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Focuses on research publications from the department of general practice at Glasgow University in Scotland. Importance of publications in learning; Use of proper key words for computer reference systems; Tips to help contributors of medical journals.

Health and social care students spend up to 50% of their course in practice. Placements are distributed across a wide geographical area and have varying degrees of IT access and support. Consequently, students may feel isolated from peers, academic staff, and resources required for effective learning. Mobile technology has considerable potential to enhance the learning of these students. This paper presents the development and implementation of the Centre for Excellence in Professional Placement Learning's mobile learning project and the principles that both drove and emerged from this work. Handheld devices were matched to students' pedagogic need. Principles covered areas such as pedagogy, partnership working, technology, inclusivity, evaluation, and research. Collaboration across sectors and institutions and an understanding of professional cultures and contexts were seen as key in instigating and embedding mobile learning to support students on placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a platform on which a new generation of applications targeted to aid the self-organised learner can be presented. The new application is enabled by innovations in trust-based security of data built upon emerging infrastructures to aid federated data access in the UK education sector. Within the proposed architecture, users and data providers (within Virtual Organisations formed for specific learning needs) collaborate in a more dynamic and flexible manner by defining their own data-object-based security policies. This is enabled using a Service Orientated Architecture (SOA) that presents trusted services to ensure that these policies are both applied and enforced. The work is significant because it presents a new level of both distributed and live data integration into the ePortfolio domain. New data objects can be integrated into the learning process from emerging areas like social networking, giving the learning processes more depth. For the learner this approach enhances the quality and range of data that they can use in the ePortfolio, and has the potential to enhance the self-organised learning process, which for society in general will enhance learning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of the paper is to summarize the findings of a survey of UK universities about how their websites are managed and resourced, which technologies are in use, and what are seen as the main issues and priorities. Design/methodology/approach - The paper is based on a web-based questionnaire distributed in summer 2006, which received 104 usable responses from 87 institutions. Findings - The survey showed that some web teams were based in IT and some in external relations, yet in both cases the site typically served internal and external audiences. The role of web manager is partly management of resources, time and people, partly about marketing and liaison and partly also concerned with more technical aspects including interface design and HTML. But it is a diverse role with a wide spread of responsibilities. On the whole web teams were relatively small. Three-quarters of responding institutions had a CMS, but specific systems in use were diverse. Sixty per cent had a portal. There was evidence of increasing use of blogs and wikis. The key driver for the website is student recruitment, with instituitional reputation and information to stakeholders also being important. The biggest perceived weaknesses were maintaining consistency with devolved content creation and currency of content; lack of resourcing a key threat while comprehensiveness was a key strength. Current and wished-for projects pointed again to the diversity of the sector. Research limitations/implications - The lack of comparative data and difficulties of interpreting responses to closed questions where respondents could have quite different status (partly reflecting divergent patterns of governance of the web across the sector) create issues with the reliability of the research. Practical implications - Data about resourcing of web management, technology in use, etc. at comparable institutions is invaluable for practitioners in their efforts to gain resources in their own context. Originality/value - The paper adds more systematic, current data to our limited knowledge about how university websites are managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK Defence Review in 2010 shed light on the real concerns that Britain could be facing a new threat from cyber-terrorists. Indeed, extremist groups and organisations are increasingly using cyberspace for terrorist purposes and as a result the role of the Internet has meant that terrorist are able to play the role of hostile actors willing to cause mass carnage and destruction through technological means. This threat has led to many questions for example, what the term cyber-terrorism means? The paper examines the case for two schools of thought. It concludes that the current nature of terrorism provides more support for the Weimann argument, but that things could change if terrorists are given more appropriate training and skills in cyberspace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper I argue that the notion of paranoia can inform a post-panoptic theory of surveillance, without simply functioning as a pre-emptive dismissal of a critical engagement with technologies and regimes of surveillance as just paranoid. Rather, I seek to address how paranoia can be rearticulated to serve a productive, non-pathological function in an analysis of logics of surveillance. To this end, I consider the manner in which paranoia is characterised in popular cultural narratives and how the advent of cultural paranoia can be understood in the context of the expansion of state and corporate surveillance, especially in the UK and post-9/11 North America. Drawing on this notion of cultural paranoia, I then argue for three modalities of paranoia-as-surveillance theory. The first modality, the paranoia of the subject of surveillance, addresses the divergent panoptic subject who rejects the disciplinary logic of the panopticon; the second modality considers how the paranoid as the suspicious subject could be used to characterise the expansion of surveillance regimes through an ever-present need to observe; and the third modality of conspiracy theory proposes that a paranoid logic, akin to that of the conspiracy theory, sutures over epistemic gaps in the interpretation of information in instances of analytic deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the contents of several web sites that provide information on industrial management and relations in Great Britain. Warwick Business School's http://www.wbs.warwick.ac.uk/HotTopics/index.html produces papers on current management issues. Business and management school sites can be found via http://www.bizednet.ac.uk. Meanwhile, Bradford University's http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/mancen/ugcat/index.htm and Queen's University-Belfast http://prince.qub.ac.uk web sites contain limited lecture materials.

This paper focuses on the use of local government Web sites in the United Kingdom to encourage and facilitate democratic deliberation. The question addressed is to what end, and on whose terms, citizens are being encouraged to engage local government via computer–mediated communication. After an initial investigation into the legislative framework of local e–democracy, this paper examines opportunities available for citizens to deliberate by examining 469 local government Web sites. This information is then reviewed in the context of empirical evidence on the practices and attitudes of those responsible for the management and upkeep of the specific sites under question. It appears that while interaction is being encouraged, it is limited and tends towards an individualistic liberal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments that the Internet has created opportunities in distance learning for people who are studying medicine in Great Britain. In the past, online limitations included the types of media utilized and their accessibility and delivery, but the author states that these limitations no longer exist. With new technology it has become possible for distance learners to access more than just text and images and a wide range of media is available such as video conferencing and videostreaming.

Background: There is little published research into the influence of email communication between primary and secondary care clinicians on patient care.Aim: To explore the use of email communication between clinicians across the primary- secondary care interface, and how this may relate to patient care.Design and Setting: A qualitative study involving primary and secondary care services in the NHS Highland Health Board area, Scotland. Ten GPs and 12 hospital consultants were purposively sampled to reflect diversity.Method: Eligible clinicians were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.Results: Key themes that emerged for clinicians included general perceptions of email; using email in practice (managing workload, impact on patient journeys, and 'quick answers'); system issues (variability and governance); relational aspects; and email skills.Conclusion: Email communication between primary and secondary care clinicians generally has a positive impact on patient access to specialist expertise. Governance issues around the use of clinical email need to be defined. There may currently be a two-tier health service for those patients (and their GPs) requiring 'quick answers'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online bingo has seen significant growth in recent years. This study sought to increase understanding of this growth by exploring the appeal of online bingo. Our aim was to examine the content of ten online bingo websites in the UK and analyse a qualitative secondary dataset of 12 female bingo players to investigate the appeal of online bingo. Using two distinct data sources allowed us to assess how the key messages online websites are trying to convey compare with actual players’ motivation to play bingo. Our analysis of bingo websites found a common theme where websites were easy to navigate and structured to present a light-hearted, fun, reassuring, social image of gambling. In addition, the design decisions reflected in the bingo sites had the effect of positioning online bingo as a benign, child-like, homely, women-friendly, social activity. Comparison of the website content with our participants’ reasons to play bingo showed congruence between the strategies used by the bingo websites and the motivations of bingo players themselves and the benefits which they seek; suggesting that bingo websites strive to replicate and update the sociability of traditional bingo halls. Online bingo differs from traditional forms of bingo in its ability to be played anywhere and at any time, and its capacity to offer a deeply immersive experience. The potential for this type of online immersion in gambling to lead to harm is only just being investigated and further research is required to understand how the industry is regulated, as well as the effects of online bingo on individual gambling ‘careers.’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the online database entitled "Victorian Popular Culture" produced by Adam Matthew Digital, available at http://www.amdigital.co.uk/m-collections/collection/victorian-popular-culture/.

Background: Studies have shown limited awareness about cancer risk factors among hospital-based staff. Less is known about general cancer awareness among community frontline National Health Service and social care staff.Methods: A cross-sectional computer-assisted telephone survey of 4664 frontline community-based health and social care staff in North West England.Results: A total of 671 out of 4664 (14.4%) potentially eligible subjects agreed to take part. Over 92% of staff recognised most warning signs, except an unexplained pain (88.8%, n=596), cough or hoarseness (86.9%, n=583) and a sore that does not heal (77.3%, n=519). The bowel cancer-screening programme was recognised by 61.8% (n=415) of staff. Most staff agreed that smoking and passive smoking 'increased the chance of getting cancer.' Fewer agreed about getting sunburnt more than once as a child (78.0%, n=523), being overweight (73.5%, n=493), drinking more than one unit of alcohol per day (50.2%, n=337) or doing less than 30 min of moderate physical exercise five times a week (41.1%, n=276).Conclusion: Cancer awareness is generally good among frontline staff, but important gaps exist, which might be improved by targeted education and training and through developing clearer messages about cancer risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented on the evaluation of electronic Health (eHealth) in Great Britain. It states that eHealth is the organization and delivery of health services via information technology (IT) systems, which can introduce both harms and benefits. It discusses several scientific eHealth assessments influenced by the National Programme for Information Technology (NPFIT) including patient observation, formative and summative studies, and internal and external assessment.

The article provides information on the application of the Web 2.0 to geographic and geospatial information technologies. It mentions the usefulness of the said web to its users in tracking, searching and tagging their respective favorite web pages and cites the constant upgrades of the said web. It details on the web's applicability and integrability to the standards in gathering geographic-related data and notes that this web application is currently used in Great Britain. Furthermore, the features and the types of the geographic and geospatial applications of the web are also highlighted.

Focuses on the utilization of the Internet within the United Kingdom retail sectors and examines its potential as a retail channel. How the Internet can be used as a retail channel; Retailers' perceptions of the Internet; Internal facilitators and inhibitors on the use of the Internet.

The editorial considers British artistic opposition to the Iraq War in response to a questionnaire regarding opposition to the Iraq War by U.S. artists and intellectuals. Several cultural outlets that have made British antiwar commentary accessible to the public are noted including the Stop the War Coalition's website, the Globalise Resistance organization's web site, and an exhibition at the Tate Modern Museum in London, England featuring the work of artist Peter Kennard.

The article reviews several web sites including the web site Child Growth Foundation, located at www.childgrowthfoundation.org/, web site Twins UK located at www.twinsuk.co.uk and web site on bullying located on bullyonline.org.

Provides information on several disease-specific Web sites regarding aging in Great Britain. Organizing Medical Information; Netting the Evidence; AgeNet.