18918 research outputs found
Sort by
Effectiveness of short text messages intervention to enhance medication adherence and blood lipid management in patients with chronic hyperlipidemia: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial
No full textObjectives: This trial aimed to determine the effect of reminder text messages on medication adherence in patients with chronic hyperlipidemia and to compare medication adherence and lipid levels between the two patient groups. Design: This was a single-center, randomized controlled trial with a parallel group design and equal allocation (1:1). Methods: The study was conducted at Imam Hossein Comprehensive Health Services Center located in Bushehr Province, Iran. A total of 60 patients with hyperlipidemia were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 30) or the control group (n = 30). The intervention group received a daily reminder text message for six weeks. Cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels were measured and recorded at baseline and six weeks later, and the data were entered into a data collection form. Additionally, both groups completed the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale at the beginning of the study and again after six weeks. The primary outcome of this study was the patients’ medication adherence, while the secondary outcomes included changes in cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL levels in the two groups. Results: After six weeks of intervention, the mean medication adherence score (Morisky scale) in the intervention group significantly increased (6.20 vs. 3.83, p \u3c 0.001). Moreover, the mean difference in cholesterol and triglycerides between the intervention and control groups were 41.47 and 98.23 units, respectively (p \u3c 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in LDL levels between the two groups at the end of the sixth week (mean difference = 1.27; p = 0.667). Conclusions: The reminder text message intervention improves medication adherence and results in a significant reduction in cholesterol and triglyceride levels; however, it has no significant impact on LDL levels. Trial registration: This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) under the code IRCT20180703040317N1 (https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/33182)
A tropically hot Late Jurassic North American Sundance Sea: Evidence for the Oxfordian Warm Interval
No full textSupplementary material for the paper: A tropically hot Late Jurassic North American Sundance Sea: Evidence for the Oxfordian Warm Interval
Mooring analysis in offshore floating labs: Case study on a 15 MW wind platform
Full text linkAs floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) expand into deeper and more complex marine environments, validating mooring system performance under real-world conditions becomes critical. This study investigates whether the purposely designed offshore floating laboratory (OffLab), named ACTOR, can serve as an effective and conservative testbed for mooring line evaluation. ACTOR is a conceptual platform inspired by the floater of the UMaine VolturnUS-S 15 MW semi-submersible FOWT design. The dimension of the ACTOR is about one third of the 15 MW semi-sub floater and is intended deployment in a nearshore UK site with milder sea conditions. Using site-specific environmental data from two locations—the full-scale deployment zone in the Celtic Sea and a nearshore test location near Plymouth Sound—we perform comparative mooring analyses with OrcaFlex. Extreme load cases are defined using Direct-IFORM environmental contours, and fatigue conditions are derived from long-term wave spectral clustering. Results show that due to shallow water effects and tailored pre-tensioning, the ACTOR platform can replicate or exceed the mooring line tensions and fatigue damage accumulation observed in full-scale systems. The findings demonstrate the potential of ACTOR as a physically accessible, cost-effective platform for accelerated offshore component testing
Slow food, fast intentions? Linking values with sustainable food choices
No full textThe acceleration of modern life has driven consumers to pursue efficiency at the expense of well-being, leading to a loss of mindful eating and reduced attention to sustainability. Although awareness of sustainable food practices is increasing, little is known about how culturally rooted value systems such as Slow Food influence consumers\u27 sustainable choices. This study aims to examine how perceptions of Slow Food values affect sustainable food-consumption intentions. Study 1 employed qualitative interviews (N = 26) to identify three key value dimensions: mindful pacing, cultural rootedness, and ecological responsibility, which together underpin consumer engagement with Slow Food. Building on these findings, Study 2 integrated the Value–Belief–Norm theory and the Theory of Planned Behaviour through a questionnaire survey (N = 434) and applied PLS-SEM to test the structural pathways from perceived Slow Food values to pro-environmental food intentions. The results show that perceived Slow Food values, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control significantly predict sustainable food choices, with perceived behavioural control emerging as the strongest predictor, while personal norms have no direct effect. This study contributes by developing a validated framework of Slow Food value perceptions and by integrating moral and self-interest motivations within sustainable food behaviour. Practically, the findings offer guidance for policymakers and hospitality operators to promote environmentally responsible and culturally grounded eating practices
Investigating the Determinants of Fight Dynamics in the Minotaur Beetle Typhaeus Typhoeus
No full textIt is widely accepted that the main determinants of contest outcome are resource value, residency status, and resource holding potential, with each of these playing an important role in determining contest behaviour. Examples of resource holding potential are morphological traits such as body size and weaponry. Animals that possess weaponry can exhibit different morphotypes, such as size difference in horns, which can lead to differences in contest behaviour, with larger morphotypes engaging in head-to-head combat, while smaller morphotypes can avoid combat altogether. One such species that possess weapons in the form of horns and engages in physical combat, is the minotaur beetle Typhaeus typhoeus. This beetle species is thought to exhibit male dimorphism, and we used a switch-point regression analysis to determine whether this species does have multiple male morphotypes. We studied whether resource holding potential in the form of horn length had a significant effect on contest outcome, by setting up fighting trials. We also studied how residency and resource value affect contest dynamics, such as fight duration, latency and the number of fights that occurred. Using electron microscopy, we studied this species’ setiferous sex patches and how their morphology affects contest dynamics. We found evidence to suggest that Typhaeus typhoeus males do exhibit two male morphotypes, and that contest dynamics were significantly affected by resource holding potential, resource value, and residency, but that there was minimal effect of setiferous sex patch morphology on contest dynamics
UK Charities and the current economic situation Embracing Value-for-money (VFM) in order to survive
No full textSemi-structured interviews were conducted with senior officers, from 12 charities located in Devon, United Kingdom exploring how they are managing in the current financial scenario, and whether the tenets of value for money (VFM) are being used to manage the organisation. The application of VFM to charities yields fresh insights into the management of charitable organisations and provides a framework for managing during difficult financial periods
Designing a systemic intervention for student loneliness and social connectedness using a mixed-methods, co-creation approach
No full textLoneliness and social (dis)connectedness are significant public health concerns, particularly among university students. Despite calls to reconceptualise loneliness as a systemic issue, interventions typically target individual students. This series of studies used a sequential mixed-methods and participatory action approach to explore students’ social experiences and co-design a digital health solution. Focus groups (Study One) and a survey (Study Two) revealed that students see universities as partly responsible for their social connectedness, with perceptions of campus space being key. These insights informed the co-design of MAPP (Study Three), a preventative, system-focused digital solution. MAPP is an interactive campus map that visualises the university’s living social network. It increases the visibility and accessibility of the university community to foster belonging, scaffold social engagement, and support institutional inclusivity. By shifting focus from the lonely student to the university as a social system, MAPP offers a novel, holistic response to student loneliness
Comparing community-based monitoring to hospital-based care of patients with quiescent age-related macular degeneration: a qualitative study of patient and practitioner perspectives on acceptability and access
No full textObjectives This process evaluation explores patient and healthcare professional acceptability of community-based monitoring versus hospital-based care for patients with quiescent neovascular age-related macular degeneration (QnAMD). Design Qualitative process evaluation was conducted as part of a randomised controlled trial. Setting Six hospitals and six community-based practices. Participants 25 patients and 16 healthcare professionals (ophthalmologists and optometrists). This approach helped differentiate between common issues and those specific to community-based monitoring. Intervention The Quality-Assured Follow-Up of QnAMD by non-medical practitioners trial aimed to examine whether non-medical practitioners follow-up patients with QnAMD in the community in a safe and clinically and cost-effective way. The process evaluation aimed to examine whether the intervention was acceptable by patients and professionals. The process evaluation was based on interviews which contained open-ended questions focused on patient experience and confidence in community-based care, issues concerning the practicalities of the organisation and management of the clinic, and resources including IT and digital equipment. The theory of acceptability framework was used to interpret the findings. Results Patients reported positively on the experience of receiving QnAMD services in the community and highlighted staff professionalism and clear communication. Key themes were the proximity of care provision for patients, IT interoperability and the real-world costs of running the service. Some patients randomised to the hospital showed preference for the intervention to take place in the hospital, mediated mainly by prior experience of hospital care and travel distance. The location of the clinic and transport routes affected the experience of attending appointments, with strong preference expressed for proximity to one’s home. Inaccessibility due to non-modifiable internal building structures in the community and parking in hospital eye services was reported by a small proportion of patients. Healthcare professionals reported positively about their ability to deliver QnAMD services in community settings but raised concerns about the compatibility of technological infrastructure that facilitates the sharing of optical coherence tomography image and video files. Some optometrists were also concerned about the financial sustainability of the intervention after the end of the trial due to the costs involved in the administration of QnAMD follow-up care. Conclusions The delivery of QnAMD services in the community by non-medical personnel was broadly accepted by both patients and practitioners. This implies that nonmedical practitioners can follow up patients with QnAMD in the community in a safe way. Further research would be needed to establish whether similar results would be obtained during routine practice outside a research project and whether the long-term follow-up for QnAMD would be financially sustainable for independent as well as chain community optometry practices
Lower suicidal ideation linked to easier access to urban green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide study in Japan
Full text linkUrban green spaces (UGSs) have been linked to improved mental health and lower suicide rates, yet their protective role during large-scale crises remains underexplored. We examined associations of UGS accessibility with long-term and pandemic induced new-onset suicidal ideation during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in urban Japan, using data from a nationwide health survey of 17,376 participants (August 2020). Modified Poisson regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for suicidal ideation by UGS accessibility (area, number, and type) within 5, 10, and 15-minute walking thresholds from home, controlling for individual and area-level confounders. UGS accessibility exhibited dose-response relationships with clear distance-dependency patterns. Within 5-minute walking distance, larger UGSs (\u3e2 ha) were associated with 67 % lower prevalence of new-onset suicidal ideation (PR = 0.330, p = 0.010), while medium-sized areas (0.25–2 ha) showed 46 % lower prevalence (PR = 0.539, p = 0.001). Long-term suicidal ideation showed similar but attenuated associations. Having access to two UGSs showed the strongest associations. These associations diminished at 10-minute distances and were not significant at 15-minute thresholds. Among UGS types, neighbourhood parks (PR = 0.641, p = 0.005) and buffer greenspaces/greenways (PR = 0.526, p = 0.089) showed significant associations with lower prevalence of new-onset ideation at the 5-minute threshold. Community parks showed associations primarily at longer distances (10 and 15 min). When stratified by income, the association was strongest among middle-income populations, with limited associations observed in low-income groups, potentially due to reduced access during the pandemic. This nationwide analysis underscores the importance of incorporating accessible green infrastructure into urban mental health resilience planning during public health emergencies
Enhancing offshore wind resource assessment through neural network-based HF radar data analysis
Full text linkThe increasing demand for offshore wind energy underscores the need for accurate wind speed estimation to support the design and operation of offshore wind farms. High-Frequency Radar (HFR), a widely used remote sensing technology in oceanographic research, offers promising potential for wind resource assessment, particularly in areas where conventional measurements are limited. This study explores the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for offshore wind speed prediction using HFR-derived data, addressing key challenges in model development and training. A key feature of this approach is the use of a decade-long dataset from the Celtic Sea, off the southwest UK coast, incorporating the full Doppler spectrum and sea surface radial velocity. Model performance was assessed over full-year and seasonally segmented four-month periods, with RMSE values ranging from 1.99 to 2.78 m/s and NRMSE values between 12 % and 20 %, demonstrating the feasibility of HFR-informed ANN models for supporting offshore wind applications