Research@THEA (Technological Higher Education Association)
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Investigation of thermal. mechanical and shape memory properties of 3D-printed functionally graded nanocomposite materials
Get PDFIn this study, a 3D-printed photocurable resin was developed by incorporating graphene
nanoplatelets functionalised with melamine to investigate the thermal, mechanical, fracture and
shape memory behaviours. The objective of this work was to produce a printed functionally graded
nanocomposite material that has a smart temperature-responsive structure; presents good thermal
stability, strength and fracture toughness; and can demonstrate shape-changing motions, such as
sequential transformations, over time. The functionalised graphene nanoplatelets were examined
via thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and
ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the degradation temperature
of the nanocomposite containing 0.1 wt% of functionalised graphene nanoplatelets at the weight
loss of 5% was 304 C, greater than that of the neat one by 29%. Dynamic mechanical analysis results
showed property enhancements of the storage modulus and glass transition temperature. Fracture
toughness, tensile strength and impact resistance were improved by 18%, 35% and 78%, respectively.
The shape memory tests were performed to obtain the temperature-time recovery behaviour of
the 3D-printed structures. The addition of functionalised graphene nanoplatelets demonstrated an
enhancement in the shape recovery ratios. Generally, the five subsequent cycles were notably stable
with a high recovery ratio of 97–100% for the flat shape and circular shape of the M-GNP specimens.
On the other hand, these values were between 91% and 94% for the corresponding neat specimens
The effect of temperature on the stability of African swine fever virus BA71V isolate in environmental water samples
Get PDFAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) is known to be very stable and can remain infectious
over long periods of time especially at low temperatures and within different matrices, particularly
those containing animal-derived organic material. However, there are some gaps in our knowledge
pertaining to the survivability and infectivity of ASFV in groundwater. This study aims to determine
the stability and infectivity of the cell culture-adapted ASFV strain BA71V by plaque assay
after incubation of the virus within river water samples at three different environmentally relevant
temperatures (4 C, 15 C, and 21 C) over the course of 42 days. The results from this study indicate
that ASFV can remain stable and infectious when maintained at 4 C in river water for more than
42 days, but as incubation temperatures are increased, the stability is reduced, and the virus is no
longer able to form plaques after 28 days and 14 days, respectively, when stored at 15 C and 21 C.
Characterizing the survivability of ASFV in groundwater can allow us to develop more appropriate
inactivation and disinfection methods to support disease control and mitigate ASFV outbreaks.ye
What matters now for tourism and leisure postgraduates
Get PDFTourism has a history of recovering quickly from challenges, and early signs indicate that recovery from the COVID-19, may be no different. People are now hungrier than ever for opportunities to travel, having been starved of the opportunity for two years. There are diverse motivations for travel ranging from relaxation, medical travel, architecture, to experience culture, business and adventure to name a few. With regard to my PhD research into the motivations of older outdoor adventurers of particular interest is adventure activity tourism and leisure time physical activity (LTPA).
There is an ageing demographic and an ever increasing need for businesses to consider this exponentially growing demographic in their strategies and marketing plans (Coughlin, 2017). This is particularly relevant in tourism with some authors recognising that older travelers are seeking increasingly active, immersive and authentic experiences (Patterson et al., 2017). When one considers this in the context of LTPA and the potential impact on general health and wellbeing, it is clear that there is a socioeconomic relevance to actively promoting outdoor adventure tourism for older adventurers. Much of the literature around active ageing talks about the importance of psychological health, well-being, life satisfaction, and social networks. Outdoor adventure activity has the potential to address these domains (Boyes, 2016). However, the industry needs to embrace and engage the ageing cohort in all its diversity (Hickman and Stokes, 2017).ye
Perceptions and experiences of nursing students communicating with people living with dementia: the validation, emotion, reassure, activity (VERA) communication skills framework.
Get PDFBackground
There is an increased risk with advancing age that degenerative conditions such as dementia will affect a person's capacity to communicate. Thus, there is increased possibility that nursing students will be caring for this client group and will need to have the skills to communicate effectively. The Validation, Emotion, Reassure, Activity (VERA) framework is a communication tool developed for this purpose.
Objectives
This pilot study explored nursing students' perceptions and experiences of communicating with people with dementia incorporating the VERA communication skills framework.
Methods
Using a descriptive qualitative approach, second year undergraduate general nursing students were eligible for inclusion if they were assigned to complete their 4-week clinical placement in the designated research site and were willing to participate. Students allocated to the designated research site (n = 6) in semester 1 received standard communication skills as part of the undergraduate programme and students allocated (n = 10) in semester 2 received 2.5 h of additional communication skills based on the VERA framework. Data were analysed using framework analysis as described by Ritchie & Spencer.
Results
The findings showed that students in both groups had initial reservations about communicating with people living with dementia. They employed several strategies including nonverbal techniques, distraction, reminiscence and life story work. However, students who received the VERA communication training felt more prepared to engage in these strategies because of the VERA training.
Conclusion
With increasing numbers of people with dementia accessing health care, it is crucial that future nursing staff are equipped to meet the specific care needs of this population; which includes effective communication. The VERA framework can be useful to structure communication for nursing students.
Implication for practice
The VERA training may be considered a useful framework for increasing undergraduate nursing students' knowledge and confidence in advance of clinical placements in older person's services. Nursing staff should continue to support students on clinical placements which involve caring for people with dementia and be cognisant of the trepidation students may have when first meeting this client group.ye
Health promoting sports federations: theoretical foundations and guidelines
Get PDFBackground: Researchers and policy-makers have highlighted that the potential
for organized sports to promote health has been underexploited. Sports clubs
have limited capacity to promote health due to their voluntary nature and have
called for support from their national sports federations. The present article
provides guidelines, based on the theoretical principles of health promoting
sports clubs and an analysis of practical tools and proven strategies, to support
national sports federations to invest in health promotion (HP).
Methods: A qualitative iterative study was undertaken, based on five 2-h meetings
of a group of 15 international researchers in HP in sports clubs. Notes and minutes
from meetings, as well as shared outputs were analyzed based on the health
promoting sports club framework.
Results: Guidelines developed for national sports federations to promote health
includes a definition of a health promoting sports federation (HPSF), a description
of how the settings-based approach to HP adapts to national sports federations,
as well as practical applications of health promoting sports club’s intervention
strategies. The analysis of existing tools also demonstrated that most tools are
centered on a single dimension of health (social, mental, physical, spiritual or
community), and often on a specific health topic. Furthermore, they do not
cover HP as a continuous long-lasting process, but are generally short-term
programs. The HPSF clarifies theoretical concepts, their practical implementation
via case studies and outlines intervention components and tools useful for sports
federations in their implementation of HP.
Conclusion: The guidelines developed in this study are intended to facilitate
national sports federations to acknowledge/understand, reinforce/underpin and
foster current and further investment in HP.ye
Institutional status and identity dimensions to cardiovascular stress responses
Get PDFThis study aimed to examine the effect of shared social identity (i.e., whether the source of information about a stressor comes from an ingroup vs. outgroup member) and message content (i.e., whether people were informed that the task is stressful vs. challenging) on cardiovascular reactivity to stress (CVR) across two higher education institutions differing in status (University vs. Institute of Technology [IoT]). The study employed a quasi-experimental 2 × 2 × 2 design. 80 healthy undergraduate students (38 female, 47.5%) were recruited from two institutions—a University (n = 40) and an IoT (n = 40). All students underwent a standardised cardiovascular stress testing protocol (i.e., baseline rest period, manipulation, stress task). Blood pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored throughout. Results indicated that IoT students who were informed that the task would be stressful by an outgroup member (a University student) displayed relatively higher SBP reactivity (M = 17.53, SD = 4.72). Interestingly, those from the University who were informed that the task would be stressful by an ingroup member (also a University student) similarly displayed high level of reactivity (M = 19.45, SD = 4.33). It appears that being told the task is stressful had different effects depending on what institution the person was in, and who provided the information. These findings provide preliminary evidence to suggest that cardiovascular responses to stress may not simply be impacted by the source or content, but also the status or social position of the informants group.ye
Polysaccharides—Naturally Occurring Immune Modulators
Get PDFThe prevention of disease and infection requires immune systems that operate effectively. This is accomplished by the elimination of infections and abnormal cells. Immune or biological therapy treats disease by either stimulating or inhibiting the immune system, dependent upon the circumstances. In plants, animals, and microbes, polysaccharides are abundant biomacromolecules.
Due to the intricacy of their structure, polysaccharides may interact with and impact the immune response; hence, they play a crucial role in the treatment of several human illnesses. There is an urgent need for the identification of natural biomolecules that may prevent infection and treat chronic disease. This article addresses some of the naturally occurring polysaccharides of known therapeutic potential that have already been identified. This article also discusses extraction methods and immunological
modulatory capabilities.ye
Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) from seedlings to harvest
Get PDFLettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the commercially important leafy vegetables worldwide.
However, lettuce cultivars vary widely in their carotenoid concentrations at the time of harvest. While
the carotenoid content of lettuce can depend on transcript levels of key biosynthetic enzymes, genes
that can act as biomarkers for carotenoid accumulation at early stages of plant growth have not been
identified. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis was performed on the inner and outer leaves of
the six cultivars at different developmental stages to identify gene-to-metabolite networks affecting
the accumulation of two key carotenoids, -carotene and lutein. Statistical analysis, including
principal component analysis, was used to better understand variations in carotenoid concentration
between leaf age and cultivars. Our results demonstrate that key enzymes of carotenoid biosynthesis
pathway can alter lutein and -carotene biosynthesis across commercial cultivars. To ensure high
carotenoids content in leaves, the metabolites sink from -carotene and lutein to zeaxanthin, and
subsequently, abscisic acid needs to be regulated. Based on 2–3-fold carotenoids increase at 40 days
after sowing (DAS) as compared to the seedling stage, and 1.5–2-fold decline at commercial stage
(60 DAS) compared to the 40 DAS stage, we conclude that the value of lettuce for human nutrition
would be improved by use of less mature plants, as the widely-used commercial stage is already at
plant senescence stage where carotenoids and other essential metabolites are undergoing degradationye
Co-design with integrated care teams: establishing information needs.
Get PDFIntroduction: Co-design has been cited as playing a major role in the future of effective integrated care, however, there is a lack of reporting and reflection on the methods used. Information sharing is fundamental when working in integrated care, however sharing across professions, service settings and localities can be complex. Through co-design, we seek to establish a shared understanding of information needs within a newly formed integrated care team. In doing so we aim to inform future practice in the understanding of co-design.
Description: Co-design Workshop 1 (N = 24 participants, plus 6 facilitators), collected ‘Current Position’ understanding of service information needs. Co-design Workshop 2 (N = 18 participants, plus 6 facilitators) sought a ‘Future Position’ understanding, identifying solutions and next steps for establishing information-need solutions. Reflection on the co-design process was conducted to inform future co-design practices.
Conclusion: Identified was a wide range of future service information needs under the themes of Culture Building, Health System Needs, and Processes. We conclude with 4 key learning points on co-designing. 1. Ensure simplicity in format. 2. Interdisciplinary co-design and co-facilitation of workshops are beneficial. 3. Planning and preparation are key. 4. Co-designing can enhance communication for service improvement.ye
Results from Ireland North and South's 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents
Get PDFBackground: The Ireland North and South Report Card on Physical Activity (PA) for Children and Adolescents
aims to monitor progress in PA participation across a range of internationally established indicators.
Methods: Data were collated for 11 indicators and graded following the harmonised Active Healthy Kids Global
Alliance report card process. Six representative studies (sample size range n = 898 to n = 15,557) were primarily
used in the grading, with many indicators supplemented with additional studies and reports. Data collected since
the implementation of COVID-19 public health measures in March 2020 were excluded.
Results: Grades were awarded as follows: ‘Overall physical activity’, C-; ‘Organised Sport and Physical Activity’,
C; ‘Active Play’, INC; ‘Sedentary Behaviours’, C-; ‘Physical Fitness’, INC; ‘Family and Peers’, D+; ‘School’, C-;
‘Physical Education’, D; ‘Community and Environment’, B+ and ‘Government’, B. Separate grades were awarded
for disability as follows; ‘Overall physical activity’, F; ‘Organised Sport and Physical Activity’, D; ‘Sedentary
Behaviours’, C-; ‘Family and Peers’, C; ‘School’, C- and ‘Government’, B. ‘Active Play’, ‘Physical Fitness’,
‘Physical Education’ and ‘Community and Environment’ were all graded INC for disability. Since the last report
card in 2016, four grades remained the same, three increased (‘Overall physical activity’, ‘School’ and ‘Physical
Education’) and two (‘Family and Peers,’ and ‘Government’) were awarded grades for the first time.
Conclusion: Grades specific to children and adolescents with disability were generally lower for each indicator.
While small improvements have been shown across a few indicators, PA levels remain low across many indicators
for children and adolescents.ye