Tracing phosphorus from soil through mycorrhizal fungi to plants

Response to Spohn & Wanek (2025): ‘Quantifying element fluxes using radioisotopes

Barriers and Facilitators to implementation of the Free Water Protocol in the acute stroke unit setting: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review

Free Water Protocols (FWP) give patients at risk of aspiration the option to drink water between meals. Evidence is lacking about their use in acute stroke care. This systematic review evaluated the literature about barriers and facilitators to FWP implementation in acute stroke unit settings. Electronic databases and grey literature sources were systematically searched, eligible studies were critically appraised, and data extracted and mapped onto the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The results are presented in a narrative synthesis. Five studies were identified for inclusion: Two qualitative studies, 1 mixed method study, 1 randomised controlled trial and 1 pilot cohort study. Barriers and facilitators to implementation were identified across the 5 CFIR domains. Key barriers were a lack of evidence base and a standard protocol, trying to adapt and deliver a protocol designed for a different setting, complexity of patient selection and FWP design, culture of risk aversion, nursing staff availability and skills to deliver the FWP, and a greater use of agency nurses and transient workforce. Key facilitators were the existence of national guidance for research into its use, implementation of oral care protocols prior to FWP implementation, the unique characteristics of the acute stroke setting, leadership and modelling by senior clinicians, interdisciplinary working and accountability for roles and responsibilities for each discipline, regular communication and ongoing education, and involving patients in decision making and implementation. The findings of this review will guide the data collection of a feasibility study of the FWP in acute stroke

Preparing to deliver a stepped wedge cluster-randomised trial to test the effectiveness of daily symptom tracking integrated into electronic health records for managing rheumatoid arthritis: a mixed-methods feasibility trial

We sought to assess the feasibility of a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial testing the effectiveness of a complex mHealth intervention called REMORA: a co-designed smartphone app enabling daily, weekly and monthly symptom tracking integrated into electronic health records for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Identification of immunogenic outer membrane vesicle vaccine antigen components using a meningococcal protein microarray

Outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-based vaccines have been employed worldwide in response to epidemic meningococcal disease outbreaks caused by Neisseria meningitidis. The complex composition of OMVs raises challenges in the identification of antigens which contribute to a protective immune response. Here, we measured total IgG antibody binding profiles to a dedicated antigen microarray using human sera from an open-label Phase II trial (NCT00962624) of 4CMenB (Bexsero), a licensed vaccine containing an OMV component. Significant IgG responses were observed against specific Outer Membrane Proteins (OMPs) from OMV antigens, including FetA, PorB, BamA and PorA. Partial Least Squares Regression was used to correlate IgG antibody reactivity profiles with the human complement-dependent killing of meningococci. We show that this approach is a powerful method to identify the potential contributions of OMV antigens - notably OpcA, FetA, PorA and PorB- towards serum bactericidal activity in human vaccinee serum against indicator strains, a recognised correlate of protection against invasive meningococcal disease

A survey of intracranial aneurysm detection and segmentation

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) are a critical public health concern: they are asymptomatic and can lead to fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage in case of rupture. Neuroradiologists rely on advanced imaging techniques to identify aneurysms in a patient and consider the characteristics of IAs along with several other patient-related factors for rupture risk assessment and treatment decision-making. The process of diagnostic image reading is time-intensive and prone to inter- and intra-individual variations, so researchers have proposed many computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems for aneurysm detection and segmentation. This paper provides a comprehensive literature survey of semi-automated and automated approaches for IA detection and segmentation and proposes a taxonomy to classify the approaches. We also discuss the current issues and give some insight into the future direction of CAD systems for IA detection and segmentation.</p

Pose control and profile tracking with eddy current sensor and robotic arm for NDT applications

For industrial quality control, non-destructive testing (NDT) of complex metallic parts relies on the accurate knowledge of the object’s surface profile. Currently, this information is typically obtained through design documents or separate dedicated measurements. This study realizes non-contact, accurate reconstruction of metallic surface profiles, eliminating the need for obtaining prior knowledge of the object’s shape and position relative to the sensor. An EC sensor is fixed to the end-effector of a UR5 robotic arm (RA), and its signals are used to control the pose of the RA, keeping its axis perpendicular to the local surface and maintaining a specific lift-off distance. The metallic surface profile can be reconstructed from the scanning trajectory of the RA. In experiments, the surface of a cylindrical metallic pipe is reconstructed without prior information, with the root mean square error (RMSE) of the surface profile being lower than 0.17 mm. An example of automatic tracking and scanning of a tapered exhaust pipe is also provided