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Cortical Bone Thickness Assessment from Multi-frequency Ultrasound RF Data using a Convolutional Architecture with Multi-head Attention
Get PDFCortical bone thickness is an important predictor of bone strength and fracture risk, and accurate classification is crucial for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. The thinning of the cortical layer, indicative of compromised bone microarchitecture due to imbalanced formation and loss, underscores its significance. Nonetheless, quantifying bone thickness is challenging due to the diverse skeletal sites and subject variations in bone structure and properties.A potential solution lies in multi-frequency ultrasound assessment of cortical bone, enabling comprehensive property characterization across varying wavelengths and penetration depths. This research strives to establish a robust methodology for evaluating cortical bone thickness by leveraging a convolutional model with an attention mechanism to analyse multi-frequency ultrasound data
Dielectric Characterization of Breast Biopsied Tissues as Pre-Pathological Aid in Early Cancer Detection: A Blinded Feasibility Study
Get PDFDielectric characterization has significant potential in several medical applications, providing valuable insights into the electromagnetic properties of biological tissues for disease diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of therapeutic interventions. This work presents the use of a custom-designed electromagnetic characterization system, based on an open-ended coaxial probe, for discriminating between benign and malignant breast tissues in a clinical setting. The probe’s development involved a well-balanced compromise between physical feasibility and its combined use with a reconstruction algorithm known as the virtual transmission line model (VTLM). Immediately following the biopsy procedure, the dielectric properties of the breast tissues were reconstructed, enabling tissue discrimination based on a rule-of-thumb using the obtained dielectric parameters. A comparative analysis was then performed by analyzing the outcomes of the dielectric investigation with respect to conventional histological results. The experimental procedure took place at Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Toledo—Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Spain, where excised breast tissues were collected and subsequently analyzed using the dielectric characterization system. A comprehensive statistical evaluation of the probe’s performance was carried out, obtaining a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 81.6%, 61.5%, and 73.4%, respectively, compared to conventional histological assessment, considered as the gold standard in this investigation
District Heat Networks: Addressing Categorisation to Unlock Deployment Potential
Get PDFDistrict heating (DH) consists of substantial energy infrastructures in many urban areas around the world, which offer a significant opportunity for achieving economies of scale and increasing the energy efficiency of the built environment. Heat networks have been identified by the UK Government as an essential mechanism for decarbonising heat. However, different to other European countries, the UK heat network market is minimal, meeting only around 3% of overall heat demand. Many of these networks use Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technologies, often driven by carbon-intensive gas engines. If the UK is to achieve its netzero target, these CHP systems need to be modified or replaced with low-carbon alternatives such as heat pumps. One challenge to the growth of low-carbon heat networks in the UK relates to a lack of clarity when categorising them as either communal or district. These systems have different merits and peculiarities that affect their potential as scalable tools for decarbonisation. This paper aims to address this challenge by proposing new definitions that clearly separate district and communal concepts. This is achieved by analysing the status of heat networks in the UK and London, which is complemented by a review of current definitions available in the literature. The potential implications of misclassification to the development of DH in the UK are then discussed, with a focus on how policy needs to establish clear boundaries in order to guide the transition towards a low-carbon DH market in the UK. By addressing the issue of inconsistent categorisation and improving data accuracy, this paper serves as a foundation for future research and development efforts aimed at overcoming the barriers to the broader deployment of low-carbon heat networks in the UK
Modelling energy consumption in supermarkets to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions using EnergyPlus
Get PDFNew refrigeration system configurations and other innovating technologies in retail supermarkets need to be considered to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. In supermarkets, there is a strong interaction between the refrigerated display cases, supermarket structure, internal machinery, customers, and the store’s HVAC system. The impact of these interactions on the energy and carbon emissions of a medium sized supermarket in Paris was modelled using EnergyPlus™. The results were calibrated against a typical UK store and validated against the Paris store. The effects of applying the technologies identified to have the greatest potential to reduce carbon emissions (changing the refrigerant to R744, switching from gas to electrical heating and adding doors to chilled cabinets) were modelled. The impact of climate change on ambient temperature and the impact of changes to the grid conversion factor were predicted for the store in Paris from 2020 to 2050
Human muscle-tendon unit mechanobiological responses to consecutive high strain cyclic loading
Get PDFIn response to a mechanical stimulus, tendons have a slower tissue renewal rate compared to muscles. This could over time lead to a higher mechanical demand (experienced strain) for the tendon, especially when a high strain magnitude exercise is repeated without sufficient recovery. The current study investigated the adaptive responses of the triceps surae (TS) muscle-tendon unit (MTU) and extracellular matrix turnover-related biomarkers to repetitive high tendon strain cyclic loading. Eleven young male adults performed a progressive resistance exercise over 12 consecutive days, consisting of high Achilles tendon (AT) strain cyclic loading (90% MVC) with one leg once a day (LegT1) and the alternate leg three times a day (LegT3). Exercise-related changes in TS MTU mechanical properties and serum concentrations of extracellular matrix turnover-related biomarkers were analysed over the intervention period. Both legs demonstrated similar increases in maximal AT force (∼10%) over the 12-day period of exercise. A ∼20% increase in maximal AT strain was found for LegT3 (p<0.05) already after 8 consecutive exercise days, along with a corresponding decrease in AT stiffness. These effects were maintained even after a 48h rest period. The AT mechanical properties for LegT1 were unaltered. Biomarker analysis revealed no sign of inflammation, but altered collagen turnover and delayed increase in the collagen type I synthesis rate. Accordingly, we suggest that tendon is vulnerable to frequent high-magnitude and volume of cyclic mechanical loading, as accumulation of micro-damage can potentially exceed the rate of biological repair, leading to increased maximal tendon strai
E‐cigarette support for smoking cessation: Identifying the effectiveness of intervention components in an on‐line randomized optimization experiment
Get PDFAims, Design and Setting
The aim of this study was to determine which combination(s) of five e-cigarette-orientated intervention components, delivered on-line, affect smoking cessation. An on-line (UK) balanced five-factor (2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32 intervention combinations) randomized factorial design guided by the multi-phase optimization strategy (MOST) was used.
Participants
A total of 1214 eligible participants (61% female; 97% white) were recruited via social media.
Interventions
The five on-line intervention components designed to help smokers switch to exclusive e-cigarette use were: (1) tailored device selection advice; (2) tailored e-liquid nicotine strength advice; (3): tailored e-liquid flavour advice; (4) brief information on relative harms; and (5) text message (SMS) support.
Measurements
The primary outcome was 4-week self-reported complete abstinence at 12 weeks post-randomization. Primary analyses were intention-to-treat (loss to follow-up recorded as smoking). Logistic regressions modelled the three- and two-way interactions and main effects, explored in that order.
Findings
In the adjusted model the only significant interaction was a two-way interaction, advice on flavour combined with text message support, which increased the odds of abstinence (odds ratio = 1.55, 95% confidence interval = 1.13–2.14, P = 0.007, Bayes factor = 7.25). There were no main effects of the intervention components.
Conclusions
Text-message support with tailored advice on flavour is a promising intervention combination for smokers using an e-cigarette in a quit attempt
Investigating the impact of financial concerns on symptoms of depression in UK healthcare workers: data from the UK-REACH nationwide cohort study.
Get PDFExploration of the association between financial concerns and depression in UK healthcare workers (HCWs) is paramount given the current 'cost of living crisis', ongoing strike action and recruitment/retention problems in the National Health Service. To assess the impact of financial concerns on the risk of depression in HCWs, how these concerns have changed over time and what factors might predict financial concerns. We used longitudinal survey data from a UK-wide cohort of HCWs to determine whether financial concerns at baseline (December 2020 to March 2021) were associated with depression (measured with the Public Health Questionnaire-2) at follow-up (June to October 2022). We used logistic regression to examine the association between financial concerns and depression, and ordinal logistic regression to establish predictors of developing financial concerns. A total of 3521 HCWs were included. Those concerned about their financial situation at baseline had higher odds of developing depressive symptoms at follow-up. Financial concerns increased in 43.8% of HCWs and decreased in 9%. Those in nursing, midwifery and other nursing roles had over twice the odds of developing financial concerns compared with those in medical roles. Financial concerns are increasing in prevalence and predict the later development of depressive symptoms in UK HCWs. Those in nursing, midwifery and other allied nursing roles may have been disproportionately affected. Our results are concerning given the potential effects on sickness absence and staff retention. Policy makers should act to alleviate financial concerns to reduce the impact this may have on a discontent workforce plagued by understaffing
Doing public health differently: How can public health departments engage with local communities through social media interventions?
Get PDFObjectives
This paper evaluates a collaborative intervention between public health professionals and local social media administrators, in which the social media site Facebook was used with a view to strengthening engagement with and, dissemination of, core messages and building trust and resilience within local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study design
A qualitative design was used, exploring the research question: how does collaboration between public health professionals and local social network group administrators create community engagement during a global crisis?
Methods
Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with public health staff and online group administrators. Data was analysed using framework analysis.
Results
Collaboration between public health professionals and local group administrators created both opportunities and challenges. Local group administrators had wide reach and trust within the local community, but message credibility was enhanced through local authority involvement. Such collaborations contain inherent tensions due to perceived risks to social capital and independence but can be successful if receiving strong risk-tolerant support from the local authority. Findings are discussed in the context of Bourdieu's theory of social capital to examine how public health information can be delivered by trusted social media actors in communication tailored to the local community.
Conclusions
Social media provides new channels of communication for delivery of public health messages, enabling new ways of working which create long-term engagement and community building. Although the intervention was developed quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, participants felt it could be mobilised to address a wider range of issues
Elephant tourism: An analysis and recommendations for public health, safety, and animal welfare
Get PDFAbstract
Background and Aim: Elephants are exploited for public entertainment tourism throughout Asia and Africa. Areas of concern include public health and safety and animal welfare.
Materials and Methods: We reviewed over 500 publications and additional materials and performed a risk analysis using precautionary and preventative approaches.
Results: We identified at least 12 confirmed or potential zoonotic and other transmissible infections relevant to the elephant tourism sector, and at least 13 areas of animal welfare concern.
Conclusion: Infection and injury risks between humans and captive elephants cannot be safely controlled where close contact experiences are involved, arguably creating an unredeemable and indefensible public health and safety situation. Elephant welfare within some sectors of the close-contact interactive tourism industry continues to involve significant mistreatment and abuse. To alleviate key one health concerns outlined in this study, we recommend several types of regulation, monitoring, and control regarding interactions at the human-captive elephant interface. These include legal bans on the promotion and performance of close contact experiences, combined with strong enforcement protocols; new policies toward discouraging elephant tourism; 24/7 surveillance of captive elephants; and the adoption of independent scientific positive list systems for tourism promoters or providers regarding public observation of free-ranging elephants within national parks and protected areas
Evaluation of the Kent Serious Youth Violence Project
Get PDFThis report summarises the findings in relation to the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness over a period of two years and began in September 2020