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Adult Mental Health, Major Conditions and Social Prescribing: A Rapid Review
Get PDFThis rapid review explores the use of social prescribing for individuals with mental health needs. Mental health conditions are one of the six areas of focus in the UK government’s major conditions strategy, which aims to increase healthy life expectancy, alleviate pressure on the health system, and recognise the impact of comorbidity. It aims to improve the treatment of patients through the integration of mental health and physical health pathways. Social prescribing shows promise in contributing to positive mental health outcomes and could be a viable option as part of this strategy. Fifty-three articles were included in this rapid review from 4 databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed and Scopus) which discussed the use of social prescribing in addressing mental health conditions. Social prescribing activities, the roles and responsibilities of practitioners, and the need for further underpinning research are all explored. Overall, this review highlights the potential benefits of social prescribing for individuals with mental health conditions
Reviewing the evidence on pharmacological interventions for people with borderline personality disorder
Get PDFBorderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterised by emotional instability, impulsive behaviours, distorted thinking and unstable relationships and causes significant impairment in general functioning and distress to those living with the condition. It is also associated with multiple medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Many people with BPD are prescribed psychotropic medicines, often long-term and with risks of polypharmacy and adverse effects, yet there is limited evidence to support this treatment option in this population.
The authors of this article provide a commentary on a Cochrane review of pharmacological interventions for people with BPD. The Cochrane review confirmed that there is limited evidence of the efficacy of pharmacological interventions in improving BPD symptoms, incidents of self-harm, suicidal behaviours or psychosocial functioning. The authors therefore urge judicious prescribing alongside monitoring and deprescribing plans, addressing stigma in prescribing practice and prioritising non-pharmacological treatment options
Deviations from the universal Initial Mass Function in binary star clusters
Get PDFThe stellar mass distribution in star-forming regions, stellar clusters and associations, the Initial Mass Function (IMF), appears to be invariant across different star-forming environments, and is consistent with the IMF observed in the Galactic field. Deviations from the field, or standard, IMF, if genuine, would be considered strong evidence for a different set of physics at play during the formation of stars in the birth region in question. We analyse N-body simulations of the evolution of spatially and kinematically substructured star-forming regions to identify the formation of binary star clusters, where two (sub)clusters which form from the same Giant Molecular Cloud orbit a common centre of mass. We then compare the mass distributions of stars in each of the subclusters and compare them to the standard IMF, which we use to draw the stellar masses in the star-forming region from which the binary cluster(s) form. In each binary cluster that forms, the mass distributions of stars in one subcluster deviates from the standard IMF, and drastically so when we apply similar mass resolution limits as for the observed binary clusters. Therefore, if a binary subcluster is observed to have an unusual IMF, this may simply be the result of dynamical evolution, rather than different physical conditions for star formation in these systems
The use of accelerometers to improve clinical outcomes in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators or at high risk of sudden cardiac death
Get PDFWearable accelerometers hold promise in assessing individual physical behaviour, potentially serving as prognostic predictors of future events. This commentary critically evaluates a systematic review that examined the association between physical behaviour and key clinical outcomes in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators or who were at risk of sudden cardiac death
Test-Retest Reliability and Sensitivity of Kinematic and Kinetic Metrics Measured from Horizontal Deceleration Ability Tests with Different Sprinting Distances
Get PDFThis study aimed to (1) assess the test-retest reliability and sensitivity of kinematic and kinetic metrics from 5-m, 10-m, and 20-m horizontal deceleration ability (HDA) tests; (2) explore the relationships of those metrics from HDA5m, HDA10m and HDA20m tests. Eighteen college athletes completed one familiarization session and two test sessions separated by 48 hours. Test sessions consisted of three 5-m, 10-m, and two 20-m maximal sprints, along with HDA tests conducted at the same sprinting distances. The deceleration-related metrics measured from HDA5m, HDA10m and HDA20m tests showed good-to-excellent overall reliability (ICC > 0.75, CV SWC0.5). DTS and TTS of the HDA5m test showed non-significant and small to moderate relationships with the HDA10m and HDA20m tests, while all kinetic metrics displayed significant and large to very large correlations among three tests. This suggests that short-distance HDA tests are reliable and sensitive for assessing deceleration performance, and further research is needed to explore the biomechanical and physiological factors influencing this unique ability
Potential protocol for earthworm monitoring under adverse soil conditions or in small plots
Get PDFMany methods for earthworm sampling have been developed with various sample sizes and soil volumes for physical, chemical, and electrical extraction. Each method has its benefits and shortcomings, as for example, in hard and dry soils aestivating earthworms are often unrecorded with chemical or electrical sampling. However, this study tested an alternative physical sampling method (Cylinder) for dry soils or small plots with a sample area of 78.54 cm2 which was compared with a more universally-used Spade-method (400 cm2). The Cylinder method used six soil augers per plot of 10 cm diameter and 20 cm length, driven into the soil by a heavy-duty electrical demolition hammer. Each Cylinder sample was hand-searched for earthworms for 15 min. The Spade-method comprised four soil monoliths per plot of 20 × 20 × 20 cm, with each hand-sorted for 45 min. Earthworm parameters such as abundance and biomass of total, adult, juvenile and ecological groups were compared for each technique. The study was part of an on-farm research project in Austria and eight sites were selected due to different soil types, climate and management systems (conventional vs. conservation). Conventional field management included soil tillage (depth 20–25 cm) without cover cropping whereas conservation practices comprised of no-till and the use of cover crops. The results for Cylinder were similar to Spade for Shannon index, abundance and biomass of most earthworm parameters, except for adult biomass (Spade was 7 % higher than Cylinder). In addition, power analysis showed that both methods are comparable and can detect a difference of 99 earthworms m−2 with 6 subsamples for Cylinder and 4 subsamples for Spade with β = 80 %. Nevertheless, due to the smaller sample volume, soil from Cylinder can be transported more easily than that from Spade and examined in the laboratory under more comfortable working conditions. In addition, Cylinder is less destructive to plots and can therefore be used for specific research purposes or in plots <2 × 2 m. The results of Shannon index, abundance and biomass of total, adult, anecic and endogeic earthworms were higher for conservation than conventional for both sampling methods. Results from this study may assist decision-making on choice of technique, depending on specific research objectives
Modelling mangrove dynamics in Mauritius: Implications for conservation and climate resilience
Get PDFMangroves are vital ecosystems offering services such as coastal protection and carbon sequestration. However, climate change will substantially impact these ecosystems, especially on island states. Currently, there is a lack of detailed studies that predict changes in mangrove distribution under future climate scenarios and those that exist rarely address the unique vulnerabilities and challenges faced by island ecosystems. The present study aimed to fill in this gap by using MaxEnt to predict mangrove distribution at Le Morne, Mauritius, under two climate change scenarios (SSP126 and SSP245) across four time periods: 2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080 and 2081–2100. Key predictors used were LULC, temperature seasonality, DEM and slope. All AUC values were in the range of 0.89–0.9 indicating robust model performance. Results indicated mangrove inward migration constrained by existing land uses, potentially reducing ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity support. These findings are crucial for conservation efforts at Le Morne, a famous tourist site, where mangroves sustain local livelihoods. The study also supports SDGs 6, 8, 13 and 14 and the methodology can be scaled and replicated globally. Decision makers, researchers and relevant stakeholders can leverage these findings to guide proactive conservation strategies and effective planning efforts to increase climate change resilience
An Assessment of Bio-physical and Social Drivers of River Vulnerability and Risks
Get PDFIn recent decades, the river Ganges in India has been heavily contaminated with domestic waste and industrial toxins because of cultural activities, a lack of community awareness, absence of sewage disposal facilities and rapid population growth. Previous studies have focused separately on either the physical or social factors associated with
river Ganges pollution but have not combined these elements in a single study. To fill this research gap, our study assesses the biophysical and social vulnerability of the river Ganges by using a holistic approach. Four sampling stations were selected: Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur, and Varanasi. These locations were chosen to test the water quality in biophysical aspects and to assess the social perceptions of river vulnerability among residents and visitors. Perceptions of river water quality and likely sources of pollution were gathered via distribution of over 1000 questionnaires. Data collection took place in the winter and summer of 2022 and 2023. The results recorded that river water quality is not suitable for drinking purpose at any of four cities without conventional treatment, also the river is unsuitable for bathing at all locations except upstream of Rishikesh. Nearly 50% of those questioned agreed that the river is polluted, whilst 74% agreed that pollution has increased in recent decades, particularly in last 10 years. These compelling results are critical for policymakers and decision-makers. They highlight the urgent need for novel strategies that address Ganges pollution while fostering community health education and environmental management. By dispelling myths surrounding river quality, this study strengthens the ongoing efforts to restore the Ganges, ensuring that it remains a vital lifeline for present and future generations
AI and Wearable Biometric Devices: Improving Real-Time Health
No full textIntegrating Artificial Intelligence with wearable biometric devices enables real-time health monitoring; this is a new exciting frontier. This study will compile literature reviews, data collection, the development of an AI model, and ethical considerations to establish the feasibility, accuracy, and benefits of integrating AI into wearable health systems. Real-world applications and case studies of AI-driven wearable devices in health monitoring will be presented. These findings will no doubt prove to be useful inputs for healthcare professionals, technology developers, and policymakers in furthering personalized and preventive healthcare solutions. Although privacy, accessibility, and user engagement challenges persist, ongoing refinements in AI and sensor technologies hold great promise for improving health outcomes and transforming the future of healthcare delivery
The Galactic bulge exploration V. The secular spherical and X-shaped Milky Way bulge
Get PDFIn this work, we derive systemic velocities for RR Lyrae stars. This is the largest dataset of these variables in the Galactic bulge to date. In combination with Gaia proper motions, we computed their orbits using an analytical gravitational potential similar to that of the Milky Way (MW) and identified interlopers from other MW structures, which amount to ,% of the total sample. Our analysis revealed that most interlopers are associated with the halo, and the remainder are linked to the Galactic disk. We confirm the previously reported lag in the rotation curve of bulge RR Lyrae stars, regardless of the removal of interlopers. The rotation patterns of metal-rich RR Lyrae stars are consistent with the pattern of nonvariable metal-rich giants, following the MW bar, while metal-poor stars rotate more slowly. The analysis of the orbital parameter space was used to distinguish bulge stars that in the bar reference frame have prograde orbits from those on retrograde orbits. We classified the prograde stars into orbital families and estimated the chaoticity (in the form of the frequency drift, łogΔΩ) of their orbits. RR Lyrae stars with banana-like orbits have a bimodal distance distribution, similar to the distance distribution seen in metal-rich red clump stars. The fraction of stars with banana-like orbits decreases linearly with metallicity, as does the fraction of stars on prograde orbits (in the bar reference frame). The retrograde-moving stars (in the bar reference frame) form a centrally concentrated nearly spherical distribution. From analyzing an N-body+SPH simulation, we found that some stellar particles in the central parts oscillate between retrograde and prograde orbits and that only a minority stays prograde over a long period of time. Based on the simulation, the ratio of prograde and retrograde stellar particles seems to stabilize within some gigayears after the bar formation. The nonchaoticity of retrograde orbits and their high numbers can explain some of the spatial and kinematical features of the MW bulge that have been often associated with a classical bulge