26207 research outputs found
Sort by
Comparison of MXene and SWCNTs effectiveness for osteoblast differentiation: A preliminary study with MG-63 cells
Get PDFThe exceptional chemical and physical properties of nanomaterials have attracted growing interest in the field of bone tissue engineering. Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and MXenes are two types of unique nanomaterials that have shown promising potential for tissue engineering applications. In this study, we aimed to compare the differentiation capacity of MG-63 cells in the presence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and MXene nanomaterials. Methods: The cytotoxic effect of MXene and SWCNTs based nanocomposites was evaluated using the MTS assay. Also, the differentiation potential was evaluated using two models of stimulation. The first model was a co-stimulation of MG-63 s with EB1089 and an analogue of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), (3S)-1-fluoro-3-hydroxy-4-(oleoyloxy)butyl-1-phosphonate (FHBP). The second model utilized β-glycerophosphate (βGP) and ascorbic acid (ASC). Results: MXene and SWCNTs showed no cytotoxic effect after 48 h of culture. MXene could enhance the maturation of MG-63 in both models of differentiation compared to controls and SWCNTs. Conclusion: The incorporation of MXene into MG-63 cell culture suggests that it has a promising potential as a biomaterial for bone regeneration as it demonstrated improved osteoblast maturation compared to SWCNTs
Veganism as anti-anthropocentrism: The potential of vegan advocacy discourse
Get PDFProceeding from an identification of anthropocentrism as the ideological bedrock of interconnected human to nonhuman animal and intra-human oppressions, and the central role played by discourse in transmitting and normalising anthropocentrism and its consequences, this article provides a critical exploration of four ways in which vegan advocacy discourse can undermine anthropocentrism in its various manifestations. These include: the centring of the beyond-human interests of nonhuman animals through ethical vegan argumentation and the simultaneous decentring and invalidating of the human interests in exploiting them; the exposing of the oppressive reality of animal products for the affected nonhuman animals, in opposition to the connected industries’ efforts to manufacture the public’s understanding of animal product production; the eroding of the discriminatory, otherising human/animal dichotomy through the championing of shared animality between humans and other animals and the decentring of human-supremacist judgements to the contrary; and an intersectional analysis of nonhuman and human oppressions which recognises their common ideological source under the inherently oppressive system of capitalism. Several potential anthropocentric or otherwise counterproductive pitfalls of each recommended discourse strategy are also considered. In providing said critical exploration, the author hopes to have supported the case for veganism’s indispensable contribution to opposing the interconnected nonhuman and human oppressions of Western societies, and elucidated some key ways in which vegan advocates can enact this potential
Healthcare professionals' knowledge, understanding and confidence to manage chronic pain after cancer treatment: A UK survey
Get PDFIntroduction: Healthcare professionals are vital in preparing people living with and beyond cancer about the risks of chronic pain after cancer treatment. To do so, healthcare professionals need to be knowledgeable and confident about chronic pain after cancer treatment, yet little is known about their understanding or confidence of this common long-term and late side effect of cancer treatment. Aim: To identify healthcare professionals’ knowledge and understanding of chronic pain after cancer treatment and consider how confident they are to inform, listen and signpost people living with and beyond cancer to appropriate information and support. Method: A cross sectional online survey was distributed to healthcare professionals in the UK via cancer and primary care networks, cancer alliances and social media. The survey consisted of four domains: 1) knowledge and understanding, 2) information and support, 3) confidence and 4) barriers. Quantitative data were analysed with descriptive statistics and free text comments were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Healthcare professionals reported limited knowledge and understanding of chronic pain after cancer treatment. Healthcare professionals lacked confidence to talk to people about chronic pain after cancer treatment and viewed their lack of knowledge as a barrier. Additional barriers included ‘Limited service provision’, ‘Conflict between services’, ‘Not my role’ and ‘Challenges in diagnosing chronic pain in cancer survivors’. Conclusion: Chronic pain after cancer can be a significant issue for those living with and beyond cancer, yet healthcare professionals report limited knowledge of it or understanding of the impact. More education is needed to increase healthcare professionals’ knowledge and confidence in chronic pain after cancer treatment
Paying for driving: Is doing nothing an option?
Get PDF‘Road pricing’ is one of the most talked about non-starter policies in the transport sector. Debate on changing how we pay for driving reaches back over half a century. The transition to electric vehicles may now suggest winds of change. Yet there are no signs that road pricing is on the political agenda.We have examined what continuing with the policy of the last 14 years - doing nothing - might have in store. With a starting point of ‘Government takes no steps to directly replace diminishing fuel duty tax income’, applying a simple yet powerful foresight technique known as the ‘futures wheel’ reveals a cascade of potential consequences. Together these highlight that if doing nothing was presented as an intentional policy it would be widely rejected as disastrous.If more was understood about doing nothing, the prospect of doing something would grow in terms of relative appeal. With a new Labour Government holding an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons, we suggest that there has never been an easier time to make one of the most difficult decisions in transport policy
Strengthening reinforced concrete beams through integration of CFRP bars, mechanical anchorage system, and concrete jacketing
Get PDFThe demand for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures has increased considerably. Implementing carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars and concrete jacketing are the most effective techniques for RC beam retrofitting. Using the mechanical anchorage system (MAS) to attach CFRP bars to old concrete is highly recommended to avoid any debonding when it is applied to cyclic loads. However, the design of strengthening details is the most challenging issue because it involves many effective parameters. In this study, a design process for strengthening beams using CFRP bars with new MASs and concrete jacketing is proposed, and various design schemes are studied. The number of applied MASs and the thickness and grade of the concrete jacket were investigated through experimental testing and finite element (FE) simulations to define strengthening design details, such as the number and size of employed CFRP bars. Accordingly, an analytical technique was formulated to predict the performance of the strengthened beam in terms of the nominal ultimate load. The results demonstrated the high performance of the proposed system in preventing premature debonding. The proposed system enhances the beam capacity from 44 kN to 83 kN, representing an increase of more than 90%. In contrast, the conventional near-surface mounted (NSM) system exhibits a lower percentage increase at less than 37%. Both FE simulations and analytical approaches can be effectively employed to predict the behavior and capacity of the strengthened beam while considering various design parameters
Mapping the path to a decarbonised agri‐food products: A hybrid geographic information system and life cycle inventory methodology for assessing sustainable agriculture
Get PDFThe development of a decarbonised food industry will depend on a sustainable agricultural system where embodied food product greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) can be associated with agricultural production. The method presented demonstrates how mapping agri-production can be used to calculate regional carbon footprints so GHG emission reduction is geographically strategic. Different agronomic and husbandry outcomes are mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS's) and carbon footprints are calculated using Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) libraries. The hybridised GIS-LCI approach reports unique insights for decarbonisation, demonstrating how farming practices can be further integrated to best deliver food security. We use the GIS-LCI method to show; (1), geography limits crop and livestock production types; (2), agri-product density data can be used to calculate a food system carbon footprint; and (3), GIS's can be used to focus food policy for sustainability
ONDL: An optimized Neutrosophic Deep Learning model for classifying waste for sustainability
Get PDFSustainability has become a key factor on our planet. If this concept is applied correctly, our planet will be greener and more eco-friendly. Nowadays, waste classification and management practices have become more evident than ever. It plays a crucial role in the sustainability ecosystem. Computer algorithms and deep learning can help in this sustainability challenge. In this paper, An Optimized Neutrosophic Deep Learning (ONDL) model was proposed to classify waste objects. Two datasets were tested in this research {Dataset for Waste Management 1 (DSWM1), and Dataset for Waste Management 2 (DSWM2)}. DSWM1 consists of two classes (Organic or Recycled) objects. The DSWM2 consists of three classes (Organic, Recycled, or Non-Recyclable) objects. Both datasets exist publicly on the internet. The ONDL model architecture is constructed based on Alexnet as a Deep Transfer Learning (DTL) model and the conversion of images to True (T) neutrosophic domain and Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) for the image features selection. The selection process of the building components of the ONDL model is comprehensive as different DTL models (Alexnet, Googlenet, and Resnet18) are tested, and three neutrosophic domains (T, I, and F) domain are included. The ONDL model proved its efficiency against all the tested models, moreover, it achieves competitive results with related works in terms of testing accuracy and performance metrics. In DSWM1, the ONDL model achieved 0.9189, 0.9177, 0.9176, and 0.9177 in Testing Accuracy (TA), Precision (P), Recall (R), and F1 score. In DSWM2, it achieved 0.8532, 0.7728, 0.7944, and 0.7835 in TA, P, R, and F1 Score consequently
Family-supportive supervisor behaviours: The role of relational resources in work and home domains
Get PDFThis study explores the nomological network of family-supportive supervisor behaviours (FSSBs) at the weekly level. Drawing on the tenets of the work–home resources (W-HR) model and the conservation of resources theory, we integrate relational resources in the model and investigate their role as triggers of FSSBs. Furthermore, we explore how FSSBs relate to both within domain (production deviance and employee creativity) and between domain (sleep quality and dyadic adjustment) employee outcomes, with a focus on exhaustion as a mediator. Our findings show that (1) spousal support experienced by the supervisor is positively related to the employee's perception of FSSBs as enacted by the supervisor, (2) employees' perceptions of FSSBs are negatively related to employees' production deviance and (3) exhaustion is a mediator between FSSBs and employee outcomes of creativity, sleep quality and dyadic adjustment. Our findings across two multisource and diary studies underline the importance of designing and implementing FSSBs in a dynamic fashion
Changes in unemployment and permanent sickness in England’s East Midlands coalfields, 1971–2011
Get PDFThe UK coal industry was an important part of the economy, but it experienced substantial job losses during the 1980s and 1990s. To alleviate the resulting socio-economic problems, many areas received regeneration funds. We examine to what extent relative unemployment and permanent sickness and disability in the coalfields of the East Midlands changed between 1971 and 2011. Over this period rates of permanent sickness and disability have increased, and the gap widened between coalfields and non-coalfields. In contrast, unemployment has decreased at a faster rate in the coalfields. However, both outcomes are better in those coalfields that were less dependent on mining
Autistic and accused: A critical discussion of contemporary challenges to fair and effective criminal proceedings for autistic suspects and defendants
Get PDFExamines the challenges facing autistic people suspected, accused or convicted of crime from a socio-legal perspective. Discusses problematic legal procedures from initial contact with the police, pre-trial custodial interaction to trials and sentencing. Stresses the need for reform to criminal justice policies, practices and cultures