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Challenges of Integrating Assistive Technologies and Robots with Embodied Intelligence in the Homes of Older People Living with Frailty
Get PDFThe rapid increase in the global population of older adults presents a significant challenge, but also a unique opportunity to leverage technological advancements for promoting independent living and well-being. This study introduces the CIREI framework, which is a comprehensive model designed to enhance the integration of smart home and assistive technologies specifically for pre-frail older adults. Developed through a systematic literature review and innovative and comprehensive co-design activities, the CIREI framework captures the nuanced needs, preferences, and challenges faced by older adults, caregivers, and experts. Key findings from the co-design workshop highlight critical factors such as usability, privacy, and personalised learning preferences, which directly influence technology adoption. These insights informed the creation of an intelligent middleware prototype named WISE-WARE, which seamlessly integrates commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices to support health management and improve the quality of life for older adults. The CIREI framework’s adaptability ensures it can be extended and refined to meet the ever-changing needs of the ageing population, providing a robust foundation for future research and development in user-centred technology design. All workshop materials, including tools and methodologies, are made available to encourage the further exploration and adaptation of the CIREI framework, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness in the dynamic landscape of ageing and technology. This research contributes significantly to the discourse on ageing in place, digital inclusion, and the role of technology in empowering older adults to maintain independence
A critical review of existing fuel poverty definitions in England: Problematisation, obfuscation and compatibility with a just energy transition
Get PDFThe way that fuel poverty (or energy poverty) is defined and quantified continues to divide opinion. In England, modern fuel poverty definitions, such as Low Income High Costs (LIHC) and Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE), have increasingly emphasised energy-efficiency-induced fuel poverty, to the detriment of income-poverty- and energy-costs-induced fuel poverty. Moreover, LIHC and LILEE assume that fuel poverty is a relative condition, such that fuel poverty rates are necessarily capped below the median household; in effect, this also implies that fuel poverty is ineradicable. The LIHC and LILEE methodology's assumption of relativity is potentially invalid and highly likely to induce the underestimation of fuel poverty in low- and middle-income homes, particularly amid periods of economic recession and high consumer energy costs. In this article, we scrutinise the evolution of fuel poverty politics in England to better understand its modern problematisation as an issue that is primarily caused by energy inefficiency. Subsequently, existing fuel poverty definitions are critically examined via the application of a novel Fuel Poverty Definition Evaluation Framework (FPDEF). We conclude that the majority of existing fuel poverty definitions have limited modern applicability, especially LIHC and LILEE, which explicitly obfuscate fuel poverty in some low-income, high-efficiency homes. Policy recommendations are provided for a fairer fuel poverty definition that satisfies modern needs. Specifically, we argue that budget standard approaches to measuring fuel poverty can better account for the potentially adverse impacts of energy transitions on fuel poverty and living standards
Motion planning for robotics: A review for sampling-based planners
Get PDFRecent advancements in robotics have transformed industries such as manufacturing, logistics, surgery, and planetary exploration. A key challenge is developing efficient motion planning algorithms that allow robots to navigate complex environments while avoiding collisions and optimizing metrics like path length, sweep area, execution time, and energy consumption. Among the available algorithms, sampling-based methods have gained the most traction in both research and industry due to their ability to handle complex environments, explore free space, and offer probabilistic completeness along with other formal guarantees. Despite their widespread application, significant challenges still remain. To advance future planning algorithms, it is essential to review the current state-of-the-art solutions and their limitations. In this context, this work aims to shed light on these challenges and assess the development and applicability of sampling-based methods. Furthermore, we aim to provide an in-depth analysis of the design and evaluation of ten of the most popular planners across various scenarios. Our findings highlight the strides made in sampling-based methods while underscoring persistent challenges. This work offers an overview of the important ongoing research in robotic motion planning
Vision screening in older adults who attend hospital following a fall: a scoping review
No full textBackground: The assessment of impaired vision is included in falls prevention guidance for older adults, but implementation is variable. We conducted a scoping review to better understand current practice and inform future implementation research around vision assessments for older adults attending acute hospitals following a fall. We explored the extent and types of evidence, key concepts, methods, emerging topics and identified evidence gaps. Methods: JBI methodology was followed. MEDLINE, AMED, EMBASE, PsychInfo, CINAHL and WebofScience were systematically searched for literature on the assessment of vision in older adults attending acute hospitals following a fall. Sources eligible for inclusion had a mean/median population age of 65 years or over, included patients presenting to an acute hospital setting following a fall and described vision assessments in these patients. Grey literature, conference abstracts and sources without a full text were excluded. Title, abstract and full-text screening were completed by two independent reviewers. Data extraction and charting of the data were performed by the primary author. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics of study characteristics and content analysis of vision assessment methods used. Results: We included 27 studies from 13 countries, between 1806 and 2024. Studies reported various vision assessment methods. Questions frequently asked in vision assessments included: presence of visual symptoms (n = 9), date of last eye test (n = 9) and previous ocular history (n = 5). The most common visual function assessed was distance visual acuity (n = 12). Six studies used standardised screening tools, including: the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries (STEADI) 12-question falls risk screening tool, a modified Kombinert Alvorlig Sansesvikt (Combined Serious Sensory Impairment) (KAS-Screen), procedures of the InterRAI-AC, the St Thomas’s Risk Assessment Tool In Falling elderly inpatients (STRATIFY), the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) and the Look Out! Bedside vision check. The most common post-screening interventions were: advising an eye test with an optometrist (n = 8), advising an ophthalmology referral (n = 7) and patient education (n = 6). Conclusions: The literature on vision screening in this population was sparse and there was heterogeneity in current practices, highlighting the need for standardised screening protocols. More research is needed to evaluate vision screening services in this population and to explore implementation barriers
Breathing Rate as a Marker for Noise-Induced Stress in Guinea Pigs
Get PDFBackground: Breathing rate is affected by physical stressors such as temperature or hypercapnia and by psychosocial stressors such as noise or overcrowding. In behavioral tests for tinnitus, rodents are often presented with trains of startle pulses. We postulated that using these pulses at successively higher sound levels would produce a cumulative increase in stress. Here, we demonstrate a novel means of assessing that increase in stress. Methods: By placing pairs of reflective markers on the abdomen and using a motion tracking system, we were able to remotely measure respiratory movements. A series of 20 startle pulses were presented in sequence at seven increasing sound levels, and changes in respiratory rate were tested with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test and the Friedman Test. Results: Markers placed on 20 alert active mice showed evidence of sniffing behavior but no purely respiratory signal. By contrast, in all 18 guinea pigs, abdominal markers did track respiratory movements. The breathing rate in guinea pigs was similar to previous studies: (mean 104 ± 13; range 86–131 bpm). Presenting quiet startle pulses to guinea pigs caused a significant increase in breathing rate (by about 20%), even with pulses at 75–80 dB SPL. Increasing pulse sound levels in the range of 85–105 dB SPL did not reliably produce any further increase in breathing rate. Conclusions: We propose that tracking abdominal movement may allow measurement of psychosocial stress in the guinea pig. Once an animal is startled, increasing the pulse sound level did not produce any further increase in stress levels
The Role of Kenyan Courts in Tackling Persistent Inequalities: Navigating Deference and Accountability
Get PDFKenya's 2010 Constitution represents a landmark shift towards equality, incorporating diverse conceptions through provisions such as Article 27 on non-discrimination, Article 43 on socio-economic rights, and Article 56 on cultural and religious diversity. This progressive framework seeks to address historical inequalities that marginalized groups - such as women, persons with disabilities, and minorities - have faced in accessing resources, services, and political participation. However, implementation remains the critical determinant of whether these constitutional ideals translate into tangible societal change. This Article examines the role of the judiciary as a constitutional guardian in ensuring the realization of equality-related rights in Kenya's hybrid democracy, characterized by democratic aspirations alongside authoritarian tendencies. It highlights the judiciary's dual responsibility to balance deference to State organs with holding them accountable to constitutional mandates. By analyzing key cases, it identifies how courts have navigated tensions between promoting substantive equality and respecting the separation of powers, especially in the context of socio-economic rights and governance challenges. The Article advocates for an equality-sensitive approach to judicial review that integrates both strong-form and soft-form oversight, depending on the case's circumstances. It emphasizes the application of a contextual and multi-dimensional equality framework - addressing redistribution, recognition, participation, and transformation - to ensure that vulnerable groups are protected. In addition, it proposes a mixed standard of review in socio-economic rights cases, balancing reasonableness with prioritization of the needs of vulnerable groups, and the use of structural interdicts to enforce compliance. Finally, this Article emphasizes the judiciary's pivotal role in fostering constitutionalism and mitigating systemic inequalities. It calls for continued judicial vigilance, collaborative constitutionalism, and active civil society engagement to uphold the transformative promise of the 2010 Constitution, particularly in Kenya's complex hybrid democracy
Assessing morphological changes in the choroid plexus between standing and supine positions using a rotatable MRI system
Get PDFThe choroid plexus (ChP) is crucial for most cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion. However, few studies have explored the morphology of ChP in a natural upright posture. This study investigated the positional, areal, and volumetric changes of the ChP in response to gravity when comparing supine and upright scanning postures. Thirty-one healthy volunteers underwent MRI scans using an innovative 1.5T rotatable MRI at pitch angles of 0 and 90 employing a 3D magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MP-RAGE) sequence. Based on an in-house ChP segmentation pipeline, gap lengths between the ChP and lateral ventricles (LVEN), ChP surface area, volumes, and signal intensities in different directions were measured. The ChP exhibited a bottom gap decrease (-1.30 mm, P < 0.001), posterior gap increase (1.28 mm, P < 0.001), and bilateral gap growth (0.16 mm, P = 0.015) as well as downwardcentroidal shift (-1.31 mm, P < 0.001) relative to the LVEN when transitioning from lying to standing positions. Significant distance deviations were noted along the direction of gravity. Along with thesepositional changes, decreases in surface area (-5.30%, P = 0.021) and volume (-7.53%, P = 0.002) and an increase (11.46%, P < 0.001) in signal intensity of the ChP were observed from lying to standing. This study reveals the positional and volumetric change of the ChP within the LVEN with postural changes and demonstrates its morphology in a typical standing condition. These anatomic changes could provide additional evidence of CSF circulation and intracranial pressure in different postures
From hunters to herders: Race, reindeer and imperial expansion in Alaska c.1890–1906
Get PDFThis article traces the work of the American educationalist and missionary Sheldon Jackson as he introduced non-native reindeer to Northern Alaska. Jackson sought to improve what he considered to be a dire economic situation unfolding amongst the Indigenous Iñupiat community. The scheme involved recruiting Chukchi reindeer herders inhabiting the Siberian Peninsula to instruct the local Iñupiat communities on the handling and husbandry of these non-human Arctic animals. Following tensions between these Indigenous herders and the leaders of the colonial reindeer station, however, the Chukchi recruits were dismissed, and were replaced by a group of Sámi reindeer herders that Jackson had transported from Sápmi. Drawing from recent geographical literatures that offer Indigenous perspectives on human/non-human relations, and combining these with ongoing scholarship examining colonial histories and legacies in the Arctic, this article contextualises this troubling imperial intervention amidst broader processes of nineteenth-century American territorial expansion. Studying the construction of a racialised ‘hierarchy of acceptability’ with regards to Arctic Indigenous peoples based on their relationships with non-human animals, the article critiques the problematic ‘civilizing’ mission that lay behind Jackson's colonial activities in Alaska. The article thus concludes by arguing that Jackson's reindeer project was just one of several colonial disruptions to Indigenous human/non-human relationships that were to have dire consequences across the circumpolar North
XRISM Constrains Atmospheric Motion and Turbulent Dissipation in the Archetypal Radio-mode Feedback System Hydra-A
Get PDFWe present XRISM Resolve observations centered on Hydra-A, a redshift z = 0.054 brightest cluster galaxy which hosts one of the largest and most powerful FR-I radio sources in the nearby Universe. We examine the effects of its high jet power on the velocity structure of the cluster's hot atmosphere. Hydra-A's central radio jets have inflated X-ray cavities with energies upward of 10 61 erg. They reach altitudes of 225 kpc from the cluster center, well beyond the atmosphere's central cooling region. Resolve's 3×3 arcmin field-of-view covers 190×190 kpc, which encompasses most of the cooling volume. We find a one dimensional atmospheric velocity dispersion across the volume of 164 ± 10 km s −1. The fraction in isotropic turbulence or unresolved bulk velocity is unknown. Assuming pure isotropic turbulence, the turbulent kinetic energy is 2.5 % of the thermal energy radiated away over the cooling timescale, implying that kinetic energy must be supplied continually to offset cooling. While Hydra-A's radio jets are powerful enough to supply kinetic energy to the atmosphere at the observed level, turbulent dissipation alone would struggle to offset cooling throughout the cooling volume. The central galaxy's radial velocity is similar to the atmospheric velocity, with an offset of −37 ± 23 km s −1
Patient Ethnicity and Staff Use of Restraints and Restrictive Practice in Inpatient Psychiatric Services: A Systematic Review
Get PDFRestrictive practices such as restraints, seclusion, and forced medication are only intended to be used when the threat is at a level whereby an individual is likely to inflict harm on themselves or another individual. Demographic variations, including ethnicity, may be associated with the use of these practices. However, there is no systematic review on patient ethnicity specifically. The review therefore aimed to establish whether a patient’s ethnic identity was associated with staff use of restrictive practices in inpatient psychiatric services. The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Four databases were searched (PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, and CINAHL). Methodological quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Checklists. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A variety of ethnicities were identified within the studies. These were driven by the location of the study. Seclusion (14 studies), forced medication (4), and physical restraint (4) were explored. There were mixed findings, with ethnicity shown to predict restrictive practices in studies having larger participant numbers, longer follow-up periods and less methodological bias. It remains unclear whether ethnicity is a genuinely independent predictor of restraint and coercive practices or interacts with other risk factors. Staff working in inpatient settings should be aware of how unconscious biases might affect clinical practice. Recruiting a diverse workforce from minority ethnic groups into inpatient psychiatric services would be a positive step. However, support for these staff members is important, and all staff should be equipped to respond to ethnic diversity. Future research should explore beyond patient-level factors
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