Publications by authors named "Sophie Hall"

Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the relationship between flourishing and job satisfaction among staff in UK Clinical Trial Units (CTUs) to improve recruitment and retention in clinical trials.
  • A national survey found that while staff reported average job satisfaction, there were lower flourishing levels and a moderate intention to leave, influenced by factors like salary, role, and flexibility.
  • The findings suggest enhancing supportive work environments could help increase staff flourishing, thereby improving job satisfaction and commitment to CTUs.
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Aim: A strict gluten-free (GF) diet is the current mainstay of treatment for coeliac disease (CD). A limited range of GF foods are available on prescription for those with CD. GF foods purchased in shops are typically more expensive than gluten-containing equivalents.

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  • QbTest is a computerized assessment tool aimed at aiding the diagnosis of ADHD, implemented in Child and Adolescent Mental Health services across England from April 2020 to March 2023.
  • A mixed-methods evaluation revealed that the test resulted in a slight reduction in appointments needed for a diagnosis, but also a longer wait time from referral to diagnosis, with pediatric services benefitting more than CAMHS.
  • Interviews and surveys showed that healthcare staff felt the QbTest made the diagnostic process more efficient and helped patients better understand their symptoms, despite some logistical challenges.
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Article Synopsis
  • Coeliac disease (CD) is managed primarily through a strict gluten-free diet (GFD), making it crucial for patients to have a good understanding of the condition and diet.
  • The study systematically reviewed tools for assessing knowledge about CD and GFD, following PRISMA guidelines and examining research from five literature databases.
  • Although 25 studies were analyzed, none of the knowledge assessment tools met all necessary criteria for effectiveness, suggesting a need for better-designed and tested tools that are generalizable across different populations.
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Question: Children and young people experience delays in assessment and/or treatment within mental health services. The objective of this systematic review, funded by the Emerging Minds Network, was to explore the current evidence base for mental health waiting list interventions to support children and young people.

Study Selection And Analysis: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and the Cochrane databases from 2000 to 2023 (last searched October 2023).

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Snakebite envenoming can be a life-threatening medical emergency that requires prompt medical intervention to neutralise the effects of venom toxins. Each year up to 138,000 people die from snakebites and threefold more victims suffer life-altering disabilities. The current treatment of snakebite relies solely on antivenom-polyclonal antibodies isolated from the plasma of hyperimmunised animals-which is associated with numerous deficiencies.

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Background: Due to COVID-19, pandemic preparedness emerges as a key imperative, necessitating new approaches to accelerate development of reagents against infectious pathogens.

Methods: Here, we developed an integrated approach combining synthetic, computational and structural methods with antibody selection and immunization to design, produce and validate nature-inspired nanoparticle-based reagents against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Results: Our approach resulted in two innovations: (i) a thermostable nasal vaccine called ADDoCoV, displaying multiple copies of a SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding motif derived epitope and (ii) a multivalent nanoparticle superbinder, called Gigabody, against SARS-CoV-2 including immune-evasive variants of concern (VOCs).

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Importance: Trial protocols outline a trial's objectives as well as the methods (design, conduct, and analysis) that will be used to meet those objectives, and transparent reporting of trial protocols ensures objectives are clear and facilitates appraisal regarding the suitability of study methods. Factorial trials, in which 2 or more interventions are assessed in the same set of participants, have unique methodological considerations. However, no extension of the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) 2013 Statement, which provides guidance on reporting of trial protocols, for factorial trials is available.

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Importance: Transparent reporting of randomized trials is essential to facilitate critical appraisal and interpretation of results. Factorial trials, in which 2 or more interventions are assessed in the same set of participants, have unique methodological considerations. However, reporting of factorial trials is suboptimal.

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Background: Tics are common in children and young people and may persist into adulthood. Tics can cause challenges with social, occupational, physical, and academic functioning. The current study explores the perceptions of adults with tics and parents/carers of young people with tics regarding their experience of accessing support from professionals in primary care in the UK.

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The development of infant mental health (IMH) services globally is still in its early stages. This qualitative study aims to understand the challenges of setting up IMH services and explores the views and experiences of 14 multi-disciplinary stakeholders who are part of the IMH implementation group in a large Scottish health board. Six major themes were identified through thematic analysis.

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Background: Infants living in areas of socioeconomic deprivation are more likely to have adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are associated with infant mental health (IMH) problems and poor physical and mental health outcomes throughout the life course. As part of the development of IMH services in Scotland, studies are being conducted to explore various stakeholders' perspectives.

Aim: To understand the views and experiences of GPs working in socioeconomically deprived areas in relation to IMH.

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The current paper presents a five-factor measurement model of anger summarizing scores on public-domain self-report measures of anger. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of self-report measures of anger (UK,  = 500; USA,  = 625) suggest five replicable latent anger factors: anger-arousal, anger-rumination, frustration-discomfort, anger-regulation, and socially constituted anger. Findings suggested a 5-factor interpretation provided the best fit of the data.

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To characterize species of viral mRNA transcripts generated during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, human fibroblast-like MRC-5 lung cells were infected with subgroup A RSV for 6, 16 and 24 hours. In addition, we characterised the viral transcriptome in infected Calu-3 lung epithelial cells at 48 hours post infection. Total RNA was harvested and polyadenylated mRNA was enriched and sequenced by direct RNA sequencing using an Oxford nanopore device.

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Aim: To examine resilience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning within an ecological model, identifying the psychological processes associated with resilient, and non-resilient learning to develop a framework for promoting STEM resilience.

Sample And Method: From a sample of secondary-school students (n = 4,936), 1,577 students who found their STEM lesson difficult were identified. Students were assessed on three resilience capabilities and asked to write a commentary on how they responded to the lesson.

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Cross-sectional comparisons of well-being between dog owners and non-owners commonly generate inconsistent results. Focusing on the uniqueness of the relationship might help address this issue and provide a stronger foundation for dog-related psychotherapeutic interventions. This study aims to evaluate the impact of dog-related activities (e.

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Throughout a 20 year biosurveillance period, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus was isolated in low titers from only 6/7355 opportunistically sampled adult Pacific herring, reflecting the typical endemic phase of the disease when the virus persists covertly. However, more focused surveillance efforts identified the presence of disease hot spots occurring among juvenile life history stages from certain nearshore habitats. These outbreaks sometimes recurred annually in the same temporal and spatial patterns and were characterized by infection prevalence as high as 96%.

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Background: The application of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) celiac disease (CeD) guidelines by pediatric gastroenterologists in Australia and New Zealand (Australasia) is unknown. Similarly, long-term management practices for patients with CeD are also unknown in this region.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of Australasian pediatric gastroenterologists in diagnosing and managing patients with CeD.

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Left ventricular end-diastolic volume (EDV) is an important parameter for monitoring patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and might be useful for automatic LVAD work adaptation. However, continuous information on the EDV is unavailable to date. The depolarization amplitude (DA) of the noncontact intracardiac electromyogram (iEMG) is physically related to the EDV.

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Background: In response to COVID-19, there has been increasing momentum in telehealth development and delivery. To assess the anticipated exponential growth in telehealth, it is important to accurately capture how telehealth has been used in specific mental health fields prior to the pandemic.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to highlight how telehealth has been used with clinical samples in the neurodevelopmental field, including patients with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), their families, and health care professionals.

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There is notorious inconsistency regarding mental health benefits of dog ownership, partially due to repeated cross-sectional studies comparing dog owners and non-owners, without taking into account the heterogeneity of dog-owner dyads, especially the activities with which the owners are involved. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive framework of the most important dog human related activities and their impact on owner well-being. Six focus groups with 35 dog owners were conducted, and their audio transcripts thematically analysed.

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Nanoparticles (NPs) have left their mark on the field of bioengineering. Fabricated from metallic, magnetic, and metal oxide materials, their applications include drug delivery, bioimaging, and cell labeling. However, as they enter the body, the question remains - where do they go after fulfilling their designated function? As most materials used to produce NPs are not naturally found in the body, they are not biodegradable and may accumulate overtime.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study highlights the importance of understanding the impact of child-dog interactions on the well-being of dogs, particularly regarding physical and psychological health, and owners' satisfaction with their pets.
  • Researchers developed a pet dog quality of life scale (Lincoln P-QOL) validated through responses from 402 dog owners, categorizing dog behaviors into Excitability, Calmness, and Fearfulness related to child-dog interactions.
  • Findings indicated that calm interactions positively influence the dog-owner relationship, while excitability and fearfulness negatively affect dog health; no significant difference in quality of life was observed between dogs living with neuro-typically developing children and those with developmental disorders.
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