20 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
When it comes to teaching and tenure it is time to walk the walk.
Institutions should value teaching and service, and not just research, when considering faculty for promotion and tenure
VLBI detection of an Infrared-Faint Radio Source
Infrared-Faint Radio Sources represent a new and unexpected class of object
which is bright at radio wavelengths but unusually faint at infrared
wavelengths. If, like most mJy radio sources, they were either conventional
active or star-forming galaxies in the local Universe, we would expect them to
be detectable at infrared wavelengths, and so their non-detection by the
Spitzer Space Telescope is surprising. Here we report the detection of one of
these sources using Very Long Baseline Interferometry, from which we conclude
that the sources are driven by Active Galactic Nuclei. We suggest that these
sources are either normal radio-loud quasars at high redshift or abnormally
obscured radio galaxies.Comment: accepted by MNRA
An OSIRIS study of the gas kinematics in a sample of UV-selected galaxies: Evidence of "Hot and Bothered" starbursts in the local Universe
We present data from Integral Field Spectroscopy for 3 supercompact
UV-Luminous Galaxies (ScUVLGs). As nearby (z~0.2), compact (R_50~1-2 kpc),
bright Paschen-alpha sources, with unusually high star formation rates
(SFR=3-100 M_sun/yr), ScUVLGs are an ideal population for studying detailed
kinematics and dynamics in actively star-forming galaxies. In addition, ScUVLGs
appear to be excellent analogs to high redshift Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs) and
our results may offer additional insight into the dynamics of LBGs. Previous
work by our team has shown that the morphologies of these galaxies exhibit
tidal features and companions, and in this study we find that the dynamics of
ScUVLGs are dominated by disturbed kinematics of the emission line gas--
suggestive that these galaxies have undergone recent feedback, interactions or
mergers. While 2 of the 3 galaxies do display rotation, v/sigma < 1 --
suggesting dispersion dominated kinematics rather than smooth rotation. We also
simulate how these observations would appear at z~2. Lower resolution and loss
of low surface brightness features causes some apparent discrepancies between
the low-z (observed) and high-z (simulated) interpretations and quantitatively
gives different values for v/sigma, yet simulations of these low-z analogs
manage to detect the brightest regions well and resemble actual high-z
observations of LBGs.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures (bitmapped), accepted for publication in ApJ
Ghana 3D Telemedicine International MDT : A proof-of-concept study
A real-time 3D Telemedicine system â leveraging Microsoft's Holoportationâą communication technology â enabled an international multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) to consult with complex reconstructive patients before, during, and after an overseas surgical collaboration. Methods: A proof-of-concept international 3D MDT clinic took place in November 2022, between the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, UK, and the National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. The 3D system was utilised 1) previsit to assess patients and enable logistical planning, 2) on-site in Ghana to further allow patients to see themselves and proposed operations in 3D, and 3) post visit to debrief the team and patients. Results: Four Ghana patients were followed through their patient journey (mandibular ameloblastoma, sarcoma thigh, maxillary tumour, sarcoma back). Thirteen participants (four patients, four Ghana clinicians, and five UK clinicians) completed feedback on the 3D MDT. Outcome measures were rated highly with satisfaction 84.31/100, perceived benefit 4.54/5, overall quality 127.3/147 (Telehealth Usability Questionnaire), and usability 83.2/100 (System Usability Scale). These data show close alignment with that previously published on high-income countries. Conclusions: This novel technology has the potential to enhance the delivery of overseas surgical visits to low-to-middle-income countries, by improving planning, informed discussion with patients, expert consensus on complex cases, and fostering engagement with professionals who may be thousands of miles away. This is the first demonstration that real-time 3D Telemedicine can both work, and enhance care within an international MDT clinic, and may thus enable change in the approach to overseas surgical collaborations
European aerosol phenomenology - 8 : Harmonised source apportionment of organic aerosol using 22 Year-long ACSM/AMS datasets
Organic aerosol (OA) is a key component of total submicron particulate matter (PM1), and comprehensive knowledge of OA sources across Europe is crucial to mitigate PM1 levels. Europe has a well-established air quality research infrastructure from which yearlong datasets using 21 aerosol chemical speciation monitors (ACSMs) and 1 aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) were gathered during 2013-2019. It includes 9 non-urban and 13 urban sites. This study developed a state-of-the-art source apportionment protocol to analyse long-term OA mass spectrum data by applying the most advanced source apportionment strategies (i.e., rolling PMF, ME-2, and bootstrap). This harmonised protocol was followed strictly for all 22 datasets, making the source apportionment results more comparable. In addition, it enables quantification of the most common OA components such as hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), biomass burning OA (BBOA), cooking-like OA (COA), more oxidised-oxygenated OA (MO-OOA), and less oxidised-oxygenated OA (LO-OOA). Other components such as coal combustion OA (CCOA), solid fuel OA (SFOA: mainly mixture of coal and peat combustion), cigarette smoke OA (CSOA), sea salt (mostly inorganic but part of the OA mass spectrum), coffee OA, and ship industry OA could also be separated at a few specific sites. Oxygenated OA (OOA) components make up most of the submicron OA mass (average = 71.1%, range from 43.7 to 100%). Solid fuel combustion-related OA components (i.e., BBOA, CCOA, and SFOA) are still considerable with in total 16.0% yearly contribution to the OA, yet mainly during winter months (21.4%). Overall, this comprehensive protocol works effectively across all sites governed by different sources and generates robust and consistent source apportionment results. Our work presents a comprehensive overview of OA sources in Europe with a unique combination of high time resolution (30-240 min) and long-term data coverage (9-36 months), providing essential information to improve/validate air quality, health impact, and climate models.Peer reviewe
Participatory development of a 3D telemedicine system during COVID : the future of remote consultations
The COVID pandemic brought the need for more realistic remote consultations into focus. 2D Telemedicine solutions fail to replicate the fluency or authenticity of in-person consultations. This research reports on an international collaboration on the participatory development and first validated clinical use of a novel, real-time 360-degree 3D Telemedicine system worldwide. The development of the system - leveraging Microsoft's Holoportationâą communication technology - commenced at the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow, in March 2020. The research followed the VR CORE guidelines on the development of digital health trials, placing patients at the heart of the development process. This consisted of three separate studies - a clinician feedback study (23 clinicians, Nov-Dec 2020), a patient feedback study (26 patients, Jul-Oct 2021), and a cohort study focusing on safety and reliability (40 patients, Oct 2021-Mar 2022). "Lose, Keep, and Change" feedback prompts were used to engage patients in the development process and guide incremental improvements. Participatory testing demonstrated improved patient metrics with 3D in comparison to 2D Telemedicine, including validated measures of satisfaction (
Participatory Development of a 3D Telemedicine system during Covid: the future of remote consultations
Background:
The Covid pandemic brought the need for more realistic remote consultations into focus. 2D telemedicine solutions fail to replicate the fluency or authenticity of in-person consultations. This research reports on an international collaboration on the participatory development and first validated clinical use of a novel, real-time 360-degree 3D Telemedicine system worldwide. Development of the system - leveraging Microsoft's HoloportationTM communication technology â commenced at Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow in March 2020.
Methods:
Research followed VR CORE guidelines on development of Digital Health trials, placing patients at the heart of the development process. This consisted of three separate studies - a clinician feedback study (23 clinicians, Nov-Dec 2020), a patient feedback study (26 patients, Jul-Oct 2021), and a cohort study focusing on safety and reliability (40 patients, Oct 2021 - Mar 2022). âLose, Keep and Changeâ feedback prompts were used to engage patients in the development process and guide incremental improvements.
Results:
Participatory testing demonstrated improved patient metrics with 3D in comparison to 2D Telemedicine, including validated measures of satisfaction (p<0.0001), realism or âpresenceâ (Single Item Presence scale, p<0.0001), and quality (Telehealth Usability Questionnaire, p=0.0002). Safety and clinical concordance (95%) of 3D Telemedicine with a face-to-face consultation were equivalent or exceeded estimates for 2D Telemedicine.
Conclusions:
One of the ultimate goals of telemedicine is for the quality of remote consultations to get closer to the experience of face-to-face consultations. These data provide the first evidence that HoloportationTM communication technology brings 3D telemedicine closer to this goal than a 2D equivalent
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient complaints within one Irish teaching hospital
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic dramatically impacted the delivery of hospital care in terms of quality and safety.
Objectives: To examine complaints from two time points, quarter 4 (Q4) 2019 (pre-pandemic) and Q4 2020 (second wave), and explore whether there was a difference in the frequency and/or content of complaints.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of complaints from one Irish hospital was conducted using the Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool (HCAT). Within each complaint, the content, severity, harm reported by the patient, and stage of care were categorised. The complaints were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of independence.
Results: There were 146 complaints received in Q4 2019 and 114 in Q4 2020. Complaint severity was significantly higher in Q4 2019 as compared to Q4 2020. However, there were no other significant differences. Institutional processes (e.g. staffing, resources) were the most common reason for complaints (30% in Q4 2019 and 36% in Q4 2020). The majority of complaints were concerned with care on the ward (23% in Q4 2019 and 31% in Q4 2020).
Conclusions: The severity of complaints was significantly higher in Q4 2019 than in Q4 2020, which requires further exploration as the reasons for this are unclear. The lack of a difference in the frequency and content of complaints during the two time periods was unexpected. However, this may be linked to a number of factors, including public support for the healthcare system, existing system-level issues in the hospital, or indeed increased staff collaboration in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.</p
Learning from complaints about hospital care
Complaints are often seen as a negative experience
in healthcare, with patients or family members
writing about poor experiences of care, or things
that went wrong. These things that go wrong may
be small issues or major problems. Patient
complaints are usually written with the aim of
helping to improve healthcare for future patients.
Patients may have a perspective that differs from
healthcare providers. For example, providers might
not know about how patients dignity was respected,
whether they experienced delays, or how they were
interacted with. Patients, however, know all of these
things. It is known that patient insights into their
care can improve healthcare. However, these
insights may not be considered to the same extent
as staff measures of quality and safety of care. Most
assessments of quality of care in Irish healthcare
services are focused on healthcare workersâ
opinions, statistics about observable events (e.g.,
how many patients got an infection in hospital), or
investigating large errors.
Until recently, complaints have not been used by
hospitals or the healthcare service in Ireland to make
broad improvements to healthcare delivery. While
these complaints receive individual responses, there is
no focus on analysing these complaints together and
using this data to learn about key issues in specific
services and the healthcare system. This means that
patientsâ desire, and ability, to contribute to identifying
problems and potential solutions are limited.
Researchers at the London School of Economics
have developed the Healthcare Complaints Analysis
Tool (HCAT)1
that guides the systematic analysis of
the cause and severity of complaints. The Health
Research Board (HRB) and Health Service Executive
(HSE) funded research project utilised the HCAT to
analyse complaints received about Irish healthcare
organisations. The research involved the
collaboration of researchers, HSE managerial staff,
healthcare workers, and quality and patient safety
professionals in hospitals.An Applied Partnership Award funded by the Health Research Board and the HSE Quality Assurance
and Verification Division (Grant number APA-2017-006)non-peer-reviewe