Internet of Things home healthcare: the feasibility of elderly activity monitoring

Homecare systems are a focus of research due to shifting care requirements of the elderly. Activity has become a vital metric when monitoring vulnerable patients. Activity monitoring however is contextual and difficult to capture. In this paper the implementation of a Bluetooth low energy monitoring system which incorporates the interoperability of Internet of Things (IoT) to create a sustainable homecare approach is explored. Monitored patient health is evaluated using activities of daily living standards. Data captured is evaluated to determine movement, motion and location which contribute to the activity based, sensor driven care models. Activity is captured by occupants interacting with ‘unique’ objects of interest (OOI). Interactions captured are evaluated using activities of daily living by aligning room positioning, transference within the home and OOI use

Technology assisted risk assessment in homecare

The home is a key environment for geriatric care. Research has demonstrated patients discharged to their homes are at a high risk of readmission of transitioning to homecare. The ability for care providers to predict and mitigate risk is limited in this environment. Significant observational requirements hinder continued diagnosis which limits timely interventions before a readmission event. Technology is used to resolve this issue and provide enhanced risk assessments by gathering data, however these technologies present a wide variety of challenges including barriers to use and ethical considerations which hinder an effective solution. This paper seeks to examine the necessary observations homecare providers require to form effective risk assessments and interventions in the home. This is achieved by remote monitoring through Bluetooth low energy (BLE) sensors for the common causes of hospital readmissions including observed difficulties in activities of daily living (ADL), heart rate fluctuations and falls. Risk is assessed by examining these factors as events to deduce behaviour or apparent reduction in capacity to function in daily life. Results obtained when using BLE sensors, heart rate monitors and fall detectors show it is possible to observe and record events of interest to health care providers in the provision of geriatric homecare. Patterns within sensor data could be used in the home environment to form an effective patient risk analysis given remote monitoring access to a patient and prescribed care plan to evaluate outcomes and possibility of readmission. Further experiments will test and validate the risk assessment analysis formed in this paper

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Navigating reflection: photography as a learning tool on a cruise field trip

Limited research has been done to date on tourism student’s learning during field trips, despite the value of education in the field being recognised by other academic disciplines such as geography. An educational field trip that immerses students in the subject being studied, in this instance tourism and cruise operations management, can present opportunities for them to apply what has been learnt in the classroom to ‘real life’ situations and enable them to reflect on their learning. This study examines whether photography is a valuable tool in supporting student’s reflective practice during a 7 day cruise field trip around the Eastern Mediterranean in May 2009. The 12 participating students were each given a digital camera and instructed to take an unlimited number of photographs that ‘best represents your learning about cruise studies’. On return to the UK each student selected 5 photographs that held the most meaning for them and were individually interviewed on their choices. The study concludes that reflexive photography linked with elicitation interviews can help evidence learning and encourage students to reflect on their learning

Preliminary investigation of the effects of a concert on the behavior of zoo animals

The AAM is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Harley, J. J., Rowden, L. J., Clifforde, L. M., Power, A. & Stanley, C.R. (2022). Preliminary investigation of the effects of a concert on the behavior of zoo animals. Zoo Biology, 41(4), 308-327], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21676]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.To increase visitor footfall and engagement, zoos may host public events which may extend outside of typical opening hours. With plans to hold a 2-day concert at Tayto Park, Ireland, this study aimed to identify the behavioral response to the music event of a selected group of species in the zoo. Twenty-two species were observed across three Phases of the event (pre-, during and post-event). Specific behaviors of interest were categorized as active, resting, asleep, abnormal, and out of sight, with repeated observations being made at each enclosure during each Phase. Alongside these behavioral data, Sound Pressure Levels (SPLs) were concurrently recorded at the observation locations in terms of both dB(A) and dB(C). The median dB(C) levels during the event were found to be significantly higher (mdn = 64.5dB) when compared with both pre- (mdn = 60.7dB) and post-event Phases (mdn = 59.4dB), whilst dB(A) levels were only significantly higher during the event (51.7dB) when compared with the pre-event Phase (mdn = 49.8dB). We found some species-specific behavioral changes (mainly associated with active and resting behaviors) correlated with increased SPLs and/or event itself. However, the behavioral responses varied between species and there were numerous species which did not respond with any change in behavior to the increased SPLs or the event itself. This variation in response across species reinforces the need for monitoring of behavioral changes as well as consideration of their natural behavioral ecology when implementing appropriate mitigation strategies. Further research should be encouraged to provide evidence-based assessment of how music events may affect animal welfare and behavior and to test the efficacy of mitigation strategies that are implemented to safeguard animal welfare

Early intervention for relapse in schizophrenia: results of a 12-month randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioural therapy

Background. The paper describes a randomized controlled trial of targeting cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) during prodromal or early signs of relapse in schizophrenia. We hypothesized that CBT would result in reduced admission and relapse, reduced positive and negative symptoms, and improved social functioning. Method. A total of 144 participants with schizophrenia or a related disorder were randomized to receive either treatment as usual (TAU) (N=72) or CBT+TAU (N=72). Participants were prospectively followed up between entry and 12 months. Results. At 12 months, 11 (15.3%) participants in the CBT group were admitted to hospital compared to 19 (26.4%) of the TAU group (hazard ratio=0.53, P=0.10, 95% CI 0.25, 1.10). A total of 13 (18.1%) participants in CBT relapsed compared to 25 (34.7%) in TAU (hazard ratio=0.47,

Exercise Increases Insulin Content and Basal Secretion in Pancreatic Islets in Type 1 Diabetic Mice

Exercise appears to improve glycemic control for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, the mechanism responsible for this improvement is unknown. We hypothesized that exercise has a direct effect on the insulin-producing islets. Eight-week-old mice were divided into four groups: sedentary diabetic, exercised diabetic, sedentary control, and exercised control. The exercised groups participated in voluntary wheel running for 6 weeks. When compared to the control groups, the islet density, islet diameter, and β-cell proportion per islet were significantly lower in both sedentary and exercised diabetic groups and these alterations were not improved with exercise. The total insulin content and insulin secretion were significantly lower in sedentary diabetics compared to controls. Exercise significantly improved insulin content and insulin secretion in islets in basal conditions. Thus, some improvements in exercise-induced glycemic control in T1D mice may be due to enhancement of insulin content and secretion in islets

Researching belonging with people with learning disabilities:Self-building active community lives in the context of personalisation

We wanted to understand more about how people with learning disabilities are building active community lives to help belonging. We spoke to 39 people from 29 different support organisations, 7 local authority representatives and 43 people with learning disabilities. They said belonging was about having the time to connect with other people in “everyday” places, being part of a supportive network and having the right choice and information. Belonging is like a cake. It needs the right ingredients. These ingredients include the right combination of people, places and times. Because of cuts to funding, many people with learning disabilities lack the right support, choice and information to access their communities. This is not belonging. ​. Abstract: Background This journal article draws on findings from a research project that examined how people with learning disabilities and their allies were seeking to build a sense of belonging. We wanted to focus on the concept of “belonging” in the context of personalisation and reduced government social care funding. Specifically, we sought to understand how people with learning disabilities and their supporters were coming together to “self-build” networks of support including friendship clubs and self-advocacy groups to enable a greater sense of belonging in their local communities. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with seven local authority representatives across four case study areas in the UK, as well as 39 staff across 29 organisations providing a range of day and evening support and activities. We also talked to 43 people with learning disabilities across the four areas about their experiences. Findings Our findings demonstrate how belonging involves a complex configuration of actors, places, times, relationships and institutional roles (much like the ingredients in a cake). The ways in which belonging intersects with agency and choice was also identified as an important and novel finding of our study. Conclusion While belonging is often presented to people as a desirable and realisable outcome of social inclusion policies, cuts in funding and a lack of appropriate support frustrate people's desires to meaningfully belong with other people in their local community. This demonstrates the importance of supporting social environments that meet people's needs for social connectedness and belonging

Sustainability toolkit for cephalopod fisheries: Cephs & Chefs Project

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Indigenous social exclusion to inclusion: Case studies on Indigenous nursing leadership in four high income countries

Aims and objectives This discursive paper provides a call to action from an international collective of Indigenous nurse academics from Australia, Canada, Aotearoa New Zealand and the USA, for nurses to be allies in supporting policies and resources necessary to equitably promote Indigenous health outcomes. Background Indigenous Peoples with experiences of colonisation have poorer health compared to other groups, as health systems have failed to address their needs and preferences. Achieving health equity will require leadership from Indigenous nurses to develop and implement new systems of care delivery. However, little is known about how Indigenous nurses influence health systems as levers for change. Design A Kaupapa Māori case study design. Methods Using a Kaupapa Māori case study methodology, coupled with expert Indigenous nursing knowledge, we developed a consensus on key themes. Themes were derived from three questions posed across the four countries. Themes were collated to illustrate how Indigenous nurses have provided nursing leadership to redress colonial injustices, contribute to models of care and enhance the Indigenous workforce. Results These case studies highlight Indigenous nurses provide strong leadership to influence outcomes for Indigenous Peoples. Five strategies were noted across the four countries: (1) Indigenous nationhood and reconciliation as levers for change, (2) Indigenous nursing leadership, (3) Indigenous workforce strategies, (4) Development of culturally safe practice and Indigenous models of care and (5) Indigenous nurse activism. Conclusions In light of 2020 declared International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, we assert Indigenous nurses’ work must be visible to support development of strategic approaches for improving health outcomes, including resources for workforce expansion and for implementing new care models. Relevance to clinical practice Curating strategies to promote Indigenous nurse leaders around the world is essential for improving models of healthcare delivery and health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples