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ObjectivesPrison populations around the world are ageing and numbers are rising, leading to greater demand for palliative care for prisoners approaching the end of life. This paper reports a survey that was undertaken by the European Association for Palliative Care Task Force on mapping palliative care provision for prisoners in Europe. The Task Force was established to begin to address the gap in research knowledge by exploring prison systems and care provision across different countries.MethodsThe survey, developed by the Task Force Steering Committee, consisted of 40 questions in six sections. It was completed through online searches; only data that were publicly available on the internet were included. Numerical data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and thematic comparisons were made of free-text data.FindingsThe survey was completed for eight countries: Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, England and Wales, France, Portugal, Scotland and Slovakia. Three main findings are reported here: healthcare and palliative care provision in prisons, deaths in custody and compassionate release. Despite increasing numbers of older prisoners, relatively few prisons provide inpatient care, and only one country has any prisons that provide dedicated palliative care services. Early release on compassionate grounds is extremely rare in most countries.ConclusionFor the principle of equivalence to be adhered to, facilities for sick and dying prisoners need to be improved, or many more people need to be released on compassionate grounds at the end of life. This mapping study has identified key issues in relation to palliative care in prison and provides the basis for further international research.

The use of e-cigarettes has risen rapidly in recent years. Joanne Brookand Dr Mary Turnerperformed a systematic review to identify if e-cigarettes are appropriate for patients with COPDBackground:A high smoking-related burden is placed on health services in diagnosing, treating and managing associated long-term illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While there are many smoking cessation options available, the use of e-cigarettes has risen rapidly.Aim:To identify if the promotion of e-cigarettes is an appropriate intervention for patients with COPD.Methods:A systematic process was used to search databases and identify research papers detailing the effects of e-cigarettes on pulmonary health outcomes in COPD; analysis identified five main themes.Findings:Eight papers were reviewed. Findings support current clinical guidance endorsing the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation; however, COPD patients may be at greater risk of inflammatory responses, exacerbation, disease progression and worsening general health.Conclusion:The effects of e-cigarettes are not fully understood, but they are not risk-free. More evidence is needed about both the short and long-term impact of their use in this cohort.

Purpose Trichotillomania (TTM) is characterised by the recurrent pulling out of one’s own hair, resulting in hair loss. It is a poorly understood disorder with no consensus on aetiology or epidemiology. Nested within a larger qualitative study exploring a wide range of TTM topics, the aim of this paper is to report and consider participant views on the acceptability and feasibility of the asynchronous email interview method.Method Cross-cultural qualitative research on TTM is sparse; therefore, an international qualitative study with a geographically diverse sample was conducted using an asynchronous email interview method.Results Participant perspectives highlighted three themes related to the study method: the value in creating personal connections, cathartic reflections, and perceived strengths and weaknesses. This paper highlights the potential of the asynchronous email interview method for sustaining remote research across multiple locations, using a sample of 20 adults with TTM (18–55 years) from 15 different countries.Conclusions This was an acceptable and feasible method for data collection, facilitating remote access while yielding rich data from an often hidden and hard-to-reach population.

Background: Parkinson’s disease-related psychosis increases patients’ risk of falls. Pimavanserin is an atypical antipsychotic approved in the USA in 2016 for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease-related psychosis. Objective: We aimed to compare the risk of falls/fractures among patients with Parkinson’s disease-related psychosis treated with pimavanserin vs other atypical antipsychotics. Patients and Methods: We identified a cohort of patients with Parkinson’s disease-related psychosis aged ≥ 40 years initiating either pimavanserin or a comparator antipsychotic (clozapine, quetiapine, risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, brexpiprazole) in US commercial insurance and supplementary Medicare claims (2015–2019). Comparators were propensity score matched 2:1 with pimavanserin initiators; incidence rates of falls/fractures were compared using incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: We identified 112 eligible pimavanserin initiators and 982 comparators. Pimavanserin initiators were younger and had fewer severe comorbidities, indicators of impairment, and healthcare encounters, though they had higher Parkinson’s disease medication use. The crude incidence rates [cases/100 person-years] (95% CI) for composite falls/fractures were 17.8 (7.7–35.0) for pimavanserin and 40.8 (35.0–47.4) for comparators. Matching retained 108 pimavanserin initiators and 216 comparators—all characteristics were well balanced after matching—with a matched IRR (pimavanserin vs comparator) of 0.71 (95% CI 0.27–1.67). Sensitivity analysis IRR estimates were consistently below 1.00, with a sensitivity analysis not requiring a diagnosis of psychosis resulting in an IRR estimate of 0.55 (95% CI 0.34–0.86). Conclusions: The results of this study do not suggest an increase in the risk of falls or fractures associated with pimavanserin compared with other antipsychotics in patients with Parkinson’s disease-related psychosis. Sensitivity analyses suggest a decreased risk.

Next-generation collaborative e-business networks present both opportunities and penalties for network managers. On the one hand, there's the opportunity to make the value of networks and the ROI of network [...]

To speed their time to market, a growing number of industries--including pharmaceuticals, complex manufacturing and high-tech hardware and software--are collaborating on research and development, often linking global teams across regional [...]

Network service providers have started using application services to extend the value of their service offerings. Also known as network-based applications, the application services are characterized by by application co-marketing agreements, remote system management and user support, and novel billing algorithms. These offerings have made information technology mangers rethink how they determine service requirements and how they should pay for such services., Current value-added services just don't add enough value. Here's what's next. Network service providers are constantly challenged to extend the value of their service offerings. In the last decade, enhanced [...]

The development of computer network software offering applications services has expanded the outsourced alternatives of information technology (IT) firms. The services offered range from customized knowledge management and collaborative shareware. In addition, networked-based sourcing provides faster implementation, higher service and security levels, systems integration and cost predictability. To benefit most from these services, IT companies should evaluate the reliability and support services offered., A new breed of outsourcer is offering more comprehensive, networked-based sourcing. Network applications services are hitting the market in a big way, in offerings ranging from outsourced provision and support [...]

Northeast Consulting Resources Inc.'s survey of this publication's readers reveals that Internet access in many companies is largely uncoordinated due to lack of official Internet policies. According to the 99 respondents, most use the network for electronic mail and data gathering. Despite problems, many remain optimistic about the Internet's potential as a business tool in the future., The Internet is a force, but it's not mission-critical. One hundred companies share their experience. During the past two years, the phenomenal growth in the use of and access to [...]

Businesses should identify their reasons for joining a global alliance for business networks and determine if their goals align with the alliance's mission. The technology scope of the alliance should support the transport and services offered by the business. The alliance should have a big geographic coverage to ensure a high level of support and service and to allow the business to expand. It should also have management capabilities that will allow the business to provide efficient and effective management services., Managing global networks is tricky, and lots of folks want to help you do it their way. But what do you want? As more business networks transcend national boundaries, carriers [...]

Simple network management protocol management services were introduced by interexchange carriers in 1993. They offer information on specific simple operations of networks, such as error and performance reports, but not more complex command and control operations. These management services are optional, additional services and as carriers identify what operational information is the most important more complex management services will be developed., As the carriers roll out services like frame relay, SMDS and ATM, they are also having to deliver new, more robust network management capabilities. The operation and management of modern [...]

A number of telephone companies have expanded their global management network service levels, which offer network managers increased monitoring and control of their systems. US carriers entered into agreements with overseas firms to add more management capabilities to their networks. Network managers can shop around for international carriers to obtain the specific range of services they need at a favorable price., The global communications infrastructure that links home and overseas offices to one another and to customers, distributors and suppliers, has a critical effect on the competitiveness of U.S. companies. For [...]

Multinational corporations should have access to international intelligent voice and data networks by the mid-1990s. New types of networks include standalone intelligent networks, standards-based bilateral/multilateral negotiated networks, best-of-breed platform alliances and standards and platforms. Corporations that are selecting global intelligent network services must balance the need for proprietary features with the need for standards-based solutions., Network managers in multinational corporations have long sought transparent, flexible and consistent voice and data networking that masks national boundaries. These managers, who need to reach new markets and support [...]

Human infants (12-32 months old) and adults learned a delayed nonmatching-to-sample (DNMS) task and single- and multiple-pair discrimination tasks using nonverbal procedures previously used with monkeys. Infants learned discriminations rapidly and at a young age (12 months), but they required prolonged training and maturation before learning the DNMS task. Adults learned all tasks rapidly. After learning the DNMS task to criterion, memory performance declined systematically in an inverse relation to age. The dissociation in ability of infants on the DNMS versus discrimination tasks closely resembles the dissociation previously reported with infant monkeys (Bachevalier & Mishkin, 1984). Results from both infant humans and monkeys support a neurocognitive maturational model.

In optical-analysis programs, an optimization process systematically varies system design parameters to reach specified performance metrics. While optical- or lens-design programs optimize imaging systems like lenses and telescopes, they are [...]

Global Network Services Update The major U.S. long-haul carriers - AT&T, MCI and Sprint - have recognized the importance of the burgeoning international communications marketplace and, during the last several [...]

Network Management Services from AT&T and MCI During the 1990s users will be forced to make tough choices about network management: How much is it really worth, and what type [...]

In the beginning there was light, which was followed shortly thereafter by humans who desired to control it. The humans invented optics, which is now spreading rapidly into numerous areas [...]

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues including one on a story about King Feisal, another on the issue of the Watergate scandal involving U.S. President Richard Nixon in the, and "Awaiting a Stable Marriage," in the November 19, 1973 issue.

Network service providers are carving their niches in the high technology industry by expanding their international Internet-oriented services. These services include basic connectivity and Internet access, managed Intranet/Extranet services, hosted services, application-specific service packages and outsourcing. However, choosing service providers should not be solely based on their service offerings but on carrier infrastructure, alliances and computer networking experience as well., Providers are ready to offer a range of international services. But before you sign up, see what their network is made of. The Internet is a worldwide phenomenon, and network [...]

The distinctions between local area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks are being blurred as common telecommunications carriers begin to offer LAN servers and on-premises equipment such as asynchronous transfer mode switches and routers. Common carriers such as AT&T, MCI and US West have traditionally confined themselves to supplying the raw infrastructure for private data networks. Their expansion into LAN services may facilitate the shift from LAN-based private networks to virtual workgroups that link remote sites., The carriers are betting that virtual services will become as successful for data as they've been for voice. But what will customers receive from this change? The carriers, long seen [...]

Telephone management services companies are developing new products in anticipation of new marketing opportunities that will be spawned by the imminent portability of 800 toll-free telephone numbers. The development of hybrid network management products for business communications network managers indicates that managers must create closer relationships with their vendors to fully understand the range of available options. Technology should be chosen which precisely matches the managerial and operational needs of a firm., Managing hybrid networks has been more art than science, but new offerings may shift that balance. Public carriers and private network managers both invest heavily in network management. The carriers [...]

Dog's tail is just for wagging; Peacock's tail is there for bragging. Cottontail has just enough Tail to bee a powder puff! Pig's tail is cork + nail curly; Tadpole's [...]

Before you depend on an ASP, find out who the ASP depends on. A wide range of businesses are considering contracts with application service providers (ASPs), so that they can [...]

In recent years, the industry has placed increasing priority on the "I," or information, side of IT, and with good reason. Even though network and computing technology provide automation and […]