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Background: Health and social care regulators ensure that professionals have the correct qualifications and experience to practice in their profession. Globally, there are over 130 regulators of nursing alone and 13 health and social care statutory regulators in the United Kingdom. The public are the largest source of concerns to regulators about the registrants' fitness to practise (FtP). Aim: This study aimed to examine the amount, type and content of the information available from UK regulators and evaluate the usability of the process for members of the public considering raising a concern with a regulator about a registrant's fitness to practise (FtP) and the experience of those who had recently raised a concern. Methods: The websites of the UK's 13 statutory health and social care regulators were searched between November 2021 and February 2022 for information about the process of raising a concern. Webpages and public‐facing documentation were downloaded, and qualitative content analysis was conducted. The usability of regulator websites and the concerns referral form were assessed by 11 people using an adapted 'system usability scale'. Seven interviews, a focus group (n = 5) and a survey (n = 62) of people who had raised a concern were used to explore their experiences to validate our findings and recommendations. Results: Themes were identified related to format and layout, the process and support to raise a concern, with wide variation found between regulators. Focus groups, interviews and surveys validated these findings. Discussion and Conclusion: Information and the ease of finding this information are fundamental in promoting public confidence and trust in regulator purpose and process. When raising a concern, it is important that information is honest, clear and accurate and available in a range of different formats so that it suits the diverse needs of members of the public. Improvements in these processes could support regulators to better achieve their primary purpose of protecting the public. Public Contribution: The public were consulted on our findings using two focus groups, seven interviews and 62 survey respondents. Our project advisory group of people with lived experience of involvement in FtP discussed the findings and contributed to the recommendations. Trial Registration: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metaverse is the next major revolution of the internet, enabling communication between users from a virtual perspective mapped to the real world. This technology has attracted significant interest from students, researchers, and businesses, and has proposed multiple applications in sectors such as education, commerce, health, and others. However, its development is in its initial stages, as it is still under discussion how it will be standardized in the face of new proposed solutions. This article presents the theorical framework of the main components that make up a metaverse (3D modeling, Web 3D environment and communication aspects), the methodology implemented for the development of the metaverse of the School of Systems Engineering and Computing - EISC Metaverse, the architecture, the technologies used, and the prototype developed with the components mentioned in the literature review, in addition to discussing the results obtained in developing these types of emerging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Health and social care regulators ensure that professionals have the correct qualifications and experience to practice in their profession. Globally, there are over 130 regulators of nursing alone and 13 health and social care statutory regulators in the United Kingdom. The public are the largest source of concerns to regulators about the registrants' fitness to practise (FtP). Aim This study aimed to examine the amount, type and content of the information available from UK regulators and evaluate the usability of the process for members of the public considering raising a concern with a regulator about a registrant's fitness to practise (FtP) and the experience of those who had recently raised a concern. Methods The websites of the UK's 13 statutory health and social care regulators were searched between November 2021 and February 2022 for information about the process of raising a concern. Webpages and public‐facing documentation were downloaded, and qualitative content analysis was conducted. The usability of regulator websites and the concerns referral form were assessed by 11 people using an adapted ‘system usability scale’. Seven interviews, a focus group (n = 5) and a survey (n = 62) of people who had raised a concern were used to explore their experiences to validate our findings and recommendations. Results Themes were identified related to format and layout, the process and support to raise a concern, with wide variation found between regulators. Focus groups, interviews and surveys validated these findings. Discussion and Conclusion Information and the ease of finding this information are fundamental in promoting public confidence and trust in regulator purpose and process. When raising a concern, it is important that information is honest, clear and accurate and available in a range of different formats so that it suits the diverse needs of members of the public. Improvements in these processes could support regulators to better achieve their primary purpose of protecting the public. Public Contribution The public were consulted on our findings using two focus groups, seven interviews and 62 survey respondents. Our project advisory group of people with lived experience of involvement in FtP discussed the findings and contributed to the recommendations. Trial Registration N/A.

One of the measures set forth by the European Green Deal to decarbonize the freight transport sector is the promotion of inland waterway transport (IWT), and particularly intermodal transport in Europe. To facilitate intermodal transport on the Danube, we developed six new barge designs for the transport of 45′ pallet-wide high-cube containers using a four-step approach. Our approach consisted of detailed desk research, followed by the design and further analysis of the identified barge types, considering, for example, sightlines and stability. Their container carrying capacity reaches up to 90 containers in three layers, which is double the capacity of existing standard barges on the Danube. Nevertheless, three-layer transport is hardly feasible in several cases, due to restrictions regarding sightlines and stability. We conclude that each loading condition must be evaluated separately to determine the best barge design option for each case. This study is limited by its geographical scope and the type of container used to develop the new barge designs. A possible direction for further research could be using other container types and/or extending the geographical scope to extend the usability of our container barge designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground mobile robots operating in outdoor environments face multiple challenges, being overcoming obstacles on uneven terrain a prominent one. This challenging task has been addressed by numerous researchers who have developed robots employing various strategies, all aimed at efficiently overcoming increasingly higher obstacles. This article describes 108 robots designed for this purpose, incorporating the principle of rolling for locomotion and obstacle overcoming. These robots have been categorized into six major groups based on their operating principle and strategy for overcoming obstacles. After conducting a meticulous review and comparison, it has been determined that both the definition of the strategy robot will use to overcome an obstacle and the optimized robot design from the early stages of its development through clearly established requirements are the elements that hold the greatest significance in enabling a mobile robot to efficiently overcome an obstacle. In this regard, specific requirements and parameters have been identified that must be considered in the design of the robot to fulfill its purpose. Among these, key considerations include dimensional optimization, robustness, adaptability, energy efficiency, sensory capability, and appropriate navigability.

Communication protocols in the brain connectome describe how to transfer information from one region to another. Typically, these protocols hinge on either the spatial distances between brain regions or the intensity of their connections. Yet, none of them combine both factors to achieve optimal efficiency. Here, we introduce a continuous spectrum of decentralized routing strategies that integrates link weights and the spatial embedding of connectomes to route signal transmission. We implemented the protocols on connectomes from individuals in two cohorts and on group-representative connectomes designed to capture weighted connectivity properties. We identified an intermediate domain of routing strategies, a sweet spot, where navigation achieves maximum communication efficiency at low transmission cost. This phenomenon is robust and independent of the particular configuration of weights. Our findings suggest an interplay between the intensity of neural connections and their topology and geometry that amplifies communicability, where weights play the role of noise in a stochastic resonance phenomenon. Such enhancement may support more effective responses to external and internal stimuli, underscoring the intricate diversity of brain functions.

ABSTRACTThe decreasing of Arctic sea ice is projected to continue with global warming, which makes the summer navigation conditions of the Arctic improve. Based on the multi-source remote-sensing data with inter-sensor calibration processing and the ship-based observational data from R/V Xuelong and M/V Yongsheng, the sea ice conditions of the Arctic Northeast Passage (NEP) during the 2002–2021 summer seasons were analyzed, and the navigability of the NEP between July and October from 2002 to 2021 was discussed. Inter-sensor calibration could effectively reduce the deviation from different passive microwave data. Sea ice extent and thickness in the NEP decreased annually, which resulted in the navigability of the NEP showing a potential tendency toward improvement in navigability. The navigation period was mainly concentrated in early August to early October. The middle part of the NEP was primarily affected by sea ice. This influence decreased over time, while the navigation period increased, especially in the Vilkitsky Strait, which is a key shipping area. This analysis of sea ice conditions and navigability in the past 20 years could provide a reference for future scientific investigations and aid in merchant ship navigation in the Arctic summer.

Background and Objectives Navigational skills display clear signs of decline with increasing age, especially in pathological aging. Therefore, navigability —the extent to which destinations can be reached with reasonable effort and time—should be considered in residential care home design. We aimed to develop a scale assessing environmental features (i.e. indoor visual differentiation, signage, and layout) for navigability in residential care homes: the Residential Care Home Navigability (RCHN) scale. To this end, we examined whether navigability and its factors were associated with a sense of direction within the residential care homes to different degrees for older adult residents, caregivers, and staff. The relationship between navigability and residential satisfaction was also considered. Research Design and Methods A sample of 523 participants (230 residents, 126 family caregivers, and 167 staff members) responded to the RCHN, assessed their sense of orientation and general satisfaction, and performed a pointing task. Results Results confirmed the RCHN scale's 3-level factor structure, good reliability, and validity. A subjective sense of direction, but not pointing task performance, was associated with navigability and its factors. In particular, visual differentiation is positively associated with a sense of direction regardless of group, whereas signage and layout contributed to a better experience of a sense of direction, especially among older residents. Navigability was not related to residents' satisfaction. Discussion and Implications Navigability supports perceived orientation in residential care homes, especially for older residents. Moreover, the RCHN is a reliable tool for the assessment of RCHN, with important implications for minimizing spatial disorientation through environmental interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decreasing of Arctic sea ice is projected to continue with global warming, which makes the summer navigation conditions of the Arctic improve. Based on the multi-source remote-sensing data with inter-sensor calibration processing and the ship-based observational data from R/V Xuelong and M/V Yongsheng, the sea ice conditions of the Arctic Northeast Passage (NEP) during the 2002–2021 summer seasons were analyzed, and the navigability of the NEP between July and October from 2002 to 2021 was discussed. Inter-sensor calibration could effectively reduce the deviation from different passive microwave data. Sea ice extent and thickness in the NEP decreased annually, which resulted in the navigability of the NEP showing a potential tendency toward improvement in navigability. The navigation period was mainly concentrated in early August to early October. The middle part of the NEP was primarily affected by sea ice. This influence decreased over time, while the navigation period increased, especially in the Vilkitsky Strait, which is a key shipping area. This analysis of sea ice conditions and navigability in the past 20 years could provide a reference for future scientific investigations and aid in merchant ship navigation in the Arctic summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea ice hinders the navigability of the Arctic, especially in winter and spring. However, three Arc7 ice-class Liquefied Natural Gas carrying vessels safely transited the Northern Sea Route (NSR) without icebreaker assistance in January 2021. More and more Arc7 ice-class vessels are putting into the transit services in the NSR. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze sea-ice conditions and their impact on navigation during wintertime, and the future navigability of Arc7 ice-class vessels along the NSR during winter and spring. Based on sea ice datasets from satellite observations and a model using data assimilation, we explored the sea-ice conditions and their impact during the first three successful commercial voyages through the NSR in winter. In addition, we analyzed the sea ice variation and estimated navigability for Arc7 ice-class vessels in the NSR from January to June of the years 2021–2050 using future projections of the sea-ice cover by the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models under two emission scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The results reveal lower sea ice thickness and similar sea ice concentration during these three transits relative to the past 42 years (from 1979 to 2020). We found the thickness has a larger impact on the vessels’ speeds than sea ice concentration. Very likely sea ice thickness played a larger role than the sea ice concentration for the successful transit of the NSR in winter 2021. Future projections suggest sea ice thickness will decrease further in most regions of the NSR from January to June under all scenarios enabling increased navigability of the NSR for Arc7 ice-class vessels. Such vessels could transit through the NSR from January to June under all scenarios by 2050, while some areas near the coast of East Siberian Sea remain inaccessible for Arc7 ice-class vessels in spring (April and May). These findings can support the strategic planning of shipping along the NSR in winter and spring.

Copyright of Vínculos de Historia is the property of Vinculos de Historia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cuadernos.info is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Facultad de Comunicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study is to investigate whether kiosk users' characteristics can be explained by the technology acceptance model (TAM). Additionally, the goal of this research is to closely examine antecedents relevant to usefulness and ease of use. For the purposes of this study, the determinants of usefulness, degree of non-contact, time-saving efficiency, order accuracy, and ease of use were examined as important factors of kiosk design. The ease of use antecedents mainly consisted of payment and navigability. This study also attested to the relationships among a variety of TAM attributes: ease of use, usefulness, attitude, and intention to use. A survey was used to collect the majority of the data. Amazon Mechanical Turk was used for the recruitment of survey participants, and the number of valid observations was 346. A structural equation model was employed to test the study's research hypotheses. It was found that time saving, order accuracy, and ease of use are positively associated with the level of usefulness. Ease of use is positively influenced by navigability, and attitude is positively determined by both ease of use and usefulness. Additionally, intention to use is positively impacted by both attitude and usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication protocols in the brain connectome describe how to transfer information from one region to another. Typically, these protocols hinge on either the spatial distances between brain regions or the intensity of their connections. Yet, none of them combine both factors to achieve optimal efficiency. Here, we introduce a continuous spectrum of decentralized routing strategies that integrates link weights and the spatial embedding of connectomes to route signal transmission. We implemented the protocols on connectomes from individuals in two cohorts and on group-representative connectomes designed to capture weighted connectivity properties. We identified an intermediate domain of routing strategies, a sweet spot , where navigation achieves maximum communication efficiency at low transmission cost. This phenomenon is robust and independent of the particular configuration of weights. Our findings suggest an interplay between the intensity of neural connections and their topology and geometry that amplifies communicability, where weights play the role of noise in a stochastic resonance phenomenon. Such enhancement may support more effective responses to external and internal stimuli, underscoring the intricate diversity of brain functions. [Display omitted] • Geometry, topology, and weights in human connectomes determine communicability. • Decentralized high-weight short-distance routing results in optimal navigability. • Information transfer is maximal when weights and spatial distances are balanced. • Maximum navigability is robust to severe injury in brain regions. • Maximum navigability is independent of the particular configuration of weights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been rapid recent reductions in sea ice age and extent in the Canadian Arctic, but little previous analysis of how this has impacted the navigability of Arctic shipping. In this study we analyze how navigability changed over the period 1972–2016 by converting Canadian Ice Service ice charts to shipping navigability charts for different hull strength classifications based on the Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System. Analysis focuses on the southern route of the Northwest Passage, and the Arctic Bridge route across Hudson Bay, for changes in early-season (∼25 June), mid-season (∼3 September), and late-season (∼15 October) conditions. Results reveal that there has been a marked easing in shipping navigability for all vessels over the past decade, driven by reductions in the area and age of sea ice, particularly across the southern route of the Northwest Passage. Both medium (Type B) and little (Type E) ice strengthened vessels were able to transit the full length of this route in the middle part of the shipping season in 2012–2016, but not in 1972–1976 or 1992–1996.

Mongla Port is the second gateway of Bangladesh, situated at the bank of the Pussur River some 131 km upstream from the Bay of Bengal. In this study, the available hydrographic survey charts of Pussur River were collected from Mongla Port Authority (MPA) and analyzed to assess the trends of morphological changes at the potential sites. The causes of navigation problems, previous interventions of MPA, dredging history of the river, and effectiveness of dredging was analyzed. It is found that in the upstream portion of the navigation route at the MPA jetty area and its approaches was slightly scour-prone from 2010 to 2013; however, after capital dredging in 2014, the channel was found highly siltation-prone, having a rate of 0.1–0.6 m/year between 2015 and 2017. Before dredging the channel, the Inner bar area (downstream of Mongla Port) did not show any significant change in the bed topography between 2010 and 2013, however, a high backfilling rate (up to 1.5 m/year) was observed after the capital dredging. The channel was sufficiently deep and quite stable from Joymonirgol to Hiron point. The current navigational channel at the outer bar (at the mouth of the river) is silted by 0.1–0.25 m/year. Reduction of upstream flow, numerous shipwrecks at different positions, and human disturbances were identified as the causes behind the navigational problems in the river route.

Sea ice is the major constraint on human activities in the Southern Ocean. Depending on a vessel's ice class, human mobility may be restricted or even prevented altogether by sea-ice conditions. This may imply limited access to research or monitoring stations, preferred fishing grounds or attractive tourist sites. Here, we introduce a statistical model that evaluates the sea-ice cover with two measures: 1) accessibility (i.e. the probability that a given area is navigable by vessels at a given time) and 2) repeated accessibility (i.e. the probability that a given area is navigable by vessels at a given time and again at least once within a defined timespan). We use daily sea-ice concentration data from 2002 to 2020 to demonstrate this tool and its functioning regarding the spatiotemporal variability of sea-ice cover in the wider Weddell Sea region. These findings reflect known characteristics of sea-ice distribution and dynamics in the Weddell Sea, confirming the functionality of our simple tool for determining repeated accessibility of certain areas. Such a tool may facilitate the planning of research and monitoring activities in the Southern Ocean, as well as in Arctic seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the last decade, flow diversion (FD) has been established as hemodynamic treatment for cerebral aneurysms arising from proximal and distal cerebral arteries. However, two significant limitations remain—the need for 0.027” microcatheters required for delivery of most flow diverting stents (FDS), and long-term dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) in order to prevent FDS-associated thromboembolism, at the cost of increasing the risk for hemorrhage. This study reports the experience of three neurovascular centers with the p64MW-HPC, a FDS with anti-thrombotic coating that is implantable via a 0.021” microcatheter.Materials and methods: Three neurovascular centers contributed to this retrospective analysis of patients that had been treated with the p64MW-HPC between March 2020 and March 2021. Clinical data, aneurysm characteristics, and follow-up results, including procedural and post-procedural complications, were recorded. The hemodynamic effect was assessed using the O'Kelly–Marotta Scale (OKM).Results: Thirty-two patients (22 female, mean age 57.1 years) with 33 aneurysms (27 anterior circulation and six posterior circulation) were successfully treated with the p64MW-HPC. In 30/32 patients (93.75%), aneurysmal perfusion was significantly reduced immediately post implantation. Follow-up imaging was available for 23 aneurysms. Delayed aneurysm perfusion (OKM A3: 8.7%), reduction in aneurysm size (OKM B1-3: 26.1%), or sufficient separation from the parent vessel (OKM C1-3 and D1: 65.2%) was demonstrated at the last available follow-up after a mean of 5.9 months. In two cases, device thrombosis after early discontinuation of DAPT occurred. One delayed rupture caused a caroticocavernous fistula. The complications were treated sufficiently and all patients recovered without permanent significant morbidity.Conclusion: Treatment with the p64MW-HPC is safe and feasible and achieves good early aneurysm occlusion rates in the proximal intracranial circulation, which are comparable to those of well-established FDS. Sudden interruption of DAPT in the early post-interventional phase can cause in-stent thrombosis despite the HPC surface modification. Deliverability via the 0.021” microcatheter facilitates treatment in challenging vascular anatomies.

Background: In the last decade, flow diversion (FD) has been established as hemodynamic treatment for cerebral aneurysms arising from proximal and distal cerebral arteries. However, two significant limitations remain—the need for 0.027" microcatheters required for delivery of most flow diverting stents (FDS), and long-term dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) in order to prevent FDS-associated thromboembolism, at the cost of increasing the risk for hemorrhage. This study reports the experience of three neurovascular centers with the p64MW-HPC, a FDS with anti-thrombotic coating that is implantable via a 0.021" microcatheter. Materials and methods: Three neurovascular centers contributed to this retrospective analysis of patients that had been treated with the p64MW-HPC between March 2020 and March 2021. Clinical data, aneurysm characteristics, and follow-up results, including procedural and post-procedural complications, were recorded. The hemodynamic effect was assessed using the O'Kelly–Marotta Scale (OKM). Results: Thirty-two patients (22 female, mean age 57.1 years) with 33 aneurysms (27 anterior circulation and six posterior circulation) were successfully treated with the p64MW-HPC. In 30/32 patients (93.75%), aneurysmal perfusion was significantly reduced immediately post implantation. Follow-up imaging was available for 23 aneurysms. Delayed aneurysm perfusion (OKM A3: 8.7%), reduction in aneurysm size (OKM B1-3: 26.1%), or sufficient separation from the parent vessel (OKM C1-3 and D1: 65.2%) was demonstrated at the last available follow-up after a mean of 5.9 months. In two cases, device thrombosis after early discontinuation of DAPT occurred. One delayed rupture caused a caroticocavernous fistula. The complications were treated sufficiently and all patients recovered without permanent significant morbidity. Conclusion: Treatment with the p64MW-HPC is safe and feasible and achieves good early aneurysm occlusion rates in the proximal intracranial circulation, which are comparable to those of well-established FDS. Sudden interruption of DAPT in the early post-interventional phase can cause in-stent thrombosis despite the HPC surface modification. Deliverability via the 0.021" microcatheter facilitates treatment in challenging vascular anatomies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate whether kiosk users’ characteristics can be explained by the technology acceptance model (TAM). Additionally, the goal of this research is to closely examine antecedents relevant to usefulness and ease of use. For the purposes of this study, the determinants of usefulness, degree of non-contact, time-saving efficiency, order accuracy, and ease of use were examined as important factors of kiosk design. The ease of use antecedents mainly consisted of payment and navigability. This study also attested to the relationships among a variety of TAM attributes: ease of use, usefulness, attitude, and intention to use. A survey was used to collect the majority of the data. Amazon Mechanical Turk was used for the recruitment of survey participants, and the number of valid observations was 346. A structural equation model was employed to test the study’s research hypotheses. It was found that time saving, order accuracy, and ease of use are positively associated with the level of usefulness. Ease of use is positively influenced by navigability, and attitude is positively determined by both ease of use and usefulness. Additionally, intention to use is positively impacted by both attitude and usefulness.

The development of waterfront archeology since the 1970s has motivated the study of the synergies between cities and rivers. The increasing number of excavations in city waterfronts with its inception in Northern Europe, emphasize the complexity and value of riparian areas. These city‐river synergies shed light on such natural and cultural complexity, which requires a multidisciplinary approach and highlights the dynamics of a changing, hybrid and multifunctional riverine area. Although this interdisciplinary field of research has recently been growing, archeological research in France is focused primarily on large hydro systems with respect to smaller ones. This paper focuses on two secondary watercourses—the Clain and the Boivre—surrounding the city of Poitiers in Western France. Studying river and land circulation of the city in a longue durée perspective highlights the importance of small rivers in waterway traffic, as well as their archeological potential. These findings call for a reconsideration of the rich heritage of small rivers in future urban development projects, taking into account the sensitivity of small hydro systems to environmental changes. This article is categorized under:Human Water > Human Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gestión y Ambiente is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The territories of the Magdalena River basin are currently undergoing changes, transformations, and socioeconomic impacts as a result of mega-development projects for navigability and the construction of hydroelectric projects. Applying the concept of Fluvial Culture, this text presents the adaptation process of two artisanal fishing settlements located in the region known as Salto de Honda in the Upper Magdalena province: the village of Puerto Bogotá (in the township of Guaduas, Cundinamarca) and the township of Honda (Tolima). It proposes the option of adopting a perspective of socioecological systems, which makes it possible to carry out integrated assessment of the territory and joint (inhabitants and governmental entities) construction of alternatives that consider the impacts of intervention on both the ecosystem and the culture.