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OPTIMA-ID: development and validation of a medicine optimization tool for older adults with intellectual disability
No full textBACKGROUND: Older people (i.e. ≥40 years) with intellectual disability have unique medication needs and may experience high levels of potentially inappropriate prescribing. Despite the availability of tools to optimize older adults' prescriptions, there is no comprehensive tool specifically for use in older adults with intellectual disability. We aimed to develop a tool for this purpose: Optimizing Pharmaco-Therapy and Improving Medication for Ageing with Intellectual Disability (OPTIMA-ID). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A draft tool was developed based on literature review and clinical expertise. Focus groups with healthcare professionals and people with intellectual disability were conducted to refine the tool. The tool was presented electronically to an expert panel for Delphi validation. Median level of agreement and 75th percentile values were used to establish if consensus was reached. Criteria were accepted, rejected, revised or removed to develop the final tool. RESULTS: Following two Delphi rounds, consensus on the content of OPTIMA-ID was reached for 67 prescribing criteria, 63 of which were agreed upon after Round 1 and a further 4 criteria accepted after Round 2. CONCLUSIONS: OPTIMA-ID contains 67 criteria that can optimize medications for older people with intellectual disability. Its effectiveness, feasibility and impact on patient outcomes need to be established
Observation of τ Lepton pair production in ultraperipheral Pb-Pb collisions at √<i>s<sub>NN</sub></i>=5.02 TeV
No full textWe present an observation of photon-photon production of lepton pairs in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions. The measurement is based on a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 404 μb−1 collected by the CMS experiment at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of √=5.02 TeV. The →+− process is observed for +− events with a muon and three charged hadrons in the final state. The measured fiducial cross section is (→+−)=4.8±0.6(stat)±0.5(syst) μb, where the second (third) term corresponds to the statistical (systematic) uncertainty in (→+−) in agreement with leading-order QED predictions. Using (→+−), we estimate a model-dependent value of the anomalous magnetic moment of the lepton of =0.001+0.055
−0.089
Exploring novel aromatase cytochrome P450-binding ligands: Molecular docking and QSAR study of phorbol esters as aromatase inhibitors
No full textopen access articleA library comprising thirty-three natural and semi-synthetic phorbol derivatives was constructed and subsequently evaluated for aromatase (CYP19A1) inhibitory activity. The primary goal was to identify novel aromatase inhibitors through selective esterifications at the C-12, C-13 and C-20 positions of the phorbol skeleton. Twenty-two phorbol esters, fifteen of which were previously undescribed (5–9, 12 and 16–24), were obtained via semi-synthetic modifications. Additionally, ten 12-deoxyphorbol esters (25–34), four bearing an extra acyloxy chain at C-16, isolated from Euphorbia resinifera, were tested. Inhibition studies revealed that 12,13-diesters bearing medium-sized ester moieties (such as isobutyrate, tigliate or phenylacetate) exhibited the highest potency (IC50 = 0.9–6.4 μM). Conversely, shorter or longer ester chains significantly reduced activity (IC50 values ranging from 22.4 to 29.8 μM). An enhancement of potency was observed upon reduction of the α,β-unsaturated ketone at C-3 to an allylic alcohol. Molecular docking suggested that the phorbol derivatives bind within the aromatase activator-binding pocket, exerting their inhibitory actions through hydrogen-bond interactions with protein residues, independent of the heme group. The inhibitory potency correlated with the ability to establish these interactions. The activities of the most potent compounds are comparable to nonsteroidal, non-heme-binding aromatase inhibitors, such as stilbene and coumarin derivatives. Moreover, 3D-QSAR models were developed, with the most robust model (R2 = 0.908) highlighting the molecular descriptors NQC14 and AP as crucial modulators of the anti-aromatase activity. These findings provide a framework for future optimization of phorbol ester as selective aromatase inhibitors
Podcast Series: The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Educational Research Implications for Policy and Practice.
No full textA podcast series hosted by the British Educational Research Association (BERA), in association with the UN Impact Hub.In 2015, United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is framed around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN describes these goals as “an urgent call for action by all countries,” emphasizing the importance of global partnerships.
This podcast series explores the intersections of Higher Education (HE) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Curated by Richard Hall and Kate Mawson, this series delves into how HE can respond to the urgent call for action set out in The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015, the agenda envisions global peace and prosperity for people and the planet, centered on 17 transformative goals.
While SDG 4, Quality Education, stands as a direct link to HE, the implications stretch far beyond this single goal. Higher education institutions hold a unique and powerful role in advancing understanding, reducing inequalities, and fostering innovation across all SDGs—whether addressing gender equality (SDG 5), climate action (SDG 13), or partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).
This podcast series emerges from a collaborative initiative co-facilitated by the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Higher Education and Social Theory Special Interest Groups. At its core, the project aims to explore how HE policy and practice can engage with and impact the SDGs. It invites academics, practitioners, and policymakers to examine the intersections of HE with personal, social, ecological, and resource needs, including poverty eradication, sustainable cities, clean energy, and justice
Dynamic performance and control of Carnot battery-based combined cooling, heating and power systems with cascaded latent thermal energy stores
No full textCarnot batteries (CBs) can be extended into combined cooling, heating and power (CCHP) systems thanks to their conversion characteristics. Given the significant time-varying nature of load demands, achieving flexible responsiveness is critical for practical applications. In this study, a dynamic simulation model is developed for a CB-based CCHP system incorporating cascaded latent hot and cold stores, and a temperature-matching control strategy is proposed to deliver electricity and multi-grade heating and cooling with improved flexibility. By comparing different control solutions, the transient power generation performance and dynamic characteristics of the CCHP mode are analysed. The adaptability of the control strategy under variable operating conditions is further assessed, including coupling effects between power outputs and load-induced fluctuations. The results show that the control strategy achieves the intended performance, with a trigeneration energy efficiency of 95% and an exergy efficiency of 55% in CCHP mode. Under variable operating conditions, the electrical, heating and cooling outputs can effectively track load variations, with settling times below 200 s. The system exhibits robust synergistic anti-disturbance capability: disturbances in any single power output (electrical, heating or cooling) do not induce significant effects in the others, with fluctuation amplitude ratios among the three outputs below 0.05. This work provides operational guidance for the developing control strategies and for implementing CB-based CCHP systems
Nanoparticle-mediated interface engineering for uniform, reproducible electron transport layers in scalable perovskite solar cells
No full textAs lab-scale perovskite solar cells (PSCs) approach their efficiency limits, reproducing this performance in large-area, manufacturable devices remains challenging. Here, we show that printing interlayers of metal oxide nanoparticles, specifically Al2O3 and SnO2, can systematically control the morphology and interfacial energetics of solution-processed PC61BM electron transport layers (ETLs) in flexible roll-to-roll printed PSCs. These nanoparticle interlayers enhance ETL uniformity, reduce pinholes, and increase shunt resistance, improving power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) and reducing device failure rates by 50%. Through a combination of systematic device characterization, morphological, spectroscopic and energetic analysis, coupled with drift-diffusion simulations, the distinct roles of insulating (Al2O3) and semiconducting (SnO2) nanoparticle interlayers in mediating carrier extraction and recombination are elucidated. Al2O3 suppresses interfacial recombination and improves device reproducibility, albeit with some penalty in short-circuit current, whereas SnO2 enhances electronic coupling and charge extraction, delivering a champion PCE of 11.0% (active area: 0.5 cm2). Incorporating SnO2 interlayers into larger-area modules (active area: 7.2 cm2) further demonstrates the robustness of this strategy under manufacturing-relevant conditions. Together, these results provide an important framework for nanoparticle-mediated interface engineering and establish a simple, effective, and scalable route to improving both performance and yield in printed large-area PSCs
Constraints on implant design resulting from the needs of surgical placement- implications for implantable artificial muscles
No full textIntroduction: Design of a medical implant needs to ensure the device can be positioned accurately and removed subsequently if needed. This necessitates specific design
considerations for implantation.
Methods: This review is an opinion paper considering how an operation to introduce an implant into a patient may affect design, focussing on development of implantable artificial muscles (IAMs).
Results: Compatibility with endoscopic ports or the Seldinger technique will help deliver treatment with shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery. This means an IAM device has to have configurations to suit both deployment and use. Replacement of the device or removal as an
emergency means it must be easy to extract without damage to the patient’s tissues, using standard surgical equipment. The implant has to be compatible with processes for sterilising medical devices. But design of the packaging of the implant is equally important, since transfer of the device from its sterile-packaged storage state to the operating table for deployment into a
patient is a vulnerable process in which contamination can occur.
Conclusions: Implant surgery is a high risk healthcare intervention. Those developing IAMs should consider aspects relating to surgical approach, deployment, wear, fixation, avoidance of perioperative complications, and subsequent removal
Modular supramolecular polycations enable efficient delivery of diverse RNA therapeutics and vaccines
No full textWe describe a modular, diverse, and customizable supramolecular-materials platform that can deliver nucleic acids in vitro and in vivo. The chemistries deployed enable the generation of multiple supramolecular polycations, which can associate with RNA to form polyelectrolyte complexes, but which have the unique feature of reversible cross-links, via host–guest interactions of monomers that display aromatic amino acid termini with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). Families of supramolecular polymers can be prepared by simple variation in monomer structure, enabling the tuning of properties. We demonstrate that these supramolecular polyelectrolyte complexes with RNA can be prepared easily via automatable procedures to generate nanoparticles that meet Critical Quality Attributes for manufactured RNA vaccines and therapeutics. We show that these materials can deliver RNA to a range of cell types, displaying reporter-protein expression at levels equivalent to, or greater than, commercial transfection reagents, with no acute adverse phenotypic effects. Finally, we demonstrate the success of our materials platform across a range of nucleic acid types, with expression of mRNA within tumors of an orthotopic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer mouse model, knockdown of a kinase implicated in cancer progression via siRNA, and effective protection against H1N1 influenza virus challenge in mice following injections of self-amplifying RNA
Investigating choice of and perceived efficacy of learning strategies used by STEM students
No full textThe use of appropriate learning strategies that accommodate working memory capacity is crucial for successful long-term learning. To our knowledge, there is little evidence in the literature showing which learning strategies STEM students use and their perceived
effectiveness of these strategies. This paper addresses this gap by applying a mixed methods design to gain insight into STEM students’ learning behaviour in terms of the use and perceived effectiveness of available learning strategies. Specifically, we collected quantitative scoping survey data, complemented by qualitative focus group data to gain a rich, holistic understanding of students’ perceptions and rationales for using learning strategies. Students rated content blocking and problem-solving attempts as more effective than interleaving and using worked examples, respectively. Students differentiated their use of different learning strategies, using more worked examples than problem-solving attempts and more rereading than retrieval practice. Additionally, the extent to which they used a strategy was positively correlated with their knowledge about its effectiveness. Our data also show that the use of both highly and moderately effective learning strategies positively predicted grades. The focus group findings highlighted the complexity of learning behaviour in that students used a variety of learning strategies, depending on their learning habits, the nature of their courses, their motivation and interests. Students evaluated the effectiveness of a strategy based on whether it improved their grades and by the combination of perceived and actual effort required to use it. Overall, STEM students have limited knowledge of learning strategies and ultimately need support to engage with their learning in an efficient and productive way