Nature and prevalence of long-term conditions in people with intellectual disability: retrospective longitudinal population-based study.

Objective: Explore the nature and prevalence of long-term conditions in individuals with intellectual disability.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal population-based study.

Setting: Primary and secondary care data across the population of Wales with the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank.

Impact of a standardised decision-making tool on the identification of abortion-seeking patients at risk of ectopic pregnancy: A human factors approach.

Ectopic pregnancies are uncommon among women presenting for abortion. However, where suspected, rapid referral for definitive diagnosis is essential to prevent harm. We assessed whether implementation of a standardised decision-making tool, an algorithmic representation of the clinical decisions and associated actions defined in policy, in a British abortion service was associated with a reduction in missed opportunities to escalate care where indicated.

The CURTAIN feasibility study: Exploring a food-themed reminiscence theatre intervention to improve the nutrition of older adults living in residential care homes.

Reminiscence theatre (RT), an applied drama technique, is an effective tool for improving health-related outcomes for older adults in clinical settings. However, no research has explored the potential for a food-themed RT intervention to improve the nutrition, health and wellbeing of this population. Therefore, the current study explored the feasibility and acceptability of such an intervention - the CURTAIN intervention - in residential care-homes.

Ice vests extend physiological work time while wearing explosive ordnance disposal protective clothing in hot and humid conditions.

Background: Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians may be required to work in hot, humid environments while wearing heavy protective clothing. We investigated the ability of an ice vest to attenuate physiological strain and subsequently extend work tolerance.

Methods: Eight male participants (24.

The impact of knitted linked seams on comfort and friction perception.

Friction from knitted clothing can cause discomfort and skin issues, underscoring the importance of tactile comfort for wearers. Seamless knitted garments are assumed to be comfortable to wear, yet there is little understanding of their tactile comfort in comparison to linked seams - the most common form of knitted garment. This novel study examines the influence of a garments knitted structural architecture on clothing comfort and wearability by investigating skin friction and tactile perception across ten body regions in both male and female participants, using two commonly utilised materials and seam designs: cotton and merino wool with plain and linked seams.

High-density thermal sensitivity maps of the body of people with multiple sclerosis: Implications for inclusive personal comfort systems.

Inclusive thermal comfort solutions should accommodate the need of clinical groups such as people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), who experience abnormal thermal sensitivity. The aim of this study was to develop high-density body maps of temperature sensitivity in pwMS to inform the design of patient-centred personal comfort systems. Fourteen pwMS (6 M/8 F; 48.

Designing digital patient experiences: The digital health design framework.

Background: Digital health (DH) brings considerable benefits, but it comes with potential risks. Human Factors (HF) play a critical role in providing high-quality and acceptable DH solutions. Consultation with designers is crucial for reflecting on and improving current DH design practices.

Hot water immersion acutely reduces peripheral glucose uptake in young healthy males: An exploratory crossover randomized controlled trial.

Whether glucose concentration increases during heat exposure because of reduced peripheral tissue uptake or enhanced appearance is currently unknown. This study aimed to report glucose concentrations in both capillary and venous blood in response to a glucose challenge during passive heating (PH) to assess whether heat exposure affects glucose uptake in healthy males. Twelve healthy male participants completed two experimental sessions, where they were asked to undertake an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) whilst immersed in thermoneutral (CON, 35.

Pedestrian crash causation analysis and active safety system calibration.

Over 20 % of global crash fatalities involve pedestrians, but pedestrian crash causation and pedestrian protection systems have not been thoroughly developed or reliably tested. To understand the causation characteristics of pedestrian crashes, 398 pedestrian crashes were extracted from the China in-depth accident study (CIDAS), and most of these crashes were aggregated into five scenarios. The two scenarios with the highest proportion of crashes were analyzed by the driving reliability and error analysis method (DREAM) to identify high-risk causation patterns.

A day in the life of a home care worker in England: A human factors systems perspective.

The delivery of home care in England is explored with respect to (a) the work system (b) the barriers that challenge worker performance, and most importantly (c) whether these barriers impact the quality and safety of the care received by older adults. Data were collected using surveys and interviews with home care workers (n = 11). The analysis used two validated Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) models to map the data which identified three key performance barriers; (1) time factors, (2) organisational practices, and (3) job design.

Making microbes matter: storytelling's potential to make antibiotic resistance real and relevant to the public.

This commentary discusses how digital storytelling may help people engage with the threat of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) including in relation to antibiotic use. The range of public health communication campaigns of recent decades have had variable impacts and there remains scope to develop novel ways to make the complex issue of AMR more real and relevant to the public. Here, we propose that structured storytelling, in particular digital storytelling, may offer a more self-reflective and meaningful approach to such communication.

Pedestrian safety in an automated driving environment: Calibrating and evaluating the responsibility-sensitive safety model.

The severity of vehicle-pedestrian crashes has prompted authorities worldwide to concentrate on improving pedestrian safety. The situation has only become more urgent with the approach of automated driving scenarios. The Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS) model, introduced by Mobileye®, is a rigorous mathematical model developed to facilitate the safe operation of automated vehicles.

The visual perception of wetness: Multisensory integration of visual and tactile stimuli.

A multitude of sensory modalities are involved in humans' experience of wetness, yet we know little of the integratory role of vision. Therefore, the aim was to quantify the effect of physical stain volume, chroma and size on wetness perception, and to compare wetness perception under different sensory conditions, including visuotactile and visual only interactions. Eighteen participants visually observed and/or used their index fingerpad to dynamically interact with stimuli varying in physical wetness (0, 2.

A survey of the workplace experiences of police force employees who are autistic and/or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background: There has been little focus on autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in occupational groups, particularly in high-demand roles such as the police.

Aims: To describe the characteristics and experiences of UK-based police force employees who are autistic and/or have ADHD, including the benefits and challenges their conditions bring to their occupation, their need for reasonable adjustments, and their co-occurring mental illnesses.

Method: An online survey was developed, containing both quantitative and qualitative elements.

A video processing and machine learning based method for evaluating safety-critical operator engagement in a motorway control room.

In safety-critical automatic systems, safety can be compromised if operators lack engagement. Effective detection of undesirable engagement states can inform the design of interventions for enhancing engagement. However, the existing engagement measurement methods suffer from several limitations which damage their effectiveness in the work environment.

From conflicts to crashes: Simulating macroscopic connected and automated driving vehicle safety.

Safety evaluation is a critical aspect through the future stages of automation development. Since there is a lack of historical and generalizable safety data in high levels of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), a possible approach to follow is the microscopic simulation method. Through microsimulation, vehicle trajectories are able to be exported and traffic conflicts to be identified using the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM).

A Physical Model to Describe the Motion Behavior of BNNSs under Nanosecond Pulses.

This paper presents a physical model that provides a comprehensive understanding of the motion behavior of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) immersed in ultrapure deionized water and subjected to a series of nanosecond pulses. In a study conducted by Y. Mi et al.

Body temperatures, thermal comfort, and neuropsychological responses to air temperatures ranging between 12°C and 39°C in people with Multiple Sclerosis.

The negative effects of thermal stress on Multiple Sclerosis (MS)' symptoms have long been known. However, the underlying mechanisms of MS heat and cold intolerance remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate body temperatures, thermal comfort, and neuropsychological responses to air temperatures between 12 and 39 °C in people with MS compared to healthy controls (CTR).

Individual Factors Influencing the Public's Perceptions About the Importance of COVID-19 Immunity Certificates in the United Kingdom: Cross-sectional Web-based Questionnaire Survey.

Background: Understanding how perceptions around immunity certificates are influenced by individual characteristics is important to inform evidence-based policy making and implementation strategies for services around immunity and vaccine certification.

Objective: This study aimed to assess what were the main individual factors influencing people's perception of the importance of using COVID-19 immunity certificates, including health beliefs about COVID-19, vaccination views, sociodemographics, and lifestyle factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey with a nationally representative sample in the United Kingdom was conducted on August 3, 2021.

Plasma biomarkers of endothelial function, inflammation and oxidative stress in individuals with non-freezing cold injury.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Are biomarkers of endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammation altered by non-freezing cold injury (NFCI)? What is the main finding and its importance? Baseline plasma [interleukin-10] and [syndecan-1] were elevated in individuals with NFCI and cold-exposed control participants. Increased [endothelin-1] following thermal challenges might explain, in part, the increased pain/discomfort experienced with NFCI. Mild to moderate chronic NFCI does not appear to be associated with either oxidative stress or a pro-inflammatory state.

Peripheral sensory function in non-freezing cold injury patients and matched controls.

What is the central question of this study? Is peripheral sensory function impaired in the chronic phase of non-freezing cold injury (NFCI)? What is the main finding and its importance? Warm and mechanical detection thresholds are elevated and intraepidermal nerve fibre density is reduced in individuals with NFCI in their feet when compared to matched controls. This indicates impaired sensory function in individuals with NFCI. Interindividual variation was observed in all groups, and therefore a diagnostic cut-off for NFCI has yet to be established.

The peripheral vascular responses in non-freezing cold injury and matched controls.

New Findings: What is the central question of this study? Does non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) alter normal peripheral vascular function? What is the main finding and its importance? Individuals with NFCI were more cold sensitive (rewarmed more slowly and felt more discomfort) than controls. Vascular tests indicated that extremity endothelial function was preserved with NFCI and that sympathetic vasoconstrictor response might be reduced. The pathophysiology underpinning the cold sensitivity associated with NFCI thus remains to be identified.