Showing papers by "Keele University published in 2003"

Solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract: Despite being first demonstrated over 160 years ago, and offering significant environmental benefits and high electrical efficiency, it is only in the last two decades that fuel cells have offered a realistic prospect of being commercially viable. The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) offers great promise and is presently the subject of intense research activity. Unlike other fuel cells the SOFC is a solid-state device which operates at elevated temperatures. This review discusses the particular issues facing the development of a high temperature solid-state fuel cell and the inorganic materials currently used and under investigation for such cells, together with the problems associated with operating SOFCs on practical hydrocarbon fuels.

The origin of subdwarf B stars – II

Abstract: We have carried out a detailed binary population synthesis (BPS) study of the formation of subdwarf B (sdB) stars and related objects (sdO, sdOB stars) using the latest version of the BPS code developed by Han and co-workers. We systematically investigate the importance of the five main evolutionary channels in which the sdB stars form after one or two common-envelope (CE) phases, one or two phases of stable Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) or as the result of the merger of two helium white dwarfs (WDs). Our best BPS model can satisfactorily explain the main observational characteristics of sdB stars, in particular their distributions in the orbital period-minimum companion mass (log P-M-comp) diagram and in the effective temperature-surface gravity (T-eff- log g) diagram, their distributions of orbital period, log (gtheta(4))(theta = 5040 K / T-eff) and mass function, their binary fraction and the fraction of sdB binaries with WD companions, their birth rates and their space density. We obtain a Galactic formation rate for sdB stars of 0.014- 0.063 yr(-1) with a best estimate of similar to0.05 yr(-1) and a total number in the Galaxy of 2.4-9.5 x 10(6) with a best estimate of similar to6 x 10(6); half of these may be missing in observational surveys owing to selection effects. The intrinsic binary fraction is 76-89 per cent, although the observed frequency may be substantially lower owing to the selection effects. The first CE ejection channel, the first stable RLOF channel and the merger channel are intrinsically the most important channels, although observational selection effects tend to increase the relative importance of the second CE ejection and merger channels. We also predict a distribution of masses for sdB stars that is wider than is commonly assumed and that some sdB stars have companions of spectral type as early as B. The percentage of A-type stars with sdB companions can in principle be used to constrain some of the important parameters in the binary evolution model. We conclude that (i) the first RLOF phase needs to be more stable than is commonly assumed, either because the critical mass ratio q(crit) for dynamical mass transfer is higher or because of tidally enhanced stellar wind mass loss; (ii) mass transfer in the first stable RLOF phase is non-conservative, and the mass lost from the system takes away a specific angular momentum similar to that of the system; and (iii) common-envelope ejection is very efficient.

Turning software into a service

Abstract: The software as a service model composes services dynamically, as needed, by binding several lower-level services-thus overcoming many limitations that constrain traditional software use, deployment, and evolution.

Gender differences in pressure pain threshold in healthy humans

Abstract: Aims of investigation: To quantify the magnitude of putative gender differences in experimental pressure pain threshold (PPT), and to establish the relevance of repeated measurements to any such differences. Methods: Two separate studies were undertaken. A pressure algometer was used in both studies to assess PPT in the first dorsal interosseous muscle. Force was increased at a rate of 5 N /s. In study 1, two measurements were taken from 240 healthy volunteers (120 males, 120 females; mean age 25 years) giving a power for statistical analysis of β =0.80 at α =0.01. In study two, 30 subjects (15 males, 15 females mean age 28 years) were randomly selected from study one. Fourteen repeated PPT measurements were recorded at seven, 10 min intervals. Mean PPT data for gender groups, from both studies, were analysed using analysis of covariance with repeated measures, and age as the covariate. Results: The mean PPT for each of the two measurements in study one showed a difference between gender of 12.2 N ( f =30.5 N, m =42.7 N) and 12.8 N ( f =29.5 N, m =42.3 N), respectively, representing a difference of 28% with females exhibiting a lower threshold. In study two, the mean difference calculated from 14 PPT repeated measurements over a 1 h period was comparable to that in study one at 12.3 N (range 10.4–14.4 N) again females exhibited the lower threshold. The differences in mean PPT values between gender were found to be significant in both study one, at ( P F =37.8, df=1) and study two ( P =0.01, F =7.6, df=1). No significant differences were found in either study with repeated measurement ( P =0.892 and P =0.280), or on the interaction of gender and repeated measurement after controlling for age ( P =0.36 and P =0.62). Conclusion: Healthy females exhibited significantly lower mean PPTs in the first dorsal interosseous muscle than males, which was maintained for fourteen repeated measures within a 1 h period. This difference is likely to be above clinically relevant levels of change, and it has clear implications for the use of different gender subjects in laboratory based experimental designs utilising PPT as an outcome measure.

The spread of the western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)

Abstract: 1 Since the late 1970s, the western flower thrips has spread from its original distribution in western North America to become a major worldwide crop pest. 2 A wide range of data sources have been used to map the original distribution in the U.S.A. and Canada, and the progress of the spread in the U.S.A., Canada, Europe, northern Africa and Australia. 3 The possible reasons for the start of the spread are discussed. The most likely reason is that intensive insecticide use in horticulture in the 1970s and 1980s selected an insecticide resistant strain or strains. These then established in glasshouses across North America and spread from there to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. 4 The international spread of the western flower thrips occurred predominantly by the movement of horticultural material, such as cuttings, seedlings and potted plants. Within Europe, an outward spread from the original outbreak in the Netherlands is discernible. The speed of spread was 229 ± 20 km/year. 5 The spread has not been restricted to glasshouses. The western flower thrips has established outdoors in areas with milder winters; for example, across the southern U.S.A., southern Europe and Australia. It also overwinters in some regions with colder winters. 6 Polyphagous phytophagous thrips have many factors predisposing them to become worldwide crop pests, particularly in glasshouses. Some other species that might spread in a similar way to the western flower thrips are listed.

Computational evidence for a rivalry hierarchy in vision

Abstract: Cortical-form vision comprises multiple, hierarchically arranged areas with feedforward and feedback interconnections. This complex architecture poses difficulties for attempts to link perceptual phenomena to activity at a particular level of the system. This difficulty has been especially salient in studies of binocular rivalry alternations, where there is seemingly conflicting evidence for a locus in primary visual cortex or alternatively in higher cortical areas devoted to object perception. Here, I use a competitive neural model to demonstrate that the data require at least two hierarchic rivalry stages for their explanation. This model demonstrates that competitive inhibition in the first rivalry stage can be eliminated by using suitable stimulus dynamics, thereby revealing properties of a later stage, a result obtained with both spike-rate and conductance-based model neurons. This result provides a synthesis of competing rivalry theories and suggests that neural competition may be a general characteristic throughout the form-vision hierarchy.

Manipulation of medically important insect vectors by their parasites.

Abstract: Many of the most harmful parasitic diseases are transmitted by blood-feeding insect vectors. During this stage of their life cycles, selection pressures favor parasites that can manipulate their vectors to enhance transmission. Strategies may include increasing the amount of contact between vector and host, reducing vector reproductive output and consequently altering vector resource management to increase available nutrient reserves, and increasing vector longevity. Manipulation of these life-history traits may be more beneficial at some phase of the parasite's developmental process than at others. This review examines empirical, experimental, and field-based evidence to evaluate examples of changes in vector behavior and physiology that might be construed to be manipulative. Examples are mainly drawn from malaria-infected mosquitoes, Leishmania-infected sandflies, and Trypanosoma-infected tsetse flies.

Perinatal Mental Health : A Guide to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

Abstract: This latest publication from Cox and Holden is wide-ranging in its use of research examples from across the globe, yet has plenty of practical advice for those working at the cutting edge of primary care. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was originally developed in the 1980s by the authors because they observed that postnatal depression caused much unnecessary misery for women and their families. Existing self-report scales were unsuitable for child-bearing women, due to the very specific presentation of perinatal depression. Since its first publication in 1987, the scale has been used for a wide variety of purposes and in a wide range of settings. The authors view this publication as a ‘handbook’ for readers, to update themselves on the use and applications of the EPDS in a variety of cultural contexts. The first chapter of the book contains a comprehensive summary of postnatal depression, covering (albeit concisely) aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and the psychosocial consequences of the illness. Chapters two and three summarise how the EPDS was developed and the cultural issues which have arisen from the translation of the scale into twenty-three languages to date. The discussion surrounding the interpretation and translation of certain idiomatic phrases that form part of the questionnaire (e.g. ‘things have been getting on top of me’) should prove thought-provoking for those considering using the EPDS within different cultural and linguistic contexts. The main body of the book is concerned with the use of the scale in clinical and research settings, the development and success of counselling and other interventions in the care of women with perinatal depression, and how the EPDS could be used in a comprehensive community-based screening programme to detect depression in child-bearing women. The final chapter is essentially practical in nature and highlights common problems and questions arising with regard to the administration of the scale by health care professionals. Who is this book intended for? Its size and user-friendly style makes it suitable for students in the field of primary health care who require a concise and readily apprehensible summary of the EPDS and its use in a range of contexts. Its emphasis on the cultural applications of the scale and the inclusion of twenty full translations of the EPDS (taking up nearly one third of the book) might appeal to those intending to implement the scale in another country, or within different ethnic groups in the UK. Additionally, the spectrum of research examples cited and discussed with regard to not only the detection of perinatal depression, but also its treatment, could make this an invaluable text for those considering using the EPDS in a research context or JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT PSYCHOLOGY, VOL. 23, NO. 2, MAY 2005, pp. 201–202

Early Weightbearing and Ankle Mobilization after Open Repair of Acute Midsubstance Tears of the Achilles Tendon

Abstract: PurposeTo study the effects of early weightbearing and ankle mobilization after acute repair of ruptured Achilles tendon.Study DesignComparative longitudinal study.MethodsPatients in group 1 were postoperatively immobilized with their ankle in gravity equinus, they were encouraged to bear weight on the operated limb as soon as possible to full weightbearing, and they received a single cast change at 2 weeks, with the ankle accommodated in an anterior splint in a plantigrade position, allowing the ankle to be plantar flexed fully but not dorsiflexed above neutral. Patients in group 2 were immobilized with their ankle in full equinus with a cast change at 2 weeks, when the ankle was immobilized in mid equinus, and at 4 weeks, when the ankle was immobilized in a plantigrade position, and they were advised to bear weight.ResultsPatients in group 1 attended fewer outpatient visits, completely discarded their crutches at an average of 2.5 weeks, and more were satisfied with the results of surgery. At ultrasonog...

Quantification of frontal and temporal lobe brain-imaging findings in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies of the frontal and temporal lobes in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls have proliferated over the past 2 decades, but there have been relatively few attempts to quantify the evidence. In this meta-analytic review, 155 studies on frontal and temporal lobe neurobiology were synthesized, reflecting results from 4043 schizophrenia patients and 3977 normal controls. Cohen's d was used to quantify case-control differences, and moderator variable analysis indexed the relation of sample and imaging characteristics to the magnitude of these differences. Frontal metabolic and blood flow deficiencies in conjunction with cognitive activation tasks ("hypofrontality") emerged as the strongest body of evidence, demonstrating abnormalities that distinguish approximately half of schizophrenia patients from healthy people. Most case-control comparisons with structural and functional imaging yield small and in many cases unstable findings. Technical scanning parameters like slice thickness and magnet strength did not vary with case-control differences consistently across the meta-analyses. However, patient sample characteristics including sample size, handedness and gender composition emerged frequently as moderators of brain-imaging effect sizes.

Fast adaptation of mechanoelectrical transducer channels in mammalian cochlear hair cells

Abstract: Outer hair cells are centrally involved in the amplification and frequency tuning of the mammalian cochlea, but evidence about their transducing properties in animals with fully developed hearing is lacking Here we describe measurements of mechanoelectrical transducer currents in outer hair cells of rats between postnatal days 5 and 18, before and after the onset of hearing Deflection of hair bundles using a new rapid piezoelectric stimulator evoked transducer currents with ultra-fast activation and adaptation kinetics Fast adaptation resembled the same process in turtle hair cells, where it is regulated by changes in stereociliary calcium It is argued that sub-millisecond transducer adaptation can operate in outer hair cells under the ionic, driving force and temperature conditions that prevail in the intact mammalian cochlea

Time variation of ammonia, acetone, isoprene and ethanol in breath: a quantitative SIFT-MS study over 30 days.

Abstract: A study of the concentrations of the common breath metabolites ammonia, acetone, isoprene, ethanol and acetaldehyde in the breath of five subjects over a period of 30 days has been carried out Breath samples were taken and analysed in the early morning on arrival at the laboratory The real time analyses of three consecutive breath exhalations were carried out using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) on line to the instrument Sufficient data were obtained to allow meaningful concentration distributions to be obtained for ammonia, acetone, isoprene and ethanol These showed that the ammonia, acetone and isoprene concentrations exhibited sensibly normal distributions, with coefficients of variation of typically 03 Obvious and statistically significant (p < 001) differences are apparent in the mean concentrations of these metabolites between the five individuals The acetaldehyde concentrations were relatively low and close to the instrument detection limit, and the differences between the mean concentrations of the five subjects were not statistically significant (p = 04), so distributions were not obtained The mean concentrations, in parts per billion (ppb), of each metabolite range amongst the five subjects are as follows: ammonia, 422–2389; acetone, 293–870; isoprene, 55–121; ethanol, 27–153; acetaldehyde, 2–5 There are no obvious patterns in the distributions of these particular metabolites for these individuals, except that the ammonia levels were greatest in the breath of the two oldest subjects

Young people's music in and out of school

Abstract: This article examines the perceived and documented problems of school music, particularly at secondary level, through a study of young people's music in and out of school. Four issues are explored: teachers' approaches to music in school; pupils' levels of engagement in musical activities in and out of school; pupils' attitudes to music in and out of school; and pupils' aspirations in music. A Pupils' Music Questionnaire was administered to 1,479 pupils in Years 4, 6, 7 and 9 (aged 8–14 years) from 21 schools in England; Teacher Interviews were conducted with 42 head teachers and teachers responsible for music in all these schools; and follow-up Music Focus Groups were conducted with 134 pupils from the original sample. In contrast to earlier research, both teachers and pupils across the sample demonstrated very positive attitudes towards music, whilst also acknowledging constraints on good practice. Music listening formed an important part of pupils' lives, but music making was more prominent than suggested by previous research. Commitment to musical activity seemed more robust out of school than in school, and it is suggested that involvement in musical activity may be transitory for some children and adolescents.

The “Ticktock” of Our Internal Clock Direct Brain Evidence of Subjective Accents in Isochronous Sequences

Abstract: The phenomenon commonly known as subjective accenting refers to the fact that identical sound events within purely isochronous sequences are perceived as unequal. Although subjective accenting has been extensively explored using behavioral methods, no physiological evidence has ever been provided for it. In the present study, we tested the notion that these perceived irregularities are related to the dynamic deployment of attention. We disrupted listeners' expectancies in different positions of auditory equitone sequences and measured their responses through brain event-related potentials (ERPs). Significant differences in a late parietal (P3-like) ERP component were found between the responses elicited on odd-numbered versus even-numbered positions, suggesting that a default binary metric structure was perceived. Our findings indicate that this phenomenon has a rather cognitive, attention-dependent origin, partly affected by musical expertise.

Cardiovascular Function in Acromegaly

Abstract: Even with modern treatment, acromegaly is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in mortality, mainly from vascular disease, which is probably a result of the long exposure of tissues to excess GH before diagnosis and treatment. There is accumulating evidence that effective treatment to lower serum GH levels to less than 1-2 ng/ml (glucose suppressed or random, respectively) and normalize IGF-I improves long-term outcome and survival. In addition to recognized cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, there is accumulating evidence of specific structural and functional changes in the heart in acromegaly. Along with endothelial dysfunction, these changes may contribute to the increased mortality in this disease. There are specific structural changes in the myocardium with increased myocyte size and interstitial fibrosis of both ventricles. Left ventricular hypertrophy is common even in young patients with short duration of disease. Some of these structural changes can be reversed by effective treatment. Functionally, the main consequence of these changes is impaired left ventricular diastolic function, particularly when exercising, such that exercise tolerance is reduced. Diastolic function improves with treatment, but the effect on exercise tolerance is more variable, and more longitudinal data are required to assess the benefits. What scant data there are on rhythm changes suggest an increase in complex ventricular arrhythmias, possibly as a result of the disordered left ventricular architecture. The functional consequences of these changes are unclear, but they may provide a useful early marker for the ventricular remodeling that occurs in the acromegalic heart. Endothelial dysfunction, especially flow-mediated dilatation, is an early marker of atherosclerosis, and limited data imply that this is impaired in active acromegaly and can be improved with treatment. Similarly, early arterial structural changes, such as thickened intima media layer, appear more common in acromegalics, and there are hints that this may diminish with effective treatment, although more studies are required for a definite conclusion on this topic. In conclusion, impaired cardiac and endothelial structure and function in acromegaly are risk factors for vascular mortality and should be regarded as legitimate therapeutic targets in the overall management of this condition.

Meta- and pooled analyses of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and CYP1A1 genotypes and risk of head and neck cancer

Abstract: Sequence variation in the GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and CYP1A1 genes may potentially alter susceptibility to head and neck cancers, although evidence from previous studies has not been consistent. To explore these associations, we conducted a meta-analysis of 31 published case-control studies (4635 cases and 5770 controls) and a pooled analysis of original data from nine published and two unpublished case-control studies (2334 cases and 2766 controls). In the meta-analysis, the summary odds ratios (ORs) for head and neck cancer were 1.23 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.06-1.42] for the GSTM1 null genotype, 1.17 (95% CI, 0.98-1.40) for the GSTT1 null genotype, 1.10 (95% CI, 0.92-1.31) for carrying the GSTP1 Val105 allele, and 1.35 (95% CI, 0.95-1.82) for carrying the CYP1A1 Val462 allele. The pooled analysis ORs were 1.32 (95% CI, 1.07-1.62) for the GSTM1 null genotype, 1.25 (95% CI, 1.00-1.57) for the GSTT1 null genotype, 1.15 (95% CI, 0.86-1.53) for carrying the GSTP1 Val105 allele, and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.75-1.29) for carrying the CYP1A1 Val462 allele. Increasing risk of head and neck cancer was observed with inheritance of increasing numbers of modest risk genotypes at the three GST loci (P for trend = 0.04), with the combination of carrying the GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and GSTP1 Val105 alleles conferring an OR of 2.06 (95% CI, 1.11-3.81). In conclusion, both the meta- and pooled analysis support modest associations of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes with head and neck cancer risk, and our pooled analysis supports the notion of greater risk when genotypes at multiple GST loci are considered in a multigenic model.

Bat Mobility and Roosts in a Fragmented Landscape in Central Amazonia, Brazil

Abstract: In spite of the important role played by bats in tropical ecosystems, little is known about how they are affected by habitat fragmentation. By using a mark/recapture protocol and radiotelemetry techniques in a naturally fragmented landscape composed of primary forests and forest fragments surrounded by savannas in Alter do Chao, Para State, Brazil, we were able to track the movements of various species of bats, calculate the size of the area used, locate roosts and potential feeding areas, and determine preferred flight routes. We marked 3440 bats belonging to 44 species and recaptured 151 belonging to 14 species. The average distance between extra-site recaptures was 2.2 km. With the exception of bats marked in fragments and recaptured in forests, all other possible inter-habitat recaptures were observed. We selected 23 bats of 8 species for radiotelemetry and the areas used by them varied from 65 to 530 ha. Some species restricted their activity to the vicinity of their roosts, rarely moving more than 500 m away, but others traveled greater distances between roosts and foraging areas. All tracked bats flew over savannas, crossing distances from 0.5 to 2.5 km. Roost location and type varied among species, from individuals roosting alone in the foliage to colonies in buildings. Bats were highly mobile and savannas did not appear to inhibit the movements of some species, suggesting that a persistent biological flow may be maintained among isolated fragments, with bats acting as pollinators and seed dispersers.

Clinical diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy with tendinosis.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and predictive value of palpation of the painful arc sign and of the Royal London Hospital test in 10 patients with Achilles tendinopathy and in 14 asymptomatic subjects. DESIGN: Test-retest study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Ten male athletes on the waiting list for exploration of one of their Achilles tendons for tendinopathy of the main body of the tendon attended a special clinic. Each was invited to bring at least one athlete of the same sex in the same discipline aged within 2 years of themselves with no history and no symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy. A total of 14 controls were thus recruited. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and tenderness following performance of palpation, the painful arc sign, and the Royal London Hospital test. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences at the 5% level among the effects of investigator or between morning and afternoon measurements for any of the three measurement methods. There was no evidence of a difference of the three assessment methods (p > 0.05). When the three methods were combined, the overall sensitivity was 0.586 (confidence interval [CI], 0.469-0.741), and the overall specificity was 0.833 (CI, 0.758-0.889). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon with a tender area of intratendinous swelling that moves with the tendon and whose tenderness significantly decreases or disappears when the tendon is put under tension, a clinical diagnosis of tendinopathy can be formulated, with a high positive predictive chance that the tendon will show ultrasonographic and histologic features of tendinopathy.

Oxygen diffusion in yttria stabilised zirconia—experimental results and molecular dynamics calculations

Abstract: Bulk oxygen self-diffusion in yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) was investigated using tracer diffusion experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation as a function of the yttria content. Experimentally, 18O tracer diffusion was measured as a function of temperature (650–1200 K) and yttria content (8–24 mol% Y2O3) using gas-phase exchange of the stable isotope 18O and SIMS analysis. For a given temperature, the diffusivity was highest for YSZ containing 10 mol% yttria. The activation enthalpy of diffusion was 0.8 to 1.0 eV, independent of the yttria content. The diffusion process was simulated with molecular dynamics using the program DL_POLY and comparing different potential sets. The oxygen diffusion coefficient was found to be of similar magnitude to the experimental value, and also showed similar concentration dependence with a maximum for YSZ containing 10 mol% yttria. The calculated activation enthalpies of oxygen transport are close to the values observed experimentally.

Effects of TENS frequency, intensity and stimulation site parameter manipulation on pressure pain thresholds in healthy human subjects

Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of varying frequency, intensity and stimulation site, of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in an experimental model of pain. In a double-blind design 240 volunteers were randomised to one of six experimental TENS groups, a sham TENS or control ( n =30 per group; gender balanced). Two TENS frequencies (110 or 4 Hz) and two intensities (strong but comfortable or highest tolerable) at a fixed pulse duration (200 μs) were applied at three sites relative to the measurement site (segmentally, extrasegmentally or a combination of these), for 30 min. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were measured using a pressure algometer, in the first dorsal interosseous muscle, every 10 min, during stimulation and for a further 30 min. The high frequency, high intensity segmental, and combined stimulation groups, showed rapid onset and significant hypoalgesic effects. This effect was sustained for 20 min post-stimulation in the high frequency segmental group. All other TENS intervention groups showed hypoalgesic responses similar to the sham TENS group, and none of these groups reached a clinically significant hypoalgesic level. Conclusions: The role of TENS frequency, intensity and site are pivotal to achieving optimal hypoalgesic effects, during and after stimulation. Clinical applications of these parameter combinations require further investigations.

Population based epidemiology of ankle sprains attending accident and emergency units in the West Midlands of England, and a survey of UK practice for severe ankle sprains.

Abstract: Objectives: To estimate the incidence of ankle sprains and severe ankle sprains attending accident and emergency (AE to describe current practice for severe ankle sprains in A&E units in the United Kingdom. Methods: Crude age and sex specific incidence rates were calculated for four health districts from cases ascertained from data on seven A&E clinical information systems. Case records of patients with ankle sprains at an A&E unit in another health district were audited and the proportion of severe ankle sprains calculated. UK A&E units were surveyed about their usual treatment of patients with severe ankle sprains. Results: The estimate of the crude incidence rate of ankle sprains was a minimum of 52.7 per 10 000, rising to 60.9 (95% CI 59.4 to 62.4) when figures were adjusted for the proportion of patients without a diagnostic code (13.7%). There were important age-sex differences with unadjusted rates observed from 127.8 per 10 000 (CI 115.5 to 140.0) in girls aged 10–14 years to 8.2 (CI 4.2 to 12.3) in men aged 70–74 years. As 14% of ankle sprains attending A&E were classed as severe, this would equate to 42 000 severe ankle sprains per year in the UK. In the UK wide survey, there was a response rate of 79% (211 of 266). Among the responders, Tubigrip was used routinely in 55%, below knee casts in 3%, and braces in 2%. Boots were not used routinely in any unit. Conclusion: While there is considerable variation in severe ankle sprain management in UK A&E units, most are treated with the minimal mechanical support of Tubigrip.

Principles of survey research part 6: data analysis

Abstract: This article is the last of our series of articles on survey research. In it, we discuss how to analyze survey data. We provide examples of correct and incorrect analysis techniques used in software engineering surveys.

Science education and affect

Abstract: (2003). Science education and affect. International Journal of Science Education: Vol. 25, No. 9, pp. 1043-1047.

Governing through Teamwork: Reconstituting Subjectivity in a Call Centre

Abstract: This article focuses on teamworking as a form of governmentality whereby management seeks to govern by distance. This involves mobilizing the support and commitment of employees to teamworking and organizational goals by appealing to their autonomy, unity, sociability and desire for a more enriched work experience. It is the struggle over subjectivity that is of concern here, for teamworking can be seen as a technology that aims to transform individuals into subjects that secure their sense of meaning and significance through working as a team. We will explore through a case study of a call centre in a large building society how a discourse of teamworking has begun to impinge upon individuals so as to shape not only how they behave but also how they think, derive meaning and understand the world. In turn, we consider some of the tensions and inconsistencies of teamworking in relation to the secrecy of pay differentials, and the return to productivity pressures after a period of relaxation and trust. Ultimately the article examines how individuals respond to, agonize over, resist and baulk against the imposition of 'team lives' when this rubs up against what they understand to be their 'private lives'. This will involve considering gender tensions that have so far been largely neglected in relation to call centres and teamworking. Teamworking, we will argue, reflects a will to govern rather than a mechanism of government.