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Dissipativity-preserving model reduction for linear systems using moment matching
No full textThis article introduces a novel model reduction method that preserves dissipativity properties while achieving
moment matching at user-specified interpolation points. Building on the time-domain moment matching
framework, our approach leverages the flexibility of free parameters in reduced-order models to ensure the
preservation of (, , )-dissipativity, independent of the state dimension of the reduced model or the location
of the interpolation points. By preserving dissipativity, this method enables more reliable and efficient reduced order models for large-scale systems, while maintaining key physical and stability properties. Numerical
examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed approach
Beyond activity: a perspective on diagnosing instability of reversible O₂ catalysts for metal-air batteries
No full textZinc–air redox flow batteries have high potential to penetrate the stationary energy storage market, due to the abundancy, and low cost of active species – oxygen and zinc. However, their technological fruition is limited by the development of reversible O2 electrodes operating at potentials between 0.6 VRHE to 1.7 VRHE, under which no catalyst material has been shown to be stable over long durations. Despite heavy research on the topic of reversible O2 catalysis, little is known about the parameters controlling the stability of the bifunctional catalyst. Several research accounts assess the activity of reversible O2 catalysts, but only a small portion cover degradation mechanism over such a large potential window. In this perspective, we summarize our current understanding of material challenges for Zn–air batteries, reversible O2 catalyst integration strategies, and electrochemical behaviour, with a particular focus on catalyst stability. Nickel cobalt oxide (NiCo2O4), a promising yet understudied system, is used as an example material for investigations at potentials of both the O2 reduction (ORR) and evolution (OER) reactions. We also report original data employing ex situ X-ray diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as electrochemical measurements to study the activity of NiCo2O4. Furthermore, electrochemical accelerated stress tests are coupled with post-mortem transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study the dissolution, compositional changes and amorphization of the top surface 5 nm of the catalyst surface. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed irreversible oxidation of Co centres in NiCo2O4 during OER, which explains the reduction in activity of the ORR after the catalyst was exposed to anodic OER potentials. This methodology provides a broader method to screen reversible O2 catalyst stability and enables us to summarize future strategies to improve the activity and stability of reversible O2 catalysts and electrodes
TOBACCO ENDGAME: Using lessons from the UK experience to develop a knowledge toolkit for tobacco control
No full textExpanding kidney care: how non-physician health workers can address the global CKD crisis
No full textThe current global nephrology workforce is insufficient to meet the increasing burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. Nonphysician health workers (NPHWs) may be well-placed to fill the gap and deliver guideline-aligned care. We review the range of NPHW categories and care models that could be enlisted in different health care settings; the range of contributions that could be made for CKD prevention, education, screening, management, and monitoring; the existing and required resources to support NPHWs; and technological advancements that can help alleviate the workload. Through analysis of collaborative approaches and existing alternative care delivery models, we aimed to provide insights into how such programs can be successfully implemented to augment the existing health workforce to deliver effective care and improve outcomes of people with and at risk of developing kidney disease worldwide
European citizens' support for humanitarian aid funded by the EU: a secondary analysis of Eurobarometer data from the 27 EU Member States
No full textDual role of mir-146a in non-small cell lung cancer progression: molecular mechanisms and clinical potential
No full textNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality. 2.48 million new cases were reported globally in 2022, driven by rising adenocarcinoma rates linked to environmental factors such as air pollution. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting messenger RNA for degradation or translational repression. Emerging studies highlight miR-146a as a molecular pivot with dual functionality that acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting NF-κB signaling to reduce inflammation and chemoresistance while paradoxically exhibiting oncogenic potential through immune modulation in specific microenvironments. The expression of miR-146a has been associated with numerous pathological and physiological alterations in cancer cells, including the modulation of various signaling pathways such as TNF-α, NF-κB, MEK-1/2, and JNK-1/2. miR-146a can act exogenously through extracellular vesicles and thereby reprogram tumor-associated macrophages to either promote or inhibit metastasis depending on cellular context. The diagnostic potential of miR-146a is underscored by expression patterns correlating with disease progression and treatment response in NSCLC, whilst preclinical studies suggest therapeutic promise when combined with checkpoint inhibitors. In this review, we first discuss the biogenesis and function of miR-146a in NSCLC development, with emphasis on recent findings that underscore the dual role of miR-146a in the regulation of cell proliferation, invasion, inflammation, immune responses, and chemoresistance in NSCLC. We also describe the possible function of miR-146a as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic target
Influence of cultural beliefs and parental feeding practices on obesity among primary schoolchildren aged 6-12 in Ghana: a qualitative study
No full textopen access articleChildhood obesity has become a global public health challenge and as such has attracted worldwide attention due to its negative impact on children’s health. Despite its diverse determinants, there is a paucity of information on cultural beliefs and parental feeding practices related to childhood obesity in Ghana. This study aimed to explore the influence of cultural beliefs and parental feeding practices on obesity among schoolchildren in Ghana.
Background
Childhood obesity is a global public health concern, drawing widespread attention for its negative impact on children’s health. While the determinants are multifaceted, limited information exists on the impact of cultural beliefs and parental feeding practices in the context of childhood obesity in Ghana. The primary objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the influence of cultural beliefs and parental feeding practices on obesity among schoolchildren in Ghana.
Method
Data for the study were collected through an online interview and focus group discussion from a purposively sampled 60 respondents. An audio recording device was used to compile information shared with respondents during the interview and focus group discussion, both held remotely over the internet. Following Braun and Clarke’s procedure for analysing data, audio-recorded information was transcribed verbatim using Microsoft Word. Vital information to address research questions was assigned codes for collation. Similar codes were collated to form subthemes and major themes which aligned with the Attride-Stirling transcription approach of thematic analysis.
Findings
Four themes emerged from data analysis: parental beliefs and perception of weight and feeding practices; evolving dietary practices; the impact of westernisation and socioeconomic status; and lifestyle at home and obesogenic environments. The cultural inclination towards considering obesity as a sign of a ‘well-fed child’ was evident, and traditional feeding practices were found inadequate, necessitating supplementation with modern approaches. Additionally, factors such as digital media, limited playing space and sedentary behaviours facilitated by transportation to school and easy access to electronic devices contributed to obesity among schoolchildren.
Conclusion
While parents actively promoted mixed food diets, this often conflicted with nutritional needs. Parents also inadvertently encouraged sedentary behaviours hindering physical activity and contributing to weight gain among children. The study highlighted the challenges posed by cultural beliefs on body image and modern influences, necessitating a comprehensive understanding to formulate effective interventions to address childhood obesity in the Ghanaian context
Citizen Science, Play, and Sketching Sustainable Futures, in (ed) Creative Catalysts for Sustainability Transitions
No full textCitizen science can be defined as the ‘practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research to increase scientific knowledge’, and has now been included in the national curriculum (for education) in the UK and in international education toolkits for biology, ecology, and geography . In these different areas, volunteers work with professional scientists to collect, analyse, or interpret data to expand scientific knowledge. In this context, citizen Science has been referenced in quantitative and scientific cases over the last two decades (see Mueller et al, 2011, and Silvertown, 2009 for a brief history), with citizens positioned central to large scale data collection on for example, wildlife sightings, weather patterns, and ecological conditions (see Bonney et al 2016; Dickinson et al, 2010; and Sullivan et al, 2014). In some instances, public volunteers support collation of data and even its analysis (or transcribing of data where historical records are being used to help produce archives) for the main part, their role is in collecting large data sets. There are inherent benefits from doing so for scientists. The large data collected provides scientists with valuable information for longitudinal monitoring and evaluation that would be impossible to gather alone. This helps the collection of vast datasets needed to identify patterns over time and provides the empirical evidence needed for large scale policy and decision-making.Taking forward some of the ideas addressed in chapter 7 on community discussions in enacting sustainability practices, and chapter 8 on the role of play as a medium for tackling sustainability concerns in deprived communities, this chapter examines the role of ‘Citizen Science’ and specifically, ‘sketching’ as a crowd science for sustainability research. In doing so, the chapter examines the advantages and barriers in raising and discussing sensitive issues such as sustainability with the general public through participatory arts and data collection. The chapter will draw on semiotic debates as the theoretical foundation for analysing sketches. The additional element of ‘Play’ is also explored as a key strategy for engagement
Progressive Knowledge Transfer Network Based on Human Visual Perception Mechanism for No-Reference Point Cloud Quality Assessment
No full textThe file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Point cloud perceptual quality assessment plays a critical role in many applications, including compression and communication. We propose PKT-PCQA, a point-based no-reference point cloud quality assessment deep learning network that emulates the human visual system by using progressive knowledge transfer to convert coarse-grained quality classification knowledge into a fine-grained quality prediction task. PKTPCQA exploits local and global features, as well as an attention mechanism based on spatial and channel attention modules. Experiments on three large and independent point cloud assessment datasets show that PKT-PCQA outperforms existing no-reference and reduced-reference point cloud quality assessment methods and achieves better or similar performance compared to several state-of-the-art full-reference methods. The code will be available for download at https://github.com/sdqi/PKT-PCQA