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The role of microbial genomics in delivering the UK's national action plan for confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024-29
Get PDFAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to human and animal health, in addition to environmental resilience. Countries set the agenda on their national action against AMR in the form of National Action Plans (NAPs), with the UK's latest NAP released in May, 2024. Advances in genomics have strengthened our ability to work towards NAP priorities; however, to date, no mapping of the role genomics plays in contributing to specific goals within the NAP has been undertaken. The UK Research and Innovation-funded Transdisciplinary Antimicrobial Resistance Genomics Network brought together a range of stakeholders to discuss the role of genomics for action on AMR and to deliver policy priority-led research, as outlined in the UK NAP 2024-29. We report our discussions in this Personal View, with key roles for genomics, including informing targeted stewardship in health-care settings, supporting AMR literacy, and supporting effective antimicrobial innovation. However, changes in infrastructure, communication, and cross-sector coordination are needed to support implementation. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic use in South African communities : findings from the CAMUS survey
Get PDFBackground: Inappropriate antibiotic use in the community is a primary driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where ambulatory care, including primary healthcare (PHC) facilities, is the main point of contact. While stewardship efforts in South Africa have focused largely on prescribers and hospitals, the behavioral drivers of community antimicrobial use, specifically the ‘demand side’, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to address this gap by applying the newly developed Community Antimicrobial Use Scale (CAMUS) to quantify the prevalence of misuse and identify potential independent sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with inappropriate antibiotic use among ambulatory care patients in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1,283 adult patients attending 25 ambulatory care public-sector facilities in two provinces. Data was collected using the Community Antimicrobial Use Scale (CAMUS) and the Health Literacy Test for Limited Literacy Populations (HELT-LL). We quantified patterns of knowledge, social norms, expectations, and non-prescribed use. Multivariable logistic regression models examined determinants of misuse and antibiotic demand. Results: General awareness of antibiotics existed, but major misconceptions persisted regarding their role in viral infections. Notably, 76.5% of participants attending public-sector facilities believed antibiotics can treat colds and influenza. Non-prescribed use was reported by nearly a quarter of participants, with community pharmacies identified as the primary source (81.7%). While factual knowledge gaps were present, multivariable models revealed that social norms favoring non-prescribed use and inadequate health literacy were the strongest predictors of misuse. Patients with inadequate health literacy were significantly more likely to try and obtain antibiotics without a prescription compared to those with adequate literacy (aOR=13.86; 95% CI: 2.60–73.93). Conclusion: In this large sample of ambulatory care public-sector patients, inappropriate antibiotic use appeared to be linked with permissive social norms and health literacy gaps rather than knowledge deficits alone. Interventions that focus solely on correcting factual misconceptions may be insufficient to address inappropriate antibiotic use. Future stewardship strategies must explicitly target social norms, family influences, and pharmacy behavior, alongside strengthening patient-prescriber-pharmacy communication
Experimental investigation of corrosion-fatigue behaviour in hybrid wire arc additively manufactured parts
Get PDFThe rapid expansion of offshore renewable energy has driven the development of innovative manufacturing techniques to enhance the deployment, operation, and maintenance of large offshore structures. These massive installations operate under some of the harshest environmental conditions on the planet, where wind, wave, and tidal forces subject them to extensive fatigue cycles and restrict repair opportunities due to limited weather windows. Combined with continuous exposure to a corrosive marine environment, these factors accelerate corrosion–fatigue processes, which can significantly reduce the service life of offshore components. In this study, Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) was employed to fabricate steel wall specimens using ER70S-6 and a multi-material composition of ER70S-6 and ER90S-B3 in an 80%/20% ratio. WAAM presents a promising approach for producing complex structural components and for enabling near-site repair strategies that can reduce fabrication times and logistical challenges. From these manufactured walls, tensile and fatigue specimens were extracted to determine the mechanical performance of the materials. Fatigue specimens were exposed to seawater for 0, 2, and 4 months to induce varying levels of surface corrosion prior to testing, allowing assessment of corrosion effects on the fatigue life of WAAM steels in marine environments. Complementary macroscopic imaging, surface roughness analysis, and fractographic examination were conducted to characterise failure mechanisms and provide a comprehensive understanding of how corrosion influences the mechanical integrity and long-term performance of WAAM-fabricated steels. From this study it was found that with increased exposure time to corrosive environments the fatigue life of WAAM material decreases rapidly. Anisotropic behaviour was noted from the multimaterial orientations. However, both orientations showed to outperform ER70S-6 and meet DNV-RP-C203 design curves whereas the ER70S-6 did not
From the old to the new generation of a product : unlearn, improve, and prosper
No full textPurpose: Drawing on the theories of planned obsolescence and dynamic capabilities, this study jointly addresses marketing and organizational aspects of the transition from the existing to the new generation of a product (i.e. a product rollover). It conceptualizes the relevance of organizational unlearning in rollovers and relates it to the improvement in the marketing mix of multigenerational products to predict product rollover performance. Design/methodology/approach: The study reports on a cross-sectoral sample of 179 product rollovers among UK-based manufacturers of multigenerational products. Findings: Organizational unlearning is indirectly associated with product rollover performance through the improvement in the marketing mix of the rollover. Environmental dynamism plays a moderating role. Research limitations/implications: This study enriches the operations management-leaning rollover literature with evidence about the under-addressed marketing perspective of rollovers. Owing to its theoretical foundations, it makes the rollover literature more cross-disciplinary. Not considering additional product and environmental factors is among its limitations. Practical implications: Firms whose products evolve through successive generations can boost rollover performance by deploying an organization-level dynamic capability (i.e. organizational unlearning), which promotes departure from encased knowledge, subject to the competence of channeling this capability in the marketing mix of multigenerational products. Originality: This study is the first to empirically address rollover marketing mix dynamics from the side of the firm, with underpinnings in economic and organizational theories
Circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) as a contingency assay for 'mirror life' bio-hazards
Get PDFLife on Earth is predominately based upon a single chirality set, but so called "mirror life"-speculated life of the opposite chirality, either of artificial or natural origin-presents a low-likelihood, but high severity global biosecurity threat. Such an existential risk necessitates that technologies for surveillance and containment of mirror life are developed as a contingency. In this perspective, we propose screening against mirror life hazards via an optical-readout chirality assay, based upon circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) generated either via achiral fluorophores (via supramolecular chirality effects) or intrinsically chiral molecular probes. Such systems enable Enantioselective Differential Chiral Contrast (EDCC) imaging. We set out why a multi-reporter panel approach incorporating many CPL generating fluorescent/luminescent complexes-in conjunction with testing on conventional chirality life, would be necessary to avoid false positives, and thereby screen against mirror life with a high degree of confidence. The all-optical approach could be deployed via recently innovated CPL/EDCC optical technologies, i.e. CPL/EDCC rapid spectroscopy, microscopy, and cameras. CPL/EDCC microscopy could enable identification of even a single mirror life cell, whereas CPL/EDCC cameras could be used for in situ inspection. We envisage that this CPL-based approach to identifying mirror life would be complimentary to speculated future international legislation against mirror life research
FAME–SSA : a Fast Adaptive Multivariate Decomposition Method for unsupervised damage detection in built infrastructures
Get PDFStructural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques are continuously challenged by the complexities and noise inherent in large-scale multidimensional data. Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) is effective for non-stationary signals but struggles with multichannel data. Multivariate EMD (MEMD) addresses this but still suffers from noise sensitivity, mode mixing, and incomplete frequency extraction. Fast and Adaptive Multivariate EMD (FA-MVEMD) improves on MEMD by using intelligent strategies to enhance accuracy and performance. This study introduces a novel methodology for modal identification and damage detection: Fast and Adaptive Multivariate Empirical Singular Spectrum Analysis (FAME-SSA). By combining the adaptive decomposition capability of FA-MVEMD with the trend extraction and noise separation strengths of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA), the proposed approach improves the accuracy and robustness of feature extraction from structural responses. A key innovation of FAME-SSA is the application of Hotelling’s T² and Squared Prediction Error (SPE) statistics for damage detection. The method is validated through extensive numerical simulations, experimental data from a wind turbine structure, and real-world SHM data from the Lysefjord Bridge. The results demonstrate that FAME-SSA outperforms conventional methods, making it a promising tool for real-time SHM in complex and noisy environments under challenging conditions
Impactful weather and multi-hazard events : lived experiences from rural Scotland
No full textWeather and climate events—such as storms, extreme winds, heatwaves and droughts—can have profound impacts on society and the environment, causing significant disruptions to daily life and economic losses across a range of sectors like agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism. Furthermore, multi-hazard events, where hazards such as heavy rainfall and high winds interact, can exacerbate these impacts through simultaneous, cascading and cumulative effects. While global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework emphasise the importance of multi-hazard thinking, evidence on the real-world impacts and lived experiences of such events remains limited—particularly in rural contexts. This study addresses this gap by exploring lived experiences in Scottish rural areas, focusing on: (1) weather and multi-hazard events with significant impacts, (2) management policies and practices currently in place, and (3) stakeholders’ future concerns regarding the anticipated increase in multi-hazard events, as well as strategies to mitigate their impacts. Drawing on lived experiences and insights from 43 survey respondents and 12 follow-up interviews, findings reveal growing concern over the increasing frequency and severity of multi-hazard events, including cascading winter storms and hot and dry summer conditions. The results also highlight persistent challenges such as limited cross-sectoral coordination and a lack of tailored resources for rural areas, even though existing governance frameworks and community-led initiatives offer some support. This study sheds light on the importance of integrating local knowledge into multi-hazard research and risk management and calls for policy adaptation that reflects the specific needs of rural communities. By enabling future research to align with stakeholder-driven insights, this work provides a foundation for strengthening Scotland's resilience to weather and multi-hazard events, and a mixed-methods research framework that is applicable to other regions internationally
A convex phased-array ultrasonic inspection gauge for small-diameter pipelines with enhanced resolution and sensitivity
No full textAccurate measurement of wall thickness and defect detection is essential for pipeline integrity. Small-diameter pipelines (4-6 inches), common in distribution networks, flowlines, and process systems, are difficult to inspect because they are often buried, insulated, or otherwise inaccessible. Ultrasonic pipeline inspection gauges (PIGs) provide a solution, but to navigate the tight bends found in traditional "unpiggable lines" a short form factor unibody PIG is required. Conventional unibody PIGs rely on multiple carriages and large transducer elements that achieve high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with fewer channels at the expense of spatial resolution. Conversely, reducing element size increases resolution but also raises the inactive fraction of the aperture, weakening signals and reducing beam uniformity. To address these limitations, this paper presents a proof-of-concept inspection instrument based on a convex phased array with small elements. Compensation is applied through coherent transmit sub-apertures and multi-element receive beamforming. Simulations using Huygens modelling show that a 128-element convex array achieves full circumferential coverage in 4-6" pipes. Importantly, the 128-element design provides approximately four times the resolution of a 32-element array while maintaining comparable SNR, thereby overcoming the traditional trade-off. Two industrial-focused experiments confirmed the benefits of compensation. In the 4" pipe, compensation achieved an SNR improvement of 15.34 dB compared with uncompensated operation, along with a reduction in wall-thickness measurement error by 0.59 mm and in measurement uncertainty by 1.43 mm. In the 6" pipe, tests further demonstrated reliable detection of 2 mm flat-bottom holes, which equivalent to 0.8% of the pipe’s circumference. Together, these findings demonstrate that phased-array compensation overcomes the traditional trade-off between resolution and sensitivity, enabling compact ultrasonic PIG tools to inspect 4–6" pipelines with high reliability
Applications of alginate in geotechnical engineering and construction : a review
Get PDFAlginate, primarily sodium alginate, is a biopolymer derived from brown algae or bacterial sources that forms hydrogels via ionic crosslinking with certain divalent cations. Its incorporation into soils, earthen materials, cementitious composites, and asphalt mixtures improves mechanical performance and durability. This review collates recent advances in alginate-based treatments for geotechnical and construction applications, highlighting how alginate dosage, substrate type, gelation method, mixing strategy, and curing regime influence mechanical strength, physical properties, and self-healing efficiency. In soil stabilization, alginate treatments increase unconfined compressive strength (UCS) by 0.2–1.5 MPa in sand, with some studies reporting increases of over 2 MPa. Reported UCS improvements in alginate-treated clayey soils generally fall within the range of 50–150% compared to untreated samples, although isolated studies document increases exceeding 200%, depending on material composition and curing conditions. In cementitious systems, alginate-based capsules and hydrogels facilitate self-healing, achieving high closure rates of 70–100% for microcracks <0.4 mm, with some studies achieving complete sealing of macrocracks up to 4 mm while also recovering significant mechanical strength. Depending on dosage and formulation, alginate can also serve as a viscosity-modifying admixture, increasing the plastic viscosity and yield stress of the fresh mix, with this thickening effect becoming pronounced at dosages above approximately 0.1 w/w% by cementitious binder mass. For asphalt pavements, alginate-encapsulated rejuvenators facilitate high healing efficiency under cyclic loading and thermal cycling; rheological tests confirm elevated complex modulus and improved viscoelastic response. This review also synthesizes an explanatory framework for the divergent results found in the literature, advocates for standardized experimental protocols and material characterization, and outlines future research directions to advance alginate as a suitable alternative to conventional stabilizers
Review of current regulations, available technologies, and future trends towards green shipbuilding industry
Get PDFThis study provides a comprehensive review of current regulations, technologies, and future trends that are shaping the development of green shipyards, with an emphasis on maritime decarbonisation and sustainability. Drawing on international regulatory frameworks, it analyses the environmental, operational, and economic drivers influencing transformations in shipbuilding practices. Technological innovations, sustainable materials, renewable energy systems, electrification, alternative fuels, digitalisation, and automation are critically evaluated in relation to their industrial adoption and maturity. Techno-environmental assessments and safety-oriented studies are also examined to identify strategies that mitigate operational risks and incident rates. A bibliometric analysis of more than 1000 publications (2010–2025) reveals that sustainability, optimisation, and pollution control are the dominant research domains, while emerging topics such as workforce transformation, renewable energy integration, and shipyard electrification indicate expanding frontiers of inquiry. The analysis highlights an increasingly interconnected research ecosystem, where optimisation and environmental performance form the central nodes linking digitalisation, robotics, and alternative fuel technologies. Overall, the findings demonstrate a shift in shipyards from traditional production facilities to innovation-driven ecosystems towards digital transformation, sustainability, and competitiveness. The study concludes by identifying key research gaps and underscoring the need for integrated, system-level approaches to accelerate the green transition of the maritime sector
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