Research Conference Research Articles

Utilising a ‘Community of Practice’ to support pharmacists to work in residential aged care: protocol for a longitudinal evaluation

IntroductionA Community of Practice is briefly defined as a group of people with a shared interest in a given area of practice who work collaboratively to grow collective knowledge. Communities...

Abstract PO2-11-09: European Lobular Breast Cancer Advocates: Bridging the Geographical Gaps in Lobular Breast Cancer Education and Awareness

Abstract Introduction In 2019, Invasive Lobular Cancer (ILC) Patient Advocates attended the 3rd meeting of the European Lobular Breast Cancer Consortium (ELBCC), a scientific community focused on lobular research and treatment. European Lobular Breast Cancer Advocates (ELBCA) now have a network of ILC patient advocates across Europe. ILC is classified by the World Health Organisation as the most common Special Type of Breast Cancer. In 2022 there were 576,300 diagnoses of breast cancer in Europe, 15% ~86,500 were ILC. ILC is a histologically distinct breast cancer with diverse presentations including a tendency to metastasize to unique locations. Current endocrine therapies may have different effectiveness for ILC making treatment challenging. Current imaging tools are often unreliable with up to 30% of ILC tumours not identified on mammograms and detection is often delayed. Challenges There are no standardised European diagnostic or treatment protocols for ILC. ELBCA addresses this with collaborative efforts between ILC medical professionals and researchers. It’s a major challenge because each European country has a different health care system and economic policy structure. It’s also a challenge to streamline the translation of clinically accurate information to European patients in their own language. Not all European countries are members of the EU, there are a minimum of 24 official European languages. Established European breast cancer patient organizations often don’t distinguish between different histological subtypes. Current European policy and administrative processes have hindered the formation of a not-for-profit Advocacy Organization. Without such an organization, fundraising and collaborative efforts with others is difficult. Conclusions ELBCA has made significant progress towards raising awareness and increasing knowledge of ILC across Europe. Our poster will expand on these accomplishments as well as the following goals: Work with European and International ILC research and patient communities to better understand this unique histological subtype. Elevate ILC research priorities and inform European policy to recognize ILC as a distinct disease. Enhance education of ILC among primary HCP’s and patients. Establish a recognized European ILC Advocacy Organization and collaborate with established BC organizations. Attend major BC research and clinical conferences. Lobby to achieve increased funding for ILC research and clinical trials. Citation Format: Siobhan Freeney, Helene Bonval, Esther Geven, Lori Petitti, Rian Terveer, Claire Turner, Cathrin Brisken, Patrick Derksen, Christine Desmedt, Thijs Koorman, ADRIAN LEE, Steffi Oesterreich, Anne Salomon, George Sflomos, Karen Van Baelen, Tone Lien, Damir Vareslija, Sabine Linn. European Lobular Breast Cancer Advocates: Bridging the Geographical Gaps in Lobular Breast Cancer Education and Awareness [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-11-09.

Prevalence and health effects of post-COVID-19 condition in Africa: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionSARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused global devastations in the social, economic and health systems of every nation, but disproportionately the nations in Africa. Apart from its grave effects on the global...

Organizational Climate for Inclusion Among Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Analysis.

The aim of this study was to answer the research question: What factors predict sense of belonging among nurses?The connection between inclusion (an element of diversity and equity) and a nurse's sense of belonging is poorly understood. In this mixed-methods research, regression analysis of Climate for Inclusion Scale subscales and Sense of Belonging score plus thematic content analysis of questions assessing sense of belonging were conducted. Nurses (n = 131) attending a research conference in June to July 2022 were invited to participate; 131 (72%) participated. Climate for Inclusion Scale was positively associated with and predictive of sense of belonging (F3,113 = 71.7, P < 0.001). Themes reflecting actions to enhance sense of belonging were as follows: authentic leadership, embracing social justice, team unification, feeling heard, being seen, professional development, developing a healthier work environment, and integration of differences. Leaders can promote a sense of belonging among nurses by focusing on actions reflected in the themes.

Abstract Book of International Conference on Health Research - 2024

Supplementry Issue; Conference Proceeding of International Health Research Conference held at Rehman Medical Institute from 26th-29th April, 2024

E059 Identifying the associations between anxiety/depression and disease activity in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy

Abstract Background/Aims Idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) is characterised by myositis, which can impact activities of daily living. The 2022 BSR IIM management guideline recommends assessing/managing factors associated with poor mental wellbeing and quality of life. Research into anxiety and depression associated with IIM is limited. This study aims to investigate associations between anxiety/depression and IIM disease activity. Methods The MYOPROSP study recruited UK adults with verified IIM throughout a 36 month period between 2016 and 2020. Patient questionnaires were collected at three, six, and 12 months. Participants completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, which includes a question relating to anxiety and depression with five possible responses: “I am (not/slightly/moderately/severely/extremely) anxious or depressed”. The cohort was divided by response to the EQ-5D-5L anxiety/depression question at the time of recruitment. Disease activity was assessed using International Myositis Assessment &amp; Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) Disease Activity Core Set Measures (see Table 1) and summarised across each EQ-5D-5L anxiety/depression group. The EQ-5D-5L visual analogue scale (VAS) relating to “overall health” (higher values correspond to better health) this value was summarised across each EQ-5D-5L anxiety/depression group. Only participants with complete data at recruitment were included in analysis. One-way ANOVA was performed to determine statistical significance (p &amp;lt; 0.05) of each IMACS Disease Activity Core Set Measure and EQ-5D-5L VAS across anxiety/depression groups. Results Complete data on 35 participants (71% female) was collected. All participants reported to have no, slight, or moderate anxiety/depression (i.e. no participant reported severe or extreme anxiety/depression) (Table 1). The “not anxious/depressed” group demonstrated higher EQ-5D VAS values (reflecting better perceived health), shorter disease duration, and higher CK levels, compared to groups with “slight” and “moderate” anxiety/depression. All other investigated variables did not consistently vary across anxiety/depression groups. One-way ANOVA identified that only disease duration and EQ-5D VAS were significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L anxiety/depression group. Conclusion Anxiety and depression are associated with longer disease duration and poorer overall health in adults with IIM. These findings suggest that anxiety/depression in adults with IIM may be due to sustained muscle damage and resulting impacts upon activities of daily living and quality of life, rather than disease activity. Disclosure N.Z. Aziz: None. A. Oldroyd: None. F. Bozan: None. X. Lyu: None. J.A. Lamb: None. P. Gordon: None. D.A. Isenberg: None. N. McHugh: None. H. Gunawardena: None. P. Kiely: None. P.M. Machado: Consultancies; PMM has received consulting/speaker’s fees from Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Orphazyme, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. J. Miller: None. S. Tansley: None. A. Bharadwaj: None. R. Laxminarayan: None. N. Jordan: None. C. Yee: None. D. Makkuni: None. J. Taylor: None. P.C. Lanyon: Consultancies; PCL has received consultancy fees from Pfizer. Grants/research support; PCL has received research grants, speaker fees and conference attendance support from CSL Vifor. V.H. Ong: None. A. Prabu: None. M. Akil: None. K.M. Douglas: None. E. Stathopoulou: None. M. Regan: None. H. Chinoy: None.

Brief Histories of Retroviral Integration Research and Associated International Conferences.

The field of retroviral integration research has a long history that started with the provirus hypothesis and subsequent discoveries of the retroviral reverse transcriptase and integrase enzymes. Because both enzymes are essential for retroviral replication, they became valued targets in the effort to discover effective compounds to inhibit HIV-1 replication. In 2007, the first integrase strand transfer inhibitor was licensed for clinical use, and subsequently approved second-generation integrase inhibitors are now commonly co-formulated with reverse transcriptase inhibitors to treat people living with HIV. International meetings specifically focused on integrase and retroviral integration research first convened in 1995, and this paper is part of the Viruses Special Issue on the 7th International Conference on Retroviral Integration, which was held in Boulder Colorado in the summer of 2023. Herein, we overview key historical developments in the field, especially as they pertain to the development of the strand transfer inhibitor drug class. Starting from the mid-1990s, research advancements are presented through the lens of the international conferences. Our overview highlights the impact that regularly scheduled, subject-specific international meetings can have on community-building and, as a result, on field-specific collaborations and scientific advancements.

Abstracts of the 17th UK Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference, 17th and 18th April 2024.

Abstracts of the 17th UK Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference, 17th and 18th April 2024.

Ontario Student Medical Education Research Conference (OSMERC) 2024

Ontario Student Medical Education Research Conference (OSMERC) 2024

Perioperative mental health intervention for depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults study protocol: design and methods for three linked randomised controlled trials

IntroductionPreoperative anxiety and depression symptoms among older surgical patients are associated with poor postoperative outcomes, yet evidence-based interventions for anxiety and depression have not been applied within this setting. We...

Ovarian cancer think tank: An overview of the current status of ovarian cancer screening and recommendations for future directions

Early diagnosis and screening of ovarian cancer remain significant challenges to improving patient outcomes. There is an urgent need to implement both established and modern strategies to address the “early detection” conundrum, especially as new research continues to uncover the complexities of the disease. The discussion provided is the result of a unique research conference focused on reviewing early detection modalities and providing insight into future approaches.

Experimental study of Ni/TiO2/β-Ga2O3 metal–dielectric–semiconductor diodes using p-NiO junction termination extension

This work demonstrates TiO2/β-Ga2O3 metal–dielectric–semiconductor (MDS) diodes with an average breakdown field beyond the material limits of SiC and GaN. These MDS diodes have lower conduction losses and higher breakdown voltage (Vbk) than the cofabricated Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), simultaneously improving both on- and off-state parameters that are typically in competition with each other. With further optimized field management using p-NiO guard rings (GRs), the Ni/TiO2/β-Ga2O3 MDS diodes present a path to realistically utilize the high critical field of Ga2O3 without large forward conduction losses from a high-barrier junction. MDS diodes showed a lower Von (0.8 V) than the SBDs (1.1 V) from linear extrapolation of the current density-voltage (J-V) curve. The MDS diode had higher Vbk of 1190 V (3.0 MV/cm) compared to 685 V (2.3 MV/cm) for the SBD, and the MDS diode with the p-NiO guard ring saw further improvement with Vbk of 1776 V (3.7 MV/cm) compared to 826 V (2.5 MV/cm) for GR SBD. The BFOM (Vbk2/Ron,sp) of 518 MW/cm2 for the GR HJD is competitive with other literature results. A new figure of merit that includes the impact of turn on voltage is also proposed and demonstrated in this paper, which highlights how diodes perform in a practical high-power operation. This full paper is derived from the proceeding abstract of Willams et al. [IEEE Device Research Conference, Santa Barbara, CA, 25-28 June 2023 (IEEE, New York, 2023)].

Designing the CLAIO 2022 Conference Program With Combinatorial Optimization Techniques

Designing the scientific program of a technical conference is a nontrivial task, in particular when there are many parallel sessions to be scheduled. In this setting, each session must be composed by a thematically coherent set of presentations, whereas sessions attracting a similar audience should not be scheduled simultaneously. In this work we explore this issue, by proposing a combinatorial optimization model representing this situation and by presenting computational techniques that allow to obtain good-quality solutions for this problem. We illustrate the application of these techniques to the scientific program of the XXI Latin-Iberoamerican Conference in Operations Research, which took place in December 2022. We present experiments assessing the general contribution of the computational machinery proposed in this work, concluding that these techniques allow to automatically design the scientific program of a mid- to large-sized conference while taking into account the mentioned criteria.

The status of digital and information literacies in South Africa from 2016 to 2022: a literature review

Purpose In today’s information and knowledge society, it is indispensable for citizens to acquire the requisite digital and information literacy (IL) skills to search information independently to meet their multiple and diverse information needs. As a result of digitalisation in the world, development and acquisition of digital and information skills is critical even for students and learners to retrieve digitised and online information to meet or achieve their curriculum-related accomplishments. The purpose of this study is to investigate the status of the digital and information literacies in South Africa from 2016 to 2022. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used a scoping review approach to collect data from research articles, conference articles and textbooks on digital literacy and IL – published in the years ranging between 2016 and 2022 from Google Scholar. Findings The major findings revealed that majority of the citizens especially students and learners lack digital and IL skills to recognise when information is needed, to find, locate, evaluate and use the retrieved information to meet an information need in a particular situation or context. Practical implications of this study include the alignment of curricula towards information and communication technologies to face the everchanging digital information technologies. Originality/value The study used scoping literature review research where empirical studies were retrieved and selected to address the objectives. This study provided significant approaches regarding promoting information and digital literacies in developing countries such as South Africa.

Exploring the experiences of minoritised groups at life sciences conferences in the UK: new perspectives and actions to improve inclusivity in the sector

Attending and participating in scientific research meetings and conferences is a key mechanism for researchers to share information and knowledge, build networks, and establish relationships and collaborations to support career development. In the UK, researchers from minoritised or underrepresented groups, may have a different experience at a conference than their peers. As a high profile provider of genomics-focussed life science conferences, Wellcome Connecting Science is committed to ensuring that our events are as inclusive as possible. Here we discuss our commitments to improving access and inclusion for everyone at our scientific conferences and research meetings, and we encourage others in the sector to reflect and consider how they can also support equitable experiences.

The Other COVID Crisis: Prospects for Recovery from Pandemic Policies

This lecture is the F.A. Hayek Memorial Lecture, given at the 2023 Austrian Economics Research Conference in Auburn, Alabama. The lecture addresses conditions in employment, unemployment, and discusses the concerning trend of adults who are not in the labor market at all.

A journey through time: the story behind ‘eight decades of changes in occupational tasks, computerization and the gender pay gap’

ABSTRACT In this interview article, we embark on a fascinating journey through time alongside the winners of the 2023 DRUID Best Paper Award. DRUID,an annual research conference renowned as the hub of cutting-edge research on innovation and the dynamics of structural, institutional, and geographic change, bestows this award on the most innovative and exceptional conference submission. As longstanding allies of DRUID, Industry and Innovation offers an exclusive peek behind the curtains, unveiling the untold stories that underlie award-winning research. In 2023, this coveted DRUID prize was awarded to a paper by Ljubica Nedelkoska, Shreyas Gadgin Matha, James McNerney, Andre Assumpcao, Dario Diodato, and Frank Neffke. Their work stands out through an impressive data collection effort and the exploration of a compelling and urgent research question – how technological change has impacted the gender pay gap. Throughout this interview, the author team takes us down memory lane, retelling the story behind their research project. On this journey through time, we trace the genesis of the authors’ innovative ideas and the intricate pathways they navigated in their quest to understand the past as a means of unravelling the future of work and its implications for gender inequality in the labour market. This journey not only takes us back in time but also points to potential avenues for future research and open questions that lie ahead.

A systematic literature review on the effect of information systems on the performance of government officials

A systematic literature review on the effect of information systems on the performance of government officials

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF LABOUR COMMISSIONERS' DILEMMAS WHEN DEALING WITH WORKPLACE DISPUTES IN SOUTH AFRICA

Purpose: The overarching purpose of the study is to review the existing literature on the immense challenges faced by South African labour commissioners when dealing with labour disputes. Upholding decent work is indispensable to dispel injustice and poor working conditions at the workplace.   Theoretical reference: It is one of the key sustainable development goals the United Nations sets in which South Africa is a member state. Labour commissioners of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in South Africa play an integral role in accomplishing decent work through adjudicating labour disputes between employees and employers. Method: The study adopted a systematic review method. The study extensively reviewed the available literature, which include published research articles, conference papers, reports and policy documents over the period 2012–2022 from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect databases.   Results and Conclusion: The study found unparalleled challenges, which include illiteracy and poor level of education among the complainants, mounting reported labour caseload, increase in labour matter reviews, re-filing of cases dealt with due to unimplemented awards, poor access to training of the commissioners, among others.   Implications of research: The study provides critical policy implications to address labour commissioners' challenges in South Africa. The management must also ensure that the complainants have access to adequate technology whenever they contemplate conducting their dispute resolution process via digital platforms.   Originality/value: However, despite labour commissioners facing challenges linked to their work, which compromise their ability to discharge their duties effectively, studies have yet to be conducted to specifically examine the challenges faced by labour commissioners in South Africa.

Yoko Chiba.

"A key experience in my education / career was attending a Gordon Research Conference when I was a PhD student; I decided to become a scientist from that moment… I am waiting for the day when someone will discover the way to eradicate all violence from human society." Find out more about Yoko Chiba in her Introducing… Profile.