47011 research outputs found
Sort by
Characteristics of mental health service users attending Recovery Colleges in England: baseline findings from Recovery Colleges Characterisation and Testing (RECOLLECT)
No full textAims and methodRecovery Colleges are adult education initiatives supporting personal recovery for individuals with mental health difficulties. We characterised a national (England) inception cohort of mental health service users, students from the Recovery Colleges Characterisation and Testing 2 programme, and compared those attending different Recovery College types on sociodemographic, clinical, service use and student-reported outcomes over the 4 months prior to enrolment. Mixed-effects regression models were used to assess differences.ResultsThe cohort comprised 498 students from 36 Recovery Colleges across England; 77.7% attended strengths-oriented Recovery Colleges. Mean age was 39 years (s.d. 12); most were female (72.1%) and White (81.5%). Common diagnoses were mood (31.3%) and anxiety disorders (29.7%). No significant differences were found between students attending strengths- versus community-oriented Recovery Colleges.Clinical implicationsStrengths- and community-oriented Recovery Colleges have similar service user student populations. Certain groups that may be underrepresented in Recovery Colleges and Recovery College research include older adults, men, those with developmental disorders and ethnic minority populations
Inflation attention and optimal decisions: Consumption/savings puzzle and asset prices
No full textThis paper investigates the inflation attention effect on consumption, savings, and portfolio choice for an individual. The individual is exposed to an uncertain inflation shock which can raise her inflation attention. The individual consumes and invests a constant fraction of her total wealth, but the heightened inflation attention results in a consumption cutback with savings increased. Using a general equilibrium analysis, we show that low consumption and high savings with the identified inflation risk premium results in a lower interest rate and higher equity premium
Central American Mangrove Blue Carbon: Distribution, Dynamics and Future Directions
Get PDFMangroves are one of the most important Blue Carbon ecosystems within the tropics and subtropics, capturing and storing more atmospheric carbon dioxide per unit area than terrestrial forest systems. There is large variation in estimates of carbon stocks of mangroves in Central America, due to differences in underlying geomorphology, localised environmental conditions, and species composition, which also vary between the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. In this review, we assess our current knowledge of the distribution of mangroves in the region, their role as a carbon sink, our current understanding of their dynamics and resilience, and identify key questions to understand their likely responses to future environmental change processes. This is of particular concern as the Central American region is predicted to experience significant climatic changes, such as increased air and sea surface temperatures, greater frequencies of high intensity cyclones, and increased drought events. Understanding the resilience and vulnerability of these systems will have policy and management implications for the role of Blue Carbon ecosystems as natural climate solutions, ecosystem-based adaptation plans, and disaster risk reduction strategies
Pulmonary pneumocystosis in a captive kinkajou with molecular evidence of a novel Pneumocystis lineage
Get PDFAn 11-mo-old, intact male captive kinkajou (Potos flavus) was submitted for postmortem investigation because of emaciation and hindlimb overgrooming. Histologically, alveolar airspaces were filled with fungal structures that were morphologically and histochemically consistent with Pneumocystis spp. PCR of pulmonary tissue was negative for canine distemper virus and positive for Pneumocystis spp. Molecular testing yielded amplification of the Pneumocystis spp. mitochondrial large-subunit rRNA (mtLSU rRNA, 510 bp) and the small-subunit rRNA (mtSSU rRNA, 565 bp). Phylogenetic analysis suggested a potentially novel Pneumocystis lineage associated with P. flavus. Additional nuclear loci are required to confirm its taxonomic status. Gastric and colonic histologic findings included concurrent candidiasis and colonic nematodosis. An underlying immunosuppressive disease was suspected. Further investigation is required to clarify the role of kinkajous in the ecology of fungal pathogens and the causes of immunosuppression in this species, particularly in the context of human–wildlife interactions. Enhanced surveillance and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to evaluate potential zoonotic risks and inform conservation and public health strategies
Rationale and design of Ticagrelor with Aspirin Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Combined with Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Ischemic Stroke (TAPIS): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial
No full textBackground and purpose: Evidence on whether add-on early antiplatelet therapy may improve functional outcome in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) remains inconsistent. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral ticagrelor plus aspirin within 6 hours of symptom onset in IVT-treated AIS patients.Methods and design: Efficacy and Safety of Ticagrelor with Aspirin Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Combined with Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Ischemic Stroke (TAPIS) is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial. The study will enrol 1380 AIS patients with a pre-IVT National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 4–10 who have received/are intended to receive IVT with alteplase or tenecteplase within 4.5 hours of onset. Eligible participants will be randomised at a 1:1 ratio within 6 hours of onset, before, during or after IVT. The intervention group will receive a loading dose of ticagrelor tablets (180 mg) and aspirin tablets (100 mg) on day 1, and ticagrelor (90 mg two times per day) plus open-label aspirin (100 mg daily) for days 2–7. The control group will receive ticagrelor placebo and aspirin placebo on day 1, and ticagrelor placebo plus open-label aspirin for days 2–7. Both groups will receive open-label aspirin (100 mg daily) for days 8–90.Study outcomes: The primary efficacy outcome is excellent functional outcome at 90 days, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–1. Secondary efficacy outcomes include mRS score of 0–2 at 90 days, distribution of mRS scores at 90 days, NIHSS score at 7 days decreasing by ≥4 points from baseline and recurrent ischaemic stroke within 90 days. The primary safety outcome is symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage within 36 hours.Discussion: This trial will evaluate whether early dual antiplatelet therapy with ticagrelor plus aspirin could improve functional outcomes of IVT-treated AIS patients.Trial registration number: NCT06316570
Trends in mortality due to GPA/MPA across Europe: insights from a decade of death registrations
Get PDFObjectivesTo examine contemporary trends in mortality due to granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) in Europe.MethodsWe utilised publicly available data from Eurostat on deaths recorded with GPA or MPA as the underlying cause of death for the period 2011–2021. Crude and standardised mortality rates (SMRs) were calculated for each country and linear regression used to determine changes in mortality rates over time. Crude mortality rate was also stratified by age and sex. To investigate the association between geography and mortality rate, the SMR for each country was displayed on a choropleth map and plotted against the country’s latitude.ResultsOur analysis of 29 European countries showed a stable mortality rate due to GPA and MPA between 2011–2021, but rising age at death median age-band 70–74 at the start and 75–79 at the end of the study period. There were differences between countries with the highest mortality rate in Denmark (SMR 31.03 per 10 million) and the lowest in Romania (SMR 0.77 per 10 million). Mortality rates were higher in adults aged over 80 years and there were more deaths in men compared with women. A latitudinal gradient in SMR was seen in GPA but not MPA, with the highest mortality rates in Scandinavia.ConclusionDespite major advances in disease management, our results show that deaths due to GPA and MPA were stable over the last decade, indicating an ongoing need to improve the treatment of these diseases
Carbon Footprint Reduction Initiatives and Green Jobs Creation: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation
Get PDFThe transition to a low-carbon economy is placing increasing pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt carbon footprint reduction initiatives (CFIs). While CFI contributes to environmental sustainability, its impact on green job creation (GJC) remains underexplored, particularly in SMEs. Additionally, the role of green innovation (GI) as a mediator of this association remains poorly understood. The paper investigates the direct effect of CFI on GJC and investigates the mediating role of GI in this process. A survey of 256 SMEs in the Northeast of England, UK, that employ carbon-reduction measures was conducted, and the data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results confirm a positive association between CFI and GJC, with GI partially mediating this link. Findings reveal that SMEs engaging in green innovation experience greater employment growth, particularly in manufacturing and technology sectors.Additionally, external factors such as government incentives and regulatory frameworks moderate the effectiveness of CFI in driving job creation. We extend the Resource-Based View by demonstrating how CFI serves as a strategic resource that can enhance firms’ competitive advantage. It also contributes to Stakeholder and Institutional theories by highlighting the role of regulatory pressures in shaping SMEs' sustainability and economic strategies. Our results offer practical insights for SME managers and policymakers, emphasising the need to integrate green innovation with CFI to maximise employment opportunities. Given SMEs’ significant contribution to UK business-related emissions, their effective decarbonisation is critical for achieving net-zero targets. The evidence presented confirms that carbon footprint reduction is not merely an environmental compliance exercise but a strategic and economic pathway for innovation-led employment growth
Expanded audit report and the value relevance of goodwill impairment
Get PDFPurpose – This study examines the value relevance of goodwill impairment losses and explores the role of Expanded Auditor Reporting (EAR) in mitigating the negative effects of managerial discretion on financial reporting quality. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of firms before and after EAR adoption in the UK, the study analyses the relationship between goodwill impairment disclosures and market valuations. It further investigates how the specificity of auditor disclosures (entity-specific versus generic) influences the alignment between reported impairments and market reactions. Findings – The results indicate that goodwill impairments lacked value relevance before EAR adoption, as managerial opportunism led to delayed or understated impairments. Following EAR adoption, enhanced auditor disclosures reduced information asymmetry, aligning reported impairments more closely with economic realities and improving their value relevance. Entity-specific disclosures were found to be particularly effective in providing incremental information to investors compared to generic disclosures. Practical implications – The findings provide actionable insights for regulators, auditors, and standard-setters on how enhanced audit disclosures can improve financial reporting quality. Entity-specific disclosures should be emphasised in regulatory frameworks to maximise their value to investors. Originality/value – This study advances theoretical understanding and practical application by addressing the persistent challenge of aligning goodwill impairments—an inherently subjective and discretion-prone accounting item—with economic realities. While prior research has broadly explored the implications of EAR, this study is among the first to isolate its effects on goodwill impairments, revealing the critical role of enhanced auditor transparency in mitigating managerial opportunism. Furthermore, by distinguishing the value of entity-specific disclosures versus generic disclosures, the findings provide actionable insights for auditors and standard-setters on how tailored communication can bridge the gap between reported impairments and market valuations
Comparative Study of the Morphology and Chemical Composition of Airborne Brake Particulate Matter from a Light-Duty Automotive and a Rail Sample
Get PDFBrake particulate matter (PM) represents a significant portion of the non-exhaust related soot emissions from all forms of transport, posing significant environmental and health concerns. Euro 7 standards only regulate road automotive emissions, while no regulation covers train transportation. This study compares two brake PM samples from rail and automotive applications. Rail brake PM was generated from composite brake pads subjected to real-world urban rapid transit braking conditions, while automotive brake PM was generated using ECE brake pads and discs under World Harmonized Light-Duty Test Cycle (WLTC) conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses were performed to assess PM morphology and composition. Both samples showed PM in coarse (10–2.5 µm), fine (2.5–0.1 µm), and ultrafine (<0.1 µm) size ranges, with angular flakes in automotive PM and rounded particles in rail PM. The rail PM exhibited a uniform size distribution, with a mean Feret diameter of 1 µm. In contrast, the automotive PM shifted toward larger particles, with ultrafine PM representing only 4% of the population. Excluding carbon and oxygen, automotive PM was dominated by iron (6 at.%) and magnesium (1 at.%). Rail PM showed lower iron (0.6 at.%) and higher aluminium (0.7 at.%) and calcium (0.8 at.%), with a broader non-C/O composition. This study tackles source-specific PM features, thereby supporting safer and more efficient non-exhaust emissions regulations
Volunteer monitoring of police and prison detention: Independent Custody Visitors and Independent Monitoring Boards in England and Wales
Get PDFVolunteer monitoring occupies an important yet under-researched role in detention regulation. This article examines volunteer detention monitoring using original empirical data about prison Independent Monitoring Boards and police Independent Custody Visitors. Using a novel cross-institutional and cross-scale approach to data analysis, we draw on 129 semi-structured interviews with detainees, custody staff and monitors, alongside 41 days of non-participant observation in three prisons and three police custody suites. We find that volunteer monitors: (a) are inconsistently accessible to detainees, (b) face barriers observing and evaluating detention, (c) are viewed as low-status, low-impact actors and focus on individual bureaucratic failings rather than systemic issues and (d) face difficulties navigating inherent institutional power dynamics that challenge the independence of monitoring, exert pressure on monitors to be unobtrusive and deferential, and assimilate monitoring into processes of custodial control
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! 👇