50716 research outputs found
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Social media:Connecting and sharing in a bushfire crisis
No full textSocial media has become an integral channel for official agencies to communicate with citizens in a natural disaster crisis and increasingly time, effort and money are being spent on improving social media strategies and practices. However, there is much less research focused on understanding how people engage with official social media content, a significant piece of the crisis communication puzzle. As the use of social media for crisis communication in natural disasters is increasing and the amount of information threatens to overwhelm people, understanding how people engage with official social media content is vital. Using quantitative content analysis, this study examined the use of Facebook by two Australian emergency response agencies during a specific bushfire event and explored how the attributes of social media content are related to user engagement with the information. The findings show that the two agencies had markedly different approaches which resulted in differences in user engagement.</p
Impact of COVID-19 on the psychological well-being of healthcare workers in India: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
No full textThis review aimed to synthesize the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers (HCWs) psychological well-being in India. During the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs internationally experienced significant negative psychological impacts. India has been particularly affected due to its limited resources, health workforce challenges, and financial constraints. Learning from the impacts of COVID-19 is important to promote strategies to support the healthcare workforce in future pandemics. A systematic review and meta-analysis were undertaken. Papers were identified from a systematic search of electronic databases from January 2020 to June 2022. Papers were included if they were published in the English language and reported the psychological well-being of HCWs in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 20 papers included in the review, 19 described cross-sectional studies and one study used mixed methods. The overall prevalence of anxiety among all HCWs was 35.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 23.2%, 49.4%). Interestingly, the subgroup analysis reported the prevalence of anxiety among other HCWs (27%) rather than doctors (26.8%) or nurses (29.2%). The prevalence of depression among all HCWs was 35.1% (95% CI 23.4%, 47.8%). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of depression was highest among other HCWs (40.3%) compared to nurses (32.8%) and doctors (26.9%). The prevalence of stress among all HCWs was 71.5% (95% CI 48.5%, 89.8%). A subgroup analysis demonstrated that the prevalence of stress was highest among doctors (70.9%), followed by other HCWs (52.3%) and lowest among nurses (38.8%). Based on the meta-analysis of all the articles included, there was a significant positive correlation between the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress with age, gender, and marital status. This systematic review demonstrates the significant pandemic impacts on the psychological well-being of HCWs in India. Understanding the differences in psychological impacts between different HCWs and associated demographic factors is important in informing interventions for future pandemic management. Providing evidence-based, comprehensive support for HCWs is crucial to safeguard their psychological well-being and promote workforce capacity during pandemic conditions
The effect of combined compression and tactile stimulation on ankle somatosensation in a lunar gravity lower limb load analog
Get PDFAnkle somatosensation appears to be negatively affected when in simulated hypogravity (gravity, 1 > g < 0). Developing countermeasures to reduce this negative effect is necessary for sensorimotor control as astronauts prepare to explore the Moon. Head-elevated supine lying has been found to be an effective method in simulating the physiological impact of hypogravity by reducing the weight-bearing capacity through the lower limbs. This study investigated whether wearing a combined compression sock with plantar textured sole (compression-tactile sock) is associated with enhanced somatosensory acuity of the lower limbs in a simulated hypogravity environment. Ankle somatosensory acuity was assessed on 55 healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 65 years (female subjects 28, male subjects 27; mean age 41 years ±14). The active movement extent discrimination assessment (AMEDA) was used to assess somatosensory acuity on participants’ non-dominant foot under four conditions: (1) upright standing in barefoot; (2) upright standing wearing compression-tactile socks; (3) simulated hypogravity (head-elevated supine position) in barefoot; and (4) simulated hypogravity (head-elevated supine position) wearing compression-tactile socks. Analysis was conducted for (i) the whole participant group, (ii) high (above-average) performers, (iii) medium (average) performers, and (iv) low (below average) performers. It was hypothesized that low performers would experience the greatest gains when wearing the sock, compared to those in barefoot. When assessing the group as a whole, AMEDA scores were significantly reduced in the simulated hypogravity (head-elevated supine) conditions when compared to upright standing conditions (p < 0.001; 3% decline when barefoot; 2.9% decline when wearing the socks). Wearing compression-tactile socks had no effect on AMEDA scores when compared to barefoot (p = 0.173). When analyzed by the performance group, somatosensory acuity was enhanced in the compression-tactile sock condition, when compared to barefoot (upright, p = 0.009, 4.7% increase; head-elevated supine, p = 0.022, 3% increase) in the low performers only. In the medium and high-performer groups, there was no difference between the compression-tactile sock conditions and barefoot conditions (p > 0.05 for all). Compression-tactile socks may be associated with enhanced somatosensory acuity in upright standing and simulated hypogravity for individuals with below-average somatosensory acuity. Further research is warranted to assess the effect of compression-tactile socks in an actual hypogravity environment to determine whether the compression-tactile socks can maintain one’s somatosensory acuity.</p
Myopia control using a modified optical defocus soft contact lens in schoolchildren-A 12-month randomised double masked control trial
No full textPURPOSE: Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lenses with +2.50 D myopic defocus reduced myopia progression by 25% in a previous randomised clinical trial (RCT). The current study aimed to evaluate if a stronger myopic defocus, +3.50 D with variable myopic defocus (DISC3.5plus), could slow myopia progression compared with single vision (SV) soft contact lenses in a 12-month RCT.METHODS: Conducted from December 2018 to January 2021, the current RCT randomly assigned myopic children to wear DISC3.5plus (n = 87) or SV (n = 80) lenses. Myopia progression and axial elongation were compared between the two groups. Analyses were performed for both enrolled and completed participants.RESULTS: For all enrolled participants, the DISC3.5plus group had significantly less myopia progression (mean difference: -0.15 ± 0.07 D, p = 0.02) and axial elongation (mean difference: 0.04 ± 0.02 D, p = 0.04) than the SV group at 6 months but not at 12 months (myopia progression: p = 0.11; axial elongation: p = 0.13). For completed participants, the DISC3.5plus group (n = 33) had reduced myopia progression at both 6 months (0.25 ± 0.07 D, p = 0.001) and 12 months (0.19 ± 0.09 D, p = 0.049) compared with the SV group (n = 40), but not in axial elongation (6 months: p = 0.16; 12 months: p = 0.32). In January 2020, the coronavirus pandemic disturbed contact lens-wearing patterns.CONCLUSION: DISC3.5plus lenses significantly slowed myopia progression and axial elongation compared with SV lenses for all enrolled participants over 6 months. The pandemic hindered longer term efficacy follow-up and sample size; thus, further investigation with more participants is needed to confirm sustained treatment effects.</p
The Relationship Between CSF1R Signaling, Monocyte-Macrophage Differentiation, and Susceptibility to Inflammatory Bowel Disease
No full textMore than 300 genomic loci have been associated with increased susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through genome-wide association studies. A major challenge in the translation of genome-wide association studies to mechanistic insights lies in connecting noncoding variants to function. For example, single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the vicinity of the gene encoding the transcription factor ETS2 on human chromosome 21 are associated with the risk of developing IBD in Europeans. The peak of SNV association lies within a distal enhancer that may regulate ETS2 transcription. The interpretation of this and many other SNV associations with IBD depends on a model linking variation in transcriptional regulation to the likelihood of developing chronic intestinal inflammation. One model for the ETS2 locus is that overexpression in monocytes is causally associated with the risk allele, which in turn leads to a hyperinflammatory state. Here we summarize evidence for an alternative mechanism focused on negative regulators of monocyte-macrophage activation. We argue that IBD susceptibility arises from dysregulation of monocyte adaptation in the intestinal milieu to form resident intestinal macrophages that are anergic to inflammatory stimuli. This process depends on signals initiated by macrophage colony–stimulating factor (CSF1) binding to its receptor (CSF1R). Within this framework, ETS2 is a myeloid-specific transcription factor, expressed in pluripotent and committed progenitors and monocytes, and is down-regulated by CSF1, in common with many genes associated with IBD susceptibility, including NOD2. ETS2 is also both a downstream target and a mediator of the CSF1/CSF1R signaling pathway. Therapeutic targeting of ETS2 and its upstream regulators has the potential to prevent CSF1-dependent monocyte differentiation toward a prorepair resident macrophage phenotype and consequently exacerbate intestinal inflammation.</p
An integration framework based on deep learning and CFD for early detection of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway
Get PDFLithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been extensively adopted in various fields, leading to a rapid increase in fire risks and accidents. Early detection of potential LIB thermal runaway has a profound influence on reducing fire risks. In this work, we proposed an integration framework based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and deep learning to detect the battery thermal runaway early enough. Firstly, a dataset of the temperature contours for the battery thermal runaway has been built. A coupled model with the convolutional neural network (CNN) and the long short-term memory neural network (LSTM) is applied to train the dataset and predict the potential fire risks of the battery pack by identifying the abnormal heat generation. The performance of the proposed model has been proven to have a maximum accuracy of 0.967. The trained model performed an 85.02 F1-score, and all the risks can be detected timely. This framework can further expand the LIB safety margin by detecting the battery thermal runaway quickly and accurately and reducing potential battery fire risks and accidents.</p
Aligning Indigenous ontologies and legislation::Resisting Western formulations of intangible heritage and values approaches
No full textMythical, slippery, shapeshifting:Grief is the Thing With Feathers transforms tragedy into literature
No full textThis short book gives voice to a family who have lost their wife and mother, and their sorrows, in an impressive example of how to write about tragedy. Critics have called it, variously, a novel, a verse novel, a prose poem, magical realism, formal experimentation, and a play for voices. Like Porter's later novels, this is a story of people on the margins, people struggling against adversities. He tells those tales in fragments, flickering images, surprising swirls of language and wit
Curating the Underlying Dynamics of Successfully Aligning Big BIM Data: A Strategic Alignment Approach
No full textThe integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and big data (i.e., big BIM data) holds transformative potential for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector by enabling data-driven decision-making and facilitating innovation. This study leverages the Strategic Alignment Model (SAM) to identify 36 Critical Success Factors (CSFs) through the Business Analytics framework, encompassing descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, to transform AEC data into actionable insights. Using the semi-structured interviews with 20 experienced practitioners, we unpack and unearth the capabilities of big BIM data in automating processes, increasing cognitive insight and enhancing cognitive engagement by effectively aligning BIM and big data strategies. The research also addresses challenges such as fragmented workflows, resistance to change, and the complexities of aligning strategies across SAM’s four domains: AEC Strategy, AEC Infrastructure and Processes, big BIM data Strategy, and big BIM data Infrastructure and Processes. The contribution of this study is threefold as we: (1) theoretically expand SAM, a well-established but underutilised model in the AEC sector, providing novel insights into its relevance for strategic alignment within the industry; (2) contextualise big BIM data attributes for practice in AEC organisations, engendering actionable guidance for aligning technical capabilities with strategic objectives; and (3) set forth an platform for future research to advance understanding of analytical techniques across different alignment perspectives