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Multidisciplinary approaches to the conservation of the Australian smoky mouse Pseudomys fumeus: Population genetics, captive breeding, and diet
No full textUnderstanding menstrual cycle-related symptoms and food-based management strategies in female athletes
No full textA discursive study of the IASB’s practices: The fall and rise of prudence in its conceptual framework
No full textAcademic readiness to teach electronic medical records education into pre-registration nursing programs. An integrative review
Get PDFDigital health technologies, such as Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are seen as the preferred method for patient documentation in many healthcare settings (Australian nursing and midwifery accreditation council registered nurse accreditation standards, 2019; Mollart et al., 2023). Electronic patient record systems, also known as electronic health records (EHR) or EMR can be defined as a repository of patient data that is stored in a secured electronic form, which can be accessed by multiple authorised users (Elliott et al., 2018). EMRs have been implemented globally into healthcare facilities for over a decade to assist in the reduction of patient documentation errors, improve communication amongst the multi-disciplinary team, and to improve patient safety (Wilbanks et al., 2018)
Advancing Sustainable Construction Materials: Wood and Rubber Geopolymer Masonry Mix Development
Get PDFRecycling industrial waste into construction materials is becoming a fundamental strategy, offering a hopeful path toward sustainable construction practices. This study focuses on the innovative reuse of end-of-service wood and crumb rubber to develop environmentally favorable materials. Their high availability, lightweight properties, and high-energy absorption capacity make them highly suitable as additives in masonry unit production. Furthermore, using them with sustainable binding material, such as geopolymer, enhances the overall sustainability of the masonry, facilitating rapid strength development and enhancing durability while providing increased protection against fire and weathering. The study involved the development of an optimal mix design, which can potentially be used for the production of load-bearing and non-load-bearing masonry units. This was achieved by examining various proportions of wood, as well as combinations of wood and rubber, using a partial–factorial experimental design. The results show that wood-to-binder ratios ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 can potentially be used for the production of wood–geopolymer masonry units. Additionally, a ratio of 0.3 (with 50% wood and 50% rubber) was identified as potentially suitable for producing wood and rubber-based units
Exploring Brain-Body Interactions in Parkinson’s Disease: A Study on Dual-Task Performance
Get PDFParkinson’s disease (PD) leads to impairments in cortical structures, resulting in motor and cognitive symptoms. Given the connection between brain structure deficits and physical symptoms in PD, assessing objective brain activity and body motion could provide valuable insights for PD assessment and understanding its underlying mechanisms. This study aimed to explore the connection between brain activity and body movement metrics in a group of individuals with PD and an age-matched healthy control (HC) group. The goal was to evaluate the feasibility of using brain and body motion measures for assessing PD. Participants from both groups underwent the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test under three conditions: simple TUG, cognitive dual-task TUG (CDTUG), and motor dual-task TUG (MDTUG). Key findings include: Both groups exhibited similar activation patterns in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the simple TUG, with motor performance differences observed in cadence. During CDTUG, both groups showed the highest PFC activation with more pronounced motor impairments, such as higher stride and step time. During MDTUG, the HC group exhibited significantly higher PFC activity compared to the PD group. While both groups had similar patterns of activation in PFC area while TUG and CDTUG, they showed distinct behaviour during MDTUG. These results suggest that motor and cognitive impairments in PD are more pronounced during complex activities. While MDTUG effectively differentiated between PD and HC groups, the findings indicate that both cognitive and motor dual-tasks are essential for comprehensive PD assessment
Poetry and well-being:a pilot programme to evaluate the impact of creative writing for patients in short-term and long-term rehabilitation
No full textThe value of creative writing as an adjunct to clinical treatment is well-known. Creative writing has been used successfully in a wide range of healthcare and rehabilitation settings, with people suffering from aphasia, dementia, cancer, heart attacks, depression, mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders, and dealing with pain. Poetry, in particular, has been identified as a powerful reflective tool. This project aimed to: facilitate the creation of a safe space in which participants can enjoy open discussion of written works, share readings and offer feedback; give participants the opportunity and basic skills to write expressively and creatively; evaluate whether the writing of poetry can help reframe personal narratives in a controlled setting in ways that facilitate meaningful self-reflection and improve well-being. The programme was delivered through eight face-to-face creative writing workshops, each lasting 1 hour, from February to May 2023. Fourteen participants engaged with the pilot programme. This paper discusses the practical lessons learnt regarding the staging of a programme outside an educational facility, as well as the specific dynamics of the hospital context, including creative pedagogical discoveries made in this participant-driven environment. The programme was evaluated through a survey, responses to which were overwhelmingly positive, especially in the qualitative comments. Participants welcomed the opportunity to express themselves creatively, both through oral storytelling and written work, in the safe space created during the programme. Interactions were dynamic and raised issues that were important to participants, who gave voice to the uniqueness of their experiences, helping re-establish agency.</p
Global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2050:a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Get PDFBackground: Overweight and obesity is a global epidemic. Forecasting future trajectories of the epidemic is crucial for providing an evidence base for policy change. In this study, we examine the historical trends of the global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity from 1990 to 2021 and forecast the future trajectories to 2050. Methods: Leveraging established methodology from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study, we estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among individuals aged 25 years and older by age and sex for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2050. Retrospective and current prevalence trends were derived based on both self-reported and measured anthropometric data extracted from 1350 unique sources, which include survey microdata and reports, as well as published literature. Specific adjustment was applied to correct for self-report bias. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression models were used to synthesise data, leveraging both spatial and temporal correlation in epidemiological trends, to optimise the comparability of results across time and geographies. To generate forecast estimates, we used forecasts of the Socio-demographic Index and temporal correlation patterns presented as annualised rate of change to inform future trajectories. We considered a reference scenario assuming the continuation of historical trends. Findings: Rates of overweight and obesity increased at the global and regional levels, and in all nations, between 1990 and 2021. In 2021, an estimated 1·00 billion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 0·989–1·01) adult males and 1·11 billion (1·10–1·12) adult females had overweight and obesity. China had the largest population of adults with overweight and obesity (402 million [397–407] individuals), followed by India (180 million [167–194]) and the USA (172 million [169–174]). The highest age-standardised prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in countries in Oceania and north Africa and the Middle East, with many of these countries reporting prevalence of more than 80% in adults. Compared with 1990, the global prevalence of obesity had increased by 155·1% (149·8–160·3) in males and 104·9% (95% UI 100·9–108·8) in females. The most rapid rise in obesity prevalence was observed in the north Africa and the Middle East super-region, where age-standardised prevalence rates in males more than tripled and in females more than doubled. Assuming the continuation of historical trends, by 2050, we forecast that the total number of adults living with overweight and obesity will reach 3·80 billion (95% UI 3·39–4·04), over half of the likely global adult population at that time. While China, India, and the USA will continue to constitute a large proportion of the global population with overweight and obesity, the number in the sub-Saharan Africa super-region is forecasted to increase by 254·8% (234·4–269·5). In Nigeria specifically, the number of adults with overweight and obesity is forecasted to rise to 141 million (121–162) by 2050, making it the country with the fourth-largest population with overweight and obesity. Interpretation: No country to date has successfully curbed the rising rates of adult overweight and obesity. Without immediate and effective intervention, overweight and obesity will continue to increase globally. Particularly in Asia and Africa, driven by growing populations, the number of individuals with overweight and obesity is forecast to rise substantially. These regions will face a considerable increase in obesity-related disease burden. Merely acknowledging obesity as a global health issue would be negligent on the part of global health and public health practitioners; more aggressive and targeted measures are required to address this crisis, as obesity is one of the foremost avertible risks to health now and in the future and poses an unparalleled threat of premature disease and death at local, national, and global levels. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.</p
