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TRI-SoMe Chicken Stakeholder Workshop 1 report
No full textA report covering the main content and outcomes of the TRI-SoMe Chicken stakeholder workshop, which took place in December 202
Study on the<i> P</i>-wave form factors contributing to <i>B<sub>s</sub></i> to<i> D<sub>s</sub></i> inclusive semileptonic decays from lattice simulations
No full textWe present a pilot study on extracting the form factors of the semileptonic decay of a Bs meson to the P-wave D∗∗s states from Bs four-point correlators. With their inclusive nature, four-point correlators include contributions from all possible final states. From the extracted P-wave form factors, we obtain numerical results for the corresponding Isgur-Wise form factors. The results suggest significant contributions from radial excitations to the Uraltsev sum rule at zero-recoil. In this pilot study, a coarse lattice of 243×64 with lattice spacing of 0.11fm is used for the analysis
Long-term outcomes of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in women with personal history of breast cancer
No full textObjectives: to investigate the association between bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) and long-term health outcomes in women with a personal history of breast cancer.Methods and analysis: we used data on women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1995 and 2019 from the National Cancer Registration Dataset (NCRD) in England. The data were linked to the Hospital Episode Statistics-Admitted Patient Care dataset to identify BSO delivery. Long-term health outcomes were selected from both datasets. Multivariable Cox regression was used to examine the associations, with BSO modelled as a time-dependent covariate. The associations were investigated separately by age at BSO.Results: we identified 568 883 women, 23 401 of whom had BSO after the breast cancer diagnosis. There was an increased risk of total cardiovascular diseases with an HR of 1.10 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.16) in women who had BSO<55 years and 1.07 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.13) for women who had BSO≥55 years. There was an increased risk of ischaemic heart diseases, but there was no association with cerebrovascular diseases. BSO at any age was associated with an increased risk of depression (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.28) and increased risk of second non-breast cancer in older women (HR 1.21, 95%CI 1.08 to 1.35). BSO in older women was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.87 to 096), but not in women who had BSO<55 years.Conclusion: in women with a personal history of breast cancer, BSO before and after the age of 55 years is associated with an increased risk of long-term outcomes. BSO after 55 years is associated with reduced all-cause mortality. Family history or genetic predisposition may confound these associations
Why vital signs observations are delayed and interrupted on acute hospital wards: a multisite observational study
No full textBackground: vital signs monitoring is key to identifying deteriorating hospital patients. However, adherence to monitoring protocols is limited, with observations frequently missed or delayed. Previous studies of interruptions and delays to vital signs observations have been descriptive, with none attempting to conceptualise the types of tasks that are prioritised over vital signs observations.Objective: this paper aims to explore how nursing teams perform vital sign observations on acute hospital wards and conceptualises which types of work delay or interrupt them.Design: non-participant observational study.Setting(s): four hospitals in the south of England.Methods: eligible adult wards (surgical and medical) within each hospital were randomly sampled for inclusion. Four sets of two-hour daytime observation sessions were undertaken on each ward. Two observers recorded structured and unstructured observations (open comments, field notes) on a tablet with adapted QI Tool software. We collected data over 128 h, including 715 sets of vital signs observations and 1127 interruptions. We undertook a qualitative content analysis of interruptions and delays to planned vital signs observations using both structured and unstructured observations.Results: we identified eight reasons why vital signs were delayed or interrupted: fixed routines, staff availability, bundled care, proximity-related activities, collaborative care, patient inaccessible or unavailable, requests for or responses to time-critical activities, or limited context available. We propose a new concept of ‘temporal status.’ Flexible care (vital signs observations, ‘bundled care’ and ‘proximity-related care’) has a low temporal status so is delayed in favour of higher temporal status activities (fixed routines and time-critical care).Conclusions: our findings could explain why vital signs taken early in the morning and evening are least likely to be postponed, as there may be fewer competing tasks with a higher temporal status at these times. Our work also challenges binary conceptualisations of interruptions as ‘beneficial’ or ‘detrimental’, recognising the complexity of nursing care decisions on a moment-by-moment basis. Our new framework suggests the lower temporal status of vital signs observations (and other flexible care) means they are delayed by higher temporal status tasks during daytime shifts in acute hospitals, regardless of their clinical priority
Food classifications provide an approximate packaging indicator to support monitoring of mismanaged plastic waste
No full textMismanaged plastic waste undermines environmental quality, aquatic ecosystems and ultimately public health. Mismanaged plastics increasingly originate from urban populations lacking waste collection services. Household expenditure survey analyses have quantified plastic waste generation among these populations, but only for individual products (e.g. bagged or bottled drinking-water), not for the overall packaging profile of households’ basket-of-goods. This study aims to evaluate how far the international NOVA classification of foods/beverages and commodity classifications by residents predict plastic food packaging. Via a cross-sectional market surveillance survey, packaging was observed for 502 and 396 transactions at selected retail outlets serving low-income areas of Greater Accra, Ghana, and Kisumu, Kenya respectively. In both cities, NOVA processed/ultra-processed food and food/beverage classes created by local residents were significantly associated with greater plastic food packaging, with similar predictive performance. Plastic packaging prevalence was also significantly higher in supermarkets. Plastic packaging use was significantly lower in Kisumu, where single-use carrier bags are banned. Thus, given their international availability and national representativeness, household expenditure surveys have potential for monitoring to inform policy by targeting plastic pollution hot-spots. However, survey-based monitoring should incorporate expert knowledge of national context and the retail environment to reflect the realities of packaging use
The experiences of women, birth partners and midwives of a dedicated, midwife-led, telephone support line for labour: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
No full textWomen admitted to the birthing environment during the latent, rather than established, phase of labour are significantly more likely to experience interventions. Consequently, women are recommended to remain at or return home until labour is established. In 2013 an NHS Trust in England implemented a dedicated, midwife-led telephone support line for women in labour, known as the ’24-hour Labour Line’. This is the first documented telephone triage service located away from the hospital setting, with the midwife situated in the ambulance control centre and whose only role is to provide telephone support to women at home during labour.In the absence of previous literature this research explores the experience of women, birth partners and midwives of accessing, or working on, the 24-hour labour line, with focus on the decision-making process undertaken. A qualitative design was adopted, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The sample comprised eleven women, four birth partners and five midwives. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a reflective diary. Smith et al’s (2022) steps to data analysis were applied. Fourteen ‘Group Experiential Themes’ were identified from the ‘Personal Experiential Themes' of each individual participant.The dedicated telephone triage line offers virtual support to women and birth partners from trusted professionals during the uncertain period of early labour. The location of the service away from the hospital setting assists midwives to make decisions about care, free from the influence of organisational pressures. Through shared decision-making, women can be empowered to take control of the timing of admission to hospital, enabling their emotional and physical wellbeing to be equally valued during telephone assessment. Through advocating women’s choices, midwives experience tension with their hospital counterparts, which may be attributed to a lack of understanding of the scope of the role and a lack of visibility of the work undertaken by 24-hour labour line midwives. Midwives have found a sense of belonging through working in the ambulance control centre and value working collaboratively with other professional groups, to the perceived advantage of both the public and professionals.The findings of this study offer support for the implementation of dedicated telephone support lines for early labour to facilitate shared decision-making and increase women’s control over their care during this phase of labour. This study is the first qualitative research to thoroughly explore the experience of women and birth partners of early labour during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering novel understanding of the importance of remote services during this time. New knowledge of the experiences of midwives working in a non-traditional maternity setting and the challenges this brings is provided and recommendations for practice and policy made
Becoming a university president: an accidental meritocratic career trajectory
No full textAchieving top leadership positions is a career goal for many, including those in academia. Despite the increasing size and importance of the higher education sector, the literature on university presidents' careers remains scarce. We interviewed 48 university presidents in three academic models (UK, France, and Vietnam) to identify the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of their career trajectories. Whilst the academic career model reflects characteristics of ‘new careers’, our findings support and expand several career theories. We identified a multi-stage career trajectory, where progression to the next stage is contingent on meeting certain requirements. It is only from having achieved prior levels that the move to an executive leadership role becomes a consideration. Progress is largely informal, partly ‘accidental’, and sponsored by existing leadership and/or other colleagues. Furthermore, we observed similarities and differences in the enablers and barriers across national systems. Finally, we reveal the almost complete lack of the involvement of human resource management in the process, providing implications for those responsible for people management in universities
Multi-array tubular microbial fuel cell-based biosensor with membrane electrode assembled air-cathodes
No full textUsing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as biosensors ensures a sustainable method for water quality detection. However, the research on MFC-based biosensors with a tubular setup is still scarce. In this study, a tubular multi-array MFC-based biosensor setup with air-cathodes was assembled under the membrane electrode assembly configuration. Three different materials, including carbon black (CB), Pt/C (PtC), and polyaniline (PANI), were synthesized and coated on the membrane-facing side of the air-cathode to demonstrate the effects of modified air-cathodes on the overall performance of the MFC-biosensors. Unmodified carbon cloths were used as anodes. Three days of startup period were required by the biosensors before producing an electrical signal output. The highest current density was obtained by the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/CB/PtC (0.31 A m−2) sample followed by PTFE/CB/PANI (0.09 A m−2), and lastly PTFE/CB (0.05 A m−2). The control (PTFE only) sample did not generate any noticeable electrical signal. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis showed that the incorporation of PtC on the PTFE/CB sample lowered the charge transfer resistance (Rct), whereas the addition of PANI increased the Rct. Despite the differences in Rct values, both PTFE/CB/PtC and PTFE/CB/PANI samples demonstrated a better current density production than the PTFE/CB sample. Thus, modified air-cathodes further elevated the biosensor's performance.</p
Use of digital facilitation to support the use of digital services in general practice in England: an interview study with key stakeholders
No full textObjective: digital services in primary care are becoming more common, yet access to and use of services can create inequities. Our aim was to explore the drivers, priorities, and evolving policy context influencing digital facilitation in primary care as reported by national, regional and local level stakeholders in England.Methods: we conducted online semi-structured qualitative interviews with stakeholders, including those in NHS England organisations, local commissioners for health care, statutory and third sector organisations, those working within the research community, and digital platform providers. Interviews were analysed using a thematic approach.Results: the majority of stakeholders worked in national level roles, in commissioning or statutory and third sector organisations working in relation to digital inclusion and patient access. Demographic inequalities, poor usability of digital primary care services, and low digital skills were perceived to comprise some of the barriers facing patients in accessing and using digital primary care services. Demand pressures in general practice, inconsistent training opportunities in digital services for staff, and conflicting perceptions around who should be responsible in organising digital facilitation were reported as barriers in the organisation and provision of digital facilitation in primary care. Stakeholders shared future visions for digital primary care and recommended focusing on establishing the concept of digital facilitation and promoting the benefits in its adoption.Conclusions: policy that is specific to digital facilitation and not just to digital services is required to establish clear lines of responsibility, investment in staff time and training, and the development of digital services that work well for various groups of patients and practice staff. A multi-organisational working team involving decision-makers and those working on the ground in general practice is encouraged to establish principles for supporting patients and staff in accessing and using digital primary care services in the NHS in England
Mapping the active galactic nucleus effects on the stellar and gas properties of NGC 5806
No full textIt is commonly accepted that active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have a strong impact upon the evolution of their host galaxies, but the processes by which they do so are not fully understood. We aim to further the understanding of AGN feeding and feedback by examining an active galaxy using spatially resolved spectroscopy. We analyze integral field spectroscopy of the active galaxy NGC 5806, obtained using the Very Large Telescope Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer. We map the dynamics of gas and stars, as well as gas optical emission line fluxes throughout the central 8 × 8 kpc2 of the galaxy. We use emission line ratios to map gas metallicity and identify regions of gas excitation dominated by AGN/shocks or star formation. We also determine the average stellar population age and metallicity, and model the rotation and dynamics of the galaxy. We find that NGC 5806 has a star-forming circumnuclear ring, with a projected radius of ~400 pc. The dynamics of this galaxy are driven by a large-scale bar, which transports gas from the spiral arm to the central ring and potentially fuels the AGN. We also observe AGN-dominated gas excitation up to 3.3 kpc away from the center of the galaxy, showing the extended AGN effect on the gas in the central regions of the galaxy
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