Materiality, affect, and space : dialogues with discursive social psychology

Peer reviewe

Materiality, affect, and space : dialogues with discursive social psychology

Peer reviewe

EMERGENCE OF METABOLIC SYNDROME IN POLICE PROFESSIONALS: A LONGITUDINAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: This is a longitudinal observation looking for the emergence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a rapid response police unit. Methods: After taking informed consent, measurements were taken of blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose periodically in 2019, 2021, and 2023 in January. 146 police officers enrolled out of 148 screened and 117 completed the study. Results: In four years, the proportion of individuals with MetS values exceeding the norm increased by 20-30% for each component with 56 new cases of impaired metabolic parameters and 13 new cases of MetS observed among 110 previously unaffected police officers. Conclusion: A significant increase in the number of Metabolic Syndrome was found, particularly via its effects on blood lipid levels in police personnel which a highly stressful for professionals. Future longitudinal studies with continuous stress monitoring and comparing with a control will more in-depth knowledge into it

Infering Air Quality from Traffic Data using Transferable Neural Network Models

This work presents a neural network based model for inferring air quality from traffic measurements. It is important to obtain information on air quality in urban environments in order to meet legislative and policy requirements. Measurement equipment tends to be expensive to purchase and maintain. Therefore, a model based approach capable of accurate determination of pollution levels is highly beneficial. The objective of this study was to develop a neural network model to accurately infer pollution levels from existing data sources in Leicester, UK. Neural Networks are models made of several highly interconnected processing elements. These elements process information by their dynamic state response to inputs. Problems which were not solvable by traditional algorithmic approaches frequently can be solved using neural networks. This paper shows that using a simple neural network with traffic and meteorological data as inputs, the air quality can be estimated with a good level of generalisation and in near real-time. By applying these models to links rather than nodes, this methodology can directly be used to inform traffic engineers and direct traffic management decisions towards enhancing local air quality and traffic management simultaneously.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Analisis Kepuasan Masyarakat Terhadap Kualitas Pelayanan Pengadilan Agama Kabupaten Kediri Dengan Pendekatan Logika Fuzzy

Dalam rangka meningkatkan pelayanan di bidang hukum, Mahkamah Agung RI memerintahkan seluruh Lembaga Peradilan untuk menyediakan fasilitas meja informasi (information desk). Penelitian ini dilakukan di lembaga peradilan yaitu di Kantor Pengadilan Agama Kabupaten Kediri. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui tingkat kepuasan para pihak pencari keadilan terhadap pelayanan yang diberikan oleh petugas Meja Informasi Pengadilan Agama Kabupaten Kediri. Analisis tingkat kepuasannya menggunakan pendekatan metode fuzzy servqual (Service Quality) yang dibantu menggunakan aplikasi MATLAB. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, rata-rata penilaian masyarakat terhadap tingkat kepuasan masyarakat dalam mendapatkan informasi pelayanan di Pengadilan Agama Kabupaten Kediri adalah baik, artinya pelayanan yang diberikan telah memenuhi harapan masyarakat

More than words can say; Why health and social care policy makers should reconsider their position on informal interpreters

In the UK, individuals with limited English-language proficiency (LEP) self-report poorer health and face challenges accessing health and social care support. Health and social care policies in English speaking countries provide practitioners with guidance that ensures access to public service interpreters for individuals who require them. The guidance simultaneously discourages the use of informal language brokers, including family and friends, suggesting that they are not educated or objective enough to conduct this role, and that they present unmanageable risks. This poses a challenge, as research exploring patient and service user choices, finds that individuals consistently prefer an informal language broker. The paper explores the contradiction between a legislative shift towards empowerment and choice within social work and the policies that restrict these rights in relation to interpretation. Exploring these challenges with a focus on policy and practice, leads to the suggestion that individuals should be empowered to choose who provides their language support. In contrast, existing policies increase the power imbalance between professionals and users of services, significantly affecting the life chances of those with LEP

Understanding Infection: A Primer on Animal Models of Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Periprosthetic joint infections are devastating complications for patients and for our health system. With growing demand for arthroplasty, the incidence of these infections is projected to increase exponentially. This paper is a review of existing animal models to study periprosthetic infection aimed at providing scientists with a succinct presentation of strengths and weaknesses of available in vivo systems. These systems represent the tools available to investigate novel antimicrobial therapies and reduce the clinical and economic impact of implant infections

Breathlessness and presentation to the emergency department : a survey and clinical record review

BACKGROUND: Breathlessness is a frequently occurring symptom of cardiorespiratory conditions and is a common cause of emergency department presentation. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of acute-on-chronic breathlessness as a cause for presentation to the major emergencies area of the emergency department. METHODS: A prospective patient self-report survey and clinical record review of consecutive attendees to the major emergencies area of the emergency department in a single tertiary hospital between 12/5/14 and 29/5/14 was conducted. Eligible patients were clinically stable and had mental capacity to provide data. RESULTS: There were 2,041 presentations during the study period, of whom 1,345 (66%) were eligible. There was a 90% survey response rate (1,212/1,345); 424/1,212 (35%) self-reported breathlessness most days over the past month of whom 245 gave breathlessness as a reason for this presentation. Therefore, the prevalence of acute-on-chronic breathlessness as a reason to present to the major emergencies area was 20.2% (245/1,212, 95% CI 17.9% to 22.5%). During this period there were 4,692 major and minor presentations; breathlessness was therefore a cause of at least 5.2% (245/4,692, 95% CI 4.6 to 5.9%) of all emergency department presentations. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that one in five ambulance presentations to the ED were due to acute-on-chronic breathlessness. Most patients had non-malignant underlying conditions, had experienced considerable breathlessness for an extended period, had discussed breathlessness with their GP and presented out of daytime hours. Others were often involved in their decision to present. This represents clinically significant burden for patients, their family carers and the emergency health services