21649 research outputs found
Sort by
Genetic diversity and population structure of Anguilla marmorata, Anguilla bicolor and Anguilla mossambica in the Indian Ocean
No full textThe collapse of temperate eel fisheries has led to an increased interest in the stocks of tropical eels. Moreover, changes in water temperature and ocean currents caused by ocean warming can potentially impact larval migration and spawning behaviour of anguillids. These factors are urging researchers to further understand the genetic population structure of tropical eel species and expand the limited knowledge currently available. This study aims to investigate the genetic population structure of three species of tropical eels in the Indian Ocean (morphologically identified as Anguilla marmorata, A. bicolor, and A. mossambica) and to investigate hybridisation potential. Samples were collected and morphologically identified in northern Madagascar in two sampling efforts between 2022 and 2023. Parts of the mtDNA control region and the nuclear GHT2b gene were investigated for 108 and 91 samples, respectively. All species revealed high haplotype diversity (ranging between 0.992 to 0.996) and low nucleotide diversity (ranging between 0.035-0.059) for the control region. The mtDNA sequences revealed the presence of population structure in A. marmorata and A. bicolor and showed a panmictic structure in A. mossambica. The GHT2b gene appeared to be unsuitable for revealing population structures and to discern between A. mossambica and A. bicolor. In contrast to a similar study in the South Pacific, no hybrids as determined by discordances between morphological and genetic species identifications or between nuclear and mtDNA were found in this study; however, some level of heterozygosity was found in the GHT2b gene for A. mossambica and A. bicolor, indicating a potential presence of past introgression. All species showed an increase in effective population size towards the end of the Pleistocene. The finding of different haplogroups of A. marmorata and A. bicolor in the Indian Ocean has important implications for the future management of anguillid stocks
Optimisation in digital radiography: Bridging the gap between image data quality and visual perception of anthropomorphic images
No full textPurposeDose and image quality optimisation of diagnostic digital radiography is a fine balance between health risk induced by ionizing radiation and the resultant image quality. A major challenge is the assessment of image quality. Firstly, objective assessment of image quality using established methods is the most reliable, but lacks diagnostic validity, in contrast to visually assessed task-based image quality assessment, which is more laborious, time-consuming and less reliable but more clinically valid. One consideration is that the decoupling of the data acquisition and image display in digital radiography allows for adjustment of the perceived image contrast and brightness independent of exposure factors. A further challenge is the variation of observer methodologies used in optimisation studies which produce ambiguous tube voltage recommendations.To address these challenges, the aim of this thesis is to investigate the agreement between task-based image quality of visually perceived images and image data processed by deep learning algorithms for the purpose of dose-image quality optimisation for the specific task of nodule detection in digital chest X-ray radiographs.MethodsAn experiment was conducted to investigate the generalisability of a deep learning model observer, validated to detect nodules, to images of an anthropomorphic phantom with synthetic nodules and whether its detection performance changed with tube voltage ranging from 65 to 125 kVp, and phantom thickness simulated by 0 – 10 cm added PMMA to simulate a range of image qualities. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) Area Under Curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity were calculated from the output probabilities of the model observer for each tube voltage combination. Adequate image quality was considered at AUC > 0.9, sensitivity > 0.9 and specificity > 0.6.The conundrum that was faced is how to compare task-based image quality as perceived by a human observer to data processed by a model observer, when the task is nodule detection comprised of search and recognition. To address this, an alternative image quality assessment methodology was developed, where anthropomorphic images were ranked in terms of nodule visibility by a set of model observers and human observers. Reliability is estimated as Kendall’s within group concordance W1 and validity as between group concordance W2. The reliability and validity of the model observers was determined by creating a database of images of an anthropomorphic phantom with synthetic nodules acquired at tube voltages (60 to 130 kVp) and added PMMA (0 to 7.5 cm) with mAs controlled by the AEC. The image data was rated by a group of 22 model observers. Nodule locations at ribs, ribs & vascular and vascular only structures, which were found by a set of 10 model observers for all tube voltage and added PMMA combinations were selected. From these rankings, within model observer group W1_MO ranging from slight to substantial were selected. ROI image patches, which were not contrast windowed, were ranked by 10 human observers on nodule visibility, to compute human observer group W1_HO as well as in between model and human observer group W2. To assess the impact of windowing, tube voltage and phantom thickness on task-based image quality assessment, the 10 model observers and 16 human observers ranked visibility of nodules in sets of 4 images patches: full range of tube voltages at 0 or 7.5 cm PMMA, and full range of PMMAs at 70 or 130 kVp. All sets were presented with unadjusted contrast window and with window adjusted by contrast stretching the image patches by software. W1_HO and W1_MO were estimated to assess differences in perceived nodule visibility. Similarity in data patches at corresponding ROIs, with unadjusted contrast window and with equalised contrast window, were measured by the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) between data acquired of the anthropomorphic chest phantom at tube voltages between 70 and 130 kVp, 0 to 15 cm added PMMA and with the detector dose by the AEC. Corresponding sets and compared to W1_HO and W1_MO.Optimisation of data was explored by minimizing the dose area product (DAP) at an established contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The CNR of low, medium and high opaque high contrast and low contrast CNR was measured in data of a physics test phantom. Tube voltages ranged from 70 – 130 kVp, additional tube filtration was 0.0 and 0.2 mmCu, and detector dose ranged from 0.25 to 4 times AEC controlled dose. Results The model observer was able to detect nodules, irrespective of tube voltage (AUC ≥ 0.9). Predicted probability depended on the tube voltage. Sensitivity and specificity were adequate between 85 and 95 kVp.W1_HO ranges from slight to moderate and does not show a positive correlation to W1_MO and W2 ranges from fairly discordant to slightly concordant. However, scrutinising the methodology showed that the assumption that the nodule visibility is impacted by the imaging conditions was not well founded.When the contrast window was not adjusted, W1_HO was perfect for the nodule in primarily rib background at a range of PMMAs and 130 kVp (W1_HO = 0.98), was moderate at a range of PMMAs at 70 kVp for nodules in ribs and vascular (W1_HO = 0.51) and primarily vascular background (W1_HO = 0.49). In window adjusted image sets the concordance ranged from slight to fair (W1_HO 0.9), in contrast to 0-7.5 cm PMMA at 130 kVp and 70 – 130 kVp at 7.5 cm PMMA (0.53 0.9) for window equalised data. Tube voltage was negatively correlated with high contrast CNR and did not show a correlation with low contrast CNR when the detector dose was constant. Detector dose was positively correlated with high and low contrast CNR. Tube voltages equal or larger than 90 kVp with 0.2 mmCu tube filtration produce a CNR with equal DAPs at medium opaque high contrasts. 130 kVp with 0.2 mmCu tube filtration results the lowest DAP in high and low opaque high contrast CNR, when the detector dose is increased. ConclusionsThe model observer is valid for detection of artificial nodules in anthropomorphic phantom images. However, a set of model observers cannot be used as a surrogate for human observers in nodule detection task-based image quality assessment. The process of optimisation of exposure factors needs to be reconsidered given the capabilities of modern digital systems, this thesis has demonstrated that tube voltage and phantom thickness does not impact visibility. Inherent contrast is no longer a limiting factor for detection when acquiring within a wide range of exposure factors and settings with modern digital radiography systems. Optimisation becomes a dose and noise paradigm
WOW@Work_GM: a policy brief
Get PDFIn January 2025 a women’s voice co-creation steering group was established consisting of stakeholders, academic researchers and women themselves. The co-creation group devised a series of short bitesize video outputs [see for example: https://doi.org/10.17866/rd.salford.30344413.v1] and a research project, which explored the intersection of gendered ageing and workplace wellbeing, focusing on women in work aged 40 and above experiencing symptoms of the perimenopause and menopause living and/or working in Greater Manchester using a cross-sectional survey (N=137) shared across the network and via social networks). It aimed to understand the impact of menstruation, maternity, and menopause (the Three M’s- see Grandey et al. 2023) on wellbeing as well as understanding policy implications including the 4-day work week and flexible working arrangements. We asked questions about work, wellbeing, caring responsibilities and perimenopause/menopause symptoms. It also aimed to identify practical interventions and policy recommendations to support inclusive and sustainable employment practices. We held a Roundtable Event, which was co-produced by the Steering Group, on 26th June 2025 at University of Salford and consisted of a community café using an Appreciative Inquiry approach. The recommendations from the WOW@Work_GM project in 2025 included:•Implementing flexible working arrangements to support ageing women through perimenopause and menopausal symptoms•Supporting line managers to have open and honest conversations with women about supporting them to manage their workplace wellbeing.•Emphasizing the value of older women in the workforce
Preventing childhood accidental poisoning and chemical burn injury at home through an interactive programme based on GHS hazard warning signs: single-group pretest and post-test intervention study in Jordan
No full textBackgroundAccidental poisoning and chemical burn injury in young children is a World-wide problem. A globally-adopted system of labelling hazardous substances is intended to reduce this risk, but the pictograms that are central to this are often misunderstood. We sought to discover children’s interpretation of GHS pictograms, to promote greater awareness and understanding of them, and to inform public health messages and teaching in schools.MethodsAn in-person, single group pre-test and post-test intervention study was conducted using an electronic self-completed programme. Children reported perceived meaning of 9 pictograms, which were then explained with examples, before immediate post-test of the pictograms’ intended meaning and multiple choice quiz to reinforce learning. An optional family-based activity was included.ResultsOnly 36% understood the sign for “toxic” substances. The “corrosive” pictogram was understood by 53%, but 11% mistook the image to indicate a place or substance for handwashing. The pictogram for “gas under pressure” provoked incorrect responses from 94%. For these three, post-test showed remarkable improvement (87%, 73%, 75% respectively). There was little understanding of “health hazard”, “hazardous to the aquatic environment”, “harmful irritant”, and “oxidising agent” pictograms. Post-test results remained disappointing.Discussion and ConclusionsAlternative means of responding such as sorting true/false statements, or drawing lines to connect correct objects with corresponding pictograms could be considered for younger children. There was a need to show the pictograms in context for better understanding. Despite dangerous lack of understanding initially, the programme achieved short-term retention of knowledge at post-test. Secondary prevention opportunities should also be explored
Steering of Independently Rotating Wheels via Torsional Damping
No full textThis paper proposes a novel scheme for the provision of steering and guidance for independently rotating wheels (IRWs) in railway vehicles via the use of torsional damping and provides an engineering insight of the possibilities for passive solutions that do not require expensive active control systems. The development of the proposed scheme is presented in detail and computer simulations of a two-axle rail vehicle are carried out to assess the performance. The study demonstrates that the independently rotating wheelset may be effectively controlled via torsional damping between the two wheels of a wheelset to provide the necessary steering on curves and self-centring ability on straight track with irregularities
Coming in hot: using emotional journey maps to examine parental perceptions associated with presentation of their child with fever to the emergency department in England
Get PDFIntroduction: Paediatric emergency department (ED) attendances and admissions in England for fever are extremely common and are increasing, despite little evidence of increased risk and severity of fever-related presentations. Fever is a cause of great concern and anxiety for parents and carers, and these factors have a strong influence on decision-making across every step of a child’s journey through the healthcare system. There remains a gap in evidence investigating the emotional influences of parental health-seeking behaviours for fever.Objective: To explore the journeys taken by parents for children (0–18 years) with fever in England, from noticing a fever, to contacting primary care services, to ED attendance and subsequent discharge.Design: Qualitative design, using a novel emotional journey map approach.Participants: 11 parents who had taken their febrile child to hospital (2015–2023).Methods: Emotional journey maps were co-produced with consenting parent participants during semi-structured Zoom interviews (2022–2023).Results: Parents’ anxiety, fear and uncertainty strongly influenced decision-making throughout their child’s healthcare journey. The use of the emotional component in the journey maps helped to clearly visualise the factors that influenced feelings of frustration and negative experiences. Lack of care continuity, unclear fever guidance and exclusion from decision-making led to mistrust and strained relationships with healthcare professionals. Attendance at the ED was driven by uncertainty about illness severity, conflicting medical advice, barriers to primary care and confusing safety-netting, highlighting key areas for intervention.Conclusions: Findings have significant potential to inform how and why parents seek support from different services and help to aid understanding of gaps in fever education and health services. These maps provide a powerful health service user experience tool and have significant potential to inform how and why parents seek different services and help aid understanding of gaps in fever education and health services
Chronic Pancreatitis In The UK- A Netnography
No full textChronic pancreatitis is a painful devastating illness. A multidisciplinary approach to care is required, but providing quality care presents significant challenges. UK pancreatitis care has been found to be inadequate and inequitable. Previous research has focused on the interventions used to treat pancreatitis. Little is known about the experiences of patients. However, stories shared through a social media awareness campaign now illustrate the plight of patients and pancreatitis Facebook support groups provide opportunities for research. This study aims to understand the experiences of UK pancreatitis patients and the supportive strategies that help them. An interpretivist approach and methods of Netnography (a type of Ethnography) were used to collect and interpret text and image-based data from digital sources.The results reveal pancreatitis patients experience bio-psycho-social suffering and disruption. Flares of abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fatigue are debilitating. Stigma causes distress and barriers to care. Anxiety, depression, isolation, unemployment, and financial insecurity are common. Self-identity, self-worth, and life roles are altered. However, there are relieving strategies. Access to specialist services provides diagnosis and treatments. Lifestyle adaptions and home remedies help to minimise symptoms. To cope, patients use humour and hobbies as distractions. They draw on family, friends, professionals, and social media groups to find information, understanding, support and friendship. Enduring pancreatitis transforms individuals into more determined compassionate people, and supporting others with pancreatitis gives patients a new sense of purpose, rebuilding self-worth. This is the first netnographic study of online pancreatitis communities. New knowledge about the impact of chronic pancreatitis and the supportive strategies that ease the burden of the disease were uncovered. Better clinician understanding of the challenges and available support will drive improvements in care, patient experience, and outcomes. Opportunities to engage patients using social media could strengthen patient- clinician relationships and expand future pancreatitis healthcare and research delivery
Cognitive Muscular Therapy™ for low back pain: a pilot study.
Get PDFCognitive Muscular Therapy™ for Chronic Low Back Pain. Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a major cause of disability. Research shows that people with cLBP over activate the abdominal and superficial paraspinal muscles and this may indicate an underlying pattern of antagonistic flexor-extensor tone. This study was designed test a new intervention for cLBP, Cognitive Muscular Therapy™ (CMT). CMT integrates biomechanical training to improve postural tone with psychological techniques for pain management. The CMT intervention included five components: Understanding back pain, General relaxation, Postural deconstruction, Contextual triggers, and Functional integration and incorporated Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback to visualise erector spinae activity. An observational case series was carried out on fifteen participants with cLBP, who each received seven weekly sessions of CMT. Alongside disability and psychological factors, the activation profile of the erector spinae was measured during walking, using EMG. Five participants provided qualitative feedback through interviews. Significant clinical improvements were observed. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire score reduced by 7 points, the Pain catastrophizing scale reduced by 13.2 points and the Tampa scale of kinesiophobia reduced by 7.8 points. EMG data suggested improved phasic activation of the erector spinae during walking, while interviews showed increased self-efficacy and improved pain management. This is the first study of CMT for cLBP, showing promising results in reducing pain and disability. By integrating psychological strategies within a biomechanical framework, CMT offers a novel approach to retraining muscle activity. Future work is now required to explore the proposed mechanism of action and fully quantify the clinical effectiveness of this new intervention. NCT05611476. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Fall-Related Adverse Events of Anti-Epileptic Drugs Used for Neuropathic Pain in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Get PDFBackground: Older adults are at elevated risk of falls, especially when prescribed AEDs (AEDs) for neuropathic pain. The sedative and neuropsychiatric effects of these agents contribute significantly to fall-related morbidity. However, existing studies often lack stratification by age and dose. Objective: To systematically evaluate the incidence and drug-specific risk of falls and fall-related adverse events (AEs) in older adults prescribed AEDs for neuropathic pain. Methods: A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library databases up to May 2025. Studies were selected using PICOS criteria and included RCTs and controlled cohort studies reporting on AED-related AEs among participants aged ≥60 years. The methodological quality was assessed using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and GRADE frameworks. Meta-analyses were performed using logit event rates and fixed-effects modeling via Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v3.7. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled logit event rate for falls was −1.693 (95% CI: −1.993 to −1.393), corresponding to a 15.5% incidence. Gabapentin showed the lowest fall risk (~10%), while pregabalin and carbamazepine were associated with higher rates of dizziness (up to 21.6%), sedation (~15.5%), and ataxia (~17.8%). Heterogeneity was low (I2 = 0–22.3%) across outcomes. Conclusions: AEDs carry a clinically significant fall risk in older adults, with dose-dependent patterns. Gabapentin may present a safer profile, while pregabalin and carbamazepine warrant cautious use and monitoring. These findings inform individualized prescribing and fall prevention strategies in geriatric neuropathic pain management
Residential Mobility and Housing Tenure Among Immigrants and Their Descendants: a Cross-National Analysis of Five European Countries
Get PDFUnderstanding the housing and residential mobility of migrant populations is crucial to facilitate their integration into host societies. Yet, little is known about their experiences across generations, origin groups, and country contexts. This study investigates residential mobility and housing changes among immigrants and their descendants in five European countries (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden) with different housing markets and migrant populations. Using longitudinal data from 2010 to 2019, we first compare the risk of a residential move across migrant generations, origins groups, and host countries. We then study the propensity to move to different housing tenure types (i.e., homeownership, private renting, and social renting). We find distinct patterns of residential moves among migrant generations and origin groups. First, immigrants’ residential mobility levels vary across origin groups and country contexts. However, we generally find lower mobility for the second generation compared to the first in all groups. Second, in all countries, immigrants, especially from non-European countries, are less likely to move to homeownership and more likely to move to social or private renting than the native populations. Some of the differences decline across migrant generations, however, we still find lower levels of mobility to homeownership and a higher propensity of moving to social renting among some descendant groups. This study sheds light on persistent differences in residential mobility and housing patterns among immigrants and their descendants in Europe and contributes to a better understanding of the role of the country context in assimilation of housing behaviour and perpetuating housing inequalities
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage University of Salford Institutional Repository? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!