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Tobacco, e-cigarette and alcohol content in popular UK soap operas: a content analysis to explore changes in social norms and scene location
Get PDFBackgroundExposure to tobacco and alcohol on-screen promotes use and despite regulations and policies to limit impact, these behaviours remain common. We report a longitudinal analysis of tobacco, e-cigarette and alcohol content in three popular UK television soap operas, to examine changing social norms between 2002 and 2022.MethodsWe used one-minute interval coding to measure content in programmes in two one-week periods in three years (2002, 2012 and 2022). Change in the probability of actual and implied use of tobacco, e-cigarette and alcohol over time was examined using logistic regression.ResultsWe coded 2505 intervals from 78 episodes. Tobacco content occurred in 22% of episodes and significantly decreased from 2002 to 2022 (OR 0.15 95% CI 0.06–0.40). Tobacco use changed over time with decreasing use indoors and increasing use outdoors. No e-cigarette use was identified. Alcohol content was found in 88% of episodes and while it also significantly decreased over time (OR 0.78 95% CI 0.61–0.99) it featured in 20% of broadcast minutes in 2022. Alcohol use in homes increased over time.ConclusionWhile tobacco imagery is increasingly rare in these three UK soap operas, alcohol content has remained common. Tightening the UK Ofcom regulations would help to reduce young people’s exposure to these harmful behaviours and their potential influence on social norms now and in the future
Column face bending in anchored blind-bolted connections to concrete filled hollow sections
Get PDFThis research investigates the bending behaviour of the column face component of concrete filled tubular columns connected to other structural members via Extended HolloBolt (EHB). The effect of bolt gauge and pitch distances and anchored length were investigated by experimental tests and finite element analysis. Totally, eighteen specimens were tested and 31 finite element models were analysed. Results showed that, the concrete acts compositely with the anchored bolts until it fails by forming a cone shape starting from the anchored nut and extending to the concrete surface. The cone radius at the concrete surface is equal to 0.82 times the anchorage length. The contribution of the anchored bolts in the component plastic strength can be quantified by considering the work required to initiate concrete cracking across the cone projection on the column face. The component initial stiffness seems to be influenced significantly by the bolt gauge and anchorage length. The use of small bolt pitch or bolt gauge limits the advantage of anchoring the EHB in the concrete and the large bolt gauges result in minor yield in the column walls (g ≥ 85 % of the column face width). A Major enhancement in the component strength can be achieved by increasing the bolt anchorage length to more than six times the internal bolt diameter (db)
Human activity controls nitrogen loads in a large sub-tropical delta from 2000 to 2020
Get PDFNitrogen (N) is crucial for agricultural yield, but its overuse in fertilisation and presence in uncollected wastewater from urbanization causes eutrophication. The Red River Delta in Vietnam is facing rapidly increasing water quality issues. Here, Material Flow Analysis is applied to quantify N flows in the delta between 2000 and 2020. This novel long-term assessment of changes in rice fertilisation regimes (human excreta, livestock manure and chemical fertilisers), demonstrates dramatic changes in N flows to surface water. The model shows a 41 % increase in rice paddy N use, with chemical fertilisers rising 1.6-fold while manure-derived N declined to 36 %. The total N load into surface water in 2020 increased by 53 % compared to 2000. The “hidden” inflows of domestic wastewater and blackwater into rice fields, which contribute significantly and indirectly to N loads, were identified via the MFA model. This underscores the need for improved fertilisation practices and waste management to mitigate freshwater pollution
Rapeseed oleosomes facilitate intestinal lymphatic delivery and oral bioavailability of cannabidiol
Get PDFDue to high lipophilicity and extensive first-pass metabolic loss, cannabidiol (CBD) has low oral bioavailability. Co-administration of CBD and long-chain lipids facilitates the intestinal lymphatic delivery, resulting in higher systemic bioavailability, as well as high levels of the drug within the intestinal lymphatic system. However, despite previous attempts with various lipid-based formulations, the oral bioavailability of CBD is still limited. In this work, we have developed a novel formulation of CBD based on natural rapeseed oleosomes. In vivo studies in rats demonstrated that oral administration of CBD-loaded rapeseed oleosomes leads to substantially higher oral bioavailability and intestinal lymphatic targeting of CBD in comparison with rapeseed oil or artificial emulsion made of rapeseed oil and lecithin. In vitro mechanistic assessments, including in vitro lipolysis and peroxide value determination suggest that the lower oxidative state of the oil in oleosomes in comparison to crude oil or artificial emulsion is likely to be the main factor responsible for the superior performance of the CBD-loaded rapeseed oleosomes in vivo. Although further investigation will be needed, the data suggest that natural seeds-derived oleosomes can be used as a promising lipid-based drug delivery platform promoting the bioavailability and lymphatic delivery of lipophilic drugs
Capturing and reporting topical treatment use in childhood eczema: lessons for data collection in eczema trials
Get PDFBackground Emollients and topical corticosteroids (TCS) prevent and treat flares in eczema. However, topical treatment use is poorly recorded and reported in clinical trials. There is no clear consensus of how best to capture and summarize topical treatment use. Objectives To explore different ways of capturing and reporting topical treatment use in childhood eczema. Methods This was a secondary data analysis using 450 participants from the Best Emollients for Eczema (BEE) trial. Participants were allocated to use one type of emollient (lotion, cream, gel or ointment) ‘twice daily and when required’ for 16 weeks. Otherwise, clinical management remained unchanged. Parents completed weekly questions about topical therapy use and eczema symptoms. Two versions of topical treatment use questionnaires were used. The first (n=202, 44.9%) asked parents to report treatment use on days 1–7, starting completion on the day they were randomized. The second (n=248, 55.1%) reported use by day of the week (Monday to Sunday), starting completion the first Monday after randomization. Both underwent patient and public involvement review but the second version was tested more thoroughly using cognitive interviewing techniques, following parent feedback that questions on the first version were confusing. Descriptive statistics compared questionnaire completion and differences in emollient and TCS use. Results Overall, questionnaire completion for both emollient and TCS use decreased with time, but at weeks 1 and 16, it was 84.7% (381/450) and 58.9% (265/450) for emollient use, and 94.2% (424/450) and 80.4% (362/450) for TCS use, respectively. Fewer emollient use questionnaires were completed with the first (33.5%, 1082/3232 patient-weeks) than the second (87.9%, 3489/3968 patient-weeks) version (P<0.001). TCS use questionnaire completion were similar for both (84.9%, 2744/3232 patient-weeks and 87.4%, 3468/3968 patient-weeks, P=0.002). We present different ways of summarizing topical treatment use. Conclusions Although questionnaire completion was similar for TCS use, emollient-use data completeness was higher in the second version. When designing questionnaires, balancing the detail and complexity of questions is important, especially if being collected as a secondary outcome measure. Numerous ways of summarizing the same data can provide different information. Future collection and reporting of treatment use should reflect specific trial aims
The impact of CLEANing on strong gravitational lens modelling
Get PDFWe present a comparison of image and uv-plane galaxy-galaxy strong lensing modelling results for simulated ALMA observations with different antenna configurations and on-source integration times. Image-plane modelling is carried out via use of the CLEAN algorithm, and we explore the effects of different visibility weighting schemes on the inferred lens model parameters. We find that direct modelling of the visibility data consistently outperforms image-plane modelling for both the naturally and Briggs-weighted images. We also find that the modelling of images created with Briggs weighting generally produces more accurate results than those obtained by modelling images constructed with natural weighting. We explain this by quantifying the suppression of information due to CLEANing on scales at which the modelling is sensitive, and how this differs between Briggs and natural weighting. At higher resolutions, the differences between the lens modelling techniques are much less pronounced and overall, modelling errors are significantly reduced. We also find that time-binning the visibilities by up to a factor of three makes no significant difference to the inferred lens parameters when directly modelling in the uv-plane. This work provides some guidance on navigating the many choices faced when modelling strong lens interferometric imaging data
Material Cycles, Environmental Emissions, and Ecological Risks of Bisphenol A (BPA) in China and Implications for Sustainable Plastic Management
Get PDFBisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume plastic chemical, with ∼98% of its usage in China allocated to producing polycarbonate and epoxy resin, and its fugitive release threatens ecosystems. However, knowledge of its anthropogenic cycles, environmental emissions, and ecological risks remains incomplete, hindering effective plastic lifecycle management. Herein, material flow analysis, multimedia environmental modeling, and ecological risk assessment were integrated to comprehensively map BPA dynamics in China. Results reveal a ∼ 90-fold increase in BPA consumption between 1992 and 2022 and major applications shifted from optics and packaging to automotive, construction, and electronics. China held ∼34 Mt of in-use BPA stock in 2022 (∼24 kg per capita), with no indication of reaching saturation. BPA release occurred throughout its lifecycle, and soil and water were primary sinks. Aquatic BPA concentrations exceeded the limit in national pollutant emission standards in ∼8.4% of Chinese mainland areas in 2022, and ∼4.5% of areas suffered very high chronic ecological risks to aquatic organisms. Scenario analysis indicates that a 90% reduction in BPA emission factors would be required to avoid BPA contamination in all areas of focus. Our findings contribute as a scientific basis for sustainable plastic management and highlight the need for updated techniques, intensified monitoring, and standardized regulations
Self-Regulatory Lean-Electrolyte Flow for Building 600Wh Kg−1-Level Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
Get PDFReducing excess electrolytes offers a promising approach to improve the specific energy of electrochemical energy storage devices. However, using lean electrolytes presents a significant challenge for porous electrode materials due to heterogeneous wetting. The spontaneous wetting of nano- or meso-pores within particles, though seldom discussed, adversely affects wetting under lean electrolyte conditions. Herein, this undesired wetting behavior is mitigated by enlarging the pore-throat ratio, enabling Li-rich layered oxide to function effectively at very low electrolyte/capacity (E/C) ratio of 1.4 g Ah−1. The resulting pouch cell achieves 606 Wh kg−1 and retains 80% capacity (75% energy) after 70 cycles. Through imaging techniques and molecular dynamics simulations, it is demonstrated that the pore-throat ratio effectively determines the permeability of electrolyte within particles. By elucidating pore-relating mechanisms, this work unveils promising potential of manipulating pore structures in porous electrode materials, an approach that can be applied to improve the specific energy of other devices including semi-solid-state lithium batteries
A multi-view learning approach with diffusion model to synthesize FDG PET from MRI T1WI for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
Get PDFINTRODUCTIONThis study presents a novel multi-view learning approach for machine learning (ML)–based Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis.METHODSA diffusion model is proposed to synthesize the fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) view from the magnetic resonance imaging T1 weighted imaging (MRI T1WI) view and incorporate two synthesis strategies: one-way synthesis and two-way synthesis. To assess the utility of the synthesized views, we use multilayer perceptron (MLP)–based classifiers with various combinations of the views.RESULTSThe two-way synthesis achieves state-of-the-art performance with a structural similarity index measure (SSIM) at 0.9380 and a peak-signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) at 26.47. The one-way synthesis achieves an SSIM at 0.9282 and a PSNR at 23.83. Both synthesized FDG PET views have shown their effectiveness in improving diagnostic accuracy.DISCUSSIONThis work supports the notion that ML-based cross-domain data synthesis can be a useful approach to improve AD diagnosis by providing additional synthesized disease-related views for multi-view learning
The impact of an educational intervention on undergraduate students’ knowledge, acceptability, and willingness to pay for dapivirine vaginal ring in Nigeria's first indigenous university: a single-arm, non-randomized study
Get PDFBackground: This study aimed to assess the impact of an educational intervention on knowledge, acceptability, and willingness to pay (WTP) for dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR) by undergraduate female students at the University of Nigeria (UNN). Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted to obtain responses from the respondents using a validated 23-item questionnaire. A sample size of 1500 was estimated from five systematically sampled faculties. Their acceptability was accessed before and after educating them on the dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR). WTP was determined in Naira (N490/$1) using contingent valuation. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, with inter-faculty comparison done with the Chi-squared test. Results: 1017 students responded to the questionnaire. The modal age was 18–24years (754 [74.1%]), and most of them (886 [87.1%]) were unmarried. More than half of the respondents had tested for HIV (531 [52.2%])), with 3 (1.5%), 3 (1.7%), 2 (0.6%), 2 (1.8%) and 1 (0.5%) student from Arts, Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine, respectively, having positive results. Only 304 (29.9%) of the students had prior knowledge of DPV-VR. There was about a two-fold increase in the acceptability of the dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR) (294 to 596) after the intervention (p ≤ 0.001). Most of the students (466 [45.8%]) indicated that they would be willing to pay < N410.00 for a single dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR). Conclusions: Many of the female students at UNN were willing to use the dapivirine vaginal ring (DPV-VR); even more after they were informed of its importance. Most of the students were willing to pay less than one dollar out-of-pocket for the ring
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