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Stainless steel wires reinforced ultra-high performance concrete for self-moderating and self-sensing temperature deformations
No full textYesThe development of self-moderating and self-sensing concrete composites with high and stable thermal/electrical conductivity is essential to mitigate and monitor the temperature deformation behaviours (TDB) of engineering infrastructures such as highways, bridge pavements, airstrips and ports. Owing to the micron-scale diameter and high aspect ratio, stainless steel wires (SSWs) can establish a comprehensive and extensive thermal/electrical, as well as reinforcing, three-dimensional network within the concrete matrix, even at a low content. This paper thus investigated the TDB self-moderating and self-sensing performances of SSWs enhanced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC). The main experiments were carried out on SSWs enhanced UHPC slabs, measuring 250 mm×225 mm×16 mm. The volume contents of SSWs studied were 0 %, 0.5 vol%, 1.0 vol% and 1.5 vol%. The TDB self-moderating and self-sensing experiments were carried out under different conditions, including indoor and outdoor environments. Such composites showed effective and highly stable capabilities in reducing the temperature difference and diminishing the strain of pavement slabs under different environmental conditions. Compared with the UHPC without SSWs, UHPC with 1.5 vol% of SSWs can reduce the temperature difference by 7.4 °C (39.4 %) when being heated from 21.6 °C to 50 °C, thus, reducing the maximum tensile/compressive strains by 83.1 %/82.2 %, and the tensile/compressive stresses by 70.8 %/82.0 %. At a heating rate of 67.1 °C/min, incorporating 1.5 vol% of SSWs results in significant reductions in both vertical displacement and stress, amounting to 98.6 % and 89.6 %, respectively. The 1.5 vol% SSWs reinforced UHPC slab also suppressed 25.0 % of temperature difference, 76.6 % of strain and 70.7 % of stress in scorching outdoor environments. The TDB of SSWs reinforced UHPC can be real-timely reflected by monitoring the quick and small-scale resistance fluctuations, and the fractional changes in resistivity can reach 5.24 % with a response time of 0.23 s. The self-moderating and self-sensing performances of such composites remained stable after repeated heating experiments, thus suggesting its potential for promising applications in engineering infrastructures which are susceptible to deformation under high-temperature conditions.National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51908103 , 51978127 , and 52178188 ), and the Major Science and Technology Research Project of the China Building Materials Federation ( 2023JBGS10-02 )
From campus dig to community impact: reflections from an armchair novice
No full textNoThe University of Bradford was constructed in the 1960s, following the demolition of Victorian streets, houses, and local community buildings. An on-campus archaeological excavation took place in 2021 as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. Using a variety of archive sources, the results of the Dig led to an armchair exploration of both former Victorian residents and also the social history of the former community. This reflective piece documents the archive journey taken by someone who is not an archaeologist and touches upon the experiences of heritage attachment.University of Bradford, School of Social Sciences Research Fun
Mission to Survive: Hungarian Historian Gyula Szekfü as Agent and Diplomat
Get PDFYesThis study assesses the wartime intelligence activities of the leading Hungarian historian Gyula Szekfű, and the controversial diplomatic role he played in Moscow after the Second World War. It is argued that the scholar-turned-diplomat nurtured the forlorn hope of mitigating the impact of military defeat by securing Soviet benevolence towards Hungary. Szekfű’s deep anxiety for his country, inextricably entwined with his own existential fears and a powerful motive of self-preservation, contributed to his complete political metamorphosis. Instead of justifying or condemning his inconsistencies and moral choices, this article traces the elements of continuity in his thinking and in Hungarian foreign policy
Parametric analysis on flexural performance of reactive powder concrete frame beams reinforced with steel-FRP composite bars
No full textYesTo study the flexural behavior of Steel-FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Polymer) Composite Bars (SFCBs) reinforced Reactive Powder Concrete (RPC) frame beams, the flexural behavior of six frame beams with different types of concrete and reinforcement was simulated and analyzed using the finite element software ABAQUS. The strain behavior of concrete and reinforcement was simulated using real strain models, and the simulation results matched well with the experimental results. Based on the validated model, the effect of mechanical properties of concrete and SFCB, reinforcement ratio, and the dimensions of frame beam on the flexural behavior of frame beams was parametrically analyzed. The results showed that, compared with the steel-reinforced ordinary concrete (OC) frame beam, the ultimate deflection of SFCB-OC frame beam increased by 5%. Compared with the SFCB-OC frame beam, the bearing capacity and ultimate deflection of the SFCB-RPC frame beam increased by 16% and 22%, respectively. Improving the steel content of SFCB reduced the ultimate load and deformation of SFCB-RPC frame beam. The yield strength of SFCB core steel had a significant influence on the yield load of frame beam, but a small influence on the ultimate load and deformation. Enhancing the elastic modulus of SFCB out-wrapped FRP reduced the ultimate deformation of the frame beam. Improving the reinforcement ratio of SFCB increased the bearing capacity and reduced the deformation. When reinforced concrete frame beams had similar bearing capacity, the cross-sectional dimensions of steel-RPC frame beam, FRP-RPC frame beam, and SFCB-RPC frame beam are 90.1%, 61.5%, and 72.7%, respectively, of those of their corresponding respective reinforced OC frame beams. All reinforced RPC frame beams exhibited high bearing capacity, good deformation, ductility, and energy dissipation performance. This research can provide a reference for the design of SFCB-RPC frame beams.High-End Foreign Experts Project of Ministry of Science and Technology, China (G2022014054L), the Science and Technology Project of Gansu Construction System (JK2021-19), the Science and Technology Project of Jiangsu Construction System (2018ZD047, 2021ZD06, 2023ZD104, 2023ZD105), the Science and Technology Cooperation Fund Project of Yangzhou City and Yangzhou University (YZ2022194), the Yangzhou Construction System Science and Technology Project (202309, 202312), the Research Project of Jiangsu Civil Engineering and Architecture Society (the Second Half of 2022)
Using hybrid qualitative analysis to explore lived experience of motherhood and postnatal depression: A thematic-dialogical approach
No full textYesThis paper illustrates a novel hybrid approach to analysis which offers unique insights into the experience of postnatal depression in British Pakistani-Muslim women, through the prioritising of voice. To do so, we combine thematic and dialogical analysis, using data from a study on motherhood and postnatal depression. Participants were part of the birth cohort ‘Born in Bradford's Better Start’. The rationale for developing a hybridised approach is discussed. The ensuing analyses highlight the role of internal voices and chronotope, which give a detailed insight into women's meaning making of psychological distress and motherhood during the postnatal period. We go onto discuss the strength and limitations of hybridising thematic-dialogical analysis in the context of health research.University of Bradford, Faculty of Social Sciences scholarshi; National Institute for Health and Care Research Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboratio
Solid biomass chain from production to utilization in UK
No full textYesBioenergy stands as the primary contributor within the realm of global renewables, offering energy security to a multitude of individuals while also fostering growth in rural areas. The emergence of fuel pellets derived from diverse feedstocks has brought forth both prospects and obstacles for current technologies. This article delivers an up-to-date examination of the production and application of fuel pellets sourced from biomass. The upcoming discourse will explore the various aspects, both positive and negative, of the production and utilization of fuel pellets obtained from biomass, with a specific focus on the circumstances in the United Kingdom (UK). Through acquiring a thorough understanding of the manufacturing procedures of fuel pellets, coupled with a detailed examination of their benefits and drawbacks, the feasibility of utilizing biomass can be greatly improved, consequently leading to a significant contribution to the progression of a sustainable bioenergy framework.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Center (UKCCSRC)-Flexible Funding Call 2022
Skeletal analysis
Get PDFYesTwo early Bronze Age individuals (SF 26319 and SF 17642) and 19 samples of disarticulated remains from RUX6 were analysed and inventoried following procedures and standards set out by the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology (BABAO) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA)Historic Environment Scotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Museum nan Eilean, National Museum of Scotland, Hunter Archaeological and Historic Trust, Guard Archaeolog
Light-Responsive and Antibacterial Graphenic Materials as a Holistic Approach to Tissue Engineering
Get PDFYesWhile the continuous development of advanced bioprinting technologies is under fervent study, enhancing the regenerative potential of hydrogel-based constructs using external stimuli for wound dressing has yet to be tackled. Fibroblasts play a significant role in wound healing and tissue implants at different stages, including extracellular matrix production, collagen synthesis, and wound and tissue remodeling. This study explores the synergistic interplay between photothermal activity and nanomaterial-mediated cell proliferation. The use of different graphene-based materials (GBM) in the development of photoactive bioinks is investigated. In particular, we report the creation of a skin-inspired dressing for wound healing and regenerative medicine. Three distinct GBM, namely, graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and graphene platelets (GP), were rigorously characterized, and their photothermal capabilities were elucidated. Our investigations revealed that rGO exhibited the highest photothermal efficiency and antibacterial properties when irradiated, even at a concentration as low as 0.05 mg/mL, without compromising human fibroblast viability. Alginate-based bioinks alongside human fibroblasts were employed for the bioprinting with rGO. The scaffold did not affect the survival of fibroblasts for 3 days after bioprinting, as cell viability was not affected. Remarkably, the inclusion of rGO did not compromise the printability of the hydrogel, ensuring the successful fabrication of complex constructs. Furthermore, the presence of rGO in the final scaffold continued to provide the benefits of photothermal antimicrobial therapy without detrimentally affecting fibroblast growth. This outcome underscores the potential of rGO-enhanced hydrogels in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Our findings hold promise for developing game-changer strategies in 4D bioprinting to create smart and functional tissue constructs with high fibroblast proliferation and promising therapeutic capabilities in drug delivery and bactericidal skin-inspired dressings
Climate change, energy transition, and the Global South: learnings from the international framework on the ozone layer
Get PDFYesThe pursuit of climate action to meet net-zero targets has triggered the call for a global
energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. However, this global
energy transition does not entirely recognise all countries’ social, economic and
technological capacities as well as emission contributions as envisaged under the
Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle, which underlies
international climate policy. It is concerned more with the outcome of transitioning
to clean energy than with justice in the transition process. Recognition justice, an
element of energy justice, enables us to identify the inequalities that global energy
paradigms (such as the energy transition) can create and how a justice framework
can help us understand the implications of energy injustice and address the
inequities across energy systems. Recognition justice acknowledges the divergent
perspectives rooted in social, economic and racial differences and the varied
strengths of developed and developing countries. The energy transition process
ought to recognise these differences so that they are reasonably expected to benefit
everyone. Implementing the energy transition in the Global South (GS) in the same
way as it is being advanced in the Global North will have security, justice,
economic, resource-stranding, and sustainable development implications. This issue
(of injustice in the energy transition) is aggravated by two dichotomous realities:
many countries in the South will be most impacted by climatic changes, yet there
remains political and social opposition to climate action through the energy
transition. As a solution, this paper relies on the notion of recognition justice with
support from the Rawlsian justice concept to argue that a delayed transition
represents justice and recognises the peculiar nature and different circumstances of
the GS. It identifies that learnings from the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the notion of CBDR
under international climate treaties can be mainstreamed into energy transition
research and policies to achieve justice for countries of the GS. The paper further
finds that a delayed transition for the GS will (i) enable the region to address
sustainability-related issues of hunger and multidimensional poverty, essential to
realising other Sustainable Development Goals, whilst gradually implementing
energy transition policies; (ii) present an attractive case against political and social
opposition to energy transition in the GS; (iii) advance the goal of CBDR already
recognised under international climate treaties and the bifurcated approaches
established in such treaties; and, finally, (iv) ensure that developed countries
contributing the most to greenhouse gas emissions take the lead now and act while
the GS effectuates national contributions sustainabl