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- ItemAdvocacy, activism, and lobbying: How variations in interpretation affects ability for academia to engage with public policy(PLOS, 2022-03-18) Jessani, Nasreen S.; Ling, Brenton; Babcock, Carly; Valmeekanathan, Akshara; Holtgrave, David R.Research and teaching are considered core-responsibilities for academic researchers. “Practice” activities however are viewed as ancillary, despite university emphasis on their importance. As funders, governments, and academia address the role of research in social impact, the deliberations on researcher activism, advocacy and lobbying have seen a resurgence. This study explores the perceptions of 52 faculty and 24 government decisionmakers on the roles, responsibilities, and restrictions of an academic to proactively engage in efforts that can be interpreted under these three terms. Data was coded through inductive thematic analysis using Atlas.Ti and a framework approach. We found that discordant perceptions about how much activism, advocacy and lobbying faculty should be engaging in, results from how each term is defined, interpreted, supported and reported by the individuals, the School of Public Health (SPH), and government agencies. Influential faculty factors included: seniority, previous experiences, position within the institution, and being embedded in a research center with an advocacy focus. Faculty views on support for advocacy were often divergent. We surmise therefore, that for effective and mutually beneficial collaboration to occur, academic institutions need to align rhetoric with reality with respect to encouraging modes and support for government engagement. Similarly, government agencies need to provide more flexible modes of engagement. This will contribute to alleviating confusion as well as tension leading to more effective engagement and consequently opportunity for evidence-informed decision making in public health globally.
- ItemEffects of damping constant of electron and size on quantum-based frequency-dependent dielectric function of small metallic plasmonic devices(Elsevier B.V, 2022-07) Akinyemi, Lateef; Oladejo, Sunday; Ekwe, Stephen; Imoize, Agbotiname Lucky; Ojo, Stephen AbiodunElectron surface dissipation and quantum-limited size tend to control the material properties of exterior plasmon oscillation as the size of metal nanoparticles goes into the nanoscale domain. The need to examine this characteristic behaviour and its potential becomes imperative. This study explores the effects of the damping constant of electrons and size quantum-based frequency-dependent dielectric function (FDDF) of small metallic materials using an elementary model of electrons in a confined box. The frequency-dependent dielectric function is employed to study quantum size impacts and damping constant in the optical spectra region. The quantum amended frequency-dependent dielectric function and the absorbing spectra of silver-cube geometry for different sizes by adding damping constant and without damping constant are critically examined. The findings reveal that when the damping constant effect is absent, the multiple crests emerge for the quantum-amended frequency-dependent dielectric function and absorbing spectra of the metallic materials, highlighting the electronic discretization levels in the tiny quantum-limited structure. While the damping constant is included, the multiple summits are hidden and vanish owing to a considerable widening of the structures independently. The change in the numerical results from the quantum case to the classical case for growing widths is further illustrated for both cases. The numerical results enhance our knowledge of damping constant dissipation and quantum limited-size impact in small-scaled plasmonic devices.
- ItemEffects of cannabidiol on vacuous chewing movements, plasma glucose and oxidative stress indices in rats administered high dose risperidone(Springer Nature, 2022-11-16) Kajero, Jaiyeola Abiola; Seedat, Soraya, 1966-; Ohaeri, Jude; Akindele, Abidemi; Aina, OluwagbemigaAtypical antipsychotics, despite their rapid dissociation from dopamine receptors and reduced tendency to induce oxidative stress, have been associated with difficult-to-manage movement disorders, including tardive dyskinesia (TD). The study set out to investigate the effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a potent antioxidant, on risperidone-induced behavioural and motor disturbances; namely vacuous chewing movements (VCM), and oxidative stress markers (e.g. superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), Nitric oxide (NO), and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)). Oral risperidone (10 mg/kg) or oral CBD (5 mg/kg) were administered to six experimental groups. While risperidone alone was administered for 28 days, CBD concomitantly or in sequential order with risperidone, was administered for 28 days; and CBD alone was administered for 21 days. Behavioural, motor, and specific biochemical parameters, which included VCM, muscle tone, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and oxidative stress markers were assessed at different time points after the last dose of medication. Oral CBD (5 mg/kg) significantly reduced risperidone-induced elevated FBS when given after the administration of risperidone. Oral CBD also had effects on VCM when administered before risperidone and similarly, attenuated risperidone-induced increased muscle tone. It was also established that concomitant or sequential administration of CBD and risperidone did not have any adverse effects on cognition or locomotion. Both CBD and risperidone increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and decreased the activity of pro-oxidant enzymes. This study suggests CBD could mitigate metabolic dysregulation and extrapyramidal side effects associated with risperidone without producing cognitive impairments.
- ItemChallenges to infection control in early communication intervention : a scoping review(AOSIS (Pty) Ltd., 2022-08-03) Achmat, Bilqees; Gerber, BernaBackground: Personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are crucial to preventing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study used a scoping review to investigate the challenges that exist when speech–language therapists (SLTs) use IPC measures for providing early communication intervention (ECI). Objectives: To describe existing, recent literature on PPE and IPC measures used in early intervention through a scoping review (steps 1–5) and to consult local clinicians to investigate how SLTs who provide ECI in South Africa relate to these findings (step 6 of the scoping review). Method: A scoping review was performed which followed the PRISMA-ScR framework. Because of limited literature on PPE and IPC measures used by SLTs in providing ECI, the inclusion criteria were adjusted to include PPE and IPC measures used by healthcare workers (HCWs) who provide early intervention to the population of infants and toddlers up to 3 years old. At the time of the review, articles were not older than 10 years and were published between 2011 and 2020. The scoping review included a consultation with South African SLTs who provide ECI, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. A pilot study was conducted prior to the consultations. Seventeen clinicians were included in total. Data from both the pilot study and main consultation were transcribed and analysed in the results using thematic analysis. Results: Fourteen articles were included in the study. The scoping review of existing literature identified challenges to implementing IPC measures, namely the care and behaviour of young children, infrastructure and system challenges, poor compliance and lack of training and a lack of standard IPC protocols. Clinicians in the consultation phase confirmed these challenges and reported that IPC measures did not consider ECI populations nor the settings in which services were provided. Suggestions from the literature for improved infection control included hand hygiene, improved supplies and infrastructure and education and training. Clinicians in the consultation added practical suggestions for implementing IPC measures within ECI, which included an increase in parent-led intervention as well as cleaning and disinfection strategies. Conclusion: This study identified challenges and recommendations of SLTs who use PPE and IPC measures whilst providing ECI. Understanding these challenges can benefit ECI services and future research efforts focused on improving ECI services whilst maintaining IPC standards.
- ItemAdverse events of iron and/ or erythropoiesis-stimulating agent therapy in preoperatively anemic elective surgery patients: a systematic review(BioMed Central Ltd, 2022-10-27) Laermans, Jorien; Van Remoortel, Hans; Avau, Bert; Bekkering, Geertruida; Georgsen, Jorgen; Manzini, Paola Maria; Meybohm, Patrick; Ozier, Yves; De Buck, Emmy; Compernolle, Veerle; Vandekerckhove, PhilippeBackground Iron supplementation and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) administration represent the hallmark therapies in preoperative anemia treatment, as reflected in a set of evidence-based treatment recommendations made during the 2018 International Consensus Conference on Patient Blood Management. However, little is known about the safety of these therapies. This systematic review investigated the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) during or after treatment with iron and/or ESAs.