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Diabetic Socks: A Systematic Review of the Literature and Commercially Available Products
Get PDFAims: In recent years, various diabetic socks have been developed and introduced to help prevent diabetes related foot ulcers (DFUs). However, the question of which type of sock is most suitable for individuals with diabetes has not been adequately addressed. This review systematically explores the current evidence regarding the performance and structural properties of diabetic socks, along with a narrative analysis of commercial socks. Methods: Four databases, including Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, CINAHL (EBSCO), and Google Scholar, were examined, resulting in the selection of nine articles. Methodological quality of the clinical trials was assessed using the Downs and Black tool. Additionally, 17 commercially available socks were selected for analysis. Results: Among the selected articles, four were clinical trials, two mixed‐design studies, and three laboratory‐based investigations. The clinical studies exhibited poor quality and were unable to demonstrate significant outcomes. Laboratory‐based studies indicated that functional finishes on yarns could prevent microbial growth and that the blend of fibres and the structure of the socks significantly affect the overall performance. Commercially available socks reporting new types of fibres lack clinical evidence to support their claims, complicating the understanding of their performance in people with diabetes. Conclusions: Current evidence regarding the structure and function of diabetic socks is limited, with clinical trials characterised by poor methodological quality. Technical suggestions for diabetic sock design are based on limited evidence from laboratory‐based studies, highlighting gaps in the literature. This review highlights the need for further investigation to establish the evidence base for diabetic socks in supporting diabetic foot care
Differentiating hallucination proneness dimensions through alpha resting state dynamics
Get PDFHallucination-like experiences (HLEs) are untriggered sensory perceptions linked to externalizing bias - the misattribution of self-generated sensory experiences to an external source. The vulnerability to HLEs, i.e., hallucination proneness (HP), is typically assessed by the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale (LSHS). A newly proposed LSHS factor analysis revealed four distinct HP dimensions: Multisensory HLEs, Auditory daydreaming, Vivid thoughts and inner speech, and Personified HLEs. The current study assesses whether these HP dimensions map onto distinct patterns of resting state brain dynamics in the alpha frequency band due to its modulatory role in attention and perception. We used a Hidden semi-Markov Model to segment continuous RS alpha activity into nine recurrent brain states and extracted the total number of transitions (TT) and the number of visits per state (SV). We assessed how the HP dimensions relate to these metrics, calculated across the entire 3-minute recording and within shorter sliding windows to capture finer temporal changes. All HP dimensions and increased RS time correlated with increased TT. Increased Personified HLEs scores linked to different time-dependent changes of SV in two states (SV to state 5 decreased over time, while visits to state 9 increased), highlighting distinct alpha dynamics in high- and low-hallucination prone individuals. Increased TT could indicate frequent attentional switches between internal and external states. Different SV patterns related to higher Personified HLEs scores suggest unstable source monitoring, potentially inducing an externalizing bias. These findings provide novel predictors of HP dimensions, revealing distinct neural profiles associated with different vulnerability profiles
Mobilizing resources under constraint: the role of entrepreneurial leadership in emerging market firms
Get PDFPurpose
The study explores how emerging market firms (EMFs) survive and thrive for a sustained period in less-developed institutional environments.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a qualitative approach, the study analyzes 115 publicly available interviews with EMF founders and senior business leaders across emerging markets worldwide. A grounded theory approach was employed to identify patterns in leadership and resource mobilization strategies.
Findings
The study reveals how EMFs with limited resources strategically identify, acquire and deploy resources to overcome institutional constraints. It highlights the pivotal role of entrepreneurial leadership in recognizing opportunities, orchestrating resources and navigating complex, uncertain environments to sustain firm growth.
Originality/value
This research develops an integrative framework combining the resource-based view and institutional theory, offering a novel understanding of the dynamic interplay between entrepreneurial leadership and resource mobilization. In doing so, it provides context-sensitive insights into how entrepreneurial leadership shapes resource mobilization across diverse emerging market regions
Understanding the factors that shape patient choices in bringing a claim for clinical negligence against the NHS in England: a scoping review
Get PDFBackground: Improving patient experience is a prominent theme of the National Health Service (NHS) 10-Year Health Plan for England including the need to improve patient experience of clinical negligence claims. Understanding the factors that shape patient choices in bringing a claim for clinical negligence is an important aspect of patient experience that has the potential to provide crucial insight that could inform the future reform of the clinical negligence process in England. This scoping review aimed to identify the key concepts within the limited research exploring the factors that shape patient choices in bringing a claim for clinical negligence against the NHS in England and identify where gaps in the research may exist. Methods: To address this knowledge gap, a methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews was applied. Search strategies were developed using selected keywords and index terms. Relevant published literature was identified by applying the search strategy to the peer-reviewed databases MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Westlaw. Reference lists of relevant publications were searched to identify relevant research and academic policy. All studies identified were charted, and the results were presented as a narrative synthesis. Results: Two main themes were identified from the 17 included records. These themes were ‘experience of harm’ and ‘accessibility of compensation for clinical negligence’. Conclusion: How an NHS organisation responds to harm can shape patient choices in bringing a claim for clinical negligence. However, this scoping review identified the limited consideration given to how current law and policy, organisational cultures, social determinants of health and health inequalities may shape patient choices in bringing a claim for clinical negligence. Furthermore, this scoping review has identified that empirical research has given no consideration to the role of social media or Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping patient choices in bringing a claim for clinical negligence. Research considering these factors is vital to improve patient experience of the clinical negligence process in England and has the potential to play an important role in informing the future reform of the clinical negligence process in England. Systematic Review Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.I0/6BP2
Human geography and the occult: Weird walks, writing, and re-enchanting the landscape
Get PDFThis article traces geographical writings on monstrosity, magic(k) and spectrality which have developed over the last three decades. By framing these various works as ‘occult geographies’ and ‘geographies of the occult’, we show how this work is both thematically and theoretically linked and impacts current and emerging lines of thought in human geography more broadly. Surveying a body of non-specialist writings on occult landscapes, this paper contributes to human geography by showing how these practices and writings inform experiences of environment, identity, and belonging, whilst revealing political tensions for those deploying occult terminology and phenomena in their human geographical accounts
Myostatin in Obesity: A Molecular Link Between Metabolic Dysfunction and Musculotendinous Remodeling
Get PDFObesity is increasingly recognized not only as a metabolic disorder but also as a condition marked by the structural and functional deterioration of skeletal muscle and tendon tissues. Central to this process is the dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) resulting in fibrosis and ectopic fat accumulation, factors that contribute to impaired tissue mechanics. Myostatin (GDF-8), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, is known as a negative regulator of muscle mass. It can also mediate interaction between adipose and other tissues including muscles and tendons. In obesity, elevated myostatin levels have been reported to be associated with insulin resistance, muscle atrophy, and activation of SMAD2/3 signaling, while experimental and preclinical studies indicate that myostatin inhibition can improve glucose homeostasis and increase lean mass. Emerging evidence suggests that myostatin also plays a critical role in muscle ECM and tendon remodeling. Restoring its physiological levels may help reverse ECM disorganization and reduce tissue fragility associated with musculotendinous dysfunction. This review highlights the multifaceted role of myostatin in obesity, beyond its role in muscle catabolism, to include modulation of structural integrity, metabolism, and mechanical adaptability of the musculotendinous system. Understanding how myostatin responds to metabolic stress and affects biomechanical remodeling offers novel insights into obesity-related muscle and tendon dysfunction
Workplace health and safety under climate stress in Sri Lankan apparel SMEs
Get PDFClimate change poses escalating risks to labor-intensive industries in South Asia. This mixed‑methods study assessed how climate‑related hazards affect the health, safety and productivity of workers in Sri Lankan small‑ and medium‑scale apparel manufacturing companies (SMAMCs). A survey of 384 employees in Biyagama and Katunayake Export Processing Zones captured quantitative data on exposure to excessive heat, flooding, indoor air pollution and mosquito‑borne diseases, and elicited qualitative accounts of workplace experiences. Heat waves and high humidity were the most pervasive stressors: 81.25% (95% CI; 77.3 to 85.2) of respondents reported heat stress, with headaches, dehydration, and diminished concentration frequently linked to needle‑prick injuries. Flood events damaged infrastructure and heightened respiratory, gastrointestinal and dermatological illnesses, while inadequate ventilation compounded air‑quality problems; 95% (95% CI; 92.4 to 96.8) of workers complained of persistent coughing. Dengue incidence over the preceding five years reached 10.68% (95% CI; 8.0 to 14.2), reflecting expanding vector habitats. Chi‑square analysis confirmed statistically significant associations between each hazard and adverse health outcomes. The study underscores the need for integrated adaptation measures, improved ventilation, low‑cost cooling, drainage upgrades and systematic vector control, supported by enforceable regulations and targeted financial assistance. Enhancing climate resilience in SMAMCs is essential for safeguarding worker wellbeing and sustaining Sri Lanka’s export competitiveness, while contributing to global goals on decent work and climate action targets
Young, educated and excluded? Regulating student accommodation in England & Wales
Get PDFLegal geography scholarship has repeatedly shown that normative visions of property are constructed through standards, policies and legislation promoting the single-family home as an ideal type. In turn, this privileging of the family home relies upon other forms of land use being defined as potentially injurious to those who live in single-family homes. One example here is accommodation occupied by students, a population assumed to share housing on a different basis than a “family”. Adopting a Foucauldian perspective emphasising the practices, mentalities and techniques by which subjects are governed, this paper argues the regulation of student accommodation constructs students as a population existing in opposition to the family norm. It does this by exploring the construction of student housing as a discrete category of land use in policy documents and appeal cases in England and Wales, exposing the moral assumptions about the lifestyles of students informing such discourses. Noting the recent emergence of housing developments catering for “post-students” and young professionals that are functionally indistinct from student accommodation, yet regulated differently, the paper concludes that planners and policymakers continue to differentiate between student and non-student housing on moral grounds rather than making rational distinctions between different forms of land use
XAI-driven Data Mining for Self-defending IoT Systems: Enhancing Cybersecurity Transparency in the Age of Smart Cities
Get PDFThe rapid expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in smart cities, healthcare, and industrial automation has intensified the need for cybersecurity frameworks capable of operating at scale and in real time under increasingly sophisticated threat conditions. Traditional security mechanisms and opaque AI-based models are no longer adequate for protecting interconnected urban infrastructures, especially as regulatory and societal expectations move toward transparency and accountability. Although prior surveys have examined IoT security and general AI techniques, they rarely address the emerging role of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in data mining for IoT cybersecurity or integrate recent advances in cognitively inspired and human-aligned explainability methods. This survey provides an up-to-date review of XAI-driven data mining approaches applied to IoT ecosystems, highlighting their ability to detect anomalies, interpret complex sensor-driven behaviours, and support automated security decisions through transparent and interpretable reasoning. The review identifies critical challenges, including data privacy, scalability, computational constraints, and the interpretability limitations of modern AI models. It examines how biologically inspired learning paradigms and cognitively grounded explanation techniques can enhance trust and situational awareness in IoT environments. Emerging technologies such as edge intelligence, federated learning (FL), blockchain integration, and quantum-assisted analytics are discussed as promising enablers of scalable and transparent IoT security. The survey underscores the importance of trustworthy, ethically aligned AI, advocating for XAI frameworks that enable fair, auditable, and reliable decision-making in safety-critical infrastructure. By addressing gaps in the literature and synthesizing recent developments, this study presents a timely perspective on XAI, data mining, and IoT cybersecurity, outlining future directions for building resilient, interpretable, and human-centric smart city systems
Safety and efficacy of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in adults with type 2 diabetes fasting during Ramadan: A meta-analysis.
Get PDFBackground: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are widely used in managing type 2 diabetes (T2D). A significant number of these patients choose to observe religious fasting during Ramadan. Although existing guidelines recommend caution when administering SGLT2i during Ramadan due to potential adverse effects, there is limited data on their use in this patient population.
Aim: To assess the safety and effectiveness of SGLT2i in patients with T2D who fast during Ramadan.
Methods: Relevant studies involving adults with T2D who received an SGLT2i in the intervention arm and other glucose-lowering drugs in the control arm were systematically searched through electronic databases. The primary outcome was the occurrence of adverse events in the two groups; additional outcomes included changes in glycemic and anthropometric parameters during the peri-Ramadan period. RevMan Web was used to conduct meta-analysis using random-effects models. Outcomes were presented as mean differences (MDs) or risk ratios (RRs) with 95%CI.
Results: Twelve studies involving 3625 subjects were included. The risks of postural dizziness (RR = 6.39, 95%CI: 1.58-25.80, P = 0.009, I 2 = 44%), hypotension/postural hypotension (RR = 4.43, 95%CI: 1.35-14.55, P = 0.01, I 2 = 31%), and sodium loss (MD = -1.00 mmol/L, 95%CI: -1.34 to -0.67, P < 0.00001, I 2 = 0%) were higher in the SGLT2i group compared to the non-SGLT2i group. The SGLT-2i group achieved larger reductions in systolic (MD = -2.41 mmHg, 95%CI: -4.52 to -0.30, P = 0.02, I 2 = 46%) and diastolic blood pressure (MD = -1.71 mmHg, 95%CI: -2.70 to -0.72, P = 0.0007, I 2 = 20%), and experienced a lower risk of symptomatic hypoglycemia (RR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.29-0.97, P = 0.04, I 2 = 69%). The two groups exhibited comparable changes in glycated hemoglobin, body weight, and renal function. The risks of other specific adverse events, including dehydration, dizziness, volume depletion, symptomatic hyperglycemia, severe hypoglycemia, and genitourinary infections, were identical in the two groups.
Conclusion: SGLT2i may be generally safe and effectively manage T2D during Ramadan; however, the results are less robust and should be interpreted with caution. Large multicenter randomized trials are necessary to confirm their safety, especially for at-risk groups, and to improve clinical decision-making