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Study protocol for developing an urban deprivation index in Nepal: Data review, measurement, visualization and real-world application in urban poverty alleviation
Get PDFBackground
Over the last two decades, Nepal has experienced substantial urbanization, with an increasing number of people choosing to move to cities. Although cities offer a wealth of opportunities, it also provides significant challenges. Many of those migrating to and living in cities contend with poor conditions and live in poverty. Defining and measuring urban deprivation is challenging due to its multi-dimensional nature, encompassing various dimensions such as housing, employment, living expenses, education, healthcare, and other unique challenges associated with city life. This study draws on the ‘Domains of Urban Deprivation Framework’ and evaluates the availability, commonness, and applicability of these domains. It measures multiple urban deprivation indices relevant to the context of Nepal.
Method
The research will commence with a review of the availability of data covering the urban domains listed in the Urban Deprivation Framework within routine data collected in Nepal at the province, district, and municipal levels. This will involve examining existing datasets and identifying any gaps or limitations in the data that could impact the construction of the local urban deprivation indices. To understand the commonness of different urban deprivation within different urban contexts in Nepal, a Delphi survey will be conducted in two municipalities and nationally with government policymakers, community representatives, data experts/researchers, and civil society actors. In the three urban contexts, stakeholders will prioritize and weigh the indicators according to their respective urban contexts and rank domains that reflects the priorities across different geographical areas and stakeholder communities. We will compare responses across these groups of stakeholders and explore contextual differences. The composite score for each domain will be calculated by summing the weighted scores of all indices and normalizing the results to ensure that they fall within a defined range. We will then plot the deprivation indices in urban areas at the provincial, district, and municipal levels. The urban deprivation index in Nepal will provide granular data that will enable policymakers and stakeholders to explore the urban deprivation index visually and access key insights for informed decision-making and resource allocation.
Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethical Review Board of Nepal Health Research Council (Reference number: 213/2024) and the School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee at the University of Leeds, UK. The findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences
Bolsonarism, “Immanentist Pentecostalism,” and the future of religion and politics in Brazil
No full textThis article introduces “Immanentist Pentecostalism” (IP) to analyse the complex relationship between Bolsonarism and (Neo)Pentecostalism in
Brazil. Based on in- depth interviews in Belo Horizonte, IP is defined as a lived theology characterised by a direct, constant relationship with an immanent divine active in all worldly life. The ethnographic findings reveal the primacy of personal faith over institutional loyalty; overt political discourse is largely absent from these accounts. The article argues that the link between IP and Bolsonarism is not direct ideological command but one of affective alignment. Bolsonarism’s political imaginary, its moral dualism and messianic leadership, resonates with the pre- existing spiritual dispositions of believers. This dynamic, which re- embeds spirituality in human experience, re- enchants politics from within Charles Taylor’s “immanent frame,” representing not a pre- modern revival but an exhaustion of a modern logic
The Role of Confinement in Biomineralization
Get PDFThis review focuses on an important but under-explored biogenic strategy used to control biomineralization processes─confinement─where compartmentalization is fundamental to the organization and function of all organisms. Biominerals combine the functionality of inorganic and organic solid-state materials and are constructed under precise biological control. Often exhibiting desirable properties, such as high strength, toughness, and complex morphologies that surpass those of synthetic materials synthesized under harsher conditions, biomineral formation processes are widely studied. Here we demonstrate the vital role that confinement plays in defining the key structural characteristics of biominerals and in controlling their mechanisms of formation. These range from well-accepted functions, such as stabilizing amorphous phases, isolating the mineralization site, and controlling morphologies, to more speculative roles, including controlling crystal nucleation, orientation and polymorphism. Examples from a range of organisms, mineral types, and length scales are provided, and further insight into potential biogenic mechanisms is gained through comparison with crystallization in complementary confined synthetic systems. Further opportunities for exploring confinement effects in biomineralization systems are discussed throughout, where these will ultimately act as an inspiration for the synthesis of sustainable materials, for medical innovations, as well as providing insights into evolution and environmental change
Perceived changes in health behaviours and body weight in response to a cancer diagnosis among individuals living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer in the UK: a cross-sectional study
Get PDFPurpose
This study explored perceived changes in health behaviours and body weight following a cancer diagnosis and investigated related sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
Methods
Individuals living with and beyond breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer (N = 5835) completed the ‘Health and Lifestyle After Cancer Survey’ which explored their perceptions of health behaviour change following a cancer diagnosis. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted with perceived changes as dependent variables, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as independent variables.
Results
Approximately half of the participants did not perceive changes in their physical activity, alcohol intake and body weight, and most did not perceive dietary changes. Less than a third of individuals perceived positive health behaviour changes (11.7% increased physical activity, 24.3% healthier diet, and 31.3% decreased alcohol intake), 35.9% perceived decreases in physical activity, and 27.0% perceived increases in body weight, whereas 19.2% perceived decreases in body weight. Individuals with no education, who were unmarried, and with anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort, were more likely to perceive changes in physical activity, body weight, and diet, but in different directions. Participants of younger age were more likely to perceive increases in their physical activity, a healthier diet, and increases in body weight.
Conclusion
Following a diagnosis of cancer, a large proportion of individuals perceived that their health behaviours were unchanged. However, some groups of individuals were more likely to perceive positive changes, whereas others were more likely to perceive negative changes, with differences also observed according to the type of health behaviour.
Implications for cancer survivors.
Participants with no education, who were unmarried, with anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort, may be more at risk of experiencing negative health behaviour changes post-diagnosis. Clinicians should consider targeting health behaviour support to prevent worse outcomes in the long term
Social research and disability: Developing inclusive research spaces for disabled researchers by Ciaran Burke and Bronagh Byrne (Eds.)
Get PDFSuspicious minds: exploring the commonalities and differences among conspiracy beliefs, paranoid beliefs, and conspiracy mentality in a nationally representative sample
Get PDFBackground
Despite the theoretical overlap between conspiracy beliefs, paranoid beliefs, and conspiracy mentality, their distinctions remain insufficiently understood. This study explored these constructs and their clinical significance within a nationally representative sample (N = 1497).
Methods
We measured sociodemographic and psychological variables early in the COVID-19 pandemic (T1) and assessed conspiracy beliefs, paranoid beliefs, and conspiracy mentality one year later (T2), during a period of heightened visibility of these beliefs. This longitudinal design allowed us to analyse how early factors shaped these belief systems. We conducted factor analyses and regression models to disentangle their relationships and identify distinct predictors.
Results
Conspiracy beliefs, paranoid beliefs, and conspiracy mentality emerged as distinct constructs. We found that paranoid beliefs were more strongly associated with psychological factors (e.g. anxiety, intolerance of uncertainty), whereas conspiracy beliefs were driven by sociopolitical variables (e.g. income, political ideology). We identified external locus of control as the sole predictor of conspiracy mentality. Few participants showed strong endorsement of coronavirus conspiracy beliefs, which followed a skewed distribution similar to paranoid beliefs in the general population.
Discussion
These findings highlight the importance of tailored interventions targeting specific predictors, with critical implications for mental health and public health strategies
Decorating the Chapel:A Review of Andrew R. Murphy, Toleration: A Very Short Introduction
No full textEvidence for the effectiveness of health impact assessment in spatial planning on health outcomes: a systematic review and stakeholder involvement from a UK perspective
Get PDFHealth Impact Assessment (HIA) is a decision support method used for evaluating the impact of actual or planned developments on health and wellbeing, including the wider determinants of health. There is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of HIA in achieving health benefits in England, and no statutory requirement for the use of HIA. The aim of this review was to undertake an evidence synthesis and use stakeholder consultation to understand the relevant factors and mechanisms by which HIA may effectively influence population health outcomes. Systematic review and stakeholder consultation. We used systematic searches of eight academic databases and supplementary citation and reference list searches of included papers focusing on UK literature. We also identified any potentially relevant UK grey literature that was in the public domain. We extracted key data from the papers and synthesised the data thematically. We developed a typology of factors and themes. We involved a UK wide stakeholder group of UK planners, local and national government public health specialists, academics, and commercial HIA providers (n = 38 in total) in two workshops to help us to identify grey literature sources, interpret the evidence, and consider the potential for developing a statutory requirement for the use of HIA. From 5117 unique records we considered 147 full texts from databases. We also identified 58 grey literature sources. Nineteen UK studies met inclusion criteria. The data themes were grouped into three categories: (1) Who to involve: Teamwork – health and planning n = 9; Links with commercial developers n = 2; Community involvement n = 2; Wider stakeholder involvement n = 4. (2) What is needed: Resources n = 5; Knowledge and understanding n = 6; Training n = 1; National policy and guidance n = 10; Evidence base n = 4. (3) Aspects of the appraisal: Appraisal timings/approach n = 6; Outcome timescales n = 1; Health definitions n = 7; Quantifying impact n = 2. Our final stakeholder workshop identified the challenges in using existing frameworks to develop a statutory requirement for England including the lack of national policy imperative, and the challenges in developing an effectiveness evidence base. We were not able to link the use of HIA in spatial planning directly to UK health outcomes. Evidence exists which could inform the development of a statutory requirement for conducting HIA in spatial planning in England. However, this evidence is not able to link the use of HIA in spatial planning directly to health outcomes. The qualitative themes identified in our review could however inform future discussion about the feasibility of developing the evidence base to include direct measures of health. A key challenge is motivating stakeholders to engage with developing the evidence base. It is also challenging to see how an evidence base could develop without a national policy requiring the use of HIA in the spatial planning process. In order to generate appropriate data to demonstrate the effectiveness of HIA in terms of health improvement, it might first be necessary to make them an explicit requirement of the planning process
Measurement-free code-switching protocol for low-overhead quantum computation using permutation-invariant codes
Get PDFTransversal gates on quantum error correction codes have been a promising approach for fault-tolerant quantum computing, but are limited by the Eastin-Knill no-go theorem. Existing solutions such as gate teleportation and magic state distillation are resource-intensive. We present a measurement-free code-switching protocol for universal quantum computation, switching between a stabilizer code for transversal Clifford gates and a permutation-invariant (PI) code for transversal non-Clifford gates that are logical Z rotations for any rational multiple of π. The novel non-Clifford gates enabled by this code-switching protocol provide for a lower gate count implementation of a universal gate set relative to the Clifford + T gate set. To achieve this, we present a protocol for performing controlled-not gates between the codes using near-term quantum control operations that employ a catalytic bosonic mode. We also present a new class of PI codes with tunable code distance, supporting transversal non-Clifford gates, and demonstrate their reduced gate count overhead relative to a comparable stabilizer code to stabilizer code-switching scheme
Turning the tide: harnessing vaccines and viruses to fight cancer
Get PDFCancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent promising immunotherapeutic strategies, harnessing adaptive and innate immune responses for targeted tumour eradication. Cancer vaccines aim to induce tumour-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) through antigen presentation, while OVs mediate direct tumour lysis and stimulate immunogenic cell death, enhancing anti-tumour immunity. Despite keen interest, with over 350 clinical trials initiated since 2020, challenges persist in carrying the success seen in a pre-clinical setting to a clinical one. Advancements in preclinical modelling are essential for bridging the gap between in vitro findings and clinical efficacy. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures, although cost-effective and reproducible, fail to recapitulate the complexity of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Three-dimensional (3D) models including spheroids, organoids, tumour-on-a-chip, and bioprinting offer improved architectural and physiological relevance, allowing for the assessment of immune cell infiltration and viral spread. In silico models further complement these systems by enabling high-throughput neoantigen prediction and therapy simulation. In vivo models such as patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), and syngeneic models provide critical insights into tumour-immune dynamics and therapeutic efficacy in a systemic context at a whole organism level. The integration of these diverse platforms 2D, 3D, in silico, and in vivo provides a versatile platform for preclinical evaluation of cancer vaccines and OVs. This multidisciplinary approach is vital to advancing personalised immunotherapies, improving biomarker development, and accelerating the translation of novel treatments
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