Multi-scale attention-edge interactive refinement network for salient object detection

To improve salient object detection (SOD) based on fully convolutional neural networks (FCNs), attention and edge awareness have been used separately as a supporting mechanism for multi-level feature refinement. However, the performance advantages have not been found to be consistent across datasets, because each mechanism has its own limitations, meaning that the absence of attention or edge awareness during feature refinement leads to inaccurate predictions or blurred boundaries. This phenomenon has inspired the development of a new model to enable close interaction between attention and edges, resulting in the Multi-scale Attention-Edge Interactive Refinement Network (MAIRN) proposed in this paper. The proposed model consists of two interacting subnets to achieve not only SOD but also salient edge detection (SED), and each subnet consists of multiple interactive refinement modules cascaded in series with the Multi-scale Attention Refinement (MSAR) module proposed for the SOD subnet to provide edge-enhanced attention and the Edge Refinement (ER) module proposed for the SED subnet to provide attention-enhanced edges. Also proposed is a novel structure for Progressive Feature Concentration (PFC) to reduce information loss in feature fusion. From extensive quantitative and qualitative comparison against 24 state-of-the-art SOD models with and without incorporation of attention and edge awareness, the proposed model is shown to have the most accurate and robust SOD performance on 5 benchmark datasets. Furthermore, it stands out as one of the most computationally efficient networks in terms of the number of parameters and floating-point operations. The code and results of our method are available at https://github.com/LiangBoCheng/MAIRN

Dialectical behaviour therapy in the treatment of borderline personality disorder: a commentary

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is a psychotherapeutic intervention that was designed specifically to treat deliberate self-harm (with or without suicide intent) in women with borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT has received the most research attention compared with other psychological approaches used in the management of symptoms of BPD. This article provides a commentary on a meta-analysis of 11 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effects of DBT on self-harming behaviours and negative emotions in patients with BPD. The commentary includes a critical appraisal of the methodology used in the meta-analysis. The authors of this article conclude that although the meta-analysis provides some evidence that DBT may reduce self-harming behaviours and depression in individuals with BPD, its methodological limitations, and the high risk of bias identified within the RCTs reviewed, mean that the results should be viewed with caution

An exploration of the lived experience of receiving an unfounded frivolous complaint in the context of psychotherapy practice

There is broad consensus that the therapeutic relationship constitutes a core common factor for almost all modalities of psychotherapy and viewed as necessary and sufficient in person-centred therapy serving as a catalyst for change. However, ruptures can occur in the therapeutic relationship and at an extreme end can result in complaints, some of which may be deemed frivolous. The potential for frivolous complaints can arise for any therapist, regardless of their competence or integrity, and may come from clients, colleagues, or third parties. Frivolous complaints are defined as groundless grievances, made without merit with the intention to cause distress, damage or harassment for the recipient. Little qualitative research has been undertaken to understand the personal and professional impact of a frivolous complaint. This study was two-phased. A qualitative design was employed. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted in both phases to explore first-person lived experiences of the phenomenon. The findings were analysed from an interpretative phenomenological perspective. The aim of phase (1) was to understand the personal and professional consequences of frivolous complaints on a group of person-centred psychotherapists. The aim of phase (2) was to understand the lived experiences of a supervisor who supported a supervisee through the complaints process. The specific objectives were to highlight participants’ sense-making of receiving a frivolous complaint in the context of their personal and professional lives; how participants managed the complaint and complaints process; a supervisor’s lived experience of supporting a supervisee through the complaints process; the role of the supervisor in the complaints process. Phase (1): eight person-centred psychotherapists including three males and five females from the United Kingdom or Ireland participated in this study. Participants were aged between 50-65, with 6+ years of psychotherapy experience. A case-by-case idiographic analysis was followed by a cross-case analysis. Phase (1) findings indicated the participants experienced an unfounded frivolous complaint as causing enduring psychological and professional harm. Three themes emerged: ‘Relationships,’ ‘Ruptures,’ and ‘Resolution.’ Receiving a frivolous complaint was akin to a traumatic event and challenged personal and professional identity. Participants felt unprepared, vulnerable, anxious, self-doubting, feared judgment and stigma, experienced professional isolation, were affected by a power imbalance due to the burden of proof, faced challenges in the complaints process due to an absence of complaints management training, lacked supportive intervention, and altered their professional practice. Phase (2): a single case study focussed on a male supervisor in the 51-65 age range practising as a person-centred psychotherapist for over 20 years. The interview generated a description of his experience around supporting a supervisee during the complaints process. Phase (2) findings - four themes emerged from an idiographic analysis of the case: ‘Them and Us – Shutters Down,’ ‘Containing the Container,’ ‘Reflecting and Reasoning,’ and ‘Parallel Processes.’ Results indicated that the clinical supervisor experienced isolation, power imbalance affecting their ability to advocate for the supervisee, was disappointed in the absence of complaints management training, and lack of containment. They believed client factors impacted complaints, and their feelings mirrored that of the supervisees. Previous research tended to focus on the effects of ethical violations on mental health professionals or the complainant. The findings of this study fill a gap in knowledge and make a positive contribution to knowledge on a theoretical level by focussing specifically on the consequences of frivolous complaints in a psychotherapy context. On a practical level the results can be used to review guidance on personal and professional support, education and awareness, training and systemic improvements by streamlining investigatory complaint procedures across all accrediting bodies. It may also help foster a culture of empathy and accountability in order to re-establish emotional well-being after a complaint is made. This study builds on previous research by proposing a new framework to improve containment by providing a structured, supportive space to process emotions and foster professional growth for affected supervisors and their supervisees. The phenomenological perspective contributes to existing literature by offering new insights into the lived experience of person-centred therapists and the impact of frivolous complaints

The Role of Resistance Exercise-Induced Local Metabolic Stress in Mediating Systemic Health and Functional Adaptations: Could Condensed Training Volume Unlock Greater Benefits Beyond Time Efficiency?

The majority of “specialised” exercise configurations (e.g., supersets, drop sets, blood flow restriction) are being assessed as “shortcuts” to hypertrophy and strength improvements. However, these advanced training techniques may also offer significant benefits for systemic health and functional outcomes across recreational and clinical populations via locally induced metabolic responses. Stress-regulating mechanisms are known to enhance the body’s resilience by facilitating allostasis, the process of coordinating adaptive processes in reaction to stressors such as physical training. Yet, the role of the local metabolic stress provoked by resistance exercise has not gained much research attention despite its wide potential. Positive effects are not only linked to improved muscular endurance, hypertrophy and strength via primary and secondary mechanisms, but also to the release of myokines, hormones, microRNAs, immune factors, inflammatory substances and other endocrine molecules that initiate numerous health-promoting modifications on a systemic level. Resistance exercise strategies that maximise the local accumulation of metabolites are not well defined, although high volume, close proximity to failure and shorter rests seem to be a necessity. Additionally, blood flow restriction training provides a potent alternative for inducing local acidosis, thereby triggering several pathways associated with improved immunity and physical function even in remote muscle tissues. Future research is warranted to further explore advanced resistance training techniques, as these approaches may offer comparable benefits for physical and mental health to those seen with other forms of exercise such as high-intensity interval training and heavy resistance training

Efficacy and safety of pharmacological therapies for functional constipation in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background There has been a substantial increase in studies on functional constipation in children as new therapies are deployed. We aimed to provide an up-to-date, methodologically robust systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of pharmacological therapies for functional constipation in children. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library from inception to Feb 5, 2025. We included randomised controlled trials that involved children aged 0 years to younger than 18 years with functional constipation treated with pharmacological interventions compared with placebo, no treatment, or other interventions and with at least a 2-week follow-up period. Studies were excluded if there was no definition of functional constipation, children with organic causes for constipation or previous bowel surgery were included, children with faecal incontinence without the presence of constipation were included, or the aim of treatment was faecal disimpaction rather than maintenance therapy. Pairs of authors independently extracted summary data from published reports and critiqued studies. We assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane tool. Meta-analyses estimated risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences, and 95% CIs. Certainty of evidence was established with GRADE. Our main outcomes were treatment success (as defined by study authors), defecation frequency, and withdrawals due to adverse events. This study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022368719). Findings Our search identified 4595 articles, of which 59 randomised controlled trials were included, representing 7045 participants with functional constipation. Interventions included polyethylene glycol (n=36 studies), lactulose (n=18), magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide (n=7), picosulfate (n=1), liquid paraffin (n=4), prucalopride (n=1), lubiprostone (n=2), linaclotide (n=3), plecanatide (n=1), enemas (n=2), and domperidone (n=1). Meta-analyses for treatment success showed that polyethylene glycol was probably more effective than placebo (RR 1·74 [95% CI 1·25–2·41], moderate certainty of evidence) and may be more effective than lactulose (1·35 [1·11–1·64], low certainty of evidence). There might be no difference in treatment success for linaclotide compared with placebo (1·21 [0·69–2·13], low certainty of evidence), but linaclotide probably leads to higher defecation frequency per week (mean difference 1·10 [95% CI 0·40–1·80], moderate certainty of evidence). There is low to moderate certainty evidence that prucalopride is not more effective than placebo (RR 1·68 [95% CI 0·77 to 3·68]). Interpretation Polyethylene glycol is probably more effective than placebo and key comparator therapies and should be considered the standard of first-line care. Future studies should consider polyethylene glycol as an index therapy, and clearly describe methods, patient characteristics, and previous therapeutics. Funding None

Adolescent girls’ explanations of high rates of low mood and anxiety in their population: a co-produced qualitative study

Abstract Background From early adolescence, girls face greater risk of experiencing low mood and anxiety relative to boys, with recent evidence that this may be worsening. There is a paucity of mental health research that meaningfully progresses understanding of these gender disparities, including that engages adolescent girls’ own perspectives, limiting our ability to direct further research and enhance intervention approaches. Aims We examined low mood and anxiety from the perspective of adolescent girls, asking: What do adolescent girls perceive to be causing their population’s high rates of low mood and anxiety? Methods We adopted a co-produced qualitative design, guided by ecological systems theory, conducting focus groups in 2022 with 32 adolescent girls aged 16 to 18 years in England. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis Participants framed low mood and anxiety among adolescent girls as “normal”, and discussed potential explanations including persistent reiteration and expectation of gendered norms, intense educational pressures in ways that can be gendered, difficulties within peer relationships, and comparison and insecurity in social media contexts. Throughout, participants highlighted how complex these issues are, including nuances around individual differences, sociodemographic contexts, and societal contexts. Conclusions The study offers a critically important contribution to evidence on gendered inequalities in low mood and anxiety, drawing attention to the interwoven and complex nature of girls’ lives and illuminating various aspects that would benefit from greater research. The insights gained through exploration with girls themselves hold policy and practical relevance to enhance systems to meet girls’ needs

Investigating the Formation Mechanism of ZnO Nanoparticles using Plant Extracts: A Review

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of science that concerns the industrial use of nanoparticles (NPs), of the size ranges between 1 to 100 nm, which are classified into different classes such as inorganic, organic, ceramic and carbon-based nanoparticles. Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs is utilized in numerous applications due to their vital properties (please mention which properties, or what these properties are important for) and hence it will be the focus for this review. Because producing NPs using chemically and physically is often expensive and potentially harmful to both the environment and the user, there has been an increasing interest in using biological or green methods to produce metal and metal oxide NPs. Recently, the researchers started to utilize green synthesis methods for producing different NPs, however, the NPs formation mechanism using plant extracts are still under investigation. Consequently, more in-depth studies are needed on how NPs are formed in plant extract medium. This review is designed to highlight the most robust mechanisms of formations ZnO NPs using plant extracts and to cover the commonly used plants for synthesizing ZnO NPs over the last fourteen years. This review will also help researchers to understand the proposed formation mechanisms of the NPs synthesis using plant extracts And to identify the gaps in the knowledge in this field

Responsibilities: a Critical Legal Defence of Human Rights

For many, human rights have become a panacea for the injustices of society, for example, globalisation, poverty, discrimination, climate change. But has this rights’ ‘inflation’ been a prima facie good? Has the rise in human rights merely propounded a self-centred individualism, exacerbating large swathes of society who are already marginalised and socially excluded? Rightly, human rights have therefore been the subject of a multitude of criticisms, from a range of critical perspectives: Marxism, critical legal studies, communitarianism, feminism, critical race theory etc. However, this unique study pushes back against this tide of ‘anti-rights’, providing an original defence of human rights, from the perspective of a progressive political community of rights-holders and duty-bearers. Possessing rights might place a rights-holder at the centre of their moral universe, to the exclusion of all others, but that holder of rights cannot expect others to bear the duty of their rights without exercising the same obligation to the rights of others in return. So, far from emphasising isolation and self-interest, responsibilities arising from the exercise of rights engender a keen sense of solidarity, a principle integral to critical legal theory. The book will be of interest to academics and researchers working in the areas of Human Rights, Constitutional Law, and Legal and Political Theory

Historical context and drivers of forest cover change in Wayanad plateau: a key elephant landscape in India’s Western Ghats

Understanding the impact of past human interventions on forest ecosystems is crucial for Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) conservation, given that forest cover serves as the primary determinant of their distribution and abundance. This study aims to analyse the patterns and drivers of deforestation of the Wayanad, a key summer habitat of Asian elephants in the Brahmagiri-Nilgiri-Eastern Ghat landscape of India’s Western Ghats, spanning from pre-colonial period to the present and its implications on Asian elephants. This study integrated historical records, maps, remotely sensed images, to reconstruct the historical context of the landscape. Despite their longstanding cultural and historical significance, elephants have been subjected to significant exploitation, often serving as a tool for the exploitation of their own habitat. Demographic pressures, including population growth from 75,149 in 1901 to 817,420 in 2011, and agricultural intensification, emerged as major drivers of deforestation and habitat fragmentation. Rates of land cover change varied across periods, with the most drastic reduction occurring during the post-colonial era (1816.5 km2 in 1950 to 850.9 km2 by 2023). The loss and fragmentation of forest cover have disrupted traditional migration routes and exacerbated Human-Elephant Conflict, threatening both elephant populations and human livelihoods. This study underscores the importance of adopting a historical perspective as a valuable frame of reference for understanding current patterns and processes to improve the conservation and management of elephants in human-dominated landscapes