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Decoding content taxonomy in video for industry-specific contextual advertising
Get PDFThe exponential growth of free video platforms is redefining content consumption and its advertising dynamics. Beyond this, the progressive irrelevance of cook-ies really underlines the necessity for finding a genuinely new and proper way of recording and analyzing user behavior, with an implication for putting user privacy first by design, compliant with data protection and regulatory guidelines. As a result, contextual advertising has become a suitable strategy for the deliv-ery of relevant and personalized advertisements to users. In light of this evolving process, this article proposes a novel framework to facilitate the discovery of con-textual information on video content within the industrial context. The proposed framework seamlessly integrates the visual and audio features that are extracted from video content to obtain a comprehensive comprehension of videos. This method optimizes the presentation of ads within a context using a combination of multimodal analysis, industry taxonomy, and contextual advertising. The effec-tiveness of the framework is validated through experimental results using the YouTube-8M data set, demonstrating its potential to revolutionize contextual advertising by capturing the essence of video content and aligning it with the industry content taxonomy
Towards a Retrofit of Care : Examining Energy Retrofitting in Scottish Households Through the Lens of Care Ethics
Get PDFThis insights paper sets out to explore a pressing and complex challenge within the field of climate action: how to ensure that energy retrofit efforts are under- taken with sufficient care. Despite retrofit’s pivotal role in addressing domestic greenhouse gas emissions, evidence from Scotland suggests that poorly executed retrofits are causing real harm, manifesting in damp, mould, tenant distress, and even reduction in property values. These failures, though often discussed in technical or economic terms, reveal a deeper systemic issue: a widespread absence of care in energy retrofit planning and delivery. Against this backdrop, our study offers a new perspective by asking: how caring is Scotland’s approach to energy retrofit
Evaluating the effectiveness of combined indoor air quality management and asthma education on indoor air quality and asthma control in adults
Get PDFIndoor air quality (IAQ) is a critical determinant of respiratory health and plays an essential role in asthma management. Exposure to indoor pollutants such as particulate matter (PM 2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and biological allergens can exacerbate asthma symptoms. This pilot quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest study evaluated the combined effect of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers and tailored asthma education on the IAQ and asthma outcomes of 30 adults diagnosed with asthma. Indoor PM 2.5, total VOCs (tVOC), temperature, and relative humidity were monitored using low-cost air quality monitors across three home locations for 30 days, and participants completed baseline and follow-up assessments of asthma control (ACQ) and quality of life (AQLQ). The intervention reduced PM 2.5 concentrations from 21.32 µg/m 3 to 18.19 µg/m 3 (p < 0.001), while tVOC levels increased slightly from 237.05 ppb to 251.81 ppb (p = 0.02). The median ACQ scores improved from 1.17 to 0.50 (p < 0.001), the proportion of participants with well-controlled asthma (ACQ ≤ 0.75) rose from 30% to 66.7%, and the median AQLQ scores increased from 5.75 to 6.30 (p < 0.001). Participants in the intervention experienced significantly improved asthma control, quality of life, and indoor PM 2.5 levels, which underscores the significance of integrating environmental and educational strategies in adult asthma management
Estriol attenuates visceral adiposity and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation via ERα-mediated signalling
Get PDFAims: Estriol (E3) is a natural estrogen produced during pregnancy whose physiological role in the adult cardiovascular and pulmonary systems remains poorly understood. Given the established association between estrogens and obesity, our study aims to investigate the interplay between obesity, E3, and their potential cardiopulmonary effects. Methods and results: Effect of E3 on the cardiopulmonary system was evaluated in lean and high-fat diet-induced obese mice using right heart catheterization. Plasma triglyceride and adipokines were quantified using immunological assays, and circulating E3 levels were measured via LC-MS/MS. In vitro experiments were carried out in a human adipocyte cell line and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) isolated from rats and patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. E3 reduces visceral adipose tissue mass in vivo, primarily by attenuating adipocyte inflammation and proliferation. E3 treatment significantly reduced plasma leptin levels, contributing to improved metabolic profiles. In adipocytes, E3 reduced pro-proliferation and inflammatory markers while increasing the expression of antioxidant genes. Additionally, E3 reduced proliferation in isolated PASMCs and E3-induced signalling was observed to be mediated through the ERα receptors. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that E3 reduces visceral adipose tissue mass, indicating its role in modulating adipose tissue characteristics while concurrently enhancing metabolic profiles. These results lay the groundwork for future research to investigate the role of E3 in disease prevention and its therapeutic application in cardiopulmonary disorders
Dark personality traits in project management : A bibliometric analysis and agenda for future research
No full textFor the past thirty-five years, project management research has been largely dominated by studies emphasizing the prosocial, and therefore positive, traits of project managers and their influence on project outcomes. Alongside this tradition, however, a growing body of work has begun to examine alternative traits, specifically project manager dark personality (PMDP) traits, which are frequently described as ‘dark’. These traits are generally characterized as aversive, deviant, or malevolent. Despite increasing scholarly interest, the intellectual structure of research on PMDP traits remains underexplored. To address this gap, the present study undertakes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of PMDP literature published between 1989 and 2024, with the aim of uncovering the thematic focus and publication patterns within this field. Our analysis reveals seven recurring project-focused themes: ‘Corruption, unethical, and negative behaviours’; ‘Impact of dark traits’; ‘Causes and effects of biases’; ‘Dark leadership and well-being’; ‘Causes of selective reporting’; ‘Authoritarian leadership and toxicity’; and ‘PM traits and outcomes’. The study makes two key contributions: first, it provides a pioneering primer on PMDP traits and traces their developmental trajectory; second, it highlights emerging themes and trends that merit further investigation
Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy of phosphomolybdic acid redox mediators for electrochemical conversion of biomass to green hydrogen
Get PDFGreen hydrogen production is limited by the thermodynamic energy requirement of water splitting. By decoupling the anodic and cathodic reactions using redox mediators, alternative feedstocks such as lignocellulosic biomass can yield comparable hydrogen purity with around half the total electrical energy input of conventional water electrolysis. Keggin-type heteropolyacids such as phosphomolybdic acid (H3PMo12O40) are increasingly of interest as mediators in decoupled electrochemical energy conversion applications, due to their reversible redox characteristics. However, the redox behaviour of heteropolyacids in aqueous solution during this process is still poorly understood. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques offer the opportunity to directly probe changes in oxidation state and local structure of the mediator in-operando, allowing unprecedented insight into redox processes in a flow cell environment. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate operando XAS of reduced phosphomolybdic acid as it undergoes oxidation in a proton exchange membrane electrolyser with bespoke 3D-printed flow-fields. Changes in the time-resolved XAS were correlated to structural changes in the Keggin anion, which were closely related to the state-of-charge of the mediator, laying the groundwork for future studies of solution-phase Keggin-type heteropolyacid redox states. Furthermore, reduction of the phosphomolybdic acid via mild thermal digestion of either pure lignin or real agricultural biowaste is compared, in a step towards real-world applications. This work contributes significantly to the efficient and low-cost production of green hydrogen from waste biomass feedstocks, as well as providing insights into similar decoupled electrolysis processes
Efficient logP determination by automated, spatially encoded 19 F NMR Spectroscopy
Get PDFWe report a straightforward method for direct determination of logP by slice-selective 19F NMR spectroscopy utilising a single NMR sample. Our technique uses a partitioned NMR sample of n-octanol/water containing the compound of interest, a modern NMR spectrometer equipped with 19F-observation and Z-axis pulsed-field gradient capabilities in addition to automation programs to measure solute distribution between solvent layers. The approach is validated using a range of fluorinated compounds with known experimental logP values. Details of our experimental method development and implementation processes are reported in supporting data and the benefits of using this approach for experimental logP determination are highlighted
The myth of compensatory effects : how party organisation shapes women's representation in dual-candidacy mixed electoral systems
Get PDFElectoral systems are widely recognised as important institutional determinants explaining women's political representation. Mixed-member proportional (MMP) systems, for example, are expected to enhance women's representation by combining single-member districts with PR lists, with the latter compensating for barriers women traditionally face in constituency contests. This article challenges the underlying assumption that candidate selection in MMP's two tiers operates independently, arguing instead that decentralised candidate selection makes most MMP systems function more like pure single-member district (SMD) systems than proportional representation (PR) systems. Using Germany as a case study, and utilising a unique custom-built dataset spanning 13 election cycles from 1976 to 2025, we find that decentralised candidate selection creates strong linkages across both tiers. Constituency nomination appears as an almost necessary pre-condition to get elected via the list-PR tier, meaning that barriers to women's candidacy in single-member districts carry over also to the supposedly more favourable PR component. This interconnection undermines the compensatory logic of MMP design for women's representation. We find that local selectors in Germany's largely decentralised system remain reluctant to nominate women in rural areas, safe seats and right-wing parties, while prior female candidacy in the constituency increases women's chances to secure a nomination. The evidence thus suggests that where candidate selection remains decentralised, even mixed electoral system cannot overcome local party elites' resistance to female candidates
Integrated evaluation of ship performance and emission reduction in solid oxide fuel cell–based hybrid marine systems
Get PDFThis study presents a first-of-its-kind investigation into retrofitting domestic vessels with a novel hybrid system integrating a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). Using a Lake Ferry and an Island Ferry as case studies, three power-sharing scenarios (10–20% SOFC contribution) were examined for cruise and port operations. The results show that increasing the SOFC power share enhances overall system efficiency, reducing daily fuel energy consumption by up to 9% while achieving SOFC efficiencies of 58–60% in port. The design analysis confirms the physical retrofit feasibility for both vessels, with all scenarios occupying 72–92% of available machinery space. However, increasing the SOFC share from 10% to 15–20% raised total system weight by 10–20% and volume by 12–27%. Economically, the system demonstrates strong viability for high-utilization vessels, with Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) values of 236–248 EUR/MWh, while the sensitivity analysis highlights the SOFC capital cost as the dominant economic driver. Environmentally, the hybrid system achieves annual CO2 reductions of 46–51% and NOx reductions of 51–62% compared to conventional diesel systems, with zero NOx emissions in port. The SOFC-ICE hybrid system proves to be a robust transitional pathway for maritime decarbonization, particularly for vessels with significant port-side operating hours
Towards enhanced selection of antibiotics in a hospital laboratory development of a rapid electrochemical-based antimicrobial sensitivity test for Urinary Tract Infections
No full textAntimicrobial resistance poses a major global health threat, often driven by empirical antibiotic use due to the relatively slow (24–72 h) diagnostic pathway for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Due to their low cost and ease of multiplexing, electrochemical biosensors offer a promising alternative. Herein, we report on the Microplate Dx RapidPlate platform, a rapid electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)-based approach for accelerated antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) directly from urine samples, without pre-treatment. This report charts the evolution of the core EIS-based AST measurement from a laboratory prototype into a fully realized Alpha prototype platform with an accompanying 32-channel electrochemical cartridge designed specifically for interrogation of urine samples. A total of 89 clinically derived urine samples were evaluated at three clinical sites (U.K. and India), with results compared against standard methods (VITEK 2 and disk diffusion). The impedance-based RapidPlate system detected bacterial growth within 50 min and provided susceptibility profiles by 85 min, with 95% concordance to reference tests. Consistent performance was demonstrated across diverse clinical settings and organisms, including Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The RapidPlate AST system has demonstrated great potential as a cost-effective, point-of-care tool for rapid AST, supporting and improving UTI management and antimicrobial stewardship
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