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Applications of Nanomaterials in Dentistry
No full textOver the past decade, the use of nanomaterials in dentistry has grown significantly, both as standalone materials and in combination with polymers to form composite materials. The integration of nanomaterials and nanotechnology continues to propel substantial growth in the dental biomaterials industry (Padovani et al. Trends Biotechnol 33:621, 2015). Nanotechnology has come a long way from being a theoretical concept introduced by Richard Feynman in 1959 to becoming an integral part of various aspects of basic life sciences, including dentistry (Sreenivasalu et al. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland). 12, 2022). It offers promising solutions to hurdles associated with conventional biomaterials, as it can mimic the surface and interface properties of natural tissues. When combined with nanomaterials, nanotechnology provides a powerful approach for precisely controlling particles at the nanometer scale. Many of these advancements have demonstrated significant relevance and impact on human life and are already being adopted in clinical practice. While the fields of engineering and medicine have gained significant traction, large amount of research is still ongoing to develop exciting new biomaterials that are pushing the boundaries of science and can be used as templates for various clinical applications. This is helping to establish interdisciplinary translational research taking materials and technology from bench to bedside
An Encompassing, Normative Philosophy of Design: The Theory of Responsive Cohesion
Get PDFDesign is concerned with the ways in which we deliberately seek to arrange, organize, or structure things. From a philosophy of design perspective, the practice of design raises fundamental questions about the basic ways in which things can and should be organized. I advance a tripartite schema of the basic ways in which things (anything at all) can be organized and offer a triangular model of the “organization space” or “design space” they define. I refer to these three basic forms of organization as “responsive cohesion,” “fixed cohesion,” and “discohesion,” and offer three reasons why responsively cohesive forms of organization are more valuable than the other two; indeed, the other two forms of organization are typically disvaluable. Beyond focusing on the value of individual instances of responsive cohesion, I further consider the fact that every responsively cohesive item exists within a wider context(s), which may itself tend more towards fixed cohesion, responsive cohesion, or discohesion. This raises a number of further issues; for example, what should we do if a responsively cohesive item clashes with – is discohesive with – its responsively cohesive context? I advance a normative theory of contexts to sort out these kinds of issues. In the context of this discussion, I briefly consider a range of other ideas that bear a family resemblance to the idea of responsive cohesion and indicate, equally briefly, why the theory of responsive cohesion approach is superior to these other approaches. I conclude with some guidance on how we can implement the ideas advanced here (“we” because we all design things in our own way) and then, more specifically, on the implications of these ideas for the professional designer-client relationship
University Mental Health Charter Impact Evaluation
Get PDFThis report documents an evaluation of the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) Programme and Award, funded by Student Minds from 2022-2024.
The UMHC Framework provides a set of evidence-informed principles to support universities to adopt a whole-university approach to mental health and wellbeing. The UMHC Programme brings together universities committed to making mental health a university-wide priority to share practice and create cultural change. The UMHC Award is a voluntary accreditation scheme that supports universities to understand areas of strength and development to inform ongoing improvement in mental health and wellbeing, recognising good practice along the way. The evaluation sought to explore the impacts of the UMHC Programme and related Award on participating UK universities and the higher education sector more generally. The overarching aims of the evaluation were to:
• understand the impact of the University Mental Health Charter Programme and Award on university culture, policies, process and practice and the lived experiences of staff and students
• understand the facilitators and barriers to change in university culture, policies, process and practice
• accurately describe the mechanisms through which participating in the UMHC Programme and Award can change university culture, policies, process and practice
• understand the impact of the UMHC Programme and Award on sector level discourse, practice, policy, research and other forms of enquiry
Praxis and the disruption of Organised Crime Groups
No full textAlthough reports state the frequency of general crime has fallen across the developed world, no such trend is evident within organised crime. This has caused law enforcement agencies to search for more innovative approaches to tackle this global problem. Emerging prominently within this period has been a ‘disruption’ approach, albeit little systematic research currently supports its use. This study explores the way one English Police Force has tackled 15 Organised Crime Groups (99 individuals), using this type of approach. The study specifically examines the characteristics of the offender, the tactics used, and the re-offending levels following the police activity. It concludes by highlighting: the methodological challenges associated with the measurement of organised crime disruption; the ethical questions surrounding this type of intervention; and the overall effectiveness of the approach
Understanding food safety challenges through a gender and social lens in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Get PDFFood safety is crucial for ensuring the quality and safety of the global food supply. However, the gender and social dimensions of food safety are often overlooked and undervalued. Women, who are primary caretakers in households, play a vital role in food preparation, storage, and consumption. Gender inequality can result in limited access to resources and information needed for safe food handling and storage, increasing women's vulnerability to foodborne illnesses. Cultural practices, education, and income levels also impact food safety. These factors can contribute to disparities in food safety and increase the risk of foodborne illnesses among certain populations. Promoting gender equality, cultural sensitivity, and addressing income inequality are essential to ensure safe and secure food for all. Addressing these issues can lead to a more equitable and sustainable food system
Proximal humeral fracture. A commentary on systematic reviews of surgical versus non-surgical management in older adults
Get PDFBackground
Proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) are common fractures in older adults and their prevalence is on the rise. Recovery following this fracture can be complex and disabling. Treatment varies from non-surgical management such as immobilisation to surgical procedures, with choice dependent on type and severity of fracture and patient health.
Objective
Several systematic reviews have considered the evidence for non-surgical versus surgical management of PHF in older adults. This commentary considers these findings for clinical practice and further research.
Methods
Three systematic reviews exploring non-surgical versus surgical management were selected based on the quality of their included evidence, and individually critically appraised. Findings from the reviews were reported for each outcome, and the implications considered for clinical practice and future research.
Results
Findings from the three reviews suggest that surgical management of PHF in older adults does not result in better functional outcomes or quality of life and non-surgical management should achieve acceptable upper limb function while decreasing the risks of surgery. More complex three-part fractures may also be managed non-surgically with fair to good functional results relative to fracture severity.
Conclusion
The findings align with current guidance to offer non-surgical management to uncomplicated cases of PHF in adults and older adults. More complex three-part PHFs may also be managed well non-surgically. There is however a lack of evidence and guidance on the specifics of rehabilitation for this type of management and further research is needed to evaluate the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of non-surgical interventions
‘This Has Honestly Changed My Life’ – Evaluating the Efficacy of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements
No full textThere is significant evidence of a strong relationship between contact with the criminal justice system and substance use and poor mental health (Wakeling and Lynch, 2020). The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provided a sentencing option – a Mental Health Treatment Requirement – which considered a person’s mental health, but uptake has historically been low (NOMS, 2014). Prison populations are disproportionately affected by poor mental health, with one study over a decade ago determining that only ‘24% of male prisoners were affected by neither drug use problems nor mental health problems’ (Friestad and Kjelsberg, 2009, p.237). The prison population has almost doubled since this study and the system faces unprecedented challenges of staff shortages, real-term budget cuts, overcrowding, lack of educational opportunities, health inequalities, unsuitable estates and an increase in interpersonal violence (Howard League, 2014) even prior to the pressure from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The need for further support in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) was also identified as part of a wider approach in a seminal NHS report which laid out a roadmap to tackle mental ill health, titled ‘Five Year Forward View for Mental Health’ (FYFVMH) in 2016. The FYFVMH aimed to transform mental health provision through a holistic and multifaceted approach. While it did not focus specifically on the CJS, it did provide a backdrop for related agencies and the NHS to pilot a programme which focused on reducing custodial sentences by utilising Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTRs) specifically, Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs). MHTRs require an individual to undertake therapeutic intervention as part of their sentence, so provide access to mental health services whilst also removing the risk incarceration can pose to further exacerbating poor mental health (see ‘Context’ below).
This chapter will examine how greater use of CSTRs, with a specific focus on MHTRs, was facilitated through a multi-agency approach to improve outcomes for those suffering from poor mental health (and frequently substance and/or alcohol use too). The CSTR protocol was piloted in 2017, with larger rollouts being conducted following a pilot of five sites in England. It also provides an overview of mental health issues in the CJS during the initiation of the CSTR pilot, demonstrating how this programme emerged and why. Recognising this is still a relatively new approach, this chapter will examine the efficacy of the CSTR protocol by reviewing data from its early implementation and focus on one of its initial testbed sites – Sefton Magistrates’ Court – as a case study. It will then consider to what extent the programme has met its aims and how this can further develop in future. In doing so, this chapter offers a focused analysis of a new and innovative approach to tackling mental ill health in the CJS, which has so far yielded positive results.
To ensure consistency when utilising data from across the different partner agencies, the term ‘service user’ (rather than offender or client etc.) will be used for all instances when discussing those who are engaged with a treatment requirement
Development of Machine Intelligence for Fully Autonomous Ground Vehicles Via Video Analysis
Get PDFThe automation of vehicles is progressing from one automation level to the next, with the goal of reaching level 5, which involves no steering wheel, pedals, brakes, or windshield. This is achieved by the vehicle taking on an increasing number of autonomous decision-making tasks under the guidance of intelligent control systems that are equipped with enhancing sensor technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Major vehicle companies are competing to build the most experienced (AI-) driver on the roads. In this report, how the intelligence of Self-Driving Vehicles (SDVs) is being built by the automotive industry for the efficient deployment of handover wheels is analysed and applications of machine intelligence for SDVs are implemented through video capturing using Deep Learning (DL). The results show that i) the use of DL techniques as well as reinforcement learning (RL) - Deep RL approaches - can contribute to the intelligence of SDVs significantly and ii) SDVs, equipped with advanced mechatronics systems, can be fully autonomous with the level-5 automation as they are trained appropriately with proper datasets
Sensitivity and specificity of Aboriginal‐developed items to supplement the adapted PHQ ‐9 screening measure for depression: results from the Getting it Right study
Get PDFObjective: To determine the psychometric properties of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander‐developed depressive symptom screening scale. Design: Prospective diagnostic accuracy study. Setting: Ten primary health care services or residential alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services in Australia that predominantly serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Participants: 500 adults (18 years or older) who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and were able to communicate sufficiently to respond to questionnaire and interview questions. Recruitment occurred between 25 March 2015 and 2 November 2016. Main outcome measure: Criterion validity of seven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander‐developed items, using the adapted Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (aPHQ‐9) and depression module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 6.0.0 as the criterion standards. Results: The seven‐item scale had good internal consistency (α = 0.83) and correlated highly with the aPHQ‐9 (ρ = 0.76). All items were significantly associated with diagnosis of a current major depressive episode. Discriminant function and decision tree analysis identified three items forming a summed scale that classified 85% of participants correctly. These three items showed equivalent sensitivity and specificity to the aPHQ‐9 when compared with the MINI‐identified diagnosis of a current major depressive episode. Conclusion: Three items developed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may provide effective, efficient and culturally appropriate screening for depression in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care contexts
Astromorphism and the Influence of Prehistoric Astronomy on the Origin of Religion
Get PDFCelestial bodies have long been a source of religious objectification and this article aims to convey the origin of the relationship between human religious belief and observations of the night sky. The academic search for the origin of religion commenced in the early nineteenth century and since then the debate of whether animism or pre-animism is the original religion has dominated this field. Until now, no unified theory has acknowledged the influence of primitive astronomy on the origin of religion. However, the theory of Astronicism supports the pre-animist hypothesis by proposing that early modern humans of the Upper Palaeolithic made simple associations between celestial bodies and their apparent capacity to determine human survival. This article asserts that these associations led to celestial deification long before humans animated astronomical phenomena with spirits. Archaeological specimens from Europe and beyond including astral rock art, cup marks and engravings are used in this article to assert that astrolatry and astromancy were crucial to the development of religion