79347 research outputs found
Sort by
Experimental Data-Driven Machine Learning Analysis for Prediction of PCM Charging and Discharging Behavior in Portable Cold Storage Systems
No full textThe problem of the post-harvest loss of perishable products has been a loss facing food security, especially in areas that lack adequate cold chain facilities. This issue is directly connected with sustainability objectives because post-harvest losses are the major source of food wastage, unneeded energy use, and related greenhouse gas emissions. Cold storage with phase-change material (PCM) is a promising alternative, as it aims at stabilizing temperatures and enhancing energy consumption, but current analyses of performance have been conducted through experimental testing and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations, which are precise but computationally expensive. To handle this drawback, the current work constructs a machine learning predictive model to predict the dynamics of charging and discharging temperature of PCM cold storage systems. Four regression models, namely Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNNs), were trained and tested on experimental datasets that were obtained for varying storage layouts. The various error and accuracy measures used to determine model performance comprised MSE, MAE, R2, MAPE, and percentage accuracy. The findings suggest that Random Forest provides the best accuracy during both the charging and the discharging process, with the highest R2 values of over 0.98 and with minimal mean absolute errors. The KNN model was competitive in the discharge process, especially in cases of consistent thermal recovery patterns, and XGBoost was consistent in layout accuracy. However, SVR had relatively lower robustness, particularly when using nonlinear charged dynamics. Among the evaluated models, the Random Forest algorithm demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy, achieving coefficients of determination (R2) exceeding 0.98 for both charging and discharging processes, with mean absolute errors below 0.6 °C during charging and 0.3 °C during discharging. This paper has proven that machine learning is an efficient surrogate to CFD and experimental-only methods and can be used to predict the thermal behavior of PCM quickly and precisely. The proposed framework will allow for developing cold storage systems based on energy efficiency, low costs, and sustainability, especially in the context of decentralized and resource-limited agricultural supply chains, with the help of quick and data-focused forecasting of PCM thermal behavior
Addressing the use of individual resilience as a form of gaslighting in healthcare organisations
No full textWhile resilience is often promoted by healthcare organisations as a personal coping strategy, this approach risks overlooking systemic issues and structural inequalities that significantly affect staff well-being. This article critically explores the growing emphasis on resilience as a strategy for managing the stresses and demands experienced by nurses. It also examines how an overreliance on resilience can shift responsibility from organisations to individuals, potentially distorting perceptions of harm and internalising blame. Although the authors acknowledge the value of resilience, they advocate for a more balanced and integrated approach that combines individual resilience with organisational accountability and collective action to support the nursing workforce more effectively
Imitation Misplaced: Reassessing the Architectural Relationship Between Parish and Mendicant Churches
No full text
Eco-control and sustainability strategy: How organisations juxtapose tensions to enhance sustainability performance?
Get PDFPast research on the intersection of management control and sustainability has indicated that eco-controls play a key role in the successful implementation of sustainability strategies. Yet, evidence on how this eco-controls become effective considering the intertemporal tensions arising from a short- and long-term demands is limited. This study addresses this gap by examining the extent to which the use of eco-controls and temporal ambidexterity facilitate the implementation of sustainability strategies and exploring how eco-controls interact with temporal ambidexterity in determining sustainability performance. The study relies on data obtained via a survey completed by 201 hotel managers in Brazil. Partial least square regressions and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) are used for assessing the proposed relationships. The study finds that eco-controls and temporal ambidexterity facilitate the implementation of proactive sustainability strategies. The influence of eco-controls on sustainability performance is amplified when organisations can respond to the intertemporal tensions between short- and long-term needs. FsQCA reveals that different eco-controls are complementary and jointly with sustainability strategies and the dimensions of temporal ambidexterity enhance sustainability outcomes. The study contributes to management accounting literature, providing novel evidence of the contingencies surrounding the effectiveness of eco-controls and showing how eco-controls interact with firm’s intertemporal needs
Post-traumatic stress in caregivers to children and young people with eating disorder (ED) symptoms: A cross-sectional examination of relationships with demographics, ED factors and caregiver skills
No full textObjective: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in caregivers of children and young people (CYP) with eating disorder (ED) symptoms remain understudied, despite their potential impact. This study examines these symptoms and their relationship to demographic and ED-related factors, and caregiver skills. This aims to inform efforts to improve caregivers' wellbeing and ability to support CYP with EDs. Method: UK-based parental caregivers of CYP with ED symptoms were recruited via social media and mental health organizations. A total of 123 participants provided demographic and ED-related information and completed measures of caregiver skills and PTSD symptoms via an online survey. Descriptive statistics, correlations and regressions were conducted. Results: The majority of participants (62.6%) exhibited scores indicative of probable PTSD. Demographic and ED-related factors explained 21% of the variance in caregiver PTSD symptoms, with ED relapse contributing the largest independent effect. PTSD symptoms explained 34% of the variance in self-reported caregiver skills. Conclusions: Caregivers to a wider ED population than previously studied may be at high risk of PTSD, and symptoms may hinder caregivers' ability to support their child. The link between ED relapse and caregiver PTSD warrants further investigation. Trauma-informed approaches to caregiver support in child and adult ED services are recommended
A comparison of a drug coated balloon with drug eluting stent strategy for treating coronary bifurcation lesions
No full textBackground: The treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions (CBL) remains complex and associated with a higher rate of long-term adverse cardiovascular events due to anatomical and procedural complexity. Aims: We compared procedural outcomes between a drug coated balloon (DCB) only approach and a 2nd generation drug eluting stent (DES) for treating de novo CBLs. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients with CBL treated with either a DCB only or DES only strategy, including all coronary bifurcations and compared a bifurcation-oriented composite endpoint (BOCE) of cardiovascular death, target bifurcation-related myocardial infarction (TB-MI), and clinically driven target bifurcation revascularization (TBR) using nationally obtained clinical outcome measures from 2015 to 2019. A propensity score matched analysis was undertaken. Results: Of 2113 patients, 1030 patients were treated with a DCB and 1083 with a DES. There was higher lesion complexity in the DCB group, and propensity score-matched analysis was utilized. This included a total of 2052 patients (1026 in each arm). The median age was 68 (59−75), and all clinical presentations were included. The median follow-up time was 3.6 (2.5−4.8) years with 501 (48.8%) patients having follow-up available at 5 years. Propensity matched analysis showed a significant increase in events (14.0% vs. 9.9% respectively) (HR: 1.39 [1.08−1.79], p = 0.01) when using DES compared to DCB, driven predominantly by an increase in TBR (8.9% vs. 5.0%) (HR: 1.79 [1.27−2.50], p ≤ 0.001) and TB-MI (3.0% vs. 1.6%) (HR: 1.92 [1.05−3.57], p 0.03). Conclusions: The use of DCB-only in a coronary bifurcation is a safe alternative in treating CBL, within the limitations of a retrospective single center analysis. An appropriately designed RCT is now required
E-disjunctive inverse semigroups
Get PDFIn this paper we provide an overview of the class of inverse semigroups S such that every non-trivial congruence on S relates at least one idempotent to a non-idempotent; such inverse semigroups are called E-disjunctive. This overview includes the study of the inverse semigroup theoretic structure of E-disjunctive semigroups; a large number of natural examples; some asymptotic results establishing the rarity of such inverse semigroups; and a general structure theorem for all inverse semigroups where the building blocks are E-disjunctive
A review of the management of obesity in primary care
No full textThis review highlights the important role primary care plays in obesity management, using England as an example. It includes a comprehensive summary of current management and referral options for primary care clinicians, a discussion of the most up-to-date clinical guidelines for the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in England, and the evolving ways in which obesity is identified and defined. Reflections from people living with obesity are considered. Despite the potential of primary care to engage with patients regarding obesity prevention and treatment, several factors have limited this, including low prioritisation by clinicians, workload pressures, regional variations in services, insufficient specialist training and ongoing weight stigma. The introduction of new pharmacotherapies, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, offers both an opportunity and a challenge for primary care providers. These treatments could help patients access more effective obesity management strategies via primary care. However, there is concern about non-specialist clinicians keeping up to date with evolving strategies and understanding how new medications fit into broader care. The current complex referral pathways hinder timely access to appropriate treatment. The need for more straightforward pathways, improved clinician education and a reduction in the stigma associated with obesity is critical for better outcomes. In summary, while primary care could play a pivotal role in addressing obesity, several issues need to be resolved for this potential to be fully realised. Addressing these challenges, via enhancing clinician training, improving referral pathways and ensuring access to new treatments, will be crucial for advancing the care of people living with obesity
Supporting Mature Students Longitudinally across the Academic Lifecycle
No full textSince the introduction of Outreach and Widening Participation following the Dearing and Kennedy reports in 1997, mature student numbers have dwindled in the UK. Over recent years, the Office for Students has encouraged universities to provide Information Advice and Guidance to aid social mobility and economic growth for this important group. This chapter explores how the University of East Anglia uses a longitudinal approach to support the progression of mature students across the educational lifecycle, which includes pre-entry, community-level, and further education college liaison through to the transition and continuation stages of study. Informed by literature and the theory of Possible Selves, the interventions outlined in this chapter consider the motivations, challenges, and enablers experienced by mature students as a group and on a more individual basis. The approaches taken have a positive impact on participants, with activity engagement growing each year and feedback reflecting the importance of representation