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Services, people and skills: Final report for future data services
Get PDFThe aim of Future Data Services is to enable ESRC to make a long-term strategic decision about how to invest in data services infrastructure from 2024 onwards. The vision for the supply of data services post-2024 is one in which the benefits of technology, new research practices, and improved legal gateways all come together to improve research productivity and deliver greater public good. This stream of work focuses on the Services, People and Skills strand. This is the final report of the Strategic Fellow
Cornwall e-cycle pilot: Learning for practitioners
Get PDFThese reports present findings from the Cornwall e-cycle pilot, a scheme which gave people a chance to try using an e-cycle without having to buy one. The learning for practitioners report outlines 15 lessons learned from the pilot, to help inform the development of future e-cycle schemes. These reports were produced for the Department for Transport by the University of the West of England with Transport for Quality of Life
Investigating the impact of blockchain on project risk management success: A structural equation model
No full textLately, the construction industry has shown a great deal of openness to utilizing novel and innovative technologies. The industry’s complexity necessitates cooperative and efficient process management. Utilizing value-adding technologies is crucial in that regard. Among them, blockchain has recently gained prominence as an enabling technology for smart contracts, and secure data management for the construction industry. This study employs a structural equation model to quantify the relationship between risk management (RM), a key project management activity, and blockchain technology. To this end, a survey was created and distributed to construction professionals. A structural equation modeling analysis was performed on the data collected from 103 respondents. The findings show that construction project RM can be significantly affected by key blockchain features. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a conceptual framework that captures the essential elements of RM and blockchain. The results also empirically show that RM and blockchain are closely related, confirming blockchain’s potential and relevance in RM applications. In this article, we also discuss the risks associated with adopting blockchain in the construction industry. The results of this study can help construction practitioners and policy-makers create plans for incorporating blockchain into RM workflows
Evaluating the participation of junior members and patient and healthcare professionals representatives in EULAR task forces: Results from an international survey
Get PDFObjectiveEuropean Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) task forces (TF) requires participation of ≥2 junior members, a health professional in rheumatology (HPR) and two patient research partners for the development of recommendations or points to consider. In this study, participation of these junior and representative members was compared with the one of traditional TF members (convenor, methodologist, fellow and expert TF members).Methods An online survey was developed and emailed to previous EULAR TF members. The survey comprised multiple-choice, open-ended and 0–100 rating scale (fully disagree to fully agree) questions.ResultsIn total, 77 responded, 48 (62%) women. In total, 46 (60%) had participated as a junior or representative TF member. Most junior/representative members reported they felt unprepared for their first TF (10/14, 71%). Compared with traditional members, junior/representative members expressed a significantly higher level of uncertainty about their roles within the TF (median score 23 (IQR 7.0–52.0) vs 7 (IQR 0.0–21.0)), and junior/representative members felt less engaged by the convenor (54% vs 71%). Primary factors that facilitated interaction within a TF were experience, expertise and preparation (54%), a supportive atmosphere (42%) and a clear role (12%).Conclusion Juniors, patients and HPR experience various challenges when participating in a EULAR TF. These challenges differ from and are generally less pronounced than those experienced by traditional TF members. The convenor should introduce the participants to the tasks, emphasise the value of their contributions and how to prepare accordingly for the TF meeting
Bilingual awake craniotomy with English and Polish language mapping in a 15-year-old patient provides evidence for the role of the left superior temporal gyrus in language switching
No full textThe utility of intraoperative mapping in multilingual patients with brain tumours in speech- eloquent locations is evidenced by reports of heterogeneity of the location and number of language areas. Furthermore, preserving the ability to switch between languages is crucial for multilingual patients’ communication and quality of life. We report the first case of intraoperative bilingual and language switching testing in a child undergoing awake craniotomy for a tumour within the left superior temporal gyrus using a novel test paradigm. Stimulation of the posterior superior temporal gyrus resulted in anomia when switching from Polish to English, in the absence of any stimulation effect on switching from English to Polish or object naming in each individual language
Development of a disposable, amperometric glycerol biosensor based on a screen-printed carbon electrode, modified with the electrocatalyst meldolas blue, coated with glycerol dehydrogenase and NAD+: Application to the analysis of wine quality
Get PDFThis paper describes the design and development of a novel electrochemical biosensor for measuring glycerol in wine. Our initial detailed studies were aimed at deducing the optimum conditions for biosensor operation by conducting hydrodynamic voltammetric and amperometric studies. The resulting voltammograms revealed a maximum electrocatalytic current at 0.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which we used for all further studies. We also examined the effect of pH (8–10) on the amperometric responses of different glycerol concentrations over a range of 0.04 to 0.20 mM. Based on our findings, we propose that pH 9 would be suitable as the supporting electrolyte for further studies with the amperometric biosensor. The biosensor was constructed by immobilising 10 units of GLDH and 660 μg NAD+ onto the MB-SPCE surface using glutaraldehyde (GLA) as a cross-linking agent. Calibration studies were performed with glycerol over the 1.0–7.5 mM concentration range. Chronoamperometry was the electrochemical technique chosen for this purpose as it is convenient and can be performed with only 100 μL of sample directly deposited onto the biosensor’s surface. In the current study, we observed linear calibration plots with the above standard solutions using current measurements at a selection of sampling times along the chronoamperograms (30–340 s). We have evaluated the glycerol biosensor by carrying out an analysis of commercially available red wine. Overall, these findings will form a platform for the development of novel rapid technology for point-of-test evaluation of glycerol in the production and quality control of wine
The application of systematic accident analysis tools to investigate food safety incidents
Get PDFEffective food safety (FS) management relies on the understanding of the factors that contribute to FS incidents (FSIs) and the means for their mitigation and control. This review aims to explore the application of systematic accident analysis tools to both design FS management systems (FSMSs) as well as to investigate FSI to identify contributive and causative factors associated with FSI and the means for their elimination or control. The study has compared and contrasted the diverse characteristics of linear, epidemiological, and systematic accident analysis tools and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) and the types and depth of qualitative and quantitative analysis they promote. Systematic accident analysis tools, such as the Accident Map Model, the Functional Resonance Accident Model, or the Systems Theoretical Accident Model and Processes, are flexible systematic approaches to analyzing FSI within a socio‐technical food system which is complex and continually evolving. They can be applied at organizational, supply chain, or wider food system levels. As with the application of HACCP principles, the process is time‐consuming and requires skilled users to achieve the level of systematic analysis required to ensure effective validation and verification of FSMS and revalidation and reverification following an FSI. Effective revalidation and reverification are essential to prevent recurrent FSI and to inform new practices and processes for emergent FS concerns and the means for their control
Time to first remission and survival in patients with acromegaly: Evidence from the UK Acromegaly Register Study (UKAR)
No full textObjective: This study aimed to understand the effect of time to remission of acromegaly on survival in people living with acromegaly. Design, Patients and Measurement: This cross-sectional study used data from the UK Acromegaly Register. We considered remission of acromegaly growth hormone controlled at ≤2 μg/L following the diagnosis of acromegaly. We used the accelerated failure time model to assess the effect of time to remission on survival in acromegaly. Results: The study population comprises 3569 individuals with acromegaly, with a median age of diagnosis of 47.3 (36.5-57.8) years, 48% females and a majority white population (61%). The number of individuals with the first remission of acromegaly was 2472, and the median time to first remission was 1.92 (0.70-6.58) years. In this study, time to first remission in acromegaly was found to have a significant effect on survival (p < .001); for every 1-year increase in time to first remission, there was a median 1% reduction in survival in acromegaly. In an analysis adjusted for covariates, the survival rate was 52% higher (p < .001) in those who underwent surgery as compared to those who did not have surgery, 18% higher (p = .01) in those who received treatment with somatostatin analogues (SMA) as compared to those with dopamine agonists and 21% lower (p < .001) in those who received conventional radiotherapy as compared to those who did not receive radiotherapy. Conclusion: In conclusion, this population-based study conducted in patients with acromegaly revealed that faster remission time, surgical intervention and treatment with SMA are linked to improved survival outcomes. K E Y W O R D S acromegaly, growth hormone, pituitary Clinical Endocrinology. 2024;101:274-281. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/cen 274
Acting pre-emptively reduces the long-term costs of managing herbicide resistance
Get PDFGlobally, pesticides improve crop yields but at great environmental cost, and their overuse has caused resistance. This incurs large financial and production losses but, despite this, very diversified farm management that might delay or prevent resistance is uncommon in intensive farming. We asked farmers to design more diversified cropping strategies aimed at controlling herbicide resistance, and estimated resulting weed densities, profits, and yields compared to prevailing practice. Where resistance is low, it is financially viable to diversify pre-emptively; however, once resistance is high, there are financial and production disincentives to adopting diverse rotations. It is therefore as important to manage resistance before it becomes widespread as it is to control it once present. The diverse rotations targeting high resistance used increased herbicide application frequency and volume, contributing to these rotations’ lack of financial viability, and raising concerns about glyphosate resistance. Governments should encourage adoption of diverse rotations in areas without resistance. Where resistance is present, governments may wish to incentivise crop diversification despite the drop in wheat production as it is likely to bring environmental co-benefits. Our research suggests we need long-term, proactive, food security planning and more integrated policy-making across farming, environment, and health arenas
Bilateral lower limb examinations for deep vein thrombosis: A single-centre pilot study comparing request and report parameters for bilateral and unilateral referrals
Get PDFIntroductionDeep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common pathology with significant morbidity and mortality, often occurring in the lower limb. Ultrasound is the modality of choice for diagnosis of DVT, but all guidance in the United Kingdom assumes a single leg referral. Few studies have addressed the question of bilateral referrals and bilateral DVTs, and it is not known how these should be included in ultrasound protocols. This study aims to compare the request and report parameters of bilateral examinations with those for single leg examinations over a six-month period. MethodsA single-centre feasibility study collected data on all single and bilateral leg examinations performed by sonographers, over a six-month period at a small general hospital. Data collected for each examination included the referral and report findings. These were compared using basic statistical methods to compare DVT yield by laterality, referrer, DVT site, and patient factors. ResultsSix hundred and thirty examinations were included, eighteen of which were bilateral examinations. Although the bilateral leg cohort was small, there were significant differences in DVT yield between the groups, with single leg referrals more than eight times more likely to demonstrate a DVT at ultrasound. ConclusionIn a context of limited ultrasound resource, the low DVT yield of bilateral examinations has implications for service design. Further data collection will be needed to validate initial results, and to establish suitable criteria for acceptance of bilateral DVT referrals. Implications for practiceLow yield of DVTs in bilateral examinations can be validated via further research. Bilateral examinations can be explicitly included in DVT service design