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Corrigendum to “Effects of the 2023 Poole Harbour oil spill on sediment bacterial communities and ecosystem functioning” [Mar. Pollut. Bull. 222 (part 3) (2026) 118904]
No full textThe authors wish to clarify that, in the original publication of this article, the contributions of creditor Clare Hynes were listed as “Resources.” However, her contributions should include “Methodology” and “Writing – review and editing” in addition to “Resources.” </p
Design and fabrication of customised diabetic insoles for optimised foot pressure distribution using finite element analysis and additive manufacturing technology
No full textDiabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes and a leading cause of lower-limb amputations. Excessive plantar pressure in high-risk regions such as the heel and forefoot contributes significantly to their development. This study presents the design, simulation, and three-dimensional prototyping of customised diabetic insoles aimed at redistributing pressure and reducing ulcer risk. Insole models are created in Autodesk Inventor, evaluated with finite element analysis (FEA) in ANSYS Workbench, and fabricated using 3D printing technology. Three designs are evaluated, i.e., a standard insole, a circular-cutout insole, and an irregular-cutout insole, using four different materials, i.e., Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)1, EVA2, EVA3, and polyurethane (PU). Under applied pressure of 0.3 MPa by a diabetic foot, a customised EVA1 insole reduces barefoot peak stress from 3.97 MPa to 1.51 MPa (61.96% reduction), while irregular isolations lower ulcer-rim stress from 0.87 MPa to 0.63 MPa (27.8% reduction). EVA-based insoles outperformed the PU one, and prototypes are successfully printed in EVA and PU, demonstrating feasibility for low-cost and patient-specific applications.</p
Prehospital postintubation hypotension and survival in severe traumatic brain injury
No full textImportance: Preventing systemic disturbances, such as hypotension and hypoxia, is key to reducing the impact of secondary neuronal injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Postintubation hypotension is prevalent and may be associated with worse outcomes in patients with trauma undergoing emergency anesthesia. Objective: To investigate the association between postintubation hypotension and 30-day mortality in patients with severe TBI undergoing prehospital rapid sequence induction. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study was performed between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2022, in the East of England Trauma Network, including 3 helicopter emergency medical services (East Anglian Air Ambulance, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, and Magpas Air Ambulance). A consecutive sample of patients (aged ≥16 years) with trauma and severe TBI who received prehospital rapid sequence induction by helicopter emergency medical services and were transported to a hospital within the East of England Trauma Network were eligible for inclusion. Severe TBI was defined as a Head Abbreviated Injury Scale score of 3 or higher. Data analysis was performed from March to May 2025. Exposure: Postintubation hypotension defined as a new systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg and induction of anesthesia at 10 minutes or less. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Results: A total of 555 patients (median [IQR] age, 48 [29-66] years; 408 [73.5%] male) were included in the final analysis; 548 (98.7%) had a blunt mechanism of injury. Within the first 10 minutes of anesthesia, 106 patients (19.1%) had postintubation hypotension, and 169 (30.5%) died within 30 days of injury (46 of 106 [43.4%] in the hypotension group and 123 of 449 [27.4%] in the nonhypotension group). After adjustment for confounders (eg, age and Glasgow Coma Scale score), postintubation hypotension was associated with increased 30-day mortality for patients with polytrauma and severe TBI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.70; 95% CI, 1.01-2.86; P = .04). For patients with isolated severe TBI who had postintubation hypotension, the odds of death adjusted for confounders (eg, age, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and Injury Severity Score) were significantly higher than for patients without (AOR, 13.55; 95% CI, 3.65-61.66; P Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with severe TBI who received prehospital rapid sequence induction, postintubation hypotension was associated with increased 30-day mortality. This association was strongest for patients with isolated TBI. These findings suggest the need for randomized prehospital interventional studies to reduce the incidence of postintubation hypotension in traumatic brain injury.</p
National trends in asthma prevalence among adolescents in South Korea, 2007–2023: a national representative serial study
No full textIntroduction: Although previous studies have analyzed trends in asthma prevalence among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, research specifically investigating asthma prevalence after the pandemic is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the long-term trends and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of asthma among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data were collected from a nationwide representative study (Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey), conducted among adolescents aged 12–18 years from 2007 to 2023. To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, data were divided into three periods: pre-pandemic (2007–2019), intra-pandemic (2020–2022), and post-pandemic (2023). The prevalence of current asthma and variations in asthma prevalence across the pre-, intra-, and post-pandemic periods were analyzed using weighted linear regression and logistic models with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 1,087,236 participants (559,840 males: 51.49%) were included in the analysis from 2007 to 2023. The weighted asthma prevalence exhibited slight fluctuations prior to the pandemic, with no notable overall changes. However, a substantial decline was observed during the intra-pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic (βdiff intra- versus pre-pandemic, −0.11; 95% CI: −0.12 to −0.09), followed by a slight weakening in the post-pandemic period (βdiff post- versus intra-pandemic, 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03–0.10). This trend persisted when analyzed by sex, with males exhibiting a higher prevalence than females throughout the entire period (versus females weighted odds ratio, 1.31; 95% CI: 1.29–1.34). Additionally, prior to the pandemic, the prevalence of asthma was higher among students in grades 7–9. However, after the pandemic began, students in grades 10–12 showed higher prevalence rates than their younger counterparts. The prevalence was also higher among adolescents who were overweight or obese, smoked, lived in facilities, had low household income, consumed fast food more than five times a week, experienced high stress levels, and reported low subjective recovery from fatigue. Conclusions: This comprehensive study suggests that the prevalence of asthma among adolescents varies with age and may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it identifies key factors contributing to asthma vulnerability, highlighting the importance of developing age-specific policies and targeted interventions for these at-risk groups.</p
Using artificial intelligence to improve healthcare delivery in select allied health disciplines: a scoping review protocol
No full textIntroductionMethods to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare clinical practice remain unclear. The potential for rapid integration of AI-enabled technologies across healthcare settings coupled with the growing digital divide in the health sector highlights the need to examine AI use by health professionals, especially in allied health disciplines with emerging AI use such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry and dietetics. This protocol details the methodology for a scoping review on the use of AI-enabled technology in sectors of the allied health workforce. The research question is ‘How is AI used by sectors of the allied health workforce to improve patient safety, quality of care and outcomes, and what is the quality of evidence supporting this use?’Methods and analysisThe review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review guidelines. Databases will be searched from 17 to 24 March 2025 and will include PubMed/Medline, Embase, PsycINFO and Cummulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases. Dual screening against inclusion criteria will be applied for study selection. Peer-reviewed articles reporting primary research in allied healthcare published in English within the last 10 years will be included. Studies will be evaluated using the Quality Assessment with Diverse Studies tool. The review will map the existing literature and identify key themes related to the use of AI in the disciplines of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry and dietetics.Ethics and disseminationNo ethics approval will be sought, as only secondary research outputs will be used. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presentations at workshops and conferences.Trial registration numberOpen Science Framework Protocol Registrationhttps://osf.io/r7t4s</p
Exploring the tripartite model of brand hate: antecedents and consequences in the context of shopping malls
No full textThis study aims to examine the antecedents and consequences of brand hate in shopping malls, using a tripartite model of hate within the Cognitive-Affective-Behavioral (CAB) framework. A mall intercept survey was used to collect responses from Pakistan shoppers. Based on 461 valid responses, the proposed relationship between antecedents and outcomes of brand hate for shopping malls was assessed using PLS-SEM. The findings of this study indicate that four key antecedents- ideological incompatibility, symbolic incongruity, negative past experiences, and advertising incompatibility - significantly influence the tripartite model of brand hate (anger, fear, sadness) among shoppers in the context of malls. Moreover, this mall hate significantly impacts a range of six consequents, including mall avoidance, patronage reduction, negative word-of-mouth, third-party complaining, brand retaliation, and brand revenge. This study provides new insights into how mall managers can mitigate the effects of brand hate and improve the overall shopping experience.</p
A split decision based on vision: an empirical approach to classify short-distance sprinters with a vision impairment
No full textAthletes with vision impairment (VI) competing in track athletics typically compete in one of three ‘classes’ based on the severity of their VI. The creation of these classes, however, was arbitrary and not based on evidence. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between monocular visual acuity (VA) and sprinting performance in athletes with a VI to establish the optimal cut-off point(s) between competition classes. Historical data including VA and sprinting performance were collected through the International Paralympic Committee’s Sport Data Management System. Pearson correlations were conducted to investigate the relationship between VA and sprinting performance. VA was significantly associated with 100, 200 and 400 m race times (r = 0.26; r = 0.26; r = 0.24 [all p </p
Target efficiency: premiums, acquirer returns and performance in UK manufacturing mergers
No full textDespite the prevalence of mergers as a strategic growth mechanism, many transactions fail to deliver anticipated benefits. This thesis examines the role of target firm efficiency in merger outcomes within the UK manufacturing sector, addressing a critical gap in understanding the factors that contribute to M&A success and failure. The study employs a comprehensive multi-method approach combining data envelopment analysis, event study methodology, regression discontinuity design, propensity score matching, and difference-in-differences analysis. This methodological framework enables detailed investigation of efficiency's impact on M&A outcomes using quantitative data from 89 UK manufacturing sector mergers between 2009 and 2021, focusing on acquirer shareholder returns, merger premiums, and post-merger financial performance.The findings reveal a nuanced and often counterintuitive relationship between target efficiency and M&A outcomes. A non-linear relationship between target efficiency and acquirer cumulative abnormal returns (CARs) is observed, characterized by an efficiency frontier effect where benefits diminish beyond an optimal threshold. Surprisingly, acquirers paid lower premiums for highly efficient targets, challenging conventional assumptions about efficiency valuation in M&A. The study finds that target experience and industry relatedness positively moderate the efficiency-return relationship, underscoring the importance of contextual factors in M&A success. Post-merger performance analysis yields mixed results, with improvements in certain financial metrics like profit margins and debtors' turnover, but negative impacts on fixed asset turnover and Tobin's Q for acquirers of efficient targets. These findings highlight the complexities of integrating and leveraging efficient targets' resources, suggesting that different efficiency-related practices may have varying degrees of transferability and value creation potential in M&A contexts.By empirically demonstrating the multifaceted links between efficiency and acquirer shareholder value, merger premiums, and post-acquisition performance, this thesis makes essential theoretical contributions to the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities theory, and efficiency theories in strategic management. It challenges simplistic notions of efficiency in M&A and highlights the need for more nuanced approaches to target selection, valuation, and post-merger integration. The findings have significant implications for M&A practitioners, corporate strategists, and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple, interrelated factors when assessing the potential of M&A transactions and designing integration strategies.</p
Structural empowerment and speaking up among overseas trained nurses in the United Kingdom, National Health Service
No full textStructural empowerment within workplaces plays a crucial role in enabling the overseas trained nurses' confidence to speak up against unsafe practice and be affected by adverse workplace culture. In this study levels of structural empowerment were explored utilizing the Condition for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire 2 and hypothetical vignettes to understand speaking-up practices among Overseas trained nurses.Moderate levels of structural empowerment were perceived in the domains of access to opportunity (M = 4.05; SD = 0.09) and access to information (M = 3.52; SD = 0.77). Lower levels were perceived in the domains of access to resources (M = 3.04, SD = 0.88) and access to support (M = 3.49; SD = 0.91). The majority (95.8 %) reported high levels of willingness to speak-up. Access to opportunity and information positively influenced speaking up.Nurses perceive that opportunities to gain new skills and knowledge and information about the values and goals of the organization can empower them to speak up. These areas should be developed in NHS, messages reinforced, and initiatives taken to build confidence around patient safety practices. Their perceived inadequate access to support, through feedback and guidance from co-workers and inadequate access to resources, indicates a need to optimize strategies to address these areas to maintain and enhance patient safety culture.</p
The joint effects of loneliness and interpersonal abuse on suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young adults in higher education in the United States
No full textBackgroundLoneliness and interpersonal abuse are two factors that contribute to suicide risk, but studies exploring their interactions on suicidal thoughts and behaviors are lacking. Thus, our aim was to examine potential synergies between loneliness and interpersonal abuse among young adults in higher education.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021; N = 101,744) and used multivariable logistic regression models to show the interaction between loneliness (UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale) and interpersonal abuse (verbal, physical, and/or sexual) on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidal ideation, suicide plans, suicide attempts), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, depression, anxiety, and food insecurity.ResultsThose who only reported being lonely had significantly greater odds of suicidal ideation (aOR: 3.01; 95% CI: 2.72–3.33), and those who only reported interpersonal abuse also had greater odds (aOR: 2.97; 95% CI: 2.52–3.50), when compared to those who reported neither. However, those who endorsed both loneliness and interpersonal abuse had the greatest odds (aOR: 5.65; 95% CI: 5.09–6.27), exceeding the sum of these individual effects. A similar and more pronounced pattern emerged for suicide plans and suicide attempts.ConclusionA synergy exists between loneliness and interpersonal abuse in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors among young adults in higher education.</p
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