Experimental investigations on cross-flow induced vibrations of rigid prisms with isosceles triangle cross-sections, elastically supported in a free-surface recirculating water channel at a large blockage ratio of 0.4, are presented. The experiments revealed that the oscillatory response differed markedly from that observed in unbounded flows. Notably, sustained oscillations at very low reduced velocities and pronounced hysteretic effects were observed. From an energy transfer perspective, the isosceles triangle with a vertex angle of 150º was identified as the optimal geometry, exhibiting superior efficiency in transferring energy from the flow to the oscillating body compared to other geometries reported in previous studies.
Polarization modulation, the key to human-driven light, plays an important role in determining imaging resolution and contrast, the capacity and security of optical communications, as well as the precision of target detection and recognition. However, i customizing multiple polarization modes within a single beam simultaneously and specifically remains a challenge. To address this issue, we developed a method to extract tunable polarization modes along the trajectories of ultra-long anti-diffracting Airy beams with multiple energy oscillations from an m-order vector vortex beam. This approach allows for the arbitrary definition and switching of multiple on-demand polarization mode along the propagation direction (z-direction) using mode extraction and an optical pen without altering the polarization state of the incident beam. The tunable polarization modes along the z-direction are of particular interest to researchers in the fields of particle trapping, large-depth imaging, optical communication, electronics and acoustics.
This systematic review evaluates studies focusing on parenting and feeding practices, children's feeding behavior, and growth stunting in Asian countries. Eight electronic databases were searched to screen studies published between Jan 2015 and May 2021. There were contradictory findings related to gender differences in growth stunting and factors that reinforce/facilitate or inhibit acquisition of optimum growth in children. Theme of parenting practices showed that time spent on childcare, traditional beliefs about child-care feeding and responsive feeding were also contributing factors. Amidst economic improvement, political, social changes, and worldwide execution of various nutritional programs, stunting continues to be relentlessly persistent and widespread in Asia. Undernutrition disturbs areas of the mind involved in reasoning, reminiscence, locomotor skills and also an adverse influence on the physical and psychological growth of children and ensuing learning capabilities. Stunted children have more anxiety and depression and lower self-esteem than non-stunted children. A public health strategy is required to: (i) properly examine stunting with time through collaborated efforts of community members and various sectors, (ii) tackle malnutrition with steps to enhance maternal nutrition during pregnancy, infant feeding practices and (iii) involvement of effective multi-sectoral partnership programs for management of stunting.
BACKGROUND: There are several identified service user and provider barriers which lead to missed vaccination opportunities for adults within primary care. Programs delivering vaccination in non-primary care settings, such as in emergency departments, hospitals, specialist clinic and non-medical settings may assist in filling these gaps, especially among under-served populations. While expanding the locations in which vaccines are provided may improve uptake, there is a need to explore service user and provider attitudes towards delivery. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to explore perceptions and attitudes of adult service users and providers towards receiving and delivering vaccination in non-primary care settings and identify how attitudes relate to determinants of vaccine compliance. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies that focused on attitudes and perceptions of adult service users and providers towards the delivery of influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal, and herpes zoster vaccines in non-primary care settings were included. Primary, peer-reviewed studies published in English from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2023 were sought. Studies that focused on vaccination in primary care settings, the operational delivery of vaccination programs and interventions, children or adolescents less than 18 years, pregnant women, and healthcare workers receiving vaccination for occupational purposes were excluded. RESULTS: 30 studies were included for final analysis in this study. 22 were cross-sectional studies, and 19 were published in the United States. 15 studies were conducted in non-medical settings and 11 in the emergency department. Findings showed that service users were receptive towards vaccination in non-primary care settings and were especially motivated by the convenience of non-medical settings such as workplaces, mobile clinics, drive through clinics, and faith-based organisations. A number of service user barriers were reported to vaccine acceptance, including low confidence in vaccines, fear of adverse effects, and low risk perception of infection. Findings of the included studies highlight a number of provider attitudinal barriers to the delivery of vaccinations outside of primary care, such as considering the process too time-consuming, costly, and detracting from the purpose of their work, although the number of studies assessing provider attitudes were limited. CONCLUSION: Overall, there is a limited amount of evidence available regarding the attitudes to vaccination in non-primary care settings, especially among providers. There is a need for more study in this area to strengthen understanding of attitudes towards vaccination delivery in these settings. Mapping of available studies suggests there is a high acceptance level among service users towards vaccination in non-primary care settings, especially those in non-medical settings who lack routine access to the healthcare system. Further exploration of this and expansion of programs may serve to improve vaccine access and assist in overcoming inequity.
BACKGROUND: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) has recently been observed in recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is unclear whether RP is directly caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. This study aims to investigate the potential causation between RP and COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: In this study, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from January 1, 2020, to March 19, 2024. We included the articles with clinical related findings, specifically case reports and case series. Conference abstracts, editorial publications, preprint, and those not specifically related to COVID-19 vaccination are excluded. The refined selection process aimed to ensure a focused and clinically relevant analysis of the association between RP and COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: A total of six articles were ultimately included in this study, comprising five case reports and one case series involving 24 patients with RP after vaccination. Baseline characteristics of the studies showed the RP post COVID-19 vaccination frequently occurred with females compared to males (70.83 vs. 29.17 %). Of the patients with RP post COVID-19 vaccination, 87.5 % (21/24) had either a history or possible predisposing factors of RP. Among the patients with detailed information of vaccination (n = 20), the number of vaccine doses was not related to RP development (45 % (1st) vs. 30 % (2nd) vs. 25 % 3rd dose). For types of vaccine, 75 % of RP were found to have received the administration of mRNA vaccine (15/20). CONCLUSION: The risk of bias was increased due to the uncontrolled study designs and small sample size, making it impossible to attribute causation between RP and COVID-19 vaccination. These few cases may have occurred independently of vaccination. However, physicians should still remain vigilant for RP following COVID-19 vaccination, particularly as the number of vaccinated individuals continues to rise.
BACKGROUND: First Contact Practitioners (FCP) have developed as a more advanced physiotherapy clinical role delivering specialist MSK services in GP practice settings. They aim to support GPs in effectively managing increasing patient workloads. As FCPs are now a more established NHS role, it is important to understand how these clinicians perceive their roles to guide and support future service development. AIMS: To review the current evidence regarding the experience of FCPs in the UK. To understand how FCPs perceive their role. To gain an insight into FCP practice which can inform future primary research studies. METHOD: A systematic review of FCP primary qualitative research studies. Multiple database and grey literature search with screening following PRISMA guidelines. Qualitative critical appraisal and analysis used tools and frameworks from the Joanna Briggs Institute. RESULTS: The review reports on 11 included studies which informed the creation of six key concepts impacting upon FCP role experience and perceptions. These were complexity, competency and role development, role understanding, job satisfaction, wellbeing and burnout and service delivery. CONCLUSION: FCP clinicians feel broadly positive about their roles, although they report a clear risk of burnout and associated negative impact on their wellbeing. Job satisfaction is linked to adequate training and developing the competencies required to manage patients in an environment of clinical uncertainty. Having access to regular clinical mentorship is a key requirement and FCPs must adapt to the specific demands of work in a GP practice environment.
BACKGROUND: There has been a proliferation of global surgery assessment tools designed for use in low- and middle-income countries. This scoping review sought to categorize and organize the breadth of global surgery assessment tools in the literature. METHODS: The search was conducted using PubMed from October 2022 to April 2023 according to PRISMA extension for scoping review guidelines. The search terms were (("global surgery"[All Fields]) AND ("assessment"[All Fields]) OR (data collection)). Only tools published in English that detailed surgical assessment tools designed for low- and middle-income countries were included. RESULTS: The search resulted in 963 papers and 46 texts described unique tools that were included for the final review. Of these, 30 (65%) tools were quantitative, 1 (2%) qualitative, and 15 (33%) employed mixed-methods. 25 (54%) tools evaluated surgery in general, whereas 21 (46%) were focused on various surgical subspecialties. Qualitatively, major themes among the tools were noted. There was significant overlap of many tools. CONCLUSIONS: Nonspecialty surgery was represented more than any specialty surgery and many specialties had little or no representation in the literature. Ideally, local leadership should be involved in surgical assessment tools. Different methodologies, such as checklists and observational studies, aimed to target varying aspects of surgery and had distinct strengths and weaknesses. Further efforts should focus on expanding tools in neglected specialties.
Participatory Geographical Information Systems (PGIS) fosters equity and inclusivity in urban Land Use Planning (LUP). The rising population, economic development, and environmental changes increase urban LUP complexities. Moreover, the social inequalities existing in most societies create power imbalances in the planning process. Without participatory approaches, the benefits of urban planning will be enjoyed by the rich to the disadvantage of the poor who constitute the majority in societies. Research in urban planning has largely relied on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques, which tend to be technical, thus side-lining the voices and concerns of the marginalized, and less powerful actors. The introduction of the PGIS approach facilitates the development of comprehensive plans that address the needs of diverse population segments. This research is rooted on the premise that PGIS serves as an effective tool for promoting inclusive planning in Africa. Therefore, the research question is centered on understanding how PGIS has been utilized and how effective its application and adoption enhance inclusive urban planning process. A total of 346 articles were initially identified, with 69 ultimately selected based on their relevance and specificity in employing PGIS within urban LUP through a literature review process. The research outcomes illustrate PGIS' contribution to promoting the participation of diverse segments of the population in urban planning. Thus, facilitating the generation of Indigenous Spatial Knowledge (ISK) that reflects the preferences of local communities. However, challenges such as a lack of transparency from local and national government authorities in the implementation of Urban Plans impede the effective integration of PGIS. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of key principles such as respect for rights, good governance, and gender equity in promoting equitable representation among participants, thus ensuring the successful application of PGIS approaches.
BACKGROUND: There are several identified barriers to immunisation delivery and uptake in adults, including governance issues, provider limitations, and patient access. While primary care settings have traditionally been responsible for vaccine delivery, there is a growing need to look to other settings to expand the equitable uptake of vaccinations in adults. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to identify and explore the role of non-primary care settings in delivering adult vaccinations, operational barriers and facilitators to immunisation delivery in these settings, and interventions delivered to improve uptake. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Peer-reviewed studies published from 01/01/2010 to 31/12/2022 that focused on the delivery of influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccines in adult populations outside of primary care settings were included. Studies were also included if they explored barriers and facilitators to delivery, and interventions to improve uptake. RESULTS: 75 studies were identified for inclusion. Most were quasi-experimental studies, and 58/75 were from the US. Studies were most frequently conducted in in-patient settings, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and workplaces. Operational planning and logistics, and provider-level issues, such as poor documentation and workflow interruption were commonly identified barriers to delivery. Government funding, continuity of care, and patient convenience were frequently reported facilitators. Interventions shown to improve uptake were operational planning and clinical improvement systems (Plan-Do-Study-Act [PDSA] cycles), provider education and reminders, on-site vaccination, patient education, and financial incentives. CONCLUSIONS: Mapping of the evidence indicates that adult immunisation delivery may be achievable across tertiary and secondary care settings, as well as non-clinical settings, such as workplaces. There are several identified barriers to delivery, predominantly at the provider-level in tertiary-care settings. Intervention such as operational planning, clinical reminders, and on-site vaccination, may facilitate uptake.
BACKGROUND: Spiritual care interventions can be an important source of emotional support for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, there is wide variation in the literature and no quantitative assessment to synthesize the results of these studies. AIM: To examine the effectiveness of spiritual care interventions on disease-related physiological parameter and treatment outcomes and psychosocial well-being outcomes among patients in the ICU. STUDY DESIGN: A comprehensive search was conducted across 11 databases from inception to 27 May 2024. Studies involving the implementation of spiritual care interventions for patients in the ICU were included. Cochrane's bias risk tool and JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist were used to examine the methodological quality of included studies. Review Manager 5.3 was used to conduct meta-analyses. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that spiritual care interventions could significantly reduce mean arterial pressure (MAP) (MD: -12.12, 95% CI: [-23.68, -0.56], p = .04), length of stay in the ICU (MD: -5.49, 95% CI: [-8.99, -2.00], p = .002), and improved consciousness (MD: 3.91, 95% CI: [1.42, 6.39], p = .002), anxiety (SMD: -1.78, 95% CI: [-3.06, -0.50], p = .006), spiritual well-being (SMD: 1.57, 95% CI: [0.05, 3.08], p = .04) and comfort (MD: 15.53, 95% CI: [10.81, 20.25], p < .01) among patients in the ICU, but had no significant effects on heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturation (SpO2), duration of ventilator use and pain. CONCLUSIONS: Spiritual care interventions could reduce MAP and length of stay in the ICU; improve consciousness, anxiety, spiritual well-being and comfort among patients in the ICU; and are still inconclusive for HR, RR, PR, BP, SpO2, duration of ventilator use and pain. Urgent efforts are needed to better integrate spiritual care interventions into clinical care to enhance patient well-being. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Spiritual care interventions could improve well-being of patients in the ICU.