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Tracking Recovery: An Up-to-Date Overview of Wearable Sensors in Healthcare Monitoring for Post-Stroke Patients:A Review
Full text linkStroke is a major global health challenge with high morbidity rate, high risk of recurrence, and increasing incidence. Post-stroke healthcare monitoring involves different physiological functions and is dependent on caregivers, with a high need for regular, long-term, point-of-care monitoring. Recently, many wearable sensors including inertial measurement units, mechanical sensors (example barometric sensors, force sensors, strain sensors, et cetera), and electrodes have been developed to achieve reliable healthcare monitoring for post-stroke patients. The sensors are incorporated in different forms to make it more compact and wearable without altering its measuring abilities. These sensors detect different functions including cardiovascular, respiratory, and neural activities, whereas the majority were focused on body movement. By analyzing the innovative wearable technologies and application scenarios, the merits and limitations of the state-of-the-art sensors are summarized in this review. Artificial intelligence (AI) including edge AI and cloud AI, machine learning and deep learning, hardware optimization, and internet-of-things offer new potentials for overcoming the current challenges in reliable long-term monitoring and standardized data processing towards clinical applications
Impact of relationship dynamics on policy reform for sustainable innovation in public healthcare in China:Social exchange theory perspective
Full text linkThe Chinese government is dedicated to fostering sustainable innovation within the public healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors to safeguard public interests. However, current policies governing the pharmaceutical industry have inadequately addressed critical issues related to stakeholder dynamics and sustainable innovation performance. This study investigates how policy reform can enhance the dynamic relationships among stakeholders in China's public healthcare system, aiming to devise actionable and detailed tasks while minimizing conflicts to encourage sustainable innovation. This research presents the findings of in-depth interviews conducted with 50 participants from key stakeholders in China's public health sector, including government officials, hospital representatives, executives from state-owned pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare professionals. The findings offer valuable insights for practitioners, policymakers, and academics regarding the application of social exchange elements—such as power, trust, reputation, reciprocity, and commitment—in understanding the necessity of integrating relationship dynamics into policy design and reform within the supply chain network, all while protecting public interests. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the shortcomings of the existing policy framework and presents compelling arguments for reforms that actively involve key stakeholders in the public healthcare and pharmaceutical industries
Stability of recycled plastics in an aqueous alkaline cementitious matrix
Full text linkThe rising problem of plastic waste, coupled with a shortage of construction materials, has prompted research into the replacement of traditional aggregates with recycled plastic aggregates (rPA) in cementitious structures. However, the impact of the highly alkaline pore solution present in cement on the long-term stability and performance of rPA is still not fully understood. This research examined the alkaline stability of two types of commonly recycled plastics that increasingly serve as aggregate substitutes in concrete: polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) in two size ranges, when exposed to extremely alkaline conditions. The effects of exposure to simulated alkaline cement pore solutions on rPA stability were analysed by assessing alterations to polymer mass, surface features, functional groups, and crystallinity. Prolonged exposure (up to 75 days) to simulated cement pore solution significantly decreased the stability of rPA, while fine particle sizes underwent faster degradation, losing up to 40 % of weight. Recycled HDPE demonstrated greater alkali resistance than rPET, suggesting better suitability as an alternative aggregate in concrete, although factors like surface hydrophobicity should be considered. The amorphous regions of rPET surfaces proved more susceptible to hydroxyl reactions compared to crystalline regions, resulting in inferior stability of rPET compared to rHDPE, and therefore raises questions about the use of rPET as an alternative aggregate. Overall, this study elucidated the physical and chemical stability of recycled plastics in alkaline cementitious matrices, revealing how plastic type, intrinsic properties, particle size, and exposure duration govern their suitability as aggregate replacements
Exploring Physiotherapists' Role in Work-Focused Health Care and Fit Note Use:Barriers, Facilitators, and Recommendations
Full text linkObjectives The Fit Note (FN) may help people return to work and avoid prolonged sickness absence. However, its utilisation by physiotherapists is not understood. This study explored physiotherapists' views and practices regarding work-focused health care and FN use. Design A mixed methods study involving an online survey followed by six online focus groups. Participants United Kingdom (UK) physiotherapists (n = 401) working in a variety of settings responded to the survey. Sixteen also participated further in the focus groups. Results Participants (89%) viewed supporting patients to stay-in or return-to-work as part of their role, yet only 31% regularly issued FNs. Key themes were developed: physiotherapists recognise work as integral to care, and those issuing FNs do so in line with guidance, recommending strategies to help patients remain in or return to employment. Barriers included organisational, individual factors, such as limited recognition of physiotherapists’ role and lack of confidence or knowledge, and perceived patient barriers including lack of awareness. Facilitators included training, organisational support, and a multidisciplinary approach to work-related issues. Conclusion This study, the largest of its kind in the UK, indicates that physiotherapists regard work and health as integral to their professional responsibilities; however, FN implementation remains inconsistent. Qualitative findings reveal organisational, practitioner, and perceived patient barriers. Recommendations include improved mentorship and consistent digital FN access across all clinical settings. Further research should explore task-shifting consequences and patient perspectives. Contribution of the paper • This study represents the largest UK investigation to date examining physiotherapists’ (n=401) perspectives on FN implementation, using a mixed-methods approach. • Although physiotherapists consider work-related issues integral to their practice, the study identifies barriers to FN implementation at multiple levels, including confidence gaps, systemic constraints, and concerns regarding scope-of-practice. • The study provides actionable, multi-level recommendations to address the identified barriers, such as structured training, organisational support systems including mentorship programmes, and policy guidance to clarify scope-of-practice. Additionally, it highlights areas for future research, including patient perspectives and task-shifting
What if passengers experienced cyberattacks in a level 5 automated and connected shuttle? Impact of cyberattack type and contextual factors on perceived safety:A scenario-based study
Full text linkConnected and Automated shuttles are increasingly accessible on public roads. These vehicles, will be characterized by extensive connectivity, enabling them to make driving decisions and share information. This connectivity will increase exposure to malicious attacks, which could lead to accidents, thereby causing psychological or physical harm to passengers. However, the effects of such attacks on passengers remain understudied. This study explored the effect of the type of cyberattack (target, consequences, alert message source) and contextual factors (social presence, traffic density) on perceived safety. A total of 420 participants were exposed to scenarios in which a character had a ride in an automated shuttle under different conditions and rated their level of perceived safety. Results highlighted that the target of the attack, consequences of the attack, alert message source and traffic density influenced perceived safety, except for social presence. Perceived safety scores were the greatest when the target of the attack was the passenger’s mobile phone, when the consequences of the attack were mild, when the alert message was provided by the vehicle’s antivirus, when the traffic density was low, with few vulnerable road users crossing the road. Cluster analyses highlighted three passenger profiles: alarmed, pondered and relaxed. This cluster formation was linked to sociodemographic characteristics, anxiety levels as car passengers and subjective cybersecurity knowledge. This research contributes to understanding passengers’ reactions to cyberattacks in public transport. Future studies should focus on cyberattacks’ impact on trust, acceptance, and on the specific information to provide passengers with during such events.</p
Relationship Between Flow state and Mental Skills in Young Elite Tunisian Soccer Players
No full textBackground: While there is ample evidence on the association between physical fitness and mental well-being in youth soccer players, less is known about the flow and mental skills relationship according to their prior psychological state.Purpose: This study aimed to analyse the psychological characteristics of youth soccer players and their optimal performance (flow) and to determine the correlation between flow, and mental skills in relationship with the anterior psychological state. Methods: The participants were 76 elite young male soccer players and were divided into four groups according to their year of birth with an range of age of 17 to 13 years. To assess the mental abilities and flow, two questionnaires was used: Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2), Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool-4 (OMSAT-4). Results: The results showed a positive correlation between flow, mental skills are present between the nine dimensions of Flow and the twelve mental skills vary between (r=0.026; p= 0.826 and r=0.743; p< 0.001). Results from multiple regressions indicated significant models (all p<0.01 or better) explaining between 7.1% to 73.6% of the variance in the dimensions of Flow from different mental skills.Conclusion: The associations between flow and mental health in youth soccer players may imply transfer effects from flow state and well-being state and vice versa. These results can have a great impact on coaches’ work, since they can help them to establish tasks and training methods consistent with the mental characteristics of their players. Since coaches cannot act directly on flow, working on the different mental skills can stimulate the optimal psychological state called flow.<br/
Bayesian-Symbolic Integration for Uncertainty-Aware Parking Prediction
No full textAccurate parking availability prediction is critical for intelligent transportation systems, but real-world deployments often face data sparsity, noise, and unpredictable changes. Addressing these challenges requires models that are not only accurate but also uncertainty-aware. In this work, we propose a loosely coupled neuro-symbolic framework that integrates Bayesian Neural Networks (BNNs) with symbolic reasoning to enhance robustness in uncertain environments. BNNs quantify predictive uncertainty, while symbolic knowledge—extracted via decision trees and encoded using probabilistic logic programming—is leveraged in two hybrid strategies: (1) using symbolic reasoning as a fallback when BNN confidence is low, and (2) refining output classes based on symbolic constraints before reapplying the BNN. We evaluate both strategies on real-world parking data under full, sparse, and noisy conditions. Results demonstrate that both hybrid methods outperform symbolic reasoning alone, and the context-refinement strategy consistently exceeds the performance of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks and BNN baselines across all prediction windows. Our findings highlight the potential of modular neuro-symbolic integration in real-world, uncertainty-prone prediction tasks
Postdigital Intimacies: Relational Lives in the Networked Public-Private
No full textPostdigital Intimacies: Relational Lives in the Networked Public-Private provides a unique and timely collection of research exploring postdigital intimacies, offering the reader original accounts of postdigital intimacies. Situated at the intersection of the increasing and ubiquitous normalisation of digital technology, cultures, algorithms, and AI in our relationships with ourselves and with others, the contributors explore the social, political and cultural implications of an interconnected, networked and algorithmic public-private. The book does so through sections that explore: postdigital feelings; postdigital connections and collectivities; postdigital violences and vulnerability; and postdigital kindship, domesticity and hospitality. Each chapter provides a different lens on these themes, and are informed by an orientation towards intersectional feminist, queer and anti-racist, postcolonial theory. They are built on a hope that research can – if not provide ‘future’ directions for research – then instead create more hopeful, affirmative, collective and prefigurative ones that are more equitable and socially just