78146 research outputs found
Sort by
E-mobility infrastructure utilisation and planning in Scotland
Get PDFThe transition toward electric mobility is reshaping transport and energy systems, raising new challenges for the deployment and management of charging infrastructure. Existing research has largely centred on urban contexts, leaving rural and tourism-driven regions comparatively underexplored. This paper provides an empirical assessment of Scotland’s public EV charging network, combining a national-scale analysis of session-level utilisation data with a focused case study of the Highland Council area, a region where low population density, geographic dispersion, and demand seasonality intersect. The results show that charging demand in this area is marked by strong temporal fluctuations, with peak usage closely tied to seasonality and tourism windows, while off-season utilisation remains low. These dynamics highlight the limitations of conventional planning approaches that rely primarily on average utilisation metrics. Instead, infrastructure provision in such regions must be informed by context-sensitive planning and targeted strategies, such as demand-responsive expansion, co-location with local energy systems, and alignment with broader decarbonisation goals, to exhaust infrastructure effectiveness without necessitating continuous capacity growth
Are radiology residents safe to report feeding nasogastric (NG) tubes on chest X-rays?
Get PDFObjectives: The task of issuing reports on whether nasogastric (NG) tubes are safe for enteral nutrition on chest X-ray (CXR) often falls to radiology residents. The aims of this study are to evaluate whether radiology residents are formally trained and their performance in interpreting NG tube position on CXR. Methods: Radiology residents were invited to participate in an online study evaluating NG tube position on CXR. The CXR images comprised 20 NG tubes, 14 of which were correctly sited, while 4 were in the distal oesophagus and 2 in the lung. Results: Twenty-eight (of 185, 15%) radiology residents responded—despite incentives to participate and directed by Training Program Directors/Heads of School. Of those, only 10 (35.7%) correctly identified all NG tube positions on CXR. The most common error was reporting a correctly sited NG tube as mal-positioned for enteral nutrition. Global error rate was 8.9%. Radiology residents who correctly interpreted all 20 NG tube CXRs were significantly more confident in their abilities on a 5-point Likert scale than those who got at least 1 NG tube CXR wrong [4.4 (0.52) versus 3.8 (0.79), P = .02]. Conclusions: This study suggests that radiology residents may not be adequately trained to interpret the position of NG tubes on CXRs. Early and compulsory training in this important skill should be instituted urgently. Advances in knowledge: There is a critical gap in radiology training. Radiology residents may not be adequately prepared to safely interpret NG tube position on chest X-rays. New DHSC memorandum of understanding mandates competency-based education across all training programs
Resonate-and-fire neurons meet EMG : enhancing gesture classification with spiking neural networks
No full textSurface Electromyography (EMG) is widely used in rehabilitation, healthcare, and robotics, where low-power solutions are essential. However, EMG signal classification often demands significant computational resources. This paper introduces a novel, low-power approach using Resonate-and-Fire (RF) neurons combined with Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs). SNNs offer efficient, low-latency classification via neuromorphic (NM) hardware, and RF neurons serve as an encoding layer, enabling end-to-end NM processing. This encoding transforms EMG data into spike-frequency representations, emphasising signal relevance in the frequency domain. The proposed method is evaluated on the Ninapro DB5 dataset and demonstrates superior performance compared to both conventional and other NM-based approaches, while maintaining low latency. These results highlight the potential of fully NMsystems to outperform traditional methods, offering asynchronous, sparse, and energy-efficient computation for EMG classification
Process optimization in pharmaceutical hot-melt extrusion : real-time volatile detection via SIFT-MS combined with multivariate analysis
Get PDFEstablishing robust processing windows for pharmaceutical polymers during hot-melt extrusion (HME) remains challenging, as conventional thermal analyses reveal little about early chemical change. Here, selected-ion-flow-tube-mass-spectrometry (SIFT-MS) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) was used to characterise real-time volatile evolution under both thermogravimetric (TGA) and extrusion conditions. Centroid-distance mapping and PCA loadings revealed distinct transitions, providing a data-driven means of defining the onset of significant chemical change. Across four representative polymers (Soluplus®, Affinisol™15LV, Kollidon® VA64, and Plasdone™ S630 Ultra), each exhibited changes in volatile composition that marked the onset of temperature-driven chemical evolution. Soluplus® and Plasdone™ S630 Ultra remained stable up to ≈190 °C with optimum extrusion ranges of 150–170 °C. Kollidon® VA64 showed earlier volatile emergence near 180 °C, defining a 160–180 °C window, while Affinisol™15LV, the most viscous system, degraded above 190–200 °C, narrowing its range to 170–185 °C. A brief rheological assessment supported these chemically defined limits, confirming that changes in volatile composition coincide with softening behaviour. Overall, SIFT-MS detected subtle, low-level volatile changes that emerge well before conventional thermal indicators, enabling rapid, non-destructive definition of polymer-specific extrusion windows and enhancing process understanding in amorphous solid dispersion manufacture. Through this analysis we were able to provide a narrower processing range than those defined by their respective manufacturers
A randomised controlled trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus usual care in comparison to usual care alone for reducing anxiety in older people with treatment-resistant generalised anxiety disorder (CONTACT-GAD): Trial protocol
No full textBackground Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common anxiety disorder in older people and is characterised by excessive anxiety and worry that is experienced as being difficult to control. Current recommended first-line treatments for GAD include pharmacotherapy and psychological therapy, but some people experience GAD that does not respond to these treatments. Such treatment-resistant GAD (TR-GAD) is associated with numerous negative outcomes in older people. However, evidence-based guidance on how to manage TR-GAD in older people is lacking. Previous research suggests that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), tailored to the needs and preferences of older people with TR-GAD, may help reduce anxiety in this population. Aims To determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of tailored ACT plus usual care (UC) in comparison to UC alone for reducing anxiety in older people with TR-GAD. Methods The CONTACT-GAD trial is an international, multi-centre, parallel, two-arm RCT with a 9-month internal pilot phase. 296 individuals aged ≥ 60 years with TR-GAD will be recruited from primary and secondary care services (and their equivalent in Australia) and via self-referral at approximately 11 UK sites and 4 Australian sites. TR-GAD will be defined as GAD that has failed to respond adequately to pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy, as described in step 3 of the UK's stepped care model for GAD (and its equivalent in Australia). Participants will be randomly allocated to receive up to 14 one-to-one sessions of ACT with a booster session at approximately 3-months post-intervention plus UC or UC alone by an online randomisation system. Participants will complete outcome measures at baseline and 6- and 12-months post-randomisation. The primary outcome will be anxiety at six months. Secondary outcomes will include quality of life, depression, psychological flexibility, resource use, health-related quality of life, capability, adverse events, satisfaction with therapy, personally meaningful behaviour change and engagement in activities. Outcome assessors will be blind to treatment allocation. Primary analyses will be by intention-to-treat, with data being analysed using multi-level modelling. Discussion The CONTACT-GAD trial will provide much needed evidence on the management of TR-GAD in older people. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN85462326, registered 04/01/2023. Protocol version 3.0 (09/05/2025)
Enforcing sustainability in construction law : legal fragmentation, life-cycle regulation, and reform pathways
No full textThis article critically examines the fragmented legal landscape governing sustainability in the UK construction sector and proposes an integrated enforcement framework aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on a life-cycle-based conceptual model, the article identifies regulatory and contractual intervention points from project inception through demolition. The analysis considers private and public law instruments—including contract drafting, planning conditions, building regulations, and public procurement law—and identifies key weaknesses in the enforceability of sustainability obligations. Comparative insights from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Australia illustrate how other jurisdictions have codified life-cycle responsibilities through procurement reform and statutory planning mandates. The article also incorporates recent UK case law developments to show growing judicial willingness to uphold sustainability-linked obligations. Equity and environmental justice principles are then introduced to frame how legal reforms can avoid reinforcing structural inequalities. The article concludes with a series of targeted legal reforms to strengthen enforceability across instruments, grounded in current regulatory trends and judicial logic. These findings are relevant to policymakers, legal practitioners, and industry professionals seeking to embed sustainability as a legally binding, project-wide obligation
Reimagining pharmacology education
No full textWe are arguably experiencing the greatest disruption to higher education in modern history. High-quality educational research has demonstrated that active learning and other innovations are significantly more effective than traditional methods. The recent pandemic forced educators to adapt in previously unimaginable ways. Generative artificial intelligence now presents great challenges and opportunities for our approaches to teaching, support of learning and assessment, such as streamlining personalised feedback while raising concerns about academic integrity. This article provides a research informed, expert commentary to support new pharmacology educators in navigating this complex environment. The article is neither a systematic review by design and methodology, nor is it offering comprehensive coverage of the pertinent literature (an insurmountable task, given the breadth of the topic). We highlight how educators in basic and clinical pharmacology are transforming their teaching and curricula to enhance student success in current and future settings. Global initiatives, such as those sponsored by the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR), including the Pharmacology Education Project and Core Concepts-based curricula, are offering opportunities to enhance pharmacology education by standardising key concepts, providing open-access learning resources, and fostering international collaboration. These efforts are intended to support alignment of curricula, improve student engagement through interactive materials, facilitating a global exchange of best practices, and supporting educators in adopting innovative teaching methodologies. These initiatives require contributions from pharmacology experts across multiple countries, languages, and cultures. Consequently, this article serves as a call to action to advance innovation and inclusivity in pharmacology education
What’s in a name? ‘Grooming’ as a delictual wrong
No full textComments on the case of JWE v LGBT Youth Scotland [2026] CSOH 6, suggesting that there are no sound reasons for refusing to recognise 'grooming' as a delictual wrong in Scots law
Algebraizable weak logics
Get PDFWe extend the framework of abstract algebraic logic to weak logics, namely, logical systems that are not necessarily closed under uniform substitution. We interpret weak logics by algebras expanded with an additional predicate, and we introduce a loose and strict version of algebraizability for weak logics. We study this framework by investigating the connection between the algebraizability of a weak logic and the algebraizability of its schematic fragment, and we then prove a version of Blok and Pigozzi’s Isomorphism Theorem in our setting. We apply this framework to logics in team semantics and show that the classical versions of inquisitive and dependence logic are strictly algebraizable, while their intuitionistic versions are only loosely so
Graph-based inhomogeneity image segmentation with the optimal transport metric
Get PDFTraditional variational models often fail to segment images in the presence of inhomogeneity or weak boundaries, partly due to their reliance on unreliable region metrics that quantify inhomogeneity based on a single mean value or a smoothed image serving as a mean function. The former, such as variance-based methods, are highly sensitive to image inhomogeneity, whereas the latter, such as local convolution-based approaches, lack a global receptive field. To address these issues, we employ an optimal transport-based data fidelity term in our segmentation objective functional. This term accounts for global differences between regions, resolving problems arising from local convolutions. It can also adaptively seek an optimized match between two probability density functions, proving more robust than relying solely on their mean values. Our proposed functional is minimized by gradually performing region merging. Experimental results demonstrate that our model outperforms state-of-the-art variational and deep learning models
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage University of Strathclyde Institutional Repository? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!