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Is there an association between frequency of Home Mathematical Activities (HMA) and Children’s Mathematical Outcomes? Data Harmonisation and Secondary Analyses of UK-based Datasets.
Get PDFEarly mathematical skills lay an important foundation for later academic success. Substantial variation in mathematical skills can be observed in young children and these differences have been related to family socioeconomic circumstances (SEC). The type and frequency with which parents engage in home mathematical activities (HMA’s) with their children has been suggested as a key mechanism explaining inequalities in early mathematical skills, they may also be a potential target to narrow attainment gaps. However, evidence for the relation between HMA’s and mathematical skills, and whether there is an SEC gradient in HMA engagement, remains mixed. In the present, pre-registered study, we conducted harmonisation and latent profile analyses on nine UK-based datasets (containing n= 969 dyads; mean child age= 46.83 (SD= 5.41) months; child age range 35-69 months). These analyses identified three profiles based on the frequency of engaging in HMA’s (i.e., low, intermediate, high). Children in the high HMA category had significantly higher mathematical skills than those in the intermediate and low categories. While SEC correlated with mathematical skills, no SEC differences were found in engagement with HMA’s. This suggests that families that engage in a higher frequency of HMA’s have children that tend to have higher mathematical skills, but SEC does not predict engagement with HMA’s. We discuss the implications of these findings for narrowing early attainment gaps and how to best measure and capture the home mathematical learning environment
Modelling and numerical simulations of heat and mass transfer in multiphase flow during the release of liquid ammonia from a storage tank through the piping system to the open atmosphere
Get PDFThe aim of this study is to develop a contemporary CFD model of the multiphase flow of ammonia from a bulk liquid part of the storage vessel through the release piping to the atmosphere. The model is validated against the experiment with a 12 m3 tank pressurised to 0.5357 MPa(g), i.e. Test No.4 of 560 s duration conducted by INERIS with release from the liquid bulk. The volume-of-fluid (VOF) method is applied for shared velocity and temperature of liquid and vapour phases of ammonia. The heat and mass transfer between liquid and vapour is simulated by modified Lee's evaporation-condensation model, accounting for the heat transfer from/to equipment and environment. A unique feature of the model is the phase change mechanism with varying mass transfer rates based on the transient volume fractions of liquid and vapour in a multiphase flow. This allowed to account for computationally unaffordable simulations of changing in time contact surface area between dispersed liquid and gaseous phases and avoid associated numerical complications. The model effectively captures the complex heat and mass transfer phenomena, including the cooling effect of evaporation in the piping and at the nozzle. The value of the time relaxation parameter and a multiplier accounting for the increase of contact surface between liquid and vapour in the pipe flow are defined by the inverse problem method through the comparison of simulations with the experiment. Simulations accurately reproduced experimental pressure and temperature dynamics in the storage tank, piping system and nozzle, and the total released mass of ammonia of 2352 kg
Tensile Strength, Cellular Content and Degradation properties in three generations of concentrated growth factors
Get PDFConcentrated growth factors (CGF) is a biomaterial with regenerative potential, enriched with platelets, leukocytes, growth factors, and fibrin, but it degrades within 2-3 weeks. Albumin extends CGF stability, while silver nanoparticles (SNP) improve its mechanical and antibacterial properties. This in vitro and ex vivo study investigates the impact of albumin (Alb-CGF) and albumin with SNP (Alb-CGF-SNP) on CGF's mechanical properties, degradation rate, and cellular bioactivity. Blood samples were collected from 15 healthy volunteers who met specific inclusion criteria, with the sample size determined using G*Power software for power calculation. Three groups were prepared: control CGF, experimental Alb-CGF, and Alb-CGF-SNP. Membranes were produced using a Medifuge MF200 centrifuge and activated plasma albumin gel (APAG) device following standard settings. In experimental groups, the superficial 2.5 ml of plasma layer was heated at 75 °C for 10 min before combining with the buffy coat layer of CGF. Mechanical properties were tested using a texture analyzer, degradation rates were measured by weight loss percentage, and cellular bioactivity was evaluated with a Sysmex hematology analyzer. Data analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism 8.0. Group differences were assessed via one-way ANOVA and Welch ANOVA, with Tukey's HSD test for post hoc paired group comparisons. The control (CGF) showed the highest mechanical properties, with Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) (95.6 kPa), Modulus of Toughness (55.55 kJ/m ), and Young's Modulus (75.73 kPa; (P 0.90). Alb-CGF-SNP displayed superior degradation resistance, with 45.2% weight loss at day 60 versus 84.2% in CGF (P
Relative validity of the Chrono-Nutrition Behavior Questionnaire (CNBQ) against 11-day event-based ecological momentary assessment diaries of eating
Get PDFBackground: A growing number of studies have investigated chrononutrition-related variables in relation to health outcomes. However, only a few questionnaires specifically designed for assessing chrononutrition-related parameters have been validated. We aimed to examine the relative validity of the Chrono-Nutrition Behavior Questionnaire (CNBQ) against 11-day event-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA) diaries of eating. Methods: Informed by previous research, we developed the CNBQ for the comprehensive assessment of chrononutrition-related parameters, including sleep variables, eating frequency, timing of eating, duration of eating occasions, duration of eating windows, and time interval between sleep and eating, for workdays and non-workdays separately. Between February and April 2023, a total of 1050 Japanese adults aged 20–69 years completed the online CNBQ and subsequently kept event-based EMA food diaries for 11 days, including 6.5 workdays and 4.5 non-workdays on average. Results: Mean differences between estimates derived from the CNBQ and the EMA food diaries were < 10% for most of the variables examined, both for workdays (27 of 33; 82%) and non-workdays (25 of 33; 76%), and for variables based on differences between workdays and non-workdays, such as eating jetlag (5 of 6; 83%). Spearman correlation coefficients between estimates based on the CNBQ and estimates based on the EMA food diaries were ≥ 0.50 for 26 variables (79%) on workdays and 22 variables (67%) on non-workdays (e.g., mid-sleep time; total eating frequency; timing of first eating occasion, last eating occasion, first meal, and last meal; duration of first meal and last meal; duration of eating window; eating midpoint; and time interval between wake time and first eating occasion and between last meal and sleep time), and 2 variables based on differences between workdays and non-workdays (e.g., eating jetlag base on breakfast timing). Bland–Altman analysis showed that the limits of agreement were wide and that the bias of overestimation by the CNBQ was proportional as mean estimates of the CNBQ and EMA food diaries increased. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the relative validity of the CNBQ justifies its use in estimating mean values and ranking individuals for the majority of chrononutrition-related parameters.</p
The Person-centred Nursing Framework: A Mid-range Theory for Nursing Practice
Get PDFBackground:Person-centredness is a global movement in healthcare that prioritises the human experience. Person-centred care has a long association with nursing; however, the implementation of person-centredness as a philosophy of practice remains challenging and requires a sustained focus on the development of healthful workplace cultures.Aim:This is a discussion paper that focuses on the theoretical development of person-centred nursing, drawing out the uniqueness of the Person-centred Nursing Framework (PCNF) to the discipline of nursing and its relevance as a middle-range theory for nursing practice.Discussion:The PCNF highlights the complexity of person-centred nursing, and through the articulation of the key constructs, emphasises the contextual, attitudinal and moral dimensions of humanistic caring practices. The development of the framework as a means of operationalising person-centredness in practice has been integral to the establishment of a research programme spanning over two decades. The programme has privileged research that focuses on the implementation of person-centred nursing in a variety of healthcare contexts, illustrating outcomes that focus on enhanced care experience for both patients and nurses.Conclusions:The theoretical development of nursing through the lens of the PCNF highlights the uniqueness of person-centredness to the discipline of nursing
Older people’s social work safe staffing supply and workforce demands analysis: A case study from Northern Ireland
Get PDFIn the UK, a range of operational tools and policy guidelines regulate staffing in various Health and Social Care sectors. Nonetheless, frameworks to ensure safe staffing in social work remain less advanced. This study focuses on older people’s social work community teams in Northern Ireland due to the high volume of cases and vacancies within these teams. Our findings provide evidence based on actual caseloads (direct work with service users) and workloads at individual, team, and regional levels within this programme of care. The analysis revealed systemic issues that require systemic solutions in relation to staffing supply and service demands. Frontline social workers and managers frequently faced overwhelming worker-to-caseload ratios, routine use of waiting lists, and team vacancies. These findings lay the groundwork for evidence-based strategic planning, guiding the development and enactment of safer and more effective social work policies and legislation in the years ahead. The project was commissioned by the Department of Health, Northern Ireland in preparation for policy and legislative developments expected between 2025 and 2028
D-peptide hydrogels as a long-acting multipurpose drug delivery platform for combined contraception and HIV prevention
Get PDFNew multipurpose prevention technology products for use by women, focused on reducing HIV infection andpreventing unwanted pregnancies, are a global health priority. Discreet long-acting formulations will empowerwomen with greater choice around their sexual health. This paper outlines the development of a long-actingtechnology that enables multiple drugs to be incorporated within one injectable platform. This fixed-dosecombination product is formed from a phosphorylated D-peptide (naphthalene-2-ly)-acetyl-diphenylalaninelysine-tyrosine-glycine-OH (Napffky(p)G-OH) that enables the highly hydrophobic drugs MIV-150 (HIV antiretroviral) and etonogestrel (contraceptive) to be solubilized together within aqueous solvents. Upon subcutaneousinjection, this D-peptide-drug combination self-assembles in response to phosphatase enzymes present within theskin space to form an in situ forming drug-releasing hydrogel depot. Oscillatory rheology confirmed the formationof hydrogels, which began within ~10 s exposure to 3.98 U/mL phosphatase enzymes and continued for ~198mins for a Napffk(MIV-150)y(p)G-OH + Napffk(ENG)y(p)G-OH combination (8:2 ratio). Biostability againstproteases, an important consideration for long-acting injectables, was demonstrated for at least 28 days in vitro.Covalent attachment of each drug to the D-peptide via an ester linkage enabled sustained release of the drug in anunmodified form via hydrolysis of the D-peptide-drug linker. This significantly reduced the initial drug burst.Low toxicity was also demonstrated in vitro via cell culture (MTS, LHS, Live/Dead®) and within in vivo studies(H&E staining). The fixed dose combination was able to deliver clinically relevant concentrations of each drug toSprague–Dawley rats for at least 49 days, providing proof-of-concept for the use of hydrogel-forming D-peptides(Napffky(p)G-OH) as a long-acting injectable platform for the delivery of multiple hydrophobic drugs
Uncovering Specific Navigation Patterns by Assessing User Engagement of People With Dementia and Family Caregivers With an Advance Care Planning Website:Quantitative Analysis of Web Log Data
Get PDFBackground:Web-based tools have gained popularity to inform and empower individuals in advance care planning. We have developed an interactive website tailored to the unique needs of people with dementia and their families to support advance care planning. This website aims to break away from the rigid pathways shown in other tools that support advance care planning, in which advance care planning is shown as a linear process from information to reflection, communication, and documentation.Objective:This study aimed to assess the website’s usage by people with dementia and their family caregivers, identify distinct user engagement patterns, and visualize how users navigated the website.Methods:We analyzed the website’s log data obtained from an 8-week evaluation study of the site. Interactions with the website were collected in log data files and included visited web pages or clicked-on hyperlinks. Distinct user engagement patterns were identified using K-means clustering process mining, a technique that extracts insights from log data to model and visualize workflows, was applied to visualize user pathways through the website.Results:A total of 52 participants, 21 individuals with dementia and their family caregivers as dyads and 10 family caregivers were included in the study. Throughout the 8-week study, users spent an average of 35.3 (SD 82.9) minutes over 5.5 (SD 3.4) unique days on the website. Family caregivers mostly used the website (alone or with a person with dementia) throughout the 8-week study. Only 3 people with dementia used it on their own. In total, 3 distinct engagement patterns emerged: low, moderate, and high. Low-engagement participants spent less time on the website during the 8 weeks, following a linear path from information to communication to documentation. Moderate- and high-engagement users showed more dynamic patterns, frequently navigating between information pages and communication tools to facilitate exploration of aspects related to advance care planning.Conclusions:The diverse engagement patterns underscore the need for personalized support in advance care planning and challenge the conventional linear advance care planning representations found in other web-based tools
The healthcare needs of children with Down syndrome in the first year of life: an analysis of the EUROlinkCAT data linkage study
Get PDFABSTRACTBackgroundGlobally, Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal anomaly, often co‐occurring with cardiac or gastrointestinal anomalies. There is a lack of robust data on specific healthcare needs of children with Down syndrome compared to children with other major congenital anomalies.ObjectivesTo quantify the healthcare needs of children with Down syndrome in the first year of life compared to children with major congenital anomalies in a large population‐based cohort across Europe.MethodsThe EUROlinkCAT study was a multicentre data linkage study between congenital anomaly registries in Europe and hospital and mortality databases. Children born between 1st January 1997 and 31st December 2014 were included. Summary statistics were used to compare differences between children (those with Down syndrome compared to all major anomalies) and regions. Random‐effects meta‐analysis was used to pool results related to survival, need for intensive care and ventilation support.ResultsA total of 3554 children were born with Down syndrome out of 89,081 children with major congenital anomalies. The pooled 1‐year survival was 95.4%. In every region, > 80% of children with Down syndrome had a hospital admission excluding the birth admission. Hospital length of stay in the first year was higher for children with Down syndrome compared to those with all anomalies (median: 14 versus 7 days). Despite having similar need for ventilation support (9.7% vs. 8.4%), children with Down syndrome had higher rates of intensive care admission than all children with anomalies (24.8% vs. 13.0%).ConclusionsThere is a high need for hospital care for children born with Down syndrome in the first year of life. Future work should continue to explore the long‐term prognosis for children with Down syndrome to ensure their care needs are met
Measuring differences in the ERG in myopia using the RETeval device with Skin Electrodes
Get PDFIntroductionPrevious research suggests that the electroretinogram (ERG) is reduced and delayed in non-pathological myopia. However, the invasive nature of the electrode and cumbersome equipment required has prevented the widescale uptake of ERG measures. This study investigated whether previously reported changes to the ERG response in myopia are also observable when measured using non-invasive skin electrodes and a hand-held ERG device.MethodMonocular flash ERGs were measured using the RETeval® device according to the ‘ISCEV 6 Step Dark First cd’ protocol in 46 participants with non-pathological myopia (spherical equivalent refraction [SER] −0.50 to −11.25 D, median −3.75 D, median axial length [AL] 25.4 mm) and 47 non-myopic controls (SER +2.00 to −0.25 D, median +1.00 D, median AL 23.6 mm). Measures were performed under pupil mydriasis with Sensor Strip skin electrodes.ResultsThe median implicit time for all dark-adapted (DA) components was longer among myopes. Following Holm-Bonferroni correction, this difference reached statistical significance (p < 0.05) for the DA 3.0 A-wave, DA 10.0 A-wave and B-waves, and DA Oscillatory potentials 1 and 2. There were no significant differences between median light-adapted (LA) implicit times nor response amplitudes between refractive groups. For all DA components, there was a significant, positive correlation between AL and implicit time (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe RETeval®, used with skin electrodes, did not detect the reduction in ERG amplitude reported in myopic eyes using traditional ERG setups, potentially due to high inter-subject variability and/or anatomical confounders associated with the use of a skin electrode. The RETeval® with skin electrodes did detect subtle delays to DA implicit times previously reported in myopia, with a positive relationship observed between AL and implicit time for all DA components. In contrast, no significant differences were observed for LA implicit times, which may indicate underlying differences in the dark-adaptation process and/or scotopic visual pathways in myopia