British Practice Research Articles

Neurosurgical applications of tractography in the UK

Introduction Tractography derived from diffusion MRI can provide important insights into human brain microstructure in vivo. Neurosurgeons were quick to adopt the technique at the turn of the century, but it remains plagued by technical fallibilities. This study aims to describe how tractography is deployed clinically in a modern-day, public healthcare system, serving as a snapshot from the ‘shop floor’ of British neurosurgical practice. Methods An 11-question survey was circulated to the mailing lists of the Society of British Neurological Surgeons and British Neurosurgical Trainees’ Association, including questions on frequency, indication, tracts reconstructed, specific details of techniques used and personnel by whom it was performed, and a free-text section on the limitations of tractography. Results 58 survey responses were received, covering all 40 neurosurgical units in the UK and Ireland. Overall, responses were received from neurosurgeons at 36 units (90.0%) stating tractography was in use at that unit. 74.1% of the responses were from Consultants. The most common indication for tractography was in tumour resection. It was most commonly performed by neuroradiologists or imaging scientists. 75.9% of respondents stated that the model used to process tractography was the diffusion tensor (DTI). Many respondents were unaware of which algorithm (74.1%) or software tools (65.6%) were used by the operator to produce tractography visualisations. The corticospinal tract was the most commonly reconstructed tract. The most commonly cited limitations of the technique were perceived inaccuracy and brain shift. Conclusions In this UK-based survey of practising neurosurgeons, we show that 90% of neurosurgical units in the UK and Ireland use tractography regularly; that predominantly DTI-based reconstructions are used; that tumour resection remains the most frequent use of the technique; and that large tracts such as the corticospinal tract are most frequently identified. Many neurosurgeons remain unfamiliar with the underlying methods used to produce tractography visualisations.

«Russia does not step out of the role of the defendant in the Persian question…»: British discursive practices and Russian public opinion on the eve of the Great War

The paper is devoted to the peculiarities of the British socio-political discourse functioning in the relation towards Russia and its foreign policy on the eve of the First World War. Based on the materials related to the Persian question and the activities of the Persia Committee, it was shown that a significant part of the British public opinion was biased against Russia, even after the signing of the 1907 Convention. Such invective approach had a direct and indirect impact on the policy of Foreign Office. At the same time, these British discursive practices were accepted by Russian public opinion as a constant in the mutual relations of the two Empires. Moreover, there was a tendency in Russian press to use the British Other (accusing and rebuking) as a convenient tool for affirming their own ideas and positions. Commenting on various British accusations and reproaches, Russian publicists appealed to their own government, hinting that the latter pays more attention to the British public opinion than to the interests of Russia. The government, for its part, used the appeal to Russian public opinion as an argument in its disputes with London. Thus, during the period under review, in Russia it was learned how to use the British approach to it as to a convenient Other in its own interests.

The spiritual dimension in nursing

Spirituality refers to that which gives us hope, meaning and purpose. It is naturally part of the holistic nature of the care provided by nurses to people going through life's challenges: health-related accident, serious and incurable illness, chronic disease, end of life, etc. A British advanced practice nurse, who has enriched her training with a doctorate in spirituality in the context of health care, enlightens this dimension, which is less formalized in France than in the United Kingdom, and suggests resources for progressing personally and professionally.

Historical Memory and Practices of Monumental Commemoration of World War I in Australia (Part 1)

The authors’ research attention is focused on the specifics of the Australian memorial practices dedicated to the World War I. The statement is substantiated that in the Australian context memorials and military monuments formed a special post-war and post-traumatic part of the visual memory of the first Australian global military conflict. The features of the Australian memorial concept are clarified, the social function of the monuments and their important role in the psychological overcoming of the trauma and bitter losses experienced are noted. The multifaceted aspects of visualization of the monumental memory of the World War I in Australia are analyzed. Monuments and memorials are an important part of Australia’s visual heritage. It is concluded that each Australian State has developed its own concept of memory, embodied in various types and nature of monuments. The main ones are analyzed in detail: Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne (1928–1934); Australian War Memorial in Canberra (1941); Sydney Cenotaph (1927-1929) and Anzac Memorial in Sydney (1934); Desert Mounted Corps Memorial in Western Australia (1932); Victoria Memorials: Avenue of Honour and Victory Arch in Ballarat (1917-1919), Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial (2004), Great Ocean Road – the longest nationwide memorial (1919-1932); Hobart War Memorial in the Australian State of Tasmania (1925), as well as Villers-Bretonneux Australian National Memorial in France dedicated to French-Australian cooperation during the World War I (1938). The authors demonstrate an inseparable connection between the commemorative practices of Australia and the politics of national identity, explore the trends in the creation and development of memorial practices. It is noted that the overwhelming majority of memorial sites are based on the clearly expressed function of a place of memory, a place of mourning and commemoration. It was found that the representation of the memorial policy of the memory of Australia in the first post-war years was implemented at the beginning at the local level and was partially influenced by British memorial practices, transforming over time into a nationwide cultural resource.

Entanglements of Translation

AbstractThis article examines literary and cultural translations in the domain of thoughts on education by following the trajectories of intellectual networks among South Asian and German scholars. The main protagonists of this entangled intellectual history are Syed Abid Husain (1896–1978) and his teacher Eduard Spranger (1882–1963) and other actors who thought beyond British imperial educational ideology and practices. Husain engaged with the original writings of German educationists and translated Spranger's canonical text Psychologie des Jugendalters into Urdu as Nafsiyat-i unfuvan-i shabab. This text showcases a deep concern with the subject of youth that simultaneously exhibits immense potential but also shows glimpses of qualities inimical to national development. By drawing attention to how concepts, which are considered to be culturally and historically specific to German history, were translated into Urdu and Muslim cultural contexts in South Asia, this study seeks to arrive at a finer understanding of the entangled nature of Indo-German intellectual history that extends beyond nationalist frames.

LIKE-FOR-LIKE AND COMPATIBLE MORTARS FOR THE REPAIR OF TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS

Abstract. The subject of this paper is traditional mortar preparation and materials, particularly earth-lime and air or feebly hydraulic hot mixed lime mortars with particular emphasis upon British practice and experience, whilst stressing their international ubiquity historically. It will demonstrate their appropriate functional performance and attest to the need to use similar mortars, similarly composed and prepared, in the repair and conservation of traditionally constructed buildings. It will question how commonly modern Natural Hydraulic Limes may be considered to be like-for-like or of compatible strength and functional performance. The paper will draw upon extensive research into historic texts, as well as primary archive research into historic building accounts and the latest research into the properties of lime rich air lime mortars and NHL mortars.

Disease Activity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated With Arterial Vascular Disease.

There is evidence that several inflammatory diseases are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Whether this is true for inflammatory bowel diseases remains controversial. We aimed to assess this risk, corrected for the effects of conventional vascular risk factors and IBD disease activity. We conducted a cohort study in British general practice and hospital records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. We extracted the records of subjects with IBD and matched controls from 1997 to 2017. We conducted Cox proportional hazards and self-controlled case series analyses to examine the associations of IBD, disease activity, and hospitalization with the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death in a manner attempting to remove the effect of likely confounders. We identified 31,175 IBD patients (16,779 UC, 10,721 Crohn's disease, and 3675 unclassifiable cases) and 154,412 matched controls. Five hundred thirty-two myocardial infarctions, 555 strokes, and 469 cardiovascular deaths were observed in IBD cases. Our Cox regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, showed no significant excess of vascular events for IBD patients overall. There was, however, an increased hazard of myocardial infarction in ambulatory patients for acute disease (hazard ratio, 1.83 [1.28-2.62]) and chronic activity (hazard ratio, 1.69 [1.24-2.30]). This effect of disease activity was confirmed in our case series analysis. Though we have found no evidence of an overall excess of vascular events in IBD patients, our findings of increased risk with more active disease suggest the potential for anti-inflammatory therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk in this patient group.

Challenges to the Fostering and Adoption of Muslim Children in The British Care System

The number of Muslim foster children coming into care in the UK is increasing; however, the number of Muslim foster carers is not. Should care workers attempt to place Muslim children in Muslim homes? Or – as some have suggested – could this be deleterious to them, or be simply irrelevant? While many Muslim children are in foster care in the UK, there is often insufficient cultural training among workers, and some unfortunate situations have resulted in the suffering or even suicide of Muslim children in care. At the same time, it is not always apparent why there is a lack of Muslim foster carers – is it a religious concern, or due to some other reason? In response to these pressing concerns, this article examines the legal and practical implications of fostering and adoption law and policy in Britain. It includes an examination of the barriers preventing Muslim carers from coming into fostering and adoption, as well as the sensitive issue of caring for maḥram and non-maḥram children. It also reviews Islamic principles of adoption to determine how religious concerns intersect with the concerns of the state. Ultimately it aims to determine if British law, policies, or social work practices should be revised.

Explaining Variation in Levels of Public (Dis)trust in Traditional Leaders: Colonial Ruling Strategies and Contemporary Roles in Governance

AbstractWhy does public trust in traditional leaders vary dramatically across African countries? This article argues that trust in traditional leaders is higher in cases where: (1) the French colonial authority did not interfere in traditional structures and allowed leaders to operate outside of the colonial apparatus (as opposed to the British practice of augmenting the authority of traditional leaders to extract on behalf of the Crownwithinthe colonial structure); (2) leaders in the post-independence era were not hostile towards traditional leaders; and (3) citizens believe traditional leaders play a positive role in meeting local needs vis-à-vis contemporary elected officials.

What Can a Song Do to You? A Life Story of a Gurkha Prisoner in World War I

We have heard and read much about the wartime bravery of Gurkha soldiers, the idea of the Gurkhas as a martial race and how British recruitment practices targeted them. But much less is known about the experiences of Gurkha prisoners of war in World War I. The Germans captured thousands of soldiers fighting in the British Indian Army, and among these were a large number of Gurkhas. This imprisonment of soldiers not only served German strategic goals, but also offered a good opportunity to collect source material for research. This paper will briefly shed light on the scholarly activities engaged in by German scholars in Halbmondlager (Half Moon Camp), with a focus on the self-referential writing of one of the Gurkha prisoners of war, Jas Bahadur Rai, who never returned from the camp, but who did bequeath to posterity a song which he sang for the Germans. We will discuss whether Jas Bahadur had freedom of agency while recording his song, and if this song indeed qualifies as life-writing.

Antidepressant Prescribing in England: Patterns and Costs.

The number of prescriptions for antidepressants (ADs) in England and Wales has almost doubled in the past decade. The objective of this article is to describe the current prescribing rates of different antidepressants by general practice (GP) practice. We collated the prescribing behavior in each GP practice in the year April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. The monthly GP practice prescribing data reports for medication prescribing for each British National Formulary code and practice, as well as the prescriptions, quantity, and costs were examined in relation to prescribing practice. The data showed that 2.1 billion doses of antidepressant were prescribed to a total population of 52 million people. That equates to 11% of individuals taking ≥ 1 antidepressants on any day. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most prescribed class of ADs, with sertraline the most prescribed SSRI. The other most prescribed ADs were citalopram, fluoxetine, and mirtazapine. Some older agents, such as trimipramine and doxepin, are prescribed at a very high tariff. Broadly, the findings are in keeping with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance in that the bulk of prescriptions were for SSRIs. Regular audit of patient treatment at a general practice level will ensure appropriate targeted use of licensed medications as supported by the evidence base.

‘Journeying is Hard’ : Difficulty, Race and Poetics in Sarah Howe’s Loop of Jade

Amidst a growing consensus amongst critics that a discussion on race and white privilege in British poetry is long overdue, few have theorized on race and racism in relation to contemporary British BAME poets and their concomitant poetics. In being attentive to how BAME poets continue to be routinely othered by various critics, I will reflect upon my positionality as a BAME poet-critic who considers literary criticism to be a crucial means to respond to exemplary work being produced by contemporary British BAME poets, with the aim of disseminating contemporary BAME poetry in forums which are less welcoming to non-white or non-Eurocentric voices and perspectives. This article will examine whether parody can be construed as a form of resistance, which can be deployed to counter racialized/racist notions of difficulty, readability and authenticity. As the case study of my exploration of contemporary British-Chinese poetry, Sarah Howe’s Loop of Jade will be closely read to illuminate the inextricable 'connection between texts and the existential actualities of human life, politics, societies and events' (Said 1983). Through offering a textual analysis of Howe’s collection with due attention to her politics and poetics, I aim to reveal how Loop of Jade has broadened the definition of linguistic innovation in contemporary British poetry and practice through its scintillating use of parody and hybrid poetics.

A Tiger for Malgudi: Representation of Cultural Deterioration

This research article concentrates on cultural deterioration as projected in R. K. Narayan's A Tiger for Malagudi. The author picturizes the pain of post-colonial India that was struggling to preserve her pre-colonial culture. The novel depicts how the colonizers injected their philosophies in the psyche of the colonized. The concept of “we superior” allured the society. The temptation of new culture grew more in India and that transformed the society into new hybrid culture. On the backdrop of colonial era, the novel demonstrates a tendency of new culture and its impact upon Indian society. Characters are placed to exhibit how colonized adopt new culture and so much so that they even converse their names to be incorporated in British culture. British culture and practice restructured Indian society. Postcolonial theory and theory of mimicry are applied in this dissertation as a framework for analyzing the condition of Indian culture. The colonial period established British cultures which by mixing with Indian culture turn out to be hybrid deteriorating the traditional Indian culture. With view of advanced culture, Indian society accredited new culture. Colonial period in India transformed social and cultural structure.

Development of an algorithm to facilitate the clinical management of syphilis.

Syphilis staging is important to determine treatment, post-treatment monitoring, and sexual partner follow-up. Many prescribers find syphilis staging to be challenging. Current guidelines for the management of patients diagnosed with syphilis provide little direction aside from an overview of some common symptoms and directing providers to stage cases in conjunction with experienced colleagues. In Canada and the United States, the rate of infectious syphilis has increased noticeably since 2000. Given the increase in rates of syphilis, it is important for all clinicians to understand how to appropriately manage patient care to reduce rates of infection. A clinical algorithm was developed to stage infectious syphilis. This was tested among nurse practitioners and physicians in a sexually transmitted infection clinic. The algorithm was developed based on a review of the available United States, Canadian, and British practice guidelines. Project results demonstrated that this resource could be a relevant practice tool for providers in multiple clinical settings to ensure that patients receive appropriate diagnosis, staging, and treatment of syphilis infection. A case study of a patient who presented to the clinic as a contact is used to review the algorithm and demonstrate the appropriate clinical management of patients. The algorithm appropriately guided practice and was useful to clinicians.

Paediatric airway management: a survey of British practice

Paediatric airway management: a survey of British practice

The Early Seaside Photographic Collection

The Early Seaside Photographic Collection provides insight into British commercial seaside photographic practice from 1860 to 1920. This privately held collection offers a visual exposition of the ...

Cultural Transfer, Circulation, and Diffusion between Britain and Europe from the 1770s to the 1870s: The Case of Thoroughbred Horse-Racing and Breeding

This study explores the transnational flows of ideas about racing, thoroughbred horse-breeding, and racing’s literary structures between Britain and mainland Europe between circa 1770 and the 1880s. It draws out the ideas and ideologies associated with horse racing and breeding; the cross-border movements of cultural mediators (such as owners, breeders, jockeys, and trainers); and the relevant media produced. It reveals the initial resistance to British models, especially amongst equestrian and state stud officials, and the relatively meagre support for horse-racing in much of continental Europe up to the 1850s. But British models were promulgated by some aristocrats and the emerging bourgeois elites, especially in France, Germany, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary. Some English trainers and jockeys moved to Europe to gain employment. European racing societies soon emerged, while national stud books, racing calendars, and racing magazines transmitted information about British racing. As British-style racing spread, Europeans adopted many British practices. But European culture was different, so racing culture was adapted, modified and resisted, whether in the European popularity for Sunday races, the limited interest in betting or differences in funding, while the wish to compete encouraged growing success for European horses in British races from the 1850s.

Im/possible Choreographies: Diffractive Processes and Ethical Entanglements in Current British Dance Practices

This article considers the ethico-aesthetic potential of British choreographic practices that respond to questions raised by the current sociopolitical moment by staging im/possibilities and dis/orientation and by envisioning alternative understandings of the present. It embraces Karen Barad's new materialist onto-epistemology as an inspiring framework to discuss the significance of choreography that troubles accepted patterns of relationality and engages in a creative-critical remapping of experience.

A typology of meanings: practitioners views of ‘program'

Previously published work has identified confusion in the definition of the term program. This paper reports on a study investigating the understanding of program terminology within a sample of experienced management and project management practitioners across a range of industries and disciplines. The study was conducted in Australia which is subject to influence by both USA and British practice, without being constrained to favor either, but where any inconsistencies between these influences are potentially problematic. The outcome was that confusion on this issue was found within the practitioner community. Furthermore, this confusion had developed into a competition between fields over exclusive usage of the term to the extent that one organization had even attempted to resolve it by attributing different meanings to the two different nationality spellings of the term. No common understanding or definition of the term was articulated and there was contention over whether a program has to be transformational to be labelled as such. The boundaries with the terms project and portfolio were also unclear. The existence of these inconsistencies indicates there is a need for an internally consistent set of definitions of project, program, and portfolio to be agreed and adopted across the whole project management field.

Znaczenie modelu westminsterskiego w kształtowaniu się pozycji ustrojowej parlamentu w Papui-Nowej Gwinei

The article presents the issues of the political position of the parliament in one of the largest states of the South Pacific subregion – Papua New Guinea. Shaping its legal and political system, the state profoundly derived from the British practice. This process was initiated in the first decade of the 20th century as a result of Australian rule, which had lasted by that time the state gained its independence in 1975. As a consequence, all the basic features of Westminster democracy were adopted, with the unitary form of government and the unicameral parliament. The analysis allowed to indicate that the character of Papuan democracy has evolved over the years, and therefore some elements of the Westminster model have become inadequate and not very effective. These changes concerned mainly superior state structures, including the parliament. It is a body increasingly controlled by the executive nowadays, that lost its original representative character. In this article, the author has adopted the following research methods: an analysis of legal sources and a critical analysis as well as a descriptive method. The text was divided into three main parts, the introduction and the conclusion.