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An assessment of demersal Elasmobranch occurrence and associated habitats using an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
Get PDFTo implement effective management and conservation strategies, an understanding of the spatial ecology, habitat preferences and movement of demersal elasmobranchs is required. This study combines a photographic survey obtained from an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with existing bathymetric data to help understand elasmobranch ecology within the Firth of Lorn, western Scotland. This area is within the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura Marine Protected Area (MPA) and designated for the protection of the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius). Two areas of seabed were surveyed using an AUV in water depths of 110–165 m southwest of the Isle of Kerrera. Eight surveys were conducted in total, four in each area. Each area was surveyed twice over 2 days in October 2020 and twice in 2 days in May June 2021. One day used bait on the seabed (October) whilst all the others had no bait. For each survey, the AUV travelled 17 km at a height of 2 m above the seabed in a lawnmower pattern providing 0.5 km 2 photographic coverage for ~2 h per survey. Five elasmobranch species, two scyliorhinids (Scyliohinus canicula and Galeus melastomus) and three rajiformes (D. intermedius, Raja clavata and Leucoraja naevus), were identified from a total of 43 k seabed photographs. In total 42 individual animals and 7 egg cases were observed. Although the AUV had short survey times and small study areas the results are encouraging for AUVs being a useful tool in understanding elasmobranch ecology.</p
A process evaluation of the Walking In ScHools (WISH) Study using the RE-AIM framework
Get PDFBackground Physical inactivity in adolescents is a major public health issue. Schools are important settings for physical activity interventions. The WISH Study was a peer-led, school-based walking intervention that aimed to increase physical activity levels of adolescent girls. This study uses the RE-AIM Framework to present the process evaluation of the WISH Study with a focus on factors that affected participation, motivation, and enjoyment of the intervention.Methods Pupils (n589 12–14 years) were recruited from 18 schools in the border region of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In intervention schools (n9), older pupils (15–18 years) were trained as walk leaders and led pupils (12–14 years) in brisk walks (10–15 min) during the school day, across the school year (2021-22). Questionnaires to measure self-efficacy for walking and physical activity, health-related quality of life and reasons for engaging in physical activity were administered throughout the intervention. At the end of the intervention focus groups were held with pupils, and interviews conducted with teachers and walk leaders. Attendance at walks was monitored by walk leaders. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis. Themes were reported under RE-AIM indicators (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance).Results Pupils in the intervention schools (n286) were representative of adolescent girls in Northern Ireland and Ireland, in terms of their activity level. At baseline, 15% of these pupils met the recommended physical activity guidelines of 60 min moderate-vigorous physical activity per day, as measured by accelerometers. The total number of walks reported per school ranged from 2 to 104 across intervention schools. One quarter of pupils (n74, 26%) never attended a walk and 15% (n23) of walk leaders did not lead a walk. Pupils and walk leaders self-reported improvements in their physical health, mental well-being, and social relationships, and walk leaders reported gaining transferrable skills. Implementation was aided by school support in some schools, although barriers such as COVID-19, lack of time, harsh weather, inadequate facilities for indoor walks, and walk leader availability, were identified. Staff engagement was a key driver for the maintenance of walks.Conclusions Despite a promising feasibility study and a comprehensive walk leader training programme, the extent to which the intervention was adopted and implemented varied, suggesting future school-based physical activityinterventions need to consider individual school contexts to ensure intervention fidelity
Decennial Ward‐Level Influence of Demographic, Farming, and Economic Predictors on All‐Cause Mortality
Get PDFObjectiveThis study has arisen in response to a lack of studies examining how farming affects mortality patterns across areas of Northern Ireland (NI) over a 10-year period. This paper aims to investigate whether agriculturally intensive electoral Wards have higher mortality rates compared to non-agriculturally based Wards, controlling for relevant factors.MethodsThe population census and farm census information was downloaded from the Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Service (NINIS) website to construct two original mortality-based datasets. Linear regression was used for the analysis.DesignDecennial Ward-Level Influence of Demographic, Farming, and Economic Predictors on All-Cause Mortality.SettingFive hundred and eighty-two Ward areas of Northern Ireland.Main Outcome MeasureMortality risk within Ward areas.ResultsFindings showed larger amounts of natural log of the population, 65 to 100+ year-olds, limiting long-term illnesses, Farming Intensity Scores, residents living alone and full-time workers within Wards were predictive of mortality risk within those Wards.ConclusionsThis study is the first of its kind in NI to provide evidence for Farming Intensity Scores explaining the variation of mortality rates between areas, in addition to many of the usual predictors
Food portion sizes: trends and drivers in an obesogenic environment
Get PDFThe prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults has increased worldwide. A strong environmental factor contributing to the obesity epidemic is food portion size (PS). This review evaluates the current evidence linking food PS to obesity, examines the effects of PS on energy intake (EI), and discusses the drivers of food PS selection. The leading causes of the rise in PS include globalisation, intensive farming methods, the impact of World War II, due to shortage of staple foods, and the notion of waste not, want not. Large PS of energy-dense foods may stimulate overconsumption, leading to high EI levels. However, the studies have not shown a cause-and-effect relationship, due to confounding factors. Important mechanisms explaining the attractiveness of larger PS leading to higher EI levels are value for money, portion distortion, labels on food packaging, and tableware. Consumers depend on external rather than internal PS cues to guide consumption, irrespective of satiety levels. Further research is recommended on food consumption patterns to inform policymakers and provide information and insights about changes in diet. </p
Evaluation of physical and chemical modifications to drug reservoirs for stimuli-responsive microneedles
Get PDFHydrogel-forming microneedle (MN) arrays are minimally-invasive devices that can penetrate the stratum corneum, the main barrier to topical drug application, without causing pain. However, drug delivery using hydrogel-forming MN arrays tends to be relatively slow compared to rapid drug delivery using conventional needles and syringes. Therefore, in this work, for the first time, different physical and chemical delivery enhancement methods were employed in combination with PVA-based hydrogel-forming MN arrays. Using a model drug, ibuprofen (IBU) sodium, the designed systems were assessed in terms of the extent of transdermal delivery. Iontophoresis (ITP) and heat-assisted drug delivery technology were investigated as physical permeation enhancement techniques. Ex vivo studies demonstrated that the ITP (0.5 mA/cm2)-mediated combination strategy significantly enhanced the transdermal permeation of IBU sodium over the first 6 h (~ 5.11 mg) when compared to MN alone (~ 1.63 mg) (p < 0.05). In contrast, heat-assisted technology showed almost no promoting effect on transdermal delivery. Furthermore, IBU sodium-containing rapidly dissolving lyophilised and effervescent reservoirs, classified as chemical modification methods, were prepared. Both strategies achieved rapid and effective ex vivo IBU sodium permeation, equating to ~ 78% (30.66 mg) and ~ 71% (28.43 mg) from lyophilised and effervescent reservoirs, respectively. Moreover, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that the IBU sodium plasma concentration within lyophilised and effervescent groups reached a maximum concentration (Cmax) at 4 h (~ 282.15 µg/mL) and 6 h (~ 140.81 µg/mL), respectively. These strategies not only provided rapid achievement of therapeutic levels (10–15 µg/ml), but also resulted in sustained release of IBU sodium for at least 48 h, which could effectively reduce the frequency of administration, thereby improving patient compliance and reducing side effects of IBU sodium. Graphical Abstract
Effective connectivity predicts distributed neural coding of perceptual decision confidence, uncertainty and speed
Get PDFDecision-making is often accompanied by a level of confidence regarding the accuracy of one's decision. Previous studies have indicated neural activity associated with perceptual decision confidence during sensory stimulus presentation. Choice-based reaction time (RT) has been suggested as an indirect but more objective measure of decision confidence – generally faster RT for higher confidence. However, it is unclear whether choice confidence and RT are mediated by distinct neural pathways, and whether their neural correlates are encoded nonlinearly. Within a perceptual decision-making task, we applied fMRI-informed EEG-based effective connectivity analysis via dynamic causal modelling (DCM) on event-related potentials and found the frontoparietal network for fast-vs-slow RT condition to be different from that of high-vs-low confidence rating condition. Furthermore, trial-by-trial DCM analysis predicted cortical layer-based, distributed and nonlinear coding of RT, confidence or uncertainty. Collectively, our study suggests that decision confidence and speed are instantiated by different dynamical networks distributed across cortical layers
Investigating public perception, knowledge and phobia towards corticosteroids post COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in India
Get PDFIntroduction Corticosteroids (CS) have been used to treat various inflammatory and allergy disorders for over a few decades. Though the effectiveness of CS is proven, safety concern prevails. The public is now more aware of CS because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but their information sources still need verification. The study investigates the general public's knowledge, experience, and fears about CS, examining their acceptance and validity, and their relationship with factors like gender, age, and education. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general public of India for six months. An online questionnaire was utilized to collect the perception, knowledge, and phobia towards CS following COVID-19. People who could read and understand English were included in the study. Age, gender, education level, and prior corticosteroid use were tested as predictors for knowledge and corticophobia scores by linear regression. Results A study involving 472 participants, primarily females and university students, found that less than 32 % were previously infected with COVID-19 and 33 % had used CS for respiratory and dermatological disorders. A quarter of the samples experienced acne and mood changes. The population had a satisfactory knowledge score, but a high phobia score. Corticophobia score was positively associated with side effects and knowledge score, but educational level negatively influenced the development of corticophobia. Conclusion The study found that, despite having a satisfactory knowledge of CS, participants displayed a high corticophobia score. Addressing this issue requires awareness campaigns, patient education programs, and patient interaction, and educating healthcare workers
Tackle Techniques and Characteristics Associated With a Concussion in Tackling Players in the National Football League:The American Journal of Sports Medicine
Get PDFBackground: Concussions remain a major concern in football. A qualitative video review can provide contextual evidence supporting changes in rules and coaching techniques aimed at reducing the risk of players sustaining a concussion. Purpose: To identify tackling techniques and characteristics associated with concussions to the tackling player. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A qualitative review of 51 concussions sustained by tacklers in National Football League (NFL) games between the 2015 and 2019 seasons as well as 96 control tackles was performed using video from multiple perspectives. For each concussive case, 1 to 3 nonconcussive control tackles were matched based on player trajectory and closing speed as determined from on-field player tracking data from Next Gen Stats. Cases and controls were coded for 20 different tackle techniques and characteristics. The data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression models, and the results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as well as adjusted and unadjusted P values. Results: Despite attempting to match cases and controls based on closing velocity, closing velocity was significantly associated with the concussion risk in every logistic regression model. Predictors that had the greatest effect on the increased risk of concussions were “tackler leading with helmet” (OR, 5.18 [95% CI, 1.87-14.33]; false discovery rate [FDR]–adjusted P =.0032) and “tackler primary loading” being the helmet as opposed to the shoulder (OR, 4.61 [95% CI, 1.41-15.05]; FDR-adjusted P =.0000). Important factors associated with a reduced concussion risk were the tackler’s “head placed on correct side” of the ball carrier (OR, 4.17 [95% CI, 1.58-11.01]; FDR-adjusted P =.0088) and “ball carrier primary loading,” with the torso having the lowest risk relative to all other body segments. Conclusion: The less a tackler involved his helmet in a tackle, the lower his risk of sustaining a concussion. This study supports teaching players to place their heads on the correct side of the ball carrier (neither into the ball carrier nor into the path of the ball carrier) when tackling to reduce their risk of a concussion, and players should target the torso of the ball carrier as their primary contact point.</p
Integrating sustainability and economic perspectives in reshoring: insights from the German automotive industry
Get PDFPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to integrate sustainability and economic factors into a framework for understanding the reshoring decision.Design/methodology/approach – This paper integrates sustainability and economic factors into a reshoring framework through using the theoretical perspectives of the natural resource-based view (NRBV) and transaction cost economics (TCE), and carrying out case study research with a number of firms involved in reshoring in the German automotive industry.Findings – Through adopting a multi-theory approach, the framework captures the complexities of the reshoring decision and illustrates that reshoring is not a location decision alone, but encompasses a range of sourcing options such as local production in-house, using a local supplier or addressing sustainability problems with the offshore operation. The importance of sustainability capability development as a basis of extending the range of reshoring sourcing options available is highlighted.Research limitations/implications – Using the NRBV has allowed to develop value creating drivers in the context of reshoring. Integrating the logic of TCE with this analysis provided an understanding of how cost reducing drivers were present alongside the value creating drivers for reshoring at the case companies. Beyond previous frameworks integrating the RBV and TCE, bringing in the NRBV allowed us to highlight the importance of sustainability capability development as a basis of extending the range of reshoring sourcing options available. While this study’scases were in the automotive industry in Germany, future research could sample for further geographies and industries to cover varying regulatory pressures for sustainability as well as sustainability-related industry initiatives.Practical implications – The framework can provide guidance to managers on the conditions that favour the selection of each sourcing option when making the reshoring decision.Originality/value – Although there are frameworks in the literature that explain the reshoring decision, limited attention has been given to integrating sustainability issues into the analysis. The findings here contribute important insights into the complementary and contradictory prescriptions of the NRBV and TCE in reshoring decisions, and several propositions are offered outlining these relationships. The resulting framework provides an integrated approach for managerial decision-making beyond economic factors alone
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) was the first incretin identified and plays an essential role in the maintenance of glucose tolerance in healthy humans. Until recently GIP had not been developed as a therapeutic and thus has been overshadowed by the other incretin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which is the basis for several successful drugs to treat diabetes and obesity. However, there has been a rekindling of interest in GIP biology in recent years, in great part due to pharmacology demonstrating that both GIPR agonism and antagonism may be beneficial in treating obesity and diabetes. This apparent paradox has reinvigorated the field, led to new lines of investigation, and deeper understanding of GIP.SCOPE OF REVIEW: In this review, we provide a detailed overview on the multifaceted nature of GIP biology and discuss the therapeutic implications of GIPR signal modification on various diseases.MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: Following its classification as an incretin hormone, GIP has emerged as a pleiotropic hormone with a variety of metabolic effects outside the endocrine pancreas. The numerous beneficial effects of GIPR signal modification render the peptide an interesting candidate for the development of pharmacotherapies to treat obesity, diabetes, drug-induced nausea and both bone and neurodegenerative disorders.</p