Before we proceed, I want it noted on the record that I stuck up for Tammy. Melissa McCarthy’s 2014 movie about a trash-fire of a person (that’s Tammy) who, after getting cheated on and left by her husband embarks upon an ill-tempered road trip with her combating grandma (Susan Sarandon) as largely dumped on by critics, partially because expectations were so high. Released on July 4th weekend after the run of Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, and The Heat had made McCarthy a bona fide blockbuster star, Tammy marked a box-office trend downward, and the quality was a huge letdown from Bridesmaids and The Heat.
Tammy was directed by Ben Falcone, McCarthy’s real-life husband and probably most easily recognized as the air marshall who McCarthy’s Megan aggressively flirts with in Bridesmaids. The two have been married since 2005, and all told he’s directed McCarthy in three films (Tammy, 2016’s The Boss, and 2018’s Life of the Party, which premieres on HBO this weekend) with two upcoming (Margie Claus and Super Intelligence). And while Tammy had a spark worth defending, especially in later scenes that McCarthy shared with co-stars Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh. Still, anyone lining up to call Tammy a mess that had no idea how to construct a solid story around a Meslissa McCarthy performance would not be far off.
My indulgence for Tammy‘s raggedness was replaced by a sense of irritated impatience with The Boss, a movie that paired McCarthy with Kristen Bell and cast McCarthy as a Martha Stewart style mogul. How did that movie end up so leaden and un-fun? Ben Falcone doesn’t seem like a bad guy. He’s neither overly pretentious nor is he eager to grab the spotlight. It’s not easy to fit him for a black hat. He just doesn’t seem to have any ability to build a vehicle for his absurdly talented wife. And the result is not great as far as career trajectories go. Life of the Party made less money than The Boss, which made less money than Tammy, which was a disappointment. McCarthy is still definitely a draw, and with her Oscar-buzzed role in Can You Ever Forgive Me, we know her talents are as sharp as ever. She just needs a director who can run with her.
With Life of the Party, Falcone directs McCarthy in a film about a newly divorced mom who joins her daughter at college and ends up hanging out with all of her daughter’s party-happy kids. And while McCarthy is more than up to the challenge of the character, there’s just so little spark to be had. And even when the film casts Maya Rudolph as her best friend, there are no scenes approaching what McCarthy and her co-stars on Spy (Rose Byrne! Allison Janney!) or Bridesmaids (Kristen Wiig!) or The Heat (SANDY!) got up to.
For the record, this is the same conversation we end up having with Julianne Moore every time she makes a movie with her filmmaker husband Bart Freundlich (she’s doing it again this year, sigh), so it’s not like McCarthy is alone in this dilemma. Just … somebody put her and Paul Feig back on the phone, would you? And send Ben to a long spa weekend. He could use it. We could all use it.


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The previews for Bodies Bodies Bodies lead you to believe that it is a horror flick with a mad slasher on the loose. It is not. BBB is a satirical murder mystery that goofs on Generation Z.
Lesbian couple Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) and Bee (Maria Bakalova) are going to a hurricane party at the house of Sophie's rich 20-something best friend David (Pete Davidson). Because most of the guests are friends of Sophie or David, Bee feels like the odd one out. It's something that everyone can all relate to—being at a party with total strangers, at one time or another.
During the storm, they all decide to play a game, Bodies Bodies Bodies, where everyone gets a slip of paper, and the person who gets the sheet with an "X" written on it is the "killer," but only that person knows. The lights are then turned out, and if you get touched across the back, then you are dead. When the lights are put back on, the rest of the group tries to figure out who among them is the "killer." Of course, someone really turns up dead, and then the fake friendships and backstabbing come out into the open.
One of the problems with director Halina Reijn's film is that most of the characters are unlikable and annoying, so you kind of hope they die. It makes it difficult to spend an entire film with these types of people; however, screenwriter Sarah DeLappe does give the film clever and amusing lines such as, "David's dad can be a dick, but his politics check out," or "They're not as nihilistic as they look on the internet."
Bakalova plays the character the audience will gravitate towards, and she's the main reason the film works as well as it does. You will remember Bakalova from her fearless and hilarious performance as the wild child in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020).
BBB is nowhere near as hysterical as the classic Gen X dark comedy Heathers (1989), but it does have its moments. For most of its 94-minute running time, Bodies Bodies Bodies is a fairly efficient whodunnit with good performances, creepy atmosphere (inside a dark house during a rainstorm), droll mockery of Gen Z, and a weird but effective music score by Disasterpeace.
The ending of the movie, however, is a cheat. Yes, the final revelation was funny, but it made the entire affair come off as a shaggy-dog story. That may tick off some audiences.

domain: artistic


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artists & participants
Amanda Dennis, Danielle Dean, Darren Banks, Lewis & Carter, Justin Jaeckle, Kate Cooper, Katie Guggenheim, Kazimierz Jankowski, Mark Barker, Olivier Castel, Patrick Shier, Rachel Pimm, Richard John Jones, Ruth Edwards
28th & 29th March 2009 26.03.2019-29.03.2009
Auto Italia says YES WAY!
Auto Italia launches their 2009 program with YES WAY – an event taking place on the 28th/29th March. This two day exhibition presents one of the most exciting music promoters and record label collectives- Upset the Rhythm.
As Upset the Rhythm curates the event Auto Italia responds, inviting some of its resident artists to present new artworks that play with this exhibition format. Known for their fierce independent dedication to the support and nurturing of new and alternative bands UTR present some of their best home grown talent with over 30 artists performing.
Yes Way presents a shared curatorial ethos, which extends to both groups of chosen artists who are faced with the task of how to present themselves and their artwork before a wider, shared audience within the space of Auto Italia’s current location. Fusing these differing audiences means that the risk of the artwork to be missed, ignored or otherwise overpower the performers on stage presents a challenge.
This exhibition reveals a shared approach to how young practitioners create their own context to forge some type of alternative. Working with this urgency, the potential for the event to fail appears huge, yet the monumental desires for the work to be great is an opportunity not to miss.
A MIDDLE SEX / BEARDS / CHAPS / CLECKHUDDERSFAX / FAMILY BATTLE SNAKE / GAY AGAINST YOU / GENTLE FRIENDLY / GRAFITTI ISLAND / HYGIENE / MAZES / PART WILD HORSES MANE ON BOTH SIDES / PLEASE / THE SHITTY LIMITS / SPIN SPIN THE DOGS / THE SCEPTRES / THE STICKS / VAMPIRE BLUES / a.P.A.t.T. / BANJO OR FREAKOUT / CHOPS / CLUNES / COREY ORBISONS / DRUM EYES/ HANDS ON HEADS / HUSBANDS / PEEPHOLES / PENS / PLUG / PROTEEN SHEIKHS / ROSEANNE BARRR / TEAM BRICK / TEETH / TRASH KIT / WET DOG


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Yannopoulos D, Matsuura T, Schultz J, et al. Sodium nitroprusside enhanced CPR improves survival with good neurological function in a porcine model of prolonged cardiac arrest. Crit Care Med. 2011;39(6):1269—1274.
EMS providers, like all medical practitioners, must challenge core beliefs and prove scientifically that our interventions work. I love the fact that Yannopoulos and his colleagues are questioning a deeply held belief that vasopressors (e.g., epinephrine and vasopressin) are the best medications to administer during cardiac arrest.
Building on a previous study (by Aufderheide TP, Frascone RJ, Wayne MA, et al) that demonstrated improved long-term survival rates using a combination of active compression-decompression CPR (ACD-CPR) with an impedance threshold device (ITD), the researchers evaluated a novel premise: Instead of giving a potent vasoconstrictor (epinephrine) during cardiac arrest, providers should administer a potent vasodilator (sodium nitroprusside) to increase blood flow to vital organs. This new approach is termed sodium nitroprusside (SNP) enhanced CPR, and is called SNPeCPR or “snappy CPR,” and includes:
- A. ACD-CPR plus an ITD, which actively decreases intrathoracic pressure during the decompression phase decreases right atrial and intracranial pressures and improves vital organ perfusion; and
- B. Abdominal binding, which limits aortic blood flow to the legs and redirects the augmented cardiac output to vital organs.
Using SNP during cardiac arrest would normally be considered taboo because of the profound hypotension associated with manual CPR. But contrary to current thinking, using large doses of SNP during eCPR may not cause a significant decrease in central aortic pressure. Understanding the way aortic pressure is generated during SNPeCPR helps explain why.
Chest compression results in an increase in intrathoracic pressure and an instantaneous increase in the pressure of all intrathoracic vascular structures. ACD-CPR with an ITD enhances refilling of the heart. Arterial vascular resistance is decreased by SNP; thus, forward blood flow can be significantly increased with each chest compression.
In this study, 16 pigs had ventricular fibrillation (v-fib) induced and underwent an eight-minute period without CPR. Half of the pigs were randomized to receive epinephrine (0.5 mg every five minutes) with standard CPR (S-CPR), and the other half received SNP (1 mg every five minutes) with eCPR.
Twenty minutes into the resuscitation attempt, mean systolic blood pressure was 73 mmHg in the SNPeCPR group compared with 51 mmHg in the S-CPR group. No animal treated with S-CPR and epinephrine could be resuscitated; however, all SNPeCPR animals were resuscitated.
This small study was done in a controlled porcine (animal) lab and will need to be reproduced in human trials before changes are made in EMS protocols. It’s featured here because it serves to remind us about the role of cutting-edge research: to challenge the status quo and discover new ways to improve.
What we know: ACD-CPR plus an ITD was shown to improve by 53% long-term survival from cardiac arrest with favorable neurologic outcome (see the ResQTrial featured in January 2011 JEMS at www.jems.com/article/resqtrial-study-reveals-high-c). ITDs must be applied early to be effective.
What this study adds: A combination of drug and device therapies, such as SNPeCPR, may extend the window of opportunity for resuscitating patients.
What Makes a Good Mentor?
Cho CS, Ramanan R, Feldman MD. Defining the ideal qualities of mentorship: A qualitative analysis of the characteristics of outstanding mentors. Am J of Med. 2011;124(5):453—458.
Many researchers in medicine believe the strongest studies objectively measure results with quantifiable values and statistics. Qualitative studies can be just as valuable. This one comes from San Francisco, where medical school researchers examined 53 letters of recommendation for a prestigious lifetime achievement award in mentorship. Preceptors may want to take particular note of this study.
The authors followed a process to identify the most commonly described characteristics of ideal role models. They report that top mentors are enthusiastic, compassionate and selfless. Mentors invest time and tailor support for their mentees and are role models for good patient care with high standards. These are definitely qualities we should all be striving to achieve.
Visit www.pcrfpodcast.org for audio commentary.
Qualitative: These studies measure human behavior and typically come from the social sciences.
Look for the full results from Grant S. Lipman, MD, and co-authors, who reported at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine scientific assembly that ibuprofen prevents the occurrence and severity of high-altitude illness. Another paper to watch is from a group at Hennepin County (Minn.) Medical Center. The authors showed in a prospective observational study that vital-sign changes aren’t associated with the degree of pain severity.
This article originally appeared in September 2011 JEMS as “Window of Opportunity: Study examines benefits of new CPR approach for cardiac arrest.”
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domain: medical


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Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived from an array of materials including pedigree charts, family history articles, queries, letters, Bible records, wills, biographies, and manuscript genealogies.
For specific original source information contact Yates Publishing, providing them with the Source Number, Source Type, Number of Pages, and Submitter Code information listed for each individual.

domain: history


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Oddbods is a non-dialogue comedy featuring seven distinct little characters who, despite their differences, band together to survive the perils of daily life — ordinary situations invariably morph into hilarious escapades.
Singapore’s One Animation has kicked off production on a new 60 x 7 min. season of its award-winning kids’ animated comedy Oddbods. The upcoming package was green lit earlier this year, and has already secured key broadcast partners — including Turner, for its flagships channels Cartoon Network and Boomerang in Latin America, and for Boomerang across EMEA.
Since Oddbods launched as a digital short-form series, the new season is the second for long-form, but the third overall. The cartoons have racked up 1.5 billion views online and attracted tens of thousands of fans on social media.

domain: entertainment


The Commission of Technical and Vocational Education and Training of
Tigray invites all interested eligible bidders for the provision of
procurement services for goods to different colleges.
Reference books for
different technical and vocational training department
such as Auto, Electricity, Electronics, General mechanics, Machine
Technology, Garment Technology, Textile Technology , Building
Construction, Road Construction, Wood work, Surveying, Information
Technology, Kitchen equipment and others.
Interested bidders are
required to present trade license valid for 1997 E.C./ 2005/06 G.C.
Registration Certificate from Ministry of Finance and Economic
Development and supporting letter from Inland Revenue Authority.
bidders can collect complete bid document as of March 18, 2005 G.C.
against payment of non-refundable fee of Birr 300 from Tigray
Education Bureau Room No. 2.
must be accompanied with Birr 50,000 (Fifty Thousand Birr) bid bond
in the form of CPO or unconditional bank guarantee.
should be submitted in a wax-sealed envelope to the bid box
located in front of Room No. 1 in Tigray Education Bureau Mekelle,
before May 02, 2005 G.C. 2:00 P.M.
will be opened on May 02, 2005 G.C. at 2:00 P.M. in Room No. 39 in
(Tigry Education Bureau Mekelle.)
Tigray Commission of
Technical and Vocational Education and Training reserves the right
to accept or reject any or all bids.
Tigray Commission of Technical and
Tel. 04-40 62 64 Or 40 20 85
04-40 62 64 or 40 20 85
Education and Training
P.O. Box 19
Fax 40 20 86


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FULL-TIME offers you an easy way to manage your football leagues online.
Enables clubs and referees to administer their day to day activities
Update: Tickets for Malta v England are still available and we advise any Travel Club members who still wish to attend this match to purchase their tickets by Thursday 29 July. Non-members who wish to purchase tickets, can upgrade to the Travel Club before purchasing tickets.
Following the closure of the first Travel Club members' sale we can confirm that just over 900 tickets will be available in the second chance sale for England's match against Malta on Friday 1 September.
Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis to existing members of the 2016/2018 Travel Club who do not already have a ticket to this match. The sale will begin from midday on Tuesday 9 May until the match has sold out.
All tickets are priced at £20 each and are for collection only out in Malta.
Any Travel Club members wishing to purchase tickets can do so by logging into or by calling the England Supporters Travel Club line on 0844 847 2010.
If you are a Travel Club member and require a wheelchair accessible space (and have not yet purchased a ticket), please call 0800 389 1966 from midday on Tuesday 9 May.
Travel Club members are reminded that tickets for England away matches are strictly one per Travel Club member and are non-transferable to other members or non-members.
Pathetic England been trying all day been given numerous numbers let's start with 08448472010 then given 03333219991 didn't have a clue who told me the face New number was0800 389 1966 for tickets so now take a chance tomorrow at 12 after being allocated 3 tickets
Mark you will have no problem getting tickets tomorrow, theres a staggering 900 left!
any chance of these malta v england tickets going on general sale ???
My friend wants to go to this game and the France game dose he have to be a travel club member to purchase away tickets?
60845614 - tickets for away matches do not go on General Sale. There are still tickets available for Malta so you'll need to join the Travel Club if you want to purchase one.
Trying to get my travel club membership sorted so I can get Malta tickets. Does anyone have a number that actually gets me through to a human so they can talk me through it. I managed to get my passport photo done once then when I went to pay the £75 it said there was an error, I haven't been able to get back onto the page since
@61186231 check here - englandsupporters.thefa.com/.../contact-us
Or, buy your tickets through the official Malta FA website which would be ideal for non travel club members....
I have just renewed my membership and have purchased a ticket for malta game.
I haven't got an ID Membership card.
Can you tell me if I will be sent a new one before I go to Malta
You won't need it just use your passport or some sort of ID to pick tickets up
Where and when do I pick up my tickets in Malta?
Amanda, 2/3 weeks before the game the fa will announce where the ticket collection point is in malta. It's usually a hotel lobby and I'm assuming it will be in at Julian's as I think most England fans will be staying there. Sometimes they have different pick up locations on the days leading up to the game

domain: sports


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You've now added some details to your former question. You need to consult witha n experienced DUI defense attoreny to deal with these issues. No one can tell you that you have a winning defense based on this or the prior note. Sobriety checkpoints are viewed favorably by the citizenry and favorably by the bench in Jeffersonj County.
In no way am I offering you legal advice, and in no way has my comment created an attorney-client relationship. You are not to rely upon my note above in any way, but insted need to sit down with counsel and share all relevant facts before receiving fully-informed legal advice. If you want to be completely sure of your rights, you must sit down with an experienced criminal defense attorney to be fully aware of your rights.
This is certainly an issue that should be explored. I'm reluctant to suggest, based on the limited information provided, that the evidence would be "dismissed" but the proximity to passing traffic could certainly be explained to a jury as an explanation for any poor performance on the sobriety tests. Under the best of circumstances, 20% of sober people fail these tests.
Again, you need to discuss these issues with a qualified DUI defense attorney.
No answer here should be considered to form an attorney-client relationship. You should consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction so that a full evaluation of the facts of your case can be conducted.
In answer to your question, "Is an unsafe location for a DUI field sobriety test grounds for suppressing evidence?", usually not. What this may to go though is the validity of the sobriety test. DUI cases are complicated and much of the evidence science based. It is important that you consult an experienced DUI attorney to have him or her review your discovery and assess the evidence in your case. While you are concerned about the safety factor, there are other issues which arise from your description which could be helpful in defending your case. There are many issues relevant to checkpoint cases that your lawyer will have to look at before he or she is able to fully determine whether or not the way the checkpoint was conducted would be a defense in your case. Good luck to you.
By answering this question on AVVO we do not enter into an "attorney-client" relationship. My answer to you is for educational purposes only and is my best recommendation based on the information provided to me.
This is a good example of how a client's question, no matter how detailed, lacks information that an attorney needs to answer the question. This is why attorney's say that you need to contact an attorney directly. Even though these forums are helpful, they are limited and should lead to the client contacting an attorney for good sound legal advice.
I am not your attorney. Contact an attorney for advice immediately.
As has been mentioned consult with a Local CO DUI attorney, that said I focus my practice on DWI defense (licensed in NY, PA, NJ, and FL) but not CO.
The scales of justice are there for a reason. This evidence would likely go to weight, or how much value a judge or jury would assign it. Some of the tests (testing) may be suppressed before trial. I file motions in limine (pre-trial motions) if cross examination of the officer at a prior suppression hearing can show a deviation on test standards, especially with the HGN (horizontal gaze nystagmus).
For this evidence to be "suppressed" it would need to be shown to be obtained in violation of your 4th amendment right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure. A valid stop (PC: probable cause), a valid DUI checkpoint, would open the door for the police to conduct the SFSTs (standardized field sobriety tests) if there was PC (odor of alcohol, watery eyes, etc.).
But the main point is that the SFSTs have a BIG "S" in front for a reason: STANDARDIZED
They (FSTs) must under NHTSA (national highway traffic safety administration) guidelines be given the same way in every state and by every officer every single time. There are guidelines and rules to follow. Find a certified SFST DUI attorney in your area. A safe location for testing conditions, where you are not distracted and fearful would be a pre-requisite to giving an accurate, valid, and reliable test.
I am both breath and SFST certified. Just like we must follow the rules, police must follow their rules (procedures) as well. Rules violations by those sworn to serve and protect don't look good to a jury even in Colorado. see my blog on the dwi standardized arrest below and my video on challenging the SFSTs ( I have over 200 videos on DWI defense)
Lawrence (Larry) Newman, D.C., J.D. Attorney at Law Doctor of Chiropractic Licensed in NY, PA, NJ, & FL http://www.ithacainjurylawyer.com http://www.ithacadwi.com The response herein is not legal advice and does not create an attorney/client relationship. The response is in the form of legal education and is intended to provide general information about the matter within the question. Oftentimes the question does not include significant and important facts and timelines that, if known, could significantly change the reply and make it unsuitable. Dr. Newman strongly advises the questioner to confer with an attorney in your state in order to ensure proper advice is received.
DUI DUI defense DUI traffic stop Admissibility of standardized field sobriety tests DUI checkpoints Field sobriety test for DUI DUI trial DUI charges DUI arrest Criminal defense Criminal charges Crimes against society The 4th amendment and criminal defense Probable cause and criminal defense Defenses for criminal charges Criminal arrest Evidence in criminal cases Admissible evidence in criminal cases Employee benefits Civil rights
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domain: law


SYRACUSE,NY- Local irish folk are getting ready for their favorite holiday of the year by doing some training. Town folk were crowding their favorite irish joints this past weekend gearing up for the big irish day parade by doing what they do best. Getting stupid drunk. “I need to get my liver used to Jamesons and Guiness. I have not been boozing too much this past year, so I don’t want to suprise my liver,” states Mickey O’leary of Tipperary Hill.
Syracuse hosts one of the biggest St.Patricks day parade and the drunkeness is heard all over central New York. “We just like to get drunk and #%^$ with the Italians. They got nothing on us irish lads,” said O’leary.


text:
University buildings win awards
The Faculty of Dentistry redevelopment reflected in the glass of the Eccles Building.
Photo: Dave Bull
University building developments and sustainability initiatives have won several national and international awards.
He Kāika Toitu, he Kāika ora: The Sustainability Neighbourhood won the Build Back Better category at Australasia’s tertiary sector Green Gown sustainability awards late last year. This initiative is a group of University-owned flats where students are supported to live sustainably and agree to be the focus of sustainability research.
The Faculty of Dentistry redevelopment won the Greenstone Group Education Property ‘Best in Category’ Award in the 2021 Property Council of New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards held in November, while the new research support Eccles Building won a ‘Merit’ Award.
The Dentistry project had already jointly won the Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Southern awards education category together with the University’s new Performing Arts Centre Te Korokoro o te Tūī in May 2021, with the Performing Arts Centre winning the Resene Colour Award.
Twenty-three University of Otago projects received a share of $17.2 million in the most recent Marsden Funding round in November. The projects range from Zoology to Philosophy and comprise 17 main projects and six fast-start grants.
Otago researchers were awarded almost $2.9 million in funding from the Health Research Council Career Development Awards in November, including two prestigious Sir Charles Hercus Fellowships. Dr Matthew McNeil (Microbiology and Immunology) and Dr Nina Dickerhof (Pathology and Biomedical Science, Christchurch) both received about $600,000 for their projects. Dr McNeil is examining the global issue of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TBM), while Dr Dickerhof’s focus is on respiratory illness, both chronic and infections. Theirs were two of 22 successful Otago grants.
Twenty-two Otago researchers were awarded a share of almost $1.9 million in NZ Lottery Health Grant funding in December. The funded research covers investigations from early Alzheimer’s disease detection, bowel cancer risk reduction in New Zealand and better sexual health service access for Māori and Pacific youth.
Tony Binns retires
It was fitting that Geography Professor Tony Binns’ last act before retirement late last year was boxing up hundreds of books for donation to the University of Sierra Leone in Freetown.
But this wasn’t the “final act” in his 50-year career working with African communities and institutions; Professor Binns will continue broader research and development projects in Kayima, Sierra Leone.
In recent years, with student and service groups, Binns has raised about $50,000 for a vegetable garden at Kayima’s secondary school, building a nursery school for 200 young children, and refurbishing the community’s health clinic.
For these efforts, he was made Chief Manjawah of Sandor (Master Farmer) and Sahr Kayima (Son of Kayima) of the village in 2014.
His research and development work is driven by a belief that “reducing poverty and improving the quality of life should be a concern for all of us”.
“In many African countries, life expectancy is still in the 50s: 30 years less than in richer countries such as New Zealand. I believe that academic research should have some benefit and tangible outcome for others. With my students and VSA volunteers, I always ask the question: what benefit has your work had for the people with whom you were working?”
The Ron Lister Chair came to Otago in 2004, after 30 years at Sussex University. He has earned numerous awards, including the Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Medal 2012, and held many leading positions. He was President of the Geographical Association (1994–1995), President of the Commonwealth Geographical Bureau (2008–2016), and President of the New Zealand Geographical Society (2010–2011).
Dunedin Study celebrates 50 years
The longitudinal Dunedin Study celebrated its 50th anniversary on 1 April, marking the significant international contribution it has made to the field of human development.
1 April 1972 represents the first birth date of Dunedin-born babies enrolled in the University of Otago’s Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health & Development Study, which over the course of the following year resulted in a total of 1,037 study members.
Since then, the cohort has been assessed regularly, with researchers having published more than 1,400 peer-reviewed journal articles, books and reports on many aspects of human health and development including, but not limited to, behavioural, oral health and respiratory domains.
Some of these significant contributions were recently recognised as among the most important for psychology and social science in the past 100 years, as acknowledged in the Science News 2021 ‘Century of Science’.
The Otago Magazine will take a closer look at this significant milestone in the November edition.
COVID-19: staff step up
Staff from across the University stepped up to help in March, when the Omicron wave of COVID-19 hit all campuses.
In Dunedin, thousands of students in flats and residential colleges became unwell and needed to isolate. Staff from across the University were re-deployed or volunteered to help staff in the colleges. The Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA), with financial and logistical support from the University, put together and delivered over 4,500 food and care packages to flats in isolation.
Financial support for students was also provided from the University’s Putea Tautoko initiative, which has now distributed close to $6 million in financial aid to students since it was established in 2020.
New degree in Pharmaceutical Science
The University of Otago is now offering a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science degree — the only degree of its type in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Offered for the first time this year, Pharmaceutical Science encompasses a broad range of scientific disciplines critical to the discovery and development of new drugs and therapies, and can lead to a career at the forefront of science and technology.
Nutrition’s new food truck
The Department of Nutrition has launched its own food truck, to sell food on campus and in the community.
The brightly painted truck bridges the gap between theory and practice, providing students with a mobile venue to cook food and connect with the public.
A mix of undergraduates studying food service environments and postgraduates covering food service skills will be making use of the truck, which was sourced from Christchurch and painted by Lyttelton artist Jonny Waters.
Any leftover food will be donated to KiwiHarvest, which distributes excess food through the community.
Landmark consecutive Pacific student leaders
In a milestone moment for Pacific development at the University of Otago, the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) has its second president of Pacific descent – directly after having its first.
In 2021 Michaela Waite-Harvey, who is of Fijian-Māori descent became the first OUSA president of Pacific decent. She has this year handed the reins to Melissa Lama, who is of Tongan descent.
Waite-Harvey acknowledges the significance of this.
“People like to minimise firsts and say that it’s tokenistic. I don’t share this opinion. It’s completely necessary to encourage our people to enter new spaces, especially colonial and Pākeha-dominated spaces. It’s a journey towards decolonisation and sharing power.”
Director of Pacific Development, Dr Tasileta Teevale says the legacy of being an OUSA student President at Otago is strong, with past OUSA Presidents going on to greater leadership roles.
Lama says she was inspired by Waite-Harvey’s step up to leadership.
A new species of endemic frog discovered from fossils in North Canterbury has been named in recognition of the late Otago Professor Phil Bishop (1957–2021) for his worldwide services to amphibian research and conservation.
The new species, Bishop’s frog Leiopelma bishopi, is described in a paper published in the New Zealand Journal of Zoology by researchers from the University of Otago’s Department of Zoology and the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
The following University of Otago academics were promoted to the position of professor (effective 1 February 2022):
Peter Adams (Music); Lynley Anderson (Bioethics Centre); Jesse Bering (Centre for Science Communication); Michael Black (Biochemistry); Jonathan Broadbent (Oral Sciences); Rebecca Campbell (Physiology); Timothy Eglinton (Surgery, Christchurch); Catherine Fowler (Media, Film and Communication); Anita Gibbs (Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology); Clinton Golding (Higher Education Development Centre); Rebecca Grainger (Medicine, Wellington); Alex Gunn (College of Education); Siân Halcrow (Anatomy); Chris Hepburn (Marine Science); Christopher Holmes (Theology); Zhiyi Huang (Computer Science); Michael Keall (Public Health, Wellington); Ali Knott (Computer Science); Simone Marshall (English and Linguistics); Natalie Medlicott (School of Pharmacy); Karen Nairn (College of Education); Philippa Seaton (Centre for Postgraduate Nursing, Christchurch); Simon Stebbings (Medicine); Michael Tatley (New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre); Gareth Treharne (Psychology); Robin Turner (Biostatistics Centre); Angela Wanhalla (History); Gerry Wilkins (Medicine).
New Year Honours
The following Otago alumni and staff received 2022 New Year Honours.
KNZM: Professor Jim Mann, CNZM, for services to health.
CNZM: Rāwiri Paratene, ONZM, for services to Māori, film and theatre; Professor Harlene Hayne, ONZM, for services to health and wellbeing; Dr Geoff Lorigan, for services to business and leadership development; Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga, for services to Pacific health and tertiary education.
ONZM: Dr Linda Bryant, for services to pharmacy and health; Ms Gaye Bryham, for services to sport and recreation; Professor John Hutton, for services to women's health education; Dr Lindsay Mildenhall, for services to neonatal intensive care and resuscitation training; Mr Malcolm Wong, for services to the community and New Zealand-China relations.
MNZM: Dr Graeme Fenton, for services to Māori and rural health; Ms Shannon Pakura, for services to social work; Dr Ken Romeril, for services to haemotology; Professor Jacinta Ruru, for services to Māori and the law; Mrs Beryl Wilcox, for services to the community; Dr Doug Wilson, for services to health and seniors.
QSM: Mrs Jenny Agnew, for services to historical research and the Chinese community; Mr Trevor Agnew, for services to children's literacy and historical research; Mr Aart Brusse, for services to music; Mrs Lynley Bunton, for services to education and the community. Mrs Ailsa McGilvary-Howard, for services to conservation, particularly wildlife conservation; Mrs Irene Mosley, for services to the community; Mrs Noeline Watson, for services to the community.
The University Council has awarded Emeritus Professor status to: Professor Ewan Fordyce (Geology); Professor Vicky Cameron (Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch); Professor Sue Pullon (Primary Healthcare and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington); Professor Pat Cragg (Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)).
Awards and achievements
Distinguished Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman and researchers at the He Kāinga Oranga – Housing and Health Research Programme at the University of Otago, Wellington, have been awarded the 2021 Rutherford Medal, New Zealand’s top research honour, by the Royal Society Te Apārangi for their groundbreaking research into the impact of housing interventions on residents’ health and wellbeing. The medal was awarded to Professor Howden-Chapman and her colleagues, Professor Julian Crane, Associate Professor Michael Keall and Associate Professor Nevil Pierse, as well as the wider research team. The He Kāinga Oranga team has been researching a wide range of housing and health issues for more than 20 years.
Three Otago early-mid career researchers have been awarded Rutherford Discovery Fellowships from the Royal Society Te Apārangi that will support them to accelerate their research careers in Aotearoa: Dr Alana Alexander (Anatomy), Dr Htin Aung (Microbiology and Immunology) and Dr Khoon Lim (Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Christchurch). Dr Khoon Lim has also been awarded the European Society for Biomaterials' coveted Jean Leray Award for 2022 – rarely granted to researchers outside Europe – for his work in the area of bio fabrication and 3D bioprinting.
Dr Neil Vallelly (Division of Humanities) has been awarded a prestigious Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Dr Vallelly will use the Fellowship to examine the relationship between contemporary capitalism - often referred to as neoliberalism - and the rise of migrant detention, especially of asylum seekers, during the past four decades.
Seven University of Otago staff have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. They are: Professor Emerita Barbara Brookes (History), Professor Peter Fineran (Microbiology and Immunology), Professor Debbie Hay (Pharmacology and Toxicology), Professor Philip Hill (Preventive and Social Medicine), Professor Nigel Perry (Plant and Food Research and Department of Chemistry), Professor Murray Thomson (Dentistry) and Professor Angela Wanhalla (History).
Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee (Pathology) and Dr Rajiv Kumar (a medical oncologist in Christchurch and honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Pathology) have won the 2021 Roche Translational Cancer Research Fellowship Award, worth $30,000, for their project on lung cancer.
Dr Olivia Harrison (Psychology) has received the 2021 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowship. See feature story.
Associate Professor Sarah Wakes (Mathematics and Statistics), has been made a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand. Associate Professor Wakes expertise is in computational fluid dynamics with a particular research focus on applications to engineering design and wind flow over complex coastal geomorphology.
Dr Anna Pilbrow (Medicine, Christchurch) has been awarded the Heart Foundation’s inaugural Foundation100 Research Fellowship to investigate new genetic markers to identify people at imminent risk of a heart attack.
Professor Michael Baker (Public Health, Wellington) has been awarded the 2021 Cranwell Medal from the New Zealand Association of Scientists. The Cranwell Medal is awarded to a practising scientist for excellence in communicating science to the general public in any area of science or technology.
Emeritus Professor Brett Delahunt (Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Wellington) has been awarded a unique Gold Medal from the New Zealand Society of Pathologists in recognition of his 41 years of service, including his 10 years as President.
Dr Dominic Agyei (Food Science) won the 2021 Young Researcher of the Year award from the International Union of Food Science and Technology and the International Academy of Food Science and Technology.
Dr Susan Wardell (Social Anthropology) was the inaugural recipient of literary journal Headland's Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne short form nonfiction essay prize for her essay “Red Zone Pie”.
Professor Richie Poulton (Psychology) was named in the Clarivate PLC list of Highly Cited Researchers, indicating the significant and broad ongoing influence of the “Dunedin Study” and Professor Poulton’s research into human development, and the Study’s continuing influence on policy makers in New Zealand and overseas.
Dr Dana Ott (Management) and Dr Nicola Beatson (Accountancy and Finance) both won “Outstanding Paper” at the Emerald Literati 2021 awards. This provides their articles global recognition.
Professor Phil Bishop posthumously received the Dean’s Medal for Contribution to Supervision at the 2021 OUSA Supervisor of the Year Awards. Dr Charlotte King (Anatomy) won the Overall Supervisor of the Year award, while Dr Fairleigh Gilmour (Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology) won the New Supervisor of the Year award. Bishop’s award recognised his outstanding efforts in supporting Zoology and Ecology postgraduate students.
Trade Services Operations Manager Russ Linwood received the Vice-Chancellor’s Award at the University’s 2021 Professional Staff Awards in recognition of his long and dedicated service and adaptability to the challenges caused by COVID-19. Other awards went to Dave Hood (IT Training and Development Adviser); Chris Smith (Curator of the WD Trotter Anatomy Museum); and Carol Dunstone (Anatomy Technical Manager). The Procurement Office won the 2021 Sustainable Practice Award.
The Otago Business School (OBS) has received reaccreditation from EQUIS for an extended five-year period. EQUIS accreditation is the most comprehensive institutional accreditation system for business and management schools and is acknowledged worldwide. The OBS is one of fewer than 100 business schools worldwide to hold dual EQUIS and AACSB accreditation.
Stephen Higgs has become University of Otago Chancellor and Trish Oakley has become Pro-Chancellor. See feature story.
Education Minister Hon. Chris Hipkins has appointed former Cabinet Minister Hon. Clare Curran to the University of Otago Council. The Minister also reappointed current Council member Malcolm Wong to a second four-year term through to 31 December 2025.
Professor Suzanne Pitama is the new Dean and Head of Campus at the University of Otago, Christchurch. See feature story.
Professor Joanne Baxter has been appointed as the new Dean of the Dunedin School of Medicine. She will take up the role on 1 July 2022. See feature story.
Associate Professor Vivienne Anderson is the new Dean of the University of Otago College of Education.
Professor David Baxter is the new Dean of the Graduate Research School.
Emeritus Professor Peter Innes (Faculty of Dentistry). Joined the University in 1965 as Research Officer, Basic Services, in the Dental School, becoming Lecturer in 1967. He left for 25 years, returning in 1992 to the position of Dean, a role he held until his retirement in 2005.
Erina Hunt (Pathways and English Language Centre). From 2003, she was a committed and excellent teacher whose enthusiasm inspired both students and colleagues.
Dr Moana Jackson, who had strong links with the Faculty of Law and the wider University. Dr Jackson was a world-renowned Māori leader who made an enormous contribution to social justice, decolonisation and uplifting and raising awareness of Māori issues. He was a regular visitor to Te Kaupeka Tātai Ture (The Otago Faculty of Law), and was also a mentor to those in Te Roopū Whai Pūtake, the Māori Law Students Association at Otago. May the legacy of his work continue on, and may the spirit in which he carried himself be an inspiration to us all.

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Featuring the best live music and dance parties on the Lower East Side.
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Comedian Marcia Belsky (Handmaid's Tale: The Musical, Misandry with Marcia and Rae) brings together some of her favorite people in town for a free night of music, comedy, and easy listening.
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Equality NC Says Schools with Anti-Gay Policies Should Not Receive Voucher Dollars
Myrtle Grove Christian School’s recent move to exclude the gay community is fetching statewide attention. Last night, members of the Raleigh-based gay rights group Equality NC gathered local educators, clergy and public figures together in Wilmington to speak out against the school’s new biblical morality policy, which prohibits students from families that support or participate in a gay lifestyle. WHQR’s Katie O’Reilly reports.
Myrtle Grove Christian School recently announced its new policy in a letter to parents. Last night’s speakers—including State Representative Susi Hamilton—say they understand such policies are legal in private school. But they object to the fact that under the General Assembly’s new tuition voucher program, public dollars can now be used fund private tuition
"If we’re gonna give public money to people, they have to conform to public ideas. They have to respect the public. That means all of us. So, if they’re going to accept these public dollars, they’re going to have to abide by a different set of rules. Or I don’t believe that this community, or this state or this nation will stand for it."
The director of Equality NC says he’s working to challenge the state's voucher legislation, and that he hopes Senator Thom Goolsby will also stand against it. He adds that marginalizing gay kids puts this at-risk population at increased risk of bullying and suicide. However, the conservative advocacy group, NC Values Coalition, argues that the First Amendment protects Myrtle Grove Christian School’s right to implement a policy excluding gay people.


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- Research article
- Open Access
Comparison of an interactive voice response system and smartphone application in the identification of gout flares
Arthritis Research & Therapy volume 21, Article number: 160 (2019)
To examine the feasibility, preference, and satisfaction of an interactive voice response (IVR) system versus a customized smartphone application (StudyBuddy) to capture gout flares
In this 24-week prospective, randomized, crossover, open-label pilot study, 44 gout patients were randomized to IVR vs. StudyBuddy and were crossed over to the other technology after 12 weeks. Flares were reported via weekly (and later daily) scheduled StudyBuddy or IVR queries. Feasibility was ascertained via response rate to scheduled queries. At 12 and 24 weeks, participants completed preference/satisfaction surveys. Preference and satisfaction were assessed using dichotomous or ordinal questions. Sensitivity was assessed by the frequency of flare reporting with each approach.
Thirty-eight of 44 participants completed the study. Among completers, feasibility was similar for IVR (81%) and StudyBuddy (80%). Conversely, most (74%) preferred StudyBuddy. Measures of satisfaction (ease of use, preference over in-person clinic visits, and willingness for future use) were similar between the IVR and StudyBuddy; however, more participants deemed the StudyBuddy as convenient (95% vs. 73%, P = 0.01) and less disruptive (97% vs. 82%, P = 0.03). Although the per patient number of weeks in flare was not significantly different (mean 3.4 vs. 2.6 weeks/patient, P = 0.15), the StudyBuddy captured more of the total flare weeks (35%) than IVR (27%, P = 0.02).
A smartphone application and IVR demonstrated similar feasibility but overall sensitivity to capture gout flares and participant preference were greater for the smartphone application. Participant preference for the smartphone application appeared to relate to perceptions of greater convenience and lower disruption.
NCT, NCT02855437. Registered 4 August 2016
Flare prevention represents a major tenet of effective gout management. Gout flares are the key patient-reported outcome measure in randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) in gout [1,2,3,4,5]. However, multiple RCTs of urate-lowering therapies (ULT) have failed to detect differences in gout flares between treatment arms [6, 7]. This evidence gap around a clear flare reduction in clinical trials is one of the reasons  that the 2016 American College of Physicians (ACP)  clinical guidelines for gout management failed to endorse the “treat-to-target” approach (lowering and maintaining serum urate concentrations below 5 to 6 mg/dl) recommended by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)  and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) .
However, capturing gout flares in RCTs poses a substantial methodologic challenge, especially since these events usually occur between, rather than during, study visits. An additional limitation of using gout flares as an outcome in RCTs is the absence of a standardized method of flare ascertainment. Current methods used to capture gout flares, such as the use of patient diaries , patient self-report , or retrospectively during scheduled physician visits , have many practical limitations given their resource intensive nature and the limited veracity of the resultant data collected.
With the dramatic increased use of cell phones and other portable devices, mobile technology is more frequently being leveraged in healthcare management and has increasingly been deployed for remote data collection in the clinical trial and practice settings . For example, smartphone applications have been used to track data and monitor some diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and diabetes [14, 15] or symptoms such as pain [16, 17]. It demonstrated success in patient engagement and data collection. An alternative and less technologically intensive method to capture patient-reported outcomes remotely is an automated phone survey using an interactive voice response (IVR) system . The automated IVR telephone system delivers prerecorded surveys that participants answer through verbal or touch screen response. IVR surveys have been used for clinical studies, disease management, medication adherence monitoring, and health education [19, 20].
Given concerns about the absence of reliable gout flare capture in RCTs, the purpose of our project was to develop and test two novel methods to promptly and efficiently detect gout flares for use in future clinical trials. In this study, we compared IVR and a custom smartphone application (StudyBuddy) for capturing gout flares. We examined the feasibility, patient preference, satisfaction, and sensitivity for detecting flare using the two methods.
Study population and design
We conducted a 24-week, prospective, randomized, crossover, open-label pilot study comparing participants’ preference and feasibility of using interactive voice response (IVR) telephone questionnaire/flare reporting system versus a mobile smartphone application developed by investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, GoutPRO (Birmingham, AL), now known as StudyBuddy, to capture patient-reported outcomes and data (Fig. 1). The trial was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the two academic medical centers conducting this study. Patients were enrolled at UAB and at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC, Omaha, NE) rheumatology clinics from September of 2016 to March of 2018. Patient eligibility criteria included age 18 years and older (19 years or older in Nebraska), physician-diagnosed gout, and hyperuricemia with serum urate level ≥ 6.8 mg/dl within the 3 months of screening in the absence of interval changes in ULT dosing. Other inclusion criteria included the self-report of > 2 flares in the previous 6 months and current use of an Apple™ or Android™ smartphone with the ability to download the StudyBuddy smartphone application.
Interventions and data collection
Eligible participants providing consent were randomized to either IVR followed by StudyBuddy or StudyBuddy followed by IVR using a permutated block randomization to achieve balance between crossover arms in a 1:1 allocation. At the initial visit, depending on randomization assignment, participants installed and tested the StudyBuddy application on their smartphones, or received an IVR call.
During each12-week intervention period, participants completed the same gout flare survey questions via weekly scheduled StudyBuddy interactions or programmed IVR calls at the time of their choice. A subgroup of 15 participants in the IVR arm was randomly assigned to receive daily programmed IVR calls. The weekly IVR calls were to be repeated within 1, 2, 24, and 48 h of the original call (in cases of no response) while the daily IVR calls were repeated in 1 and 2 h as necessary. Flare assessment was based on validated gout flare survey questions consistent with the published gout flare self-report definition of Gaffo and colleagues . This definition has 85% sensitivity and 95% specificity in confirming the presence of a gout flare. It requires fulfillment of at least 3 of 4 criteria (patient-defined gout flare, pain at rest score of > 3 on a 0–10-point numerical rating scale, presence of ≥ 1 swollen joint, and presence of ≥ 1 warm joint). Our survey questions included (1) whether the recent flare was similar to past flares, (2) the number of swollen/warm joints, (3) pain at rest during the flare (assessed using a 0–10 numerical rating scale), and (4) additional questions specific to each flare including peak pain levels, location of pain (i.e., which joints), timing of the flare, and its duration. After the first 12 weeks (phase 1), study participants were crossed over to receive the alternative mode of gout flare assessment and continued in the study for an additional 12 weeks (phase 2). A washout period between methods was not utilized since no protracted risk of behavioral change was anticipated. At 12 weeks (crossover) and 24 weeks (end of study), participants completed satisfaction surveys, as well as a questionnaire about their preferred mode of reporting gout flares.
We compared IVR and the customized StudyBuddy smartphone application in this pilot study using three primary domains of interest: (1) feasibility, (2) preference, and (3) satisfaction. Feasibility was ascertained via proportion of responses to the scheduled queries with each approach during the study period. Preference was calculated as the proportion of total study population preferring IVR or StudyBuddy. Satisfaction was calculated using six separate self-reported measures extracted from the customizable Health Information Technology (IT) Usability Evaluation Scale (Health-ITUES) at 12 and 24 weeks. Measures of satisfaction included the participant ratings of (1) ease of use, (2) disruption to daily activities, (3) ability to respond to alerts (or convenience of alerts), (4) preference of either device to a clinic visit, (5) satisfaction with the contact frequency, and (6) willingness for future use (acceptability) . The feasibility and satisfaction measures were also tested in the subgroup with daily IVR calls to test for differences compared to the weekly group.
We also considered the relative frequency of gout flare reporting as a component of the sensitivity of each method to capture relevant flare events. In doing so, we made the assumption that since we randomized patients to the sequence of 12-week time periods (i.e., app vs. IVR for 12 weeks, then crossover), the frequency of flares should be similar in both time periods, and thus any difference in the reported flare rates was a consequence of greater sensitivity of the technology to capture flare. We compared the frequency of flare reporting with each approach. We assessed flares using the aforementioned questionnaire and reported as the number of weekly sampling periods per participant characterized by flare in addition to the total proportion of weeks for all individuals characterized by a flare. In addition, at the end of the 24-week study period, an open-ended qualitative questionnaire about common causes for not responding to alerts was collected from participants via a structured telephone interview with questions focused on smartphone application issues, connection issues, and time convenience.
We summarized baseline characteristics of study participants as means with standard deviation (SD) for continuous and ordinal measures and number and percentage for categorical variables. All statistical analyses followed standard methods for a 2-by-2 crossover design . Preference and satisfaction surveys used dichotomous questions, except the ease-of-use question which utilized a Likert scale (range 0 to 10; very easy to very difficult) and was analyzed as an ordinal variable. Differences between the StudyBuddy and IVR approach were evaluated using McNemar’s test for dichotomous variables, paired t test for continuous variables, and nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test for ordinal variables. Qualitative questionnaire data for lack of response were summarized as percentages. Carryover effects were examined using the standard two-sample t test.
We conducted sensitivity analyses with multiple imputations to examine the robustness of the reported results and the effects of missing data for both the as-treated (n = 38) and intent-to-treat populations (n = 44). We considered missing data to be missing at random. We also performed a complete case analysis with case-wise deletion. A two-sided alpha of 0.05 was used to determine significance. Since the study was a pilot study to demonstrate feasibility of recruiting and training gout patients to utilize StudyBuddy and IVR, a priori sample size calculations were not performed. All analyses were performed with SAS (version 9.4, SAS, Cary, NC).
Of 48 participants screened, 44 were enrolled, 1 had no smartphone, 1 had < 2 flares within 6 months, and 2 decided against participation. By the end of the study, 38 completed both study arms, 1 withdrew immediately post-randomization, 3 (1 IVR, 2 StudyBuddy) were lost to follow-up during phase 1 [baseline to week 12], and 2 (1 IVR, 1 StudyBuddy) were lost to follow-up during phase 2 [week 13 through week 24]. The lost to follow-up participants did not complete the surveys and were unresponsive to follow-up calls. There were no significant differences observed in age, sex, or race between the 38 completers and the 6 individuals failing to complete the study. Participants were predominantly middle-aged men. Nearly half of the participants reported 2–3 gout flares within 6 months prior to enrollment with the remainder reporting four or more flares and nearly all were on ULT at enrollment (Table 1).
The two methods of flare capture demonstrated similar feasibility with participants responding to 81% of IVR queries and 80% of StudyBuddy queries (P = 0.94) (Table 2). At study completion, 28 (74%) preferred StudyBuddy delivered via smartphone, only 3 (8%) preferred IVR, and 7 (18%) had no preference. In assessments of satisfaction, the StudyBuddy was rated by participants as being numerically superior to IVR in terms of ease of use (0.58 ± 1.16 vs. 1.63 ± 2.5) [where 0 is very easy to use], although this difference did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.79). Participants also reported the StudyBuddy to be more convenient, with 95% of participants reporting being able to answer questions when alerted, compared to 73% with IVR (P = 0.01). Moreover, participants found StudyBuddy to be disruptive < 3% of the time compared to 18% with IVR (P = 0.03). More than 80% of the participants preferred using either of the remote devices for reporting gout flare over in-person physician appointments. There was also no difference in the willingness for future use in both arms (Table 3). When we imputed missing data for measures of feasibility and satisfaction in both the as-treated and intent-to-treat populations, we found no significant difference in results. The complete case analysis with case-wise deletion also led to no changes in our overall results (data not shown).
Data on more frequent daily ascertainment involving more than a third of the participants in the IVR arm had little impact on measures of satisfaction, with the exception that participants were more likely to respond to weekly (87.0%) alerts compared to daily alerts (70.2%) (P < 0.05).
The proportion of total weeks of observation with flares reported differed significantly per arm, with StudyBuddy weeks capturing more flares (35%) compared to IVR weeks (27%; P = 0.02). Likewise, the mean (± SD) number of weeks per participant characterized by a gout flare was numerically higher with StudyBuddy than IVR (3.4 ± 3.3 vs. 2.6 ± 2.5), although this difference did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.15) (Table 2).
The reasons offered for not responding to the surveys in a timely fashion were mostly secondary to “inconvenience” associated with the timing of an alert, reported in 15 of 37 responses (40.5%). Other reasons noted included application malfunction (10.8%), smartphone running out of data/phone dysfunction (10.8%), or poor internet connection or reception. No carryover effects during phase 2 were identified.
We found that both an IVR and customized smartphone application (StudyBuddy) were equally feasible when used in reporting gout flares. The StudyBuddy smartphone application was preferred by more patients and appeared to capture more total flares than the IVR. Participants also found the StudyBuddy smartphone application to be more convenient than IVR. Over 80% of participants in both arms reported that neither flare-reporting technology was disruptive. However, a small but significantly greater number of participants found the smartphone application less disruptive than IVR. Overall, both methods were reported to be easy to use and both were strongly preferred over an in-person clinic visit for gout flare reporting, and rendered similar willingness for future use in studies.
The feasibility of our smartphone application and IVR was generally consistent with that reported in prior studies that leveraged these technologies in pain monitoring, deploying nutritional assessment tools and medication adherence [24,25,26]. For instance, a prior study of patients with sickle cell disease reported a 75% compliance rate with daily queries with the use of a customized smartphone application . Similarly, a feasibility study of a smartphone application for sleep apnea patients  demonstrated good feasibility with > 60% of participants completing the daily questionnaire, > 65% of the study time, and with a 94% satisfaction rates. Another small 3-month feasibility study in rheumatoid arthritis  measured the self-assessment of daily disease activity using a smartphone application. The vast majority of these participants (~ 88%) had no issues reporting their daily symptoms, and all were confident sharing their information. Nevertheless, challenges with reporting adherence and attrition have also been noted with smartphone applications [29, 30], a phenomenon that we saw in our study and would be anticipated in longer studies. In comparison with smartphone applications, the feasibility of IVR for collecting daily queries of patient-reported outcomes has been reported in different diseases. In a randomized clinical trial of a pain medication, 85% of the daily surveys were successfully completed by participants . Another feasibility study on prostate cancer survivors demonstrated 87% response to IVR queries regarding the quality of life .
IVR is a well-tested approach to communicate instructions, collect health information, send reminders, and complete surveys to improve healthcare services . Despite being slightly less favorably received, when we compared it to StudyBuddy in our study, it was still judged as being similarly acceptable for future use and far more preferred than an in-person clinic visit. This parallels findings from previous studies examining different patient populations where IVR use was also found to be preferable [33, 34] and acceptable for future use [35, 36]. The fact that > 80% of our participants reported the IVR was not disruptive and > 70% reported it as convenient may have been associated with pre-scheduled call times established according to the participants’ preference. To our knowledge, IVR has not previously been used to capture patient-reported outcomes, including gout flare, in arthritis studies. This technology may be of particular benefit among gout patients lacking access to or less comfortable with the use of smartphones or other more advanced technologies. The IVR approach has other advantages including ease of use, real-time data collection, cost effectiveness, and independence of patient literacy. However, it still requires adequate telephone access.
The higher participant preference for the StudyBuddy was consistent with higher ratings received in relation to its perceived convenience and lower disturbance rate. Similar to other studies in pain  and sickle cell disease  that utilized a similar approach, our study also showed that patients found the smartphone application to be acceptable with excellent response rates, underscoring its potential feasibility in clinical trials as well as in day-to-day practice. Similar findings were also seen in a juvenile idiopathic arthritis study, where a different smartphone application was used to remotely promote for self-management with good acceptability by pediatric patients and parents alike . The smartphone application shares similar properties to the IVR. However, it provides more flexibility in collecting data, with the potential for real-time feedback. The smartphone technology also offers the ability to assess certain physiological parameters such as step counts and sleep. As a drawback noted above, a smartphone application use requires more fluency with computer technology. Other challenges of the smartphone technology include privacy concerns with data transmission . The younger age of our cohort might partially explain the slight preference for the StudyBuddy. As a further general limitation, both the smartphone and the IVR lack a direct person-to-person communication . Although smartphone applications have been previously developed to promote self-efficacy in gout , we are aware of no other study that systemically examined this technology as a means of remotely capturing gout flare in patients.
The difference observed in the total proportion of weekly queries characterized by flare suggests that the customized smartphone application used in our study yielded a higher sensitivity for flare capture than IVR. Whether this difference relates to the greater convenience and flexibility in responding to alerts with this application is unknown, although our results suggest this to be one possible explanation. This trend was also observed in per patient flare reporting, where use of the StudyBuddy also yielded more flare reports, even though this difference did not achieve significance likely owing to the limited sample size and high variability observed with these events. Although our results suggest that the StudyBuddy provides a more sensitive means of flare capture than IVR, larger studies will be needed to validate this finding.
To our knowledge, this is among the first studies to use smartphones to capture self-reported gout flares. Despite its strengths, particularly in terms of crossover design and innovation, there are limitations to the study. Designed and implemented as a pilot proof-of-concept study, the sample size was small and this limited power to detect differences for some of the outcomes examined, as expected in the design phase. During the conduct of this study, we encountered technical issues with approximately 1 in every 5 participants reporting at least sporadic issues related to poor internet network connectivity or application malfunction. Though infrequent and highly informative for future study planning, these technical issues could serve as a source of study response bias.
In summary, different technologies may offer variable benefits for gout flare assessment in future clinical trials since both forms of technology were equally feasible and reasonably well accepted. Our smartphone application, StudyBuddy, appeared to provide greater sensitivity, and our study participants found it to be more convenient and “user friendly” for gout flare reporting. While our pilot demonstrated the utility of using these technology tools to record self-reported gout outcomes, future studies examining patient preferences and satisfaction will be required in different populations to demonstrate both generalizability and reproducibility of our results as well as to better define the role of such technologies in future gout management trials.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to complexity of data coding and data transformations needed for analyses but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
American College of Physicians
American College of Rheumatology
European League Against Rheumatism
Interactive voice response
Randomized controlled trials
Smartphone mobile application
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UAB Training Program in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases Research, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (Kirschstein-NRSA) Institutional training grant awarded to UAB by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, T32 AR069516). Dr. Mikuls receives support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM115458).
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals funded the study but had no input into the design of the study, content of the manuscript, or the decision to publish.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The trial was approved by the Institutional Review Boards at the two academic medical centers conducting this study, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC, Omaha, NE).
Consent for publication
T. Mikuls had a research support from Ironwood/Astra Zeneca and Horizon. K. Saag had a research support from Ironwood, Horizon, Takeda, and Sobi and is a consultant at Horizon, Sobi, Shanton, and Takeda. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Cite this article
Elmagboul, N., Coburn, B.W., Foster, J. et al. Comparison of an interactive voice response system and smartphone application in the identification of gout flares. Arthritis Res Ther 21, 160 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-019-1944-5
- Interactive voice response system
- Smartphone application
- Gout flares

domain: health


Jordanian Uranium Mining Company’s yellowcake plant fully operational
Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khaled Toukan on Saturday said that the Jordanian Uranium Mining Company has operated its pioneering plant to extract yellowcake from uranium ores since the start of 2021.
In addition to the exploration of uranium in the centre of the Kingdom, the Jordanian nuclear programme consists of the Jordanian Nuclear Reactor Project for Research and Training, which began in 2016, and the Nuclear Power Plant Project, to produce electricity and desalinate seawater. Both of these projects are currently ongoing, according to Toukan.
He pointed out that the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Research and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) began receiving international researchers in 2018 to conduct research using synchrotron light.
He stressed that all of the institute’s scientific achievements have been achieved thanks to the support of His Majesty King Abdullah.
General Manager of the Uranium Mining Company Mohammad Shunnaq said that over the past year the company has undertaken the design and installation of a factory for the production of yellow cake. He highlighted the company’s successful operation of a crude agglomeration line despite the exceptional circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Shunnaq also highlighted that the operation of the pilot plant has produced 70 tonnes of ore.
Pertaining to the development and training of human resources, he said that the company runs training programmes in the fields of uranium exploration, extraction processes, physical and chemical analysis, environmental conservation studies and data analysis.
He pointed out that the company trained more than 100 individuals from professional associations and Jordanian universities, as well as from the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy in Saudi Arabia.
Arabic Version النص باللغة العربية


text: Anyways, on with the ridiculously awesomeness! Today's comes to you from sparklerama, who's been making these "Micro Mini Tiny Kitties" for quite some time now. I chose this one because I love tabby/tiger kitties. This one is white with black stripes and green eyes. He measures a little over an inch tall, and has an adorable white yarn tail.

domain: design


text:
“Caledonia is a really good team,” said Grand Haven coach Aaron Dean. “The first time we played them, it was a 0-0 tie. You look at their scores, and they are really comparable to what we have done, they are a tough team.”
Through the first half of play, the game looked as though it would end in familiar fashion. Neither the Bucs nor Scots had a successful try through the first 40 minutes.
“I wasn’t really surprised we weren’t getting in,” Dean said of his team’s first half performance. “I wasn’t totally disappointed, but I think we lost some of our rhythm. We were knocking around the ball pretty well, but then we kept getting into these deep balls, it just pulled us apart.”
Both teams adopted a kick-and-chase attack as set plays and careful passing failed to convert.
“We would hit a deep ball and try and almost score, then they would hit a deep ball and almost score. It just kind of went back and forth,” added coach Dean.
The second half of play saw all three of the game’s goals scored.
Conner Lund broke the plane for the first time just two minutes into the half, ripping a shot from the top of the box past the Caledonia keeper.
The Scots would not take the goal lying down. After a series of hard-fought possessions, they would earn an equalizer. A deep ball turned breakaway was too much for backup goalie Filiberto Juarez, who played relief for starter Jake Thayer in the second half.
“He’s done really well, that breakaway goal, there is nothing he can do about that. That’s not on him,” said coach Dean of the tying goal.
Now tied at one, the match’s intensity continued to build as the clock wound down. Both teams saw chances to score and failed before the Bucs converted the go-ahead game winner.
Ethan King, not one to miss out on game-deciding moments, did the honors with a textbook volley from the top of the box, punctuated with a high-flying, hesitation fist pump. Tavin Ardell assisted King on the score. The Bucs went on to win the game, 2-1.
Coach Dean was pleased with the boys’ effort in the second half of their next to last regular season contest.
“We got some of our shape back, we got back into what we try and do more often. They are a good team, we got up one, and they got it back pretty quickly. It is nice to win though. That’s always good.”
Ethan King was given the team’s player of the game award in the form of “the boots”.
“He’s kind of someone who we have asked to play different roles. At first, it was a little bit of struggle to define what I kept asking him to do, but the last couple games he has figured out what we are looking for. His work rate is always really good.”
The boots are given to a player who shines in the game in the right ways, contributing to the team with work ethic and determination.
“It’s all those little things, the hustle-back on defense, winning balls in the middle. That’s why you get the boots. It’s the nitty-gritty stuff,” added coach Dean.
Scoring game-winning goals helps, too.
The Buccaneers now have just one game remaining in their regular season schedule, a home matchup with O-K Red rival East Kentwood on Wednesday night.
“We’ve got a couple trick plays we saved for that game,” joked coach Dean. “It’s going to be the same thing. We’re going to try and do what we do best — be aggressive and intense and get the ball back quickly. They are always talented. Coach Conlon always does great with those guys. It’s the last home game of the season, so it’ll be a big night for the seniors. We will see what happens.”
The Falcons sit at third in the O-K Red Conference standings, one spot behind Grand Haven, and two behind conference-leading Rockford. The final round of games is unlikely to affect those standings.

domain: game


RENDLESHAM FOREST INCIDENT
Strange lights were reported by servicemen in the forest near RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge.
The incident came to be known as 'Britain's Roswell' after the UFO sightings in New Mexico.
Soldiers investigated what the lights were, including Staff Sgt Jim Burroughs, Airman First Class Edward Cabansag and Airman First Class Larry Warren.
The disputed sightings, over three nights between December 26-28, occurred when Britain and the West were on high alert during the Cold War.
Retired US Air Force officer Steve Longero broke a 36 year silence, in December 2016, to reveal he also saw something in the night sky.
Mr Longero said the UFOs looked like red and green fluorescent lights hovering over treetops.
He also dismissed one theory that the lights had been caused by a lighthouse.
The incident became a topic of fascination in the UK after a group of servicemen went into Rendlesham Forest to investigate the mysterious lights and came out convinced they had seen seen an alien spacecraft.
The Suffolk sightings resurfaced claims from those living in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947 when an unexpected crash was alleged to have been the remains of a spacecraft and alien bodies.
But this was rejected by the U.S. military following a close investigation into the wreckage.
The British Ministry of Defence has also dismissed the claims regarding Rendlesham.
It said there was no threat to national security and the UFOs were likely to be caused by a series of nocturnal lights.
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New Mnemic Music Video For "I've Been You" Posted
Danish modern metal act Mnemic posted a new music video for the song "I've Been You." The song appears on the band's latest LP "Mnemesis," out now on Nuclear Blast Records. The video was directed by Swedish born Patric Ullaeus of the Revolver Film Company AB (In Flames, Dimmu Borgir).
In other Mnemic news, the band is set to embark on a fall tour of Europe with Hatesphere and Sybreed on October 4, 2012. For dates and venues, head on over to this location.
Check out "I've Been You" here:
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Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 15, Number 5 July / August 2011
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The July/August 2011 issue of the Flatpicking Guitar Magazine includes:
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Welcome to the July/August 2011 edition of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine! This edition is Volume 15, Number 5 of the magazine and features former national flatpicking guitar champion, and lead guitarist for the band Joy Kills Sorrow, Matt Arcara, on the cover. Additionally in this issue you get a transcription of a great jazzy version of "Old Joe Clark" from North Carolina picker Reggie Harris and a great cut from a new CD by the Tennessee based band Mountain Soul featuring Jonathan Maness on guitar. Also, all of our regular contributors have presented an awesome selection of tunes for your to learn this summer. So go grab your guitar and get ready to pick! We hope you enjoy this issue of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine.
* Matt Arcara: "Greasy Coat"
* Flatpick Profile: Reggie Harris & "Old Joe Clark"
* CD Highlight: Jonathan Maness & Mountain Soul "Crazy Train"
* Flatt 5 by Joe Carr
* Beginner's Page: "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" by Dan Huckabee
* Kaufman's Corner: "Maid Behind the Bar" by Steve Kaufman
* Taking It To The Next Level: "Opus 7, Number 1'" by John Carlini
* Nashville Flattop: "Your Love Is Like A Flower" by Brad Davis
* Sharpening the Axe: "Clash of the Tartans" by Jeff Troxel
* "Nashville Blues" by Kathy Barwick
* The O-Zone: "Fisher's Hornpipe" by Orrin Star
* "Chinatown, My Chinatown" by Dix Bruce
* Music Theory: Practical Applications by Mike Maddux
* Flatpicking Fiddle Tunes: Contest Season by Adam Granger
* Eclectic Acoustic: "Tando Derrane" by John McGann
* "My Irish Home" by Bill Bay
* Bluegrass Guitar: "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" by Steve Pottier
Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 15, Number 3 March / April 2011
Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 15, Number 2 January / February 2011
Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 15, Number 1 November / December 2010
Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 15, Number 4 May / June 2011
Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, Volume 15, Number 6 September / October 2011
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