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Biofilm methodologies and food sector regulation
Full text linkThis report summarises the outcomes of a cross-sector workshop on Biofilm Methodologies and Food Sector Regulation, held in Nottingham on 6 March 2025, organised by the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC), the Biofilm Alliance and the Food Safety Research Network (FSRN). The workshop brought together stakeholders from industry, academia, regulatory bodies, and testing organisations to discuss the challenges that microbial biofilms pose across the food supply chain
Relative and bedside nurse assessment of comfort and communication during propofol, dexmedetomidine, or clonidine-based sedation: pre-planned analysis within the A2B RCT
No full textBackground: optimising comfort and ability to communicate for mechanically ventilated (MV) intensive care (ICU) patients is a priority for clinicians, ICU patients and their relatives. Current usual care is propofol-based sedation plus an opioid analgesic. The alpha2-agonists dexmedetomidine and clonidine are potential alternative sedatives. Objective(s): to explore whether nurses and relatives perceive patients sedated with dexmedetomidine and/or clonidine appear more awake, comfortable, and cooperative than patients receiving only propofol-based sedation.Design and methods: sub-study within an open-label three-arm trial. Setting and participants: 41 ICUs in the United Kingdom. 1437 adults receiving propofol ±opioid for sedation-analgesia within 48 hours of starting MV, expected to require ≥48 total hours of MV.Interventions: light sedation was targeted in all patients unless clinicians requested deeper sedation. In intervention groups algorithms promoted alpha2-agonist up-titration and propofol down-titration followed by sedation primarily with allocated alpha2-agonist. Usual care was propofol-based sedation. Intervention continued until patients were successfully extubated (primary outcome), or other pre-defined end-points. Outcomes: for each 12-hours care period nurses responded to two ‘yes/no’ questions: Is the patient able to communicate pain? Is the patient able to cooperate with care? When the patients’ personal legal representative visited, they were asked for ‘yes/no’ responses to three questions: does the patient appear awake? Does the patient appear comfortable? Does the visitor feel they can communicate with the patient? Intervention versus propofol group responses were compared fitting a generalised linear mixed model, with results expressed as Odds Ratios (OR; 95% confidence intervals); ORs >1 indicated greater probability of a ‘yes’ response.Results: nurse responses were available for >90% of trial patients (mean (SD) 12 (12) care periods per patient). Comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol groups, the OR for a ‘yes’ response to ‘communicate pain’ was 1.38 (1.08 to 1.75), and for clonidine versus propofol was 1.13 (0.89 to 1.43). For ‘cooperate with care’ comparing dexmedetomidine versus propofol groups, OR was 1.14 (0.98 to 1.32), and for clonidine versus propofol 0.96 (0.83 to 1.12). Relative responses were available for 32-34% of trial patients across groups (mean (SD) 3 (3) days per patient). For the ‘appear awake’ question, the dexmedetomidine versus propofol group OR was 1.48 (1.04 to 2.10), and clonidine versus propofol 1.35 (0.95 to 1.91). For ‘appear comfortable’ the dexmedetomidine versus propofol group OR was 0.64 (0.38 to 1.09), and for clonidine versus propofol 0.78 (0.45 to 1.34). For the ‘feel they can communicate’ comparison the dexmedetomidine versus propofol group OR was 1.00 (0.68 to 1.47), and for clonidine versus propofol 1.05 (0.71 to 1.54).Limitations: interventions were unblinded, with risk of bias; missing data may not have been at random.Conclusions: nurses perceived patients receiving dexmedetomidine-based sedation could better communicate pain than with propofol-based sedation, and relatives perceived patients appeared more awake. No differences for the other questions were found, or for the clonidine versus propofol comparisons, although some uncertainty remains due to the wide confidence intervals.<br/
A criminological perspective on sharenting risks and harms
No full textSharenting is widely practiced and has attracted significant media and academic attention. While the motives for sharenting are well researched, other aspects are less well understood. This chapter explores sharenting from a criminological perspective. It focuses on the criminogenic features and implications of sharenting practices, particularly the risks of cybersecurity and digital harms. We argue that it is important to move away from a focus on the sharenters who are constructed as scapegoats in the media and instead acknowledge that sharenters are embedded in socio-technical contexts. It is crucial to pay more attention to the social media platforms on which sharenting is taking place and how they are regulated. The chapter starts out with assessing the media representation of risks associated with sharenting from a criminological perspective. Subsequently, we turn to an overview over the types of crimes and social harms that are enabled by sharenting. We then discuss the affordances of social medial platforms and their regulations. Finally, we conclude the chapter with suggestions for the mitigation of risks caused by sharenting and further research need
A TEG-excited switched reluctance generator for self-powered sensing in next generation aircraft
No full textNew aircraft concepts are proposed to support emission reduction in aviation. To achieve the advantages of these concepts an electrical system with high power delivery and low system mass needs to be considered. The reduction of weight of all sub-components without compromising on reliability is being investigated. To achieve these self-powered systems can be introduced to monitor safety critical components. Locally embedded wireless self-powered systems can reduce the weight associated with health monitoring significantly compared to wired systems. In this paper a self-powered system that can be embedded in the engine is introduced. Switched reluctance generator integrated with a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is designed to provide power for bearing health monitoring. An efficient switched reluctance generator is designed for the limited amount of space in the aircraft engine. Two configurations for a six stator poles and fifteen rotor poles (6/15), three phase switched reluctance generator were compared and highest power output was obtained when the individual phase coils were connected in series. To achieve efficient energy conversion, the design process and selection of the excitation and generation angles played an important role. The results of changing angles will be shown in the final paper
Liver fibrosis and the risk of coronary artery disease, stent thrombosis, restenosis, and adverse clinical outcomes
No full textBackground and aims: liver fibrosis may be associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, but data remain limited. This study aimed to explore the relationship between liver fibrosis and the incidence of CAD, stent thrombosis (ST), in-stent restenosis (ISR) and long-term clinical outcomes.Methods: two cohorts were analysed: the UK Biobank (UKB) cohort examined liver fibrosis and CAD incidence and clinical outcomes in the general population, while the Wenzhou cohort assessed its relationship with ST and ISR and long-term outcomes in post-PCI patients. CAD incidence was defined as coronary stenosis ≥ 50% or clinical events, such as myocardial ischaemia, myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome. ST was confirmed via angiography, and ISR was defined as ≥ 50% stenosis within the stent. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) included all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure and stroke. Liver fibrosis was assessed using FIB-4, categorised as ≤ 1.3, 1.3–2.67 and > 2.67.Results: 394,625 participants were included. In the UKB cohort (n = 380,638), 7102 (1.9%) had FIB-4 > 2.67. Over 14.4 years, FIB-4 > 2.67 was associated with higher CAD incidence (aHR = 1.41, p < 0.001) and MACE (aHR = 1.69, p < 0.001). In the Wenzhou cohort (n = 13,987), 3173 (22.7%) had FIB-4 > 2.67. Over 3.0 years, FIB-4 > 2.67 was associated with increased risks of ST and ISR (aHR = 1.34, p = 0.001) and MACE (aHR = 1.97, p < 0.001).Conclusions: liver fibrosis is common among patients with CAD and is associated with CAD incidence, stent thrombosis, restenosis and long-term cardiovascular risk
Physical exercise as a treatment for anxiety and depression in children and adolescents? The devil is in the details
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Identifying priority wetland sites in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory bird conservation
No full textThe East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) is widely recognised to be the most threatened of the eight flyways in the world, with wetlands rapidly lost due to land cover change, unsustainable use, and the wider impacts of climate change. The recently established Regional Flyway Initiative (RFI) aims to bring a set of priority wetlands in the EAAF under improved protection, management, and restoration in 10 Asian countries, while mobilising resources for sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, ecotourism, and other livelihoods for local communities. A major step in the development of this initiative is the identification of priority wetland sites through the application of international criteria, based on modern waterbird count data collated from wetland sites across Asia. Through existing analyses and expert consultations, we short-listed a minimum of 270 internationally important wetlands as candidate localities for further assessment. Count data of EAAF waterbird species was then assessed against international criteria aligned with the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), the EAAF Partnership’s Flyway Site Network and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas for each site to iteratively identify a subset of priority sites, drawing on newly available species population thresholds. Each site was scored and ranked using a metric (Prioritisation Criterion 1) calculated from the proportions of every occurring EAAF species against published population thresholds. We identified a total of 147 wetland sites of high conservation priority across the 10 countries, both freshwater and coastal. At least 34 threatened species, including significant proportions of their global populations are represented in this set of 147 sites. To ensure that conservation opportunities are maximised for species and ecosystem services, there is a need to ensure that selected sites and landscapes are reconciled with the conservation and development priorities of each country, ecological connectivity and to evaluate priority sites for their ecosystem services
Nonlocal mechanical behaviour of functionally graded composite nanostructures
No full textThe intricate domain of composite structures, particularly functionally graded nanostructures, presents a fascinating area of study with immense potential for scientific and industrial advancements. This book delves into the unique properties and applications of these advanced materials, providing an in-depth understanding of the continuum theories that underpin functionally graded nanostructures. The authors explore both theoretical foundations and practical insights into the modeling and numerical simulations of the mechanical behavior of functionally graded materials and structures.• Provides a thorough exploration of the wide array of modeling techniques and computational methods pivotal for studying functionally graded nanostructures.• Offers unique insights into the behavior of functionally graded materials, allowing for a multi-faceted exploration of their properties and applications.• Covers the influence of material gradation on mechanical performance and the effects of environmental factors like temperature and humidity.• Combines theoretical foundations with practical insights.• Discusses challenges associated with manufacturing and testing these advanced materials. By presenting a detailed and nuanced view of functionally graded nanostructures, this book equips readers in materials engineering and related fields with the knowledge and tools needed to understand the complex interactions and behaviors of these materials under various conditions
A day from Dominic Watters' Fieldwork [Foodbank]
No full textAs part of the community research for his PhD and the TRI-SoMe Chicken project, Dominic visits the same foodbank he and his daughter relied on just years prior. This auto-ethnographic note explores the challenges and insights that both being a researcher and service user can uncover. There is a need for forgotten about people to be included in the conversation around tackling food insecurity and this piece begins to look at this tension as a member of the community rather than someone helicoptered in
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