The evolving landscape of sex-based differences in lung cancer: a distinct disease in women

In stark contrast to a few decades ago when lung cancer was predominantly a disease of men who smoke, incidence rates of lung cancer in women are now comparable to or higher than those in men and are rising alarmingly in many parts of the world. Women face a unique set of risk factors for lung cancer compared to men. These include exogenous exposures including radon, prior radiation, and fumes from indoor cooking materials such as coal, in addition to endogenous exposures such as oestrogen and distinct genetic polymorphisms. Current screening guidelines only address tobacco use and likely underrepresent lung cancer risk in women. Women were also not well represented in some of the landmark prospective studies that led to the development of current screening guidelines. Women diagnosed with lung cancer have a clear mortality benefit compared to men even when other clinical and demographic characteristics are accounted for. However, there may be sex-based differences in outcomes and side effects of systemic therapy, particularly with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Ongoing research is needed to better investigate these differences to address the rapidly changing demographics of lung cancer worldwide.

When Science Fiction Meets Reality

Eighty years after the first science fiction convention, geek culture has gone mainstream and facilitated exponential growth in the fandom convention industry. With fandom conventions facing increasing competition and changing demographics, standing out in the crowded convention space is essential. Dragon Con founded in 1987 created the idea of the multi-genre convention that has something for everyone. Since its inception, Dragon Con has changed to fit fans' evolving tastes and formed strategic relationships with key partners. With growth comes issues related to registration, wait lines, harassment and security which need to be addressed while trying to take into account the younger and more diverse fandoms.

Weapons of Mass Instruction

This chapter reviews the literature on using movies/films for teaching public administration. Such a review is necessary due to the changing demographics of both the student body and the instructors, which necessitates the use of new pedagogical methods and the ubiquitous accessibility of the teaching materials via mobile computers on the internet. To this end, the chapter first reviews the literature then provides a few detailed specific examples of using movies/movie clips for instructional purposes in teaching public administration. Then, a general list of movies that can be used in public administration teaching is provided with a reference to the concepts that can be showcased by these films. Third, limitations of the existing literature on teaching public administration with movies are presented. And finally, areas for further research are discussed.

Prefabricated Engineered Timber Schools in the United Kingdom: Challenges and Opportunities

Due to changing demographics, the UK faces a significant shortage of school places. The UK government aims to build large numbers of new schools to meet this demand. However, legally binding carbon emissions mitigation commitments might limit the ability of the government to adequately meet this demand on-time, on-budget, and within sustainability targets. This paper assesses the opportunity for prefabricated engineered timber construction methods to help meet the demand for new primary and secondary school buildings in the UK within these constraints. Building on a study of past government-led school building programmes and the state-of-the-art developments in engineered timber construction, this paper outlines the benefits that an engineered timber school building programme could have on a sustainability and procurement level. A strategy is then proposed for the wider adoption of engineered timber for the construction of school buildings in the UK, including detailed guidelines for designers and policymakers. The study concludes with recommendations for the adaptation of this strategy in different countries, depending on context-specific requirements, therefore promoting a generalised adoption of sustainable and efficient construction processes.

Intensifying the Grid: A Typology for Medium Density Housing to Accommodate the Changing Demography of Wellington Suburbs

<p>The combination of an increasing population, changing demographics and an ageing housing stock is driving the need for new and more varied housing types. Attempts to address these concerns have been less than satisfactory, leading to urban sprawl and the destruction of neighbourhood character. Residential intensification is a way of providing new housing while preserving both Wellington's compact urban form and open space. This thesis explores a process to increase housing density in the inner suburbs without a loss of urban form and character. Developed through design led research, the study first identifies those neighbourhoods most suited for intensification as Wellington's historic gridded suburbs. A representative street is then selected, and a strategy for integrating medium-density housing is developed. It then applies the principles in two multi-unit developments to address modern concerns with enhanced liveability and improved connection with private outdoor space. By manipulating the buildings in plan and section, complex internal configurations are possible, resulting in different sizes and types of dwellings, which accommodates varied demographic groups and household sizes. Through the elevation, the designs are then integrated into the local character of the site by reinterpreting the street's context in a contemporary manner. The design resolution was reached through a cyclical process, developing and being tested incrementally. The general principles of the design can be extrapolated and applied to other Wellington gridded neighbourhoods. They can also be applied to other locations with similar urban morphology in other New Zealand and Australian cities.</p>

Intensifying the Grid: A Typology for Medium Density Housing to Accommodate the Changing Demography of Wellington Suburbs

<p>The combination of an increasing population, changing demographics and an ageing housing stock is driving the need for new and more varied housing types. Attempts to address these concerns have been less than satisfactory, leading to urban sprawl and the destruction of neighbourhood character. Residential intensification is a way of providing new housing while preserving both Wellington's compact urban form and open space. This thesis explores a process to increase housing density in the inner suburbs without a loss of urban form and character. Developed through design led research, the study first identifies those neighbourhoods most suited for intensification as Wellington's historic gridded suburbs. A representative street is then selected, and a strategy for integrating medium-density housing is developed. It then applies the principles in two multi-unit developments to address modern concerns with enhanced liveability and improved connection with private outdoor space. By manipulating the buildings in plan and section, complex internal configurations are possible, resulting in different sizes and types of dwellings, which accommodates varied demographic groups and household sizes. Through the elevation, the designs are then integrated into the local character of the site by reinterpreting the street's context in a contemporary manner. The design resolution was reached through a cyclical process, developing and being tested incrementally. The general principles of the design can be extrapolated and applied to other Wellington gridded neighbourhoods. They can also be applied to other locations with similar urban morphology in other New Zealand and Australian cities.</p>

Structuring complexity? A systemic perspective on the implementation of a disease management programme for type II diabetes care in Denmark

Chronic diseases are major causes of death and reduction in the quality of life worldwide, and their prevalence is expected to rise due to changing demographics. Disease management programmes (DMPs) have been presented as a policy response to challenges of care coordination for such chronic diseases. This paper investigates the implementation of DMPs in a National Health Care system in the Nordic region using type II diabetes as an example. DMPs are detailed descriptions of the sequence and responsibilities for diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention procedures. The paper applies a systemic implementation perspective to provide detailed analysis of implementation progress, issues and concerns. The implementation analysis shows that the framework of DMP has facilitated the development of new practices and attention to the roles that each of the stakeholders are playing within the service delivery. Many new initiatives contribute to improved coordination and overall management of the Type 2 diabetes (T2DB) population. Yet, there are also several cross-cutting challenges that are affecting the implementation process.

Ampicillin Plus Ceftriaxone Regimen against Enterococcus faecalis Endocarditis: A Literature Review

Enterococcus faecalis infective endocarditis (EFIE) continues to represent a potentially fatal infectious disease characterized by elevated morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy, changing demographics and the reduced availability of useful antibiotics combined with the dissemination of multi-drug resistant strains, the mortality rate remained unchanged in the last decades. Nowadays, optimizing the antibiotic regimen is still of paramount importance. Historically, aminoglycosides were considered as a cornerstone for treatment even though their use is associated with a high risk of kidney failure. It is against this background that, in recent years, several studies have been carried in order to assess the validity of alternative therapeutic approaches, including combinations of beta-lactams, that, acting synergistically, have yielded useful results in different clinical settings. In this scenario, we searched and critically report clinical studies assessing the efficacy and safety of double beta-lactam therapy in treating EFIE.