Re-Designing Secure Children’s Homes Through a Child-First Lens

This article explores existing learning gaps concerning optimal ways to support children within and beyond secure care in England and Wales, with a specific focus on Secure Children’s Homes (SCHs). Insights from key stakeholders working in SCHs are often omitted from research despite being fundamental to understanding both challenges and best-practice initiatives. The Children’s Residential Care Research Network, which is a collaboration between the authors, aims to develop novel research with stakeholders working across the secure children’s estate and expand the extant literature to inform the design and build of future Secure Children’s Homes (SCH) through a Child-First lens. The research presented here involves a mixed-methods approach gathering rich qualitative data from participants across the sector. Fifty-three participants engaged in participatory methodologies, focus groups, and interviews, which led to a large data set. Thematic analysis identified three key themes to inform the design and build of new SCHs. SCHs should (i) be close to home to enable family involvement and continuity of care, (ii) feel like a home, and (iii) be flexible and adaptive to changing needs. These findings are feeding into the design of two new homes in England as well as the refurbishment of existing provision and can also influence future expansion of the secure estate. The research also contributes to knowledge about how the Child-First tenets can be engaged to improve outcomes for children deprived of their liberty, both in and outside the youth justice syste

Validity and reliability of inertial measurement units used to measure motion of the lumbar spine: A systematic review of individuals with and without low back pain

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability, resulting in aberrant movement. This movement is difficult to measure accurately in clinical practice and gold standard methods, such as optoelectronic systems involve the use of expensive laboratory equipment. Inertial measurement units (IMU) offer an alternative method of quantifying movement that is accessible in most environments. However, there is no consensus around the validity and reliability of IMUs for quantifying lumbar spine movements compared with gold standard measures. The aim of this systematic review was to establish concurrent validity and repeated measures reliability of using IMUs for the measurement of lumbar spine movements in individuals with and without LBP. A systematic search of electronic databases, incorporating PRISMA guidelines was completed, limited to the English language. 503 studies were identified where 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 305 individuals were included, and 109 of these individuals had LBP. Weighted synthesis of the results demonstrated root mean squared differences of 0.84 for lumbar spine movements. IMUs offer clinicians and researchers valid and reliable measurement of motion in the lumbar spine, comparable to laboratory methods, such as optoelectronic motion capture for individuals with and without LBP

Graduate competencies, employability and the transnational Radiography workforce shortage: A systematic literature review of current pre-registration Radiography education and training models

Introduction Transnational mobility of the Radiography workforce is challenged due to issues with standardisation of current education and training models which has added to the workforce shortage. To address the growing volume, scope and complexity of clinical Radiography service delivery, educational models need to be given a critical look for transnational relevance in modern times. This study aims to synthesise the characteristics of current pre-registration radiography educational programmes linked with effective knowledge, skill acquisition, and graduate employability to address the current workforce challenges through the development of newer training models. Methods Using a mixed methods systematic review approach, secondary data was obtained from an EBSCOhost search involving key databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, ScienceDirect, and SCOPUS. Themes were developed following a result-based convergent data synthesis. Results Forty articles met the predefined inclusion criteria following the study identification and screening phases. The included studies were conducted from across diverse settings including both low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and high-income countries (HIC). Two broad themes were developed from the findings including: 1. Factors influencing graduate employability and 2) Radiography education and training programme characteristics. Conclusion The findings highlight and advocate for an innovative model for Radiography education and underscores the significance of graduates possessing multi-modality skills, varied competencies, and effective accreditation processes for training. Prioritising alignment with industry needs and holistic skill development is vital to closing the employability gap, ultimately improving graduate skills and competencies to address workforce shortage while improving patient care outcomes. Implications for practice Radiography training institutions should explore the development of new innovative models for multi-modality pre-registration education. This should offer adaptable routes that align seamlessly with the evolving regulatory, technological, and clinical trends

Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties Comparison of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Alloys by Electron Beam Melting and Selective Laser Melting

This work involves additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V alloys, which are widely used in automobile, biomedical, and aircraft components for a comparison of the microstructure–properties relationship between electron beam melted (EBM) and selective laser melted (SLM) alloys after hot isostatic pressing treatment. We carried out microstructural, mechanical, and electrochemical measurements on both alloys. They showed comparable α and β phase contents with slightly higher lattice parameters in the EBM sample compared to the SLM. The EBM sample showed higher yield strength and uniform elongation due to the activation of multistage defects-driven strengthening and strain hardening mechanisms. Cracking during the tensile test nucleated mainly at the α phase near high-mechanical mismatch α/β interfaces. This mechanism was consistent with the reported generation of hetero-deformation-induced strengthening and strain hardening. Both alloys showed similar electrochemical behavior, but the SLM sample was more susceptible to corrosion than the EBM alloy

Advances in bifunctional electrocatalysts towards high-performing Li-air batteries

The development of high-performance Li-air batteries (LABs) is an important quest for effectively utilizing high-energy density electric systems. One possible way to achieve this goal is by introducing novel bifunctional electrocatalysts at the battery cathode, enhancing the cycle life and the discharge capacity of the LABs by facilitating fast oxygen reaction kinetics. Understanding bifunctional catalysts' function and evolution is essential to developing a better-functioning LAB. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals, mechanisms, and key concepts related to LAB technology. We then provide critical discussions on recent advances in bifunctional catalysts used in LAB cathodes through material characterization, electrochemical analysis, battery performance, in-situ and ex-situ discharge product analysis, DFT calculations, and theoretical concepts to provide the most up-to-date, thorough, and broader discussion on the subject. These include the general and modified catalysts of carbon nanostructures, noble metals, transition metal oxides, nitrides, sulfides, and phosphides. Furthermore, special attention is given to techniques designed to enhance the catalytic activity of LABs through the modulation of electronic structures. Various facet engineering and eg electron engineering approaches are explored, including heteroatom doping, alloying, hybridization, stoichiometric optimization, and selective facet growth. Finally, we suggest potential prospective pathways for future research

A systematic review of digital access to post-diagnostic health and social care services for dementia

Objectives For many people with dementia and unpaid carers, using technology for care and support has become essential. Rapid proliferation of technology highlights the need to understand digital access to health and social care services for dementia. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to explore digital access to health and social care services for dementia, from the perspective of people with dementia and unpaid carers. Methods Nine electronic databases were searched in May 2023 for qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method studies, published in English or German, focused on experiences of using technology-delivered health and social care services for people with dementia and unpaid carers. After removal of duplicates and screening, 44 empirical papers were included. Results From the 44 studies, findings were grouped into five categories, highlighting experiences for people with dementia and unpaid carers: (1) Adapting to technology, (2) Inequalities and variations in outcomes, (3) Impact on caring, (4) Impact on health, and (5) Impact on relationships. Proliferation of technology in care access emphasised the need for quick adaptation to technology and examination of its impact. The impact of such service delivery has evidenced mixed findings. There were improvements in the health and wellbeing of people with dementia and unpaid carers, and benefits for their dyadic relationship. However, using technology for health and social care access is not always possible and is often reliant on unpaid carers for support. Lower tech-literacy, lack of equipment or money to buy equipment and poor internet connection can impact the potential for positive outcomes. Conclusions Technology can bring great benefits: social inclusion, improved service access and care. However, using technology in service delivery in dementia needs careful thought. Professionals and service providers need to be cognizant of the complex nature of dementia, and the benefits and challenges of hybrid service delivery

Acute changes in serum inflammatory signatures after consumption of ready-to-drink immuno-nutrition: A case report

Background: Immuno-nutrition administers specific nutrients to improve host defences, in particular supporting the immune system. Given the high invasiveness of some spine operations, strengthening the immune response could effectively balance the surgical stress and boost resilience. However, it is not clear what are the early molecular signatures after the consumption of immuno-modulatory nutrients. Materials and methods: In the context of nutritional prehabilitation, we present the case of a lady with scoliosis scheduled for surgery who was administered immuno-nutrition preoperatively and tested for acute changes in 200 biomolecules after two and four hours. Results: After four hours, we mainly observed 30-fold increase in IL-10, 10-fold increase in IL-18 inhibitory protein, 6-fold increase in IL-1 inhibitory receptor, 12-fold decrease in IL-2 receptor, and 51-fold decrease in IL-23. Gene ontology annotations showed the involvement of genes regulating cytokine activity, response to external organisms, humoral and adaptive response, and lymphocyte immunity. Conclusion: Overall, the trends over the first four hours showed a positive shift of the cytokine balance in favour of anti-inflammatory mediators while keeping active the cell-mediated immunity. The use of immuno-nutrition for prehabilitation patients could prove useful to patients but benefits from chronic consumption and surgical outcomes remain to be determined

A Multi-User Virtual Reality Social Connecting Space for People Living with Dementia and Their Support Persons: A Participatory Action Research Study

Digital technologies such as virtual reality (VR) are increasingly designed and implemented to support people living with dementia who are at risk of loneliness and/or social isolation. Multi-user VR (MUVR), which involves simultaneous user engagement and a sense of being present together in VR, may promote and maintain social connectedness between people living with dementia and their support persons. This paper focuses on Phase 4 of a larger participatory action research (PAR) project, which aimed to explore the usability, acceptability and feasibility of a MUVR application and its potential to support the social connectedness of people living with dementia and their support persons. The study involved five people living with dementia and their five support persons, who trialed the application in their homes over two PAR cycles. The researcher gathered feedback through individual semi-structured interviews and observational field notes. Reflexive thematic analysis guided qualitative data analysis, and the findings suggested that MUVR is a usable, acceptable, and feasible application for this population. The findings also indicated that MUVR shows promise in promoting or maintaining social connectedness among people living with dementia and their support persons. Nonetheless, further refinement is necessary to enhance the usability, acceptability and feasibility of the MUVR application, and these areas of refinement are presented in this paper, through design recommendations for future work