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A multi‐centre prospective cohort study investigating the roles of psychological flexibility and self‐compassion in appearance concerns after burn injuries
Get PDFObjectives
Appearance concerns following burn injuries are common. Psychological factors are important in maintaining such concerns. However, there is a lack of longitudinal or prospective research investigating their development. This study investigated whether psychological flexibility and self-compassion at hospital admission predicted subsequent appearance concerns.
Design
A multi-centre prospective cohort study across six burn services.
Methods
Adults (n = 175; 67% male) in hospital following burn injuries were recruited. Questionnaires measuring appearance concerns, psychological flexibility, self-compassion, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and perceived noticeability were completed during hospital admission and two- and six-months later. Demographic and burn injury information was collected.
Results
Correlational analyses showed that increased psychological flexibility and self-compassion at admission were associated with decreased appearance concerns cross-sectionally and prospectively at two- and six-month follow-up. These associations remained significant when controlling for key covariates (i.e. gender, age, ethnicity, percentage total body surface area burnt, perceived noticeability, PTSD symptoms). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that psychological flexibility and self-compassion predicted appearance concerns during hospital admission. Although psychological flexibility significantly predicted appearance concerns over time, it became non-significant when controlling for baseline appearance concerns.
Conclusions
Psychological flexibility has a protective role against appearance concerns soon after burn injuries, although this protective role is reduced when accounting for baseline appearance concerns. Early interventions targeting psychological flexibility (i.e. acceptance and commitment therapy) may be beneficial after burns if adapted to address appearance-related concerns
Similarity assessment of structures for population-based structural health monitoring via graph kernels
Get PDFIn population-based structural health monitoring, the aim is to make inferences about the health of structures using information from a population of other structures. It is possible to use transfer learning here, as long as the structures that are used for transfer behave similarly to each other. As a result, assessing the similarity of structures and the data collected from those structures is necessary for successful transfer. In this paper, ideas from kernel and graph theories are used to assess whether the constructional makeup of two engineering structures – a bridge and a wind turbine, for example – are similar or not. To the human brain, this notion may seem trivial because the intended use, construction and behaviours of these structures are vastly different. However, for a computer, automatically measuring these dissimilarities requires a whole host of information. In this paper, the aim is to use irreducible-element models and attributed graphs to represent engineering structures, and to use graph kernels to measure the similarity of these models. The proposed methods are able to compare discrete and continuous attributes of structures in polynomial time. Similarity assessments are provided for a group of toy structures as well as a case study of seven real operational bridges. The latter population is important in dealing with a class of highly complex real-world examples of civil infrastructure; the analysis also allows a discussion on which aspects of bridge construction might be responsible for structural similarity or dissimilarity
Defining an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome: international consensus statement
Get PDFAround the world, individuals are living longer, but an increased average lifespan does not always equate to an increased health span. With advancing age, the increased prevalence of ageing-related diseases can have a significant impact on health status, functional capacity and quality of life. It is therefore vital to develop comprehensive classification and staging systems for ageing-related pathologies, diseases and syndromes. This will allow societies to better identify, quantify, understand and meet the healthcare, workforce, well-being and socioeconomic needs of ageing populations, whilst supporting the development and utilisation of interventions to prevent or to slow, halt or reverse the progression of ageing-related pathologies. The foundation for developing such classification and staging systems is to define the scope of what constitutes an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome. To this end, a consensus meeting was hosted by the International Consortium to Classify Ageing-Related Pathologies (ICCARP), on February 19, 2024, in Cardiff, UK, and was attended by 150 recognised experts. Discussions and voting were centred on provisional criteria that had been distributed prior to the meeting. The participants debated and voted on these. Each criterion required a consensus agreement of ≥ 70% for approval. The accepted criteria for an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome were (1) develops and/or progresses with increasing chronological age; (2) should be associated with, or contribute to, functional decline or an increased susceptibility to functional decline and (3) evidenced by studies in humans. Criteria for an ageing-related pathology, disease or syndrome have been agreed by an international consortium of subject experts. These criteria will now be used by the ICCARP for the classification and ultimately staging of ageing-related pathologies, diseases and syndromes
The iterative development and refinement of health psychology theories through formal, dynamical systems modelling: a scoping review and initial expert-derived ‘best practice’ recommendations
Get PDFThis scoping review aimed to synthesise methodological steps taken by researchers in the development of formal, dynamical systems models of health psychology theories. We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the ACM Digital Library and IEEE Xplore in July 2023. We included studies of any design providing that they reported on the development or refinement of a formal, dynamical systems model unfolding at the within-person level, with no restrictions on population or setting. A narrative synthesis with frequency analyses was conducted. A total of 17 modelling projects reported across 29 studies were included. Formal modelling efforts have largely been concentrated to a small number of interdisciplinary teams in the United States (79.3%). The models aimed to better understand dynamic processes (69.0%) or inform the development of adaptive interventions (31.0%). Models typically aimed to formalise the Social Cognitive Theory (31.0%) or the Self-Regulation Theory (17.2%) and varied in complexity (range: 3–30 model components). Only 3.4% of studies reported involving stakeholders in the modelling process and 10.3% drew on Open Science practices. We conclude by proposing an initial set of expert-derived ‘best practice’ recommendations. Formal, dynamical systems modelling is poised to help health psychologists develop and refine theories, ultimately leading to more potent interventions
Does the accumulation of assets shape voting preferences? Evidence from a Longitudinal Study in Britain
Get PDFMapping the evidence for measuring energy expenditure and indicating hypermetabolism in motor neuron disease: a scoping review
Get PDFObjective
To map the international methods used to measure energy expenditure of adults living with motor neuron disease (MND) and to highlight discrepancies when indicating hypermetabolism in the MND literature.
Background
A decline in the nutritional status of patients is associated with exacerbated weight loss and shortened survival. Assessments of energy expenditure, using a variety of methods, are important to ensure an adequate energy intake to prevent malnutrition-associated weight loss. Assessments of energy expenditure are also commonly used to indicate hypermetabolism in MND, although these approaches may not be optimal.
Methods
A protocol based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Guidelines was developed. Three electronic databases (Medline [Ovid], CINAHL [EBSCO], and Web of Science) were exhaustively searched. Identified publications were systematically screened according to predefined PICOS eligibility criteria. The primary outcome was the identification of methods used to measure energy expenditure in MND. The secondary outcome was the identification of applications of energy expenditure assessments to indicate hypermetabolism in MND.
Results
Thirty-two observational primary research publications were identified. Thirteen (40.6%) were longitudinal in design, with data on repeated measurements of energy expenditure presented in 3 (9.4%). Thirteen (40.6%) were case-control studies, of which 11 use a matched control group. Pulmonary function was used to assess eligibility in 10 publications. Energy expenditure was measured using indirect calorimetry (IC) in 31 studies. Discrepancies in the durations of fasted, measurement, and washout periods were observed. Of all included publications, 50% used assessments of resting energy expenditure to identify hypermetabolism. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition alongside energy expenditure in 93.8% of publications.
Conclusions
Resting energy expenditure is most frequently measured using an open-circuit IC system. However, there is a lack of a standardized, validated protocol for the conduct and reporting of IC and metabolic status in patients with MND
The impact of Scotland's minimum unit pricing for alcohol policy on people accessing services for alcohol dependence: a difference‐in‐difference structured interview study
Get PDFIntroduction
A minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol of £0.50 per unit (1 UK unit = 10 mL/8 g alcohol) was introduced in Scotland in May 2018. Few previous studies have examined the impact of alcohol pricing policies on people who are alcohol dependent. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of MUP on people who are alcohol dependent including changes in alcohol consumption and health status, as well as potential unintended consequences.
Methods
Three waves of cross-sectional data were collected in Scotland (intervention) and Northern England (control) at 0–6 months pre-implementation then 3–9 months and 18–22 months post-implementation. The sample was N = 706 people receiving treatment related to their alcohol use. We collected structured interview data including recent drinking information via a 7-day timeline-follow-back drinking diary. Difference-in-difference analyses estimated change in indicators in Scotland compared to England at both post-implementation timepoints.
Results
The proportion of participants consuming alcohol costing on average <£0.50 per unit in Scotland decreased from 60.6% at 0–6 months prior to MUP implementation to 6.3% at 3–9 months post-implementation (p < 0.0004). There was no significant change in the indicators for alcohol consumption, severity of dependence, health status, other substance use, deprivation level or parenting.
Discussion and Conclusions
The introduction of MUP in Scotland was associated with increases in the prices paid for alcohol by people with dependence and presenting to treatment services. There was no evidence of changes in their alcohol consumption or health status. There was also no evidence of harmful unintended consequences for this population
Three-dimensional dynamics of unstable lean premixed hydrogen-air flames: Intrinsic instabilities and morphological characteristics
Get PDFThe 3D swinging laser sheet technique was employed to study the development and morphological characteristics of premixed hydrogen-air unstable flames in a spherical explosion vessel. Pressure dependencies for laminar flame propagation were sought to exploit the role of the Darrieus-Landau (DL) and Thermal-diffusive (TD) instabilities in the unstable self-accelerating flame regime. A sufficiently low Markstein number, as a consequence of the increased pressure, leads to more cracking and smaller cells over the flame surface. The degree of wrinkling on the flame surface is proportional to the increase in flame burning velocity, a relationship that holds true for low pressures but is not applicable under high pressures. External turbulence can significantly alter the extent of flame surface wrinkling even at low root mean square velocities, producing a more wrinkled flame surface compared to intrinsic cellularity, and distinctly affecting flame dynamics. The increased wrinkling and flame speed due to external turbulence can be attributed to the synergistic effects between thermo-diffusive instabilities and turbulence, resulting in higher fuel consumption rates per flame surface area and the formation of finger-like structures that enhance flame displacement speed in curved segments. The parameters, ϵ, deviation of the Lewis number from a critical value, and ω2, obtained through classical linear stability analysis, display a clear linear relationship with the ratio of the wrinkled surface area observed in planar flames. This study enhances the understanding of hydrogen flame instabilities, which is crucial for preventing explosions in hydrogen storage and utilization, and provides valuable insights into flame dynamics, supporting the design of safer and more efficient hydrogen-fueled engines and turbines
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