Providing Expert Advice Research Articles

Expanding choices in intranasal steroid therapy: Summary of a Roundtable Meeting

Intranasal steroids (INSs) are recommended as first-line treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR) and a wealth of data exist supporting them as safe and effective. Our goal was to develop a consensus to help physicians choose between INSs by focusing on clinical profiles and patient preferences and providing expert advice on choosing the appropriate INS for each patient. Experts from specialties that manage patients with AR attended a roundtable meeting to discuss INS therapy. Besides comparisons with other pharmacologic agents, they examined the effects of INS on nasal anatomy, patient preferences for INS, and benefits of product selection based on patient profile. The literature on INSs in AR was reviewed, examining properties of the various drugs, delivery devices, formulations, and patient preference data. Nasal anatomy and physiology must be considered to optimize INS deposition in the nose. Teaching patients proper technique for using INS devices is important to prevent nasal injury and may help concentrate drug effect on affected tissues. INS therapies differ somewhat in biological properties and specific formulation; however, all are considered safe and effective treatment for AR. Patients exhibit different clinical profiles, which play a role in INS selection. Patients can clearly identify sensory characteristics of INS and therefore establish product preference. Patient preference also can guide physicians in choosing the appropriate agent for each patient. Control of AR requires a systematic approach to treatment selection and follow-up. Treatment selection should be matched with clinical profile and patient preferences.

Considerations for experts in assessing the credibility of recovered memories of child sexual abuse: The importance of maintaining a case-specific focus.

In this article, the authors argue that a variety of psychological factors stand in the way of providing expert advice to the courts in terms of assessing the credibility of a complainant’s account of sexual abuse when there is a significant delay in reporting. These include difficulties in assessing (a) the complainant’s account of how he or she claims to have remembered or forgotten the abuse, (b) whether (and how) the claim of abuse originated within a therapeutic setting, and (c) the difficulty of generalizing from empirical evidence. It is argued that all of these issues can be more easily avoided if experts maintain a case-specific focus. In this article, the authors review both the psychological and legal controversies surrounding the false‐recovered memory debate, discuss how courts approach the admissibility and use of recovered memory testimony, and conclude that expert witnesses should carefully consider the above points before drawing general conclusions from the literature and applying them to individual cases.

Hotlines Provide Expert Advice on HIV/AIDS

Hotlines Provide Expert Advice on HIV/AIDS

Editors? highlights

The European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology considers itself to be the forum for clinical and basic scientists in our specialty in Europe. In this context we would like you to be aware of a European organisation where you can find support for your research: the European Science Foundation (www.esf.org) promotes high quality science at a European level. It acts as a catalyst by bringing together leading scientists and funding agencies to debate, plan and implement pan-European initiatives. The Medical Sciences cover such fields as immunology, human genetics and functional genomics, biotechnology, diagnostic and therapeutic medicine, communicable diseases, clinical studies and public health. The Standing Committee, the European Medical Research Council (EMRC), has the overall responsibility for initiating and coordinating scientific activities in those fields and for providing expert advice on issues of science policy. A number of publications are available, which give an insight into activities on the European level. One of the European Clinical Trials has been the investigation “Thromboprophylaxis Using Low molecular weight heparin In Pregnancy (TULIP)”. Activities and results are outlined in detail on the internet. Another group of researchers under the chairmanship of Dr Jacques Sizun came together to conduct “Research on Early Developmental Care for Extremely Premature Babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (ECD)”.

The role of clinical ethics committees

Clinical ethics committees (CEC) have been established in many hospitals in the USA and there are approximately 20 in the UK. Most are led by clinicians and have a number of different roles including, education of staff in ethical matters, ensuring policies which are sensitive to the needs and rights of patients and providing expert advice for particularly difficult ethical problems. This paper describes in detail the CEC at a large district general hospital in the west of England.

Medical professionalism in the new millennium: a physician charter.

Medical professionalism in the new millennium: a physician charter.

The role of clinical ethics committees

Clinical ethics committees (CEC) have been established in many hospitals in the USA and there are approximately 20 in the UK. Most are led by clinicians and have a number of different roles including, education of staff in ethical matters, ensuring policies which are sensitive to the needs and rights of patients and providing expert advice for particularly difficult ethical problems. This paper describes in detail the CEC at a large district general hospital in the west of England.

Listeria and listeriosis: Risk assessment as a new tool to unravel a multifaceted problem

Am J Infect Control 2001;29:225-7

Expanding Horizons: environmental and cultural values within natural boundaries

Indigenous communities have much to teach heritage professionals about the identification and management of cultural heritage values. A holistic approach to cultural heritage has long been promoted by indigenous communities; recent discussions in the professional heritage world about social and aesthetic value and debates about cultural landscapes all have precursors in indigenous concepts of cultural heritage. Since 1992 some states in Australia have been engaged in regional assessments of the environmental, heritage, social and economic values of forests. These assessments aim at providing expert advice upon which decisions about the future use of these forests will be made. The inclusion of cultural heritage assessments as part of the overall resource assessment is notable. Regional resource studies such as the Regional Forest Agreement process (incorporating assessments of natural, cultural, social and economic values) provide an opportunity to adopt a more holistic approach to cultural heritage management. In this as in other matters, indigenous communities appear to be leading the way, with the development of catchment resource management models and co-management strategies. As part of the Regional Forest Agreement process in Southeast Queensland (SEQ), two projects have identified principles and protocols concerning the management of cultural heritage values in the forests.

An expert system for implementing successful quality circle programmes in manufacturing firms

Examines the successful implementation of quality circle programmes in manufacturing firms. Presents work carried out during a research project undertaken to analyse the difficulties manufacturers and quality managers presently face in implementing successful quality circle programmes and develop an expert system to overcome these difficulties by providing expert advice and solutions. Discusses the importance of quality circle programmes in total quality management, and appraises the ability of the expert system to implement them. Illustrates the development methodology and functioning of the IBM PC‐based expert system developed during the research through a number of figures which include sample runs. Concludes by describing the primary benefits of this expert system and efforts taken to validate it.

Hydrocarbon Recovery Research: Doing More With Less Through Research Partnerships

Abstract In western Canada there is a strong interest in in situ production of heavy oil including conventional heavy crudes and bitumen. Lower world crude oil prices have increased the need for research aimed at reducing production costs and improving recoveries from existing operations in high-quality reservoirs as well as from future lower quality reserves. Greater dependence on research to remain competitive at reduced profit margins and reduced profit margins and reduced funds for R&D have challenged research managers to do more with less. This paper describes how the Oil Sands and Hydrocarbon Recovery Department at the Alberta Research Council is facing this challenge by working in partnership with industry, universities and other research organizations on a variety of projects. Introduction The mission of the Alberta Research Council (ARC) is to advance the economy of the province by promoting technology development, performing applied research, and providing expert advice, technical information and scientific infrastructure that is responsive to the needs of the private sector and supports activities in the public sector. To accomplish its mission the ARC works with industry, government, universities and other research centres in a variety of ways. The purpose of such research partnerships is to combine complementary technical and scientific skills, share research facilities and perform cost-effective research which meets the needs of the participants. This paper describes a number of partnership projects related to hydrocarbon recovery which differ widely in size, duration and technical scope. Cost-Shared Programs The AOSTRA/ARC/lndustry Program This cost-shared program develops new technology for in situ extraction of oil sands and heavy oil. Started in 1981, the first five-year program developed the necessary facilities, research expertise and infrastructure. The technical focus was on investigating steam and steam-additive processes to improve recovery, to gain a better understanding of process mechanisms, measure relevant physico-chemical properties and to develop mathematical models which describe laboratory results and which can also be used for field predictions. The second five year program, started in 1986, focusses on generic problems arising from field pilot operations. Companies can participate in the program by paying an annual membership fee which provides direct access to the research conducted at the ARC as well as commercial use rights to project technology which is owned by AOSTRA. The program is guided by a Program and Policy Committee and technical committees made up of representatives from all participants. Project information deemed nonproprietary can be published subject to a suitable delay period and member approval. Participating companies have direct access to ARC's staff and laboratories. If required, companies can also second their staff to work in ARC laboratories on projects of special interest, provided the results of such work can be shared with all participants. Membership fees constitute only a small percentage of the total program cost and participants recognize this as a good investment of their research funds. Investigations are carried out in the following areas: Process Flow Mechanisms This project investigates flow through porous media. The simple relative permeability approach now used in numerical simulations may not be adequate in cases where emulsions occur or where there is viscous fingering due to high mobility contrasts. In addition, it is important to understand how phenomena occurring on the microscopic pore scale relate to both the macrosc

Hydrocarbon Recovery Research: Doing More With Less Through Research Partnerships

In western Canada there is a strong interest in in situ production of heavy oil including conventional heavy crudes and bitumen. Lower world crude oil prices have increased the need for research aimed at reducing production costs and improving recoveries from existing operations in high-quality reservoirs as well as from future lower quality reserves. Greater dependence on research to remain competitive at reduced profit margins and reduced profit margins and reduced funds for R&D have challenged research managers to do more with less. This paper describes how the Oil Sands and Hydrocarbon Recovery Department at the Alberta Research Council is facing this challenge by working in partnership with industry, universities and other research organizations on a variety of projects.Introduction. The mission of the Alberta Research Council (ARC) is to advance the economy of the province by promoting technology development, performing applied research, and providing expert advice, technical information and scientific infrastructure that is responsive to the needs of the private sector and supports activities in the public sector. To accomplish its mission the ARC works with industry, government, universities and other research centres in a variety of ways. The purpose of such research partnerships is to combine complementary technical and scientific skills, share research facilities and perform cost-effective research which meets the needs of the participants. This paper describes a number of partnership projects related to hydrocarbon recovery which differ widely in size, duration and technical scope.Cost-Shared ProgramsThe AOSTRA/ARC/lndustry Program. This cost-shared program develops new technology for in situ extraction of oil sands and heavy oil. Started in 1981, the first five-year program developed the necessary facilities, research expertise and infrastructure. The technical focus was on investigating steam and steam-additive processes to improve recovery, to gain a better understanding of process mechanisms, measure relevant physico-chemical properties and to develop mathematical models which describe laboratory results and which can also be used for field predictions. The second five year program, started in 1986, focusses on generic problems arising from field pilot operations. Companies can participate in the program by paying an annual membership fee which provides direct access to the research conducted at the ARC as well as commercial use rights to project technology which is owned by AOSTRA. The program is guided by a Program and Policy Committee and technical committees made up of representatives from all participants. Project information deemed nonproprietary can be published subject to a suitable delay period and member approval.Participating companies have direct access to ARC's staff and laboratories. If required, companies can also second their staff to work in ARC laboratories on projects of special interest, provided the results of such work can be shared with all participants. Membership fees constitute only a small percentage of the total program cost and participants recognize this as a good investment of their research funds.Investigations are carried out in the following areas:Process Flow Mechanisms. This project investigates flow through porous media. The simple relative permeability approach now used in numerical simulations may not be adequate in cases where emulsions occur or where there is viscous fingering due to high mobility contrasts. In addition, it is important to understand how phenomena occurring on the microscopic pore scale relate to both the macrosc

Permanent Advisory Committees to the British Government Departments

A significant development in British government since the turn of the century is the permanent advisory committees to the British executive departments. Writing in 1926, Professor John A. Fairlie stated: “Detailed information as to the operation of such advisory committees is not available; but the multiplication of such bodies in recent years is an indication that they have been found useful.” At the time when this statement was written, there were 60 permanent advisory committees. In the subsequent 13 years, 37 additional ones have been established, making a total of 97 at the present time. This continued multiplication, and the extensive use of such committees made by the departments, indicates that they fill an imperative need in British government by providing expert advice. Likewise, they serve to protect the public interest, because they furnish an adequate safeguard for the public against a bureaucracy whose powers are increasing as the expansion of governmental functions continues.