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Investigating the impact of temperature changes on coastal heritage sites using remote sensing
Full text linkCoastal heritage assets are crucial to a society’s history and must be preserved sustainably, despite their vulnerability to both natural and anthropogenic hazards. Their monitoring is challenging due to the interrelated nature of these attributes. While expert observations and on-site measurements are employed, they cover limited areas over time, whereas remote sensing can assess larger regions more regularly. This study examines the impacts of climate change on Old Town North, a conservation area within Southampton Harbour, UK, designated as “heritage at risk” by Historic England in 2024. Particular focus is given to temperature and moisture variations, which may accelerate material decay and heighten risks. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the study uses satellite data to extract land surface temperatures, monitor coastal changes, and identify vulnerable risk zones. Results show that the conservation area faces multiple pressures, including moisture deficiency, urban sprawl, and increased surface temperatures, that together could hasten the deterioration of heritage assets
Policy recommendations for implementing registries to minimize over-volunteering in Phase
No full textThousands of healthy volunteers enroll in Phase I clinical trials annually, often motivated by financial gain. Some engage in “over-volunteering”—participating in multiple studies simultaneously or ignoring washout periods. While serious adverse effects are rare, the experimental nature of Phase I trials, which for “first-in-human” studies are designed to trigger adverse events under controlled conditions, makes risks uncertain and unpredictable—a concern that might be compounded by concealed trial participation, which may further increase the likelihood of adverse events. Over-volunteering may also distort trial results through undetected drug interactions. To address this, France, Malaysia, and the UK have implemented national registries to track enrollments and enforce washout periods. Private, for-profit registries, like India’s biometric-based system and the US-based Verified Clinical Trials, are used by some clinical research units, mostly private contract research organizations, but their use is not universal and mandatory within countries. Overall, most countries still lack mandatory systems, highlighting the need for broader oversight to protect volunteers and ensure reliable research outcomes. This article discusses the need for and barriers to implementing effective registries and argues that widespread adoption of such registries is critical to protect healthy volunteers from risk of harm while also enhancing trial results’ transparency, reliability, and integrity, thereby contributing to developing safer and more effective drugs
Comprehensive and New Approximate Analysis and Design Techniques for Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements.
Full text linkIn practical structural analysis and design scenarios, various software tools are commonly utilized. However, verifying the structural analysis and design can pose a significant challenge for many designers. To address this concern, the author has developed and proposed an innovative, simple, comprehensive, and reliable approximate structural analysis and design method. These methods aim to provide designers with valuable information on the final internal forces (axial/shear force, and bending moment), vertical deflections, lateral displacement/drift of buildings under lateral force, and approximate dimensions of all structural components prior to conducting software analysis and design. The preliminary estimation of beam and column dimensions may lead to an extensive trial and error process. Therefore, this study will introduce a new and reliable approximate structural analysis and design methodology using precise analytical techniques and software evaluations. This approach aims to determine approximate internal forces, establish preliminary structural dimensions, and validate the modeling, analysis, and design processes conducted through software. The methodology presented in this chapter has been applied to the analysis and design of various projects ranging from 5 to 15 stories, which were designed by the author in their capacity as the director of Alan Consulting Engineers. In addition, this chapter presents four case studies to assess the effectiveness and dependability of the proposed methods. The findings indicate discrepancies ranging from 2 to 12%
Targeting recipient dendritic cells with sialic acid-modified donor alloantigen prolongs skin
Full text linkMature dendritic cells (DCs) are known to activate effector immune responses, whereas steady state immature DCs can induce tolerance. Several studies have targeted immature murine quiescent DCs in vivo with antigen, including donor alloantigens, for the induction of tolerance. Receptors expressed by specific DC subsets have been also targeted with antibodies linked with antigens to induce tolerance; for instance, in vivo targeting of the DCIR2+ DC subset with donor alloantigen resulted in long-term survival of heart and skin transplants. DCs also express sialic acid immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) receptors, and these have been successfully targeted with myelin oligiodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antigen to induce tolerance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We investigated, in a mismatched model of skin transplant (B6Kd into B6 recipient mice), whether targeting a sialylated alloantigen Kd (Sia-Kd) to Siglecs on recipient DCs promoted transplant survival. The injection of α2,3 Sia-Kd into B6 recipient mice prior to B6Kd skin transplantation, by binding to Batf3 dependent DCs, resulted in prolonged skin graft survival and an increase in CD4+CD62L+Foxp3+ Tregs. Targeting Siglecs on DC subsets in vivo represents a novel way of improving transplant survival
Achieving Quality and Effectiveness in Dementia Using Crisis Teams (AQUEDUCT): a randomised controlled trial evaluating the impact of a best practice Resource Kit used by teams managing crisis in dementia.
Full text linkPeople with dementia frequently experience mental health crisis requiring psychiatric hospital admission. In the UK, Teams Managing Crisis in Dementia (TMCDs) vary in structure and practice due to the absence of a standardized model. A pragmatic, randomised controlled trial (RCT) was designed to evaluate the AQUEDUCT Best Practice Tool and online Resource Kit (RK). Twenty-three TMCDs across England were randomised 1:1 To receive the RK plus usual care (intervention) or usual care alone (control) (www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN42855694). The primary outcome was the number of psychiatric hospital admissions for people with dementia at the primary endpoint of six months. Secondary outcomes included TMCD staff mental health (GHQ-12), psychological flexibility (WAAQ), and work engagement (UWES); and for people with dementia and carers, service satisfaction (CSQ-8) and mental wellbeing (GHQ-12). There was no significant difference in number of psychiatric admissions between groups (incident rate ratio: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.37-1.48; p = 0.397) and the primary endpoint was met. No significant differences were found for the secondary outcomes across staff or service user groups. Fidelity to the intervention varied; five TMCDs met or exceeded implementation criteria, while others reported structural barriers. Limited engagement was attributed to the absence of a learning collaborative and pandemic-related service pressures. Although the RK was valued by staff for guiding quality improvement, it did not significantly reduce hospital admissions or improve secondary outcomes. Future studies should prioritise implementation support and explore systemic barriers to service improvement in dementia crisis care
A Clinician-Centred interface for AI-Powered echocardiographic image quality feedback
No full textEchocardiography is a widely used, non-invasive imaging technique for cardiac assessment, but its effectiveness is highly dependent on the operator’s expertise. Variability in image acquisition can compromise diagnostic accuracy, highlighting the need for consistent, real-time feedback to support clinicians during scanning. Although recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled automated assessment of image quality, these tools often fail to deliver feedback in a format that is interpretable, actionable, and seamlessly integrated into clinical workflows. We present the design and evaluation of a clinician-centred interface that provides visual feedback on image quality during echocardiographic examinations. The interface overlays quality assessments onto the imaging screen using intuitive visual elements, guiding the operator to improve the visibility of key cardiac structures while also addressing image foreshortening. The system was developed through a human-centred design process involving clinician input, ethical safeguards, and iterative prototyping. A three-phase evaluation involving peer reviewers, expert cardiologists, and clinical practitioners assessed usability and interpretability through qualitative feedback and structured usability metrics. Results confirmed the interface’s effectiveness in enhancing user experience, supporting clinical decision-making, and preserving clinician autonomy. The findings demonstrate the potential of this approach to improve consistency and confidence in echocardiographic image acquisition
“URGENSI” platform development to enhance disaster preparedness among the elderly
Full text linkSurabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, lies between the Waru and Surabaya faults, making it prone to earthquakes and frequent flooding due to its dense population and inadequate drainage system. Among its residents, approximately 350,000 elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable during disasters because of limited mobility, physical frailty, and difficulty accessing information. However, research on disaster preparedness among the elderly and the use of technology-based support remains limited. This study aimed to develop and test “URGENSI”, a web-based platform designed for the elderly around UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur, following the ADDIE Model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). Stakeholder discussions informed the design process. The application integrates two main components: 1) KESTANA Assessment, a self-assessment tool to evaluate disaster and health preparedness, and 2) educational modules (KESTANA education and KITANA education) offering self-learning materials on health, disaster readiness and emergency kit preparation. Functionality testing was conducted with 25 elderly participants living near UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur. Results showed most respondents were neither healthy nor resilient when facing disasters. Nevertheless, participants rated the application as user-friendly, visually engaging, and easy to understand. Overall, URGENSI demonstrates strong potential to enhance disaster preparedness, support elderly health, and contribute to broader disaster risk reduction and community resilience efforts in Indonesia
Share price dynamics of listed companies on the Dhaka stock exchange using geometric Brownian motion
Full text linkThe stock prices of publicly traded companies exhibit continuous and random fluctuations over time, necessitating the inclusion of a stochastic term in dynamic models to accurately capture this behavior. This study applies the geometric Brownian motion (GBM) model to analyse the stock prices of 20 randomly selected companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). The GBM model was resolved through Monte Carlo simulation to forecast stock prices over a trading horizon of approximately 30 to 35 days. Using historical data from the first four months of 2024, we predicted the share prices for the subsequent one-and-a-half months. The comparison between forecast and actual prices demonstrated a high level of concordance, with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of less than 8%. These findings underscore the efficacy of the model in providing robust predictions of share prices for selected companies
Music for displaced dyads (M4DD): a music therapy feasibility study for displaced Ukrainian parents and their pre-school children
No full textThis chapter describes and discusses aspects of a music therapy feasibility study, Music for Displaced Dyads (M4DD), for displaced Ukrainian parents and pre-school children undertaken in the Spring of 2023 in London. A feasibility study is a way to find out if a project plan has the potential to be successful as a bigger project. As this was the first project plan where the team was aware of using these measures and protocols, a feasibility study seemed the best way to test the thinking behind the project. The chapter will consider the range of data collected and their relationship to each other, and discuss findings.
The study was a collaboration between Middlesex University and the University of South Wales. It aimed to explore whether music therapy could help Ukrainian parents reduce their own stress and improve bonding with their pre-school children. Group music therapy sessions, each 45 minutes long, were delivered weekly over eight weeks, with two groups receiving the intervention. Of vital importance to the work were the participants who gave of their time not just for sessions, but also to complete the study’s measures and interviews and participate in a film. It is such generosity, including insights shared with the team in the qualitative data, which has been invaluable to the study