Additional Topics Research Articles

Evaluation of the Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. Web Portal.

The Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T. (P.L.A.N.E.T.) Web portal was designed to ease access to data and evidence-based resources for cancer control practitioners and researchers focused on developing, implementing, and evaluating cancer control programs. To determine usability, applicability, and opportunities to improve the P.L.A.N.E.T. Web portal after significant changes to the portal over time. The National Cancer Institute surveyed and interviewed cancer control professionals to assess factors influencing utilization of P.L.A.N.E.T. Data were collected from May 2017 to June 2018 via partner agencies, electronic publications, and online links. Descriptive statistics with χ test were used to analyze the quantitative data and examine the relationship among variables. Qualitative interviews further informed the quantitative analysis. Of the 724 participants surveyed, 51% were users of P.L.A.N.E.T., with the majority accessing P.L.A.N.E.T. within the last 6 months. Most users felt that P.L.A.N.E.T. effectively met their needs for accessing specific cancer data, identifying evidenced-based programs, and ascertaining details on various cancer topics. There were statistically significant differences in demographic characteristics between users and nonusers of P.L.A.N.E.T., where users were more likely to have more experience in the cancer field, were older in age, and located in southern states. Results indicate that P.L.A.N.E.T. is seen as a viable and credible source for cancer control program planning and delivery. A reassessment of P.L.A.N.E.T.'s goals is warranted, which may support reaching out to new audiences, amplifying or removing underutilized resources, and adding additional resources and topics. Consideration for training and tutorials on P.L.A.N.E.T. would benefit partner agencies and build capacity for evidence-based program development.

What topics should we teach the parents of admitted neonates in the newborn care unit in the resource-limited setting - a Delphi study

BackgroundIn resource-limited settings, such as Rwanda, health care profession (HCP) to neonate ratios are low, and therefore caregivers play a significant role in providing care for their admitted neonates. To provide such Family Integrated Care, caregivers need knowledge, skills, and confidence. The objective of this study was to identify consensus from key stakeholders regarding the priority topics for a “parental neonatal curriculum.”MethodsA three-round Delphi-study was conducted. During Round-1, face-to-face interviews were undertaken and responses coded and categorized into themes. In Round-2, participants were presented with Round-1 feedback and asked to provide additional topics in respective themes. In Round-3, respondents were asked to rank the importance of these items using a 9-point Likert scale.ResultsTen, 36 and 40 stakeholders participated in Rounds-1, − 2 and − 3 respectively, including parents, midwives, nurses and physicians. Twenty and 37 education topics were identified in Rounds-1 and -2 respectively. In Round-3 47 of the 57 presented outcomes met pre-defined criteria for inclusion in the “parental neonatal curriculum.”ConclusionWe describe a “parental neonatal curriculum,” formed using robust consensus methods, describing the core topics required to educate parents of neonates admitted to a newborn care unit. The curriculum has been developed in Rwanda and is relevant to other resource-limited settings.

What matters most to patients about primary healthcare: mixed-methods patient priority setting exercises within the PREFeR (PRioritiEs For Research) project

ObjectivesTo identify patient-generated priority topics for future primary care research in British Columbia (BC), Canada within a diverse patient population.DesignMixed-methods priority setting exercises framed by the dialogue model, using the...

A systematic literature review of reported challenges in health care delivery to migrants and refugees in high-income countries - the 3C model

BackgroundMigrants and refugees have important health needs and face inequalities in their health status. Health care delivery to this patient group has become a challenging public health focus in high income countries. This paper summarizes current knowledge on health care delivery to migrants and refugees in high-income countries from multiple perspectives.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature review including primary source qualitative and quantitative studies between 2000 and 2017. Articles were excluded if the study setting was in low- or middle-income countries or focused on skilled migration. Quality assessment was done for qualitative and quantitative studies separately. Predefined variables were extracted in a standardized form. Authors were approached to provide missing information.ResultsOf 185 identified articles, 35 were included in the final analysis. We identified three main topics of challenges in health care delivery: communication, continuity of care and confidence. All but one study included at least one of the three main topics and in 21/35 (60%) all three topics were mentioned. We further developed the 3C model and elaborated the interrelatedness of the three topics. Additional topics identified showed that the specific regional context with legal, financial, geographical and cultural aspects is important and further influences the 3C model.ConclusionsThe 3C model gives a simple and comprehensive, patient-centered summary of key challenges in health care delivery for refugees and migrants. This concept is relevant to support clinicians in their day to day practice and in guiding stakeholders in priority setting for refugee and migrant health policies.

A survey of knowledge, attitudes and awareness of the human papillomavirus among healthcare professionals across the UK.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection implicated in 5% of cancers worldwide including most cervical cancer cases. In the UK, the HPV vaccine has been offered routinely to girls aged 11-13 since 2008 while cervical screening is offered to women aged 25-64. HPV testing will soon replace cytology as the primary screening method. This research evaluates what healthcare professionals (HCPs) across the UK know about HPV. A total of 643 UK-based HCPs from primary and secondary care took part in an anonymous cross-sectional survey between March and April 2018. The survey measured general HPV knowledge; HPV triage and test of cure knowledge; HPV vaccine knowledge; attitudes to the HPV vaccine and self-perceived adequacy of knowledge. Participants had a generally good understanding of HPV and the vaccination but there were gaps in detailed knowledge of the National Health Service HPV testing processes. There were some gaps in knowledge about the health sequelae of HPV for males. Years since HPV training was associated with triage and test of cure and vaccine knowledge scores. Furthermore, nurses and doctors in colposcopy clinics had much greater odds of having higher knowledge across all domains than other roles. In total, 76.2% of participants felt adequately informed about HPV and 35.6% made suggestions for improvements in training, many of which requested additional frequency and topics. Our results suggest that additional training is needed to ensure HCPs are equipped to deal with the changing landscape of HPV screening and vaccination in the UK.

Analysis of Twitter to Identify Topics Related to Eating Disorder Symptoms.

Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental illnesses associated with physical and psychiatric problems, and premature death. Examining social media communication about ED symptoms may provide insight into how to prevent and treat these disorders. This study is to explore topics on Twitter related to EDs. We applied the Correlation Explanation (CorEx) topic model on 18,288 ED-related tweets and identified 20 topics, which were further grouped into 8 categories. The top two topic categories are body image and ED consequences. We manually evaluated the relevance of tweets to their assigned topics and average accuracy is 77.86%. Our findings are consistent with another study using content analysis, and we identified additional topics, such as ED consequences, pornography, and treatment and education from these tweets.

Non-Dieting Focused Weight Management Curriculum in Current Accredited US Dietetic Programs: Awareness, Interest, Prevalence, and Predictors (P07-003-19)

ObjectivesNon-dieting, weight neutral approaches (NDWN) to weight management that focus on non-restrictive dieting and healthy weight, such as Health at Every Size (HAES), have been effective in weight management practices, but the degree of assimilation in U.S. dietetics programs is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the awareness and prevalence of, and interest in non-dieting focused weight management curriculum and determine factors associated with the presence of the curriculum in Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited dietetic programs in the U.S. MethodsDirectors of all US dietetic Coordinated Programs (CP) (n = 60) and Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD) (n = 214) were sent an online cross-sectional survey via RedCap software. For inclusion, programs were required to be an ACEND accredited CP or DPD program. The survey included questions about the program, student and faculty demographics, program structure, and topics pertaining to NDWN curriculum including knowledge, awareness, and interest in a NDWN approach to weight management. Results were analyzed using a chi-square test with continuity correction in R Studio Version 1.1.463. ResultsOf the 106 programs (39%) that responded, most (94.3%) reported knowledge of NDWN approaches to weight management such as HAES. While awareness was high, a smaller amount of schools (72%) included NDWN into their curriculum, and this was primarily accomplished in a single lecture (54%). Programs with NDWN curriculum were significantly more likely to be DPD (78%) as compared to CP (54%, P = 0.04). No other differences between program types were found. For programs without NDWN, most (71%) indicated interest in having NDWN in the curriculum. The most common factors that kept programs from including NDWN were: 1) lack of trained and knowledgeable staff (48%) and, 2) insufficient space in the curriculum to incorporate additional topics (43%). ConclusionsFindings suggest that many programs have adopted NDWN curriculum, with the majority being DPD programs, but that some US dietetic programs have fixable barriers to incorporation. Efforts should be made to better train dietetic program staff, and rework curriculum to prioritize this important topic. Funding SourcesNone.

Palfrey, C.The Future for Health Promotion. Bristol: Policy Press. 2018. 224 pp £24.99 (pbk) £24.99 (ebk) ISBN 978‐1447341239

The Future for Health Promotion is the most recent monograph from Colin Palfrey. He sets out to ‘examine the evidence relating to the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health promotion policies and projects, specifically but not exclusively in the UK’ (p.1). Highlighting the political context in which there is pressure on the National Health Service to meet an increasing demand for services with decreasing resources, he concludes that health promotion interventions have produced little research-based evidence as to their effectiveness. In order to make this case, Palfrey looks critically at methods of evaluation used within health promotion (chapter 3), strategies for health promotion in each country of the UK (chapter 4) and the principles of health economics (chapter 5). Other chapters provide the historical (chapter 2) and international (chapter 7) context for health promotion in the UK, as well as looking in detail at mental health promotion (chapter 6). The reader is encouraged to question what the purposes of health promotion are, and to recognise the significance of social determinants of health. Within each chapter, Palfrey summarises important reports, policies and conferences, and defines key terms, effectively positioning this book as an introductory text. Bearing this in mind, this intended audience may feel frustrated by the lack of clear structure. Sections within chapters, while interesting in their own right, do not always link to form a coherent argument that one can follow throughout the book. Additional signposting, and in some cases clearer introductions to the subject of each chapter, would be a helpful addition. Although the various chapters include much useful descriptive content (such as lists of mental health charities and settings for mental health promotion), their relevance in this particular text are not always made clear. This is particularly evident in the concluding chapter, which introduces additional topics, rather than drawing together threads from throughout the book. Palfrey attempts to look critically at the stated aims of health promotion, particularly empowerment. He questions how far people are ‘empowered’ if the purpose of health promotion initiatives is to deter people from making the ‘wrong’ choices (p.16). I would agree that the term empowerment needs to be considered critically, and Palfrey does acknowledge that this framing of health promotion ignores the impact structural forces. However, as has previously been argued, analysing the use of ‘empowerment’ involves a multidimensional conception of power (Robertson and Minkler 1994). While it is relevant to question the terminology involved in various initiatives, paying attention to the operation of power allows us to understand why behavioural health promotion is so appealing to governments (Baum and Fisher 2014). Clearly it is important to assess this book on its own terms; Palfrey is writing as an expert on policy evaluation. Nevertheless, readers of this journal may wish to go beyond this text in order to further problematise the underlying principles of health promotion. The issue of how best to evaluate policy is also fundamental to this book. Palfrey is concerned that health promotion policies often have unmeasurable objectives. He critiques performance indicators and randomised controlled trials, pointing to the risk of unjustified inferences in the case of the former and questioning how the latter are evaluated. Specifically, he suggests that too often those working in public health accept the project output as the endpoint, rather than evaluating the outcome in terms of the set objectives. Although this is an interesting point, there seems to be a disconnection between the hypothetical illustrative example, and some of the examples of studies briefly discussed. Palfrey also acknowledges the possible contribution of qualitative research, although he glosses over the potentialities of methods such as interviews and observation with superficial ‘positives’ and ‘negatives’. I was left with the sense that Palfrey has missed the opportunity to consider pertinent issues regarding the future of health promotion research in more depth, at the expense of providing a broad overview. Throughout the book, Palfrey makes claims regarding the lack of evidence or lack of consideration on several key issues. However, he appears to ignore relevant examples. For instance, the introductory chapter refers to ‘the dearth of empirical studies gathering evidence from people living in areas of relative deprivation about their lifestyle’ (p.13). There are many qualitative studies which do just that, and which also address attitudes towards government policies and health promotion initiatives. By not examining this evidence, Palfrey is limited in the extent to which he is able to meet his own aim with this book.

Simulation curricular content in postgraduate emergency medicine: A multicentre Delphi study

There is increasing evidence to support integration of simulation into medical training; however, no national emergency medicine (EM) simulation curriculum exists. Using Delphi methodology, we aimed to identify and establish content validity for adult EM curricular content best suited for simulation-based training, to inform national postgraduate EM training. A national panel of experts in EM simulation iteratively rated potential curricular topics, on a 4-point scale, to determine those best suited for simulation-based training. After each round, responses were analyzed. Topics scoring <2/4 were removed and remaining topics were resent to the panel for further ratings until consensus was achieved, defined as Cronbach α ≥ 0.95. At conclusion of the Delphi process, topics rated ≥ 3.5/4 were considered "core" curricular topics, while those rated 3.0-3.5 were considered "extended" curricular topics. Forty-five experts from 13 Canadian centres participated. Two hundred eighty potential curricular topics, in 29 domains, were generated from a systematic literature review, relevant educational documents and Delphi panellists. Three rounds of surveys were completed before consensus was achieved, with response rates ranging from 93-100%. Twenty-eight topics, in eight domains, reached consensus as "core" curricular topics. Thirty-five additional topics, in 14 domains, reached consensus as "extended" curricular topics. Delphi methodology allowed for achievement of expert consensus and content validation of EM curricular content best suited for simulation-based training. These results provide a foundation for improved integration of simulation into postgraduate EM training and can be used to inform a national simulation curriculum to supplement clinical training and optimize learning.

LO58: An education needs assessment: how can we optimize the education provided to off-service residents completing an emergency medicine rotation

Introduction: Over 150 Off Service Residents from 18 different programs rotate through our ED every academic year. We aim to determine the educational needs of these residents to we better design a curriculum for their ED rotation. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional convenience sample survey of 133 Off-Service PGY-2 residents who had rotated through the ED of The Ottawa Hospital in their PGY-1 year. (from July 2016 to June 2017). The survey was emailed to residents from March to May 2018 and consisted of 19 questions. Questions were qualitative, selection from list and rank order. They focused on 3 main areas: EM rotation impact and areas for improvement, desired content, desired method of learning. Data was collected using Survey Monkey. Results: We received 70 responses (53%) from 13 different residency programs. 36 (51.4%) of respondents were from the Family Medicine program. Qualitative themes included that the ED provides great opportunity to develop the ability to workup undifferentiated patients and allows for teaching around cases. Allowing more involvement in acute care cases and having more SIM sessions could improve the rotation. The most useful topic was chest pain/cardiovascular conditions (73.3% of residents) with 16 additional ED topics listed as important for their practice. The most useful skill was suturing (51.6% of residents) with 16 other ED procedures listed as important for their practice. The preferred teaching method was SIM (48.3%) followed by small group teaching (33.3%). Conclusion: The emergency department provides an excellent learning environment for a large range of Off-Service residents early in their training. In addition to clinical shifts, a curriculum incorporating simulation and small group teaching and that covers a large scope of topics is necessary to meet the needs of these residents.

Development of an educational tool in human anatomy with the use of QR codes

INTRODUCTIONThe anatomy's study has a fundamental role in the health area courses, but the approach towards it has been inappropriate at many times. The challenging terminology and the difficult handling of the anatomic pieces require compatibility between the teaching method and the student's preferences. As shown in many studies, a large number of students are not satisfied with anatomy's teaching methods and do not learn as much as they think they could.OBJECTIVEThis study seeks to develop an effective tool for the learning of anatomy, using QR codes linked to information on determined muscles.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe elected structures for this study were the gastrocnemius (GM) and the rectus femoris (RFM) muscles. We selected dissected anatomical specimens from the collection of the Department of Morphology, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences which GM and RFM were intact and with well visible belly and attachments. To approach them, we photographed and produced digital content with information about their origin, insertion, and action, along with additional topics. The website used to produce this content was “Wix.com” each link was associated with a QR code.RESULTSThe QR codes were printed and attached to the specimen in a way that students could use their cell phones to scan the codes and access the content corresponding to the muscle in question (Figure 1). The photo of the dissected muscle is then displayed on the screen accompanied by the basic function and fixation information (Figure 2). In this same screen, a link for those who want more information about this muscle, such as irrigation, innervation and clinical applications (Figure 3). This tool can be used by either IOS or Android phones.CONCLUSIONThe final result will be of value to increase the undergraduate's performance and will contribute to the development of different teaching methods, stimulating the student to use his own cell phone as a tool to aid his study alongside the dissected anatomical specimen.Support or Funding InformationPiBiC, CNPq 2018, BrazilThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Evaluating Mathematic- Textbooks of Intermediate Stage in KSA according to Van Hiele’s Geometric Thinking Model

This study aimed to find out the relevance of mathematics books in the intermediate stage of Van Hill levels of geometric thinking, in order to achieve this goal, the researcher utilized the analytical descriptive method, using the analysis card as a tool to conduct this study and prepared a list of skills in which Van Hill's levels of geometric thinking (conceptual, analytical, quasi- Inductive, Inductive, abstract). A number of results were found, most notably: the incompatibility of the engineering subjects in the second- grade books as well as the third- grade average with the hierarchy of Van Hill levels of geometric thinking. Failure to observe mathematics books in the middle stage, to include engineering activities at the induction level, to equip students to deal with secondary engineering topics. The researcher recommended a number of recommendations, the most important of which are: To reconsider the hierarchy of the levels of engineering thinking in the engineering activities included in the mathematics books in the intermediate stage. The work on enriching mathematics books in the second grade is average of engineering activities of semi- inductive level, to match the hierarchy of the levels of engineering thinking of the intermediate stage. The work of enriching mathematics books in the third grade is an average of engineering activities of semi- inductive and indicative level to match the hierarchical level of the engineering thinking of the middle stage, which is the basis for higher levels of engineering thinking in the secondary stage. The inclusion of additional topics in engineering and measurement in mathematics books for the third- grade, to contribute to the development of levels of engineering thinking for students.

Motivating Calculus Through a Single Question

The Corvette Problem is a nonroutine investigation, one that provides an authentic context to explore many interrelated calculus ideas. In our years of sharing this problem with students and colleagues, we have found additional topics from the calculus curriculum to have rich interpretations in this environment. The Corvette Problem contextualizes much of the material in first-semester undergraduate calculus by way of unifying theorems and definitions into a powerful mosaic of ideas.

Highlights of sixty years of processing tomato research in California

Tomato processing is an integral part of CaliforniaRSQUOs economy and research on tomato breeding, disease resistance and improved quantity and quality of processed tomato products supports this industry. Since 1957, the California League of Food Producers (CLFP) (www.clfp.com) has been funding research on tomato processing. The CLFP has represented both large and small food processors and beverage producers in California since 1905. Research reports dating back to 1957 were reviewed and summaries will be made of the following: 1) topic of research; 2) financial allocation per year; 3) accumulated financial allocation; and 4) average funding per project. Comparison will be made to more production-related research funded by the California Tomato Research Institute (CTRI) over the past 50 years. From 1957-2000, the largest amount of research funding was allocated to the topic of tomato breeding or advanced backcross breeding. Pest and disease resistance were also of great interest, however, after about 2001, very few of these projects were funded. It may be that CTRI funding of breeding and pest/disease resistance became more predominant at this time. Processing studies for new tomato cultivars were an important topic from 1974-2013, at which time the University of California-Davis project was superseded by more extensive studies carried out by two California seed suppliers. Additional research topics of interest included tomato sorting, pectic enzymes and consistency, color, rapid measurement of mold, peelability and quality, and numerous others. Research spanning the 60-year period from 1957 to 2017 will be summarized, and potential topics for future research will be identified. In addition, the potential for international collaborations with other WPTC members will be discussed.

Utilization of a BMT Nursing Symposium to Standardize Education of BMT Staff

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale To support our mission and provide our patients competent and professional care, we realized that we have to provide our nurses and support staff with comprehensive education. With increasing complexity of care, rapid development of immunotherapies and cellular therapies, and a significantly growing transplant program, it is imperative for not only BMT staff, but also staff from other BMT ancillary services, to have the knowledge and skills to successfully care for this patient population. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis A comprehensive BMT Nursing Symposium with interactive audio-visual presentation and question & answer session was developed by the BMT program. The day-long symposium covered a wide variety of topics including overviews of autologous and allogeneic transplants, as well as post-transplant complications including graft versus host disease, febrile neutropenia, CMV reactivation, and veno-occlusive disease. Additional topics regarding support services included nutrition, social work, stem cell collection and processing, and histocompatibility testing. All topics are presented by experts in the field including BMT physicians, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners. The symposium also included a portion on nursing care of the BMT patient. Two identical sessions of the symposium were offered in order to accommodate all staff's schedules while still allowing coverage off the inpatient and outpatient areas. All BMT nursing staff including inpatient, outpatient, and infusion areas are required to attend. The symposium is also offered to nursing staff in the Intensive Care Unit's (ICU) and Emergency Department's (ED) as these departments treat BMT patients. A seven hour Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit was offered to the participants. Findings & Interpretation The BMT team recently held the third annual BMT Nursing Symposium. Attendance at the symposium has increased each year with the most recent symposium reaching 80 attendees, a 25% increase from year one. After the symposium, surveys are distributed to determine how effective the presentations were. Overall, the symposium receives positive reviews. Staff also has the opportunity to suggest new topics for future years. Discussion & Implications Nurses have a great impact on the quality of care bone marrow transplant patients receive. By standardizing education for our staff, we hope to give our new hires a solid foundation, while at the same time reaffirming the foundation in our seasoned employees. Patients also interact with our support staff, so it is important for us to educate our entire multidisciplinary team so the patient can have uniform and consistent care throughout the whole treatment process. In the next few years, we hope to cover additional topics including cellular therapy. Also, if needed, we would like to explore the idea of having two tracks for the symposium – one for new employees and one for more experienced employees. Institutions should consider implementing a similar symposium to standardize staff education on the complexities of treating the BMT patient.

Planning for Community Scale-Up of Project HEAL: Insights From the SPRINT Initiative

Project HEAL (Health through Early Awareness and Learning) is an evidence-based intervention rooted in health behavior change theory and aims to increase cancer awareness and early detection through African American faith-based organizations. This study explored the potential for broader scale-up and dissemination of Project HEAL with the team's participation in a training program called Speeding Research-Tested INTerventions (SPRINT). The SPRINT training was framed using tools from the Business Model Canvas and the Value Proposition Canvas to guide trainees in designing (1) compelling value propositions, (2) a minimal viable product, and (3) questions to gain critical insight from various stakeholders during a process called Customer Discovery. We report on our experiences and insights on intervention scale-up that we gained from the training, including key findings from 41 discovery interviews conducted with various stakeholders of the church. We learned several valuable lessons from the discovery interviews such as scale-up will likely be more incremental than immediate. Additional refinement is needed to scale up the intervention for "real-world" application, such as making our technology more user-friendly and including additional health topics beyond cancer. We discuss how insights from the training refined our plans for future scale-up and dissemination in a constituent-informed way.

Evaluation of the Stability of Dielectric Nanofluids for Use in Transformers under Real Operating Conditions.

The application of nanotechnology to the electrical insulation of transformers has become a topic of interest in the last few years. Most authors propose the use of dielectric nanofluids, which are obtained by dispersing low concentrations of nanoparticles in conventional insulating liquids. Although a good number of works have demonstrated that dielectric nanofluids may exhibit superior dielectric properties than the base fluids, there is a key issue that still needs to be addressed, which is the long-term stability of those liquids. The studies about the stability of dielectric nanofluids fluids that have been published so far analyze the performance of the fluids under laboratory conditions which are far from the real working conditions the liquids would be subjected to when working inside a transformer. In this paper, an experimental study is presented that evaluates the stability of several dielectric nanofluids under realistic transformer operating conditions. As the study demonstrates, the stability of dielectric nanofluids depends strongly on the working temperature, on the materials applied to obtain the fluid, and on the manufacturing procedure, while other aspects, such as the interaction with other materials, are less relevant. Additional topics, such as the methods applied for evaluation of the stability and the physical properties of the dielectric nanofluids under test, are discussed in the paper as well.

Hunters and gatherers past and present: Perspectives on diversity, teaching, and information transmission

This article reviews four books on hunters and gatherers. It begins with a discussion of the debates over the concept of hunter-gatherers. Theoretical approaches to hunter-gather studies are examined briefly. The view then assesses the four books and the various subjects which they address. These subjects include the issue of ethnographic analogy, diversity, evolution, and archaeological perspectives as well as understanding contemporary hunter-gatherer societies. Additional topics include land use, the assignment of meaning to landscapes, way finding, territoriality, boundary-marking, and networks. Social learning, teaching, and information dissemination are discussed, with emphasis on some of the things that are learned, such as sharing, fair treatment of others, the importance of compassion, and moral values. Hunter-gatherer studies have evolved to the point where both archaeologists and anthropologists are taking into careful consideration the need to consider both past and present in their investigations and to focus also on the non-hunter-gatherer societies with whom they are interacting. As people who defined themselves as indigenous, hunter-gatherers are well aware of the social, economic, environmental and political challenges that they are facing, and they are seeking to address these challenges along with support organizations and researchers in an attempt to ensure their long-term security and well-being.

Improving Access to Justice: Community-based Solutions

Inaccessibility to justice is a major issue internationally, and in some countries access to justice has decreased in recent years. For example, the growth of inequality and decline of state support have left access to justice in the UK and the USA in a worst state in decades. There is therefore an urgent need to find solutions to protect peoples’ rights. This article outlines key issues of access to justice and identifies a number of solutions from grassroots efforts to organizational changes. The article highlights the importance of community-based solutions, such as mass pro bono contributions from individuals, law service providers and other organizations. It also proposes, as a key solution, making legal professions more representative of societies, and calls for law schools and legal regulators to take the required steps. Another important contributor to improved access to justice is promotion of pro bono work by all lawyers and law organizations at their own initiative. The article also discusses enhancing existing law degrees with additional topics on access to justice, to help students gain an objective picture of the realities of the legal system, and on individual differences, to benefit from latest interdisciplinary science. Community-based solutions provide stability even in times of difficult economic circumstances and political turbulence, and therefore are relevant to all societies.

A Review of Spiking Neuromorphic Hardware Communication Systems

Multiple neuromorphic systems use spiking neural networks (SNNs) to perform computation in a way that is inspired by concepts learned about the human brain. SNNs are artificial networks made up of neurons that fire a pulse, or spike, once the accumulated value of the inputs to the neuron exceeds a threshold. One of the most challenging parts of designing neuromorphic hardware is handling the vast degree of connectivity that neurons have with each other in the form of synaptic connections. This paper analyzes the neuromorphic systems Neurogrid, Braindrop, SpiNNaker, BrainScaleS, TrueNorth, Loihi, Darwin, and Dynap-SEL; and discusses the design of large scale spiking communication networks used in such systems. In particular, this paper looks at how each of these systems solved the challenges of forming packets with spiking information and how these packets are routed within the system. The routing of packets is analyzed at two scales: How the packets should be routed when traveling a short distance, and how the packets should be routed over longer global connections. Additional topics, such as the use of asynchronous circuits, robustness in communication, connection with a host machine, and network synchronization are also covered.