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Understanding Professional Advocacy: A protocol for a mixed method project to explore professional nurse advocacy and professional midwifery advocacy in one NHS trust.
No full textBackground: In the UK, specific Professional Nurse Advocates (PNA) and Professional Midwifery Advocates (PMA) centres nurses and midwives as integral to quality improvement in practice (QiP), workforce retention and transformation. However, little is known about the potential impact the PNA/PMA role might have on the daily practice of nurses and midwives, quality in practice, professional wellbeing, and retention. This project, funded by one large NHS Trust in the UK, seeks to explore, and understand the impact (if any) of the PNA/PMA role in relation to nurse/midwife involvement in QiP, professional wellbeing, and the retention of nurses/midwives in that Trust. The focus is on the key issues of the lived experience of current PNA’s/PMA’s; the wider nursing/midwifery workforce perspective of the use (or no use of) of the PNA/PNA role; the link (if any) on quality improvement in practice (QiP); and the workforce impact (if any) on nurse/midwife professional wellbeing and nurse/midwife retention in the organisation. Methods: This study is mixed method and multistage design: Workstream 1 identifies the organisational context statistics of QiP, wellbeing and retention to understand difference (if any) before and after the implementation of the PNA/PMA role. Workstream 2 explores the experience of being a PNA/PMA using semi-structured interviews (n 15). Workstream 3 is twofold: Part i surveys the nurse and midwifery staff (n = 450) awareness/access/understanding of the PNA/PMA role. Part ii includes two focus groups (n=20) to detail the experiences of those who have actively consulted with a PNA/PMA, the other for those who have not yet consulted with PNA/PMA. Workstream 4 collates collected evidence to co-design, with PNAs/PMAs, nurses and midwives, recommendations for local policy, practice, and the implementation of the PNA/PMA role across the organisation. Discussion: The integrated findings will inform the future organisational implementation of the PMA/ PNA role, strategies to develop the PNA/PMA role in relation to QiP, staff wellbeing, retention and sustainable approaches for increasing the number of PNA/PMA’s. The evidence will inform local and national implementation policy across diverse NHS services and future development of the professional advocacy role for allied health professionals.</p
Assessing the ecotoxicological effects of novel cellulose nanocrystalline glitter compared to conventional polyethylene terephthalate glitter: toxicity to springtails (Folsomia candida)
No full textGlitter is a type of microplastic, and thus there is a need to assess its potential impacts on the environment and to assess the potential for non-plastic cellulose nanocrystal structurally colored glitters as safe and sustainable replacements. The ecotoxicity of glitter has been mostly ignored in the research literature, with only a few published studies focusing on aquatic organisms. Therefore, an exposure experiment was conducted to examine the impact of conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) glitter as well as untreated and heat-treated cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) based glitter on the survival, reproduction, and length of Folsomia candida (springtail). Folsomia candida reproduction was reduced by 61% (P = 0.013) after exposure to PET glitter at 1000 mg/kg, while no significant effects were observed on F. candida survival and length. In contrast, there were no significant impacts on F. candida survival, length, or reproduction when exposed to untreated or heat-treated CNC glitter. These results indicate that exposure to PET glitter may impact soil invertebrates at the population level, and that CNC glitter has potential as a biodegradable non-plastic alternative to PET glitter to decrease detrimental effects on soil ecosystems. </p
Global burden of vaccine-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome over 170 countries from 1967 to 2023
No full textResearch on Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) as a neurological adverse effect of vaccines on a global scale is scarce, highlighting the need for further investigation to evaluate its long-term impact and associated risk factors comprehensively. Hence, this study aims to assess the global burden of vaccine-associated GBS and its associated vaccines. This study utilized data from VigiBase, the World Health Organization global database of adverse event reports of medicines and vaccines, encompassing the period from 1967 to 2023 (total reports, n = 131,255,418) to investigate vaccine-associated GBS. Reported odds ratios (ROR) and information components (IC) were analyzed to assess the association between 19 vaccines and the occurrence of vaccine-associated GBS over 170 countries. We identified 15,377 (8072 males [52.49%]) reports of vaccine-associated GBS among 22,616 reports of all drugs-cause GBS from 1978 to 2023. Cumulative reports of vaccine-associated GBS have been increasing steadily over time, with a notable surge observed since the commencement of COVID-19 vaccines administration in 2020. Most vaccines showed significant associations with GBS such as Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccines (ROR, 14.88; IC, 3.66), COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (ROR, 9.66; IC, 2.84), and inactivated whole-virus COVID-19 vaccines (ROR, 3,29; IC 1.69). Influenza vaccines showed the highest association (ROR, 77.91; IC 5.98). Regarding age-and sex-specific risks, the association remained similar regardless of sex, with an increased association observed with advancing age. The mean time to onset was 5.5 days. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the reports of GBS surged in response to widespread COVID-19 vaccination. Nonetheless, COVID-19 vaccines exhibited the lowest association compared to other vaccines. Vigilance for at least one-week post-vaccination is crucial, particularly for older adults. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking vaccines and GBS. </p
Exploring the ‘pet effect’: Does playing with pets contribute to owner wellbeing?
No full textAlthough many people strongly believe in wellbeing benefits of having pets (the ‘pet effect’), research on the ‘pet effect’ in actuality is highly mixed. Surprisingly, little research has explored the nature of (i.e., specific components of) the human–pet relationship, as a way to explain the contradictory findings. One such component is human–pet play, with play outside of the human–pet relationship being important for wellbeing and social buffering. Thus, the current quantitative study explores whether greater perceived play with pets contributes to greater wellbeing (‘pet effect’) and reduces anxiety during a time of acute stress (social buffering). The study employs a regression design recruiting men and women residing in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic who own a dog and/or cat, with perceived pet play as the key predictor variable, and outcome variables of wellbeing and COVID-19 anxiety. Data were gathered and analysed cross-sectionally on day one (N = 189), and longitudinally over five days (N = 105), using multiple regressions. Overall, perceived pet play did not predict wellbeing nor COVID-19 anxiety. As such, the current study indicates human–pet play does not contribute to the ‘pet effect’ nor social buffering, thus raising questions for future research regarding the exact purpose of play within the human–pet relationship. </p
Strengthening Hospital Resilience: Lessons from the Eastern Mediterranean Region
No full textThis presentation sheds light on the development of the "Resilient Hospitals: An inter-regional guidance on strengthening resilience to health emergencies and disasters in health facilities". Dr Hamid Ravaghi, WHO Advisor in the East Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) provides insights of the region post Covid-19 and how this experienced helped in developing this new guidance in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). He then interacts with, and answers the questions of ARU staff and students. The event was help online via MS Teams on 30 October 2024. </p
Negotiating Shared Lives: Territorialisation and Conviviality in an Urban Community Land Trust
No full textUrban Community Land Trusts (CLTs) have been acclaimed for their politically transformative potential: de-commodifying land and providing permanently affordable housing under community control. Few studies include CLT residents and this paper features two case studies to help fill the gap. St Clements in East London, UK, and Citizens House, Southeast London, both created by London CLT, collectively have 34 households living in them. Unlike more geographically focused CLTs, London CLT provides governance, knowledge, and skills to support people across London to build the affordable housing they campaign for. The selection criteria prioritised the needs of those failed by the existing housing market, who had long-standing connections to the borough, and contributed to community life. London CLT hoped residents would have a transformational impact on the neighbourhood, spreading the ethos of community control. Using the conceptualisations of territorialisation and conviviality, new knowledge has been produced about residents’ experience of negotiating shared lives. While residents are happy with their homes, and value the neighbourliness that comes from knowing others better, investing time and energy in more organised activity and decision making has been slow. The two spaces display both the affectivity and distancing associated with territorialisation and the ‘rubbing along’ and ambivalence of conviviality
Rapid, detrimental response of estuarine benthic macrofauna communities to pollution by littered cigarette filters and e-liquid
No full textElite athletes, student-athletes, and women are reported to have an increased risk of experiencing mental health concerns, yet little is known about how the intersectionality of these three factors affect the individual. The present study addressed this by interviewing members of an international women’s Junior World Cup hockey team. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify two triadic themes (i.e., challenges encompassing all three factors) and three dyadic themes (two of the three factors). These findings, and in particular, the triadic themes of “Pressure of Expectation” and “Comparative Disadvantages”, reveal the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced by this unique cohort. We identify possible explanations for our findings and discuss implications for optimising the experiences of elite, student-athlete women. </p
Intrusion Detection in Software-Defined Networks: Leveraging Deep Reinforcement Learning with Graph Convolutional Networks for Resilient Infrastructure
No full textIn the realm of academic technology, a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) serves as a web-based platform designed to facilitate the digital aspects of educational curricula, primarily within educational institutions. It encompasses various stages of assessment and provides resources, assignments, and interactive elements within a structured course framework. Its utilization became particularly prominent during the pandemic, as it proved highly beneficial to students by delivering cost-effective and flexible remote learning options. However, despite its advantages, VLEs come with notable limitations. Human emotion and awareness must be evaluated in virtual learning environments to improve user experience. A Fuzzy-based Convolutional Neural Network (FCNN) has been proposed to identify human emotions in a virtual learning environment. Our evaluation of the virtual learning environment's awareness is based on data collected through questionnaire surveys. Face images are preprocessed using histogram equalization. DCT allows a high-level feature extraction process. In addition, AFCNNs allow virtual learners to assess emotions and awareness efficiently. Using this approach, we evaluate accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision. By comparing our proposed educational system's performance to those of traditional sustainable development education, we prove the effectiveness of our proposal.</p
Mechanics' Magazines
No full textThis talk that was part of the ARU Seminar Series for 2024/5: ‘Nineteenth Century Magazines and Print Culture’. Here I outlined how the new magazines, which escaped the 1819 'tax on knowledge' that was part of the Six Acts, served as vehicles for political discussion, radicalism and innovation.</p
Needle-free intradermal vaccination, an opportunity to improve commercial pig welfare
No full textIn-farm livestock production vaccinations are commonly delivered intramuscularly using needles. While there are alternative strategies these have been subject to little attention and limited commercialisation. One such alternative is needle-free vaccines and studies have focused on the immune response few have addressed the welfare implications. This study aims to compare the impact of intradermal needle-free vaccination and intramuscular injection in terms of the welfare of the piglets. A total of 179 piglets were divided into two treatments: intradermal needle-free delivery and intramuscular delivery of a vaccine. Measures of health and welfare included, vocalisations, behavioural observations, papule formation, and weight. Piglets vaccinated via the needle-free intradermal route vocalised less and displayed no significant behavioural differences but showed increased weight compared to piglets vaccinated intramuscularly. The use of a needle-free device to deliver a vaccine through an intradermal route revealed no adverse effects on piglet welfare and supports the use of alternative strategies to vaccinate livestock.</p
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