scholarly journals Single-use plastic and COVID-19 in the NHS: Barriers and opportunities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaocheng Hu ◽  
Roz Davies ◽  
Karyn Morrissey ◽  
Richard Smith ◽  
Lora E. Fleming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Routine Data ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Barriers And Opportunities ◽  
Recycle And Reuse ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Design And Methods

Background: Single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) has been essential to protect healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, intensified use of PPE could counteract the previous efforts made by the UK NHS Trusts to reduce their plastic footprint. Design and methods: In this study, we conducted an in-depth case study in the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust to investigate plastic-related issues in a typical NHS Trust before, during and after the pandemic. We first collected hospital routine data on both procurement and usage of single-use PPE (including face masks, aprons, and gowns) for the time period between April 2019 and August 2020. We then interviewed 12 hospital staff across a wide remit, from senior managers to consultants, nurses and catering staff, to gather qualitative evidence on the overall impact of COVID-19 on the Trust regarding plastic use.Results: We found that although COVID-19 had increased the procurement and the use of single-use plastic substantially during the pandemic, it did not appear to have changed the focus of the hospital on implementing measures to reduce single-use plastic in the long term. We then discussed the barriers and opportunities to tackle plastic issues within the NHS in the post-COVID world, for example, a circular healthcare model.Conclusion: investment is needed in technologies and processes that can recycle and reuse a wider range of single-use plastics, and innovate sustainable alternatives to replace single-use consumables used in the NHS to construct a fully operational closed material loop healthcare system. 

scholarly journals Interactions between Simulant Vitrified Nuclear Wastes and high pH solutions: A Natural Analogue Approach

MRS Advances ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (12) ◽  
pp. 669-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen Mann ◽  
Clare Thorpe ◽  
Antoni E. Milodowski ◽  
Lorraine P. Field ◽  
Richard P. Shaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Analogue ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
High Ph ◽  
Glass Dissolution ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Durability Assessment ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Extended Time Period

ABSTRACTThis study details the characterization of a glass sample exposed to hyperalkaline water and calcium-rich sediment for an extended time period (estimated as 2 - 70 years) at a lime (CaO) waste site in the UK. We introduce this site, known as Peak Dale, in reference to its use as a natural analogue for nuclear waste glass dissolution in the high pH environment of a cementitious engineered barrier of a geological disposal facility. In particular, a preliminary assessment of alteration layer chemistry and morphology is described and the initiation of a long-term durability assessment is outlined.

Stability and Change in Emotional Intelligence: Exploring the Transition to Young Adulthood

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D.A. Parker ◽  
Donald H. Saklofske ◽  
Laura M. Wood ◽  
Jennifer M. Eastabrook ◽  
Robyn N. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Postsecondary Education ◽  
Life Transition ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Transition From High School

Abstract. The concept of emotional intelligence (EI) has attracted growing interest from researchers working in various fields. The present study examined the long-term stability (32 months) of EI-related abilities over the course of a major life transition (the transition from high school to university). During the first week of full-time study, a large group of undergraduates completed the EQ-i:Short; 32 months later a random subset of these students (N = 238), who had started their postsecondary education within 24 months of graduating from high school, completed the measures for a second time. The study found EI scores to be relatively stable over the 32-month time period. EI scores were also found to be significantly higher at Time 2; the overall pattern of change in EI-levels was more than can be attributed to the increased age of the participants.

Presence of Liver Steatosis Is Associated With Greater Diabetes Remission After Gastric Bypass Surgery

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman Vangoitsenhoven ◽  
Rickesha Wilson ◽  
Deepa V Cherla ◽  
Chao Tu ◽  
Sangeeta R Kashyap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Bypass ◽  
Metabolic Surgery ◽  
Gastric Bypass Surgery ◽  
Liver Steatosis ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Diabetes Remission ◽  
Independent Association ◽  
Glycemic Outcomes ◽  
Design And Methods

<b>Objective</b>: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and beta-cell dysfunction. Ectopic fat accumulation in liver and muscle causes IR. Since bariatric and metabolic surgery significantly improves fatty liver disease, <a>we hypothesized that coexistence of liver steatosis (i.e., when hepatic IR contributes in T2DM) would be associated with greater diabetes improvement after surgery.</a> <p> </p> <p><b>Research design and methods</b>: A total of 519 patients with T2DM who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and simultaneous liver biopsy and had a minimum 5-year follow-up were analyzed to assess the independent association between biopsy-proven liver steatosis and postoperative long-term diabetes remission (glycated hemoglobin < 6.5% off medications).</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Results</b>: Of the 407 patients with biopsy-proven liver steatosis, long-term diabetes remission was achieved in 211 (52%) patients, compared with 44/112 (39%) remission in patients without steatosis (P=0.027). In multivariable analysis, presence of liver steatosis was an independent predictor of long-term diabetes remission (odds ratio 1.96, [95% confidence interval 1.04 – 3.72], <i>P</i>=0.038). Hepatocyte ballooning, lobular inflammation, or fibrosis at baseline did not predict diabetes remission.</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Conclusion</b>: This study, for the first time, suggests that in patients with T2DM who are considering bariatric and metabolic surgery, coexistence of liver steatosis is associated with better long-term glycemic outcomes. Furthermore, our data suggest that there are different variants of T2DM wherein metabolic responses to surgical weight loss are different. A subgroup of patients whose T2DM is characterized by the presence of hepatic steatosis (presumably associated with worse IR) experience better postoperative metabolic outcomes.</p>

Using the Change4Life Disney Branded 10-minute Shake Ups During the COVID-19 ‘Lockdown’

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Budzynski-Seymour ◽  
James Steele ◽  
Michelle Jones
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
Affective Responses ◽  
Online Resources ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Perceived Effort ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Bidirectional Relationship ◽  
The Uk

Physical activity (PA) is considered essential to overall health yet it is consistently reported that children are failing to meet the recommended levels. Due to the bidirectional relationship between affective states and PA, affective responses are a potential predictor to long term engagement. Since late March 2020 the UK government enforced ‘lockdown’ measures to help control the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19); however, this has impacted children’s PA. Using online resources at home to support PA is now common. The primary aim of this research was to investigate the use of the Change4Life 10-minute Shake Ups to support PA by examining the effects of Disney branding upon children’s (n=32) post activity affective responses and perceived exertion. The secondary was to investigate the effect of the lockdown on PA habits. Children had similar positive affective responses and perceived effort to activities; however, branding was considered to be a key contributing factor based upon qualitative feedback from parents. Children’s PA levels dropped slightly since ‘lockdown’ was imposed; though online resources have been utilised to support PA. The use of immersive elements such as characters and narrative in PA sessions, as well as utilising online resources during ‘lockdown’ appear potentially promising for future research.

GA: Armani’s Giorgio Armani

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Brooker ◽  
Margaret Hayward
Keyword(s):  
Final Section ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Shop ◽  
The Third ◽  
Haute Couture ◽  
Fashion Designer ◽  
The Body Shop ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Career Woman

The Armani high-fashion example illustrates the importance of adaptive rational methods in his founding and developing of an iconic high-fashion firm. Armani adapted stylistically to fashion’s new times in the 1970–80s by creating a new style catering for the career woman. His stylistic adaptation is compared with that of another famous Italian fashion designer, Versace, who instead modernized haute couture fashion and created a succession of glamourous styles. Both leaders exploited the same opportunity but in different ways. The third section compares these leaders’ legacies in the 1990s–2000s and assesses from a long-term perspective how capably they had used adaptive rational methods. The final section shifts the focus from fashion to the cosmetics industry and from Italy to the UK. Anita Roddick used adaptive rational methods to establish The Body Shop corporation in the 1970s–80s. However, she then abandoned rational methods with dire results for her corporation in the 1990s.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitudes towards concussion in UK-based male ice hockey players: A need for attitude change?

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Hutchinson ◽  
Paul Ellison ◽  
Andrew Levy ◽  
David Marchant
Keyword(s):  
Attitude Change ◽  
Ice Hockey ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Accurate Knowledge ◽  
Hockey Players ◽  
Sport Concussion ◽  
Concussion History ◽  
Concussion Knowledge ◽  
The Uk

Objective Concussion is a common injury in ice hockey, and previous research suggests some misconceptions and unsafe attitudes amongst players. The purpose of this study was to assess sport concussion knowledge, attitudes and the effect of sport concussion history in UK-based male ice hockey players across three levels of competition: professional, semi-professional and amateur. Methods Sixty-one participants across a number of UK ice hockey teams completed the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey and reviewed a series of statements to assess knowledge (concussion knowledge index), attitudes (concussion attitude index) and misconceptions of concussion. Results Level of competition and concussion history had no significant effect on concussion knowledge index or concussion attitude index. A positive significant relationship exists between playing experience and concussion knowledge index and concussion attitude index. Statements identified common misconceptions and areas of accurate knowledge regarding concussion symptoms suggesting that male ice hockey players have a higher level knowledge compared to a sample of the UK general public. Playing experience was associated with increased knowledge and increasingly safe attitudes towards concussion. Conclusion Despite knowledge relating to loss of consciousness and correct management of symptoms being generally accurate, there are worryingly unsafe attitudes regarding aspects of concussion. Such attitudes may well pose significant threats to players’ safety and long-term health.

The use of a bespoke website developed for people with dementia and carers: Users’ experiences, perceptions and support needs

Dementia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 147130122110284
Author(s):  
Emma Wolverson ◽  
Caroline White ◽  
Rosie Dunn ◽  
Katie Cunnah ◽  
David Howe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Information ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Website Design ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Barriers To Use ◽  
Credible Information ◽  
Training And Support ◽  
Design And Methods

Background: Current policy emphasises the role of digital technologies in facilitating the management of long-term conditions. While digital resources have been developed for carers, there has been little attention to their development for people with dementia. The Caregiverspro-MMD website was developed as a joint resource for people with dementia and carers, delivering access to information, informal content, games and peer support. Research Design and Methods: This study explored the experiences of dyads consisting of people with dementia and carers of using the website. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 43 participants. Findings: Thematic analysis identified 10 subthemes grouped under three superordinate themes which highlight participants’ experiences of and responses to the website functions; important aspects of the website design and delivery; and barriers to use. Discussion: Findings highlight the value of a credible information source which negated the need for arduous online searches, the pleasure associated with playing games and interacting with others online. However, participants were reluctant to share personal information online, preferring to create ‘informal content’ which celebrated everyday life, and were reluctant to ‘friend’ people online who they had not met in person. The importance of training and support to use the website was highlighted. Health problems, lack of interest or difficulties using technology, and time were all identified as barriers to use.

scholarly journals Sociolinguistic Markers of Friendship Among Persons With Dementia in Long-Term Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 575-575
Author(s):  
Pamela Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Pronominal Reference ◽  
Field Notes

Abstract Sociolinguistics and discourse analysis provide tools through which to examine how friendship is socially constructed through language and communication. Research on social isolation and loneliness reveals the importance of social interaction on the psychological and physical health of older adults. Given that linguistic, communicative, and functional abilities decline as dementia progresses, it is challenging to identify markers of friendship. The Friendship Project is an ethnographic study of social interaction among persons with dementia living in a long-term care setting. The data are from transcripts and field-notes of social interactions among residents with a range of cognitive impairments over a six-month time period. Results reveal that persons with dementia employ specific linguistic features such as narrative, evaluation, evidentials, and pronominal reference to make meaning and create relationships over time. Practical implications will be discussed.

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