University of Stirling

About: University of Stirling is a education organization based out in Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Polyunsaturated fatty acid. The organization has 7722 authors who have published 20549 publications receiving 732940 citations. The organization is also known as: Stirling University.

The prevention of progression of arterial disease and diabetes (POPADAD) trial: factorial randomised placebo controlled trial of aspirin and antioxidants in patients with diabetes and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease

Abstract: Objective To determine whether aspirin and antioxidant therapy, combined or alone, are more effective than placebo in reducing the development of cardiovascular events in patients with diabetes mellitus and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease Design Multicentre, randomised, double blind, 2×2 factorial, placebo controlled trial Setting 16 hospital centres in Scotland, supported by 188 primary care groups Participants 1276 adults aged 40 or more with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and an ankle brachial pressure index of 099 or less but no symptomatic cardiovascular disease Interventions Daily, 100 mg aspirin tablet plus antioxidant capsule (n=320), aspirin tablet plus placebo capsule (n=318), placebo tablet plus antioxidant capsule (n=320), or placebo tablet plus placebo capsule (n=318) Main outcome measures Two hierarchical composite primary end points of death from coronary heart disease or stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction or stroke, or amputation above the ankle for critical limb ischaemia; and death from coronary heart disease or stroke Results No evidence was found of any interaction between aspirin and antioxidant Overall, 116 of 638 primary events occurred in the aspirin groups compared with 117 of 638 in the no aspirin groups (182% v 183%): hazard ratio 098 (95% confidence interval 076 to 126) Forty three deaths from coronary heart disease or stroke occurred in the aspirin groups compared with 35 in the no aspirin groups (67% v 55%): 123 (079 to 193) Among the antioxidant groups 117 of 640 (183%) primary events occurred compared with 116 of 636 (182%) in the no antioxidant groups (103, 079 to 133) Forty two (66%) deaths from coronary heart disease or stroke occurred in the antioxidant groups compared with 36 (57%) in the no antioxidant groups (121, 078 to 189) Conclusion This trial does not provide evidence to support the use of aspirin or antioxidants in primary prevention of cardiovascular events and mortality in the population with diabetes studied Trial registration Current Controlled Trials [ISRCTN53295293][1] [1]: /external-ref?link_type=ISRCTN&access_num=ISRCTN53295293

Environmental Hazards: Assessing Risk and Reducing Disaster

Abstract: Part One: The Nature of Hazard 1. Hazard in the Environment 2. Dimensions of Disaster 3. Complexity, Sustainability and Vulnerability 4. Risk Assessment and Management 5. Reducing the Impacts of Disaster Part Two: The Experience and Reduction of Hazard 6. Tectonic Hazards - Earthquakes and Tsunamis 7. Tectonic Hazards - Volcanoes 8. Landslide and Avalanche Hazards 9. Severe Storm Hazards 10. Weather Extremes, Disease Epidemics and Wildfires 11. Hydrological Hazards - Floods 12. Hydrological Hazards - Droughts 13. Technological Hazards 14. Environmental Hazards in a Changing World Bibliography Index

Energy justice : a conceptual review

Abstract: Energy justice has emerged as a new crosscutting social science research agenda which seeks to apply justice principles to energy policy, energy production and systems, energy consumption, energy activism, energy security and climate change. A conceptual review is now required for the consolidation and logical extension of this field. Within this exploration, we give an account of its core tenets: distributional, recognition and procedural. Later we promote the application of this three-pronged approach across the energy system, within the global context of energy production and consumption. Thus, we offer both a conceptual review and a research agenda. Throughout, we explore the key dimensions of this new agenda – its evaluative and normative reach – demonstrating that energy justice offers, firstly, an opportunity to explore where injustices occur, developing new processes of avoidance and remediation and recognizing new sections of society. Secondly, we illustrate that energy justice provides a new stimulating framework for bridging existing and future research on energy production and consumption when whole energy systems approaches are integrated into research designs. In conclusion, we suggest three areas for future research: investigating the non-activist origins of energy justice, engaging with economics, and uniting systems of production and consumption.

Anaesthetists’ Non‐Technical Skills (ANTS): evaluation of a behavioural marker system†

Abstract: Background. Non-technical skills are critical for good anaesthetic practice but are not addressed explicitly in normal training. Realization of the need to train and assess these skills is growing, but these activities must be based on properly developed skills frameworks and validated measurement tools. A prototype behavioural marker system was developed using human factors research techniques. The aim of this study was to conduct an experimental evaluation to establish its basic psychometric properties and usability. Method. The Anaesthetists’ Non-Technical Skills (ANTS) system prototype comprises four skill categories (task management, team working, situation awareness, and decision making) divided into 15 elements, each with example behaviours. To investigate its experimental validity, reliably and usability, 50 consultant anaesthetists were trained to use the ANTS system. They were asked to rate the behaviour of a target anaesthetist using the prototype system in eight videos of simulated anaesthetic scenarios. Data were collected from the ratings forms and an evaluation questionnaire. Results. The results showed that the system is complete, and that the skills are observable and can be rated with acceptable levels of agreement and accuracy. The internal consistency of the system appeared sound, and responses regarding usability were very positive. Conclusions. The findings of the evaluation indicated that the ANTS system has a satisfactory level of validity, reliability and usability in an experimental setting, provided users receive adequate training. It is now ready to be tested in real training environments, so that full guidelines can be developed for its integration into the anaesthetic curriculum.

Prevention of Population Cycles by Parasite Removal

Abstract: The regular cyclic fluctuations in vertebrate numbers have intrigued scientists for more than 70 years, and yet the cause of such cycles has not been clearly demonstrated. Red grouse populations in Britain exhibit cyclic fluctuations in abundance, with periodic crashes. The hypothesis that these fluctuations are caused by the impact of a nematode parasite on host fecundity was tested by experimentally reducing parasite burdens in grouse. Treatment of the grouse population prevented population crashes, demonstrating that parasites were the cause of the cyclic fluctuations.