Volunteers are a critical operational resource for not-for-profit organisations in the health and welfare sector. However, trends towards episodic volunteering may be a source of disruption. This study examined contemporary management beliefs and practices about episodic volunteers in the sector. A cross-sectional online survey with 186 managers and coordinators of episodic volunteers across North America and the Asia Pacific examined organisational values and beliefs about volunteers; perceived benefits and challenges of working with episodic volunteers; volunteering management. Episodic volunteers were highly beneficial to organisational profile, mission, service profile, and cost savings. Challenges include matching recruitment to workplace and skill needs; lack of paid staff to supervise and train volunteers and inadequate administrative support. There is a disjunct between the perceived value provided to the not-for-profit sector by episodic volunteers and the extent to which episodic volunteering is supported through organisational training and management practices.

The First Large Absorption Survey in H i (FLASH) is a large-area radio survey for neutral hydrogen in and around galaxies in the intermediate redshift range $0.4\lt z\lt1.0$, using the 21-cm H i absorption line as a probe of cold neutral gas. The survey uses the ASKAP radio telescope and will cover 24,000 deg$^2$ of sky over the next five years. FLASH breaks new ground in two ways – it is the first large H i absorption survey to be carried out without any optical preselection of targets, and we use an automated Bayesian line-finding tool to search through large datasets and assign a statistical significance to potential line detections. Two Pilot Surveys, covering around 3000 deg$^2$ of sky, were carried out in 2019-22 to test and verify the strategy for the full FLASH survey. The processed data products from these Pilot Surveys (spectral-line cubes, continuum images, and catalogues) are public and available online. In this paper, we describe the FLASH spectral-line and continuum data products and discuss the quality of the H i spectra and the completeness of our automated line search. Finally, we present a set of 30 new H i absorption lines that were robustly detected in the Pilot Surveys, almost doubling the number of known H i absorption systems at $0.4\lt z\lt1$. The detected lines span a wide range in H i optical depth, including three lines with a peak optical depth $\tau\gt1$, and appear to be a mixture of intervening and associated systems. Interestingly, around two-thirds of the lines found in this untargeted sample are detected against sources with a peaked-spectrum radio continuum, which are only a minor (5–20%) fraction of the overall radio-source population. The detection rate for H i absorption lines in the Pilot Surveys (0.3 to 0.5 lines per 40 deg$^2$ ASKAP field) is a factor of two below the expected value. One possible reason for this is the presence of a range of spectral-line artefacts in the Pilot Survey data that have now been mitigated and are not expected to recur in the full FLASH survey. A future paper in this series will discuss the host galaxies of the H i absorption systems identified here.

Throughout a three-year undergraduate nutrition degree, students learn the theoretical knowledge and technical skill set required to become a nutritionist. However, nutrition curriculum does not always include an opportunity to practice the application of knowledge and skills in a real-world setting or develop an understanding of the transferable skills required in a workplace, thus, general employability skills and information on workplace expectations are not developed(1). A mixed methods research study was undertaken to understand student perspectives of employer expectations and general employability skills. A validated work-ready tool(1) was used to survey undergraduate nutrition students at Australian universities (n = 171); students who participated in an industry placement were interviewed pre/post placement (n = 22); nutrition industry experts and employers (n = 9) were interviewed and an industry focus group (n = 6) was conducted to develop a deeper understanding of the impact of including curriculum that developed employability skills and exposure to workplaces and expectations. Survey data showed 74% of students had an understanding of how to effectively use their skills in the workplace, 75% indicated they knew what was expected of them if they used their skills in the workplace, and 64% understood the steps in the process of using their skills. Students who completed an employability subject at one university were invited to complete the same survey upon completion and 100% of students reported having this knowledge and understanding. Thematic analysis of student interviews revealed multiple benefits of placement such as industry insights; role clarity; deeper understanding of workplace expectations; the opportunity to practice application of knowledge and skills, identify unknown information, gain experience; networking opportunities; feeling better prepared for interviews and job searching post-degree and improved confidence across all themes identified. Thematic analysis of industry interviews and focus groups also revealed themes related to the benefits of a placement experience for students. Employers identified placement as an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of graduate and workplace expectations; better understand roles and industry; practice application of knowledge and skills; and to develop networks and confidence. Employers also identified a lack of confidence in some students asking for help; students’ inability to translate scientific knowledge to a range of lay audiences; and an understanding of how nutrition works with or within other departments, and suggested that employability skills should be developed within courses and/or on placement to better prepare students for the workplace. The results indicate that the inclusion of employability development and/or placements within the curriculum develops an understanding of the employability skills required by nutrition graduates, builds greater awareness of employment expectations, roles, industry, and workplaces, and provides an opportunity to practice the application of their knowledge and skills resulting in improved graduate confidence.

We present the first results from a new backend on the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, the Commensal Realtime ASKAP Fast Transient COherent (CRACO) upgrade. CRACO records millisecond time resolution visibility data, and searches for dispersed fast transient signals including fast radio bursts (FRB), pulsars, and ultra-long period objects (ULPO). With the visibility data, CRACO can localise the transient events to arcsecond-level precision after the detection. Here, we describe the CRACO system and report the result from a sky survey carried out by CRACO at 110-ms resolution during its commissioning phase. During the survey, CRACO detected two FRBs (including one discovered solely with CRACO, FRB 20231027A), reported more precise localisations for four pulsars, discovered two new RRATs, and detected one known ULPO, GPM J1839 $-$10, through its sub-pulse structure. We present a sensitivity calibration of CRACO, finding that it achieves the expected sensitivity of 11.6 Jy ms to bursts of 110 ms duration or less. CRACO is currently running at a 13.8 ms time resolution and aims at a 1.7 ms time resolution before the end of 2024. The planned CRACO has an expected sensitivity of 1.5 Jy ms to bursts of 1.7 ms duration or less and can detect $10\times$ more FRBs than the current CRAFT incoherent sum system (i.e. 0.5 $-$2 localised FRBs per day), enabling us to better constrain the models for FRBs and use them as cosmological probes.

Background: Reliable real-world data on the burden of MG is needed to inform Canadian clinical and policy decisions in the era of new MG therapeutics, including FcRn inhibitors. Given the lack of recent Canadian data on MG disease burden, the MG-REST Study aims to estimate the clinical burden of MG in Ontario. Methods: Ontario administrative data from ICES were utilized for a retrospective population-based cohort study of adults with MG identified through a validated algorithm (April 2013-March 2019) and followed for up to seven years (March 2020) to determine myasthenic crisis characteristics and overall survival (OS). Results: The MG cohort (n=2,601) had an average age of 65.7 years and 53.3% were males. Incidence of first myasthenic crisis was 9%, with 87% of events occurring at/after diagnosis. MG OS was 89%, 85% and 75% at 1-year, 2-years and 5-years, respectively, while OS after first crisis was 60%, 52%, and 39% for the same years. Conclusions: Despite the availability of conventional therapies throughout the study, MG crisis remains a serious, common complication of MG, with decreased survival at 1-year post-crisis (29% difference versus 1-year OS following MG diagnosis). Study highlights MG burden and unmet need for new effective therapies for MG treatment.

Background: Over the past decade, worldwide stroke incidence has been increasing among young adults (≤65years), which has implications during the most dynamic period of their life. There is a dearth of research exploring young adults stroke patients’ experiences, healthy lifestyle habits, preferences, and recommendations for brain care-related initiatives. The study aimed to gain knowledge and a deeper understanding of young adult stroke patients’ experiences, lifestyle habits, and support needs for brain care-related education and interventions. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was used. Participants who took part in the quantitative phase of a larger mixed methods study (n=103 that expressed an interest in the qualitative phase, were invited to take part in semi-structured focus groups. Simultaneous data collection and analysis are being conducted. Data are being analyzed using inductive thematic analysis outlined by Braun and Clarke (2006). Results: Findings will be available by May 20, 2024. Conclusions: Study findings will be essential to 1) mobilize an understanding of young adult stroke patients’ lived experience; 2) reconceptualize the current model of stroke care and services that is traditionally geared towards older adults; and 3) inform the development of brain care-related education and interventions to meet the unique needs, priorities, and preferences of young adult stroke patients.

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a dynamic, patient-engaged approach to collaborative medical care. Limited SDM tools exist in pregnancy. We aimed to examine the need and usability of a novel SDM tool for pharmaco-therapeutic treatment of neurological conditions in pregnancy. Methods: This is an exploratory mixed-methods study. Non-pregnant women of any age were recruited using convenience, purposive sampling from an academic neurology clinic in Toronto. Participants reported the user friendliness of the SDM by completing the systems usability (SUS) questionnaire and participated in a focus group to further elaborate on their experience. Results: Eleven participants completed the survey 45% each between age 31-40, and 51-60. Median time spent on the tool was 17.2 minutes, and median SUS score 70 (<68 being not usable). Thematic data analysis from 2 focus groups, identified technical and content improvements: use of inclusive language, simplified design, and importance of patient engagement in SDM. Conclusions: Based on our preliminary results, a SDM web-tool for medication-related concerns of pregnant patients with neurological conditions is needed and usable. With integration of patients’ lived experiences, this novel tool may serve as an anchor point for future work in this field.

Background: Stroke incidence is rising among younger adults (≤65yrs). Modifiable and behavioural risk factors are linked to stroke; however, limited understanding of knowledge and behaviour exists around preventative/lifestyle medicine (LSM) among this patient population. Study aim was to assess younger adult stroke patients’ lifestyle knowledge, habits, and barriers. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed. Data were collected through an online, self-reported survey following a routine stroke prevention clinic visit and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Sample included 103 participants (56.3% women, 60% white, mean age 47.6, 54.5% prior stroke). Majority (63%) understood current healthy lifestyle recommendations around blood pressure, sleep, and alcohol use, but fewer (<24.3%) around exercise and diet. Almost 70% ate processed food weekly, with emotions and social/family situations influencing eating habits. Interestingly, despite not understanding the current recommendations, >80% exercised moderately (3.5d/wk) with work and family responsibilities as main barriers. Over 50% slept <7hrs/night, had moderate to high stress levels, and implemented different coping strategies (food, TV, video games, and exercise). Majority (82.4%) reported willingness to change habits. Conclusions: Our findings provide valuable insight on young adult stroke patients’ preventative/LSM-related knowledge, habits, and barriers and provide new opportunities for the development of brain care-related initiatives.

For a qualified nutritionist to obtain registration with the Nutrition Society of Australia they must first demonstrate that they meet a set of competencies relating to required nutrition knowledge and skills(1). However, theoretical knowledge and a technical skillset may not be enough to actively contribute to the workforce as a new graduate(2). Employers have previously expressed a desire for nutrition graduates to also develop employability skills in undergraduate studies to be better prepared for the workforce(3). Universities across Australia appear to have heterogeneous approaches to building nutrition students employability skills. To better understand student workforce readiness and employability skills, the research team undertook a mixed-methods study. A validated work-ready tool was used to survey undergraduate nutrition students self-perception of work readiness (n = 88) and semi-structed interviews of students pre/post nutrition industry placements (n = 18) were conducted to assess factors impacting student understanding and development of work readiness. Preliminary data from the survey showed higher levels of perceived ability related to higher age in, written communication (P<0.05), decision making (P<0.05), working unsupervised (P<0.05) and managing challenges (P<0.05). Lower age showed lower perceived ability in understanding how to apply skills (P<0.001). Lower levels of work experience showed lower perceived ability to work in a team (P<0.01), collaborate (P<0.01), work under pressure (P<0.05), and identify problems (P<0.01). Thematic analysis from interviews revealed themes related to improved confidence following a placement experience, communicating to stakeholders, the importance of translation skills, the benefits of networking and self-efficacy. The results suggest there are numerous identified gaps and significant room for improvement. To have a systematic approach to skill development, universities training nutrition students should consider developing a framework that builds understanding and scaffolds skill development across year levels. An employability framework has the potential to increase students employability skills and knowledge, enhance student confidence and increase graduate employment.

Laser plasma accelerators (LPAs) enable the generation of intense and short proton bunches on a micrometre scale, thus offering new experimental capabilities to research fields such as ultra-high dose rate radiobiology or material analysis. Being spectrally broadband, laser-accelerated proton bunches allow for tailored volumetric dose deposition in a sample via single bunches to excite or probe specific sample properties. The rising number of such experiments indicates a need for diagnostics providing spatially resolved characterization of dose distributions with volumes of approximately 1 cm${}^3$ for single proton bunches to allow for fast online feedback. Here we present the scintillator-based miniSCIDOM detector for online single-bunch tomographic reconstruction of dose distributions in volumes of up to approximately 1 cm${}^3$. The detector achieves a spatial resolution below 500 $\unicode{x3bc}$m and a sensitivity of 100 mGy. The detector performance is tested at a proton therapy cyclotron and an LPA proton source. The experiments’ primary focus is the characterization of the scintillator’s ionization quenching behaviour.

The yield of contact investigation on relapsed tuberculosis (TB) cases can guide strategies and resource allocation in the TB control programme. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to review the yield of contact investigation in relapsed TB cases and identify factors associated with TB infection (TBI) among close contacts of relapsed TB cases notified between 2018 and 2022 in Singapore. TB infection positivity was higher among contacts of relapsed cases which were culture-positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex compared to those who were only polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive (14.8% vs. 12.3%). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age and gender of the index, gender, and existing comorbidities of contacts, factors independently associated with TBI were culture and smear positivity of the index (AOR 1.41, 95%CI 1.02–1.94), higher odds with every 10 years of increase in age compared to contacts below aged 30, contacts who were not Singapore residents (AOR 2.09, 95%CI 1.46–2.97), and household contacts (AOR 2.19, 95%CI 1.44–3.34). Although the yield of screening was higher for those who were culture-positive compared to only PCR-positive relapsed cases, contact tracing for only PCR-positive cases may still be important in a country with moderate TB incidence, should resources allow.

Laser–plasma accelerated (LPA) proton bunches are now applied for research fields ranging from ultra-high-dose-rate radiobiology to material science. Yet, the capabilities to characterize the spectrally and angularly broad LPA bunches lag behind the rapidly evolving applications. The OCTOPOD translates the angularly resolved spectral characterization of LPA proton bunches into the spatially resolved detection of the volumetric dose distribution deposited in a liquid scintillator. Up to 24 multi-pinhole arrays record projections of the scintillation light distribution and allow for tomographic reconstruction of the volumetric dose deposition pattern, from which proton spectra may be retrieved. Applying the OCTOPOD at a cyclotron, we show the reliable retrieval of various spatial dose deposition patterns and detector sensitivity over a broad dose range. Moreover, the OCTOPOD was installed at an LPA proton source, providing real-time data on proton acceleration performance and attesting the system optimal performance in the harsh laser–plasma environment.