143174 research outputs found
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Peri-dyeing: Laser dye fixation for efficient textile colouration and design
No full textopen access articleConventional textile dyeing remains one of the most resource-intensive stages of garment production, characterised by high water and energy use and the generation of chemically contaminated effluent. This study explores an alternative approach to conventional dyeing through the development and evaluation of a laser dyeing process termed peri-dyeing, a digitally driven, non-contact colouration technique in which dye fixation was initiated by targeted laser irradiation directly at the fibre surface.
Optimisation of laser parameters and dye application methods enabled controlled surface colouration of wool fabrics. Colour measurements, SEM imaging, and tensile strength analysis confirmed that high dye fixation efficiencies (82–96%) were achieved without compromising fibre integrity. Standardised testing demonstrated strong wash and rub colour fastness, indicating technical performance compatible with commercial textile applications. Design sampling validated the technique's ability to produce fine linear detail, smooth tonal gradients, and multicolour imagery on both flat and textured substrates.
The peri-dyeing process demonstrates the technical feasibility of a digitally controlled approach to textile colouration that avoids immersion dye baths and enables targeted dye application. The results indicate potential for reduced resource use and increased production flexibility. The paper highlights opportunities for integration into direct-to-garment and on-demand manufacturing contexts, supporting the development of more efficient and adaptable textile colouration workflows
Cardiovascular risk profile of low-dose prednisolone and its effect on the quality of life in patients with adrenal insufficiency: the HYPER-AID observational study
No full textBackground
Patients with adrenal insufficiency require glucocorticoid replacement therapy either as hydrocortisone in multiple-daily doses or as low-dose prednisolone once daily. Data on the long-term safety, cardiovascular risk, and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes of prednisolone remain limited.
Methods
In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, patients with adrenal insufficiency underwent a pre-specified switch from multiple-daily dose hydrocortisone to once-daily low-dose prednisolone (2–4 mg) as part of routine clinical care and followed up for at least four months. Cardiovascular risk was assessed using anthropometric and biochemical markers (lipid profile, HbA1c, C-reactive protein, blood pressure, and waist and hip circumference). QoL was evaluated using a modified SF-36 questionnaire. Baseline and follow-up measures were compared using paired t-tests or non-parametric equivalents.
Results
Of the 62 enrolled patients, 48 completed follow-up. The mean age was 54.5 ± 13 years; 56% were female; and 83% had secondary adrenal insufficiency. After at least four months on prednisolone, weight decreased significantly (90.6–89.6 kg, P = 0.007), accompanied by a reduction in systolic blood pressure (−5 mmHg, P = 0.032). Lipid parameters, HbA1c, and CRP remained unchanged (P > 0.05). Energy scores improved significantly (+9 points, P = 0.003), and patients reported increased treatment convenience (P = 0.002).
Conclusion
Low-dose once-daily prednisolone offers comparable cardiovascular risk to hydrocortisone while improving treatment convenience, systolic blood pressure, and SF-36 subjective energy scores. These findings support the use of prednisolone as a potentially preferable alternative in patients with adrenal insufficiency
Reclaiming the 1934 Women's World Games: Athletic and Gender Performance
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.The fourth Women’s World Games (WWG) began on 9 August 1934 at the White City Stadium in London. Despite extensive press coverage in 1934, London’s WWG have been neglected by historians, either assimilated into a narrow Olympic trajectory or considered an established and uncontroversial event on the independent women’s athletics calendar. In fact, they were an important moment in the history of sport and gender, both in Britain and internationally. In examining the geo-political and social significance of the 1934 WWG, a new perspective on the shifting understanding of gender performance and bio-medical knowledge about sex during the 1930s, and how these changing ideas were applied to women’s athletics, is revealed. More than just the fourth and final edition of a short-lived independent international women’s athletics movement, the 1934 London WWG and their media coverage were sites of contest, both physical and ideological
From Their Own Voices: The Lived Experiences of Women on Corporate Boards in Nigeria
No full textPurpose
Drawing on social categorisation and institutional theories, this research seeks to examine the challenges faced by female board members in Nigeria, prior to and during their tenures, and to elucidate the strategies they employ to overcome these obstacles.
Design/Methodology/Approach
This study utilises a qualitative methodology, conducting focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 22 female board members from various Nigerian corporations. This approach enables an in-depth exploration of their experiences, allowing for the identification of key challenges and strategies for overcoming barriers to board participation and leadership in a weak institutional context.
Findings
We identify key impediments at the organisational, socio-cultural, and individual levels that obstruct women's access to and participation on corporate boards. Additionally, we explore how these women navigate and interpret these challenges, providing valuable insights into their experiences. Our analysis culminates in the proposal of strategic actions, as well as firm- and policy-level recommendations, aimed at enhancing opportunities for female board members and promoting improved corporate governance within the Nigerian context.
Originality/Value
This study offers a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted barriers to female board representation, examining both organisational and socio-cultural challenges as well as individual challenges. By providing practical insights, it aims to advance gender diversity in corporate leadership, particularly within developing economies, highlighting actionable strategies and policy recommendations to enhance the inclusion and effectiveness of female board members
Powering the Transition: A Strategic Framework for Local Area Energy Planning in England’s New Devolution Landscape
No full text[note for DORA team - document to follow, please create record in interim.]This report puts forward a framework of actionable recommendations for newly-formed Strategic Authorities focussed on delivery of actions highlighted in local area energy plans (LAEPs). These focus on structuring a cross-departmental delivery unit, adopting a diversified investment strategy that moves beyond grant dependency towards unlocking the "Integrated Settlement," designing a dynamic and co-produced LAEP when the analysis is undertaken or renewed and strategically engaging with the Regional Strategic Energy Planning (RESP) process to ensure local energy ambitions are deliverable
Empowerment or Constraint? Displaced Women Entrepreneurs at the Intersection of Religion, Gender, and Economic Exclusion
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.Purpose: This study examines the entrepreneurial experiences of displaced women in Ethiopia through an intersectional lens, analysing how gender, displacement, religion, and socio-economic status shape their agency and constraints.
Research Design/Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative research design, employing in-depth interviews with displaced women entrepreneurs. Thematic analysis was used to explore how intersecting identities influence their entrepreneurial trajectories.
Findings: Findings reveal that displaced women entrepreneurs navigate overlapping layers of disadvantage—including patriarchal norms, economic precarity, and religious expectations—while also exercising agency within these constraints. Many women reinterpret religious and cultural norms as enablers rather than barriers to entrepreneurship, demonstrating a nuanced negotiation of empowerment. Additionally, systemic barriers such as legal illiteracy, financial exclusion, and ethnic discrimination exacerbate their economic vulnerability, necessitating tailored policy interventions. This study identifies the importance of context-specific support mechanisms that acknowledge the paradox of entrepreneurship as both an opportunity and a reinforcement of pre-existing inequalities.
Originality: This study contributes to intersectionality and entrepreneurship scholarship by extending theoretical frameworks to displacement contexts, illustrating how simultaneity, complexity, irreducibility, and inclusivity manifest in displaced women’s entrepreneurial experiences. It challenges binary understandings of empowerment and oppression, emphasising how women construct entrepreneurial agency within structural limitations.
Limitations/Research Implications: While this study provides valuable insights, its findings are context-specific and may not be generalizable to all displaced women entrepreneurs. Future research should explore diverse displacement contexts and examine how intersectionality interacts with broader political and economic structures. Policymakers and practitioners should prioritise gender-responsive, culturally sensitive entrepreneurial programmes that recognise displaced women’s unique challenges and aspiration
Systematic scoping review of virtual reality exposure-based therapy for anxiety-related disorders since the commercial release of head-mounted display virtual reality
No full textObjective: This systematic scoping review mapped the empirical literature on Virtual Reality Exposure-Based Therapy (VRET) delivered via commercially available
head-mounted displays for adult anxiety-related disorders, to characterize study targets, methods, and gaps. Methods: A comprehensive database search yielded 1097 records. Publications were excluded if anxiety was not a measured outcome; if exposure was paired with other techniques (e.g., relaxation or additional therapies) in a way that prevented evaluation of exposure as a stand-alone component; or if virtual reality was delivered via methods other than head-mounted displays. Thirty studies met inclusion criteria and were charted for synthesis. Results: The 30 included studies examined phobias (n = 11), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (n = 4), public speaking anxiety and social anxiety (n = 13), and other anxiety presentations (n = 2; social physique anxiety; MRI anxiety). Most studies reported pre- to post-intervention reductions in anxiety symptoms, but study designs and outcome measures varied substantially. Acceptability and engagement were generally favorable when assessed, but measurement approaches were inconsistent and adverse effects were not uniformly reported. Methodological heterogeneity
and limited replication constrained cross-study comparability. Conclusions: The current evidence base indicates growing application of HMD-based VRET across multiple anxiety-related targets and suggests potential clinical benefit in many studies; however, heterogeneity and small samples limit the strength of inferences regarding comparative outcomes. Future research would benefit from standardized reporting of intervention parameters and equipment, consistent measurement of acceptability, and adequately powered comparative designs with longer follow-up to clarify where HMD-based VRET is most feasible and beneficial
Opportunities arising from disruption in the automotive sector: a UK perspective
No full textExecutive Summary
This report provides an overview of the transformational forces in the automotive sector at a global level and their implications for the UK. The sector is currently going through a
non-linear disruption driven by technology, climate change, geopolitics and demographics.
Climate change has led to regulatory mandates in both
the EU and UK, forcing the industry to move towards electric vehicles (EVs) – although its traditional core competencies and supply-chain capabilities were based on the internal combustion engine (ICE). The US initiated a market and innovation-driven approach towards electromobility and artificial intelligence (AI), which was followed by China.
China itself used its market size, government support and supply-chain network to become a dominant player in EVs, and is quickly catching up in AI, including AI-enabled automated vehicles (AVs). The EU has found itself in a defensive situation, suffering from competitive inferiority both in its supply chain and in its available product and service portfolio.
In this report, both UK and non-UK roadmaps are analysed to find out whether the UK is well prepared for the future
of mobility. In general, we can say that the right policies and regulations are in place to support the mass electrification and full automation of the automotive sector. However, due to a shrinking manufacturing base and dependency upon the EU market – which faces substantial competitiveness issues in the electric-vehicle supply chain and in the adoption of fully automated driving – the UK risks becoming less significant in the automotive sector from a global perspective, and ultimately losing strategic relevance.
Meeting the targets of the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate is a major concern, because of the low level
of EV adoption and the lack of deployment projects involving AI-enabled fully automated vehicles. The
missing demand for EVs is driven by a lack of affordable and innovative vehicles produced in the UK and EU that are available to the consumer. This has implications for
the available private funding for necessary expansions,
and for the transformation of the supply chain and charging infrastructure.
Nevertheless, the use of privately owned vehicles remains dominant for the average UK household. There are no incentives to shift mobility behaviour towards the use of commercially operated zero-emission, AI-enabled automated vehicle fleets.
In general, the average weight of electrified vehicles is too high, and the use of smaller zero-emission urban vehicles is not supported through incentives. This fact is influencing the lifecycle energy performance of vehicles and their operation, as well as non-tailpipe pollution such as tyre emissions and inequalities regarding passenger survivals rates in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. The waste of space caused by parking is widely accepted in the UK, and not regulated – although automated driving technologies are becoming available to tackle this.
A key opportunity for the UK automotive sector is to further develop R&D and manufacturing competences in battery-cell core components, as well as in AI chip design and AI algorithm development. The UK could take the lead in developing a software-defined vehicle (SDV) ecosystem that could be an alternative to platforms recently developed in China. Most important is the development of a highly flexible AI-enabled system infrastructure for mobility, which would be compliant with all relevant sourcing rules that may be considered for geopolitical reasons. In addition there is also an opportunity for the UK to develop a lead position in silicon carbide (SiC) power electronics chip manufacturing process technology, which is highly relevant for the design and manufacturing of EVs.
Another substantial opportunity is in developing a
large-scale deployment of fully automated zero-emission mobility services in urban environments, with commercial fleet operators complementing public transit solutions.
A key suggestion from this preliminary work is to consider the implementation of collaborative platform initiatives to address the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector in an ecosystem approach. These programmes would address core automotive system components, core development processes, and the impact on waste, health and usage behaviour to build products and services that are globally competitive. Universities, fleet operators, automotive OEMs, suppliers and government agencies should be considered key stakeholders.
The goal of the platform initiatives would be to establish
a highly competitive automotive ecosystem in the UK – one that is ready for the future of mobility, and that will attract and retain top talent
Thiol groups are determinant for overcoming acetic acid and pH stress in wine and beer fermentation-derived Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains
No full textAcetic acid (AA), a natural by-product of ethanol fermentation in yeast cells, is widely present in lignocellulosic hydrolysate as a fermentation inhibitor. Thus, gaining insight into the molecular mechanisms of AA tolerance in yeast is particularly relevant for industrial applications. This study investigates the response to AA stress in two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (ATCC 9804 and ATCC 13007) during different metabolic states (fermentation, respiro-fermentation, and respiration) and external pH levels (3․0 and 4.5). The results show that AA reduces the viability of both strains in a dosage-dependent manner. Moreover, ATCC 13007 is more sensitive to AA stress compared to ATCC 9804. Respiratory metabolism and higher pH correlate with better resistance to AA stress. Catalase activity was observed to increase by 1.5–6-fold under AA stress conditions, in accordance with changes in yeast thiol group content and growth. The influence of AA stress is reactive oxygen species-dependent, and redox balance regulation was found to increase the robustness of S. cerevisiae ATCC 13007 to AA by 2-fold. The study reveals valuable insights into yeast adaptation to stress conditions, contributing to the development of robust yeast strain construction for high-yield biomass and chemicals production
