19684 research outputs found
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Speed Tracking and Dynamic Analysis of Condition Monitoring of Industrial Collaborative Robot Based on Vibration Signal
No full textWithin the realm of intelligent manufacturing, industrial robots occupy a paramount position as electromechanical keystones. Consequently, the scrutiny of advanced state monitoring methodologies for these robotic systems is of utmost significance. Currently, dynamic analysis based on vibration signal has been used to evaluate robot macroscopic behavior. Nonetheless, these tools fall short for the rigorous scrutiny demanded by such endeavours, which necessitate a meticulous dissection of each subcomponent’s functionality. This paper aims to fill this gap by combine traditional dynamic analysis methods with robot joint state monitoring, containing an accurate description of its full dynamic characteristics. Harmonic reducer was used to transfer torque, so that arm can move. To conclude, the real robot on a test rig were tested with a set of different condition and speed. The experimental results highlight the ability of the dynamic analysis method to accurately replicate joint angular rotation and speed in a wide range of operational scenarios. The amplitude of characteristic frequency can be used to monitor the running state of robot joint. This research endeavours to construct a comprehensive maintenance CM-oriented framework, tailored for conducting in-depth and sophisticated analyses that unravel the intricate impacts of manipulator degradation.</p
Setting the Agenda in the Digital Age:Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Sustainability: An International Comparison
No full textEntrepreneurship, innovation, and technology play crucial roles in economic growth and development. This chapter explores the interplay between opportunity perception, human capital, high growth, product innovation, and technology absorption in the context of entrepreneurship and innovation. The authors of this chapter apply a conceptual approach to bridge the contemporary thinking around entrepreneurship and innovation within the context of technological sustainability, with a global emphasis. As will be demonstrated, the conceptual perspective seeks to bridge the academic literature by application to two case studies: India and Nepal. On the world stage, entrepreneurship and innovation underpin economic development. With the emergence of the sustainability agenda there has been a real focus on its interconnections with technology and technological advancement/innovation. As this study shows, India and Nepal are at the forefront in cultivating opportunities in technological innovation that will have a long-term positive effect on local, regional, national, and global sustainability policy agendas. This work provides an up-to-date focus on the interlinking relationships between entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, and technology. In relation to this, by applying two geographical case studies from the developing world, the authors provide recommendations and policy suggestions in the ever-growing area of social research
Development and Validation of the International Skin Tear Advisory Panel Skin Tear Data Collection Tool
No full textOBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have examined the epidemiology of skin tears; however, inconsistent definitions, classification systems, and data collection methods have highlighted the need for a validated and standardized tool. The primary objective of this study was to validate a data collection tool for skin tears. A secondary aim was to provide a freely accessible tool for health care providers or researchers to collect consistent and reliable data on skin tears. METHODS: The development of the tool was guided by the 2018 International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP) Best Practice Recommendations for the prevention, assessment, and management of skin tears in aged skin. Between June and October 2024, a multimethod validation process was undertaken. Content validity ratio and content validity index calculations were used to quantify content validity, supported by qualitative feedback from 15 experts to assess face validity and provide suggestions for refinement. RESULTS: The final tool consists of 22 questions addressing a patient's demographics, clinical features of the skin tear, associated risk factors, and contextual data. The content validity index was calculated at 0.72, indicating an acceptable level of content validity. International experts reached consensus following a 2-round qualitative review, resulting in subsequent adjustments to the tool. CONCLUSIONS: The ISTAP DC-Tool was developed based on evidence-informed recommendations and validated by an international panel of experts. Its implementation will support health care providers and researchers in gathering standardized epidemiological data contributing to clinical practice improvements, quality initiatives, and further research in skin tear prevention and management.</p
The Prevent Counter-Terrorism Strategy After Southport
No full textThe counter-terrorism Prevent Strategy has recently undergone a significant government review by David Anderson KC following the 2024 murders in Southport. The attacker was referred three times to Prevent without being engaged because he was deemed not to be susceptible to terrorist ideologies. This replicated the experience of the 2021 murders in Plymouth, also conducted by an attacker proposed for referral to Prevent, but similarly deemed not to be a terrorism risk because of his lack of clear ideological motivation. The Anderson review, Lessons for Prevent, addresses the important issues raised by Southport around the width of the Prevent Strategy, the nature of the threats it engages with and its relationship to and responsibility for other forms of non-ideological mass violence. The review’s recommendations reassess Prevent’s remit and suggest a reorganisation of Prevent into a broader safeguarding and violence prevention scheme. It significantly contradicts the thrust of the earlier, controversial 2023 Shawcross Independent Review of Prevent, which mandated the need for a clear and consistent ideological element to be present in all Prevent cases
Human babesiosis:The past, present and future
No full textHuman babesiosis is a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected tick or via blood transfusions involving contaminated blood products; in humans, it can lead to severe complications and even death, depending on the clinical history, age and health status of the affected patient. Babesiosis is caused by members of the Babesia spp., protozoan parasites whose life cycle includes sexual reproduction in the arthropod vector and asexual reproduction in the mainly mammalian host. Cases of human babesiosis have been rare, but there are increasing reports of human babesiosis associated with climatic changes affecting the geographical distribution of the parasite and tick vector, enhanced vector-human interactions and improved awareness of the disease in humans. Diagnostics and treatment options for humans are based around discoveries in veterinary research, such as point-of-care testing in cases of bovine babesiosis, and include direct diagnosis by blood smears, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technologies, and indirect diagnosis by ELISA, immunofluorescence tests (IFAT) and fluorescent in situ hybridisation. Treatment involves a combination of drugs such as azithromycin and atovaquone, or clindamycin and quinine, but more effective options are being investigated, including, but not limited to, trans-chalcones and tafenoquine. Improved surveillance, awareness and diagnosis, as well as advanced technologies to interrupt vector-host interactions, are crucial in managing the increased threat posed by this once-neglected disease in humans.</p
Built Environment Interventions Framework for Climate-related Disaster-Induced Displacement
No full textOver the past decades, it is evident that climate change has made droughts longer, tropical storms severe, floods worse, and hurricanes devastating. These climate change-induced disasters primarily displace thousands of people, leaving them in worse living conditions and loss of livelihood. Lack of sufficient essential services and facilities, inadequate housing facilities, lack of access to livelihood, lack of access to social and physical infrastructure, and social tension between the displaced and host communities are just some of the consequences that disaster-induced displaced communities face. When addressing these issues through the built environment, mostly the attention is paid from one slant without looking at the multi-dimensional nature of the problem. Therefore, there is a need for a holistic framework to identify the needs of displaced communities and solve them through built environment-related policies and interventions. Addressing this research need, the REGARD project was executed within the country contexts of the UK, Sweden, Estonia and Sri Lanka. The overall methodology of the project consists of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions conducted in partner countries. Accordingly, this paper analyses the findings revealed through the whole project process and presents a built environment intervention framework to address the issues of climate-related disaster-induced displacement
Research on Flow Field Optimization and Performance Test of Vertical Honeycomb Wet Electrostatic Precipitator
No full textThis study focuses on optimizing the flow field uniformity within a vertical honeycomb wet electrostatic precipitator (WESP), which is a critical prerequisite for achieving high particulate removal efficiency. For a vertical honeycomb WESP with an air capacity of 25,000 m3/h, the internal flow field is optimized by adjusting the opening ratio and aperture ratio of the airflow equalizing plate, installing additional deflector plates, and adding additional airflow equalizing plates at strategic locations. The optimization reduces the velocity relative standard deviation at the anode inlet section to 0.14. Through 1:1-scale equipment construction and testing, the particle concentration at the outlet is stabilized below 10 mg/Nm3, with an average removal efficiency of 95.88%—a 5.7% improvement over the original model. This study solves the design dependency on empirical guidance for vertical honeycomb WESP in the food industry, providing a green technology paradigm for low-carbon industrial emissions
Exploring students experiences of secondary school Physical Education in England
No full textBackground:There are many diverging views regarding the role and purpose of Physical Education (PE) in secondary schools within the UK. However, very few studies have explored PE processes through the eyes of young people. Adolescence represents a critical time period when physical activity (PA) behaviour patterns are often established. Student disengagement in PE is therefore a concern, as PE has the potential to play an important role in influencing adolescents to develop lifelong PA habits. Secondary school PE is compulsory in the UK until the age of 16, therefore PE teachers have a captive audience who they can influence positively or negatively. Understanding of students’ experiences and perceptions of PE could help inform future PE provision.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to explore students’ perceptions of PE throughout secondary school (age 11–16) in England, UK. This study aims to explore students’ views concerning changes and continuities from Key Stage (KS3) (age 11–14) to KS4 (age 14–16). We are also interested in the meanings that students attach to their PE experiences, identifying the social structures and processes that shape these meanings.Methods:Using a social constructionist framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted at eight secondary schools across Yorkshire, England. A convenience sample of eligible schools was used to recruit the study participants. Two participants aged 15–16 (Year 11, KS4) were interviewed at each school (N = 16). Inductive and deductive thematic analysis informed by self-determination theory guided the analysis. Thematic analysis comprised three second-order themes which were generated by ten first-order themes drawing students’ experiences of PE.Results:Perceptions of PE throughout KS3 (age 11–14) were perceived as unfavourable, owing to too much structure and social comparisons. However, perceptions of KS4 (age 14–16) PE lessons were positive, with students enjoying increased choice, less structure, and an opportunity to relieve the stress and pressure of school life. Students identified the role of the teacher to be significant in enhancing student experience throughout secondary school. However, students acknowledged that the student–teacher relationship changed across secondary school, suggesting a need for numerous pedagogical approaches to be adopted through secondary school PE. In addition, PE is recognised by some students as an opportunity to improve their wellbeing, advocating the need for PE teachers to consider employing more holistic outcomes within PE lessons.Conclusions:The findings of this study suggest that there is a noticeable difference between students’ experiences of PE at KS3 (age 11–14) compared to KS4 (age 14–16), questioning if the KS3 curriculum is conducive to support student engagement in PE. The results also indicate that PE teachers could widen the learning of PE beyond the physical domain and incorporate a more holistic approach when planning and delivering PE lessons. The long-term implications of engaging more students in PE is that we may inspire more adolescents to remain physically active into adulthood, and to live healthier, more active lives
Clinical effectiveness of the Circle of Security-Parenting group intervention for birthing parents in perinatal mental health services in England (COSI):a pragmatic, multicentre, assessor-masked, randomised controlled trial
No full textBACKGROUND: Perinatal mental health difficulties are common and, if untreated, are associated with long-term adverse child outcomes. Substantial evidence gaps exist in group-based and parent-infant interventions for perinatal mental health difficulties. Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) groups have shown preliminary efficacy, although previous studies were methodologically weak or not specific to relevant populations. This study aimed to evaluate whether the hybrid delivery of COS-P plus treatment-as-usual reduces psychopathology in birthing parents accessing National Health Service community perinatal mental health services, compared with treatment-as-usual alone.METHODS: The study was a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel-arm, assessor-masked, randomised controlled trial, with an internal pilot. Participants were recruited from ten geographically spread National Health Service (NHS) Trusts across England, including in Cheshire, Merseyside, North and South Yorkshire, Cumbria, Northamptonshire, Devon, Sussex, and Hampshire. Sites were eligible if they had a specialist community perinatal mental health service and had clinical equipoise to delivering COS-P. Participants were eligible for inclusion if they were aged 18 years or older; receiving care from the participating community perinatal mental health service sites between January, 2021, and October, 2023; had clinical-level psychopathology (average Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure [CORE-OM] ≥1·1); bonding difficulties (total Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire ≥12); and were the birthing parent of a child aged younger than 1 year. Participants currently experiencing active psychosis were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to COS-P plus treatment-as-usual or treatment-as-usual alone. Randomisation was stratified by recruitment site and cohort, with random allocation lists generated in advance. Investigators and assessors were masked. COS-P is an attachment-informed parenting group delivered in ten 90-min sessions, predominantly online. The primary outcome was psychopathology, assessed by the average CORE-OM score across all follow-up timepoints of 3 months, 7 months, and 12 months post-baseline. Analyses followed the intention-to-treat principle and sensitivity analyses were done using multiple imputation to account for missing data. People with lived experience were involved in the design, delivery, and dissemination of the trial. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, ISRCTN18308962, and was completed in January, 2025.FINDINGS: Between Jan 4, 2022, and Oct 26, 2023, 3171 individuals were screened for eligibility, 2785 were ineligible, and 371 were randomly assigned to a group (248 to the COS-P plus treatment-as-usual group and 123 to the treatment-as-usual group. All participants were assigned female at birth and were the birthing parent to the index child. 332 (89%) participants identified as women (including trans woman), five (1%) identified as non-binary, one (<1%) in another way, three (1%) preferred not to say, and 30 (8%) had missing gender identity data. The mean age of participants was 30·8 years (SD 5·4; range 19-44); 329 (89%) were of White ethnicity. The adjusted mean difference in psychopathology scores, averaged across the 3-month, 7-month, and 12-month follow-up points, was -1·41 (95% CI -5·11 to 2·28; p=0·45), indicating neither clinical nor statistical significance. No significant differences were identified in secondary outcomes. Commonly reported adverse events included increases in mental health difficulties or symptoms, affecting 16 participants (4%); self-harm or concerns about self-harm, affecting 11 (3%) participants; and eye strain following screen use for study activities, affecting 11 (3%) participants. Serious adverse events were reported by eight (2%) participants.INTERPRETATION: COS-P plus treatment-as-usual did not demonstrate greater clinical effectiveness compared with treatment-as-usual alone when delivered in NHS community perinatal mental health services. Therefore, COS-P should not be recommended for inclusion in routine community perinatal mental health services care, as it does not provide any additional clinical benefit when added to the current treatment-as-usual available in improving parental psychopathology, parenting, or infant outcomes.FUNDING: National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Technology Assessment programme.</p
Evaluating diclofenac’s risks in COVID-19:strategies for mitigating adverse outcomes
No full textThe use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), particularly diclofenac, during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns due to its potential to worsen disease progression. This commentary evaluates key risks associated with diclofenac and highlights the critical role of pharmacists in mitigating adverse outcomes through careful medication management and patient education. Diclofenac poses unique risks due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. In COVID-19, a disease characterized by hyperinflammation, these effects may exacerbate systemic inflammation, contributing to severe outcomes. Moreover, diclofenac's known association with increased cardiovascular risks, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, is especially concerning in patients with COVID-19, who are predisposed to thrombotic complications. The drug’s hepatotoxic potential adds another layer of concern, particularly in patients with pre-existing liver dysfunction or those at higher risk due to COVID-19-related liver involvement. Pharmacists play a pivotal role in addressing these risks by conducting thorough medication reviews and assessing patient-specific risk factors. They can guide clinicians and patients toward safer alternatives, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which demonstrate a lower oxidative and cardiovascular burden. Patient education is equally critical; pharmacists should counsel individuals on potential adverse effects of diclofenac, such as cardiovascular symptoms, renal dysfunction, and liver complications, while advising on lifestyle modifications and adjunctive therapies to reduce NSAID dependence. Additionally, pharmacists contribute to pharmacovigilance by monitoring patients for adverse drug reactions and reporting safety concerns to improve NSAID usage guidelines during the pandemic. By adopting a personalized approach to NSAID therapy, pharmacists can minimize risks and enhance patient safety, ultimately improving outcomes in the management of COVID-19 and other inflammatory conditions. This underscores their indispensable role in optimizing care during complex clinical scenarios.</p
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