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Securing future healthcare environments in a post-COVID-19 world: moving from frameworks to prototypes
Get PDFThe deployment of Internet of Things platforms as well as the use of mobile and wireless technologies to support healthcare environments have enormous potential to transform healthcare. This has also led to a desire to make eHealth and mHealth part of national healthcare systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the requirement to do this in order to reduce the number of patients needing to attend hospitals and General Practitioner surgeries. This direction however has resulted in a renewed need to look at security of future healthcare platforms including information and data security as well as network and cyber-physical security. There have been security frameworks that were developed to address such issues. However, it is necessary to develop a security framework with a combination of security mechanisms that can be used to provide all the essential security requirements for healthcare systems. In addition, there is now a need to move from frameworks to prototypes which is the focus of this paper. Several security frameworks for eHealth and mHealth are first examined. This leads to a new reference model from which an implementation framework is developed using new mechanisms such as Capabilities, Secure Remote Procedure Calls and a Service Management Framework. The prototype is then evaluated against practical security requirements
Social Democratic Criminology by Robert Reiner [Book review]
No full textSocial Democratic Criminology by Robert Reiner (Routledge, 2021, 18XXpp, £34.99 pbk)
Reviews by Vincenzo Ruggiero, Wayne Morrison and Jo Phoenix, with a response from Robert Reine
Linking human capabilities with livelihood strategies to speed poverty reduction: evidence from Rwanda
Get PDFAcute land scarcity in Rwanda limits poor people’s ability to accumulate and move out of poverty. Options for livelihood diversification are restricted by the absence of a vibrant and job-rich non-farm rural economy, and by high rural-urban inequality which makes the urban economy somewhat inaccessible, particularly given the regulated nature of the urban informal sector, limiting opportunities for migration. Competition for employment is made more challenging by low capabilities, which place high-return jobs beyond reach for many poor people. This paper relies on mixed methods research to explore a land-education-jobs nexus and identify the linked human capital and livelihood determinants of poverty escapes to understand the factors slowing poverty reduction in Rwanda. The quantitative analysis uses three waves of nationally representative panel data between 2010/11 and 2016/17 to investigate correlates of poverty trajectories. The qualitative analysis uses content analysis to explore life histories, focus group discussions and key informant interviews from 14 study sites to explore factors driving change in livelihoods and well-being.
Our findings show that the triple challenges of acute land scarcity, low capabilities and a sluggish non-farm economy lock together to form a nexus which limits sustained poverty escapes. In the regression analysis, households headed by primary school graduates are half as likely to be poor as those headed by a primary school dropouts while secondary completion or higher virtually eliminates the risk of poverty. Despite demand, secondary school completion in the fieldwork is beyond the reach of most children from poor households, limiting their later options for livelihood diversification. Near landlessness constrains accumulation and Rwanda’s thin rural non-farm economy provides few jobs or opportunities for self-employment.
Rebooting poverty reduction in Rwanda particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic will require finding ways to sustain poverty escapes through fuelling job-rich ‘growth from below’ by generating additional demand in the rural economy, continuing to boost agricultural productivity and including even the poorest peasant farmers in that, creating a more conducive business environment for small enterprises and continuing to stimulate investment in job-rich enterprise. Underpinning these strategies should be strengthened efforts to enhance capabilities, education quality, and progression into secondary education
High removal efficiencies of antibiotics and low accumulation of antibiotic resistant genes obtained in microbial fuel cell-constructed wetlands intensified by sponge iron
No full textUsing microbial fuel cells with constructed wetlands (MFC-CWs) for eliminating antibiotics has recently attracted extensive attention. However, antibiotic removal efficiencies in MFC-CWs must be enhanced, and the accumulation of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) remains an unmanageable issue. This study tries to enhance the antibiotic removal in synthetic wastewater and reduce ARGs by adding sponge iron (s-Fe ) and calcium peroxide to the anode and cathode of MFC-CWs, respectively, and/or simultaneously. The results demonstrated that adding s-Fe and calcium peroxide to MFC-CWs could improve the removal efficiencies of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and tetracycline (TC) by 0.8-1.3% and 6.0-8.7%. Therein, s-Fe also significantly reduced 84.10-94.11% and 49.61-60.63% of total sul and tet genes, respectively. Furthermore, s-Fe improved the voltage output, power density, columbic efficiency, and reduced the internal resistance of reactors. The intensification to the electrode layers posed a significant effect on the microbial community composition and functions, which motivated the shift of antibiotic removal, accumulation of ARGs and bioelectricity generation in MFC-CWs. Given the overall performance of MFC-CWs, adding s-Fe to the anode region of MFC-CWs was found to be an effective strategy for removing antibiotics and reducing the accumulation of ARGs. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Research and evidence for environmental health policy and practice
No full textThis chapter is therefore written as an introductory guide to research for EH professionals, students, and policy makers. By developing knowledge it is hoped the practitioner will feel more confident navigating the world of research; motivated towards making their own work more evidence based; and enthused about contributing to the evidence base from which others can learn. This chapter is not a research methods textbook, a step by step guide to research or evidence based environmental health, nor does it seek to make definitive statements about these complex areas. However it highlights the most important issues regarding research in environmental health, considers the importance of research to the environmental health profession and provides useful signposts towards further resources
Mitochondrial genome divergence supports an ancient origin of circatidal behaviour in the Anurida maritima (Collembola: Neanuridae) species group
Get PDFAnimals of the intertidal zone tolerate substantial environmental fuctuations. Survival under such unstable conditions requires specifc adaptations. Several intertidal species have evolved endogenous mechanisms that follow tidal rhythms permitting behavioural alignment with periodic inundation. For example, aggregation behaviour in the springtail Anurida maritima (Guérin-Méneville, 1836) (Collembola: Neanuridae) is controlled by a free-running clock with a period of~12.4 h.
This cosmopolitan species is found in the upper intertidal zone where it forages during low tide. Before high tide, specimens aggregate in cracks in the substrate or under rocks to survive inundation. Here we report that the closely related intertidal species Anurida bisetosa Bagnall, 1949, displays a similar endogenously controlled circatidal behaviour. To obtain a minimum age estimate for this shared derived trait, we sequenced the full mitochondrial genome of A. bisetosa, which was then used for phylogenetic inference and molecular dating. The mitochondrial genomes of A. maritima and A. bisetosa are highly divergent. This divergence extends throughout the whole mitochondrial genome and is mirrored by a similar pattern in the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region. Dating analyses suggest the species potentially split more than 40 million years ago. Under the assumption that the endogenously-controlled rhythmic behaviour evolved once in an ancestor of the two species, the trait must be of older age. Use of a single genetic marker and a limited number of fossil calibration points constrains accuracy of the age estimate, but nevertheless, it ofers a glimpse at otherwise ‘intangible’ palaeoecological and palaeoethological attributes
Fly me to the moon: from corporate branding orientation to retailer preference and business performance
Get PDFPurpose – The airline aviation industry is both capital-intensive and competitive. Hence, the evolution of the sector needs original marketing strategies. To study the relationships between corporate branding and corporate image, taking into account two views, namely, corporate strategy and corporate expression in airline identity, this research aims to analyze the main indicators of the corporate branding that affect the outcomes of the corporate image.
Design/methodology/approach – In order to inspect the theories, the foundational configural model was assessed through the perceptions of 395 employees in Indian aviation companies. By employing complexity theory, this study matched the concept of equifinality, and it examined the data via a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis.
Findings – Findings show that corporate strategy positively influences corporate image and corporate expression. The corporate expression offers the verbal and visual facets of a brand. Surprisingly, the paper shows that there is no link between corporate expression and corporate image. It also suggests that corporate expression, including corporate community, corporate promise, and corporate personality, are all components of a corporate brand and do not influence the corporate image. Finally, the study highlights that corporate image positively affects superior business performance, which influences superior retailer preference.
Research limitations/implications - Our study identifies the corporate identity’s indicators (corporate strategy and corporate expression) that affect the corporate image, which results in stronger, superior business performance and retailer preference. It suggests that managers in the airline industry should follow the recommendations of this research by adopting more objective and fairer procedures to attain superior business performance and retailer preference. In addition, the continued growth and the financial impact of the airline sector require the use of pioneering branding strategies. Future study is needed in various nations to advance the generalizability of the research findings.
Originality/value – The paper is the first to study corporate brand, its sub-dimensions (corporate strategy and corporate expression), and their individual links to brand image, which involves experience, relationships, and visual identity
Examining customer's intention to rely on online reviews
Get PDFThe use of online reviews among online shoppers has increased significantly in recent years and has reduced uncertainty and risks associated with online shopping. The objective of this research is to identify the segment of online shoppers relying on online reviews. Consumers were classified based on their shopping motivation, trait and online behavior. A quantitative survey involving 375 Indian online shoppers were performed to identify and understand their reliance of online reviews. The findings show that consumer with high price consciousness, value consciousness, brand consciousness and self-esteem rely on online reviews for their online purchases. On the other side consumer who are quality conscious and having online shopping anxiety don’t rely on online review. This research adds to the growing literature on consumer information theory and validates the link between consumer shopping motivation and their informational needs
Practices of strength and conditioning coaches: a snapshot from different sports, countries and expertise levels
Get PDFThis study describes the practices of strength and conditioning coaches (SCCs) from different sports, countries and expertise levels. One-hundred and fifty-six SCCs (31.9 + 8.9 years old) completed an online survey, consisting of 40 questions (36 fixed response and 4 open-ended), with eight sections: (a) background information, (b) muscular strength and power development, (c) speed development, (d) plyometrics, (e) flexibility development, (f) physical testing, (g) technology use, and (h) programming and any additional comments. Responses were received from 48 sports and 17 countries. This study provides exploratory evidence incorporating responses primarily in soccer (45%), track and field (30%), volleyball (23%), golf (17%) and tennis (17%). A Bachelor’s degree or higher were held by 99% of SCCs, of which 94% were in a sports science related field, and 71% held a strength and conditioning related certification or accreditation. Periodization strategies and physical testing were used by 94% of SCCs. The hang clean (82%), power clean (76%), and clean high pull (63%) were the most commonly prescribed Olympic Weightlifting exercises. Multiple hops/lunges (84%) were the most commonly prescribed plyometrics exercises. For open ended questions, 40% of SCCs wanted to integrate more technology into their programs, whereas, 30% of coaches believed technology will be the main future trend in strength and conditioning. SCCs from different sports, countries and expertise levels can use the information presented in this study to review their current practices and potentially provide a source of new ideas for diversifying or modifying future practices too
AnAbEL: Towards empowering people living with dementia in ambient assisted living
Get PDFAmbient assisted living aims to support the well-being of people with special needs by offering assistive solutions. Systems focused on dementia increase the autonomy of people living with dementia by monitoring their activities. Topics such as activity recognition and specific solutions such as reminders and tracking users by Global Positioning System offer great advances in user safety and help them preserve a healthier lifestyle. However, these solutions are often addressed to secondary parties, providing them activity logs or alerts, but excluding the main user, the person living with dementia. Although the primary users are taken into consideration at some design stages using user-centred design frameworks, the final products tend to not fully address user needs. This paper presents an ambient intelligent system aimed at reducing this limitation by providing reminders and advice to the person living with dementia in the first instance. The system still involves caregivers if unusual or unhealthy behaviour continues. The solution is deployed in order to be validated by professionals from London city boroughs who work in housing and dementia related services, with an emphasis on enhancing healthy lifestyles by empowering the user in the early stages of dementia with autonomy. Through continued activity monitoring in real-time, the system can provide reminders and warnings to users to keep healthy routines. Continuous monitoring provides user behaviour tracking, and the context-aware logic used involves caregivers through alerts when necessary to ensure user safety. This article describes the process followed in developing the system, and covers previous concerns and practical feedback from health professionals over the deployment of the system in a real environment. Our approach also includes a novelty indoor localization system to distinguish users and allows a more specific delivery of services in multi-occupancy scenarios