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The Eczema Bathing Study: Weekly versus daily bathing for people with eczema? Protocol of an online, randomised controlled trial
No full textBackground
A priority setting partnership for eczema (syn atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis) has identified that bathing frequency is a key area of patient interest. However, there are nolarge, high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating this.
The Rapid Eczema Trials project is a novel programme of research that aims to deliver multiple online RCTs, using a citizen science approach. This project involves working with members of the public to co-design and conduct studies that answer questions of importance to them. The first trial to be conducted through this project is assessing the impact of bathing frequency on eczema.
Methods
This is an online, two-arm, parallel-group superiority RCT with internal pilot phase. People aged ≥1 year with eczemaliving in the United Kingdom are eligible. Exclusion criteria are: people with other types of eczema such as venous eczema, hand eczema and contact eczema; recently started a new eczema treatment; taking part in another eczema trial; Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) ≤2; planning to swim more than twice a week; unable/unwilling to change bathing practices. Participants are allocated 1:1 to either the weekly bathing group (bathe 1 or 2 times a week) or the daily bathing group (bathe 6 or more times a week) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome is POEM, assessed weekly over 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes include skin specific quality of life, eczema control, itch severity, use of usual eczema treatments, proportion who achieve an improvement in POEM of ≥3 points, global change in eczema and safety outcomes. A sample of participants will also be invited to a semi-structured interview to discuss their experience. The primary comparative analysis will be according to randomised allocation regardless of actual frequency of bathing. The trial will be reported in accordance with CONSORT guidelines. The study has received ethical approval by the London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom) on 11/10/2023 ( approval number: 23/PR/0899)
Cervical precancer screening using self-sampling, HPV DNA testing, and mobile colposcopy in a hard-to-reach community in Ghana: a pilot study
No full textBackground
The World Health Organization has set ambitious goals to eliminate cervical cancer, necessitating evidence on increasing coverage and access to screening and treatment in high-burden areas. We implemented a pilot program to assess the feasibility of obtaining self-collected specimens for high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) testing in Nzulezo stilt village, a hard-to-reach community in Ghana, and inviting only hr-HPV-positive women to a central location for colposcopy and possible treatment. Subsequently, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hr-HPV infection and cervical lesions among the women and to explore factors potentially associated with hr-HPV infection among them.
Methods
This pilot community-based cross-sectional study utilized data from screening sessions held from 2 to 20 November 2021 with specimens collected by participants using Evalyn brushes. HPV DNA testing was performed using the Sansure MA-6000 platform, while visual inspection utilized the Enhanced Visual Assessment (EVA) mobile colposcope. Univariate and multivariable nominal logistic regression was employed to explore factors associated with hr-HPV positivity.
Results
Among 100 women screened (mean age, 43.6 ± 14.5 years), the overall hr-HPV prevalence rate was 39.0% (95% CI, 29.4–49.3). The prevalence rates of hr-HPV genotypes were stratified as follows: HPV16–8.0% (95% CI, 3.5–15.2), HPV18–5.0% (95% CI, 1.6–11.2), and other genotype(s) – 31.0% (95% CI, 22.1–41.0). Single-genotype infections with HPV16 and HPV18 were found in 4.0% (95% CI, 1.1–9.9) and 3.0% (95% CI, 0.6–8.5) of women, respectively. Mixed infections were observed in 1.0% (95% CI, 0.0–5.4) for HPV16 + 18, 3.0% (95% CI, 0.6–8.5) for HPV16 + other type(s), and 1.0% (95% CI, 0.0–5.4) for HPV18 + other type(s). The prevalence of cervical lesions among hr-HPV-positive women screened via colposcopy was 11.4% (95% CI, 3.2–26.7). In the multivariable model, reliance on other sources for medical bill payment was associated with hr-HPV infection (aOR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.04–0.93), whereas age was not (aOR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.99–1.05).
Conclusions
A high hr-HPV infection prevalence was recorded among the women. Utilizing technologies such as self-sampling, HPV DNA testing, and mobile colposcopy enables screening and treatment in remote and hard-to-reach communities where access to cervical cancer screening and treatment would otherwise be limited. Further research is warranted to assess the value and scalability of this approach in similar remote areas and its potential implementation in future programs
Structural Damage Detection Using PZT Transmission Line Circuit Model
No full textArrangements of piezoelectric transducers, such as PZT (lead zirconate titanate), have been widely used in numerous structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. Usually, when two or more PZT transducers are placed close together, significant interference, namely crosstalk, appears. Such an effect is usually neglected in most SHM applications. However, it can potentially be used as a sensitive parameter to identify structural faults. Accordingly, this work proposes using the crosstalk effect in an arrangement of PZT transducers modeled as a multiconductor transmission line to detect structural damage. This effect is exploited by computing an impedance matrix representing a host structure with PZTs attached to it. The proposed method was assessed in an aluminum beam structure with two PZTs attached to it using finite element modeling in OnScale® software to simulate both healthy and damaged conditions. Similarly, experimental tests were also carried out. The results, when compared to those obtained using a traditional electromechanical impedance (EMI) method, prove that the new approach significantly improved the sensitivity of EMI-based technique in SHM applications
Evaluating BIM’s Role in Transforming Cash Flow Forecasting Among Construction SMEs: A Saudi Arabian Narrative
No full textThis scholarly investigation examines the efficacy of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in enhancing cash flow forecasting (CFF) among construction Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Saudi Arabia, with a specific focus on fostering innovation for sustainable economic advancement. In so doing, it seeks to strengthen the long-term viability of SMEs within the rapidly growing Saudi construction sector, thereby contributing meaningfully to broader economic goals. A quantitative research methodology was employed, with empirical data gathered through a questionnaire survey administered to one hundred construction stakeholders within Saudi Arabian SMEs. Quantitative data analysis techniques were applied to elucidate key themes and pressing issues in current CFF practices. The findings highlight critical challenges faced by Saudi Arabian SMEs in cash flow management, notably a scarcity of financial resources, a lack of advanced CFF expertise, and resistance to technological adoption. Integrating BIM into CFF processes emerges as an effective solution, addressing these challenges by providing accurate, timely financial data, improving project planning and execution, and enabling more informed decision-making, thereby fostering sustainable business operations. The proposed BIM integration strategy offers a practical roadmap for SMEs to adopt BIM for enhanced CFF, aligning with and advancing the sustainable economic objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. By focusing on the unique context of Saudi Arabian construction SMEs and their specific cash flow management challenges, this study enriches the existing literature with substantive insights. It critically illustrates how BIM adoption can transform traditional financial management practices, presenting a robust framework for promoting sustainable economic development through innovation in CFF. Furthermore, these findings have significant implications for other developing economies seeking to leverage technological advancements as drivers of long-term growth
The effects of neck exercise in comparison to passive or no intervention on quantitative sensory testing measurements in adults with chronic neck pain: A systematic review
No full textBackground
Previous systematic reviews have identified the benefits of exercise for chronic neck pain on subjective reports of pain, but not with objective measures such as quantitative sensory testing (QST). A systematic review was conducted to identify the effects of neck specific exercise on QST measures in adults with chronic neck pain to synthesise existing literature and provide clinical recommendations.
Methods
The study protocol was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (PROSPERO CRD42021297383). For both randomised and non-randomised trials, the following databases and trial registries were searched: AMED, CINAHL, Embase, Google Scholar, Medline, PEDro, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index from Web of Science Core Collection, clinicaltrials.gov, GreyOpen, and ISRCTN registry. These searches were conducted from inception to February 2022 and were updated until September 2023. Reference lists of eligible studies were screened. Study selection was performed independently by two reviewers, with data extraction and quality appraisal completed by one reviewer and independently ratified by a second reviewer. Due to high heterogeneity, narrative synthesis was performed with results grouped by exercise type.
Findings
Three trials were included. Risk of bias was rated as moderate and the certainty of evidence as low or moderate for all studies. All exercise groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement at an intermediate-term follow-up, with progressive resistance training combined with graded physical training demonstrating the highest certainty of evidence. Fixed resistance training demonstrated statistically significant improvement in QST measures at a short-term assessment.
Interpretation
Fixed resistance training is effective for short-term changes in pain sensitivity based on low-quality evidence, whilst moderate-quality evidence supports progressive resistance training combined with graded physical training for intermediate-term changes in pain sensitivity
On Prospecting: Visual Culture between Extraction and Speculation
No full textIn its narrow sense, prospecting is defined as the search for mineral deposits with a view to exploit them for financial gain. In the last few decades, this definition has been expanded to include bioprospecting, in which genetic resources are transformed into proprietary knowledge, frequently at the expense of communities who have cultivated this knowledge over generations. Prospecting is therefore inescapably extractive, but insofar as it involves a gamble on the profitability of a resource in the future, it is also inherently speculative. Taking recent discussions of the “extractive view” as its starting point, this article focuses on the role of visual culture in prospecting. It investigates how the search for resources generates a visual culture of prospecting and a visual culture about prospecting, whether through aerial views of resource frontiers, spectacular images that attract venture capital, or “specimen views” that isolate objects of economic interest. Tracing a path from the nineteenth-century survey photographs of Timothy O’Sullivan to contemporary work by the likes of Edith Morales and the group On-Trade-Off, it demonstrates how artists repurpose and diversify the visual culture of prospecting, documenting the forces at play in the struggle over lithium extraction or investigating the methods by which genetic raw materials are turned into patentable commodities
The Effects of Combined Versus Single-Mode Resistance and Repeated Sprint Training on Physical Fitness, Hematological Parameters, and Plasma Volume Variations in Highly Trained Soccer Players
No full textObjective: We examined the effects of eight weeks of single-mode resistance, repeated sprint training, and the combination of the two programs on selected measures of physical fitness (muscle power, speed, and body composition), hematological parameters, and plasma volume variations in highly trained soccer players. Sixty male soccer players from the Tunisian national Ligue were randomly allocated to a resistance training group (RTG), a repeated sprint training group (RSTG), a combined resistance and repeated sprint training group (CTG), or an active control group (CG, soccer training only). The training volumes were similar between groups. Before and after training, we examined body composition, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint 30 m (S30), repeated-sprint sequences (RSSs), hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean hemoglobin concentration (MHC), and plasma volume. Significant group-by-time interactions were recorded for the RSS indices, SJ, and S30 (p < 0.039], 0.1< ηp2 < 0.49]), as well as the hematological parameters (p = 0.0001–0.045, 0.11 < ηp2 < 0.46). In terms of physical fitness, using post hoc tests, the CTG showed significantly greater gains compared to the RSTG, RTG, and the CG on the best time index of the RSSs (p = 0.008; d = 4.1), SJ (p = 0.004; d = 4.18) and 30 m linear sprint time (p = 0.008; d = 3.84). Body fat percentage also decreased significantly in the CTG compared to all other groups (p < 0.005, 0.21 < d< 0.35). Regarding hematological parameters (i.e., hemoglobin and hematocrit), the CTG, RSTG, and RTG showed significant decreases (p < 0.05) in their hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared to the CG (p < 0.05, 0.11 < d< 2.22]). Eight weeks of combined training compared to single-mode training was found to be more effective in improving fitness measures in highly trained soccer players. However, there appeared to be no consensus regarding the effect of single and combined repeated-sprint and resistance training on the hematological system
Algorithmic Characterisation of Non-Rigid Registration in Inter-Subject Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Image Processing
No full textResting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI) is fundamental for studying intrinsic brain functions, crucial for defining the networks underlying human cognition and behaviour. Non-rigid registration algorithms are essential for accurately aligning rs-fMRI data across subjects, a process critical for consistent and reliable analysis of functional connectivity. The performance of these algorithms directly impacts the precision of neuroimaging results due to individual anatomical differences.
This thesis addresses the critical issue of performance variability among non-rigid registration algorithms, which can undermine the reliability and accuracy of functional connectivity analysis in rs-fMRI. To systematically assess these differences, the Non-Rigid Registration Algorithm Analysis Framework (NRAAF) was developed and implemented, offering an innovative benchmark for evaluating and characterising the accuracy and specificity of various algorithms.
Key findings show that algorithms such as Advanced Normalisation Tools (ANTs), Diffeomorphic Anatomical Registration Through Exponentiated Lie Algebra (DARTEL), Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI), and FMRIB Software Library (FSL) exhibit significant differences in handling anatomical variability. ANTs demonstrated superior sensitivity with a mean Peak Activation Intensity of 0.85, while DARTEL showed the most consistent performance with minimal variability (Standard Deviation of 0.05). AFNI presented a higher variance in cluster detection at 0.30, compared to FSL’s 0.18. These insights emphasise that algorithm selection crucially influences the reliability of functional connectivity analyses.
The differential performance among these algorithms significantly impacts neuroimaging outcomes, affecting both the interpretation of research findings and potential clinical applications. By providing a comprehensive evaluation and characterisation of non-rigid registration algorithms, this work emphasises the importance of selecting appropriate methods to enhance reproducibility and accuracy in neuroimaging. In doing so, NRAAF framework empowers the neuroimaging community to advance computational methodologies and refine tools for studying complex brain functions, with potential implications for diagnostics, personalised treatment strategies, and broader cross institutional research collaborations
A Developed Hybrid Integrated Framework with Combined Analytical Approaches in mitigating the Flood and Drought Risk on River Severn Basin
No full textFloods and droughts are among the most devastating natural disasters, significantly impacting environmental and socio-economic systems. With climate change exacerbating these risks, it is crucial to develop robust frameworks in assessing and mitigating the risk. This thesis aims to develop a hybrid integrated framework for flood and drought risk assessment, combining multiple methodologies and modern predictive techniques. The research employs a combination of Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM), Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD), and network theory to build the framework. Statistical and machine learning methods are used to calculate and test the framework, ensuring a comprehensive analysis. The integrated framework effectively identifies and assesses key risk factors and their interdependencies. The spatio-temporal mapping revealed significant trends in flood and drought occurrences. Despite the presence of flooding risk partly due to more intense rainfalls, the risk of drought coexists on a river basin scale. Validation using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the model's accuracy. Sensitivity analysis highlighted critical variables such as community resilience, precipitation, access to transportation networks, and reservoirs, which contribute significantly to the variance of predicted risks. Other parameters aid in the accuracy of these predictions, while factors like elevation and slope assist with the spatial distribution of the risks. The developed framework has shaped and enhanced substantial understanding of flood and drought risks, providing a robust basis for future research. Future work should focus on integrating more diverse datasets and exploring long-term climate impacts to further refine and improve the assessment process
Fuzzy Inspired Intelligent Interaction Model for Business Sector using Statistical Analysis
No full textTechnological breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have led to the growth of human-like computers that can work independently and replicate a cognitive activity. The progression and interest among managers, researchers, and the general public have aroused interest in many industries, and significant corporate sectors are spending massively to profit gain through technology with the development of business interaction models. As information technology (IT) platforms become more advanced, and business activities become more autonomous, there is an increasing demand for business managers to better impact company operations and how they correspond with organizational goals. Machine learning and fuzzy logic design have lately been highlighted as recent innovations. Machine learning is an artificial intelligence approach that may enable smarter and more intelligent decision-making outcomes. In comparison, Fuzzy Logic Design (FLD) is a procedure that provides inferences or solutions from an ambiguous situation. In this research article, a fuzzy-inspired intelligent interaction model for the business sector is proposed, which utilizes a fuzzy logic design approach while enabling users to understand functions from a business standpoint and organize them related to the business targets, identify key indicators and carry out the necessary intelligent analysis on them to recognize causal factors of unforeseen metric values and enhance efficiency to improve business leadership