Glasgow School of Art

The Chronology of a woman determines numerous transitions across her lifespan. Menopause is a transition that begins with subtle changes that may not be noticeable several years prior to menopause; yet, it impacts the ageing experience. Design and participatory approaches have demonstrated how we can collaborate to define and determine pathways that offer innovative solutions across social, work, and health settings. ‘Design Your Menopause Life’ encourages autonomy, curiosity, and support as a woman documents, diaries, and expresses her experience with an awareness of support and empowerment through peers, technologies, and professionals. This chapter will discuss the rationale for instigating, designing, developing, and delivering three concepts aimed at encouraging a call to women to create their journey as they navigate perimenopause and menopause with an awareness of peer and professional support through innovative digital and analog tools and events. These solutions are conceived to offset and alleviate some chronic or age-related conditions, enhancing quality of life and informing policy in work and social settings.

The landscape of dental occlusion is undergoing a transformative shift with the integration of digital technologies offering accuracy, efficiency, and improved patient outcomes. This article explores the advancements in digital innovations that have reshaped occlusal analysis and management. By examining tools such as three-dimensional (3D) scanning, virtual articulators, and occlusal diagnostic software, we highlight their impact on treatment planning and clinical workflows. These technologies enable dental professionals to analyse occlusal relationships with a level of detail previously unattainable, paving the way for more accurate and individualised treatment plans. The implementation of digital approaches also enhances patient engagement, as visual data aids in understanding treatment processes. This article also reviews the available research on the reliability of these innovations, providing an evidence-based perspective on their clinical application.

Background Concentrated growth factors (CGF) is a biomaterial with regenerative potential, enriched with platelets, leukocytes, growth factors, and fibrin, but it degrades within 2–3 weeks. Albumin extends CGF stability, while silver nanoparticles (SNP) improve its mechanical and antibacterial properties. This in vitro and ex vivo study investigates the impact of albumin (Alb-CGF) and albumin with SNP (Alb-CGF-SNP) on CGF’s mechanical properties, degradation rate, and cellular bioactivity. Methods Blood samples were collected from 15 healthy volunteers who met specific inclusion criteria, with the sample size determined using G*Power software for power calculation. Three groups were prepared: control CGF, experimental Alb-CGF, and Alb-CGF-SNP. Membranes were produced using a Medifuge MF200 centrifuge and activated plasma albumin gel (APAG) device following standard settings. In experimental groups, the superficial 2.5 ml of plasma layer was heated at 75 °C for 10 min before combining with the buffy coat layer of CGF. Mechanical properties were tested using a texture analyzer, degradation rates were measured by weight loss percentage, and cellular bioactivity was evaluated with a Sysmex hematology analyzer. Data analysis was conducted using GraphPad Prism 8.0. Group differences were assessed via one-way ANOVA and Welch ANOVA, with Tukey’s HSD test for post hoc paired group comparisons. Results The control (CGF) showed the highest mechanical properties, with Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) (95.6 kPa), Modulus of Toughness (55.55 kJ/m³), and Young’s Modulus (75.73 kPa; (P < 0.01). No significant differences were observed in the strain at break across groups (P > 0.90). Alb-CGF-SNP displayed superior degradation resistance, with 45.2% weight loss at day 60 versus 84.2% in CGF (P < 0.01). CGF had the highest WBC and platelet levels, with amounts of 2.25 and 3.11-fold, respectively (P < 0.01). Conclusion The modification of CGF with albumin and silver nanoparticles enhanced degradation resistance, although it did not reach the tensile strength and cellular content of unmodified CGF. Clinically, Alb-CGF and Alb-CGF-SNP serve as effective barrier membranes due to their prolonged stability, while CGF remains advantageous where high mechanical strength is required. Despite lower elasticity limiting suturing, their plasticity supports use as fillers or for tissue phenotype modification in regenerative applications.

Introduction Concentrated growth factor (CGF), a novel autologous platelet concentrate, has gained substantial interest for its potential role in managing oral diseases. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of CGF in regenerative dentistry. Methods A systematic search was performed across MEDLINE, OVID, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Elsevier for publications between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2023. Only randomized clinical trials were included. The quality of the methodology was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results In 3 trials treating periodontal intrabony defects, CGF combined with bone grafts showed significant superiority over bone grafts alone ( P < .00001), with a mean reduction of 1.41 mm in intrabony defect depth and a mean gain of 0.55 mm in clinical attachment level ( P = 0.002). For gingival recession in 5 trials, CGF combined with coronally advanced flap (CAF) was more effective than CAF alone, resulting in a mean increase in keratinized tissue width of 0.41 mm and a mean increase in gingival thickness of 0.26 mm ( P < 0.00001). However, CGF combined with CAF was less effective than connective tissue graft (CTG) combined with CAF, showing a mean difference in root coverage of −15.09% and a mean difference in gingival thickness of −0.50 mm ( P < 0.0001). In alveolar ridge preservation, sinus elevation, guided bone regeneration, dental implant procedures, and postextraction healing, CGF gave better values in clinical practice. Conclusions CGF enhances regenerative surgery outcomes for periodontal intrabony defects. Combined with CAF, CGF improves therapeutic efficacy for gingival recession, although less so than CTG with CAF. CGF shows promise in various regenerative dentistry areas. However, the absence of meta-analysis and low-quality assessments in many studies necessitates further high-quality research. Knowledge Transfer Statement The use of concentrated growth factors (CGFs) in regenerative dentistry, within the limitation of low-quality studies, shows promising benefits in treating periodontitis infrabony defects, gingival recession, guided bone regeneration, dental implant alveolar ridge preservation, sinus elevation, and third molar extraction. Future research should focus on high-quality studies and explore combining CGF with grafting materials to enhance therapeutic outcomes in oral surgery.

The historical authenticity of historic urban areas has been compromised, and community cohesion has declined, necessitating comprehensive methods to systematically identify spatial textures and socio-cultural transformation characteristics. This study investigates the Jianxi Historic Urban Area in Luoyang from a Historic Urban Landscape perspective, integrating GIS, sDNA tools, and semi-structured interviews to analyze material spatial evolution and socio-cultural shifts. The findings reveal stable street network structures enhanced by road expansions, functional intensification marked by rising residential density and tertiary sector growth, and high replacement rates of 1950s–1960s buildings that improved the area’s physical quality but disrupted historical continuity and heritage integrity. Material transformations fragmented collective memory and reshaped residents’ sense of place identity. This research proposes sustainable renewal strategies, emphasizing refined gradient control models, community identity revitalization, and participatory decision-making, offering actionable insights for regenerating historic urban areas.

Greenhouse gas ( ghg ) emissions drive climate change and the harms it causes. Extraterritorial human rights obligations to curb ghg emissions are difficult to establish in the European Convention on Human Rights because the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) conceptualises jurisdiction as control over rights holders, which is in tension with the diffuse and collective nature of ghg emissions and how they cause climate change. This article first frames the problem and this tension. Second, it outlines the decision in Duarte Agostinho v Portugal to illustrate how the ECtHR emphasised the role of jurisdiction in establishing obligations. Third, it considers justifications for the ECtHR’s decision and argues that the most coherent ones concern the nature of positive obligations and the exhaustion of domestic remedies. Finally, the article argues that the chosen approach means that the echr will contribute little to facilitating climate justice – unless its assumptions are rethought.

Worldwide, young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education declines around preteen and early teenage years. Educational tools harnessing three-dimensional (3D) visualization technologies can increase engagement with science while effectively facilitating knowledge acquisition. These educational tools are particularly beneficial for anatomy education, often proving more effective than traditional approaches. Hologram-based educational tools offer considerable advantages over 3D approaches such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) as they do not require a head-mounted display or handheld equipment. Building on previous research, this study aimed to define a technological framework for an interactive hologram-based application using hand-tracking technology. It also aimed to produce an application utilizing this framework to educate young people on basic neuroanatomy, to examine its efficacy at facilitating knowledge acquisition, and to examine elements of user experience. The application presented in this study utilizes a Pepper’s Ghost illusion and implements gesture control paradigms via the Leap Motion Controller. User testing was conducted with 20 participants aged 9–12, assessing knowledge acquisition, usability, motivation, and cognitive load. The application significantly increased neuroanatomy knowledge by a mean of 30%, had a usability rating above the benchmark median, was motivating, and imposed low cognitive load. Limitations of this study include a lack of both participant demographic data and comparative data with traditional learning approaches. Applications of the type developed in this study represent a novel way of engaging young people with STEM education, in a manner potentially capable of combatting their declining interest.

Kidney disease has a major impact on global health and is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Limited disease awareness and basic kidney knowledge may impede early intervention, but this is preventable. Virtual reality (VR), an interactive and accessible digital medium, has been shown to enhance awareness through immersive experience, helping to address the lack of understanding of unobservable internal organs. This study aimed to create a VR experience to increase public awareness about diabetic kidney disease and provide an educational resource on the structure and function of the kidneys. Integrating interactivity and immersive visualization has the potential to facilitate more active learning and increase user engagement about the diabetic kidney. This research utilizes a computerized tomography (CT) dataset to digitally reconstruct anatomically accurate kidneys with their internal structures. It uses groundbreaking untethered technology to facilitate an immersive and interactive self-paced learning experience. Small-scale user testing was conducted with eight participants to assess the usability of the VR experience and its effectiveness to support knowledge acquisition of the kidney’s structure and function. On the one hand, usability was reported lower than expected but within an acceptable margin, which suggested further refinements would be needed to improve the user experience. On the other hand, results were encouraging, suggesting a positive development of knowledge. These experimental results suggest, to a certain extent, that the proposed immersive experience has the potential to support improved public awareness and understanding of the structure and function of the kidney and related pathology.

Self-awareness of human anatomy varies widely among the general public, leading to challenges in comprehending the intricate functions and spatial relationships of internal organs. To bridge this gap, the integration of active learning methodologies into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education has become imperative. These methodologies empower students to actively engage in their learning process through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, fostering a deeper understanding of complex anatomical concepts. In anatomical education, creative learning interventions, such as body painting and crafting, have proven effective in enhancing active learning skills including motor skills, observational abilities, and visuospatial aptitude. Furthermore, the accessibility of emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR) has presented promising opportunities to revolutionize science curricula, offering innovative and engaging methods to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of human anatomy. This chapter discusses the variability in human anatomy awareness and associated challenges. Emphasizing the significance of active learning, the chapter underscores its role in aiding students to grasp complex scientific concepts. This research focuses on a creative learning approach to teaching the complexities of the brain, lungs, and heart, utilizing a combination of innovative techniques, including anatomical baking, photogrammetry, 3D modeling, and AR application development. Preliminary findings underscore the usability of the AR application and its efficacy in fostering increased motivation for learning while recognizing the need for further comprehensive user testing. The approach aims to enhance public understanding of these vital organs, leveraging the popularity of baking programs to ensure widespread accessibility and engagement.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver tumor in dogs, typically occurring around nine years of age and accounting for over 50% of hepatic tumors. Veterinary oncologists must have a deep understanding of hepatic anatomy to assess liver tumor resectability, acquired through various educational resources. Successful liver cancer treatment, including surgery, relies on precise knowledge of the liver’s multi-lobular structure and its vascular complexity. This includes understanding the hepatic artery, vein, and the portal vein tributaries’ branching patterns, which can vary between patients. Surgeons need to determine blood supply routes, assess tumor heterogeneity, and understand the local environment before surgery. Current computed tomography (CT) technology has limitations in anatomical perception, hindering surgical planning for liver tumor surgery. In veterinary oncology, unlike human medicine, 3D technology is still emerging. This research explores the feasibility of creating 3D models of canine liver anatomy from CT datasets, including HCC cases, and integrating them with digital sculpting and game engine software to build interactive user interfaces. The resulting application enables veterinary surgeons and students to visualize the normal liver and liver with HCC in 3D. Users can also simulate the placement, size, and severity of HCC tumors within the liver, aiding communication with dog owners. The evaluation process received highly positive feedback, highlighting the value of interacting with 3D models for context, visual accuracy, perceptual learning, and improving client-vet communication.

Mass media outlets are perpetuating an ever-narrowing, largely unrepresentative, norm of vulval appearance. Consequentially, women who unavoidably consume these media are increasingly self-conscious about their genital appearance. Protruding labia minora are usually the vulval anatomical structure which varies most widely compared to media portrayals and is the most common area of insecurity. Women, and increasingly adolescents, are undergoing surgery to achieve a “normal” vulva. While wide discourse surrounds the need to tackle these rapidly increasing surgical rates, little scientific research has been conducted to address the underlying problem. Conversely, artists have produced visual representations of vulval diversity, believing that an increase in awareness of vulval diversity may ease anxiety. Unfortunately, due to their artistic nature, these representations tend to lack scientific rigor. 3D resources show promise in anatomy education through their tangible interactivity, which gives them an enhancement over the current artistic offerings and school curriculum. Interviews with four clinical professionals, and an analysis of 1389 vulval images, were conducted to understand the most common vulval characteristics and how those characteristics intersect. The most common characteristics were protruding asymmetric labia minora and a visible clitoral hood. This research has produced a 3D-printed resource of a “normal” vulva for use as an educative tool about vulval diversity. Face and content validity tests were performed. The test results found the resource to be both anatomically accurate and potentially useful for its intended purpose.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) impact millions globally, constituting a sixth of worldwide illnesses, mainly afflicting Asia, South America, and Africa. These diseases lead to widespread death and disability, emphasizing the ongoing necessity for funding drug deployment and vaccine research and development. This requirement will increase, emphasizing the importance of public, private, and government awareness. To address the growing need for understanding, interactive digital tools can enhance learning and public engagement. Interactive applications have been shown to be valuable in promoting knowledge acquisition and public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These tools have notably enhanced learning outcomes and fostered learners’ confidence, especially when tackling intricate subjects, such as molecular biology, immunology, and parasitology. Virtual reality (VR) enables users to immerse themselves in diverse and otherwise unreachable environments. This capability renders VR especially apt for revealing the invisible world of parasites. VR is particularly suitable for public engagement events, offering an otherworldly experience within a short timeframe and with minimal other necessary props. This research designed and developed an interactive VR application tool for public engagement in collaboration with the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology. The interactive VR app displayed promising usability and perceived presence when tested with eight participants. Limitations of user testing included low diversity and limited participant numbers. Despite this, the application shows promise as a valuable tool for public engagement. Additional user testing would be necessary to gain further insights into potential improvements, involving a wide cohort of participants and collecting additional qualitative and quantitative data to statistically analyze the validity of the application as an engagement tool.

This paper offers a fresh look at the law of state succession. It argues that this important area of international law is plagued by two ‘transcendental’ concepts which lie at its heart, namely continuity/identity (‘ c / i ’) and automatic succession. These are concepts which cannot be assessed against any verifiable reality. The paper shows that these concepts disguise determinations relating to state succession that are in fact made on other grounds. As a result the law fails to perform its most basic function: to guide action. Accordingly, the paper argues for of a functional reframing of the law. This involves the replacement of c / i and automatic succession with concepts which can be assessed against verifiable realities, namely recognition and consent. Once such functional reframing has taken place, we can being to have a meaningful debate about the role of international law in regulating the ever-changing configuration of the international community of states.

Background Adherence to post‐polypectomy surveillance is poor despite evidence that it is associated with lower risk of future colorectal cancer. Methods We evaluated 6,210 bowel screening participants between 2009‐2016 in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to assess potential barriers to post‐polypectomy surveillance. Results Increasing deprivation (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile 1 vs 5; OR 1.68; p < 0.001), and increasing comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index 1‐2 vs 3‐4; OR 1.80; p < 0.001, vs ≥ 5; OR 3.31; p < 0.001), were associated with non‐surveillance in British Society of Gastroenterology 2002 intermediate/high‐risk patients, while ACE‐Inhibitor (OR 0.78; p < 0.001) and aspirin use (OR 0.34; p < 0.001) were associated with undergoing surveillance. The most deprived patients receiving surveillance had more metachronous polyps (54.0% vs 49.3%) and cancer (1.1% vs 0.4%) (p = 0.044). Discussion Patients from more socioeconomically deprived areas are less likely to have appropriate post‐polypectomy surveillance, and are more likely to have metachronous polyps and colorectal cancer even when they do. Conclusion Surveillance strategies must take into account factors including socioeconomic deprivation and comorbidity exist to improve surveillance uptake in this group through the design of targeted interventions which move away from the current “one size fits all” approach.

We present a first evaluation of a Serious Slow Game Jam (SSGJ) methodology as a mechanism for co-designing serious games in the application domain of cybersecurity, to evaluate how the SSGJ contributed to improving the understanding of cybersecurity. To this end, we engaged 13 participants with no experience in cybersecurity, in a multidisciplinary SSGJ involving domain-specific, pedagogical, and game design knowledge, and encouraged engagement in-between scheduled days of the SSGJ. Findings show improved confidence of participants in their knowledge of cybersecurity (from 12.5% to 62.5%) after undertaking the SSGJ, with free-text answers specifically indicating an improved understanding in terms of vulnerabilities, attacks, and defences for three quarters of the participants. Also, confidence in knowledge of game design improved (12.5% to 75%), and the SSGJ successfully engaged participants in-between scheduled days. Finally, a serious game is presented that was co-designed with participants during our SSGJ, and produced as an output of the SSGJ methodology.

Infections of intact and damaged skin barriers and keratin are frequently associated with complex biofilm communities containing bacteria and fungi, yet there are limited options for successful management. This study intended to focus on the utility of some novel proprietary lactam molecules, quorum sensing (QS)–derived halogenated furanones, which act to block the QS pathway, against key fungal pathogens of the skin ( Candida albicans , Malassezia furfur and Microsporum gypseum ). Moreover, we aimed to assess how these actives performed against complex interkingdom biofilms in a clinically relevant model. Two lactam derivatives were tested against a panel of important fungal pathogens and then quantitatively assessed against simple and increasingly complex interkingdom biofilm models on polystyrene coverslips and a novel keratin hydrogel system. The lactams were shown to be effective against a wide range of fungal species in the planktonic and biofilm forms, with no ability to regrow. The fungal component of the multispecies biofilm models was significantly reduced with lactam treatment. Lactam treatment was also comparably effective compared to the non‐prescription topical antifungal ‘Lamisil’ against C. albicans early and late biofilms. This study highlights the effectiveness of lactams as a novel antimicrobial for the management of the polymicrobial and interkingdom multispecies biofilms.

Since UNESCOs vision for developing civic engagement tools in heritage management in the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, civic engagement has been considered one of the most important ways to promote the sustainable development of heritage. However, two primary obstacles have consistently hindered its effective implementation: the subjugation of authoritative power by international heritage organisations or national governments and conflicts arising from divergent notions of heritage designation and management at the same hierarchical level due to varied heritage concepts. This paper seeks to advance research on the prevalent civic engagement practice of narrating personal heritage stories, with the objective of addressing these existing challenges and enhancing the effective scope of civic engagement within the heritage sector. Through the literature review, which encompasses a thorough examination of contemporary theory and the various case studies of heritage narrative, this paper reveals that civic storytelling practices possess two dimensions: the empowerment narrative and the enlightenment narrative. These two dimensions can significantly mitigate tensions within communities and citizen groups while simultaneously tackling the issue of bureaucratic hegemony over heritage perception. With the additional discussion of these two dimensions, this study proposes The Collaborative Framework of the Civic Heritage Narrative Cycle as a tool for helping planners to develop narrative practices and foster the sustained advancement of heritage within an environment that is more democratic and communicates narratives