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Black ice and broken bridges:A Scottish perspective on Tindall v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police
Get PDF“Pure omissions” do not give rise to liability in the law of negligence. Consequently there is, as a rule, no common-law duty to intervene in order to protect others against hazards that were not of the defender's creation. In the recent English case, Tindall v Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, the Supreme Court has confirmed the restrictive scope of duty, even on the part of members of the rescue services whose very job it is to assist persons in danger. There are limited exceptions to this general principle, however, and Tindall provides useful guidance on their scope, but areas of uncertainty remain. In that connection Tindall invites reconsideration of the Outer House case of Gibson v Orr. Gibson, like Tindall, involved the inadequate response of police officers attending an emergency, but unlike in Tindall, the police officers in Gibson were found to have breached a duty of care to those subsequently injured
Translation, adaptation and measurement properties of the muscle-strengthening exercise questionnaire among university students in Indonesia
Get PDFObjectives Despite the abundant evidence showing the benefits of muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE), no epidemiological tool is available for assessing MSE among Indonesian university students. This study is the first to adapt the Muscle-Strengthening Exercise Questionnaire (MSEQ) from its original English version into another language, specifically Indonesian, incorporating cultural adaptations and to pilot test it to assess its validity and reliability among university students in Indonesia. Design Translation and cultural adaptation, content validity studies, concurrent validity studies and reliability studies were conducted following COnsensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement INstruments guidelines. Content validation, conducted with three experts and nine university students, informed the development of the MSEQ Indonesian version. The concurrent validity study compared the results of measuring MSE frequency, intensity, duration and volume with those of the 7-day diary and relative handgrip strength with 22 respondents for concurrent validity against subjective measurement and 70 respondents for concurrent validity against objective measurement. For the reliability study, 39 respondents were asked to fill the MSEQ Indonesian version twice with a time interval of 7 days. Settings and participants The study involved 143 participants, including experts and university students from three universities across two different islands in Indonesia. Results Single administration MSEQ, consecutive administration MSEQ and 7-day diary recording resulted in 0%, 33.8% and 68.5% dropout rate, respectively. Moderate-to-strong correlations were observed between the results for the weekly frequency, duration, intensity and volume of MSE and those of the 7-day diary and hand grip strength. Test-retest reliabilities were good to excellent for machine weight, holistic and overall MSE but poor for bodyweight MSE. In assessing the target muscle group, the MSEQ Indonesian version showed good test-retest reliability for machine-weight MSE but poor-to-very good test-retest reliability for bodyweight, free weight and holistic MSE. Conclusions Our study demonstrated the acceptable validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the MSEQ for assessing MSE among university students in Indonesia, not only by comparing each dimension of MSE with subjective measures but also by comparing MSE volume with objective measures. To enhance the generalisability of these findings, future studies should assess the MSEQ Indonesian version in diverse adult populations by considering dropout rates found by our study, ensuring its broader applicability and sample size adequacy.</p
Identifying hotspots of S. haematobium infection following praziquantel treatment during multiple annual mass drug administration campaigns in Zimbabwe
Get PDFUrogenital schistosomiasis is contracted from the Schistosoma haematobium parasite and is treated with the drug praziquantel (PZQ). Despite MDA interventions, persistent hotspots (PHS) of S. haematobium infection have been identified in multiple schistosome endemic African countries but have yet to be characterised in Zimbabwe. This study assessed long-term infection persistence and variability in praziquantel (PZQ) efficacy among school-aged children (6-15 years) in 29 districts of Zimbabwe, using data from MDAs conducted between 2012 and 2017. Metrics included infection prevalence, mean egg count, and treatment efficacy indicators. Two hotspot definitions were applied: (i) prevalence-based persistent hotspots (PPHS), identified by limited reduction or rebound in prevalence; and (ii) efficacy-based persistent hotspots (EPHS), defined by cure rates below 70%. Statistical comparisons between hotspot and non-hotspot ("responder") districts used regression models, Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U tests. Analyses revealed four PPHS and six EPHS. PPHS districts exhibited significantly higher baseline prevalence and infection intensity compared with responders (P = 0.043), a pattern not observed for EPHS. Greater distance from freshwater sources was associated with EPHS occurrence (P = 0.016), although this appeared to be an indirect effect of initially high infection intensities. Lower treatment frequency correlated with increased hotspot occurrence, but the relationship was not statistically significant for either hotspot category. Other investigated factors including treatment coverage, timing of drug administration and ecological suitability for intermediate host snails showed no significant association with hotspot status. The elevated initial prevalence and infection intensity in PPHS suggest these indicators could be used for early hotspot identification, enabling targeted adjustments in intervention strategies. The findings underscore the limitations of relying solely on preventive chemotherapy in high-transmission settings. Integrating complementary measures such as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions and snail control may improve outcomes, particularly in hotspot areas. In conclusion, the persistence of S. haematobium hotspots in Zimbabwe highlights the need for adaptive, integrated control approaches aligned with the WHO's 2030 roadmap. Monitoring baseline epidemiological indicators could facilitate earlier detection of persistent transmission foci, guiding more effective and sustainable schistosomiasis control.</p
A systematic review of the prevalence of disordered eating in fitness professionals
Get PDFDisordered eating (DE) is becoming increasingly prevalent, and fitness professionals may be at elevated risk due to profession-specific pressures such as increased physique-focus and emphasis on exercise. This review aimed to synthesise existing evidence surrounding the prevalence of DE amongst fitness professionals. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) process. The databases Ovid (EMBASE, MEDLine, PsycINFO), CINAHL, Prospero, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest were searched for studies published between 2004 and 2024. Studies were included if they assessed for DE in fitness professionals using a DE assessment instrument with specific cut-off scores. A total of nine studies, represented in 14 articles were included in the review. High levels of DE were evident amongst fitness professionals (personal trainers, group fitness instructors). Personal trainers exhibited higher rates compared to other fitness professionals, whilst high-performance coaches showed the lowest. Methodological inconsistencies, such as variation in assessment tools and small sample sizes reduce the generalisability of findings. However, findings suggest that DE is a concern amongst fitness professionals and should be addressed by appropriate education and screening programmes
Mainstreaming female genital schistosomiasis to ensure it is not neglected among the neglected tropical diseases
Get PDFFemale genital schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected manifestation of Schistosoma haematobium infection, affecting an estimated 56 million women in sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterized by lesions in the genital tract, leading to symptoms like pain, infertility and an increased risk of HIV transmission. Despite its prevalence, FGS remains underdiagnosed and underreported due to limited awareness and diagnostic capabilities. Current knowledge emphasizes the need for integrated approaches combining diagnosis, treatment with praziquantel and education. There are ongoing efforts to integrate FGS services into women’s sexual and reproductive services, yet to date many African countries lack programmatic guidance to achieve this. More comprehensive integration and mainstreaming of FGS prevention, control and treatment across various sectors is needed to ensure intersectoral collaboration and financing of programmes. This review examines the various intervention tools currently available to achieve FGS integration in health systems. These include water, sanitation and hygiene improvements, environmental management, health education and inclusion of preschool-aged children in national schistosomiasis control programmes. Highlighted are also the required diagnostic and therapeutic tools, preventive interventions, effective policy and sustainable funding, all integral to achieving comprehensive FGS mainstreaming
“Mic drop”: On estimating the size of sub-mm droplets using a simple condenser microphone
Get PDFThe size distribution of aerosol droplets is a key parameter in a myriad of processes, and it is typically measured with optical aids (e.g., lasers or cameras) that require sophisticated calibration, thus making the measurement cost intensive. We developed a method to indirectly measure the size of small droplets using off-the-shelf < $1 electret microphones. In this method, we exploit the natural oscillations that small droplets undergo after impacting a flat surface: by allowing droplets to land directly on a microphone diaphragm, we record the impact force they exert onto it and calculate the complex resonant frequencies of oscillations, from which their size can be inferred. To test this method, we recorded the impact signals of droplets of varying sizes generated by a pipette and extracted the resonant frequencies that characterize each signal. Various sources of uncertainty in the experiments led to a range of frequencies that can characterize each droplet size, and hence a data-driven approach was taken to estimate the size from each set of measured frequencies. We employed a simple setting of neural network and trained it on the frequencies we measured from impact of droplets of prescribed radius. The network was then able to predict the droplet radius in the test group with an average error of 2.7% and a maximum of 8.6% relative to the pipette nominal values. These results, achieved with a data set of only 320 measurements, demonstrate the potential for reliable size-distribution measurements via a simple and inexpensive method
Shaping current European mitochondrial haplogroup frequency in response to infection: the case of SARS-CoV-2 severity
Get PDFMulti‐Year Ice Dynamics at Køge Bugt Central Glacier Controlled by Bed Topography
Get PDFKøge Bugt Central (KBC) is Greenland's fourth largest outlet glacier in terms of ice discharge. However, the drivers behind its substantial multi-year variations in ice dynamics remain unknown. In this study, we use remotely sensed data sets of ice surface velocity, ice surface elevation, ice discharge, and terminus position, in combination with modeled estimates of surface runoff and ocean thermal forcing, to explore variations in its ice dynamics between 2016 and 2024. Our results indicate that KBC functions as a self-organizing system, whereby an underlying bedrock ridge serves as a critical pinning point around which it oscillates. Terminus retreat occurs when the glacier reaches a super-critical state, with strong evidence for buoyancy-driven calving observed. Whilst KBC is currently stabilized by the bedrock ridge, sustained thinning will eventually remove this critical control on ice flow, likely initiating a fundamental shift in ice dynamics and rendering KBC more susceptible to future climatic change
The fate of boron isotopes in olivine after serpentine dehydration and fluid exposure
Get PDFThe isotopic ratio of boron in metamorphic and metasomatic olivine can shed light on its origin and fluid sources, but this data cannot be interpreted without understanding the isotopic fractionation of boron between different phases as a function of physical conditions. In this work we use ab-initio Density Functional Theory to calculate relative isotopic fractionation factors for 11B and 10B in a variety of phases (βolivine, βantigorite and βfluid) at a variety of pressures and temperatures relevant to dehydration of serpentinites, and derive values for Δ11Bolivine-fluid and Δ11Bolivine-antigorite. We consider new variables (pressure and boron concentration [B]) and new defect sites in olivine and antigorite. We show that fractionation in olivine and serpentine is complex and cannot be considered solely with trigonal/tetrahedral sites and that the effects of pressure and [B] cannot be discarded. For olivine produced by subduction-related antigorite serpentine dehydration we predict that it largely preserves the original B isotopic composition of the solid and that Δ11BOl-Srp is generally close to 0. Δ11BOl-fluid is large (> −3 to −17‰) and so exposure to metasomatic fluids can overwrite the B isotopic signature of olivine. Variations in these values are controlled primarily by two interrelated key parameters, fluid pH and depth. Boron isotopic systematics in metamorphic olivine are thus predicted to largely be records of internal and external fluid exposures, and the depth of this exposure. Serpentinite material will largely preserve its B isotope signature during subduction dehydration and potentially introduce anomalous material into the deeper mantle, whilst initial isotopic heterogeneities may be reduced by fluid circulation accompanying serpentinite dehydration
Nucleosome interaction of the CPC secures centromeric chromatin integrity and chromosome segregation fidelity
Get PDFThe chromosomal passenger complex (CPC; Borealin-Survivin-INCENP-Aurora B kinase) ensures accurate chromosome segregation by orchestrating sister chromatid cohesion, error correction of kinetochore-microtubule attachments, and spindle assembly checkpoint signaling. Correct spatiotemporal regulation of CPC is critical for its function. Phosphorylations of histone H3 Thr3 and histone H2A Thr120 and modification-independent nucleosome interactions involving Survivin and Borealin contribute to CPC centromere enrichment. However, how various nucleosome binding elements collectively contribute to CPC centromere enrichment at the mechanistic level, and whether CPC has any non-catalytic role at centromere remain open questions. Combining the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of a CPC-bound H3Thr3ph nucleosome with atomic force microscopy and biochemical and cellular assays, we demonstrate that CPC employs multipartite interactions, which facilitate its engagement with nucleosome acidic patch and the DNA entry-exit site. Perturbing the CPC-nucleosome interaction compromises chromatin protection against MNase digestion in vitro, and centromeric chromatin stability and error-free chromosome segregation in cells. Our work suggests a non-catalytic chromatin-stabilizing role of CPC in maintaining centromeric chromatin features critical for kinetochore function
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