Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic by family carers of people living with dementia towards the end of life

Background People living with dementia account for a large proportion of deaths due to COVID-19. Family carers are faced with making significant and emotive decisions during the pandemic, including decisions about end of life. We aimed to explore the challenges faced by family carers of people living with dementia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England, as reported by charity telephone support line staff, who were able to objectively discuss a range of different experiences of many different carers who call the helpline. In particular, we focussed on key concerns and areas of decision making at the end of life. Methods We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with eight telephone support line staff from two UK based charities who support carers of people living with dementia and those at the end of life. Interviews were conducted in the first wave of the pandemic in England in May–June 2020. Results An overarching theme of uncertainty and reactivity during a crisis was identified, and within this, five main themes were identified: concerns about care transitions, uncertainty in engaging support and help, pandemic-motivated care planning, maintaining the wellbeing of the person living with dementia, and trust, loss of agency and confusion. Conclusions Family carers may be reluctant to seek support because of fear of what may happen to their relative, which may include hospitalisation and becoming ill with COVID-19, care home placement, or not being able to be with a relative at the end of life. In some cases, a lack of trust has developed, and instead carers are seeking support from alternative services they trust such as nationally known charities.This study was used to inform the development of a decision aid to support family carers making decisions about care for their relative with dementia during the pandemic, who the lack the capacity to make their own decisions.

Automatic Reading Algorithm of Substation Dial Gauges Based on Coordinate Positioning

With the development of science and technology, inspection robots have attracted more and more attention, and research on the automatic reading of pointer instruments through inspection robots has become particularly valuable. Aiming at the problems of uneven illumination, complex dial background and damping fluid interference of the collected instrument images, this paper proposes a dial gauge reading algorithm based on coordinate positioning. First, the multi-scale retinex with color restoration (MSRCR) is applied to improve the uneven illumination of the image. Second, a circle detection algorithm based on the arc-support line segment is proposed to detect the disc to obtain the coordinate of the center and radius of the circle. Then, a pointerless template is used to obtain the pointer, and the concentric circle algorithm is applied to locate the refined pointer. Finally, the automatic reading is calculated using the relative position of the pointer and the zero scale. The experimental results prove that the proposed algorithm can accurately locate the center of the circle and the pointer and obtain readings automatically.

Rapid response to supporting learning and teaching: A whole of university approach

One university responded rapidly to the changing landscape of higher education to support staff during this time. There are seven support mechanisms that have been put into place across the university to assist staff. Results show data that reports on these mechanisms and that they are seemingly successful, except for the Support Line which has since been reconfigured to still provide support for the small number accessing it. The results also show that a rapid response, if targeted, is able to provide just in time support and training to staff when moving rapidly online. Through the use of the online engagement framework it can be seen that by supporting staff through the seven mechanisms, staff are in a better place to ensure that students are engaged while learning online.

Implementation and analysis of a telephone support service during COVID-19

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been essential for occupational health services (OHS) providers to react rapidly to increased demand and to utilize resources in novel ways. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of staff is already identified as an area of high risk; therefore, providing timely access to psychological support may be vital, although limited evidence is available on how these risks are best managed. Aims To describe implementation and analysis of a psychology-led COVID-19 telephone support line in a National Health Service OHS. Methods Data from calls made to the support line were collected over the first 4 weeks of service implementation. Numerical data including frequency of calls and average waiting time were first considered. A content analysis was then conducted on call notes to identify prevalence of themes. Results Six hundred and fifty-five calls were received, and 362 notes included sufficient information for use within the content analysis. Frequency of calls peaked within the first week followed by a reduction in the number of calls received per day over time. Most calls included discussion around clarification of guidance (68%) with a smaller subset of calls offering support around anxiety (29%). Prevalence of themes did not appear to change over time. Conclusions Clear and timely information is vital to support the well-being of healthcare staff. A psychologically informed telephone support line was a good use of occupational health service resources in the interim while more tailored advice and services could be established.

ETHICS AND AESTHETICS CRITERIA AS VALID SUPPORT TO RESEARCH

This article aim to show the aesthetics and ethics values whose relation traces could be found in theological text studies. We use bibliographic review as methodology to this research. Considering these elements and how it was found we ask: how can we validate such elements to understand the theological text? When we are analyzing ethics behaviors can we consider the found results as intrinsic values in such discoveries and can it be compared in different times, in other words, it is available if we bring it out to our time without prejudice considering criteria. We know values and beliefs can change according different times, but the main question that translates our doubt is: how can we consider the ethical and aesthetical values described in different times avoiding damage then to be impartial in the research? In spite of lots of doubts rose, what can support on our research reading are historic and current images we can validate as support line to comparative analysis considering ethics and aesthetics values found. This text will be presented as communication in this event.Key Words: Methodology. Ethics and research. Aesthetics and research. Theological methodology.

Simultaneous Influence of the Track Axis Curvature and the Support Line Obliquity at Railway Bridge Superstructures with Steel Beams Embedded in Concrete

For new railway bridges with small spans (L ≤ 35.00 m) superstructures with steel beams embedded in concrete are recommended and used, which can ensure the requirements of strength and especially stiffness, regardless of velocity. In all the design prescriptions used so far for superstructures with steel beams embedded in concrete, and even in the technical literature, there is little information and data on the influence of the support line obliquity and the track axis curvature in the design and calculation of these types of structures. In the design code, if certain conditions related to the geometry of the superstructure are met (obliquity, curvature) the calculation is a simplified one, made on a single isolated longitudinal beam of the deck; otherwise, if the conditions are not met, finite element program analysis is recommended. The article aims to study the situations in which the requirements of the design prescriptions are not met.

Dynamic Tests for Energy Absorption by Selected Auxetic Fabrics

Experimental dynamic tests for energy absorption by four selected auxetic fabrics were conducted and analyzed. An original test stand was designed, manufactured and attached to a Hopkinson's bar. The energy absorbed by an auxetic curtain was expressed in terms of the energy of the maximum elastic deformation of a unit volume along the support line of the witness-plate. A quasi-impulse load was induced using a gas blast under a pressure corresponding to an indoors deflagration explosion of a propane-air mixture in a vented room. The auxetic fabric with the best energy-absorption properties was identified on the basis of the comparative analysis using a reference system with a steel specimen.