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Nanoplasmonics Reveal Ionic‐Strength‐Driven Hydration of Nanoparticles
Get PDFLocalized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) provides an ultrasensitive probe of interfacial hydration dynamics, yet the quantitative role of ionic‐strength‐modulated hydration shells in governing both non‐radiative damping and spectral shifts remains unresolved. A predictive framework is introduced that couples electrostatic theory with experimental LSPR measurements spanning seven orders of magnitude in buffer ionic strength I (10−9– 10−2 M). The hydration shell (HS) thickness is shown analytically and empirically to scale as I−1/2, with this single parameter accounting for over 90% of the variance in optical absorbance (r = 0.94). Concurrently, resonance‐wavelength shifts are shown to arise from the combined effects of refractive index (RI) changes (r = 0.79) and ionic screening (r = 0.60). Principal component analysis (PCA) distills these five interrelated variables into two orthogonal design levers—HS thickness versus solution conditions—enabling independent tuning of LSPR signal amplitude and spectral position. This unified model elucidates the fundamental physics of ionic‐strength‐driven LSPR modulation and also furnishes a robust calibration protocol for nanoparticle‐based sensors operating in complex media. Future extensions to diverse ion chemistries, pH environments, and nanoparticle geometries will not only tailor this framework for advanced plasmonic assays but also empower the rational design of nanoparticle‐based solid‐liquid interface devices and applications
Exploring the Key Factors that Influence Consumer Acceptance of Location-Based Marketing: A UK and Republic of Ireland Study.
Get PDFThis study explores the factors influencing consumer acceptance of Location-Based Marketing (LBM) in the UK and ROI, addressing significant gaps in existing research. By using factor analysis, it identifies perceived benefits, trust, and privacy concerns as key determinants of acceptance. Despite the rapid growth of LBM and the UK's dominant market share, consumer perceptions remain underexplored, making this research a crucial contribution to understanding and optimising LBM strategies in the region
From awareness to action: How to ELEVATE Student AI Literacy through a Business School living lab.
Get PDFWhen students at Ulster University were asked how confident they felt using AI, many admitted they were unsure where to start and even less certain about what was “allowed.” After a workshop, those same students had almost doubled their confidence in applying AI tools ethically and effectively. That transformation was the aim of ELEVATE (Empowering Learning and Efficacy via AI Through Education), a Business School initiative designed to build practical, ethical AI literacy for students, staff and industry partners. Drawing on a “Living Lab” approach (Bergvall-Kåreborn et al., 2009), ELEVATE created an open, hands-on space where learners could experiment, reflect and apply AI in varying contexts (Purcell et al., 2019). Our motivation came from earlier successes with the MarTech Laboratory (Bustard etal., 2023), where authentic challenges proved that students learn best when they engage creatively, test ideas and see the real-world impact from their work (Tercanli & Jongbloed, 2022)
Psychological interventions to improve parental wellbeing after fetal abnormality diagnosis: a systematic scoping review
Get PDFBackground: Antenatal diagnoses of foetal abnormalities are associated with significant psychological distress for parents. This scoping review aims to identify and synthesise the existing literature on antenatally delivered psychological interventions for parents designed to support mental wellbeing following a foetal abnormality diagnosis. Methods: A prospectively registered protocol guided this scoping review, utilising methodologies outlined by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and Levac et al. (2010). A systematic search was conducted using five electronic databases (PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline, SCOPUS and ProQuest) with no date limits, including studies up to June 2024. Data was extracted following the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist and synthesised using narrative synthesis. Results: Twelve articles were included, addressing congenital heart defects (n = 6), chromosomal disorders (n = 2), foetal surgical anomalies (n = 2), cleft lip (n = 1) and congenital abnormalities (n = 1). Interventions incorporated approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness and counselling. Individual support was the predominant approach across studies. All interventions were hospital-based, delivered by healthcare professionals, including psychologists, nurses and cardiologists, with formats ranging from single sessions to multi-session programmes. Most targeted anxiety and depressive symptoms, while some addressed stress, emotional preparedness, and decision-making. Conclusions: Antenatally delivered psychological interventions are emerging, but the evidence base remains limited. Future interventions should be tailored to meet individual needs, offer flexible delivery, and encourage multidisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, addressing both individual and systemic factors should be prioritised in the development of future interventions, as this may enhance feasibility, reach and impact.</p
Global gender disparities in access to refractive error services: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFTOPIC: Summarize existing evidence on global gender disparities in access to refractive error (RE) correction, among adults and children.CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Uncorrected RE remains the leading cause of vision impairment worldwide. Women and girls experience disproportionate levels of vision impairment, but gender disparities in access to RE correction are not well understood. Lower coverage among women may lead to prolonged vision impairment and functional limitations, impacting education, employment, and quality of life.METHODS: We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Global Health, and gray literature sources from inception to 15 February 2024 for population-based observational studies reporting effective or overall RE coverage (REC), stratified by sex. There were no restrictions on language, publication date, or location. Titles and abstracts were independently reviewed. Quality appraisal was performed in duplicate using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool. Random-effects models were made of the age-adjusted female:male odds ratio (OR) of REC, stratified by age (0-17, ≥18 years), geographic setting, and super region. The protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (identifier, CRD42021271297).RESULTS: Across 43 studies in 18 countries, 33 534 (36.7%) of 91 487 adults and 23 008 (2.91%) of 790 145 children had refractive needs. The certainty of evidence for gender disparities in REC was rated as low for adults and very low for children using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Women had lower REC than men (OR: 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.96; P = 0.01). Urban, but not rural, women were significantly less likely than men to access RE correction (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.60-0.83; P < 0.01). Gender disparities were most evident in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania, where women were significantly less likely than men to access RE correction (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.62-0.91; P < 0.01). Globally, adult women were less likely to access RE correction than men (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75-0.96; P = 0.01), but no significant sex differences were observed among children (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.68-1.10; P = 0.24).CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions are needed to address barriers to refractive services among women and girls, with a particular focus on urban settings, adult women, and low-income regions.FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.</p
Who presents the greatest challenge in intellectual disability research - participants or health and research professionals?
Get PDFBackgroundThe challenges of recruitment to randomised controlled trials have been well documented. The additional challenges of recruiting people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and significant health co-morbidities have been the focus of less attention. The aim of this work was to explore issues around the screening and recruitment of adults with ID and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) into the internal pilot of the ‘My Diabetes and Me’ Randomised Controlled Trial. The findings were used to develop recommendations and implement interventions to address challenges for recruitment to the main study.MethodsA multiple methods approach using the QuinteT Recruitment Intervention was employed across three National Health Service sites in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with staff, and adults with ID/T2D recruited to the study; analysis of recruitment discussion recordings, and a review of documentation pertaining to screening logs and research meetings was also performed. Thematic analysis identified the complexity of challenges and potential enablers to recruitment in this population.ResultsRecruitment challenges began much earlier than anticipated with significant organisational process challenges to be overcome. The discomfort felt by some staff in putting potential participants forward was evident as they don’t feel the study is appropriate for this population, or they feel out of their depth. Engagement and ‘buy-in’ from people with ID/ T2D were much more positive. The emotional labour involved in ensuring the internal pilot progressed to the main study was noteworthy.ConclusionThe use of QRI methodology within an ID RCT is a novel approach, unearthing emotional challenges and significant systemic organisational process challenges. The findings of this study clearly illustrate the informed implementation strategies that are needed to improve recruitment processes, minimise the emotional labour relating to NHS organisational ‘buy-in’ and address the preparation and readiness of NHS health and social care staff for research in under-represented populations
Can riboflavin offer a novel personalised strategy for maintaining healthy blood pressure in pregnancy in populations globally?
Get PDFHypertension affects 10%–15% of pregnancies worldwide and can lead to serious adverse fetal and maternal outcomes. In addition, women with hypertension in pregnancy are at greater risk of developing stroke and renal disease later in life, while hypertensive pregnancy complications can also affect the long-term health of the child. The identification of strategies to maintain healthy blood pressure in women before and during pregnancy should therefore be prioritised. Emerging research points to an important role for folate, one-carbon metabolism and the related B vitamin, riboflavin, in blood pressure. In particular, evidence from clinical and genome-wide association studies links the C677T polymorphism in the gene encoding the folate-metabolising enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) with blood pressure and an increased risk of hypertension and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Riboflavin (in the form of flavin adenine dinucleotide) is required as a cofactor for MTHFR, and notably, randomised trials show that supplemental riboflavin can effectively lower blood pressure specifically in individuals with the variant MTHFR 677TT genotype, independently of antihypertensive medications. The evidence that better riboflavin status modifies the blood pressure phenotype in these genetically at-risk individuals has important public health implications, especially for populations worldwide with the highest frequencies of the variant TT genotype in MTHFR, including Guatemala (up to 66%), Mexico (32%) and Northern China (20%). This novel gene–nutrient interaction warrants particular attention in the context of blood pressure before and during pregnancy. Furthermore, the biological mechanisms require investigation, whereby one-carbon metabolism is linked with blood pressure and how riboflavin, a much-overlooked nutrient in health and research settings, can modulate the excess genetic risk of hypertension in affected individuals. Here, we review the generally unrecognised role of riboflavin as a novel personalised solution to prevent hypertension and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in genetically at-risk women. This article should stimulate current thinking, with potentially important impacts for public health nutrition strategies to promote better pregnancy outcomes in women
Using design thinking to address challenges faced by students with special educational needs and/or disabilities in assessment within higher education assessment
Get PDFThis paper describes the development of a prototype framework to support students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in assessment within an undergraduate physiotherapy course. Students with SEND are at high risk of not reaching their academic potential due to the lack of individualised and inclusive approaches taken to assessment design and delivery. Using a design thinking methodology, the approaches and learning from four stages of design thinking are described, including empathise, define, ideate and prototyping. A range of methods was used to understand the end user needs, including surveys, discussion, and anonymous data from the central university resources. Several ideas were generated before deciding on a final idea to move forward to the prototype phase. The identified prototype, an individualised educational plan developed using a student-centred approach, has the potential to provide an inclusive and individualised approach to assessment in education. Whilst designed for the specific programme, the framework has the potential to be embedded across a range of programmes within higher education
Big-data AI analytics in value-chain innovation and international marketing strategy: insights from SMEs in cultural and creative industries
Get PDFPurpose Despite great consensus on the positive impact of big-data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) analytics (BDAI) on a firm’s performance, it still appears to be a black box mechanism through which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthen their dynamic competencies to innovate and expand their global footprint. To fill this theoretical and empirical gap we examine the relationship between BDAI affordances, digital marketing capabilities (DMCs), value-chain innovation and international market goals. Design/methodology/approach The study incorporates the dynamic capability view an extension of the resource-based view and the knowledge-based view to empirically examine the primary data collected from marketing managers and executives of SMEs in cultural and creative industries utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. Findings The study highlights the significant role of BDAI affordances such as intelligent process recommendations, customer intelligence and market intelligence on DMCs, where DMCs significantly affect value-chain innovation and international market strategy both directly and indirectly. Research limitations/implications The study minimizes the gap in identifying the BDAI affordances to drive innovation and international market strategy in the context of SMEs in cultural and creative industries. Marketing managers can incorporate these findings to enhance their digital capabilities for competitive advantages in international markets. Originality/value The study proposes a holistic framework of BDAI affordances for the strategic use of digital resources and knowledge to transform digital capabilities into new forms of value to expand in the international market. These insights are robust and grounded in findings provided by marketing practitioners
Mapping Rural Food Poverty: The impact of rurality on consumers’ access to food using an ‘At Risk of Food Poverty Index’
Get PDFFood poverty (the inability to access sufficient, healthy food in a socially acceptable way) is a complex and multifaceted problem that is receiving considerable public and political attention. This research examined the structural causes of food poverty to determine if geographical disparities exist between rural and urban locations, in respect of food affordability, accessibility and availability, in the study region of Northern Ireland. This study developed an ‘At Risk of Food Poverty Index’ and utilised Geographic Information Systems to apply spatial analysis techniques to identify Census Small Areas at greatest potential risk of food poverty. The research found exposure to geographic variances in relation to food access impacts on food poverty risk. Results showed spatial variations exist in relation to rural and urban food poverty and rural dwellers face greater disadvantage in obtaining nutritionally adequate diets. The Index provides policymakers with a high-resolution model from which to target resources to vulnerable areas