Ontological Machines: Subjectivity and Relational Desire in Immersive and Interactive Environments

This practice-based artistic research focuses on two contemporary spaces; namely the pedagogical spaces of healthcare Simulation Based Education (SBE), and the exhibition spaces of installation art. These seemingly unrelated activities share a range of technological and operational similarities that render their combined study under the banner of ‘immersive and interactive environments’ both novel and necessary. The lack of broad engagement with questions of representation, aesthetics, and affect is conspicuous in an educational practice that is reliant on, and implemented through, a network of overtly visual mediums, material technologies, and sensory modalities. In healthcare SBE, clinical skills are acquired, and medical knowledge is reinforced while a biomedical worldview is quietly spatialised through the immersive and interactive environments in which healthcare simulation is performed. With the rapid adoption of SBE in healthcare training both nationally and internationally, the apparent dearth of philosophical inquiry that examines healthcare SBE outside of the performance metrics of technical skills training and competencies of patient safety warrants examination. I use the philosopher Karen Barad’s ‘diffractive methodology’ and Levi Bryant’s theory of ‘ontological machines’ to examine how the immersive techniques and interactive technologies deployed within these seemingly unrelated spaces shape specific forms of meaning, knowing, and being in the world.In response to fieldwork conducted in a simulation training facility of a South-West UK medical school, the practice component of this research is articulated through a series of what I introduce as immersive and interactive installation art Prototypes. These Prototypes explore subjectivity and relationality through wearable technology that captures real-time participant biodata to augment physical spaces with digital layers

Comparing p62 and LC3 as Autophagy Biomarkers: Insights into Cellular Homeostasis

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process that maintains homeostasis by the degradation of damaged organelles and proteins. It plays crucial roles in cellular remodelling, development, and disease progression. These roles apply to the study of neurodegenerative diseases which is heavily linked to the toxicity produced by unwarranted accumulation of cellular material. A key player in autophagy is LC3, which translocate to autophagosomal membranes during the process. Detecting fluorescently labelled LC3-II through immunofluorescence provides a valuable method for assessing autophagy levels in samples. In a similar premise p62, also known as sequestosome-1 (SQSTM-1), is an adaptor between LC3 and ubiquitinated substrates, facilitating their incorporation into autophagosomes for degradation. Consequently, p62 levels can reflect autophagic activity and this study explores the viability of the protein as an autophagy biomarker. Using a variety of autophagy inhibitors, autophagic flux could be assessed and a comparison could be made between the response to the inhibition between LC3 and p62. The absence of statistically significant results in any of the test markers, whether it is the inhibitors in immunofluorescence, or the western blotting results does not support the original hypothesis. Consequently, this study concludes that p62 is unsuitable as an autophagy biomarker. Even though p62 has been extensively studied as a biomarker, it remains controversial. Further investigations are required to clarify its role and address any technical challenges whilst for now, LC3 remains the gold standard biomarker. However, understanding p62’s nuances and alternative functions could potentially enhance our understanding of autophagy dynamics

Sulfur cycling in the gabbroic section of the Oman ophiolite

We present sulfur mineralogy and isotope geochemistry from the gabbro transect of the Oman Drilling Project to unravel the sulfur cycle during hydrothermal alteration of the plutonic oceanic crust. The sheeted dike–gabbro transition (Hole GT3A) shows low sulfide‑sulfur concentrations (GT3Amedian = 178 ppm, σ = 4873 ppm) but with great sulfur isotope variability (δ34S = −12.8 to 14.4 ‰ V-CDT, weighted average + 5.8 ‰) and unusually heavy compositions relative to in-situ or ophiolitic crust. These features are consistent with abiogenic thermochemical sulfate reduction during intense hydrothermal alteration under greenschist facies conditions which formed a low-variance and relatively high-fS2 assemblage of pyrite ± chalcopyrite ± bornite. The heaviest isotope compositions (+10 to +14 ‰) occur within 10 m of the uppermost gabbro screen suggesting focused fluid-rock exchange with isotope enrichment relative to seawater due to closed-system reservoir effects. The change in isotope compositions from +5 to 0 ‰ in the overlying sheeted dike reflect fluids gradually buffered by magmatic sulfur to signatures similar to the Oman Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide deposits. Hole GT3A represents a deep hydrothermal reaction zone with extensive S and base metal losses and incorporation of up to ∼80 % seawater-derived sulfate. The amount of Cu and Zn released in a 1 km3 crustal section similar to Hole GT3A is ∼3 times greater than the average contents of Omani VMS deposits. The mid to lower crustal section (Holes GT2A and GT1A) mostly preserves MORB sulfur isotope compositions but highly variable sulfide‑sulfur contents (GT2Amedian = 454, σ = 693 ppm, GT1Amedian = 114, σ = 277 ppm). Away from fault zones, silicate microvein networks enabled variable sulfide and metal remobilization. Magmatic sulfides persist as remobilized remnants along with sulfidation reactions and mild isotopic enrichments (\u3c+2.7 ‰) in secondary sulfides (millerite + siegenite-polydimitess + pyrite). The mid-lower crustal section experienced redistribution of magmatic sulfur mixed with minor inputs of seawater-derived sulfur (\u3c10 %), under very low fluid/rock ratios and moderate sulfur fugacities, that chiefly preserved base metal abundances in secondary sulfides. The many faulted intervals present in Holes GT1A and GT2A record near complete sulfur and metal leaching of magmatic sulfides without the deposition of secondary sulfides, but preserve sulfate with a Cretaceous seawater sulfate‑sulfur isotope signature (+16.1 to +17.3 ‰). These structures are the expression of crustal scale channeled hydrothermal recharge fluid flow and record a previously unaccounted sulfur budget introduced in the deep crust

Developing Human-Autonomy Teaming Strategies for Maritime Cyber Security Resilience in Uncrewed Autonomous and Remote Surface Vessel Operations

The development of new technologies and digital capabilities for Uncrewed Autonomous and Remote Surface Vessel Operations (UARSVO) is driven by various industry stakeholders. This evolution impacts the maritime industry\u27s human role, transforming from Human-Autonomy Hybrid (HAH) to Human-Autonomy Teaming (HAT). Human-Autonomy Collaboration (HAC) is vital for maritime safety, security, and sustainability, particularly in light of increasing cyber incidents in remote operations, which necessitates greater cyber resilience due to technology at sea and ashore. This paper aims to provide a holistic socio-technical approach to investigate and present an overview of the current state-of-the-art research, focusing on the human perspective in maritime cyber resilience for UARSVO. The view is developed using 76 semi-structured interviews with participants from various stakeholder groups across the Maritime Autonomous Surface Vessel (MASS) industry worldwide. Findings provide unique, holistic, and human-centred operational strategies for maritime cyber resilience, as well as the perceived training required to enhance these operations

Investigating the component structure of the Health of the Nation Outcomes Scales for people with Learning Disabilities (HoNOS-LD)

Background: Outcome measurement is increasingly recognised as a vital element of high-quality service provision, but practice remains variable in the field of intellectual disabilities. The Health of the National Outcome Scales for people with Learning Disabilities (HoNOS-LD) is a widely used Clinician Reported Outcome Measure in the UK and beyond. Over its 20-year lifespan, its psychometric properties have been frequently investigated. Multiple dimensionality reduction analyses have been published, each proposing a different latent structure. Aim: To analyse a set of HoNOS-LD ratings to test its internal consistency, to identify the optimal number of latent variables, and to propose the items that group together in each domain. Methods: A Principal Component Analysis of 169 HoNOS-LD ratings was performed to produce an initial model. The component loadings for each HoNOS-LD item were then examined, allowing the model to be adjusted to ensure the optimal balance of statistical robustness and clinical face-validity. Results: HoNOS-LD’s internal consistency (18 items) was ‘acceptable’ (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.797). On excluding three items that had no bivariate correlations with the other 15 items internal consistency rose to ‘good’ (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.828). The final, four-component solution, using the 15 items possessed good internal reliability. Conclusion: HONOS-LD statistical properties compared favourably to the other published latent structures and adheres to the tool’s rating guidance. The four-component solution offers an acceptable balance of statistical robustness and clinical face validity. It provides advantages over other models in terms of internal consistency and/or viability for use at a national level in the UK

Core GRADE 2: choosing the target of certainty rating and assessing imprecision

This second article in a seven part series presents the Core GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach to deciding on the target of the certainty rating, and decisions about rating down certainty of evidence due to imprecision. Core GRADE users assess if the true underlying treatment effect is important or not in relation to the minimal important difference (MID) or, alternatively, if a true underlying treatment effect exists. The location of the point estimate of effect in relation to the chosen threshold determines the target. For instance, using the MID thresholds, a point estimate greater than the MID suggests an important effect and less than the MID, an unimportant or little to no effect. Users then rate down for imprecision if the 95% confidence interval crosses the MID for benefit or harm

Working within a perfect storm: the current UK care crisis in community neurorehabilitation

It will not have escaped the notice of our readers that there is a crisis in social care in the UK. This is not just because of a failure of integration between health services and community care provision, but because of the effects of COVID, and because of a shortage of care workers which the British media has widely reported as becoming more acute due to the UK leaving the European Union. The effects of this shortage will have been experienced by anyone involved in catastrophic injury litigation who will have heard case managers routinely reporting problems in recruiting care staff

Core GRADE 1: overview of the Core GRADE approach

This first article in a seven part series presents an overview of the essential elements of the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach that has proved extremely useful in systematic reviews, health technology assessment reports, and clinical practice guidelines. GRADE guidance has appeared in many articles dealing with both core issues and more specialised and complex guidance, and it has evolved over time. This series of articles presents GRADE essentials, Core GRADE, focusing on the core judgments necessary to summarise the comparative evidence about alternative care options and to make recommendations that apply to the care of individual patients. This article presents detailed guidance on formulating questions using the PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) structure, and refining the question considering possible differences in relative and absolute effects across patient groups. The article then provides an overview of the remainder of the Core GRADE approach, including decisions about the certainty of the evidence and considerations in moving from evidence to guidance and recommendations

Direct and indirect metal contamination of estuarine sediments by boat paint particles

Surface and subsurface estuarine sediments close to a cluster of abandoned boats have been fractionated (between \u3c250 and 5000 μm) and analysed microscopically for paint particles. Paints were encountered in all samples, with concentrations calculated for whole sediment samples up to 1450 per kg (dry weight). X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of paint particles retained by the coarsest (\u3e5000 μm) size fraction revealed heterogeneous concentrations of Ba, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn that reflect pigments and antifoulants used in various recent and historical antifouling and above waterline boat paints. Analysis of sediments by XRF revelated heterogeneous distributions of these metals between locations, size fractions and depths, and among replicate measurements at different positions of the same sample. Consequently, no relationship with grain size (evaluated using Rb as a proxy) was evident and concentrations often greatly exceeded predicted effect levels for sediments. Re-analysis of sediments after paint particles had been manually removed revealed no statistical difference in median concentrations for Cu, Pb and Zn but significantly lower concentrations for Ba and Sn. This suggests that paint particles contribute directly to the contamination of sediment by Ba and Sn, but indirectly, through leaching and adsorption, to contamination by Cu, Pb and Zn. These two types of association have implications for metal persistence and bioavailability in sediment, and raise questions about how sediment quality should be assessed in the presence of particulate contaminants

Balancing familiarity and novelty: the interplay of cultural familiarity and food neophilia in shaping tourists’ local food experiences

Cultural familiarity and food neophilia both shape tourists’ local food experiences. However, limited research has explored how these factors interact within tourists’ psychological processes. This study applies approach-avoidance motivation theory to examine how cultural familiarity influences emotional responses, destination food image, place attachment, and behavioural intentions, with food neophilia serving as a moderator. Data were collected from 401 domestic tourists in Yangzhou, China, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. The results from Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) show that cultural familiarity enhances emotional engagement, which in turn strengthens destination evaluations and behavioural intentions. The moderating effect of food neophilia indicates that familiarity and novelty jointly shape tourists’ desire for both comfort and new experiences. These findings contribute to tourism theory by introducing a dual-motivation framework into food tourism research. From a managerial perspective, the study offers practical insights for destination marketers. Cultivating ‘unexpected familiarity’ by blending familiar cultural elements with novel experiences can help reduce travel anxiety, strengthen emotional engagement, and increase destination appeal and revisit intentions