47011 research outputs found
Sort by
If You Sit Very Still by Marian Partington: Jessica Kingsley publisher, 2016, 177 pp. ISBN: 9781785921407
No full textCerebral Small Vessel Disease: Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Endothelial Dysfunction
Get PDFCerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is a common cause of stroke and dementia. Ageing, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, and smoking make up the biggest risk factors for cSVD. They individually or collectively increase the levels of reactive oxygen species, pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, decrease the bioavailability of nitric oxide, and, in the process, compromise the structural integrity and function of the vascular endothelium, blood-brain barrier, and brain parenchyma. These then appear as white matter hyperintensities, enlarged perivascular spaces, cerebral microbleeds, and atrophy in cerebral imaging. As there is currently no curative therapy for cSVD, prevention or delay of cSVD remains of particular importance to preserve quality of life for as long as possible. Bearing that in mind, this review explores whether drugs used for other neurovascular conditions may prevent neuroinflammation and oxidative damage and effectively maintain endothelial function and blood-brain barrier integrity. It also examines whether potential benefits may be extended to cSVD. The list of drugs includes anti-anginal drugs, acetylcholine esterase inhibitors, β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors, lithium drugs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, oral antihyperglycaemic drugs, and tetracycline antibiotics. This review discusses the mechanisms of action of these agents and critically evaluates preclinical, translational, and clinical research pertaining to cSVD
Close to the Comfort Zone: Stakeholders’ Perspectives on Implementing Leisure Activities in Dementia and Eldercare
No full textBackground: This study aimed to explore stakeholders' perspectives on implementing non-digital leisure activities to promote social interaction in dementia and eldercare settings. Methods: A secondary analysis of online semi-structured interviews was conducted, focusing on nine stakeholders with expertise in dementia and eldercare. The data collected was analysed using inductive qualitative thematic analysis to identify key themes and insights. Results: Three key themes emerged, emphasizing inclusivity, usability, and context. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of tailored activities, ease of use, and privacy. Challenges included resource allocation and availability. Findings underscore the significance of supporting innovations in both digital and non-digital leisure activities within dementia and eldercare settings. Clinicians and policymakers should consider integrating inclusive activities into care plans to enhance social interaction for older adults. Future research should focus on identifying optimal levels of engagement and evaluating the effectiveness of leisure activities in promoting well-being among older adults in diverse settings. Conclusion: Despite current limitations, stakeholders affirmed the value of non-digital leisure activities, such as board games, for enhancing social interaction and well-being in dementia and eldercare settings. Integrating non-digital and digital activities was seen as promising for meeting diverse needs
Distributed Control Scheme for the Coordination of Interlinking Converters in Islanded Hybrid AC/DC Multi-Microgrids
Get PDFMultiple interconnected ac and dc microgrids (MGs) are being studied by academia and industry because of their benefits despite their operational challenges. Coordinating distributed generators (DGs) is complex, so communication-based controllers are proliferating in the literature. Then, this work proposes a distributed control strategy for islanded ac/dc multi-MGs interconnected by interlinking converters (ILCs). The proposed scheme is implemented in the ILCs and consists of distributed controllers that equalize global generation costs, allowing secondary control in each MG. Control actions that safeguard the saturated operation of MGs and ILCs are included in the control designs. The simultaneous operation with multiple objectives is possible due to adjusting control parameters according to a prioritization criterion. Experiments are conducted through an extensive simulated environment. The results show the proposed multiobjective controllers could maintain global optimal costs during normal operation while not overloading DGs, ILCs, subgrids, and clusters of ILCs. Furthermore, the strategy may reduce operational costs in the long term by protecting the lifetime of critical MG components. Desynchronization of incremental costs is enforced at 15% at most under demanding conditions. Also, it is possible to operate against considerable (>250 [ms]) time delays in the tests
Wearable devices for exercise prescription and physical activity monitoring in patients with various cardiovascular conditions
Get PDFAs wearable technologies have become increasingly affordable, accessible, and practical, an increasing number of people with cardiovascular disease are beginning to use consumer-grade devices. Common health and wellness metrics reported by wearable devices include heart rate, heart rhythm, and step count, which may afford opportunities to assess cardiovascular conditions, prescribe more personalized exercise for enhanced engagement, and monitor physical activity adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease. This narrative review discusses the application of wearable devices in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation (AF), cardiac implantable electric devices, and peripheral artery disease in different cardiovascular rehabilitation settings (eg, supervised and home-based). Available literature suggests that, when combined with telemonitoring, wearable devices can increase physical activity participation, thereby improving peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak) and quality of life (QoL) in patients with coronary artery disease, enhancing physical function and QoL in patients with heart failure, and increasing walking capacity and V˙O2peak in patients with peripheral artery disease. Wearable devices can also detect AF vs sinus rhythm, guide exercise timing in patients with AF, and monitor safe exercise intensity in patients equipped with cardiac implantable electric devices. Healthcare professionals can promote physical activity by incorporating wearable devices, which can help motivate device users by providing real-time feedback on their behaviours. Commercially available wearable devices have the potential to enhance engagement in physical activity, thereby augmenting the established effects of exercise programs on V˙O2peak, functional capacity, and QoL in patients with various cardiovascular conditions
Finite-Time Intermittent-Update Control for Aircraft Electric Antiskid Braking System via Sliding Mode Approach
Get PDFIn order to achieve optimal slip ratio tracking, this article proposes a sliding mode intermittent-update control (SMIC) method for the aircraft electric antiskid braking system. Based on analyzing the aircraft braking process and the electromechanical characteristics of actuators, a comprehensive model is established, incorporating slip ratio, braking pressure, and rotor angular velocity in a cascade structure. Due to the complex runway environment and diverse climate conditions, the inherent variability and nonlinearity of the optimal slip ratio pose significant challenges to the sustained utilization of maximum friction. To address the above challenges and enhance braking performance, a switching extremum search approach is proposed to optimize the slip ratio in real time. A sliding mode intermittent-update controller is designed to track the real-time optimal slip ratio, ensuring finite-time convergence and effectively preventing wheel slip and lock-up. Finally, the proposed control strategy is validated on a realtime hardware-in-the-loop-based platform, which demonstrates that the SMIC strategy can not only effectively improve the braking efficiency but also reduces the switching frequency of the electromechanical actuators
Finance and collusion in oligopolistic markets
Get PDFWe explore how financial constraints affect the sustainability of product market collusion in a bank-financed oligopoly, where firms operate within an imperfect credit market. Our analysis uncovers a non-monotonic relationship between the sustainability of collusion and the level of financial constraints, using a general demand function. Notably, collusion tends to be more sustainable when firms experience low to moderate financial constraints, as opposed to having no financial constraints at all. However, when firms are under complete financial constraints, the sustainability of collusion may decrease compared to situations without financial constraints. These findings hold true for both Cournot and Bertrand competition models in the product market
Mapping curvature domains in human V4 using CBV-sensitive layer-fMRI at 3T
Get PDFIntroduction: A full understanding of how we see our world remains a fundamental research question in vision neuroscience. While topographic profiling has allowed us to identify different visual areas, the exact functional characteristics and organization of areas up in the visual hierarchy (beyond V1 & V2) is still debated. It is hypothesized that visual area V4 represents a vital intermediate stage of processing spatial and curvature information preceding object recognition. Advancements in magnetic resonance imaging hardware and acquisition techniques (e.g., non-BOLD functional MRI) now permits the capture of cortical layer-specific functional properties and organization of the human brain (including the visual system) at high precision.Methods: Here, we use functional cerebral blood volume measures to study the modularity in how responses to contours (curvature) are organized within area V4 of the human brain. To achieve this at 3 Tesla (a clinically relevant field strength) we utilize optimized high-resolution 3D-Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) Vascular Space Occupancy (VASO) measurements.Results: Data here provide the first evidence of curvature domains in human V4 that are consistent with previous findings from non-human primates. We show that VASO and BOLD tSNR maps for functional imaging align with high field equivalents, with robust time series of changes to visual stimuli measured across the visual cortex. V4 curvature preference maps for VASO show strong modular organization compared to BOLD imaging contrast. It is noted that BOLD has a much lower sensitivity (due to known venous vasculature weightings) and specificity to stimulus contrast. We show evidence that curvature domains persist across the cortical depth. The work advances our understanding of the role of mid-level area V4 in human processing of curvature and shape features.Impact: Knowledge of how the functional architecture and hierarchical integration of local contours (curvature) contribute to formation of shapes can inform computational models of object recognition. Techniques described here allow for quantification of individual differences in functional architecture of mid-level visual areas to help drive a better understanding of how changes in functional brain organization relate to difference in visual perception
Outcome measurement instruments used to measure diet-related outcomes in infancy: A scoping review
Get PDFIntroduction: Supporting positive diet behaviours during infancy is essential to support child health and prevent childhood obesity. How infant diet-related outcomes are measured in trials is crucial to determining intervention effectiveness. This scoping review examined what and how outcome measurement instruments are currently used to measure 13 infant diet-related outcomes from a previously developed core outcome set. Methods: The databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched from inception to September 2023. Eligible studies reported trials that included infants ≤1 year old and at least one diet-related outcome measurement instrument. Titles/abstracts and full texts were independently screened in duplicate. Data were narratively synthesised. Results: 136 studies reporting 133 trials were included. Outcome measurement instruments used included 66 questionnaires (n = 70 studies), 65 individual questions (n = 45 studies), 24 food diaries/records (n = 21 studies), 11 24-hour dietary recall (n = 11 studies), and healthcare record data (n = 6 studies). Outcome measurement instruments were predominantly self-administered by researchers in participants homes. There was a lack of reporting for some outcome measurements used. Conclusion: Review findings highlight the need to improve clarity and completeness of outcome reporting. The findings also provide an important first step to address heterogeneity in measurement of infant diet-related outcomes. Consistent measurement of diet-related outcomes is needed to improve synthesis and evaluation of obesity prevention interventions
Propelling the Transition to Circular Economy: Exploring the Role of Corporate Circular Economy Performance-Based Incentive Policy
Get PDFThis study examines the impact of executive compensation (EC) and corporate circular economy performance incentives (CCEPI) on corporate circular economy initiatives (CCEI) and corporate circular economy performance (CCEP) by integrating legitimacy theory and the resource-based view. Despite increasing attention to sustainability, there is limited understanding of how governance mechanisms, such as EC and CCEPI, drive circular economy practices. Addressing this gap, we analyse 41,370 firm-year observations from 50 countries over the period 2002–2022. The findings reveal four key insights: (1) higher EC significantly enhances CCEI, demonstrating greater corporate commitment to circular economy practices; (2) CCEPI positively influences the effectiveness of CE efforts; (3) CCEPI does not directly improve CCEP but strengthens CCEI as a long-term strategic investment; (4) these relationships vary by country, sector and over time. The study offers crucial implications for policymakers and practitioners, emphasising the role of targeted incentives in promoting sustainable business practices and recognising the contextual factors that affect their effectiveness
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! 👇