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Patient perspectives on the impact of appearance and weight changes attributed to systemic glucocorticoid treatment of rheumatic diseases
Get PDFObjectives To explore patients’ perspectives on the impact of appearance changes attributed to glucocorticoid treatment. Methods We conducted a secondary inductive thematic analysis of the ‘Steroid PRO’ semi-structured interviews with patients with rheumatic conditions receiving glucocorticoids in the UK, USA, and Australia. Results Sixty patient interviews were analysed. Age 26–84 years; 39 (65%) females, patients with: systemic vasculitis (n = 19), inflammatory arthritis (n = 14), crystal arthropathy (n = 2), connective tissue disorders (n = 16), other/multiple (n = 9). In addition to participants expressing the need for more information and support, three over-arching themes were identified: i) Societal norms: “I think my main concern, particularly being female, was the weight gain that the steroids had” (female aged 26–30). These included real or perceived expectations to which participants felt pressure to conform, which were sustained through interactions with others. ii) Harms to mental health and sense of self: “It makes you feel down. It makes you feel depressed. You don't want to socialise because you're not you” (male aged 61–65). Glucocorticoids were described as making participants ‘not look like’ themselves, associated with changes in mood and self-confidence. iii) Burden of adjustments: “I have a wardrobe right now that goes four different sizes” (female aged 51–55). Other adjustments related to diet, exercise, work, hobbies, activities of daily living, and key life events. Conclusion Patients attribute a variety of impacts on their quality of life to glucocorticoid-related appearance changes. We suggest ways to meet patients’ needs for information and support, which can be developed through further work
What is “good” co-production in the context of planetary health research, and how is it enabled?
Get PDFInvolvement of non-academic stakeholders in research is essential when seeking to address global challenges, yet there is considerable uncertainty on how to do this well given the complexity. This paper aims to define more clearly what ‘good’ co-production looks like in the context of urban-planetary health research and how to operationalise it in research design, drawing on existing literature alongside case study experience from operationalising a major research programme. The first sections of the paper set out the rationale, and analyses key issues identified relating to co-production. The case study analysis is based on six headline themes: clarity of mission, language, societal impact, complexity, new approaches and limitations. Eight principles are presented alongside associated questions for research teams. Logic model development and co-production activities are plotted along the ten-year research trajectory, which reveals five key decision points and potential opportunities for optimising mission-oriented co-production in research design
HR have the final ‘No’: Advising, persuading and overruling to navigate the institutional logics in HR practice
Get PDFInstitutional logics of the market, profession, and state act upon and define success in HR practitioners' work. We examine how HR professionals respond to these co‐existing logics in their day‐to‐day interactions with line managers. Findings based on interviews with 41 HR professionals reveal their navigation of logics as they choose whether to advise, persuade, or overrule line managers. This decision‐making is guided by their combined knowledge of regulation and their organisational context, as well as their perceptions of the line manager with whom they are interacting. Theoretically, we propose a spectrum of HR practitioners' involvement in line managers' enactment of HRM. We argue that HR practitioners' combined organisational and occupational knowledge enables them to balance the multiple institutional contexts acting upon people management, offering an inimitable contribution to organisations. However, we also highlight the challenges this balancing act creates for building credibility and legitimacy with organisational stakeholders
Dynamic modelling for the family of 5-axis CNC milling machines with application to feed-rate optimization
Get PDFThe 5-axis CNC milling machines are complex mechanical systems, and they can be designed with hundreds of 5 degrees of freedom mechanisms. The kinematic and dynamic modelling of machines is crucial for optimising the machine design and the milling process. However, formulating the dynamics model of 5-axis milling machines has never been proposed so far. Moreover, efforts have been made to develop kinematic models for the machines; however, formulating the generalized kinematic model for all possible 5-axis milling machines in closed form is challenging. In this paper, a novel method of kinematic and dynamic modelling for the entire family of 5-axis milling machines is developed. First, the special features of the machines family are fully studied to formulate effectively the generalized forward and inverse kinematic equations in closed-form. Second, by treating each 5-axis mechanism as a closed mechanism subject to a nonlinear kinematic constraint characterizing the machining process, the dynamics model for the whole family of 5-axis milling machines is successfully formulated, and the inverse dynamic equation is derived in closed-form. Finally, to demonstrate the importance and impact of the proposed method, useful applications were conducted; and these were supported by both numerical simulations and actual cutting experiments. Compared with previous works, our study includes new generalized equations of kinematics and dynamics for the family of 5-axis milling machines, and useful applications of the proposed equations for optimization of the 5-axis machining
Unpacking the relationship between task complexity and driving risk: Insights from a UK on-road trial
No full textThis study investigates the intricate relationship between task complexity and driving risk through a comprehensive four-phase on-road trial conducted in the UK. Employing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the research illuminates the factors influencing task complexity and its association with risk, treating both as latent concepts—unobservable variables in the study. The findings reveal a notable positive correlation between task complexity and risk, particularly concerning the headway indicator. In essence, the study demonstrates that an escalation in task complexity corresponds to an increased level of risk.Throughout the four SEM analyses performed across two waves of on-road trials, the time spent in each safety tolerance zone level for headway measurements emerges as a key indicator of the latent construct of risk in all phases. Notably, the variables constituting the latent concept of task complexity—those proven statistically significant—show slight variations across phases. Variables consistently significant across all phases include the number of right Lane Departure Warnings (LDWs) per 30 s and the day of the week.The models reveal the feasibility of quantifying the risk-task complexity relationship in real-world driving settings. This study provides insights to inform efforts to mitigate risk exposure through design and training interventions, targeting the most predictive factors linked to task complexity. Driver demographics did not emerge as statistically significant, emphasising the need for a holistic approach to improve road safety
Pedestrian experiences of rental e-scooter use and parking
Get PDFThe study explores pedestrian experiences of shared e-scooters in relation to safety and comfort, and issues of discrimination, considering disability as an important dimension. It differentiates between the views of those who have ridden e-scooters and those who have not. It draws on a survey (N = 643) and walk-along interviews (N = 9) as part of an evaluation of the West of England rental e-scooter trial. Participants expressed strong feelings from experiencing crashes or witnessing near-misses. Disorderly parking is particularly challenging for partially sighted people and people with balance issues. Participants noted that there is little e-scooter parking infrastructure, and this results in pedestrian space infringement. Also, the appropriateness, respect for, and enforcement of rules were questioned by the participants. We conclude that equitable city access is not possible without the provision of appropriate space, rules, and rule enforcement for e-scooters, and these need to be addressed quickly given e-scooter rental scheme popularity
Tell it how it is: Princess & The Hustler in the secondary English classroom
No full textThe recent inclusion of texts by a range of Black British writers in GCSE English Literature syllabuses seems an attempt to rectify historical racial inequities in English curricula. In this paper, I argue that curricular change must move beyond diversity and inclusion initiatives towards anti-racist approaches where we “tell it how it is” by engaging in real conversations about race and racism. Using data from a focus group with Key Stage 4 students, I explore how Chinonyerem Odimba’s play Princess & The Hustler creates space for the development and enactment of racial and critical literacies. Dr Lamar L Johnson’s vision of Critical Race English Education and Chávez-Moreno’s continuum of racial literacies are the theoretical and pedagogical frameworks which inform my reflexive thematic analysis. Implications and challenges for research and pedagogy are also discussed
Monitoring indoor environmental conditions in office buildings using a sustainable Agentic RAG-LLM system
No full textIndoor Environmental Conditions (IEC) play a crucial role in determining the health, productivity, and overall building performance of employees, as well as their energy consumption. Key parameters, such as temperature and humidity, are not only vital for thermal comfort but also offer opportunities to enhance energy efficiency when effectively monitored and managed. Accurate Thermal Comfort Monitoring (TCM) remains challenging to achieve because it requires the integration of diverse data sources and intelligent analysis, particularly in light of evolving global energy and sustainability standards. Although Building Information Modeling (BIM) is increasingly being adopted to manage complex building data, its integration with real-time sensor inputs remains vastly underutilized. Existing thermal monitoring systems are often development-intensive, require significant domain expertise, lack Natural Language (NL) interaction capabilities, and are not inherently adaptable, necessitating frequent technical upgrades. These limitations give rise to pressing concerns about long-term scalability, usability, and sustainability. To address these limitations, this study introduces ThermalComfortBot, an integrated Information System (IS) powered by Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). ThermalComfortBot utilizes open-source technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs) and Agentic Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), to enhance thermal comfort and support energy optimization in buildings. The system integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM), sensor data, and external datasets to generate actionable insights, delivered through both textual explanations and graphical visualizations. This system utilizes flexible and adjustable LLMs that are guided by principles of sustainability, thereby making them cost-efficient, scalable, and practical for a diverse range of organizational environments. In a real-world case study, ThermalComfortBot outperforms traditional RAG-LLM, achieving 94% accuracy, 92% precision, and 89% recall, enhancing comfort and efficiency
A Critical Success Factor (CSF) framework for implementing net-positive housing in the Water, Energy, Food, Environment (WEFE) Nexus: Insights from Jordan and South Africa
Get PDFAddressing the specific challenges faced by low-income communities, such as poor housing conditions, is crucial while simultaneously working toward global sustainability goals, including net-zero emissions and climate change mitigation. This study explores the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the Water, Energy, Food, and Environment (WEFE) nexus within the Sustainable, Innovative, Affordable Housing (SIAH) framework in Jordan and South Africa. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted to identify Net-Positive SIAH strategies, incorporating document searching, filtering, and content analysis to classify CSFs. Additionally, a semi-structured questionnaire campaign collected data from both countries, which was analyzed using unsupervised Machine Learning (ML) techniques to cluster responses and establish the relative importance and interconnections of CSFs through a Gephi network. Findings highlights key priorities within the WEFE nexus, providing insights into region-specific sustainability challenges and solutions. The study contributes a novel, evidence-based approach to affordable and sustainable housing by systematically quantifying and mapping CSF interrelationships. This research advances the understanding of Net-Positive housing by integrating technological, environmental, and social dimensions, offering practical implications for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders in the Global South