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Are Wednesday's Children Full of Woe? Children's Differences in Personality Are Independent of Day of Birth
Get PDFIntroduction: Nursery rhymes, which are rich in literary devices, benefit children's language learning. Less is known about the influence that nursery rhymes' messages may have on children's development. We focused on “Monday's Child,” a popular nursery rhyme that alleges children's day of the week of birth forecasts their differences in personality and physical traits. Methods: Data came from E-Risk, a UK population representative, longitudinal cohort study of 2232 same-sex twin children (with 93% retention). We used linear regression models to test whether the day of the week of birth predicted personality and physical traits at ages 5–18 years. Results: Being born on Monday through Saturday did not predict children's personality and physical traits as implied by the “Monday's Child” rhyme. Being born on Sunday was also not associated with children's traits across measures. These results were unchanged after covariate adjustment (i.e., children's sex, birthweight, and socioeconomic status). Conclusion: We showed that children's differences in personality and physical traits are independent of their day of the week of birth. These findings suggest that nursery rhymes' messages are unlikely to influence children's development, at least those conveyed by “Monday's Child”
A hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic wind energy harvester: influence of undisturbed vorticity formation on performance
Get PDFThe performance of a hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic-based wind energy harvester (HPEWEH) is presented in this article. Wind flow over a bluff body produces vortex-induced vibration (VIV), which is harvested simultaneously via a piezoelectric patch and an electromagnet. The orientation of HPEWEH is crucial for directing undisturbed wind flow and vortex formation. The hybrid piezoelectric-electromagnetic harvester integrates two electromechanical transduction systems: a piezoelectric macro-fiber composite and an electromagnetic mechanism. These systems are coupled via a bluff body, which is excited by vortex-induced vibrations (VIV), enabling simultaneous energy conversion from mechanical oscillations. The piezoelectric composite is bonded to a substrate beam to convert the mechanical strain into electricity. Additionally, electricity is produced in the electromagnetic section by converting changes into magnetic flux inside a container made from two slits that are wrapped with coils. A simulation study is conducted using ANSYS Fluent to investigate turbulence in the two configurations. In Configuration A, the bluff body faces the incoming wind, with the beam positioned behind it in the wake region. Conversely, Configuration B has the beam at the front, followed by the bluff body in the wake region. It is found that configuration B allows for the undisturbed production of vortices, resulting in a 33% greater gain in turbulent energy. Moreover, a larger output voltage is produced during frequency synchronization because, under synchronization, the vortex-shedding frequency and the structure's natural frequency are the same. The maximum voltage output occurs in this region, with configuration B producing 15% more voltage output than configuration A
Intervertebral disc degeneration increases surface strain on metastatic vertebrae in compression and flexion but not in torsion
Get PDFDespite the fundamental role of intervertebral discs (IVDs) in the biomechanics of the spine, their condition has never been considered among the possible factors affecting the mechanical behaviour of metastatic vertebrae. The structure of the IVDs changes over the course of life, leading to alterations of their biomechanical behaviour. This study aimed to assess if IVD degeneration affects the strains experienced by the adjacent healthy or metastatic vertebrae. Eight human spine segments consisting of four vertebrae, with a healthy and a metastatic vertebra in the middle and mildly degenerated IVD, were prepared. The segments were biomechanically tested under different loading configurations: axial compression, flexion, and torsion. An enzymatic IVD degeneration was induced by injecting a collagenase solution. The degenerated specimens were tested again, following the same loading protocol. Surface vertebral strains were measured with a 3D-Digital Image Correlation (DIC). IVD degeneration was found to influence the strain distributions in the adjacent vertebrae. In particular, IVD degeneration resulted in a significant increase of the median compressive strains experienced by the cortical shell of the metastatic vertebrae, in both axial compression (+25.6 %) and flexion (+43.7 %), with larger strains close to the degenerated IVD. Conversely, control vertebral showed less relevant variations between the two conditions. Negligible strain differences were, instead, observed in torsion, for both metastatic and control vertebrae. This study showed the ability of the healthy vertebrae to withstand loads transmitted in different directions and highlighted the susceptibility of metastatic vertebrae to even minor alterations in boundary conditions
Indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders: 2025 EBMT practice recommendations.
Get PDFFor over two decades, the EBMT has updated recommendations on indications for haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) practice based on clinical and scientific developments in the field. This is the ninth special EBMT report on indications for HCT for haematological diseases, solid tumours and immune disorders. Our aim is to provide guidance on HCT indications according to prevailing clinical practice in EBMT countries and centres. In order to inform patient decisions, these recommendations must be considered with the risk of the disease, risk of HCT procedure and non-HCT strategies, including evolving cellular therapies, and their availability on site. HCT techniques are constantly evolving and we make no specific recommendations, but encourage harmonisation of practice, where possible, to ensure experience across indications can be meaningfully aggregated via registry outputs. We also recommend working according to JACIE certification standards to maintain quality in clinical and laboratory practice, including benchmarking of survival outcomes [1-3]. Since the last edition, innovative cellular and gene therapies have entered in activity across indications affecting clinical decision making. As the number and type of regulatory authority-approved cellular therapies grow, recommendations for best practice and quality of patient care were developed to support clinicians and will be regularly updated
Beneath the numbers: a qualitative study of the politics of resistance to transparent workforce data reporting
No full textPurpose
The purpose of this paper is to go beyond assumptions of “objective” transparency in data reporting within healthcare systems by examining forms of resistance among general practice providers to sharing workforce data and managers’ interpretations of, and responses to, these resistances. Framing data reporting as a “calculative practice”, the article analyses the neglected political and/or performative dimensions of data to examine contested meanings and motivations, reflecting power struggles with implications for wider health and public sector policy.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on qualitative individual and group interviews with 56 general practitioner service providers and managers (commissioners and/or policymakers), using thematic template analysis informed by the literature on reactivity effects, the article explores the nature and implications of resistances in this data reporting practice.
Findings
Felt but hidden tensions between stakeholders involving distinct forms of resistance to workforce data reporting (the calculative practice) were revealed. These “surface”, “deeper” and “root” layers of resistance saw providers covertly contest the practice, which some believed was designed to scrutinise business models. Solutions presented to address resistance often misdiagnosed the nature of providers’ concerns by focusing on less political sources of resistance and neglecting root challenges of power and trust.
Originality/value
The article highlights the value of political rather than rationalistic understandings of behaviours among healthcare providers and managers in relation to data reporting. Recognising the performative (and counter-performative) nature of this activity, the paper demonstrates how calculative practices may be the arena for critical but obscured dependencies and power struggles that may paradoxically impede effective governance
Multizonal intraepithelial neoplasia of the lower genital tract and anus in Women: terminology for defining the disease, an introduction by the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP), International Anal Neoplasia Society (IANS), European Federation for Colposcopy (EFC) and British Society for the Study of Vulval Disease (BSVVD) scientific committees
No full textMultizonal anogenital intraepithelial neoplasia (MZIN) is an uncommon chronic pre-malignant condition. In the United Kingdom (UK) and elsewhere MZIN is managed by a variety of clinical specialities with differing strategies, resulting in a lack of standardisation in diagnosis and treatment which ultimately disadvantages those affected. Screening for anogenital precancerous conditions is sporadic rather than nationalised in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, with the exception of the cervix. To address this lack of standardisation, the BSCCP brought together a panel of stakeholders from aligned expert society committees (IANS, EFC and BSSVD) to review existing evidence and provide a framework for national UK guidelines. Here, we define terminology and scope, as a platform for subsequent guideline development and guide further research. We define MZIN as Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related squamous intraepithelial lesions occurring in two or more anogenital regions. People with MZIN are a high-risk group for anogenital cancers and subsequently may require tailored monitoring in specialist multi-disciplinary clinics. Centralisation of care and education for primary care providers may improve management. The development of guidelines which incorporate all clinical stakeholders are now needed to provide an international framework regarding the screening, diagnosis, treatment and future prevention of MZIN
Charging patterns and motives of electric vehicle drivers: Insights from Norway
Get PDFAs the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) grows, understanding charging behavior becomes important due to increasing charging demand and grid load. Based on a population-based survey with 1,005 Norwegian EV drivers, we uncover three classes of (revealed) charging behavior: daily convenient chargers, battery-exploiting seldom chargers, and occasional battery-friendly planners. The first class consists of EV drivers who typically use every opportunity to keep the battery level of their EV between 40 % and 100 % and charge mainly at home or work. The second class includes drivers who charge their EV 2–3 times per week or rarely, carry out charging according to their driving needs, wait until the battery level is low (<30 %), and charge at home or in public. By planning their charging needs, holding the battery at an optimal level of 30 %–80 %, conducting charging 4–5 times per week, and mostly at home, the third group reflects the most sustainable and battery-friendly behavior. Our findings revealed that EV drivers who are male, have longer EV driving experience, drive longer distances, are socially less persuadable, and do not seize the available potential to charge rarely, are more likely to be daily convenient chargers than battery-friendly chargers. Meanwhile, EV drivers with lower daily mileage, who perceive guidance from their charging apps as less helpful, find it easy to start charging at a low battery level and have a higher general risk propensity are more likely to be battery-exploiting seldom chargers than battery-friendly planners
Increased neural responsiveness to distractors irrespective of perceptual load explains attention deficit in post‐stroke fatigue
Get PDFPost-stroke fatigue (PSF) is a prevalent symptom associated with attention deficits. However, it is currently unclear what drives these. Here we applied Load Theory of Attention to investigate the role of perceptual load in the relationship between attention, distraction and fatigue levels in PSF. Thirty-two chronic stroke survivors performed a selective attention task of either low, medium or high perceptual load (varied through the number of relevant target features and their combinations). Neural responses to targets and distractor checkerboard flicker (vs. no flicker) were measured with frequency-tagged EEG responses. The results showed that fatigue severity scores were predictive of response slowing, and that this slowing was increased with higher levels of perceptual load. Fatigue severity was also associated with increased neural responsiveness to distractors, specifically: EEG 10 Hz (distractor flickering frequency) power was greater in the presence (vs. absence) of distractor flicker for participants with high (vs. low) fatigue-symptoms scores, across all levels of perceptual load in the later time period of each task trial. Overall, these results clarify the exacerbating effects of perceptual load on fatigue-related slowing, stressing the importance of cognitive, as opposed to purely motoric, deficits. Importantly, they demonstrate that increased fatigue severity involves reduced ability to suppress neural responses to irrelevant distractors, irrespective of perceptual load on attention. An account for attention in PSF based on a specific deficit in distractor suppression that is found irrespective of task demands can explain a myriad of PSF symptoms (e.g. sensory perceptual overload, difficulties to concentrate)
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