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HAC-19: A co-infection model for infectious diseases using IoT-Networked Robots
Full text linkInternet of Things (IoT) of networked robots installed at the edges of smart healthcare infrastructure (SHI) can be used to mitigate infectious diseases. Such robots can predict pandemics, and screen, diagnose, treat or perform healthcare nursing for infectious diseases. When equipped with suitable digital technologies, these robots can mitigate epidemics and predict future pandemics more efficiently. This paper proposes a co-infection model of infectious diseases, using HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 (or HAC-19) as examples, that can underlie SHI nodes (e.g., robots). The co-infection model benefits from the compartmental applications of fractional derivatives to healthcare problems. Six co-infection control parameters (e.g., awareness, counselling, COVID-19 safety protocol, COVID-19 vaccine, HIV/AIDS therapy, and COVID-19 treatment) are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The HAC-19 model uses a basic reproduction number to indicate the effectiveness of the control measures. When the control parameters are effective, the results show that the HAC-19 co-infection reduces to a minimum in the population. When the control measures are not effective, the HAC-19 co-infection will be endemic. Robots, equipped with IoT at the edge of the SHI, transfer the data from the trials to the outpost network nodes in the hospital and then to the cloud for further analytics and decision-making. The results of real-world trials at three hospital locations strongly agree with the theoretical model
Putting on a disguise to fit in: A mixed methods study of experiences in autistic camouflaging
Full text linkBackground: A 3:1 male-to-female autism diagnosis ratio may be partly explained by more prevalent camouflaging behaviours among females, which can mask autistic traits. Methods: This mixed-methods study examined gender differences in camouflaging among 110 autistic adults (aged 18–64) using the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) and explored lived experiences through interviews with eight participants (aged 18–37). Results: Quantitative results showed that females reported significantly higher total camouflaging scores than males, particularly in the compensation subtype, while differences in masking and assimilation were not significant. Thematic analysis of interviews identified four key overarching themes: camouflaging motivations and consequences, level of consciousness, affected identity, and experiences of support. Conclusions: Findings highlight the complex impact of camouflaging on daily life and its potential role in delayed diagnoses and mental health challenges. Further research should include diverse gender identities and a broader representation of the autism spectrum to inform better support and interventions
Developing an assessment toolbox
No full textIn the fourth article in this series focusing on play in emergency settings, Debra Laxton, Sarah Ndlovu and Priyanka Handa Ram share more about the development of an assessment tool tailored to play-based provision
Effects of New Zealand blackcurrant extract on exercising substrate utilisation and post exercise blood pressure in males and females
Full text linkNew Zealand blackcurrant extract (NZBC) has been shown to increase fat oxidation during exercise and the post-exercise blood pressure in males and females. The change in fat oxidation by NZBC has also been shown to be correlated to body composition in males and females. There has never been a comparison of sex responses within the same study. Twenty-two participants (11 males and 11 females, age: 29±8 years, maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max): 44±9 mL·kg−1·min−1, body fat: 18±6 %) had resting blood pressure measured for 2 hr (no exercise). In a double-blind, placebo-controlled (PLA), randomised crossover design, participants completed one hour of treadmill exercise at 50% V̇O2max with expired gas measurement, followed by 2-hr resting blood pressure measurement with 7-days of NZBC or PLA. Average fat oxidation was different between the conditions (NZBC: 0.27±0.11, PLA: 0.21±0.12 g·min-1, P0.05) between body fat percentage and change in fat oxidation (ΔFATOX) (r=-0.079), with males also demonstrating no relationship (r=-0.069), but females did demonstrate a relationship (r=0.691, P<0.05). In the 2-hr rest, systolic pressure delta change was larger with NZBC than PLA (no exercise vs. NZBC: -5.5±5.4, vs. no exercise vs. PLA: -2.9±5.1 mmHg, P<0.001) but was not different between males and females. A 7-day intake of NZBC extract increases fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise and decreases post-exercise blood pressure in males and females. The magnitude of change in fat oxidation in females is correlated to body fat percentage
A physical activity and socioemotional intervention for residents of a large vulnerable community in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled study
Full text linkIntroduction
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health issues, particularly in vulnerable communities. Non-psychiatric interventions, including psychological emotional regulation, contemplative practices, and physical activity, can be powerful tools for improving mental health, especially in vulnerable populations. The present study evaluates the effect of a novel low-cost Socioemotional and Physical Activity Intervention in a Brazilian large vulnerable community during the pandemic’s final period.
Materials and methods
Participants were adults (18 to 60 years of age) that resided in the Paraisópolis, the third largest favela in Brazil. Recruitment was done through advertising via mobile messaging. Participants were divided into two groups, Intervention (Group I) or Waiting List Control (Group C). Group I participants underwent an in-person Multidimensional Intervention of 1 h per week, for 12 weeks, which was composed of socioemotional skills learning and moderate physical activities, while Group C maintained their usual daily routines. All participants were evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) the Intervention. The evaluation included four validated questionnaires to assess mental health (DASS-21, PANAS, WHO-5 and BRS), IPAQ for evaluating physical activity levels and a physical fitness assessment, which provided quantitative data. A semi-structured interview was also done, which provided qualitative data and was analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Quantitative data was collected from 88 participants, 43 from Group I and 45 from Group C. We observed a reduction in the scores for depression (DASS−21; Mean difference between evaluations [MD] = −3.2 [± 1.13, SEM], p = 0.006) and negative affects (PANAS, MD = −2.7 [± 0.97], p = 0.012) observed only in the participants of the I group in T1 compared to T0, but not for the C group. We also found a reduction in systolic arterial blood pressure in hypertensive or pre-hypertensive participants after exercise (Group I n = 28; −7.0 [± 2.8] mmHg, p = 0.014), an increase in physical endurance (walk test, MD = +56.0 [±8.7] m, p < 0.001) and flexibility (sit and reach test, MD = +5.12 [±0.85] cm, p < 0.001) only in the I group on T1, compared to T0. The reflexive thematic analysis results suggest that the Intervention not only alleviated negative emotional states, such as anxiety and sadness, but also provided a notable enhancement in participant’s physical vitality, corroborating and complementing the quantitative analysis results.
Conclusion
The results presented here indicate that the Intervention presented here has the potential to reduce symptoms correlated with mental disorders and improve physical fitness in residents of a large vulnerable community
Cusps and evolution in coaching psychology: An editorial on a special issue of the Chichester Coaching Psychology Conference
Full text linkWelcome to the latest issue of The Coaching Psychologist, which is a special issue bringing you some of the best papers from the University of Chichester’s inaugural coaching psychology conference. I have the honour of having been joined as co-editor for this special issue by Dr Ian Tyndall from Chichester’s Department of Psychology and also Chair of the conference. In this editorial, we will explain how this conference came into being, how this fits in to the wider growth in interest and activity within the field of coaching psychology, as well as preview the articles featured within this issue
Dopamine-scrolling: a modern public health challenge requiring urgent attention
No full textThis manuscript examines the emerging phenomenon of dopamine-scrolling and its implications for public health, particularly regarding mental wellbeing and digital behaviour patterns. While extensive research exists on Internet addiction, problematic social media use, and doom-scrolling, the authors of this paper identify dopamine-scrolling as a distinct behavioural pattern that warrants specific attention from public health professionals and policymakers
As near as possible: the cy-près doctrine and community sporting associations
No full textThis article explores the application of the cy-près doctrine within the context of community and amateur sport. While designed to preserve charitable intent when a gift’s original purpose fails, cy-près presents distinct challenges in grassroots contexts where sentiment, informality, and civic spirit often outweigh legal precision. Community sports clubs, deeply embedded in local identity yet structurally fragile, increasingly depend on charitable funding. When these organisations dissolve or lose status, courts must determine how to redirect gifts without undermining donor intent. This article reframes cy-près as a measure of public trust in charity law—one that must evolve to preserve not just the gift—but the shared values and local identities that inspire it
Centring the ‘subjective’ when examining performance in the field of dance medicine and science
Full text linkWhilst research studies in dance science have focused on gaining insight into what constitutes a performance from the perspective of the performer, their attention to primarily isolated aspects of performance has precluded understanding of how these elements form the experience of the performer in a holistic sense. This chapter explores the role of subjective approaches in dance research. It argues for the value of situating the self within experience, drawing on the academic writing of those in the fields of dance studies, performance studies and dance medicine and science. This chapter will offer the provocation that whilst dance science researchers increasingly adopt interdisciplinary approaches, the field largely aligns with a positivist research position, emphasising measurable outcomes and robustness of findings over subjective experiences and insights. It is hoped by bringing the viewpoint of the performer to the fore that it may in turn place greater value on other ways of knowing and contribute to a wider understanding of what constitutes the multi-faceted components of artistic performance, which other disciplines may duly benefit from