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A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Support for UK South Asian Families Living with Frailty
Get PDFBackground: The UK South Asian population experience poorer frailty health outcomes than the white British population, and are less likely to access frailty support and services.
Aim: To understand the lived experiences of South Asian families living with frailty, identifying perceived barriers to accessing frailty services and developing recommendations to reduce access barriers.
Methods: A scoping review explored perceptions of frailty in the lay UK public. Subsequently, using a hermeneutic phenomenological design, two studies were conducted including i) interviews with 16 South Asian older people and family carers, exploring perceptions and barriers to accessing frailty services (ii) focus group involving nine community and social care stakeholders (iii) interviews with seven South Asian older people and family members to co-produce recommendations for improving frailty awareness and reducing service access barriers.
Results: South Asian families’ socio-cultural perspectives of frailty influenced their emotional and coping responses, and decisions to seek support from frailty services. They perceived frailty as natural, God ordained, causing cultural stigma and
isolation, and manageable through family support and religious coping strategies. Service access was hindered by a lack of culturally sensitive frailty services, appropriate information and poor attitudes towards cultural values and practices.
Developing culturally sensitive frailty education and cultural competency training for health care professionals were identified as solutions to improve access to frailty support services.
Conclusion: South Asian families lived experiences highlight the need to address wider structural barriers to facilitate timely access to frailty services and improve health outcomes for South Asian families living with frailty
Study of steady two‑dimensional advection-diffusion equation with stratification using second‑kind shifted Chebyshev polynomials
No full textNoThis study investigates the steady two-dimensional (2D) distribution of suspended sediment concentration in an open channel turbulent flow, utilizing five eddy viscosity profiles incorporating the stratification effect. In addition to three well-known eddy viscosity profiles, two recently proposed profiles, based on the concepts of velocity and length scale concepts, are also considered. The most realistic bottom boundary condition is taken, where the net flux is a function of deposition velocity and equilibrium bottom concentration. The steady 2D transport equation is solved using the collocation method with second-kind shifted Chebyshev polynomials. The spectral radius of the scheme's iteration matrix is found to be less than unity, ensuring convergence regardless of inlet concentration, downstream position or eddy viscosity profiles. Furthermore, it is observed that the sum of squared residual errors (SSRE) decreases to zero as the number of second-kind shifted Chebyshev polynomials increases, confirming the accuracy of the method. Although the focus is given on second-kind shifted Chebyshev polynomials, comparisons are made with other kinds (first, third and fourth) in solving the governing equation. The effect of stratification on concentration profiles is analyzed through the stratification correction parameter and it is found that the inclusion of the effect reduces sediment concentration when the inlet concentration is zero. Conversely, for uniform inlet concentration, the concentration increases near the inlet but decreases as the downstream distance increases. The sensitivity of the inverse turbulent Schmidt number on vertical sediment concentration is also examined at various downstream positions. Finally, the solution is validated against existing solutions, laboratory data and field measurements from the Rio Grande conveyance channel, Missouri River and Mississippi River
Regional financial disparity in India: can it be measured? (JoIE Blog)
No full textYesRecent discussions on inequality have focused on increasing global income and wealth inequality between individuals, inequality between countries and inequality among different population groups within a country. Such disparities, whether in large or small countries, can lead to increased poverty in certain regions, skew intra-national migration patterns, could cause resource-based and inequality-based conflicts and militancy, and pose threats to national security in general. In the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, reducing other forms of poverty, and promoting inclusive and sustainable human settlements are national policy priorities (SDGs 5 and 10).
In this study, we examine financial development at the sub-national level in the context of a large economy, India. As a large emerging economy, India is particularly an interesting case to examine as it is not only a large federal economy with sub-national units (states) at varying stages of development, but the ownership of its financial sector is also quite skewed and diverse. Our major research questions are: how do we measure the level of financial development at the sub-national level? How unequal is the financial development across the states? Does it vary by the ownership of financial institutions? Widening regional disparities including widening rural-urban gap has been observed in India especially since 1990s.This inequality has persisted across various socio-economic dimensions.
To explore the research questions, our study develops a banking development index at the sub-national level for three different bank groups - public, private and foreign for 25 Indian states covering 1996-2015
Moving from stable standing to single-limb stance or an up-on-the-toes position: the importance of vision to dynamic postural control
No full textYesUnderstanding the contribution vision has to dynamic balance control may help in understanding where/why loss of balance occurs during everyday locomotion. The current study determined how body-centre-of-mass (BCoM) dynamics and postural stability when moving to and holding a single-limb-stance (SS) or an up-on-the-toes (UTT) position were affected by visual occlusion. From standing on a force platform, 18 adults (mean (SD) 26.7 (4.8) years; 1.73 (0.08) m; 84.0 (22.9) kg; 7 females) completed repeated trials (x3) with and without vision in which they moved to either a SS or an UTT position (order countered-balanced), and attempted to hold that position for 2 (SS) or 5 (UTT) seconds before returning to standing. UTT trials were also repeated at a fast speed, and SS trials were repeated using both the dominant and non-dominant limb. BCoM dynamics were assessed by analysing the displacement and peak velocity of the centre-of-pressure (CoP) when moving to and from the SS and UTT positions. Balance stability was the variability in the CoP displacement/velocity when holding these positions. Results indicate that under visual occlusion, the peak CoP velocity when moving to the SS or UTT position was reduced (ES, 0.67 and 0.68, respectively), suggesting greater caution. Both the variability in the CoP displacement/velocity when holding these positions and the peak CoP velocity when returning to flat-standing increased (SS: ES, 1.0 and 0.86, respectively; UTT: ES 1.26 and 0.66, respectively), suggesting, respectively, greater instability and poorer control. The poorer control in SS trials, occurred when returning to standing from the SS position held on the non-dominant limb, and correspondingly, the reduction in SS duration when vision was occluded was greater for the non-dominant limb trails (limb-vision interaction; p=0.042). This suggests that movements initiated/controlled by the non-dominant limb are more reliant on visual feedback than those initiated/controlled by the dominant limb
Targeting the BMP and TGFβ signalling pathways in PAH using established drugs
No full textPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe vascular disorder characterised by the constriction of small blood arteries in the lungs, which leads to right heart failure and premature death. The condition is defined by abnormal proliferation and death of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and endothelial cells (PAECs). Mutations in the type II receptor for bone morphogenic protein (BMPRII) are responsible for most of the inherited disease and familial forms. There is no treatment for this disorder hence novel therapeutic interventions are needed.
The primary objectives of this research are to investigate the underlying mechanisms which contribute to the disease pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, the effects of anti-cancer drugs; doxorubicin and digoxin and the three genes; ABL1, ERK1 and IGF1R were investigated on TGFβ and BMP signalling in PAH. These compounds promoted BMPRII signalling and suppressed TGFβ signalling, inhibiting excessive PASMCs proliferation. The genes modulated both pathways in HEK293T cells. Furthermore, the reformulation of nano-liposome with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) compound and its therapeutic potential were investigated. The newly formulated compound significantly inhibited the TGFBRII-mediated signalling in HEK293T cells. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first comprehensive report investigating the underlying disease mechanisms and outlining the potential of repurposing doxorubicin and digoxin in PAH. These results may have experimental and clinical applications not only in PAH but also in other BMP and TGFβ-associated disorders
Effect of high-fat diet on isometric, concentric and eccentric contractile performance of skeletal muscle isolated from female CD-1 mice
Get PDFYesDespite evidence inferring muscle and contractile mode-specific effects of high-fat diet (HFD), no study has yet considered the impact of HFD directly on eccentric muscle function. The present work uniquely examined the effect of 20-week HFD on the isometric, concentric and eccentric muscle function of isolated mouse soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. CD-1 female mice were randomly split into a control (n = 16) or HFD (n = 17) group and for 20 weeks consumed standard lab chow or HFD. Following this period, SOL and EDL muscles were isolated and assessments of maximal isometric force and concentric work loop (WL) power were performed. Each muscle was then subjected to either multiple concentric or eccentric WL activations. Post-fatigue recovery, as an indicator of incurred damage, was measured via assessment of concentric WL power. In the EDL, absolute concentric power and concentric power normalised to muscle mass were reduced in the HFD group (P < 0.038). HFD resulted in faster concentric fatigue and reduced eccentric activity-induced muscle damage (P < 0.05). For the SOL, maximal isometric force was increased, and maximal eccentric power normalised to muscle mass and concentric fatigue were reduced in the HFD group (P < 0.05). HFD effects on eccentric muscle function are muscle-specific and have little relationship with changes in isometric or concentric function. HFD has the potential to negatively affect the intrinsic concentric and eccentric power-producing capacity of skeletal muscle, but a lack of a within-muscle uniform response indicates disparate mechanisms of action which require further investigation
Exploring the flowability, physical, and mechanical properties of eco-friendly colored cement mortars with metakaolin under sulfuric (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3) attacks
No full textYesThis article aims to investigate the flowability, physical, mechanical, and durability properties of metakaolin (MK)-added colored cement mortars exposed to the effects of H2SO4 sulfuric acid (SA) and HNO3 nitric acid (NA). MK was used in 20% replacement with cement, and yellow (YP) and red pigments (RP) were added to the mixtures at 1% and 3% of the cement by weight. According to the results, although MK reduced the workability and, therefore, the flow diameter (FD) of mortars, thanks to the void-filling feature of MK, filling the voids in the microstructure caused the samples' apparent porosity (AP) and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity (RDME) to decrease. Additionally, MK significantly improved the residual compressive (RCS) and residual flexural strengths (RFS) of the samples thanks to the calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) bonds it formed in the interior structure, owing to its high pozzolanic efficiency. Moreover, this improvement of MK is more remarkable in samples that remain subject to SA and NA attacks for more time.
Furthermore, while YP reduces the workability of mortars and, therefore, the FD value due to its needle-tipped grain structure, RP increases the FD value of the mortars with its spherical grain structure. However, YP and RP contributed to reducing the AP of the samples and increasing RCS and RFS capacities at a meager rate by showing a micro-filling effect. In addition, there were significant increases in the total color changes (E) of YP and RP-added colored mortar samples, especially after longer SA and NA attacks.University of Van Yüzüncü Yil, Department of BAP, within the scope of the CDS-2023-10468 project
Enhancing Zero Trust models in the financial industry through blockchain integration: A proposed framework
Get PDFYesAs financial institutions navigate an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape and regulatory ecosystem, there is a pressing need for a robust and adaptive security architecture. This paper introduces a comprehensive, Zero Trust model-based framework specifically tailored for the finance industry. It encompasses identity and access management (IAM), data protection, and device and network security and introduces trust through blockchain technology. This study provides a literature review of existing Zero Trust paradigms and contrasts them with cybersecurity solutions currently relevant to financial settings. The research adopts a mixed methods approach, combining extensive qualitative analysis through a literature review and assessment of security assumptions, threat modelling, and implementation strategies with quantitative evaluation using a prototype banking application for vulnerability scanning, security testing, and performance testing. The IAM component ensures robust authentication and authorisation processes, while device and network security measures protect against both internal and external threats. Data protection mechanisms maintain the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. Additionally, the blockchain-based trust component serves as an innovative layer to enhance security measures, offering both tamper-proof verification and increased integrity. Through analysis of potential threats and experimental evaluation of the Zero Trust model’s performance, the proposed framework offers financial institutions a comprehensive security architecture capable of effectively mitigating cyber threats and fostering enhanced consumer trust
A comparison of written case notes and the delivery of care in dementia specialist mental health wards
Get PDFYesIntroduction: Stigmatising language concerning people living with dementia can cause potentially harmful and dehumanising consequences. Language used about people living with dementia in mental health wards may focus on medical perspectives and suggest custodial relationships with patients rather than person-centred accounts of individuals. This language could have a devastating impact on the provision of person-centred care. This study investigated the relationship between accounts of people living with dementia written in healthcare case notes and clinical practice at three dementia specialist wards in Wales, UK. Language guidance was provided to ward staff to assess whether stigmatising language could be reduced and whether this influenced the provision of person-centred care.
Methodology: Dementia Care Mapping was adapted to analyse case note entries for enhancing and detracting accounts of people living with dementia at three data collection points. These were compared to the results of routine DCM observations of care across the three wards. The healthcare case notes of 117 people living with dementia, encompassing 4, 522 entries over ten months were analysed. DCM observations of 38 people living with dementia within the three wards were compared against the case note results. Person-centred language guidance was shared with care staff following each data collection point.
Results: Following the provision of person-centered language guidance, the use of personally enhancing language was observed to increase across all three wards. Non-person-centred case note entries predominantly focussed on Labelling language, whilst language concerning Invalidation and Objectification also occurred frequently compared to other DCM domains. Person centred language typically concerned Acknowledgement. A relationship between case note entries and practice was evident in some domains although findings were inconsistent.
Discussion and Implications: The findings highlight the importance of addressing stigmatising language in healthcare and suggest that further studies to support the anti-stigma agenda in dementia care are required.This work was supported by Improvement Cymru, CADR (Centre for Ageing & Dementia Research), Bangor University and the University of Bradford
Long-Term Effects of Childhood Exposure to War on Domestic Violence
Get PDFYesThis paper highlights the scarring effects of early life exposure to civil war, by examining the impact of exposure to conflict in childhood on the incidence of domestic violence in adulthood among married women. To estimate these effects, we use a difference-in-differences model which exploits variation in exposure to Nigeria’s 30-month-long civil war by year of birth and ethnicity. Our results, based on the 2008 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, show that women exposed to the war during childhood are more likely to be victims of domestic violence in adulthood compared to those not exposed to the war, with larger effects observed for those exposed at younger ages. Additionally, we explore the mechanisms through which exposure to civil war might affect domestic violence, and find some support for both the normalisation of violence and weakened bargaining power hypotheses. Understanding the root causes of domestic violence is important given the high prevalence in developing countries and the deleterious consequences for women and their children