23343 research outputs found
Sort by
Development of Multimodal Imaging Agents for Thrombosis
No full textQuantum dots (QDs) are colloidal nanoparticles with unique optical and electronic characteristics attributed to quantum confinement effects, making them ideal for fluorescence imaging of biological systems. This thesis investigates the synthesis and characterization of various QDs systems, exploring the characterisation of their fluorescent properties, surface chemistry and their effects on the blood cell the platelet.InP/ZnS QDs were synthesized using a hot-injection method, revealing concentration-dependent self-quenching or energy transfer effects at concentrations above 1 μM. The same effect was verified for QDs phase transferred with different surface ligands (thioglycolic acid, penicillamine, lipoic acid and glutathione). Platelet studies helped define surface coatings (thioglycolic acid and penicillamine) and concentrations of QDs that are compatible with platelet function (up to 100 nM), while demonstrating localisation of QDs on the surface of the platelets.The synthesis of dual modal magnetic resonance/fluorescent imaging agents was explored. Bifunctional chelators based on DOTAGA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1-glutaric acid-4,7,10-triacetic acid) were synthesized to complex lanthanide ions, producing DOTAGA-LA-EDA complexed, which was grafted onto the surface of InP/ZnS QDs, forming a multimodal probe. This probe retained the fluorescent properties of isolated QDs, and relaxivity studies confirmed its magnetic properties (r1 = 5.70 mM-1.s-1 at 400 MHz). A QD delivery system based on liposomes was also developed, achieving sizes of 68.3 ± 1.8 nm and up to 86% encapsulation efficiency using a microfluidic approach. This encapsulation also pointed towards higher compatibility with platelets, as verified by aggregation and spreading assays. A different material for QDs, which emitted closer to the NIR range and used a faster, more reproducible methodology, was also explored. CuInS2/ZnS QDs in water were synthesized via a microwave method, achieving near-infrared emission peaks at 705 nm by optimizing reaction parameters such as temperature, time, pH and Cu ratio. Temperatures of 110 ºC and longer core growth times favoured the formation of redshifted QDs. Acidic pH (5) also led to the formation of redshifted QDs (865 nm) but with compromised stability. Cu:In ratios considerably influenced emission, with a redshift from 585 to 705 nm as the ratio changed from 1:8 to 1:2, the latter being optimal for achieving the desired emission peak.This work provides valuable insights into the development of QDs as multimodal probes for biomedical imaging. Optical studies address concentration-related effects of QDs, and combined with platelet studies, enhance the understanding of their biocompatibility. Additionally, the creation of an efficient liposome-based QD delivery system paves the way for advanced in vivo imaging techniques, particularly in the context of platelet imaging and other biologicalapplications
’To his Coy Mistress’ in an age of storms
Full text linkWhy might Marvell complain ‘by the tide | Of Humber’ in ‘To his Coy Mistress’? This article reads these lines in light of little-known records of flood risk management, housed at East Riding of Yorkshire Archives, Beverley, to uncover a new approach to Marvell’s poem as shaped by the seventeenth-century ‘Age of Storms’. In winter 1646–1647, a series of storms left large swathes of land and multiple settlements east of Hull under water. The floodwaters remained on the ground long into 1647, leading to fines, recriminations, and arrests, as authorities sought to assign responsibility for the flooding. Floods in Marvell’s England were often read as cautionary tales and compared to the cataclysms of Noah’s flood and the coming Apocalypse. These similitudes between past, present, and future floods inform Marvell’s representations of flooding in ‘Upon Appleton House’ (1651) and ‘The Character of Holland’ (1653), and the article reads Marvell’s reference to ‘the flood’ in ‘To his Coy Mistress’ in a similar light, as referring simultaneously to the biblical deluge and the Humber floods of 1646–1647. The article therefore sheds new light on ‘To his Coy Mistress’, as a cultural product of a region that has long been at risk of flooding from North Sea storms
The STROKESTRA® Community Programme: Research Report
Full text linkExecutive Summary:This research project explored the effectiveness of a pioneering stroke rehabilitation programme called the STROKESTRA Community Programme (SCP). The SCP aimed to facilitate recovery in stroke survivors and to support their carers through orchestral music-making. Existing research and intervention studies indicate that music can be an effective therapeutic tool for stroke survivors; however, the SCP is a unique programme through its use of music group work with orchestral instruments. The SCP was delivered by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) with assistance from volunteers, including University music students and community workers. The programme ran in “terms”, each comprising a series of music workshops culminating in a live public orchestral performance given by everyone involved in the programme (stroke survivors, carers, musicians and volunteers). All workshops and performances took place in community venues.The rationale for the research project was to provide an independentevaluation of the SCP for the RPO. There were three aims: (1) to identify the different strategies required to implement the SCP, including potential barriers; (2) to investigate people’s experiences of participating in the SCP; and (3) to explore how leaders, musicians and volunteers facilitated the programme. The overall objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the SCP and to develop guidance for implementing and facilitating an arts-based rehabilitation programme in a community setting. The research adopted a multi-method approach using semi-structured interviews and observations, the key findings of which are presented in this report (for a full account of the research, see King et al., forthcoming)
Multicultural conversations: The nature and future of culture, identity and nationalism
Full text linkDespite well-known criticism of multiculturalism in Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Australia, India and elsewhere since 9/11, such policies have proliferated (Banting and Kymlicka, 2013; Mathieu, 2018) and the Canadian and Australian policies of multiculturalism have since celebrated their 50th birthdays. Political theories of multiculturalism have proliferated in this period too (Lenard, 2022; Modood, 2007/2013; Patten, 2014; Parekh, 2006, 2019; Phillips, 2007; Tyler, 2011). Schools of multiculturalist thought have been identified (Levey, 2019; Uberoi and Modood, 2019), as have contextual methods in the political theory and normative sociology of multiculturalism (Modood, 2020; Modood and Thompson, 2018). New historical inquiries into the origins of the political thought of multiculturalism have begun (Tyler, 2017; Uberoi, 2021) and the ideas of multiculturalists have been altered to defend majority rights (Koopmans and Orgad, 2022). Current and former politicians continue to debate its merits (Braverman, 2023; Denham, 2023). Policies of multiculturalism and multiculturalist ideas have thus proved more resilient than many had thought. In the following conversation chaired by James Connelly, which took place on 20 June 2023, Bhikhu Parekh, Tariq Modood, Varun Uberoi, and Colin Tyler discuss the history, varied natures, and future of the contested multiculturalist ideas of “culture,” “identity” and “nationalism”
The Hobby–Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment Survey (HETDEX) Active Galactic Nuclei Catalog: The Fourth Data Release
Full text linkWe present the active galactic nuclei (AGN) catalog from the fourth data release (HDR4) of the Hobby–Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment Survey (HETDEX). HETDEX is an untargeted spectroscopic survey. HDR4 contains 345,874 Integral Field Unit observations from 2017 January to 2023 August covering an effective area of 62.9 deg2. With no imaging preselection, our spectroscopic confirmed AGN sample includes low-luminosity AGN, narrow-line AGN, and/or red AGN down to g ∼ 25. This catalog has 15,940 AGN across the redshifts of z = 0.1 ∼ 4.6, giving a raw AGN number density of 253.4 deg−2. Among them, 10,499 (66%) have redshifts either confirmed by line pairs or matched to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Quasar Catalog. For the remaining 5441 AGN, 2083 are single broad-line AGN candidates, while the remaining 3358 are single intermediate broad-line (full width at half-maximum, FWHM ∼1200 km s−1) AGN candidates. A total of 4060 (39%) of the 10,499 redshift-confirmed AGN have emission-line regions 3σ more extended than the image quality, which could be strong outflows blowing into the outskirts of the host galaxies or ionized intergalactic medium
PO369: Introduction to the UK PIVOT-vWD Study: A direct to community, cross-sectional study to capture and quantify the impact, voice and outcomes of VWD
Full text linkObjectives There is a paucity of new evidence/literature on the clinical outcomes, healthcare resource use (HCRU), cost and the quality-of-life (QoL) impact on those with von Willebrand Disease (VWD). The PIVOT-VWD study aims to collect patient generated health data to quantify the impact, voice and outcomes of VWD in the UK. Specifically, in relation to the management of the condition including treatment preferences, symptomology and the impact upon work and daily activities, as well as QoL outcomes. Methods The study design is a bottom-up, cross-sectional methodology. Two survey questionnaires have been developed, one for adult (18+) respondents who will be self-reporting, and a proxy survey for those parents who answer on behalf of their child (under 18) or as a caregiver. Lived experience experts have provided review and input into the study design and survey questionnaire content. The cross-sectional survey includes questions about the individual with VWD focusing on patient characteristics, VWD background, symptomology, management, work & daily activities, quality of life, and perspectives on novel treatments. In addition, if the survey is completed by proxy, specific variables will be collected about the parent/caregiver. Any HCRU questions are captured retrospectively over the last 12 months to be able to estimate the direct healthcare and societal burden of disease. Results Data collection is currently on-going. Recruitment is supported by The Haemophilia Society who have utilised their network, social media accounts and mailing list to distribute invitations to members of the VWD community. The aim of recruitment will be to gather a target sample of 250 respondents based in the UK. The project may be expanded to other countries in the future. Conclusions Capturing the clinical & quality of life impact upon individuals with VWD is critical to supporting new and emerging therapies, which could provide direct benefits to those affected by the condition. In addition, preference research in health technology assessment (HTA) is becoming more relevant as HTA bodies widen their decision-making perspectives. Gathering the voice of the community leads to greater understanding of the priorities of the community, leading to more informed decision making and relevant treatments
Postoperative remote first care for financially and environmentally sustainable healthcare
Full text linkThis study aims to quantify the financial and environmental savings associated with remote follow up in patients undergoing lower limb arterial surgery. A prospective observational study evaluating financial cost(fC) and environmental cost(eC) of postoperative follow-up models. Remote-first screening(RFS), where all patients were reviewed remotely, and complications triaged for face-to-face assessment and treatment. The second model was remote-first treatment(RFT): all patients were reviewed remotely, but only high-risk complications trigger face-to-face review. Both were compared with conventional face-to-face review. All participants received both face-to-face and remote review. 105 patients were included. RFS has a per patient mean reduction of 30.8.0±26.2 kgCO2e(RR 71.0%, p < 0.001) and fC reduction of £60.17±42.98(RR 87.0%, p < 0.001). RFT has a mean reduction of 38.5±17.4 kgCO2e(RR 88.8%, p < 0.001) and fC reduction of £83.29±45.51(RR 87.0%, p < 0.001). Remote models demonstrated economic and environmental gains over routine face-to-face assessments. Integration of these analyses into health intervention assessment is important to reducing climate change
Technical Note: Parameters of Bloodstain Pattern Spatial Reconstruction in Manual vs. Computer-Aided Data Acquisition
Full text linkThis study compares the accuracy and precision of manual and computer-aided methods in bloodstain pattern analysis using equine blood under controlled conditions. Manual measurements by experienced analysts were compared to those obtained with FARO Zone 3D (FZ3D). Manual readings of single bloodstains showed higher variability and lower accuracy, while FZ3D improved angle calculations due to enhanced precision. Differences in determining the area of convergence and origin were minimal, but FZ3D offered greater workflow efficiency and data visualization. The findings highlight the need for independent validation of BPA methods and support integrating computer-aided techniques for more accurate, efficient forensic analyses
Stratified/risk-based screening for colorectal cancer in the UK: an overview
Full text linkwhile colorectal cancer screening is well-established in the UK, at present, it uses a ‘one-sizefits-all’ approach – that is, individual risk is not considered when determining screeningregimens (except for some specific conditions such as lynch syndrome). Stratified screeningoffers the prospect of directing more intensive screening toward those at higher risk – witha corresponding reduction of screening intensity among lower-risk individuals. two keyopportunities for stratifying colorectal cancer screening are (1) making better use of anindividual’s quantitative fecal hemoglobin result rather than the current approach of deemingtests to be positive over an arbitrary threshold and (2) gathering information on lifestyle,family history, genetics and other factors to establish risk of colorectal cancer – and using thisinformation to tailor screening regimens. while there is encouraging evidence from modelingstudies demonstrating reduced colonoscopy requirements and increased positive predictionof colorectal cancer when incorporating risk assessments within screening, we need ‘realworld’ evidence on stratified screening to establish whether it is effective, improves screeningoutcomes and is acceptable to the public. we also need to know the impact these changeswould have on existing screening programs, and how programs might adapt theirorganizational and it processes
Exploring supply chain sustainability practices in the Gulf Cooperation Council petrochemical sector
Full text linkOil & gas companies in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are critical to improving their sustainability through enacting regulation, developing standards and practices, and monitoring environmental performance. The study investigated how the GCC Petrochemical sector is performing across its supply chains to identify sustainable best practices, performance measurement methods, and related drivers and barriers using Institutional Theory. Primary data were collected from 32 respondent interviews from the GCC Petrochemical sector, along with a review of supporting secondary data. Four best practice pillars emerged: digitalisation, value creation, risk management, and partnerships, which are key enablers and components for sustainability. Resulting drivers, barriers and related key performance indicators will inform this sector's stakeholders. Study confirmed all three Institutional Theory elements influence and impact this sector, but predominantly normative and coercive pressures, with partnerships and self-regulation practices emerging as important. Eight policy recommendations were suggested for governments to enhance sustainability implementation