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The impact of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior on functional constipation in children and adolescents: A systematic review
Get PDFObjective Lack of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) have emerged as critical global health concerns in children and are believed to be associated with functional constipation (FC). The present study aims to explore this potential association.
Design A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library and PsycInfo databases was conducted through 2023 using terms related to constipation and PA and SB in ages 0–18 years. Titles and abstracts were screened against eligibility criteria. Constipation was diagnosed using Rome (II–IV) criteria. Full-text reviews were reviewed, and data were extracted. Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Follow-up Studies of Exposure quality assessment tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of studies.
Main outcome measures We assessed the association between lack of PA/SB and FC.
Results A total of 2170 titles were screened. Nine studies encompassing 3849 children from six countries were included. Of these, four were community/school-based studies, one was a birth cohort, three were case series and two were hospital-based case-controlled studies. All 10 studies assessed the association between PA and FC. Only three showed an association between lack of PA and FC. Five studies evaluated the effects of SB on FC, and only two reported a positive association. The methods used to assess PA/SB differed across the studies. All nine studies included in the systematic review were rated as having high risk of bias.
Conclusions Despite numerous studies suggesting a link between insufficient PA/SB and FC, this systematic review did not uncover compelling evidence supporting such an association
Development of Intumescent Coatings for Fire Protection of Structural Steel
No full textIntumescent coatings are used for fire protection of structural steel. These coatings typically contain ammonium polyphosphate (APP), pentaerythritol, melamine, titanium dioxide and a polymeric binder. Six different crystalline phases of APP have been reported in literature. APP-II is commonly used in intumescent coatings due to its superior fire performance and commercial availability.
This work identifies different chemical and physical properties of different samples of APP-II using a range of analytical techniques and develops new methods for analysing APP. APP-I and APP-II are synthesised and characterised. This work assesses the fire performance of intumescent coatings containing different samples of APP-II and different TiO2:APP ratios by comparing furnace test data to a cone calorimetry method developed in this study.
A rapid method for determining the solubility of APP was developed from the relationship between the conductivity of aqueous APP and its solubility. Powder XRD was used to identify phases of APP and to determine the purity of different APP samples. Additional phases of APP-I and APP-V are observed in some samples of commercial APP-II. The presence of APP-I and APP-V results in higher water solubilities and increased viscosities, respectively.
Differences in the FTIR of APP-I and APP-II are determined and used as a quick method for phase identification and purity assessment. XRD and FTIR analysis of dissolved and undissolved fractions of APP after solubility tests show that APP-I is more soluble than APP-II, while XRD suggests that APP-V is less soluble than both APP-I and APP-II.
Thermogravimetric analysis is used to study the thermal decomposition of APP and intumescent coatings. A method for determining the degree of polymerisation of APP using solution state 31P NMR is established. Analysis of different APP-II samples shows that as the chain length decreases, the solubility increases.
A method for assessing the thermal protection of intumescent coatings using cone calorimetry was developed and is in good agreement with the furnace test for determining the crucial, early fire performance of intumescent coatings. Cone calorimetry also provides information regarding the expansion profile of the char and mass loss of the intumescent coatings which cannot be obtained from a furnace test.
The thermal protection of intumescent coatings containing different samples of APP-II is assessed and the results show that there are no significant differences in the thermal protection of the coatings. The thermal protection of intumescent coatings containing various TiO2:APP ratios were then investigated. All formulations containing TiO2 performed better than the formulation without TiO2. Intumescent coatings containing TiO2:APP ratios of 0.2 and 0.4 were found to provide the best thermal protection. This is in good agreement with the theoretical ideal ratio needed to form TiP2O7 which was calculated as 0.353.
The cone calorimeter is shown to be a good model for the furnace test for assessing the thermal protection of intumescent coatings, particularly in the early stages of the intumescent process. Thus, cone calorimetry provides a scientific method for investigating the early fire performance of intumescent coating formulations
Research on Language Data and Its Functions in the Digital Era
Get PDFWith the advent of digital economy era, data has become one of important production factors for national economy. Language data, as an essential part of data, consists of language structural data and language informative data. Language structural data refers to language structure units and rules such as phonetics, words, vocabulary, and grammar, while language informative data encompasses text discourse, conversations, and parallel corpora which are discourse data formed through human language use. Roughly speaking, the functions of language data consists of the function of living factor and that of production factor, which concerns the different functions of language data in daily life and social production. The function of production factor entails utilizing machine-readable data as a foundation to data mining, knowledge extracting, insights forming and their use in economic activity. It extends its function from essential living factor to production factor, driven by the national big data strategy, high-quality economic development and digital technology iteration of the People's Republic of China
NATUREMIND 2024 REPORT ACCELERATING GREEN SOCIAL PRESCRIBING
Get PDFOn 7th June 2024, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) Social Prescribing Unit and the mental health charity Mind Over Mountains co-hosted the third ‘NatureMind’ conference on green social prescribing. The event brought together leading practitioners, academics, commissioners and policy makers from across the voluntary, private and public sectors, all with an interest in the effects of the outdoors and nature on physical and mental well-being.
The conference set out to celebrate successful green social prescribing initiatives and to help identify and overcome the barriers preventing more widespread uptake across the UK. This report’s understanding of social prescribing is based on the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) definition:
“a means for trusted individuals in clinical and community settings to identify that a person has non-medical, health-related social needs and to subsequently connect them to non-clinical supports and services within the community by co-producing a social prescription – a non-medical prescription, to improve health and wellbeing and to strengthen community connections” [1].
Furthermore, NASP describes green social prescribing as “the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities to improve their mental and physical health” [2].
This report is a summary of the content of the conference presentations and rich panel discussions, with a particular focus on the emerging themes, current challenges and policy recommendations emerging from the day. Acknowledgements of our speakers and panellists are included at the end of this report and we are grateful to all our contributors, workshop leaders and participants for an engaging and lively conference
Pioneering the Path in Climate Science and Wave Energy: The Legacies of Warren M. Washington and Stephen Hugh Salter
No full textAs the opening paper for the 2nd International Conference on Climate Change and Ocean Renewable Energy (CCORE 2023), this study aims to comprehensively explore the groundbreaking contributions of Warren M. Washington and Stephen Hugh Salter in the fields of climate science and wave energy. Washington and Salter have left indelible marks on their respective disciplines, reshaping our understanding of climate dynamics and renewable energy sources. Through their pioneering research, they have not only advanced scientific knowledge but have also inspired future generations of researchers and engineers. This paper meticulously examines their key discoveries, methodologies, and enduring impacts, underscoring the profound significance of their legacies in shaping the trajectory of climate science and renewable energy technologies
Harnessing Technology for Mangrove Research in the Western Indian Ocean to Enhance Climate Change Resilience
No full textMangroves in the Western Indian Ocean face increasing threats from climate change such as rising sea levels and storm surges. To increase mangrove resilience in the region, there is a need to leverage technological innovations for research, management and monitoring purposes. The aim of this paper was thus to review the role of technology in supporting mangrove research regionally. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using Google Scholar for the period 2004–2024. From 31, 934 articles retrieved, 160 records were selected for the assessment and keyword co-occurrence was conducted on VosViewer. Remote sensing, GIS and modeling techniques were highlighted as key tools for monitoring mangrove health, extent and change over time. Community engagement through participatory strategies such as PGIS was noted as effective mangrove conservation and resilience building efforts. The keyword co-occurrence analysis showed that there was a strong link between mangrove, climate change and sea level rise suggesting the importance of mangroves in coastal resilience. By embracing advancements in technology and fostering collaboration between researchers, local communities and practitioners, coastal nations’ resilience to climate change impacts can be enhanced by better managing and monitoring mangroves
Can online pre-sessional courses be transformative learning opportunities for international student interns?
Get PDFAs more UK higher education institutions (HEI) reach for blended or online learning solutions, the ways students develop and build relationships in the EAP (English for Academic Purposes) classroom have changed. One way that universities have tried to support pre-sessional students in this new learning context is by employing student interns to assist teachers in the online environment to help students prepare for life in the UK. Although this may be a pragmatic approach by institutions, there has been limited research around the intern’s experience and how they develop through this process. This explorative study investigates the experiences of international student interns and the extent they experienced transformative learning while working on an online pre-sessional course at a teaching focused university in the UK. The data collected consists of semi-structured interviews with the four interns at the end of the course. It seems that all four research participants experienced some form of transformative learning. Three key areas were identified in the research: patience and communication skills in the online environment, dealing with culture and identity, and workplace practices. Evidence suggests that a unique combination of factors in the virtual learning environment contributed to disorienting situations that allowed the international student interns to alter their point of view. Further study is needed around the role of transformative learning in the online classroom
The link between early iconic gesture comprehension and receptive language
No full textChildren comprehend iconic gestures relatively later than deictic gestures. Previous research with English-learning children indicated that they could comprehend iconic gestures at 26 months, a pattern whose extension to other languages is not yet known. The present study examined Turkish-learning children's iconic gesture comprehension and its relation to their receptive vocabulary knowledge. Turkish-learning children between the ages of 22- and 30-month-olds (N = 92, M = 25.6 months, SD = 1.6; 51 girls) completed a gesture comprehension task in which they were asked to choose the correct picture that matched the experimenter's speech and iconic gestures. They were also administered a standardized receptive vocabulary test. Children's performance in the gesture comprehension task increased with age, which was also related to their receptive vocabulary knowledge. When children were categorized into younger and older age groups based on the median age (i.e., 26 months—the age at which iconic gesture comprehension was present for English-learning children), only the older group performed at chance level in the task. At the same time, receptive vocabulary was positively related to gesture comprehension for younger but not older children. These findings suggest a shift in iconic gesture comprehension at around 26 months and indicate a possible link between receptive vocabulary knowledge and iconic gesture comprehension, particularly for children younger than 26 months
Teamworking in Dentistry: The Importance for Dentists, Dental Hygienists and Dental Therapists to Work Effectively Together—A Narrative Review
Get PDFObjectives
To consider teamworking in dentistry, focusing especially on the role of dental hygienists (DHs) and dental therapists (DTs) as part of the dental team.
Methods
A narrative review of studies that have investigated teamworking in periodontology and dentistry in general together with consideration of examples of relevant regulatory and governmental policy documents.
Results
The inclusion of DHs and DTs as key members of the dental team yields significant patient benefits in terms of access to care (particularly among under-served populations), efficient and effective treatment and improved healthcare outcomes for patients. However, barriers can exist to full implementation of effective working in dental teams, including both systemic and regulatory barriers, as well as attitudinal barriers. Furthermore, DHs and DTs are not always working to their full scope of practice, thereby limiting the care that these team members can provide. Mutual respect between dental team members, high-quality communication and a common ethos and shared clinical standards are all essential for effective teamworking. DHs and DTs have a clear role to play in achieving sustainable improvements in oral and dental health for patient populations globally.
Conclusion
Full and effective integration of DHs and DTs into healthcare teams will benefit not only the dental team, but also healthcare systems and patient populations, via more effective teamworking, improved access to care and enhanced treatment outcomes
People, technologies and trust – Scripts and theories
Get PDFThe role of technologies in the context of care and health is changing rapidly. Challenges relate to (a) the way that people access and use technologies; and (b) the way that care and health service providers employ or deploy technologies for those who may have support needs. This paper takes steps towards identifying theoretical perspectives that help us with the development of a framework for socio-technology theory to underpin our approach to telehealth. Each perspective, albeit different, has relevance at the intersection of technologies, people and services. Six theorists are pointed to, and their work is briefly noted. Six parameters, that will be detailed further in a book, are then listed