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The relationship between caregiver burden with insomnia and malnutrition in caregivers of older hospitalized patients
No full textObjectives: The aim of this study was to investigate among caregivers of older hospitalized patients, the relationship between caregiver burden, caregivers' nutrition, and the two most common sleep disorders—excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia—as well as the interplay between these factors.Method: The study universe consisted of informal caregivers of older inpatients at an university hospital in Turkiye. The sample included 100 caregivers selected through purposive sampling between March 2024-/January 2025. Data were collected on personal information, caregiver burden (assessed using the Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory [MCBI]), nutritional status (evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Test [MNA] and the Healthy Eating Attitude Scale), sleep status (assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]), and muscle strength (measured by a handgrip dynamometer).Result: A total of 100 caregivers (79% female, with a mean age of 50.5 years). Females comprised 61% of the patient population, and the mean age was 78.5 years. A significant positive correlation was found between the MCBI score and caregiving duration, ISI score, and patient age (p Conclusion: In the present study caregiver burden was associated with poor nutrition and sleep disturbances. Thus, reducing caregiver burden may improve insomnia and malnutrition. Moreover, addressing sleep and nutrition problems in caregivers suffering from insomnia or malnutrition may contribute to a reduction in overall caregiver burden.</p
‘What’s in a name?’ Retrieval practice in the primary classroom: a case study
No full textRetrieval practice has become a well-established teaching strategy in English schools due to the influence of recent government policy changes. This case study used teacher questionnaires, lesson observations and semi-structured interviews to gain insight into how teachers in a primary school in England perceive and use retrieval practice in their classrooms. The findings show good alignment between teachers reported and actual use of retrieval practice in the classroom. However, the teachers conflated retrieval practice with assessment for learning, despite the current research framing of retrieval practice as an opportunity for learning and not assessment.Implications for future applied research, teacher practice and professional development are discussed.</p
Unlocking the potential of targeting the angiotensin II type 1 receptor in cancer
No full textThe renin-angiotensin system is a key regulator of blood pressure homeostasis, with its primary effector, the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), mediating vasoconstriction and processes fundamental to cancer progression, including proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Elevated AT1R expression is consistently linked to poor prognosis and therapeutic resistance across various malignancies. Preclinical studies provide compelling evidence that AT1R activation drives key cancer related processes, while its inhibition by angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) suppresses tumour growth, induces apoptosis, reduces angiogenesis, and inhibits metastasis across a wide range of cancer models. Critically, ARBs effectively modulate the tumour microenvironment (TME), alleviating fibrosis, promoting anti-tumour immune cell phenotypes, and enhancing the efficacy of targeted therapies, chemotherapies, and immunotherapies. Despite this strong preclinical evidence and supporting retrospective population studies, clinical translation of ARBs in oncology remains inconsistent, with trials often limited by design, patient heterogeneity, and supra-therapeutic ARB dosages required for acute anti-cancer effects. This review seeks to summarise the current understanding of AT1R’s role in cancer, highlight preclinical and clinical investigations of targeting RAS, and suggest further strategies to unlock its therapeutic potential. Realising the full therapeutic promise of AT1R targeting in oncology requires a multifaceted approach, including the development of innovative delivery systems, such as TME-activated ARBs, and the exploration of advanced therapeutic modalities, such as antibody based AT1R inhibitors. Rigorously designed clinical trials that include biomarker-driven patient stratification to identify responsive cohorts are crucial to define the context-dependent role of AT1R and conclusively establish its clinical utility as a combinatorial strategy to enhance patient outcomes.</p
Polypharmacy and dynapenia in older adults undergoing rehabilitation after fracture or elective orthopedic surgery
No full textBackground and Objectives: Polypharmacy is common among older adults and its impact on the onset of dynapenia, reduced muscle strength and function, is largely unknown. Older adults hospitalized for either post-fracture or elective orthopedic surgery (knee, femur, or hip) and undergoing rehabilitation were included to investigate the association between polypharmacy and dynapenia. A further aim is to investigate associations between polypharmacy and dynapenia with outcomes including mortality, falls, and hospitalizations. Materials and Methods: On the fifth day following surgery, medical doctors administered a structured questionnaire along with physical and instrumental assessments. Polypharmacy was defined as the concurrent and regular use of 5 or more medications, dynapenia was assessed by measuring handgrip strength. The association between dynapenia and polypharmacy was detected with logistic regression, and their impact on adverse outcomes was assessed using Cox models, Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank tests. Results: A total of 205 older adults (mean age 77.5 years; 79.5% women) were enrolled. After adjusting for sex, age, and the presence of multidimensional frailty, dynapenia was significantly associated with increased adverse outcomes such as mortality, falls, and hospitalizations (HR 2.96, 95% CI 1.22–7.20, p = 0.016). Similarly, polypharmacy was independently linked to a higher risk of mortality, falls and hospitalizations (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.24–4.10, p = 0.007). At 6 months follow-up, polypharmacy showed a strong and significant association with dynapenia (adjusted OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.21–4.63, p = 0.019). Conclusions: These findings suggest that polypharmacy is strongly associated with dynapenia, both conditions are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in older hospitalized patients. Close monitoring and tailored interventions are recommended to mitigate these risks and improve rehabilitation outcomes in this vulnerable population</p
Trends in Mortality from Diabetes and Other Non-Communicable Diseases Among Sri Lankan Adults: A Retrospective Population-Based Study, 2004–2020/2021
No full textBackground: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of adult mortality worldwide, accounting for 74% of deaths. In Sri Lanka, assessing NCD mortality trends is essential for public health planning. This study evaluated trends in total and hospital-based NCD deaths from 2004 to 2020/2021, examining differences by disease category, age, and gender. Methods: Total NCD deaths (2004–2020; 2008 interpolated) were obtained from the Department of Census and Statistics, covering all registered deaths. Hospitalized deaths (2004–2021) were extracted from the Indoor Morbidity and Mortality Return (IMMR) dataset. Deaths were initially classified into nine major NCD categories based on ICD-11 codes and were subsequently consolidated into seven categories for the analysis. Age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 were calculated using the 2012 Sri Lankan Census. Percentage changes were assessed by age and gender, and trends tested using the Mann–Kendall method. Results: NCD mortality increased substantially, with differences between total and hospital deaths. Total deaths due to diabetes rose 169% and genitourinary causes 105%, whereas hospital deaths increased for the same condition by 34% and 123%, respectively. Women had higher total mortality, while men had higher hospital mortality across most NCDs. Conclusions: NCD deaths in Sri Lanka have risen over two decades, reflecting improved registration and gaps in early diagnosis and healthcare access. The greater increase in diabetes deaths outside hospital settings indicates possible under-diagnosis and suboptimal management of risk factors.</p
Real‐time detection of agitation in people with dementia: The RadioMe system
No full textAbstract
Background
Agitation is a common comorbidity of people with dementia and can be particularly distressing. Technology may be a valid way to detect agitation in people with dementia in real time to allow for intervention. RadioMe combines agitation detection technology (e.g. through wearables) alongside relaxing music response to support people to live independently within the community. The system seamlessly mixes music with a live radio and can incorporate diary reminders too.
Method
The RadioMe system was installed in 20 community‐dwelling people with dementia with agitation symptoms for up to four months, in this proof‐of‐concept study. In the first two months participants had access to the radio and diary reminder elements of the system; in the second two months participants also had access to the relaxing music playlist elements. We measured quality of life, agitation and implementation outcomes across the timepoints. Qualitative interviews were used to better understand participants’ experiences of the system.
Result
Findings indicate that people with dementia were generally satisfied with the system (Mdn = 3.5), and perceived it to be acceptable (AIM, Mdn =3.7), appropriate (Mdn = 3.5) and feasible (Mdn = 3.5). There was evidence that participants did struggle to integrate it into their day‐to‐day lives, and there were frequent issues with the setup and connectivity of the wearables. There was no evidence that the system had a detrimental effect on people's quality of life or agitation symptoms.
Conclusion
An automated system to detect agitation and respond with relaxing music has potential value, but ensuring the technology is accessible and not disruptive should be a priority before it can be adopted more widely for people with dementia.</p
Leafhoppers of the genus Batracomorphus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Iassinae) of Kibale National Park, Uganda, with descriptions of seven new species
No full textThirteen leafhoppers of the genus Batracomorphus Lewis, 1834 were identified from Kibale National Park, Uganda. Five previously recognised species were recorded from Uganda for the first time, and the following seven species are described as new: B. ruthae sp. nov.; B. pardos sp. nov.; B. stictopterus sp. nov.; B. chloros sp. nov.; B. eusemos sp. nov.; B. kibalensis sp. nov.; B. ntomino sp. nov.</p
Assessing early childhood sustainability apps: a dual-framework evaluation
No full text(1) Background: using an artefact-based secondary analysis approach, this paper critically reviews eleven mobile applications designed for early childhood sustainability education. (2) Methods: the study employs a dual-framework evaluation rubric, based on Parsons and Ryu and on Ozdamli, which assesses ten criteria, including pedagogical approach, accessibility, and interdisciplinary integration. Two independent reviewers scored each app, with inter-rater reliability confirmed via Cohen’s kappa (0.74–1.00). (3) Results: results reveal a strong bias towards environmental SDGs, limited accessibility features, and minimal teacher-facing tools. Only one app addressed all three sustainability pillars: environmental, social, and economic. (4) Conclusions: the paper proposes AI-enhanced design strategies and culturally responsive workflows to improve app effectiveness. Recommendations include embedding interdisciplinary task flows, multilingual scaffolds, and community-linked challenges to support transformative sustainability learning in early childhood education.</p
Absolute coronary blood flow measurement and the principle of microvascular resistance reserve
No full textMeasurement of absolute coronary blood flow and myocardial resistance by continuous intracoronary thermodilution was recently introduced and facilitates assessment of the coronary microcirculation. In addition, Microvascular Resistance Reserve (MRR) is a new index that further permits the characterization of coronary microcirculatory function. It can be calculated from resting and hyperemic absolute coronary flow and resistance, measured during continuous thermodilution. By being independent of both epicardial disease and myocardial mass, MRR is highly specific for the microvascular compartment. Measurement of absolute flow, resistance, and MRR by continuous thermodilution has been shown to be accurate and reproducible, with minimal operator interference. In conjunction with the measurement of absolute flow and resistance, MRR could become the index of reference for the diagnosis of coronary microvascular disease and the evaluation of new therapies. In this paper, the basis and practicalities of these measurements are shortly reviewed and its characteristics, its advantages over existing indices, its limitations, and future perspectives are discussed. Word count abstract: 158. Word count text: 7954 (including references and legends).</p
Does job boredom benefit creativity? A cross-domain process through leisure crafting
No full textPurpose: The job design literature recommends various ways to enrich jobs. However, some jobs cannot be redesigned, and employees inevitably experience job boredom. Drawing on a cross-domain perspective based on self-determination theory of motivation and conservation of resource theory, we propose a theoretical model that specifies how and when job boredom can benefit employees by promoting their innovativeness.Design/methodology/approach: We test our theoretical propositions by analyzing multi-wave data collected from 389 employees in Taiwan.Findings: Results show that despite its direct negative effect on creativity, job boredom is positively related to leisure crafting in the personal life domain, which is a positive predictor of employee creativity. The positive indirect effect of job boredom on creativity through leisure crafting is strengthened by job routinization, which conserves employee resources during work hours.Originality/value: In this study, we specify when job boredom benefits and hinders creativity, hence expanding the existing knowledge regarding the role of job boredom in the workplace. Our analysis offers new theoretical insights by theorizing and demonstrating the cross-domain flow of resources from the work domain to the non-work leisure domain and then back to the work behaviours of employees in promoting workplace innovativeness.</p
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