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Experimental and operations viability assessment of powder-to-powder (P2P) mixture of graphene and cement for industrial applications
No full textStudies have demonstrated that a minute quantity of graphene is sufficient to boost cement characteristics, but the attainment of good dispersion and uniformity of the resultant graphene-cement mixture remains a challenge. To alleviate these challenges, this study proposes a low-energy powder-to-powder homogeniser for dispersing reasonably large quantities of graphene powder into cement powders. Microscopic analysis of graphene dispersion from two samples (1% and 0.02% graphene) at 5x, 10x and 20x objectives revealed that graphene accounts for 1.3% and 0.09% over the cement area respectively, which is relatively uniform across all selected samples. Furthermore, four different dosages of graphene were used to validate the impacts of various proportions of graphene, i.e., 0%, 0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06% (by mass of cement) on two types of cement (i.e., Portland cement CEM I 52.5 N and Portland cement CEM II 42.5 N) which also revealed compressive strength increases up to 25% at 7 and 28 days
Maximizing insights from longitudinal epigenetic age data: Simulations, applications, and practical guidance
No full textBackground: Epigenetic age (EA) is an age estimate, developed using DNA methylation (DNAm) states of selected CpG sites across the genome. Although EA and chronological age are highly correlated, EA may not increase uniformly with time. Departures, known as epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), are common and have been linked to various traits and future disease risk. Limited by available data, most studies investigating these relationships have been cross-sectional, using a single EA measurement. However, the recent growth in longitudinal DNAm studies has led to analyses of associations with EA over time. These studies differ in (1) their choice of model; (2) the primary outcome (EA vs. EAA); and (3) in their use of chronological age or age-independent time variables to account for the temporal dynamic. We evaluated the robustness of each approach using simulations and tested our results in two real-world examples, using biological sex and birthweight as predictors of longitudinal EA. Results: Our simulations showed most accurate effect sizes in a linear mixed model or generalized estimating equation, using chronological age as the time variable. The use of EA versus EAA as an outcome did not strongly impact estimates. Applying the optimal model in real-world data uncovered advanced GrimAge in individuals assigned male at birth that decelerates over time. Conclusion: Our results can serve as a guide for forthcoming longitudinal EA studies, aiding in methodological decisions that may determine whether an association is accurately estimated, overestimated, or potentially overlooked
Influence of reciprocal financial resources on shrimp fishers' income sources in Southern Nigeria
Get PDFThe study examines reciprocal financial relationships' influence on shrimp fishers' income sources and their motivation in Rivers State, Nigeria, fishing communities. A mixed methods design was employed using a semi-structured questionnaire, interview guide and checklist to collect data from 125 shrimp fishers and 20 Key informants. Data on shrimp fishers' financial contributions were subjected to UCINET 6.647 Net draw to generate a sociogram. Fishers' income sources and motivating factors were subjected to content analysis and multiple regression. The results showed that shrimp fishers in Rivers State pay dues, contributions and donations to obtain revolving loans from their network and receive remittances from relatives. The sums of money are invested in fishing equipment and off-fishing ventures. 44% of fishers relied on remittances and loans for investment. However, enabling institutional framework and support from external agencies are motivating factors to join a social network which aims at improving income sources among shrimp fishers in line with Sustainable Development Goals 16 and 17. Shrimp fishers who engage in a reciprocal financial relationship have their income sources improved by diversifying into off-fishing ventures. The study recommends that Shrimp fishers register as cooperatives to attract more support from government and donor agencies
History making at the international criminal tribunals
No full textThe existing scholarships on the role of history in criminal adjudications for core international crimes1 can be divided into two groups. The first group of scholars primarily deals with prominent instances of international criminal adjudications, namely, cases before international criminal tribunals (ICTs), such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg and Tokyo (IMTs), and the internationalized or hybrid courts or chambers. The second group of scholars, alongside the prominent instances of international criminal adjudications, is concerned with universal jurisdiction cases,2 with a particular focus on the Eichmann trial.3 Wilson’s Writing History in International Criminal Trials4 falls within the first group of scholars, while Douglas’s Memory of Judgment5 belongs to the second group
Users’ informativity and effective communication: The banking field in Kuwait
No full textPurpose: This research examines the effective communication of financial reporting through the medium of the earnings conference within the Kuwaiti banking sector.Study design/methodology/approach: The study aims to explore the principal areas that users, particularly conference call participants, find relatively uninformative within financial statements. This research uses the theoretical framework of accounting communication developed by Brennan and Merkl-Davies (2018) and Merkl-Davies and Brennan (2017).Sample and data: This paper analyzes real-life inquiries users in the question-and-answer sessions of earnings conferences. The research further developed an analytical procedure to better understand communication effectiveness through the eyes of accounting users.Results: The thematic analysis of topical inquiries reveals various concerns regarding reported accounting information. Ambiguities include reported issues relating to provisions for credit losses, segment information, deposits and accounts items, and currency translation.Originality/value: This research contributes to user-centered accounting research and the limited number of studies investigating financial accounting-related problems via earnings conferences.Research limitations/implications: The research design and findings provide insights for the banking regulators to understand areas within financial statements that users find uninformative and lacking effective communication
Sustainability competencies and skills in software engineering: An industry perspective
Get PDFContext:Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands a shift by industry, governments, society, and individuals to reach adequate levels of awareness and actions to address sustainability challenges. Software systems will play an important role in moving towards these targets. Sustainability skills are necessary to support the development of software systems and to provide sustainable IT-supported services for citizens.Gap:While there is a growing number of academic bodies including sustainability education in engineering and computer science curricula, there is not yet comprehensive research on the competencies and skills required by IT professionals to develop such systems.Research goal:This study aims to identify the industrial sustainability needs for education and training from software engineers’ perspective. For this, we answer the following questions: (1) what are the interests of organisations with an IT division with respect to sustainability? (2) what do organisations want to achieve with respect to sustainability, and how? and (3) what are the sustainability-related competencies and skills that organisations need to achieve their sustainability goals?Methodology:We conducted a qualitative study with interviews and focus groups with experts from twenty-eight organisations with an IT division from nine countries to understand their interests, goals, and achievements related to sustainability, and the skills and competencies needed to achieve their goals.Results:Our findings show that organisations are interested in sustainability, both idealistically and increasingly for core business reasons. They seek to improve the sustainability of software processes and products but encounter difficulties, like the trade-off between short-term financial profitability and long-term sustainability goals or an unclear understanding of sustainability concepts from a software engineering perspective. To fill these gaps, they have promoted in-house training courses, collaborated with universities, and sent employees to external training. The acquired competencies should support translating environmental and social benefits into economic ones and make sustainability an integral part of software development
Leadership, urban structure and place: Evidence from Bristol and Dorset
Get PDFLocal leadership has become of increasing interest in the context of a renewed focus on local government and local development. In parallel, new interpretations of thinking about leadership drawing on Aristotle, Machiavelli, and Foucault suggest that leadership needs to engage with a wider range of participants. In the modern context, one way of understanding this engagement has been termed ‘facilitative leadership’. Using this literature, we analyse leadership in two contrasting ‘places’ (urban and rural) and we discuss how prevailing conditions facilitate, or hinder, the emergence of ‘facilitative leadership’ in relation to urban structure, economic structure, institutional capacity, and identity. The wider implications for leadership and local development are then briefly discussed
A novel mirror neuron inspired decision-making architecture for human–robot interaction
Get PDFInspired by the role of mirror neurons and the importance of predictions in joint action, a novel decision-making structure is proposed, designed and tested for both individual and dyadic action. The structure comprises models representing individual decision policies, policy integration layer(s), and a negotiation layer. The latter is introduced to prevent and resolve conflicts among individuals through internal simulation rather than via explicit agent-agent communication. As the main modelling tool, Dynamic Neural Fields (DNFs) were chosen. Data was captured from human-human experiments with a decision-making task performed by either one or two participants. The task involves choosing and picking blocks one by one from seven wooden blocks to create an alpha/numeric character on a 7-segment. The task is designed to be as generic as possible. Recorded hand and blocks movements were used for developing DNF-based models by optimising parameters using a genetic algorithm. Results show that decision policies can be modelled and integrated with acceptable accuracy for individual performances. In the dyadic experiment, using only individual models without the negotiation layer, the model failed to resolve conflicts. However, with the implementation of a negotiation layer, this problem could be overcome. The proposed decision-making structure based on DNFs is developed and tested for a simple pick-and-place task. However, the main primitive underlying action of this task, pick-and-place, is indeed part of many more complex tasks people perform in their day-to-day life. Paired with the possibility to gradually evolve the architecture by adding new policies on demand, the architecture provides a general framework for modelling decision-making in joint action tasks
Integrated hip surveillance pathways for pain, function and quality of life in children with Cerebral Palsy: A systematic literature review
No full textTo determine the effectiveness of integrated hip surveillance pathways on pain, function and quality of life (QOL) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). A systematic literature review, designed, conducted and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. confirmed CP diagnosis, management under recognised international hip surveillance pathways, outcome measures of hip displacement plus at least one other relevant to pain, function or QOL. 100 articles were identified. 12 full text articles were screened, and four were included. Reduced range of movement was associated with hip pain in children with CP. Increasing age, Gross Motor Function Classification Score (GMFCS) and migration percentage (MP) were associated with increased hip pain. General health declined with increased age. Increased MP and GMFCS level were associated with interruption to activities of daily living. Outcomes relating to function and QOL are under-researched in the current integrated hip surveillance pathway evidence-base. Wider outcomes related to function and QOL need to be included to capture the wider impact on children who are at risk of hip dislocation. Increased pain was associated with reduced joint range and increased migration percentage. Pain also increased with greater age and Gross Motor Function Classification Score. Early orthopaedic intervention for hip displacement may not successfully mitigate pain. Effectiveness of integrated pathways on function and quality of life is under-evidenced. Studies investigating integrated pathways and holistic outcomes are needed to inform practice. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
8D-BIM models in construction: Enhanced occupational safety for construction works
Get PDFBuilding Information Modelling (BIM) is a key tool supporting innovative approaches in the area of sustainable and ecological construction. Through the use of digital technologies such as BIM, it is possible to accurately plan and optimize construction processes resulting in efficient resource management, reduced energy consumption and minimized waste. BIM also allows for better collaboration between project teams, which supports the integration of sustainability efforts throughout the building lifecycle, from design, realization to operations and maintenance. In addition, the use of BIM can improve occupational health and safety (OHS) on construction sites. With detailed 3D models and simulations, potential hazards can be identified before work begins, construction site organization can be better planned and dangerous situations can be avoided. This facilitates risk management and also ensures safer working conditions for all participants in the construction process