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Conceptualisation of health among young people:A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies
Get PDFIntroduction Self-reported health is a widely used measure of general health in survey research. Qualitative studies that investigate young people’s conceptualisation of health are hard to locate and use different measures of health and sample construction. This review aims to synthesise the findings of qualitative studies that investigate how young people conceptualise their health, including during self-assessments.Methods We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (APA PsycNet), ProQuest Sociology Collection (Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts/Sociological Abstracts/Sociology Database) and Web of Science Core Collection without date restrictions. Searches were last updated on 11 March 2025. We searched the reference lists of relevant studies and conducted backward and forward citation searching. Papers reporting qualitative primary studies that focused on the conceptualisation of health among 10–24-year olds were included. We used the Quality Framework for quality appraisal and the thematic synthesis strategy for data synthesis.Results Twenty-one studies from 11 countries with a pooled sample of 1434 participants met the inclusion criteria. We developed two analytical themes: (1) ‘dimensions of health’ and (2) ‘health in context’ with eight subthemes. Factors from the physical dimension of health, such as symptoms, physical activity or diet, dominate in young people’s conceptualisation of health; these factors are also considered when responding to self-assessed general health questions in the surveys. When the survey question uses the word ‘feel’, respondents discuss elements from physical, social and mental dimensions, and their interaction in the formation of health. In some studies, young people describe health in relation to context.Conclusions This is the first systematic review of the conceptualisation of health among young people. Our findings indicate that self-reported general health questions in the surveys invite young people to focus on the physical aspects of health. Overall, young people hold a holistic conceptualisation of health. To improve the understanding of young people’s health, future research needs to focus on conceptual clarity. Different wording captures different aspects of health that need to be balanced for optimal development of young people’s health.PROSPERO registration number CRD42022367519
Behavioural difficulties in fragile X syndrome:current pharmacological options and potential future developments
Get PDFINTRODUCTION: Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent inherited form of intellectual disability and a common cause of autism spectrum disorders and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It is commonly associated with hyperarousal, anxiety, and behavioral difficulties such as agitation, self-injurious behavior and aggression.AREAS COVERED: This narrative review covers the physical, cognitive and behavioral phenotype associated with FXS and the evidence for pharmacological interventions for behavioral difficulties, including those prescribed on the basis of symptoms and those aimed at the pathophysiological mechanisms of FXS ('targeted' interventions). Consideration is then given to the evidence for novel targeted treatments currently in later stages of clinical development.EXPERT OPINION: The first-line management of behavioral difficulties are non-pharmacological interventions and there are only a few studies in FXS to guide pharmacological approaches. Identification and management of anxiety and ADHD, which contribute to behavioral difficulties, are important steps before considering antipsychotic treatment for agitation, aggression or self-injurious behavior. The evidence for repurposed targeted treatments remains based on small RCTs or open-label studies; therapeutic trials of these interventions therefore need close monitoring. Multiple novel medications are in clinical development; genetic therapies remain preclinical but are likely to be important in the coming years.</p
Understanding Repetitive Behaviours:A clinical and cost-effectiveness, multi-site randomised controlled trial of a group for parents and carers of young autistic children
Get PDFRestricted and repetitive behaviours vary greatly between autistic people. Some are a source of pleasure or create opportunities for learning; others may be detrimental in day-to-day life or cause harm. We have developed, in close collaboration with parents/carers, the Understanding Repetitive Behaviours programme, designed for families of young autistic children, to help them recognise, understand and respond sensitively to their child's impactful restricted and repetitive behaviours. This study is a clinical and cost-effectiveness, multi-site randomised controlled trial of the Understanding Repetitive Behaviours parent programme versus a psychoeducation programme (equivalent to current best practice), learning about autism. Participants were parents/carers, with an autistic child aged between 3-9 years and 11 months. The study was delivered across three sites in England and Scotland. Analyses were completed using intention-to-treat principles. Two hundred and twenty seven families were randomised (113 in LAA; 114 in Understanding Repetitive Behaviours arm). No differences were found between the arms on the primary outcome measure (The Clinical Global Impression - Improvement scale). Analysis of secondary outcomes indicated that children in the Understanding Repetitive Behaviours arm were more likely to be rated as responders in target impactful restricted and repetitive behaviours at 24 weeks but that this effect was not maintained at 52 weeks. Improvements in parent and family functioning were apparent, with no evidence of differences between the arms. The study reconfirms that it is important that clinicians consider both restricted and repetitive behaviours and social communication needs of autistic children with parents when planning appropriate support.Lay abstractAutistic children, frequently repeat the same behaviours over and over, have specific interests or like things to stay the same. These behaviours and interests are often fun and helpful. However, sometimes they can impact negatively on day-to-day life or put the child at risk of harm. Working closely with parents of autistic children, we developed an 8-week programme (Understanding Repetitive Behaviours) to help them recognise and understand these behaviours. This study aimed to find out whether the understanding repetitive behaviour programme was helpful and good value for money. Two hundred and twenty seven families were allocated by chance to receive either Understanding Repetitive Behaviours or a learning about autism programme. When experts made judgements about whether children showed positive changes across various measures, and these were analysed, there were no differences between the programmes. However, parents who attended the Understanding Repetitive Behaviours programme reported improvement in one of their child's specific repetitive behaviour (selected to be the main focus of the Understanding Repetitive Behaviours programme) at 24 weeks after the end of the programme. Parents who attended either programme reported more confidence, greater wellbeing and less stress up to 1 year after the end of the study.</p
An integrative network approach for longitudinal stratification in Parkinson’s disease
Get PDFParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms resulting from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Currently, there is no cure for the disease which is in part due to the heterogeneity in patient symptoms, trajectories and manifestations. There is a known genetic component of PD and genomic datasets have helped to uncover some aspects of the disease. Understanding the longitudinal variability of PD is essential as it has been theorised that there are different triggers and underlying disease mechanisms at different points during disease progression. In this paper, we perform longitudinal and cross-sectional experiments to identify which data modalities or combinations of modalities are informative at different time points. We use clinical, genomic, and proteomic data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative. We validate the importance of flexible data integration by highlighting the varying combinations of data modalities for optimal stratification at different disease stages in idiopathic PD. We show there is a shared signal in the DNAm signatures of participants with a mutation in a causal gene of PD and participants with idiopathic PD. We also show that integration of SNPs and DNAm data modalities has potential for use as an early diagnostic tool for individuals with a genetic cause of PD
Reversible addition of ethene to gallium(i) monomers and dimers
Get PDFReversible interactions of organic substrates with transition metal compounds are a hallmark of their chemistry and its catalytic applications, but remain uncommon for low-valent p-block compounds. We report here the preparation of amidophosphine-supported gallium(i) compounds that exhibit equilibria between monomeric gallylene and dimeric digallene (Ga = Ga) states. The monomer-dimer equilibrium is controlled by the steric and electronic properties of the phosphine donor in the ligand employed. Regardless of their preference for monomeric or dimeric state, reactions of the Ga(i) systems with B(C6F5)3 affords monomeric gallylene adducts, whilst reactions with ethene produce 1,2-digallacyclobutanes via formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions. These ethene additions are reversible, with the digallacyclobutanes releasing ethene upon heating or treatment with Lewis acids to regenerate the gallium(i) species.</p
Microbially Derived P═S and P═Se Bond Formation
Get PDFMicrobial metabolism is a diverse and sustainable source of synthetic reagents that can be programmed for controlled and high-level production via synthetic biology. However, despite the chemical diversity of metabolism, the chemical utility of metabolites, and the available tools to control metabolic chemistry, there remain few examples of the use of cellular metabolites directly for chemical synthesis. Herein, we report that diverse bacteria perform P═S bond formation (Ph3P to Ph3PS) via central sulfur metabolism and nonenzymatic chemistry in vivo, which can also be applied to affect microbial P═Se bond formation (Ph3PSe). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first biochemical and genetic investigation of P═S bond formation in a microbial cell and the first use of microbial metabolites for P═Se bond formation in chemical synthesis
Constructing the Lie Algebra of Smooth Vector Fields on a Lie Group in Isabelle/HOL
Get PDFThis paper describes a formal theory of smooth vector fields, Lie groups and the Lie algebra of a Lie group in the theorem prover Isabelle. Lie groups are abstract structures that are composable, invertible and differentiable; they are useful in the study of continuous transformations in fields such as particle physics and robotics. The formalisation of this theory in an interactive theorem prover poses challenges beyond those encountered in textbook developments. We comment on representational choices we made to integrate involved concepts, such as smoothness of vector fields, with the simple type theory of higher-order logic (HOL) and existing material in Isabelle/HOL
Symbolic boundaries in a nascent professional accounting field
Get PDFExisting research on professional fields highlights how these are riven by various symbolic boundaries. Boundaries have been noted along lines of knowledge, expertise and morality, although many of these are epiphenomena of size. However, the majority of these insights have been generated by looking at the empirical contexts of North America or Western Europe. It remains less clear to what extent such boundaries are evident in relatively new professional fields found in emerging economies. To partially redress this imbalance in existing scholarship, this study reports on an in-depth empirical study into a relatively under researched context–Latvia. It explores what epistemic and moral boundaries are evident in the accounting field in Latvia and how these are contested. We identify a greater multitude of epistemic and moral boundaries than have previously been identified by literature on the professions. Additionally, we illustrate how these boundaries have strong temporal dimensions which are a unique feature of the Soviet legacy that persists in Latvia. The paper thus advances a concept of a profession that is less a coherent grouping of segments in movement that serve different functions and more a chaotic constellation of different factions, each actively contesting the legitimacy of the other.</p
Experimental investigation of thickness effects in the manufacture of thick-section composite structures using liquid thermoplastic resin
Get PDFThick-section composites (10–100 mm) are increasingly used in structurally demanding applications. Growing interest in sustainable alternatives has driven the development of recyclable, room-temperature-processable liquid thermoplastic resins to replace thermosets in vacuum-infused composites. However, managing the thermal effects of polymerisation to avoid boiling and defects remains a challenge in thick-laminate manufacturing . While low-exotherm grades are available, their behaviour in thick laminates remains poorly understood. This study examines the exothermic polymerisation of Elium® 188 XO, a low-exotherm thermoplastic resin, in laminates with thicknesses of 9.5 mm, 17.9 mm and 26.4 mm. Process times are presented to support implementation. Using five embedded thermocouples, maximum temperatures of 86.5°C, 92.6°C and 93.9°C were recorded, all remaining below the resin’s boiling point. The results indicate a progressive increase in interlaminar temperature with increasing laminate thickness. Ambient-temperature-adjusted data showed peak increases of 2.7°C and 3.1°C between successive laminate thicknesses. These findings provide critical insights into polymerisation behaviour, informing process optimisation and industrial adoption
Pricing algorithms and the Artificial Intelligence Act:Navigating unchartered waters between competition law and the mainstream regulation of autonomous technologies
Get PDFThis article considers the nature and implications of pricing algorithms for EU competition law and discusses these issues in light of the broader debate concerning the regulation of AI in the Internal Market. It argues that as AI-driven pricing systems become increasingly complex and autonomous, competition law might not be able to address the full array of implications that these technologies have for the healthy functioning of the market. The article questions whether the general rules governing Artificial Intelligence in the Internal Market, namely Regulation No 2024/1689 (also known as the EU AI act) might provide an answer to these questions. It argues that to consider pricing algorithms as bearing low or no risks for the EU values (including the protection of fundamental rights) might not always be justified and suggests that the implications of these technologies for the objectives at the core of the EU AI Act should be carefully considered. The article calls for the risk management and accountability regime that the AI Act provides for high-risk AI systems to be extended to those pricing algorithms which, due to their complexity, opacity and autonomy, can adversely affect competition, to ensure the effective protection of the internal market
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