12508 research outputs found
Sort by
Introduction of Metaverse in business
Get PDFYesIt has become obvious to companies that the metaverse may help maximize profits. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the uses and possibilities of metaverse-based virtual and augmented reality technologies in the future. Brands can now engage with customers at a completely new level of interaction through Metaverse, which cannot be achieved within current marketing channels. Immersive XR environments may require decision makers to reexamine customer journeys, demographic characteristics, and customer personas. The main purpose of this chapter is to present an overview of metaverse applications. Further this section reveals the ways in which the business and education industry can benefit through metaverse applications. Additionally, this section reveals the real-world applications of technology in metaverse for avatar, gaming, and prospects. Finally, this chapter sheds light on the academics and practitioners by showing how metaverse elements can contribute for business processes
Between Life and Death: Continuing Bonds at Late Neolithic Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria
Get PDFYesIn this paper, we pay tribute to the career-long interest of Prof Peter Akkermans in the mortuary practices of prehistoric southwest Asia. It highlights the significant discovery of burial grounds at Tell Sabi Abyad and the diverse range of mortuary behaviours observed at this key Late Neolithic site. While traditional approaches to the treatment of the dead often focus on social status, this paper proposes a fresh perspective by examining the agency of the bereaved and the impact of their emotional needs on mortuary rituals.
Drawing on an extensive dataset of over 300 burials, the paper centres on a subset of burials from Tell Sabi Abyad I and III, dating back to the 7th and early 6th millennium BCE. In contrast to the typical interments, these burials reveal extended interaction with the deceased, involving bodily manipulation and close spatial proximity to the living.
In this paper, we delve into new interpretations of this evidence, shedding light on the emotional relationships between the living and the dead. We explore possible motivations behind maintaining a tangible connection with the deceased and examine whether such practices offer insights into experiences of grief and bereavement – dimensions often overlooked in archaeological analysis.
By incorporating emotion, sensory experiences, and mourning into the interpretation of mortuary evidence, in this paper, we aim to enrich our understanding of mortuary practices’ significance in southwest Asia’s prehistoric context
Conceptualizing just transition litigation
No full textYesThe transition towards low-carbon societies is creating winners and losers, raising new questions of justice. Around the world, litigation increasingly articulates these justice questions, challenging laws, projects and policies aimed at delivering climate change adaptation and/or mitigation. In this Perspective, we define and conceptualise the phenomenon of ‘just transition litigation’. This concept provides a new frame to identify and understand the diverse justice claims of those affected by climate action. We set out a research agenda to further investigate this phenomenon, with a view to enhancing societal acceptance and support for the transition
Technical Advancements Toward RIS-Assisted NTN-Based THz Communication for 6G and Beyond
Get PDFYesThe world is experiencing an explosion in demand for ultra-high data rates with far greater expectations in the next few years. These expectations, given the bandwidth-demanding applications such as augmented and virtual reality and other beyond-5G applications, motivate the exploration of higher-frequency communication in the terahertz (THz) bands. However, THz communication is faced with many technical challenges, primarily due to the high susceptibility to blockages that limit its applications. Here, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) provide alternative paths to circumvent such blockage effects and ensure reliable, spectral, and energy-efficient communication, thus advancing the THz-RIS technology concept. However, the ambitious targets of ubiquitous and global connectivity can only be satisfied by many technologies extending to multiple domains, from terrestrial networks to non-terrestrial network (NTN) domains. The use of airborne and spaceborne networks is considered a potential solution for addressing these challenges due to their dynamism, coverage, and ability to leverage their altitude for achieving line-of-sight communication for enhanced signal quality and network performance. Therefore, unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude platform stations, and satellites are poised to use flying THz-based RISs to improve air-to-ground and space-to-ground communication reliability while exploiting novel RIS architectures, techniques and enablers to address the issues regarding the propagation conditions, hardware limitations, network complexity and system performance. The aim in this paper is to present the discussion and a survey on the technical advances on THz-RIS NTNs, in addition to outlining potential applications, architectural variants, influencing properties, as well as its prospects, associated challenges, open issues and future directions towards high-data rate THz-RIS NTN communication for 6G and beyond.This work was supported in part by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia through Dana Impak Perdana 2.0 under Grant DIP-2022-020; and in part by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [grant number EP/Z001544/1] through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowshi
Design and Synthesis of Topoisomerases-Histone Deacetylase Dual Targeted Quinoline-Bridged Hydroxamates as Anticancer Agents
No full textYesThe multifactorial nature of cancer requires treatment that involves simultaneous targeting of associated overexpressed proteins and cell signaling pathways, possibly leading to synergistic effects. Herein, we present a systematic study that involves the simultaneous inhibition of human topoisomerases (hTopos) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) by multitargeted quinoline-bridged hydroxamic acid derivatives. These compounds were rationally designed considering pharmacophoric features and catalytic sites of the cross-talk proteins, synthesized, and assessed for their anticancer potential. Our findings revealed that the compound 5c significantly produced anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo by reducing the tumor growth and its size in the A549 cell-induced lung cancer xenograft model through multiple mechanisms, primarily by multi-inhibition of hTopoI/II and HDACs, especially HDAC1 via atypical binding. The present paper discusses detailed mechanistic biological investigations, structure–activity effects supported by computational docking studies, and DMPK studies and provides future scope for lead optimization and modification
Stakeholder Management Challenges and The Complexities of Promoting Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Africa
No full textYesIn recent years, there has been significant attention given to stakeholder management, which involves the intricate interaction between organisations and individuals, as well as diverse groups that can significantly affect or shape an organisation's decisions. While progress has been made, African countries are seen as the next promising frontier for progress and advancement. Nevertheless, there remains a lack of understanding of this concept, as the continent is undergoing remarkable economic growth. Entrepreneurs operating in such environments face intricate landscapes when it comes to stakeholder management. Consequently, understanding how stakeholders contribute to the growth of entrepreneurial ventures in Africa is crucial to promote sustainable and responsible business practices. This chapter presents insights that can stimulate future research on stakeholder management within the intricate and diverse African setting. The chapter conceptualises the relationship between stakeholders and entrepreneurship in Africa and shows how entrepreneurial firms navigate the challenges associated with weak institutional environments
A proteomic investigation to discover candidate proteins involved in novel mechanisms of 5-fluorouracil resistance in colorectal cancer
Get PDFYesOne of the main obstacles to therapeutic success in colorectal cancer (CRC) is the development
of acquired resistance to treatment with drugs such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Whilst some
resistance mechanisms are well known, it is clear from the stasis in therapy success rate that much is
still unknown. Here, a proteomics approach is taken towards identification of candidate proteins
using 5-FU-resistant sublines of human CRC cell lines generated in house. Using a multiplexed stable
isotope labelling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) strategy, 5-FU-resistant and equivalently
passaged sensitive cell lines were compared to parent cell lines by growing in Heavy medium with
2D liquid chromatography and Orbitrap Fusion™ Tribrid™ Mass Spectrometry analysis. Among
3003 commonly quantified proteins, six (CD44, APP, NAGLU, CORO7, AGR2, PLSCR1) were found
up-regulated, and six (VPS45, RBMS2, RIOK1, RAP1GDS1, POLR3D, CD55) down-regulated. A total
of 11 of the 12 proteins have a known association with drug resistance mechanisms or role in CRC
oncogenesis. Validation through immunodetection techniques confirmed high expression of CD44
and CD63, two known drug resistance mediators with elevated proteomics expression results. The
information revealed by the sensitivity of this method warrants it as an important tool for elaborating
the complexity of acquired drug resistance in CRC.Sadr ul-Shaheed and the University of Bradford Proteomics Facility were supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research, UK (Cancer Medicine Discovery II, grant B381PA)
An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria
Get PDFYesBayelsa, in the Niger Delta, in Southern Nigeria, is in the grip of a
human and environmental catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.
At one time, the area was home to one of the largest mangrove forests
on the planet; an area of unrivalled ecological value. Today, it is one of
the most polluted places on Earth. Oil extraction and its impact is the
overwhelmingly evident cause of this disaster
Assembling Wellbeing in Archaeological Teaching and Learning
No full textNoWellbeing is a growing concern for educators and students alike and is especially significant in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has brought the importance of wellbeing into sharp focus. Elsewhere, the authors (Cobb and Croucher) have written about a new pedagogic approach they have developed, specifically related to archaeology, although applicable across higher education. In this approach, they draw on relational theories and archaeology's “material turn” to focus on “Inclusive Learning Assemblages”. They explore the material and social assemblages that students encounter, both in different learning contexts and outwith learning, arguing that if we foreground learning assemblages, then student diversity and the student learning experience will be enhanced. In this paper, the authors take a step further by exploring the value of this approach for student wellbeing. They argue that taking an assemblage approach to teaching and learning in archaeology, and foregrounding diversity, actively improves student wellbeing too. This paper brings into dialogue mental health issues, with the diversity of student experiences, and the broad material engagements of an archaeology degree, in order to suggest a series of concrete steps that practitioners can implement to enhance student wellbeing
Games and Learning: Consolidating and Expanding the Potential of Analogue and Digital Games
Get PDFYesFor a long time, Games Research suffered from what Jaakko Stenros and Annika Waern classified as the Digital Fallacy – the tendency to regard analog games as a subset of digital games rather than the other way around. Where boardgames were once associated with the past of games and learning and digital games with the future, there are now fresh insights and applications for boardgames in learning – alongside with their renaissance as games for entertainment. Even as boardgames found new relevance in learning, the already-recognized possibilities in digital games for learning have continued to expand, with more flexible and ubiquitous tools and platforms allowing for a greater variety of avenues of learning research and practice to be explored. Augmented and mixed reality as well as virtual reality are frontiers in learning that beg for further exploration