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Chess: a game rooted in military strategy that has become a tool of international diplomacy
No full textYe
Negotiating the caring role and carer identity over time: ‘living well’ and the longitudinal narratives of family members of people with dementia from the IDEAL cohort
No full textYesLongitudinal studies can provide insights into how family members negotiate the caring role and carer identity over time. The analyses of the longitudinal, qualitative interviews on ‘living well’ with dementia from the IDEAL cohort study aimed to identify the shifting, embedded narratives of family members of people with dementia as they negotiated the caring role and carer identity over time. Twenty semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with family members of people with dementia and 14 were repeated one year later; these interviews were analysed using cross-sectional and longitudinal thematic and structural narrative analyses. Longitudinal, interrelated themes, including the care needs and decline of the person with dementia, relationship change and variable service support, framed the narrative types of family members. Six shifting narratives, apparent as dominant and secondary narrative types, characterized negotiating the caring role over time: absent/normalizing, active role adoption / carer identity, resistance, acceptance and resignation, hypervigilance/submergence and role entrapment, and foreshadowed future. The presence or absence of a carer identity was also evident from interviewees’ accounts, although, even where family members were overburdened by the caring role, they did not necessarily express a carer identity. Rather than considering transition into a carer identity, hearing different narratives within the caring role is important to understand how family members experience caring, whether they see themselves as ‘carers’, and when and how they need support. Timely and continued post-diagnostic support, where different caring narratives are recognized, is needed, as well as international initiatives for carer identification
Bending performance of reactive powder concrete frame beams reinforced with steel-FRP composite Bars
Get PDFYesTo investigate the bending behavior of Steel-FRP Composite Bars (SFCBs) reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) frame beams, both experimental and theoretical study were conducted on five concrete frame beams with different reinforcement ratio, types of concrete and reinforcement. The results indicate that the bending behavior of SFCBs-RPC frame beams progresses through three distinct stages: from loading to the cracking of tensile RPC, from cracking to the yielding of tensile SFCBs, and from yielding to failure. Compared with steel-reinforced RPC frames, the load of SFCBs-RPC frame beam continues to increase with the increase of deformation after the yielding of SFCBs, demonstrating good bearing capacity and ductility. Furthermore, the deformation and crack width of RPC frame beams are obviously lower than those of ordinary concrete frame beams, indicating the excellent deformation control and crack resistance ability of RPC beams. In addition, formulae for flexural stiffness at each stage were derived using the effective moment of inertia method. Taking the design code of reinforced concrete structure for reference and the tensile contribution of steel fibers and the mechanical performance of SFCBs into consideration, and the formulae for crack width of SFCBs-RPC flexural beam were developed. Formulae for the bearing capacity of SFCBs-RPC frame beams were also proposed on the base of simplified materials constitutive models and reasonable basic assumptions. The values predicted by these proposed formulae aligned well with the results tested. The research provides a theoretical support for the design and application of SFCBs-RPC frame beams
Correlations between receptor occupancy change and mental state in patients using long-acting injectable antipsychotics: MIDILIA pilot study
No full textYesBackground: The rate at which psychosis drugs can be reduced in dose remains unclear. Anecdotal reports exist of people experiencing worsening of mental state before their next dose of long-acting injectable antipsychotic. No research has previously explored this phenomenon, but understanding this may advise on the rate of receptor occupancy change that provokes the emergence of psychotic symptoms.
Aims: Exploring the relationship between psychotic symptoms and variations in plasma concentration (and calculated receptor occupancy) of long-acting injectable antipsychotics.
Method: This longitudinal study monitored mental state variation within dosing cycles of people taking depot flupentixol and zuclopenthixol. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) monitored global mental state changes, and was stratified into domains according to a five-factor model. Plasma assays at maximal and minimal concentrations allowed prediction of striatal D2 occupancy from published data. We examined correlations between receptor occupancy and the emergence of psychotic symptoms.
Results: Preliminary results from ten participants with psychotic disorders suggest that global mental state deterioration may correlate with increased rate of D2 occupancy reduction. Increased rate of D2 occupancy reduction led to deterioration in ‘positive’ (r = 0.637 [CI: 0.013, 0.904], P = 0.047) and ‘resistance’ (r = 0.726 [CI: 0.177, 0.930], P = 0.018) PANSS clinical domains at minimal concentrations. PANSS score differences were not related to absolute reduction in D2 occupancy.
Conclusions: Our novel observational study design has been demonstrated to be feasible and practicable. Faster reductions in D2 occupancy may increase the risk of increased positive psychotic symptoms and irritability. Slower reductions may minimise this effect. Further recruitment is required before this can be confirmed.Funding through Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and by the Max Hamilton Fund available through the University of Leeds
Digital Monitoring Systems to Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change in Cultural Heritage Protected Areas: The Case Study of Wadi Rum UNESCO Site
No full textNoWorld Heritage sites are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. Extreme weather, rising temperatures, high humidity and sea-level affects historical structures and archaeological sites accelerating deterioration, threatening authenticity, integrity and putting cultural buildings at risk of total loss. A comprehensive strategy, particularly through systematic documentation and monitoring, enabling early interventions are urgently necessary. Wadi Rum UNESCO-inscribed area, situated in southern Jordan is of extraordinary significance. The rock art, inscriptions, and archaeological evidence can be considered exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions of its early inhabitants promoting tourism activities and consequently, being relevant for local economy. Unfortunately, this rock art and widespread inscriptions are threatened by uncontrolled weathering processes, leading to their fading, and making some petroglyphs hard to distinguish. Extreme weather conditions are putting enormous pressure on this heritage, leading it to disappear and accelerating rock decay with surface changes and, in some circumstances, deep cracking effects. The present paper proposes a novel framework for the comprehensive documentation and monitoring of the Cultural and Natural heritage under hazard in the UNESCO area of the Wadi Rum, Jordan. This approach emphasizes collaboration with local stakeholders, enabling early intervention in case of decay of inscriptions and petroglyphics due to harsher climate conditions and ensuring its safeguarded for future generations. Furthermore, it uses advanced digital technologies to create a sustainable and replicable approach. The methodology consists of three key phases: i) Collaborative data documentation; ii) Real time monitoring and visualisation; and iii) Knowledge dissemination and community engagement. While DUNE Framework offers a promising solution, the discussions address some challenges related to its implementation and long-term effectiveness
Working Toward Trauma-Informed Praxis: Reflections on a Shared Learning Process
No full textNoThe work of disrupting hierarchies and transforming oppressive structures is both intellectual and deeply embodied, an engagement with the world around us and the worlds within us. Attending to the causes and impacts of trauma is one important way of bridging these dimensions. This chapter reflects on our learning from conversations and collaborations that began in 2017 when Juleus was a student in the Peace Studies M.A. program at the University of Bradford (UK) and Ute was his dissertation supervisor. Our collaboration has been a process of conscientization and deepening reflexivity, a back-and-forth between lived experiences and academic insights. Our reflection takes a collaborative autoethnographic approach (Chang, Ngunjiri & Hernandez, 2012) and is written in separate voices to make differences in our experiences and perspectives more visible. We begin with brief overviews of our journeys into Peace Studies at Bradford. We then reflect on how we connected and collaborated there during Juleus' dissertation and the questions it raised around making sense of difficult personal stories in academic contexts and beyond. We continued exchanging ideas and questions after Juleus left Bradford, and over time, this led to an awareness of the need for trauma-informed practice (SAMHSA, 2014) in education and other areas of society (Ghunta & Kelly, 2019). Principles for trauma-informed practice include safety, trustworthiness and transparency, collaboration and mutuality, and engagement with cultural, historical and gender issues and inequalities (SAMHSA, 2014). Our reflections suggest both that these principles are important and that their realization in practice can be challenging because they demand significant personal, interpersonal and structural work. The final part of the chapter describes how we have taken this learning into our separate contexts and explores some of the questions that are central to trauma-informed pedagogy and praxis in light of the hierarchies and inequalities that characterize much of the world in which we live and work
Overcoming ‘Diffusion Limits’ - Principles required to measure high molar mass polymers by diffusion ordered NMR
No full textYesQuestion: This paper studies the importance of resolving ‘in-solution’ viscosity to determine an accurate hydrodynamic radii for high molar mass or high dispersity macromolecules via DOSY NMR. Analysis of polymer size via diffusion NMR has become increasingly more common, however as in-solution viscosity increases NMR output becomes more complex and requires dedicated methodologies (both in the instrumentation and data treatment) that can sufficiently resolve slowly diffusing analytes.
Results: Diffusion measurements were used to determine hydrodynamic radii of dissolved polymer chains of materials across a broad molar mass ranges in multiple solvents. Studied systems included poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(styrene), poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and all are shown to match known literature values for dissolved polymer coils with a high degree of accuracy. However, it is shown that it is essential to use the “in-solution viscosity”, which can be obtained by applying a viscosity correction factor to the pure solvent viscosity. It was found that % error in outputs correlates to the viscosity of the solvent, with low viscosity solvents contributing to a higher variability in output data. We have also shown how the experimental range of the technique can be expanded to high molar mass (in excess of 1 million g mol-1), or high viscosity, and demonstrated the advantages of a diffusion optimised NMR probe (Bruker DiffBB) to target slowly diffusing chemical species.
Significance: The presence of even small quantities of large molar mass polymer analytes (2 mg ml-1) has an impact on in-solution viscosity, and thus provides a systematic offset in output diffusion values that are commonly used to interpret polymer sample size. DOSY NMR data include the diffusion of the solvent in-solution. Therefore, DOSY NMR measurements alone, with no internal or external standard besides the solvent itself, can be used to correct for this, allowing for prediction of an accurate hydrodynamic radius (and thus molar mass) of large, slowly diffusing, materials.Wellcome Trus
Impact of go global strategy on green growth in bri and non-bri economies: Evidence from a double machine learning approach
Get PDFYesAs a key stakeholder in global economic and environmental progress, China plays a pivotal role in advancing sustainability. This study examines China's Go Global (GG) strategy impact on green growth (GRG) across BRI and non-BRI economies from 2000 to 2023. The findings from double machine learning (DML) and traditional econometric methods indicate that the GG strategy significantly enhances GRG in BRI and non-BRI economies. These findings are further validated through the absence of endogeneity issues and robustness checks. Meanwhile, green initiatives like BRIGC, BRF, and BRI are instrumental in linking the GG strategy and GRG. Moreover, considering aggregate analysis and excluding global major shocks (i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic, the US-China trade war, and the global financial crisis) confirms that the GG strategy consistently promotes GRG, highlighting its resilience and effectiveness. Policymakers should integrate sustainable practices into infrastructure and transport, enhance biodiversity finance, and prioritize green energy and green innovation through expanded green financing to support green growth (SDG 8) across BRI and non-BRI countries
Grass is always dark(er) on the other side: Exploring the dark side of artificial intelligence humanitarian supply chain operations
Get PDFYesHumanitarian supply chains (HSCs) have undergone significant changes over the years, shifting from traditional systems to more intelligent and, eventually, AI-enabled operations. With technological advancements accelerating across sectors, humanitarian organizations have also begun adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their workflows, improve efficiency, and reduce losses. While much of the existing research has focused on the benefits of AI in business and logistics, there is still limited understanding of its potential downsides—particularly within humanitarian settings. This study addresses that gap by exploring how AI may negatively affect HSC activities, both at the individual (micro) and organizational (macro) levels. To guide our analysis, we draw on the Belief-Action-Outcome (BAO) framework, which helps connect personal and institutional beliefs to actions and resulting outcomes. Humanitarian supply chains operate in complex environments where technology use intersects with human behavior, organizational culture, and social values. To better understand these dynamics, we conducted qualitative interviews with professionals working in humanitarian organizations. These insights allowed us to identify and map various challenges—what we refer to as the “dark side” of AI—onto specific functions within HSC operations. Our findings not only highlight areas of concern but also contribute to the broader application of the BAO model in the humanitarian field
The Daily Mile and children's physical activity, mental health and educational performance: a quasi-experimental study in Greater London primary schools
No full textYesObjectives: To examine associations between The Daily Mile, a school- based active mile intervention, and pupils’ physical activity, mental health and educational performance.
Methods: Year 1 pupils (aged 5–6 years) from Greater London primary schools were invited. Schools were allocated to The Daily Mile or non- Daily Mile group based on their reported Daily Mile participation. We measured weekday school hours mean minutes of moderate- to- vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using GENEActiv accelerometers. Other outcomes included time spent sedentary and in light activity, mental health and educational performance. Multi- level linear regression models examined differences accounting for repeated measurements (day) clustered by pupils-, class- and school- level, with adjustments for sex, ethnic group, area- level deprivation and month of assessment.
Results: A total of 1004 pupils/40 schools were recruited and assessed between October 2021 and January 2023; 21 schools/499 pupils comprised The Daily Mile group; 19 schools/505 pupils the non- Daily Mile group. Daily Mile pupils spent 2.2 min more in MVPA compared with non- Daily Mile pupils, but the difference was not significant (0.78, 95% CI −2.14 to 3.69). Daily Mile pupils spent less time sedentary and more time in light activity compared with the non- Daily Mile pupils, but not significantly (−5.06, 95% CI −15.37 to 5.26 and 3.27, 95% CI −4.26 to 10.81, respectively). There were no differences in mental health or educational performance.
Conclusions: We found no associations between The Daily Mile and pupils’ physical activity, mental health and educational performance. Pupils in our study were in year 1 with early exposure to the intervention; assessments over longer periods are needed to understand any benefits.This study is funded by The Daily Mile Foundation supported by INEOS (Reference Number P72344). This study is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) School for Public Health Research (SPHR) (Grant Reference Number PD- SPH- 2015) and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North West London (NWL). BR is funded by NIHR SPHR (SPHR- CYP- WP3.1- ASE). EvS is funded by the Medical Research Council (Unit program (MC_UU_00006/5)