Patients’ experiences of treatment and the scar management pathway during the Early Laser for Burn Scars (ELABS) trial: An embedded qualitative study

Background Due to improvements in acute burn management, burn injuries are a leading cause of morbidity globally. Alongside physical sequelae of burns, there are significant psychological implications. Limited qualitative research exists exploring quality of life (QoL) and delayed reintegration into society; the latter is argued as the greatest unmet challenge in burn rehabilitation. Furthermore, there is a lack of research into non-scar outcomes after pulse dye laser (PDL) treatment of burn scars. This qualitative study examines the patient’s experience of early PDL treatment and its impact upon QoL and social reintegration. Methods This qualitative study is nested within a national, multicentre, parallel-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) across seven National Health Service hospitals in the United Kingdom (Early Laser for Burn Scars (ELABS), Trial registration ISRCTN14392301). The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies were used. Of the 153 participants in the trial, 34 were approached across a range of demographic, burn and site criteria including: gender, age, burn location, depth, total body surface area (TBSA), skin type, site location, and treatment arm. Data was collected using semi-structured telephone interviews. reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcribed data. Results 20 participants were interviewed. Six themes were constructed: frustration with initial burns treatment, feeling disconnected, human costs (with three sub themes: having to adapt, it’s changed how I feel about myself, and it doesn’t just affect me), money worries, reflections on pulse dye laser treatment, and moving forwards. Conclusion The scar management journey is long and complex due to significant physical, psychological, financial, and psychosocial impacts. These can negatively affect QoL and reintegration into society. Use of early PDL treatment can ameliorate these challenges by positively impacting upon QoL and supporting individuals whilst they create their ‘new normal’ and adjust to reintegration into society

Who cares? For whom? How the ethics of care might inform boardroom governance, and beyond

A persistent problem in corporate governance is the defining scope of the fiduciary and other duties of directors of public corporations, private companies, and other organisations that adopt a corporate form. Moreover, over the past three decades, public policy initiatives have sought to foster greater director accountability not just as a solution to the agency problem but also in aid of broader social goals. This push-and-pull of policy can confuse decision-making and for directors pose a version of the famous “trolley problem” in ethics, with the added complication that boards must decide on how to act collectively and not as individuals. This conceptual paper poses the question: Might the ethics of care – sometimes labelled “feminist ethics” – come to the rescue

Evidence synthesis strategies and indications for scoping and systematic reviews: A methodological guide and recommendations for radiography research

Objectives This review provides methodological guidance, including essential preparatory steps, for conducting systematic literature reviews (SLRs) to produce practical and evidence-based findings that influence the pillars of radiography practice. It also highlights the differences between a scoping review (ScR) and a SLR. Key findings SLRs differ from ScRs in their aims, scope, and methodological requirements. SLRs aim to answer specific research questions through comprehensive searches, critical appraisal, and synthesis of empirical studies, while ScRs map the extent of literature on a concept and are more flexible in methodological requirements. Essential components for both include formulation of precise research questions, protocol development, comprehensive literature search, screening and data extraction processes, and evidence synthesis. In addition, a high-quality SLR requires registration of the review protocol and specific qualitative synthesis approaches (e.g., meta-aggregation and meta-synthesis) and/or quantitative synthesis, such as meta-analysis. There are concerns about the lack of a radiography-specific database, necessitating the use of general databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, etc) and discipline-specific sources (e.g., Radiography and related journals). There is also frequent heterogeneity of study designs in radiography research, which can limit the feasibility of meta-analysis in quantitative evidence synthesis. Conclusion Both SLRs and ScRs are essential for advancing evidence-based radiography practice. However, researchers need to adhere to established methodological standards to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and relevance of the findings. This will enhance research uptake in clinical practice, education, and policy and inform future research directions. Implications for practice Radiography researchers should select review types based on research objectives, apply rigorous and transparent methods, and consider multidisciplinary collaboration to strengthen evidence synthesis. Additionally, training in evidence synthesis methods will improve the rigour and relevance/impact of radiography review articles

Semi-coherent and coherent nanoprecipitation induced superior strength-ductility combination in additively manufactured CoCrMoW alloy

The interface coherence between precipitates and the matrix—whether coherent, semi-coherent, or incoherent—significantly impacts both the strength and ductility of metallic materials. Achieving an optimal balance between these properties can be realized through manipulation of the precipitate/matrix interface. In this study, 1 wt.% and 2 wt.% TiN nanoparticles were introduced into a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) fabricated CoCrMoW alloy as a reinforcing phase. Compared to the unreinforced alloy, the alloy with 1 wt.% TiN exhibited substantial improvements in yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fracture elongation, increasing from 876 MPa, 1190 MPa, and 15% to 1071 MPa, 1421 MPa, and 17%, respectively. Although the addition of TiN nanoparticles did not significantly affect the average grain size, it inhibited the formation of fine grains at the fusion line and influenced the overall grain size distribution. More importantly, the incorporation of TiN nanoparticles during the LPBF process led to the in-situ formation of semi-coherent precipitates rich in Ti and N, as well as coherent precipitates rich in Ti, N, and O. The semi-coherent precipitates, which exhibit well-defined orientation relationships and periodic misfit dislocations, enhanced strength by blocking stacking faults and ε laths. They also preserved plasticity by promoting self-relaxation through twinning at intersected areas, thus preventing crack nucleation at the interface. Furthermore, the chemical inhomogeneity between the coherent phase and the matrix increased resistance to dislocation cutting of the precipitates, thereby improving the material’s strength without compromising ductility

Preregistration radiography education in sub-Saharan Africa: Impact assessment on graduate competence and employability.

INTRODUCTION: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces increasing demands for medical imaging; however, radiography education is heterogeneous. This study examines preregistration diagnostic radiography (standalone or combined with radiotherapy) programmes in SSA, assessing how training prepares graduates for clinical practice. METHODS: A quantitative online cross-sectional survey was distributed to SSA radiography educators, recent graduates, and managers to examine preregistration radiography programme structures, workload allocation, and graduate competence. RESULTS: Analysis of 258 responses from 23 SSA countries showed variation in programme duration and modalities. Curricula emphasised projection radiography and general ultrasound, with limited coverage of Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine (NM), and radiotherapy (RT). Factor analysis revealed that core imaging expertise was the best predictor of graduate competence, with clinical placements being crucial for proficiency in cross-sectional imaging. Competencies in CT and ultrasound demonstrated moderate development at graduation, whereas skills in MRI, NM, and radiotherapy were acquired on the job. Despite comprehensive training in generic skills, both taught and clinical programme characteristics showed significant negative correlation with industry expectations (r = -0.26, p < 0.01 and r = -0.27, p < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Radiography education in SSA is varied and demonstrates limited graduate preparedness in cross-sectional imaging, with a misalignment to employer expectations. A single-modality exit curriculum model, embedded within a multi-modality threshold competency framework, could improve graduate work-readiness. Better integration of clinical placements and partnerships between academia and industry are essential. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Educational institutions and policymakers in SSA must prioritise curriculum reform that aligns with health system needs and training realities. This should involve implementing targeted strategies to build a workforce capable of meeting evolving demands through enhanced collaborative frameworks, industry-aligned modular curricula, and expanded clinical exposure to cross-sectional imaging modalities

Designing for Effective Human-XAI Interaction: User Experience Research Plays and Cards

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) has emerged as a critical field for fostering trust, transparency, and comprehension in human-AI interactions. However, existing XAI systems often fall short of addressing real-world usability challenges, resulting in suboptimal adoption and engagement. This paper applies the User Experience Research Point of View (UXR PoV) playbook to Human-XAI interactions as a case study, i.e., a structured framework designed to guide multidisciplinary teams in creating effective human centered XAI systems. The playbook consists of actionable play cards, organised into three dimensions: Usability Enhancement, Human-Like Enhancement, and Learning Enhancement. Our proposed Human-XAI plays and cards aim to improve the usability and long-term impact of XAI systems by leveraging iterative design principles, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practices

Fabrication of immiscible Cu-V alloy by high-pressure torsion

This study describes the fabrication of immiscible Cu-V alloys through the application of high-pressure torsion (HPT). For this purpose, stacked Cu/V/Cu disks were subjected to HPT from 0.5 to 250 turns under a pressure of 6.0 GPa at room temperature. The V layers became thinner and fragmented with increasing numbers of HPT turns but finally mixed well with the Cu matrix throughout the disk samples. After 200 turns HPT processing, the nanostructured Cu-V alloy displays a submicron level heterostructure with a mixture of coarser grains (~100 nm and high Cu content) and finer grain (~20-30 nm and high V content). An ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1300 MPa with 3.5% elongation was achieved in a sample subjected to 200 turns HPT processing and post-HPT annealing at 773 K for 1 hr. Thus, the HPT-processed immiscible Cu-V alloy achieved not only a significant microstructural refinement but also a remarkable strength enhancement through the solid mixing of Cu and V at room temperature

Multi-modal physiological markers of arousal induced by CO2 inhalation in Virtual Reality

High arousal states, like fear and anxiety, play a crucial role in organisms’ adaptive responses to threats. Yet, inducing and reliably measuring such states within controlled settings presents challenges. This study uses a novel approach of CO2 enriched air vs normal air in a Virtual Reality (VR) context to induce high arousal whilst measuring physiological signals such as galvanic skin response (GSR), facial skin impedance, facial electromyography (fEMG), photoplethysmography (PPG), breathing, and pupillometry. In a single-blind study, 63 participants underwent a regimen involving 20 min of breathing regular air followed by 20 min of 7.5% CO2, separated by a brief interval. Findings demonstrate the efficacy of CO2 inhalation in eliciting high arousal, as substantiated by statistically significant changes for all signals, further validated through high (94%) accuracy arousal classification. This study establishes a method for inducing high arousal states within a laboratory context validated through comprehensive multi-sensor data and machine learning analyses. The study underscores the value of employing a suite of physiological measures to comprehensively describe the intricate dynamics of arousal. The generated database is a promising resource for researching physiological markers of arousal, panic, fear, and anxiety, offering insights that can potentially resonate within clinical and therapeutic realms

Unlocking Mental Health and Wellbeing in an English Premier League Football Academy using Lego® Serious Play®

1 Purpose / Rationale This study examines the mental health and wellbeing challenges facing young male players in an English Premier League (EPL) football academy. 2 Design / Methodology / Approach The study utilises a creative multi-sensory methodology, Lego® Serious Play®, where the focus is upon the Lego® (method) and not the individual footballer (subject). Data was collected from academy footballers, in the Under-14 age group. 3 Findings The results highlight anxieties surrounding the academy registration and progression process within Association Football. Themes focus upon (i) ambition and achievement, (ii) overcoming obstacles, (iii) metaphors for success, (iv) continuous improvement, (v) faith and optimism, and (vi) pushing limits to overcome the impossible. 4 Practical Implications The practical outcomes demonstrate that mental health and wellbeing conversations can be unlocked through play-based approaches. The practical outcomes demonstrate wider potential across various sport and leisure settings, including high-performance sport environments. 5 Research Contribution The study highlights the potential of using Lego® Serious Play® as a creative experiential methodology to better understand mental health issues in sport and leisure settings. 6 Originality / Value This is the first study to use the Lego® Serious Play® methodology in the context of managing sport and leisure organisations