The Models of Authority Project: Extending the DigiPal Framework for Script and Decoration

The DigiPal project for palaeography has featured in previous DH conferences. It includes a generalised framework for the description and analysis of handwriting, initially applied to Old English of the eleventh century but subsequently extended to Latin, Hebrew, and decoration; it incorporates a novel model for describing handwriting; and a recent addition allows the embedding of linked palaeographical images into prose description. The purpose of this poster is to present new developments which form part of two further major grants, one of which is the Models of Authority project. Specifically, the focus here is on the incorporation of textual content into the model for handwriting

An exploratory study identifying a possible response shift phenomena of the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP)

A then-test technique was used to investigate the possibility of a response shift in the Glasgow hearing aid benefit profile (GHABP). Following completion of part 1 of the GHABP, 16 adults were invited for hearing-aid follow up appointments. In accordance with then-test technique, participants were asked to think back to before they had their hearing-aids fitted and the GHABP part 1 was completed again to re-establish the disability and handicap scores. These scores were then compared with the initial GHABP part I scores. Paired T testing and Wilcoxon Rank tests were carried out to investigate the statistical significance of the response shift effect. Statistically significant differences were seen between initial and retrospective GHABP (disability) scores using t test. No significant differences could be seen between the initial and retrospective handicap scores. Results suggest participants may have demonstrated a possible response shift phenomenon with the disability construct of the GHABP questionnaire, related to a possible re-calibration effect or a denial of disability effect. This exploratory study suggests that the GHABP questionnaire may be subject to a response shift phenomena. We suggest that further more robust studies are completed to verify this and recommend that this could have psychological impact on participants when explaining the results of the outcome measure and may affect hearing aid use. There is also potential for this phenomenon to affect global GHABP scores specifically when demonstrating to stakeholders the overall success of an audiology service

Community nurses' perspectives and experiences of the chronic oedema 'on the ground' education programme: a focus group study.

The impact of chronic oedema on community nurses’ work, the NHS and those directly affected by the condition is immense. As chronic oedema prevalence is projected to rise and financial austerity continues, innovative, sustainable solutions which ensure positive outcomes for patients must be found. This paper reports findings from a focus group (n =3) investigation of the effects of an innovative workplace education intervention designed to enhance community nurses’ knowledge for practice in chronic oedema prevention and management in Wales, UK. The main findings indicated that the programme had enhanced community nurses’ awareness, knowledge and understanding of chronic oedema management. By enhancing their knowledge base benefit might be conferred for patients with chronic oedema in terms of improved quality of life; self-efficacy and self-management. However, the magnitude of perceived benefit was variable and contingent on engagement with and support for self-management. Findings indicate the need for a longitudinal study

The Role of Accelerated Testing in Reliability Prediction

Accepted© EWTEC 2015The transition from the early stages of marine renewable energy (MRE) device development towards pre-commercial status involves rigorous design validation before full-scale testing. The main aim of Technology Readiness Levels 4-6 is to prove that the concept can deliver the required power production performance and also that a level of system reliability is achieved to ensure sufficient availability. Both of these metrics are crucial to obtaining competitive levelised cost of energy. The current state of the MRE sector means that reliability data is sparse or commercially sensitive. Device developers are therefore forced to base reliability predictions on physical testing, detailed numerical analysis or in the absence of these, generic (and potentially unsuitable) failure rate databases. Generic data will only provide a crude estimate of component or subsystem reliability unless modified to suit the application. More accurate estimates of component and subsystem reliability are possible through accelerated testing. As part of the DTOcean (Optimal Design Tools for Ocean Energy Arrays) project, results from physical tests involving synthetic ropes and shackles are used to demonstrate how quantitative accelerated testing can be used to bridge the gap between generic failure rates and those which are applicable to MRE mooring applications

What does the ‘chat’ tell us about participation and engagement in online video conferencing?

Although much is known about the experiential nature of online conferencing, we know less about actual participation and engagement. This paper investigates delegate interactions in the “parallel chat” function of a video platform during an online medical education conference. We collected 813 unique messages, posted while speakers presented on a digital stage. We used descriptive statistics to summarize message/chat content in terms of participant categories and topic. 23% of delegates posted in the chat. However, to go beyond these dimensions, we used conversation analytic methods to identify the actions accomplished in messages and their interconnectedness. We developed a coding scheme to report this analysis across the complete dataset. We found that messages mostly comprised positive assessments (“Wonderful talk!”) and appreciations (“Thank you!”). ‘Second’ messages were more common than initiations or ‘first’ messages, indicating extensive engagement between participants. Few messages received no response. Delegates also formulated what speakers said to develop ‘learning moments’ in the chat. Overall, we argue that a richer and more precise understanding of participation and engagement in video conferencing can be achieved by analysing actual participation and its content, rather than relying only on post-hoc reports and surveys. Data are in British English

An analysis of hearing aid use: data logging as an adjunct with the Glasgow Hearing Benefit Profile Questionnaire

Introduction: There is significant variability in the ways in which hearing aid use is reported. In part, this is because there is no agreed method of reporting hearing aid use. A recent review by Perez and Edmonds (2012) concluded that a dual-stage approach using data-logging and self-reported outcome measures is preferable to an approach that uses one method alone. A dual-stage approach may provide a comprehensive understanding of hearing aid use and help further develop a detailed understanding of some of the problems associated with non-use or under-use. Objective: This study aimed to compare the relationship of self-reported hearing aid use using the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile questionnaire (GHABP; Gatehouse, 1999) to hearing aid data-logging information, and to establish whether the GHABP can be used to accurately measure hearing aid use. Methods: This was an observational cohort study conducted in Wales, United Kingdom. A total of 119 participants were recruited at their hearing aid follow-up appointments. The length of time between hearing aid fitting and follow-up was variable. With participants’ consent, data were collected using the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile part 2 questionnaire and data-logging information stored in the hearing aid. Correlational analyses were used to assess the relationships between the two measures of hearing aid use. Results: Mean data-logging use was 5.87 hours per day (SD=5.15) and the mean GHABP use was 67.34% (SD=32.98). Both “use” variables failed a Shapiro Wilks test of normality. There was a strong positive Pearson rho correlation between data-logging use and GHABP use (rs, = .645, p<0.01). Analysis of the GHABP questionnaire revealed that 53 participants stated that they used their hearing aids between 81% and 100% of the time. There were some low levels of use when examining data-logging in the context of variable GHABP results. Conclusions: In participants who present higher GHABP use scores with lower levels of data-logging use, some plausible reasons include: I) Inadvertent overestimation of their use by patients (recall error), 2) The GHABP questionnaire may not be sufficiently sensitive or structured in such a way to effectively measure use. For example, “listening in a quiet environment” is not captured in a GHABP question, or 3) The reporting of use as a percentage may not be an appropriate measure of use. For this reason, in keeping with Perez and Edmonds (2012), both self-reported measures of use and data-logging should be used together and audiologists are reminded to consider both measures with some level of caution

Attitudes And Exposure To Illicit Tobacco In England, 2022

IntroductionThe UK has achieved reductions in illicit tobacco (IT) market size and share. However, there remains a 17.7% tobacco duty gap, contributing to health inequalities. In January 2024, the UK government announced a new strategy to control IT, along with provision of new funding.MethodsA representative cross-sectional survey of adults in England ran in April 2022 to evaluate attitudes and exposure to IT. Tobacco smokers were asked questions about encounters with IT, while all participants answered questions on knowledge and perspectives on IT.ResultsOf 262 tobacco smokers, 18.3% (95% CI 13.8% - 23.6%) had come across IT in the past year. Men had four times the odds of encountering IT recently than women. Among 1,767 adults responding to questions on IT, two-thirds agreed IT harmed children, and more than half agreed IT was linked to organised crime. Younger adults, smokers and those in lower socio-economic groups were less likely to agree IT was harmful.ConclusionsExposure to IT, especially among younger males, remains a concern. While most of the public acknowledge its harm, this is not universal, and some population groups are less likely to do so.ImplicationsThe study highlights persistent exposure to illicit tobacco in England, especially among younger males, and varying perceptions of illicit tobacco harm across socio-economic groups. Tackling illicit tobacco requires collaboration between health and enforcement agencies, independent of the tobacco industry's influence. Strategies should include components that shift demand for illicit tobacco and denormalise its presence in communities, particularly in lower socio-economic areas with higher smoking prevalence

Uptake of synthetic low density lipoprotein by leukemic stem cells — a potential stem cell targeted drug delivery strategy

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) stem/progenitor cells, which over-express Bcr-Abl, respond to imatinib by a reversible block in proliferation without significant apoptosis. As a result, patients are unlikely to be cured owing to the persistence of leukemic quiescent stem cells (QSC) capable of initiating relapse. Previously, we have reported that intracellular levels of imatinib in primary primitive CML cells (CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;38&lt;sup&gt;lo/−&lt;/sup&gt;), are significantly lower than in CML progenitor cells (total CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;) and leukemic cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine if potentially sub-therapeutic intracellular drug concentrations in persistent leukemic QSC may be overcome by targeted drug delivery using synthetic Low Density Lipoprotein (sLDL) particles. As a first step towards this goal, however, the extent of uptake of sLDL by leukemic cell lines and CML patient stem/progenitor cells was investigated. Results with non-drug loaded particles have shown an increased and preferential uptake of sLDL by Bcr-Abl positive cell lines in comparison to Bcr-Abl negative. Furthermore, CML CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; and primitive CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;38&lt;sup&gt;lo/−&lt;/sup&gt; cells accumulated significantly higher levels of sLDL when compared with non-CML CD34&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; cells. Thus, drug-loading the sLDL nanoparticles could potentially enhance intracellular drug concentrations in primitive CML cells and thus aid their eradication

Thymus transplantation for complete DiGeorge syndrome: European experience

Background: Thymus transplantation is a promising strategy for the treatment of athymic complete DiGeorge syndrome (cDGS). Methods: Twelve patients with cDGS were transplanted with allogeneic cultured thymus. Objective: To confirm and extend the results previously obtained in a single centre. Results: Two patients died of pre-existing viral infections without developing thymopoeisis and one late death occurred from autoimmune thrombocytopaenia. One infant suffered septic shock shortly after transplant resulting in graft loss and the need for a second transplant. Evidence of thymopoeisis developed from 5-6 months after transplantation in ten patients. The median (range) of circulating naïve CD4 counts (x10663 /L) were 44(11-440) and 200(5-310) at twelve and twenty-four months post-transplant and T-cell receptor excision circles were 2238 (320-8807) and 4184 (1582 -24596) per106 65 T-cells. Counts did not usually reach normal levels for age but patients were able to clear pre-existing and later acquired infections. At a median of 49 months (22-80), eight have ceased prophylactic antimicrobials and five immunoglobulin replacement. Histological confirmation of thymopoeisis was seen in seven of eleven patients undergoing biopsy of transplanted tissue including five showing full maturation through to the terminal stage of Hassall body formation. Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) expression was also demonstrated. Autoimmune complications were seen in 7/12 patients. In two, early transient autoimmune haemolysis settled after treatment and did not recur. The other five suffered ongoing autoimmune problems including: thyroiditis (3); haemolysis (1), thrombocytopaenia (4) and neutropenia (1). Conclusions: This study confirms the previous reports that thymus transplantation can reconstitute T cells in cDGS but with frequent autoimmune complications in survivors

Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science

“The most dangerous phrase in the language is: We’ve always done it this way.” —Rear Admiral Grace HopperSuccess and impact metrics in science are based on a system that perpetuates sexist and racist “rewards” by prioritizing citations and impact factors. These metrics are flawed and biased against already marginalized groups and fail to accurately capture the breadth of individuals’ meaningful scientific impacts. We advocate shifting this outdated value system to advance science through principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We outline pathways for a paradigm shift in scientific values based on multidimensional mentorship and promoting mentee well-being. These actions will require collective efforts supported by academic leaders and administrators to drive essential systemic change.Peer reviewe