26199 research outputs found
Sort by
Euclid: The first statistical census of dusty and massive objects in the ERO/Perseus field
No full textOur comprehension of the history of star formation at z>3 strongly relies on rest-frame ultraviolet observations. However, this selection systematically misses the dustiest and most massive sources, resulting in an incomplete census at earlier times. Infrared facilities such as and the Space Telescope have shed light on a hidden population lying at z=3--6 characterised by extreme red colours named HIEROs (HST-to-IRAC extremely red objects), identified by the colour criterion ̋E - > 2.25. Recently, Euclid Early Release Observations (EROs) have opened the possibility to further study such objects, exploiting the comparison between Euclid and ancillary /IRAC observations. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of this synergy in characterising the population of a small test area of 232,arcmin2 u g r ̊m H ,α, i , and ) already included in the ERO catalogue. We selected 121 HIEROs by applying the ̋E - > 2.25 colour cut, cleaned this sample of globular clusters and brown dwarfs, and then inspected by eye the multi-band cutouts of each source, ending with 42 reliable HIEROs. Photometric redshifts and other physical properties of the final sample were estimated using the spectral-energy-distribution-fitting software . From the z_ z ch2 Bagpipes phot and M_* values, we computed the galaxy stellar mass function at 3.5<z<5.5. When we exclude all galaxies that could host an active galactic nucleus, or whose stellar masses might be overestimated, we still find that the high-mass end of the galaxy stellar mass function is similar to previous estimates, indicating that the true value could be even higher. This investigation highlights the importance of a deeper study of this still mysterious population, in particular to assess its contribution to the cosmic star-formation rate density and its agreement with current galaxy evolution and formation models. These early results demonstrate Euclid's capabilities to push the boundaries of our understanding of obscured star formation across a wide range of epochs
Assessing Deceleration Performance: Methodological and Practical Considerations
No full textDeceleration is a critical locomotor skill for athletes competing in multi-directional speed sports. Greater deceleration can help athletes perform rapid reductions in velocity facilitating rapid changes of direction, whilst the high mechanical forces associated with braking can be linked to a heightened risk of fatigue, tissue damage and injuries. Despite the clear importance of deceleration in sport, research and applied practices in the past have predominantly focused on assessing an athlete’s sprint acceleration and maximum velocity capabilities, neglecting the necessity to be able to decelerate. With tactical evolutions in sports demanding athletes to accelerate and attain higher sprinting speeds more frequently in competition, there is increased necessity to decelerate and to be able to accurately assess this movement skill. Therefore, the aim of this article is to discuss methodological and practical considerations of the protocols and measurement technologies that can be used to assess deceleration in an applied field-based environment. The article highlights a range of different protocols (i.e. change of direction and acceleration-deceleration ability tests) and measurement technologies (i.e. radar, laser, video, global navigation satellite systems, inertial measurement units and motorised resistance devices) that can be used to evaluate deceleration and some of the advantages and disadvantages of each. Key metrics used to measure deceleration performance, and the kinematics underpinning deceleration technique are highlighted. Given the performance, health and injury-risk implications associated with deceleration, assessment of this movement skill should be given high priority within any athlete multi-disciplinary support system
Percentage of left ventricular myocardial blood flow distribution and revascularization completeness in FASTTRACK CABG
No full textBackground
Complete coronary revascularization has significant clinical outcome implications; however, there is no objective, quantitative, or universal definition.
Aim
To provide a quantitative personalized assessment of myocardium at risk before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.
Methods
Percent left ventricular myocardial blood flow distribution (LV%MYO) was derived from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and used to quantify the myocardium at risk of ischemia in the 16 SYNTAX coronary segments of the 114 patients in the multicenter, prospective FASTTRACK CABG trial. Given each point of the fixed SYNTAX myocardial weighting factor represents 16.7 % (1/6) of myocardial blood flow, the myocardial weighting factor of each coronary segment was calculated as 6 × LV%MYO. The patency of bypass grafts was assessed on 30-day follow-up CCTA, and the residual LV%MYO was obtained by subtracting the LV%MYO in segments anastomosed with non-stenotic grafts from the pre-CABG global LV%MYO.
Results
LV%MYO were analyzable in 106 patients (mean age 65.6 (8.9) years, 87 % male); 53 had ≥1 total occlusion. The fixed myocardial weighting factor for most SYNTAX coronary segments differs significantly from the weighting factor derived from LV%MYO. The pre-CABG global LV%MYO, and the residual LV%MYO in 96 patients with post-CABG CCTA were 70.1 (18.8)% and 14.0 (15.3)%, respectively. Complete revascularization (residual LV%MYO ≤10 %) was achieved in 42 patients (43.8 %). The operator's discretion not to graft was the main reason that 106 coronary segments were not revascularized, with graft occlusion accounting for 22.6 %.
Conclusion
CCTA-derived LV%MYO allows an objective and individualized quantification of the myocardium at risk, facilitating prospective prediction and retrospective assessment of the completeness of revascularization in CABG patients
New Methodological Directions for Involving Children in Past Life Memories Research
No full textPast life memories in children have been studied extensively through standard qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Research to date has produced valuable data to support how we understand children’s past life memories. Children are the primary source for data collection in past life research, as the producers/facilitators of memories. Despite this, children tend to be researched on rather than with, through adult-centric approaches. In this article, we include a case study example of spontaneous past life and in-utero memories of a 6-year old child. The case study example is taken from a parent study, ‘Investigating Extra Sensory Experiences of Children from Various Cultural Backgrounds’. Through the article, we demonstrate how using creative research methods and sensory ethnography can generate important knowledge from children about their own past life memories. We include results from the parent study that show past life memory data from children, parents and professionals. We propose involving children as active agents in past life memory research and argue for new directions in the field of PLM through creative and child-friendly research
Peer support for women who have experienced interpersonal trauma or abuse: An integrative review
No full textBackground: Experiences of interpersonal trauma, such as abuse or violence, are common for women and can cause lasting damage to physical, mental, and social well-being. Peer support is a caring approach in which individuals use experiences of overcoming adversity, together with training and supervision, to support others.
Aim: To synthesise the evidence for peer support for women and adolescent girls who have experienced interpersonal trauma.
Methods: An integrative systematic review was undertaken. Database searches (PsychArticles, PsychInfo, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, Criminal Justice, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Social Sciences, SocINDEX and Web of Science) were conducted in August 2022, September 2023 and 16th October 2025. Forward and backward chaining was undertaken on included studies. Study quality was assessed using methodology-specific appraisal tools. Data were analysed and interpreted using Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence (SOC) framework.
Results: We included 11 papers representing 9 separate studies, from three countries, published between 2004 and 2021. All studies were conducted in high income countries. Findings were reported under three themes mapped to the SOC components of comprehensibility (understanding trauma and its impact), manageability (having the resources to cope) and meaningfulness (motivation for meaningful change). The review found that peer support can stimulate women’s and peer supporter’s self-awareness and knowledge of how they have been affected by trauma and abuse. While the shared histories of peers and recipients could enable connection and trust, peer supporters could feel a sense of responsibility to ‘rescue’ women and a sense of failure if unable to do so. Peer support interventions were generally found to be beneficial for both women and peer supporters; they offer a sensitive and meaningful approach to improve health, well-being and alleviate suffering.
Conclusion: While further studies are needed in this area, findings confirm the wider literature of peer support being a helpful intervention, largely due to shared histories and reciprocity. Further work to develop suitable recruitment, training and support for peer supporters is needed
Manifestations of research ethics and integrity leadership in national surveys – cases of Estonia, Finland, Norway, France and the Netherlands
Full text linkBackground
A systems approach encourages the consideration of the national dimension of research integrity. National surveys provide a picture of a wider research community overarching research institutions.
Material
We investigated how research ethics and integrity leadership (REI) is manifested in national surveys by conducting a cross-case meta-synthesis of national surveys of Finland, Estonia, Norway, France and the Netherlands using deductive thematic analysis. The REI leadership competence framework involves four central principles: “people’s needs,” “developing the community,” “leaders” personal competencies,’ and “open culture.”
Results
The principle “researchers” needs’ seemed to be related to the support in the working environment, socializing for values and principles, leaders taking responsibility and the need for understanding for career planning, common practices and managing pressure. “Community development” was characterized through REI infrastructure, like guidelines and training, even though participation in training varied substantially across the countries. The principle “leaders” competencies’ indicated that leaders should be role-models especially in acting appropriately when allegations of misconduct arise. “Open culture” was displayed through trust and courage to talk about ethics including whistleblowing.
Conclusions
Results indicated that observed misconduct was often not reported because of fear of retaliation, missing instructions or seeing no point in reporting. We provide recommendations for the development of REI leadership
Witness Artistic Rendition and its Impacts on Visual Memory for Forensic Facial Composite Creation
Full text linkPURPOSE: In the absence of photographic or other identifying evidence, composites provide crucial intelligence in police investigations, though their accuracy depends on a witness's facial memory and recall. The current study investigated a novel technique aimed at increasing face recall and composite effectiveness.
APPROACH: In this study, one group of participants (control) viewed a facial photograph, recalled the face using a cognitive interview and created a composite with a forensic artist. A second (experimental) group of participants did the same except that they sketched the face themselves prior to the cognitive interview. The impact of participants sketching the face was measured by assessing the number of “units of information” produced during free recall of the face, as well as the identifiability of the composites, evaluated by an additional group of participants who attempted to name the sketched composites. Participants also rated their general ability to draw and their general level of observation.
FINDINGS: Results showed, relative to the control group, that the experimental group provided more detailed descriptions of the face and that this improvement to memory led to creation of more identifiable composites. Therefore, our findings suggest that this artistic rendition technique enhances both the cognitive interview and the accuracy of forensic facial composites. It was also found that participants’ self-rated measures of drawing and observant behaviour were positively related to the accuracy of the participants’ composites.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This simple technique of asking witnesses to sketch the face themselves could be implemented by police forces with minimal effort and impact to budget. It presents a straightforward and budget-efficient way to increase the identifiability of composite images without the need for additional lengthy training for forensic practitioners.
VALUE: Results suggest that the witness artistic rendition technique represents a novel, low-cost, and simple method that could be utilized to increase composite accuracy
How are dark kitchens perceived by different cultures? A cross-cultural study in Brazil, Poland, and the United Kingdom
No full textThis study investigates how consumers from Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Poland perceive and evaluate dark kitchens (DK)—delivery-only food services without physical dining areas. Among 859 surveyed consumers, our study first assessed their knowledge and definitions of DKs, revealing substantial cross-country differences in awareness and perception. While most participants recognized DKs as restaurants operating exclusively online or lacking dine-in space, notable minorities, particularly in Brazil and the UK, associated them with informal or substandard establishments, reflecting ongoing skepticism and unfamiliarity. Familiarity with the concept was highest in Poland. Building on these insights, we modeled the drivers of purchase intention, testing the roles of trust in health surveillance, trust in food delivery apps, perceived food safety, quality control, user experience, and social responsibility. Partial least squares structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis identified that food safety, user experience, and social responsibility are consistent predictors of willingness to buy across countries, while institutional trust and quality control effects are culturally contingent. These findings advance theory by demonstrating how cultural context shapes both conceptual understanding and consumer decision-making about dark kitchens, providing actionable guidance for operators and policymakers across diverse markets
Assessing knowledge in policing
No full textAssessment is one important component of effective learning design. The process of assessment can be explained as starting with an understanding of what a learner needs to know or be able to do by the end of the learning experience, what they have to do to achieve this and what method is best applied to ascertain if the learner has reached the required level (Cockcroft, 2023). Without assessment, educators and trainers would have limited awareness of the extent to which (if at all) they are cultivating learners’ knowledge, attitudes and skills, both as the learning proceeds (formative assessment) and at the end of learning (summative assessment). Traditionally, much police learning and associated assessment has been in-house / work-based. It has been delivered within local Learning and Development units, typically by former police officers (Stanko & Hohl, 2018) with portfolios predominantly used as the mode of assessment for practitioners. The embedding of a professionalisation agenda over the last decade, however, has led to a renewed focus on assessment for officers who have joined through the graduate entry routes (formally known as the Policing Education Qualifications Framework, PEQF; see Wood, 2018), and continue to join through the Police Constable Entry Pathways (PCEP).
Framed by recent trends within police learning and specifically developments in the field of rape investigation, the aim of this chapter is twofold. Firstly, there is a focus on what the Soteria ‘deep dives’ revealed about the process of assessment. In this chapter the focus is focused on the the role of assessment within the portfolio-based Serious Sexual Assault Investigator’s Development Programme (SSAIDP). Secondly, an examination of what ‘best practice assessment’ might look like in the Rape and Serious Sexual Offending (RASSO) contex
Impact of Financial Development on the Circular Economy: empirical evidence from the European Union.
No full textIn the context of growing environmental degradation and unsustainable resource use, the transition to a circular economy (CE) has become central to policy and academic discourse. While financial development is increasingly recognized as a potential enabler of sustainability, its empirical linkage to CE outcomes remains underexplored. This study investigates the relationship between financial development—measured by domestic credit to the private sector (% of GDP)—and municipal waste generation per capita across 28 European countries from 2000 to 2020. Using a robust empirical strategy that includes fixed effects, instrumental variables (IV) estimation, and panel quantile regression, we assess whether access to credit supports or undermines CE performance. Municipal waste per capita serves as an inverse proxy for CE, capturing material inefficiencies and the persistence of linear economic models. Results consistently show a positive and significant association between financial development and waste generation, suggesting that, in the absence of environmental targeting, expanded credit may reinforce consumption-driven waste. The findings underscore the importance of aligning financial sector growth with sustainability objectives through green finance instruments and regulatory incentives. This paper contributes to the emerging literature at the intersection of finance, environmental strategy, and circular economic transition