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Is a UK multicentre trial of intravenous maintenance fluid volumes in critically ill children feasible
No full textNoNewcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trus
Sustainable Supply Chain Management in an Uncertain Business Environment: Investigating the Resilience of Upstream oil supply in Libya
Get PDFThis research investigates the factors influencing the resilience and sustainability of the upstream oil and gas supply chain in an uncertain environment, with a focus on Sustainable Supply Chain Risk Management (SSCRM) through dynamic capabilities. The study is uniquely conducted in the turbulent context of the Libyan oil and gas sector, contrasting with studies in more stable environments. It employs a novel approach, utilising dynamic capabilities as a lens to examine SSCRM. The research aims to identify the dynamic capabilities that contributed to the resilience of the Libyan oil and gas industry amidst economic downturns and conflicts. By analysing this exemplary case, the study seeks to pinpoint the specific dynamic capabilities that positively impacted the industry's resilience and sustainability in chaotic circumstances.
The study employs a quantitative methodology based on a conceptual model integrating key dynamic capabilities (DCs) from existing literature. An online questionnaire was crafted to gauge the perceived impact of these DCs on the resilience and sustainability of the organisation's supply chains. The survey targeted key employees with expertise in supply chain management, and 277 responses were collected. Structured Equation Modelling (SEM) was utilised for data analysis. The results indicate that, except for one sensing DC, namely risk identification, the other capabilities, (risk assessment, mitigation, and control) were found to have significantly influenced the organisation’s resilience and the sustainability of its supply chains. The study provides a tentative explanation for the exceptional case and anticipates that these findings will have positive implications for organisations navigating uncertain economic landscapes
No Research About Us Without Us. Using Feminist Participatory Action Research to set the Obesity Research Agenda with Pakistani Women Living in Bradford
Get PDFBackground: Obesity disproportionately affects Pakistani women and rates of
obesity related conditions are high in Bradford. Research priority setting can
guide the development of policy and practice, resulting in more relevant
research. There are no research prioritisation exercises targeted at obesity in
Pakistani women.
Aim: To develop an obesity research agenda with Pakistani women living in
deprived inner-city areas of Bradford.
Methods: Using a feminist participatory action research design, a five stage
process was adopted involving the following: (i) A systematic review to identify
the gaps in knowledge (ii) face-to-face interviews with 21 Pakistani women to
generate their health concerns (iii) focus groups to explore the obesity concerns
of 23 Pakistani women (iv) survey to identify unmet obesity needs of Pakistani
women according to 160 local, multisectoral stakeholders (v) adapted
consensus method involving 32 Pakistani women to rank their identified
concerns and unmet needs in order of importance.
Results: The study identified needs related to cultural and language
constraints, including barriers in obtaining health promotion information and the
social isolation of women. Education needs and misconceptions surrounding
diet and physical activity were also identified. Highest rankings were given to
concerns and needs surrounding the mental health of Pakistani women,
education needs for a healthy diet, and the benefits of physical activity.
Conclusion: Pakistani women’s unmet obesity needs highlight the existence of
wider determinants of health that are structural in nature. Considering these
barriers, a research agenda was developed from the findings and reflect the
obesity health needs of this population.Funding through Born in Bradfor
Do oil market shocks affect financial distress? Evidence from firm-level global data
Get PDFYesThis study investigates the impact of three oil price shocks on financial distress of global firms using a dataset of 8130 firms across 48 countries from 2002 to 2022. It also analyses the role of energy diversification in the relationship between oil shocks and firm distress. The findings reveal that aggregate demand and specific demand shocks increase firm distress risk, while supply shocks reduce it. Furthermore, the results suggest that energy diversification mitigates the impact of specific demand shocks on firm distress. The study also implements several robustness checks, and the results remain consistent. Potential policy implications are also discussed
Editorial: Environmental hydraulics, turbulence, and sediment transport. Second Edition
Get PDFYesWithin river systems, the process of bed-forming is intricate, dynamic and is shaped
by different factors. Hydraulic forces exerted by water flow play a crucial role, forming
the bed substrate over time. Additionally, the presence of vegetation within the riverbed
and along its banks introduces further complexity, as the interaction between plants and
hydrodynamics can alter sediment transport patterns and riverbed morphology. The
movement of both suspended particles and bedload materials within the water column
contributes to the ongoing riverbed landscape evolution. The primary aim of this editorial
collection is to assemble an extensive range of research methodologies aimed to inform
engineering practices pertinent to river management. Through an exhaustive exploration
of various topics, including water quality indexing, erosion and sedimentation patterns,
influence of vegetation, hydrological modelling for understanding flow dynamics, and
identification of critical hydraulic parameters with the utilisation of both analytical and
experimental modelling techniques, this paper endeavours to provide valuable insights
derived from rigorous research efforts. By synthesising and presenting these findings,
we offer a resource that can effectively guide future endeavours in river engineering and
related disciplines
A piriform jar from the cemetery at el-Dakka: contexts and contents
Get PDFYesWhile stone vessels were sometimes included in ancient Egyptian elite burials of the New Kingdom, presumed to have been used as cosmetic vessels, we still know little about the contents they held. The situation is even more vague for jars in Nubia, where they occur less frequently. We report here on a study of a travertine jar from the Cemetery of el-Dakka in Lower Nubia, and the scientific analysis of its contents, comparing the jar with other known examples
A proposal for reducing maximum target doses of drugs for psychosis: Reviewing dose-response literature
Get PDFYesBackground:
Presently, there is limited guidance on the maximal dosing of psychosis drugs that is based on effectiveness rather than safety or toxicity. Current maximum dosing recommendations may far exceed the necessary degree of dopamine D2 receptor blockade required to treat psychosis. This may lead to excess harm through cognitive impairment and side effects.
Aims:
This analysis aimed to establish guidance for prescribers by optimally dosing drugs for psychosis based on efficacy and benefit.
Methods:
We used data from two dose–response meta-analyses and reviewed seven of the most prescribed drugs for psychosis in the UK. Where data were not available, we used appropriate comparison techniques based on D2 receptor occupancy to extrapolate our recommendations.
Results:
We found that the likely threshold dose for achieving remission of psychotic symptoms was often significantly below the currently licensed dose for these drugs. We therefore recommend that clinicians are cautious about exceeding our recommended doses. Individual factors, however, should be accounted for. We outline potentially relevant factors including age, ethnicity, sex, smoking status and pharmacogenetics. Additionally, we recommend therapeutic drug monitoring as a tool to determine individual pharmacokinetic variation.
Conclusions:
In summary, we propose a new set of maximum target doses for psychosis drugs based on efficacy. Further research through randomised controlled trials should be undertaken to evaluate the effect of reducing doses from current licensing maximums or from doses that are above our recommendations. However, dose reductions should be implemented in a manner that accounts for and reduces the effects of drug withdrawal
Fast Fourier transforms and fast Wigner and Weyl functions in large quantum systems
Get PDFYesTwo methods for fast Fourier transforms are used in a quantum context. The first method is for systems with dimension of the Hilbert space
with d an odd integer, and is inspired by the Cooley-Tukey formalism. The ‘large Fourier transform' is expressed as a sequence of n ‘small Fourier transforms' (together with some other transforms) in quantum systems with d-dimensional Hilbert space. Limitations of the method are discussed. In some special cases, the n Fourier transforms can be performed in parallel. The second method is for systems with dimension of the Hilbert space
with
odd integers coprime to each other. It is inspired by the Good formalism, which in turn is based on the Chinese reminder theorem. In this case also the ‘large Fourier transform' is expressed as a sequence of n ‘small Fourier transforms' (that involve some constants related to the number theory that describes the formalism). The ‘small Fourier transforms' can be performed in a classical computer or in a quantum computer (in which case we have the additional well known advantages of quantum Fourier transform circuits). In the case that the small Fourier transforms are performed with a classical computer, complexity arguments for both methods show the reduction in computational time from
to
. The second method is also used for the fast calculation of Wigner and Weyl functions, in quantum systems with large finite dimension of the Hilbert space
Blast-resistance characteristics and design of steel wire reinforced ultra-high performance concrete slabs
No full textYesSteel wire reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (SWRUHPC) offers exceptional resistance to impacts and blast, making it a promising construction material for infrastructure with blast-resistance demands. However, limited research has been conducted on the blast-resistance characteristics and design of SWRUHPC elements under blast loading, particularly in considering multiple influencing parameters and levels. Therefore, this study employed finite element simulation methods to investigate the influence of scaled distance (Z), reinforcement ratio (ρ) and slab thickness (D) as well as slab length (L) on the failure mode and maximum deflection of SWRUHPC slabs. Range analysis and variance analysis methods were used to quantitively analyze the effects of various factors on the blast resistance performance, culminating in the proposal of a design formula for SWRUHPC slabs. The results demonstrated that SWRUHPC exhibits superior blast resistance compared to ordinary concrete, effectively reducing the occurrence of concrete spalling and splashing, thus enhancing overall structural resilience in blast scenarios. Among the four factors analyzed, their influence on maximum deflection follows this order: D > Z > ρ > L. Notably, the maximum deflection decreases by 82% when the slab thickness increases from 40 mm to 90 mm. Additionally, the established design formula for SWRUHPC slabs under different scaled distances shows good agreement with the numerical simulation results, offering valuable design guidelines for SWRUHPC slabs in protective engineering structures.National Science Foundation of China (52308236 and 52368031; The Major Science and Technology Research Project of the China Building Materials Federation (2023JBGS10-02); Natural Science Joint Foundation of Liaoning Province (2023-BSBA-077); Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (DUT24GJ202
Artificial Interpretation: An investigation into the feasibility of archaeologically focused seismic interpretation via machine learning
Get PDFYesThe value of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for use in heritage research is increasingly appreciated. In specific areas, notably remote sensing, datasets have increased in extent and resolution to the point that manual interpretation is problematic and the availability of skilled interpreters to undertake such work is limited. Interpretation of the geophysical datasets associated with prehistoric submerged landscapes is particularly challenging. Following the Last Glacial Maximum, sea levels rose by 120 m globally, and vast, habitable landscapes were lost to the sea. These landscapes were inaccessible until extensive remote sensing datasets were provided by the offshore energy sector. In this paper, we provide the results of a research programme centred on AI applications using data from the southern North Sea. Here, an area of c. 188,000 km2 of habitable terrestrial land was inundated between c. 20,000 BP and 7000 BP, along with the cultural heritage it contained. As part of this project, machine learning tools were applied to detect and interpret features with potential archaeological significance from shallow seismic data. The output provides a proof-of-concept model demonstrating verifiable results and the potential for a further, more complex, leveraging of AI interpretation for the study of submarine palaeolandscapes