192815 research outputs found
Sort by
Non-invasive vital signs sensing: advances, challenges, and future directions in radio frequency based techniques
Get PDFGlobal health challenges related to cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases drive the demand for more effective, non-contact methods to monitor vital signs such as heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR). Traditional monitoring techniques, while reliable, often rely on physical contact, limiting their utility in remote or long-term care scenarios. In this context, wireless monitoring systems leveraging radio frequency (RF) technologies, such as radar and Wi-Fi, have emerged as promising solutions for non-invasive and contactless HR and RR tracking. This paper delves into the principles and performance of state-of-the-art RF-based monitoring systems. Significant advances in signal processing techniques and machine learning (ML) models have markedly improved the accuracy and reliability of vital signs detection. These innovations underscore the potential of RF technologies to redefine healthcare monitoring. However, the adoption of RF-based systems is not without challenges. Key issues include optimizing signal processing for multiperson monitoring, mitigating interference, ensuring data security and privacy, and promoting open access to datasets. In addition, integrating edge computing and advanced ML models to enhance system intelligence and accuracy remains a critical area of research. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the operational mechanisms underlying RF-based monitoring systems and proposes improvements to overcome current barriers, thereby advancing the field of non-invasive vital signs monitoring and broadening its application in healthcare
Flow and Depth Assisted Video Prediction with Latent Transformer
No full textVideo prediction is a fundamental task for various downstream applications, including
robotics and world modeling. Although general video prediction models have achieved
remarkable performance in standard scenarios, occlusion is still an inherent challenge
in video prediction. We hypothesize that providing explicit information about motion
(via point-flow) and geometric structure (via depth-maps) will enable video prediction
models to perform better in situations with occlusion and the background motion. To
investigate this, we present the first systematic study dedicated to occluded video prediction.
We use a standard multi-object latent transformer architecture to predict future
frames, but modify this to incorporate information from depth and point-flow. We evaluate
this model in a controlled setting on both synthetic and real-world datasets with not
only appearance-based metrics but also Wasserstein distances on object masks, which
can effectively measure the motion distribution of the prediction. We find that when the
prediction model is assisted with point flow and depth, it performs better in occluded
scenarios and predicts more accurate background motion compared to models without
the help of these modalities
Investigating awareness and behavioural intentions from AI water footprint digital posters in higher education settings
No full textAs artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in everyday digital tools, its environmental impact, particularly the hidden water consumption from data centre cooling, remains largely unrecognised by users. This study investigates whether targeted science communication can raise awareness of the AI water footprint through a university-wide digital poster campaign at the University of Glasgow. Visually engaging, data-driven posters linked to an online survey (n = 104) were used to assess baseline awareness, message clarity, emotional and cognitive engagement, and self-reported behavioural intentions. Results indicated that while 60 respondents reported prior awareness of the environmental impact of AI, nearly half found the water usage information surprising. Exposure to the campaign prompted critical reflection, with 50 respondents expressing strong intentions to evaluate the necessity of AI tools before use. Qualitative feedback highlighted the need for improved visual design and deeper contextualisation to maximise impact. This study contributes to understanding how low-cost, digital sustainability interventions can allow for informed and responsible engagement with emerging technologies in educational settings
GIFT, LIFT and the transatlantic shift: translating an infant mental health intervention from the US to the UK - implications for permanency decision-making, law and policy
No full textEvidence about the impact of maltreatment during infancy and concerning outcomes for children in care indicates the need for infant mental health assessment and interventions that are integrated with robust permanency decision processes. The NSPCC developed infant mental health services in the United Kingdom, based on the New Orleans Intervention Model (NIM), aiming to improve outcomes and decision-making for children under 5 in foster/kinship care. The Best Services RCT (BeST?) evaluated the clinical and cost effectiveness of NIM: results will be published separately. This article describes translating NIM’s multisystemic, relationship-focused assessment and intervention to Infant and Family Teams in Glasgow, Scotland, and in London, England, from the clinical service perspective. Details are provided about the approach taken, variations, and challenges relating to the local decision-making contexts. The model and its implementation in the UK are outlined. Clinical audit data are presented about progression through stages of the service, the interventions offered, and the typical experiences of infants across the two services. Multidisciplinary infant mental health teams in Glasgow and London were successfully established to promote infants’ recoveries and made recommendations to the respective legal and decision-making systems. Clear differences were found about accessing the services, permanency decision-making, and timescales. The impact of these differences for children and the implications for those wishing to develop similar integrated services are discussed
The mental health and well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic across the UK: a four-wave longitudinal analysis
Get PDFBackground:
Research concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and well-being of adults with intellectual disabilities has been cross-sectional and small scale. We examined the trajectory of mental health and well-being across the pandemic period across the UK and the factors which predicted different mental health trajectories.
Method:
Adults with intellectual disabilities participated in co-designed structured interviews. Four waves of data were collected between December 2020 and late 2022. At Wave 1, 621 adults with intellectual disabilities participated, with 355 at Wave 4. Well-being, pandemic anxiety, depression, anxiety, anger and loneliness outcomes were measured. Latent class mixed modelling was used to identify subgroups and within-group trajectories.
Results:
Well-being and pandemic anxiety remained relatively stable across time, but levels of anger, depression, anxiety and loneliness reduced gradually over time. Overall patterns masked trajectory subgroups, with differences in intercept and steepness of decline or increase in mental health problems. Different factors were generally influential for trajectory class membership and overall change across time for outcomes. Leaving the house for exercise or green spaces reported increasing well-being and reduced loneliness. Similarly, those working, volunteering or in education at Wave 1 were found to have increasing well-being and reduced loneliness, sadness and worry, and increasing wellbeing and reducing anger if they were working pre-pandemic.
Conclusions:
Social connection and engagement in purposeful activity were vital to maintaining the mental health and well-being of people with intellectual disabilities. Factors that were found to reduce mental well-being during the pandemic should be considered in planning for future major public health challenges and in promoting better mental well-being for people with intellectual disabilities in everyday life
Multiple redox Centers and defect engineering in Fe/Mo dual-doped Na3V2(PO4)3 cathodes for high-performance sodium-ion batteries
Get PDFSodium superionic conductor (NASICON)-type phosphates cathodes have attracted considerable attention due to their high operational voltage and robust three-dimensional (3D) framework; however, the poor intrinsic electronic conductivity and low energy density hinder their broader application. Herein, a novel NASICON-type Na3V1.44Fe0.5Mo0.06(PO4)3 cathode was designed through Fe/Mo dual-doping at the V sites of Na3V2(PO4)3 and synthesized via a conventional high-temperature solid-state method. The introduction of Fe3+ activates the V4+/V5+ redox couple at a high voltage plateau (∼ 4.0 V), while also generates additional Fe2+/Fe3+ and V4+/V5+ redox pairs. Meanwhile, the doing of Mo6+ creates cation vacancies, effectively modulating the electronic structure of vanadium and promoting ionic transport kinetics. Benefiting from this dual-doping strategy, the Na3V1.44Fe0.5Mo0.06(PO4)3 cathode delivers a high capacity of 123.4 mAh g−1 at 0.2C and an impressive energy density of 406 Wh kg−1 within 2.2–4.2 V. Moreover, it exhibits outstanding cycling stability, presenting a capacity retention of 92 % after 2500 cycles at 30C. This work highlights a viable strategy for advancing high-performance NASICON-type cathodes through complex metal ion doping
Melodies of hope for street children in Cochabamba: a case study of a community music program and its challenges
No full textThis study, the first of its kind in Bolivia, examines the role of
community music programs in fostering social cohesion in the country, focusing on the case of EnseñARTE, a non-profit organization supporting vulnerable youth in Cochabamba. Through a qualitative case study approach, we analyse the perceived utility and challenges of their Music Program, based on interviews with project developers and beneficiaries. Findings indicate that the program provides therapeutic benefits, serving as an emotional outlet for participants who have experienced trauma, while also offering opportunities for skill development and social integration. However, challenges such as financial constraints, lack of structured pedagogical planning, and inconsistent attendance hinder the program’s continuity and impact. The study highlights the need for more systematic program structuring and the inclusion of social work
professionals to support participants dealing with complex personal histories. These findings align with broader discussions on the role of community music in conflict-affected contexts. We propose policy recommendations to integrate community music programs within Bolivia’s national development framework, emphasizing their potential for youth empowerment. Future research should explore the experiences of disengaged beneficiaries to better understand the sustainability of such initiatives
Aeroelastic analysis of propeller blades at stall flutter onset
Get PDFAeroelastic analyses are part of the design of modern propeller blades. Most of the time, advanced numerical
simulations are used, involving computational fluid dynamics. However, the coupling between fluid and structure
may be missing. In this paper, two coupled fluid-structure interaction methods are presented, namely the modal
time-marching and the quasi-static approach. An in-house aeroelastic tool, analysing an in-house blade design, is
used. A limited number of experiments are available, and this was alleviated using new experiments as part of
the Numerical and Experimental Study of Propeller Aeroelasticity project. In this work, 3D finite element models
(FEM) were used to represent the blade structure. Time-marching and quasi-steady results were compared, and this
is the first time that this is reported in the literature. It was found that regardless of the differences in the aerodynamic
loads between time-marching and quasi-static computations, the final blade deformations were comparable. Timemarching computations using a modal representation of the blade, obtained from 3D FEM, showed that the blade
deformation and vibration were driven by the stalled flow. This observation was verified by comparing the blade
response with the flow off-the-blade. The harmonic content of the results includes the propeller blade passing
frequency and its natural frequencies, but also additional frequencies related to the flow shedding and vortical
content of the stalled part of the blade. To the best of our knowledge, this has not been reported in the open literature
A Cross-years Course Leader Collaboration to Improve Veterinary Students' Assessment and Feedback Literacy
Get PDFSince 2022 course leaders (CLs) from across years 1-4 of the BVMS programme have collaborated to standardise and improve assessment and feedback practices. Given the spiral nature of the curriculum, where topics are revisited from the Foundation Phase (year 1 and 2) to Clinical Phase (year 3 and 4), it was determined that there should be greater consistency to assessment and feedback, and there were multifaceted reasons driving the need for advancement of the existing practices.
From the student perspective, a recurrent theme in student feedback was the limited nature of exam feedback and lack of clarity about how they could improve their exam performance. Also, following Covid-19 and the pivot to online examinations, students were unhappy they had lost the opportunity to review their paper exam scripts. For CLs, students appeared to be starting university with poorer assessment literacy and less effective study techniques, and many students were passing at the borderline level which suggested a need for better guidance on identifying knowledge gaps. Individualised post-exam support was also being offered to failing students only, which was deemed inequitable for those who were passing, but whose performance could still improve.
A collaborative approach by the CLs was deemed integral for adopting practices that were consistent, fair and sustainable, both within and between the years. The current challenges and differences across the programme were identified, and the following changes implemented:
- Assessment literacy training was embedded within all years.
- Standardised processes were developed for the provision of detailed individual and class assessment feedback.
- Online exam script review sessions were run, which adopted a cohort-wide rather than individual student approach.
To evaluate student perceptions of these changes, a mixed-methods survey study was administered in semester 2 to all students in years 2-4. Results from117 respondents, showed the majority utilised their individual (78.4%) and class (69.9%) feedback and found the level of detail provided to be useful. Just over half (61.2%) of the students agreed that the exam review sessions helped them to understand the marks they received, 59.5% thought it would help them to improve their performance in the next exam, and 66.4% said it encouraged them to identify material they needed to revise. When asked to describe what they could do as individuals to support their improved engagement or understanding of assessment feedback, themes included using feedback to target revision of past material, modifying approaches to study planning, engaging more with staff, academic support services and peers, and better utilisation of ILOs to plan revision. The survey will be administered annually to determine longitudinal changes in perceptions and behaviours.
These collaborative developments have established a cohesive programme approach to ensure that students have improved assessment literacy and are developing study techniques that can be effectively applied across all years
Negative impact of corticosteroid use on outcome in patients with advanced BTCs treated with cisplatin, gemcitabine, and durvalumab: a large real‐life worldwide population
Get PDFIn recent years, there has been increasing interest in the possible prognostic impact of concomitant medications in patients with cancer treated with immunotherapy combinations. This real‐world analysis aims to evaluate the impact of concomitant medications on survival outcomes in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTCs) treated with cisplatin, gemcitabine and durvalumab (CGD) therapy. The study cohort included patients with a diagnosis of advanced BTCs who were taking concomitant medications for their comorbidities before the start of CGD. The primary objectives were overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS). The initial population consisted of 666 patients, who were retrospectively collected from 41 sites in 12 countries. Data on concomitant medications were available for 493 patients. After a median follow‐up of 8.8 months (95% CI: 7.8–9.8), patients who did not take steroids (prednisone >10 mg/day or equivalent) or nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, before the start of CGD, had longer OS and PFS in univariate analysis. The multivariate analysis confirmed longer OS for patients who did not take steroids. Patients who did not take steroids had an OS of 14.8 months (95% CI: 13.1–29.1) versus 5.0 months (95% CI: 2.14–11.32) of patients who took prednisone >10 mg/day or equivalent. No differences were reported in terms of overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) ( p = 1.0 and p = .16, respectively), and safety profile between the two groups. Our analysis suggests that patients who did not receive steroids before the start of GCD had longer survival and highlighted the relevance of balancing concomitant medications and chemoimmunotherapy
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇