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Exploring the role of Intergenerational care in enhancing well-being in older adults living in care homes in Japan: findings of a staff survey
Get PDFBackground. Intergenerational activities have demonstrated potential in reducing loneliness, hopelessness, and depression among older adults. However, there is a risk of excluding individuals who lack close family support. This study explores intergenerational knowledge, skills, and practices within the context of care for older people in Japan, focusing on care workers' perspectives.Objective. The study aimed to assess the perceptions of care workers regarding the benefits of intergenerational activities for older adults, particularly in terms of physical, social, and psychological well-being.Method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among care workers in residential settings across Japan. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling was employed to recruit participants, predominantly from group home environments. Ethical approval was obtained prior to data collection. Data were analysed to identify key themes related to the perceived benefits and challenges of intergenerational care. Patient and public involvement (PPI) was not integrated into this phase of the research.Findings. Participants consistently reported significant physical, social, and psychological benefits for older adults engaged in intergenerational activities. These activities were perceived as fostering a sense of purpose and improving overall well-being. Despite these advantages, concerns were raised regarding the exclusion of older adults without family support, highlighting a need for inclusive program designs.Conclusion and Impact. The study raises the importance of intergenerational activities in enhancing the well-being of older adults. However, it also shows the need for further research to ensure the inclusivity and sustainability of such programs. Global research efforts and policy development are essential to maximise the benefits of intergenerational care
Vital Connections:Community-led insights on improving drug and alcohol support services in East Belfast and beyond.
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Co-design and feasibility testing of the heart failure carer support programme (HELP): A convergent, mixed-method study
Get PDFObjectives This study co-designed and feasibility tested a novel psychoeducational intervention delivered online to carers of patients with heart failure (HF) and examined the potential impact on carer-related outcomes. Methods The HEart faiLure carer support Programme (HELP) was co-designed with carers and healthcare professionals at a large University hospital. This intervention comprises an information booklet and six psychoeducational support group sessions delivered online by a multidisciplinary team. A convergent mixed-method design examined the feasibility, acceptability, and potential impact of HELP. Carers of patients with HF were recruited in the United Kingdom (UK) via clinical teams along with printed and online advertisements. Quantitative measurements included carer-related outcomes (carer burden, carer preparedness, quality of life, anxiety, depression, stress, and social support) and feasibility assessments (recruitment rates, attrition, and intervention usefulness). Focus groups conducted post-intervention qualitatively investigated the acceptability of HELP. Data was collected at baseline, 6 weeks post-intervention, and 3 months post-intervention. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed with descriptive and thematic analysis, respectively. The results were integrated to generate a holistic understanding of the findings. Results 51 carers were eligible and 22 (43 %) provided consent. Of those 22, 18 (89 %) participated and 12 (67 %) completed all intervention sessions. Participants highly rated the usefulness of the intervention via a feedback questionnaire (4.7 ± 0.59 out of 5, overall) and positive changes were found across the following carer-related outcomes: anxiety, depression, caregiver burden, stress, preparedness, and social support. Data integration generated three key findings: (1) Improved carer preparedness and knowledge, (2) Support from group environment, and (3) Emotional support and personal wellbeing. Conclusions HELP delivery to carers of patients with HF is feasible and potentially provides emotional support and empowerment in their caring role. Practice implications HELP will advance to implementation testing across the UK to inform large-scale adoption in routine clinical practice
3D-printed acyclovir nanocrystals: An advanced approach to herpes simplex treatment
Get PDFThe Herpesviridae family includes a major group of double-stranded DNA viruses, with herpes simplex virus (HSV) causing orofacial herpes, which affects 66.6 % of people aged 0 to 49. Acyclovir (ACV) is central to HSV management, yet its low topical bioavailability and poor skin penetration limit its effectiveness. This study explores the development of 3D-printed sodium alginate patches loaded with media-milled ACV nanocrystals (NCs). Screening of stabilising agents identified 0.5 % w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone as optimal, yielding NCs with a particle size of 145.4 ± 1.2 nm and polydispersity index of 0.117. Stability tests confirmed over 30 days of stability, and physicochemical studies demonstrated that crystallinity maintained pre- and post-milling. Morphological assessments using optical and scanning electron microscopy, along with optical coherence tomography revealed a uniform, compact structure in ACV-NCs patches, while mechanical testing indicated greater elasticity compared to patches with a physical mixture. In vitro release studies showed no significant differences, but ex vivo mucosal deposition on neonatal porcine mucosa showed NCs patches had significantly higher drug deposition compared to a physical mixture (13 % vs. 6 %). This innovative approach offers a promising topical therapy for herpes cold sores, addressing the need for more effective treatments
Hurdles to a circular built environment: A look at the economic and market barriers
Get PDFThe circular economy is considered the best principle through which sustainable practices may be established. Mineral exhaustion, decarbonisation, and waste elimination can all be addressed through a circular economy. The built environment is one of the largest waste producers and a significant user of materials such as concrete and steel. However, there are considerable barriers to the adoption of a circular economy. The objective of the study was to identify, examine, and comprehend the main challenges that impede the implementation and scaling of circular practices within the built environment. As part of the CircularB network, a questionnaire was launched in 2024 to gather opinions on the technical, political, regulatory, cultural, societal, economic and market barriers to circular economy from built environment professionals. This paper focuses on the economic and market barriers, which were recognised as the most important according to the insights of 270 respondents. The hurdles investigated include extra costs of building insurance, inadequate collaboration, linear public procurement, unwillingness to take back used components, low awareness of exchange marketplaces, and market disconnection due to significant transport distances. Addressing these barriers plays a crucial role in advancing a circular built environment, and all stakeholders must explore solutions to overcome them
A closed-form solution for dynamic analysis of auxetic sandwich cylindrical structures with FG face sheets under moving pressure
Get PDFCylinders with finite length under internal moving pressure have a wide range of applications in different industries such as automotive engineering, piping, pressure vessels, etc. This study investigates the dynamic response of finite-length auxetic sandwich cylinders with functionally graded (FG) face sheets and a honeycomb core layer subjected to constant velocity internal pressure. It is assumed that the FG layers are a mixture of materials, and the properties change as a function of the layer thickness. The governing equations are extracted based on the classical shell theory (CST) and Hamilton’s principle. The equations of motion, which are a system of coupled partial differential equations, are solved analytically, and the response to the internal moving pressure, natural frequencies, and critical velocities are determined. Using the presented analytical method, a parametric study has been performed and the effects of different parameters on the results are investigated. To validate the analytical solution, the results for some specific cases are compared with the finite element (FE) method and some other references. It is observed that the honeycomb layer with FG face sheets enables us to significantly decrease the weight of the structure and modify its dynamic behavior
'Food and Nutrition (Great Britain and Ireland)' in International Encyclopedia of the First World War
Get PDFDuring the First World War, food was a major concern across Britain and Ireland. Fighting at sea disrupted food imports, a problem that worsened from 1917. Domestic production struggled to keep pace with demand. Britain continued to export food out of Ireland, raising fears of starvation reminiscent of the Famine. In Ireland, food became a deeply politicised matter. State-supported initiatives in both countries encouraged self-sufficiency by producing food, with varying degrees of success. Food costs rose exponentially, although historians differ on the health consequences, both long- and short-term
A Comparison of Three Methods of Semi-Tethered Profiling in Front Crawl Swimming: A Reliability Study
Get PDFThe study compares three methods of evaluating semi-tethered performance in front crawl swimming using different velocity extraction techniques. Thirty Level 4 swimmers (17 males, 13 females) completed three protocols: Absolute (5 × 25 m, 1–9 kg for males; 1–5 kg for females), Modified (3 × 10 m, 1, 5, 9 kg for males; 1, 3, 5 kg for females) and Velocity-Restricted (device limited to 1 m/s), across three testing sessions, 7 days apart. Absolute and Modified protocols generated load-velocity (LV) and force-velocity (FV) profiles, while Velocity-Restricted produced an FV profile to determine maximal velocity (LV-V 0, FV-V 0), absolute and relative load/force (L 0, F 0, rL 0, rF 0) and slope (S LV, S FV). Reliability estimates for the Absolute method: ICC 0.74–0.83, CV% 2.4–9.0% for males; ICC 0.57–0.87, CV% 2.4–11.6% for females. Modified: ICC 0.51–0.85, CV% 2.8–13.7% for males; ICC 0.16–0.80, CV% 2.9–17.1% for females. Velocity-Restricted: ICC 0.50–0.84, CV% 2.6–8.5% for males; ICC 0.10–0.55, CV% 4.2–21.7% for females. FV-V 0 was significantly higher than LV-V 0 (p < 0.001), showing LV and FV outputs are not interchangeable. No statistical differences between Absolute and Modified protocols suggest that the latter (5 m analysis) is a more time-efficient method. Differences in reliability highlight the need for sex-specific considerations when interpreting results.</p
The Academic, The Entrepreneur, The Female in a Dress: A Micro-Level Exploration of Multiple Role Identities
Get PDFPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore how female academic entrepreneurs navigate and negotiate their changing role identities. In particular, the study is interested in the coping strategies–the identity work–undertaken by female academic entrepreneurs at the micro-level as they navigate and negotiate their changing role identities and ensuing role conflict within the university environment. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative feminist methodology is adopted coupled with a narrative approach to uncover and address the nuanced ways in which gender roles and biases may impact the experiences and choices of 15 female academic entrepreneurs. Findings: The empirical evidence reveals that female academics must undertake a specific type of identity work to be deemed legitimate and credible as academic entrepreneurs. In seeking to address gender-based disparity and increase female representation across a variety of platforms, the findings reveal that institutional support mechanisms designed to reduce gender disparity are placing greater pressure on female academic entrepreneurs requiring them to undertake additional roles and duties not expected of their male counterparts. Originality/value: This study provides a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of female academic entrepreneurs at the micro-level. In particular, the findings show how efforts aimed at mitigating gender disparities often had unintended consequences on their identity as female academic entrepreneurs. This study advances identity work literature by highlighting the particular forms of role identity work that female academic entrepreneurs engaged in, in order to fit in and build legitimacy. This included overcoming visibility and invisibility and developing a sense of belonging.</p