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Relationship of malnutrition and frailty on prolonged stay at the hospital in heart failure patients
Get PDFBackground: Nutritional status is a critical determinant of clinical outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), potentially contributing to adverse prognosis and suboptimal therapeutic response. Despite growing interest, the interplay between malnutrition and frailty syndrome (FS) in the CHF population remains inadequately elucidated. Aims: The study aims to evaluate the association between malnutrition risk and the presence of FS in individuals hospitalized with CHF. Methods: A total of 200 patients (mean age: 72.28 years) hospitalized due to CHF were enrolled. Data collection included retrospective analysis of medical records and application of validated instruments: the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) for nutritional evaluation and the Fried phenotype criteria for frailty assessment. Results: Based on MNA, 63.5% of participants demonstrated normal nutritional status, 35.0% were at risk of malnutrition and 1.5% were malnourished (mean MNA score: 24.25). According to the Fried phenotype, 35% were classified as pre‐frail and 65% as frail (mean frailty score: 2.67). A statistically significant association was identified between MNA score and frailty status (P < 0.05), with the highest prevalence of frailty observed in malnourished individuals (P = 0.002). No significant correlations were found between frailty and anthropometric parameters such as calf circumference (P = 0.17), arm circumference (P = 0.687) or body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.643). Conclusions: These findings highlight the clinical importance of routine, comprehensive nutritional screening in patients with CHF. Early identification and management of malnutrition may play a pivotal role in mitigating frailty and enhancing clinical outcomes in this high‐risk population
Mapping the Future of Haemato-Oncology Nursing
Get PDFThis special issue of the journal brings together research and stories about blood cancers—such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma—and the people affected by them. It looks not only at the science and treatments, but also at the human side of living with these conditions. Nurses and other healthcare professionals are playing a key role in this work. Many are leading their own research projects, finding better ways to care for patients and their families. This research is helping to guide treatments, improve recovery, and make care more personal and compassionate. The articles explore the latest treatments, the challenges people face during and after therapy, and the vital support that families and friends provide. They also shed light on what life is like once treatment ends, when the physical and emotional effects can continue for months or even years. By bringing together evidence from many studies, this special issue helps build a clearer picture of how to give the best possible care. It also highlights that nurses need ongoing training and support to meet the complex needs of people living with blood cancer
Safeguarding experiences of people in mental distress, police, and healthcare practitioners: An integrative review
Get PDFIntroduction: Globally, there is demand on police and emergency health services to respond to people in mental distress. Research at this intersect has focused on decriminalisation of people with severe mental health disorders, police custody care or interagency collaborative models. There is little understanding of the experiences of stakeholders where mental distress is not associated with a severe mental disorder or criminal offence. Aim: To determine current knowledge about safeguarding of people in mental distress supported by police and healthcare practitioners. Method: A rigorous integrative review with 10 databases was searched January 2002 to January 2024. Results: The search filtered 12,451 titles and abstracts with 41 full‐text articles appraised. Three overarching themes emerged: Safeguarding and care experiences of people in mental distress; intoxication, self‐harm and aggression; professional perspectives and responses to people in mental distress. Discussion: Experiences are varied. Whilst there is evidence of compassion, many reported negative experiences when self‐harm and intoxication are involved, inconsistent professional responses and gaps in emergency police and mental health systems. Implications for Practice: Unscheduled care and community mental health nurses have a vital role to play in identifying and influencing interdisciplinary gaps in out‐of‐hours emergency health and police processes to support people in mental distress to prevent repetitive distress cycles. This calls for an urgent re‐imagining of unscheduled care mental health pathways, Specifically, where practice gaps impact on people who are intoxicated yet do not require inpatient care. Relevance to Mental Health Nursing (for Peer Reviewers and Editors Only): People in mental distress (PiMD) who come to police attention often require an interdisciplinary response. Unscheduled care and community mental health nurses play a key role in this support. This integrative review suggests there are systems gaps and variety in mental health and policing practice for PiMD, particularly for those who are intoxicated and/or who do not need inpatient care. Some PiMD experience cyclical, and at times, undignified and unsafe care. These gaps should be addressed through service redesign and sharing of evidence across disciplines whilst listening to and responding to perspectives of those experiencing mental distress in our communities
Mel Ainscow, Developing Inclusive Schools: Pathways to Success. Routledge, 2024. isbn 9781032571430. 244 p. £29.99
Get PDFEffects of topical ozonated olive oil on lipid profile, quality of life, wound healing and glycemic control in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: a randomized controlled trial
Get PDFIntroduction: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a severe complication of diabetes, leading to infections, amputations, and reduced quality of life. Ozonated olive oil, combining ozone’s antimicrobial properties with olive oil’s biocompatibility, shows promise in chronic wound management. Limited evidence exists on its comprehensive effects in DFUs. This study evaluates its impact on wound healing, quality of life, glycemic control, lipid profiles, and inflammation. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care center in Hormozgan Province (January–December 2024) with 123 adults (aged 18–75) with type-2 diabetes and Wagner grade 1–2 DFUs. Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive daily topical ozonated olive oil (50 g/m³, 5 mL) or standard care for 4 weeks. Outcomes included wound severity (Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool [BWAT]), quality of life (Diabetes Quality of Life Questionnaire [DQOL]), glycemic control (Glycated Hemoglobin [HbA1c], Fasting Blood Glucose [FBG], Postprandial Glucose [PPG]), lipid profiles (Low-Density Lipoprotein [LDL], High-Density Lipoprotein [HDL], Triglycerides [TG], Total Cholesterol), and inflammatory markers (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein [hs-CRP], Interleukin-6 [IL-6], Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha [TNF-α]). Assessments occurred at baseline, post-intervention, and 4 weeks post-intervention. Linear Mixed Models (LMM) and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) analyzed outcomes, adjusting for baseline values. Results: The intervention group (n = 62) showed significant improvements compared to controls (n = 61). Bates-Jensen scores decreased (22.3 ± 4.5 vs. 26.1 ± 4.9, p 0.05). Conclusion: Topical ozonated olive oil significantly enhances wound healing, quality of life, glycemic control, and reduces inflammation in DFU patients. Its affordability and efficacy make it a promising adjunctive therapy. Further studies should explore long-term effects and mechanisms. It offers a scalable solution for DFU management
Model-Based Optimisation of a 10-kWp Agrivoltaic System with Semi-Transparent and Bi-Facial Panels for Enhanced Crop Yield, Energy Production and Land-Use Efficiency
Get PDFThe increasing demand for electricity and food production has intensified competition for limited land resources, necessitating innovative solutions such as agrivoltaic systems. This study investigates the optimisation of a 10-kWp agrivoltaic system that integrates bifacial and semi-transparent photovoltaic (PV) panels to improve crop yield, energy generation, and land use efficiency. PV and CROPWAT simulation tools were employed to evaluate energy output, shading effects, water use efficiency, and economic feasibility for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivation at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. The system achieved an annual energy output of 14,769.93 kWh, with a performance ratio (PR) of 81.53%. The bifacial modules leveraged albedo radiation from the ground to increase energy yield, while the semi-transparent PV panels allowed transmission of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), supporting agricultural viability. Partial shading contributed to a favourable microclimate by reducing soil and ambient temperatures by 2 to 3°C, which led to a 15 to 20% reduction in irrigation demand. The calculated Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) of 1.6 indicated a 60% improvement in land use efficiency. Techno-economic analysis confirmed strong financial viability, with a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of £0.14/kWh and a payback period of under 10 years. The system is also projected to offset 126.3 tons of CO₂ emissions over its 25-year lifespan, contributing meaningfully to climate mitigation goals. By integrating agronomic and PV modelling, the study highlights agrivoltaic systems as a scalable solution for addressing the water-energy-food nexus, particularly in land-scarce and climate-stressed regions
Blockchain as a method of cryptographic protection of big data transmitted from aircraft
No full textThe article considers the urgent problem of ensuring the security of big data transmitted from aircraft in the context of rapid development of information technologies. A new approach to cryptographic protection of information using blockchain technology is proposed, which allows to increase the efficiency of existing systems. The advantages of using blockchain to guarantee the integrity, confidentiality and availability of data transmitted from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the possibilities of integrating cryptographic algorithms with blockchain into UAV data management systems. The article also presents methods for effective encryption and decentralized data processing in order to ensure reliable protection of information from unauthorized access and modification
Advanced Cybersecurity Framework for LEO Aerospace: Integrating Quantum Cryptography, Artificial Intelligence Anomaly Detection, and Blockchain Technology
Get PDFThis study aims to enhance the security of high-speed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communication systems by developing an integrated, multi-layered security framework that addresses the limitations of current aerospace cybersecurity measures. The primary challenge lies in ensuring real-time data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity in the face of sophisticated quantum and spoofing threats. To overcome these issues, the research contribution is the design and evaluation of a unified framework that combines quantum-resistant encryption using a FACT system with a Quantis USB quantum random number generator, an LSTM encoder-decoder model for real-time anomaly detection in ADS-B messages, and a blockchain-based mechanism for immutable data logging. The methodology involves benchmarking quantum-enhanced AES against traditional encryption schemes, training the LSTM network to detect subtle anomalies in flight data, and assessing blockchain scalability under high transaction loads. Results indicate significant improvements in encryption speed and detection accuracy—demonstrating up to a 30% increase in anomaly detection performance—while also revealing challenges such as increased computational overhead and scalability limitations in blockchain implementation. The framework shows promise for practical applications in satellite communications and air traffic management, though further research is needed to optimize resource consumption and enhance system resilience under extreme operational conditions
Active online learning with remote sensing data in higher education
Get PDFThe increasing popularity of online learning has created a need for effective methods to enhance educational quality. This study addresses this need by developing and evaluating an active online learning model incorporating remote sensing data (RSD). The study included a pedagogical experiment with 181 students divided into control and experimental groups. The model included an interactive database, a web portal with tools for processing and visualizing RSD, and the implementation of active learning methods. Data were collected through testing, analysis of completed projects, and questionnaires. Quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were used to process the data. The pedagogical experiment showed that the model improved students’ average scores, increased the number of students with high levels of knowledge acquisition, and enhanced motivation. Thus, the use of RSD and active learning methods in online education is a promising approach to improve the quality of the educational process and foster students’ digital competence
Trash into Treasure: Value-Added composites from waste plastic packaging and carbon nanotubes
Get PDFThis work explores the use of low-value packaging film-based waste mixed plastics (wMP) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) to produce value-added composites. The performance of the composites is assessed through mechanical testing, UV ageing, and electrical conductivity measurement. Reinforcing wMP with 5 wt% CNT increased the tensile strength and tensile modulus by 46 % and 23 %, respectively. There were similar increases in flexural modulus (53 %), compressive strength (131 %), and compressive modulus (89 %) compared to unreinforced wMP. UV ageing for 500 h had no measurable effect on unreinforced wMP but decreased the flexural modulus of wMP/5 wt% CNT by 23 %. An average electrical conductivity of 1.65 × 10−2 S/m was measured for wMP/CNT, with unreinforced wMP showing no measurable electrical conductivity, as expected. This research provides valuable scientific insights into the application of mixed waste plastics in composites, aiding the creation of a more circular economy for plastic waste and leading to second-generation products with a wide range of potential applications
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