This work develops a method for automatically extracting temperature data from prespecified anatomical regions of interest from thermal images of human hands, feet, and shins for the monitoring of peripheral arterial disease in diabetic patients. Binarisation, morphological operations, and geometric transformations are applied in cascade to automatically extract the required data from 44 predefined regions of interest. The implemented algorithms for region extraction were tested on data from 395 participants. A correct extraction in around 90% of the images was achieved. The process of automatically extracting 44 regions of interest was performed in a total computation time of approximately 1 minute, a substantial improvement over 10 minutes it took for a corresponding manual extraction of the regions by a trained individual. Interrater reliability tests showed that the automatically extracted ROIs are similar to those extracted by humans with minimal temperature difference. This set of algorithms provides a sufficiently accurate and reliable method for temperature extraction from thermal images at par with human raters with a tenfold reduction in time requirement. The automated process may replace the manual human extraction, leading to a faster process, making it feasible to carry out large-scale studies and to increase the regions of interest with minimal cost. The code for the developed algorithms, to extract the 44 ROIs from thermal images of hands, feet, and shins, has been made available online in the form of MATLAB functions and can be accessed from http://www.um.edu.mt/cbc/tipmid.

PurposeFood consumption is a result of a choice that is influenced by economic status, society, culture, psychosomatic elements (Bisogni et al., 2002) and religious factors (Dewan, 2017) creating an identity based on one's beliefs (Mennell et al., 1992). Although many versions exist, this diet is often established on an ideology to abstain from using animals for dietary needs (Smart, 2004). There has been much research to explore vegetarian motivation and impacts of this diet on health; however, first-hand accounts are few.Design/methodology/approachAutoethnography was undertaken to understand my experience as a vegetarian living within a primarily meat consuming country. The theoretical framework driving the research uses social cognitive theory (SCT), the transtheoretical model (TTM) and ethical theory to address the vegetarian experience and emotions generated through such encounters.FindingsData collected, including conversations, headnotes and teaching material, were transcribed and categorised into four emerging themes including vegetarian experience, culture, identity as an educator; and impacts of beliefs. The author also discusses the motives for converting to vegetarianism and the experiences that came with behavioural change. Obstacles and opportunities presented by living in a dominant meat society are explored and the author’s influence on others as an educator, as a citizen in society and as a member of a family.Research limitations/implicationsBeing new to autoethnography proved to be a limitation in the study.Practical implicationsThis research may prove useful for researchers to gain an insider's view of a vegetarian's experience, and how the lifestyles impact students and others in a social context from the author's perspective.Social implicationsAutoethnography regarding vegetarianism from an educator's perspective is lacking and hence may give an insight to help fill the literature gap and change perspectives towards the vegetarian community.Originality/valueAutoethnography regarding vegetarianism from an educators perspective is lacking; hence, this would be a valuable insight to add to the literature gap.

Mobile learning (mLearning) has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in the clinical setting. mLearning reduces the theory-practice gap by providing relevant information to nurses and boosting clinical skills. Despite the vast majority of work in this area, few studies in nursing have investigated the correlation between motivation and mLearning for continuing practice development (CPD). Motivation is an essential theoretical concept used to explain human motive that is not new in nursing. Understanding the notion of motivation directed towards learning may clarify the role of technology within pedagogy. Additionally, associating motivation and self-determination may be crucial in understanding motivation in professional nursing practice and education. This study determines the effect of mLearning on motivation to enhance CPD in nursing professionals (NP) analysed critically through a Self-Determination Theory lens. Twenty-three qualified nurses working within the clinical area participated by using a specific mobile application on their smartphone to learn nursing related skills. Over three weeks, participants logged in their learning experience, providing an overview of the relationship between motivation and mLearning. The nurses participating in the study found mLearning motivational in the clinical setting and indicated ownership of their learning, suggesting perceived autonomy. Furthermore, the mobile application enhanced nursing practices through gaining competency and fostered team building through interactions with other health professionals in the clinical area, demonstrating relatedness. This work suggests that having ownership of the learning experience fosters motivation through intrinsic and external needs, supporting learning and gaining competency in the clinical area. Also, the need to become competent and share with others further nurtures motivation to learn in the clinical area. Additionally, these findings suggest mLearning features that motivate NP towards clinical development. This study concludes with implications for the scholarship on mLearning for the continual practice development of nurses.

A crucial issue that threatens humanity worldwide, is the misuse of antibiotics (Marquard & Li, 2018). However, the terms misuse and overuse of antibiotics are widely misunderstood, as many assume that antibiotics are only acquired directly through a prescription by a medical professional. The reality of the situation is much more complex, and many do not realise the indirect intake through ingestion with food (Philips et al., 2003) and recreational actions (Schwartz et al., 2003). Moreover, such information is kept out of the limelight, keeping the community unaware of this pressing issue. Antibiotic resistance is escalating globally as social behaviour is leading to selective pressure creating resistant strains of bacteria through excessive exploitation of antibiotics (Okeke & Edelman, 1999). This article aims to address the mechanisms of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the link to healthy individuals’ gut flora, creating asymptomatic carriers within the community. Since many students at MCAST are undertaking courses that may aid in the transportation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as animal husbandry, they need to be aware of bacterial strains found in farm animals, which pose a potential risk to humans via the food chain. Students undergoing courses that lead to health-related work, seeking future employment in a clinical setting, also need to be aware of the threat antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose to humans advancing from a clinical setting to the community. Persons working within such industries need to understand both how pathogens gain resistance, and how they spread, to apprehend methods of avoiding transmission. This study endeavours to increase local awareness within the community, and avoid this socioeconomic threat, by addressing behavioural factors.

The present document presents 13 commentaries that address the broad topic of the special issue-Technology and educational 'pivoting' in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic-and, in some cases, specific articles from the issue itself. Since the launch

Refugees experience specific challenges when transitioning into higher education influenced by socio-cultural issues (Kong et al., 2016). Moreover, online learning may impact identity formation leading to duelling identities (Brunton et al., 2019). As virtual learning prevails in higher education due to the globalisation of new technologies, academic needs and competition with international institutions (Olaniran & Agnello, 2008), marginalisation of socially excluded groups such as refugees may surface (Crea & Sparnon, 2017).The purpose of this study is to explore educators perspectives of challenges and opportunities refugee students’ face when following higher education via a virtual space that impedes these specific students identity and sense of belonging. This paper provides the concept based on Erickson’s psychosocial development theory to extend this area of investigation by assessing the impact of learning via online spaces on identity.Five educators working within higher education were interviewed using a qualitative phenomenological methodology to generate an in-depth, unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities observed by teaching refugee students’ and focusing on identity formation. The data generated were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a computer-assisted data analysis software (CAQDAS), NVivo 12 Plus, to classify group-specific codebooks emerging from the data collection.The finding suggests that refugee students’ studying via a virtual space face specific challenges linked to their lived reality; however, pedagogy and educators need to be more culturally responsive to support students from diverse backgrounds and aid in the identity transition. Moreover, opportunities gained through online learning allow a sense of belonging to a global education and skills fostered will prove fruitful academically and beyond. This study concludes with implications for professional practice within the higher academic setting.

Thermography has developed rapidly over the past fifty years; it has been refined into a sophisticated tool to measure temperature that may be used anywhere owing to the reduction in size of the apparatus used. This technique has also been used industrially to ensure product quality. However, for over fifty years this technology has been employed in medical research studies as it is a non-invasive tool that can be used to study human skin temperature (Ring 2010). The body’s physiological mechanisms yield heat and temperature variations may indicate the presence of disease (Gatt et al. 2015). Thermography is not a tool that requires a skilled technician, nor is it a test that needs to be applied physically to the desired area. It is a simple test can be performed by a simple click of a button and the subject’s temperature readings can be uploading on the manufacturer’s software (Jones 1998). Repeatability of this test has been applied with successful results (Balbinot et al. 2013). Over the past year, MCAST students in several faculties have observed first-hand the application of thermography as an indication of disease, making using the thermographic camera available on campus. Students from various disciplines could see how the heat-detecting camera being used for disease detection in addition to its applications in engineering, construction, and food technology. Using this research science and technology were linked to enhance the students’ learning experience and make them aware of a fresh approach on how humans can benefit from modern engineering in relation to health. The applications of thermography for disease detection and the understanding of its use is of the utmost importance for students following health-related courses, since thermography is a tool that may soon be available locally as research brings forth new beneficial practices in medicine. This paper appraises the importance of this tool within the health-care setting.

Lipids are an essential part of the human diet affecting biological processes and reducing disease development.Plant-based oils, specifically sterols, are essential compounds for cellular composition and proliferation. As vegetarians refrain from consuming animal products, although many versions of this lifestyle exist, plant oils are their only source of fat intake. Extracted plant oils are an essential source of fats and fatty acids; hence this study aims to address vegetarians knowledge and pessimistic perceptions of fats and plant oils to understand the vegetarian consumer choice through the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Despite extensive research on the vegetarian lifestyle, a pessimistic approach to understanding consumer choice in plant-based oils has been less than satisfactory. A qualitative research design was selected to conduct one-to-one in-depth interviews with seventeen vegetarian participants that met the eligibility criteria. Recruitment was based on a purposive sampling drawn from social media groups to provide an insight into the pessimistic views of vegetarians on plant-based oils. A thematic analysis was conducted using the computer-assisted software package NVivo 12 Plus. Pessimistic views and lack of knowledge on the functionality of fats and fatty acids may lead to nutrient deficiencies. The study has identified three major themes related to vegetarians pessimistic views towards plant oils: 1) pessimistic misconceptions of fats and plant-based oils, 2) pessimistic views on plant-based oil harvesting and manufacturing, and 3) plant-based oil challenges and pessimistic health claims. These conflicts are affecting the nutritional status of vegetarians by either avoiding or lessening extracted plant oils in their diet due to a lack of misinformation and uninformative nutritional labelling. The present study highlights the vegetarians' pessimistic perceptions of extracted plant oils. It argues that vegetarians' are more prone to nutritional deficiencies due to a lack of knowledge on the functionality of fats and fatty acids and highlights the need for informative food labelling to enable consumers to make comprehensive food choices.