumbest (168.73[m.sup.-2]). The diversity of taxa as indicated by the Simpson Index varied between 1.00 and 2.1 bits. Bayou Cumbest had the highest invertebrate density, but contained smaller sized polychaetes, while Bayou Heron contained not only polychaetes, but larger organisms such as clams and Mollusks that have a higher biomass. Therefore, biomass can be significantly higher in Bayou Heron, and the macro benthic invertebrate abundance higher in Bayou Cumbest. The only water quality parameter that was significant in determining benthic invertebrate diversity (Simpson Index) was turbidity. Turbidity was statistically significant in determining Echinoderms and Crustaceans. Multiple regression analysis indicated that many physicochemical parameters could not be used in this study to explain the variations in the density and diversity of the macrobenthic communities. A more exhaustive approach must be taken. A sediment analysis must be performed to determine the type and abundance of heavy metals, pollutants contaminants, and perhaps other xenobiotic substances that may have entered the Grand Bay NERR ecosystem. Regarding the density and diversity of macro benthic invertebrates, relative biomass measurements will need to accompany the samples., INTRODUCTION Benthic invertebrates include a vast array of species consisting of crabs, worms and insects of various sizes and shapes. The word 'benthic', originating from the Greek benthos, meaning bottom [...]

A high dose of whey protein hydrolysate fed with milk minerals rich in calcium (Capolac®) results in enhanced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations in lean individuals; however, the effect of different calcium doses ingested alongside protein is unknown. The present study assessed the dose response of calcium fed alongside 25 g whey protein hydrolysate on GLP-1 concentrations in individuals with overweight/obesity. Eighteen adults (mean ± sd: 8M/10F, 34 ± 18 years, 28·2 ± 2·9 kgm−2) completed four trials in a randomised, double-blind, crossover design. Participants consumed test solutions consisting of 25 g whey protein hydrolysate (CON), supplemented with 3179 mg (LOW), 6363 mg (MED) or 9547 mg (HIGH) Capolac® on different occasions, separated by at least 48 h. The calcium content of test solutions equated to 65, 892, 1719 and 2547 mg, respectively. Arterialised-venous blood was sampled over 180 min to determine plasma concentrations of GLP-1TOTAL, GLP-17–36amide, insulin, glucose, NEFA, and serum concentrations of calcium and albumin. Ad libitum energy intake was measured at 180 min. Time–averaged incremental AUC (iAUC) for GLP-1TOTAL (pmol·l−1·min−1) did not differ between CON (23 ± 4), LOW (25 ± 6), MED (24 ± 5) and HIGH (24 ± 6). Energy intake (kcal) did not differ between CON (940 ± 387), LOW (884 ± 345), MED (920 ± 334) and HIGH (973 ± 390). Co-ingestion of whey protein hydrolysate with Capolac® does not potentiate GLP-1 release in comparison with whey protein hydrolysate alone. The study was registered at clinical trials (NCT03819972). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To facilitate mental health reform in one Russian oblast (region) using systematic approaches to policy design and implementation. Methods The authors undertook a three-year action-research programme across three pilot sites, comprising a multifaceted set of interventions combining situation appraisal to inform planning, sustained policy dialogue at federal and regional levels to catalyse change, introduction of multidisciplinary and intersectoral-working at all levels, skills-based training for professionals, and support for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to develop new care models. Findings Training programmes developed in this process have been adopted into routine curricula with measurable changes in staff skills. Approaches to care improved through multidisciplinary and multisectoral service delivery, with an increase in NGO activities, user involvement in care planning and delivery in all pilot sites. Hospital admissions at start and end of the study fell in two pilot sites, while the rate of readmissions in all three pilot sites by 2006 was below that for the region as a whole. Lessons learned have informed the development of regional and federal mental health policies. Conclusion A multifaceted and comprehensive programme can be effective in overcoming organizational barriers to the introduction of evidence-based multisectoral interventions in one Russian region. This can help facilitate significant and sustainable changes in policy and reduce institutionalization. Resume Objectif Faciliter la reforme de la sante mentale dans une region (oblast) russe par une approche systematique de la conception et de la mise en ouvre des politiques dans ce domaine. Methodes Les auteurs ont entrepris un programme de recherche pragmatique sur trois ans, couvrant trois sites pilotes et comprenant une serie d&apos;interventions selon plusieurs axes : evaluation de la situation pour fournir une base a la planification, maintien d&apos;un dialogue politique aux niveaux federal et regional pour catalyser le changement, introduction d&apos;une collaboration multidisciplinaire et intersectorielle a tous les niveaux, organisation de formations pour ameliorer les competences des professionnels et aide aux organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) dans la mise au point de nouveaux modeles de soins. Resultats Les programmes de formation developpes dans le cadre de ce processus ont ete integres aux programmes de formation classiques, avec comme consequence une amelioration mesurable des competences du personnel. Les demarches therapeutiques se sont aussi ameliorees a travers la delivrance de services multidisciplinaires et multisectoriels, le developpement des activites des ONG et l&apos;implication plus poussee des usagers dans la planification et la delivrance des soins dans tous les sites pilotes. Entre le debut et la fin de l&apos;etude, le nombre des hospitalisations a chute dans deux des sites pilotes et dans les trois, le taux de readmission a atteint en 2006 un niveau plus faible que dans l&apos;ensemble de la region. Les enseignements tires de ce programme ont servi de base a l&apos;elaboration de politiques de sante mentale aux niveau regional et federal. Conclusion Il est possible, dans une region russe, de venir a bout des obstacles organisationnels a l&apos;introduction d&apos;interventions multisectorielles developpees a partir d&apos;elements factuels par un programme complet et pluridimensionnel. Un tel programme pourrait aussi faciliter des changements notables et durables de politique et reduire la bureaucratie. Une traduction en francais de ce resume figure a la fin de l&apos;article. Resumen Objetivo Facilitar la reforma de la atencion de salud mental en un oblast (region) de Rusia utilizando metodos sistematicos para formular y aplicar las politicas. Metodos Los autores emprendieron en tres sitios piloto un programa de accion-investigacion de tres anos que abarcaba un conjunto multifacetico de intervenciones como la evaluacion de la situacion para fundamentar la planificacion, un dialogo de politica sostenido a nivel federal y regional para catalizar los cambios, la accion multidisciplinaria e intersectorial a todos los niveles, medidas de formacion practica para los profesionales y el apoyo a organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG) para desarrollar nuevos modelos de asistencia. Resultados Los programas de capacitacion desarrollados a lo largo este proceso han sido incorporados en los programas de estudios habituales, con cambios cuantificables en las aptitudes del personal. La asistencia mejoro gracias a la prestacion de servicios multidisciplinarios y multisectoriales, con un aumento de las actividades de ONG y la participacion de los usuarios en la planificacion y prestacion de la asistencia en todos los sitios piloto. Los ingresos hospitalarios, determinados al comienzo y al final del estudio, disminuyeron en dos sitios piloto, mientras que la tasa de reingresos en los tres sitios piloto en 2006 fue inferior a la del conjunto de la region. Las ensenanzas extraidas han fundamentado el desarrollo de las politicas de salud mental regionales y federales. Conclusion Un programa multifacetico e integral puede ayudar a superar eficazmente las barreras organizacionales a la aplicacion de intervenciones multisectoriales basadas en la evidencia en una region de Rusia, y ello puede facilitar la introduccion de cambios considerables y sostenibles en las politicas y reducir los internamientos. Al final del articulo se facilita una traduccion al espanol. [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.], Introduction Mental illness is a major global health burden (1) with substantial societal and economic consequences. (2) In developed countries, around 66% of people with mental disorders do not receive [...]

Purpose: The aim of the current study was to investigate pacing strategies and the distribution of physiological resources in best vs worst performances during a series of 4-min self-paced running time trials (RunTTs). Methods: Five male and 5 female recreational runners (age 32 ± 7 y) completed a submaximal ramp test and 5 RunTTs on a motor-driven treadmill fitted with a speed-controlling laser system. The supramaximal oxygen-uptake (...) demand was estimated by linear extrapolation from the submaximal relationship between ... and speed, enabling computation of the accumulated oxygen deficit. Results: There were no significant differences between the 5 RunTTs for any of the performance, physiological, or subjective responses (P > .05). The trial-to-trial variability in pacing (ie, separate quarters) was typically low, with an average within-athlete coefficient of variation of 3.3%, being highest at the start and end of the 4 min. Total distance covered and distance covered over the first and last 2 min for best and worst performances were 1137 ± 94 and 1090 ± 89 (P < .001), 565 ± 53 and 526 ± 40 m (P = .002), and 572 ± 47 and 565 ± 54 m (P = .346), respectively. Conclusions: Negative pacing strategies were evident during both the best and the worst performances of the RunTT. Best performances were characterized by more aggressive pacing over the first 2 min compared with worst performances. In addition, the relatively low trial-to-trial variability in running speed suggests that pacing strategies are similar during a series of 4-min self-paced running time trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) can determine current velocities at multiple depths of water. Two features of previous approaches have been used to quantitatively assess the magnitude of ADCP derived backscattering intensities. The scatterers producing the echoes were Antarctic krill, whose scattering properties have been studied empirically on several occasions.