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Exploring patients’ views regarding the support and rehabilitation needs of people living with myocardial ischaemia and no obstructive coronary arteries: a qualitative interview study
Get PDFObjectives: This study aimed to generate new qualitative insights to understand the rehabilitation needs of people living with a confirmed or presumed diagnosis of ischaemia with no obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA), explore which aspects of current cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes could meet the needs of people with INOCA and where adjustments (if any) may be appropriate. Design: Semistructured qualitative interview study. Participants: Interviews were undertaken (n=17; 88% female, age range 31–69 years) with people with a confirmed or presumed diagnosis of INOCA. Results: Findings highlighted concerns around a lack of evidence-based guidance for cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes for patients with INOCA. Participants expressed a desire for modular cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes that could be accessed flexibly to accommodate episodic fluctuations in symptoms. Participants suggested that existing cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme content needed adjustment including enhanced psychosocial support, supervised low-impact physical activity and specialist dietary advice and medication reviews. Additional elements specific to INOCA should be made available as appropriate including acute care planning and a module to provide information and support for female-specific issues. The importance of involving INOCA patients in the codesign of future programmes and associated training was emphasised. Conclusions: People with INOCA are willing to engage with cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes and express a desire for more support. This patient group shares some barriers to rehabilitation programme attendance with other cardiac patient groups, but they also have specific concerns about the need for improved professional knowledge and evidence-based guidance regarding the management of INOCA. Cardiovascular rehabilitation programmes need to be delivered flexibly and individually tailored to ensure the relapsing and remitting nature of INOCA and associated support needs are addressed
Searching for particle-hole cluster bands in <sup>8</sup>Be using the ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer
Get PDFThe 7Be(d, p)8Be∗ reaction was measured in inverse kinematics at a beam energy of 11 MeV/u using the ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer, in order to identify and characterise high-excitation states in 8Be. The spin-parities of many of the states in the 16−20 MeV region can be explained as being particle-hole excitations within a two-centre shell model. The present experiment aims to elucidate the spin parities of higher excited states, > 20 MeV, to assess their candidacy as rotational excitations of the aforementioned particlehole states. The beam intensity in this experiment was measured using a downstream Micron S1 double-sided silicon strip detector to pick up elastically scattered deuterons. The focus of this paper is to present methods for calculating the beam intensity, which is key for extracting the spectroscopic factors of the measured states. Preliminary excitation spectra are also presented
Menopausal symptoms, exercise practices, and advice received in active women: a multi-country survey of strava app users
Get PDFThe study aimed to identify the prevalence of symptoms, changes in exercise levels, and exercise advice received during the menopausal transition in a large multi-country sample. Using total population sampling, 2.5 percent of female Strava app users (n = 970) from 7 countries completed an online survey between 14 February 2019 and 11 March 2019. The survey discussed menopause status (perimenopausal or postmenopausal), menopausal symptoms, changes to exercise behaviors, and advice received concerning exercise during menopause. Frequencies, chi-square statistics, and linear regressions were used to analyze data. The most commonly reported menopausal symptoms were sexual (18–83 percent) and cognitive/psychological (77–78 percent). 41 percent of women reported no change in exercise behavior since menopause began (46 percent increased and 11 percent decreased behaviors). The majority (88 percent) of women did not receive advice regarding exercise during menopause. Women who received advice were more likely to report an increase in their exercise than those not receiving advice (60 percent vs 46 percent; X2 (df 2, n = 927) = 7.1, p = .03). Exercise behaviors increased the longer it had been since the menopausal onset (X2 (df 8, n = 937) = 77.42, p < .001). The results suggested high menopausal symptom prevalence in active women and a general lack of exercise advice. More women reported higher symptom prevalence and an increase in exercise participation, the longer it had been since menopause onset. Future research should determine whether these increased exercise behaviors are being used as a coping mechanism
Multiaxial fatigue assessment of welded joints: A review of Eurocode 3 and International Institute of Welding criteria with different stress analysis approaches
Get PDFThis paper reviews quantitively the multiaxial fatigue assessment of steel and aluminum welded joints, focusing on Eurocodes (ECs) and the recommendations of the International Institute of Welding (IIW). Extensive fatigue data under constant and variable amplitude loading are reanalyzed using stress analysis approaches such as nominal stress, hot spot stress, and effective notch stress. Evaluation of the ECs and IIW criteria reveals an effective assessment of multiaxial fatigue, with a satisfactory level of conservatism. Further research is needed especially for variable amplitude (VA) loading to enhance the precision and reliability of assessments, contributing to improved design practices and structural integrity in welded joint applications
Building autonomy - evaluating the impact of a simulated placement for final year diagnostic radiography students
Get PDFInclusive leadership and team climate: the role of team power distance and trust in leadership
Get PDFPurpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of inclusive leadership on team climate. Drawing on the social exchange theory (SET), this study proposes a theoretical model in which (1) inclusive leadership enhances team climate, (2) the moderating effect of team power distance and trust in leadership in the relationship between inclusive leadership and team climate.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative research method was applied, with a survey of 247 Nigerian employees nested in 59 teams in multiple small manufacturing firms across diverse industries widely distributed into textile, furniture, bakery and palm oil production firms. The partial least square structural equation modelling was used to test the study's proposed hypotheses.
Findings
The results revealed that inclusive leadership has a positive and direct effect on team climate. Also, this study found that (1) team power distance positively influences the relationship between inclusive leadership and team climate; and (2) trust in leadership positively influences the relationship between inclusive leadership and team climate.
Research limitations/implications
This study affirms the explanatory power of SET to investigate inclusive leadership and team climate at the team level. Also, the study utilised the SET to confirm the significance and value of team power distance and trust in leadership in the relationship between inclusive leadership and team climate at the team level in the Nigerian context.
Practical implications
The paper examined the relationship between inclusive leadership and team climate with team power distance and trust in leadership as moderators. The findings suggest that inclusive leadership play a paramount role in understanding team climate among small manufacturing firms. Moreover, the findings can be applied in organisations by creating different assessment mechanisms, e.g. webinars and training sessions, to encourage effective inclusive leadership behaviours in fostering a team climate for creativity and innovation.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this current research to knowledge is on the examination of the distinctive leadership style that influences team climate. The study indicates that when team members are allowed to fully contribute to the team, inclusion is promoted among group members, and trust in leadership is strengthened, which increases their perception of team climate within organisations
Unraveling the Interplay of Autophagy Genes and KLF3/KLF8 in Colorectal Cancer Metastasis: A Bioinformatics and cellular Exploration
Get PDFBackground: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a widespread malignancy globally, yet effective therapeutic approaches for advanced, metastatic, and chemo-resistant cases remain limited. In this study, we knocked out CRC cell line HCT 116 for two autophagy genes (ATG5 and ATG7), then we conducted a transcriptomic analysis on those isogenic cell lines. which revealed an upregulation of Krϋppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) expression, that was biologically validated.
Methods In this study, we performed CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing on HCT 116 followed with transcriptomics analysis on HCT 116 KO cells for ATG5 and ATG7. Various bioinformatics analyses were performed to investigate the KLF3/8 with autophagy and affected functional pathways, and immune genes related to the different types. Validation of expression in different cell lines were done using qPCR and Western blot.
Results To further investigate the role of autophagy genes in CRC, we utilized publicly available data and web-based tools. Our analysis showed a marked correlation between KLF3/KLF8 and the expression of autophagy genes in CRC, denoting that its upregulation is likely to be a compensatory mechanism. We also examined the co-expression of autophagy genes and KLF3/KLF8 with multiple markers of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and significant positive correlations were observed. Moreover, KLF8 expression was upregulated at the mRNA level in the metastatic cell lines LoVo and SK-CO-1, compared to HCT 116. Interestingly, KLF3/KLF8 expression was high in MSS molecular subtype of CRC as shown in HCT 116 cell line knocked in with MLH gene as well as they were negatively correlated with crucial immune-infiltrating cells such as CD8+ cells, indicating their potential as a negative biomarker for response to immunotherapy.
Conclusion Our study proposes that a synergistic approach involving the inhibition of KLF8 and autophagy holds a potential therapeutic target for effectively tackling metastatic CRC cells, especially in cases characterized by deficient mismatch repair (MMR)
Drama by Jane Lumley.
Get PDFAt some point in the early 1550s, Lady Jane Lumley, daughter of the Earl of Arundel, translated Euripides’ play Iphigenia at Aulis into English, becoming both his first English translator and the first known Englishwoman to write a play. Although her achievement has sometimes been scorned and her grasp of Greek derided, recent scholarship has provided new evidence for her competence and shown that the play offers a powerful meditation on the fate of Lumley’s cousin, Lady Jane Grey. It also introduces new implications and emphases not present in the original, including an interest in the concept of the commodity and Arthurian overtones. Lumley’s translation may also have influenced a play possibly commissioned by her widower to greet James VI and I to Newcastle, and it continues to be performed
Social Robots: A Promising Tool to Support People with Autism. A Systematic Review of Recent Research and Critical Analysis from the Clinical Perspective
Get PDFIn the past decade, interdisciplinary research has revealed the potential benefits of using social robots in the care of individuals with autism. There is a growing interest in integrating social robots into clinical practice. However, while significant efforts have been made to develop and test the technical aspects, clinical validation and implementation lag behind. This article presents a systematic literature review from a clinical perspective, focusing on articles that demonstrate clinical relevance through experimental studies. These studies are analysed and critically discussed in terms of their integration into healthcare and care practices. The goal is to assist healthcare professionals in identifying opportunities and limitations in their practice and to promote further interdisciplinary cooperation
Learning while Sleeping: Integrating Sleep-Inspired Consolidation with Human Feedback Learning.
Get PDFSleep plays a vital role in developmental learning. It allows the brain to consolidate daily learning experiences by replaying the memories accumulated throughout the day. In this work, we take inspiration from sleep and propose the Inverse Forward Offline Reinforcement Model (INFORM), a novel scalable framework that first learns a set of behaviours from human evaluative feedback, then consolidates the learning by applying an offline inverse reinforcement learning to the memorised trajectories. Experimental results demonstrate that INFORM is a feedback-efficient method that effectively learns an optimal policy that aligns with the intended behaviour of the human. A comparative analysis shows that the learnt policies are robust to dynamic changes in the environment and the recovered rewards allow the robot to be autonomous in its learning. Project website: https://sites.google.com/view/inform-framework