4,254 results
Search Results
152. P10 CAPTURE JIA: paper data collection feasibility and acceptability pilot.
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McErlane, Flora, Smith, Nicola, Lunt, Laura, Smith, Andrew, Al-Abadi, Eslam, Bailey, Kathryn, Compeyrot-Lacassagne, Sandrine, McDonagh, Janet, Riley, Philip, Cleary, Gavin, and Thomson, Wendy
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CONFERENCES & conventions , *JUVENILE idiopathic arthritis , *CONTENT mining - Abstract
Background There is a challenging lack of evidence to inform best practice in the routine clinical care of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Wide inter-centre variation in the definition and documentation of clinical data items is a major barrier to improvement. In response, we have developed a consensus agreed standardised core dataset called CAPTURE-JIA (n = 62 data items and a 'data dictionary' including agreed definitions of terms) designed to support routine collection of high-quality clinical data. The feasibility and acceptability of CAPTURE-JIA in clinical practice is not yet known and was the focus of this pilot study. Methods A purposeful sample of six paediatric rheumatology centres across England was invited to collect the CAPTURE-JIA dataset using paper collection forms (n = 20 patients/centre). The dataset was analysed for missing data. Six focus groups (n = 3-10) explored clinicians' views on acceptability and feasibility. Results One hundred and twenty-one patients were recruited over three months. The completeness of the dataset was similar across centres, with minor variations. The majority of data items (eg demographics, dates, ILAR type and examination) were >80% completed. However, 14/62 data items received >40% missing data. (Table 1) Further descriptive analyses highlighted incorrect completion of paper forms. Three themes emerged from the focus groups: problematic data items (missing from >10% forms at > 1 centre), format of clinician data forms and the role of digital data collection. Suggested solutions included minor changes to data item definitions and formatting. There were no refinements to the data items. Development of a digital data collection system was identified by all as essential. Due to a lack of clear consensus, the original CAPTURE forms included a number of ways to record joint count data. This proved confusing and a unanimous decision was taken to collect joint count data on all 83 joints in a tabular format. P10 Table 1: CAPTURE JIA data items with >40% missing data Data item % forms with data item missing (if item required) Relevant co-morbidities? 60 Macrophage activation syndrome? 100 Has the ILAR subtype changed? 50 Morning stiffness lasting >15 minutes? 42 History of any form of uveitis? 52 Date started uveitis mediation? 50 Strength of uveitis medication? 83 Counselled prior to new DMARD / biologic? 56 Enrolled in BECS/BCRD if new DMARD / biologic? 48 Joint count (homunculus or table format) 48 Physician assessment of systemic disease activity (VAS) 75 ESR 74 CRP 92 Plasma viscosity 100 Data item % forms with data item missing (if item required) Relevant co-morbidities? 60 Macrophage activation syndrome? 100 Has the ILAR subtype changed? 50 Morning stiffness lasting >15 minutes? 42 History of any form of uveitis? 52 Date started uveitis mediation? 50 Strength of uveitis medication? 83 Counselled prior to new DMARD / biologic? 56 Enrolled in BECS/BCRD if new DMARD / biologic? 48 Joint count (homunculus or table format) 48 Physician assessment of systemic disease activity (VAS) 75 ESR 74 CRP 92 Plasma viscosity 100 P10 Table 1: CAPTURE JIA data items with >40% missing data Data item % forms with data item missing (if item required) Relevant co-morbidities? 60 Macrophage activation syndrome? 100 Has the ILAR subtype changed? 50 Morning stiffness lasting >15 minutes? 42 History of any form of uveitis? 52 Date started uveitis mediation? 50 Strength of uveitis medication? 83 Counselled prior to new DMARD / biologic? 56 Enrolled in BECS/BCRD if new DMARD / biologic? 48 Joint count (homunculus or table format) 48 Physician assessment of systemic disease activity (VAS) 75 ESR 74 CRP 92 Plasma viscosity 100 Data item % forms with data item missing (if item required) Relevant co-morbidities? 60 Macrophage activation syndrome? 100 Has the ILAR subtype changed? 50 Morning stiffness lasting >15 minutes? 42 History of any form of uveitis? 52 Date started uveitis mediation? 50 Strength of uveitis medication? 83 Counselled prior to new DMARD / biologic? 56 Enrolled in BECS/BCRD if new DMARD / biologic? 48 Joint count (homunculus or table format) 48 Physician assessment of systemic disease activity (VAS) 75 ESR 74 CRP 92 Plasma viscosity 100 Conclusion Paper collection of the CAPTURE-JIA data items is feasible and acceptable in the routine clinical setting, but unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term if collected in duplicate with medical notes. A digital tool in the clinical domain, ideally interlocking with local systems, would offer many advantages, including more complete and time-efficient data collection. Conflicts of Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2019
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153. PMD2 Concept Paper: A Medtech Roadmap: New Routes to Market Access in the UK NHS.
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Stevenson, A. and Gildea, L.
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ROAD maps - Published
- 2020
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154. Should IUI replace IVF as first-line treatment for unexplained infertility? A literature review.
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Man, Jessica Ka-Yan, Parker, Anne Elizabeth, Broughton, Sophie, Ikhlaq, Hamza, and Das, Mausumi
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HUMAN in vitro fertilization , *INFERTILITY , *LITERATURE reviews , *INDUCED ovulation , *ARTIFICIAL insemination , *HUMAN reproduction - Abstract
Background: Unexplained infertility accounts for 25% of infertility causes in the UK. Active intervention methods, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilisation (IVF), are often sought. Despite the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommending IVF for unexplained infertility, this recommendation has generated an ongoing debate, with few fertility clinics discontinuing the use of IUI as the first-line management of choice. In contrast to NICE, recent guidance released from the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in August 2023 supports the use of IUI as first-line. High-quality evidence behind such interventions is lacking, with current literature providing conflicting results. Aims: This review aims to provide a literature overview exploring whether IUI or IVF should be used as first-line treatment for couples with unexplained infertility, in the context of current guidelines. Methods: The primary outcome used to assess efficacy of both treatment methods is live birth (LB) rates. Secondary outcomes used are clinical pregnancy (CP) and ongoing pregnancy (OP) rates. A comprehensive literature search of 4 databases: Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Maternity & Infant Care and the Cochrane Library were searched in January 2022. Upon removal of duplications, abstract screening, and full-text screening, a total of 34 papers were selected. Discussion/conclusion: This review highlights a large discrepancy in the literature when examining pregnancy outcomes of IUI and IVF treatments. Evidence shows IUI increases LB and CP rates 3-fold compared to expectant management. Literature comparing IUI to IVF is less certain. The review finds the literature implies IVF should be used for first-line management but the paucity of high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs), coupled with heterogeneity of the identified studies and a lack of research amongst women > 40 years warrants the need for further large RCTs. The decision to offer IUI with ovarian stimulation (IUI-OS) or IVF should be based upon patient prognostic factors. We suggest that IUI-OS could be offered as first-line treatment for unexplained infertility for women < 38 years, with good prognosis, and IVF could be offered first to those > 38 years. Patients should be appropriately counselled to enable informed decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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155. PetBERT: automated ICD-11 syndromic disease coding for outbreak detection in first opinion veterinary electronic health records.
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Farrell, Sean, Appleton, Charlotte, Noble, Peter-John Mäntylä, and Al Moubayed, Noura
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ELECTRONIC health records , *LANGUAGE models , *DISEASE outbreaks , *VETERINARY medicine , *PUBLIC health surveillance ,INTERNATIONAL Statistical Classification of Diseases & Related Health Problems - Abstract
Effective public health surveillance requires consistent monitoring of disease signals such that researchers and decision-makers can react dynamically to changes in disease occurrence. However, whilst surveillance initiatives exist in production animal veterinary medicine, comparable frameworks for companion animals are lacking. First-opinion veterinary electronic health records (EHRs) have the potential to reveal disease signals and often represent the initial reporting of clinical syndromes in animals presenting for medical attention, highlighting their possible significance in early disease detection. Yet despite their availability, there are limitations surrounding their free text-based nature, inhibiting the ability for national-level mortality and morbidity statistics to occur. This paper presents PetBERT, a large language model trained on over 500 million words from 5.1 million EHRs across the UK. PetBERT-ICD is the additional training of PetBERT as a multi-label classifier for the automated coding of veterinary clinical EHRs with the International Classification of Disease 11 framework, achieving F1 scores exceeding 83% across 20 disease codings with minimal annotations. PetBERT-ICD effectively identifies disease outbreaks, outperforming current clinician-assigned point-of-care labelling strategies up to 3 weeks earlier. The potential for PetBERT-ICD to enhance disease surveillance in veterinary medicine represents a promising avenue for advancing animal health and improving public health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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156. Focusing a realist evaluation of peer support for paediatric mental health.
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Thompson, Dean M., Bernard, Mark, Maxfield, Bob, Halsall, Tanya, and Mathers, Jonathan
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MENTAL health , *MENTAL illness , *PATIENT-professional relations , *CHILDREN'S health ,PSYCHIATRIC research - Abstract
Objective: Mental health problems are a leading and increasing cause of health-related burden in children across the world. Peer support interventions are increasingly used to meet this need using the lived experience of people with a history of mental health problems. However, much of the research underpinning this work has focused on adults, leaving a gap in knowledge about how these complex interventions may work for different children in different circumstances. Realist research may help us to understand how such complex interventions may trigger different mechanisms to produce different outcomes in children. This paper reports on an important first step in realist research, namely the construction of an embryonic initial programme theory to help 'focus' realist evaluation exploring how children's peer support services work in different contexts to produce different outcomes in the West Midlands (UK). Methods: A survey and preliminary semi-structured realist interviews were conducted with 10 people involved in the delivery of peer support services. Realist analysis was carried out to produce context-mechanism-outcome configurations (CMOC). Results: Analysis produced an initial programme theory of peer support for children's mental health. This included 12 CMOCs. Important outcomes identified by peer support staff included hope, service engagement, wellbeing, resilience, and confidence; each generated by different mechanisms including contextualisation of psychoeducation, navigating barriers to accessing services, validation, skill development, therapeutic relationship, empowerment, and reducing stigma. Conclusion: These data lay the groundwork for designing youth mental health realist research to evaluate with nuance the complexities of what components of peer support work for whom in varying circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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157. 'The current mental health status of children and young people with JIA, and their wider family': a charity partner collaboration survey.
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Livermore, Polly, Ainsworth, S., Beesley, R., Douglas, S., Earle, E., Wilson, D., Woolley, L., and Clinch, J.
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YOUNG adults , *MENTAL health , *CHILDREN'S health , *JUVENILE idiopathic arthritis , *PEDIATRIC rheumatology , *CHILDREN of people with mental illness - Abstract
Background: This paper presents insight into the scale of mental health concerns for families who have a child or young person with a diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) living in any of the four nations of the United Kingdom (UK). The study's objective is to share the current experiences of those that responded to a charity survey and consider future work to improve mental health support. Methods: This work was initiated and led by five UK charity partner organisations working with families affected by JIA. Parents/carers of a child or young person with JIA, and young people with JIA, submitted self-completion online questionnaires. The questionnaire asked 19 core questions, with a focus on the mental health impact of having and living with a JIA diagnosis. Questionnaires were delivered via charity partner UK-wide mailing lists and social media. Results: Questionnaire were completed by 291 participants over a 3-week period in February 2022. The majority of respondents were parents (229, 79%), 103 children had been diagnosed for over six years (35%), and 131 (45%) received shared care between paediatric rheumatology centres. In total, 168 (59%) children and young people with JIA had received, were currently receiving or were waiting for mental health support. Parents reported that their child's diagnosis impacted their own mental health (218, 82%). Children and young people reported never being offered mental health support during appointments for JIA (157, 54%), and 71 (50%) of these had never received support. Conclusion: Children and young people with JIA have significant mental health sequelae from their diagnosis. Our findings found that nearly 60% of our respondents have had or are requiring mental health support, with significant numbers of parents/carers reporting difficulties in accessing care for their child's mental health or their own mental health, due to their child's diagnosis. This unique collaborative charity-led study, illustrates the importance of timely and accessible mental health support. Further work is needed to understand why best practice guidance for mental health support is not being met consistently and to identify how to embed it into standard rheumatology care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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158. how these findings canPublic transport: lessons learned by the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Gartland, Nicola, Coleman, Anna, Farrell, Bernadine, Fishwick, David, Johnson, Sheena, and van Tongeren, Martie
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COVID-19 pandemic , *PUBLIC transit , *RISK perception , *TRANSPORTATION industry , *PUBLIC sector - Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the operations and functionality of the public transport sector in the UK. This paper reflects on the experience of this sector through the pandemic period, and considers recommendations for any future mitigations required for either new COVID-19 waves or a different public health emergency. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with public transport experts, organisational leaders, workers and passengers in two phases: Phase 1 from January to May 2021, and Phase 2 from December 2021 to February 2022. Interviews were analysed thematically. Results: Using the 'What? So What? Now What?' reflective model, ideas are drawn out to describe (a) what changes occurred, (b) what effects these changes had on service provision as well as perceptions of risk and mitigation and (c) what lessons have been learned and how these findings can feed into pandemic preparedness for the future. Respondent reflections focussed on the importance of communication, leadership, and maintaining compliance. Conclusions: The wealth of experience gained through the COVID-19 pandemic in the public transport sector is extremely valuable. Through reflection on this experience, specific recommendations are made relating to these factors, covering: maintaining links across industry, access to information and data, understanding of mitigation effectiveness, improving messaging, challenges of behavioural mitigations, and clear lines of accountability. The recommendations made on the basis of this reflective process will help to improve public health strategy within the public transport sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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159. The Connelly House approach: occupational therapists facilitating the self-administration of medication in a psychiatric rehabilitation in-patient ward.
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McCarthy, James, Hawkins, Martine, and Andrews, Sane
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OCCUPATIONAL therapists , *DRUG administration , *PSYCHOTHERAPY patients , *PSYCHIATRIC hospitals , *MEDICAL rehabilitation , *MENTAL health services - Abstract
This paper explores the potential for occupational therapists (OTs) to manage medicines and support patients in an in-patient psychiatric ward to effectively and safely self-administer their medication. Connelly House is an occupational therapy-led six-bed, open psychiatric rehabilitation in-patient ward supporting people transitioning from being in-patients to living in the community. Policy, process, governance and training needs are identified and discussed. Positive feedback was received from patients and staff involved with the service development, opening the door for OTs to manage medicines and support the self-administration of medication on other psychiatric rehabilitation in-patient wards using focused occupational interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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160. Leading UK Construction Companies' Strategies to Tackle BIM Training and Skills Challenges.
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Shojaei, Reyhaneh S., Oti-Sarpong, Kwadwo, and Burgess, Gemma
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CONSTRUCTION industry , *BUILDING information modeling , *DIGITAL literacy , *BUILDING design & construction , *NETWORK analysis (Planning) - Abstract
Widespread adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is firmly on policy agenda in several countries. Despite emphasis on governments' ambitions for industry-wide BIM adoption, there is scant understanding about what construction firms need to do regarding training provision and how to do that to meet policy goals. There is, therefore, little evidence of how construction companies have tackled this challenge internally and on projects in existing studies. Through a qualitative research approach and case studies of two leading UK construction companies, this paper describes the different strategies that construction companies adopt to provide the requisite skills and training for their workforce and their project supplier network partners to successfully support and sustain the implementation of BIM. The findings show that successful main contractors employed an "in-house" training strategy at intra-organizational level and a "growing together" approach for their project supplier network partners. In providing BIM training, these firms tackled problems of heterogeneity in workforce digital literacy and competencies, a lack of attention to soft skills, and a lack of understanding of BIM benefits using tailored and role-specific training. These insights contribute to the growing literature on BIM training, complementing the existing literature that focuses mainly on BIM training through education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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161. LCM2021 – the UK Land Cover Map 2021.
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Marston, Christopher G., O'Neil, Aneurin W., Morton, R. Daniel, Wood, Claire M., and Rowland, Clare S.
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LAND cover , *IMAGE recognition (Computer vision) , *ENVIRONMENTAL research , *RANDOM forest algorithms , *SPATIAL resolution - Abstract
Land cover is a key environmental variable, underpinning widespread environmental research and decision making. The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) has provided reliable land cover information since the early 1990s; this supports multiple scientific, government and commercial objectives. Recent advances in computation and satellite data availability have enabled annual UKCEH land cover maps since 2017. Here, we introduce the latest, annual UK Land Cover Map representing 2021 (LCM2021), and we describe its production and validation. LCM2021 methods replicate those of LCM2017 to LCM2020 with minor deviations in cloud-masking processes and training data sourcing to enhance accuracy. LCM2021 is based on the classification of satellite and spatial context data into 21 land cover or habitat classes, from which a product suite is derived. The production of LCM2021 involved three highly automated key stages: pre-processing of input data, image classification and production of the final data products. Google Earth Engine scripts were used to create an input data stack of satellite and context data. A set of training areas was created based on data harvested from historic UKCEH land cover maps. The training data were used to construct a random forest classifier, which yielded classified images. Compiled results were validated against 35 182 reference samples, with correspondence tables indicating variable class accuracy and an overall accuracy of 82.6 % for the 21-class data and 86.5 % at a 10-aggregated-classes level. The UK Land Cover Map product suite includes a set of raster products in various projections, thematic and spatial resolutions (10 m, 25 m and 1 km), and land–parcel or vector products. The data are provided in 21-class (all configurations) and aggregated 10-class (1 km raster products only) versions. All raster products are freely available for academic and non-commercial research. The data for Great Britain (GB) are provided in the British National Grid projection (EPSG: 27700) and the Northern Ireland (NI) data are in the TM75 Irish Grid (EPSG: 29903). Information on how to access the data is given in the "Data availability" section of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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162. Comparison of different statistical models for the analysis of fracture events: findings from the Prevention of Falls Injury Trial (PreFIT).
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Hossain, Anower, Lall, Ranjit, Ji, Chen, Bruce, Julie, Underwood, Martin, and Lamb, Sarah E.
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STATISTICAL models , *PREVENTION of injury , *STATISTICS , *POISSON regression , *AKAIKE information criterion - Abstract
Background: Fractures are rare events and can occur because of a fall. Fracture counts are distinct from other count data in that these data are positively skewed, inflated by excess zero counts, and events can recur over time. Analytical methods used to assess fracture data and account for these characteristics are limited in the literature. Methods: Commonly used models for count data include Poisson regression, negative binomial regression, hurdle regression, and zero-inflated regression models. In this paper, we compare four alternative statistical models to fit fracture counts using data from a large UK based clinical trial evaluating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of alternative falls prevention interventions in older people (Prevention of Falls Injury Trial; PreFIT). Results: The values of Akaike information criterion and Bayesian information criterion, the goodness-of-fit statistics, were the lowest for negative binomial model. The likelihood ratio test of no dispersion in the data showed strong evidence of dispersion (chi-square = 225.68, p-value < 0.001). This indicates that the negative binomial model fits the data better compared to the Poisson regression model. We also compared the standard negative binomial regression and mixed effects negative binomial models. The LR test showed no gain in fitting the data using mixed effects negative binomial model (chi-square = 1.67, p-value = 0.098) compared to standard negative binomial model. Conclusions: The negative binomial regression model was the most appropriate and optimal fit model for fracture count analyses. Trial registration: The PreFIT trial was registered as ISRCTN71002650. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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163. Hypothyroidism in Adult Women: The Utility of Targeted vs Universal Thyroid Screening.
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Godbole, Neha P, Koester, Margaret, and Marcus, Erin N
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MEDICAL screening , *CONGENITAL hypothyroidism , *PREGNANT women , *HYPOTHYROIDISM , *THYROID diseases , *FAMILY history (Medicine) , *ASYMPTOMATIC patients - Abstract
Hypothyroidism is a common disease that is more prevalent in female populations. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the evidence, risks, and benefits of screening asymptomatic women for hypothyroidism. There is lack of evidence to support clinical management of asymptomatic individuals with an elevated TSH and normal serum thyroxine levels. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism, especially the elderly, are at risk of overtreatment. Given these considerations, the majority of US and UK professional organizations do not support universal screening. Many do offer caveats for special groups, including pregnant people, who may need screening if there are clinical symptoms or family history of autoimmune disease. In conclusion, targeted screening may be best recommended based on risk factors, symptoms, and clinical suspicion, rather than at a universal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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164. Synergistic Integration of Hydrogen Energy Economy with UK's Sustainable Development Goals: A Holistic Approach to Enhancing Safety and Risk Mitigation.
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Li, He, Yazdi, Mohammad, Moradi, Rosita, Pirbalouti, Reza Ghasemi, and Nedjati, Arman
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HYDROGEN economy , *SUSTAINABLE development , *RENEWABLE energy sources , *CLEAN energy , *HYDROGEN production , *HYDROGEN as fuel - Abstract
Hydrogen is gaining prominence as a sustainable energy source in the UK, aligning with the country's commitment to advancing sustainable development across diverse sectors. However, a rigorous examination of the interplay between the hydrogen economy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is imperative. This study addresses this imperative by comprehensively assessing the risks associated with hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization. The overarching aim is to establish a robust framework that ensures the secure deployment and operation of hydrogen-based technologies within the UK's sustainable development trajectory. Considering the unique characteristics of the UK's energy landscape, infrastructure, and policy framework, this paper presents practical and viable recommendations to facilitate the safe and effective integration of hydrogen energy into the UK's SDGs. To facilitate sophisticated decision making, it proposes using an advanced Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) tool, incorporating regret theory and a 2-tuple spherical linguistic environment. This tool enables a nuanced decision-making process, yielding actionable insights. The analysis reveals that Incident Reporting and Learning, Robust Regulatory Framework, Safety Standards, and Codes are pivotal safety factors. At the same time, Clean Energy Access, Climate Action, and Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure are identified as the most influential SDGs. This information provides valuable guidance for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and regulators. It empowers them to make well-informed strategic decisions and prioritize actions that bolster safety and sustainable development as the UK transitions towards a hydrogen-based energy system. Moreover, the findings underscore the varying degrees of prominence among different SDGs. Notably, SDG 13 (Climate Action) exhibits relatively lower overall distinction at 0.0066 and a Relation value of 0.0512, albeit with a substantial impact. In contrast, SDG 7 (Clean Energy Access) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) demonstrate moderate prominence levels (0.0559 and 0.0498, respectively), each with its unique influence, emphasizing their critical roles in the UK's pursuit of a sustainable hydrogen-based energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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165. Ethical considerations and dilemmas for the researcher and for families in home-based research: A case for situated ethics.
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Palaiologou, Ioanna and Brown, Alice
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FAMILY research , *RESEARCH ethics , *RESEARCH personnel , *ETHICAL problems , *CODES of ethics , *ETHICS , *IDEA (Philosophy) - Abstract
When researching with or about families in home-based research, there are numerous unexpected ethical issues that can emerge, particularly in qualitative research. This paper is based on reflective accounts of four homed-based research projects, two in the UK and two Australia, which examined ethical dilemmas identified when engaged in home-based research with young children. Using a synergy of ecocultural theory and Foucauldian ideas of Heterotopia as theoretical conceptualisations, the authors employed reflective lenses to guide their approach, and examine dilemmas and complexities when conducting research in the home. We argue that, to address ethical dilemmas, researchers need to problematise and reflect upon the nature of respectful approaches and the ethical implications of their behaviours. We conclude that, although ethical codes are valuable when researching families at home, researchers should plan for and forefront their methodological approaches in ways that are family-centred, whilst also framed by practices that are ethical, respectful and reflective to the situated contexts of family's ecologies and heterotopias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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166. Sex hormones and the risk of myocardial infarction in women and men: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank.
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Harris, Katie, Peters, Sanne A. E., and Woodward, Mark
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SEX hormones , *MYOCARDIAL infarction , *HEART diseases in women , *CARDIOVASCULAR diseases risk factors , *COHORT analysis , *POSTMENOPAUSE - Abstract
Objectives: There is conflicting evidence around the role of sex hormones with cardiovascular outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the association of sex hormones with the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in pre- and post-menopausal women, and men in the UK Biobank. Methods: The UK Biobank is a prospective population-based cohort study, that recruited over 500,000 (aged 40–69 years) women and men between 2006 and 2010. Sex specific cox regression models, estimating hazard ratios (HRs) and women to men ratio of HRs (RHR) with respective 95% confidence intervals (CI), were used to model the association of sex hormones [oestrogen, testosterone, oestrogen: testosterone (O/T) ratio, sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) and the free androgen index (FAI)], measured at study baseline, with incident MI for women and men. Results: Data were from 479,797 participants [264,282 (55.1%) women] without a history of MI at study baseline. Over 12.5 years of follow-up, there were 4,908 MI events in women and 10,517 in men. Neither oestrogen nor testosterone were associated with MI in women and men after multiple adjustment. For men, but not women, a unit higher log-transformed O/T ratio was associated with a lower risk of MI 0.79 (0.65, 0.95) after adjustment for traditional CVD risk factors. The corresponding women to men RHR (95% CI) was 1.24 (0.99, 1.56). Higher SHBG (per unit) was also associated with a lower risk of MI in men 0.94 (0.89, 0.99), and not in women 1.02 (0.95, 1.09) after multiple adjustment, the corresponding women to men RHR (95% CI) was 1.09 (1.00, 1.18). Higher FAI was associated with a higher risk of MI in men 1.09 (1.02, 1.15), though not in women 0.97 (0.92, 1.02), the corresponding women to men RHR was 0.89 (0.82, 0.97). Finally, there were differential effects in the association of SHBG and FAI between pre- and post-menopausal women. Conclusions: A higher O/T ratio was associated with a lower risk of MI, and a higher FAI with a higher risk of MI after adjustment for CVD risk factors in men, but not in women. Thus, hormone ratios, rather than each alone, may play an important role in modulating the effect of MI. Plain Language Summary: There are conflicting findings surrounding the association of sex hormones and myocardial infarction (MI) (heart disease). In particular, high oestradiol levels in women are often thought to be protective and explain why the rates of heart disease are lower in women than men. For men, those with low levels of testosterone are often thought to be more prone to develop heart disease in their lifetimes. Our study presents a comprehensive analysis of the association of sex hormones (in isolation and also together via their ratios), in women and men using the large-scale UK Biobank. We found that neither oestrogen nor testosterone alone were associated with heart disease in women and men after accounting for cardiovascular risk factors, but the ratio of testosterone and oestrogen was associated with a lower risk of heart disease in men, though not in women. We also saw the association of sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), and free androgen index (FAI) (calculated by the ratio of total testosterone level to SHBG) with heart disease was different between women and men, and between pre- and post-menopausal women. This paper highlights the complex interplay between sex hormones with heart disease in the presence of age and cardiovascular risk factors. In particular the balance (ratio) of sex hormones maybe more important, rather than each in isolation, when exploring their association with heart disease. Highlights: Neither oestrogen nor testosterone were associated with MI in women and men after multiple adjustment. For men, but not women, higher oestrogen/testosterone ratio was associated with a lower risk of MI after adjustment for traditional CVD risk factors. Higher SHBG was associated with a lower risk of MI in men, but not women overall. Higher FAI was associated with a higher risk of MI in men but not women overall. There were differential effects in SHBG and FAI between pre- and post-menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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167. Protocol of the process evaluation of cluster randomised control trial for estimating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a complex intervention to increase care home staff influenza vaccination rates compared to usual practice (FluCare).
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Birt, Linda, Katangwe-Chigamba, Thando, Scott, Sion, Wright, David J, Wagner, Adam P., Sims, Erika, Bion, Veronica, Seeley, Carys, Alsaif, Faisal, Clarke, Allan, Griffiths, Alys, Jones, Liz, Bryant, Alison, and Patel, Amrish
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INFLUENZA vaccines , *CLINICS , *LONG-term care facilities , *MONETARY incentives , *HOMESITES , *COST effectiveness - Abstract
Background: Influenza (flu) vaccination rates in UK care home staff are extremely low. Less than 40% of staff in care homes are vaccinated for influenza (flu), presenting risks to the health of frail residents and potential staff absence from cross-infection. Staff often do not perceive a need for vaccination and are unaware they are entitled to free flu vaccination. The FluCare study, a cluster randomised control trial (RCT), uses behavioural interventions to address barriers. Videos, posters, and leaflets are intended to raise awareness of flu vaccination benefits and debunk myths. On-site staff vaccination clinics increase accessibility. Financial incentives to care homes for improved vaccination rates and regular monitoring influence the environment. This paper outlines the planned process evaluation which will describe the intervention's mechanisms of action, explain any changes in outcomes, identify local adaptations, and inform design of the implementation phase. Methods/design: A mixed method process evaluation to inform the interpretation of trial findings. Objectives: • Describe the intervention as delivered in terms of dose and fidelity, including adaptations and variations across care homes. • Explore the effects of individual intervention components on primary outcomes. • Investigate the mechanisms of impact. • Describe the perceived effectiveness of relevant intervention components (including videos, leaflets, posters, and flu clinics) from participant perspectives (care home manager, care home staff, flu clinic providers). • Describe the characteristics of care homes and participants to assess reach. A purposive sample of twenty care homes (ten in the intervention arm, ten in the control arm) for inclusion in the process evaluation. Data will include (1) study records including care home site profiles, (2) responses to a mechanism of action questionnaire, and (3) semi-structured interviews with care home staff and clinic providers. Quantitative data will be descriptively reported. Interview data will be thematically analysed and then categories mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Discussion: Adopting this systematic and comprehensive process evaluation approach will help ensure data is captured on all aspects of the trial, enabling a full understanding of the intervention implementation and RCT findings. Trial registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN22729870. Registered on 24 August 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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168. Long-term airborne measurements of pollutants over the United Kingdom to support air quality model development and evaluation.
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Mynard, Angela, Kent, Joss, Smith, Eleanor R., Wilson, Andy, Wivell, Kirsty, Nelson, Noel, Hort, Matthew, Bowles, James, Tiddeman, David, Langridge, Justin M., Drummond, Benjamin, and Abel, Steven J.
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AIR pollutants , *CHEMICAL processes , *AIR quality , *OFFICES , *BOUNDARY layer (Aerodynamics) , *NITROGEN dioxide , *POLLUTANTS - Abstract
The ability of regional air quality models to skilfully represent pollutant distributions throughout the atmospheric column is important to enabling their skilful prediction at the surface. This provides a requirement for model evaluation at elevated altitudes, though observation datasets available for this purpose are limited. This is particularly true of those offering sampling over extended time periods. To address this requirement and support evaluation of regional air quality models such as the UK Met Offices Air Quality in the Unified Model (AQUM), a long-term, quality-assured dataset of the three-dimensional distribution of key pollutants was collected over the southern United Kingdom from July 2019 to April 2022. Measurements were collected using the Met Office Atmospheric Survey Aircraft (MOASA), a Cessna 421 instrumented for this project to measure gaseous nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and fine-mode (PM 2.5) aerosol. This paper introduces the MOASA measurement platform, flight strategies and instrumentation and is not intended to be an in-depth diagnostic analysis but rather a comprehensive technical reference for future users of these data. The MOASA air quality dataset includes 63 flight sorties (totalling over 150 h of sampling), the data from which are openly available for use. To illustrate potential uses of these upper-air observations for regional-scale model evaluation, example case studies are presented, which include analyses of the spatial scales of measured pollutant variability, a comparison of airborne to ground-based observations over Greater London and initial work to evaluate performance of the AQUM regional air quality model. These case studies show that, for observations of relative humidity, nitrogen dioxide and particle counts, natural pollutant variability is well observed by the aircraft, whereas SO 2 variability is limited by instrument precision. Good agreement is seen between observations aloft and those on the ground, particularly for PM 2.5. Analysis of odd oxygen suggests titration of ozone is a dominant chemical process throughout the column for the data analysed, although a slight enhancement of ozone aloft is seen. Finally, a preliminary evaluation of AQUM performance for two case studies suggests a large positive model bias for ozone aloft, coincident with a negative model bias for NO 2 aloft. In one case, there is evidence that an underprediction in the modelled boundary layer height contributes to the observed biases at elevated altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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169. A new scale assessing the stressors and rewards of children's hospice work.
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Papworth, Andrew, Bedendo, Andre, Taylor, Jo, Beresford, Bryony, Mukherjee, Suzanne, Fraser, Lorna K, and Ziegler, Lucy
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EXPERIMENTAL design , *HOSPICE care , *STATISTICS , *HEALTH facility employees , *FOCUS groups , *WORK , *RESEARCH methodology , *JOB stress , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *TERMINALLY ill , *LABOR demand , *INTERVIEWING , *FAMILIES , *LABOR supply , *SURVEYS , *CONFLICT (Psychology) , *PSYCHOMETRICS , *REWARD (Psychology) , *HEALTH , *FACTOR analysis , *EMPLOYEES' workload , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *PSYCHOSOCIAL factors , *RESEARCH funding , *DATA analysis , *PARENTS , *CORPORATE culture , *EVALUATION ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
Background: There is a workforce shortage in the children's hospice sector, but there has been little research on the specific challenges of working in this setting and on how these challenges might be alleviated. To identify appropriate interventions to improve staff wellbeing, the drivers of wellbeing in children's hospices need to be known and measured. This paper reports on the development of two measures, one for work-related rewards and one for work-related stressors, for use in children's hospice care teams. Methods: A mixed-methods, four-stage study; the first three phases focused on the development of the scales, and the last stage focused on the validation of the scales. Participants of all stages were children's hospice care team staff members in the UK. Stage 1: survey assessing the relevance and comprehensiveness of the original scale items (N = 60); Stages 2 (focus groups; N = 16) and 3 (cognitive interviews; N = 14) to assess content validity; Stage 4: UK-wide survey (N = 414) to validate the final version of the new, children's hospice-specific scales using Rasch Analysis (RA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Results: Due to poor fitting indices shown in the results from the RA, five items (out of 36) were removed from the new rewards scale used in the UK-wide survey and 20 (out of 62) were removed from the new stressors scale. CFA also supported the removal of the items and showed a one-factor structure for the rewards scale and a three-factor structure for the stressors scale were adequate—the sub-scales for the stressors scale related to caring for an ill or dying child ("Child" sub-scale), working with parents and families ("Parent" sub-scale), and stressors related to organisational factors, such as team conflict and workload ("Organisation" sub-scale). Conclusions: Both of the new scales showed good psychometric properties and can be useful in clinical settings and research to assess the perceived intensity of the work-related rewards and stressors for children's hospice staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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170. A realist review of health passports for Autistic adults.
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Ellis, Rebecca, Williams, Kathryn, Brown, Amy, Healer, Eleanor, and Grant, Aimee
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AUTISTIC children , *HEALTH services accessibility , *AUTISTIC people , *PASSPORTS , *ADULTS , *SENSORIMOTOR integration - Abstract
Background: Autism is a normal part of cognitive diversity, resulting in communication and sensory processing differences, which can become disabling in a neurotypical world. Autistic people have an increased likelihood of physical and mental co-occurring conditions and die earlier than neurotypical peers. Inaccessible healthcare may contribute to this. Autism Health Passports (AHPs) are paper-based or digital tools which can be used to describe healthcare accessibility needs; they are recommended in UK clinical guidance. However, questions remained as to the theoretical underpinnings and effectiveness of AHPs. Methods: We undertook a systematic literature search identifying studies focused on AHPs for adults (aged over 16 years) from five databases. Included literature was subjected to realist evaluation. Data were extracted using a standardised form, developed by the research team, which considered research design, study quality for realist review and the Context, Mechanisms and Outcomes (CMOs) associated with each AHP tool. Findings: 162 unique records were identified, and 13 items were included in the review. Only one item was considered high quality. Contextual factors focused on the inaccessibility of healthcare to Autistic patients and staff lack of confidence and training in supporting Autistic needs. Interventions were heterogeneous, with most sources reporting few details as to how they had been developed. The most frequently included contents were communication preferences. Mechanisms were often not stated or were inferred by the reviewers and lacked specificity. Outcomes were included in four studies and were primarily focused on AHP uptake, rather than Outcomes which measured impact. Conclusion: There is insufficient evidence to conclude that AHPs reduce the health inequalities experienced by Autistic people. Using an AHP tool alone in a healthcare Context that does not meet Autistic needs, without the inclusion of the local Autistic community developing the tool, and a wider intervention to reduce known barriers to health inequality, may mean that AHPs do not trigger any Mechanisms, and thus cannot affect Outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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171. Understanding implementation of a complex intervention in a stroke rehabilitation research trial: A qualitative evaluation using Normalisation Process Theory.
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Johnson, Louise, Mardo, Julia, and Demain, Sara
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STROKE rehabilitation , *MOTOR learning , *MEDICAL rehabilitation , *IMPLICIT learning , *SEMI-structured interviews , *PATIENT-professional relations , *TRANSCRANIAL direct current stimulation - Abstract
Background: The Implicit Learning in Stroke study was a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial, investigating the use of different motor learning strategies in acute stroke rehabilitation. Participating Stroke Units (n = 8) were from the South East/West regions of the UK, with the experimental intervention (implicit learning) being delivered by clinical teams. It required therapists to change how they gave instructions and feedback to patients during rehabilitation. This paper reports the processes underpinning implementation of the implicit learning intervention. The evaluation aimed to i) understand how therapists made sense of, engaged with and interpreted the effects of the intervention; ii) compare this to the experience reported by patients; iii) extrapolate learning of broader relevance to the design and conduct of research involving complex interventions in stroke rehabilitation. Methods: Qualitative evaluation, with data collected through focus groups with clinical staff (n = 20) and semi structured interviews with people with stroke (n = 19). Mixed inductive and theory driven analysis, underpinned by Normalisation Process Theory. Results: How therapists made sense of and experienced the intervention impacted how it was implemented. The intervention was delivered by individual therapists, and was influenced by their individual values, beliefs and concerns. However, how teams worked together to build a shared (team) understanding, also played a key role. Teams with a more "flexible" interpretation, reported the view that the intervention could have benefits in a wide range of scenarios. Those with a more fixed, "rule based" interpretation, found it harder to implement, and perceived the benefits to be more limited. Therapists' concerns that the intervention may impair therapeutic relationships and patient learning were not reflected in how patients experienced it. Conclusions: Changing practice, whether in a research study or in the "real world", is complex. Understanding the process of implementation is crucial to effective research delivery. Implementation frameworks facilitate understanding, and subsequently the systematic and iterative development of strategies for this to be addressed. How teams (rather than individuals) work together is central to how complex interventions are understood and implemented. It is possible that new complex interventions work best in contexts where there are 'flexible' cultures. Researchers should consider, and potentially measure this, before they can effectively implement and evaluate an intervention. Trial registration: Clinical Trials - NCT03792126. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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172. Development and initial qualitative evaluation of a novel school-based nutrition intervention – COOKKIT (Cooking Kit for Kids).
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Pini, Simon, Goodman, William, Raby, Elizabeth, McGinley, Chris, Perez-Cornago, Aurora, Johnson, Fiona, and Beeken, Rebecca J.
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POOR families , *FOOD habits , *HIGH-income countries , *PARENT-child relationships , *VEGETARIANS , *NUTRITION , *CANCER education - Abstract
Background: Excess weight and an unhealthy diet are risk factors for many cancers, and in high income countries, both are more prevalent among low income families. Dietary interventions targeting primary-school aged children (under 11) can improve healthy eating behaviours, but most are not designed to support the translation of skills learnt in the classroom to the home setting. This paper assessed attitudes and approaches to cooking and eating at home, and the potential to enhance engagement in healthy eating through the COOKKIT intervention. Methods: COOKKIT is an intervention to deliver weekly cooking classes and supportive materials for low-income families to maintain healthy eating at home. Preliminary qualitative interviews were conducted with teachers and parent–child dyads from a range of primary schools in the UK to explore attitudes, barriers and facilitators for healthy eating and inform the development of COOKKIT. Following implementation, ten children (8–9 y/o) participated in post-intervention focus groups, alongside interviews with teaching staff and parents. Results: Thematic analysis identified five themes under which to discuss the children's experience of food, cooking and the impact of COOKKIT: Involving children in planning and buying food for the family; Engaging children in preparing meals at home; Trying to eat healthy meals together in the midst of busy lives; Role-modelling; and Balancing practicalities, information and engagement when delivering cooking classes. Conclusions: Results suggest COOKKIT provides engaging and easy to follow in-school resources for children and school staff with take-home kits facilitating continued engagement and reinforcing lessons learned in the home environment. Importantly, participants highlighted the combination of healthy eating information, applied practical skills and low costs could support families to continue following the COOKKIT advice beyond the intervention, suggesting further evaluation of COOKKIT is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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173. FOLKLORIC ANALYSIS OF KING ARTHUR AND ROBIN HOOD WITHIN BRITISH MYTH.
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KARADUMAN, Alev
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LEGENDS , *FOLK literature , *HISTORICAL source material , *LOCAL history , *CULTURAL property , *CULTURE conflict , *LITERARY characters - Abstract
King Arthur and Robin Hood, as two main folkloric figures, play an important role in British national identity especially in the nineteenth century. Throughout centuries, these mythical stories became well-known in the cultural heritage of other countries besides Britain. The lore and depictions of these two characters were not limited to the written and oral literature but came into existence through different mediums such as television, cinema, and computer games. Both the stories of King Arthur and Robin Hood have topical themes reflecting the political, social, and cultural issues and conflicts in societies and shape the future as timeless artefacts. In this sense, the major aim of this paper is to present and analyze the evolution of these two folk legends by using various historical and cultural sources to demonstrate the validity of the two characters across time, place, and medium. King Arthur and Robin Hood: The History and Folklore of England's Most Famous Folk Legends by Jesse Harasta (2009) is used as the basis of the evolution of the lore of the two folkloric characters. The stories and the characters, the subjects of various myths and legends throughout centuries, have also been adapted and used in a variety of works and products transmitting local history of the lore of King Arthur and Robin Hood into global folklore. The political, social, and cultural use, adaptation, and evolution of King Arthur and Robin Hood will be traced starting from their emergence in the medieval ages through the twentieth century when the lore of King Arthur and Robin Hood is transformed through story-telling and added to different structures by using different media. As will be exemplified per the aim of the study though some changes in the presentation of the folkloric characters are present; the major dichotomic human characteristics are preserved. The article follows the trajectory of evolution of two legends into myths, literature, and finally products of popular culture. The work questions whether the divisive line between what is local and authentic versus that which is globalized and thus international is as clear as is presupposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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174. Remote Work, Work Measurement and the State of Work Research in Human-Centred Computing.
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Gould, Sandy J. J., Rudnicka, Anna, Cook, Dave, Cecchinato, Marta E., Newbold, Joseph W., and Cox, Anna L.
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WORK measurement , *TELECOMMUTING , *ELECTRONIC surveillance , *COVID-19 pandemic , *WORKING class - Abstract
Over the past few decades, a small but growing group of people have worked remotely from their homes. With the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people found themselves joining this group overnight. In this position paper, we examine the kinds of work that 'went remote' in response to the pandemic, and consider the ways in which this transition was influenced by (and in turn came to influence) contemporary trends in digital workplace measurement and evaluation. We see that employers appeared reluctant to let certain classes of employee work remotely. When the pandemic forced staff home, employers compensated by turning to digital surveillance tools, even though, as we argue, these tools seem unable to overcome the significant conceptual barriers to understanding how people are working. We also observed that, in the United Kingdom context, the pandemic didn't mean remote work for a significant proportion of the population. We assert that, to maximize its impact, 'future of work' research in human-centred computing must be more inclusive and representative of work, rather than focusing on the experiences of knowledge workers and those involved in new forms of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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175. DCMEX coordinated aircraft and ground observations: Microphysics, aerosol and dynamics during cumulonimbus development.
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Finney, Declan L., Blyth, Alan M., Gallagher, Martin, Huihui Wu, Nott, Graeme, Biggerstaff, Mike, Sonnenfeld, Richard G., Daily, Martin, Walker, Dan, Dufton, David, Bower, Keith, Böing, Steven, Choularton, Thomas, Crosier, Jonathan, Groves, James, Field, Paul R., Coe, Hugh, Murray, Benjamin J., Lloyd, Gary, and Marsden, Nicholas A.
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CLIMATE change models , *MICROPHYSICS , *CLIMATE sensitivity , *AEROSOLS , *CLOUD physics , *CUMULONIMBUS - Abstract
Sensitivity of global temperature to rising CO2 remains highly uncertain. One of the greatest sources of uncertainty arises from cloud feedbacks associated with deep convective anvils. For deep convective clouds, their growth and characteristics are substantially controlled by mixed-phase microphysical processes. However, there remain several questions about cloud microphysical processes, especially in deep, mixed-phase clouds. Meanwhile, the representation of these processes in global climate models is limited. As such, the Deep ConvectiveMicrophysics Experiment (DCMEX) has undertaken an in-situ aircraft and ground-based measurement campaign. The data, combined with operational satellite observations and modelling, will help establish new understanding from the smallest, cloud and aerosol particle scales through to the largest, cloud-system and climate scales. DCMEX is one of four projects in the UK Natural Environment Research Council, Uncertainty in climate sensitivity due to clouds, CloudSense programme. Along with other CloudSense projects, DCMEX will support progress in reducing the uncertainty in cloud feedbacks and equilibrium climate sensitivity. This paper lays out the underpinning dataset from the DCMEX summer 2022 field campaign. Its content describes the coordinated operation and technical details of the broad range of aerosol, cloud physics, radar, thermodynamics, dynamics, electric field and weather instruments deployed. In addition, an overview of the characteristics of campaign cases illustrates the complementary operational observations available, as well as demonstrating the breadth of the campaign cases observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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176. Protocol for secondary data analysis of 4 UK cohorts examining youth adversity and mental health in the context of intersectionality.
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Hosang, Georgina Mayling, Havers, Laura, Shuai, Ruichong, Fonagy, Peter, Fazel, Mina, Morgan, Craig, Karamanos, Alexis, Fancourt, Daisy, McCrone, Paul, Smuk, Melanie, Bhui, Kamaldeep, and Shakoor, Sania
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MENTAL health , *YOUNG adults , *SECONDARY analysis , *MENTAL illness , *ETHNICITY , *INTERSECTIONALITY , *TRANSGENDER youth - Abstract
Background: Youth adversity (e.g., abuse and bullying victimisation) is robust risk factor for later mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety). Research shows the prevalence of youth adversity and rates of mental health problems vary by individual characteristics, identity or social groups (e.g., gender and ethnicity). However, little is known about whether the impact of youth adversity on mental health problems differ across the intersections of these characteristics (e.g., white females). This paper reports on a component of the ATTUNE research programme (work package 2) which aims to investigate the impact and mechanisms of youth adversity on depressive and anxiety symptoms in young people by intersectionality profiles. Methods: The data are from 4 UK adolescent cohorts: HeadStart Cornwall, Oxwell, REACH, and DASH. These cohorts were assembled for adolescents living in distinct geographical locations representing coastal, suburban and urban places in the UK. Youth adversity was assessed using a series of self-report questionnaires and official records. Validated self-report instruments measured depressive and anxiety symptoms. A range of different variables were classified as possible social and cognitive mechanisms. Results and analysis: Structural equation modelling (e.g., multiple group models, latent growth models) and multilevel modelling will be used, with adaptation of methods to suit the specific available data, in accord with statistical and epidemiological conventions. Discussion: The results from this research programme will broaden our understanding of the association between youth adversity and mental health, including new information about intersectionality and related mechanisms in young people in the UK. The findings will inform future research, clinical guidance, and policy to protect and promote the mental health of those most vulnerable to the negative consequences of youth adversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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177. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with vitamin D supplementation: A cross-sectional online community survey of adults in the UK.
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Tanna, Nuttan Kantilal, Karki, Manisha, Webber, Iman, Alaa, Aos, El-Costa, Austen, and Blair, Mitch
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DIETARY supplements , *QUARTERLY reports , *VITAMIN D , *SUNSHINE , *INTERNET surveys , *VIRTUAL communities , *FOOD consumption - Abstract
Objective: Assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of a diverse population. Identify barriers and facilitators that inform routine vitamin D supplementation and self-care in the community setting. Design: Cross-sectional online voluntary survey. Electronic survey link published on college Qualtrics platform and advertised widely. Study information provided with Participant Information Sheet. Setting and participants: 556 community dwelling adults across the UK. Methods: The overarching study included two phases, incorporating quantitative and qualitative methodologies. This paper reports findings from the first phase of the FABCOM-D (Facilitators and Barriers to Community (Healthy) Vitamin D status) study. Online survey questions were iteratively developed after background literature searches and piloted to ensure clarity and ease of understanding. Survey responses summarised using frequencies and percentages, and univariable and multivariable logistic regression models explored for any association. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guided reporting. Statistical analysis performed using IBM SPSS software. Main outcome measures: Awareness of vitamin D information sources, health benefits and testing. Attitudes to supplementation, sun exposure and fortification. Results: Three quarters of the community had some awareness of vitamin D and around half were taking supplements. The two most trusted sources of information included health professionals and the NHS website. Participants were willing to pay for supplements, supporting a self-care agenda. With increasing age, there was significant reduced intake of vitamin D supplements. This aspect needs to be explored further as this could be a concern in deficiency status in the elderly. There was acceptance of food fortification but uncertainty on how to balance food intake with supplementation. Conclusion: We were successful in eliciting views on KAPs around vitamin D from a community population including a large proportion of Black and Minority Ethnic individuals. The community wanted information and guidance to help manage individual vitamin D status, especially for high-risk groups, and on balancing supplementation, food fortification and sun exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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178. Contesting Religious Boundaries with Care: Engaged Buddhism and Eco-Activism in the UK.
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Zielke, Zoe
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BUDDHISTS , *BUDDHISM , *BUDDHIST meditation , *ETHNOLOGY research , *CARICATURE - Abstract
The word "Buddhism" conjures up a variety of images and connotations: monks meditating on hilltops, mindfulness, cheerful Buddha caricatures. It is unlikely that these depictions suggest engagement with societal issues. And yet, this is precisely what many Buddhist communities and traditions are involving themselves in around the world. Often referred to as "engaged Buddhism", this development in the Buddhist tradition refers to the application of Buddhist principles and practices to situations of social and environmental suffering. Nevertheless, there are critics of this emerging trend who contend that Buddhists should refrain from engaging in societal issues, believing that such involvement contradicts the teachings of the Buddha and distracts from the ultimate goal of liberation. Built on two years of ethnographic research, this paper explores the ways in which a particular environmentally engaged Buddhist group known as "Extinction Rebellion Buddhists" adapt their religious beliefs and practices in response to the challenges posed by the Anthropocene, where concerns for our collective world have resulted in increasing interest in the ways in which humans actively care for the environment. In reformulating Buddhist principles and meditation as a "politics of care", care becomes a tool for change, with the group not only confronting the pressing issues of the Anthropocene but also disrupting Buddhism's traditionally inward-looking, other-worldly tendencies, carving out space for autonomy and transformation within the broader landscape of UK Buddhism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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179. Explanation of Student Attendance AI Prediction with the Isabelle Infrastructure Framework †.
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Kammüller, Florian and Satija, Dimpy
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SCHOOL attendance , *ARTIFICIAL intelligence , *CLASSIFICATION algorithms , *DECISION trees , *LOGISTIC regression analysis , *MACHINE learning - Abstract
Right from the beginning, attendance has played an important role in the education systems, not only in student success but in the overall interest of the matter. Although all schools try to accentuate good attendance, still some schools find it hard to achieve the required level (96% in UK) of average attendance. The most productive way of increasing the pupils′ attendance rate is to predict when it is going to go down, understand the reasons—why it happened—and act on the affecting factors so as to prevent it. Artificial intelligence (AI) is an automated machine learning solution for different types of problems. Several machine learning (ML) models like logistic regression, decision trees, etc. are easy to understand; however, complicated (Neural Network, BART etc.) ML models are not transparent but are black-boxes for humans. It is not always evident how machine intelligence arrived at a decision. However, not always, but in critical applications it is important that humans can understand the reasons for such decisions. In this paper, we present a methodology on the application example of pupil attendance for constructing explanations for AI classification algorithms. The methodology includes building a model of the application in the Isabelle Insider and Infrastructure framework (IIIf) and an algorithm (PCR) that helps us to obtain a detailed logical rule to specify the performance of the black-box algorithm, hence allowing us to explain it. The explanation is provided within the logical model of the IIIf, thus is suitable for human audiences. It has been shown that the RR-cycle of IIIf can be adapted to provide a method for iteratively extracting an explanation by interleaving attack tree analysis with precondition refinement, which finally yields a general rule that describes the decision taken by a black-box algorithm produced by Artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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180. Alternative Splicing Events and Their Clinical Significance in Colorectal Cancer: Targeted Therapeutic Opportunities.
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Manabile, Mosebo Armstrong, Hull, Rodney, Khanyile, Richard, Molefi, Thulo, Damane, Botle Precious, Mongan, Nigel Patrick, Bates, David Owen, and Dlamini, Zodwa
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RNA , *DISEASE incidence , *COLORECTAL cancer ,DEVELOPING countries - Abstract
Simple Summary: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The incidence of this cancer continues to rise, especially in developing countries. Alternative splicing is a normal cellular process that results in the generation of proteins with different structures and functions from a single gene. Colorectal cancer can cause dysregulation of alternative splicing processes to promote its development and growth until it spreads. Dysregulated alternative splicing processes have been shown to promote cancer survival by producing proteins that activate genes known to promote cancer development or deactivate those that inhibit cancer development. It is therefore important that dysregulated alternative splicing genes in colorectal cancer are identified for diagnosis and development of treatments that can specifically target these genes in order to stop them from promoting cancer development and progression. Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as one of the top causes of cancer mortality worldwide and its incidence is on the rise, particularly in low-middle-income countries (LMICs). There are several factors that contribute to the development and progression of CRC. Alternative splicing (AS) was found to be one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of CRC. With the advent of genome/transcriptome sequencing and large patient databases, the broad role of aberrant AS in cancer development and progression has become clear. AS affects cancer initiation, proliferation, invasion, and migration. These splicing changes activate oncogenes or deactivate tumor suppressor genes by producing altered amounts of normally functional or new proteins with different, even opposing, functions. Thus, identifying and characterizing CRC-specific alternative splicing events and variants might help in designing new therapeutic splicing disrupter drugs. CRC-specific splicing events can be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this review, alternatively spliced events and their role in CRC development will be discussed. The paper also reviews recent research on alternatively spliced events that might be exploited as prognostic, diagnostic, and targeted therapeutic indicators. Of particular interest is the targeting of protein arginine methyltransferase (PMRT) isoforms for the development of new treatments and diagnostic tools. The potential challenges and limitations in translating these discoveries into clinical practice will also be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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181. Asian students in the anglosphere – unravelling the unique familial pressures contributing to eating pathology: a systematic review.
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Sun, Victor, Soh, Nerissa, Touyz, Stephen, Maguire, Sarah, and Aouad, Phillip
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ASIANS , *COMPULSIVE eating , *PARENTAL overprotection , *FOOD habits , *EATING disorders , *VIOLENCE in the community ,ENGLISH-speaking countries - Abstract
Background: There is no clear consensus on the specific familial pressures affecting Asian students in the Anglosphere, despite the validation of the Tripartite Influence model of eating disturbances in this group. However, traditional familial risk factors for disordered eating can be elevated for immigrant Asians with collectivistic-oriented familial dynamics, necessitating an examination of the culture-specific risk profile for eating pathology in student-aged Asians. This systematic review aims to consolidate and critically examine the literature on the most widely studied familial pressures related to disordered eating in Asian students in the Anglosphere. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in five databases for peer-reviewed articles measuring familial pressures and eating pathology in Asian students > 10 years old from an Anglosphere country. Following PRISMA guidelines, papers were screened by title, abstract and full text based on the eligibility criteria. Eligible studies were qualitatively analysed and synthesised narratively to assess the relationship between familial pressures and eating pathology. Results: In total, 14 papers were eligible for inclusion in the review. Eight topics related to familial stressors were identified (1) intergenerational conflict; (2) lack of familial cohesion; (3) parental overprotection; (4) low parental care; (5) familial achievement orientation; (6) parental expectations; (7) parental criticism; and (8) direct parental influence. In multiple studies, intergenerational conflict, maternal overprotection, and familial achievement orientation were significantly elevated and associated with disordered eating in US and UK Asian students, compared to white students. The studies examining parental criticism and familial cohesion had more heterogeneous findings. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate the perception of Asian parenting styles as overprotective and incompatible with individualist-oriented Western values could increase eating pathology in adolescent and university students living in Anglosphere countries. The synthesised findings of the literature also indicate disordered eating acts as a compensatory mechanism for the ongoing psychological distress generated from intergenerational conflict and familial achievement orientation. Conversely, traditional eating disorder literature on familial cohesion and low parental care may not be applicable to young Asians. Future research should focus on how social appearance anxiety and psychological factors can mediate the link between disordered eating and familial stressors in Asian students. Plain English summary: Family influences are known to contribute to disturbances in eating behaviours in white people and people of colour, despite cultural differences in family pressures. The Anglosphere, which describes a group of English-speaking countries with shared political and cultural heritage, has seen an increase in student-aged Asians who are vulnerable to the simultaneous pressures of Asian and Anglosphere cultures. Given this demographic is a historically underdiagnosed and undertreated group for eating disorders, this necessitates an examination of the family pressures that contribute to eating disorders which has been relatively understudied thus far. This systematic review found that cultural conflict with parents, overprotective maternal behaviours and achievement-oriented family backgrounds are consistently related to eating disturbances in Asian students in the Anglosphere. These findings also suggest that assimilation into Anglosphere culture plays a significant role in the perception of Asian family influences, and its contribution to eating pathology in this demographic. Asians in secondary and tertiary institutions internalise individual-oriented Anglosphere values through exposure to peers and media, which may conflict with community and family-oriented values of their Asian households. Continued investigation into influential factors may help inform development of culturally-sensitive guidelines for diagnosing and assessing Asian patients for eating disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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182. Is the disease risk and penetrance in Leber hereditary optic neuropathy actually low?
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Mackey, David A., Ong, Jue-Sheng, MacGregor, Stuart, Whiteman, David C., Craig, Jamie E., Lopez Sanchez, M. Isabel G., Kearns, Lisa S., Staffieri, Sandra E., Clarke, Linda, McGuinness, Myra B., Meteoukki, Wafaa, Samuel, Sona, Ruddle, Jonathan B., Chen, Celia, Fraser, Clare L., Harrison, John, Howell, Neil, and Hewitt, Alex W.
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HUMAN genetics , *NEUROPATHY , *VISUAL acuity , *VISION disorders , *HAPLOTYPES - Abstract
Pedigree analysis showed that a large proportion of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) family members who carry a mitochondrial risk variant never lose vision. Mitochondrial haplotype appears to be a major factor influencing the risk of vision loss from LHON. Mitochondrial variants, including m.14484T>C and m.11778G>A, have been added to gene arrays, and thus many patients and research participants are tested for LHON mutations. Analysis of the UK Biobank and Australian cohort studies found more than 1 in 1,000 people in the general population carry either the m.14484T>C or the m.11778G>A LHON variant. None of the subset of carriers examined had visual acuity at 20/200 or worse, suggesting a very low penetrance of LHON. Haplogroup analysis of m.14484T>C carriers showed a high rate of haplogroup U subclades, previously shown to have low penetrance in pedigrees. Penetrance calculations of the general population are lower than pedigree calculations, most likely because of modifier genetic factors. This Matters Arising Response paper addresses the Watson et al. (2022) Matters Arising paper, published concurrently in The American Journal of Human Genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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183. We Need to be as a Group: Using and Evaluating the Listening Guide in Feminist Collaborative Autoethnography With an Affective 'Fifth Listen' as a Tool to (re) construct Identities.
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Yeo, Emma, Pilson, Anna, Rutter, Nikki, and Hasan, Ecem
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COVID-19 pandemic , *VOICE analysis , *LISTENING , *AUTOETHNOGRAPHY , *AFFECT (Psychology) , *APARTMENTS - Abstract
As a UK-based group of female postgraduate researchers, the authors explored their experiences during COVID-19 pandemic through multivocal inquiry via a feminist collaborative autoethnographic project. In this paper, we use the Listening Guide as a tool to revisit and (re)analyse data from the aforementioned project, displaying findings in the form of voice poems. In utilising the Listening Guide, we discovered that listening is less of an exercise and more an art form. While the structured approach of the LG helped to enhance our understandings of wider individual experiences of disability and womanhood, identities that all authors inhabit, we were surprised to find that despite our established mutual trust and superficially similar experiences, we were unable to find emotional resonance through data that wasn't our own voice. We also found that the traditional stepped process of the LG that incorporates four listens to the data left our interpretations feeling flat. Through reflexivity and the novel collaborative approach we undertook in this analysis, we identified and implemented an augmentation of the Listening Guide process. In this paper, we propose an additional fifth listen, focusing on emotion, to facilitate a more holistic analysis of voice data. We explore how the fifth listen assisted the (re)construction of individual and collective identities, helping us to reshape our understandings. Finally, we elucidate the positives and pitfalls we experienced in the Listening Guide as a data analysis tool, recommending to other researchers the adoption of an iterative, flexible and reflexive approach in using it during collaborative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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184. Ethical Dilemmas, Rewards, and Lessons for the Future: Conducting Participatory Photographic Research With Asylum Seekers.
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James, Michelle L.
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POLITICAL refugees , *ETHICAL problems , *PARTICIPANT observation , *PHOTOVOICE (Social action programs) , *SUBJECTIVE well-being (Psychology) - Abstract
This paper draws on my experience of organising a photovoice project with asylum seekers to outline the ethical dilemmas and rewards of planning and facilitating a participatory, creative research project with a hard-to-reach, potentially vulnerable population. It offers lessons learnt and useful insights for others considering a similar approach to data collection. The photo project was utilised to explore the impact of involvement with community-based social protection on the self-reported wellbeing of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom. It was also designed to test the efficacy of the photovoice research methodology to produce simple, impactful findings useful for researcher, research participant and policymaker, empowering those who have often had little voice in community development to inform policy discussions. The paper is written from the author's perspective, adopting a layered approach that utilises fieldnotes, quotes from project participants, and exhibition attendee feedback to provide a rounded description of the project. It pays particular attention to ethical dilemmas concerning project access, recruitment and communication and the complexity of juggling academic ethical rigour with a community-led approach across cultural and linguistic borders. It highlights how power dynamics can be experienced in the research environment entangled with issues of co-researcher dignity, ownership, and vulnerability. It also details the positive outcomes of the photovoice project in relation to collaborative knowledge creation, empathetic understanding, and advocacy opportunities. The author concludes by offering a summary of the key lessons learnt through the project and their implications for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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185. (De)constructing a Dar-ul-Uloom Aalim's Identity in Contemporary Britain: Overcoming Barriers of Access.
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Ahmed, Kamal and Elton-Chalcraft, Sally
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IDENTITY (Psychology) , *NATIONAL character , *MUSLIM identity , *RELIGIOUS identity , *MUSLIMS , *VALUES (Ethics) , *BIRTHPLACES , *ETHNICITY - Abstract
The controversial events of 2001 (9/11) and 2005 (7/7) have led Britain's media and policy makers to view the proliferation of orthodox Islamic seminaries, Dar-ul-Ulooms (DUs), and their graduates (Ulamaa) with suspicion, further exacerbating the marginalisation of an already marginalised Muslim minority within mainstream British society. Due to ethnic, sociocultural, and religious differences, the identity of Ulamaa in modern-day Britain has become increasingly complex and supposedly contradictory due to the perceived differences between orthodox Islamic values proselytised in DUs and 'liberal' British values. Using an interpretive phenomenological analysis, this paper reports on data collected in 2020 through three in-depth interviews with an Aalim who graduated from a DU in England after 2005. It explores how he constructs and negotiates his religious and national identities. The interviews were undertaken by one of the authors, himself an Aalim, and the paper also provides reflection on the barriers of access to this under-researched group. Data suggest that although DU identity might not contradict British identity, and Islam is not seen as incompatible with British values, the perceived contradictions between DU orthodoxy and British values appear to be conflated with cultural resistances emanating from Britain's colonial legacy in India; the birthplace of DUs. Thus, analysis of the data reveals, through an Aalim's personal voice, issues of identity involving culture, religion, and community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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186. Digitizing UK analogue magnetogram records from large geomagnetic storms of the past two centuries.
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Beggan, Ciaran D., Eaton, Eliot, Maume, Eleanor, Clarke, Ellen, Williamson, John, and Humphries, Thomas
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SURFACE of the earth , *GEOMAGNETISM , *MAGNETIC storms , *STORMS , *DATA recorders & recording - Abstract
Continuous geomagnetic records of the strength and direction of the Earth's field at the surface extend back to the 1840s. Over the past two centuries, eight observatories have existed in the United Kingdom, which measured the daily field variations using light-sensitive photographic paper to produce analogue magnetograms. Around 350,000 magnetograms have been digitally photographed at high resolution. However, converting the traces to digital values is difficult and time consuming as the magnetograms can have over-lapping lines, low quality recordings and obscure metadata for conversion to SI units. We discuss our approach to digitizing the traces from large geomagnetic storms and highlight some of the issues to be aware of when capturing magnetic information from analogue measurements. These include cross-checking the final digitized values with the recorded hourly mean values from observatory year books and comparing several observatory records for the same storm to catch errors such as sign inversions or incorrect 'wrap-around' of data on the paper records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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187. Combatting the Trafficking of Vietnamese Nationals to Britain: Cooperative Challenges for Vietnam and the UK.
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Pham, Chung
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HUMAN trafficking , *HUMAN trafficking victims , *TRAGEDY (Trauma) , *VIETNAMESE people , *SEMI-structured interviews - Abstract
The issue of Vietnamese nationals consistently having some of the highest numbers of referrals into the UK's National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is increasingly apparent. However, this did not gather nationwide attention until the Essex tragedy of October 2019 which saw 39 Vietnamese nationals found lifeless in a lorry after they were brought into the country by a criminal network of human traffickers and smugglers. This paper seeks to understand the circumstances of these Vietnamese victims of human trafficking to the Britain by reviewing the situation in both countries—Vietnam and the UK. Three instances of Vietnamese nationals trafficked to the UK have been chosen as case studies. Through semi-structured interviews, issues regarding how voluntary migration led these vulnerable people into slavery will be explored and this will be analysed alongside a review of literature in the field. This paper reveals the complexity of the matter, which is primarily derived from the multinational nature of trafficking and the different attitudes and approaches of the various countries involved, as well as the difficulty facing the authorities when combating this particular crime involving this specific group of vulnerable people, especially in terms of victim support. The ultimate goal of this paper is to offer authorities and practitioners in both countries a fresh review of the challenges in supporting these victims, and to redirect their focus on the obstacles to addressing Vietnamese trafficking. These obstacles include the prevalence of—often illicit—labour-exporting companies in Vietnam, instances of initial voluntary engagement in labour migration relationships which later become coercive, and the failure of the UK and Vietnam to agree what constitutes a genuine trafficking victim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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188. Transformation of a three‐phase double‐circuit overhead transmission line into a six‐phase feeder to increase power transfer capability.
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Shen, Shuhang, Cao, Bin, Crossley, Peter, Wang, Zhongdong, and Ding, Xiaolin
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RENEWABLE energy sources , *ELECTRIC lines , *ELECTRIC power distribution grids , *ELECTRIC power consumption , *UNDERGROUND construction , *DIGITAL electronics ,ENVIRONMENTAL protection planning - Abstract
The UK net‐zero target requires the integration of significant renewable energy resources into the electrical grid. This, together with the projected growth in electricity demand imposes practical challenges on the power transfer capability of existing transmission feeders. For environmental and planning reasons, construction of new overhead lines is problematic, and where possible upgrading of existing substations and lines is preferred. This paper investigates the feasibility of transforming an existing three‐phase (3Φ) double‐circuit 400 kV line into a six‐phase (6Φ) feeder for a simulated future GB scenario. Results indicate a 6Φ feeder, operating at a 'phase‐adjacent phase' voltage of 400 kV can effectively solve the constraints of boundaries in transmission networks. When considering the various operating contingencies, associated with an important UK network boundary and its expected near‐future winter‐peak power transfer requirements, the thermal overload issues are mitigated by transforming a feeder from 3Φ to 6Φ. The paper demonstrates upgrading to 6Φ technology is a potential solution to certain future boundary constraints and in these cases avoids the need to build new underground or overhead AC/DC lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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189. What makes an operational farm soil carbon code? Insights from a global comparison of existing soil carbon codes using a structured analytical framework.
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Black, Helaina I. J., Reed, Mark S., Kendall, Helen, Parkhurst, Robert, Cannon, Nicola, Chapman, Pippa J., Orman, Matthew, Phelps, Jenny, Rudman, Hannah, Whaley, Sarah, Yeluripati, Jagadeesh, and Ziv, Guy
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CARBON in soils , *CLIMATE change mitigation , *EMERGING markets , *SOIL testing , *CARBON credits - Abstract
Soils have the potential to sequester and store significant amounts of carbon, contributing towards climate change mitigation. Soil carbon markets are emerging to pay farmers for management changes that absorb atmospheric carbon, governed by codes that ensure eligibility, additionality and permanence whilst protecting against leakage and reversals. This paper presents the first global comparative analysis of farmland soil carbon codes, providing new insights into the range of approaches governing this global marketplace. To do this, the paper developed an analytical framework for the systematic comparison of codes which was used to identify commonalities and differences in approaches, methods, administration, commercialisation and operations for 12 publicly available codes from around the world. Codes used a range of mechanisms to manage additionality, uncertainty and risks, baselines, measurement, reporting and verification, auditing, resale of carbon units, bundling and stacking, stakeholder engagement and market integrity. The paper concludes by discussing existing approaches and codes that could be adapted for use in the UK and evaluates the need for an over-arching standard for soil carbon codes in the UK and internationally, to which existing codes and other schemes already generating soil carbon credits could be assessed and benchmarked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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190. Tracking the psychological and socio‐economic impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the UK: A methodological report from Wave 5 of the COVID‐19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study.
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McBride, Orla, Butter, Sarah, Murphy, Jamie, Hartman, Todd K., McKay, Ryan, Hyland, Philip, Shevlin, Mark, Bennett, Kate M., Stocks, Thomas V. A., Lloyd, Alex, Gibson‐Miller, Jilly, Levita, Liat, Mason, Liam, Martinez, Anton P., Vallières, Frédérique, Karatzias, Thanos, and Bentall, Richard P.
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COVID-19 pandemic , *PSYCHOLOGICAL research , *PSYCHOLOGICAL factors , *CONSORTIA , *MENTAL health services - Abstract
Objectives: The COVID‐19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study was established in March 2020 to monitor the psychological and socio‐economic impact of the pandemic in the UK and other countries. This paper describes the protocol for Wave 5 (March–April 2021). Methods: The survey assessed: COVID‐19 related experiences; experiences of common mental health disorders; psychological characteristics; and social and political attitudes. Adults who participated in any previous wave (N = 4949) were re‐invited to participate. Weights were calculated using a survey raking algorithm to ensure the longitudinal panel was nationally representative in terms of gender, age, and household income, amongst other factors. Results: Overall, 2520 adults participated. A total of 2377 adults who participated in the previous survey wave (November–December 2020) were re‐interviewed at Wave 5 (61.5% retention rate). Attrition between these two waves was predicted by younger age, lower household income, children living in the household, and treatment for mental health difficulties. Of the adults recruited into the C19PRC study at baseline, 57.4% (N = 1162) participated in Wave 5. The raking procedure re‐balanced the longitudinal panel to within 1.5% of population estimates for selected socio‐demographic characteristics. Conclusion: This paper outlines the growing strength of the publicly available C19PRC Study data for COVID‐19‐related interdisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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191. Testing for COVID-19 during an outbreak within a large UK prison: an evaluation of mass testing to inform outbreak control.
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Blackmore, Claire, Czachorowski, Maciej, Farrington, Elizabeth, O'Moore, Éamonn, and Plugge, Emma
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COVID-19 pandemic , *COVID-19 testing , *POLYMERASE chain reaction , *PRISONS - Abstract
• Systematic mass testing in closed settings provides information on infection rates. • Test positivity was 11.6%, with only one-quarter reporting symptoms. • The prison wing handling new admissions reported the second-lowest positivity rate. • Testing uptake was higher in residents than in staff members. • Mass testing is a valuable tool to bring outbreaks under control quickly. The aim of this paper was to describe the results of mass asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 in a male prison in England following the declaration of an outbreak. It provides novel data on the implementation of a mass testing regime within a prison during the pandemic. The paper is an observational evaluation of the mass testing conducted for 6 months following the declaration of a COVID-19 outbreak within a prison. It investigated the incidence of positive cases in both staff and residents using polymerase chain reaction testing. Data from October 2020 until March 2021 was included. A total of 2170 tests were performed by 851 residents and 182 staff members; uptake was 48.3% for people living in prison and 30.4% for staff. Overall test positivity was 11.6% (14.3% for residents, 3.0% for staff), with around one-quarter of these reporting symptoms. The prison wing handling new admissions reported the second-lowest positivity rate (9.4%) of the eight wings. Mass testing for COVID-19 over a short space of time can lead to rapid identification of additional cases, particularly asymptomatic cases. Testing that relies on residents and staff reporting symptoms will underestimate the true extent of transmission and will likely lead to a prolonged outbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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192. Collaborative Coding in Multi-National Teams: Benefits, Challenges and Experiences Promoting Equitable Research.
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Zreik, Thurayya, El Masri, Rozane, Chaar, Sandy, Ali, Rayane, Meksassi, Bassel, Elias, Joseph, and Lokot, Michelle
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RAPID response teams , *POWER (Social sciences) , *INTERPERSONAL relations , *ACQUISITION of data , *LINEAR network coding , *VIDEO coding - Abstract
Within multi-national research collaborations, power dynamics often shape who is involved in which parts of the research process. The analysis phase of research has historically been framed as requiring expert perspective, excluding national or local researchers whose role is often limited to collecting data and transferring it to others to analyze. In this paper, we describe and reflect on the process of collaborative coding across a multi-national team based in Lebanon and the United Kingdom, as part of a broader approach to co-production. We explore the value and benefit of collaborative coding, reflecting on how coding together enabled greater inclusion, teamwork, improved analysis as well as improved future data collection. We also discuss the technical and logistical challenges we faced in coding within a team and using internet-based software, including the complications involved in navigating power dynamics between researchers and coming to final decisions about codes. Over time, we found collaborative coding became a smoother process, however working in this way is not straight-forward. Our paper contributes a reflexive analysis on the power dynamics and decision-making complexities involved in collaborative coding. It emphasizes the importance of investing in interpersonal relationships over time and prioritizing less-centralized decision-making within research collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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193. Sustainable production of healthy, affordable food in the UK: The pros and cons of plasticulture.
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Cusworth, Samuel J., Davies, William J., McAinsh, Martin R., and Stevens, Carly J.
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SUSTAINABILITY , *SUSTAINABLE agriculture , *CROP science , *AGRICULTURAL pollution , *AGRICULTURAL productivity , *TRADITIONAL farming - Abstract
An evolving green agenda as the UK seeks to achieve 'net zero' in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, coupled with our new trading relationship with the European Union, is resulting in new government policies, which will be disruptive to Britain's traditional food and farming practices. These policies encourage sustainable farming and land‐sparing to restore natural habitats and will provide an opportunity to address issues such as high emissions of GHGs and dwindling biodiversity resulting from many intensive agricultural practices. To address these and other food challenges such as global conflicts and health issues, Britain will need a revolution in its food system. The aim of this paper is to make the case for such a food revolution where additional healthy food for the UK population is produced in‐country in specialised production units for fruits and vegetables developed on sites previously considered unsuitable for crop production. High crop productivity can be achieved in low‐cost controlled environments, making extensive use of novel crop science and modern controlled‐environment technology. Such systems must be operated with very limited environmental impact. In recent years, growth in the application of plasticulture in UK horticulture has driven some increases in crop yield, quality and value. However, the environmental cost of plastic production and plastic pollution is regarded as a generational challenge that faces the earth system complex. The distribution of plastic waste is ubiquitous, with a significant pollution load arising from a range of agricultural practices. The primary receptor of agriplastic pollution is agricultural soil. Impacts of microplastics on crop productivity and quality and also on human health are only now being investigated. This paper explores the possibility that we can mitigate the adverse environmental effects of agriplastics and thereby exploit the potential of plasticulture to enhance the productivity and positive health impact of UK horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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194. Paper promises?
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PAPER , *RESEARCH & development partnership , *GOVERNMENT policy - Abstract
Reports on that industry is given few incentives to carry out research and development (R&D) by the government's White Paper on competitiveness launched in May 1994 by President of the Board of Tarde Michael Haseltine. Plan to target funding on the White' Paper's network of one-stop shops which give companies information about industrial and academic R&D in their regions as well as nationally.
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- 1994
195. Writing skills.
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SMITH, GERALD
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PERMANENT paper - Published
- 2022
196. How I write a paper.
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Paton, Alex
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MEDICINE , *REPORT writing - Abstract
Presents tips of writing a medical paper in Great Britain. Identification of writing the concluding part as a helpful step for an easy paper formulation; Disadvantages of concentrating on the introductory part of the paper; Significance of formulating an interesting title.
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- 1976
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197. The relationship between trust and attitudes towards the COVID-19 digital contact-tracing app in the UK.
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Dowthwaite, Liz, Wagner, Hanne Gesine, Babbage, Camilla May, Fischer, Joel E., Barnard, Pepita, Nichele, Elena, Perez Vallejos, Elvira, Clos, Jeremie, Portillo, Virginia, and McAuley, Derek
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ATTITUDES toward illness , *TRUST , *CONTACT tracing , *MOBILE apps , *INFECTIOUS disease transmission , *COVID-19 pandemic - Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital contact-tracing has been employed in many countries to monitor and manage the spread of the disease. However, to be effective such a system must be adopted by a substantial proportion of the population; therefore, public trust plays a key role. This paper examines the NHS COVID-19 smartphone app, the digital contact-tracing solution in the UK. A series of interviews were carried out prior to the app's release (n = 12) and a large scale survey examining attitudes towards the app (n = 1,001) was carried out after release. Extending previous work reporting high level attitudes towards the app, this paper shows that prevailing negative attitudes prior to release persisted, and affected the subsequent use of the app. They also show significant relationships between trust, app features, and the wider social and societal context. There is lower trust amongst non-users of the app and trust correlates to many other aspects of the app, a lack of trust could hinder adoption and effectiveness of digital contact-tracing. The design of technology requiring wide uptake, e.g., for public health, should embed considerations of the complexities of trust and the context in which the technology will be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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198. How do small changes enable the shift to net-zero? a techno-environmental-economic analysis.
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Haddad, Yousef, Pagone, Emanuele, Parra, Rodrigo Valdez, Pearson, Nicholas, and Salonitis, Konstantinos
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HEAT recovery , *INDUSTRIAL energy consumption , *GREENHOUSE gases , *WASTE heat , *ELECTRIC motors , *HEATING , *SENSITIVITY analysis - Abstract
With many of the world's governments committing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century, with well-defined milestones along the road, it is important to investigate how each sector can contribute towards achieving this global goal. The manufacturing sector, with its energy-intensive processes, large amounts of wastes, and hazardous and harmful emissions, is one of the main contributors to global GHG emissions, as well as other sustainability aspects, and, thus, it has great potential to contribute substantially to achieve net-zero objectives. This paper presents a techno-environmental-economic analysis of technologies that can play a key, enabling and leading role in the quest towards net-zero. Such technologies typically bring modest improvement in the environmental performance; however, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate how such small changes, when implemented in an industrial setting, can contribute significantly to the collective improvement in the environmental performance. In order to put the potential improvements into perspective, a real case study from the UK aerospace manufacturing sector is conducted. In the case study, metrics measuring potential improvements from the installation of a low-to-medium waste heat recovery system, and the upgrade of electric motors in the shopfloor to more energy efficient ones, are calculated through environmental and economic models. The models are then subject to a series of sensitivity analyses experiments to help understand the impact of different sources of uncertainty on the perceived GHG emissions, and economic and energy savings. The techno-environmental-economic analysis results revealed that these small changes, when implemented in an industrial setting, can indeed bring valuable improvements in the environmental performance of a manufacturing institute. Further, the sensitivity analysis experiments demonstrated how the environmental and economic performances are not adversely affected by different levels of fluctuations in key, likely to fluctuate, input parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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199. Effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing HIV acquisition and transmission among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in high income settings: A systematic review.
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Sewell, Janey, Fakoya, Ibidun, Lampe, Fiona C., Howarth, Alison, Phillips, Andrew, Burns, Fiona, Rodger, Alison J., and Cambiano, Valentina
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BISEXUAL men , *HIV infection transmission , *GAY men , *ANAL sex , *HIV infections , *HIGH-income countries , *HIV - Abstract
Introduction: HIV transmission continues among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM), with those who are younger, or recent migrants, or of minority ethnicity or who are gender diverse remaining at increased risk. We aimed to identify and describe recent studies evaluating the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions for GBMSM in high income countries. Methods: We searched ten electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), conducted in high income settings, and published since 2013 to update a previous systematic review (Stromdahl et al, 2015). We predefined four outcome measures of interest: 1) HIV incidence 2) STI incidence 3) condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) (or measure of CLAI) and 4) number of sexual partners. We used the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) Quality Appraisal of Intervention Studies tool to assess the quality of papers included in the review. As the trials contained a range of effect measures (e.g. odds ratio, risk difference) comparing the arms in the RCTs, we converted them into standardized effect sizes (SES) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: We identified 39 original papers reporting 37 studies. Five intervention types were identified: one-to-one counselling (15 papers), group interventions (7 papers), online interventions (9 papers), Contingency Management for substance use (2 papers) and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) (6 papers). The quality of the studies was mixed with over a third of studies rated as high quality and 11% rated as poor quality. There was some evidence that one-to-one counselling, group interventions (4–10 participants per group) and online (individual) interventions could be effective for reducing HIV transmission risk behaviours such as condomless anal intercourse. PrEP was the only intervention that was consistently effective at reducing HIV incidence. Conclusions: Our systematic review of the recent evidence that we were able to analyse indicates that PrEP is the most effective intervention for reducing HIV acquisition among GBMSM. Targeted and culturally tailored behavioural interventions for sub-populations of GBMSM vulnerable to HIV infection and other STIs should also be considered, particularly for GBMSM who cannot access or decline to use PrEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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200. Design and implementation of an online admissions interview for selection to nursing and midwifery programmes: a partnership approach.
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Traynor, Marian, Dunleavy, Stephanie, McIlfatrick, Sonja, Fitzsimons, Donna, Stevenson, Michael, McEvoy, Roisin, and Mulvenna, Caroline
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CROSS-sectional method , *HUMAN services programs , *QUALITATIVE research , *CRONBACH'S alpha , *INTERPROFESSIONAL relations , *MIDWIVES , *HEALTH occupations students , *INTERVIEWING , *QUESTIONNAIRES , *INTERNET , *QUANTITATIVE research , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *SCHOOL entrance requirements , *NURSING students , *DEMOGRAPHY - Abstract
Background: The recent surge in applications to nursing in the United Kingdom together with the shift towards providing virtual interviews through the use of video platforms has provided an opportunity to review selection methodologies to meet a new set of challenges. However there remains the requirement to use selection methods which are evidence-based valid and reliable even under these new challenges. Method: This paper reports an evaluation study of applicants to nursing and midwifery and reports on how to plan and use online interviews for in excess of 3000 applicants to two schools of nursing in Northern Ireland. Data is reported from Participants, Assessors and Administrators who were asked to complete an online evaluation using Microsoft Forms. Results: A total of 1559 participants completed the questionnaire. The majority were aged 17–20. The findings provide evidence to support the validity and reliability of the online interview process. Importantly the paper reports on the design and implementation of a fully remote online interview process that involved a collaboration with two schools of nursing without compromising the rigour of the admissions process. The paper provides practical, quantitative, and qualitative reasons for concluding that the online remote selection process generated reliable data to support its use in the selection of candidates to nursing and midwifery. Conclusion: There are significant challenges in moving to online interviews and the paper discusses the challenges and reflects on some of the broader issues associated with selection to nursing and midwifery. The aim of the paper is to provide a platform for discussion amongst other nursing schools who might be considering major changes to their admissions processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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